SergerPepper Everyday Tank: My 1st Pattern REVIEW

Merry Christmas! I do hope that your year has been Blessed and stuffed FULL of Laughter & Love. 2014 has been kRaZy {to say the least} for my HappyLittleFamily {HLF}. And with Ruffles’ 5th {FIFTH!} Birthday taking place in the midst of the Holiday Season -simultaneously with our trip to WDW {!•Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party•!} , a Family Christmas Party and our church's Christmas Concert -and this was all in ONE  weekend!- on top of HLF's regularly PACKED schedule, this Mommy is one busy Lady... and that brings me to the subject at hand. {GEEZ. Can you say “Longest run-on sentence EVER”?}

Recently I signed on with Denise of DIY Crush to be a pattern reviewer. I have discovered that in my busy life it is helpful to have a reason {or deadline!} to make me sit down & sew. Besides that, I love testing patterns {and sharing my results & opinion with others} so why not try something new? Granted I was supposed to have finished and turned in my review a few weeks ago...but who's counting right? I’m only joking - if you know me then you know how I despise being late. Being late makes me gRuMpY {FYI, I stay gRuMpY a LOT lately!}.

The 1st pattern I have been asked to review was the Everyday Tank: Top & Dresses by SergerPepper. I just knew we had to do it because living in NE Fla means Shorts, FlipFlops & {YES} TankTops year round!  The Everyday Tank, Top & Dress {heretofore referred to as The ET} looked like something we could have fun with & when I saw the "BEGINNER" level I was sold, HaHa! This pattern was published in PDF form {my personal -and absolute - favorite}. The ET comes in 3 lengths {Top, Dress & Maxi}, has some very cute side detailing and optional pockets {something I have recommended in almost EVERY pattern I've tested, HaHa!}.

How CUTE is this?¿?

This was my 1st 'foreign' pattern {written using the metric system} but this tutorial also includes the imperial system...& I learned that Americans use the "Imperial" system. I never knew that until I read this pattern! Irene of SergerPepper did a fantastic job using both measurements while keeping the tutorial pretty clear & concise. She also made sure to repeat important tips and crucial steps. I am a huge fan of up-cycling and  Irene gave excellent instructions on how to make your ET using an existing garment.  I did up-cycle but due to the largeness of the existing garments & the smallness of my Ruffles, was unable to use the tips. Bummer. Next time though...

The ET tutorial offers SO MANY different tips & tricks! Choosing a style, picking your fabrics, cutting your fabrics, choosing measurements, sewing with knits, using your seger or just sewing machine, binding techniques, hemming {& more!} but the tutorial was laid out in a way that isn't overwhelming. Sometimes too much is just that - TOO MUCH. In this instance it isn't excessive because all the information is helpful & easy to find. The ET is listed {classified?} as a BEGINNER level & I would agree. I recommend reading the ENTIRE tutorial at least once through before starting though!

I did not use my serger on this pattern. In fact I used my "never fails me" Brother 'Project Runway' Limited Edition BlackFriday WalMart Special! It only sews a straight or zig-zag stitch. For knits I will often loosen the tension but that is the only adjustment I made.

Had I thought ahead, I would have tried laying the striped fabric diagonally for a more feminine look. Ruffles LOVES it though, so what more can a Mommy ask for? I would love to try a tank for Robot & I have plans for at least one dress-length version for Ruffles {I'm a sucker for a cute knit dress!}. ♥

GottaRun, ByeBye Y'all! ☺️
Brandyn

P.S.
A "few" more pictures of my Lil'Sweetie {& YES this outfit was totally appropriate for the weather!}

That little belly! ♥♥♥ We had just finished dinner☺️ 

Duggar Family Goodness

I am a HUGE fan of the Duggar Family. I absolute Love watching the show, reading/listening to their interviews and I hope to pick up some of the books & Children's literature that they have worked on as well. My SweetHubbs & I share the same core values as the Duggars ~ from Christianity, Politics, ChildRearing, Modesty {only we aren't quite as orthodox}, Financial Responsibility {though we certainly aren't as disciplined!}, Education {HomeSchool ROCKS!}, among others.

I always feel uplifted, positive & encouraged after watching an episode of 19 Kids & Counting. And my Littles Love watching w/ me! Ruffles now Loves to quote me {quoting Mama Michelle} "Practice makes progress".  ♥ 

Tonight, while on FB {checking notes in a 'testing group' for an upcoming pattern} I saw on the sidebar a link for Duggar Family Blog: A Blog About the Duggars. I clicked on it & was excited to find a site NOT affiliated w/ TLC. This blog is run by two seemingly sweet Ladies & stays pretty up-to-date. {I remember a few of the Duggar 'Children' saying once that they were unable to have FB accounts because they were ALWAYS shut down after being reported as fraudulent/impostors ~ how funny! It's probably in their best interest anyway!}.

Anyhow, I continued on over to the actual blog just to check it out ~ & was pleasantly surprised! Not spammy or idol worshippy. Just a nice uplifting blog that keeps the general public abreast of the IMPORTANT {i.e. we aren't weirdos for wanting to know about it ;) } current events in the lives of all things Duggar-related.

I also came across this !'GIVE•AWAY'! ;) The Original Duggar Family Blog in conjunction with Build A Sign is giving away a $25 GiftCard! You should go check out Build A Sign  & then go enter the giveaway :  http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/giveaway-prize-your-choice.html  ♥ 

Missing Vinnie

Well . . . We made it. I thought for sure that 2013 was going to be better than 2012. Easier maybe ~ more fun, more laughs. I didn't anticipate January 28, 2013. Never would have guessed that you were going to leave us. I needed you. I knew it, you knew it. We had Robot's big surgery coming up. I had {still have} gardening & other homemaking and LIFE questions to ask. There is a 4yr old little SpitFire that NEEDS her Twin SpitFire Vinnie. It kills me daily how much she misses you. My LittleOnes have no closure, their Vinnie was just ~ GONE. And it hurts. Oh how it hurts their little hearts that they couldn't see you. They couldn't say "GoodBye". 

I can't even begin to imagine what they must be going through. To be so young and lose someone so vital to our Family ~ and NOT get to say GoodBye. Due to illness & schedules we made it to the hospital only twice during the 7 week ordeal. On Christmas Day & my Birthday. The four of us drove out to the Hospital together. Then the looks of pain & even betrayal in their eyes when they weren't allowed into the ward . . . I hope I lose those memories someday. 

On the other hand, I have 3 wonderful memories to cling to {painful though they may be}.
1.  After Thanksgiving {maybe 2 weeks before she got sick} the Family & I went out to the Farm and spent some time chatting with Vinnie & Papa. Vinnie & I talked and talked {as we always did} for well over an hour. We talked a lot about my sewing. She had never quite 'gotten the hang of it' & she wanted to know what I was learning and doing & even asked me to make some new curtains for her LivingRoom. I was honored! She passed her Mama's sewing machine down to me and we decided that I would come back 
and pick it up in the new year . . . yeah ~ that hasn't yet happened. Maybe 
someday soon. ♥ We just shared some wonderful fellowship and {as usual} I learned a thing or two.

2.  On my Birthday {2 weeks before Vinnie left us} I got back to Gainesville for a 2nd visit. She was awake this time {unsedated} & lightly restrained {because she wanted to break out ~ hard headed Lady ♥ }. 

Vinnie was upset & panicky ~ she absolutely DESPISED for her Grandchildren to see her in less than 'perfect' condition. I was so Thankful that I was able to soothe her and then talk to her. She couldn't speak due to a trache {that drove her bOnKeRs ): }, but I was able to understand a few things that she attempted to tell me. I told her about what the Children were up to {we had just signed Robot up for Piano & Ruffles for Ballet} and I even told her the secret about Hubbs' new job. I figured Vinnie deserved some Happy news - and she had been waiting to hear it! At one point during our visit she looked away from me for a moment. When she turned back, I saw the most heartbreaking expression in her eyes. It was bothering her again ~ that she wasn't perfect, and she so desperately wanted to be HOME. I did something that I would have NEVER in a thousand lifetimes have imagined myself doing to this Strong, Vivacious, Independent Woman. I cupped her face in my hand and shushed, cooed & comforted her as a child. I cried with her and told her how very much she was LOVED and that we were Praying & rooting for her to COME HOME SOON. {The prognosis was positive at that point. We were looking at another month or so to have Vinnie back in her home.} I kissed her goodnight, walked out into the main hallway . . . & cried like a helpless child. 

3. The Last Day. They called us that morning - said Vinnie had developed blood poisoning. She was crashing & had very little time left. I told my Littles & held them while we cried. I called one of my Sisters to tell her and then arranged our drive over to Gainesville. We got dressed and then waited on Hubbs & AuntSister to arrive. At the rehab hospital {ironic right} we only had one chance to visit because there were so many Family members & Friends rushing over to say "GoodBye" {she was Blessed}. But it was a GOOD visit. Our Papa was there, holding her hand and AuntSister & I joined him. Vinnie was awake & aware of her surroundings and visitors. ALWAYS a Blessing. 
AuntSister was 9 months pregnant at this time & we got to tell Vinnie some wonderful updates about BabyB. The nurses lowered her bed waaay down so she could see 'him' & I told Vinnie how much I would miss having him in there because when AuntSister laughed her belly shook like SantaClaus. Then {somehow} I made her laugh and Vinnie got to see the belly bounce ~ & she chuckled! ♥  I Pray that to my dying day I will always see the expression on her face as she 'talked' with us that morning. It was so priceless ~ full of wonder, awe & love at what was happening with the Families that SHE helped to create. 

I fully believe that Grandmothers are one of God's truly GREATEST GIFTS to mankind ~ apart from Jesus & Salvation of course.  (O; I have been extremely Blessed in my lifetime to have been Loved {& Loved WELL} by quite a few of them ~ 6 to be exact {with 2 still on this Earth}!  These past 12 months have been . . . difficult, harsh, lacking, painful, empty . . . to say the least.  I do still need my Vinnie, I was only just beginning to learn from her. At this point we 
still haven't figured out the "how" of getting on with life without her, but I know that by just living our day to day ~ day by day ~ one morning we'll wake up and realize we've done it.  We Love You Vinnie & Miss You ~ Daily.  
♥ ♥ ♥ 

! FabricStash~GIVEAWAY !

Okay, so there is an AH~MAZING GIVEAWAY that I have been trying and trying {and trying . . . } to enter for {what feels like}a week now. Unfortunatley tonight is THE LAST NIGHT & I finally got the darn site to work for me! Oh Well, I may even win anyhow right!?!

I absolutely ADORE the partners of this particular giveaway. 

Whimsy Couture happens to be one of my favorite pattern writers. I do have MOST of her collection in MY collection. She is SUPER Helpful & SUPER Sweet. I have even had the pleasure of testing for her a handful of times {more on that later ~ I promise!}.

I found StitchStashDiva this past Summer while shopping for 'SUPERHERO' fabrics. I {along with a Friend} was planning to surprise Robot with a custom hospital gown to wear during his HeartSurgery {again ~ more on that later . . . I promise!}. SSD was the place for me ~ I found what I liked and they even created a custom bundle pack with EXACTLY what I needed {even though their etsy store listed some items as 'out of stock'!}. 

Anyhoo . . . go check out BOTH WC & SSD NOW. Totally worth your time, I promise. ♥

~SkirtWeekIsComing~!~SkirtWeekIsComing~

~ !~It'sAlmostTime~! ~

{{Quick~ Click me to find out what this KrAzY Lady is 'talking' about!}}

WC Giveaway

Interview & Giveaway ~ Anne Kelle Fabrics

Weddings VS Marriage {Or 'Letting Go of Bitterness'!}

I decided to stay up late tonight, to hopefully get a bit of progress made on Ruffles' Halloween Costume {I did}. I found a short series on Netflix called 'Say Yes to the Dress:Randy Says'...usually 'SYTTD' leaves me feeling quite envious over the 'lack' in my Wedding Season {yes, even after almost 10 years}. Tonight however, I am Grateful. Grateful for a Husband that LOVES Me Endlessly & Spoils Me {as much as he can}. Grateful for another reminder that God STILL answers Prayer {mine yesterday was to erase lingering bitterness I carry in my heart...}. Grateful that in less than Three { !3! } Weeks, I will get to celebrate 10 Years of Marriage to the Most Wonderful Man that 'I Never Knew I Always Wanted'...even if we don't get to leave our little town to do it~I LOVE MTB TREMENDOUSLY. And I am GRATEFUL. ♥

I have come to grips with the reality that the 'family support' just wasn't there. I had no guidance on registration, planning, The Dress...anything. Okay~No Biggie. So I plan to BE THERE for Our Girl. I've watched other Mama's and 'studied' the Wedding Seasons of local Brides in recent years. 'Oh! That's how it's supposed to be done~Gotcha!'  Okay, that may sound bitter or sarcastic in your mind, but Seriously~I understand the 'why'~Even though I have two Mothers that Love me, neither of them got a Wedding at all. {In fact, we're still trying to convince our Daddy that he needs to 'Marry Mom RIGHT' one of these days.} So technically, they had no guidance to offer...

I have come to accept the fact that we had EXTREMELY limited funds to finance a Wedding. In fact, we I managed to 'DIY' the entire day for about $3000. That included my dress. {Side Note~Not only was that BEFORE Pinterest, but I didn't even know how to use the internet back then!} Yes, we both had full time jobs. Yes, we were given a few pre wedding gifts to use accordingly...but I had a Future MIL that was very ill and spent much time in hospital...40 mins away. And in the six {eight?} weeks leading up to the Wedding, she did not leave hospital due to a series of massive strokes that created much damage. We felt our time was much better spent with her. Sharing meals, sharing conversation, watching television, watching her sleep, keeping track of her care & well being. Driving 40 minutes one way {twice a day, 4-6 days a week} plus eating dinner can REALLY add up. So...there went our ''Last Minute Details'...'Fresh Floral Arrangements'...'Reception Refreshments'...'Honeymoon Funds'. ~And I wouldn't have it any other way. D knew that she was Loved. She knew that she was Cherished. And THAT is worth more than any Vera Wang Dress, Gorgeous Choreographed Ceremony, Rocking Reception & Fancy Honeymoon. Hands Down. Any Day. 

Still having a little trouble with the pictures though! { !-LOL-! } The. Pictures... Seriously...???...I just have no words to describe the 'awfulness' of that debacle! I say this jokingly now, but it actually took many years for M & I to get over recover from that experience. We met with {and paid most of the package price to} our photographer before we were actually engaged. M proposed in February {so romantic~but another story!} and it took until the end of August for the photographer to actually keep a date {aka NOT stand us up!} and do our engagement session. We were rushed. In our work clothes...and covered in mosquitoes. In our pictures there are literally mosquitoes feasting on us! Our package covered the Rehearsa & Dinner {he didn't show up}, PreWedding Prep {nada}, the Wedding {got that}, and Reception {got a few traditional 'corny' shots}. We celebrated our 1st Anniversary before we ever saw the proofs from the Wedding Day.  It took over three and a half years { !-3.5-! } to get our Wedding Album. We just took it out of the box {to display} this Summer. We really don't like to look at it~is that Sad? But our Kiddos love it. Bless Them.

But, as I stated before: Tonight I am Grateful. SO Very Grateful. And Yes~I would do it all again to marry M. ♥