I know, I know....

I know -- I haven't posted in a LONG time, but a lot has happened this summer. I have quit one job, and I am starting another job tomorrow. I am trying to quit my other job so that I am only working 1 job. We went on our family vacation and I have been trying to get my house in order.

No need to bore anyone with the details of my job hopping that is going on, other than to say I am really looking forward to starting my new job tomorrow. I am hoping it is something that I am going to want to do long term and that will allow me more time with the family.

On to vacation. We had a great vacation this year. We did our usual trip to Family Week at Jumonville Camp and Conference Center. It helped show me that my kids, though far from perfect, aren't out of the range of being normal kids. I was starting to doubt my parenting skills and to wonder if the kids are both borderline something being that they are both strong-willed and have a hard time listening, etc. But they are just kids and I have to remind myself that on a regular basis. And, I need to learn to RELAX! Something that I have a very hard time doing.

Getting the house in order -- that is a constant battle/struggle that I deal with. I was able to finally get a crafting area in our basement together. My husband was kind enough to get me more storage and I have my sewing machine, all my fabric and all of my scrapbooking "stuff" together in one area. I have room to work and peace and quiet to work in. I am so excited to start new projects! My knitting hasn't made its way down yet, but it will move in with the other crafts soon!

My upcoming projects are all centered around my darling daughter who will be turning 2 in September. I have the grand idea of having a "sweet shoppe" themed birthday party. I am going to make various sweet treats to eat, and I have big plans for her outfit and the invitations (which should have gone out yesterday). I am hoping to finish those tonight and post pictures. Pictures of the other projects will come when I get them done -- hopefully not the night before the party!!!!

unfinished -- imagine that

WELL..... Best laid plans for making a gift in 2 nights did not come to fruition. Imagine that. I am still knitting the wrap, but I found that it was much less stressful to purchase a nice journal as a gift instead of stressing over trying to knit like a mad woman! Now, if I would only create things in advance that I could just grab and give when needed... that's a novel idea!

Goal for the week -- put quilt together by the weekend so that I can start tieng it next week. I might even be able to get the kids involved in the tieing. They can learn to tie and I can get the quilt done faster -- yippee!

I WILL NOT PROCRASTINATE, I WILL NOT PROCRASTINATE..... where have I heard that before?

Time...

Why is it, that when I have things I really want to do, there isn't any time during the day to do them. But, when it is something that I really don't want to do -- like cleaning -- time almost seems to stand still so that there is plenty of time to get those types of chores done? Ugh. Stupid clock.

Well, I haven't had time to sew lately, though I did cut out my first quilt. I use the term quilt loosely as it will be scraps of fabric sewn together with padding and a nice fabric backing, but by no means is it any type of intricate design that comes to mind when someone says "quilt." I like to think I am channeling my late grandmother (whom Emily is named after) with my quilt as it is like the ones that she used to make and I still love. I am hoping to finish the quilt this weekend so that I can post pictures next week!

The weather is starting to break in Pittsburgh, well at least for today it is. It could be snowing again next week, but we shall enjoy the sun while it is here. I was able to cast on a new shawl pattern as well. As per usual, I decide to make something on Wednesday that is needed for Saturday. I am thinking I will be up late tonight and tomorrow night getting it finished. Yippee!!!

Watch me Grow tutorial

So I finished a craft project that I think is pretty cute -- something that you can do with the kiddos (or pets even if you feel so inclined). It is very simple and I thought I would do a tutorial to show how I made it! I have recently learned that glass works very well with dry erase markers, the same way they work on dry erase boards. I know, I must have been living under a rock, but this got me thinking. I love children's hand prints, but to make a new one every year would be tedious, and knowing me it would probably take more than a year to get one done! So, I thought to myself, why now immortalize my child's handprint now, then I can trace around it on the glass every year to show him and me how big he is growing! That spawned the following project.

First, gather your supplies. You can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. The basic supplies are an 8x10 picture frame (I got mine at the local dollar type store), printed background paper at least in the 8x10 size, coordinating plain color paper large enough to trace your subject's hand (or paw) on, stickers, a glue stick and a dry erase marker.


Next, trace your subject's hand on the plain paper, cut out and affix to your print paper that has been trimmed to fit in the picture frame.


Now is when you can get really creative with stickers, etc. I have decorated mine and included the phrase Watch me grow!


Place the project in the picture frame and write on the hand (or wherever you'd like on the glass) the age of the child. And, viola!


And, just because my son can be so darn cute at times (atleast I think so)!

Santa took the binks...

Yes, that is what we had to tell our son get him to finally give up his binks. We told him that Santa would take the binks and give them to smaller kids who really need them. I know, we shouldn't lie to our children, but Dekker is 3 and it was WAY past time to give up the bink! Last night, he was allowed to stay up a little later than usual so that he was really tired and he went to bed well. Tonight, he didn't stay up as late, and it took a little longer for him to go down, but he never once asked for his binks (BLESS HIS HEART!)

On to crafting. I made the watch me grow wall hanging for Dekker's room. It turned out well and he was able to help me with it! Tutorial is coming. I just have to download the pictures on the other computer.

My sewing machine is starting to seem like a distant memory. The longer I go without using it, the easier it is to forget about it. I look at it every day when I get up, and every night when I go to bed, but I can't seem to find the time to sit down and get reacquainted with it! We are supposed to get some crappy weather this week, so maybe that will keep me home and give me time to sew some more.

I will be productive, I will be productive...

So, I am working from home today. Usually, I am productive on these days, but I just can't get in to the groove today to get much work done. Any suggestions for staying focused?

On another note -- I made a healthy dinner last night that my family actually liked! I had some chicken marinating which I cooked and sliced to make wraps with spinach, low-fat mozzeralla cheese and a little ranch dressing. I also roasted some asparagus in the oven and made brown rice that I added a little salsa to for taste. Being that I tend to be domestically challenged, I was pretty proud of myself!

I was able to buy picture frames today to try my hand print picture idea I had at 5am today when I was up with Emily. I am hoping to post my first tutorial later (once I try it and see if it works!)

Stay tuned for the finished product.

and the week goes on!

Why is it when I want the week to go by quickly, it drags, and when I have a lot of things to do, the time flies? Oh well, I guess I can't control time, so I should work on making better use of the time that I have.

Status update -- still on the diet wagon for the week, although I have had a few slips, things have been going pretty well. I actually have been packing my lunch every day and I managed to eat a fruit and or veggie with every meal yesterday. Baby steps! I tried something new yesterday that was pleasantly surprising. I tried the new Healthy Choice Steamers -- the garlic and herb shrimp (I think that was the name). It was very easy and had a great taste. I tried it because I had a coupon and now I might be hooked! Now, on to cutting out soda. That's going to be a major task to tackle...

Being that the kiddo's rooms are now organized, I am realizing how bare their walls are. I am thinking about doing some wall stickies, and maybe some blank canvases for the kids to decorate themselves. That should make for some fun times and messes. Maybe we will head to the store tonight to get things for that project. Stay tuned for updates...