Birthday Party!

I'm planning a fifth birthday party for B. We have never really had a "friend" party for him before. I feel bad because we had a few big parties for his older brother H, but none for B. We sort of down sized birthday parties in recent years - sort of to save money, and sort of because they become so over the top! I admit I want everything just so, and lose track of what I'm spending, and tend to go a little overboard. My hubby thinks parties should be simple, and about family. I want people to walk away from a party I've planned and think: "Wow, why didn't I think of that?".

So, I'm planning a party for B's 5th birthday, and I'm so excited because it's been a while since I've planned a party. I'm going to try to stick to a budget AND have people walk away and say "Wow, why didn't I think of that?"

We are doing a bowling party, so I'm hoping that will be the biggest expense, but it will be worth it to not have the mess at our house, and to not have to worry about the weather or planning activities. Im going to save money by making my own cake. I'm going to use Wiltons sports ball cake pan to make a bowling ball, and a regular cake to carve out a bowling pin. They'll be placed on a wooden cutting board (which will look like the bowling lane, hopefully). I also want to make cupcakes frosted with red frosting and each will have a fondant bowling ball and pin. We'll see...I'm going to try a practice run later this week! Each guest will get a mini bowling set, and a personalized t-shirt (which I'm also going to make) for a party favor.

The party is July 16 - I've already sent out the invites (homemade!) and got some RSVP's. I hope I can stay on top of this, and really have everything come out the way I plan. I'll have some pictures coming soon of the practice run cakes, and hopefully the t-shirts, and the cute invitation - it came out nice if I do say so myself!

Couponing!!

Have you seen that show on TLC about extreme couponing? I want to do that!!! With a family of six and almost as many day care children to feed, I spend a small large fortune on groceries, cleaning products, and other consumables. I really want to learn how to extreme coupon. I don't think I'd really stockpile like on those shows, or be able to spend 60 or even 30 hours a week preparing, but right now I average about $6 dollars in savings with coupons on my grocery shopping trip, and I would like to do better than that.

If I were able to stockpile, I would donate all of the excess to our local food bank. Many people start couponing when they have to, but why wait? If I can save money I want to!! I'm taking an extremem couponing class at my local library this week. I'm so excited. I can't wait to learn the secrets and share then with all of you - I mean, I don't have any blog followers, but someday I might, so I'll just say "all of you".

Sewing Ideas

I have some great ideas for sewing projects. I LOVE sewing, but wish I had more time to do it. I would love to be able to sew enough to sell a few things at a craft fair, or maybe consign stuff at a store. I would like to make a "line" of baby/children's items. I have contacted a couple of stores already. One told me she tried consigning and outright buying from some local crafters but didn't have luck selling any of it. I just contacted a new craft store - they sell craft items, but also homemade items that they make, so I hope they give me a chance. I don't know where I really want to go with this - I don't think I'd make enough money to "quit my day job", but I still think it would be really neat to see some of my items in a store (and selling!).

I've also written a childrens story. I wrote it a few years ago, but have recently revisted it...I would love for that to get published too. Sometimes I feel like I'm always wanting to try something new, and never sticking with, or following through on anything. Is it because I don't have enough time? Sometimes I just talk myself out of things, over thinking perhaps, thinking it'll be too hard, or not possible, or whatever. I'm going to really push with this sewing/selling thing, and see where it takes me.

I'll keep you posted! What passion/hobby/dream do you want to follow? Do you follow through? Why, or why not? I would love to get other perspectives on this!

Sewing

Sewing is my newest "craft". I used to be way more creative than I am, probably because I had more time to be. I have always wanted to learn to sew. I remember playing on (and breaking) my grandmothers sewing machine many times as a child. She often did not have fabric, so I would try sewing pieces of paper towels, or old regular towels, or pillowcases, or basically anything I could stuff under the needle - thus breaking the sewing machine! I was only 8 or 9 at the time. I didn't have the patience to learn, and she didn't have the patience to teach me.

I asked Santa for a sewing machine about 5 years ago. He delivered. But I felt like a kid with a sled, but no snow. I didn't have anything to sew...no thread, no fabric, no patterns, no idea what the hell I was doing.

I usually take the week between Christmas and New Years off, as I had that year. I was eager to get to Jo-Anns for something to sew, and some advice on how to do it.  I chose a pattern, a bag for beginners, some fabric and some "notions". I brought my goods home, eager to start (and finish) my first project. I cut the pattern, traced it on the fabric, and cut it all out. I was trying to follow the directions, but it was like reading Greek - on the bias, selvage edges, seem allowances. I had NO IDEA what I was doing.

I packed my machine back in the box, packed all of my "things" in my cute little sewing box, and stuffed it all in the back of my closet (next to my unfinished latch hook rugs, partially painted ceramics, and empty scrapbooks).

Fast forward five years...my sister in law wanted to know if I had a sewing machine she could use. I laughed at her and told her she could use it, but she was on her own. She had no clue either, but I was able to follow the manual to set the machine up for her. She sewed two little rice filled heating pads/pillows. They were cute. I wanted to sew.

I scoured the internet for tutorials, and beginner projects. I had a new baby and wanted to make something for him. I was eager to get started right away, so I re-purposed a receiving blanket into a tooth fairy pillow. It came out perfect! I was in awe that I could actually create something! I purchased some clearance fabric and made a pair of baby pants with matching hat and booties. I loved it! I also made a pattern and created a baby t shirt from one of my old t shirts, collar and all. I love sewing...starting with folds of fabric and ending with something beautiful and useful.

Here is my latest project...a wet bag.

I plan to use it heavily over the summer, full of wet bathing suits, and in the near future when it comes time for potty training. I picked the fabric up for $0.50 at a flea market, can't beat that! As for the bag I started 5 years ago? That's still in the back of the closet!  I'm hoping to finish it sometime in the near future, now that I kind of know what I'm doing!

Finish what you started!

I alluded to the fact that I don't always finish what I start in my first post. Tonight has actually been a productive night. I got all three boys ready for bed, in bed, and asleep by 8:50. That's no small feat, especially with a baby. So I cleaned my kitchen -as in cleared the counters, scrubbed the strainer, bleached things, including the trash can, swept and Swiffered. All the while I was thinking of topics to post about, and I was thinking about what they would say, and coming up with cute, witty little sayings. I couldn't write any of this down because i was busy cleaning, and I knew I was going to forget about all of these great ideas. And THIS is where I always get derailed because when I actually have time to sit and think, I can't remember what it is that I thought of before. Things don't come out as good as I knew they were when I originally thought about it, so I just give up and don't bother.

I still want to post about the many things I start but don't finish, but since it's late I'll save that for another time. Hopefully creating this post to overcome my desire to quit blogging before I forget what I wanted to blog about will prevent the train from derailing in the first place. Does any of that make any sense?

My First Post!

Hi All!  I'm new to this blogging world (well, kinda).  I've been following a few blogs for a while, and even started one of my own about a year ago.  I got as far as my first post, and that was it.  It's one of those things I'm anxious to start, but never finish (yes, there will hopefully be a future post about that habit in the near future!). 

That blog was (going to be) all about my pregnancy with my third child.  He is here now, a healthy, bouncing, almost 6 month old - my third boy to be exact, and the inspiration for this blog.

I hope you enjoy following my ramblings on my family and life with three boys!