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Hello – Summer Update

12 Jul

I have been so busy!  Here’s what’s going on…

  • We went on a little vacation last week to Oregon.  Visited two aunts, went to the Enchanted Forest, Prehistoric Gardens and Gold Beach.  Had a great time.

July 2009 Vacation

  • Andrew performed a magic show for Katie’s birthday party and the kids loved it!

Katie's Bday

  • I took the Joann’s sewing class and made this pillowcase… then I finally made the dress for Katie.  Let me know what you think!

Pillowcase

The Dress

  • Katie finished her swim classes and will be starting gymnastics at the end of this month.
  • Grant is trying so hard to talk… a few words he’s yelling at me: BABY, HERE! and MAAAAAAA!
  • Baby is getting big (3 months already)
  • We are all sick. :(

Sew what?

19 May

I am so done with scrapbooking & stamping!  I’ve been doing it for over ten years and have SO MUCH STUFF!  Over the last two years I’ve been paring down my collection and still have a lot.  I just gave some away to my mom and a friend, and will get more out on Ebay or Craigslist. 

My new hobby?? Sewing!  Last time I used a sewing machine was in 7th grade home ec, so I am looking forward to learning something new.  My mom has an old (80s) machine that she is going to give me this week.  I also signed up for some classes at Joann’s for next month.  Yesterday, while running errands, I stopped by there and spent two whole hours (I only had the baby with me, so I was virtually uninterrupted) just looking at the materials.  FUN!  My first class project will be a pillowcase.  I found some cute fabric and will make this for Katie.  I’ll post a picture when I complete the project.  :)

I’m looking forward to making things for the kids, and also for my husband’s magic endeavors.  I downloaded this darling pattern off of etsy to make dresses for the girls.  What do you think??

 Caroline Dress PDF Pattern Tutorial - Frog Legs and Ponytails Boutique Pattern - Includes 9 Sizes plus Doll Pattern

2008 Book List

15 Jan

Here is my 2008 book list.  I favored Nicholas Sparks, Anne Tyler and the Left Behind series.  I’ve already started the 2009 list.  We’ll see how I do this year with three kids. ;)

Kingsolver – The Poisonwood Bible – 1/08

Giordano – I Love You Like a Tomato – 1/08 (Apparently first in a series of three.)

Binchy – London Transports – 1/08

Tyler – Patchwork Planet – 2/08

Tyler – Back When We Were Grownups – 2/08

Pezzelli – Every Sunday – 2/08

Kay – Half Price Living – 2/08

Fowler – The Jane Austen Book Club – 3/08

Tyler – Breathing Lessons – 3/08

Rice – The Edge of Winter – 3/08

Hegi – Floating in My Mother’s Palm – 3/08

Hoffman – The Ice Queen – 3/08

Lockwood – Dixieland Sushi – 3/08 (SO funny!)

Oates – We Were the Mulvanneys – 4/08

Mason – In Country – 4/08

Kingsbury – A Time to Dance – 5/08 ( I loved this… Christian Lit is growing on me!)

Harris – Five Quarters of the Orange – 5/08

The Color Purple – 5/08

Dessen – This Lullaby – 5/08

Rubio – Icy Sparks – 6/08

Keyes – Sushi for Beginners – 6/08

Green – Babyville – 6/08

Binchy – This Year It Will Be Different – 6/08

Morrison – The Bluest Eye – 07/08

Frank – Sullivan’s Island -07/08

Patchett – Bel Canto – 08/08

Empire Falls – 08/08

Allison – Bastard Out of Carolina – 8/08

Wiggs – Snowfall at Willow Lake – 8/08

Karon – Mitford Series #5

Arnold – Pieces of my Sister’s Life – 9/08

Tyler – Ladder of Years – 9/08

Sparks – The Rescue – 9/08

Sleeping Arrangements – Started reading, but quit halfway through. Didn’t like it at all.

Sparks – The Guardian – 9/08

Sparks – Nights in Rodanthe – 09/08

Sparks – The Wedding – 09/08

Sparks – True Believer-09/08

LaHaye/Jenkins – Left Behind Series (1-9) – 10/08

Rice – What Matters Most – 10/08

Binchy – Firefly Summer – 11/08

HA… not many books in Nov/Dec… we got digital TV!

Grandma’s book

8 Jan

I’m seriously starting on this project now… my Great Aunt sent me tons of pictures and I began scanning them last night. 

When I originally was going to start this, I had scanned in some of the photos, but there was a problem and they weren’t right for the size I needed for the book.  Now I have a better software program, and after doing a few test scans, I have the method down pat.  Unfortunately, each scan takes over 3 minutes to do, and that doesn’t include any touch up time!

I have a deadline to scan them in by the end of January (so I can return them to my patient aunt), and from there, I can retouch, type in the actual story, and format the book. 

Very exciting!

Coming soon to a hospital near me…

27 Sep

My niece is due in 9 days.  Not that I’m counting down or anything!  Our family is outnumbered by boys… so far, the score is Boys:6, Girls:2.  This will bring us up to 3 girls.  Hopefully my next one will be a girl too!

This is a picture of the Diaper Cupcakes I gave to my SIL for her shower.  I think it turned out pretty cute!  They are nestled together on a tiered cupcake holder.

Diaper Cupcakes!

Diaper Cupcakes!

Our Garage Sale Loot

16 Aug

Today’s Loot: $16.50

  • 45 Children’s Video Cassettes $5
  • 10 Hardback Hans Christian Anderson books & 10 Left Behind books $3
  • Wig, Tutu, Butterfly Wings (New) $3
  • Dora Scooter $3
  • …and the find of the day:  Double Stroller $2.50

Not bad, eh?

My new creation

13 Aug

I came up with my own crock pot concoction yesterday and it was GREAT! 

I had some stew meat which I browned with some onion salt, then threw in the CP.  Then I chopped up a few carrots, celery and potatoes and added them in with a can of beef broth and a can of tomato sauce, some oregano, thyme and pepper.  After it cooked for a few hours, I boiled some barley and added that in as well.  It ended up being REALLY thick after the barley sucked up most of the juice, so I added one more can of beef broth.  Since we went out to eat with the family last night, we didn’t get a chance to eat it, but I had some for breakfast alright, and it was SO tasty!  Even Andrew approved when he had some for lunch.  I guess I’d call it Beef Barley Stew, as it was still pretty thick and not soupy at all.  I could probably have added another can of tomato sauce or beef broth, but the final product was too good to mess with.  I can’t wait to make it again.  It was about $6.00 for all of the ingredients.

If I remember, I’ll take a picture before it’s eaten up, and post the actual recipe so it’s easier to read.

Not just another project.

27 Jul

Remember this post?  Well, I got through Grandma’s life story and boy, is she a hoot.  I’ve decided to type it up myself and make a book through Blurb.  I have asked my Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle to send me any photos they had growing up with GGR.  I have received some already and scanned them in, but still want more for my book.  There were some great shots like this one:

She was 18 in 1915!
She was 18 in 1915!

and this one:

Up in a tree with a friend at 14 years old. (1912)
Up in a tree with a friend at 14 years old. (1912)

This will be a lengthly process as some of these photos need repairing, and I don’t really know what I’m doing.  But I am looking forward to this project!  When I’m finished, I can put it up on Blurb for the family to purchase – that way I don’t have to take orders from long lost relatives that I never see or talk to, but at least they will have the option. 

Being creative

6 Jun

Curly wrote about this awesome site where you can be creative and make some collages.  Here is my creation.  My old 90210 collage from high school has nothing on this! :)

 

Dixieland Sushi

1 Apr

I just read this book and it made me laugh!  The main character (a Jenn like me!) was born in 1974 (like me!) and throughout the book has flashbacks to her 4th-8th grade days in the 80′s.  I am not the best book reviewer, but I will say that if you were born during that time, you will laugh at this book to her references to plastic shoes, The Karate Kid, roller-skating birthday parties, friendship bracelets, etc.

Not to mention Jen grew up in Arkansas and was the daughter of Bubba (white guy) and Vivien (Japanese) – hence the title.  Loved it!

Dixieland Sushi by Cara Lockwood.  Picked it up at the Salvation Army for $1.  Go me.

A stack of books

8 Mar

img_3866.jpg 

We went garage sale-ing and Salvation Army-ing today.  No good book finds at the garage sales for mommy (though Katie made out like a bandit), but I did collect 11 new books at $1.00 apiece a the SA.  YAY! More reading material for me.

2007 Book List

2 Jan

Well, here is my completed 2007 book list.  Yep, I read 55 books last year.

Hoffman - Here on Earth - 2/07
Michaels - Yesterday - 2/07
Golden – Memoirs of a Geisha - 1/07
Naslund - Ahab’s Wife: Or, The Star Gazer - 1/07
Harris - Holy Fools - 1/07
Erdrich - The Painted Drum - 2/07
Urquhart -Away   started to read this and I didn’t like it
Maguire - Mirror Mirror - 3/07 (more…)

42 and counting…

23 Oct

So far, I’ve read 42 books this year.  Don’t ask me how I have time.  I mostly read after Katie has gone down for the night and use it as my unwind time.  That averages to about 4.2 books per month, or one a week.  Excellent! 

My goal is to find the rest of the Mitford Series (I’ve read the first four) at Salvation Army, and to catch up on the stack of Nicholas Sparks I have as well.  But with a move and a baby on the way, we’ll see how far I get.  At least I’ve kept up on my goal to keep track of the books I’ve read this year.  Isn’t follow-through wonderful?

I’ve got a new attitude.

25 Aug

Since my husband introduced me to the wonders of the Salvation Army, I have bought more books in the last three years than I have in my entire life.  (and that is saying a lot, because I am an avid reader.)  I used to go to Barnes and Noble, Target or even Costco to look for a bargain.   I’d usually peruse the women’s fiction section and see what I could find.  But now that I can buy a Bag of Books for about $10, I shove in as many as possible and when I get home I am quite surprised at some of the gems I’ve picked up.

I always skipped the Christian bookstores because I thought they’d all be stories like Little House on the Prairie or Christy (nothing wrong with these – I just have outgrown them).  But I have ended up with several from the SA that I REALLY enjoyed!  Thank goodness for these wonderful authors I have found and am actively seeking out.  Not all books have to have a Sex & the City theme (a show I’ve never seen and have no interest in.)  These new books of mine are good, clean reading and I don’t feel like I’m being talked down to.  I don’t know where I had this misconception of Christian books being bland, but I was sorely mistaken. 

 Amongst the favorites:

  • Wingate – Tending Roses
  • Karon – The Mitford Series (I just finished book #4)
  • Musser – Swan House

…and I’ve never been to Boston in the fall!

18 Aug

statemap.gifI found a fun site where you can select the states you’ve been to and a map is produced.  Of course I am a little technically challenged, so I was unable to get the code and put up a better copy of it here, but I did save the image to my computer and used that here instead. 

At any rate, I have been to 25 of the 50!  Fun!  I can’t wait to check out the other 25… especially the northeastern seaboard. 

Our Summer

21 Jul

img_1623.jpgA couple weeks ago, we took a much needed vacation and drove up through Oregon and Washington to Canada.  It was so much fun and I plan to do a full run down of our trip, but for now wanted to at least post what we’ve been up to lately!

Katie is now two and willimg_1657.jpg not stop talking.  Not only does she copy everything I say, but she also will sing the songs that I sing.  How fun is it to teach your daughter Dr. Demento’s Fish Heads?  VERY!

We’ve also learned that #2 is going to be a boy.  Needless to say, Daddy is quite happy.  Boy Scouts, here we come.

I’m STILL getting sick during this pregnancy.  I’m closing in on 20 weeks (halfway there!) and so far, everything is good.  We’re looking at an early December baby.  What a nice Christmas present!

My husband is doing great and appears to be cancer-free with no radiation or chemo needed.  What a blessing.  He is on the job hunt, as his former employer could not hold his position.

All in all we are doing great and hope the rest of this year has nothing but good things for us.

At the movies…

26 Apr

Stole this meme from miss v.

1. Name a movie you have seen more than 10 timesmovie-meme.jpg

Back to the Future, Goonies, Parenthood, The Princess Bride, Sister Act, Groundhog Day

2. Name an actor who would make you more inclined to see a movie

Will Ferrell.  I love his stuff, though there are a few things of his that I still haven’t seen because I heard they weren’t that great.

3. Name an actor who would make you less likely to see a movie

Madonna & Rosie O’Donnell (though I did love A League of their Own, which they were BOTH in!)

4. Name a movie you can and do quote from

See #1

5. Name a movie musical in which you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs

Annie, Mary Poppins & Sound of Music, of course. (more…)

Hella Bella!

19 Apr

Yay, I finally got my new Bella stamps in. Aren’t they cute!?img_9533.jpg

I can’t wait to make some cards with my new girls.  There is so much inspiration online!

AFI Top 100 Movie Meme

12 Apr

AFI Top 100 Movie Meme

I stole this meme from this blog.

Below is the AFI’s list of their 100 best movies of all time.

  • I’ve bolded movies that I’ve seen.
  • I’ve put a plus sign (+) next to movies which I especially loved.
  • I’ve put a minus sign (-) next to movies which I just don’t get what all the fuss is about.
  • If there is neither a plus or minus sign, it means I liked it (maybe a little, maybe a lot) but it just doesn’t hold a special place in my heart for whatever reason.
  • I’ve added comments randomly.

Which movies have you seen or not seen? Which movie are you the most embarrassed about never having seen? Any movies on the list you flat-out hated? 

AFI’s Top 100 Films of All Time

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)Own it
2. CASABLANCA (1942) Own it
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) (more…)

Out with the old… in with the Bellas.

11 Apr

img_9470.jpgI’ve been stamping since 1999, when I was bit by the Stampin Up bug.  Since then, my friends and family have gotten into it as well, with some of them even becoming demonstrators.  I was one too, until I got prego with Katie, and knew I wouldn’t be able to do both. 

Over the last 8 years, I’ve bought more stamps than I know what to do with!  Since the big move, I’m more discriminatory about what I keep and what I toss/donate/sell.  That being said, I just sorted through the old stamp sets, and have put them up on Ebay.  This will give me some extra cash so I can buy some more stamp(can you say Bellas?) and scrapbook supplies.  Yippy!

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