Christmas Jammies

What Was I Thinking?

I made some jammies for my niece, nephews and Jake for Christmas. I was excited because I had all this super soft microchamois fleece fabric. Perfect for Christmas jammies. They were a big project to take on, not only right before Christmas, but they also had feet in them, and the fabric turned out to be very stretchy and hard to manage. I thought I could handle it and I wanted to tackle the challenge. Hmmm... maybe next time I will listen to the voice of reason and pick one challenge instead of a bunch at once!

I was going to write a 3 part saga but I decided not to bore you with the grim details about how I serged Sam's feet in inside out so the gripper fabric would be touching his feet instead of the ground. That's helpful isn't it? Ever try unpicking serging on jiffy grip fabric? Well, if you live your life and never have to, you will have lived a good life. (At least that was my thought that night at 3 am.) I had machine troubles, sewed Andrew's waistband in wrong, my hems were terrible and wavy, the list goes on. And guess what, Christmas is over, yes? Well, the saga doesn't end. Sarah's were way too big for her - I think I must have gone with Andrew's inseam on those accidentally because they are the same size otherwise. Oops.

So tonight, I am shortening them. Not even sure what I am doing because they have elastic at the bottom and then the feet. I should have just folded out the excess and serged that. But I wanted the seams to be straight (which is actually impossible on this fabric!!!)so I measured and cut, pinned and serged, thinking it was going to be OK. But guess what? Would these unruly beasts EVER be sewn right by this bewildered seamstress? NO. I sewed the foot on backwards. Yeah, I'm good. I think I better stick to some easy stuff for a while. And take my time when learning new things- I think it was just the Christmas frazzledness more than anything. I DID learn a lot and the kids are soooo soft and nummy in their jammies!! And they love them so that is all that matters.

If anyone that reads this uses a serger - this tip is really helpful for frogstitching (rip it, rip it) or unpicking serger stitching.

There's a picture in my last post but here are some more. They really did turn out cute and I'm still totally glad I gave them a shot. Did I mention how cute these kids are or how much I LOVE them? It has been such a fun Christmas being all together and having my sister and her family here.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas and that you will be blessed with health and happiness in the new year!

Behold.. the Neon Atom

This is Jake's science project. He had to be creative with what he used to make a 3D atom. Our first ideas were hula hoops and sports/toy balls. We ended up with this. It looks like it is not a circle in the pictures, but it is. I'm not sure where we would have been without my dad's help. My mom even went to Toys R Us to get balls. Don't mention you need help to these guys, or they are on it. Stat. With my dad's put-it-together, fix-it know-how, my mom, the poster queen, and Jake's great ideas, we pretty much rocked this project. At least I think so, but I'm biased. :)

What is it about when someone tells you what to do?

I have been really good with my eating for about a week. I've been trying to eat actual food during the day. Yeah, I know novel idea huh? No Power Bars, Balance Bars, etc. Just actual meals. When I have no energy at all, this is a lot harder than it seems! I love when I make a big meal that I can eat for a few days. I'm not that picky. My sister in law gives me leftovers too, which totally rocks. And other times, there's nothing to be found. Anywhere. So I just wait until I have energy to make something. And sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. Poor Jake. Problem is, he doesn't like anything I make, unless it is pasta. So, a can of soup or spaghetti for him. I do have oatmeal for breakfast usually so that lasts for a while.

But then I get starved by about 9:00 at night, and I want to eat everything. Is that a good plan for my body? No. So, I am trying to remember just to eat real food during the day. It was going quite well and I didn't feel like eating junk at night. Then, today, while I was lying there fat flat on the table, getting a massage today (the only thing that makes my muscles relinquish their vise grip) the guy starts going on and on about how I need to watch my carbs and that bread is only carbs, and especially watch my fat intake, and I shouldn't eat sugar, etc. (This guy also once went on and on about how I need to exercise. I know. I used to exercise all the time. I loved exercise. It made me happy. It makes me very unhappy that if I do it now, I am even more unable to get out of bed than usual. It does not help to tell me these things. I would give my right elbow to be able to go on a nice jog and not have it make me want to die. But I suppose you can't understand these things unless you have been there. And I hope you don't have to come here.)

So, guess what I did tonight? Came home and scarfed down a half bag of these puppies and ate a cookie. And this is on top of the fattening and delicious pizza my mom got for us at her house. Is it just me or would it be common courtesy to note that it takes a lot of courage to get my half-naked body up on that massage table when I am not even real comfortable with myself in clothes? Dude. You think I don't know all that??? I used to eat really healthy. Grrr. Something truly went awry in my body and I just crave stuff like crazy. Even when I eat real food. It drives me up the wall. I am trying. so. hard. I will be eating some junk for Christmas. So, family, don't expect me to be a saint. But hopefully I can make some progress after that. It feels like no matter what I do though, (I really am good sometimes) my body either just stays the same or gets bigger. Like the fat just wants to stay, like a rude and unwanted houseguest who will never leave.

I Am Undoubtedly a Molasses Gingerbread Cookie

Quiz: What Christmas Cookie Are You?
Are you simple and sweet or decked out with all the trimmings? Take the quiz and find out what type of Christmas cookie you are.

I was thinking about what kind I would be and I had actually decided I would be this kind of cookie.

And this was my answer:
You are undoubtedly Molasses-Gingerbread Cookies. You're warm, spicy, and multifaceted.

So... get your spicy self over there to find out what kind you are.

I DID IT!!

I sewed with knit fabric. I have wanted to for at least 2 years and I finally took the plunge. Knits are just so comfy and easy care, you know? Of course, jammies are always the easiest thing to start with because then I don't worry too much if they aren't perfect. These are for my cute nephews Sam and Andrew. Do I need to keep an even score? I have cute clothes in mind for Sarah and a shirt in the works. Darn I wish my sister would move here - it sure would make it easier to try things on them. (And see them grow up, and play with them, and all that good stuff.) But hey, I can thank my lucky stars they are coming for Christmas. Next on my list is Christmas pjs for all of them - so that will be fun!

The ribbing on Sam's neckline is a little wide and Andrew's is a little narrow I think. Next time, I think I would do somewhere in between. And I would extend the sleeves a bit and skip the cuffs there. And maybe do wider leg pants with no cuffs. Unless they like them exactly like this and want more, then that's what I'll do. I aim to please! I sure hope they are comfy and they like them! I had fun learning a new skill.

Tires and Tools Jammies

Ho Ho Ho!

Christmas Questions from Kara

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper but gift bags are awfully convenient. A little of both is good.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I’m allergic to the real thing.

3. When do you put up the tree? It just depends.

4. When do you take the tree down? That just depends too. Energy and time have to collide at just the right moment.

5. Do you like eggnog? I adore it! But I can’t have dairy. I used to pour it over a bowl of rice and warm it in the microwave – yum!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm.. Easy Bake Oven… or Laurie Walker the huge life-size doll maybe? (Even though my brothers and dad tortured her.)

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad is not just hard – he’s impossible. We’ve all given up and just make him scrapbook pages.

8. Easiest person(s) to buy for? I really LOVE shopping for most people. It’s probably one of my favorite things ever.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes – one carved from olive wood in Israel.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I usually try to mail some, but it isn’t looking good this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can’t remember a really bad one.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Maybe Elf? But I also like all the cheesy ones that are on Hallmark this time of year.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November-ish. I never have it all done early though – it is part of the whole Christmas feeling going out and shopping for presents.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. One was a candle, and another one was this awesome chocolate violin that I gave to a guy who plays the violin. It was just too perfect.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Nothing in particular comes to mind, although I do like the festive foods like ham, cookies…

16. Lights on the tree? Chyeah!

17. Favorite Christmas song? I like most of them. I love O Holy Night, For Unto Us a Child Is Born, Little Drummer Boy, What Child is This?, I could go on. Oh - and Baby It's Cold Outside is fun.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home! Well, wait… are we talking warm and balmy weather? If so, I’d be all over it.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer & Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner & Blitzen

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have a star for it right now. I like both.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do family presents on Christmas Eve, and then Santa and Mom and Dad ones on Christmas Morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Usually the weather and the crummy road conditions that come along with it, but not this year – it’s only snowed once so far.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like lime or light green in with the green and red.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham, turkey, whatever works.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A cutting table for sewing!

Want to win something cool?

Wall Decals are a great way to decorate. They are less permanent than paint and come in a variety of fun expressions as well as some decorative art. My favorite is the wall art. I mean, I could certainly find a place for this beauty somewhere in my house:

And who can resist this knobby knee birdie?

This one might be helpful around here:

Grosgrain, which is the blog of a talented seamstress who designs amazing clothing and sews for her daughter and giveaways, her new store, etc. is having a ...

Scribble It GIVEAWAY!!!!

All you have to do is link back to the giveaway on your blog and you are entered. Pretty sweet.

And while I'm on the subject of cool sites, I think this Brick of Mormon Stories is pretty great.

How Do You Cook Your Paper?

This was a really cool project for Jake's art class. He did the writing in calligraphy and it was supposed to be funny - hence the "missteaks." (The first letter is a decorative "I".) He did a great job!

When you are done writing and you've erased your pencil marks... then the fun part begins! You burn the edges with a lighter. Then you need to brown the paper and the instructions gave four choices, holding it over an electric burner, baking it, ironing it for a while, or using tea or coffee on it. First we tried baking it. It just said to use a low heat, so we tried 215 degrees for a good 10-15 minutes, but nothing happened, then we turned it up and turned it up again, but nothing much happened.

So we tried the burner method and Ta Da! It worked! The whole thing made our house stink but it turned out really cool. After you are done cooking it, you then turn it over and rub oil all over it to make it look like parchment. Pretty cool project.










He thinks he's so funny pulling a sly one on Mom and hiding his face during the shutter lag time :)

Gratitude Prayers Update

Hey guys!

I wanted to update how this went because it was such a cool thing. It was a surprise - gratitude prayers are actually a relief! It was a nice change from having to come up with the right things to ask for -or worry about - all the time. I realized that my subconscious mind really thinks I have to worry about things and try to figure everything out, or nothing will be OK!

I just got to look at the good things. What a nice break! It let me sit back and give the job of figuring it all out to Him. That can be easier said than done but, voila! a gratitude prayer accomplished it for me. It made faith take over and that was a beautiful thing. I can rely on Him to know what I need. Sometimes figuring things out and pondering does help a lot, but I need to remember to keep the balance. I did not expect to learn any of this, and I really loved this experiment!

So, on that note, here's a list of things I'm glad about today:

That Nablopomo is over! :D It was good and got me in the blogging mode but it will be a relief also to just post when I want to and feel like I actually have something to say (whether it is significant or not.)

That Jake's big present came while he was gone for the long weekend and he didn't see it!

That selling Jake's bedroom set on Craigslist enabled me to pay for Christmas and his birthday next month.

Happy Christmas time!

Where O Where Did My Internet Go?

Here's Jake and Andrew last Christmas Eve - reminding us that it's time to start in on the coming Christmas season. It is here!

Natalie's Internet is down so this is a temporary final nablopomo post until she gets it going. (from her mom)

I'm Scared

of THIS!




What is it about learning a new thing that is so scary and makes me put it off for months and months?? I love my serger - the part that I know how to work. I got her secondhand and she works like a charm. It does more than the one thing I know how to do though, and I'm sure I'll love it even more once I learn!

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a mouse. And I'm loving it! Every mom needs a break, right?
I'm hitting the sack early tonight. Sweet dreams.

Happy Turkey Lurkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I'm thankful for:

1. This guy

2. My parents and ALL they do for me.

3. My siblings and all their unique qualities and all they have contributed to my life, including my in-laws.

4. Good friends.

And SO MUCH MORE!!! I hope you're all having a great day!

Sometimes I Feel Like A Nut

I had some really nice, fresh mixed nuts on hand so I wanted to try my hand at these:

Super Yummy Cinnamon Sugared Nuts

Ingredients:
1 Egg white
1 teaspoon Cold water
1 can Pecans
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions:
Beat egg white . Add water and beat until frothy. Fold in pecans. Combine sugar salt and cinnamon.

Add to pecans. Mix. Butter a 9x13 baking pan . Pour the nuts into pan. Bake at 250F for 1 hour.

I did these with the mixed nuts, not pecans. They are simple, and delicious! I only cooked mine for 43 minutes and they came out great. You might like them more crispy though. This could be a fun holiday snack or treat to give people.

I'm Not Sure, But..

I think Kara and I might be related.

Oops. I turned the wrong burner on. But, I think I needed a new one anyway. ;) All because I was trying to make Jake his favorite breakfast.

Breakfast Burritos... yum!

HOLY HANNAH!

WOAH. In my half-asleep-wishing I was all the way asleep-middle of the night-blog surfing- I happened upon something that blew me away. I am usually hungry in the middle of the night when I am awake. (problem.) Most of the time I don't have the energy to make something (good thing) but BOOM! This almost got me moving. Almost. Oddly, just looking at it was enough. I opened this site and Hello gorgeous! This huge picture created a feast for my eyes and I have no idea if it is good as it looks but I do appreciate how good it looks. I am not even a huge chocolate lover (I know - blasphemy) but when it is combined in small amounts with something like peanut butter, toffee, caramel, or now... butterscotch, it can really float my boat. I thought I'd share my eye-popping pleasure. And if it's not the same for you, I guess it was just one of those moments, ya know?

What a delightful site. I have happened on it before and seen her adorable and amazing mini-cupcakes that she is known for. As has been attested to, she is one heck of a photographer, and from the looks of it, one heck of a baker! I'd like to try her moist yellow cake recipe someday. But, really. I shouldn't be posting about this. I should be posting about how I am going to lose weight in the new year. Here's to hoping.

I wrote this yesterday morning but never hit the publish button until early the next morning(now)!

Ever Thought About

Saying a prayer of only gratitude? It is a really good idea for me right now since there has been a lot of asking going on. I am going to hold off on the supplication and petitioning for at least a prayer a day until Thanksgiving. It isn't much, but I think it will help me focus more on what I DO have! And that is a lot!!!

Jake gave a talk about gratitude in church today! He told about Elder Bednar's Conference talk last month when he spoke about a prayer of only gratitude. My mom helped him write a beautiful talk and he delivered it like a pro! I was so impressed and proud of him. Not a single stumble over a word, he spoke at just the right rate, and didn't even seem nervous! Good job Jake! My mom, dad and I got to sit by his little twin brothers and they kept us entertained for the rest of the meeting.

Jake The Builder

Can He Build It?? Yes He Can!!

Jake has a new bed from Ikea. He really wants to build the whole thing himself.

And if not, there's always this:

And Pa. And me. I'm always there to help too. If he wants it. :)

Words of Wisdom From Movies

While I was growing up, I heard many many quotes (or was it the same quotes, over and over?) from movies such as VHF, Spaceballs and Dumb and Dumber. These were my dad's favorite movies of all time. "SUPPLIES!" Anyway, you can see why when I saw the title of this newspaper article in my email, I thought it was quite possibly going to be sarcastic. But it actually had some awesome quotes!


Chris Hicks
There's a line spoken by Steve Martin in the 1991 film "Grand Canyon" that has always amused me: "All of life's riddles are answered in the movies."
Well, I don't know about that. But there is occasional wisdom offered by movies that goes beyond the simplistic "Star Wars" and "Spider-Man" musings — you know, Yoda's "Do or do not; there is no try" and Uncle Ben's "With great power comes great responsibility."

So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving (yes, it's next week, folks), when we traditionally become a bit more thoughtful as well as thankful, here are some of my favorite words of wisdom from the movies ... some of which are remarkably applicable to current world conditions.
"Never do nothing you wouldn't want printed on the front page of The New York Times." — Judy Holliday, "Born Yesterday" (1950)

"Everything our parents said was good is bad: sun, milk, red meat, college." — Woody Allen, "Annie Hall" (1977)

"She's television generation. ... The only reality she knows comes to her over the TV set." — William Holden, "Network" (1976)

"There's nothing tragic about being 50. Not unless you're trying to be 25." — Holden, "Sunset Blvd." (1950)

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view. ... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." — Gregory Peck, "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962)

"I think once you quit hearing 'sir' and 'ma'am,' the rest is soon to foller." — Tommy Lee Jones, "No Country for Old Men" (2007)

"I wouldn't give you two cents for all your fancy rules if behind them they didn't have a little bit of plain ordinary everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fellow, too." — James Stewart, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)

"Instead of telling our young people to plan ahead, we should tell them to plan to be surprised." — Steve Carell, "Dan in Real Life" (2007)


My favorites are probably the last two. Too true. And of course the classic line from To Kill a Mockingbird. Do you have any favorite lines from movies?

Have You Ever...

I got this from Kara's blog and thought it was really fun! It made me grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I've had.

(Things I've done are bolded.)
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo – does around my house count? :D
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen an eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - I've gone rock repelling...does that count?
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (knock on wood)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (the BYU newspaper)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake – well, I waded.
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

The Opposite of Yesterday

I just couldn't resist when I happened upon this today! I find these hilarious. Anyone else find these as funny as I do?? From here.

Here are some more good ones:

I tag Jana, Kara, Eric and Tiff, Suz and Jo to post their favorite(s) on their blog! (If you want.)

Just a Thought for Today

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.
--Wayne Gretsky

When you're so tired...

This is my take on my theme song for my life (Kara's idea) and also kinda sorta blatantly copying Tiff's post today. :D It isn't really my theme song for my whole life but it does describe the last 14 years of being sick.

Some of the lyrics in this song are just perfect. I've been singing "When you feel so tired but you can't sleep" line for the last 2 weeks. If you want, you can click on my playlist over there <- and play the songs while you read the lyrics (unless you already know them by heart like me.) Once you click on it, you can scroll around to pick a song.

Fix You

by Coldplay

When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

When high up above or down below

When you're too in love to let it go

But if you never try you'll never know

Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

And on a more positive note, I feel so very blessed in many ways in my life. I love this song by Sarah McLachlan. I like how it helps me remember that there are so many little miracles going on around me every day. Life is beautiful and a gift. I can wish and hope and pray for better health to enjoy it, but the truth is, I am very blessed in many ways, and I am so grateful.

Ordinary Miracle

It’s not that unusual

When everything is beautiful

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

The sky knows when it’s time to snow,

Don’t need to teach a seed to grow,

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Life is like a gift they say

Wrapped up for you every day

Open up and find a way

To give some of your own love.

Isn’t it remarkable?

Like every time a raindrop falls

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Birds are meant to have their flame

They always make it home on spring

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

When you wake up everyday

Please don’t throw your dreams away

Hold them close to your heart

‘Cause we are all a part of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle,

Do you want to see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional

That things just work out after all

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

The sun comes up and shines so bright

And disappears again at night

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

The Square Root of Silver

Jake has been wanting to do something cool with his walls for a while. Well, we are selling his furniture so it was time to do it! He wanted something kind of like a square root and a long stripe in metallic silver. Luckily my dad came and helped or it would have looked nowhere near this professional. In fact, it probably would have been a mess. Thanks Dad! He sat there and figured out the angles with first a protractor, and then some other big tool and a ruler. He took Jake to buy super cool paint and they both did an awesome job painting it! I love it. And more importantly, Jake is elated!

Here are some pictures of the process:

And the sweet final product!

Perfect for an almost teenager.

Facebook's Weird

I have to say, Facebook completely freaks me out. What is the deal with being able to see what everyone's doing all the time when I go to my "home"? Their comments to other people and the world in general - it's just weird. Especially when they are people you aren't actually friends with but you knew their friends or the friends of their friends. Don't ge me wrong. Most people I am totally happy to be friends with and "see" again. But there are always a couple where it is just weird. (Not YOU. lol) I know you can send private messages but the wall thing bothers me. I do like being able to find people on there. On Myspace, it is hard to find anyone.

I did catch up with a couple friends on Facebook I hadn't seen in forever so that is cool. Anyway, I just happened on Anna's post and was glad to know I wasn't alone in my feelings about Facebook. I thought maybe I was anti-social.

At any rate, this song about Facebook makes me laugh:

Saving Some Green

Lots of scary stuff is happening now with our economy. If you are lucky enough to have a nest egg, are you cracking it? I am trying not to completely freak out.

While I was waiting for Jake to get his haircut a couple weeks ago, I read a good article in Reader's Digest about saving money. It was about a couple who decided to go a whole month without buying anything except the essentials like milk and fresh fruit. They did pay the mortgage and their monthly utility bills but they just tried to use what they had for everything else. That is one way to save money and they learned a lot about how we don't always need to run out and spend right away. I want to save what I have in the house to use for the real emergencies though. I have been adding to my food storage and plan to keep adding. I really need to get some water storage. I am trying to save money and stop those stupid impulse buys. Do you have any tips or ideas to share for saving money that work for you?

• I have started to ask my mom for the Sunday coupon sections. There are some good coupons in there and I am trying to work dinners, etc. around that. (Now if there was just a coupon for the energy to make dinner!)
• When shopping anywhere online, I always do a google search for a coupon first. Retail me not is a good site for coupons - both printable and online. Also Ebates gives you cash back for online purchases. I have made over $50 back over 2-3 years by clicking through them to the site I was going to buy something anyway, like iTunes or Old Navy, etc. It is great around Christmas time when you're doing more shopping.
• Vinegar is a great fabric softener! Just use some in the softener section of your washer. Plus it is supposed to keep clothes color fast.
• Vinegar and baking soda for slow drains is better for the environment than chemicals and it worked for my kitchen sink. Now I need to try it on my bathroom sink.
• Getting books at the library.

I don't have to worry too much though, because I just received an important beneficiary notice from the AMBASSADOR BABAGANA KINGHIBE, the new secretary federal government of Nigeria of Office of the Presidency. 'Sounds like he wants to do business with me. So, I'm set. I hope you can find a way to survive.

I HEART....

(in no particular order)

garlic bread - I am on a kick lately where I crave it!

peace and quiet

sleep

sewing

books, books, and more books

my son

my nieces and nephews

arty/crafty things

pretty objects or sights

laughing

kind people

support

my home

my craft room

sunshine and warmth

the internet

the gospel

the scriptures

my blog friends and other friends

Have you ever not been able to sleep an ENTIRE night? I remember when I was in high school and it was the end of a term, a friend and I would stay up all night and do 2-3 book reports in one night. Did I grow attached to that bleary-eyed, strung out, zombie feeling? Is that why my body just refuses to sleep sometimes? About 68% of nights, I can't fall asleep at a normal time, but I do fall asleep eventually - whether it is 3 am or 5 am... I do fall asleep. This is actually better than it used to be. The 30% of nights that I do fall asleep and it isn't too difficult, are just delicious. But every once in a while, (last night) one of these nights will pop up and I lie there and then try all the tricks in the book, and then lie there again..... and nothing. My sleep buttons are all turned off. Sometimes I don't even mind being awake at night. It is wonderfully quiet and free of interruptions. Sometimes I even get a little energy at night and that is when I can get some things done -usually even better than I can in the daytime. But when you are so exhausted that you can barely stand up, yet you can't do the one thing your body is craving more than anything...fall asleep. What's up with that?!

I am off to bed soon... maybe tonight will at be least one of the 68%!

Thoughts on Why We Blog

So, my last post got me thinking about why people blog. For me it is an exercise in putting myself out there, among people. I have been sequestered in my own little world for a period of time, by my own doing. This is partly because I feel so different than most people right now. I feel like a 95 year old woman. Actually, I feel like a 30 year old in a 95 year old woman's body. I don't think I would quite relate to the people at the rest home, but the people my age running around, cleaning their house, grocery shopping, and hanging out with friends like it's no big thing :) - that's a different reality than mine also. Every speck of energy I have is meted out carefully. There are the facts that I am divorced and a mom as well - most single people work full-time and don't have kids. And the married people have husbands and are busy with their families.

But really, the two biggest obstacles are thus:
I simply don't have the physical energy to hang out a lot. And if I make plans, sometimes I have to break them, and hence, friends seem to drop like flies. But that's OK. I think I push them away too. And that, I believe is the significant point. I am busy figuring some things out. I feel good about that. I want friends, but I want the right kind. I want to have the energy to enjoy them. And hopefully I will at some point. And if not, hopefully I'll find supportive people I can relate to anyway.

But everyone needs people. And blogging and other online chatting meets that need in a small, yet potent way. And that suits me terrifically for now!

Here are some reasons other people blog from this website that I found interesting:

Brian Moffatt says he blogs

... because I believe that there is only the particular and singular in life. It's that voice thing. I don't want to beat that to death, but I had this conversation with a blogger the other night. The first I had met in real life. I mentioned to him - a new blogger - that one of the things I really enjoyed was watching someone new to blogging develop and emerge. Seeing their voice emerge. Like a burlesque. Peeling away the layers of clothing, the self-consciousness rising and dissolving, the tentativeness, the self-loathing, the self-pity and then BOOM - there she is!

And then there's the complicated version:
Frank Paynter asks: Why do I blog?

Why Frank, why???

At the onset, it seemed a novel experiment. One had what seemed an offer of new modes of conversation, expression, and sharing -- evolutionary steps toward a new social imagination. The possibility of creative cross currents unevacuated by petty egoisms, status plays, the usual.

...it was the thought of mingling one’s preoccupations and whims, moods and epiphanies, in the vast ocean of other people’s stuff like that. Who could say what might come of it? And not just other people of the present, but of other times. One of the early blog posts I recall producing was a wondering look at how, as the web develops, more of the past will be linkable. The future held the possibility of recovering the past to a greater extent than the present. The past, which had no digital network, was lost to itself as soon as it occurred. This all seemed quite the right thing, and it was before Google, so it was with a touch of awe that I thought of one’s blog as an extension into a stream growing newer and older simultaneously, extending its threads forward and back with inexorable and sticky energy, until, perhaps at its end, it would, through a commodius vicus of linkification, sink deep into the foundations of our moment in time. The web would capture the juicy bug, and it would be, voila, the web.

Or the simplified version:
Gillian Gunson said "My simple answer: I'm a passive-aggressive attention whore"

The insomniac and "it's a small world after all" version, which I agree with:
I blog mostly because insomnia is more entertaining at a keyboard. I've learned a lot about people all over the world, people I would otherwise never get to know. Through their blogs I learn about everyday life in faraway places. We are all so much alike. - Michelle Goodrich

And the version to which I relate most of all:
While I could probably give some long drawn out explanation of why I blog, the truth, as it usually is, is simple. I blog because it extends me in a way that affirms who I am. The affirmation comes from knowing I can be myself and not be alone in my thoughts, dreams, and fears. Plus blogging's got a great beat and you can dance to it. - Jim Roberts

Favorite Blogs

Isn't blogging an interesting thing? Who would have thought that millions of us would be so intent on reading other people's thoughts and even checking in for stories about families we don't even know...reading journals of people we've never met! Of course the best ones are the blogs of people we know and love. It is a great way to keep in touch and get to know each other better. I didn't think I would ever do it. It is hard for me to write about myself publicly! But I love the connections I've made through it and the feeling of camaraderie! Thanks so much to everyone who comments! It totally makes my day and makes it easier!

These are the blogs I check most often:
Suz - a funny and unique take on life.
Kara - friendly, personable and fun
Jana - also friendly, personable and fun- I love you two!
Jo - I love reading about my sister and her kids
Eric and Tiff - keeping up with my brother and his cute wife
Kristen - my great friend from college who has the cutest family and lives in France!

They are people I know and love to read about! Below is a list of blogs I read that I love but usually just wait for them to show up on my feedblitz.

My Happy Little Life - this one really inspires me sometimes - I really like some of her views on life.
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman - This lady can really make me laugh and is a good writer.
takiyaje - It isn't even in English but who can resist this? She makes the most amazing dolls and stuffed things!
Wee Wonderfuls - Wonderful crafty blog. I really want to make this from her patterns!
Sew Mama Sew - Lots of crafty goodness to be had here as well as sewing tutorials!
Posie Gets Cozy - A warm and homey type blog.
Stitches and Seams - A great seamstress.
Feeling Stitchy - Fun embroidery stuff.
Angry Chicken - Sewing, crafting, cooking, etc.
Mika - I like this guy's personality, voice and some of his songs.
Funky & Delightful - crafting, sewing, cooking..
How About Orange - sewing, crafting, designing, and other interesting stuff.

There are actually more, but these are maybe my top ones. If you can't tell, when I don't have the energy to craft and sew, I like to read about it!

guest post!!

I am guest posting on my moms blog!!
and so this is me playing rockband!