Oh I forgot!

My pumpkin carving reached a new level this year!! I shaded....


Jason carved the pirate & I did the other 2.

























This one is the one I am most proud of...Its Max & Ruby, which Addi loves, so she was pretty excited about it!

I know, I know- No posts in awhile...

Honestly, I just haven't been that creative in awhile. But I saw these rag quilts on a blog & thought I could handle that! I have always wanted a Christmas quilt, so I thought that I would start there. I ended up buying too much fabric (actually, I had the right amount, but can't always visualize measurements in my head, so when I started cutting squares & then laying the out, and it covered half the basement floor, I decided it was too big!) so, I am making 2 smaller quilts, one for my new niece (which is the quilt pictured below) and one for a friends baby, who has yet to make an appearance.
















I haven't made the big one yet & then after that I have a Star Wars quilt to make. I am pretty excited, I bought the fabrics yesterday & they are pretty cool. Plus, its hard for me to make things for Colin (since boys arent' really into altered jeans like girls! :) so, I think he is happy that there is something for me to make for him,

Have a good week!

Jenni

In honor of my 31st birthday tomorrow...

A list of 31 random facts about me:

1. I am ridiculously addicted to One Tree Hill & Friday Night Lights-- 2 shows that I think I am just too old to watch-- but I do anyway.
2. I am relieved/sad to be done with the new baby/pregnancy part of my life.
3. I like working out much more than I thought I would. Scary.
4. I have a tattoo. And I would like another one.
5. I am TIRED of having to choose which presidential candidate sucks less. I would love to have an actual choice & be able to enthusiatically endorse a candidate.
6. I love fun, different purses.
7. I wish I was brave in high school & college and tried different things.
8. I think living overseas would be fantastic- scary- but fantastic.
9. I question the theory behind public school education on a regular basis.
10. I love my chocolate brown velour pants. I would wear them everywhere if it was appropriate.
11. I love to read. I wish I had more time to do it.
12. My kids have never had lima beans or brussel sprouts. I think they are disgusting & in good conscience can not make my children eat them.
13. I love gobstoppers.
14. I get that not everyone shares my beliefs (and thats fine), but I get really annoyed when I am mocked because of them. I don't have a bumper sticker that says "Turn or Burn", why should I be ridiculed?
15. Fall is my favorite season. I love sweaters & pretty leaves & good football weather.
16. I wish I was taller.
17. My favorite shows when I was a kid were: Knight Rider, A-Team & The Cosby Show.
18. Trader Joe's has great ice cream sandwiches (and other good snacks as well).
19. I like the color blue.
20. I love Squirt & Dt. Dr. Pepper.
21. The best scrapbooking snack is peanut m & m's.
22. Lately, I feel as if I have lost my creative mojo. It concerns me.
23. I love office supplies. I don't have an office.
24. I would love to study photography.
25. The thought of raising teenagers scare the bejeebers out of me. I know I have awhile until I have one, but the way my 5 yr old rolls her eyes at me makes me think it is sooner than I think.
26. I listen to Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Pink & Finger Eleven when I work out.
27. I share my ipod with my daughters, so besides what's listed in #26, it also has the soundtracks to High School Musical (1&2), The Wiggles & Backyardigans.
28. I IM my husband from across the living room.
29. I love skim lattes from Dunkin Donuts.
30. I hate all chores relating to clothes: laundry, seasonal changing of the wardrobe, putting away clothes, cleaning out closets & drawers.
31. I love my laptop.

Whew. That was harder than I thought it would be!

Have a good weekend!
Jenni

A tutu

I made this tutu for a friends' daughter for Halloween. I have made a few tutus, but never with a ribbon wrapped waist. I think it turned out pretty cute. Hope she likes it!!

I only wish....

I could take credit for this cute bag!! I recently decided that Addi needed to get rid of her diaper bag. Its too big for her needs & I am tired of carrying it around. However, she is still in diapers & does need a few things when we are out & about. So I found this shop on etsy: http://http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=111734

She worked with me & we came up with this drawstring backpack. (I really just picked the material- she did the hard work!)


The best part is that Addi LOVES it. You should see her strutting her little self into the health club or church with her backpack. She is very proud (I think she feels like a big kid).

This picture isn't very good for color, but it shows the shape of the bag pretty well.






Not sure how much crafting I am going to be getting done these days....but we will see!

Have a good week!

Jenni

7 years ago today....

I am sure everyone remembers what happened. I am sure everyone remembers EXACTLY where they were when they heard the news. What they were doing, what was happening around them, maybe even what they were wearing.

I had just woken up. I was sitting on the couch feeding my 4 month old son, watching the Today Show. We had just flown back from California the day before, so we were both a little tired & off schedule. I turned on the TV right after the first plane hit. Matt Lauer & Katie Couric were both confused & trying to figure out what was going on. Jason was getting ready to go to work. Then he left for work, as soon as he shut the door behind him, the second plane hit. I remember holding #1, still in my pajamas & running out to the parking lot of our apartment building-- running out to tell Jason a second plane hit, they think its on purpose. It was awful.

And everything that has happened since has been awful.

Today, before #1 went to school, I had to explain to him what happened. I was afraid that somehow it would come up in school & I wanted him to hear about it from us. Just thinking about what I was going to tell him brought me to tears. And the tears kept coming as I explained to him that bad men made a bad choice & flew planes into buildings & lots of people died. Then I tried to explain why I was so upset. I don't think it helped & I am pretty sure I am not going to win any mother of year awards for my talk this morning. I just wonder when I won't get choked up & upset when I think about that time.

And now I am angry. Angry that today, I had to take away a little of his innocence about the world we live in.

My last jean skirt...

This one took me awhile, I just couldn't figure out what to do & how frilly & girly I wanted to make it.

In the end, I just went with the ruffles (which I hate making- but that is a whole other issue). I thought it could be basic enough that #2 could wear it with lots of different stuff.

I need to hit the Childrens Place for some cute tights & knee socks to wear with it.


This is the back, I was trying to zoom in on the white zig-zag stitch I did around the hem. I thought it might add a little something to the skirt. I think it turned out pretty cute. (BTW- the white is the ruffle from the front of the skirt, there isn't any on the back).






I am not sure when I am going to get to crafting again. School has started & I am still trying to figure out how to fit everything in. I have been trying to workout at the health club 4-5 times a week & with #2 in afternoon kindy, that has really thrown a wrench into the amount of free time I have.

I am in the midst of a church bulletin board- if that turns out well I can post that. As of right now, its not so good. We will see after I work on it some more!

Happy crafting!

Jenni