Happy 4th...

from Siesta Key, Florida! Despite all of the on again, off again rain we had a wonderful 4th of July. In between rain showers we were able to spend some time on the beach and the rain held off for fireworks! We spent the 4th with my sister and her family.

We always try to get a group shot of the kids. Sometimes it's relatively easy...

And sometimes it's NOT!

Here is our Little Mermaid.

Waiting for the fireworks to begin. I stayed with the babies while they slept and watched from the balcony.

Bedtime!

I hope everyone had a safe 4th. Happy Birthday America!

Making Cakes

I have been obsessed with reading posts from this site...Ashley always has fabulous ideas and tutorials and for the last few weeks she has asked Brittany to be a guest blogger. Brittany is doing a make-a-cake series where she shares her tips on baking and decorating cakes. Her cakes are amazing...

and the tutorials are so easy to follow anyone can do it...even me...

I have always been intrigued by cake decorating and have often thought to myself, "How in the world do people get cakes to look fanciful and life-like much like pieces of artwork?"And wouldn't it be fabulous to be able to make a cake that looked professional without spending an arm and a leg? Not that my cake looks anywhere near what a professional cake looks like, but you have to start somewhere and I had a lot of fun doing it!

My real motivation for taking the plunge in baking and cake decorating is Carson's birthday. It is coming up next week and I want to make a cake similar to this...

but on a smaller scale. Maybe I am a bit ahead of myself in thinking I can pull it off, but I sure am going to try!

This is my practice cake. I wanted to make sure that I could bake the cake, make buttercream icing, fondant, color the fondant and cut/apply decorations. I am glad I did! Now I have a better idea of how long it takes and will do a little each day. I also found that my "Golden Sunshine" Wilton icing coloring was more orange than yellow. Good to know...I need yellow!

I also want it to taste good, not just look cute. So...I cut a slice...

and let my little taste tester be the judge.

And I think it passed the test!

If you have any interest at all in making cakes you should head over to the make a cake series. It will give you the confidence to give it a try. And you will be glad you did!

Dance Duds

Carson started dance class! A friend of mine emailed me and asked if Carson might want to join her little girl and another friend of ours in the "Tiny Tutu's" class. It was so much fun to watch she and the other little girls.

Before we went I ran to Target to pick her up a leotard for the class. My niece had given us one, but C had already outgrown it. It was the only one left in her size and pretty reasonably priced (around $15). A few days later we went to a local dance store to pick her up another leotard. I am not always up on the wash so she would need a back up. I couldn't believe how expensive they were. I think the most basic one was $20. Some of the more embellished were as much as $45. So you know what that means...I am going to attempt to make one myself!

I took an older bathing suit, but one that still fit and dissected it! It was going to be my pattern for her leotard. It took me over an hour to rip it apart. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to reassemble the new piece, but was making metal notes as I ripped the old one apart.

ahh, finally!

Then I pinned and cut out the leotard. I used a lycra fabric and nylon for the lining. I stopped taking pictures at this point. Sometimes documenting gets in the way of the task at hand:)

Next, I put the elastic around the legs. Then I put elastic across the back/top of the leotard. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to do the binding for the arms with the elastic. I couldn't figure out how to do it where it looked decent so I didn't end up using elastic in the arms. The lycra had enough stretch to it. If anyone has advice I would love to hear it!

I cut three one inch strips and I ruffled them up. I put it across the back and on the arms. I did this for two reasons...to hide my lines, they were not attractive on the straps, AND because I like ruffles!

Here is the finished product!!

I am pretty pleased with how it turned out seeing as how it was my first venture at using an article of dissected clothing as my pattern. However, I wasn't sure if it looks more like a bathing suit or a leotard; so, I added a skirt. I apologize for the poor quality in photos. I brought my camera, but the battery was dead...URG! So I had to settle for phone pictures. You get the idea...right?

I have a maternity dress to leotard refashion in the works. I also ordered some fabric to attempt one of these! Does anyone have any experience making pettiskirts? Any advice?

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