Hair Loss

A little update.....

The past few weeks have been SO stressful! I think I've lost a million strands of hair waiting to see what God has in store for us. Luckily, my hair's pretty thick, so I haven't noticed any bald spots... yet.

We've found someone to sublet our apartment; a cute couple who was so sweet and loved our little place. Which is great, because B hasn't exactly been gentle on the walls or the carpeting. But, they said it was the perfect place for them and they loved B's artwork. ;) Pending their approval from management, they'll be taking over our little home... which made me almost cry when I was talking to them about it (so emotional... I hope I get my "ladies days" soon so I can stop being such a sap). Even though it's been such a frustrating experience to live in the middle of a big city with a 2 year old with no real yard for him to run around in, this is the first place we've lived as a little family and it's bittersweet to think of leaving it.

I also talked to the landlord of the duplex we looked at (and fell in love with) in Edgerton, and he's offering it to another couple that got their application in before us... they must of filled out while they were there, because I filled it out and emailed it back to him within 2 hours of us seeing it. But, the duplex was perfect with the original hardwood floors throughout, a beautifully redone kitchen, a nice yard... the list goes on and on with it's complete perfectness, so we knew it was going to go fast.

We're looking at a new place in Lake Mills today... it's not in the country, but I looked at it with google satellite (which totally creeps me out because you can look at anyone's address and see their home) and it looks nice. It's on a corner lot with a decent sized yard... it definitely needs some yard work lovin', but luckily for me, the hubs is a landscaper by trade and I'm pretty sure I could get the work done for next to nothing. ;)

I feel good about this place, but, I felt good about the other place, too... so, I guess we'll see how God plays it all out. It's frustrating and exciting all at the same time to wait and see what God has in store for us... mostly frustrating because I'm SO not the type of person that's ok with not knowing what's going to happen. I definitely think He's using these past few weeks as a learning experience for me; so, I'm desperately trying to let Him mold and shape me into the woman He's obviously trying to make me in to.

The job posting I applied for at work closes on Tuesday, so I'll know more about the job next week probably (hopefully). But, I do work for the federal government and they aren't exactly known for their speedy response times. So, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't know anything for another couple of weeks, yet. Which, of course, means more hair loss...

Patience is a virtue....

Romans 8:24-25
We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. (NLT)

Patience is a virtue God did not bless me with. He did however see fit to make me a complete control freak who worries constantly about EVERYTHING!

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

God always knows what I need to hear... that verse convicted me to the point of tears. I'm so anxious about possibly moving and possibly starting a new job. I'm so anxious it's almost all I think about. I over-analyze everything, think about it, analyze it again and then think about it some more. But, God says to call on Him, to lean on Him, to depend on Him. He will provide us with everything we need.

I keep crying out to God (sometimes literally crying because I feel so overwhelmed)... and when I start to feel like everything is going to fall apart, I remember that God said He would provide for those who trust Him. We will never have to worry about the things we need because God will bless those who live for Him.

So, today I'm going to be thankful that God blessed us with a place to live, even though it's in the middle of a loud and noisy city, and be grateful that He gave me an amazing job that a lot of people would be thankful to have.

Please continue to pray for us/me as we wait to hear about the house that Wade and I both fell in love with and as we wait to hear about the job I applied for.

The Giant Beach Bag!

This is mostly for my mom again, who is my biggest fan! :)

I finally finished my beach bag for Florida! I got the idea from Leanne over at Elle Apparel. She has an awesome tutorial on how to make a Canvas Beach Bag.  I mostly followed her tut, but I did my own thing.

         Please excuse my poor photography skills... I am by no means a professional!

   I used red burlap instead of canvas because I wanted it to really last and I lined the inside with matching     fabric because burlaps itchy!

And, I made mine HUMUNGOUS (I don't even know if that's how you spell it).. but, you get the point. It's HUGE! I wanted it to be really big to fit all of the stuff you have to bring when you have a toddler, plus all of our beach things. And, it ended up being extra, extra large! You can't tell in the picture, but I have 4 towels stuffed in there and there's room for A LOT more!

I have so many ideas for another bag and I can't wait to try them :)

Prayer Requests :)

So... I have a couple of prayer requests and I thought I'd quickly ask for people to pray for them before I lay down with the little man and take a MUCH NEEDED nap! :)

1. I applied for a new job within the hospital I already work in. The position is day shift M-F and no holidays. It would really be an answer to prayer if I get this job!

2. I've been looking at a duplex for rent in Edgerton. It's the same price we pay now for our small apartment in Madison, but it's bigger, has a yard, and washer and dryer hook-ups. Please pray that if it's God's will for us to move that we would be able to find a sub-letter.

3. Please, please pray that I won't get wrapped up in all this potential goodness and focus on God and His will for our family.

It's so hard for me to focus on what God wants for us when I continually focus on what I think our family needs. I have a hard time praying about things when I think I can control them myself... so I'm reaching out for some prayer help!

Thankful

I only have a little bit before B and I have a play date... but, I felt like writing something.

I'm so thankful today.

Thankful for my husband who knows how I'm feeling sometimes before even I do.
Thankful for this tiny, little boy who gives me hugs and kisses when I feel like everything I do is falling apart.
Thankful for a family that calls me five times a day just to say hello.
Thankful for a job that although I dislike passionately at times is flexible and allows me to spend a lot of time with my tiny helper.
Thankful for a sewing machine that I've grown so attached to.
Thankful for friends who I can go without talking to for weeks and we can pick up right where we left off.

Most of all, I'm thankful for a God who has blessed me with it all.

Even when the green-eyed jealousy monster stares me right in the face I can smile and know that even if we don't have this perfect little cookie cutter life, we are blessed beyond measure and have the perfect life for us.

Happy Tuesday!

Apron Tuturial

So, this post is mainly for my mamacita, but I wanted to blog about it because it makes me feel more "sewer-ish". Yup, just made that word up.

I had some of this fabric left over from another little project I did (a plastic bag holder... I know, glamorous). And, there's really not much I can do with it, because I don't like it enough to wear it as a dress, and it's cotton so it doesn't stretch as much as I like my clothes to. And so the apron idea was born.

What I used:
Approximately a yard of fabric (hard for me to give exact measurements since it was just folded it my fabric pile)
Matching thread
And, last but certainly not least, my sewing machine

I laid out the fabric (after I had ironed all the little crinkles out) and drew on the apron design (I think everyone knows what an apron looks like), then I cut it out, leaving about 1/2" all the way around for seam allowance.

                                                             Truly not hard at all.
I wanted the edges to look finished, so I folded the edges all the way around about 1/4", ironed them down so they would lay nicely, then I folded them another 1/4" and ironed again. Something like this:

Oh yes, I pinned it all in place so it would retain it's neatness.

After all the folding, ironing and pinning, I sewed this little beauty together. While doing that, I decided I wanted a little pocket in the front to break up the monotony and I wanted a little "V" in the neckline. If you want to do the same, you just need to cut a "V", fold and iron the edges the same way you did the apron and sew in place. Easy peasy. For the pocket, I just cut the shape out of some of the extra fabric, folded the edges, ironed and sewed the edges together.

                                     Something like that... and then I sewed it on!

 I thought it was hard to decipher where the pocket was since it's the same fabric so I stuck my big ugly, squished hand it it. So, excuse the grossness.

Once I was all done with the apron itself, I needed to make the strap that goes around the neck and also the straps that tie it together. To do this, I cut out one strip about 21" long 3" wide (for the neck) and two strips that were about 40" long and 3" wide. I don't have any pics doing this because my little, tiny helper was up from his nap and he required my attention. However, it's fairly simple.

For all three strips, fold the edges in about 1/4" twice (just like for the apron edges). Now, I left my neck strip alone after this because I wanted that strap to be thicker. For the apron straps, I folded them in half and sewed together so they would be thinnner.

And, Wah-Lah, you have an apron. This is pretty simple and I'm sure there's more intricate designs... but, now I have an apron and it was free! ;) The hubs laughed at me because anyone that knows me knows I'm a novice cook at best so why would I need an apron?! If anything, it looks cute hanging in my kitchen! :)   

Muslin, Jersey Knit, Canvas... and all things wonderfully crafty.

I have a weakness....

A gloriously sinful obsession...

And, it doesn't involve anything I could ever get in trouble for.

My love... my passion... is DIY (do-it-yourself for all you non-acronym knowing people).

The more my husband and I buckle down and actually stick to a budget, the more I want to make everything myself. I used to be a buyer. You know, I'd yearn for all the outfits on display at every single seducing, evil store. Now, I'm not saying that I don't go out and leap back into the arms of consumerism. Because let's face it, it's hard to say no to a dress that fits every single curve perfectly making me feel like the person that designed this marvelous creation obviously must of had me in mind.

And, then, it occurred to me: the designer CAN have me in mind. She can create a divine little number that slips over my shoulders and transports me into Jessica Alba's body. Yes, I just said that. So?

I'm sure you're smart enough to put it together now. My little dirty craft secret's out. I've become bewitched with "doing-it-myself". It all started with StumbleUpon. If you haven't discovered this little treasure, do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. It's possibly the most awesome thing invented for those you like to "surf the great-wide web". There's no shortage of amazing, awesomeness in everything you can discover when you "stumble".

Anyway, I chose to spend my time looking up things to make around the house. I've discovered a million and a half things I've added to my "to-do-within the next 10 years" list. And, that's what led me to fabric.com. This sight has entranced me with malicious little green eyes and drawn me in with $2.99 yd. jersey knits and $5.99/white canvas and a whole section devoted to $1.95/yd fabrics. It is crafter heaven. Seriously. And there's so, so, so much more than just fabrics. There's yarn and crafting supplies, trim.. you get the idea. It's like taking a bite out of fresh blueberry muffin that's loaded with butter (yes, I did say butter. I'm from Wisconsin and we like dairy). It's that satisfying feeling when you know you just scored an awesome deal and saved some money. Sweet.

So this little entry is devoted to the amazingly soft  feeling of jersey knits. The smell of canvas. The satisfaction of picking up a simple piece of fabric and making it into something beautiful. Something you created yourself.

So now I have a trillion projects I want to get done right this very second. But here's a few I really am going to start: The Swimsuit Cover-up... cannot resist it. I'm totally going to do my own thing... but, Elle Apparel is pretty much amazing and I love her blog. Plus, she also posted the tutorial for this: My Beach Bag. Which I'm totally making for our trip to Florida.

Alright, I've shared my craft obsession and my need to feed this "DIY-ing" hunger I suddenly have. Hopefully I'll be tackling my projects soon! I just bought all the fabric I need for them from fabric.com. So, I'll be starting them shortly!