Reading The Book of Mormon in Under 3 Months

In November our *Stake President challenged us to read the entire Book of Mormon as a couple before stake conference in February. At first, when we started, we calculated that we needed to read six or seven pages a day to get it done. Not very much. Honestly, I've read books almost twice this length in a matter of weeks, but we wanted to read it together, out loud, which takes a bit longer. Then we had a family emergency, didn't read as much as we should have during Thanksgiving and Christmas break, and just stopped early a few times when we were sick or tired at the end of the day. We're now needing to read 13 pages a day to finish, but we're planning to be done by the day before conference. Mission accomplished!

Every once in a while this feels like a burden. It can take a long time to finish our daily reading, which we usually do right around bedtime, and I get tired. But then I think of how much I love this book and how many blessings I've seen in my life because we've accepted this challenge. 

President Runia told us that if we did this that the spirit would increase in our home and that we would have increased tenderness in our marriage. I have noticed that. Cameron and I have become more patient and loving towards each other. It is easier to feel the spirit in our home, which in turn creates more peace and love.

Although I've read The Book of Mormon before, several times, reading it so quickly this time has helped me to see the continuity so much more clearly. To see things prophesied and then happen in such close proximity to each other that I'm able to recall more clearly what was said is a true blessing. It has strengthened my testimony that the Lord keeps his promises, that he lives, and that miracles are real.

I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that it teaches of Him and His Son, just as the Bible does. I know that, if we let it, the doctrine and stories in it can change our hearts and help us to become more like our Savior. I am so grateful for this church, I am so grateful for the scriptures, and I am so grateful for the love of my Heavenly Father.

*A Stake President is an ecclesiastical leader who presides over a group of about 10 wards (or congregations) which make up a stake. If you have any questions about this or anything else I've mentioned please feel free to leave a comment or send me a message! 

If you want to do some research about the LDS church, receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon, or want to chat online with Mormon Missionaries (or make an appointment to speak with them in person), visit mormon.org, or click the "I Believe" link at the top of the page.

Baby Update: Lightening

Yup, I think it's here! Baby has dropped down several inches. I didn't really notice until I had a really big yawn yesterday, and I had room for it! I'm sure that sounds weird, but I'm so short that it's been a couple of months since I've been able to yawn properly because my lungs just didn't have the space to expand. But now I can! I also looked at my silhouette in the mirror and, oh boy, he's lower!

With him so low in my pelvis, my hips are starting to hurt again. Especially in the mornings. Yes, I've been sleeping with a pillow between my knees, but it doesn't seem to be helping as much these days. We'll figure something out, and if not, it's only a few more weeks 'till he's here!

He also really likes hanging out at the front of my tummy recently. I used to have to kind of push on my stomach to feel anything. Now he always seems to be pushing up against the front and I can have fun trying to decide which way he's facing.

Honestly, I'm getting a little bit worried (and excited!) That he's going to come early. The doctors have decided that since he was a week ahead in growth on both of my ultrasounds that they would change my due date, but I'm still going by March 2nd so I don't go crazy if he's a little late. The one upside of this is that if I am going crazy and he's not coming on his own I could probably convince them to induce me in early March since it would be after their due date ;) I don't plan on doing that, but it's a nice thought to help me calm down when I get anxious and uncomfortable.

We've got baby's room almost all ready! We put up curtains to help keep out the cold (or heat, during the summer), washed a bunch of his clothes and blankets and put them in the dresser, as well as a bunch of diapers and wipes, set up the crib, and goodness we are so excited!

Just over 4 weeks now! So excited to meet my little boy :)

Remnants

The other day Cameron and I were shopping for baby (again) and we passed the fabric section of the store. Being the person that I am, I immediately started thinking of excuses to go down that aisle, most of them having to do with how baby clothes are expensive and we need a lot of them and I bet I could make some for cheeper. I ended up finding this darling madras plaid flannel remnant for under $5. Since babies are small, you can get a lot out of less than a yard of fabric if you place your pattern pieces right!

I watched my mom sew a lot growing up (most of my halloween costumes, some church and formal dresses, my siblings' costumes, alterations for the school plays, you name it!) and thankfully managed to pick up a few skills. I'd rather use a store-bought pattern than a homemade one, but I'd also rather use one that's free for something simple, like elastic waist pants, so I decided to give it a go!

A new concept I learned while sewing these was that if what you're planning on hemming is going to be very small (like the bottoms of the pant legs) it would be better to hem them before you sew the sides of the legs together so you don't have to put your fingers in danger to make sure that you aren't catching both sides. Probably should have been a no-brainer, but since I've mostly sewn skirts and other things big enough for me to wear, I've never run into that problem before.

Ta-da! Cute little baby boy pants! I still have enough fabric left (hopefully) to make some jammies and a bow tie!

Hooray! They turned out the same size as the 0-3 mo pants I bought.

French Baguettes

I have to admit that with all the talk about the protests and riots and barricades in Kiev, it's made me think a little bit about Les Miserables. So, yesterday I decided to watch it. In the first half of the movie there are several references to bread so, naturally, I started making a couple of baguettes while I watched! I found a fantastic recipe on allrecipes.com, but the instructions only tell you how to make it in bread machine. I don't have one of those, so I adapted the recipe for making it by hand!

Ingredients:
1 cup Warm Water
2½ - 3 cups Bread Flour
1 Tablespoon White Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
1½ teaspoons Yeast

Directions:
1) Put warm water, yeast, and sugar in bowl and let it sit about 10 minutes.
2) Add 2½ flour and salt. Mix until thoroughly blended, adding more flour as (and if) needed. Kneed for about 10-15 minutes.
3) Place in greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise a half hour, or until doubled in size.
4) Punch down dough. Roll out into large rectangle (about 16" x 12") and cut in half.
5) Roll each half into a loaf. Make sure to get the air bubbles out as you do this. Place loaves on greased baking sheet at least 3 inches apart. If you want to, now is the time to add those fun, decorative gashes. Cover with plastic wrap* and let it rise about a half hour, or until doubled in size.
*Now is a good time to start pre-heating the oven to 375 degrees.
6) Remove plastic wrap. Spray loaves generously with water and place in oven on center rack. The water will help make the crust more thick and crusty, the way a baguette should be. I have no idea why this works, but it does. Bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

We ate one last night with garlic spread (easiest and tastiest recipe ever. I'll share it soon) and tonight we'll probably make some bruschetta since we need to use the bread before it gets stale :)

Our Wedding: The Rings

Cameron picked my ring all by himself. I was so proud of him, and I am in love with his choice. It's so me. I love the leaves and the beading and the setting and everything about it. And, of course, I love what it represents: that he loves me.

Picking his ring was a bit tricky for me. How do you interpret a guy, who doesn't wear jewelry EVER, in a ring? At first I tried to find a simple silver wedding band that had a leaf motif so we could match, but that wasn't really his thing. I looked a lot at simple shiny bands, but I hinted that's what I was thinking and he didn't really like it. Finally I kind of gave up and took him to the jewelers and told him to show me the ones he liked. He found one that had all of the stylistic aspects he wanted, but it was a bit thicker than he envisioned. I looked through the cases and saw one just like it, but thinner. Bingo! I asked the associate that was helping us to write that one down when Cam wasn't looking and came back a few days later to order it. He loved it. Phew!

We got both of our rings at Sierra-West Jewelers and loved it. The service is great, our rings came with a bunch of fantastic deals and complimentary service, and we're both very happy with the finished product. They never pushed us to look outside our price range, which we appreciated very much, and were very helpful and patient. I ended up getting mine re-sized (I was constantly worried about it falling off because it was a little bit loose) and the process was quick, easy, and my ring came back looking like new!


To see my other posts about our wedding, click the picture!

Puffs Plus and Peanut Butter M&Ms

I'm a little bit of a tissue snob. I got sick a lot growing up, and in the last 24 hours I used an entire box of tissues, pretty much single-handedly. I think Cam used less than 5 of them. And when you use that many tissues, your nose can tell the difference between knock-off brand lotion tissues and the real deal. My face is pretty red at the moment. Last night around 9pm I finished off our last box of tissues and had to ask my poor husband to go get more because we choose not to shop on the sabbath. I was so surprised and happy when he came back with a big box of my favorite brand of tissues (I must have mentioned it amidst my complaining over the last few days).

And then he pulled out a bag of Valentine's day themed peanut butter m&ms. Which are obviously the best kind.

I'm so grateful for my husband who takes such good care of me, and loves me and tries to do everything he can to make me smile. Especially when I'm under the weather.

Thank you sweetheart! Te amo, ich liebe dich, I love you.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

I love the snow, but I really don't like being cold. Sigh. Take it from a girl who grew up in Michigan: it IS possible to stay warm in the winter, even if you're dressed up! The key is to layer, layer, LAYER.

I've found that there are a few things that, especially when combined, make it much easier to stay warm!

Sweater Tights: These will help keep your legs warm. I absolutely love mine. Sometimes I'll even wear them under pants if I need a little extra coziness (can you say snowy football games?) These are also great because you can get away with wearing socks underneath them, since they're not see-through. I've also heard that they have this magical new invention of fleece-lined leggings. Normal leggings would work well, too.
(Another tip, skirts sometimes stick to tights and stockings and definitely to leggings and this will make your skirt ride up and get bunchy when you walk. A slip will fix this.)

Gloves: Even the stretchy, knit kind will help immensely. If your hands and feet are warm, the rest of you will deal with the cold much more happily.

Boots: Dressy boots that can be water-proofed (they sell cans of water-proofing spray at lots of shoe stores) will keep your feet dry, which is hugely important. Wet feet means cold feet. Boots will also help keep your ankles warm!

Coat: Invest in a good coat that is warm as well as cute. I have a coat that I've used since high school that is thin and tailored, but is as warm as the puffy marshmallow coat I used to have with down-feather filling. I also have a couple other coats that are a bit more dressy, but not as warm or waterproof. I usually wear these with a sweater underneath if I need to be outside for a long time to keep the wind and cold out more effectively.

Hat: You lose a lot of body heat from your head. If you keep it covered, you'll be warmer! Your ears will thank you as well.

Scarf: They're cute, they keep your neck warm, if it's bitterly cold and windy you can pull it up over your face, or use it to cover the top of your head. Use it to add a little color or pattern that your coat might otherwise be covering in your outfit.

Here are some of my favorite winter outfits (just make sure you add a coat!)

Knee-length button up dress with sweater tights, scarf, and boots

Pleated maxi skirt, drape neck blouse, leggings (worn under the skirt for warmth,) and shiny black wedges

maxi skirt, t-shirt, chunky-knit sweater, wedges, and adorable vintage-style hat!

knee-length sweater dress, teeny belt, knee-length fuzzy socks, and zip up boots (tall enough to hide the socks)

Sickness and Service

Being sick is no fun. When you and your spouse are sick at the same time it's really no fun; but it provides a great opportunity for serving each other!

This past week Cam and I have had a lot of chances to take care of each other as we've both been under the weather and struggling with the emotional stress of that (plus the usual school, work, and the imminence of our impending parenthood.) We lean on each other a lot, and it helps strengthen our relationship.

My husband is so loving. He wakes up in the middle of the night to readjust my pillows so I can be comfortable, he helps me get my socks and shoes on when I can't bend over, and he tucks me into bed and goes to do the dishes when I'm not feeling well even though he has homework to finish.

Neither of us are perfect. But we find ways to lift each other. That is what helps us to be stronger together than we are alone. We don't let ourselves tear each other down or let the other struggle on their own. We do our best to show our love for each other! Together we turn to the Lord and he gives us strength and shows us how to love better and more fully.

Thank you, sweetheart, for loving me and taking care of me. I'm so grateful for you!

Ain't it Great to be Crazy?

Sometimes, you just need to be goofy. It helps you unwind, it helps you laugh, and it helps you feel rejuvenated! My husband and I have been battling colds all week and being tired physically made us tired emotionally. No fun. So, we tried to be goofy yesterday! I wrote Cam a love note on a piece of paper wrapped around a pencil and then unwound it and he had to figure out what it said (eventually I told him to wrap it around the pen so he wouldn't have to try to twist it by hand to line it up.) We practiced swaddling stuffed animals and put them in Baby's crib, Cameron ran down the hallway and leapt over the coffee table just to give me a hug and a kiss, and we ate pizza in a car wash. How fun is that? I never knew I wanted to do that, but pizza is awesome and car washes are awesome so eating pizza while getting a car wash is SUPER awesome! It felt great to just be silly yesterday.

On an unrelated note, Baby's room is coming together! We set up the crib on Sunday, and last Friday the carseat/jogger set we ordered came! We had a great time putting everything together. We're so excited for this baby to come! Just five more weeks!

It was a BIG box. I was really surprised when I opened the door and it came up past my bellybutton. Then I had to get it inside... that was an adventure all on it's own!

Hello first piece! It's a wheel!

Soon there's going to be a baby in this carseat!

Our Wedding: The Invitations

I had a great time designing our invitations. It was the first time I'd done much with graphic design since high school, and looking back there are some things I might do differently, but I really enjoyed it and was happy with the finished product.

I downloaded the script font from dafont.com and I used the word processor on my computer. If you're planning on designing something that has anything besides text, I would strongly encourage you to use a more sophisticated program like photoshop or something similar that is meant for this, because it is really hard to get everything (especially pictures) to line up the way you want in a word processor.

My mom bought the blank invitations online and printed them on our laser printer at home. They turned out great!

Negative to Positive

Pregnancy is getting uncomfortable.
I haven't slept through the night in a long time (last night was my longest sleeping stint in weeks: 4 hours.) I think I might have a bruised rib from baby kicking the same spot over and over. Anything that requires bending is getting borderline ridiculous (I'm pretty sure they're going to introduce shaving your legs as a new olympic sport in February, the competitors just have to be at least 7 months pregnant.) I try to laugh at these things, but sometimes I just get so tired and it's hard not to complain.

The last couple days, I let myself get low. I got impatient with myself and others, and "if I have to wake up every couple hours at night can I at least have a baby to go with the sleeplessness?" But I'm choosing to change my mind,

I'm going to be positive from now on. I'm going to try to think of all the good things that can and have happened instead of focussing on the negative. I'm going to love myself, even my stretch marks, and love my life whether it involves sufficient sleep or not.

I am so grateful for my patient husband who loves and supports me--who tries to help me laugh and smile, but stops when he can tell I'm not in the mood and just need a sincere hug. I am so grateful for my body pillow that helps me be comfortable and supported between late night roll-overs and potty breaks. I'm thankful for the sun when it warms up the inside of the car. I'm grateful for pillows to prop me up on the couch when I need to rest but I'm tired of being on my side. I'm thankful for my kitchen sink, although I sometimes wish it were a dishwasher. I'm grateful that my morning sickness was short lived and I can eat what and when I want now. I'm thankful for this baby growing inside of me. I already love him so much and am so excited to meet him!

Thank you everyone for your love and support. I appreciate so much how loving and understanding everyone has been about my needing rest and relaxation. You're all fabulous.

6 weeks to go!

Shopping for Baby

There is SO much baby stuff out there. It's really hard for me to know, as a first time mom, what I really need and what is more just unnecessary but nice. Do I need a bouncer saucer, crib "bumper," pacifier clip, special diaper pail? The list goes on and on! 

I'm really grateful that I'm the oldest of five kids, so I was around babies a lot and saw what is used and what's not quite so necessary. I also babysat extensively in high school and learned to use lots of different strollers, carseats, etc. I may not know a ton, but I know enough that, when I'm reading reviews of products online, I can tell relatively easily when someone's complaint could easily be solved by them reading the instructions for the product. (If your jogger stroller is "shaking" when you run, all you need to do is lock the front wheel so it doesn't swivel when you're trying to go straight.) 

I'm trying to compile a list of things that I really want for when baby arrives, and then other things I can just add to for when he grows into needing them. It's pretty long, but the main things, besides clothes and blankets, are a carseat and a crib mattress. Once we get those things we'll feel a lot more prepared for baby to come. If he were to be early but we had those, we'd be ok. (Not to mention we'd be able to take him home! Hospitals won't let you bring your baby home without a proper carseat.)

Do you have any recommendations about what a newborn/ new mom need? Any sage advice you wish that someone had given you?

A Little "Whovian" Baking

Thursday was my little sister's birthday, and her first birthday away from home. I wanted to do something to make her feel special, so we invited her over for dinner, but I wanted to get her a gift as well. She is a huge Doctor Who fan, so I started looking down that path for ideas. I made her a bookmark that looks like the most recent Doctor, a super cheesy card, and instead of cupcakes, I made her "fish sticks" and custard!

Yes, it sounds disgusting. It's a DW thing. There was one episode where the Doctor eats fish sticks with custard. I'm not sure how they came up with that combination, but they did and now I've re-created it in much yummier fashion!

I made normal vanilla pudding from a box. Cheating, I know. Then I was trying to think of things that might look kind of breaded like fish sticks that would actually taste good with pudding, so I went with snickerdoodle cookies! I rolled the dough into short little logs instead of balls and then rolled those in the cinnamon-sugar. I forgot, as I have almost every time since moving to Utah, that you have to add extra flour here, so they ended up spreading out more than I anticipated, but I just cut them in half and they turned out to be the right dimensions, besides being a bit flat.

They were very tasty, and my sister reacted very well! I'm glad she like my little home-made treat. I have to say, I was a little too proud of myself for coming up with this idea since I haven't watched much Doctor Who, but I had fun making it, and seeing my sister happy on her birthday was all I really wanted.

Thanks to my husband for helping me get this picture onto my computer! Apparently android and macs don't like to work together. :P

Nursery Decorations

For a long time I thought about being an artist. In high school I took an art class almost every semester, and I loved it. I haven't had the chance to do much since coming to college, but over break I got the 'bug' again and asked my mother-in-law if I could raid her art closet. When I emerged, I had a bunch of paint, a heavyweight sketch pad, and a sharpie. Score! This is what happened an hour or so later:

Ta-da! I'm pretty proud of it, and it felt so great to just sit down and paint again. No, it's not a marvelous work of art, the text placement isn't the best I've done, but I had a great time with it and I'm quite satisfied with the finished project!

*Sorry Mr. Milne if I messed up the quote, I was working from memory and I haven't read Winnie the Pooh since I was in middle school.

Excited for Baby!

I'm getting so excited for our little boy to come! Not just because pregnancy is uncomfortable, but because I can't wait to finally hold him in my arms. I've imagined him and dreamed about him so many times, and I just want to see him and know what he looks like, get to know his personality, and love him to pieces and try not to spoil him too much.

He's getting a lot stronger. For example, if Cameron rolls over too close to me or puts his arm across my tummy while we're sleeping, Baby will kick and poke him until he moves over (or I do.) It's fun to sit and watch my belly wiggle and move when he's awake. I try to keep this positive attitude when he's pushing on my ribs or my hip bones.

We've started slowly stocking up on diapers and wipes and little outfits. Our families have been so wonderful and sent us adorable toys, blankets, and clothes. It's really hard for me to not go buy everything in the stores for him, so I've limited myself to grocery shopping for the time being. I've also decided to make some things for him! I finished knitting him a little aviator-style hat today, I plan on making a little cover for his carseat sometime in the next couple weeks while I can still get onto the floor, and maybe a couple toys. I've painted a poster for the nursery (we're thinking of doing a Winnie the Pooh theme.) We had way too much fun registering and Target and Babies R Us. (That scanner was fun enough on its own before you factor in the fact that everything you're looking at is tiny, adorable, and for OUR baby!)

I just can't wait for this cute little guy to come! 7 weeks and 4 days till the due date :)
(For my friends and family that have been asking, here's a "bump" pic.)

Why I'm Glad I Was Engaged and Married Before I Was 23

I am so in love with my husband. Why? Well, for one, he's practically perfect. But besides that, he shows his love to me. I appreciate that so much. He makes me feel so loved all the time that I can't help but be overjoyed and completely in love with him back! The last few days of break before he went back to school we spent a few afternoons just spending time with each other and it turned into sitting on the couch talking, flirting, and just expressing how much we love each other. I know it sounds totally cheesy and silly, but it made us both so happy. Because we keep feeding our relationship, we just get more and more happy and excited to be with each other.

There's been an article going around facebook that talks about why you should wait to get engaged and married, but I think most of the points are silly. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I feel like I need to stand up and say, "I support marriage and "old fashioned" values. Being born when I was doesn't mean that I automatically have to give up hope that marriage could actually mean something more than a fancy wedding and a pre-nup."

 I suppose for some people it might be easier to have adventures on their own, but being adventurous doesn't mean you have to make dumb decisions. I'm sorry, but making out with strangers is not my idea of a good time. I'd rather kiss my husband. And what's wrong with snuggling the person you love, who also happens to be your best friend?

"If a person is your eternal love", why wait? If you know that you will love that person forever and want to be with them, why are you putting other priorities ahead of them? Yes, it can be scary to have to try to coordinate two educations, jobs, cultures, personalities, but honestly, the longer you wait, the harder it will get.

I am a very timid person when it comes to trying new things. I hadn't even been on a roller coaster until I met Cameron. I am much more adventurous now than I ever was before I started dating him. Recently Cameron and I were talking about where we would like to settle our family. I said something to the effect of "I think that I could adjust to any situation we're put into, even if it's not my ideal setting." Cameron remarked that I would not have said that when we met. It's so true! He has helped me to grow in ways that I wouldn't let myself when I was single. Marriage is about growth, it's about learning to care about more than just yourself, and it's about becoming your best self. It's not being tied down, giving up your freedom, or losing your identity. All of those things are expanded in a healthy relationship.

Being married doesn't mean that you have to settle down immediately and never travel or have fun. Some people choose to settle down, and that's fine. Others take their time as "newlyweds" to have fun and go on adventures together! Cameron and I haven't had the money to travel the world, but we have tried to take advantage of the fun opportunities around us, and to make adventures for ourselves close to home.

This article also talked about how getting married means that you'll get "knocked up and fat." I really dislike the phrase "knocked up." I think it's crude, demeaning, and degrading to the sanctity that is parenthood and family. You don't have to get pregnant just because you get married. I have a lot of married friends that feel like it isn't time for them to have children yet. I also know several couples that have struggled with infertility and would give anything to have the privilege of having and raising a child. Cameron and I were originally planning to wait much longer before we got pregnant, but after praying we felt strongly that it was time to stop waiting. On our one year anniversary we were six months pregnant. This is what was right for us, but is not right for everyone. The decision to start a family, whether through marriage, or continuing through having children, is a personal choice, and no one has the right to judge others for that choice, though we as a society do it all the time.

And I'm sorry to tell you, but you'll get older (and probably gain a few pounds) regardless of whether or not you're married, so you might as well do it with the person who will help you, support you, and make you happy and build your self esteem.

Marriage, especially at a young age may not be for everyone. It is a huge commitment, and shouldn't be taken lightly, or thought of as temporary. But I know that for some people, including myself, it was the right choice. Marriage can be tons of fun and bring deep and lasting happiness. You get to spend every day with your best friend, you can find yourself and become your best self, and do it all with your biggest fan and the person who loves you no matter what.

I know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. I know that families are part of his plan. I am grateful for that knowledge. I'm grateful for my husband who loves and supports me in everything that I do. I'm so glad that I can make him happy and help lift him us the way he does for me.

Our Wedding: The Dress Part II

While traveling to and from the temple, leaving the reception, and at the open-houses we held in our hometowns, I wore my maternal grandmother's dress from when she was married in 1962 (Please forgive me if I got that wrong, my memory is all but gone these days.)

This grandma always seemed to have fabulous sundresses from when she was a young adult hanging in the closets. The summer that Cameron and I got engaged, we were visiting her with the rest of my family. My sisters and I were playing dress up in the kids room, but most of the things in the dress-up drawer didn't fit me anymore, so I went poking around in the closet to see if my mom's old prom dresses were still there and saw this beautiful lace dress. I tried it on and loved it. I could tell that it was older than anything my mom had worn, so I went down the hall to show my grandma and she told me that it was her wedding dress! I was embarrassed that I hadn't asked before trying it on, but she took me back in her room and pulled out an old album and showed me pictures from her wedding. Soon after, I asked her if it would be ok if I wore it for my wedding.

The morning of the wedding she came to my hotel room and helped me put it on. It was so special to share that moment with her. I also loved that I didn't have to get it altered! I'm really short-waisted so the shoulders floated a little bit, but since it was sleeveless and I wore it with a cardigan you couldn't really tell.

I love the bow at the waist. And the flared skirt. And pretty much everything about it!

Because the dress didn't have sleeves, I paired it with a shimmery pink cardigan. Even though pink wasn't really in our color scheme, it's traditional for the bride to wear pink when she leaves the reception, so I thought that was fitting.

I'm so grateful to both of my grandmothers for letting me share that special day with them, and for letting me use their wedding dresses. I love you both so much!

To see The Dress: Part I, click the picture below!

DIY: 15 Minute Tablet Case

This year for Christmas, Santa got us an iPad mini and we bought ourselves a bluetooth keyboard to go with it. We also wanted to get a case to keep either of them from getting scratched, but they were all pretty expensive for a little envelope of fabric, and none of them fit the iPad once the keyboard was attached. So, I had the thought to just make one! My husband will be using our tablet to take notes in school this semester, so I wanted to make sure it was manly enough that he wouldn't mind carrying it around, but I also wanted to add a little cuteness to it so I chose a largish yellow button to offset the solid gray fleece. This project took me about fifteen minutes, and I'm a pretty slow sew-er.

Here's what you need:

• 1 Button
• Sewing Machine (or Sewing Needle. Or Both!)
• 1/4 yard of Fleece (you can use any another fabric you want, but fleece is pretty durable, very forgiving in the sewing process, and provides a little bit of cushion for your tablet. You may need more or less fabric for your case depending on the size of your tablet.)
• Thread

What to do:

1.  Cut a strip of fabric an inch or two wider than your tablet, and twice as long, plus a few extra inches for the flap (remember, you need it to reach at least half of the depth of your tablet, plus seam allowance on both sides.)

*If you are using a fabric that will fray, fold over and hem both of the short ends so that they have a nice, finished edge.*

2.  Fold fabric, right sides together, so that the tablet has a centimeter or so of space at the fold and the top.

3.  Pin fabric in place and sew the sides together.

4.  Turn the case right-side out. Trim the top flap to the shape you want. I decided to go for asymmetrical.

5.  Decide where you would like your button to go and stitch it to the envelope. I like to do this step by hand. Now cut a button hole in the top flap. (If you are using fray-able fabric, use a sewing machine to stitch around the button hole to reinforce it.)

Hooray, you did it! Your very own custom tablet case is complete.

Happy Crafting!