A Complete DIY 1st Birthday & Cake Smash

I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since we pulled off this DIY 1st Birthday photoshoot and Cake Smash for our littlest princess! For months I planned and prepared for this.  And I, of course, made sure to have as many handmade touches as possible… I designed & sewed the dress, made the flower crown, baked and decorated the birthday cake, made the cake-topper… and envisioned a scene perfect for the littlest princess in our family.  She is, after all, our rainbow baby, and true-life dream come true, but that’s a story for another day. I’ve done a few cake smashes in the past, but none compared to this one!  This was my 1st cake smash as a mom since I never had one for my 2 older kids… AND I planned on photographing it.  The whole process wasn’t easy, and I knew it wasn’t going to be, but I think that’s what made it all the more pleasurable when everything started coming together. Preparation – The Night Before I stayed up most of the night before the actual cake…

Take Your Kids to Work Day – Toddler Tantrums and Reflections.

We participated in “Take your Sons and Daughters to Work Day” this year on April 27th. My kids look forward to this day all year long since they get the opportunity to tag along with their dad to his office in NYC. They get to commute by bus and train… and walk the streets of NY like little bosses. Addi went for the first time 2 years ago, and last year, Zali tagged along with them. This year,  I decided to join them. Two years before, I was pregnant… and then last year, I stayed home with our infant, Kari. Kari’s now a toddler and not attached to my body 24/7 like before so I felt a little empowered (by my bit of freedom) to venture out and explore the city with my tiniest human while my older homeschoolers went to work with their dad. My plan was to travel with my husband and the kids to NYC and then walk them all to Ash’s work office. I would give them hugs & kisses, and then Kari & I would be off to explore the city! It was going to be…

100% Cotton Rounds – Make it Yourself!

Hello to you all! I hope life has been treating you well. It has been a rough few weeks over here and I’m happy to finally get an opportunity to share this Make It Yourself tutorial for Reusable 100% Cotton Rounds. These rounds can be used in countless ways! You can use them to remove makeup, as a facial scrub when coupled with face wash, as a nursing pad, or even as baby wipes. Talk about being versatile! About a month or so ago, my friend, Bertha, from high school, reached out to me. She was curious to know  if I could make her some of these cotton rounds using her infant son’s cloth diaper flats. Bertha is all about living a minimalist lifestyle and she focuses on researching healthy alternatives for every day things we normally use that may pose a risk to our environment and/or our health. Her goal is to reduce waste in whatever ways she can and to inform and encourage others to do the same though consuming less and in turn, living more. She’s amazing! And I admire her for her efforts to change the world with one…

Beginner Sewing Techniques for Kids – Part 2

Are you ready to teach your kid(s) some more Beginner Sewing Techniques? ♥ If you haven’t already read PART ONE, it’s located here.  Last month, I introduced my 8 year old son and 5 year old daughter to sewing. After practicing the techniques I shared about in my previous post (Part 1), both were ready to attempt sewing with a real sewing needle almost immediately after. They weren’t scared at all at the thought of using an actual needle… and honestly, neither was I… not anymore! Finally, I felt confident in their ability to hold the needle properly and to pay attention when practicing their stitches. That was a major goal concerning sewing – getting them comfortable with holding the needle and piercing the fabric with it… without any fear! In fact,  my 5 year old girl and 8 year old boy both blurted out “Wow! This is so much fun!” while doing this new sewing activity… and my mommy ears couldn’t have been happier! That’s what it’s all about, you know? It’s gotta be fun for them. And when…

Princess Belle’s Dress Reveal – A Couture Beauty and the Beast Inspired 1st Birthday Dress

Hey guys and gals! I’ve been busy working on a custom order for a 1st birthday dress. The inspiration? Belle’s gorgeous gown from Beauty and the Beast. Beauty and the Beast just so happens to be one of my favorite Disney movies EVER and if you’re around my age or have kids, it’s probably one of yours too! This movie brings back so many beautiful childhood memories whenever I hear “Tale as old as time…” Do you recall the ballroom scene when Belle dances with the Beast? The way her dress sways with each move… isn’t it just perfect? The ballroom, the dress… the storyline… everything!?! This movie is unforgettable and the design of Princess Belle’s gown is spectacular to say the least! I was so excited to have an opportunity to design my version of it. Design Considerations – Movie vs. Real Life When thinking up the design for my Belle inspired dress, I knew I wanted it to exude elegance. It had to be fitting for a young child though so I didn’t want it sweeping the floor…

Beginner Sewing Techniques for Kids

In our home, my sewing area is a space you can’t miss because it’s dead smack in the middle of our living room!  It’s literally in our faces all day long. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it serves as a constant reminder to create. As a homeschooling mom, every day I make a conscious effort to encourage learning through daily tasks, school work, arts and crafts, and play. This isn’t always easy to incorporate as each child is different in age and stage and has their own skills and interests. Regardless, I always encourage them to… Try new things Explore their curiosity Help one another so they can learn together Have fun I’ve been wanting to introduce my son (8 years old) and daughter (5 years old) to the basics of sewing now that they’re getting older & because my daughter is showing serious interest in it. She wants to make doll clothes and play dress up any chance she gets. She’s naturally curious about everything fashion… Just like her momma! Even though I’ve wanted to teach…

Why I finally learned how to sew…

When I turned 25, I set out on a mission to learn how to sew.  It had been a goal of mine for years upon years and turning 25 opened my eyes to how quickly the years were flying by. I wanted to make my new baby girl her 1st birthday dress.  However, I still didn’t know how to sew and that realization shocked me.  I always assumed that when I had a daughter, I’d already be a seamstress. However, life had other plans for me which I happily welcomed. With a new baby, and her very 1st birthday right around the corner, I asked myself “If not now, then when?”  I didn’t have an actual answer to that question so I went into my closet and pulled out the sewing machine my dad bought for me when I turned 18. I asked myself “If not now, then when?”   My dad knew I wanted to learn how to sew way back then when I was 18. Unfortunately, there weren’t any sewing schools in my area at the time so I bought some sewing books and he bought…