Wild about tutus

Lately, everyone has been all about the tutu. They are sooo cute in those newborn little girl pictures, and quite honestly, the big girls like to wear them too (I know I did at Halloween when I dressed up as a La-La-Loopsy).

I've gotten out of the tutu making business, and I still get requests for tutus. Well, how about this? I'll just give my tutorial away. It's much easier to just follow the tutorial I developed rather than me try to explain how to do different things with the techniques. But, I'm not going to make it SUPER easy for you. You're going to have to do something for me too.

To get a copy of my awesome tutorial, you're going to do three things for me. First, follow my blog. Second, follow me on twitter @JoanieReeder (if you hover over my name and click the link, it'll take you there). Lastly, leave a comment on this blog letting me know you've fulfilled those two requirements, along with your Twitter handle so I can follow you as well, and your email address. If you think your friends would like a copy of my tutorial as well, please PLEASE feel free to share my blog with them. I'll give away as many tutorials as I get followers and likes - I am NOT limiting this giveaway to only a select few. EVERYONE will get a tutorial, as long as you do what I asked. :)

TIP: When you leave your email address, write it as username AT domain DOT com. Don't actually use @ and . because then the spambots will find you!

I'll email tutorials out at the end of the next week (Feb. 10, 2012) so you'll have plenty of time to make cute red and white, or red, or pink, or whatever tutus for Valentine's Day! Don't forget to share it with your friends!

Brick fun

Coco has really been getting into LEGO lately. And when I say LEGO, I will make my friend Katie cringe, because I mean pretty much any brick that will fit onto another brick. Sure, a vast majority of our blocks are LEGO, but there are Mega Blocks and K-reo mixed in too (especially with that K-reo deal last week where I got an Optimus Prime building set FREE, wootwoot!).

At almost 5, his creations are pretty much limited to either really short, easy directions for things (like the LEGO Harry Potter mini set we got him after Christmas for $2.50) or his own creations - which usually are blobs, but I love to hear him describe what everything is and what it's used for.

Even Mabel gets in on the action - her daddy bought her the first of what I am sure will be MANY LEGO Friends sets. The child is only 3, so of course Mommy ended up putting that one together for her to pull apart and ask to be put back together. I guess she'll get it eventually.

LEGO is great for the imagination. Kind of like Play Dough but with corners. We are in no way, shape or form LEGO experts (like this guy), but it's still fun to pretend we are. The greatest thing about LEGO (aside from all the other cool stuff about LEGO) is that they do that free LEGO Club magazine. Coco has a subscription. Every month, he sits with his magazine, thumbing through it for ideas, and even asking if we can submit pictures to the My Own Creations section. Usually, the magazine comes with a comic book - another obsession of the kid. And it's all totally free, something you can't say often about LEGOs.

We got his first LEGOs from Goodwill - I spent all of $2 for about 500 random blocks. Then I got another set of around 300 (mostly Mega Blocks, sorry Katie) at a consignment store for around $3. Our initial investment was all of $5. If you are a fan of LEGO, you know that's CHEAP (practically FREE in LEGO terms)
- but have no fear, we've spent plenty of money since then on various sets. Pretty soon, we'll probably take him up to the LEGO store at the mall and let him pick out some stuff. His birthday is coming up after all.

Coco modeling his LEGO Batman PJs in a self-portrait

Wordless Wednesday - I want one PLEASE?!?!?!

I know this is supposed to be WORDLESS, but honestly, the writer in me screams at such a concept. I found this little shack on Pinterest, and the first thought that popped into my head was, "Wouldn't that be perfect with a computer, couch and fire?" I could clearly see myself cuddled up on the couch, reading a book, or writing my book.

This picture inspires me. How does it inspire you?

So... What do you think?

Along with posting more, I thought I'd try to make my blog a little "prettier." I wonder if I've succeeded.

I asked for the wisdom of some very smart people and searched around on the internet for free blog templates - because no matter how much I love my eight followers, I'm not paying someone to design a blog for me. Sorry guys.

I found this one. Doesn't look like one I've seen a lot, or some generic blogger template so I thought I'd take it for a spin. I don't like how the link for where I got it is up in the left corner, so if anyone has suggestions on removing that, I'm all ears. I did have to tweak the font size on the posts, because it was just as big as the blog description (that quote at the top). CRAZY big.

As easy as this was, I wonder why more people don't have pretty blogs, and sit with their boring blogs? Is there something I'm missing there? I just like a more visually appealing site, I guess.

So, back to the main question. What do you think? See something you like? Something you think needs changed (and you want to tell me how to do it)? Comment and let me know!

Welcoming 2012

It's 2012.

Did I seriously write that correctly? I had to go look at a calendar the first time I wrote the date. It is really 2012!

Yes, yes it is. And for your viewing pleasure, a little resolution humor I found on Facebook.

Honestly, looking at that, I found the reason I don't really "do" resolutions. But at the same time, isn't the new year a great place to start over? Do something you haven't done before? Take a chance?

Resolutions are sooooo last year. That doesn't stop me from thinking of things I can do this year, ways to start fresh.

I will be the first to admit, some days I wonder if I should take the Worst Mom/Wife/Person of the Year Award. This year, I think instead of thinking that way, I will think of ways to make myself a better wife. A better mom. A better friend. In some ways, this involves improving myself. The way I eat, how much I exercise. Even how much time I spend on the computer.

I will give the kids childhood memories that are worth remembering - not ones that I hope they forget. All stay at home moms know the stress of raising your kids. That time you yelled at them, then immediately thought, "Shoot. I hope that one doesn't stay in their little memories forever." This year, I'll do my best to remember they are kids. Cut them a little slack. That doesn't mean I'm going to let them run roughshod around the house naked, disrespect people, act like total hooligans at the store or willfully disobey me. I will teach them that they should act in a way that makes not only their parents proud, but makes themselves proud. They SHOULD be proud of themselves. But I'm not raising brats. But I'm not going to be so uptight about things.

Lastly, I will blog. Doesn't everyone say this? Then February rolls around and you go check a blog and it's not been updated. I'm not making set goals for how OFTEN I blog. But I will try to update at least once a week. If I don't, no biggie. But No more of this six months between posts crap. I love my five followers too much for that. So, you'll hear about triumphs, struggles, fun crafts and more this year. I'll try to update, even if it's a short sentence or two. But most of all, you will get substance. It's your time and I'm not wasting it with posts of no value.