Happy Friday friends!

I can’t tell you how many times in a day, when the kids are playing with play doh, that I yell ‘don’t eat the play doh.’  The play doh makers say that play doh is non-toxic, but come on… you really don’t want your kid eating it do you?  I didn’t think so.

While perusing the blogs over my daily cup of caffeine, I came across this post that shows you how to make your own play doh.  Now at least I know what they are eating.  We quickly pulled out the only cookie cutters we have, of the Christmas variety, and went to work.  Then we moved on to beach shapes.  Palm trees.  Crabs.  Fish.  Boats. ‘Tis the season.

And speaking of homemade goodness, on our trip to Costco this week.  I *heart* Costco.  I really do.  We purchased this savvy piece of machinery.  Our own, ready in 20 minutes, ice cream maker.  And that was $50 well spent.  Run, go now to Costco and get this machine before ice cream season ends.   You will not regret it.

Earlier this week I made the Ghiradelli brownies (from Costco), so we made brownie ice cream.  With huge chunks of brownie.  Mmmmm….

I buy my vanilla from El Mercado in San Antonio.  If you can find a Mexican market in your area, you can get a big bottle like this for around $6.

Then, get this, last night I was eating some Blue Bell Ice Cream, a southern favorite, when I bit into something hard.  I kid you not.  It was a piece of metal.  No lie.  About one inch long skiny piece of metal.  Ick.

From now on I’m sticking to the homemade variety.

Have a lovely Fourth of July weekend!  A truly homemade fourth.

**Friends, what do I do with the metal?  Send them a lovely email/letter?  What would you do?

He loves me.  He really does.  Look what my hubby bought me for my book deal.

Squirrel!

Oh how I relate to the ’squirrel.’  One moment I’m in the middle of something and the next… squirrel.  Distracted and onto something else.  You must go see the movie Up to fully understand the true concept of ’squirrel.’  It’s a good one, I wouldn’t lead you astray.

And it’s prominently displayed in my dining room.  I’ve been doing some more nesting and changed out my red curtains to white ones from Ikea.  The white seems to filter the Texas sunshine much better and just makes the house feel cooler.  And the bowl in the center of the table now holds Legos to keep the kids occupied while waiting for mealtimes.  Little things that make my life easier.

We’ve mostly been staying home.  Playing with our favorite toys.  Makena gets it all set up and Keegan likes to knock it all down.  I’m sensing this will become a pattern throughout their childhood.

We had a break in the heat for the past two days.  It rained!  Glorious temperature dropping into the 70’s rain.  When it started to rain, we dropped everything (squirrel) and ran onto the porch to sit and watch it come down.

Then the rain dance began.  Accompanied by Keegan’s own rendition of ’squirrel’ when he found a bug on the ground.

Squirrel… the story of my life.

Thank you all so much for the well wishes on the book.  We are moving along and I can’t wait to share with you what it’s all about.  It’s going to be a beautifully designed book that will let you carry on Craft Hope in your own home and around the world.

This weekend was pretty low key since it’s still 106 degrees outside.  I spent a good portion of the weekend working on the book.  Doing laundry.  Cleaning out.  And cleaning up.

I did manage to sneak in some late night sewing.  A good bloggy friend of mine just had a sweet baby girl so I whipped up this soft baby blanket for her.  But don’t tell her.  Shhhh… It’s a secret.  Hopefully that newborn will keep her hands full so she won’t be able to check the blogs.  Just for a couple of days until the package arrives.

This week I’ve got absolutely nothing scheduled.  Still dreaming about my beach trip and hoping to go in July.  It looks like it’s going to be a good week to stay home and sew.  I need to make Makena some new summer nightgowns.  And I’d like to start on a few things for my bebe.  A good nesting week indeed.

I have this little secret.

One that I’ve been wanting to share with you for a couple of months now.

And since I just signed my contract last week, I am overjoyed, over the moon, ecstatic.

I got a book deal.  Did I just say that?  I got a book deal.  Sometimes I have to say it aloud just so that I believe it.

I’m working with Lark Books on a great new project for Craft Hope!  And I can’t wait to share it with you very soon.  I’m blessed to be working with some incredible editors and fabulous designers/bloggers, who I am also proud to call my friends.

So in all of my free time (ha) I’ve been researching, recruiting and networking.  I’ve been writing, brainstorming and planning.  I’ve stayed up late to catch my friends on the other side of the world as they are just waking up.  I’ve gotten up early to catch the others as they are finishing up their day.

I’ve sat at the bookstore researching.  I’ve sat quietly alone at my desk working.

All of this while changing diapers, potty training, pool dates, play dates, laundry, house cleaning, cooking, blogging, blog reading and running Craft Hope.

My major deadline is running exactly the same time as my due date.  How about that for timing?

I can’t wait to share more with all of you.  Stay tuned!

I’m sure you are getting tired of listening to us Texans complain about the heat.  But come on…  here is the five day forecast… 103, 103, 103, 101, 101.  Sigh.  Yes, it’s Texas and it gets hot in the summer but this is ridiculous.  I’m moving.

I feel like I did when I was a little kid and mad at my mom.  Packed up my ‘going to grandmas’ suitcase and walked down the street.  Then walked back home.

Just let me pout for a bit about the weather.  Deep breath.

Okay, I’m over it.  But I still want to move.

It’s a bit of a conflict of interest.  This wanting to move and nesting.  But that is where my rollercoaster of pregnant emotions has left me.

Remember the dresser I told you that I scored at a garage sale for $20 a couple of weeks ago?  Beveled mirror.  On wheels.  Perfect for the kids new shared room.

It’s now got a new coat of white paint and new brass knobs.

We moved Keegan in with Makena.  I had grand plans to paint the room.  Paint their grandfather’s twin size beds for them.  Totally decorate the room.  But this pregnancy thing has caught up with me and I’m a little less ambitious.

So Makena is still in her big ‘princess and the pea’ bed.  The walls are still pink.  But now Keegan’s little bed is in the room under the paper lanterns.  Which, I might add, he tries to pull down daily.  Boys.

Maybe I’ll get around to it someday after the baby comes.  Maybe not.  Maybe I’ll just move to Alaska to cool off for a bit.  Maybe not.

Stay cool friends.

The kids and I have been talking about going to the beach.

We are hoping to take the kids to the beach in July for one last getaway before my last trimester.

We have talked about the crabs.  Sand.  Sand castles.  The difference between a drip castle and a sand castle.  Sharks.  Sea gulls.  Palm trees.  Fish.

We have talked about the airplane ride.  Being patient.  Being courteous.  Staying with mommy and daddy.

What I didn’t think we’d have to talk to the kids about is money.  Not yet anyway.  So at two and four, they don’t quite get the concept that we can’t just drive to the airport today and get on an airplane.  That we have to save our money to go to the beach.  So I’ve been trying my hardest to explain to them that we should try to not spend any money, unless we have to, so we can go to the beach.

Today Makena came to me with a baggie of change she found in the house.  Being the resourceful mama that I am, I said to her “If you help me with some chores, I will give you some money to put into your piggy bank.”

She quickly replied “No, this money is for the beach.  We need to save it for the airport.  Because you said we’d wake up early and we’ll need to eat breakfast at the airport.  Then we can use the rest of the money at the beach.”

More true words have never been spoken.  So with her help, we created a beach jar.

And are hoping and praying that we get to escape this Texas heat and go to the beach next month.

While trying to think of a blog post title for this entry, the Beastie Boys ’she’s crafty’ song popped into my head.  So I started singing along and quickly realized that they aren’t talking about the sewing crafty type.  Ha!

I have been wanting to make a halter dress for Makena since it’s summer.  Of course, I had no pattern.  Just a vintage pillowcase with embroidery that I’ve been saving for just the right project.  And I love white dresses in the summertime.

She’s a string bean that’s for sure.  So after several adjustments to the elastic to keep it on her little body, I think I’ve got just the right fit.  I also took pictures along the way in hopes of whipping up a tutorial for you.

Today we are going to a two year old birthday party and the theme is butterflies.  The girls are supposed to wear wings and the boys capes.  Good thing I made Keegan a cape for Christmas and already had one ready to go.  The wings I got at Target (of course).

And for the birthday girl, I made her a tutu using this tutorial.  Belly button not included.  Easy peasy.

Since I’m getting older, lets talk about the weather shall we.

It’s been over 100 degrees here in Austin for a week now.  With no relief in sight.  I’ve nested.  I’ve worked late into the night on Craft Hope.  And I’ve sewn.

I had a few custom orders come in for these fiesta dresses, so I was up last night making them.  They just scream summertime.

I was thinking about creating a tutorial for them if anyone is interested.  Anyone interested?  And of course, I’m always taking custom orders for them so just let me know.

In other maternity news… I had been dreading buying a maternity swimsuit.  Mamas, I’m sure you can relate.  Funny thing is that all of our children have been planned and this is now my third summer pregnancy.  Good times.

I finally found a plaid purple number that stole my heart at Target.  So today instead of hiding indoors, I took the kids to the pool in my new purple swimsuit.  And I have to say that it’s the best day I’ve had all summer.  Soaking up the sun.  Taking a breather.  Playing with my kids.  Watching them learn to swim. The ‘mama watch this… mama catch me… mama this way.’

Summertime bliss.

Today we got another glimpse inside to see our baby girl growing and growing.  They wanted to do another sonogram because she was in a wonky position last time and couldn’t see all of her parts.  This time was a success.  She’s now head down, growing like a weed and has the kung fu punch of a ninja.

The nursery is now painted and the furniture is all set up.  I’m now working on the decorating part.  Selecting prints and art for the wall.  Making impromptu trips to Ikea for cheap curtains.  And staring at the perfect glider online that I never had with the other two.  A place to feed and rock my bebe.  Also a place to hold all three kids.  THREE KIDS!  And read books.

I decided that I wanted an ABC print for the baby’s room after oogling several nurserys on Ohdeedoh.  I searched and searched on ETSY until I found the perfect one.  I fell in love with this design with all of the animals.  You can custom choose your size and colors.  And Erin is wonderful to work with!  Such a sweetheart.  Check out her shop.

A few more things on ETSY that make my heart go pitter patter.  I *heart* etsy.  I really do.  Now I’m thinking to myself… if I share these with you, you might buy them.  Please.  Don’t.  Do.  That.  They are mine.  Please.  Or… buy them for me?  Please.

1 :: squirrel girl print (the black apple)

2 :: garden party necklace (plum flower creations)

3 :: random reds cushion (tree fall design)

4 :: leaves bag on canvas (cyn contemporary)

5 :: eco toes for toddlers (infusion)

6 :: spread the love label (miss pickles press)

7 :: silk flower headband (banner boutique)

8 :: happy hat (sweet dreamz by nessa)

9 :: mustache on a stick (somethings hiding here)

Good Monday morning my friends.  I hope the weekend treated you well.

This morning, in this space, I will be your air traffic controller.  Directing you here and there.

I spent most of the day yesterday working on Craft Hope Project 3.  Trying to find the words to express how much these little angels need you.  For this project, Craft Hope has partnered with the Miracle Foundation to provide blankets, booties and beanies for three childrens homes in India.  Go on over, sign up.  There is something for everyone in this project.

For the last project I was so blessed to be able to work with Eren.  She has the biggest heart.  Her strength, guidance and support has definitely made an impact on Craft Hope and myself.

The final doll count is 387!!!

And since I couldn’t say it any better myself, go read what she had to say about the doll project.  Well said my friend.