Maker Mama Living

Another colorful week at our house last week...

Still loving our wooden Noah's Ark set by Haba. We bought it as a Christmas gift for the kids last year, and it's still a favorite.

I've finally broken in my new red huaraches from Urban Outfitters. I love my thrifted ones, but they're on their last legs, and I got these new ones on super-sale.

I was excited to find this toddler Romeo and Juliet counting book at our local library. (And thanks to Vanessa of Silly Eagle Books for telling me about the BabyLit books in the first place!)

Tried out this hand-holding discipline technique when my middle two started bickering. I think it's a keeper.

Eleanor's been showing more interest in playing the piano. I have the number of a local piano teacher that I promise I'm calling this week! Anyone have any favorite books for little piano learners?

Chris and I are preparing to update my cramped little crafting table (he's already added castors to make it mobile--I can move it to the bright naturally-lit windows for photos now!). Stay tuned for more updates.

The pecans keep on falling in our backyard, and finding themselves in countless meals.

I finished patching up this vintage horse doll for a friend. I love the design so much--I might have to make one of my own!

And we kicked off the weekend by attending a birthday party in the rain. It was actually loads of fun. The kids came home soaked and muddy, but it'll certainly be a favorite memory (I loved watching them scramble for piñata candy as the rain picked up again).

How was your week? What's coming up this week?


*This post contains a couple Amazon affiliate links. Maker Mama will receive a small percentage if you happen to purchase anything through these links, which would be a wonderful way to help supprt my wee little blog!*

Happy Weekending

I hope your week has been a productive and happy one. I'm looking forward to (hopefully) kicking my feet up a bit. Here's a little reading (and viewing) to enjoy during your weekending:

5 Tips for Teaching Gratitude to Your Children from The Pennington Point

How to See Hidden Clutter from Small Notebook

The latest episode of Olive Us featuring a sunshiny picnic.

Hope your weekend is sunshiny too!

Eleanor's 4th Birthday Party

We celebrated Eleanor's 4th birthday earlier this month in classic little-girl style with a pink princess castle piñata...

...some tea party fun...

...handmade crowns...

...and shields (for her knights of course)...

...and wishes for the birthday girl.

Oh, and don't forget the after-party dancing (the girls loved twirling and singing like princesses). 

I don't know about you, but I hardly have a chance to sit, let alone catch the pictures I'd really like to have during a birthday party. But we sure do love celebrating. There won't be parties like this forever, so I'll cherish the whirlwind now.

How do you celebrate birthdays at your house?

Last Week at the Maker Mama House

Sunday: It rained cats and dogs and made a ton of mud in our back yard, which of course the kids had to play in. We also made homemade playdough after they dried off.

Monday: I indulged Eleanor by painting her nails for the very first time.  I did buy a formaldehyde-free brand though. She picked the pink.

Monday night: A praying mantis brought me luck and helped me finish the giant curtains I've been working on for a friend! (I wish I had pictures, but now they're moving to a new house--maybe I'll get some when they hang them up there.)

Tuesday: The boys began chess club boot camp. They both started learning over the summer. Skyler's pretty good, and Liam knows how to set the board up, but I think he's more interested in being with his friends than actually learning to play--we'll see how it goes.

Wednesday: The girls got eerily quite at one point during the day. Because they were coloring their faces with marker. Of course.

Wednesday night: After a long day and a promise of a one-hour make-your-own-top pattern, I thought I'd whip myself up a new blouse. Fail. I couldn't fit my head through the neck-hole. I was too tired to try and fix it.

Thursday: Had some neighbors from down the street over for dinner (their new baby's name is Meadow, isn't that sweet?). I made this grape cake recipe and it was lip-smacking good. The grapes taste like cherries when they're baked!

Friday: Absolutely nothing happened. Not really.

Saturday: Got my craft on for a new photo-tutorial I'm working on. Stay tuned, it's gonna be a good one!

How was your week? Anything exciting coming up this week?

Sharing the Love | Friday Favorites

I used to be good about sharing my favorite crafty blogosphere finds of the week, and with all the pinning I do over on Pinterest, I thought I'd give it a go again. Here are my top four creative finds of the week:

This watercolor portrait tutorial from the talented Elise of Grow Creative just blows me away. And the idea that I could easily make one myself? Even better! Click on the link above for Elise's full tutorial.

Halloween is still over a month away, but for we crafters (did I say that correctly?), you can never plan to soon. These DIY Monster Claws from contributer Caroline over at The Southern Institute immediately caught my eye, not only because of how cute they are, but also for their simple design. Make them now for the dress-up box, or an hour before trick-or-treating time, either way you'll love how easy they are to make!

Two other crafts I fell in love with (but don't have permission to reshare photos) are this DIY Dish Glove Elephant Purse from Handmade Charlotte (sounds odd, but it's super-cute!), and a simple lampshade update with a permanent marker from A Little Glass Box.

What are your favorite crafty finds this week? Check out my favorite finds as I'm pinning them, I'd love to see what you're pinning, too!

Sick Season Survival Tips

Sick season started at our house this week, with two of the kids coming down with a stomach bug. Being sick (and cleaning up after sick kids) is never fun, but after nearly ten years of tackling sick season, it doesn't leave us nearly as frantic as it used to. I've seen it all from seal-barking coughs, to projectile vomiting from the top bunk (sorry about that), to strange rashes, and even RSV. As a mama of four, I think I've earned my taking-care-of-sick-kiddos badge. Here are five of my best tips to help you survive the sick season (which hopefully won't begin at your house anytime soon):

1. Stay calm. It's really easy to freak out when one of your kids comes down with a mysterious fever/cough/stomach bug. But the more anxious you get, the worse they'll feel. The best thing you can do is soothe and hold your little one. Sometimes all they need is your calming presence to help settle back to sleep in the middle of the night (when little ones so often get sick). And keeping your head will help you figure out just what to do to help them get better faster.

2. Stock up. Head to the store now for some basic supplies to make things easier (and before you're stuck at home playing nurse). I recommend having children's acetaminophen/ibuprofen, saltine crackers, chicken noodle soup, and electrolyte drinks.

3. Seek the right help. Some illnesses require immediate attention. If you're child has a sky-high fever that won't come down, you need to make a run to the ER. But more often than not, most illnesses can be treated safely at home.

If I'm unsure of how to handle a certain symptom I check out a child's healthcare book in our home library first. If that doesn't help/reassure me, and if it's after-hours, I'll call our local Call-A-Nurse service provided by one of the local hospitals. I usually try to avoid the doctor's office unless it's something that's been around for a few days, and/or my motherly intuition says something just isn't right.

4. Scrub the house down. I don't mean you have to deep-clean every nook and cranny, but wiping down the things everyone touches day-to-day will go a long way. I wouldn't recommend this on a regular basis, but a quick wipe with rubbing alcohol over door handles, faucets, drawer pulls, toilet handles, and remote controls will help keep the germs down. Stay away from antibacterial hand soaps though, these kill off good bacteria and actually allow bad germs to spread faster.

5. Stay positive and stay healthy. The last thing you want is mama getting sick too. I know, I know, this is easier said than done, but you do want to make sure you're taking care of yourself. Thinking positive has a tremendous impact on our health, and so does getting enough sleep and exercise. Just because you're taking care of others, doesn't mean you shouldn't take care of yourself--sick season or not!

How do you survive the sick season at your house?


**Please note that I am neither a physician nor any sort of medical expert. I am writing strictly from my own personal experience, and recommend that you seek professional advice on any serious medical symptoms.**

Crochet Coin Purse Pattern Now Available

You might remember my little coin purses I had for sale in my Etsy shop awhile back. Well, I had the pattern published in Issue 6 of CraftSanity Magazine, and now I've reformatted it as a pdf pattern available for purchase online! A lot of love (and late nights) has gone into this project, and I'd love for you to be able to make your own!

I use my own coin purse to carry my lip balm, hair pins, and other little bits, and I carry it in my purse at all times. The pattern contains detailed instructions (with photos!) on how to crochet the purse, sew the lining, and attach it all to the purse frame. It's a sweet and simple handmade project, and it would make a perfect gift for Christmas!

You can find the pattern on both Craftsy and Etsy, although Craftsy has it available for immediate download if you're ready to get started right this minute.

(BTW, Craftsy is having an awesome sale on their online classes--they're all just $19.99 until midnight tonight with Craftsy's Endless Summer Sale.)*

And even if you're not a crocheter yourself, I'd love your help in spreading the word, so feel free to Pin, Tweet, or Facebook this post to your heart's content! Thanks for your support!



*This post contains one little affiliate link, and I'll receive a similar-sized commission if you sign up for a new account and/or purchase a class.

Weekend Reading

It's been a busy week here at the Maker Mama house, with school in full swing and the weather turning unexpectedly cool (for South Texas at least). I've been working away on my big curtain project for a friend, planning some fun fall craft projects, and Skyler even got his first black eye this week (don't worry it was from running into a pole, not fighting--poor guy!).

I'd love to hear what you've been up to this week. And while you're kicking back this weekend, I thought I'd share some of my favorite posts and projects from around the blogosphere:

Stop by Design Mom to watch the newest Olive Us episode for some sweet and simple ways to set up a study space (these are the most adorable videos if you haven't already seen them).

Check out the inspiring home of Emilie Brehm of Normalish in her interview over on Tinklerlab.

Visit my friend Wendy at Wendolonia for a fun mother/son Wreck This Journal project.

And I am in love with this tutorial on how to make a giant picture for next to nothing from Sugar Bee Crafts (I just have to figure out what picture I'd like to use!).

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Lego Kidsfest Review

The Lego Kidsfest came to Austin over Labor Day weekend and we couldn't miss the opportunity to take the kids. We made it Skyler's birthday celebration (his birthday is near the end of August), and invited one of his school friends to go along. 

The event was broken up into five different sessions over the weekend, and we went to the Saturday morning session from 9am to 1:30pm. We got there around 9:30 and the convention center was already filling up. We didn't think we'd stay for the entire session, but there was so much fun stuff to do that we ended up staying until the very last minute. 

When we entered there was a Lego statue museum with life-size statues of favorite characters from Toy Story, Cars, Nickelodeon, and much much more. It was a great way to get acclimated to the enormity of the event and take a moment to catch your breath (for the parents and the kids). It really built up the excitement of being there. 

One thing we should have done when we first got there was stop off at the lost parent booth. From my understanding they had little handouts you could use to write down info about your child (i.e. what they were wearing, etc.), in case you got separated. We did hear announcements for lost parents throughout the morning, but my husband and I tag-teamed with the kids and never got lost (although I did find myself feeling lured by the Legos from time to time).

The building was set up in a sort of U-shape with more activities in the middle, and the first station we stopped off at was race ramps. There were tables with car parts where the kids could design and build their own race car and then send it down one of the ramps. It was a little difficult finding wheels, but with a quick search at the bottom of the ramps we found what we needed for the kids to make their own four-wheeled creations.

Next up was the Creation Nation. There was a sectioned off outline of the U.S. and tables where the kids could make something to add to the map. I started trying to make something, but couldn't think what in the world to make--there were buckets and buckets of Legos and the possibilities were endless (and some of the other projects were very impressive). 

The boys were having a little difficulty coming up with something too, until I suggested they build something together, so they decided on a tree house. After they were done they got to choose where on the map they wanted their creation. Texas was already about full, so they chose Florida. You can see the finished map from Austin here.

After Creation Nation, we picked up some juice samples from Honest Tea, and sat and relaxed in the Lego theater for a few minutes and had a snack (technically I don't think you were supposed to bring food in, but I brought something along because I knew we'd all need something to munch on). It was great to have a place to sit down, and the Lego animations were fun to watch.

We skipped over the Lego shop and stopped by the Construction Zone to participate in a Lego-building contest. They had different contests going on throughout the day, and the kids all teamed up for a bridge-building competition. They had five minutes to build a bridge and then see how much weight it could hold after the kids carried it to the center as a team. Our team's bridge broke under 5lbs, but one team's bridge held up until 60lbs! 

All the participants received a mini Lego kit and the winning team got something extra. The kids were a little bummed that there's didn't hold up, but they had fun--and it was exciting to watch how all the bridges did.

Another favorite was the art gallery. The kids each got to pick a blank square "canvas" and decorate it with Legos. There were some patterns to follow if you wanted, and of course I had to leave my own mark on the wall.

Eleanor and I played in the Duplo section before we left and discovered the princess blocks. They were pretty fun to play with. There was also a section with the new Friends Lego set for girls with the most adorable pieces to build your own dollhouse (the girl in me definitely had fun with those). 

The boys also went to the Ninjago area where they got to play and build and even got a free poster. And Eleanor and I enjoyed the monotone build stations where we played with the pink bricks (I made that heart all by myself!).

The kids posed for a few more photos on the way out. It was amazing to think of how many Legos must have been used to build all the statues (and the time it took to make them).

Overall we had a great time and were completely pooped when we were done. But it was well worth the trip (and the cost). 

Some of the things we didn't get to do included the brick pile (a giant pile of Legos--enough to bury a kid in!), the Master Builder sessions (you had to be there early to sign up), or the Construction Zone. We did briefly stop by the Lego City section and the Garden of Giving. There was certainly never a lack of things to do.

Here are some tips I'd recommend if you're attending a Lego Kidsfest near you:

1. Go with at least one other adult. Chris almost wasn't able to go with me, and it would have been really stressful trying to keep an eye on the kids (and make potty visits) by myself.

2. Leave the itty bitty ones at home. This may not be an option for everyone, but we left our two year old at home with my mom. It was a nearly five hour event that ended just after lunch time, and you could definitely see the melt downs start to happen all around us as we were leaving. Plus it would have been harder to interact and build with the older kids while entertaining Amelia, too.

3. Give yourself a time limit at each station. It would be easy to get lost in playing at one station for two hours, but if you're hoping to see as much as possible I recommend giving yourself a time limit. You can always go back to a previous station if you have more time.

4. Have fun! There were a lot of parents sitting on the side lines watching while their kids played, but you paid to get in, so you might as well play too. I had so much fun getting in touch with my inner kid and remembering back to my own childhood love of Legos.

5. Skip the shop. That's what we did. Since this was Skyler's birthday celebration I bought some little Lego favors for the kids to play with afterwards. It's tempting to want to buy some of the awesome toys while you're there, but we decided to save money (and time) and just focus on playing. We can always add Legos to the Christmas list.

Are your kids Lego-lovers? Have you ever been to a Lego Kidsfest? What was your experience like?

This Time Last Year: 9/11 Tunnel to Towers Run

Last year we attended our local Tunnel to Towers Run honoring firefighter Stephen Siller who died on 9/11 after running 5K with 60lbs of fire gear on his back. My husband is a firefighter with SAFD, and I took the kids to watch while he ran the race.

It was the kids' first exposure to the story of 9/11, and although the younger ones didn't really get what we were doing, I know at least our oldest was asking questions while we were there. We talked about what happened and were able to see a relic of Ground Zero. 

Although it was a somber occasion in ways, it was uplifting to see the community, and the fire department, to come together. Being a fireman's wife definitely has it's challenges at times, (there's the odd schedule and the time Chris almost got hit by a car on response to a highway accident), but it's also a blessing to witness first-hand how dedicated our local department is to taking care of our city.

I can't imagine the tragedies that may happen during our children's own lifetimes, but I do know that we are in good hands with the men and women who serve our communities every day. Thank you for all the big and little sacrifices, and I especially thank my husband, our own personal hero.

Who are the heroes in your life? And how do you talk to your kids about world-changing events like 9/11?

Where Did the Summer Go?

 

It seems like the last month of summer was a whirlwind of activity. As much as I love the easy going, up-in-the-air days of summer, it's nice to be getting back into a routine with the start of school. Here's to looking back at August and catching up on some weekly sharing:

Visiting family in Tulsa

Amelia turning two

Finishing up her Waldorf doll (which I talked more about here).

Hanging out with my bloggy gal pal Stacy of KSW

Tidying up around the house (or at least the girls' room)

Giving the kids sprinkler baths

Enjoying local sites

Celebrating the birthday boy

A last-chance trip to the coast

Crafting it up for the Alamo Etsy Craft War

Seeing the boys off on their first day of school (and Liam's first day of kinder!)

And sharing some back-to-school tips on the local morning show!

How was the end of your summer? Any funny back-to-school stories?