A Family Tradition

These three pictures hang in the entry of my childhood home. They are painted portraits of me and my brothers, each wearing the same pair of denim overalls.

Each child in our family has a portrait taken in the same pair of overalls when they turn one year old.



These pictures are my nieces and nephews and they surround my mom's living room.



It's been a while since I've seen the overalls, but I know they are well worn and faded from years and years of usage. These overalls that symbolize so much unity in our family are now 38 years old.

I remember hearing my mom say a long time ago that if our home was threatened by fire, she would first make sure we were all safe, but the one material possession she would try to rescue would be these pictures of me and my brothers.



I wish everyone could feel the love our family feels for each other. These pictures are cute, and the tradition is sweet, but it's so much more than that. For me, these pictures represent the consistancy and unfailing bond we share. They represent the unshakable love my parents have for their children and grandchildren. They represent a closeness that can't be seperated by 1755 miles.

Sneak Peek

This is what covers my dining room table right now.

Project Runway + impressionable girl = big messy pile

The last time I made clothing was in 1994, and I had a teacher very nearby helping answer all my questions. Mrs. Phillips. She was awesome.

Now all I have are step by step instructions that don't make any sense at all.

"On wrong side, place pins at right angles to the broken lines. Stitch the neck dart from wide end to point and the waistline dart from middle of dart to one point then overlap stitching at middle and sew to the opposite point."

What?

This one may take a while.

Hotel Ironing

I am NOT a fan of ironing. My method of ironing involves throwing something back into the dryer and forgetting about it until 45 minutes later. It's inefficient, but who doesn't love putting on clothes straight from the dryer? It's one of life's great pleasures.

This morning I was just about to walk out the door of my hotel room to go to work when I happened to glance down and notice that my pants were all wrinkled. Normally I wouldn't care about a little wrinkling, but this was drastic. This would have caused people to point fingers at me and whisper behind my back.

I set my briefcase back down and grabbed the ironing board and iron. I plugged in the iron and took off my pants. Just as I was about to lay my pants across the board I noticed how wrinkled up the dang ironing board was.



How can you possibly get your clothes nice and smooth if the surface you're using to iron is wrinkled? So, what did I do? I tried to iron the ironing board cover, of course! It didn't work so I had to move forward and do the best I could.

In the end I think I looked decent from the front and a little like I slept in my pants from the back.

Bad Trends

First of all, I know I said Monday that I was going to try to post everyday this month and I've already blown it, but I will make it up to you somehow.

Anyway, I felt like having an early morning rant.

I know I can't be the only person who is frustrated at this baggy pants / show your underwear trend. Who's with me? I have gone through my own array of embarrassing trends so I can understand how these poor souls have gotten sucked into thinking they're cool while the rest of us shake our heads in dismay. I empathize with the embarrassment they will feel one day.

I will admit, with much shame, that I rocked the side ponytail. I had multiple pairs of stirrup stretch pants. I had monster bangs. I had bad perms. Heck, I even had MC Hammer and parachute pants.

Alright underwear boys, you do your thing. I hate it, but I understand.

My Life On March 1, 2010

6:30 am

Outside my window... It looks cold! There’s frost on the ground and it’s foggy. I caught a glimpse of a squirrel in my neighbor’s tree and watched it climb higher and higher then jump onto a nearby telephone pole. He almost fell three times as he made his way across the wire to the next pole.

I am thinking... My coffee is getting a little cold.

I am thankful for... becoming a morning person. Mornings are lovely and I’m glad my body decided to start enjoying them. I can’t wait until its warm enough to go outside and enjoy each new beginning.

I am wearing.... gray sweatpants worn so thin you can see through them and a red sweatshirt. Give me a break. It’s early.

I am creating... Currently (and have been for 2 weeks) in the process of making a dress. More on this later. Plus I have some way cute ideas for some Artsy stuff coming up this month!!!

I am going... to do my absolute very best to post something every single day this month. I have been super neglectful but I still love you internet!

I am reading...



I am hearing... Rhianna. Her videos are way hot.

On my mind... I think I want to do a vegetable garden this year. Two years ago I had a really pathetic one. Last year I didn’t do one at all. Maybe this is the year for me.

From the kitchen... Back on the health wagon starting today. Egg whites for breakfast and tuna for lunch.

One of my favorite things... Project Runway! I love you Heidi and Tim. This show rocks and totally inspires me to want to make my own clothes.

The rest of the week... Trip to Salt Lake City tomorrow.

Pondering these words...

'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
The touch of your hand and mine,
Which means far more to the fainting heart
Than shelter, bread and wine;
For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
And bread lasts only a day
But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
Sing on in the soul alway.

- Spencer Michael Free

A picture to share...


I loooooooove this outfit and will be actively looking for a copycat.

(source unknown)

Breakfast With Strangers

Last week I had a lengthy layover at the SeaTac airport. Seattle is a wonderful place to people watch. Since I had a lot of time I went to the food court, got a coffee and muffin and sat myself down at the only empty table in the area.

It wasn't long until I spotted this man a few tables away and out came the camera.

You know I find it my moral obligation to share these scenarios with you all in order to save you from the same fate.



Then I spotted these lovely ladies and got an instant crush on that little pink computer. I love it and need one immediately.



I was just getting my camera all warmed up when a gentleman asked if he and his daughter could sit with me since there were no other tables open.

I don't mind sitting by myself in public areas and I'm usually not interested in talking to strangers, but I try to be friendly when the opportunity presents itself. I happily welcomed them to join me.

The dad left his daughter sitting with me while he went to get their breakfast. I could tell she felt awkward because she wouldn't look at me. She looked like this.



So I started talking to her. Her name is Hailey. She and her dad live in Seattle. They are flying to San Francisco to watch the musical "Wicked" which they have seen 3 other times.

I tried to keep the conversation going which I think made her even more uncomfortable. When she started searching for her dad to rescue her from me I knew it was time for me to go.



Even though it was my table.

Sorry Peeps!

I'll be back tonight!!!

We Get It

You get that I'm not as strong as I pretend to be.

You get that I want an hour (or two) to myself in the morning.

You get that I need caffeine.

You get that I need affection and to hear "I Love You's."

You get that I need you in my life to make me happy.

You get that I want to live a simpler life with simpler needs.

You get all my "someday" wishes.

You get that being with you is the only place I want to be.

You get how very much I love you.

You get the real me.

(I get you too Sweetheart)

Super Simple Valentine's Project

First of all, this is way too easy to even call a "project." It took about 30 minutes start to finish. And secondly, I totally scraplifted this off of Ali Edward's blog.

All you need is a picture frame that has a raised double mat, a heart punch, some 3-D foam stickers (mine were left over from the google eye escapade)....



...and some scrap paper.



Figuring out the placement was the hardest part and I'd give you the formula if I knew it, but I am way bad at math so I just spaced it out by counting the lines on the ruler and drew a grid.



Obviously you don't want grid lines showing, so I took a straight pin and poked holes through at all of the cross points (and felt like the most clever person that ever lived for thinking of it) and used the reverse side.

Place little 3D stickies over the pin holes and center the hearts on each sticker.

Done!

Super easy, but mighty cute Valentine's art.

My Life On February 9, 2010

Outside my window... darkness.

I am thinking... American Idol is the best show ever and I am loving Ellen on it.

I am thankful for... having a family that pulls together so completely and lovingly when one of our own is sick.

I am wearing... a pinstripe dress suit and white fuzzy slippers.

I am creating... Valentine’s loveliness.

I am going... to finish watching AI then go to bed. Tomorrow’s another workday.

I am reading...


I am hoping... my Aunt Trish and my little cousin Nicole get better soon. Lots of prayers and love for them both.

I am hearing... commercials.

From the kitchen... I ate too much at Applebee’s for lunch so dinner was popcorn (and then a little bit of ice cream).

One of my favorite things... Office supplies. Seriously, Office Depot is my Disneyland.

The rest of the week... Going to Medford, OR on Fri and Sat.

Pondering these words... I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It is the ultimate source of success in life.
-The Dalai Lama

A picture to share...

(I've been loving this picture for days and couldn't wait to use it!)
[source]

Kind of, Sort of

I’m kind of grouchy in the morning.

I kind of like the creases forming at the corners of my eyes.

I kind of assume things will work out the way I want them to because I’m kind of a brat.

I’m kind of comfortable with my physical self.

I’m kind of naïve and I kind of like it that way.

I kind of wish we’d get one more cold snap so I could wear this super cute headband I got from Etsy.



I’m kind of a loner and I kind of wish I weren’t.

I kind of like movies that make me cry.

I’m always kind of running a little late.

I’m kind of addicted to tortilla chips right now and it’s kind of a problem.

I kind of want to buy a Snuggie.

I kind of want to paint a bunch of words on a wall in the craft room.

I’m kind of sick of pizza.

I kind of like my brother Jeff’s beard and kind of think he should keep it a while.

Making Time To Play