Guest Post: Katie from Skunkboy Creatures

Hello, Sometimes Sweet readers!  My name is Katie and I run a little blog called Skunkboy Creatures.  I am so happy to be sharing with you today while Danielle is away.  I just adore that lovely girl and this beautiful blog!

I have a baby girl named Poesy who just turned six months old, and that baby will not stop growing!  It seems like only yesterday we found out we were having another little one and were filled with emotions.  We were so nervous about having a baby because we hadn't had a little one around in eight years, but we were excited about the sweet, new addition to our family!  Now she's eating solids, scooting around, and laughing like a little person!  I keep telling her to slow down, but she refuses to listen.  Sheesh... babies...

Since babies seem to be such terrible listeners on this subject, I've written a formal open letter to all babies.  Here it is:

Dear Babies,

        I am speaking on the behalf of mothers everywhere when I say, "Stop growing so fast!"  We mommies need to hold you a little longer, take care of you a little better, and enjoy your company even more.  You go from sleeping all day and waking only to eat, to gobbling pureed vegetables and scooting around the room in an instant!  Life goes by fast when you are old, and even though this may feel like a lifetime to you, it's a blink of an eye to us!  So I beg you, PLEASE, stop growing so fast... or, at least slow time down a little, okay?

Thank you for your time, adorable squishy babies.

xoxo
Katie

Guest Post: Allie from It's a Wonderful Life

Hello Sometimes Sweet readers! My name is Allie and I'm a newly married, newly mommed gal from Savannah, Georgia. I am so excited to be writing here today, thanks for having me Danielle!

Growing up, my mom always took the time to tell us magical stories. I fondly remember refilling the silver thimble on the window's ledge with water so that the fairies would have something to drink at night. One time she handed me a glass bottle of glitter and told me it was pixie dust (I was really into Peter Pan) and I spent a good half hour in the backyard, sprinkling it on my head and jumping off rocks in hopes of flying. I was that kid who believed in Santa for an uncomfortable amount of time.

My mom was always coming up with these little stories, fun and silly things to believe in. And every time she told us a new one I believed her. This curiosity she sparked within me made life seem so....special. I mean, if there really is a fairy in the fridge who turns the light on and off then what other amazing things does this world have to offer me? With each tale, my imagination blossomed. I realized that there are greater things out there and that we are just a small part of a bigger piece. That there is so much to discover.

As my own baby grows I am even more thankful for the sense wonderment towards the unknown that my mother instilled in me. Henry's own amazement for new discoveries is more apparent to me and it's something I will never grow tired of watching. As he enters toddlerhood, I am looking forward to passing on some of the stories my mom told to us. I want him to trudge through the woods with a spy notebook and really believe he's solving a great mystery. I want him him to look up at the stars and wonder what else is out there and how he can get to it. I want Henry to believe in the impossible for as long as he can and to grow up with a profound curiosity about everything around him. Isn't childhood beautiful?

Guest Post: Stephanie Sparer

Hey, I'm Stephanie Sparer. I blog for Hello Giggles but I can be seen at StephanieSparer.com and on twitter. I'm currently looking for a job, so feel free to hire me. Special talents include: knowing the lyrics to Miley Cyrus' song "Party in the USA" and being addicted to Earl Grey tea. Oh, also I can write really well. Just ask my mom.

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I’ve always been a night owl. Even as a kid I was fond of staying up, what I considered late at the time, and watching Letterman’s top ten list. I always felt like an adult watching Letterman even though I must have been all but nine. Something about his gapped teeth and movie star guests screamed mature to me. And at ten, that’s really all I ever wanted to be. A movie star. Not so much mature. “One of my special talents is staying up all night,” I used to tell people. To me this felt special and unique; something a lot of my friends didn’t do unless they were at one of the sleepovers Tiffany Billings threw that I wasn’t invited to.

My mother wasn’t entirely thrilled with this special talent of mine. To keep me on a regular schedule and to keep me from fighting it, my mom put out a little lie to me, “Letterman only does the top ten on Fridays,” she said. And I believed her until a few years later when I was sick and up later than usual and Letterman had a top ten list. On a Wednesday. “Must be a repeat,” my mom tried to cover her tracks, but by then, I totally knew how to check our TiVo guide and get the facts.

This wasn’t the only thing my mother lied about. As a young kid, maybe six, I decided that I didn’t like chicken anymore. I only wanted to eat duck. Seemed reasonable at the time. This of course was brought on after a 20/20 special where someone got sick from eating chicken. That was kind of my thing as a kid. I wouldn’t watch Fraggle Rock, but I’d watch 20/20 every Friday and scare myself into thinking I was going to be kidnapped, poisoned with anthrax, or killed at any given moment. In fact, shortly after a story about how someone bombed a Texaco gas station, we stopped at a Texaco to fill our car with gas. Little me burst into tears in the back seat and said, “Good-bye, everyone.” My mother got back in the car utterly confused and asked me what happened. “We’re going to die as soon as you start the car!” I told her and she sighed.

“Different Texaco!” she insisted, but I didn’t believe her until we were already home. Three days later. She vowed never to let me watch John Stossel or his mustache give any special news reports ever again.

Obviously, this didn’t work. I saw the E. coli special one night and after that, every time my mom ordered out from the Asian rice bowl chain restaurant around the corner from us when she didn’t want to cook, I always asked her to order me duck with my rice. Not chicken. Duck. She always complied, coming home and double-checking the bowls. “This one is yours,” she’d say, picking out a bowl for me after opening all the Styrofoam containers and comparing them together. I’d happily eat my rice and duck.

Years later, my mother grabbed me out of 11th grade science class as a surprise to be nice.  We got our nails done and then decided we were hungry, stopping off at the Asian rice bowl chain we used to go to when I was little. I peered at the menu. Chicken, chicken and vegetables, salmon... I looked at my mom, “They took the duck off the menu?”

She bit her lip and started to laugh, “Oh,” she said, “Stephanie, I have something to tell you: you were never eating duck. They only ever just had chicken. You’ve been eating chicken all these years.”
I was sixteen and my entire life was a lie. I didn’t even know who I was anymore. Was my name even really Stephanie? Was she even my mother? Was Velveeta really a cheese? Yes, yes, and no. But I guess after that whole E. coli outbreak, really I was just lucky to be alive.

Tattoo Tuesday V.81

  
Name and blog name: Angela - abeautifuldecay.blogspot.com
Age: 26
Occupation: part time hair stylist, full time mama
Age of first tattoo: 18
Favorite tattoo: cameo brooch
Featured tattoo/location: cameo brooch on forearm
Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: Brett Burnham @ Electric Tattoo. Pasadena, MD

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art? 

My grandmom passed in 2008 and I was very close to her. My grandparents played a big role in raising my brother and I because my mom was a single working mama, so we spent every summer and everyday after school at my grandparents. I had a really hard time after she passed, and I knew I wanted to get a tattoo in her memory. I was given a box of her jewelry and in it was this cameo brooch that I loved. I knew I wanted that to be the tattoo. To me it not only represents my grandmom, but I love anything and everything victorian and to me it's very lady like which is an element I wanted to build upon for the rest of my arm someday. So I have a little piece of my grandmom on me forever, and for me that helped immensly with the healing process.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where? 

My very first tattoo(s) were two black outline stars on the back of each arm. I had just turned 18 and was very eager to start getting tattooed. From there I got a lower back piece which is a heart with a lock inside and wings surrounding it. After that I started on my half sleeve which is a japanese theme, cherry blossom tree, hibiscus and lotus flower with wind bars. I got two roses on my chest for my 21st birthday. From there, two strawberries on my foot.

3) Do you plan on getting more? 

Yes, I actually had plans to get a tattoo for my son next month but just found out I'm pregnant! So it looks like I will have to come up with something for both babes after this pregnancy.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? Do you have a significant other? Does he/she have tattoos? 

Mostly all of my friends are tattooed. My mom wasn't thrilled when I started but she's used to it now. I work at a hair salon and most of my co-workers have tattoos, most of my clients are young so no one really cares. I've had maybe two or three older people make comments, nothing mean just the typical "what are you going to do when your older?", etc etc. I live in a city where tattoos are pretty common so no one really pays much attention, or maybe I just don't notice. My hubby has a chest piece and wants to get more work done eventually.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

Do your research. It's been said a million times before but the saying is true, you get what you pay for. I was in a such a hurry to get tattooed when I first turned 18 that I went to some random guy I knew nothing about, didn't see any of his work, in fact I think he had JUST started tattooing. Suffice to say the tattoos weren't the greatest,and I had to get some of them fixed. Really think long and hard about what you want, stay true to yourself because when all the fads die you will be stuck with the tattoo forever. I think back to some of the things I wanted to get when I was 18 and am really happy I didn't! If you are looking for a particular style of tattoo find someone who specializes in that, otherwise the tattoo might look good but it won't be the exact style your looking for. In the end have fun, it's just skin! Yes we all get old and wrinkly with or without tattoos. You only live
once.

Meet Casey Wiegand

Today I'd like to tell you a little bit about one of my favorite new blogs (and one of my XL sponsors), Casey Wiegand. Let me preface this by saying that even if Casey wasn't one of my sponsors I would still be JUST as excited to share her corner of the internet world with all of you! Seriously, head on over and see what I mean!

Casey's zest for life, inspirational words, and gorgeous photos (of her gorgeous family) provide readers with such a wonderful little spot to stop by and be surrounded by beauty. Whenever I leave Casey's blog I feel a little happier, and to actually know her, and know how genuinely sweet she is, makes it even better.

She is also a gifted artist, so be sure to stop by her art site and check those out too!

 

A little interview with Casey -

Describe your blog in a few sentences.

I love sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way.


What inspires you?

So many things inspire me! Nature, my kids, my husband, music, God, a good book, a beautiful image.


If you could tell your 15-year old self anything, what would you tell her?

If I could go back and talk to a 15 year old Casey, I would tell her so much. I would tell her to love herself and to love others well. I would talk to her about the importance of giving. I would tell her to embrace her creativity more and encourage her to step "outside the box" sooner. I would tell her to not worry so much about others opinions. And I would tell her that finding joy and thanksgiving in life is a choice and at times takes practice.

Name the first 4 beautiful things you see around you!

Four beautiful things I see around me: my son Aiden, my daughter Ainsleigh, my husband Christopher...and the beautiful tree outside my window right now!


Is there anything you'd like new readers to know?

I would love for you to stop by and "meet" my little family!

Guest Post: Melissa of Dear Baby

Hi Sometimes Sweet readers! I'm Melissa, mama to  1 & 1/2 year old Everly and 6 week old Arlo and I write a little 'ol blog called Dear Baby. Dani was so sweet to let me stop in and hang out today, so I thought I'd share a little adventure our family recently went on.

Last week we got itchy to get out of the house and decided to indulge our daughter in one of her greatest loves. Ducks. I'm not sure why, but this child of ours is obsessed with ducks. It started with an infinity for the squeaky rubber ducky in her bath and has quickly morphed into pointing out ducks as if we are living in an ongoing game of Where's Waldo. "DUCK MAMA!" she yells as she spots a tiny duck embroirdered on her brother's onesie. "Duck. Duck. Duck" she points them out on each page of the Animals on the Farm book completely ignoring my exuberant efforts to get her to share in my love of horses. "Look at the pretty brown horse, Everly!" I say, "Horses say neigh, neigh". "DUCK!" she says back to me.

So off we went to our local park to feed the ducks.

As soon as she spotted them, she starts chirping "Duck! Duck!" pointing to them left and right. She was rocking back on her heels, squealing and clapping and chasing those poor little buggers as they ran away from her.

We decided to pull out a pack of crackers to share with our new feathered friends and suddenly found ourselves surrounded on all sides by waterfowl, including one very large and very aggressive goose who started poking my leg with his beak to get my attention. This goose had clearly never heard the words "personal space" and Everly decided that for as much as she LOVES ducks, she very much does not love geese.

So she spent the entire time we fed the ducks and geese like this:

Not exactly how I had pictured it, that's for sure... but eventually the nosey goose and his friends realized that our treats were gone and they waddle off to find someone else to feed them. Everly released her death grip on my legs and headed out  once more after the little ones singing "Duck! Duck!" with so much joy in her voice.

Arlo, on the other hand, slept through the whole thing. Apparently he doesn't share his sister's passion.

These little adventures are some of my favorite moments as a parent. So simple and uncomplicated. Most often spontaneous. And the very essence of what childhood is all about.

Guest Post: Cassie from The Veda House

Hi, Cassie from The Veda House here! I was excited when Danielle asked me to guest blog for her while she was out in New Jersey for vacation. I saw this as an opportunity to share a relatively easy DIY project that even a busy mama can try.

Block printing on fabric can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. I'd suggest sticking with a simple design for newbies and working you're way up as your comfort level grows. You can use any kind of fabric you'd like, but the smoother the better. Once your done printing, you'll have a totally unique piece of fabric to turn into anything you dream. (seat covers, pillow cases, kitchen napkins, etc) Feel free to email me with questions if you get stuck during the process. There are also a lot of online tutorials out there you can peruse.

THE SIMPLE STEPS:

1. Draw your design directly onto the linoleum block with a pencil. Using a pencil will allow you to change things up if you choose. Remember, this doesn't need to be perfect.

 

2.  Once you have the design how you want it, outline the design in permanent marker so it is easier to see while you are carving.

3. Etch/carve out the negative areas on the linoleum with carving tools. ( I have a tool set that allows me to switch between blade thicknesses for different line qualities) *cut away from your body ;)

4. Using a brayer ( or paintbrush), apply fabric ink on your linoleum block. "Ink" up your brayer by rolling it back and forth over the ink in your ink tray. Make sure the entire surface is covered in ink.

5. Stamp the design onto the right side of your fabric by using firm even pressure. (your pattern can be completely random or more geometric) Continue to ink the linoleum block as necessary.

6. When you are done stamping, let your fabric dry over night

7. After completely dry, iron your fabric to set the ink in place (follow ink brand instruction). Donzo!

*Tips:
-  if you by a linoleum block that is super stiff and hard to cut into, you can iron/warm the block on the iron's lowest setting.
-  if you are feeling unsure, you can do test prints on sheets of paper
-  there is no need to carve deep cuts to make it work properly. Carving shallow cuts works just as well. Hooray!

I hope you enjoy what you see here. When you have a second or two, stop by my blog to see how I bring hand-mades and vintage into my life!