Pre-travel crafting extravaganza!

There's nothing like a trip back to the Midwest to give me the kick in the pants I need to finish projects that have been sitting for months.  This just so happens to be my pre-travel MO. 

 :: Like hemming these jeans that I bought last March.

{How the heck does one properly hem jeans?  Mine look s u p e r cheesy.  It looks like the professional hem was done with either a thicker thread or an embroidery-like stitch?  Not sure.}

:: A changing pad for the trip felt like a need instead of a want.

{I used my changing pad tutorial + echino cheater patchwork for the front and this laminate for the back.  I cut my bias tape from some linen I had on hand.  I highly recommend starching it as you press it.}

:: Last June my kids picked out their own pj fabric.  PJ pants were a must for this trip with the cold Wisconsin nights. 

With personalized tags.  {Tag inspiration from here and here.}

I was so excited to show the kids their personalized tags.  (I was waaay too excited about those tags!)  But I could tell Indigo's enthusiasm was feigned.  When I asked what was up, she confessed, "Being called 'Indi' is, well.... not my favorite."  Really - why not?  Mom, it's what you called me when I was a baby, so that means.... it's pretty babyish.

Apparently 'Ind' or 'Indigo' are much more mature sounding.

:: Last Christmas, I felt pretty clever when I finished Jude's pants with an extra wide hem to be let down as he grew.  So resourceful!  So thrifty!

So foiled by the crease!

:: I made ginger balls for the possibility (inevitability?) of motion sickness on the plane.  {I read somewhere that motion sickness is a good predictor of whether one would experience morning sickness.  Check and check.}

:: And I bottled one batch of vanilla extract that I started this summer.  {Labels by my lovely husband.} 

:: It also seemed like a good time to pass along an article on indiscriminately friendly behavior in adoptive children, as well peruse PubMed for other adoption-related research - which included this  encouraging article about how responsive parenting can moderate the effects of "early institutional deprivation".

:: This fall, I did an interview for the free online magazine Modern Homemade Child.  The interview happened to be published just hours before we left for our vacation.   The winter issue is here.  My interview starts on page 43 and primarily focuses on my thoughts on our adoption. I was so humbled to be asked.

When packing, cleaning and organizing looms, my creative juices get flowing!  I asked Dan if this trait of mine drives him crazy.  He tells me it doesn't.  What a guy!

Photos from our trip coming soon!