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Writer's pictureAlysha

Mom Blog | Learning New Things

Updated: Oct 25, 2023

Last week was a week of learning how to do new things!!


French Braiding


I have always loved seeing the neat patterns and hairstyles people can do with French and Dutch braiding. Over the last year my sister-in-law, Natylee has been braiding Brooklynn and Sawyer’s hair every now and then. They get so excited to have Auntie Natylee do pretty braids whenever they can talk her into it. This is one of the things I consider a short coming for myself as a girl mom. I don’t know how to French braid. I have said for years that one day I will sit down and watch videos and learn to do it. Last Monday I finally did just that. I watched a video and after I washed Sawyer’s hair, I gave it a shot. Surprisingly it came out pretty decent for my first ever attempt. Tuesday, I rebraided Sawyer’s hair. It was much easier the second time. I also attempted Brooklynn’s for the first time. I only did one braid instead of 2. I learned that doing 2 was much easier for me right now. But hers held up decently overnight. Either way it’s a start and I’m pretty proud of it.





New Bracelets


Like I mentioned in a past post I have been on a bracelet making kick. With the Eras Tour movie coming out I have been making all kinds of Eras bracelets. My sister sent me a video of a really cool looking one and I had to give it a try. It looks like a strand of Christmas lights! How fun for the line in "Lover" about leaving Christmas lights up til January. Again, I watched a video and gave it a try! The first one took much longer than expected but came out cute! I tried it again 3 more times with different style beads. They each look a little different but look cute! I found another one I want to try.. will update later on that one.


bracelets that look like Christmas light strands
Each one with different beads. Green one was the first try. The bottom one is my favorite.

Crochet


For the last few years, I have watched Shannyn and Kaileyn crochet and knit beautiful blankets, hats and stuffed animals. I watch Kai crochet on a fairly regular basis. In fact, it’s pretty rare to see her and her not have yarn in her hands. When I had Ellisyn, she stayed in the hospital with me since Mitchell wasn’t able to be home. I watched her crochet two dolls in a matter of hours. I’m always so impressed at what she can do with a ball of yarn. I have no intention of getting to the level of skill she has but I do think it would be cool to know how to crochet. Think it would be neat to be able to make blankets for friends babies. I bought a set of crochet hooks and some starter yarn. To YouTube I went. Found a crochet for beginner video and followed step by step. I definitely have a long way to go to figure out how tight or loose to make my chain but my I’m proud of my first little sample square. I think my first “project” will be making a baby doll blanket for the girls.


crocheted square with purple yarn
My "learning square"


What are some things you have always wanted to learn to do but haven’t got around to doing or maybe are just getting around to years later?


I'd love to challenge you to pick something on your list of things to learn and learn how to do it this week. Come back and let me know how it went.


--Alysha

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4 Comments


Kyndra
Kyndra
Oct 26, 2023

Those braids look great!


I'm wanting to learn to watercolor and hoping that is something my oldest two and I can maybe attempt together. We shall see!

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Family
Oct 26, 2023
Replying to

Thank you!!


Oh that sounds like fun! Watercolor is so pretty.

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Shannyn McGouran
Shannyn McGouran
Oct 16, 2023

I love this! I learned how to French braid my own hair after a tragic haircut a few years ago.


I think the pointy beads at the end of the bracelet really make them look like Christmas lights!


My recent project has been working with sourdough. I also have plans to get better at sewing… but I’m not sure how conducive that is when I have three littles running around 😂

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Family
Oct 25, 2023
Replying to

I'm not sure I'll figure out french braiding my own hair any time soon. But I'm getting much better at doing Brooklynn and Sawyer's.


I really love the fauceted beads and since they have that clear look I think it really brings out the christmas light look.


Fun! I have seen some friends do some sourdough work recently. I want to try it but I have to do some more reading about it first. Sewing with littles can be hard. I haven't done it in years. I was never very good at it. I used to do simple things like make beds for the dogs. Back in high school I did alot of hand sewing in theatre

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