gravel pit

We love our backyard. The more we work on it, the more I'm ready to put up a tent and live back there. We have thought about adding a sandbox but with the amount of outdoor cats in our neighborhood, it probably is a bad idea. Looking into natural playspaces and I remembered gravel pits! We took out the bushes around the tree that Elinor loves to run laps around and started the process of a rock pit. 

 The whole process didn't take too long or cost too much. We laid down some weed control fabric. It has holes so water won't collect. We ended up using 22 bags pea gravel and lined the whole thing with garden wall blocks.

 The gravel pit was finished in time for Elinor's half birthday party. The kids loved it! It even feels like our backyard is bigger now.

Now who wants to come over for a playdate?

Hearts

The other day Elinor made a valentine for her daddy. We used a toilet paper roll, bent it into a heart and used it as a stamp. I love doing crafts with her even though they only last a few minutes for now.

Happy Valentines day!

Fourth St Shop

I've added more to the shop. Check them out

Child/adult red and pink neck warmer. Adjustable button to fit most sizes. Length 20". $12 shipped.

3-6mon (14-17") crocheted baby hat. $15 shipped.

Child/adult (42") crocheted infinity scarf. $12 shipped.

3" flower hair clip. $8 shipped

Sparkly white and silver flower hair clip 3". $8 shipped

pinning

I've been pinning away ideas for Elinor's birthday parties. Yes parties, she's having one here and one in Philadelphia. The one in Philadelphia I don't think I will be able to do as much DIY crafts as I want to since we will be traveling but I want to try.
Yesterday we had the day planned out but when Elinor went down for nap before we planned, I decided to stay home and start on some crafting while Dave ran errands. She ended up sleeping for 3 hours! It was so nice to have that time completely to myself and work on things. I even tested out making her sugar free smash cake tonight. I'm not sure about the frosting so if anyone has any suggestions feel free to share!

(J Crew catalog) paper snowflake

DIY wrapping paper

I don't have wrapping paper around my house ever. Whenever I have to wrap something I use left over tissue paper, newspaper, coloring book pages or paper bags from grocery shopping. I often forget my reusable bags (oops!) but I find other uses for our paper bags.
Henri's birthday was last weekend. I got him the perfect gift but no wrapping paper or even tape. I used my leftover paper bags and all I could find was blue painter's tape. When I taped up one side I realized it looked silly, so I made blue strips all over the box. Since I was alone and would have to carry Ellie, the diaper bag, the present and any other random thing I have to grab on the way out. I left the handles on the bag to make it easier on myself.

rise and fall

sweatshirt cardigan-DIY (deathwish)

dress-marshalls

tights-plush

socks-f21

shoes-target

I think I've wrote about this sweatshirt before but I love it. I'm always afraid to alter band shirts because I'm too afraid of ruining them. A few years ago I had a shirt of one of my favorite bands that broke up and tried altering it and completely ruined it. Maybe I could use it for a patch. I had an idea to make a sweatshirt into a cardigan awhile ago and since this one was free I tried it out. 

I cut straight down from the middle of the neck, sewed up the sides where the pockets are and added a couple of buttons. I wear this almost everyday over my regular cardigans for extra warmth. I want to try out making more but I still have a hard time being ok with cutting straight into the design. I would actually wear them though if I do it!

Oh yea and my hair is darker again!