six weird things

I have been 'Tagged' by Heather.


So here goes - Six weird things about me:

1.) I can't stand to feel anyone breathe on me. It's much much worse if I can smell their breath.

2.) I am terrified of needles, doctors, and riding in elevators. I have no tattoos and no plans to ever have one. My only piercings are in my earlobes.

3.) Anything about the VietNam War makes me vomit, literally, or at least very dizzy and sick to my stomach.

4.) I used to never want to have any kids. I tried to be surgically sterilized in my early 20's, but couldn't find a doctor to agree with the procedure. Now I can't imagine my life without the children.

5.) I am very conscious of what I eat, I avoid all sorts of allergens, harmful ingredients and chemicals in my home and diet, but I have been a smoker off and on since I was 13.

6.) I am a very deeply spiritual person who abhors organized religion of any sort.


There you have it. Weird stuff about me.

online forums and message boards

I wonder how long it would take for anyone to notice if I just stop posting online altogether? For that matter, would anyone even care? I'm terribly addicted to the internet, I know it. I need to stop. Once I get it out of my system, I can do just a little bit without going overboard. I've done it before, limited my online time to less than an hour each day. I've got other things, much more important things to do with my precious time than sitting here on my ass staring at the computer. Admitting that you have a problem is half the battle, right? Either way, I will be spending much less time online for the next few weeks as I get the house ready for a big Valentines party I'm throwing for the kids. That's the only way I know to force myself to actually clean and declutter. I need to reset my mess tolerance to a much more socially acceptable level. I am going to do it!! I am making progress!! It's just the progress I have been making over the last few years is way too slow for me now, I want instant results... *sigh*

Oh, and I got some incredible fabric the other day. Look for more skirts on my etsy shop soon!! :) I might even make a matching pair, one for a little girl and one for Mommy. Now, parting with it once I make it, that's a whole different story!

some new things I made

I'm having problems with the rechargeable batteries for my digital camera. But I did manage to snap and upload a few photos, and added a few items to my etsy shop last night! More to come soon, I promise. Just as soon as I get new batteries...

not sure when it happened...

When did I turn into one of those people? One of those women who doesn't have anything to talk about unless someone asks me about my kids? Went to a party last night, without the kids. Left them at home with their Oma. Hadn't seen a lot of those friends in a very long time. Everyone looked so old. Funny, I don't *feel* like I'm any older than I was five or even ten years ago. I didn't have much to say to anyone. Just stood back and watched everyone else for the most part. I most certainly do not get out without kids nearly often enough. I guess it's official, I'm Mom now, and that's more than just what my kids call me, it's my whole identity. Used to be, when the womenfolk started talking about kids, I'd run away and hang out with the guys in the garage instead. But I don't care about motorcycles, and I quit pretending to be interested in them a good while ago. Raising my children is my life, I wouldn't have it any other way. Strange how that changes everything. One thing is the same, I'm still the round peg in a world of square holes. Geesh, it's a bit early for an identity crisis, that usually happens in February....

Happy New Year!

My Mission: Get Organized and Declutter!!
no, really, I am going to get better organized in 2007. Been working on it a long time, making headway slowly. What's so weird is that when I was working outside the home, I'd spend most of my workdays cleaning and organizing my workspace regardless of what the job was. Need to somehow get back in that frame of mind, where I need order so I can do my job efficiently.

The tree came down yesterday. Before I can put all the decorations away, I have to finish cleaning out the livingroom closet. I have organized the wrapping paper, gift bags, the ornaments, even "Frank" our Halloween guy has his own place where I can find him. It's frightening the amount of things I thought I needed to keep that are now being thrown away. Maybe I should sell it all as a mystery box on ebay? LOL!

Done!

That's it! No more sewing for xmas gifts. I finished the last hem on the last skirt this morning. Now we gotta get the groceries for the feasting and clean up the house to be presentable for visitors to come over. Maybe I'll manage to snap some pics of all the wonderful things I made tomorrow before the girls wake up, but I might just wrap everything now instead. Get the living room cleaned up, put wrapped presents under the tree because it does look rather sad without any. Those are my plans for today...

Happy Holidays everyone!!

silly poll

so I borrowed this poll from a friend's blog (link over on the right, Kihaku). Didn't have much to tell this morning. Going to the dentist with little one tomorrow, she has a few cavities and all her teeth appear to have problems.
:( *sigh* I hate doctors, and I've only ever seen one dentist in my entire life, but I will be brave so she won't be afraid. I have to.

Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
neither, give me coffee, lots of cream, no sugar

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
gifts from Santa are taken out of their packages, and left unwrapped and ready to play with under the tree.

Coloured lights on tree/house or white?
all white, but I like some of them to blink or twinkle

Do you hang mistletoe?
no, the tree in our yard that had it growing in it came down on our house in a storm a few years ago. Can't justify ever spending money on something so impossible to get rid of!

When do you put up your decorations?
usually the second weekend after Thanksgiving

What is your favorite holiday dish?
cookies

Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
the xmas after my parents split up, there was a huge mountain of presents, way more than I'd ever gotten before. I don't remember any of them except I got that Giant Size Barbie I wanted so badly.

When and how did you learn that Santa isn't real?
I never did believe in Santa. I didn't realize other kids really did either, until I was in high school and my neighbor told me that I was the one who told his little brother Santa wasn't real which really upset him terribly :(

Can you ice skate?
not very well, i have very weak ankles.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
yes, just one.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
with ornaments from my past, my father used to give me an ornament each year. Nothing matches. I like shiny beads and red bows, too. I like to barely be able to see the tree for all the decorations on it.

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
hate it!! But still wishing for snow this year, it's been so long...

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
letting people know you care about them

Do you remember your favorite gift?
I still have my orange stuffed bunny that was my favorite toy my entire childhood. She only has one ear, but she's still very special.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
cookies

What tops your tree?
used to be an angel, she's still on the tree, but a star my oldest child picked out is now on top.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I'm hoping to make new traditions with my kids. don't really have a favorite.

Which do you prefer giving or Receiving gifts?
giving, but what is even more fun is the making of gifts

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Father Christmas by The Kinks

Candy Canes on the tree?
did that once.... the ones that didn't get eaten all melted in the humidity in storage over the summer and gooped up all the other ornaments.

the weather has turned lovely again, no more frigid cold! woohoo! I seem to finally be in the groove as far as gift-making is concerned. I finished up a fantastic project for a little friend, and I want to keep it myself!! That's okay, I can always make more, this one was specially for a certain person. But now I also need to make her sisters similar items, because this one is way too cool. :) I have made my girls each a skirt, similar to Fay's skirt pictured below. I have made DH a couple welding hats, even gave him one (in the same pink fabrics as those skirts - teeheehee. welders are an odd bunch, and nobody would ever dare question my husband's masculinity for wearing a pink hat) because I needed to make sure I had the pattern and the size right. I have also made a shopping bag full of plush aliens. They look more like dog toys to me than kid toys, but... oh well. Maybe I'll make more of them with squeakers inside to sell on Etsy as dog toys, later, after the holidays.
Here's a fun little handbag I made for a friend of a friend...

tooth fairy!!

The tooth fairy visited our house last night for the first time. Little sister pulled DD's loose tooth acidentally, but it was time. It didn't hurt nor did it bleed and she says she can feel something hard in the place where the old tooth was. Crazy kid had a death grip on the tooth fairy doll Miss Heather made for her all night long (link), and wasn't sleeping very deeply I suppose in hopes of catching a glimpse of the magical creature, so the tooth fairy had to leave the tooth behind and put the money under her pillow. That's cool, I wanted to save the tooth in her baby book anyway. Didn't want to until I actually saw it, and knew I couldn't just throw it away. Husband told me to leave $5! My goodness! I don't remember teeth being worth quite so much, but it was thirty years ago... Maybe now she'll eat. Hasn't had much of an appetite since the tooth became loose.

not much to tell. We had a rather uneventful, lazy weekend. DH worked overtime, and seems to be intent on ruining my plans of not spending money on xmas this year... whatever! I made all the gifts I'm giving, if he wants to go out and buy meaningless gift cards for his family, he can do that himself. I did go to Barnes and Noble (online) and bought books to put in our stockings with the money I had in my PayPal from things I had made and sold. But it doesn't feel like I spent any money because it didn't come out of our checking account. I seem to be getting over the cold or whatever bug I had, but am still stuffy and felt pretty bad around bedtime the last few nights. Mornings are so much better for me. I got a lot of things made, all I gotta do is figure out who gets what, wrap and mail out a little something special for JenJen's birthday and her son's xmas, and finish up the girls' gifts. Should be doing that now, while they are still asleep!! Kids want to go to the zoo today, at least it's warmed up from last week.

busy today

I really feel like I've accomplished something today. But, since the things I've made are all to be given as gifts, I can't share them yet. I will take photos to share after the recipients get a chance to see them first. :)

what looks like snow clouds have rolled in, and it has begun to flurry. Funny, my gardenia is still trying to bloom!! Noticed neighbor's gardenia is also blooming right now. (For those who don't know, Gardenias are about the pickiest blooming shrubs in existence, and only bloom in early summer... usually anyway.) This is the first time in ages I've actually wished for snow. The girls would really like to see it. Last time we got any snow, my oldest child wasn't even two years old yet and she no longer remembers it at all. *sigh*

Saw my chiropractor today. Hadn't been back to yoga class since the "camel" pose about made my back go out on me last week. Amazingly, as soon as he adjusted my neck, my sinuses cleared and I don't have the bloody boogers anymore! Hey, whatever works... Hoping this means no headaches for a while. Maybe I'll get the kids dressed and go to yoga tonight. Maybe not. Need to figure something out for dinner first, and see if they will eat and be ready in time to be at the Y by 5. Doesn't seem too likely at this rate. Husband was recently bumped over to second shift, and we are still adjusting to it. Unfortunately, just like last time he worked evenings, the girls won't go to bed until after he gets home. That means we don't get up until rather late, and by then the day's half over. I'm such a morning person, I just can't function when I stay up too late. How did I manage to have a family of night owls???

some new stuff

just finished up some new things. First is a skirt and matching bag for Fay, who is three. Really hope she likes it!


and next are some prototype Barbie/Kelly doll wings. The wings on the Kelly doll *do* fit Barbie as well. They are my second attempt and are much closer to the results I want. That silver fabric is a real pain to work with, but I'm getting it figured out!
The matching skirt was an experiment that didn't turn out quite how I had envisioned it.