WEEK OF "FIRSTS" - MY MAKE & GIVE EXPERIENCES

Holy moly has it been hectic these past few weeks!! School started last Thursday for my Mr. Tooters. He's now officially in P3 (aka Grade 3)

As I mentioned in my last post, I absolutely love "giving". Why right now I am in the process of "giving" my severe chest infection to my loving hubby!! Seriously though, there's nothing quite like giving, is there?

Theo has been asking for a Super Mario backpack all summer. We had agreed that he would be allowed to chose what he wanted this year. We spent hours going through website after website looking for his idea of the perfect Mario bag.....with no real luck. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of searching, we found one. Then my jaw hit the floor......£50!!!!!!!! Now, let me just say that I love my child more than anything in the world and his happiness is my main concern but SERIOUSLY 50 bucks on a school bag????? Come on!! He's only in grade 3! Of course, after we had told him no, this was the "only bag he wanted" etc etc.....his little heart was set on it.

I set out to find a compromise.......



We found cute Mario patches on Ebay and also these cute little zipper pulls / key chain things.

This is what we came up with after a few hours of sewing......

Once again, I missed the opportunity to get a picture of his reaction to this in the morning.....One day I'll learn that I'm a Blogger now and I should document EVERYTHING!!!

 I think I may have retained my "Best Momma" Status....

Next on the agenda was a beautiful promise made to a special friend. Let me start this story by asking if anyone out there has friends that you "keep tabs on" on Facebook? You know, friends that you used to talk to quite a bit but through no other reason than "busy lives" you no longer really speak to them anymore but you are totally up to date with their recent Facebook status's?? I know there are tons of you out there....just like me! We all deserve to be slapped on the wrist :-(

One morning, this just hit me.....I haven't spoken to her in ages! I knew what was going on with her through her updates on the site but other than that, nothing.....I sat down and wrote her an email telling her how this was just unacceptable, I missed her and that we had to make time for eachother as we both need support etc etc etc. Then came the brain wave moment. Why not incorporate our fav things into one??!?!?! 

We are both from the "old school" and loved writting letters and sending parcels. She also happens to be a very crafty momma too! So why not become pen pals??? Here were the rules we came up with:

• Once a month we send a small package of something we've made for eachother. 
• It has to be sent at the end of the month
• HAS to be inexpensive and most importantly, handmade.
• Must have a handwritten letter / note inside. 

The first month's gift was to be completed and posted by Saturday. This is what came in this morning:

A perfect little crafty caddy!

And here's what I sent:

A Cookie Sheet Memo Board - complete with kids names magnets

Paper bag scrapbook albums for each child

She's a very busy single mum so I thought a little message board might come in handy. Also, with the new school year just starting, I thought the scrapbook albums could be an ongoing project for her and the kids to complete with school memories. Its not my best work, but it was made with the right spirit, I think :-)

And the finally in my whirlwind week of giving............

In my post on Upcycled Poncho to Scarf I had mentioned that I would make and send a scarf to someone, selected at random, who had left a comment on the post. Congratulations Angie at Echoes of Laughter!! I will be contacting her directly with the details of her win.....*yay* By the way, stop by her site and send her some love. She's got an amazing recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins....yum.

I'm addicted to giving.....I think I may need another fix soon. Off to Pinterest for some ideas...

What will you give this week???