{New schedule} Yay!

Hey all! I have decided that in order to bring you great content on a regular basis, I need to come up with a weekly schedule of posts. In the next week or so, I am going to be introducing a few brand new weekly series that I am super excited about. So stay tuned for some new and exciting things!

Here's the new schedule:

Sunday: Sunshine Sunday- Family updates

Monday: Better You Challenge

Tuesday: Being Mommy- parenting tips, activities for kids, reflections on motherhood

Wednesday: Ask Elizabeth Series

Thursday: Craft review, tutorial, or sewing tips. 

Friday: Favorite products, or recipes.

Saturday: Off day- no new posts. Happy weekend everyone :)

I am really happy with where this blog is going so far. It is seeing the growth I had hoped for, and is being received very well. I just want to thank everyone who has been reading. I hope I can keep it interesting enough for you to come back often. Please let me know if there is anything you want more of, and let me know of any questions you have. I love feedback, and it really helps me keep the momentum up ;) Enjoy your weekend! Yeah baby!

{my thoughts for today}

Here are my thoughts for today: 

//One thing I feel like I am constantly being reminded of is to cherish the healthy relationships I have with the people who are there for me, and who are the positive influences in my life, and to spend less time with the negative ones, the people who bring me down, the black clouds.

//I think most everyone has those people in their lives that for some reason or another just have negativity all around them. Distancing yourself from these people is the best thing to do.

//For me, I try to always remember the people who have been there for me unconditionally, throughout the years no matter what. These are the people I put my energy into.

//On that note, I am going to bed tonight thankful for the loving and supportive family and friends we have. We are so blessed to have such great positive people surrounding us and cheering us on. 

Boo Boo Bag Sewing Tutorial

While stocking my online shop, I decided to add one of our family favorites. Then I decided why not make a tutorial out of it?...

I made a few of these when our son was little and just starting to wobble around, getting little bumps and bruises multiple times a day. They are perfect because they are super soft, and flexible, AND they can be used hot or cold- like an ice pack, or a heat pack! My son loves his, and I've used them a few times too! We keep them in the freezer for those unavoidable bumps and falls. But they can easily be heated in the microwave for a few seconds if you need a little hot pack. (Just stick a small cup of water next to the bags in the microwave to prevent the microwave from drying out.) They are filled with rice, so they are completely safe too. (*Disclaimer: The small pieces that are inside this bag may cause a choking hazard. I do not recommend leaving young children alone with these in case of breakage.)

I've also been known to heat up a couple of them in the winter to use as hand warmers! Just stick them in your pockets, or inside your mittens to keep your hands toasty + warm! The kids think these are so fun! Everyone at the bus stop will want a pair!

These little bags are even great for games. They can be used just like bean bags! So versatile!

Looking for an easy beginner sewing project? This is a quick instant gratification project! And if you're not up for making them yourself, you can find them in my shop, here. (Set to open on July 18, 2013).

So, let's get started:

You'll need:

- fabric scraps (I like to use flannel, or even fleece for this project for softness, but cotton would work too)

- rice

- a sewing machine

- scissors

- thread

- ruler

First, you'll want to measure and cut your pieces. I used 3 inch by 4 inch rectangles for my project. You can play around with a size that fits your needs. I like the smaller sizes because they are perfect for little hands, and they fit nicely in my pockets if I'm using them as hand warmers.

Next, place right sides together and sew all the way around using about a 1/4 inch sewing allowance. Make sure to leave a small section open for turning! I usually start about an inch before one corner, and end 1 or 1 1/2 inches away from where I started, leaving a nice gap.

Clip the corners, trim the edges to remove bulk, and turn right side out.

Fill bag about 3/4 of the way full with rice.

Then fold edges in, and sew opening closed. I just use my sewing machine, but for a nicer closing finish you could hand sew it closed. Clip thread, and you're finished!

Enjoy!

Let me know what you think of your Boo Boo Bags, and my tutorial! 

xxxx

Elizabeth

My dentist visit + shop update

//Yesterday I had my second set of cavities filled {ever}. They were working on my two front teeth, of which I had a cavity in the middle. It was on the back of the teeth, but visible from the front, so there was a black spot in between my two front teeth. Blah. 

//The needles to numb my mouth hurt pretty bad. More blah. And the whole thing was quite uncomfortable.

//But, alas, no more black in between my front teeth! Which I'm pretty excited about. I still need a bunch of work, but this is one step closer to the smile I've always dreamed of.

//Now for my shop update - Because we've had a busy week visiting with my parents and enjoying the holiday, I am pushing my online shop grand opening to July 18th. I really want to make sure it's ready before launching. With these extra few days I know it will be even more great! Yeah baby!

Weekend fun!

                     The weekend has just begun and we are already making the most of it.

//We woke up early this morning and went to our local orchard to pick fresh blueberries. This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. Have you ever tried blueberries straight from the bush? They are amazing! So tasty and complete goodness. One of the best tastes of summer. 

//After picking blueberries we went over to the orchard market for some farm fresh eggs, green beans, and apple cider donuts! Yummy! Later we will make blueberry muffins, and zucchini bread from a giant zucchini my father in law grew!

//We plan to spend the rest of the weekend with my parents, soaking up our time with them as much as we can before they go back to Ohio. Oh, and in between all of that I am taking little breaks to work on Hoot & Bumble :)

fourth of july!

Happy 4th of July!

This was our baby celebrating his first 4th of July. 3 years ago.

//We are celebrating today by visiting with my parents {who are here visiting from their temporary home in Ohio}. Later on tonight we are going to my father in laws friend farm for fireworks! I'm super excited because it's been a few years since we've seen them, and Jackson has never seen them. So I'm excited for him too. 

//I bought some new fabric today, and can't wait to be in my work shop this weekend! I've got some new things planned. I've also been working on some new patterns for some brand new designs. I'm super excited about what's to come at Hoot & Bumble! I can't wait to show you what I'm working on.

What are you doing today to celebrate our freedom?

Whatever you do, I hope everyone has a safe and fun fourth of July!

xxxx

Elizabeth

{On doing it all}

*Online Shop Update- I think I am only a few days away from launching my online shop! It's coming along!

“It's not always that we need to do more but rather that we need to focus on less.” 
― Nathan W. Morris

//I've been pondering this idea in my own words a lot lately. Since I married my soul mate, Kyle, and since we've had a baby of our own {who is 3 years old already!}, I've been trying to do everything that is included in the roles of wife and mother. I stress when our house is not always tidy. I worry that I'm not doing my job as Mommy the "correct" way. I worry that I'm not doing enough for my family. I work, as a nanny. I go to school part time. I just turned my hobby into a job that I call Hoot & Bumble. I am always doing something. It never ends.

//Lately, I've realized that something has to give. I can't give my 100% to all of those things. So, as I add a new business to my resume, and to our family, I have to reorganize my life. So with that, I have committed to decluttering, and simplifying my life. We had a large yard sale this past weekend with all the treasures we found while organizing the basement after it flooded. We are only keeping what we absolutely need {because it should be easier to keep the house clean with less stuff in it, right?!}

//I am also learning to stop worrying about so many things. I am a worry wart by nature, but the last few months have really taught me that God is in control. I am learning to let go, and let God handle everything. He has a plan for me, and for my family, and everything that is happening is happening for a reason. I cannot stress about the little things in life. Especially not when there are so many others out there with much worse problems than what I have. I have to realize that I {we} are exactly where we are supposed to be at this very moment. Remembering this, is helping me organize my life, and my every day thoughts into simpler motions.

//Thankfully, I have a husband that isn't bothered when he comes home from work and the house is a mess because I've dropped everything to be with our toddler, or do my homework. Or simply because I needed a craft day. Kyle is the perfect person for me, and my personality, and the past almost 8 years with him have taught me so much about myself and our relationship. All he has to do is look at me, and give me a hug, and any worries I may have had are washed away. He's amazingly perfect.

// So, as I learn to simplify my life, let go of my worries, and trust that I am doing everything the best I can, and I am doing a good job at it, I will try to focus less on the little things in life, and more on what really matters = my family, and our goals- both big and small.

//I encourage all of you to do the same.

xxxx
Elizabeth