The Big One-Zero-Zero

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That's right folks...I hit the Big 100...One hundred followers!!!  I can't believe it...I thought this day would never come back when I started this blog.  I can't believe this is my first post.  It's actually kind of embarrassing.   It's amazing how things have changed.  The Bean was born,  I vented and laughed about our reality of dealing with illegal immigration on a day-to-day basis, and I have made some great bloggy friends. 

I want say a big huge  THANK YOU  to all of you.  You have all taught me so much.  If you are one of my followers and I'm NOT following you, please let me know.  I really do want to follow you back and I try to do so when I get new followers.  Sometimes though, life gets in the way.  Thanks for all the wonderful, kind, funny comments you have left.  I enjoy each one of them. 

Now...if you haven't entered the two giveaways I'm hosting, go do it right now.  This one for a $50 gift card from Safeway ends tomorrow afternoon.

And this one for a football-themed prize pack ends on Wednesday afternoon.

Fab-ric Flowers Tutorial

I recently was browsing around some favorite sites and followed a link to some fabric flowers. (Sorry, I can't find it now!)  I thought maybe I could try that.  I sort of changed a few things and came up with these.

Here is how I did it.

You will need the following items:

*Fabric scraps (I used cottons and cotton blends)

*Thread

*Buttons

*Needle

*Scissors

*Something to use as a circle pattern

*Something to make the pattern (I used some cardboard from a cereal box.)

First I made the circles (1 1/4 inches, 2 1/2, inches and 3 inches)  on the cardboard.  After cutting those out, I used them to trace onto the fabric.

I traced two of each size on three different fabrics.

I then cut these on a double thickness of the fabric.

Some of my circles were quite wrinkled, so I ironed them.  I found this step wasn't necessary for all the circles.

After I had all the circles cut and ironed, I stacked them in the order I wanted to put them together; two of the largest circles, two of the medium-sized circles, and two of the smallest circles.  Next I sewed through the center of all six circles, attaching them to one another.

I then added a button to the center and tied off the thread.  The next step was to cut towards the center on each sized layer.  I alternated were the cuts were so all of the cuts wouldn't be in the same place.

Then, while watching Bonnie and Clyde (again), I picked at all the cut edges to get an unraveled look. 

I really like how these turned out and plan on doing lots of things with them: headbands for The Bean, hair clips for the little girls of friends, lapel brooches.  I even have an idea to turn at least one of them into a bracelet.  I'll show you pics when I get to that.

If you try this, let me know or send pics.  I'd love to see what you come up with.

Just Have to Show You....

Some pictures I took of my little Tally Bean when she was here this weekend. 

As you can see, she doesn't think her Opa is funny at all.

I'm sure she is thinking..."Does he realize how ridiculous he looks?"

But when you get smiles like this....

It's definitely worth it!

Now that I have your attention.... the gals over at Mamma Tortilla are hosting the cutest giveaway ever.

This handcrafted little cutie is made by Abbie from Bunny Lane Designs.  You only have until February 3rd to enter Mamma Tortilla's giveaway....so hurry on over.  But I'm gonna win.

The Bean's 1st Christmas

I could write lots and lots about what a wonderful Christmas I had this year (I did) or how blessed my family is to know that Christ is the center of all our celebrations (we are).  However, I would just like to share some photos of Bean's first Christmas and say that GOD is glorified in ALL things.

In love with Opa (better known to all of you as BunBun)

On cousin Ethan's lap at the Christmas Eve service.

Smiling for Oma while Opa and Papa (my dad, the Bean's great-grandpa) try to coax a smile out of her.

Opa and the Bean

Gimme that paper! (The presents were fun, but the paper tasted better.)

I hope that you had a wonderful celebration with those you love.  May GOD richly bless you in the new year as you glorify His name.

Wow... I Hope It Doesn't Stop

I'm not sure what is going on lately, but I sure hope it continues. GOD is really blessing me lately and all I can say is To GOD Be The Glory.  Look what I just won!  It's one less Christmas present I have to worry about.

 This adorable bib, blanket, burp cloth set in vintage-inspired cowgirl print is available at

Rockabilly Baby Design over at Etsy.com.  I won this cute little gift for The Bean courtesy of a giveaway hosted by the beautiful Priscilla over at Little Miss Heirlooms.  If you haven't stopped by Priscilla's blog yet, you really must.  Her blog is filled with gorgeous vintage-style baby nursery pics and all other sorts of goodies.  Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway Priscilla.  I can't wait to get my gift!