New

New Recipe:

Avocado Egg Salad (a dozen eggs, 2 mashed avocados, a couple tablespoons of greek yogurt, then add the normal spices you put in egg salad)

 New Project:

No-sew dog-bed.  Made with left-over fleece and stuffed with old tshirts...idea from here.

And new Haircut.  No pictures yet.


Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot...
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have...
~ Mumford & Sons

Accomplishments

I have a lot that I want to change / start / try to do this year.  But I'm also very realistic and I know myself.  I can't just start these things all of a sudden and out of nowhere.  I need to work my way up.  Kinda like exercising.  One can't go immediately from couch potato to exercising every day - its not only unrealistic - but you're setting yourself up to fail with outrageous expectations.

So, as I have in the past, I've realized that I need to start small.  Work my way up.  I'm afraid that I'll go back to work in 12 days (yes - I have 12 more days of vacation!) and be upset with myself for not getting anything done.  So, I need to not only start small with my goals, but also realize that I'm never going to get everything done that I want to in the time period I give myself.  At least not without successfully starting small.

Anyways, currently my goal is to have one accomplishment a day.  Yesterday, that accomplishment was getting my to-do list done.  My list was comprised of:  #1 - Pick up Atticus from the kennel.  #2 - Go to the gym.  #3 - Buy groceries.  #4 - Take a shower.  #5 - Unpack.  

Silly and simple.  Those are things I would have done anyways, but I made finishing that list my accomplishment for the day.

Today my accomplishment was this:

Remind me to check on it in 4-6 months....

Tomorrow my goal will be to call the vet and make an appointment for Atticus.  So small, but I've been putting it off for months.  He just needs a shot, so its not anything serious, but its something that has been nagging me and on my to-do list for what feels like forever.

So, small.  Simple.  I can't really think beyond tomorrow either, because I will easily get overwhelmed.  Start a new budget notebook!  Make an appointment for my car!!  Research my dental insurance!!!  Make birthday presents!!!!  Call the insurance about getting a new windshield!!!!! Send off for a new passport!!!!! ETC ETC ETC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....until I'm so overwhelmed I stop doing things altogether.

So, there you go.  Finding motivation during unmotivated times.

Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different...
~ C.S. Lewis

What makes me happy part 17

Finally finding everything to make my own laundry soap.

An overflowing fruit bowl

CSA sunflowers in my bathroom.

Blackberry chip ice cream by the pint.

And MAKING my own laundry soap!  I used this recipe.

It takes nothing to join the crowd.  It takes everything to stand alone.
~ Hans F. Hansen

Converting trash

Dinosaur love

Took this cutie, added a hole, some paint and a succulent....

And turned him into this cutie.  Need to find more dinosaurs!

To freely bloom - that is my definition of success. ~ Gerry Spence

Hey good lookin'....

Vegan Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies.  Delicious.

Oatmeal Garlic Drops - For Atticus.  Not bad for humans either.

A skirt for a 3 year - party tomorrow.  My favorite skirt in the world to make.  I've made it for several of my nieces already.

Up close on the skirt...princesses and cupcakes.

Can't go bad with homemade wrapping paper...

Ahh yes...I bought a wheelbarrow. 

And am sporting bruises from falling off a bosu ball yesterday.  I shouldn't try anything that requires balance.  I know that.  It just adds to the layers of bruises underneath...

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
~ A.A. Milne

Photo Dump

Instagram photo dump...

Friend's wedding dress fitting...

My favorite dog

The weather finally turned beauiful.  We've been outside every day.

Plant markers for when I finally plant my garden...

Some of them definately look better than others....

All together they don't look as bad. 

Three of my squashes finally came up!

Hanging out in the kitchen.

Yes, I will go.  I would rather grieve over your absence than over you.  ~ Antonio Porchia

I guess I should clarify....

I'm not using the melted paint from the previous post for anything....I was taking paint off a nightstand...am hoping the wood underneath is good enough to stain...

Atticus was helping me sand yesterday...mostly he just laid around in the sawdust....

Few people have the imagination for reality. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The rest of the weekend

The rest of my weekend...

Went to a birthday party for a 2 year old.  Answered the age old question...what do you get for a 2 year old boy? 

Answer:  make him a monster pillow!!

Made of left-over fleece, a pillow I had on hand for another project I haven't gotten to yet, and my first foray into Heat n Bond (which I also had on hand).  So, technically, this cost me nothing.

Neither did the wrap job....I took 2 brand new pieces of moving wrapping paper, double folded the ends, sewed them, then painted a happy birthday message.

Yes...the boy's name is Echo.  Don't ask.

The backside - double folded and double sewed ends.

Somehow I always end up food shopping right before a big day...Thanksgiving, New Years, etc.  Today was no different.  I forgot tomorrow was the Superbowl.  Oh well...I stocked up on some veggies and other standard things I've been needing.

Kitchen genius was in full swing tonight (thanks to online recipes!)

Zucchini fritters.   Seriously heavenly.  They're so simple to make too...and no weird ingredients.  I don't know why they're so delicious.

Ground turkey and cheese meatballs.  The recipe calls for ground chicken, but I had ground turkey.  Still pretty good.

Oh yeah, and I thought I'd whip up some quick veggies while I was frying the fritters. No, mom, your eyes do not deceive you.  I bought brussel sprouts. 

Brussel sprouts, mushrooms, and garlic.....

Oh, and I signed up to be a zombie volunteer. 

Getting a late start to my bedtime...I should have been dreaming already!!!

Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.
~ Arnold H. Glasow

O Christmas Dog Hair

In case any of you get a present with an overwhelming amount of dog hair on it....

It looks like he doesn't have a tail because its wagging that fast...

I apologize in advance.  This is what happens when I leave my project on the floor in search of pins.

Santa is very jolly because he knows where all the bad girls live. ~ Dennis Miller

Another round of birthdays and an update

My coffee finally kicked in about 5 minutes ago, so I can write without totally coming across like Eeoyre.  I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday while being up for 24 hours so I was in actual physical pain when I went to bed this morning.  And woke up this evening.  I could probably also tribute that to Pilates, but while I have a scapegoat, we'll just use work as my excuse. 

I did have an evening at the gym scheduled with a friend tonight but I had to cancel due to the overtime.  I'm bummed about not getting in my endorphin rush and spending time catching up with her, but I'm enjoying my time at home with Atticus.  I think he misses me when I'm gone all the time.  Maybe. 

Anyways, a quick life update:  I'm looking for a rental house to move into.  Although yes, this is the time to BUY a house, just thinking about doing that by myself in this area and this day gives me an anxiety attack, so for the time being at least I'm sticking with rentals. 

I thought I had very few demands.  I'm not picky about space or number of bathrooms.  I want to live in a certain area, with a certain rent, and a yard (it doesn't even have to be fenced!) for Atticus.  Apparently the combo of those 3 things is either rare, or a hot commodity.  If I hear "that was rented just yesterday" from one more property manager I might knock my head against the wall.  I keep getting my hopes up about really cool sounding places only to be knocked down a couple pegs when I hear they're no longer available.  Case in point:  I saw a for rent sign by the side of the road on Sunday.  Called yesterday (Tuesday.  No, I have no excuse why I waited so long).  Received a callback while at the gym so I didn't hear my phone.  I was busy all night so I didn't get a chance to call back.  Overtime this morning so by the time I got home I was too tired to call.  Called the guy back this evening, and as he told me all about it I got super excited how perfect it sounded.  Then he said..."I have one interested person who is handing their application in tomorrow".  *sigh*   Is it wrong to hope they have horrible credit or bad rental history?  Or will Karma get me for that one?  I should hear by Friday whether their application was accepted or not. 

So, thats whats going on with me.  Its a frustrating and anxiety ridden process.  Do I start to pack things just hoping I get a house before December?  Do I spend the $40 application fee at all the local property management places and take the hit to my credit (apparently having your credit run multiple times in a short amount of time is negative) and to my bank account?  Sometimes being an adult has its drawbacks. 

Anyways, now that I updated you, here's some photos!

My sister Michelle's birthday was 2 1/2 months ago.  Yup, just now sending that out.  Anyways, she suggested wine glass markers, which was a fun suggestion and a fun thing to experiment with.  They weren't perfect (the wire I used was too pliable), but I think they turned out kinda cool!

I used a mixture of glass beads and homemade clay beads...

Here they are all together.  I think they look neat. 

My niece Sarah's birthday was 2 months ago.  She requested a banner like I made her brother in January. 

I used a reverse applique process for the letters, and through a creative mistake, I had to stick them in the dryer, where they fuzzed up a little.  I think it gave them a cute look.

Because I sent their presents together, I also whipped up a couple of rings in various sizes (although to be honest I really guessed at the smaller sizes - I have no idea how big kids fingers are)...

An up-close and personal look at a couple (I think they look cooler up-close)...

Happy Birthday Michelle and Sarah!!!!!  (Sorry I forgot to put cards in the box!)

While I was uploading pictures, I thought I'd upload a picture of my latest creation (I should say "creation") - me, the non vegetable eater, was drawn in by farm fresh vegetables so I ended up making a vegetable mix (and had to call my mom on vacation to ask her how to season it and bake it)....

A mix of acorn squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, gold potatoes, some weird kind of purple potato, and red potatoes. 

Looks good enough to eat!!!

Well, if you'd a'took to me like

a gull takes to the wind

well I'd a'jumped from my tree

and I'd a'danced like the king of the eyesores

and the rest of our lives would a'fared well.

~ The Shins

Yup...yet another bag...

For my friend Katie's birthday.  Conveniently, we were born the same year...

The front...

The back...

The inside....the pocket has felt at the top so it can be easily seen amongst all those bees...

In keeping with the "old" fabric and the burlap straps...an authentic antique leather button!

I also whipped up a ring...just for fun....

And a card...

Happy birthday my friend!

"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is Patience."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy birthday Jason!

Today has been one of those recharge days.  Originally it was meant to be a change-from-graveyard-to-dayshift-sleep-pattern-so-I-can-wake-up-early-tomorrow type of days, but after I immediately fell asleep after sitting down in my comfy chair this morning (I HAD meant to stay up for several more hours), the original plan kinda fell apart.

So instead, I actually got some sleep, and after waking have been lazing around in my PJs, drinking coffee and catching up on internet world instead.  Also have been having long texting conversations and am currently up to 5 concurrent WordFeud games.  My phone beeps about once every minute.  Until about a minute ago, Atticus was snoring beside me, making best use of his time as well.

I should probably be doing something more constructive, like washing the mound of dishes in the sink, making dinner, or trying to find the waiver for Hell Run tomorrow, but lately I've found I just need to chill out more often:  stop thinking, stop doing, and just relax and enjoy the moment. 

*deep sigh*

Moment is just about over...I'm out of coffee and I'm hungry.

But back to the original title of this post.  What I didn't put was "extremely belated' in there, but you've come to expect that from me this year, so I figure it would be redundant to put that in there.

I was inspired by this tutorial, but I tried to make it a little bit more manly.  Tried.  Oh, and I lined it...



A fun winter hat!!!



Made of old tshirts and exposed seamery....

See?   :)

Lined with blue fleece that reminds me of cookie monster's fur....



Modeled by someone with a decidedly smaller head...



How could I forget the card?

Just in case you were wondering, my brother in law did ask for a winter hat.  He just didn't give any specifications other than his head size. 

Happy super belated birthday, Jason!

Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts. ~ Author Unknown