Where I Live - Thanksgiving Point Museum of Natural Curiosity

It's been a while since I blogged about fun things to do in Utah, but I felt like a visit to Thanksgiving Point's new Museum of Natural Curiosity warranted a post. Please note, all opinions are all my own.

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Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi Utah, has a promotion during August called "$2 Tuesday." That is why my kids and I ended up braving the crowds to see the Museum of Natural Curiosity yesterday. We had originally planned to visit the farm, but just as we left the house, a lovely summer rainstorm began. I didn't feel like slogging through farm mud in my flip-flops, so we changed plans.

Upon arriving, we saw the line to get into the building and I started to get a little worried. It is obvious that this museum is busy because they have partitions set up outside to direct the line, along with signs telling you how long you'll have to wait. We started out by the 60 minute wait sign. 45 minutes later, we were buying our tickets and getting the spiel about the rules of the museum. Entry cost us $6 thanks to the promotion, instead of the $39 it would've cost any other day. Worth the hassle? Probably.

We were informed that if we wanted a chance to visit the rope bridges in the Rainforest section, we needed to go get a timed wrist band immediately which would tell us when we could come back. Sort of like a Disney fast-pass... but less fancy.

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That's what we did... or tried to do. I approached the attendant to ask about wrist bands (at 2:30 PM) and was informed that the next entry time was 6:45 PM. I literally laughed out loud and quickly retreated to deal with my kids' disappointment.

So, we decided to find other things to see. I consulted the map, which told me approximately nothing, then we started exploring. That's when we discovered Kidopolis, a kid-size city filled with all sorts of activities kids can do, from playing bank teller to performing on a theatre stage, x-raying stuffed animals, and playing musical instruments.

Eddie x-rays Fido.

This is where we spent the majority of our time, mostly because it was so crowded that the kids had to wait a while to get a turn for everything. The tiny rooms were difficult to navigate without a proper map and there weren't really instructions posted on how to use the various items in the rooms. Some of them were easier to figure out than others. And then some genius designer decided it would be fun to add in secret passages, which make it inevitable that parents will lose their kids.

After braving the swarms of children, the clearly overstimulated parents, and the tiny secret-passaged rooms for a while, I was ready to snap and decided it was time for a potty break and some time outside in the gardens.

The first thing we encountered upon exiting the building was the playground. It is a nice playground, with digging toys, spinning toys, a zip line, teeter-totters (who knew they still made those?!), and 2 swings... and hundreds of children. We played on the swings and waited in line for a teeter-totter, which was a huge hit with my kids. The line for the zip line was as long as the zip line itself, so I refused to let my kids wait for that. Instead, I convinced them to wander through the gardens with me to see what else there was (since we were uninformed by the map).

In addition to the playground, there is a koi pond with windows so you can see the fish, hedge mazes, a couple of caves, and Noah's Ark, which is actually a splash area that was closed yesterday during our visit.

This was my favorite place. Since it was closed, nobody was around. I defied the rules and let my kids climb up for a photo op. Then we ventured back through the hedge mazes, where I promptly lost both of my kids again.

Once I found my way out of the hedge and located both kids, I was completely overstimulated and exhausted. It started raining again, so we headed back inside to visit the Water Works section. Maybe it was because of the rain, but this area seemed extra crowded. There were lines for every exhibit, no instructions on how to use the exhibits or what the point of them was, so we didn't stay long. Despite screams of protest, I decided it was best for my sanity if we left as soon as possible.

My overall impression of this museum is that it would be fun if it was not crowded, but the cost of going during a less crowded time is way too high. Despite all the exhibits being designed for children, the areas were too cramped for the adults that children inevitably bring with them.

Have you visited this museum? I'd love to hear your thoughts about it!

A Few Book Reviews

I can't believe I've let over a month go by without blogging about all the books I've been reading! It's been 6 weeks since I posted my reading list, so I think it's high time I told you about the books I've finished so far.

A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough by Wayne Muller

I enjoy reading books about self-discovery and generally only read self-help books that are aimed more about the emotional/spiritual side of things. This one seemed to fit the bill. It wasn't available in my local library system, so I had to get it through inter-library loan, which took a while.

The book is more a series of short essays, so the book as a whole doesn't really seem to be whole. The writing was not terribly impressive, often feeling hurried and disjointed. But there were some tidbits of wisdom that I liked enough to make note of.

"If we are reluctant to update our position, we will live our days presuming that wherever we set our course when we began, however long ago, obviously describes precisely where we should be by now."

Overall, this book did help me see a different perspective on things like how I view myself, my responsibilities, my life, and my relationships.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with reservations.

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

This book was recommended to me by a friend, who discovered it in a book club. This is a book I probably never would've sought out without a recommendation because it doesn't seem like it would be all that interesting. But it really was.

This is an historical account of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 voyage to Antarctica. The original goal of this voyage was for a group of men to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent. The book documents the events leading up the voyage, then the voyage itself, which failed at its goal after the ship got stuck in the ice pack and eventually sunk.

This really is an incredible story that shows how resilient people really can be in the most difficult times. I especially loved that the book is written around first-hand accounts from interviews and journal entries and it even includes photos taken by the crew. If you like historical non-fiction, this is a great one.

“In that instant they felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment. Though they had failed dismally even to come close to the expedition's original objective, they knew now that somehow they had done much, much more than ever they set out to do.” 

Would I recommend it? Definitely yes.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

I love mother-daughter stories, and this one did not disappoint. This book is about a group of Chinese mothers and their Chinese-American daughters. Each chapter is told from a different person's perspective, so you get to know all the mothers and daughters. While their stories are so different, by the end, you can see how they are very much the same.

This was a fun and insightful read that really makes you think about relationships with those closest to you and how everyone has hidden parts of themselves. Ultimately, I think this book is about reconciling what you think you know about someone with who they really are. I think that is a universal struggle for aging children to come to see their parents as the complicated people they really are, and this book captures that perfectly.

“For unlike my mother, I did not believe I could be anything I wanted to be. I could only be me. ” 

Would I recommend it? Yes.

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

This is a fun, though sometimes frustrating story of a German immigrant family living in England during and after World War II. The book follows Mr. Rosenblum's obsessive desire to be viewed as a true Englishman, no matter the consequences. He does everything he can think of to be accepted, but when his requests for membership at various golf courses throughout England are all rejected, he is forced to take drastic measures.

The book follows Mr. Rosenblum as he sets out to build his own golf course, and in the process, learns a lot about himself, his family, and those he has tried so hard to be accepted by.

The family dynamics - particularly between Mr. and Mrs. Rosenblum - truly make this a book worth reading.

“It was much better to share it with him; if he was a madman then at least they were crazy together.” 

Would I recommend it? Yes.

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

This juvenile fiction is a wonderful read. I sought this out after enjoying Vanderpool's first book, Moon Over Manifest. The books have similar themes, centering around a child who is lost in an adult world, discovering themselves, their friends, and their parents along their journey. Navigating Early is about two friends who set out through the Appalachian wilderness and the things they discover along the way.

“Finding your way doesn't mean you always know where you're going. It's knowing how to find your way back home that's important.” 

Would I recommend it? Definitely yes.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

This book was not quite what I expected, though I'm not sure what I expected. This is the story of two newlyweds. The story cuts back and forth between past and present -- the present being their wedding night. Needless to say, the present is all about sex. But the interwoven story of these two people, their backgrounds, their personalities, and their secrets was very interesting. The book is not really about sex, but it is about how a person's entire life can be changed in an instant by what they do or do not say. It is thought-provoking, and actually quite frustrating, to see these characters struggle and ultimately fail.

“She knew very well that people fell out, even stormily, and then made up. But she did not know how to start - she simply did not have the trick of it, the row that cleared the air, and could never quite believe that hard words could be unsaid or forgotten.” 

Would I recommend it? Probably not because of the sexual content.

The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

I picked this up from my local library's Reader's Choice shelf. It is a long book, but totally sucked me in. From the very start, the protagonist and the story are unexpected and surprising. This is a story largely about relationships.

The story is told by Alex Woods, a kid who has a very unusual life, and follows his friendship with the elderly Mr. Peterson. It is a sometimes funny, sometimes tragic story of how their lives intertwine over years.

It does have some language, but I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for Extence's next book to come out.

“The first thing I learned that day was this: what you think you know about a person is only a fraction of the story.” 

Would I recommend it? Definitely yes.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about any of these books or recommendations for things I should read in the future. And come be my friend on Goodreads by clicking here.

Last Day & Chalk Lettering

Today is my son's last day of kindergarten! In honor of the day, I spent a little while yesterday working up his chalk sign:

On his first day, I was just winging it, but yesterday I had some time of my hands. So I decided to figure out how to do some fancier lettering. With the help of this tutorial from My Vintage Window, I was able to lay out my text. Then I found fonts I liked on dafont and free-handed it! I think it turned out really well, but it's definitely not perfect.

Do you have any fun traditions for your kids' first/last days of school? I'd love to hear about them!

My Reading List

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Unseen Guest by Maryrose Wood
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough by Wayne Muller

I'd love to hear what you're reading too! Come be my friend on Goodreads by clicking here.

Life

I haven't been posting this week. I'd like to say it's because I'm busy (and I am), but it's really because I'm just drawing a blank! Every day, I gaze at my blog and try to think of something creative and crafty to write about... but I've got nothing! So instead, you're getting a jumble of randomness that is my life this week. Enjoy!

What I'm Working On.

Christina over at Pretty Distressed shared my Space Saving Ideas post on her blog earlier this week. Hop over to her blog and check it out! She's got some great stuff going on over there!

I'm going to be guest posting on A Peek Into My Paradise in a week or two. Here's a sneak peek at my project:

Oh yes, that's piping. But no, I won't tell you what it is yet. You'll just have to wait until the post goes live! (The suspense is killing you, I can tell.) But apparently this project has used up all my brain power, but it's probably because...

It's the Last Week of School.

Since we're on a year-round schedule, Eddie is in school until next week. This week he gets to dress up like an animal of his choice for the end-of-year program. He chose a bat, so I made him a fun little costume, but he won't pose for a photo in it. My inspiration came from Dana Made It. Hopefully he'll let me get a photo of him on the day of the program. Sometimes kids are difficult, which brings us to...

The Terrible Threes are Upon Us.

The 3-year old in our house has turned from a sweet and funny girl into a monster (still sweet sometimes, and occasionally still funny). I should've seen it coming, but I admit it that I was blinded by her cuteness. She wants to do everything herself, wants me to read her mind, and refuses to do normal things simply to spite me. Which is why she has not yet modeled the super-cute bandana skirt I made for her using the tutorial I found on DIY Candy. I even made a matching tie for Eddie, but since Violet refused to wear her new skirt on Sunday, I haven't been able to get a photo of the two of them looking festive and patriotic together. Maybe it'll happen this Sunday. Who knows?

It's Officially Summer.

And I finally conquered my anxiety about taking my kids to the pool by myself. We went yesterday and it was a lot more fun than I expected. We'd be there again today to beat the heat, but...

We're Stuck at Home Today.

Because my Violet isn't feeling so good. Not sure what she has yet. I think it's "my parents were planning to leave me with a sitter tomorrow to celebrate Daddy's birthday"-itis. Do anyone else's kids get sick every time they have plans? Mine frequently do, which is why I rarely plan things in advance. But it's not my fault...

It's This Guy's Birthday Tomorrow.

Hipster Batman, aka Dave, is turning 34 tomorrow. I have been working hard all week to arrange a sitter, get movie tickets, plan some s'more pie, and convince the children to make him a present (and keep it a secret). Now these plans might be foiled. Happy Birthday to Dave! And sorry if it doesn't turn out as we've hoped...

And that is my life this week! What are you up to?

How to Restore, Repair and Finish Almost Everything

We spent the weekend at my hubby's family cabin outside of Oakley, Utah. It was cabin clean-up time, so the whole family gathered to clean out the cabin and the surrounding woods. It was a fun time for everyone to get together, and we were so busy cleaning, we didn't take any photos. One of the best things to come from this get-together was this gift from my mother-in-law:

Earlier this spring, my husband's maternal grandmother passed away, and since then, my mother-in-law has been going through Grandma's things and trying to determine where all these things should go. That is how she happened upon this book, which she then decided to pass on to me!

Now, I realize that most (or all) of the information in this book can probably be found online, but I love books for a multitude of reasons (the least of which is that they smell fantastic). Plus, it's nice to think that Grandma and I have similar interests. So I plan to hang on to this one.

Besides, I think this gluing chart could be very handy. I have honestly never thought about gluing fabric to glass or paper to leather, but now I might. This chart is giving me ideas...

And I especially can't wait to read this section:

Thinking Thursday -or- My All-Time Favorite Books

If you know me personally or just frequent my blog, you probably know that I love reading. I am almost always reading something, and I'm often reading more than one book simultaneously. So this week, I thought I'd share some of my all-time favorites. I am always looking for recommendations, so please share your favorites in the comments!

(These are in no particular order because they're all awesome in their own way!)

Favorite Classics

Jane Austen's Persuasion

I love all her novels (Emma least of all), but I especially love Persuasion. It is a wonderful story about love and loss and I think it's a bit more "grown up" than the usual favorite, Pride & Prejudice. Don't worry, I still love that one too.

Charles Dicken's David Copperfield

When I was in college, I studied the works of Charles Dickens for a semester and loved every minute of it. David Copperfield is especially great because it's not as inaccessible as Bleak House and not as overdone as Oliver Twist.

Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged

I have enjoyed all of Rand's fiction, but I always find myself returning to Atlas Shrugged. Her characters are not sympathetic at all, and her political message is unforgiving, but I love this book for the story itself. I love the idea of John Galt being just that - an idea. If nothing else, this book will make you think about how you think. And that's a good thing.

Joseph Heller's Catch-22

Satire is fun to read, as long as you get it. This book, though wildly irreverent, is one of my favorites because it shows the complete absurdity of war while also showing the horror of it. This is a complex read, but also laugh-out-loud funny at times.

Favorite Non-Fiction

Harriet Lerner's The Dance of Anger

I am not big on self-help books, but this one helped me better understand my negative emotions and learn to deal with them in a constructive way. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone! I also thoroughly enjoyed Lerner's The Mother Dance.

Sue Monk Kidd & Ann Kidd Taylor's Traveling With Pomegranates

I enjoy reading memoirs, especially those dealing with self-discovery. I particularly enjoyed this one due to the many themes that resonated with me: depression, writing, travel, family relationships.

Favorite Juvenile Fiction

John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice

This is an entire series that I loved. The Ranger's Apprentice, and the spin-off Brotherband Chronicles are fun adventure stories set in a medieval world with memorable characters. They build upon each other, so they're best read in order.

Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me

I absolutely loved this book. It is funny and quirky, and it even made me cry by the end. This is the story of Miranda and her best friend Sal. Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes that will ultimately help her save the life of someone she loves. Read it. I don't think you'll regret it.

Grace Lin's Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

This one is a beautifully written fantasy based on traditional Chinese folklore. It is filled with surprises at every turn, magical creatures, and a lot of love.

5 Space Saving Ideas For a Small Home

My husband and I have lived in a small home (1400 square feet) for the last seven years. Over the years, our family has grown, but our house has not, so we have had to come up with some ways to use the space we have as best as we can. So here are 5 of my favorite space-saving things we have done in our home:

1. Save Floor & Drawer Space by Hanging Things Up!

Instead of having a pantry, our home has a laundry room right off the kitchen. It didn't take long for us to realize we needed a good place for storing cleaning supplies and other non-food items that we still want close to the kitchen. We bought wall hooks to hang our brooms and mops on the laundry room wall so they don't clutter up the floor. We also bought a wall-mount basket to store our aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc. so that it wasn't occupying any of our kitchen drawers. It's close enough to the kitchen that it is still convenient.

We have also saved a lot of space in the garage this way. Wall hooks hold our snow shovel, push broom, kids' t-ball set, folding chairs, and kids' bikes off the floor.

One last thing that we got off the floor and hung on the wall is our bedside tables. Instead of a traditional table, we use floating shelves. Just be careful how much weight you place on floating shelves. All we kept on them were lamps, clocks, and the occasional book, so it worked for us.

2. Lose the Closet Doors!

Our kids' rooms are quite small. In a small room, you run into a problem of not having enough wall space for the furniture. In order to give ourselves more space along the walls, we simply removed the closet doors from the kids' closets.

We store things that don't have any other home up in the top of the closet. Short dresses and shirts hang from the rod, then a shelf with drawers sits below. The right-hand corner of the closet (not pictured) is filled with extra blankets and the kids' laundry basket. Losing the closet door freed up the left-hand wall for my daughter's dresser. My son's closet is the same way -- boxes of baby clothes fill the top shelf, clothes can hang, then a similar shelf uses the closet floor space to hold clothes, books, shoes, and dress-ups. Losing the closet door freed up space in his room for his bed.

3. Install a Dimmer!

This one might not sound "space-saving" right off, but it has helped us save space. Instead of getting lamps, which generally need to sit on something (be it the floor or a table), we installed dimmer switches in both of our kids' rooms. I maintain that this was the best idea I ever had. It helped during night-time feedings when they were babies and it helps today when someone is afraid of the dark. The fact that you don't have to worry about cords, plugs, or batteries is just an added bonus!

4. Elevate the Furniture!

Obviously, this won't work for all furniture, but simply lifting beds a few inches can provide storage space underneath for seasonal clothing & decor, extra bedding, or anything else that can lay flat. We took a more extreme approach when my son graduated to a big-boy bed.

We got him a low-loft bed. This leaves usable floor space beneath it. His dresser fits under one end (we purchased it with the bed so that it would be the right size) and he stores most of his toys under the bed. The loft is high enough for kids to sit underneath it, but it's low enough that it's still fairly easy to make the bed. Plus, it makes a great fort when the kids so inclined.

5. Get Combination Furniture!

Most of the furniture that we have purchased in the last seven years has served more than a single purpose. Our entertainment center includes drawers to store movies, video game consoles, and small toys.

Our desk is an Ikea Expedit Desk that attaches to a bookcase on one side. This was a life-saver when our second child was born and we needed to move our computer out of our third bedroom. The shelf holds office stuff on the bottom two shelves (file boxes, printer paper, cords, etc). The upper shelves hold books on one side and more office stuff on the other side. It serves as an excellent room divider so it doesn't feel like the computer is in the middle of the living room.

The last combo piece we added was a combination shelf/pot rack to go over our kitchen sink. Pots hang from it and our canister set sits atop it, which saves a lot of cabinet and counter space.

6. Bonus Tip! Don't Be Sentimental.

One of the most important things we have learned in our space-saving endeavors over the years is to stop being sentimental about our stuff. We do store some items we never use (like my wedding dress), and some things we hope we never need to use (like our 72-hour kits), but we have tried not to get sentimental about things that don't deserve it. If it's taking up space and not serving a necessary purpose, we don't hesitate to donate or sell it!

Do you have more space-saving tips? I'd love to hear them, so please leave a comment!

{Linked on Cherished Bliss, My Girlish Whims, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Fluster Buster, Someday Crafts, Mostly Homemade Mom, Content in the Meantime, Artsy-Fartsy Mama, Joyful Homemaking, Sincerely Paula, Blissful and Domestic, My Turn For Us, Glued To My Crafts}

Celebrating a Simple Life

Pardon the interruption from my usual crafts and book reviews while I ponder the meaning of life...

Lately I have done a lot of thinking about life in general, and more specifically, my life. I find myself envying old friends (and new) who seem to have accomplished more than I have -- more financial success, more kids, more adventure, etc. And all this envying inevitably leads me to feelings of discontentment with my own life.

I have always been ready to move on. When I was a kid, I couldn't wait to be older. When I was a teenager, I couldn't wait to move away from home. When I was in college, I couldn't wait to be married. When I was married, I couldn't wait to have kids. And now that I've done all those things as successfully as possible, I'm always trying to find some other way to move on with my life. It often makes me wonder when I'll finally feel like I've "made it."

Recently, I was perusing an old friend's photos on Facebook, admiring her beautiful photography, her new baby, her adventures living abroad, and I started to feel envious. It just happened that soon afterward, I went to visit my grandma. I love my grandma a lot, and I have always admired her strength. She lives on a farm in rural Utah, the same place where she was born, where she grew up, where she raised her own kids, where she and my grandpa made their living tending the orchards.

My Grandma with my son Eddie, Summer 2008

It seems that she has lived a small and simple life, but as I saw her there, surrounded by her family, it occurred to me that there is something beautiful about living a simple life. And that maybe instead of constantly wanting to move on, I should take a minute to enjoy where I am.

So right now, I want to find a way to more fully enjoy where I live and what I'm doing. I want to cherish this time while my kids are still small and we're all comfortably crammed in our tiny house. I want to be able to let go of all the things I wish I had and instead appreciate what I already have and usually take for granted. Because when I stop and think about it, I already have a wonderful life and as much as my nature fights against it, I don't really need to move on. I mean, how can you fail to appreciate the beauty in this:

My beautiful little family, Summer 2013

What I'm Working On Wednesday - Baby Quilts

I feel like I am right in the middle of several projects, but not getting anything finished! Here is what I am working on today: baby quilts!

This first baby quilt that is almost finished is a ballet-inspired 4-patch slice quilt that I made using the tutorial on Inspiring Creations (found here). Since little Cecilia was born last week, I really need to finish this up, but luckily all I have left is the quilting itself. The piecing and appliqué were the real time-consumers on this one. But I love how it is turning out, so it was totally worth it!

This baby quilt is in its first stages, cutting and piecing. This pattern is from Moda Bake Shop and it's found here. This one uses pre-cut layer cakes, so I chose Ashbury Heights by Doohickey Designs.

The other thing I am working on this week is putting together kits for Days for Girls International. As mentioned in a previous post, I started my own team, and today, I became official! Check out my new logo:

So, if you happen to live in the Salt Lake Valley and want to join my team, let me know! It's a great cause!

Memorial Day 2014

This is what we do for Memorial Day.

Violet and Eddie visiting Great-Grandpa Tommy's grave.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day and spending it remembering those who have given us the freedoms that we enjoy.

Happy Mother's Day

There's nothing like becoming a mother to really help you appreciate your own mother. I am grateful for my mom, who taught me pretty much everything I know. Most importantly, she taught me how to be a wife and a mother. So thanks, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

I haven't been completing any projects lately, so that has left me without much to post! Today I wanted to share something that is a work in progress -- and hopefully will be a work in progress for a long time.

Last month, I was searching for a sewing service project for my church sewing group to work on. I found many great projects, including Operation Smile, Project Linus, and Dress A Girl Around the World. Those all look like wonderful projects and there are many more out there. The one I finally settled on is Days for Girls. 

This organization makes and distributes reusable feminine hygiene kits to girls and women in developing countries. I think the reason this particular project appealed to me is because the sewing is fairly simple, but the impact can be enormous. I have lived a pretty sheltered life and it wasn't until I found this organization that I ever even thought about how these women without access to clean water or feminine hygiene products deal with their menstrual cycles. Those of us in the U.S. take things like disposable maxi pads for granted, and the more I read about Days for Girls, the more I wanted to help.

"What if not having sanitary supplies meant DAYS without school, DAYS without income, DAYS without leaving the house? Girls use leaves, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, rocks, anything they can find...but still miss up to 2 months of school every year. Worse, girls are often exploited in exchange for hygiene. It turns out this issue is a surprising but instrumental key to social change for women all over the world. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school."

So I started my own DfG team! Every week, I spend a couple of hours working on these (either alone or with a few friends). There are a lot of pieces that go in each kit and my goal is to complete 10-15 kits before sending them in.

Cutting all the pieces out for the kits.

You can see what's in a kit here. Each one is contained in a colorful drawstring bag so that the women can carry their kit with them.

Colorful drawstring bags.

Each kit includes moisture-proof shields and absorbent pads. These are all made out of cotton and flannel so that they can be easily washed and quickly dried.

Moisture proof shields (one in-progress and one finished).

The kits will also include soap, a ziplock bag, a pair of panties, and a washcloth, as well as instructions on how to use the kit.

"The DfG kit design is the result of feedback from women all over the world. Listening is an approach that results in solutions that work. That's important, because every washable Feminine Hygiene Kit gives back up to 6 months of living in just 3 years of use. That's 180 days of education, health, safety and dignity."

My Reading List

I am always on the prowl for good books to read, and I usually try to mix things up so that I don't get suck in one genre. Here is my to-read list for the Spring:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Honestly, I hated the movie Coraline... mostly, I think, because it was creepy and scary when it was supposedly a kids' movie. Luckily my hubby and I watched it ourselves before letting our son watch it. It surely would've given him nightmares. And now, thanks to Coraline, I find Lalaloopsy dolls a little extra creepy. That said, I find that I generally like books better than their film interpretations, so I think I need to give this one a try.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

This one has been on my list ever since I had my Children's Lit Book Club. We never got around to reading it before the book club died, but I think it sounds like a fun read. I love high-quality kid lit, so hopefully this one won't disappoint.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

I love books about self-discovery, which is what made me add this one to the list. And I think everyone has times when they feel like doing something completely crazy in their journey to self discovery.

Bury Her Deep by Catriona McPherson

I recently discovered the "Dandy Gilver" series by Catriona McPherson. I started reading them out of order, but luckily, it doesn't seem to be making too much of a difference as they stand alone pretty well. So I'm just reading them as I can get my hands on them. The next for me is #3, Bury Her Deep. I love a good mystery and these are pretty fun despite their dark subjects.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Every reading list needs some non-fiction, and I have several on mine. I have enjoyed reading many books about the World War II era, and I imagine this one will be no exception. Survival stories are always inspiring, too.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I love a good dystopian future novel, and this seems to be a popular choice these days. I figure I need to read the book before I see the movie, so I'll be reading this as soon as I can get it from the library. I hope the hype isn't too much for the reality.

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I've read most of Sue Monk Kidd's other books and especially enjoyed her non-fiction. Now she's back with another novel. The cover is so beautiful that I had to add it to my list. I can't wait to see if the story is beautiful, too!

I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree: A Memoir of a Schindler's List Survivor by Laura Hillman

There are a lot of Holocaust stories out there, but I never shy away from reading them. Yes, they are horrible in the atrocities these people suffered, but they are also inspirational in the strength and  resilience shown in the worst situations imaginable.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

I love mysteries. I love book stores. So this sounds right up my alley. Plus I might need a pick-me-up after some of the more serious books on my list.

So what books are on your reading list this Spring? I would love to hear your choices!

Ultimate Blog Party 2014 - Meet Me!

I am joining up with tons of other bloggers for the Ultimate Blog Party 2014! If you're a fellow blogger, go check it out. The link-ups start tomorrow, so sign up now.

As part of the Ultimate Blog Party, I am writing this intro post. Here, you can read a little bit about me and my blog. Here goes nothing:

That's me -- Krissy.

Who am I?

Wife. Mom. Crafter. Blogger. Fabric Addict. Literature Lover. Wannabe Yogi. Reluctant Cub Scouter. Occasional Exerciser.

What do I do?

I love sewing things for my kids and all sorts of other people. I'm currently working on making feminine hygiene kits for Days For Girls International. If you don't know what that's about, click through and see... it's a great cause.

When I'm not sewing or blogging, I'm usually reading. I studied English Literature in college, and though it wasn't the most lucrative choice, I still loved it. I love reading classic fiction, fantasy, mystery, and some sci-fi.

I also spend a large portion of my time changing diapers, cleaning up messes, and mediating childish arguments.

What do I love?

Of course I love my little family. I also love the smell of books, the feel of fabric, and the sound of falling leaves. I love good apples, dark chocolate, and salami (though probably not in combination).

What do I blog about?

I started my blog initially as a way to market my Etsy shop. Then it took on a life of it's own. I create a lot of printables, post occasional tutorials, and share my musings on life.

Yearly Photo Books

This post is not sponsored by Shutterfly and I am receiving no compensation whatsoever. I just really like the products I have gotten from them so far and wanted to share. There is currently a promotion on photo books offering up to 50% off, so it's a great time to get started!

I gave up on scrapbooking within a year of my son being born. I just couldn't keep up and couldn't deal with the mess I would have to make every time I wanted to work on the scrapbooks. So I decided to start making Shutterfly photo books instead. I just ordered a new book for my son and it gave me the option to share. Enjoy!

 

Click here to view this photo book larger

Free Printable Princess Potty Training Chart

My three year old refuses to be potty trained. I have tried. I have failed. I have given up. And now I am trying again... sort of.

Now that she is old enough to understand consequences a little bit better, I decided to make her a princess potty chart. She gets excited when she gets a sticker to put on her chart. So far, it hasn't gotten beyond that.

Since she likes it, I thought I'd share the chart with the world. Click the image to download the free printable!

Hopefully if you're using this, you'll have more success than I am currently having!

{Linked on I Gotta Create, Embracing Change, Live Laugh Rowe, Joyful Homemaking, Artsy Fartsy Mama}

Cub Scouts "Cubby" Award

That's right, folks, I am now helping with Cub Scouts. I have been put in as the Cub Master, which is part of the reason why the blog posts are few and far between these days. Not only are we trying to sell our house, but the past couple of weeks have been planning Blue & Gold Banquets and organizing an annual pack plan.

Luckily for me, Cub Scouts does involve some fun stuff, even for leaders. Our pack has been struggling lately with attendance, earning awards, and being organized, so I promised to whip them into shape. The first thing I am doing to help encourage the boys is to make a "Cubby" award. If you're not familiar with Cub Scouts, a "Cubby" is an award that is given to one den each month for various accomplishments (attendance, achievements passed off, etc). I have seen some cute ones made using tin cans or old bowling pins. I thought cans sounded too noisy and sharp-edged and I couldn't find anything remotely like a bowling pin to use, so I came up with my own "Cubby."

Here he is:

I found this blue Build-A-Bear at my local Savers. Since he was in great shape and didn't smell weird, I splurged on him ($7). He was dressed in a Star Wars outfit (hence the "Star Wars" image on his foot), but I stripped that off and made him his own scout shirt instead!

To make the shirt, I used a pattern and tutorial from Things of Cloth. I measured my bear's torso, neck, and arms, and modified the pattern so the shirt would fit. It was surprisingly simple to do.

For the patches on the shirt, I used felt. I did some simple stitching so that they looked more like the patches the boys wear on their shirts, and even included our pack number on the left sleeve.

So, each month at pack meeting, this guy (along with a sugary treat) will be awarded to one of our dens. Cubby gets to hang out with that den throughout the month, then he is passed on to the next month's winners.

{Linked on Mabey She Made It, And Sew We Craft, New Nostalgia, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Our Delightful Home, Ladybug Blessings,  Nap-Time Creations}

A Princess Party on a Budget

My daughter turned 3 yesterday and since she is obsessed with princesses, we decided to have a princess birthday party. The best part is that I was able to do this entire party on a fairly low budget, so I wanted to share!

1. The Invitations (cost $0)

I had originally planned to print and hand deliver invitations, but life got in the way. So I decided to do electronic invitations instead. There are several great sites you can use to create and send invitations, but I just used Facebook to distribute ours.

First, I designed the invitation using Photoshop:

I used free downloadable digital scrapbooking elements to put it together. Then I set up the event on Facebook, invited the moms of all Violet's little friends, and uploaded the invitation to that page.

2. The Decorations (cost < $10)

Here, I cheated a little bit. Some of the decorations, like this banner, are from a Stampin' Up Party Pack. Since my hubby works for Stampin' Up, I was able to get the party pack at a deep discount. All I had to do was string it together and write Violet's name on it.

The other decorations were all from Wal-Mart. My favorite one is these princesses:

This is a Hallmark Party "Tabletop Decoration" and is made of stiff paper and tulle. They would not stand up to being handled much, but I think they look really nice. I also bought the pink Disney Princess plastic tablecloth.

I borrowed an assortment of toy tea cups from friends so that the party could be a "tea party." We served cake, ice cream, and had pink lemonade.

3. The Cake (cost < $3)

The cake is homemade by me! Cake decorating is not nearly as complicated as some people think. The cake is white cake, made from scratch using a recipe found on Pinterest. The icing is standard decorator icing (butter, shortening, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk).

I purchased the sugar pearls from the baking aisle at Wal-Mart and the toy on top is one we already had (thoroughly cleaned, of course). The trick to cake decorating is to freeze your cake before frosting, then let your icing base set up a bit before drawing designs on using a toothpick. Then if you mess up, smooth it out, and try again. Using this method, I found a "Princess" font online and copied it for the words on the top of the cake.

4. The Favors (cost < $4 per kid)

The party favors were probably my biggest budget item for this party. We had 7 kids altogether, so I put together 7 sets.

Using the Stampin' Up Party Pack, I put together paper crowns for each guest. I found Princess favor bags at Dollar Tree. I filled the bags with a plastic cup ($1 from Wal-Mart), a sparkly bracelet (4/$1 at Wal-Mart), fruit snacks, candy, crayons (3/$1 from Dollar Tree), and a princess wand ($1 from Target). Then I printed out various princess coloring pages for the girls to do while we waited for everyone to arrive. Dollar Tree has a pretty good selection of Princess stuff, including tiaras, wands, jewelry, etc.

5. The Big Gift (cost < $10)

Violet had gotten pretty good at riding her tricycle in the fall, so we decided it was time to upgrade her to a bike. Luckily, we still had Eddie's old bike in the garage. It had a few problems and was blue and black, so we had to do a little bit of work on it.

I bought a can of pink spray paint from Lowe's, then handed the bike and paint over to my brother so he could keep it hidden until the big day. He was nice and took the bike apart and painted the frame for me. Then, he put it all back together.

I found a PUL fabric remnant at Hobby Lobby that I used to recover the seat. This was surprisingly easy. All you need is a waterproof fabric and a heavy-duty stapler. I found a tutorial online and the entire seat took me about 20 minutes to complete. The basket, handles, and streamers were all gifts that I requested from Violet's Grammy. I used some black and blue nail polish to paint some small designs on the bike frame to pull it all together. And now Violet has a very unique bike of her own!

Total Party Cost: < $50

The trick is to use things you already have and to find good deals on what you need to buy.

{Linked on The Stitchin' Mommy, Happy and Blessed Home, Finding Fabulous, Truly Lovely, Craftionary, Diana Rambles, I Should Be Mopping the Floor}