Children's Book Week Starts Today! (May 13th- May 19th)

I like to stay abreast on all the literary holidays. (Did you know it is also Get Caught Reading Month?) Do I celebrate them all? Idealistically, but technically, no, however it is always on my "to accomplish" list.

If you are looking for more information on this day, look no further than Bookweekonline.com

On their site you can vote for your favorite book, print out a book week poster and there is a digital tool kit to help spread the word via social media.

Please join us this week in participating in Children's Book Week with more posts about our very favorite books and the ones we are reading now.

Which children's books are you enjoying right now?

Under Construction

Forgive the crude appearance that has lasted entirely too long! Coming soon, our changes will be simple but, hopefully cleaner and better! Pardon our dust!

Barefoot Books Sale!

I have been selling Barefoot Books on and off for the last several years. Lately, I have had the desire to reincarnate this venture because after having moved we have a slim to nil book collection and many of our beloved Barefoot Books are in storage. A handful of favorites and our Barefoot Books are the ones we keep missing and lamenting. So, naturally I want to share such a wonderful thing with all of you! I'll write more about it later but I just wanted to let you all know that there is a sale going on until February 28th. There are some excellent titles for the sweet little valentines in your life.

XO,

Heidi Poppins

Coming Back

Dear Readers,

So I've been MIA. It's true.

Life sometimes requires you rearrange your priorities and I have been doing a LOT of that the past few years. I wanted to keep you in the loop because I am still amazed that people even read this abandoned little blog. My deepest gratitude to you!

Some things are in the works and I hope you stay tuned over the next few (or more) months. There will be a lot of changes. I'm doing a lot of work in the background and hope to see you again soon.

Thanks for everything!

XO

Heidi Poppins

Handmade Toy: Free Crochet Sandwich Pattern

Photo Source: Made From Scratch

I am excited to share a FREE crochet pattern for an adorable lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich that my friend, Elisa,  over at Made From Scratch sent over for her guest post. This girl is always whipping out projects and she has FINALLY decided to blog about it! Go check her out, she is also a crochet wizard so I'm sure the occasional pattern will make an appearance! I hope you enjoy this adorable handmade crochet toy!  Read on to see her pattern below.

Crochet Sandwich Pattern

The sandwich is made up of 2 slices of bread, a slice of cheese, tomato and lettuce. My husband keeps telling me to add some meat but for now i'm happy with this simple lay out.

Want to make one? It's pretty easy ....

hook size 5.mm 

Bread (make 4 to get 2 slices of bread)

- Chain 19

- Hdc in second chain from hook & each remaining chain

- chain 1 & turn

- *Hdc in each stitch across chain 1 & turn*

- repeat from * to * until you have 11 rows

- tie off & weave in ends

To assemble place 2 brown bread squares together and single crochet around the edge.

Cheese slice

- chain 14

- Hdc in second chain from hook & each remaining chain

- chain 1 & turn

- *Hdc in each stitch across chain 1 & turn*

- repeat from * to * until you have 9 rows

- single crochet around the edge

- tie off & weave in ends

Tomato

- Magic loop 

- 8 Hdc in loop join with slip stitch

- chain 1 2Hdc in each stitch around join with slip stitch 

- chain 2 

- Dc in same space as the chain chain 2 

- *skip one  2Dc in same space,  chain 2*

- repeat from * to * around 

- join with slip stitch tie off & weave in ends

Lettuce

I found the lettuce pattern here, this was the only one i didn't come up with myself. 

Noteworthy: Watch Brady Bunch Online for Free!

Image Sourece:  Kergan Edwards-Stout 

Alright, over time you might begin to notice all the free things we watch online. This is because it is FREE. And it is also, a good winter activity and a good single-parent-trying-to-do-homework but you-are-not-napping activity. I feel guilty about this because I had aspirations to raise my children without TV. However, even though we do not have cable (or "tv"), we work internet streaming like nobodies.

As a result, I try to at least pick the good stuff, or the better options. Often we go vintage. Luckily, my son and I (fingers crossed on this lasting) like a LOT of the same things. Our current favorite... The Brady Bunch! Oh yes, my child LOVES the Brady Bunch. He does know all of their names. He does call bunk beds "bunch beds". He also now wants "I have some bunch beds, pleeease mama!" and also brothers and sisters. Yikes! Although, I may be able to manage the beds at some point...

Without further ado, you can watch The Brady Bunch Online for Free, Here. I recommend choosing the Xfinity option (as opposed to tv.com) because they will automatically play the next chronological show available. TV.com plays the last show from the 5th (and last) season next, bummer. I always choose "full episodes" then the season I want to watch on the side navigation bar.

Oh how I wish I could embed an episode. Still. Go check it out! You can watch The Brady Bunch, online, for free!

Pssst... A little sneak peak for my recurring readers,  tomorrow will be a free crochet pattern!

Inspire Me Monday: What Makes You Beautiful: A Mother's Love

I wish I had more time to post about the amazing women behind this video but I this has to be a quick one! My awesome friend, Amber, who is a song writer (I posted her first video here) and my other friend, Wendy, who runs an amazing website called Bedheadmom.com collaborated to make this beautiful Mother's Day video! I LOVE IT!!!





Pass this video along!