Thursday, December 27, 2012

In Which I Am A Horrible Santa's Helper

I'm actually pretty proud of myself.  I toned it down this year.  Last year I will admit that I went a little nuts.  I got caught up in the giving of stuff.  That was also when Clover started her dress up phase so there was lots of princess stuff to be bought.

This year I knew I wanted the focus to be different.  Not only for Clover, but also for myself.  I just wanted time.  I wanted to spend time with all the people that I loved and I wanted to enjoy it.  And I have been.  It's been wonderful.

Last year Clover was not very into Santa or the whole Santa concept.  This year everyone from her dance teacher to the baggers at the supermarket have been asking her what she asked Santa for.  For the record she asked for a real crocodile family and a real turtle family.  We talked about the logistics of having those types of animals for pets and came to the conclusion that maybe we should adopt one from the local zoo.  She did receive several stuffed crocodiles and turtles which she was very happy about.

Since she wasn't that into Santa, this year I didn't really focus too much on it.  I'm also kind of selfish in the fact that I don't really want Santa getting credit for the stuff I searched for.  Well, I got myself into a bit of a pickle on the Santa front.  I wrapped up Clover's presents and put them under the tree.  She has an excellent memory.  So she knew that Santa hadn't been by because those were the same presents under the tree that were there last night.  She got bummed out that Santa hadn't been by.  Especially since the night before her cousin had been telling her that Santa wasn't going to bring her anything.

I had to think quick.

She didn't know that her stocking had been filled so I told her that Santa knew that Mommy and Daddy had her covered on presents but that he left her a stocking.  She opened it up and was thrilled.  And how did Santa know that she wanted square lollipops and Leroy and Stitch?  She seemed content with the answer I gave her.  I guess next year I will have to make sure that I stash a couple.

I'm pretty sure someone from the North Pole will be coming to confiscate my elf hat.

What's In A Dream

So my dreams lately...I have no idea what is going on!  I mean, I guess it's a good thing that I am dreaming.  This time last year I wasn't and I was exhausted after a nights rest.  This year, the dreams are so full of crazy.  They are crazy but they seem as if they could for a minute be completely real and then I wake up with a head full of WTF!

So the other night I had a dream that Alton Brown from Good Eats would take time off once a year and fly to the west coast to go out with me to eat mexican food.  And I mean, if you wanted super fantastic mexican food, I know where to go so that's not the weird part.  It was super secret, like I was cheating on the Hubs.  Maybe I felt guilty because Hubby is the one I go to mexican food with?  I have no idea. I woke up thinking that it was cool that I was running around town with Alton Brown.

A couple nights later I had a dream that I was thrift store hunting with Ariel Tweedo from Flying Wild. Hubby loves the Alaska shows so every now and then we watch them before bed.  We were both really sad when they ended the show.  So I had this dream that we were hanging out and decided to go on a hunt.  A thrift store hunt.  So we were hitting up all the thrift stores in town looking for vintage treasures.

This morning I woke up from a dream that left me with more questions than answers.  I had a dream that I won a singing contest.  Which is a hoot because I do not sing.   Let me rephrase that...I sing...just not very well and it's usually while I am doing dishes or in the shower.  So I start the dream with me and Clover and we are being driven to this house.  Darren Hayes opens the door!  And I totally played it cool in the dream which is where I knew that something was going on because I probably would have fainted in real life.  But like I said I played it cool and we chatted it up like we were old friends and at no time did my knees get weak.  Totally knew it was a dream there.  So we went for a walk and there was Star Wars stuff everywhere.  Like dogs that looked like Chewbacca and cars that looked like cruisers.  So after our visit he was supposed to drive us to the airport.  Instead we ended up at a Country  Club.  Apparently I was also in an all girl Country Band.  Although the girls and I were only there to serve soup.  The chef was really mean to us though and we wanted to leave but it was supposed to be a gig so we didn't want to leave and make anyone upset just in case we made it big we didn't want any bad stories about us.  I woke up right around the time we were supposed to serve the soup.

Can any of you dream interpreters jump on this and let me know what is going on in my head?        

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Finding Inspiration In The People I Know

Reading through my blog list tonight.  I call it "catching up on my stories".  Since I do not have cable or satellite anymore (and it's been over a year) most of my entertainment comes from the internet.  I do a lot of reading via my monitor.

I went from reading blogs to dropping in on Facebook and scrolling through.  One thought led to another and I felt inspired.  I know a lot of time after I get on Facebook I feel a case of the jealousies or part of me starts to feel bad for humanity based on what I just read but tonight for some reason is different.

I feel inspired by the people I know.

I know a lot of kick ass people.  Bright, caring, smart, funny, strong people.  It makes me want to be a better person.  Not just because New Years is coming up and I should have a resolution but because I want to be more like the people I know.  They all have qualities I want to copy.  I had this whole thought about absorbing coolness through osmosis like a super hero power but then that thought sounded a little on the creepy side.

I'm not sure what to do with my new found inspiration but I feel like I should do something.  Sooo, that's a lot of words to tell you guys that you rock!  And, I'm really glad I know you all!    

It Was Just One Night

So we finally did it.  We left Clover for the night.  We haven't left her overnight since we brought her home from the hospital.  She had already been away from us for six nights at that point.  I will admit that it took me awhile to get used to the idea of leaving her.  But once I had accepted it I was able to relax and enjoy myself.

Hubby and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary and decided that it was finally time to get away for ourselves.  We went up to the mountains and got a honeymoon suite just for the two of us.  It was quiet and cold and lovely.

Clover stayed at home with her grown up best friend.  I am hesitant to call her our babysitter because she does so much more than that.  She had a full science day planned out.  She kept Clover so busy that I don't think she had time to miss us.

It's funny how everyone asks how it went.  We were in a cabin all to ourselves with a jacuzzi tub and a king size bed.  It was just the two of us!  How do you think it went?  So needless to say...I TOOK A NAP!  and it was everything I hoped it would be.  Except for that part where because of the nap I didn't fall asleep until 2am.   

I have to give props to the Hubs.  He willingly left his electronics at home so he could spend the night with me.  Awwww how sweet!  I thought he might start twitching but it was only for one night  He did very well!

 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

It Wasn't Really The Time

Being the non-confrontational person I am, I debated about posting about such a sensitive subject.  I guess I have reached my limit of being bombarded with what seems to be lack of empathy or sympathy and it has gotten to me.  I think I might give up Facebook for awhile.  I thought about doing that during the election just to avoid the spam and hatred.  Instead I just hid everyone and kept using.  Last week after the tragic events in Connecticut, Facebook blew up and I unfriended some people.  I'm still on the fence on if there will be more.

It wasn't really the time for you to promote your gun politics, or time for you to throw around infographics on God in schools, or for you to complain about us "spamming condolences", or your conspiracy theories.

That was just plain tacky.

I, myself am having a hard time processing what has happened but even I knew that it wasn't the time.  These conversations may or may not need to take place, but the day of or even the day after is just too soon.  People are trying to process what has happened.  People are grieving.  Even if this happened all the way across the country it still effects us here at home.  Why?  Because it pulls us out of our normal.  It makes us think.  And yes, it makes us hug our little ones tighter.  Because we can.  Because other's can't and that makes us sad.  Very, very sad.  

   

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Swirling Ideas

Someone mentioned the other day that I should write about Clover's adventures.  I do write about them here and a lot of Facebook.  But she was talking about writing a children's book.  I had thought about this several times and brainstormed some ideas, but in the end lost confidence in my writing abilities and gave up.  But the last couple of days the idea hasn't left my head.  I've even tried to come up with a story line.  With self publishing and Amazon these days I really don't need to get picked up by a publisher so that opens the field a little bit more.  But then I have questions.  Is this something I can really do?  Do I have ideas that others would be interested in reading?  I have really questionable taste in literature.  One of our favorite books is called Chicken Butt so I'm not sure if I'm qualified.

Does it matter?

I can write...and I want too.

So there is that.        

Keeper of Stuff

After trying to make a dent in Clover's room I have come to the conclusion that she is THE keeper of stuff.  She has baskets filled with her treasures that she collects from just about everywhere she goes.  This includes on Thanksgiving where she came home with a heavy haul of trinkets from Granny and Grandpa's coffee table.

This is her collection of "fluff" that she had to have after helping me with a project today.  

She wont specify why she needs it just that she needs it.  


This basket contains the treasures from her Grandparent's house along with some beading supplies she jacked when we had crafty time the other night.  

As you can tell there is a lot of random stuff in there.  They are all her treasures and if you even nudge the basket she freaks out.  Odds are if you are missing some stuff she has it in her basket.  I'm really anticipating what she is going to do with all that stuff.  

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Nom nom nom

There isn't a picture of my Traditional After Thanksgiving Breakfast. a.k.a pie, this year.  I forgot.  But if you want a picture from last year here you go.  So then I got to thinking about what it is that I love about having pie for breakfast.  Yes, there is the whole "I'm an adult so I can have pie for breakfast if I want" attitude but I think it was something deeper than that.  And then there is the fact that it is delicious (my Mom does make some rockin pies).  So I started thinking and came to the conclusion that I love pumpkin custard.

So I started looking at recipes figuring I would just make pie filling and I started getting a little discouraged because I was missing some ingredients.  So then I came across this recipe at Nom Nom Paleo for Pumpkin Coconut Maple Custard Cups.  I've dabbled in Paleo here and there and have loved every recipe I have tried.

So I actually had all the ingredients in my cupboard!  Yay!  Okay most of them.  I didn't have Grade B syrup so I used Grade A but I didn't quite have enough so I added a little maple sugar which I bought when I was switching sweeteners.  I also used a whole small can of Pumpkin puree.  I looked at the can after I measured out the 3/4 cup and I couldn't justify throwing away the rest so I threw it all in there.  I also doubled all the spices.  I like things spicy, just in case you didn't know.  

        

I didn't have 10 ramekins.  Actually I don't even own A ramekin.  So I had to improvise.  What did I have?  A muffin tin and some muffin cups.  I still did the water bath because I have a pan large enough to fit my muffin tin.  I was a little worried that they would cook faster being that the pan was metal but I actually had to cook them a little bit longer.

It was agonizing smelling all that loveliness but waiting for them to cool down!  

So I had one for breakfast...okay I had two.  And they were so gooooood!  Just like eating a piece of pie for breakfast only slightly healthier.

    

Monday, November 26, 2012

Smiling Just Looking At The Wall

We are still in the midst of the Great Painting Project of 2012.

This project reminds me of when I was in high school I wanted to study Interior Design.  I found a project I wanted to work on and was very interested in the study of color and how it effects our moods. I even went as far as to use my boyfriends news group account to do a survey.  At the time I didn't know about the internets love of proofreading, so needless to say there were some spelling errors.  Also, in my teenage brain thinking I figured that posting to multiple groups would get me multiple responses.  Nope, I accidentally got my boyfriends account banned.  The same account his dad used.  Yeah twenty something years later...okay not quite twenty years but it's been awhile and I still feel bad.  Good thing I married that boy or I might have had to shell out for a new news account.

Well, the color is on the walls and they are beautiful!  It went from a dark beige to a light pale yellow.  Lemonade Yellow from Benjamin Moore to be exact.  It's bright and sunny and everything I wanted it to be.

Just looking at the wall makes me happy!

Like Bigfoot

Yesterday we all somehow managed to curl up in our bed at the same time and fall asleep for a little mid-Sunday nap.  It was magical and glorious and kind of like a sighting of Bigfoot because that NEVER ever happens.

As great as it was, my darling Clover didn't fall asleep last night until well after midnight.  I know because she was trying to talk to me through the hole in the door.  The door knob is not there because they are in the process of being painted.  So because of the late bed time, she is still sleeping.  Which once again is like a sighting of Bigfoot because that also never happens.  This girl is usually up at 6 regardless of what time she went to bed.  And actually she was up at good o 6:45 this morning.  I went back to bed with her so she wouldn't wake her Dad up with her coughing since they are still both sick.  She was wide awake and wanted to watch Tinkerbell.  I agreed to put it on but she had to try to lay still for a bit and if that didn't work I would cave.  It worked and she is still knocked out.  It's a weird feeling sitting at the table all by myself and it's quiet.  It wont be for long though because once she wakes up and realizes that her Dad went to work without telling her good-bye (he did she wouldn't wake up) there is going to be a nuclear size meltdown.  

AAAaaaand She's up!  And, she is telling me she wants to cuddle.  We talked and agreed to FaceTime Dad so it looks like we have avoided that meltdown for now.

Back to sitting at the kitchen window...there is a blue jay trying to break into my truck.  No really there is.  Probably because I laughed at him last week because he was trying to break into the neighbors car and then when that didn't work he tried to bust into their garage.  I'm not sure what he wants in there.  The gps got stolen last year but he is still at it.  He wants in my truck really bad.

I think these are signs that this is going to be an interesting Monday.    


Sunday, November 25, 2012

Oh My

Oh goodness, am I in a funk.  Soon the house will be finished and I just need to keep telling myself that.  There is so much more to do.  The to do list is getting longer and longer and we are crazy for doing all of this before the holidays!

Usually we decorate the weekend after Turkey day.  That is of course after we take a day of rest.  There is nothing to decorate right now since everything is everywhere.  I'm not sure if this is why but something has put me in a grand o funk.  I hope I am not catching what my two have.  I really don't want to get sick during all of this.

Maybe a pomegranate will help me feel better.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Trying To Silence the Inner Monologue

Thank goodness for spell and grammar check.  It's late and my brain is fried so as I am typing I am ever aware of that little squiggly red line.

I am having one of those nights where once again it is quiet but I can't seem to shut my brain up.  It just wants to keep talking to fill in the silence that has fallen over the house.  I should have the tv on and be knocked out by now.

Clover still has the last bit of her flu and Hubby has now picked something up.  So lots of tea for the hubs and cuddles for the lil one and cuddles for the hubs and ice water or the lil one.  We are also midway through our house project.  Even though we have been in this house for about ten years we haven't tackled the great room with the vaulted ceilings because it just seemed like it was too big of a job.  We are currently working on that with some help of a contractor.  He's been wonderful and is very detail oriented.  It's all going to look so wonderful when it is done.  I just need to keep reminding myself of that.  The end result with far outweigh the inconveniences of the last three weeks.

One of them being the loss of Thanksgiving.  We usually host both families at our house for Turkey Day x2!  Both sides are a little two big to combine into one large party so we have lunch with one and dinner with the other.  Full Thanksgiving spread times two.  It's a good thing I love to cook!  This year we thought the project would be done in time.  It is not going to be done in time.  This didn't hit me until yesterday.  I was on the verge of tears as I called everyone to tell them we weren't going to be able to host this year.  I know it's only one day and our house is no where near ready to host anyone.  And I'm not talking about a Martha Stewart Thanksgiving kind of a host.  I'm talking about tape everywhere and no plates on the light sockets kind of a mess.  I have to mourn the loss of my day.  I miss everyone.  I now understand why Clover took it so hard.  I didn't understand last night while she was in tears but I get it now.  We both had high expectations and now that we have canceled we have to deal with that.

There are so many more things I need to update on and perhaps I will get a chance to do that tomorrow.  For now I just wanted to get some sentences out so maybe my brain will finally shut up so I can rest.  I do feel a bit sleepy.  I just need to keep looking past the trees to the forrest or however that saying goes.

     

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Crust and Pixie Dust

Things have been crazy around here.  More crazy than usual.  And what does the Universe hand me while in the midst of all this craziness?  A sick kid.  Just for the record, I prefer chocolate.  She seems to be in better spirits today despite the early morning puke session.  

But even during all of this, there are still little moments that do nothing else but make you laugh. I am very fortunate that my lil Clover is the funniest person I know.  Seriously she is hilarious.  I want to be more like her and she is four!

Today she ran up and threw her fist up at me and yelled "Crust!"  Then she sat there for a minute and then told me to fist bump it.  

I stood there confused.  

"Moooom...bump it!  Then you say "Crust...and...Pixie Dust!"  

Crust?

I asked her what she meant by crust?  "You know mom like cracker crust!  Cracker crust and Pixie dust!  But I just shortened it to just crust."  

It took me a minute to realize that she had watched The Great Fairy Rescue the night before and they had a cheer.  Except theirs goes Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.  I tried to tell her what it really was but she was already convinced that it's crust.  

So now randomly during the day she runs up and fist bumps me and yells "Crust and Pixie Dust!"  and then flitters off.  

Today wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.    

Friday, November 9, 2012

We're Brainstorming!

In the beginning of October we were fortunate enough to catch the Imagination Movers In Concert!  

Sorry my pictures aren't that great.

Clover sat on the edge and got to High 5 Rich.  She was so excited!

Even though we had to drive a ways to catch the show it was well worth it!  If these guys come anywhere near you go and see them!  They really do give it their all!  Hubby and I were very impressed by the show.  They are so energetic!  They encourage the kids to get up and dance.  They are out in the audience while they play their songs.  Not just the first few rows either.  They are up in the balcony and all over the place.  We all love the show so it was very exciting to see them in concert.  They did not dissapoint.  

Clover had a blast!  She was dancing all over the place and singing all her favorite songs.  At one point they added a bit from Jump by Van Halen and I got a pretty good laugh from it.  

Wowza We've Been Busy

I keep wondering why it's been so long since I have posted.  Looking back October was very light post wise.  Then while checking out the pictures on my phone it dawned on me that we have been busier than I thought.

I'm not sure if we have been busier than normal or just plain busy over all.  We always seem to have something going on around here between the three of us.

It's not slowing down for November either.  Lot's of stuff in the works plus Thanksgiving!


Friday, November 2, 2012

A Proper Lunch

We decided that since Daddy was gone for the day we were going to eat in the living room.  Something we don't normally do so it was a special treat.  She was at the coffee table with her noodles and I sat down on the couch with my cup.

"Is that all you are having for lunch?" She asked me.  "Coffee?!?"  Clover did that thing with her eyes where it looks like this O.o

It was true that I did have a coffee cup but it was holding some Miso soup that bought from the asian market.

I showed her that it was soup.  She wasn't satisfied with that answer.

"MOM!"  I could feel that I was about to be scolded.  "THAT is not a proper lunch!"

Then she went to the cupboard to find me something to add to my lunch.  She came back with a piece of pita bread and two slices of dehydrated pineapple.

"There!"  she said satisfied with what she brought me.  "Now you can eat your lunch!"

I did what I was told and ate my proper lunch.  The pineapple went surprisingly well with my Miso soup.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

That Season

Finally!  Fall has made an appearance around these parts.  Here we get two seasons:  Winter and Summer.  Spring and Fall are the two weeks in-between.  The crisp mornings and very cool evenings are savored after the triple digit heat.  But my favorite...what I wait for...

Mellowcreme Pumpkins!

I know that there are a lot of candy corn haters out there but these are way better because it's all the good part of the candy corn.  The orange part :).  Yes, I realize that it's mostly all sugar but Fall only comes once a year and I need to enjoy it during the two weeks it lasts.

Don't worry though, I have a portion control system in place.  They are in a bag on the top of the pantry (I'm not the only fingers I have to keep them away from).  All the way in the kitchen.  And since I am all the way in the office, I have to get up and go in there if I want any more.

Yes, it would be easier just to move the bag in here but then I would eat them all!  Duh!        

Monday, October 22, 2012

Rainy Day Edition

Today is the rainy day edition of Crock Pot Mondays.  I've been wanting Corned Beef for awhile.  Finally remembered to pick one up and now it is chillin in the Crock Pot.  It's not in there alone...oh no.

 
There are some garlic cloves, some carrots and an onion.  Along with the spice packet that came with the beef, there is also some allspice, cinnamon, clove and star anise.  I like my Corned Beef flavorful.  And for those who don't know what Corned beef is, this explains pretty well...


Plus it's an episode of Good Eats.    

Sunday, October 21, 2012

We Are No Longer Air Mattress People

Just got back from taking the Hubby camping and we have figured out that we are no longer air mattress people.  We LOVE camping but there has to be a better alternative than sleeping on what the Hubby has nicknamed "the beach ball".  I think that I was experiencing some sleep deprivation because for some reason every time he asked who was moving on the beach ball, it sent me into giggles.  Probably because he was right.  It did feel like we were camping on a giant beach ball.  We also had to downsize from our normal king size bed to a queen beach ball so Clover had to sleep on her own aero bed so she was not happy that she couldn't cuddle in our bed.  And believe me she let me know at four o clock in the morning that she was not happy.

Back in the day when we had our Honda Element we would remove the seats and sleep on a futon mattress that fit in the back.  It was awesome.  However we were also a lot younger and didn't need that much sleep.  Oh my how things have changed.

We have entered into discussions about trailers.  We are still on the fence since that will be a major investment.  Even though we love sleeping outdoors it's hard to fall asleep when real owls are hooting right outside your tent.  Like literally ON TOP of your tent.  I'm used to falling asleep to noise but not real owls hooting.  It kept Hubby up which kept me up because he needs it quiet to sleep and I need him to be snoring for me to fall asleep.  So nature conspired against both of us the first night.  The second night it was much colder and the fog had set in.  For some reason the owls didn't feel like making an appearance.  

We camped at Morro Bay State Campground.  We love it there.  There is a perfect mix of woodsy mountain camping with the water right next door.  The marina is literally across the street.  Clover had a blast exploring and building herself a shelter like the ones she sees on survivor type shows she watches with her daddy.  It was super cute.  And while there are food boxes I wondered why they were needed since I always assumed that they were bear boxes.  I guess the correct term is "Critter" boxes.  We made the mistake of leaving left over hot links on the table along with the bun.  In the morning the birds had eaten the bun but the hot links and the plate where missing.  I thought this was weird since there aren't a lot of meat eating critters out.  I figured someones dog got loose.  Then the more I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that it was a raccoon.

 
My suspicions were confirmed later on our second evening.  Clover was down for bed and Hubby was on his cell.  I was sitting by the fire.  I look over at some movement I saw out of the corner of my eyes.  There is the largest raccoon I have ever seen just walking through my campsite like it's no big thing.  He looks at me and gives me the "Wassup" head nod and keeps walking.  He disappeared into the night...like Batman.  My phone was dead so I wasn't able to get a picture of Batman (the raccoon version) so you will just have to take my word that that is what he looked like.  Except bigger.  I do sort of feel bad because Batman (the raccoon version) was probably all set with his tasty newly stolen meat treat only to be greeted with a mouth full of jalapeño hot linky fire.  Later that evening he came back and stole my Cherry Pepsi that I had on the table.  Can and all.  I heard him snatch it off of the table but by the time I poked my head out of the tent he was gone.  Once again like Batman.

I've seen a lot of nature while camping but the first time I've seen a raccoon or heard owls so that part was pretty neat although at the time I was a bit freaked out.  I'de take a raccoon in my campsite over a snake any day of the week.

Even though we love camping it was nice to come home to a big bed and a working shower!  Which we might have if we buy a trailer.  Anyone have any camping ideas for a family of three?        

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mindless TV Watching

I keep meaning to post.  I sat down on Sunday and then got distracted so nothing ever came of it.  I thought about organizing my thoughts so I could post tonight.  Instead I got caught up on The Big Bang Theory and painted my toes.  Do I get credit for thinking about it?  Sometimes it's good just to unwind and let yourself get caught up what's on TV.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Every Dress From Everywhere

Since Clover has discovered that I can sew...things have gotten a little interesting.  She wants basically every dress she sees.  We have a game where she says "I want that dress!  I want that dress" and I tell her that I will put it on the list.  It's true that I am not writing all of these down but I am keeping a mental note that she wants every dress ever.  So a friend said that she wanted to see this list.  I told her I would have to find an old school dot matrix printer to print this huge list.  Since I had an extra minute or two before our crazy Monday gets going I figured I would put together a picture based list.  I do have to note that the list is currently on suspension until my little darling learns how to sleep in her own bed.  She is making an effort not since she hasn't gotten any dresses in awhile.

In no particular order...

Pocahontas

Elizabeth Swan's Wedding Dress and basically every dress she was in from all three movies.



And then there is Angelica

Every Dress Nina wears in Imagination Movers

And every dress from Enchanted.


Every dress that Ariel wears.  Including the sail.  I like this picture because it's every dress from the movie all in one :)  I just noticed that a lot of these are fellow redheads.  

Then I found this picture and it's interesting that the dresses are the same just different colors.  

And every one of these dresses in a non scratchy form.  

Last year for Christmas she received the Cinderella and Belle dress.  I should have tried them on in the store because she wont put them on because they are toooooo scratchy.  So I think I might have to find a way to make these in some t-shirt material.  I know she is spoiled but I don't think I can whip up every dress on this list.  Maybe later on down the line if she is still in her Princess phase we can turn it into a sewing lesson and she can learn clothes construction and make her own.  I'm sure all the holes poked in my fingers from the pins would appreciate the rest.       

Sunday, September 30, 2012

La Luna Inspired

As I have stated many times before I have no idea what I am doing.  :)  I like to experiment.  Sometimes these projects go great without any snags or hangups.  Some crash and burn while some take a little bit of time before I get any sort of result.

Friday I tried my hand at working with polymer clay.  I've watched the tutorial videos and tips on the websites but it's something I have never played with.  It's not what I expected and took three tries to get anywhere close to what I wanted but I like how the final pendent turned out.

It was mostly inspired by this outfit at Disney by Design.


Let me just warn you that you may get lost in that website.  There are so many outfits to explore.  So I wanted that pendent but it was sold out so I started brainstorming and came to the conclusion that I wanted to make my own.


Polymer clay moons and stars.  

Moons made out of stars


I didn't have a pasta roller for the clay.  So I used the next best thing.  My tortilla press with a ziplock bag.

Like I said it took about three tries to get them to look like what I wanted.  Sometimes I have an idea in my head that I have a hard time making a reality.  Luckily I had a Creative Consultant to bounce ideas off while I was experimenting.  I also had little fingers in the mix who wanted to help and create her own necklace.  That's where all the hearts come in.  She squished her clay and then cut some tiny hearts out.

I did have a hard time understanding the plastic clay concept.  I thought that it was going to be like playdough and I would just sculpt with it and it would be all easy peasy.  And while it was pretty simple it wasn't what I expected.  It was still pretty fun though.  At one point put the clay in a bag in my pocket to warm it up and make it a little pliable.  I also had a hard time with the curing process.  When the clay came out of the oven it was still movable but I later read that if you leave it alone it will harden while it cools.  It did.  I just have to sting them and they will be ready.

And if you haven't seen the Pixar short that inspired all of it, here it is...


Sorry it's just a peek.  



Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sew Along

Every now and then I get these ideas in my head.  Ideas that I think would be easy enough to execute until I realize I didn't think things through.  But I am committed to finishing my projects even though I only tend to make things difficult for myself.

I am taking a breather right now because I am about to throw something.  Not really but I'm just really frustrated.

This is the seam with the right sides together (RIGHT!)
The fabric is more green than gold.  

This is the seam with the WRONG sides together.  I didn't notice until I held it up to check the fit. 


Bonus.  Here is the picture Clover took of her snack when she realized my phone was left unattended and the photo app was open.

Something like that always seems to happen even if I think I am paying attention.  I'm just going to have to learn how to accept it and move on.  I had to take the side piece off.  I couldn't find my seam ripper so I had to go at it with a pair of scissors and a needle.  I pinned it and started over.  The front is officially done.  Just have the back, sleeves and finishing to do.

Someone needs to convince me that I'm not crazy!




Thursday, September 20, 2012

I May Be Moody

I feel like today was a wasted day.  I woke up with a gnarly headache.  I took two ibuprofen with my cup of coffee and oatmeal and waited it out.  I started to feel better so I got up and put a load of laundry in only to be met with pain.  I had my neck brace on while I surfed the internet and waited some more for the edge to die off of the headache.  Nothing.  I got up and walked around the house which usually helps when my head starts to throb.  Still nothing.  Lunch time hit and I took two more ibuprofen.  I sat around and endured some more.  My headache was turning me into a whiney mess although there was no one except Clover around to hear it.  So it might not have happened...like a tree falling in the woods.  Around four I took a shower convinced that my headache would concede under the comfort of the hot water.  Still nothing.  At this time I started to stress out.  It had been all day and nothing had helped get rid of the headache.  I didn't feel out of it, other than the headache I felt fine but I wondered if I should call my neurologist just in case.

Then I gave up and laid down next to Clover while she watched Handy Manny in my big bed.  Then I could feel it.  There was a massive rush of pressure from my head to my sinuses.  Are you flippin kidding me?  All this worry and stress all day and it was my stupid sinuses?  Sure enough I could feel it start to creep down the back of my throat and I started coughing.  I got up and had some water and a cold pill with the good stuff to dry everything up and sure enough my headache went away.

Such a wasted day!

So I ordered pizza.  I was pretty pissed off at myself that the whole day was wasted all on account of my body playing tricks on me!  The only positive thing was that it helped to remind me to enjoy the good days.  You never know when your day is going to suck so just enjoy the good stuff while it last and endure and survive the crappy parts!

Isn't that what life is all about anyways?    

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Crock Pot Mondays

Our schedule has been switched up a bit.  This season our dance class is on Mondays in the afternoon.  So that changes my designated laundry day.  Not that it's all contained in one day anyways.  I just get a majority of it washed on Monday.  Since I will be busy in the afternoons now I no longer have that extra time to plan out dinner.  So I will now be instituting Crock Pot Mondays.  This is the second week I have done it and it's nice coming home to dinner that is already made.  Yesterday I peeked in the cabinet and realized I had the ingredients to make Chicken Enchilada Soup.  I used this recipe here as a rough guide. 

The pic looks blurry because of the escaping steam.

With all the yummy veggies piled on top!

I made a few changes to the recipe.  I didn't bother softening the veggies.  They were going to cook in the soup long enough so I employed the dump and stir method.  I also didn't bother with the rue (flour and water as a thickener).  I broke up some corn tortillas and they melted into the soup and thickened it quite nicely.

What is your favorite crock pot recipe?  I have a lot to collect.  I have a lot of Mondays in front of me!

Sew It Begins

Sometimes I get really excited about stuff and come up with really crazy ideas.  Then the excitement dulls down and I'm left there scratching my own head.  For some reason I think I can sew a Renaissance style dress to accompany my Merida as Queen Elinor for Halloween.

Yesterday I started cutting out the pattern.  Which wasn't too bad.  But fun sewing time comes after the laundry has been started and the dishes have been done.  I didn't get very far but every little bit I work on is closer to completing the dress so that is all I need to focus on.

More than a couple years back I took a sewing class and learned some of the basics.  Although if you know how to read instructions you can work on a pattern.  Sewing is really easy if you break everything down and just like everything else it takes practice.  To this day I still cant sew a straight line.

The instructions are printed on the pattern itself.

Please ignore the coffee stains on my ironing board.  It's obviously only used for crafts!
 
Soon I will be working on the green taffeta I bought.  I hope this all goes easier than it's imagined in my head :).

Sew it begins!  

Get Knocked Down? Get Back Up!

Usually about two to three weeks into my "I'm going to treat myself better-eat better-exercise" attitude, something always happens.  It's my own personal challenge.  I've come to expect it.  Well into this round I knew something was going to happen.  I just didn't know what.

I upgraded my workout from Walk it Out on the Wii to working out on the elliptical.  I was keeping a timer and taking pictures of my progress to keep myself on the right path.  Two weeks in my feet started to experience some nerve damage.  It was a little scary when out of nowhere your feet go numb or alternate between tingling to pain.  So then I had to back track and figure out what I was doing that was causing all of these not so fun symptoms.

After discussing it with one of my doctors we figured out that I should for now stick with walking.  Walking?  How boring!  But since that is my new starting point.  Here we go again!

  

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Supposed To Be Mary

I was a little curious if my darling Clover would start to recognize some of her favorite actors and actresses from the "I've seen more than once" movie collection.  I know that some studios like to use the same people in different roles.  I'm not exactly sure what her thoughts are about movies.  I'm not sure if she believes they are real or not.  We have talked about shows and theater and she knows that they are actors putting on a show on stage but I'm not sure about movies on a screen.

The first thought was during Muppets.  I was wondering if she was going to recognize that Gisele and Mary where both the same person, Amy Adams.  She didn't seem to make the connection.

Then my friend asked about Johnny Depp.  We know him as The Mad Hatter.  He is even on one of our most favorite blankets.  So she asked if Clover recognized him as Jack Sparrow since we have just started watching Pirates.  We talked about the similarities between the characters.  So far Clover hasn't noticed that the same person is two of her very favorite characters.

So I figured that since there are differences in the characters that she hasn't figured out that they are played by the same person.  Then the other day we saw the preview for The Five Year Engagement which stars Jason Segal.  We know Jason Segal as Gary from the Muppets movie.  The preview was less than three minutes long but after it was over she ran up to me and declared with a fierceness that only a four year old can express...

"MOM!  He is supposed to marry MARY!  Not that OTHER girl!  Why is he with her?  HE IS SUPPOSED TO MARRY MARY!"  

If I was her I would be more concerned with the lack of Muppets in the preview.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Knit Along

So if you read this post a few posts ago, you know that I finally decided to knit something for myself!  How is that going you might ask?  Well it started out a little rough.  I started, ripped and then started over at least more than seven times because after that I just couldn't count anymore.  But seeing that I am already committed (or perhaps should be committed) I had to stick with it.  No matter how many times I lose track of the pattern or how many times the stinking stitches fall off the needles or the fact that I had to go up two needle sizes because I just couldn't wait to go back to the store to buy size 4's double pointed needles.  So this is where I am at...

My solution:  My Clover's hair ties to hold the yarn from slipping off.
Saved my sanity!


Finished the brim and working on the hat.

And Noooo!  Those are not winter pj's in the Summer time at all!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

I Have No Title For This One

We were laying down talking the other day.  It was one of those conversations that had no point, other than to get stuff out of our minds.  Random thoughts here and there.  Hubby mentioned something and I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember what he was talking about but it ended with "it doesn't exist, like toilets on the Enterprise, because no one ever poops!"

I was quiet for a second.  I laughed and then I had my epiphany!

So everyone on Star Trek uses replicators right?  What if the replicator creates the food to match the exact nutritional needs of the person asking?  The meal or drink is created specifically.  Since it is perfectly matched to their needs there is no waste.  Therefor there is no need to poop since the body has no waste.  

Then I heard "I have no words...you just blew my mind!  I may have to consult someone on this."

Hubby just sat there stunned by my awesomeness.

Discuss amongst yourselves but I think I'm on to something!




Monday, September 3, 2012

Strength n Stuff

I had an opening paragraph set up but it didn't seem to be leading me where I wanted to go.  So I deleted it and figured that I would just type as the thoughts came out.

I've been thinking a lot lately about people and the infinite amount of strength they posses.  Not only have they been on my mind but I find myself amazed and inspired.  Some I know in person, some I know from reading my blogroll.    

It just makes me think about the many situation in which we go through just living our lives.  There are times when it seems that life shouldn't be that hard.  Unfortunately, we all have those days.  Sometimes it can seem like it's too much, but we all seem to be able to pull ourselves up.  Not only do we pull ourselves up but we stand strong.

I guess that's what strength is all about.  It's not about never being knocked down.  It's about finding the will to stand back up.  Time and time again.  We are all so much stronger than we think.  It sucks to have to have those experiences to find that out about ourselves.

It does remind me of one of my favorite quotes though...

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you. - Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Dear Technicolor, I am a tad confused.  You see I am currently watching Mary Poppins which was colored by Technicolor.  I have a question.  Why is Mary Poppin's jacket black in the movie?  I have seen this costume in person.  I didn't get to touch it because it was behind glass in an exhibit, but still I got a good look at it.  In person the jacket is purple.   Everything else on the outfit seems to be colored correctly.


This outfit and many other Disney treasures are currently on display at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  This temporary exhibit is D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives at the Reagan Library.  Since we walked in sporting our Disney gear the volunteers knew exactly which exhibit we wanted to see and let us hit up that one first.  I have to admit that I did not believe the guy when he said it would take us up to two and a half hours to get through all of the exhibits.  I believed him when we were done.  The Reagan Library is huge!  Not to mention one of the most pristine places I have ever been.

Can't pass that view up during lunch.

Clover's other favorite part besides all the dresses was getting on board Air Force One.  
  
It really does take a while to get through all of the Library.  We had lunch at the country cafe and a fudge snack at the pub.  The food was yummy and the entire museum exceeded all of my expectations.    When we got to the end we hit up the Disney exhibit again before we headed out.

It was a wonderful outing.  The only bummer was that on the way home our lovely travel DVD player died.  I was a bit worried about being in the car and not having anything to entertain Clover but she did surprisingly well.  I would say that all in all the trip was

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

I Have Thoughts

I have thoughts that I can't seem to put into sentences that make sense right now.  Perhaps tomorrow I will try again to get everything that is up there out.  Or perhaps the day after that because tomorrow is Sunday and I don't really have any plans and sitting around doing nothing sounds really good right now.  But who knows.  Things do change very quickly around here.

Fun with Yarn

I had a bout of insanity last night that really only had to be witnessed to explain.  And I was o so fortunate to have one of my good friends there to watch what I was calling either insanity or persistence.  Perhaps both.  Lucky for you I took pictures.  

It all started with me wanting to make a hat.  I found the pattern and started but the green yarns I had didn't quite match the shirt/sweater that I wanted it to go with.  Girl problems right?  So if I am going to go through all the trouble to knit it I want it to be something I will wear.  And I'm making it so I want it my way.  Very rarely do I make stuff for myself so I was sticking to it this time.  So off to the craft store we went.  I borrowed the very keen eyes of my co shoppers...one adult and one four year old to pick the right shade of green.  We found one match.  One match in three isles of yarn.  Color yes, weight, nope.

So I will just decrease the number of stitches casted on while I increase my needle size since my yarn was Super Chunky.  After two failed attempts at this I just sat there and stared at the yarn.


This was me at my first attempt at unraveling the Super Chunky weight yarn into two sets of two strands.  Essentially pulling it in half while being reminded that it does not want to come apart.  It did not want to come apart.  But I was being stubborn.  So here is the yarn wrapped around my foot and me trying to straighten it out with the other foot.  

This is the yarn getting stuck in my hair while trying to pull it apart.  It retwisted with force near my forehead and pulled my hair in with it.  It knew it was going to be a hat and was getting a jump start.    


So at about midnight last night/this morning I gave up with the hope that I would try again when I was rested.  And that I did.  I didn't manage to take any pictures of the unraveling process because my hands where full.  I did enlist a helper.  I threw the yarn ball down the hall and proceeded to pull it apart separating the yarn into two piles on each side of me.  Every time there was a kink and it would no longer pull apart I yelled for my trusty helper who by this time had changed into her Repunzel costume because Repunzel was in Tangled.  Seriously, that was her reasoning.  I would yell for her and she would come out and straighten my strand out down the hallway.  She did this about ten times until we were done.

See two strands!

I probably put four hours into finding the yarn and rewinding the ball.  The entire time I could hear this conversation in my head between myself and the Hubs about just buying what I need online instead of searching stores and making due with what I had.  We didn't actually have that conversation but I did imagine what his reaction would be if he came home and saw the yarn tangled up in my hair or if he came out of the office to see a mountain of fibers in the living room.  See we've been married so long we don't actually have to have conversations.  I am pretty much assuming that he would just look at me like I'm nuts.

I casted on and knit a row before I had to put it down to have a rockin Labor Day bbq.  I will get back to it when I find some spare time.  I think I am on attempt number 18 now, but I am happy to report that it is no longer in my hair :)  

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Must Be a Frog Thing

There has been a lot of stuff caught up in my brain so you know there is a ramble coming.  I keep meaning to sit down and work it all out to a somewhat manageable post but this is going to be as close as it gets.  :)  I sat down last night to blog and got sidetracked cracking sunflower seeds and enjoying getting stuck in the internet.  There are days where I feel like there is nothing to read and then days where I get annoyed that real life is interfering with my "research".  And before you jump to that conclusion it doesn't always involve online shopping.

So yesterday I was stuck in the interwebs looking for hat patterns.  I want to knit a hat that looks like one my favorite princess sports in the beginning of the Princess and the Frog.  I found this one for a knitted cloche hat.  After I decided on the pattern I rummaged through my sorted green yarns and found one I liked.  Then I went through my collection of needles.  I thought about how lucky I am that people bring me vintage needles.  I felt so loved as I looked through my assortment.  And then I got a metal sliver in my hand from a damaged needle and was convinced everyone was trying to kill me.  I understand that my reaction was a bit overdramatic.  It must have been that set because the next set I grabbed was fine.

I put on Princess and the Frog as I started to knit.  Yes, I watch cartoons willingly.  I really only had a kid to have someone to watch cartoons with.  Then it dawned on me that I like cartoon frogs.  My favorite muppet is a frog.  My favorite princess is a frog.  I even had cute little frogs on the first set of dishes that Hubs and I had when we moved out.  The reason this all seems weird to me is that I am petrified of real ones.  I know it's a weird fear and I don't really understand it myself.  But there it is.

I'm afraid of frogs.

I grew up in the country so I've been around them.  Country snakes or spiders don't bother me.  I can squish spiders all the live long day but put a frog in front of me and I scream like the little girl I am. I used to be that way with spiders at one point in my life.  Then I was on the yard with my toddler class and there was a spider in the yard.  Two of my grown co teachers noped to the other side of the yard when they saw it and I was left there staring at it.  I guess fight or flight kicked in.  I couldn't let it get near my kids.  I didn't what kind it was so it was possible that it was poisonous.  I squished it and have had no problems squishing spiders since.  It's them or me!

I try not to let it get the best of me.  I begrudgingly take my daughter through the reptile exhibit at the Zoo.  But the point is that I still go.  I try not to let her know that it bothers me but I do let her know that even big Mommies are afraid of some things.





 

Like Superpowers, Kinda.

I have to remind myself sometimes that even though my Clover is "like six feet tall" according to her, that she is still only four.  In the scheme of things she hasn't been around for that long.  She is still learning how to navigate the world and I need to remember that.  There are things that we are working on.  We are still working on the outbursts and meltdowns.  Which sometimes can be taxing on a parent.  So I tried to put it in perspective.

It would be like if you got a super power.  All of the sudden your power kicks in.  You have this new ability and no idea how to use it.  Not only do you have to learn how to use them but also how to control them.  

Patience is needed all around.  So in this scenario does that make me Professor X?  I'll take it.

It all made sense in my head.  

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Forts and Such

At the beginning of Summer I found this fort building kit at my local book store.  It was a cute idea but at fifty bucks was out of my price range.  A few weeks later, I found it online for more than half off so I jumped on it and had it shipped to the house.  The mail lady looked annoyed because they shipped it through the Post Office and the box was too large to fit in the parcel box so she had to deliver it to the door.  Hubby took one look at it and laughed.  That was followed up with a "when I was a kid...we didn't need a kit to build a fort" speech.

Now we have done the massive forts, the couch forts, the let us see how many blankets we can fit in the living room rainy day forts.  So we are no stranger to forts.  I even have spare parachord and a hook in my wall for forts.  So my goal with the kits was more of a design and implement lesson.  Clover would be able to build with the poles attach the balls to design and create a fort.  I'm not going to post the name of the product because in about two seconds you are going to see what I don't like about the kit.

Here is the structure poles and balls to connect everything together.  I helped a little bit.


And here is the fort with the blanket included with the kit.  
Are you kidding me?  

It's not even large enough to cover the roof!  

Our solution was to use a king size jersey knit fitted sheet.
The elastic in the fitted sheet grabs the bottom and holds on.  

The sheet even makes a nice little cubby hole door.  

The kit is nice because it gives us something to do when the weather is too hot to play outside but I think that the company could have put a little more thought into it.  If I would have paid original price for this I would have taken it back.  That blanket that comes with it is just silly.

For now it gives Clover somewhere to camp out and hide.  I think her favorite part is setting up the inside with pillows and her flashlight.  

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Took a Chance

This weekend we took a vacation.  It's been awhile since we just went and chilled out somewhere, just the three of us.  We had plans to go to Big Sur and go hiking but Hubby fell in love with the lodge that we stayed at that we just hung out after visiting the beach.  Which was okay with the rest of us.

The picture of the sunset over the mountain.

Lots of fun was to be had!

Not exactly sand.

Everything was lovely.  We took a chance on the hotel we wanted to stay at.  We have never stayed in Cambria.  We usually do Morro Bay.  We ended up lucking out because the room was awesome!  We drove down Main Street and got a bite to eat and just spent time hanging out and enjoying each other's company.  It was a very much needed vacation.  We loved it so much that none of us wanted to come home.  We were all pouty as we drove back over the mountain.

We had to come back though, we had an excellent surprise to home too.  The house was cleaner than when we had left it!  And our secret cleaner elf found the remote!

All around...best weekend ever!  

Sunday, August 12, 2012

All The Dresses

I like to start brainstorming for All Hallow's Eve early because if I am going to whip up an outfit it's going to take some time.  Clover has already decided that she was going to be Merida this year.  So I decided that I wanted to dress up too.  So I will be playing the part of Elinor, Merida's mother.  I found some ideas from various websites.  One of them is a quick overview of the costume.   I found a few websites that would make the dress but the prices where way out of the price range I would pay to wear it for one night.  So did some more internet searching and found a pattern that I felt came pretty close to what I was looking for.

bottom right corner?
 
I was pretty excited when I got the pattern in the mail.  Clover asked me what it was so I explained that it has instructions to tell me how to make these dresses.  Her eyes grew three sizes and she exclaimed

"Wait?!?  You mean YOU CAN MAKE DRESSES?"

Even though she has seen me make several things she never thought I could make dresses since we bought them.  The dress up ones usually came in the mail because I found some killer deals online.  It took her awhile to form her mind around the fact that I could whip up costumes.

I'm not sure this is a good thing.

A master list has been created.  She has been asking me to whip up every dress she sees.  We watched Enchanted for the first time this week and every dress Gisele was in, she now wants.  I told her that we should probably make a list since the list keeps growing.  So she sat down this morning and wrote one out for me.

Her cursive writing.

The top one is "the white dress, the blue dress and the pink dress that Gisele has"  and the second line is "A Belle dress that is NOT scratchy".  Followed up with "A witches dress like the ones that Winny, Mary, or Sarah wears".  She asked me when we were going to go fabric shopping and get started on all of her dresses.  I had to stall her by telling her we had to find patterns and that takes awhile.

I need a team of mice and birds to help me get sewing all the dresses.  Anyone know where I can find some sewing furry woodland creatures?  Singing is optional.