As if anyone really wants to know this....

This is the way cute sewing basket that Allison got me. I can't wait to start using it.
Come Sunday the Christmas decor is coming down, and I'm going to start moving my crafty/ sewing stuff into the house. Working on my game plan in my head right now!
In a continued attempt to get the smoke smell out the house, (grr stupid fire place) I made up yet another large batch of my potpourri. Not really doing the trick..since my husband brought home his left overs of our last fried fatty food night out. Yes, that is indeed one chicken fried steak. Four bites in and he was full, so now it's stinking up the fridge to haunt me every time someone opens the door to get a refill. I'm doomed to horrible smells. WHY ME GOD?!
As I mentioned, we are doing nothing for New Years Eve...we went out to eat at a Texas steak house...where I sucked down a wonderful bacon cheese burger.
I'm excited, and in the same way frightened to fail at giving up everything I love ohh so much. FOOD! Not diet food, good flavorful, junky- junk food. The nasty stuff that makes you feel all warm and cozy inside, and sometimes a little fat and yucky later.
In any case, I am proud to announce.....
that this little guy made his way into my home last night, and I'm now the proud member of a gym.
I'm going to enjoy my weekend to the fullest, and then I'll begin my attempt to be "healthier" since I refuse to set a "goal", that way I won't feel like a failure.
I'll spend the rest of my week visiting my mom, spending my husbands hard earned dollars at Canton, and I'll be back next week with pics of the cool Christmas gifts we got, (admittedly I did not take very many pics) and all the great finds I get at Canton...as well as how my first meeting with the trainer goes.
Hope your wonderful year starts when the ball drops!

New Years

I'm going to keep this short and simple. I've been so busy and worn out with the Holiday's that I've made zero effort to post anything or update my pictures, let alone get them from the camera to the computer. Soon my dears..soon.
I'm going to spend the weekend with my BFF Allison, we're going to my mom's in Tyler, and then to Canton Trades Days. Whooohhooo! Hopefully it won't be too cold, so we can shop our bums off. I can't wait, it's been a while since I've been...and I'm always up for a little bargain shopping. She's never been, and since we're both very crafty people, it's right up our ally. If you ever get the chance to go, DO IT! And bring along lots of dough...if you're like me.
Speaking of Allison, she's the best...she got me the cutest sewing basket for a late Christmas present. Will have to add a pic later...I love love love it. I mean I truly heart it. It's going to be just what I need to get my move on with my sewing set up. Check out her blog at http://findinginspirationinfood.blogspot.com/
Sooo...
The night before last our fire place magically restarted itself, and filled our whole house with smoke. (What the crap, why didn't the smoke go up the chimney?) GRR! My whole house smells like smoke, and I'm taking tips and tricks to get that cleared out. Leave me your suggestions please. I'm desperate. If you know me I'm a spaz about any type of smell. I probably dedicate way too much of my time and money towards "making my world smell great" as I like to say. So ten bottles of febreeze later, we still can smell it a little, which is a lot to me.
I think I may be having to give up on my hope for a new dog. It's probably not the right time, certainly not financially. I'm going to be patient and see what happens...but I'm hoping that I can distract myself with some other things for now.
Now onto the New Years, which is what I intended this post to be about.
I received this email from someone today, and it really made me think a lot about the things I've been kicking around in my head for the New Year.

I am your constant companion.I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.I am at your command.Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me,For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.I am easily managed, just be firm with me.Those who are great, I have made great.Those who are failures, I have made failures.I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine and the intelligence of a person.You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.Lead me. Reward me.And I will then...do it automatically.I am your servant.Who am I?I am a habit.
The author of the above is unknown

I'm always very negative about the whole "resolution" idea...probably because I'm the worst at committing to something. But I really have a goal this year, and I have some I'd like my loved ones to make as well, I guess I'm just thinking if I can do it, they can do it, we can maybe feed off of each other.
So this year I'm resulting to make myself more healthy. I intend to exercise (some), eat a little better, and try to drop (a couple of) pounds. Baby steps right?! I also want to take this year to try new things, focus on my hobbies, find a goal for my career or at least "five year plan" and take the steps to make that happen. And most importantly, I'm resulting to only allow the positive loving people with my best interest at heart into my bubble. I will no longer allow people who upset me to put me in the position to be upset.
I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year, and much luck with your resolutions.

Merry Christmas!

Well, we're in Tyler now...and it's very warm for what most people would consider Christmas...but I'm okay with that! I hate bulky sweaters anyhow!

I just want to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas, and remind everyone to take time to remember what this is really all about. That's right..."Baby Jesus"!

I'd also like to invite everyone to enjoy my favorite Christmas song!

So enjoy this magical time of year, show the ones you love how special they are to you, and I will be back soon with lots of updates!

All Partied Out

Last night's party was great. It actually turned out to be more fun than I had expected. The food was great! I had salmon with crab meat and a butter sauce, soo good...and Italian Wedding cake for desert...amazing. I'm deffinately going back to the resturant for more of that goodness! I also recieved some lovely gifts. I will have to tell you all about them at a later time.

Me & Allison

David (my boss), His wife Laura, Gene, Sally, Darrin (my other boss), Allison, Gene's wife Pat, Mark, Me, and DallasAllison & Darin

Justin is home...and I'm very excited to be able to spend time with him. Our weekend plans include a football game tomorrow night at Reliant...and I'm sure laundry on Sunday!

I've just in the last few days decided that I really want to adopt a cocker spaniel from a rescue in Houston. I'm trying to talk Dal into it. Wishful thinking....sigh!

Potpourri

So in the rush to get my baked goods done, I come up with yet another idea. Orange spice potpourri. Oh yes. I made it...in addition to covering litterally all of my brite white counter tops in chocolate.

I sliced Oranges, and Lemons and baked in the oven for a few hours on a low temp. I mixed in ground cinnamon, nutmeg, whole cloves, ground cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and whole all spice. I added a few drops of orange and cinnamon oil from the craft store, and my house smells sooo good. It takes a few days for it to dry out completely...but well worth dedicating a bit of foil covered countertop to! I will be using this as hostes gifts during this busy time.

I also wanted to share a sneak peek at the first fabric I bought that is waiting very patiently in my closet to get turned into something fab!

So stay tuned and cross your fingers for me that a) I find the time b) it truly can become something great with my limited skills.

Tonight will be my work Christmas party, I'll share pictures soon...at least of me in my new black dress! wink wink!

And the best news yet when I wake up in the morning...this handsome guy (my brother Justin) will be at my house!

This will be his first Christmas home since 2004! I can't wait!

A GREAT GIVEAWAY!

http://ravingsofamadhousewife.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-fiesta-giveaway.html



GO FORTH MY PEOPLE AND POST YOUR COMMENT TO GET ENTERED. GOOD LUCK!

No Fire Needed Smores

In a rushed effort to get some neighbor/ daycare teacher gifts. I decide to make chocolate covered marshmallows on a skewer. I've seen these in our local Nestle store, and I'm always tempted to buy one...but will continue to keep that $4 in my pocket. All I did was dip marshmellows threaded on a skewer in melted chocolate bark. I took it a step further and rolled them in crushed graham crackers to give them the smores taste. Set out on wax paper and let dry.
Happy indoor camping!

A Quick One

I haven't much time...but I'd like to share with you the book that I just completed.

It's really good! And I highly suggest you cuddle up and read this one sometime soon. I happened upon it in the discount book store, and being the way I am, I buy the book based on the size of it (as in is it easy to hold in bed) and the art on the cover. If it looks neat, then it's bound to be good. Well that held true to this one.

This book really pulled at my heart strings, and it makes you wonder who's holding what secrets to themselves. It's got a great story of a woman who does the most selfless things for a special needs child, and a great story of how a young boy always tired to live up to his fathers expectations. You can read an excerpt here: http://www.memorykeepersdaughter.com/excerpt.html

All the excitement

Well last night I made it home with my new to me antique sewing machine. Very excited. I will be posting pictures soon. Sadly this may take me a while as I have to remove my Christmas tree from the place it's at in order to put the machine in the house (where I want it). I will also have to get it cleaned up and check out if it's in "working order."
This project must be on hold because Holy Cow it's almost Christmas and I'm not prepared! Our fridge is bare, and I've got no desire to fight the crowds to shop. However we must buck up and head to the Wal-Mart tonight in the freezing cold might I add. This morning started out nice and toasty, and being the mother that would rather not fight with a three year old, I decided it would be safe to go coat/jacket free today. Boy was I wrong, it got cold fast, and I've been worried about my baby getting frost bite all day (not really but sick is a real possibility).
So my list is made, and I'm begging God to magically give me a few more hours in the day to finish my "gift giving baking" up before our work Christmas party on Thursday, or at least wishing for the hidden laundry/ bathroom cleaning fairy to come out of hiding. Oh to dream!
My brother will be arriving Friday morning (2AM) from San Diego. I'm very excited to get ten whole days with him. It'll be his first Christmas home since the year before he left for the Navy (2004). I can't wait! I'm sure he'll get bored of being with his big sister by day two, but oh well, if I find the energy maybe we can explore some activities that the Houston/Katy area has to offer.
Neely is already asking "what are you getting me for Christmas" every chance she can. As well as hinting or just bluntly putting it that she'd like a new dog. It's so hard to tell her sweet face no!
Soo, today will be our shopping and preparing the house for our guest night...chores are so much fun. And hopefully within the next few days I can get a lovely picture of my new favorite piece of furniture up to share, as well as some of the items that will be given as gifts this year (unless I burn down the kitchen).
I leave you with my recommendation for a great book: P.S. I love you, I enjoyed the audio book during my trip this weekend. Not as great as the movie, but very good just the same. Check it out!

As requested:

My Aunt Donna has made her request for more pics...and since I've not had a whole lot of new happenings, I'm gonna post a few from the past, and maybe get some feedback on my attempt at this photography thing.

Today me and Mom went to do a little shopping, and pre-made our Xmas dressing (some call it stuffing) to freeze 'til the 25th. We also went to the dreaded during this time of year Wal-Mart to pick up the last gift I needed for Neely. That really cool camera. Oh what a mess, you'd think that there were no other stores in Lindale, Texas. Ha ha, there aren't.
This afternoon I went with my cousin (Chris) and his adorable family to take their Christmas card pictures since the photographer they were booked with flaked out at the last minute. Sucks for them, I lack talent! But I like this one. They are such great people, and I enjoy my time I get to spend with them. And yes, there is a baby growing in that little belly...Yippy! I just can't wait.

A few weeks back we visited the rose gardens in Houston close to the Memorial Herman Hospital. They have a wonderful park, with a train for the children, playgrounds, as well as all sorts of musems in a short walking distance. I took advantage of the warm sunny day to try out some of my first photography skills.
My garden fairy!
This next picture I really like. I took it last weekend in (downtown) Austin right off of 8th street while getting back into my husbands truck. It's the sidewalk beside a bridge with the railing shadow. It made me wonder who had walked on that sidewalk, and since I was wearing painfully cute shoes, what sort of shoes they were wearing! They were probably painfully cute shoes on the way to the many trendy clubs in that area, but it's always nice to step back and think of who else has made the same steps we have. I'd like to think we all can learn from eachothers steps...or just learn to wear more comfortable shoes! And so I leave you with a lovely picture of a sail boat on Lake Travis from last weekend. It's a great picture to use as a "happy place" though I have never been sailing, I can only imagine it as totally relaxing.

A little peek into what's been happening lately

I figure since I'm new at this, I can catch you up on a few things that have gone on lately.

Sunday Me and Dallas were bored, with no kid around, so we made the most of our day and headed over to Austin...and ate dinner at the Oasis on Lake Travis. I highly recommend this for a good time..plus the drinks are great! wink wink.

The day before that was Neely's first ever dance recital. Oh boy was my baby the cutest one out there! Naturally being 3, she was not paying a bit of attention to the dance, but if she was she wouldn't have fit in with the other kids anyhow.

So this weekend I'm heading to my mom's, dread the drive, love the visits. It's our annual movie- hot cocoa night. Every year we pile up on the sofa in our PJ's and watch the best Christmas movie ever: Holiday Inn! Rent it if you can! I just love old movies that make your heart melt... plus I secretly wish I could be as elegant as the ladies were in all the old black and whites! Who doesn't?

I will also be visiting Dallas' grandmother (Nana) who is allowing me to borrow her sewing machine...I'm very excited! Now I will in fact have to go to one of my favorite stores and stock up on sewing supplies and fabric! I'm hoping that by the end of January I have some great projects to share!

I hope everyone has a super great weekend, safe shopping, and stay warm!

My First Blog

Today I am starting my first blog as a place to add my ideas, neat things I come across, as well as keeping my friends and family updated on what is going on in my life.

I'm not making any such promises to continue to update on a daily or even weekly basis. And I'm also not making any promises that my blog will be fun or exciting to look at, as I feel that I have a ton to learn about jazzing this up. I mean please I never change my information on my "social networking" sites!

I hope that this provides me with feedback that I'm needing on my ideas and what my husband may call "schemes" to not work anymore and be a full time "crafter." Yeah, wish me luck on that one!!

In the next little while I plan to learn to sew, and I have a few ideas I'm kicking around with that.

I've already started to get into painting, and I'm overflowing with ideas, however a lack of time, and only my self taught talent to work with. I hope to be able to share my works when they come up.

I just recently became a first time home owner, and I'm very excited to have my own place to do what I like with, me and my husband, Dallas, have plans, and all the procrastination and laziness in the world to not follow through, but just the same I'm inspired and I will also be adding those projects as well when they come along.

I also love love love being a mom to my crazy little girl, Neely, and I will be adding updates I'm sure of the silly and interesting things that happen in our lives.

So all I can say is stay tuned, I have a goal to provide good things to come....and I'm always open to suggestions and ideas!