So I'm not doing the 30 Day Shred. Yes it was on the list but it's been replaced. I can't do this exercise thing on my own. Don't get me wrong. I love how I feel about an hour after I'm done, how I can feel myself getting stronger and how I can see the smallest changes in my body. I fall short on the motivation. When I step on the scale and the number hasn't changed, or even worse- has climbed. I failed at Weight Watchers because I would forget to track and getting to the meetings got to be so stressful because of the kid's activities, because of work, because I could find a reason not to go and sit in a room with other people who struggle and watch them change and me gain.

Apparently I don't eat enough. On the advice of my coach I started eating more calories and that week I lost 3.8 lbs....uh...okay... I was eating good clean calories and that makes all the difference in the world. Yes I have a coach. A whole group of people actually, who are way more fit than me and it intimidates the hell out of me. I'm following a workout schedule called  FocusT25 and I've stuck with it for 7 weeks now.  My coach, Mandy Leonards is a great motivator and she's been on this journey herself so she gets that this isn't easy and is really helpful. She's a mom to two littles and I honestly have no idea how she gets it all done! The other coach in our group, Megan Parker has made an amazing transformation after having twins. Seriously her before and after pics are surreal and give me hope that I can do this too.

This morning I started week 2 of T25 Beta. Week 1 was a slight wash... I have had a sinus cold for a couple of weeks now and I allowed that to be my excuse to fall short last week. I made a renewed commitment over the weekend and even though I was up until 12:30am sewing for an upcoming craft fair- I dragged my ass our of bed this morning at 5:30am when my phone blared the Madagascar version of "I like to move it, move it" because the truth is I do like to move it first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed is the hardest part. Once I have my workout done I take a few minutes to recover, pack lunches and then I have my day to do what I need to do and if I can fit an extra workout in I do. I do a lot of walking and chasing the kids but I haven't run in a few weeks.

So I'm sticking with it, even though I have struggled to stay on track the last couple of weeks. I have 4 weeks left (I'm counting this week in that...one day of 7 does not a week make!) I can handle Shaun T's bedroom eyes for that much longer. And then I'll start alpha again, order gamma and start that once I've nailed the alpha and beta workouts. The workouts are fun and the schedule is done for you. All you have to do is show up, give it your best and, when you stop to catch a breath, take in the T25 eye candy.... :)

Kid's Clothes Week Day 2- Rainbow Dress

Early this year I became an official member of the East Coast Momma Collective. I had done a craft fair through them last Christmas and met some awesome people. One lady and I have been chatting quite a bit lately and last month we decided to trade services. She would make me a bunting and I would make her a dress for her daughter's birthday. I was so excited when Nadja (Little Lemonade Stand) picked up her dress yesterday and she loved it! 

I modified my current favorite Peek a Boo Pattern Perfect Peasant Dress pattern. I have to say these are some of my favorite patterns. Easy to follow instructions and the have a great fit. I made the skirt with 5" strips cut salvage to salvage and serged the together. The purple is actually a 10" strip doubled over to give the skirt a little weight on the bottom. Once I serged the skirt closed (lining up all those strips was tedious...) I top stitched each strip to ensure that the serge seams were stitched down and the skirt part was well finished. 

The clip is rainbow chevron (a nod to my and Nadja's love of all things chevron- I knew it would make that momma happy!) with a wooden button centre. I really love how it all came together.

Want to see what she made me?

I love this bunting! It has enough flags to be used for every holiday and I can just use colour coordinating chalk at holiday time. The rest of the time it can decorate the mantle in the kids play space. I love it!!! Thanks so much Nadja!

Kid's Clothes Week day 1

I had so much fun sewing for the last Kid's Clothes Week that I couldn't wait to do it again. Naturally I am getting overly ambitious and has a ton of big ideas for this week. And I have a lingering sinus cold and my sewing machine is eating needles... so today I'm posting a very simple but crazy cute appliqued shirt.

I found a pumpkin picture online. Flipped it and traced the image onto heat bond. I cut the shapes out of coordinating materials and used a brown fleece for the stem. I used fabric from October Afternoon and Adornit. Sometimes it is so hard to cut a fabric. I've got a bit of a stash built up and when just the right inspiration hits, I'll give I'm and cut something beautiful.  I know I'm not the only sewer with that problem! I've been holding onto so many pieces of the Fly a Kite line and this just seemed like the right time to use it.

After I ironed the pieces onto the shirt, I used a zigzag stitch to finish the applique and give it an embroidered look. (I want an embroidery machine oh so badly. ... Santa? ? I've been good! I swear! ) I finish every appliqued shirt with fray check. I like how it seals the seams. 

I love the orange floral print pants that were a hand me down that I have been wanting to put on Amelia for a while. This shirt pairs with them perfectly and just makes a perfectly sweet fall outfit.

This little girl is such a cutie pie! I know I'm a little bias but come on!

Love her pumpkin clip? Get one here

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

During our apple picking trip we got about 20lbs of apples and I've been using them in just about everything. I made these great pumpkin apple muffins from a recipe I modified from Saturday Nights.

Ingredients:

1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree (DO NOT use Pumpkin Pie filling)

2 cups of diced red apples

4 tbsp of butter

1 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour 

1 tsp of baking powder

1 tsp of baking soda

1/2 cup of brown sugar 

1/2 cup of granulated sugar 

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I make my own mix using the recipe from My Baking Addiction)

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 egg

 Toppings:

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/3 cup of flour

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

3 tbsp of cold butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add the egg and blend for 2 minutes on medium. Add the pumpkin puree, In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice. Slowly combine the dry ingrediants. Fold in Apples. 

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the toppings. I find that clean hands gives you the best texture. Scoop muffin mixture into lined muffin tins and top with brown sugar crumble. Put in oven for 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

These are delicious and the kids ate them up!

Apple picking

One of my favorite family activities to do in the fall is to take the kids apple picking. It gives us all a chance to get outside and do something different and G and I get to help the kids understand where their food comes from. As usual we had a great time and this year Amelia was much more aware of what we were up to. It so so cute watching Austin help her pick apples and tell her that apples grow on trees and not in the store.

Nothing quite like squeezing 4 people into a selfie with the sun shinning down!

Daddy helped Oz reach the top of the tree for the big apples

Amelia taking her turn

"Guys, it's okay...I got dis."

post- picking ice cream

We try to go a few times but so far this day at the beginning of the month was the only one we managed to squeeze in so far. Ozzy will be going on a class adventure next week that I hope will give him a chance to get a few more. Although I will be needing more apples soon. Now that the counter top is in my kitchen I've been baking a lot of apple deliciousness for lunches! 

34 x 34- Colour Run

It was called Run or Dye and at one point I wasn't sure I would make it. The hills were steep and the course was slick- I'm sure there was more than one rolled ankle at that event.

I was in no mood to get up and participate in this run. The day before had just been a major bummer. I tried to think of a million excuses to get out of it. I had had a horrible day and an overwhelmingly stressful week leading up to race day. I just didn't want to do it. I wanted to curl up, drink coffee and wallow.

But I didn't. I dragged my ass out of bed at 6:30 am and by 7:10 am, with coffee in hand (Thanks Jenny!), we were on our way to the race.

I have to say it was pretty well organized and I'm happy that we arrived early.

People were really getting into and the start line made me feel like I was 21 and heading to a dance bar. Colour was flying and people were in a good mood and the energy was great!

Nice and clean at the start of the race

Not so clean after 5k!

Thankfully this all came out of my favorite running pants!

After the finish line there was a great party where more colour was flying. We grabbed some water and I danced out whatever stress was left before heading for home. I have to say I would very seriously consider running this again next year. I know it isn't a huge charity event but it was just so much fun!

And just like that an item is crossed off the list!

Perspective

Life has been interesting lately. We've been doing a renovation that has been planed since we purchased the house, Austin started school, I've had a career change and I'm trying to balance devoting my time to my kids and getting things done. I saw this little poem and I wish I had written it. My house is not pristine (see note about renovation) but my kids are loved!

"I hope my child looks back on today
And sees a mother who had time to play.
There will be years for cleaning and cooking,
But children grow up when you’re not looking.
Tomorrow I’ll do all the chores you can mention
But today, my baby needs time and attention.
So settle down cobwebs; dust go to sleep,
I’m cuddling my baby, and babies don’t keep"

And seriously they've sprouted a foot each over the summer!!!

Never thought I would see this...

I am thrilled that Shannon, owner of The Cotton Penguin, is a huge supporter or local mompreneurs. She 

ordered a dress from me for her daughter's birthday and was really happy, so happy that she asked if I would make a dress for her to carry IN HER STORE! That's pretty huge for me and I was absolutely up for the challenge. 

I don't typically make multiples of the same dress, but in the retail world it's kind of a necessity to do that. I wanted the dress to still be unique and so I decided to chose a fabric combination that I would make available only at The Cotton Penguin. I fell in love with this Nested Owls collection from Adornit Fabrics. Isn't it just the perfect combination of whimsy and fall? I wanted something that would work with our crazy weather here and so the Perfect Peasant Dress made sense- short sleeves work for the current warm afternoons and it can easily be layered with a long sleeve shirt  and leggings or tights when the colder weather moves in. This would be seriously cute with little boots...I might need to make yet another visit to Target for a pair for Amelia (It just opened two days ago and I've been there three times already).

I finished the dresses in time for the ECMC Pop up Fair in the Valley last weekend and handed them over to Shannon. On Monday she posted a picture on her Facebook page and I felt a little shiver of excitement seeing my dress up for sale.

photo credit: Shannon Sheilds

Shannon asked me to make something else for her (another post to come) and I went to her store to drop off her order. Walking through the door I was greeted by my creations!

 

I can't even tell you how it made me feel to see the items that I had worked so hard on placed up front and center in this great local business! It made my day. 

I know, I know- that is one adorable dress and no I can not make you one in that combination- unless you order it through Shannon. Go ahead- buy it here! ( And please do buy it- when she sells out she'll have to buy more!!!)

Make over time!

You like?

A few months back I won a blog redesign courtesy of Sew.Craft.Create. Heidi has out in a great deal of time give my Babblings a fresh, new look. It's still under construction and I will be updating content on various pages so please bear with me.

1st Day of School

A Mother's 1st Day of School Prayer
~ Author Unknown

I wonder what you are doing now

And if everyone is treating you kind,

I hope there is a special person,

A nice friend you can find.

I wonder if the teacher knows

Just how special you are to me

And if the brightness of your heart

Is something she can see.

I wonder if you are thinking of me

And if you need a hug,

I already miss the sound of your voice

And how you give my leg a tug.

This.

This was written by the mother of another free spirited boy. Well said!

http://hellobandito.tumblr.com/post/60152005540/my-little-wild-thing

It Feels Like Fall

Yesterday I bought a Pumpkin Spice Latte, nothing says fall quite like that drink.  The air is crisp, the sky is dark and the last official long weekend of the summer has been cold and drizzly. No beach, no sunset, no swimming in the pool.

I've spent hours reorganizing fabric and sewing supplies, removing too small clothes from dressers and rearranging my new kitchen cabinets. Spring is never the purge season for me, when the leaves start falling, the extra stuff in my house starts flying out the door. I guess it helps that the change of this season means tank tops need to be put away to make room for sweaters and shorts make way for their longer cousin...the pant and last but not least the return of the dreaded sock. Feet around here just want to be free to hang out in "flops" not stuffed into shoes. Maybe its our way of clinging to the summer as long as possible knowing that the rain boots and winter boots aren't that far away.

It's a little more emotional making the switch of the seasons this year. My baby is starting school. As I tucked him into bed tonight and we read "The Night before Kindergarten", I started to tear up. I know my boy is ready. He knows his letters, colours, shapes, numbers and can write his name. He thinks he can read and will charm the pants off any teacher. I'm not naive enough to think that I won't ever have a chat with the teacher, Oz is a very typical almost 5 year old boy after all.

 I'm not quite sure how Wednesday is going to go. I'm going to bring my tissues and cross my fingers that I don't break down into a blubbering mess in front of my boy (or the other moms). I'm grateful that I will be there and will get to capture his first moments at school. His first day of school A² Designs request is a new tie with the fabric he picked out himself so this momma is off to sew that up for him. If the weather is nice tomorrow our personal family photographer will help us capture this milestone.

This little man drives me crazy some days and there are moments I just want to rip my hair out; but there are more days that he melts my heart and makes my sides hurt from laughing so hard. I'm in trouble with this one for sure!

I'm so not ready for this...

The Heart of the Home

I am a Newfoundlander.

If you know anything about Newfoundland, that statement brings a lot of stereotypes, and many of them are true. I speak a little faster, cook whenever anyone is in need, cook way too much for almost every gathering and host parties in my kitchen.

The kitchen is the heart of almost every Newfoundland home. The kitchen is where the wood stove was located and was the warmest room in the house. People gathered there for its functionality and we still gather there now even though our laundry is done in the basement, the heat is evenly distributed through out the house.  Knowing how important the kitchen is in my culture, my friends were a little surprised when my husband and I bought a house with this kitchen:

One friend actually looked at me and said "well...it's nice but you did see the kitchen right?"

We painted the kitchen walls and cabinets for a inexpensive update and as we rebuilt walls and installed new floors throughout the rest of the house, I kept dreaming of the possibilities of a dream kitchen. My home improvement budget has been chewed up by unexpected issues such as no insulation in the basement and heating issues through out the house. My dream kitchen seemed like it was just that..a dream.

And then this happened:

We're into week 2.5 of this project and I'm starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. I can't wait to share more with you including some great tutorials to give you a champagne kitchen on a beer budget :)

Happy Labor Day!
Lisa

I would walk 10,000 miles

Well maybe not 10,000 miles and I certainly didn't walk but I did just travel 1586km in 72 hours.



My littles just spent a full week getting spoiled by Nanny and Poppy and they had a great time! Once I get the pictures off my camera I'll post about the whirl wind weekend.

Things have been quiet on here, not because I don't have anything to post about but because we've been so busy. This week I'll bring you up to date. I've crossed a few items off my 34 by 34 list, made a few new items and have been working with two very talented ladies on my blog redesign (Heidi at Sew.Craft.Create) and a new logo for A Squared Designs.

Life has taken a few twists and turns these past few months but we're making the best of it and soaking up every moment of family time that we can. I'm working on a size run of dresses and some great perfect fit crib shoes for The Cotton Penguin (a local children's boutique), writing some posts for the East Coast Momma Collective Blog and getting my awesome boy ready for his first day of school...how has that time come already?!

Stay tuned :)

Wordless Wednesday

Be still my heart..

Unplugged

No Internet, no tablet, no smartphone...

For the first time in years I have just spent 5 days completely unplugged. At first I felt like I was missing an appendage without my smartphone in hand. I have been without it since last Wednesday and I definitely went through withdrawal symptoms. It felt odd not to be posting pictures and tweeting our adventure.

We spent our vacation on the beach. Ozzy loved every moment, G turned a little red and Miss A screamed the moment her feet touched the sand. She spent most of her time at the beach like this:

Beach time did happen to correspond with nap time so curled up in the shade is where she spent most of her time. She did love the playground and the campfire.

Thumbs up for s'mores!

Ozzy, on the other hand, had a blast playing in the sand.

He was also a mermaid...

They build sand villages, searched for creatures, swam in the ocean and played. Every night when we crawled into the tent, little man was out within three seconds. Amelia bounced from air mattress to air mattress until finally settling down.

We took a trip into Charlottetown for a tour of the ice cream factory and new shoes. before heading back to the campground.

Saturday night we watched the lightning in the clouds over the ocean. I have to say it was pretty amazing.

I wish we could have stayed longer. Austin keeps asking if we can go back to the island and I don't blame him one bit! What's not to love about sand, sun, good friends and ice cream? :)