Hello 2012!

On this, the last night of 2011, I hope you are looking forward and not back...

...And running towards 2012 with all kinds of goals and resolutions that will make this next year better than the last.

Happy New Year!

A look into Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Have you been good too?

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Mine started off pretty good, when Curtis came home from work early! We are planning to spend a lot of time with each other and with family, and I can't wait!

Get Hooked! {toddler scarflet}

If you're like me, then you already have all of your Christmas shopping and wrapping done.

If you're not like me, well, you better hurry up!

One thing I love to do at Christmas, is to give handmade gifts. Not only are they inexpensive, but they are unique, and come from the heart.

So, if you still have shopping to do, and dare not brave the crowded isles of Toys R Us, then go no further.
I've got the perfect, 45 minute gift for you!

{The Toddler Scarflet}

Get the link to the FREE pdf pattern HERE.
(Make sure your pdf software is working and up to date, or you might have trouble getting this to open.)

Now, I will admit, it is quite possible that you will love this scarf a little more than your toddler...

But add some fun buttons, or a flower, and they will have fun wearing it.

At least, that is what worked for me.

He was a little skeptical at first, but I sewed on a few car buttons and BAM! - it was an instant hit!

The pattern contains directions for both girl and boy versions.

With cute buttons, or a clip, the scarf will stay in place around their neck and keep them toasty warm.
No need to mess with the long tassel-y scarves that just end up on the ground somewhere, right?

This scarf is made with a V-stitch pattern, which makes it light and breathable, while still warm and cozy.

This pattern fits my 2 1/2 year old perfectly, but if you wanted to make it bigger or smaller, just add or subtract rows from the pattern. No biggie.

That's all for now. Let me know how it goes!

Have any questions? Email me: LindsayHaynie @ gmail [dot] com

Enjoy!

[My buttons were from HeyDay Handmade on Etsy. I LOVE THEM. I've had them for a while, just waiting for the perfect project. This was it!]

Snapshots {warm hugs and hearts}

I love that here in the South, there are always warm, sunny days sprinkled throughout the cold winter months.

Days you can spend outside at the park...

Playing with your best buddies...

Being happy because the sun is shining...

Days where you can try new things...

Days you can pretend that summer is right around the corner...

But then again...

There's nothing like the excitement the cold air brings...

the excitement of good food, and Christmas surprises...

[see that scarf Ande's wearing? It's my latest free patter, the toddler scarflet. Tutorial coming tomorrow!]

Dear Santa...

Just in case you didn't get my list in the mail...

I have everything saved HERE on Pinterest.

And you know I could always use a little more yarn, and fabric, and money...

Thanks Santa,

I promise I've been good!

~ Linds

007

Sometimes I feel like 007...

Like when my 4 month old wakes up after a short nap and won't go back to sleep unless I'm in the room...

Or when I'm helping my 2 year old fall asleep in his new bed and the slightest movement on my part causes him to wake up.

I have to be sneaky, and quiet, and plan out every move before I make it.

My heart races, my face flushes...

If I can make it out the door, then I still have to tackle the hallway, where every creak is like a land mine waiting to blow.

The first step onto the carpet in my room is like stepping into the safe zone. I let out a sigh of relief every time. Free at last...

...Until that evil mail man drives by and foils my plan...

Yeah, it's a rush.

Blue Bird Baby Beanie

I'm just loving this new picture from one of my lovely photographers, Second Calling Photography.

This is one of my new hat designs, the Blue Bird Baby Beanie.

The first picture is actually her sweet daughter that was just born right around the same time as Owen.

She has a facebook page too.

If you're ever in the Orland Park, Illinois area, you ought to give her a buzz!

Come find these fun hats here, at Curtsay Designs on Etsy.com!

Snapshots {big boy bed}

As I was rocking Owen to sleep today, I spaced out for a minute and thought I was sitting there rocking Ande instead.

I almost cried when I realized how much he has grown.

Was he not just a 4 month old baby, like yesterday?

I think he looks particularly old in that first picture, looking up at the tree.

He looks big, too big for those cute, toddler style, tight legged pajamas.

I was planning on keeping Ande in a crib until he was so tall his head poked through one end...

...or until Kindergarten, at least...

but Owen needed a real bed, so we moved the crib into his room, and picked up a big boy bed from Craigslist for Ande.

I can't believe he's in a big boy bed and that I have another baby sleeping in the crib.

(What!? I have 2 kids? When did this happen?)

I don't want to jinx it, but he is adjusting really well.

Even though he wants me to sit with him and stroke his head until he falls asleep, then says, "Don't go out the door!" every time I start to move, it's nice to spend that extra bit of time with him.

I actually haven't been with him while he's fallen asleep since he was a baby.

Seeing and feeling him drift off into dream land just warms up all the cockles of my heart strings.

Yeah...I kinda dig that.

Friday Finds {from boot cut to skinny}

The other day, in a frustrated huff, I ran out to just "be alone."
(Don't worry, it was Saturday, so Curtis was there.)
I decided to hit up the local Good Will that just opened up down the street from us.
I got lucky and found some great stuff.
My favorite, was this little fitted jacket...however it wasn't until I got home that I realized it smelled all smokey.
Should dry cleaning get the job done?

Anyways, I also picked up some awesome corduroy pants.
I have wanted this pair from Ann Taylor Loft for a while now, but they never have my size!

That is seriously frustrating. Especially when they were 50% off on Black Friday.
Luckily, I found this other pair at Good Will.
They are plum in color and they fit great, but....they're mom pants.
Wide-ish leg, high waist, stretchy...

(And I totally forgot to take before and after pictures...I forget a lot of things lately, but I'm sure you can picture it!)

I really wanted to spiff them up a little so I found this tutorial on Youtube.com from the Modcloth blog.
It shows you how to turn regular or boot cut jeans into skinny jeans.
The tutorial makes it look SO easy.

I tried it, and it worked perfectly!

I think I'm even going to go back and make the upper legs a little tighter as well.

If you have some outdated jeans or pants, you should try this out and you'll be the hippest, mod-est, chick in town.

And now, cheers to a good weekend.

We are all decorated for Christmas, which brings a little more joy into the house.

I did most of the ornaments (or orguments ala Ande) last night while the boys were sleeping, but I left a choice few for Ande to do when he woke up.

What an adorable sight!

Get Hooked! {shell stitch fingerless gloves}

I've been crocheting a lot lately.
It really helps me work off all the frustration I've been feeling.
I'd much rather work my fingers raw and end up accomplishing something I'm proud of, than let my frustrations out on my kids.
When I do that, I'm not proud.
I just want you to know that I really, really, really love my boys...no matter how much free time they deprive me of...no matter how much I complain...
Because in the long run...none of that really matters, does it?
Family is forever, and I love my babies just the way they are.

So moving on...

Fingerless gloves are ever so popular these days.
I guess that happens when every one has a touch screen gadget of some sort, and the gloves with the little patch on the pointer finger are not cute, whatsoever.

So, I worked up an easy little pattern for you if your hands are cold, but you need a little mobility without sacrificing style.

{Shell Stitch Fingerless Gloves}

Get your free pattern HERE!

(Make sure your pdf reading software is up to date, or it might not open!)

You can easily add/subtract rows to the pattern depending on how long/short you like them.

I think they look best with a long sleeved shirt or under a coat. 

They are fashionable and with the right color yarn, you can really spice up an otherwise ordinary outfit!

You could even pair them with a cute bow, sparkly bow, or flower pin.

***And don't forget about my new Get Hooked! series coming up in January!

Think Happy Thoughts will begin the first week of January and is a crochet series where I post a new Free pattern every week until the end of February. This time around, my patterns are focusing on all things fanciful and magical...think fairy tales, knights, and happy endings!

Snapshots

I could fake it and tell you all about the wonderfully awesome weekend we had...

{awesome book: "The Dinosaur That Didn't Know She Was Extinct" by Mo Willems}

But then Curtis will read this and scold me for being a big fat liar.

I kind of freak out whenever I lose control of things...

I know it's not good, but I seriously can't help myself.

My previously lovely day sleeper, Owen, decided about 2 weeks ago that he doesn't want to be a lovely day sleeper anymore.

My doc said he's just "transitioning." Whatever that means.

Well...I'm over it. He can stop "transitioning" now.

{Any suggestions on why he is triggered to wake up after only 30 minutes all of a sudden?}

I'm losing control and it's making me ridiculously grumpy, which makes every body else grumpy too.

(Grumpy probably doesn't do it justice. What's the word for more than grumpy?)

Oh, and then there's the fact that Ande thinks since Owen doesn't nap, then he doesn't need to either.

I.just.need.an.hour.to.myself.

Am I over reacting? 

Will I ever get my afternoon alone back?

I'm tired.

Tomorrow, I report to Jury Duty. I'm actually excited.