My Insta-Week

This past week was so exciting!!  I've never been really politically minded, but this year I was so AMPED for the election.  I think it's because of the fact that I'm a mom now.....

I am so excited that Obama won!  Prayers have been answered.

This weekend is a long weekend for me!!  I have a couple projects planned....that I will share with you next week.....

Alright....here's my week in review.....care of my Instagram feed.........

From top Left to Right: Olivia HAS to watch Mickey basically on top of the tv / Mommy and baby at yet another doctor's appointment / Oatmeal, Theraflu and Irish Tea....I was sick / I VOTED! / Shopping in the Christmas Aisle in Target is Happiness / Some times you just want to paint your nails 5 different shades of pink (ombre) / Doing my nails and drinking wine, watching Election night coverage

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Pinterest Inspired: Christening Flower Arrangements

After Olivia's christening we had a little reception at one of the local restaurants. I had scoured Pinterest for decoration inspiration. I didn't want to decorate that heavily, because the function room we were using was really cute. I did see this idea for flower arrangements which I LOVED......

Original pin via Pinterest

Original pin via Pinterest

I used that idea for my centerpieces and I thought they came out amazing!

Mason jars, flowers and lemons all came from the grocery store. It was so easy to get prepared, and as a nice little side effect the lemons kept the flowers fresh for a couple extra days!

Christening Dress

In February Hubs and I had Olivia christened. She was about nine months old. Most of the time the babies are much younger at a christening. We put it off a little longer than I (or our very Catholic families) had wanted to....but her arrival into this world was a little bit more eventful than we had expected.

Before she was born I was DEAD SET on making her Christening gown, but as things got busier my resolve waned. I ended up doing a lot of online gown shopping before I made my final decision to make the gown. Everything I saw online was so shiny or expensive.....or both. I wanted Olivia to look like a baby in a pretty white gown.....not a bride.

So, it was decided, I would make the gown. I had bought this pattern from Simplicity:

image via Simplicity.com

I liked the lace in View A, but I liked the bodice in View B and decided to meld them together. I decided on cotton batiste as my fabric and ordered everything I needed from Fabric.com. This is in no way a sponsored post for Fabric.com (because my blog really isn't popular enough for those), but they were FABULOUS. I got everything I needed....even the buttons, all from one place, only had to pay shipping once, and didn't have to wait in a long line (while trying to juggle a bolt of fabric and a squirmy baby) at the fabric store to have my material cut. It was amazing....and only cost me $35. I was a happy mommy. Oh wait, I just remembered, I got the lace at Joann's.....so I got almost everything at Fabric.com. Still counts. I remember obsessing over the lace. I wanted it to be just perfect.

I took pictures on my iPhone while sewing, so bear with me......

The bodice had pin-tucks on both sides of the center. They really didn't turn out as perfectly as I had hoped, and I really couldn't figure out why. I took them out and resewed them a couple of times, but it always came out the same way. After the second time redoing them I gave up and hoped it wouldn't be so noticeable to everyone else.

The pintucks on the bottom of the gown came out MUCH better. Of course my stitching could have been a tiny bit straighter, but all in all I thought it looked good. I love how the ipod cord and baby toy just snuck into the pic......

All together, no sleeves or collar, but all the hard work done. I ended up having to tack down the top row of lace because it just didn't want to stay upside down.

Completed! Isn't it so pretty?? Honestly, I think it's probably the nicest thing I have ever made. I should have taken a picture of the seams on the inside too, cause I made sure that they were all done nice and neat as well.

Linking up at a few parties.....

My Insta-Week

It's Friday!!  Yay!! Best day  AND easiest blog post of the week!!

Here's my week in review.....

From Bottom Left right around the L to top Left :  Olivia's Halloween Costume / The "damage" we incurred from Sandy / Surprise Roses from Hubs / Home sick with baby (I love her) / Halloween sit and spin Pink Pumpkin Surprise / Buzz Buzz Buzz

And today I am thankful for strawberry yogurt and how well it hides the presence of Amoxicillin from my child.  All my life I have hated strawberry yogurt....but now, now we are in love.

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A Month for Giving Thanks

Today is the first day of November (holy cow where has the year gone).  This morning while I was sitting in my car, waiting to get over the bridge from Quincy to Dorchester (seriously less than five miles), and getting more and more frustrated by the second (only took me an hour to get to work today), I started thinking about positive thinking.  I am a huge believer of positive thinking, but not a very good follower.   I let myself get bogged down by the little disappointments of the day too much.  Way too much.  

I've decided that I'm going to give thanks for something that is positive in my life everyday in November.  This hopefully will set me on the right track for the upcoming Christmas season and the new year to come. I have SO much to be thankful for........I'm tired of focusing on what is wrong. It's just so DEPRESSING.  Plus.....As Drake and my Husband say....."You only Live Once" (actually Hubs says "You only get one Trip").........

I know I don't blog everyday, but I'll catch up for the days that I missed when I do.  I won't have it take up the whole blog entry (cause I have SOOO much interesting stuff to talk about).  Feel free to participate with me.  A little positive thinking can go a long way.....

So....Here goes...

Today, on a day that that I was 45 minutes late to work, I am REALLY thankful for my job.  I love working where I do.  I finally love doing what I do.  And, most importantly, I finally have the flexibility that I need to take care of the most important thing in my world, my family, the way that it needs to be.  Not only do they not stress when I show up late, nearly every day, but it is never questioned when I need to stay home with a sick child.  I really feel blessed to have found this job...........