I've shared the easy sew dresses that I've sewn for my daughter. Sewing for girls is fun, with lost of fabrics, patterns and accessories choices. Choices for boys are very limited. In any case, I sewed few pieces that my son would like. He chose his own fabrics. I chose the patterns. This fabric was cotton, bright and colorful. I saved the … [Read more...]
Organizing LEGOs: Alternative storage idea for LEGO pieces
LEGO - at least the basic sets - are considered to be the toys that foster children's creativity. It is also the main source of the mess in the house. Kids go crazy when they cannot find the piece they are looking for. Parents go nuts having to clean up and store all the itty bitty pieces. Not to mention that one of the worst painful moments in … [Read more...]
DIY: Trash bin with butcher block
I wanted to hide the trash can in our kitchen out of sight. Kids were playing with its lid and touching it unnecessarily when it's just sitting out. We use a big 13-gallon trash can and none of our existing cabinets is able to hold it.Then I came around this butcher block bin online and was intrigued. However, it was expensive for my budget and … [Read more...]
Easy wearable blanket for children
My daughter grew out of her Cozy blanket with arms for children. I decided to use one of her existing blankets and turned it into a wearable blanket. It's the easiest solution to keep the kids covered with their blankets while asleep at night. Materials: 1. Blanket big enough to cover your child 2. Ribbon 3. Bias (optional) Directions: 1. … [Read more...]
Easy sew girls’ dresses
This week's posts will have a lot of photos. Today, I present you two dresses I sewed for my daughter. The fabrics are thin corduroy, 100% cotton. Loved the fabric patterns. Both were pretty simple.Simplicity It’s so easy 2306. Looks complicated but I finished it pretty quickly.McCall’s M6154: I did this one first, so it went a little bit … [Read more...]
Moving into new bunk beds
Last year during our trip to my parent's house, kids loved sleeping in the bunk beds that I and my brother used to sleep. Especially my son enjoyed the top bed.As my daughter got closer to outgrowing her crib, we started thinking about how to setup their rooms. Out house layout has 2 rooms on one floor and 2 rooms on the second floor. … [Read more...]
DIY Arts & Crafts Table for Kids – IKEA Hack
We set up this small table when my kids were much smaller for them to eat snacks by themselves and scribble once in a while at one corner of our living room. During the time it became a full-fledged craft and drawing place and causing a terrible mess in our living room. Instead, I wanted to build a drawing, painting and crafts table for my two … [Read more...]
How to sew apron for children
Kids have arts & craft aprons but they are short and have long sleeves. I wanted to sew them a water resistant apron where they could use for cooking and other messy stuff.MaterialsTarpaulin fabric (oilcloth) Velcro Piping for the edges (bias tape) Fabric for straps ThreadInstructionsTake your child's … [Read more...]
Souvenir shelf for kids’ room
We painted and installed the souvenir shelf that I've mentioned in my Traveling with 2 kids - Part 4 post.The shelf is a left over shelf from a past planned but never realized project. It's one of those unfinished plain shelves from a craft store.The paint is IKEA's water based furniture paint. The furniture in kids' room is white. My son … [Read more...]
DIY: Cozy blanket with sleeves for children
My daughter is quite independent and can dress up and down by herself. Which is really good. Except when we find her stripped to her underwear when we go to check up on her after she goes to sleep. it's really hard to get her dressed when she's asleep. Not because she won't fall back asleep if she wakes up, but she gets really upset if she wakes up … [Read more...]
DIY – Bean bag chair for children
I got a few to-do items completed while my mom's here. Kids loved the giant bean bag chair at my husband's aunt's place in Vancouver. I decided to sew one for each of them to rest, read books, and play on. SEWING MATERIALS I used the instructions on this video. She uses a 12-inch pattern. I made a 15-inch pattern for our bean bag … [Read more...]
Product Review: Responsibility Chart by Melissa & Doug
I got this "Magnetic Responsibility Chart" from a friend who hasn't been using it for a while. We hung it in my son's room as a continuation of the actions we've taken along with "House Rules Poster". It has magnets for every "desired behavior" such as helping with house chores and communicating with each other etc. You put the desired behaviors or … [Read more...]
Handmade pouch sling
I did not know it was International Babywearing Week this week until I finished my first home-made pouch sling. I made this sling using the directions at Sleepingbaby website at home.I had used Evenflo Snugli Classic Soft Carrier, The Ultimate Baby Wrap and Evenflo Snugli By My Side Soft Carrier. All of them were usable but my biggest problem … [Read more...]
Home-made, Mom-made Halloween Costumes
It is way past Halloween, but I wanted to share the costumes of our little ones. I made my son's Spongebob Squarepants costume. I used one of my daughters's diaper boxes. I cut the head and arm holes and took the bottom part out. Then I wrapped around with yellow poster paper. Then I used my sons Spongebob t-shirt to trace its face on a white paper … [Read more...]
DIY: Spongebob Squarepants costume for kids
I am writing this post in a state of sugar-overdose. Here are our this year's Halloween costumes.My son wasn't really interested in wearing a costume. This is the first year that he is aware of the link between Halloween and costume. We dressed him in this leopard costume when he was 5 months old. He had his CTA bus costume, which has half … [Read more...]
Practical solutions and ideas with a pair of scissors
Easy grab hole/ window for teabags. If you are a tea fan, like I am, you know how hard it is to get teabags out of the stacked boxes in the kitchen cabinets. The boxes clutter, fall down, just drive you crazy.I figured this trick actually from a Stash tea box. You just cut a half circle at the bottom. Then sort the tea boxes vertically, side by … [Read more...]
Product Review: Supplemental Nursing System
We might insist on doing things a certain way with the passion of wanting to be "super mothers" during the first days of motherhood. I am guilty of this crime as well.Despite the fact that I started breastfeeding and my colostrum came immediately after I gave birth, my son started losing weight rapidly in the next few days. My doctor and nurses … [Read more...]
Practical inventions for babies and children
These are the inventions, that made me say "Darn! I should have though of these!"Onesie extenders: This is my fave. Very simple, very practical and extremely useful. Kids grow in length and I bough these onesies, that were high quality cotton. After a while the drier would shrunk all of them. If I had these, I could have spared at least a $100 … [Read more...]
Product Review: Canvas Closet Organizer Shelves
I have been using these canvas organizer shelves since my son was born. They are very practical and handy if:You live in a small condo/house with limited storage space and need to store baby's clothing as organized and categorized as possible. You have a lot of items, such as socks and sweaters that you use every day, but do not want to … [Read more...]
Product Review: Nursing Covers
I am a big advocate of breastfeeding your baby whenever (s)he wants and wherever you are. To me, being able to breastfeed outside of home was so much easier than finding water at room temperature and mixing it with formula, heating the cold-stored breast milk or looking for a secluded place to breastfeed.Nursing blankets (or nursing covers) … [Read more...]