Keep a Child Alive

Hey ya'll!  Today I got my hair done, and since it was the last time before Christmas, it was GiFt TiMe!  : )  My favorite time, heehee. (really!)  I have been thinking about it for a while, and I have a guy who does my hair, so that's impossible, but he has this precious wife-and an adorable little girl!  So, I thought of them (sorry, Taylor).  I made a towel for their kitchen:

Not so impressive, but it was something for the grown-ups.

The real fun was for their adorable little girl, Stella!  I just love to make things, and to have someone to sew for-ahh..perfect! : )  So, I worked on a plan.  I had gotten her a bath towel (pink, of course!), then I set out looking for fabric to match.  It was a medium pink, not too pale, and not too hot-pink.  I found a great toile (pale lime skinny stripes and pink trees & people) with some lime green in it, so I used lime green embroidery thread.  I picked the dot font and applique, and here it is (I'd already folded it, so I don't have a good one just of the embroidery-that darn bow is in the way!):

I used pink for the bow (again-sorry, Taylor!), then I stuck their little towel in the bow too!

It took an hour to sew it!  Remember it stitches the outline, then I place the fabric, then another outline, next I trim the fabric, and finally it does the pretty stitches.  Then really last, it stitches out the name-this is a great font with tight stitches, so it took about 25 minutes for the name.  These are not things I can whip out (actually I don't know how long it takes until I load the design in my machine!).  I was so happy with it!  (if I'd had a daughter named Stella I probably would have kept it!)  Here's a close up:

Scrumptious!  Now, my kids need one..don't yours?

My hair always takes most of the day-I think it's because I don't go in till 10, and he didn't rinse my color till after 12!  I was starting to worry that my hair would fall out, I have to say I got a little stressed.  He doesn't use a dryer, so it takes at least 40 minutes to process.  It's a little darker this time, but I always complain about my roots, so I think he's trying to blend it, but keep me light (impossible, I know).


Anyway, after that was errands, more prescriptions and some fabric/thread at Jo-Anne's (I'm really liking that place!).  I can't find the stabilizer I love, so I'll have to order it online.  I hate that I can't buy it locally, since I have to use it.  I always have to make sure to have some for back-up!  I'm actually making three cups to sell this week for teacher gifts!  Someone saw the SHS ones, and liked them.  I'll take pictures of them when they are finished.  I think I'm doing zebra, polka dots, and maybe something sophisticated...like leopard (heehee).  I'll show you.  It's a good thing I keep my camera by my desk and sewing machine.  I like to take pictures partly because I forget what I've done, and if I have a picture, I can remember!  Two Christmases ago, I did over 70 designs for cups/tumblers, and I've totally forgotten what fabric/thread I used.  Even my little jump drives (USB portable drives) stop working after a while, and I lose my designs.  I have 8 now, but only two work. : (  I'll have to figure out how to harvest my stuff...

In other reality news..there was a small incident on the bus today (just a naughty joke about a wiener), but we got mad, and I'm not letting them ride for a while.  I'll call the school tomorrow to complain about the dirty joke-teller, but both my kids heard (thank the Lord they didn't know what the boy was talking about), and they are too young for that junk.  I am always a little sad they don't want me to pick them up anyway.  I like the pick up line, and getting the kids, and I really like the 15-20 minutes of reading in the car!  I just won't do it if I'm home!

Our phone isn't working (and our internet is only half-working!), so we are having it serviced tomorrow.  They were kind enough to narrow our window of be-home time down to 8:00-3:00 (from 8am-7pm!).  Umm..I have a life!  I have to take Ethan to gymnastics, and then pick up the kids (heehee) minimum.  I guess I'll leave a note with my be-back time?  Crazy.  The phones are hilarious (if you don't need them): you pick them up, dial, and hear non-stop dial tone.  And if someone calls the house?  You hear them, but they can't hear you.  Hard to have a phone conversation with no sound. ; )


I really hope we get it cleared up!  For the first two years we lived here, we could hear our one of our neighbors' conversations, but they couldn't hear us screaming that we could hear them!  It finally got fixed (or they heard us?), so we don't know what's up at their house anymore. : )  I really like my phone-it's a connection to the world, but my cell phone is the one I can't give up!


Today is a big day.  First day of Hanukkah (light your first candle!), the 55th anniversary of the day Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white person (which sparked a boycott, and changed the rules! You go, Girl!), and World AIDS Day (text your favorite celebrity's name to 90999 to donate $10 to the Keep a Child Alive Campaign, see BuyLife.org or here for story)..we have to realize how blessed we are to live in a healthy country with sanitary water, food, and social rules against abuse.  We value life (most of us do), and contribute to the good of the world.  Oh, praise the Lord for the peace we've earned, and the peace we owe.  Please help us give life to others.  We have no future if we can't help others.

"Service is the best anti-depressant" : )

Selling Teeth

An average day in my life, and I loved it. : )  I got my oil changed, got my hair done (Happy Birthday, Taylor!), got groceries, unloaded groceries at home, read for a few minutes, got to talk to April, picked up Ethan, made him a new track for his cars...cleaned up the house while the bug man came to spray.  Then we had leftovers for dinner!
I had SO much food in the refrigerator (because I've been cooking lately!), so we had to eat it or throw it away-there was no more room!  We had lasagna, chicken & potato corn chowder, roast beef, black-eyed peas, pizza, strawberries, and salad!  We very rarely all eat differently, but I just had to clean out the fridge!

I heated the pool for the kids this evening, and they SWAM!  I had been out there trimming the crazy wild wisteria-it was taking over the pergola and the chairs, and the table, and the nearby trees, and was trying to reach the pool!  Usually I tie it back, but I grabbed a pair of scissors off the table, and just started cutting!  I had quite a pile by the time I finished, but you could finally make out a square-ish shape above, and it made me happy.  I straightened all the chairs and pillows, and it started looking like someone loved it again. : )  Ches watched the kids, and I cleaned up the kitchen (all those dishes and pans!), and then I worked on floors, counters, did laundry, folded..I was SO glad to get stuff done, it felt awesome!  (I know I'm weird, but I *love* a clean house, so it requires I clean.  And weirder, I really like to clean-I don't know if it's making order from chaos, or just the finished product..maybe I'll think on it...)

The kids were so tired by 7 when they came in! : )  I got them all washed, jammied, and then snack and bed.  It was a great evening.  I love those nights when we don't have to go anywhere!  I love that the kids are involved in things, but it is so nice to just work on spelling words, eat slowly, lay out their clothes for tomorrow, and talk and read with them.


Clay pulled another tooth yesterday-he's really working on buying stock!  I'm kinda starting to get worried.  I hope he's only pulling baby teeth!  He's my oldest, so I really don't know what to expect from their teeth.  He's lost and regrown his main front top and bottom four.  That's all I know about!  Who teaches moms about these things?  BTW: your kids will lose other teeth: namely, little un-named teeth that are not in the front!  I hereby promise to inform you as I learn. : ) heehee


Last thing: I started another book (I love to read more than I love to clean..I think), called Women, Food, and God.  It's a good book, and I'm learning..  I'm only on the third or fourth chapter so far.  She's not someone I'd follow absolutely (she is pretty iffy on God), but she has great theory.  We eat to "escape" what we are living, to avoid what's happening.  But then we put on weight, and that's our new problem-but we like that problem, since it gives us something to do, something to focus on other than our problems we're escaping.  But, really it's easier to live in the now, and face what we are escaping from.  I know this is a really brief synopsis, but I agree.  (I'm all about stuffing my mouth with chocolate to keep me quiet!  And as the endorphins come, I feel better, and everyone thanks me for shutting up!)  I'll let you know if there's more. : )  I think I could read anything and learn.  I like to read product packaging and instructions too.  I'll try to keep other weird habits to myself. : )

Conditioned to Wash

My hairstylist told me last week to try to not wash my hair with shampoo every other time in the summer-just to use conditioner and scrub my scalp.  His wife had been doing it, and her hair looked great!  So..I tried it.  It looks great right after you dry it, but later on...not so much.  Ick.  I'm NOT into dirty hair, and it doesn't look clean, so you can bet I won't try it again!  I mean, you are going through the motions, scrubbing, rinsing, drying, styling...so don't I want the fulll *clean* effect?  The answer is: Yes.  Don't try this at home (unless your hair is really dry-maybe in winter?)

I am addicted to something new (surprise!).  It is digital scrapbooking software by Stampin' Up! called My Digital Studio.  It is SUper Cool! and I figured out how to use it (Even Better!).  It is so much easier than my fancy-schmancy Photoshop Elements (which I still don't really know how to use).  After a bunch more learning...I figured out to save a page as a .jpg so here's one of the pages I created!  I have started with our Disney pix from this April-this is page 2-right as we got into the park on the first day-fun!

This is just me throwing some elements, journaling, and pictures together.  Talk about having time to scrapbook now-woohoo!  Then you just send them to be printed-talk about easy.  It came with tons of elements (like scrapbook papers, punches, buttons, ribbons, etc.), but I also got some free digikits from 2 Peas.  And they work!  I've bought a bunch of fonts from them, and they save all my downloads, so if I lose them, get a new computer (it happens!), I can still access them!  They are great-and check out their sample projects with each product-they are SO creative.  I can only look for so long, and I'm hooked again.  When we get back (oh yeah-we are going on vacation!), I downloaded a coffee-cup book I'm going to make when I get back.  It uses a starbucks tall cup as the cover (you'll just have to see it...let's see if I can find a picture..)

I know it's not super clear-but how cute is that?  A little more sturdy than my paper bag books-and we could branch out to making a book out of AnYtHiNg if you can make a book out of a REAL Starbucks cup! : )

We are headed out on an adventure starting tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted.  We are headed to high places. ; )

Obsessing

The days are getting shorter, I think. There's just not enough time in the day. Is this a perennial problem, or annual (heehee)?

We've been staging a house for a few days, and last night the electricity went out on us-and ScArEd me to death! I was just sure it was a stranger cutting the power, and coming in on us! (It was not, thank goodness!) But it's coming along. It looks sooo much better! I'll get some pictures up in a couple days, because...

Ps: did I tell you a dropped a dozen eggs on the floor? A dozen, out-of-date, eggs I was trying to crack into the sink to wash away oldness? And they went off balance, and fell onto the floor and the edges of my cute Company C rug? Boo. Hoo. : (

Pps: Now I have hair *at the top of my head* that is only about 2 inches long. Talk about layered. : P

I had a REAL Mother's Day Out! Fabulous.

Today was a great day!
I dropped off Ethan at MDO, ran to Target to return the shoes *that I had the receipt for!* then to Gap to try on clothes for almost two hours, then to Guido's for a pizza, then to get my hair done (much brighter!) then to Underwoods to get my ring cleaned (and use their not-so-nice bathroom, seriously-needs a makeover) and peruse the things I won't buy (Faberge eggs), then to Mr. Burger for a whirly thing (m&m chocolate thing), then to WM to meet mom for a minute, then home to make dinner, kids to church, home, blog... Ethan bath, and get ready for tomorrow!

I'm a little worried about the weather tomorrow. ACH just called to remind us of our appt (a machine person, of course) so we couldn't chit chat about the upcoming weather. Ches kinda wanted me to go on down tonight and spend the night, but I've got things to do! I had the lofty goal of making Emily a new pump pouch (since we are meeting her and her mom, Junko, for lunch tomorrow!!), but we'll see. Mary Claire also presents her famous american on Friday, so I also had the other lofty goal of making her a costume, but -ha! She just wants to wear a shirt, tie, and (Clay's new jacket) to dress like Milton Hershey, holding a chocolate bar with brown around her mouth. I wanted to make her a big brown felt (with white letters) chocolate bar jumper (think big brown rectangle with shoulder straps). She said no. I should thank her, but I'm sad. She would rather dress man-like than chocolate-like. Shocking.

Ok, I called Gap-Promenade-and asked them to hold all my great finds till Friday (since I forgot I'm taking Mary Claire to Arkansas Children's Hospital tomorrow!), and they said, sure! Well, I called Gap-Scottsdale Center-to hold my other two items over there (since they had my size), and they said no! He said he'd "get in trouble" for holding things over 24 hours. Imagine that-wanting to lose a sale! Jared said he can't hold things over 24 hours! He's got some nerve! If business was super-good, I'd understand, but don't they need SALES!?
I emailed Gap, and would love a response. I just think it's crazy. The whole two hours I was in Gap, not ONE other person came in (which means I got loads of help!).
Cliff's (Holly's) Notes:
Gap Promenade: GREAT (will stay in business)
Gap Scottsdale Center: HORRIBLE (will be gone in less than a year)

Ok, just got the rest of a cute font. I can now (hopefully) do a proper monogram. I like the curly letters/more cursive but not laying down slanted. I'll try them out when I get a chance.... ha!

Alright, hope our coming snow doesn't hamper life in your zip code. I am hoping to get on down to LR so I don't have to reschedule and do this all over again. We'll see what happens. I guess I'd rather reschedule than take my chances on the huge 40 foot high bridges on 540. Ches thinks I should pack a bag for us, just-in-case. I'd rather stay home. I'm not feeling adventure-y today!

ps: happy thought today: don't you just LOVE that time while your color processes and you get to read junky magazines about who wore what and where? And you forget about dishes and laundry and dinner? Self-absorbed, I know, but just for an hour or so. Luxury, in an attainable fashion. Just what I needed. : )

2nd happy thought: how much fun is it to try a shirt on in EVERY color and pick your favorite? And try three pairs of jeans on that are the same (same size, same style, same color) just to see which are the best (shortest legs, loosest legs)? Woo. Hoo. and chocolate in the SAME day! (sorry for those of you abstaining from sweets. Susan).

Two-a-Day Vitamins better than one?

Ok, when my nose looks young, and the rest of my face doesn't, you can tell people behind my back why... I've been so sick, and had to blow my nose so many times, that my nose is raw and chapped. And I'm using (slimy) lotion tissues. So, too much "drainage" to use a more polite word. So, I'm using my regular liquid moisturizer on my face (with a tiny bit of self tanner), and mucho strong, thick anti-aging creme on my nose, under it, lips, etc. Then I follow up with by Blistex chapstick, sometimes Mentholatum under my nose...my cocktail changes each night depending on whether I have more pain or more snot/congestion. Yep, fun stuff. Advil Cold & Sinus is good for drying it up (for about 2-3 hours), and Mucinex makes it drip out-not good for mixed company. ; )

So, I got my hair done! Yay! : ) (You think I'd miss an appt. for my Nose? Heck, no! I can self-medicate like the best of 'em!) It's so much better now, and I went a little shorter. It grew so much in the past month. I think it's the vitamins I've switched to: One-a-Day Energy. They have more B6 and B12 for energy. I think they really help! I mean this morning (sick and all), I got the kids' rooms cleaned, two toilets cleaned, two loads of laundry, my bed made, got together a little more paperwork for the CPA, called State Farm (and boohoo'd a little) about my estimate of costs and the check they sent-not nearly enough. Anyway, got lots done. And my hair! : )

Got Mary Claire new insulin at Collier's, got more bobbins at the Sewing Center, dropped off the paperwork I'd gathered, mailed the letters/pump pouch (for real this time), ahhh... back home, kids home, Mom still watching Ethan, Ches working hard in the back yard! Mom convinced me he needed a chainsaw, so I ran to Lowe's (and got Mary Claire her new swing!) to get one, and ran back home. By the time I got home, Ches was done with ALL the wood-he'd cut it all by hand! : O

Ok, and the funny, not-so-funny thing: When I left, I could see Clay and his two friends over by one of the wood piles in the front yard (from the street down below). Well, apparently Mom saw them from the house about the same time. One of his friends was PeeING on the wood! Ohmygosh! Not at my house! She got onto them, and told them never again, and if they needed to go, they should go home to the bathroom. Well, one of them said Clay'd done it too, but he swears he didn't (when questioned seriously this evening). Who to believe? (right answer should be my son) I really didn't want to tattle to the other mom (second time of not tattling in about a month-ahh-keeping it inside is yuck.), but I told Clay that I'd call and ask the boys if he did it too (why did I care so much?). He said he told them it was okay, and that was his part in it. He seemed to feel bad about that, and promised he didn't pee in the front yard. I can't imagine him out there-he will barely get undressed to take a bath in his own house! I guess parents with only boys wouldn't freak out, but girls would never in a million years even consider something like that.

Then, made dinner, took MC to gymnastics (took Ethan too, he loves to go bye-bye!), came home, gave boys baths, took Ethan to go pick up Mary Claire, Ches took Clay to cub scouts, back home, Mary Claire bath (and Ethan bath #2), then snacks, changed Mary Claire's pump site, Mary Claire to bed (cried about no book because: see following), Ethan threw up/gagged on snack all over his jammies and blankie (!) while I was trying to help Clay with his homework (writing a book report on his favorite book he read this week). Ethan continued to cry about the (now being washed) blankie. We gave him substitute blankies to no avail. Finally, I went up, took him with me to Clay's room to get Clay's blankie and rocked him for a while. He calmed down, and finally went to sleep. His "kiki" is in the dryer (maybe done now?), and he'll have it soon.

And, Grey's Anatomy (and they said it'd be a crossover show-Liars. It is so to-be-continued since there's been no crossing over yet!) (and why didn't he propose to Meredith already?!) and blogging in the commercials. And now I'm tired!

Now I remember why I started taking those energy vitamins!

Home Again

I'm just speechless. The outside is horrific, and the inside has water stains on the ceilings, a stick through the ceiling, water stuff leaked out the fridge, I had to catalog everything I threw away, clean out the fridge(s)/freezers, clean the hearth room of sheetrock and insulation. Bought new groceries at WM, stocked them, tallied up amount of groceries ($741-no exaggeration). I'm tired, it's now 1:42am, and I'm supposed to have a CPA appt. at 9am-yeah, right. I have the insurance adjuster at 10:30am, which is more important right now.
Did I mention I missed my hair appt. last Tuesday? I have icky roots. Also, very important right now. Must get sleep for more chaos in morning. Have to clean floors! ONly got vacuuming done. Oh, and laundry. Sleep well, electricity-bearers. : )