First Time Mom and Losing It

My toddler has been going to dance class for about a month now and I am such a proud dance mom! There is nothing cuter than seeing a little class full of 2-3 year old's in their little leotards and ballet shoes! Being a first time mom I was super nervous right before her first class because this would be her first time staying with someone other than my mom or sister.

As soon as she saw the other little girls with the same leotard she quickly ran to them and got acquainted with the barre. It was time for the moms to leave the room and head on to the waiting area. I was afraid that she would cry or try to follow me but she didn't do either. She really didn't seem to mind that I left. We got to watch them though a TV that is feed with the camera from the dance room. All of us moms seemed nervous at first but once we saw that they were fine we started chatting up a storm.


I have yet to make her a little ballerina bun because it has been so cold that I have had to bundle her up with sweats, boots, hats and gloves. If you know how it is combing a toddler's hair you wouldn't dare waste the time of making a nice ballerina bun to then have a hat mess it up .

Since we drive right up to the studio I needed a hat or something to keep her warm just until we ran into the studio. The light bulb went up in my head when I decided to crochet her a super warm ear warmer that would also cover part of her head but leave her bun alone.


To make the ear warmer I first measured my daughters head where the ear warmer would go. Than I used a worsted weight yarn and J hook. I made a chain of 10 and single crocheted and then half double crocheted and tapered the length by doing half double crochet increases. I continued to crochet up to the measurement I got and then tapered it back down. I finished with a buttonhole at the end and then sewed on a large button to the top.


To create the bow decoration I cut out a piece fleece that was 4 3/4" x 4". Then I cut another piece of fleece that is 2" x 4". I took the first piece of fleece and folded it in half and sewed down the two sides with a 1/4" seam. Then I sewed the bottom edge with a 1/4" seam leaving a space in the middle to turn inside out. Trim and turn inside out. I took the second piece of fleece and folded it in half to make a long strip. I sewed down the side with a 1/4" seam and turned inside out.


Then I took the large rectangle and placed it on top of the ear warmer where I wanted the bow to go.


I pinched the bow in the middle and placed the middle strip on top.


I poked the ends of the middle strip in between the stitches of the ear warmer and pulled through to the back side.


Using a 1/4" seam I sewed the ends together.



Ballerina Bun Crochet Ear Warmer (Printable Pattern)
Worsted Weight Yarn and J Hook
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet

Chain 10.
Row 1: sc in 9 chains
Row 2: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in next 4 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in last stitch
Row 3: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 4: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in next 6 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in last stitch
Row 5: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 6: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in next 8 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, hdc in last stitch
Row 7-37: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 38: Row 2: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in next 7 stitches, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in last stitch
Row 39: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 38: Row 2: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in next 5 stitches, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in last stitch
Row 39: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 40: Row 2: chain 2 turn, hdc in first stitch, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in next 3 stitches, hdc decrease in next 2 stitches, hdc in last stitch
Row 39: chain 2 turn, hdc in each stitch
Row 40 - 42: chain 2 turn, sc in each stitch
Row 43: chain 1 turn, sc in first 3 stitches, chain 3, skip next three stitches, sc in last 3 stitches
Row 44: chain 1 turn, sc in first 3 stitches, 3 sc in chain loop, sc in last 3 stitches
Row 45: chain 1 turn, sc in each stitch

Follow the instructions above to make the bow and then sew a large button to the beginning end of the ear warmer.

**I received the product below free for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.



Every morning without fail my husband and I wake up to sheets that have popped off the corners of the bed. It is usually my side and it is annoying. I have tried so many different kinds of sheets from cheap ones, to expensive ones, to deep pocket ones. I don't know if it's the mattress or us moving too much.

I finally found some generic bed sheet anchors a couple of months ago and it was a total waste of money. It was cheaply made and the clips just didn't clip on the sheet. After a few uses about 2 of them broke were the stitching on the elastic snapped. When the bed anchors were on it was as if I didn't have anything on at all.

Then came the ones from Epica to review. As soon as I saw the design of them I though it was completely genius! First of all the clips easily clip right onto the sheet. Then the clips are clamped onto bungee type elastic instead of the standard apparel elastic that is stitched on. Lastly you can adjust the tightness of the elastic with an easy cord lock that you just press and let go at the desired tension and it automatically locks in place!


I love that you don't have to lift the mattress to place on the anchors. All you do it put them on the corners of the sheets and slip them right over the mattress. With a few trials and errors you will know exactly how much tension to lock in place. The clamps are nickel-plated and coated with a fabric protector so you don't have to worry about them ruining your sheets.


The first night I used them and every night since I have awoken to a perfectly placed on fitted sheet. The clips are super strong and held the sheets in place all night! It was so easy to put on and now I don't have to worry about buying new sheets that won't stay on!


The unique design also allows you to use them for other things like tablecloths, curtains, furniture covers and more!

Click on the link to order your own very affordable Epica Bedding Anchors on Amazon.

During my first year of teaching, years ago I was lucky to have a group of very supportive veteran teachers to take me under their wings. My school was broken up into 4 different academies and each academy kept together and took care of one another. I remember having one of our many lunches together and one of the retired teachers coming over for a visit with the most delicious dip I have ever had! I asked her what it was and what the recipe was. She said all you do is take a block of cream cheese, Italian seasonings, spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese and throw it in the microwave until it all melts.

As I was thinking back to the dip recipe I realized how low-carb the ingredients were. Dips are typically low carb but then you have the issues with the high carb dippers like chips and tortilla chips. I remember how crispy and stiff salami gets when you slowly heat it up in a pan so I decided to try it with pepperoni. It worked! The pepperoni chips where nice and crispy like chips and the perfect accompaniment to the pizza dip.




Low Carb Pizza Dip (Printable Recipe)

• 2 ounce of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp basil
• dash of salt
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Mix spices and crushed tomatoes together and set aside. 
2. Spread cream cheese onto bottom of ramekin. Top with sauce, then cheese. 
3. Place in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbling. 

Serves 2: 5.4 Net Carbs per serving