Amy got her ears piereced today. It was a spur of the moment type thing. Joann Fabrics is next to Claire’s and I went to Joanns to buy buttons and serger cones. Amy has been asking about having her ears pierced for awhile. A customer came by the other day with her 15 month old baby and the baby had pierced ears and that heighted Amy’s interest. So today we wandered into Claires and I said she could do it if she wanted to. I didn’t put any pressure on at all in any way.

Heck… I was 13 when I got mine pierced, and for awhile I thought about making Amy hold out looking at 13 like it was a magical thing where she could finally get her ears pierced. But I decided that she is a girly girl, she likes her bling, and there is nothing wrong with having pierced ears in this day and age.

I hadn’t even talked to Pat about it, was pretty sure he wouldn’t care (he didn’t). We went in Claire’s first. There was another girl probably 8/9 who went first and she didn’t cry or shout out in any way, and actually smiled between ears. Amy was still unsure, so we went to Joanns to take care of our business, came back out (they are next door to each other). I told Amy, you can do what ever you want. But if you want to get them pierced now would be a good time, I can’t promise we’ll always be able to do it on the spur of the moment like this. And she decided she wanted it!

Amy is 4 1/2. She had her 4 year old shots, which she handled about the same, except there was no proud moment at the end.. LOL! And she also got stung by a bee this summer. And I’d told her it didn’t hurt any worse than her shots or the bee sting. What I thought was interesting, she cringed after the first one, warranted, it does hurt, they got in the second one. (Thank god b/c they told me if she said “no” they couldn’t do the second one. She didn’t even come close to saying no in any way. Just was cringing b/c it did hurt.) The minute she saw her new bling bling ears in the mirror all fussing stopped, she was thrilled. In the car on the way home AFTER she’d figured out when she was going to school again (little show off) she said… PSHHH… that didn’t hurt. Pop in one ear, pop in the next… done!

LOL! That’s my girl.

I answered my own question in the previous post… do they even make actual “big wheels” anymore. Apparently they do!

Big Wheels

And best yet they are made in America… you could buy this for your child and hopefully it doesn’t have toxic plastic! AK!

Love the big wheel, may need to buy a couple this xmas. The kids would have fun on them in our cul-da-sac. Anything beats the list of Nick Jr. induced adverised toys I’m currently being asked for. YAK!

Easy Rider… Evan can ride a bike!

My baby has learned to pedal. We have the Fisher Price Rock Roll and Ride , our version is a little older but you get the idea. We inherited it from our neighbors. We never used the rock portion, though we would have b/c all three of my kiddos loved the plastic tiny tikes rocking thing… but we inherited the one we have metamorphised past the rocking stage. When I was 8 months pregnant, with Evan, and pushing Amy folded over on a trike, our neighbor took pity and give us the rock, roll, and ride, minus the rock, but with the roll. The handle was way too short, but much better than bending over! Hopefully the new model has a longer handle.

I was grateful for the push along almost ride toy, but the best secret was yet to come. This is the easiest thing for kids to learn to pedal on. I have so many mom friends with “big wheels” like this and there is just something about it that is very toddler friendly and they can learn to ride on it. Evan started doing the usual, fred flinstoning it around the patio, then feet on the pedals rocking, then going backwards, the POOF… it all clicked and he was racing around the patio. He has to ride this daily or he gets mad, we even let him bring it in the house because he’s been sick and it’s been so cold outside. He doesn’t bump into one wall (or that would be the end of that!).

Anyways… Mr. Easy Rider….

As you can see it’s been a well loved big wheel ride on toy. The irony of it all… the big kids love it too. I have to fend off Kyle and Amy and any playdate friends b/c Evan is very possessive of his bike “you no ride my bike!” They ALL love that darn big wheel. Do they even actually sell big wheels anymore, maybe they should!

Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus are the hottest concert even currently touring. I guess tickets are selling out in minutes so youngsters can get rockin at a concert with Hannah Montana. My friend Brenda who sells on ebay under the ID Swirlsandtwirls got the idea to do a set inspired by Hannah Montana. She did all the hard work painting these jeans and shirt. Then I finished it off with some sewn details. Amy loved this set and wasn’t about to take it off! We are offering it in custom sizing, if you’re headed to a concert maybe you’ll be needing this.

Hannah Montana Tribute Set

Every year I create something matching for the kids to wear Christmas Morning and this year I have decided to include it in our Bug n’ Belle collection. This set includes a cozy little flannel lounge pant with an embellished shirt. I am offering the option to personalize it with any word you chose, up to 7 letters. In the past I’ve had people do names, words like joy, peace, believe, Jesus, noel, merry, naughty, nice, lil elf… what ever you can come up with! Think of the darling pictures you’ll have of your matching children on Christmas morning, it can really make a scrapbook page. And your little Bug or Belle is sure to love these cozy little Pajamas.

Christmas Morning Cozy Sets

We are headed to Disneyland for Thanksgiving. The kids are so excited! It’s our first trip to Disney with the kids and we’re really looking forward to it. I’ve designed several new pieces for our collection so that we have the perfect photo ops with the characters. Of course Minnie Mouse is a favorite so we had to do something to match her!

Minnie Lounge Set- Availible as photographed or with a personalized name or word.

Minnie Skirt Set

Would Any of these be a perfect custom design for your Magical Vacation? Visit our Webstore to purchase one for your little Belle!

The kids were so excited today about Halloween. They’ve been counting the days down for weeks and today they were just bursting with excitement. I barely got any good pictures, I couldn’t get them too cooperate in any way, they were just WAY too excited. Here are my little cuties all dressed up to trick or treat.

Captain Kyle

Evan the reluctant Giraffe. He did NOT like this costume in any way, I think he found the pattern offensive. I heard “no RAFF!” all day long when I made him put it on to go out. He has never voiced an opinion about what he’s worn prior to this, but he did NOT like this costume.

Amy the Glam Witch… she couldn’t be some scary old witch, she had to be glamorus. You can’t see the glitter shoes in this picture. She’s my girly girl!

Kyle grew a giant pumpkin this year. Pat was at Lowe’s with Kyle last spring buying seeds for our garden. Kyle spyed a packet of Giant Pumpkin seeds, it showed a little boy standing next to a pumpkin bigger than the boy and Kyle was sold on growing some himself. As the summer progressed it got bigger, and bigger, and bigger. When we finally pulled it out of the garden to carve it was well over 100 pounds! We called it Goliath. Pat carved him up with some help from the kids. That pumpkin was at least 5 inches thick, so carving it was a challenge. But it was an impressive pumpkin all lit up on our front porch!

Here are some pictures of the kiddos at a pumpkin carving party at a friend’s house.

Amy carving her pumpkin in a little outfit Mommy made.

Daddy carving Goliath, as you can see it was almost as big as Evan!

A toothless Kyle cookie decorating

Our work displayed, we had an impressive collection of Jack-o-lanterns this year.

Today we are launching with our own design group ODOD (Original Designs by Original Designers) and Amy has a secret to share! You’ll have to read the auction to find out her secret.

This two piece set is made from a soft and comfy cotton knit. It is offered on Ebay in custom size 2 to 8. Only one set is availible so if you like it don’t let it get away!

Fruitiliscious Knit Dress Set

I was invited to be part of an eBay launch from the Roxy and Roco design group this week. The theme was “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and I was assigned to make an outfit that fit the song “Santa Baby.” Hopefully this fits, it has fur on it right? I had this darling group of coordinating fabrics left over from a few years ago and it was just enough to make this fun twirly stripwork skirt. I just loved how it turned out.

You can check out my listing on ebay right here:

Retro Christmas Stripwork Twirl Set