Tuesday, May 31, 2011

First Birthday Party Project #1- DIY Water Bottle Label

This is the first of a multi-part series.  Here I will post all of the projects I did for The Boss' first Birthday Party, starting with custom water bottle labels. I have seen custom water bottle labels on a number of blogs.  I love them and love that they add a beautiful custom touch to your decor.  I wanted to order some for The Boss' party but knew the Hubby would flip at spending money on "something so unneccisary" so I decided I would try my hand at making my own.

My Husband bought me Photoshop Elements 9 for Valentine's Day.  Since it took me close to a year to figure out how to work my MacBook you can imagine how long it's taking me to use Photoshop.  Every now and then I try something and then end up closing my computer or going to Photobucket (way easier btw).  This time I was determined so I got out my computer, read a tutorial here, and then set to work.  It was EASY!

I used a background from a digital scrap booking kit designed by my friend Jen from Jen C Designs.  You can find her blog and online store here. Coincidentally enough the kit this background came from was inspired by The Boss' nursery even before she was born!  I set the size of the label, chose a backdrop I liked and then added the flower and the "e".



Here's the finished label.


And here they are on the bottles



Helpful Tips 
  • Make your label 1.75 inches tall and 8.5 inches long
  • Use a digital scrapbook kit, great ones can be found here
  • Take your time and try a few different things.  If you are working on photoshop when you love something lock it so it won't move when you move other elements around.  (Probably a total rookie thing...but helpful to me!) 

Monday, May 30, 2011

If I was Ashley H....

Oh Ashley H....you're so sweet but you are confusing me a little bit.

1. I would not trick a bachelor into marrying me on the first date.  Poor William....he is so cute and was so confused by her shinanigans. 
2. Next,  don't beg men to stay when you have 16 other great choices.  It makes for great television for us but... you are being played like a fiddle.  
3. Don't pick your husband based on a coin toss...you might have to marry Mickey. 
  

First Birthday Party!

The Boss turned one a few days ago so this weekend was filled with celebration for her.  We are so grateful for her and she truly is a gift from God.  Over the past few months I have been working on projects  for her party so I have lots to share but thought I would give a sneak peak before I revealed all of my projects.

There was party decor....


Food...


Cake....


Swimming....


and Presents....


A huge thank you to all our family and friends for celebrating with us.  Thank you especially to my Mom, Mother-in-law, Sister, and Sister-in-law for helping me so much with setting up.  Many more photos and tutorials to follow.


Thursday, May 26, 2011

ONE

Today The Boss turns ONE.  

I love my little Koala and can't imagine my life without her.  Today she will spend the day with Mommy, no work for me, well...maybe a little during naptime! 

 Saturday is the big party and then tons of reveals in the next few weeks of all my First Birthday Party Projects!



Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Monday, May 23, 2011

If I was Ashley H....

The Bachelorette...what is it about this show....I just can't help myself.  I MUST watch it!!!  I thought I would write a piece for the next couple weeks called..."If I was Ashley H...."


I will keep this week short and sweet but "If I was Ashley H..." I would be so disappointed.  (For all those who are concerned about my marriage and me lusting diving into the lives of these other men...my husband is the first to tell everyone that when I die he is going on the Bachelor... he thinks The Boss will only better his chances of winning the hearts of all of North America, he's probably right.  So???)  I honestly thought the quality of Men this time around was weak at best.  I am pretty sure if you held a gun to my head I couldn't have picked 18 of them.  Maybe that's because my Man is so great?

Ashley looked gorgeous of course...I loved the dress, especially the rhinestone straps on her back...beautiful!  I am not sure how I feel about her hair colour.  I know people loved it at the "After the Rose" taping last year.  I think she is cute as a burnett but definitely would've taken it a few shades darker or kept it highlighted.

Let's also talk about the Man in the mask and this mysterious "Bentley"...seriously?  What's with the mask?  I mean I understand you are making a statement but we decided that unless he is a planted spy he's a waste of time.  Do you think we can't see your eyes?  Unless you are hiding a black eye from the limo ride over, we think you're a quack!  And Bentley (love his name btw)...someone warned you about him, fine...give the man a chance if he's hot but are we really calling him hot????  Ugh...this could be a long season.  Oh and Canadian Chris...you nerd, you give Canadians a bad name.

So far I think JP is a front runner.  He seems down to earth, and definitely sexy!  I also liked the dental floss ice breaker guy...that was creative and cute (can't remember his name)!

Who are you loving this season?

New Patio Set....Again!

Remember how excited I was about our new patio furniture?  Well after 14 days of rain...you think I am joking...I'm not!  It started to rust out.  There was terracotta coloured water coming out of everywhere staining our deck, the seats of the chairs and our clothing...ugh!


We are in the process of getting NEW new furniture.  We called the company, re-packed it all, and the Hubby will be returning it on Tuesday night (today is a holiday here).  Sunday we went a picked out something new.  My in-laws will be here on Friday so we don't have a lot of time.  I am so grateful for a husband he understands how necessary it is to have a nice space for entertaining!  Here is a sneak peak at what we are replacing it with.  We still need an umbrella and we are going to get flowers today.  Stay tuned!



Friday, May 20, 2011

New Outdoor Furniture

With the long weekend approaching we are hoping to spend sometime outside!  One of our favourite things about the house we are in is the back yard.  Although we are in a town house complex, which doesn't generally lend itself to a lot of privacy, ours backs on to wetlands.  In the summer we love eating outside so when we had to give my sister her patio set back we went on the hunt for the best table set for a good price.  This is what we came up with!  We couldn't be happier!













The Boss LOVES it too! 








Wednesday, May 18, 2011

You Know Your TOO Pregnant When...{Vacation vs. Labour}

You Know Your TOO Pregnant When...

The thought of going into labour
 sounds like way more fun then 
going away for the long weekend!  
Common Baby...out you come!


- Me, 38.5 weeks pregnant with The Boss and thinking about the long weekend approaching here in Canada this weekend last year.  


* Don't forget, if you have a funny Mommy moment either comment below or email me at cheekydinheels(at)gmail(dot)com and you could be featured!




Monday, May 16, 2011

DIY Baby Leggings

There is nothing I love more than a baby in a onsie and leggings.  I love their little bare feet and just how easy it is for them to squirm and play but also make diaper changes a breeze.  A few months back we returned to Virginia to visit some of our friends and my friend Julie gave me this pair she had made for The Boss.  I'm not sure if she followed a tutorial somewhere or thought of them on her own but she showed me how to make them.  Here's The Boss sporting her pair from Julie.


I was shocked how easy it was to do.  Here's how to make your own pair.

Purchase women's knee high socks from target.  They generally cost about $2 a pair.   I also bought a Paul Frank pair which was on sale but a little bit more.  The Boss has had a few Paul Frank things throughout her little life so I couldn't pass these up!


Cut out the toes and the heels.


You will use the main section of the sock (the leg) for your legging and the section from the foot as the cuff at the bottom of the legging.  Since I was having problems with my sewing machine this is where I stopped taking pictures (wasn't sure I would get around to finishing these), so I will try my best to explain the rest.


Take the longest section (the leg) and flip it inside out.   Then take the foot section and fold it in half with the inside of the sock touching itself.  I took a picture of this completed pair.


(Sorry for the terrible picture...it was taken at night...no natural light...Photography 101)

Pin the folded section to the leg of the sock with the bottom of the leg section and the open end of the folded piece attached.  Use your sewing machine to stitch around this edge.  I did a regular stitch and then re-inforced it with a zig-zag stitch.  

Done and done!  Look at The Boss.  She LOVES them, and look how nice they look with her onsie.  Love this onsie from Old Navy.  It says "I Love Hanging out with Mom".  We had to buy it when we saw it since we often call her my little Koala.  She loves travelling with Mom.




We Have a Winner!

The Winner of the free design from Thirty One Designs is:


Comment # 2  Which is Melissa Hare who said


"I love the Yellow & Gray Floral invite! So pretty!"
Congrats Melissa!  I will be sending you and email soon!  Thank you so much to Fern for offering this giveaway.  Be sure to check out her shop next time you need a party invitation or announcement card.

I tried to post the random number generator but I couldn't figure it out.  Sorry about that.  Maybe next time!


Friday, May 13, 2011

One Last Day...

Today I logged on to remind everyone that today was the last time to enter my giveaway for a design from Thirty One Designs but due to blogger being down this morning I decided to extend this to Sunday night.  I will post the winner on Sunday night at midnight.  For more info on how to enter visit here.






Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Today I'm Thankful For...

Yesterday I started my new job. And while I am still technically still on maternity leave the maternity leave I am covering started one month early.  So much for easing back into work.  After a thirteen and a half hour day I needed today to just relax and process a lot of what I learned yesterday.

When I woke up this morning to sunshine and a warm forecast, I called my sister and my favourite little people and we made a date.

Today I am thankful for...

Strollers with coffee cup holders,


Cousins,


Girl Parties,


and a sister I can call to spend the morning in the sunshine with!

Here's to the end of a great maternity leave with my sister, and here's to more babies and more playdates on our next maternity leave together...in a very, very, very, very, very long time from now! 

You Know You're a Mom When...{Playgroup}

You Know You're a Mom When...

You see a mom from your child's playgroup at the mall, and know her son's name but not hers.


You have kept your favorite babysitter 
a secret from other mothers in your playgroup.


-Anonymous



The weather is gorgeous here...finally!  We are headed to the park.  Don't forget to check out my giveaway from Thirty One Designs.  This contest closes in two days!

* Don't forget, if you have a funny Mommy moment either comment below or email me atcheekydinheels(at)gmail(dot)com and you could be featured!



Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!


I was asked to share at my church today in honour of Mother's Day.  I thought I would share with you what I shared with them.

The Boss is God’s example to me of his faithfulness.  To say she was a surprise would be an understatement.  Shock, fear, tears, anxiety and feelings of depression all followed the appearance of a little blue line, but I am getting ahead of myself.

My husband and I met while attending Liberty University in Virginia.  After dating for nine months we got engaged and married nine months later.  We lived in Virginia for a year before moving to Canada.  Fresh out of school, like any new graduate, we felt as though we had the skills that any employer would be foolish to turn down.  Finding jobs proved to be more difficult than we originally anticipated.  Unfortunately for us, our return to Canada was perfectly timed with the worst economic down turn since the great depression.  Determine to make it on our own, we moved out of my parents house and accepted jobs working the afternoon shift at a factory.  Soon after that The Hubby accepted a job with State farm, a job that would later prove to be part of God’s perfect plan for us.  At the time, although I was excited for him, I was left in the factory alone, seeing The Hubby midnight on Fridays until Sunday.  Not the picture perfect schedule for two newlyweds literally living on love.   I was often reminded of these verses

James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


I ignored many of the traditional signs of pregnancy writing them off to stress, but when the fatigue, random carsickness, and small mood swings didn’t subside we thought we would take a pregnancy test just to be sure.  Never in a million years did I expect that I would actually be pregnant.  When the test came back positive I stared in disbelief …this couldn’t possibly be right.  I had just finished my Master’s degree, and was ready to change the world, before starting a family.  All the plans I had made would now have to change.  We didn’t own our home, I had a less than the perfect job, and Matt and I hadn’t done many of the things we planned to do before we had children.

I was not one of those lucky girls that glows throughout her pregnancy…in fact I was so far the other way I could barely look in the mirror each morning.  Morning sickness plagued me morning, noon and night.  I could often be found on the side of the road… you get the point.  I didn’t seem to be getting any breaks.  I was interviewing for jobs but the second they found out I was pregnant they ran for the hills.  Mr. D and I often questioned whether we made the right choice moving to Canada and feared the future. But God’s plans were bigger then I could ever imagine.  Four months into my pregnancy I started a job in communication and development for a camp in Muskoka. I was thrilled for this opportunity to put my schooling to use, but  even more excited that post pregnancy I would able to work from home and raise my child.
  
Again the Lord reminded me  that it was not my plan but God’s plan for me.  Part way through my maternity leave my position at Muskoka Woods changed making it impossible to work for them and raise a family.  Frustrated with my luck, I started my job search again.  This week I was offered a position at Beginning Pregnancy Care Centre fundraising and counseling women who are experiencing unplanned pregnancy’s.  God is using my gifts in fundrasing, my experience of being a mother and providing for our family in ways I would have never expected.  

God has shown his faithfulness from day one. Mr. D. and I have been so blessed with the support of family and friends.  Our parents, grandparents, and family all prayed us through my pregnancy.   Our friends supported us in ways they probably don’t even recognize.  Visiting our friends in the hospital following their baby's birth and then my sister and brother-in-law  with the birth of their baby girl a few weeks later eliminated our delivery and hospital jitters.  These veteran parents calmed our nerves and gave us advice on how to be prepared for our big day. 

God showed his faithfulness in Crestwicke’s nursery, a nursery that has virtually sat empty for years. The Boss was the third of four baby girls to be born this year.  These three babies add fresh faces in our Sunday school program and their Mommy’s have served as a support system for me.  I love exchanging milestones and clothing sales with my fellow Moms.
The Crestwicke community has also been invaluable in our lives both as Godly examples and through your support.  This congregation is full of Mother’s I desire to model my life after.   Mother’s who probably didn’t have all the answers when they got started but have trusted in the Lord to guide their steps.

I LOVE being a Mom.  God has blessed me with the most beautiful easygoing baby girl in the world.  In a season that seemed dark and scary The Boss has brought a freshness and new life. Her energy and enthusiasm reminds me daily to have faith like a child.   Everyday this little person taps me on the shoulder and says you are not in control, put today in the hands of the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5 
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

I can’t be the perfect mother, and that’s not what’s expected of me.  Some days the house is a mess and the laundry doesn’t always get done, but I’ve learned take joy in the small things and enjoy every minute with my baby girl.  I put my day in the hands of the Lord and then hold on for dear life.  I often question if I am doing the right thing or if I am a good Mother, but at the end of the day when we put on our worship music and The Boss bobs to the beat and claps her hands we know she’s a child of God’s and perfectly cared for.