The Sterling Star

I just discovered this great new jewelry store online. I’m so excited! I just ordered this necklace and earring set:

I can’t wait to get it! It’s not a color I currently have, and it’ll go with a lot of my clothing. They have some bolder things as well, but I prefer more subtle jewelry.

The really exciting thing is I only paid $8 for them instead of $20. One of the deal sites I subscribe to, Deal Pulp, had this great deal the other day. $8 for $20 to spend at The Sterling Star. Even without the deal, I don’t think their prices are too bad. And they have some fun jewelry!

I showed my toddler the picture and she’s insisting it’s going to be hers, but I know better 🙂 It’s been a while since I’ve had some new jewelry (ok, only since Christmas, but six months is a long time, right?) so I’m really excited about getting something cute for so cheap!

Musings on Motherhood

Motherhood with young children has it’s ups and downs, but, the ups far outweigh the downs. And getting enough sleep is overrated, right?

I get frustrated with my infant when she insists on eating multiple times at night instead of her usual once, but, really, how can you beat snoozing with a warm, snuggly infant. (until of course, she spits up on you and you have to change your pjs in the middle of the night)

And then the 6:30 am wakeup calls… but, those sweet smiles in the morning make getting up worth it. My littlest one has learned to roll over, so she rolls over and grins at me when I come in the room to get her in the mornings. Then, after she eats she relaxes on my lap in bed while my toddler climbs up and rests on my husband’s pillow. I think he wishes he could stay with us instead of going to work in the mornings.

Yesterday, my almost 3yr old rode the mini roller coaster at the amusement park all by herself. I was so worried. But she loved it! I’m happy to see her so independent (especially since I couldn’t take the baby on the ride), but at the same time, it’s sad that she doesn’t need me to ride it with her.

And as I type this, I look at my very messy office and remember how clean things were before kids (how did we end up with so many toys!), but I also watch my child dance to some music we have playing and that alone makes me ok with the constant picking up. I enjoy watching my children play, seeing their personalities, creativity, and watching what they get out of life.

Children are such a precious gift, and I have my days/moments when I just need a break, but, really, I would miss so much without them!

Coconut Cake

My coconut creme cake I made for Easter. It looks really pretty. I loved the cake and filling but I’m definitely making changes to the icing next time. The icing had THREE sticks of butter in it and only three Tablespoons of powdered sugar, and it definitely tasted buttery. I think next time I’ll do half the butter, make up the liquid difference with some whipping cream and add some more powdered sugar.

As far as looks go though, I was really happy with this cake.

I did Easter dinner for my in-town family this year and I made some of my favorite dishes, and some new dishes. Ham, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, salad, rolls, and cake.

Next year I think I need a few more rolls and another side, just for more variety, but I was happy with this year’s success. Later I’ll post my sweet potato casserole, and corn pudding recipes, as these are my favorites and I’m definitely making them again next year!

I Love Lucy

For Christmas my husband got the the best present ever!

An I Love Lucy complete set. This was a great gift for so many reasons. I love I Love Lucy. Having the complete set is awesome!

With the recent birth of our second child, and a toddler “helping” with the baby, I find that I often need some time to relax and/or time to sit down with toddler and baby. Fortunately, my toddler also likes “Lucy” and these are just the right length to watch while nursing the baby. I can get the baby fed, keep my toddler entertained, and laugh a couple of times as well.

And, all you mothers with young children will understand, it’s taken me a full month to get through the first season, so I have many months of I Love Lucy still to watch and enjoy!

Free Covergirl Makeup

I found this great site the other day. Bzzagent.com. Basically, they give you free products to try in exchange for you talking about the products.

I got my first Bzz Campaign the other day, for Cover Girl makeup. I took a picture of my package so you can see what came in it. I signed up for it and it says they’ll send you a free full size product to try but I was a little skeptical. It’s hard to know sometimes, it just seemed too easy. Well, yesterday, I got my package, and yes, indeed, there was a full size foundation and lip gloss, as well as coupons for $1.25 off the foundation if I decide to purchase more or if my friends want to try it.

I only wear foundation about once a week so I won’t be purchasing any more any time soon but I am looking forward to trying it.

I tried out the lip gloss right away and I really like it. It’s just faintly pink so you can’t really see that it’s adding any color, just a gloss. And it’s 10spf so it’ll be great for this summer! Just enough sunscreen to keep my lips from getting chapped when I’m out by the pool. And I’m sure my toddler will love it too, since she wears all my lipgloss anyways, she won’t even guess that I’m letting her wear it so she doesn’t burn 🙂

I’ll post a review on the foundation after I try it, it’s advertised as being really light so I might actually like it since I’m really picky about the weight of my foundation.

Free Shipping and Family Fun Subscription

Totsy has some great sales on swimwear, beach toys, baby accessories, and much more!

And some great deals:

If you order over $45 you can get a free year subscription to Family Fun. You have to print out a form, your order confirmation, and mail it all in.

If you order over $50 you can also get free shipping. Type SHIPFREE in the promo code box.

I just ordered myself a new swimsuit, bibs for my baby, and a tutu for my toddler. I’m really looking forward to this package!

Great Deal On Disney Jewelry

I just purchased a $100 Minnie Mouse necklace for $17 on Totsy for my little girl’s birthday. She loves Minnie Mouse! I can’t wait to give this to her!

The necklace is child size, and sterling silver, so it’ll hold up to toddler wear. I’m also really happy about getting this because they had Disney jewelry on sale a few months ago and this with the first thing to sell out and I didn’t try to purchase it in time.

Cherry Dress

My latest dress for my baby. It’ll be a tad long on her, but she’s not walking yet so it doesn’t really matter. And it should fit her for a little while. (probably until after she’s walking)

I had a small piece of that pre-pleated fabric that I used. There was just enough for the dress. I cut off the bottom, because it was too long and made it a 3 layer dress by hemming the piece I cut off and adding a red layer between the two black layers.

Also, at a children’s consignment sale the other day I got a cherry dress for my toddler. The girls will be so cute in their cherry dresses!

Retro Pattern Dress

I made this dress from an old retro pattern.

Front

Back

I absolutely LOVE the little bloomers!

I’ve used a couple of old patterns recently and I’ve found several key differences between newer patterns. First of all, the old patterns seem obsessed with seam binding, and buttons. New patterns usually do a lining instead of seam binding, and at least some of them use zippers.

Then, there’s the 3″ hem, on a 12mo. dress! The hem is practically as long as the dress! Almost all the new patterns I’ve used have only had a 1/4″ hem. And since this dress has bloomers with an attached skirt I couldn’t change the dress hem length or you would never be able to see the bloomers.

And, of course, the pattern called for a LOT more handsewing than I usually like to do. I, of course, did it on the machine and not by hand. The pattern wanted me to handsew all the lace on the sleeve, plus most of the seambinding.

I just loved this pattern though, it’s very unique and though very time consuming. Was definitely worth every minute!

Being a Mom

Being a Mom definitely has it’s ups and downs. As I sit here tonight, I haven’t decided yet how my day’s been or what I’m going to call my evening.

I’m sitting at the kitchen counter with my netbook at 9 p.m. because my husband is meeting with a client in our office.  These bar stools are comfortable but I prefer my desk.

I’m sipping a very tasty oolong tea from California Tea House that I purchased with my Deal Pulp voucher.  $7 for $20 worth of loose leaf tea was a great deal! A lot cheaper than Teavana at the mall. And it’s probably the first hot tea I’ve gotten to drink leisurely all week.

Of course, now I’m wishing I had some greasy chinese rice to go with my perfect chinese tea. This stuff tastes just like that wonderful tea you get at a chinese restaurant. (which is really why I like chinese restaurants) Maybe I’ll make chinese for supper tomorrow…

I’m trying really hard to remember what I accomplished today. I think remembering what I DID today is easier than finding any accomplishments. Around the “Mommy, help me with this”, “Mommy, I want this”, “Mommy, read to me”, “Mommy,…” and three infant diapers that leaked I’ve managed to fold 2 1/2 loads of laundry (not take care of, just fold), and my kitchen is basically clean. I guess I should call it good, but, I find it so hard to do this.

There’s that long list of things I wanted to do: 1.Paint my headboard, 2.Sand my nightstand, 3.Finish one of the four sewing projects I have cut out – just one, not all of them, seems like I could manage somehow, 4. Consume a HOT beverage (oh, wait…I just finished my oolong tea and it was at least warm when I got to the bottom) 5. Finish the laundry, 6. Pick up the living room, 7.Write a blog post (almost done here) 8.Read a whole chapter in my book without interruptions (hey! it’s the small things, this whole reading one page a day thing is really messing with my ability to follow the story) and 9. Get to bed at a decent hour.

All the things I want, but that in the long run, aren’t really that important. My headboard isn’t going anywhere, and those toys on my living room floor will be there again tomorrow even if I pick them up right now.

And, then there are the things I did do, not always the things of I think of as important, but in the long run, they’re way more important than a hot cup of tea! 1. Read to my toddler, 2. Play with my baby, 3. Take my kids shopping, 4. Look over my stash of trinkets for Easter eggs – I can’t wait to watch my little girl open them all! 5. Play with my kids, 6. Referee my children playing together – my toddler loves the baby but I can’t leave them alone, and 7. Enjoy all the giggles and smiles.

So, really, it’s been a good day, and as far as my kids are concerned, I’ve done a lot.