Totally random post about unrelated subjects

BE WARNED: This post is a scattered one, kind of like my brain right now.

R says the cutest things :) Her newest word is rainbrella. I love it. Oh and yesterday she wanted her temperature (of course it sounds quite a bit different coming from her). She actually wanted her play thermometer. On the not so cute side she is now saying shut up. Hubby is to blame for that one, not that I don't occasionally say it to him. I know, bad example. AND, she now announces to the world her bodily functions. Friday in Target everyone close by knew she had gas, because she told them, repeatedly.

I'm working on her Halloween costume: black and red tutu, wings from clotheshangers and pantyhose, red t-shirt w/ felt circles or painted dots and a head band with pipecleaner and painted styrofoam balls for antennae.

Robert had his first showings yesterday. Yea!! He has an open house with another agent today. Yea again but wish he could go with us instead. I'm planning on taking R to a pumpkin patch/farm about an hour away.

There is not much change in Mom's health that I know of. I do know she sounds a little weaker. I think she is getting more confused but I really can't tell. She barely talks to me on the phone now. I used to have to tell her I had to go 4 or 5 times before she stopped talking. Never thought I would miss it :(

I'm off to get everything ready for our little excursion. Have a blessed day.

ADDED: Pictures from our trip and one from a sunflower field on the way back.

Handmade/homemade/crafted Christmas

As tradition goes at my house, most everyone will be getting at least 1 homemade gift. I always have a hard time coming up with ideas for the guys-you can't give a guy a ribboned, jeweled and glittered I think a homemade gifts says "I care" more than many(or even most) standard retail purchased items. This year my plans are to make:

For the girls- both big and small:
*Fairy wands-dowels with ribbons, stars, glitter
*Appliqued onesies or tees
*Flower pins/clips-dollar store and clearance artificial flowers stacked and jewels or buttons added for the center on pins or hair clips
*Notebook purses-   tutorial from Cuegly
*Altered clipboards-basic wooden clipboards with added scrapbook paper and embellishments
*Bow holder- made with picture frame and ribbons


For the guys:
*Flavored vodka-pomegranite, cranberry, maybe mango?, with martini glasses and drink recipes. I need a cute design for the recipe cards. I was thinking notecards connected by binder rings
*personalized notepads  tutorial  from Chica and Jo Maybe using recycled paper?? Definitely w/ a custom stamp and maybe color copies-don't want to stamp a 100 pieces of paper
*cookies- not sure what kinds yet
*cake in a jar- I've seen lots of how to's for these. Hoping I can find one with instructions for frosting too

I will also most likely do a few mixes in a jar for my parents. Dad doesn't do alot of cooking nowdays and Mom isn't able to. I have a cookbook from a church with lots of ideas for mixes you add to ground beef to make a meal-pasta or rice +spices and canned sauce.

I'm starting now so hopefully all will be done by Christmas. Originally, our plans were to spend Christmas in Western NC, specifically Maggie Valley. However, with my Mom not doing well, and finances being INCREDIBLY tight, that is a no go. Right now, our plans are up in the air. I'm guessing we will go to Alabama and spend Christmas with my parents. I'm hoping my brother will do the same thing and we can all be together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. As much as I don't want it to be, I am pretty sure this will be my last Christmas with my Mom. I get tears just thinking about it but I have to be realistic and seize the moment.

Happy crafting-----

Western NC-where I want to be

Just wanted to post some pictures of where I want to by 2012. 

The beach is beautiful and I do love snorkeling, swimming and looking for seashells. But.....we have no seasons, it is massively hot, and the beaches here are over populated in my opinion.

I am ready for seasons, waterfalls, mountain air, changing leaves, apple orchards, rock hounding, mountain streams, and the list goes on.