The set I selected has got fun teals and greens in it, with polka dots, stripes, floral and paisley patterns represented in the fabrics. I picked up a couple of patterns at my local fabric store and plan on making a tiered ruffle shirt dress with matching hat and bottoms (you know, a diaper cover, essentially. What do you call those things?). The pattern is detailed enough for me to use all of the fabrics in a cute way without it being too forced, but simple enough that I think I can actually complete the project.

On a frugality note, the patterns were on sale for 99 cents each (I bought 3), and notions were on sale at 50% off (elastic, buttons, etc.). I’ll take a picture when I’m done.

• Joanna Sheen
• Teesha Moore
• Art Chix
• Kelly Panacci
• Cherry Pie Art Stamps
• Luna Girl
• Gorey Details
• The Enchanted Gallery
• Stampsmith

For the record, I have not ordered anything from any of these sites as yet. I can’t vouch for their customer service, etc., etc. All I can say is they have some BEAUTIFUL images available for the crafter!

I’m having fun figuring the thing out. I had it cut out the words “Happy Birthday” about six times last night, fiddling with the different settings until I got the font size I wanted. I think I’ll stick to smaller phrases in the future. Or maybe just shapes. And I can I just say how annoyingly STICKY that mat is? I realize it’s necessary, but the thing is already covered with my hair, my cats’ hair, my husband’s hair and carpet fuzz.

*That was a joke, people.

I recently created a Yahoo! group for scrapbooking in my area. There was a group on meetup.com that I joined, but you have to pay for that service and the moderator didn’t want to pony up any more dough. I can’t blame her! So, we’ve moved to Yahoo! I’m hoping that this will really take off and be a fun group to get together with. If I ever get beyond being a dabbler, that is! Who knows, maybe my sister and I can open a branch of her store in my area!

I’ve got a big scrapbooking crop weekend coming up, and I’m really going to work on the honeymoon scrapbook. My sister made a beautiful book for my daughter when she was born, so I don’t need to make one, but I do have another (blank) book for that purpose. There’s a huge sale at Hobby Lobby right now, and I went and stocked up yesterday. I got some really cute papers, including two big tablets of coordinated stuff. One of those will be perfect for the honeymoon stuff.

I recently joined The Grocery Game myself. In fact, I’m still in the trial period. I’ve saved a bunch already, and am looking forward to buying a freezer so I can save even more! For instance, today at Walgreen’s I saved over 50% on my bill using the tips gleaned from the Grocery Game. I highly recommend you check it out!

On date night, go to the dollar theater in your area. They get all the good movies, just a little later. But you’ve had to put off date night forever, anyway, right? At my local theater the popcorn sucks, but that just means fewer calories to burn later!

Sell your used items on consignment. There’s a huge sale in my town called ReRuns R Fun that opens up twice a year. It’s kids’ stuff only, and the deals are hot! Anyone can consign their gently used items (money making!), and the shopping is terrific (money saving!). I just had my first last August and I bought most of the clothes she’s been wearing the past 6 months at ReRuns. There were even some items that still had the tags on!

Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount at regular stores! I did so at Eddie Bauer one time. The cashier told me she couldn’t at first, but later the manager came by. He said, “I’m sorry we won’t be able to give you that 10% off you asked for.” As I was about to reply he said, “How about 20% instead?” How awesome is that?! I was buying quite a bit of stuff (over $200 worth), so it might work better when you spend more, but you won’t know ’til you try.

As mentioned in a previous post, I’ve kind of gotten into the whole frugality thing lately. I’ll be posting more ideas as they come to me!

We do have some nicknames we’ve used with the kid since she was born (yes, it’s a girl). Little One is used frequently, and very lovingly, I might add. Doodlebug, Bobes (I don’t get it either; rhymes with robes), Sweetie Beeps and more. Or I could be boring and just use DD and DH all the time. They’re certainly easier to type. Pretty soon I’d be shortening Sweetie Beeps to SB and people would think I was calling her a son of a b****! One of my favorite bloggers calls her kids ‘punks’. I rather like that, but I’m not sure if I want to ’steal’ it or not.

What do you think? Leave me a comment!

Now that I’ve had a child, this question is even more important. The kid doesn’t have a choice in the matter, being just a baby. If I could ask, I would, but it’s a decision I’ll have to make for them. Even typing these last two sentences, I have to decide whether to use “she” or “he” or try to keep the gender private! Of course, my husband gets a say in this decision as well. If I reveal gender, what else do I reveal? Their name? I know of at least one blogger who gives out her own (first) name, but uses nicknames for the rest of her family. She shows pictures of all her family members as well. Do I do one or the other, but not both?

My father recently asked for a picture of my kid to post on his facebook profile. In his request he specifically mentioned that he can control who sees his profile and the pictures on it, so I could rest assured that “no pervs” (as he put it) would be seeing anything. Well, with a blog, I don’t really have that option. It’s meant to be public!

Stay tuned for my decision on the issue!

I’ve got lots to share, including a new love of frugality. Look for some great money saving tips in the future! I’ve also taken up scrapbooking (yet another crafting hobby). What can I say? I’m a dabbler.

This hat also constitutes my first official switching of colors in a hat.  I didn’t have to carry it with me, though, since it was just switching to green to do the stem and finish the hat. 

Next I’m going to do a true striped hat, and then an all-black hat with a wreath of rosettes in bright colors around the brim.