tifi

 
This brooch is one of my most favorite things that I’ve ever made.

Because Bebe’s smock and chair cost less than a “Texas sized” Strawberry limeade from Dairy Queen.

Also, my Redbud finally started blooming!

Have a fabulous weekend!

I saw this over at Afrobella a few days ago, and thought I’d make my own list.

1. Water - I used to get told I had great skin (not so much lately, having some issues) and I think this is the prime reason. I drink tons of water. I rarely buy soda or juice b/c well, it’s not good for you, and I know we would all go overboard if it was here. So, water it is.
2. Sleep - Are you getting enough? If not, you’re cheating yourself. No matter how much you sleep in on the weekend, you can’t catch up on sleep.
3. A good brow job - I get my brows waxed regularly and have been doing so for over 10 years. I find nothing really has such a positive impact on the way a face looks as a nice pair of brows. Except for…
4. A smile - Yea, I know they give you wrinkles. Yea, I know in some places it’s not cool to smile. But really, it makes you (and me) feel happy, so do it.
5. Reading - What’s more beautiful than an informed woman? Nothing.

I had that meeting. It was interesting. I am thrilled about the prospect of this group, but also, a little I dunno, apprehensive?.

ZB has an asthma attack in the middle of the night Friday, so we spent Friday night and Saturday morning in the ER. The thing that pisses me off is that it could’ve totally been prevented I think. His doctor’s nurse never got back to me on Friday after several calls asking her to have the doc write him a prescription for a new mask for his nebulizer. He’s almost 100% now. The respiratory therapist that saw him recommended allergy testing which was recommended to us last year, but I’m still on the fence about that. I mean, the kid hates needles and if he turns out to be allergic to oh, I dunno, trees and grass, what am I going to do, ya know? My brother and I both have allergies, his more severe. I went with bro to get his testing done and I know exactly what they do and I really don’t think ZB could handle it without 5 or 6 people holding him down. I’m not sure that’s worth it.

Since he seemed better on Saturday night, we decided to go ahead with that day’s advent calendar activity which was attending our local Christmas parade. DH and I wore our Santa hats and the kids wore their reindeer ears ‘cuz we’re cool like that. You know you’re jealous. The kids’ favorite part is when Santa throws candy off the firetruck and it hits me on the head. Yay. LOL. Bebe loves firetrucks. What toddler doesn’t? And so I think this was the highlight of his year besides getting to go inside one a few months back.

I took DH out to VA for a follow up visit for his carpal tunnel and so Bebe and I dropped him off and headed over to the new Super Target and Michael’s. I checked out all Martha’s cute stuff at Michael’s and got jealous that we have no Starbucks at our Target. *Sigh* It’s ok, in about 6 months, there’ll be a Super Target about 5 minutes away. Yay!

Oh, and how could I forget? I got a package full of books from Anna in the mail! Two knitting books for me, and a few books and stickers for the kids. Plus, a cute card. I love goodies.

Random:

A trip to Hobby Lobby with Bebe can take up to half an hour longer than I usually take b/c he has to squeeze and sometimes bite, every plastic grape he sees. I don’t mind him biting them. Germs are good, make boy strong. Kidding.

Reindeer on a scooter

As if you never dressed up your dog in a onesie and pretended she was a baby! No? Um, pretend you never saw this.

I just thought this shot was cute. The vest and shirt were ZB’s, and before that, my cousin’s! And she ditched the puffs for little buns. A rare occurence.

Our stockings.

And yours truly! My skin looks awful in this photo. I think I need to go inspect it right now…

This year, I’m really going all out for the holiday season. DH grew up with MIL decorating for every season and holiday and has always wanted to recreate that in adulthood. I always think that if I add more decoration, it’ll just be too much but now that I’m doing it, I don’t find that at all. So, here’s some of the “more”.

I made this last minute advent calendar on Friday based on an idea I saw at Kiddley. Maybe next year I’ll start early and make one like Blair’s.

This is the box they’re in. (And that’s our tabletop kitchen, every family ornament chucked on it tree) So far everyone has gotten new ornaments (something we do every year), and written letters to Nana. Oh, and Girlie learned how to ride without training wheels! I forgot about that.

Oranges make me think of Christmas. Doesn’t everybody get or know someone who gets a huge box of citrus for the holidays? I had forgotten about these Tord Boontje plates I bought at Target on clearance last year until ZB said we should have Christmas plates.

And I saw these pyrex mugs and thought they were cute. A quarter each, why not?

My new slightly creepy apron.

I think my holiday village needs one or two of these.

• October is a busier month than expected this year. To put it plainly, I’ve been off actually living life. Good and bad. And it feels great.
• It’s National Chocolate Cupcake Day.
• I heard that on the new Everyday Food show on Sirius. Ask Reesie, I only ever listen to Martha Stewart or Cosmo radio in the car, heh.
• I wish the weather would make up it’s mind!
• ZB is reading Freckle Juice for homework this week! And coincidentally, I’m reading this book.
• Girlie is better.
• Hub is so-so.
• I was finishing up that doll quilt…but ran out of thread…and apparently I bought it somewhere I don’t go often b/c calling/visiting three local quilt shops hasn’t enabled me to find it. (Mettler quilting cotton)
• My monitor died and so I’m sharing one with DH for the time being, part of the reason I am not blogging much.
• I got my anniversary gift early. Her name is Isabelle (and she needs a haircut..). She’s a year old Lhasa Apso (supposedly) mix. We call her Izzie (It’s the most adorable thing to hear Bebe say “Ishie”). But she isn’t named after that one. We’ve had her two days and she’s a perfect fit for our family. Love her. She’s making me a dog person. We have a 5 y/o golden, but he and I have never been…friends, lol. He’s loving enough, a spaz, but Izzie is different. I picked her out, I am responsible for her care, etc.
• I accomplished or will accomplish everything on my “to do” list this week including having lunch at school with both older kiddos.
• Except laundry. That is never ending.
• The reason I’ve been able to get so much done is b/c I cut down on two bad habits: tv and internet. Now, neither of these are really bad, but I do tend to get distracted or not sleep enough because of one or the other, so buhbye.
• I’ve been buying up books that the school library is discarding here and there for 50 cents each. My favorites so far are first (school) edition This is London, and The Red Fairy Book. Funny, I have wanted this Fairy collection for a long time and this is the second one to fall into my lap super cheap. I’m going to a book sale Saturday, so who knows what else I might find!
• On that note, I have thought of maybe starting a little children’s bookselling business on ebay, but I dunno.
• There’s an antique store not far from me that is going out of business. Boy, oh boy the gems I have picked up. Lots of handmade, hand embroidered linens. And pyrex and glassbake, to aid me in my deplasticization (real word? used correctly? who knows?!) of my kitchen!
• I’m bored with my hair.
• I need an external hard drive. My computer is soooo slow b/c I have about 3 years worth of photos on it. I know, I know. Anyway, any suggestions for an “inexpensive” one?
• The title of this post has nothing to do with anything. It just cracks me up.

Darlin’: Friday was Crazy Hat Day at the kids’ school. Bebe got wind of it and of course, wanted to don his own “crazy hat”.

Dancing: We went to our favorite local park Saturday night and there was a concert going on! A little bit of country, a little kids music, a little R&B. It was cool.

Dots on my dress: I spent a good part of Saturday watching the kids ride, skate, and run on our block. They even let me sit down sometimes. This is me sitting.

Daring: I challenged myself to spend less time online this weekend so I could get more done around the house. And I did it!

Dana Milena: That’s the name of Girlie’s first (new) cabbage patch doll. (A gift from her god/dess mother)

Dragged her: That’s what Teresa claimed I did in order to get her to go to the little old lady thrift shop last week. I didn’t see her complaining when she got 5 books for Tristan for 50 cents. (Oh, we must organize game night Reesie, the kids are asking.)

Dream: I had the strangest one. I wanted to participate in some kind of highbrow art show and went to audition with my friend who was a painter. IRL, this friend doesn’t paint…and died two years ago. Anyway, her art was accepted into the show and all I had with me were some hokey embroidered onesies. The girls giving the audition tried to let me down gently by telling me that maybe I should sell my stuff at a craft bazaar. Ouch. I think I know why I had this dream though. I’d really like to step my handbag sewing up and make more structured bags. Learn proper handbag construction, etc. BUT, I am also afraid to try something new and fail. It’s kind of silly as it’s only fabric, thread and handwork, but there you have it. :-/

I love October. The air is so crisp and the leaves are changing color (well, not here, but I’m sayin’). Crunching leaves under my shoes is one of my favorite things to do. Talk about simple pleasures. Another of my favorite things about October is that my wedding anniversary is this month. It’ll be 9 years this year. Crazy!

I think my absolute favorite thing about October though is that it kicks off the holiday season with Halloween being at the end of the month. Some of my best memories are of being in the Halloween parade and getting to wear a costume! I have always loved costumes of all sorts. Halloween around here is pretty tame. I thought about having a party this year, but ultimately decided against it. Maybe next year.

A newly discovered favorite thing is that this is the perfect time to thrift for the children’s dress up collection. For Girlie, I got a cheongsam which she loves. She even slept in it one night. Right now, she’s pretty into Chinese culture, likes to read about all things Chinese and even wants to learn Chinese and so this was perfect for her.

ZB’s had his own share of costume wearing lately b/c every Friday there’s been a different event for his class. The sock hop*, then sleepover day, and last week, Western day.

*Funny thing, this morning, two girls in Kindy (NOT in DD’s class), came up to me on the playground and asked me if I would make them poodle skirts. I guess word gets out, hah.

So there’s this thrift shop that I would pass on the way to the spray park or pool since last summer. It had odd hours and was never ever open. The last day of swimming lessons this year, I drove by and saw that it was finally open and so, I turned the car around and went in. Best. discovery. ever.

It’s a Catholic thrift shop run by little old ladies and everything is cheap, cheap, cheap. You can fill a bag with books for a dollar or find vintage slips for 50 cents. I’ve bought everything from 10 cent seam binding to $5 chairs.

Crochet and lace. These will get used for something crafty, I’m sure.

I even got DH a brand new Italian wool blazer, tags still attached, for $2. I love this shop, but every time I go there, I feel like I’m stealing! The prices are better than Goodwill and the shop is just about as well organized, if a little more crowded.

Napkins, books, and a market bag, less than $5 for everything.

A glass jar, now filled with ribbons and rim, crochet thread, and books. $4

My favorite finds so far are books, of course. Most of the children’s books are 10 cents and have come from libraries or schools and I always find something for the kids (or me) to read.

I won’t leave Goodwill out: I have managed to get a few deals there, mostly on furniture and toys. Like this Barbie dreamhouse straight from the 80s with all the original furniture, for DD. I think I paid $10.

I was going to buy her one this Christmas, and let me tell ya, it would cost a lot more new.

There’s also a dresser that I had planned to refinish or repaint, and place a mirror above it, filling it with all my pretty little things. $20

But the shabbiness has grown on me, so for now, it’s staying as is.

And a lamp/night stand combo I originally bought for Girlie’s room that now hangs out next to the cozy couch.

Not to be forgotten is the flea market. Now, I’ve only gone once, but I spent $20 and came home with a gem: Girlie’s bed (headboard, footboard, and rails).

Excuse the dirty bedposts, I never painted them b/c I am trying to decide on new finials to buy instead. Girlie insists on trying to put them back in place though.