Sew Sew Sweet Saturday-Funky Dress

When I walk into the craft store I usually know what I am looking for. I go in and out within minutes, before Eliza can get into too much trouble. Recently, my local Jo-Anns rearranged their store. You can find most customers, and employees, walking around aimlessly in search of certain products.

As I searched for fabric the other day I came across this fabric.

I'll be honest, I don't know what it is supposed to be used for but I thought it would be an ADORABLE dress for Eliza. Maybe it is supposed to be a dress and I am not that creative. I will show you how easy it was to make this dress!

Supplies:

Fabric-I don't know what the fabric is called but they had a whole section of it
Sewing machine
Thread
Scissors
Iron
Ribbon

Start out with your fabric. I measured around Eliza's chest and then added 1 inch because of the seam.

Take your fabric and fold it in half, bring the edges together. Make sure you have your fabric the right side up(that is opposite of normal).

Pin your fabric together. The most important places to pin are where the ruffles start, the bottom and the top.

Now stitch from the top to the bottom as close as you can to the edge.

Turn your fabric inside out and iron the seam down flat.

Now pin your fabric together again, while it is inside out.  Make sure you pin it together so the original seam will be hidden in the new seam. You can feel it and just pin outside of it.

Again, run a stitch from top to bottom.

Turn it right side out and you should have a great seam. No fringe inside or out.

After I put this dress on Eliza I realized she could EASILY pull it down so I decided to add straps. I didn't do pics of this, sorry. All I did was take satin ribbon and stitch it on. I made sure to do the stitches in the stitching that is already part of the dress so they wouldn't be seen.

For a video tutorial on how to do the seam in the casing please check out this awesome video from The Crafty Gemini

Preventing the Heartache of Iatrogenic Infertility

Another article from EmpowHER came out today. It gives you all the information on prevention of Asherman's Syndrome. After my complications we did try the misoprostol, but unfortunately it did not work for us. Due to the complications, a D&C was unavoidable, but if they had noticed my retained placenta while still in labor we could have done a lot more.



I have also decided to try and move in another direction before my DR appt in April. My Aunt is having me do some blood tests to check my hormone levels. She feels as though some of my symptoms sound like a hormone imbalance. This can happen after delivery where your body still feels as though you may still be breast feeding(I am not) and prevents you from ovulating. It also causes exhaustion, irritability, mood swings(Mark TOTALLY agrees with this one), insomnia and many more that I have.

I will have this testing on Wednesday and the results hopefully by Friday. I will update you with the results. I will take the test results with me to the DR in April with hope that this may be my answer, or part of it.

EmpowHER-2

Here is the follow up to the article that I posted yesterday. I personally had my D&C 4 weeks after delivering Eliza, so that would put me at the 25% chance of Ashermans, not the 4% my DR pulled out of who knows where.

EmpowHER-2

Time to EmpowHER

This is a great article about Asherman's Syndrome. More women need to be informed about the risks of a "simple" d&c. In my heart, I know that my DR knows something is wrong, I am not sure why she won't discuss it. I have found a great group of ladies on Facebook who share their stories, some positive, some not, but I will not let it get to me. There is a chance, as you can read in the article, if you find the right DR. There is a DR in California that is very well respected, I might have to get over my fear of flying to go see him....or a REALLY long car ride!

The Dangers of D&C

Tutorial Tuesday-Anybody?

Well, not much in the way of tutorials this week. I have something super cute lined up for Easter next week!


I will share this tutorial with you though:

I used this tutorial, and a bit of my own creativity, to frame the mirror in Eliza's bathroom. I can't wait until the tile is done in there next week to show you the rooms! I figured there was no use doing a tutorial since there are tons out there. Make sure you read it through before just running to the store and asking for the supplies...
Thanks Blue Cricket Design for a great tutorial!!

And So It Begins...

This morning, I finally took the plunge, I did something I have been scared to do-dreading to do-for a year. I made an appointment with a Reproductive Endocrinologist/Infertility Specialist.

I recently went and saw my OBGYN, just to check in on things. I expressed some of my concerns regarding my health and I was shocked at the response. She told me they were valid concerns, and she would be concerned as well, but that she does not want to move forward with any testing. She asked if Mark and I were going to start trying to conceive(TTC), I explained not at this time but I am trying to be ahead of the game with a diagnosis. She said that she would like to wait to do anything until we TTC, if that pregnancy results in a miscarriage then she will do testing. WHAT??!! You want me to wait until I loose my child to do a test? She explained that the testing can be a bit invasive and she is concerned that it could cause more damage. She put me on birth control(I have not been on anything as we were trying to let my body regulate itself) and told me to come back when I am pregnant.

Well, I left there with a very heavy heart, and a t-shirt soaked with tears. I called Mark, texted my best friends, and pleaded with God. How can all of this be happening? How can she be so insensitive, especially when this is technically their fault!! Due to the delivering DR missing part of my placenta, I had to have emergency surgery to remove it about 4 weeks later. I knew the risks were that I might not be able to have more kids, but what else could I do? I couldn't continue to hemorrhage. The surgical DR told me the chances of that happening were very slim...well, I guess not too slim.

After much research, and discussion with other patients and my Aunt(nurse practitioner for GYN) we feel that I have Asherman's Syndrome. Due to how delicate my uterus was at the time of surgery it looks as though adhesions might have closed, or collapsed, my uterus. When carrying a child you need your uterus to be round like a basketball so it can expand as the child grows, mine(might) be like a pancake, unable to expand.

There are treatments for Ashermans, surgeries and infertility treatments that might help, but aren't usually very successful. With the cards already stacked against us with me having endometriosis, and ovarian cysts, it might be a very long and difficult road to baby 2-3-4.

So I will start this journey with an open mind and an open heart. Although we aren't ready to have more kids, I want to know what lies ahead for us so we are prepared when we are ready.
I hope you will follow along on this journey, I will be as open and honest as I can. My appointment isn't until April 20th, so we have some time. Until then I will continue to enjoy the miracle God has already given us! 

Smocka-what??

My name is Kalyn Ernest and I am a....

Do your kids wear smocked clothing? Are you wondering what the heck I am talking about? If you are Southern, you must think this is nothin! Here in Michigan, smocked clothing is not a trend, but I love it!

I have found a few Facebook pages that mommas(I guess maybe some dads) go and buy and sell their kids smocked clothing. I am OBSESSED. I have bought the rest of Eliza's summer clothes this way. I am seriously obsessed! If anyone ever wants to buy my child anything, check with me, I am sure there is a smocked outfit I want!!

None of her new clothes have come yet, most scheduled to arrive tomorrow, and I am DYING to see them!!

Shrimp and Grits(so funny, means girls and boys) is my favorite brand right now, here are a few of my favorites!!!

These are called bubbles

This is reversible, two outfits in one!!

Oh my word!

I love that they also do matching outfits for siblings. Maybe if/when we have a baby #2 they will match!!

I will try to get some photos when our new outfits arrive. I hope she is as cute in them as I picture!
She might stick out, and be "out of trend" here in Michigan, maybe we need to move to the south!!

Sew Sew Sweet Saturday-Pillow Case Dress

Here we are for another SSS, I haven't been doing them lately because, well I haven't sewn anything.

I have been getting Eliza's closet ready for summer and realized I don't have much for her. I am sure most people think I have plenty, but I like to have a lot of options for her, and the more I have, the less often I have to do laundry.

I started looking at tutorials on how to make her a Pillow Case dress and it seemed so easy. All of the YouTube tutorials tell you how to do it, but not the sizing and pattern. I decided to grab a pattern while I was at Jo-Anns picking up some other things.

The sweetest lady helped me, she showed me how to pick out a pattern, how to read the package for the things you need and pick out my fabrics.

I got home, put Liezy down for a nap and got all of my supplies ready. I pulled my pattern out and OH MY WORD, it is so overwhelming.

So here I sit, with a pattern, fabric and supplies and no clue how to read it. I am incredibly overwhelmed and already frustrated. I have folded the pattern back up and slid it under the couch. Maybe that will be a project for a different day.

Since I am unable to show you the best way to make it, here are a few great tutorials on how to!

Single Layer

Double Layer

Triple Layer

Sorry for being lame this week, I just don't have the brain power to figure it out! Hopefully in the next few weeks I will master this!


UPDATE: Well, after laying around in self pitty I picked myself up and attempted to follow the tutorials myself and BAMN: 

It might not be boutique quality, or even leave the house quality, but it is made! I definitely learned how to do some things, and how to do it different. I can't wait to try and make another one, with a little more time, patience, and RUFFLES!

Don't mind the picture, she refused to stand still for me so I had to go outside the door and have her stand and watch the kids next door play.

Wordless Wednesday-Ooooh

Tutorial Tuesday-St Patricks Day Canvas

Happy St Patrick's Day everyone! I know I am a few days late, sorry

Here is a quick little tutorial to dress up any room!

Supplies:

Canvas(square)
Paint
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Hot Glue
Mod Podge

Start out with a canvas, I used one that I messed up a project on before.

It was supposed to be Eliza's feet as a reindeer

Take your canvas and paint it, spray paint works great for these. I used green for obvious reasons

Now take your scrapbook paper and cut it into equal squares. I used two different papers for this, I can't believe how difficult it is to find St Pattys paper! Make sure you cut them smaller then your canvas so there is room at the top and in between the pieces.

Lay them out along with your top piece. The top piece should be bigger then the smaller pieces so it overlaps nicely, but still leaves the edges to be seen.

Once you are happy with it, glue down your paper. I really wish I had used my spray adhesive(I forgot I had it), mod podge can make paper pretty wrinkly.

Allow it to try, you can mod podge over it if you would like to really seal it, but again it gets wrinkled so I just let it be.

Once it is dry, make your bow and glue it on.
 
This project takes about 10 minutes to make(once the paint is dry) and is great to display in a dish holder!

Well, That's A Bummer

After much discussion, and number crunching, and begging, and rearranging, and bribery, Mark and I have decided to put the kibosh on building the house I L-O-V-E. The builder was wonderful, he did his best to stay in our budget, showing us up front the cost of things and different ways to cut down, but to incorporate everything that we wanted, it just wouldn't work.

Buh-bye Cornell

I always knew building a house is much more expensive then buying one, but I figured right now with the housing market we would be able to do it. Once we realized the cost of the house-grass-landscaping-patio-blinds, it just wouldn't work. That house had everything we wanted, and needed, to become the family of 6 that I want, but right now it just won't work. I was in a rush to try to get in before the interest rates went up, and I was willing to compromise a few things for others. One of my friends, Courtney, built with this builder and had a good point. For now just do the structural things that are important(like the playroom) and do the upgrades(granite) at a different time. Even when we tried to do that, we were still about $15k over budget.

In the world of mortgages $15k is only about $75 more per month, but that is $75 I would like to leave open to do other things, and it is over our agreed upon budget. I don't ever want to have to tell Eliza no she can't do something because of our house payment.

So the search continues. I even think God tried to tell me I made the right choice because a house came on the market, in our price range, with everything that we wanted. Unfortunately it is a little too far out for Mark's work, but it is proof the houses do exist.

I will continue to do my weekly update of the rooms of the "new house", just to show you my style and what I hope to do one day.

We are continuing to update the house with the hopes of selling it when we find a house. The painters are making a whole bunch of noise as we speak. I did a few before and during pictures of the bathrooms, I will do a post with the after photos when it is all done!

Another Day Closer-Dining Room

Last week I showed you what I would like to use as inspiration for our new Laundry/Mud Room. This week I will show you the Dining Room.

We aren't very much closer to moving or selling. We have painters coming, hopefully next week, to paint the two bathrooms, and then the tile guys will come after that. I can't wait for that project to be done! Nothing too new on the "new house" front. I got a referral for a great mortgage guy from a good friend of ours, hopefully we will be able to talk to him soon and figure out a plan.

Enough talking, more pinning. You can find all of my house ideas on my Pinterest Page.

I love the shelves on the wall instead of a buffet

Frame some fabric for wall art

I love wainscoting and the tray ceiling

I love the colors, have to have enough natural light

Do one wall of paper, or fabric, for accent

I really like our current dining room color, it is a burnt orange, and it looks great with our furniture. Unfortunately it is really hard to find art to go with it. I am ready for a change and some nicer, calmer colors.

Lets Get Motivated!

As a stay at home mom/blogger/wife/chef/maid/therapist/friend/etc it is hard to get everything done in a day. I once read you should do the things you dislike the most first, then you will do the things you like best to end your day...um that is so unrealistic in my head!

I am pretty good at getting the "mom" stuff done. Eliza is fed, changed, and played with on a consistent enough basis that my sister, CPS worker, has not attempted to take her away..yet.

As a blogger I slip sometimes, especially when I get a virus and my computer is confiscated, but I tend to get out a few posts a week and definitely keep up on my favorite blogs.

As a wife...well he hasn't left me yet so that is A-OK in my book.

Chef? Got it! I didn't say I was a 5 star chef but I have my meal plan all set for the month so that is taken care of.

But here comes the tricky part....maid. I am proud to say I DESPISE CLEANING!! I am really shocked at anyone who likes cleaning...I enjoy the end result, but not the actual work. Growing up I hated to do my chores so much that I would really push it. My mom ended up having to give me deadlines because I would push it as far as I could. Even with the deadlines, I would start the chores 5 minutes before they were to be finished. It was quite the battle...in steps therapist...yep we discussed my aversion to chores in therapy, good $ spent right?

At 27 I still can not stand it. I will still push it until the last minute...hearing the garage door open to start throwing laundry in drawers so Mark notices how "busy" I was all day. There are so many better things to do then cleaning...Swim Class, Hide n Seek, Dr Phil, Real Housewives, Staring Contests with the dog...anything is better then cleaning.

A few months back my cousin posted on Facebook about cleaning, she was looking for tips on how to be more efficient. I checked into the post and her sister mentioned "clean 10 minutes every hour". This sounded like a great idea. With a little one roaming around I could easily get 10 minutes of cleaning in without her jumping from the roof. Well, this became overwhelming in itself. I only have 10 minutes what do I clean? What can I get done in just 10 minutes? This turned into FORGET IT!

Now in no way is my house dirty, it just isn't always perfectly neat and tidy. I needed help. A friend of mine told me about an app she had found and it is a GOD SEND! It is the answer to all of my cleaning prayers.

Motivated Moms is a printable or downloadable chore planning system to help you have a clean and organized home and still have time for yourself! Motivated Moms is a great idea for anyone who would like an easy system to help them to know what to do each day. Just consult the list, do the work, check it off for the day and enjoy your free time!

This app has truthfully saved my home. Every day I get up before Eliza and go to the list on my phone. They are quick tasks you can get done in just a few minutes.

They also include daily bible readings, if you would like, and also allow you to add in your own task.

I am now able to keep my house up, in between Peek-A-Boo and Dr. Phil, and not feel overwhelmed.

You can purchase printable lists here or download the app, for Iphone and Ipad only here. The best part is the app is only $7.99 for the entire year!!

If you have any questions about this program please ask, I would love to help out.

In no way has Motivated Moms asked me to write this, I just love it this much.

Wordless Wednesday-Eliza

Another Day Closer-The Laundry/Mud Room

Another Day Closer to my dream....moving out of this neighborhood!

This weekend we went and toured 2 houses that are able to be built in the neighborhood we like. Mark and I each liked one, but didn't agree on the same one. After some discussion we came to the conclusion that the one Mark likes is more practical. We are able to do a lot of modifications on it, so it will be exactly what we want.

The only thing holding us back from moving is the house we are currently in. If we could sell it tomorrow we would be all set. Granted, we have not put it on the market yet, it still hasn't sold. We are still doing updates to the house to help get it ready to show. This weekend we did a coat of paint in the basement, and I started working on the gardens a bit. It was almost 70 today so while Eliza slept, and Mark worked, I had to be outside.

I decided to start making Pinterest boards for each of the rooms in the "new house". Since we have a lot of say in how it is designed, I really want to be prepared.

I decided I will try to post a board each week to show you all of my ideas. This week I am going to start on the Laundry Room/Mud Room. It isn't the most fascinating room in the house but since I just started a load of diapers in the washer, and I am annoyed at the layout, I felt this would be best to start with.

The Laundry Room was originally located on the second floor but Mark and I both agreed we don't want that. Besides the thought of a flood, it is right next to "Eliza's Bedroom", and I do so much laundry while she is asleep I can't see this working. We talked it over with the builder and we have decided to extend the mudroom on the first floor and put the laundry in there. We are going to turn the upstairs laundry room into a walk in closet for Eliza and also have it plumbed for a bathroom if we want one in her room in the future.

Here is what I hope to have in there

One for each bedroom

Like the "lockers" and the place for wet shoes

Cute way instead of lockers

Amen!

L-O-V-E the tall wainscoting

A small area of print. Use fabric instead of wallpaper so I can change it out easily

Much better, and cuter, then the basket I keep mine in

Love the colors

Love all the windows

Stack them to save room

Bench Hooks and Cubbies

I hope I can find a way to incorporate a lot of this. I better get my tools ready!!

Quick Note

I recently found these adorable ABC Scripture Cards thanks to Dina! I thought they would be wonderful for Eliza's Easter basket, I even snagged one for her boyfriend one of her little buddies.

There are 26 cards that go through the alphabet and each card has scripture that starts with that letter. It comes with a cute little stand, or a magnet to hang them up. It even came in an adorable box that I didn't have to wrap to give to my friend!

These are a great way to learn ABC and scripture!!

Don't take it personal Eliza, this just so happens to be the one I picked for example.