A Choo! Excuse me.

On Thanksgiving night after the festivities I started really coming down with icky illness. Headache, sneezes, either a runny nose or congestion (my nose cannot decide which to be), just general blah. So I have done little more than the minimum for the last 2 days. I did get to the grocery store tonight but that short trip drained me. Thankfully Hubs put away the groceries for me and Little Man went to bed nice and easy. I did make some cocoa for me and Hubs but now I am beat. I am considering just going to bed and dealing with the kitchen and laundry tomorrow. I know full well that I will take care of the kitchen even if I don't get to the laundry tonight.
**Sharleen I promise to get your wallet in the works just as soon as I can.**
Well my cocoa is gone so I can't avoid my kitchen any longer. Good Night All.

Pie. Oh my!

We had a great Thanksgiving. I made 3 pies and green bean casserole. One of the pecan pies was commandeered by Hubs. I found this great recipe on allrecipes.com. I have to say that this was the easiest and prettiest pie I have ever made. Hubs ate a whole pie by himself (over 3 days) so I think it gets his seal of approval.

I also made a Pumpkin Pie from this recipe. (Also from allrecipes.com.) It was simple and since I had a premade crust it was easy too.

Giveaway winner.

I had 7 comments for the giveaway. Thanks ladies. It made me feel good to know that this wallet is something others might like. So are you curious who the winner is?

sharleen.2cupsofcoffee said...

I love everything green and some brown too. Great giveaway. I love the new look and can't wait to check out the montessori blog.

Congratulations! I will be following up with an email to verify colors and decoration.

PS. I think I may be getting a cold. ICK! Does anyone have any really good immune boosters that I can take to feel better before the holiday?

O Christmas Tree To Be, Part 3

Can I just gush about my ornament project? I love them. They are certainly talking a bit to do but are well worth it. What do you think?
Do you have a favorite ornament? I'd love to see them.

Practicing for Santa

Hubs has been requesting cookies for the last (maybe longer?) so tonight I made these. I found the recipe here on AllRecipes.com. They are just right. Not too chewy or crunchy. I am a cookie batter fiend so I think I did good to get the full 3 dozen out of the recipe.
It did me good to get a little practice for Santa.

Words that speak to me

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
-- John Lennon

Yes. I am a serial planner. I like my lists. I like to know what my options are. I hate the feeling of mid morning and not knowing what I am going to do for the day. But these words must be pondered. Do I quit making my lists and stop my minor plans to let life happen? Am I not enjoying my life to the fullest because I am too busy making plans?

Ahh Shucks

Mary gave me my first blog award. Blush. Thanks Mary. I love your blog too.


1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Where is your significant other? sleeping
3. Your hair color? blah
4. Your mother? crazy
5. Your father? crazy
6. Your favorite thing? sewing machine
7. Your dream last night? boring
8. Your dream/goal? home
9. The room you're in? living
10. Your hobby? sewing
11. Your fear? being alone
12. Where do you want to be in six years? PTA president
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? thin
15. One of your wish list items? spa day
16. Where you grew up? Denver
17. The last thing you did? ornaments
18. What are you wearing? jammies
19. Your T.V.? behind closed doors
20. Your pets? large!
21. Your computer? tiny
22. Your mood? loving
23. Missing someone? nah.
24. Your car? dying
25. Something you're not wearing? watch
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your Summer? unfulfilled
28. Love someone? lots
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When is the last time you laughed? minutes
31. Last time you cried? days

I am passing this on to Lynn Michelle for her amazing, fantastic, wonderful photography and personality. If I ever get to Texas I am going to your studio! Also to Emily because every post is filled with fun pictures and excitement. And last but not least to Steph for the inspiration to teach A at home. I love all your blogs!

O Christmas Tree To Be, Part 2

Last night I finally sat down to my sewing machine and got the felt for the tree sewn. It did not take long so I wonder why I was procrastinating about it?
Today I stuffed the 4 boughs. I used embroidery floss and a blanket stitch to close them up and add a little character. They are currently safety pinned together for pictures but I want to come up with a kid friendly method of putting them together. Velcro seems to be the first choice but what keeps kiddos from completely tearing apart the tree instead of just re-arranging the ornaments? Safety pins may work out once it is attached to the wall.


Next step is adding the trunk. Once that is attached and installed on the wall then we can begin to decorate. (Although I will not be putting the tree up until after Thanksgiving. There is just something that irks me about too much christmas too soon. It's one thing to have a few songs or a little decor early but when the mall looks like Santa is there the day after Halloween I get a little cranky.)

Also, seeing this finished size I think I may be making too many ornaments. What am I going to do with the extras you ask. Why, I am going to make them into a garland for the space between the kitchen and living room of course.

Sorry about the lack of process pictures. It seems that if I don't format my card semi regularly then my card eats my images. GRRR!

I love the idea of fabric bags.

SimpleMom is having a giveaway that I am excited about. She and 6 companies are giving away 17 bags, a reusable bottle and a lunchbag. So go check it out and enter to win.
I am using fabric bags to wrap christmas presents in this year. If you (or I) don't win the giveaway then we can always get the red ones from Target. They are selling the envelope bags for 2/$1.00 this week. I picked up 6 yesterday and will probably go back for more before the end of the week.

3 Little Snow People

Felt Tree Update:
The material has been cut (for 3 days). All that is left to do is sew and stuff the tree.
Ornaments Update:
I have completed 1 set (3) ornaments with only 10 more sets to go. Want to see what I have done?


I am quite giddy over these little artworks. (Ok, so maybe I am exagerating by calling them artwork but I really love them.) I think this is a must have for every family. Next year I am going to make an ornament for each family in the extended fam.

I am falling asleep at the keyboard so it is bedtime. Night.

Giveaway! I love a giveaway.

**comments closed and giveaway announced here.**
After much deliberation (especially I didn't think I would get the 5 comments) about what would make a good giveaway prize I have the answer. This giveaway is something I created from concept and research to paper prototype and final product. So I am extremely proud of it.

This is my personal wallet but the lucky winner is going to get to choose 2 colors. I will choose the material based on color selection at my local fabric store. The bonus will be custom embroidery on it in either a paisley, initial, scroll or floral design.
Want a chance to win? Leave me a comment with your color combo and design choice. I will have my son choose from his magnet numbers to pick a winner. I will close comments midnight (MST) Monday, Nov 24 and I will announce a winner on Tuesday, Nov 25 . Good Luck.

Snow has fallen

and I didn't think to take a picture. I am so not blogger material. I think about taking pics after the fact or days later when I am blogging about my day(s) past. So in order to challenge myself this week I am going to post pics of our day. (Of course this starts tomorrow since I left the camera behind today.)
I have 2 projects in the middle stages. I hope to have the christmas tree done tomorrow. The silhouettes are a little time consuming but Col is coming over tomorrow and we are going to work on them together. We are also going to create the ornaments for our tree too.
More on the giveaway in the morning when I can catch the prize in some pretty morning light. Hint? It is slim, colorful and if you are anything like me you will use it everyday.

Better Late Than Never

While my beautiful child slept one afternoon last week I was able to create my autumn wreath. I am very happy about how it turned out. The best part is that I didn't need to glue anything so I will be able to transition the wreath to other seasons.

Our boy's favorite part is the berries. It's mine too.

quickie

I got the 5+ comments to a post so I will be doing a giveaway. I will announce it in a couple of days. Anyone interested should stay tuned.

Gimme. Gimme.

Who doesn't love free stuff? I don't know a soul. So I went to Freebies 4 Mom today and I found a great freebie or fifty.
Dunkin Donuts also spoke to my blogger self and gave me this cool button that will let you get a free sample. How nifty is that?


Go. Find some freebies that you can receive in just 6-10 weeks.

O Christmas Tree To Be, Part 1

Today I decided on making our christmas tree. Since we don't have a lot of room in our rental I threw out the old tree when the baby was on his way. So out with the old and in with the new. We still don't have much room (haven't moved yet) so I must do something small or 2-D.
After much searching of Flickr & Google images I found my pattern. My mind has transitioned through many internal rough drafts in a short time. Quite exhausting work ya know.
I am thinking the tree should be about 4' tall and no more than 3' wide. It will be made of either felt or fleece. I will also be making ornaments with velcro on the back so Little can rearrange them at will.

I think I am going to try to take photos along the way and share the trials and outcome with you. For now though I am on my way to bed. An early trip to WalMart or Hobby Lobby requires it.

Housekeeping and new stuff

I spent some (ok, a lot) time this morning prettying up this blog. Good thing too since I have had several visitors from the I Can Make That party hosted by Chris at Just a Girl. Please go to the party. There have been several ideas that I already bookmarked for review next time I need to make gifts.
The new look is a free one from Lena at Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates. She has lots of great templates. Including some lovely holiday themes.
I also started a couple of new blogs. The first one is to showcase the beautiful work my Hubs does. He does such a great job with his masonry I just had to put together a blog to brag about it. Please come in and take a look.
The second blog I started is Mile High Montessori. This is where I will be recording our preschool adventure beginning in January. In the mean time I will be sharing my preparation work.
Well it looks like naptime is upon us. Bye.

A little progress

**Thanks for all the comments. Please go here to enter the giveaway because of all the comment love.**

I have almost finished this project. When I get a chance to go to Hobby Lobby again I will get a wood embroidery hoop to frame it. I was inspired by a few cakes on Flickr. The yellow is not as pronounced as I was hoping for but I think it does the job of highlighting the pattern.

This project is complete. It turned out a bit longer than necessary but I like the ruffle at the bottom. This may be something I keep for myself. We shall see. (Sorry for the blurry photo. I should have retaken it but it's late.)

So I have a couple of things to show for last week. Mind you they are not the things I told myself needed to be done. Ahhh, such is the to do list when one project is bugging me.

Col's bag is giving me headaches since it has been on my TO DO list for weeks. I did get a couple of steps done last week but I still have several to go before the bag is done. The light at the end of the tunnel is that of all the people I am creating for this year I think she will appreciate it most.

Instead of the calendars I may be making lots of ornaments for the fam. The calendars (a great idea) are going to be quite expensive and time consuming. Kimba did these and I fell in love. I am seriously considering taking on this project because while it will still be time consuming I think the cost will be LOTS less. I will have a verdict by tomorrow night.

O.Ba.Ma. O!Ba!Ma!

He did it! We did it! Wow. Part of me didn't think it could happen. All of me hoped it would. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief. And cross my fingers that W doesn't F it up in the next couple of months.
Excuse me please. I need to continue my happy dance. I am sure I will have more thoughts on this tomorrow.
This is my girlfriend and her precious little Gracie. When Obama came to Colorado he stopped in the Brighton field office. So my "niece" has met the next President of the United States.

Mr. Obama, We have given you the opportunity. Keep our hope sacred.

Another gift done

**Thanks to those who have commented. Please go to the giveaway here and take part in the fun.**

I love these napkins. I certainly got better the more I did. Not that they are perfect. Maybe perfectly imperfect. Maybe perfectly handmade. The one in the front is my favorite. All those knots took a lot of time though.
On a side track I may do an art piece with millions of little french knots just because it would be so pretty. Maybe a mixture of stitches and knots just for appeal. We shall see.

Another side note. I voted. Did you? I don't want to open up my blog to all the politics but I am still girl-crushing on Saucy for her excellent blog yesterday.

I have noticed a little more traffic around here but I am not getting any comments. So if you read this or any other post can I ask you to please say "hi"? I promise not to bite and will visit your blog, and comment, if you have one. Is that enough of a bribe? No. Ok, so how's this if I get even 5 different commenters to any post in the next week I will do a giveaway. So please say "Hi."

Bittersweet

I put my resume out into the world today. I am feeling so mixed about it. It means that if I get this job then
1) we should be set for the winter season. Happy, happy, joy, joy.
2) I will be rejoining the workforce. Meh.
3) we may be able to actually get our own house before the market comes back. Sweet!
4) I won't get to spend as much time with my boy. Sad.
5) Hubs will have to start helping around the house again. Good and Bad.

We will see what happens. Should not be until next week sometime.

Post of the Year

I have been reading Bloggedy, Blog, Blog for a little while now. Today she had the POST OF THE YEAR! If i had an award I would give it to her because it was funny, insightful with a perfect ending. What are you waiting for? Go check it out.

Trick or Treat

Halloween was very exciting for us this year since Little is able to walk and point and enjoy getting a little scared. We dressed him as a Marshall/Cowboy. I made the vest and holster out of black felt and a couple of finds from Hobby Lobby. The hat, marshall star, and gun came from Wal-Mart. Anyone who knows Hubs knew that our boy would have a gun before too long. (I'm just happy that it's fake.) Granny found the boots at Famous Footwear. (More than I would have paid but we are thankful for the gift.)

In the morning I took him to my former workplace. It was nice to visit everyone for a while. (I also got a couple of job leads. But that is for another post.) Everyone said he was so adorable. What do you think?
We also did a little Trick Or Treating in the evening. There were so few houses lit up so we only got about 5 houses. More than enough candy to tide Hubs over. Little got his share from Granny since his mama is paranoid about things that might be in the candy.

We also went to Auntie's work for their family day. My Little loves being with the big kids. They were so cute. Too bad I left the camera in the car.

I am falling asleep at the keyboard so I should go. Don't want to wake up with space bar line across my forehead.