How to Wake Refreshed (as cuddly sleepers)

Step 1: An ounce of prevention . . . Start with a good bed.

If you are like most newlyweds, you may find funds limited. If you were like my husband and I, we ended up with a donated full size bed. To give you an adequate idea, my husband went from sleeping on a Queen mattress at home with 60 inches of space to sharing a full size bed with me. We each only had 27 inches of personal space. But, we were in love and enjoyed being together. We became cuddly sleepers. I spent the first year of our marriage falling asleep ON him--on his chest, on his arm, etc. If this makes you cringe, do everything in your power to buy a bigger bed initially because habits quickly form. After a year of sleeping so close, my husband's back began to bother him with the poor quality of the mattress. He started sleeping on the floor. My habit of being curled up next him went into withdrawals and I was tossing more. Within a month, we had selected the right type of bed for him. We left the store thinking we would come back on payday and get a King. Looking at our finances, we ended up a with a Queen a few days later. Yes, the King would have given us SOME space but we were now cuddly sleepers and the Queen was luxurious in comparison.

Fast Forward 9 years, I'm waking up sore. I wake up perched on the edge of the bed, my husband cuddled up next to me with feet of bed behind him. My body is stiff from trying to keep itself on the bed while we sleep.

Step 2. Assert space for a couple of months. I started with going to sleep facing him with a body pillow between us. It was harder to fall asleep and after 10 years of cuddly sleeping, he kept snuggling up to me in the night anyway and I still ended up perched on the edge of the bed. I tossed more and still woke up sore.

Step 3. Start saving for a King. Then go on vacation and sleep in a King. I came to realize that no matter the size of the bed, your husband will end curled around you with a queen-sized space of bed behind him. I can't break him of his habit now, especially when he's doing it unconsciously.

Step 4. Embrace the habit, but on HIS side of the bed. I now cuddle up even more. I revel in falling sleep with his arm around my waist and our legs entwined--it's the safest place in my world and as close to heaven as I can get at this point. I put the body pillow between me and the edge of the bed and snuggle and SNUGGLE until I'm smack dab in the middle of the bed. He's not on the edge but he doesn't have room to spare. And me, I wake up next to my best friend completely ready for another day.

For quick review, 1. Get a big bed in the beginning or you'll become cuddly sleepers by necessity 2. Embrace the habit when formed (and if one of you is a mover-moving in their sleep-start on their side of the bed)

How to Lengthen a Dress

If you are like me, a mom with daughter in elementary school, you too may find that she outgrows dresses overnight. She loves the new styles but, in one month, that okay length skirt is making you cringe as you tell her she just can't wear it anymore. My new solution, buy dresses that I can modify.

Step One: Buy a dress on sale and, of course, with an additional percentage off coupon.

Note--I chose this dress for a number of reasons.

1. Made of spandex on top to give and fit better for shoulders and neckline.

2. Balloon style of skirt was attached to inner slip.

When looking under, I found another inch and a half of skirt material

that would come down when I unpicked the skirt from the slip.

3. All the other styles had netting added as trim to bottom

and I could do that (or my mom could help me do that).

Step Two: Let her wear it, until the creeping hemline on her legs must be addressed.

Step Three: Carefully unpick the dress from the slip with what I term "the unpicker." It has an official name. I got one because my mother is seamstress and over the years, I helped her unpick. So, when setting myself up, I bought one of my own. Carefully remove all threads after finishing, tape can be helpful to pick up little bits. Iron new edges smooth.

Step Three: Pick the right trim. Take the dress with you to notions stores or fabric stores for match. In my case, search my mom's (a talented seamstress my whole life) notion box. She had black stretch lace very wide.

Step Four: Serge or hem the slip.

Step Five: Sew the trim to the skirt. Fold a 1/4 inch seam over trim and straight stitch to give stability and finished look. (If you're lucky, you can have the most talented seamstress sew it for you in 10 minutes. THANKS MOM! Or spend about an hour sewing, depending on skill level)

Notice how much longer the dress is now. The hem used to end at the white slip.

Step Six: Enjoy your daughter's squeals and watch her wear it all afternoon because you (with Grandma's help) saved her favorite dress from being donated.