Spring Sewing

More completed projects, which seems to be more and more rare as the days warm up! Summer sewing might just be an oxymoron. I decided the leftover material from this project would make a fun, spring-y purse. This was the first time I constructed a purse without any sort of pattern and I found that it is the perfect size (for me, at least!) There may be more of these down the line.

This is the quilt I made from a class at my local quilt shop. It was a beginner class, and focused on constructing different, classic blocks to join into a sampler quilt. I chose some more modern fabric, which makes for an updated look on a classic pattern. It took me a few months to get the whole thing pieced, and then I waited to quilt it until I felt brave enough to do it on my new toy . . .

my Pfaff Hobby Grand Quilter on the Next Generation frame. I understand that means nothing to all of you non-quilters out there, but basically it is an industrial sewing machine that sets on a frame where you roll your quilt layers (top, batting, backing) and you move the sewing machine around to "draw" on the quilt top and secure those 3 layers together. I'll have to post pictures of it soon. It was a dream of mine to own one, and everything fell into place for a speedy, affordable purchase, which I share with my quilting friend, Debbie.

Here is an up-close of the quilting. It's sort of a loop d' loop.

That's all for now. Stay tuned for pics of Alli's homemade birthday presents!

My 3 year old

Happy Birthday, Allison!!! (even though I'm a few days late)
I cannot even begin to express how much fun we are having with you. You are a constant joy and life wouldn't be the same without your bright smile! I love the way you kiss and hug so willingly, and how you wake up every morning (and afternoon after naptime) with a smile on your face and a desire to cuddle. I love the way you idolize your big brother - and what a good big brother he is! - and try to copy everything he does and says. Not that you need to copy him - you have some pretty good ideas yourself! You are awfully independent, but occasionally remember that you need mommy and daddy around.

Here are some things I always want to remember about you at 3 years old:
1. You eat almost anything I put in front of you, willingly, even green things.
2. You love to play house.
3. You love to have your hair done.
4. You learned to ride your tricycle with the big kids.
5. You are brave - more brave than Elijah and me!!! You don't seem scared of heights. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.
6. You are officially potty-trained. Whew. Glad that's over.
7. You giggle constantly. Never stop that.
8. You love the Brewers and say that Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are your favorite players.
9. You make up silly songs all the time and then ask me, "Is dat funny, mommy?"
10. You still sleep all night long (since 4 weeks old!) and cheerfully go to bed.

What a gift you are to us, Allison Keona. Happy Birthday. We love you.

It's My New Favorite Summertime Drink

Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

Mix 8 T of ground coffee with enough cold water to make 8 cups of coffee in a french press (or a mason jar).
Let the mixture sit for 12-24 hours.
Press down the grounds (or strain through a coffee filter) and then add an equal amount of water to the brewed coffee.
Store a pitcher in the refrigerator and serve over ice . . . or . . . add a can of sweetened condensed milk for a frappucino-type drink.

So delicious, even my non-coffee-drinking husband asked for a second glass.

You can read here why cold brewing makes a significant difference in the taste.

Boston, Day 3

It was Friday morning. Our last day in Boston. With no business meetings to attend and no schedules to keep, we arranged for a late check out from our hotel and ventured off into the city to do some more sight-seeing. But first I had to eat.

Ever since we arrived in Boston, Dan and I kept noticing Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Walk up the stairs from the T and invariably there was one on the corner. They were more abundant than Starbucks, and that's saying something. But wouldn't you guess it, the morning I'm looking for a quick breakfast that travels, we couldn't locate one anywhere. So we headed back to the hotel before I fainted from hunger and caffeine withdrawal and went to Starbucks.

Okay, then we were off again. First stop: Fenway Park Dan assured me that Fenway is historical, so that's the only reason I agreed to this outing. As we walked around the perimeter of the field, I felt like we were actively betraying our Milwaukee Brewers. And then Dan mentioned the unthinkable - he wanted to buy a Red Socks t-shirt. He explained to me that Boston is not a division rival to Milwaukee, so it was okay to root for them. I couldn't handle it. I was just about ready to make a teary call to Miller Park just to offer my apologies, when Dan saw the prices of the t-shirts and decided against the betrayal. It was a close call.

Next stop: Boston Common, America's oldest public park. We had started off here on our first day, as this is where the freedom trail begins, but we didn't spend any amount of time exploring the park, so we came back to enjoy the scenery and do some serious people watching.

This is a picture of a monument. I'm sure it's historical.

I parked myself along the edge of the pond in the middle of the park. People were feeding ducks and I just sat in the shade and enjoyed the rest. All this walking was wearing me out. Dan wandered around and took some more pictures, including this one of the famous swan boats.

And what is a day in the park without grabbing a hot dog from a street vendor? Dan likes to take pictures of me eating. He's strange, I understand that now.

Stop #3: The Boston Public Library. This was actually just across the street from our hotel, so we decided to stop there after we checked out of the hotel. I checked my email and we wandered a bit.

This giant lion reminds me of our local library. What? You mean your local library doesn't have stories-tall paintings on the walls surrounded by gargantuan lion sculptures resting on marble blocks? Too bad.

This area reminds me of our children's library. Rows and rows of dust-free tables, not a whisper audible, with people absorbed in reading books or working on their laptops. What's that you say? Your children's library is loud and has tables strewn with books and puzzles? I feel sorry for you.

The Boston Public Library has a courtyard in the middle with cafe tables and a fountain, just like my public library. Actually, now that I think about it, the Boston Public Library is almost identical to our local, small-town library. I'm not even sure why we took pictures of it.

We ended the evening walking along the wharf and Dan rested while I took another picture to prove he came along on the trip. Apparently wearing a "Boston" t-shirt signaled to many that we were tourists. We were asked where we are from a few times. But only in the nicest ways. The locals are friendly.We ate dinner at the Cheers Restaurant, a duplicate of the television show. Apparently the bar that inspired the show is tiny and only a watering hole, so we skipped that on our tours and stopped here to eat.

And whatd'ya know? We got a picture of us together!

We returned to the hotel and collapsed, with a 4AM wake-up call scheduled. It was an enormously fun trip, and I would suggest it to any couple looking for a fun get-away. Although we'll wait a few years before we go back with the kids.

Boston, Day 2

Our second day began with breakfast and the business meeting that brought us to Boston and then a guided tour set up by the company. We chose the tour of Harvard, because the Fenway tour and the whale watching tour were already booked full. But it was in no way a third rate tour, despite it being our third choice.

The tour started at John Harvard's Brew House, a historic restaurant (is everything here historic?) and brewery just down the street from "Harvard yard." (That's what the fancy Eastern intellectuals call the campus, except they pronounce it "Hahvahd yahd") I scarfed down my chicken sandwich and fries, forgetting that dessert was included, so by the time I waddled out of the restaurant, I was ready for a walking tour. This is Harvard's main gate, which we learned was bad luck to walk through, unless entering as a freshman and then the only other time you should walk through is as a graduating senior. Since we accidentally walked through it ourselves, I guess that means we are in for a spell of bad luck. I hate when that happens.

Our tour was "unofficial" led by 2 students, a freshman girl and sophomore guy, who gave us the inside scoop on famous pranks between Harvard and MIT, freshman hi jinks and the ongoing feud between Harvard and the town of Cambridge. Oh, and they gave us some historical information, of course, but I really only remember the funny stories.

This is one of the dorms for freshman. Apparently people like John Adams and other famous historical figures lived here. Like I said, I only remember the funny stories. Like when our tour guide Collin said that he lived here as a freshman and saw a limo pull up and the Dali Lama got out. And then a few weeks later he saw 3 limos and a Lincoln Town Car pull up and wondered who was more important than the Dali Lama and saw Oprah get out.

This is Memorial Hall, dedicated to honor the students who fought in the Civil War - but only for the North. A few died in service to the Confederacy, but they aren't honored here. I guess we can figure out which side Harvard was on.

The inside was like a church. Beautiful stained glass windows and archways, but it was built as a completely secular memorial. The freshman eat here and their dining room was the inspiration for the great hall in Harry Potter. What other claim to fame does one need?

The grounds were being prepared for graduation, which was happening in 2 days. Harvard boasts some pretty big names as graduation speakers, people like Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, who is the only man to have dropped out of Harvard and later given an Honorary Diploma. Of course, it doesn't compare to some of the big-wigs Maranatha gets for graduation . . . wait, I can't even remember who spoke at my graduation.

This is the statue of John Harvard, which reads: John Harvard, Founder, 1638. It's known as the statue of the 3 lies, because John Harvard didn't found the college, he just bequeathed a bunch of money to it, and it was founded in 1636, and there are no surviving images of John Harvard, so it's pretty safe to say he didn't look like this. Anyway, it's historical (do you sense a theme here?) so we had to take a picture.

After we got back to the hotel, we collapsed for about an hour and then met up with some new friends for dinner. I was still digesting lunch and didn't plan on eating, so when the group decided on seafood, we were good-natured and agreed, even though neither Dan nor I like seafood. We were encouraged that every seafood place has other choices, so Dan was satisfied.

We ended up going to the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in America. The building is over 250 years old and boasts housing Revolutionaries. We sat down to order, our entire group (save Dan) ready to eat lobster or oysters. Dan opened the menu and realized there was nothing but seafood available.

Don't be mistaken, this is not battered fish he is eating. Never deterred, he saw a small menu for children 12 and younger which included chicken fingers. He asked the waitress if he passed for 12 and she obliged his squeamish appetite.

This was the most expensive children's menu platter of chicken fingers he has ever eaten.

Tim, our new friend from Iowa, enjoyed the lobster. I had to take a picture to prove to Elijah that people actually do eat those creepy things that swim in the tank at Walmart.

After dinner, we wandered the cobblestone streets and learned that if Paul Revere were alive today, he would still recognize these parts of Boston. Coming from Wisconsin, where the most historic landmark we have is Lambeau Field, that impressed me.

We ended the day in a picture-perfect moment. Window shopping around Faneuil Hall, music pouring out of pubs and restaurants mixed with the chatter and laughter of people enjoying their evenings, walking hand in hand with the man of my dreams in beautifully perfect weather and still revelling in the fact that Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert on American Idol. What more can you ask for?

Boston Trip, Day 1

As a special spring treat, Dan and I escaped, all on our own, to a 3 day get-away to Boston. Neither of us had ever been there, so we were pumped to check out one of America's oldest cities and to drink in the history and culture. Oh, and squeeze in that business meeting that made this trip possible . . .

Boston, here we come!

After arriving late Tuesday evening (or was it already Wednesday morning?) we hopped the "T" and rode to Copley Square where we checked our bags in some swanky hotel that the company was paying for.
After marveling at the old-world feel of the Fairfield, we looked forward to returning and resting there for the next two evenings, only to find out that there had been a mistake and we were supposed to be at the Westin across the street. Still, it was a pretty hotel to wander around and they were nice enough to keep our luggage until the 4pm check-in time.

We headed out to the street and started snapping pictures right away, although I must confess to you that almost all of the hundreds of pics we took on this trip were taken by Dan. He wore the camera bag and has a natural affinity for scenic pictures, so I let him snap away while I looked around.
This is Trinity Church reflected in the glass of the John Hancock building. Breathtaking, don't you think?We then picked up the freedom trail and wandered around the state house while important people bustled around us. We stopped into a historic church along the trail and marveled at the box pews. I think I recall a story about a church that locked the pews of errant members . . . well, after seeing the tall boxes, that made much more sense.

We finished the trail at the USS Ironsides and toured the USS Cassin Young, a WWII Destroyer. At this point, I decided that we needed proof that Dan was actually there, so I snapped this pic of his photography skills. It reminds me of our trip to the Grand Canyon, where I couldn't recognize him without a camera attached to his face.

It's all good . . . he's very capable behind the camera and more patient than I am, so he usually gets the better pictures.

Up next, Day 2 . . .

Quilted Table Runners

With so many fantastic fabrics out there, I had to find another way to use them besides in purses and quilts . . . so enter table runners: I actually quilted 3 of these - 2 as presents for Mother's Day and 1 for myself! ;)

And this one showcases this fabric I had dreams about I loved it so much. Unfortunately, this table runner gave me lots of problems because it didn't fit where I wanted it once I finished. So sad. So instead of finding a new spot to use it, I took the majority of it apart and refashioned it to a size that would work. Lots of frustrating moments with this project, but I like the way it turned out!

More Effort at Garment Construction

Not exactly difficult work, but here is my attempt again at making my own clothing . . .
A kimono to be used as a summer robe,

And a fun, floral apron.

I {heart} Half-Price Books

We stopped into Half-Price Books the other day to drop off some books and videos we don't want to dust any longer and I had it in my mind that I would like to see if they had a book I've been wanting to read.

Just one book, thank you.

Well, if you love bookstores as much as I do, and you love bargain books as much as I do, then you'll understand why I left with more than "just one book."

After perusing a few different areas, I did spot the book I was looking for . . . (or should I say, the book for which I was looking . . . you'd think all the reading I do might improve my grammar.)

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand for only $9.98. I've been meaning to read this book, and I just recently read an article about how the book is flying off of shelves again since it is viewed as "prophetic" concerning our current economy, so I decided now was the time to tackle it's 1,168 pages.

Yes, that's right, over 1,000 pages. This will be a record for me, if I ever get through it. Don't expect a review anytime soon.

Moving on to the Children's section, I found Elijah deeply absorbed in an "I Spy" book. I gotta get me one of those books! He was enchanted!

And Alli was busy locating any and every book that was pink and had a princess on it.

I started looking and found this . . .and had to have it because I remember checking this out of our school library hundreds of times during my elementary career and even reciting one poem for a contest in 5th grade. I looked, and sure enough, "Homework Machine" was inside. I relived my childhood in 3.5 seconds right there on the spot.

"Homework Machine"

The Homework Machine, oh the Homework Machine,

Most perfect contraption that's ever been seen.

Just put in your homework, then drop in a dime,

Snap on the switch, and in ten seconds' time,

Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be.

Here it is - "nine plus four?" and the answer is "three."

Three?

Oh me . . .

I guess it's not as perfect

As I thought it would be.

If I recall, I didn't score well with that poetry entry. I remember a judge saying something about it being awfully short for a 5th grader to memorize. Why do you think I chose it?

And after reading some poems and deciding that I HAD to have this book in my children's library (after all, Shel Siverstein inspired me to write poetry more than any classical poet) I sat down to look at some books with the kids.

Elijah found a wonderfully illustrated book about the human body, so I added that to my growing stack of "just one book" (no pic of that one, I haven't been able to pry it out of my kid's hands since we bought it), and then I proceeded to clean out every children's book I found.

Okay, that is exaggerating. I really did stop with just 3 books. But I went home feeling like I had conquered Amazon, for they were cheaper than even the used books on that site.

And now I have to remember to shop there first, before I buy online.

I just love Half-Price Books.

The Glory of a New Haircut - Before and After

I've needed a haircut for sometime now. But you know how life goes, you put it off until you're ready to shave your head out of impatience. So this is my "before" picture. You can see that my hair is getting a bit unruly and it wasn't curling like it usually does. Sorry 'bout the self-taken pic. My son isn't great with the camera yet. You can look at this post to see the craziness of my curls, too.



I decided to go shorter, since my hair wasn't quite long enough to put up for the summer. I'm not sure why I was so nervous, I've worn my hair short most of my life, but I guess I've gotten used to the length and the curls.


So, without further ado . . .


. . . my after.

Shorter in the back, tapered to the front. By no means an original haircut, but I like it!

Projects for Allison

Dan built the headboard for Alli's bed, while I made a throw pillow and a little pillowcase for her "mini" pillow.

I have been sewing

Actually, I've been sewing a lot lately. But my computer will crash if I try to show you every picture in one post, so over the next few days I will try to post my latest projects.

For now you will have to be content with pictures of me sewing. And giving Dan the evil eye for taking pictures of me sewing. (It's not a very convincing evil eye, I know.)

Pillows

New pillows for our couch and chair. I have so much fun with Anna Maria Horner fabric!

* not sure why this post is under my last one, but I don't have time to figure it out. I can deal with it.

I don't like this picture

I mean, it's cute and all, and it shows that my daughter's hair is actually growing, but I don't

like it.

Not one bit.

Why, you ask?

Isn't it obvious?

She looks at least 23 years old here. Okay, so maybe not 23, but definitely not 2 1/2! This picture makes her look like a girl. Not a toddler, and not my baby. And I don't like it.

At least she still has her chunky baby thighs . . .

You Might be a Redneck if . . .

. . . you use the umbrella stand in your patio furniture to anchor your clothesline, and then proceed to hang clothes out to dry in 40 degree weather. A few hours later is started to sleet! I think it's time to get the dryer fixed, or else I need to convince myself that I'm saving the earth by reducing my carbon footprint here.

Great Intentions

I've had so many ideas for posts. They float around my head, forming themselves into sentence fragments and partially completed paragraphs, only to get shoved out with important information like, "I need to add bleach to my shopping list."

So my blog had deteriorated into cute anecdotes of my kids and pictures. Not that there's anything wrong with blogs like that, it's just not the only thing I intended for my blog.

Maybe one day I'll have the perfect combination for blogging: a quiet moment and a focused brain. I'm not holding out for one soon. In fact, this morning I was contemplating a post (focused brain) while the kids were still sleeping (quiet moment) when the magic was killed by Alli when she came downstairs complaining that she was "very poopy." I instructed her to get a pair of undies and wipes from her room. She disappeared upstairs and returned a moment later with the aforementioned undies, 2 dolls, a pillow and a tiny plastic pooh-bear figure. She forgot the wipes. So I sent her back to the bathroom to get wipes and she returned and proceeded to name all the characters from Peter Pan pictured on the box. I had her lay down to change her, when she decided she needed a pad to lay on, so she disappeared again to find the changing pad. Finally she returned and was ready to get changed. What should have taken less than 2 minutes ended up taking around 10. Do you see why I don't have time to blog?

Of course, I need to address the fact that kids are not an interruption to my life. They are the job I'm called to perform right now and I'm not complaining about it. It just makes doing all those other things that interest me more difficult. I'm not begging for sympathy, just a little understanding when you check my blog day after day and never see a new post. That's all I want - a little understanding. And maybe a big cup of coffee, with a blueberry muffin and a good book to read . . . and the quiet time to read it . . . and a clean house . . . and a full-time maid . . . and a slimmer body . . .

. . . but you get the point.

"Ooh, spicy!"
Alli's response to blowing her nose on a tissue from the new box of Puffs Plus with Vick's vapor.

Favorite Music

I have a vivid recollection of my mom repeatedly asking me to turn off the music in our house growing up. She cherished peace and quiet and I thought I couldn't live without background music. Maybe I imagined it as the soundtrack of my life, but I can still hear a song that I listened to as a teenager and instantly remember the people and places and situations that were were occurring at that time. I don't think I'm alone in this phenomenon.

However, I have found since having children that I too enjoy the peace and quiet that occurs for only 2 hours (or less) each afternoon when the kids are in their rooms. But I've also found that my mind wanders and it is better to listen to music to keep my thoughts focused on Christ. So here is my list of favorite Cd's to listen to when it doesn't threaten my mental well-being:

(in no particular order)
1. Redemption Songs by Jars of Clay
2. Grace like Rain by Todd Agnew
3. Songs for the Cross-Centered Life by Sovereign Grace Ministries
4. Remedy by David Crowder Band
5. Good Monsters by Jars of Clay
6. And ANYTHING by the Newsboys!

These are what I've been listening to lately, how about you?

Best Buds

Little Red Riding Hood

Keeping me Humble

Elijah, on explaining how much he loves his new booster seat in the van:

"Mommy, I love my booster seat so much that I will never
want to move out of it. But someday my bottom will be as big as yours and
it will touch the arm rests and I won't be able to fit in it anymore."

New Year's Resolutions Begin to Waver . . .

. . . when you hit Leviticus. Dan and I are still plowing through, although we are doing it on our own so that we don't put each other to sleep at night when we sit to read.

Waiting for Spring

Elijah at 5

We had weekend guests during the weeks surrounding Elijah's 5th birthday, so I wasn't able to post this. But here is my tribute to my eldest child, my buddy:

Elijah, you have been more excited about turning 5 than any other birthday in your short life. You started planning your party last fall. The necessary ingredients for your party included: balloons, spiderman masks, those things you blow that curl up and straighten out (you called them "woozles" - not sure where that came from) and a pinata. You also changed the guest list hundreds of times, always including girls, "to be fair" you said, and even kicking off some friends so there would be a place for Mrs. Lenz (thanks for relinquishing your spot, Sarah!).

You had so many gift ideas, but I love that you were satisfied with every one you received, as well as being content when you couldn't get every one you wanted. Although you already have a list for next year . . .

Things that I always want to remember about you at 5:

1. You learned to blow your nose . . . finally. At least, you convinced your grandma that you learned, so she would pay you the $10 she promised for "big boys who blow their noses."

2. You still love to cuddle.

3. You started wiping off my kisses and told me that you prefer Eskimo kisses. That kinda makes me sad, but I promised you that I would always kiss you anyway.

4. You love Lego's and use your imagination like crazy inventing strange and wonderful creations with them.

5. You make your own bed and get yourself dressed; you fold your own clothes and put them away (I try not to let my ocd nature take over and rearrange them); now if only I could get you to wash your own hair . . .

6. You love math, dislike reading lessons, but love that you are learning to read.

7. You tell Alli that you love her every day, and cry when she is in a mood and says "I don't love you."

8. You are convinced that you will learn to ride a 2 wheel bike this year, because Carra did last summer when she was 5.

9. Your idea of a good time is helping Dad with whatever project he is doing, and always dress the part of "the worker man."

10. You want to learn to sew, just like your mommy.

11. When I told you that I didn't think I was ready for you to be 5, you lectured me that "you can't change God's plan and His plan is for me to grow older." I'm being reminded of the sovereignty of God from my 5 year old. I love that.

Happy Birthday, Elijah. Your dad and I love you at least one billion. You are a joy to us. But try to stick with being 5 for a while, okay? Maybe another 3 or 4 years?

Extra Fabric = French Memo Boards!

In an effort to redecorate Alli's room on a budget, I decided to make her a french memo board with some scrap fabric. So it all started with this one . . .

. . . then Elijah decided he wanted one, too . . . . . . and then I decided my craft area could use a memo board, and I had this extra fabric from a handbag that I LOVE, so I made #3 . . .
. . . only to find that I still had enough of this fabric to make #4 for downstairs.

Now every bedroom has one, as well as the hallway by the kitchen. I think this should be enough for now . . .

Scrumptious Fare

I found this recipe a while ago, and never got around to making it until last night. The whole family loved it, and when I had to turn Elijah down from his 4Th serving, I decided it was definitely a keeper, and one to share with you all! So here is the recipe for our 5 star dish -

Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs
1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks
1/3 c. water
3 T vinegar
1 T soy sauce
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
3 T cornstarch
1 batch of 30 meatballs (frozen or thawed) - I use Sam's Club frozen meatballs, they are our favorite!
1 large green pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
Hot cooked rice

Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Set pineapple aside. Add water to juice if needed to measure 1 cup; pour into a large skillet. Add 1/3 c. water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch; stir until smooth. Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly. Add pineapple, meatballs and green pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve over rice. Yield: 6 servings

What makes me different than a typical person on Groundhog's Day . . .

I'm excited if our local groundhog sees his shadow. That means only 6 more weeks of winter around here!

My New Favorite Website

I don't even remember how exactly I found this website, and after visiting it for a month or so, it seems I am the last person on earth who hasn't heard of it. But in case you haven't either, let me introduce you to

The Pioneer Woman

When I first found the website, I intended to visit it only for recipes. It wasn't until I started poking around that I found it's author, Ree, blogs about life on a ranch, photography, homeschooling and decorating/gardening! If only she quilted, this might be the only blog I would ever need to visit! So take some time to peruse the site and I guarantee you'll find something you like.

And when you are completely addicted, as I now am, you can send me presents to show your appreciation . . . I'll be patiently waiting!

Weekend Update

As my previous post might lead you to believe, we had a crazy, busy, sickening week. The kids were better in time for their grandparents to visit for an early birthday party for Elijah, but Dan suffered most of the weekend with his own, albeit less explosionary, sickness. Even so, we had a nice, quiet visit that even allowed my mom-in-law, who is an excellent seamstress, to help me with a project that had been rattling around in my head for a few weeks now.

We have this wicker/rattan type box in the living room that I use to store the toys. It's a little more "decorator-friendly" than a typical toy box. It came with a brown fabric lining, that was held on by an elastic top. Well, over the 4 years we've had this toy box, the elastic has been stretched and stretched until it wouldn't stay in it's place anymore. So I had been trying to figure out the best way to replace it, without having to buy a ton of fabric that would just be hidden under toys, or just replacing the elastic, which would be utilitarian and economical, but boring. Since one of my new year's resolutions was to add a little more color into our life, I decided to add fabric on the outside of the box, covering about half of the wicker/rattan exterior. And I just happened to have enough of Heather Bailey's Pop Garden fabric to finish the job. So my wonderfully talented mom-in-law figured out how exactly to do it and then took over and finished it herself. Thanks mom!

Here is the final product:

Fun, huh? I love it and it only inspires me to do more with fabric in my house! Stay tuned for pics of my memo boards . . . another way to incorporate some delicious fabric into your decor!

Oh, and I must not forget to share the most exciting, exhilarating part of our weekend. Anyone who knows me should know that my game-playing skills are lacking, to say the least. I play games because I can lose and still have a good time, which is a good trait for one who loses as often as I do. But this weekend . . . this glorious weekend . . .while playing games with my husband and in-laws . . . I won in THREE different games. I won in a 4 round game of Blokus (first time I've used all my pieces!), Rook, and in Rage. I went to bed glowing, and told Dan that this weekend alone would be enough to carry me through a 6 month streak of losses, although I think I'm on a roll . . . :)

Hope your day is great!

Only a mom knows about this . . .

How is it that EVERY time my daughter throws up, it is within 24 hours of her eating corn and mandarin oranges? And just trust me when I tell you that this information was easily discerned. I'll leave it at that and let your mind do the rest . . .

Have a happy day!

Handmade Christmas, part 3

Somehow I missed getting some pictures of a couple of gifts, so I'll have to show you these and tell you about the others.

These gifts were for Dan's side of the family, with whom we didn't celebrate Christmas with until New Years, so it gave me a bit longer to finish. I made these reversible cloth napkins for my mother-in-law, in the colors of her kitchen. We apparently have similar tastes, because these would match my kitchen and dining room, too! My trendy sister-in-law, Noelle, picked out this fabric from Anna Maria Horner as a favorite on a recent trip to the quilt shop, so I made a mental note and went back and bought enough to make 4 coasters . . .

. . . and 2 hot pads. Both were easy to make, so I might have to make some for myself this year!

I also made 2 more fabric footballs for our nephews and gave my sister-in-law Jennifer an "On the Town Diaper Pack" that holds a small package of wipes and 4 diapers. I've made a lot of those and one day, when I finally get around to opening an Etsy store, I'll list those for sale.

Well friends, this ends the 3-part series on my Handmade Christmas. Hope you liked it. I really enjoyed making all these gifts, but I resolve in 2009 to start a bit earlier! Maybe next month???

New Year, Same Resolutions

We've had a wonderful few weeks of celebrating Christmas with both our families, although that always involves a bit of travel. I'm winding down and looking forward to a few weeks with nothing big planned, and a chance to really think about my goals for the new year. Here are a few that I've come up with so far:

1. Resolved to stay in touch with my siblings more often - even if just through Facebook.
(side note to Erik and Kevin - the phone connection works both ways!)

2. Resolved to read through the Bible in one year - Dan helped me with this resolution by suggesting we do it together. I don't know if that will make it easier or more difficult. We see each other (awake, that is) only a few hours a day.

3. Resolved to sew for fun, but to not let it take over my life and finances! Along with that resolution comes mine and Dan's desire to add a bit more color into our lives.

4. And the biggest resolution I have made is to strive to find the balance between serving in the body of Christ and knowing when to step back before I get so stressed that I have heart palpitations! That's an on-going struggle that I don't expect to fully solve - it's going to be a constant battle, but one that I'm hopefully more prepared for.

Well, that's my list so far. I'm sure I should add exercise and less sugar consumption, but I'm afraid if I write it down, someone will actually keep me accountable for it.

Stay tuned for my last installment of "Handmade Christmas" and some of my favorites of 2008!
Happy New Year Everyone!