Late Night Crafter

Muddling through and catching up ...

2011-01-11T21:40:00.000-05:00

So, here we are on the 11th of the month ... so far I've put away all our Christmas decorations (in the attic where they belong) and have started going through the random boxes and piles filled with paperwork that seem to have accumulated between Labor Day (when we have our annual barbeque) and Christmas. (Yes, I will admit that in order to present a lovely, clean and organized looking home, I go through our house and clean the "public viewing" areas by throwing everything in a box that I don't need immediate access to. Don't judge me.)


M.O. Signature Binder - Photo courtesy of seejanework.com

As I go through all of these papers, I'm sorting them into my newly developed Project Binder. What's this you ask? Well ... it's a lovely purple binder that was neglected for oh, 2 years that I had sitting on my bookshelf and decided to use along with the box of page protectors and package of dividers that were there even longer. I love these binders ... cute inside pattern, pretty purple color and a little cut out to easily pull off the shelf. Since I have umpteen hobbies and interests, I divvied the sections into the following: Scrapbooking, Knitting, Cooking & Baking, Quilting/Sewing and General Projects. After I sorted through most of my paperwork I slipped my printouts of projects, patterns and ideas into the page protectors. Now instead of trying to remember if I printed something, archived it in emails or simply just haven't thought of it in a while it'll all be in one place.

After that mess was organized, why not continue? While my niece and husband played his new Batman Wii game that he got for Christmas, I emptied out our 2 front hall closets ... the surprise storage area for my quilting and sewing projects. Oy vey. I have quite the little stash going. I went through my fabric for a couple of upcoming projects that I need to get working on ... and the rest of the closet contents are still sitting on the floor in our front hallway. (Luckily we don't have visitors coming through the front door in the next couple of days.)

Here's where the muddling through comes in ... the hubby is sick, we're expecting anywhere close to a foot of snow tomorrow ... which means that I'm hoping so very very much that it will snow so badly that I will justifiably have to call out from work. If that happens ... then I'll be able to attack the mess in the front hall and be done with it. Once that's done, please don't worry - I'll have plenty more to organize. Namely the boxes that have the "organized" crap in it that I've sorted through.

I have to say ... after proof reading this, I realize how pathetic this little organizational feat sounds ... but it makes me happy, so I'll live with accepting that!

This weekend ...

2011-01-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I think this weekend may be it. I want to go through our house room by room and list (here's where I wish I had a little mini recorder, but I guess I could leave myself a voice mail, huh?) everything that I want done or thrown out or moved or SOMETHING in every room.

Ambitious? Yes. Will the hubs think I'm nuts? Of course. (What else is new?) ... But on my quest to be committed this year (not institutionalized, mind you) .... I need a really good and reasonable plan of action. I think one room a month isn't a bad idea.

Now, it's off to bed ... there's supposedly a snow storm coming in NY ... as per the lines at the grocery store (and the weather report). I'll believe it when I see it!

Welcoming 2011 with open arms

2011-01-02T18:54:00.003-05:00

It's not that 2010 was a bad year ... it just was, if you know what I mean. Come December, I felt like I had been sideswiped by a moving truck ... Christmas came out of no where, and I was probably the most unprepared for it that I've ever been. Forget about no time - I didn't even know what weekend it was most weeks!

Anyway ... it's over, all we have to do is put the boxes of Christmas stuff back in the attic and life will be back to normal ... which brings us to 2011.

As I'm sure many of you have seen in blog-land, Ali Edwards had started this little phenomenon called One Little Word. Thinking about my life, the year to come and what my plans for it are ... coming up with one little word that epitomizes this for me. I've "done" this for the past couple of years ... thinking long and hard about a word and it's meaning for me and my intentions ... then, I forget about it until I start seeing it come up around December.

This year though, I'm trying again. Call this word self-inspired ... but my 2011 word is:

–noun 1. the act of committing. 2.the state of being committed. 3. the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself. 4. a pledge or promise; obligation: We have made a commitment to pay our bills on time. 5. engagement; involvement: They have a sincere commitment to religion.

(Definitions 6 - 12 weren't all that applicable, so I nixed them ... who needs talk of being committed to an institution so early in the year anyway?)

Here's a couple of reasons why I chose it ... I'm usually the go-to girl for everything and everyone. I stress (I call it stress, but really it's just some small fretting) about what I'm going to make for dinner - not for me ... but for my husband, who let's be honest here, couldn't really care if it was hot dogs with french fries or a roasted chicken with all the trimmings (meaning he's just thankful I cook our meals and loves whatever I put in front of him). I make sure I call my mom (remember ... we live in a 2 family house together) to find out if she needs something from the store if I'm going because (gasp!) what if I actually came home and she needed a box of cereal because in 2 days she was going to be out? (You see where I'm going here, right?) Like a good percentage of women all around the world, I worry about and prioritize everyone and everything but me. There are so many things that I have said I wanted to do, make or go to that just don't happen. Granted, there are times that I just don't *feel* like going to do said things, but there are also times where I think that it's more important to go run errands, clean or do something that someone has asked me to because my just somehow isn't as important. I change my plans before the hat is even dropped if it'll make someone else's life easier.

I also know that for myself I try to take on way too many things. It's just part of my personality. I look at things and think "oh, I could make that!" and then they get filed away in my emails (all 2,000 of them somehow sitting in my in-box ... thank God for g-mail!) and forgotten about until I find myself searching for something else.

This year, I'm going to stop doing that. I'm going to commit to doing the things that I want. To finishing projects that I say "oh, I'll do that Saturday" and then I'm somehow doing something else that is no where near what I wanted to be doing and the project is still undone 6 months later. I'm not going to feel guilty about saying "No" and I'm going to give into some of my guilty pleasures ... like curling up on the couch and finishing a book in a day - just because that's what I wanted to do. I'm committing myself to being a better manager of my time; of letting go of the DVR (hubby, if you're reading this ... it'll be okay ... I promise ... I won't abandon all our shows) and moving myself into my craft room to CREATE. I'm so happy when I accomplish these things - and I don't know why I don't carve out the time to do it more often.

How am I doing all of this? With baby steps ... and I think organization. This morning I pulled out a binder, some page protectors, a lined pad and some dividers and made myself a Project Binder. I'm tired of having all these papers around or emails linking myself to projects that once archived away, I hardly ever look at again. I think seeing these ideas will prompt me to act on them more. At least, that's my hope. It'll also be a fun way for me to kind of keep track of all that I can accomplish. As to the guilt ... I know that I'm the only one that puts this on myself ... and the only cure for that is to stop doing it to myself. No one's standards or expectations are as high as the ones that I put upon myself, so I just need to learn to loosen up a little and let myself enjoy the days and moments as they come.

What about you? What is your "One Little Word" and how are you going to go about living it?

~ B

A Week in the Life

2010-04-19T22:54:00.000-04:00

So I've tried the 365 daily.

I've even tried A Week in the Life probably the first or second time Ali Edwards did it.

I don't do well with structure in my personal (read: my very own) life. With the hubby there's a bit more success ... when it's just me? Well, other things take over.

In my usual ass-backwards fashion, I decide on the ride home from work tonight to participate in this:

No idea what I'll be structuring it as ... but that's okay. It'll be reality, and that apparently is a good thing! Wish me luck!

Celebrating 50 years together

2010-04-18T00:44:00.000-04:00

Today we celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Nothing huge - just family ... but it was terrific. I was the "coordinator" for everything. My parents didn't want any of us to go to the expense of throwing them a party ... so they gave the party, and I handled the rest. I'm not exactly sure how I managed to pull it all off, but everything came together.

My sister made them a DVD with pictures from the family through the years, which they absolutely loved. We had pictures of them placed around the house, along with their wedding album, which everyone loved looking through. As part of their gift I'll be making them a scrapbook of the party. We asked everyone to write a little note wishing them well ... and we also took video of everyone doing the same. (That should be interesting to edit, knowing some family members .... )

My parents have been through ups & downs, like any couple after a long period of time together ... but they have taught me how to stick with it. The fact that you may not like your spouse every single day, but you will always love them. How to keep a family strong, roll with the punches and know what to make important and what to dismiss as insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

These 2 are amazing people. Committed to each other through thick and thin ... and there have been both! I can only hope to have my marriage stand the test of time as well and for as long as theirs has.

Amazing when you think about it ... all because my mother went to buy car wax at Pep Boy's ..... all because my father's boss suggested that he go help her after work. All because two people fell in love .....

How is it April ... and why do I miss my knitting class?

2010-03-31T18:31:00.000-04:00

As of tomorrow ... it's APRIL people! When did this happen? And why does it seem like 2010 is FLYING by already? Maybe the fact that i wasn't working in 2009 factors into the "this year feels like forever" category.

So as I mentioned, I've been knitting along like a good little knitter (contrary to said knitting teacher's opinions ... ) and I'm really enjoying it. I love some of the yarns ... and well, that has lead me to purchase some pastel-like yarn with which I have no inkling of what to make. My poor goddaughter, Norah will most likely be gifted these little creations, because let's face it - who else can pull off multi-colored pastel items like nobody's business but a 6 month old adorable little girl?

I think I pulled about 6 different possibilites ... but here again - I find myself hindering myself. I refuse to buy a knitting pattern when I know there are so many cute ones out there available for free ... but I have neither the time nor the patience to sift through them to see if I can find exactly what I want.

Then what I want has to be something with instructions I can understand since I don't have another class till next Tuesday. (Easter break and all that ... )

As to my hat ... The band looks fabulous. I have started and ripped out and restarted the actual hat part about 4 times now and I'm just thinking that I will have to get it ready to restart once again for Tuesday night. This activity should amuse my husband because the ripping out part usually happens right next to him while we're watching TV and he doesn't realize it until I start re-rolling the yarn. The poor boy.

Easter on the other hand .... is SUNDAY! (I feel like a monster truck commercial ... Sunday SUNDAY SUNDAY ... ) Totally came up on me unexpectedly and well ... we're joint-hosting again with my parents (I do the majority of the cooking and they insist on providing the food ... which works for me) ... so it'll be a busy Friday - Sunday morning.

Two weeks later, we're having a 50th anniversary party for my parents - nothing huge, but sill around 20 - 25 people and I want to make sure it's special, memorable and perfect for them. Note to self ... get on top of that project!

I did try and find a slew of pictures to make an album for them with ... but no such luck. Not really a lot of photos of the two of them together throughout the early years. I think my sister is making a photo-collage disc ... so we'll see what that winds up to be. Maybe it'll be a post-party gift to them with all the pictures I can make sure get taken at the actual party. (Yeah, that sounds like a better idea!)

That's it for my little update right now. I'm off to make meatloaf & mashed potatoes for dinner. Hopefully it'll be done in time! :)

Long time, no blog ...

2010-03-19T21:49:00.000-04:00

It kinda stinks that I can automatically tell that I haven't blogged in 18 days. Made my husband yell at me. (Not yell yell ... just "What do you mean you haven't blogged?" yell. (Thanks honey. You're supposed to remind me BEFORE that long passes!)

So what have I been up to since March 1st? Trying to re-acclimate myself to being a working girl. I have been forgetting that I don't have as much time as I used to to get things done ... and that I have a daily obligation to do work at work. (Strange concept, huh?) So besides discovering that my new boss is a secret paper hoarder that I am having weekly interventions with ... I also signed up for a knitting class and have been working away on that quilt I keep talking about. Oh ... yeah - and we can't forget I've actually been having a pretty busy social life too. (Well, busy for my standards.)

The knitting ...

I've been wanting to take a knitting class for well over a year now. I blame my cousin, Lynn for this. She has been knitting for a couple of years now - and brings these beautiful projects to work on when she visits from Massachusetts for the occasional weekend. Enabler, I say. So one weekend, we went to my local yarn store where I found the most beautiful multi-color merino wool yarn. It had purples, maroons, blues ... just such a pretty blend ... so I got it.

I made my very first scarf. Love the scarf. Get compliments on it constantly. I had (so I thought) the basics down. I kept an eye out for the newsletter for the shop, and they had some beginner classes. WAY too out of my price range. Just couldn't justify the cost for 3 "beginner" classes anyway. So ... I waited. And waited. Then .... just as I started my job, I get the flyer for our local school district's Adult Ed courses. I hemmed and hawed about it for over a week, then signed up just a few days before the first class. 8 weeks ... 1 night per week ... $30. I couldn't go wrong! So now, Tuesdays are my knitting nights with two other ladies and the sweet older woman that teaches. The same sweet, older woman that looked at the other beginner knitter watching her cast on, and said "You'll be a good knitter." and then looked at me casting on and said "You'll be okay." Talk about a motivator!

My name is Beverly and I like to prove people wrong.

What am I knitting, you ask? I decided to be ambitious and try to make this beautiful hat from a free pattern I found online here ... isn't it pretty? So after much nightly amusement of hearing me muffle my cursing on my end of the couch ... I am now just about half-way through the little braid-looking band on the bottom of the hat. How the heck I'm supposed to make the top of the hat, I have no idea ... but I'll muddle through with some actual cursing and figure it all out. And by George, it'll be the best damn hat in the class! ;)

The quilt ...

For whatever reason, it's feeling like this quilt is taking forever. A few miscalculations on the amount of borders & backing I needed wasted some time as I tried going back to the store thinking that they'd have it in stock, then having to go online and re-order. Thankfully my friends' mom isn't in an all-fire rush to get it! (Maybe that's the real reason I don't have a fire under me to finish it?) Hopefully it'll be worth the wait when I give it to her. (I'm crazily aiming for the 28th when I'm going down to visit my friend.)

And that, my lovely blog readers, is what I've been up to! What about you? Been doing anything fun?

Happy Birthday Honey

2010-03-01T23:37:00.000-05:00

I love this picture. This picture inspired me for so many little things in my wedding. Truth be told ... this picture has inspired me for a lot of little things throughout my life. It's my grandparents - Ann & Emil on their honeymoon in Atlantic City.

Today is my grandmother's birthday. She would've been 99. Maybe it's silly to say that ... but its something that I think about every year since she's been gone. Honey (that's what we called her) taught us all so much. Such an amazing woman.

I love you and miss you every day ... and so much more than I could've ever imagined.
I thank you for teaching me what you have ... and for guiding me as I know you are.
You'll always be with me. Always.

I love you, Honey.

Spring in the air (for today anyway)

2010-02-21T01:21:00.000-05:00

Today was GORGEOUS. So beautiful in fact, that I forced my husband outside to play catch with me. (I told you that I make him do strange things.) Nothing crafty to report, but just sharing that for today at least ... I was outside enjoying the sunshine and crisp air before more snow comes with us.

How about you? Getting out from under all the winter blahs?

What I've been up to ...

2010-02-18T19:17:00.001-05:00

Let's just say that I now understand why we're given children as infants ... we need the time to adjust to them! Watching my 9 yr. old niece for 3 days really tired us out ... not to mention screwing up our routine!! But ... I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Love her.

After bedtime, I was able to squeeze in quite a few projects (surprisingly!).

Christmas Ornaments
First ... a little late for Christmas ... or is it a little early? I had made personalized Christmas balls for my in-laws my first Christmas with my hubby. Needless to say, I didn't include one for myself (didn't want to be presumptuous) or for his other grandparents (only one was living with them at that time) ... fast forward to our 5th year together ... I decided it was time to follow through and get all the grandparents done ... and as I type this, I've realized that I still have to do another one for me for their tree! (Pardon the background and poor lighting ... I wanted to get these done & up!)

Coffee Cozy & TomTom holder

My sister has been pestering me since Christmas to knit her a holder for her TomTom navigation system. (Yes, there are premade ones out there that are probably better, but asking me to do it is cheaper.) So ... I put together some crafty things that she's been liking of mine for her birthday. (Still debating on whether or not I can finish a pair of fingerless gloves by the time I see her!)

Valentine's Day/Anniversary

My husband and I started dating in the beginning of February ... I like to make sure we remember this anniversary as well as our Wedding Anniversary ... and usually I wind up making him a small album at least once a year. I wasn't going to this year (for the stupidest of all reasons ... I couldn't come up with a good "theme" ... but then I decided that I needed to do one. One night, about 4 hours later (thank goodness for some Library of Memories organization!) and voila! A mini-album on his bedside table for him to look at and cherish (and thankfully, he does - cherish them.)

One thing I love about this album was that it is literally just pictures and journaling. I didn't need to go all-out with a page. I got down what I wanted to relay to my husband and took some of the pictures that I loved to tell that story. PERFECT. I don't even mind that my handwriting isn't the best in the world - it's totally authentically me - and that's 100% okay!

Journaling reads: Our 5 month anniversary, The first time I realized just how much you listened and paid attention. After a passing comment on our 2nd or 3rd date about loving Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when I was little, you surprised me with tickets to the new Broadway show. It still amazes me 5 years later how you pick up on the little things ... both in what I say and what I look at. I'm so lucky to have one of "those" husbands ... the one everyone wishes for ... the one who can really pull off a perfect present without being led straight to it. Granted ... it probably helps that once I look at or talk about something I like, I tend to forget about it!
Journaling reads: 10 weddings in 5 years. Six of them within one year. Part of me sometimes dreads seeing those invitations in the mail. Weddings are expensive - to throw and attend ... and you've got A LOT of single friends and family ... still! Then ... there's the other part ... the one that LOVES being dressed up along side you, looking so very handsome in your suit and tie. I love being there next to you. I love that you don't mind dancing with me. I appreciate that you love to socialize and have a damn good time at most weddings and am happy to supply the safe drive home when needed. Besides ... I really just love showing you off whenever I can!

Journaling reads: Why does it seem like every vacation we have must include some unplanned adventure built in? On our trip to Las Vegas, we dealt with the relationship issues of others. In Vermont, you kept dropping the ring as you tried for the perfect moment. Then ... there was Aruba. Who else has the best Honeymoon stories but us? A double ear infection, the wave runners, the lovely Jeep excursion and the drinking bus. Through it all, we just keep moving forward, taking care of each other when needed and most definitely laughing. After all, we at least get some great stories out of all this!

Journaling reads: OH ... my Johnny. The things you do for me. You grunt and moan and try to reason me out of my so called crazy ideas, but in the end ... (most times) you let me win. (and yes - I know you LET me.) This picture is often the result. Outside with me and my camera. You get the job of being my subject as I search for the "perfect" photo. You crack me up every time. You make me be more free and more fun - two things I always need more of. Now the question is - can you take another 50 years of this? (Please? :) )

Journaling reads: Together. That's us ... always. Five years later, I really thought the desire to be with each other as much as possible would fade. It hasn't. I still want to be snuggling on the couch instead of being somewhere else in the house doing something else. Luckily for me - you still like having me around, and love snuggling just as much as I do!

By the way ... is the light colored text annoying to any of you? Trying to figure out a "theme" on this blog and stick to it ... so help me help you! :) Let me know what you prefer seeing (plain background, black text, etc.)

I haven't forgotten!

2010-02-16T08:56:00.000-05:00

We're watching my niece for a couple of days (since Sunday) so snuggling on the couch watching the Olympics has taken priority over the computer. I'll post about my weekend creations tomorrow!

Back to work (literally) ...

2010-02-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

After being unemployed for WAY too long (in my humble, unbiased opinion, of course) I am finally back at work. This isn't something I talk about much to people. Well ... not even just "people" .... really - I don't talk about it much with anyone other than my husband. But here, my blog-land friends ... here, we share in safe place. :) We won't go into the details of my little stay in unemployment land ... but we will say that now ... now we're employed and so far, liking it and the people associated with it.

Which leads me to the purpose of my post. I'm TIRED. I'm not getting up much earlier than I did while I was home ... and I'm not going to bed much later (not on school nights anyway) ... but dear Lord ... I'm just sleepy this week. I'm guessing it has to do with being "on" and being in front of people. Guess it just doesn't take that much energy to be "on" with paper and fabric, huh?

I'm VERY much looking forward to this weekend though. My dear hubby has to work all weekend - so that means that other than whatever errands are a must ... I can hole myself up in my craft room and finally get stuff DONE! I'm planning on being a busy little bee and having a bunch of new things to share and list. (More on that later though.)

For now ... (YAWWWN) ... Good night, internet.

Why am I still up and online?

2010-01-27T02:50:00.000-05:00

It's 2:48am ... and I'm still surfing around online. What is wrong with me? I told my husband I was going to bed over an hour ago! I did finally get one thing accomplished though - I cleared out my Google reader after almost a week of having anywhere between 300 - 500 unread posts. It was hard to do, but I persevered and of course came out with tons of cute ideas. I just can't click "mark all as read" and feel okay about it.

I'm glad I can sleep in tomorrow. I think I'm going to need it. I'll have to remind my internal alarm to be quiet though.

Project Photos

2010-01-26T18:41:00.000-05:00

As promised ... pictures of the few things that I've been up to. Pieces of the quilt are currently pinned or waiting to be pinned and sewn together tomorrow - so hopefully by Thursday I'll be posting a picture of the quilt top.

Some of what I've been up to ...

2010-01-26T09:29:00.000-05:00

In the past couple of days, I've been crafting away ... finally! I took pictures ... but they're on my laptop and I forgot to upload them ... so no pictures right now - I promise to repost with them later!

First (and finally) I altered a cigar box for my mom to send to one of my aunts. It's so hard choosing a pattern and/or color when you don't really have a good feel for a person or their home ... I at least had the memory of my aunt's house to go off of! Then I made the frame & burp cloths for a friend to give as a gift. This is my 2nd baby gift set done for that particular friend - and both kids' names started with an "a" ... as did the set I did for one of my husband's co-workers. Apparently little girls names starting with "A" are popular around here lately! I get to do a boy themed set for that same friend later this week.

I'm also turning the corner on finishing the quilt that I've been working on. It's currently laid out on my den floor and this afternoon (after a trip to Barnes & Nobel and lunch with my mom :) ) I will be piecing that together and finishing the top ... then the search for the backing is on!

Enjoy your Tuesday!

One stitch at a time

2010-01-24T02:30:00.000-05:00

So I've been making great progress on finishing up this quilt. Until earlier tonight. I had to take apart way too many pieces because I screwed up due to lack of attention. Paying attention to the process and enjoying the sewing, but apparently missing the finer details.

Nothing that couldn't be fixed or modified ... but just frustrating - especially when you feel you're on a roll!

The hubby intervened after hearing one too many f-bombs and made me stop to go finish watching the extra scenes from The Hangover. Ladies ... when this movie first came out, I said no way ... I was SO SO SO wrong. It is hysterically funny. It's a great movie to watch and kept us laughing the whole time. And ... there have admittedly been some lines that have stuck around too.

It's 2:30am ... what the hell am I still doing up? Night all!

Have you ever .... ?

2010-01-20T12:04:00.001-05:00

I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I'm working on a commissioned quilt for a friend. I've cut all the fabrics, labeled them so I don't confuse myself and was going to pin them together for sewing while watching TV with the hubby. (See? All ready to go.)

Now ... I have my lovely & beautiful craft room ... however - I don't sew there. I sew on our beautifully huge kitchen table. It's big enough for me to spread everything out, or quilt a queen size project - and it's closer to my hubby since he probably wouldn't like me using the sewing machine next to him while we watch TV. (Just a guess there.) This being said .... I kind of have taken to putting my sewing supplies in our front foyer closet. (Who needs to hang guests' coats?) Around Thanksgiving when everything has to be "guest perfect" ... a whole bunch of stuff got put into an extra large reusable shopping bag that I picked up from The Christmas Tree Shoppe.

I had only taken out what I needed so far (cutting mat, ruler, tools) and had left the other stuff in there. I now needed pins ... and lots of them ... the pin cushion just wasn't going to cut it. I had to get my other box of pins that I use just for this type of thing. Only problem? They weren't where I thought they were. They *should* be in the little tote carrier that holds all my little stuff ... seam ripper, measuring tape, etc. for sewing .... shouldn't they?

And so began "the search" .... I couldn't find the pins in the bag, in the containers or in any other godforsaken item that I had around. I searched. I looked in my craft room, the laundry room and everywhere else I could think that I may have used or put them for "safe keeping". Nothing.

What else is a girl to do? I had (HAD) to organize all my sewing stuff. That's right - go through all the fabric stash and reorganize into different containers ... after all ... I *have* to do this, so why not make it useful organization time. I *still* couldn't find them. All my fabric had been sorted, folded or refolded and categorized (felt and flannel have their own boxes, yardage and fat quarters do as well) and I, like a good wife ... went whining to my husband.

God Bless him ... he actually helped me look for about 3 minutes - and marveled at the fact that I couldn't find them. Then he asked what was to me the funniest question ... "well, why don't you go through your stuff and look for them." I stared at him. I looked back at the kitchen table, did my best Vanna arm swipe to show him the table and said "What do you think THAT is?"

He shook his head and went back to watching TV. I, however could not. I needed those damn pins! EVERYTHING that was downstairs had been sorted through ... where the hell were these things? I went back up into the craft room and looked on my desk ... nothing ... looked around the room in various places ... nothing. Then ... sitting on the old sewing desk/table from my grandmother was a white basket. Hm ... it wouldn't be in there - that is just old sewing stuff that I had put aside. How wrong was I? They were right there, next to a pair of scissors and some bobbins ... just waiting to be used.

Needless to say, I was too damn tired after reorganizing everything to even think about pinning things together that night - but I did finally get it done last night as my husband snickered next to me, mumbling something about me being crazy. It's not my fault the pin found his arm! ;)

Please tell me that this has happened to you at some point too ... that I'm not the only one that has reorganized an entire section of something looking for one tiny little thing?

Amazon Wish List ... did you know about this?

2010-01-13T08:37:00.000-05:00

Somewhere in my blog ~~stalking~~ reading last week, I found someone talking about clearing out their Amazon Wish List for the new year. Hm ... clearing out a list to begin anew? I like this! So I hopped over to Amazon and looked for a Wish List.

Of course, I easily found it and started one up. Then ... then, my friends ... I realized that I could add a "short cut" button to my tool bar and put ANYTHING on my Wish List. FROM ANYWHERE! Poking around 2Peas ... click "add to Wish List" and voila ... it'll get in there.

Now, why am I so enamored by this? (1) It's super easy. (2) I'm the person when asked "what do you want for __________ (insert any gift giving occasion here) that says "I don't know ... whatever" (don't hate me). (3) It fulfills my need to think I'm going shopping but never checking out and actually spending money. Let us not forget the most important one .... (4) It lets me have one easy access place to remember where I saw what I wanted!

I tried the same thing once with Kaboodle, but it annoyed me and I didn't keep going there. This one is straight forward and easy ... and really - I don't need to know what other people want (like on Kaboodle), I just need to know what I want!

Hello, 2010 ... I've been waiting for you!

2010-01-01T12:48:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I love New Year's Day. It's one of those lazy holidays where you're just recuperating from the night before ... mulling around and deciding if you "feel" like doing something or not. At least, that's what it is for us!

We had a great NYE night ... hung out at a friend's house with other couples and ate, drank and played games. (It's hard to play Taboo while drinking ... but damn funny!) We didn't get home till after 4am - and that to me is a sign of a good night!

So ... have you guys heard about choosing one little word for your year from Ali Edwards? I've done this in the past, and while I may not live with it imprinted on my forehead ... I do find myself remembering my word throughout the year - especially if I feel myself getting discouraged about a situation.

This year my word is embrace.

em⋅brace

1 [em-breys] Show IPA verb, -braced, -brac⋅ing, noun

–verb (used with object)

1.	to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.

2.	to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.

3.	to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.

4.	to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.

5.	to take in with the eye or the mind.

6.	to encircle; surround; enclose.

7.	to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.

For me, it's all about definition No. 3 ... to avail oneself. I want to take a more active part in my life. (You're probably thinking um ... duh!) This year was a somewhat hard one. Lots of things that I thought were just a given, weren't. I doubted myself and my abilities - though I vanquished that doubt quickly time and time again. I sometimes felt that my life was just being spent going from one task to another and that I was forgetting to enjoy the process and the moments in between. So for 2010 ... I will embrace the changes that will come into our lives - expected and unexpected. I will embrace new opportunities and go after the ones that I truly want. I will embrace my life. I will find ways to enhance it and stick with the ones that work for me, and change the ones that don't.

Now ... I need to go embrace some cleaning. For whatever reason this year, I want my Christmas decorations away. I usually keep them up longer, but not this year. I actually considered taking everything down on the 26th, but held off. I think it has to do with just wanting all of 2009 to be done and finished.

Later I plan on doing some self-evaluating. Seeing where I am within myself and what I would like to accomplish for myself this year. From unfinished projects to personal goals. That and some quality snuggling time with the hubby. Sounds like a good day to me!

Merry Christmas to all ....

2009-12-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

We have family coming up early tomorrow to start our Christmas Eve traditions ... so with being sick this past week, I know this will be the last "liesurely" time I have to check in and wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I'm already starting to think ahead at the possiblities that 2010 will hold for my family and I ... and am feeling extremely greatful and hopeful ... for all the things that we've been blessed with this difficult 2009 and all the things that God and life have in store for us in 2010.

Embrace the craziness ... you can't escape it. Let it happen, and enjoy the moment! See you after the chaos is over!

Anyone else feeling the Christmas Crunch?

2009-12-17T00:25:00.000-05:00

Man ... does it suck. I feel like I've got 100 things to do and definitely not enough time to do them in. Besides all that, an unexpected Saturday entertaining family (which I love and am thankful to see them ... but ack!). It seems that I keep pushing everything to the back burner thinking that I'll somehow find the time ... but secretly - secretly I know that this is what always happens to me when I get overwhelmed. Suddenly the most silliest of things get done before what needs to get done.

Do you do that too? (Please tell me that you do!)

Today I honestly couldn't tell you what I did other than load & empty the dishwasher, clean pots, scrub the sink, make macaroons (then eat one too many cause they were so darn tasty ... and btw ... really easy to make - followed the recipe from allrecipes.com), did laundry (still have the whites to do), made a fabric flower pin from this tutorial at WiseCraft's blog and made dinner. After that I sat down to eat dinner with the hubby and vegged out as we watched Sing-Off (I think that's it?) on NBC and wrote down the sizes of particular fabrics I need to get started cutting for a quilt and did a Suduko puzzle.

Totally motivating, isn't it? I'm hoping tomorrow is better ... and that I have more energy than I did today. Going to bed now (12:15am isn't late, is it?) and waking up early tomorrow to make these guys ... Stroofilies (for lack of proper spelling - it's how I spell them!) They're an Italian thing ... basically small dough balls, fried then coated with honey and rainbow sprinkles. SO yummy.

After that, clean up - go with the hubby for his haircut and then hit the mall to finish up some last minute shopping! Planning on finishing wrapping everything that night. Well - that's the plan. We'll see if it works!

I'm so wishing that I could be pulling out my sewing machine and get started on the quilt & some other quick projects - but it's too cumbersome to take everything out for 1 or 2 days before company visits.

Oh ... and since we're confessing here ... I've totally dropped the ball on my Journal Your Christmas/December Daily/Holidays in Hand album. This year though, I've made it farther than ever ... I actually put together an album! I've also tried to keep track of what happened on what day - but we'll see if it ever winds up coming to fruition.

I hear my bed calling ... Hopefully all of you are finding your way out of the chaos that the season creates and into some peace & quiet. Good luck! I'll be here sporadically as I can ... and maybe even to post some pictures of what I make!

Busy week

2009-12-11T01:09:00.000-05:00

I can't really come up with a good list of why it's been so busy ... but it feels like it has! Just the usual cleaning, cooking and crafting going on! We had about 5 inches of snow yesterday in the wee early morning and I was up with the hubby as he left for work ... and watched him take a big whooping fall onto his tuckus ... twice. The poor thing ... he has a wife that only stifles her laugh long enough to ask if he's okay then lets loose!

I'm a lucky girl though ... today (the 11th) is my birthday and he always comes through for me. He's taking me into Manhattan to see "my" tree (also known as the Rockefeller Center Tree) and a quick visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral (love that church) to light some candles and say some prayers ... lunch is still up in the air - Carmine's or Brother Jimmy's ... (I'm a tough date, aren't I? ... old school Italian or really good pulled pork & hush puppies).

Tonight he called on his way home from work telling me that he was running late because something happened as he was leaving ... no biggie, just held dinner up a bit ... and in he walks with a dozen red roses and a Milky Way (my favorite). (I'll get my card later today since it's only 1am.) Seriously ... men could take lessons from him. He's attentive to the small things (not all the time, but definitely when it counts!)

He gave me my present over a week ago though ... now, never in my life did I think that I'd ever ever want this item ... nor be thrilled - yes - thrilled to get it ... no, it wasn't the gold initial pendant that I saw at Tiffany's that I mentioned in a previous post ... nope ... it was a Jason Witten jersey. SO awesome. The man has converted me into a football lover.

Enough lovin' on my husband I guess .... off to bed so we can catch an early-ish train into the city and be back in time for dinner with my parents and then lunch with his and mine Saturday.

Oh ... did I neglect to mention the 2 paper/book wreaths that I'm making for my sister in law and her friend that I need done by Sunday? Yeah ... that's just one of the major reasons I've been busy.

Enjoy your Friday!

Finally decorated

2009-12-08T01:21:00.003-05:00

I feel like I'm behind the proverbial 8-ball this year ... and not sure why. Today I finally got everything decorated. If there's anything left, it's just minor odds & ends that I forgot about and will put out when I find out about them!

I have realized something though ... I hate putting ornaments on the tree. Just find it to be such a hassle ... but love the final look of the tree. Go figure, right? I had to guilt the hubby into helping me finish it up today ... whatever works, right?

Here's the finished product:

I have to remember to put the tree "skirt" on tomorrow. I just remembered that I used some brown ultra suede fabric that I had ... Let me tell you - it's difficult to work around a train track! Everything is just too bulky and goes too near the tracks.

We're fortunate that my father-in-law is an avid Lionel train collector/lover - and has been for years and years. The train peeking out from behind the tree there ... he made that for my husband when he was little. After we got married, he got my initial added onto the "train line" on the side. So loving and adorable. Here's a better picture of the train from a few years ago at our old apartment.

My husband still doesn't understand why I switched out the accent colors of our tree ... in our apartment I kept the purple that I had when I was single - it went with the brown couch and accents we had in the living room. In the house ... the purple kinda clashes with the blue walls, know what I mean? Poor guy ... he just shakes his head while I carry on.

I was going to be all tech-savvy and attempt making a little collage with our other bits & pieces of stuff here ... but the computer I'm on doesn't have Picasa loaded and quite frankly, I should've been in bed an hour ago! Maybe tomorrow?

Today ...

2009-12-06T16:32:00.000-05:00

Doing a lot of Christmas decorating and cleaning ... so I'm posting from The Simple Woman’s Daybook which you can find here.

Outside my Window: Is beautifully covered in snow.

I am Thinking: That I love how the decorations look once they're done ... but gripe about doinCg them.
I am Thankful For: A husband that worries when I drive in bad weather.

From the Kitchen: Spaghetti & Meatballs ... starting the gravy in a few minutes

I am Learning: that I have too many projects going on

I am Wearing: sweats & a long sleeve tee

I am Creating: Christmas :)

I am Going: To stay home all day :)

I am Reading: CK Magazine

I am Hoping: That I'll finish all the decorating by tonight

I am Hearing: The sound of my DVR shows being watched after a few weeks of neglect, which will result in a happy husband when he checks out the DVR tonight

Around the House: Are boxes & bins of Christmas

One of my Favorite Things: The Lenox ornament my husband bought me on our first married christmas

A Few Plans for Next Week: christmas cookies, making some other holiday favorites

A Picture to Share:

Time off as family photographer ...

2009-12-02T01:17:00.000-05:00

I love getting pictures of my family - the candid ones, the posed ones ... you name it, I love to have it ... but sometimes it's just too difficult. The men & children argue about not wanting to do the pictures, they won't cooperate and frankly it just irritates me.

I'm finding more and more though that I'm the only one left that is willing to pull out the camera at family functions. It's a little disheartening. Especially when I realize (like I did today) that I frankly didn't have time to take random photos (like of the turkey, us all hanging out, the Wii tournaments that went on, etc.) and no one else even thought of it in my place.

The only pictures I did get were a couple of my nieces & nephews and my brother's family photo (because my sister in law asked me to take it for them) and one that I ran in to take with my husband because we haven't had a good, recent picture together in a while. All my other table & decoration pictures were taken either the night before or during the 10 minute lull after I came downstairs from getting ready and waiting for guests to arrive.

I guess I'll have to add one more task to my list that day and be sure to remind my husband that he's my backup photographer, and not just the Wii Tournament coordinator.

Thanksgiving Recap and December plan ...

2009-12-01T18:50:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday is done and here I am. Right now I'm on the couch waiting to start dinner for the hubby and figured it's a good time to catch up here while I watch some DVR that's backed up because of the holidays.

So ... here's what's been going on:

The paper wreath project. I told you it was huge ... it's measuring 12" deep and just about 24" across. Truly, after I made it, I loved it ... but the one phrase that kept coming out of my mouth was "it's so huge!" So, my advice to you ... go with the 1o" base ... or smaller - though I haven't tried anything smaller yet ... but I plan to.

There were only 2 options for where to hang it ... over our couch in the den (high enough so my clumsy but loveable husband doesn't whack it with his arms when he stretches) or on the wall of our stairwell where no one will see it except myself and my husband ... and those select few who wind up in our upstairs.

My sister and I settled on hanging in the den above the couch. Thankfully the wall is big enough that it doesn't look out of place. I do have to find some other things (frames?) to hang beside it so it's not just floating there on its own. Here are some quick pictures I took of it (excuse the mess & poor lighting :) ).

Onto Thanksgiving ... we co-hosted, as I mentioned. My mother-in-law wasn't feeling well, so we were down 1 ... but still had a great day. Dinner was fantastic if I do say so myself! I must say, between my father and I, we're pretty damn good at timing everything. We had some family favorite appetizers early (quick quiche, mini hot dogs, pseudo-antipasto and stuffed mushrooms) and they were devoured relatively quickly. Dinner was pretty traditional as well - but we added a chateaubriand into the mix as well being that we had so many and everyone usually takes leftovers home. It was mouthwatering. It was one of the best pieces of meat I've had. Homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, carmelized onions, string beans, broccoli and sweet potaotes. Probably other stuff that I'm missing, but all of it was delicious.

The fun part ... the table setting: (the sizing options aren't cooperating with me)

And all of this ... brings us to the one day I don't mind shopping all year ... Black Friday! Anyone else with me on this? There's something to be said for not sleeping, leaving the house at 3:15am to get coffee before hitting the first store at 4am. Yes ... yes, I did. (We actually - it's a sisterly adventure every year.) We're smart enough to know not to go for the crazy $200 computers or things like that, but we get some pretty good deals on things (like $49 for a slide scanner ... $59 for a $125 floor steamer).

How did you guys make out? Did you even go out on Black Friday?

Yesterday I sorted through the bags and made final decisions about what to keep and what to return (yes, there are some things to return!). This week I'll do my returns and pick up the missing Christmas gifts I need.

My husband and father in law will be putting up our Lionel train (my father in law is an avid train collector and it's a nice tradition to have - especially after we have kids) around the tree in the next day or two, so that's when the majority of our decorating will get done. I still have to write out Christmas cards ... and I must admit that I'm behind this year - they're usually in the mail ON December 1st ... I'm such a slacker ;)

A Tiffany's Christmas?

2009-11-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over and I'm recovering from my Black Friday extravaganza ... more on that to come later ... I got the Tiffany & Co. Christmas booklet in the mail today and fell in love.
I'm a big fan of classic, simple jewelery and this hits it on all marks. Yes ... I prefer gold vs. silver and always have. I honestly only buy silver "junk" jewelery because I know I'll never get much use out of it.

But this? I can see wearing this every day on a longer chain. It helps that the "B" is in my favorite font and that it's a B ... I'm obsessed with them. It doesn't help that it's $350 and right now, that's just not a logical thing to do for Christmas from the hubby. I will keep my eye on it though and periodically check back before any anniversary or birthday :) I'll also keep a look out for another jeweler who can duplicate it at maybe 1/3 of the cost. Wish me luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T10:47:00.002-05:00

Hope you all have a safe & wonderful holiday!

Wacky Wednesday

2009-11-25T09:55:00.000-05:00

I have decided today is going to be wacky. It all started when I had a dream where Martha Stewart was asking me for advice and telling me how awesome I was ... then had another dream where my father, sister and I were stealing pumpkins from a warehouse. An activity that we do not and would not participate in. I'd like to believe that Martha would still tell me that I was awesome though.

It's prep-day at my house. All the veggies get chopped, stuffing made, bird washed, food thawed and sanity somewhat restored. It seems (to me at least) that as long as we get the majority of the food prep done today, we're usually on track for tomorrow. Now ... the biggest struggle is to figure out the timing of everything!

Good luck everyone!

Holy Paper/Book Wreath Batman

2009-11-23T18:45:00.000-05:00

Can I just say WOW?

So ... I mentioned this wreath a few posts back. Here's a picture for you of the wreath I decided I couldn't live without.

For whatever reason, I decided that I must do this wreath today. It MUST be done for Thanksgiving when everyone comes over. What the hell was I thinking?

Here are the major differences in the cute small wreath shown here and mine:

This wreath ... 10 inch base. Mine? 14 inch base (yeah - didn't realize that till 1/2 the thing was done)

This wreath ... cute & full. Mine? HUGE and HUGE.

This wreath ... lovely. Mine? MASSIVE.

I'm seriously going to have to post a picture ... but not today. I did learn a few tricks along the way which I'll post when I put my photo up ... but other than a time-consuming project, it was relatively easy.

Now ... where am I going to hang this thing?

What's your "For Good"?

2009-11-23T12:07:00.000-05:00

So I'm sitting here going through my Google Reader, realizing that I really should get a move on ... but I don't. I come across Stacy Julian's post at Write.Click.Scrapbook's blog. WELL. Call me emotional ... but this was just a beautiful post that touched me. Please visit her post and really think about what she says.

So often today we're all muddling through our days hoping to get to the next day off and the next thing that we forget to stop and appreciate those that are in our lives and make a difference. Think about who has made a change in your life and those that continue to do so.

I did. I wrote a letter just now. I'm mailing it today. Yes, that's right - mailing a letter. You remember those? Don't just shoot off an email. Make it something that brightens someone's day when they sort through the junk-mail and bills. Allow your appreciation to be something that they can treasure and keep when they may need that little lift in their day.

Go. Do. Now.

Thanksgiving table decorations ... check!

2009-11-22T22:24:00.000-05:00

After waking up and feeling the too familiar twinge in my back, I decided (wisely) that I should lay off the heavy-duty stuff today and not do anything major. Yes, that's right dear readers ... a total guilt-free no cleaning day! Ah, the bliss.

What did I do to whittle the hours away you ask? Well ... crafts of course! As mentioned, I finished the Indian Corn husks for the kids' table ... wanna see? No, they are not like the ones that I found originally - but still pretty darn cute I think!

So that takes care of the kids. Now, the adults. All of which will make fun of me for the extent that I've gone to for my table, but I don't care. Honestly. I've loved having a decorated table since I was a wee lass. I just think it looks pretty and just adds to everything. With that ... I give you the napkins and the place cards:

The napkins are plain, solid dark brown napkins that I folded and rolled, then took 3 stalks of wheat, tied the ribbon around them alone, then wrapped the ribbon around the napkin and made the bow. (I feel the need to say Voila'!) The place cards were pretty quick to whip up too. Some orange cardstock as the base, a 3" scalloped circle with a bit of the top cut off, ivory copy/printer paper (I admit, I was lazy and didn't want to change to cardstock) and a button with some brown bakery twine. All the edges finished with some brown ink. I did the adults in that font you see there and if you peek in the background, you'll see the kids' done in a slightly simpler font (so the youngest won't have any problem reading his - and yes, all theirs are the same so no one bickers that they didn't get ____ on theirs).

The hubby was a good hubby and moved the extra table into the kitchen for me so I could make sure I could situate it the way I was thinking without any issues. His reward (not really) was our usual Sunday dinner ... gravy & meatballs (to clarify ... to many Italians, sauce is called gravy ... you know ... marinara ... it's just gravy in this family ... sacrilege to call it anything else really.) We've now moved upstairs so that we can watch our Fringe episodes on DVR while he relaxes in the bedroom and I make my paperback wreath in the craft room. (I'm not allowed to watch it with him ... it's too comfy and warm, then I whine for snuggling and before you know it I'm asleep and it's 15 minutes into the show.)

Oh ... one more thing - my public service announcement of the week ... don't forget to charge your camera batteries! Just saw mine was at 1/2 charge when I took these pictures so I'm all set to go for Thursday!

I've been a busy little bee ...

2009-11-22T00:04:00.000-05:00

As I realized that I only have until this Thursday ... well, lets face it - Wednesday to get everything ready for Thanksgiving ... I gave myself a quick slight kick in the rear and got moving.

Today I:

Cleaned the den/family/living room (choose your name for it) from top to bottom (and boy was it dusty!)
Made the Indian-corn/M&M husks that I saw here here (totally cheated - used 2 paper circles for the inside and one for the outside - and just tied bows with the raffia ... would probably be easier with the wooden disks though ... and just couldn't deal with trying to fuss with the corn husk)
Dusted the kitchen shelves, etc. (leaving the kitchen clean-up for Wednesday night after all the prep work is done)
Got dressed :)
Made dinner :)
Did laundry
Painted and cut the pages for this project that I think is totally awesome looking (paperback book wreath ... seriously - go check it out - the project (and blog by Lindsay) are pretty awesome

So for some reason I feel like I accomplished a lot more than it looks like here. Maybe that's because of all the time I spent in the den?

Tomorrow I'm in for more of the same. The hubby is off, so I have to convince him to do a test-fit for the extra table that we'll be putting in the kitchen. I need to know if my big square table idea will work or not. While he watches football (without me :( ) I'll be:

Making sure the beds & rooms for my brother & niece are in order
Tidying up the office (I tend to pile & stack things on my desk near the computer ... lots of little notes around ... )
Wondering if I can finish the paper wreath between something or other
Sewing some burp cloths and finishing up a frame for a friend to gift
Tracking down the table cloths and napkins I'm using for Thanksgiving
Cleaning our bedroom and putting laundry away (hate putting laundry away)
finding 5,000 other things that need to be done for Thursday ;)

Oh ... did I mention I also have the proverbial "nothing to wear" problem as well? Hopefully I can work on that.

Good luck to you all ... I'm sure your lists are just as harried as mine!

On the go

2009-11-20T14:38:00.000-05:00

Crazy day of grocery shopping and running some errands ... home for a quick break & bite to eat ... so I figured today would be a good day for these questions which I've seen all over blogs (and quite a few this week) from The Simple Woman’s Daybook which you can find here.

Outside my Window: Its sunny and the perfect temperature

I am Thinking: I have a LOT to do this week ... hate procrastinating, but it's what I do so well.
I am Thankful For: A pretty darn good life ... ups & downs, family and especially my hubby. Always thankful for him.

From the Kitchen: Enchiladas tonight (if I get my butt to the store)

I am Learning: that I will always want more and different. It's not in me to be complacent.

I am Wearing: Jeans, pink v-neck and grey tank under it.

I am Creating: Chaos :) Groceries are mostly put away in the kitchen ...

I am Going: To BJ's, AC Moore and the thrift store

I am Reading:Nothing at the moment ... need to start "Godmother" ... forget the author though.

I am Hoping: That I can focus this week.

I am Hearing: Nothing :)

Around the House: Chaos :) It's beginning to be a theme.

One of my Favorite Things: My craft room ... it seems to have what I need whenever I need it

A Few Plans for Next Week: Cleaning!!! Then relaxing enough to enjoy the family on Thanksgiving instead of letting them drive me nuts.

A Picture to Share: Photo taken by Myles Pinkey Photography
Sigh ... one of my favorites from our wedding.

Overwhelmed ... time to make a list!

2009-11-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

I have weird dreams. My husband constantly tells me so. Often, I have no idea what was going through my subconscious to generate said dreams. Not so this time.

We're co-hosting Thanksgiving again this year (we live in a mother/daughter house with my parents) ... I've done this before. Heck, I've cooked the majority of Thanksgiving dinner for quite a few years now - it's not that bad.

So why then ... did I just have a nightmare about it? Yes ... I had a Thanksgiving Nightmare. Dinner wasn't ready. Place cards were lost. Kids treats weren't made properly and ... gasp ... the table wasn't set. I can only attribute this to the fact that I realized at 11:30 last night the following:

THANKSGIVING IS ONE WEEK AWAY!

Holy cow ... when did it get so close? On top of Thanksgiving, there's Black Friday. (We just can't miss that). Then we're also having more family over on Saturday, going to a 40th birthday party and then it's poker night for my husband after that. Now I know that ~~we'll~~ I'll pull it all off without any major issues ... but it's crunch time. (Yes, I said that.)

Time to break out ... the list. While I don't have anything quite so snazzy and organized as this little pad, I do have some blank paper. (Actually, I have a whole notebook ... but we may just use paper for this one.)

Off the top of my head, here's what i need to do:

Clean the house from top to bottom so that next week is just "surface" cleaning
Prep the spare bedroom and make sure sheets/blankets are ready for my brother and niece
Grocery shopping (this will be 2 trips - one for regular stuff I need before thanksgiving and one for perishables for thanksgiving)
Mail out Thanksgiving cards
make an album for the 40th birthday party as a gift
Discuss and finalize an order for a queen size and baby quilt
Find more time in every day

Now ... I'm sure once I go through everything I'll be sorting out what can stay and go (like do I need to make an album or will a gift-card do?) and what can be pushed off till the week after thanksgiving. But ... I'm at that point where I know I'm overwhelmed and I start to lose focus (and tend to avoid doing anything that needs to be done).

So ... with that - I'm off to make my list. My poor husband won't know what hits him when he finally wakes up!

Paying respects to the deceased ...

2009-11-18T00:42:00.000-05:00

Perhaps an odd topic for a crafty blog ... but it'll happen now and again.

It's coming up to the anniversary of losing my grandmother, Honey, next week. The 22nd will be 8 years. Having been raised with her living with us, it was more than just losing my grandmother ... she was a 2nd mother to me. She was amazing. Widowed by a husband with ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease in her early 30's with 2 kids (12 & 10) she was strong, hard-headed, determined, and such an incredible woman with strength and resolve that I've never seen in another. Involved in everything and anything that we all did ... and growing up, as the youngest child (with 7 years between myself and my closest sibling) I was always with my mother and grandmother where ever they went - especially before school started. Now, I don't have the best memory in the world when it comes to my childhood, but there are some things that have definitely stuck with me through the years.

My grandmother was a great believer in visiting the graves of your loved ones. It was, to her, how you showed respect to the memory of those you loved. You visited, prayed over them and made sure that their final resting place was being kept well and not neglected. I remember this. I remember the silent tears that used to come from her while visiting her parents, brother and husband. I remember bringing flowers or blankets during Christmas time, tending to the plants already there. I remember the phone conversations I'd overhear between her and her sisters deciding on who was going to go just before Easter or Christmas to put Palms or the blanket on the graves. As they got older, the conversations were then passed onto my mother, uncle and cousins.

Because of all these memories, I too have come to believe that tending to the final resting place of your loved ones is just one way to show respect for them and their memory. Last year, there was a lot happening in my life just as her anniversary came around. I didn't go. Throughout this year, for one reason or another I still hadn't made it down there. Granted, the cemetery is roughly an hour and a half ... but its a trip that I can easily do without any problem. I didn't go. While I know in my heart she watches over me ... I can't explain why I've stopped myself from going. This year ... I have to. I've been away too long and can't possibly excuse myself any longer.

I have learned so much by having that amazing woman in my life. Life is hard ... it doesn't get any easier as the days go by. If you want something, you go after it and get it. Figure out how to make it work ... and by God ... don't you dare say that you can't do it. If she could accomplish what she did in her life, with all the struggles, you could overcome yours.

I think the combination of going to the cemetery tomorrow, her anniversary coming up along with watching the episode of Three Rivers with an ALS patient has made me a little more sensitive tonight to just how much I miss her.

Photo of my dapper grandparents on their honeymoon in Atlantic City
I miss you every day, Honey. I understand so much more now than I did then. I still wish that you were here to meet my husband, see our lives and share in them with us ... even though I know in my heart that you're watching over me with Grandpa by your side. I love you always.

Goals ... and why I always seem to change them ...

2009-11-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

Last week sometime, there was a prompt to post about Goals that you have (in general) for the Blogging for Scrapbookers class.

I have goals. Lots of them. Honestly? Too many of them. I want things that I sometimes even think I'm crazy for wanting ... that they'll never realistically happen ... but it doesn't stop me from wanting them. I write down my goals all the time ... then slowly, one by one I lose focus on them. Other things take priority over scheduling time out to focus on specific things for myself. (I know I can't be the only woman with this problem.) I feel like my goals are like my to-do lists ... I write them down, really want them accomplished but somehow just misplace the notebook I keep it in so I move on to something else without ever thinking twice.

So here's my question ... how do YOU focus your goals into something that's attainable? How do you not forget about them when something else comes along needing your focus?

The tour starts here ... (picture heavy)

2009-11-14T19:53:00.000-05:00

I must have a brain deficiency that is allowing my inner neat-freak to post these pictures. Either that or I've finally come to the realization that this is probably as good as it's going to get in my Scraproom. I really should just refer to it as my craft room since it is for so much more than scrappin'. Here goes! Hope you like the tour ...

This is the view from the door. I love purple ... so I went for it ... a nice beautiful purple on my walls. I have a thing about having the perfect window coverings and until I figure that out, I'm not spending money on temporary solutions ... so meet the love of my instant decor ... paper mini blinds (they've been up for over a year - don't judge.) L-shaped desks work best for me. Like many of us, lots of stuff tucked away in baskets & under the desk I'm sure. So, the details ...

This sits behind me ... the folders hold any stray 12 x 12 papers or specialty papers (like vellum, etc). Under the folders are paper trays that hold my quilting or general craft magazines that I keep. The trays hold my super large punches and small sized page protectors (and cropodile) and under that are either more page protectors or folios to keep scrap-stuff in. The pile-o-crap with the watercolor paints ... well, that's just a pile of stuff I have to go through or get rid of, but it didn't belong on my desk!

This is under my desk ... from left to right: (1) Miscellaneous basket - holds the trays, some chipboard items, extra craft supplies, heat gun, etc. (2) basket with all my embellishments sorted/labeled with theme (like baby, love, wedding, summer, fall, etc.). (3) The square basket with the white envelopes holds memorabilia for pages yet to be done. (I use the logging system (kinda) that Becky Higgins has posted on her blog at some point) ... I have the event written, the number of the box my pics are in and if I have memorabilia for it. So far its working for me. (4) Scrap basket. Again, using the 12 x 12 plastic folders, sorted ROYGBIV with one for patterned paper ... so far it is the best way I've found for holding and being able to reuse my scraps. If I have to search for something, it's not going to happen. I use this in conjunction with a basket under my desk that I throw scraps in while I work. Every few months I spread them out on my bed and as I watch TV sort them into the appropriate folder. I keep one for patterned paper because I always hated putting multi-colored patterns in with just one color.

The hutch ... ah, the hutch. One of my most unwanted pieces of furniture ... but I'm using it anyway. Top of it has my cutesy stuff ... and baskets that hold my flowers. (the mirrored thing is an old antique medicine chest that my grandmother had and I love and just can't part with). Left side: top holds a basket with small paper pads, folders and larger paper pads and then a basket with tags on top of a photo box that holds ... something. I forget offhand (don't use that enough apparently). Below that are my plastic drawers that are ROYGBIV (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, neutrals and metal actually) and the basket holds all my letters - brads, chipboard, any 3-dimensional type of letter, it's in there. Right side: top shelf has colored pencils and card/envelope combos ... middle has small envelopes & cards, along with markers and below that sits my metal card-catalog (LOM alumni know this piece) that sorts my pictures a-la-Stacy Julian and Library of Memories. It is of course blocked by more crap and a basket full of pictures that I need to sort and file away.

And, this my dear followers ... (if you're still awake and with me) is my view. Right now, it's the couple of new sheets of paper that I liked but have no particular use for and a stack of Christmas items that I'm prepping for my attempt at the Journal Your Christmas album this year. The wire shelf is an over-the-sink counter that holds my most used supplies (hole punch, eraser, distresser, etc.), pens, pencils and the wooden box holds scraps (that I for some reason cut up into predetermined sizes that I found on a website and thought was a good idea for some reason?) which I tend to use for cards ... and my most used ink pads. The jumble of papers off to the side are a few folders that hold some of the Simple Scrapbooks album planners and the Becky Higgins log that I mentioned earlier.

This is my lovely store ... I mean closet that has more chipboard and wooden items, Christmas balls and Styrofoam objects than I'll ever know what to do with ... along with other various crafty pursuits ... like knitting, embroidery, painting, canvases, floral items and um ... probably 4 more hobbies. (Those white boxes that are stacked *are* empty ... I feel I need to mention that for some reason.)

These are my beautiful shelves. A must-have when we moved. These shelves hold almost everything. From the top ... magazines and then boxes of photos. Albums and folders holding stuff for albums to be made (like my remembrance one of my grandmother, our wedding, vacation to Vegas ... where most everything (except large amounts of photos) are all together). The next shelves hold my card-box some various supplies (like Zig markers that I *had* to have all the colors of), the wooden drawers from Ikea hold mass cards and extra pens/markers ... the wooden long box holds various adhesives that are extra or not used often and the 12 x 12 stacked holders hold all my finished layouts that I've yet to put into albums. (for shame, I know). The main shelf (as I see it) holds 4 plastic drawers that hold adhesives and punches. On top of that are fibers and embroidery threads. Next to those drawers are cardstock sorted by ROYGBIV and then there are kits and patterned papers. If I love a kit, it's kept together in a cropper hopper folder ... if not, it's broken up into my regular patterned paper which is sorted how I think - whimsical, floral, old world, plaid, dots, geometric ... and it's working for me. Unless it's a whole line that I love, nothing is sorted by manufacturer. The lower shelves hold my ink pads, embossing powers, reinkers and those types of things ... and the right side holds baskets of stamps that I use most often. There is another shelf that isn't in the picture, but those hold general supplies or templates ... 8.5 x 11" paper and more stamps.

WHEW. Thanks for sticking with me this long. Hopefully it wasn't too painfully boring! That's my room. Now, I just need to spend more time creating in it and not re-organizing supplies!

I hate being down & out ...

2009-11-12T17:22:00.000-05:00

2 weeks ago, it was because I pulled my back out like never before ... just as I've recovered (mostly) from that and have been able to get some stuff done around the house (you know - the important things like laundry, cleaning & cooking) I got knocked on my a$$ by a migraine for the past 2 - 3 days. Yesterday being the "last" day, it was intermittent headaches in about 3 hour clips. Oh, the joy.

Needless to say, I wasn't on the computer very much - or nearly at all. I caught up on reading my class emails for Blogging for Scrapbookers and realized that it's perfectly okay if I don't do them. Yep, that's right ... I'm not doing them. They provoked some good thoughts & ideas, but I'll save that for another post, another day.

I also realized that there is no human way to keep up with my Google Reader now that I've added all of my classmates' blogs to my list. There were over 1,000 posts to read in my poor little reader. I've decided to go through a letter or two of the alphabet per day ... comment on those I can and then add the ones I truly love to my regular reader ... the rest get cleared from my counter & will have to wait for another day.

By the way ... I've been a bad blogger, I suppose ... thanks to those of you that have commented on the blog - it's a kick getting a comment and even more when you say that you like something that I've posted or written about! Thanks :)

Centerpieces & Table decor

2009-11-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

So this is what I made for my wedding centerpieces. We got married at the end of September and with my heart's desire being wedding pictures with foliage, we kept to a fall-like decor. I found this beautiful example via Martha Stewart's website (... it's no longer there but of course, picture is courtesy of Martha Stewart via myechochicwedding.com's website).

I'm wondering if I have a wheat-obsession. After making 25? or so centerpieces of these beauties (some of them twice because my "helpers" didn't do such a good job ... the "helpers" will remain nameless because I do still love them for the effort) a normal person probably wouldn't want to work with wheat again.

I just picked up a bundle of wheat the other day for my Thanksgiving table settings. I think it was on BHG's website that I saw the idea, but can't remember for sure ... 3 wheat stalks arranged sitting on top of a folded or rolled napkin with ribbon. It sounds simple, elegant and beautiful, right? Hopefully it'll turn out that way. I have to first find the napkins I'm using (and have enough of) and then do a sample of them. Maybe I'll even remember to post a picture!

Well, that was easy!

2009-11-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

As my (cough) loyal blog readers know (all 1 or 2 of you?) I'm taking the Blogging for Scrapbookers class from Shimelle ... and I have to say, I'm learning more than I thought.

First example? Check out the new blog background. Nifty huh? I got it from The Cutest Blog on the Block's site. Lots of cute things there ... and FREE! Can't beat that, can you?

So what else have I learned? Well ... that I cannot possibly read and comment on all of the blogs of classmates. WAY too time consuming. I have a slew of them in my Google Reader (which if you don't already have a reader of some sort, is totally awesome) and am able to flip through them relatively easily to see which I connect with and don't. I've also realized that I have more to say than I originally thought! If it's interesting and earth shattering on the other hand is totally up to you. :)

I'm irritated already this morning because I still have a headache from yesterday. I'm prone to migraines, but this isn't one ... just an annoyingly bad headache that I was hoping would go away. I have plans to clean up the house a bit, but also some fun stuff ... paint a chipboard album for my Journal Your Christmas class along with a paper mache tree that I picked up at Hobby Lobby.

Can we talk about Hobby Lobby for a sec here? OH MY. It's just ... SIGH ... delightful. Yesterday my sister and I spent over an hour in there (more because of her indecision than anything ... but still). I was good. Really! I got a couple of patterned scrapbook papers and the paper mache tree and a tube of bronze Christmas balls. All for $13. I LOVE this store. Really cute things for home decor, holiday themed things are grouped together in the holiday section along with being in their original section (ex. Scrapbook paper and embellishments).

Okay ... enough from me. Enjoy your Sunday and hopefully you'll be doing something fun!

Centerpiece for this year?

2009-11-06T21:09:00.000-05:00

Last year's just didn't "do it" for me ...

Yesterday & Today

2009-11-05T20:42:00.000-05:00

John was off yesterday and today. Nothing out of the ordinary - it was his regularly scheduled days ... but they were good.

We went to see this movie:

It was good ... funny, cute ... made me laugh and of course cry. We got pizza from my favorite place, Gino's and came home to watch the game.

Today, we slept in ... my brother came up with my niece and she, my mother and I spent some time at Barnes & Nobel.

Nothing overly eventful, but a great couple of days. Lets hope it lasts through the weekend!

2009 World Series Champs!!!

2009-11-05T01:06:00.000-05:00

(Photo from Chris McGrath/Getty Images via espn.com)

I've always liked the Yankees, even growing up in a Met-loving household ... but after I met John, the Yankees have taken on a whole new meaning! I'm sure so many wives make the following statement ... My husband has to be their biggest fan. Seriously. The man knows more about this team, it's players and it's history ... it amazes me. While we were dating I lived in NYC and we were fortunate enough to go to games a couple of times a season. While they're not the most exciting things for me to watch - I loved being there watching with John. Watching with someone who loves and appreciates the game as much as he does gave me a whole new perspective. Participating in something that he loved brought a common interest together. While I could care less who has what ERA or how many RBI's ... I did learn what they were and why they mattered.

So ... for me, I'm happy that the Yankees brought it home again. For him ... I'm ecstatic!

Sesame Street is 40

2009-11-04T11:36:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Google I now know that it's Sesame Street's 40th birthday. Sesame Street was a staple when I was little. I just found 2 of my favorite people together on youtube:

My all-time favorites from Sesame Street were (in no particular order, of course): Cookie Monster, Grover, Big Bird, Sunffaluffagus and The Count. What about you?

Christmas is coming ...

2009-11-03T10:12:00.000-05:00

Not that I'm trying to rush it or anything ... but it's definitely on its way. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving ... so there's no way you can make me rush the coming days by to get to the Christmas season! I was amazed yesterday when I went to the grocery store that Christmas candy was out already! (Ugh ... commercialism!) But ... it's the way of the world I guess.

Anyway ... the ONE thing that I usually take care of before Thanksgiving for Christmas time is scheduling a dinner and date to go see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Ever since my grandmother died in 2001, it's been a way to keep her love of Christmas and especially the Rockefeller Center Tree with me every year. It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, it still amazes me. The sheer size and grandness of it all.

We missed it last year. I missed it. With everything that had been going on in our lives, I just couldn't make myself go. Now, it's a year later and I'm wondering if the Christmas Spirit will be in me this year. I know that the others love this tradition and understood when we dropped out last year. Hopefully I won't disappoint them - or myself this year. We'll have to wait and see.

Good Intentions

2009-11-02T14:30:00.000-05:00

So in order to accomplish this monumental (ha!) feat of blogging ... I signed up for a class offered by Shimelle called Blogging for Scrapbookers. Today is Day One. The prompt for a post today is talking about your intentions for the next 3 weeks of class.

My first thought? 3 weeks? Gee, hope I can stick with it. I'll try to be simple and straight forward. My intentions for this class are to establish my blog (check!) and find my cyber-voice. Figure out a routine that works for me (probably posting 3 - 4 times a week?) and setting up a system that makes it easy to share what I'm working on. Once I do that, then we'll move onto hoping to get readers and ideas/input from that.

Not too bad, right? :0)

Welcome to Blogging?

2009-11-02T12:14:00.000-05:00

Here I am ... again. You, of course don't know that ... but I do. I've tried a few times to start and more importantly maintain a blog ... but nothing stuck. I'm hoping that this time around it will. Here's why ... I LOVE (LOVE) Blogs. They're so informative, inspiring, endearing and just fun to read. I've learned so much over the couple of years I've been following some of them. They're also a connection to other crafters much like myself. I will be the very first to admit that I do a lot of crafts (not so uncommon in the crafty world). My friends? Not so much. My husband? Thinks I'm a little crazy. So ... here I am - ready to share!