Early Christmas for Mommy!!

My hubs completely surprised me! He knows that he can't go wrong, with a gift from ModCloth. My hubs also knows, that my whole "I'm going to sew my Christmas dress" idea, is just not happening! I ran out of time. And my pretty green dress, is still laying in pieces, on my desk.

Today our kiddos spent a few hours with my parents. So we could wrap their presents. :) And help Santa a bit, with some assembly. While our kiddos were with my parents today, my hubs told me, I needed to open one of my Christmas presents. Guess what I got?!? A new dress!



Yes, I now have a Christmas dress. It was one of my favorites. Something that I had hoped to buy in the Spring. It's definitely a "warmer weather" dress. But I'm thinking, some tights, and my favorite shoes, will make this the perfect Christmas outfit! I have to have, the sweetest husband in the world! ~Maggie

My Aunt and Empanaditas

Recently, my cousin and I, have been remembering our aunt. She past away, just over 8 years ago. My cousin, was definitely closer to her, than I was. She just spent more time with our aunt. But so many of us, were close to our aunt.

At this time of year, I especially remember, and miss my aunt. She was the best cook ever! Making us tons and tons of food. Yummy food! You never went to her house, and didn't eat. That was just not going to happen.

Unfortunately, many of us, never cooked with her. Lots of the recipes, were just lost. She suffered from a debilitating stroke. Then they found cancer. And she past away, just 5 months after her initial illness. From the day of her stroke, until her death, she couldn't speak. Or do much for herself.

I always regret, not learning more from my aunt. I tell you, she was amazing! A self taught, amazing seamstress. A cook, that no one comes close to. Just an amazing woman!! At this time of year, I especially miss her empanaditas. No one that I know, knows how to make them. Lola and I, have been remembering all the ingredients. I know that she plays with various recipes. Trying to nail the one, from our childhood.

Recently, I took to chatting up a neighbor of ours. And she shared her family's recipe. Not the same savory ones, that I grew up eating. But a delicious recipe nonetheless!! With apricots, nuts and various other goodies. YUM!!

While Jake and my hubs were out shopping this weekend, the girls and I took to baking. :) And let me tell you, we baked!! Some mighty delicious fried desserts. I wanted my girls to enjoy this. And to start a new family tradition. It was a great afternoon!!

Like all little girls, my daughters enjoy playing "make believe" with their kitchen set. Since I've started on this crafty adventure, I've tried to "grow" their supply of play food. And I wanted to find something to make my girls, to remember this day. That when I found this adorable pattern!!



I'm nearly done with 6 of these cuties!! 2 for each of my daughters. I'm positive that they're going to love them! And I know, every time I see them, I'm going to remember our special day in the kitchen. Yes, it took longer than I had planned. But it was so much fun, creating new memories with my daughters. And remembering my aunt. ~Maggie

Entire Reason I Learned How to Sew

Little projects like this, are the entire reason, that I learned how to sew. No stinking lie! I wanted to be able to create special things, for my kiddos. Now if I just had a ton of time. And a good fabric stash. I know my daughters would love to play, with something like this! ~Maggie

Trinkets From My Past

I was just looking at Stacy's beautiful room. That she created for her daughters. So precious! And some of the things she used, take me back to my childhood. They make me wish for a time past. That was much more simple. Had a pureness to it. Something I'm trying to create for my own kiddos.



Like this little Umbrella Mobile. I remember this girl, having one. When we were little. :) I'm a few years older than my cousin. But I still remember the mobile hanging in her nursery. I wish I could find one like this. I'm 100% positive, that my auntie still has Lola's mobile.



And these little deer bookends, I had a pair when I was little. I wonder what happened to them. Mom? Do you still have them? I'd love to put them in one of my girls' rooms! They were one of my favorite things in my room. I'd put all my favorite books, between them.

Goodness, I just love this room! I wish that I could create a space like this. With such fun touches. Like those prints. Aren't they fun? This is totally my style. ~Maggie

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

First of all, welcome! How fun is this? I've always wanted to be a part of the fun. And now, here we are.

This past Christmas, I got to spend a lot of time with my cousin and my auntie. We spent a lot of time together, while my uncle was in the hospital. And I learned how to crochet. Life changing! And so much fun!



For my giveaway, I want to give some the chance to have fun too! To learn a new craft. I'm giving away this little set, and some additional yarn! 5 skeins of "I Love This Yarn."

You have until May 29th, at midnight PST. Open to the USA only. Just leave me a link to your favorite online craft shop. For any type of craft. I've got 4 kids, so we're always working on something! Good luck! You should also visit my cousin and my auntie today. I'm just saying... ~Maggie

Making Life Easier

There are not many products in my life, that genuinely make my life easier. Having 4 kids is crazy! And tough. Some days are not pretty. Most days are truly amazing. Magical. But I never get too comfortable. Life is just that way. Some days, I'm barely hanging on. It's a good thing that those days are few and far between!

One of the things that makes life easier is this...



Hubs and I both agreed. And after 4 kids, little really makes us super excited...when talking about baby products. But this little set, well it just makes life easier. And today, we needed that. It's tough trying to pick out and buy plants, when all our kids can think about is ice cream. Note to self, promise them after the shopping is done. Not before. :) ~Maggie

Where Did They Go???

Does anyone know if the blogger maintenance mysteriously took my postings down? The last posting that is showing is from August 2010. They still show up in my "edit posts" tab. But not on my blog when I look at it. So frustrating. And of course, you can't talk to anyone at blogger. Total fail! Is there anything I can do? Or is this going to be a disaster like hotmail??? ~Maggie

They Need Their Own Space

I've been looking for some fun projects. You know, it's almost summer. And I'll have all 4 kiddos home. We need some things, to keep us entertained. Isn't this a great idea? I just love it! I'm wondering, if my hubs can make a bigger one. Maybe 2. This would be a good reason, to try my hand at sewing again! :) ~Maggie

Clouds for Audrey

My grandma used to crochet. I still remember going to her house, and playing with the blankets she made. They were so colorful! My grandma past away almost 14 years ago. My auntie and my cousin, both crochet. And very recently, I inherited some special doilies. That my grandma made decades ago!

I've always enjoyed crochet items. They remind me of my grandma. I regret, that I never got a blanket from her. She made the most amazing granny square blankets. Ask Lola. She's got a few. :)

I was lucky enough, to get some crochet lessons. In late December, I learned from my auntie and my cousin. And I haven't looked back! I'm having so much fun. That's why, when I saw this little tutorial, I squealed in delight!



Remember those doilies I was telling you about. I'm going to use them, to make Audrey some little clouds of her own. My baby girl, is not quite 7 months old. And she just loves watching everything. I think these would be perfect, to hang in the playroom. That way, Audrey has something fun to look at, while her brother and sisters are lost in play! Time to get sewing!~Maggie

Caterpillar for Audrey

Can I just say this? I LOVE crocheting! I'm not very fast at it. But it's so comforting. :) Best of all, I get to create special things for my kiddos.



I just started this little project for Audrey. I can't wait to get it done! I bought some really bright and fun yarn. They remind me of Audrey's nursery. And my auntie was telling me, you can stick little bells inside. To make it rattle around!! How fun is this going to be? I'm sure my baby girl is just going to love her new toy! ~Maggie

It's Fishing Time!

I've been crocheting for a short amount of time now. But I do realize this much, there are not a whole lot of "boy patterns" out there. It's so unfortunate!! But I want to make Jake something. He's such a sweet soul. Always putting his sisters ahead of himself. My boy, just deserves a little something. Just because he is so giving.

I took to hunting. Then I got a little frustrated. Maybe if I had started crocheting a few years ago, I could have gotten away with making him some of the amigurumi toys. But he just seems a little too old for that. I kept digging. Then I called my cousin Lola. Who is the most amazing crocheter that I know! She pointed me towards this little Fishing Game!



Now I know, I was a little silly. Thinking I'd never find something for Jake. He LOVES to fish!! My son, is his father's son. :) The 2 of them, could fish for days, if you'd let them. Just sit there, with their fishing pole. In complete silence. Waiting for that 1 bite....

I'm still working on the bag. And some of the fish. But I did manage to get 5 fish made. And my hubs helped me with a pole. The 2 of them, have spent hours "fishing!!" Yes, this has to be the best project ever!! I'm glad that my guys are enjoying it so much! ~Maggie