this & that.

No major happenings this weekend.

So here's just a tad bit of

this & that.

I have a need to show you this plate. 

It was Bryan's when he was little and I LOVE it so.

It will go somewhere in our newly painted dining room.

******************************
It was kind of a girl's weekend. 

I spent time with a few long time girlfriends on Saturday. 

We went to her house and had a wonderful time just chatting

and laughing until our stomachs ached.

Got these from my girlfriend Stacey - her mother-in-law made them. 
We LOVE them just so . . . too. 

Then Isla and I spent Sunday together

while Bryan and Maddox were in St. Louis. 

And my amazing Mom also stopped by. 

Remind me one of these days to tell you about my Mom

and just how amazingly amazing she really is. 

I would say I strive to be just like her, but what's the

fun in setting goals you know are unattainable.

*****************************
All my cut fabric. 

I hope to start sewing this week. 

********************************

Maddox has really started to take a liking to my computer

and all the games offered on the Noggin website. 

I wish I could blame my lack of blogging lately on

him taking over over my computer :0). 

Speaking of Maddox. 

He asked me a couple of weeks ago when he could stop going to school-

it made me so incredibly depressed to think that he is already tired of technically

something he hasn't even started.  I know that we can't afford for me to quit work,

but I am hoping (beginning in March) to start working only 4 days a week. 

I think an extra day at home will be so nice for all of us and take away some of my

"having to be away from kids, husband, and home way too much" grouchiness. 

********************************

Isla and I tried to come up with ideas for the kiddos Valentines-

there are only several kids in each of their classes so you can afford

to do something a little special. 

We didn't get very far on hers, but we are going to use these somehow for Maddox's. 

They reminded me of him because he loves peanut butter and fluff sandwiches . . .

but  he really loves them if they are cut into a heart or gingerbread shapes. 

I am missing my "M" this weekend.

********************************

Still no dining room table. 

As you can see by the mess below we have been using it for all sorts of projects

(in other words a dumping ground for anything and everything). 

This is "I" trying to touch the freshly painted cabinet doors. 

The color (weathered glass) is really growing on me.  It is

not quite as bright as the pictures make it look.

I am trying to come up with some sort of fabric/ print combo

that somehow represents us (our family) to hang on the wall. 

I want something extra-special. 

***************************

And just one more thing. 

I have been reading this book- so far soooooooooooo good.

In fact I think I will end a LOVELY weekend with a few chapters.

.................................cutting.

Today when I still had some energy I thought of all sorts of things I would like to tell you about . . . I couldn't wait to get home from work and just tell you all about my life lately and all of the topics and ideas that keep tumbling through my anxious mind, but after tending to the kiddos and a couple of trips up and down the stairs (after 9pm) I could only muster up enough energy to cut this oh so wonderful fabric for Miss I's first birthday quilt.  I found the monotonous task of cutting somewhat soothing this evening.  Aside from making sure my measurements were correct and edges straight I was able to let my mind wander and dream about hopefully in a couple of months ending up with my first ever not so perfect but beautiful quilt made with my hands for my one and only Miss I. 

Hoping to check back in tomorrow with a little more spunk.

Even the scraps are pretty.

.....................................................

One more thing . . . she will just love this one day, but I had to show you Isla's in the middle of going #2 face. 
Tongue out, eyes and eyebrows turning red, and pure concentration.

sweet dreams!

lots of paint & a week later.

I know . . . I feel like I have been gone FOREVER.

It has been almost a week since I have touched my blog or really anyone else's for that matter.

Well aside for a few peeks here and there.

It was actually kind of nice to distance myself from the internet for a few days. 

My real reason for not blogging was after the kiddos were in bed each night

I was up to my tired eyeballs in paint.  And it seems to be that when I get started on a project I become totally consumed- maybe this is why it takes so much effort for me to get started on my list of "to dos".

Anyway, a week and lots and lots of paint later the dining room is close enough that

I can use it and done in the same sentence.

It is a pretty small room so you are probably asking yourself what took her so long to finish. 

There are a few reasons for this-

kids

husband on evening shift

and

really the room itself didn't take me that long it was those darn

corner hutches that I think have been painted about 703 times since the house was built

(and really they could still use another coat and the doors haven't been put back on yet).

The color is about a shade or two brighter than what I was thinking,

but it will do for now and I think when I get it all decorated it will work

AND

I like the way it kind of sort of matches Maddox's eyes :0).

Maddox enjoying the open space because someone sold the dining room table.

I am thinking something simple like this with a bench on one side

and these (but I found them cheaper somewhere else- I am just to lazy to track the other

site down right now) and that the whole room ends up looking like what I have envisioned

in my head without going tons over what I made on my craigslist sale.

Check back in in a week or two and hopefully I can show you the end result.

By the way . . .

I just had to show you these after a week too.

Disgusting, I know.

AND, just one more thing. 

Did you really think that I could go a whole week without mentioning Miss "I".

She turned 8 months last week and is clapping up a storm and thinks it is hilarious. 

Still no teeth.

And I hope that I am not a bad Mom for doing this. 

She was watching Maddox so intently when he was eating his and

I just couldn't resist letting her gnaw on a french fry this weekend.

red red go away.

I love the total transformation painting can make to a room . . .

make it look drastically different than its ever looked before. 

my progress today on dining room redo.  one coat of primer.

And by the way . .  I am now an experienced Craigslist saleswoman

(maybe I will put that on my next resume). 

Not thinking I would sell it right away or even at all for that matter, I posted my dining room table and it SOLD yesterday.  Like I stated here . . . when I change one thing I have the tendency to change ALL things.

---------------------------------------

I wanted to show you this red too-

before it all goes away. 

I painted my nails for the first time in years this weekend

(the formal affair where I got to wear the fabulous Shabby Apple dress). 

I ended up making a red sash to go with the dress . . .

I promise to show you a pic when I get my hands on one. 

And one more thing . . .
this makes me feel so happy and sad at the same time. 

"M" learning how to write his name. 

sew easy library pockets.

Got one of these . . .

or anything like it (any old calendar, scrap cardstock, postcard, etc. will do)

and a sewing machine.

Then you can do this!

STEP 1: 

Cut the calendar, paper, postcard into a 8 x 5.5 rectangle or really any size you want.

 

STEP 2: 

And fold in half.  Then unfold.

STEP 3:   

Now cut a quarter/ half circle from the top half front of the rectangle.
(Trace using jar lid or whatever circular you have around the house.)

STEP 4: 

With the front of the paper facing up, stitch around the edge of the paper using a straight or zig zag stitch.

STEP 5: 

(You can omit this step if you would like)  Fold card in half again and trace card onto piece of fabric.  Cut out.  Open paper up and use fabric glue to attach the fabric to the back inner side of the paper. 

STEP 6: 

Fold card in half again and then sew pocket around 3 edges leaving the top open.

STEP 7: 

(Take this out too if you prefer)  They are cute as is, but I fancied mine up just a bit.

 

STEP 8:

THE END. See I told you it was easy.

Let me know if I left anything out and lost ya.  Its been awhile since I taught anything :0).

AND speaking of sewing.  Project Runway (season 7 premieres tomorrow night).

While I did that . . . they did this.

 This is our family . . . the big big one is DAD . . . the yellow hat one is ME . . . blue shoes one is MADDOX . . . purple shoes one is ISLA (he is currently sleeping with "Isla" right now) . . . not for sure who the one with the beak is.

She loves paper . . . no I promise I didn't let her eat it.

lots.

    
       
    lots of thoughts, things, and ideas in my head tonight . . . 

                                                                     

                                                                           too many to make sense of any one of them or

to pursue completing in major (or minor) task.

I think I will just go read a book instead.

TWO NUMBER ONES.

Maddox, like most 3 year olds, had a list of things he wanted for Christmas. 

The list was ever changing except for two things.

He always stated that he wanted

1 an octopus pirate ship

and

2  a handy manny motorcycle

He was a lucky boy this year and received both.  However, due to Mom's (me) lack of

relaying gifts bought from one set of grandparents to another, he ended up with

two handy manny motorcycles - which he thought was great, but I felt lousy because I

knew the grandparents giving handy manny #2 didn't get to experience quite the same

thrilled and "this is the best day of my life" expression and the repeating of "this is all I have ever wanted" from Mr. Maddox as the grandparents who gifted handy manny #1. 

I am sure you are wondering where I am going with this- promise I'm getting there. 

After returning handy manny #2 (which was my decision) and choosing not to exchange it for another toy at this time (which was also my decsion- one more toy in this house right now and one of us may have to move out), the money was used in two ways- resulting in memories that will last a lifetime.

{1}

Maddox's first trip to the movies - he saw "Alvin and the Chipmunks" with his Dad

He kind of looks like one of the chipmunks in this pic (chapped lips and all) . . . doesn't he?!  Too cute.  Maddox doesn't like having his picture taken so any picture

with him smiling is extra-special!

{2}

Maddox's first time ice skating- he went with Mom while Dad and Isla watched.

He loved it so much he wanted to go again today.

(The inventor of these walker-like things made for ice - can I say GENIUS!)

Moral of the story is . . . we love things, but
time with Mom and Dad and life experiences
are also GREAT!

So grandma and grandpa, whichever set you may be,
we love handy manny- thank you.   And to those of you who gifted #2,
we promise that you did give a gift that resulted in a thrilled
and "this is the best day of my life" expression
and the repeating of "this is all I have ever wanted" from
Mr. Maddox- thank you!

annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd . . . just in case you are in need of an Isla fix. 
I know she is in the ice skating pics, but I thought
you might like one without the boogars.

#10 of my TEN for 2010 . . . getting started.

(reference list on right)

I know it's only January and Miss I's

BIG numero uno isn't until May, but if

I am going to do this quilt making thing it would

be in my best interest to get started . . . like immediately.

With so many delightful fabrics out there, I had

a hard time deciding on which to use, but I just

couldn't let these lovely ones

from designer Anna Maria Horner's

Good Folks Collection go

 . . . for a few of reasons.

1  I like the idea of the quilt not being too "matchy-matchy"

Just want lots of all kinds of colors.

2  BRIGHT colors . . . can't seem to get enough of these

(I have been on this bright color kick for about a year now)

3  I had some of the fabrics from another project

4  These Good Folk fabrics have gone on sale lately and are about

half the price they used to be.

and

5 If mine turns out just a smidge as beautiful as any one thing on

    her lovely blog and these photos I will be one happy quilt maker. 

  Just a glance at her blog and photos bring a smile to my face and

make me wonder how one woman could be so talented. 

Just go look . . . you will see what I am talking about.

http://www.fabricworm.com/

Now just praying that I don't turn this absolutely

gorgeous fabric into a jumbled mess.

-------------------------------

And talk about another beautiful find . . .

"Pastry Lines" from you guessed it Anna Maria Horner.

So YUMMY.

http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/

fOrMaL aFfAiR: pArT 2

I have a new favorite store thanks to Miss Beth over at Odd Girl Out!  In the post before last I was searching for some fairly formal attire for an upcoming work function and as stated I haven't been to a formal affair since Prom circa 1996 and well, I've been a bridesmaid a time or two and a bride once- but those really don't count.  Anyway to make a not so long story even shorter, I found something at the Shabby Apple- I must have been hiding under a rock to not know about this wonderful "anything but shabby" little venue.  And to make things even more attractive, they are running a 20% off sale through the end of January- this definitely helped sway my decision towards the "to buy" rather than the "to not to buy".  Heck, even with the 20% off I am still having a hard time justifying my purchase- I can think of so many other things I should have or could have or better yet not have spent at all $75 on, but hey 1996 remember and I can definitely wear this one again.  Seriously, I think I could have added one of everything at the Shabby Apple to my cart. And if you happen to stop in, you must check out the little girls clothes- they are to die for.

OK- not for sure why I decided on this little number.  But yes, I did kind of want something covering my back and shoulders (I have always been self conscious of these areas of me for some reason), I like the length, and I fell in love with the black at the idea that I could add a little bit of color by replacing the black sash with one of color and add a few other bold accessories.  Who knows I may even throw in some nail polish and lipstick.

Anyway, that's that.  Thanks again Beth- I owe you one. 

Did I mention, that it is freezing cold here in Missouri- I hate to say it, but wearing anything less than knee highs, long pants, and multiple long sleeved shirts isn't sounding too appealing to me right now.  Let's hope it warms up a little over the next week and a half (I'll even take double digits at this point) otherwise I may be wearing these with my dress instead of panty hose.

SWEET DREAMS.

(. . . and one more thing, Isla is finally sleeping through the night.
So sweet dreams indeed for you and ME!)

MORE TIME.

HAPPY 2010 !
(a little late)

I know a new year is always time to celebrate the past and look forward to the future, but I have been a little weepy these last couple of days.  Maybe its thinking about the things I didn't get a chance to do this past year that I wanted to or maybe its the things I did get to do, but I am feeling a little down in the dumps because their over.   The start of a new year makes me wish for just one thing . . . MORE TIME.  MORE TIME to do nothing spectacular, just your "run of the mill" everyday things.

MORE TIME . . . for family.

MORE TIME . . . for friends.

MORE TIME . . . for my husband.

MORE TIME . . . for me.

MORE TIME . . . for play.

MORE TIME . . . for work.

MORE TIME . . . to plan.

MORE TIME . . . to accomplish.

MORE TIME . . . to relax.

MORE TIME . . . for sleep.

MORE TIME . . . to be awake.

Speaking of TIME, I think that this(see below) is one of the things that I have been a little weepy about lately - the birth of my second child come and gone and the fact that she is already seven and a half months old. I am getting teary eyed just thinking about it.

With that being said, because TIME is hard to come by now a days and without IT life doesn't happen, I vow to not spend another minute sulking about the TIME that has come and gone and start enjoying and relishing each and every milli second of the present. May 2010 be the BEST year yet!