Ukulele Fun!

Our family has been interested in ukuleles for the last several months.  We attended a local festival a few months ago and took a beginning ukulele class.  It was so fun!  Buttercup is actually the one who was interested first.  I've been taking her to a few free classes and I'd play along with her just for fun.  Well on her birthday this year, she received a ukulele!  She was so excited and has really took off learning everything she can. 

I was surprised last month with a ukulele of my own!  I was not expecting one.  I thought maybe in the future I'd buy one but my mother gifted me with a ukulele.  I am now the proud owner of a Concert Luna Ukulele in Radioactive print.  Now it's time to practice, practice, practice!

Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Welcome to Keeping My Fingers Crossed and the Ultimate Blog Party 2011!

Come in and have a cupcake.

Maybe a pickle? Which seems to be the favored snack around here. The girls would eat bowls of pickles all day long if I'd let them.

flickr by magpiebride

Or maybe a pickle cupcake?

flickr by norwichnuts

I'll keep my introduction short since I know you are visiting lots of people today.

I'm Lace, the creator, writer, editor, photographer, of this sometimes neglected blog. The cast of characters often include; my nieces Buttercup (6) and Pony (4), my mom, myself, and various other people. I write about many random interesting things including; crafting, my addiction to pajamas, my ♥ of the library, bike riding, and a few product reviews.

If I'm not here, I'm editing your giveaway posts at Prizey. Which I have been fortunate to contribute and work at since it's beginning.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see some of you visit again. Make sure to stop by 5MinutesforMom and join in all the party fun.

I *Puffy Heart w/Glitter* the Library

I *puffy heart w/glitter* the library. I always have. I remember as a kid being so excited to ride my bike to the library to find something new to read. The library I visited as a kid is a Carnegie library that was opened in 1903 and in use until 1994. It's a beautiful brick and stone building that I've always thought would make a great house. One of my favorite features of the library was a curved stone staircase that led to the children's section in the basement. I felt like I was in a castle whenever I went down those stairs. I miss the old building; the worn front steps, the vault in the back, the wooden steps so kids could stand at the counter, and the bookmarks made from old wallpaper samples.

(vintage photo of my old library)

(I'll try and find a new photo)

I visit the library at least once a week and sometimes more. They have a great selection of books and if you can't find a book in the library our state has a great inter-library loan system, which I use often. They also have great programs. We've participated in several of them. Kid's reading programs in the summer, story times, zoo animal visits, library at the park, and tea parties. We attended a Fancy Nancy Tea Party recently that was so much fun.

Buttercup and Pony love to visit the library with me and could spend just as long of time in there as me. Each time they visit, they check out an Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems. I usually have to keep them from checking out all of them.

One thing about the library that I'm not sure you know (or maybe you do?) is that its a black hole where time doesn't exist. I enter the library, browse some books and choose the book I want. The next thing I know, I've been in the library for 2 hours! and it only felt like I was there for 30 mins. Does this happen to you? I once missed an entire class period in high school because I was so engrossed in my research that I didn't hear the bell ring for the next hour and I looked at the clock and had been in the library for 2 class periods. It happens to me all the time.

I'm headed to the library today to pick up some more books. Show your library some love and go get some books.

Babywearing Love

Have you heard that your choice of how you carry your baby might be in danger? That is your choice on using carriers (ring slings, mei tais, pouch slings etc). The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commision) is going after all carriers warning that they are unsafe.

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) is working to create standards for carriers and promote education on the proper usage of slings. You can read the BCIA's mission statement and position here.

My love of babywearing began early in the year 2007. I didn't know anyone who used slings and didn't know of any classes in my area to learn from. I researched lots of information and styles of slings to see what was the best. I still wasn't sure if it was for me so I looked up patterns to make my own figuring if I didn't like it, I was only out some material and time. I created a pouch sling from a pattern I found at Karma Baby. A few months after that, I won a ring sling from Posh Papoose and I was hooked! My next purchase was a mei tai from Bloo Kangaroo which I love. I've made a couple more pouches for friends and received a few more pouches and ring slings.

I can't imagine not using slings with babies and toddlers. I'm able to do so much:

• keep them close while in public.
  
• get things finished.
  
• offer comfort and a cozy place to sleep.
• a ride when their legs get tired from walking
• a different point of view
• safety
• snuggles
• love
  

and so much more!

Anyone can use slings. I'm an aunt and use them to carry my nieces. My Mom has used them to carry her granddaughters. I've used them with friends' babies I was caring for. My Dad has even used them once or twice. Sadly, my babywearing days are currently on hold since the girls are getting so big. We've used the mei tai only a few times in the last year.

If you have any questions about babywearing search the internet for any local classes near you. I would have loved to attend some classes and might in the future. I'd love to try wrapping next.

Make sure to visit Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing before Oct. 10, 2010 to see more stories of babywearing, get more information about the BCIA, and share your own story to be entered for a Sakura Bloom Ring Sling (which are amazing and I'd love to own).

Bedtime Conversations

Pony: I can't reach my water (said with a pitiful fake cry)
Me: I guess you better grow
Pony: I don't wanna grow. It's smarter to be a kid. Buttercup (older sister) will freak out if I grow.

P: It's too hard to sleep in a bed (sitting up)
M: lay down and try (slightly annoyed voice)
P: But grandpa sleeps up
M: Yes, he does sometimes. Lay down.

Other conversations that took place:

Why Puff the Magic Dragon song doesn't have a girl in it (the book version has the lyrics changed to 'A dragon lives forever but not so little girls and boys'. We were listening to the original version by Peter, Paul and Mary)

Wondering where a cardboard house went that was on display at the library and if she could get her grandpa to make her one.

And a few complaints and questions:

Can't find my pillow, can't reach my pillow, it's too dark, the lights too bright, I don't like my bed, I don't want to be here, where's mommy, daddy, grandma, grandpa, what's that noise, where's my water, I'm hungry, I don't like covers

and finally she pulled up the covers; snuggled closer to me and was quiet.

The Crazy Cycle of Hair Ties

I think I've been on a break long enough. I just realized I haven't posted anything here in over a month. That's the longest break I've ever taken. I'm sure I've lost all of my readers (all 2 of them that aren't actually related to me or a great friend) If not say Hi and let me know you are still here.

Nothing profound to post about today just an observation I made a few weeks ago. I have a lot of hair things and they all end up on my bedside table. Often through the day, I pull my hair back or at least part of it to get it out of my face. Then I go to bed and take it out and put it on my table. The next day, I go looking for another hair thing and usually get a new one out. I also have 2 little nieces that contribute to the hair band clutter on my table. Well I cleaned my table and found:

4 headbands
18 bands (elastics)
10 little girl bands
5 cloth bands
7 barrettes
3 bobby pins
4 clips

I was going to take a picture but one of the girls got into them all and scattered them on the kitchen table so I just scooped them all up and deposited them in the bathroom cabinet.

I looked today and there is a new pile growing on my bedside table. It's going to be a never ending cycle of cleaning up hair ties.

Tale of a Walk in the Woods and Lost Bubbles

On our walk we stomped through leaves

Collected leaves

Watched the water flow under the bridge

Threw leaves into the water

And if you look closely, you can see a bottle of bubbles being tossed over as well. (it's a little white and pink smudge falling from Pony's hand) She held those bubbles for the entire walk until she started collecting leaves. The bubbles ended up in the bottom of the basket covered by leaves. Just as she threw the last of the leaves over she yelled "My bubbles!"

Watching the bubbles float away

We continued on with our walk even though she was a bit bummed at losing the bubbles.

We looked for animals living in trees

And then Pony yelled out "My bubbles!" This time in a happier tone. We looked and sure enough the bubbles were floating by us. We had expected them to be long gone by now. But here they were. I ran ahead to try and get in front of the bubbles and find a place that I might be able to reach them.

Standing on a log in the water holding a large branch waiting to snag the bubbles

Success! I was able to snatch them with the branch and guide the bubbles my direction and rescue them from the water.

Some bubbles were blown in triumph and jubilation and then we continued on with our walk and exploration of the woods.

BlogHer @ Home Welcome

Welcome to my piece of the internet. I've been here since? hmmm I don't know - brb I'll go look .... March 2007. My first posts were all about the giveaways you could enter and not so much personal stuff, hence the Keeping My Fingers Crossed title.

The giveaway blogging led into a great job working as an Assistant Editor at Prizey. You've heard of Prizey right? It's a great place to find all the amazing and generous giveaways around blogland.

My blog has changed to a more personal blog now and you can find me writing about crafts, my nieces (buttercup, 5 and pony, 2), and relaxing in hammocks my new favorite activity. I think the Keeping My Fingers Crossed title still fits. I'm Keeping My Fingers Crossed about a lot of things. Currently that Pony's fit she's having right this minute will stop!

Feel free to look around and say Hi if you'd like.

Laundry Confessionals

The other day I did laundry and had a realization. I have an addiction.

Here is what my laundry basket held when I was finished with laundry:

3 jeans
1 khaki pants
2 tshirts
6 shirts
4 hoodies
various undergarments
14 sets of pajamas

Do you see that?! 14 sets of pjs not individual pieces but tops and bottoms counted together. I think I have an addiction to loungewear. I admit there are days that I get up in the morning and put on a clean set of pjs to hang around the house in. I also admit there are days I hang out in the pjs I wore to bed that night.

When I get home and know I'm going to be staying home, you bet I'm going to be changing into something more comfortable. Currently, I'm sitting at the computer wearing last night's pjs of a snowman shirt and Santa Clause pants. They don't match and they each have their mate somewhere in the drawer. I was just too tired to match them up last night. I rarely actually match them up.

This year for Christmas, I received 2 more to join my 3 drawers full of loungewear. 3 drawers full! That is half of my clothing space in my dresser.

I don't intend to stop this addiction but I thought I'd share my laundry revelation from the other day.

*UPDATE* I got dressed today.