purple flower hat

nothing too exciting - just another hat. this one is definitely at the top of the list of favorites. i think she's tired of being my model though . . .

Yarn love

I'll admit it: when my 7-year-old asked me to make her a doll blanket, and I allowed her to pick the yard, I hated her choice. I thought it was ugly (truth be told). But, keeping to my word, I allowed her to purchase it, and I set out to make her a blanket for her doll.

As I got going though, I realized that while it was never something I would choose, the yard was so pretty. It is fun and colorful, and totally matches her personality. Of course, I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I absolutely love the pattern - and I love that both sides of the blanket are completely the same. It is also much softer and loser than most crochet patterns, so it makes a great blanket. I actually think this would make a cute baby blanket.

My sunshine

See this girl? The only who almost always has some evidence of her last meal on her face? She's my crazy, artistic child, who always keeps me laughing.

Yesterday morning, when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast, she replied, "just a pile of carrots." And on Saturday night, when the server at the restaurant we'd gone for dinner asked her why she didn't like her cheeseburger, she replied, "because you forgot to put onions on it."

"That's a first," he said, and walked away shaking his head.

She is bright in every sense of the word. She's full of energy. and life. and IT.
She's also the best hugger on the planet.
I love this girl!

more hats

Is anyone sick of my beanies yet? I think my husband may be . . . but I'm not.
Bryn wanted a cat hat. I realize now in these pictures that one of the eyes is too high - guess I'll be fixing that asap. Other than the crazy eyes, I think it turned out pretty cute. Especially considering the fact that I made up the pattern all by my self.
G wanted an owl hat. There are ears on it, but you can't see them in this pic. She wasn't exactly cooperating . . . I don't love the pink stripe, but it was what she wanted.
Here's a hat I made for my friend who is having a baby soon. I love this hat - its way cuter in person than it is in the pictures.

Hawii pictures

In September, for our 10 year anniversary, my husband and I went to Hawaii - without kids - with some friends. For an entire week. It was bliss. Heaven. One of the best weeks of my life, and I never blogged about it. I took over 500 pictures - here are just a sampling:

2012 resolutions

I spent considerable time over the weekend (as I was sick with the flu) reading over my blog. And I realized that I missed it. So, a natural resolution for me right now would be to spend more time blogging - not just posting pictures, but actually talking about stuff.

Other than that, one other thing that stood out to me was the fact that every New Years, my main resolution is about weight loss. Obviously, I am either not trying (which is obviously not the case), or I just need to work on liking myself better. So, instead of another resolution to eat better/work out better (as I drink my green smoothie while typing this . . .) I resolve to like myself more. Be more comfortable in my own skin. I am a beautiful, strong woman. So what if I am no longer a size 6. Being a size 10 is just fine too. I resolve to be more healthy, inside and out. I'm going to be a better parent, spouse, and friend.

Oh, and I am going to take more pictures.

Christmas 2011

I was lax with my picture taking this year. I only took about a dozen pictures this Christmas (not including pictures of my craft projects). Typically my family feels like they're being followed by the paparazzi because I'm taking so many pictures. I'm not sure what was wrong this year. I just wasn't feeling it. . .

I did manage to get a few pics tho:




I love that G has tears in her eyes in every picture. She was so grateful for everything that she cried. The girls each only got 3 presents from mom and dad (including the American Girl dolls they got from Santa). G got a camera from mom and dad, and a photo album from her sister. She took lots of pictures - and most of them are better than you would expect from a 7-year-old. Maybe that is why I didn't feel like I needed to take any.

We've all had the stomach flu too - G and daddy were taken out on Christmas Day (second year of a tradition that I do not want to continue) and Bryn and I a couple of days later.

Blue beanie

Every girl needs a hat to match her eyes. thanks for the yarn aunt jen

second try

Take #2 on the angry birds hats. I still don't love them - and I know they don't look exactly like the originals - but I do think they're wearable. I do have to admit that they are much cuter in person.

the angry elmo and lop-sided monkey

So, I know that i used to be a better blogger. But I sorta got sick of the bloggy one-upmanship mentality where it felt like everyone was trying to prove that they were the funniest person alive, that their kids were the cutest, their husband was the hottest, and their life was the best. And I am not saying that I am above all of that - I totally fell into the "keeping up with the bloggers" category too.

In my attempt to prove that I am SOOO not that person, I present to you two of my recent craft FAILS:

Fail #1 - the ugly elmo hat. it started as an attempt to make angry birds beanies as christmas gifts. well intentioned? yes. well executed? no. Hell NO. The beanie itself is great. The face notsomuch. The eyes are too big and the eyebrows too cartoony. Time to unpick and try again. At least the model is cute.
Fail #2 - the lop-sided monkey. I'll admit that this was a failed attempt. At least the socks were only $1. I blame pinterest and a poorly worded tutorial. None of this was my fault at all. I did not make the mouth waaay too small. And I did not sew the legs unevenly - the sock was simply more stretchy on one side . . .

This is one for the trash pile. I bought sock monkeys from Target (my 5 year old is kind of addicted to sock monkeys. . .) and i will not be attempting to make my own again.

hats!!

i have been busy making hats for everyone i know. i probably shouldn't post them here, as some are gifts . . . but i can't wait for christmas. i'm too excited, so i have to share them and bank on the fact that i don't think many of my family and friends even read my blog. . .

more pinterest inspiration - cute crochet hat

So, I found an adorable crochet hat on Pinterest. Unfortunately, the site is in Dutch (at least I think its Dutch . . .I can't read it anyway). So, I improvised. I think i want to add a cute crocheted flower on the side, but I like it. It is a little tighter than I would like - I need to figure out how to loosen the tension when I crochet. Does it surprise anyone that someone as high-strung as me even crochets tightly? Wait . . . don't answer that.

Anyway, here's the hat:The model is pretty cute too.

inspired by pinterest - Christmas ornament wreath

Pinterest is an addiction. Lest anyone think I just sit around and pin things to my board all day, I thought I would post a project I completed, inspired by one that I found on that site: a fun christmas ornament wreath
And a silly insect-girl.
I raided the dollar store, and $10 dollars later, I had my supplies.
I made a hanger out of crafting wire, and wrapped the styrofoam in green garland. I was having so much fun, that there are no pictures to show the process. But it was pretty simple - just a lot of hot glue and patience.

Obligatory fall pictures