I am a Princess

A little while ago, I wrote this post on Raising Strong Girls.  Since the day Piper was born, I have feared her becoming a "princess."  I want her to be strong and independent.  I didn't want her to fall into that trap of the princess waiting for someone to rescue her.

This summer I was thrilled to take Piper to see her first movie.  We took her to see Brave.

I loved the idea of a movie about a girl that takes her life into her own hands.  We still watch the trailers on YouTube from time to time.  I will of course buy the DVD when it is released.  I don't mind Piper looking to Merida as an inspiration.  Merida is strong and independent, a great role model.

So, this past week while watching an afternoon cartoon on Disney channel with Piper I saw this.

My princess fearing heart melted a little.  Disney, did a wonderful thing by putting this video out there.  Disney made it okay to be a princess, a strong princess.  Well done Disney.  :)

Every Day is a Gift

One year ago today I was taught a very important lesson, "every day is a gift."

I went to the doctor thinking I would walk away with some Advil and directions to rest my leg.  I thought I had pulled a muscle.  Several whirlwind hours later, I was sitting in the ER waiting to be admitted to the hospital with 2 blood clots in my left leg.  That day will stick in my mind forever.  What stands out most is every medical person I came in contact with from the moment the blood clots were seen on the ultrasound screen said this, "you are lucky to be alive."  I had ignored the signs and symptoms for almost 2 weeks.  I was lucky to be alive.

So, with the anniversary of that day looming I started to think about the past year and all the things I might not have been here for.  At first the list started with things like:

- Piper's 2nd birthday

- Zachary's 13th birthday

- another Christmas

- Our 13th wedding anniversary

- another Thanksgiving

- Zachary's first day of school

- Buying our first house

- Taking Piper to see her first movie

- Zachary's MESA team winning the county title and going to states

Then I started thinking about the smaller things I would not have been here for.

- bath time with Piper

- eating s'mores

- holding a sick toddler while she sleeps

- playing games with Zachary

 - building with Lego's

- smelling fresh laundry

- looking for sharks teeth

- baking (and licking the beaters)

- reading Good Night Moon for the 1,000th time

- snuggling under a blanket on a cold Saturday morning to watch a soccer game


Trust me, the list could go on and on. In thinking about all these moments I got to live, I realized that each day this past year was a gift full of memories and moments that I might not have gotten to be a part of.  Not a single one of us knows what the future holds for us.  We can be here one day and gone the next.  The only thing we can do, is live our lives to the fullest and enjoy each moment.  I'm lucky, I know that now.  I don't know if I have another year, or 10 or 50.  What I do know is that I will do my best to savor each moment I do have, you should too!

Library Wednesday

It's Wednesday, so that must mean it's time for Story Time at the library.  This week's theme was Fall.  I already had the perfect dress for this week, so I didn't need to whip anything up.

Oliver + S Ice Cream (Candy Corn) Dress

You can read about the making of the candy corn dress here, so I won't bore you with those details all over again.  I'll just show you how cute Piper looked in it.

We had some errands to run before and after library today and I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that commented on how cute the dress was.  I was excited to make it but after I was finished, I was afraid it looked a little to "costumey".  It was nice to hear such positive words from people.  Piper will certainly be wearing this a few more times this fall. :)

Everyone Loves the Fair

Who doesn't love the fair?  I don't know what it is about it but it is something I look forward to each fall.  Our school district actually gives the kids the Friday off school during the fair.  Wether, it's the food, the animals or the rides there is something fun about the fair.  We got to go this weekend and Piper really "experienced" the fair for the first time, though she's been every year since she was born.  It was even more fun this year to see it through her eyes.

Piper got to pet some of the animals.

Zachary made friends with a sheep.

Piper rode some rides (Zachary was a good sport and rode some with her).

And, of course we all enjoyed some yummy food!

I would say a good day was had by all.

I didn't think it would be right to put all of the pictures up here so if you want to see more, you can check them out here: Flickr.

Library Wednesday

It's Library Wednesday.  I'm a little late getting this post up.  I haven't been feeling like myself lately and when given the choice between resting or doing work, rest seems to be my first choice.  I am working with my doc and our insurance to get a new medication approved and hopefully once that happens I will be back to myself.

Anyway, guesses as to the theme for this week?

It was the ocean!  I didn't want to keep making dresses for library.  I thought I would try to work in some practical pieces this week.  So I went with an appliqué t-shirt and Oliver + S Sailboat pants.

This was my first time doing an appliqué.  It wasn't as hard as I had imagined in my head it would be.  I'll admit, some of my stitching was a little wonky, but it didn't matter.  Piper liked the pink whale and at the end of the day, that's what is really important.

I used a Garanimals t-shirt from Wal-Mart that I think I paid $3 for, so no big loss if I messed it up.  To make the appliqué itself, I used Thermoweb Heat 'n Bond Lite.  The Heat 'n Bond was kind of fun to use, I can't wait to see what other things I can do with it.

For the pants, I used the Oliver + S Sailboat pattern done in a grey micro-brushed twill.

Oliver + S Sailboat Pant

Instead of doing the pant as a capri, I lengthened them into a full length pant (is that a grammatically correct sentence?).  It had been getting chilly here and so I thought a pant would be more comfortable.  A pant would have been nice yesterday or last week, today however it is 80 degrees outside. 

The pants have an elastic waist in the back and close with 4 buttons on the front.  I opted to use a very pale pink button...

...because I lined the pants with a pink and white stripe cotton.

I'm not sure anyone at the library got the nod to the sea with the sailor inspired pants, but that's okay.

I like the fit of these and will make more.  I do think that I may not use actual buttons and button holes on the next pair.  My concern was getting them on and off, especially in a potty emergency.  We were lucky enough to run into that scenario and I was able to get them off without undoing the buttons at all due to the elastic backed waist.  I think just for a cleaner look on the front, I may do a faux button and sew the front panel closed.  I had some small gapping on the side of these, by sewing the entire thing I wouldn't have that problem either.

I have had some requests to see the model wearing her outfits.  She's not always cooperative, so it's just easier to throw things on the mannequin.  So, here is Piper at the library this morning wearing her ocean themed outfit.

And, it has become tradition for us to go to Starbucks on the way home from the library for a treat.

The good news is, I already have the next two weeks of library outfits done.  The bad news is, I just found out this weekend that I need to have both kids Halloween costumes finished by the 19th of October.  Yikes!  So, you may get a few Halloween sneak peaks over the next few weeks as I finish things up.  I'm usually too excited about a finished product to wait to show it. ;)

Check back next Wednesday to see what the library theme will be.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I feel like some weeks I hardly get to sit down, those weeks tend to occur when soccer is in season.  The season is going well, the boys are 2-1.  Zachary was named game MVP for yesterday's game.  Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

Library Wednesday

It's Library Wednesday!  Yay!  See if you can guess this week's theme:

Oliver + S Tea Party Dress

This week's theme is Transportation.  I think we've represented the theme very well with this dress, in Riley Blake Scoot Toys (Green and Dots).  I had planned to take some nice pictures outside so the colors were more true but sadly it's raining.  The dress really is not such a bright green.

This is my second time making the O+S Tea Party Dress (this was my first: Tea Party Dress).  I like the shape of this dress.  The tulip skirt sort of looks like a skirt that is spinning and what little girl doesn't like a dress that spins?

I added rid-rac between the top and the bodice.

This was my second attempt at adding the ric-rac.  The first time it was sticking too far out.  The second time it's not far enough.  But, I wasn't interested in unpicking the entire thing and trying for a third attempt so I just accepted it.

I used a blue pin dot cotton from my stash to line the bodice and for the hem band.

The directions for the dress call for doing a blind stitch by hand to attach the hem band.  I dislike hand stitching and avoid it as much as possible.  Call it a lazy thing.  So, I took the idea from the Family Reunion dress and did several rows stitching around the hem band.  I like the way it turned out.

For the buttons, I found these cool retro buttons in my favorite button box.  If you don't know about my button box, read about it here:  Buttons!

I'm very pleased with the finished product.  But, I think my favorite part is the unconventional fabric for  a girl.  Piper isn't just in to pink and dolls.  She loves trucks and dinosaurs and bugs, too.  We are doing our best to raise her to be a well rounded "person".  She is thrilled to have a dress with trucks and trains on it.  I can't wait to see how cute she looks wearing it!

Check back next week to see what the library theme is and what Piper will be wearing!