My So Called Blog...

Yeay!!

2009-05-03T13:38:00.007-05:00

I will be participating in One Mother of a Craft Show!!

This is a one time only event, the day before Mother's Day. A perfect opportunity to get your mother the handmade gift she will love and you can feel good about supporting local artists!

Independent artists and crafters from the Madison area will offer their handmade wares for your mother's day gift giving needs. There will be jewelry, handmade cards, t-shirts, and plenty more. There will be music, conversation and ......beer! What a great way to spend an afternoon! There will also be live musical entertainment!

Vampire Weekend

2009-05-02T00:02:00.002-05:00

We <3 the Zoo!!

2009-05-01T22:45:00.005-05:00

Oliver and I went to the zoo twice this week! It was a blast!! The first day we went late in the afternoon and so the monkeys and reptile houses were already closed, it was also a bit chilly, so there were not many other animals out. The only things we saw on the first trip out were a polar bear, seals and flamingos. He also played on the very cool playground they have there and we really enjoyed being outside and having fun. So it wasn't a wasted trip, but I was very glad we went back, because the second day, we saw way more animals! The giraffes, rhinos, monkeys and tiger! And the weather was beautiful! I cant wait to go back next week! =)

Cloud Watching

2009-05-01T00:44:00.007-05:00

So on the way to the post office to send out some swaps, I was on the phone with my MIL talking about the clouds moving in and how it looked like it was going to rain so she better get to the store...yada yada yada...anyways Oliver heard us talking about clouds and became totally obsessed, as three year olds often do. When we arrived at the post office he wanted to stay outside and look at the clouds while I went in, I said no way. But on the way back out to the car, when he asked again if we could stop and see the clouds, I figured, why not? We were done with errands, it was pretty nice outside and he was being so cute! So we laid down on the sidewalk right there in front of the post office and enjoyed the pretty clouds. He saw a baby dinosaur shaped cloud and a chicken shaped cloud.

It was the best 10 minutes of the day.

:)

The Amazing Brett Dennen!!

2009-04-23T11:45:00.004-05:00

I saw this on Ellen last night and fell in love!! He is so fantastic! I love the way he dances!!! =) check him out!!

Pay It Forward!

2009-04-12T21:45:00.012-05:00

Well, more like Craft it Forward, but that's good too, right?! =)

So, the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a ♥ handmade gift ♥ from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!

Please make sure I have a way of contacting you so I can get your mailing address.

The only thing I ask is that you participate - meaning you Pay it Forward too, however that may be.

Yeay!

Thank you to Sarita, who I got this idea from =)

Random I know, but I just love this picture of my Mom and Step-Dad! HILARIOUS!!

Nude Photos

2009-04-10T19:22:00.007-05:00

So yes, I was looking at nude photos on flickr. They were really interesting, artsy and beautiful. I was particularly enjoying the photostream of By The Edges Photography. Melissa, the subject and photographer, is not perfect (duh), but still totally beautiful and sexy. The fact that she has the courage to post these pictures of herself for all to see is very inspiring to me. I don't think I will have the confidence in my own body, or photography skills, to do something like that any time soon. Anyways, back to the point, I couldn't help noticing the note at the top of all her photos:

It says "If you've changed your mind about wanting to see this content, you can ESCAPE - TAKE ME TO THE KITTENS!"

This I found hilarious...as well as irresistible...so after looking through several of her sets, I went back specifically to click on that blue button to see what would happen.
Low and behold, there were...
amazing.cute.lovable.cuddly.precious.adorable.kittens!!

So...after being inspired and...well, honestly, a little aroused...by the amazing pictures of Melissa...I completely shifted gears and made several cheesy awww sounds =) and called Oliver over to enjoy the kitties with me. Which he did. And so concluded my nude photo browsing.

Oh how I love Note Cards...

2009-04-03T20:42:00.004-05:00

Let me count the ways... =)

I made these to sell in my friend's new hair salon =) may they go quickly so I can make more!

New Fabric!

2009-03-31T13:34:00.008-05:00

So my 'hubbie' got his tax return back last week and after paying off bills, we decided that (since he doesn't have a car) a bike would be our next big spend. So after days of driving from bike store to bike store and doing prices comparisons, he spent several hundred bucks on a new bike. After that, to my surprise, he decided to take me fabric shopping! Not only did he take me shopping at Joann's for the first time, but he even came in, carried stuff for me, and helped me pick out coordinating fabric! =) It was a nice few hours spent bonding at my favorite store! These fabrics are going to make amazing totes and zippies, I am so super excited! Check my new shop this weekend for new items, I hope to have them up by then!

Insert ::happy dance:: here!
=D

Less than 24 hours!

2009-03-23T22:12:00.007-05:00

Is how long it took my new Etsy store to get a sale!!!
Now packed up and ready to fly to MN tomorrow are these babies:

Yeay!! It feels so good!

Swap-tastic!

2009-03-22T00:04:00.005-05:00

Big shout out to Jessi, Sarah, Tamsen, Stine & Kasia!!
Welcome to my blog!
Here is a little diddy for you...my favorite swap so far:

I will have to go with the Handbag swap from back in October, simply because my partner made me the most amazing purse ever. She did such a great job creating a bag perfect for me, I love it so much, I have used it everyday since then. In fact...now that the weather is getting warmer, it pains me to think about switching to a more springy bag because I love the one she made me so much!! =)

Bookmarks are like Craft Crack

2009-03-03T19:04:00.010-06:00

Bookmarks, originally uploaded by RoseLynn608.

I started making bookmarks for an owl bookmark swap that I could not resist, I figured, I love making owlie ATCs so bookmarks wouldn't be much different right? Wrong, I got totally hooked. As soon as I finished the few I made for the swap, I kept making more. I went right back to the 'Bot to search for more bookmark swaps that I could do and found this and this. Because I have made so many, I decided to give them away. So...I posted my Facebook status as "Rose wants to know if you use bookmarks (and not the internet ones, the ones for actual books) Let me know! For reals!" and got six responses. So yesterday, six bookmarks went into the mail to those lucky people =) Last night I made four more, and can't wait to make more tonight! =D

Kids in the Rotunda

2009-02-17T16:30:00.014-06:00

I took Oliver to this really cool free event they have at the Overture Center for the Arts every Saturday. It was a blast, we had so much fun, we even stayed for the second show. This week it was a yo-yo tricks & juggling guy named Mark Hayward, and Oliver loved it!

I can't wait to go again, this week there's an International Festival with all kinds of performances and arts and crafts, plus Erin has the day off, so we will be able to make it a family trip!
Yeay! =)

Sew Your Heart Out

2009-02-11T19:39:00.012-06:00

I have a friend who is opening her own hair salon in a few weeks and she has offered me a display to sell my goods. I am very excited about this opportunity to turn my hobby into something more. So I have been doing a ton of preparation. I ordered new business cards and price tags, even ordered fabric labels and had a custom stamp made for my brand.

In order to have plenty of stock as well as a good variety, I decided to just go all out, assembly line style, and pump out dozens of sewn goods. So (fueled by Starbursts, as seen above) I have been in the cutting stage for the past few days, and am excited to be almost ready to start sewing!

It feels pretty good to have this huge stack of fabric just waiting to be sewn into fabulous things! Now I just have to hope that the boy goes to bed at a reasonable time tonight so I can begin the sewing phase of the process. Zippers and buttons beware because I have so many design ideas I am bursting at the seams! (no pun intended =D)

Ok, totally off topic, this fabulous card arrived in the mail today from The Frisky Feather , I love it so much, I am going to frame and hang it next to my craft desk!

It reads: "With enough caffeine, I could rule the world"

Seriously!

=D

Welcome to the world!

2009-02-08T11:02:00.002-06:00

Kenson Michael
2/4/09 9:21 AM
8 lbs 4 oz
19 inches

My dear friend Stef gave birth last week to a beautiful healthy baby boy.

Congrats to her and her family!

Oliver and I cant wait to visit!!

=D

Swap-Bot Gigantic Survey - All About You!

2009-01-17T16:13:00.010-06:00

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, find line 4. Write down what it says:

"Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 1 1/2 minutes." (Its a cook book, LOL =D)

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first?

a lamp

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?

The Ellen DeGeneres show

4. Without looking, what time is it?

midnight

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?

11:53pm

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?

Ellen =D

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?

around 12:30 this afternoon, going to have lunch with my Mother-in-Law for her Birthday

8. What are you wearing right now?

undies and a black tank top

9. What did you dream about last night?

hmm, I don't remember =(

10. When did you last laugh?

a few minutes ago, Ellen is funny =D

11. What's on the walls of the room you're in?

Well, not much (I have not hung things in here yet) just two frames containing collages that I made with two of our favorite music groups in them.

12. What's the most memorable experience you've ever had?

OMG, what a question, I'd have to say giving birth to my son, but the 22 months I spent at Boarding School takes a close second.

13. What's the last film you saw?

Juno (it was on TV last night)

14. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy first?

Three cars, one for me, one for my man and one for his Mom

15. If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change?

The insane lack of compassion for others

16. Do you like to dance?

nope, I love to dance!

17. Imagine your first child is a girl. What would you name her?

Sophie

18. Boy?

Well, pretending that I don't already have a son named Oliver, next in line for boys names would be Noah.

19. Would you ever consider living abroad?

Consider it? I dream about it!

20. What time did you get up this morning?

I slept in today, until 9:00 am!

21. Diamonds or pearls?

Neither! I love Opals =D

22. What's your favorite TV show?

Hmmm, tie between Grey's Anatomy and Weeds

23. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

Yogurt

24. What's your favorite cuisine?

Well, I love food, but I really like Italian and Japanese (Sushi)

25. What foods do you dislike?

anything spicy

26. What is your favorite chip flavor?

Cool Ranch

27. What's your favorite song at the moment?

aarrgg, I cant pick just one! lets say three way tie between "Love is Free" by Sheryl Crow, "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga and "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

28. What kind of car do you drive right now?

1993 Hyundai Sonata

29. What was your first car?

1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera

30. Favorite sandwich?

Milios #4 (Turkey, avocado and sprouts etc)

31. What characteristics do you despise?

Dishonesty, mean-spiritedness, ignorance

32. What is your favorite article of clothing?

I don't really like clothes, wouldn't wear them if I didn't have to

33. What color is your bathroom?

Creamish/off white

34. What is your favorite brand of clothing?

don't have one, don't really wear brands, most of my clothes come from thrift stores

35. Where would you/did you retire to?

Hopefully New Orleans

36. Favorite time of the day?

night (I'm a night owl =D hoo)

37. What was your most memorable birthday?

Toss up between my 21st (Me & three great friends hit the town in an old school limo) and my 22nd (my man took me to a Dave Matthews concert and Gavin DeGraw opened!)

38. Where were you born?

Madison Wisconsin

39. What fabric detergent do you use?

Melaleuca (chemical free company)

40. Were you named after anyone?

Yes, my Great Aunt Rose (on my Dad's side) and my Aunt (my Mom's Sister) Lynn

41. Do you wish on stars?

No, but I do wish with turkey wishbones and pennies in fountains, oh and birthday candles

42. When did you last cry?

Oh jeez, I dunno...a few weeks ago probably

43. Do you like your handwriting?

most of the time

44. If you were another person, would YOU be friends with you?

Totally

45. Are you a daredevil?

Depends on what it is, but usually yes

46. Do looks matter?

Not totally, but I can't deny that they do a bit

47. How do you release anger?

Usually by yelling or hitting pillows

48. What were your favorite toys as a child?

Little People and Trolls

49. What class in high school was totally useless?

Most of them were, but I'd have to say gym (oh how I hated the PE clothes they made us wear!)

50 Favorite movies?

Aww, again, its hard to chose, here are a few:
Kung Fu Panda, Billy Madison, Chicago, Jay & Silent Bob, Juno, Braveheart, Fun with Dick and Jane, American History X

51. What are your nicknames?

Rosie Posie, RoseBear, Rosita Chaquita Banana, Mommie

52. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?

never

53. Do you think that you are strong?

physically, no; emotionally, definitely

54. What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Phish Food (Ben & Jerry's)

55. What are your favorite colors?

Pink & Lime Green

56. What is your least favorite thing about yourself?

my skin, I have terrible acne

57. Who do you miss the most?

My mom (and family) They moved to New Orleans two years ago

58. If you were a crayon what color would you be?

Pink!

59. Last person you talked to on the phone?

My boyfriend

60. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?

Eyes...then butt...then arms (muscles, if there are any)

61. Favorite drink?

I am assuming this is asking about alcoholic beverages, if so then I'd have to say Key Lime Pie Martini or UV Lemonade. And just to cover all the bases, favorite non-alc bev is water.

62. Do you wear contacts?

Not usually, but I do have them, I just choose my glasses instead most of the time

63. Favorite day of the year?

Oh I dont know, maybe Thanksgiving because I love getting together with my family and pigin' out, or maybe my son's Birthday because we always do something fun together

64. Do you prefer your endings happy or sad?

uh, happy...who likes sad endings? Unless its a villain's sad ending I suppose...

65. Winter or summer?

SUMMER! No question there! (I HATE WINTER!!)

66. What is your favorite dessert?

ARRGGG, these questions are hard!! Making me choose...I guess I will go with raspberry cheesecake

67. What book(s) are you reading?

None at the moment, but I am about to start rereading The Red Tent (I have read it about 5 times and like to read it again every couple of years because its so good!)

68. What's the furthest you've been from home?

Paris, in the 5th grade, I went with my family to the celebration the 50th anniversary of D-day because my Grandpa was in one of the first boats to land in Normandy that day

If you have not seen this yet, watch it now!! =D

2009-01-01T19:23:00.003-06:00

YES WE CAN

2008-11-04T18:59:00.012-06:00

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer...

...Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America...

...and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the earth, this is your victory. I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me, you did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime; two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq, in the mountains of Afghanistan, to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and father who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they will make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for their child's college education. There is new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep, we may not get there in one year or even in one term. But America I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight, that we will get there, I promise you, we as a people will get there. There will be set backs and false starts. There are many who won't agree with everything decision or policy I make as president, and we know the government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face, I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way its been done in America for two hundred and twenty one years, block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand. What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter can not end on this Autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek, it is only the chance for us to make that change.

And that can not happen if we go back to the way things were, it can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit, of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder, and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember, that if this financial crisis has taught us anything its that we can not have a thriving wall street while main street suffers. In this country we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the republican party of the white house, a party founded on the values of self reliance and individual liberty and national unity. Those are values that we all share, and while the Democratic party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: 'We are not enemies but friends, though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.'

To those American who's support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help and I will be your president too. And all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those who would tear the world down, we will defeat you, to those who seek peace and security, we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright, tonight we prove once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope. That's the true genius of America, that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts. There are many stories that will be told for generations. But the one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She is a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing, Ann Nixon Cooper is a hundred and six years old. She was born just a generation past slavery, a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky. When someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she is a woman and because of the color of her skin. And tonight I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America, the heartache and the hope, the struggle and the progress. The times that we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed, yes we can. At a time when woman's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot, yes we can. When there was despair in the dustbowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a new deal, new jobs, and a new sense of common purpose, yes we can. When the bombs fell on our harbor, and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved, yes we can. She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told the people that we shall overcome, yes we can. A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after a hundred and six years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change, yes we can.

America we have come so far, we have seen so much, but there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next century, if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see, what progress will we have made. This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment, this is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids. To restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace, to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that out of many we are one, that while we breathe we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people....YES WE CAN"

The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other.

2008-08-30T20:27:00.009-05:00

Ok, so I have been saying I would get a bike and a seat for Oliver since like forever...

There have always been things in the way, mostly money. I didn't ever get to a point where I felt we could afford to drop more than a hundred dollars on a bike and the fixings when there were so many other things in line first (damn those bills!).

I don't really know what brought it on, but I suddenly started to feel the end of summer coming and realized that I had not spent as much time outside as I wanted to. With the freezing cold weather haunting my thoughts, I decided it was time to just do it. I have a new job... we are caught up on our bills...its the end of summer, things are going to be on sale...there is no time like the present...I should get a bike!

Plus, as a bonus, my mom helped out and paid for half =D yeay Mom!

Oliver was very excited, it was really cute. He was so well behaved, we had a blast riding around. Our first trip was this afternoon and it lasted about 30 mins, then I got tired and my butt started to hurt. Plus it was freaking hot outside!

So, after a bike ride around the neighborhood we stopped for a treat.
=D
It was yummy!

I can't wait to get up and go riding tomorrow!!

Toddler Tattoos

2008-08-28T16:39:00.007-05:00

I bought these spiderman stickers but when I got home and gave them to Oliver, found out that they were temp tats, so we put them all over him =D it was fun.

A Great Campaign Ad!

2008-08-28T11:13:00.006-05:00

LOL!

If I had a million dollars...

2008-08-14T20:37:00.014-05:00

1. Black silk chiffon 1920’s beaded dress
2. 1940’s cotton day dress
3. 50’s feminine, milk chocolate rayon floral fabric
4. Camel & black stripe 70's sweater dress

...I'd buy me a whole closet full of fabulous vintage dresses!! From all eras, they are all amazing!

Symbol of Hope

2008-07-11T18:38:00.007-05:00

Symbol of Hope, originally uploaded by Madison Guy.
"Humans are strange creatures. In the midst of devastation, they often seem compelled to create a little spot of hope and beauty. I don't know why else someone would have made their way through the toxic, bacteria-laden flood water to put the flowers on this water fountain. I think it's a touching image of hope in the midst of destruction. Nothing fancy, no flags and marching bands, no banners saying "We'll Be Back!" Nothing wrong with those, of course, but sometimes there's nothing as moving as just a few flowers left in an unlikely public place. If the water fountain can't provide water, make it a planter."

I stumbled upon this picture on Flickr today and it took my breath away.

It's beautiful.

Amazing.

This picture is a glimpse into how deep and wonderful people can be.

Its too bad they don't show it more often.

I just love this picture.

I think I'm in Love...

2008-07-05T19:16:00.003-05:00

1. liberté d'expression, 2. Mushrooms 2, 3. Pirate Sock Monkey "Capt. Jack Sparrow", 4. Panda bento box, 5. Night and Day, 6. For phatelara, 7. Oriental 2 ATC, 8. Scorpio the Scorpion Pouch, 9. Breakfast Club-Deco, 10. dropity drops, 11. meandthescarf2, 12. percing!

Flickr Rocks my Socks!! =D

Into The Sunshine

2008-06-18T23:29:00.003-05:00

My new favorite song...I listened to it like a hundred times at work today, and I'm still not sick of it!! =D Shout out to the amazing and wonderful Julia! Luv ya girl!!

Gesundheit!

2008-06-15T21:27:00.004-05:00

Oliver now says bless you,
well more like "bleph-ou"
after I sneeze.

Its ridiculously adorable.

I love him.

A lot.

Momma's Milkshake

2008-06-13T21:01:00.007-05:00

He really is my son =D

Garage Sales Rock My World!

2008-06-13T20:12:00.013-05:00

I scored these two amazing pairs of earrings at a garage sale I stopped at whilst in San Diego. The woman had a whole table full of vintage jewelry, I only had $20 cash on me, and spent it all. Besides for these two beauts I also got another pair of earrings and three necklaces.
Yeay garage sales!!
=D
I gave the fishies to my sister Mae & they look fabulous on her!
=D

The Neverending Cuteness

2008-06-11T22:58:00.003-05:00

Funky Saturday

2008-06-08T00:02:00.008-05:00

Today was an interesting day. Oliver woke up crabby. I figured that he must not have gotten enough sleep or he was hungry. So I gave him some yogurt and got in the shower. Then we walked to my favorite breakfast place, Lazy Jane's (which I am going to miss living down the street from when we move next month) only to discover, after waiting in line for 15 minutes, that the ATM was out of order (and they only take cash). So I decided to walk down the street to another ATM, despite the fact that it was hot and humid. Oliver didn't want to walk, he wanted me to carry him...of course. As I was trying to get through my hot irritated mood with a grumpy boy in tow, a higher power stepped in and sent us just what we needed...live music! As I was rounding the corner of the parking lot of Willy St Coop, I heard the lovely tunes of a band called The Vagabond Opera. Here is some video I shot while we were enjoying the music.

Oliver loved it so much, I couldn't get him to leave until they had stopped playing!

So needless to say, it cheered both of us up, made us forget about the heat, and helped the walk back to Lazy Jane's be not nearly as bad as the walk there. And to top it all off, when we got back, there was no line!! =D We enjoyed our meal and went home for nap. Later on, after Erin got off work, we took Oliver to his Grandma's house, and went to see a movie. "You dont mess with the Zohan". It was great, I highly reccomend it. We came home and relaxed before bed, and now I am going to get some crafting done, I have several ATCs to make, they are going to be fantastic. =D

More Bloomin' Buttons!

2008-05-30T23:30:00.005-05:00

Here are a few more Button cards I made last week

I just think they are so cute!!

Fun Friday Game

2008-05-30T15:04:00.008-05:00

1. choc mud rose cupcake, 2. My fee for posing is Sunflower Seeds!, 3. Coral Tree (Erythrina) by the Shrine of the Báb, Haifa, Israel, 4. spotted or striped anywhy..fashion!, 5. pixie tatts, 6. Prenent un Bany. Taking a Bath., 7. Versus !, 8. Key Lime Pie Factory, 9. My Design work - design Nicolas Bouriette ©, 10. Stanley Laurel and Oliver 'Babe' Hardy., 11. "Creative Hands" - Mindy, 12. Goofing Around =^.^;=

The Concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name.

Thanks Stef =D That was fun!

The Best Plane Rider

2008-05-30T10:51:00.008-05:00

Oliver has been flying for more than two years now. Our first trip to California was when he was 6 weeks old. I am so glad to have a two year old who is not only well behaved but also cute as can be while traveling. I thank my lucky stars that he was not the one on the plane crying the whole flight!

The flight from WI to MN was only an hour long,

so we enjoyed playing and taking pictures.

But by the second flight, it was late afternoon and the no-nap caught up with him and he crashed...before we even left the ground!

He woke up 1.5 hours into the flight,

well rested and was pretty good for the last 2 hours.

Yeay for a well behaved baby and a good flight to California!

A Finished Tote! =D

2008-05-24T19:49:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to share this pretty summer tote I finished today
(thanks to Stef for giving me the fabric!)

Here is the outside (it's the same on both sides):

And me holding it
(good thing I'm smart and crafty, because I wouldn't cut it in modeling! LOL!):

I used a dark contrasting fabric for the lining and quilted some scraps for the pocket:

Red High Heels

2008-05-23T19:48:00.005-05:00

I saw this on Ellen a few weeks ago, it was the first time I ever heard this song...

and I'd say its pretty good...

...considering its country!

I think of it every time I wear my red high heels

The Hippest Hipster!

2008-05-21T21:56:00.005-05:00

Ok, so I fell head first in love with this amazing tutorial a few weeks ago and just had to make one for myself.

I altered a few things, and messed up a few parts, but I still love how it came out! I use it ALL the time!! I love to have my phone, ATM card, keys and a pacifier right there on my hip :-D its very handy!

Instead of a curved bottom, which looked very hard to me, I just made it a square. And I used snaps for the belt closure instead of velcro, and also put some on the flap to help prevent my cell phone from falling out.

Alrighty, so enough talk, here are the pictures!!

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~

Portrait of a Toddler Tantrum

2008-05-21T10:36:00.009-05:00

After smearing mashed potatoes all over himself and pouring juice (from a spill proof sippy cup) on his head...Oliver's melt down began, and I was there to capture it.

He wanted to get out of his chair, but didn't want to take a bath...which was not going to happen...and since I am in charge (or at least I like to think that I am)...into the bath he went, crabby and filthy!

Despite the resistance, Oliver thoroughly enjoyed the bath and came out a different baby...

...Happy and clean!

Good thing Momma loves Oliver no matter what...even when he's a butthead!!

Bloomin' Buttons!

2008-05-20T18:28:00.006-05:00

I made these super cute blank note cards last night. I was inspired by a Creative Juice episode (LOVE THAT SHOW!) and the fact that I had a *ton* of buttons from a recent thrift store trip score!

Since these are my firsts, I have been giving them away, they are not quite perfect enough to sell in my Etsy shop, but I hope to make more tonight that will be!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

2008-05-12T23:10:00.002-05:00

I love being a Mother.

Spring is here...

2008-05-12T22:57:00.007-05:00

...Spring is here...

...It's the Best Time of the Year!!

I LOVE SPRING!!

Acapella

2008-05-08T19:46:00.008-05:00

Ok, so as you can see from my previous posts, I am a huge fan of The Nylons, an A Capella group from Canada who have been making their wonderful music for more than 25 years. My mom attended her first Nylons concert when they opened for the Pointer Sisters here in Madison 25 years ago. She instantly became a fan and has been listening to them ever since. At the time of the concert, I was in my moms belly, about 6 months away from gracing the world with my presence. So as you can imagine, I have been listening to the Nylons music since before day 1 and was born to love them! I'd say I have a pretty wide range of music tastes including rap, rock, country and others, but acapella is never one that I explored beyond The Nylons until recently. I was watching one of The Nylons concert performances on YouTube last week and clicked a link on the side where "related videos" are that said "Up the Ladder to the Roof, The Nylons" which is one of my favorite Nylons songs. Turns out that it wasn't the Nylons after all, it was an A Capella group made up of College students at UC Berkeley called The California Golden Overtones. They were awesome, I mean, they aren't The Nylons, but they were pretty damn good anyways! I proceeded to watch several more videos of them and, despite a few with not so great sound quality (they are amateur video recordings), I was thoroughly impressed. I bet they would be great to see live in person! So I just thought I would spread the word about these fabulous ladies and give them my two thumbs up! :-)

Searching for a new apartment....

2008-05-06T19:09:00.014-05:00

... feels like it will never end!

...is worse than the moving part itself!

...makes me want to just give up and stay in the place we are in!

...better end well or someone will pay! ggrrrrr....!!

Ok, so I am a bit frustrated, to say the least. I have spent the past two weeks searching online for a place that we can afford and that also has enough space, which seems impossible...I have been to 7 showings in the past three days and still have not found a place that seems just right. I don't feel like my needs are unreasonable... but perhaps I am wrong.

I strongly feel that if we are going to settle for a 2 bedroom (which would be a downsize from our 3 bedroom we are in now) that it better be for a good price, saving us a significant amount each month (like more than $100).

I also really want a good location, it doesn't have to be super close to where I work, but I don't want to add 15-20 more to my morning commute, I already have a hard enough time getting to work on time as it is!

The biggest difference that I want for our new place is a yard, front or back, either is ok, but having an outside living space for Oliver to play in, especially now that he is older and wants to play ball and what not, that would be nice to have.

I am also hoping to have underground parking (or a garage) because last winter sucked majorly and to not have to shovel my car out every morning would be fabulous.

And the last things I think would be really nice to have in our new place are a washer dryer, in unit, and a dishwasher, although I know they can not be mandatory, they would be a deal sealer for me.

Ok, so after writing all that, I see that there are a lot of requirements, and that's only from me, that doesn't include all of the things that Erin wants to have too. His biggest problem with most of the places we have looked at have been the neighborhood, hes more picky about that than I am. In my opinion, if the place is just right and has all of the other things inside it that we want, then I don't really care if we live in a sketchy neighborhood (to a certain extent, there are places I wouldn't live no matter how fab the place was).

So anyways, there are a lot of things that need to all fit together in order for us to feel secure about leaving where we are, because despite the flaws of the place where we are now, it is a good place, and we wouldn't be miserable if we stayed here another year.

So I just hope that the universe will be good to us and we will find something just right, and soon! Because I want this process to be over and done with so I can move on to stressing about something else! :-)

Ok, my venting rant is done! Hallelujah!

:-D

Love Really Is All You Need

2008-05-01T22:03:00.019-05:00

*****

What is love?

*****

Is love real?

*****

Can everyone find love?

*****

Do you have to work for it or does it come to you?

*****

How do you really know when you are feeling love?

*****

There were so many questions I had about love three years ago. I questioned relationships and myself constantly. There were no goals in my life, I had no direction. Then it all changed.

As May arrives, I think about where I was three years ago. At two and a half months pregnant, on Mother's Day, I announced to my family that I was having a baby.

At the time, I was in the early stages of the pregnancy, and the reality of the situation had not completely hit me. I look back on my pregancy experience now and know that I really had no idea what I was about to experince. Obviously, all first time mothers dont know what to expect, because you can not be prepared for motherhood. But what I have learned about the most, and what I am so grateful to have in my life, is Love. The enormous feelings that I have for Oliver are consuming. Love feels like a small, insignificant and often abused word to use for such an amazing soulful connection.

Regardless of what word is used to describe the feelings that a mother has for her child, it is something that every woman deserves to feel in her life. Oliver is a blessing, joy and so much more. I am so lucky to have this priceless child in my life.

*****

Little Quirks in Life

2008-04-27T21:51:00.014-05:00

I have been much more observant lately, I think partly because since I began sewing and crafting more, now I inspect things, mostly to see if I could make them, and along the way, I notice more random things that I don't think I would have seen before.

For example, my new shower curtain's label says

"Problem: your shower curtain keeps giving you dirty looks"

I think that is strange.

There are so many things around this world that are worth noticing and even if you dont think they are important, they are, because when you think about it, it really is the little things that matter most. Ever since becoming a mother, I treasure those little things more, not just little things about him, because that's obvious, but little things about life, that were taken for granted before. Its a little frightening to think about the things I sometimes miss, but here are some Examples:

~Time, in any and every form

~Going to the bathroom with two hands (because when you have a sleeping child in your arms, or a toddler who screams if you put him down, you learn to pull down your pants, pee, wipe and pull up your pants with one hand, all while holding the child with the other arm...yeah I know, its partly my fault, but he's so cute!)

~Telling yourself that you are going to get something done, without having the feeling that you wont actually get it done, or if you do it will take twice as long as it should and probably be half assed and feel rushed, unless you wait until the wee hours of the night, in which case it wont be done well anyways because of the sleep deprivation

~Talking to someone who doesn't have kids without wondering if you are boring because they think that all you talk about is your kid

There is no way that this list can ever be finished because there are things added to it everyday, but those are just the ones that come to mind at the moment...

And something that is a bit random, but seems fitting in this post, is that sometimes I have this feeling like I have a mental disorder because I cant for the life of me remember what it feels like to not have my child constantly in my thoughts...

As I lay in bed next to a sleeping baby, I am typing about enjoying moments and thinking about taking advantage of the time I do have, and I am not getting up to do the bazillion things that I should be doing....Ironic, stupid, or just plain lazy...either way, I'm still here...not up getting things done...

(A street you must go to should you ever visit NOLA)

The Nylons...Part Deux

2008-04-16T22:14:00.029-05:00

I am very happy to (finally...) report that the Nylons HAVE NOT canceled future shows in Madison. The news that they were cutting Madison from their tour was an evil rumor and I was relieved to hear that it was not true. Claude Morrison (a founding member of the group) himself told me that they will be back for many years and that he could not believe that people were saying that!! I was lucky to hear it from the horse's mouth, and I learned a lesson I should have already known: DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR!

With that said, the concert was more amazing than I ever thought it could be, not only did we have 3rd row seats (YES THRID ROW!!), but they performed my two favorite songs (Bop till you Drop & Heavenly Bodies), which I've never seen them do before and it was amazing!! The two returning members were a fantastic addition to an already fabulous show and I was so honored to be able to see them all perform together! To top it all off, we were included in the after party taking place onstage, where we were able to mingle with the Nylons (along with about 30 other party guests), take pictures with them, get autographs, but mostly it was great to just talk to them!

Billy Newton-Davis (one of the retired returning members) took half of his shirt off to show Erin and I his tattoo!

~It was frikin' schweet!~

Me & Gavin Hope

Ok, ok, ok... I know I'm sounding like a Nylons groupie...but you know what? I'd rather be a Nylons groupie than most anything else!! Because The Nylons are **Awesome**!! :-D

The Nylons...

2008-03-20T22:37:00.005-05:00

So, tomorrow I will be attended a momentous occasion, The Nylons will give their final concert in Madison, 25 years after their first concert here, they are cutting Madison out of the tour schedule. Why, I do not know! But I do intend to find out! I will be attending the VIP after party, thanks to my inside sources in the myspace Nylons fan group, and the members of the group can expect some hard hitting questions from me about this issue! Not only does the Overture Center practically fill up when they come to town every year, but Madison has a huge fan base for them. I know that there will be many a heavy heart tomorrow as we say goodbye to a wonderful yearly tradition, one that I have looked forward to sharing with Oliver. I am feeling very mixed about tomorrow's show, I know that it will be a great one, but I cant help but anticipate that there will be a sad tone hanging over the evening. The Nylons are a important part of many childhood memories for me, and as silly as it feels to say this, I feel like we are loosing them in a way. Although they will still be around, it will be much more difficult to experience the live shows that I have loved for the past three years. And like I said, I've pictured taking Oliver to see them when he was old enough and I hope that they are still touring at that time so he can have the opportunity to gain the admiration for them that I have.

Despite all of this, I am really looking forward to the show,
I know it will be a fantastic concert and I am really excited!

Craft Weekend

2008-03-20T14:03:00.012-05:00

My friend Stef and I had a fabulous weekend crafting at her house and I am happy to steal her pictures to display the fruits of our labor! The tote we made first is so fabulous, it will be hard for me to part with it, but I made it for my dear friend Kitty and I know she will love it, so it will be a bittersweet parting for the Owl Tote & I....

On the second day of our craftaculous weekend we make keepsake boxes, one for Stef and one for her friend's 4 year old daughter who is a treasure collector! Here is the adorable box that Stef made, it's not finished on the inside, but its still looking fab!

I have discovered that there are few things that I would rather be doing with my free time other than craft/sew. If you don't have a hobby, or are looking to pick up a new one, I highly recommend crafting and sewing, two fantastic hobbies that I am very pleased to have discovered.

Shout out to my dear newish friend Stef, the pleasure that spending time with you and our crafts gives me is priceless and I am grateful to have you in my life!

(Our kids hugging, so precious!)

Thursday Morning

2008-03-20T09:51:00.012-05:00

I recently discovered a fantastic show called Private Sessions on A&E, its a showcase of musical artists, they have very interesting intervews and then give live in studio performances. This weekend the featured artist was Maroon 5. I have always liked the band and their music, but seeing them on this show really gave me more insight into who they are and what they have been through. Adam Levine seems like a really cool guy, I love the way that he talked about writing his songs, like they just come to him randomly. I also found it very interesting, but not surprising, to hear that he is extremely self critical, and when he first wrote "Makes Me Wonder" which is one of my favorites by them, he hated it! Another of thier songs that I love is "Sunday Mornings", and the live version they did on the show was even better than usual. If you have not seen this show, you should try to catch it, they almost always have super good guests, It is on Sundays at 9am. Check it out!

http://www.aetv.com/private-sessions/index.jsp