Heart-A-Day challenge

   I had so much fun making the heart potholder that I decided to make some more. I tweaked the design a little bit to my liking and tried to get more creative. It feels good to be in my little sewing corner and to have a "purpose". Plus it takes my mind into my Happy Place. I challenged myself to make at least one heart every day. It will be a little difficult the week that I have EM, so I will definitely need to go double duty when she is in school.

I am not sure if I will sew every heart. Maybe a piece of jewelry or embroidery. I have so many fabric scraps that I will never need to buy more supplies.

I used a different quilting technique for this heart. I wanted to use some of my smaller scrap pieces.

I did a blanket stitch around the edge to reinforce the heart shape. I also made some binding tape for a different look.

My Heart-A-Day challenge begins!!!

Heart shaped pot holders

   I have a "thing" for hearts. I saw this photo in my Pinterest feed and knew that I had to try to make them! I have a large fabric stash and thought this would be a great way to use some of my scraps.

The first thing I did was measure my hand and create a heart template.

I then laid out some scraps on top of the heart with an overlap.

I sewed the scraps together with cotton thread, and ironed with starch to keep it from shifting. Make sure the entire heart is covered by the scraps.

I traced around the template and cut out the heart. I used a sharpie marker. It doesn't matter if you can see the marker after you cut it out because it will not show after you sew.

I made a template for the "handles" and cut out two pieces, turning the template over for the second piece. I left extra fabric along the straight edge to fold under so the edge of the fabric will be tucked under with a hem.

I place the three pieces in place and basted them together along the outer edges.

I cut out the heart from 100% cotton batting. Cotton will not melt when exposed to heat like polyester will.

Instead of basting the batting to the scrap heart, I used fabric adhesive. Then I quilted the batting to the scrap heart. I now have 2 pieces to join together. The quilted fabric heart, and the heart with "handles". I pinned right sides of the 2 hearts together and sewed around the perimeter, leaving a 1.5 inch opening.

I pulled the heart inside out through the opening I had left. I ironed it flat and put a ribbon in the opening for hanging. I hand sewed it shut, but you can always use the machine.

I hand stitched around the entire heart to make it more secure when I wash it. I also sewed along the hemmed "handles".

Not too bad for a first attempt...

Time for tea!!!

We had a wonderful week

   My week with EM was so wonderful. It always goes by too quickly and then it is over and I have to hand her back. She leaves quite a mess, my little tornado :), and it takes me a few days to do laundry and pick up her toys. I don't mind. It is a welcome distraction from the empty house. We are always very busy so I don't get much done. She has boundless energy and I am constantly moving to keep up with her!

We made video calls to everyone and I promised her that one day soon we would be able to visit Lou Lou and Mar Mar in Florida.

She made friends at the McDonald's playground, her favorite local haunt.

Her classmate Valentina had her 3rd birthday party and it was quite an extravaganza. Little girls love pink!!!

A piñata is a requisite for every Panamanian kid's birthday...

She hit the trampoline pretty hard...

and the play area.

Life is great with friends!

A Tale of Two Donuts.

   Elizabeth and I have fallen into a nice routine for the week that she spends with me. It takes about a day for her to get into the groove of Mommie's house, but after that she is a happy little clam. This one week here and one week there arrangement is very confusing for her. She is too young to understand what is going on.

   Our week usually starts with a visit to Krispy Kreme where EM picks out her favourite donut, chocolate glazed.

In the morning we wake up to donut time! If we are running late she eats hers on the way, but usually we sit down at the table and eat together. Her with her chocolate glazed, and I with my triple chocolate.

She told me that her donut was better than mine because mine doesn't have a hole :)

Little Tikes "Cozy Coupe Scooter"

   After my daughter fell in love with a classmates scooter, I began the hunt. Iliya's mom said she got her scooter in Singapore, so I was on my own. On Saturday(Sabado) I headed to Albrook mall to investigate every store for the perfect match. Elizabeth is only 3 so safety was my #1 priority. Finding a pink one was #2. When I saw this Little Tikes version I knew my search was over.
   I immediately called a cab and headed home. I opened the box and was very happy to discover easy to read directions and very few parts that I would have to piece together. In fact all I needed was a hammer and a screwdriver(butter knife).

I hid it in my room so that Elizabeth could find another present that the Birthday Fairy had left for her. I will admit that at first she was a little disappointed that it was not a Minnie Mouse scooter, but that was very short lived. She loves the smiling face of her new scooter!

She hoped on it and immediately knew exactly what to do. It is a little hard for her to turn the handles but she can do a nice soft curve which is really all she needs. I even tested it out myself and the sturdy plastic frame held my 120lbs. perfectly.

I showed her how to use the simple back brake but so far she has not needed to. She finds it just as easy to put a foot down on the ground. It is very stable and she has not fallen at all. Our next step will be to take it to the park, but I will get her a helmet to wear first, just in case. I love this scooter, and best of all, so does EM!!! Yeah!!!!!

My week :)

 I am so excited!!!!!!! Today I pick up EM from school at noon and my glorious week with her begins!!! I can never sleep the night before and in the morning I jump out of bed with butterflies in my stomach. The week I have without her feels like a month. She is growing so fast, and I don't want to miss anything. I imagine she will be 3 inches taller and too heavy for me to carry around. Luckily, when I finally see her she doesn't look much older.  She had just turned 2 when all of this started. Now she is 3. If you think about it, I missed 1/2 of her 2's. 1/5th of her life so far. Time I can never get back. I try not to think about.

Soon my precious angel will occupy the little tent that sits empty in my living room every other week. This past week I went to the mall and got her some late birthday gifts. I hid them around the house for her to find. You can see her new Minnie Mouse shoes in the tent. I hope they fit. She is my gift and I am the luckiest girl in the world to have her :).

I used to live there.

   I used to live there. In 2013 I took a leap of faith and moved with my husband to that apartment on the 19th floor. The one with the curtains on the balcony. I gave birth to my daughter shortly thereafter in this country of Panama. Although now I only live two buildings over, that apartment is a lifetime away.
   I know this blog is supposed to be my happy place, and I promised myself to record only good things. I have good days and bad days. I am having a bad day. After finally being awarded child support by the Panamanian courts (after 8 months of fighting) I felt a sense of relief. Now at least my immediate bills like rent and food would be covered. A lot less to worry about. That was short lived. Today, Alyn is now 2 days late on his third payment. Has he decided not to pay anymore? How will I survive? How can he be so cruel? He even told me that he hoped I would be deported. I fear he is trying to wait me out until my money runs out and I will have to leave Panama without Elizabeth. He has DEEP pockets. I do not. Is he planning something new? The lawyer bills are already huge. I am terrified.

What else is he capable of? He even kept my dog. MY dog that I had for 5 years before we even met and married.

I truly feel he has no human emotions or compassion. How can you take a mother away from a young child? Elizabeth had just turned 2 when this nightmare began. Every day I PRAY that the courts will see through his lies, and see him for the monster he is. I need to hang in there until that days comes and I get custody. Luckily I have the truth on my side. The false charges he filed against me were all dropped. He is going to Trial for domestic abuse. Surely they would not give custody to an abusive, evil monster, right? I am so grateful for the support of my family. They give me the strength to fight! I can not say that enough. I am so very grateful for the support of my wonderful family.

OK. Sad time is over. No more self pity. It is donut time.