Let's try this...

So no real surprise, my computer is broken again. Apparently I downloaded a virus, even though I never downloaded anything. I don't get it but Mark has once again confiscated my computer.

I decided I will try using blogger for my phone. I could use the iPad but it really annoys me.

After some discussions today about what we want for 2012 and planning a vacation, Mark and I are really going to buckle down our spending. I am very aware that I am the spender. Anything I see for Eliza, I buy. So we are going to start this buy doing "just don't do it January" this is similar to "no spend November" which I totally failed at. We have agreed we will not go out to eat and I will not buy anything for Eliza that isn't required for her health or daily essentials.

I am also going to try to make a monthly meal plan. Hopefully this will keep us from going out to eat, and help when I coupon shop.

I really hope this works, I know we only have ourselves to blame if it doesn't, but we need to find a simpler way of life.

Throughout January you will see updates and some money saving tips from me along with my normal updates and crafts.

If you have any money saving tips please feel free to share!!

Here is a picture of Eliza to make you happy. We went to a Christmas event locally with my sister, here we are in the sleigh!!

Happy Happy Birthday To You!

Eliza Marie...

Today you are one year old. At 6:22 pm you quietly came into this world to forever change my life. I don't know how to put into words all that you mean to me. Your smile melts my heart and your voice lifts my soul. I thank Jesus for you everyday. I pray to make you as happy as you make me.

I love you my Angel

Here Fishy Fishy-Wordless Wednesday

You, get in here

Tutorial Tuesday-Santa's Key

I saw this idea and thought it would be super fun to make for Eliza. When we were little I always wondered how Santa got in the house, we didn't have a chimney. I am pretty sure my parents said they would leave the front door open for him. Now, we have a chimney at our house, but if Eliza ever asked how he could get in, I thought this key would be cute.

Supplies:

Paper for a tag
Glitter
Scrapbook paper
Old time key
Spray Paint
Ribbon
Mod Podge

Start out with your old time key, I definitely didn't have one laying around so I went and got a pack from Joanns, they have them in the scrapbook section. There are a variety of keys in the pack, and some have words printed on them, I thought "memory" was perfect.

I wanted mine to all be silver so I spray painted it a few times.

White it was drying I took some glitter glue and went around the edge of my tag. This tag was just in a pack of tags, again from Joanns

White THAT was drying I cut Santa's name on my Cricut. I used a super shiny paper. I then used the mod podge to lay it down. If you go over the glitter, once it is dry, with the mod podge it will keep the glitter from going everywhere.

Now that everything is dry, use your ribbon to tie the tag to the key and hang it on the door so Santa can get in!

I think it turned out super cute, I hope Eliza likes it when Santa comes to visit again!

Dear Santa...I'm Sorry

Cookies ready for Santa

I just wanted one picture BY the cookies, Eliza!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!

Sew Sew Sweet Saturday-Eliza's Elephant

When I was at Joanns one day I came across a do it yourself kit for stuffed animals. I had just purchased my sewing machine so I figured this would be the best way for me to start. I found an Elephant, my FAVORITE animal, and decided that would be perfect for Eliza.

The kit includes all of the fabric, directions, and the pattern. You need to supply the thread and stuffing.

Sorry I don't have a picture of the kit. I had one on my phone but then Eliza tried to eat it and lost all of my pictures.

So you start off by cutting the fabric to the specified sizes. The instructions are very thorough and tell you the size and shape of each piece and how much for a seam allowance.


You then take your pieces and sew them together, again how the instructions tell you. There is a certain pattern to follow for each piece so they line up properly when you sew it all together.

You will sew the pieces together and then mirror it for the second side.

Once all of your pieces are together you pin them together, inside out.

Then, pin the Elephant pattern onto your inside out fabric.

Cut it out.

While this is pinned you cut your pattern for the ears.

Sew them together inside out and then stuff. At this point I did it a little different then the directions but it all worked out.

You can now sew your Elephant together. It had me insert the ears first but I decided to wait until it was already all sewn together.

Once it was all sewn together you let out a little bit of seam from one of the patches and insert the ear and sew it into place.

It also gave directions on how to make a tail but I didn't like this for Eliza so I left that out.

Once it is all sewn together turn it inside out and stuff it! You can sew up the little hole you stuffed through and you are all set..I am still learning how to sew up that hole nicely but hey its closed!!

I made this for Eliza and put it away for Christmas. It is VERY big, a lot bigger then I ever expected, so it will be interesting seeing her try to carry it around.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial, the instructions are very easy to follow and for $10 all together, a great project!!

Tutorial Tuesday-Totally Forgot

So with everything going on lately I totally forgot to get my tutorial ready for this week. I made a super cute elephant for Eliza so I will post that for Saturday.

I do LOVE this ornament from Shanty 2 Chic so check out her tutorial!!

We had a great day again today. Eliza was AMAZING! She is so much fun. Here are a few highlights from the day-

Her first time at swim school!

Last Year

This time last year I was begging Eliza to come out. I was DONE being pregnant. I had stopped working at about 28 weeks so I was going stir crazy. I wanted to make sure she stayed in and cooked but I was ready to meet her. I was having a tough time knowing she would be a "Christmas Baby". I know what an honor that would be for her to share her birthday with Jesus, but lets be honest...you kind of get over shadowed. I wanted her here before Christmas. I had the tree up, gifts wrapped for her, and everything ready...but she wasn't ready. Thinking back on this time last year really makes me miss my belly, miss that squirming I loved, having this amazing bond with someone I didn't know at all-yet knew everything about. I was the only one she had ever known, this is a bond I could never trade.

I really miss being pregnant, even if Mark tells me I really don't. I guess it is true that you forget all the "bad" things and really remember how amazing it was. I am so thankful for Emily, she did our wedding pictures and agreed to see me every 4 weeks to track my pregnancy. There was a spot in a park near us that had a special funny memory for Mark and me so we decided to take a picture there every 4 weeks to see how I changed. I wore the same outfit...OK I had to change jeans at the end, and stood in the same spot. Here is how it changed...

8 weeks

12 weeks

16 weeks

20 weeks

24 weeks

28 weeks

32 weeks

36 weeks

We took this picture the week before we found out if she was a girl or boy..I did one with the sticker for both.

We are no where near ready to have another child, if we can, but I would give almost anything to have the squirmy feeling in my belly just for a day.