A Bear for Robby

Around about the time I made the owl for Katie, Rob decided he wanted a bear. I was a little intimidated because of arms and legs and also had to wait a bit until a found a masculine color wool sweater to felt...

So, tonight, I had some remnants left of a gray sweater that Matt gave to me and wa laa--- I created this "ugly Doll" "ewok" inspired bear...
this is an Ugly Doll- there are a bunch of them on Amazon.

I thought he would love it as he is a little older now-- he had designed the face himself a few weeks ago so the "Ugly" Doll seemed to fit naturally with the face that he created.

But, he is his father's son. He said upon seeing it, "Mommy, the arms I too long. It doesn't look like a bear. It's arms are as long as the legs. I want the arms to be this long." At this point, he motioned to about mid point on the existing arm.

Oh well, you can't please everyone.

And of course, my free floating, fibbly gibbly twin, Katie, loved the bear. So don't worry, he will get some loving.
Happy Monday.

I get lost....

This post below by Cathy Zielske is exactly the reason I read blogs. I start to read and I get this little transport to someone else's view of the world---LOVELY.

So do read....and I may just have to do a list of nevers.


Ne dis jamais jamais

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and just because I simply don't want to have a post with out pictures...
some fun times today with Rock Band...


such an awesome picture. I love snow.

and a nice walk with my neighbor...and yes, I do seem to blog about her a lot, huh?

and in case you were asking, yep, i do love her.

She is ME. I am HER.

which way would you say it?

I am going to be honest...i don't see the absolute "twiness" in our appearance. I know we look related but people stop us in the store and say we are spitting images and such--- I mean, a lot of people.

however, we are twins in personality. sometimes, she leaves me speechless with her actions because she does exactly what i would do when i was at that age or even now...

Exhibit #427
so she was primped up-- ready here to play rock band--- you know, she's a rock star.

this GIRL...how my heart flutters.

she marches to her own drum... and personality- she has GOT it in XXL.

sometimes, i grow nervous that we are so similar because as i got a little older, i was teased and made fun of for my bubbly and silly personality...i had a wonderful group of core friends but i never fit in with the "in" crowd. that brought pain to my little life.

however, i wouldn't change much about how i grew up and maybe not feeling like you fit in is part of the whole picture, you know? it did hurt though.

what I have to remember though is Kate is going to forge her own path and even though she is like me, she is her own person and has this incredible inner strength.

and there is no way any mama can stop teasing and jabbing at school- it is all part of it.

but don't worry, Kate...I'll be here and we can dress up as rock stars together and laugh it off.

Perfection

My neighbor often talks about how she can not read certain blogs because they are too perfect.

Well, not this blog my friends...


Tonight is our traditional "eat cinnamon rolls in front of a Christmas Special" night. I usually get the CRACK and Bake can from the grocery but Rob talked me into trying the Pioneer Woman recipe...I had all of the ingredients except for yeast (THANK YOU, DANA) and I didn't have whole milk like it called for but--- I had 1%....


well, below is the pic of how these delights should look likeand here is how they looked before I popped them in the oven.

Wouldn't Ina Garten be proud?

December Daily....

This is by far one of my very favorite projects.... I make the book in November - it takes me about two hours--- and then I spend ten minutes tops each night printing out a photo and jotting down my thoughts.

I could list the harried feelings that I have sometimes during this time of year just like WE ALL DO- but I will not bore you.

I will tell you that this project embodies the very reason I do this blog...it is the ten minutes of the day that I center myself and remind myself HOW VERY BLESSED i am.

I can't stand when people say to me, "I wish I had time to scrapbook or have a blog..." Although they don't mean it, it really minimizes me. It makes me feel like maybe my life is just filled with time because it is not as important as theirs.

When I get over feeling so petty over a silly comment, I remember that scrapping and blogging are my therapy. it still makes me twitterpated when I sit down and recount the stories of my every day.

I hope all of you have a way to remember how blessed you are....

December

Sometimes life seems extra hard- not in a major dramatic way---but just little things-- paper jams, extra dusty areas in the house, a lid to a container you just can't find....yada, yada, yada.... and when i find i am at the point where i am cursing under my breath and muttering, " Why does life always have to be hard?" ---------- i know it is time to sit my but down and look at some of my photos and take a BREAk.

looking at photos and waxing poetic about the stories the photos tell is wonderful therapy. really, you should try it.

yes, my printer is making me scream, my house is a wreck and i am in a crummy mood....

so here i go.the sheer delight i get on a daily basis from this woman is just - POINTY STICKhere's Dave getting an award at the Christmas Party for the firehouse---his face-- ohhhh, i just can't get enough.

are there any words?
this boy and THE HAT. a match made in heaven
this scene....ohhhhh, my, oh, my.
my kids and their Daddy. oh, my, oh my.
Merry December.

Today

so today i am having a serious conversation with a friend on the phone and Kate comes up to me and says...can i paint my nose red?

so that was the sign that something really fun was happening.

and when i got off the phone, this is what i saw.

oh, how my heart flutters to watch these two.

here's hoping they always have such imaginations and fun with life.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Attempting a Christmas Card Shot

I have tried throughout the year to get a Christmas Card shot...and over Thanksgiving was no exception.
The kids had gotten all new Pittsburgh gear from Nana. Their affinity with Pittsburgh is fierce. They so want to be Pittsburgh fans to please their Dad and to identify with the Porco family. I remember having strong feelings about whatever my Dad liked too- it makes me smile.
So anyway, back to the gear---- as you can tell here from the series of shots...I was trying.
but it just wasn't meant to be.

Two very cute chickabiddies does not always equal a Christmas shot.

But never fear, I have picked a shot---- one with the kids and a cake that they made- I think I even posted about it...I figure we can pretend the cake it Jesus' birthday cake and waa-laa. A Christmas shot.

Happy Thursday.

p.s. today is my very last graduate class until January 12. I have a paper to write. I am avoiding it...can you tell I am ready for a break?

I must make these///////

okay--- I am so, so in love. Donna Downey had these ornaments on her blog today. The lady is a creative dynamo. I love these.

So dear internet,

please, let me know who has a typewriter or something for me to type right on the muslin...any friends out there with this?

and please internet, have someone write to me and tell me how to set an eyelet into fabric.

I LOVE THIS.

Thank you internet and universe and Donna Downey.

I am having some repurposing fun....

So you remember those little sweater sets from the early 90's that would show just a bit of your navel, right? So this is the cami from a set that has somehow not been donated yet....
It went from a rayon, acrylic, sparkly belly shirt...
to this adorable hat. After some coaching from Dodi, I figured it out and I am really loving the results.

it literally took all of ten minutes.

how fun! how many of you want to guess where Katie and I will be going tomorrow morning?
Happy Weekend.

Experiment

Yesterday some friends came for lunch and my dear Dodi brought a Soule Mama book...It really is a great read. This woman has a great vibe to her. She is simple and very Earth Mama but I love this perspective. The thought of living simpler and reusing always calms me. Goodness knows I am not even near enough to being Earth friendly but....I keep trying.

So, I do recommend the book.

I didn't try any of the projects in the book yet- I may try to make a hat tonight out of a very old sweater... but I did do this.

I took this old sweater of kate's that was in the donate pile.

And I made this....
I am happy with it...it is of course not as structured as I would like and a bit too homemade looking but it is a start. I have a short attention span for projects and work too quickly and as many know- in a messy way.

But, this is a start- I only used materials from my stash and I feel victorious.

Now, to find some more old sweaters and think about some specials I could make for Kate and Rob for Christmas morning.

Have a great weekend.

p.s. Cutting the sweater was oh so awesome.....I can't wait to "repurpose" other stuff. It brings thrifting and "garage sale ing" to a whole new level.

Pretty

My dear friend Sooz is always whirling and swirling over ANTHROPOLOGIE.

I have never been in the store. She has driven me in front of the window to see a magnificent display...but that is the extent of it.

Well, for my b-day- Dana gave me a beautiful cup from ANTHROPOLOGIE.

I have to say. It is quite beautiful. I like using beautiful things. I have many wonderful things in my life. But when it comes to cups and glasses, I don't have anything beautiful. you know, little kids, breaking things accidentally- i mean my plates are the good ole' corelle i got for my wedding shower. and i never shop in expensive stores because the budget does not allow. but things from expensive stores entice me----like this cup.


And now I have one beautiful mug to sip tea out of in the evening. I feel pretty sophistacated because I have to wrap my hand around the bottom of it and sip. the warmth of the tea feels so good. oh the little things.

Thank you, Dana

Grateful

So, some of my friends are doing this Gratitude list...I love it. I like reading what they have to say and making lists is really my cup of tea- but this year, I didn't jump up to do it- don't know why, but.... this is my own version of the list in these photos.

Two weeks ago the kids wanted to bake a cake. So they did. Rob mixed the cake- Kate choose the food colorings to get the icing just the right color. OHHHH, and the icing was so good- I am telling you- when I get the ratios right, my buttercream icing is to DIE for. Do I write the ratios down? HEck no, and so sometimes it is on- sometimes it is OFF ;) typical me.
Then they wanted to decorate it--- nobody's birthday- they just wanted to stick as many candles as they could in it.


Then, they patiently waited for after dinner to sing to no one and just CELEBRATE. Look at Rob and his silly smile. Man alive. I can't take the cuteness.
And here it is ....GORGEOUS. Am I talking about the cake or Katie? Both of course...Michele Peacock- watch out we have a budding cake decorator here!

ANd then, the ultimate happiness. and here it is---- a culmination of all my GRATEFULS- right in this picture. Gosh, am I lucky.
-
HAPPY WEDNESDAY>

I AM off now to find my GET UP AND GO- I am going to get it back by getting out the vacuum and the spray cleaner and dancing around the house.