GRATITUDE

Right now with so much heartache surrounding us, with the economy and personal suffering of loved ones in so many different ways, it has really made Mike and I take personal inventory of how very much we are blessed.
So many people are struggling financially and just recently two families we know have lost little ones. Hard times, whether they are yours or someone else's, always seem to make you stop and count your blessings.
1. I am so blessed to have a job that helps support my family, and the fact that I truly enjoy what I do is a huge bonus.
2. We have a warm house.
3. We have a fridge and freezer with food in it.
4. We have vehicles that run great.
5. I have a husband who loves me.
6. I have two very smart, funny, full of mischief little boys.
7. And another one on the way.
8. I have the gospel , which right now is the biggest blessing, because it the thing that helps me realize that no matter how hard it seems, I know there is someone who is always watching out for me and my family and rooting for us. Someone who wants the very best for my family. Unfortunately that doesn't mean that everything always work out the easiest way, but it does work out (eventually, and maybe not the way we would like).
I could go on and on, but these are the main things.
Sorry I am so, whatever I am. Maybe it is the extra emotions from being pregnant, but whatever IT is, I am grateful for it. I really think that for me and my family this time is a blessing. I am not saying that that it is easy, I am just saying that I have A LOT to be grateful for.

I have a computer again!!!

I finally have my computer back. I didn't think it would be so hard to be without a computer. I still have a lot of kinks to work ouy and one folder with all of my files in it to sort out, and I am using someone's unsecured internet to do this entry, but sooner or later I will get it all worked out.
In the last 5 weeks have been crazy busy and I think I keep forgeting that I am as far along as I am, until I try squatting over to scrub something or caulk something. I really want to get my tree out and decorate it, but unfortunetly, ths year I can not do it all by myself. I am so excited to be this close to the end, but it sure is making it difficult to get things done. But for those of you who know me, you know that I am doing my darndest to do as much as possible. I will try and upload a few pictures to show you that a big and awkward pregnant woman may be forced to slow down, but if there is a will there is a way, and I will find it.

This is the sampler that I made in my quilting class. That was seriously the most enjoyable thing I have done in a vey long time. I was able to leave my house and go to something without having to be in charge of anything and I just got to learn and create and only worry about myself for two whole hours, once a week for three weeks.

My youngest's christmas quilt. He helped me pick out the fabric, unbeknownst to him that it was for his christmas present. He thought it was fabric for the baby.

My oldest loves cowboys and he is going to freak out over this quilt. You can't tell in this picture, but one of the prints is all guns. His favorite thing ever.

I painted my entry way, because it was a deep red and it did't look so great opening up in to my turquoise kitchen. Although I was quite irritated, because as the paint was drying I realized the ding a ling who mixed it for me, mixed flat paint which I hate (and I had purchased the paint 2 or 3 months ago). So I guess someday soon I will have to do one more coat.

I have a few other things I would love to post pictures of, but they will have to wait, because right now I have to get started on singlr handedly peeling 20 pounds of potatoes.

By the way

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

Man how time flies! I would love to say, when you are having fun, but it doesn't really matter if you are having fun or not. And even though our life has been a little crazy, a lot of stressful and and very busy, there has been some fun had.

I have already shared my new obsession with you all, and I am happy to say it has not lost my interest yet. And amidst the many trips to and from the hospital to see my niece and all the other things that my life is so full of, I have continued to steal snippets of time to sit my butt at the sewing machine.

I finished this,

And then finished this,

I finished anther quilt top that is at this moment at the quilt shop being machine quilted, and I will hopefully have it back son so that I can get the binding done, and have my first project completed for our attempt at a homemade Christmas ( I'll explain later).

I then started a class at the quilt shop and actually learned how to piece something more than squares,

I was telling Mike about my class later that night, and I got kind of emotional telling him about my class. It was 2 hours of of pure enjoyment. I can't remember the last time I left my house just to do something for me and only me. I wasn't in charge of anything, or anyone. I didn't have to hurry home or worry about anybody but myself. I loved every minute of it. Who knew a class could be so much fun.

O.K. about the homemade Christmas. I don't know where I get these crazy ideas, but I thought it would be fun to have a totally homemade Christmas. I talked to Mike and we both thought this sounded like a fun idea. Although when I really started to think about it and try and plan a few things out, I realized I am crazy. But I made a decision and I am going to stick by it. I love to create and make things, so this will give me a good excuse to go crazy.

Wednesday

A few of you in the comments have said, "How do you find time?" Well if you saw my house and knew how much T.V. my kids have watched in the last week, you would know. Oh well, at least I am staying some what sane. Although if you asked my husband he might beg to differ.
My niece Tami is hanging in there (somewhere). They are still keeping her so medicated that she is not aware, but hopefully that is helping heal her. Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and words, and especially for your prayers.
P.S. I am binding the baby quilt from the earlier blog and I will have pictures very soon.

My new obsession!

I think when I am stressed about something, I cope with it by taking on a project.

As you all know last Saturday I pieced my first quilt. So on Sunday when I found out about my niece, I found squares that I had purchased a long time ago, and I decided to make Tami a lap quilt. Over the next few days I was able to piece it all together.When I told my mother-in-law that I needed to get it machine quilted, but that I didn't want to wait the 2 weeks that it takes the quilt shop, she said she had a lady in her ward that could do it quickly. I took the quilt to get machine stitched on Friday.

Saturday morning I got up and didn't have Tami's quilt back yet so I decided to design and cut out another quilt that Ialready had the material for, for the baby. I got almost all the pieces cut out and a few of the big sections sewn, and my mother-in-law called about 12:30 and said the quilt was done. I LOVE the sweet women who did that for me in one day.

I got the quilt back and it looks so beautiful. I had spent quite a bit of time searching on the internet for instructions on binding and finishing a quilt. So I felt ready to tackle the binding. I had to improvise with the binding fabric, because I didn't have quite enough . But I am so proud, because you would never know. After about 2 hours, last night, hand stitching the back side of the binding, the lap quilt is complete. And I can't wait to give it to Tami.

I have decided to take a class at the local quilt shop, because I have taught myself or figured it out step by step on my own, and I know it would be easier if I learned the correct and effecient way to make the perfect quilt.

Here are a few pictures...

It has been a crazy couple of days. As I said before, my beautiful niece suffered a MASSIVE stroke on Sunday. She was in the ICU in St. George, but on Tuesday they decided to life flight her to SLC for surgery. I am scared for her. Her body has already had to endure so much and this is just the very beginning.
Isn't their little family so beautiful? They deserve a happy ending., and they damn well better get one.

Perspective

It is amazing to me how quickly your life can get put into perspective.
Last night Mike called me while I was at the grocery store and said that our patio table and umbrella had flown over and shattered all over lawn. I was sick to my stomach. I loved that table. I loved eating dinner with my family on that table. I loved sitting at the table with friends enjoying a nice evening in the backyard.
Makes me feel kind of dumb now. I just got a call from my mom and my sweet 25 year old niece had a stroke today, and is in the ICU in St. George. She is an amazing mother of two beautiful little girls and an amazing massage therapist, who loves her job. And now she is in the hospital and is paralyzed (for right now) on one side. They got her to the hospital quickly and they were able to treat her and we are praying with all of our hearts that she will recover completely.
Now back to me. Seriously a TABLE. I can eat dinner anywhere. I am so grateful for so many things. I don't want to waste time being sad or upset about stupid things. What a waste.
Here's to being grateful for every beautiful simple thing, like the memories that took place around that table. But it was just a table.

Mission Accomplished! (well almost)

I found this darling cradle at a garage sale. Of course it wasn't painted this adorable red, but you know me. A couple a cans of spray paint and a little elbow grease, and I can't wait to put the little dude in there.
And then for some reason I was feeling really ambitious and two trips later and more hours than I thought I had in one day with two busy boys and I have a pretty damn cute quilt top. Who knew I could figure it out. I don't think I have ever unpicked so much in my life. I have decided if I attempt another one I am going to ask a few more questions before I start.

You've gotta be kiddin' me!

There is no picture, but just imagine a very happy mommy. My children are so hard to please when it comes to food. I must say that is really the only part of being a mom that I really don't like,breakfast, lunch AND dinner.
Anyway this morning I turned the tv on while I was making beds, and Nigella was making these fabulous looking pancake things that she said were like a breakfast cheese cake. I hurried downstairs to quickly put the recipe together before I forgot it. I thought I might be able to pull one over on my youngest and he would just think they were pancakes, but I knew my 5 year old would take one bite and he would say, "DISGUSTING"!
Hallelujah, I was wrong they both snarfed them down, my oldest was even ok with seconds.They are super easy to make and they are especially delicious with just syrup. ( I didn't go to the trouble with the strawberries.)
ENJOY!!!
Cheesecakelets
Recipe courtesy Nigella Lawson
Show:
Nigella Feasts
Episode:
Breakfast All Hours
Serving suggestion: 2 cups strawberries, chopped into quarters 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar 1/2 to 1 teaspoon sugar
3 eggs, yolks and whites separated 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon best-quality vanilla extract 1 cup cottage cheese 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Put the strawberries into a bowl and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar and sugar. Stir before covering with plastic wrap and leaving to steep while you make the cheesecakelets. Mix the egg yolks with the sugar, beating well. Add the vanilla, cottage cheese, and flour. Then, in another bowl, whisk the whites until frothy with a hand whisk and fold into the cottage cheese mixture.
Heat a smooth griddle or nonstick skillet and dollop the batter onto it make cakelets of about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Each cheesecakelet will take a minute or so to firm up underneath, then you should flip it and cook the other side, and remove to a warmed plate when ready.
Turn the strawberries in the ruby syrup they've made and squish some pieces with a fork at the same time. Serve with the hot cheesecakelets.

Nine years down! Forever to go!!!

I am so glad I snagged him while my breasts still looked so good.
It has been a crazy nine years, but I wouldn't trade it.
I have a husband who loves me and the extra pounds I have acumulated over the last nine years, I have a beautiful eternal family, and we have a gazillion great memories.
Here's to a gazillion more.

Speaks for itself!

Our real ultra-sound isn't until the end of the month, but Mike and I decided to pay $50 bucks and just find out the sex of the baby. And it was worth it. We are so excited to meet our little Stellar R. Lloyd!!!

Project Complete!

Here is a picture of my mom's table all done. She is still working on the chairs, which I am sure will turn out incredible. It turned out so awesome. I wish I could take a better picture. There is so much detail lost in these photos. I wish you could see all the beautiful distressed spots. It looks very well used and loved, just like we like it.

How Adorable!!!

Since I have been at my mom's house I have actually spent a lot of time on my computer. It has been fun, but I realized why I don't get on the computer very often. You can get lost on here. Anyway I found this fun website that lets you design a crib set. So I just thought I would share my fun design. This seemed pretty unisex to me.
My mom's furniture is turning out awesome. I can't wait to post the finished product.

Party at my Mamma's House!

I came down to my mom's for the weekend. It is not very often I get to come down and just hang at my mom's. No agenda, no husband to entertain.
A few weeks ago my mom had a major plumbing flood in her house and I live just far enough away, and have two crazy busy boys, that it makes it hard to jump in the car and run down here to help her. So this weekend I got to come down and even though she already had her house all put together, she decided she wanted to paint her table and chairs, and you all know I love a can of spray paint. Anyway I'll let you know how it all turns out, but for right now we are having a good time just chillin' and projectin' at Grandma's.

best DANG cards ever

I forgot to tell you about my new widget. If you scroll down just a little bit, you will see a box titled best DANG cards ever. You have got to check these cards out. My friend and I laughed until we were crying. Whoever wrote these cards has a great "mormon" sense of humor. I think I will be getting a few sets of these cards. They are fabulous!

Footloose!... and maybe some other stuff.

I know, I know it has been forever. But here I am.


Last night my friend Natasha invited me out on her girls night out, and we went to see the play Footloose at the Scera Shell. Oh, it was so painful. It was totally ruining the movie for those of us that I have seen it a thousand times and knew every word and every song. Needless to say, we gathered up our blanket at intermission and headed off to Blockbuster for the real thing. There is just nothing like the real thing. It was funny to watch this movie with a bunch of grown women. We laughed and reminisced. There was a good time had by all. Thanks girls for resurrecting what could have been an other wise wasted night off.

On to another topic. For those of you who know me, I not only can't say no, but if there is a silence after someone has asked for help in some capacity, I can not just sit there listening to the silence. I know, I know. But for some reason I just volunteer to do it. It drives my husband crazy, and I guess me too, a little. This summer has been a crazy whirlwind of DOING a lot of things I have said I would take care of. Well I got to the end of the list and I just want you know that I said NO, last week and it felt so liberating, I think I just might do it again. I'll let you know how it goes. It may take a little practice, but I am bound and determined to Stop volunteering for everything, and to say NO every once in a while.
Thanking you listening to my banter, and I am going to try to get on the computer more often.
P.S. For those of you who are so sweet to check my blog, I am sure you will be relieved to HEAR I have changed the first song. I am sorry it took me so long. Hopefully you are not as sick of it as I am.

Linguini with Cream Cheese

I ran next door to borrow something from my neighbor and she sent some of this amazing salad home for Mike and I to share. Unfortunately Mike only got a bite or two, because I could not stop eating it. It is so fresh and very filling. My neighbor found this recipe in the Kraft magazine a few years ago. And if you don't already get the Kraft magazine, you should go to their website and sign up. It always has great recipes.
I promise this will be a new summer favorite.

Linguine and Cream Cheese
3 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 pkg. cream cheese, cubed
3/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. each salt and pepper
2 pkg. linguine (9oz.each)
1/2 cup pine nuts, roasted
MIX tomatoes, cream cheese, oil,basil,
vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper in large
bowl; cover. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
COOK pasta as directed.Place in large bowl.
ADD tomato mixture and pine nuts to hot pasta;
toss lightly. Serves 6-8

SERIOUSLY!!!

It has been a while since I checked in. First of all my life is just plain crazy busy. But, I have also been very lucky to not only have, not just morning sickness, but around the clock sickness. I guess I should feel lucky that this is the first time, considering this is the third go around. I also broke out in shingles a week ago. SERIOUSLY!!! This is like the worst thing ever. I have hardly left my house this week and I have let everything go, you should see my house. One day I just laid in bed reading all day long. Just trying to get out of my head and the horrible pain on the back of my thigh. By the end of the day I had read 550 pages and my house had become the city dump. How is that possible in 10 short little hours? My boys had dumped an entire container of Parmesan cheese all over the couch and carpet downstairs with complimentary chocolate milk stains on my recently cleaned carpets. I was so upset. Not only is the carpet truly stained, the family room still stinks so bad from the cheese (vomit) that I haven't been able to go down there. I hope my energy level is back a little by tomorrow, I have got to clean the carpets.
I don't mean to go on and on, but that has been my week. I swear I never thought it would end. Today is the start of a better week. I can just feel it.
Here is one more little story.
When my oldest was about one , he was obsessed with Elmo. I found this awesome Sesame Street video that had Elmo and Stomp. If you don't know what Stomp is, it is this amazing Broadway like show with all of this amazingly talented people that make awesome music with everything from brooms to garbage cans to basketballs. You name it they make music out of it.
Well, I always swore that if the came anywhere near us that I would take my boy. So, today is the big day. I know it is Sunday and all, but this was the only time that worked out. And I am not missing the opportunity. My boys are so good to sit and be entertained, let's hope that they are perfect angels this afternoon. I let you all know how it goes.

50 percent chance of a girl

Well, I guess it is about time we added to our family. Our baby did just turn 4. We are very excited about this new little project we are taking on. I am not due until January which kind of makes me feel like the poor elephant who carries her baby for 2 years, which at this point January feels like 2 years away. I guess that will give me time to mentally prepare myself for three. THREE!!! All the boys are hoping it is a baby sister, especially Mike. He has wanted a little girl for so long, but I know we will all be happy as long as it is healthy. I don't know that I really believe it, except the heartburn that started last week is not letting me forget. So if any of you have a special little secret about that, I would love you to share it with me.
I know the little widget (no, that is not what we are calling the baby) I added is kind of freaky looking right now, but as the baby gets bigger, it is really cool to see just where we are at.

Holly Homemaker

I don't know what got into me on Wednesday, but I just felt like being a fabulous little homemaker. I made my first loaves of bread. And I found this amazing recipe for Sticky Coconut Chicken and I swear it is the recipe they use for the halibut that I so love at Happy Sumo.

Well, the bread turned out great and dinner was a huge hit with my husband.

Here is the recipe for the halibut I made the other night. I obviously made it with Halibut and not chicken and I think next time I will just cook the halibut in a skillet. I found this recipe on a comment, that I found on my kitchen cafe , that I found on the blog Sister's Cafe . If you haven't checked these blogs out, you should. They have some awesome recipes.

Sticky Coconut Chicken(Tar Chicken)

6-8 boneless chicken thighs

¾ cup canned coconut milk

1 Tbsp. minced ginger

1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 tsp. hot chili flakes

Marinate chicken in coconut milk, ginger, pepper and chili flakes at least one hour. Grill on barbeque.

Chili glaze

¾ cup rice vinegar

½ cup sugar

3 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp hot chili flakes

Bring above ingredients to a boil over high heat and cook until mixture is reduced and thickened. 8-10 minutes depending on size of pan (the deeper the liquid the longer it will take to thicken,I like to use a large frying pan so it thickens quicker. You need to watch it though because it goes from thick to burnt easily!Glaze both sides of chicken and serve.

Flowers, flowers, and more flowers!

For Mother's Day my sweet hubby took me shopping for hanging baskets, my obsession. Just to give you a little clue, my drip is set up for 10 and then I have an arbor made out of old fruit picking ladders, and I like to hang 3 on that. I am crazy. but it just looks so beautiful, and there is just something about them, that makes me so very happy. It is pitch dark outside right now, so I can't show you all how amazing my house looks with all of it's neww accesories. I will try and post some pictures tomorrow. I stole this picture from google, but how can you post without a picture.
I actually had such a great day. I think I suffer from seasonal depression, and when I can get my hand in the dirt and plant flowers, it is the best anti-depressant around. For me atleast. I got a truck load of gorgeous dirt today, yes, I said gorgeous dirt. I fixed up all my flower beds, and planted a bunch of flowers, and now all I want to do is sit outside and enjoy my awesome yard.
Mike and I found a patio set at k-mart last October on clearance, and it has been sitting on our patio in a box since then. So Monday I decided to put it together. Seriously, I just want to be outside.
I guess I better get to bed, because of all things I have to speak in church in the morning. That's right! Mother's Day! Either I have really pulled the wool over my Bishop's eyes, or he is hoping this will set me straight.Wish me luck. Oh, and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

My Adorable and Amazing Husband!!!

My niece did this on her blog and I thought it was a fantastic idea! Plus I have this new totally hot picture of my husband and I needed a reason to post it.

M-I-C-H-A-E-L

M- MARVELOUS HUSBAND-Mike has always been great, but just lately he has stepped it up. Everyday he does a little something that either adds major sunshine to my day or makes me very proud to be his wife.
I- INCREDIBLY INDEPENDENT- Some times this makes me a little crazy, because I think things could be a little easier if Mike would ask for help. But this is a survival technique that Mike has developed over his lifetime, and because of it he has been able to achieve so much more than is imaginable. He has such drive and no matter what, Michael will accomplish!
C- CAUTIOUS- Which he needs to be married to me. I fly with the wind, and Mike always thinks through ALL the steps. It is good thing I have him.
H- HONEST- I have never questioned Mike's integrity. I know that he is always honest with me and with his job, but most importantly himself.
A- ALWAYS DRIVEN- I don't know anyone who works harder than Mike. He has worked so hard to create a business that not only is he proud of and loves, but one that people and clients can respect and appreciate. He is so very talented, and unfortunately that is not all it takes. Mike takes his responsibility to provide for our family very seriously, and he is doing everything he can to create a successful business that will take care of our family.
E- EXTEMELY TALENTED- If you haven't seen his work, you are missing out. He is an incredible photographer, and he just keeps driving himself to learn more and be more creative. He knocks my socks off. Too bad he can' take OUR family pictures
L- LOVING- This one chokes me up. MIKE LOVES ME! No matter what is going on or what I look like or what I am acting like or what we are going through, I feel his love for me. He thinks I am beautiful, and amazing and I love knowing that. And I love him right back.

We have talked about this quite a bit lately, and we both feel so lucky. In a world where everything seems so disposable, it is an amazing feeling feeling to know you are both 100% dedicated to the end.
I love you Michael and I am so happy you are mine.

Six Strange Habits

I have been tagged by jen v...
1. I am a freak about the way my towels are folded. I am a little anal about all folding of clothes. But the towels, everyone in my family knows I got issues with towels. If someone helps me fold towels, I almost always wait 'til they leave and then refold. (I have tons of towels to fold all the time, because I have a salon in my house. I go through about 40 towels a week, and that's just in the salon.)
2. I don't care if it looks like a bomb went off in my house, the beds have to be made everyday. If they are not made at the beginning of my day, it throws everything off. Why can't I be that way about everything in my house.
3. Just like Jen, I hate doing my hair. Strange I know. Maybe it is because of all the hours I have spent with a blowdryer in my hands. That is the most dreaded time of the day. I guess that is why I only do my hair every three or four days. Don't gross out. My hair is very dry and can't take much more than that anyway.
4. I am pine-sol obssessed. They used to sell it in a spray bottle like windex. But I can't find it anymore, so I mix my own and I clean every surface that I can in my house with it. There is nothing that makes you think your house is clean, like the scent of pine-sol.
5. I spray paint everything. My sister-in-law makes fun of me, because "just paint it", is my answer to everything. Almost every piece of wood furniture in my house has been painted atleast once, if not twice or three times. Right now I am in the process of repainting my kitchen table and chairs, with white spray paint. For those of you who don't know, this is the easiest, fastest and most effective way to paint something. You get better coverage and it is a fast and beautiful way to makeover something into something better.
6. I am a milk snob. I have to have good milk. It absolutely cannot come from a gas station, and some brands are just not good enough. For example, just the morning I pulled out the 1/2 gallon my husband so sweetly picked up in the middle of the night so we wouldn't be out of milk in the morning, took one swig and new he got it from the gas station. I know, silly. But it is just one of my things.
I tag Jaimi, Lori, Tinaya, and Sara B.

Somebody out there mentioned picnik.com in their blog so i decided to try it out. It is so much easier than trying to figure out elements.

Refridgerator scrounging!

So it was time to make dinner, and I had some left over turkey from dinner on Monday. So I think hm, what can I make with what I have. I think I make a pretty great chicken noodle soup, and for those of you have never used Grandma's frozen noodles, you are missing out on the best kept secret for chicken noodle soup. They taste just like big fat homemade noodles. Anyway, I decided to fake it and make the soup with the leftover turkey and I only had one package of noodles so I needed some filler. I decided to make vegetable turkey noodle soup, because my fridge was brimming with veggies, and all of those things are great by themselves, so why not all together in a big old steaming pot of soup. It looks and smells amazing. I'll let you know if it is a winner.

Creating

Tonight I found this awesome card at macaroni and glue. I had never seen this definition before and it got me thinking. I love to create things, and my two boys are the most amazing things I have ever created. Not only is it amazing that I ( along with a little help from my hudband) created them physically, but that I help create who they are becoming.

I love being their mother. What an amazing blessing it is to be a mother, and I hope they will some day truly understand how all encompassing my love for them is.

I am insane!

So this is my kitchen before I got the crazy idea that I needed to paint it today.I have had a paint swatch on my wall for over 6 months and I guess today was the day. If you scroll down you will see the progress I have made and there is also a swatch of adorable material that I am going to cover my bar stools with. I'll let you know how it all turns out. I doubt I am going to finish tonight, but I got 3/4 of the room done. I have to work tomorrow, so I probably won't get back to it until Wednesday. That is going to kill me.
Oh ya , I also bought paint and fabric to redo Mike's office. I truly am insane.

I've been tagged!

WHAT'S MY THANG?
I wish it were one thing. I am one of those people who's thing changes weekly or monthly. I guess it could all fall under the crafty heading. At times it has been salvaging a piece of furniture and painting it and distressing it. I have painted almost every piece of wood furniture in my house and salon. Last year for about three months I was obsessed with making magnet boards. I was always on the search for coordinating scrapbook paper and matching ribbon. I probably made over 50 of them. People who knew me or came into the salon were placing custom orders. I have also been completely obsessed with online scrapbooking. I have logged plenty of hours on shutterfly.com. The past couple of weeks it has been making nursing cover-ups (hooter hiders). And of course my newest time consumption activity is blogging. I just wish I could get obsessed about the gym. If I could put all the energy that I put into creating, into a workout, I would be one hot mama.

Ta Da

We won't know for sure for a couple of days. But Mike and I tag teamed the fridge and I think we got her fixed. It is amazing what you can do if you really want to.

p.s. the repair man who gave me instructions on the how-to, asked me if I had a blow dryer. Do I have a blow dryer?

random

I know that this is all in a random order, but I was just trying to get started.

Newly converted blogger!!!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008


I am new at this whole blogging thing. I truly am going to try to be better. We have a bunch of adorable pictures from our trip to St. George, but I have anxiety just thinking about trying to get the pictures on here. I need to practice so that I don't need medication to update my blog.
For those of you who don't know, I am very new at the computer thing. Yes, I know I am a little behind the times , but I am trying to catch up. Atleast I now know how to e-mail.

Proud computer moment !

Thursday March 27, 2008

I wanted to change the template on my blog and my friend Jen sent me a link so I could find new templates. I got a little nervous so I asked my husband to help me, because I didn't want to screw up our blog. Well he wasn't feeling to confidant about the whole thing, so I just decided to do it myself and I DID IT! Amazing what you can do if you just try.

I am in love!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Isn't she lovely!
My beautiful new well deserved sewing machine!
I can't wait to put a few miles on this thing.
I have been feeling kind of bad because I haven't been putting pictures and such of my kids on here. But my amazing photographer needs to convert the pictures from raw files before I can do anything with them. I have some great pictures and great memories to share. Hopefully this weekend.

Another Proud Moment!!!

Monday, March 31, 2008

This has been a tough month for things going south in our house. At the beginning of the month we had our fireplace fixed ($115), and I am not kidding you, 2 days later our furnace went out($400). Or fridge has been on the fritz for months, and then this past week our dishwasher broke. Seriously? Well, I got up this morning with a purpose, fix it, or buy a dishwasher with the money I have diligently been saving for a sewing machine. After having a dishwasher it is hard to live without one. So I figured the sewing machine could wait. I went by the place we go for repairs and the guy wasn't in. So I went to RC Willeys, and found a dishwasher ($398) and fridge ($1069), and I just thought I would figure it out (financially). Well, I tried the fix it guy one more time and he explained in great detail what I need to do. So I purchased the parts ($9) I needed, which included a new power cord (he threw that in for free).
You will never believe this, but after a few hours, a couple of blood blisters and maybe a little cursing, my dishwasher is fixed. It has a new water line, new power cord and the drain pipe is unclogged. I 'll let you know how the fridge goes. I am getting the part ($39) on Wednesday.
I am woMAN, hear me roar!
p.s. I am going to pick up my sewing machine on Wednesday.

Welcome

I decided to create my very own blog, just for me. My husband is adamant about keeping our family one by invite only. It has kind of been a pain. So I decided to do my own and just use it for my do-it-myself stuff and anything else I feel like sharing with whoever I want, whether they are personally invited or not.

The reason for the name of my blog is that my husband is always saying that I live in the land of sunshine and lollipops. Well that name was already taken so I decided to just flip it.

I welcome anyone who would like to join me there. It is a great place to hang out in this amazingly crazy world.

I am going to try and copy and paste some stuff from my other blog. wish me luck.