25 Days of Giving, Will You Join Us?

Here I am, a full year after making the commitment to give to another everyday for 25 days. To be honest, I was not planning on publicly mentioning it again this year but the enthusiasm and excitement of others has ignited my own. I have been contacted by a few loved ones who are making the commitment this year. I am so excited for them!

This exercise in looking outside of myself to the needs and hearts of others has truly changed the course of my life. Everything within me has changed. What I value, what I see as my reason for being, how important my little life can be. The effects have lasted long past the 25 days. I find myself thinking about the needs of others everyday now. I also see my own blessings much clearer. I want to encourage anyone thinking about doing this to DO IT! You will not be disappointed. Giving of yourself is as selfish as it is self-less. I benefited way more than anyone I gave to. So go ahead and give yourself the greatest gift this holiday season. The gift of touching the life of another for 25 straight days.

If you decide to make the commitment and care to share, I would LOVE to hear about it. I love to hear all the creative ways you find to give. Most importantly, I want to hear how this experience affected you and your family.

Wishing you all a blessed holiday season!

My family and I are committing again but I will not be blogging about it. If you want to read about last year's giving adventure, please click here.

Beyond Bliss

I don't even have words to describe the extent that my heart overflows. There is so much good stuff going on in this family of mine. I think it has something to do with the stages of life we are in. With the girls (the babies) being 4, we are able experience great adventures together. Jack is growing and maturing everyday and I think he even appreciates this old family of his every now and then. And I must give credit where credit is due, God is whispering in B's and my ear that it is time to spend serious time together and teach these children what they need to know. All these factors are creating one spectacular family experience!

This is where you'll find us most nights. On the stoop with an ice cream treat from our local seasonal ice cream shop. Playing with butterflies.

Delighting in the arrival of Mama's favorite late spring gift.

Loving each other and the time we get to spend together.

Even the pups are feelin' the love, even if they have to enjoy it behind glass.

We are blessed to be getting a Memorial Day visit from our favorite cousins. We can share some stoop love! Can't wait!

WW: The Splendors of Childhood...

and the insane joy of experiencing it again through our kids.

Mama's Day at Preschool

What an emotional wreck I have been lately. I cry at the drop of the hat. You can only imagine the state I was in when I watched my baby girls sing, recite poetry and dance all in my honor. Really, though, the honor is mine. I am beyond honored to be the mother of 4 incredible human beings.

I'm not sure what God saw in me to give me such an honor but I couldn't be happier about it.

I know I make mistakes and so often I wish I could do better, but my greatest hope is that these kids know how very much I love them.

My big guy was at school and wasn't available for this shot. I will rectify that on Sunday. Thank you for my beautiful gifts and big huge hugs. I feel like a princess this mother's day. You kids make me beyond happy!!

Monogram T-Shirt Dresses

The teachers at preschool asked the girls if they were going to dress up for the Mother's Day program. I, of course, had to make that happen but with one day til the show, I was working on a tight time frame for a shopping trip.

I bought 2 plain white Ts a couple weeks ago with these dresses in mind. I used the same basic technique as the onesie dress. These are just a bit bigger. Got 2 done in just a couple of hours and I am sure these little beauties will get lots of wear this summer.

Ella and Grace wear their monogram barrettes to school everyday. They really like them but I have been daydreaming of monogram clothing. They really loved getting dresses with their "name" in them.

I have hesitated doing this because I want them to share clothing but lately, they have decided that they want their own clothes. Can't say that I blame them. They are two very different little girls, after all.

Two very special little girls.

Last Week's Theme: Celebratin' the Boo

A birthday and huge store opening all in a week's time = lots of girly fun! It all started with a sisters trip to the spa. Boo picked the place. She did some research online and found a spot that sounded great. It wasn't so great. It was not a luxury type spa, you know, the kind you hope for for a frivolous birthday experience. It was the more therapeutic sort that caters toward women seeking women. Fret not, we made the most of it with lots of giggles, a chat in the napping nook, finished off with a claustrophobic herbal wrap and a nice massage. Sometimes laughter is the best therapy!

We then headed to a yummy french bistro for wine and a croque monsieur. More chatting, more giggles. After lunch, we stopped by Sophia, the store my sister opened with a good friend. The girls there had the nicest little birthday party set up. Too sweet!

We went home for a veg-session and then got dressed for the night.

Here is the birthday girl in her new vintage Chanel blazer. Lovely.

Good friends, good food, good fun.

4 days later, I headed back to the city for the store opening party. I didn't take any pics that night. If you are my Facebook friend, you can see photos there. I am over the moon for my little sis. Sophia is fabulous! These girls worked so hard and the opening was a huge success. If you are ever in Chicago, you must check them out (Sophia on Oak Street). It is a mix of vintage and new. There are treasures beyond comprehension in the store. Kudos ladies and a super huge congrats!!!

Fancy Schmancy Pants

Even though my space is severely limited, I have not been able to quiet the beast within that absolutely must sew in the spring. Warm weather clothing is simple to make and invites the most fun colors. My girls are not always going to be this size and so willing to wear what Mama makes for them. Can't pass this up!



Ella is in the pink. When I first put them on her, she said "Oooooo Mama, I just love my clown pants!" OK, so they may resemble what a clown wears but when you are 4, you can rock the clown look!

And for the Baby Boy on His Way...

Baby Dutch Onesies
Originally uploaded by shannonleighdesigns

Baby girls, baby boys, good heavens we are about to be blessed with all kinds of bundles of love. Can't forget about those boys. Stuff for them isn't frilly or pink, but I had just as much fun making these onesies. I can't wait to see baby Dutch in the tie!

So Many New Babies, So Little Time!

Is anyone else experiencing a baby boom? Perhaps its my age group. I tend to do things a bit ahead of schedule. Anywho, the joy of so many babies is the opportunity for so much creativity. I made this onesie dress for a baby girl soon to arrive. She also received a trio of burpies and a Tiramisu Baby Blanket. I just loved the Tiramisu pattern. So simple yet so sophisticated looking. The mama of this baby girl loved it too. That is a pattern I will use again for sure!

The flower was made using this great tutorial. It was much easier than some of the fabric flowers I have attempted...and failed at. This went swimmingly the first try. Score!

Here is a photo of the whole gift. The mama-to-be sent this photo to me in her thank you card. I was completely touched that she incorporated my gifts into her sweet princess' room and sent me a photo to see. So thoughtful. Not often that the thank you includes such a nice gift!

Recycled Recycle T-Shirt

Now if that isn't eco-friendly, I don't know what is.

I had this t-shirt in the Goodwill pile for a while. This morning I stumbled upon this post which inspired me to make use of it.

It's cute, it's comfy and it's even twirl-able. Oh, and it didn't cost a thing...except about 20 minutes of time. Gotta love that!

In My Next Life...

My princesses will one day have a party that looks a little something like this. Holy inspiration! I am amazed at the lengths some crafty mamas will go. Totally incredible and so memorable for those girlies!

Welcome Baby Brooks!

OK so I am a couple of months behind on this welcome message. My dear friend, Aunt Shelly had the most beautiful baby boy in January. We didn't know what she was having so I waited to start his gift until he arrived and revealed himself.

I made him a Retro Sport Sweater from the Subime Third Little Hand Knit book. I am over the moon for every pattern in this book. I suppose that is a good thing since there is some kind of baby boom going on in my life right now. NOT in my house, I should clarify.

This is made with Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK. It is light and scrumptiously soft. I hope that he will wear it on cold evenings this spring and summer.

Spring Fever

This post inspired me to give the rose clip tutorial a try. I was so happy with my little rose that I went on to make a few more spring inspired hair clips.

Aside from a knitting project that I will share soon, creativity has been at a minimum lately. I am finding myself stir crazy far too often. Cleaning house just isn't a satisfying outlet. This quick yet colorful project was just what the doctor ordered.

And my girlies were happy too.

Swelling with Pride

This boy showed incredible courage and strength and his mother can hardly contain herself.

We signed up for a taekwondo tournament not having any idea what that would entail. All we knew is that Sam's favorite person, Master Yu, asked him to be a member of his team. As it turned out, Sam would have to do his orange belt form and break 2 boards in front of hundreds of people. As soon as my newly minted 6 year old found out what was expected of him, he did what any newly minted 6 year old would do, he completely melted down. He sobbed and begged to go home. If I know one thing about my sweet Sam, it's that when he has decided he is not going to do something, he is absolutely NOT going to do it. I could say nothing to convince him so I told him that we could leave as soon as he went and told Master Yu...by himself. He begged me to do it but I told him that it was his responsibility alone.  

I don't know what Master Yu said or did but I didn't see my boy for the next couple of hours. He sat down on the floor with his team and decided that he would stay and compete. He got up...alone...in front of two hundred people and did what he needed to do. He was nervous and needed a little help but he did it. He earned 18 points for his Earth team and a trophy and medal for himself. 


It was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears of pride and love. He fought his fear and didn't let it get the best of him. I can't say that I would have been able to do that at 6 years old, or 16 for that matter.

I promised him that if he cheered on his team and completed his competition, we would get celebratory ice cream. Boy, did that twist cone with sprinkles taste good...especially with the medal around his neck.

No Real Subject

How sad is that? I have been away so long that I can't even think of a proper title for this post. I'm hoping this is like riding a bike, it will all come back to me. 

So I was in the city with my sweet sis last weekend. She gave me a whole lot of grief for the contents of this blog of late. I believe the direct quote was "It's snowing glitter?? What the bleep is that????" She was harsh but appropriately so. I have had a few people tell me that they come by and are disappointed at my lack of content. Just the push and encouragement I needed....I hope.

Much is going on around here. Most importantly, it is my baby boy's 6th birthday today. We have so many celebrations planned. They will still be going on 2 weeks from now. Today started with a Dunkin' Donuts run and will continue with a boys' trip to the barber (always a good time), a run by Toys R Us,  followed by a pick up of our good buddies for lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. Not too bad for celebration number one on your 6th birthday.

In other exciting yet scary news, we are going to attempt to sell our house. Sources say that the market is picking up so hopefully it won't take a million months to sell. I have never done this before let alone with 4 kids and 2 dogs so wish me luck...I'm gonna need it! Why are we choosing to move in a hideous real estate market, you might be wondering? Because we are busting at the seams over here and while it may be near impossible to sell, it is heaven for the buyer....which we hope to be very soon.

Due to the listing of the house, the Nook had to be disassembled.  This is what it used to look like...on a good day. Today it looks like this:

The general public would probably prefer a gym to a crafty nook. I wish this gym was as exciting to me. Can't say that I have used it one time. But this is all for the greater good so I am fine with it.

Here is what I have left. One drawer of fabric, a bit of yarn and my machine. Sorting through my mess was liberating. I donated A LOT of yarn and fabric and while it was hard to see how much I had spent, I was relieved to accept and move on. AND I haven't bought a single craft item since. I think I may be cured of my hoarding tendencies...knock on wood.

Still so much more to report. I will be back soon....I promise!

Such a Long Absence

So very much to report but simply no time...or energy. The Nook has been dismantled. I have only the bare essentials to work with for a while. Needed to make things look neat and tidy. Will share more later.

House is full with 6 kids this week. Beautiful nephews visiting while parents get some much needed R&R. Trying to keep my head above water with puke and coughs, Taekwondo and hockey, school and homework, friends and tons of fun. All good (minus the sickies) just really busy.

In past weeks, visited Mexico and the Wisconsin Dells, big boy's hockey team earned title of division champions, little boy became an orange belt, girls along for the ride and sweet as angels. Hope to share pictures and stories soon. Real soon.

It's Snowing Glitter

What an amazing treat! We woke up to glitter falling from the sky. The winter in the Midwest is often less than desirable, especially after New Years. We have been suffering through grey skies and sub-zero temps but this morning is enough to lift anyone's spirits.


My photos don't come close to doing it justice. It is almost magical. Bright sunshine and fairy dust fluttering to a fine layer on the ground.

Happy Saturday to you. I hope this day is a magical one for you too!

What the????

Sorry about the text situation on the last post. Not sure what happened but I can't seem to fix it without starting all over and since my wireless is patchy, I am not going to do that. Oh well, you get the picture even through the wonky text.

Yummy, Yummy

Even though I have to squeeze myself into a bathing suit in the next few days, I can't resist really yummy food. And I can't resist sharing really yummy food either. Wish I could beam you some of this Star Trek style but, alas, I cannot. Next best option, pass along the recipe so you can make some for yourself. And I highly recommend you do!

This is Paula Deen's Baked Spaghetti. I have been eating my Grandma's baked spaghetti for as long as I can remember. This recipe gives Gram a run for her money. My hubby has eaten it for the last three days and hasn't ceased complimenting me since. That alone makes it worth the effort!

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This next one is compliments of the lovely Katie over at Philigry. She posted this recipe before and I made it with the kids. We all loved these Whoopie Pies (just saying the name is good fun). She reminded me of them this week so we busted out the crisco and cocoa once again. I highly recommend this sweet treat. Go ahead, make some Whoopie. Your family will love you for it!

Whoopie Pie

Blahhhhhh...

That is how I feel. I think the gloomy, cold winter weather is getting to me. Is it spring yet? B and I are off to Mexico in two weeks and I am not even especially excited about that. Sad, I know but just goes to explain the extent of my blahs. My sis assures me that I will become giddy when I am packing my flip-flops and sundresses in a few days. I know I will but I really can't wait for flowers in my yard and playing outside with my kiddos. I am so looking forward to summer adventures and lazy days free of schedules and homework. Ahhhhhhh, makes me smile to think about it.

The blahs are zapping my zest. I am a dreamer and when I have no dream, I feel....well, blah. I wish that dream maker inside would stick around permanently. It's a real bummer when she takes a vaca. Any suggestions on how to woo her back? I am quite sure that a little Nook organization would help. My muse cannot function in my disfunction. Truth is that my blahs have stolen my motivation. Guess I got to push on through. Sometime you just have to make things happen for yourself. I'm off to give that a go.

One of Life's Most Valuable Lessons...

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in Posy's case, when the groomer shaves you bald, wear cashmere!

This was a cashmere J.Crew sweater in it's last life. I took it apart a long time ago with hopes of reusing the yarn. The yarn is way to fine so I gave up and stuck it in a basket in the nook. Poor Posy girl has been shivering since she lost her hair. Upon doing some research I stumbled upon this FAB tutorial. I have already told you how very much I love tutorials and the people who create them.

Anywho, 30+ minutes in the nook and, voila, warm, cozy and very chic little naked pup. Note the little lace ruffle at the bottom. I think she will feel a bit better now that her bits and pieces are covered. No self-respecting woman should be forced show off her goods.

You Know What They Say About Karma...

Poor, poor Posy. She distinctly resembles that frightening looking cat in the last post. She went into the groomer fluffy and cute and came out like this. I guess all the snow rolling and blankie snuggling caused her to become quite matted. I suppose I deserve it for the smack talking I did. Touché.

Just a Real Funny Story

A couple of weeks ago, I took my big dog to the groomer at PetCo. He has only been there a handful of times but he was in deep need of a bath and all the works. I had to get Tuck signed in before they could take him back for his spa treatment. A poor unsuspecting man and his two young sons walked in and received a warmer welcome than they may have been wanting.

Now I will make no excuses for my big dog or myself. We are ill-behaved. We got Tucker as a puppy and two months later, found out I was pregnant with the twins. Needless to say, obedience was low on our list of priorities at the time. So now he is perfect at home but when we get him out, the fact that he has not been trained properly becomes evident.

So maybe he jumped up....once or twice. And there is a possibility that in his excitement he may have, but my memory is fuzzy, slobbered a bit. He for sure shed a LOT since that is part of the reason we were there in the first place. Like I said, terribly ill-behaved. The man was appalled. That is the only word I can use to describe the look on his face. He asked me if I really meant to have a dog like that. Like perhaps it was all a big mistake. He then told his two young sons, who looked equally as appalled, that this is what you get if you really want a dog. The look on the boys' faces was priceless. They had the good graces not to say it out loud in front of me, shocking based on the statements of their father, but their faces said loud and clear "No daddy, we don't want a dog at all!"

They turned around and walked back out the door they came in and I chuckled to myself. Don't get me wrong, I was embarrassed by Tuckers ill-behavior but what do you expect when you walk into the PetCo grooming shop? I turned back to the gal signing us in and happened to notice a frightening sight on the grooming table. A cat with no hair. I don't mean the super cool sphinx cats that are naturally hairless. I mean a long haired cat with no hair except on it's poofy head and floofy tail. Immediately I wondered if the cat had run in with a skunk or perhaps a really big wad of bubble gum. I asked the groomer why the cat was bald. He said some people just like it like that. Then it hit me. The bald, long-haired cat belonged to the man who walked in and met Tuck. Ahhhhhhh, it all made sense now. I did, for my pride's sake, confirm that it was the man's cat. I could certainly see why my dog was nothing but appalling to the man with the naked cat.

A Granny a Day

I few weeks back I ran into the lovely blog of a woman with a deep love for crochet. She makes gorgeous things, inspires with photos of gorgeous things and says gorgeous things. My fave, "Things seem a little bit better after a granny square". I nearly fell out of my chair. I totally agree!! What is it about those little squares? They are quick. They are easy. You can make them bold and colorful or simple and monotone. You can express your creativity in a matter of minutes and call it complete. Then, after a couple dozen are finished, you sew them together and have a work of art that adorns your home and warms your family. Perfection!

I saw a button on Anna's sidebar and knew immediately that I was all in! A Granny a Day is the challenge. All us crazy granny-makers can link up and find each other. I have a few projects in the works and very little spare time so one a day is probably not going to happen but the rules clearly state that there are no rules...even better! Love this granny-along and I can't wait to meet some fellow granny lovers!

My first installments: A Big and a Little

And this little collection of crochet goodness is for a project that goes with the following photo.


A sneak peek at a very exciting development. I will devulge as soon as I can finish the project. Here's a hint, it's a redecorating project that makes me smile everyday!

Playing Catch Up

I am been MIA, haven't I? I haven't posted any Christmas pictures, told you about our new year's surprise or posted any handmade Christmas photos. I got a lovely gift from my sweet darling hubby this year too. Jeesh, I am gonna have to pick it up over here!

So much to share but first things first. I handmade a couple of gifts this year. You have already seen the kitchen towels I made for my step-mother-in-law. She was here around Thanksgiving and told me how much she loves using flour sack in the kitchen. I decided to make her flour sack towels a little prettier. After I made hers, I made some for myself. She's right, these towels are great! Super absorbant and they dry really quickly. (Not really a gift. Well, a gift for myself)

For my mother-in-law, I made the cutest (if I do say myself) apron. I found this pattern at JoAnn. It is a vintage pattern that they are re-printing. I had to tackle my sister because she seriously thought about stealing it before I could gift it. She wanted to wear it as a dress for new years... think Carrie Bradshaw. I insisted that a dress version needed to close in the back lest her rump be exposed. Even Carrie Bradshaw covered her rump....I think. I promised a more appropriate apron dress in the future. She didn't believe me...perhaps rightfully so. Anywho, here she is modeling for me.

This Cheeky little hat went to my gorgeous sister. Sorry, the photo is on my other computer and I am waaayyyy to lazy to move right now:) Pattern available on ravelry.

And my lovely sister in law got a pair of Toast.

It was a good crafty Christmas. Not great because I didn't make many gifts but good because I managed to eek out a few and I was stress-free. Perfect!