My New (and Only) Belt

I have not owned a belt in at least five years.  Before that I may have had some in the back of my closet, but they never saw daylight.  During a recent girls trip, I saw a belt that I loved.  I showed my sister and she said, "yeah, mom bought one yesterday".  To which I thought...when is she going to wear this?  Then, like an echo in my head, my sister asked, "when are you going to wear that?"  Over the years, I've improved with regard to reasoning myself out of purchases that will never be used.  But I wanted this belt.  I want to add some style to my weak wardrobe.  I want to change things up a bit.  Well, just over a month later, I am proud to say I wore the belt.  I got compliments on how nice I looked too, yay!

It's a Cinch!

Check out these little cinch-top bags I made!

The pattern (I slightly modified) came from a great book: Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.  I used leftover fabric from another project.  I liked them so much, I went to Hobby Lobby for cuter fabric and ribbon!  I think I'll make some big ones to use for shoes when I travel.

A Great Vacation Spot

I am wrapping up my three day vacation at home.  My mom and sister have watched the kids before when Joel and I went on vacation.  Lately I’ve been thinking (a lot) about sending the kids to grandma’s while I stay at home.  Fun right?  I KNOW!  I have wonderful memories of spending weekends with my cousins at our grandma's house.  My boys are 5 and 2 ½ years old, and I knew they would love this idea.  But I also know how attached I am to them and they are to me. 

Have you seen the new version of Disney’s Rapunzel, Tangled?  When Rapunzel leaves the tower against her mother’s wishes, she is ecstatic one second and weeping the next.  She yells, “This is the BEST DAY EVER”, and then cries, “I’m a horrible daughter (for leaving)”.  This is how I felt when the boys rode away with grandma.  I was excited for time to myself, and I was sad to be away from them. 

While they were gone, I hoped for a nice mix of accomplishing and relaxing.  I feared over-thinking it (I often do).  What if I make a list of things to accomplish?  I would probably get overwhelmed with all the things I want to do on my list and get sucked into a three day list-making fest.  I also feared once I sat down to watch TV, it would turn into a three day veg fest.

I must say I am proud of myself.  The mix was good.  The time went fast like I knew it would.  I reminded myself no one’s list is ever done.  Enjoy the quiet.  Do what I want to do when I want to do it.  So here are just a few things I did during my vacation at home. 

I finished a pillow slipcover.  I found a super easy, super cute pattern here on the blog, Cottage Magpie.

I finished repainting star hooks for Grayson’s room, finally.  It was one of those projects that kept getting pushed aside.  

As for relaxing, I watched some first season episodes of Glee (love it).  

I know from talking to the boys each day they are having oodles of fun!  I am eager to see them and douse them with hugs and kisses.  I wonder if they will ask to stay at grandma's house longer, or if they will be ready to come home (to one of the best vacation spots EVER).