(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

It was raining the other day so Little Man and I decided to go outside.  I know, I know, what kind of a mother lets her child go outside and play in the rain?  I can hear it now..."He'll catch his death of cold!"  "He'll get pneumonia"  "He'll get struck by lightening."

Pshaw.

There was no lightening, it was hot outside and the rain was coming down in a gentle sprinkle.  Besides, one of my favorite memories from childhood was getting soaked outside in the rain and I survived.

Catching raindrops.

Pointing to the clouds to show me where the rain came from.

Sitting on the porch watching the rain fall.

Last weekend, we went to a family reunion on my mom's side of the family.  Here's our gang.  Everyone from our branch of the family was there except for my older sister's husband (who made some lame excuse about having a job or something like that for not being there).

Back Row: My younger brother, Hubby, my youngest brother.  Second Row: My older sister holding her son, my sister-in-law holding her daughter, me (yup, the huge purple one in the middle) holding Little Man, my little sister.  Front Row: My parents holding 5 of the grandbabies. 

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How To Ship Using Paypal

I used to handwrite all the addresses on my packages, lug them to the post office, stand in line, and mail them there.

Until I discovered Paypal shipping.  I wish I'd known about it two years earlier when I started selling online as it would've saved me a ton of time and money.

The only things you need to ship through Paypal are a printer and scale.  If the high cost of printer ink scares you, like it did me, read this for how to save money on ink cartridges.  I got my scale on Ebay for a good price, but you could also get a kitchen scale at Walmart if you wanted to. 

It's also helpful to have stick-on shipping labels (so much easier than taping the labels on!) and poly or bubble mailers.  You can purchase both of those on Ebay or Amazon at good prices.  I've also seen shipping labels and bubble mailers at Walmart, but they are more expensive.

The first thing you'll need to do is log into your Paypal account.  Find the transaction for whatever it is you're shipping.  If the payment wasn't made through Paypal, you can still print a label by going here.  You'll just need the customer's name and address for that.  

Clicking on "Payments Received" will narrow down the search if you have a lot of transactions.  You can also do a search from that screen with several different options if you're having a hard time finding it.

Next click on "Print shipping label" next to the transaction.  After you're done creating the shipping label, you'll be able to track the order in the mail.

Your address and the customer's address will already be filled in so all you have to do is select the service type, package size, and fill in the weight of the package.  If you won't be making it to the post office on the same day you print the label, be sure to change mailing date.  When you have all the information filled in, click "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.  The next screen will confirm your purchase of the shipping label and print it for you. 

Before you print your label, you may want to change your printer settings so it doesn't print a receipt as well.  You'll receive an email receipt so a paper receipt is optional.  Just keep in mind that if you do decide to print a receipt, it will take up a whole sheet of paper or 2 shipping labels instead of just half a sheet of paper or 1 shipping label. 

You can change the receipt settings by clicking on "Edit printer settings" under the Printer section.  Uncheck the box that says "Print receipt"

And you're done!  You can either arrange for your mailman to pick up your packages or drop it off at the post office.  The best part of it is that the shipping is cheaper when you purchase it online and when you ship First Class Parcel or Priority mail, delivery confirmation is free, otherwise it's $0.19.  When I shipped at the Post Office, I paid $0.70 per package for delivery confirmation. 


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Tons of Free Stuff!

Right now, my shop, Annalie's Baby Boutique, is participating in 2 different giveaways.

I blogged about the first one last week.  There's a coupon code for my Etsy shop for everyone to use and a $10 gift certificate giveaway to my shop.  The giveaway ends tonight at midnight so be sure to enter soon!

The second one giveaway is over at the Create Kids Couture blog to celebrate them reaching 8000 fans on their facebook page.  You can enter to win a $15 gift certificate to my shop there plus a TON of other great stuff from some fantastic boutiques!  There are over 100 vendors and $4000 worth of freebies so be sure to check it out.   The giveaway ends on August 19th at 12:01 am.

Have fun and good luck!

35 Weeks!

How Far along: 35 weeks

Baby's Size:  Baby weighs approximately 5 pounds.

Sleep: Between waking up to use the bathroom once a night and baby waking me up with his nighttime gymnastics routine, I'm not sleeping very well anymore.  I've been needing more naps too just so I can function.  Really makes it hard to get anything productive done!

Best Moments This Week: Finding out that my best friend gave birth to her third baby boy on July 30th!  Congratulations, Lisa!!

Miss Anything?: Being able to move.  It's uncomfortable to move, bend, stand, sit, lay, etc.

Movement?: Yes, but he's running out of room so the movements have slowed down a little.

Food Cravings:  Omelets, spaghettios. 

Things That Make Me Queasy: Just normal stuff right now.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions (some of which are pretty painful), cramping in the stomach and back almost every day. 

Symptoms: Heartburn, fatigue, exhaustion, crazy hormones, etc...I'm sure it's a joy to be around me right now.  In the last few days, I've been in the bathroom practically every hour so either the baby has had a growth spurt or he's dropped a little, putting more pressure on my bladder. 

Mood Most Of The Time: Stressed.

Looking Forward To:  Seriously getting ready for the baby.  Now that I'm down to the last month, I realized how unprepared I am.  I made a list of things to do before baby comes:

• Get cradle from in-laws and put together
• Pick up the dresser from my parents' house
• Pick up the baby clothes from my sister's house and drop off the boxes of clothes that Princess and Little Man have outgrown
• Make at least 6 freezer meals (lasagna, meatloaf, meatballs, etc) and stock up on groceries.  In the freezer update: 2 pans of lasagna, 1 pan of deep dish pizza casserole, 2 pounds of pre-cooked hamburger meat/pork sausage, 4 doz. cookie dough balls, 24 muffin sized meatloafs, 1 chicken pot pie
• Organize freezers (we have a regular one and a chest freezer)
• Pick out a baby book (I ended up getting this calendar)
  
• Pack my hospital bag, the diaper bag, and the kids' overnight bag
• Get the newborn essentials: a few packs of diapers, pacifiers, etc
• Rearrange kids' room so the new dresser fits
• Rearrange car seats in the van and install infant carseat
  
• Unpack baby clothes and gear.
• Wash and sanitize baby bottles and pacifiers
  

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Etsy Baby Finds

I'm officially in love with Etsy.  The originality and creativity you can find there is amazing.  So, of course, I did some browsing for baby items since Baby #3 is due next month (Oh my word!!  Did I really just say next month?  How did that happen?!?!)

Click on the caption below each picture to follow the link to the specific item.

Personalized Facebook Announcement Onesie

What a unique way to announce baby's arrival!  You can have this personalized with baby's name, birth information, picture, and family info.  How cute would this be on the birth announcements? 
Onesie from Zoey's Attic.
 

Monthly Onesie Stickers

I like to take monthly pictures of my babies (actually, I totally spaced out on this with my first, but I have a taken monthly pictures of Little Man since he was born) and this is a great way to remember what age the baby is in each picture.  Monthly stickers from Little Baby Bumblebee.
 

Guitar Bib

We love anything music themed in this house and it's so hard to find guitar themed baby items that are accoustic guitars and not electric.  Plus, the colors in this bib are adorable!
Bib from Hip Violet.

Announcement Onesie

 This baby is going to have to love owls.  Period.  I mean, they're just so cute on babies!!  This onesie incorporates all of my favorite boy colors (blue, brown, green), and I love the applique.
Onesie from The Peachy Owl.

I Heart Mormor Onesie

 A shoutout to my Swedish roots (my parents are each 1/2 Swedish which means that I am too).  In case you didn't know, Mormor is what Swedish children call their maternal grandmother.  The maternal grandfather is Morfar, paternal grandmother is Farmor and paternal grandfather is Farfar.  What a great way to avoid confusion about who your child is talking about!
Onesie from design by mar.

Minnesota Onesies

 Yup, I'm a Minnesota girl through and through (I was born in Florida, but my parents moved back to good old Minnee-sohtah when I was 2 months old)  Gotta love these onesies!  Other states also available.
Onesies from RoundBottom Baby.

Guitar Crinkle Taggie

 Oh look, another guitar themed baby item!  I've never met a baby who doesn't love a good crinkle taggie toy and this one is just too cute!
Crinkle Taggie from Honey Lime Designs.

Singing Birds Minky Blanket

Super soft, warm minky with my favorite boy color combo (blue and brown) and singing birds!  What's not to love?
Blanket from YATOIL.

Wooden Teethers

I've already decided that I'm getting some of these for Baby #3 for Christmas this year!  There are so many shapes to choose from (including every US state) and wooden toys are just so durable and classic.  And yes, that's a Star Trek one in the upper right corner :) 
Teethers from Little Sapling Toys.

What are some of your favorite finds or shops on Etsy?


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Butterfingers Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies

I love Puppy Chow (or Muddy Buddies...whatever you want to call it).  I don't make it very much because between me and Hubby, it's gone within a day or so.

About a year ago, I was having a serious craving for some of that chocolaty, peanut butter goodness and went to my cupboard to discover that, alas, I only had 1/2 bag of chocolate chips on hand.  Being desperate, I improvised and I loved the results so much that it's the only way I make it now.

Butterfingers Puppy Chow

1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter
1/2 bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 bag of butterscotch chips
1 cup of crunchy peanut butter
9 cups of Chex cereal 
2-3 cups of powdered sugar

Melt butter in a saucepan on the stove or in a microwave safe container in the microwave.  Stir in the chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter.  Continue cooking until all ingredients are melted together.  Put the Chex cereal into a large covered bowl and pour the chocolate mixture over the cereal.  Fold the chocolate mixture into the cereal, making sure that all the cereal is coated.  Let cool for about 15 minutes (if you do this, you won't have to use quite as much powdered sugar since it won't get soaked into the chocolate as much).  Add the powdered sugar to the cereal in the bowl and put the lid on.  Shake the bowl until the cereal is coated.  Cool until chocolate is set and enjoy!


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I've Been Featured!

My shop, Annalie's Baby Boutique, has been featured as the Boutique of the Week at the Boutique Challenge Auctions blog!  (You can learn more about Boutique Challenge Auctions here) 

Head over to the BCA blog to get a coupon code for my Etsy shop and enter to win a $10 gift certificate!

15 Minute Dress

Do you remember when broomstick skirts were so popular a few years back?  I have quite a few in my closet and I do still wear the basic ones, but there are a few that just don't fit my style anymore.

Such as this bright pink skirt:

Princess saw it hanging out in the back of my closet one day while "helping" me put laundry away and fell in love with it.  So naturally, I threw it in my upcycle pile and forgot about it until today.  

My first step was to measure Princess from just below her armpits to a few inches below the knees.  I roughly measured that length, plus a few inches for seam allowances, up from the bottom of the skirt and cut off the top.  I also measured around her chest.  Her measurement was 22", so I subtracted one inch to make sure the dress fit snugly around her chest and didn't fall down.  

Next, I made a casing for the elastic by folding the top edge over about 1/4" and then over again about 1".  I pinned and sewed the casing, leaving a 2" opening to put the elastic through. 

 Then, I threaded the elastic through the casing, using a safety pin.  I sewed the opening shut and adjusted the fabric so it fell evenly all the way around.

If I'd left it like this, Princess would've had a new skirt!

I pulled the drawstring out of the original waistband of the skirt and cut it in half to use for the straps of the dress.  Princess tried on the dress and I pinned the straps on where I wanted them to go.  Then I took it away from her which made her really mad, and trimmed the straps so they didn't hang down. 

This shows the straps pinned to the outside of the dress, but I did switch them around to the inside before sewing.

I folded the raw edges of the straps under and sewed a vertical line down each strap through the elastic.  This made the straps more durable plus will hold the elastic in place so it doesn't slide around and get twisted in the wash. 

Done!  Fastest dress ever, probably because I didn't have to hem it, and the materials were already in my closet!  If you don't have a broomstick or maxi skirt to upcycle, you can usually find them at thrift stores for a cheap price. 

Princess likes to wear it over her petticoat dress or a shirt.

Perfect for twirling!  The best thing about this dress is that Princess will be able to wear it for quite a few years.  When it gets too short for her to wear as a dress, I can snip the straps off and she'll have a new skirt!

This post is linked up with "The Dress Project: Summer Challenge" at Bits and Pieces From My Life.





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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Princess and I did a photo shoot yesterday for some new outfits for the boutique.  I got some pretty cute shots of her (but I might be biased).

Chevron Owl Peasant Dress-Now available in my Etsy shop.

"Tangled" Corduroy Jumper Dress-Coming soon to my Etsy shop!

Little Man wasn't modeling any new outfits, but he wanted to be in on the act too!

My little cutie!

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How to Encourage Family Unity

 I grew up as one of five siblings.  We fought, but we always stuck together.  We even formed a "gang" that did anonymous good deeds for people.  We were individuals, but still a unified family.  I know that homeschooling contributed quite a bit to that sense of family as we spent most of our time with each other, but we each did have our own set of friends as well.

I see a lot of families where the kids (especially as they get a little older) all do their own thing.  There is sibling rivalry and a sense of competition between them.  I don't want this for my family or my children.

So how am I going to encourage a sense of unity between my children even though they won't be homeschooled?

First of all, I do not encourage a competitive spirit among my children.  There are friendly races occasionally, but we make sure we do not focus on winning, but rather on having fun as a family.

Secondly, I encourage each child to help the other one out and strive to make them proud of their individual roles in our family.  Princess, as the big sister, is honored that she is able to help care for her younger brother.  Little Man, although still very young, is encouraged to turn to his sister when he needs help while being shown at the same time that he can also take care of her (this goes along with teaching him to be a gentleman who respects women).

Thirdly, housekeeping and other tasks are to be done together when possible.  Because the kids are still so young, it's usually a necessity that we all work together, but I do plan to continue this as they grow older and more capable.  For instance, when I empty the dishwasher, Princess and Little Man work together to carry the dishes over to the counter on the other side of the kitchen so I can put the dishes away in the cupboard.  There is no competition to see who can do the most, in fact, Princess takes great pride in the fact that she can help her little brother pick out the lightest dishes to carry.

 How do you encourage a sense of unity in your family?


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