Covered in Mod Podge

How to Incorporate Giving into Your Next Party {with Evite}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 17:02:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Evite. All words and opinions are my own!

I love the idea of using a momentous occasion to raise awareness, share a passion, and benefit others. I've gone to weddings where instead of presents the bride and groom ask for donations to their favorite charities. I've hosted a kiddo birthday where instead of presents, we asked for school supplies.

Many time wonderful celebrations lead to the collection of more stuff...and I'm always fighting the more stuff battle. I love the idea of being able to ask friends to consider donating instead of a present. I think it helps share a piece of who you are with your guests. Evite is making it even easier to engage your guests for good by allowing them to donate to a cause of your choice, right from the Evite!

Evite Donations just celebrating raising over $1 million for charities that its users love. They're hoping to raise another $1 million this holiday season alone!

Wondering how to incorporate giving into upcoming parties? I've got some fun ideas!

Is your kiddo in love with pets? Why not throw them a Pet Adoption Party! Kiddos get to adopt their very own {faux} furry friend. In leu of gifts, ask guests to donate to the SPCA, or a local shelter. You can do this right on the Evite itself!

Throwing a Friendgiving this year? Invite your friends to donate to a local food pantry so that others can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Do you host a Christmas Cookie Exchange each year? In addition to bringing along all their best cookie recipes, use the party as a chance to collect donations for a local woman's shelter.

Do you want to incorporate a giving option into your next party. Below is how you add the chance to give directly to your Evite!

Have you thrown a party with a purpose? How did you engage others to give?

How to DIY a $3 Photo Booth Backdrop {with an Evite Photo Booth Review}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:17:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Evite® as apart of their Evite Influencer Program. I was provided with a free download for the Evite Photo Both App in order to review it and provide my honest feedback. All content and opinions are my own.

I am a big fan of cheap, easy party decorations and entertainment. Because of this, I absolutely love the photo booth idea. You can make a backdrop for $3, add props from around the house {or make a few to fit the theme}, and then use Evite's new app Evite Photo Booth to capture cute, photo strip pictures. Print them out and you have fun favors and adorable ways to remember who you celebrated with.

First, let's start with the $3 backdrop {it can even be $2 if you have masking tape}.

Gathering your supplies requires a trip to the Dollar Store. If you're anything like me when planing a party, you'll be headed there anyway.

You'll need:

Crepe paper in two different colors {$2}

Masking tape {$1}

That's it!

First things first. Get yourself a cute "helper" who will try to destroy everything you do.

Find a blank wall with good light that needs a little festive something something. Now, figure out how big you want your backdrop to be. Mine came out to 4 feet wide by about 5 feet tall. I made the top of the backdrop about 6 feet high so that it would work well for adults {we're not the tallest bunch} and the early elementary set. You'll need to adjust this based on who is going to be using the photo booth.

Then, rip off two 3 inch pieces of masking tape. Now, cut a piece as long as you want your backdrop wide. I did my about 4 feet. Use the two smaller pieces to secure your long strip STICKY SIDE UP. You'll want to secure the strip where you want your backdrop to start. Do the same thing where you want the backdrop to end.

Start layering crepe paper strips, overlapping, in alternating colors. You'll stick them down at both the top and bottom.

When you've finished filling out your tape line, trim the tops and bottoms of the crepe paper pieces.

Now tape down the top and bottom, taping over your original piece. This adds support for the weight of the crepe paper. Add another piece of sticky side up tape to both the top and bottom.

Cover these strips of tape with a strip of crepe paper, making a frame.

Add props, cute kids, and your iPad loaded with the Evite Photo Booth App and you're set!

The Evite Photo Booth App makes taking photo booth pictures so easy. You can pick from different photo frames based on the type of party. You can also decide how many pictures you want on a photo strip.

When taking the pictures, there's a visual countdown so the photographer {or the selfie takers} know when to change poses. All the strips are saved to the app and can be shared via Facebook, Twitter, or email and saved to the camera roll. You can also easily print the pictures with AirPrint.

The app was easy to use and very entertaining to my five year old. I see kids and kids at heart both having a blast coming up with goofy poses. I do suggest you set up a tripod {or a table with an iPad stand} to steady the photos. And you are limited based on the quality of iPad pictures. Mine were taken on a bought the day after they came out iPad 2. It's photo quality isn't that great. But with a newer iPad with a better camera these photo strips would look great!

What's your favorite thing to incorporate into parties? Food stations? Photo booths? A themed gift? I'd love to hear your ideas!

All About My Teacher Printable

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 18:52:00 +0000

We have been so lucky with our kids. We have had nothing but fantastic teachers. I seriously want one of Emma's past nursery room workers to be her grandma. And both Emma's and Wesley's teachers have done nothing but love on my kiddos and our family.

In turn, I want to love on them too. Those super fun school activities like Trick or Treating or Story Character Parade? The teachers love them. And they also exhaust the living daylights out of them. So I attempt to remember to bring a nice, big cup of something caffeinated on the morning of events. It's just a little something to say thanks and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Sometime near the beginning of school, but after the craziness of the first few weeks clams down, I've started sending home a get to know you sheet for the teacher. That way I know what to pick up from the Sonic window when I'm getting my own take on the day juice. I made this printable last year and just printed it out to send to Kindergarten. It lets me know where to get gift cards to at Christmas time and what candy to send along just as a surprise. Don't get me wrong...I'm not doing this weekly. I just try to treat the teachers to a little something special from time to time. And I would much rather pick up Starbucks than do something cutesy. So. Much. Easier.

Download your free printable here. For personal use only. If you share, please credit me. Thanks!

Goodness I'm reading A Lot! {more random reading updates}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:08:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a bit of pocket change if you buy things after using one of my links. It doesn't cost you a thing. Let me know if you have questions!

My husband was out of the country for three weeks. After the exhaustive game of wrangling children all day, I tended to fall right into bed. I figured I'd binge watch all the TV I missed last year. Instead I did nothing but read. It made for lots of reading in three weeks!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is a great read for 4th grade and up. Yet, its still a compelling and though provoking story for adults as well. Auggie was born with significant facial abnormalities. The story that unfolds is about the consequence of our words and actions, the power of friendship, and the wide reaching consequences our families have on each of us. I honestly think it's a book I'll read again along with my daughter when she hits pre-teendom. It's a fantastic way to discuss differences, kindness, and the joys of good friendships.

The Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

This book is totally outside of my wheelhouse and I honestly have no clue what led me to pick it up. The Luckiest Girl Alive is a bit of a chick lit thriller. Basically it tells the story in flash backs of a high school girl who survived a mass shooting. It wasn't particularly compelling or interesting. I know many have loved this book but I wasn't one of them.

The Fifth Wave by Ricky Yancey

The Infinite Sea by Ricky Yancey

The Last Star by Rick Yancey

I read The 5th Wave Trilogy based on the trailer for the movie. It's a dystopian YA novel, which was right up my alley. It even added alines, which led me to believe it was a book I could share with my husband. To me, the series dwindled as the books progressed. I was engrossed in the first book and by the third I was reading just to say I finished it. The initial twists and turns that were so surprising gave way to what felt like a simplistic story about revenge. If you like the genre, I think its worth a read. If you're not usually a fan, then I would look elsewhere.

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

I read The Year of Magical Thinking for work. Gotta love getting paid to read. As the Bereavement Coordinator for a pediatric hospice, I am working on compiling a book list to share with families. My hopes is that it is comprised of both clinical knowledge as well as stories they can identify with. Joan Didion's adult daughter spent a year battling a life threatening illness after what they thought was the flu. During this time, Joan's husband died suddenly. She goes on to share the delusional, grandiose, and magical thinking that guided her year. It was a raw, honest read about how grief can turn an intelligent, highly functioning individual into one who clings to fairy tales.

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes

My best friend recommended The Girl You Left Behind. I'm having trouble hunting it down (silly library), so I read The Ship of Brides as a stop gap. I loved this fun read.Moyes was inspired to write this book based on her grandmother's experience of being a War Bride. It is a fictionalized account of Australian War Brides being transported to England on a functioning air craft carrier (which really happened!). The novel flows in and out of the consciousness of multiple storytellers. As a result, it can be a bit Tolstoy-seque in figuring out who is talking. But it is a fun, sweet read about an event I knew nothing about.

I've already finished The Cursed Child and I've nearly wrapped up The Last Letter from Your Lover. Someone give me something to read!

Surviving a Flight with Baby in Tow

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:00:00 +0000

On the flight home from my recent surprise trip (re: family emergency) I sat next to a wonderful mother and her heavenly five month old daughter. This woman was a wreck. I'm sure part of it was she was journeying after the loss of her father. But she was so very concerned that her daughter would be a terror. This girl was a dream. She slept the entire 3 hour flight, including take off and landing. I was actually a little annoyed. My week without my babies crazy brain wanted her to be awake so I could talk to her and cuddle her. I know....I'm nuts.

In all her panic, this sweet, hurting mama said that she would never fly with a child that young under normal circumstance. Wesley went on his third plane trip just shy of a year. His first was at 6 months and was just the two of us. We also flew as a family at 9 months. Emma and I did a solo trip at 3 months, and then family trips at 6 month, 8 months, and 10 months. She's now a fairly seasoned flyer, taking at least two trips a year.

Before taking my recent solo trip, I combed through tons of articles on how to survive. I felt a bit like that mom; terrified that there was nothing stupider than taking a little on an airplane. I'm fairly certain I blocked everything out about my first solo flight with Emma! I feel like a took a little advice from each article I read, so I wanted to share what worked for me.

Think about your clothes:
I have never been one of those people who get all dolled up to fly. I don't wear pjs, but I want to be comfortable. I can't believe how often I go to pee and find women in the bathroom with curling irons and more makeup than I own in their "travel bag." But I digress...

When flying with a baby, simple is the name of the game. Avoid things like belts that would have to be removed for security. Wear flip flops or slip on shoes. Dress in layers. Also, be mindful that your kiddo's main source of entertainment on the flight is going to pulling on you. I always wear my hair up and put a camisole on so that it's harder for my kiddo to flash other people. I know this is harder to accomplish if you have to have easy access for nursing.

Wear Your Baby:
If you wear your baby at security, baby and you can go thorough the metal detector together without unloading. If baby is in the stroller, you have to unload, fold up, get the dang thing on the scanner, and get your kiddo loaded back up all while dealing with taking shoes off, getting out lap tops, etc. I've even worn my kiddo while still bringing a stroller with us. It's so much easier. If you wear your baby, they will wipe your hands down to check for bomb residue. They also will be checking any liquids you travel with so this check doesn't hold you up any longer than you would be anyway.

Be Willing to Ask:
People are so willing to help out families with young kiddos (remember me wanting to be the creepy stranger holding another woman's child the whole flight!?). When you check in, ask if there's any extra seats on the plane. If you're traveling alone and can't juggle a baby and your bag, ask someone to help you get it in the overhead compartment. Need to pee? Ask someone to hold your baby. It seems totally weird. But people have loved helping! I've had multiple older men hold my kiddos (often for much longer than just the quick trip to the bathroom). They all talk about how long its been since they've held a baby and how their kids are grown. Its been very sweet.

Distract, Distract, Distract:
Before about 6 months it seems like your kiddo is likely to just eat, sleep, poop, and cry. There's not a lot of engagement to be done. After 6 months your kiddo will do those same things. Plus they'll want to move! I wipe down every surface I can with antibacterial wipes. Then, I let my kid go to town. Want to look out the window and bang on it? Sure. Want to play peek a boo with the lady behind us? Have at it! I try to only bring toys that I can hold onto while my kiddo plays. Things like teething necklaces and chew toys that you can hook to a pacifier clip are great. That way kiddo can play, drop, and throw without loosing every single toy you own. Oh, and if a flight attendant offers to take your kiddos and walk them up and down the aisle, kiss the ground they walk on and then do a happy dance!

Prepare and then Prepare Some More:
Everything that can go wrong will. It's just a rule of traveling with kids. Bring extra bottles, food, etc. Delays will happen. Always travel with a change of clothes for each adult and several for the chief mess maker. I swear kids who never have diaper leaks or who don't spit up will do both at the same time all over you. I roll up a pair of yoga pants and a t shirt in the bottom of a large diaper bag. Speaking of your diaper bag...make sure you know where things are. Pack thinking about how you'll only have one hand, it will be shoved under a seat, and you won't be able to see what you're looking for.

Car Seats Suck:
Car seats are amazing. They save kiddos' lives every day. But flying with a car seat is the pits. If you can borrow car seats at your destination do. If you're renting a car, consider renting a car seat as well. Its an extra cost and that can be a deal breaker. But I cannot recommend renting a seat enough if you're traveling solo!

Just Roll with It:
Like I said before, anything that can go wrong seems to when traveling with kiddos. They scream a ton. You end up having to sprint across the airport with a car seat, too much luggage, and a sleeping baby to catch your next flight. Someone poops on you. I've encountered far more gracious, helpful people than grumps. We've all be there. And most parents are going to be more than understanding of your screaming one year old. They remember how hard it was. And they know you're doing your best!

Anyone have any great flying with littles ideas?

Wonderful Pet Birthday Party Ideas for Kids {with Evite}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:10:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Evite®. All opinions and content are my own. If you have any questions, check out my Disclosures Page.

Evite® reached out to me a couple of weeks ago about their fun new line of pet themed invites. I've been seeing great pet themed parties all over Pinterest lately. These great invites are the perfect way to set the mood for a cute kiddo party!

Like this amazing fashionista kitty Evite. It's like my five year old's dream party!

These fun plates are so easy and so cute. Writing About the Journey's whole Kitty Party is full of wonderful, affordable ideas!

Jess at Craftiness Is Not Optional is like the queen of all party throwers. I just can't get over the amazing details in the parties she throws. Or her cute kids. This Kitty Cat Party has adorable decor, the these yarn balls, throughout.

Delightfully Noted Hot Dog Puppy Party has a two part post filled with TONS of pictures for an adorable first birthday party. The details are amazing. And a wiener dog theme with hot dogs?! Love!!!

Lifelines has these perfect little labels for napkins. Slap them on a tin from the Dollar Spot and you're all set!

The idea of an adoption station is so cute. It's an interactive party element and a party favor all in one! The adoption station from the Paw Patrol Birthday Party at Kids and Deals is great inspiration.

Puppies and Kitties aren't the only pets! God Made Playdough's Littles Pet Shop Party has great ideas for incorporating bunnies, birds, mice, and more!

Kelly Gene threw a sweet, brightly colored puppy themed birthday party- complete with an adorable puppy!

Avery's Puppy Paw-ty at Catch My Party is beautiful. And toilet water is just too funny!

This hedgehog from Housewife Eclectic is just too clever. It's a great way to balance out the wonderful piles of sweets at kiddo's parties!

Spaceships and Laser Beams hosted a fun, book based Go Dog Go! party. The melted chocolate adds a great bit of color to these adorable rice crispy dog bones.

Thinking of throwing a pet themed or pet party? Think your pup or kitty would look adorable on an Evite? We'll you're in luck! Enter the #PawtyPeople for a chance to have your very own adorable animal grace a custom Evite! Check out this link to enter!

Another Random Reading Update

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

It's time for another random list of books I've been reading and my musings on them. This list is going to be a long one. I've been reading a ton instead of sleeping lately. Please let me know what I should read next!

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Having loved The Nightingale, I finally gave in and read All the Light We Cannot See. It had been recommended to me multiple times and I have no clue what took me so long to read it. Haunting is the best word I have for it. The beauty taken and the beauty distroyed during WWII are illuminated in a tale of beauty being preserved. The novel follows the story of two children throughout the war; one a blind Parisian girl who flees to a picturesque seaside town and the other a German orphan made into a solider. One is hiding while and other is seeking and they both are fighting. I keep going back to haunting. Read The Nightingale. Then read this! Go!

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Having throughly enjoyed All the Light We Cannot See, I decided to continue with my Pulitzer Prize winning kick. I go back and forth on this book. There were sections of it I loved. It was raw and beautifully written. Then it got verbose or took seemingly senseless turns. This bad boy is long too. I would recommend it, overall. It is a beautiful coming of age despite repeated tragedy story that had me engaged for far more than it lost me. Theo looses his mom in a tragic accident. The book follows him as he bounces from place to place, looking at how a single day colored each move in his life.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Per usual, I found this book based on a list of novels turning into movies. This one cut me deep. A young woman falls in love and follows her new husband to a remote island off the Australian coast. They are the only inhabitants and he is the lighthouse keeper. After one pregnancy loss after another, they are both broken. This book nails the desperation, the protection, and the psychological trauma that follow loss. This young couple take extreme action which, as someone who has suffer loss, is not too much of a stretch to understand. I have been recommending this book to anyone and everyone. But, if you've experienced pregnancy or child loss be warned. It might be a more difficult read.

Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

Funny Girl was downright fluff compared to my other reads of late. It follows a young, new to London girl and the journey the of curmudgeon company she joins take to making it big. It was light, quick, and interesting. If you're looking for a more mindless read that's full of whit, this is a good pick.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I have no clue what lead me to State of Wonder. It was on my phone when I had no other books to start so I went for it. It's a light, rediscovering oneself type book set in the Amazon. Marina struggles with her identity as an Indian American, a doctor, and a woman as she journeys into the Amazon to chase down a coworker and a former mentor. The novel explores her own questions of who she is while looking at the morality of exploration and experimentation.

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Yah... about this book. I'm rather proud of myself for finishing. It had random side stories, got super harsh at times, and was altogether not very compelling.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Wow. This was a gem to find. This is Celeste's first novel and I cannot wait for more. The story follows the individual tales of a family trying to piece together the mysterious death of their daughter/sister. It grapples with loss and grief for both her death as well as the paths not taken in each of their lives. This is another must read as far as I'm concerned.

Supporting a Friend After a Miscarriage

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

My husband and I are a member of a club that no one wants to be apart of. It's a rather secretive club, because not many talk about their membership. We lost our first child. I miscarried our sweet surprise. I'm not going to go into details. This story, like everyone's story who has lost a child, is sacred. And I want to focus on something else today.

I decided to share this post nearly six years after our loss due to the loss of a friend of a friend. My friend reached out to asking how to support the bereaved. Because of the deeply personal nature of pregnancy loss, it is often kept quite. When people do share the people who should be a wonderful source of help suck at responding.

I cannot blame them. We suck at responding to death in general. I'm a Bereavement Coordinator for a Pediatric Hospice. Believe me...our whole society is just awful at responding to child loss. It's almost like people think it's contagious. And peoples' varying understandings and feelings towards an unborn child? Well that just makes people say stupid things...or run and hide.

I shared my pregnancy with very few people. Those nearest and dearest to my husband and me knew. And they tried to share in our loss. One dear friend said something so simple to me; "I hate this. I wish I could be there." Others were more at a loss and said some pretty unhelpful and even hurtful things. And I do not blame them at all.

What I learned was that the pain is continual and changing. It simmers after awhile. Then things bring it back up. The first twelve weeks of my second and third pregnancies were excruciating. Seeing other kiddos that are the same age of my first can be fine or can be a gut shot

All of this is a round about way of saying that when someone shares their loss with you, it is a moment in which you can be an amazing source of peace or another weight. Its also is to say, that everyone is different in how the grieve.

Here's what I wish people would know about how to be a source of peace:

Talk! But mind your words.

You're not going to know what to say. That's fine. You're going to be nervous. That's fine too. Please just say something. It can be as simple as "I'm sorry." But radio silence is hurtful. Also, please avoid cliches or large statements of faith or destiny unless you are echoing sentiments that the bereaved has already expressed. I know that hearing "it wasn't in God's plan" made me want to hurl or punch someone. I understood this comment was based on someone trying to rationalize what happened, their own pain, and to put it in the perspective of our shared faith. But no. Please just no.

Offer tangible support...or even just give it without asking.

I encourage that if you are looking to support someone who has lost a child, be there. Drop by with coffee, even if she doesn't want you to stay. Watch her kiddos while she lays in bed or goes for a walk. If she gets pregnant again, ask her how she's holding up. Saying, "please let me know if you need anything" is nice. But it puts the person in the situation to think of what kind of help she needs. It makes her rethink even asking and weigh the burden it will put on the helper. I've found its better to say, "I'd love to stop by with dinner. Is tomorrow or Thursday better for you?" Or buy a bottle of wine and doorbell ditch. You may not be sure you can keep your shit together while visiting. If you don't think you can, it might be better to take the silent strike approach.

Please be patient.

Months on, we might still be in a fog. We might still have days where all we can do it get out of bed. We may neglect our friendships to an unreasonable point. Please don't stop trying. It takes time to get yourself moving again. And it takes even more time to have the energy to return to all of what life looked like before. In some ways, having fun and doing things you love seems disloyal. It can be emotionally draining to be happy and then feel guilty about being happy. Please keep asking. And please don't take it personally when we say no.

Remember with us.

I would have been 36 weeks pregnant with our son while being a bridesmaid for a dear friend's wedding. The dress was bought with my pregnant belly in mind. One of my sweet friends, also a bridesmaid, pulled me aside and asked me how I was doing when she saw me staring at that damn dress. She simply said that she didn't know what it felt like, but she was sure it sucked. And she was sad with me. She remembered what should have been and was willing to talk about my baby. That moment meant the world to me.

If you know that your friend has named her child, talk about him or her by name. Consider calling or dropping by coffee on your friend's due date. Remembering important dates speak volumes to us.

Dr. Zuker

I found these cards by Dr. Jessica Zuker. I cannot speak highly enough of them. There is a different moment in my grief process where I would have been so thankful to receive each of them. I hope that I will be able to support others with these sediments if anyone else confides in me their membership in the world's crappiest club.

Fifth Birthday Photos with Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

Last time we were in San Diego {when we did these adorable Smash Cake photos} we snuck in an early Fifth Birthday shoot for Emma with Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography. These suckers were low key, shot at my dad's house, and taken in a lot of wind. The poor balloons did not survive the million cacti my dad has well. And still, they are wonderful!

The dress Emma is wearing is from H&M. She picked it out herself. I think it perfectly captures who she is at five. She wears dresses as often as possible, her skinny little legs are always covered in bruises from all the adventures she takes, and she's certain she is the heigh of fashion with her mismatched socks.

This girl is full of personality. She is so confident and is always making new friends. She is fiercely loyal, especially to her daddy.

This kid. She is all things pink and sparkly. Her favorite color is fuchsia with sparkles. She loved every minute of ballet and thinks dress up should always involve glitter and crowns. But she's also rough and tumble. She loves to explore, plays just as well with boys as girls, and has not met a person she didn't make a friend. She could live all day on bubbles, sunshine, and pretzels.

I see so much of the best of my husband and I in her. She always wants to know why. She is handy with a hammer and screw driver. Emma is compassionate and feels deeply for others. She is silly and a total jokester. She is also both easily distracted and hyper focused. She is a perfectionist to a fault. She wants to know what her day is going to look like the moment she wakes up. Its so humbling to see your struggles in the personality of your child.

In the last year, Emma grew into the roll of big sister with more grace and love than I could have every hoped for. She genuinely loves her little brother. She is so patient with him as he destroys in an attempt to play with her. Oh how she hugs him! She walked into Pre-K with little fear and emerged even more confident and capable than when she started. She added lots of ballet moves, if not a ton of grace, to her repertoire. She went on her first big family vacation and cannot wait to explore more of the world. I am beyond thankful to see her grow and change day to day.

11 Scrap Busting Projects {or use up all your small scraps!}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 13:00:00 +0000

I have this emotional battle that rages inside me each time I cut into fabric. It goes something like this: Should I keep these scraps? Yes!!!! You can never throw away fabric, no matter how small of a piece. No!!! You have too much crap and clutter already. You don't need more scraps that you'll never use!

Tell me I'm not alone!

I've been working on reining in my scrap hoarding a bit. I've recently got rid of some of the lower quality fabrics, ridiculously small pieces, and fabrics that just don't speak to me anymore. Now I'm trying to sort through what I really might use vs. what I'm just deluding myself with. So I've started looking for scrap busting projects. Here's some of my favorites I've found:

I love, love, love Simple Simon and Co's Quilt as You Go bib tutorial! You can check out my versions here.

Crazy Little Projects has an adorable Pouch and 5 Minute Key Fob tutorial. Both are perfect for scraps!

My Sunglass Case Tutorial is very scrap friends. It's a quick sew that makes a great gift for friends!

I want to make these beautiful luminaries from Blythe Ponytail Parades for every party!

These Fabric Scrap Bracelet at Saved by Love Creations look like a great project to have kiddos help out with!

I love these little hearts. They are perfect for parties or kids' rooms. I need to make some for a summer mantel!

Making Home Base has a great West Elm Knock Off that is just perfect for those precious scraps you want to display.

See Kate Sew used 50 different fabric scraps to make this amazing map!

Smaller made cute little braided necklaces with her scraps. I think they would be great for a girls (little or all grown up) sleepover!

Made Everyday's fabric scrap flowers are great for grandkids to make for Grandma's birthday!

Hexies have been my favorite uses of scraps lately. I'm slowly but surely (really just slowly) cutting into a ton of scraps I've hoarded from dresses I made my daughter over the years. I hope to have a hexie quilt to gift her when she graduates in high school (good thing I have 13 years to get this done!). I've done a whole round of up Hexie projects if you need some ideas!

I've got a whole Pinterest Board devoted to scrap projects!

Ten Simple Ways to Save Money When Throwing a Party {with Evite}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 12:00:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Evite®. All opinions and content are my own. If you have any questions, check out my Disclosures Page.

We normally throw one big bash a year around our parts. That's partly due to my introverted ways and partly due to finances. I've slowly been collecting tips and tricks as to how to throw a fun party on a small budget. I think a big part of that is letting go of the Pinterest comparisons and instead throwing the kind of party I want. Hopefully it will help us be a bit more social!

Here are ten ways simple ways I've learned to help stay on budget with a party:

1. Shop your house:

My son and daughter's rooms are filled with wonderful things to use for parties. They have tons of cute little baskets and buckets that make wonderful, functional decorations for food tables. Plus I own a million picture frames that can easily be reassigned for a day to help with decor.

Rather than coordinate everything and use prefect serving plates at my daughter's first birthday, I just went with what I had. I used some vintage Pyrex that my Grandmother-in-law gifted us, CorningWare that were wedding presents, and even our everyday mixing bowls. Does it look perfect? No, Was it functional and free? Yes!

2. Know what to get at the Dollar Store (and what to avoid):

The Dollar Store is kind of like a treasure hunt. There's some fantastic stuff in there. But you have to work your way through the junk or bad deals to find it. Check prices elsewhere before automatically getting it at the Dollar Store. I've found things like colored paper plates and silverware are usually a score, but party favors are most often similar price for better quality at Target.

Raining Hot Coupons has a whole article on what to buy and what to avoid at the Dollar Store. Her list looks like a pretty solid starting place.

3. Schedule parties around meal times:

One of the biggest ways to save on parties is cutting down on your food costs. If you do a lunch or dinner you end up serving appetizers, a main course and sides, and dessert. Schedule a morning party and serve donuts. Or have an after dinner party and do desserts only. Non-meal time parties really help me keep my budget under control.

4. Know when to stop at the Dollar Spot:

Is it just me or could you spend $100 at the Dollar Spot too? Knowing when to walk away is really important. Sure, 10 little milk bottles would be adorable holding flowers. But at a one year old's birthday all the kids would rather break the glass and eat the flowers than admire their beauty. Just because its $1 doesn't mean you should get it (or ten of it).

5. Buy with future use in mind:

Want a fancy mason jar drink dispenser? Will you use it a couple times a year? Then it might be worth the expense. But buying large items just for one party doesn't make sense. If I have to buy things, I try to think of ways to use it in the future (storage in kiddos rooms, etc).

6. Go digital with invites:

I still love a good paper invite for major events like weddings. Other than that, I prefer a digital invite. My iPhone is smart enough {i.e. enough of a stalker} to read the details of the invite and automatically add it to my calendar. Less paper clutter and an automatic calendar event? Sold! When using digital invitations I use Evite for two reasons. 1. They have a huge selection of invites for whatever I'm up to. And if they don't have what I want, I can create an image and make a custom Evite. And 2) I think it's way easier to RSVP for guests than other sites. You don't have to log in or create an account if you don't want to. That's huge for me.

Evite

I have a bucket list for party themes. I checked a big one off last year with my daughter's Pink and Purple Donut Birthday. A S'mores bar now at the top of my list. And this Evite is beyond perfect for it! Maybe I'll get my act together and have an end of the summer bash!

7. Borrow, thrift, and garage sale hunt:

I am the queen of borrowing for a party. Do you have an adorable galvanized tub that you aren't using? Better bet I'm asking to borrow it. And I'll return it with leftover cake or a Sonic gift card to say thanks. If I plan out far enough ahead, I also try to check out my favorite thrift stores and a few garage sales for what I need.

8. Take advantage of free venues:

I get the desire to avoid a lot of people in your house. I don't want to spend three days cleaning just to have it completely destroyed in five minutes. But I'd much rather spend three days cleaning than pay for renting out a venue. What I really love is hosting kiddo parties in my neighborhood park. It's free, has built in entertainment, and is close and convenient for shlepping stuff to.

9. DIY isn't always the cheapest way to go:

Some Ecards

For some, DIYing is therapeutic. For others, its the bane of their existence. When deciding if you want to DIY, I always suggest including your time into the equation. For some, time doesn't matter. Its about saving the money. For others, precious time is worth more than just buying decorations for Party City. Know what's less likely to make you curse the world and go with it.

10. Shop after holiday sales:

I try to plan my kiddos' party themes well in advance. This lets me take advantage of several post holiday sales. Some Halloween clearance candy looks like Halloween candy. Others look the same as all the other candy- just way less.

Another thing to keep in mind is you can spray paint nearly anything. A horrifically awful Christmas charger can be spray painted and turned into the perfect serving platter. Spray paint covers so much!

What do you do to save money on parties?

Smash Cake Session with Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photograpy

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 16:24:00 +0000

In the past two months, the last two of my college roommates got married. As I've said before, these girls were, and still are, my family during college. I had a 3 entire kiddo free days to see one get married {and shower more that being a mommy has ever allowed}. The second was a big family vacation filled with seeing Papa, Uncles, wonderful friends, and Auntie Photographer {I've decided that's what I'm going to teach Wesley to call you, Liz}.

Our trip was one week shy of Wesley's first birthday. I have yet to find the right words to describe what its like to have my last baby pass this threshold into toddlerhood. Its heart wrenching and beautiful and all the other emotions of being a parent.

Thankfully Auntie Photographer was able to capture some beautiful moments with my sweet little boy and his smash cake.

I figured Wesley would dive face first into his smash cake. Being the second child, this wasn't his first trip to the rodeo. Between a daddy who has been sharing his ice cream since before Wesley could sit up and a sister who is always willing to do something to make him smile, Wesley is well versed in the gloriousness that is desserts.

Turns out Wesley had two ear infections and a raging sinus infection at the time of this shoot. Most of the pictures have tears in his eyes and snot on his face. Best parent ever! As a result, Wesley mostly colored his legs {and hurting ears} with frosting.

If you're in San Diego and looking to capture your kiddos' personalities, I can't say enough about how wonderful Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography is. You can see some of her other beautiful work for our family here and here.

The smash cake was from Edelweiss Bakery in Rancho Bernardo. He's wearing a bowtie from Amazon {blue with light blue dots}. The tie part was way too small {it's a 6-18 month and he wears 18month clothes}. We had a shipping fiasco, which Amazon helped make right, that left no time for realizing his bowtie was too small before the shoot. The diaper is a Freetime from BumGenius in Hummingbird.

Five Surprising Places to Buy Fabric

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 13:00:00 +0000

As a fabric addict, I'm always looking for new places to score my next fix. While my local quilt shop is a favorite, it doesn't always have the selection I need. Here are five surprising places I check when my fabric needs arise:

Ikea

Most in the DIY community have a soft spot for Ikea. Honestly, I crave Ikea. When we first got married, my husband and I literally lived 1/2 mile down the road from an Ikea. When we were bored and it was too cold or rainy to walk outside, we'd walk Ikea. Living in a tiny one bedroom apartment {and on an even tinier budget}, we weren't too big on buying things. I curse the old me now. The nearest Ikea is more than an hour drive {and like $7 in tolls} away. And oh how I always seem to "need" something from Ikea.

Enough about my Ikea obsession...let's talk fabric. Ikea has a variety of home decor weight and quilting cotton fabrics. The selection pretty much stays the same for the year. They're also affordable. Plus, the fabrics tend to be between 52 and 59 inches wide. More bang for your buck!

West Elm

West Elm sells a beautiful collection of home decor fabrics. They are a bit more expensive than Joann's with a coupon. But, they are infinitely better quality. Oh how I wish I was brave enough to reupholster something! I mean...look at that print.

Amazon

Yep..that's right. Amazon sells fabric. They actually own Fabric.com. But I'm currently mad at Fabric.com. Did you see they now charge more if you only buy a 1/2 yard of fabric. Come on no! Until they deal with that and embrace my wonderful idea to allow for free Prime shipping on Fabric.com, I'm pretending like Fabric.com doesn't exist. We'll see how long that lasts! I digress...
Many of the fabrics listed on Amazon are Prime eligible. Shipping costs are always the downfall of me buying fabric online. Really, it just makes me buy whatever the minimum for free shipping is. It's better for my wallet to find something I like on Amazon.

Etsy

Etsy is perhaps the most obvious place on this list. I include Etsy because its a great place to look for out of print fabric. Oh Flea Market Fancy, how beautiful you are. I really picked up sewing again about four years ago. I spent most of that time at Joann getting the cheapest fabric possible. Then, I discovered designer fabric. Ah the quality. Oh the beautiful colors. I'm still all about a deal, but man of man give me a deal on the good stuff! Flea Market Fancy was just leaving stores as I discovered the beauty of designer fabric. And I love it. So from time to time I drool over the beauties still available through Etsy. Long story short; if there's an out of print fabric you just have to have, check Etsy!

Ebay

I have a love/hate relationship with Ebay. I think many people do. However, it's always worth checking out Ebay when you're searching for out of print fabrics or random deals. Scrap bags are easy to find and fun to use. Need ideas as to what to do with all these scraps? Check out my Pinterest board for ideas galore.

What unusual spots do you score great fabric?

More What I've Been Reading Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:11:00 +0000

I haven't been sleeping well lately. As a result, I've been reading a ton. I love seeing other people post about what they've been reading. It helps me find books I might not have otherwise read. Hopefully this helps someone else find a good read!

My favorites from the last couple of weeks are definatly The Nightingale and Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl. I need to read more by Kristin Hannah and watch Jesse Andrew's movie!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
The Nightingale is a beautiful, difficult to read, enthralling story of two French sisters during WWII. The story looks at the different ways that the sisters stand up for what they know to be right. I could not put this book down. It was a stark glimpse into the struggles that had to be met day to day in the French countryside during Nazi occupation. This novel is a kick in the emotional pants. You're left with hope at the end, but its not an easy read!

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
Another novel set in WII France, Suite Francaise describes some very similar scenes to The Nightingale. Nemirosky's novel was translated from French to English and was inspired by her own experiences surviving Natzi occupation of the French countryside. Suite Francaise is broken into two novellettes. The first tells the stories of Parisians fleeing to the countryside at the start of the German bombing of Paris. It follows this same families back to Paris as they live under occupation. The second novellette looks at the country folk who welcome the refugees and the occupation they face throughout the war. The book has a Love Actually plot device of telling many independent stories that are all interlinked. It can be a bit difficult to keep everyone straight.

Orphan Train by Christine Baker Kline
Not many people know about the orphan train that rain between the 1850s and 1920s. In yet another example of terrible harm coming from someone supposedly doing good, orphan trains were seen as charitable help. Children, and not always orphans, were taken from large East Coast cities and basically auctioned off throughout the Midwest. Some of these children were adopted into loving homes. Many were used as labor. Kline's beautiful story follows the retelling of one woman's story of her journey on the Orphan Train. While fictionalized, its an eye opening look into a dark chapter of US history.

After You by Jojo Moyes
Having read and loved Me Before You, I was excited to see there was a follow up novel. After You is what all these follow up novels tend to be. They are never as good as the story you create in your own mind. I think its worth a read if you liked Me Before You. But, don't expect happy closure!

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
Ok, one of my bad night's sleep was totally this book's fault. I could not stop laughing. And I could not put it down. This Young Adult novel follows a high school senior and his downward spiral. It is all precipitated by his mom meddling in his social life. Greg's mom makes him spend time with an old friend who is battling cancer. His carefully crafted word quickly comes crashing down. This book makes you so thankful high school is long gone!

Please...let me know what I should read next!

Easter Meal Planner and Shopping List Printables {plus a beautiful Evite invitation}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:00:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Evite. All opinions and content are my own. If you have any questions, check out my Disclosures Page.

Moving to Texas 5 months pregnant made me feel very isolated. My college friends were all still living their lives together. They were in each others' homes and lives in a tangible way. After throwing myself a pretty long pity party I set myself on the hard journey of finding community out here. Some of it developed out of sheer luck. Sometimes it was hard fought. I miss my people like crazy. But this new community I've developed is pretty wonderful too.

So, this Easter we've decided to host a Easter Egg Hunt and Dinner with our new people. I used an Evite® invitation to set the mood. I love the simple elegance of it. The wildflowers are just beautiful. I'll use them as a launching point for my decorations. Simple but cheery!

I want to have a kiddo friendly menu that adults will still like. Most importantly, I want the meal to be simple to make but delicious. I hate hosting people and then having to miss all the fun in the kitchen. To that end, I've made a set of printables to keep me organized.

The Shopping List keeps everything well organized, as I'll be going to several stores to get what I need.

The Meal Planner is great for keeping my spazy brain from making three main dishes and forgetting dessert! (Who are we kidding...I would never forget dessert!)

If simple but delicious are what you're going for, here's some dishes on my meal planner:

Crock Pot Maple Brown Sugar Ham from Life in the Lofthouse.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn from Damn Delicious

Crock Pot Cheesy Potatoes from Julie's Eats and Treats

Strawberry Spinach Salad from Janette's Healthy Living

Now, I'm off to shop my house for bright and cheery spring decor to match the beautiful Evite invitation I used. Then, I'll be picking up all the flowers I can afford!

Baby Boy Bibs! {or sewing for my little man}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Second babies get the shaft many a time. Hand me downs left and right. And boys! I can't seem to find anything good to sew for them.

When Wesley started eating solids I busted out Emma's old bibs. They were mostly pink and completely stained. Finally...a project to sew for Wesley. I beefed up the stash to compliment his piles of pink!

I busted out my bib pattern and got to work. I used a Target towel for the backing and some fat quarters for the front.

I couldn't believe my luck when my LQS had some Children at Play left!

And I got to try out a friend's embroidery machine. It was so much fun to play with!

What I've Been Reading Lately {or a random list of books}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 19:46:00 +0000

Ok, remember last year how I was all "I'm going to post monthly about what I've been reading." No? Well I don't blame you. It only lasted a month. Bravo Michaela! So, instead of monthly posting what I've been reading I've decided to share randomly, when I remember. Really, that pretty much sums up my blogging in general!

Here's a totally random selection of what I've been reading lately (besides all 7 Harry Potter books. Because you have to reread them every couple of years!).

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinberg

I cannot say enough about this book. Aziz Ansari mixes his stand up with the research of Eric Klinberg. It made the sociologist in me giddy. It was a funny read that made me freakishly thankful that I'm married. The book looks at dating in several cultures. Its the combination of sociological research and interviews that Aziz conducted (some during stand up gigs). Read it!

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I found this book because of a list of books that are being turned into movies. Having read the book, I can't wait for the movie. The guy who played Finnick in The Hunger Games Trilogy plays the male lead. He's perfectly cast! But I digress...the book follows small British town girl Louisa. Louisa takes a job as a carer for a guy in his mid thirties who becomes a quadriplegic after an accident. The banter is fun, and the topics addressed are genuine.

How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo

This is another book I picked up because of the becoming a movie a list. Having seen the previews, I can't imagine the movie is anything like the book at all. Really, this book reminded me of Modern Romance. The Julie and her band of friends are single, mid thirties women living in New York. They are all pretty miserable with where they are in life. Julie ends up traveling the world trying to figure out if any other culture has a better handle on being single. It was a fun, fluffy read.

Brooklyn by Colm Tolbin

Brooklyn is the third book I read based on the becoming a movie thing. The movie was released around Christmas time and I'm looking forward to seeing it. Ellis is a young woman living in a small Irish village during the 1950s. Se is smart and good with numbers but unable to find work. A rare opportunity takes her to Brooklyn to work and study. The book follows Ellis' exploration of a new culture, development as an independent woman, and struggle to maintain her own identity. It is a beautiful, quick read.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

I read Eleanor and Park because everyone said it was the best thing ever. It had its moments. But I wasn't the biggest fan. I figured I was missing something so I decided to give another Rainbow Rowell novel a shot. Again, I had heard good things about Attachments. Instead, it just creeped me out as stocker-ish.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

This was another book that I read on recommendations from everyone. Having worked with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, I saw several of my clients in the main character. Basically, the story follows a professor's attempts to utilize data to find a wife. It handles the daily changes of some of the restrictive behaviors of ASD in a realistic way. It was an engaging, funny read.

All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenting by Jennifer Senior

Senior looks at how American parenting has changed over the last fifty years as well as the wide ranging ramifications these changes have on our lives. This novel called to me because of my love of sociological research. I found the writing redundant and the book far longer than it needed to be. It also kind of made me depressed that I have kids (which is not a normal feeling for me at all). I wouldn't really recommend this book.

Because We Are: A Novel of Haiti by Ted Oswald

I need to start out by saying I might not be the most partial of readers. I went to college with Ted. He is a brilliant. compassionate man who I was so excited to see him write this novel. Ted, a lawyer by education, has been living in Haiti working with the Mennonite Central Committee. He and his wife are involved in important advocacy work. Inspired by the beauty and the tragedy of his time in Haiti, Ted wrote with Haiti's largest slum as his backdrop. I'm not normally a murder mystery kind of girl. I wouldn't have picked this book up if it wasn't for my connection to the author. But, it was an intriguing, lyrical read. If you are a mystery reader defiantly give it a go!

I've got a solo flight coming up (!!!!!!!!). what should I be reading?

Saving Big with Consignment Sales {and a Just Between Friend's Fort Worth Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Sun, 14 Feb 2016 16:28:00 +0000

This post is brought to you by Just Between Friends Fort Worth. If you have any questions, check out my disclosure page.

I think saving money is on the minds of most moms. We work hard to budget, meal plan, and save where we can. Kids do their best to ruin these plans. They just. keep. growing. And they need stuff. Not as much as some would leave you to believe. But still, lots of stuff.

The best way I've found to keep kiddo costs under control is Just Between Friends Fort Worth. JBF Fort Worth is Texas' large children's and maternity consignment sale. It is a massive, one stop shop for all your clothing and gear needs!

I've always known that I save money shopping at JBF. This is the first time I've done a real analysis. I kept track of the items and prices of everything I bought for my 4 year old daughter (size 4t) at the fall sale.

I spent $53 on 5 tops, 3 pants, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 dresses, a pair of tights, and a jacket. This includes many items from GAP and a Mini Boden top!

Comparing these items with similar items from the same brands, the cost adds up to $263. That's a savings of $210 or 80%!

Now, that's full price retail. When I buy items at the store, they are generally on sale. So let's for sake of argument assume I bought everything at the store at 25% off. It would still come to $197.25. JBF still scores me a a 78% savings.

The $53 bought about 75% of my daughter's winter wardrobe. We had her heavy winter coat from last year. Several tops were bought for her as presents. And, I make a lot of her church and everyday dresses. Even if I would have needed another couple of tops and dresses I couldn't see having spent more than another $15 for a complete winter wardrobe!

Want to save too? The Spring Sale for Just Between Friends Fort Worth is right around the corner. The Spring Sale will be held at Will Roger's Center in Fort Worth and is open to the public from March 3rd to March 6th (check out the full sale calendar for more details).

Want to learn more about JBF? I have a bunch of posts!Need to prep for JBF? Check out my posts on The Best Stain Remover Ever and How to Clean a Pack n Play. Here's how I prep my items for sale.

Here's some for First Time Consignment Shoppers. Want to check out other great deals I've scored? Here's a whole post!

You can also check out my initial review of JBF Fort Worth as well as why shopping at JBF is both good for your wallet and good for the community!

Need some more tips? Check out my Consignment Sale Tips and Tricks board on Pinterest!

The wonderful people at JBF Fort Worth are giving away a $15 gift certificate to use at the Spring Sale.

Some rules:

* All entries will be verified.

* Gift Certificate is only valid at JBF Fort Worth's Spring 2016 Sale. You must pick the certificate up at time of sale.

* JBF Fort Worth is hosting multiple giveaways for the Fall Sale. You can only win once per sale and cannot win if you're blogging for JBF.

* Winner will be contacted via email. They must respond within 24 hours or another winner will be selected.

Happy Shopping!

Butterfly Geranium Tunic {or all geranium all the time}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Awhile back, I was sitting in the Pediatric ER's waiting room with enough nervous energy to build a house. It wasn't really a big deal. It was more like a comedy of errors that further reinforced Emma is my child. The short version is a solid ceramic cat water dish and a 4 year old's face cannot be BFFs. The gash was too close to the eye and too deep to glue at the urgent care center. So the ER was stop number two for the night.

While Emma was totally engrossed in Frozen {along with every other kid in the place} Instagram told me that a small fabric shop having a going out of business sale. So I did what any nervous fabric hoarder would do and bought some cute stuff. Everything I got was for the little one with the hole in her face. So it was totally appropriate!

The Llama Geranium for picture day was part of the haul. The other was this adorable butterfly and polka dot fabric from Riley Blake.

While it was defiantly heading to fall, I decided to sew up a very springy Geranium. I made the tunic length, with layering in mind. Emma gets tons of use out of this cute number, even in the dead of winter. And it should fit her well into summer!

Little man wanted in on the fun. He's not quite nine months old and is very convinced he can walk. He's cruising everywhere and falling because he keeps letting go. His sister walked right at nine months so I'm guessing he'll be on the run soon!

Llama Geranium for Picture Day

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 14:00:00 +0000

I feel like I could post for days on projects that never got blogged. Most are pretty small. Maybe I'll do a post with a bunch of them at some point. But this cute dress needed a post of its own! It's also a chronicle of some of Emma's favorite modeling poses. That kid!

I made it for Emma's picture day. I felt like that sort of occasion called for a special dress. Really, it was just an excuse to cut into the fun fabric! The fabrics are both Michael Miller. I could put llamas on everything!

The dress is a Geranium lengthened a bit {by accident} and with a more simple gathered skirt {out of laziness}. Plus, it's made with llamas. So it's just about the most wonderful thing ever!

Plus, there's heart snaps! Llamas and heart snaps. What could be better?

Here it is in action. No clue why she looks like she's winking in all of her pictures. But that smile!

Hexie Projects {or I'm buried in Hexies!}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:00:00 +0000

If you're anything like me, once you started making hexies you couldn't stop. I have a pile of them forming. So now I need to figure out what to do with all of them. Here's eight wonderful projects to make with your growing stash!

Nicole at Modern Handcraft has made several versions of this Modern Hexie Quilt. It is just heaven in every hue. Maybe if I start now I'll have enough to make one by Christmas!

This tea towel is adorable. And likely being made for my husband's grandmother and aunts for Christmas. Mollie at Wild Olive has a great tutorial. I also think hexie hand towels would make a great hostess gifts!

This table runner is just adorable. I love how eclectic it could be. It would also be fun to have one for each season or holiday!

I'm starting to realize I need a way to travel with my hexies. I think this travel bag might just be the ticket. Patchwork Posse offers a free pattern and tutorial for this cute little bag.

Or maybe this sweet little caddy would be in order. Doe anyone have advice on how they travel with their EPP? Sewing Room Secrets does a full tutorial fpr.

This thread catcher is so cute. I really do need one. It seems like such a lame sewing project when there's so many dresses to sew. But I really should do some selfish sewing one of these days. And Melissa and Cornbread and Beans offers a wonderful tutorial.

Oh this adorable pillowcase! I would love a dozen of these! A Spoonful of Sugar Designs has a great tutorial for making these pillowcases. The pillowcases themselves are such a quick sew!

Hellen Phillips has a tutorial for this beautiful hexie pouch. I saw a lot of great hexie drawstring bags when I did Jenni Baker's Drawstring Pouch Swap. They make great use of scraps!

English Paper Piecing and Hexie Resources {or where I got started}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 16:08:00 +0000

This year, I'm hoping to push myself to learn new techniques. I want to try new things rather than just sewing the same dress in different fabric. I also want to explore ways that I can create without being chained to my sewing machine. My machine is in the study, out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the house. It's great for getting stuff done. It can also be a wonderful break. But sometimes its really isolating.

First up on the new technique list was English Paper Piecing. Really, I just wanted to learn EPP to make hexies. They're so stinking cute! And all over the creative web I see people doing amazing things with them.

I figure I'm not the only one setting out on this hexie making journey. So, I wanted to share the resources I've found helpful.

When I started asking around about how to EPP, everyone said Bee in My Bonnet was the way to go. She has a very detailed set of tutorials that are a great place to start.

Christina at Sometimes Crafter has an amazing look at a whole bunch of different hexie techniques. It seems like everyone does something different. She compares a bunch of different options and reports back.

Ashley at Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night is what brought about all this hexie love on my part. I mean that flower garden quilt. Swoon! She shares 6 Must Have Tools for EPP. It's a great place to start figuring out what needs to be on your shopping list.

I've been playing with different stitches for joining my hexies. Anjeanette has a double whip stitch that looks great {but I'm super slow at}.

I love the idea of saving time. Heidi at Buttons and Butterflies shows how to baste the hexies all on the back side, without sewing into the paper. This makes it so you don't have to cut out stitches later.

I do love the idea of fussy cutting. What a fun way to show off beautiful pieces of fabric! Flossie Teacakes has a great tutorial, including the supplies you need.

Next up? Embroidery! Let me know if you have any great resources as to where to start!

Drawstring Bag Swap {more fun with swaps}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Remember how I said I had a swap addiction? Well this is the one that started it! Jeni Baker from In Color Order hosted a swap this summer for drawstring bags. It was such a fun, quick sew. I busted out my third grade sewing lessons for this guy.

An easy drawstring bag, some fun goodies, and off this darling went! These are all from the Target Dollar Spot. I wish I had picked up more of those giant paper clips!

The cute little bag I got has been holding my smaller sewing supplies as I truck them back and forth to sewing group!

Banner Adventure Swap Mini Quilt {or swap addict}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:00:00 +0000

I've become a little too hooked on Instagram Swaps. I mean, they're just sooooo cool. You get to see a whole group of creative people running with a theme. You get to stretch your limits in making something for another person. Plus, a complete stranger stalks you and then makes something for you. Ok, that last part sounds a bit creepy. But it's awesome!

Last fall, I participated in a super cool swap hosted by @the_tattooed_quilter and @kidgiddy. It was a banner swap using April Rhodes fabrics. You had to use April Rhodes fabrics and include yarn, leather, beading, wood, or other dimensional items into your banner. Plus, you had to include a way to hang it.

This was my first time making a mini quilt. I was a much bigger fan of the mini than the full sized thing. Except for the small piecing thing. That sucked.

I went with a herringbone block. I wanted to feature a bunch of different fabrics. My {original} partner requested that I used fabrics from the Bound line. I read Stitched in Color's Herringbone Block tutorial and then just kind of winged it. I'm impressed how well my hoping for the best plan turned out.

I quilted using a similar wing it approach. I just did random wavy lines. Part way through I decided I wanted some contrast. So navy wavy lines happened.

I used braided yard and some fabric tabs to make the banner wall ready.

My original partner dropped out. So at the last hour I ended up sending this banner off to another participant. I sure hope she's enjoying it!

I may have gotten a little too hooked on IG Swaps. I'm signed up for way too many swaps: aprons, tote bags, Parks and Rec, Fancy Forrest, Music Lyric, probably another one I'm forgetting....oh dear! I need to get organized! Want to see my crazy swapping on IG? You can follow me @michaelamcbrown.

Photos of a Family of Four {or the beauty that is TEXgiving}

noreply@blogger.com (Michaela @ coveredinmodpodge.blogspot.com) — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 16:03:00 +0000

The week before Thanksgiving we revived one of my favorite traditions...TEXgiving. TEXgiving started the first thanksgiving we lived out here. My best friend and her little brother came and joined us for a weekend full of football, food, and watching a very, very tall 17 year old guy scare the living daylights out of Emma.

It's been a few years since TEXgiving had worked out. This time, that 17 year old boy came down from the University of Kansas where he's a senior. Ikes! I swear he's still 8! Oh, and Emma loves him! Wesley was even lukewarm.

The best part of this trip? A girls day! With kiddos at school or daycare, we ran errands, had an uninterrupted lunch, and day drank while we got manicures! Seriously...so amazing!

Plus, the ever talented Auntie was generous enough to take a break from vacation and put on her photographer hat. She got the first real family photos of our family of four. And I cried when I saw them. She caught these little moments that I am going to be forever grateful to have. She found silly faces from Wesley, a look that Emma always gives, and the sweetest interaction between a daddy and his little girl. My heart just bursts!

Ok, prepare for a picture overload from Elizabeth Cavagnaro Photography.

We also got a rocking Christmas Card out of the photo shoot!