Adorable Dolls

Do you remember last week, when I blogged about this hat? Super cute! Well, I decided to explore Think Crafty Thoughts some more. :) It's such a fun blog! And has so many great patterns. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who crochets. :)

I decided to sit down the other night, and really go through all the patterns. That's when I found this great pattern. For these dolls. They remind me of "Nesting Dolls." Lauren has a set of "Nesting Dolls," that my mom made her. They're wooden, and my mom painted them. They were the best present, for my then 2 year old daughter. :) She still plays with them. Almost 3 years later!

So this pattern, really got my attention. Lauren just loves those dolls! And I wish that I had found this pattern a few weeks ago. I would have LOVED to have made these for Lauren's birthday. But that is just a week away!



But I couldn't get these dolls out of my head. Does that ever happen to you? I visited this post, at least 10 times. Then I decided to print it out. I'm 99% positive, that I have all the supplies. And if I start them today, I might have them done, by Easter. I think this would be an adorable addition to her Easter Basket!

Now to just find some time. Being a mommy of 3, time is always a precious commodity. Especially, when you are trying to create some "surprises." But I'm hopeful. And I really do think, I can get all these things done, before the big days ahead!

~Manders

Fast Food...

I've blogged many times, about Lauren's Little Pink Playhouse. To date, it's the best money, that Billy and I, have ever spent on a toy. No lie!

Anytime that Lauren has some money, she wants to buy something for her playhouse. When anyone asks Lauren, what she wants for Christmas, or her birthday, she asks for something for her playhouse. Lucky us, T-Lo always sends something fun!

I can't lie. The other night, I couldn't sleep. So I logged on to our computer, and started "Blog Hopping." :) Not only did I find a fun, and new blog...I found this fun pattern!



In our house, we make pancakes once a week. And on special days...like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. This was a "no brainer" to me. I printed off this pattern. Looked through my yarn. And tonight, I'm going to start working on it.

This is going to be one of Lauren's birthday presents. :) I just wish that I could find some other quick, and easy patterns. Because I know that she will enjoy some new toys, for her playhouse. I don't mind buying the patterns either. So if you have some ideas, please leave me a comment. I'm always looking for new ideas, patterns, Etsy shops, etc.

~Manders

Tea and Cookies Party Set Crochet Pattern

This morning, I was searching through Red Heart's website. They have a TON of free patterns. And I was just looking through them. To see if anything would catch my eye. That's when I found this pattern.



Isn't it adorable? I was thinking of making this tea set, for my girls. If it's not too tough, and too time consuming, I might make them each one. Maybe for their birthdays. Which are in a few weeks. Oh, I think this would be fun!

~Manders

New in 2012: Box Play for Kids

Not long ago, my sister-in-law and I were talking. I swear to you, Robbie is obsessed with boxes! For Christmas it's ALL he wanted to play with. Every time we get a package, he just wants the box! My SIL was telling me, that her sons are the same way.

My SIL made a wonderful discovery last year. Box Play for Kids. Have you heard about them? It's a company, that sells stickers. Not just any stickers. But stickers to put on boxes, egg cartons, milk cartons, and toilet paper rolls. Which turn the boxes into new toys! Yes, they are adorable! And guess what, my SIL sent my kiddos a bunch! This is what we got to try out this week! Just look at what we got. :)



Remember, they were mostly for Robbie. My boy. So this tractor was just perfect! And only $5. It's made for hours, and hours of good playtime!



How about a cow? Around our family, this is the best $8 you could spend! We're all about farm animals!



Let's play doctor. This eye chart is too cute! And just $6. I can hear my twins, for hours, playing with this box. I'm not lying. They even hold a cup over one eye! :)



How about a $5 piano? This is one of Abby's favorites! She sings to herself, and pretends to play. She even tells Billy, that she's practicing to be in the BBs!!!



A $5 camera! This one, all 3 of my kids love! I'm kinda of wanting to order a couple more of these. Because they go around, "snapping pictures," all day long!



How about bowling? This set is only $4! And has given our family, hours of fun. We actually got 3 sets of these. And set it up, in our hallway. Literally, our kids could play for hours!



An $8 pink refrigerator. Where was this, when we were buying stuff for Lauren's Little Pink Playhouse? Could have saved us some serious money!



How about a Bento Box for pretend play? This one is $6. And I see Lauren and Abby "feeding" their babies for hours and hours. So cute!



I'm not going to lie, after my SIL told me about this website, I went to peak around. I bookmarked it. And said I was going to order a few things. That was before the holidays. And just the other day, I was thinking about this website. And I figured that I'd order some stuff, for Easter.

But after we got our gifts, I went back to the website. I'm telling you, my kids are in LOVE with these stickers! And guess what I found? Some free Valentine's! Immediately, I downloaded the file. This was one of the gifts we gave our kids. :) Filled with lots of goodies. I also made some, for our friends' kiddos!

Who in the world, would have thought, my kids would LOVE these so much! I'll never look at a toilet paper roll the same way again. Never! Are there any fun toys or crafts, that you've found. Or think we should take a look at. Please let me know!

~Manders

New in 2012: Sew Baby

I had a few things, that I tried out this week. Interesting things. One that I will blog about tomorrow. One that I plan on repeating, very soon! Just thinking about it, makes me hungry!

But this week, the one big thing that I did was...ordering from Sew Baby. I've wanted to get my sewing machine out. And actually make something, for my kids. With their birthdays and Easter, just around the corner, I thought I could attempt one project, for each of them. :) I might be a little over my head. But I could always save them for Christmas 2012.

What did I get? Well, first of all...run to Sew Baby! They have the cutest patterns. Things that I've never seen before. So I ordered 1 pattern, for each of my kids. These are the ones I got...



Abby is so into her dolls right now. Dollhouses are like gold to her! I've been looking for a cute one, for her birthday. Nothing has really caught my eye. Until now. I ordered Little Red's House for Abby.



My boy really enjoys his animals. Walks around telling us what sounds they make. He runs out with Billy, just to say Hi! to our animals. It's so cute! When I found Animals of Hollyhock Farm, I knew it was perfect for Robbie! But it seems a little complicated for me. Maybe I'm just afraid of small things...



And my big girl, she is so in love with dress up, and pretend play. Lauren always has her eyes open. Looking for cute things, to add to her Little Pink Playhouse. I thought Sweets for My Sweet would be perfect!

Sewing still intimidates me. My mom is amazing at it! Lola just makes up her own patterns. And Lizzie's creations are AMAZING! Me? Well, I try. I can hem, do simple mending, and well that's about it. So this is a pretty big deal for me. I'm hoping, to at least have these 3 projects done, by the summer. At the latest! It's all about the little steps. :)

~Manders

If Only...

If only I had thought of this idea. At least a few weeks ago. Or at the very least, seen this picture. It would have made me, and some sweet little girls, very happy!



Yes, 5 days before Christmas, I find this picture. Actually, my sister-in-law sent it to me. I would have loved to make little food for my girls. But I'm just not that good at crocheting...not yet anyone. To make this in 5 days. So I will save this picture. And tackle this at a later day. Maybe for my girls' birthdays. If only, I'd had this a month ago...

~Manders