I've Been Away for me Health

A Zombie and the Wicked Witch of the West(next year he says he wants to be a wizard with a real ward so he can turn his sister into a frog. I plan on talking him in to being Harry Potter :)

For anyone who has seen or read Harry Potter you will recognize the title.  So for those of you who thought I was just a brilliant, talented, no-fun blogger, no need to worry I'm also somewhat of a dork.(LOL) Though I haven't blogged in what looks to be almost 6 weeks now, I definitely have not been idle. I have made halloween costumes, started christmas, and may even secretly have put up the Christmas tree. I know, I know totally crazy and early, but here is how I see. Everyday I study hard and work hard. I miss so much when it comes to time with family and friends. Though I got to make the costumes, I didn't get to go with them while they trick-or-treated, because I was here memorizing anti-fungal medications. Going to medical school is a huge personal sacrifice and Christmas is the one time of the year that I most definitely will not miss. So I start Christmas a little earlier than most, anticipating the day ahead and this allows me to make it through the studying I don't necessarily want to do and brings me a little joy when I haven't seen sunlight in days. I see Christmas as the day you spend with family and friends filled with laughter, smiles, and of course food(and gifts). Though I like anyone enjoy getting a gift on occasion, the best part for me is watching someone else open gifts I bought for them(this is the best gift of all in my opinion). I spend an incredible amount of time deciding what to get, looking for deals, and anticipating them opening it up. Though cash and gift cards are always nice, I enjoy the excitement that comes with getting something you want. Excitement at christmas time doesn't have end with childhood. At our house christmas was always a big deal and with two little sisters, we often got pretty excited well up in adulthood. I remember getting this necklace one year and my youngest sister grabbing it right out of my hands and running up the stairs with it(I let her borrow it a time or two). Mind you I think this incident was like 2 years ago. When we were real little, we woke my mom up at 4am to open presents and because she loved christmas so much(maybe where we get it) she never complained. We were always awake and through half of the presents before the newspaper hit the porch. Last year my parents took over the care of two little ones and so the Christmas traditions get to start all over. They had never had a real christmas before and so I think they may have been a little overwhelmed. The night before we made cookies(we make hundreds), opened up our first gift on Christmas eve(christmas jammies every year), and settled in for hot chocolate and a Christmas movie before going to bed anticipating Santa. When morning came, we had already separated out the gifts and lets just say though we have always been middle class my mother saves all year for Christmas and she can definitely work the deals so Christmas is HUGE. They got many things they loved and it was very exciting for all of us. Then it was our turn and I think every year my goal has been to make my parents cry from happiness and so far I've succeeded. So though I have clearly gotten off track, this Christmas I hope to be EPIC. Unfortunately, many of the things I am making are for my sister and she of course read my blog :). So anything else I will posting, but otherwise you will get tons of posts after Christmas. (or after the 15th of Dec when I will be doing Christmas with her and my grandparents.) So look forward to those and enjoy. Below you will see the Halloween costumes I made(let's just say this is not the easiest thing to do and next year I hope to be much better so I can post tutorials) and some pictures from last year Christmas so you can start getting excited as well. I'm also going to post pictures of my Christmas tree as soon as I find my camera charger. Happy Late Halloween and a Very Early Merry Christmas to you all!

Best part of getting all the presents around the tree is the cats can no longer get up into the tree(my parents have 2 cats)

Where are we going to put that?

Yay! 

This thing was soooooooooo cool! After I bought it for him I couldn't wait for him to open it and of course we put it together on Christmas(see below)

She started asking for the Born to Dance doll months before Christmas and I waited for a sell and missed her and then spent the next two weeks checking the Toys R Us website every hour until she came back in stock.

Can we start yet mom?

I even made homemade bows last year

This goes to show the excitement on Christmas never dies in our house. My sister got him a blue flannel shirt he asked for in August and he was super excited when he opened it on Christmas(he also gets excited about shoes)

Though my team isn't doing so well this year, I still love my yearly jersey

Putting together his high jump. We all stood in the kitchen for an hour playing with this thing.

My mom made her a tutu for christmas and she got a dancing CD so once the excitement died down she disappeared and this is where I found her.

This is actually not Christmas. Last year I studied right up to almost the day before christmas for my Microbiology and Neurology finals and I begged to open one of my gifts during the process and this is what I got!

Decorating Sugar Cookies

Shellie's Baby Shower

After many months of planning and getting ready, today was finally the day of Shellie's Baby Shower. Though the day started with some tears(the room we reserved was locked), it ended well with my dad playing the hero. It was a big success and little Quentin is already spoiled at 33 weeks gestation. This was also a big exciting event for my mother and I as it was the first party we have throw together and decorated together. We may have gotten in a little over our heads, but the results were great. We worked on the cake together and she made the tulle wreath and prepared all the other decorations and the delicious food including homemade salsa(my fav!). As for Shellie, I would say she has plenty to sort through and she had a very exciting(exhausting) day.

Burp Clothes

For every new baby, my grandmother buys cloth diapers with the add-on comment that they aren't to be used as diapers this is the modern world, they are the perfect burp rags. So with the old piece of knowledge and the need to make things pretty I made some burp rags out of cloth diapers and flannel. These are super easy and extremely cute, not to mention handy.

What You'll Need

Flannel (1/3 yard per diaper)

cloth diapers

Sewing machine

Thread

Pencil

1. Start by folding your cloth diaper in half

2. Lay your flannel out and lay your diaper that is folded on top of it

3. Cut off the excess flannel

4. Make sure the back of the flannel is facing out and the front of the flannel is facing in and sew together 3 3/4 sides leaving a small bit not sewn on one side. 

5. Flip inside out so that the flannel is now on the right side and use a pencil to push out the corners(note: be gentle the cloth diapers can catch on sharp objects)

6. Tuck in the none sewn side and sew close to the edge

7. Sew 3 lines down the burp cloth so that it will be broken into four sections(this is simply to hold the diaper in place

8. Repeat

Diaper Cake

I have always thought the diaper cake idea was a great one, but I'm all for taking things to the next level to make things look better. So this is my version of the diaper cake. Enjoy!

What You'll Need

2 Receiving blankets

Package of diapers

Stuffed animal

Paper mache container(optional)

Shredded paper

Cake bottom

Ribbon

Tape

1. Start by rolling up one diaper and measuring it will ribbon, then cut out enough ribbon pieces that size for the number of diapers you will use

2. Tape each ribbon into a circle by wrapping tape around the ends

3. Roll each of your diapers and slip a ribbon loop around each

4. Organize your diapers into a circle and then tie a string around them. (I used a circular contain to stack my in and then slipped string around to hold it)(note: you can make each layer as big as you'd like but remember your receiving blankets are only so long)

5. I used a paper mache container filled with other gifts for the second layer which I found at Hobby Lobby but they are sold at various craft stores

6. Wrap both your container and your layer of diapers in receiving blankets

7. Stack container onto of your diaper layer

8. Use shredded paper for the top and around the sides to cover the diapers and top with a stuffed animal

9.Place cake onto a cake circle for easy carrying

Baby Carriage Diaper Centerpiece Tutorial

This was the weekend of the big baby shower my mother and I put on. It is fair to say that we often get in way over our heads and commit to more than we often have time for, but somehow we get it done and things always turn out well. I made three centerpieces for the shower along with body scrub as gifts. This was one of the centerpieces and definitely the easiest to make.

Things You'll Need

Blanket

Basket(blanket must be able to go around the basket)

hanger(not needed if basket has middle handle)

2 Receiving blanket

Diapers/burp cloths

Stuffed Animals

Clips

1. Start by folding your blanket so that it is as long as it can be and a little taller than the basket

2. Wrap blanket around the basket and secure with binding clips

3. Tuck top of blanket into the basket

4.Use a wire hanger and bend it to make it into a circle and then bend them towards each other to make a doubled rim semi-circle with no bottom that is as wide as the basket

5. Wrap one receiving blanket around the wire hanger leaving enough fabric on both sides so that it will go to the bottom

6. Place hanger into the basket so it will stick out of it and organize the fabric into the basket so that it looks like the covering of a bassinet.

7. Fill basket to the rim with burp cloths and diapers or whatever you want to fill it with as long as it is even

8. Use second receiving blanket to cover your stacked items in the basket all the way around and tuck in the corners

9. Add stuffed animals or toys

Homemade Train Baby Shower Centerpiece

Things You'll Need

4 Receiving blankets

Package of diapers

Coordinating ribbon

Hair Ties

Sheet of felt

1 cardboard wrapping box(lingerie size)

1 bib

Hot glue gun

Basket

Wheels

1. Start by stacking up 6 size one diapers as shown below

2. Roll these up so that the top of the diaper will be on the inside

3. Secure with hair tie

4. Measure out ribbon long enough to cover up hair tie

5. Cut out five pieces of ribbon for each wheel

6. Using hot glue, glue ribbon around the hair band

Front

1. Cut off an inch of the lingerie box

2. Fill box with diapers

3. Wrap receiving blanket around box like you would wrap with wrapping paper and secure with tape

4. Roll up receiving blanket and then roll a second receiving blanket around it and secure with masking tape

5. Make a wheel of diapers that is about twice the size of your train wheels and wrap  receiving blanket around it

6. Take your bib and fold it in half twice and then roll your bib up and secure with tape

7. Measure across your box and then use a piece of felt that long in a coordinating color. Fold felt in half and then cut so that you have one inch straight and then a V for the front of the train

8. Place box down and place wheel that is wrapped in the receiving blanket on the very back of the box

9. Then place the 2 wrapped up receiving blankets in front of it

10. Secure these by using ribbon the wraps around is glued on the bottom

11. Measure out a piece of ribbon that will go all the way around the box and attach it using your hot glue gun

12. Attach your piece of felt the the front by using hot glue on your ribbon

13. Using tape secure your bib on top of your two wrapped together receiving blankets

14. Place on top of 3 sets of diaper wheels

Back

1. Fill your basket

2. Place basket on top of 2 wheels

Attaching

1. Use links to attach the front and back through the ribbon on around the box and the ribbon on the tires