Just Jen

Fabric Gift Card Bag Tutorial

The other day I was in Anthropologie and signed up for their Anthro card. The cashier handed it to me in this cute little bag. I thought it was such a nice touch and would be a fun way to present gift cards or other small items like soaps, nail polish, and jewelry for a friend's birthday, hostess gift, shower gift, etc. It looked simple to make too, so I gave it a try! Here's how it's done:

Cut a piece of fabric 7.5"w x 6"h. Make a quarter inch snip on each side of the fabric 1.25" from the top. Fold the wrong sides together and press.

Fold the top down on itself about 1/4" and press, then fold again on itself even with the snips you made, hiding all the raw edges. Press again. Cut a piece of cord at least 16". Hint: It is easier at this point to insert your cord before sewing the seam instead of trying to thread it through after. Sew along the bottom edge, being careful not to catch the cord in your seam.

Fold the right sides together and sew a quarter inch seam around the two open sides.

Turn the bag right side out, tie your cord together at the ends, and you're done! I added a little bead to mine to finish it off. There are so many things you can do with this little bag! You can make up several in no time at all and keep them on hand for your next special occasion.

 

New Products + Fall Sale!

We've been busy loading up the shop with new designs, and they're finally ready! Just in time for Halloween, we've got a new canvas tote that's not only great for kids and adults, it makes the perfect treat bag when personalized with one of our spooky designs! And the best part is that it's already on sale, along with all of our other great bags. Just use the code FALLSALE at checkout to get 15% off through the end of October!

Also new is our "Miss Fancy" line. Perfectly girly, it's available on tees, onesies, blankets and bags, including our new tote!

Stop by the shop and pick up a bag or two for a great deal!

California Baby

I have long been a fan of California Baby's products, even more for what is not in them than what is. I did some research when Jack came along, and it seems that there's a lot of chemicals and such in baby washes and lotions that I just didn't feel comfortable putting on his skin. California Baby was the only product I could find that was truly natural and didn't contain any of these ingredients. It's a bit pricey, but at the time, it was worth it to me for the peace of mind. Besides, I found a little goes a long way. The same is true for their Calendula Cream. I had picked some up a while back to treat a mean diaper rash, and decided to try it out on Andie's persistent baby acne/heat rash. Now, the docs say the best thing to do is leave it alone and not apply any soaps or lotions, but I decided to try the cream anyway. Couldn't make it any worse...  Wouldn't you know, it looked significantly better after just a couple of applications! I was really impressed, so when I found a little spot of cradle cap yesterday, I decided to try it on that. Today - almost gone! This stuff is GREAT. It's just so rare these days to find a product that actually works that well and doesn't require a prescription from the doctor. You can find this miracle cream along with all of their other wonderful products here.

Pretty as Pie

I am officially in hard core diet mode. Well, except for my fleeting affair with a dish of Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo and a Cheddar Bay Biscuit at Red Lobster last night... But today I'm back on track. Really. Needless to say, the yummy recipes that keep popping up on my Pinterest feed are NOT helping my cause. Thank goodness you can't gain weight by just looking. It's not like I have the time or the energy to devote to making this right now anyway, but isn't it lovely? Almost too pretty to eat! Almost.

 

1 month

I can't believe my little Andie is already one month old! Can somebody please point out the pause button?

2011 Fall Show Schedule

We can't believe it's almost time for our fall shows! We've been working hard on some new products and designs and can't wait for you to see them at the first show.

To our friends in Fort Worth: we will not be at Christmas in Cowtown this year due to my maternity leave, but we plan to be back next year! We'll miss all of you folks that normally come to see us there.

We are excited to add a new show to our schedule this year - the Junior League Holiday Market in The Woodlands! If you live in the area, be sure to come see us.

There are more specific details about each show on the "Where to Find Us" page on our website.

Stained by Sharpie - fabric markers

I'd been on a serious hunt recently for these new fabric markers called Stained by Sharpie, but everywhere I went seemed to be out of stock. I finally orderered them on Amazon at a discount and even got free Prime shipping with my Amazon Mom account! I happened to have a small plain canvas tote that I thought would be perfect to try them out on. I stared at the markers and the blank tote for a few days before I finally dove in. (Even after all these years, I still get so intimidated by a blank canvas!)

I decided to do some sketchy roses along with Andie's monogram. The markers are bright and cover well even on the heavy fabric, and I really loved drawing and layering up the colors. Once it was finished, the ink seemed to stay tacky for a while, but it dried eventually. I love that the ink is permanent and doesn't need heat to set. I'm dying to doodle all over a pair of old school white Keds or maybe some Chucks like we did with regular markers and pens back in the day! I'm definitely going to doll up some onesies for Andie soon. Check out Sharpie's website for some creative inspiration. And can I just say, way to go Sharpie for turning a standard office marker into a serious art tool! Pretty genius branding, if you ask me.

 

Baby Gear Favorites

 

Here are a few things that have made my life a little easier since Andie's arrival:

Dr. Brown's Formula Mixing Pitcher

This pitcher is a huge time saver! You can mix up to 32 oz of formula at once and eliminate the the hassle and mess of making one bottle at a time. The best part: no clumps of powder left in the bottle that didn't dissolve! I've seen them in most stores that carry the bottles, and also on Amazon here.

Grass Countertop Drying Rack

I registered for this because I thought it was cute - little did I know how useful it would be! I use the Dr. Brown's bottles, which have multiple parts, and this is perfect for holding everything upright to dry. The water drains into the bottom, which removes easily for cleaning. Get it at BuyBuy Baby.

Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets

These blankets are a new favorite of mine! They are so lightweight and airy - perfect for use in the warmer months. The quality and texture are great, and they wash well. I just love using them! Get them at BuyBuy Baby.

SnugGlider Infant Car Seat Swing Frame

Instead of buying a full size swing which we really didn't have room for, we decided to get this travel swing. Our Graco car seat fits easily into the frame, so if the baby falls asleep in the car on the way home, we can put her right into the swing undisturbed where she can finish her nap. I love that it folds up flat for storage and easy travel in the car or from room to room. It has adjustable speed settings along with vibrations and sounds, though we really don't use those features. Get it on Amazon.

Old Navy Knee-Hi Socks

I'm throwing these in the mix mostly for fun, and for the cuteness factor, of course! Andie is hot natured like the rest of us in the family, so on days when we want to crank the AC but don't want to bundle her up too much, these knee-hi's do the trick. Plus, they'll look adorable with a little denim skirt come fall... Get them here.

Note: Online it says there are 2 pair in the package. I bought these in store, and there was only one pair in the package for the same price... Not sure what that's about, but thought I'd give a heads-up!

Amazon Mom

I shop on Amazon a lot anyway, so I was happy to find their Amazon Mom program. It's free to sign up, and you get special deals and offers on things like diapers and wipes. The best part: free Amazon Prime 2-day shipping on select items for one year! This is a service that normally cost $79 a year. Now, the Prime shipping does only apply to qualifying items for baby and family, but lets face it, isn't that where most of your money goes when you have little ones anyway? And for every $25 you spend on these items, you get the Prime shipping extended for one month! It's a great thing to take advantage of as a new mom. There have been several things I have ordered knowing they would be delivered to my door in a couple of days - beats trying to get the kids loaded up in the car to go to the store in this summer heat! With their Subscribe & Save program, you can save even more by having the items you use most frequently shipped automatically. Great deal - thank you Amazon!

 

Andie's Birth Story

Andie Elizabeth Miller
born August 14, 2011
at 10:09 pm
7 lbs. 1.8 oz
20.5 inches long

I realize this is a little long, but I wanted to make sure I recorded every detail of Andie's amazing story - mostly for myself, so I can always remember. Bear with me, if you will...

When I took that first positive pregnancy test back in December and held it in my hand to view the results, I immediately had a strong sense that there was something different about this pregnancy. It was very unsettling - I wondered if I was going to lose the baby or that there might be something wrong. I chose not to worry, and instead put both of our lives in God's hands. That feeling stuck in the back of my mind, and throughout the pregnancy, I felt constantly on guard against anything that might not be right. Little did I know that this God-given instinct would become reality during the last hours of my pregnancy.

Fast forward to August 10, when I had a regular appointment with my doctor. I was not showing any signs that labor was near, even with the numerous contractions I had been having the last couple of weeks. After all the bedrest, I was frustrated and very anxious for her to arrive. The doctor confirmed my induction date of August 23, my original due date, as it was looking like that would be the way she would finally come.

On Sunday, August 14, I was going about a normal day. I did a little cleaning and some other things around the house until I ran out of energy and decided to rest on the couch with the laptop. About 4:30, I realized I couldn't remember the last time I had felt her move. I did remember feeling her moving around that morning, but with all my activity that day, I had been distracted. I had some soda and some m&ms to try to get her moving - started poking around on my belly to try to get her to kick back. Nothing. I began to get concerned. My brother who is in EMT school was here and had his stethoscope. We were able to pick up the faint rhythm of her heartbeat, but still no movements. My doctor had told me at that last appointment that if I didn't feel her move for more than 2 hours to come to the hospital. That is ultimately what we decided to do. About 7:15, I grabbed my purse as we walked out the door, leaving the bag I had packed for my hospital stay. Bret made me take it just in case, but I was just sure we were going to be sent back home. On the way to the hospital, I told him I was so ready for her to be here on the outside, where I could see what she needed. Lately, I had been feeling that she was much more vulnerable inside of me.

When we arrived at the hospital, they admitted me and got me hooked up to a monitor. They immediately found her good, strong heartbeat. However, as they continued to watch it, it remained steady, instead of fluctuating up and down like it apparently should. They gave me apple juice and finally IV fluids, but still no movement. The only time her heart rate changed was after I had a contraction. It would drop - which they told us was not a good sign. They ultimately determined that she was not getting enough oxygen and started talking about the possibility of an emergency c-section. I did not want a c-section. I had not planned on and therefore had not prepared myself for a c-section. They decided to keep me overnight and the on-call doctor would come in the morning. (Of course, my doctor had left on vacation the day before.) At this point, I sent Bret to call my parents to let them know what was going on. By the time he walked back in the room, I was laying on my side with an oxygen mask. The nurse had just told me that the doctor was on her way, and that they had decided to prepare for an immediate c-section.

Everything happened very quickly from that point on. They gave me my spinal block and began the surgery. The anesthesiologist sitting right by my head told me everything that was about to take place, and what I would feel. Bret held my hand, and I prayed. When they delivered my baby girl, I heard gasps from everyone on the other side of the curtain. The cord was wrapped around her neck four times and also around her arm. The doctor looked over the curtain and thanked us for coming in. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she had just saved my baby's life. I watched as they checked over my baby, and a tear or two escaped. Those that know me best know that I am not one to get emotional - but I was overcome. I mouthed the words, "Thank you, Lord." I knew in that moment that He had been watching over us and had given us a tremendous and merciful gift - the life of our daughter. At that point, she had not been in distress, but had we not come in that night, she would have died before she was born. We would have been burying her instead of bringing her home. They bundled her up, and I saw my healthy baby girl's face for the first time. The next day, she got to meet her big brother, who is already so in love with her. He can't stop talking about his "new baby sister." He may love her a little too much, as he is constantly trying to kiss her and touch her. If he's at all jealous, he hasn't shown it. Andie is blessed to have such a sweet big brother! And we are so blessed to have her.

The recovery from the c-section has been difficult and trying, though it does get better every day. And all the pain is worth it, of course now that our baby girl is here safe and healthy. God obviously has big things in store for her, and we can't wait to find out what they are!

Before she was born and we had finally decided on her name, I got to work on Andie's superhero logo and coming home outfit. Jack had come home with a cape, so we decided that she should have wings! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Andie, the Wonder Girl: