The Everything Tote

I started this bag at 8:00 the night before we left for Hawaii. Probably not the best plan, but I was desperately trying to get everything packed and was having no luck fitting everything into the bags I own.

I need a bag that can do everything. It needs to be a purse, a diaper bag, a camera bag, a swim bag, and even a lunch box and major bonus points if it is durable, kid friendly, and easy to clean. I wasn't quite able to get it done before we left, but finally finished it today and love it. I can easily pack everything I need and everything has its own space. No more digging to the bottom to find something. And there is even room for the camera.

The best part, the whole bag cost me a whopping $5. The striped fabric was on sale at Ikea for $2.99/yard, I already had the yellow fabric for the lining and the zipper was $2 after I used a coupon at JoAnns. Now that is my kind of bag.

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Made By You Mondays on Skip To My Lou

Yippee!

Ahh! I am so excited!

I was picked to compete in One Month To Win It.

The first week of competition starts in May.

Now I have some serious crafting to do. 

Happy Monday everyone!

Happy Earth Day!

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Here's to throwing away a little less, recycling a little more and doing our part to keep our planet healthy.

Check This Out

I just ran across this blog today and am loving it. My Favorite Hate Mail: Where Mean Comments Go To Die was created by the ladies behind Vintage Revivals and The V Spot after receiving some less than kind comments. I love that they are taking something not nice and attacking it with a sense of humor.

And have you heard about the Epic Room Giveaway Mandi is doing at Vintage Revivals? Talk about an amazing giveaway. I definitely know a few people who I think should enter, I know I would if we weren't renters.

Mayonnaise Salad

Audrey and Grandma Crystal on her 92nd birthday

We spent the weekend with Bryce's family and attended his grandma's memorial service. It was as nice as a memorial service could be and great to spend time with his family. After the service we went back to his grandma's house and were able to go through some of her stuff to see if there was anything we wanted. I was lucky enough to be included and found some really neat crafty things.

Old wooden spools of thread and the case they were housed in.

An adorable embroidery that his great-grandma did. 

We actually came home with a lot of other great stuff too, but I will share that another time.

As for the reason this post is titled "Mayonnaise Salad". I will remember Crystal for a lot of things, like being one of the kindest people I've ever met, but something I will definitely never forget is the dinner she made us years ago that included a "salad" (using the term loosely). She made it in a cake pan and layered iceberg lettuce, peas, a generous layer of mayonnaise and topped it all off with a decorative swirl of Chees Whiz. When we asked his grandpa what it was he replied "your grandma's specialty, shut up and eat it". According to the rest of the family that was the one and only time they had the salad which has affectionately come to be known as "mayonnaise salad".

Vacation is Always Too Short

We are back home after an amazing trip to Hawaii. Everything about it was perfect. Audrey was a champ on the plane, the weather was just right, and the food was delicious. Our biggest complaint, really our only complaint, is that it was too short. We could have easily stayed longer.

Aloha

Tomorrow our little family is getting on a plane and going here... 

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I am so excited. It will be the first big trip we've taken with Audrey and her first time staying in a hotel... wish us luck.

I'll be back next week hopefully a little more tan, a little more relaxed, and with a lot of pictures.

Have a great week!

Audrey's Busy Book

For all my apprehension about using a pattern I am so glad that I just did it.

It turned out that it was actually quite a bit of fun to put together.

A lot of work, but a lot of fun too.

There were a lot of little details in the pattern and I can't even count how many times I had to change thread or wind a new bobbin. 

It was a great refresher on how to do things like make button holes, install a zipper, and hand sew.

Overall I love how the book turned out.

Judging from Audrey's reaction she is going to enjoy playing with it too. Each time she looks at it she smiles and giggles.

I hope it is something she treasures for years to come.

Next time I'm thinking it would be fun to turn into a quilt of sorts.

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Craftastic Party on Sew Can Do
Get Your Craft On on Today's Creative Blog
We Did It! Wednesday on Sew Much Ado

Update: As I mentioned in a previous post, the pattern is Simplicity 3709.