Faith - Family -Friends

Boy have I been BUSY!

Melissa — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:54:10 +0000

It has been MONTHS since my last post, but I have been busy, to say the least. I am not going to bore everyone with all the daily details,b ut I will sum it up!

I have decided to go back to school! after waiting months on a list, I start the nursing program in Feb!
I have been taking care of adorable little ones during the day, which really turned into a blessing. I have to admit I will be sad to see it come to an end
Hubby broke his foot, which kept things…..interesting
Of course the norm..Kids activities, sports, family gatherings, friends..you got the idea….But one my favorite things is…
I opened a store on ETSY! Yup! After months of family and friends saying…”you should really sell your things” I took the plunge! I am having a great time creating and hope it will take off while I am in school to score a little extra money when I stop working. So I would for you to check me out! I have started with mostly little quilts, Wine totes, quilted Baby Bibs and Nightgowns designed just for girls who have Type1 Diabetes and on an insulin pump!

Javamommyof3.etsy.com

Tagged: Etsy, Insulin Pump, Nursing School, quilted baby bib, Quilts, Type1 Diabetes

Sew Busy

Melissa — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:46:56 +0000

So over the last few weeks, I have been quite busy in my sewing room! I have had some busts but also some awesome wardrobe builders too!

I have been focusing on dresses. I LOVE dresses. They are feminine, comfy when you feel blah, most of the time flattering, can be casual or dressed up..I can go on and on…

I started to feel inspired once I completed my famous “Mu Mu” dress. So then I decided to make TWO more of that style

Please excuse my hideous posing, but after T made fun of me, I tried to liven my stance up a bit

Red Firecrackers

My favorite variation

Then I visited another old favorite, New Look 6677

reminds me of a funky top from the 70's

Ok, so now I am feeling pretty confident and decide to dive into a NEW pattern..Ugh

Not so crazy about the sash

And my first Bust…New Look 6239. It was so super easy to make, but it just made me look like a BLIMP!

I even tried to make a second dress, hoping it would miraculously become flattering..

No dice. But it is the perfect post-beach attire…light comfy and I could run to grocery store if I really had too

Post Beach Dress, for sure!

Alright, that pattern is socked away for a much later day and I decide to try, try again!

White Eyelet Tunic

Yay! Simplicity 2596!! LOVE LOVE this top! There are so many ways to change this top up, possibilities are endless!

Eyelet trim

This has renewed my drive for sewing! I LOVE to sew and I especially enjoy it during the lazy days and nights of Summer :O)

will look nicer with a cami underneath

Tagged: dress pattern, New Look 6239, New Look 6677, Sewing, Sewing Pattern, simplicity 2408, Simplicity 2596

To Do List – Summer Edition

Melissa — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:59:12 +0000

Summer is Here! And I am going to have a PLAN!

Don’t get me wrong, we always have a great Summer, I just don’t always get to accomplish everything I wanted to.

So..my new plan is to write a to-do list

Beach days at least twice a week – with or without the kids!
Read a book a week
Go out to dinner for our 15th Wedding Anniversary
Scrub my bike with brillo to get rid of some of that rust
Go for bike ride with kids
Camp in our Pop-Up, even it means we have to sleep in the back yard
Sew! for me, the kids..whoever..just SEW
Clean my van inside and out, with some help from the kids
Finally save a jar for those darn Lightening Bugs
Take the kids to the beach to watch the sunrise
Dinners on the Beach
Hit the Gym 3 times a week
Have dinner with my parents at least every other week
More nights on the deck
Finally catch those free movies on Thursday mornings
More days laughing, less days yelling
Sign the kids and ME up for the FREE Summer bowling plan
Bring Nate to the Library program every week
Attend the Tuesday Worship Services
Have one-on-one time with each of the kids more than once
Have a girls nite by the firepit with Sangria
Make more dinners in the Crock-Pot on Beach Days
Use the Pedicure G/C that hubs gave me for CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY SUMMER!

Summer 2010

Tagged: beach, Church, friends, Girls Night, gym, Sewing, to-do list

A Dress that finally FITS!

Melissa — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:33:43 +0000

Ugh..I have been MIA in my blogging world..yes I know. Life has been quite busy and sewing…well I have been sewing. But lately it has been nothing to blog about That is..until today!

Yes, I had a Hallelujah moment!

I have been trying to sew the perfect dress. But not just any dress. I need it to be functional, comfy and also something I could run out of the house with and not feel like a hot mess.

Enter….The MU-MU

Simplicity 2408

I have to admit, I was a bit worried that it would be too frumpy, but I really don’t think so! And can you believe I made this out of an old bed sheet! After all the mishaps that I have had with patterns lately, I was hesitant to use any of my good fabric.

Another neat plus….It has pockets! I am a pocket gal, I always have a paper towel shoved in one, my chapstick, hair ties….you get the point

I will be making this again, hopefully TONIGHT!

Tagged: dress, dress pattern, Sewing, Sewing Pattern, simplicity 2408

The Backup Plan

Melissa — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:18:42 +0000

What seems to be now turning into a tradition (three trips qualifies, right?) Tina and I had another Girls Movie Night last nite.

We only have a few prerequisite’s

Something our Hub’s really wouldn’t want to see

Must be on a Tuesday – So we can use our free movie tickets from Optimun
Start time after 9:30pm – So we can have coffee, noshies and chit chat first
Preferably star a hunky guy

The first movie was Remember Me with R-Patz, so that was a no-brainer. But then we were pretty clueless on what to see next. Filling our requirements, we then saw The Last Song. I have to admit I am a bit on the fence about this one, it was hard to separate Miley Cyrus from Hannah Montana, but Liam Hemsworth made it a lot easier to watch!!! We are still waiting very impatiently Letters to Juliet which doesn’t start until May14th! Which brings me to our movie choice from last night

This was another movie I was unsure of. I am not a huge fan of Singers who are also actors, but it fell into our category and we weren’t willing to give up our Caramel-covered blondie and coffee @ Ruby Tuesday’s..So off we went..

What a hysterical surprise! We both agreed this movie is being under-promoted! From two mom’s in the theatre, we thought it was side-splitting funny. Not to give much away, if you are a mom, know a mom, or want to be a mom, you will be able to relate to this lighthearted comedy If anyone does see this flick, I would love to hear what you thought of the scene with “the pool”

Tagged: Girls Night, Movie Night, Robert Pattinson, The Backup Plan, The Last Song

This week in the Sewing Room..4/23

Melissa — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:55:26 +0000

Well, I have been a bit busy this week, but I was still able to get some sewing done. I was waiting pretty impatiently for all my new Sewing Patterns to arrive in the mail, so I just couldn’t get any more accomplished.

I have had this pattern for some time, and when I pulled it out I realized I had already cut fabric out, so that was my motivation!

I did find the neck facing to be a bit tricky, but when it was complete, I was very pleased!

I will make this again for sure, especially with the longer sleeves

New Look 6677

Another pattern I have had for quite some time. I wasn’t sure about the fit, and didn’t want to waste all that fabric. So, I decided to make use of an old top sheet I had. The fabric worked perfectly and I have decided this will make a great cover-up for the beach. I have been wanting some shorter length tops, so this pattern proves to be a winner in my summer wardrobe!

Simplicity 2643

Well, as I was on a roll..a NEW pattern came in the mail!

I had seen this pattern on PR and realized this was just what I was looking for a few weeks back! A loose fitting skirt with a foldover waist! I loved the look of the bubble skirt, but without the bubble. So I omitted the lining and created a perfect skirt! I think I make the next skirt just a little longer…

Sorry I didn’t model the skirt, but it was late and I was too lazy to change

Simplicity 4237

Tagged: beach cover up, fabric, Sewing, Sewing Pattern, sewing room, yoga skirt

Yummo….Delish…EVOO

Melissa — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:09:52 +0000

So, can you guess who I am quoting?

Yup, Rachael Ray!!

Yesterday my Mom and I had a chance to be in the audience for not one, but two taping of the Rachael Ray Show !!! Our day started bright and early, which for everyone who knows me, I am not a morning girl! But I surprisingly was up and ready when mom picked me up at 6am to catch the 6:26am train to NYC. I pity the people who take that commute every day! Mom had requested the tickets months ago, and was just given them last week! They also said it was not a guarantee that we would be able to get in! We made it to the studio just in time, receiving #88 & 89 tickets. Not bad considering they cut off the line at 120!

ticket #88

We did have to wait quite a long time, but we offered coffee, danish, water and Bran Muffins (gross). When we were settled into our seats, they announced that 2 episodes were going to be taped! That meant TWO recipes and TWO celebrity guests! Very cool, huh? The first guest was Sarah Silverman, who I have become a fan of recently. She was promoting her new book The Bedwetter and Sarah was hysterical! We were given not only her new book, but also Season 2 of her TV show! Our second celebrity was Julianne Moore, who is more beautiful in person, and very down-to-earth. Unfortunately, Mom and I still can’t figure out what she was there for? LOL

One thing I have to say was I bit turned off to Rachael, after watching the taping. Yes, I know, you lose a lot of the magic when you are in the studio. On camera, she was the Rach we all know and love, but as soon as the cameras were off….POW she was different. She seemed quick and almost agitated and she never really interacted with any of the studio audience. She may have been having an off day? I am hoping so, but for now I think I am going to stick with watching Rachael, whom I have come to know and love, from the comfort of my own couch.

All in all, Mom and I had a GREAT day! We joke all the time how we travel so well together! When we travel with the men we love, sometime things get a little stressful…but not when it’s just us. No worries..Lite breakfast on the train, taxi’s to and from the studio, and a delish early dinner at the Irish Pub before we leisurely headed back to Penn Station! We were, or so it seemed, the only two who talked and laughed sometimes hysterically, the whole trip there and back!

All the FREE goodies from the show!

Tagged: Free Stuff, My Mom, Rachael Ray Show, Sarah Silverman, Talk Show audience

Vintage?

Melissa — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:41:40 +0000

One of my many weaknesses is Sewing Patterns.. I just love them. I love looking for them, buying, and even sometime making them :)

One of my favorite place to look is Ebay. You can find so many different & OOP (out of print) varieties. But, today I was taken back….

Can someone please tell me when the 1980′s became VINTAGE???

My definition of vintage is 50′s, 60′s and maybe just possibly the 70′s (which would make me vintage)..but the 80′s???

Tagged: Sewing, Sewing Pattern, vintage sewing pattern

Another Birthday Weekend

Melissa — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:37:53 +0000

Had her cake AND ate it too

Yup, my little girl is now a

TEENAGER!

And to keep with our family traditions, we partied all weekend!

We celebrated Erinn’s actual birthday at Cousin Kim’s. The girls had some friends over and surprised her with an ice-cream cake!

Birthday Cake at Kim's

Keeping with birthday tradition, Erinn was able to choose the dinner of her choice at Mom’s.

BBQ Ribs, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob & Caesar Salad

Birthday Dinner - Erinn & Renee

My TWO teenagers

We then were able to enjoy another birthday cake… Birthday girl’s choice..Yellow cake with Lemon Frosting

Make a Wish

Josh, Kait, Joe, Nate, Matt, Erinn & Nana

And before dinner, Matthew couldn’t wait to share some fun news of his own……

I have exciting news!

When we came home from Church this morning,

my FIL surprised Matty with the news that he just bought him

his first car!

Yes, he has a year to wait, but he can practice driving it as soon as gets his permit and

can do some work on it while he waits…

very impatiently….LOL

Needless to say, he is THRILLED

Tagged: 13th birthday, Birthday, daughter, family dinners, first car, growing family, teenagers

Dress Pattern

Melissa — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:24:37 +0000

I had purchased this pattern off of Ebay quite some time ago. It is an OOP (out of print) pattern. I wanted a dress that didn’t require a shirt underneath, and that would also have a flattering fit. I did adjust the sizes a bit in the hip area and it fit perfectly!

Pros:

Lined Bodice – Love the seamless simplicity
Neck variations – I think I will try the scoop neck next

Cons:

I felt the bodice was a little too short - I think I will lengthen it by and 1 1/2″ next time
Tie Ends – I hate the instructions for turning the straps, I prefer to turn in seams and sew

This is a pattern that I can really dress up or down…mostly down with earthy prints to wear with my Birkenstocks

I am already on my second dress from this pattern and I am very excited! Now if I can just have Mother Nature cooperate with my plans of wearing sleeveless dresses, I will be SET!

Tagged: Butterick 5046, dress pattern, fabric, Sewing, Sewing Pattern