Houdini Proof Footie Pajamas

My youngest always gets out of her pajamas. She never took a pacifier, but picks at her belly button to go to sleep. I can't explain it, but its always been this way!

My solution has been - zipper in the back!

Fabulous idea, but last year I made three pairs all at once, and tried them on her after sewing them.... to find that they didn't fit. I really wish that I had taken pictures at the time but it didn't occur to me.

Now when I say they didn't fit, I mean - they didn't fit. First off, they were way too long. I had to safety pin about 3 inches off of each side so it didn't fall off the bottoms of her feet. I also discovered, after the first time putting her to bed in a set, that she could climb right out of the neck hole.

I'm sure my child isn't the only one pulling night-time Houdini tricks, and with the cold weather, I'm sure we can agree we want them to wake up in the same outfit they went to sleep in. So..... Here is a tutorial on how to take the Peek a Boo Pattern Shop classic footie pajamas and convert them from front zipper to back zipper.

The first difference will be how you cut your pieces. Make sure that you have two back pieces and that your front piece is one piece, cut on fold.

These are the back pieces. There are two, cut where the fold would normally be.

Complete steps 1 and 2 the same as in the pattern.

For step 3,  sew the point of the crotch to the front piece, matching middles.

Skip to step 11.  Sew using Amy's method, or by the method I used. Match back pieces at middle. Sew basting stitch (I used the longest stitch I had so it would be easy to pick out later).

Press back pieces apart. Center zipper on this seam.

Sew around zipper (sewing fabric sides of zipper to the pajamas).

Seam rip basting stitch.

Top stitch around zipper. Mine does not look pretty at all, but I definitely wanted them to be functional, so I didn't mind! Catch up at step 13.

Now, there is that little rough piece at the bottom of the zipper (I had to cut mine). To cover this up and ensure Little C's comfort, I cut a 1" x 2" strip. I folded this so it was 1 x 1" square and sewed it beneath the bottom of the zipper. Then I pressed it up so it covered the rough end of the zipper and stitched close to the top of the flap. Voila! No irritation!

I did not alter my neck ribbing at all from the original pattern. The only thing I omitted was sewing the angles where the front center would be.

Please let me know if you have any questions!!!!

Aha, zipper in back!

We are in the bunny ears phase!

This was the full zip version

Thanksgiving Tablescapes (kiddie table)

Heck yeah, kiddie table!

I don't recall ever having a Thanksgiving large enough that we needed to separate the kids onto another table, but man, the fun that would have been. If you have a family full of little nieces and nephews, I think giving them their own table is a fun idea! They have a little bit of independence, and c'mon, you know how hilarious their conversations are!

First things first, waterproof tablecloth. I don't even have to tell you why.

Second off, although I love the idea of embroidered placemats, its not really practical if you're going to give your little people free reign. You'll stress less if you don't have your heart set on perfection. Believe me, lesson learned the hard way!

Here is what I did. I decided on a plain red tablecloth because its festive enough without being in your face. If you want to go with a table runner, keep it fun. After all, this is the kids table! I would totally suggest snatching up some of this fabric at JoAnns if you can find it!

Next, get your kids involved!

Remember that you want everyone to feel thankful so integrating your munchkins into the fun is going to help them understand the holiday and also make them feel like you're thankful for them. Of course, they'll know it more if they hear it, so make sure you tell them!

I am a HUGE sucker for handprint art. I love love love seeing hand-made crafts by my littles. First, trace their hands onto some colored cardstock. JoAnns has a great selection of colors to choose from.








Arrange them however you like. You can use just one color or multiple colors. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect! You can stagger them so you can see all the feathers, I especially suggest this for little hands! For my six year old's and mine, the heel of the palm were all even, and the fingers were more fanned out.



Next cut a circle for the body. Now, we aren't going to leave it like a circle. Cut off the bottom. You'll need a flat area so your turkey can stand later.

Drumroll please..... we need wings! This is going to look a little like a rounder version of the Nike symbol, but not quite a jelly bean.

Cut out another circle, but smaller. This is your turkey's head. Now, your child can either cut out eyes and a beak or draw them onto the head - whichever they, or you, prefer.

These are the wings and beak!

Don't forget the red gobble thingy. According to google, this is called a wattle.

Last but not least, we need to make it stand. Cut a strip of paper, I used orange since the stand is a lot like feet. You want to try to get it as close as you can to a 30/60/90 degree triangle. It will stand up best if there is a right angle along the bottom.

Once the glue is all dry, you have a great memory and a centerpiece for your kidlet table!

Don't have kids? Or this project isn't for you? Check out other great projects here! 

And, for hanging through til the end, a coupon just for you!

Jo-Anns shopping list:

- Cardstock (I used 7 pages I think)

- Allene's glue

- Sharpie

Being thankful and giving back

I've been trying to impart the idea of empathy into my little girls. I want them to have compassion and to think about the needs of others, weighing the impact on others into their decisions.

When I was a kid, my family volunteered, my church volunteered, my girl scout troop was very involved with community service... and I believe it taught me quite a bit about the needs of others. One of the groups I volunteered for when I was about 8 or 9 was PAWS, which keeps adoptable kittens and cats inside of the Petsmart where I grew up. What is awesome about animals is that you learn intuition and routine. Animals have basic needs that must be met in order for them to survive, but they can't communicate it to you the way most humans can. My girls are probably too young to volunteer with the care of pets just yet, so we decided to donate some much needed items.

A facebook event called Thanksgiving for the Animals wrote out a list of most-requested items. A couple pattern makers I know, the lovely ladies behind Aivilo Charlotte and Swoon, were rewarding their customers with free patterns (they speak my language!) so I went off to Dollar Tree with the intention of spending about what I would have spent on two free PDF patterns. Disappointed with the dog food at Dollar Tree, we left with only two gallons of bleach. We went on over to Walmart and picked up 30 pounds of dog food.

The Duplin County animal shelter is closed on Saturdays, so we dropped off our items at the Jacksonville shelter.

My youngest, of course, begged to look at the kitties. And it unfolded a bit like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

If you decide to get some donations for an animal shelter, you'll have to drop them off.

When you drop them off, you'll have to look at the kittens.

Kittens will remind you of how playful your dog was when he was a puppy. You'll want to go look at them.

When you look at the dogs, you'll feel sorry for them and wish they had a home for the holidays.

You'll take your girls to the park nearby and the image of doggies with no homes will play in your mind over and over like the pound scene from Lady and the Tramp. Of course, you'll make your way back to the shelter to meet the pups.

You'll decide to take one home.


Okay, so I'm no Laura Numeroff. My story didn't quite go full circle.
However, the point is that I'm quite happy with the girls' and my decision to give back. I'm so glad that I decided to take a peek at who they had in the back because this little cutie is adorable.

Everyone, meet Nestlé.

 

Thanksgiving Tablescapes (Grown-Up Table)

Hey everyone!

I hope that you are getting ready for some great quality time with your loved ones this holiday season!

This will be (if memory serves) the first year that I've been married that I won't have a bunch of Marines over at my house. Its not easy to be far from home and all alone at the holidays, so our house became a gathering point for those with no place to go. Everything was provided. Except the yams. I don't eat 'em, so I won't make 'em.

Our Thanksgivings have generally been more casual than the traditional dinners you might see in the commercials, but it worked really well for our young crew. In the past, I've broken out all the silverware, glasses and plates I had in order to get everyone fed. It was a beautiful mis-mash of love, but this year, I'm hoping to have things a little more put together.

First things first, I need my coffee. I found the most perfect mug rug, designed by Rockin' Embroidery, and I'll be using it even after Thanksgiving. If you have an embroidery machine and would like to make it, you can buy the design at her Etsy shop here. The stippling effect on the coaster is gorgeous. (PS Stay tuned for a wish list for Black Friday deals!!!)

We tend to eat a big lunch/dinner combo and sit down to enjoy the football game. Sadly this year there will be no PFCs and Lance Corporals to do my dishes. Sad. ;n) Since I won't have to worry about setting the table for lunch, I only have to set the table once. For dinner. This year, I decided to do it with an embroidered Thanksgiving set. I could have made placemats, but I decided to use store bought ones and embroider them with Sulky and Mettler threads from JoAnns. The design is from Nobbie Neez Kids.

Check out the JoAnn craft catalog for more great ideas!

Your JoAnns shopping list for these projects:
- Coupon! (See bottom of today's blog!)

Mug Rug
- Stabilizer
- Desired fabric (only about a 5" x 5" square needed for the 4x4 coaster)
- Threads
- Rockin' Embroidery design

Placemat
- Stabilizer
- Placemat
- Threads
- Brown and black fabric scraps
- NobbieNeezKids design

Utensil Holder
- Felt
- Stabilizer
- Threads
- NobbieNeezKids design

Stay tuned for the kid's table blog tomorrow!

Thinking and Thanking

This is completely off-base from the tutorials I've been posting, but I thought you might want to know a little more about me... So sharing my thoughts from today seems like a good way to do that.

So, earlier today a friend from my Bible study posted an article about the importance of yelling. It was a good thing for me to read, since lately I've been reflecting on our family's habits and making changes. Our changes work for our family; I'm not judging anyone else or telling anyone else to follow me blindly... what works for us may not work for anyone else in the world. And that is the beauty of life.

I have often complained that babies do not come with a manual. At least the 2007 and 2009 models didn't. Based on stories from my new-mommy-again friends, I don't believe instructions came with the 2013 model either.

My biggest issue has been finding balance.

For those of you who know me personally, you know I used to be a Marine. For those of you who only know me through my shop, Facebook or blog, this might seem surprising. I loved my job, and being the go-to admin girl at my unit. I was good at it, and I had junior Marines in my shop, so I got used to the day-in, day-out management life. Then I traded it all in to be a stay at home mommy. A manic person who barely came up to my waist now dictated my day. To top it all off, there was another one baking in my belly. What had I gotten myself into?

Before, I could yell and scream at my juniors if I wanted to. With your own kiddos, its different. Could I do it? Yes. I've seen other parents, and perhaps it works for them. But I didn't want to be that type of mother.

Still, old habits die hard.

When those habits overcome me, my right hand (on its own) snaps and forms a knife-hand, and my tone changes instantly.

And yes, yelling so loud the ground shakes has its benefits. Immediately, you command attention. Sometimes it is good, like the woman who almost ran over my two girls and I in a parking lot... but its not who I want my children to know me as. If it comes out now and then, I'm okay with that. Especially if it isn't directed at them.

My identity as a mother is a fierce one. I love fiercely. I hurt for them fiercely. I dream for them fiercely. Controlling my harsher side when they make mistakes has been a fight. An internal Jekyll/Hyde type fight. I'm not writing this because I feel like I've been a horrible, awful mother, scaring my children into a militant, instant-obedience-to-orders mentality (I don't really believe I would have been successful in that endeavor had I tried) but I wanted to share a little bit about how it is a struggle for everyone.

My kids make mistakes. A lot of mistakes. They're kids and this is how they learn. Our dog thanks them often for scraps and spills on the floor. They've taken every pin out of my pincushion and put them into my couch. They've lied to my face. Instead of yelling or spanking, challenging them and getting them to put into words what they have done and why it is wrong has been more effective than anything else I've tried. And grace is what makes it feel like an accomplishment by the end of the ordeal. I'm hoping that the conversations we have after any incident will become their internal logic and eventually they'll use that logic before making 'bad decisions'.

Right now, I'm thankful for my children. I'm thankful for their youth. They always see me with new eyes, and that is an enormous and gracious blessing.