5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party 2010!

I came *this* close to missing it! 5 Minutes for Moms annual blog party! It's a great opportunity to meet fellow bloggers, reconnect with old ones and win fabulous prizes! Check out the list of prizes to be given away!*

You know what else is great about this party? You don't have to get all decked out! Just come (errr....STAY) as you are! ;)

So let's get started! Here's a short introduction about me....

My name is Sharon and I am a stay at home mom of two little girls, Kailani (7) and Momo (3). While my degree is in education this is where I need and want to be - at home with my kids until my youngest starts school However, as many of you know, motherhood/parenting can have it's challenging moments hence the title of my blog. ;)

I turned 40 this year - so yes, I am an "older" mom. But you know what? I'm totally okay with it! Something amazing has happened over the last several months...I've really started to figure out who I am. Sounds so "cliche-ish", I know, but it's true. While I have been healthier, happier, thinner, etc. I am way more confident than I have ever been. Go figure. Go me!


Last year we moved back to our home state of Hawaii after a three year absence. We are thrilled to be back! The weather, the people, the beaches, the food, the culture, the music....need I say more? We try our best to take advantage of living in this beautiful state - but when we are not out and about I enjoy sewing, doing crafts with the kids, cooking and then blogging about it (when I have a free minute!):

Examples:

• Motherhood - when my oldest cut her hair and ALL of her baby sister's hair!
• Cooking - broiled sushi recipe. I have more hits on my blog for this recipe than anything else!
  
• Sewing - roll-up car mat, doll diapers, dresses
  
• Kid's crafts
  
• Living in Hawaii

I am hoping to open my Etsy shop, "Happy Hapa" within the next two weeks - wish me luck!

Now what about YOU? If you've linked up with the UBP2010 hopefully I'll find out! Pass the pillow and let the party begin!

*By the way, here is my wish list: the grand prize (a Toshiba LAPTOP), and numbers 6, 7, 8, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20, 29, 31, 32, 48, 49, 53, 58, 69, 71, 84.....Holy Cow. There are so much more! Hopefully I'll win SOMETHING! :)

4 Crazy * Kings * Hawaiian Bread....

I want to thank Mama King of 4 Crazy Kings for the shout out on her blog! She was the winner last month of my apron giveaway. She really knows how to show her appreciation and make a girl feel good. :) Check out her blog - she is definitely my "go-to-gal" when I need some ideas or inspirations..especially for kid's crafts!

Speaking of Kings......

Another cool thing - remember the "King's Hawaiian Bread - Turkey & Cheese Sandwich" recipe I posted? Well I entered the recipe and picture in a contest that was being held on the King's Hawaiian Bakery Facebook page and won! Now my little avatar picture of me and my girls is on the King's Hawaiian Bakery website (page 2) for a short time. You'll notice that my picture is not posted with my recipe but with a professional photo and recipe of their choice. That's okay! ;)


Are you wondering what I won? I wish I could say that I won a year's worth of King's Hawaiian bread but I wasn't THAT lucky. I did, however win a free King's Hawaiian product of my choice (which I already picked up and ate.) By the way, you can sign up for coupons and great savings from King's Bakery here.

Super cool. :)

Happy Belated Easter!

Happy belated Easter! How was yours? We did the traditional egg hunt Easter morning - the girls were really excited to search our tiny apartment for the three dozen eggs they colored. (Oh yeah - we'll be eating eggs everyday for the next week or so!) They had plenty of practice as we had already attended two egg hunts over the past week or so!

One of the egg hunts was with our local MOM'S Club - the other took place at the Waikiki Aquarium. However, instead of it being called an "egg hunt" it was called a "Sea Hunt." Here's why:


I thought it was a great alternative to looking for plastic eggs! The kids had to find the nine different puzzle pieces then turn them in in exchange for a puzzle. As you can see Momo was more than delighted with her prize!


They also had a fishing pond, craft station, doodle art station, and other fun things for the kids to do. Of course the Easter bunny was there for picture taking and look what he gave each kid! An AWESOME cookie from Hokulani:


I was really impressed with the whole production! Great job Waikiki Aquarium!

And in case you're wondering what to do with your Easter basket until next year:

Hope your Easter was happy!

Pillowcase Dresses....

Recently a friend of mine asked me to make some pillowcase dresses for her daughters. She showed me some examples of prints that she liked and gave me free reign to pick and choose what fabrics I wanted to use. How heavenly is that? (*Thanks "C"!!!*)

It was fun picking out the fabrics and seeing the dresses come together. However, in making them I did learn a few things.

1) Pillowcase dresses are not "one size fits all" as it seems to be. I had to do some tweaking to make them fit just right. Which makes me question how people can sell pillowcase dresses without knowing how wide to make them? While most of the sellers on Etsy provide some kind of sizing chart showing the length of the dresses I couldn't find one that provided the width. So I'm assuming that most of the dresses are being made according to the size of a standard pillowcase (21" x 32"). Easy enough, but again.....they DO NOT FIT EVERYONE! If you have any feedback (as a buyer or a seller) on this please let me know!

2) I now get why some sellers sell their pillowcase dresses for $25-$30. It's not so much the work that is put into but it's the cost of the fabric - especially if it's designer fabric. For me to purchase designer fabrics here locally I have to pay approximately $11.00-$12.00 a yard.
Which brings me to this question: "Where is your favorite place to purchase fabric online?" Leave me a comment telling me your favorite place! I love Etsy so if you have a favorite Etsy seller please tell me who it is! Thanks!

Testing a Pattern.....

Awhile back I had the opportunity to test "Natalie's Dress" a pattern designed by Dawn of Olabelhe. I really liked the design of the dress with a low back, a big beautiful bow and the option of adding crinoline to it (lacy, poofy stuff underneath) so I jumped at the chance. I made it with the crinoline and I have to admit....it wasn't hard at all. Just a bit time consuming!

Now that the pattern is available for purchase I can share the pictures with you!


Funny thing is - I did not make TWO dresses. Only one. But the dress fits both of my girls! ;)

Does the fabric look familiar? If it does it might be because it's the same fabric I used to make the crayon apron for a silent auction. Momo loves the fabric. She saw the little girl on it and said, "It's me! It's Momo!"


There definitely are some similarities! Maybe that's why I love this fabric so much myself!

The pattern is available via Olabelhe's pattern shop or You Can Make This. I give it two thumbs up!