Is it wrong to love a button??

Lookie what I got in the mail today from Zelda's Buttons on Etsy. I love me a vintage button... The colors are so rich and the textures are fabulous. You just can't find buttons like this anymore.... I could look at buttons for hours.... I know... I'm a creepy button lover, but I admit I have a problem. That's a start right? Those red ones are DIVINE.... I have the perfect fabric that I want to use these with. My favorites though are the clear ones with tortoise edges. Aren't they precious?

This picture really doesn't do the button justice.... It was hard to get a shot of the little buggers... What I can see are all the scratches on my coffee table.... Guess that'll be a rehab post soon...

Speaking of rehabs, I went on a tear through all of the antique stores I could fit in the 3 hours my girlies were being entertained at pre-school. The desired target was a desk for one of my boys. I didn't find a desk, but I did SCORE on an amazing hutch in excellent condition. I am going to totally redo it with about 3 different shades of paint. I can't wait to show it to you guys. Right now said hutch is on lay away. Yes. Layaway. In the state of Alabama it's a law that you must be able to place desired antiques on layaway. Big lovey should be in her new home in the next month or so. I also scored on a farmhouse table in great shape for $100 dollars. That table will become my new sewing table, and my sewing table (desk) will be redone for son #2's bedroom. See, things always work out in the end. Didn't go looking for a table, but a table was the solution to my problem. It will also be getting a dandy paint job.

Jumping to children's fashion, I had a set that I owed my friend Ragan. We did a trade. She redid my clothing blog in exchange for this outfit for her daughter. THIS is what I started with this morning: ONE HOT MESS.


This is what I ended up with this afternoon. Look at little Rosie all grown up. My little model is only a size 3, and this is a size 7. It swallows her, but I still wanted to imagine what it would look like on Miss Precious. I still need to trim some threads and finish up the waistband, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. I didn't have a pattern for this size top, so I just made one myself.


I have missed blogging. I have to have somewhere to share my creative side. I have SO many projects and furniture redos that I have planned over the next several months that I want to share with you. I am also going to offer some tutorials to get some of you mamas sewing. My friend Steph and I were discussing last night how sewing is becoming a lost art. I'll bet more than half of my readers had clothes made by their mothers or grandmothers. I am going to show you all that you don't have to be scared of your sewing machines. I'm going to send you to the best pattern and fabric sources while I give you tips and tutorials along the way. You also don't have to be scared to tackle some decorating projects. I hope you will see as you watch me transform pieces that YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!! That's my goal for this blog: a place for us to come together and share ideas and inspirations. I'm no expert in any of these areas, but I am willing to share what I know with you. First project?? A bookcase/cabinet that I inherited from my grandmother. That will be tackled beginning this weekend, and I'll share pictures with you along the way. I know I've been a HORRIBLE blogger, but stay tuned. The best of Loulou is yet to come!

lovey, lovey

MIA: Renound Blogger Loulou has mysteriously disappeared!

I know I haven't been around in a while, but we've had a crazy summer.... So much has been going on, but I'm starting to get back to a new "normal". The big kids are back in school, and the girlies are in preschool 2 mornings a week.... AHHHHHHH! Gotta love some preschool!!! I have fallen off the diet and exercise wagon...I still am running but not really watching my diet. I've gained a pound and a half back. I know that doesn't sound like much, but sometimes it takes me 2 weeks to lose half a pound! As of Monday, I'm back on it seriously. I'm going to blog about my journey here as well as other things going on in my life. Monday I'm posting BEFORE pictures and all my measurements. I'm hoping if I'm accountable to you guys that I'll follow through and lose these last 12 pounds. We have a new rec center here in town with child care, so I'm going to start going 2-3 days a week in addition to my running 3 days a week. Hopefully that will help my metabolism get going..... Also gonna be counting those Weight Watchers points. It works. I may get tired of counting, but it works. I've worked so hard to lose these 13 pounds and start getting my body back in shape, and I'm not giving up now! My goal by my 40th birthday (July 28, 2010) is to be in the best shape of my life....Andrew and I are going on some fabulous get away, and I plan on rocking several bikinis!!!

I'm not sewing for others anymore....It started taking over my life. I will still do things here and there to make a little pocket change, but it'll be nowhere near the production I had going on before..... So, if anyone has stuck around this long, I'M BACK! Being accountable to others helps me, and I need you gals to stay on me!!!

love and hugs,
Loulou

Why I am the WORST blogger ever...

These little cookies keep me BUSY and on my toes all day long....They are such an exhausting joy. I also took the plunge a few weeks ago and finally got a monogramming machine.... I like being able to add to my outfits, but I'm not a maniac monogrammer by any means! I've been planning and working on my fall line, and it will be ready in a couple of weeks.... The fabrics are so delicious they make me want to roll around in them.

On the health front I'm still exercising and counting points... It's SLOWLY coming off.... I'm really running again, and it feels amazing. I'm almost at 3 miles! I would have never dreamed that this sickly body of mine was capable of doing that again. I thank God everytime I run, because it is a miracle.....It gives me a break and rejuvenates me....I am always a better mama when I get that time for me. I just wish it wasn't do doggone hot out..... I have to wait until at least 8 or so to go for my run....It'll be much more enjoyable in the fall.

I'll continue to give you peeks of the fall line as they're ready.....


Here's Miss Prissy Pants....She does this everytime she thinks something's funny. It's hilarious.


My Anne Pearcey Poo.....Miss Thang....Ignore the dirty rug...

The girlies having a little morning tv.....They still dig some Wonder Pets....

The Halloween outfit.... The top is reversible to a black and white polka dot with lime green monogram.... That way it can be worn LONG after Halloween.....

Whew! Where have I been??

I come to this blog everyday to check on my creative peeps, and I just realized that I haven't posted a thing in WEEKS on here....It's been crazy around here lately. Both my big boys are home from school, so the house is full....somedays I love it....somedays I want to go on an extended vacation ;)..... We took a last minute trip to the beach last weekend and had a great time...... I got to spend an entire afternoon on the beach by myself. By. Myself. No kids. No screaming. No "MOMMY"?????? It was fabulous. The girls loved it and had a fabulous time. I am still working out and watching what I eat.... I haven't weighed in about a week, but at that count my total weight loss was 9 pounds. Honestly, I would have thought I would have lost 20 pounds in these ALMOST TWO MONTHS, but it's coming off at a snail's pace..... I am running again thanks to a program from personalrunningtrainer.com. It has hokey music, but he keeps me on track. I'm starting week 4 tonight.... By the end of week 4 I will be running in 1 mile increments with a minute of walking in between. I am LOVING it........We started a new church here in Fairhope... We walked to church last Sunday, which is fabulous.... It's literally a block away. The girls LOVED the nursery and are starting summer preschool there on Monday (cue the hallelujah chorus here).....I've been doing some sewing for them and am going to take some orders for others next week. I'm not going to sew the entire time they're at preschool. I may just sit and stare at the walls some ;) Here are some random pictures from the last few weeks.....

Yesterday was the 2 year anniversary of the day I flew down to Guatemala to get Anne Pearce FOREVER!

Sassy Essie.... We should've named her Sassy.
Crazy Anne Pearce....We should've named her Crazy.

Anne Pearce and Hayden at the beach

Essie at the beach

Three new outfits.....

This season of my life....

You want to know what season I'm in??? It's called CRAZY season... Really. It's crazy....crazy busy, crazy fun, crazy lovin'...... We all know that toddlers are....................well............................ crazy. At least all 4 of mine have been. Logan and Hayden were little boy crazy.... Running all around the house, climbing on all the furniture, wanting everything their way... Hey, wait a minute. That sounds like AP and EK ;) We were supposed to be in Orlando right now for my nieces graduation. At the last minute we decided not to go. Andrew said the thought of being trapped in a hotel room with 4 kids reminded him too much of Guatemala and being trapped in the Marriott. It was supposed to be raining like crazy down there, and nothing could be worse than being trapped. in a hotel. in the rain. not able to go to parks. no swimming. You get the picture. We had also gone through some crap with one of our teenagers last week, and it was just TOO much. Does anybody else understand this??? That sometimes a vacation is the LAST thing you need??? That's where I am. Megan told me that in another year I will be breezing with the kids.....that traveling will be so much easier. I'm holding her to that!!! I don't want to wish away the terrible 2's though... I will NEVER get this time back. Essie is still so much like a baby, and sometimes I wish I could freeze her right now. Then I come back to my senses ;)
On the exercise front, I'm still going at it.... It's been 5 weeks of exercise, and my scale is STILL stuck at 7 pounds. I KNOW I have to be gaining some muscle or SOMETHING. Yesterday while I was climbing the mountain back up to my house I was envisioning my body using that fat...KILL THE FAT!!!! I'm not giving up and expecting one week to weigh and 5 pounds or so will have mysteriously disappeared....
I'm leaving you with some of my favorites from the last week or two.... Love you guys. Mean it!


Sassy Essie

How sweet is this face?

Look at this girlie! Who would have EVER thought her hair would look like this?? Remember all those crazy hair baby pictures??

Little Devil....um, I mean angel. ;)

I want some of that instant gratification

yeah..... gimme some of that..... It's been 3 and a half weeks since the big lifestyle change. I lost 7 pounds the first 10 days, and now the scales are frozen.... I haven't lost an ounce since. I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW: your body kinda goes into shock....you're building muscles....those muscles are retaining fluid....muscle weighs more than fat. My head knows all these things, but I don't like it! I'm walking about 4 miles in an hour at least 5 times a week.... I'm watching what I eat and counting calories. I'm really doing well with that. I do splurge here and there, but I have to be realistic if this is going to last. I know that you can tell that I've lost weight... I can tell in the mirror, but I am obsessed with that large number on my scales. I can't help it. I KNOW it's just a number, but sometimes a number says a lot....The big test is next week. We're leaving Sunday to go to Orlando for 5 days. 5 days of being tempted by eating out and all kinds of goodies. I don't want to sabotage myself... I want my new habits to carry over. I WILL NOT go to Orlando and gain those 7 pounds back!!!! I have made a deal with myself. I'm not getting back on that scale until 1 month from today. I'm going to keep up with my exercise and new eating habits. I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS!!! I can. I know I can. I HAVE to..... Why does it just have to be so stinkin' hard?? I guess if I knew that answer I'd be a kazillionaire, and none of us would be fat.......

I am beside myself......

Nat and I are going on a vacation. by ourselves. with no kids. just us. I am totally beside myself.... Our sweet hubbies are sending us for a 4 day weekend to stay on Orange Beach.... We thought about Charleston or somewhere like that, but we just want to lay and relax. and chat. and laugh. and talk. and talk. and talk. then laugh some more. God has blessed me with a best friend who is a sister...... We're going at the end of June, and we can't wait.....

Here are a few of my favorites from the last 2 years:

Down by the bay in Fairhope....

Natalie's first trip to Mary Ann's and her first Mississippi Mud Pie.

At Nat's on my first visit to Utah:

One of the all time favorites: Shoved in the backseat of a TINY taxi in Guatemala with our 5 kids! This is when we lived in Guatemala at the end of AP and Bella's adoptions.... Good days.

lifestyle change

Me and my EssieKateBabyCakes.... Anne Pearce won't sit still long enough for a photo... This is the fountain down by our beautiful bay. I go to walk here everyday...

Me...walking with my babies.... happy.... happy at last.

I don't do diets..... I DO them for a week, and then I'm back to stuffing myself with cupcakes... I always have the excuse of my heart and dysautonomia if I'm tired and lazy... 2 weeks ago my dr. changed a medication... He changed ONE LITTLE medication, and it changed my life! I have had more energy over the last 2 weeks than I have had IN YEARS.... I'm exercising at least 5 days a week and just being more conscious of what I'm putting in my body. I'm not denying myself anything. If I did I would fall right off the healthy wagon. I am so thankful to have some of my spark back..... I felt like I had lost me. I had, but now I'm back!!!!!Everyday I go do something. It used to be that I could only muster up the energy to go places once a week or so. Not anymore! Now I load those babies up and just go.... Go to Hobby Lobby.... Go to Target.... Go for a stroll.... Go get a Fairhope Float (more about this miraculous goody in a later post). I've taken pride in my appearance again. I had been so down on myself that I didn't think I deserved anything..... You would be amazed how much better life is when you feel cute......This short hair I thought I hated??? Now I love it...... I will probably have hair this short for a long time... In general, my life is good again... even better than it was before. I prayed that God will help me, and He did through my general dr..... He listened to me and HEARD me..... Andrew wants to send the man flowers ;) I just can't wait to see him again and give him a big old hug..... People, Loulou's back.

Please read Trina's story and help.....

Please go to http://www.areyou1in8.blogspot.com/, and see how you can help. I am donating 2 outfits..... PLEASE pray for this sweet mama.....

How I became a mother....

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends....... This is such a special day for me.... I remember my first Mother's Day when Logan was a baby. His daddy gave me A Child's Garden of Verses, and I bawled like a baby ( I was still pregnant).... Then came sweet Hayden the week before Mother's Day. He gave me his first smile (not gas induced at all ;) that day.....My heart was so full of love for my 2 boys. They were the greatest gifts from God and still are. As my love for motherhood grew everyday with my boys I knew that I wasn't done being a mama. God had placed the strongest desire on my heart to mother more children. I remember the day I had my hysterectomy at age 27. I bawled, thinking that was the end..... HOW UNFAIR! I wanted more children! My boys were my life, AND I WASN'T DONE! Little did I know the surprises God had in store for me.....More wonderful surprises than I could ever imagine.... First came the love of my life who has the same heart for adoption that God planted in me..... Then, one by one, came our girls.... Each on a long journey of their own to my heart with twists and turns and ups and downs. They were born IN my heart, as my boys were born under it..... None of the 4 any more special than the others, but each one fabulous in their own right. Each one a gift from God. Today I reflect on my mama and how wonderful she is..... SHE was the example that led me to be the mother I am today....she stood by my side through HORRIBLE pregnancies, and supported me as we headed across an ocean to bring home a little girl (named for her) and then another... She is there everyday for me in every way. I also think of our wonderful foster mothers in Guatemala, Carolina and Margarita, who cared for my girls when I couldn't and love them as their own. I think of their birth mothers, Felicita and Aura, who made the most unselfish decision a mother can make..... They sent them to us. I know they are thinking of them today, and I pray they know they are happy, healthy, and where they are meant to be. I also know the ache in a mother's heart who is waiting for her child somewhere else. Know today that you're not alone. We all stand beside you holding your hand. Mother's Day is a wonderful day and a day to be thankful for SO many blessings......... I am thankful for the honor and joy God has given me and for LETTING me be a mother to His children. They all are His, after all, only on loan to us here on earth. I pray everyday that I His desire and make the decisions for them that He would have me make..... Happy Mother's Day to you all!


My first blessing, Logan. He was 2 years old here, and this is my favorite picture of him... I was only 24 when I had him, and at times I couldn't believe that God was actually trusting me with THIS PERSON. This little man.... this precious child.

Ahhhhhh, my little Hayden at 9 months old. He was the sweetest baby I've ever had and still is! He was such a mama's baby and tiny just like Essie is..... He honestly was so beautiful the moment he was born that he took my breath away.......

This is my first moment with Anne Pearce as her mama...... I can still feel the joy in my heart I felt at that moment. This was the little girl I had prayed and longed for in my heart for years. Here she was. Sometimes I still can't believe it.....

The joy returned soon after as I met Essie for the first time..... Such an expected miracle she is! We thought we were done (at least for a little while), but God had other plans for this little one. She is surely one of His. He chose to save Essie from what would surely have been horrible circumstances. This is the moment I became her mama......

Does anyone read this blog?

Just wondering if I'm talking to myself.......

I heart my mailman....

He delivered this all the way from Finland..... I have a couple of these, but I have been waiting for this one... Why you say?? Because it has the patterns for THIS :

I first saw this, and I knew I HAD to make it!

THIS is the reason I ordered this magazine.... Look at the back of that top..... and the bottom of those pants! I LOVE European children's clothing design!!!

This little top is also DIVINE....

The outfit that made me obsessed with this magazine will be made for Anne Pearce out of this Jennifer Paganelli fabric that I have stuck away for JUST the right project....

And for Essie out of this: Same fabrics... different colorways.... Both = EYE CANDY! I have one more order to fill, some Mickey Mouse outfits for our Disney trip, and then I am making these bad boys... I will have enough to sell MAYBE one or 2. You better email me if you're interested.... I have a feeling they'll go fast!

In other news, my hair is growning on me (forgive the pun). It's super easy curly or straight, and it's finally getting long enough to get around my smallest round brush. Still not what I went for but better than it was.....
I do feel younger and spunkier with this cut.... If I just had some Botox to take care of those forehead wrinkles......

And check out Essie's hair right after her nap.... She could be on a runway. Seriously. Black silk... Youth is wasted, I say!

My new do....

No, that's not me.... It's Kris Jenner with the hair I wanted....... LOVE IT.

I searched the Internet high and low looking for the perfect pictures to show my hair girl....
I was SO excited.....

Then, I came home with this:

Not EXACTLY like the pictures I took....

Ignore the mess on the bar!
Here I am trying to act happy about my hair.....

Well, maybe my hair will look like I wanted in a month or two (or four)......

One good thing about hair: it grows.