Growing Home

Kid Art: Sponge Painted Valentines

2012-02-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

This kid just kills me. One moment he's looking at me with the face of a pure angel, blue eyes beaming with love and sweetness. And then the next moment, he gives me one of these...

If you look closely, you can see that the glitter made it well past his hands and into the mouth. And you know what that means, friends--sparkle diapers!

Needless to say, Little Brother and I made valentines for his class. Our method was as easy as it gets. I cut a little heart out of a grocery store sponge and Little Brother used it to stamp card stock rectangles with paint. After stamping, he doused the hearts with glitter (exactly like we did with our potato stamp cards), and voila! Valentines handmade by a two year old that are really very pretty. And sparkly. And may cause other parents to curse us because they will leak glitter that won't ever come off the floor entirely. But that's okay--at least we didn't attach bubble gum:).

Little Brother just loved this project. Had we not run out of cards, I think he might have gone on for hours. Despite the cleanup, this experience made me think that I should be diving into art supplies with my spunky little man more often. His enthusiasm for making a wild, creative mess is infectious!

Happy Weekend!

DIY: Play Teepee

2012-02-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

If you've been reading here for some time, you might remember that I promised the boys that I would make them a teepee, ahem, about six months ago. I procrastinated for awhile, then bought a pair of canvas dropcloths to kickstart my motivation in late October. Then I came home and stacked the dropcloths on top of our dryer (which is where things that have no place in our house go to die) and didn't look at them again until about mid-December, when, in the midst of my morning sickness haze, I forced myself to finally make the teepee happen. It wasn't exactly noble--we had decided to designate it (and a little playroom makeover) as the boys' big Christmas gift, and so if I failed to deliver, we were going to be walking the aisles of Toys R' Us at midnight on the 24th. So this teepee became my sole DIY project of the entire Christmas season. Here's how it turned out.

The coolest part of the teepee, without question, is Jim's contribution: poles made from a fallen tree that he dragged out the woods, sanded (lightly), and coated with polyurethane spray paint. After preparing the poles, Jim used hemp rope to tie them together with a "teepee knot." Incredibly, he knew how to do it off the top of his head (I confess that in seventh grade I thought Jim's boy scout uniform was a little dorky--now I know better). My part was less inspired, and very much a process of trial and error. That, and the fact that my tummy was rolling at the time, is why I don't have a tutorial for you. I will say, however, that I essentially cut three identical triangles plus one more cut into halves out of two Home Depot dropcloths. Then I stitched them together at the sides, hemmed the top section, and closed the front of the teepee halfway by joining the two half triangles. I made careful measurements along the way and even used the pythagorean theorem to determine the length of the triangle's long sides, but it was really all for naught--the poles configure slightly differently every time we put up the teepee and the canvas always seems too big, which actually doesn't matter a bit. I painted the pattern with fabric paint. All in all, I think the teepee turned out really well--and I love the way the colors fit in with the rest of the playroom. Plus, I'm thrilled with the savings! This teepee from Land of Nod was my alternative--for about $130 more.

The playroom itself has been a slowly evolving project. Really it's mostly an amalgam of pieces, pulled from other spaces to create a happy, flexible place for the boys to play. To give it a boost for Christmas morning, we moved in the bright yellow roman shade from Little Brother's nursery and added this punchy cotton rug from West Elm. The coral and white give the room a huge dose of energy without clashing with the other colors, and I love that they make the whole space feel very gender neutral (the house doesn't have to scream boy, right?). Many of the other little details are homemade: Jim constructed the open shelving years ago to frame Big Brother's first big boy bed and diy-ed the wooden plaque to mount our stuffed giraffe (a gift from B. Braithwaite here in Atlanta). The fabric garland, hanging red and white firecracker, and You Are My Sunshine art were little projects of mine. The table and chairs are from IKEA, the storage bins from Target, and the roman shade made mostly by my mom in an effort to teach me how to sew before Little Brother was born. Thank goodness some things have changed in three years!

I still have plans for the blank walls, but they may have to wait on the room's next iteration--playroom PLUS shared boy's bedroom. Whew, we're getting tight in here! I'm going to have to get really creative, people (and the teepee may become the center piece of our living room). Let me know if you have ideas.

Have a happy Wednesday!

Kid Art: Sparkly Valentines

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Big Brother has been particularly excited about celebrating Valentines Day this year. His teachers read him a children's story about St. Valentine, who secretly married couples at a time when the emperor of Rome had outlawed both marriage and Christianity (he believed that marriage made his soldiers ill fit for war--interesting). When the emperor, Claudius II, ordered Valentine to prison to await his execution, the local children showered him with letters of encouragement and love, thus beginning the tradition of exchanging valentines (I think there are a few versions of this story, and in the interest of accuracy, I'll tell you that this might not be the correct one--but isn't it sweet?). Big Brother was so inspired by the idea of sending special notes to the people you love most that he came home from school that day ready to pound out reams of valentines. And...we're still going. So far, he has made me three--one of which pictures me inside a heart with a little baby inside my tummy:).

These sparkly hearts are our latest attempt, and I found them to be so much fun because he could do almost every step by himself. First he drew a heart on red card stock, then we worked together to cut it out (the curves were a bit too much). Then we painted the hearts with a thick layer of Elmer's glue and went to work covering them with bling--sequins, beads, and (my husband's personal fave) glitter. As he worked, Big Brother kept saying, "Wow. These are SO beautiful. So and so [he didn't say that part] is going to love them." And then he would designate each one for one of his favorite people. This continued (I was shocked) until he had enough for our immediate family, both sets of grandparents, and all three of his teachers. He's a man who loves to give gifts. He gets that from his daddy.

I love that Big Brother is getting to an age where I can play right along beside him without having to help too much. I made several valentines of my own, but I much prefer the ones he made--the organic, asymmetrical hearts are so much more interesting. I almost wish we had punched holes in them before we started so that we could hang them in the house and watch them reflect the sun.

I expect we'll have a few more Valentine's Day projects to share before this holiday is over (Little Brother has to bring cards for his class, too). In the meantime, if you're looking for another homemade valentine idea, check out the Potato Stamp Valentines that Big Brother made last year.

Happy Monday, friends!

DIY: Scrap Patched Jeans

2012-02-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's how it works in my family: the boys get a few pairs of new jeans in the fall for school and wear them until shorts weather comes around in the spring. By that point, the jeans are just barely long enough for their rapidly growing legs and totally worn out with gaping holes in the knees. But it isn't time to go up a size yet, because bigger jeans are way too large in the waist and usually too long, and I'm too cheap to buy them new jeans in the correct size right before the seasons change. So this year, I'm making patches out of fabric scraps. Today, Big Brother's favorite jeans got a red corduroy cowboy star and Little Brother's got a football. And you know what? The boys like them better than they did before the holes. That's a pretty killer result for a free project.

Now, I'm going to shoot you straight. This is an incredibly simple (and quick) project, but it takes some perseverance. You probably need to have a little bit of sewing under your belt to do it, not because there are any real skills involved, but because you need to have the confidence to wrestle the jeans into position on your machine and refuse to buckle when it seems impossible to turn them the right way. You'll see that my first battle with the machine in this regard resulted in some not-so-gorgeous stitching. The good news, however, is that things got way better when I attached the football. Perhaps the third time will be the charm. Here are the details:

Materials

The maimed jeans

Scrap fabric. Make sure it's heavy enough to hang with your little man for at least the rest of the winter (is that wishful thinking?)

A template. I found these stars with some quick googling--they came from a teacher website.

Thread and basic sewing supplies

Wonder Under paper-backed fusible webbing, available at sewing stores (pictured below)

1. Use the template to cut your desired shape from scrap fabric and Wonder Under.

2. Place the bumpy side of the Wonder Under shape so it faces the wrong side of your patch fabric and press for 3-5 seconds. Let cool, then peel the paper backing away to reveal adhesive.

Now press the patch, adhesive side down, into position on the jeans.

3. Using a zig zag stitch, a satin stitch, or an applique stitch, sew the patch to your jeans. The most difficult thing about this, again, is getting the jeans into position on your machine. Start by rolling up the jeans. Make the rolls as flat as possible and use as few as you can.

When you stitch, make sure that you capture as much as possible of the patch without missing the denim. The needle should begin in the denim, but barely touching the outer edge of your patch. Make sense?

Here's where the twisting and turning gets a little more hair-raising. Keep working it, watching to make sure that only one layer of denim is under your needle. It will work--just keep experimenting and only sew one edge at a time.

Finally, pronounce your victory over the constraints of your sewing machine.

And maybe don't look too closely at the stitches this first time. Nobody else ever will--especially not your little boy:).

Happy Friday!

Little Boys

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

With a third baby growing away in my belly, I'm finding that my mind is frequently occupied by thoughts of little boys and little girls. Things like, "how would a little girl fit into our family?" and "what in the world would I do with three boys?" I'm not going to lie, I'd love to inject a bit of estrogen into this man club. But the truth is that today, my heart has been preoccupied with appreciation for my little boys.

Here's why: I'm not the most patient of mothers. Lately, with the addition of pregnancy tummy, I could probably more accurately describe myself as the least patient of mothers. The noise, the rowdiness, and the general chaos of two young boys exploring and conquering the world has been more than enough to inspire sweaty-faced, ogre-inducing ire in me. And far more often than I want to admit, that anger has exploded into drill-sergeant parenting (because, you know, yelling at kids is a great way to teach them to calm down). Over the last fifteen weeks, there have been a lot of times when I've had to go back to my children, hang my head, and tell them that I was wrong to be angry, wrong to be impatient, wrong to raise my voice. And here's the point: every time (EVERY time!) they have forgiven me. And not just that. No matter how awful I've been, they have received me with sweet, exuberant adoration. They've told me that they love me, they've wrapped their little arms around my neck, and then moments later, they've presented me with a handmade valentine, or stroked my head, or lured me into their room to sing them a song. It seems that no matter what a wretch I am, they shower me with love.

Their grace is humbling, especially for someone like me, who is hard-wired to think that she has to earn love by constantly performing at 100%. But ironically (because am not I supposed to be the teacher here?), it's helping me to understand some important, and longer-lasting things about the way God loves me. In other words, being forgiven because of Jesus doesn't just mean that my record of crap, mess, and miserable error is erased, it also means that I am gifted restoration to the status of adored child--a role that I did not earn and cannot lose, and that frees me from the imperative of proving myself.

My boys (although a far less perfect example) don't just let my wrongs go, they welcome me with joy and reckless love. They don't ask for me to perform or to prove anything. They know that I'm way flawed, and yet that doesn't change for one second their devotion to me or their absolute confidence in the fact that I am their mom and that they are my sons. Things won't always be this way with them, of course. But they are always this way (and much better) with God, and I appreciate the reminder. And the snuggles. And the sweet hugs.

So for now, I must say that I relish being the only princess in my sons' little world. It may be a wild ride, but it is a great gig to be the mom of two boys.

p.s. The pictures above were taken at the Georgia Aquarium.

Hello Out There!

2012-01-30T13:47:00.000-05:00

Oh friends, it has been far, far too long. What I thought would be a little Christmas slow-down became an extended blogging break--one, as it turns out, that was necessary for our little family to weather the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our lives: the addition of baby number three! Baby brother or sister is expected to join us in July, but has made his or her presence well-known already via some rather intense morning sickness. I'm happy to report, however, than 15 weeks into this crazy thing, the ever-present nausea seems to have subsided, my canine-like ability to detect and be overwhelmed by nasty odors is waning, and my creative mojo is cautiously peeking out of whatever rock it's been buried under. Hallelujah.

And so here I am. Plus one. Quite excited, but also scared. Wondering how in the world I'll manage three little people without losing my sanity, reminding myself that after two and a half years of joyfully watching my youngest advance toward independence, I am not starting over (even though it feels like it), and yet melting inside every time I think of nuzzling another soft, wrinkly newborn. A few other things have changed, too, since we talked last. My dad is doing wonderfully--miraculously, in fact. Therapies have actually worked to shrink the portion of his brain tumor left after surgery, and he has regained stunning amounts of his cognitive function. It's humbling progress--another reminder than God gives us radically more than we deserve.

Also, after years of saying never, we have become the proud possessors of a minivan. Which seems to mark me in some irrevocable way as a full-fledged mother. It feels like used coffee cups, soccer uniforms, and school release forms should be spilling out of the doors--after all, isn't that what what life is about in a minivan? (As an aside, I had a friend in elementary school who would sell us the crap off the floor of his poor mother's car for pennies during carpool). For now, though, my mom-van smells good and is inhabited by only one Buzz Lightyear toy (I'm going to have strict rules this time around, friends--no crayons in the car!). And Jim gave me a fancy pair of Wayfarers for Christmas, so at least I can make my carpool rounds in style.

For their part, the boys are extremely excited about our new developments. Big Brother has been diligently praying for a baby sister for almost a year now and is both curious and sort of awe-struck about the fact that such a child is finally growing in my tummy (rather obviously, I might add). When we told them (by giving them the shirts in this picture), he looked at me, dumbfounded, and asked: "Mommy, did God tell you that?" Unfortunately, no angels have visited our home this time around, but we are feeling very blessed.

And so, we're back on the wild ride. I plan to resume my regular posting here, and as the inspiration hits, to get back to that project list I was working on--with a few amendments for our newest family member:). Thanks for being patient with me.

And happy Monday to all of you!

M.I.A.

2011-12-14T23:15:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed? I've been a bit out of touch lately. I didn't intend to go dark for so long--just to abide by my self-proclaimed manifesto and make my highest priority family, and my lowest priority a long list of do-it-yourself Christmas projects. But then I got sick. And so rest became a priority, and blogging--which has needed to take a backseat to things like deciding where to send Big Brother for school next year--was relegated to the part of my list that just doesn't happen. Until, I suppose, today. I intend for things to go back to normal after Christmas, but for now, I'll just be posting as I can. And maybe next year I'll get to those plaid overalls I was going to make for Little Brother. We'll see.

Our weekend was full of Christmas activity. We saw Santa. Big Brother had carefully crafted a letter for him in advance that included requests for a Yoda action figure and Flynn the firefighting train from Thomas and Friends (I know, simple requests--score). Then he got up on Santa's lap, developed an awe-struck shyness, and finally whispered the words "Buzz Lightyear." WHAT? So now we have to switch things around. Do you know what Little Brother (enthusiastically) asked for? Ornaments. (If you're wondering, we have plenty.) I love that he doesn't think he needs anything. I wish I was like that.

We also did some gingerbread construction. With real gingerbread and royal icing, which was a first, and it was so much fun (see links for the recipes). I loved that the whole house smelled like warm gingerbread and that we didn't run out of materials (we always do with the kits). Does it strike you, though, that this doesn't look like a house? That's because Big Brother wanted, instead, to make daddy's building. Which kind of bummed me out because, that particular friday night, I was really excited to have Jim home from work sans beeping and buzzing smartphone. But a nice, boxy building is a lot easier to make out of gingerbread than a little craftsman cottage, so we went for it.

And the scene became something like this: Jim constructing, with measurements; Big Brother decorating gingerbread men (we had extra dough--good thing); and Little Brother consuming his body weight in candy decorations.

By the time we got the roof on, our little sugar shark was beginning to crash, so we postponed further work on the building, put on pjs, and went on our annual drive around town to see the Christmas lights. Our night was not without chaos and whining--in fact, these days it often feels like my two and four year old are bent on driving me into the loony bin--but it was sweet. And we were together.

Construction resumed on Sunday afternoon, and you know, gingerbread Ponce City Market ended up pretty well, by toddler standards. Although I don't think I would be going too far to say that we're thankful that Jim is not the guy in charge of construction. And that the real tower isn't being held together by egg whites.

Happy Thursday, friends!

DIY: Names of Christ Advent Countdown

2011-12-01T22:38:00.001-05:00

So, Advent started today. Which means that it's a bit late for me to be passing an Advent countdown idea along, but because this one is very much in the spirit of my hoped-for, calm December, I want to share it with you along with this message: there is no rule that says you have to start celebrating on December first. Why not count down the last two weeks? As far as I'm concerned, every member of our family benefits from every new day on this calendar. One would be enough.

The idea of a names of Christ Advent countdown came from Kirstin of Kojo Designs, via I Am Momma Hear Me Roar. I read about it on Delia Creates, where Delia transformed the look of it with her own natural aesthetic. My version is simpler, quicker, and definitely less beautiful. What's important, though, is the concept: Each day, the children open an ornament marked with one of the many names that the Bible uses to describe Jesus. On our ornaments, I added a verse that we read together--the verses provide context and start a conversation between the four of us about what each name means. This morning, our ornament said rock, and I was thrilled to find that the analogy resonated with the boys. We talked about how a rock is strong, solid, and unchanging--and the boys kept mentioning it all day! Little Brother, who is always trying to assert his big-ness, called to me from the backseat about mid-morning and said (in his unusually-deep-for-a-two-year-old voice), "Jesus stand on de rock and say NO, NO!" Hopefully its obvious that he got his stories confused--but at least he remembered the association:).

Our ornaments are Christmas-themed wooden cutouts from Michaels (they're on sale now for $.14 each), covered with acrylic paint. Each one is wrapped in a brown paper bag on the mantle, and as they open them, the boys get to hang them on a miniature tree in their playroom. We're using mini clothespins to attach the ornaments, but had I been taking more than an hour to put this together, I would have drilled little holes into them and hung them with hooks. Wonderfully, the ornament collection can be saved for next year, so perhaps we'll upgrade them for 2012.

The best thing about a names of Christ Advent celebration is that the entire family is learning, and with every passing day, we're cherishing the coming Savior more. Although I loved the idea of our Advent activity calendar last year, I have to admit that it only added bluster and busyness to our month--and left me feeling guilty for not accomplishing so many of the plans on our list. The names of Jesus, on the other hand, just invite us to pause and relish the gift we've be given. One day in, the change is already giving me a feeling of relief.

Just in case this idea appeals to you, too, I thought I'd provide the names we used and the corresponding verses. You could just as easily use this to prepare your family for Easter, or as a family devotional (if you do those, hats off to you). Honestly, looking them all up was a powerful exercise for me--the list of names in itself is enough to take your breath away.

24 Names of Christ for 24 Days of Advent
1. Rock - Psalm 31:2
2. Word - John 1:1
3. Shepherd - John 10:11
4. Refuge - Isaiah 25:4
5. Savior - Luke 2:11
6. Servant - Philippians 2:7
7. Light of the World - John 8:12
8. Prophet - John 6:14
9. Son of God - 1 John 4:9
10. Bread of Life - John 6:35
11. Stranger - Matthew 25:35
12. Morning Star - Revelation 22:16
13. Son of Man - Luke 19:10
14. The Vine - John 15:5
15. King - Revelation 11:15
16. The Life - 1 John 1:2
17. Lamb of God - John 1:29
18. Wonderful Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
19. Creator - Isaiah 40:28
20. Alpha and Omega (Beginning and the End) - Revelation 22:13
21. Lord - Acts 2:21
22. Prince of Peace - Isaiah 9:6
23. The Way - John 14:6
24. Emmanuel ("God with us") - Matthew 1:23
And a few I wish I'd included: Lion of Judah, Living Water, and Redeemer.

I hope this activity will bless your family as it seems to be blessing mine. Have a wonderful weekend!

December Manifesto

2011-11-30T21:10:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about Christmas these last few days. Reviewing in my mind the spirit of the season as it exists in our house, and wondering how I can set a better tone this year. Don't get me wrong--Christmas is always sweet, warm--magical. But it's also busy. And it brings financial stress, and fear of disappointing family members (living in the same city as most of our family is a huge blessing, except when everyone wants you around in the same moment). It's ironic, but not surprising, I guess, that anxiety is the most pervasive at the very time that we are celebrating the coming of a rescuer from the need to merit our own worth.

I've also been reevaluating Growing Home--asking myself those questions that you do when you're sort of wondering "what's next?" and you're trying to ferret out the right direction. I remembered that when I came up with the name of this blog I imagined "growing" not so much as an adverb, but a verb. The idea was that I would share here the things I do to grow a sense of home around our little family. That's vague, I know--but what it means to me is that the things I make or do with my children are purposed to bring beauty, grace, and joy into our family life--even when that's just bringing an aroma of creativity to our surroundings. Using my gifts to bless my children is my way of giving them certainty that they are treasured by God and by their parents, as well as nudging them softly to step out and marvel at the great, wide world. It's really what I see as my mission as a mother in this season.

But I feel like I've been fairly distracted from that goal lately--and preparing for Christmas the way I usually do--rushing and worry interspersed with schizophrenic moments of sweetness when we talk about the "real" meaning of Christmas--is not going to help. SO, we're going to try to do things differently this Advent.

We're going to snuggle a LOT. We're going to love each other by making some gifts and we're going to love each other by buying others. We're going to make cookies and plant paper whites and donate toys and decorate as we are moved to, but NOT because we've made a list of rules for ourselves. We're going to talk about Jesus a lot and we're going to sing and dance every time we have the inclination. And where I have margin to create, I'm going to focus my efforts on finishing what I've started for my family--like long overdue roman shades and that elusive teepee--rather than a panoply of new gift ideas that will keep me up past midnight every night of December.

I hope you'll see that life in our little home is a little less productive, and that catching the beauty in the mundane, daily moments happens a little more frequently. Like this, for example: who knew that sunset on the railroad tracks was so breathtaking?

Have a wonderful Thursday.

p.s. These pictures came from a trip to one of our favorite local spots: the "big, big bridge" at Westside Provisions District. On special summer nights, you can find Big Brother and I here with bowls of ice cream and a pile of library books. The very best moments are when the train actually comes.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T21:51:00.001-05:00

Welcome back, friends! Did you have a happy Thanksgiving? Ours was full in every way--packed with activity, packed with family, and absolutely overflowing with good food. Usually, my parents host Thanksgiving for my entire extended family and many of our in-laws (I think we had 26 at the last gathering), but this year, things were a little different. After such a poignant few months, we were all anxious to shift to a more intimate group and really treasure our time with my dad and my grandparents, who've also been sick. My cousin and her husband graciously hosted, and my dad's first cousins and their family flew in to spend the holiday with all of us locals for the first time that I can remember. It was a really sweet time--made sweeter by all the kids, who adored spending time together. I have three first cousins (who are sisters--hopefully you've forgotten that I'm an only child:)), and between the four of us, we have NINE kids under the age of five. And there always seem to be more on the way.

Gone are the days when the four of us and our husbands used to luxuriate over full plates and multiple bottles of wine at the "kids" table on Thanksgiving, but it's a blast to see our little ones loving each other so much. Big Brother came home from school today and said that he wrote a story for his classmates about playing with his cousins.

We did lots of other wonderful things over the break, too--although I confess that I barely used my camera. Apparently, I needed a breather on all fronts. Jim ran the Thanksgiving half marathon for the second time and found it vastly more fun after a real training regimen.

The boys and I, together with Nene (Jim's mom), bobbed and weaved around Atlanta, trying to catch glimpses of him while avoiding blocked streets, and thanks only to GPS, made it to the finish line in time for Big Brother to jump in and run the last 100 meters or so.

We also made it up to the lake for the weekend with Jim's parents and mine (huge victory for my dad). For the first time in several years, Lake Burton was lowered for the winter, leaving beaches of red clay and stone under all the boathouses and docks. It's a really different look than the the lush, mountainous green we're used to, but it made for cool adventures--like beach fishing.

We all got really used to having Jim around and found today's return to the routine a bit sad. But we're thankful to be embarking on a new and glorious season. As I sit here, a brand new fir tree is stretching its limbs in my living room and filling up the house with the smell of Christmas. And we read the story of the shepherds for bedtime (from Luke 2, as interpreted by this storybook Bible). It ends like this: "This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night. A Light to light up the whole world. Chasing away darkness. Helping people to see. And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine." I'm thankful, today, to be looking forward to a whole month of deep breaths as we remember this Savior.

Hope you've had an easy return to your routine. Happy Tuesday!

Photographer for a Day

2011-11-23T11:06:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the generosity and undeserved confidence of a few dear friends, I did something this weekend that felt a little crazy--I conducted my first photo shoots! I was surprised to find that I loved doing it. The friends involved were all people who are really more like family--I knew they would be honest, and wouldn't feel angry or let down if the photos didn't turn out. But wonderfully, I think they did! What a joy it was to capture sweet moments between families and then to turn the photos into images they will treasure. It truly feels like using a (new, unpolished) gift to serve others. So here's a sneak peek--for you and for them. Thank you, friends, for encouraging me along in this little experiment!

I'm going to have to find some collage templates that don't mess up the composition of images, but hopefully you get the idea. If you're local and are interested in being a part of this little experiment of mine, please contact me at elisabeth@mygrowinghome.com.

Happy Wednesday!

DIY: Holiday Pinecone Balls {A Guest Post for Jame}

2011-11-20T13:39:00.001-05:00

We're not hosting Thanksgiving. In fact, thanks to my generous family, the only thing I'm even contributing to our Thanksgiving feast is a whopping portion of dessert. But with talk of holiday preparation all around me and Advent right around the corner, I've had table decoration on the brain. As well as all things that glitter and shine, and Stacie from Jame, who very kindly invited me to participate in her 50 Things Christmas series today (click on over there and check out the tutorials she's gathered--it's impressive!). So I made the first of what I hope will evolve into a little collection of gold pinecone balls to hang festively over our table through Christmas. And can you tell what they're made of? Styrofoam and plastic spoons!

Yes, the cult of styrofoam continues here at our house--and this time with a fancy gold paint job. Like it's predecessor, the holiday firecracker, the pinecone ball hangs from fishing line so that it appears to float above the table, and I really love the effect. Just one of these makes a fairly glam statement in our relatively boring dining nook--I can't wait to see what three in a row look like. Quite festive, is, I think, the answer. Although these don't have to be a table prop. Jim suggested that they would make fabulous tree toppers, or you could make a little grouping of them in various sizes to sit atop a console or a mantle. They could also be fun hanging from tree branches at an outdoor party--anyplace that you're looking for a bit of gilded pizazz.

Making a pinecone ball employs much the same method that I used for the DIY holiday firecrackers, with a few twists. You'll need:

Materials

Clear, plastic spoons. I used two packages of the "Great Value" brand from Wal-Mart (approximately 96 spoons)
Styrofoam ball (about four inches in diameter)
Tacky glue
Monofilament (fishing line) and a brass brad for hanging
Metallic gold spray paint

1. Break off the bottom third of each spoon handle. This is the painful part--I suggest convincing a generous helper to assist you while he's watching television.

2. Begin assembling your ball by sticking a small number of (broken) spoons into the top of your styrofoam ball in a geometric way (don't use glue yet). I began with four and then surrounded them with eight more, staggered so that each spoon in the outer ring fit between two in the inner ring.

3. Once you have a replicable arrangement that you like, remove a spoon or two, and use your tacky glue to place a brass brad, strung with monofilament, at the very top of your ball.

Now use the tacky glue to reattach each of your spoons.

4. Next, use one more spoon to punch holes over the entire surface of the ball in your desired pattern. This will prevent you from messing up already-placed spoons as you move down the ball. It's a little hard to see in my pictures, but if you look closely you can see that the little holes make staggered hexagons that go all around the ball. A pattern like this will make your finished ball look more planned and less haphazard.

Now, use tacky glue to place a spoon in each hole, moving from the top to the bottom of your ball. A wine goblet makes a great place to put it down if you need a break. Once you're finished, let the ball sit overnight to dry completely.

5. Hang or rest your dried ball in a protected and well-ventilated area, and then spray paint with wide, sweeping motions, standing at least 12 inches away from the ball.

Depending on the shade of paint you use and the level of translucence you prefer, you'll probably want to adjust the position of the ball a few times to make sure that the spoons are painted on both sides and that the styrofoam is coated.

Use monofilament to attach the ball securely to a hook in your ceiling, and you're ready for a party!

Thanks to Jame for the opportunity to share with your readers--here's wishing you all a shiny and magical Christmas!

Capturing Our Blessings: Soccer

2011-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Sunday was our last day of soccer. Big Brother and his buddies got these massive trophies that, just in case you were wondering, are WAY bigger than any trophy I received during my childhood--including the ones that were for more than just participation (although let's be honest--I didn't get many of those).

He was so proud. He put his trophy in a place of honor, arranged just so next to his t-ball trophy on the dresser. But he was sad that the season is over and, despite the fact that soccer's end means one less commitment for our busy family, I'm sad about it, too. I love to watch Big Brother learn and grow, and I especially love that he has gained a sense of the joy of being on a team. I'm incredibly biased, of course, but I think that Jim is a fantastic coach.

Perhaps the sweetest thing about soccer for me, though, is that it has framed an such a difficult season for us, and provided such warm, carefree moments in the midst of worry and suffering. Big Brother's first game was the occasion of my mom's first outing from the ICU. A generous friend brought us a picnic lunch, and for one hour, we munched and breathed in the warm sun and laughed about all the precious kiddos running towards the wrong goal.

Later in the season, another game was my dad's first non-medical outing since he arrived at home. Fields full of screaming, running children aren't exactly the easiest environment for someone who is recovering from frontal lobe surgery, but he seemed really happy to be there.

And my mom was overjoyed. Seeing her smile in these pictures, even weeks later, still warms me.

Of course, it's really hard not to laugh and smile when this munchkin is flirting with you. Big Brother has found that adoring fans are good for his athletic mojo as well.

Isn't it interesting when you look back and see how facets of your life weave together? How God brings sunshine and life even as he allows pain? Lately, I've been more aware than usual of things that will probably sound cheesy. Like how incredibly beautiful the falling leaves are, and how sweet are the moments when my little boys "nuggle" up against me--even at 6 AM. I wish I could say that in response, I'm letting the less important things go--it's not quite that easy for me. But I can say that I'm aware of God drawing near to us, taking care of us, and providing bright light in the darkness. And I know that His love is very slowly getting to the root of my need to get all the little things done, too:).

So we'll miss soccer. But I'm looking forward to seeing the blessings that will surprise us in our next season. Maybe we'll start spending our Sunday afternoons in front of a roaring fire with hot chocolate in hand...wouldn't that be lovely?

Have a great weekend!

November Sponsors and Reader Deals!

2011-11-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

This week, the conversation in our house has been all about what we're thankful for (well, that and Star Wars). And it strikes me that it's been quite a long time since I've told you all how profoundly thankful I am for your attention to and support of Growing Home. Thank you for stopping by and reading. Thank you for being interested in the things I'm making and doing with my children. Thank you for occasionally sharing your thoughts in response (I treasure those comments!). And most of all, thank you for being present, and by doing so, encouraging me to continue in this effort that brings me joy.

Having monthly sponsors is one of the many things that makes Growing Home possible, and so I'm also exceedingly thankful for them. Below are my November sponsors--take a moment to read through, click the links, and see the beautiful things they have in store for the holidays. There are some wonderful gifts here!

b. wise papers. Bring holiday cheer to a mailbox near you with a b.wise holiday design! Having trouble deciding which design works best with your photo? Try The Decision Maker Option that allows you to send in your photo and tell us the designs you're deciding between. You'll then receive digital drafts of your photo in each design. It's decision making at it's best. Especially for Growing Home readers, place your holiday card order before Nov. 30th and receive your choice of Japanese Masking Tape on us! Simply enter "Growing Home" in the notes section of check out along with your tape color preference.

Whipstitch is your one-stop-shop for modern sewing. Whipstitch's wide range of modern fabrics, notions, patterns, bias tapes, ribbons, charm packs, jelly rolls, and much more are all available online through Whipstitch Fabrics Etsy. Come see us in person, too, at our in-town Atlanta fabric shop and sewing lounge! And don't forget to check out the Whipstitch blog, where you can find project ideas and sign up for our newsletter (including all the best deals!), as well as our extensive list of e-courses. Now through the end of the year, Whipstitch is offering any 2012 e-course for only $99 (a 40% discount). See here for details.

Silver Soup Jewelry is a line of handmade and hand stamped initial charms, as well as brand new beaded necklaces and bracelets with pewter and gold crosses. The charms are made individually so no two are ever exactly alike. Each necklace can be a collection of personal initials and charms unique to the person who wears it. You may chose to wear your own initial, the initials of your children or loved one, or a small grouping of assorted initials and charms that are meaningful to you. We all have a story to tell-tell yours with a Silver Soup necklace!

Twirling Betty makes handmade fabric accessories for girls - big and little. From tie-back fabric sun visors and headbands to fabric hair clips, cake bunting and banners, brooches and stationery. There's something for everybetty! If you love crafts, you'll also enjoy the Twirling Betty blog, which features a host of fabulous tutorials.

A Simple Hive. An organized home is less stressed, more productive, and more efficient. Your home should be a place of refuge for you and your family – is it? Lindsey at A Simple Hive can help! A Simple Hive is a Roswell-based residential organizing company aimed at working with you to assess your challenges and create custom solutions for you and your home. Follow along at www.asimplehive.com where you’ll get my take on life, organizing, and some things in between. Contact Lindsey at lindsey(at)asimplehive(dot)com.

Anne Irwin Fine Art is a premier Atlanta destination for fine Southern art. Beginning on December 2, AIFA will be hosting its annual Small Works Show--the perfect opportunity to purchase gifts of art for the holidays. Please join us from 6 - 8:30 PM in our Miami Circle location in Atlanta to celebrate the show's opening. And don't forget--if you aren't local, you can find our pieces online, as well!

Loblolly Lane. Since 2008 Loblolly Lane has been designing, manufacturing and selling girls' clothing in retail stores and online. With bold prints, charming styles and unexpected colors, Loblolly Lane appeals to girls and moms who are looking for fun, unique clothes that are wearable and casual. Growing Home friends receive a 10% discount when entering "growinghome10" at the check out on www.loblollylane.com.

Kayce Hughes. To get the behind-the-scenes scoop about Kayce Hughes, designer and mother of 7, check out her blog at www.kaycehughes.blogspot.com.

DIY: Holiday Firecrackers

2011-11-16T20:23:00.001-05:00

Hello, friends! It's been a long week around here already, and although my head is full of posts, my schedule just hasn't seemed to allow for sitting down and writing them. I'm hoping that by the end of the week, I'll get to share some thoughts with you. But for now, a bit of holiday inspiration!

A few weeks ago, I had an unprecedented opportunity to spend a few, unscheduled hours alone in the middle of the day. I took a latte to Anthropologie--just to peruse and drink in all the creative energy--and the first thing I saw was a collection of fantastic, icy stars, made of styrofoam balls and clear plastic prisms. I was so excited that I could have run out right then (although I think I stayed for over an hour:)). There are so many possibilities in a styrofoam ball--why did I never notice that before?

So this holiday firecracker is one of two fun styrofoam projects we've tackled this week--you'll see the other one soon. I didn't set out to make a Christmas decoration (I'm a big believer in celebrating Thanksgiving first), but these leftover straws from Big Brother's Buckaroo Birthday Party were too fun to pass up. Drawn by the colors, Big Brother sat down with me and was able to participate entirely--he fashioned his own out of cut straws and lollipop sticks and declared it a Star Wars planet (and honestly, it looked like one).

To make one, you'll need:

Paper straws. I used these fun red and white ones and cut half of them to three quarter length.
Styrofoam ball. Mine was approximately four inches in diameter and came from Wal-Mart.
Brass brad or nail and monofilament (fishing line) for hanging
Tacky glue

1. Use one of the straws to create holes all over your styrofoam ball. I started with a ring of four holes at the top of the ball and then created concentric rings of holes moving outwards all the way down the ball, keeping about a half inch of space between every hole (and I placed a few straws in the process, just to get an idea). The design and spacing should be your own, of course, but keeping them regular will help the finished firecracker to look planned (and less like a death star:)).

2. Squeeze a bit of tacky glue into each hole and place straws one at a time. I alternated full length and three quarter length straws throughout. Before you get too far, use the same method to place a brad or nail strung with monofilament--this will be the way that you hang the finished firecracker.

3. You'll find that the process becomes more difficult as you near the end, and that the hand holding the ball gets tired from all the manipulating! Use a wine goblet to give yourself a rest. Once you finish, the glue should be set enough on the top of the firecracker (your starting point) to turn it over and let it dry standing on a flat surface.

4. Admire!

I think ours will probably end up as a Christmas decoration in the playroom. A few boys I know think it's super awesome. Happy Thursday!

DIY: Glitter Striped Tee

2011-11-14T19:13:00.001-05:00

Around this time of year, I'm always on the lookout for ways to add a little hint of sparkle to my wardrobe. Glittery gold stripes transformed this plain white t-shirt into something I can throw on under a blazer and wear to a holiday party--or wear by itself on December days spent running around with the boys!

Ironically, I started this project with the idea of adding red stripes, in the spirit of a Petit Bateau Mariniere shirt. But gold kept calling to me, and then I happened upon a bottle of glittery gold fabric paint at Wal-Mart and just couldn't resist. I might try it again with red and smaller stripes--or perhaps I'll get more creative. It's about as easy as a project gets, so there's no reason not to try multiple permutations!

To make one of your own, you'll need:

a white t-shirt (I found mine in the juniors section at Wal-Mart for $6.98)
painters tape
glittery fabric paint (I used Tulip brand)
wax paper, freezer paper, or parchment paper to place inside the shirt
paintbrush

1. Begin by laying your shirt out on a protected surface. Loosely trace the shape of the shirt onto a piece of wax/freezer/parchment paper, cut it out and place it inside the shirt. The paper will protect the shirt from sticking to itself as you paint.

2. Use painters tape to create a stencil for stripes, leaving about an inch of overhang on either edge. I began by extending a piece of tape from one underarm seam to the other to keep things straight, then eyeballed the rest in relation to that first piece. Now, flip the shirt over and use the overhang to extend the stencil around the other side of the shirt. Make sure that there are no gaps or bubbles between your shirt and the tape.

3. Squeeze a line of paint in each stripe, then use the paintbrush to paint the entire area between your tape strips. Make sure that you don't overuse the paint, otherwise it will bleed under the stencil.

4. Wait approximately four hours for the paint to dry, then flip the shirt and paint the other side. You might need to wait again and paint around the side seams as well.

Once you take the tape off, you'll notice that the paint has dried tight, constricting the shirt. Don't worry! Use your hands to stretch each stripe horizontally to loosen the paint, then you're ready to get your shine on:).

Happy Tuesday!

Family Pictures

2011-11-09T23:20:00.000-05:00

The more and more interested I become in photography, the more and more I appreciate photographers. And the more I find myself wanting really special shots of my own family. Until October, the four of us had never done a full session with a photographer. It always seemed too expensive right before the holidays, and once I had my own DSLR, it seemed like I should try to take Christmas pictures myself (even though I rarely made an appearance in them). But all of a sudden, it feels like the boys are growing up really fast. Big Brother has lost the glorious toddler chub in his face and Little Brother has a crew cut and wears belts! So this year we bit the bullet and booked Lesley Kerr for a shoot. I adore the photos that she captured.

What I love most is that we now have a record of our family right at this moment--not just how everyone looks, but the spirit and dynamic of our little foursome. Little Brother's smirk reminds me that between clicks, he was shouting "Busy day, Thomas, busy day!" It's a quote from his favorite train, Salty, that always makes him giggle. And Big Brother's crossed legs remind me that he sprinted around the house in those shoes and a pair of underpants for hours after they came in the mail because he was convinced that the rubbery bottoms were a running accessory.

When I look at these pictures, I see the boys' sweetness, their curiosity, and the twinkles in their eyes. And I think, "why the heck don't I realize all the time that we are SO blessed?"

Because we are. Thank you, Lesley, for helping me to see and remember it! If you're interested in booking Lesley for your own photo shoot, you can find her here and on her inspiring blog.

Kid Art: Pressed Leaf Garland

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Ever since our trip to the mountains a few weeks ago, Big Brother has been enamored by the falling leaves and all the gorgeous colors on the ground. One afternoon last week, as we were waiting out the final hour before Jim returned from work, he decided that it would be fun to collect the leaves in our neighborhood. So we dragged a paper bag down the street, stopping underneath each tree to seek out the brightest and freshest (as well as several handfuls of wood chips, contributed by Little Brother). Once we got home, we pressed the leaves in cook books and then assembled them along a piece of yarn as a seasonal garland.

Big Brother stamped the letters GIVE THANKS on little white pieces of paper to distribute among the leaves (we found this stamp set at HomeGoods), and so the garland has become a reminder to thank God for the "cool things" (Big Brother's words) that happen each day as we're sitting around the table. No matter that you really can't see the lettering--we all know what it says and Big Brother is so proud that he made the letters and picked out each leaf to go exactly where it is. It's just a little decoration, but I really am finding that it reminds us of how blessed we are to be breathing in this glorious season. And that's importatnt as the blur of activity that is fall and the holiday season sets in.

This year, Thanksgiving in our house is going to be about cherishing each other, cherishing our time with our loved ones, and celebrating our blessings. That's the goal, anyway. Hold me to it--I'm susceptible to stress:).

Happy Wednesday!

p.s. You can find mini clothespins here.

James Beard Brown Bread

2011-11-07T22:55:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago, Jim and I attended an incredible outdoor dinner party called Sunday Supper South. The event was a fundraiser for the James Beard Foundation and Jim's company served as a sponsor, so we had the extreme good fortune of being invited to participate. And by "participate," I mean gorge ourselves on five courses of dishes created by dozens of drooled-over Southern chefs. It was something like a gastronomic olympics, made better by the fact that we were dining along the railroad tracks in one of our very favorite Atlanta spots.

When we sat down to eat, one of the (non-edible) items waiting for us was a recipe for brown bread published by James Beard himself. I've never made bread in my life--it's one of those things my mom always said was easier to buy, and I'm assuming that her mother taught her the same. But after a night of such spectacular dining, I felt the tug to at least try to bring the love home. And after three unsuccessful attempts at proofing yeast, it finally worked and I ended up with this hearty, whole wheat crusty bread. It's yummy, and just as good spread with jam as slathered with butter and gobbled up with a beer. Here's the craziest part (for us bread neophytes): the dough rises before you put it in the oven! The whole idea of yeast fascinates me. Here's how we started.

And here's how this bad boy went into the oven.

Next time I won't leave it in quite so long. And I might invest in a knife that's actually effective at cutting a good slice. But I'm encouraged enough to do it again! And I'm excited about having fresh bread in my house this week. It smells wonderful.

Hope your week is starting off with full tummies and delicious smells, too. Happy Tuesdays!

Sunshine and Blessings

2011-11-06T22:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, friends. We had a wonderful weekend enjoying each other and the beautiful fall weather--and even took in a local corn maze! It was my first time in a real life maze, and I have to say, it was fun to think of what our little troop of detectives looked like from above.

Inspired by Rebekah, I've been thinking a lot about the little blessings of this stage of life: the snuggles that Big Brother gives me in church, Little Brother's neck squeezes and on-the-mouth kisses, cuddling up on the sofa to read the two of them a book, crawling into their bunk bed at night to comfort someone who had a bad dream. And, of course, spending long fall saturdays in the warm sunshine with the three people I love most in the world--and discovering corn on the stalk! So, here's to capturing the blessings, and cherishing the sweet moments that God keeps handing us. I'm praying to have that spirit this week, instead of being plagued by that ever-present yearning to check tasks off my list.

I hope your week, too, is full of moments that make you thankful for life.

Family Christmas Cards {by b. wise papers}

2011-11-02T23:47:00.003-04:00

Can you believe it? We've selected our Christmas cards for the year! I usually order them just before midnight on the absolute last day that whatever big name photo-card retailer is offering a holiday promotion. And then Jim and I spend a few days frantically licking and addressing them in hopes of getting them all off before the week of Christmas. I think it's because I have trouble finding anything that I'm crazy about and I worry that I'll regret the purchase. Unique and lovely cards are aren't often easy to come by. But not so in 2011! This year we have the great fortune of looking forward to a card designed by b. wise papers. I could not be more excited.

b. wise papers is the brainchild of Alston Wise, who, in addition to being a longtime friend, has a sense of style that I absolutely adore. Her designs are simple, clean, and modern, but happy and warm at the same time. They also come with gorgeous, festive backers, a choice of white or brown kraft paper envelopes, and (for an additional cost) japanese masking tape seals! And they are entirely eco-friendly. Nearly every design in her holiday collection this year makes me smile instantly. Just look at some of the looks we tried (our family photographs were taken by the talented Lesley Kerr)...

Ultimately, the format we loved the very most was a vertical one, and our favorite photo was horizontal, so we asked Alston to customize a look for us. I expected that the process would take time and a lot of back and forth before we came up with a finished product, but amazingly, it took only took two emails! Alston took my ramblings about favorite styles and looks, as well as all my questions, and turned them into the perfect design within a single day. Somehow, she seems to have crawled in my mind and come up with exactly what I would have done if I had her skill and eye for graphics and fonts. And in addition to a sweet family photo on the front, the backer includes a simple collage! I love it. And I would show it to you, but then what would kind of kill the fun of sending out the real thing, don't you think?

Alston has generously offered to extend the b.wise papers holiday promotion especially for Growing Home readers. If you order 75 or more holiday cards before November 15th, an extra 25 cards will automatically be added to your order. Simply enter "Growing Home" in the notes section at checkout to redeem. **Please note: Additional 25 will not appear in cart, but will automatically be added to each custom card order of 75 or more placed before November 15th. Final quantity will be confirmed when your digital proof is sent. Offer applies only to holiday card orders and cannot be redeemed for cash value.

Don't forget the tape--I picked the gold!

Happy Wednesday!

p.s. b.wise papers also has a wonderful holiday collection at Minted. Check it out.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away....

2011-10-31T23:53:00.002-04:00

Halloween was a blast.

It turns out that Big Brother is completely past being guided through Halloween and now considers trick-or-treating a sport. We covered about three times the ground that we have in years past--Big Brother ran ahead with his buddies and Jim and I trailed behind, spotting Little Brother on the stairs and making sure he didn't trip over his Jedi robes. I threw together a Princess Leia costume (from a bed sheet) five minutes before the festivities started that included a particularly deadly pair of high heeled boots. So my feet have been curled up in pain since we got back. But that's okay--it meant a lot to Big Brother that I (sort of) looked the part. Next year I'll know better. And go as an Ewok.

Little Brother actually consented to wear his costume, which was a relief. Every time I've tried to put it on him before, he has said "No fank you, Mommy. No fank you." (As an aside, this is my new conundrum: how do you reward nice manners while over-ruling your child's opinion? He also likes to say "no fank you" to entire meals.) Anyway, something about a horde of costumed friends outside our door put him over the edge on the costume and Yoda went full throttle. Right after the ears went on, he got hold of a big red lollipop, and nothing else mattered for about an hour. I may need to start a reserve supply of lollipops. You know, for emergency battles of the will.

Big Brother's only real experience with Star Wars is a book that I picked up for him at Barnes and Noble--it's called Secrets of the Jedi, I think. He has studied it at great length and memorized not only the look and attire of each character, but their facial expressions. And tonight, he took seriously the responsibility to portray Luke Skywalker in all his toughness and determination. He did a good job, don't you think?

It was a good time. And it ended with a family dinner--all grandparents around one table. Even my dad. So tonight, I'm feeling especially thankful for my fun-loving, up-for-anything boys, this sweet and hilarious stage of their childhood, and the fact that all the most important people in our little family's life could be here with us to celebrate one more special day.

I'm also excited about ending the month-long celebration of Halloween and moving on to a holiday that I enjoy more.

So that's us. What about you? Any favorite parts of Halloween night?

p.s. Did you see my friend Jenna's costume? She was an 80s girl and wore almost the same costume that I did two years in a row when I was growing up--in the actual 80s. Back then, we called this attire "punk rocker." Basically, she looked like a candidate for Dance TV. How cool is that? I can't tell you how much I wanted to be Sarah Jessica Parker, dancing my heart out in those tights with the matching suspenders....

Rest and Glory

2011-10-30T20:55:00.000-04:00

We needed a break this weekend. An escape from the house with its construction fumes and plastic-covered furniture, an escape from the city with its appointments and frenzy of activity--a pause button moment to take a long, deep breath and remember (as a friend graciously reminded me last week) that God has provided everything we need to confront the challenges before us right now. So, we accepted an invitation from Jim's parents to join them at the lake, which is in the midst of its glory season. And could any setting be a more visible reminder of God's grace?

Fall is beautiful in Atlanta, but this place is something completely different. The leaves are bigger, the colors more magnificent, the air cleaner, fuller, brighter somehow.

For the boys, the lake and the mountains are like a giant playground. This far into the fall, it's too cold for water sports. Instead, we skip rocks in the water and collect leaves and go on hikes. We laugh and giggle and pretend and explore, and roast marshmallows for smores around the campfire. And it relaxes me to think that my children are spending time outside and enjoying nature and learning to love this place the same way that their daddy did as a boy.

I wish that we could rest well when we're at home, but somehow, in this stage of life, the distractions always prove too great. For Jim, there is always a house project, or grass that must be mowed, or someone who he could fit in a quick meeting with before church starts. For me, its an errand (or six) that can get done during one of those coveted rest times when Jim is at home, a project, laundry outgrowing its basket and threatening to swallow me. At the lake, we get away from all of that. And the distance makes room for perspective. We begin to remember what's important--which is not the laundry, or the grass. We relax.

Psalm 19 says:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

When I see it like this, creation reminds me that God is mercifully taking care of me--providing for me and my family faithfully, perfectly, and just at the right time, the same way that He provides for everything He has made. Just as the trees will endure winter so that they can come alive again stronger and more glorious in the spring, I can count on God to use this difficult season to bring bear rich fruit. To bring redemption about in my family just as he is bringing redemption to the entire creation.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and heard something that made me cry. It was cheesy, but sweet--a segment called "tell me something good" when people are supposed to call in and spread cheerful news to other listeners. In a twist that seemed to flummox the producers, each person that called had a long sob sorry that ended with a moment of redemption. One was a mom who spoke about her twelve year old suffering from brain cancer. He had finally finished chemotherapy and then had been selected for his school basketball team. She cried tears of joy as she told the story. It reminded me of something I heard in a sermon about a year ago: God doesn't always protect his children from painful trials, but He does always provide for them with His presence in the midst of them.

This weekend, He provided for us. And we are thankful.

Have a happy Halloween--I'll be back tomorrow with my young Jedi council.

XO, Elisabeth

DIY: Word Art for the Playroom

2011-10-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

When Big Brother was a baby, I discovered Elizabeth Mitchell and her sweet, folksy rendition of the song You Are My Sunshine. On long afternoons, I would turn the volume up and dance around the kitchen with him, singing the words into his little ear as we twirled. Ever since, I've wanted to use the lyrics in a piece of art. They seem so representative of the joy of childhood, family, and loving one another. So today, one more week into the inertia that has developed around decorating the boys playroom (and specifically, sewing them a teepee), I decided to do something simpler and make a piece of word art for their wall.

I hope that one of these days, it will be just a little something among a big, wonderful grouping of child-friendly eye candy, but for now, it's about six less square feet of empty, white wall. And a message that I hope will remind my boys (all three of them) of how deeply adored they are.

The process couldn't have been easier: (1) I mocked up a general idea on the computer, keeping a close eye on font (this one was called Governor). (2) Measured lines 2.5 inches apart and used them to freehand letters of approximately the same size. (3) Alternated colors randomly. (4) Used glue and glitter (I used Martha Stewart from Michaels) to subtly fancy up a few letters. (5) Stuck letters to card stock (you could also use poster board) with spray mount. All materials came from Michaels.

And voila. Something fun to hang on the playroom wall.

I know you were all dying to see my feet today:).

Have a happy friday!

DIY: The Flirt Skirt's Winter Makeover (Wool Miniskirt with Lining)

2011-10-25T23:25:00.000-04:00

First, thank you for your notes and comments on yesterday's post. I read back over my words last night and thought, Wow. I really am stressed out. Your words, thoughts, wisdom, and prayers have really helped me take a deep breath today. And do you know what? Construction began. There's an enormous pile of tile rubble in our front yard and a toilet in the bedroom. The garage door broke dramatically and (one unexpected check later) was fixed, and everything is just fine. The boys think the banging is awesome, Jim and I are both at home tonight with no agenda, and a friend made us dinner. It's a calmer evening, and I'm so thankful. Now, let's move on to fun things, shall we?

Have you noticed that J.Crew's elastic-waist miniskirt--the one that inspired my summer flirt skirt--is back for fall? It's the exact same design, but this time, they made it in a wool flannel with lining. And priced it at $85. And do you know what? I was drawn to it again--but this time I didn't give into the purchase. Instead, I snuck my measuring tape into the dressing room, checked the dimensions, and went straight to the fabric store in search of a wool in my favorite fall color: cobalt blue.

I found it, though in a thicker fabric than flannel--it's a soft, almost felted-looking, 100% wool. After I had it cut, it occurred to me that wool must be lined, so I took the advice of the store owner, purchased rayon in the same color, and hauled it all home to begin an experiment that resulted in something a little bit different than the flirt skirt, and (wonderfully) even simpler: an elastic-waist, slim, wool miniskirt that makes a fun color splash for fall. I'm really pleased with the result--in fact, I'm thinking of making a few more to wear with tights, boots, and pumps through the winter. Wouldn't it be fun to have in plaid?

I started out using the exact same construction method that I used for the flirt skirt, and quickly learned a few, game-changing lessons: (1) You really have to watch out for extra layers with wool. The fabric itself is so thick that even seam allowance, if not handled carefully, can add a lot of volume to your garment. Case in point: I took out the pockets after trying my skirt on for the first time. Pockets are nice, but a slim silhouette is better. (2) The raw edges of your fabric in this project must be edge-finished with a serging stitch or something similar (like a zig-zag). Because the wool is thick, double-turning makes your hem too large. Also, rayon frays something crazy and needs to be finished just so that you don't tear it apart as you work with it. Seriously. After this project, I confess, rayon and I have a pretty tense relationship. But it does a wonderful job at giving the skirt a silky, soft lining. (3) On the topic of lining, I've gone super-easy here. I'm not sure how linings are traditionally attached, but the method I came up with deals with the fray-prone rayon by hiding--and enclosing--all of the seams between the layers of the skirt, even at the hem. (4) Two separate elastic pieces (like I used for the flirt skirt) are not necessary to create flat side seams with wool; in fact, the two pieces create an awkward pulling around the sides that becomes very obvious with the heavier fabric. I was able to accomplish the same look by tacking the elastic to the casing.

In other words, except for the lining bit, this skirt is a matter of two side seams, a hem, and a basic elastic casing. EASY. And it can be customized in an endless variety of ways--including by making it slimmer or fuller. So, are you ready to make it? See below the jump for full instructions.

Happy Wednesday!

p.s. Just in case you're curious, I did spring for J.Crew's cherry red belt. And my fun new earrings came from Target this weekend (sorry--I can't seem to find them online!).

Materials

Wool skirt fabric. Mine was marked only 100% wool, but has a soft, almost felted finish. You'll need two rectangular pieces, each having a width equal to your waist measurement minus about six inches and length equal to your desired finished length plus about three inches. Depending on the width of the fabric bolt, this will probably mean about 3/4 yard of fashion fabric.
Rayon lining fabric. You need the same amount described above.
Extra sharp ball point needle (I used the 80/11 that came with my machine), for sewing the rayon.
One yard of 1.5 inch elastic
Coordinating polyester thread
Basic sewing supplies

1. Cut fabric as described above. My waist measures about 29 inches and I wanted the finished length of my skirt to be 18 inches, so I cut two pieces of wool equal to 23 x 21 inches. The rayon dimensions are similar, but because of the rayon's propensity to fray, add an inch to the width dimension, and because of the way we're going to sew it into the hem, subtract an inch from the length--for me, this meant two rayon rectangles equal to 24 x 20 inches.

2. Finish the edges of all four pieces of fabric. You'll want to use your normal needle for the wool and an extra sharp ball point needle (80/11 or 75/11) for the rayon. I used a serging stitch (on my sewing machine), but you could also use a zig-zag stitch. You'll find that you need to adjust your tension somewhat for each fabric--this was about the best I could do. I'm sure you experienced sewists can make the edges far prettier.

3. Pin like fabrics together along the sides and sew side seams with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. When you finish you should have two "tubes," one wool and one rayon.

4. Attach the lining. Turn the wool tube right side out and place it inside the rayon tube with right sides facing (in other words, the rayon tube should be inside out).

Line the tubes up at the top as exactly as possible and pin. Make sure that the side seams align and that there are no dramatic differences in the width of the tubes--any puckering will become bunching at your waist.

Now, sew the tubes together along the top with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Use the needle that you have been using for your wool.

5. Create the elastic casing. Flip the rayon lining up and into the wool tube and then turn the whole thing inside out, pulling the rayon layer down to create a fold in the wool exactly two inches above the seam you just created. Pin and press this fold. This is now the inside of your skirt.

While you're at it, use your iron to make everything super flat inside of the skirt. Press the side seams of the wool and the lining and make sure that they are open inside the casing before you sew it.

Now, sew a straight stitch 1/2 inch from the top of the casing all the way around the skirt (mine was 1/4 inch, but I think doubling it would work better with the wool). This makes a fun, flirty ruffle detail that I love about the J. Crew version.

Beginning at one of the side seams, sew a straight stitch into the wool to create the bottom of the casing. Sew as close to the lining seam as possible without sewing on top of it, and go all the way around the skirt, stopping about 2 inches from where you began to create a gap for inserting the elastic.

6. Use a safety pin to guide your elastic up under the lining, through the gap in the casing, around the waistband, and back out. Then safety pin the ends together and try on your skirt, adjusting the placement of the pin and the gathers until you achieve the look you want. In general, I tried to keep the gathers away from the side seams in order to minimize volume on my hips.

Once you have the waist the way you want it, use your machine to sew the ends of your elastic together, tuck the seam into your casing, and stitch the gap closed. At this point, your un-hemmed skirt will look something like this.

7. Hem your skirt. I mentioned that the fray in the rayon (even with the serged edges) was freaking me out. Well, I compensated by folding the hem of the wool right over the ends of the rayon. If you do this, you must be very careful to make your hem straight and to pull the rayon down so that it hangs evenly with the wool before you attach the two pieces. If that worries you, you could also flip the rayon lining up and hem it separately with a double turned hem turned towards the wool.

To do it my way, fold the serged wool edge up over the rayon to create a 1 inch hem. Pin.

Now, sew the hem as close to the wool's edge as possible.

Try your skirt on again, adjust the gathers so that they're just how you like them, and then tack the elastic in the side seams and in a few other discreet places around the front and back of the skirt to keep your elastic from rolling and your gathers roughly in place.

And then style your brand new skirt with something pretty for fall! You're done!

Monday Musings

2011-10-24T15:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, friends! I’ve been a bit anxious lately to provide a personal update. Recently my posts have been a bit lacking in the transparency department. Nothing wrong with that, I know, but I’ve learned that one of the healthiest parts of blogging is sharing oneself, warts and all, with the world, and in this difficult season of life, that vulnerability is probably all the more important. For me, at least.

So, here’s a bit of context. This week, I received a very sweet comment from a reader and fellow blogger (you can find her at Camping Out with Tracy and Jack) who selected me for the “Versatile Blogger Award.” Of course, I feel honored that my blog has meant enough to someone that they would recognize me this way, and I look forward to passing the award on to a handful of my favorite new blogs. But until then, I’m told that as a condition of acceptance, I must post a list here of seven things about me. And since that seems a bit broad, I’m going to spin the assignment a bit and tell you, instead, seven things that are true of me today. Lately, life seems to change too much to assume anything beyond that.

One. I have three men in my immediate family--two boys and my husband, Jim. The boys (ages 4 and 2) have a never-stopping energy that simultaneously makes me smile and leaves me utterly exhausted. I am entirely unable to maintain order and control over either my children or my home and I vacillate between finding joy in the gospel pattern of having to run to my Savior to find grace in the midst of my failures and anger at my kids for depriving me of the me-centered days I crave. On most days, at least once, I yell. And I really hate that I do that. It is a great day when I can keep my cool without exception, and it always is clear on those days that the Lord has provided for me in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, the mom-beast days have been more than the better ones over the past few months.

Two. My dad has brain cancer. He miraculously survived a very difficult surgery and will begin a multi-faceted course of treatment to combat what is left of the tumor this week. This is wonderful progress, but the toll of sickness on my dad--just watching him bear the emotional and physical load of what he’s going through--is heartbreaking. My role in the unfolding story of this season is unclear and changing--encourager, caregiver, communicator, support for my mom. Most mornings I wake up and feel like I’ve been hit by a truck; none of our days seem normal or routine, even when they really are. This is, I think, part of the marathon of dealing with illness. Inside my wedding ring (and Jim’s) is inscribed the verse Proverbs 3:5-6--we picked it when we were engaged to be the “life verse” for our marriage and our family. I remembered it yesterday when Big Brother jumped into my lap after children’s church with a picture that read, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. This sums up where want to be: a place of leaning on God’s faithfulness, love, and wisdom, and NOT on our own dimly lit view of this ugly disease and its impact on my family. I wish I could say that I have that faith everyday--I don’t. But I’m praying for it. And hoping that God will provide it, despite my fears and doubts.

Three. Little Brother is discovering his independence and has taken on a habit of contradicting me (back talk, we’d call it here in the South) that is wearing out my nerves. We made a valiant attempt at potty training him last weekend that, due to the fact that I can’t seem to remember to take him to the potty, seems to have crashed and burned. A wise, older mother asked me why on earth I was trying to load this process on top of the other things going on in our lives. Good question. Answer: because he seems ready, and so I thought I needed to do it to be a good mother. Ah yes, a good friend of mine would say, does that sound like God’s voice? Emphatically, no. So, I suppose we’ll try again later. For now there is grace. And some cute Thomas underpants to show for it.

Four. This week, contractors will be coming to tear out the floor and shower in our master bath and then reconstruct them. A slow leak from the shower rotted our subfloor and then manifested itself by cracking the tile above. I’ve done nothing to prepare our home or family for the construction process and wonder if we’re unknowingly headed into utter madness. It’s definitely possible.

Five. My mind is awash with fun projects for the fall--clothing for the boys and myself, decoration for their new playroom, changes to our master bedroom. Alas, there seems to be little time to accomplish any of this, and so I’m praying for contentment. Which is a hard one for me--can you relate? Joy in what God has provided right here, right now, without any “if only I could repaint the dresser”s or “ if only I could get those roman shades done”s.

Six. On Saturday night, Big Brother and I went on a date. I was really tired and didn’t want to go, but he persisted so that I finally relented and took him to Starbucks. He had a kids’ hot chocolate and I had a decaf latte, and we snuggled on a little sofa and read a book together, taking absolutely forever so that he could read, or sound out, each of the words that were familiar to him. He sang about our time together all the way home and gave me a big kiss on the cheek to thank me. It was really, really good. It’s amazing how God surprises me when I let go of myself just a little bit.

Seven. My husband, Jim, has a wonderful job that he adores and we are so thankful. He’s also extraordinarily busy, not just in a working-tons-of-hours way, but in a hard-to-make-your-mind-stop-spinning-with-work-details sort of way. I admire his vision for his work and devotion to it tremendously--and I might be even more interested in what he’s doing than he is--but we are struggling with finding ways to keep our communication going in the midst of the work week. And not arrive at the weekends so out of touch that we have to have a huge argument before getting on with our time together. Any suggestions?

So how’s that for an amalgam of personal randomness? Thank you for reading, if you still are. And thank you, Tracy, for the kind award. I look forward to passing the love along.

Easy Apple Butter (in the Crock Pot!)

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love apple butter. Love it. Something about that spicy, sweet apple taste, especially when spread on warm, cinnamon raisin toast, makes for a major indulgence for me. Even when it comes from Waffle House (it's the best thing on the menu there, just fyi). Like many things in the culinary world, however, it never, ever occurred to me that I could make apple butter myself. Until last year, when my friend Jenna told me that she had made some in the crock pot. And it tasted delicious.

So when we bought that bushel full of fresh apples last week at the orchard, I had apple-butter-flavored stars in my eyes. The recipes I found all seemed a bit over-sugared, though, so I mixed things up a little (that apple crisp recipe gave me some confidence!) and ended up with this. Jim, who doesn't generally enjoy cooked apples in any fashion, loved it. And I loved it, too, not just in a melt-in-your-mouth kind of way, but in a this-was-totally-easy-and-painless sort of way (is it becoming obvious that I'm lazy in the kitchen)?

Crock Pot Apple Butter, adapted from this recipe

5 1/2 lbs apples, chopped into small pieces (mine were all Rome Beauties)
2 cups sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt

1. Place apples in crock pot.
2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Pour over apples and stir well to combine.
3. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
4. Decrease heat to low and cook for 9 hours or until thick and dark brown (everything in the pot will be the color you see on the toast below). Stir occasionally.
5. Uncover and cook on low for one more hour.
6. Spoon into a food processor and puree until you reach desired consistency.
7. Refrigerate or freeze. Due to the natural pectin in the apple peels, this apple butter can be preserved, but should probably be eaten or frozen within two weeks.

Yum! Enjoy it, friends.

Happy Wednesday!

Pumpkin Farm in Pictures

2011-10-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

One of our favorite family traditions is a visit to Burt's Pumpkin Farm in North Georgia in the fall. We take a hay ride, hear the talking pumpkins recite the same, sweet message about God's love that they do every year, and ride a rugged old wheelbarrow through a sea of pumpkins. The boys love choosing a pumpkin to carve for our front porch. And they love seeking out and climbing the biggest pumpkins. I love taking pictures of them in all that bright, orangey goodness.

The boys squealed with delight throughout our visit. I don't know for sure, but I think it's really good to be a boy outside on a beautiful day.

It was a really fun visit. And we came back with a trunk full of pumpkins--even a blue one (for Jim's desk at work) and a white one (for the house, location to be determined). As you know, this has been a really difficult fall for our little family, and the strain has made moments like these--sweet, simple times to laugh and enjoy one another--all the more precious. I'm praying for the grace to soak it in--to store up the joy and the giggly moments in my heart and not let the heaviness of the season drown them out--because I know the time is coming when I'll look back at these pictures and miss the boys' littleness so much.

I hope you're having a sweet Tuesday.

xo, Elisabeth

Warm Apple Crisp with Cinnamon Ice Cream

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday, friends! Since our trip to the apple orchard last week, I've been hot on the trail of scrumptious ways to use our peck of Rome Beauties. I adapted this recipe from a Junior League of Atlanta cookbook that we received for a wedding shower nearly ten years ago, and it was a warm, golden, and absolutely delicious surprise for dessert. We topped it with heaping spoonfuls of homemade cinnamon ice cream (I used this recipe and added 1.5 tsp of cinnamon to the cream mixture before I froze it). Fortunately, we went through it quickly--otherwise I'd be very tempted to go have another three bowlfuls right this moment.

Big Brother was my sous chef. He arranged the apples as I cut them, helped me measure the ingredients, and picked at the buttery, sugary topping throughout my attempts at taking pictures. Which is okay, because I kind of like having his sweet hand in my photos. So, a few things you should know: (1) I left the skins on. That was totally a matter of personal preference--it's easier, it's prettier, and allows the dessert to retain the punch of fiber that is present in the apples' skin. In other words, this dish is practically a health food:). You can peel the skins off if you want, though--it won't affect anything. (2) There are only three apples involved! Full disclosure, I've never made apple crisp or apple pie out of a fear of chopping tedium. Apparently, I've been missing out. (3) This dessert is totally delicious without being too sugary or heavy and, in my opinion, is the perfect fall indulgence. I would know because, when studying abroad during college, my dear friend Lavinia and I spent about four days in Austria committed to finding the best apple strudel that country had to offer--meaning that we ate the stuff at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's a little gross in retrospect--and photos of our time demonstrate that it did not have a positive impact on our figures--but it did leave us bona fide apple dessert connoisseurs. And it is with that (non) authority that I'm telling you, this recipe is yummy. See below for the details.

Apple Crisp, adapted from True Grits, Tall Tales and Recipes from the New South, by the Atlanta Junior League

3 medium apples, cut into wedges
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup butter, softened (I defrosted it for ten seconds in the microwave)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger

1. Arrange apples in a buttered 8x8 baking pan, or something similar. Combine brown sugar, flour, oats, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a bowl and mix by hand until crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apples.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40 minutes
3. Serve warm with cinnamon ice cream (if you're going with plain vanilla, add another 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to the recipe).

I hope this dessert warms your tummies as it did ours!

October Sponsors and Reader Discounts

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, friends! You might have noticed that in my September absence, I neglected to post about my lovely sponsors. Hopefully that makes this post all the more exciting--and ripe with shopping opportunities for fall. Make sure you read all the way down--many sponsors are offering special events, promotions, and discounts that only last a short time!

Laura Negri Workshops. On November 6th, the coveted team at Laura Negri Photography is offering an all-new Photography Workshop for Parents at their Atlanta studio. The class is for parents who want to learn to use their DSLR cameras, or simply take better photos of their children. Participants will receive three hours of instruction, an in-camera review of work with an instructor, and a Q&A with Laura Negri over wine & cheese [sounds pretty awesome, hmm?]. Register before October 15th and receive the entire workshop for a discounted price of $225. To register, email morgan@lauranegriphotography.com.

b.wise papers. Fill your envelopes with holiday cheer! Brand new holiday designs have been added to the b.wise collection. b.wise papers is also excited to announce the addition of Japanese Masking Tape to our product line. It's the perfect sealing touch. On top of that, color back printing is now included with all card orders. Because really the backer is just as important. Especially for Growing Home readers, an extra 25 cards will be added to all custom holiday card orders of 75 or more placed by October 31st. Need 100 cards? Order and pay for only 75 -- the extra 25 are on me! Simply enter "Growing Home" in the notes section at checkout to redeem. [**Please note: Additional 25 will not appear in cart, but will automatically be added to each custom card order of 75 or more placed by October 31st. Not to worry -- final quantity will be confirmed when your digital proof is sent. Order applies only to custom holiday orders and cannot be redeemed for cash value.]

Kayce Hughes. Women's and children's clothing lines Kayce Hughes and Pears + Bears are donating 10% of all sales in the month of October to breast cancer research. To get the behind-the-scenes scoop about Kayce Hughes, designer and mother of 7, check out her blog at www.kaycehughes.blogspot.com.

The Little Nook is a creative haven for children and a respite for parents, providing drop-off mother’s morning out and parents' nights out, classes in nature exploration and art, a magical space for parent-supervised play dates, and custom-designed parties! This Saturday, October 15th, The Little Nook will host Nooktoberfest: a child-friendly fall festival complete with haunted house, haystack mazes, trick or treating--even pizza and football games for the daddies in your life! Like The Little Nook facebook page for more information.

A Simple Hive. An organized home is less stressed, more productive, and more efficient. Your home should be a place of refuge for you and your family – is it? Lindsey at A Simple Hive can help! A Simple Hive is a Roswell-based residential organizing company aimed at working with you to assess your challenges and create custom solutions for you and your home. Follow along at www.asimplehive.com where you’ll get my take on life, organizing, and some things in between. Contact Lindsey at lindsey(at)asimplehive(dot)com.

Anne Irwin Fine Art is a premier Atlanta destination for fine Southern art. From October 14th (today) until November 9th, Anne Irwin Fine Art is showcasing the work of the McCaw Family: artists Dan McCaw, Danny McCaw, and John McCaw. Please join us in our Miami Circle location in Atlanta tonight from 6:30 - 8:30 PM to celebrate the show's opening. And look--if you aren't local, you can find our pieces online, as well!

Loblolly Lane. Since 2008 Loblolly Lane has been designing, manufacturing and selling girls' clothing in retail stores and online. With bold prints, charming styles and unexpected colors, Loblolly Lane appeals to girls and moms who are looking for fun, unique clothes that are wearable and casual. Growing Home friends receive a 10% discount when entering "growinghome10" at the check out on www.loblollylane.com.

My Smart Hands of Atlanta teaches infant and toddler sign language classes for hearing children in a fun, casual, playgroup atmosphere. This fall, My Smart Hands of Atlanta is offering classes at Due Maternity in Vinings and Play-2-Grow in the North Atlanta/Buckhead area. They also offer private classes. Checkout the schedule here. My Growing Home readers will receive 10% off the regular price of a class by typing "Home" in the coupon code area at registration.

Silver Soup Jewelry is a line of handmade and hand stamped initial charms . The charms are made individually so no two are ever exactly alike. The initial charms are seldom perfectly round. Each necklace can be a collection of personal initials and charms unique to the person who wears it. You may chose to wear your own initial, the initials of your children or loved one, or a small grouping of assorted initials and charms that are meaningful to you. Layer several length chains with assorted Silver Soup charms and a birthstone bead or two for color. We all have a story to tell-tell yours with a Silver Soup necklace!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Growing Home, please check out the details here and contact me at elisabeth@mygrowinghome.com.

DIY: Basic Boy PANTS

2011-10-13T15:10:00.000-04:00

On our way to Rosemary Beach this summer, I convinced Jim to give me a few minutes at the Smock Shoppe in Dothan, AL, and came out with yardage in three adorable boys' fabrics. And no real plan to use them. I try to avoid doing that, but in this instance it seemed like I would never see the fabric again, and cute fabric for boys--patterns that are fun but not too funky, masculine but not too stiff--are SO hard to find. So I bought it, and now, three months later, I've finally done something with one of them: I made Little Brother a trike-themed pair of basic boy pants.

Pants seem intimidating for people new to sewing because of the inseam and the curves, but the truth is that they are incredibly easy to make--especially when you have a pattern that you like and trust to provide you with good results. They are constructed exactly the same way as shorts (not surprising), which means that you could actually make them quite easily by just adapting the basic boy shorts pattern and tutorial, but instead I thought that I would show you how to make a pattern for basic boy pants all by yourself. This way, you pick the style, the size, and the fit--and YOU get the glory for being both seamstress and designer. Don't be worried--it's really fun.

This particular version of basic boy pants has an elastic waist and contrasting pockets attached in the side seams. You could, of course, attach cargo pockets to the front instead, or go pocket-less...but what little boy doesn't love a place to store his treasures? Little Brother likes to carry his fave-train-of-the-day in his.

Now, the pants I made are on the casual side, but you could also make them in corduroy or a cheerful, Christmas-y plaid (Whipstitch has some gorgeous ones right now) to wear with a sweater around the holidays. Or you could use some fabric that your children will love and you would rather NOT see outside of the house (like the official Star Wars fabric in fleece...eek) and use this method to make pajamas. The possibilities are endless--and I'd love to see what you come up with! Click "read more" to see all the details. (And don't forget to share your creations via the Growing Home Flickr pool!)

Materials

Pair of well-fitting boy pants in your size of choice (I chose cords because of the slim fit and straight leg).
Tracing paper, freezer paper, or (my fave, although not necessary at all for this project) swedish tracing paper
Ruler
Pencil
Approximately 3/4 yard of fabric; amount will change based on the size of your pattern. [Late breaking addition: the trike fabric is from Fabric Finders, available here.]
1/4 yard of contrasting fabric for pockets, if desired
Elastic (I used about 1/2 yard of 1.5 inch wide elastic)
Basic sewing supplies

1. Fold your existing pants in half along the center seam in the back and pull the crotch out towards the back such that your pants are laying as flat as possible.

Using your pencil (not a Sharpie!), trace the pants along the hem, side seam, and back center seam. In the top section, where your pants begin to taper in toward the waist, keep your lines straight.

Now, take your pants away and extend your lines up 2 inches at the top of the pants and at the bottom to allow for an elastic waist casing and a hem (I like to use a large hem so that the pants can be lengthened later). At the sides, inseam, and center seam, use a ruler to create a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Now, fold your pants the opposite direction, along the front center seam, and repeat this process.

Use a second piece of tracing paper to create a single pocket pattern (mine was about 5 inches by 5 inches). And voila! You have a custom pants pattern.

2. Fold your fabric in half and use your pattern to cut two front pieces, two back pieces, and four pockets.

3. Sew the center seams. Line up like pieces with right sides facing (meaning the front pieces are together and the backs are together) and pin along the center seams. The center seams are the ones that form a U shape at the top of the picture below.

Now, sew along the center seams with a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

You should end up with two pieces that look like this.

4. Pin the front and back pieces together at the inseam, beginning at the crotch and working toward the ends of the legs in either direction.

Now sew the entire inseam with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, beginning at one ankle and ending at the other.

5. Attach the pockets. Pin two pocket pieces to the right side of the front of your pants and two pieces to the right side of the back of your pants, approximately 4.5 inches from the top of your fabric (I did five; it was a little two much). Make very sure that when you stack the front and the back of the pants, the pockets line up exactly.

Sew each pocket piece onto the right side of your pants with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Press the pockets to the outside of your pants.

6. Now, create the side seams. Pin your front and back pieces together with right sides facing and pockets turned outwards.

Sew the side seams with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. When you reach the pockets, turn the corner and continue to sew around the entire outside of each rectangle.

7. Make the elastic casing. Turn the top of your pants toward the wrong side of fabric, making a two inch fold. Now turn the raw edge of pants under 1/4 inch and pin down (you can reverse the order of those folds if you like--this is just what seemed easier to me in the moment).

Sew the casing down as close to the fold as possible, leaving a gap of about 1.5 inches around the center seam in the back of your pants.

Using a safety pin, guide your elastic into the gap that you left when stitching the casing, around the waist of the pants, and back out of the gap. Make sure that the elastic does not fold or twist inside the casing. Now, safety pin the two ends together at the point that you guess is correct, then try the pants on your child to make sure.

Make any adjustments necessary, then sew the ends of the elastic together with your sewing machine (I usually stitch it back and forth a few times to make sure the seam is tough).

Cut the elastic beyond the seam, tuck the sewn portion into the casing, and sew shut.

8. Finally, hem your pants. First, measure your near-finished pants against the pre-existing ones and pin at your desired length.

Now, finish the raw edges at your pants' hem (I used a serging stitch, but you could also use a zig zag stitch), then sew a two inch hem. You could also turn the raw edge under 1/2 inch and press it, then turn it again to your desired hem length to create a double turned hem. Either way, this is your last step. Hooray for new pants and proud mamas!

Big Messes and New Bathrooms

2011-10-11T23:01:00.000-04:00

I have not been in a good mood today. I'm pretty sure that it's because I didn't sleep well last night--maybe that plus a dose of stress. Regardless, I've been impatient, unfair, and angry with my kids all afternoon. I really wanted them to be quiet and content, and play on their own without fighting--which is, of course, totally unreasonable to expect of two active little boys (and maybe most humans)--and I was ticked that they wouldn't yield to my plan. I literally had to run out of their room at bedtime to avoid another unwarranted, mom-beast explosion. I tell you, friends, parenting is the best way to bring out the dirt in your heart.

Unfortunately, my cookie-faced offspring and I am not the only messes in our house right now--there's another one of the home-damage-that-must-be-remedied-quickly sort in Jim's and my bathroom. It turns out that when our house was constructed about eleven years ago, the builders installed the shower tray incorrectly, causing a slow leak that gradually saturated the subfloor under and around our shower. We figured it out when, several months ago, the tiles just outside our shower began to crack and sink. And then I started having allergy problems, meaning that the gross truth is that our bathroom subfloor is both rotted and molded. So the problem has to be fixed immediately and, looking on the bright side, we have the fun opportunity to revamp the look of the bathroom. Of course, in all the projects I've considered (or dreamed of) doing in our house, this one never occurred to me, so I started off with a blank slate. And the research (ahem, Pinterest gawking) has been fun.

Source: simplyseleta.com via Elisabeth on Pinterest

We've decided on white subway tile for the vertical planes (like the shower and the tub surround--ours are separate) and white hexagonal mosaic tile on the shower and bathroom floors. We plan to use gray sanded grout on both to give the tiles some pop--like the ones in the photo above--and to coordinate with our gray bathroom walls (which match the ones below). Of course, we won't have funky mirrors or a cool farm table-esque wash basin like the one above, but a nice big basket for towels could be a fun touch.

Source: tumblr.com via Elisabeth on Pinterest

The subway and hexagon tiles together will give us a vintage-y look that I'm really excited about. Our house was part of a large development about a decade ago, so it is totally lacking in charming, period details--unfortunately, we've discovered that its one abiding consistency is cut-corners on the construction side (as evidenced by our leak). As painful as unexpected expenses are, I am looking forward to changing that about the bathroom. Once this little project is over, we'll have a brand new subfloor, a nice tiled shower floor (I look forward to hauling that nasty pan to the curb!), and a leak-free home (Lord willing).

Source: baylorsays.blogspot.com via Elisabeth on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Elisabeth on Pinterest

And it's always fun to have an excuse to look at pretty pictures, right?:)

I hope your Wednesday is lovely, and that all your messes this week (and mine!) have redemptive endings.

XO, Elisabeth

An Apple a Day

2011-10-10T21:32:00.000-04:00

We've had a wonderful, happy weekend full of projects and little family adventures, concluding this afternoon with a trip to Hillcrest Orchard in North Georgia. Jim was off of work for Columbus Day--a fantastic surprise--and we thought it was high time for a family escape from the city.

I'm so glad we went. Driving through tunnels of leaves ablaze with their autumn colors, past fields ripe with pumpkins, apples, and drying corn stalks, it finally felt like fall. Even the weather seemed to get the memo--the air was cool enough for jackets!

As you can see, the trees at Hillcrest were heavy with ripe apples of every variety. On the weekends, they host an apple festival with rides, games, and hayrides, but truthfully, I find it a little cheesy. It was nice to roam the orchard all by ourselves, hunting for juicy fruit hidden up in the leaves.

We came home with a peck of Rome apples, which is about twelve pounds worth (a few of them rode home in Little Brother's pockets). So I'm looking for some particularly mouth-watering ways to use them this week. I have some ideas, but I'd love your input. Any favorite ways to cook apples?

After the orchards, we hit the vintage tractors. Little Brother went straight for the green one--that's his favorite color.

Big Brother prefers blue. Thank goodness for easy choices, right?

At dinner tonight, we went around the table and said what we were thankful for today. Big Brother talked about our adventures in the country--new places and experiences and a collection of treasures to show his schoolmates tomorrow. Jim and I said we were thankful for having a rare day with just the four of us: a time to laugh and enjoy each other and make memories unique to our little family. When Little Brother's turn came, we had to explain that "being thankful" means thanking Jesus for specific things he has given us today. He listened pensively, and then responded without hesitation, "tha he luvvs me."

What a perfect answer. At the end of this beautiful and (relatively) quiet day with my family, I too feel unusually aware of God's extravagant love. Rest is such a precious gift.

And just like that, we're back to the week. Here's wishing that we can all take a bit of the peace of the weekend into the days ahead...happy Tuesday!

Goofball

2011-10-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

We're having a problem with stinkbugs right now. Stinkbugs are little brown bugs that make an annoying buzzing sound when they get into your house and pop in a very satisfactory way when you pinch them in a paper towel. And they're easy to catch--just ask my Jedi warrior.

He appointed himself chief stinkbug destroyer when I wasn't catching them quickly enough. He uses a broom to knock them off the windows and them corners them on the floor. But he doesn't squish them--yet. That's my job.

The thing about Big Brother is that most activities are more about the role play than the act themselves. For example, when stinkbug hunting, he first explains the entire process--what he's going to do, how I should respond to him in character as the "bug man," etc. Because he's playing a role, facial expressions are extremely important. Like these.

Let's call them, "I'm stumped, stinkbug. But you will NOT defeat me."

"Don't you know not to challenge a Jedi?!"

Big Brother is my more serious child, the contemplative foil to Little Brother's jump-right-in-with-two-feet-and-two arms personality. But he laughs a lot. And he loves to goof off. Particularly with his little brother, who imitates his every word, every motion, every expression.

I'm going to try to catch these moments more, because I'm realizing that they're fleeting. Now that he goes to school every morning, I don't have as much time with him as I used to. And every week he seems to get bigger, and more handsome, and more curious about the world. I want to treasure the everyday things. Because I think they're the ones I'll miss the most.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

p.s. He's going to be Luke Skywalker for Halloween. Despite the fact that he's never seen Star Wars, he has a full-on obsession with all things light-saber, Jedi, and robot. Have you seen this commercial? If not, watch it. In addition to being completely awesome, it is exactly where we are.

DIY: Fringe-y Fabric Garland

2011-10-06T15:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Thursday, friends! I'm so thrilled to be sharing a project with you--getting back onto my sewing machine to put this simple garland together for the boys' playroom was like a breath of fresh air. The perfect, easy-peasy creation to get my juices flowing again after this long month.

It's funny; I've been trying to mount the courage and stamina to attack our (very bare) playroom since August and thinking I needed to start big. Like a new rug, or the teepee I've been planning to make for ages (the fabric has been sitting on my dryer, staring at me for awhile now). But right now, a teepee (with it's enormous dimensions) and a new rug (with its price tag) feel daunting, and so instead I decided to start with what was free, colorful, and fun: a fringe-y fabric garland made entirely out of fabric scraps. Look how many mini piles of fabric I busted! It's the perfect way to use up leftovers from both my projects for the boys and summer creations for myself (i.e., all things cheery and bright).

For those of you in the pep-talk stage of sewing (you have a machine or access to one and are trying to convince yourself to give it a try), this is the perfect little project for you. It requires minimal and very basic sewing, but delivers a big bang of satisfaction, much like the flag garland I made for Little Brother's birthday last year, but with a different look and feel. And look at the joy it brings to our otherwise bare and white playroom!

(One of these days, I'll borrow a wider angle lens and give you a fuller view of this room, and the boys' bedroom for that matter. For now, we're kind of confined to close ups in these little spaces.)

So, are you ready for the tutorial? It might be my easiest yet.

Materials

Fabric scraps. The longer you want your garland, the more you'll need. I used 9 x 6 inch pieces (folded), but you can certainly adjust the size of your pieces to the wealth of your scrap stash.
Basic sewing supplies (including an iron)
String, twine, etc. for hanging your pieces.

1. Press your fabric on the fold and cut it into 4.5 x 6 inch folded, rectangular pieces (unfolded, the pieces would be 9 x 6 inches, just for clarity).

2. Sew a straight stitch 3/4 inch from the fold of each rectangle, locking your stitch at the beginning and end. Repeat until you have a nice, big pile of stitched rectangles.

3. Using sharp, fabric scissors, cut fringe from the unfolded edge to a point about half an inch below the stitch.

4. Use a safety pin to string up your fringe-y rectangles and hang low enough to pack some punch, but high enough that your young Curious George cannot reach it when standing on the highest piece of furniture in the room:).

Enjoy!

Laura Negri Photography Workshop for Parents!

2011-10-05T10:00:00.002-04:00

Do you recognize this little one? It's Big Brother, at eight months. We used it for our Christmas card that year and have a blown-up version hanging in our family room, but I still can't get enough of it. I have a feeling that I'll treasure those baby teeth, sparkling blue eyes and chunky baby fingers for a lifetime, and I have my friend Laura Negri to thank for it. Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer, but she has a true gift for capturing the essence of children--that special glow that makes each one of them completely unique.

As I've gotten more and more interested in photography, I've really marveled at Laura's talent. The two of us went to college together (in fact, I think Laura may have been the first new person that I met at UNC!), and so I had the privilege of being around when her photography career began to blossom. I remember visiting her apartment after she had returned from study abroad in Europe and thinking, "Wow, those photographs on the wall are really beautiful." A year later, we graduated, and before we all knew it, Laura was establishing a business, growing leaps and bounds in both her skills and her clientele, and generally becoming a coveted professional photographer. Obviously, others have discovered that Laura has a glorious way with a camera, immaculate taste, and a warm, wonderful personality that makes her a joy to work with (see for yourself at her blog). For all these reasons, Laura's latest news is extremely exciting: next month, Laura Negri Photography is offering a photography workshop for parents here in Atlanta!

The class is for parents who want to learn how to use their DSLR cameras, or simply improve the quality of their pictures. Participants will receive three hours of instruction on basic camera modes, exposure, ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, natural light, composition, and lenses--pretty much everything you need to know to really get rolling with your camera. The class also includes lots of shooting, a review of photos in-camera with the instructor, and a wine-and-cheese cocktail hour and Q&A with Laura. I don't know about you, but I think it sounds pretty great. The price for the workshop is $225 if you sign up before October 15th. To register, email morgan@lauranegriphotography.com. Just think, friends, after this workshop, you could be well on your way to getting photos of your little ones like these! What a wonderful investment.

This next one really gets me. This little guy just oozes personality, doesn't he? I have a feeling that spending time with him might cause a major case of perma-smile.

I hope that lots of you Atlanta readers will take advantage of the opportunity to learn from Laura. I'm crossing my fingers that this will be the first of many classes she'll offer, but there are no guarantees, so sign up now!

Happy Wednesday!

p.s. Laura Negri Workshops is also a sponsor of Growing Home this month--so you can look forward to seeing more of Laura's photos.

Break for Adventure

2011-09-29T23:46:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, we took a break from the hospital on a Saturday morning to spend a little time as a family. Between starting preschool and a lot of play dates hosted by generous friends of ours, the boys have spent an unusual amount of time away from me lately, and we were beginning to sense the strain of that. It didn't really matter what we did, just that we were together without distractions. So, Jim took us to work. Ha.

Fortunately, it was a for-pleasure-only trip. Jim is involved in the redevelopment of a wonderful, old building here in Atlanta, formerly called City Hall East. I've written about it before, but the short story is that the building was created in the 1920s to be the regional distribution center for Sears and Roebuck. Since then, it has played a number of important roles in Atlanta (if you're interested, check out this website), including as a government building that eventually fell into disrepair and then sat, abandoned, on the City of Atlanta's books. Jim's company purchased it in July (representing a huge break for the city) and has exciting plans to make it into a center for commerce and community alongside Atlanta's future light rail line and greenway, the Beltline (you can see the first section of the Beltline in process behind the boys).

On this particular Saturday, we went to the building for two reasons. First, Big Brother is fascinated by this project. It helps, of course, that he idolizes his father and that he seems to have a genetic pull toward anything related to architecture and building, but I think that he also gets, on some level, the coolness factor of the place. Second, Jim wanted to show us the super-duper new vehicles he has been using for touring people around the massive space. So I got to ride a Segway (I realize that they're dorky-looking, but they really are amazing), and as a family, we roamed around in a all-terrain golf cart called "The Beast." Big Brother said (and I quote): "Mommy, can I call this the rocket car?" Yes, I said, you can call it whatever you'd like. He responded, "This is the best day of my entire life."

I won't lie. It was totally fun. We laughed a lot, marveled over what Jim explained as the plans for the place, and exulted (in a way that you can only really do with little kids) in discovering long-forgotten treasures in the dark "secret" passageways of the building.

And I used my camera again, which was fun, and welcome. Hospitals don't exactly inspire creative energy. I even laid down on my back to take this picture of the tower.

This weekend, we'll be celebrating the planned transformation of the building at Party at Ponce. I love the Indigo Girls and have never seen them in concert (not to mention that I haven't been to a concert in, oh, too many years to count), so I'm really excited. Plus, several of my favorite chefs will be providing the food AND the food trucks are coming! Oh Atlanta, you are getting so cool. Tickets are still available--we'd love for you to join us.

In other news, my dad is home and slowly recovering from his difficult surgery. I am profoundly thankful for his progress and for time with him, and I am very slowly learning to respond to his journey one day at a time, without being terrified of the future. Today, God has given me the faith to remember that He is holding my dad, my mom, my boys, and all of our tomorrows. We are so grateful that we can depend on Him.

Thank you for your words of compassion and especially your prayers. I'm hoping that I'll be back here consistently soon!

p.s. The first picture of this post was taken of Big Brother on a bridge along the Beltline that over looks a music venue called the Masquerade. My only experience there was in ninth grade, I think, at an outdoor Dave Matthews Band concert. They were mostly just a college band then, so we were able to get good seats and I remember being very close to Boyd Tinsley and that fiddle and thinking I was very cool to be there, and to see him hanging out with fans in the parking lot afterwards (I wasn't cool enough to be one of those fans, however, which is a good thing because they were all high as kites). Isn't that funny? It seems like an eternity ago.

The First Soccer Game

2011-09-22T21:29:00.000-04:00

Hello, friends. I've missed chatting with you here, and I've missed making fun new things to share with you. But mostly, I've missed the illusion of health--the time before these devastating last few weeks, when my dad felt good and expected a long, full life ahead. Since I wrote here, my dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor, had surgery to remove it, endured cardiac arrest, and thanks only to God, woke up again like himself. Many of his doctors have called his comeback a miracle, and after such a terrifying episode, we are overjoyed at his amazing progress. But our hearts are also heavy for the battle with cancer that he has only begun to wage. We have lots of hope, but the road is sure to be a hard one. Suddenly, I am aware in a new way that every day with him and with the rest of my little family is a gift. So, I'm praying for the discernment to know how to live the days that are right before me well. To make the choices that honor God first, and second, are best for my husband, my children, and my parents. And one choice that is obvious is the one to enjoy these warm, fall days, doing things with all of them.

This weekend, we took a short break from the hospital to cheer Big Brother on in his first soccer game. Jim is the coach to about thirteen four-year-olds and Little Brother is the self-appointed head cheerleader (it's a duty he shares with his good buddy, Owen). It was so much fun.

I don't think that any of the kids had played before, but a few of them must have had big siblings--or some kind of prior experience--because they jumped right in there and went after the ball. Big Brother, heeding his father's coaching, separated himself from the pack and went to the goal--waiting for an assist (do you use that term in soccer?). When he didn't get it (there was zero "passing" in this game), he got a little upset. But the tears dried quickly, and he kept going.

By the end of the game, although I have no pictures to prove it, he figured things out and got aggressive--jumping right into that mass of kids around the ball. He was so excited and happy, and we were really proud of him. To put things in perspective, his poor mother spent her first soccer game ever sitting in the grass behind the goal, making necklaces out of the weeds. I can still see my parents and all their friends urging me into the game from the sidelines. Bless my heart, huh?:)

Big Brother's team includes some of his very favorite people, one of whom is our favorite red-headed four year old. She's the only girl on the team, and because she's my goddaughter, I think I'm eligible to say that I was super proud of her, too. Not only did she get into the game and hang with all of those rough-and-tumble boys, but she did it without relinquishing one ounce of her femininity. See those adorable bows on her jersey? And the chic, pink-trimmed shorts? Awesome, right? If we are ever blessed with a little girl, I will be taking a lot of cues from her mom.

It's hard to believe that they're all this old. That they're old enough to go to school every day, to have dirty cleats and stinky socks, to aspire to actually act as a team.

Wasn't it just a few days ago that they looked like this?

I should feel bittersweet, I suppose, but the truth is that I can't--this age is so much fun. And with fun, family games on Sunday afternoons, daddies-as-coaches, and my family (except, this time, for my dad) sitting on the sidelines enjoying a picnic, I don't feel like a carpool-weary, soccer mom...yet. Rather, I feel very blessed. God is good--and He's not letting us forget it.

I can't thank you enough for your prayers over these last two weeks. Please do keep them up.

A Pause

2011-09-11T18:36:00.001-04:00

Friends,
You may not hear much from me here for a little while. We received the very difficult news this week that my dad is sick, and I'm trying to spend all the time that I'm not with my little ones at the hospital with my family. He'll be undergoing surgery early this week, and that will be a first (big) step in his treatment process. I would really covet your prayers for good results, healing, and full recovery.

Thanks for your understanding, and especially your prayers. Jesus is indeed the healer, the redeemer, and the restorer, and we are prayerful and hopeful that he will glorify himself my restoring my dad to full and beautiful health!

Elisabeth

Back to School

2011-09-07T21:54:00.000-04:00

Well, the first day of school has come and gone for my boys. They both love it--I think that Big Brother is enjoying having a special place to go on his own again, and Little Brother, well, he loves making new friends in whatever environment. This being his first day of school ever, I was a bit unsure about how he would respond to being dropped off. He doesn't suffer from separation anxiety anymore, but sometimes he exerts his very strong will in opposition to being dropped off at church and the gym. Not today. He ran right into the classroom, gave me a quick hug and kiss, and scampered off without a look back. I was so proud of him. I think I grinned for fifteen minutes straight.

Big Brother is in Pre-K this year. Which means that next year he'll go to real school--and then keep going to real school until he's big and moves away and goes to college. It sort of takes my breath away to think about it, but the sure confidence that he's in a wonderful place this year, and that our current situation is the right one for our family--is keeping me from feeling worried or sad about it. And by the way, two and a half hours in the morning goes by way faster than I expected!

With school upon us, I've had fall clothing for the boys on the brain. Big Brother typically grows a whole size over the summer, and so at this time of year, we're always looking for the most cost effective ways to come up with a new fall/winter wardrobe for him. (With a few exceptions, Little Brother is set with hand-me-downs). In the past, my go-to source has been local consignment sales and stores, but lately I've found that good finds there are fewer and farther between for older kids (they wear their clothes longer, and harder). So instead, I've been hitting up Marshalls in search of discount Polo shirts, and getting inspiration online. I thought I'd pass along a few of my favorite finds...just in case you're on the hunt as well.

Star Wars Shirt. Big Brother has a new-found obsession.

These boots are perfect for any situation that merits more formality than sneakers. But I'm torn--are these the more classic choice?

Big Brother thinks vests are uber-cool. This one is rugged, unique, and stylish, in a masculine way.

I've heard that Levis are the only brand capable of withstanding boys' tendency to rub holes in the knees of their jeans. I bought two pair of these "Slim Straight Jeans" at Costco ($13). We'll see.

I really like the quilted jackets I'm seeing everywhere--so British and classic. This one has a hood and a warm lining.

Love these sneaks, especially in the kelly green color. Any idea where I can find them in the states?

Now that we have the tie down, I'm thinking belts, and hats. On the way up to the lake, we stopped at the J.Crew Factory Store (do you know that they now sell a "factory line" [read: less expensive version] of Crewcuts?). I couldn't resist buying him one of these military-style belts in a khaki skull and crossbones print for $13. A salesperson at the store told us that it's likely that J. Crew will start selling the factory kids clothes online at some point. Score.

I love these shirts for church. They're too pricey to buy at full price, but pop up at Filene's Basement. And at the end of the season, they offer great clearance specials!

Happy Fall!

p.s. Curious about our first day last year? How my sweet boys have grown!

Labor Day in Pictures

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning, friends! Today is Big Brother's first day of school, so we're off to big adventures, new schedules, and the great unknown of God's plans for our next year as a family. It's an exciting day. We spent a wonderful long weekend at the lake doing all of our favorite things, and I thought, for a change, that I would share it simply as a group of photos.

On this trip more than others, I was particularly struck by the beauty of the mountains and the tranquility of going about life so close to nature. The boys are showing signs of an appreciation for this, as well. Big Brother remarked to his grandmother, "Ne-ne, look how beautiful the sun is going into the lake. See how it sparkles?" I think we'll miss that sparkling sun this week. But I'm going to try to keep these images with me as I jump back into the fray today. I hope you had a sweet and peaceful weekend, too.

Happy Weekend!

2011-09-03T04:00:00.000-04:00

We're going to spend our last weekend of summer enjoying the water, sun, and mountain air. We've only been here a few hours, and Big Brother has already been skiing. What are you up to?

A few notes from the week:

Thank you for your kind comments about my On Freedom post. For some reason, that one felt a bit more vulnerable than similar posts that I've written in the past, and your empathetic words helped me to feel a little less "out there." I hope that posts like that one can be conversation starters between us--or between you and the people around you. Everyone has their mess; it's just that none of us wants to be the first one to admit it!

The boys haven't started school yet, but they did meet their new teachers this week. Little Brother has a little loft in his classroom, and the first thing he did there was climb to the top and cry, "Ahoy, mateys!" Most of the other children were clinging to their parents. So now his sweet teachers know what they're in for.

I'm working on a freelance project about the authenticity trend in design. I'm sure you've noticed the movement of fashion, furniture, and even architecture back to the "originals," or things deemed to be classic. Personally, I love it and am looking forward to digging deeper.

Jim just signed up to run another half marathon, and I'm thinking about doing it with him. The time commitment of training kind of worries me, but the truth is that with preschool starting soon, I could easily fit it in. And that one long weekend run once a week would be a fantastic date (I love doing athletic things with Jim, but we've kind of regarded it as impossible since Little Brother was born and Big Brother decided he was too big for a stroller). So what do you think? I've already told you that I have (ahem) some incentive to add a bit more heat to my exercise routine. Is this too much? (FYI, I do run, but I think eight miles is my lifetime max).

Some dear friends of ours adopted a precious little girl in Africa this week. Between reading their reflections on orphanhood, and talking to a friend about a mother taken from her young family way too soon, I'm thinking a lot about my own children. And what it means to cherish every second of my time with them--even in the times when I want to pull my hair out. As odd as it may seem, capturing snapsnots of moments like the ones in these pics really helps me treasure our times together on vacation.

I hope your weekend is joyful, peaceful, and overflowing with moments that you'll want to store in your heart for a long time.

DIY: Boys Skinny Tie from a Men's Tie

2011-09-02T04:00:00.000-04:00

These photos are absolutely killing me. I love the look of mens clothes on little boys, but this seems to be taking it to a whole new level--it's like the tie transforms my four year old into a brooding 25 year old bachelor. Don't you think? You wouldn't know it from the expression on his face, but he was loving both this ensemble and the photo shoot. And do you know what his absolute favorite was? The tie.

Big Brother has been begging for a tie ever since he saw me thumbing through a Crewcuts catalog about a month ago. He wants, of course, to look just like daddy, and I think that the idea of wearing his own tie was a bit revolutionary. But to me, $25 was a little steep for something that could easily become more of a dress-up prop than a legitimate accessory, so, remembering this great tutorial from Design Mom on making skinny ties from thrift store finds, I decided to try it myself. I started with a discarded tie of Jim's (he bought it at the Brooks Brothers outlet about eight years ago), tore out the seams, chopped it up a bit, and applied my rudimentary needle and thread skills. And we ended up with this.

The verdict? I made a number of mistakes, but I think the tie turned out well: it's handsome, sturdy, and constructed such that it hides all my errors:). And Big Brother? Well, once he was all dressed, he told me that we were going to play "work." He informed me that he was a developer, and would be happy to take me on a tour of his "building." So we walked around the house, him inspecting and me clicking away. First on his list were the problem areas. Here he is explaining exactly how the garage is broken.

And here he's telling me how he would fix it (it's easy, apparently). What is absolutely uncanny about these pictures is his spot-on imitation of his daddy's mannerisms. On any given day, you could take a picture of Jim with exactly the same expression, explaining something to someone (or many someones) with exactly the same gestures. It's very sweet, and sort of scary at the same time. He couldn't idolize a more wonderful person, but this kind of thing does sort of give you pause about exactly how much your children absorb from you, hmm?

[Disclaimer: Jim informed me, upon seeing these pictures, that I tied the tie into a British windsor knot, rather than the more American "half-windsor." All I know is that I was pretty proud of myself for watching a YouTube tutorial and then getting it on the second try. And all things British are hot right now, aren't they? Maybe we're just ahead of trend.]

I started to put together a true tutorial for you, but found that my method (and photos) were so trial and error that they didn't make sense. In essence, I followed the instructions from Design Mom, adapting them to the proportions of a little boy, and added several steps related to cutting the tie down to the appropriate length and then (falteringly) reconstructing it. Our final tie is approximately 42 inches long and, at its widest point, 1 and 7/8 inches wide. It began slightly wider, but I forgot to check the symmetry of the pattern, and had to cut it down slightly at the very end to keep the sailboats from looking off-center.

If you're going to try this yourself, the only thing that Design Mom doesn't cover is cutting off the small end of the tie. To do this, you need to open the tie, cut a v-shape that approximates the small end's original shape, and then refold it. Fold and press a tiny triangle at the very tip, then fold in the diagonal edges on either side about 1/4 inches and press (see a good reference for this procedure here). If you want to make the tie look super finished, you could cut and hand-sew the original liner back in at this point--I just left it a little raw and tried to cover the exposed edges when I restitched the back side of the tie. If you have questions about all this, let me know. The whole thing definitely inspired me to try my hand at making a boys' tie from scratch--so perhaps that's something we can talk about in-depth in the future.

The long and short of it is that you can do this, and (like all things) it gets easier once you get used to folding fabrics cut on the bias, working with silk, hand-sewing, etc. And true men's ties are so adorable on boys that it's worth it to learn! I'm getting the itch to raid Jim's closet again. Until then I'm going to go boo-hoo about how big my baby is getting on me all of a sudden. And practice the lines I'm going to use to ward off the ladies once he gets to junior high.

Geez.

Happy Friday!

p.s. Big Brother's shirt is Ralph Lauren, bought on consignment at an Atlanta fave called Sweet Repeats. His chinos are from Crewcuts' brand new factory line, available only at J. Crew outlets. We bought him the belt at the Masters (I went for the first time ever this year!), but for a similar look, check out this website.

On Freedom

2011-08-31T04:00:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the subject of freedom. Not in a physical, "proud to be an American" sense, but in a spiritual sense. Thanks to the suggestion of a friend, I read this verse from the Bible: "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners." (Isaiah 61:1)

These were the words of Isaiah the prophet, who was speaking to the Israelites, God's people, about the promised Messiah. In the past, I've read them and regarded them as a reference to the plight of ancient Israel, as well as God's current promises to those who are suffering under great persecution or deprivation. To be honest, I've never considered them to be personal.

But lately, I've had enslavements of the heart on my mind--my devotion to those things that, deep down, I believe will provide me with worth and security. In my life these are many--beauty, importance, success, the admiration of friends and family. I don't consciously worship them, of course, but my patterns, my feelings, my responses to having them ripped away, tell a story of profound servitude. Yesterday, I went to the doctor for an annual check up. Having not seen her in a year, I had a few things to ask about--a few things that, it turns out, are normal as you get older. [Ahem. Excuse me?] Like putting on a few pounds. And having a bit of back pain. And not being in perfect working order on the female front. She actually said, "if you want to have more children, I don't think I'd put it off," meaning that, you know, it might not be so easy later. Of course, that's really no big deal--we all know dozens of (young, healthy) women who have had babies in a "not so easy" way. But when I left I felt beaten down. Sad. And, deep down, really awful about myself.

Why? Well, my self-image was wobbling. The "way I look" had been compromised by weight gain (among other things), and suddenly I felt less valuable than the person who believed, an hour before, that she was back to her pre-pregnancy size. My mind began to spin through an array of scenarios that would enable me to drop the extra pounds quickly, to fit more exercise into my week, and to regain my confidence as efficiently as possible, without neglecting any other of the 20 balls I've thrown up in the air. Finding the perfect solution nearly impossible, I breathed a long sigh, hung my head, and spent the rest of the day living out feelings of defeat and lethargy. The boys probably just thought I was a little testy--but behind the curtain, I was feeling the impact of bondage to the way I appear. Is this familiar to you?

In stark contrast to this up and down, proud-then-insecure way of living stands freedom. Life gloriously unshackled by the whims of fashion, the opinions of tastemakers, and the "what do you think of me's." Freedom is life lived without the need to maintain a tight grip on my circumstances and my world, lest failure creep up and crush me. In my mind's eye, the free woman can get back up after a fall, pursue a different path that the culture around her dictates, and enjoy the blessings that life hands her because she is not distracted by thrall to the idols of her heart. In the words of the Bible, she can throw back her head and "laugh at the days to come" (Proverbs 31). She can pursue her dreams. She can say no to the things that are too much, and yes to risks--even when they scare her. Like my youngest son, she can alternately cry, laugh, rage, and throw herself, needy, into the arms of one who loves her. And why is she so free? Because (like my son) she knows that she is loved no matter what; she has been given, by a loving Father, the irrefutable worth of Christ.

Gradually, gradually, as I walk through life with a slow-growing faith in Jesus, I see glimpses of this freedom. And I become more aware of the forces in my own life that threaten it. Lately, I've noticed myself feeling a sense of servitude toward the Internet--needing to update my blog or keep it up to some invisible standard of excellence in order to maintain what vague reputation I've achieved here. It's ironic that what was started as a vessel for vulnerability and freedom for me can so quickly become a means to undermine that very freedom. But such is the twisted-ness of the human heart. And so, for the past few weeks, I've been praying for insight about God's design for this little plot of land in cyberspace. And that my messy heart wouldn't pollute it with mechanisms for my own personal success, but use it, instead, as an instrument of His glory. Perhaps that will be as simple as encouraging you to investigate your creative urges, to value them, to live out the gifts that God planted in your DNA. Or maybe it's something else. We'll see.

What I do know, however, is this. As much as I want you to find inspiration here, and color, and DIY projects and pretty pictures, I also want you to find reality--and be freed to live a real life, too. I'm not sure that I'm very good at that--presenting the whole picture, snotty noses and all. It's my default mode to tie everything up in a neat, A+ type of a bow. But no one needs another unrealistic, interweb mom to compare herself to--least of all me! And so I'm going to make more of an effort to share the ups and the downs. And I hope you'll feel freedom to call me out when you think I'm keeping the frayed edges to myself (because, don't be deceived--they're everywhere!). Imperfection, for me, is grace...freedom...life. Let's help each other hang out there.

Happy Wednesday, peeps.

DIY: Color Block Tunic (with free pattern!)

2011-08-30T04:00:00.000-04:00

Well, friends, it may be the end of August, but in my neck of the woods, the summer heat is still going strong (and it probably will until about Halloween). When you live in a place where high temperatures last at least six months of the year, you get to a point where your t-shirt rotation begins to feel very old and you crave a change of season so much that you go ahead and buy fall clothing too early. And then you wear it and sweat in it and curse the cool mornings that trick you into thinking, "maybe it won't be 95 degrees again today." So this year, I called the bluff a little and made something summery and new just in time for Labor Day. It's a tunic, so it works equally well as a bathing suit coverup, a casual dress, and a top to wear with jeans or leggings. And it's made from cotton voile, so it's silky and soft and incredibly light--the perfect thing to wear to the pool or a blazing hot football game. I've worn it twice in three days!

I was inspired to make this by a yellow tunic top that I bought from J. Crew about four years ago. It had a similar neckline with pattern on the body and color block along the seams, but it was too wide, too short, and ended in a tier of ruffles that looks a bit tired to me these days. Although I think it was intended to double as a cover-up, it wasn't long enough for my frame--I kept thinking my rear was going to peek out as I walked. So I wore it as a top for awhile, and this summer it hung in my closet until the idea of making this updated version popped into my head.

The design is very simple--and I've provided it for you to download (free!) in the materials section. I began with an outline of my old J. Crew top, then narrowed and lengthened it and adjusted the necklines and the armholes to be a bit more flattering (I'm not a big fan of seeing my underwear through the arm). I also added the color block at the bottom. The body of the tunic is constructed from three pieces of material, joined at the sides and the front; the color block sections are all facings, sewn onto the wrong side of the tunic, folded forward, and topstitched. The armholes are finished with traditional facings (turned inward) in the tunic fabric.

To summarize, this project is almost one hundred percent about applying facings and stitching them down. Although attaching the facings has its painstaking moments, it isn't at all difficult--the project took me 2 evenings and 2 nap times total, including designing the pattern (I've saved you that time) and cutting the fabric. I have a feeling that a more experienced sewist could do it much faster--and perhaps combine some of my steps. If any of you fall into that category, let me know how you would put it together. I love learning from you!

The patterned material (I know you're all wondering--isn't it pretty?) came from my favorite fabric source, Whipstitch, and is called Shattered Voile in Sky, part of Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush collection. The rose is Free Spirit Voile in Solid Heather, from Fabricworm. This was my first time using Anna Maria's gorgeous fabrics and using voile, and I found the delicate fabric to be very quick-to-fray and to bunch up under the machine's needle--so I had to go slow and be careful. It was worth it, though--the voile feels wonderful on my skin and breathes so easily. If you decide to try this project, I'd highly recommend checking out the voiles in Anna Maria Horner's new Lou Lou Thi collection. This one would be perfect for heading into fall!

See the full tutorial and a million pics of the process after the jump.

p.s. I have to commend my husband for taking these pics. He decided to include my face, which was sweet of him, but looking at these and thinking about posting them online is giving me funny flashbacks to being an only child and having to pose by myself all the time. That last picture in particular is eerily similar to a Christmas card my parents sent out about twenty years ago. I don't think modeling is my fave.

Materials

Color Block Tunic Pattern* (click to download)
1 and 1/4 yards patterned voile for tunic body
1/2 yard solid voile for facings (look at the pattern first; if your fabric isn't very wide, you may need more)
Regular or (my choice) swedish tracing paper
Coordinating thread
Basic sewing materials
Pinking shears

*Note: My pattern probably corresponds to a size small tunic. To change the size, you'll need to extend or shrink the width of the tunic body pieces at the bust and hip. To do this, take your bust and hip measurements, and measure the vertical distance from your bust line (the bottom of the armhole on a tank top, roughly) to the widest part of your hip. Divide your bust and hip measurements by four to determine quarter bust and quarter hip. Now, extend/shrink the width of the pattern at the bottom of the armhole to match your quarter bust. Measure down from that point to the hip line, and extend/shrink the pattern at that point to match your quarter bust. If you have questions, leave me a comment!

1. Assemble your pattern pieces and cut. My pattern provides you with the front and back of the tunic and all of the facings--just print out the document, lay the pieces on the floor so that the sides are just touching (not overlapping), and tape together. If you have any trouble figuring out which piece goes where, look for the small numbers and arrows at the edges of the pages--these indicate the number of the adjacent page. You will see that pages 1-10 tape together to form one large section and pages 11-20 tape together to form the second section (the back pattern piece).

From your tunic fabric, cut two front pieces and one back piece on the fold. Then cut four armhole facings--two for the front and two for the back.

From the solid, cut the two long facings (for the front), two curved front neckline facings, one back neckline facing, and two hem facings on the fold. It is a lot of cutting, but the facings are small, so it goes by quickly.

Here's how all the pieces looked as I began to lay them out on my pattern. The hem facings weren't there yet--they were a late addition to the design!

2. Finish the armholes. Pin the armhole facings to the right side of your front and back tunic pieces (the outside), right sides facing.

Sew the facing pieces on using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Use pinking shears to clip out the curve,

then turn the facing over to the wrong side of the tunic piece, fold the raw edge under, and pin.

Sew the folded edge to the wrong side of the tunic, stitching as close to the folded edge as possible. Repeat for the other three armholes.

3. Apply the neckline facings to the back of the tunic. Pin the back neckline facing to the wrong side of the tunic back (which will be the inside of the garment).

Sew the facing on, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, then turn the facing to the right side of the tunic and press.

Fold the raw outer edge of the facing under 1/4 inch and pin.

Stitch the facing down, sewing as close to the folded edge as possible.

4. Apply the front facings. First, attach the curved front neckline pieces to the long facings. Lay your four pieces out on a flat surface so that you can see their shape and understand how they fit together. Now, fold the bottom corner of one curved neckline piece under so that it creates a diagonal line extending from the top inside corner of the long piece to its outer edge, as shown below.

Without moving that diagonal line, unfold the curved piece and attach it to the long piece with pins. Make sure that the fold line stays in place. Repeat for the matching pieces.

Stitch along the fold line.

Fold curved pieces back into place and press down.

Now, pin the combined front facing pieces to the wrong side of the front tunic pieces (the inside of the garment) from the shoulder to the bottom of the "v" shape (the point where the two facing pieces will come together). I pinned a little lower than this, just to keep the lower parts of my facing from pulling, but that's not necessary.

Stitching as close as possible to the edge (I think my seam allowance was about 1/8), sew the facing to the tunic from the shoulder to the base of the "v," as shown below.

Turn the facing to the right side of the tunic and press the edges down.

Making sure that the unstitched sections of the facing stay in place, position the two front pieces of the tunic on top of one another and pin the center seam, making a sandwich with the un-sewn (solid) facings in the middle and the tunic fabric on the outside.

Stitch from the bottom of the "v" to the bottom of the garment, using a 1/4 seam allowance and making sure that you capture every layer of the fabric sandwich.

Finish the seam you just created--I used a serging stitch, but you could use a zig-zag stitch as well.

Unfold the tunic and press the facing down.

Pin the outer raw edges of the facing under about 1/4 inch and pin. This is the most annoying part of the whole project. When you finish it, reward yourself!

Sew down the outer edges of the facing, stitching as close to the fold lines as possible.

5. Pin the front and back pieces of the tunic together, right sides facing, at the shoulder seams. Sew together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance and finish the seam (I just pinked this one, but I'll probably grow to regret that--or go back and serge it). After this step, go try it on and check out the length! Stick a few pins in at your desired hemline.

6. Apply the hem facings. Pin hem facing pieces so that their lower edge aligns with your desired hemline.

Sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Trim away excess tunic fabric.

Turn facing to the right side of the tunic and press the edge. [Anyone notice something different here? I got this cute ironing board cover from Target halfway through the project. The old one, with its layers of gold fabric paint and ever-present dingy-ness was grossing me out].

You're getting used to this technique, hmm? Turn the raw outer edge of the facing under 1/2 inch.

Sew down. Breathe easy. Your facing days are over.

7. Create the side seams. Before sewing anything together, finish the sides of your two tunic pieces with a serging or a zig-zag stitch. Next, place the tunic pieces together, right sides facing, and pin.

Stitch the side seams using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Press seams open, turn the garment inside out, and admire your handiwork.

Then, go grab a bikini, a beer, and a ginormous bag of plastic water toys and you're ready for Labor Day! Happy Tuesday, friends!

August Sponsors and Reader Deals

2011-08-26T14:56:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday, friends! I've missed talking to you this week. There's been a lot going on in real life--like preparing for school, and little sicknesses, and long talks with good friends, and little boys that need to snuggle--and so I haven't devoted as much time as usual to posting. Of course, that's all exactly how it should be, but I'm looking forward to being around more next week--and with some new tutorials! My sewing machine has been going like gangbusters...

In the meantime, it's Sponsor Day on Growing Home, which means that I have a lineup of awesome businesses that are offering discounts just for you (and even a chance at free art--read on for the scoop)! Please take a minute to click around on their sites and check out their products and services--you'll find silver jewelry, children's clothing, personalized cake bunting and handmade accessories, designer paper goods, organizational expertise, birthday party perfection, toddler sign language, and of course, gorgeous fall clothes just for you. And that's not nearly all, so...happy shopping!

A SIMPLE HIVE

An organized home is less stressed, more productive, and more efficient. Your home should be a place of refuge for you and your family – is it? Lindsey at A Simple Hive can help! A Simple Hive is a Roswell-based residential organizing company aimed at working with you to assess your challenges and create custom solutions for you and your home. Follow along at www.asimplehive.com where you’ll get my take on life, organizing, and some things in between. Contact Lindsey at lindsey(at)asimplehive(dot)com.

ANNE IRWIN FINE ART

Anne Irwin Fine Art is a premier Atlanta destination for fine Southern art. Just this month, the gallery moved to a new location on Miami Circle in Atlanta, where they are showcasing a larger collection of enticing art in a variety of sizes and price points. And look--you can find everything online, as well! Growing Home readers that visit Anne Irwin Fine Art in their new location will receive a free David Arms poster!

B. WISE PAPERS

b.wise papers is a line of distinctively smart paper goods that combines the convenience of internet ordering with a designer's personal attention to detail--all with an eye toward eco-responsibility. Every one of the designs featured on the site are unique, one-of-a-kind creations, printed on superior matte card stock. New designs are added throughout the year, and if you have something custom in mind, don't hesitate to contact me at alston[at]bwisepapers[dot]com. And if you're curious about what's going on in the studio and my world, check out the b.wise blog.

KAYCE HUGHES

To get the behind-the-scenes scoop about Kayce Hughes, designer and mother of 7, check out her blog at www.kaycehughes.blogspot.com

THE LITTLE NOOK

The Little Nook is a creative haven for children and a respite for parents; a place of warmth, inspiration, and discovery; an invitation to explore the world through play. The Little Nook provides children and their parents with drop-off mother’s morning out and parents' nights out, classes in nature exploration and art, a magical space for parent-supervised play dates, and custom-designed parties! This fall, The Little Nook will be hosting a variety of seasonal celebrations and classes, including a Fall Festival! Like The Little Nook facebook page for information on ticket sales and mention Growing Home at checkout to receive $2 off!

LOBLOLLY LANE

Since 2008 Loblolly Lane has been designing, manufacturing and selling girls' clothing in retail stores and online. With bold prints, charming styles and unexpected colors, Loblolly Lane appeals to girls and moms who are looking for fun, unique clothes that are wearable and casual. Growing Home friends receive a 10% discount when entering "growinghome10" at the check out on www.loblollylane.com.

MY SMART HANDS OF ATLANTA

My Smart Hands of Atlanta teaches infant and toddler sign language classes for hearing children in a fun, casual, playgroup atmosphere. My Smart Hands of Atlanta has a great class selection this summer in great places. They are offering classes at Due Maternity in Vinings, Precious Cargo in Vinings, seed factory in the White Provisions District and Play-2-Grow in the North Atlanta/Buckhead area. They also offer private classes. Their fall schedule will be up soon. If My Growing Home readers register and type in Home in the coupon code area you will receive 10% off the regular price of a class.

SILVER SOUP JEWELRY

Silver Soup Jewelry is a line of handmade and hand stamped initial charms . The charms are made individually so no two are ever exactly alike. The initial charms are seldom perfectly round. Each necklace can be a collection of personal initials and charms unique to the person who wears it. You may chose to wear your own initial, the initials of your children or loved one, or a small grouping of assorted initials and charms that are meaningful to you. Layer several length chains with assorted Silver Soup charms and a birthstone bead or two for color. We all have a story to tell-tell yours with a Silver Soup necklace!

TWIRLING BETTY

Twirling Betty makes handmade fabric accessories for girls - big and little. From tie-back fabric sun visors and headbands to fabric hair clips, cake bunting and banners, brooches and stationery. There's something for everybetty! If you love craft, you might also like to check out some of the tutorials on the Twirling Betty blog [note from the editor: it's fantastic!]. Growing Home readers receive 10% off by entering discount code "growinghome" at checkout in Etsy.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of Growing Home, please check out the details here and contact me at elisabeth@mygrowinghome.com.

Happy Day

2011-08-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

We've had the nicest day. After breakfast, Big Brother looked a bit sad and I asked him what was up. He said, "oh, I guess I'm a little down." I asked, later, if I could hug it out of him, and he said,

"I think I'd just really like to sit next to you."

So simple, and so honest. He just needed to be held and loved, to know that we were all--not just physically, but emotionally--together. I had planned on spending the next thirty minutes doing something else, but his sweet request changed that. And so the three of us sat there, snuggled into one tightly-connected hug, and watched a movie. And then we ate warm banana bread and drank milk and read stories and acted them out and ran around the house having a wild rumpus until we absolutely ran out of diapers and had to go to Target.

Where we found a train--a real one. It was long and loud and absolutely the most exciting thing that had happened to the boys all day, and so we decided then and there to grab a take out lunch and eat in on our favorite bridge, watching for another.

When it came, the engineer saw the boys instantly and blew his loud horn and waved as he passed. Big Brother jumped up and down in absolute glee, and Little Brother shrieked and jumped into my arms. And we watched, and watched, and studied and pointed and cheered until it was out of sight. It was a lovely way to spend a morning.

Maybe it's because we weren't rushing to meet anyone else's deadlines, or conform to someone else's routines. Maybe it's because I let my agenda go. Maybe it's because, for about an hour, I disregarded my usual need for control and bounced around the kitchen like one of the monkeys in Caps for Sale. Whatever it was, I felt very free today.

And despite these photos of my precious little boy, I saw more smiles than usual. And heard more giggles. And gave more kisses.

It was a good day. I'm so thankful.

Painting the Table

2011-08-22T17:42:00.000-04:00

[Sorry, friends! I posted this before it was finished and then, in trying to pull it down, deleted it. It seems that Google Reader has both saved me a rewrite and given some you a half-written version--read on for the full post.]

Did you have a good weekend? Jim graciously let me recover from last week by sleeping in on Saturday, and he spent lots of special time with the boys so that I could sew, pray, breathe, and spend a some time with girlfriends. I feel rejuvenated, and excited that this is the last true week of summer (the boys don't start preschool until after Labor Day, but we have a few school-related activities next week to warm us up). Let's hope Jim's not falling asleep on his desk.

You all know that I'm a big fan of brown kraft paper (we used it previously to create our own Island of Sodor). Well, last week we went looking for a new roll and ended up purchasing this brown builder paper from Home Depot instead--it's bigger, made to act as a drop cloth (i.e., reliable), and a better value. The possibilities for kid projects with this stuff are endless, but we started by using it to cover the dinner table for a paint party.

I taped it to the underside of the table with blue painters tape and didn't worry about the table once. And the boys thought it was awesome to have such a large canvas (and no hovering mommy).

Big Brother used tempera paint, and we started Little Brother with these nifty paint cups--a generous birthday gift from my aunt.

They were perfect for him--the handles were easy for his hands, he couldn't mix all the paint together into one, big bowl of brown, and while he ended up with a lot of paint "embellishments," he never got to a point that his hands were so covered that he couldn't work on the paper anymore (you know what I mean by that, right?).

Of course, like any little brother, he endured a lot of direction from his older sibling.

And like any big brother, his older sibling ended up taking over the little kid paint set and using it to mix colors.

So we all had fun. Doing this activity with a group of slightly older children (as in threes and fours, not twos) would be a fun way to make a DIY mural for a playroom or kid's bedroom. We're thinking that when the weather gets better, we might take our builder paper outside for a splatter-paint lesson, a la Jackson Pollock. A little paint wouldn't hurt the veggies, right?

Merry Monday to all of you!

Happy Friday!

2011-08-19T14:32:00.000-04:00

Happy friday, friends! This week has been the kind that will either leave you laughing or crying, and fortunately, we're choosing the former around here. Remember how I described our trips to the High Museum in glowing terms, and how Toddler Thursday seemed like such a peaceful, happy time with children? Well, it turns out that two is harder than one, and four is harder than two, even with two moms! Suffice it to say that yesterday, we left sans our newly-crafted wood sculptures AND our pants. There may also have been a crowd of sophisticated, young business people that cheered on the inside when they saw us leave the building.

Fortunately for me, my pants-free child wrapped his chunky little arms around my neck a few hours later and whispered, "I luh you, Mommy." And for a moment, the exhaustion disappeared. And the memories of the morning became hilarious. That is, until I had to launder the pants.

I've found some wonderful things cruising around the Internet this week and thought that I would pass them along for your weekend enjoyment. Have a great one!

I love these letterpress posters for their cool look and their sense of longing for the South. Tarheels, you can't miss this one!
The Design*Sponge book tour is coming to Atlanta on November 3rd and I'm dying to go--it includes DIY projects! Want to join me?
This DIYed pendant lamp is genius (and I love the blog, too).
Pirate wallpaper.
Oilcloth stool covers for kids. I'd love to make some of these. We don't have stools yet, but these could make something from Ikea look fancy(ish).
This fabric chandelier would be a really fun addition to a girl's room. And the video tutorial is beautiful.
My dad wears bow ties and I want to get him one of these.
The boys and are having dance parties to this.
Have you seen these DIY magnets made from Washi tape? Wouldn't they look fun on the fridge? My fabulous sponsor, Twirling Betty, dreamed them up. She makes the adorable visor I'm wearing above, too--in every color!
Kayce Hughes has summer clothes on sale. My favorite green bubble tunic is half price.
Little Brother's airplane birthday party was featured on Ohdeedoh this week! If you have a moment, please jump over there and leave me a comment.