100 Posts! And a Giveaway!

One hundred posts! This is a huge thing for us. I never thought I would keep up this blog, but every time you leave a comment I think, wow someone really reads this.

There are many things to celebrate today. It was the last day of school and my finals went well; I think I got all A's. My mom was given the cancer all clear today after a month of worry (I just found this all out). Then, a close friend who lost his job a while ago and was living in his car just got a job with my hubby working full time with good pay. And my step dad, who has been out of work for a while, landed a great job at NASA!

Fortune has been smiling on us today. And to celebrate we are having a drawing. I decided that I wanted to support my fellow Etsy sellers and I wanted to support a designer that I like so... Leave a comment in this post about what you like about my blog and I will randomly draw a winner who will get 7 fat quarters of Anna Maria Horner's new fabric line Chocolate Lollipop. (I also bought a set for me) Please check out the seller I got the fabric from, AZALEAstudio and support our Etsy crafters. Good Luck!

Mother's Day

Mothers Day was very pleasant, just as I wished. Tom had to work so my mom picked up my daughter and I, and we went back to her house. My mothers house, no matter where it is, is a haven away from chaos. Friends and family are always welcome at anytime. They are fed and listened to, given advice and sent on their way, lighter and full of new possibilities.

It was nice to relax and play croquet, a game we haven't played as a family in a decade or more. My mom got me a gift certificate for the salon and I showed her the Amy Butler apron I would have had finished if I had my machine back in time, by the way that's the surprise. I am making one for myself and one for my mom. I cant wait until they are done! They are so beautiful!

So, tonight I have plans to clean up and reinstate my sewing machine in its rightful spot. And I have a bag that has been causing a lot of problems that needs a meeting with the needle. You will see him up on Scent of Rain soon. He is famous, the bag that tricked me into thinking my precious sewing machine was broken. Snatch him up quick... I think I will call him Loki...

Cinco de Mayo Party

The Cinco de Mayo party the other night was a blast! I was the only sober person there! I am not a big drinker but I still had a great time. Here are a couple pics celebrating our night.

A mix of adopted family and new friends.

That's Tom and I in standing in Chris's Bar.






Our host, Christian (Toms best friend since forever). A great host with a terrific private bar at his ranch in Juniper Hills, Ca. A great, fun guy.

He is single and shopping if anyone is interested.

We had a great time Chris! We will expect our going away party to be just as great!

Can we come out now?

Now that the holidays are officially over we are coming back to normal. Things have been so busy and stressed that I am just exhausted! We all are.

I have been thinking about my sewing machine lately. I think I am going to make some more stuff for me. I have been sewing a lot for others around the holidays and I want things that make me feel good now. I have to clean off a very messy table to get to sew though.

My partylite starter party is this Sat the 13th at 2. If you would like to order some excellent candles and accessories please leave me a comment.

I am so tired. I will write more tomorrow. And I am going to update the tutorials and I am going to talk about the decorating I have been doing and planning. Its all so exciting! Until Tomorrow!

Merry Christmas

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year! Love you all!

Unexpectadly Blessed This Year

First I want to thank everyone for reading my blog. I really appreciate all of the comments that I get. Each one fills my heart. This year was a difficult year for my family. Money was tighter then It has ever been, but I have been blessed with many unexpected gifts.

I had a tenant move out of the complex I manage and she was moving across country unexpectedly. Well she couldn't take most of her things so she gave away everything in her apartment. Since I am the manager I get first pickings. I scored an awesome solid wood end table and a small solid wood dresser. Both are very antique-y with their old drawer pulls and hinges.

I got a BEAUTIFUL!!!!! handmade quilt. OH MY !!!!! This is the most beautiful quilt. I LOVE it. It is very romantic Victorian with roses, cream, and antique green. Beautiful roses and a curvy edge. I will take some pics of it as soon as I can. I am going to be using it to design my bedroom.

The best present is that my maintenance guy for my apartment used to be a commercial photographer. Not only did he fix my camera (its in testing phase to make sure its fixed) but her offered to help me with my skills. Said he would show me all sorts of stuff! That is the greatest gift I could have gotten.

Pumpkin got some toys from friends and a great blanket made by a good friend of mine. A new jacket and some other clothes. She got a tricycle from the woman who moved.

Cowboy got the least amount of stuff. I really want to do something nice for him for Yule. I am not sure what I can do but I need to think of something. Any ideas? I appreciate him so much and I want him to know how much I love him.

Sunday Scribblings- Anticipation

When I think of anticipation I think of the physical effects of anticipating an event. My heart begins to race, my senses heighten, my stomach tightens, and if the anticipating lasts longer then a few day then usually I cannot sleep. Anticipating something is part of the joy in life. It is a hope that is soon to come true and who doesn't want to see their hopes come true? I love the waiting a bit less then the receiving but it wouldn't be the same event if I didn't get to feel excited by it.

Things I am anticipating
1. Moving to UC Santa Cruz next fall. If I get in (crossing fingers)
2. Finishing my AA in June.
3. Watching my 2 year old daughter blow out the candles for the first time.
4. Watching her eat the cake.
5. I can wait until my sweetie finally finds what he wants to do as a career, without his father trying to stop him.
6. Am I a bad person for anticipating the death of a person. Even an abusive person? I am sad that I feel this way but... there is no excuses I guess. I just hate the man. For more info see my rant.
7. Oh course I cant wait for Christmas!
8. I started the Cure on Apartment Therapy and I cant wait to finish! Buy the book! Its fantastic!
9. I started selling my extra books on Amazon.com and I already had one sell! I am hoping to thin out my collection this way and make some money on the side.
10. I cant wait to see my baby get bigger.... but at the same time I want her to stay this young forever.

On a side note I do enjoy baking and today I baked 4 dozen gingersnaps and made enough chocolate ganache for over 100 truffles and I finished 4 dozen of them already! I cant wait to start baking tomorrow! I still have chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and sugar cookies to make, fudge, peppermint bark, and brownies to make too! So much to do! So much Fun!

Martha Is a Crafty Genius

Cowboy and I dropped Pumpkin off at Grandma's last night and went to our favorite relaxation spot, Barnes and Noble.

Which is where I came across Martha Stewart's Holiday Handmade Gifts Mag Special. It is FABULOUS!

Now I was never into Martha very much. I thought that she should have gotten off on the prison mess, all the men do. But after looking at this magazine I have decided that the women is a genius (where the hell have I been?). The stuff in here is so great! And its so simple to make.

I was looking at the Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Craft Magazine and I couldn't find one easy thing to make, or even something I wanted to make.

I was completely out of cash last night so after I cash my paycheck today I am going back to buy it.