Pink, Black, and White Initial Onesie

Someone gave this adorable zebra-striped hat to Maggie with a 12-month-sized dress about a year ago.  I assumed the hat was also a 12-month size, but when she came 'round that age, the hat was way too puny for her gigantic head.  So she never got to wear it!  I decided to re-gift it to my friend Teresa and her baby girl Audrey, who should be born any day now.  I appliqued a matching initial onesie and made a hairbow to go along with it.  Little did I know that pink, black, and white were the colors of her baby shower, so it was perfect!

Our "Blessings Bags" Playdate

How often have you seen a person sitting along the side of the road, holding a sign, dirty, disheveled, downtrodden?  Ever wanted to do something for him/her?  How often have you been approached by one of these people, and felt a little hesitant to just hand over money?  Ever wanted to hand over something that might be used in a better way?  I'd been wanting to do something different for awhile, and my answer came in the form of blessings bags.  They are plastic bags filled with a few necessities that I can keep in my car and hand out when I see a need.  I invited a few friends and their kids to participate, since it's easy for kids to pack the bags.  Everyone signed up to bring a few items, and we each went home with around seven or eight bags.  Some examples of items that work well include travel sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, etc.), disposable razors, toothbrushes, lip balm, socks, hand warmers, wet wipes, Kleenex, ready to eat food (individually wrapped peanut butter, candy bars, granola bars, applesauce, crackers, tuna, etc.), McDonald's giftcards, juice boxes, and small water bottles.  Organizing Made Fun's post here and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's post here gave me a bunch of ideas. As for our bags?  They're all sitting in the back of our van right now, just waiting 'til we find someone to give them to! 

Two tables full of necessities, unpacked and laid out for little hands to grasp.

All our completed bags!

Christmas Felt Wall Scenes

I know Christmas is over, but I was having a few blog issues last month and didn't get these pictures posted on time.  Inspired by the pictures I saw all over Pinterest, my kids and I made this felt Christmas tree to hang on the wall last month.  They have fun with it because they can hang the ornaments and place the presents under the tree.

Then we saw this idea on Pinterest: a felt wall nativity scene!  Of course we had to make our own to go alongside our Christmas tree.  And, again, the kids had a blast playing with all the characters.  Next year, they said, I need to make a camel and a donkey as well. :-)

Three wise men, bearing gifts

Joseph, baby Jesus in the manger, and Mary

The angels

A couple shepherds and their sheep