when to turn it off.

since I got this new computer, I've been doing a lot of this:

Which means the angry villagers who get furious when I don't hold the babies...

have been doing a lot of this:

So I'm turning off the tv & computer and making cookies for Jack Jack. he's got an awful temper; we've gotta keep him happy or there's messy trouble.

And baby Minnie needs a manicure.

And I've got to figure out how to get all the rubber bands out of her hair.

I love Yo Gabba Gabba. it's so wierd.

see ya later.

Miss E. Designs

I love Elisha's shop, Miss E. Designs.

Her drawings are adorable.

Someone I know should get married soon so I can buy the bridal shower invitations.

my mom tats.

my whole life, I've watched my mom shuttle tat. She even taught me once and I made a rug for my Barbies, but then ruined it because I thought I could make it a wedding dress, and couldn't.

I used to lay on her arm and watch her shuttle go back and forth so fast I couldn't figure out what was happening. Then I'd pick up her project when she wasn't looking and try to count the number of knots she'd made.

It wasn't until my mom brought me a bag full of tatted snowflakes for my Christmas Tree a couple years ago that I realized what an amazing talent she had. Over Christmas this year she brought my sister and I bags of beautiful doilies and necklaces and flowers and lace. We divided them up semi-evenly {I snuck away with most of it} and I have finally framed some of my favorites and displayed them in my dining room.

I love it.

I have big plans to sell her tatting on bags and dresses and garlands and such whenever I open a shop.

Until then, I get it all out of the ziploc bag in my stuffed craft closet and just stare at how beautiful it is as I try to count the knots.

Still impossible.

i need new socks.

ya think?

jill's. she's having a baby.

These changing pads are easy guys. Just make a tiny quilt {one layer of batting between two pieces of fabric cut big enough for their little heads and bottoms to fit} then fold it up. I fold it in half 3 times. Then use your iron and press down your creases where you've folded it. You can {but don't have to} sew a line down those creases to make it more obvious.

Then wrap your diaper strap around the folded up changing pad and pin it down on the back. Open up the changing pad and sew your strap down {a little bit}. If you make your strap big enough you can tuck your diapers and wipes in here too.

Lovely.

Let me know if you have questions. I didn't make this a full tutorial, sorry, but brief explanations of fortuitous crafting will sometimes suffice. I made a diaper strap to put in Jill's bag, and then made a changing pad that I was going to add just a little velcro closure to but I ran out of velcro. So I wrapped it in the diaper strap and I love it even more. See? fortuitous. Happens all the time.

did you know that mac's have a little dictionary application at the bottom of my screen I can just click on and have instant definitions? like fortuitous. all my dreams have come true.

I'm going to invent a cliche application...but someone else will have to write it, because my six to one half dozen of the copper kettles under the haystacks in the horses mouths don't always make it out of my face appropriately. Hence, the need for the cool application I'm going to request. Then all my dreams will come true for real.

I'm easily pleased.

see ya later, crocodile.

just kidding. I meant mater.

I know that one.

just kidding, that's not a cliche, it's just a rhyme.

so don't put it in the application you're writing.

apples and oranges.

huh?

andrea's quiet book.

I grew up with Andrea in Saskatchewan. She was {and is} the coolest, and so are her 3 hilarious super hero quick witted boys. Her hubby's a surfer from California. See, cool. And so became their quiet book.

this is a song Andrea wrote for her boys,

and the white monster is one of Taj's stuffed animals.

this is what I'm doing today.

Because we went to my sister's house in Nashville and Seth brought home this humongous and most delicious chocolate cake, and my sister kick boxes and zumbas and stuff so she's all healthy and has big muscles, and she didn't want that huge cake in her house so she sent it home with me, because I'm afraid of zumba and very not afraid of a heart attack, apparently.

So we have this gigantic chocolate cake to eat today so I can start being healthy tomorrow.

I have a lot of things to blog, but I'm not feeling so good.

It'll all have to wait until this major distraction is completely consumed.

Tomorrow.

laura's bag.

actually, it was a gift from Laura to her friend, but I think of Laura when I see it. So I'll call it laura.

Conan brined our turkey. And other non essential information:

I have no pictures from Christmas, or any other such recent event, in which I will explain later. And so, since I cannot in good conscience begin a new decade with a picture-less post, I am sharing this.

I call it: Children with Oreo Shakes and a Green Gun.

Let's try to keep them in proper perspective in the New Year, is my wish.

Shakes, good. Plastic guns, okay as long as they're not pointed at your sisters face in close proximity.

Okay, here's my holiday update:

• Popular to contrary belief, I am alive and will blog.

• My omentum got 2 brand new sparkling inches for Christmas. Lovely. But as it should be.

• I didn't finish or come close to even starting the Barbie clothes for Kacie's lovely box of 10 used "mommies and daddies" from ebay. So Ken has a wedgie and the red hair mommy Barbie shows too much leg. But oh well. They're naked now anyways; and will probably stay unclothed for another decade. I'm letting go of this project.

• My new fancy pants camera was stolen. Yup. That's right. Ripped from my very being; and I cried my fancy pants off. Alone, mind you, because it would be embarrassing for anyone to see my crying crocodile tears over a camera with no pants. Just kidding. Here's the story: We went to my sister's house in Alabama, and as I was getting out of the van one afternoon I glanced at my personal belongings {aka purse and camera} and thought "I should take those inside." And the other me thought "No, the kids will just get into it. Leave it here." And the other me thought "Then you should lock the door for sure." And the smart me that has no brain thought "Yeah, do that." And I didn't. So the next morning my sister comes in the house saying she found my purse dumped out in the woods, and the camera loving me thought "My camera!" So I ran to the van, and yup, it was gone. They didn't take anything from my purse, they just dumped it out so as to appear to be looking for something other than a fancy pants camera. I would much rather have them take my Tide Stain Be Gone pen, or the ever valuable princess PullUp. I say they because I'm pretty sure it was a band of wild somethings. Creeps.

• I learned how to make creme brulee and ate it twice. Hence, two inches on the omentum. My sister learned to make it while in Paris, so it was French custard. I bought 8 ramekins at Ross today so I can make it. I just need a torch. Because you torch the top, you know. very French.

• The boys got guns for Christmas. nerf. green.

• Conan brined our turkey. He stuck it in a bucket of salty broth and crystalized ginger overnight, and it was so good. He is now the turkey master.

• I got Conan the soundtrack to West Side Story for his stocking because I knew he'd love it oh so much. Turns out he didn't, so he gave it to me. So generous of him. He got me brie (the fancy cheese) because I love fancy cheese, and some vintage tupperware canisters, and itunes cards. And the books I posted below. He's a smart clicker.

• Last but not least, I'm a mac now. And so that's where I've been. Drowning in the pc to macbook transition realm of how the heck do I right click this thing? I'm so excited to garage band. Power to the iLife.

Happy 2010.