Thursday, November 30, 2006

She has no idea how easy she has it

This morning I was taking a break from cleaning my apartment before my mother and her boyfriend get here (Saturday ... yikes!!!) and happened to look over to see Anna yawn and stretch like she'd been working all day long.

At that point I'd only been up for an hour or so and had cleaned the bathroom, the kitchen and was about to tackle the living room. I was tired, smelled like Lysol Kitchen Cleaner and wanted a massage.

Instead, Anna looked up at me and groaned. The following was our exchange:

Me: "I hear ya, Anna."
Anna: Stares blankly
Me: "You have no idea how easy you've got it."
Anna: Looks at me like I'm speaking another language
Me: "I really should teach you to mop the floors."
Anna: Another groan

And that was pretty much how my day went. I cleaned, she groaned.

Monday, November 27, 2006

And they're off!

I'm finished! I mailed out the ornaments I've been working on night and day (yeah, I'm slow) for the last three weeks. And I must say it feels really great ... but I'm a little sad that my part in the swap is over.

But, on the bright side, now I get to sit back and wait for other crafters' ornaments to arrive in my mailbox, which is sooo much fun, too! Like the other day when I opened it up to find this cute little kangaroo all the way from Sydney, Australia. Isn't it great?!?

Oh, and here's another from Illinois. Everything about this mitten is recycled, according to its creator. Very cool.

There are more truly original swap creations in the Flickr pool if you're curious.

I'm really looking forward to next year's ornament swap ... I had never even heard of online swaps, and goodness knows I'd never actually created something by sewing two things together. So, it was definitely a learning process!!

I'm going to reward myself with a trip to the Bahamas next week ... I can't wait!

Actually, the trip has been planned for months now, and I'm so very happy that it's finally getting close enough that I can begin making preparations (i.e. packing and writing list after list of things not to forget!).

That is another post alltogether, so I'll wait til later for that!

Thursday, November 23, 2006

The only bird I stuffed on Thanksgiving

Here's another one of my felt ornaments. Yes, I've lost my mind and have made what seems like a thousand different little creations, but I kind of liked this one.

I call her Pinky the Penguin. She was inspired by the latest Crate & Barrel catalog, which features adorable penguin bulb ornaments. (I want them!)

I hope you all had a belly-fillng Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Happy Turkey Day!

myspace layouts, myspace codes, glitter graphics

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Long weekends rock

Typically, I don't get holidays off.

Saturdays and Sundays are usually spent at work, too.

But every so often, I can take a four-day weekend - and when that happens, they are absolutely glorious.

I've just returned from four days in Atlanta that were slam-packed. And although I was going, going, going, I feel completely refreshed.

Here's a brief overview of the four days that kept my sanity (somewhat) intact:

* Thrashers hockey game - Where I witnessed THREE fights break out during that one game. I'm a lover and not a fighter, but there's just something exciting about a bunch of hockey players throwing punches.
* An amazing homecooked meal at Chad's mother's house. Oh, and good wine, too! Mmm ...
* Holiday sugar cookies. We had every shape imaginable ... angels, doves, Christmas trees, bells, gingerbread men, toy soldiers, snow flakes, etc. Icing and colored sugar made them even prettier, and man did they taste de-lish!
* A two-hour shopping excursion at IKEA with Allison, where I got the deal of all deals ... a duvet cover on sale for $4.99. I love it!
* More shopping with Allison at the Gap, where I plopped down $60 for a sweater - not for a Christmas gift - but for myself. It felt good to spend money on something nice without being influenced by what was on sale. Full-price can be a good self-esteem boost sometimes.
* The best Mexican food under the sun at El Jinete in Woodstock. If you're ever there, you must order the chicken fajita quesadilla. Words can't describe the wonders of this meal. I won't even try.
* Bruise-inducing bowling. ... Yep, I'm a clutz and managed to bonk my leg with a bowling ball, leaving a nice purple knot on my right leg. It's ugly.

But, despite the purple glow of my leg, now that I'm back in Chattanooga I've got a new happy attitude. Life is good, isn't it?

I think so.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Colorific!

Here's a peak at what I've been working on for the holiday ornament swap.

I've got seven of the nine ornaments done, and I've had such a great time making them!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

As if you didn't already know ...

I'm one of a kind!

HowManyOfMe.com
LogoThere is:
1
person with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

She's crafty!

Oh my goodness. I have had such fun creating my ornaments for the Holiday Ornament Swap I mentioned a couple posts ago.

It took several days of thinking before I finally decided on making felt ornaments adorned with ribbons, buttons and other little decorations, but I think it was a great choice! They are coming together so well, and I'm loving every minute of it. ... I'll post pictures soon.

It's been ages since I've sat down and made something with my own two hands. In college, my roommate Kelley and I were hooked on candle-making. Then the world of mosaics hit me in the face, and I probably made a couple hundred different things for people here and there.

But something called adulthood happened along the way, and I didn't make the time to keep crafting. I missed it for a while, but soon let other things in life creep into the void and, poof!, I'd let go of my love of creating.

Well, it's back, and I couldn't be happier. Those of you who still read my not-so-regular and not-so-exciting blog may just find an ornament in your mailbox this holiday season.

... That is, if you've been good. ;)

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Adventures in shopping

While standing in line this afternoon at a local arts and crafts store, I got distracted. The line was long. Very, very long, and - of course - there was just one cashier.

So, knowing I was in for a rather long wait, I took the bait and started poking through the $1 bins to my left. Filled with super cool notepads, candles, pens, cards, ribbons and various other items that would rock any Christmas stocking, those bins had my undivided attention as I awaited my turn at the checkout.

Ten minutes later, my cell phone rings. At that point I was still searching for the perfect stocking stuffers - while on my knees and pretty much inside the bins, themselves. The conversation quickly turned to holiday decorating, tree trimming and the like - all of which I'm more than happy to talk about these days, so I was completely unaware of my surroundings - or that I was being watched.

A few minutes later, I removed myself from inside the $1 bargain bonanza and glanced up to find an audience of middle-aged women waiting to see what the heck I was doing. I stood up, smiled and realized I'd been holding up the line for a good 5 minutes as my leg was stretched out of the bin and into the aisle. Oops.

At any rate, everyone was super nice and let me back into my place. ... And then it happened: Two, count 'em two, cashiers opened registers. Several old ladies in the back of the line made mad dashes to the new check-out girls, and a lady behind me told me to go on up. I politely refused, considering I'd just made a spectacle of myself, and told her to go ahead and get in the shorter line.

I watched as the two new lines moved quickly. My line stayed in the same place. It seemed the couple in front of me was hell-bent on buying every Christmas decoration in the store. But I'd committed to that line. I'd refused the shorter line, and that was OK. I watched as new people came and went and as the slowest check-out girl in the world rang up garland after garland and fake pine cone after fake pine cone.

And that's the way it always works out. Whether it be in line at a store or in traffic ... the slow lane is where you'll fine me.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Tomorrow is Election Day ...

Please vote.