that tall girl

Painting Painting Painting

2007-09-30T08:22:00.000-05:00

For the last 2 weeks I have been painting painting painting the crap out of my mums new house. It is a ranch house with a long, quiet backyard with a lot of trees sloping down to the water, a marshy branch of the Elizabeth River. My mom is in love with it because she can go down to the water and see all kinds of wild life that creeps its way into our sprawling city. Blue Heron (which make a deep, scratchy call and their large size has deemed them "Dinosaur Bird" to our family), snowy white egrets and an assortment of ducks have been the mainstays. But I am so over painting. So far we have painted 4 rooms, 1 hallway and 3 closets. Trim included. Painting one room is so different then painting an entire house. Burnout is an understatement.
I received my Fire Mountain Gems bead order yesterday, how exciting to get a package in the mail! :) I was so excited I immediately retreated to my bedroom to start working. I made a necklace and a set of earrings. Considering the fact that I don't have pierced ears (I have had my ears pierced something like 5 or 6 times in the last 10 years, I just can't keep them) someone in my family will be getting a pair of earrings. But I love my new necklace.

Jellyfish Fields

2007-09-12T16:50:00.000-05:00

Monday morning I awoke feeling very heavy and lonely, despite having Naomi with me. I have learned that one of the unfortunate things about being a stay at home mom is a feeling of isolation during the week. If I had a 9 to 5 job I would be apart from my husband and family during work, but still get to interact with coworkers. No coworkers here on the home front during the week. Just me and Nomi. So I find that when I get that lonely feeling bite me every once in while it helps me to just do something out of the normal weekly routine. A walk on the beach at Back Bay helped tremendously.

We were the only ones present most of the morning, a few people came onto the beach about an hour after we got there. Oh and jellyfish. Hundreds of jellyfish lined the beach as far as I could see. I didn't see but one jellyfish all summer, lucky for me they all arrived after swimming was removed from the menu. Having a whole beach to yourself hardly seems like a cure for loneliness, but for me it works. Does that mean I wasn't really lonely, but just needed a change in scenery? I guess it doesn't matter, seeing as I felt refreshed and free.

I sewed a little bit today, something very UNglamorous but practical. I found a tutorial on making a plastic grocery bag holder and whipped one up. I didn't feel like paying too much attention to sizes, just prayed it would work in the end. I think it did, and oh happy day get to have something else in my home with that cute Alexander Henry print. Seeing as how this is the first grocery bag holder that has ever graced my home I was surprised at how large it gets when stuffed. Well, I am happy with the result.

Naomi has decided that she wants to be Princess Fiona for Halloween this year. She specifically wants to be the Ogre Princess Fiona in the green dress. I couldn't find any patterns for that dress, and all the costumes you can buy for it are all horrible. SoOo I am going to have to figure out how to construct this dress. I hope it turns out ok...

I Heart Marie Antoinette

2007-09-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

Watch the movie
Listen to the soundtrack
Learn about Marie Antoinette
Read about Sofia Coppola's spin on her life

Clothes Racks and Flowers

2007-09-09T08:07:00.000-05:00

I don't know what it is about standing in the middle of the clothes rack, but kids love it. Naomi especially, as she takes it as her personal mission to explore the interior of each and every rack whenever we spend more than 30 seconds in a clothing store. I vaguely remember doing this, most of all loving the sensation of being trapped in a million new smelling soft shirts. It seems I have passed this on to Naomi. Hurray for generations of clothing rack explorations.

I finished outlining one of the flowers on Naomi's dress. I am thinking about doing another one, though. This one seems very lost in the skirt of the dress.

I had to have a root canal done yesterday morning. Not fun. I love how the dentist nonchalantly chatted with the assistant about vacation plans while drilling. I think that freaked me out more than anything. Hello... pas auf!!! One day they these methods of fixing and preserving teeth will all be very primitive and the people will look back and pity us. At least thats my idea of the future and Im sticking to it.

Sometimes I Get Bored

2007-09-05T11:48:00.000-05:00

Man, what an informative post.

Joie Générale

2007-09-04T08:16:00.001-05:00

Beach trips the last couple of days. I usually don't go to the beach on labor day weekend. This is a tourist town, and labor day weekend is one of the worst times to go to the beach as far as traffic and crowds. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Sunday was the giant sandcastle building day. The overall sandcastle was alright, it wasn't stunning or anything. But we had fun and worked hard on it.

We drove around for ten minutes looking for a parking spot, finally finding a family leaving the beach. We pulled up behind their van leaving them enough space to leave, and decided to wait a few minutes while they packed their stuff and clamoured inside. The father came over and said they would be a few minutes, we told them we would rather wait than drive around and miss this spot. Other cars were circling the streets like sharks, looking for spots as well. We had staked our claim.
Hannah and I took Naomi down to the beach while mom and Earl waited. Well, the whole entire family of 6 decided to strip down NAKED and wash themselves off with jugs and jugs of water. It took about 20 minutes. The parents covered up, but weird. How hard is it to brush off the sand and sit on towels?
Naomi rode on a boogie board for the first time. At first Mom, Earl and I had to place her on the boogie board at the exact moment the wave would come and push her the few feet to the waters edge. Then a little later (I guess after she got more brave) she allowed me to cart her out into the water and we rode the boogie board together. She would get on the board and I would kinda lay on her and we rode wave after wave that way. We had so much fun, I wish I got some pictures.
Earl grilled steaks on the grill after we got home and we had a lovely little feast. I am a bit sunburned (which is unusual for me to burn, I usually get a dark toasty brown) but its all good.

With Labor Day behind me, I find myself ready and looking forward to the new season. The weather still feels hot and close, but the school bells are ringing here in Virginia Beach. I can't separate the two, school and fall. I am sure that there are a few good more beach weeks left, but my heart wouldn't be in it. I am ready for all things fall...

The crisp cool night air, pulling out cozy sweaters and jackets.
Bright yellow birch, dark russet oak, and bright cheery red maple leaves.
Crunchy fallen leaves under your feet.
The urge to bake biscuits and cookies.
Sitting at the park while Naomi plays, with her easy smile and joyful ways.

There are many other things of course. Halloween and Thanksgiving for one. But those aren't the things I am craving right now. I guess that my urgency for new things, goes to show you how eternally restless I am. I am ready for new.

Naomi got her "big girl bed" last week. She was so excited, as was I. It stood for something to me, she is growing up. My baby is no longer a baby. I feel so torn between wanting her to grow up and experience and learn, and wanting her to be my little snuggly baby forever. But anyway, I expected her to have anxiety or problems with her transition to the twin bed, but nope. She was ready and had no problems whatsoever.
I finished sewing Naomi a new dress this past weekend, it is by far my favorite. I think I may embroider one of the flowers to make it pop, but I think it is very cute. Nomi loved it, despite the the cranky face in the photo.

My other half, and dating.

2007-08-24T13:44:00.000-05:00

Date night. It has changed so much so many times.

When Ian and I first started seeing each other we were 15. I was a tad bit older than him and in a higher grade. But that didn't matter, even at the behest of my so-called friends at the time not to date a younger guy. I thought he was sweet and cute and seemed funny and easy going. I found out later he liked me because I 'was hot'. Well, hey, we were 15.

Our first date was typical for a young teenagers- his parents drove us to the mall and we saw a movie. The movie (a cheesy Adam Sandler romantic comedy) barely registered to us because we spent the entire movie cuddling, trying to be close without being too close. Well, maybe a little too close. We didn't kiss the first date until the very end.

Our relationship strengthened and over the next couple years our 'dates' were few because we were so young and didn't have any money or means to 'go out'. We were one person at school, glued to the hip (and lips). Mostly any morsel of a moment we could spend together we would spend together or on the phone talking about nothing and everything.

After high school we both got jobs, and dating got to be more fun. We'd work and blow all our money on entertainment. We felt so free and had so much fun going out. I would work (at various retail stores) and rush home to get my latest outfit on that made me feel stunning, spend forever doing my hair and makeup. On our dates we usually would blow all of our money on restaurants we could barely afford, movies. We spent a lot of time double dating with our best friends at the time. This and a million other things. We did everything.

While I was pregnant with Naomi dating was sort of nonexistent. I had a terrible pregnancy and felt horrible all the time. (I envy all the women in the world that glowed and felt great during theirs) After Naomi was born we didn't really date that much. It was such a transitional time in our life. Learning responsibility and taking care of ourselves took front seat. We would go out, but usually with Naomi in tow. Not much of a date. I remember our first Valentines Day date after Nomi was born we had to bring her(Valentines Day is one day of the year you can't ask for a sitter. People are either on a date of their own, being in a relationship. Or they are single and want to pine away in seclusion) with us and she cried the whole time. We were so exhausted!

Here it is, our 4 year anniversary. We have been together 8 years, 4 married. Its hard to believe so much time has passed. I love Ian so much, I can't imagine my life without him. I am thankful that we have a strong marriage. I know we don't have a perfect marriage (who does?). We squabble a lot, we each have our irritating habits. For instance, Ian smokes and I never seem to fill the ice cube trays correctly (apparently). But I am happy with our relationship... can I ask for more?

A night off from our parental responsibility. We look forward to going out on the town. An expensive restaurant, a little cuddling, and an evening of talking about nothing and everything. In the end, our dating life doesn't seem to have changed much at all.

The Day That Never Happened

2007-08-18T01:02:00.000-05:00

One of those nothing days.
Everything seems boring, done before, tiresome.
I wish that it were tomorrow, and I hope to wake up feeling refreshed and shake the memory of the nothing day.
I managed to rummage about my beading supplies today, if anything. Nothing inspired me unfortunately. I love to get lost in my beads. I have so many, and it is so easy for them to get mixed up. I like sitting and just organizing my beads (although I never seem to get anywhere really) a gazillion tiny beads of different sizes and shapes and colors with not ton of each kind is hard to organize though. So mostly I quietly sift through and examine my collection. Whenever I am feeling too bored or too bogged down I retreat to my bedroom and just go through my beads. Yea soOo today I sifted.
I think that I am a tad bit too emotional. I have so many ups and downs. I don't think that I am depressed or anything. Its just some days I feel blue and other days feel peach.
I wish I felt more peach today.

Wisdom Teeth are GONE!

2007-07-12T10:14:00.000-05:00

If you thought I had chipmunk cheeks before...

I had my wisdom teeth taken out on Monday... so its been 3 days so far. It is about how I thought it was going to be. My face is puffy and swollen, my jaw is really achey and I can't open my mouth too wide. If I keep my mouth shut then it feels kinda like the ache your jaw feels after chewing gum for way to long. I have been eating lots of pudding and soup and such. I made penne last night and swallowed the noodles whole because I just needed something to fill my stomach up. Darvocet has been keeping me pain free for the most part, with ibuprofen and Tylenol as back ups. My mom helped me through the first day, which was wonderful.
I had never been blacked out before so this was a new experience for me. I wish that I had asked the surgeon if I could have kept the extracted teeth for a morbid trophy of the experience, but I was so drugged up I couldn't quite get the request past my lips. What a weird experience this has been. I can't wait to be all healed up. I have watched a million Sex and the City episodes... getting tired of laying in bed staring at the tv but get dizzy if I am up for too long. My brother came and visited me last night and brought a Frostee from Wendys so that was nice, but talking and laughing took a tole on me and the pain all flared up after a few hours. Naomi has been quiet, which is nice. She senses that I don't feel good and has kept herself busy playing in her room and watching movies and coloring. I feel bad keeping her cooped up in the house in the middle of the summer, but I don't know what else to do. Hope I heal up fast.

A Snowy Summer Day

2007-06-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

You are supposed to expect the unexpected. That's my outlook on being a mother. On Sunday afternoon we were all being lazy and quiet. Ian was playing PS2 in the living room, Naomi was (supposedly) taking a nap, and I was watching tv in the bedroom. In comes Naomi, bringing in a lovely lavender smell which immediately concerned me. She waltzed over to my side of the bed with a bright eyed smile. "Hello Mommy! My room snowed." Sigh. Traipsed into her room to find her room a complete mess and under an layer of powder. I laughed hysterically, I knew it would take me FOREVER to clean it up. And it did.

A Long Week

2007-06-19T12:40:00.001-05:00

So the last week or so has been rough. Car accidents, bills and a funeral has left me mentally exhausted, not much in the mood to be artistic. I did manage to have a birthday (my 24th) in there. I got a nice new sewing machine, so hopefully I will start some projects soon.

My Red Retro Chair Redo

2007-05-22T13:01:00.000-05:00

Latest finished project. This old chair had been in my mothers backyard for the past decade. It was a hand-me-down from either my grandmother or uncle (not quite sure). Well I brought it home and stuck it on the porch, where it sat for 2 weeks.

Seeing as how I knew nothing about polishing chrome or reupholstering with vinyl, I did the first thing anyone in this day and age wants to know anything. I googled it! I found out that you can polish chrome using Aluminum Foil and Coke. So I got out the foil and some flat Pepsi everyone was avoiding in the fridge and got to work. It was messy, and it gave you this weird metal on metal grating feeling in your arm... but about an hour of scrubbing yeilded a shiny new frame. Definitely use the coke because I tried a spot without it and it left a funky spot.

I went to Hancocks and bought a yard of Zodiac Sparkle Red Vinyl at $18.99 a yard, silver upholstery tacks $3, and thin cheapo poly batting for $5 (for 3 yards). So all in all about $26. I found a cute video tutorial on reupholstering retro dining chairs from Pink of Perfection ... I tried to follow the video the best I could, half the time I felt like I was winging it. I had to get my husband to help me (we used a hair dryer) to pull it back neatly without any creases. But after all was said and done I am happy with the result.

Front...

Back..

I have been working in my "garden", as I am calling it. Really its just a ton of planters outside that I am trying to give the porch a more friendly appeal. So far I have planted Park Princess Dahlias, Chinese lanterns, Ranunculus, Kalanchoe, Lavender, Marigolds, Bachelor Buttons and Sunflowers. I am holding my breath on half of them. I am hoping for some greenery, at most. I will be happy if I have color. All I can do is wait.

the sky won't make up its mind.

2007-05-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

From beautiful morning, to sweltering afternoon, to cloudy evening, to thunder storming night. What a day yesterday was. Thankfully I got my time outdoors before the rain (which is still hovering). Who cares right? Its only weather, and it will change in time. Well I do, the weather affects my mood so much its silly. I hate the winter so much. It makes me want to stay indoors and watch tv. The spring is so rejuvenating for me. Its like I feel myself come to life and want to DO. I know that sounds so silly.

I finished Naomi's second dress, mistakes corrected. She looks so cute in this one. I am actually really proud of my zipper. I found a great tutorial from The Sewing Divas which helped me after i had ripped out my first one. Please don't mind my daughters crazy hair. Sometimes that happens :)

Apparently the camera makes her fall on the ground in hysterical laughter.

I have to say last nights episode of Lost was really good. Any other Gotta Watch Lost fans out there? I am so excited about next weeks episode... of course I always am but its supposed to be the history of Dharma episode so woo hoo.

1 Dress Finished

2007-04-30T09:09:00.000-05:00

Almost all weekend I cut and sewed and ignored my husband to make my first article of clothing, a dress for Naomi. It didn't turn out perfect, the fact that it is my first is obvious. At least I feel more confidant that the following dresses in this pattern will not have those mistakes (they'll have all new ones ha ha) so Ill start working on the other tomorrow. I feel very encouraged by everyone to sew. It makes me so happy to have all my family telling me that I have a knack for something, and I am good at something. I am thankful to have my mum in law to teach me and help me when I need it. :)

As you can see, the bodice turned out to short and the skirt was too short. The zipper was a little confusing, and a teeny bit messy but not too too bad. Other than that it turned out great. I used a See & Sew pattern and it seemed easy to follow once Ruth taught me a few things. The only part that really tripped me up was understitching. They give you this teeny drawing that doesn't explain anything. But all that aside I am happy. Anyway, Naomi is so excited to have a new dress that mommy made, who cares about flaws? :)

Busy Busy Weekend

2007-04-23T10:13:00.000-05:00

Mondays are always so quiet for me. After the hustle and bustle of the weekend I feel like I should be doing a million things. I did have a fun weekend though. Ian had off on Saturday for the first time in a month or two so that was nice. The weather was gorgeous so we went to the park Sunday and Naomi had a blast.

I finished my latest project (some place mats) yesterday afternoon. They are cute, but I am not super happy with them. How do you go about ignoring the flaws that you know are in your projects? Ian said it probably shouldn't have made white place mats (place mats being place mats, after all) but Ohhh Welll...

I am excited to start working from patterns. I tried working from a pattern a few years ago and it was a disaster. Ian's mom promised to teach me how to work from them. I want to start learning how to make Naomi cute sun dresses and skirts for me. We are supposed to go shopping on Friday so yay.

As for the rest of the week, not much to look forward to so far except 2 dentist appointments grr.

Easter Fun

2007-04-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

Lots of fun was had yesterday. Naomi is working on her Easter basket as I speak, a chocolate face, tin foil and grass strewn about the carpet.

Naomi woke up at the crack of dawn Sunday morning to say "Mommy, the Easter bunny came!" So we tiptoed out of the room and past the living room to the den. Grandma and granddad were already up so they got to be there for the Easter basket. I have been hiding the Easter basket each year for Naomi... or -ahem- the Easter bunny hides the basket but Naomi was so tired still she wouldn't look for it haha. Needless to say she found it and was very excited.
Hannah, Nolan, Craig, Naomi and I dyed Easter eggs. Naomi is learning so she quickly scribbled on the egg and plunked all but one of her eggs (we were all allotted 4 or 5 eggs each) in the closest dye to her, yellow. Her last one was purple only because we intervened at the last second and suggested other colors. Then she was "Done!" and on to the next thing, a coloring book. Well, the rest of us stayed and made our eggs. Nolan always makes the most imaginative eggs. This year it was a ninja turtle egg, Little Foot dinosaur egg and the annual Jesus egg. Karen made a polka dot egg to match Naomi's easter dress, which was just perfect. Hannah made a neat drizzle egg. Craig made a checker board one that was good. My favorite that I did was a green stripey one and an eyeball egg. Oh and a Teletubby egg for Naomi.
We had a unfancy but very tastey Easter dinner this year around 3, followed by a bounty of sweets. Then we did our Easter egg hunts...Naomi went looking first, and she would do this funny squeal laugh everytime she would find an egg. It was too cold out for her to just wear her Easter dress, so we put her in jeans and a long sleeved shirt and coat (which was abandoned later) she looked so funny she looked adorable, with her dress just poking out beneath the layers. Then Me Han Nolan and Craig hid the eggs for the 'Adults', They got competitive and started playfully pushing each other out of the way. Then the adults hid eggs for us 'kids' with one dollar bills in the green eggs.
It was so much fun it was sad to see it end, although we were exhausted by the end of the day. Naomi was fell fast asleep around 7:30 when she snuggled me by the fireplace. I forgot my phone after we got 2o minutes down the road and had to return... it turned out it was in my bag the whole time. I felt so bad! La that would be the end. I don't remember my head hitting the pillow last night.

Almost Easter

2007-04-07T07:44:00.000-05:00

It is snowing outside. Its just ridiculous, I swear! Its April! The snow is supposed to be long gone! Argh!I went shopping yesterday for Naomi's Easter dress yesterday. Luckily we found it at the first store we went to(Penny's), so no need to drag a 3 year old to a zillion stores to find the perfect dress (I am a bit of a perfectionist where I probably don't need to be, and an UNperfectionist where I need to be) but Naomi picked it out and was very excited. She wore it for the rest of the mall trip taking the occasional glimpse in the shop windows. We also got white summer sandals. One of my favorite part of Summer and Spring is getting those brand new white shoes for Naomi.

We were in the kid play park after the shopping and lunch eating and Naomi was having a ball, I was reading. Then the Chick Fil a Cow mascot came in to say hello to the kids. All the other little kids kinda stopped and stared (in a way that only small toddlers can stare in awe) and slowly crept up to him to get hugs and such, but Naomi froze, then slowly started walking toward me all eyes on him. She jumped up in my lap and started shaking and whimpering and was like lets go lets go lets go! So I gathered up all our stuff as fast as I could so she wouldn't completely freak out (as fast as I could, I had a terrified toddler clung to my hip). Once we were safely out of the mall she calmed down, and we went home for naps. I don't know why she is so afraid of the Chick Fil a cow. Ian's mom told me Ian used to be afraid of the animated gorilla from Chuck E Cheese. Something about human sized lovable animals is just not right to some kids haha.

Well I made a new purse and I love love love it so much. I did it on Thursday, just felt the urge. It came out great I was so excited. I used all soft muted colors so it would be spring appropriate. I had never done patchwork before, so I was happy. I also made pockets for my sunglasses, cell phone and lip gloss (I am a lip gloss junkie) which I also love. Oh and I don't think that I said this yet, but I love my new purse :)

Went to Azalea Gardens the other day with my mummy and sister. We saw 4 snakes, a million turtles and one theft (my mother took a cutting from one of the plants, which is no no according to the park. Ahh, my mom, the Garden Bandit) Naomi got soaking wet in the kids park and had a blast. I love Azalea Gardens when everything is soaking in green from the new spring growth. It was one of those days where suddenly spring makes everything grow at light speed. It was a fun day, fo sho.

Hannah and Naomi under the Camelia bush, petals aplenty!

Right before the stream hit Nomi in the butt haha!

Mom on the bird watch hunt.

Hannah and I made cupcakes and rice crispie nests and they turned out cute. So much fun attempting icing flowers. I made the icing myself but I fear it was a bit too soft. Next time I will try and make the icing a little stiffer.

Works In Progress

2007-03-20T21:51:00.000-05:00

I was just about done with my Cut Out Handle Bag (all I had to do was sew the top) when I realized that I absolutely hated how the bottom corners bow inward, and saw it was just too daggone tall! So I hacked into it, cut the bottom off. We will see tomarrow what will be done. I don't understand why my corners bowed inward like that. Was it the weight of the bag crushing down? Ack I don't know, I will sew the bottom on MY way. I love my pink inside though. It reminds me of the inside of a shell.

hee hee my lavender seeds bloomed while I was looking away :) They are all leaning towards the window, I have since rotated the bowl hoping to correct this. I can't wait for them to go out on the porch. My porch is so scorching and bare, I have made it my mission to make it my garden without actually having a garden.

I did make a little gift yet to be distributed to my aunt. She gave me a shirt that looked horrid on me, but I loved the front and didn't want to toss it or let it hang sadly in my closet... soOo I made a travel tissue holder out of it. If it sits tragically in a glove box or under a stack of papers OH WELL. At least I had fun making it.

Don't you just looove my hideous light blue carpet! ;)

2007-03-13T19:22:00.000-05:00

I made a few more silk flowers last night, they are all fall colors though so I feel like I won't be able to use them on anything till later though. I dug through my stash and found this pretty green silk that will be cutting into tonight. I worked on Hannah's purse today, until I made a boo boo and realized I have to pull some stitches grr. Its turning out good though, minor mishap aside.

I have been lusting after the Amy Butler Weekender bag pattern. It'd be about 13 dollars new, 10 dollars on Ebay, which is alot for me. Plus a lot of materials from the looks of it. But its so cute! I could make Naomi one too.

It makes me smile

2007-03-12T16:35:00.000-05:00

I finished my pretty little mod purse today, having finally made the cute silk flowers to add an air of femininity to it. They were so easy! I found the tutorial at Wise Craft, very simple to understand and comes with a template. I was lazy, however, and did not add a felt backing or pin, I simply pinned it onto my purse with a safety pin. Perhaps I will live to regret it. Only time will tell. But here is my purse, which I found a tutorial for that on Craftster. I love the shape of this bag so much I have been deciding what fabric choices to go with next. Does it need a clasp of some sort though? She made another one with ribbons (which I don't have the patience for) that had a cute clasp so I guess I am debating on adding one or not.

Cutting out the flowers is the most time consuming part of the project.

After folding and stitching, picking a button that suits me.

Et voila!

I kinda feel as though this is my first one and its not perfect, or as flouncy as the others I have seen... but I am happy with it overall. I love the brown and blue. It makes me happy :)

A mess already. Sigh.

Gotta Start Somewhere.

2007-03-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

So I have a gazillion projects that I want to do... I have tried saying that I will do them, that I will choose one to start and go slow, but nothing ever works! Ah I always get overwhelmed by the time that I sit down to start. I think I am going to try a new approach, so ici!