30 Days of Thankful: Week 1

The Project:

This year I am joining in with Cathy Zielske's yearly project and capturing 30 things I am grateful for, one each day for the month of November.   I am also linking up with her first Gratitude Friday.  It goes without saying that I am thankful for my family, friends, faith, etc. and that I am thankful every day of the year.  My hope is that this will capture small moments of gratitude during this month, which is especially geared toward remembering to be thankful.

The Plan:

I have decided to use Cathy's Thirty Days of Thankful Layered Templates No. 02, because they are designs to be 6X4 and can easily be developed in a standard photo size and slipped into my Project Life Album.  I am debating between doing that and using a green S.E.I. preservation album to make a mini.  I was actually more inspired by the 6X6 sized templates but then decided that for practicality and ease I really should stick to 6X4 so it's more likely I'll actually do something with these when November is over.

My plan is to do a trial print at Costco, but due to previous experiences with them, I think I'll probably end up sending these off to Persnickety Prints.  Costco is okay for every day prints but Cathy's templates have a nice white border, and I want it to be even on each side. I've found that when I try printing digital elements on my photos and send them to Costco they aren't aligned properly.  I haven't actually used Persnickety before but have heard really good things about them.

The Photos + Words, Week 1:

Going to at least one FELD production each fall has become a tradition for my family ever since I joined their local blogger promotion team.  We've seen ice, stage, and the circus - each has been a fantastic experience!  My daughter has wonderful memories of seeing all her favorite Disney characters and this year we took the little guy for the first time. 

Day 2 coincided with our dating anniversary, it's been 19 years together and over 13 years of marriage.  I am truly blessed to have found my soul mate so early in life and to have the benefit of his love and support every day!

Last Sunday we had our much postponed photo session with a local photographer and friend.  The weather has been finicky around here and we finally had a nice sunny day.  It's been a real challenge to capture a good portrait quality photo of the little guy.  He is SO busy ALL the time!  I can't get him to stand still and smile at the same time.  I was thankful to have the opportunity to call in professional back up.  We had our session and I'll pop in one of the photos into this template when our photo CD arrives, I can't wait!  I'm excited to get it, I saw the previews on her camera and she got some great ones.

We are having to wash LB's crib sheet and pajamas every day.  I often find him wet when he gets up and again after nap.  He's discovered how to unzip his sleeper and it's been a frustrating time for me every since.  I can't get him to leave it alone, and you know what I mean by "it", don't you?  Other moms of little boys tell me this shall pass, and as far as I am concerned it can't go by fast enough!

As the second load was going in on Day 4 and I was grumbling about it, I remembered how awful it was when we had to use the laundry mat for awhile when subletting in Berkeley and then use coin operated community laundry facilities at our second apartment in CA.  Instantly I was a lot more thankful to have our own washer and dryer!

I've begun dabbling into art journaling, it's just a freeing form of expression for me and who doesn't love to get a little messy?  I was prepping some pages with gesso when LB became very interested in what I was doing.  He wanted to paint too, and even though the thought of the mess and hassle passed through my mind I decided to let him give it a try.  I was surprised by how neatly he painted, and love his first little painting.  He has been such a physical child that most of my friends have been cautioning me that he probably won't be into all the art projects I did when E was little.  This gave me hope that he might slow down to cut & paste with me once in awhile.  I love to share my interests with my kids.

We eat out way too much and one reason why is that we're just tired of eating the same old thing over and over.  In an effort to mix things up we made a French Toast Casserole from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays.  It's good and makes a big dish so for a family of four, like us, I'd cut the recipe in half.  We're already planning what kind of fruit to mix in the next time we make it.

Yesterday, I went to help E with her daily Math Links homework sheet and the way they have the kids counting up to figure out change completely threw me for a loop.  I am glad we've got Mr. Math Guy aka Brad to come to the rescue and figure things out.  I'm equally if not more glad he'll be around to help her as math gets harder and harder.  Math has never been my strong suit.

Reflection:

And there you go, as quick as that, I have a week of moments to be thankful for.  It's been great having Cathy's handy templates to use.  I'm so glad I got those.  They definitely streamline being able to put together my daily page.  I was tempted to fiddle with things and change the font color or maybe even drop in a solid color for the background.  Then I decided to just let myself be thankful for resources and time savers.  Keeping everything basic makes this doable so I have more time to go enjoy doing the things and being with the people I have to be thankful for.  Not complicating things is a good thing as we approach the holiday season, don't you think?

Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure

Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to this show from FELD Entertainment.  The experiences and opinions related within are both personal and unbiased.  No other compensation was received.

We took my son to his very first FELD Entertainment event on Friday.  Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate and Princess Adventure was the perfect show to take him to.  He sat mesmerized during both portions of the show.  He couldn't take his eyes off the stage long enough to eat the snacks we got him, he was so enthralled! I just loved seeing his little feet bounce to the music, him waving to the characters, and clapping after each number.  It was so fun watching his enjoyment.

We did get some cotton candy in him during intermission.  Isn't he pretty darn adorable in this Jake and The Never Land Pirates "crown"?  He split this and some popcorn with big sister.  I love this so much, I'm already thinking he may have to be Jake for Halloween next year, since we've already got the perfect "hair" for it!

The night kicks off when right before the main event, there is a brief pre-show with Doc McStuffins.  It's pretty short but cute and it gets the audience excited for the start of the show. I hope that she eventually gets a bigger part in a Disney Live! production.  She's really popular with both of my kids and I know they'd love to see her again.

The show starts off with Mickey and Minnie discussing which one is the best: pirates or princesses, to a musical number.  It's a dance off, Disney style!

First up are the princesses with Sofia the First.  She's preparing for a special celebration, where she will have to present a special present to each of the guests.

But first, we have to have a couple lessons.  We are at the Royal Preparatory Academy after all!  Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather, best known as Disney's Sleeping Beauty's fairy Godmothers, lead the students in practicing their best royal behavior.

After class, Sophia's stepsister Amber tries to help her figure out what she can give to the guests and encourages her to think big, as in really BIG cupcakes,  Yikes!  That goes awry and Sophia still doesn't have a good idea!

Sophia's Amulet of Avalor helps her bring Cinderella out to help her find that the solution is to give a beautiful song, something she can sing at the celebration, a gift that comes from the heart.

The celebration is a huge success and there is a big finale during which Sofia rises up into the sky.  The use of the big screens that project onto Sofia's dress and use of backdrop graphics behind it, is especially well done during this number.  I heard lot of excited kids during this part and my daughter said it was her favorite part of the show.

After intermission, it was time for Mickey and the pirates to have their turn!

Just like on an episode of  Jake and The Never Land Pirates, Sharky and Bones were there to sing us along Act 2.  I love that duo!

For this adventure Cubby, Jake, and Izzy search for treasure, hidden by a volcano.  Only a true pirate hero can find it.  Jake is sure to by our guy!

Nothing on Never Land is every easy with Captain Hook, Mister Smee, and the rest of Hook's crew around.  They manage to steal the map to the treasure from Jake and set off to beat them to the volcano. While Hook and crew may be the baddies, I have to say I think they might have had the best number of the whole show.  I loved when Hook gets caught in a bucket and everyone ends up dancing!

As our friends Jake, Cubby, and Izzy try to reclaim the treasure map, Jake is caught!  Oh no!  Who can help get him out?  It's Peter Pan to the rescue!  He soars in through the sky and during the daring rescue there might be some sword clashing and swashbuckling.

Jake is freed, and there's a suspenseful boat race to the volcano, but those pesky pirates still manage to get to the volcano first!  However, Hook finds another old friend waiting for him, and it's not one he wants to see.  Izzy uses some of her emergency supply of pixie dust to help them fly over to rescue him.

Captain Hook realizes what it takes to be a true hero and then there's a burst of sprinkles during the final number.  It was a really upbeat and energetic end to the show, with Mickey and Minnie agreeing that it's great to be either a pirate or princess.

Both of my kids had a fabulous time at Disney Junior Live On Tour!  Pirate & Princess Adventure.  It was an outing full of Disney magic and the wonderful stage production we've come to expect and love from FELD Entertainment.  There are always amazing song & dance numbers, attention to detail, and special effects that will make your child squeal.  I think these are wonderful family outings, that create special memories for your loved ones to make together.  

Easy Fleece Lined Scarf: Featuring Wholeport Fabric, Sponsor Post

 

Here is Part 2 of the projects I made using the Twill Cotton Bedding Fabric - Purple Childhood Dream 62"*23" I received from my blog sponsor WholePort.  You may remember that I used most of it to make two new pillowcases for my daughter. 

After making them I had a long thin strip of fabric leftover. The adorable little bus scene was on it and it was too cute to throw out but I wasn't sure how to utilize it.  Then I had light bulb moment and realized it was the perfect size for a scarf!

I already had a remnant of purple fleece picked up on clearance a few years ago in my craft supplies that was perfect for the other side of the scarf, so warm and snugly for winter!  My second grader waits outside for the bus to and from school so a fleece lined scarf will be very handy this winter.
The steps to making the scarf are so simple it's almost not worth the time to write them out but I'll jot down a few step.

• Cut two equally sized pieces of fabric, one out of fleece.
• Lay right sides together.
• Stitch on three sides: one short and both long sides of the fabrics.  Leave one short side open for turning.
• With one short side open, turn the fabrics right side out and press.
• Fold down the open side of the fabric approximately one inch and press
• Top stitch around the entire perimeter of the scarf, this will close your last side.
• Press again and admire your new scarf.

 

That's really all there is to it.  I'm not really an expert at sewing but even I can do a pretty good straight stitch now so this was the perfect beginner project for me to accomplish in about 30 minutes.  The scarf was easy enough to make, that they would make nice quick handmade gifts.