Re-purposing: My new hobby

I've found a new hobby.  It involves turning old things into new things.  I especially like when I can find a new purpose for old clothing.  First, it saves something I would have otherwise donated.  Secondly, it reduces some of my sewing time.  For example, if I re-purpose a tee-shirt into a skirt, the hemming and seams are already done ... professionally!  How neat is that?!

My first attempt at re-purposing was over 4 years ago when I made a fitted cloth diaper for Veronica.  Remember?

(Veronica @ 3 mos)

Today I turned a tee shirt into a yoga skirt for Veronica.  Hey, same model!!

(Veronica @ 3 yo)

I bought a few more shirts at Salvation Army and plan on re-purposing them for Catherine and maybe even Sophia.


My inspiration?  This new favorite blog, Make It and Love It.  Here is how I turned a tee shirt into Veronica's new skirt.  I'm currently working on matching leggings made from the sleeves.  Neat, huh?!

Another re-purpose is the side of an old crib into a magazine holder.  I placed it in my guest bathroom and love it!!  I might paint it. Haven't decided yet.

(Added bonus ... you get to see my favorite magazines!!)

Well, gotta go re-purpose.  

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

EMMA @ 9 weeks!!

(Catherine, Vincent and Veronica enjoying play doh.)

Veronica's Birthday Wish

Veronica turns 3 in about 2 weeks.  Its a custom (or bad habit, depends who you are ..... I think its a bad habit) for the kids to start talking about what they want as a gift and party theme about 3-4 months before the actual day.

So it came as no surprise when Veronica started talking about her birthday a few weeks.

What does Veronica want?

A pinata.  That's it.  A pinata!

I wonder if I can postpone her bday by a few days and just throw the kids' Halloween candy into her pinata? 

Veronica's 2nd BDay

Veronica turned 2 yo last Wednesday but since Craig was out of town we celebrated on Friday.

2 hours before leaving for our Saint's Day Party!

I was still sewing during her party!! Luckily my parents, in laws and sister accept me for what I am ... a procrastinating perfectionist. Here are a few pictures of the happy birthday girl who also didn't mind a less fancy party than last year!

Opening her gift from her wonderful Godmother ...... Beverly, Veronica says thank you! She loves playing with it!

This year I had to delegate the cake baking to Isabelle. She did a wonderful job and even found some decorations in a box that I had no idea about!

While Veronica loved all her gifts, she was most excited about the bag of high heels. Her first dress up shoes! We've had a few "character building moments" when she's tried to convince me *ahem (2 yo tantrum) * that her high heels were appropriate footwear for leaving the house. I can't believe how much I love this age!!!

Friday's Random Thoughts

I've been at the pool everyday these past 2 weeks. Summer swim season is now in full gear. And I'm a sight ... a sweating Shamu watching on the sidelines! Still, better to be pregnant where baby can have a controlled environment rather than left behind at home and unable to watch the kids swim.

This year Catherine (age 4) is taking lessons and hoping to make the swim team. We'll see.

Co-op is finally done. YEAH!! I have my Thursdays back.

Many changes going on here in our household .......

Isabelle is growing up before my very eyes! She's "developing" into a young lady. She loves talking on the phone with her girlfriends, having as many sleep overs as she can manipulate, and sharing books. She's latched onto the Percy Jackson series. She's on book 4 and hopes to get her books signed by the author (who lives here in San Antonio) in a week. I've become a chauffeur!

Anna also has a best friend that she loves to write letters to ..... even though she sees her everyday!

Sophia made her First Communion 2 weeks ago! She's still glowing. We went to mass every day for a week after her special day. This week we've managed to make it twice.

The kids have made such strong friendships and are thriving. Life is busy! A good busy! A tired busy!

Veronica has become a handful. She specializes in climbing, tearing book pages and writing on herself with markers. Also, she is being eaten alive with mosquitos. Poor baby is scratching and has a swollen eye from a bite in the vicinity. She doesn't look very photogenic right now. ;-)

I have yet to bring down baby boy clothes. Don't know why. I haven't bought anything either.

Well, gotta go. My dear friend and her large brood are visiting from "the woods" this weekend. Gotta go roll some enchiladas!!!

Here we go ...... again!

Deja-vu! We've been here so many times! Isabelle even knew to bring the camera along with Veronica!

I think prefer baby powder to diaper cream. But its still better than vaseline!

Name Meanings

WOW! I was looking up something else when I accidentally came across this - the meaning for the name Veronica. When we picked Veronica's name we were definitely thinking of Saint Veronica, the woman who wiped the face of Jesus while carrying the cross. But i didn't actually know what it meant. Guess what her name means? True Image.

"When Saint Veronica saw Jesus carrying His cross, she took off her veil and gave it to Him to wipe His face. He handed the veil back to her, and it had an image of His face on it. In this way, Christ gave a special blessing to the practice of wearing a veil. Even Veronica's name comes from this event. She is called vera icon because she had a true icon of Christ, her veil with His face on it. Nearly every Catholic Church has the stations of the Cross with this event at one of the stations."

May my Veronica always have a true icon of Jesus on her heart!!

Other childrens' name meanings:
Isabelle- God is my oath
Anna- grace, favour
Sophia - wisdom
Catherine- Pure
Veronica- true image or icon [of Jesus]

Poor Kolbe. I couldn't find a meaning for his name. probably because its Polish. I need to ask our priest and see if he knows. Either way, he's named after one of the greatest saints of our time.

Veronica's 1st Birthday Party

Veronica is now officially a year old! Her birthday was actually last Tuesday but we celebrated with friends and families on All Hallow's Eve. Veronica seemed to enjoy her cake and loved all her new toys. Here are a few pictures of her special day.

I couldn't resist making this fun and yummy cake I saw in a magazine. It was made with two 1.5 L Pyrex bowels. The stem is a Snickers bar. The kids had funny adding the orange Reeses Pieces (after I added the yellow ones for eyes, nose and mouth).

Plenty of fun was had by all. Happy birthday, sweet Veronica. My, how you have grown!!

Last Minute Weekend Changes .... maybe??

UPDATE: We won't be able to go afterall. Craig's plane won't be arriving until late tomorrow morning. Its not like we didn't have plans. Saturday the girls have group piano class and Isabelle has youth night at church. And all the kids (minus Catherine and Veronica) sing at mass on Sunday. It was just nice dreaming of cancelling it all and running away to the middle of no where. But, seems like God needs us to stay put. ;-)

So, instead I think I'll pull out some sewing projects I have up my sleeve. I'm still working on Christmas projects, too.

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I thought I knew what our plans were for this weekend BUT I just found out that THIS weekend is the family retreat I've been waiting ALL YEAR to attend. Somehow, I missed the memo and now I'm trying to squeeze our little family *snort* in.

It had me thinking that this time last year I was trying to convince Craig to let us attend even though I was 1-2 weeks away from my due date. And the year before we had attended and I experienced my very first camping trip.

My, how time flies. And now here we are with Veronica, my toddling almost 1 yo.

Yes, she is toddling! She is now taking 3-5 steps. She should be running soon.

Anyways, pray that we can squeeze into a spot. I am dying to go spend time with other Catholic families to pray, worship, learn, and enjoy nature (and see friends, too).

H/T Michelle (who called me today and clued me in about the retreat)

Supermom Post of the Week

This year I've really been trying to keep on top of things. In addition to my incentive plans and diligent planning for the upcoming school week, I've also been trying to have the house picked up and ready to go for Monday mornings. I've been doing laundry marathons during the weekend so as to "let it go" during the week.


I don't post this to make anyone feel bad ... in fact ... just the opposite!! Because no matter how much I prepare, life happens. Case in point: Last night I swept and mopped the kitchen. I wanted to begin the week with something already done. It was a Herculean effort on my part because yesterday was our parish festival and I was there ALL DAY!! I was tired and just wanted to go to bed. But I cleaned up the kitchen, swept, mopped and even set out breakfast for the morning. When we were leaving the festival the kids were given leftover plates and plates of free baked goods. So I set them out for the morning to have with milk.


Well, school has been going great!!! Two of my kids will be done before lunch. And the baby has been cooperating with my plans. No crying or whining. In fact, where is she???

Oops! I've been caught! Let me hurry and eat some more while she takes pictures and before she brings out that vacuum sweeper thingie!!

Maybe if I smile she'll keep taking pictures and I can keep eating?
Mmmm! I need to hang around those older kids during meal times!!

Note to self: Review plate to mouth motion with children. Draw and color parts of the body, concentrate on hands and mouth.

Note to self: Review dietary guidelines with baby. Inform her that until her 1 year birthday she should avoid consuming products containing eggs, milk, and nuts. And strongly advise against products with refined sugar.

Note to self: I can't put this under "Baby Firsts" category. :-/

Note to self: At least Veronica is learning self reliance and the important skill of foraging for food.

Wordless Wednesday

Deja vu!!!

Picture of the day

Veronica's new favorite past time ........

Cruising in a shopping cart!!

Big sisters have ensured her safety with a helmet. The funny part is that Veronica will throw a fit if she's taken out of the cart before she's ready.

She loves to be pushed around the house. I like to think of this as sisterly bonding and NOT that mother is too busy to take her on a real walk in a real stroller! LOL!!

For the AFV Team

Just so I can't be accused of discrimination, these pictures are for the AFV Team (Advocates For Veronica) .................

What color are those eyes? I'm holding out for green. Craig says they're brown.

Guess who's standing up and walking along furniture? And climbing stairs? And getting into lots of trouble?

Sleeping .... again? She's developed this habit of only sleeping when being held. Good thing my girls don't mind!

At a swim meet ......

My version of a baby gate .......

Is the AFV Team happy?

6 Month Edition

Can you believe Veronica is 6 months old!!! Time is flying by!

Here are some pictures of my first crocheted wool cover. I chose this color back when it was cold. It ended up being too big to wear in February. Now that it finally fits Veronica, its spring! LOL!!

She didn't want to stay still for pictures and I now realize I need to make a shorter drawstring as I'm sure its a hazard. I'm double knotting until I can make a shorter string (in a few hours).

I definitely like the variegated color for hiding any stains. She really enjoys wearing it and I'm working on my second one (also a dark color: brown).

I've also included some snapshots of her daily bouncing work out. Although, I think she does more "eating" than "exercising"!! LOL!!

Happy viewing of my cutie!!