Bit-O-Me Featured!!! {Katie Grace Designs}

My Hunting Baby Shower was featured on this super fun blog last week. Visit Katie Grace Designs for unique and fun party inspiration!

What I've Been Up To: Baby A

My Baby A won't be a baby much longer. It's amazing to see her grown and develop. I swear everything is happening much faster with Adalyn than it did with Marin. Why does time move so quickly? Little A is no longer content to be on all fours, she wants to stand. And stand she does! Her favorite places practice her new skills are on the outside edge of the bath tub, on Marin's chair at the table and my leg, anytime she can catch me standing still.

She has added four words to her verbal skills. The first, "aGuh" has no meaning, but she LOVES to say it over and over and over. The next word she shared with us was "Bye, Bye" and yes, she waves (warm fuzzy feelings). Next, of course, was "DaDaDaDa" because she is a daddy's girl and for the very first time TODAY, she called for "MaMaMaMa"!!!!!

During the month of December she cut seven teeth and met Santa Clause.

And this post wouldn't be complete without sharing this beautiful photo of Adalyn with her Paw Paw Benny whom she LOVES. She always has a ready smile for Paw Paw and loves to hear him sing. Not sure who loves who more, but there is a definite chemistry there and it brings me such joy to watch them.

What I've Been Up To: My Marin

This blog is called "Bit-O-Me" for a reason. There are many things that make up a life and this blog is a place to share those many things in mine. Mothering is one of the bigger bits. So, the next two posts are going to be a recap on my girls. Maybe it will give you glimpse into what we've been up to during my blogging absence.

Photography
When your child's curiosity is piqued by a new hobby, it's quite hard not fill your hard drive with every crazy snap shot. I've resisted the urge to keep every blurry pic, but I'm really loving these abstract photos she captures by holding the camera too close to an object. I'll not torture you with more, but I find these bright colors inspiring.

Flower girl extraordinaire!
In December Marin fulfilled her role as flower girl for the third time this year! Yes, I said third. And yes, I made two of the three dresses. Otherwise I think we'd need to start buying stock in David's Bridal! Do you know how much people will pay for a flower girl dress! (yipes). Marin loves to dress up and is enamored with princesses, but she isn't keen on having her picture taken by a stranger in environments she isn't comfortable in. SO, needless to say, she's wonderful at wearing pretty clothes and dropping flower petals, but smiling for the camera...not so much.



September 2010

 

July 2010

 

But SEE, if I ask her to put on a dress and smile...



Or if you have cows she can look at while wearing a pretty dress...

Christmas To say Marin LOVED Christmas this year is an understatement. We listed to Kids Christmas music every time we got in the car and "Jingle Bells" was her favorite HANDS DOWN. She even wrote her own version of the second verse. Jingle Bells has a second verse? Yeh, who knew? (A day or two a grow, I taught I'd take a ride, soon this banny bod, was seated by my side, what you say is say, what you see is day, I got into a chickamix and we got outside....ohhhhhhh!!! Jingle bells, Jingle bells...)

Christmas lights were facinating to her and we spent many an evening driving around to see them. Even ride them! I bombarded her with ways to learn the real meaning of Christmas, and found the most effective were this Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set and the movie The Very First Noel. While playing with the nativity set she insists in calling Joseph "God." The father figure in the scenario can be a bit confusing. She'll learn.

Christmas morning we enjoyed the company of this smiling little lady who is thrilled with the world when she is eating pancakes and wearing anything to do with Dora the Explorer.

Advent Calendar {Spice Tins}

I know, I know, it's December 14th. A bit late for sharing my advent calendar, but well, that's life. My blog isn't the only thing that's neglected. You should see my eye brows! But things are changing, tonight I'm updating the blog. And who knows what tomorrow might bring for my face!

My friend Angie shared this Glittered Magnetic Advent Calendar from Martha Stewart which inspired this year's advent calendar. You might remember my "Advent Forest" made of paper truffle boxes last year. The paper boxes were fun, but I was looking for something more durable. And plus, who wants to do the same thing two years in a row? Gotta change things up, people. So...this year, we went PINK. Yes, that's right, with two little girls in our world now, most everything is pink. I purchased a pink artificial Christmas tree and ornaments to match. Each of these spice tins holds about three tiny ornaments. I purchased the spice tins from Specialty Bottle. The quality was wonderful and they arrived quickly! Each day Marin opens a metal tin and adds new PINK ornaments to her PINK tree. She L.O.V.E.S it! However, her Daddy and I want to throw all 25 tins out the window each time they come clattering off of the refrigerator. Yes, that's right, these pictures make the idea look and sound perfect, which it would be IF I would have used stronger magnets for the backing. I just used magnetic tape on the back and let me tell you, it's NOT strong enough. So, modifications need to be made, but who has time for that? Until next year, we'll enjoy the sounds of Marin's excitement about opening a new "number" (as she says) and the clatter of metals tins falling to the floor each time the fridge door is shut just a tad too hard.

Giraffes and Tutus {First Birthday Invitation}

  

I was hired by a friend to design a birthday party invitation for her daughter's first birthday. I'd never heard of a Giraffes and Tutus themed party, but LOVED the idea. The invitation design is mine, and I recommended that she order the giraffe print lined magenta envelopes from Mountain Cow. I also designed cupcake toppers and food marker cards. I asked my friend to share photos of the party and hope to post them for your viewing pleasure. Such a fun theme! Thank you, Jackie for allowing me to be a part of such an exciting milestone for your family!

Hunting Theme Baby Shower {The Main Event}

The Hunting Themed Baby Shower was on Saturday. Here are photos from the day. I thought everything turned out wonderfully and I had so much fun working with the mom to be and her family! And while I was out of my "realm" working with a hunting theme, in the end I really had fun! I couldn't find ANYTHING on the internet partaining to a Hunting Themed Baby Shower, so I'm hoping that this post will inspire others looking for a similar theme. I heard one guest at the shower say "I think the camo themed party is on the up and up." I laughed to myself. Seriously? Or just in east Texas?

These mobiles were ADDORABLE and fairly simple to make, I just cut various theme appropriate shapes from paper that matched the party color and had help attaching them to the oversized embroidery hoops using fishing string and tape. It was a simple and effective way to bring the theme to the food table.

 

The cardboard deer head I made from a pattern that I found on the Chronical Books Blog. The cutting was tedious, but I think it was worth the effort. He added a whimsical charm to the main table.

The cake was made by a lady in our church. I thought she did a great job replicating the cake that the mommy-to-be requested. AND it was tasty!

The centerpieces were made from logs cut in various heights. I placed a candle on the top of each on and added snow since the shower was in December. The pine cones were a nice outdoorsy addition.























With all of the recent interest in this post, I've uploaded pdf files of the various printed pieces I created for this shower. They are yours to use, just please give credit to Bit-O-Me when appropriate! Please let me know if you use the files. I'd love to see your Hunting Showers!
Mobile Pattern
Onesie Pattern
Camo print Food Markers
Animal Game
Animal Game Answers

UPDATE: I recently created a remixed version of this shower. Check it out here. 

Hunting Themed Baby Shower {The Invitation}

I'm planning a baby shower for a couple at our church. They are both avid hunters and want to celebrate the anticipated arrival of their baby boy with a Hunting Themed Baby Shower. Never having spent even one second in a deer stand. And because I've never aimed a gun at an animal, I was a bit concerned about being inspired. There just isn't much on the internet in the way of Hunting Themed Baby showers (believe me, I've looked). So, I'm crossing my fingers this invitation design is a good mix of hunting lovers meets bundle of joy. What's not cute about baby onesies camo and hunter orange strung on a line in a pine forest?