Elle Design Cottage

'Tis the Season

...for giving!  So the winners for the recipes & bag are:

Jessica Moore (my dawling cousin) & Tiff@Three Peas 

Will you two please e-mail me your mailing address so I can send these off to you?  Mucho Gusto!

And since Christmas is sneakin' up on us, I started a new little something for my boys.  Here's a sneak peek:

Any ideas on what this will be when it's done?  See, I figure if I post this, then I'll actually have to finish this project.  That way I'll have some motivation to get it done so I can show it off.  I'm hopeful it will become a family heirloom that my kids will look forward to getting out every Christmas. 

As I mentioned in my previous post, my project list is never-ending.  But, I somehow managed to squeeze in a little sewing this week.  This next bag was made using laminated fabric--something I've never sewn with before and it was a little tricky, but what I love about it is that the fabric is completely protected.  Spill something on it or set is in somethin' nasty and it will wipe right off.  Sweet!!!  So this is being put in my Christmas gift stash for...hmmm, not quite sure yet. 

 

KIDDIO: My new blog love!

I happened upon this fantastic blog purely by chance.  Sew, Mama, Sew is a daily read of mine and they featured a great sewing project by Kiddio.  I don't know about you, but it's like Christmas morning when I find a great new blog and Kiddio was the jackpot for me!  It is my new blog love. 

One of my most favorite features are the Friday Finds.  Seriously, go check it out, but make sure you have a couple of hours to devote!  She links to some super cute stuff and great ideas every Friday. 

This recent post, however, spoke to my heart.  If you have boys, you need to go check out this post and get a book or two off her list.  Being the mom of two sweet boys, I clearly get that I don't have all the answers and I'll take any help I can to be a better parent.  Boys these days are so easily clumped into one generic category and are so often referred to as Kiddio said "troublemakers."  The author of Kiddio is a Developmental Psychologist, so I'll take her book recommendations and I whole-heartedly second the fact that boys and girls are so different and every child has their own needs and each child responds so differently to the environments they are put in. 

If you have any other great parenting book recommendations, or if you have read any of the books on Kiddio's recommended reading list for boys, let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear your opinions. 

Twilight and Breaking Dawn..."Should I read 'em?"

So, I think my sister is the last person on the planet to read the Twilight series.  I told her last year when I went to visit her in Minnesota that she needed to read them, but she was convinced she wasn't a "reader."  (BTW, I love you tons sis!)  So, the questions for my blog readers (all 3 of you) are:

Have you read the Twilight series?  (If not, you must have been living under a rock!)

Will you be in line with me this Friday at midnight when Breaking Dawn goes on sale? 

Have you read The Host?  What did ya think?

I'm still working on The Host, so don't give me any details on that one.  But, I have to admit, I was a little behind the bandwagon at first with this series too.  All the hype about Twilight was rampant and when I heard it was about vampires, I was like "Oh, paaleaase!  Vampires.  So not a book for me."  I'm woman enough to admit that I was wrong.  Soooo wrong.  I'm not an avid reader either, but I couldn't put Twilight down.  I know most of you are with me on this one...you know, staying up until 4:00 a.m. reading..."Just one more chapter.  I can totally function on 2 hours worth of sleep tomorrow." 

As for my sister, she is wondering if it is worth her time to read the Twilight series.  What do you think?