For  Monkey Pants eighth birthday, I did a smallish party.  I'm not much for all out theme parties, but I like to have a general idea to motivate the cake design and colors.  I decided on Lalaoopsy .  Keeping the cake simple is always a goal these days. I used a couple of ideas from Pintrest like the rainbow colored fruit ca bobs and I couldn't resist the milk bottle drinks with ridiculously expensive paper straws. I couldn't resist OK! [Tip: Novelty milk bottles are ridiculously priced. I used a coupon and bought Starbucks coffee in these glass bottles for a lot cheaper. My husband didn't mind drinking all the coffee. I'm more of a tea person.  The labels came off easily.  I used these contact paper chalk board labels for names, which also come off with no residue]. For lunch, I made pigs in blanket with croissants (I don't know why they're not on that orange tray), sweet potato fries in individual containers, and some assort...

Pattern: Ottobre 6/2010 Paperback Writer Pants #31 Fabric: Green Corduroy (less than a yard, JoAnn Fabrics 50% off) Fabric Price: ~$4.00 Notions: 1 snap, 2 rivets, 1 recycled zipper Size: 92cm with length of 98cm Child's Age: 5 [Shirt: Tea Collection, Shoes: Simple] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - With the success of the Funky Boy Jeans , I was eager to make some more pants for my growing little boy's fall/winter wardrobe.  He's forgotten all about the existence of pants after wearing shorts all summer.  This one didn't go as smoothly as the jeans.  Not because they were harder. I guess, I was feeling over-confident and was only running my brain on partial power.  I sewed the zipper before the center back/front seams, then the fronts didn't line up with the zipper closed. But no matter, I fixed it all and they are darling!  I think this is the last year I can say that about his clothes.  I really ...

Pattern: Ottobre 4/20102 Funky Boy Jeans #21 Fabric:  Grey stretch denim (less than a yard) Fabric Price: ~$6.40 Size: 92cm with length of 98cm Child's Age: 5 [Shirt: Gap] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'm really loving these jeans! This is the second pair of pants I've made from Ottobre for my little boy.  I loved the spread in the magazine, even if I wasn't entirely convinced by the huge and low hanging back pockets.   [from Ottobredesign.com]  He's a skinny and little guy for his age, so the store-bought jeans he has, I have to cinch up the elastic-pulls on the inside of the waistband to the max. Then they are all gathered and puckered up at the waist and baggy throughout. Not very comfortable either. These fit perfect with only a litlle bit of slack in the waist.  And don't they look fabulous with these red sneackers his Tio Pedro gave him for his birthday.  It's almost like I did i...