the benefits of costumes and props.

this week is tech week for "best christmas pageant ever".

meaning performances are this weekend.

tonight was the first dress rehearsal.

and i must say...wearing overalls and a newsboy hat really got me into character.

i walked with a swagger...and felt pretty tough.

it was fun. heehee.

plus i got to smoke a cigar!! fake. but it smokes! 

ah...theatre.

owls, giraffes, and elephants...oh my!

for christmas this year i made stuffed animals for my niece and nephews.

it was a longer process than i had intended...but the result was oh-so-marvelous.

baby piper got the owl. the owl was my favorite.

not just because it was the easiest to make...but it was THE CUTEST!!!

i kind of wanted to keep it myself.

baby graham got a giraffe.

it turned out really lovely.

and an extra special nice thing was that the fabric had a random fuzzy edge.

so i just cut it off and used it for the mane and tail.

nifty, huh?

and the zander got an elephant.

my favorite part is that the bottom of the legs have the patterned fabric.

the ears are really cute, too.

this elephant makes me smile real big.

and the best thing?? they loved them! such a fun gift to be able to give.
happy early christmas!

p.s. i feel like christmas is over because of the early gift exchange with the sibs. this needs to change.

costume for the day: yellow tights

 today was a really great day. a little chilly and windy...but an all around great day!

i wore my yellow tights that i got off of ebay. along with a new (to me) black and white polka dotted skirt i got yesterday (for a QUARTER!!) and a white blouse that i borrowed from the costume closet. 

so i think this is the best costume for the day.

5 happy things!

five things that make me really super happy.

wow. kind of makes me miss spring.

kind of. i'm still pretty pumped about fall and winter.

these stripes are to die for, though.

pretty sure i'm going to have to make these.

someday. because they're ridiculously awesome!

button cookies?! genius.

if i didn't already have a thing for castles...

this picture would make me have a thing for castles.

they make me sigh with happiness.

yellow socks?

yes. please.

that skirt would be nice, too.

vintage suitcases.

i'd also like one. or two.

aren't they beautiful?

hope they make you extremely happy too! :)

have a great weekend.

the never-ending brown coat.

does anyone else have a sewing project that has been going on for longer than it should.?

like...WAY longer than it should?

well, i do.

i've been working on a linen brown coat for *ahem* longer than i'd like to say.

a year.

cough, cough.

see that coat i'm standing by...smiling?

ya. that was a year ago.

now i'm not too smiley.

it needs to get finished. pronto.

it's supposed to be a modern version of the brown linen coat from the new pride and prejudice. 

so i had to draft a new collar.

that made everything just super difficult.

and since i'm not the best drafter...i work on it in fashion class.

once a week.

the collar...a year later...if just now finished.

please tell me i'm not the only one that has this problem?

what is your never-ending project?

day of thanksgiving and christmas

yesterday two of my older sibs and their family came over and we celebrated thanksgiving AND christmas.

you can imagine the chaos of the house this whole week...getting ready.

cooking, cleaning, wrapping presents, and making the house "baby proof"

two crawlers and a walker can get into all sorts of mischief.

well it was a truly lovely day.

i have some incredibly adorable nephews and an equally adorable niece.

piper sat in my lap the whole day. i love her.

and my little graham-y is learning to walk!
he has the biggest cheeks.
and was dressed to the "t".

and cute little zander.

he's quite the talker.

and starts every sentence with "because"

(it seems to add more credibility to what he says)

plus, he has the cutest laugh.

check out what happens when the whole family sits around a talking parrot toy:

and so the lunch was a success!
it was a great time having all the sibs and babies (except my dear sister sara) over!
and i love them all dearly.

and they loved the little gifts i made them, too!

but i'll show you those some other time.

for now, au revoir!

alpaca scarves!

remember the alpaca scarves we were selling?

well a new batch came in!

they're really pretty!

and perfect for presents.

and the money goes towards a great cause.

check them out!

They are 100% alpaca and have tiny feet embroidered on them... 

Our family has supported this ministry for 3 years and personally know the wonderful pro-life staff and volunteers!

Wide variety of colors to choose from. 

When purchasing please leave a note saying which color (as seen in 1st picture) you would like.

thankful for...

starbucks' gingerbread latte!!!

it's the week to be extra thankful. what are you thankful for?

couldn't resist ;)

found these online and couldn't resist sharing. hahaha. they make me chuckle!! :)

a memorable evening. oh my.

we entered the theatre.

clutching our tickets.

walking calmly...but in our hearts, we were running.

we found some seats.

got a refreshment.

and waited with baited breath.

the lights dimmed.

the crowd hushed.

the music began.

we looked at each other and squealed.

the intro gave us chills.

at the end of each song we wore big goofy grins.

we wished to sing along.

sometimes we did.

by intermission...our hearts were on fire!

act two was even better.

if that is possible.

and by curtain call...we were weeping.

so beautiful.

we thought it was over.

but then the original cast came out.

the four valjeans sang bring him home.

together.

in perfect harmony.

there wasn't a dry eye.

and when they sang one day more.

we sang too.

and at the end...even though we were only in a movie theatre.

we clapped.

and clapped.

wiped away our tears.

and exited the movie theatre.

singing at the top of our lungs.

les miserables 25th anniversary concert.

beautiful.

something exciting, lovely, yummy, and a secret.

hello my lovelies.

well tomorrow i'm doing something ever so exciting!

i can't wait to share.

and i'm determined this week is gonna be just swell.

i'm gradually fixing up the upstairs sewing room.

so i'll share pictures as soon as it's finally done.

meanwhile, i've been working on ALOT of different crafty projects.

i don't know about you, but this time of the year always turns me into a craft-o-holic.

which is good...

because my family and friends end up getting pretty cool christmas presents.

any ideas for fun, unique gifts?

are you in a crafty mood as of late?

have you been getting ready for christmas yet?

oh.

i've been inviting to participate in a recipe exchange.

but i need some more email addresses.

if you'd like to participate, too...drop me a line and i'll add you to the list!

new recipes are fun around the holiday season!

p.s. i've got a secret project in the midst.

hope to tell you about it soon!

more later :)

lovely, lovely saturday.

eventful day. 

i got yellow tights, leg warmers, and moccasins (all of which i have been absolutely LONGING for). 

plus DROVE to fort worth. 

plus found an amazing piece of furniture for the upstairs sewing room. 

plus had a giant hamburger. 

plus took a little trip to africa (aka cabella's) just to see the elephants.

AND finishing up the day with some hot mint tea curled up watching amazing grace. 

it's been a good one.

a very crafty mood.

I got really crafty-ish feeling today.

and brainstorming-ish.

so I got out my hot glue gun.

some pages from an old book that I'd taken apart.

and got to cutting and glueing.

I'm thinking this'll look great on Christmas cards or something.

whadya think?

a bad habit.

i have a bad habit...

 of making people jealous of my good fortune in eating chick-fil-a by sending them a picture of me. 

eating the glorious fried chicken. 

i know. 

so mean. 

only now people text ME with pictures of THEM at chick-fil-a. 

so rude.

:o)

a good tuesday.

Wendy's + putting up posters + BCPE buddies + cool photo-op opportunities = a good tuesday.

orange - i heart faces

this week @ i heart faces the theme is orange.

i knew i had some orange photos.

so here is one.

check out everyone else's.

or enter your own.

why i love fall.

ultimate frisbee, scavenger hunt, hay ride, and bonfire. I love fall.

if i had a million dollars.

...this is the coat i would wear.

dreaming of the day when i can shop at anthropologie.

dreaming.

dreaming.

balloon named vladmir & giveaway winner!!

what? chemistry is terrible you say?

not when inflating balloons with baking soda and vinegar.

and then drawing faces on them.

and naming one vladmir. 

oh no.

chemistry is quite fun.

pluuuuuus...giveaway winner:

CONGRATS polka dot! :)

i think this is the most original bag you could want.

please contact me with shipping info.