9.28.2012

Strolling down Memory Lane, a repost: Easy-Trick- or- Treat bags

Hey there. Long time. I know.

A couple of you have asked me to share the Halloween Trick-or-Treat bags I made

for my kids which I posted about last fall. So, for today, here's a repost to share with you and links to a couple of parties you'll find at the bottom of the post.

I will be back with something new sooner or later.

In the meantime, have a great weekend!

I am always a sucker for celebrating photos of my kids. Last year I decided to showcase their photos on simple canvas tote bags I found at Michael's. After sharing my photos of the kids with family and friends yesterday, I got a lot of requests for instructions on how to make the bags. It really is such an easy project and quick to update each year.

Materials:

cotton/canvas tote bag
puff paint
iron
dish towel or pillowcase
iron-on transfers (I used Jolee's Easy Image, purchased at Michael's)
scissors
your favorite Halloween photos of your kids

1. Pre-wash/dry your bag. Be sure to iron all the wrinkles out.

2. Set up a clean pillowcase or dishtowel on top of a hard, heat-resistant surface, not your ironing board. I used a dishtowel on top of my stove.

3. Iron the towel or pillowcase to create a wrinkle free surface.

4.Following the directions enclosed with the transfers, print your favorite picture on a transfer page.

5. Cut the transfer out in the size/shape you like.

5.Remove the backing.

6. Place the transfer on the bag, covered by the parchment paper that is included with the transfers.

7. Using firm pressure, hold the iron for about 10-20 seconds all over the picture until the entire image has adhered. Be sure to check that the entire image has transferred, especially the edges.

8. Let your kids decorate the handles and edges with puff paint or fabric markers and voila, a trick-or-treat bag that has you strolling down Memory-Lane every year. (My kids actually did this step before I ironed the first photo on.)

Please email me or leave a comment if you have any questions!

Erin
I'm linking today's re-post to: Drop by and see what others are cooking up!

Hubby Made Me: Thursday Throwback Party

The Sits Girls Fall Back into Blogging Challenge,

Day 4: Crafty and Hungry: Fall Back

9.11.2012

Faces...

Today the sky is crystal blue.

The air is crisp but the sun still warm, just like it was eleven years ago.

I remember driving to work that day and noticing how beautiful the weather was.

The morning was humming with sound and activity.

I remember starting the day like every other, unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold.

The rest of the day was anything but normal:

scrambling for a t.v. set to huddle around,

desperate for any news,

Any signs of hope,

Jammed phone lines,
fear,

relief and frustration

as we tried to check on loved ones.

I remember driving home from work mid-morning in a silence that was eerie.

I remember feeling paralyzed with helplessness by the images I couldn't escape from.

Perhaps of these, it's the faces of 9-11 that are seared into my memory so indelibly.

the faces of those

who ran from the ominous cloud that chased them like a monster,

who stood watching in disbelief,

of my friends and family grappling with fear and sadness,

the faces of

the missing and the lost

the grieving loved ones

left behind,

the faces of children and heroes.

While my heart is always heavy on this day, and I can't help but remember, I try really hard to look for hope too. It's not easy, but it's the only way I find any comfort.

I found it here in this little man today, who was posing as a superhero in our yard.

Somehow it seems a fitting way to honor the memory of those lost eleven years ago, and all of us who must carry on.

Take care of yourselves and those whom you hold closest to you.

Erin

If you're looking for more reflections on 9-11, hop over here to read what others are sharing.

9.09.2012

Big girl clothes...

When my daughter was really little, like this,

she loved to sift through my retired work clothes to play dress up.

(the shoes are my husband's, I swear)

She called them her "big girl clothes".

Well, it's been years since I've worn these big girl clothes.

It's safe to say that since leaving the classroom behind four and a half years ago,

my wardrobe has taken a bit of a hit.

Tees and jeans have replaced most of my heels and skirts.

My husband's shoe collection now outnumbers my own.

Last week though, I took myself to Macy's armed with coupons

and a What Not To Wear inspired list of basics.

I swore to stick to the list and stick to the list I did.

Three hours and about that many fitting rooms later, I had the beginnings of a new wardrobe. It's still the wardrobe of a mom, but one beyond the frazzled years of spit-up stains and endless diaper changes.

Tomorrow, shortly before my kids head off to school, I'll do the same,

except this time I'll be the student.

Design school here I come.

Let's hope my new big girl clothes survive a stain free trip to Starbucks.

(no easy feat for me)

Anyone else out there in need of a wardrobe update?

Have a great Monday.

Erin

9.07.2012

School days...

Like many of you, my daughter started school this week. First grade.

Clearly, she was excited.

Last year? Not so much.

It is also her first year riding the bus.

Even more excitement.

Time seems to being going by at warped speed, but it is pretty amazing to watch her read and learn and to see her confidence start to soar as she does.

I hope all of your kiddos had a fantastic start to their new school year. Here's to one filled with great leaps and bounds and lots of good memories!

Erin

P.S. You may have spied this star burst pencil wreath I made last year in one of the shots above. Last week I linked it up to Hubby Made Me's Throwback Thursday Link Party. Stop by and check out Britni's blog and the other fantastic creations fellow bloggers have whipped up.

Have a great weekend!

8.31.2012

Goodbye summer...

Just dropping in to say hello. And goodbye. To summer that is.

Just after my last post last month, this was the view from my front steps for a week:

A blissful stretch of the Chesapeake.

All to ourselves.

More or less.

We cheated on Cedric with Jesper the Black Lab,

nabbed the best table at dinner,

relaxed,

explored,

learned to swim,

and soaked up lots of local beauty on the bay.

It's safe to say that we fell in love with the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Beyond the obvious, I also fell in love with my forced breakup with technology: no wifi, cell phone service, and little t.v. for us that week. It was hard to come back to the land of blogs and Facebook and email, so for the most part, I decided to give myself the rest of the summer off.

And it was heavenly.

Next week the school clothes come out, early mornings and longer days return and our routine will be restored to order. In the meantime, enjoy the last unofficial days of summer. I hope yours was happy and full of relaxing moments. I look forward to catching up with you all next week.

See ya Summer!

Erin

7.12.2012

Summer time and the living is easy...

One of the things I love most about summer is how much slower the pace of our usual day-to-day seems. I know I am fortunate to be home with my kids right now and if I was working full-time, I might feel differently, but I do believe the ease of summer is a state of mind.

Something in my head shifts when the weather gets warmer and really, when school ends. Maybe it's the teacher in me (or the kid), but I flip a switch in my head and get into summer mode. Now that my kids are a little bigger, I really look forward to this shift and relaxed routine.

This mindset seems to foster a lot more time to catch up with friends, to head out to the backyard daily and throw super last minute get-togethers with friends, family or neighbors. This July 4th we did just that. We had no plans until the last minute and as I'm learning, these impromptu gatherings are just as fun (maybe even more) as the well-planned ones.

I literally pulled this together a half-an-hour before our friends arrived using knick-knacks from the basement, Eamon's Rarebits Easter basket, a runner from my kitchen and the Christmas linens I forgot to put away. It's nothing fancy, elaborate or stunning, but an example of going with the flow. When my brain is in summer mode, the filter that usually makes me over think lots of things kind of falls to the wayside.

I really love what summer does to me. Towards the end of August you might be reading a very different post, but I really hope I can tap into this summer brain a little more throughout the year.

Do you look forward to slowing down in the summer or do you prefer adventure seeking or finishing off winter's to-do list?

Whatever your pleasure, have a great day.

Erin

Linking up today's post to:

The Taylor House