DIY Swaddler Lego Blanket

These last few weeks I've been either insanely productive, or insanely lazy and tired.  It's been crazy weather, which, I attribute to my pregnant self.  This last week, my sister Hannah and I got crafty.  I'm super picky about everything apparently, which is even worse when it comes to my kids style.  I feel that everything should be unique which usually means should be handmade.  Hence, we decided to make our own swaddling cloths for the little man.  Which, it takes me forever to try and research something that is quirky enough for me.  Luckily, I'm super good at copying people's Pinterest ideas, but I apply them other ways. 

At Joann's, you can buy muslin for $5.99 per yard.  Combine that with your 40% coupon and you have an awesome blanket.  We had to break into our brand new lego box that I got on Black Friday.  Take some Fabric Paint, dip your legos and stamp.  It was that easy and that awesome looking.  You do have to sew the raw edges...but that's what you have moms for right?  (Because, this mama, DOESN'T/CAN'T SEW)

 I have what you would call a "Lego Nazi Husband."  (click to read previous posts) He has some serious rules about the usage of legos and I'm afraid I had to ruin some for little brother.  I really was concerned...but there was nothing I could do about it in the end. The fabric paint sticks too well and little Legos have little places that paint crawls in to.

But really, isn't it awesome looking?  Be careful when stamping to have something under it, as the paint soaks through the cloth. 

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Here's one last shot with the 36 week belly. 

Idea stemmed from this. 

A few notes about stamping with Legos. 

1.  Who will probably not want to clean the legos afters.  The fabric paint does not come off easily. 

2. Make sure to place something under the cloth while stamping so it does not soak through.

3. I took two pieces of cardboard and squirted the paint on one side.  Then, I rubbed them together so it was flatten the paint and therefore make it easier to get an even stamp.

4. I really don't sew well, even on easy projects, but take the edges of the blanket and roll once under and then sew.  See, it sounds easy, but I never find it is.  Hence, why I have my mom do it.  

5.  I was able to use each stamp about 3 times before it was too light to see on the fabric.  

6.  You'll have to clean on the lego (as best you can) when you start getting fuzzy lines.  You'll know when this happens.  I found it was easiest to scrape off with a tough piece of cardboard.  

 

Viva Las Vegas

The Husband's friend from high school got married a few weeks ago, in Vegas.  We decided to make a little family trip out of it before little brother makes his debut.  While, Vegas isn't my first pick to go vacationing at, it was lots of fun.  The Husband is a go-go-go kind of person, but luckily, now that we have that baby, he goes at a much slower pace.  He probably would have dragged us everywhere if it weren't for Aiko and myself being 7 months pregnant.  It was kind of nice just to slow down, eat buffets, relax, swim and take naps. 

For as many times as we've both been to Vegas, neither of us has ever been to the "Welcome to Las Vegas" Sign.  But see all those people behind us?  That's a line, so we didn't even go up to the sign, plus Aiko was sleeping, plus this was about 10 minutes before I puked my guts out and Aiko pooped out of her pants twice during this even. We're hard core.

After the wedding dinner we went to the Stratosphere with the husband's other high school buddy.  (There were few of them at this wedding.)  Sadly, this is the last of the Cedar Boy High School Buddies to get married.  Aiko really liked the view.  She loved to lean over the glass and say "oooooo."

I'll admit, it's a pretty amazing building.  The other couple we went with are pregnant as well, so we the pregnant wives, watched our husband ride the awesome rides upon the Stratosphere.  Ahhh, the perks of pregnancy. 

I have a special place for the Excalibur in my heart.  I love fantasy books and I've always felt this casino was so magical. I mean really, it's castle.  While it may be older, I still think it's one of my favorites. 

That baby really loved the arcade.  She has a thing for monkeys right now. 

During the actual wedding, #ohniceandchubbybaby (as you'll see below) spent our time walking around the temple.  It was a lovely day.  I don't think this baby has actually spent a whole lot of time crawling around on grass.  She didn't really enjoy it.  Which, if only she knew HOW nice and soft that grass is compared to our pine needle-kona pooped on-spiky-non-green grass is.  She's in for a treat. 

One of the days we went to the Chocolate Factory.  I think Ethel M Chocolates.  Don't go on a Saturday, they don't actually run the factory, which was a bummer.  Of course, we bought some chocolates.  Which, were insanely expensive...except they were Valentines and we got them at 75% off.  (Shhhh, don't tell Ross.)  Again, witness this weird sugar craving this little boy has been given me. 

For some reason, outside the Chocolate Factory they have a Cactus Garden.  Which, I believe they probably have only to hide their vast Solar Panel system that runs the Factory. 

Hard to imagine another little human being will be entering into our selfie pictures. 

The last of these photos are just miscellaneous ones from around Vegas.  The husband could tell you all the casino names, while I, cannot.

 "What's with all the horse stuff?" Says the husband.  Sometimes, his un-asianness, blows my mind. I joke...but really.

Year of the Horse love. 

Oh Vegas.  It was nice to hang out with you.  We didn't even go visit the Strip and I think that's what made it so nice. 

Skirts designed by Harmony

I usually love shopping.  LOVE it.  Love a good deal, love a good thrift, love a good cheap price.  While being pregnant, I've come to loathe it.  Partly because of the exercise, partly because I've recently discovered that my butt has expanded along with some lovely muffin tops, and partly because things just aren't so cute right now.  Which for one who has complained about not having a butt (it's called the Oka flat butt and an asian curse) it's just not in the shape I was thinking...but, oh, well.  It's part of pregnancy right?  A cute little baby boy comes from all this awkwardness. 

Back to my shopping.  So my I had a dream the other night that I was out thrift shopping with one of my elderly neighbors.  She's always so kind and honestly, has some clothes that I really like.  Mind you, most of them are probably from the 1960s-1980s range, but nonetheless, I like them.  So here we are both shopping at a thrift store looking at some gorgeous skirts, while another shopper became upset that she wasn't being helped by the clerk who was on the phone. She left, and we continued shopping.  I came across these two vintage, elegantly cut, perfect for an everyday or special event. They kind of had a riding, victorian style with uneven cuts. I mean, they were absolutely lovely in my dream.  One was a grey wool with pleats down the back, the other was a purple color that I have no idea what the material would be called.   I would have paid at least $5 a piece.  (haha, probably more, because when I shop, sometimes there are things that I see that I know I must have, no matter what, but it does have to have a sales tag.) I mean, these were extremely unique pieces.  Suddenly, the disgruntled customer came back with her thug of a friend who has some weird violent looking tools.  I told them to wait, so I could exit the building. And that was it. Dream over.

I know.  Hero status here.  I blame this on a book called Mistborn (which was excellent) I had recently finished and being pregnant. 

While, I am bothered by my cowardliness, I was even more concentrated on the skirts. I woke up wanting them still.  My mom is an excellent seamstress, and we have been talking about skirt patterns I would like her to make.  Because, ya know, I don't sew.  I have the vision, but perhaps not the rendering skills I thought myself to have. 

Obviously, my mom will make said beautiful skirts from these drawings alone.  See how I even shaded the grey pleated skirt?  Surely this pattern will go viral and everyone will be pinning my rendering.