Hello Three Jewels In My Crown Readers! !
I am so excited to be guest posting here today!








Let me introduce myself! I am Fawnda from Fireflies and Jellybeans, a little DIY blog that I co-author with my best friend Jeannine.
I am a mom to a 2 year old son (who we adopted from Korea about 1.5 years ago!) and a wife to an amazing man! I love all things crafty!
We have all kinds of fun stuff going one at Fireflies and Jellybeans! We have a "Show Off Your Stuff" Party every Thursday where you can link up your posts that you want to show off!

We also have the IronCrafter Competition, were crafters compete to make projects with a secret ingredient!

Today I have a great project for you! ! It is summer and that means the beach! SO, I am going to show you how to turn this Shower Curtain into....

...this beach bag!

Here is what you will need:

Shower Curtain

Coordinating fabric (12''X16'') for the pocket

Sewing machine w/sewing accessories (thread, scissors...etc...)

Make sure your shower curtain has the top that has the holes for the rings!

    1. Make a pattern for you bag. Use a scrap piece of fabric or a big pie of paper

                       to make your pattern. I wanted my bag to have a rounded bottom so I folded

                       my fabric in half and cut out what I wanted half the bag to look like.

This is what it looks like unfolded. It is 26 inches wide and 20 inches tall.

You can make yours as big as you want it!

   

   2. Fold your shower curtain in half with the ring holes on the top

              and place your pattern on top of it. (You need 2 pieces of the patten for the

2 sides of the bag.)

Pin your pattern to the shower curtain.

Cut out the pattern pieces. I cut mine out at the same time

(that is why I folded it in half)

                  3. You should have PLENTY of fabric left for your straps! Cut out two rectangles

that are 36" X 3"

For the pocket you can use coordinating fabric like I did or you could use the left

                    over shower curtain too! Cut out a rectangle that is 12" X 16"

     4. Now we are going to iron! Iron the ends and the sides of your straps to the wrong side of the fabric.

 

then fold in half and iron... now you should have all finished edges!

Fold the pocket in half so that you have a 12" X 8" rectangle with RIGHT sides together.

                          5. Now, we are going to sew the straps! Sew along the open side of the strap to

                             finish it off! put the straps aside for a little bit.

6. Now we are going to sew the pocket! Sew the 3 open sides of the pock leaving a 3-4 inch

opening to flip it right side out.

Flip the right side out and iron the edges and fold theopening inside...
we will sew that part closed when we sew it onto the bag.

Pin your pocket on your bag where you want it to be placed.

Top sew around the three sides of the pockets leaving the top open.

                          6. Now we are going to sew the bag together!  Pin the pieces RIGHT sides together

 and sew around the edge with a 1/2" seam allowance

    Use a zig-zag stitch to help it not fray as much or if you are lucky enough to have a surger use that! :)

Flip your bag right side out! Almost done! : )

7. Here is one of the coolest parts of the bag! Attaching the straps!

                  Thread the strap through one of the ring holes and tie a knot to keep it in place.

Repeat on the other side! HOW COOL IS THAT! I love it!

All done!

Fill it with towels and sand toys and anything you

  would need at the beach!

Here is what else is cool about it...

You can use the ring holes to attach other things like your keys

(with acarabiner clip) or your sunglasses.

You could use a ribbon to tie things to it too!

Please stop by Fireflies and Jellybeans, we love to make new friends!

Thanks Crystal for letting me invade your blog today, it was so FUN!

 

Oh My! I Think It's Pink Eye!

Out of the corner of your eye you notice your child fiercely rubbing his eyes.  Upon further inspection, you notice the whites of his eyes are no longer white.  They're red!!!  You ask yourself, "Is this Pink Eye?"

What is Pink Eye?

• Conjunctivits is the medical term for "Pink Eye".  Conjunctivitis refers to an infection or inflammation of the conjunctiva (a membrane that coveres the white part of the eye. It's also found inside the eyelids).  It is typically a minor infection and the symptoms that accompany it are more bothersome than threatening to one's health.  

Bacterial Vs Viral

• Bacterial Ccnjuncitivits is the most common cause of "Pink Eye".  It can be caused by different types of bacteria but the most common type is the H Influenzae bacteria.  Kids may also present with an ear infection when they have this type of bacterial eye infection.  Bacterial conjunctivitis is extremely itchy and produces green/yellow purulent drainage{almost pus-like).  Don't be alarmed if your child wakes in the morning with their eyelids practically glued shut because of the crusty drainage. 
• Viral conjunctivitis usually produces a clear drainage.  Often kids will present with an accompanying sore throat, runny nose and cough.
• Both bacterial and viral pink eye are contagious and spread easily through daycares, schools and playgroups. 
• Bacterial pink eye is only contagious once the symptoms appear whereas viral conjunctivits can be contagious prior to the onset of any symptoms. 

How long is my child contagious?
It all depends on what causes of the inflammation/infection.  A child is not considered contagious if the inflammation is caused by allergies or irritiation from foreign matter.  For example,  Opal is extremely allergic to horses and he develops conjunctivits immediately after being in contact with them.  Other irritants may include: chlorine, soap and smoke. 
If the child has the bacterial or viral type then they are considered contagious while the eyes are still tearing{typically 3-7 days}.  However, most schools and daycares allow children to return after just 24 hours of being treated with antibiotics drops.

How does it spread? 

Pink eye spreads quite easily.  This is why so many educators and daycare providers fear it.  It is spread by touching the infected person or something the infected person has touched.  It can also be spread through droplets that are transported in the air when the infected person sneezes or coughs. 

How do you treat and prevent it?
Bacterial pink eye is typically treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. {Note- if the child is on oral antibiotics the physcian should be made aware of this.  In this case, optical eye drops may not be necessary}
Viral pink eye usually clears on it's own without treatment
Antihistamines are used to treat allergy related pink eye
Warm compresses to the eyes may comfort the child and help to clear the crusted drainage.
I also like to give Opal a funky pair of glasses to wear.  The glasses remind him not to rub his eyes. {Especially important if the pink eye is contained to one eye}

Note-If symptoms do not improve in 3-5 days or if the child complains of severe pain, changes in sight or sensitivy to light then it is important to contact your doctor.

Handwashing is the best way to prevent it from spreading.  Also, avoid sharing pillows and towels with an infected person. 

Has your child ever had pink eye?  I'd love to hear from you about it!  What helped comfort your child while dealing with the symptoms of pink eye?

Medical Disclaimer-The contents and information on this blog are for your informational use only. My blog posts provide general health and parenting information. This information in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on this blog.

Two More Awards For My Blog! I'm seriously blushing

What a great way to start off the weekend!  I just received these two awards from

Nick @  A Daddy's Take

Grace from Green Gracie Home

Three Jewels In My Crown has received several blog awards recently but I must admit I am extremely excited about these two particular awards.  

Receiving recognition for having a cute blog is a wonderful honor, however, in my opinion getting noticed for being a Versatile Blogger is much better.

I am very thrilled to receive this award because it means I've acheived what I set out to do in the so-called "blogosphere".  My personal goal as a blogger is to present meaningful and interesting information that will capture a diverse audience.  I hate the idea of constraints when I write and being confined to one specific subject matter would bother me terribly.  Others bloggers have been very successful at targeting a unique audience and writing on niche subjects.  I on the other hand, like to flow freely in all directions of writing.  Humourous, contemplative, thoughtful, educational, informative and arduous.  This is how I describe my blog posts. 

If you're just visiting for the first time, then please stay awhile and snoop around.   Please judge for yourself whether or not my blog is worthy of these awards.   

     

These blog awards come with some responsibility.  The rules state that I have to tell my readers 7 things about "ME" and  then name 15 other blogs that I feel are deserving of this award. 

So here we go...........

Dim the lights, pull back the curtains, set the stage and turn on the mic!   I'm about to tell you 7 things you may or may not know about me!

1. 
   
   In grade 8, I played the role of "Queen of Hearts" in the elemantary school musical{ Alice In Wonderland}.  If my memory serves me correctly, I can still picture the awe struck audience watching me prance around the stage, shouting "Off With Their Heads".  Seriously, I stole the show! Now you know why I call my family the Royal Family. 
2. 
   
   I'm a criminal-Yes, it's true!  My brush with the law hasn't exactly involved shoving drugs up my butt and smuggled them across the border however I do have a somewhat sketchy past.  For example,  one time I wore a dress to a wedding, left the tags on and then returned it the next day.  Lame in comparison to my next offense.  Yes, I've shoplifted before.  I believe I was in grade 5, I actually had the audacity to steal a tube of lipstick. {I know!  What a monster I was!  Plus, who wears lipstick in grade 5 let alone steals it?  Apparently me!} At the age of 20, I was put in the back of a police cruiser the night I graduated from college.  I was charged with public intoxication and disturbing the peace.  I received a $200 fine and was later released without spending any time in the slammer.  I've learned my lessons and at currently remain a law abiding citizen.
3. 
   
   I've  participated in a marathon, well kind of.   I sorta quit at mile 11.  Let me explain....My legs honestly seized up, my lungs burst into flames and I became so dehydrated I began to hallucinate.  The medics carried me away and treated me promptly.  I finished the day by shouting words of encouragement to other runners and handing out drinks.
4. 
   
   I had my first kiss when I was 11.  I don't remember the name of the boy but I do remember sitting on his lap while playing a game of "If you really really love me than please please smile" The idea of the game is to sit on a boy's lap and try with all your might to get him to smile.  Of course,  I was the promiscuous girl in the group and handed out the first peck on the lips. 
5. 
   
   My work experience during high school and college included-waitress, housekeeper, telemarketer(4 hours), security guard(stop laughing), beer runner for my younger brothers and his friends(made a good chunck of change at that job) and a cashier at IGA grocery store.
6. 
   
   I broke my left leg in grade 2 and soaked it for all it was worth.  I had my brothers carry my book bag to school for me, I did absolutley none of my chores and I ate lots and lots of ice cream to soothe the pain.   
7. 
   
   ***I love to exaggerate the truth***  "Enhancing the details" as I like to call it.  It's a necessary part of good story telling.  Therefore, take what I just wrote with a grain of salt.  It's mostly true with multiple minor embellishments.  {Honestly though, would you have read the entire post if I hadn't tweaked it; making it more interesting?} 

 Finally,  here are my picks for the 15 well deserving bloggers who meet the criteria of a Versatile Blogger


Click on the blog buttons to link to their sites.