The Toils of Toilet Training

My daughter has just started to use the toilet. Yes, as she is now 4... she is a late bloomer. It's been quite the drama (for me) trying to get her interested. I tried my best to not let know just how much I wanted it to happen as she's not the kind of child that would do it for me.

But something happened a few days ago that just switched in her. She has been dry (aside from our #2s - she's not quite there yet) for 3 days. Yahoo!

So, I made this incentive box many moons ago (it's been so long, I can't even remember). It's just a photo box. It has her name on the front and 15 buttons velcro'd all the way around the box. I have opposite side of the velcro on top. Each time she uses the toilet, she moves a button to the top (she also gets one for each dry day she has). When she fills the top, she gets to choose a small prize from inside and move the buttons back to the sides. It's working. She loves the buttons (I'm sure she gets that from me) and it's easy for her to see how many more before she gets a reward.

I know some people use stickers... but I liked this idea because I could reuse it over and over. She also knows exactly what she's working toward. The items inside range in price from $1-$3 but she seems happy with them. I'm also making sure there is a decent selection for her to choose from and so that she has others that she can look forward to.

I'm not sure if she's going to just stop doing it once she gets bored of it (this is her personality) - but I'm hopeful that we have finally moved on from diapers. Keeping my fingers crossed!

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Product Review - Spray Adhesive

I LOVE this product! I received this as a gift from a friend that surely must understand the pain that I can sometimes put myself through when I sew appliques onto the dresses. I don't use an iron on adhesive because I don't like how it feels - too stiff. And I don't like the gumminess some of the spray adhesives leave on my machine. Sulky Temporary Spray Adhesive is great... it is sticky enough that it stays in place when I bunch it up under my machine... but it isn't so sticky that you can't pick it up and move it (without the stickiness remaining). The fact that it's safer for me than the other spray adhesives is also an added bonus.

Here's the mess I had when I pinned them. I can tell you, when I do it this way I get stabbed by pins no fewer than ten times. I avoid using pins whenever possible... but sometimes positioning is really important to me. This was the case with the Butterfly dress (sorry, it already sold).

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A little this... and a little that

It's been a while since I've updated my blog... and I'm not talking about Muffin Tin Mondays. I've actually been doing things other than just muffin tins. So, I thought I'd just share a little bit of what I've been up to (other than being under the weather :))

This is my newest screen print. Isn't she cute! I'm starting to use the services of Tomato Tomato who is making my drawings nice and clean and ready for screen printing. She's awesome! I can't wait to start making dresses with this print on it. Oh, and it's big! Yay!

I also took part in a fabric swap. So I am now the proud owner of over 100 new fabric squares! I haven't had much time to think about what I'm going to do with them... but for now, they are fun to just flip through and admire.

And with that said, I'm also going to participate in Dollar Store Craft's Stash Bust! Hoping this helps me put more tutorials on the blog. I can't tell you the number of tutorials I have done... but they've never made it on to the blog.

And a bento. I haven't shared any bentos in a while. This one I packed as a snack bento for my daughter. She's going through that wonderful phase where she'll only eat certain foods. During meals, I still offer everything... but when she's spending the day at a friends, I like to be sure she's got food that she will eat so that her tummy doesn't get hungry. This one has cheese, cheese and more cheese!

I have lots of fun things to share that I'm still working on... like the reorganization of my workspace (again), some great thrift store finds that I'm converting into new and fabulous creations, and a wall hanging that I'm working on for someone at my daughter's school (this one may not be posted until the end of school as it is a surprise).

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Muffin Tin Monday

I believe that today was supposed to be Blue and Purple... but I didn't really plan ahead, so I went with my own thing. Which happened to be left overs :) My son is home from school this week so we are excited to share this routine with him once again. Oh - and we have done Blue and Purple in the past.

Contents: Banana, edamame, sweet potatoes, cheese crackers, sliced turkey and cheese (or flat cheese as my daughter calls it).

Last week was a decent week for me... so I'm hoping that this week with either be the same or better. Finally feeling like I might be on an upswing (now going to go knock on wood).

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Muffin Tin Monday - Spring!

I'm so happy Spring is here (and it even feels a little like spring). This week's Muffin Tin meal didn't have a theme, so I made my own (after seeing a few other people did).

Contents: Daffodil cheese on pasta stems, string cheese eggs (with a chicken toothpick), carrots, cheese crackers (because she requested them), jelly sandwich egg on a bed of leaves and raisins (these are our lady bugs... I know, not so ladybugish). Oh - and a jelly sandwich bunny in the middle.

Thank you to everyone for their kind words after my last depressing post. While my health isn't a whole lot better, I am feeling a little better now that the sun is out and I have a few new ideas brewing.

I also had a very successful trip to the Goodwill this morning (I know, I should be taking things in, but buying things... but I'm just doing my part anyway I can :)). I bought a huge frame that I've got some great plans for... hoping to have that done by the weekend... could be wishful thinking, but watch for it!

Remember to stop by Muffin Tin Mom (formerly Her Cup Overfloweth) for more Muffin Tin Meals!

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