Feeling blah

That just zipped by too fast, didn't it?

Our Christmas day was nice and relaxing, but everything up to and then after has seemed to be at break neck speed for me. I have so much that I feel was left undone. Especially all the fabric I bought to make little gifts and ornaments and stockings. It's all folded up and some of it is still in the bags I brought them home in. Maybe I'll get it out in September next year, instead of waiting until December to even think about that sort of thing.

My birthday is Monday, and I've been thinking about my age a lot. I know it's just a number, but I feel a LOT younger than 39. Is it possible that this is my last year in my 30's? How did that happen? I can't say I'm depressed about it, but I am feeling a little weird.

So not only am I thinking about some resolutions for the new year, I'm thinking about how I want 39 to look. There's a lot of reflection going on here, people!

I've got the usual suspects, of course... drink more water, lose more weight, get organized, but can I just say, BLECH!

I love what Ali Edwards does every year. She chooses 'one little word' and that is what she tries to cultivate for the year. Isn't that neat? My problem is choosing just one word. I think in phrases, like, Be A Grown Up, or Take a Breath, or Don't Be So Negative or Give Yourself a Break.

I think what I really need is a big do-over.

I need to start fresh with a totally clean and organized house. No piles, no excess. Why do I hang on to so much crap?

I need to go back to my wonderful eating habits and forget these 10 pounds I've packed on since Thanksgiving. (I really, really thought I had a handle on all of that, but evidently my eating monster has not been fully quieted.)

I NEED to start every day having had a full nights sleep. There's nothing worse than starting a new day feeling like the old day is still with me.

Do-over is hyphenated, so I don't think that counts. How about Fresh? Yeah, I think I like that.

Fresh can encompass my house keeping, my sleeping habits, the ability to give myself a break every now and then. Start clean, look forward, stay positive.

Off to bed for me, so I can start off tomorrow... Fresh!

Blessings, my friends

Merry Christmas. May God truly bless you during this season.

How my girlies entertain themselves on long car rides

I have finally downloaded pictures from Sprite's camera from our travels this summer. There are a lot of shots just like these.

The first requirement for any long drive is bringing along every last thing you own. My little back seat dwellers have to squeeze their bodies in to their spots, but they are happy that way, so I let 'em.

Donuts! There are about fifty pictures of food signs, lots of cloud shapes and of course, hay!
They love to shout, Hey! To make me jerk upright from a light doze wondering why they need to be seperated now, but they really mean "Hay". They think it's funny.

There are also at least a dozen pictures of various rocks, up the nose shots and freckle shots. Yup, that's right. Close up of freckles, moles, beauty marks, what have you.
The End. Thank God for digital cameras.

A new hat

This is the first item I have made that has been made up out of my own head. No pattern except for what I wanted, when I wanted it. Does that make me a designer now?

I'm pretty proud of myself. The biggest compliment was when my oldest daugther asked if we could share it.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect winter hat. I love this red one that Kristen Dunst wears in Elizabethtown. (One of my favorite movies, by the way, except for the Susan Sarandan parts, which I hate).

Mine is a little too tall, I like the rounder, flat on top look like the red one.

I will keep practicing. Unless, of course, any of you knitters out there can direct me to a ready made pattern similar to this one. I don't HAVE to design the thing, I just want one!

Still love it

I know I posted this last year, found courtesy of Sarah Louise. Just couldn't resist again!

My short day out

This morning I woke up, exercised, knitted two rows, took a shower and then had the most unbearable feeling that if I didn't get out of town, and get out quick, that I might just explode.

I told my husband I had some errands to run, but he's smarter than that, so I had to confess that I was on my way to Target, in the Big City, and that if I didn't have a Starbucks latte in the next 45 minutes that I would begin to scream and who knows when that would have ended.

He sent me off with his blessing, after he tried a couple ways to deter me. But I would not be deterred.

I left at 10:22 and by 10:59 I had a sugar free vanilla latte with whip in my hands. Explosion averted.

I had a great bit of alone time, swimming in a sea of faces that were not recognizable to me. It was quite a relief. I did run into a couple of people from my small town, but I just kept on moving after a little bit of small talk.

I headed to Old Navy, Kohl's, Aeropostal (who had the most amazing 70% off rack!), Bath and Body (better get there quick if you want any more Vanilla Bean Noel lotion, they are almost out), and then finished up at Target. I got a little something for everyone and feel like I got a good start on my Christmas list.

I could have stayed all day, but had to be back to pick up kids from school. It was good, though. Really, really good.

Seven random things about me

I'm not sure if I've ever done one of these things or not, but they are going around the blogs I read, so I think I will try to jump on the band wagon. Let's see what I get...

1) I love all types of office supplies. I can keep myself quite busy in a Staples. Sharpie pens are my favorite, but any type of organization system, paper supply, desk equipment, etc. makes me quite happy.

2) I believe that pajamas are a gift from God and that everyone should own a pair. There is nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon in flannel bottoms.

3) If big foot isn't out there now, I think that once he was there. I was raised in the Pacific Northwest so I feel that my opinion is the right one. I also believe in the Loch Ness monster. :)

4) In my non-scientific opinion, I believe that time travel is totally possible. How else do you explain deja vu? I'm working on my theory. Maybe I'll post about it sometime.

5) I was required in elementary school to cross all my 7's and Z's and close the tops of my 4's. As an adult, I have found that this bothers some people but I can't break myself of the habit.

6) I rarely buy things online/mail order because shipping costs really bother me. I have to really love something or not be able to find it in a store before I'll order it through the mail.

7) I eat a lot of taco salads. It's my 'go-to' meal when I can't think of anything else to make.

Pretty random, I guess. Now, I'm off to make dinner. Taco salads, it is!

A bad start

Have you ever noticed how bad days always start on the day before.

I had big ambitions to get the whole house clean, the bottom floor at the very least, in order to pull out all the Christmas decorations. But, life happened and I didn't get everything done. Decking the halls will be postponed for just a bit.

Yesterday was a good day, even though I didn't get my to do list finished. But, because of the unfinished list, and the decision to stay up late and watch TV, this morning was not a pleasant one.

Woke up, didn't exercise. Woke up again, 30 minutes late. Grabbed a shower, did my makeup (with the new Loreal minerals stuff, which I LOVE!!) put in the hot rollers of doom... Note to self, hot rollers in a rush only provides poofy hair. Didn't eat breakfast, didn't make my tea. Wasn't gentle on a tangled head, couldn't find a sports jersey, was guilted to death because of said jersey... now he's going to serve a detention and it's all my fault... Ugh. Late to work, dressed all wonky, hair all wonky...

BUT -

I get to have Chinese food at lunch with a friend.

I did get a shower, so even though I'm not dressed right for work, at least I smell good. (Seriously, I look like how my children look when I'm not at home and my husband sends them to school. He's an awesome dad, but he doesn't care about the shoes matching the outfit and the if there are too many sparkles or if pig tails have symmetry. In other words, I'm looking a little sad today).

I have tomorrow off, so I can catch up on everything I didn't do Thursday and transform my home into a Christmas paradise this weekend.

Oh, and if I look some more I'm sure I will find multiple ways to pull myself out of this bad beginning and have a much more pleasant middle and end. Send up a little prayer for me!

Off to work. I'll put on a smile and no one will even notice the other stuff.

Another thrifty find

I took this picture in the bathroom at work. I didn't want you to think I had a baby changing table attached to my wall at home!

I got this jacket at my favorite consignment store for eight bucks. It wasn't sure about it, but I got quite a few unsolicited comments about it yesterday. It has little silver threads running through it, so I think people thought I looked festive.

I love it. I wore it to my anniversary lunch and to work. It fits great and the price was definitely right.

It's not something I would have picked out if it was new and expensive, but it's nice to try out a new look. They had a few coco channel looking numbers that I might go back and try.

Thank goodness for thrift stores to help us get out of our courdoroy and sweater ruts!

I've been married TWENTY!! years

Yesterday I got married, and then blinked.

Today I have four kids, two dogs, a cat, a mortgage and a wonderfully blessed life.

A lot can happen in the space of a blink.

I love you, honey. Thanks for the ride.

Cookie Walk

The big fund raiser for the middle school here is called the cookie walk.

Every family has to donate six dozen cookies and then the community comes out to choose a variety of their favorite cookies, which then makes it unnecessary to bake their own cookies.

It's a pretty good system and I love it, because people pay me to bake their six dozen. I don't, however, participate in the actual purchasing of other cookies. It grosses me out. I don't know what kind of kitchen those cookies came out of, or if you smoke or washed your hands or had the flu. I can't help it.

But, if you are my friend and you bake for me, I will accept your gift. I have been in your house, after all.

Cookie making is a messy business. I'm still trying to bleach out food coloring on my counter.

The left over frosting was put to good use. My daughter's went to town on all the left over cut-outs and did a pretty good job, too.

5,6,7,8...

This weekend my daughter and I went to the Big-Big city, (as opposed to the big city which is only 40 minutes away) for the Iowa State Dance team championships.

Can I just say... it was totally awesome. So much fun to watch my little perform with such confidence in a great big place. They took away second in the light division and had a division rating in the pom segment. They were 4 tenths away from another division rating in the kick routine, which was great, but there were some other pretty great kickers out there.

The most fun was the all guys groups. You'd think the chippendales had walked in with the way the girls all went crazy. All the boys were total nerds, but for three minutes, they were rock stars. Look out, Soulja Boy.





Big hair is alive and well in Iowa.






We also got to go to a real mall in Des Moines. A lovely, wonderful mall with Starbucks and Pottery Barn and great big giant ornaments draping off the ceilings. It's probably a good thing that I don't have access to malls like that everyday.

I'm really proud of the girls on our squad. They acted like ladies and their sportsmanship was incredible.

Click on this

Go here to decorate Jenny Harris's super cute gingerbread house with virtual candy.

So much fun. Thank you, Jenny!

Ack, it's cookie time again!

This is what I'll be doing for the next couple of days.

I will be making 24 dozen cut outs (six dozen for myself, and three other women are PAYING! me to do theirs).

I love to make cookies, but the amount of cookies I need to make is a little daunting. And here I sit blogging instead of getting busy in the kitchen.

It's a busy week, with work, cookies and I get to be a chaperone for the state drill team championship, in which my oldest daughter is a participant! Can't wait.

But first, cookies!

I'm afraid it happened too early

This morning, at 10:51 am I had that all-of-a-sudden burst of warmth in my being that can only be described as the Christmas Spirit. The urge to wrap, bake, and be merry enveloped me in a big swoosh of loving my fellow man goodness.

The only problem is that I try to hold this feeling off until after Thanksgiving, December 1st, even. I always feel like I get the most out of fall if I don't rush into the Christmas season too early. I usually feel it creeping up on me and I can push it back down, but today, it zeroed in and whammied me.

Now, how do I solve this problem? I either fully embrace my candy cane mood, (But I fear peaking too early. Nothing worse than an anti-climactic Christmas because it should have taken place on the 14th instead of the 25th.) Or I try to hold it back, only to not get it again.

I'm opting for the full embrace.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!! Blessings to you and your families.

Loving November, Re-run Style

Click here to see what I wrote last year 'round about this time. It's still applicable, so I won't fix what isn't broken.

Knitted Kimono

I am a maker of baby clothes. I am so proud. I only had to rip out six times.

Unfortunately, the baby will need to age about a year before being able to fit into it. Also, the yarn looked more feminine when it was on the skein, so I worry about it being a little boy-ish. Oh well.

Baby wear is right up there on the instant gratification scale of knitting.

Next up... Blocking and sewing up the sweater I finished for myself last winter. Then I will be an official knitter of adult wear.

Sister Swap

This month I got to have the fun experience of participating in my first internet swap.

Carrie and her sister sponsored an internet swap with "Cozy" as the theme. They paired us up and gave us a couple of interview questions about what cozy means to us and how we celebrate the holidays. Then we filled a box for each other.


Here is what I sent. The rolled up ball is the pair of wrist warmers that I showed a few posts back.

Here is what I received from Karyn. I think I definitely got the better end of the deal! I am so excited about the books, hot chocolate, bath supplies, candles... just about everthing you need for a cozy time. Even the box is cute! The dish clothes will definitely be for display only. They are too cute and nice to really use.

This was my first swap and I had a lot of fun. Thank you so much, Karyn, for the very thoughtful gifts.

There were about fifty women who participated and they are all linked over at Carrie's blog. I look forward to looking over everyone's boxes and adding new blogs to my favorites.

Bathroom before and after

My oldest daughter often complains that she feels like she is living in a baked potato. Brown and beige is the standard in our house. Not because we like it that way, it's just how it is.

I have finally taken charge of the situation! I started small with the bathroom, but colors have been chosen for the living area and the kitchen, too.


I didn't really choose the bathroom color, it sort of chose me. I am a very thrifty, frugal type. I like nice things, but if I can get it cheap, or better yet, free then I'm happy!

I thrifted this new flat bed sheet for $3.00 to turn into the shower curtain, valance and wall hanging. Not sure I like the wall hanging, but something had to go there.

The paint is a mistint that I got for $5.oo. It was extremely nice paint, no splatters or gobs or drips. I think it normally goes for $30.00 gallon. Of course, you can't choose your color for that price, but the color wasn't totally gross, so I got it.

Good bye, ugly palm trees!

It's not my dream bathroom, but it's not potato colored anymore! I think it will be nice for winter and then I will change out all the blue stuff for a pretty springy shower curtain that I got for $2.00 from another thrift store. It was new, too! It's amazing how many people donate never used things.

I purchased a new paint brush, some rollers, and blue tape. My project total probably came to under $35.00. Makes me wonder why I wait so long to make a change.

Clean Sheet Day!

Clean sheet day is the best day of the week. And the best night of sleep. I always take a shower right before bed on clean sheet day. Ahh! Fresh jammies, clean hair and unrumpled, vanilla lavendar softened sheets. Yum.

That is why these pants really appeal to me. Ingenious to use high thread count, softened over the years sheet fabric to make pajama bottoms. I don't know why I didn't think of it before.

Reducing, re-using and recycling at it's best.