Winner!!

The giveaway winner is . . . .

Alison!  

 Alison Troyer Price said...

Sarah, I liked That's a Wrap on FB

Thanks for playing, everyone!  

Seven Quick Takes

I

Not long ago, my sister wrote about savoring the quiet days at home with her little girls.  I absolutely know what she's talking about.  Except I'm half way on the other side.  I swear I used to have a nine year old boy around here, but I am starting to forget what he looks like . . . . yep, life gets busy.

II.

It's ill-advised to promise your kids a yummy treat without first checking to be certain your pantry holds all of the needed ingredients.  But necessity is the mother of invention, right?  Did you know that you can make make powdered sugar in your coffee grinder?  Yeppers.  Just grind up your regular sugar and add a bit of cornstarch.  Not quiet the really thing, but it will do in a pinch!

III.

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IV

Quick Take Three, courtesy of Avila.  She's into everything these days.  And talking a bit.  She says "'Ol' me! 'ol' me!" and makes this weird milking-a-cow gesture at me when she wants to nurse.

It's not doing much for my self-image.

 Double-fisted chocolate delight.

V.

I had a revelation the other day as to why PeterXavier is still not reading.  He's only 5 1/2, so I am certainly not concerned.  It's just that he so wants to be able.  Then I realized that the basic premise of reading is learning, applying, and following rules.  Well, shoot.  He may never learn!  "Rule Following" isn't in his make up.  I may have to take a different approach with this one!

(Sort of like his Uncle John who, in this picture, is wearing a cowl on his head!)

IV.

I'm hosting a giveaway!  Don't forget to enter to win!  It's easy and fun and the gloves are darn cute :)

VII.

Seven's a big number . . . .I'm fresh out of ideas.

Go visit Jen for more quick takes!

Giveaway!

Time for some giveaway fun!  I am really excited about the little "Fingerless Gloves" I have been making.  They have been crazy popular with my kids and now it is fun to see them being a popular item in my Etsy store.

Now it's your turn for a chance at a pair of these fun little accessories!  This giveaway is for one pair of either "bridal pink" or "navy blue" 100% wool fingerless gloves, sized 2-6 years (approximately).  

Here are the rules - you can "earn" an entry a couple different ways.  First, "like" That's A Wrap on Facebook and come back here to let me know.  

Share the giveaway and FB page on your own blog and / or fb and come back to let me know.

Check out That's A Wrap on Etsy and come back to let me know what you love!

Don't forget to come back and COMMENT on what you did, saw, love!

I will pick a winner via random generator on Monday!  Good Luck!

Cute toddlers

This little girl is such a stinker.  She is really developing a little personality and is making the whole family laugh.  Despite the fact that she firmly told me "No!" when I suggested the potty to her, and despite the fact that she flung flour all over my kitchen and then peed on it, I'm still pretty sure she's the cutest toddler girl around!

Yarnin' Along, Again

Wow.  I haven't done a Yarn Along in a while.  Not that I haven't been knitting.  Most of my recent projects were Christmas gifts and, therefore, not bloggable.  But I have picked up the needles again, after a short break from Christmas overload!

I knit these fun fingerless gloves for PeterXavier and was quickly bombarded with requests from the other children.  Thankfully, they're a rather quick knit.  Christopher has a pair as well, now, and Gracie has some on the needles.  They fancy-schmancy hand painted yarn I am using for her's is a bear to work with, so they are slow going.  I can't wait to finish them and be rid of that yarn!

Last night I bought some yummy soft pink Lanaloft to make Bella some gloves.  I can't wait to dig into that yarn.

As for reading, it's all been on my awesome new Kindle Fire.  In the past couple weeks, I have read the first two books on the Hunger Games trilogy.  Without being a spoiler, what's your take on these books?  They seem to beg discussion :)

Don't forget to visit Ginny for more Yarn Alongs!

Kitchens, Little Chefs, and Funny Kids

Apparently, the funniest thing going these days is closing you sister in the "'fridge".  Avila shuts Bella in and shrieks with laughter.

And sweet Bella plays right along, indulging her sister over, and over, and over again.

Chef PeterXavier received a six week cooking course for Christmas.  This evening is his first class and he has been asking since he got up "Is it time yet?".  He dressed himself . . . can you tell?

DIY Extravaganza

My parents got me a Kindle Fire for Christmas and it's pretty much the coolest thing I've ever owned.  But the poor naked little thing needed a cover.  Have you priced those things?  Um, gag.  Wow.  

So I pulled out my scissors, my sewing machine, and my goodwill bag and viola!

Totally awesomely free Kindle cover!

(Sure is cuter than the cloth diaper I was wrapping it in before!)

And speaking of free (and why my goodwill bag runneth over) . . . 

My fantastically organized closet!  Andrew spent a large portion of his Christmas break revamping my seriously disorganized too-messy-for-before-pictures closet into this thing of beauty.

 

He re-purposed a load of old pallets and it is amazing!  As an added bonus of wonderful - it didn't cost a dime!  (Except to the stud finder we had to buy since the kids broke the old one.  Oops)  Love it!

Brotherly Love on Christmas Day

Christmas Ornaments

 This afternoon, we cranked up the Advent music and set to work making Christmas ornaments.  I set out to just do salt dough, but then decided to try cinnamon ornaments and I am so glad I did!

The kitchen smelled fantastic and the ornaments turned out very pretty.

Grace got out her stamp set to decorate her ornaments.  Cute!!

Monday Morning Musings

It's still a little dark outside and, amazingly, my house is quiet.  Most everyone is still sleeping and Avila is snoring on my lap.  She always pops up when I wake up, but generally isn't really ready to be awake.  So today, she chose to sleep on top of me.

We're only a week out from Christmas and, per usual, I feel totally unprepared.  One day, I'll be on my game and get everything finished in July so that I can really savor Advent.  One day.

I was really proud of our ability this year to make about 90% of our gifts.  A few for the kids will be purchased (I can't make books or boots!) and some were bartered from artisans and crafters on etsy.  I was proud, until a read my sister in laws blog and she made ALL of their gifts.  She always beat me :)  But, she's a veritable wonder-woman!

My week will be spent with my knitting needles and and sewing maching finishing up this and that.  Hopefully everything will come together without too many long, late nights! 

Laundermat to the Rescue!

Sometimes life jumps up and attacks you.  You know, like when seven people all try to stagger and drag out wicked cases of the stomach flu.

And then you know what else attacks you?  Large, looming loads of really dirty laundry.

This was my life this past week and while looking back I might be able to find a glimmer of humor in it all, I probably won't.  But I did learn an important lesson - Laundermats are my friend!  Yes, it was a little scuzzy and the clientele was slightly scary, but where else can you get five loads of laundry done AND knit half a hat while drinking a Caramel Brulee Latte all in the comfort of a hard plastic chair and a sticky floor??

Admittedly, the greatness of this little excursion was the act of being productive coupled with an hour of childless quiet (thanks to my hubby!).

But the lesson was still learned - laundermats are great!

(This post is joining the Big Family Friday link up.  Head over for more big family fun!)

Monday, Monday

I love looong weekends.  And holidays.  This one was wonderful.  We had a fabulous Thanksgiving with my family and gorged ourselves fittingly.

Andrew played "Santa's Elf" this weekend and spent a large part of his time working on projects for the kids Christmas gifts.  I am so excited about them!  I may share a few on here later, but some have to stay secret ;)  If you need a fantastic wood kitchen for the tiny aspiring cook in you life, head over to That's A Wrap to check out Andrew's.  

On that note, today is "Cyber Monday" which, in my opinion is a whole lot better than "Black Friday"!  Cyber deals from the convenience of your own kitchen table!  You can couple that with supporting small business by shopping Etsy.  There are lots of great deals there today!  For instance (ok, this isn't a CM deal, just a good deal!).  I have always wanted to make our own beeswax candles for our Advent Wreath, but been overwhelmed by the exorbitant price.  Just now I found a great candle making kit and a fantastic price on etsy!  

Typical of the Monday after a big (food eating) holiday, half my family is sick.  It's a lovely mix of head colds and stomach bugs.  I am praying that it leaves us soon.

Speaking of praying - do you love the new translation??  Could it be more beautiful??  I say not! 

Craft Show Mania

Craft Lafayette! was fun!  I would say I was moderately successful in the sales department, but really, the fun was hanging out with great people.  How could it not be fun, when my spot was book-ended with my fun sister (and my mom!) and the wonderful Angie?!

It was great to chat with so many talented crafters!  It was also inspiring to be surrounded by so much talent!  I was humbled, though, when I came home and added or was added to Etsy circles (akin to "friends" on facebook), to see the talent of some of the customers!  My initial reactions was "Why would someone so talented buy from me?!?"  It really was a fun experience and I hope to do it again sometime soon!

Craft Lafayette! - the final sprint

Sorry for the lack of posting.  It's been all craft fair all the time around here.  Well, that's not entirely true, we've just been extremely busy and Craft Lafayette! has been looming in front of me, moving ever closer.

Some of us are pretending to be in craft fair mode.  I cut quilt squares for my sewing class at the kid's co-op and the scraps were quickly commandeered by my little apprentice(s).

Today I have been working on packaging and layout.  And praying that I actually have enough stuff!

Have you done a craft show?  Any words of wisdom?  Pitfalls to avoid?

Aren't these yarn bowls gorgeous?  I'll be selling them on behalf of a fantastic potter.

If you're a local, be sure to come out and visit all of the wonderful and talents crafters at Craft Lafayette!

And now, back to the grindstone.  

Basilica Cathedral St. Louis

When I was researching Mass times before heading out on our trip, I discovered that the Arch is not to only place of wondrous beauty in St. Louis!

The Basilica Cathedral is certainly not to be missed!  In a moment of providence, we actually missed the early Mass we had intended to attend.  We thought we knew where we were heading, but ended up at a difference Catholic Church.

I had had my heart set on going to the Basilica, so we passed up the Mass at that Church, opting for the later Mass at the Basilica.

And to our surprise and excitement, the Bishop said the later Mass!  In celebration of World Mission Sunday, there were NINE priests presiding and a full choir.  It was fantastic. 

The kids were in awe of the many, many mosaics decorating the Basilica.

Meet Me In St Louis . . .

We just returned from a fun filled long weekend in the great city of St. Louis.  I had never been to St. Louis before - what fun!  The Gateway Arch is incredible.  No picture can do it justice.

 The first night we were there, the lighting at the Arch was fantastic for picture taking.

We were all amazing by the enormity of the Arch.  Wow!



My Crafty Musing

Time slowed today and it was wonderful.  Andrew took the day off for me to relax a bit after his absence last week and to give me a chance to catch up on all that was so far behind.  It was a cold and rainy day, so it was delightful not to have to go out into the elements.  He ran the kids to their activities while I stayed home.

Craft Lafayette! is approaching much more quickly than my little fingers can create.  Yikes.  I spent my free hours sewing and beading.  I was productive, which is nice, but still a bit behind crafty wise.  None the less, my time spent in the craft room was worth more than the items I produced.

Creating can be so satisfying.  We are currently seeing a resurgence \of hand crafts which is wonderful.  With the internet and specific sites such as etsy and artfire the small, hand crafted business is much more accessible.  I think this is an especially appealing venue for the stay at home mom.  But I believe the appeal goes far beyond the "flexible work hours" or the notion of "working from home".  While I am sure success and pocket money are great benefits, I wonder if the benefitial act of creating actually far outweighs the others. 

So much of a mother's day is spent working on mundane tasks -- extraordinarily important, but mundane none the less.  And a great deal of a mother's work is immediately undone.  That dreaded laundry pile -- does it ever really disappear?  The dishes in the sinks seem to instantly reappear the moment I finished washing.  And I am convinced that it is impossible for all seven of the tummies in my house to be satisfied simultaneously!

When it comes to creating, the end is attainable, visible, and complete.  When your item is finished, it can't be undone in the sense of a dirty dish or a pair of soiled jeans.  (Although, a toddler pulling out my knitting has caused me great strife!).  I would posit that that sense of completion and gratification is, in large part, why so many mothers are drawn to craft.

I would even venure to say that there is a need within us as humans to create.  God made us in His image and likeness and it was He who created all that is good.  In that same nature, creating is a good in which we should indulge.  It brings a sense of joy and beauty into the home and in that vein, it brings God into the home as well. 

Oh the glitter was worth it!

(Also known as "If you blog it, it's no longer crazy!")

A glittery project with the kids probably wasn't my brightest idea.  Especially at 7PM the evening after co-op, on the seventh day of a daddy-less week.  (He comes home to night - woo!)

The kids loved this project and, really, the results were worth it. 

 Starting in the evening was also good, because they could dry over night and be finished in the morning.  I gleaned this fantastic fall craft idea from This Cosy Life.  She has a great tutorial, so I won't go into to much detail here.

I watered down the glue a bit and the kids dipped the acorn caps into the glue before sprinkling them with the detested sparkly glitter.

I should add that we made some of these of the non-glittery variety and they were equally adorable.  In fact, they were a little more to my earthy, I'm-not-a-fan-of-glitter taste!  But the kids, they loved the glitter (of course).

I drilled holes in the top and the acron caps.  Then we threaded cotton yarn through the caps and jingle bells.  **Tip: get the multi-size package of jingle bells so you can match the bells to the cap**

This was a great fine motor skills lesson.  My kids love to use needle and thread, so they were thrilled with this!

Beautiful fall necklaces!  I guess I failed to get a photo of the kids wearing their necklaces.  They've been jingling around the house all day!