New Mommy Hormones, Sisters, Call out for advice!

New Mommy Hormones...for those of us who have had children, you know all too well what I am referring to.  There is this approximately two week time frame where your body suddenly has an absence of hormones the placenta has made for 9 months, and it makes you CRAZY!

Who wouldn't love a face like that?

 Over the past couple of weeks, I have had some great moments due to my "crazy" hormones. 
 I have cried because I am so in love with my little Stella.
 I have cried because I feel horrible guilt over the way my 2 year old Lola must feel.
 I have cried because I feel chubby (do ya feel me???)
 I have cried because I wanted to take a nap and organize my dresser drawers and couldn't decide which was more important to me (for real!)

I probably cried over a few other things too, but I am sleep deprived and can't remember :)

That being said, I am now over that hump and feeling pretty fantastic (other than lack of sleep!).  Stella actually sleeps waaaaay more than Lola, so I am getting about 5-6 hours at night!  Less than ideal, but pretty good for having a newborn!
My husband gave me hug and a shoulder massage before leaving for work this morning, so that was fantastic.  Then the baby pooped and it was back to reality!

Sisters!

I am really enjoying my two girls, and I look forward to matching outfits, trips to Chicago to prom dress shop together (I know, way in the future but let mommy dream!), slumber parties, puberty, weddings, baking cookies together...all the fun things girls bring.
I am planning to do an idea I found on Pinterest where you have a journal that you write back and forth in with your daughters.  I am going to make each of them one- or maybe an email address like in the TV commercial?  I mean, will they even make paper ten years from now?

Oh, and BONUS- two daughters to change my diapers when I'm old!!!

Being a parent is the toughest job on the planet- but I wouldn't take it back for anything!!!

Are you a mama of two girls close in age like mine?  If so, please share some comment love below giving me your best advice for raising two girls- I would love to have a post in the future where I share these tidbits!  (By commenting below you are giving permission.  I will link to your blog if you have one!

Only 4 followers to go before my next giveaway!!! Please join up so we can get to winning some prizes!!!

She's Here!

Stella Mae is here!  Everything went well- once her head popped out she opened her eyes and looked around like a little gopher..."Where am I?  What is going on here?"
We are both feeling great and doing fine.
Big sister asked mommy today (while patting my belly) "Hey Mama, you got another baby sister in there for me?"  So, I think it's safe to say she likes being a big sister so far.
Here are a couple photos for you!

Hello world!  I'm here!

"I gonna pet baby sister, Mama!"

Just to keep you posted...

You all know that I am VERY pregnant right now- and this baby is going to come any time!
I have been working on nursery projects and will have some fun things to share with you in the upcoming weeks- I'm going to spread it out a little.  Here is a little list of what's upcoming...

-Box pleat window valance tutorial
-Cloth diaper "wet bag" tutorial
-Wildflowers baby mobile tutorial
-2T and infant Easter dresses tutorial (and maybe a pattern...we'll see!)

I also have been using some other tutorials to make things, like this one from With a Tangled Skein for a crochet wool diaper cover, and this one from Sew Much Ado for a nursing cover.

Anyways...if you like newborn baby girl pictures keep your eye on my blog because there will be some soon!  I can't wait to see who she looks like, and what her little personality is like...I know my 2 year old has personality to spare, haha!

Super Bowl Week- Post 5 (Super Bowl Funnies!)

Today is my final Super Bowl Post!  We've talked FOOD, sewn a TOY FOOTBALL, figured out what to DRINK, and planned our OUTFITS. 
Today it is time to LAUGH!

This has been a lot of excitement for our Midwestern city.  Not that we never have ANY sports-related excitement (Hello Colts, Pacers, Butler Basketball, NFL combine, Indy 500....) but this is different.  There are celebrities everywhere- I mean, everywhere in Super Bowl Village that is.  Big celebrities too- here for The Today Show, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon- here to sing (Madonna, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Levine...and more!)

Photo courtesy HeyGirlIndy.com

So everyone has been a little excited.  My female friends and cousins (including myself) have all gotten a little ga-ga over Ryan Gosling being here...and we aren't the only ones!  Some clever person created this hilarious site with some "Hey Girl" sayings.  Have you seen the funny ones on Pinterest???  Well, these ones are Indy specific.  Hilarious, go HERE to check out all of them!

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The hottest ticket in town besides the big game has been Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.  Sadly, my husband and I did not get tickets, but we tried!  I did have some cousins who got to go, so jealous!!!  Last night, they aired a "Real Housewives of Late Night" that included some Colts "wives".  I mean, to see these gigantic manly dudes dressed in drag is truly a spectacle.  If you need a laugh, watch this video on the Jimmy Fallon site!!!

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Now, I am against releasing the ads before the game.  I mean, I am not really a sports person, so the anticipation of the commercials is about as exciting as it gets for me!  Now that they've been released, what do I have to look forward to?  Dessert.  Ah, yes.  Dessert.  Well, since its been released, HERE is a link to the "Ferris Beuler" Honda CR-V ad. 

New Look, upcoming projects, and giveaway!

I updated my background a bit and changed some colors around- nothing to crazy!  I am still considering a few options for a new overhaul of the blog though!

Sneak Peek!

Coming soon...a Valentine's Day Dress Tutorial (with pattern pieces if I can get it to work!) and the box pleated window valance for the nursery!

Have you entered the giveaway yet to celebrate 50 followers?  If not, be sure you are a follower and then go HERE and leave a comment!

I have also started up a Facebook page, so you can click HERE to follow there as well!  Please do, so I don't feel like a loser with no friends, haha!

Thanks for your support!  And keep an eye out in the next day or two for the dress tutorial!!!

My Project Run and Play Remix of The Junebug Dress!

If you haven't checked out Project Run and Play, hop over there and become a follower. They have a great competition among bloggers for making kids clothing! As part of the fun, they are inviting anyone who wants to "sew-along" and compete for a $25 gift card to Fabric.com. So I figured, why not give it a shot?
The first week is to do a remix of The Junebug Dress.
This dress is adorable, with its flap on the front with three buttons attaching it on the sides. It also has sweet puffed sleeves. For my remix, I decided to turn it into a corduroy overalls jumper! I removed the puff sleeve to make it a jumper, then instead of attaching a gathered skirt, I made pants with an extremely tall waist and gathered them to fit the bodice. I completed the "look" with covered buttons, an applique on one leg, and lined it with the fabric I used on the front flap. LJ loves it and didn't want to take it off!

("Modeling" with her hands on her hip, sorta...)

Who me? Require chocolate in exchange for photos?

Upcoming GIVEAWAY!

I really want to try and get more followers on my blog. So if you like any projects you see, please become a follower! Also, please share the blog with your friends who might be interested in sewing, crafts, and cooking.
Once I get to 30 followers, I am going to have a randomly chosen winner. The winner will get something handmade by me!

(A recent portrait taken by my daughter. Eight months pregnant is so attractive, right?)

Dirty Laundry

How do you wash your laundry?  I have found that this is a controversial topic for some.  We choose to go the non-scented, fewest additives possible route at our house.  No fabric softener here!  We also have special needs because we use cloth diapers.  I do keep bleach up high in a cabinet for those times you just need it, but we use it rarely.  Here is a run-down of my laundry essentials.

1. Stain Removal
I know some love their Oxyclean, etc., but we rely on the good old fashioned Fels-Naptha bar.  My Grandma has always kept this handy, as well as my mom.  Now I do!  I just get the stain wet and rub the bar directly on it, but sometimes you need an old toothbrush to really work it in there.  Then wash, and voila!  My friend Kristin uses Fels-Naptha to make her own laundry detergent, but I am too lazy to do that, haha!  Here is a tutorial if you want to try it.

2. Cloth Diapers
For cloth diapers, it is important to use a soap that will not irritate your baby's skin, will not leave residue in the cloth, will rinse out really well, will not react with urine, etc.  There are several options out there and I have tried a lot of them.  We LOVE Rockin' Green.  They offer three types- one for hard water, one for soft water, and one in between called "Classic Rock".  We use Classic Rock and occasionally their "Funk Rock" as a refresher for our diapers.  I have tried a ton of detergents for cloth diapers, and this is hands down the best.  No wonder they have a cult following!  It's also okay for regular laundry, but we just use it on our diapers.

3. Delicates- lingerie, wool, cashmere, etc.
For my delicate laundry, I use Charlie's Soap. This soap is also okay for cloth diapers.  I like it for hand washing and it doesn't leave a scent or anything.  It's an old fashioned recipe too!

4. Regular Laundry
For my regular laundry (including baby clothing) I use an environmentally friendly detergent from COSTCO!!! Yes, they carry an in-house brand that is basically the same as the Seventh Generation detergent.  I love it, it's unscented and perfect for baby laundry too.  I just wash all our laundry together and this makes everyone happy.

And that's it!  Enjoy doing your laundry today :)

Misc. projects

I have been working a few projects here and there but I've been pretty busy lately!
I really want to have pajamas for each of my nephews and nieces done by Thanksgiving, so that is my priority.  The pants are easy, but the tops take more time.
For now, I made a test pajama top for LJ out of her favorite silky fabric.  It has matching silky pants too, of course! (Sorry for ugly picture)

  My other new project has been to help me get back into crocheting.  I haven't knit a stitch or crocheted a thing in probably 4 years or so.  I really wanted to make LJ a cute Fall hat since it has started getting chilly.  I will probably try again but this one turned out okay I think.  I used the pattern on this blog that my cousin Julia suggested.  It's on LJ's head a little crooked, but we had like 3 seconds of her patience to get a picture and the picture turned out cute at least!  I like the ripple along the edge. 

In other fun sewing news, my husband surprised me with a new sewing chair for my birthday.  Like, its an actual sewing chair.  Sounds silly, but it really is comfy and keeps your back from getting sore while you sew.  So then I can sit for a while and finish the quilt I started over a year ago for my niece...
Wish me luck that I get more time to sew- I am really behind on my "Great Christmas Challenge"!

baby on the way!

So, our little baby is on the way, due November 2nd!
I have started a blog for our little mini haley- minihaley.blogspot.com
Then you can keep up to date on all the fun stuff that happens when you're pregnant (don't worry, its not THAT detialed!!!)
enjoy!

Welcome

Welcome to the To Be Continued blog!
This will be a place for me to share my creative ideas, some of which I create and sell on etsy.com, and some of which I don't have time to do but you might!
Feel free to send me your ideas to share, I'll give you credit of course.

My etsy.com site: tobecontinued.etsy.com