Mini Update

As most of you know, we have had a time with Mini and sickness in the last few months. Back in November, she had her first reported case of strep, but then it really all started in May when I just happened to look in her mouth and saw how huge her tonsils were. I asked a friend who is a nurse at our doctor's office to look at it a few days later and she was not only surprised at the size of her tonsils, but also surprised that Mini was still eating normally. She had no fever and never acted differently, but upon a doctor's visit, she was diagnosed with a double ear infection and strep. A few days after finishing the antibiotic, we went back to the doctor with equally as big tonsils and were told that we were Strep negative, but because of her tonsils and swollen glands we should start looking for sleep apnea and should not eliminate the possibility that Mini could have Mono. A week later, we went back to the doctor with a 103.7 temperature and this time Strep was confirmed. I had to miss most of the last week of school with my students which was very hard for me, but I was more frustrated than anything that I could not protect my child from sickness. I was talking to our ANGEL, aka our friend/nurse the other day about possibly seeing her in the office soon because Mini's tonsils were still big, and thus she spoke with the doctor the next day. To make a long story short, we were referred to ENT and saw him today...his comment was "Wow, her tonsils are HUGE!" I'm thinking that for an ENT to say that...it is pretty significant! He confirmed everything I was thinking, in that her tonsils have to GO, and we have scheduled the surgery for August 6th. I hate that my child has to have surgery, but I'm hoping that my child will finally know what it feels like to feel well!

Super Cooper Belt Giveaway Winner

And the winner according to Random.org is...#3 Cindy Clark. Thanks for all the comments and the support!

Fashion Friday

Last weeks defeat = this weeks VICTORY! Last week I was working with elastic thread to create a sundress (a different one) for Mini. I could not get the thread to do what it was supposed to do, no matter what I tried. I searched this week on the internet for suggestions/troubleshooting to perfect this technique and one website suggested switching to a bottom loading sewing machine, such as my older model!! Ta-dah...it worked, who knew?! I'm so glad that I did not sell this machine as I had originally planned. Here is a stretchy festive bathing suit cover-up for the 4th!


This dress is made out of a terry cloth material and I used red thread on the exposed seam to make it more festive!

Thankful Thursday/Super Cooper Giveaway

I am so thankful that my dream of creating things and starting my own business is finally coming true...God has blessed my life so much and I am so thankful. I now have 86 fans on the Miamy Clothing and Accessories facebook page, and have had over 2,000 hits on my blog since February (of course about 500 of those hits are probably from me updating and linking, but shhhhh...we will keep that a secret between you and I)! In celebration of all these wonderful things that I am soooooo excited about, I will be hosting a giveaway of one of my kid's belt, seen below. Note: This is a child's belt and is approximately 26 inches in length. It is a perfect fit for ages 2T-4T. If you are unsure if it will work with your child, measure where the belt would normally sit and then add 3 inches (for children's sizes only).

To enter, simply leave a comment about the blog, the belt, or whatever. I will use random number generator to determine the winner. The giveaway will close at noon on Sunday, June 27th.

Weekend Wrap-up

Fashion Friday...So you know when you have just one of those days when nothing goes exactly your way...well that happened with fashion Friday. I had an idea in my head and it didn't work out, so I tried something else and wasn't satisfied with it either, and finally out of frustration...I GAVE UP; hence the lack of posting on "Fashion Friday!"

Saturday, we went to the river with our friends Misty and Charlie. We went out on a boat and hung out on a floating island on a sandbar! We had a blast and have missed spending time with those guys; we can't wait to see them again.

Sunday...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to the best daddy!

Will playing with Mini in the river!

Thankful Thursday

I have so much to be thankful for in my life. I have dreamed of having my own business for a LONG time...it started in college with making purses, then I switched to painting and the arts, then baby stuff, and now clothing and accessories. I finally feel that my dreams are actually becoming a reality and I am beyond ecstatic! I am so thankful this week that after starting a fan page on Tuesday, I have 48 fans! Many of those fans are family and friends who have always been my biggest cheerleaders. Thank you God for blessing me with all these wonderful supportive people in my life!

Wordless Wednesday

Updates

I have not updated or even posted in a little while, so I figured I would get everyone caught up on the happenings of the last few days.

1. Bella's 103.7 fever finally broke around lunchtime on Thursday, after having it for 5 days!!!! She ate on Friday for the first time in several days. Although she has lost several pounds and her tonsils are still huge, she is in good spirits and appears to be feeling much better!

2. I missed most of the last week with my students because my sweet child was sick. Although sometimes I complain and desperately miss the time with Bella, I do LOVE my job and my students and really feel that they are my own personal children for 180 days; thus it made it especially hard to miss the last day with them. We have a tradition at our school; on the last day, all the teachers gather in the bus parking lot and we wave goodbye to all the students until the last bus leaves. Sandy and I make sure we always wear sunglasses, because we always cry, but this year I missed it and was very disappointed. I did go in for an hour just so I could say goodbye to my 2009-2010 class, but it was definitely not the same and I will miss them!

3. Since Bella's fever finally broke on Thursday, we were able to head to beach with my family as planned. Bella was thrilled to hang out with Nana, Sherri, and Jason for the weekend.

4. Will has completed the shed. Although it is taller than our house...just kidding; it IS very tall, but he did an excellent job for his first time and it is a perfect place to store all the things that needed to get out of our house, or mainly out of my studio ;)!

5. Here are two pictures of my studio. It is plain right now, but serves its purpose...organized chaos!

6. I have officially started a Miamy (my brand name) fan page on facebook. I'm featuring a teal, black, and white limited edition ribbon belt on the page (as seen below). I will be adding some more limited edition belts to the page this week hopefully! After much debating...I have decided to start an etsy shop in the next coming weeks. I am very excited about this new chapter, and am hopeful it will become more like a novel or even a book series in my life!

Ticked-Off Tuesday

HTML...need I say more?! Let me first start off by saying that two years ago, I was enrolled in a HTML class online at a local Community College for a continuing education class, but it was in the summer and frankly I was lazy and just dropped the class. So now that I am blogging, and am trying to create links to pictures...I'm having difficulty because I do not know the HTML language...grrrrrrr! I'm so frustrated and at this point am very tempted to enroll in that class again so that I can decode the language. I'm also irritated at blogspot for changing their registry editor and making it difficult to link pictures without accompanied text!!!! Does anyone have any suggestions??

Light Postings

I had great plans for this week, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Sunday night Bella had an 101 fever, but we didn't think much of it since we had gone to the beach that day. Early Monday morning I checked it again and it was 102.7. We went back to the doctor and of course...she has strep AGAIN!!!!! I'm so frustrated at this point and I don't know what to do. Needless to say, we went to Target for a new toothbrush and toothpaste and then to TJ Maxx for some new sheets. We are going to disinfect EVERYTHING! The doctor did say that if Bella got strep again before July or the end of July we would be referred to the ENT, but at this point, I don't even know why we have to wait.

Will watched her yesterday morning and will watch her this morning so that I can go to work to finish my assessments. Bella and I will be leaving for the beach on Thursday afternoon as long as her fever has broken and has recovered a little bit; thus this may be the last post for a few days. When I return, I promise great things!

Fashion Friday...Home Edition

Let me preface this post by saying that every once in a while I love something a little gaudy and a little over the top! Introducing the mesh wreath! Will is not too sure about the wreath on the front door, as he thinks it's a little girly.

If you would like your very own, just follow these steps.

1. Gather these materials: Wreath, Stem Wire, Plastic Mesh, and Ribbon.

My little helper...
2. Gather the end of the mesh. Wrap stem wire around the end of the mesh and the wreath.

3. Continue to puff the mesh around the wreath and wrap the stem wire around the the mesh and wreath.

It should like this when the first layer is finished:

4. Wrap the next layer of mesh through the wire and around the wreath to fill in the holes.

It should start to look like this:

5. For the final step, I wove a matching ribbon in and out of the stem wire and then made a coordinating bow.

Tutorial Tuesday

It's Tu-Tu Tutorial Tuesday...say that five times fast!

Here is what you need: rolls of tulle (two will suffice, but these were left over), 1/2 inch elastic, scissors, and a needle and thread or a sewing machine

1. Measure enough elastic for your child's waist and then sew the ends together like so (this is the only sewing required):

It should look like this when you are finished:

2. Cut pieces of tulle, so that when you fold them in half they will be a desired length. I cut 2 pieces at a time.

3. Fold them in half so that you have a loop at the top like this:

4. Put the loop under the elastic band like so:

5. Wrap the ends over top the elastic and pull them through the hoop.

6. Start to pull the ends through so that the hoop gets tighter. It will start like this:

And end up like this:

Repeat steps 2-6 until the entire elastic band is covered. Note: I used 2 pieces at a time. The tu-tu should look like something like this when complete:

Please forgive her shirt...she stayed home with her daddy and never made it out of her PJs...shocking, I know!

The more tulle you us, the thicker the tu-tu. Here is one I made for Bella's first birthday. She isn't even wearing it, in this picture, it is just that thick!