10 Reasons Why I NEED a Silhouette Cameo....

Ten Reasons Why I NEED a Silhouette Cameo:

1. No more buying overpriced stencils for my projects. Cause I can't draw for crap. 

2. I can use it to make etched glass presents. Don't YOU want one from me?

3. I can use it to make cards. Who doesn't love a homemade card? 

4. I can use it for my 'Malwear' clothes. You know you want some. 

5. Um, they're freakin' awesome. <---Solid logic

6. It cuts paper, vinyl, and fabric.  I love multi-tasking machines.

7. It will help me organize the new house. OMG, yes please. 

8. No extra cartridges to buy and I can use fonts/images on my computer. Saving $$? ok!

9. Think of all the children's projects I can do!! Birthday parties would be EPIC!!

10.  I really, really, really want one!!!!!!! <--More solid logic. 

Like and share this post so we can convince my husband on this investment!!

Quarantined

Little dude is sick.  Hardcore, first full blown cold complete with runny nose, wretched cough and a double ear infection.  It's so true that it's worse for the parents.  There's nothing more I would give then to be in his shoes right now and for him to be healthy.  It gives me a new appreciation for parents with terminally sick kids. I couldn't imagine.

Trying to play...trying...

Snuggles

Finally passed out.

He's been sick for over a week now, we've utilized every trick in our natural and medical bags and the little guy is still having a rough go of it. We're in survival mode, whatever it takes to get the kid to eat, sleep, take his medicine.

Absolutely pathetic...am I right?

And while I LOVE my son with all of my heart....I was going completely  crazy being locked in this tiny little apartment with a crankapotamus for that long.  I mean, when he has a rare burst of energy, I take him outside to get some fresh air and sunshine.  But it's only a brief reprieve from our solitude.

Hangin' with his BFF. 

I love this little boy. 

My hubs is probably having the worst time of it all though because he can't help.  Little dude only wants Mama.  Mama at 2, 3, & 5am.  My back is killing me from contorting in positions where I can hold little dude up so he's not drowning in his own congestion and that are even remotely comfortable for me. It would be so much easier if I wasn't pregnant.  But, as it stands I still am pregnant and must walk this long road alone like many a mother before me.

3am snuggles.

Thank Goddess we babywear.

This is how I've been able to get ANYTHING done this past week. 

Today however, the husband told me to get out of the house. Just go...but bring back dinner. He's a good guy and watches the little one when he can but when you're sick you want your mama.  That's just how it is. I walked around the mall for an hour and it was very relaxing just to be able to get out for a bit.  I feel refreshed and energized to tackle the next couple of days.  I've even got some crafts lined up (and two half-started) if the opportunity presents itself.  My little patient comes first however.  We'll be back to the doctors tomorrow for a check up unless he makes a miraculous recovery tonight...what? A mama can dream can't she?

Of *Course* I Do Tie Dye!!

Duh...hippie, remember? Ever since Little Dude started napping really well during the day, I've been getting a good 2-3 hours to get stuff done. Lately I've been using that time to do research for the house like figuring out paint colors, lighting, bathroom vanities...I feel like I live in Home Depot some days.

Every now and then, however, this mama needs to get her craft on.  It relaxes me.  Who knew?  AND doing something to prepare for the wee nugget due in just 7 weeks (eep! so soon?) is nice since I really can't prep the little one's room or anything yet.

All ready to dye!!

It's been *years*, 10 actually, since I've done any tie dying solo so I thought it best I just went with a simple kit.  I bought this one at my local craft store. I had a bunch of white onesies and side snap shirts (still in the packages) from Little Dude's baby shower that we just never used since we received so many.  It was time for those puppies to get re-vamped! I vaguely remembered the different techniques for designs so I just winged it! 

I used the three colors provided in the kit plus black and purple RIT dye.  I did it in the bathroom with the fan going...so back off about a preggo and fumes. I had plastic bags on the floor, paper towels at the ready, rubber gloves, an apron on.  I wish I got a picture of that...but alas naptime is only so long and I was on a mission. I dyed the fabrics following the directions in the kit and placed them in a plastic wash bin on top of some paper towels so the colors wouldn't bleed into each other.  I placed a plastic bag on top of the bin and put it in the shower (it's the one we don't use often) out of Little Dude's reach for 24 hours.









The next day during naptime I rinsed out all the dye. Took FOR-EV-ER!! But I'm pretty pleased with the result. I really like the top two but I knew I was going to want to do something to the bottom three.  So I thought about it for a day or so and came up with the a few ideas.







I'm not really a HUGE fan of Martha Stewart but she makes these awesome multi-surface paints that work on wood, glass, fabric, ceramic and more! Yes, this thrifty mama was sold particularly when I found them ON SALE at ye old local craft store. So touche, Martha, touche. Along with some brushes, stencils (because I can't draw for squat) and masking tape I was ready to set for Phase 2.

 Here's what came of it!!

"Black Hole Sun"

"Purple Peace"

"Rockstar"

Closeup of Rockstar

"Sleepytime"
(obviously this one I just painted on)

The Boy Who Wouldn't Sleep: Part III

It's been two weeks since I last posted about my sweet non-sleeping cherub.  *sigh*.....welp.  He's getting...better? I guess.

Week 3- He would wake up just about every night between 2-4, come into our room where I would then take him back to his 'bed' wrestle with him for 45 minutes, he would then pop up and say, 'All done!'. *sigh* Then he would be up for an hour or two, I'd feed him and let him watch cartoons.  Don't you dare judge me...it's 3am in the morning!! Which means I'm usually working on 2-3 hours of sleep, oh and I'm 8 months pregnant...and wrestling him/pretending to be asleep on the hard floor does wonders for my back and hips. Joe got up with him a couple of times but remember...he's a grumpy bear when he wakes up. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Week 4- Progress?  Still waking up between 2-4 BUT he would take my hand and lead me back to his room and want me to lay down with him.  Then he would fall asleep within 20 minutes and sleep till 7-8ish.  Hallelujah! Yea...until tonight when he wakes up at 3am...back to the wrestling, crying, waking up Joe and clash of the tired parents. Ugh. So here I sit...bawling my eyes out trying to figure out how in Hades I'm going to do this with two kids.

I know lots of other parents say "Try cry it out...ignore him...don't let him get up".  You obviously haven't met myself or my husband.  He's a stubborn Italian fella and I've got some deep Irish roots...the combination is willful children.  Yes, we let him 'win', we let him dictate when he's ready for something.  But at the same time, we had no trouble transitioning him from boob to sippy cup and now he drinks from regular cups with ease. He gave up his pacifier voluntarily at 14 months. We never really have a problem with him refusing foods, he eats a variety. And people are always shocked to find out he's only 19 months, with his vocabulary and motor skills people think he's more like 2 or older.

So...it's been said multiple times by both Joe and I that our boy will be ready in his own time...and we can't force him into something he doesn't want to do because it just make it worse (must remember this for his teenage years...). So I'm going to dry my eyes and browse the interwebz for cloth diapers and wraps for Baby Dos and pray that M's little sibling is a good sleeper.  *yawn*

I have a feeling that if we let D'argo, our pup, sleep with him
he'd sleep all night.  Maybe when he's older...this mama
is too scared that he'd get squished in the middle of the night.