Caleb & Liz McTwigan

Holy Cow. My Bad.

2010-03-10T19:33:00.004-05:00

So, now that it has been another million months since I have posted stuff has changed a bit.

I now have another job. Which is official on Monday. I am no longer a temp! Ok, backstory, I had a job, it didn't work out - long story - and I started temping at Vornado/Charles E. Smith as an AA supporting 3 upper level managers, and today I got an offer to be permanent! Hooray! Health benefits! And steady money! And I really love my job!

Also, we still have both cats, and they still hate each other (which is not to awesome)

Caleb is still working at Manoli Canoli, but there is hope for a more graphic design-type job. Check out www.manolicanoli.com to see a website he created.

Now, we are looking at moving down to VA this summer. Since I am working in Crystal City/Arlington it will make my commute a lot shorter (since it is over an hour 1 way now).

So, all in all a good day today. Which is probably why I have broken the silence... Hope everyone is doing well!

And PS - I'm blond again!

Wow, it has been a while

2009-10-05T08:26:00.002-04:00

Hello to anyone who hasn't deleted my blog from their list yet! So sorry for the rediculously enormous delay in an update. Here is the cliff notes of the past couple of months:

1. Moved to Chevy Chase, MD

2. Hung out for a month going stir crazy

3. Liz got a job (Yeah! we can buy food again!)

4. Caleb goes stir crazy

5. Caleb gets a job (Yeah, now we can have Italian food all the time!)

6. We get a second child, Kumquat

7. Lots of people visit!

8. More people need to!

9. It's fall here!

10. We found a church (Which is awesome!)

And more random day to day stuff, I will try to be more diligent.

So, We moved.

2009-06-30T20:11:00.005-04:00

And apparently I cannot post anything for over a month. Sorry! Here are some pics of our new

place! I am not sure why they uploaded like this, but you get the picture! Our new address is 3726 Manor Road Apt. #2 Chevy Chase, MD 20815. We are all moved in, I have a few leads on jobs, and we are enjoying the city! Yesterday Caleb took the path by our house to Bethesda on his bike, and today we went to all the monuments on the Mall. We have gone into DC a few times now, and today we got poured on! We also went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which is awesome. And free! Which is nice, since we are kinda broke. Luckily it only costs a couple bucks to metro anywhere, and there are hotdog stands literally everywhere, so we have been eating on the cheap! Everything we need here in MD is within walking distance, which is awesome. And there are fireflies every night! They cover the ground with their glittering, it is awesome!

We also have a sweet picture of us at the Lincoln Memorial before it started raining...As always, I am a floating head...

Can it all just be over?

2009-05-28T09:41:00.002-04:00

So, I have several job interviews in the DC area the week of June 8th, and I am very excited about it. My only concern is Caleb seems to be leaning more towards Baltimore (which is fine, we can live in between and commute in to work via the metro) and Emily is coming for a week to hang out (which I am beyond thrilled about!) and really, I just want to be officially moved. And settled a little bit. And have jobs. And a house. Soon, soon.

List:
1. Get more interviews lined up
2. Get a job
3. Finish packing
4. Get through this weekend
5. Get new windshield on car
6. Sell Truck
7. Sell other random furniture
8. Clean Apartment
9. Find pet friendly new home
10. Try not to jump off bridge

Where did it all come from and how did I not notice it?

2009-05-18T15:02:00.002-04:00

Dishes. I started packing for serious this weekend and I decided to start with extraneous things like extra dishes and certain kitchen appliances and entertainment like DVDs and games. This has resulted in 3 Medium sized boxes full of dishes. And that doesn't count the box of my China. Now, that seems like a lot of dishes to me. It is all my glass ware and only the EXTRA dishes I own. Not the everyday dishes. Granted there are some things like cassarole dishes and the 25 Christmas coffee mugs I seem to have aquired, but that still seems like a lot to me. And I have used all but about 2 of my stock-piled boxes. I have one enormous box that I have no idea what to put in it that will still make it carryable, and another medium sized box. And let me tell you how much fun my cat is having. Not only are there boxes everywhere so the house is like one big chewtoy to her (she loves to chew on cardboard, I don't know why), but there is paper, packing peanuts, and this carboard-y type stuff that she likes to roll her self up in all over the place. That cat would only eat packing peanuts if given the option. I also have some peacock feathers that I cut the very top bit off that she has been eating lately as well. Needless to say, there have been a few extra hairballs lately. Like she needs any help, her fur is rediculously long. So, she is having a hay-day. And I am trying to figure out why we need 3 different sets of plates. Or how we came to own so many Christmas mugs. But, they are already packed and I am not looking back.

List of things Packed:
1. Winter Clothes
2. Extraneous Dishes/Kitchen Appliances
3. Entertainment Stuff-DVDs & board games
4. Bedding
5. Towels
6. Some Books
7. Caleb's Snowboarding Stuff
8. Craft Supplies

List of things o Pack:
1. Rest of Kitchen stuff- not till near move
2. Books
3. Game Systems
4. Art Stuff
5. Under Bed Stuff (I don't even know what is down there!)
6. Clothes/Shoes
7. Living room Stuff
8. Rest of craft supplies
9. Bathrooms

I feel good about what I have finished, but still see a mountain of stuff to do. And I wish I was getting more a response from the resumes I have been sending out. But I am not getting discouraged yet, it is still early and I do actually have some Time. And it is real Time.

Resumes, Packing, Time

2009-05-15T14:36:00.003-04:00

Here is how I feel about these things:

1. Resumes: they should all be either in video or audio form. How can you tell if I have a good phone voice if you don't call me in for an interview. Please, for goodness sake, someone call me! I have only sent out 50+ resumes, and gotten 1 call back. You're win, failing economy.

2. Packing: This is something I have an extremely hard time doing by myself. And I do not mean I need someone to help me pack, I just need someone physically in the same room as me talking me through the process. And while TV works for cleaning, I need someone with me to pack. And here is where not having any friends living in the same state as you can cause a dilema. Help! You will probably get some sweet goodies out of it!

3. Time: The problem with time is not in it's moving, but in other people's interpretation of how much of it we have. Example: Liz: "We need to make plans for the furniture we will not be able to move to [insert city here]." Caleb:"Oh, we have plenty of time!"
a. "plenty" is not a unit of measure
b. break down of time line:
i. Graduation Date May 28th-1 week, 6 days away
ii. Liz's last day of work: June 6th- 3 weeks away
iii. trip to DC/NY to look for jobs/apts- June 8-13th- 3 weeks, 2 days
iv. Lease up June 30, want to be out be June 22- 4 weeks away
v. Number of weekends left in Savannah: (counting this weekend) 2
vi. Amount of time available to pack, sell belongings, get jobs, find
apts that allow pets, clean apt in Savannah, say goodbye to everyone,
and physically haul all our junk to a city not yet determined: Less than 1 month.
So, you can see how Time and I are having a slight throw down. Well, Caleb's concept of Time, and actual Time are having a knockdown drag-out in my head (School House Rock style animated as well. Weird)

And in Conclusion, UGH. That is how I feel about it right now.

2009-05-01T09:45:00.002-04:00

Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Moe. NY, DC, Philly, Chicago. Caleb needs a job. I need to know where that job is so I can do everything else. I started doling out the furniture recently. A hutch here, a bed and entertainment center there. That does help, actually. And I am donating a bunch of stuff to a yard sale in St Augustine this weekend. I also need to see if my mom can store me china for me for a little while...

List:
1. Finish packing for St Aug
2. Pack china set up good
3. Get everything in car
4. Figure out state to live in
5. Get jobs there
6. Pack up house
7. Find out move-out procedures for apt
8. Find out if they are replacing the carpets
9. Sell some more pins
10. Send Mothers Day gifts
11. Take a nap
12. Hang out with friends/family in FL!

A Sale!

2009-04-21T10:34:00.002-04:00

I made my first non-relative sale yesterday on Etsy! I am very excited. I sold my alligator pin, which is a really big seller down in sunny FL (which is where the one I sold yesterday is going) and now I really need to get on there and start updating. I got in a kind of slump there for a little bit (and I cleaned up and organized my fabrics, which oddly enough makes me not want to do anything) so after tonight (we have company and the house is actually clean) I will get back in the swing of things and try to work some more on pins. I have a request for a sea turtle, and I need to make another peacock and koi. But tonight is Fajita Night and there will be a kid at my house. We will see how kitten does. Especially now that the cone is off and she can bite again. We played fetch for 30 minutes yesterday with a wad of alluminum. That cat is so weird.

I'm not dead!

2009-04-14T15:12:00.002-04:00

So, it has been a very long time since I have posted anything (or looked at anything for that matter) as my job over the past month or so has been filling every minute of my work day. Which is nice, because it also feels like I got back from San Francisco last week, but also not nice since I feel like I have approximately 1 billion things to do right now. So here is a quick recap:

WORK
My Birthday
WORK
STRESS
Flight of the Choncords
WORK
STRESS

And that sums it up quite nicely. I just hit panic mode in the moving/job finding/house hunting/choose a state to live in and wish there was some way to by-pass this mess and just be living somewhere decent with a job and maybe some health insurance. But no, we will slug through and apply apply apply to jobs and see what sticks. And that is where we will move. I am praying for DC, while NY is looking more and more promising and more and more scary. Philly is still on the table as well, if we can find jobs, as is VA. We will see what happens. If you know of anything or anyone needing an artist, animator, admin assistant, graphic designer, website designer, office manager, personal assistant, or any and all of the above, let me know!

SURPRISE!

2009-03-30T20:05:00.005-04:00

So, yesterday was Caleb's 24th birthday, and I managed to surprise him with a small get together. Kat and Nathan, my sister and her husband (who somehow manages to turn Caleb into a giggling school girl) and their dog, Ferris, came down and decorated while I took Caleb out to breakfast. And I managed to surprise him. I hid a whole bunch of food in the crisper drawer (because Caleb would NEVER look there) and Kat made a cake and set up some fantastic HSM3 decorations and made some amazing frech fries to go with the cookout food, shrimp kabobs, sausages, brats, and steaks. And by steaks I mean the most amazing things I have ever made or eaten. I think that I won the title of grill master of the house. They lasted about 3 seconds. And were awesome. So, here are some pictures from the festivities.

Pictures!

2009-03-26T19:22:00.001-04:00

I just added all my pics to flickr. My url is http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizmctwigan/ so you can check them out. I may need to add you as a friend, so we will see how this goes.

San Fransisco!

2009-03-15T15:59:00.000-04:00

So, here we are in CA! Yesterday we spent the day at Pixar in Emoryville, we got to see Coraline in 3D, then walked around to see all the art from the new movie, Up. It was pretty sweet. And we got to take pictures with all the full sized Pixar characters! We went to berkley after that to an odd art thrift store, then had deep dish pizza at Zacary's Pizza. Delicious! Sarah and I split a mushroom and spinach and Caleb and Ruben had a chicken. We are now on our way out to Napa Valley to do a wine tour. We will be going into the city tomorrow to do the touristy things, i.e. Alcatraz, Fisherman's warf, the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown. I plan on getting some pictures up soon!

So very very busy!

2009-03-10T12:50:00.003-04:00

As we come into the home stretch here in Savannah, I am starting to realize just how much I will miss being near FL. Now, it would have been better to have actually been in FL for the past 2 years, but at least being able to drive down for the weekend definately made it bearable for us here in Savannah. And I had the most fantastic weekend (thank you Judith!). Caleb went to a music festival called Harvest of Hope and while I do enjoy a tune every once and again, standing in the hot sun listening to bands I probably don't like and avoiding dirty campers for 3 days was just not on my priority list. So I spent the weekend, first with my mom in Jax, then with Judith in St. Augustine. There were naps, and good friends, and books, and babies, and coffee, I mean how can it not be good? And as is typical, I don't have any pictures. But I will do my very best to be good this weekend/week and bring my camera to San Fransisco. Which is where we will be on Friday! I am both excited and stressed, as we should NOT be spending any money right now, and for some reaseon this trip entirely snuck up on me. But, hey! It's San Fransisco! I should have started training for this (Our trip to DC left me with jelly legs every day) weeks ago, and will probably need to figure out how t get my mind past how much I hate to wear actual shoes. Actual shoes that both fit, and do not give me blisters. And that aren't hideous. Because I really like my heels. And flip flops (but it is cold). And not sneakers. Boo. Oh, well, I will probably be spending the next couple days packing, cleaning and training my body to stay up until Pacific Standard Time. Oh, man.

Koi Fish

2009-03-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

Here is my newest pin, sorry for the bad pics, I have been using my mediocre camera phone... I had a bunch of tiny scraps of this amazing asian style fabric, and it lent itself perfectly to this koi fish. It even has scales! I have been working on this one in my head for quite a while, but could never settle on a shape. I think it turned out quite nicely, and should have it up in the store soon. I need to be able to take pictures in natural light, which is my problem, because I live in a cave. And it is winter, so the sun sets pretty early. But, hopefully that will all change next week, because it is daylight savings time Spring Forward this weekend. Don't forget to change your clocks!

I forgot how iffy film could be...

2009-03-03T09:19:00.003-05:00

In this digital age of snap, check, no, snap, check, yes, snap, check, good, snap check, delete-delete, how frustrating it can be to pick up a roll of film and see 2 whole rolls of pictures that should have been deleted. It could be a variety of issues from old film, to the machine at CVS, to my terrible lighting skills, to trying to re-figure out all the appertures and shutter and focus of a real camera, combined with a bad backdrop and no natural lighting to create those 2 fated rolls of pictures, but it is back to the digital camera for me for the moment. Sad day. And I had to pay for it, which is even worse feeling. So, eventually there will be new pictures up of the work I have been doing (and admittedly it was a little fun to hear the actual click of a camera) which I have actually been doing quite a bit, with a lot of new templates also cut and ready for stitching. Here is one I did last night. I am thinking of doing a series of birds like this, as it turned out pretty well, and I really enjoyed doing it. I am not sold yet on the stick, but it was the only solution I could come up with last night for the legs. I couldn't just leave them hanging, it was awkward. Maybe next time I will put it on a real branch, that has worked for me in the past. So, you will eventually get to see the abstract stuff I did recently. Maybe I will even post a picture of how organized I got over the weekend (think folding fabric for 2 hours around a 3 inch by 4 inch board so they are all uniform).

List:

1. Get new pictures

2. Post pictures on Etsy

3. Pay Etsy bill

4. Find oddly colored felt

5. Make some more pins

6. Pick up house

7. Vacuum

8. Figure out how to get kitten to stop jumping on my head in the morning

9. Clean up the mess of bags kitten made (you left them, Mom, and now they are strewn throughout my house, which is actually really entertaining to watch her pounce the sea of plastic like it is a pile of leaves)

10. Buy cheese for nachos for dinner.

New Stuff Coming...I Promise!

2009-03-02T11:58:00.004-05:00

So, I dropped off a couple rolls of film (yes, real film, it does still exist) to CVS on Friday. I didn't expect one our developing, but 1 DAY developing would be nice. (Especially since they have a MACHINE that does it, and I know that even by hand it only takes about 1 1/2 hours to develope a roll of film.) But, alas, I have yet to get any pictures back, so my etsy site remains untouched. Just a warning, I will be replacing several items on the site, so if you are watching something, let me know, because it might not be there later this week. Trying to get the big sellers out there more...Back to the film-their machine broke. And this is how I am seeing things right now-You are a CVS. There are about 3 that I know of within 3 miles of my house. Take my film over to the other one right up the street and print my pictures, then bring it back. Or just tell me to pick it up down the street. That is much less of an inconvenience for me than to wait the 3 extra days it has taken you so far to get my pictures printed. You are a chain store, now act like one.

Enough of my rage against CVS, I am actually feeling much much better today than I have in a week. All that is left of my cold is the sniffles, which is just annoying and not painful, so that is ok. No more mouth breathing, which is far and away the worst part of a cold for me. Chapped lips, dry mouth, sore throat, no thank you.

And, I am so very very looking forward to this weekend and getting to see all of our friends and family in both Jacksonville and St. Augustine. There will be a breakfast for Jerry Hopkins at New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville Saturday the 7th from 8-11 to offer encouragement and support to Mr. Hopkins and his family. Please come!

Here is a great picture my mom took of the pins I had sent her. She combined the little purple flowers with a bee I had made a while ago and I think it is adorable! Thanks for helping me sell! Love you, Mom!

Chicken Soup Recipe

2009-02-27T10:19:00.002-05:00

Here you go Brittany, for Gabe's sake, as every small boy needs som e chicken soup with tiny stars when they get sick.

Chicken Soup:

1 lb of chicken chopped up
1 T olive oil
1 small-med onion chopped
1 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of chopped carrots
1/2 cup of peas
1 (32 oz) box of chicken broth (or 3 cups of stock)
3 cups of water
2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 t of fresh ground pepper
salt to taste
1 t basil
1 t Italian herbs of choice (sorry I can't be more specific, I tend to have a heavy hand on the spices and don't always remember what I put in)
1/3-1/2 cup of Pastina tiny star pasta
opt. 1 t crushed red peppers (for some scoviles to clear out the sinuses)

Heat olive oil in pan. Add onions and garlic and cook until almost brown. Turn up heat to Med High and add chicken, searing the outside. Add carrots, celery, peas, and broth or stock. Reduce heat to med. Add water, spices, pepper, salt, and red peppers and cook until bubbling. Reduce heat to low and continue to let simmer until vegetables are soft. Add pasta and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Eat! It'll cure what ales you.

Miserable Sick

2009-02-26T11:14:00.002-05:00

It is the only way to describe how I have been feeling for the last couple of days. I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, head and ear ache and runny nose. I maintained until around 6 PM when it decided to explode into a fever, chills, sneezing, nausea, migraine monstrosity. Which I was trying somewhat vainly to keep in check with Ziacam, ibuprofen, and chicken soup (my second batch this week, as Caleb was feeling under the weather earlier) I went to bed at 8:30, and woke up several times, too hot, too cold, too sweaty, etc, until I woke up at 1 AM after my fever finally broke, and apparently the Ziacam/ibuprofen/sudafed concoction took final effect. I felt much better, and had one usable nostril, so I was able to sleep the rest of the night without drooling on myself. That being said, today I do feel better, but in that kinda hazy sinus congestion and mouth breathing kind of way. And since I cannot afford to miss work, I am at my desk trying somewhat vainly to not look like warmed over death and be legible over the phone. Luckily it is kinda slow today. I am just so tired...

In some less morbid and depressing news, I have started a new line of pins and clips for my etsy site. They will be posted hopefully this weekend, I had to take film pictures of them, since my digital camera is not an SLR, so after they are developed I will post them. and this is the last week for free shipping! So get your orders in by Saturday!

Last thought, I have discovered tiny star pasta at publix and it is the PERFECT addition to chicken soup. It may also be my new favorite thing.

2nd quilt top done!

2009-02-22T17:05:00.002-05:00

So, I got the whole thing pieced this weekend. I ended up machine sewing the inset circles, it was going to take way too long (not very patient) and I think it will hold up better...

ps-that is caleb behind the quilt, and it's finished size right now is 8' x 8'.

Yeah! For Tax refunds!

2009-02-20T09:16:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the upside down pic! This is my birdcage applique.
Some examples of the fabrics for my new quilt.

My first finished square! I did layer the yellow lace over the solid green.

My second finished square!

My mess after all the cutting!

So I can check one thing off my list, my income tax refund came in! And boo to GA for having State Taxes. And I became a resident so Caleb could get a school discount, and they denied it, so I have to pay these stupid taxes. And not get the scholarship money. Boo SCAD.

So, I also started my new quilt squares yesterday, I got 2 squares reverse appliqued with circles and fir the first time I have ever reverse appliqued, they turned out pretty good. I even took pictures of them to post, but could not find the cord to my camera fast enough and had to leave for work. (I also forgot the glass of milk I had poured to put in my coffee at work on the counter in the dash out the door. Boo Black Coffee for the 4th time this week.) I will have to post them later, when I get home and can just use the memory card and stick it in my laptop. I also have a sweet plan to be VERY lazy again this weekend. I keep having bad/frustrating dreams and it is putting me in a very bad/grumpy mood every morning. I have been waking up very mad. Which is not good, and I feel bad for Caleb.

OH, I almost forgot! My business cards came in! I got them printed online at uprinting.com, and they were 500 for $25.00, which I thought was a pretty sweet deal. And they turned out really good! (Well that may be because I designed them, but hey, they are really good quality, too.)

So, in conclusion, I will put up a few pictures when I get home of my most recent progress on stuff. Have a HAPPY FRIDAY!

New Quilt

2009-02-19T11:10:00.002-05:00

So after several weeks of staring at that glorious pile of fabric sitting on my couch, I finally decided what I wanted to do with it. (Which is good, because I was in need of a not tiny pin/hair-clip project for a few days.) So, I cut 65 12.5x12.5 inch squares out of a lot fat quarters I have purchased over the past few months/years and and am debating over a 8'x8' quilt or cutting 7 more squares and making it 8'x9'. Trying to make a good, big bed quilt for our bed. And I plan on it being pretty awesome. I will be doing a bunch of reverse applique shapes (mostly circles) through the quilt and I have that beautiful organic cotton fabric for the back. And I am pretty excited. I will try to get a picture of the starter squares up later, and will post progress of the applications.

List:
1. Decide size of quilt (cut extra if needed)
2. Get some groceries
3. Put away laundry
4. Figure out Student Loan stuff
5. Work on squares
6. Plan trip to St. Augustine for March 6-7
7. Wish my tax refund into my bank account
8. Pay State taxes
9. Wish for a Digital SLR camera
10. Take new/better pictures of etsy stuff with real camera
11. Take a sweet nap.

Just watch this, and make sure your sound is on

2009-02-13T14:23:00.002-05:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU

Just a picture of my cat.

2009-02-12T12:08:00.001-05:00

Business Cards!

2009-02-10T15:11:00.003-05:00

I have Business Cards! Ok, I have business cards getting printed! Here is the proof, I will have another picture when they are in hand!

Oh, Weekend

2009-02-10T11:05:00.002-05:00

Poor Caleb. I hosted "Savannah, Ho! Girls Only!" weekend and 4 of my very good friends from FL came for a visit. Kind of a Flagler Reunion/Rae's last few weeks of not being married time. And it was awesome! We did a slew of girly things: Wet Willies, Charleston, Scatagories, Wine, Food, Coffee, Shopping in the largest earring/accessory store ever, And Window Shopping at Art Galleries. All while talking. I am pretty sure someone was speaking all 24 hours of each day. (Even if it was just Emily snoring-Love you!) Caleb did escape for a man-sleep-over in Charleston Saturday night and when he got home Sunday I could not talk anymore, which I did feel a little bad for, since we actually had some things to talk about. But I am pretty sure no other words could come out of my mouth, as it had had more exercise than when I was in middle school. With a crush. But I needed it so bad! I miss them all so much, and it was a wonderful, relaxing, and amazing weekend. And in true Liz fashion, I took zero pictures. So you might have to wait until I can glean some from everyone else. And I do have a few new items available in my shop!

PS- Check out theoliveowl.etsy.com for some more amazing finds!

New Arrivals!

2009-02-06T09:46:00.002-05:00

So, I started making hair clips as well, so check out the site!

And in other news, it is actually kinda tricky to be creative in a clean environment. Anyone who knows me knows I strive in some sort of restrained chaos. (Except for the fact that I CANNOT find my tiny rotary cutter.) And as my house is now restrained restrained, I had to go and mess it up some by working on a project while I should have been cleaning. And somehow the sad little fact that a) I like to watch tv while I project, and b) there is no storage in my apt equals complete chaos in my living room all the time. But when I see everything clean, I think "Great, I can work here!" and the choas starts again. I can usually have the couch pretty well buried in fabric, scraps, and paper in approximately 45 seconds. And then my purse is usually on the other side of the couch where Caleb sits, so then he makes the comment "How can you use the whole couch every time you sit down?" and I say, "I'm making us some money!" and he says fine, and flings my bag somewhere. Then I say, "I can hear kitten in the toilet! Why can't you put the flim flam seat down?" and he says, "Kitten why can't you put the seat down?" and then we play animal crossing. We are so creatures of habit. And my house is always a disaster (tangent and all.) All that to sequay into my to-do list:

List:
1. Vacuum
2. Find Air matress pump
3. Get last of groceries
4. Make pins for Kat
5. Put away projects in "craft corners"
6. Do something about the 700 glass bottles in my apartment (I don't have any way to recycle them, but I don't want to put them in the trash)
7. Sell some stuff
8. Get wine glasses back from Kat
9. Get some cash for Wet Willies
10. Finish picking up living room
11. Not think about the stuff I have to do while I am sitting at work with nothing to do but think about what I have to do at home.
12. Maybe I can leave early...
13. Stop watching the clock
14. Try to calm down a little (not going to happen, the office is freezing, so I drank all my coffee really fast)
15. Design logo/business cards
16. Stop adding things to this list

Lemon Zest Shop

2009-02-04T10:12:00.003-05:00

So, to commemorate the openning of my shop, and as an incentive to get you guys to buy, I will not charge shipping for the rest of the month of February. (Mom, I will refund you the shipping costs.) Also, I plan on posting new items later this week, and I will have them on my blog as well, but I am always needing new ideas, so leave a comment of the coolest thing you can think of for a pin and I will try to oblige. (If you ask for a banana, I will ignore you. I had a bad experience with a banana pin {and banana's for that matter}) Be creative, so I can be, too!

It's All Ready!

2009-02-02T10:14:00.002-05:00

I am the proud owner of my very own etsy shop! If you would like to see what I have available, please visit http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6420370 or you may be able to search for my shop name, Lemon Zest. I am REALLY EXCITED if the all caps didn't give it away. Check it out and give me feedback! I think I will be taking/adding more views of the pins tonight, I just didn't really have a whole lot of reference for what I was doing when I took the pictures. Yeah!

I've been busy!

2009-01-31T20:33:00.003-05:00

I have been working double time lately, trying to get enough pieces together to start my etsy site (which I think is going to be a custom made site, I will have examples of things to order, but you can request everything and anything and I can make it) So, hopefully that will be what I am doing tomorrow, setting up the site with all the examples of my work. Here are the ones I made this week/weekend, the purple owl is for my sister, a much smaller (and easier) version of my owl design. So, as soon as it is up and running, I will give you the site so you can order/buy to your hearts delight! And Mom, I will send them all to you as soon as I am done setting up the site.

OOPS! I forgot this one!

Oh, the usual

2009-01-28T11:42:00.002-05:00

Well, I had a most awesome weekend last weekend and now my week has seemed really boring. But, as for the weekend, Hooray! I got to see Emily! She and I went to undergrad together in FL and then she followed me to Savannah to go to SCAD for Grad school, then left me to go to Atlanta to finish up her Masters. So not only will she be way smarter than me (and she is an excellent advertising deisgner, so she will get a sweet job) she left me all alone here is GA. But I got to see ehr this weekend and we had a magnificent shopping day and then got to dress up and go out to the SCADDY awards (SCAD advertising awards). Then I made an enormous amount of curry and we all had a few drinks and watched some tv, and went to sleep. (Or Mike fell asleep on the couch and then we all decided to go to bed) But, the next day, we got up, got donuts and coffee, then went shopping downtown and got pizza before they had to go home. And by shopping I should really say "dealing" because we spent $82 on clothes and saved $280. And Caleb decided he won the savings contest, because at dinner that night the bar tender "ran out" of 16 oz cups, so he got a free upgrade to a 23oz beer. Crazy day! And this weekend is hopefully going to be nice and relaxing. And by that I mean I want to be excessively lazy, probably Cross some Animals for more time than is necessary, and maybe read a whole book in one day. That would be ideal. I will also try to get some pins and quilting done, maybe get going a little bit more towards that etsy site! OK, now I need a motivator. Anyone want to be etsy accountability partners? I need deadlines, people!

One Square Done, I have no idea how many to go...

2009-01-23T09:24:00.003-05:00

I spent some time yesterday really trying to come up with a design of an owl I really liked. After a lot of Google Image Searching owls, I found somehting I could work with, and designed the little guy above. He turned out exactly how I wanted him to look and I was way excited to get started.
So, I got started. First I enlarged him by 10% on my computer to give me so leway with the application. Then I started the emboidery/applique process. And watched 2 episodes of Bones, 1 of each, Top Chef, 30 Rock, The Office, Kath and Kim, and Family Guy (about 4 1/2 hours) and the little guy was finally done. And my fingers hurt. But I really really really like him. I have not yet decided if I will be putting a) feet or b) feather detail on him yet. Probably will.

And here is the template. The total size will fit comfortably inside an 8" x 8" square. I think I will be making all their eyes looking in different directions, and I may change out his button eyes for darker ones (I couldn't find my buttons at midnight last night and I just wanted to finish). But all in all I am pretty proud of him. Caleb thinks all the owls should look at a mouse, but I would always be sad for the mouse. So maybe Teeny Baby will be eyeing them...

So, I have this huge bag of fabric...

2009-01-21T10:04:00.002-05:00

And I haven't quite figured out what I want to do with it yet. Joanns was having a massive MLK weekend sale, and a majority of the store was 1/2 off. Which spells DANGER! DANGER! for my bank account. But, I was good (well, good is relative, I didn't overdraft lets say) And I came home with a hugely fat stack of goodies (pictures to come). Included in said stack was 3-3/8 yards of green organic cotton fabric I got for 75% off! And I got a slew of new fat quarters (all $1 each) and some remnants (80% off) and all the other fabric I got was on sale 50% off, including a green/blue kitten fabric I can sneak into things and no one will think I am a crazy cat quilter.

Speaking of crazy cats, Lemon was taken on a "tall tour" of the house by Caleb the other day (he basically just held her up high so she could see all the places she couldn't get to) (which was kinda mean, but she seemed to enjoy it at the time) and now all she wants to do is be taken on tall tours via running leaps, claws outstretched ready to grasp at anything moving and tall, namely us. Caleb gets it worse, because she actually has to claw her way up him, whereas I am short and she can just jump on my shoulder. She also really likes to sit on your shoulder in the bathroom so she can see herself in the mirror. She's so vain. She probably thinks this post is about her.

List:
1. Think up quilt design- maybe owls? In a huge tree?
2. Get Stamps
3. Write some Letters
4. Make box to send
5. Pay Mom for Wicked Ticket

Just Stuff

2009-01-14T16:38:00.002-05:00

So, for anyone out there who is interested, there is a block swap of sorts going on over here: http://patchesquiltworks.blogspot.com/2009/01/it-takes-6-commited-quilters.html that still needs a couple of people to join so that we all can make some really sweet full sized quilts over the next 6 months. (Please! I really want it to work!!)

OK, next, some old family friends of Caleb's just happened to show up on Monday night! (Which seems to happen a lot amongst you northerns...) Anyways, fun was had over chinese food and 24 (which is very confusing to not only jump into the middle of a season, but to also jump ahead about 4 seasons, needless to say there was a lot of pausing and explaining!) Oh, and if you are ever in Boston you should take Dana Chapman's Duck Tour, his Tour name is "Duck Tape Dana."
You will have fun, I promise. And you should also go in May when the tulips are all blooming in the park.

Well, that's all I got right now. Tonight is Animal Crossing and Top Chef! Hopefully I can get my mortgage all paid off from my turnip profits!

BRIAN REGAN.

2009-01-12T14:31:00.003-05:00

Enough said. For those of you that are into comedians, I hope he is up there on your list, and for those of you that don't know him, please, please, please look him up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBko_3wT44Q) . I got to see him perform this weekend at the Civic Center in Savannah, and if he ever comes anywhere near your place of residence, you should definately go see him, he puts on a great CLEAN comedy act. Simply Hilarious. I have literaly laughed so hard I have cried just watching his stand-up specials, and this weekend was no exception. I had to get up and go to the bathroom (although I hated to miss even a second) because I was afraid of the consequences of laughing so hard with anything in my bladder. And it couldn't have been a more fun weekend if I had tried. We had bought tickets for Caleb's sister Jessamyn for her birthday, then Jess and Erin turned around and bought us tickets for our future birthdays, and Pete came as well, treating us all to an amazing birthday dinner at Jazz'd. It was awesome. And hilarious, delicious, tipsy, and fit (wii fit, that is-I hold the record in both Ski jump and Hula-Hooping, and my poor hips will attest to how hard it is to hula hoop for 6 minutes.) I don't know yet, but I feel this might be the best 3 months early birthday present I will ever get. And it ranks way up there in the normal birthday catagory, maybe just a hair behind 5 years old, but who can really trump a cake walk for a 5 year old? So, that is all I got right now, I am going to have to get a few pictures from Erin & Pete from the Night of Awesome, and then I can show you the awesome face I made when I was dared to eat a grilled jalepeno. Or all our faces, because we each had a bite of that rediuclously inconspicuous little bit of vegitation.

Ta Da!

2009-01-08T22:10:00.004-05:00

Here it is! Quilted, bound, and ready to go! (Hopefully I got all the pins out!) Kitten is in love with batting, by the way, and she told me so by trying to bite off my hands. I had to lock the stinker in the back room to pin the top down! Yeah! It's done!

PS- In case you are wondering why there is a square on the back of the quilt, somewhere in the blue sheet's life he had a rough patch and came home with a big tear (which is also why I was willing to sacrafice him as a sheet to be a quilt) And if you ever get to see it, I sewed little secrets into it! (OK they are covering mistakes, but I like them)

2009-01-07T20:52:00.003-05:00

I finally pieced the top for my quilt, and I decided against any rows in between the squares, which i think might have actually made it more busy, instead of having the overall feel it has right now. I am pretty excited about quilting it down and getting the binding on so I can finally use it! It came out to be about 5' x 5', perfect for the couch (or for me!), or our full size guest bed. Hopefully not too much longer, here and it will actually be usable.
And here is Kitten (she's getting so big) after she finished having a drink out of the water glass Caleb left by the bed. (Note how puffy her tail is! She isn't scared, it is just always that huge!)

My Life, Organized?

2009-01-07T10:50:00.003-05:00

So, I received a planner at work as part of one of those freebies that other businesses pass out, and while it is real-estate oriented, I feel it is a pretty good planner. It shows the whole month over 2 pages, and the pages are a decent size (I think it opens out to about 10 x 14) and I have already done a pretty good job of filling up 3 months worth of due dates, appts, visits, and trips, and since it is a real estate notebook, it has all the notes on buying and selling houses, which I think we are actually going to do for the first time this year. So handy. I also, being crafty and original, quilted it a little cover. Which I will admit, turned out quite nicely. Oh, and my FAVORITE feature of said notebook is that there are a whole bunch of pages in the back that tear out and are now dedicated to lists! Which as we all know is my OCD. So, here's to trying to be organized, paying things on time, researching buying a house, and maybe I'll even go so far as to get in shape. (OK, according to the wii fit, I have 2 months to lose 8 pounds. Which I feel is a semi-reasonable goal if this shingles will stop rearing it's ugly head and let me exercise.)

List:
1. Keep up with planner for real
2. Work on etsy site stuff
3. Finish that durn quilt
4. Find mini rotary cutter
5. Clean up so I can find ANYTHING (and by clean up I mean go through stuff, cause I have had too many "clean-ups" that have made it impossible to find anything)
6. Get ready for Jess, Erin & Pete for Brian Reagan Show!
7. Clean out fridge
8. Start a fabric swap- need more patterns!!

PS- Christina- I used the fabric you sent me for my little quilted cover and it looks really cute, I will try to get a picture up tonight. Thanks!

Pictures!

2009-01-06T10:05:00.007-05:00

So, here are our pictures (thanks, Mom!) of Christmas in Charleston, which was really fun! Most of the time, I am not really sure what Nathan and Caleb are doing, so disregard their shenanigans. Yeah! All kinds of fun. Caleb showing off his wii fit guns
Warren reading, guess that viking book was pretty sweet!

Wish we could have seen you guys for Christmas! Hope you enjoyed the cheesecake! (Before Uncle Jim ate it all!)

Bomber-Man!

Hey, Dad!

What is it? What is it?

What! A GPS? Boy will that be handy!

My husband. Stylin'.

All the brother-in-laws

Playing games on the i-phone.

What a face! Who wouldn't fall in love?

I'm Back!

2009-01-05T10:34:00.002-05:00

I took a Holiday Hiatus, but I am now back to work and back to blogging! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Here are the Highlights from my last few weeks:
Christmas in Charleston at my sisters- so much fun! and so much food!
Got Shingles- no fun at all!
St. Augustine for New Years- Fireworks at the Beach were awesome!
Savannah- a visit from Friends! Yeah!
I have been a bit busy, but am very glad to get back into a routine. No extra stress, because stress=shingles. And I promise, no one wants shingles.

I will have to scrounge up a few photos from the holidays and post them, but I am notoriously bad at taking cameras with me to big events, or if I have the camera, I always forget to take pictures. I will have to glean some from my sister...

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T12:18:00.002-05:00

Boy am I glad last week is over! I worked 65 hours and 3 of those days were 9 am- 12midnight. But it is all over, now! I have off until after Christmas, then it is just 3 more days total over 2 weeks until I am done with my second job. You have NO IDEA how glad I will be to not have to fold anymore men's jeans (WHAT is wrong with you guys? Can you not see that all the jeans are organized by style, color, and size. You do not have to rifle through the whole pile, and then throw the unwanted pairs onto a Different display. I loathe men jean mess-makers) or another cashmere sweater (I actually had a 30-some year old lady walk by and throw one on the floor without even looking at me while I was folding the table. I mean, seriously. This is Christmas, be nice!) or children's polo shirt (OK, mothers of 3-12 year olds, please don't act like your children and throw the shirt on the floor if it is not the correct size.) Oh, retail. I did get some pretty sweet deals for Christmas gifts (OK, and 1 outfit for myself!) But I will be glad to be back in Real Estate only. No Christmas music there. Curses on you Jackson Five! I got the Christmas cards sent out, so hopefully they will get to everyone by Christmas...

List:
1. Wrap Christmas Presents
2. Buy Ingredients for Salad, greenbean cassarole, and cheesecake
3. Clean house- finish dishes, pick up dining room, finish projects, get all of Caleb's junk out of living room
4. Pack for Christmas
5. Convince Teeny Baby we will only be gone for one night
6. Cook food
7. SLEEP
8. Use massaging foot bath won at Christmas party
9. Laundry

Sorry it has been a while...

2008-12-16T09:20:00.002-05:00

but it has been some crazy here. I have been working both jobs, which is very tiring, but getting paid is neccessary. I haven't really done anything post-worthy lately, so here is my to-do list of the moment:

1. Take Kitten to vet on Thursday
2. Make Christmas presents for Family
3. Get stuff to make Christmas presents for Family
4. Don't fall asleep at work
5. Sleep a lot tonight
6. Find shoes that make my feet not hurt after 6-8 hours of standing/walking
7. Focus on anything for more than 5 minutes
8. DO NOT get addicted to Diet Coke
9. Buy Stamps and mail Christmas Cards
10. Don't fall asleep at other work
11. Stop dreaming about folding clothes
12. Get the Jackson Five Christmas song, "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" out of my head
13. Remember to eat food
14. Get New Salad recipe from Jesamyn
15. Make Salad and Cheese Straws for Office Christmas party
16. Clean house/Do dishes
17. Unpack the last stuff from Thanksgiving
18. Put gas in car
19. I know there is more, I am just running at about a -3 energy level at the moment

Sad Day

2008-12-11T11:27:00.003-05:00

So, our car died yesterday. It just wouldn't start at all. We had it towed to a repair shop and found out that the starter had gone caput. And $430.30 (I will pay you back, mom!) later, I will be getting it back this afternoon. Sigh. Why does it never seem to stop? And I really need to get crackin' on some Christmas presents. Any requests? I can make cool stuf...

Another 9am-10pm-er today

2008-12-08T12:24:00.002-05:00

Today is going to be my second day at Macy's after my half hour of training and a lot of jean and shirt folding first day. I did get to fold the entire cashmere, section, though, and it is so soft I just wanted to fall asleep in piles of it. And I am very proud to announce I got all my Christmas cards made, addressed and I even made each of their individual envelopes (if you want an extremely easy template, just ask) and still love snowflakes (you will understand when you get your card). I will post a picture after they are sent so everyone can see how awesome they are this year (although, for those of you that got the picture last year with the fake bunny, I'm not sure if this one quites tops that random awesome-ness.) So, I actually did something on my list. For which I pat myself on the back. But it has also left me with another mess (tiny scraps of paper everywhere) so the list is balanced out. Not so good at projects then clean then projects. I am more of a projects, projects, projects, can't find husband or kitten or remote in mess, project that pushes me over the edge, clean like a crazy woman, project.

List:
Work all Day
Dinner? (cereal?)
Buy Stamps (get last 3 addresses)(pretty good for 30 cards)
Get Batting
Make illustrations for Shannon

Things I Like
1. Pear candy
2. Black boots
3. Excessive amounts of Sleep

My Crazy Day

2008-12-05T11:21:00.002-05:00

There is always one or two days a month when I am pretty sure nothing in my head is firing off like it should be. I will literally be sitting on the couch watching tv, when all of the sudden I feel an inordinately strong need to jump up and yell a little (or a lot) which is followed by my wanting to punch something, then I want chocolate ice cream, which is followed by the urge to cry, then I get really giggly and Caleb and the kitten are just staring at me like "what the heck is going on?" (the kitten stares a lot, though, and she does some pretty stupid stuff herself). But really, why does this only happen to girls? It is absolutely rediculous. And I feel rediculous. And it all happens in about 3 minutes. So, I had one of those days yesterday. Except I had no chocolate ice cream, just a half of an Advent chocolate (which wasn't much, because the whole calendar cost us $1.69.) And I am pretty sure that didn't quite hit the mark. So, now if you ever see me "practising my acting skills" you will know what is happening.

List:

1. Write Thank you note to Dottie
2. Freeze Bean Soup for later
3. Work on menu for Christmas
4. Find Recipe for Peppermint Cheesecake
5. Use sheets to finish Quilt (buy batting)
6. Print Christmas cards and get addresses
7. Work at Both Jobs today
8. Do some creativ-y things

Things that make me smile List:

1. Mail
2. Caleb doing the dishes twice
3. 30 Rock
4. Tea
5. Sewing
6. Snow Flakes
7. Christmas Ornaments
8. Kitten
9. Food
10. Apple Cider Candles

Wish I had something to post

2008-12-04T16:12:00.003-05:00

but I don't. I haven't really done anything lately worth writing about. The kitten is just as crazy as always, GA's new Senator is Saxby Chamblis (boo) and I start working at Macy's tomorrow night. Which is going to end up being an 11 1/2 hour work day. But I REALLY need some extra cash, so I won't be complaining. At least not out loud. Maybe I will finally end up with enough fabric to finish that dang quilt I have 49 squares for. I hope so. And buy Christmas presents, and pay rent/bills, and maybe some food, we'll see. I am already back on my refried beans and rice diet, and hopefully I can find enough quarters lying round to do a load of laundry tonight as we are out of clean clothes. Gotta love being a student's wife. So, that's about it. The little ballerinas that practice in the studio next to us are about to drive me crazy because their stupid teacher never shows up on time to let them into their building so they end up running around outside my window/door screaming while their parents yack away and yell randomly at them. It's awesome. But not at all.

List:
Laundry? (Quarters?)
Dinner? (spaghetti?)
Move to Austria? (or Tuscany?)
Get Christmas cards printed? (or buy an ink cartridge?)
Presents? (homemade or storbought?)
Unpack? (or let it sit another week?)
Stress out? (too late!)

I got Tagged!

2008-12-02T09:50:00.003-05:00

So, apparently there is a picture tag going around right now and Britany Sivyer just tagged me. The deal is you go the the 4th picture in the 4th folder on your computer and post it with an explanation, then you tag 4 new people to have to do it on their blogs, too. So here it is:

This was Lemon's 2nd car ride to St. Augustine from Savannah and she just sat on my shoulder the whole time like a parrott. She's so cute!

And here are my tags:

1. Christina Scouten

2. Shannon Daigle

3. Leah Yoke

4. Mom, you can leave it in my comments (everyone I know with a blog has already been tagged!)

Wreath Picture (way late!)

2008-12-01T12:16:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture of the wreath I promised to post a picture of last week. And I know it has been a while since I have put anything up, but I have not been in town all week. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

Cooking and Cleaning

2008-11-24T09:39:00.002-05:00

This was a very busy weekend! And I am very proud to say that not only did I prep cornbread stuffing, greenbean cassarole, cranberry raspberry relish, a pumpkin cheeseacke, pie crust, and managed to throw a batch of thrumbprint cookies in there, I also did all the dishes (a couple of times!) and cleaned the house, and decorated everything for Christmas. It was very busy. And I am very very grateful to the christmas tree lady across the street for giving me so free branches so I could make a wreath for my front door. I love the Christmas tree smell, but can't really afford a whole tree this year. But they did have some little trees for about $20, so we will probably go back and get one later! Yeah! And since I think everyone should partake in the most delicious of relishes here is the recipe for cranberry raspberry relish:

1 lb of fresh cranberries minced
10 oz of frozen rasberries minced
2 granny smith apples minced
1 T lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup of orange marmalade

I just throw the cranberries, rasberries, and apples in my food processor, then mix everything together in a big bowl. Let it sit overnight (or at least a few hours) and it is ready! So easy and so good!

List:
Get last few things picked up and put away for Gregg and Candace
Sweep up kitty litter from bathroom and put down good bathmat
Start par-baking food for Thanksgiving
Put gas in car
Dinner for tonight?

Sploosh...

2008-11-20T09:59:00.003-05:00

So, I woke up to a noise yesterday morning that is traditionally not part of my morning routine. It was SPLOOSH! Yes a magnificent sploosh that was my kitten jumping into the toilet. She has just learned how to jump up onto things without using her claws, so the toilet was apparently the right height for it. And Caleb had left the seat up (I had mentioned she was getting jumpy, so keep the top down already) and she just hopped right in. Needless to say, I was in the bathroom within a second and she was even faster, because I found her under our bed crying. It is cold, but I told her it was her own fault and keep that nasty toilet water off the bed. I wish I had a picture, but it was really early and I was still trying to get up.

In other news--Candace and Gregg will be here on Monday! Which equals this:
List:
Change Sheets in Guest Bedroom
Vacuum house
Clean Bedroom
Clean and organize kitchen
Pick up and organize Living room
Clear crafts off Dining room table
Grocery Shop
Pay Bills
Make Thanksgiving food
Clean Bathroom
Draino Sink in Guest Bath
Pack for St. Augustine- Bocce, Food, clothes, air matress, sheets/pillows/blankets, maybe my finished quilt?, Is all this going to fit in one car?
Get craft corner cleaned up
Get Christmas decorations going

Oh, man this is going to be a busy weekend. But today is Caleb's last day of the quarter (yes his school is on a quarter system) and he won't have to go back until mid-January (yeah!) so he will be able to help. That is after he sleeps for the first time this week...

Countdown until Thanksgiving: 7 days
Countdown until Christmas: 35 Days

To Finish...

2008-11-18T09:36:00.002-05:00

OK, to finish this quilt I figured out that I will need:

42--3" x 8" strips
6--3" x 69" strips
8--3" x 80" strips
1--80" x 80" piece for backing

which comes to a little over 5 yards of fabric

also:
1--80" x 80" piece of batting (Queen?)
1-- rotary cutter (not doing all those with an exacto)
3--spools of thread

Hopefully Walmart will have some good $1.00/yd fabric and I can get all these things for $20. I do have a 40% off coupon for Joann Fabrics, so I think I will get my rotary cutter there. Maybe this weekend? I do get paid Friday, but have another long grocery bill ahead for Thanksgiving.

And in other news, you are reading about the newest Macy's Menswear Associate. Yea! for seasonal jobs at the Mall. And being at work until Midnight. Yeah, Midnight. We will see how this goes. Maybe I will have a weekend job after it is all over.

PS. Mom, while I am thinking about it, do we still have a bunch of vases from Kat's wedding? I have a friend getting married in St. Augustine and she is in need of some decorations to borrow.

Quilt Update

2008-11-15T22:03:00.003-05:00

I am very very sure I do not want to sew another tiny triangle again for a bit. Here is the culmination of hours and hours of TV that I couldn't hear due to my machine buzzing. I made 51 squares, which turmed into a 7 squares x 7 squares quilt. Which I am also estimating to about 5 feet by 5 feet before any strips in between the squares. I have to get the middle fabric, which I will have to do MATH for, so that will definately have to wait for a later day, as I am tired and need to clean, which is what I keep starting to do, but doesn't happen because I want to finish my quilt.

List

Measure everything

buy fabric, batting, and more thread

finish dishes, clean, vacuum

get quarters for laundry, then do laundry

make some dinner

more pins

etsy site

send Mom pins to sell

get kitten to stop biting

Lists Lists Lists

2008-11-13T11:35:00.003-05:00

I will admit to be a compulsive list maker. I don't know why, maybe it relaxes me, maybe it helps me set goals, whatever the reason I make lists. And lots of them. Grocery lists, To-Do Lists, Cleaning Lists. Mostly To Do Lists, though. And while most people find great joy in crossing things off of their lists, instead, I rewrite the list without whatever it was I had done on it. I even won't cross things out on grocery lists, I just put a check mark next to it. This is strange, I know. And let it also be known that I recycle old bits of paper for my lists. And every list is labelled List. Here are a few examples of my current Lists:

List
Illustrate Pictures for Shannon
Make more pins-
sheep
birds-turkey, cardinal
alligators
whale
elephant
deer
Open Etsy Shop
Work on quilt- finish by Christmas!!!
Get food prepped for Thanksgiving
Get Fabric together for Brittany

and:

List
Clean Kitchen
Vacuum and try to Steam Clean Carpets this weekend
Organize thread
Keep rubberbands away from Kitten
Change sheets in spare room for either Emily or Candace & Gregg, whoever come first
Figure out what ingrdients I already have for Thanksgiving food

As you can see, I put no time limits or order in my lists. They range from things to do on my lunch break, to things to do within the month. The things with longer time spans end up getting rewritten over and over and over again until I finally do them. If the list is more than 1 week old, or has anything completed on it, it gets thrown away. And I know you are all so fascinated by my random idiosincricies. Sorry for the ramble. Just cleaned 32 lists out of the bottom of my bottomless purse.

PS- I got 8 more yellow/orange squares done last night, 3 pins, and Top Chef came back on! Yeah!

Quilt Giveaway!

2008-11-12T11:40:00.002-05:00

http://oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/2008/11/win-1-of-3-quilts.html Is having a give-away! Check it out!

Things I've done

2008-11-12T09:11:00.004-05:00

I found this on http://patchesquiltworks.blogspot.com/2008/11/things-ive-done.html and thought I would do it too!
You can copy and paste the list, and everything you have done should be in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Pins!

2008-11-11T20:27:00.004-05:00

There you go, Brittany! An armadillo, and also a peacock.

Here are the pins I made lately, sorry, I should have shown size.m... The owl is just a bit under 3 inches tall. The flower at the top is bigger than the others as well. Plus it's 3D!

I've been so busy!

2008-11-11T09:46:00.002-05:00

I know it is no excuse to let 3 days go by without a post, but I have been so busy lately! Getting ready for the holidays, doing working at work (which is when I catch up on everyone elses blogs), and making pins. I am also in the process of setting up an etsy.com site, which I will have more details about later. I don't really have any pictures right now, (at work) so you will have to trust me when I say I have been working on stuff! I got 4 more squares done for my quilt (yellow/orange) and have the fabric cut for 8 more. I also need to see if I want another color as well, (I don't think I will add any more colors) or if I will be doing anymore applique to it. I do want to do a cool pattern to bind the top and bottom of the quilt together. The only thing I wish was that I didn't also have to work 8 hours a day to pay for my crafting habit! (OK, and food, shelter, and clothes) If only I had a place where people would buy my stuff, and all I had to worry about was shipping...cough cough (etsy) cough cough... I have designed some new pins, an owl, an alligator, a dolphin, a snail, and I will be making some sheep tonight. I also have a few birds I have in mind for the holidays, a turkey or a cardinal perhaps? And a peacock, I really want to make a peacock. More later.

I GOT PAID!!!!!!

2008-11-07T21:13:00.005-05:00

Here is a before and after of my fridge. We were down to condiments, but I discovered that 2 people can live off of $36 worth of groceries for 2 weeks. If you do eat every single thing out of your fridge. And I do mean everything.
Yeah! for food! Even if it does cost $160. Yeah, food is expensive. But I ate today and it wasn't pasta, beans, or rice. And we spent pretty much all the money, so we will be staying in again for a week or so. But Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up, so it is probably better anyway. And we will eat for the next while. Even Ice Cream! I will be making the beef stew that is my recipe this week tonight, as well, so I will post pictures. It is for real the best beef stew ever!

I also made another tiny tree quilt! This time I embroidered little birds and snowflakes onto it. It will have a red border, as well. I really like this little pattern!

Stuff I've done/Anyone need to buy Christmas presents for their family?

2008-11-06T20:24:00.005-05:00

This is a dress I embroidered a flower onto. I found the flower on a fabric and stitched it on.
I wanted to see what this would look like to sew on this shape, I just sewed it on top.

Here are all the squares I have done so far. Thought I would throw my foot in there for a size reference!

These are some pins I made, I have a few more, but I couldn't find them. Which seems to be a theme in my life right now. I keep putting things down and forgetting where I left them.

Kitten is so skiddish!

2008-11-06T13:30:00.003-05:00

Lemon was being so crazy last night. I also apologize for my creepy laughing, I was trying so hard not to laugh that it was coming out all crazy.

You just can't work with this kitten!

2008-11-04T21:53:00.003-05:00

I started to make the christmas tree from http://patchesquiltworks.blogspot.com but Lemon decided to take a nap on it half-way through. She is so bad!

6 squares done!

2008-11-04T20:28:00.002-05:00

I started doing my red squares tonight, still need to get a rotary cutter, but that will have to wait until Friday. Because I am broke. Really broke. But I paid all my bills, so it isn't a stressed broke for once. Stupid bills. My kitten is trying to help me type right now, so I apologize for any misspellings. She is a 2 lb ferocious beast! "Hey, get off the kediufgkj. Sorry.

2 more Squares!

2008-11-04T11:15:00.002-05:00

I made 2 more squares yesterday. And a few littler ones I thought would match up, but they don't so I don't really know what to o with them. I also need to cut other colors of fabric, I have only cut the triangles for blue squares, and need to cut tringles for yellow, green, red and white. It is starting to come together, I have one square where the corners really do meet where they are supposed to! Now, I just have to finish a whole bunch more, learn how the back and bind the quilt, and enjoy having an warm blanket!

I voted.

2008-11-04T10:06:00.003-05:00

So, I actually voted last Thursday via early voting, but I did pick up my free cup of Starbucks this morning on the way to work. And now I am anxiously awaiting tonights results. And Mom, I know it goes against everything I was raised to be, but here are my reasons for voting the way I did:

1. I didn't feel like I could vote for just one issue, so that pulled abortion off the table for me. And I back that up by saying in the 8 years Pres. Bush has been in office, he has not once passsed legislation to overturn Roe v Wade, and the abortion rate has gone up 20% as the economy has gone down. We need to treat the source of the issue, not the symptoms.

2. I have done extensive research into this area, and fact-checked many things and my taxes will stay the same with Obama. Now, I know that is different for many other people, but for me the state of the economy and the number of missrepresentations that Sen. McCain brought forth have brought me to this conclusion.

3. I cannot back Gov. Sarah Palin in any way. She has very little experience. Her policies on the environment and foriegn policy are not anything I agree with, and her handelling of legislature concerning the abuse of women in Alaska is apalling. The "bridge to nowhere" and her proposed pipeline will not only cost us in the long run, but they will displace many native Inuits and have unknown environmental consequences.

4. I don't have health insurance, nor can I afford it. I know that universal health coverage is probably not be the best solution, but what we have now is also not the best solution. There will still be competition in the health care market.

5. I do not believe we should be in Iraq. I didn't say we shouldn't be at war, I said I do not think we should be in Iraq. There is a far greater threat in Afghanistan right now, and we should be focusing more on vanquishing terrorism where it is, than trying to spend every single last American dollar on a country with a national surplus.

6. As a Christian, and following the Acts church, I feel that there needs to be help for the needy, and an accountability for them as well. I work in Real Estate, and deal with people in subsudised housing on a daily basis. Some of them need it, others I feel don't, but without an adequate amount of social workers to check into and keep up with the amount of people on welfare, this is not going to change. I also understand the point of view that it is your money and you want to keep it. I agree. I work, the same as you, and I have chosen not to have children until I am financially stable enough to do so, but there are too many children who have come into the world under different circumstances and do need government assistance. I feel regulation is the key here. Please, I also understand that you would like to choose where your money goes, and choose for it to go to the needy, but this is how I see it.

7. I am not a socialist, even if you think I am due to #6 and #4. I wish that as a nation we would take care of our own, but we don't, so that is where the government steps in. I think competition keeps prices low and service high, and I also believe we need to bolster our spending here in the states instead of sending jobs overseas just to save a buck. We would be able to spend that extra buck, if we all had jobs.

8. I do not believe Global Warming is natural. We are a wasteful and consumptive nation, and I am part of it.

I also know that my vote means squat in GA, but there it is. I voted.

My First Square!

2008-11-02T22:36:00.002-05:00

Here is my first quilt square! I got all this fabric from a seller on EBay, hopefully it is enough to get a really good start on a whole quilt. I also will have green, red, orange, and cream blocks. Maybe yellow, I will see about finding fabrics that match the rest...But so far I am pretty proud of it. Oh, and I know that there has to be a relativley easy way to cut the fabric, but I don't know what it is. I have been using a ruler and an exacto knife, which works alright, it is just kind of annoying.

Christmas Planning

2008-10-30T11:10:00.002-04:00

So, I tend to get a little teensy bit overzealous around now. And I married the right person, because Caleb is already planning Christmas mixes for this holiday season. I have already got the Christmas Card finished and now just need to get them printed, addressed and signed and stamped. I'm so on top of things! And I still need to do some logistical planning for Thanksgiving, i.e. get LOTS of food prepared for a magnificent feast that should last all day I hope! Here is our menu thus far:

Turkey (either smoked, baked, or fried)
Dressing/Stuffing
Purple Mashed Potatoes
Corn Risotto
Green Bean Cassarole
Bread
Cranberry Relish
Canned Cranberry Goop
Salad
Wild Rice
Macaroni and Cheese
Creamed Corn
Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Cheesecake

Any other Thanksgiving Family Recipes out there that I am missing out on?

Stuff I've been working on

2008-10-28T18:10:00.003-04:00

This is all of everything put together

This was the first one I did

This was the second

I have been playing around with quiltimg patterns combined with painting, and these are the results. They are kinda out of order, but I think you could see the progression even without my explanation. I especially like the last one. I just won some quilting squares from http://patchesquiltworks.blogspot.com/ and I am going to be painting on them as well, so watch for them, too!

This Kitten is nuts!

2008-10-27T15:21:00.002-04:00

So, we found out it is not a good idea to take pictures of Teeny Baby up close. Case and Point.

The Holidays!

2008-10-23T11:16:00.003-04:00

The Holidays are fast approaching and I cannot wait! Halloween/Nathan's Birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. And a different city for each! Halloween in Charleston, Thanksgiving in St. Augustine, Christmas in Jacksonville, and New Years who knows where! So if anyone wants to come to Savannah for a New Years Bash, we could probably pull that off. I can't believe it has already started. And I don't even have a Christmas theme yet. I'm leaning towards Green/Gold. And I have figure out if we are getting a tree or not. Maybe I can make a wreath out of cuttings so it will smell good in the house... Ok, and that is all 2 months away, so I should probably just focus on getting though October! Maybe Reindeer instead of penguins...

Sorry Mom, another blog without kitten pictures

2008-10-20T15:14:00.003-04:00

Well, fall arrived Saturday between 10:30-11:00 am. Went to breakfast with MJ & Nan, and then came back to our house to wait for Mom and Dad to get here, the temperature dropped 25 degrees. So we had a nice brisk afternoon, and me in shorts for once! But it was a beautiful day Sunday, cool, sunny, and then it warmed up to the high 60's low 70's. So, Shannon, bring on the Beef Stew recipe! And if anyone else has any fall favorites, I'm always open to recipe swapping!

Driving Driving MJ & Nan Driving Driving

2008-10-16T13:45:00.002-04:00

So, I picked up my aunts, Mary Jane and Nan, at the airport last night around 8:20PM (I was a little late due to the 90 miles of construction I had to drive through) and went back to Savannah, arriving home around 10:30. Then this morning, they drove up to Charleston to help Kat and Nathan move all their stuff in, and this morning, while trying to unload the van, Nathan tore his toe-nail off and is all doped up and not allowed to move anything. Luckily, some Sticky Fingers employees stepped in and they should have everything moved in no problem. But, dang Nathan, good timing! And please do not describe what happened to your foot to anyone else cause now I am skipping lunch. Gross. But yeah! for Uncle Bubba's tonight and a more relaxing day for all tomorrow! And then Saturday it is Greek Fest and Bocce in the park and Mom, Dad, and Warren are coming up to hang out. I'm excited. More pictures to come!

Teeny Baby

2008-10-11T14:00:00.004-04:00

Ok, I can't resist. Here is another video of Crazy Face McTwigans.

Ode to Fall

2008-10-08T16:17:00.004-04:00

Maybe a little premature down here, but here goes:

I wish it were colder, here in the South

Then I could enjoy hot food in my mouth.

Pumpkin pie, not ice cream

That is my only dream

But I fear I must still do without.

Oh, side note, anyone who wants some AMAZING pumpkin pie ice cream can come for a visit, Leopolds has it right now!

I know I know, I am just in love with Lemon!

2008-10-03T20:33:00.005-04:00

Lemon and her Poppa
She wants the cThat's her I'm gonna get your feet vB55XC

And that's waht happens when she jumps on the keyboard while I am typing. She deleted a picture, too.
Her sleeping anyway she wants
She is so silly!
I know, I shouldn't wake her up!

And this is Caleb's Animation of a bouncing ball.

Lemon's Kitten-ness

2008-10-01T14:58:00.003-04:00

Well, here are all the fun kitten-y things Lemon can do so far:

She now will eat soggy food out of a bowl, as well as drink water

She jumps on my head around 5-6 AM every morning

She plays with paper bags which is really funny

She doesn't really care about your hands, but if she sees toes wiggling, she will "pounce"

And by "pounce" I mean she will wiggle her butt, then take one 1/2 jump forward, then rear up on her 2 hind legs and come down on whatever it is she is "pouncing"

She likes to sleep with her head up on something, typically the laptop, or whichever tv remote is closest to her

She is starting to chew my shoes

She likes to watch Animal Planet

And she is a disaster after she eats, I mean food is everywhere, on me, all over her, on the floor, on the towel, she gets a bath 3 times a day.

She has a Name!

2008-09-29T20:09:00.005-04:00

Here is Lemon playing with her new toy!

Kitten!

2008-09-28T20:34:00.004-04:00

So, Jess and Erin and Pete ccame up for the weekend, and with them came a small, rescued kitten. She is all black and about 1 lb. She has long hair and right now light blue eyes. Here she is!

Cat and mouse!
Claws!
So small!

Pet-less

2008-09-24T12:46:00.003-04:00

So, Monday night was our first night without our babies. It was weird not having to feed her and not getting to pet her. And I will admit, the carpet that the cage was on feels really great to stand on, since it was always protected by the plastic mat we put under the cage. It is the only carpet in the house not tramped down by being walked on all the time. But I would give up that square of comfort to have the punkins back. Olive is in a very safe and loving place, now! She is with other gliders and the couple who took her were amazingly nice and they really know about gliders. I was sad and relieved to see her go to someone who would be able to give her the attention and friends she needs to survive.

So (side note), we need to get you people to cordinate better, because here is an overview of my next few months:

9/26-9/28- Erin, Jessamyn, and Co. coming for weekend

10/15-10/20- MJ & Nan coming for long weekend stay

10/25ish-10/31ish- NH McT's coming for week

11/5-11/12- Shannon & Jen Diller + Carter coming for 1 week

11/27- Jacksonville/St. Augustine for Thanksgiving

Thank you, family and friends for spacing the last 2 years worth of visits into 2 months. But we are super excited about each of you and cannot wait for all the visits! Our spare room is ready and willing to house you! Just funny about the timing!

We do still have a few available slots in late November early December, to anyone who wants to visit...

It gets better

2008-09-21T21:28:00.002-04:00

So I posted on Craigslist that I had a sugar glider that needed TLC and a vet is adopting her to live with their other sugar gliders that they adopt. So, Olive is going to have a good home with other gliders and she will get veterinary attention for her gimp. I am so glad. I was really worried for her.

Saddest Day...

2008-09-21T16:00:00.003-04:00

Today one of my sugar gliders died. Her name was Sophie and she was the nice one. I found her this morning and then I cried for a while. She was my first real pet that I was responsible for and now she is gone. I feel like a terrible pet mother. Here are some pictures of her, she was the best, we had her out and she was running around and climbing on us just 2 nights ago.

TV Fall Viewing

2008-09-19T14:59:00.007-04:00

Ok, this post is dedicated to this Fall TV Veiwing Season. Here is what I am watching, and my opinion on it thus far:

Monday:

Chuck (NBC)- Premierse Sept. 29th and is on at 8PM. So far I have watched most episodes, missed a couple and felt like I didn't miss much, so we will have to see if this season actually gets my attention.

Heroes (NBC)- Premieres Sept. 22 and is on at 9PM. They have a lot of making up to do to fans. Season 2 was horrible, but like any good flaming car wreck, I watched the whole thing. Lets hope it has a plot this season.

Life (NBC)- Premieres Sept. 22 and is on at 10PM. For anyone who missed its short lived first season, I would recommend it. Excentric cop who was jailed for a crimw he didn't commit trying to solve mystery of his set-up while solving little crimes weekly. Basic Law and Order stuff, but with good actors and a real plot.

Tuesday:

Biggest Loser (NBC)- Premiered Sep. 16th and is on at 8PM. I love this show. That's all there is to it.

Wednesday: My DVR night/Night Caleb won't watch TV with me

America's Next Top Model (CW)- Premiered Sept. 3 and is on at 8PM. Guilty Pleasure, and it has a tranny this season. Plus the girl who won season 10 lived right near me growing up.

Pushing Daisies (ABC)- Premieres Oct. 9th and is on at 8PM. This show may very well bump ANTM. Interesting concept, very Jim Henson-y feel, and pretty dark as far as comedies go.

Bones (FOX)- Premiered Sept. 3 and is on at 8PM. Caleb hates this show, so it is DVR'd for future viewing. And it is always worth it. For some reason I will throw up if I get a paper cut, but a dead guy decompusing in an outhouse is fine. Plus Zooey Deschnel's sister is in it and I really like her.

90210 (CW)- Premiered Sept. 3 and is on at 9PM. I am trying for all that is old 90210 in this world to get into it. 3 episodes and it like nails on a chalkboard. (Is DVR'd)

Project Runway (Bravo)- Well into Season and is on at 9PM. Well, what can I say? Bravo rocks the reality competition shows. Although, I have not been really into this season, as all the designers I like are gone (Kelli) or the ones I used to like are turning annoying (Kenley) I'm now in it for Korto or Leanne.

Top Design (Bravo)- Premiered Sept. 3 and is on at 10PM. I was so sad to see Big Daddy leave last week. Wisit is so weird and "roccoco". Once again, an enjoyable reality cometition.

Eli Stone (NBC)- Premieres Oct. 14th and is on at 10PM. Which I think is way to late for it. It is very entertaining and pretty original as far as plots go.

Thursday:

Kath & Kim (NBC)- Premieres Oct. 9th and is on at 8PM. I have high hopes for this one. Lets just pray they are met.

The Office (NBC)- Premieres Sept. 25th and is on at 9PM. What can I say, this show is AWESOME! And they are only skipping a week in between last season and this season, so there better be a proposal in the first few episodes.

30 Rock (NBC)- Premieres Oct. 30th and is on at 9:30PM. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, what more do I need to say. Youtube Alec Baldwin playing Tracy Jordan's whole family in a therapy session and you will find out why this show is genius.

It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia- Premiered Sept. 18th and is on at 10PM. HILARIOUS. Anyone see Mac and Dennis: Manhunters? Amazing. So funny.

Friday:

Nothing yet, any suggestions?

Saturday:

Nothing, not going to watch anything on a Saturday unless it is a juicer infomercial. (I could watch that over and over, how do they get all that juice out of 1 carrot?)

Sunday: Another DVR Day

Dexter (HBO)- Premieres Sept. 28th and is on at 9PM- What can I say about a show about a serial killer who's serial-ness is that he kills serial killers?

Madmen (AMC)- Premiered July 27th and is on at 10PM. You really shouldn't miss this show. If there is one thing worth watching it is this. So dynamic.

TrueBlood (HBO)- Premiered Sept. 10th and is on at 10PM. There have only been 2 episodes, so I'm not sure yet, but since I have an small (tiny really) obsession with vampires, we are giving it a try, DVR'd of course, because Madmen is waaaayyyy better.

I know I am skipping certain shows, i.e. Entourage, but I haven't started it yet, so I am way too far behind to start this season. Maybe next year. And Big Love, Flight of the Conchords, and Lost don't come back until next year.

So there, if you call me any time during the next few months you will know where I am. I will admit it, I love TV shows. I am too ADD for movies, so they are perfect. I also always like feedback.

My Pictures!

2008-09-16T19:00:00.008-04:00

Caleb got my pictures back for me! Here is the rest of our vacation:

Vacation!

2008-09-15T18:09:00.009-04:00

So, here are pictures from our trip! And by the way, anyone who thinks they need a trip should go to Washington DC. Everything is FREE! and by FREE! I mean the Smithsonian is free, the contemporary art museum is free, and the monuments are all free. And you can get a hotdog for 2 bucks. Which means with the metro, we spent an average of $20 a day. Yeah! And here are some pictures, I will start with our time in Lancaster, PA, where we got to hang out with the Dillers, and their new baby, Carter Cash. So, here we go!

And, there are all my pictures. They are all corrupted on the flash drive I brought. But I actually have some DC pictures, so here they are:

Me with a Triceretops

Caleb with a Brachiosaurus

Caleb with a prehistoric Sea Turtle

Yes we went to a 3D Imax about prehistoric sea monsters, and yes I was channelling Richard from Top Chef a little.

Here is a Calder mobile at the FREE! Smithsonian Art Museum East Wing

Tyler and me at the Smithsonian

Under the fountain is the walkway from the museum in the back to the museum we were standing in front of.

The Capitol Buliding.

Hurricane Hanna

2008-09-03T10:03:00.003-04:00

As I sit at work by myself (everyone is at a real estate conference in FL) and ponder this upcoming storm (can't complain too much, as it is tacking an extra day onto the vacation I am starting Thursday instead of Friday now) for which I have had to prepare the entire office (get all the computers unplugged and off the ground, cover everything in trash bags, back-up all the files for 4 hard drives), I wonder if the new air conditioner that is supposed to be installed in my apartment on friday will actually be installed? My apartment peaked last night at 89 degrees. And this morning at 8 AM it was 86. It wasn't even 86 degrees outside. I think it creates more heat running than it does off. It is so hot! And I didn't even have anything turned on. No stove (got Moes for dinner), no showers, nothing that would cause that much heat unless my downstairs neighbors are running a spa with a sauna (which I don't think they are). And to top it off, I had a note in the door from the maintance guy saying that he checked the AC while I was at work and that it was working fine. I don't know how he checked it, because when I checked it (by looking at the temperature in the house versus the temperature I set the AC at) there was a 14 degree difference between what I set it as (74 degrees to try and get the dang thing to work) and the toasty 88 that it was at 1 PM. How is that working fine? Cold air won't even come out. I have all the fans on in my house and all that does is blow hot air onto me. I have got to get out of the South.

On a lighter (and cooler note) I get to go to PA and DC tomorrow! Where air conditioners work! And I have friends! And I get to listen to books on tape! Yeah! I can't wait to see Jen, Shannon and little Carter Cash! And Kelly and Tyler! Oh man, this week is going to be amazing!

Labor Day Weekend!

2008-08-30T17:32:00.001-04:00

So, since my little brother turned 21 just a week ago and it is labor day and all of us cool kids are hanging here in Columbia teaching Warren the art of drinking (a lost art, if you ask me) (we have a DD, Mom, don't worry!) and celebrating not having to labor at all this weekend. WooHoo. Plus somehow I was convinced that we needed to bring one of our tv's up here so there could be 3 tv and 3 xboxs all "co-opped" together for maximum gaming experience. Let me tell you how often Kat and I are going to be hanging out in here. Instead, we will be watching Mama Mia! and heading to CHarleston to look at places for Kat and Nathan to move to come Octoberish. Yeah for being closer AND in a way cooler city! Not that you won't miss your peeps here, or the opressive heat, or the 60 mile drive to Taco Bell, but Charleston is way better! So here's to Sushi and Sake and cheesecake for dinner and an awesome Labor Day Holiday weekend. I will for sure post some pics later!

Re-potting!

2008-08-27T22:40:00.000-04:00

Um, I had to take one of my herbs out and put it in another cup because it was taking over everthing around it and I thought it might actually eat my poor other herbs. Plus it is an edible flower and it can have its own spot so it can leave my poor plants alone. But see how much is coming up!

Great Escape '08

2008-08-26T14:30:00.000-04:00

I have been packing for an 8 day road trip that I will be taking very soon and I was remembering all the road trips I took as a kid (mostly moving from one side of the country to the other) and how every day my mom had made us a baggy of things to do or eat that day. Just little toys or books, nothing fancy (mostly to entertain us until they broke.) And listening to cassette tapes. I also remember that if you rode with Dad you got mint m&ms and with mom it was broccoli. But now that I am all grown up I have to make my own goodie bag for this trip. And the sad thing is I know I won't be able to do that for less than 5 bucks. Here is probably what a modern day goodie bag would be:

Kat: Vougue Magazine, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Her work Laptop, and Curious Village for the DS, and beef jerky

Warren: Star Wars book, A Graphic Novel, His laptop with World of Warcraft, and beef jerky

Liz: Homes and Land of Lancaster, a huge fat book, my laptop with facebook, Virus buster on my DS, and beef jerky

Ok, so we agree on one thing... And obviously our entertainment value has had a steep incline over the past 17 years, but at least now we can sit still for more that 3 minutes and none of us poop in our pants. At least I don't...

Mini Recipe of the Week!

2008-08-25T15:19:00.000-04:00

So, while I was at my sister's house, she made some awesome pasta. You should definately try it!

1.5 pounds ground chicken
1 frozen box of chopped spinach
1 box linguini pasta
1 jar of spaghetti sauce
1 onion chopped fine
5 cloves of roasted garlic
1 Bay leaf
2 T olive oil
1ish cup of chicken stock
Italian herbs to taste
salt/pepper to taste

In med-large sauce pan, saute onion in olive oil with bay leaf and garlic until onions are clear. Microwave spinach as directed, drain thoroughly and then run it quickly through the food processor to really break it up. Add to onions and garlic. Add spaghetti sauce. Add seasonings and chicken stock. In seperate pan brown chicken. In seperate pot boil 1 box of linguini pasta noodles. When chicken is cooked through, add to sauce. While pasta boils, simmer sauce mixture until thickens to a nice consistancy. Throw sauce with pasta together and serve with garlic bread. Amazing!

ps. Kat likes it with Vodka Sauce, but we used a marinera instead b/c some people are not so fond of the Vodka sauce. And I would have added olives, but some people are not so fond of the olives.

Columbia!!

2008-08-23T21:21:00.000-04:00

So as I am not very good at Savannah, I made a quick weekend pre-labor day trip to Columbia. Love you, Caleb, do your homework. And here is the amazing cheese plate Kat and I made for dinner to compliment ameretto sours and a bottle of chianti. It is delicious! And now to clean! I don't know how well you may know me, but if you are reading this, probably well enough to know my obsesive vacuuming needs, and the fact that I own a Bissell healthy home dry vac as well as a Steam cleaning pet carpet vac, regardless of the fact that I do not own a pet large enough to make a mess. But I feel like it cleans better than a regular steam cleaning vacuum. I know it is crazy, but as I do not have any children I am still allowed to be scared of puke, thank you Gabe, and germs. So we will be cleaning my sister's carpets, because she has a pet and my vacuum needs to be put to real use.

2008-08-23T12:23:00.000-04:00

So I had terrible Dreams last night. I dreamed that Caleb decided my garden was not doing well enough so he stuck a dead downed tree from the storm right into it. I was told by Sarah grizzle that my tree in the front looked good and so I freaked out and got really mad at him, which wasn't good because I shoved him this morning when the alarm went off. I fell back to sleep and then spent the next 9 minutes(Caleb's alarm) trying to pick my poor sad herbs out of the mixed up dirt and replant them in the little rows so that when the snooze went off again, he got a knee to his back. I do feel a little bad, but that was really mean. To spite him I slept until noon and he had to work! Bwa Ha Ha Ha! And then I ran outside to check my garden. It was ok, so I watered it. Oh, and Sarah for some reason we went to a pep rally at your school and Robert Redford (young) was the keynote speaker and he sat right near us. I almost had a fit. In a good way. So, I am not mad at Caleb anymore, my garden is safe, and I am pretty much just waiting for him to get home so he can do homework all day and i can once again be bored for a day/weekend. Oh, well. It better payoff in the end. Like next weekend when we go to Columbia for Labor Day!! And then to PA and DC for a week!! Yeah!

Apple Orchard Overalls GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

2008-08-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

Apple Orchard Overalls GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Hurricane Fay

2008-08-22T11:00:00.000-04:00

So, since Fay is trying very hard to remove much of FL and right now Savannah, I thought I would let you know that we are not dead yet. Tornado Sirens are going off as I type, so the end could be near. Poor postman, has to deliver all the mail in the storm today again...

Fun Fact: Savannah has decided that their roads are terrible, so they are repaving them! But they forgot to put in a decent drainage system, so they are all under water! Yeah for City Planning!

So, my garden survived the night. I was pretty sure with all the wind that the little leaves would turn into the equivalent of tiny hang-gliders and all vanish into oblivion, but their little roots did their job and they stayed in the pot. Anyone know how to get rid of mushrooms in little herb gardens? They seem to multiply and sprout right before my eyes and I am digging them out, not breaking the heads off b/c I know that releases the spores. Let me know!

And to anyone who calls themselves our friends, but has not yet (after 1.5 years) visited us in Savannah, please come up and hang out! I know some really sweet coffee shops, and parks, and sushi places, and anything else you could want... like new hand soap in my bathrooms (B&BW.com) and clean towels (just did laundry and found a lot of towels to wash) and I'll even make you th recipe of the week (which is my famous curry at the moment). Plus you get to see me!!! You know you want to... Come on...

My Garden!!

2008-08-21T19:16:00.000-04:00

So, I have a garden, and it hasn't died yet, which is a minor miracle due to my serious lack of a green thumb and the fact that I am a plant killer. Here is a picture of my perfectly growing garden, though I think I may jinks it just by writing this...

Ok, here is one way to show off the very few pictures I have from this past year...

2008-08-21T17:33:00.000-04:00

So, here are the pictures I have from the GA Aquarium when we went last year. It was AWESOME. But then again I am obsessed with aquariums and zoos and such. Also some pictures from our most recent trip to St. Augustine. Miss you and hope Fay doesn't wipe ou off the planet...

First Blog Ever!

2008-08-21T16:06:00.000-04:00

So, Here it is, my first blog. I can't believe it. I must say I am getting pretty bored here in Savannah! I am at work, now so I will keep it brief and add more pictures and stuff later!