Wee Share

Space Warriors Appears May 31 on Hallmark Channel {Giveaway}

2013-05-24T09:15:00.001-04:00

May 31 is fast approaching. At 8pm Central, you'll want to make sure your calendar is free and tune in to the Hallmark Channel.

Space Warriors will making a television debut exclusively on the Hallmark Channel. In the film, six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition but they don’t realize that they will be forced to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

During this time, you will have the amazing opportunity to win a trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp! Just keep an eye out for the secret keyword for a chance to go on location where Space Warriors was filmed and train like a real astronaut.

In celebration of this exciting debut, I have a fun blog app to share with all of you. This app has some awesome things to enjoy and I am certain you'll enjoy it:

Win a Family Trip to SPACE CAMP! - Tune in to Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31 at 8/7c for the secret keyword to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp!

How Spacey Are You? QUIZ – Are you a Space Warrior? Do you use the stars to navigate your journeys instead of the map function on your smartphone? Take this quiz to find out whether you're destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you're happiest living here on this planet.

Prepare for Blast-off! Space Warriors Viewing Guide – Mark your calendars for May 31st and check off the boxes as you watch Space Warriors for the most spectacular, spaciest experience!

Additionally, we have an exciting giveaway for you! One lucky reader is going to win a Space Warriors Blu-Ray Combo Pack, available exclusively at Walmart.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Another Designing Tomorrow Giveaway & a Coupon Code! {Giveaway + Coupon Code}

2013-05-24T08:52:00.000-04:00

Personalized Baby's Birth Necklace

$20.00

I am super excited to host another Personalized Baby Name & Birthday Necklace giveaway here at Wee Share! This necklace comes with a baby's name, birthdate, and birthstone. Head on over to my Etsy shop and check it out along with the other products offered at Designing Tomorrow!

Now -- to the part of this post that I am really excited for... the coupon code! Any of our fabulous readers who comes to Designing Tomorrow can enter in the code WEESHARE at checkout to receive 10% your total purchase of $20 or more!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Connected with Designing Tomorrow:

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Add Designing Tomorrow to your Etsy Circles!
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Relaxing at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

2013-05-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

It's been almost nine years since Darren and I descended upon Disney World for our first trip to the most magical place on Earth together.

It was December 19, the day after we had gotten married, and we were going to spend one glorious week there for our honeymoon.

Our home for the week was Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. One of my fondest memories of the resort was when Darren almost flipped himself out of one of their beachfront hammocks. Yes-- they have hammocks in the sand where you can relax and take in the gorgeous view that this resort offers.

We hadn't returned to Caribbean Beach since our honeymoon... until recently! During our last trip, we decided to stop by for the afternoon and share this special place with Raileigh.

The view across the water was perhaps even more stunning than I remembered. It was a warm Florida day and the sun was just beaming across the water.

Of course, we had to check out those hammocks once again. Raileigh is quite smitten with hammocks {I wonder where she gets that from?} so she made a beeline for them as soon as we arrived.

We spent a large portion of the afternoon relaxing, swinging, and enjoying just being there. It was absolutely wonderful.

What's your favorite way to spend a relaxing afternoon at the Walt Disney World Resort?

Torn Paper Mosaic with Exciting New NATURAL Products from Elmer's! {Tutorial}

2013-05-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Elmer’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Creating has always been something that I enjoy. No medium is safe-- paper, fabric, and everything in between can bring me joy when I turn them into something new.

My passion for creating was amplified when I found out I was expecting my beautiful daughter. I created little clothes for her to wear as well as things to decorate her nursery with. And-- it didn't stop when she was born. I began to hone my skills and create things I was truly proud of.

The best part was when she got old enough to create right alongside me. No-- I don't have her operating the sewing machine just yet, though she expresses interest in learning almost daily! However, we have spent hours together, creating a variety of things. Some turn out just as I envisioned, while others are a complete bust in the end.

Crafting with her has taught me something, though-- the process and the journey is often more important than the final outcome. She never seems to mind how our little craft adventures turn out. She just enjoys the time we spend together and learning new things as we try out new mediums and projects.

That's why I was so excited to introduce her to a new crafting product I recently found out about-- Elmer's Naturals. I'm certain that you're familiar with Elmer's, a name that is synonymous with glue. However, the well-known school glue company recently released a line of Natural products they are dubbing Elmer's Naturals.

Elmer's Naturals is currently available in two forms-- a school glue stick {available in two sizes} and a school glue bottle.

But... I am sure you are wondering what makes these new products "natural".

The Elmer's Naturals School Glue in a bottle is actually made from over 99% natural ingredients. It is made from plants, a rapidly renewable resource, and is just as safe and non-toxic as Elmer’s School Glue. In addition, the bottle is made from 25% post-consumer recycled plastic with a label made from 20% recycled paper. The label is printed with soy inks and is adhered with a natural rubber adhesive.

The glue sticks are comprised of glue made from over 88% natural ingredients! Elmer's Naturals School Glue Sticks are made from plants as well, and just as with the bottled glue, the glue stick containers are made from 25% post-industrial recycled plastic with a label made from FSC certified paper and printed with soy inks.

Of course, it's never hard to find a fun reason to use glue! However, I decided to create a new activity to do with Raileigh in order to test out the new glue.

We had a fabulous time together creating our new project. So, I have included instructions below in case you'd like to do this activity with your own children.

Torn Paper Collage

Supplies Needed:

Elmer's Naturals Glue {the glue stick or bottled glue will be just fine}
Construction Paper
Optional- Pencil

Instructions:

This may be an activity you remember doing in your school art class at some point. I vividly remember creating a torn construction paper collage of a snowman some time during elementary school. However, this is an activity I have never done with Raileigh. Since it requires lots of glue, I figured it was the perfect time to do it!

Decide what type pf picture you want to make and what colors will go into creating it. We decided to make a heart-- multicolor, of course. We chose a color for our background and the colors we wanted to go into our heart. Then, we began to tear the colors for the heart into small pieces that resembled squares. They don't need to be perfect, and how big or small you make them is up to you.

Now, older kids can probably visualize the end design, but Raileigh is a perfectionist and I knew it would frustrate her to try and create a heart shape as she glued her pieces down. So, I drew a faint heart shape with a pencil so she could use it as a guide when creating her masterpiece.

Then, it's time to glue away! Use the torn pieces you have and glue them to your paper in the shape you drew or just envisioned. You can do one shape like we did or create an entire scene. The beauty of this project is that possibilities are virtually endless. You can create any image using this technique and it's perfect for the youngest or older artists to do.

Note-- your Elmer's Naturals Glue may vary in color but it should always dry clear.

I also want to bring the Elmer's "Pin to Win" Sweepstakes to your attention. This is a fun contest using one of my favorite social media platforms- Pinterest. You'll need to follow ElmersProducts and create a board titled "Natural Pin & Win with Elmer's". Follow the instructions in the graphic above and pin certain things to your board. Simple, fun, and easy! After submitting your board to the Elmer's Facebook page, you'll be eligible to win some amazing prizes!

We are smitten with the Elmer's Naturals Glue Sticks as well as the bottled glue. It's nice to know that Elmer's is not only thinking about our children now, but also the future they will inherit by using renewable resources in their products.

Connect with Elmer's to find out about any more innovative products they introduce.

Visit the Elmer's website
Follow Elmer's on twitter
Like Elmer's on Facebook
Follow Elmer's on Pinterest

Preserve Special Memories with the Magisto Mobile App

2013-05-22T11:53:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Magisto. I received a promotional code for premium features to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Preserving memories is one of my absolute favorite things to do. You won't often see me without some sort of camera or recording device nearby. We have so many amazing adventures as a family, and I want to ensure that as Raileigh grows older, she can look back on to the events of her childhood.

Perhaps that is why I was so excited to hear about the exciting Magisto Mobile App. This app is a unique way that allows each and every one of us to create professional quality movies that document our personal experiences. Like magic, it pulls compelling moments {or you can choose them yourself} to expertly create a special movie to enjoy and share.

The Magisto App is available for both iPhone and Android.

Once you've downloaded the app, it's easy to create your movie.

From the create screen, select the photos and videos from your Camera Roll or Gallery that you’d like to be included in your movie

Select a theme

Select a song

Give your movie a title

Download, share, enjoy

My husband was the first in our family to download Magisto. He downloaded it just before Mother's Day and decided to give it a whirl by creating a special video with my daughter just for me.

Afterwards, we walked through the process together and I was shocked at how truly simple it is to use Magisto. He took several clips of Raileigh saying things about me. Clips as opposed to one long take were perfect for my wiggly little girl. It allowed her to get all her thoughts out with a slight bit of rest and encouragement in between.

After taking the footage, it was easy to select the ones that they wanted to use in the final video. Then, Magisto did all the hard work and created a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that made my heart swell with pride and love.

Magisto is a great way to document those special moments, whether it be a holiday or just everyday life.

Make sure to stay in touch with Magisto so you know about any special promotions or news.

Visit the Magisto website
Like Magisto on Facebook
Follow Magisto on twitter

Boy Shirt to Girly Shirt {Tutorial}

2013-05-22T09:00:00.003-04:00

I'm part of a summer time mom's group which is tons of fun. But with some 20 kids, things can get pretty chaotic. When we are doing our outings at someone's house, it's no big deal. But when we go to a crowded place like the zoo or a local museum, there is definitely a fear that someone may get lost.

Last year, to keep track of everyone, we made tie-dye shirts. It was a nightmare. Don't get me wrong, the shirts were adorable. The making of them was nightmarish. So this year we decided to go with a premade shirt from Kohl's. We found a gender neutral color scheme in the boys section that had all sizes available.

Great. Done. Or not.

The little girls had a little bit of a fit. I don't blame them. The shirt is kind of boxy. But no worries. Nothing our resident seamstress, Rachael can't fix!

I did some ~~internet~~ research and found a few tutorials that I thought would help so here goes!

Of course you have your shirt that needs alteration, but it helps to also have a shirt that girly already likes, to work with. If not, no worries. Just take the sides in kind of like triangles according to the size and shape of the girly you are working with. About 1/2" or so at the armpit is good. But if you have the other shirt, trace it, pin it, and sew it up! Make sure you leave the arm holes open. (Not that I accidentally sewed them up and had to rip them out or anything, I've just heard it happen before... a-hem....)

Now for the sleeves. Open up the sleeves and cut them in a wonky semicircle (there is a name for this shape... crescent?) then add a rolled hem to the straight side. Theoretically, you could just reattach the sleeves the way they were before. You could even leave them off and make it a tank. But this particular girly wanted ruffle sleeves. If you are going to do ruffles, it's best to cut off the original hem and add a rolled hem. The original hem is really heavy and makes the ruffles look flat.

Side note here: there are lots of tutorials online about how to do rolled hems. Obviously using a serger is the easiest way to go. There are also special foots out there that can do it. If you don't have a serger, I find the easiest thing to do is use your largest zigzag and just put the fabric through the feeder so that one of the stitches kind of goes off the fabric a little. It will still catch the bobbin thread and will create something that looks very similar to a rolled hem. This is the way I did it before I bought a serger and it worked fine.

Now to create my ruffle what I do is run a very loose stitch through the curved end of the sleeve. I do it for each of them and make sure they are the same length so that my ruffles don't look too bunched or too loose.

Fold your ruffle in half to find the middle and line it up with the seam in the shoulder of the shirt. Now sew down the sleeve, right sides together. It's best to start in the center and go down each side individually. It will feel like you're doing double work but it will line up much better. The end of the sleeves won't go all the way down the arm hole, so finish up your arm hole with a seam or a rolled hem. (I did a simple seam.)

Lastly, admire the cuteness! And your handy work!

Ella is such a ham!!

DIY Burn-out Tee with Freezer Paper {Tutorial}

2013-05-21T14:30:00.003-04:00

Disclaimer: This project was somewhat of a bust. It didn't quite work out the way I had intended. However, it still looked awesome. You can learn from my ~~mistakes~~ creativity and still do something beautiful and we will revisit this technique again. Be on the lookout for part 2!

So my sister and I decided to get tattoos. (I already have three, she has none.) It's one of those things about she and I. See we were never really friends growing up. She was the oldest, I was the youngest, and there were 8 years and 2 brothers separating us. So we had a little bit of a generational gap there. But when I got pregnant with my first son, all that changed. Because who should I call when I had questions? Sure my mom was helpful but the last time she had kids was like 30 26 years ago! So my sister ended up being the one who fielded most of my mom questions in the beginning.

And so a friendship developed. Over the years, it has continued to blossom and grow. So this year, now that we are older and the both of us are done having kids, we decided to get sister tattoos. But... it didn't really work out. Neither of us really had the money and living 800 miles away from each other made the trip kind of difficult to plan. By the time we finally found a week we could spend together, we all decided we'd rather just be together with our families having fun than sneak away for a few hours by ourselves.

I wanted to give my sister something with the same sentiment but less permanency. So I decided to use the design we had chosen and make a shirt. Originally I considered doing just an applique technique but then I decided to do one with the applique technique and one with the reverse. Then my sister could choose which one she liked best and I would take the other.

Here's the supplies you'll need:
Dark colored shirts (I used black cotton v-neck tees -- just the Hanes brand)
Bleach Pen
Bleach in a spray bottle
Freezer Paper
Iron

First you have to make a stencil. Like I mentioned earlier, Sis and I already had a design planned. She had chosen a branch with three birds to symbolize each of her three children. I chose a branch with two birds to symbolize my two. I decided to go with the branch with two birds to symbolize the two of us. There's a few different ways to make the stencil using freezer paper. First you can cut the freezer paper down to size and run it through your printer, just make sure you know how to print on the paper side and not the waxy side. Or you can hand draw it. If you hand draw it, make sure you use distinct lines so you can cut accurately. You need two distinct pieces.

Next, iron your stencil onto the shirts. Just iron right onto the paper, waxy side down. It adheres to the cotton very easily so you don't have to use a super hot iron and you don't have to press very hard. Just make sure all your corners are down well. You'll notice I accidentally cut a few places I didn't mean to. Just put them back together with masking tape and then the tape comes off while you iron.

Put some heavy cardboard or the lid to a big container in your shirt to protect the back if you don't want the bleach to seep through. Now you can spray the fabric lightly and the wax paper will protect the fabric that's covered. The color will change depending on what color your shirt is, what brand you use, etc. If you use a heather grey shirt, for example, it may turn a light pink. Black works the same way. It just depends on what color the manufacturing company used as a base. The longer you let it sit, the more it will change. So if you want a mild effect, then let it sit a shorter amount of time and a more intense effect takes a little longer. Just don't let it sit too long or the bleach can damage the fabric.

This is after only about 5 minutes.

When you've reached your desired effect, peel the stencil off and drop it in a warm cycle with just a little detergent then dry as normal.

And it's done! Errrr.... well maybe not. That isn't exactly what I was going for but I still think it looks really cool. Not giftable but definitely wear-myselfable.

Things I learned from this bust project that I will do better.

It kind of looks like a shadow which is awesome. But not really what I wanted.
Don't use such an intricate design.
If you want to use an intricate design, you have to use a bleach pen. (we will readdress this!)
The spray from the bottle makes the freezer paper not adhere very well.
Less is more when it comes to the spray. A large mist is optimal.
I'm really glad I tried this out on $3 shirts instead of $10 shirts.

Ok, I will update this post when I make a new tutorial just so it links over, but be looking out for a new one next week!!

New Seasonal Coffee Flavors from Dunkin Donuts!

2013-05-20T10:27:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Dunkin' Donuts. I received a Dunkin' Donuts Party Kit to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

When you think of spring foods, what immediately comes to mind?

For me, it's freshly picked strawberries, along with lots of other fresh produce and ingredients.

Perhaps that is why I am so excited about the new seasonal coffee from Dunkin Donuts. There are three new flavors and they are only available for a limited time {read- must try them now!}.

Coconut: Sometimes you feel like fresh coconut coffee flavor. And sometimes, you really feel like it.
Strawberry Shortcake: Just one sip of our strawberry-flavored coffee and you'll agree: Dessert should come first.
Triple Berry: You know what they say, "Three berries are better than one." That's a saying, right?

Just a few days ago, we left our home in South Carolina to begin a new phase of life a little north of Atlanta. While we are thrilled to be back near the place we have always considered "home", saying good-bye to those we became close to in South Carolina wasn't easy.

So, we decided to get together one last time. And-- I decided to bring along the new Seasonal Coffee from Dunkin Donuts so that we could all give it a try.

I'll be honest-- we aren't usually brand loyal when it comes to coffee. We tend to be adventurous and often pick up new varieties and blends to experience. However, it seems that many of my friends tend to stick with what they love, often purchasing the same coffee time and time again. So, this was an experience for all of us!

When I think of coffee, fruity flavors aren't generally the first thing that comes to mind. However, the incredibly pleasant aroma that drifts from the bag of these new Dunkin Donuts flavor offerings made me really want to give them a try.

I am absolutely smitten with coconut, so we decided to try this one first. Oh my YUM! I sure wish someone has stumbled upon this flavor creation sooner because coconut and coffee just seem to pair impeccably well together. I found it to be perfect straight out of the coffee maker, but others seemed to prefer it with a bit of vanilla flavored creamer.

To me, Strawberry Shortcake is the ideal warm weather dessert. So, of course we had to give this coffee a try. I will admit-- I was a bit skeptical at first. I wasn't sure how strawberry flavor would pair with the coffee. But... I had no reason to worry because this flavor is wonderful as well. I actually liked this one with some creamer because it really made it taste like a delicious cup of drinkable dessert!

Triple Berry was also a delicious option. With strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries it brought of the flavors of some of my favorite seasonal fruit. While this was my least favorite of the three {though it was really still quite good}, several others stated that this was their favorite season offering. That's the beauty of the new coffee blends, though-- there is a perfect option for everyone.

Additionally, each of these coffees is the perfect option for a cup of iced coffee! In the warm weather, a good cup of iced joe is a tasty way to cool off.

Sampling the limited time seasonal coffees from Dunkin Donuts was the perfect way to end our time in South Carolina. We got to enjoy some tasty after dinner drinks and share some laughs with our wonderful friends.

Remember-- these season coffees are only here for a limited time, so love 'em before they leave!

Make sure to connect with Dunkin Donuts so you'll always know about new coffee flavors they release.

Visit the Dunkin Donuts website
Sign up for the Dunkin Donuts at Home Newsletter

10 Basic Tips for Quilting at Home!

2013-05-18T10:47:00.002-04:00

A couple weeks ago, Kevin and I decided it would be best if I quit my job and became a stay at home wife and mommy-to-be. There were many factors that came together to help us make this decision -- and it has been absolutely WONDERFUL. I am able to stay home and keep the house clean and get all of the projects done that I need to for my Etsy shop, Designing Tomorrow.

One of the things I have been spending the most time on the past couple weeks is quilting. Since my body is very quickly getting much larger, I am trying to do as much quilting as possible before I am too big to be able to do it anymore.

As I was finishing up my LAST T-SHIRT QUILT ORDER yesterday (YAY! Party!!!), I began thinking back to when I first started quilting. I frantically searched the web for all the tips and tricks available to make life easier as I began my first quilt. Yesterday, I realized how much I have LEARNED through trial and error over the years.

Although I am not an expert quilter, I have made many (many) quilts in my day. Today, I wanted to share a few very basic tips that have become important to me in the quilting process.

First, let me say this. I do not have a long-arm quilting machine. Although it is one of my hopes and dreams to finally purchase one... those suckers are EXPENSIVE! So, keep in mind that all the quilts that I do are on a domestic sewing machine. Do you know what that means? Those of you without the luxury of having a long-arm quilting machine can successfully design, make, and complete beautiful quilts, too!

Here are my 10 very basic tips for quilting that I have learned are very important over the years. There are SO MANY other things I plan on writing about quilting. However, for the sake of your attention spans (and my current attention span), I am going to leave it at these 10 tips for today. :)

#1: Find a space that is large enough for you to do your work.

(This picture is a full sized quilt laying in my workspace! See how re-arranging some furniture can make room for a large project?)

When I first started quilting, I lived at my mom's house. We had a whole basement that was dedicated to crafting (which was SO nice). When I got married, I moved into a one bedroom apartment with my husband. I do not have the luxury of having my own craft room anymore. So, my husband and I push ALL of the furniture in the living room as far out of the way as possible and that is my work space. I do all of my cutting, ironing, basting, free-motioning, and binding there.

#2: Make sure that you have the basic materials before you begin your quilt.

There is nothing worse than having to stop everything that you're doing and rush to the craft store because don't have something that you need. Here is a quick list of just a few items that I make sure I have before I begin my quilts. Some of them are obvious... some not so much.

Sewing Table
Sewing Machine
Seam Ripper
Scissors
Iron
Ironing Board
Starch spray
Lint Roller
Cutting Mat
Rotary Cutter
Rotary Cutting Ruler
Quilt Basting Spray
Thread
Bobbins
Darning Foot
Quilting Gloves
Batting
Fabric for the quilt: the top, the backing, and the binding. (Sometimes I purchase the fabric as I go on a quilt -- just to make sure everything looks good.)
Batting

#3: Have an idea of how you are going to put together your quilt pieces.

(Photo of my very first t-shirt quilt! Can you tell how I pieced this quilt together?)

Quilt piecing typically run in rows and columns. Therefore, be sure that you look at your quilt template before you start to randomly piece it together. There usually is a method to the madness. Can you tell how I pieced this quilt together?

#4: Be precise with your rotary cutting.

(In photo: this was the most COMPLICATED t-shirt quilt that I have ever designed. Without precise rotary cutting... all of the little lines and shapes would have been impossible to get correct!)

When I first started quilting, I didn't think this step was very important. I wanted to get done with it QUICKLY instead of accurately. Do you know where this left me? With a very mismatched quilt! So -- slow down, take your time... it will be worth it in the end!

#5: Pre-Wash EVERYTHING.

I recently did a t-shirt quilt for a client. Before I make t-shirt quilts, I wash all of the t-shirts. When I washed his t-shirts, he had a red shirt that bled ALL over the other t-shirts in the wash. Luckily, I was able to save all of them by re-washing ALOT... but think about how it could have ruined the quilt if I hadn't washed the t-shirts first!? When I first began t-shirt quilting, I did not think this step was important. My thought was, They are T-SHIRTS that the people have probably worn and washed a million times! Although in most cases this is true... skipping this step could lead to you having that ONE red t-shirt that has never been washed before BLEED everywhere -- like I almost did!

It's also very important to wash and dry all of your fabric before you begin cutting it. Fabric shrinks when it is first washed and dried. So, if you pre-wash and dry your fabric you won't run this risk of having your beautiful quilt shrink and look strange in the end -- unless that's the look you're going for. Also, fabric will bleed its' colors if it is not pre-washed. So, pre-washing and drying the fabrics prevents any bleeding onto the quilt.

#6: Iron EVERYTHING.

I cannot stress to you enough how important ironing is in the quilting process. You are going to want to iron your fabric when it comes out of the dryer, after you piece it together, and before you make your quilt sandwich. I know this probably sounds a little excessive... but ironing a million times helps prevent the fabric from bunching up while you're free-motioning (which is NOT pretty -- trust me.). It's also very important to iron your bias strips before you start binding your quilt. Without doing this, it makes the whole complicated process even harder.

#7: Use Quilt Basting Spray

(Photo from the Joann Fabrics Link Below)

Unless you are a seasoned quilter who has ALWAYS basted with safety pins... I highly suggest using basting spray. I use the June Tailor Quilt Basting Spray from Joann Fabrics and I LOVE it. It does not mess with my machine or my needle. It is not too sticky and comes off in the first wash. Another thing I love about this basting spray is that it is strong enough to keep your quilt sandwich together but light enough that you can easily reposition your fabric if you want.

#8: Practice Free-Motioning BEFORE Doing it On Your Big Project.

I have never met a free motion quilter who got it right on the first try. Getting the pedal speed and how fast you move your fabric synchronized is key and very challenging. Each machine is different and I've learned that various fabrics react differently under the free-motioning foot as well. There are LOTS of YouTube videos on Free Motion Quilting -- I suggest watching them multiple times before attempting it the first time. Then, grab some scrap fabrics and batting and practice practice practice! When (and only when) you feel comfortable on the scraps... move on to the real deal!

#9: Use High Quality Thread when Free Motioning

(In photo: this was the nightmare that I had with red Guterman thread not too long ago. Don't get me wrong -- I still LOVE Guterman thread. I just probably won't be using the red on anymore quilts anytime soon)

I am a total fan of using the cheapest thread in the craft store on my everyday sewing projects. However, I am quite the thread snob when it comes to Free-Motion quilting. Using cheap thread on a free-motion project can result in HORRIBLE outcomes. First of all, cheap thread doesn't typically hold up well during the violent beating of Free-Motion -- and it breaks mid-stitch!! Second of all, cheap thread gets very tangled on the bottom of your quilt - leaving it a free-motion NIGHTMARE.

Here are two of the threads that I have become very fond of over the years:

(Photo from the Joann Fabrics Link Below)

Guterman Sew All Polyester Thread: Guterman thread is wonderful in the free-motion setting. It is a bit pricey, but completely worth it. I have come to adore this brand up until recently. Although it is still my #1 pick when it comes to sewing and quilting... I recently had a horrible experience with the red thread made by this company.

(Photo from the Joann Fabrics Link Below)

Coats & Clark Machine Quilting Cotton Thread: Because of my horrible experience with the red Guterman thread, I decided to switch it up on my last quilt to the Coats & Clark Machine Quilting thread. It was WONDERFUL! It did not get all tangled up on the back of my quilt -- AND it did not bleed in the wash. I believe I may have found my new favorite quilting thread!

#10: Divide up your free-motioning between a few days.

When I first began quilting, I was so excited and anxious to get my quilt completed that I would try and do it all in one day. Although it is possible, there were many reasons why I chose to start slowing down my free-motioning process. For one, free-motion quilting is HARD on the body. There are all sorts of quilting experts who will say that it shouldn't be. However, sticking a queen size+ quilt through a domestic sewing machine is challenging and tiring. Spreading out the time spent flexing my upper body muscles helped keep up my stamina and prevented my body from being overwhelmingly sore.

The second reason that I chose to spread my free-motion quilting out over a few days was because of my machine. Although I use the Singer Confidence Quilter and it was designed for quilters... my little domestic sewing machine probably wasn't built to handle multiple queen size+ quilts every couple weeks. Simply put -- my machine gets tired. When it starts to get overheated, it doesn't produce as great of stitches as it would if it was cool and well-rested.

If you agree with my two reasons for spreading it out over a couple of days, here is my suggestion for effectively dividing up the workload. Do it one bobbin at a time. Many quilters will tell you to buy 20 extra bobbins before beginning a free-motion project. However, I say you only need one bobbin. Fill up your bobbin and free-motion until that bobbin runs out. Then, you can take as much time as you want to rest before you begin the next bobbin.

I find this to be effective in many ways. For one, it takes about an hour for me to go through one bobbin. So, if I have a quilting deadline coming up, I can schedule by day very easily by completing one bobbin every other hour. That way, I am still getting a substantial amount of quilting done while getting the housework, homework, etc. done as well.

I hope you've enjoyed these 10 tips and found them helpful. There are a few of them that I wish someone had told me BEFORE I had to find out through trial-and-error.

Head on over to my Etsy shop, Designing Tomorrow, and check it out. I don't have very many large quilts in my shop because I typically custom make those for people who are located near me. However, I have many baby changing quilts and jewelry that you're welcome to check out!

Face Painting at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

2013-05-17T09:54:00.002-04:00

Whew! Our extended vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth comes to an end today. What a trip this has been! We have shared moments and made memories that will truly last a lifetime.

And now.... I want to share one of those with you.

For the first few days after we arrived, we decided to take it slow. We'd just finished packing up our house in South Carolina and we were thoroughly exhausted. So, each day we slept in, woke up to no alarm clocks, and spent the day exploring some of the other Disney Resorts.

There were things that I really liked about each resort that we visited. However, I completely fell in love with one of them-- the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We spent quite a bit of time here, taking in everything they had to offer. I also daydreamed about the day {hopefully coming soon} that we will join the Disney Vacation Club and spend our entire trip at this lovely resort.

During the day, they offer a lot of family-friendly activities to take part in. We participated in several of them while we were there.

Our favorite was face painting, Mid-afternoon each day, a Cast Member would roll out a cart full of brightly colored face paints and use them to decorate children's faces. Raileigh told them her favorite colors and they created an adorable African-inspired design for her.

Raileigh was so proud of her face paint and told everyone that we met about it. She even wore it out to dinner that evening.

This was one of the first things that we did on our vacation and it was such a magical way to start our time here at Walt Disney World. It just goes to show you that you don't have to be inside the theme parks to have an amazing time. At Disney, magic will find you no matter where you are!

The New [Furry] Addition to Our Family

2013-05-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

[Pictured Above: Zax and Kevin]

Around Thanksgiving time in 2011 my family and I went to the Humane Society in Gainesville, Georgia and adopted the most ADORABLE kitty ever. He completely stole our hearts from the moment that we laid our eyes on him. If you do not know this, Kevin and I are cat people. We LOVE cats. Well, we love OUR cat.

We named the kitty Zax. You may be thinking, "That's a strange name"... well... yes it is. However, Zax got his name from the night that Kevin and I were eating Zaxbys at my parent's house. We were stumped on what to call him. When Kevin looked away from his Zaxbys for a split second... our brand new kitty came and devoured one of his chicken tenders. So -- he got the name Zax.

Zax has been an absolutely WONDERFUL kitty and we love him as if he was a human child. However, when we found out we actually had a real human child on the way... we became concerned about how Zax would handle it. You see, our baby Zax loves to snuggle. He wraps himself around our faces to get as close as possible to us. This brought concern for us when we began thinking about how he would get along with our brand new baby girl.

My thought was, "What if he tries to snuggle with her and suffocates her?"

Well - many people would not have to worry about this because they have plenty of rooms to put a newborn. However, we live in a one bedroom apartment and our baby girl will not have a nursery until we move into our house in February. So, the only solution that we were comfortable with was shutting our door at night and locking Zax out.

Although our baby girl will ALWAYS come before our cat, it still made me sad to think that my sweet kitty would be shut out and all alone at night.

Meet Misty!

My father-in-law is a cat person, too. He feeds all the neighborhood strays on his front porch. This little black cat was one of the strays that came up to eat. She absolutely stole his heart. She is sweet and purrs ALL the time. He took her to the vet and had her checked out. She had a perfect bill of health (surprisingly). My father-in-law asked Kevin and I if we would take in this cat.

After Kevin and I talked it over, we decided to take her in. I am not a fan of adopting adult [stray] cats. I tend to not make a connection with them and their indoor cat skills take alot of work. However, because of the new baby coming in October, we decided that this would be a good move. Our reasoning is that if Zax and Misty can end up getting along, Zax won't be lonely when we lock him out to keep our baby girl safe. Now he has a companion!

(Pictured above) is the MAJOR progress that the kitties made in their first week living together. Please ignore the messy bed - I brought all the clothes in to our room to put them away and make our bed when I found them like this. I had to snap a picture before they realized they were sleeping close to each other!

This transition has been relatively painless. Misty is a really sweet cat and [very] quickly stole Kevin's heart. She does NOT like Zax yet -- but he tries very hard to get her attention.

She also eats ALOT of food. The picture [above] is of Zax eating our chicken leftovers. One night, we gave both of them their own cans of cat food. Misty basically inhaled hers, and then bumped Zax out of the way to eat his. Although he has to toughen up, he looked so sad that night. So, we gave him some of our leftovers so that he could have a nice treat.

Hopefully they will bond soon and get along well enough to keep each other company when baby girl gets here. We shall see!!

Do y'all have furry family members? I'd love to hear about them!

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-15T09:13:00.000-04:00

The Runaround

2013-05-14T11:45:00.001-04:00

Today Bugs and I went for a 4.5 mile run at a local park. What a beautiful day it was! Sometimes, I get so caught up in the busyness of life that I feel like I lose track of what's really important. And while that sounds cliche´, I totally mean it. With work, Anakin at school and involved in athletics, Bugs being mobile, the blog, and just keeping life together, things can get a little hectic.

My morning runs keep me sane. I'm so glad to recently have found a running group I can hook up with. MRTT has local chapters all over the country with women who run all different paces and distances so it's a good fit no matter what kind of runner (or walker!) you are. It can be dangerous to run on trails by yourself, but I love the sweet smell of the honeysuckles on a breezy spring day here in Georgia (and I despise the treadmill!). I'm glad to now have friends to go with so I can stay safe and still enjoy this activity.

Along the run today, I saw the biggest snail I've ever seen in person! It was "asleep" in its shell so I picked it up and set it gently in the cup holder of the jogging stroller. Anakin is currently really into snails so I thought it would be a cool thing to show him.

Well apparently the snail was not a huge fan of his spot in my cup holder because about 2 miles later, I caught him trying to make a run for it. Luckily I was almost done. When I finished up, I gently picked him up and set him in a nice shaded area away from the trail. I like to think he named his first born child after me to thank me for saving his life. (Food for thought: how are snails born??!)

Also along the trail we were visited by another friend. I decided not to try and take this one home with me. But he was friendly enough and waved "thank you" as we waited for him to pass on through.

Bugs didn't seem very affected by any of it.

What do you do to "get away from it all"? Do you have a hobby or past time that helps you disconnect?

Merida's Royal Celebration- A Special Coronation for the 11th Disney Princess

2013-05-13T06:15:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to make some once in a lifetime memories at the Magic Kingdom. We were front and center as the Disney Princess Court welcomed their newest member.

Merida entered atop her stunning steed Angus. After dismounting she strolled up the walkway to the castle in true Merida fashion.

Awaiting her were the 10 other members of the court: Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, and Rapunzel. Each Princess looked stunning as Merida took her place as the 11th official princess.

Seeing that it was Mother's Day weekend, it seemed only fitting that Merida was joined on stage by her own mother, Queen Elinor. The Queen was actually the one who got to crown Merida as an official Disney Princess.

It was a site to behold. Never before have I witnessed each of Disney's beloved princesses gathered in one place.

Additionally, they were joined by two time Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas and her mother. It was amazing to see this beautiful young lady, who is a true princess in her own right, on stage with Merida and the others.

Merida's Royal Celebration is sure to be a day that we will remember for years to come. I am very thankful to have been present for such an amazing experience.

Personalized Ultrasound Pendant Bezel Necklace {Tutorial}

2013-05-12T17:17:00.000-04:00

The other week, we had our 19 week ultrasound done. I absolutely FELL IN LOVE (all over again) with my sweet baby girl that is in my belly. The ultrasound tech did an AMAZING job getting an adorable profile picture of the sweet girl. Mother's Day was right around the corner... and a project came to my mind.

I went to my #1 favorite craft store - Hobby Lobby - and loaded up with all kinds of neat odds and ends for jewelry making. If you follow Wee Share, you probably notice the Designing Tomorrow posts that frequently pop up on the blog. I am the owner and designer at that Etsy shop -- so making jewelry is not a new thing for me. HOWEVER, I had never [ever] worked with the specific materials that I used to make this project.

Materials:

My Jewelry Shoppe 1" Circle Lever Punch
My Jewelry Shoppe 1" Clear Circle Glass Piece
My Jewelry Shoppe 1" Silver Plated Circle Bezel
Amazing E-6000 Craft Glue
Ultrasound Picture (Printed on PICTURE PAPER)
Chain of your choice
Heavy duty jump ring

Quick Tutorial:

Edit your ultrasound picture. I added a cute little pink bow to give my pendant a little color and gender.
Shrink the ultrasound picture down to 1.5" on all sides and print on the photo paper.
Use the lever punch to get a perfect circle of your little darling.
Put a small dab of glue on the flat part of the glass piece. This really really does not need alot of glue - it spreads FAST and FAR. Put the ultrasound picture on the pendant so that you can see it if you're looking at it from the curved side.
Put another small dab of glue on the inside of the silver pendant. Put the glass piece and photo in the pendant. Press down (hard) and position your picture exactly how you want it to stay.
Let sit for a few hours.
Clean it up with rubbing alcohol.
Add a jump ring - I used the ultra heavy duty jump rings.
Put your pendant on a necklace!

I hope you love this quick tutorial -- I am absolutely OBSESSED with this necklace! Check out my Etsy shop, Designing Tomorrow.

Would you like to see this item in my shop? Feel free to leave feedback to let me know! I am debating on whether or not to put this item in my shop -- so I'm calling on all of you fabulous Wee Share readers to help me decide!!

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Add Designing Tomorrow to your Etsy Circles!
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It's a GIRL!

2013-05-11T10:19:00.000-04:00

At 16 weeks, Kevin and I went and had a 3D Ultrasound done to get our baby's gender revealed! Although we were DYING to tell the world the moment that we found out... we had heard of horror stories of the gender being wrong at so early in the pregnancy. So, we decided to wait until the OB/GYN ultrasound gave us a second confirmation of Baby Glaze's gender.

IT'S A GIRL!

We are SO very excited! My husband has NO idea what is about to happen to him. When she is born, she is going to completely and utterly STEAL his heart and he will forever be mush when it comes to her. It is going to be wonderful!

Stay tuned for the big baby event that is coming up very soon!!

Raileigh's FIRST Photo Bomb {Disney Style}

2013-05-11T06:10:00.001-04:00

Hello lovely readers.

I am coming to you live from the Contemporary Resort, host resort for the 2013 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

This is by far the experience of a lifetime and I cannot wait to fill you in on all the juicy details of our time here.

In the meantime, I have an amazing picture that I wanted to stop by and share with all of you. It was taken last night by a fellow blogger {Shelby from OC Mom Blog}. We took over the set of Lights, Camera, Action in Disney's Hollywood Studios for an evening full of good food, even better company, and a whole lot of fun.

No-- those children in the front are not mine. Look closely, in the back. That's my incredibly excited Minnie Mouse... I mean Raileigh, who is providing us with the absolute best Disney photo bomb.

It's her first photo bomb that I know of and I have to say-- she did AWESOME.

Have a magical Saturday... I know we will!

Exciting Disney Friends from Build-A-Bear Workshop {Review}

2013-05-10T06:51:00.001-04:00

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a complimentary product for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

This is a very exciting weekend for us.

Tomorrow, the heroine from Brave, the beloved Merida, will officially be inducted as the eleventh Disney Princess. We will be on hand at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World to witness this royal celebration.

The great news is that we'll also have a friend to bring along with us!

Meet Tiana-- our lovable and cuddly new bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Tiana is part of the Disney Princess Collection, an exciting collaboration between two of my most favorite companies. This stunning collection allows us to celebrate our favorite Disney characters and create special princess moments of our very own. Just look what all it has to offer:

16" Disney Princess Bear in pink, complete with crown and fun images on the soles of the feet
Numerous costumes, including Snow White, Tiana, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, and Rapunzel
Every day clothes, including a Disney Princess tee and purple sparkle denim skirt
Accessories, such as a wand and purse
Shoes fit for a princess

I am certain you noticed-- Tiana isn't that fun pink Disney Princess Bear. This is actually a bear known as Champ- A Champion Fur Kids. This bear is unique in that it support children's charities and health causes such as juvenile diabetes, autism, children's cancer research and other important wellness causes for children. This is possible because $1 from each sale of this bear is donated to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. The Foundation makes grants to pawesome children's charities with the proceeds from the sales of this special stuffed bear.

Now- Champ is dressed in some fun things from the Disney Princess Collection. You'll notice the adorable Tiana costume, which comes complete with a green Tiana dress and silver sparkly crown. The crown features two pieces of elastic that are designed to go over each of the bear's ears.

The dress is a miniature version of the one that Tiana wore in The Princess and the Frog. It has fun details including the leaf-looking skirt design, yellow embellishments, and more. Build-A-Bear Workshop truly paid attention to the details to make this a tiny dress fit for a bear princess!

The bear is also wearing some Peep Toe Gem Bow Heels, Undibear Panties, and a Brown Wig. The shoes slide on and velcro shut, so it's easy for children to take them on and off as they please. The wig is designed with two slit openings for the ears to poke through and stays rather securely on the bear's head.

Let me just say-- this bear is quite incredible. We have several friends from Build-A-Bear Workshop that my daughter really enjoys playing with. However, the Champ Bear dressed from Tiana is certainly at the top of her list. With super plush fur and an adorable outfit, you just cannot go wrong.

The Disney Princess Collection from Build-A-Bear is perfect for your upcoming trip to the most magical place on Earth. With so many outfit and accessory options, it is easy to create the perfect plush friend for your little one. These friends make great companions for the long days you'll surely experience at Walt Disney World.

Make sure to connect with Build-A-Bear Workshop so you always know about new collections and other special announcements.

Visit the Build-A-Bear website
Sign up for the Build-A-Bear Workshop email newsletter
Like Build-A-Bear Workshop on Facebook
Subscribe to the Build-A-Bear Workshop YouTube Channel

New Products from Designing Tomorrow!

2013-05-10T06:43:00.000-04:00

Recently, I have added some brand new and exciting products at Designing Tomorrow! Today, I am just here to give you a quick look at each one!

It's a GIRL Metal Washer Necklace with Baby Feet Charm and Bead

$18.00

It's a BOY Metal Washer Necklace with Baby Feet Charm and Bead

$18.00

Butterfly Necklace with Polka Dots and Zebra Prints (Personalization is Available)

$20.00

Georgia Peach Metal Stamped Washer Necklace with Peach Charm

$15.00

SO - head on over to Designing Tomorrow and check out the new products!

Also -- stay tuned to Designing Tomorrow for a change in the materials that I use. I have found a brand new material that is not nickel based... but is hypo-allergenic, rust-free, will not tarnish, and is much more cost efficient than sterling silver! Can I also say that it is GORGEOUS?! Stay tuned!

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Add Designing Tomorrow to your Etsy Circles!
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New #FreshMade Menu Options from Chick-Fil-A {Giveaway}

2013-05-09T06:20:00.001-04:00

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I received the opportunity to host a giveaway for you and took it! Enjoy!

You guys know by now-- I have declared this to be MY year. I am exercising daily and taking much better care of myself than I have in years. The progress is slow, but my body feels better than it has in quite some time.

I am also trying to make good choices when it comes to what I eat.

That's why I am so excited about the all-new menu options at Chick-Fil-A. They have THREE new premium salads and a completely redesigned wrap that come in under 430 calories! These #FreshMade menu items are all made with premium ingredients that I think you're going to really enjoy.

These are menu options that you can really feel good about!

To celebrate the release of these delicious new options, I have a fun interactive app to share with you. It includes:

Are You A “Starter”? Quiz - Some of us wake up with pep in our step, ready to conquer the world. Others might need a little kick in the behind to inject something new into their lives! Find out if you’re already raring to to go or need a little help getting the good time rolling!

#FreshMade Activities - Select your mood and let quotes and images from film express how you’re feeling.

See How We Start Fresh - Behind-the-scenes - Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Chick-fil-A salads are #FreshMade just for you!

To get you REALLY excited about the new menu items, I have an awesome Chick-Fil-A giveaway for you. One lucky reader is going to win two coupons to try a #FreshMade Salad at Chick-Fil-A!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Participate in #SocialBlackout and Give Mom the Attention She Deserves

2013-05-09T05:51:00.003-04:00

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MetLife. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Social media-- it's something that I have a love and hate relationship with.

Obviously, I enjoy it. Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here reading this right now! I think social media can be wonderful. It has the power to connect friends, families, and brands in a way like never before. I can easily share pictures, check on a sick relative, or inquire about a product I can't find anymore with the few simple clicks of a button.

However, at times it can be easy for social media to be the only way that we stay in touch. We spend so much time buried in our smart phones, tablets, or laptops that we miss the opportunity to actually interact with those around us.

How many times have you seen a family sitting at dinner with their phones out, more focused on technology than the other people at the table? Perhaps you've texted someone in another room of your home, instead of taking the time to actually see and talk to them.

While I think social media and the technology that powers it is wonderful, I also think that there is a time and place for it. It should never replace the actual human interaction that real relationships are built upon.

This Mother's Day, I want to invite you to join MetLife and participate in a #SocialBlackout. This unique movement challenges you to turn off your social media and give Mom all of the attention she deserves!

With all that available time, you can plan a really nice day for your family.

Plan a nice dinner at your home where Mom doesn't have to cook or clean up afterwards
Take a stroll through a beautiful area in your community
Surprise Mom with a beautiful bouquet of flowers
Plan some time doing what your Mom likes to do best

Now... chances are that many of you reading this are the Mom of the family. So, I encourage you to share this with your own family and create a day where you can simply enjoy being together. I know that a day where I didn't feel like I was competing for attention with the ever-present iPhone would be quite welcome!

If you would like to learn more or share this movement with others, I invite you to visit the #SocialBlackout page.

Backyard Safari Land & Water Habitat {Review}

2013-05-08T20:35:00.004-04:00

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a complimentary item for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

Remember when I did this review on all the cool stuff from Backyard Safari Outfitters? Well we finally got the chance to try out the Backyard Safari Land & Water Habitat. We are not very far along in the process yet but I will keep you guys updated as our little friends grow.

I will say it was super easy to put together and get ready for our tadpoles. There is even a little opening for the coordinating bugvac to drop critters in. (It's that round part on the left side of the picture.)

Please note: the directions CLEARLY state to not put more than one tadpole in the habitat at a time... but we have 3 children here and well, you choose your battles.

Anakin and his best little buddy had tons of fun beginning the learning process. They named their tadpoles, noted their shape and size since each one was a little different, and are keeping a journal to track their progress. I have such cute little nerds!

I'm not sure all the tadpoles will make it since we didn't exactly do it the way we were supposed to but such is the way of life. We will address those things as well! Can't wait to update you guys on their progress soon!

Palm Tree Cove Disney Fairies Collection from Jakks Pacific {Review & Giveaway}

2013-05-08T09:55:00.001-04:00

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a complimentary product for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

In my house, fairy magic abounds. Raileigh whole-heartedly believes in these tiny magical beings and spends much of her time talking and dreaming about them. She creates stories, reads tales, and even pretends that we are fairies. If something wonderful happens, she even likes to speculate that it's the work of fairies.

I know the magic will wear off soon enough and before I know it she will grow up. However, while she still believes, I like to encourage it. While I enjoy watching her grow and seeing all the new things she learns, part of me wishes she would stay little forever and "never grow up".

Recently, Raileigh got a new toy that helps bring her fairy stories to life like never before.

This is the Rosetta Beach Buggy, a cute little doll set from the exciting new Palm Tree Cove line at Jakks Pacific.

The 4.5" Rosetta doll comes dressed in a darling dress that is easy for little hands to take off and on. She's even got tiny little shoes and removable wings to complete the outfit. You know Rosetta-- she's so fashion conscious that every outfit has got to be complete!

Our favorite thing about this is that the dress is interchangeable with the clothes on the other 4.5" dolls from Jakks Pacific. And-- not just the ones from the Palm Tree Cove Collection. We've got several dolls from older lines and the dresses can all be switched amongst each other!

Rosetta's Beach Buggy is perfect for exploring the sand dunes at Palm Tree Cove... or playing with in your resort room at Walt Disney World! Rosetta perches right on top of the beach buggy's seat.

There is also a cute little side car that snaps onto the beach car. I have to admit that my little one does struggle to get the car snapped and unsnapped. However, I don't mind helping her out! The set comes with a turtle friend that rides in the side car to keep Rosetta company.

Raileigh has big plans to meet Rosetta while we're here at Walt Disney World and she plans to tell her all about Rosetta's Beach Buggy! I only hope that we visit Tinkerbell's Magical Nook on a day that this garden fairy is there!

Rosetta's Beach Buggy is a great toy to take along on your next magical vacation. With several accessories and many interactive features, it's sure to keep your child happy and entertained while you get ready for a fun day in the parks.

Are you ready for this? Jakks Pacific has agreed to host a giveaway at Wee Share! One lucky reader is going to win a Tinkerbell OR Silvermist doll from the Palm Tree Cove Collection-- complete with an adorable assortment of fashions for them to wear.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Cake Adventure - Our Eiffel Tower Cake for Prom

2013-05-08T09:19:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to quickly share the recent cake that my family and I made for my sister's high school prom. -An Eiffel Tower Cake!

When we were asked to make this cake, we had NO IDEA how we were going to do it. We eventually decided to use a template and chocolate to make the lines on the tower. It came out GREAT!

Just thought I'd share! :)

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Thermos Insulated 6 Can Cooler {Review}

2013-05-07T13:10:00.002-04:00

Disclosure: I received no monetary compensation for this post. I received a complimentary item for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this but my family and I breathe baseball. As in, if baseball is not in season, I have no oxygen, erego, I die a little inside everyday. Luckily, the Braves started about a month ago, and they happen to be doing really well so far this season! We are in for a good year, I think!

If we can, any chance we get, we trot on down to Turner Field and make it to the home games. Sometimes we get great seats. Sometimes, we get nosebleeds. But, we always have fun.

Something I love about Turner Field is that they allow outside food and drinks (as long as there is no glass and no alcohol). So we stock up on water bottles, peanuts, canned soda, and a few other snackies before we head in.

The Thermos® Insulated 6 Can Cooler is perfect for just such an occasion. It features IsoTec™superior insulation to keep your drinks and snacks cold and fresh. The inner fabric is leak-proof in case of an accident and the outer fabric is super durable and easy to clean!

I was able to put 6 soda cans in comfortably and still had a little extra room to stick an ice pack in there as well. After several hours, the drinks were still cold and the icepack hadn't thawed all the way through so we still had refreshing drinks available!

This cute little caddy is definitely a great addition to our summer activities! It will make a great carrier for the games, picnics, even long car trips! Since it's so compact, it fits just about anywhere and it was really comfortable to carry around as needed.

Check out all of the new summer products over at Thermos®, like them on facebook, or follow them on twitter!