DIY halloween - toy story edition

i've been going through some old photos & organizing them with the hope that i will find the time to sit down & actually write some blog posts! halloween is just around the corner so i thought it would be the perfect time to revisit some costumes from years past.

when my oldest daughter was 2, she was starting to form opinions about her wardrobe & seemed pretty excited about the thought of dressing up as a character. she hadn't quite discovered princesses yet so it was easy to convince her that toy story costumes would be perfect!

i am going to apologize in advance for the photo quality. these were taken on my iphone, in terrible lighting & no amount of editing was going to make them look good (not that i'm huge into photo editing anyway). so i just left them as is.

have i mentioned that i LOVE halloween? (check out some of my costumes here). now that i have kids, i have an excuse to trick or treat again. nothing against store-bought costumes (they are much better than the plastic masks & smocks i got to chose from when i was a kid), i just really enjoy the process of putting together costumes myself. and of course there has to be some sort of theme.

here's what i used for my daughter's costume for jessie:

- 1 yard of cow-print fabric (i found at jo-ann fabrics)
- long sleeve white tee-shirt
- jeans (jeans & tee-shirt i found at target in the toddler boys department)
- yellow cotton fabric (a remnant from jo-ann fabrics, about 1/2 a yard)
- iron-on adhesive (aka heat n bond)
- gray felt (2 different shades)
- red puffy paint
- string
- light brown felt
- dark brown felt
- hot glue gun & glue
- red cowboy hat (found at a halloween supply store)

for the shirt, first i applied the heat n bond to the back of the yellow cotton fabric according to the directions on the package. then, i traced the shape i wanted the final size to be onto the paper backing of the heat n bond, using the shirt as a guide.

i did his to both sides of the shirt & cut each piece to the shapes i wanted. i applied the yellow fabric to the front & back of the shirt, placing the ironing board inside the shirt so it didn't end up glued together!

i made the cuffs from 2 strips of yellow fabric & attached to each sleeve using the heat n bond.

i cut 2 circles from the darker gray felt & 2 slightly smaller circles from the lighter gray felt & glued them to the front of the shirt, using hot glue.

i penciled in the red embroidery detail on the front of the shirt & the cuffs & carefully traced over it with red puffy paint. i used the darker gray felt & string for the back pull-string detail.

next, the pants... i placed the jeans on the cow-print fabric & traced the leg shape with an extra flare added below the knee.

i did this for each side, then i attached (using heat n bond) the cow fabric to the jeans, just on the top part of the jean legs to the knee, leaving the lower half free.

i added the belt using curved strips of dark brown felt & the belt buckle was light brown felt with the hand drawn detail in sharpie, both hot-glued to the jeans.

here is the final look:

for my husband's woody costume, he wore his own jean & plaid button-down, then i also needed:

- 2 yards of the cow-print fabric (also used for jessie)
- sheriff's badge
- brown cowboy hat
- red bandana
- brown felt (just a small piece is needed for the belt buckle, with hand-drawn detail in sharpie)

i used one of my husband's button-down shirts as a guide & cut the cow-print fabric into a the vest shape i wanted.

then i pinned the top around the shoulders & sides under the arm holes while it was inside out & stitched it by hand (quick, nothing fancy since it was hidden anyway), which made it pretty close to the correct shape.

here is a blurry photo of the final look, but you get the idea:

here is jessie visiting daddy at work:

here is a view of the back of the costume:

and here's the whole toy story family!

ok, so i kind of cheated with my costume. at this point i was about 6 weeks pregnant with baby #2, right at the start of my constant nausea/total exhaustion trimester (not to be confused with my constant back-ache/total exhaustion trimester). i used a kids buzz lightyear full body costume (i'm 5 feet tall, adult costumes don't fit me). the fit was a little snug so i cut it below the belt detail, turning it into a shirt. i wore it with white sweatpants & buzz lightyear gloves, which covered up the fact that the sleeves were too short, then i drew a spiral on my chin with brown eyeliner & called it a day. 

well, my daughter loved our costumes. she was happy so that's all i really care about! 

how about you? store bought or home-made or, like me, a combination of both?

happy trick-or-treating!

i'm ba-ack.....

hello! i know, i know, i disappeared for a while. let me explain….

in 2014, we moved in with my husband’s grandmother (she’s 95!) and the majority of my attention was going to my family. my girls are a full-time job on their own. luciana is 5, started kindergarten in the fall, is very much the caring, nurturing older sister and continues to be on her own path with her language and motor skills. 

luciana, november 2014

anabella is 2 (whew, boy is she good at it!), is still very energetic and independent, and likes to challenge me. in every. single. way. 

anabella, november 2014

gramma is an old-school italian who likes to keep herself busy doing yardwork or cooking or sewing. she calls herself lazy because she forgets she swept all the leaves off her steps only hours before, (i did a-nothing today!) and claims she is “like a baby” because we’re here looking after her and have to help her put on her shoes now. i affectionately tell her she’s our teenager because she’s stubborn, thinks she knows everything, talks back and i have to drive her everywhere. 

gramma & luciana, july 2014

my husband, adam, is type-a, loud, generous, loyal, funny and loves to keep me on my toes. 

adam & me, christmas 2014

luciana is my mini-me. anabella is our adam, jr. and gramma's her partner-in-crime. we all seem to balance each other out.

then there is me.

drawing of me by anabella, january 2015

i had a few small invitation/card orders throughout the year, did some things like halloween costumes, the girls’ birthday party and other small random projects, but other than that i wasn’t really doing much. ok, besides grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, laundry, picking up toys, settling disputes over who had it first and other typical stay-at-home-mom-type activities. i mean, for myself. for some reason, i was convinced that i had to streamline my interests and had to have focus in order to be productive. i didn’t like how my business name (echo art and design) didn’t explain what i did so i was spending all this time trying to come up with something that more descriptive. but what was i? graphic designer? calligrapher? no title i came up with seemed quite right. i kept trying to figure out how i could rebrand myself, find my niche. creatively, i was stuck.

suddenly 2014 was over and with the new year comes a new you, right? all i heard were people listing things they were going to start, things they were going to change. i don’t like to make new year’s resolutions. if you want to do something or change something, why wait? of course my husband asked me what my resolution was and without thinking about it, i said “be more creative”. then it dawned on me, why am i trying to limit myself? why am i trying to change? why am i trying so hard to put these labels on myself? all it’s really doing is stopping me from doing, well, anything.

i have a lot of interests. so what? instead of trying to change that, i am going to embrace it. as a kid, i wanted to be a million things. in college i picked my major and then i took as many different art class electives as i could possibly fit into my schedule. the only thing i’m going to focus on is doing. it doesn’t matter what, it doesn’t matter how big or how small. i am a creative person and it’s going to find it’s way into everything i do. i may find my niche eventually. or not, my resume may just keep getting longer and longer. i’m fine with that. in the meantime i’ll just be creating. something. anything. less reinvention, more invention. and i’m going to write about it along the way.

happy new year!

2012 was pretty eventful and now i'm looking forward to what 2013 will bring! i know i don't usually get into TOO many personal details here, but let me quickly bring you up to speed. so, this happened...

anabella gilda centofanti  ~  born 7/14/12  ~  8lbs, 13 oz  ~  21 inches

my laid-back and sweet older daughter (luciana) did nothing to prepare me for the arrival of this little firecracker of a baby girl. aside from her wreaking havoc on my petite self during the pregnancy (back pain pretty much from day 1, constantly thinking, "why do you have so many elbows?!", plus i gained 10 more pounds than i did the first time around), i had false labor pains for almost 4 weeks before my eventual induction, which was a week after my due date. did i mention she was almost 9 pounds?! she was the biggest baby in the nursery (by a LOT) and i'm the size of an average 6th grader so i was pretty shocked (my doctor was too).

my 3 1/2 year old was very content as a baby. she would just sit back and observe everything. she was a late roller, late crawler, late walker. she was just happy with whatever was within her reach (even if it was playing with her own feet). anabella is the exact opposite. 

my type-A husband wanted a junior and he got one - in anabella. she's very curious and motivated and gets bored easily. starting when she was only a few weeks old i noticed that she preferred to be out and about and she still doesn't like to be in the same place for too long. now she's 6 months old and she can move (roll), so she's constantly trying to explore and grab (and eat) EVERYTHING she sees. she's usually squealing and giggling and happy but then she can go from zero to screeching in an instant.

luciana is the gentle, nurturing, proud older sister. there is nothing better than watching them play together. 

 

so 2012 was spent focusing on my family and adjusting to life with 2 kids. i'm hoping in 2013 to also find some time for my business and this blog. i know i have to organize my time better (damn you facebook and pinterest!) and also let go of my need for perfection. especially here. i have so many posts i have started and abandoned because they weren't worded just right or i didn't have the perfectly edited photo to go with it. i really have to learn to let go. i'm sure my new camera from santa (canon EOS rebel T3i!!!!!) will come in handy and will make up for my lack of photoshop skills.

even though i haven't documented it here (yet), i have done lots of creative projects this year. stay tuned for posts about luciana's grover-themed birthday party, our halloween costumes, anabella's birth announcements, our christmas cards... well, don't want to give it all away now do i?

ok, one more pic of my girls. aren't they the cutest?

luciana really did fall asleep curled up on this chair, after i was done taking pictures for my christmas card. of course i had to take a few more pics before i moved her to her bed!

father's day... pt. 2

this is what my husband woke up to on sunday morning...

waffles from scratch* (see recipe below, i use a hard-to-find traditional waffle iron, like my dad used when i was a kid, NOT a belgium waffle iron), warm syrup, iced coffee, fresh raspberries, the "good" china, cloth napkins... (not shown - the tv remote is on his chair).

we all had a nice breakfast together as a family. he opened his present - a HUGE bag of m & m's (a treat he likes to keep in the freezer to snack on at night). we try not to go crazy with the gift giving for every occasion - we've been together for so long and there are soooo many to celebrate (birthdays, anniversaries, christmas, valentine's day, mother's day, father's day, etc...).

now as much as i'm NOT daddy's little girl, that's exactly what our daughter is to my husband. he's mushy and spoils her and oh yeah, he doesn't ever want her to get married.

me: don't you want to walk her down the eisle?
him: no!
me: don't you want to dance with her at her wedding?
him: no!
me: don't you want grandkids? (ha! i've got him there!)
him: our son can have the kids... (yes, we only have one kid. no, i'm not pregnant. yes, we might end up with all daughters).

while i was pregnant, after i knew we were having a girl, we were watching "father of the bride". after a while he said: i don't like this movie.
me: what? why?
him: it's sad
me: why?
him: well, the daughter grows up and gets married
me: yeah, and?
him: she gets married and leaves her dad
me: i know, and?
him: i don't like that she leaves her dad

another time i was getting ready to go to work (i work a few nights a week at a restaurant) and he was asking me what movie he should watch with her that night...

him: i need to figure out a movie to watch tonight. like something good for a father to watch with his daughter.
me: sure, like "toy story" or something?
him: well, i was thinking like "sleeping with the enemy"
me: wait, what?
him: or "enough". you know, something that would make her never want to get married...

and you thought my toddler was a handful...

*waffles from scratch

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
confectioners' sugar and fresh fruit or maple syrup

directions: 
in a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. in a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. in a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter.
     
bake in a preheated waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions until golden brown. top with confectioners' sugar and fruit or serve with syrup.

love and happiness...

my dad and me (1980-ish)

there are a billion reasons why i love my dad. here are 10: 

1. he is the best cook in the world

seriously. ask anyone who has ever eaten his food. he makes things from scratch (i.e. pizza dough, tacos without using the pre-made seasoning packets or hard shell kits, chicken stock...). he can time a meal perfectly so that everything is done at once. if he wants to make a turkey dinner on a random tuesday night or make hot dogs for a special occasion, he will. he's been a line cook (among many other jobs) in a restaurant, he's been in cookbooks (written recipes, was featured in photos, created "how to" illustrations, and in an upcoming cookbook even has a "with" credit next to the author).

2. he is talented

a cook (see above - also writes recipes, food stylist), an artist (paints, draws), a musician (piano/keyboard, clarinet), musical engineer (owns a recording studio), director at the high school's performing arts center, just to name a few. he is always learning something new and i always tell him it's just another thing to add to his resume.

3. he is humble

he's confident but not a jerk about it. he's excited and proud of his accomplishments and you can't help but be excited and proud too.

4. he is young at heart

people don't believe he's really 61 (i'm glad i have some of those genes). picture the above photo, shorten the hair and add a touch of gray, take away the mustache, turtleneck and jean jacket, add a flannel button-down over a t-shirt - that's pretty much what he looks like now. OK, maybe add 10 years. yes, in 30 years i think he's aged 10. he's a freak of nature!... besides looking young, in the past 3 years he got married, had a baby (yes, i have a younger brother who is 2 1/2), and started a new career.

5. he is really cool

he listens to all kinds of music from jazz to the beatles. from stevie wonder to outkast and radiohead... he was in a rock band with guys my age & was still doing gigs up until a few years ago. he totally fit right in. he likes cool movies, he likes cool things, he knows cool people, he has cool stories... yeah, he's just cool.

6. he is really funny

my husband has a big personality and is very outgoing and entertaining. my dad is more quiet. they get along great and like to make fun of each other. my husband was jokingly giving my dad a hard time, then my dad mooned him. my husband was speechless.

7. he is supportive

my husband called him to ask for his blessing before proposing to me. my dad said something like, what are you asking me for? it's up to echo... he doesn't judge. he has always encouraged whatever decisions i have made, even if he didn't agree. he offers advice but in the end, leaves it up to me.  

8. he likes simple

he has never had a dishwasher or microwave. he owns 1 suit (which he got married in). he'll buy 1 pair of shoes, 1 - 2 pairs of pants and 1 - 2 shirts and wear them until they fall apart. he still reads the newspaper. he's not on facebook or twitter (not because he doesn't know what they are but because he chooses not to). he doesn't have a smartphone or even text.

9. he saves things

mostly typical stuff from when i was a kid - drawings and other artwork, books i "published" in school, toys, photos... he has also saved wrapping paper, grocery lists and random notes...

 

10. we don't have a typical father/daughter relationship

we are incredibly close. i'm the oldest of his 5 kids and the only girl. we have a lot of similarities - our interests, our mannerisms, our calm and laid-back disposition. we talk on the phone a lot and have really long conversations. but we are so not mushy and i'm so not "daddy's little girl". at my wedding, we danced to a fast song - "love and happiness" by al green and it was perfect. 

happy father's day to my dad! (it was really hard to just limit myself to just 10)...