Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Christmas presents a la tutu

I ran into Clairs this past weekend with my 4 year old. She saw a tutu that she really liked! And I was tempted to get it for her. But really... its not an item she needs.

I have decided to make her a few for Christmas. As well as her cousin.

I was going to buy a pattern on etsy.com (love that site!!!!!) but I found some detailed instructions for free. I am pretty sure I can handle this project. And if I do well at it, I will also try to make one for each little girl who attends her birthday party in June.

I hope my tiny dancer will be happy!






Sunday, September 6, 2009

Fall is upon us

Hunting season is about to begin. That means I will become a hunting widow. Many of the wives I know anxiously await and count down the days until the season begins. They look forward to their husbands being gone all week for work and then all weekend for hunting.
Not me.
Maybe I am too needy. I prefer to have my husband home more than most wives I suppose. Or maybe I still like him.









Sunday, August 23, 2009

I am still alive!

Yea, I am still here. Its been a busy summer. I have discovered the art of embroidery and have been spending my time doing a little here and there.

Summer arrived in norhtern NY last weekend. I hope we have a nice Indian Summer. I do love fall but they don't tend to last very long up here. POOF.. and its snowing.


Friday, July 10, 2009

Embroider the day away...

OK, Not really gonna happen in this house. I don't have time for that. But I am going to try and do a little.

When I was growing up my Aunt Eleanor used to embroider all sorts of clothing and dolls for my siblings and I. I'll admit that while in private I liked the stuff, in public I was embarrassed. No one else worse such things! None of it was ugly. Quite the reverse. But they were not en vogue.
As I spend my time at home with my kids I have found my self trying to be productive. I hate cleaning. So crafting is my chosen alternative.

I recently purchased some embroidery designs from urban threads. these are not your mothers designs. These are very funk. Some are cute but not in the furry kitten way. But cute enough to think my kids will wear what ever I labor over.

I do not have a fancy embroidery machine for quick and really professional works of art. I hand embroider all my stuff. And so far I don't mind. As an added bonus I use embroidery to up cycle. be it onsies or burpies or a pair of K's cut off jeans.

Here is the one that I am most excited about. Did I mention that they are only $1.00 each? And there free things too? I want to order more... but I need to do what I have now.


You don't need to be a pro at embroidering. These are easy. You can make them complicated if you have the skills. But rest assured that if you do not... its still going to look wonderful. Pics to follow! Still not interested in thread and needle. Well well well.. the kind folks at Urbanthreads have a "digital stock art section for scrap booking, web design and iron-on projects. OOHH AHHH!

And please read the following: I did not post these pics so you could steal them from me. Because if you stole it from me you are then stealing for urban threads. And that's not nice x 2.
For the love of Moses...its only $1.00 buy your self one or ten. :)


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Police Auctions!

If you know me you know that I love a bargain! I shop on eBay. Recenly I won an L.L. Bean snowsuit set (jacket, pants, hat, scarf) for my daughter for $39.99 I bid on items at Bidrodeo and win amazing stuff (I won a Wii for $5.56!).

I discovered another site today to feed my need to get cool stuff at low prices. its propertyroom.com. Its a site set up by an ex-police officer. its helps out police departments to clear our thier property rooms. these are items confiscated by the police. The departments claim to have tried to find the owners and these are items ready for auction. 1/2 of the funds go to the department adn the other 1/2 goes to the site. Here is the link-> HERE

Whats on the site? Lots of cool stuff! Electronics, household goods, art, clothing, pink flamingos (yes!!!) , automobiles, jewelry, toys, and lots of items!

And yes, they do ship OR you can pick it up if you are close enough. There are a few items they have for pick up only (tough to FedEx an H2).


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

quilt

The day has come. I am going to attempt to make a quilt. Nothing fancy. Just sewing some squares together, sewing them to a nice back, and finish the edges. its a big thing for me. We will see how I do.


Friday, June 19, 2009

water does not heart me

Our washing machine had a malfunction and as a result our basement flooded with water. No too much was lost. But the stuff that was included my new craft paper. I have yet to see how the eco-felt will fare or the box of fabric scraps.



Thursday, June 18, 2009

Sweet as Mud Pie!


Sweet and Sassy (a blog I follow..often!) is having a new giveaway. Piggy Paints! I don't usually put nail polish on my daughter. mainly because I think she is too young and they are so chemically! well... BAM! Here is the alternative. :) Their products are free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone. They are non-toxic, odorless, and as natural as mud!

Check out the contest Sweet and Sassy is having here!






Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I heart BidRodeo.com


I adore BidRodeo.com.  You sooooo have got to check it out.  yeah... I don't really like to talk like that.  

I won a Wii on their site.  It was a penny auction and I ended up winning with a $5.56 bid.  We wanted a Wii but it just was not in our budget.  So when i saw it on this site I had to fight for it.  I won the fight. its a new Wii.. In the box...plus a game.  how cool is that!?!?!?!

How does it work?  

According to the website:
1) Purchase bids
2) Bid on items
3) Win

huh? Yeah...it is that easy.

If you really want something you have to be prepared to fight. I am a 10pm bed time person.
Every night. My internal light turns off at 10. I ended up staying up an extra 1 1/2 hours to 
win the Wii. I almost gave up. Twice.

I am thrilled I did not quit. Our family has a Wii!

Thank you BidRodeo. I love you!




Saturday, June 6, 2009

OOHH!

I like to follow other blogs.  Mostly blogs where I can find ideas for my own crafts.  But I also follow a few that I can't even attempt to copy.  One of my faves is Peppermints and Petticoats.  Jenn (I think that's her name) also has an etsy store.  I have yet to purchase anything she makes simply because of limited funds (SAHM paycheck pays in kisses and poopy diapers).  But man!  I love her stuff.  So cute and classy.  I promised my daughter today that I will buy her a dress from the store for a wedding we are attending next summer in Turks and Caicos.  An exotic location wedding deserves a fancy dress- Don't you agree?
  
Really, these are not expensive dresses.  Only about $30.00.  Especially for the quality and one-of-a-kind-ness (puzzled look given to this word) of these.

So, if you read this little ole blog of mine... please check out her stuff.  :)  So darn cute! And leave me a comment so I know someone out there reads my stuff. :)

*** UPDATE*** I sent the link to my mom.  I suspect she will be getting my dear little princess one of these dresses.  :)  

  

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

What can we do?

I am going to get healthy. I want to loose weight... but I need to get healthy. I have spent the last 6 years over weight. I can not blame my weight gain on having two kis. I was over weight before my first was born... so that excuse just doesn't hold water.

I did what all plans suggest. I met with my Dr. He said he would like to see 1 lb per week lost. His biggest suggestions were watching what I eat (choose healthy, limit what I LOVE but still have it, and drink water) and get more active. So I have done those things. I feel better but I don't look better.

I have been running and doing cardio a few times a week. It feels good. I told my husband I was not seeing results. he suggested using our bowflex since muscles brun fat. Ok, but what do I do? I asked my friend Jennifer. She has a better idea of what to do since she does weights everyday. I am looking forward to what she has to say.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Why am I a Stay-At-Home-Mom?????

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman05-01-2009


"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth" (Eph 6:1-3). One of the great tragedies of society today is the minimizing of the work performed daily by stay-at-home moms. Women who decide to stay home to raise their kids are a rare breed indeed. They must overcome the stigma of comparison to others who pursue careers outside the home. They fail to get the feelings of accomplishment that can come from a career. They are the unseen missionaries of our day. There will be a special reward for these selfless servants.

Without the commitment of our stay-at-home moms we would not have some of our greatest leaders. "All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother," said Abraham Lincoln. Though poor, Ida Stover was determined to go to college. She scraped together enough money to attend Lane College in Lecompton, Kan., where she met fellow student David Eisenhower. She was known as a firm but gentle disciplinarian and was deeply religious. It is said she once won a prize for memorizing 1,365 Bible verses. As a pacifist, she was not in favor of her son attending West Point but decided to let him go. She was the mother of Dwight David Eisenhower, one of the greatest U.S. presidents. Mary Litogot grew up on a farm, and met her future husband, William Ford, when he came to work on their farm. She was 12 and he was 26. They married nine years later. Mary was self-sufficient and a diligent worker. Henry later attributed his clean factories to her belief in cleanliness. She encouraged his interest in machines early on. He later said, "I have tried to live my life as my mother would have wished. I believe I have done, as far as I could, just what she hoped for me." She was the mother of Henry Ford.

* Has God called you to be a stay-at-home mom? Know that your obedience and sacrifice will be recognized by the Lord.

(A friend tagged me on the above on her facebook account- Thanks Jennifer G!

This is interesting. I can't say I felt that my desire to stay home was a religious one. I just felt (and still feel) that my children deserved to have all of me (minus the part my husband gets ). I wanted them to be my kids not someone elses. I want to be that mom who my kids can count on, who makes them snacks, cuddles them, reads to them, plays with them and teaches them the basics of being a good and responsible member of the human race. It is selfish really. They are my kids and I am not interested in sharing them.

My husband was in favor of my staying home with our first born but I would have no part of it. How would we make it on one paycheck? I opted to go to grad school and work part time. I then got a job that was nto rewarding or interesting. I wasted nearly 3 years of my daughters life. Months before my son was born my husband told me again that I should quit. So I did. And I love it. Most days. Some days I want more things. But those things are not worth what I have now- Cuddles, hugs, booboos, clean-ups, tears and kisses.

One of my favorite quotes is : "All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles – someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams. -- General Colin L. Powell

Thursday, April 30, 2009

I enjoy shopping. I really enjoy it.

Since becomeing a stay at home mom I hunt for bargains.
I use bigcrumbs.com to earn money on things I buy on-line. I earn a % back from eBay and ChildrensPlace (we don't have one around here). Here is my 'page'. Join me!

I also adore mamabargains.com. I have ordered bibs and crib shoes for my new nephew (Jason's baby boy is due 08/09). Somethings are as much as 70% off. The bibs for example were $5.00 but retail for $11.00. Who pays $11.00 for a bib? HHmmm... ok.... really who pays $5.00 for one bib??? haha! Every day, adn even a few times a day there are new and fun items. Strollers, shoes, toys, clothing for little ones and for moms.

:)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Oh man FREE!

I love givaways. I eneter them all the time. I enver win... but as we say in NY... "Hey, ya never know".
So here is one I found today. So cool! So amazing!

At least check out the goodies!

Aaahhhhchoooooo!

I like that Kleenex is making fun patterned boxes.
Helped to make my office (when I got paid to work) a little more interesting.

But. Yes there is a but. I would like to not have to dig around trying to find a box that won't look odd in the room it will be in.

AH HA! Here is a solution! Make my own cover.

Gonna use this pattern.

Pictures to follow!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Do you need therapy

Very cool and easy craft.
Therapy bag
Easy gift to make and give to a loved one (sick or not).

I have made silimar ones for my kids when they were babies and getting thier first shots. I used rice and did not add oil (scent).

Think I am gonna ad this to my list of must-make-items.

:)

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Season eating

Seasons form the natural backdrop for eating. All of the World's Healthiest Foods are seasonal. Picture your vegetable garden in the dead of winter. Now imagine this same garden on a sunny, summer day. How different things are during these two seasons.

For ecologists, seasons are considered a source of natural diversity. Changes in growing conditions from spring to summer or fall to winter are essential for balancing the earth's resources and its life forms. But today it's so easy for us to forget about seasons when we eat. Modern food processing and worldwide distribution of food make foods available year-round, and grocery stores shelves look much the same in December as they do in July.

I still refuse to eat asperagus (winter harvest veggie) any time of year.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tea Party anyone

When I met my husband he was not a politics guy. Thought he did not matter. He is only one voice...why would anyone care? Well, I could never date let alone marry a man who was not polically passionate. I told him so. He accepted the challenge.

This month will mark our having been a couple for 10 years. He has gone from an Independent to a Libertarian. And let me tell you... he is a a politics guy now. He even went so far as to write to Gov Patterson today. And I am sure it was a sweet little note.

He has begun to watch Fox News, Glenn Beck and enjoy it.

This is not the man I started dating in April 1999.

And I am glad. :)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Cry baby

My son is in his room right now. He is crying. We area cry-it-out family when it comes to bed time and naps. My son is such an easy baby. And that makes it so hard to hear him cry. I did check on him and make sure he was ok. He is ok. :)

I know a mom who slept in her daughters room until recently. She is going to be 2 in May. The house is silent while this child sleeps. I don't agree with that for my own children but if that works for her mom and dad...then ok. But is it more for the benefit of the baby or the parents? With a second child due in May, how will this rock everyones world?

I don't think I am a better mom because I let my child cry. But I do wonder how different these children will be as a result of these differences.