Randomness

Wool Longies

2012-02-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

Many people I know use wool longies as soakers for their cloth diapers. Truly, I have never really understood how they work. Why does wool act as a cover to a diaper? Why do you only have to wash them every once in a while? Well, I still don't completely understand, but I LOVE these sweet little knitted pants. I'm taking a knitting class with Erica Marsh so I can learn to make them myself. I'm almost done with my first pair! Rhea is going to wear them for her birthday.

Traditions

2011-12-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

I love holiday traditions. I love everything about them. There is something so comforting and exciting about pulling out the same objects and doing the same things year after year. In my parents home, every year my mom would pull out the box that housed her nativity for us to put out. My sister and I would unwrap each piece and put the nativity out. There are several pieces that have chips in them and some that are broken and have been glued back together, but I have never found a nativity that makes me think of Christmas more than that one. My ornaments have been collected over years, from the time that I was a little girl. Many of them hold special memories of the year they were bought. Another of my favorite Christmas objects is my stocking. It's really nothing special- just a plain red knee sock that my great-grandmother crocheted. I love that stocking and whenever I pull it out I am reminded of years of Christmas mornings. This year more than other years my mind has been on holiday traditions. This is Rhea's first Christmas, and I know that she won't remember any of what we do, but having her in my life I can't help but think about what we will do to make this time of year special for her. One thing I know I will do this year is her very own Christmas stocking. I have just cast on her stocking. I'm nervous because I've never knitted a sock and that is what I'm making for her an over sized sock.

But I wonder what other traditions people hold dear in their own homes....

1st Halloween

2011-10-31T16:34:00.000-07:00

Today is Rhea's first Halloween! So exciting!!! I made her a cute little costume! She was a piece of candy corn!

Magnetic Bookmarks

2011-10-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

I love to read and I love these bookmarks. They are magnetic so that they clip around the page and you can mark the exact sentence you are on.

Doll Cloth Diapers

2011-10-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is such a great idea! I found this pattern online at Skip to My Lou. I think it's a great idea instead of buying preemie diapers for kids dolls! They are easy and quick to sew up and so cute!

Quick Chicken Lo Mein

2011-10-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

This has quickly become a staple meal at our house. I will say that I really thought I hated ramen noodles, but I love this meal. I throw whatever we have in the house for a quick quick dinner. It helps use up the left overs and so typically I can make this meal for under $3 and it feeds us for two to three meals.

Rhea's Blanket

2011-10-28T17:36:00.000-07:00

Finally, after almost a year of on and off working on this project I have completed Rhea's baby blanket. Sadly, she is now 7 months, but better late than never! At least she will still get some use out of it!

Warning: Cloth Diapering Can Be Addictive!

2011-10-24T21:40:00.001-07:00

There are so many things to think about when you broach the topic of cloth diapering. There are so many different types, brands, and methods it quickly becomes overwhelming and daunting. This can be a deterrent to for many and leads many to say “I quit” before they ever begin. One of the most important things to remember when you determine if cloth diapering is for you is that it is a learning process. No one walks into cloth diapering knowing it all or quite ready to begin. You just have to take a leap and get started. I have been asked to share what I know about cloth diapering so I am going to share some of what I know and my favorite ways to cloth diaper.

First, let’s begin with why I choose to cloth diaper. In the beginning it was because it was environmentally friendly. I wanted to lower my impact. When you use cloth diapers and cloth wipes there is nothing to throw away, everything is washed and reused. Now, however, my primary reason for choosing this path is money. In the beginning we used ended up using disposables and after a few months we spent almost as much as we have spent on our entire cloth diaper stash, which we have been using for about five months (our daughter is 7 and a half months currently). There are lots of calculations to tell you how much you will be saving, but there are so many factors that I’m not getting into that now. One of the unexpected bonuses that I have found to cloth diapers is the unbelievable assortment of cute adorable prints (aka fluff). This is the main reason it becomes addictive)!!!

Let’s talk about options:

Velcro vs. Snaps

I choose snaps as my favorite although we have both. Velcro is nice when people not use to cloth diapers are watching her. It’s super easy you just Velcro it on like you would a disposable. So if it’s so easy why do I prefer snaps? Velcro becomes gross after a while. It gets build up and sticks to everything. It does not matter that I make sure the Velcro is closed when I put in the wash it always ends up stuck to something. Snaps are not difficult after a few times of changing a diaper. There are several different ways snaps are placed on the diaper and I have never had a problem with snapping the diaper to get a close fit on our little chunky thighed, skinny waisted girlie.

Brands

There are countless brands and this would be impossibly long to list and discuss only the few brands that I own. Brands can range in a variety of prices, styles, fabrics, ect. I have some expensive brand diapers and some cheap brands diapers. The brand I thought I would love while I was pregnant is not the brand I love when I use them on my baby. My favorite brand currently is Sunbaby diapers. Buying them through co-ops, I have bought these for $4.30 for one diaper and one insert. Why are they my favorite? I find that they are pretty much the same quality as the more expensive diapers I own and they are cuter because of the prints and so so so much cheaper. I also like the variety of prints they have available. Many people like the plain diapers but I feel that if you are going to use cloth why not get the full benefit of seeing varied prints on the cute little covered bums.

Prefolds

If you want to go super cheap you can buy flour sack cloths from the kitchen section at Wal-mart or Target for a dollar each, a snappy, and some covers. This way is super cheap and not difficult. While I have some of these and have used them they are not my go to diaper selection. A benefit of these is that it’s cheap. It is light weight and washes and dries super fast. If poop doesn’t get on the cover you can use it over and over. These are the same concept as prefolds which are still inexpensive but not as cheap as the flour sacks. I do not have any prefolds that currently fit our girlie so I have little experience using just prefolds and covers.

Pockets

I use mostly pocket diapers. This is basically what it sounds like. The diapers come in pieces. There is a shell diaper with an outer and inner part and a pocket in the back to stuff the diaper with an insert. I use the micro fiber insert that comes with most the diapers. The main reason I like these diapers is because you can pull them apart for quicker washing and drying times. Another benefit is that you can add or take away inserts depending on your child’s needs. For example: During the day we use one insert for the girl, while at night we use two so that we don’t have to change her before we wake up in the morning. Stuffing just becomes part of your wash routine, like folding your clothes.

Hybrids

Hybrid diapers often have a cover that is reusable and an insert that can be flushed. Some of these have reusable inserts. I have a few different types of these and while some people love them I am not a huge fan. A very popular brand of these are gdiapers. They come in sizes S, M, and L.

Fitteds

Fitted diapers are diapers that fit on the baby and fasten but still need a cover to keep it from leaking moisture.

AIO

This stands for a diaper that is the diaper and cover together.

I like simple diapers that involve putting on one diaper and being done. I don’t really like having to worry about putting on a cover or explaining how to fold the diaper, use a snappy, what diaper goes with what type of cover, ect. My husband doesn’t understand every diaper that we own, nor do the people who keep the girl. I like easy and easy to explain.

There are also diapers that need to have a cover over them. These do not include a layer of PUL, or the outer waterproof fabric layer.

Inserts

There are many different types of inserts. I mostly use micro fiber inserts that come with the diapers but many people like to use folded up newborn size prefolds. There are also cotton or hemp inserts. Some people make their own inserts out of old t-shirts or sweatshirts.

Accessories

There are many accessories that can go along with cloth diapering. While some of these are not a necessity to have they can make cloth diapering easier.

A diaper sprayer- I currently do not have one of these but contemplate buying one every day. They attach to your toilet for easy spraying the diaper messes into the toilet.

Diaper liners- I use these quite often. There are many brands and different types. They lay between your baby and the diaper for easy clean-up. There are disposables which can be dumped in the toilet and flushed and reusable which are easily cleaned off into the toilet. I have used both types and they are nice to have.

Wet bags (on the go)- I bought a very cheap one from alva baby and have been impressed. The one I have in a dry/wet bag. It has two zippered compartments and the entire bag is waterproof. The smaller compartment houses the clean unused diapers and the large compartment is for the dirty diapers. This one is a small bag that holds about 4 clean diapers and 4 dirty diapers. I have only one bag but I wish I had another.

Pail liners- These are reusable bags that go in the diaper pail. I do not have one of these and currently use a trash bag. When I buy one I would like to have two- to rotate between washing and using.

Diaper pail- You need a place to store all your dirty diapers. I use a 13 gallon trash can. I store it in my bathroom next to the toilet.

Wipes- When we started using cloth diapers I still used disposable wipes. This didn't last very long. We quickly switched to using cloth wipes. It just seemed crazy to me to have to sort through the diaper trash to throw some away in the trash and put some in the diaper pail when I could just throw them all in the pail. What do we use? Currently, we mostly use baby wash clothes and a few homemade wipes. There are, however, many different options. Some people buy them from the store, you can buy some from wahms, or you can make your own. Making your own can be super easy- some people just cut up old t-shirts!

Diaper rash cream- These are not all created equal and are not all intended for use with cloth diapers. You have to make sure that you can use the cream with cloth diapers to avoid build up that will ruin your diapers. I use Method, but there are lots of different brands that can be used out there, including MamaLove and California Baby.

Washing

Everyone has their own washing routine and preferences. There are also many different opinions about what type of detergent to use and how many rinses to do. This, also, depends on the type of water you have in your area.

My wash routine is pretty simple. I wash about every other day. I do a cold rinse with no detergent, a hot wash with detergent, and a cold rinse with about a half cup of white vinegar.

Choosing a detergent is also a daunting decision. I have used all free and clear and homemade detergent. I’m currently using Crunchy Clean, I ordered from a co-op. If you have hard water in your area you will want to make sure that you order hard water detergent.

Cloth diapers often get build up, esp in areas with hard water. You will need to strip your diapers every so often. This is done by using dawn original blue dish detergent and washing the diapers, rinsing until all suds residue is out of the diapers. There are many other ways to strip diapers and can be found on the internet.

Some people throw their diapers in the dryer, but I prefer to hang them to dry. I have a rack that I hang them on and rotate them out.

Storage

It is important to think about where and how you will store your diapers. This is maybe the hardest part for me and I am often changing how I store my diapers. Currently, I have my diapers in a basket next to the changing station and the wipes in a disposable wipes container on the changing pad. This is a personal decision like most of cloth diapering and depends on your space and preferences.

What I wish I'd known

Before I was even pregnant I knew that I was going to use cloth diapers. I read tons and tons of blogs, forums, and info. I didn't know anyone personally who cloth diapered so I couldn't talk to any "new" moms who had experience. My parents and grandparents had cloth diapered but today's cloth diapering is so different from that of their generations that they couldn't really understand or advise when I showed the newer types of diapers. So, this being said, there were lots of questions I didn't know I even had when I began diapering. A lot of these questions could have been answered if I had gotten to know people in my area who used cloth diapers. People who cloth diaper love to talk about diapers! I was surprised to learn how many people in my area use them. I met most of the people I know when I started attending Le Lache meetings.

One important thing is to not completely stock up on one type of diaper- you may hate it or love it. Keep an open mind when trying new diapers, some people love wahm brands, some people love name brands. One size diapers are not truly "one size." The girl didn't fit into her diapers for a couple months. If I had know this I would have invested in a different system for the beginning. This all being said, what does a good sized stash look like? In my personal stash I have 31 diapers. I just bought 8 more that haven't arrived yet. But with my 31 diapers I have some that I very rarely, if ever, use. I don't use them because they just aren't my favorite ones and I have enough to rotate without using them. Why then did I order 8 more? Honestly, it was a want not a need. I just wanted to have a few more in my rotation to spread out the wear and tear. My diapers I have been using for months still look and work like they are brand new, but I plan on using these diapers for the next 2 years. Eventually using them several times a week will take it's toll and I thought it would be a good idea to have a few more. Another reason I order them was because there were some super cute prints and I wanted to add them to what we had- like I titled this post- they are addicting!

Don't be intimidated. You don't have to start cloth diapering and never use disposables. You CAN work your way up. Start by collecting a few at a time. Buy used so that you get a feeling for diapering without spending a lot of money. If you don't like the idea of using used diapers- join co-ops, you can get diapers, detergent, and accessories for a much lower price.

Copper Tree

2011-07-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Copper tree in progress....

CSA

2011-07-02T14:48:00.001-07:00

These are photos that were taken of our CSA. What is a CSA? This is a food co-op that we participated in over the summer. For 12 weeks we received a half a bushel of food a week. I liked getting the food every week, but honestly I'm not sure if I will do it again. It was nice to get food already packaged for you once a week and you only had to make one stop. I found though that there happened to be a lot of waste in my house. As part of the program you don't get to pick your own groceries. Everyone gets equal shares of the same foods. So I found that some weeks I had an abundance of certain foods and sometimes they weren't the foods I felt like eating. There were also times that I didn't like what they had sent or didn't know how to prepare it. I think that it's a commitment. If you are going to participate make sure that you are committed to making it work for you. Be creative and learn how to cook the food that you have and be committed to actually eating or storing the food that you have so you won't throw away a lot of the box.

Chicago Zoo

2011-07-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

Felt Strawberry

2011-07-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

A cute little felt strawberry I made this morning.

Felt Hair Clips

2011-06-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

I love these little felt hair clips I made today!

Saturday Fun

2011-05-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

We had a super day Saturday! It was a long rainy day filled with busyness.
We visited the new farmer's market in town. It is so nice to finally have a farmer's market on our side of town! Then we went to the Hot Rods for batting practice- which was rained out, but we visited with friends and ate lunch- so we had fun. Then we stopped at an art fair on the square and found these sweet duck tape flower pencils and pens. We bought a pencil for our niece Lillie's recital which we attended that night. It was such a busy fun day!

New Couch

2011-04-29T16:31:00.001-07:00

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Billy and I were shopping today and found this awesome green couch! Normally, I think I would have talked myself out of buying it, but our old couch was falling apart. The price was so cheap, only $230! I LOVE it! I think it looks perfect in my living room!!! I am so glad we got it!!!

Kids

2011-04-23T18:58:00.001-07:00

I heart this picture!

Hat for Rhea

2011-03-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

I made this cute little hat for Rhea... I found the little button at Hobby Lobby.

Hats

2011-02-11T19:10:00.000-08:00

I found the cutest hat pattern on Ravelry. I made these super cute hats in one afternoon!

Rory's Blanket

2011-02-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

I finished Rory's blanket and I LOVE it!!!! It is a hexagon pattern that I got from Attic 24.

Franklin Drive-In

2010-07-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

We went with Mollie and the kids to the Franklin drive-in. It's the first time Billy and I had been there and it was super fun!! I can't wait to go again. We watched Karate Kid and Eclipse.

Dovies

2010-07-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

The other day Billy and I got to eat at Dovies in Tompkinsville, KY. It was so good- I wish I had the recipe for their burgers. They put bread in the mix. YUM!

Rainbow Cake and Cupcakes

2010-07-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today, we made rainbow cake and cupcakes- it was extremely fun- four kids and cake batter! They turned out yummy and really cute! I love them- except my cake is a little lopsided :( It tastes the same; I just wanted it to be look really nice. The kids all ate tons of cupcakes and about a tube of icing. The dishwasher is running and the sink it still overflowing with dirty dishes. It was a pretty good day!

Hexagon Blanket Started

2010-07-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the crocheted hexagon blanket... I think it seems a little heavy, but I like the way it's looking so far.

Light Fixtures (Smile)!!!

2010-07-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Some light fixtures are now up--- after a lot of trips to the hardware store and buying the wrong parts... ect... ect... But, I like them and that is what matters!

Nail Polish

2010-07-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

I have been crazy about nail polish lately... I just got bright purple and lime green. I LOVE them!!! And it's not at all as strange as I thought to have lime green toenails!

Light Fixtures... AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

2010-07-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

My dad and I worked all day and only got one light fixture up! I have to say I was having doubts about the chandelier I had bought from Ikea for above the kitchen table, but now that it is up I really like it. The other ones have just been a pain because we haven't been able to get the right parts... Hopefully, tomorrow will be better and we can get them up so I can post pictures.

Wipe Case

2010-07-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

I just made my first wipe case! I love it- it is super cute!!! Now I have a pink one too!

Diagonal Crochet Baby Blanket

2010-07-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

I love when I finish a project... I work on them so long and look at them so much and - mostly- fall in love with them as I go... I love this little baby blanket... I love the colors and the diagonals and the granny squares. I am now debating on a boarder!

Flower Mania

2010-07-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

This morning and last night Samantha and I were making bracelets and headbands with flowers on them... I think they are super cute! Lilly picked out the colors for the head band and Samantha for the bracelet.

Hexagon

2010-06-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

I made my first hexagon today--- I'm so excited!

Adding Character

2010-06-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

We were at Billy's childhood home this weekend and we got these from the house- I'm exciting because they add some needed character to your boxy square house!

New Blanket (Hexagon or Granny Square)

2010-06-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

I haven't decided yet about the pattern, but I have bought the colors for the new blanket- I think it's going to be pretty!

Blue Diagonal Baby Blanket Complete

2010-06-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

I am now done with the blue diagonal blue knit baby blanket... I really like it but it is bigger than I thought it would be- I'm not the greatest at gauge; but at least it will grow with the baby and not be outgrown!

New Shoes

2010-06-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today Tony took Billy and I out on the town to buy new shoes- Which both of us REALLY needed!! We went to Unger's Shoe Store where I got two pair of new shoes that I really like and are quite comfortable, so I will be able to wear them to work! I bought a pair of Unstructured Clark Un.Fasten and a pair of Bella~Vita Penelope Bone Nappa shoes. I have never been to a local shoe store before where they measured your foot, helped you put on the shoes and loosened them for you... It was really nice... They wrapped up my shoes so nicely when I bought them! I felt like they were really some special shoes!!!! Their customer service was awesome and I can see why they have been in business for so long!

New Blanket (Hexagon)

2010-06-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

I found this in a really pretty pattern I want to make! I've been trying to find a yarn store--- everyone looks at me like I'm crazy....

Jim's Steak and Spaghetti House

2010-06-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

We went to this restaurant tonight and it was sssssoooo good!!! I had Haddock deep fried with special batter, Billy had 1/2 Ravioli, 1/2 spaghetti, Tony had a steak sandwich, and Andrea had the same as me in sandwich form!
It was fun; the place has been open since 1938 and had several famous people eat there including; Bill Clinton and JFK... We actually sat in the same seat as JFK (Cool!)!

Snack in Ashland

2010-06-25T19:56:00.000-07:00

We stopped at Jolly Pirate Donuts! How could we not? How could we not have a snack from Pirates? So we stopped ordered two glasses of chocolate milk, an oatmeal cookie for Billy, and the yummiest strawberry shortcake doughnut I've ever had for me!!!!

Fuzzy Duck Lunch and New Mug

2010-06-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

A while back my poor Fuzzy Duck mug was broken at a coffee shop. While in Morehead we went back to the Fuzzy Duck and had lunch and I picked out a new mug-- it was hard to choose but I went with the teal one that looks like the one I had before in every way but color. We shared a spinach chicken wrap and a strawberry green tea drink.

Towards Ohio

2010-06-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

This is a perfect moment- Billy driving, listening to Sirius, knitting. We stopped at Morehead to go to the bookstore and see what had changed- Answer Not Much!

Rexaroni

2010-06-24T15:43:00.001-07:00

I don't know if I have ever posted a picture of our baby Rexie. He is a beautiful sheltie.

Blue Multi-Color Blanket

2010-06-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

This is a loose granny square blanket I'm working on....

Crochet Qulit Multi-Color

2010-06-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the crochet blankets I'm working on.

Bella's Baby Blanket

2010-06-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I forgot I had not posted a picture of Bella's blanket. It's green chenille and so soft!

Stockholm Inn

2010-06-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Adam took us to the Stockholm Inn when we went to Rockford to visit them. I felt sick and couldn't really eat very much.... but.... I can't get those pancakes and orange juice out of my head... Yum!

Dinner

2010-06-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Dinner was so yummy tonight I just had to post it! Prosciutto wrapped asparagus with feta, pan fried ham with pineapple glaze, tomato, cheese, and onion tart. YUMMMMMMM!

Baby Blanket

2010-06-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

I've been working like a mad woman on my baby blankets... I only have a bunch of them to go.... This one is half way through.

Google Search Stories

2010-06-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

I love google search stories...

Morehead Stepping Stone

2010-06-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

I had this cute stepping stone made for Billy- He loves his Morehead and I thought it would be great to have something of it to decorate the garden! I think he really likes it. Now we just need to weed and mulch and it will look beautiful!!!

Ipod Touch

2010-06-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

For Billy's birthday we bought an Ipod Touch- I have to say I love it!!! Who knew I would like it so much- I literally use it every day. For an ebook reader... to watch movies... and so much more!! Right now Lilly is watching Hercules on it! I am so glad we got one; I actually like the size of it- we thought about trying to get an Ipad... Now only if the would get that app for Netflix streaming done!

Fun With Food and Kids

2010-06-22T19:06:00.001-07:00

Tonight was so fun! We, Billy, Rycken, Lilly, and I, all made our own veg. pizzas w/ oven baked and frozen smores for dessert! Lilly is so expressive when eating! Then we took a walk around the block with Rexie!

Crochet, Knit, and All Things Yarn!

2010-06-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

The past few days I have been doing nothing but yarn work almost constantly. Every day I wake up and start - I can't seem to get it out of my mind and my fingers feel strange when they are not crocheting and knitting. It has been so long since I have crocheted and forgot it really is fun- and fast- I have almost two blankets already done in a week compared to the months I've been working on one knitted blanket!
Anyway, I was reading some other peoples blogs about yarn work and realized that I love to see people (like me) take it everywhere they go! It's like an addiction and then the gratification of having a completed project. There is something so exciting about having made something yourself!

Frustration

2010-06-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

I have a book in my head that I read a long time ago... It was one I kept for a long time and then got rid of- I am so sad b/c I keep replaying it over and over in my head but can't find it anywhere to buy! I love that book and read it many times...

New House

2010-04-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

We finally closed on our new and first house! YEAH! Yesterday, we closed then immediately went and bought paint. Today we spent the entire day painting. We have the first coat on the cabinets and half the kitchen wall painted. The paint colors are not exactly what I thought they would be, but I think I like them anyway. Maybe, I'm just too excited to care!

Living Room

2010-03-25T18:25:00.001-07:00

I think I am having to much fun... in anticipation of having a new house I am thinking of ways to decorate our house!!! Here is my living room plan.

Shed

2010-03-16T19:16:00.001-07:00

This could be our shed?

Reel Mowers

2010-03-14T04:12:00.001-07:00

I haven't been able to sleep all night and now I am awake at 6 a.m. reading a million reviews on reel mowers...

Lights

2010-03-13T21:13:00.000-08:00

I really want to get this light fixture for our new kitchen. I am still looking for a chandelier for over the table. Maybe this one... or this one.... I think I love most of what I see at Schoolhouse Electric.

Kitchen

2010-03-13T20:56:00.001-08:00

Right now I am really drawn to teals, light blues, and greens. In the new kitchen I really want to paint and decorate like Julia Child.

New Home

2010-03-13T20:30:00.000-08:00

We are currently in the process of buying our very first house. I'm getting excited about all the possibilities. The rooms are really large and it had almost everything on our want list.

House Hunting cont....

2010-01-17T21:09:00.001-08:00

Today we went to see a house for the second time. Looking at the house from the outside it is nothing spectacular, in fact it is rather unspectacular. It is more than I really want to spend at this moment, not in a neighborhood I wanted to consider, only has one bathroom, and has one of the tiniest bedrooms I've ever been in; but for some reason I really like this house. I can see our lives there. I walk in and in the kitchen I just feel at home. There is a big back yard with a swing set, and watching my niece and nephew play on it was just really nice. It has raised flower beds, which isn't hard to create, but I've always wanted them. It has no real details, just a plain box created in the late 60's, but I find it charming. I feel overwhelmed... so I guess for now the house hunt continues.

Julie and Julia

2010-01-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

We just watched Julie and Julia and I really love it. I love the relationship between the couples - it makes me think of my own relationship, which makes me smile. Throughout the movie- I know it's odd- but I just felt really lucky to be married to my friend. I love the story and looked up more about it online. After reading comments and detail and others opinions I've decided to believe the movie version is the exact truth, because I it makes me feel bubbly inside!!!

House Hunting

2010-01-10T14:57:00.000-08:00

We are currently house hunting--- As of now I am very disappointed. There have been a couple of houses that we kind of like but nothing we are overwhelmed with yet.

Currently reading...

2009-12-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

I just finished Marked from the series "House of the Night."
I am getting ready to reread Wuthering Heights. I'm pretty excited; I used to looovvveee this book- since it's Edward and Bella's fav book, I just want to refresh my love of it.

Dog Leash

2009-12-13T14:31:00.001-08:00

I just made the cutest dog leash for Rexaroni! It is made out of hemp in macrame style. ... I love it!

New Painting

2009-11-29T11:46:00.001-08:00

I did a mother and baby owl as a gift to a friend. Here is a pic.

New Project

2009-07-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Rabbit Family

2009-07-19T16:41:00.001-07:00

Watercolors

2009-07-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a couple of watercolors using the square in BG as a source of inspiration... Here they are.

Base Ball Tin

2009-05-24T18:33:00.001-07:00

Since we go to every baseball game and there are a lot. I made a tin to care and keep tickets in.

Ice Cream Cozy

2009-05-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

I am making ice cream pint cozies... I love them...

The Cave

2009-05-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Lost River Cave on Saturday. Rycken was so excited because he had never been on a boat. Lilly sat in my lap the whole time and did not seem to love it. We told her that while we were on the boat we were looking for Ariel. Billy hid a toy Ariel in his pocket so we could "find" her on the boat. She didn't want to leave the cave, because she was talking to the water "AKA Ariel." Then we went and saw the butterflies; which they loved. Finally, we went out to eat and enjoyed hot dogs, which Rycken really wanted, and some ice cream.

Fuzzy Duck Mug

2009-05-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today we went to go get coffee from Starbucks... We always take our own mug and today mine got broke... My favorite mug that Billy got me when we were newly dating and he was still at Morehead. I know it's silly, but I'm really kind of upset. I know the girl really felt bad and all I could say was accidents happen- I know she didn't mean to do it. They offered to replace the mug and after a few minutes I said okay and got a new one... but I still felt that it just wouldn't replace my favorite Fuzzy Duck mug. The Fuzzy Duck mug was a one of a kind kind of mug... crafted by a local artist in Morehead... and bought on a whim during a date for me... So, in an effort to keep my cherished mug, I brought it home with the hope that I could repair it and use it as a planter, but there is a piece missing and the other pieces aren't fitting together in the right way...

24 Hours

2009-05-18T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am declaring that we have a problem... Either A: I want to do too much in a day! or B: There aren't enough hours in a day! I'm going with the not enough hours part... I would like to have a conversation with God and ask for a few more to please be inserted...

First Stitch Markers

2009-05-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

Last night, while I was sleeping, I was dreaming of beads. So, first thing I did when I got home today was to make these stitch markers....

Stitch Markers

2009-05-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

I have been researching stitch markers today and found these beautiful ones. I love them!!! Michael, the guy who made them is a man after my own heart. See something; look into it; decide to make you own...

Game #16

2009-05-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today we took the kids to the game. Before we left the house we gave the kids tattoos. Lily got a baseball and Rycken got the Hot Rods logo. It was super fun. Rycken loved Axle, the mascot. Lily was terrified. She covered herself up and cried in my shoulder every time he came near. It was a double header and was long. Over all it was a great time.

Change of Heart

2009-05-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Change of Heart. So far it's interesting.
Later... I can't put this book down it so so good...

Game #14

2009-05-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Last night we were at the Hot Rods ball game as usual. When we got there we sat for two hours waiting for the game to start-- the field was unable to be played on. When they called the game off they did give us a free ticket! Awesome!

Tissue Knitting

2009-05-16T07:30:00.001-07:00

I finished the cover... It's really cute; I like it.

On Account of Conspicuous Women

2009-05-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Paige bought this book at the BookFest and so I decided that it was time to crack it open and give it a read.

Rain

2009-05-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

We still haven't got out into the garden to finish planting. The plants we bought at the farmer's market last week are sitting by the back door waiting for it to stop raining. I can't even be sad though because I really love the rain!

Knitted Tissue Cover

2009-05-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

So, last night I found a pattern I really wanted to try. I have never followed a pattern so I'm excited. The project should end up as a tissue cover and I think it looks pretty cute.

Drawings

2009-05-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today, I drew two new drawings as get well cards for people at school. The first one (the cartoons) was my idea and the other one was done by request. On the inside of each we have had the kids all sign and write notes.

Spring Day

2009-05-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today was such a wonderful weekend day. We got up went to the farmers market where we bought some purple tomatoes, yellow peppers, and strawberries to plant in the garden. Then we came home and I fell asleep on the couch watching TV. In the afternoon we leisurely went out for groceries. After bringing them home and putting them away we were off again to go to Hobby Lobby for yarn. We spent way too much money on more yarn for the stashes. And then to Greener Groundz for dinner. It was a really great day!!

Greener Groundz

2009-05-02T19:22:00.001-07:00

Greener Groundz has opened recently, not sure exactly when, and we finally made it over there today. We had dinner and it was delicious!!! We ordered Raspberry Cheesecake coffee and a Twist of Thia pizza. It was so yummy, but much spicier than had anticipated! I really love this little cafe and hope they stay in business. They get all of their products from local farmers and they have organic and fair trade products. It has a great atmosphere with local musicians playing and artists showing their work. Tonight we listened to Brooke Annibale w/Lauren Conkin singing. She was pretty good, I enjoyed what we heard. I feel that I will be frequenting this place more and hopefully often in the future.

Blue Blanket

2009-05-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

I just completed my first blanket. It was done almost completely at the HotRods games. I'm pretty excited about it. I think it is the quickest thing I've ever knitted.

War

2009-04-24T13:53:00.000-07:00

Paige is currently outside fighting a battle with the wasps. They take up residence every summer outside our door. If we didn't know they would sting us lots of times we might not have cared!

Hot Rods Game #3

2009-04-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today, the game was cold and rainy. We waited a for over an hour before they called the game off. Crazy first weekend!

Southern Kentucky BookFest

2009-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the SOKY BookFest. There were tons of people there and it felt a little overwhelming trying to decide what I wanted to purchase. I ended up getting : Penny and the Punctuation Bee by MORIA ROSE DONOHUE, 2 of the The Black Lagoon books illustrated by JARED LEE, and Fiber Gathering: Knight, Crochet, Spin & Dye More Than 25 Projects Inspired by America’s Festivals by JOANNE SEIFF.

Farmer's Market Opens

2009-04-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today, was the first day of the farmer's market. Paige and I went to pick up some milk and cheese. We looked over the plants and made plans for what we are getting ready to buy. We entered a contest to win a rain barrel and got a free light bulb. I love the farmer's market!! It signifies the beginning of summer. It was such a nice day to enjoy the local goodies.

HotRods

2009-04-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Went to the first game of the season... really cool!!! The weather was perfect. We had a great time and it was packed-- there were over 6,000 people there and the stadium holds 4500 people. It was a great game and we won!

Praxis II Special Ed Test

2009-04-15T15:21:00.001-07:00

Yeah!!! I did it. I am done! I passed my test-- I'm completely done now and am offically a teacher- now all I need is a job!

NKOTB

2009-04-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I was a kid I use to love this band -- my first star crush!! I like their new song Springtime, but feel that maybe they should revise thier name-- they aren't exactly "new" as they are in their 30's. And they aren't kids.... But still I have a place in my heart for this group!! Love them.

SpongeBob

2009-04-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is just strange....

Painting

2009-04-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

Today we painted landscapes. Rycken painted dark clouds a bush and a tornado with strong winds. He is very intense! He seems to have decided though that he prefers performance art! As he is recreating a tornado with his body in one picture.

Easter Eggs

2009-04-07T08:09:00.001-07:00

So, today we had a great time decorating Easter eggs that we are going to eat for snack later. They were so cute, and both the kids seemed to have a great time doing them; though it took much less time than I had hoped... Oh, well they are super fun and yummy!!!

Upside Down Patio Planter

2009-04-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

I saw this at Sam's club the other day-- I love it. It is made from 100% recycled materials and, in my opinion, would look perfect on my back patio.

VMotion

2009-03-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

I love this game system. Rycken has been with me this weekend and we have the game system. We bought our first game (other than the demo that came with it) and we have played it on and off. He picked out the Wonder Pets game. It is so cute. He can play on his own without getting so frustrated, it's right on his level. I love it!

Yarn Sale

2009-03-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Paige and I went to peruse around Hobby Lobby. While there we found a huge sale of yarn. It was so exciting and hard to make decisions. There was a whole row of yarn marked down to $2. Yes, I know not hard to make me happy. I can't wait to start my new project.

Solemate Mismatched Socks

2009-03-20T19:30:00.001-07:00

Solemate mismatched socks; I love them-- they are so cute I would love to knit a pair!!! They are sold at Enchanted yarn.