My "Black Friday"

I found out that it IS possible to sew one's finger! I wasn't paying attention... I even broke the needle, but no blood got on the fabric!

Sneak Peek of more homemade Christmas gifts...

I made my first ever pajama pants (a Christmas gift for Hayden) and they fit, the leg lengths match and there's no "upside down" leg! I'm so proud of me!

I made two other items today but no photos will be posted because even the print of the fabric is a surprize!

Sew much going on these days!

I've been on a roll sewing Christmas gifts for my nieces, nephew (due Dec 8), sisters and brothers-in-law and I must say, I'm pretty impressed at how far a little inspiration goes. A BIG thanks goes out to Avi, Tima & Jeanette who have helped in many ways (whether they're aware of it or not)! I couldn't go on without you guys! I'll post photos after the gifts have been delivered and opened (be on the lookout mid-December). I've have taken a minute for myself... here's my new camera strap cover (I got the fabric this past Spring - just took forever getting it made! Oh yeah, and I didn't use the ribbon... obviously)

Here's my stack of fabric for Christmas crafts, it's getting smaller everyday!

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving day with a family of friends who are becoming more dear to us by the hour! The Adams' were gracious enough to let us hang around since we have no family nearby to celebrate the holiday with. Jeantte prepared a delicious spread of food for us to enjoy! We had a wonderful time, here are some of my favorite photos of the evening:

(LOL, Jeanette, I put a spell on you! HAHA! You got ghetto booty now!)

Tristen made Pumpkin spice cookies for all to share; he really is quite comfortable in the kitchen.

"Score! I found the beer!" - Ryan Adams... they tought that kid well, right? LOL!

Sneek Peak - Christmas craft gift

Can you tell what it is?

Skin Tag

So I've had this "skin tag" since about 10 years ago when it decided to appear along my bra line just beneath (and in between) my breasts. When I went in for my annual "lady's appointment" last week my doctor told me she can remove it, no problem, and "would I be interested". DUH! It's been a nuisance since it's materialization. So yesterday she removed it!

Before: After:

Somehow I feel lighter! LOL!

still around

I'm still here! I've been very diligently working on some Christmas gifts that need to be ready by Dec 5 so I haven't been on the computer much! I can't post my creations until after they've been delivered since some MAY be for my blog followers! Please enjoy this sneak peak in the meantime.

My Fall Living Room Set

You may remember earlier this year I made curtains and throw pillow covers for a lighter look to my living room for the Spring and Summer months, well, I had actually given away the curtains I had up since they didn't even match my current set so when Autumn hit and it was time to bring out the darker colored set again, I panicked, not having any window coverings! I had planned on making some to match the existing Peir 1 Imports throw pillows and table runner I have and love but when in Peir 1 on a whim looking for Fall scents one day, I noticed that they had the exact matching window panels on SALE!! I couldn't buy random fabric at the fabric store to make panels that would "go" for less $$ so I bought 2 panels! I was estatic! ... until I got home and ready to hang them just to realize they were 6 inches too short and the tops didn't look right next to the sheer center panels that have tabs. Instead of returning them I made one last effort to fix this problem, I found some fabric at Joann's that would match and I added a 3 inch boarder to the bottom of each panel and 3 inch tabs at the top! Not bad if I do say so myself!

Cozy Comforts

Originally I purchased this fabric to make a frame to an existing too-small and plain tablecloth for Thanksgiving but everytime I walked by the folded stack embossed brocade all I could think about was wrapping up in it, it just looked so cozy comfortable. I decided to get some fleece and make a blanket after all! The fabric is very heavy and the fleece is so soft, it's the perfect cuddle blanket measuring 84 x 66 inches!

~FRONT~

~BACK~

-The table cloth remains too-short and plain!

accidents happen

I accidently permanently deleted my photos from Halloween while uploading them to my PC this afternoon! There really weren't that many and I feel as if I've bombarded you with photos this month so a break won't kill!

I'll still tell you that I accepted a friend's offer to join her at a neighbor's kids' Halloween party where the boys got to eat food "dressed for Halloween" and play games for prizes; their favorite game was where they got to wrap up their fathers in toilet paper and see what family had the best "mummy" - my boys won, of course (hey, not becuase they have a lot of practice but because they were the oldest kids there!). I really do wish I had the pictures of that! The prize was $2 per participating child of the winning mummy!

Afterwards Jeanette and I went door-to-door with the little ones (Jeanette has 2 of her own) while Brad ran ahead with our 3 big ones and her husband stayed behind to hand out candy to their Trick or Treaters. All-in-all, a great fun night. The boys made OUT with tons of candy but as you could imagine four bags full of candy can really tempt a dieting mother so we put a time limit on the candy. Whatever is left Sunday night will be donated to the school, my boys actually seem ok with that and I'm SHOCKED that they haven't gone hog wild eating it all quickly either!

Discovery School Trunk or Treat

The boys have had the same Trick or Treating buckets for 2 years now and when we pulled the boxes out of the attic we found them dry rotted and crumbling. This was the day before "Trunk or Treat" at the boys' school so I had to think and act fast! I had just made a blanket (blog coming soon) of Fall colors and had enough scraps lying around to make some bags for the boys to use. They LOVED them! My friend, Fotima loved them so much she asked me to make one FOR HER! LOL! So I did! I also was able to make 3 extra bags, one for Tima's son, Allen, and one each for my friend, Jeanette's boys. I got the iron-on decor at Joann's on sale. These bags cost me less than $10 total! AWESOME, and reusable!

Tima and Allen heading to Trunk or Treat at Discovery - Seth, the alligator, I mean dinosaur!

We tend to use the same costumes over and over until we can't anymore! It saves time, money and effort! haha! It's all about the candy for them anyway!

I remember when Tristen was Winnie the Pooh's Hunny Pot! AWE!

I got the Lion and Alligator costumes from my cousin a few years ago in a box of much needed hand-me-downs (thanks Carrie, we love them!) and they prove to be perfect for the weather we have in the High Dessert this time of year! When we're done using them, I've promised to donate them to the school drama club!

Trunk or Treat was a fun idea! I thought it would be lame but the school really went all out. Teachers and Parent volunteers decorated trunks and handed out candy to the "trunk or treaters"

They even set up a haunted house in one of the classrooms! It was really cool!

Solvang {October 2009}

October 24, 2009 - Happy 11th Anniversary to us!

Earlier this year Brad and I took a weekend away from the boys and visited our timeshare in Solvang for the first time and really enjoyed ourselves and promised the next time we go up there we'll have to bring the kids because they would probably love it too!

It's beautiful here all year round but the colors that were painted on everything

this Fall were more captivating than words could describe!

We took the boys to The Little Mermaid Resturaunt for a traditional Danish breakfast.

These are called aebleskivers (pancake balls) and the boys devoured them!

One of the things we enjoyed the most back in February was to hike up to Nojoqui Falls so that was the first venture on this trip.
Tristen was nervous after reading this sign and clung to Brad for safety. This is pretty much how I saw them the whole hike up!

The Falls did not have much of an outpouring but the boys sure enjoyed it!

Hayden was impressed with how big these trees grew! He said the hole in this tree looked like a monster head with a "bumpy back" - do you see it?

We took the boys to Ostrich Land and let them feed the flightless birds that "have dinosaur feet"!

DOGTOBER FEST! As we walked around the tiny Danish town we noticed a lot more dog owners walking their dogs. When we got to the main square we realized why: DOGTOBER FEST was in full force! The boys were in hog heaven in the midst of all those dogs. They were very polite, asking permission before petting the dogs. I'm surprised Hayden wasn't the least bit scared after the dog bite incident earlier this year.

Here are some of their favorites!

We went in and out almost every little shop and here's where the boys chose to spend their money! A candy shop! Surprise, surprise! They had candy in bulk in buckets!

We didn't think the boys would like a traditional Danish dinner so we found a Chinese food resturaunt to take them. Seth learned how to use chop sticks (his own version) and tried new food! He likes pot stickers! Hayden was being silly with his straw!

The sunsets there were so vibrant!

Lake Cachuma:

The boys were facinated with "the woods"! They found these trees worth climbing!

I took the opportunity to take some updated photos of my little men. Gotta love candids!

Tristen was watching me shoot the brothers and was ready with a pose when his turn came!

The Bradbury Dam:

The boys had a wonderful time and I've already started making plans for another trip up there. (this time for a girls' weekend of wine & cheese tasting and shopping!) Who wants to join me?!