Ugh...

Well...I have been gone from the blog-a-sphere but I have not forgotten.  I have been "crazy" busy. Haha.  October, November, and sometime even December are so crazy most days I can't speak in completely sentences.  I stay up to late, get up to early, and have more going on than is humanly possible to keep up with.  With God's good graces some how we make it work.  But like I said before some things have to suffer.
So now I will explain some of the things we have been up to.  My computer crashed a few weeks ago and so I lost all of my wonderful pictures,  I have two shows with my sewing business on the 19th and one on the 20th,  a few custom orders,  I started coaching again 3 days a week, and I decided to take on a second home business selling jeans.  Not to mention feeding, wiping, refereeing, and loving my 3 boys.  And being a wife.  Throw in bible study,preschool, and soccer.  And well you get the idea.
So with my free time I have decided to sit and stare at the computer..................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................

How to make the toilet paper pumpkin

These wonderful little decorations are perfect and could be useful ; )  No sewing required. To begin you will need the following items...
1. a small stick or twig 4 or 5 inches long
            I sent my boys to the park to pick up a few sticks.
2. a 6 inch piece of ribbon
3. a roll of toilet paper
4. a bit of unrolled toilet paper (from another roll) for stuffing
5. and finally a 24 inch square piece of fabric

Putting it all together
 Lay out your fabric and place the toilet paper roll in the center.  Lay the loose toilet paper around the roll (this will give the pumpkin some shape).

Then starting with a corner begin pushing the fabric into the center of the roll.  *make sure the fabric is not tight.  Leaving it a bit loose around the bottom gives it a better shape.











Finish stuffing all the edges into the center.

Next tie the ribbon around the stick.

Finally push the stick into the middle of the roll with the fabric.  It will be a tight fit but this is good because it will hold the stick in place.  

Make one or make many.  They are great for decorating and giving as gifts to teachers, friends, and family.  

So....

 I have been practicing and trying to figure out this whole blogging thing.  And I have noticed that I spend my day dreaming and thinking about what I should put on my blog and how should I write it.  I have only thus far come up with things in our lives which would be fine except I am supposed to be writing about sewing.  I love sewing and I love to create and work with my hands.  I guess I would say that is my gift.  When I am working with my hands in any way (except to cook) I am free.  My mind can wonder...dream.  I find my own little world or place of sanity (which is often hard to find amongst the chaos that is home.)  So I will and plan on posting tutorials on how to make a few different items but until then here are a few pictures of what I have been up to.

Custom yoga mat bag with embroidered initials.

circle skirt.

Hooded towel

Limited edition sock zebra.  My own spin off of the sock monkey

Custom embroidery.

Little toilet paper pumpkins

The Big Fresno Fair!

Well we made it to the fair.  I love the fair.  I love the exhibits and the animals and especially the food.  It is hard to make it through with 3 little boys but we did it.  I have decided that I WILL be entering something in the fair next year.  I just have to decide what... Here are a few fun shots of what we ate because that is what's most important. 

The Zucchini Winnie.  The most wonderful thing to happen to corn dogs.  Yum!

Boy 3 working on some sweet potato fries

Boy 2 couldn't take the excitement

Banana Boat.  

Chocolate Face

And you just can't go to the fair without your boots.

The Cherry Auction and flea market

The Cherry Auction!  So I used to go the flea market quite often and enjoy the wonderful food, interesting booths, and great finds.  But I haven't been in so long I had forgotten how much I loved it.  At the Cherry Auction you can buy things from chickens (live), amazing produce, clothes, houses, furniture, bikes, strollers, toys, fabric, dishes, cars and so so much more.  

Agua fresca!  my favorite.

Central Plaza was huge

Bacon wrapped hot dogs

jeans for girls with curves

Barbie!

Pan dulce "El Pan!" from the back of a truck

So being new to blogging, and all, I broke one of the cardinal rules...go no where without your camera.  So I apologize these were all taken with my phone.

I can't wait to go again next week!

How to loose postpartum weight and how a mother can generally stay in shape.

I am asked occasionally "how did you loose the baby weight so fast?" and "how do you stay in shape?" and normally I answer with "I don't do anything".  But that I must confess is a lie.  I know this because while I was mowing the lawn with a 21lb 8month old on my back I was thinking man my body is tired.  So here it is my fool proof way to looking great and saving some money.

Cancel your gym membership, cancel the yard service, and stop going to the tanning salon I have the answer you have been looking for.  In the money you will save you need to invest in a few pieces of exercise equipment.  You will need a lawn mower, sheers, a hedge trimmer, a edger, one shovel, and one rake.  Then the next step is to dress in a tank top and shorts so that while you work on the yard you can also work on your tan.  (I would save mowing the lawn in your bikini for the back yard as the neighbors probably don't need that kind of a show).  And get to work.  For more of a butt and leg workout try wearing a baby on your back.  If you don't have a baby I am sure a friend or neighbor would be more than happy to let you use theirs for a bit.
So you might be thinking well the yard only needs to be worked on every week or every other week so what do I do on the off weeks well here is a list of a few options: clean off the roof, clean out the gutters, prune all the trees, I think you get the idea.
Oh and no excuses if you live an apartment complex I am sure the yard people will be more than happy to let you help them out.  (just kidding, they will probably think you are crazy).

But there it is the most wonderful way to staying fit.  And having a great looking yard.