Honea Baby Shower...

Congrats to Allison and Phillip on the upcoming birth of their sweet baby boy.

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I've known Allison as long as I can remember.  We showed cows together many years ago and when her family moved to South Carolina we were able to stay in touch.  Now with the ease of electronic communication we are able to stay in touch even better.  Don't get me wrong, I actually still send actual birthday cards and write letters to people that I send through the USPS but being able to keep in touch or reach out to friends with the ease of a text, cell call, or email is so nice.

So back to the baby shower.  Allison's sweet friends from South Carolina gave her a baby shower.

 I was lucky enough to meet these awesome girls when Allison and Phillip got married.

 She celebrated with family (below) and friends the upcoming birth of that sweet baby boy!  

   Sister - Emily * Grandmoo - Kitty (wearing the shirt I made her) * Soon to be Mom - Allison
Cousins - Fay and Kay

 

OK - I downloaded this picture 3 different times.  Not once did it stand up the right direction, so please tilt your head to the left or right to view it. 

 

 The house was decorated beautifully.  The girls even used the banner I made for Brewer's room to decorate with.  Here is the link to my post on the banner.  I didn't really have a pattern.  I cut triangles of blue jean, used heat and bond to applique the name on and some wide bias tape to hold it all together.  It's hard to go wrong making a banner.        

 They also used a banner made by a work friend of Allison's for decoration.  It was super cute and I took some close up pictures because this is a banner I'd like to recreate.  And then we decorated onesies for baby Honea with fabric paint.  Let's just say there is a reason there isn't a picture of my onesie posted here.  I might be a little crafty but free handed drawing....not so much.  

And I finally got to give some of the baby gifts that I have been sewing for the last couple months.   

 I've been using the pattern for the monster bib that I found on Stubbornly Crafty for both monster bibs (top left) and for regular colorful bibs (bottom right).  It's a good shape and is easy for me to sew.  I am making the front of the bib by the instructions but I have been varying on how I cut the batting and back bib piece.  I'll put a short tutorial up of how I have been varying that soon.  It just works better for me because apparently I can't cut the same shape twice....even with a pattern. 

I've been making the tie onesies for a while.  I made a tie pattern (one for the knot and one for the length) a while back and it works really well.  Phillip has even asked for me to make one for him to match baby Honea.  Won't that be cute?!?!?!  I'll have to make a bigger pattern too.  

And last but not least is the cow onesie.  Imagine that - me making a cow something.  

I used my Create a Critter Cricut cartridge.  Since I had cow spot fabric I only cut the basic shape and the "accessory" (I think that was the one that made the udder and nose). I have heard and seen tutorials on cutting fabric with my Cricut but I have not gotten brave enough to do that.  Instead I put Heat and Bond paper side down on my Cricut cutting mat and cut the shapes from the Heat and Bond.  Then I ironed my desired fabric to the Heat and Bond and hand cut around the shape.  I ironed the Heat and Bond to the onesie and straight stitch appliqued around the entire thing.  I thought it turned out really cute so I made a shirt for Grandmoo with her name appliqued underneath - that is what she is wearing in the family picture above.  

I love all my friends that are having babies and I certainly am enjoying making baby clothes for them.  Now that my baby boy shower is past I have been working on baby girl items.  I have two of those showers this coming weekend so next week I will share more pictures from the showers and gifts too.  Maybe I will get a tutorial in there somewhere.  

Happy Monday!     

Cummins Falls

On my 34th birthday we decided to take a day trip to Cummins Falls near Cookeville TN.  The weather was still good and warm (84 degrees). The water was very invigorating (I'm borrowing that word from the guides for our underground snorkeling trip in Mexico- it's better than saying COLD),

After a long hike down the trails and back up the river, we made it to these beautiful falls.  

It was well worth the hike.   We spent several hours swimming, climbing the falls, and playing in the pool at the bottom.  There were quite a few people there but people were all coming and going so it never felt crowded. 

This video is of my sweet husband trying to get me to step under the falls for a picture.  Little did I know that he was videoing as he corralled me further back.  Whew!  Took my breath away.  

  

I don't know how it happened but Russel also convinced me to jump off the waterfall into the pool below.  And then I did it again!  Must have been the birthday blood pumping through my veins.  

Yep - that is me - holding my nose.

The falls from across the pool at the bottom. 

Russel before we took the plunge into the pool.  Not sure of the depth but I would suggest being a good swimmer or taking a small blow up float/ life vest if you aren't.  

Russel on the walk to the falls.  

The hiking trail deposits you into the creek bed maybe a 1/2 mile from the falls.  You have to walk up the creek to get to the falls. 

Me looking at the falls when we first got there.  It really is beautiful. 

We went to the falls overlook before hiking down.  You can see the falls in the back ground 

At the falls after climbing up onto the "lowest level" of the falls themselves. 

After a little encouragement Russel got me up the rocks and under the actual falls.  

If you want to learn more about the falls you can check out the Tennessee State Parks Website.

Cummins Falls was named one of the top 10 swimming holes in the US by Travel and Leisure.   

Quite a feat for such a new state park.

Next time we make a trip out, we will probably hit up Burgess Falls which is only about 19 miles away.  From what I understand there are 4 smaller falls on the hike out to this 250 foot waterfall.  Sounds like another day of fun!

On the way back toward the interstate we stopped at the Del Monaco winery in Baxter TN.  The ladies working were super friendly.  I am a sweet wine girl so we tried all their sweet wines.  I couldn't find a single one that I didn't like.  We purchased a few bottles and I even got 10% off because it was my birthday.  What a nice surprise. 

It was an absolutely beautiful birthday.

I couldn't have asked for anything more.  

Stacey

Coups for Troops! SO EXCITED

Did you know that US military families that are stationed overseas can use coupons at the commissaries for up to six months after their expiration date?

NEITHER DID I!?!?!?!

I didn't know that nor did I ever think about passing my expired coupons along until I came upon that fact on a couponing website.  I always just tossed them in the recycling can at work.

  So the site I came across gave a general address to send bulk coupons to that in turn sends the coupons along.  After sending a couple packs of coupons collected between myself and other couponing coworkers I received a letter from Coups for Troops which is where I was sending the packages.  They offered to set us up directly with an overseas military family.  YAY!!!!  Through email contact I am now so excited to say that I am connected with a military family and get to start TODAY sending our expired/ unused coupons direct to her.  

So if you coupon and want something to do with your expired and/ or unused coupons please go to the Coups for Troops website and learn more.    

All it costs you is a little postage. You're helping a fellow American

to make grocery costs a little more manageable and you can smile all the way to the post office knowing that you are doing some good.