Happy New Year!

My poor parents have been sick for a while. My poor husband too. But we finally had Christmas with them on Sunday! How blessed I am to have them both in my life as well as my brother (as little as I get to see him), who is great with the kids (he's single, girls) and just my own little nuclear family to live with and love everyday.






I was so tickled today when Ella (and Miles too, because he has to do what she does) randomly wished people in Target a "Happy New Year." What joy she brought to people's faces!

We will be spending New Year's Eve with our family away from our family, our good friends Gail and Brad who took me in right away when they met me as an extended part of their family and who always open up their home to friends this time of year (and plenty of other times).

May you be blessed to spend your New Year with people you love!

She Finally Got her Frosty!

This is one excited little girl. Mom greatly dislikes going out in cold weather, so dad went out with her to help her make a snowman. Something she's been wanting to do...forever!

As a funny side story... My mom had made a snowman wall hanging with lots and lots of body segments. When I asked Ella if that was Frosty she said "No, it has too many bums." Ha!

Newly Listed in Etsy!

This cutie has been made for a while just never got in into the shop until now.



Another Amy Butler paper Funky Little Booklet!

Store Sale Tip

My husband is always looking on a site called Slickdeals. Today he informed me that someone posted a code for 70% off your total order from the Colwater Creek internet outlet store. Please go to the Slickdeals link above for details if you are interested!

I have a hard time discerning the cuteness and texture of clothes online, but I did see some shoes and handbags that looked cute. Wouldn't you know it, the one piece of clothing I wanted to purchase ran out in my size just before I decided to check out! The other cute pieces I liked were no longer available in my size when I first checked them. Oh, well, I'm happy. How often can you find a really cute purse for $15 or a pair of nice shoes for $20? Plus if I don't like something, or if the shoes don't fit, they can be returned right to a store for a full refund!

A Big Switcheroo

This idea has been in the works for a couple of weeks... It all started when I attended a friend's neighbor's Southern Living at Home Party. After the presentation, while we were all standing around the kitchen gabbing and eating hors d'oeuvres and sweets, the topic of conversation became centered around something about the north side of the house. Then I saw it. They had done a switcheroo. As is common in many dining rooms in homes around here, their dining room was tiny. In fact, as I found out, they had to turn their table diagonally when they had family over and all the leaves in. Plus the people seated in the corner had to crawl under the table to get out if they needed to. Coincidentally, the living room was HUGE and NEVER got any use. The same is true of our house with the room sizes. However we do sit in our living room frequently. So back to the party... this person decided it would make sense to change the dining and living rooms. After the furniture was switched (the husband agreed to this only because they had to move their furniture out anyway to have new flooring installed), the husband was on board and they completed the switch. This basically meant getting a light socket in place in the new dining room, switching the chandelier and getting a small light fixture for the new "sitting room."

Well after much consideration, this seemed to be a perfect idea for us too. So we have moved the majority of the furniture. We will wait to swap the china cabinet and the bookshelf for a few days. The light fixture move will be the last venture. Well maybe not the LAST. We found several stains on each carpet and have been talking about getting wood floors for a while. I think we have a good excuse...

Due to the smaller size of our new "living room", I think we should now call it the "parlor." It is so cozy and warm. I'll post pics soon.

New In My Etsy Shop!

I have so much to list on Etsy, but just added 3 listings today. Come check out the shop!

One Fabulous Night

On Dec. 22, Jason and I went out for a night of French Cuisine and ballet (Joeffrey Nutcracker). I really enjoyed every minute of the night being able to dress up, eat delicious food and be entertained by an art form that is an important and dearly loved part of my life. I also enjoyed being in the city. Everest Restaurant is located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange right there off of Congress. Right from their website: Everest offers breathtaking views of Chicago on par with the exquisite wine and cuisine offered by Chef Joho. Bronze sculptures created by acclaimed Swiss artist Ivo Soldini adorn each table, while paintings by Chicago artist Adam Siegel line the walls overlooking the western view of the city and sculptures by Virginio Ferrari grace the dining room. Equally elegant is Chef Joho’s personalized cuisine, influenced by his Alsace, France origins. Here are the two pieces of art (er dessert) from our table...





Here we are in the lobby of Everest. The coat check lady was kind enough to take the photo. Unfortunately the flash was still off from when we felt goofy enough trying to take photos of our desserts without attracting too much attention.



Of course you cannot take photos of the performance at the ballet (at the Auditorium Theater, which is just down the street from the restaurant), but we thought it would be ok to take some in the area outside of the seating during intermission. In fact one of the ushers took one of the photos (not shown) for us. But still, some guy came along and scolded us for taking flash photos in the theater. The weird thing is it seemed like it was 5 minutes before he even came over.



Does Jason look extra happy? Perhaps it is because of his celebrity spotting. He saw a guy he SWORE was Jim Gaffigan, comedian. We "followed" him up the stairs during intermission after I got out of the powder room (we were actually going that way anyway). He was with his 2 year old son, a real cutie with a head of blonde curls. Jason actually asked him if he was who he thought he was. He said "yeah" and appeared less than excited to be recognized. I suppose it gets old after a while, especially if you are out with family trying to relax and have fun. We talked to his wife a bit after he walked away.

So anyway, it was a really fun night and a rare occurrence that we get to go out to such nice places.

Oh my toe / It's potty time

I think I broke it! It is so swollen, painful and stiff. I know there is nothing they can do for it as I've broken a big toe and a doctor said there was no cast or splint to put on a toe.

Today was day ?3 maybe on the potty training front with son. Of course it's been inconsistent due to holiday events. Some progress that has been made: one actual production IN the potty (after a little mess on the rug...won't get into details), a couple productions near the potty (yikes), a call to mommy "haffa go potty" with pants and pull-up* halfway down in the hall (too late, but good progress nonetheless), a desire to wear "pull-ups"* over diapers, ability to sit on potty for extended amounts of time, desire to go potty when sister is on the potty (perhaps this is just sibling rivalry), ability to pull pants down, not too much of a fuss when I say "It's time to go potty." Major obstacles: Not wanting to stop what he's doing to go. Still not opposed to having wet or soiled pants the majority of the time. Not sure if he quite gets the whole process.

* For Miles, pull-ups include Pull-Ups, training pants, rubber training pants and Cars underwear.

Finally...

I am going to give this another try and list more of my little booklets and headbands. I may make the 2 other totes I have had cut out for months. And/or design and make some handbags. All to sell on Etsy.

New Look

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We are still waiting to complete ours. Unfortunately some family members have been sick.

Tonight I spent way too much time trying to figure out how to change the background on the outermost area of this blog. This is not my favorite background, but works well with what I have, especially the banner.

Here are a couple of other backgrounds I like better...





Of course either of these mean I would need to change my header. Do you have a favorite? The first one would be smaller and not so blurry.

I will try to post a few pics in the upcoming days if I have time. It is hard when hubby is sick and have to watch 2 kids and try to keep them occupied, and try to take a shower, and try to avoid cabin fever.

The Chest

We have finally decided on a chest of drawers for Miles' room. The one he has now is cute but does not rank very high in quality or sturdiness. This one should be great and he will quite probably want to take it with him when he moves out one day. It is made by Stanley from their Young America series. This piece is from the myHaven line.



Here is a different style and color, but a better idea of what it would look like in a room. The sides have bead board.

Blog Giveaway

Check over at Musings of a Housewife for a Land's End bag giveaway! She's got 4 to give away 2 different styles!

The Reason

It seems each year I am more and more in touch with the reason for Christmas celebration.

Recently a good friend forwarded this video to me and I have finally been able to watch it. I had to forward it to my husband to watch on his computer because it won't play on mine.

So if you are ready to get emotional. Like ALL DAY. Go ahead and watch it. I dare you. This is all possible (the story in this dramatization) because of Christmas. Please, pass it along, post it on your blog, show your husband, show your kids, show anyone...

Edited to say you probably don't want to show this to kids who are younger than 13. View it first to decide for yourself an appropriate age.

Fresh Start

I finally feel some of the stress of the December activities subsiding. With Ella's party over, her treats on the way to school today (she was sick last Wed and Fri they had a field trip), the majority of Christmas shopping done (though nothing wrapped yet), Miles' and Ella's classes on break, my swap gift done and sent (and recieved!), and I could go on and on, I feel a bit back to "normal". So with Ella off to school and no music class for Miles, I'm on my way to the gym to work out, something I've been depriving myself of too long and hope to get back on a regular schedule again soon.

For now I leave you with Saturday night in Grayslake:



And Saturday day while Ella prepared for the cake ritual (she insisted on the flip flop candles):

Happy Birthday Dear Ella

At least I woke you up at 9:15 am (?!) with a birthday song. And to my question "How old are you now?" you sleepily whispered "four" after rolling onto your stomach with your head in the pillow. At least there was a Christmas party for the kids at my MOMS club and I let you stay there at the library to do a craft and check out 4 books. But I'm sorry if the rest of the day is kinda crumby, because I don't feel well and I have a meeting to go to tonight. I want to give you your new doll, but I'm sure your Daddy would want to see you open it too. Maybe we can swing it after he comes home and I leave. I'm sorry your super cool Hello Kitty scrapbooking party did not work out and that your playdate is going to be pretty skimpy as far as guests go. Well I hear you now up and about when you are supposed to be taking rest time. If I had to guess, you've gone in and woke Miles up too. Some things never change.

Sewing Once Again

Seems like forever since I've sewn even though I made a couple bibs not that long ago...

But an event calls for another diaper bag using the lovely Craft Apple Linda's pattern.

Just got the fabric today that I ordered from Ebay. Unfortunately once again I will not be posting the fabric (Amy Butler) or the final product until the owner receives it in case she reads this blog. I know, booooo!

Last night I was feeling quite sick, this morning Ella was sick. She felt better in a matter of hours. She didn't get to go to school, but we were able to run a few errands. Tomorrow is a Christmas party at my MOMS club meeting, Friday is Ella's preschool field trip to see a kids version of the Nutcracker at the Lincolnshire Marriott Theater.

Sneak Peak at My New Line of Booklets Coming Out

I will try to get them in the store soon.

New In Shop

I listed some new Creative Little Booklets in my Etsy store today! Check them out!

Eco-Friendly Shopping Bag Find

I have seen a few eco-friendly shopping bags from big chain stores and a few on Etsy, but I have found my absolute favorite!!!





Not only are they functional and good for the environment, they are stylish and have great quotes on them. Bags are 16" wide and 15" deep. They will hold the equivalent of 3-5 plastic supermarket shopping bags.

Go get yours at niccocjm's shop!

Iced In

After getting notifications from the dance studio and the preschool that they are both closed today due to inclimate weather (freezing rain), I decided to stay home altogether.

I am SO tired, I've been really busy and not in the best of moods. But really getting through it fine and lots of little nice things happening to make the hard times MUCH easier.

Our party on Saturday went really well. The food came together nicely and all of the dishes people brought complimented the overall meal very well. I think everyone had a nice time and Jason's parents friends (who are our friends too) got to see our house for the first time.

Thanks to Jason for putting up a new mailbox. Now we just have to get the post office to get their act together to get our mail delivery back. Hopefully my call today did the trick...

The cookie exchange last night was ok. Actually it was great, I just have a hard time in groups of people where I don't know a lot of them. Plus no one even looked at my totes I brought to sell, but were happy to take one of the scrapbooks I donated to the event (though I don't think they knew I made them). I'm just not good in crowds... The good things is that there were quite a few of my cookies leftover from my baking, so I'm freezing them and using them for the cookies I have to bring to preschool next week.

Thanks to Jason again for making rice krispy treats for Ella to bring to school for her birthday tomorrow. I still need to put all those bags together with little pins and stickers I bought. I also didn't even think about what to put together for the kids to take home for Christmas. Last year I made cute felt mice with candy cane tails. I don't feel like finding a craft to make and making it for 26 kids this year. So I need to figure something else out.

Last night at dance class I choreographed the first 59 seconds of the routine for the recital next May! It is a 3 plus minute song, so that is nothing to sneeze at. Plus I love it so far and the girls are doing great.

I also gave my first knitted scarf project away to Miles' music teacher. She seemed to really like it. Yay! Not very far on my next scarf, but it's been hard to find time. Now I want to get my book read before it's due back to the library!

Bit of a Rough One

Didn't get much sleep last night... as usual. However last night, in addition to not sleeping, I could not stop thinking about something that really bothers me.

This morning it was snowing like crazy (after an evening of snowing like crazy). Not my favorite thing in the world.

Noticed our mailbox had been knocked off the post. Dug around later and could not find the box in the snow. Thus we didn't get mail. They won't deliver it if you don't have a box. Now we need to get a new box, put it up (in the cold and snow) and pick up what they didn't deliver at the post office. Not real thrilled about going there too much this time of year.

Today enough people said they can't make it to my daughter's birthday party that I had to cancel it. Poor girl, she is getting my luck. NOOOOOOO!

Went to the grocery store (quite an ordeal to get out - layering up the kids, cleaning off the car, driving in some snowing areas, putting up with the coldness), and realized I brought my schedule for making food for our party Sat., not my shopping list.

Am off allergy meds and onto some nasal steroid spray. Doesn't seem to be working as well, but doesn't have the side effects. Found out I have a deviated septum and just now realized, through some experimenting that I can't breathe as well out of one side of my nose.

The good things are that I got my last package off to my swap sister and the line at the post office I went to (not our town's) was SHORT. Remembered most of my shopping list. Got my candies made for the party. Rested a bit. Spent time with Ella because she doesn't appear to need naps anymore? since she hasn't been sleeping well at night. Jason will probably be the one to put up the mailbox. Our post office is centrally located near my daughter's preschool and on our way to most places. Jason plowed the driveway (not me - which is a blessing because I have a terrible back). I used to have to park on the street when I lived in an apt. and shovel my way out of my parking spot. Usually my nice clear spot would be taken when I'd get back and I'd have to shovel another spot to park in. After such an ordeal I'd be in severe pain for days. I'm glad I'm not in that situation anymore. At least I can breathe, even if it is unevenly through each nostril, and I never even noticed it before.

Sweet Goodness Sister Holiday Swap

Here is what I sent to Andie...



I tried to emulate what I can gather of her personality into the swag. I think the marabou just makes it work! :-)

If you didn't see what she sent me, look back a bit in my blog...

Photo is courtesy of her!

I'm excited to be sending the next package out soon!

Another Project Revealed (revised)

Well, I'm hoping that the baby gift recipient has received their baby gift because I'm posting it here now. One of these was sent with a card just as a token gift. Another more substantial gift will follow.

I sewed 3 inch strips of pretty fabric together at a width adequate for the bib pattern I downloaded from the internet. I forget the source... The little bird was included in a purchase I made from MissesKwitty's Etsy store. I just hand appliquéd the cute little guy on there. Then sewed a length of chenille ricrac across one of the seams. I sewed velcro on to each tab on either side of the bib. For the back I used real chenille fabric. I also ironed interfacing onto the cotton fabric after sewing the strips together. It is a little stiff, next time I'd use a softer interfacing!




Another will be given with a cute throw pillow in pink and gray with little baby forest animal print at a shower that I cannot attend this Saturday. For this, I copied the birdie and cut it out of another piece of fabric.




Also, I noticed a cute recycled tree project over at Manda's blog, Treefall. She posted a FREE TUTORIAL! I will have to put this in my "to do" file because I'm not letting myself start any new projects!!!! Not until my scarf is done at least.

Hair, ugh

I look terrible here, but here is my haircut. Because Andie asked!



The length is about the same, I just got a lot more layers because it was starting to take on a bell shape. Flat on top and too much body on the bottom.

In a Treasury Today!

How sweet!

I met Dana from tutumonkey at etsy a couple weeks ago. We did a swap and she's be such a sweetie corresponding with me. And look what she did today! Put me in her treasury!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17028

Be sure to check out her tutu's, wands and noggin toppers!

Brrrrrrrrrr

Last night the blower motor on our furnace went out. We turned off the furnace. The blower kept trying to come on and it made a sad noise while producing a terrible odor. I had a very difficult time sleeping worrying about the kids and how could our house might get. This morning our HVAC guy came out and replaced it.

THANK GOD!

Never take your furnace for granted!