Friday, May 23, 2014

Painted Garden Markers

Hey there, friends!

Have you started planting gardens where you are? We finally have good enough weather, so we decided to get some herbs planted. I have been trying to encourage Abbey to do more handwriting, so I had her help me make some garden markers!


What you need:
  • craft sticks
  • craft paint & brushes
  • permanent marker
  • seeds
She started out by painting the craft sticks. I set her up with some paint and let her go to town.


Once those were dry I gave her a permanent marker and had her write the name of each herb we were planting on the sticks. This was a great chance for her to practice her handwriting.

She had to look at each name and decide how big her letters should be. Some words were little, while some words like "lavender" took up more space.

She also had the chance to practice copying text. Rather than spelling out the names for her, I handed her each seed packet, showed her which word to write, and let her copy it on her own. She did a great job!

I think she did a great job! In case you were wondering, those drawings at the bottoms are seeds. Her own artistic interpretation. ;)


Then we got to planting! As I grabbed each seed packet, she found the right stick and stuck it in the dirt. Reading practice! Bonus!

I have one proud little girl! It took a while for her to understand that it will take a while for our herbs to sprout. She checked them at least 5 times this afternoon! I can't wait to see her face when they sprout!

What are your favorite herbs to plant?
Do you dry them and keep them, or just use them fresh?

Be blessed!
Heather

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Homemade Sensory Play Mat

Hi friends!

It's time for more Ultimate Baby Blog Hop fun! Guess what...

I made a quilt! 

Let that sink in for a second.  A quilt. With a top, and a middle, and binding. Binding! It also turned out exactly like I had it in my head, which pretty much never happens. I'm pretty proud of this thing, not gonna lie.


Owen is almost 6 months old now (hold me!), and he wants to explore everything! He's not mobile yet, but he spins like a clock hand when he's laying on his tummy. I wanted him to have a play mat that would let him explore all sorts of sights and textures.


Here is what you need for a 36 x 36 inch play mat:

  • 1 1/2 yards total for top fabrics (I used quilting cotton (airplanes), flannel (stars), and minkee)
  • 1 1/4 yards backing fabric
  • 1 1/4 yards quilt batting
  • bias tape or quilt binding (I used satin)
I chose different fabrics for different reasons. I knew I wanted minkee because it's soft and dreamy, and the bumps add a nice texture. I loved the flannel because the stars stand out really well against the white background. When I saw the airplanes they were a given because my husband is a pilot, so we airplane all the things. It doesn't hurt that they're adorable!


I wanted each stripe to be a different size, so I quickly sketched out what I wanted and made sure my total added up to 36 inches. Then I added an inch to each strip to account for a 1/2 seam allowance. Cut strips. Sew strips. Easy peasy. I added ribbon loops between the center strips to add some fun texture. Owen can grab them, or we can attach toys to them.


The bottom strip has some buttons sewn onto it. I wanted to make sure they were really going to stay put, so they are stitched through both the fabric and the batting. They give Owen something else to explore, and stand out nicely on the white flannel. 


Once the top was stitched together I cut a 36x36 square of both the batting and the backing fabric. Then I sandwiched them all together and zig-zag stitched straight down the seams in the top. No fancy quilting here.


Once the whole thing is quilted together, add the binding. You can use plain bias tape, but I really like the satin binding. It added one more texture to the whole thing, and I love how the satin contrasts with all the softness of the rest of the quilt. I had never done a mitred corner before, but they're actually pretty easy! SewNews has a very easy to follow tutorial.


And you're done! Seriously, if I can do this, anyone can. All said and done it only took me a few hours. 2 naps, tops! Now you have a nice soft place for your little one to explore. Lots to look at, lots to feel, lots to learn! Since it's relatively small it is also super portable. Perfect for outings or playing in the back yard with big sister.


It is also excellent for exploring your toes.


This guy was a total grump for all of these pictures. Not a smile to be had! Apparently fussing his way through a 2 hour nap didn't do it for him today. Are you ready for the grumpiest blog model ever?

Tadaaa!

Look at that face! He just laid there like "what is happening, and why am I here?" #keepinitreal.

Go, make this play mat! It is so much easier than you think, and you will be so proud when you are done!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Today is a very fun day in the blog hop. Everything is about play! Take a look at all the goodness going on across the web!

*Sensory Play
Mirror Play for Babies - Still Playing School
Jewelry Sensory Box - Trust Me, I’m a Mom

*Gross Motor
Baby Play: Newborn Exercise - True Aim Education
Combining Gross Motor & Art - Bambini Travel
Tummy Time Entertainment - Hand Made Kids Art
Tummy Time: Why & How? - The Inspired Treehouse
Baby Play: Rolling a Ball - Wildflower Ramblings
How to Encourage Baby to Crawl- The Realistic Mama

*Busy Boxes & Baskets
5 Fun Busy Boxes for Baby - Squiggles & Bubbles
14 Treasure Bins for Baby - Wildflower Ramblings

*Outdoor Play
5 Ideas for Playing Outdoors with a Baby - Barefeet on the Dashboard
Outdoor Play Ideas for 0 - 12 Months - Winegums & Watermelons

*Arts & Crafts for Baby
9 Tips for Painting with Infants - The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide


And there's still time to enter the giveaway! Get on it!

Be blessed,
Heather

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Pretty Nails for Spring

Hi friends!

So, I need, like, the most low maintenance nail polish for my finger nails. Something that can get all chippy and destroyed without being painfully obvious. Who's with me?


Read all about my favorites at {Fancy Little Things}

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Becoming Mama

Hi friends.

Remember when you were little and your moms had all the answers? Seriously, they knew what to make for dinner, what you should do when you're bored, and where to find all of your lost things. All questions could be answered, and no answers were wrong. Well, at least until we hit 13.

Here's the thing that I've learned about motherhood...

I HAVE NO ANSWERS!

I am completely out of my depth. I have no idea what I am doing. The fact that I am entrusted with two tiny lives to mold into productive adults is absolutely baffling.


So I read everything I can get my hands on. I listen to the "experts", and a get frustrated by the Mommy Wars. Every day I worry that I'm doing something wrong. That somehow I am ruining their childhood. I should have been playing instead of cleaning the kitchen. No! If they live in a messy house they will never learn to pick up after themselves! But there's always time for a story! But there's so much laundry to fold!



I keep thinking that someday, someday I will become the mama I want to be for them.



But here's the truth:

I don't have to become Mama. I already am Mama.

From the moment these two amazing, exhausting, perfectly imperfect little beings entered the world, I was Mama. Nothing in my power could ever fully prepare me for it. On my own, I am not capable of the love that they require.



But God is.

All my life He has been walking beside me, loving me with the most perfect love imaginable. It is because of His perfect love that I am able to give my children even a fraction of the love they deserve. Mama isn't something I can become. It is something He made me. He chose these two for me, and me for them.


I don't have to become Mama. He made me Mama.

And I am so glad He did.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
Are you here for the Ultimate Baby Blog Hop? Welcome! I'm so glad you're here! We have an amazing lineup for you this week, and you don't want to miss it.


First of all, there is an incredible list of bloggers behind this thing! I'm honored to even be a part of it. This team of women has been working their tails off to bring you the best of the best!

How can you make sure to get all of this goodness for the next 10 days? Here's how:

1. Check out the main landing page HERE at Lemon Lime Adventures (She's the mastermind behind this thing, and she's pretty much amazing. Go show her some love!) All the bloggers on this team, and how to find and follow them will be over there!

2. Follow us on Pinterest! Everyone will be linking their posts to this board, so don't miss all the goodies.

Oh, and did I mention the giveaways?

Look at these giveaways!

I mean COME. ON! Have you every seen anything so great? All throughout the week there will be chances to win prize bundles, as well as flash giveaways. If you are a new mom, know a new mom, or think you might ever be a new mom, you want in on this!


Want to read what some of the rest of this fantastic group has to say about celebrating motherhood? Check them out!

Sweet tooth: from mother to children ~ La Cité des Vents
Happy Mother’s Day {Free Printable} ~ Bare Feet on the Dashboard
The Day I Became a Mom ~ The Jenny Evolution
Being a Mom of Growing Readers  ~ Growing Book by Book
How We Ordered a Baby ~ Let the Journey Begin
Celebrate Motherhood: They Call Me Momma ~ The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide
Time After Time ~ True Aim Education
A Hand Made Family ~ Hand Made Kids Art
Four generations ~ Wildflower Ramblings
#ItWasMom ~ Trust Me, I'm a Mom
A Letter To Myself (As a New Mom) ~ Peace but Not Quiet
Becoming Mama ~ It's A Long Story
Simply Mom ~ Plain Vanilla Mom

Alright, friends, have fun! I'll be back later in the week with some fun baby stuff!

Be blessed,
Heather

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