Shoreline Boatneck Test

I was so excited to be able to test a new pattern the Shoreline Boatneck for Blank Slate Patterns.  I made the Blank Tank for my daughter last summer and really loved the pattern, it fit very well and was easy to sew especially for my first time sewing with knits.  It was exactly what she wanted, simple, nothing fancy but you could play with colors to fit your own personality.

I really loved the Shoreline Boatneck pattern, it fit very well with no alterations, I used the measurements on the pattern to find my size.

There are 3 sleeve length options, I chose the elbow length and added elastic to help hold them up, I love 3/4 sleeves and always push them up around my elbow so I wanted them to stay, it worked perfectly.

The sleeves were very comfortable around my shoulders and not restricting at all, I also really liked the tip to stitch in the ditch along the shoulder seams to hold down the facing so you didn't have to top stitch around the whole neckline for a cleaner finish if you choose. This pattern can be made from woven or knit fabric, and has a dress option. I can't wait to make some more, I really want to try it in knit.  I really love Melissa's lace version but do not think I am brave enough to sew with lace yet!

You can purchase the pattern and make one yourself here!  Blank Slate Patterns Shoreline Boatneck

Valentine's "Dance"

We've been talking about Valentine's Day and all the fun things the girls get to do this week at school.  Unfortunately some of the fun will be cut out from all the snow we will get Wednesday night into Thursday but hopefully they will get to exchange valentine's at least.  Payton has music class on Friday on Valentine's Day and her music teacher said they would partner up a girl with a boy and dance. We were asking her who she would want to dance with and she got all shy and wouldn't say anything.  Payton told Tung this afternoon that Reagan told her if she had to pick someone in her class to dance with that she would choose James because he is cute, sweet and he listens.  That is so funny to me because James really is cute and sweet, he always wears the same grey and lime green sweatshirt when I see him at school, it makes me laugh for her to say that he listens because if you know Reagan, you know she likes a good story.  I'm sure James has heard more than a few of these stories.

Peasant Dress

My cousin asked me to make dresses for two of her girls out of her husband's old Army uniform shirts.  I was nervous to cut them up, but he said he had more than he needed so just to go for it!  The dress she liked immediately made me think of the Perfect Peasant Dress, I have seen the pattern many times but had never made a Peek a Boo pattern before.  It was a lot of fun to make and the directions were so easy to follow! I loved finishing the sleeves and neckline with the elastic, but really need to invest in a bodkin, pulling it through the slim casing with a safety pin is hard on the fingers! I have already purchased the Lily Blazer pattern and cannot wait to make that for my daughter.

This dress is a  Size 5 for my little cousin Kenadie.  I hope she likes it.  I have one more to make in a Size 7.  I am going to make that one with the camo on the bodice and use the tan fabric for the skirt with a pink sash.  I also think I will make a pink flower to put around the neckline or to wear in their hair.  

Homework

Payton's homework last night was to ask 4 adults what they were afraid of so they could use the information today to do a graphing activity in Math.  Payton asked her Grandma, she said snakes.  She asked Grammy, she said spiders, I said I was afraid of flying and Tung said snakes.  We asked Reagan what she was afraid of, she said Monsters.

Reagan said to Tung this morning, "I know what you're afraid of Daddy, you're afraid to wrestle someone bigger than you because they would crush you".  Then Payton says "yeah, they would crush his glasses too" and then they both crack up.  I love when they both gang up on their Daddy to make fun of him, he needs a little joking back to balance what he gives to everyone else all the time!

Taylor Swift

I have a crazy love for all tween and teenage things.  I love all the Disney shows, the music, the kids themselves everything.  I especially love Taylor Swift. For a while I have wanted to see her in concert and have read she puts on a really good show.  In the past year or so I have wanted to see her even more, the girls love her and can sing the words to every song.  How can a 34 year old woman identify with what a 24 year old girl is singing I will never know.  Maybe it's just I wish I had some of her lyrics when I was in high school and it would have helped me understand others and myself more.  Music is just my thing and has helped me get through and understand a lot of thoughts that race in my mind.

Though crazy I really wanted to take the girls, Payton I knew would love it, Reagan too, she is a little young and I knew she would get tired (she fell asleep for a few songs near the end), but she couldn't be left behind, she would have been so sad. They both were so excited, we told them the night before, because I finally found tickets just the day before.

I made them t-shirts super quick in the afternoon.

Reagan wanted hers to say Red and Payton wanted Fearless

 We got there early, I had 2 pairs of tickets in the same row, so we had to ask others if they would mind trading seats with us so we could be together, 2 girls agreed no problem, so we could sit together.

Tung gets a medal for going with us to an arena full of screaming girls.  Bucket List Item crossed off.  Even if no one else ever understands it, I just had to go see her and I will always remember it!

He said he didn't need his picture taken, I did anyway

They gave out mini Diet Coke after the concert and we were so thirsty we let them drink it at 11:00 .