heatherxdawn

Technical difficulties

2011-10-10T14:50:00.000-07:00

I regretfully have to inform you that my computer has crashed. :( It's in need of a new hard drive! And it's also my work laptop... So it might be ages before I get it back. I'm going to find a way to update from my phone but until then follow me on pinterest & instagram for all my exploits! I miss you guys!

Sally Hansen Nail Strips...

2011-09-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you nail obsessed, like me, out there I decided to document my expierence with some new nail polish techniques!

So, I took the plunge and bought a ridiculously expensive pack of Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips. I've been wanting to try them since they came out sometime last year! I've looked around at various places and dediced to buy mine from Wal-Mart because they were the cheapest there at $8.50. At other drugstores they ranged $9.50 to $10.50. I think this is kind of ridiculous, considering my favorite nail polish, Sinful Colors, is $1.99 & it comes in some pretty awesome shades.. (more on that later though!).

Here's what you need to get started:
*One Pack of Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips
*Nail Polish Remover
*Cotton Balls
and *Soap to wash your hands.
Easy enough. The set comes with good, easy instrustions, 3-sided nail buffer, cuticle stick and 2 packs of nail strips.

I followed the instructions to a tee! I have to admit I kinda wanted to stop after I pushed my cuticles back & buffed my nails! They looked so pretty & shiny! I forgot how much just a buffer can do for your nails! So here's the finished product!

All that Glitters is GOLD! I look at this picture and think "Man, they DO look good!" But then I look at my nails today... ha. More pictures to prove my point

This was about an hour after I put them on. You can see the strips don't exactly fit perfect,but it's not that noticeable in person, but the wear on the ends was worse than with polish! A few bits actually chipped that first night too.

This was taken yesterday! 5 days after the application.

I'll tell you what I think & we'll be done with it.

PRO's:

-I love that I didn't have to wait for my nails to dry at all!

-I could choose intricate designs like HOUNDSTOOTH or pretty floral patterns

-The time spent was considerably less, because they don't have to dry.

-No smudges to worry about or nics in the polish

CON's:

-Expensive

-A wee bit messy with all the strips laying everywhere.

-chips just like polish

-Sizes we're a perfect fit for my wide nails

Over all:

I would like to try them one more time & be a little more careful after the initial application. See if maybe that makes a difference in the chipping. Plus, I really want to try out the Houndstooth that they have! It's adorable. Even though it's more expensive than nail polish, it's still cheaper than a salon manicure.. so I can justify the expense a little bit.

If you try it, let me know how they work out! I guess I'll go back to using my old faithful nail polish:

This the stash that I got for .99cents each! My bff Natalie was down & we raided two wal-greens! :P

And the funny thing is, that's not even all of it... there's more in a basket in my room! bwahaha!! Can you blame me though? They are regularly priced $1.99 and they go on so smoothly! Beautiful colors. Cheap. Totally love it!

What polishes/brands do you LOVE? I'd love to try out some Essie products, but $8!!! :O It just hurts, but they do have an army green that I have my eyes on ;)

Such A Wonderful Week!

2011-09-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

This week has been such a blast! I've been crocheting up a storm working on Judah's ripple blanket & making granny squares for the Blogger Blanket Project! I FINALLY found my favorite crochet hook! It's a blue H hook with a bamboo handle! It's been missing for quite some time! When I took the couch cushions off to wash them, the hook was tucked away in the couch!

My doctors appointment was cancelled Tuesday, as the OB had to go in to deliver a baby! Not a problem, but it was kinda annoying that we had to drive an hour & 30 minutes to get to his office. We were about 3 miles away from his office when we got the call. We took advantage of the day and went to Old Navy for some maternity blue jeans & then we headed to Lenox Mall for some shopping! We went in LUSH, the apple store & Anthro. It was Robin's first time ever going in Anthropologie and he was actually in love! I have to admit, my hubby has good taste! He loved the natural wood & stone floor and a lot of the home decorations! He even pointed out a few bedspreads that he liked.. I might just have to make a wish list for Christmas or something! I was so surprised he loved it.. It made me love him a wee bit more on top of the muchness that I love him. It was like a cherry on top of whipped cream ;) Two things that really caught my eye were these::::

Um, I DIE!!! A crochet bird house?!?! Have mercy! I don't know if I would put it outside, but it would be such a cute place for a little feathery family to brood! AND that blanket. OH.. my eyes and heart just swell looking at it! I can hardly stand it!

I also had my baby shower this weekend too! Which means my BFF Natalie was down for the weekend! We stayed up till 3:30am Friday night! We made cake pops & chocolate covered marshmellow & oreos for the shower! She decorated it in a "Rain Shower" theme! Everything was so cute & light blue! It was so beautiful! My friend Jessica said everything looked like a Pinterest board! We made blue punch & had cups with paper umbrellas & straws! The cake pops were almost a disaster but after putting them in the freezer & swapping candy melts for Almond bark made everything work out perfectly! We got a little stressed out Friday night and decided to forget all the baby shower hoopla & get in the hot tub! We laughed so much and so hard! It was like we were teenagers again.. minus the weird hair and obvious lack of fashion sense. Needless to say, it was a blast! Saturday loads of my family & friends came over and showered me with love & gifts! Such WONDERful gifts! Some of which I will cherish for a lifetime!! Tons of stuff to get us started with out little man! I still can't get over how SOON he will be here... 5 more weeks.

Hopefully this week we can get around to moving our rooms around to make room for little Judah & give me an area to "nest" and decorate!

What did you ladies/gents do this weekend?!

Baby Blanket Progress

2011-09-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

If you follow me on instagram or flickr, these pictures aren't new to you! This past week I set asdie my granny squares to work on Judah's Ripple Blanket. The clock is ticking & he'll be here REALLY soon.. like within the next MONTH! Crazy. So I've been working on this every spare moment I get and I don't get those alot. I really need to put in some serious hours on this to get it finished! I've got about 6 more weeks until my due date ;) Hopefully I can get it finished before then!(And YES, we finally decided on a baby name: Judah River :D I'm sure I'm going to call him River & his daddy will call him Judah. :P)

Do you see that belly?! Lol. (Mini update from my post a few days ago about Judah being breech, he's head down now :) which makes my heart skippy and my eyes tear up a bit. This whole Vbac thing is really going to happen! I feel so happy & blessed!)

I took this picture the day I started the blanket. A ripple blanket works up so quickly! And doing just two rows of colors each, you're constantly changing out yarn! Which, to me, breaks it up and it's easy to finish two rows in one sitting ;)
I'm using Attic24's pattern from memory :). It's seriously the easiest thing to remember once you get your "foundation" chain & first row finished. Lucy does a fantastic job of making things really easy to understand too! You might remember this blanket that I made for my nephew:

I used that same pattern for it! It's awesome cause you can make it as big or as small as you want it, just by the number of chains you make in the beginning!

Here are some other really awesome ideas:

Source: iheartrunwithscissors.com via heather on Pinterest

You could channel the Missoni Line at Target with Vickie Howell's newest pattern! She has a new yarn out with Caron too called Sheepish! I looks lovely! She refers to it as a Chevron Pattern, which is pretty much the same thing as a ripple blanket from what I can tell! But you can purchase these EXACT colors and follow her pattern for an identical blanket! Um, can we say CROCHET ALONG? We should all do it! What do you think?! I would LOVE to have a little project to work on with everyone! Not to mention, I want this blanket REALLY bad! I just looks so beautiful & colorful!

Source: lionbrand.com via heather on Pinterest

You could make a sweet ripple cowl!!! This one looks so soft & yummy!

Source: thelazyhobbyhopper.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

OR a granny ripple! How pretty is this? It would be interesting to de-stash with this pattern. I just imagine the mix-matchy-ness of a hundred differnt colors would look neat!

There are so many project I want to be working on right now and it's getting that time of year to snuggle up with a little hooky business & a cup of hot tea and just swing outside or let the cool breeze in through the windows. *sigh* Did I ever mention that I love fall? ;)

My Week!

2011-09-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

This week has been pretty fun & interesting! I FINALLY got an iPhone. I'm sure you all remember the posts where I post a hundred pictures of cute iphones.. my digital wish list! Well, my dreams came true and I'm so stinking happy about it! I'm really surprised by how much I love having a smartphone! I ADORE Instagram & I'm sure everyone following me will get tired of my many, many updates! Does the "new" ever wear off?! lol!

I'm trying to get caught up on some crochet projects! I've been making granny squares & I have two sets ready for the Blogger Blanket project! I gotta get busy and get all these made up, so when the baby gets here I won't get behind! I've only got FIVE weeks until I'm "full term"!! It's craziness! So, I gotta get SUPER busy on Judah's ripple blanket too! It shouldn't take me too long if I can just FOCUS!

What projects are you trying to keep up with & how excited are you for OCTOBER!? I can't wait!!
(Do you guys see that eyeball wreath!! i love it! it was in Country Living Magazine, along with some AWESOME decopouged pumpkins)

The Baby Things

2011-09-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

Source: None via heather on Pinterest

Hello friends! It's in the wee hours of the morning & I'm sitting here pondering. I'm thinking about how little I've talked about LIFE on here lately. Or rather, how little I've talked at all. Life is all about fluctuation. I guess I've just been out of the flux of things lately.

(Forewarning: This is long. And a bit emotional. And maybe even a tad bit graphic, but most importantly, my soul bearing out on-line, venting and coping.)

LOADS of things have changed in the last few months. Robin got a new job! (THANK YOU GOD!!!), Autumn is potty trained (Again, thank you GOD!) lol. And I'm almost to my due date! Ha, did you forget I was pregnant? I'm due October 27th!!! A Halloween baby is what I'm hoping for!

I'm 32 weeks now and showing reallllllly good. It's kind of sad that I hate taking pictures of myself while pregnant. I've only got a few pictures of me while I was pregnant with Autumn & so far I've only taken one picture this pregnancy. My face is all sorts of puffy & my nose gets really big from pregnancy hormones.. it just looks all messed up! BUT, I am pregnant. I can promise I have a little mr. pumpkin growing inside me & moving around.

This pregnancy has been a little different than my first. Not too much, but a little bit. Being pregnant a second time isn't such a big deal. Just getting past all the morning sickness is the hardest part! Now, I'm just blissfully breezing through my weeks of being pregnant wondering exactly where did the time go?

It seems like just a few days ago I took the pregnancy test, because I KNEW just KNEW I was pregnant! And I was. I ran outside to Robin & jumped up & down, so excited. Then a few hours later I cried. And a few days later I thought to myself "What in the world were we thinking!" If you've been preggers, you know what I'm talking about. The excitement of knowing you are having a baby verus the psycological mind field as you begin to think of how you are going to afford & raise another youngin. It's tough stuff facing that reality.

But here I am. 32 weeks pregnant, seeing a doctor half way across the state so I can have a VBAC (natural birth after a c-section). Praying and believing God that I can and will birth this little boy myself & not have to have another doctor EVER cut me open again. And I'm struggling with it all. I know I CAN do it. I know I WANT to do it, but I'm worried that I'm just dysfunctional.

I had a c-section with Autumn because she was a breech baby. She never turned head down to be born. She sat in utero like a tiny little baby Indian & refused to leaver her comfy little nest. I didn't know anything about how babies were supposed to be born. My doctor wouldn't "turn" the baby because it was an old practice that no-one did anymore & it wasn't safe. (What a load of CRAP!) And they never suggested anything to help turn the baby either. So, at 39 weeks Autumn came into the world through an incision. I was out of it and I didn't get to hold her till later after the surgery. All things considered it was an okay experience. But just becuase something is okay, doesn't mean you ever want to do it again or that you enjoyed the process. Or that the process was meaningful to you. Honestly, I think birth is supposed to be meaningful to you. It's not supposed to be something you feel detached from.

This past week at my doctors appointment my doctor told me that this baby had also turned breech. Just 3 weeks earlier he was head down (and EVERY ultrasound before then he was head down.) I was so disappointed and upset with myself. Thankfully, because I chose a doctor who was KNOWN for being a huge VBAC supporter & practicing evidence based medicine, he turned the baby right then! An ultrasound confirmed that the baby was perfect & head down! YAY!!! Then I get home. My mind is playing tricks on me. Every little movement & kick is analyzed and I'm trying to figure out where he is. I layed down to take a nap and sure enough, my little pumpkin just flopped RIGHT back to a head up position. It was like he was doing sommersaults in there! Quite uncomfortable & very, very disheartening.

Now, it's two weeks before I have another doctor's appointment and I am so worried that this baby just won't stay down & that I'll have to have another c-section. I'm trying so hard to avoid another one. And maybe there is just something wrong that I can't gestate a baby in the right position. I've been reading and studying baby positioning, trying to understand what I need to do so that he has room to go south. Everyone keeps saying "Oh, it's so early, that baby has plenty of time to turn." And all I hear is, "Autumn never turned and this one never will either." It's a serious concern that I'm having. One that effects a lot of things. It's so easy to shrug it off, but to me it's like the pottery on the shelf is slowly cracking. Bits and bit falling off. Am I broken? Is there just something wrong with me that I can't birth my own baby?

I know those are just crazy thoughts and are things I shouldn't think about. Let's be honest though, when something doesn't work right with our bodies we blame ourself. I know I have NO control over what my uterus does. I have no control over what position the baby decides to fall into. The only thing I have control over is my thoughts and actions. And I'm trying so hard to keep my thoughts tied up tight & to stay positive. Doubt lingers like a cruel friend though.

To battle all that doubt I'm trying everything to turn this baby. I'm seeing a Chiropractor who practices the webster technique (a spine adjustment known to help relax the muscels around the uterus to give the baby more space to move head down.). I've got a birth ball to sit on to help let gravity take effect. I'm doing pelvic tilts & squatting around everywhere. And I'm praying. Praying God will grant me this desire. Praying that he will turn & stay down. And that he'll be there when I go into labor & make me strong.

Please pray with me.. send baby turn head down thoughts my way. And know that in a couple of weeks I will have a tiny newborn little boy and I would much rather birth him myself than have to have him surgically removed. Because it means a lot to me. It will mean a lot to this baby too.

The crochet is BANANAS!

2011-09-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

My latest crochet creations are FINISHED! YAY! They didn't take long, in fact I made all of them over the course of 3 days. That includes a trip to the yarn store for some supplies! :D

My friend Victoria's daughter is turning ONE! And for her birthday, her mama might have told me that she would like some play food! I'd been wanting to make some for Autumn & it seemed like a great idea to test out patterns and see how it would go! Well.. here it is!

The fruit was so simple to make and a couple of searches on Ravelry & google images hooked me up with the perfect free patterns! I was able to use a lot of my stash yarn up for these too, a HUGE plus in my opinion!
I also made a cute little bunny! Autumn doesn't want to part with the bunny & I'm sure I will have to make another one verrrrry soon. Victoria's little girl's birthday party is this weekend & I hope they love the pressies!

I've been working hard on granny squares too. I'm trying to get as many made as I possibly can before the baby gets here and all my time is taking up snuggling a newborn!

What have ya'll been working on!?

I hope everyone has a FUN labor day!!

How Do You Crochet?

2011-08-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

I guess being a hands/eyes on learner I like to learn from other people's ideas too. Crocheting is something that I've completely learned by myself. There was no dialogue about the process or someone showing me what was their prefered method or how they liked to crochet.

I am totally a lazy bum, a procrastionater, a do it when you feel like it type person. Not all the time, but 85% of the time. ;) So, I rarely set a time aside for crocheting. I'll take a project along in the car, if I feel like it. I'll work on it while I'm sitting around watching t.v. and playing with Autumn, if I feel like it. But I don't have a "schedule". I'm wondering if that's the reason I've never finished a blanket. Or finished anything other than small projects like hats, scarves, baby blankets, toys, accessories. Things that can be finished in a few hours or a couple of days.

So, how do you crochet?
Do you plan it out or do you simply just crochet when the mood hits? Do you crochet on the couch/in the car/ on the bus/ train? Do you crochet in a certain chair with a certain hook? What do you use as inspiration?

I'm so curious and I hope all you awesome crochet people out there will answer! And hopefully I can learn something from your routine!

Blogger Blanket Project

2011-07-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

After successfully procrastinating crocheting granny squares last night, I woke up this morning with great purpose. I ate breakfast and afterwards got busy! I put on a movie for Autumn & I got comfy in the living room with Burlesque (which was pretty good.) and went to work! So far I've made 2 grannies. 6 rounds takes awhile! Not to mention I have to take breaks to help Autumn use the potty, get juice, check on her because she's gotten really quiet. That sort of thing. I've been neglecting to take pictures of the previous squares, so here are my two so far! :)

I'm down to my last little bit of that Olive green yarn. It's a discontinued color from Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn. It was my favorite color & you can't find it any more. I've been to countless hobby lobby's looking for it. It makes me sad! So, I've just been using it up as the first round in all my squares cause it uses the least amount of yarn! Hobby Lobby should really re-think making this yarn again. There are some HIDEOUS colors they have that never sell at hobby lobby & they should bring this yarn back!! Please?! lol. I'll be buying it all the time! Anyhoot....

Luckily, my swap partners have taken pictures of the squares I've sent them! YAY! So here they are! I hope you guys don't mind me sharing the pictures!!

I did some stash busting on Jamie's squares, and I feel like they are so hodge podge and mismatched! She loved them, but I still feel like I should have made a more uniformed look now! The botton left square is my FAVORITE! I think breaking the colors up with the cream rows really does something special to the look of it! Jamie I'm so glad you snapped this shot!

These are the squares I made for Becky! I love the way these colors turned out together! I wish I had a whole blanket of them, but let's just be honest, when it comes to big crochet projects I sadly don't have the motivation/determination to finish them! Doesn't instagram make everything look so much cuter! Thanks Becky for tweeting about them!!

Here are the squares I've received already! Every time I check the mailbox I am crossing my fingers for a package from my swap partner!!

Squares from Courtney @you will. won't you?, our swap host! They make me think of St. Patrick's Day and four leaf clovers! :)

Squares from Christine @ckscribbles She wrote me a cute little note and explained her "color story!" So, cute! She was inspired by the multi-colored yarn & based all her color choices off it! I've never thought of crocheting from a color story! Such a clever idea!

I just had to single this square out! I LOVE IT! I'm a sucker for gradient.. I can't help it. Not to mention that the blues are PERFECT! This square makes me so happy!

Well I'm going to go crochet some more while Autumn takes her nap!
I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Obsessed

2011-07-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've got a new obsession. And what better way to share it with you than show you a ZILLON pictures?! I know, it's totally what you want to see. So, grab a cuppa tea/coffe/whatever and enjoy the show!

Source: etsy.com via heather on Pinterest

Oh yea, I'm totally obsessing over anchors. I have been for a couple of months or so. I've been trying to keep it cool, you know. But I've been thinking more and more about them. First of all I'm pretty sure it will be my next tattoo somewhere along my right collarbone/front shoulder area. I'll have to talk to Fawne about where it would look the best. I seriously want to start working on a shoulder plate tattoo. I've already got the bird tattoo on my right shoulder blade and to keep adding to that would be awesome. I think it makes more sense to add to it, rather than having a few randomly placed tattoos. Any thoughts on that?
Onward with more anchor photos! One is not NEARLY enough!

Source: None via heather on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: pearlsandbourbon.tumblr.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: modifiedyouth.tumblr.com via heather on Pinterest

and just because we all deserve a good laugh now & then

Source: facebook.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: helloadorable.com via heather on Pinterest

caption should read: "OMG!! RAAAAAAAAAAAAPEEEEEE!!!"

And I have successfully procrastinated crocheting granny squares. DARN IT!
Time for bed. Good night.
(ps, I have no idea what to attribute my snarkyness to tonight. hope you enjoyed it though.)

All Systems are a GO!

2011-07-25T18:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! I think I'm done messing around with the layout & design! I hope you like it! I've been browsing baby shower ideas lately and I came across a couple of carnival themed ones and just became a bit obsessed. I've been wanting to throw a carnival party for no particular reason! They are just so much fun! If you encounter any type of technical problem in the design/links/buttons, please let me know so I can fix that PRONTO!

I'm off to crochet granny squares! See Ya!

What in the Tarnation?

2011-07-25T15:13:00.001-07:00

Hey! If you happen to look at my blog right now and see that some stuff is looking SERIOUSLY messed up.. don't worry! I'm changing the look of the place & having some minor problems while doing so!

Just bear with me & all will be well soon! ;)

And thank you for looking at my blog. You make my heart swell!

Summer Projects {Pic Heavy}

2011-07-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Pals! There are so many cool things that I've found this summer, thanks to Pinterest, and I just want to share some of the really cool projects I'm working on! Janel from Run With Scissors did a post just like this yesterday and I loved it so much! It's so cool too see what people are working on and what they want to get accomplished soon! So, have a browse & enjoy!!! :D

1. Friendship Bracelets!!! They are so elementary, but I love them! Especially adding washers, nut bolts or rhinestones to them for a modern touch!

Source: the-budgetista.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: urbansocialite.com via heather on Pinterest

2.This necklace! It falls under the same category as friendship bracelets, but oh well. I HAVE to make this for myself and everyone else I know! lol!! I just love it!

Source: honestlywtf.com via heather on Pinterest

3. This bracelet! (Are you guys sensing a theme here?! lol! I think wearing handmade jewelery is the coolest! Think of all the possibilities with dying the rope?!

Source: dismountcreative.com via heather on Pinterest

4. Homemade Laundry Soap! I've been looking at lots of different recipes and I'm planning on making this one this week wish some Castle lavender bar soap! :)

Source: homemade.tipjunkie.com via heather on Pinterest

5. A quilted key chain wristlet!

Source: u-createcrafts.com via heather on Pinterest

6. God's Eye. I've been wanting to make these for a long time now! I think they would be cool hanging over the baby's bed!

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

There are so many other projects that I"m actively working on too! Like the Blogger Blanket project! I'm ahead of schedule, which makes me super happy! I've got to get to work on more granny squares so I stay ahead of schedule! And I'm also working on a ripple baby blanket for our little boy!

This isn't the most recent picture, so it's come a long way! I'll update soon on it!

We also FINALLY decided on a name! I tried REALLY HARD to convince Robin for us to name the baby River Evan and he never agreed. :( But we did agree on Judah Owen. Owens was my moms maiden name & I think it's so cool that we are going to pass that along to him! What do ya'll think?!

AND what projects are you working on?! Summer has been so much fun & since I have to keep cooped up inside to stay cool crafts have been keeping me very busy! :)

I MADE A SKIRT

2011-07-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

I found an amazing tutorial for making skirts! I had no idea it was so easy! If I had known, I would started sewing ages and ages ago! If my machine would have been nice to me I would have been done with this in about 10 minutes. I really think my sewing machine is in protest. She thinks that because she's been in storage for God knows how long that she can simply not work right. Needless to say, I'm asking Mr. Santa for a new sewing machine for Christmas. Yes, I realize it's only July. Who cares. Be proactive, know what you want, right? Right! :)

I've really been enjoying finding new blogs that are sewing related and re-style centered! It's so much fun to see what everyone can do with old shirts and things! Here are a few of my new favorites!

MADE

C&C

sparkle power

I also found this cute crafty blog/magazine, check it out http://versusmag.blogspot.com/

And too, you can look at my pinterest and see everything that I'm falling in love with! I seriously want to share everything that I'm finding on pinterest on my blog, but I'm sure it would be like picture overload! ;)

I hope all of you have a wonderful Fourth Of July! Happy Independence Day!

What things are you guys working on this summer?

Inspiration Station

2011-06-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Source: u-createcrafts.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: redvelvetart.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: cluckclucksew.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: craftyblossom.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: inkandspindle.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: homesweethideaway.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: foutchcoutch.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: bijoulovelydesigns.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via heather on Pinterest

So. In my absense I have taken up quilting! I'm quite excited about it and when I finish my first quilt I'll do a big reveal! But these photos have been my inspiration and motivation in teaching myself to sew! It's taken ALOT of tutorials and youtube videos, but by golly I've done it! If you really want to quilt and want to learn here are some of the things that I've follwed/watched/read! Enjoy!!! All you quilters out there... What sites/blogs do you LOVE!? Please share!! :)

This webiste about machine quilting & how to put your quilt together!

How to make a "charm pack" (pre cut fabric sqaures!) baby quilt!

These lovely free tutorials!http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/p/tutorials.html

This fun & beautiful blog!

This youtube 4 part series & channel! (So helpful & informative!! Not to mention I love listening to this lady talk!! lol)

<br><br><br><br>This

30 Day Journal Challenge {2011} days 1-12

2011-06-13T09:52:00.001-07:00

I've been working

I've been working on my 30 Day Journal Challenge! I'm really slacking about blogging them, but I've been uploading them to flickr in a somewhat regular manner. ;)

From the last challenge, the last picture, I've learned what Zentangles are! I've been making zentangles for YEARS and never knew thats what they were called, look at these amazing pictures I found on pinterest:

Source: flickr.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: drawingisawesome.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: ingriddijkers.blogspot.com via heather on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via heather on Pinterest

You get the idea! It's so relaxing to just sit there and absent mindedly draw. It doesn't take skill, or even great drawing talent, which I really don't have any of. I'm a doodler. Not a drawer. I can draw, but I have to focus way too much and everything is always wonky and never proportionate. *shrugs* These zentangles are just satisfying bits of doodles that you really should get out a pen and do some right now! ;)

Also, I'm obsessed with pinterest. :) I spend ALOT, way more than I should, of my time there recently. I just love looking at all the cool things! If you're on pinterest add me!! I'd love to follow you too! :)

I hope you are all well and you're enjoying your summer!

30 Day Journal Challenge v. 2.0 {2011}

2011-06-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

Janel from Run With Scissors is having another 30 Day Journal Challenge! Last year I stumbled upon Janel's blog just a few days after she had started the 30 Day Journal Challenge version 1.0! It's a totally free class of great prompts & sharing your pages with the Flikr group. Last year was so much fun for me! It really got me out of this crazy uncreative rut I had been in for a very long time. It helped me overcome some serious issues with myself and honestly, it brought back a lot of joy and fun to my life. You probably think I'm exaggerating, but I promise you I'm not.

Here's todays page:

Simple. :) I used my sharpie pen for the writing then used Autumn's fat crayons for the design! I have to say that the idea of the background wasn't completely original! A couple of days ago Janel posted an aritst feature and I was really inspired by all the graphic designs the artist used and she used a lovely,way more even, zig-zag pattern and I just did my own interpretation of that. But, why is it SO theraputic to color with crayons? Seriously. It is so relaxing!

I can't wait to show you more of my journal pages! :D I hope you all are having a GREAT summer so far!

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T07:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day!

I love Memorial Day! I think my entire life it has been spent by the pool while grilling out with family & friends! It's such a laid back holiday, but so important!

I've never known anyone directly involved in the military until I met Robin. When we started dating his uncle was actively deployed in Iraq. The first time I ever met Robin's Uncle Buddy was on 4th of July, when he was home for a few days. I remember he was tall and very strong & intimadating looking! He was a member of the National Guard. The next time I met Buddy wasn't so exciting. When he went back to Iraq after his trip home, the unexpected happened. The humvee he was patrolling in with his unit hit a IED, which is an explosive under the pavement of the road. When the humvee hit the IED Buddy was flown from the vehicle several hundred feet. The details of the story are very vague from there, because Buddy was in and out of consiousness. When he finally got stateside, his family was given some very tough news. Buddy had survived the explosion, but would be paralized from the waist down. That was nearly 5 or 6 years ago. Since then, Buddy has managed to get some use of his legs, but he can't walk without the help of crutches. It was hard to see their family go through this, and not just dealing with his injuries, but dealing with the deaths of some of his unit... thier best friends.

War is not a choice that we have to make, it's up to our leaders, but when it comes time for people to fight, it's people like Buddy who pay the price. Whether it's the National Guard, the Army, the Marines, the Navy or the Air Force, these men and women have dedicated thier lives for our freedom. Countless soliders have paid the ultimate sacrifice and that is exactly what Memorial Day is for... to Remember those who have given their life in the name of America.

Thank You to the soliders of past and present!!

Heather's ABC's

2011-05-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

This seemed so fun and reminded me of all the crazy little quizes I used to do in highschool then post on xanga & livejournal! (did any of you have a xanga or livejournal/deadjournal?!) So.. here goes...

A. Age: 24

B. Bed size: Newly downsized to a Queen. I. Regrett. It.

C. Chore that you hate: everysingle one.

D. Dogs: one. Clover, a black lab.

E. Essential start to your day: Bathroom!!! haha!!

F. Favorite color: purple

G. Gold or Silver: silver (rarely ever gold.)

H. Height: 5'10

I. Instruments you play: Piano, i know a little o guitar & bass, but not enough be impress anyone.

J. Job title: Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. I get paid to talk about boobs all day. :D

K. Kids: 2! Autumn & one on the way!

L. Live: Georgia

M. Mother's name: Maryann

N. Nicknames: Heav, Heavster, Header, Heazer

O. Overnight hospital stays: When I had Autumn.

P. Pet peeve: constant movement/noise. like tapping pencil or bouncing your leg. (I even do these things sometimes then I annoy my self.)

Q. Quote from a movie: "Oh! Happy Day Mama! A Gentleman Caller?! And I thought I was going to have to spend my dowry on booze & pills to the lonelyness!" -Easy A. Gosh I love that movie.

R. Right or left handed: Right / i can do stuff with my left hand too. Like crochet ;)

S. Siblings: Chris who is 28

T. Time you wake up: 7:30-8:00

U. Underwear: underthere!

V. Vegetable you hate: Tomatoes, Olives & mushrooms. those are the only things I hate.

W. What makes you run late: waking up late.. really late.

X. X-Rays you've had: My arm, when it was broken. My teeth for braces & dentist trips.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Montery Chicken, Greek Style Gyros, Chili and my speciality Red Velvet Cake.

Z. Zoo animal: SEALS!! I used to watch them for hours! They are so fuuny!

Just in case you haven't seen it!!!!

Well I hope you learned some interesting things about me! :) Have a lovely day friends!

Blog Blanket Project

2011-05-16T19:26:00.001-07:00

Blog Blanket Project, a photo by Courtney Bruesch Photography on Flickr.

Calling all Crochet lovers!! Join Courtney @ www.youwillwontyou.blogspot.com and us make a blogger blanket! We'll be croheting 6 inch granny squares to share with bloggers near and far! How awesome will it be to have a blanket made from the friends that you've connected with over the interwebz? I think it would be the coolest thing! Hopefully, making the 6 inch squares will help with the sizing & everyone's squares will fit into a perfect blanket! If you want to join head over to Courtney's blog & let her know OR send her an email!! You can get that from her blog! I Hope you guys will join! The more people that join the fewer squares you will have to make! YAY! <3

Devastaed

2011-05-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if you guys knew about all the CRAZY weather that came through Alabama & Georgia about 2 weeks ago. I'm sure you've seen the images of the Tornado that completely wiped away Tuscaloosa or have heard about it. That storm system was nasty and violent and just in Georgia in that one day over a 100 tornados touched down. I was glued to the t.v. all afternoon and night. I was watching the weather channel as the Alabama tornado went through Birmingham! It was so crazy! So as the night progressed I was glued o the local channels that were tracking a few storm cells headed our way. As it turned out, at about 12:45 a.m. on Thursday morning a tornado touched down in our town about 3 miles from our house. We had no idea, until a friend called me to see if we were okay. Thankfully, we were.We were in the pantry of our house with pillows, couch cousions and everything.

Knowing that a tornado touched down so close to us was terrifying. The next morning I woke up early to check everything out. I left for work about an hour early to ride around. Nothing I could have ever thought could have prepared me for that drive. We live in central Georgia. Tornadoes are RARE and very unusual. So I was not expecting what saw. Houses completely gone and in the middle of the road. Trees flattned like grass. Cars tossed around like toys. Trees completely snapped in half or completly uprooted. The saddest part was seeing the people who lived in those houses that were devastated. Early in the morning they were walking through the rubble picking up what little they could save. You could see people crying and friends trying to console them. It was a disaster area and it is in my hometown. I feel so blessed and lucky that we were okay, but I do not feel satisfaction that we were spared, because so many people lost so much.

So, I've been processing this these past few weeks. Passing the area that was destroyed everyday on m way to town. Now the houses are gone & just bare dirt is left. Trees are still everywhere. Everyday people are working to clean everything up. It's hard to wrap your mind around something like this. To see it with your eyes and feel it in your gut. It's different when its on the t.v. screen or web page. To see it with your own two eyes gives you this sickening feeling that we are so small and so weak that we can't even protect ourself against the weather. We have to hide in closets, basements or pantrys and pray to God that we make it out alive. Then when we do make it out alive we are so relieved. What's the relief for? Because we were spared? How can you feel relieved when people down the street from you have nothing. You can't. It's overwhelming and heartbreaking.

So please pray for my town, Lamar County, Georgia & Spalding County, Georgia. There were lives lost and homes completly gone. These aren't the only places affeted, but these are the cloeset to us.

Rippling Vest Crochet Along

2011-04-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

My best friend Destiny and I are about to under take our first crochet along! We are going to work on this free pattern from redheart.com, the Rippling Vest! Isn't it so cute?! If you're a crocheter and want to do this with us, go print off the pattern & get supplies and let me know!! We could all upload our pictures of progress to flickr! I'll keep you updated on our progress!!

You Amaze Me.

2011-04-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for the comments on the last post! It makes me happy to see ya'll excited too!:)

I know I haven't been around much lately, and I wish I had a really good excuse, but I don't. Honestly, I've been feeling really BLAH for about a month. I don't know if it's just pregnancy blues or just the hormones or... what it is. But I'm not the best person mentally right now. I'm fighting it. I'm trying to find the sunshine and roses, but it's really hard. Don't get me wrong, I am so happy to BE pregnant so happy that when the test was positive I jumped up and down and cried tears of joy! THAT kind of happy. So, whatever IS going on, hopefully is just a phase. But pray for me. Think of me. I really need it.

Love you!

The Big News

2011-04-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

I have HUGE news... I hinted at it before we left to go to Tybee Island and I'm so excited to share this with you all!

We're Pregnant!!

It's nothing but a wee little peanut right now but I am so excited. I've known since February and it's been interesting so far. It's nothing like when I was pregnant with Autumn! So far, I'm 11 weeks & my due date is October 29! I want a Halloween baby so baddd!! The birthday parties would be AMAZING! lol!

I'm so happy Autumn won't be an only child! I can't even begin to tell you! She'll have a little play partner and someone to fight with! HA! Robin already thinks it is a boy, and he was right last time!

So, I'll keep you updated on all that. Especially when I'm not so nasuated anymore! Because when that happens it will be a MIRACLE!

Snow Balls, Bicycles & Childhood Memories

2011-04-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Initially I came over to post woah is me & i feel so blah. But after looking at my flickr account I realized there is a story to tell and a moment to reflect on. So, pardon me while I wax nostalgic. :)

Growing up was silly, serious business in my family. I came from a good sized family who were cut from the same mold and reveled in time spent together in all seasons. Summers by the pool and the white waffle lawn furniture sticky from all the watermelon and red kool-aid. Falls spent picking the garden together till dusk. Winters spent cutting wood for fireplaces in which we snuggled around. Spring was for planting and running through the fresh cut grass. For making crowns from monkey grass and dandelions and making mud pies.

But when I was small a calling led my family from my red Georgia mud roots to a sweepy, moss covered, soulish New Orleans. Where it was hot and humid when it was hot. Where it was wet and cold when it was cold. Where it could flood in the morning and make you swelter in the heat by lunch. It's in this beautiful town where I climed oak trees like jungle gyms, learned to drive a boat and eat shrimp and crawfish the right way. New Orleans is where I really had my childhood. Summers were still spent weeks at a time with my family in Georgia. I always called Georgia home, but now reflecting back, New Orleans holds such a sweet spot in my spirit.

When you're a kid you tend think everyone has money and there is nothing but time to stop you from doing something spectacular. My parents were so creative to keep us busy without spending much money! We fed bread to seagulls at the docks on Lake Ponchartrain and had picnics of Rally's hamburgers and french fries. We would park on stormy days on a concrete island type parking lot and let the waves crash over our anceint Ford van. We went to City park and played on the mossy oak trees and watched the ducks paddle through the lilly pads. We rode the fairy across the mighty Mississippi and I cried because my dad told me that fairies weren't real. I was so confused that we were going to ride a fairy, when they weren't real. We rode our bikes to school every morning. In fact, we rode our bikes everywhere.

It's strange how you don't realize until you're older the things that were really special to you as a child. Those bike rides were my childhood. We would ride to the Winn-Dixie and get necessities. We would ride the leeve to the Kenner Peir. We would ride through the ancient oaks in Harahan. We even rode our bikes to downtown New Orleans, well almost. We got a few miles away and decided to turn around.. it was a long bike ride from home!

One of the best places we would ride bikes to was Droopy's Snow Ball Stand or Ro-bears Snow Ball Stand. Both of which were right next to and across the street from my beautiful elementary school. I can't begin to tell you the combinations of flavors you can try on a snow ball, and if you've never had one, then you are truly missing out on a cup of Heaven. Anything from Orange Dream stuffed with Ice Cream in the middle or my brother's favorite Chocolate with Condensed milk on top! Or Wedding Cake, Spearamint, Tiger Lilly, Cotton Candy, Fuzzy Navel, or Pina Colada! There are so many different flavors, but one thing I know for a fact is this: If you ever have a sno-ball, you will love them for the rest of your life.

Last week on our anniversary trip we rode bikes and got a snow ball. Honestly, it was the best vacation I've had... and that's because it touched a part of my soul that still believes in fairys and that my daddy is superman. Something that reminds you of who you are and where you come from. Something that eases the woahs of this life and brings joy back to tired eyes. I wish I had a bike and a sno ball machine, life would be so much more grand. :)

(Reading this article while searching for pictures of Droopy's & Ro-bears made me cry a little. Sno-balls must be a part of growing up in New Orleans, as even the author of this article gets a bit poetic.)

What parts of your childhood make you wax poetic?

Tybee Island 2011

2011-04-01T13:15:00.001-07:00

Tybee Island 2011, a set on Flickr.

You can click on the link to see the pictures bigger!

Last weekend was so much fun in Tybee Island. It was way too cold to get in the water and to windy to stay on the beach too long, but it was beautiful! Sunday the sun was out and we rode bikes all over the island. We were hunting for the house that The Last Song was filmed in and I'm 90% positive I found it. We were on the beach where they filmed a lot of the movie I know. So, it was pretty cool to be somewhere where a movie was filmed.

This weekend we don't have much planned. Robin has to work tomorrow and I have no idea what I'm going to do. It will just be me and Autumn hanging out, I guess. :)

Hope y'all are well!! Love ya!

Getaway Weekend

2011-03-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

My sweet husband, of four years this week, and I are headed out this morning to Tybee Island.

Hopefully we will soak up some sun & have a really lovely time!

It's hard to believe I've been married for 4 years... time really flies!!

So, I will miss the rain thats coming in today and I will be beachside.

When I get back... I've got some amazing news to share with you guys!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Eazy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

2011-03-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that are the absolute best. Like Homemade Lemonade. No one comes close to homemade lemonade, except Perk's Pool (which is homemade) and Chik-fil-a Lemonade.

If you've never ever made homemade lemonade is super easy.

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy (haha!!)

1. Juice 4-5 lemons

2. In a pitcher of your choice add one cup of sugar with hot tap water & stir. Then add ice cube to cool it back down!

3. Add the juice from your lemons, stir & enjoy!

Lemonade is fun, so if it's not sweet enough, just add more sugar! If it's not lemon-y enough add some more juice! And ladies, use some real lemons, it's not the same with store bought juice! I promise!

Enjoy!!

A Baby Shower Weekend

2011-03-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend was spend making crazy cut sugar cookies till 2.30am, speed grocery shopping, getting balloons and sunglowers, setting up for family and friends to meet our new Nephew, Joshua! We had a tno of fun and the weather was just perfect, a little hot even! It was a lovely day! Here's some eye candy for you! Looking at the pictures I can't believe I decorated all this! It looks so fancy! ;D

Luck O'the Irish

2011-03-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

kiss me, I'm irish

I really am. :) Well, half. I'm half Irish (mom's side.. all red heads too & I missed out.) and half Scottish. I make for a very volitle mix. ;)

It's days like today that I really miss living in New Orleans. The St. Patrick's Day Parade was AMAZING! Men with flowers would come and kiss you on the cheek & give you a flower. The floats would toss cabbage, carrots and other veggies from their platforms. And moon pie's too! YUM! People were dressed up as leprecauns and danced in the street. It was a fun parade to go to and laugh. Free food is a plus too, right? Lol.

I think tonight I will celebrate by renting this movie:

I've been wanting to see it for ages and ages and just haven't did it yet. Has anyone seen it? Did you like it?

Today is so much fun though. When I was on my way to work, I passed the pre-school and all the kids on the playground were wearing green, except one little girl who was wearing tie dye! lol! How crazy would it be if everyone wore the same colors on a different day? Like Maroon Monday. Teal Tuesday. Wintergreen Wednesday. Uh, whats another T color? Fire-Red Fridays.. haha! Just imagine. Or better yet, what if we were color coded like charts?! We had to wear certain colors based on our birthday or last name! CRAZY. Ok. My imagination is getting away from me.

Tonight I'm headed to the craft store for some Baby Shower decorations for this weekend! Jungle themed. Hopefully it will turn out adorable!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you are partaking in Lent, today you are excused to eat Meat! Hooray! If you like/eat meat ;)

Cheers!

Handwriting Game

2011-03-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hello gang! How's everyone's week going?

The ever lovely Courtney over at You Will Won't You tagged me in a cool Handwriting Game! So here is my CRAZY handwriting. I really feel like these don't do me justice. Every handwriting I do looks different. But anywhoo...

1. What is your name / blogger name?
Heather McGinnis / heatherxdawn (i really hate the x, but I've used it since I was in highschool & it just seemed to stick. heatherdawn is usually always taken too :( ) but dawn is my middle name.

2. What is your blog URL?
http://www.heatherxdawn.blogspot.com/ seriously, any site search heatherxdawn, it's probably me. ;) except for ravelry i'm heatherdawn there ;)

3. Write "The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over The Lazy Dog"

done.
4. Write Your Favorite Quote
All good things are wild and free. -Thoreau

5. What is your favorite song?
Something In The Water -Brooke Fraser

6. What is your favorite music right now?
Brooke Fraser / Jon Foreman / Eisley

7. Is there anything else you would like to add about your handwriting?
My handwriting always looks different. Depending on my mood and the amount of time I have changes the way it looks.

8. Choose Thee Bloggers to follow suit.
hmm...

http://rainingparade.blogspot.com/

http://www.strumpetscrumpets.com/

http://avocado-owlet.blogspot.com/

Hope you guys have fun with it!! ;)

Good news, you all can rest assured that I am back to normal... I crocheted! WOOT! Right? There was definately something wrong with me the last few weeks. I worked on my Granny Square blanket that I started last year.. I really need to work on finishing projects that I start. ;)

What are you guys up to?

Rambles

2011-03-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

Okay. So I've been really lazy lately. Robin and I have turned into old people. We get in the bed by 10 p.m. everynight now and do absolutely nothing once we get home from work. I personally feel super exausted latetly. I have hardly any energy or an attention span. I haven't crocheted since 2 weeks ago when I made some cotton candy inspired hats. I haven't taken pictures of them yet because the battery is dead and I haven't charged it. Ha.. you see what I mean? I'm a complete lazy bum!

In other news, Autumn is a genius. She isn't even two yet and she is talking in full sentences, asking questions, remembering where things are and locations we've been. Everytime she see's truitt's grill she says she wants to see Daniel. (We've been eating with him lately there) She is a spectacular abstract colorist. Right now she'sholding a hand full of crayons and coloring her paper!

I really want to start on a new blanket for our new bed in some pretty pastel colors, but I still haven't finished the 50 projects I've already started. My yarn stash looks like a diaster area. It's horrible. We're thinking about paintin the wall behind our bed a grey or teal color! What do you guys think?

I hope you're all having a great weekend!

Flickr Faves

2011-03-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

these crochet jars are the prettiest thing in the world!!

It seems like all I have time for is inspirational posts lately! I'm getting busy with Autumn, who will be TWO in two month. Oh lord.. where does the time go? Needless to say, she doesn't nap a lot anymore so my time is occupied with her. But I still have something up my sleeve centered around my last cotton candy post! I'll share super soon! If any of you come across the PERFECT mint green color yarn, let me know! I'm on the look out for certain colors of yarn that I can't seem to find. Like the Mint and I'm looking for a soft lavender... not quite lavender... Okay I can't put to words that one, but soft sweet pastels are what I'm looking for.;)

What is going on with everyone else? What are you working on lately?

I really feel like I need a "project" to be working on.. I'm working on small stuff, but I really need to get back to something a little bit.. bigger.. I still need to finish my granny square blanket. How do all of you finish making so many squares? I get so bored!!

Cotton Candy Dreams

2011-02-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

You totally get this right? I am currently obsessing a little bit over some cotton candy/mint colors! I guess I'm ready for spring! All these pastel colors are really inspiring me! You know that means I have something up my sleeve! ;)

Flower Bomb Hat

2011-02-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

I've been working simultainously on SEVERAL projects lately. Along with playing a lot of Call of Duty tehe.
But my most recent project is a new Flower Bomb Hat!

I used a pattern I found on Ravelry, it was a free PDF download! If you are a crochet person, this pattern was so easy and I can see a couple of uses for the beginning flower part! I just love the way it looks and the way it feels! It's like not wearing a hat at all, PERFECT for spring!

If you're on ravelry you can get all the cool knitty gritty details on my project page!

So, what has everyone else been up to?

It feels like I've gotten out of the habit of posting regularly again. It seems I'm busy doing lots of other things around the house. Yesterday we spent all day outside with Autumn and tons of people who just showed up. (It happens alot at this house!) Last night we grilled steaks and had baked potatoes and salads. Oh, man. It was so good. Then afterwards we all just sat around and talked. I've really missed those types of nights. I am loving the weather right now too! There are daffodils popping up around our pecan tree! They are so pretty!

What newness are you noticing in your neighborhoods?

Happy Valentines Day!

2011-02-15T19:51:00.000-08:00

It has been wayy too long since my last post! Sorry about that! My sister in law had her baby and we've been over at her house loving and getting to know our new Nephew! He's so chubby and cute he was 9 lbs. 12 oz!! He was such a little chunk!!

I finished my Strumpet's Valentine Craft Swap sometime ago! Aren't these little love bots ADORABLE! They're also magnets! Too cute!

Valentines Day was super sweet and memorable for me and Robin... If you can stand all the mushy details, I'm going to gush a little bit! I spent the better part of last week looking around for a cute outfit to wear.. I haven't went shopping in AGES! It was so NICE! Lol. I ended up finding the perfect dress and cardi at TJMaxx. I got all my jewlery at Rue 21. And I had the shoes. I knew I wanted to experiment with my make up a little too. So, I got all dolled up and when my mom (aka babysitter) got home Robin and I headed to town. We went to shop for some better shoes for my outfit, but didn't find any. We went to Olive Garden and waiting for 1 hour and 20 minutes. While we sat out our wait in the car we gave each other presents. ;) Robin is so sweet, I am so surprised at the the things he did! He made me a card! MADE IT! Then wrote me a letter that made me cry. The words were the sweetest, lovliest words I've read in a long time. He also bought me a dvd I've been wanting and 2 c.d.s I've been wanting too. :)

Here we are! I love that man. He knows me too good!

So, here's my fancy makeup! Believe it or not all the stuff I used was under $5 each!

So, how was your Valentine's Day?

Getting to Know Me

2011-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Random facts about me:

-I live in New Orleans, LA for 8 years of my childhood life. I went to elementary and middle school there. So, it's a big part of who I am. I'm sad to say that I haven't been back to New Orleans since we moved to Georgia. I miss it alot, but I love living in Georgia!

-Growing up I LOVED the name Zoe. I'm not ever sure where I heard the name from, because when I was a kid I know that name wasn't popular.. it is now though. Another name I loved was Catalina! Lol.

-I am over emotional. I can see the sun set in pretty colors and it will make me tear up. When I think about how much God loves me, I tear up. When I read something pretty I tear up. I guess I'm just sensitive. Who knows.. but I don't cry at the drop of a hat, just when I'm "moved"

-When I was in highschool I was never interested in the same guys for long. In my senior year I just decided not to date anyone. For almost a year I didn't have a boyfriend.. which was a really good thing. I needed to fall in love with who I was as a person before I could fall in love with someone else. So, I was pretty much resolved to be a cat lady, which is totally okay with me! But then I met Robin and the rest is history!

-I love to have a clean house, but I absolutely HATE cleaning up. It stresses me out. I don't know why but cleaning is a huge deal to me. Lately, Robin has been keeping everything clean. He is so amazing for that. So, now all I have to do is just keep little messes picked up!

This is my journal page for The Push for Pita... I am ABSOLUTELY in love with it. :)

Dreams

I sersiously want to have a music career. I have since I was 10. And the truth is I think I still could. It is one of my deepest dreams to create and record and album... I've been working on some songs and I've been jotting down ideas that come to mind. But to record an album would be a life accomplishment for me. :) Is that crazy?

I want to travel. I am so interested in other cultures and ways of life! I want to see them all and learn about people from all over! Not to mention see all the beautiful places there are!

I can't WAIT for Robin and I to own our first Home. I look forward to that day so much. Robin and I talk and day dream about it all the time!

My biggest dream is to follow God's will for my life. I want to be pleasing in His sight and I know obedience is something He loves. I hope when I die, my life would have been lived fully for him!

Well, there you have it... a little insight to me! ;)

I hope you like me ;) Lol!

The Push For Pita!!!

2011-02-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

Just in case you don't know, I love Janel at Run With Scissors! She's the one who got me started journaling with her FREE 30-Day Journal Challenge on her blog last Spring. I've been apart of her online journaling classes ever since. Needless to say, I am UBER inspired by her & recently she has blessed my life so much!!

With all that being said, she's down to the wire to raise money for her adoption process. From what I understand, it is an extensive process to adopt and Janel and her husband, Adam, are gearing up! Janel is doing The Push for Pita Journal Class and there are a few spots left for the class! If you've never taken one of her classes, YOU NEED TO! They are so much fun & you will get to know yourself and your style alot better!

My journal for the Push for Pita Class

First page in The Push For Pita Class

I've also donated a Foxy Hat to the Push for Pita! You really should check out her etsy and her blog to find out all the cool things that she has going on!! Here's a sneak peek at some of the things up for grabs in her shop!!

Fox Hat! YAY!

I think this is the coolest idea! Janel is making pita a quilt! She is selling the squares so she can embroider your name on the quilt for Pita! How sweet?! It kinda makes me tear up a little. ;)

beautiful hair clip!

And such a cute plushie sail boat!!

Go check out Janel's Shop!! Buy some handmade art and help out a friend reach her dream!!

p.s. I wasn't asked to post this or paid in any way. :)

New Year... New You Photo Dump

2011-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Janel's New Year... New You Journal Class is completed and here are a few of the prompts that I haven't shared with you yet! I still have a few more pages to finish and some to take pictures of! All in due time! I always crap out on the last few prompts... I get behind during the day and don't find time to journal. These things happen.

I'm still working on Robin's crochet socks!

I am almost finished with the first cuff! I am having such a hard time keeping my edges straight! One side is straight, but the other is a bit wonky... I keep having to frog rows and start over cause I won't have the right # of stitches, which is frustrating! I'm determined to finish these though! I'm using this pattern from Crochet Today! Magazine. (My favortie crochet magazine, most of the time)

Hopefully the socks will turn out right and look like this:

Handsome socks, right? I can't stand working with a size D hook and sock yarn though. Everything feels so small to me! I bought myself some sock yarn this weekend though..

Oh so pretty! I can't wait to see how it stripes up.. that is IF I ever get finished with Robin's socks!

What are you working on?! I've been hearing about the Snowpocolypse going on in Mid-USA.. how is everyone!?

Things I Love

2011-01-27T06:41:00.001-08:00

I have so many things that I want to share with you and I hardly ever get around to it! But the other day I had a HUGE, MASSIVE mess on my desk of EVERYTHING that I've been doing.. here's a sneek peek at the things I love!

Sock Yarn for Robin's socks. I was so upset this week because I had to frog the entire cuff of the sock. The pattern called for 65 foundation stitches.. when I got to the end and counted I had 42. I am a horrible pattern follower! LOL!

I love my mason jar of crochet hooks. I love the colors and the way they clink around inside.

I love Flickr for telling me hello in German and various other languages. But most espically German. Guten Tag.

I love this yarn. Yes. I do love it! Thank you Hobby Lobby!

I love Ravelry! Countless hours spent browsing patterns and pretty things!

I love my new ergonomic crochet hook. It has taken me a couple of days to get adjusted to it, but my hand feels better already! And this is how I hold my took 25% of the time. The other 75% I hold it like a knife.. (more to come on this subject later!)

And I love my followers! 3 days ago I had 50 followers!! Today I have 56!! WOOT! I am shocked you guys are finding this place something to follow! But I am so honored and so thankful for all of you! I'd love to hear from you too! ;)

Other things that I love right now:

*My b.f.f, Natalie is coming down tonight!!!!

*Tomorrow Natalie, Destiny and I are going for TEA at August Moon Tea Room. Lovely!

* Call of Duty.. killing people virtually is quite fun. :}

*TODAY IS FRIDAY!

This is the first friday in a long time that I've been super excited about! I hope we can go get some more sushi tonight or something else fun!

What are your plans for this weekend? What are the things you love?

Emmhmm

2011-01-25T07:24:00.001-08:00

Just a little bit of silliness for ya! I love love LOVE Exploding Dog cartoons! They've been my favorite since I was in highschool!

I have been a crochet storm lately! I am working on my Valentine's Day Swap items, a pair of socks for the hubster and a Fox hat for an etsy customer! YEA! I sold another Fox Hat on Etsy. It's so exciting to have regular business on there! I love it! Well, peeps, I gotta get back to work.. but I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you & I can't express how thankful I am for my blog friends.. I talk about to guys all the time! My husband knows you all by name! LOL! ;) Anyways, you all make me so happy and I'm very, very thankful for that. *HUGS*

Stay Awesome!

My Birthday Wishlist

2011-01-20T10:11:00.001-08:00

I know times are tough, but if I could have anything I wanted for my Birthday this year, I would want these things....

*oh, how badly i want an iphone now that verizon is a carrier. if you would like to contribute, I'll happily take birthday donations! ;) ROFL! I seriously hope I can get one for my birthday/valentines/anniversary. *crosses fingers*

* another c.d. from the lovely Brooke Fraser. Or perhaps tickets to see her live. In case you didn't know Brooke is my all time favorite! If I could have dinner with anyone famous, it would be her. ;) Not creepy, right?

*Easy A on Blue Ray. This movie was SO FUNNY! I want to watch it over and over again!

If you have a PS3, then you NEED to have Little Big Planet! The newest one just came out TWO days ago! It's such a fun & cute & crafty kind of game!

Ha, a fairly simple list, wouldn't you agree!? This birthday would be awesome if I only got an iPhone! Seriously, I want one so much it's kind of sad! I can't believe my birthday is MONDAY though! I am totally going to do a 25 before 25 for next year! BUT this year is my GOLDEN birthday. I will be 24 on the 24th! I've always looked forward to this birthday since I was a little girl. Sad thing is, I'm sure nothing special will happen. I'd like to get all my girlfriends together and go the August Moon Tea Room. (The ABSOLUTE best place to eat and have tea in Georgia!). This weekend we're goin to Auburn to see my brother and very pregant sister in law! I can't wait to see them! Other than that, this birthday will be very chill. And will involve no fast food. ;)

ONE WEEK OF NO FAST FOOD.

Guys, we need to celebrate this.. it's a HUGE milestone in my life. Granted I've been having really bad headaches this week.. could it be from withdrawls?! LOL.. probably.

What does your weekend look like!?

Has anyone tried out my pattern yet? I'd love to hear how it's going if you do!!

Working On...

2011-01-19T12:28:00.000-08:00

A quick glance into what I'm doing today!! How cute are these little lovebots?! I'm using my one year old Crochet Today magazine to make something special! ;)

What are you working on today?

Crochet Hat Tutorial/Pattern

2011-01-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

Hello crafty friends! I've been hinting around at this post for a little while now, and I am so happy to share with you my very own...DOUBLE CROCHET HAT TUTORIAL and PATTERN!!

So what you will need is a skein of worsted weight yarn of your choice. I really like Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn because its affordable and super crazy soft!

For this tutorial, I am using Red Heart Super Saver.. it's stash yarn that I really need to work through! ;) Super Saver is a little bit more stiff than the I Love This Yarn, which is really good for amigurumi!

I will be using a size K hook! Most cases, I used a J hook or K hook. Finding your tension is key to knowing what size hook you need to use for a project. A good place to start is by using what the yarn label recommends. Worseted weight yarn normally requires a g or h hook.

SO, on to the tutorial/pattern!

Using your K hook, create a slip knot and chain 3.

Insert your hook into the chain 1 space. ^Look at the photo. Once you see the two loops on your hook, pull the yarn over your hook and pull through the two loops. Inside the small round you just made you will need to chain 3 then work in 12 Double Crochet Stitches.
Here is that chain 3 and the first double crochet stitch. Do you see that small white space mixed with all that yarn goodness? That is the hole you should be working out of.
When you've double crocheted your last stitch, you will need to join with a slip stitch. To join with a slip stitch, what you need to do is insert your hook in the chain three space (as seen in the photo) I've aready pulled the yarn over the hook. Then you will pull the yarn through the chain 3 space and the last loop on the hook. In this photo you can see at the top that I just finished the slip stitch(sl st) and there is only one loop on the hook. So what you see here is your first "round." At the end of all the photos I'll post the acutal patter, and you will see that each section of the hat is worked in rounds!

ROUND TWO!

Chain 3! In the same chain(ch) 3 space (see where my finger is pointing? Thats where you want to be.) work 1 double crochet(dc)

Can you see the chain 3 space and the 1 dc? You will repeat this step in every single round, so familarize yourself with it! ;)

In each space make 2 dc all the way around. You should be able to count 24 double crochet stitches. Then join with a sl. st.

ROUND THREE

Chain 3. In the same space as ch.3 work one dc. In the next stitch work 1 dc. In the next stitch work 1 dc. In the next stitch work 2 dc. I like to think of it like this: 1, 1, 2. You will repeat this pattern all the way around. You will work two stiches with only one double crochet, then the thrid stitch with 2 double crochet. This is called increasing. Your circle will start expanding here and stay flat too. If you notice it curling up already, then you will need to frog it (unravel it) and try again. Make sure you are making the 1, 1, 2 pattern. At the end of round three join with a sl. st.

ROUND FOUR: Chain 3. 1 dc in the ch.3. space. 1 dc in the first three stitches. 2 dc in the next stitch. Think of it as 1, 1, 1, 2. Repeat that pattern around and join with a sl. st.

ROUND FIVE: Ch 3. 1dc in the ch.3. space. 1 dc in the next four stitches. 2 dc in the fifth stitich. 1, 1, 1, 1, 2. At this point put the crochet circle on your head like you would a hat. If it reaches the widest point of your skull (crown) then you will want to skip down to ROUND SEVEN. For my head and most adult heads, in my opinion you need to add one more round for a good fit.

ROUND SIX:Ch. 3. 1 dc in the ch. 2 space. 1 dc in the next five stitches. 2dc in the sixth stitch. 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.

ROUND SEVEN: Ch. 3. 1dc in the ch. 3 space and each stitch around! (No more tricky increases!) This will bring your hat down like a bucket. From here on out you will repeat this step until your hat is long enough! Once I've reached my desired lenght, which generally is just over my ears, I like to finish the hat with one row of single crochet. It give the hat a nice polished look! ;) Your finished product will look something like this:

Ok, well not EXACTLY like this, but the basic bone structure! ;)

I am planning on writing up a full Fox Hat pattern for my etsy & for ravelry! I've received really good response from my etsy store from customers buying fox hats! It makes me super excited that I'm getting orders often!!

Here is the written hat pattern!

Using a K hook. Make a slip knot and chain 3. Join with sl. st.
Round 1: Chain 3. Work 12 dc in the sl. st. round. Join with a sl. st. in the ch. 3 space

Round 2: Ch 3. Dc 1 in the same ch.3 space. Dc 2 in each stitch around. Join with a sl. st. to the chain 3 space.

Round 3: Chain 3. Dc 1 in the same space. *Dc 1 in the next two stitches. Dc 2 in the next (third) stitch. (1, 1, 2)*. Repeat **Join with sl. st

Round 4: Ch 3. Dc 1 in the same space. *Dc 1 in the next three stitches. Dc 2 in the next (fourth) stitch. (1, 1, 1, 2)*. Repeat ** around and join with sl. st. to the chain 3 space.

Round 5: Chain 3. Dc 1 in the same space. *Dc 1 in the next four stitches. Dc 2 in the next (fifth stitch (1, 1, 1, 1, 2)*. Repeat ** around. Join with sl. st. to the chain 3 space.

Round 6: Chain 3. Dc 1 in the same space. *Dc 1 in the next five stitches. Dc 2 in the next (sixth) stitch (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2)*. Repeat ** around. Join with sl st. to the chain 3 space.

Round 7-14: Chain 3. Dc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the chain 3 space.

Round 15: Chain 1. SC in each stitch around. Join with a sl. st. to the chain 1 space. Cut the yarn and leave about 4" for finishing. Yarn over and pull yarn through the sl. st. loop. Weave in the ends.

There you have it!! If you find any problems with the pattern or if you run into some difficulty, shoot me an email.. I'll be happy to help you out! You can send those emails to heatherxdawn@gmail.com

I hope it's easy enough to understand! If you don't know how to crochet but want to begin... you can totally do it! There are a ton of GREAT tutorials online and great books out there that you can research! If I could teach myself to crochet, then you can too!! Best Luck!

Monumental Expierences

2011-01-14T20:06:00.001-08:00

The past few days have been very interesting. I have vowed never to eat fast food again. And after tonight, I am pretty sure I am going on an ALL organic lifestyle. My dad and I have been watching documentaries on Netflix lately and I am blown away by how much I've learned and how I've been inspired to make some personal changes in my eating and my health.

First we watched Super Size Me. Which I will now call OHMIGODISMCDONALDSKILLINGMESLOWLY. We eat out, alot. Okay, more than alot. Probably about 50% or more of our meals. Hey, don't grab out the pitchfork, I can explain! We are busy, more busy than I would like to be. Even though I'm a part time employee, we live in a completely different city than where we work, shop, do business and socalize. Our "home" is 30 minutes away from our "city". We are involved in our Church a great deal, so we are there about 3 days out of the week. (Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday..) We get out of church late... we grab a bite to eat with friends, then go home. We like to indulge ourselves on the weekends too... Friday date night, Saturday outings. That only leaves Monday and Thursday... and if you know us, you know that those are our "free stay at home nights to watch movies and be generally awesome" and you also know that I always stay up really late to get things done. So, needless to say our lifestyle is not very condusive to eating meals at home or being at home for the most part. We kinda live out of the car. It's a shrine to where we've been in the past week (or even more.). You know, soda cups sitting in the cup holder by the dozen; forgotten receipes sprinkled across the floorboard.. this is all sad, but this is all true. (I did warn you that I was going to be personal on this blog...)

After watching Super Size Me (read:OHMYGODISMCDONALDSKILLINGMESLOWLY) I was disgusted. Absolutely sick to my stomach and I really wanted to cry. I kinda still want to cry just thinking about the horrible things I have subjected myself too.. the countless dollars I have given over just to eat something cheap and fast. Not to mention at how sick it has probably made me. I am over weight. I am depressed a lot. I am at risk for being a dibetic and having heart problems. So, McDonalds is something that I should stay away from at all costs. WHY? Because not only does it use genetically altered food, the caloric and fat intake in ONE hamburger is what I should be eating in A WHOLE FREAKING DAY! NO wonder I'm over weight! I eat there at least four times a week (not just McDonald's, but other fast food places too.)

I think the most shocking thing for me in the Super Size Me film was to see him become addicted to McDonalds. Morgan was starting to get headaches and started experiencing severe mood swings... if he ate McDonalds he felt better. Unfortunetly, about 30 minutes later he was back to feeling like crap. I know exactly what that feels like. I can see where that has happened to me COUNTless times. I would not be suprised to find out that I am addicted to fast food. But how can I change that?

It's a simple question really.. and the solution is simple too. Quit. One word. Just stop eating fast food. I've been wanting to loose weight and I've been wanting to cut back the amount of fast food that we eat for a long time, but finiancial and social situations have kept me from doing that. I've also kept me from quitting. But now I am resolved. IF I eat fast food.. I will pick the HEALTHIEST thing possible and I will drink WATER. I'm not going to say no fast food period (although I would like to, I am that extreme!) because I know a situation will arise and I will have to eat fast food.. (long trips, blah blah blah) . So there is Monumental Expierence #1. On to #2

Tonight my Dad and I watched Food Inc, after we each talked to different people about watching Super Size Me and they said we needed to see Food Inc too. We were blown away. I can't believe the politics that are involved with the foods that we eat. The cut throat way that laws and "law makers" make farmers and other organizations bide by their ways. I really am so deeply saddned by this movie. What have I been eating? They mix ammonia treated ground beef with regular ground beef to kill samonila. AMMONIA! Our grocery stores are packed full of meats from animals who are mutant lab creations. Those animals live in the nastiest environments and are killed in processed covered in mud and feces. Yea. That! And this is what I support with my money? This is the future that I am paving for Autumn? A world where the fastest, biggest way to make money will kill everything in its path to have its way? Just so it can make more and more money? Hell. No. No. No. NO!. This isn't right. You seriously need to go watch both of these movies if you haven't seen them... I... I just can't believe it.

Needless to say I am spending tonight and tomorrow to research really good organic labels and where I can shop local produces and how to shop what's in "season". I've got a ton of things that I need to re-learn. The first thing I need to re-learn is how to live. Cause the way that is now can't be right. I'm not healthy, I'm not happy and I'm sure not wealthy. But I've got a God who cares about me enough that gave me the sense to not be robbed of the simple joys in life.. eating well and taking care of myself and my family.

So, I don't know how far this new knowledge is going to take me, but I took my lunch to work today and I cooked a meal at home. With store bought chicken :(. I will promise and commit myself to one thing.. what ever I do, I am going to document it here on my blog. Hopefully, from changing my food lifestyle, I will see an improvement in all the areas in my life that I need work. I want to be healthy, happy and fit.. I really do.

What are your thoughts? Have you seen either of these films? What is your Food Lifestyle like and are you happy with it?

I guess I'm on some sort of life mission now to be healthy and earth friendly... I can't believe it's taken me this long.

SNOW DAY!!

2011-01-10T17:27:00.000-08:00

Today has been so amazing! Last night when I went to bed, I hoped and prayed that when I woke up everything would be white AND IT WAS! YAY! We have totally vegged out today! Layed around and played CODBlack Ops, journaled, finished an order from etsy, took a walk, and went on an adventure! We decided to get out and drive a little bit, Robin is an excellent driver so I'm not scared in the snow and ice! We went to Wendy's and got a frosty! It was perfect! Then we went to the grocery store and got some Pizza. Now, we are about to watch the College game and vegg out some more! I hope everyone is having an amazing monday!

Just A little Journaling

2011-01-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

A wee journal update for you so I don't have a million pictures to post!

The Shape of Things to Come

2011-01-06T12:15:00.000-08:00

I finished Matched by Ally Condie this week! I have to say I love futureific stories and the whole concept! It seems like a world so foreign to our own, but really we are only a few short years away. I read THIS article on yahoo today. GO read it really quick! While I think the world that our kids will become adults in is fasinating, I NEVER, EVER want to see the written word or HANDWRITING to fade away! That is one thing from the book that I couldn't stand! Everyone in Condie's world wrote on "tablets" a small portable computer. (Sound strangely familiar?) Except there was ONLY a keyboard. There were no pens. There was no paper. There was no library. There was no CREATION, nothing new. No one knew how to write, or how to do more than their "vocation." (No one crocheted or did a journal or even knew how to do two jobs!!!) A limited world that gave the illusion of offering you everything you ever wanted. Scary. I don't want Autumn to be in that world. After reading that article, it puts technology advancements in a proper prospective. How close are we to a paperless society? How close are we to blogs BEING OUR ONLY journal?! How close are we to the future that people have dreamed up for so long? Technology always scares me like this! We can invent ANYTHING! *sigh*

Please tell me you feel the same way! Or that you think I've completely lost all my marbles. It's just so scary to think that our future will be like that article or even like the world in Matched.

*sigh* END rant. ;) thank you have a nice day! lol.

A New Year... A New You

2011-01-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be journaling again in the New Year... New You Journal Class with Janel and all the lovely ladies! Janel is so awesome, and I am so thankful for her for so MANY reasons!! I want you guys to all know that she is so genuine and kind that I am totally inspired by her! Go over to her blog and get to know her, she is simply AMAZING!

A quick glance at whats been going on in my journal so far:

My MAIN goal for this journal is to be genuine to myself. It is so EASY for me to look at the prompts then examine (read get inspired by) what everyone else has done. Then feebly try to be "cool" like everyone else. I want this journal to be me. Simply. Easy. Truthful. Granted I will probably try a few things that I've seen, but I want come up with my pages without any outside forces.. which is going to be SO HARD! I can totally do this though!

Do you guys ever feel like nothing you do is original? That it's all been done before? I guess this is just one of those things and I don't want to just be a copy. I want to DIG DIG DIG inside my self and pull out the crative genuis that I know lives in the deepest parts of me! She's down there, I just need to coach her back out!

Have you been to the Crochet Party yet? It's growing SO MUCH and I am thrilled! I was so scared to invite people to join and now people are finding it on their own and adding their lovely things! I am so loving these right now:

I love the sleeves and the band at the bottom!! So cute!

I have jars saved to do this project! I need to get on it!

Beautiful Afgan by Poot from Hoot N Annie!

And Courtney's scarf should so be my background for my desktop! The color and definition and cool stitch! LOVE IT!!

Foxy Hat!

2011-01-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

Becky is the sweetest blog friend! Look at her rocking this Crochet Fox Hat! I am seriously honored that she is wearing it right now! So much fun! I've added the Foxy Hat to my etsy shop, you can check it out HERE! And YES I am still going to post a SPECIAL crochet tutorial/pattern/thingy SOON! It is still in the works and the kinks are getting worked on! ;) I haven't forgotten!

Who thinks that this year is going to be totally awesome?! I hope everyone does! I certainly do!!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-01T20:38:00.001-08:00

Hello dears! I am doing a quick little drop in to say Hello 2011!

I rang you in with the cool kids from our church and we played Murder in the Dark till 2 in the morning. 2011, I hope you are one awesome year! You will make me 24 this year, in 24 days. ;) I can't wait to see what you hold in store for me.

To kick off a year of awesomeness, today I was completely compulsive.

All last year I grew out my hair! It became quite a thing to everyone around me and I actually did it. It sounds like a strange thing to be proud of.. but I stuck to my word and grew it out for a whole year!
And in true Heather fashion, today I cut all of it off into a short bob. I have missed this haircut! *sigh* It's actually a little bit shorter than what I asked for, but hey it's hair, it will grow back!

And just to remind you, I have a super awesome surprise coming up SOON! ;) Keep checking back!

I wish you guys the best year that you could ever have!

Love ya!!

Double Crochet Hat Tutorial

2010-12-30T19:37:00.000-08:00

Hello crafty friends! I've been hinting around at this post for a little while now, and I am so happy to share with you my very own...DOUBLE CROCHET HAT TUTORIAL and PATTERN!!

So what you will need is a skein of worsted weight yarn of your choice. I really like Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn because its affordable and super crazy soft!

SO, on to the tutorial/pattern!

ROUND TWO!

Chain 3! In the same chain(ch) 3 space (see where my finger is pointing? Thats where you want to be.) work 1 double crochet(dc)

ROUND THREE

ROUND FOUR: Chain 3. 1 dc in the ch.3. space. 1 dc in the first three stitches. 2 dc in the next stitch. Think of it as 1, 1, 1, 2. Repeat that pattern around and join with a sl. st.

ROUND SIX:Ch. 3. 1 dc in the ch. 2 space. 1 dc in the next five stitches. 2dc in the sixth stitch. 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2.

Ok, well not EXACTLY like this, but the basic bone structure! ;)

Blah Fizzle

2010-12-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

This week has kind of been blah fizzle. I've been super exausted lately and I'm not quite sure why.

So, it's funny to me that the best part of my week so far was last night. We watched Easy A last night with the fam... it was HALIROUS! I love Emma Stone! I think she is just the coolest! She's so gorgeous too!

So, I guess this is going to be a "girl crush" post! Lol!

Intellectual Hilarity! check!

making crazy faces. check.

glitter letters. check.

super killer leather jacket. check.

Am I super envious? Check.

Seriously... she's funny, she's a RED HEAD, and she seems like she would be really cool to be around!

I wish I were in a super awesome crafty motivated mood to stimulate all you crafty bits out there, but I am totally off this week! I hold still to the philosophy that this is the strangest, most depressing week of the year. I think I posted about it last year... It's like the twilight week, where nothing quite matters because the year is over and a new one is about to begin...

Anyway, I'm sure we don't want to delve into the blackhole that is my thought process.. What are you doing for New Years? We're going to watch Inception (AGAIN, yes, this is like the 5th time.) with the youth group kids, then have a Church lock in. Our lock ins are so funny... we don't do anything cool or super exciting, but we just hang out and play Sardines (a reverse type of hide & go seek. One person hides in the TOTAL darkness and everyone has to find them and hide with them. There is always one or two people who are left searching in the darkness for the whole group of people hiding. We play this game for HOURS. It's kind of sad.

So, I will be back on my regular scheduled crafty brained self once I get through this sludge I'm feeling. Love you bits and bobs!

Christmas so Good.

2010-12-25T20:57:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Ya'll!!

I really hope everyone had a GREAT day with their families! It was so much fun to be with my brother and his sister today! We had a blast! Ate way too much food! It SNOWED! Can you BELIEVE IT! A WHITE CHRISTMAS. Granted it was tonight when it snowed, but still snow on Christmas in Georgia! It was beautiful!

I can not WAIT to get in to these!! The Hubs got me some "Nerd Fuel" as my cousin Daniel called it. And I think I will here on out refer to my books as nerd fuel! Love it! Hubby even got me TWO sets of Moleskine journals. Now I just need to save up the extra money I get for this
I've really missed my Journaling and getting these journals just gives me a lot of incentive! So, if anyone is feeling generous *wink wink!* I'm sure I'll be in the class though.

I've been using my new camera too! I LOVE IT! I put it to really good use! Here's a preview of whats to come on the blog! Maybe a pattern and tutorial for some adorbable crochet goods?

Ooh, wee. What could it be? Just wait and you will see! Get those crochet hooks ready, cause I am so excited to do my first *ahem*FIRST*ahem* tutorial. ;)

Love you all! I hope your Christmas is lovely and wonderful and filled with Great and Mighty Love.

Life isn't a Norman Rockwell

2010-12-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Are you ready for Christmas yet?! It's only TWO days away! I can't wait for my brother and his wife to get here tomorrow night and let the fun begin!

I know that this time of year is so much fun for people, but there are a lot of people that this time of year is really hard to make it through.

We all have our own ideas and opinions of what a "perfect christmas" is, but let's be honest- life is not perfect. If it were perfect then everyday would look like a Norman Rockwell, but in my life it is FAR from that.

I want to share something deep from inside me, if you don't mind. I'm making it a point to make this blog personal, and I can't be real with you and not share the dread that I am feeling about Chirstmas.

I used to have ^this family. The family who got together EVERY holiday, EVERY birthday, and EVERY Sunday for lunch at Grandmama's house. The family who acted silly and wild, but loved each other very much. You know, the family that everyone wishes they had. It's so easy to be jaded when you're little and think that everything is perfect. It's even easy to overlook things when you get older and realize everything is not what it seems. But it is not easy to deal with the fact that you no longer have THAT kind of family.

My Grandmama died and when she did the grief of losing her literally tore my dad's family apart. We got together that Thanksgiving and tried to make it work. Tried to maker her special, one of a kind dressing, turkey and secrect bar-b-que sauce. We tried to make nice and pretend like she was still there. But she wasn't. And without her the love in that family evaporated. She was such a special and unique person that all of us together couldn't match her kindness and love. We tried, Lord knows we tried, but it didn't work.

You would think at 19, you could try and fix that situation. But I was trying so hard to act like I wasn't affected that she was gone (something I still do and still deal with a lot.), I just went along with all the charades. Needless to say, I don't remember what that year's Christmas was like. But I do know that the next year our family was so at odds that no one spoke to each other. My dad & mom moved away and no one even looked twice in their direction.

It's been that way ever since. For the past four years my family has acted like children. Last year, my mom decided that we needed to get together and she invited the whole family up for Thanksgiving. Enough time had passed that everyone was friendly, but the bitterness underneath it all was still there. You might not have been able to tell from the outside, but it was there. This year when Thanksgiving came, we didn't hear from that side of our family. I later found out that they had a family thing without us. The whole family besides my dad and his kids. It broke my heart. It made me so angry. Still. After all this time and all these years I am so angry that they are so blind. If we can't love our family, then how are we supposed to love strangers? If we can't love our family, then how are we supposed to care about the people who are suffering in this world? If we can't love our family, the people who share our dna structure and blood lines, then how can we love ourselves.

I wish SO BAD, that I could fix this family. That I could peel off a giant band-aid and put it on the wounds, but it can't be fixed. Now, after this year, I'm not so sure I want it to be fixed because I'm sure they don't care about us the way I care about them. I hope God has mercy on us and I wish so earnestly that he would fit it. I've prayed for years and years that he would, but it just isn't his time I guess.

So, I wish I had that tradition back in my life... cause the holidays aren't the same without them. I am very family oriented and the only thing I can do now is surround myself with the family that I have here and the ones I let in close enough to be family. But they still don't fill that empty space.

Life Tremors

2010-12-21T10:05:00.001-08:00

I read something today that was earth shaking.

Take a second to read it too.

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. {Luke 1:26-38}

This was Mary's reply when an Angel sent from God told her she would give birth to a son. A son that she would carry all her own. She was a virgin. She would remain a virgin. And when she was faced with the most outrageous, jaw-dropping, miraculous task in history THIS is what she said.

Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

A woman, like you and me, who was young and about to be married to a man who was of a King's lineage. She didn't say NO. She didn't try to wiggle her way out of it. She didn't disobey or doubt. She simply had faith. From her simple gesture the world was changed by her son, Jesus.

All my life, I've heard the Christmas story. I've even heard conter-Christmas stories. That Christmas is really just a pagan holiday that we merged with the birth of Jesus so that everyone could be happy. WHATEVER the reason we celebrate this time of year, I want this much to be true in my life: When I am faced with the craziest, most insane idea and task God has asked me to do I want to have Mary's reply.

Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.

To have a Savior is the greatest gift I have ever been given. To have THAT kind of Faith in Him would be the greatest gift I could ever give him back.

{p.s, I couldn't help but share this with you. Sitting in Zaxby's I read this and was in tears at the beauty of the Faith that Mary had, not only to give birth to JESUS! but faced with all the social constrains of that Day... I know I would not have had the same answer. And that shames me. God is merciful, though, and I'm so glad I read this. I want to be faithful like Mary, and take on the craziness and awesomeness of God's will. }

Crochet Party!

2010-12-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

All my crochet people get your hooks out! We've got a party going on and you're INVITED! Head on over to Flickr to the Group heatherxdawn's Crochet Party!

JOIN the group and start adding all the things you love about crochet! Your projects, your yarn stash, your crative process, your creative process! And don't forget to add all your web/store/ravelry info in the topic Crochet Party People!

I hope to see you there!!

If you join I would love to feature you on meh blog! Maybe a fun post about a pattern you've created or the projects you are working on! If you're interested contact me at: heatherxdawn@gmail.com!

Add the button to your blog!

Life in a Post/Cute Crochet Fox Hat!

2010-12-17T06:08:00.000-08:00

This week has been crazy! We have a few get togethers over last weekend and went shopping. Then Monday night Doodle got really sick. Throwing up in her sleep sick! :( It's working its way through the family right now. Robin doesn't feel well and threw up last night. *sigh* I am drinking Ginger Ale and telling myself it's because I've seen so many other people throw up. But I don't feel exactly perfect.

Other than THAT. I've started a new book this week!

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. I am enjoying it a lot actually. Even though it is a teen book and Sarah Dessen is a teen author, this book seems more grown up. It's because the main character, Auden (which is a cute girl name by the way!) didn't have much of a childhood. She matured too quickly under the intellegence of her parents, who pushed her to succeed rather than have fun. That's a complete different world to me. Lol. Success without fun is pointless!

I made Becky from Strumpets Crumpets two adorable hats! She requested a child and adult size fox hat this year for Christmas. She asked me last year for Christmas too and one of her cousins got a little foxy hat! It wasn't as cute as these if you ask me!! I had a hard time last year with the ears, but this year they were so much easier!

This is the adult size hat, for Becky.

This is the child sized hat.

There isn't that much difference between the two. I made the ears ont he child hat a little more perky, just cause, it's a kid! It's so funny, when I was finishing the hats, Robin and Doodle were watching Milo & Otis and there was that adorbs little fox running all over the place!

So, Do you guys feel like this year was a good one? Have you stuck with any of your resolutions?

I've stuck with one.

Growing My Hair for a Year. This time last year was the last time I cut my hair. I got it cut to shoulder length to even it all up. I want to cut my hair now, but at the same time I want to let it grow.

Pretty Paper Snowflakes

2010-12-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

I am really liking paper snowflakes this year! I've made a ton and have hung them up all over the house!

These lil ones are on the shelf above our bed. Which also holds one of my most cherished Christmas things. Can you see the toy box with the rocking horse on it? I've had it since I was a litle kid & whithout it, well, it just isn't Christmas. It's a musical box and it's so sweet to listen to! *sigh*

Don't the snowflakes cast such a pretty shadow?!

Here are a few more of my snowflakes hanging out with Heff the Elf.

Aren't these orange paper snowflakes amazing!! howaboutorange features a quick cutting guide for the flowery snowflake on the right!

I think it looks so magical to hang up paper snowflakes on windows! Especially, here when we don't ever have a white christmas (except that is snowed flurries all day today!!! nothing stuck though :{ )

They are super easy to make too!! I used this diagram for getting started!

I think I may be starting a Christmas tradition involving paper snowflakes! How cute would they be on a tree?!

Do you ever make paper snowflakes during Christmas?

Oh My Luce!

2010-12-09T13:31:00.001-08:00

Brace yourselves. The pictures you are about to view are SPECTACULAR!

Lucy at Attic 24 has donneit AGAIN!

She is so simply perfect when it comes to crochet, design and tutorial making that is blows me away!

Here is her NEWEST TUTORIALS Crochet Bauble Decorations!

Stars and Rounds!

Aren't they divine?! I wish I could have made these for my ornament swap buddies! I think I still might! I still have their addresses! :)

You can read how to make these sweet little baubles here!

*sigh*

ORRRR

You can make your very own Star decorations!

Now, I have to go. I've got things to make!!! If you make/or like to browse crochet, you've GOT to check out the Attic 24 Inspired Crochet Pool on Flickr! It's wonderful to get lost there. So bright and happy. :)

Love you all! I hope you are having Fantablous Thursdays! The weekend is ALMOST here and there is talk of SNOWWWWW! YAY!

I am a Winner

2010-12-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not THE winner, but a winner none the less.

You NEED to go look at this GIVEAWAY! It's amazingly wonderful and dreamy. And I wannit. ;)

Cuppy is amazing! She featured one of my crochet cowls in her last give away! So, go check it out!

Heff the Elf

2010-12-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Meet Senior Heff! My little Strumpets Helper! He likes sitting on the shelf where my paper snowflakes hanf while he watches us go about our daily lives. He's a proper Elf with a stash to boot! He most loves his pointy hat, from which he can hang if he so pleased!

Becky from Strumpets Crumpets sent Heff in the mail the other day and what a treat! It was kinda tricky to hold the teeny tiny edges but with my favorite glue stick and clear tape he's all put together! I totally see how paper crafts can be addictive! After all, I have been cutting up snowflakes EVERYDAY! Yes. I am obsessed. It's quite a stress reliever though.

I've been reading again! :)
I accepted a trade for this book last week and I am so glad i did! It was so good! I love the story and it is very engrossing! I can't wait to get the next book 'Linger' it is super cool and the whole book is written in green ink! GREEN! How fun?

Right now I'm reading Strange Angels Betrayals on my iPod. I didn't know it was the second novel... so um, I just figured that out while looking for a picture to post. wow. Um. I am kinda distrubed right now. I mean I was a little lost in some of the referencecs, but I just figured it would all be spelled out later... ha. Well, I'm really into this one and now I'm not quite sure what to do. Read the first one or just keep reading the second. Geez. I'm a nut case. LOL.

Christmas Tunage

2010-12-06T20:52:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest things about Chistmas to me is the fact that the music that we listen to is in it's very own genre! Summer doesn't have a genre and neither does fall, but Christmas has it own unique sound! Every band pretty much has a Christmas album tucked away somewhere in their history! It's so much fun hearing my favorite bands come out with their own style of classic Christmas songs or even better making new ones!

A few years back I sat down and made my own Christmas playlist and every year I listen to it! It's a compelation of traditional and new Christmas tunes that make me so happy and in the "Christmas Spirit!"

1. John Lennon- Happy Christmas

2. The Drifters- White Chiristmas (Home Alone) I giggle everytime I hear this song and it never gets old!!

3. Brenda Lee- Jingle Bell Rock

4. Casting Crowns- Christmas Offering

5. Save Ferris- Christmas Wrapping (this is so funny! and kinda anti-christmas!)

6. Frank Sinatra (swoon)- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

7. Bing Crosby- White Christmas (So, lovely!!)

8. Nat King Cole- O Holy Night

9. Trans Siberian Orchestra- Carol of the Bells (this song is a HUGE jam in our family!)

10. Alvin and the Cipmunks- Chirstmas

11.Paul McCartney- Wonderful Christmas Time

12. Jimmy Eat World- Last Christmas

13. The Grinch Song

14. Cindy Lou-Who/ Faith Hill - Where are You Christmas?

15. Brenda Lee- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

16. Down Here- How Many Kings (I could listen to this one all year long! So Beautiful. Just listen to the lyrics!)

See what I mean? Christmas music is so much fun! There are Christmas songs that move me so much, like the last one. The first time I heard it was last year and I cried. Lyrically, it's so beautiful! How many kings stepped down from their thrones? ... How many fathers gave up their sons for me? Only one did that for me... *sigh*

There are tons more, but these are just the ones I have on my Ipod. What songs do you love for Christmas time!? What songs just make the magic of Christmas to you?!

ps; crafty friends, what do you think about web rings? I'm thinking of making a crafty/crochet web ring so that all crochet lovers can be in one spot! I am looking for more crochet blogs and if you know of some please share! I love looking around at what other people are working on! The web ring would be FREE, no sponors or anything, just a page dedicated to crafty people! How awesome would that be? Tell me your thoughts!

Christmas Lovelies!

2010-12-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

I have finally made a yarn wreath! I've had this styrofoam mold for over a YEAR! And the other night while Robin watched the Football game I decided it was time to work this baby up! I am so happy with the way it turned out! I didn't have a lot of supplies to work with, but I am so pleased! I used left over ornaments from our little baby tree we bought and I made the yarn ball and I crocheted a sparkly white snowflake (btw, I am obsessed with the snowflakes too! I am so glad a few of you love them!!)

I've ALWAYS wanted a white tree!! When I was in highschool I bought a SILVER 2 ft table top tree and I decorated it with hot pink, teal and purple! It was so sweet, but after Robin and I got married I threw it away. He HATED it so much, so I let it go.

I got this tree for $7.50 (YAY!) the other day at Rose's (a cheaper version of Wal-Mart). I got some decorations from Big Lots and Wal Mart and made quick work of decorating it! I think next year I will make TONS of ornaments to go on it, but this year I was a little too busy to make all the ornaments! I have some that I actually need to put up!

We also have another tree in the house. Our big, lovely, artificial tree. It's in the living room and it's decorated in Red, Gold and Black. I will share those with you later!

What yo you guys think?! What crafty bits have you added into your homes lately? Share your stuff too, I wanna seeee!!

love, heather

Blog or BLAGH?

2010-12-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Blog or blagh?:

this is the part where i ramble about nothing... maybe something

Are you of the sort who thinks that a blog should be personal or that it should be for business/profit, etc?

I've been really getting into a lot more blogs recently and the more I come across the more corporate they seem. I don't exactly know my stand on this yet. But I do feel my self pulling away from these types of blogs. I like the more personal ones. The parts where the writer tells me who they are. The parts where they make me feel like I'm apart of their blog. I'm not just some authentic hit or a target audience. Granted, I think it's AMAZING that a blogs make money and generate business.

I don't really have a "destination" for this blog.. and I spent the better part of yesterday reading old posts to try and figure out what my blog came "across" as. Is it a craft blog? A personal blog? An inspirational blog? I honestly have no clue. I do feel like it's my blog. It's about the things that I like and am inspired by. I follow people who I feel a generally kindred spirit with or have inspired me.

There is a point in my blog writing where everything CHANGED. I stopped complaining about everyday life and I started journaling. I used this space on the web to connect with people and share my love of crocheting and journaling. It's because of Janel's 30 Day Journal Challenge. It shook me out of my perpetual slump and got my mind focused. I thought outside of my daily problems and turned it into art. Those prompts started something inside me that got me to this place where my blog is. I feel like my blog has just grown up so much and me with it. I still could complain here, and a lot of time I will come write a grumpy post. I hesitate on the PUBLISH button and just leave it in the drafts. Just getting the words out was all I needed.

So, I guess my blog is just a cronological list of what happens in my days, my thoughts, and my crafty spaces.

I don't want to make a GOAL for my blog, because I honestly suck at goals. I'm getting better at accomplishing what I set out to do. I just want to connect with people. I want to share fun things about crafting and myself. And I hope that really shines through.

What do you think about this blog and your own? Do you feel like personal blogs are more intersting or do you feel like business-ey blogs have more appeal?

YaY! Pretty!

2010-12-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

How are you liking the new look of the blog? If you're a Google Reader subscriber, come over & tell me how our new home looks!!

And for all the new lovelies, I've made a new Grab Button, too!

So if you don't have my button yet, please add it to your site! If you have one of my buttons, isn't this one perfect!?

You can grab it from the right side bar! If you do pick it up, let me know so I can be sure to return the favor!! I love sharing buttons! There are so many pretty ones out there!!

Christmas is Coming!

2010-11-30T08:32:00.000-08:00

So you better watch out, you better not cry I'm crocheting up a storm I'm telling you why... Heather Dawn is coming to town.

i am so dumb.

I've been crocheting snowflakes like theres a blizzard in my hands trying to break free!!

I've done pink and white ones so far! They are easily addictive! I've followed this tutorial!

This is my newest project! I am making myself a granny blanket! The colors look so much better in this picture than in real life! I guess the sunlight made them POP! But I'm using I Love This Yarn and it is so soft and squishy I am questioning why I used anything else for the past 2 blankets I made!

Welp... Thanksgiving was spectacular. I didn't-REPEAT DIDN'T- eat too much! HA.. take that TURKEY DAY! I had one peice of Red Velvet Cake, which I have a post planning to share my mothers EPIC recipe! I was actaully sad about thanksgiving food. I have this wierd pet peeve. If everything on my plate is the same color, I get a little wierded out. And everything was yellow. Which is the worst color that everything could be. I know, I'm crazy. Robin tells me that it's a crazy pet peeve! Everything was yellow except for the cranberry sauce and lima beans.

BUT everything was DELISH! So I should shut up, cause my mom reads this blog~
MAMA, you cook so good... don't listen to me rant about everything being yellow. But you probably noticed this too. ;)

BLACK Friday wasn't so bad. I think next year I am joining the ANTI-Black Friday movement though. I got my camera at 1 p.m. I didn't have to wait in a line for it. We got some awesome toys for Doodle at a very low price. It was fun to be with Robin, Daniel and Autumn. It was actually the lowest stress shopping trip I can remember. We went where we wanted and when we were done we left.

Now, I am shopping on the internet. And I think my life has been revolutionised. I'm not a big internet shopper, but, um, I think I will be!

What are you doing to get ready for the holidays?!!

A New BLog Friend!!

2010-11-29T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I'm stopping in to tell you all that my REAL friend, Victoria, has joined the blog world!! She's a first time mom who loves to cloth diaper and hang out with her Marine husband! Go check her out!!

Here is her grab button!!!

<a border="0" href="http://rainingparade.blogspot.com" target="_blank"></a>

Happy Thanksgiving & The Dark Day

2010-11-24T21:17:00.000-08:00

image found on weheartit. whoever made it, it's stinkin cute!

'Ello everyone!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Are you ready for BLACK Friday!?

Let's all make a promise to NOT eat too much and to pass on the FOURTH helping of Stuffing. Mmkay? Okay. ;)

Can we just pause a minute to talk a bit about BLACK Friday? I've did all my thankfulness and I am so thankful, but I just want to talk about this crazyness... see if you all agree or disagree.

ha, I even made my own silly little graphic!

SO, we here in the US know what BLACK Friday means. I'm not sure if other countries take part in this circus event, but MAN BLACK Friday is NUTS! At least here in Georgia it is. I think entire families go AWOL on one another to get the newest tickle me whatever. If you think Halloween is scary, you better check those costumes at the door, because Granny Do-Gooder is more likely to scare the piss out of you over some $1.99 handtowels in the Wal*Mart isle at 5:00 in the morning! SERIOUSLY! And we wake up EARLY for this HARASSMENT!!

I've only been shopping on Black Friday twice in my short life. I think I lost 10 years of it just because of those days too! Talk about stressful! EVERYWHERE is JAMMED PACKED and people are so ill and mean. You would think saving about $200 would make someone happy, heck no!

The first year Robin and I were married we decided to take part in mayhem. We woke up at 3a.m. to go to Wal*Mart. We knew from a partner on the inside of the W*M crew that there were only going to be THREE LCD T.V's., which is what we were going after. We were the second people in line. We stood in line for three hours. It wasn't so bad. We made friendly with the workers who were there and the people in line with us. We read some magazines, took shifts walking around and talked a great deal about life things.

Around 5-5:30 it was like the gates opened up and SWARMS of people came from nowhere. In just a few minutes there were masses of people behind us in line and I could see other lines forming around the store too. I heard people yelling and cussing that it was 6am already!! Just angry people in general. And no lie, the cops were called. A fight broke out over some electronic device. People were hand cuffed and escorted out!

Are you finding this insane? Is this the Black Friday experince you've had?!

Needless to say, we got our precious 42 inch LCD for $700-ish tv (which is still so lovely and amazing and precious.). We could barely fit it in the car but we got the first one and it was a life experience I'll never forget! But Black Friday is so intense! All the people, all the sales, all the crazyness. Why in the world do we go through with this! We know it's a MADNESS EVENT, the title gives it away, but we just join right in and spend spend spend on things that we really don't need.

I hate to admit it, but this year we are going shopping on BLACK FRIDAY! I think I'm going to wear my combat boots and tribal war paint, because this mama has to get Doodle a Barbie Jeep/ 4wheeler/whatever and a camera. I am scared. And I hate HUGE crowds. But, because I'm a sucker for a great bargin... I'm putting myself through this torture to get $40 off. *SIGH* What kind of sad world we live in.

What do you think about BLACK FRIDAY!? Are you hunting deals? Buying something HUGE!!?

Are you staying in the peace and quiet of your own home, free from the crazies? I want to be you! And I know I could stay home... order online... but when I buy things I like to get it then. I don't like waiting. I'm very impatient. ;)

Thankful For It All

2010-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

There are so many things that I am thankful for. A few too many to even remember properly. There are the little things I don't think about so often that I am thankful for like running water and heating and air conditioning and clean drinking water. There are the big things that I am thankful for like God, a family of my own, a home and a country where I can be myself. There are ridiculous things that I am thankful for like nutella, I Love This Yarn, Apple Brand, Vintage Pyrex. There are things that I can't stand, but I am thankful for, like my past. Without it, then where would I be? I certainly wouldn't be myself.

I am thankful for you. Yep! You! The person who is reading this right now. You are so amazing to me. This simple gesture, reading, that you are doing is so wonderful to me. I don't know you and I can't see you, but I am thankful for you. Being able to blog makes me feel like there is this small corner of the world where everyone "gets it". They love to craft and find the extrordinary. They think that different is best. You are those people. You make me feel like I belong. You inspre me and drive me to create and think and express. You are so beautiful sitting behind that computer screen! I hope you know it! ;)

What are you thankful for? What ridiculous, little and big things are you thankful for?

Totally Screwball Buttons...

2010-11-18T06:49:00.001-08:00

Oh my GOSH!

I just clicked on a button of mine on a friend's blog and GUESS WHAT!!?!

It was all screwbally! :( And doesn't bring you to my blog, but some random search engine.

So, if you have my button on your blog, please oh please grab the new revised one! ;)

Ornament Swap

2010-11-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

Who would like to swap crafty homemade ornaments this Christmas?! Go here and leave your name and email and how EXCITED you are!!

I am feeling so inspired by this endevor!

I made these the first year I started crocheting! Here is the GREAT tutorial!!

Super easy and you can customize it a MILLION different ways!

LOVE these!!

SQUEE! These are ADORABLE from this etsy shop & it's a pattern!

There are so many ideas running around in my head right now!! I can't wait to get started and meet my partner! Who ever you are, I can promise you this I am going to have so much fun making you some ornaments!!!!

Slow Anger

2010-11-15T19:41:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I find it so hard to exist as I am. To figure out when I keep my mouth shut and when to open it. It's so hard to follow His light. Yet it's so easy as well.

I pray that I'm living this life the way you intended it. I hope that I am saying and doing the things that you've asked me to do.

I pray that I am following the path you are calling me to.

God, help me to see with your eyes and understanding.

Not so that I can be all knowing, but so I can make the choices you would make.

Guide me. Lead me. Foster me.

I don't want to screw up.

I want things to be right and only You can do that.

And only you are allowed righetousness.

Please, Lord, Fix it.

Even if they don't want you to.

There are things happening in life right now that are beyond serious. But God can handle it all.

To everyone around me right now, I would say this:

listen to this song.

Let it go.

Mercy holds no memory.

Forgive, but most importantly FORGET!

It only takes two honest words to fix any problem. I'm sorry

People with understanding control their anger;
a hot temper shows great foolishness. Prov. 14.29

Help us God, when we don't know how to help ourselves out of the messes we have made in your Name.

Currently Reading & Doing:

2010-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've started a new book! My first one since reading Redeeming Love! I read Reedeming Love many months ago & just didn't want to leave that story in my mind. I'm very mentally involved in the stories I read and if they are really good I don't want to start a new book. It's proably really strange sounding, but I guess it's my way of respecting what I just read by letting it stay with me. Or I'm just weird. That's totally plausable. ha.

Anyways, this here book is quite interesting. There are a lot of themes and imagery. I've never read a book quite like it. The story is beautifully written and the way that it provokes thought and self examination is impressive. The entire book is written in third person, but each chapter is focused from one character's point of view.

All in all, I am enjoying this book! I even stayed up the other night to read! I haven't stayed up late reading in a long time!

Last night the hubs and I watched this movie. It was okay. I totally predicted the plot as the movie unfolded. I kinda do that a lot. The filmography was pretty, though. I love how movies are looking more like beautiful paintings now. They are so vivid and artistic. There are a couple of scence in the woods that are other wordly and I could tell that they filmed in Vancouver. I was thinking the whole time that the movie looked like Twilight. Zac Efron is actually a really good actor. I was suprised. At least I think he is. So, it's a good movie to watch and do some crocheting to.

And speaking of Zac Efron.. I just found out he's playing the character of Logan Tibolt, from The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks. I'm a little confused though. Why is a 24 year old playing the role of a 30 year old who will fall in love with a 30 year old? I just have a really good feeling that the romance part of this movie is going to be... strange. Not at all like it is in the book. It's kind of upsetting, because the book was so good. I guess it is true that the book is ALWAYS better than the movie.

My newest project isn't turning out like I had hoped. I'll give you guys an update on that with some pictures soon.

What are you ladies up to this weekend? How have you been spending your shortened days?

A day without the internet

2010-11-11T09:11:00.001-08:00

Do you know what its like without internet?!

It's very productive! I washed four loads of clothes. Cleaned my room. Read. Cut my cousins hair. Cooked lunch. Took a nap. Read again.

All day yesterday until 5 minutes ago our internet was down! It was strange. I couldn't check my e-mail. Or watch netflix. Or look around. Or GOOGLE anything. And there were two times when I did need to google something.

It's crazy how much information is right under our fingertips. It's like we have every thing we could possibly know just a click away. If you think about it, thats kind of intemidating. Awesome, but intemidating.

So, now the internet is back on and I'm getting caught up on my e-mails. Toodles!

BRING BACK VERONICA MARS

2010-11-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

I am obsessed with Veronica Mars.

I finished the Series. And I am so sad. It ended ubruptly... I guess during the writers strike a couple of years ago, and it never picked back up. STUPID MISTAKE CW! And Rob Thomas (creator, and no not the rockstar. same dude who is doing the new 90210). BRING RONNIE BACK! And Logan too. *swoon*

I have started reading fan fiction.

Yes, it is Twilight all over again.

Except, I am not staying up till 4 am and I am not writing my own versions. yes. I wrote Twilight Fan Fiction!! HAHA!! Love it. I had a lot of waiting to do between books. ;)

And I've only read one so far. I know I'll read more.

HA!
But.. you guys have got to know that Logan... oh, man, Logan. Well, he's the thing t.v. shows are made for! Because, he doesn't exist and if he did we would really hate his guts. But on t.v. you just love him. He's not all bad, mind you. He's just that guy who would beat the pulp out of anyone for you and then come kiss you because he's madly in love with you. He's kinda broody and over emotional when you break up, but it's because you're the one for him. You know, that kind of guy who is out there, but we never really find.

mmm. sexy man. i gotta quit talking about him before my husband finds out.

*SIGH*

I miss my Veronica Mars. :( It was such a great T.V. show. It was apart of my nightly routinte :(. Get home, bathe Doodle, Get doodle to sleep, watch V.Mars, crochet, bed.

What t.v. shows are good (other than Glee. Totally a Gleek here.)!? And on Netflix? I adore Netflix! I need something new to watch now....

In other more crafty news:

I finished this Cowl for Cuppy!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BFF

2010-11-09T05:49:00.001-08:00

best birthday song ever!

Today is NATALIE'S birthday! Natalie is my BFF. My pretend, but real sister. She's my secrect holder. My person to call when I have no clue whats going on in my life. The inventor of great things. The giggle maker. The most amazing friend.

She doesn't blog very often, but you guys should totally go tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Natalie, thank you for always being my best friend. I honestly don't know what life would be like without you! I wish that you and I could time travel and go back and watch our toddler selves playing! I'm sure I would bite you, then you kick me! But I am so thankful fo you! You are an amazing woman, wife & teacher! Don't you ever, EVER change. You're perfect just the way you are!

...and we should totally have a paint party for your b-day. i'm jus' sayin'

A Serious Case of Wonderlust

2010-11-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Pardon me while I go a bit batty. I am being materalistic, which is very unflattering. I just want things sometimes. It happens to the best of us. It's happening to me. Not that I'm the best or anything, just that I am normal. Well, as close to normal as I could possibly get...

why, yes! I would LOVE a GOLD camera. Get some gold glitter toms to match! YEA! I would kill it with my point n shoot in STYLE.

have i ever mentioned that i love apple.

oh, probably about a dozen times...

^shut up. i'll say it again.

i love apple. mac. i pods. i tunes. safari. steve jobs.

there. i said it. BOOYAH!

I'm not normally so crazy. But I have wanted an iphone for FOREVER. There is rumor of verizon becoming a carrier and I am SERIOUSLY waiting for this to happen. Pins and needles, I tell you! I will not buy a new phone at least until late late next year in hopes that iPhone will be on verizon by then! If not then, CRAP!

i know how awesomei phones are. i think that together we would have super powers. fight crime and listen to really awesome jams while counting our steps and caloric intake and playing scrabble and taking photobooth pictures of us slaying evil villans.

or we just be really awesome. like peanut butter & jelly.

And I really NEED a new camera. Not just want. I've been borrowing my MIL camera for over a year. (After Robin slammed my camera in the car door on accident, which busted the lcd screen. it'll still take pictures.. you just can't see what you're doing or know how to adjust settings.)
so, i'm hoping that the hubs will lovingly get me a camera for this christmas! and those 2 up top are my picks right now. They are seriously impressive!

You know Christmas is like a MONTH and A HALF away! Are you getting excited yet?!? Have you started your wish lists/ shopping/ making yet?! What are you hand making this Christmas! I would love to hear about it!!

I am keeping christmas low key this year. I have NO idea what to do for gifts yet. I feel the anxeity already. I blame the tinsel. And the blinking lights. You can feel free to blame the rotating blow up displays if you wish.

;) Enjoy Your Weekend Dears.

It is supposed to be effing cold this weekend in Georgia! YES!

Ripply Goodness

2010-11-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! Introducing the Baby Ripple Blankie!

TA-DA!

Ah, looks so cozy. Robin refuses to let me give away the ripple blanket. He loves it. He wants one I'm sure!

I am so please with the way it turned out! If you remember I followed this pattern/tutorial from Attic 24. (My beloved crochet heaven.)

I think I chained somewhere in the range of 120.. I honestly can't remember. I think for a baby blanket this one is actually too large. But, hey baby will grow! Blanket will be big enough!

I edged it out in brown with a simple single crochet. :) It makes me happy.

As for yarn I use the Michael's Store Brand Loops & Threads Impeccable in chocolate, aran, pumpkin, cadet, fern & cherry. I really like the way the Impeccable yarn works up! It's nice and firm without being itchy or scratchy. It moves across the fingers nicely.

Now that I'm free and one day off of this BIG high of finishing this blanket! I can't wait for my next project!

I'm wanting to do a granny square blanket kind of like these pictures but joined with grey yarn! I already have the yarn on hand & I am starting the process tomorrow @ Destiny's House. We are having a madetory Crochet Day! I can't wait! Robin is watching the baby and I am going to crochet till my hands fall off! YES!

What are you planning? crafting? doing? this week.

I'm SO EXCITED!!

2010-11-01T19:13:00.001-07:00

I JUST finished my crochet ripple baby blanket!

Pictures to post SOON!

I just had to let you know!!

*HUGS*

Don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!!

Fat Chance

2010-10-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

These are the only things that are keeping me going right now:

BED

source

HOT TEA

source

BEAR HONEY

source

I've been sick since Monday. :(

I just want to take some Ny-Quil and sleep it out.

Fat Chance.

A Happy First

2010-10-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not used to winning things so this is all very exciting to me!!! Elisabeth from Zomboid.com gave me this lovely Versatile Blogger Award! I am so happy and thrilled! I know a few people read this, but that they find it interesting is mind blowing in a way. It's an awesome feeling!! So, Elisabeth thank you so much! You've made me so happy!!

So, here are the rules to accepting the award!!
1. Thank and link back to who gave you the award. (SO DONE!)
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass it along to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy
4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award.

SEVEN STUFF:

1. I cannot watch scary movies. At all. Ever since I was a little kid I've had nightmares after watching scary movies. I'm not talking about one nightmare.. like everynight for weeks. I guess my mind just can't handle it. I watched one of the Saw movies with Robin when we dated and I had to leave to go throw up. It really just messes me up! I wish it didn't, but it does. So, the scariest movie I've ever watched would probably be Are You Afraid of the Dark. Ha, I am such a dweeb! I know I've seen some... but my memory is totally failing right now. ;) ha.

2. I should wear two different shoe sizes. My right foot is an 11 in womens & my left is a 10. So 11s fit, but are loose on one foot. Tens fit but are tight on one foot. Makes shoe shopping a TOTAL NIGHTMARE. *sigh*

3. I am a little sister. I have a Big Brother. I call him Bubba to this day. Doodle even calls him Bubba. We used to fight so bad with one another growing up. I always thought he was so cool though. He played guitar and listened to cool music and hung out with interesting people. He was never apart of the "IN" crowd, but he had the most interesting friends. I think part of them influenced who I am today. I think it helped me not be afraid to just be myself.

4. I sing. At church I lead a ton of songs and I play the piano on a lot of them too. I've been told I should go on to American Idol.. but I know those people were just being nice. I love & hate to sing. I love it because I've been doing it since I was about 6 and it's just who I am. I hate it because it puts you OUT THERE. It's a huge leap of faith for me, because I am really self concious and judgemental of myself....

5. I LOVE to read. I've read countless books this year. It would take too long for me to count but I'm sure it would take both hands. I really love Y.A. books, but I'm branching out of that genre into more adult themes. I started reading classic novels this year too... Pride & Prejudice.. A Picture of Dorian Gray.

6. I have TERRIBLE eyesight. I have an astigmitism in both my eyes & two differnt perscriptions in each as well. I can't wear contacts because they dry out my eyes like CRAZY. I also have a ton of "floaters" in my eyes. Floaters are scratches that you can actually see...

7. My mom is a breast cancer survivor!!! When I was 7 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember it being really odd that she wasn't at home a lot and all of our family was at our house 8 hours away. So, breast cancer is a really close subject to my heart. It's one of the reasons I chose to breastfeed. Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of devloping breast cancer. And babies who were breastfed also have fewer risks of having breast cancer. I know that my mom's grandmom had breast cancer. I've always heard that it skips a generation and I want to protect Doodle as much as I could! :) Thanks to Breastfeeding I have a JOB! I'm a breastfeeding peer counselor at my local WIC office! So, if you mamas out there ever have any questions about the boobs, I'm totally here for that!!! ;)

YAY! I guess you guys will know me a little bit better now! It feels strange bearing all that to you guys, I hope you don't think I'm crazy about the scary movies, but it's totally true!! Ask any of my friends!

Now, I would like to award these lovley bloggers! They make me smile, want to get online, inspire me and I find them so interesting!!

1. Becky from Strumpets Crumpets

2. Cuppy from Miss Cuppy

3. Chelsey from Always Learning

4. Jen from Miss Jen

5. Kelly from Get The Words Out

6. Lucy at Attic 24

7. Mandy from She Breathes Deeply

Thank you ladies for making my days full of inspiration and fun! Your blogs are really dear to me!!!xoxo

Hope you all enjoyed!!! Thanks again Elisabeth! YOU ROCK!!!!

Magical Moon, Pumpkin Glow

2010-10-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last Night's moon was so magical and eerie. I wish my yesterday was as magical, but I spent the majority of it in the bed with a fever and tons of sinus pressure & drainage. I'm still not perfectly well, but I'm drinking hot beverages for my poor throat.

We carved pumpkins this weekend at my friend Destiny's house! It was so much fun! I must admit I got completely frustrated with my pumpkin & went to roast pumpkin seeds. The pumpkin seeds were interestingly addictive. So, while I was getting that ready Robin finished my pumpkin! I didn't know he was going to! As the night wore on the guys got ready to watch Freddy Kruger.. the new one. (I am NO scary movie watcher so I have no clue what the name of it is...) I lasted about 4 minutes watching it before I ran off screaming. Yes. I am THAT person. Get over it. I scare easily, for the most part. Anyway... Destiny didn't really feel like watching it so we drank coffee and chatted a bit then got the laptop and started watching Babies. We had a blast doing that.. there was so much to giggle at and poke fun. When the guys were done Robin was ready to leave. We got home aroun 2 a.m. Which was pretty intense.

I hope our pumpkins last till this weekend, we're having a Fall Bash here at our house for the teenagers in our Youth Group and anyone else who wants to come!

So, if you're in the Georgia area COME ON OVER!

What plans have ye this Hallow's Eve?

Getting Trendy

2010-10-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

hewwo friends!!! :)

I have really been getting into some new fashion choices lately & I've been really inspired by a lot of fashion forward blogs! So, with that in mind I want to share with you my newest and most loved out fit right now!

Shirt- Goodwill $4

Pants- from Bealls Outlet $16

Shoes- My NEW TOMS! :) and I have not taken them off since I've gotten them! Well, except to sleep and shower! They are so comfy and look good with everything!

These pants are my first pair of skinny leg jeans. I've been terrified of them. Thinking that I would look like this in them:

WAY too big up top and too little at the end! But Surprsingly I LOVE my skinnys!

source

I have this cardigan!! I got it for $8!!!! :D I LOVE IT TOO! I really just want to revamp my clothes. I've had the same things for a couple of years now and everything has holes in it or I've just outgrown! Trust me, I don't have the funds to buy full price so I've been raiding the clearance racks lately and hitting up the cheaper clothing places! I did get another pair of skinnys this time I got a blue jean pair for only $16. So, slowly I'm adding new peices to my wardrobe!

I really want a pea coat. There is a green one that I have my eye on and it maked me feel so cute when I tried it on, but at $70 it is a little pricey!! It's so hard for me to find a coat/jacket that fits me. I'm bigger sized and really tall... 5'11. So, plus sized things generally are too big in the wrong areas and juniors are always too short. Everything is always too short for me.

I also want to start buying really cute dresses either new or some cute vintage dresses! I'm just so weird when I go shopping though. I tend to be way too critical of myself and when I try new things I don't quite know what to think about it. So, I just stick with getting solid color shirts and blue jeans. But I am so much more interesting than that! I want my clothes to reflect that. In highschool I dressed EXACTLY like what I was intersted in. Of course, that was easy black band t-shirts, blue jeans & converse. And yes a stud belt! Lol. I miss my trendy highschool style! Ladies, I was featured in the yearbook for "best dressed!" haha!! Because I always wore crazy/cute scarves and wrist warmers ;) *sigh* memories.

But anyways.... enough remember when...

What kinds of trends are you following/starting/wishing for this year?

I'd love to see what you like!