tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7822897250838232992024-02-18T23:22:56.173-05:00I mean really...REALLY??My humble opinions of life's crazy detailsPattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-15530571752507788162012-05-17T13:53:00.000-04:002012-05-17T13:55:49.499-04:00Today's FunnySo I am banned from my house this morning while somebody does a walk thru and decided to take refugee at the local Starbucks (I know, I know-whoa is me, right) <br />
<br />
Anywhoo... The two chicks behind me are dressed for the gym and the conversation goes about like this:<br />
-what are you getting, tea? <br />
-no, I don't know... you?<br />
-decaf? <br />
-I actually think I am in the mood for something cold before we workout <br />
-good idea, I'm hungry. Are you eating? <br />
-maybe, if you are... <br />
<br />
They then proceeded to each order full strength frappucino's,a piece of cake and a big old yummy looking donut. <br />
As the stood waiting for their drinks girl one said, "now I guess we really will have to go to the gym" <br />
<br />
It these kind of funnies that make my day!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-18903375654600026342012-04-12T13:37:00.000-04:002012-04-12T13:37:37.863-04:00BlessingsI hope everyone had a peaceful and wonderful Easter/passover<br />
I know I did as I celebrated the baptism of my little Monster<br />
with friends and family.<br />
It was a great time to enjoy each other,<br />
(and try new recipes of course...)<br />
Monster met his Papa and an aunt and uncle<br />
for the first time and was surrounded by people who love him.<br />
I feel blessed to have so many people in my life<br />
who honestly care about us and our children.<br />
<br />
It got me thinking about all of the<br />
wonderful things that God has graciously given me<br />
in just the past few years and I am<br />
completely humbled by his blessings<br />
and I don't intend to take any of them for granted. <br />
<br />
I had been feeling a bit guilty about how out of date<br />
my blog has been and how few new items I have<br />
posted to my etsy shop.<br />
I have a long list of projects to complete, crafts to do<br />
and of course about a months worth of time I need to<br />
devote to updating the business website.<br />
It's not that those things are not important to me anymore<br />
it's just that I find spending my time with the people<br />
I care about seems to be even more important these days.<br />
If I have to choose between a productive day at work<br />
or a fun day with the kids, that choice is a pretty easy one for me these days.<br />
Please forgive me for letting some of the other balls drop as I focus on<br />
the ones that mean the most to me.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-74023377603620282602012-03-16T08:07:00.000-04:002012-03-16T08:07:14.970-04:00March Madness with my M&MWell hello out there<br />
(if there is anyone left reading this!)<br />
I know, I know- slap me on the hand <br />
but please avoid the head right now<br />
as I am already crazy with<br />
baby brain and feel totally<br />
disorganized, klutzy and forgetful!<br />
Seriously, I got the kids out of the car the other day<br />
went into pre-school to drop off Monkey<br />
and came out to find 2 of the car doors left wide open.<br />
No biggie except that my wallet and phone were<br />
sitting right there on my seat.<br />
I guess its good that she goes to school at a church<br />
so everybody has a bit more of a moral compass than if<br />
I had done that at the mall or something!<br />
<br />
I have been swimming in a sea of spit up<br />
poopy diapers, tiny laundry,<br />
muddy Monkey shoes,<br />
round after round of cootie bug, <br />
training for my first post baby race <br />
getting ready for a grandad visit<br />
planning for an Easter baptism, <br />
and lots and lots of hugs, cuddles,<br />
first smiles, silly songs<br />
and special moments with both<br />
my Monkey and the little Monster.<br />
<br />
Having one kid certainly changed our life<br />
four years ago, but since we were<br />
so focused on her and her needs<br />
it seemed fairly smooth most of the time<br />
(or at least the years in between have smoothed the<br />
memories in my mind so I only remember the good!)<br />
HOWEVER- adding a second child has really seemed<br />
to tip the scale around here.<br />
Whoever thinks that 2 kids and 2 adults creates an equal<br />
playing field is dead wrong- they now have<br />
a commanding advantage but we are figuring it out<br />
one day and funny story at a time.<br />
<br />
In the meanwhile I have discovered<br />
that surfing pinterest is a fabulous way<br />
to pass the time while I am up feeding<br />
the Monster in the middle of the night<br />
so now in addition to keeping up<br />
with housework, Monkey's social calender<br />
and all the regular needs of a newborn <br />
I now also have a million sewing projects I want<br />
to try, including an Easter dress for Monkey<br />
and My Man and I have been making all sorts of<br />
deliciousness for dinners-<br />
I joked the other day that I think I have<br />
pinned enough desserts to make something new <br />
every day for the rest of the year-<br />
which is not helping the baby weight to fall off<br />
but it sure does make life fun!<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers and Slainte<br />
and Happy St. Paddy's day<br />
to you all!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-78330984590187542812012-02-27T10:28:00.002-05:002012-02-27T10:30:53.132-05:00Meet My Monster<div style="text-align: center;">So you wondering why the Blog silence???</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is my excuse,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Introducing The Monster,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXURbY9KxZ7S_6ceFmmBoY8Ty_cJKK2OPEyliPdfu8F7VutCn4eHaiHWyQOb_hhRvhHwZDeqZcd76BY3THF7oqB-CYoBY3i2gRPGJ4TFqOeQBdjeZjZt7QGcGBRJRaomlJ8nZiBC3PacU/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXURbY9KxZ7S_6ceFmmBoY8Ty_cJKK2OPEyliPdfu8F7VutCn4eHaiHWyQOb_hhRvhHwZDeqZcd76BY3THF7oqB-CYoBY3i2gRPGJ4TFqOeQBdjeZjZt7QGcGBRJRaomlJ8nZiBC3PacU/s320/IMG_2633.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">newest addition to our crazy household!</div><div style="text-align: center;">a.k.a. pooper extraordinaire</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pukey McPukerson</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monster Muncher</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cutie Patootie and</div><div style="text-align: center;">My little Peanut</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He has been keeping us all quite busy </div><div style="text-align: center;">playing with him,</div><div style="text-align: center;">changing the never stopping dirty diapers and</div><div style="text-align: center;">creating so much laundry I think</div><div style="text-align: center;">the washer and dryer are considering </div><div style="text-align: center;">going on strike!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monkey was not quite as happy to meet him</div><div style="text-align: center;">at first as I think most everyone expected.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I however knew she was not going to be</div><div style="text-align: center;">too keen on sharing the spotlight.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She has warmed up though and is</div><div style="text-align: center;">now happy to include him</div><div style="text-align: center;">in her adventures,</div><div style="text-align: center;">stick a pacifier in his mouth</div><div style="text-align: center;">or entertain him with a dance or silly song</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So he is happy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she is happy and now if My Man and I </div><div style="text-align: center;">could just get a little more sleep </div><div style="text-align: center;">all would be back to usual....</div><div style="text-align: center;">or at least our new normal!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-29798630977834435372012-02-02T04:32:00.000-05:002012-02-02T04:32:49.783-05:00The Big Day!<div style="text-align: center;">Today is the day!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are up bright and early to</div><div style="text-align: center;">head to the hospital and have </div><div style="text-align: center;">little Brady this morning.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday was supossed to be a fun</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mommy, Monkey day</div><div style="text-align: center;">which promptly got ruined</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a few trips to the hospital</div><div style="text-align: center;">for bloodwork...yes I said a few</div><div style="text-align: center;">and No, that's not normal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or I should say that's not </div><div style="text-align: center;">normal for a non-military hospital</div><div style="text-align: center;">but apparently forgetting to do some</div><div style="text-align: center;">of your blood work and then calling you</div><div style="text-align: center;">to drive back and hour each way</div><div style="text-align: center;">without apologizing is just</div><div style="text-align: center;">another day at the military hospital lab...</div><div style="text-align: center;">whatever.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That little trip was then promptly followed by </div><div style="text-align: center;">Monkey spiking a fever of 103 at 2:45</div><div style="text-align: center;">which lead to a trip to the</div><div style="text-align: center;">pediatrician,</div><div style="text-align: center;">then to the pharmacy and then an evening of</div><div style="text-align: center;">cuddles and meds for her ruptured </div><div style="text-align: center;">ear drum and strep throat.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I feel guilty about leaving her </div><div style="text-align: center;">this morning although I know her aunt will take</div><div style="text-align: center;">amazing care of her.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess it's my first lesson on sharing the love </div><div style="text-align: center;">between two children but</div><div style="text-align: center;">it's a tough one for the first day!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a great weekend,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will share some pictures when </div><div style="text-align: center;">we get home and settled!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-75615939520950521622012-01-26T19:41:00.022-05:002012-01-31T12:11:23.892-05:00Winner Winner Spinach Dinner!<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I'm not one to post a lot of recipes</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">but this one was AWESOME!</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I modified something I saw on </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">Pillsbury.com to match what I had</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">in the house and ended up with this divine</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">yumminess packed with protein and vitamins</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">that even Monkey wanted seconds of!</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I have been watching my calories a bit </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">to make sure I pack on too many 'baby' pounds</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">in these last few weeks and was so happy</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">to know I could eat something that tasted</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">this naughty but was only</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">361 calories per serving!</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw7fsnGnCxuork0j-mAGIbkA0OiSQoLdP-jDRuf5mH-L58VrJaX_vIDgabycH06vX6iwtyH8DwAWq5zx3F4qbNxeft0JUREVxNDmCzaaKK3SLwJJopNYjoDxGiaxq-mgyOYDqbIhzA2A/s1600/photo-783886.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701920345353378930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw7fsnGnCxuork0j-mAGIbkA0OiSQoLdP-jDRuf5mH-L58VrJaX_vIDgabycH06vX6iwtyH8DwAWq5zx3F4qbNxeft0JUREVxNDmCzaaKK3SLwJJopNYjoDxGiaxq-mgyOYDqbIhzA2A/s320/photo-783886.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="mobile-photo"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 pkg whole wheat penne pasta (cooked and drained)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 pkg frozen spinach (thawed and drained)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 can white beans (drained and rinsed)</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 cup of cottage cheese</div><div style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup grated Parmesan</div><div style="text-align: left;">1 jar alfredo sauce (or you can make your own if you prefer)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">preheat oven to 350 degrees</div><div style="text-align: center;">After you cook your pasta, </div><div style="text-align: center;">drain it and mix together with the rest of the ingredients, </div><div style="text-align: center;">dump into a 13x9 pan, </div><div style="text-align: center;">cover with some shredded mozzarella and </div><div style="text-align: center;">bake for about 30 minutes until</div><div style="text-align: center;">cheese on top is golden and melted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now a normal person would let this cool for a few minutes</div><div style="text-align: center;">before serving but if you are a crazy melted cheese addict</div><div style="text-align: center;">like me you will be tempted to scoop some of that perfect</div><div style="text-align: center;">yumminess right off the top and eat it right away</div><div style="text-align: center;">while attempting to convince your tongue that it is not</div><div style="text-align: center;">if fact seared off completely </div><div style="text-align: center;">(see bottom left corner of the picture for proof...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">then, enjoy this cheesy, spinachy yumminess to your hearts content!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The best part? It's a tie between</div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting My 4 year old to ask for more spinach and</div><div style="text-align: center;">8 servings at only 361 calories each!</div><br />
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</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-50575341392529302712012-01-26T08:32:00.000-05:002012-01-26T08:32:52.019-05:00Four year old Faith<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPEMfSTkBdJ3JWMWEawlZ78iBjtRo2Y47lf0rGNLNqiemRWEz3w6IObvaVq7Pmf7lQwkmPcKg9ZHUL6A-kucgiSivPvQQAkTD88vyCLEDjhG0w3gCuf3W94AiJqL-TJNM7k6WrTiYB_0/s1600/photo-713950.JPG"><br />
</a></div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">Monkey called me into her</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">room before school this morning </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">to tell me that her doll</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">Cinderbell was very sick.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I said, "oh no! Is she going to be ok?"</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">and Monkey calmly answered</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">"yes, because all her friends are around her praying."</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">and she showed me this: </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPEMfSTkBdJ3JWMWEawlZ78iBjtRo2Y47lf0rGNLNqiemRWEz3w6IObvaVq7Pmf7lQwkmPcKg9ZHUL6A-kucgiSivPvQQAkTD88vyCLEDjhG0w3gCuf3W94AiJqL-TJNM7k6WrTiYB_0/s1600/photo-713950.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701920044834731778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPEMfSTkBdJ3JWMWEawlZ78iBjtRo2Y47lf0rGNLNqiemRWEz3w6IObvaVq7Pmf7lQwkmPcKg9ZHUL6A-kucgiSivPvQQAkTD88vyCLEDjhG0w3gCuf3W94AiJqL-TJNM7k6WrTiYB_0/s320/photo-713950.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I mean REALLY?!?!?!</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I am torn between being so happy</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">that she has already found such</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">a faith in the power of prayer at age 4</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">but equally saddened that she has knowledge </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">of sickness and scenerios like this one.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">It's one life lesson she has learned far too well in </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">her few short years.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">You will all be happy to know that after several hours of</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">prayer vigil sat be her closest friends and family</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">that Cinderbell made a miraculous recovery yesterday</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">afternoon and is now enjoying a tea party with her sister </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">as I type this blog!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-45329907654917076782012-01-23T11:55:00.000-05:002012-01-23T11:55:21.647-05:00cheap art<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I recently saw an ad for a local</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">kids boutique offering</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">sessions with a silhouette artist.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">That's a really cute idea</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I thought to myself,</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">until that same self saw it was $40 a pop.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">Umm, not that great an idea.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">So I got out the camera, took a sideways</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">picture of monkey,</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">downloaded it to my paint program</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">and then free handed the black outline, </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">filled in the face black and the background white</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">put it in a cute new frame </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">we picked up last week and </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">Voila...</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">free adorable silhouette of my sweet </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">little Monkey.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">(although if I were to do it again</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I would have drawn the swoop</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">chest that you often see on these, </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I think the straight edge to the bottom looks</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">a little harsh.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">What do you think?</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-C9loGsBBG6_s9rqRACrfOsEPPKIiJ8kr537g_AcUR8OOzIHkblcgHFeudfxZC-9Y_rk0ivkVvTtDgn2YHohWrQUm3Vs2ylzG-WU7HtnbVSp5gtKLA3y43KbON1w9cFT3Glnj7PPJJ4/s1600/photo-774397.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700542052993919426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-C9loGsBBG6_s9rqRACrfOsEPPKIiJ8kr537g_AcUR8OOzIHkblcgHFeudfxZC-9Y_rk0ivkVvTtDgn2YHohWrQUm3Vs2ylzG-WU7HtnbVSp5gtKLA3y43KbON1w9cFT3Glnj7PPJJ4/s320/photo-774397.JPG" /></a></div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-57504968479505166102012-01-22T14:04:00.000-05:002012-01-22T14:04:48.071-05:00Lady Lumps<div style="text-align: center;">So yesterday I found a </div><div style="text-align: center;">brand new form of creepy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know the average guy might</div><div style="text-align: center;">take an extra look look</div><div style="text-align: center;">at a cute girl at the gym.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe an extra glance or two</div><div style="text-align: center;">at the jiggling jugs on</div><div style="text-align: center;">the next machine over</div><div style="text-align: center;">or a wobble of his head back and </div><div style="text-align: center;">forth with the beat of the </div><div style="text-align: center;">butt cheeks pounding away on the treadmill</div><div style="text-align: center;">in front of him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I get it, they are men. </div><div style="text-align: center;">HOWEVER</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have never felt quite as</div><div style="text-align: center;">uncomfortable as I did yesterday</div><div style="text-align: center;">when a (much) older man</div><div style="text-align: center;">jumped up on the elliptical</div><div style="text-align: center;">next to me, turned right toward me </div><div style="text-align: center;">and then proceeded to stare at my bouncing belly</div><div style="text-align: center;">for no less than 10 minutes STRAIGHT....</div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean nothing could make him look away,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was horrendous.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knew the giant ball</div><div style="text-align: center;">protruding from my abdomen was actually</div><div style="text-align: center;">a new form of lovely lady lump</div><div style="text-align: center;">and such an inspiration to old men </div><div style="text-align: center;">hoping to get in shape....</div><div style="text-align: center;">gross. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Needless to say I was happy to </div><div style="text-align: center;">finish my workout and escape</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mr. Creepy.</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-32443071648262075772012-01-19T15:22:00.000-05:002012-01-19T15:22:24.631-05:00Share a Shoe!<div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo"></div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I abhor buying shoes </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">for my little Monkey.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">She has wide feet so the cheap-os I used to</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">pick up at Wal-mart and Target just don't fit her</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">very well and we have found that they don't hold up </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">very well to the wear and tear that preschool and a </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">very crazy four year create.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I REFUSE to pay for stride rite shoes,</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I can barely find any that are even cute</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">but teh price tag makes me want to puke anyway.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">I mean seriously why would I spend more on my </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">kids shoes than I pay for my own...</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">not going to happen!</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">and then I found these....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0XanpbHatrmhlanCaDX9v_qm03b3-NEY2x-p2Ky2OUNmnQODlSn_fQ9mDp6Q548PtT1B9Ow-egDBYmrhCKc8M278vWqatmyuIOiae5Y2jLcLTDTsJnqoLnk-EfvL8WnhJjLgF8nS1b0/s1600/photo-771643.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695704617480307106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0XanpbHatrmhlanCaDX9v_qm03b3-NEY2x-p2Ky2OUNmnQODlSn_fQ9mDp6Q548PtT1B9Ow-egDBYmrhCKc8M278vWqatmyuIOiae5Y2jLcLTDTsJnqoLnk-EfvL8WnhJjLgF8nS1b0/s320/photo-771643.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">TOMS</div><div style="text-align: center;">have you heard of them?</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are soft and comfy,</div><div style="text-align: center;">fit her wide feet comfortably </div><div style="text-align: center;">AND for every pair you buy, </div><div style="text-align: center;">thay donate a pair to a child in need.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So for just a bit more than </div><div style="text-align: center;">the target shoes that don't last or fit</div><div style="text-align: center;">we get</div><div style="text-align: center;">An adorable pair of shoes for her</div><div style="text-align: center;">PLUS an adorable pair of shoes</div><div style="text-align: center;">For a child in need...</div><div style="text-align: center;">That is worth the extra few bucks to me!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And Monkey LOVES them!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yay for Toms!!!!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-89355183650574613222012-01-18T14:53:00.000-05:002012-01-18T14:53:23.580-05:00Tick Tock, I have an awesome brand new clock!<div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">So My Man had a mini breakdown this weekend and</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">decided we should redecorate the living room.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">One thing lead to another and we</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">decided it was all or nothing and </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">we could not afford all with the baby </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">coming in two weeks so after hours of </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">window shopping furniture and accessories stores for </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">ideas and inspiration we ended up putting everything</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">back where it started Saturday morning.</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">The one huge plus though, </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">was that we found this amazing wall clock... </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq1t2F67k0ZZD6TLF6YHEOyxt1S244Uzcm8cUhyphenhyphensSzENwIMgmxTeyyv2SDdNLspQZlvE8EgB5MnJpIxzaYg1F1IY_C80joDl6lG12v3eUt5YwzBNCD_jTyp3zOLOqUuwPaxZeMUQnC2g/s1600/photo-714823.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698663178184058066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq1t2F67k0ZZD6TLF6YHEOyxt1S244Uzcm8cUhyphenhyphensSzENwIMgmxTeyyv2SDdNLspQZlvE8EgB5MnJpIxzaYg1F1IY_C80joDl6lG12v3eUt5YwzBNCD_jTyp3zOLOqUuwPaxZeMUQnC2g/s320/photo-714823.JPG" /></a></div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">It's huge and awesome and totally</div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">worth the hours of shopping we did </div><div class="mobile-photo" style="text-align: center;">for no real reason.....</div><div class="mobile-photo"><br />
</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-38669284174389199072012-01-09T08:24:00.000-05:002012-01-09T08:24:39.431-05:00What's your nemisis?<div style="text-align: center;">So my sweet Monkey</div><div style="text-align: center;">can snap and zip her pants,</div><div style="text-align: center;">sing every verse of 50 different Christmas songs</div><div style="text-align: center;">count to 10 in 4 languages</div><div style="text-align: center;">(including Japanese)</div><div style="text-align: center;">turn on my iPhone </div><div style="text-align: center;">write her name in upper and lower case letters</div><div style="text-align: center;">and even read a simple book by herself.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So can someone tell me what is so freaking </div><div style="text-align: center;">difficult about pulling on a pair of socks?!?!?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been really trying to encourage her to do it </div><div style="text-align: center;">herself for weeks now and she just can't do it,</div><div style="text-align: center;">darn socks!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess everyone has their limits</div><div style="text-align: center;">and tight fitting toe warmers are Monkey's....</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-49780770503502567042012-01-02T12:03:00.000-05:002012-01-02T12:03:11.536-05:00Happy New YearHappy New Year!!!!<br />
This blog is going to be a little<br />
quiet for a bit as<br />
we prepare for our newest addition<br />
but I hope you all had<br />
a wonderful holiday season<br />
and are starting this new year<br />
with a positive outlook<br />
and hopes for wonderful things to come.<br />
I know we are!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-33362395847305857472011-12-27T10:52:00.000-05:002011-12-27T10:52:19.102-05:00Lots of ChangesSorry I have been slacking again,<br />
we have been busy getting<br />
the nursery ready for the little Monster,<br />
took a trip to DC to see my little sister<br />
and have just been enjoying some quality family time.<br />
<br />
I hope this finds everyone well and happy<br />
after the holidays!<br />
My little family had a wonderful Christmas<br />
and now I just want to take down the tree and<br />
clear the clutter to prepare<br />
for the new year and all<br />
the new and exciting things<br />
it will bring to us!<br />
<br />
Last year I made a list of my resolutions<br />
and saved them on the computer<br />
so I could not conveniently<br />
'forget' what I had come up with.<br />
I opened up the list last week<br />
and was surprised to find that<br />
I have really made great progress<br />
on all of them but twp,<br />
and I guess I will cut myself some slack<br />
on them because it's hard<br />
to lose a few pounds and improve<br />
your half marathon time when you spend<br />
8 out of 12 months of the year pregnant...<br />
just sayin'.<br />
<br />
This year my list is a little different though<br />
and as I focus on our growing family<br />
and trying to maintain a good balance<br />
between my work and the loves in my life<br />
and after receiving spam after spam comment<br />
here on my blog I am sad to say that<br />
this little site will be taking a hiatus for awhile.<br />
<br />
I will leave the page up and hope<br />
to get back to my silly blogs<br />
at some point in the spring<br />
when I am sure I will have loads of<br />
funniness to share with you<br />
as Monkey meets Monster Baby,<br />
we prep to sell or rent the house<br />
and figure out a military move in the summer....<br />
<br />
Sooooo, loads of changes coming up for us in 2012.<br />
I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year<br />
and will miss our little community as<br />
I readjust my focus for a bit.<br />
Thanks for reading and supporting me<br />
for the last few years!<br />
PattyPattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-64389285418423264912011-12-12T13:26:00.000-05:002011-12-12T13:26:57.689-05:00The Good SamaritanI started the day with<br />
Lots to do this morning<br />
and no time to spare<br />
so as soon as I dropped off Monkey<br />
for school I headed to the store<br />
list in hand and hoping<br />
to be quick.<br />
<br />
My cart had a broken wheel<br />
they were sold out of Blueberry yogurt<br />
(I mean really?!?!<br />
I had no idea it was as hot an item<br />
this season as the Leap Pad!)<br />
and then I dropped a case of soda.<br />
<br />
Technically I should say that<br />
the bottom of the box completely<br />
busted off and 24 gleaming<br />
cans of Pepsi went rolling in every direction<br />
while I stood there like<br />
and idiot watching them and<br />
holding an empty broken cardboard box.<br />
<br />
<br />
Great, now I have to pick them up!<br />
Let's face it,<br />
the belly is getting rather large<br />
these days and coupled<br />
with a lower back injury<br />
I have not even been putting<br />
on my own shoes lately<br />
so in my head I just know this<br />
is going to turn out to be a <br />
moment fully worthy of youtube<br />
watching me try and wrangle the<br />
shiny cans.<br />
<br />
and then....it happened.....<br />
A super amazingly nice woman<br />
was rushing toward me<br />
snatching cans up as she approached.<br />
She took the empty box<br />
put it on the floor and had almost every can<br />
picked up for me before I knew what happened<br />
and then she went and got<br />
another case of soda for me<br />
and placed it in my cart!<br />
Can you believe it?!?!?<br />
I mean I do nice things like that for<br />
other people but it is so rare<br />
that someone does it for me<br />
I was speechless!!<br />
<br />
So thank you nice stranger<br />
and I promise to pay it forward.<br />
What good deeds have you<br />
done this holiday season?Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-34956190951825777502011-12-07T08:00:00.001-05:002011-12-07T08:00:16.673-05:00Stocking Stuffer Streamers<div style="text-align: center;">So I am </div><div style="text-align: center;">super proud of myself</div><div style="text-align: center;">that I am ahead of the game this</div><div style="text-align: center;">year and pretty much DONE</div><div style="text-align: center;">with my Christmas shopping!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And the best part???</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did not buy ANYTHING</div><div style="text-align: center;">from the mall this year!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made most of my gifts and</div><div style="text-align: center;">in an effort to keep</div><div style="text-align: center;">to budget super low this</div><div style="text-align: center;">year I had to get a little creative.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is my easy idea for a stocking</div><div style="text-align: center;">stuffer streamers just in case</div><div style="text-align: center;">you have a dancing Monkey</div><div style="text-align: center;">princess at home also!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPrteg5Lfgwlqn3ubbTaGV8hUOW06NV5yEkROhGjZPkV59J1mAMaxwhOxGU_f8Aw6T5o5v_Hhr_4GP6dEYGcNgTfUiS76n4W0cuJMHSIpdz7fRCYuw2hh5ssHDuA26oNRle9qKEVCb2A/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPrteg5Lfgwlqn3ubbTaGV8hUOW06NV5yEkROhGjZPkV59J1mAMaxwhOxGU_f8Aw6T5o5v_Hhr_4GP6dEYGcNgTfUiS76n4W0cuJMHSIpdz7fRCYuw2hh5ssHDuA26oNRle9qKEVCb2A/s320/IMG_2429.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pick a few ribbons </div><div style="text-align: center;">you like and cut enough </div><div style="text-align: center;">12 ribbons</div><div style="text-align: center;">18 inches long each</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I cut 2 36" long strips of each</div><div style="text-align: center;">ribbon and then split them in half</div><div style="text-align: center;">so I ended up with 4 of each pattern)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I found some cheap</div><div style="text-align: center;">ribbon in a sale bin at AC Moore</div><div style="text-align: center;">a few months ago and decided to</div><div style="text-align: center;">stock up so this ribbon cost me </div><div style="text-align: center;">less than $3 total for all three and I </div><div style="text-align: center;">still have plenty left to play with</div><div style="text-align: center;">but you can use any ribbon you</div><div style="text-align: center;">want.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then cut 2 pieces of elastic</div><div style="text-align: center;">long enough to fit your</div><div style="text-align: center;">child as a bracelet or make </div><div style="text-align: center;">good hoops</div><div style="text-align: center;">to hold onto. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I made mine about 8" long.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ilmUceSCOzV1hVmoBh_BVI2IKz7FWNmjYEXewUypSmEkvN9i__FGwBWfbGfeMcV8b_VOF50XUiqI41DDyQXpzXuaF87jT1rKQH3U4UzdRGg1_6D4pw34vY5IZApPU8D_B9ymEkpxGDw/s1600/IMG_2425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ilmUceSCOzV1hVmoBh_BVI2IKz7FWNmjYEXewUypSmEkvN9i__FGwBWfbGfeMcV8b_VOF50XUiqI41DDyQXpzXuaF87jT1rKQH3U4UzdRGg1_6D4pw34vY5IZApPU8D_B9ymEkpxGDw/s320/IMG_2425.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Grab 6 of the cut ribbons</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hold them together and then</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pin in between the ends of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">your cut elastic.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFIok6x9oe5tOeABYLKq4r9QGJaPwOtQlyD19FzlMamPw-VAUxsp6lBDHYU3ik2j8MWjFqZvK3l-cKgIg-1OhgcnFAzouu08kDPajSzo_sqaSCyRcuNRngV8zek2FVByM0HrRTySP6g8/s1600/IMG_2426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFIok6x9oe5tOeABYLKq4r9QGJaPwOtQlyD19FzlMamPw-VAUxsp6lBDHYU3ik2j8MWjFqZvK3l-cKgIg-1OhgcnFAzouu08kDPajSzo_sqaSCyRcuNRngV8zek2FVByM0HrRTySP6g8/s320/IMG_2426.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sew that baby shut</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(I used a overlock/zigzag stitch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just to make sure none of those</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">slippery little</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ribbons could escape)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYCA5EVc4Io-W1nxMY58uMWAEHQuGvZbB04SSJaHc02xIbJjCEWvi5LaJAv_COW_kzZLjnneuBU7aFB0KLruR6GBdqKXMhbwU6-2Vznf6DHji3N-tn1gbpeDCJa_XAaNggq2azPyn5A0/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYCA5EVc4Io-W1nxMY58uMWAEHQuGvZbB04SSJaHc02xIbJjCEWvi5LaJAv_COW_kzZLjnneuBU7aFB0KLruR6GBdqKXMhbwU6-2Vznf6DHji3N-tn1gbpeDCJa_XAaNggq2azPyn5A0/s320/IMG_2427.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finish off the ribbon ends by </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">burning quickly with a lighter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or a few drops of fray check </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just to keep them from coming apart</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VOILA!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__mla3aoBk2VUzOqLBTMWRbpSbLXXw5KTiEobz3FW_AsfSnWfVpe3JxicLzbUEwKITs0eVXhHTyW3qkZifWDS0zlZNcn0FUIUY9zbEvVs-u8NpBWsurvmrzuurUAJ3p8JVXxGfEU7keE/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__mla3aoBk2VUzOqLBTMWRbpSbLXXw5KTiEobz3FW_AsfSnWfVpe3JxicLzbUEwKITs0eVXhHTyW3qkZifWDS0zlZNcn0FUIUY9zbEvVs-u8NpBWsurvmrzuurUAJ3p8JVXxGfEU7keE/s320/IMG_2428.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two fun and pretty</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ribbon streamers for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">my sweet little Monkey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to twirl and swirl</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">around with </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to her hearts delight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think she is going to be so excited </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I will be glad not to have to </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike>yell at her </strike></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike></strike>remind her nicely</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to stop swinging</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">those mardi gras beaded necklaces around-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these will hurt a lot less if </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">you get 'accidently' </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">smacked with one during</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">an extra exuberant dance!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-18056120297886225382011-12-06T08:49:00.000-05:002011-12-06T08:49:03.216-05:00Hands Off!!There is really only<br />
one time in a woman's life<br />
when she doesn't lash out<br />
if someone tells her<br />
she is starting to get big.<br />
A few short months when<br />
for some reason<br />
other woman find<br />
it acceptable to say<br />
"How much weight have<br />
you gained?"<br />
A tiny window where you boast<br />
about 'only' gaining<br />
18 pounds in 31 weeks.<br />
Ahhh pregnancy!!!<br />
<br />
Although I am not sure<br />
the freedom to have an<br />
extra cookie or<br />
two is totally worth<br />
the random strangers who<br />
feel it is ok to reach<br />
out and touch my belly.<br />
Umm, no thank you-<br />
some personal space and<br />
decency here please?!?!<br />
<br />
Although I do admit that this issue is much<br />
better on the east coast than<br />
when I was pregnant in Monterey<br />
with Monkey-<br />
there it seemed the little old ladies swarmed me<br />
just to get a touch...yuck!<br />
<br />
Why do they do that?<br />
Why do they think it's ok?<br />
Would you just walk up to a<br />
non pregnant lady and touch her,<br />
I don't think so!!!<br />
What weird aura do pregnant<br />
woman give off that signals<br />
to others that it's ok to approach,<br />
ask a ton of inappropriate questions<br />
(I mean some woman asked me<br />
when I conceived... that is<br />
a seriously personal question isn't it?!?<br />
I told her I didn't know since my husband<br />
was such a hot lay we never stopped<br />
and it was hard to pin down an exact date...<br />
I hope she learned her lesson and<br />
never asks another poor woman that!)<br />
and then completely obliterate the<br />
first basic rule of kindergarten<br />
"keep your hands to yourself!"<br />
<br />
Oh well, only 8 more weeks<br />
and then I will be trying to keep<br />
the same strangers from touching my baby!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-54370182179452280662011-11-27T15:45:00.001-05:002011-11-27T16:57:44.477-05:00Help NeededI went to wal-mart today<br />
in search of some super<br />
cheap fabric to use as<br />
a table cover for<br />
a craft sale I am<br />
doing next week.<br />
<br />
I search thru the unorganized<br />
racks of fabric and<br />
finally find one that<br />
will work for super cheap<br />
yippee<br />
<br />
and then I walk to the counter<br />
to get it cut and find this sign:<br />
<br />
If you need assistance<br />
please find an available<br />
associate in the<br />
electronics department<br />
<br />
Ummm, seriously?!?<br />
Of course I need assistance,<br />
I need the fabric cut and scanned<br />
so I can pay for it<br />
but electronics?!?<br />
The idea that one of the workers<br />
used to dealing with video games<br />
and wires is going<br />
to be happy about me asking<br />
him to measure 4 yds of fabric<br />
is hilarious to me<br />
but the idea that there<br />
would be someone available to leave the busiest<br />
dept of the entire store<br />
for something as mundane as<br />
an annoying woman who<br />
needs help in the fabric department<br />
is just downright ridiculous!<br />
<br />
I put down the fabric and<br />
walked away.<br />
I guess an unwanted trip to Jo-ann's<br />
is on the to do list for tomorrow.<br />
of fabricPattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-1970860863089412352011-11-23T08:00:00.003-05:002011-11-23T08:00:02.633-05:00Monkey's first Sewing Project<div style="text-align: center;">I bought a quilting foot last year with all the best</div><div style="text-align: center;">intentions for zillions of different projects.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So far I have only used it to pretty up the </div><div style="text-align: center;">inside of a few laptop and e-reader covers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Monkey's teachers told me </div><div style="text-align: center;">she should practice cutting</div><div style="text-align: center;">and she has been lurking in my</div><div style="text-align: center;">office watching me </div><div style="text-align: center;">sew and begging to help </div><div style="text-align: center;">for quite awhile so this week </div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided we could kill a few</div><div style="text-align: center;">birds with one project.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I let her pick out some fabrics she liked</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we cut tons of squares </div><div style="text-align: center;">and laid out a small throw quilt</div><div style="text-align: center;">to put together so she could </div><div style="text-align: center;">give it to her baby brother.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPCcl53JEfBiTUBymPpOz1B5v4TgVgHPwUqDA6w5ah89Q9P8MC7NdwD-JwbbANqNRH-nPMUJj1rF_bn5NaOYtk_bP1EhPF7nBMPIkTWItwiRT0yu3TlR1WifzPCTXHa7oz_EOTaU8fDI/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPCcl53JEfBiTUBymPpOz1B5v4TgVgHPwUqDA6w5ah89Q9P8MC7NdwD-JwbbANqNRH-nPMUJj1rF_bn5NaOYtk_bP1EhPF7nBMPIkTWItwiRT0yu3TlR1WifzPCTXHa7oz_EOTaU8fDI/s320/IMG_2395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She cut all the squares </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I just went back to trim the edges</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then we played with the </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pattern until she was happy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or I should say until</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I told her to stop changing </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">her mind because</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">man can four year old's be indecisive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was so happy I let</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">her sew the lines</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(of course she got bored after</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">only a few so I finished up</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">but if you ask her</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she did it all be herself)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the back we cut a scrap of felt and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she signed it with a fabric marker</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so there will be no doubt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">she at least did</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one nice thing for her little brother</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in his lifetime.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT_0Xjj-KZp6sBgAhvF3hzr7h_8exFA5MRCBpi3S070t4ZeBRMHkqUFlaG2Jq5ygARYypibN881f_tmDzQ3yPV69nRRm9lXFQ1Ul9KVpLorfMA4c_A43FzKVa2BpK4XF-mh4rHqsArl0/s1600/IMG_2396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT_0Xjj-KZp6sBgAhvF3hzr7h_8exFA5MRCBpi3S070t4ZeBRMHkqUFlaG2Jq5ygARYypibN881f_tmDzQ3yPV69nRRm9lXFQ1Ul9KVpLorfMA4c_A43FzKVa2BpK4XF-mh4rHqsArl0/s320/IMG_2396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> We pinned the front, batting and back </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">together and starting sewing around the blocks</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlivNPA_p_q8ORuoRY-LTRnOZ8LkeONiA8G51hKszdK2WSBMqdfiQ_hcWh3rkVZUOaNZJrzB-uUEhINK246aqMn7FEeC7z-cDs__K3aI_nszxAdyuNocAAq6Xer13U_WOlC_R_mWhUYo/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlivNPA_p_q8ORuoRY-LTRnOZ8LkeONiA8G51hKszdK2WSBMqdfiQ_hcWh3rkVZUOaNZJrzB-uUEhINK246aqMn7FEeC7z-cDs__K3aI_nszxAdyuNocAAq6Xer13U_WOlC_R_mWhUYo/s320/IMG_2397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a few minutes later...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Huzzah!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It doesn't look completely jacked up!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Qh9VmrSCVKP80KZ70DnTYlVXV3H7prmQV3fzgtcpGalP3Mykwcp-Pr1qnuH_KUR-5Qul7F_hOPHOMahVtSOQbOJ7B-OCZR35xNoa3TBGoreYsEiVMv8GGJW-PjMN-eB2rwr7BvoWafc/s1600/IMG_2399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Qh9VmrSCVKP80KZ70DnTYlVXV3H7prmQV3fzgtcpGalP3Mykwcp-Pr1qnuH_KUR-5Qul7F_hOPHOMahVtSOQbOJ7B-OCZR35xNoa3TBGoreYsEiVMv8GGJW-PjMN-eB2rwr7BvoWafc/s320/IMG_2399.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now for the binding </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and my nemesis,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bound mitered corners...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent a little extra time </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">trying to finesse them</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgdPapx50z4UtAa02qA942Ess0M3r5OTkcYOKKDqHJTLNT3KxDR0Zq9L7qAn7vK2bv-XWWOOj3XC6pyURzqcEqlCoJvGsd4VzSIXveEaeLf8Jm-8syiQUOFuuFc6dLAdDn93347jyHhQ/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgdPapx50z4UtAa02qA942Ess0M3r5OTkcYOKKDqHJTLNT3KxDR0Zq9L7qAn7vK2bv-XWWOOj3XC6pyURzqcEqlCoJvGsd4VzSIXveEaeLf8Jm-8syiQUOFuuFc6dLAdDn93347jyHhQ/s320/IMG_2400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and thankfully ended up with some decent corners </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPreccwibzuReo6n1-QPNnNHTwtIuX9AGJzEOnBPYEeUk66qffZD65gKRqxi_twmOn6at-Z-0cyW09AqenMIHKQHsfVU2uLk0rw0Ys6pYbbrBLbd_iuyHjZX8psglfT53r49BTh7vdSXg/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPreccwibzuReo6n1-QPNnNHTwtIuX9AGJzEOnBPYEeUk66qffZD65gKRqxi_twmOn6at-Z-0cyW09AqenMIHKQHsfVU2uLk0rw0Ys6pYbbrBLbd_iuyHjZX8psglfT53r49BTh7vdSXg/s320/IMG_2401.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end result: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H6tYDpUDV1SHKZ4fq7MRt-jDL4Dws5hk6XIw0555Fp3jOXPe7fxXeM_gRNXI0Ka9p8w3An2Jm4_Msb1jSfl42gizCOqGCSIUmKVXi6TM9hKlmcxighQDv0TR6jpBBSW00qK-mjNk4k0/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H6tYDpUDV1SHKZ4fq7MRt-jDL4Dws5hk6XIw0555Fp3jOXPe7fxXeM_gRNXI0Ka9p8w3An2Jm4_Msb1jSfl42gizCOqGCSIUmKVXi6TM9hKlmcxighQDv0TR6jpBBSW00qK-mjNk4k0/s320/IMG_2403.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One happy little quilt for</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">baby brother </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that Monkey is super proud of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Was it risky to do my first quilt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">with a 4 year old?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course but at least if</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it came out crappy I had someone to blame!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that we have had a small success I</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">am looking forward to trying some </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">more ambitious projects</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How are you spending the extra family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">time this week?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-4153934440189755992011-11-21T07:33:00.000-05:002011-11-21T07:33:01.908-05:00Turkey Craft<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of my go to blogs for all things food is</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/11/flower-turkeys/">Our Best Bites</a> and every once </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">in awhile they have a great </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">craft post also.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I always think I should try it but</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">never manage to find the time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I saw an adorable post </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">for a cute Thanksgiving Turkey craft </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">the other day and thought it</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">would be perfect for name place cards</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">for our Thanksgiving table this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was fun and super duper easy, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">only took 10 minutes to make 4!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Their instructions are great, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I made a few modifications to use</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">what I had on hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is what I did:</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I found some old silk flowers I had</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">tucked away for some 'unknown' future</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">project</span></b></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uJGMNtVY45wCkcs2KmER5-UlE3jgEdbUQQcsmm_PIYwF2U9ScE_PLTVfFUKinnnEYXdI8Kl3l1DEBrkDMVckKhvipoEGWt1VxYQCxFFX6fV_3Jjm_pgpPtZLTAO7tpCn3iyKuVqkU2k/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6uJGMNtVY45wCkcs2KmER5-UlE3jgEdbUQQcsmm_PIYwF2U9ScE_PLTVfFUKinnnEYXdI8Kl3l1DEBrkDMVckKhvipoEGWt1VxYQCxFFX6fV_3Jjm_pgpPtZLTAO7tpCn3iyKuVqkU2k/s320/IMG_2372.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I popped that center sucker</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">right out and separated the layers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(2 old flowers </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">were in fact harmed </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in the making of</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this project)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDfC6gNkTXlWhfObeOkJwUaZhP7zp46ihKqtxWnAQP_rn1lQJV08x7o6OJEgbMB4X6BocXc_mK5q4XIXxyLRfdvrC9qP0lm2hoDyVc_Itcjj3tx_i8py0UNza_1hYuQRM-9NG5KPcpwc/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDfC6gNkTXlWhfObeOkJwUaZhP7zp46ihKqtxWnAQP_rn1lQJV08x7o6OJEgbMB4X6BocXc_mK5q4XIXxyLRfdvrC9qP0lm2hoDyVc_Itcjj3tx_i8py0UNza_1hYuQRM-9NG5KPcpwc/s320/IMG_2373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I layered the colors together</div><div style="text-align: center;">alternating the yellow</div><div style="text-align: center;">and orange to make the turkey plumes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fell free to use any color</div><div style="text-align: center;">you like </div><div style="text-align: center;">I just happened to have these Thanksgivingy </div><div style="text-align: center;">ones on hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AwBubZ8AnLVoRR3E4LVeoge2CpsjGBqy5fDPU3YoPtAkocrerwrcv8g3yzjXCon4NcLbk_OJhx4v0HILuoSze5Pc9HqYZ4gKG01Hkvc08RPcwvU7XiHMBmQfrlz7f0xW36w_BG_OkY8/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AwBubZ8AnLVoRR3E4LVeoge2CpsjGBqy5fDPU3YoPtAkocrerwrcv8g3yzjXCon4NcLbk_OJhx4v0HILuoSze5Pc9HqYZ4gKG01Hkvc08RPcwvU7XiHMBmQfrlz7f0xW36w_BG_OkY8/s320/IMG_2374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once I stacked the layers</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did some quick stitches on either side</div><div style="text-align: center;">to keep them together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(If you are not a sewing fool</div><div style="text-align: center;">than feel free to use hot glue but wait until after you</div><div style="text-align: center;">cut them apart.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85CxPK-tnLEFemBOxShzW0P0NneaeDF-X0H0eFwdG2dyF7PQh5n-MsmnE43MAPtnbmvhXP7-FuXqa-4r0909UejsQEIIip1zOIMgs2ZHpOX7Mmb-vD4KHd0fSIH84YaPpG_C5CKHpqgU/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85CxPK-tnLEFemBOxShzW0P0NneaeDF-X0H0eFwdG2dyF7PQh5n-MsmnE43MAPtnbmvhXP7-FuXqa-4r0909UejsQEIIip1zOIMgs2ZHpOX7Mmb-vD4KHd0fSIH84YaPpG_C5CKHpqgU/s320/IMG_2375.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then cut each flower in half between your stitches </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(If you have not sewed them</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is where to use the glue...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once cut dab some hot glue </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or Elmer's</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at the center point to hold</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">these babies together.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKjJZ0pPY_r_Bxm8_RkUwhY28VpM5N3sHk0e_x5Ia_bGzgi4mWsTpOzQaCT_kdO46sxThJo_avTSvUt3ESaOrPxLEIeRFUKdW1cvoNUajyf9CmtencrKzp3YhY2J424oouhfKtAHqOOc/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKjJZ0pPY_r_Bxm8_RkUwhY28VpM5N3sHk0e_x5Ia_bGzgi4mWsTpOzQaCT_kdO46sxThJo_avTSvUt3ESaOrPxLEIeRFUKdW1cvoNUajyf9CmtencrKzp3YhY2J424oouhfKtAHqOOc/s320/IMG_2377.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Voila!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretty turkey plumes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now grab some orange and brown felt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and cut out some cute little turkey bodies</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and tiny orange triangles </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for beaks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the tutorial I saw also used googly</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">eyes which I think would be amazing but</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this was a strict items I had on hand project </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for me and sadly I found no </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">googly eyes in the craft box today)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGrx6B8Rb4-lq0YpqfJTLhkbwj3VHf3NgAUPcDgx75CV6eTqwTPo9vjN5V12qCFiyQNKsn-XuF1m46CjoS9yWI0E-R-sXIeEGbqSlJxBh3qAGHV7X3qH8jWUo_YTK5Jm24pwV7Bx97NI/s1600/IMG_2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGrx6B8Rb4-lq0YpqfJTLhkbwj3VHf3NgAUPcDgx75CV6eTqwTPo9vjN5V12qCFiyQNKsn-XuF1m46CjoS9yWI0E-R-sXIeEGbqSlJxBh3qAGHV7X3qH8jWUo_YTK5Jm24pwV7Bx97NI/s320/IMG_2378.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now grab the hot glue gun</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(or Elmer's if you must)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and put the pieces together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGHdMP5v4imeqySzIPGP3LYq2vKG2y30cGinaN9MyrfIVnZhkdc4rLJ8SV6doMFG3QbqhJy3K4qvusB-KrNo4TSthR1OQaGf7pbmC4coEd_2_VTq4H4QJlAxYaQtEdaBacGl9E8mfjTw/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGHdMP5v4imeqySzIPGP3LYq2vKG2y30cGinaN9MyrfIVnZhkdc4rLJ8SV6doMFG3QbqhJy3K4qvusB-KrNo4TSthR1OQaGf7pbmC4coEd_2_VTq4H4QJlAxYaQtEdaBacGl9E8mfjTw/s320/IMG_2379.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Done! Cute Turkey!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can use these however you want.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Put them on the table as decoration,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">glue them to blocks and place</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">randomly around the house so </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">your husband who abhors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cutesy decoration</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has a near aneurysm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as he finds them,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">glue them to old cut toilet paper</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">rolls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and make napkin holders </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">or...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I grabbed some empty thread spools</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and pipe cleaners and made them into </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">place cards for the table.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Ca6vJlMdW6ms9Om8F4LlJh1SKdsHO9zFFrOkEUws8A9C8CSv5rn1Srhkj_noYv_I78W8Yi4D_rPOveh2F-7UB3BCKfRUF98GbRTyGgI95K0c9Jcm8QP-34ejkLME7J6Ti6zeuH5YGw/s1600/IMG_2380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Ca6vJlMdW6ms9Om8F4LlJh1SKdsHO9zFFrOkEUws8A9C8CSv5rn1Srhkj_noYv_I78W8Yi4D_rPOveh2F-7UB3BCKfRUF98GbRTyGgI95K0c9Jcm8QP-34ejkLME7J6Ti6zeuH5YGw/s320/IMG_2380.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just use that trusty hot glue</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to attach the turkey to the thread spool</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and then tape the name card to a pipe cleaner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stick that silly pipe cleaner</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">into the hole on the spool, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">tape the name to the top and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cute Thanksgiving table here they come!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nF7kBO3OQOMfDe_0BaC4gG663PfjZBWCLL1TxFy_rP7J_P6rAsmI9O_-JvfEeVCnCwt-W1Pz9R39qR3KW6ksvVe5SRPtpxNQQLXwJZ8yk0F6vkvm4Lmr6KaVOMBfl_4V5yt1BkMCgOY/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0nF7kBO3OQOMfDe_0BaC4gG663PfjZBWCLL1TxFy_rP7J_P6rAsmI9O_-JvfEeVCnCwt-W1Pz9R39qR3KW6ksvVe5SRPtpxNQQLXwJZ8yk0F6vkvm4Lmr6KaVOMBfl_4V5yt1BkMCgOY/s320/IMG_2385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hope you all are having a good start to the holiday week,</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I have two other quick craft blogs for the week planned as </span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">my father in law is in town to</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">wear out the MOnkey-</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">hurray for me!!!</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">So, happy Crafting-</span></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here is the original "recipe" I modified for this:</span></b></b></div><br />
<b>Flower Turkeys</b><br />
<b>Supplies </b><br />
silk flowers<br />
scissors<br />
felt in brown and orange<br />
thread or glue<br />
optional: googly eyes<br />
optional: empty thread spool and pipe cleaner or<br />
napkin rings, clips, clothes pins, magnets, etc.<br />
<b>Instructions:</b><br />
Remove flowers from stems. Separate center of flower from back and separate all petals. Stack varying petals together, stacking smaller on top of larger. Hold stack together and cut pile in half across the middle. Sew or glue layers together. Cut turkey shapes out of brown felt and glue onto front of petal piles. Glue on small orange triangle for beak.<br />
If desired add eyes and attach to an empty thread spool stick a pipe cleaner with a nametag and voila...easy fun Thanksgiving nametag!<br />
This would also be super cute attached to a napkin ring, clip, clothespin, or magnet to back.Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-87781434665780364722011-11-20T08:00:00.002-05:002011-11-20T08:00:07.455-05:00Need help with your Christmas Letter?I am lucky enough to<br />
have a very successful writer as a friend<br />
and lucky for all of you<br />
she is willing to share her<br />
fantabulousness with everyone<br />
for the holiday season!<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1389295708"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://tiffanysilverberg.com/">Tiffany Silverberg</a>,<br />
writer, linguist, word magician extraordinaire<br />
has written an e-book<br />
on how to write the perfect<br />
holiday letter and is offering it to<br />
all of us regular folks for only $4!!!<br />
What a steal!<br />
<br />
If you think you don't need it<br />
think about some of those<br />
letters you get every year<br />
that are crazy,<br />
you don't want that to happen to you do you?!?!<br />
I certainly don't!<br />
<br />
Here is what Tiffany has to say about the book:<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I know... the weather just started getting cold, but the holidays are creeping up! One of the biggest stresses I hear about is the family newsletter. Each year, it's a struggle to get it done and get it out on time.<br />
<br />
That's why I wrote <a href="http://tiffanysilverberg.com/holiday-letter-ebook/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #2a548a; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target=""><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321641494_12">this ebook</span></a> - I truly walk the reader step by step through the process - telling you what to do and what to write. Using a simple outline, this process works for every family. And it can all be done in one quiet evening.</i><br />
<br />
So grab some coffee or cocoa, click <a href="http://tiffanysilverberg.com/holiday-letter-ebook/">the link</a><br />
or the button on the right side<br />
of the screen<br />
to get your copy and<br />
start following along-<br />
your letter will be done before the Turkey<br />
has time to cook!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-59046773353478882402011-11-18T11:17:00.000-05:002011-11-18T11:17:02.873-05:00It will be worth it in the end....I can not see my feet<br />
I am out of breath at the top of the stairs<br />
I have enough gas to cross the<br />
Atlantic without additional fuel<br />
and all I want to eat is chocolate.<br />
<br />
I need help getting up from chairs<br />
and putting on my shoes.<br />
I need more naps than my 4 year old.<br />
<br />
My pants don't fit<br />
or stay up<br />
and my belly is<br />
popping out from under<br />
even my maternity tops.<br />
<br />
My garage is full of<br />
baby furniture<br />
that there is not even a place<br />
for in our home right now<br />
and every time I<br />
sit in my office I wonder<br />
how I am going to make<br />
this all work in a few short months.<br />
<br />
But with every pain and ache<br />
there is joy and<br />
happiness in the knowledge that<br />
God has given us<br />
a second chance at<br />
raising a new little person.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to meet him<br />
hug him<br />
watch Monkey with him<br />
and start this whole parent thing<br />
all over again!<br />
<br />
For years and years <br />
My Man and I thought<br />
we would never have a<br />
child and now to be blessed with<br />
a second is worth<br />
all of the yuck that comes with actually<br />
being pregnant<br />
That is what I am thankful<br />
for today as I think about<br />
Thanksgiving approaching,<br />
how about you?Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-53232556775003890922011-11-16T11:38:00.000-05:002011-11-16T11:38:25.433-05:00Hairy Conversation<div style="text-align: center;">Monkey and I </div><div style="text-align: center;">had a long conversation this morning</div><div style="text-align: center;">about the importance</div><div style="text-align: center;">(or lack thereof)</div><div style="text-align: center;">of hair.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Disney for not </div><div style="text-align: center;">having a short haired heroine</div><div style="text-align: center;">since Snow White</div><div style="text-align: center;">my poor kid is </div><div style="text-align: center;">convinced that long hair makes</div><div style="text-align: center;">you beautiful and hers is</div><div style="text-align: center;">most assuredly NOT long!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyhow, as I named</div><div style="text-align: center;">all sorts of</div><div style="text-align: center;">characters and people</div><div style="text-align: center;">who care about way more </div><div style="text-align: center;">important things than </div><div style="text-align: center;">what their hair looks like </div><div style="text-align: center;">she started chiming in</div><div style="text-align: center;">with examples of her own.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just as I thought to myself</div><div style="text-align: center;">how useful this little talk had been </div><div style="text-align: center;">she says </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"And YOU don't care about your hair</div><div style="text-align: center;">at all, right mommy? </div><div style="text-align: center;">That's why it is always so tangley looking."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yup, true. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks kid,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love you too.</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-4036317407197529982011-11-15T08:56:00.000-05:002011-11-15T08:56:21.471-05:00Post Office WoesIt seems a reoccurring theme her<br />
that I have trouble at the post office.<br />
I have started shipping most<br />
of my work orders from home<br />
but unfortunately I had to visit<br />
the post office yesterday<br />
to drop off an international package<br />
and the line was insane.<br />
<br />
Monkey was fresh out of school<br />
and totally charged up<br />
singing and dancing<br />
and touching everything.<br />
I was trying to keep her<br />
from annoying the crowd around us<br />
in line while I tried to<br />
fill out the customs form<br />
while slowly moving forward.<br />
<br />
I got to the expediter lady<br />
(I mean really?!?! now the post office<br />
is like a fast food joint?)<br />
and she told me I had the wrong form,<br />
took mine gave me a different one and another<br />
sheet to fill out.<br />
Not wanting to cause trouble I stood there and<br />
filled out the new forms and<br />
then patiently waited my turn.<br />
<br />
When I finally made my way to the front desk<br />
the woman there tells me that I have<br />
the wrong form and the second one is useless<br />
for international mail.<br />
Seriously?!?!<br />
She then hands me the ORIGINAL form I had filled<br />
out that the other lady disappeared with<br />
and tells me to step<br />
out of line to do it.<br />
<br />
After I did I told her that<br />
the woman in line had approved<br />
all my paperwork and she said<br />
"Well, she doesn't work the front line<br />
so I guess she doesn't know the rules"<br />
<br />
Does that seen stupid to anyone else?<br />
Why do you have someone who doesn't<br />
know what you need<br />
telling you what you need?!?!<br />
I think the post office needs to stop<br />
raising stamp prices and making insane cuts<br />
to postal delivery workers and do some<br />
serious lean six sigma on their standard operations!<br />
CRAZY!!!!Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-782289725083823299.post-11307924814915556372011-11-09T07:45:00.000-05:002011-11-09T07:45:19.987-05:00Age is just a number right?!?<div style="text-align: center;">Ok, for the first time in months I seem</div><div style="text-align: center;">to be caught up in my office and I </div><div style="text-align: center;">promise to share some of that free time with the blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today let's discuss birthday's.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mine to be specific.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was this weekend and </div><div style="text-align: center;">it was a sort of big one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Not a huge one mind you but big</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have been telling myself and everyone that I was</div><div style="text-align: center;">perfectly fine and even a bit</div><div style="text-align: center;">excited to be turning 35</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I really feel like I meant it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until Monkey decided that gave her permission </div><div style="text-align: center;">to tell EVERYONE she meets</div><div style="text-align: center;">that I am 35 now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I tell her it's</div><div style="text-align: center;">rude to talk about ladies ages</div><div style="text-align: center;">her answer is simply</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You're not a lady you are </div><div style="text-align: center;">my mommy."</div><div style="text-align: center;">After the upteenth time of </div><div style="text-align: center;">attempting to have this conversation</div><div style="text-align: center;">I gave up when she </div><div style="text-align: center;">matter of factly said</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Everyone asks me how old I am</div><div style="text-align: center;">and you make me answer so</div><div style="text-align: center;">how come you don't have to tell them?"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And tell them she did....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">her teachers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the entire nursing staff gathered to gossip </div><div style="text-align: center;">in a hospital hallway last week,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a random couple in an elevator,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her new dentist, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the ladies who run the play area at the gym,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and my favorite....</div><div style="text-align: center;">the walmart cashier</div><div style="text-align: center;">(perhaps the one I found the strangest however</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took comfort in the fact that I probably have 10 </div><div style="text-align: center;">years on her and at least I know how to add</div><div style="text-align: center;">what the difference between a pumpkin </div><div style="text-align: center;">and a spaghetti squash is </div><div style="text-align: center;">-seriously I think the quote was:</div><div style="text-align: center;">"this pumpkin sure don't look like a pumpkin..."</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have all my teeth)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find myself turning red every time she does it</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then quickly checking for their</div><div style="text-align: center;">reaction, sadly only a few of them</div><div style="text-align: center;">have seemed surprised by the number!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess the random gray hairs,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the gigantor bags under my eyes and those </div><div style="text-align: center;">adorable smile craters I have collected</div><div style="text-align: center;">sort of give away every single year</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am the proud owner of.</div><div style="text-align: center;">C'est La Vive!</div><div style="text-align: center;">All of Virginia Beach seems to </div><div style="text-align: center;">know my age now and it didn't kill me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So even though my little daughter</div><div style="text-align: center;">spilling the beans around town</div><div style="text-align: center;">fills me with chagrin and</div><div style="text-align: center;">has more than once made me </div><div style="text-align: center;">curse this baby belly from</div><div style="text-align: center;">preventing me from introducing myself </div><div style="text-align: center;">to a nice big fantabulous </div><div style="text-align: center;">glass of wine at the end of the day, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I really am ok with it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I have 35 years worth of stories.</div><div style="text-align: center;">35 year of friendships,</div><div style="text-align: center;">mistakes I have learned from,</div><div style="text-align: center;">experiences to share </div><div style="text-align: center;">and treasure,</div><div style="text-align: center;">35 years of memories to savor</div><div style="text-align: center;">or turn red at the thought of.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now I look across the breakfast </div><div style="text-align: center;">table at my sweet Monkey and this baby</div><div style="text-align: center;">kicking me like crazy inside</div><div style="text-align: center;">and have nothing</div><div style="text-align: center;">but hope that the next 35 years will be half</div><div style="text-align: center;">as awesome as the first!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bring on the wrinkles and the gray hair</div><div style="text-align: center;">because I'm not scared!!!</div>Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10386093942594618757noreply@blogger.com2