On Being the Best Aunty Ever

 
(The promised better shot of the cupcake skirts)

In my attempt to be the best aunty ever I'm constantly searching for resources to help me do fun things with the babies so I can win their love forever. I stumbled upon this site that looks like it's connected to Nickelodeon called...well I'm not quite sure what the name is but it has Go City Kids and Parent's Connect at the top of the page. I haven't perused the site in it's entirety but the part I LOVE is that you type in the city you're in and it's got loads of fun stuff to do, you can search by neighborhood, indoor or outdoors and even free stuff (plus a number of other categories). Anyways I wanted to share it with you guys. You can get to there here.


This week we went to a neat pool that had a water slide and crazy fountains. Tira had loads of fun on the slide and Lanna threw a fit when we took her out despite the fact that her lips were turning blue.

Do any of you guys have some good resources to share, or fun outings ideas?

p.s. I LOVE the Halloween costume ideas, keep em coming.

The Things I Pack These Days and Something For the Locals

I just thought my stack of things to take out the door was funny and telling of my new life with my nieces near.
-new skirts (for them to wear to the cupcake social, see below. I love how they turned out, I'll post better pictures later)
-cheap shirts (that I was going to freezer print but am not sure I'll get to before they grow out of the sizes so they can wear them with the skirts)
-swim diapers (we're going to the slide pool woohoo).
-mini m&m's (to bribe Tira to get in her car seat, not freak out, etc.)


Anyways yes you heard me right there will be a cupcake social at my favorite local boutique. I've got some of my stuff over at Frosty Darling already, but I'm working on restocking the supply and bringing some fun cupcake stuff over. In the stack for the nieces you see a sneak peek of some of the new skirts I'm revealing down there (others will hit my etsy shop for the update later this week). The shop (frosty darling that is) is SO cute, like seriously you need to go there!

But yeah if you're around Salt Lake come on down. There will be cupcakes and fun activities. 177 East Broadway (300S) Salt Lake City, Utah. I hope to see some of you there.

Shop News

Just wanted to do some house keeping and let you all know about some things to come.

1). The next shop update will happen at the end of the week. I'll be adding a bunch of new stuff to the baby/clothing shop. I'll have new rufflers, skirts, and grown up dresses. I'll start adding on Friday until I get everything listed.

2). I will be out of town from the 7th to the 18th of August. This shouldn't effect anyone one who orders clothing (since my usual turnaround is 1-2 weeks before shipping). But it will mean that fabric buyers who order during that time will have to wait until I get back for things to ship. If for some reason I get a huge flux in orders I may close my shop until I get back since I will only have a week to sew things up. If you want something made before I leave you should order it by August 4th and I should be able to make and ship it before I leave (I'll let you know if this changes).

3). I want to make a few more Halloween costumes and I'd love some ideas. Somethings I'd love are things that kiddos may wear throughout the year to play dress up. I'm loving the Fancy Nancy dress for that reason. But let me know if you have any ideas. I've found I get the best costume ideas from custom orders and suggestions.

Hot Heat Dresses

I just couldn't bear the heat anymore. So I made some dresses. It is the first weekend in ages, at least 6 months if not longer, that I haven't had the stress of something imminently due on my shoulders. And it was nice. Nice is an understatement. The Navy dress (which is my favorite of the bunch) has been cut out for I kid you not, OVER A YEAR. Can you tell sewing for myself is far and few between. It seems like if I'm not sewing for the shop I've got some little number I want to make for the nieces. Anyways. Here are three new dresses just for me. I love that they stretch with me and they are thin, perfect for this Utah heat. On the button up ones, this time around I sewed the flap down so it doesn't really unbutton (my one from last year permanently lives with safety pins to keep the holes closed and keep me from tearing the fabric in the bottom buttonhole). I'm loving this little improvement. I put more pics on my flickr so you can see different angles there.

Any ways I'll be adding both the button up dresses to my shop sometime this week. So you can get your very own if that interests you. Also the really pretty yellow and pink fabric is available in my fabric shop if you're imagining some other use for it. I would love to add the navy dress too but I bought that fabric ages ago so if I happen to be lucky enough to find more of that fabric I'll add it to the shop. If not I'll add some in that style but of a different print.

Take my advice, make something nice for yourself next time you get a free minute!

p.s. I have a strong feeling that one of those navy style different print dresses may just make an appearance as a giveaway item in the near future.

Prepare to be Refreshed: Minted Watermelon Lemonade Shakes

I restrained myself from buying another watermelon at the grocery store today only because I still have peaches, grapes and blueberries to finish up. errr. But last week I made one of these babies almost every afternoon. And they were so, so good. And seriously my trainer at the gym noticed that I had eaten less calories this past week and I think this was a main reason, this was my afternoon snack and it made barely a dent in my daily calorie count. So without further delay the recipe....

Minted Watermelon Lemonade Shakes

For 2 big tall overflowing glasses or 3 smaller glasses

2 C Watermelon puree/juice
1/3 C Sugar/Splenda syrup
1 tray of ice cubes
Juice of 1 lemon

Blend it all up and add more lemon or sugar water if you need. Smush up a couple mint leaves throw them in a glass, pour the ice mixture, stir and enjoy.

Sugar Syrup
Dissolve on the stove water and sugar (or I used splenda) in equal proportions and cool. (I did 1 C water and 1 C Splenda) it went pretty fast.

Watermelon Puree/Juice
I used one of those baby watermelons because I just don't have the space for a humungo guy.
Scoop watermelon into blender, blend like crazy, strain into a container to store.

Contacted By Their Lawyer

So they told me I need to stop using the "golden arches" in my costumes. The official letter from the lawyer came today. Booo. I'll just make them without the "M". And of course people are welcome to add their own golden arches to their fries costume at home since it's a matter of selling things with their trademark. And I totally understand it's their right and I won't sell anymore with the arches I just think it's kinda of sad.

What's even more annoying is that we, that is the music maker and I have some copyright history with McDonald's. You know the Badabababa tune that they've been using in ALL their commercials for these past many years. Well maybe a year or two before their first commercial featuring that tune aired my hubby released an album (a real national release with a record label, not just a local thing) with the exact same tune. Errr. So here we are already feeling like they've stolen from us and they can't just shrug off a dinky business like mine making cute costumes that gives them free advertising. Lame. And it's not like we could really go after them about the song stuff since the copyright belongs to the record label who we know weren't compensated for the theft. Yup.

Don't believe me. Let's compare. While they've morphed the tune recently a tad style-wise (which doesn't matter for copyright reasons), the original was disturbingly similar. But of course I can't find any recent McDonald's commercial's on YouTube, but really who hasn't heard it? I just wish I could show you the original version because it's almost identical. It's not just a matter of notes, but style and music and the whole bit of the original commercial.

So there you go as much as I love their fries and nuggets the business part of McDonald's is some of the lamest on earth for their lovely double standard.

Show and Tell: Birthday Bean Bags

 

We had a first birthday party to attend this weekend so I made up some little bean bag goodies. They spell out the letters of the birthday boy's name and I added little "ears" for some added quirkiness. These were super fun to make and hopefully will be fun to play with for little Stryder. I was totally running out of time so I filled them with lentils haha they were the only dried bean like substance I had on hand.



Let me know if any of you want a little tutorial and I'll make up another set for Tira and Lanna. It's pretty easy and a great way to use up scraps if you're a fabric hoarder like me.

Makes me feel like laying on a lazy beach

More treasury love, this time from Elde. Visit the treasury here to see the items up close and access the live links to all these goodies.

Giveaway: 3.5 inch Japanese Fabric Square Pack (closed)

Okay, okay I sense that my Harry Potter obsession is not shared with the rest of you so to make up for boring you guys to death I'm doing a fabric giveaway.

I came home to a big box of Japanese fabrics that I was under the impression were totally sold out. Luckily my supplier had some left woohoo. So the fabric shop is now stocked with three new Japanese prints. Brown and Black Three Little Pigs and more of the Yellow Woodland Animals.



What I'm giving away is this awesome set of 3.5 inch fabric squares. There are over 35 squares in the pack and they are all so adorable and unique. These would be perfect in a quilt or for those craft projects that take smaller pieces of fabric (maybe dolls or covered buttons or paper piecing, so many options).

To enter to win this fabric pack:
1) Link back to this blog post on your blog (or other internet thing-y). Click here to create a link if you use blogger other wise make a post as you normally would. As always feel free to(and I would love it if you would) use my pictures for giveaway posts. To enter by posting to your facebook if you're not already a fan of RaeGun on facebook just become a fan and then post a link to this giveaway in your facebook status. Get an extra entry if you follow my blog for the first time (see the little widgets to the left for both)
2) Comment on this post telling me where you linked the post or that you became a fan or follower. And please make sure I have a way to contact you (ex. if your blog/profile is private leave your email address). Remember you can enter multiple times if you link back in multiple places and for this giveaway you'll get an extra entry if you follow my blog for the first time. Please make a comment for every entry.

For more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post.

This giveaway is open until 7/31/09

Customer Appreciation Pic and More Potter Discussion

Another cute photo. I sure love them. Keep 'em coming it really is amazing the power one silly little picture of a baby I totally don't know can really brighten my day. She's wearing the Alice in Wonderland dress one of my personal faves.

Now onto The Half-Blood Prince. I've got completely mixed feelings. Of course I liked it because I love all things Harry Potter but there was just something off about this movie. Or maybe a few things off.

1). I know it was 3 hours long but it felt like it went fast. I felt like I was just watching a piddly outline and so much story was missing.
2). There were weird and unnecessary changes that I didn't get and that I think make a difference.
3). I'm weirded out by the ending

Okay enough geeking out for now. I've got a couple of giveaways planned but I need to make the goods, I should get at least one sewn up this Friday. I've just trying to do a bit of post-vacation catch up. I really do need to get away more often.

Okay last bit of geeking, I'm putting spoilers in the comments, if you'd like to discuss you're thoughts on the movie (whether they align with mine or not), I feel like I need some good discussion. The musicmaker and I are both a bit confused.

Potter Countdown

It was a wonderful break being up in Wyoming with no cell phone or internet reception. Just the impossibility of being able to check things and worry about it all was such a release that I really needed. I feel refreshed and ready to get back to things.

And what is better to welcome me back to real life by the next Harry Potter movie. I chose this poster because I'm still bitter that they switched release dates with the Vampire movie with Cedric. Yup but it is finally here! I've got my tickets and I'm ready to enjoy, just one more short day of anticipation.

Customer Appreciation Pic and a Trip

 

So I'm off until Monday night. No internet, no cell phone, eek this might be weird. I have dreams of relaxing and organizing my pictures (yes that's what I want to do on vacation). After a wee bit more sewing we will hop in the car and venture to Wyoming, I've never been there so we will see but at the very least it will be a break and after the last couple months I need one bad.

I've got fun things planned for after my trip (including more giveaways and tutorials) but for now enjoy this little one in her retro ruffler. Seriously, aren't her checks so stinking cute?

p.s. those of you I've contacted about winning my giveaways, I'll be popping those goodies in the mail when I get back there's just been to much to do pre-trip.

More Treasury Love

The lovely Fancy Fiber contacted me to let me know she had featured my little dress in this treasury. Visit it up close with live links to each of the items by clicking here.

Show and Tell: Fourth of July Festivities

 

I am exhausted. I've been sewing pretty much non-stop minus going to a couple Independence Day celebrations. Gosh being sick for a week just wrecks things. I'm still thrashing to get caught up and ahead, since we're taking off for a couple days this next weekend. On top of orders this weekend was crazy busy. Fourth of July of course but also my nieces got baptized and my inlaws celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. I am tired. I've got pics to share of the baptism dresses (that I happen to be very proud off) but we'll have to wait for me to get a chance to sort through pictures and edit.

For now I wanted to share Tira's fourth of July dress, that I love. It's a new design for me (a totally last minute throw it together deal) and it was a big hit with Tira. I do believe she'll be getting a number of these little dresses and maybe some top versions for playing in. And I'm definitely going to think of ways to use this design in the shop. Okay I hope everyone else had a great weekend.


(I just had to share this stink eye picture)

I also want to remind you that there are two giveaways open (see the left column) finishing off my month of weekly giveaways. I'm definitely going to do more giveaways because that was loads of fun. So that's what's going on here.

Giveaway and Tutorial: Fabric Headbands (Closed)

If you're like me you have great ideas and grand plans but you find yourself the day before holidays and birthdays thinking eek I was going to make that to wear or that to give and so on and so on. So here's a little tutorial for you last minute folks. Seriously not counting the creative part (which to be honest is most fun) these take maybe 15 minutes to make and are easy peasy.

So to celebrate Independence day I'm giving away all three of these headbands and I'm going to give a little tutorial for the Fourth of July one since I won't be able to ship the headband to you in time haha, save it for next year or if you're in Utah Pioneer Day (it's a weird as you might be thinking but so fun) or Labor day I guess. Just skim down for giveaway options if you are not so craftily inclinded.

The Tutorial


(you should be able to click on the image to make it bigger)

1. Cut your fabric I like the skinny end to be 1.5 inches and the fat one to range from 2.5 to 3 but bigger is cute to. The length when folded should be somewhere between 8 and 10 inches. Cut two layers.
2. To get the bottom layer to stick out trim the sides down a bit on the top layer.
3. Unfold and position the layers, both right sides up.
4. Sew the sides together
5. Hold the headband over your head and guess how much elastic you will need (it should be the space that's left to go around your head minus about an inch) usually I do about 4 inches and it's good. Sizing takes practice. You could be all mathy and measure and calculate but isn't it more fun to unpick stitches haha.
6. sew the elastic in one side (either stuff it in between the layers of fabric or just underneath). And do it to both sides
7. Cut slivers of fabric to make a firework flower, layer them.
8. Sew down the flower just sew a couple lines turning the head band to take the "petals"
9. Wear, eat delicious bbq and if you're an American be grateful for those who fought for our freedom.

The Giveaway
To enter to win these three:
1) Link back to this blog post on your blog (or other internet thing-y). Click here to create a link if you use blogger other wise make a post as you normally would. As always feel free to(and I would love it if you would) use my pictures for giveaway posts. To enter by posting to your facebook just become a fan of RaeGun and then post a link to this giveaway in your facebook status. Get an extra entry if you follow my blog for the first time (see the little widget to the left)
2) Comment on this post telling me where you linked it or that you became a fan or follower. And please make sure I have a way to contact you (ex. if your blog/profile is private leave your email address). Remember you can enter multiple times if you link back in multiple places and for this giveaway you'll get an extra entry if you follow my blog. Please make a comment for every entry.

For more info on these giveaways and to see a list of past winners see this post.

This giveaway is open until 7/18/09

Happy Fourth of July!
p.s. don't forget the shorts giveaway ends tomorrow

Ohdeedoh and Me

 

Um yeah that's right they published my little Great Outdoors entry. Ohdeedoh is an incredibly fun site that features all kinds of cool kid focused home stuff. It's a branch of Apartment Therapy which has a bunch of different and fun foci (yeah I said foci, but I can't think of another word that applies so I'll just feel nerdy). Go visit the post and see the others and enter your own if you want.

Oh I should note my write up is kinda sparse and has a typo cause I left the window with the entry form open since I needed to take more pictures and then next thing I knew some apartment therapy folks were emailing saying I needed 3 more pictures, oops somehow it got submitted before I was finished and to be honest until today I didn't remember what I wrote but I definitely had planned to edit and write more. Oh well. It's still super cool!