Friday, November 9, 2012

Stains?! No biggie...

I don't remember how or when, but I started following Erin on Instagram and love everything about her. She is new to blogging too... and loves vintage, and food and stuff. I dig her. A lot.

Today, while meandering through my blogroll... her blog post made me scream "AHA!!!". No joke. She's brilliant and this proves it. Read now and forever hold your peace.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Glad it's over!

I love Halloween, always have and always will. I can't ever remember a time where I didn't dress up and I think my costumes have always been handmade.

I don't recall every costume and don't have pictures of any when I was a kid, but I remember being tinkerbell and getting my white canvas shoes painted green, covered in glitter and adorned with little Pompoms. One year, my Dad dressed me up as a cat and I remember it was super simple... but still fantastic. I had an oversized leopard print velour sweater that I wore as a dress with black tights, black shoes and he did my makeup very well... Even with gold glitter. For a Dad, he killed it! My Mom even made me an amazingly elaborate costume in my (dare I even say it) tween years. It was a clown / jester getup that I loved. Mostly at that age, you buy a costume in a store and try to coordinate with your girlfriends... Not me. I liked to be different. Later as a sophomore in High School, my first job was at Mrs. Field's cookies and in the mall we always had a ton if trick or treaters. That year I made my first costume by hand, I was a giant cookie. It was felt and it was fabulous! I may bring that back one year.

As an adult, things haven't really changed. The costumes go on and on... some good, others not do great.

Our friends usually always have a Halloween party and whether it be one in San Diego or Orange County... I never miss a chance to dress up!

This year, I knew I wanted to do something different so when asked to brainstorm for a theme at work, I was excited that my idea was chosen. Nothing drives me more crazy than a scary theme... So we chose "A Star Is Born": Choose a movie from the year you were born a dress as a character within that movie. That gave us the ability to be scary or sweet, go all out or just be low key. Much to my delight... Grease was in my year and immediately I knew what I wanted to be.

And so my next task was to figure out a couples costume for our other party. Our friends are very creative and everyone really steps outside the box on what they choose to be but this year, I was stumped. I had no clue... Well I did but the husband didn't like my idea. We did finally find something that we agreed upon but creative?! Not so much. Store bought?! Not in a million!

The costume prep for him was easy but mine were harder. I started by first asking everyone to save all used toilet paper rolls for me... Weird I know, but I had a plan! Next, look for a dress pattern to use for both costumes. Turns out, modern day patterns are awful... So what does one do next?! Find a vintage one online, in your size and praise the fashion sense in 1967. Dreamy. Lots of man hours, seeing, creating, cussing, seeing machine fixing and late to the party arriving... They were done. I was happy. Mission accomplished. Most Original Costume Contest winner at work? Yep. Me!

Friday, October 19, 2012

If This Works...

I have to make three Halloween costumes this year, and two of them are for me. One for work and one for our friends annual Halloween party. I love crafting and the holiday fun but this year I took it to a whole new level. I'm going to sew my costumes using this pattern. A pattern from the 60's and I'm so excited to start!!! Of I can do this... I may be making my own clothes from here on out. I'm excited at that possibility. Wish me luck... I can't wait to share once they are done!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

It's All Happening!

I'm very excited that I've got something fun to announce in the near future. No baby yet, just a new little project that I've been wanting to do for a long time. I can't wait to share it with you!

Friday, October 5, 2012

A Little Bunny Taught Me

I found this blog through Joy's Hope and read the article that she recommended from Less Cake More Frosting about manners on the Internet. It's a great reminder of what I was taught by one of my favorite Disney movies.



Monday, October 1, 2012

This Weather!

Why is this weather so ridiculous? Global warming... I'm almost sure of it. I'm ready for the cool fall weather... are you? I'm getting ready to send out my Fall Swap package to the lucky lady I've been assigned to... and it just boggles my mind that its Fall yet feels like Summer. I think I might start a petition to submit to Mother Nature. Just a thought...

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Think Before You Speak

Think before you speak.

Do to others as you would want done to you.

To speak softly, in tongue and in tone.

Be respectful... or say nothing at all.

Always say "please" and "thank you".

Respect your elders.

Greet others with kindness.

Try to show interest even if you are not.

Don't interrupt, cut someone off or override the conversation.

Be clear, concise and to the point.

Know the difference between having an opinion and being insulting.

When you're unsure of something, politely ask for explanation.

And never put anyone down, belittle them or spread gossip.

Sometimes I wonder why people have no manners, and why they say the things they do. There is no reason whatsoever to pass judgement on someone when you don't know the path they are on. I've often struggled with people having certain opinions about me and it's hurtful, mean and unnecessary but I think that some people just don't have people who cared enough about them to teach them manners, to be respectful and to show grace. I choose to live my life differently and if there are people who think this way of me, I gladly ask them to not bring this negativity into my life. I don't have time for people who are not respectful of me. If I'm respectful of you... I ask that you do the same. I've simply chosen to "Be Joyful".

Sunday, September 16, 2012

A Few of Our Favorite Things

My husband and I absolutely love everything old and our home is filled with many antiques... Furniture and chatychkes with lots of color! We are working to week out all the crap and redo our apartment. I'm so tired of the excess and look forward to getting all the stuff out that is dragging me down. I can wait to show you more soon!

What is your style?!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Back to Basics

American Honey... what does that mean? Although I've had this song on my play list for sometime, I don't think I ever 'really' listened to it. It takes me back to the part of my childhood that was spent in Florida and Georgia. Although I don't remember too much of it, as an adult I now long for the slow pace of living that I recall. Sitting around on the front porch watching the days slowly pass by. Living in a simple way, not having too much. As a teenager, I was quick to leave that life and move back to San Diego and although I don't have any regrets... I just think that life is too fast paced here. I'm the first one to go shopping, dine out, book my weekends with more events than I know what to do with, being on line and get sucked into the hustle and bustle but recently, I've wanted more. More time just being and less time doing. Getting back to family time, relaxing and living a less cumbersome, less busy life.
 
I believe a lot if it has to do with where I'm at in my life and what I'm currently being challenged with - my fertility. My husband and I have been together for 10 wonderful years and I always knew that starting a family would be hard, but time is working against us and for the last few years we've been on a roller coaster ride of treatments, knowing what is wrong and trying to fix it. Throughout all this I found myself really getting stressed out and the doctor said, that I need to not stress because that only makes things worse. Granted, I know that. I'm no fool... but I needed someone to be blunt, frank and tell me what to do... other than my husband!
 
Rewind to 10 years ago, meeting my husband and leaving San Diego to move up to Orange County. I loved every minute of it but had a hard time adjusting and finding my own way. My friends and my family were so far away and even though I was here... I wanted to be there. I wanted to have my husband and have us move to San Diego. He wasn't too keen on that notion and for the next 8 years, we were going down almost every other weekend to go to parties, christenings, BBQ's, shopping and just spending time with our friends down there. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but everything was wrong with that. We were not making a life for ourselves where we lived. We were not focusing on us. We were not living our life. For years we've looked for work down there to give us the ability to move down there, but it just wasn't happening. Our jobs here were solid and we are happy here... so what was missing? Making a home here... where we live with friends that we have here and finding new ones. We still travel down, but not as much I'm fine with that. Hauling a dog, a truckload of things we'd need for the weekend and the stress of it all... it is not missed. Not one bit.
 
So we're getting back to basics. Being at home on the weekends, finding a church community, spending our free time doing things that make us happy and doing what is best for our lives, right now. All of these things intertwine into a happier heart, a happier home and a happier life. We love our friends and our family but it's time we focus on what we need to do. We only have one life and we're now taking charge. Surrounding ourselves by only the positive and not the negative.
 
 
 
Get caught in the race of this crazy life
Tryin' to be everything
Can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
To American honey
 
Gone for so long now
I gotta get back to her somehow
To American honey