For Modesty's Sake

I am a full-fledged believer in breastfeeding. So much in fact, my freshman year of college I did a persuasive speech on why breastfeeding is so beneficial for my Communications final...And because of this fact, I have absolutely no problem with a woman nursing in public.

However, I totally understand and respect that breastfeeding is not for everyone and that it's a very personal choice. So, with respect to those who do not wish to see me nursing my baby, and for modesty's sake, I whipped up a few fantastically cute nursing covers (like these and these)!

I've seen them in several stores and drooled over a few lovely patterns, but once again my frugal side kicks in and I can't help but pull a, " I could totally make that!" when I see the $40-$50 price tag. Naturally, making them myself was my chosen alternative. And get this, I made both for only $18!!

After browsing a few patterns, I settled on this tutorial I found over at made by mama monster for her detailed and simple instructions and the fact that she included the wired top so I can see baby while she's nursing. I just love how they turned out! A full report on their usefulness after baby arrives:)

Sew Thrifty

Baby spit up? We've got that covered! We are officially stocked up on burp cloths, thanks to this little Tuesday night project. And the best part-they were super affordable to make! Thanks to plenty of leftover fabric I had from other recent projects, the only thing I needed was a 12-pack of Gerber cloth diapers (the old school kind), which I ended up finding at Walmart for $12. That brings each burp cloth to $1 a pop!

Everything I read about homemade burp cloths said cloth diapers were the most absorbent since they're made for baby's bottom. I love them to pieces, and hey, these might even make wiping up baby girl's mess a little more pleasant...maybe...

Addicted

Sewing isn't a new hobby for me, though suddenly I have become a complete sewing fiend! I'm pretty sure I have a touch of "nesting fever" because these past few weeks it's all I can do to pry myself from the craft room and get some sleep. But I will say this, our little one is going to be well equipped with her fair share of ruffles! Can't wait to share what I spent last night working on...tomorrow:)

Have a delightful Wednesday!

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Nesting and Boppy Covers

Call it nesting to the tenth degree, but I spent last weekend purging, organizing and completely cleaning out our guest/craft room! All for the sake of having a clean room to complete the bazillion sewing projects I currently have on my list of things to make. With the insane amount of energy I've encountered lately, I figure I'll take advantage while it's here!

My first project was sewing my own Boppy cover. Since all the covers I was finding seemed crazy overpriced ($40-50 each!), I decided that making them myself was the route I wanted to take. Plus, I could customize with a fabric I loved!

With a little advice from my friend Taryn, who also went the DIY route, I was off to Joann's! And in a few short hours, I ended up with this:

Ahh, I LOVE this pretty combo of celery, blush and coral! It's so girly and chic!

 So glad I decided to make my own because not only was this a really simple project, but I saved a lot of money since I was armed with a few 40% off coupons for Joann's, which I constantly get in the mail!

p.s. - wouldn't these make a wonderful baby shower gift?!

For anyone interested in making your own Boppy cover, I used the Simplicity pattern 4225.

Here's the breakdown of what this little project cost me:

Nurture Nest Pillow insert: $17
3 yards of fabric: $18 (enough for 2 covers)
Piping: $5
3' velcro strip $.50
Total cost: $40.50

Next on my list: a nursing cover and burp cloths!

Weekend Love

Happy Friday! I'm definitely looking forward to a long weekend. On the agenda: our monthly stock-up trip to Costco, executing a little idea I had to spruce up our pantry, finding a use for some lovely new fabric I bought, taking a stab at Ellie Krieger's {healthy} dutch baby pancakes and hopefully re-potting the mums, lillies and tulips my sweet husband surprised me with on Valentine's Day. Oh the exciting life I lead;) Have a good one!

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{SweetasaPea}

Drum roll please...

My Etsy shop is finally up and running! I've posted a few teasers, but please pop by my shop, SweetasaPea!

I have had so much fun creating these coffee cozies and look forward to the many future additions to my shop! Hope you like what you see and check back often as I will be updating frequently:)

Sew Long, Work Week!

Hehe-sorry for that cheesy title! I'm just a little excited for the weekend. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE parties and having friends over to our house {like, a lot}, but after several weekends of get-togethers, I'm kind of thankful for a few days of downtime! And when I say downtime, I mean a Saturday morning spin class, sewing with my mom and yummy dinners that require more than 30 minutes!

I'm looking forward to having a full weekend of making pretties to list on my Etsy shop! Yep, it's going live next week!

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

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Weekend Warriors

When I realized Christmas was a mere two weeks away, I knew Chris and I had to get our butts in gear and accomplish a list of tasks we wanted done before the holidays. And so, we were definitely weekend warriors these past few days! We got the house to a spot that makes it feel good, even if not yet complete. It was necessary, both for our sanity and the number of friends and family who want to see the new place over the holidays!

We now have two rooms that are so close to being complete-for now anyway! May I present to you:

The Dining room! My husband is so handy-he was able to fix an electrical problem we were having that prevented our new pendant light from actually turning on. But look at that baby now:)

And the "cozy" room , as I like to call it because it's such a snugly, warm room, especially with a fire going! This room had been lacking window coverings because I just could not make a decision. At last I found these roman shades that pull in all the colors I wanted! Aren't they pretty?! There are a few unfinished details we need to get to, but it's definitely looking less and less like we just moved in:)


Sunday afternoon I made these aprons for my little siblings, in hopes they might inspire their little minds with culinary genius;) Little kitchen helpers are the best!

Hope your weekend was fabulous! Merry Monday!

I Made Cozzies!

One sewing project down, only about six to go! But in all fairness, I actually finished these little guys back in May, they were just missing a button to fasten the cozy around a coffee cup. Silly since buttons take all of thirty seconds to attach...

Don't look too close because I am certainly no pro, but I definitely learned a whole lot making these. I played with different sizes and methods and think I came up with a decent pattern to make more.

Oh, and did I mention the inside is a totally different fabric? This will come in handy when I start making them reversible.

I can't wait to bust one of these out at a coffee shop and say, "Yep, I made it myself!".

Happy Friday!

What do you lovely readers have going on this holiday weekend?

I know it's a bit early, but I plan on whipping out my box of Fall decor and getting a head start on the season! I have some new ideas for this year so a trip to Michaels and Ikea (and maybe Anthropologie) will likely be thrown in there along with completing those sewing projects I've been trying to tackle. And of course, there are also a few baking ventures I would like to attempt. Cannot wait to have three glorious days to get it all done!

Have a lovely weekend!

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Cozy up This Weekend!

Since this upcoming weekend will be an extra long one, I plan to bust out my sewing machine and make some coffee cozzies! It's been on my list of "want to do's" for some time now. And I happened to stumble upon this blog that offered a quick tutorial, so now I simply have no excuse not to get started!

Inspiration: Weekend Sewing

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

On Saturday, as my mom and I waited patiently for our number to be called at the fabric counter in Joann's, we browsed this adorable book! It has all kinds of fun and easy sewing projects like: guest room slippers, an overnight bag, pillow cases and even an outside puppy tent. And a bonus, the book is filled with whimsical, vintage-chic pictures. I am officially adding this to my birthday list!

My Very First Apron!

So I just finished my very first apron! And it's inspired me to continue mastering the art of sewing. I'm amazed at how much I learned just making this one, and I am proud to admit I didn't even use a pattern! I was inspired by one of my great grandmother's aprons that was given to me. Pretty nifty, right?

While I love and own many different varieties of aprons, I am partial to the half apron. I am drawn to it's functionality and no-fuss factor, which is probably why I loved my grandmothers so much. It is simple while still remaining feminine and sweet. And how cute is that red gingham?!

This was my inspiration.


And THIS is my finished product! While far from perfect, I love it just the same. This picture makes it difficult to see the cute pleats, but they give it a girly flair.

Happy Friday!

Hello lovelies! What are you up to this weekend?

Chris and I are going to see the new Alice in Wonderland tonight! I'm looking forward to the weird and cooky Tim Burton version of the childhood classic. And a plus, I heard good things about it from people who saw a sneak peek.

And while Chris spends Saturday helping his parents paint his Mom's spa, I think I'll get to work on my first apron! I've been quite busy and haven't had a chance to pull out my sewing machine in a few weeks and what better time than a rainy Saturday afternoon? I'm hoping to have a finished product to show you next week!

Oh, and I'm excited to pick up a dessert tea I recently read about from Tea Forte called Coco Truffle. Have any of you heard of/tried it? I'm on a temporary hiatus from sweets/desserts and it's been suprisingly manageable for the most part, but when Chris busted out a box of my favorite Girl Scout cookies last week I almost melted! So I'm looking for a calorie-free treat and this seems to fit the bill!

Doesn't it look delightful?!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Getting the Hang of This

This weekend I finally started making the ever talked about snack bags! I must say, I think only now do I grasp the time that goes into prepping a project such as this! Washing and ironing the fabric, cutting the pattern, attaching the pattern and cutting out the fabric, cutting out the applique...and all that before you even get to sew! Anyway, I only have one (the smallest of the four) finished. Mainly because I am still trying to get the hang of stitching on the applique, but hey, practice makes perfect, right?!

I am proud as can be of my little snack bag! Isn't she cute?!

Delightfully Inspired

Current mood: Beyond giddy!

A few hours of my Saturday afternoon were spent galore fabrics for my future endeavor to make aprons! I purchased enough to make five and I only wish I actually had a sewing machine to get started:) It has, however, encouraged me to continue my search for the machine suited perfectly for me! Now, inspired by the many patterns I rummaged through today, I have a million ideas floating around my head!

These two retro fruit designs are by Alexander Henry (thanks, Kristin!). Don't you love them?!


This Christmas "angel cakes" print is also by Alexander Henry.


I love the birds, it's so very Fall-ish!


And of course, a girlie floral :)

Some Favorites From The Week

I've got some good eats, reads and finds to share with you on this beautiful Friday!

Grilled flank steak tacos with avocado-lime salsa ~ Sometimes when I make our weekly meal plan, I get so excited about a certain dinner that the anticipation lingers all week. This was definitely one of those weeks! Chris has been asking for steak, so I went browsing through some past issues of Cooking Light in search of the perfect recipe. Alas, I found these grilled flank steak tacos! I splurged a bit on a beautiful $17 piece of flank steak (but he's so worth it!). Last night I was feeling tired and unmotivated to cook, but I simply could not let this meal get put off! As soon as I started grilling the meat my enthusiasm was renewed as it began to sizzle and the spicy aroma of lime and chipotle filled the apartment! The results: wonderfully fresh and authentic tasting! Chris and I agreed these tacos will be making another appearance on our weekly menu!




Secrets to a Happy Marriage ~ Joanna Goddard, the author of one of my favorite blogs, was married last weekend and while she is on her two week honeymoon in Greece and Italy(jealous!), she has asked various bloggers, authors and friends to post about their "secrets to a happy marriage". It has been quite a sweet series that I've enjoyed reading:) Check it out at Cup of Jo! The post by Elly on Wednesday has been my favorite so far:)

Apron inspiration ~ I've shared that I am getting a sewing machine for Christmas, but what I haven't told you is my obsession with aprons! My whole inspiration for learning to sew stemmed from wanting to make my own aprons. I just love them and have recently been on the lookout for cute patterns. Last weekend while garage saleing, Chris and I found a few that he insisted I buy:) While paying for them the girls told me their grandmother made them over 30 years ago! All the more exciting for me as I love the vintage look. I've added them to my ever growing collection and now I REALLY can't wait to start learning! I've also fallen in love with the vintage inspired fabrics at The Tin Thimble. I need to start stocking up because I can tell, this is not going to be my cheapest hobby:)

This is one I got at the garage sale last weekend. Love the bright, cheery fabric!


This one was my grandma's and probably one of my favorites! It has such a feminine sweetness to it!


And this one is from Anthropologie. I love it's simple design and retro flair!



Bulerias Tank by Lululemon ~ I adore this tank! Perfect for yoga or grocery shopping...that's my kind of top:)



Have a great weekend! I know we're looking forward to a low-key 3-day break together:)

Sushi, Sewing and Friends

Happy Thursday guys!

I am so excited to tell you about the sushi making class Parris and I went to on Tuesday! I am always up for new, fun things so when I saw this class offered at Newcastle Produce, I immediately signed up and new exactly who to ask to be my sushi making buddy:) Normally Chris and I would do these things together, but Chris doesn't quite love sushi like I do and a good girls' night is always in order;) So Parris accompanied me and we had a blast! The class was great and suprisingly easier than we thought it would be. We ended up making about six rolls each! I've been in heaven eating my rolls for lunch as well as a snack the past two days!! Can't wait to throw a sushi making party:)

I'm looking forward to taking more of these classes! They are such good dates, with friends and my guy! Next I want to tackle the 7 course dinner!!

Some pics of our class and also one of Lael and Me last weekend:)

This my friends, is a green goddess roll:) Just asparugas and herbs, YUM!


Our dinner, made by us!


We rocked sushi making like it was child's play;)


This is why I love Parris! I'm so glad we're friends:)


Nice lady took our picture:)


And after the class we went to my house and had chocolate cake and coffee, because sometimes, girls just need chocolate;)


Cheers! Notice my new dress I bought last weekend;)I'll take any excuse to wear a sundress!


And finally, Lael and Me at Humphrey Slocumbe:) This photo curtousy of Lael.


On a totally different note, my grandma was so excited when she heard about my new found interest in sewing that she sent my Mom home with a ton of vintage fabric:) I went through it with my Mom last night and am quite excited about my new treasures! I am obsesed with aprons, so she also sent a few of my great grandma's aprons to use as a pattern! I'm pretty stoked about it! And BTW, I have asked for a sewing machine for Christmas, but am lost about what I really need. If you've got any suggestions, I would really appreciate them (Parris, Laurie, Aunt Betty??):)

And lastly, I skyped with Rebecca in GERMANY yesterday! Even though it was only for about a minute because apparently, 3G and skype aren't a great match:( Anyway, I'm just feeling so lucky to have spent such quality time with good friends the past few weeks! It has been exactly what I've needed:)

My Aunt C is flying in today to spend a week in California! Can't wait for some family time this weekend! On the agenda: Julie and Julia, Lake Tahoe and being poolside:) This is my aunt who did the flowers for our reception. She is amazing:)

I'm hoping I can make it through this morning...I only got 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night! But sometimes, yogurt with friends is just more important:)

Have a lovely day!

The Tin Thimble

I just had one of the best kind of Saturday afternoons and I am newly inspired!! You see, my Mom found these great, never used margarita and martini glasses from Pottery barn on Craig's list and found out the lady selling them owns, with her Mom, a cute little sewing shop called The Tin Thimble (here's a link to their blog). Naturally, she invited me along to pick them up, knowing this is right up our ally! From seeing the fantastic, vintage inspired stuff they make, I am inspired to learn to sew:) When I was little, my grandma tried to teach me but I was never really too interested, but now that I am learning all of the fabulous things I can make myself (and save money buying) I want to learn. We definitely have the crafty gene in our blood:) I bought this adorable handkerchief (and yes, I plan on using it for traditional purposes!) at the Tin Thimble!



We were told by the lady about some other places we should stop by around the cute little town of Newcastle. We had lunch and bought some local produce at the Newcastle Produce Market. Learning while we were there that they also hold cooking/technique classes. I plan on attending the cupcake and sushi class! Oh, these are two different classes:) And finally we stopped by a vintage second hand shop where I picked up some past issues of Country Living for $.25. They actually aren't old at all, one of them is the June 2009 issue! I never thought it was my kind of magazine, but as I started flipping through it I realized it is full of DIY projects, great recipes and encouragement about living green and shopping locally. I am happy my magazine subscriptions are just up, as I may add Country Living to my monthly reads:)

Okay, I'm off to get ready for Darrell's birthday party! Enjoy this glorious Saturday!