Baby Shower Invitation #2

This is the second installment of my two-part baby invitation tutorial. This particular invite was done for  my sister's baby shower.

Lady Bug Invitation

What You'll Need:

1. Brads (we used jeweled brads, which can be found at the craft store)
2. Patterned Scrapbook paper
3. Non-patterend Scrapbook Paper
4. Google Eyes (We found girly ones with eyelashes at the craft store)
5. Vellum
6. Pipe Cleaners
7. Paper Cutter, Scissors, etc.
8. Clear, roll-on Double Sided Tape
9. Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
10. Recommended-Cricut Cutter

How-To Assemble:

1. This invitation is basically made-up of circles. A Circuit Cutter makes this MUCH easier, and more professional looking. 
2. Cut a circle in your non-patterend paper.  (This will make up the body of the bug)
3. Run your vellum through the printer with your wording (be sure you do this with a laser printer and fast-dry ink...otherwise you will have a smeared mess)
4. Cut your vellum into a circle slightly smaller than your non-patterened circle.
5. Adhere the velum to the non-patterend circle using the clear, roll-on double-sided tape. one small strip on the upper sides will do.
6. Cut a circle from your patterned paper that is ever so slightly larger than your non-patterened circle. Fold your pattered paper in half and cut down the middle.
7. Place the two half's of your patterned paper over the non-patterned/vellum circle. Slightly overlap in the middle. Secure with a brad. Use a brad hold-punch for a more professional look. 
8. Cut a small circle in your non-patterend paper, and cut in half (this will make up the head of the bug. You can use the other half on your next invite).
9. Adhere the small half-circle to the body using the clear, roll-on double sided tape.
10. Adhere google eyes with the roll-on double sided tape (put the tape on the eyes, then press them firmly onto the head).
11. Cut and curl two small pieces of pipe cleaner. Adhere using hot glue. 

Feel free to private message me should you prefer to pay to have these invites made for you!

Baby Shower Invite #1

I've been getting a lot of repin's and questions on my two baby shower invites on Pinterest, so I thought it would be nice to do a short how-to for those interested in re-creating these little masterpieces (or you can just pay me and my sister to make them for you ;-))

Lace Baby Shower Invitation

I created this invitation for my own baby shower. It matched perfectly with her baby room. I liked the nice, neutral color with just a tiny hint of pink.

What You'll Need:

1. Scrapbook paper
2. A Roll of Fabric Lace Trim (They sell this at major fabric/craft stores. The roll is much easier than cutting strips from lace fabric)
3. A roll of skinny colored ribbon.
4. Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
5. Clear, Roll-on double sided tape.
6. Paper cutter, scissors, etc.

How to Assemble:

1. Cut scrapbook paper to size desired, and run through the printer with your chosen wording.
2. Cut two (2) pieces of fabric lace trim for the top and bottom of the invite.
3. Adhere the fabric lace trim using clear, roll-on double-sided tape. Press firmly.
4. Cut and tie a bow using the skinny colored ribbon of your choice. I like to cut the end pieces into an inverted triangle.
5. Adhere bow using hot glue
6. Put in envelope. I like to use the clear ones offline (yes they can be mailed!). That way it shows off all your hard work!

Pinterest Pick: Mediterranean Pasta

This is a new segment I would like to call- "Pinterest Pick." I have been trying lots of Pinterest idea's lately, so here is the first I would like to share with you...

So I found a delicious recipe called Mediterranean Pasta that seemed right up my ally the other day. It was pretty easy, and fairly healthy. So I decided to try it out, but made a few changes...

Mediterranean Pasta

Ingredients
* 8 ounces uncooked pasta (I used whole wheat penne that we had in the pantry but you can use whatever you choose.)
* 1 can artichoke hearts drained (I used quartered)
*1/4 cup pitted black olives chopped
* tbsp olive oil
*2 cloves garlic pressed
*1 can tomatoes diced and drained
*1 cup feta cheese
* 1 cup Classico "Light"Alfredo sauce
* 1 cup fresh spinach

Directions
1. Cook pasta according to directions in saucepan.
2. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic to skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes until garlic begins to turn gold. Reduce heat and add Spinach.
3. Once spinach is soft, add olives, artichokes, tomatoes, and Alfredo sauce. Heat 1-2 minutes, stirring gently until heated through. Remove from heat, stir in warm pasta. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

This was pretty yummy, and still really good left-over. Enjoy!

For the original recipe, please see:
http://workingonmyforever.blogspot.com/2011/06/back-on-weight-watchers-bandwagon.html

To The New Mom's Out There:

I have been wanting to write this post for awhile...

I'm going to try to blog a bit more, and start incorporating a variety of posts into this blog...we shall see.

Anyways... I have really wanted to write a short note to all the new mommies, and soon-to-be new mommies out there with some of the things I have learned. I am by no means an expert, but here ya go...

1. There is NOTHING wrong with NOT breast feeding...it's not for everyone. I really wanted to because of the health benefits for Z, and I did exclusively for 4 months, but I just did not produce enough milk to keep it up, and I was just not patient enough for it. Folks, there is nothing wrong with giving your child formula. When I started supplementing her diet, I reached out for support of my decision to supplement with formula, and I was told by the online support group that I just wasn't trying hard enough...Bull. I shouldn't have to be ashamed of not breast feeding her for the first year, I mean, hey, at least I'm FEEDING her (which is more than we can say for some moms out there).

2. Trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right about something that concerns your child, don't leave it up to chance. Follow those mommy instincts.

3. Child and Birthing classes are not necessary, but can be helpful. I didn't take them, and did just fine (at least she's still alive and has suffered no major injury). You figure it out as you go...and those instincts I was talking about kick in. However, classes may ease some anxiety you may be feeling.

4. Get a breathing monitor. Seriously. Right Now. The brand I have is called Angel Care. It has a sensor that you put under baby's mattress. This has given me sooooo much piece of mind. If she stops breathing, or for some reason leaves her crib, a crazy loud alarm goes off. If also has adjustable sound on it, so I can go outside in the garden while she's asleep and still hear her. This keeps me from staring at a video screen all night trying to decide if she's ok or not...I know she's breathing cause I don't hear an earsplitting screech of a monitor going off.

5. Don't try to be Super Mom...It's impossible. And if you try, you may end up actually missing the important stuff. Case and point- I spent the first month with Zoe making sure that the house was spotless, not a dish to be found in our sink. Looking back, I sure do wish I would have let the house go to hell, and cuddled my little baby every. single. moment.

6. Know what kind of birth you want to have and make sure the doc is on board. Know what to ask and what to say. Discuss it with your partner. And remember, it's never too late to get the right medical professional for your birth...I switched hospitals/doctors at 30 weeks, and I have never been so glad I made that decision.

7. You WILL be tired, and you WILL need help. Nothing, I mean NOTHING, can prepare you for the lack of sleep. You will need some help, preferably from someone other than your partner (they will be tired too). I really do not know what we would have done without family helping us through those first few weeks!

8. You will be anxious to get your body back, but go easy, especially if your planning to breastfeed. I got on Weight Watchers after 1 month. I lost the weight super fast because of breast feeding, but it also lowered my supply quite a bit. Take it slow and healthy!

9. Take a pillow to the hospital...I know this is weird, but I was really glad to have mine. I slept so much better, and it was comforting to have something from home. Also in your go bag, you should have some shampoo and conditioner (a hospital is not the same as a hotel), slip-on house shoes, a robe, nursing bras (if BF), and some really awful giant granny panties (just in case of a c-section).

10. Ignore all the sleeping books...they're garbage and will just confuse the crap out of you. Do what you think baby needs. If she's waking to see you at night, let her fuss a bit before you go in. If she's inconsolably crying, comfort her. If she's hungry, feed her. It's not rocket science, and they'll eventually sleep through the night.

Well there you are...my top 10! Good luck to all those new mommies!

Lucky 7

Andrew was born 7/17, and 7 has always been his "lucky" number. The number seems to have found its way to Zoe. Zoe was born 12/7, weighing in at 7 lbs, 7 oz. Her mommy stayed in a hospital room number that was some derivative of 7, and she was born at 7-something at night. She has now reached her 7 month of life in the 7th month of the year, and we are looking forward to her best month yet!

Not much has changed this month. Zoe has began eating her vegetables, which my sister helped me make at home. I will be starting her on some fruits this month. Zoe really likes green and yellow squash, but is still not a big fan of broccoli (I have to agree with her). I love the home-made baby food because it doesn't have near the sugar content of the pre-
made stuff (although we do use it occasionally when we're out and about). She has also started feeding herself those little fruit puff snacks. She's managing to get more and more in her mouth (instead of the floor). She also has been using a soft sippy-cup instead of a bottle. Yay for my big girl!

Z has been working hard on her crawling, and gets up on all-fours regularly (she hasn't quite got the hang of forward-motion). She also gets on her hands and feet, like she would love to try to walk. Her preference is clearly to try to walk. We borrowed an Around-We-Go toy from my sister, and it is her favorite toy by-far. She walks around and around it, playing with all the toys. She'll even chase you. She walks in her Around-We-Go so much, we have started having to put socks on her because she has little blisters on the bottom of her feet! We have also started calling her DJ Z-Bot, because she loves to hammer on the attached piano!

We have been spending quite a bit of time in a pool this summer. Turns out I have a little water-baby! She LOVES swimming! She will splash her hands and kick her feet, and even puts her face in the water! She has a little "bumper boat" that I let her play in in the kiddie pool, and she goes EVERYWHERE!

Here is a little of what Zoe is up to this month:


Favorite Thing to Do: She loves to play in her Around-We-Go!
Favorite Food: Green and Yellow Squash...You can't get it in her mouth fast enough.
New This Month: Working on Crawling on all fours
Growth: Wearing all 6 month clothes. Per her 6 month visit, she's a skinny baby with a big head! (No wonder she's slow to crawl!)
Sleep: She hit the 6 month mark, and just started sleeping 7pm-6:15am. Hallelujah! 
Speaking: We are really convinced she is saying "Da-Da" and knows who that is. He'll leave the room, and she'll call him back!
Movement: She is a wiggler. I wish she would snuggle and cuddle a bit more, but she has things to do and people to see!
Behavior: She loves to get stranger's attention. I first noticed this on the Seattle trip, but it has gotten 
more intense since then...she stares at people until they look at her, then grins at them!

This is a video of Zoe walking in her Around-We-Go:


This is a video of DJ Z-Bot:

This is Zoe swimming in her Bumper Boat: