Mantle Decor

The mystery is revealed... I've decorated the mantle in our new home. Remember the small "S" from here? And I made the big "S" and the squirrel art, the acorn jar was a gift from dear H a couple of years ago and the twig leaf was a decoration from our previous house. Since we are forest-y folk, it all suits us perfectly.

We love this fireplace. We use it all the time to stay cozy.

A complete living room makeover is on the way too... Because our home is a rental - and all white, it gave us a clean palate to work with. But, there are limitations... such as, lots of windows and no curtain rods! So, stay tuned for further decorating updates.
This is what our mantle looked like at Christmastime. It was still odd to see 4 stockings this year. But it was also great to see 4 stockings this year :)

P.S. Thank you to One Pretty Thing for featuring Charlotte's Scottish Birthday Party in the Birthday Roundup yesterday!

Baby #2

Yes, we are excited to announce that we are expecting baby #2! At only 8 weeks, I know it's early to share. But, I've been absent from this here little blog and now you know why.

The photo looks a little "blob-y" but the head is to the right. We did see the already-formed arms, hands, legs and feet. Due date: December 9th.

After having hyperemesis gravidarum for the duration of my first pregnancy, we were positive that Charlotte would be an only child. Then we changed our minds. The desire for another baby just outweighed our fears of possibly having HG again.

Hyperemesis includes paralyzing nausea (my saint of a husband slept on the floor for 7 months) and severe vomiting for the entire pregnancy. This is waaay more than morning sickness. I was also unable to eat for the first 4 months of my pregnancy. Somehow, I, and the baby, survived on a few Ensure supplement drinks and Gatorade. Any food that I tried to consume would be immediately purged. Hyperemesis can also bring sleeplessness, depression, dehydration (warranting IV therapy), double vision (no tv or books!) and despair. The only relief comes when you give birth. I never suffered any post-partum depression because I was so darn happy not to be pregnant anymore!

It's a rough road and yes, I've been really sick. I'm a very happy mommy, but an unhappy pregnant lady.

Any prayers and positive wishes that you send our way are greatly appreciated. We are truly happy to be expanding our family!

Triple Thanks

A couple of months ago, I was reading Cider and Faun when I stumbled across an offering. Andrea was giving away some tea she could no longer drink. I dropped my name in the bucket because my husband is addicted to Candy Cane Lane by Celestial Seasonings. She recently sent me a box of Candy Cane Lane and a huge bag of Mighty Leaf loose tea plus some postcards and a bookmark of her art. Her delightful etsy shop is located here. Thank you, Andrea!

Another special thank you to the Jane Austen fan writemeg for featuring one of my Pride and Prejudice bracelets on her blog here. You can also check out her etsy shop here. She crochets ipod covers, scarves and more!

And finally, thanks to Deusprovidebit for including my vintage orange napkins from acornpudding in their Impromptu Tea post.

It's a joy to connect with other tea-drinking Jane Austen fans. Thanks everyone!

Boring Ol' Clean Floor

Yes, this is a boring picture of my clean kitchen floor. I've not been the craftiest of gals lately. Sometimes, day-to-day life takes priority over therapeutic craftiness. So, I'll show you what I've been up to instead.

My floor was in dire need of sweeping and mopping. Within 1 minute of sweeping the floor, there were 17 crumbs of hot pink play-doh under one chair. After re-sweeping, I got out my spray bottle and a rag and got to work. My floor hasn't sparkled in a long time - thus this picture. It's proof that it was clean, once.

I use vinegar and baking soda to do all my household cleaning. No need for expensive, chemical-infused cleaners when a spray bottle of half white vinegar and half water will do the trick. I believe that Martha is a fan of cleaning with white vinegar, so who am I to argue with a walking domestic dictionary?

Since I am not a big tv watcher, it's rare for me to catch Martha's show (is it still on??) It was tough for me to watch her back before Charlotte was born. I can't get over the fact that she pronounces the "h" in the word herb. It makes me shudder. After all, she's not british. Even I don't pronounce it this way when I'm talking to myself (see #5 of this post).

Right after I finished mopping my floor on my hands and knees, I wrangled the dog and my daughter out of the kitchen and got distracted. My face felt dry due to recent windy weather. I went into the bathroom and smeared lotion all over my face, before I realized that I hadn't yet washed my hands after cleaning the kitchen floor. I guess if vinegar and water are good enough for the floor...

Verdict: Don't Drink and Drive

My civil duty as a juror ended yesterday. The trial lasted longer than anticipated. Let me tell you, it's good to be home!

The verdict was guilty for a woman accused of driving under the influence. Not only was she above a .08 (the legal limit) - but she was four times the limit. Her blood alcohol tested at a .33 after her arrest. At .3 a person is in a stupor. At .4 they're in a coma, at .5 they'll die.

How was this possibly contested, you may ask? The defense tried to discredit the only witness to the driving incident. In the end, we felt sure of the defendant's guilt. Sadly, after the trial, we found out that this is her second conviction for drunk driving. She's made a series of mistakes and we can only hope that she'll get help before someone gets hurt.

Though I was away from my daughter most days last week - and missed her terribly, I actually enjoyed my time on a jury. It was fascinating. There was law, there was order, there was humor and there was drama. It was highly educational and difficult to decide someone else's guilt.

As I sat eating lunch with my daughter today, she smiled at me while wearing her pink rhinestone-studded sunglasses at the kitchen table. Yup, there's no place I'd rather be. And I'm relieved to know that there is one less drunk driver on the road.

Employed Elsewhere

Today I got a job for which I never applied. Two words: jury duty.

Over the years, I have received three jury summons. However, I always receive them juuust as I move to a new county. The former county is continually out of luck. Until today.

After sitting through 4 and 1/2 hours of questioning... I was selected. It's supposed to be a short trial, so hopefully my crafty days will soon return. As part of our civic duty, we're obligated to pay attention. No reading craft books, and no sewing a pillowcase dress for C. The brochure even states that knitting needles are not allowed. (Drat, guess I'll have to finish that scarf another time.)

The grandparents are pitching in to care for our girl during the days that I'm away. I believe they may be hoping for an OJ length trial... I'm hoping more for a drive-thru Matlock trial.

Either way, I couldn't help but think today, "If that judge's robe was made of fleece, he'd look like he's wearing a snuggie!"

P.S. Thanks to One Crafty Place for posting about my Ivan The Blue doll! They feature a lot of great projects, be sure to visit them here.

Blogiversary Winner!

Congratulations go out to Katie of Katie Jean! She was chosen (at random, by Charlotte's little hand rooting through paper strips in a hat and pulling one out) as the winner of my blogiversary giveaway.

If I were Katie, due to her other recent congratulations, I'd consider picking up a lottery ticket this week ;)

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

Fox Fiend

Because of my current fixation with foxes, I'm sharing a few etsy finds with you. This handmade fox scarf cracks me up every time I see it. Seriously, I can't stop giggling. It's funny and it would keep me warm. Perfect! Shopowner celapiu is from Poland, and makes these foxes in a variety of colors and lengths.

This print from krisblues is called, "It's Going To Be A Good Day." With a fox on a swing, you can bet that's true.

And finally, "Phoebe And The Foxes" is art from littlebighead's blog. (She also has a shop.) Oh, I want to be Phoebe, just to have a little fox snuggled on my head. It probably looks like more fun than it is...

(All photos are property of respective blogs and shops.)

Blog-a-versary Giveaway

It's my blog's 1st birthday! My blog actually began on February 29, 2008, but since this is not a leap year, we're celebrating today... and all week. As a thank you for your readership, you'll have the chance to win all that you see here...

If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know that I love black and white. So, I've put together black and white goodies for one fortunate reader. The giveaway treasures include:
* 1 white ruffled pillowcase (for embellishing or crafting)
* 1 vintage black and white retro flower scarf
* 1 bar of my handmade peppermint soap
* 6 - 6 inch squares of white aida fabric
* 1 - 4 inch embroidery hoop
* 1 floral ponytail holder
* 2 vintage black and white napkins
* 1 white wool felt floral headband (made by me just for this giveaway)
* and 1 grey bracelet will be converted into one of my text bangle bracelets (upon winning, simply let me know if you prefer Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility or Twilight.)

How to enter the giveaway:
- Leave me a comment to this post and you will have 1 entry.
- If you have a blog, mention this giveaway on your blog and link back here. Leave me a comment letting me know you've linked and you will receive 1 additional entry.
- Visit The Little Birdie and tell me (in a comment) what your favorite item is in my shop. You will receive 1 additional entry.
- Visit Acorn Pudding and tell me (in a comment) what your favorite item is in my shop. You will receive 1 additional entry.

You have 4 possible chances to enter the drawing. The giveaway drawing is limited to the U.S. only and contest will close at midnight on Saturday, March 7, 2009.

Best wishes!

My Folksy Valentine

(photo courtesy of emeraldvintage)

We usually don't make a big deal about Valentine's Day around here. We acknowledge it, but (sappy moment on the horizon here) we try to make everyday a kind of Valentine's Day. Awww.

A while back, I mentioned to H that I adored this vintage folk apron on etsy. Not only did he remember, but he thought far enough ahead to order it from the shop in Australia so that I would have it on V-day. Yeah, I know, he's a keeper!And so is this apron :)

If you enjoy folksy goodies, crafts and accessories, this blog should be of interest to you. She's a living folk doll!

100's To Be Happy About

* The bill with Franklin on it
* The degrees in Celsius for boiling water
* The maximum amount that you can give when you're trying hard
* The yards run by James Harrison to score a Superbowl touchdown for The Pittsburgh Steelers
*One dalmation short of a movie
* Abraham's age when Isaac was born
* Today, I made my 100th sale at TheLittleBirdie (named for Charlotte) which opened in Sept.'08.
* Wednesday's blog post was my 100th - You have my deep appreciation for checking out this here little blog o' mine (pardon my absence, but C's been sick.)

A thousand thanks!

Christmas With Jane

(photo courtesy of amazon.com)

Sometimes Christmas feels like an exit that I just missed on the freeway. Whoops, there is went! Ours was a wonderful holiday, but it passed too quickly. I hope that you and yours had a very Merry Christmas.

For Christmas, my dear H gave me this newer version of Sense and Sensibility on dvd by the BBC. (Say that three times fast!) Recommended by a friend, it's an excellent movie version of Jane Austen's first published novel.

I was still skeptical upon hearing about another version of Sense and Sensibility after seeing Emma Thompson's version from 1995. But for Jane junkies, like myself, refusing an opportunity to watch/read more Jane Austen is incomprehensible. So I watched it. I was pleasantly surprised. The BBC version is truer to the book. And while Emma Thompson's portrayal of Elinor when she finds gushing relief from Edward's revelation that he is unmarried and no longer engaged, has to be one of my top 10 favorite movies scenes, I do highly recommend the 2008 version.

Since I've had requests, and I'm always looking for a way to celebrate Jane, Sense and Sensibility text bangles are now added to the lineup in my shop.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

No, I didn't win this Martha Stewart Crafts Stocking Kit in Vegas, but over at Rebecca's blog Thrifty Goodness. She hosted a giveaway when posting about her crafty day making Christmas banners. (Check 'em out.) I correctly guessed which banner was hers, and jackpot! Thanks Rebecca!

Lately, Charlotte has been pulling down the dog's Christmas stocking and trying to wear it like a thigh-high boot. I should hang this Martha stocking near Silly's stocking so C's not stomping through the kitchen monostockularly. Did you like that made up word?? I can hold my own at Balderdash :)

We're Really Not Rednecks

This does not work on Christmas tree branches.
This only sort of works. Yes, it's duct tape. On our Christmas tree.

We bought the biggest Christmas tree this year. It was impossible to pass up - only $10! Our tree is 8 feet tall - twice the size of our usual tree, but only one quarter of the price. We didn't have to traipse through the woods to get it. Nope, it was on an actual lot where all the trees were the $10 flat rate.

Our tree is full, lush and green. But, as we were lifting it into place, a branch snapped. Not just any branch, but one in a prime location... eye level, down front. It would leave a huge empty spot, so I pulled out the super glue. It failed. At last resort, we pulled out some duct tape and, well, stepped into redneck territory for a few minutes.

I keep worrying that someone will blink near the tree and down the branch will tumble. So far, so good. But please, nobody sneeze!


(with and without flash)

Frosty's Friends

Lera's done it again. She always has fun ideas. I saw her button snowmen hand towels and ran with it. She had a tough time deciding between white thread or black, so I used both. I also practiced my french knots for the eyes.

A local thrift has a big bowl of buttons for a dime a piece. I found exactly what I was looking for to make my snowmen. The dollar store had perfectly red striped hand towels. The thrift + dollar store = low cost crafting. One big note to self: digging through buttons is addicting.

On a completely random tangent... I have such a difficult time coming up with things for my Christmas list. There are plenty of things that could go on my list, I just don't think much about what I need. I've put myself on the back burner... it's official: I'm a mom!

Case in point: my husband has been sick and the air is quite cold. To prevent him from getting pneumonia, I've been taking our Scotty dog, Silhouette, for all her walks and potty breaks. Silly (as she's affectionately known) likes to run occasionally. This was the case a couple of nights ago. So, after she did her business, I picked up the pace and ran for home - watching Silly smile the whole time. Once home, I realized, something doesn't feel quite right. Yup, the elastic in my underwear is so shot, that my undies had slipped down over my hips, inside my pants. Actually, the only thing holding them up was the fact that I was wearing pants.

I guess now there is one thing I can add to my Christmas list: new underwear.

Dad on Veterans Day

(photo by http://www.auburnjournal.com/)

For Veterans Day this year, my father decided to attend a nearby parade. He put on his camo jacket, his army hat and headed out to honor other vets. While waiting for the parade to begin, some folks approached him and asked if he had been in the army. Why yes, he had. Would he like to help lead the parade by carrying the flag and representing the United States Army? Of course he would. That's my father - on the far left - with the long legs, camo jacket and American pride.

He was given a medal of thanks. School children made him sweet thank you cards. He deserves each one. For all those cold nights outside on the ground, for the train ride to the Czech border wondering if WW III awaited him, for time and self-sacrifice, he deserves to lead a parade.

Whenever I meet a vet, I thank them. Every day should be Veterans Day. They truly know what it means to serve.

Thank you, Dad. I'm so proud of you.

Acorn Pudding

As I've eluded to previously, I've had something big in the works. It's my new etsy shop for all the vintage good stuff I've come across. It's called: Acorn Pudding. Just like a squirrel storing away nuts, I bring vintage goodies to my shop. Even before I could tell you about my newest shop, I've already made a few sales. Yay! And there is much more to be added...

Last week was also our wedding anniversary. We had our annual dinner out, just the two of us. It's so foreign after having a baby! We also took in a movie. In the theater. It was very enjoyable to get out with just my dear H. (Btw, we saw Fireproof. Highly recommended. Tip toe past a little corny acting to hopscotch into a wonderful message.)

Like I said, busy, busy, from one tree to the next!

Thrifty Goodness Giveaway/Swap Partners

My friend Rebecca, over at Thrifty Goodness, is having a giveaway! She's surprising one lucky blog reader with this Knitpickers Yarn Holder next monday. Be sure to fly on over and leave her a comment to be entered for the drawing! While you're there, peruse through her free patterns and all around thrifty goodness :)

edit:

Swap partners have been matched up! Chosen at random, they are as follows:

Danielle/Rebecca

Caroline/Me

Lauren/Karla/Jenn (Lauren to Karla, Karla to Jenn and Jenn to Lauren)

All swap participants should look for an email/comment from me with details. Thanks and have fun swapping!

Falling (tea) Leaves Swap

I've decided to host my very first swap. If you're new to swaps, here's the lowdown: A swap involves signing up, putting items together that fall within the theme, then shipping the goodies to your swap buddy. You will, in turn, receive a package from your swap buddy. It's very easy.

The theme is autumn/fall and tea.

Guidelines:

1. Sign up by leaving me a comment that you would like to participate. (Be sure that I can contact you via email. I promise not to sell your address :)

2. Be creative with the theme.

3. Spend $10 or less! Swap packages should consist of at least 3 items. Thrifted items work well. Making an item adds a personal touch.

Consider autumnal colors, items or recipes. Think of anything to do with tea, tea cups or tea parties. Your imagination is the limit.

Sign ups end November 4, 2008 - election day!

You'll be notified of your swap partner on November 5th.

Packages should be mailed by November 17, 2008.

For now, we are limiting this to U.S. participants only.

** If you sign up, PLEASE follow through with your swap. It's unfair to be flakey for a swap.

Let the swap begin!

First Etsy Treasury

It's official... I've been included in my very first etsy treasury! You may view it here.