I just returned home from a 4 night trip to Las Vegas with my beautiful little sister and four of her good friend for her bachlorette party. It was a fabulous vacation and we made such wonderful memories. For three of us it was our first time leaving our babies for so long and by day three we had a good crying session together because we missed our families so much. The one single girl in the group must have thought we were crazy but she ended up crying right along with us. But now we are home and back to reality.
Todd and Regan spent those 4 days visiting family in Oregon so Regan was so busy she barely noticed I wasn't there. I did get to Skype with her one day which was fun but she spent most of the conversation showing me how she jumps on the couch. Thanks daddy for teaching bad habits.
Most of the trip I felt like a celebrity. My sister's good friend has a lot of great connections in Vegas and managed to get us VIP at various clubs every night. It was so much fun getting to bypass lines and then get our own table with free drinks. I'm not a big drinker at all so I only had a few drinks the entire time but it was fun regardless.
One of our nights we were treated to a complimentary dinner at a 4 star restaurant. The food was amazing and the champagne was even better. We had to have drank a full 5 bottles between the 6 of us. I was totally out of my element but had a great time. I have to say that Vegas has to be one of the most vain cities though.

On Saturday we were treated to a daybed at Nikki Beach. I was seriously the only girl there in a swim dress and I felt so uncomfortable. It ended up being a lot of fun but very foreign to me.

These guys thought they were from the Jersey Shore. I didn't ask for my picture with them. I didn't want my picture with them. But my sister insisted.

My little sister is the one on the end in black and white. Isn't she just adorable.

A few photos that were taken by companies promoting the nightclubs.

I seriously look like I was not wearing any makeup. Blah!

We enrolled Regan is swim lessons this Summer after a very scary incident while vactioning at Disneylad in April. While we were all soothing our achy muscles in the hot tub at the hotel after walking all day at Disney Regan made a mad dash for the pool and jumped in. There was no one else in the pool. Luckily in the blink of an eye one of our friends was out of the hot tub and into the pool after her. I'm not sure she even had time to go under water before he grabbed her. It was then that we knew that she must learn to swim ASAP because my child has no fear.
June 1st she started swim lessons 4 days a week with the local swim team and she is absolutely addicted to it. Many days she asks to go swimming the moment she wakes up in the morning. Earlier this month a professional photographer came out an took their individual and team photos. Regan was in a mood that day and refused to smile. Of course! It's very cute because all of the other kids in her group adore her because she is so much younger than them. The coaches refer to her as the team mascot because she just sticks out from the rest.
She has learned a lot over the past 2 months. She still can't swim without a noodle or some kind of floaty but she hold her breath underwater, she kicks her legs to swim, and she knows how to get out of the pool without a ladder, which is really important. Lessons end August 30th and I don't know how she is going to take it. We may have to get a membership to the gym so she can still go swimming everyday.

Regan and the rest of the Junior swim team along with her coach Ari.

Life's A Beach!

After a super hot Forth of July holiday we decided to hit the coast for a little cooler weather and fun in the sun. Regan had a blast. I scored a huge basket of sand toys at CVS for less than $2 with discount, coupon, and rewards that I had saved from the week before which made for some serious fun in the sand. Regan loves fish and "fish stars" as she calls them so she was thrilled with the little sand molds. We spent a few hours on the beach before hitting up the cookie shop and heading home. We are still cleaning up sand in the car and I have a terrible tan line across my lower legs from wearing capris but overall a wonderful day.

I am officially married to the most wonderful husband and bestest daddy in all the land.

My handsome honey!

All natural exfoliant!

Had to put her in her swimsuit after she was knocked down and mowed over by a wave. I'm such a terrible mother that I was laughing so hard I could barely get up to go get her out of the water while she was screaming.

Why can't adults get away with having cute little ruffles on their bum?!?

All that sand was a chore to get out of her hair, especially since she hates getting her hair washed. The kid has no problem putting her head underwater in the pool but pour water over her head in the tub and she freaks her freak.

Lovely Island Ladies

Just finished up my apron for the Flirty Apron Swap - Aloha Apron Swap. I'm nervous. Like seriously nervous. I love it but I'm scared that my swap partner will not. It's risque. Totally my thing but maybe not hers. She did post a comment that she loved the fabric when I posted a sample on the FAS blog. But, was she just being nice?? I hope not. Ahhhhh!!
I am thrilled with the way that it turned out because I didn't have an actual pattern. I knew what I wanted it to look like and the only pattern that I could find with that look was not available when I went to Joann's last week. So, I improvised. I used a few patterns and some freezer paper and drew my own. I totally had to make the neckline from scratch though. Overall. I love the pattern and I plan to keep my little pencil drawn pattern and use it again. I did buy enough of the lovely lady fabric to make an apron for myself (yeah right, like I'll ever get to it). But I'll need to buy a bit more of the hand dyed fabrics.
I have my tuck-ins ready and I'm mailing tomorrow. I guess I'll know what my partner thinks in a few days... unless she is just being polite. I hate self-doubt!

Chicken Lovin Mama!

I have been waiting to post photos of the apron that I finished a few weeks ago for Jill for the Hot Mama Apron Swap. This swap was unique since we knew who our partners were and I didn't want to spoil the surprise by posting photos of the apron before she received it. So here it is. It was a lot of fun to make. I loved the ruffle and the sheering. My model is such a little ham.

Lookie Lookie What We Got!!

Yesterday I received the most amazing package in the mail. It was my apron swap package from Jill for the Hot Mama Apron Swap. I have been raving for two solid days about how lovely my apron is and what a thoughtful person Jill is. I must post photos. Not only did she make me an adorable apron but she made a matching apron for Regan too!! She also made Regan the most adorable stuffed chicken ever. Regan has been packing it around since she got it and she likes to show her chicken the chicken in the book that Jill sent too. We are so stinkin lucky. Take a looksy!

Excuse no makeup today and my hair thrown into a ponytail.

We have been doing home projects (and not getting very far with it).

I am in L.O.V.E. with this hand appliqued chicken!! It even has a flappy wing.

The teeny tiny matching apron for Regan

Is this not the most adorable little chicken ever?!? We certainly think so.

I will post photos of the apron that I made for Jill in a few days, after I am sure that she has received it so that I don't spoil any surprises.

Cutie Pie Swap Package Arrived!!

On Friday I received the most adorable swap package in the mail from Kelly M in Colorado. We participated in the Flirty Cutie Pie Apron Swap and I had the pleasure of having Kelly as my swap partner. She did a fantastic job personalizing a package just for me. She sent the most adorable apron ever. It reminds me of either Spring flowers or yummy taffy. There is ruffles and stripes and polka-dots, my favorites!! Regan was kind enough to model the apron for a few quick photos.

Kelly also included three fat-quarters of cutsie pink pattern fabrics. I already used some of one of the quarters to make Regan some fabric covered barrettes. She also tucked-in an amazing smelling sweet pea candle and a very country cottage heart wall hanging that I plan to leave up year-round. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect apron swap! Thank you Kelly.

Green with Anticipation

One of my favorite holidays is fast approaching. Many people think of St. Patty's Day as a drinking holiday... green beer, Irish carbombs, Irish whiskey, the likes. I'm not a drinker, an occasional cold beer on a summer evening with dinner or a glass of wine while enjoying a yummy Italian meal is about the extent of my drinking adventures these days. There are other very enjoyable elements to the green holiday. Delicious corned beef and cabbage, shepherds pie, Irish scones. Yummy!! I also love all of the decorations of the holiday.
I just made Regan some adorable St. Patty's Day ribbon barrettes. I hope she will leave them in her hair. She's not great about wearing hats or leaving in fun hair accessories. She doesn't really have much hair yet so it's hard to keep a lot of hair bows in anyways.

I also picked up some adorable shamrock and ladybug fabric to make some ruffle pants. Maybe I'll make those up this next 4-day. I have a great pattern for the most adorable pants with big ol' ruffles on the bottom and they are so quick to make. The fabric is also very glittery!

Now I'm on the lookout for the perfect embroidery design for her tshirt. If time allows I would also like to make her a smock top to wear with her pants. So many things I could do if  "time would allow".

Kitty Party Attire

Today I embroidered a "Hello Kitty" tshirt for a little girl who is suppose to be the same age as my daughter. She is celebrating her 2nd birthday this weekend and is having a Kitty party. Little Alessandra was born premature and spent the first few months of her life in the NICU. Now she is a thriving toddler. To give you an idea how early she was... Regan doesn't turn 2 until MAY!
This was a really fun shirt to make. It's so stinkin cute. Regan loves to watch my embroidery machine go to work but it's a constant battle to keep her from pushing the button and not get her little hands too close. This is why nearly all of my crafting and sewing is done late in the evening. The name looks crooked in the photo but it's really not. Just some wrinkles after wetting and drying it to get rid of the marks I put on it to line everything up.

Our Herd

It's been beautiful California weather here for the past week and a half. 70 degrees, sunshine, a little breezy but not windy. Wonderful weather. Regan has been in Seventh Heaven. She loves being outside. She would stay outside from sun-up to sun-down if we would let her. I just know it's going to be a constant battle this Summer. If she could spend all day outside and in the water she would be in pure bliss. She is such a mermaid too. We spent a few hours outside playing ball, riding her trike, and playing at the park. She is getting too big way too fast. I don't know where my little baby went.

Call me crazy. Do it! I am a nut. A toddler and a puppy! Potty training two creatures at the same time is going to be a serious challenge. But, one look at those little puppy dog eyes and I just couldn't help myself. Meet Sir Oliver Fluffington. Well really we named Ollie but it's mandatory for our pets to have royal names. Ollie is a 9 week old Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Toy Poodle cross. He has the shortest little legs, and stumpy little tail that wiggles like crazy when he gets excited, and the softest (non-shedding!!) hair. He's such a love bug and he will cuddle as long as you will let him. He has made himself quite at home. Regan is in love love love with him after just a few days. 

Can't leave out some adorable pictures that I took of our girl Darby Louise. She's adjusting to the new puppy and gets a little grumpy with him. I can just hear her mumble "kids" under her breath when he is chewing and yanking on her fluffy tail.