Sugar Bear Designs

Vintage Linens and Curtain Panels

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:04:00 +0000

Hello all! We've had to go through the sad process of cleaning out my grandmother's home. She has Alzheimer's and had to be placed in a nursing facility back in December. Her home has recently sold and it has been quite emotional going through her things. I found many vintage linens and lace curtain panels that I know someone will appreciate. It is not that I don't, just that I already took many items and don't have anymore room! I've listed them all in my Etsy shop, click here to be taken directly to the shop. I'm not looking to profit off of these items, just to basically cover the cost of shipping them. I do hope they will find a good home. The below photos are a few of the items I've listed. Please check out my shop for more. Thank you for looking! Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Time to Take a Break

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:56:00 +0000

Hello my friends. I hope you are all enjoying your summer (or winter for my Aussie friends!). I have decided to take an indefinite break from my blog. I feel I don't have the time to properly devote to it and it simply isn't what I want it to be. I haven't done much crafting or creating and when I do, it has been inspired from projects I've seen on others blogs. In other words, I haven't had that many original ideas or fabulous finds to share. I have also not been great at taking photos. Lots of photos of Chelsea but I am not keen to post too many photos of her here. I am on Facebook and if I'm not already friends with you please request me! I find that to be a much easier forum to keep up with. I am still visiting blogs regularly. I can't imagine life without visiting some of you!

When the time comes that I'm able to have a bit more creative time I will start posting again. I know that time will come... Until then, see you all on your blogs...

A Summer Wreath

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:52:00 +0000

I have been looking for inspiration for a summer front door wreath and coming up empty. Then I stumbled across this blog and found the inspiration I needed! She even has a great tutorial for the rosettes. My rosettes came out a bit loose but for the first try I'm happy with them.

Jeff even likes this wreath! In fact, he told me I shouldn't put it on the front door as he is worried that it will fade in the sun. So for now, it is residing in the living room. I'm thinking of spraying some clear coat on it and taking a risk with the fading. I know, I live on the edge.

Chelsea's Rainbow Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:13:00 +0000

I decided to make a rainbow cake for Chelsea's birthday party. I'd seen it floating around on a few blogs and thought it was beautiful. My sister Shelley spent the entire day (and it did take that long!) helping me make sure this cake was perfect.

We used the Magnolia Bakery's recipe for vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream frosting.

We made two batches of the cake and split each batch into quarters and then colored each quarter. Special thanks to Layer Cake Shop for recommending the perfect colors to use.

I used three pans and we kept rotating them until all 8 layers were complete.

Once the layers were done we froze them and then stacked them in order of the rainbow (of course!) and frosted them up.

I added some sugar rainbows also purchased from Layer Cake Shop.

I held my breath as I cut the first slices and was VERY happy with the colorful result!

Chelsea loved her cake! It was a big hit with everyone and the Magnolia recipe worked perfectly.

By the end of the party there wasn't one bit left! Special thanks to my sister for helping me with this. I told her to tell me I'm nuts next time I go to her with one of these ideas!

Chelsea's Play Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Jeff and I have been working on a handmade play kitchen for Chelsea's second birthday. Happily, we finished it with days to spare! I'm so very happy with how it turned out. The original plans came from Ana White. Looking at this photo, I realize I should have adjusted the tension rod to be even. Oh well. It does sit flush to the top of the sink normally.

We found a few discrepencies in the plan I want to address here in case anyone wants to make this. The shelf inside the oven needs to be 10" and not 12" so that the oven door will fit inside. The dimensions of the door need to be 10" across in order to fit inside. Unfortunately this was learned the hard way but Jeff made it all work. He is good like that.

We used poplar panels and had them cut to our measurements at Home Depot.

This is how the entire kitchen looked when we started. I had wanted Jeff and I to both build it but because we procrastinated starting this project, Jeff did the building and I did the painting, sewing, and accessorizing.

This is the base for both the stove and sink - remember to shorten the shelf in the stove if you build this. We realized this after the shell was built and painted. Ugh. Luckily Jeff worked some handy magic and was able to trim the shelf.

This is the top of the sink with the sink hole and faucet holes cut. We used a stainless steel bowl for the sink and did not glue it down so that it can be removed and cleaned as needed. I found the faucet at Sears.com. It is a cheap bar faucet and cost around $18 with shipping.

I used these unfinished wooden soccer balls found at Michaels for the burners. I painted them gray and glued them soccer ball side down (the flip side is flat wood) using E6000 glue.

Here they are in the painting/assembly stages. The paint is Martha Stewart's Enamelware color matched to Lowes Olympic No VOC paint. I then used a spray sealer (which probably canceled out the no VOC paint but the paint on its own would have been toast against a 2 year old).

Here is the top of the finished sink and the stove. The sink brush came from Pier 1.

The towel was a Dollar Tree find and was especially fitting as Chelsea will be having a rainbow themed birthday party. The pot holder was crafted by Jeff's 8 year-old niece. The hooks and towel bar came from IKEA. The towel bar is actually part of a handle two pack. The other handle is on the oven.

The knobs came from Home Depot. I like the glass knobs that many others have been using on this project but I felt the brushed nickel gave a more realistic look.

We decided to have the oven door open from the side rather than the bottom so that Chelsea would not be tempted to step on it and break the door and/or plexiglass. This way, she will also be able to stand in front of the oven to get things in and out.

I found this small rack at a kitchen supply store and the pizza is a Melissa & Doug play set.

We attached an LED push on/off battery powered light inside the oven for a more realistc vibe.

This is the sink without the tension rod and skirt. There is some nice storage for all of Chelsea's play food and utensils. Some of which she will be receiving at her birthday party. The store bins are from IKEA. They come in a set of 1, 2, 3. The number 3 bin doesn't fit so it will likely be housed inside the oven.

Here is one more look at the completed set. I'm so proud of us for building this and want to also send special thanks to my father-in-law who helped troubleshoot and gave Jeff use of some of his tools. I didn't do a final total but this entire project cost us roughly $150. I think it was well worth it and came out nicer and larger than any of the commercially available kitchens. It is our hope that Chelsea will love this and that it will be something that will stay in the family for generations to come.

My next post will be of the accessories and Chelsea's reaction to her new play kitchen. With my posting - this may take a week or two!

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment.

Shrinky Dinks - A Better Late Than Never Post

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:07:00 +0000

I should have posted this back on Halloween but I'm going with the better late than never theme. Do you remember Shrinky Dinks? They were one of my very favorite "toys" when I was growing up. Hubby's niece Juli was with us one day as we were browsing a toy store - all of a sudden I spotted a Shrinky Dinks kit and was instantly excited! Juli didn't have a clue about Shrinky Dinks and when I explained what they are she said, "Sounds like a rip-off." Gotta love kids.

Well as soon as we got home and started coloring - she began to change her mind.

Once we got them in the oven and she saw the shrinking fun commence - she really got into it.

Halloween skeleton before...

...and after.

Some more afters.

The complete Halloween tree (tree even came flocked girls!). Juli is now a convert.

Cute Champagne

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:21:00 +0000

A while back I reading a magazine and saw these cute little cans of pink champagne. I immediately went to the local wine shops but no one carried it. My sister went to her favorite wine shop and they gladly ordered it. I love everything about it! The box is pink and fun...

...and the cans are so cute.

I still have two left and I'm not sure that I will drink them. They look too cute sitting in my fridge.

They even come with their own little pink straws!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:44:00 +0000

Well it was one heck of a holiday season. Can't say I'm sad to see it in the rear view mirror. It was fun but oh so tiring and oh so fattening. But I had to sneak it one more treat. I stumbled upon hot chocolate on a stick after the holiday shopping was done and read about it here and here and here. I knew I had to try it! So I whipped some up and am giving some to my neighbors and a few others for early Valentine's Day gifts.

I've been making homemade marshmallows for some time using Martha's recipe found here. They are fabulous but always a bit sticky so I decided to try Alton Brown's recipe found here. I was much happier with these and I think I'll stick with this recipe in the future - they were more cohesive and easier to cut and work with.

If you try this recipe, make sure you follow it exactly. The first time I tried it I attempted to use some chocolate I had on hand and it didn't quite set up properly. The second attempt came out perfect. These little suckers are delicious by themselves too! (Note bottle of wine in background - while not mandatory, it doesn't hurt to have a little sip while creating your chocolate masterpieces).

Here is the recipe I followed:

Hot Chocolate Blocks

Originally from King Arthur Flour

1/2 cup heavy cream
One 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
3 cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped or in chips (I used Ghirardelli bittersweet chips)

4-oz bar unsweetened chocolate cut into smaller pieces (I used Bakers)
Wooden or cookie/lollipop sticks (I used wooden popsicle sticks I had on hand)

8x8 pan lined with parchment paper

Heat the cream and sweetened condensed milk over medium-low heat until it starts steaming, stirring periodically. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, then put back on medium-low heat and stir with a whisk until chocolate is completely melted and shiny. I put a tsp. of vanilla in prior to whisking. Pour chocolate into prepared pan and level.

Let sit overnight (at least 12 hours - don't try to cut it sooner - trust me!).

Remove chocolate from pan and cut, top side face down, into squares. Heat the knife under hot water, wipe dry, make two or three cuts, then reheat knife.

Place a marshmallow on top of each square and push the stick in. That is it! When it comes time to enjoy - just heat 4 - 8 oz. of milk and swirl the stick until the chocolate is melted and incorporated.

Much as the other bloggers, I packaged them in individual cellophane bags (I had these on hand and purchased them at a cake supply shop but I believe Joanns or Michaels also carry them).

I used the lunch bag idea of another blogger but used the brown bags I already had on hand. I printed heating instructions (lifted from here) on card stock and added a Valentine clip art image and trimmed with shears. Then I simply folded over the bag, punched a hole and tied with some red ribbon. You can see I was rushing to get this done by the height difference in the bags!

Overall this was a super easy, fast (save for the 12 hour set-up time), and inexpensive recipe. Perfect for winter gift giving - hot chocolate isn't just for Christmas! I'll be delivering these to the neighbors this evening, surely they will think me mad for giving Valentines already but I couldn't wait to give this one a try. Let me know if you do too!

Candy Cane Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:25:00 +0000

Here we are again, a few short days shy of another Christmas. Every year I think just about all of us comment on how fast the year flies by and how quickly Christmas comes each year. It really is true though isn't it?

I can remember being in college and aching to get out into the working world and to not have constant homework and papers to write. My mother would always say time would go by very quickly once I got out of college. I remember thinking she was crazy, but once again, Mom is right!

Are you familiar with Saucy? She is always posting wonderful baking ideas. This was the second year that I spotted her candy cane hearts and I knew I had to make some. These are super super easy and make such a nice gift all on their own or as an add on. I'm giving these out with cookie tins and homemade hot cocoa kits. I gave a few out to co-workers this morning and they were a big hit!

Simply take some miniature candy canes, pose them in hearts atop of some parchment paper, melt some white chocolate (or milk or dark chocolate), spoon a bit into the center (I used a baby spoon and found that was just the right amount) and then use a skewer or toothpick to manipulate the chocolate all around the center, top with some sprinkles and let set and there you have it! I packaged these in Christmas themed cello bags, punched some holes in the top and tied with satin ribbon. They make a very festive presentation!

I'll be finishing up Christmas preparations the rest of this week and will be enjoying a week off afterwards. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays!

My Christmas Mantle

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:56:00 +0000

Each Christmas (and truthfully each season) the fireplace mantle proves a challenge to me. I can never seem to get it quite the way I envision it. This year was no different and at the end of the Christmas decorating blitz we were faced with a somewhat empty mantle. The candlesticks, small nativity, and owl were perched in their full glory but there was a lot of empty space. I set the concern aside (as part of my "I'm not going to stress over the little things this holiday season" mantra) and went on with my days. As I was going through some favorite blogs during nap time yesterday I came across this post. It is a treasure trove of links to free Christmas/holiday printables. I selected two of my favorites, printed them off and popped them into some frames that I already had and viola....a much more festive and put together Christmas mantle in under 5 minutes and for free. The best part (other than being free) is that hubby really likes this too. He and I differ greatly on home decor.

Another score for us, this past weekend we selected our Christmas tree and strung up the lights and ornaments without any kind of argument! This is the first time in seven years. Perhaps I should keep my mantra going all year long...

A Sweet Painting and a Fond Farewell

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 20:21:00 +0000

I recently received a wonderful gift from Holly. She is such a talented artist. She made this beautiful watercolor with Chelsea's name. In a full circle moment, I had some vintage wallpaper I had purchased from Holly a while back and thought it would make the perfect mat for her darling painting. I got the frame on sale and spray painted it with some paint I had on hand.

It is now hanging in Chelsea's room and she loves to look at it. I do too!

Photo by Sue

On a more somber note, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to Kipper. He was the best friend of one of our own, Ms. Susie Q of Rabbit Run Cottage. Kipper crossed the Rainbow Bridge earlier this week. Sue's Kipper posts always brought a smile to my face. There are some great ones here, here and here.

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:31:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I was checking out my Facebook newsfeed when I came across Monica's status stating she was making chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. Immediately I was intrigued and went straight to the link she provided. There I found a new to me blog that immediately captured my attention. Amanda is full of good ideas and I knew I wanted to make these cupcakes asap! Amanda's photos are much better but here is my process starting with the cookie dough balls. These go into the freezer overnight so that they don't bake inside the cupcake. Genius! The dough also does not contain egg so no worries about raw egg contamination.

I took the easy way out and used a chocolate cake mix for the cupcakes. You simply fill the papers and plop a frozen cookie dough ball on top.

I think I put a bit too much batter in my cups as they runeth over but the frosting will fix all that.

Topped with yummy cookie dough frosting - these things are so darn good!

A cross shot of the yummy cookie dough goodness lurking within. For Amanda's full recipe and post - click here.

P.S. My blog is in the process of being spruced up by Lindsey at Sweet Simplicity Designs. What do you think? I'm going to be changing the sidebar content over the next few weeks. I'm really liking the more streamlined look and the non-squished appearance my blog had before.

What I Am...And What I'm Not

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:35:00 +0000

Yikes, it has been a while since the last post. This has prompted me to think about my blog and the direction it should take and what I am, and what I am not.

What I am not...
...a gramatically correct writer
...a frequent poster
...a mini Martha Stewart (or anywhere close to her for that matter!)
...a person that always has interesting things to share
...a good photograher
...someone who downloads their photos as often as she should
...someone who edits their photos as much as she should

What I am...
...a mother to a growing toddler
...a wife
...a daugther
...a friend
...a full-time employee of a university
...a person who gets infinite joy and ideas from blogging
...a person who is constantly (nearly daily) reading/perusing blogs even if I'm not updating mine
...a person who simply cannot keep up with frequent blog posting at this stage of my life
...a person who so enjoys connecting with you via my infrequent posts and via your posts

Phew, now that I've gotten that off my chest I do want to let you all know that this blog will be underoing a makeover over the next several months. I'm looking to create a more visually appealing page and a place that gives me joy and motivates me to sit down and download those photos! (Trust me, I want to, but the Babes has been waking every night due to a persistent cough and as a result I'm going to bed right after she does!). I have several half written posts and things I want to share. It may be infrequent and not accompanied by the best photography but that is me and I've accepted that my blog can't be as beautiful as some and it wouldn't be an accurate portrayal of my life right now anyway! My house isn't picture perfect (I'm in a constant struggle to better organize the toy area that is a part of my living room since we don't have a family/play room). I don't have the time that I used to to create jewelry and crafty things but that is okay because that time is now spent on my little girl and slowly but surely those creative things sneak in here and there.

All of this is my very round about way of asking - what do you like about my blog? What would you like to see me include more of? Is there anything that really turns you off? Would you like me to post more photos? Are there things you'd like to see me talk about (My travails as a new mommy? My crafty adventures when I do get to them? More info about CT?)

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Happy Little Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:07:00 +0000

It has been one of those months! Going through a particularly stressful/busy period at work and trying to keep my head above water. Chelsea is also starting a new stage - tantrums! Oh the fun. I completely understand she is throwing tantrums because she can't fully communicate her wants/needs and because she is testing her boundaries but it is still quite draining. The biggest obstacles have become diaper changing and getting into the car. She loves to walk to the car whenever we are going somewhere or when it is time to go home. Once we reach the point where I need to pick her up and put her in the car - happy time is over. She starts screaming, crying, stiffens so I can't strap her into her seat. The works. I've been ignoring the behavior (as I do with all tantrums) until she relaxes enough to get her strapped in. There are times this is taking 5 minutes or more and then she is still likely crying and carrying on for the first portion of the car ride. Ugh. I'm posting this not to moan and groan but because I'm hoping some of the more experienced moms out there may have some suggestions on how to make the transition into the car less stressful for us both. I've tried keeping it light, singing, making funny faces, even giving her a snack once she gets in the car. So far nothing is working.

This brings me to this lighthearted clip. I was sitting at work when an e-mail popped up with this clip. It is so sweet, innocent, and adorable and brings us back to a fun time in movies/entertainment before the rise of all this reality nonsense (I like reality shows but the fame some of these people gain is beyond me - can you say the Kardashians?). I'm only 32 but already turning into a sour puss!

How Time Goes By

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:33:00 +0000

Last year I posted the 3 month silhouette I did of Chelsea. I plan to make one a year as a fun way to track her growth. I just completed the second one and can't believe how much she has changed in a year! (That is our engagement photo.)

She is such a little girl now. No more baby.

She went from squishy baby with no neck...

...to sweet little girl with loads of curls. I'm liking the way they look grouped with our engagement photo. Jeff hates putting nails in the wall and the resulting holes when I inevitably change my mind about placements. For the silhouettes I used Command Adhesive Strips. I love these things! (Not getting anything to say that - just want to share my new found best friend). They are easy to install and come off cleanly. I have started keeping them on hand.

Also - I recently had a comment from someone who offered to share photos of their yellow living room and how they decorated but they didn't leave their comment info and it doesn't look like they have a blog - if it was you please comment again and leave your contact info. Looks like we are going to paint (it is all I want for my birthday next month!) but I've been saying that for quite a while now.

Yea or Nea?

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:51:00 +0000

So I'm a little late to the party with this one. The new redecorated Oval Office was unveiled recently and I've seen several blog posts about it. Most seem to be giving it a big thumbs down. Too boring. Too beige. Too blah.

At first I agreed but then I started to consider what this office is used for. Official United States business. While that doesn't necessarily mean blah, boring, bland - I don't think it means life of the party, lots of patterns, prints, colors either.

It seems to be a comfortable space and maybe a bit more informal than past presidents have chosen. But for the impromptu staff meeting or chat, it seems like it would work.

What do you think about the new space? Do you give it a yea or a nea?

P.S. This link has some great back story on the new digs as well as photos of past Oval Offices.

Nut Free Pesto

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:30:00 +0000

I mentioned that we had an abudance of basil and that I wanted to make some pesto. I've been seeing pesto recipes and pesto references all over blogland (here, here, and here to name a few). I also recently babysat my sister's basil plant while she was on vacation. This led to even more basil! So some pesto was definitely in order. A few people have asked me to document my pesto adventure so here we go!

I started with gathering and washing some lovely fresh basil leaves (approximately 3 cups).

I got out my old workhorse food processor (my grandmother's - as an aside does anyone else have a "vintage" small appliance that they just adore?).

Pesto of course, calls for pine nuts or walnuts. Well silly me forgot to buy them when at the grocery store. Then I thought about it and realized Chelsea wouldn't be able to try my dish if I used nuts anyway (we haven't introduced her to nuts as of yet). So to get some of the nutiness flavor I used a whole head of roasted garlic (Preheat oven to 400, cut the top off a head of garlic, rub exposed cloves with olive oil, wrap in foil, roast in oven for 30 minutes - yum!). To that I added olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Pureed it all up in the food processor and it was good to go! Can you believe I forgot to take a photo. Bad, bad me. Let me tell you though that it was excellent! We couldn't even tell there weren't any nuts in it. The best part was that Chelsea adored it! She couldn't get enough and neither could we. My hubby even requested that I go ahead and not use pine nuts in future pesto endeavors.

Mmm, wishing I had some pesto right about now.

Boden Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:23:00 +0000

I received the fall Boden catalog in the mail the other day and I was instantly smitten. I think I dog eared just about every page. These are some of my very favorites. The materials and cuts are perfect for us moving target gals.

Before and After - Estate Sale Tray

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

I was able to get some crafty goodness in recently. I was combing through a neighborhood estate sale and found this tray long ago abandoned in the corner of the home's basement. It was dusty and dirty but had good bones. I snatched it up for $3.00 and knew it had the potential to shine.

Here it is after. I spray painted it glossy white with some paint I already had on hand, removed the old embroidery and replaced it with some fabric from Joann's. I really love it now. It might be one of my favorite thrifty remakes.

I often wonder what the previous owner of this tray would think. Would she (or he) be appalled at the fact that I discarded the embroidery and painted it the complete opposite color? Or that it has more of a modern feel as opposed to country rustic? Or would she be happy that a long forgotten part of her home had found new life in another's home and was being well taken care of? Estate sales in particular always have me pondering these questions. Do you think the same way?

Playing with the New Camera

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0000

We finally took a leap and got an SLR camera! We went with the Canon XSi. This seems to be a perfect entry level SLR for two people that have no clue. So far we have been having lots of fun. I have read parts of the manual and it definitely does help. I think the manual will become my new bedtime book. A few of you also suggested I check out the Pinoeer Woman's photography section which I have also been finding very helpful, especially her tutorials on PS Elements.

We were on vacation last week, just did a staycation and daytrips. Got some fun photos that I need to download. These are just a few very basic photos Jeff and I took while fooling around with the settings. Jeff took the one above. This was a bouquet of flowers he gave me for our anniversary. They were a bit sad and wilty at this point but I still love the detail that he captured while standing across the room. Gotta love SLR! The camera is certainly more challenging to carry around and figure out but the results are so worth it.

This was a quick photo I snapped of a section of our front walkway with the neighborhood park in the background. Since I took this photo the poor flowers in the pot have pretty much bitten the dust :).

I received a lovely comment on my slipcover post from last year. It was from Carla Johnson and she offered to send me photos of her yellow living room (I still haven't had a chance to change our living room color). The only problem is that she did not leave any contact info! Does anyone out there know Carla? Does she have a blog?

Wishing you all a lovely day.

Basil

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:45:00 +0000

The garden is beginning to bloom! We have been able to enjoy several heads of Romaine lettuce as well as a jalepeno pepper and LOTS of basil. We've used it for yummy Caprese Salad, pasta dishes, watermelon/tomato skewers, and anything else I can think of. I think I need to try to make some pesto. This basil just keeps getting bigger and bigger and I don't want to waste any of it.

At My Side This Morning...

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:44:00 +0000

A view of my desk at work this Monday morning. Had an early morning wake-up call (3:30 a.m.) from a certain little miss who was having trouble sleeping. I need all the help I can get!

The Wonder of It All

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:37:00 +0000

It has been almost a month since my last post! It is a wonder I still have any followers. Thank you so much for sticking with me!

Speaking of wonders, have you heard of the Wonderbar? It is a facial bar that detoxifies and pulls out all the toxins and junk lying under our skin (sometimes for years) and helps to bring our skin back to its original pH balance. I have acne prone skin and have tried everything under the sun. Scrubs, masks, oil washes, etc. etc. When I read about the Wonderbar I was skepticall especially when I read about the healing crisis that can take place when you first use the product. Basically, you can break out and dry out as the bar works to remove all the nasties from your skin. I decided to try it though as I really had nothing to lose and my skin was already breaking out anyway!

I am currently in week 5 and I am very pleased with the results. From the first time I used it I felt a difference in my skin. This little bar (and it is little - the size of a hotel bar of soap though it does last 6 - 8 weeks) is truly different then anything I have tried before. It has made my skin a lot clearer though I am still breaking out in my most prone spots. The breakouts are not half as bad as they were and go away very quickly. I am curious and anxious to see if they will disappear completely or at least mostly with continued use. All in all, I highly recommend trying this if you have problem skin or if you want to restore a youthful glow. And who doesn't want that?

True Happiness Is...Not Organizing My Closets

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:54:00 +0000

Well it sure has been a while since I last posted. I'm still hanging around. I just haven't done much blog worthy lately. My weekdays consist of getting up, walking the dog, getting myself ready, getting Chelsea ready, going to work, picking up Chelsea, feeding Chelsea, making dinner, bathtime, bedtime - lather, rinse and repeat. Not very exciting huh? I still go to bed within an hour or so of Chelsea. I'm the type of person that needs a good 7 -8 hours of sleep to function properly.

Hoping to have a bit of extra time here and there now that the supposedly lazy days of summer are upon us. I have a list of projects and things I want to clean and organize. The other day I had the aha moment of realizing it just doesn't matter if I clean and organize the linen closet right now. If I get some precious me time I need to focus on me and things that will recharge my soul. Not clean and organize. I'm realizing that this time of my life is not meant to be clean and organized but to be enjoyed. Enjoying watching Chelsea grow, enjoying helping her become all that she can be, enjoying finding the new "me." And if that means there is a closet busting with sheets for a bed we no longer own, and another closet filled to the brim with shopping bags I plan to reuse in some fashion, and another cabinet stuffed with cookbooks, then so be it. There will be time to organize someday...

Stroller Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Sugar Bear) — Mon, 17 May 2010 16:13:00 +0000

I've been a very bad blogger lately and taking lots of photos with my iphone. It is so easy to snap a photo and e-mail to myself and easily upload to my post. So much easier than using my regular camera. Of course the picture quality isn't nearly the same but I'm not anywhere near a decent amateur photographer anyway!

I've been getting a bit more friendly with my sewing machine. Most of the time she is pretty good to me except when she decides to spit out chunks of thread or tangle the bobbin. Of course, this is probably more user error on my part but I'd like to blame the machine. I saw this pattern on Made by Rae quite some time ago and instantly fell in love with it. I knew I wanted one for Chelsea's stroller. Recently I decided to go ahead and give it a try. It was as easy as Rae said it would be and I actually finished it in under 2 hours! I think I will make at least one more for myself as a catch all kind of bag (not that I don't already own a million tote cute tote bags - of course a girl could always use one more). It would also make a great quick diaper bag when we don't need to bring the whole sha-bang. When the handles are tied together it is long enough to fit across my body which is great for lugging things to more active settings like parks, grocery shopping, parades (hometown Memorial Day parade coming up!). This bag comes in handy when just a bit more room is needed and is great for walks. I can throw some toys in there, a lightweight sweater, camera, etc. I got the fabric at Joann's. Didn't want to go too crazy until I knew I could actually make the bag. I didn't take a photo of the interior but it is a coordinating green print. You can see it at the top of the photo on the handles. The bag is reversible which is another fun feature. The pattern has instructions for two side pockets as well but I decided to keep it real simple. Next up is a simple jumper dress for Chelsea...