Wordless Wednesday: Reindeer Hat

Can you handle this amount of cute!? Sorry for the crappy pictures. I need a new camera.
Leave me a comment or send me a message if you want a moose/reindeer hat.

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Blankets! Favorite Pins of the week.

I'm making a baby blanket for my friend Angie's little boy Leyton. I wanted to post some options so she could pick from them.

Don't forget that I'm taking custom orders for hats and blankets. Email me if you're interested.

[1]

This one is actually from Ravelry. I like the simple pattern.

[2]
I posted this one recently. It's a little girly, but I love it. I might make one for Clara.

[3]
I believe I posted this one before, too. I just love it. :)

[4]
Love it!

[5]
Very cute. A little granny-ish. But I still like it.

[6]
I think this one is my favorite.

Let me know what you think, Angie! And don't forget to vote for the blog!

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Giveaway!

Not my own, but please check out this giveaway on holding onto the little things. Jordan is a great blogger and has the most adorable little girl. You should head on over and follow her, if you aren't already. Thanks!


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How Awesome

That's right. I feel as though I deserve the title "Awesome" right now. I just weighed myself for the first time since Oct. 27th (It's the day I weigh myself... I always remember because Clara was born on the 26th, so on the 27th of each month, I weigh myself). I struggled with eating disorders in college, and I still struggle with thoughts, so there's not many people that I share my weight loss with. What can I say, old habits die hard. I was used to keeping everything to myself for so long. Keeping secrets about how much I exercised that day, or how I'd been fasting for 4-8 days at a time. Ridiculous, I know! I can't believe I did that stuff. I wish I could say I've given up on all of that. I still struggle with it daily. It's so much faster to lose weight that way, but it's not healthy. And now I don't just have myself to think about. Clara is in this, too. I want her to have a healthy body image. I never want her to hear me say that I think I'm fat. So, I've taken a pledge to do things the healthy way. I've always eaten healthy. I'm not a big sugar fan. But OMG, the carbs! I've cut out a lot of carbs to help with my weight loss, but I know I can't keep it up forever. I love bread too much, haha. I've changed my diet to mostly vegetables and fruits with lean meat. I barely eat red meat. I've been going mostly vegetarian, come to think of it. (Minus Turkey Day, of course.) I can say I've felt better than I have in years! I've been doing P90X for 3 weeks now, and I've lost 25 POUNDS of gross baby fat since Oct. 27th! I can't believe it. I barely noticed a difference until I tried on a shirt the other day that was wayyy too tight on Halloween, and now it's loose! Yay for me! Because I'm awesome. :)


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Friday: Things I've found in week 10! Celebrated with 10 links!

I know. Today is Saturday. Yesterday, I kept thinking it was Thursday. Messed up my whole schedule. Anyway. Clara is 8 months old today. How did that happen? It's like the 7th month didn't even exist. I feel like I should start thinking about her first birthday party. Probably need to focus on Christmas first.
I did ten links this time! Partially because this is the 10th week of Things I've Found on the interwebs, but also because I had so many great links to share. 

1. Mother Glow: Videos of couples telling their families that they're preggers. It's apart of FeelGoodBlogs. Look at it. You won't regret it, I promise.

2. Ring on the Finger: From the same FeelGoodBlogs site. Videos of couples getting engaged. More tears shed here. Mostly because I'm super jealous. I want something special. :( #PityParty

3. 1000 Awesome Things: Fantastic! You'll love it!

4. We make it Safer: Product recall site! Keeping your baby safer when it comes to toys and gear. You can search for whichever products you own, and it will tell you if they're recalled or not.

5. So They don't Like the Name You Chose: Lines to reply with when family, friends, and strangers aren't fond of your kid's name. I mean, some criticism is legit. Don't name your kid Harry James Potter, because those are big shoes to fill.

6. The Tucker Diaries: I gave you a link to the first post. This girl is FUNNY! She should have her own column. The blog is specifically for this girl's crazy online dating story with this guy named Tucker. I was so into the story, which is both funny and suspenseful, I sat and read through the whole blog in one go. I promise you'll be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next post. Turns out she's my sister's boyfriend's cousin. ANNND she might be featured on Ellen.

7. Bundle Bee: Such a great idea for Christmas gifts and something for the new parent(s). Feel free to send me a bundle if you so desire. :)

8. Post Preggo Exercises: I know, you've probably read tons of articles about how to tighten your bum and such post pregnancy, but this site helps you tighten SKIN as well! Crazy! Take it from someone who does P90X, these are a piece of cake!

9. 15 Stress-Less Ways to Shop with your Kids!: Just in time to do all of that Christmas shopping!

10. Top 4 Foods to Avoid for Toddlers: Wonderful advice!



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Blog Challenge: 30 days of Good

I've decided to do the 30 Days of Good challenge. They won't be consecutive days, since we all know that didn't work out the last time I tried. Link up! Do the challenge with me! It's supposed to be for the month of November... but I just found it soo... yeah.




Day 1: Document Street Style
Day 2: Document a Pet
Day 3: Document Happiness
Day 4: Document something old
Day 5: Document something new
Day 6: Document art
Day 7: Document autumn
Day 8: Document something funny
Day 9: Document inspiration
Day 10: Document your coffee break
Day 11: Document your favorite shoes
Day 12: Document the highlight of your day
Day 13: Document hopefulness
Day 14: Document a friend
Day 15: Document your commute
Day 16: Document a life
Day 17: Document something you made
Day 18: Document a boredom
Day 19: Document a room in your house
Day 20: Document inside your fridge
Day 21: Document a neighbor
Day 22: Document the thing you spent most of the day looking at
Day 23: Document a mentor
Day 24: Document giving thanks
Day 25: Document a stranger
Day 26: Document (the rest will come out day by day)
Day 27: Document
Day 28: Document
Day 29: Document
Day 30: Document




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Crochet Giveaway Results!

ASHLEY GRIFFIN won the first draw and chose the crochet item of her choice. Look for a future post and I'll show you what she picked!
KELLY-MARIE and AMY C. won the 2nd and 3rd draws! You will both have sponsor spotlight on my blog! I'll contact you about that.

Thanks for participating everyone!



AND I would love if you would vote for us on TopBabyBlogs.com. :)


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My Thank You's.

T: Time. I've had almost 8 months of opportunity to stay home and raise my daughter. It wasn't exactly my choice to do so. But I would never take back that time. I was there for her. She has a secure attachment. I couldn't be more thankful.

H: Help. Since finding out I was pregnant, and especially since becoming a single mother, my family has been so supportive. Especially my parents and sisters. Now that I'm a single mom, my mom helps me sooo much!

A: Awesome-ness. Let's face it. I am. Kidding. My kid is awesome, though! Want examples? There's too many to list. Read my blog and then you'll know.

N: NFL. I am so thankful for the NFL! Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to watch the Lions today. :)

K: Kid. My kid. Clara sees things in such a cool way. Everything is new to her. She giggles at me for no reason, but doesn't laugh when I'm trying to be funny. I am so thankful for every day I get to spend with her.

S: Silliness. When does silliness go away? When you're an adult? Because then I'm a 23-year-old child. I think some parents are too serious. You have to get on the floor and play with your kid. Be silly. Dress up. Make funny faces. (And no, they won't get stuck that way.) Do different voices when reading books. Just be silly. I promise, your outlook on life will change. For the better.

G: Great Mom. I have a wonderful mother who is there for me always. She takes Clara when I need a break. She has helped me with bills. I live in her house, rent-free. She's pretty freakin' great! In fact, I think Clara likes her more than me. Whatever. :)

I: Irony. I'll elaborate some other time. Just know that I'm thankful for it.

V: {Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.  Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honour to meet you and you may call me "V".} V for Vendetta. All-time favorite graphic novel.

I: Imitation. Clara imitates EVERYTHING. She loves to do what mommy or Grandma do. It's become really awesome for sign language, too. Since we're doing that now. Eventually, she learn it for real.

N: Nachos.

G: Good night. Clara and I both love our routine. Baby food. Bath time. Book time. Singing and rocking time. and bed. I know people say not to rock your kid to sleep. They start to
demand it. But not only so I enjoy this routine just as much, if not more, than Clara, she goes to bed at nap time without any of it.

What are you thankful for this holiday?






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Favorite Pins of the Week!

[1]

So useful! 31 million ways to wrap presents! Check it out.

[2]

Such a cool idea to keep in my car when Clara gets a little older.

 [3]

Should I make these birds and turn them into 

a mobile? I think yes.

[4]

Oh my goodness, I love the organization! I'm so totally going to do this.

[5]

I need these. I would have gone through over 100 just since August.

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Friday: Things I've found in week 9!

I know. It's Saturday. Oh well.

I can't believe it's already week 9! Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Only 2 days left! There have only been 11 entries so far, so you should have a pretty good chance of winning if you enter now!

1. Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts that do good! Wanna feel good about the gifts you give this Christmas? This site has lots of ideas. I wish I was closer to NYC so I could get the museum pass. I would DIE!

2. What to do with that Leftover Turkey: This site has fantastic ideas of what to do with your leftover turkey. Better than a week of plain turkey sandwiches.

3. 40 Sayings From Your Parents that You Swore You'd Never Use (But Do!): A big saying with my parents was, "Because." or "Because I said so!". I've promised to never do that with Clara. To explain my reasons to her. I know I have good intentions, but it's useless. I'll do it. What do you say to your kids that you hated when your parents did the same?

4. Top 10 Things Your Baby Doesn't Need: I agree with the Baby Einstein videos. Do I think they make Clara smarter? No. But it's like baby crap. I don't feel good about using the TV as a babysitter. But it's REALLY nice to have when I need a break for 10 minutes, or have something I need to do.
I have to say that I disagree with the boppy. I NEEDED the boppy. A regular pillow would not have cut it. What do you feel like you could not live without when it comes to caring for your baby?

5. Permits for Parents?: An interesting take on what it takes to parent our future generation!

PLEASE don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY! Only 2 days left! And feel free to vote for us on TopBabyBlogs.com. We've fallen over 10 spots. :( So PLEASE vote!



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We're busy.

Things have been pretty... overwhelming lately.
I'm substitute teaching almost every day. It's nice to be working and have some time without the bean. I feel bad even saying that. But after 7 months of being home with Clara all day, it's a nice change. I feel like an actual adult. I get to talk to other adults. Clara has been going to day care regularly, and I think it's good for her to be around other kids.
On the other hand, I'm really feeling like a single parent. If I'm not at work, I'm taking care of Clara. It's all on me. Not that it wasn't before. It's just... different now. I rarely have "me-time". If I'm not with Clara, I feel guilty. And when I am, I feel like I need some breathing room. It would be nice to read a book, work on the blog more regularly... etc. I've been feeling lonely. There's no one to come home to. To share my feelings with. To discuss parenting. It can be isolating.
Anyways, enough feeling sorry for myself.

Clara has been busy, too! She's sitting up like a pro. She recently got two top teeth in, and she WILL NOT stop grinding them. I know she'll grow out of it soon. It's just new and fun, but it sounds like nails on a chalkboard. Today, she's picking up food with her thumb and finger. Sounds like a little thing, but it shows me that she's developing. She's learning and  growing. It's bittersweet. I miss the teeny tiny baby who would cuddle on my chest. But it's also so cool to see her learn new things. Things that happen as a person grows, and also things that I'm teaching her.

I'm super excited because I've had several people ask me to make things for them! Mostly, the hats I've been working on. I actually have two different stores asking to make things for them to sell. I feel valued and important! Definitely a change. I've been working on them while Clara is napping, and I can almost finish a whole hat before she wakes up!

Please contact me if you're interested in buying a hat. I would love to hear from you! If you would like to win one, don't forget to enter the giveaway! But  hurry, there are only 5 days left!

Sorry for the blurry crappy cell phone pictures, but I had to share my adorable kid. :)

If you get a chance, please vote for From Bean 2 Baby by clicking the link below. Thanks!


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Favorite Pins of the Week!

[1]

Explosion box! Would be so cool for Clara's first year.

[2]

Instead of making Clara a blanket of crocheted flowers, I 

decided to do some tiles like this instead. Angie, what do you 

think of something like this for Leyton?

[3]

Really awesome mobile/activity for little ones. :)

[4]

Would be pretty awesome for baby Leyton, I think. 

[5]

Crochet newsboy cap similar what I made thanks to Amy C. 

Thanks for submitting your idea, Amy!

Make sure you enter the giveaway and send me your ideas of what you'd like to see me crochet!

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Sponsor Swap for the Month of December!

If you sign up to do a sponsor swap with me for the month of December, you will get an extra TWO entries in the Crochet Giveaway. But hurry! The contest ends in 6 days!
If this giveaway goes well, I'll be doing another in a few weeks giving away a Sun Baby cloth diaper! So hurry up and enter!




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Giveaway! Get Excited!

Time for a really awesome GIVEAWAY!!!!

I'm looking to build my Etsy Shop! So, I need your help getting Ideas of what I can crochet. I want you to send me a picture and description of something crocheted that you would buy from my Etsy shop. If you need inspiration, Pinterest has tons of great ideas!

There are many ways to enter, below. Please leave a comment each time you complete a task.

When the week is up, I will pick three numbers with a random number generator and those winners can pick which prize they want. The prizes are a crocheted item of your choice, and 2 available spots for 2 months of free sponsor spotlight on From Bean 2 Baby.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, or email me.

Here's a cute baby:



Click "read more" below (if available) to view.

Friday: Things I've Found in Week 8!

1. Why You Should Stop Yelling at Your Children: I know it's going to be hard to not yell in the future when I'm frustrated. But this is good advice.

2. Video! Notorious B.I.G: The Ultimate Baby Pacifier: BAHAHAHAA! Best baby reaction EVER! Reminds me of something Baby Daddy would do.

3. Advice for a Hypothetical Daughter: Cute :) I should do something like this for Clara.

4. Cool Way to Welcome a Baby into the World: Such a cool video! I would love to do something like this.

5. How Much Bacteria is in a Nursery?: Swab results of this Mom blogger's nursery.



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Wordless(ish) Wednesday: Photos I meant to share, but never did.

Boo-bees. HA! My nephew, Landon, Clara, Niece Lilly, Nephew Levi.

Clara and her Dad at the play center thing at the mall.

Some of the 7 month pictures that I took that were really bad.
She loves that cow. Mr. Moo-cow.

She wouldn't leave the sticker alone!

Still learning to sit up, and finding multitasking difficult.

VOTE!? For us? Pretty please? I fell pretty hard this past weekend, and would love a little help from my friends.

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Favorite Pins of the Week/GIVEAWAY!

Great weekend in Holland! Clara got to see her Dad a lot. She is now sitting completely on her own! (YAY!) And loves having both hands to play with. Also, her third tooth pushed through on Saturday, and I can tell the fourth will be pushing through any day now.

[1]
Epsom salt as snow. I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I can't wait until Christmas!

[2]
LOVE finding things like this! But when I try to re-create it, I fail.


[3]
Sounds kinda gross, I know. But it works. Check it out!

[4]
Gloves with special fingertips so you can still use
your phone. I recently saw some at target.

[5]
Next crochet project.

Speaking of projects, I'm in the works of setting up an Etsy shop, and I need ideas! What kinds of hats/projects would you like to see me make!? If you send me a picture of what you think would be a cool project, I'll enter your name into a drawing and make your chosen project and send it to you! What do you think of that?

Bring on the challenges! Email me your ideas: frombean2baby@gmail.com

Also, if you would vote, it would make my day. :)

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