What I've Been Up To...

Reading Everyone should read this book. Most people are completely oblivious to where their food is coming from. Which is sad and creepy.


Planting




Watching the rain



Lots of walks



Schemeing and shopping for felt



Lots of things in the works over here!

You Won't Be Sorry

Check this out, why don't you? No, seriously. Do.



John and his band are some pretty entertaining guys. I especially like the epic battle scene at the very end. John massacres everyone.

Cross-Stitch

Wow. So it took me TWO YEARS, but I've finally started this cross-stitch sampler I got from Angry Chicken's Mailorder #5. I had no idea it had been so long until I went looking for that post on her blog. She sold this mailorder in January 2007. I wasn't even pregnant then (barely). Weird.

I haven't done any cross-stitch for years and years (more than 2 years, obviously) and I forgot how much I like it. The counting with this particular project is a bit tedious because it's on 28 count linen over two strands...so you kind of have to do math and double things and check everything a million times (at least I do). But other than that it's so relaxing. You just sit there. Pretty fun. Yes, when sewing one is just sitting, too, but it's different cause there's a lot of getting up and down to iron, etc. Plus you have to use your foot.

Anyway, I'm excited about this little project. I'm intending for it to be framed and matted in white to hang over William's crib. But then I realized -- there are earthquakes in this land. And I don't want my baby getting bonked with framed embroidery in the middle of the night. So, I'll have to investigate my hanging options and see what's up.

Update on the hand-quilting adventure: I don't think I'm going to be doing it. I've been practicing (or, attempting to practice) on some scraps and it is hard, yo. I've researched countless websites and videos. And, knowing me, if I do start hand-quilting this, it'll never get done. I'll be too frustrated and the quilt will never again see the light of day. I gave it a valiant effort, but I think I'll leave the hand-quilting to the Amish.

Happy Friday and have a glorious weekend!

For the Perfect Thursday Afternoon

1) Rainy and grey outside
2) A well-napped mommy and baby
3) Vegetable Masala burgers from Trader Joe's
4) Baked Sweet Potato Fries
5) A mug of chai
6) Pushing Daises extra features
7) Plans for some paper cutting

*Content sigh*

Three Things for a Wednesday

#1 Okay, so I got all excited about this Fontifier thing -- it makes a font of your handwriting! Morgan turned me on to it and hers looks so cute!

However, I have a freaky cursive-print combo going on and my font looks nothing like my handwriting. I'm so disappointed. I wanted a carafont so badly.

Let's compare, shall we?

Exhibit A: My actual handwriting

Exhibit B: My so-called font



Clearly, my actual handwriting is far superior. The "font" looks like a 9 year-old boy's handwriting. Oh well. Please try it yourselves and let me know how it turns out! (Christen -- your handwriting would be perfect for a font! Please oh please! And share it with me!!)


#2


This is my favorite dessert right now. Dang they're good. And only 60 calories. Woot!(Unless Trader Joe's is lying to me again...)


#3 And last, but certainly not least, look what I got! Thank goodness for the invention of DVDs so this preciousness can be preserved by me forever.


Anyone want to come over and mourn the loss of one of the few pin-pricks of light in this cruel world?

Raddest Calendar Ever

Dudes, look at this calendar John got me for 2009 from Paper Source (now open in the The Oaks mall! It's actually a huge problem for me. I could spend the entire day there. And have.)


At first glance, it just looks like a really beautiful and lovely calendar.



However, on the back of each month, you find that there are stencils for fun projects!




Each month can be cut into pillow boxes, gift tags, bookmarks, etc.




Fun, environmentally friendly and gorgeous! It's basically one of the most perfect creations ever. I really hope they do this calendar every year.




P.S. Look at February!! I can't stop looking at how the weeks/dates/days are all perfectly in sync. The month starts on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday. It's just so yummy. I wish every month had 28 days. It's so tidy and nice and organized looking. Who can I talk to about arranging that?

An Olive for Makayla

So it's February already. Wow. How weird. And I think we've just skipped right over winter here and are going from summer right back into summer. How disappointing. I am definitely meant to live in chillier climes.

But anyway, I'll save it for my weather blog...




Here is the doll I made for our friends' daughter who had her first birthday last week. It's another Olive doll from this Wee Wonderfuls pattern, the same one I made for William's birthday. I am just so in love with these dolls. They are so easy to make and it's so much fun choosing their outfits.




(Please excuse the bad photos.)

I hope Makayla likes her Olive doll as much as William likes his Olive and Archie dolls. He sleeps with Archie every night and loves giving him hugs. Right now Olive is chilling with Spaceboy on the little toy piano. Will gives them kisses and then plays a little tune.


Please click on the photo to see the full-size version.
It's totally worth it. This kid just kills me.

This kid also just graduated out of the "bucket" into a big kid car seat. So far he loves it. Now he can see out the window and see us in the front seat. Plus, it's so super-cush. I'm a little jealous.