goodbye to a friend

Last week we lost a dear friend.

Our very well loved chocolate lab, Macey. 

I've concluded the reason why it's so hard losing a pet is because they are such a prime example of unconditional love. They love us no matter what, and Macey was so good at this. She was so good with the girls, and always protective {she wouldn't ever let me leave a baby crying}. After processing for several days we realized Macey taught our girls so much. She taught them responsibility- they were always the ones to feed her, give her water, and let her outside. She also taught them love, friendship, and dependability. 

May used to be a little crazy in her early years, but the second we brought our first home from the hospital she calmed right down and stayed that way from then on. Such a good puppy.

During her last few years {she was only 6 1/2 when we lost her} she developed diabetes and needed two shots of insulin a day. Despite this we weren't prepared to lose her so soon. The girls and I were visiting grandma and grandpa out of town and Ben called me at midnight one night to tell me. Between all my sobbing he told me he heard the Lord tell him very clearly, "it's time to say goodbye to Macey." Ben looked over at her and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he went over to her and within a minute she was gone. What a comfort to both our hearts that the Lord cares so much even for Macey.

We held a little funeral for her in our backyard. I'll always remember the girls' sweet little voices saying, "bye bye May May." Zuriah {4} said the other day, "Mom, Jesus is in our hearts and Macey is in our hearts too!" Anah {2} has just been telling me "May May Jesus Mama." I guess Macey now has also taught the girls about death and Heaven. 

My floors desperately need mopping but I just can't seem to bring myself to mop up May's paw prints just yet. All those times when I got mad at her for tracking in- it really makes me appreciate the little things. 

Sorry for a bit of a depressing blog post today, just missing our

winner & favorite room

I've decided now in all my nestings it's a good time to redesign the girls' room as well. My youngest {2} is still in a crib so our plan is bunk beds for them very soon. And while we're getting them new beds, why not new bedding... and new paint? That's where it's gone. 

I grabbed a Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalog and went through it with my 4 year old. I was thinking the rooms look appealing to me but wasn't sure if she would like them- well she does. Very much. 

Here's her favorite:

Specifically the pink bedding {of course} but to my surprise she also loved the wall color and furniture color- I'm very much ok with that. Beautiful. 

Should be fun!

On to the giveaway winner. I selected via Random.org, and got comment #24. If that's you {anonymous} I will be contacting you via email to get you your winnings! 

If anyone is interested in purchasing silhouettes, birth prints, or {soon to come} coasters, visit my Etsy shop and take 20% off through next week! {Just mention this post}.

bag {2} tutorial

Out of a bit of necessity I decided I wanted a trash keeper for our new van. I couldn't find anything I liked to buy so I just designed something simple- here's how I made it. {Oh and you can use this for your stroller too, it'd be a great little extra storage, or even a small bag- just change the straps.}

Just a warning, this tutorial is a bit photo heavy.

What you'll need:

Pretty fabric {about a half yard}

Fabric for inside bag 

Stiff iron-on interfacing

2 D Rings

Iron 

Sewing Machine

I used some Amy Butler home decor fabric for the outside and some solid quilting fabric for the inside.

Cut two pieces of the pretty fabric to 9"x 12". Do the same for the inside fabric.

Cut your interface to be about an inch shorter than the pretty fabric {so 8"x12"}

Do it for each side, and iron them on. 

Fold over {twice} the extra fabric and sew it for both sides.

Place the two pieces facing each other and sew the two sides and bottom together.

When you flip it, this is what you should have. 

Now for the inside- sew the two pieces together, while hemming the top and leaving it open {the top hem should be longer so this bag is just about a 1/4" shorter than the outside bag}. You should have basically a small pillowcase.

Place the insert inside. 

And sew a seam around the top, just under the hem of the pretty fabric.

To make the strap cut a strip of fabric to your desired length. Fold it "pretty to pretty" and sew it shut. Then turn it inside out. 

I like to sew two seams to make it flat.

CUT about 4 inches of this strap. 

Take the longer strap and sew the end shut like pictured. 

Take the shorter {4"} strap and sew on two D rings.

I used a zipper foot to get a closer seam.

Here's where you can decide where to put your straps. For a bag you can place the straps on either side. For my purpose I placed the straps together in the center of the back of the bag.

And sewed it shut repeatedly for strength... cut all strings to clean it up.

This will work to hang from your seat... 

Or here in the front off the 'purse hook'

Cutest little trash bag that you can't find at Target. Pretty simple and quick, and now my new van stays clean!

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I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow!!