Good day at Goodwill

I did all of my errands lickety-split on Wednesday and then treated myself with a trip to Goodwill.

I found a beautiful coat. It's kind of silly to buy a coat this fall, I know, because it's not going to fit around me, but it was so so pretty, and it such good condition, I couldn't resist. Not even at Goodwill's high price of $10.99! Plus Dry Cleaning!

I looked at it for a long time. I wasn't sure if I could really wear a coat with a fur collar. Yep, that's real fur. What sealed the purchase was that I looked carefully at the fur and realized it was just stitched on with embroidery thread. Easy peasy to take off.

Now it looks like something I can wear. And I have a piece of fur to play with. Anyone have any ideas? I looked it up on ebay and it looks like they sell for $10-$20, so I could pay for the coat that way... Anyone an ebay seller?

The lining is perfect except for this one spot under the left arm. I was thinking I'd try to fix it before it got worse, but I don't really know how to do that.

This is my second Betty Rose coat from Goodwill, so I finally looked it up. Betty Rose made coats and suits in Kansas City from the 20's through the 70's. This coat is probably from the 60's-70's, according to the label.

There were other goodies that day, but they need some more fixing up. Time to clean off the craft table!

New Music

In my class this week we're talking about code-switching. That's when bilingual people use both languages in one conversation, sometimes in the middle of sentences. So when I was paying bills and this song popped up on my Pandora, I was excited.

It's so fun.

Parenting Styles

I found this last night on Facebook--I came out as an "Individual Integrity" (INTJ) mother. Seemed right on the money. I think it's interesting that my "parenting" personality is so different from my "regular" personality. Which person does Anna know?

Anyway, thought you might have fun playing with it.

Mothering Personality Styles

(Why not just "parenting"? Seems silly to exclude the Daddies, though maybe it's because girls seem to like this sort of thing more)

Joy

Joy is not simply a matter of temperament. In the Service of God and souls, it is always hard to be joyful -- all the more reason why we should try to acquire it and make it grow in our hearts.

Joy is prayer, joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net to love by which we catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. She gives most who gives with joy. If in the work {she is referring to the Missionaries of Charity's work, but this can be applied to all our lives} you have difficulties and you accept them with joy, with a big smile -- in this, like in any other thing -- they will see your good works and glorify the Father. The best way to show your gratitude is to accept everything with joy. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart burning with love.

--Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

From: Prayerfully Expecting by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Coffee Bag Sew Along

One of the reasons it took me a long time to finish the Sew Along was that I made two of everything.
I had already chosen my fabric when I thought to use some coffee bags that were given to me.

I couldn't pass up that idea.

I like these even better than the others.

Trash to treasure.

Fall List 2010

First let's look at my Summer List!

I feel awesome about this one. Summer 2010 List

1. Keep up with garden and trees.

2. Preserve something from garden.

3. Make something from Jelly Rolls.

4. Scrapbook Project. Thanks to a free photo book offer from Shutterfly, I made Kiki & Joe's Wedding book!! Only 3 years later. :)

5. Complete the Sew Along.

6. Make a facebook page or group or something for my students. Susan is making a page for me! Kind of cheating, but it is happening...

7. Make Christmas gifts. Also cheating a bit, I made some...

8. Go to Oregon.

9. Go to the Cabin.

10. Make Anna a First Day of School Dress.

11. Make Anna a nap mat.

12. Cabin Book

13. Anna Fans Book I got started. This is going to be an enormous project.

And now for Fall! There's so much to do, but I'm trying to also remember the importance of rest. Sometimes I hate rest. But it's important.

1. Anna Fans Book; three years. I did all 5 years, so that was good.

2. Go through baby clothes 0-6 months.

3. Find baby equipment and clean.

4. Design Anna Room. 99% done.

5. Design Craft Studio.

6. Crochet Tummy Blanket.

7. Finish Cabin Quilts. I finished Susan's, but not mine.

8. Keep up with Bible in a year and Prayer book.

9. SS Gift. Didn't make one though... :(

10. Make Mom's Bread.

11. One Senior Gift.

12. Tummy CD.

13. Re-pot plants.

Thirteen was a lucky number for the Summer List, so here's hoping for equal success this Fall. :)

And Happy Birthday to my Mama, who also liked lists. And Fall.

Politics

Elections are on Friday. :)

Sew along!

I finished the {Make} A Bag Sew Along!

I didn't make it anywhere near the 8 week timeline she established, but I finished!

The Mini Makeup Roll.
The Sunglasses Case. Anna wanted to use her sunglasses for the photo-they fit my sunglasses too.
Here's the zipper pouch-my first zipper ever, with the teeny tiny tote as a zipper pull.

The Bits and Pieces pouch.

I linked to each of the tutorials, if you'd like to give it a whirl. I had a good time, though I'm really happy to be done and ready to start something new. :)

Box redo

I inherited my Dad's love of a good box.

This green one was so nice, we couldn't get rid of it. But it was a little deceiving with that Vera Bradley written across the top.

So I covered it up with ribbon!

Quick and easy and fun and very satisfying. Yay for re-usable wrapping!

Babybel

Ever since I first spotted the cute mesh bags full of baby cheeses at Sam's, I've been wanting to try them.

On Sunday Matthew was also feeling adventurous, so we got some.

First you get to unwrap the shiny plastic.

Then there's a lovely red wax with a pull tab that opens right across the middle.

Like Pac-Man!

The cheese is pretty yummy too.

It was a little salty, but I think with the right cracker choice, it would be delish. Or fruit! It would be good with fruit.

Definitely a fun snack.

Scrap Box

Sometimes I can't sleep because I'm thinking about this.

Is it wonderful? Is it worth it? Could I make something similar myself? Will someone take me to the scrapbooking show when we are in Kansas City for Ben's wedding so I can look at one in person?

Anna's list

We have a notebook for Anna's chores. Most days I write down a few things for her to do-put away clothes, gather trash, etc.

Yesterday when we got home I was tired tired tired so I told her we weren't going to do any chores.

She wrote down her own idea in her notebook.

Translation: Make cookies today.

Sorry punkin, maybe tomorrow?

Blurb

I've been working lately on an enormous and ridiculous project-and using a program from Blurb. As I've been working with it and getting used to it, I'm wondering about using it to make scrapbooks from here on out. It seems silly to choose pictures, print them, and then paste them into another book.

Has anyone used a digital scrapbooking website or program? Any input?

By Special Request

Heeeere's Tummy!

Looks healthy, a little bit small, with a nice heart rate and a good wave, and lots of flipping around.

Once the technician said that she thought for a moment it was twins, but it was just Tummy somersaulting. Whew!

8 wonders of Kansas People

Vote now for your favorite Kansans!

8 wonders of KS people

Today we get to see one of our favorite Kansans for the first time. Sono at 3:30!

I went to a bunch of garage sales...

And all I found was this rad band-aid box.

Is it weird that I've been wanting one of these for years?


I'm really excited about keeping my band-aids in it.

Spanish in the U.S.

This semester I'm taking Spanish in the U.S., a Spanish class focusing on the way Spanish is spoken here in the United States, and the influences and special considerations of the language here. I think it's really interesting and pretty fun so far.

One of the components is "service-learning", so I'm going to be doing some interpreting and working with Russell Child Development on some home visits and other things. It'll be good for me to talk to adults for a change.

The amazing thing I realized tonight is that this is my 6th class, I'll have 5 more after this. So I'm almost at the halfway point! I feel simultaneously excited and sad.

Maybe if I get too bored when I'm done, I can just find an online doctoral program. ;)

Here's a question though--I really really don't want to take a semester off, but I am having this baby next semester. So-how crazy would it be to keep going to school? Keep in mind, I will have all that time off of work...

Awaiting your opinions!

Baptized! Married!

Here's a picture from last weekend. It was a wonderful day.

I've been awfully tired, and trying to dig out from two weekends of fun and the beginning of school. After spending my day off yesterday resting and working, resting and working, with lots of help from my sweet little family, I may be catching up. Here's hoping.

We're gettin' married!

*song starts at 1:00*

This weekend Matthew and I are "convalidating" our marriage at St. Dominic's. Basically, we're getting our marriage blessed by the church, mixed in with a little celebration of making it through the last 4 years, when life got all hard all of a sudden. It was awfully good to come out of the fog and realize that we're still holding hands.

(I was going to wear that same dress, but Tummy had other plans.)

Tumbleweed Festival!

The Tumbleweed Festival is this weekend!!!!!

There's still time to make some travel plans, throw some stuff into a bag, drive down for the day or for the weekend--it'll be worth it, I promise! Here's the schedule.

Brennen Leigh will be here...listen here to some songs from the new album-can't wait to get one this weekend.

Hot Club of Cowtown will be here...Anna's FAVORITE band as a 3 year old-we listened to this album over and over. Don't be deceived, it's not kiddie music-it's just good.

Del Castillo is back! They're amazing. And not just because I love Spanish music. Because they are incredible musicians.

These are three that I am really looking forward to, but you know the whole weekend will be incredible. There's a craft tent for the kiddos, a Children's stage with puppet shows and storytellers and all sorts of good things. Anna's especially looking forward to BubbleMan.

There'll be yummy festival food, but we're not mean to families-feel free to bring in a cooler of sandwiches and water and save your money! $8 for adults, $2 for kiddos if you buy early, but adults will just pay $2 more if you wait until Saturday, so don't let that hold you back. :)

We'll be there, can't wait to see YOU!

Another Brennen plug

The sound quality's not the greatest, but I love this song. You could hear it live, this weekend at the Tumbleweed Festival!!!

First Full Day of School Dress

I finally took a few pictures of Anna in her back to school dress. I used the same pattern as the Ball Party dress, Simplicity 5226, the super simple slip dress version. This time I used my serger and finished up all of the inside seams! It was really fun to know that I did all of the steps for a change.

She picked out the fabric and the pattern and the ribbon for the front. I think she did a lovely job~ and I'm glad she likes this simple dress! I'm a lucky Mama.

Chelsea Visit!

Chelsea came to town! It felt like it was just for a minute, but it was a good minute.

Anna and Chelsea and Jim. Thanks for coming!

Glueing stuff!

*cheater post* So tired from back to school...

This to That

What do you want to glue to what? Ask them and they'll tell you which glue to use~a delightful tool.

**I fixed the link**

Teacher Apron

I might be able to resist making Anna's teacher a present, if her teacher wasn't also my colleague and friend. Since she is, I couldn't help myself.

I saw this teacher apron pattern in May and thought it would be an awfully nice thing for a Kindergarten teacher to have. 5 and 6 year olds are messy and slimy and snotty... and sweet.

These are not great pictures, I finished late one night and wrapped it right up to take to school the next day.

It was pretty fun to make, except that I goofed on the apron skirt the first time I put it together and had to do it over again. Grrr... That's probably why the 1st day of school dress became a 1st FULL day of school dress. Photos of that soon. :)

Cover ups.

I bookmarked this idea in the spring, and early in the summer I sat down to make a pair of cover ups for my two swimming buddies.

Sewing all of those rows of shirring got old really fast. I don't think I'll make one of these again, but they sure are cute!

Booster seat

I found these foam placemats at Goodwill for $.50 each. I got all six, cut them in half,

and used spray adhesive to stick them together.

Ta da! A booster seat for Anna.

Some Cabin

Here are a few pictures from the cabin this year.

I "ruined" the trip by suggesting we do a project (which the sister agreed to!). At least we both finished a quilt top.
Anna brought me these sticks and asked me to build her a raft.

I was very pleased with the result, but when I showed it to her, she said: "I can't sit on that!"

This is her water-bending. She is obsessed with the Avatar cartoon, thanks to Daddy.

Flamingo Nap Mat

Anna needed a nap for Kindergarten. Red and blue vinyl? No way!

I actually used foam from a nap mat from the store, it was cheaper than buying foam from the craft section. I cut off the vinyl (surely I can use that for something...) and made a new cover with fabric, an old towel, and a scrap of batting.

Looks snuggly!

Glitter Toes!

In preparation for school, Abby and Anna and I painted our toes all glittery.

First a layer of paint, then fine glitter sprinkled over the top, then a clear coat.

Very fun! (and much cheaper than the $25 salon price).

Sculpey Fun

Long long ago, when Levi and Lauren were here in July, we made sea creatures out of sculpey for the Library Summer Reading Program.

I made a rainbow fish.

Levi made an otter.

Lauren's starfish.

Matthew's amazing octopus didn't win, and I was shocked. Isn't it wonderful?

I didn't think I was going to like playing with the sculpey-it veers enough into "art" to make me nervous-but it was fun and pretty satisfying! We all sat around the dining room table working on our creatures for a couple of hours, (Anna too!) happily listening to a story at the same time. I'd recommend it.

Back with a Bang!