Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Great Baby Name Debate!

Alright you creative geniuses! I am hoping you can help me! The hubs and I can not come up with (agree on) a name for baby boy#2. I honestly feel like we just named Asher, how are we supposed to come up with another one so soon! 

I'm due St. Patrick's day (March 17th) so I have some time but considering we don't even have a possibilities list, stress is starting to creep in! I have been making my eyes bleed looking at baby name lists that contain 10% cute and 90% crap and can't take it anymore! 

So if you don't mind sharing please leave a comment with name suggestions! Names you like, names you've heard, names of your kids if you don't mind me possibly copying. I need all the help I can get! 

And just because I can't put up a post without pictures
here is little baby boy#2 from our last Ultrasound at 18 weeks!
Isn't he so cute already!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

My Silly Boy & Something Fun for AZ Locals!

Last night we met up with some friends at Glendale Glitters to watch my old dance school, The Celtic Dance Academy preform! After the show we walked around a bit, admired the Christmas lights and took some fun pictures. Asher was in such a funny mood and we got some great family "action" shots!


 I just love my silly boy!
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Now for the Arizona locals! 
If you're looking for a fun thing to do this holiday season you've got to come see:

After a few years dancing in the show and then two years as assistant director this will be my first year as an audience member and I am so excited for the experience! I truly love this show and really encourage you to go! It's such a sweet take on the traditional ballet with the kick of Irish step dancing!



I'd love to meet up with fellow bloggers in attendance so make sure to comment and let me know if you're coming! Tickets are on sale now and selling fast. (We have completely sold out the last few years so don't delay!) Click {HERE} for ticket information!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

MORE FREEBIES!!!

So I don't consider myself a designer but I have fun making cards in Photoshop. Maybe one day I'll get good enough to sell a line, but for now I'll just give them away for free! If you'd like to use any of these cards this year just email me at alyashcreations@gmail.com and I'll customize it for you with your picture, names etc. and send the high res copy back! A great way to kickoff the holiday season! 
Merry Christmas!

Vintage                                                                   Stamp 2

Antique
 
Postcard

Grandma's Attic

Stamp 1


Cards are for personal use only. All pictures copyright of DoChara Photography.

Thank you to Shabby Princess & Pixels & Ice Cream for your awesome digital scrapbooking freebies that allow me to play!

Friday, November 26, 2010

BLACK FRIDAY FREEBIE!!!


BLACK FRIDAY FREEBIE:
A TWIST ON SUBWAY ART FOR CHRISTMAS


{click each image to view full size then save to your computer}



I have really liked the Subway Art I've been seeing everywhere but it just doesn't quite match my decorating style so I thought I'd make some myself with a little twist. I designed them to hang in three black frames side by side in this order on my wall. I won't  be putting them up till we are in the new house though!

Anyway I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and aren't running too wild shopping today! If any of you use these print outs I would LOVE to see so please email me pictures at alyashcreations@gmail.com

Thursday, November 25, 2010

A Mother's Thanksgiving Plea for Advice: Please Help Me!


Alright ladies, I need help. I am one night away from completely loosing it. Asher WILL NOT SLEEP. I need advice on bedtime routine, what to do when he wakes up, should we ditch bottles all together etc. Asher is almost 14 months old mostly walking, but not talking at all yet. He is a good napper and usually naps once a day but sneaks in a little afternoon cat nap in the car if needed. But here are the problems I'm facing:

Problem #1: We give him water in this bottle during the day he's addicted to it. He whines for it ALL DAY LONG. Which living in Arizona I haven't really cared because he needs to drink water and let's face it, it keeps him quiet and happy in stores and at friends homes etc. He will drink from a sippy cup but it comes out so much faster that he fills his mouth then spits it out and ends up with a soaking wet shirt. He hasn't master the straw sippy yet and mostly gets frustrated with it.

Problem #2: Our current bedtime routine consists of either the hubs or I snuggling up with Asher and giving him 12..yes TWELVE ounces of milk in his Bottles(s) (one ounce less and he screams) to go to sleep. He falls asleep on the bottle and we put him in bed.

Problem #3: Every night before we go to bed we have to sneak in and change his diaper while he's asleep or he'll pee the bed. Stupid 12 oz of milk.

Problem #4: Now is where the big problem comes in. Anywhere between 12:30-2am Asher will wake up. He usually wakes up screaming and won't give up and go back to sleep. On nights that he wakes up and doesn't scream he'll crash around his crib, try to get out and chew the wood crib rail like a freaken beaver. Regardless of the behavior he WILL NOT go back to sleep and days he doesn't start out screaming it will still usually come later. The only way we've been able to get him back to sleep each night is another bottle with water. Usually only 2-4oz does it but still, it's ANOTHER bottle.

Problem #5: After this midnight wake up he repeats this every 2 hours until he's up for good at 7am. You can see why I'm about to loose it!

He was a fantastic sleeper, slept through the night no problem and woke up happy until about 9months. Asher and I went to Canada for a month and everything went to crap. He would constantly wake up in the night and I was worried he'd wake up my parents so I shoved a bottle in his mouth. Yes I take complete blame for this addiction. Ever since this behavior pattern started it has only gotten worse. I need it to stop before baby #2 arrives in March or I may as well check myself into the loony bin. 

What do I do? I'm thinking the 1st step is getting rid of the bottles all together. Cold turkey, pack them up - gone. He can have a sippy cup for his water and milk at night. But how do I transition bedtime? Give him milk an hour before bed so he can pee it out before hand and fall asleep without it? What do you do in your family that's worked for you? Please leave a comment with any advice you have for me! I need it big time. I'm labeling Black Friday as D Day for all this to go down. The hubs will be in town for a good couple days strait to back me up so please, please help!





Tuesday, November 23, 2010

It's Bitter Sweet: The Great Wall Finished

THE SWEETNESS:
For those of you that have been reading you know I've had to relocate my craft room a couple times this last year. I was really excited with the last decision to move it back upstairs and just have everything organized in shelves in the guest room. Since I'd always end up pulling supplies out to the dining room table I figure this was the best plan.

A Craiglist shelves super find, some Joanne storage boxes and a few hours of organization later I was in heaven!
 Total project including shelves cost only $200.00! And it's so pretty!! Everything is organized perfectly and makes quick projects so fast!

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One of my favorite features is the card station!
The middle pull down shelf makes a great table top for writing cards and notes! I have utilized this feature several times since putting it all together!

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Here is another little pretty feature! Ashley from Cute as a Fox made me the Paris picture for my birthday last summer and I just love it!

NOW FOR THE BITTER:

After a year of debate, paperwork and decision making we are finally selling our house. We found an amazing rental that I am head over heels in love with! (More on that to come!) The problem...the shelves won't work in the new house...ANYWHERE! :( I do have a great new built in area to organize everything close to the dining room but I will be sad to say goodbye to the pretty white shelves. We move in December 1st...so it looks like I'll be using these pictures in a Craigslist post! Hopefully they will find another crafter as eager to use them as I was.



Monday, November 22, 2010

INSPIRED!

I feel like i haven't made anything craft wise in FOREVER! After summer travels, morning sickness and now the fact that we are moving I really have zero time. I even had grand ideas of making all my Christmas cards by hand this year...yeah...doubt that will be happening!

But I did find some inspiration today for other projects. Wrapped in a heated blanket drinking some spiced cider this morning I opened my google reader and started browsing. Here are a few tutorials I think are simply amazing and I really hope I can find time to make these!

#1. One Time Use Soap Leaves 
These are so adorable and what a great gift idea! I have so many of these leaves lying around I could make them today! Ohh and I can't wait to see what I can find for a Christmas version...maybe snowflakes?  So fun!
Click {HERE} to view the complete tutorial!


#2. Homemade Christmas Crackers
Christmas crackers have always been a big tradition in my family and I quickly emailed this tutorial to my mom, step mom and sister! I don't think I'll ever buy these again!
Click {HERE} to see the complete tutorial.


#3. DIY Big Box Advent Calendar
Holy freaken awesomness! (really there are no other words!) This may be a bigger project than I can handle this Christmas but eventually I would love to make one for each boy! Hmm....if I made Asher's next year and baby boy #2's the year after then I'd have a good variety of matching paper sets...ok now I'm just rambling! Eek, I'm so excited I just love it!
Click {HERE} to see the complete tutorial!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Tiny Prints Inspired Custom Birth Announcment

My beautiful bestie Claire welcomed the birth of her 2nd child; handsome little Eli, back in September. On a phone call last night she was complaining about the lack of good birth announcement options she'd found in her small Canadian town and I kind of chuckled and said, "Uh Claire...I can make you one!" 
(Sometimes my friends forget I have mad skills!)
Anyway I sent her some American websites to check out for inspiration since I knew she'd already have something in mind and she very quickly replied with an example she loved from Tiny Prints. So I immediately got to work and here is the final product!
 

Isn't he adorable!!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Baby Boy #2 Nursery {Part 2}



It's starting to come together! 
I can't express how excited I am about this room!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

It's Slowly Sinking In...

So I'm having a little cry tonight. It's slowly sinking in that one of my best friends is moving away. Like really moving away, to the other side of the country away, and soon.
I'm thrilled for her husband's career accomplishments but I don't want her to go. I want her to stay here so we can keep crafting, shopping, sewing, blogging, eating, shooting (camera not gun), raising our kids, hanging out and having fun together. Is that so much to ask?

I'm honestly not sure what I'm going to do without her.


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Baby Boy #2 Nursery {Part 1}

So I finally made some decisions on Baby Boy #2's nursery decor! I am so excited now I can hardly wait to get the room done! Here is a little sneak peek!

My amazing cousin Staci from Just Sew Sassy has been officially contracted to sew me all custom duds for this baby! Yeah she's awesome like that! 

Here is the main fabric & inspiration:

Michael Miller Gray Bicycles

In addition to solids here are some coordinating Michael Miller fabrics I like. 
(The exact ones we'll use are still undecided)


 And look at the little number I snagged of Craigslist today!


This vintage wonder will serve as room decor when I'm not stealing it for photo shoots! 

Here is the crib currently in the lead. 
(We'll be getting the matching dresser etc too.)

Now you can see why I'm so excited!! Oh and I am leaning toward orange as an accent color! 
What do ya think???

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Jared Fowler: Amazing Artist / Free Download

     Jared Fowler’s adventure into music started at the age of 11, when sitting silently at his grandmother’s funeral. As part of the wake, everyone present listened to the music that his grandmother Georgina Palfrey, had written during World War 2, almost 30 years in the past. The revelation came to Jared that music is the transporter of emotion into sound.

     For the next 19 years Jared begin creating music. He received lessons first on banjo for 3 years, which got his fingers moving and ears listening. Then in high school discovering that girls liked smooth guitar more than the twanging banjo, he switched to guitar and only looked back, a few times.

     Since inception, Jared’s music has never been nonsensical or trite. He writes about real emotions, real experiences with real feelings. Every song has a meaning and a story woven into it. Some songs are written with a message intended, others are written as a catharsis to avoid feverish tears. All Jared’s music has meaning, he suggests and promotes his fans to read his lyrics and poetry to better understand him and his method.

     For the better part of the last 7 years Jared has been playing his music all across BC and Alberta. 2 Western Canada tours, countless festivals, and a highly anticipated debut CD put Jared at the top of all the indie music to come from Vancouver.

Currently streaming Made for Me featuring Jared's beautiful wife Angie.


Past and current, counting 93 performances in 2010 alone and continue to include:

Cranberry Festival Ft. Langley
Leigh Square Music Festival Port Coquitlam
Berry Beat Festival Abbotsford
Art on the Farm Chilliwack
BC Songwriters Association Solo Showcase Langley
Canola Festival Fort St. John
Farmers Market Surrey
Western Canadian Tours – Spring and Winter 2010

Love it & want more? Just let him know!
Jared is giving Aly&Ash readers a free download of his song Someone!
Just "like" Jared Fowler on Facebook and leave him
a comment telling him what you think and where you heard him then he'll send you a free download!
Yup, he's just that awesome! So go now and check out more of Jared's songs on facebook!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Wendy's Winner!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloweekend! I'll be posting pictures from our family's festivities soon but in the mean time here is the winner of the Wendy's Pick Two gift card!
Ginny said...
I'd pick the Apple pecan salad and the baked potato