Holy Hell it's been a long time. Some updates-

* I never did finish any of those first projects. I have a ton more fabric than necessary bagged up and stashed in various places around my house. I have, however, sewn some things. Most notably cute little toys I sent to J when she was out of town which she loved because they were homemade!

* Christmas is right around the corner. I'm done shopping for J, I bought a Disney AP for Denis and a variety of other things and I'm not sure my family is doing much beyond a secret Santa type thing. This is completely new to me as far as family gifting goes but not gonna lie, pretty thrilled that all I'd have to do is shop for maybe 3 more gifts for loved ones and then focus on gifts for charity trees. We're mostly decorated around here but we've got to get our tree still. J will actually not be here on Xmas so our season is going to be extended by about a week so I'm completely not feeling guilty about the little bits of extra decor I've been buying here and there.. it's all been pretty affordable, really.

* I made an extremely adorable Halloween wreath out of a pool noodle. Yes, a pool noodle. Thank you pinterest! Now I'm hooked. Just picked up supplies for a winter wreath at the $ store and am seriously considering etsying wreaths as they are fun to make and I think would be relatively light/cheap to ship.

That's a little owl in the middle. 

* I've been doing mostly gluten free here for a week or so. I did it for about 2-3 weeks before but wasn't allowing myself any (I don't have an allergy) and let's face it, I enjoy a lot of things that have gluten so I wasn't successful. I think my plan now is much more realistic... I eat it at dinner time only a few times a week and also will allow myself some if we have special events or am at Disney or somewhere else like that. Basically, if I'm a guest or at a foodie type thing it's okay, otherwise just some here and there. Grocery bills have dropped bc although I"m buying more veggies and nuts I'm spending WAY less on frozen fake meat type foods bc guess what? They all have gluten.

* I joined Gwynnie Bee. It's basically netflix for clothes. I may start posting reviews here, maybe not. I have been thinking about starting a seperate blog for fashion/subscription boxes/ makeup type things and keeping this more for the personal/craft/fitness/food thing it's basically been since conception. Once upon a time I had hopes for starting a food critic blog. I'd still enjoy that but if my dining adventures back in Sarasota didn't make me post I'm not sure it's for me. Also was thinking being pescetarian and now interested in GF I'd have less to write about but I realize this is likely a niche market that'd be just as popular.

So long,
Christine

So I DID buy a sewing machine. A Singer Stylist. I even managed to thread it and wind a bobbin and all those things I forgot how to do over the past couple of years without wanting to throw it out the window. I'ts amazing what a quality machine can do for functionality.

Anyway, in my true fashion I've dove off the deep end. I already have about 6 or 7 patterns and a growing little stash of fabric. I've already cut the pattern for my first "project". I put this in quotes bc I think it was a tad ambitious in that it requires a knit and darting and zippers and interfacing and omg... I just remembered I've never sewn anything other than headbands and pillows before! In all seriousness I think I'm going to be nervous and put if off for a bit. But not to worry my other starter project while also knit is MUCH more basic.

If it weren't almost 2am I'd bother to find and add the pattern listings for those curious but as I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that reads this (since I just started writing in it again...) I'm going to go to bed instead :)

Hopefully by the next time I update I am well on my way to having a handmade dress.

Anyone have ideas on the best way to store patterns? I obviously cannot refold... as that would require some serious wizardry.

Sewing on the brain

I stayed home today with a busted toe (unfortunate accident at the craft store) and a completly kinked neck. No sudden turning leaves computer researching available. I've been dancing with the idea of getting a sewing machine again. I know- Christine- you had a sewing machine before and you never used it and ended up giving it away for free...

Now that I'm reading reviews I'm convinced I was not the complete fool I felt like with that machine- apparently it was a entry model known for the issues I was having. This gives me hope.

I get this itch to sew everytime Project Runway starts a new season. Well- a new season just started and my good friend Kelly was showing me some things she's been working on and let's just say I'm about to cave.

Add it to the hobby list! Hopefully it'll take off. I'd love to make some cute skirts and not to mention some clothes for Judie.

Later for now :)

2012- Oh Boy

Was accused of having a bad attitude a mere minutes after midnight but a certain woman that shall not be named gets under my skin so. You should not be receiving from your ex that treats you like hell "love ya and be safe" texts although I must admit this was a big step up from an actual phone call at MIDNIGHT like last year. Still, I raged.

So I resolve to be less involved this year. Her mistakes are her mistakes and I shall laugh them off, not get irriated. What's that quote about holding on to anger is like swallowing poison but expecting to the other person to die? Yeah, I don't want that for me anymore.

My other resolutions are to travel more and kick this cold. Easy.

I struggle on with my dedication to weight watchers. Still learning my willpower. I did not weigh in Fri bc I was nervous as hell. Today I made a HUGE pot of veggie bean soup. I'll get there.

I must appologize to Wendell for being in town and witnessing me in some low points - although I was not the only girl in this house not on my best behavior I am the only adult girl PMSing while with a bad cold...

I'm crossing my fingers to get my July vacation time approved. My plan is to do a road trip w/ Denis to MO via the panhandle and a return to Tampa via TN. I don't feel like flying. I feel like watching the road stretch on behind me and stopping places along the way. I want to swim in the ocean with no cares and hike in the mountains all sandwiched around visiting with family that'll meet Denis for the first time. Unsure if Judie's mom will have her during this time or not but it can be kid friendly if need be. I guess it'll also have to be dog friendly bc of Macy not being able to be babysat by family.

Project: Chore Board

So pinterest has given me all kinds of ideas! This is my creation from a bunch of pins and somewhat born out of frustration lately w/ the lack of chores from the little one and her attitude that if she does good in school she can do whatever at home. Not anymore; Enter the chore board!

The ribbons have clips for the day that slide down to the "DONE" area when tasks are completed. The left side is for daily tasks and the right for weeklies. Along the top there is "extra credit" which are tasks worth $ if she'd like to earn more or balance out days she didn't complete chores or did poorly w/ her school behavior. These weekly extra credit tasks are worth anywhere from 10-50 cents.

On a daily basis if her tasks aren't completed she loses 50 cents and if she gets a non green or blue day in class she loses 25 cents.

The clip titled school fun is for her reward idea of the week. In the past it's been bowling, an arcade, picnic/park day, a movie, etc. This can be won by getting all green or blues for the week at school.

She's happy about it and rushed to get all of her daily tasks done tonight which makes me thrilled!

Gardening

So unless you follow my facebook it's unlikely anyone would be aware that I've been actively gardening away. We're in this rental house and it's first impression is BLUE. That's right- I live in a big blue house with blue accents and a RED door. I live in a freakin cartoon house but what's nice inside is really nice... and spacious... and there's a spa tub!

Ok so despite the fact that it's a rental I've been plugging quite a bit of $ into the yard. The landlord doesn't really care what I do- I think she's just glad it's getting some TLC.
I put in a liriope border by the fanned stepping stones at the front door. There are solar lights behind them and on the yard side there are some FL friendly gold (pic) plants (a type of stonecrop) placed which are a really BRIGHT evergreen ground cover. It's filling in painfully slow but I'll like the finished effect (if I ever live here to see it... lol)

I've also planted purslane which I LOVE for they were apparently one of Gandhi's favorite foods. It's very rich in vitamins and has beautifully colored blooms that open during the day. I've got yellow, orange and pink and have them planted near the driveway. The house side of the driveway's yard is... poor. Not true grass and many weeds. There was a large tree there that  uprooted a few months before we moved in so it's hard to dig there from the remaining roots and there are wood chips strewn about the sandy substrate. I just wanted to get something easy and pretty down that will thrive... and thrive they are.

Along the front of the house I've planted Bulbine which I love. It's hard, a good plant for xeriscaping in FL and get beautiful blooms. Mine are not nearly as gorgeous with the foilage as they should be... I think I had some issues w/ transplanting but they still bloom like crazy. Absolutely gorgeous. They're a tuber plant and I'm hoping will slowly spread out in the area I've planted. Did I mention they have the medicinal qualities of aloe? Great plant.

I've also selected some salvia, milkweed, buddleia, lantana and dill for a small butterfly garden patch I will be planting this weekend.

Other than that I've been attempting to grow some food, also. I have two unfortunate heirloom Mr. Stripey tomato plants (I think aphids have done some damage- they just look... leggy and not so great). I've got two kinds of eggplants, 2 strawberry plants, 4 small brussells sprouts (which I'm sure won't produce in FL but I enjoy the look), 6 small jalapenos, a sweet banana pepper, a petite orange bell, an established flowering cherry tomato and some small sugar snap pea plants. I'm sure there's some more. Other than that I DID have arugula, buttercrunch and red leaf lettuce but only two arugulas since that smackdown rainstorm yesterday. I need to figure out a way to shield them and still provide plenty of sun.

In the back yard I've planted a few potato vines to help cover some baren ugly areas along the house. I have a little strand of coleus along the window and a few other plants here and there. the backyard is largely shady and doesn't grow grass well.

I'm trying to be mindful of FL requirements and plant as many xeriscaping plants so once established can thrive with minimal water use. So far so good and I'm enjoying this great practice for when I can purchase my own place!

Things that are incredibly frustrating

1. Supply list on J's school page was LAST years. It's wildly different from the list I finally found in the shuffle of the move.

2. Can't speak of it here.