Some Call It Nesting, I Call It Pregnancy Induced Crafting

I had a previous post about what us Cool Kids have been up to, but it seems my coolness may be enhanced in pregnancy.  There is a common occurrence among the Preggers called Nesting, which refers to avid cleaning, organizing and making various preparations for the baby to come.  Since our house seems to be in general chaos due to some water damage we had about a month ago, the Cleaning and Organizing Nesting Syndrome has not colonized in my system as of yet.  However, it has inspired some cool projects to keep my hands busy.

Who needs nests when you've got birds in trees?  Thanks to my friend Megan, and an idea that originally came from Pinterest (see it here), we have some cool art for the bathroom.

Bird Art (up close)

Bird Art (on their home wall)

In other wall art, check these beauties out.  I've had a lot of people asking, How's the nursery coming?  Did you paint?  Do you have a theme?  The last question left me puzzled at first, thinking I didn't want to be tied down by a genre when it came to clothing, bedding, and the look of the baby's room.  Well, turns out we really like animals, and Baby H-G better like animals or we're out of luck.  Below is the felt and chalk animal frames that are now in Baby H-G's animally themed room.  And yes, I made them all sleepy looking; it's part of my brain-washing program that will result in Baby H-G being the world's best sleeping infant.

Sea (Sleeping) Adventure

The Wise (Sleeping) Owl

And because I have to mention yarn, check out these slick Newsies Hats (you can find the pattern for free here).  Baby H-G is going to come home quite the stylish little man.  Who knows?  Maybe with this chic new look, printed newspapers will replace the ever-growing popularity of online news articles.  Who wouldn't want to buy newspapers from diaper-clad studs in these hats?  Luckily, I've made some girl colored ones in case he picks up any cuties in the nursery, while he's making his rounds selling the daily paper.

Am I really posting this at one in the morning?  Yes, yes I am.  It seems that Pregnancy Induced Crafting also has a side effect of insomnia.

Goodnight All,

~M

The White T-Shirt Experiment - 87.9% Progress Report

We have now hit 35 weeks (and one day - if you're counting), meaning less than 5 weeks remain until the due date of Baby H-G!  Wanting to keep you posted on the exciting research done with the White T-Shirt Experiment, let there be no further delay to the latest findings!  Here are weeks 28 - 35:

28 Weeks

30 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

33 Weeks (sorry this one is a bit blurry!)

35 Weeks

As you can see, the front of the White T-shirt is struggling to stay down as the FOB (force of belly) strains its fabric.  For another comparison, here is the Belly Perspective:

28 Weeks

30 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

33 Weeks

35 Weeks

We'll keep trying to keep you up to date on the H-G Happenings.  Any wagers Baby H-G is early? late?  We'll soon find out!

~M

What the Cool Kids Are Doing These Days

Some of you may know that I have dabbled in various crafty things.  Others of you may think, wait a minute... Maggie's in her 20's, isn't that stuff for, well.... this lady??

"Old Lady Knitting" courtesy of Google Images

Yes, she obviously is a skilled knitter.  However, old school crafting has a new class of students - young and old, guys and gals, red fish and blue fish - the cool kids are all getting their craft on.  You should, too.


Here are a few bits and pieces from my Crafting Resume:

• I started off with the basics as a kid, sewing bean bags that I filled with rice or dried beans (only to be chewed through by mice and their contents devoured when I tucked them away into a closet), 
• Basic quilts (with the help of my mom),
• Pajamas (with the help of my step-mom), 
• Jewelry (even selling some at a local gas station), 
• Candle making (burned my thumb so bad I had a marble-sized blister that I had to drain puss from every few hours), 
• And my latest obsession is yarn, specifically knitting and crocheting with it.

So, this mother-to-be wants you to know you can be just as cool as me.  Well, almost as cool as me.  (C'mon, no one can actually be as cool as me, right?  right guys?  uh... *insert blank stares here*)

Anyhoo, I wanted to share a tiny little pattern to crochet a cute little flower.  Fellas - I'm still new to this whole pattern thing, so I don't know how to make something cool like a sail boat or monster truck.  Once I do, you'll be the first to know.  An adorable little hand-made flower could be quite impressive to the ladies, though.  I'm just sayin'....

For those of you that are novices, here's a break-down:

These are knitting needles.  Notice there are two and they are pointy on one side, with stoppers on the other side.

This is a crochet hook.  Take note that one side has a little hook, while the other is just there... no stoppers or anything.

Here is an example of some flowers made out of worsted weight yarn (you can see the quarter as a size reference):

Loops & Threads Impeccable Yarn, Worsted
{Crochet Hook Size I}

And these are flowers made with different sized yarn so you can see how much it varies:

Multi-Colored Sensations Bamboo & Ewe Yarn {Crochet Hook Size D}

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn {Crochet Hook Size Q}

Lion Brand Cotton Ease Yarn {Crochet Hook Size H}

Now that you're professionals, here is the pattern!

Cutsie Crocheted Flower

Yarn/Sizing Note: Depending on the project you are working on, you could potentially use any kind of yarn, of any color, weight, thickness, etc.  Just be sure to use the appropriately sized crochet hook according to your yarn weight/size.  I’m a big fan of worsted weight, so that’s what I’ll use in this pattern.  You won’t need that much yarn, so feel free to look around for left over yarn after bigger projects.

Flowers with Worsted Weight Yarn

Materials

Worsted Weight Yarn

Crochet Hook Size I / 9 / 5.5mm

Tapestry Needle
Button/fastener/etc. (optional)

Abbreviations

ch = chain

dc = double crochet

hdc = half double crochet

st = stitch

sl st = slip stitch

*instructions* = repeat steps

Directions

Round 1: ch 3, sl st to join to form ring.

Round 2: ch 2, 12 hdc into ring, sl st to join into top of first hdc. (12 stitches in this row)

Round 3: *4 dc in first st, sl st in next st*, repeat that sequence six times to form petals, ending with sl st.

Finishing: cut yarn 6 inches from hook and pull through loop on hook to tie off.   Weave ends into back of flower so out of sight and trim.  Attach to any project by using matching yarn, or contrasting yarn and sew directly on to project, or add pin/barrette/fastener to back of flower.  A button can be sewn in the center for a fun/chic look.

Of course a real pattern gets to have a disclaimer so you know if you can use it for selling or not!  Here you go: I give permission for this pattern to be used for private or commercial use, but please tell your friends you found it at lifehyphenated.blogspot.com.  Thank you!

Happy Crafting!

~M

The Big Mac Shelf & Other Pregnancy Perks

A lot of pregnant women describe the woes of what happens to their bodies, and the affects that pregnancy hormones have on them - nausea, swollen feet, growing belly, dizziness, mood swings, etc.  However, there can be some great advantages to pregnancy.  Allow me to introduce you to Exhibit A, the Big Mac Shelf, pictured below.  Watching TV and having a difficult time holding your Big Mac while you eat?  Problem solved.

Exhibit A: The Big Mac Shelf

Another bonus to pregnancy is the Expectant Mother Parking.  Tired of driving around the mall parking lot, only to have to park in the furthest spot possible and walk?  Grab a pregnant lady and get a spot up close!

Exhibit B: Preggo Parking

One additional perk of pregnancy I want to mention is the encouragement that comes from friends and family.  At a baby shower recently, the guests were asked to fill in the blanks on a card showing their wishes for Baby H-G.  Here are a few I wanted to share with you...

• I hope you aren't afraid to be different
• I hope you love a girl with all your heart
• I hope you grow a beard (every man needs one someday)
• I hope you aren't afraid of the dark - it happens every 12 hours :)
• I hope you grow into a loving man
• I hope you ignore the little things that bug you
• I hope you never forget your house key, because your mom won't have it
• I hope you respect the Red Wings
• I hope you aren't afraid to take chances
• I hope that you know how much you are loved

So, for the preggers out there - what are the perks you've had during pregnancy?  And for everyone - in thinking about your wishes for the next generation, what would you write?

~M