Champagne taste....

Hey, there ya'll!!
Last night was the first time I have been to this space in, well, since August. Shame on me. It isn't that I'm intentionally avoiding it, we've just been working REALLY hard on projects around the house...major ones. We now have a brand new bathroom, the front of the house has all new windows, new hardi-plank siding, and an awesome porch and now we are amping up for the office addition to free up the fourth bedroom in anticipation of the baby girl and finding someone to paint our kitchen and a couple of bedrooms. I could do it, but painting is so tedious and I have a friend who I'm starting to agree with. He says that if you go to Hell, that's what they make you do there. Isn't that hilarious? It is to me, anyway. Needless to say, we're cutting it close considering I'm now 27 weeks. But, we really do work best under pressure so, whatever.

Speaking of the baby girl. I have been searching for bedding that isn't over-the-top or juvenile/cheesy. I want it to say "little girl" but not "prima donna". That's tough to find. But, in my search one day this week, I found something that fits my criteria to a T...only, it doesn't fit what I was allowing for the budget. Take a look...

Gorgeous, right? Well, the bumper pad is $335!! JUST THE BUMPER PAD. The thing is, though, I bought a shower curtain a couple years ago at a garage sale (for $5!) that matches the white bed skirt perfectly (and came with the shower curtain valance so there's plenty) so I could make it, get some linen on sale to make the bottom bed skirt, and just buy the sheets. But that still leaves the bumper pad costing as much as an entire set of crib bedding (that I wouldn't like as well). I know I could make it, but time is a serious factor and finding the fabrics that are similar would take even more since I live in such a rural area.  It's a dilemma for me. I know my husband will tell me just to go ahead and get it if that's what my heart is set on, but geez, I'd rather find it cheaper.  I have champagne taste on a self-imposed beer budget. So, if, in your spare time, you'd like to find the Bella Notte "Gwen" bumper pad on cheaper or even on sale, I think I would love you forever!! :) I'm just kidding, but really, if you do know of a good source that might be cheaper, I would be happy to know about it!

In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful time of year!!

Still Here...

I am still here and I am making it...barely! :) We have had a super busy summer between vacations and working on the house, not to mention trying not to have a heat stroke in the hottest summer of my life (in which I am pregnant and feel like I overheat when I step outside!). But, it's all come to an end, at least for me. I started back to school Friday but the boys don't have to go until the 22nd. I'm always so sad to see summer end. I LOVE being home with my boys and the lazy days- or not so lazy ones- that we spend together. We usually spend most days on the lake, but this year most of the boat ramps are all out of the water and the water levels aren't safe so my hubby decided it would be a great time to do some things to the boat he's been wanting to do. Projects, projects, projects!!!

On the baby front...if you have been around my pinterest boards, you'll notice there have been lots of ruffles and girly stuff being pinned up. Yep, Daddy and the boys are getting a girl! I say they are getting one not because I don't want a girl, but because they actually had a preference and besides, I really don't know what to do with one. I wasn't much of one myself- I was surrounded by boys all my life. My very best friend growing up (and we're still pretty close) was a boy who moved in next door when I was three. I'm sure I'll figure it all out, though, what do you think?  I mean, look how precious that little girl is up there!  And these are two of the nurseries I'm thinking about using as inspiration for our little one.  I have all the furniture (waiting to be refinished) a great mirror, some paper dolls to have blown up and framed, and the room, of course (currently occupied by a brother).

So, that's what's what in my life...still not much creativity stirring in my soul.  I did make a cute, cute changing pad from this tutorial but haven't had the uumph to take pictures of it.  Maybe in October when it's only 90 degrees outside instead of 100+...  It was a super easy project and will be super handy (it has pockets for diapers, wipes, etc) and super inexpensive -- a great gift for a baby shower!

I'd love to hear from those of you that haven't quit me because I'm the dullest blogger ever and from those of you who came here on accident! :)
Stay cool...

I Survived!!

I survived the four day, jam packed adventure in Washington, D.C. last week and had an awesome time doing it! We left at 4 a.m.!!! on Tuesday morning, drove 2 1/2 hours to the airport, boarded our flight at 9, landed in D.C and didn't stop for anything the entire four days we were there. I think we walked every square inch of the city and backtracked over part of it! We did have a tour bus that picked us up from time to time but not nearly as often as my legs would have appreciated.  And wouldn't you know it, Washington saw record temps while we were there...and it was still cooler than it is here!  The Lincoln monument at night was my favorite as well as the Smithsonian (where I took the picture of Dorothy's shoes)  I was certainly glad to get home and rest my tootsies, though.  There really is no place like home.

On the baby front, I had my check up today and all is well. No problems, weight is great, yada, yada. One more week and I'll be at the 3 month mark. We'll find out whether it's a boy or girl in August and I think then it'll be much more exciting. 

Well, I just thought I'd let you all know I'm still lurking in blog world and visiting your blogs even though mine sees little action!

God Has Plans...

I have learned the hard way-- God has plans for us and they usually don't coincide with our own. Let's just say, He has rocked my world for sure this time around--I am 38 years old and will be having my third child (7 1/2 years after the last one) in December. I thought my life was set. We pick up and go at a moment's notice, we had finally gotten to a place in our lives where we were content and comfortable and at peace. Not so much, now. Well, for me anyway. My husband has just taken it in stride and smiles from ear to ear all day every day. It's been very hard for me to come to terms with. I know in my heart that His wisdom far exceeds anything I could possibly hope to know, but my human self finds it hard to admit that. I will...at some point. In the meantime, I'm not sure how this little space will fair. I'm the epitome of lethargic, right now and my house is going to require some readjusting/construction to make room for the new little one, not to mention I have NO creative desire whatsoever. We'll see what transforms. However, just before I found out, I did make this for my bed (not that I actually make my bed these days). It may be the last thing I make until I'm 50 (the baby will be 11 at that point and I may actually have a life again)!

And yet, again...

I have to agree with Allie, the second one did look better, but I don't like having to upload my pictures to flickr and then upload them to the blog. Really, I do good to get them on the blog, I certainly won't do it twice. So I'm giving this another go in a couple of different ways. Let's see how it works. I've done a couple of different things on these to see what works and what doesn't.  Personally, I can't see the difference.  Again, I'll come back tomorrow with fresh eyes. 

Allie, at this point, I do believe you are the only person reading my blog so if you get sick of seeing this over and over, feel free to ignore me! ;)  I'm on a mission and I'll beat it until it's dead...but I'll have answers.

How's this?

Maybe it's a little better. I'll sleep on it and take a look in the morning.

A Test...Only a Test.

This is a picture of a young friend of our family who happens to be graduating this year. For some cuh-razy reason, they wanted me to take her pictures. I'm mediocre at best. But the real reason for this post is to see what the junk is making my pictures look so different when I load them onto blogger. This picture is great (trust me, that's something for me to be excited about) on my computer, but then I upload it to my blog and it looks terrible. Why, why, why? I guess if I were more technologically savvy I would know, or even if I had a clue what I was doing as a photographer I would know. But I'm not and I don't. Grrrrr. So, all this test did was verify what I already knew. Now I need answers. I'm off to find them...

Hey, ya'll! How've you been? Busy, I'm sure just as I have been. The weather has been gorgeous and we haven't been wasting a second of it. The garden has been started (yes, started- like a crazy person, I planted 4 1/2 rows of tomatoes and my garden is 25 yards long)the house has been neglected, baseball is in full swing for both boys, the husband is rebuilding my mustang I got when I was 16 and I have more projects than you have time to read about. Six more weeks of school left and then the big boy and I are going to D.C. on a school trip with great people and leaving the little fellow and Daddy home together. We are super excited about it! Life is grand and the living is, too.
Hopefully, I'll be back soon with something of a little more interest to you. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful irises that grow like mad on Mom and Dad's place.
Wishing you lots of sunshine!

Just another addiction...

As we all know well and good, I am a terrible blogger. Maybe one of the worst. I have wonderful ideas, sometimes even good follow through, and then seldom do I get the good pictures, write the post and then get it posted. I'm the pits. And then there was pinterest. Pinterest makes me an even worse blogger because there is just so much to admire and drool over that my mind goes into overload. I would say it's a love/hate relationship but that would be an out and out lie. I love it. Love, love, love it! It's all the good things about blogging rolled into one. Except it isn't blogging. It's just looking and pinning.  I think I even saw the wreath that inspired this one on Pinterest.  Whatever.  It's fun.  I even saw a quote there that said something about "time you enjoy wasting isn't really wasted time" or something like that. You really should check it out and while you're there, check out my pinboards, too

Spring has really sprung around here-- quick, fast, and in a hurry!  It's like winter had to 

get one last, good kick in and then it left.  I already need to mow my yard!  I planned to do that this past week-end but instead, on Saturday, I woke up at 1:12 a.m. on fire.  Sore throat, terrible headache, 101.8 temperature.  I visited urgent care.  I was their first patient of the day and  

did you realize that urgent care really only means urgent after 9 a.m. where I live?! It's fine, I waited.  It's so hard to wait when you feel like you'd rather have someone punch your lights out than be aware of the pain you're in.  But, I had no choice.  It was a confirmed case of strep throat.  Which, by the way, I haven't had in 11 years when I had it along with the flu.  I used to get it often and if I didn't have strep it was tonsillitis.  Constantly.  Then after my first child and the bout with the flu/strep combo, POOF, I seldom get either.  My ENT several years ago said it's because I don't have much of my tonsils left- that and I've built up a resistance.  Obviously, that resistance fled this week-end because I was knocked flat and have only just today begun to feel like myself again.  Seriously, I'd rather throw up than be in that kind of constant pain.  I couldn't even swallow my own saliva much less that horse pill antibiotic they prescribed me.  Whatever happened to just getting a shot?!  Anyway, I made it through.  Barely.  And I have a very high pain tolerance.  After all, I did grow up with three older brothers who cut me absolutely no slack. 

But, enough of that.  Back to spring.  We have spring break next week which we'll be spending with several of my cousins and that sweet, sweet baby girl so I whipped her up a little something for spring.  Don't you love the baby legs craze?  Especially on fat little legs.  And yes, more of that fabric.  Almost the last of it. Almost. 

Now, one question. Can someone please tell me why my pictures look so different on my blog than when I'm looking at them on my computer? It's driving me insane! I'm sorry for the scattered post...maybe the fever did something to my head. :)

Always Under the Wire. Just.

A simple little clutch. 

Ignore the wonky stripes.
I could've sworn they were straight--remember, I winged it...

Here's my creation for February for Allie's Christmas Through the Year. This was a super easy little clutch that I just winged and yes, you've seen the fabric before here. I L.O.V.E. this fabric and I think I found it too late! It's the Darcy Collection by Anna Griffin and I ran across it at the quilt convention in Houston for $6 for a bundle of six fat quarters! I snapped up all the lady had and haven't really found it anywhere since so I'm assuming it's out of print. Not that it matters because I wouldn't have enough for a quilt now that I've done several projects with it.  And one of these days, I'll post those projects.  So, for those of you who stick around to see what I'll eventually post, thank you!!  I love having you and knowing you are still around.

The inside.  Deceptively roomy.

Have a great week!

Not a chance of boredom here...

Have I mentioned that I decided to do 52 Photos in 52 Weeks 2011 (you can go to Monika's or Lisa's blog to see what I'm talking about or click on the button in my sidebar) Well, let me clarify, please-- I'm trying to do it.  My creative juices in the photography department have left me for a couple of the prompts but I'm bound and determined to complete all 52 weeks even if I have to just add them to my flickr set and not the group postings.  I've enjoyed the process of actually thinking about what I'm doing and seeing as opposed to just clicking away but I've not really been successful at being creative, too. I'm going to be positive, though, and just keep on until it "clicks". The prompt this week is MORNING.

I did something else while we were holed up in the warmth of the house-- I crocheted a scarf!  I haven't crocheted anything other than a dishcloth in 17 years!  I am so pleased with myself that it's silly.  But, I love my new scarf and it only cost about four bucks as opposed to those in the store that cost a small fortune.  

I must say, this is my all-time favorite--it's so soft and it will go with so much in my closet that people are going to get tired of seeing it. I have the yarn to do another one, but want to try a different pattern. I'm sticking with the beginner patterns even though I've crocheted all my life. I'm rusty, you know, and not very confident, yet. Here's another shot of her all balled up. Did I mention how soft this baby is? Like butter...room temperature butter.

My thoughts at this point are, do I really need to add another obsession to my already overflowing list of obsessions?! Ah, well, such is life. It could be worse...I could be bored! (Insert maniacal laughter.)

Oh, and I had another finish today (a start/finish) but won't be posting until later in the month when I'll link up to Alli's Christmas Through the Year (also on my sidebar). Yes, I am impressed with myself. It's only the 7th and I'm ready. Oh! I also forgot to mention that I happened to be the one using Mom's long-arm quilter when it decided to get all fouled up. Great. It would have to be me. And I only had two rows left before I would have been finished with the quilt that was going to be my project for the link-up. We're not sure what happened so we have to take it a couple hours down the road to the nearest people who service them. And then wait. It's agony. I was on a roll. Oh well, I have plenty more rabbits to chase.

Snow Day!!!

I got a text from my principal this morning at 5:30 letting me know that the school would be closed. Of course, I'm just getting out of bed at 5:30, so I had no idea that enough snow had fallen during the night to provide us with hours of good fun today. We live in an area that seldom gets snow...like, we go YEARS without snow. We've now gotten it two years in a row and my kids love every second of it. We got outside around eight this morning and the little one and I didn't come in until 1:15-- the big boys are still out there and it's 2:59 as we speak! I know you hard core northerners are laughing right now because it's just a regular day for you, but it's like Christmas for us.
Have a warm, happy day!

In the nick of time...

Yea! I finished just in time to get this posted!! Woohoo!
I thought Allie's idea to make one Christmas present a month is such an easy goal that I am jumping on the band-wagon. That way when it hits- and we all know it hits sooner than we are expecting- we'll already have gifts ready. I mean, seriously, who doesn't have the best intentions every year to be ahead of the game only to realize Christmas is a week away and you're out of time?! I'm the worst. Anyway, believe it or not, I've made it for the first month...at the last minute on the first month, but just in time to get it posted.

This month, this frigid month of January, I made a rice bag warmer. I have one of these that I bought about 20 years ago and it's UGLY. I mean, oh, so ugly. It's made of tan muslin and is only about 4 inches wide by 12 inches long. Not really big enough to do much good. So, using this tutorial I tinkered with the measurements (I made a prototype first that I gave to my mom to keep her tootsies warm in the bed)and came up with this one. It's huge (8"x 20" inside the ruffle)! It'll warm whatever. Allie, you need it right now for your shoulder, poor thing. Anyway, who says you can't recupe or cuddle up in style?! I'm not sure who the recipient will be when the time comes around, but I'm one gift closer to being ready for Christmas!

So, for those of you who missed out this month, you really should think about joining us! Come December, you'll be glad you did!

Stinkin' it up....

Oh, my do I stink at the blogging thing lately!  I have great intentions.  That's it.  Great intentions.  Too much other stuff and not enough time.  Add to that, I honestly believe I have adult onset ADD.  I really think I do.  I have 5 or 6 things going at the same time, at all times and I can't stick with one for more than 10 minutes or so before I drift off to another one.  It's a problem.  The only time lately that I actually start and complete something in the same day or even week is at school when I'm captive.  Whatever.  It could be worse.  Like, my house could actually be finished.  And clean.  And my laundry/ craft room wouldn't look like it belonged on an episode of hoarders.  You know, the buried alive version.  Oh well, it is what it is. 

I did finish this, though.  Just yesterday.  I'm sending the hubby off to the post office with it today so she can wear it while it fits.  I could very easily forget or put it off until she 's 13 becuase that's the way I function lately so I'm asking him to do it.  Do any of you feel like that?  That your world is spinning at light speed and you're leisurely swimming in molasses?  I say leisurely because I'm not at all unhappy about this malady of mine.  Just making an observation.  That's one of my goals this year.  To actually be aware.  And enjoy it.

So, I'm off to have a good day and I hope you do the same.  Let's see what we can get started...

A Little Something for Myself...

Do you ever get to the place where even though things are a mess and daily life could very easily be overwhelming, you are perfectly content and at peace? I got there this week-end and it has been better than a trip to the spa! My husband is off at work and my mother-in-law unexpectedly took the kids off my hands Saturday and most of the day Sunday so I had time where I hadn't packed every minute with some sort of chore or activity. And I'm a planner so that really could have gone either way. But instead of feeling like a lone marble in a jar, I just decided to go with the flow and you know what? I am so glad I did. I got some much-needed housekeeping done, spent some quality time the last half of Saturday with my mom and an aunt, got to watch Law Abiding Citizen (which I've been wanting to do but haven't had the chance), read a considerable amount, and used all my stored up dryer lint and egg cartons to make some fire starters.  Productive and peaceful.  I think everyone should have that every once in a while, don't you?   And before I go,  because we bloggers are such visual people (at least those of you on my radar), I thought I would leave you with a picture of a little checkbook cover I stitched up for myself this past week just so I could try out the sewing machine my mom got me for Christmas (she knew I had been wanting a second one so I could have an extra to use in my classroom).  As you can see, it works fine.  As for the checkbook cover, super easy and fast! 

So, I'm off again to face another whirlwind I call a week! If it can't be peaceful, hopefully, it'll be productive! Have a great Monday!.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Really?!  It's 2011?!
I can remember as a little girl how my parents- and just older people in general- would tell me how much faster time seems to go by as you get older.  "Nuh uh!" is what I really thought when they would say it but I was wrong.  The days, weeks, months, and even years just fly by!  My kids are growing by leaps and bounds in every single way possible and I like to think I am, too! Well, maybe not every way possible for me, but internally, anyway. ;)  I'm excited about the new year and I usually don't give it a second thought but this year I am determined to make it different, better.  I've done lots of reflecting in 2010 for lots of different reasons and I think I've come out the better for it.  See, I spent much of 2010 stressed out beyond my limits about things I had no control over and I missed it.  I missed the fun, the beauty, the process.  I'm not going to do that this year.  For those of you who are new here you won't notice the change, but for those of you who have been kind enough to stick with me and supportive when you certainly didn't have to be, hopefully you'll notice the changes.  I've heard from so many people that this blogging journey sometimes seems to add pressure to our already pressure-filled lives and I don't know a single blogging friend who set out to make their own lives harder.  I personally set out to have fun and enjoy the things I do even more by sharing with others and that got lost along the way.  That's gonna change.  Recognizing the problem is the way to overcoming it, right?  I'm back to having fun and enjoying what I do and see.  I love looking everyone's creations and hearing their stories.  I enjoy just relaxing and browsing blogs even when I'm not in the mood to create.  I love it when someone's post strikes me so that I feel the need to comment and certainly love it when I do the same for someone else.  My New Year wishes for you all are to enjoy your year!  Whatever it may bring, find something about it to enjoy because I didn't do that last year and it's gone.  Let's all focus on the good, the fun, the everything enjoyable!!!  Having said that, I'm going to leave you with a parting shot of a beautiful little girl that joined my family a very short week ago...

Finally, It Hit Me!!

Remember the sad little tree I wrote about a long time ago? You know, the green ceramic one that everyone had when they were young or else they knew someone who did? Well, I never did anything with mine simple because I didn't know what I wanted to do to it...until today! I had been experimenting with a faux mercury glass tutorial I found over at Take the Side Street (and when I went to get the link for this post, discovered that she's giving away the very product I'm about to mention!!) Anyway, it hit me that my tree might just be pretty with the coolest paint I've found to date-- Kryon Looking Glass spray paint--sprayed over the green and then do Anna's mercury glass magic. I've only done it on the top so far because as we speak, my boys are wanting dinner, but I LOVE it so far!! The green reflection you see is where I sprayed the vinegar and wiped with the paper towel! Didn't it work magic?!

It's is exactly what I had in mind and I'm so happy! I'm hoping to get it finished before bedtime and hopefully, I'll post the finished tree tomorrow...

Until then, go over to Anna's and enter her giveaway. You can find something to spray this stuff on and discover what it's all about.

See you soon!

Aimee-- I'm not sure what happened to my signature but don't have time to do anything about right now!

Edited to add: I did finish the tree, but not in time to get a post up about it, so maybe I'll show it to you next year. It turned out to be gorgeous!!!

Dipping My Toe...

Hello there! Well, hello to anyone who may still be out there, anyway. I think maybe I've decided to give the blogging thing another go. But this time, I don't intend to try to keep up with the Joneses...or the Smiths, or anybody else for that matter. I just can't do it. I don't want to do it. I don't intend for my blog to be a business or a means to promote one, although I'm very envious of those who do. I mean, man, how incredible would that be?! To work from home and do what you love day in and day out. Ahhh, one can dream. But, since I'm not there, I just want to be able to post from time to time and maybe make someone smile if I'm lucky. I also won't limit myself to one area of my creativity. I do and make so many different things from so many categories of creativity that I was doing myself an injustice by thinking I could only be interesting to one set of folks. So, I'm dipping my toe back into the blog world to see how it feels. Besides, while I was out I missed the friends like Allie and Aunt Spicy that I made before I left. Isn't it funny how sometimes it just takes a little distance to get perspective?
So, I hope all is well with those of you I haven't heard from in a while (or ever-- I noticed I got a couple of new followers in my absence) and I hope to hear from you soon!