Under Construction

OH just trying to give myself a "Shop Makeover" and trying to redo things over here.  I have added a SHOP section where you can purchase Maxi Skirts directly from me instead of heading to my BNNB ETSY shop.  Please be patient with me.  I would love to have a ".com" and investigating that route...along with still keeping my blog attached to it...like a lot of your favorite bloggers out there.  So if you have any tips on building such a site, please let me know.

DIY maternity band

Today I got three blog posts done.  Yay for me!  It was a day took a break from orders and got some crafts out of the way that I have been itching to make, and get through some fabric.

I pinned this cute tutorial on making a maternity band, I did mine a little different, but didn't feel the need to really do a step by step on it.  So I will send you to the original source for the instructions, meanwhile you can see the colors I chose.  I was inspired by the picture of the tutorial.

go HERE for the tutorial.  No I am not pregnant, nor am I trying, but thinking about adding these additions to my shop in my bnnb mommy line...newly called bellapia clothing co....

The Market Bag

Bags make everything cuter!  I grocery shop so much its getting old.  So I started going to farmer's markets. FUN!  I then decided my new activity needed a cute bag.  

For this project you will need 5 cuts of fabric.  I chose contrasting fabric for each section.  Then I grabbed a bag I already had and measured.  

Here is the pattern I made.  The big peice is the main part of the bag, I chose stripes.  The smaller 2 peices are the sides of the bag, I chose polka dots, then the two long pieces are the straps.

take the side pieces and match right sides together at each corner on the same end of the big piece.

sew along the long side first, then repeat for the other side piece

it should look like this.

next, pin and sew the big peice to the bottom of the side piece, and repeat for the other side piece.

it should look like this when you hold it up.

Then pin and sew the rest up the sides, your bag is formed.

I serged the top of the bag then folded over 1/2 inch and made a hem

grab your straps and fold over each edge 1.4 inch, then fold the strap in half and press.

fold the bottoms 1/4 inch and top stitch around the entire strap.

place and pin where you need your straps on the bag.

do a top stitch in a square around the strap pinned to the bag. repeat for all 4 strap ends.

use it for carrying fun things to the pool, the market, the library!  Where ever your heart shall take you, don't forget to take your new bag along for the adventure!

Summer Shorts

Summer is around the corner, but here in Arizona, it already is in the 90's-low 100's.  We have already hit up the water park, and swimming pools a few times.  It's nice to lay out in the sun.  I love it.  I was born to be here.  Along with that, I have my beautiful garden I tend to every day once or twice.  I love looking at how much it grows everyday and the excitement of blossoms means I will get to enjoy the fruits of my labors soon!  I have already been enjoying my herbs and lots of lettuce for the last month or so and I am in love.  

The children love helping along with diggin in the dirt themselves, and enjoying buckets of water and the sprinkler.  Greyson included.  we have been fortunate to receive some awesome hand-me-down clothes and he sports those every day.  With being outside all the time that means he can't wear the shorts more than one day cause they are filthy, and sometimes he wears 2 pairs a day.  So I needed more quick.  I have tons of scraps from making the maxi skirts, so I though why not?

I used my basic short's pattern HERE. Then added flat square pockets and a fauxe tie at the waist.

cut your pockets to the size that would fit your shorts

serge or zig zag around the edge or leave it stitchless if your useing knit like me.

before sewing the back and front peices of your shorts together, place the pockets on the front side of the shorts and pin, with a little extra hanging off the side.  sew all around except the rounded out part.

Then proceed to sew the front and back side of the shorts together down the sides, continue to finish with the elastic waistband.

For the tie, I cut a piece of knit fabric so that it wasn't too long and thick, about 1 inch by 10 inches, folded in half.

stitched in to the center front of the waist.

then tied it in a bow.  Now he has a fun pair of shorts, that are light weight.  He can even wear them to the pool.  Which I am doing today... :)

He's happy!

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars...um hello!

Ok. So this is super easy. Don't knock it til you try it. I did a couple years ago when a friend tried making her own graham crackers. Yeah, I'm her now. I wanna know everything that is going into my body and my family's. this only takes about 15 minutes and you probably have all the ingredients already in your pantry so it is like getting awesomeness for free. Who doesn't like awesomeness for free?
I'm hooked. We went through the first batch in 2 days so I would recommend making 2 batches or three if you have lots of hungry people around. I used a recipe I found on Pinterest and made some changes according to what I had in my pantry. With my new plant based diet lifestyle this worked out best for me and my family.

Here is the recipe:
4 Tbs butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup agave or honey
1cup rolled oats
1/2 cup coaches oats
1/2 cup kashi go lean, crushed
2 Tbs crushed graham cracker
Chocolate chips, or whatever other add in
Directions:
Melt sugar, butter and honey to a light boil for 2 minutes. Add rest of the ingredients and stir tel blended. Remove from heat. Add 1/2 the chocolate chips. Place in an lightly oiled glass casserole dish then sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips in top. Use wax paper or parchment paper to place over top and press firmly onto the bars. Cool 25 minutes or more. Cut and individually wrap. Store in air tight container.