Best dressed dolls

Ok, so maybe not the BEST dressed dolls, but dolls with more clothes!!!!

DD has had me slaving away at the sewing machine...here's what I've gotten done so far and there are more outfits cut out.

The jeans, coat and beret (in next photo) are from McCall's M6137

This outfit is from the American Girl Store - my mom bought it for DD - it is really cute!

The polka dot dress (left) is from McCall's M6370 and the nightshirt (right) is from McCall's M6137

Thanks for taking a look!

I did get some scrapping done today and will get that posted at a later date. Most of the next week's posts will be devoted to Knit & Crochet Blog Week - feel free to stop by if you are interested.

Have a great week!

A cropping I will go

Looking forward to a scrapbook crop tomorrow. I'm going with my mom to a friend's, who hosts them. (I don't think I've been to a crop in about 2 years...)

Hoping to get a start at our San Fran/Hawaii trip scrapbook.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

April, 2012

Knit & Crochet Week

KNITTING & CROCHET BLOG WEEK 2012 TOPICS

I need to start preparing these for next week. I hope you will join in the fun! If you do, please let me know so I can stop by your blog! :)

Scrappy stuff

Following are some misc scrap projects from the past couple of years. Thanks for looking!

A pictoral catch up

Attention yarny craft friends: I hope you will join me in participating in KNITTING & CROCHET BLOG WEEK 2012. I participated last year and loved it. I hope you will join in for at least a day of it.

DD & my mom at American Girl Place - we had a GREAT time!

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For my birthday, we went hiking - it was a very enjoyable day!

DD thought this was a "huge waterfall"

Spring reflected in the lake

We spent a day of DD's spring break in Springfield.

Here are my two "weenies" at Cozy Dog Diner (birthplace of the corndog) - I do have to say, it was a GREAT corndog!!!!!

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My 52 photos in 52 weeks project continues:

WEEK 9 - work

WEEK 10 - down

WEEK 11 - sign

WEEK 12 - door

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I'm hoping my Cubbies will come around here - it's been a rough 4 games so far. Good thing it's a long season!

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I will try to get some book reviews up soon. I know I'm WAY behind on those....

Also, I will get the doll clothes I've sewn posted soon too.

Wow!

It's April! March literally flew by. Thanks to the anonymous "fan" who requested a new post and got me going again...

I had a nice day in Chicago with my mom and daughter last week. We went to American Girl Place as DD's Christmas/birthday gift from my mom & dad. I'm not sure if DD or mom had more fun! :) She got another doll and picked out a couple little things.

We had a nice day last Saturday. We went hiking at two of the state parks (2 of the 3 for my 2012 goal...). It was a cloudy, chilly morning. With the unseasonably warm weather, the nature was out and there were quite a few people on the trails. We had a picnic lunch in the van then the sun came out for our afternoon hike. (I'll post pictures soon!)

I've been busy sewing the past few weeks - lots of doll clothes to make... I've enjoyed it for the most part (don't get me started on the doll dress I'm working on now...) I'll try to get some pictures of the clothes up soon.

I'm still working through my 52 photos in 52 weeks project for this year. The Knit & Crochet Blog Week is coming up at the end of the month - so I plan to participate in that also.

I'll close for now and try to get pictures up soon!

Have a Happy Passover and/or Easter!

Serenity

I may have found my zen.

Baseball!

Laugh if you want, but I find it relaxing. I know there are those who say, it's a boring sport; it's so slow. Hence, why I find it relaxing.
I came home for a bad afternoon at work, hubby had the Cubs spring training came on. There were Len & Bob calling the game with the crowd noise in the background, the crack of the bat hitting the ball. Ahhhh... I felt much better after a few minutes.
Do I get excited and wound up about a game? Yes. But I still find it soothing.

Play ball!!!!!
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PS: The London Olympics are 126 days away! We are all looking forward to them at our house.

Wisdom

The older I get, I find that pieces of wisdom and insight come from many unexpected places, things and moments. Yesterday, I experienced a moment of wisdom from our daughter (who is sometimes wise beyond her years...).

We went to the zoo yesterday (it was a PERFECT day! - sunny, slight breeze, almost 80) and the animals were all outside and the plants are budding and blooming. More than once, our daughter said a couple of times, "Do you hear all those birds?" I think there are still sounds that amaze her.

Since she got her hearing aids two years ago, the birds are something she can hear now (a sound that she never heard for almost 6 years!). It's one of those things we took for granted. I will never forget the first time she heard them, she got to call me from school to tell me she could hear birds tweeting. I cried and laughed when she told me, then told my co-worker who did the same thing. It's amazing the little things we sometimes take for granted!

As we were walking around the zoo yesterday, she was armed with her camera, she said to me at one point - "I am glad that I can see. If I can't hear everything, that's ok, but I would have to be able to see everything." The wisdom of an 8 year-old, and I think I agree with her. It amazes me how sometimes a small comment can get me choked up.


Disclaimer: I don't share these stories for reasons of sympathy or pity - I'm not sorry she has a profound hearing loss (anymore than a parent feels for their child who isn't "normal"). I share these stories because they are part of our lives and I find that sometimes when something is 'new' to her, it reminds me to step back from my crazy/busy life and take in the 'new' and 'small' things that are around me everyday and appreciate that I can enjoy them. I hope you will, too!

This guy...

Believe it or not.... was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society a couple of weeks ago.
We are very proud of him!

23 days

until the Chicago Cubs opening day!!!!

Here's to a decent season...

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On another note...

You know it's going to be a good day when you leave the house with your slippers on and you don't realize it until your hubby yells out the door "You have your slippers on!"

Are you sure it's not Monday???? (thank goodness, it's NOT!)

In case you didn't know...

I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My "baby" brother and his wife are expecting - 2 days before their 1st anniversary. Exciting!!!!!

The baby gift ideas are running around in my head....

Websites

Check out the websites of 2 of my favorite artists:

Expressions by Emily Rood
Phil Rood Illustration

Not that I'm counting...

but....

123 days til I see my man

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to me from my hubby!

52 in 52

A collage of the first 8 weeks of my 52 in 52 for this year. I am really enjoying this project!

Picture heavy

Happy March!!! Wow this year is flying already....

We took the kids to Disney on Ice for DD's birthday. This is what I get when I ask for a "nice picture" of the two of them.... I guess I have to settle for this as my "nice picture"
Tiana's story (Princess & the Frog)


Cinderella & Prince Charming

Rapunzel & Flynn Rider flying

M & M

Finale - all the Princesses and their Princes

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We all went to our first rodeo. We all had a GREAT time!!!!

She bragged to everyone that she met "real cowboys" (I think she was a little smitten with a couple of them). DH told her that the table better stay between her & the cowboys! :)

And pre-season baseball games start today!!!!! A month until regular season starts...

Feb 29

HAPPY LEAP DAY!!!!!!!!

Chardon Ohio

My heart goes out to you! Praying for the students, teachers and community

Of course...

As March is in sight...a snowstorm is headed our way for tonight. I'm hoping they are predicting wrong because 6" of snow does NOT sound appealing!!!!!

It kind of worries me because the trees are starting to bud and a few perennials starting to peek out.

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I will really try to get some pictures up from Disney on Ice and the rodeo

Tales from the library, part 4

I know the public library is like the community vacuum for every nutter but what happened on Saturday was just weird...

I am working the desk and a gentleman comes up to the desk. (he's in his mid-70s) He points to his ear and says "What do you think?" I look and see he is pointing to his earring. My response after a few seconds of stunned silence was "Uhhhh, it's....nice?" (What was I supposed to say? You look ridiculous!!!!) He proudly smiles and says "I just got it." (And I'm sure you're 22 year old girlfriend told you that was cool....) I really didn't know what else to say to him and I hear him say to his friend as they walk away from the desk. "I told you chicks dig earrings."

OY!!!!!!!

My co-worker looks at me, smiles real big and says "I think you just got hit on." (insert full body shiver here)

The joy of birthday #8

Much the same as teenagers look forward to their 16th birthdays, we have a monumental birthday at our house this weekend - DD's #8!

Do you know what is significant about birthday #8?

In the state of Illinois, at the age of 8 you no longer have to sit in a car seat or booster seat. She is ecstatic!!!!!!

Last weekend

Last weekend was wonderful! The weather was cold but we had a nice weekend.

Friday started it off with hubby & I teaching Ag in the Classroom to 2 3rd grade classes and a 4th grade class. It was a lot of fun and we hope to do it again next year! We had a quick lunch at a newer little dive in town and I had THE BEST basket of loaded fries... I'm pretty sure I closed up a vital artery in eating them but it was SO worth it!

Saturday we literally did NOTHING! However a funny (now) story... the doorknob in our master bath is a little iffy (as in it turns one way MOST of the time!). I get out of the shower and am dressed, reach for the knob and that sucker doesn't move!!!! I jiggle, wiggle and shake - nothing. So I start banging on the door and yelling. Apparently my husband and son were running around trying to figure out where the knocking was coming from. I was finally released from my holding cell. I now carry my cell phone to the bathroom with me!

Sunday we had a restful morning and went to Disney on Ice in the afternoon as our daughter's birthday present (she'll be 8 on Sunday!). She had a GREAT time - her favorite Princesses, Tiana, Cinderella and Rapunzel. We didn't tell her where we were going. We're all of 15 minutes from our destination and she says from the back seat "Is this one of those things where you know where we are going and just won't tell me?" As we walked toward the United Center she stops walking and says "We're going to see Disney on Ice, aren't we?" Darn TV commercials!

It's been a nice week at home, work has been a little hairy. Valentine's Day was quiet for all of us.

Looking forward to a busy weekend this weekend but it should be fun!

Monday gratitudes

Since last week was a little rough around here, I am looking to start the week on a positive note.

I am grateful for:
My family
A roof over my head
Food on my table
Some fantastic cyber scrapbook friends
My blog readers
A restful Saturday
My job

I hope you all have a grateful week!

52 in 52, part 2 & a Digi Dare

The next installment of my 52 Photos in 52 Weeks for 2012

Week 5 - Create Week 6 - Soft

Digi Dares #293

WOW!

What a week the last week has been.

Our daughter has been SUPER emotional about our old house. We have explained to her that the important thing is that we are all together and that we have a place to live. I think it only pacifies her for a little while.
Then since school registration is coming up - we were talking about how she will have to go to a different school next year. OH MAN!!!!!! That was another meltdown. But we reminded her this morning that she will know a few of the kids who go there and she seems a little more at ease.
I just pray that she can find some calm and handle all the changes that have come her way the past few months.

Hope you are all having a good week!
HUGS!

Photo post

I posted a photo post on my photo blog: LINCOLN HIGHWAY

Whatever...

"Phil" says 6 more weeks of winter!

If those 6 weeks are going to be what we've had for winter so far - that's fine with me!!!!

As one of our farmers commented the other day...remember 1982? Ahhhh - yeah, thanks for the reminder and I HOPE that DOESN'T happen again!!!!! (for those that don't know/remember...we had a HUGE snowstorm the beginning of April)

Come on spring!

Proud mom!

We found out that DS made the dean's list for last semester
AND
He was invited to join the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.

52 in 52

This is my project for the year: 52 Photos in 52 Weeks I like the idea of a photo a day but know that my schedule does not allow for that kind of commitment.

I intend to turn each of these photos into a small scrapbook page.

WEEK 1 - "NEW"

A new friend from build a bear

WEEK 2 - "SHINE"

The main tree in the rotunda of the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago

WEEK 3 - "COMMUNITY"
The main window at our public library
The inscription under the window reads: "Erected for the people and dedicated to the advancement of learning"

WEEK 4 - "REST"
A mouse resting in his little nest in his cage

I will post more photos as I go through the year and try to add the scrapbook pages too.
Thanks for stopping by!

Unbelievable!

It blows my mind the way some people talk about others! I hear lots of little gossipy conversations going on around our office. Then I find out that things are said about me. I thought I worked in a grown up office environment, not a junior high!

I guess if it makes people feel better to talk nasty about others - so be it! Just don't involve me - I don't want to hear it and you better expect me to stand up to you if you question my integrity or you talk about my relatives!

Vent over...

Don't get me wrong, I love my job but sometimes I think working with men only would be a wonderful change!

We are finally on the mend at our house. We've been sick most of this week and I THINK we're all finally getting better.

The best kind of therapy

After a hellish week at work this week and not being able to get myself unwound all week, we went to go see some friends who have a 4 month old. This little girl is SO sweet! I got to hold and snuggle with her for about 2 hours - talk about relaxing!!!! My favorite thing was Baby E sprawled out on my chest sound asleep - ahhh!!!! I'm pretty sure if I'd had a blanket too, I would have slept right with her. I felt so relaxed and had a new outlook on the world when we left.

Thanks, T & M for letting me get my baby fix!!!!

Have a super weekend all!

Darn winter!

Winter found us in northern Illinois. Now I will admit we have been very spoiled this winter (temps in the 40s and no real snow until last week)
Last Thursday we had about 3 inches of blowing snow. It was rough for a few hours but nothing terrible. It has been cold since then...
Today is BRUTALLY cold! And with a nice Canadian wind to go with it - it's wintery refreshing. The forecast for tomorrow calls for single digit temps with 4 - 9 inches of snow, depending on what the temps do and where you are. So we shall see what Mother Nature has in store for us!

Dear Mother Nature,
If you must send the snow, please make it enough for a snow day! This snow that is enough to slow everyone down a little and make it so I have to clean off my car, is annoying. Make it count if we must get it!
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Wishing for a Snow Day

Monday gratitudes

I haven't done one of these posts in a long time.

*My family's health
*A roof over my head and food on my table
*My family & friends
*Having a sense of humor
*A little time to scrapbook this past weekend
*I have a job that I love

Have a blessed week!
HUGS!

check it out!

Reviews on Curling Up with a Good Book

I hope you'll consider joining this reading challenge for 2012.

Happy Friday the 13th!

I hope you all have a good day and a wonderful weekend!

Winter most certainly found us yesterday - brrrrr!!!! (and it's white here now...darn!)

HUGS!

1/12/12

Happy Birthday to my hubby!!!!!!!

#45

The one with...

the jerk at the gym!
A little backstory on this...there's a squirrely guy who is there every morning and he goes full tilt during the whole time I'm there. He's kind of like Jim (see this post) on speed. Anyway...he always gets on a machine next to someone who is already working out, even though there are 6 other empty machines - he's done it to me a few times, I've seen him do it to others too. (I am a "personal space" exerciser, if possible)

So yesterday morning, I'm getting going on the elliptical machine and lo and behold, here comes Meathead (I haven't come up with a good nickname yet...it's a work in progress). He gets on the elliptical right next to mine - there are literally 5 more not being used. He gets on and starts his sprint then leans over and says "Is that all you got?" Excuse me?! It took every ounce of willpower I had not to push him off his machine. If I was paying him to be my personal trainer and be in my face, then fine...but I'm not - so back off buck-o!!!!!!! I was SO mad! I just turned my ipod up and didn't even give him the satisfaction of any reply. Because YEAH - that's all I got!

I laugh about it now. I was telling my co-workers the story when I got to work and they were dying and swear he's hitting on me. One of the guys said I should have said "And if you don't back off, my husband will kick your ass when he gets back from the UFC circuit". I did like the suggestion of making 2 "Out of Order" signs and putting them on the machines on either side of me and then taking them off when I'm done.

Top 50

Our local country radio station has named their Top 50 songs of 2011

1. Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not - Thompson Square
2. Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
3. Felt Good On My Lips - Tim Mcgraw
4. Let Me Down Easy - Billy Currington
5. Somewhere With You - Kenny Chesney
6. A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans
7. Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
8. You Lie - The Band Perry
9. Heart Like Mine - Miranda Lambert
10. Voices - Chris Young
11. This - Darius Rucker
12. Someone Else Calling You Baby - Luke Bryan
13. Tomorrow - Chris Young
14. Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean
15. Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen
16. What Do You Want - Jerrod Niemann
17. Who Are You When I'm Not Looking - Blake Shelton
18. Am I The Only One - Dierks Bentley
19. If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away - Justin Moore
20. Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett
21. My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
22. Put You In A Song - Keith Urban
23. Country Girl (Shake It For Me) - Luke Bryan
24. Without You - Keith Urban
25. Old Alabama - Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
26. As She's Walking Away - Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
27. Mean - Taylor Swift
28. Just A Kiss - Lady Antebellum
29. Crazy Girl - Eli Young Band
30. Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band
31. This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley
32. Take A Back Road - Rodney Atkins
33. I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts
34. Live A Little - Kenny Chesney
35. Just Fishin' - Trace Adkins
36. You And Tequila - Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
37. Remind Me - Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
38. Made In America - Toby Keith
39. Back To December - Taylor Swift
40. Why Wait - Rascal Flatts
41. Here For A Good Time - George Strait
42. Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban
43. If I Die Young - The Band Perry
44. Mama's Song - Carrie Underwood
45. Turn On The Radio - Reba
46. God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton
47. Country Must Be Country Wide - Brantley Gilbert
48. Farmer's Daughter - Rodney Atkins
49. Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland
50. Anything Like Me - Brad Paisley

It looks like I have a few more songs to add to my ipod...

A wish list item...

So hubby went to Best Buy with our son (who had gift cards to burn) and he brought me the brochure for this...
AWESOME!!!!

I was almost drooling on it. I know it's not a Nikon or Canon but I want to go play with this camera... It's a "little" (ie: a lot) out of our price range right now, but maybe someday.

Maybe if I can get my photography business going here and justify 'upgrading' our camera...

So if you are interested in being a photo subject, let me know!!!

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PS: I have book reviews below...can you believe it? Now to just keep up with those...

2012 Reading Challenge - January, part 1

I have joined this reading challenge for this year... 2012 Cupcake Wars Reading Challenge. January's genre is Young Adult fiction.

Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Books of Wonder) by . Frank Baum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have seen the movie COUNTLESS times and finally read the book. It was wonderful and has a little bit more to explain the movie story.
LOVED it!

(this also helps me with my 'bucket list' - read the 100 greatest books)


Pirates of Savannah: The Hunt for Shamus's Booty by P. Lupo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. A little bit of Savannah history, a little treasure hunting and four very different characters that were fun to see work and come together in their treasure hunt.


Both of these were free Kindle downloads

It's coming....

202 days from today!
We are getting excited in our household.

LONDON 2012

Check this out!

We saw this gal get a tattoo on the TV show - NY Ink and as she told her story to the tattoo artist, DH & I got seriously choked up. They showed this clip on the show and we were both sitting there crying.


Unfortunately I have been unable to locate a clip from NY Ink - her story is incredible! And as parents of a child with a severe hearing loss, it hit us pretty hard.

Reading Challenge

I know there are LOTS of reading challenges and reading challenge blogs out there, BUT - I have decided to join this one this year: CURLING UP WITH A GOOD BOOK 2012 CHALLENGE I am hoping it will help me branch into a few other genres. I am also hoping this will blog more about the books I read!

January is Young Adult Fiction

Feel free to join in!!!!

2-0-1-2!

Here's to a better year this year!!!! Wishing you all health, prosperity and a very blessed 2012!

Kenny Chesney has a song called Live a Little that I am going to make my 'anthem' for this year. (Pardon the copyright I am breaking here...) The lyrics I really like are:
...I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one...

I have made a few goals for this year...
(we'll see how well they get completed)
* Read 100 books
* Run a 5K
* Finish DS's afghan
* Complete scrapbooks for:
-Vegas
-Disney
-Hawaii
* START covered bridge wall hanging quilt
* Do at least 1 photo shoot each month

I think that will get me going this year.