Happy Hallo"wiener"!

First of all, No I have not been abducted by aliens, kidnapped, or even lost power to my computer. Nope, I have just been busy. I know I know, it only takes a second, but being 31 weeks pregnant and sewing up a storm to try and get everything ready for the baby is exhausting. I will do better I promise.

Quick updates: I have gestational diabetes so, I am being induced On December 21...as of right now. The baby's room is coming along nicely, and I have more baby clothes than a mother of sextuplets. We have all had our run of swine flu...glad that chapter is over.

So, in my lack of festive motivation for the halloween season I did manage to dress up the boys and snap a few pictures... I even dressed up as a pregnant "nice" witch at work... but that was like forcing me to eat peas...which I absolutly hate by the way...you get the point.

Until next time.... Happy Hallo"wiener"!

Oh! Baby...

Ok so it's been a little too long. Alot has happened since my last post. I am PREGNANT! 10 weeks today! I have been an emotional roller coaster, not to mention queasy and extremely tired...but so excited. I am so lucky to work in a ob/gyn office, because I can get an Ultrasound more often than waiting for Dr. Appointments. So far everything looks great, little arms and legs and a very strong heartbeat. My due date is December 28, 2009. Nick is getting more excited everyday and I am just am in awe that I am going to have a little peanut! I will keep everyone updated and post some Ultrasound pictures.

It's a ZOO out there!

Over Spring Break we took a trip to the Hogle Zoo. We packed a lunch and headed out on our adventure. We saw giraffes,elephants, zebras, and monkeys just to name a few of our favorites. It was so much fun to be together as a family and laugh together. Little "G" loved the elephants until we got closer to them, then he got nervous. Miss "M" loved all of the animals, and "D" wanted to see the snakes most of all. At the end of the day we all went on the "choo choo" and then called it a day.

On Saturday we all got together and had Easter dinner at my mom's... ham, cheesy potatoes, salads, and yummy cupcakes. My mom made me and by sister in law the cutest magnet board photo signs... thanks mom!

Until next time...

Welcome Spring...

~" If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome"~ Anne Bradstreet

Today is the first day of spring, it seems we've been waiting a very long winter. The sky is blue, the air is warm, and the birds are singing. I always remember the first day of spring, because it's also my sweet Husbands Birthday. He is out of town, so the celebrating will have to wait. I love the first signs of spring, it was a little hard to find them today, but nevertheless they were there, just more of a challenge to find. The tree is starting to bud, my daisies are pushing there way up through the dirt, and one of my new plants that we planted in the fall has tiny pink flowers on it... all of these reminding me to enjoy the newness that spring brings, slow down a bit, and be grateful for all of the little things in life.

So, until next time... Happy Spring!

OPEN... OPEN...OPEN...

It's official, my Etsy shop is open. I only posted a few things, but there is more to come, and very soon I promise! Ithas been such a process to finally get this thing going, between getting all my labels, business cards, packaging, etc. Well I hope it all works out. I love making things and creating new products. So good luck to me....

Oh and don't forget to visit my shop!

A little bit of Happiness!

So, I havn't had the best of luck lately... A week ago today I was in a car wreck. I was rear-ended on my way to work. I was at a complete stop and this punk ran into me going about 30 mph... CRUNCH! I was transported by ambulance to the hospital, which was less than 1/4 mile, but because my head and neck hurt they HAD to transport with a back board, c-collar, and ambulance! How embarrassing. As for my car... the bumper is ruined and the hatch won't latch because the frame has been shoved in. I guess that will be getting fixed soon?? I am ok, just whiplash, about 10 x-rays, and nervous to drive now.So, aside from the wreck, complicated eye surgery, starting externship, and just being busier than ever, I decided I needed a little bit of happiness in my life. What better way to do that than to list the GOOD things in life, right? So here goes.

Happy things right now...
*My sweet husband fixing ME dinner for a change.
*The smell of my house today (cherry clove chutney) from scentsy.
*How excited my dogs are to see me when I get home from work.
*My playlist on playlist.com.
*Sorting through my fabric stash and dreaming up projects!
*Warm bubble baths.
*My stack of magazines on my nightstand
*Knowing that in a few more weeks the tulips will be in bloom.
*Giving and recieving handmade gifts.
*Getting a long-awaited package in the mail.
*Realizing that the happiness in my life outways the struggles...

Until next time:)







*

Are you Game?

ARE YOU GAME?The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!2- What I create will be just for you.3- It'll be done this year.4- You have no clue what it's going to be.5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.The catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 3 people who do the same on your blog. The first 3 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!Who's in?



Hurry! The prizes will be great!

Handmade with love...

My husband surprised me with the new Erin McCarley cd I was wishing for, a bottle of the best perfume that have wanted forever, a new Vampire series to watch together, and some beautiful roses! He even cut these hearts out and scattered them on the counter.... Love ya Nick!

There is just something sweet about a handmade Valentine... The thought and the work put into just seems to make it that much more special. My Sweet mom sent over a plate of homeade chocolate orange cookies and this cute little mailbox full of little treats... Thanks Mom! My Sister in law made me a little paper envelope with the cutest heart flower on top... more yummy morsels of sweet inside. A girl can never have too much chocolate :)

So it was a weekend of handmade treasures too. I made this camera strap cover for my friend staci. It turned out soooo cute with the interchangable yo-yo flowers. If anyone wants one let me know! They will be in my Etsy shop soon!

A sight for sore eyes!

So I am back... well mentally I guess! I had eye surgery 6 days ago and have been on the down-low ever since (hence the lack of blogging). It was an ocular muscle realignment to help my eyes move together( my left eye had a mind of it's own and would drift off a little). It still is pretty sore and swolen, but I have to wean myself off the happy drugs and get back to reality. This picture was taken the day after my surgery... my metal sheild is a great fashion statement right?

Tomorrow is a BIG day for me... I start my externship as a medical assistant. I have been waiting for this day to come for so long... I can't believe it's here! However ,I am extremely aprehensive because it looks like I have been hit in the eye, because of the swelling of my eye.

I am going to be brave and face my fear, and go to a new place, as the new "crazy eye" girl, for my new career.

Oh!good news! The law that I mentioned in my last post has been postponed for a full year. So hopefully, in that year the congress will realize who is at fault in all of this and make it right for the little guys like me and so many other etsians.

Also, I was searching helice's blog http://helice415.blogspot.com/ and looked into a new artist that she likes:Erin McCarley. She is awsome... I love her. So you should look her up too!

S0 tomorrow I will start the rest of my life.... wish me luck, I will need it!

Vote against the CPSIA....

So I am extremely bugged, livid almost about this new law that is going to take effect Feb 10, unless enough people react to this nonsense of a law. As many of you know I am an avid crafter that just so happens to specialize in childrens items... Well if this law goes into effect, I will be shut down to making and selling these adorable items we all love, not to mention the lack of product on my etsy site without them. Please read this article and tell everyone about this law... it affects EVERYONE (see article). Believe me I am concerned for the safety of childrens items as much as anyone else, but there has to be limits on who has to follow the guidelines and limitations.

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too. How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples: To the Parents of Young Students:Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.To the Avid Reader:Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322To the Lover of All Things Handmade:Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.To the Environmentalist:Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.To the Second-Hand Shopper:Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.To the Entrepreneur:Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America. To the Antique Toy Collector:Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.htmlTo the American Economy:Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake. To the Worldwide Economy:Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbeshttp://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.htmlAnd for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Lawhttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlDid you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Show and tell...

So I thought I would share this little tin that I made for my sweet friend Kelli, who let me use a stamp set of hers (for way longer than I promised). I just took a round tin that I got in my stocking and added a bit of paper,ribbon, and love then I added one of my favorite treats...lifesaver mints. It was a great way to let her know how much I appreciate her kindness

My instructor/friend just had her baby on Thursday, what a cutie! Not only did she name her after me (Alona) They are spelling it: Alana ,she also weighed and measured the same. 7 lbs. 9 oz, 20". Sadley they have been deployed, so I don't have much time with this sweet bundle of pink :( I made her a diaper baby and some burpies to welcome her into the world. For her big brother I made an elephant shirt that matches one I made for Alana. What a precious little baby... welcome!

Bad Morning...Sad news...Good news...crepes...and ball!!!

So today was filled with alot of ups and downs, thinking,appreciation, and contentment. It started out as a "monday" for me, you know one of those days where nothing seems to go right.The alarm goes off 7:45, I feel like a mac truck hit me (from shoveling the snow) so I think ahh just a few more minutes right! Next thing I know I hear the garbage truck coming...Oh Crap, so I fly out of bed (crazy hair and all) and run outside in my pj's to put the very full garbage can out. I come in realizing I am supposed to leave in 15 minutes....So, hat day for me, I throw on some scrubs, and out the door I go. I get to school and and sign up (or suckered into, I'm not sure which) for a weight loss contest. Everyone puts 1$ per pound they want to lose in a Money pot and whoever meets and/or exceeds their goal the most by march 30th wins the money. So, here I go 20lbs to lose by then. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

I also found out today that a friend of my moms' who has struggled to get pregnant for a long time found out tuesday that she was expecting, then today found out it was a tubal pregnancy and had to have surgery. I felt so sad knowing that what she had been waiting so long for, was simply swept away so quickly. Life isn't fair... It is so sad that everyday girls are getting pregnant by accident and not responsibly and then someone who really wants and deserves a baby waits and waits and then still sometimes doesn't get a baby. It really makes you appreciate life when you realize you don't have it as hard as someone else.

So onto some happier news! I got a call today from a Girl who supervises all of the MA's at an OB/GYN clinic, and I have an appointment with her tomorrow to set up my externship. I am so happy! This is something I wasn't sure that it would happen or not, so it was a surprise to get the phone call and meet with her so soon.

Over the summer I had a booth at the kaysville farmer's market, and fell in love with crepes. Well, Michelle from the crepe stand told me how to make them without spilling the beans of her "secret" recipe. So, I finally made some and they were so yummy! Hence the picture up top.

Then a night at home with my wieners(aka) Dash and Hershey. Our youngest brown baby :) Dash loves to play ball, I think he lives for it. "Loni, I'm right here with the ball, throw it Loni, come on one more time Loni" I love him to death, but this ball is going to be the death of me... (see top picture)

So until next...