Summer Dress Sale @ LairiJ.com

All summer dresses are 30% off through the weekend.

Use the code: SUMMERSALE

It's not a raise, but it'll do!

I just had to share this little story that happened to me today.  We have been out of town for almost a week.  I have been trying to unpack and get some food in the fridge and get us back to a routine because school starts next week (cue the angels and the tears)  We had a great summer.  We had a busy summer.  It went by fast, but the last few weeks I had that feeling that parents talk about.. the one where  you say, "OKAY! I think it's time for school to start."  She likes school and routine and we haven't had one.  So today I was trying to clean out the fridge and scrub it down before I get groceries and Alaire wanted me to open a jar of olives, get her a drink, and make her a sandwich.  She wasn't being impatient but she asked me a few times for each thing.  I told her I would as soon as I wiped the shelves out.

Then this conversation happened:
Alaire: Being a mom and taking care of kids is really hard.
Me: It is? Why do you think that?
Alaire: Because it's hard getting food and drinks for everyone all day.
Me: Sometimes it is hard to do everything for everyone.  I'm glad you are sitting patiently for me.  it makes my job easier.
Alaire: After I realized how hard it is to be a mom I decided I would help you more.

MIC DROP

This made my life.  She might forget in a few hours that she is going to help me more or that she thinks what I do is hard But, the fact that she thought of me and appreciated me, or any person who takes care of her like that, just melted me.

Drew and I always say Alaire is the one we have to be nice to,  she's a natural care taker and definitely the one who will keep us out of the "home" someday when our other kids want to dump us there!

I think all parents SAH or working parents just want to feel appreciated in some way.  Even if a four year old has to tell you that you are doing a good job, it feels good.  Enjoy your little munchkins even if they make you want pull your hair out and drink a lot of wine!

Sewing For Baby: Take Home Outfit

My sweet little Stella turned one last week!?!? 

How did that happen. 

 It seems like it was yesterday and a million years ago at the same time. 

 Isn't that how your babies growing up feels?  

I have a bunch of half written posts to finish and share so, I'll start with this one : )

I made this outfit for Stella to come home in from the hospital. 

 I ended up finding something different to bring her home in but she still wore this in the hospital and after we were home.  

I started with a blank baby gown and this tank top.  Someone gave it to me when they returned some borrowed maternity clothes.  

I used a seem ripper to untack the flowers off of it.  I had enough to make the baby gown and a headband.  It was a REALLY EASY project.  You could hand sew if you wanted, but I just tacked them down with the sewing machine quickly.  I took a piece of the connected flowers and put an elastic band on it for the headband.

I also made a little gauze blanket to go with it.

It would be a really cute baby gift for someone.

Here she is in the hospital wearing it.

Here she is a week old with her sister.

Aww, these sweet little girls!  I cannot believe this was a year ago!  

You, Me and Capri Giveaway

Today I have something fun for you.  I teamed up with Jill of You, Me, and Capri.  Jill is a high school friend of mine.  She has a beautiful family including their newest member, Caprilee (love the name!)

She writes on her blog about fitness, family, finances, fashion, and anything else that is going on in her life.  You won't be disappointed.  My favorite thing about her blog is the POSITIVITY that she radiates.
Today on her blog she reviewed this dress that I sent her last week.

She is also giving away one item of your choice from LairiJ.com 50% off!  So head over for your chance and enter the giveaway.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Anyone who enters the giveaway will also receive a code for 15% off entire order.  So everyone is a winner!

Lairi J Dot Com

If you follow Lairi J on Facebook, you might have already guessed by this picture I posted:

I have been unpacking boxes filled with clothes over the past week.  

I have been working on www.LairiJ.com.

Lairij.com

If you have checked it out, you will see it has had a facelift. 

If you haven't, well then you should, because it is now the home of my little clothing boutique. 

Lairij.com

I am very excited about all of the items that are in it.  

As each package has arrived, I find myself saying "oooh this is my favorite" to each piece.

Lairij.com

I hope everyone who visits can find something that they love too.

Lairij.com

 Some of the great features you can expect when shopping at LairiJ.com are:

• affordable prices
• $2 flat rate shipping on all orders
• fun new styles arriving frequently
• timely customer service

LairiJ.com

I will keep you updated via Facebook for any promotions or upcoming sales.  

Be sure to like Lairi J to stay in the loop and make sure to check out LairiJ.com to find something fun to wear this spring  summer (if it ever gets here!)

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions please feel free to contact me at lairij@gmail.com

I will still be posting here, on this blog, about all of the other creative things I have going on at home.  

On occasion I will offer handmade items in the boutique as well.  

Thanks for all of your support.

Anna 

Quick Project: Iron on Faux Gold Collar

A lot of people tell me that they ARE NOT creative and ARE NOT crafty.  You don't have to be. Sometimes I do projects that are really fast and easy and don't require a lot of thinking but give me a sense of accomplishment when I do them.  This is one of them.  These are projects that any monkey can do.

Supplies Needed: 

Iron on Vinyl

Scissors

Iron

T-shirt

 I bought a kids long sleeved shirt from Target ($5)

I bought a roll of this Glitter Iron-on Vinyl from Hobby Lobby with a coupon. ($7) 

There is a lot left over too!

 Then draft half of the collar.

 Cut the collar out of your vinyl.

Lay it out where you want it.

Then use the iron on instructions for your specific material.  

The stuff I used had you heat the shirt up with the iron first, and then iron the vinyl on.  I flipped the shirt inside out and ironed the back really good, especially around the collar and the shoulder areas, where the edges were lifting.

Peel off the top liner when it cools and you are done.

 Alaire thinks it is a mustache.  Either way she likes it!
(PS I would wash it inside out and hang dry to make it last longer.)

Happy Holidays!

I hope you all had a great Holiday season.  It already seems like Christmas was a million years ago.  Maybe because we had a weeks worth of snow days after two weeks of winter break!  I finally got my Holiday cards out in the mail last week, so I can give you a digital one here.  Hopefully by the time I post this, my Christmas tree is down and put away. : )
We had our family pictures taken in November when we were visiting family in Nebraska and South Dakota.  The photographer we used was Leah Welch.  She is awesome, easy going, patient, sweet and super super reasonable.  She gave us an entire hour of her time and we did indoor and on location shots.  If you are in the Sioux City, Iowa area, check her out and book a session!

The dresses were made by me.  Pattern by Lil Blue Boo.   Fabric by Girl Charlee Fabrics.

Both Girls have changed so much since these pictures.  Alaire got a huge haircut and turned four.  Stella is two months older!  She turned 6 months yesterday!!  I am going to get her pictures taken this week and then I'll share.  

I hope your week is off to a great start!  Drew is off work today for MLK Day and we have actually both relaxed and got some things checked off of our perpetual list.  That's a pretty good Monday around here!