The Ninja Herself

Now, the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.

2013-02-15T10:09:00.003-06:00

I'm unsure of how many people read this blog, honestly.

I'm also unsure of how many people read some of the same blogs I do.

But, here's what's up.

A lot of the blogs I've followed for the past couple years have been dealing with issues via Blogger. Recently:

"Wtf? My blog is deleted for no reason! What gives?"

Blogger's support team isn't very good. Honestly, anymore all you can do is post in their forum and, from what I hear, it's a dark place where you get little to know answers. What has been going on, though, is that these blogs are:

1. Getting shut down for SPAM.

2. Getting shut down for malware content.

Here's the kicker. Blogger isn't telling these blog runners WHAT or WHERE the issue is, exactly. So how are they to fix it?

Exactly.

So, The Ninja Herself is making the move to WordPress.

I'm still trying to get the feel of things over there, but for the most part I'm up and running. You can find me here:

http://theninjaherself.wordpress.com/

Free Pattern: Dish Towel Hangers

2013-02-12T13:32:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone! Today, I have a FREE crochet pattern for you! :D This is easy enough for beginners and make a great gift paired with the best crocheted potholders ever!

These are a nice alternative to the crocheted towel toppers that are permanently stuck to the towels. Keep reading for the pattern. :)

What You'll Need:

Size H/8 Crochet Hook

Any sort of cotton yarn (I used I Love This Cotton! in Aubergine)

2 3/4in. Buttons

Yarn needle for weaving in ends

You'll Need To Know:

Slip Stitch

SC (Single Crochet - US)

HDC (Half Double Crochet - US)

Magic Ring

Here we go!

Magic ring, Ch 2, HDC 30 in the ring. Join with a slip stitch. Ch 2, turn.

HDC in the same stitch, and the next 7 (8 HDC total). Ch 2. Turn.

HDC 7 more rows, for a total of 8 rows.

At the end of your 8th HDC row, only Ch 1. SC 3 more rows.

At the end of your 3rd SC row, do not chain any, do not fasten off. Continue your SCs around until you reach the beginning of the last SC row. Fasten off, weave in the ends.

Attach your button in the middle of your SC rows and you're done! Now you just have to button them on your oven handle and slide your towels through the hole.

Make a couple potholders to go with 'em. Go ahead. It could bring an extra color pop to your kitchen that you may need, or make a set of these with potholders and give them as a gift! Plus, they're WASHABLE! I wouldn't suggest using acrylic yarn, because if wet and not dried properly, they can collect mold and gunk and stuff and bleh.

Feel free to use this pattern to make stuff to bring in some monayyyy, but please credit back to my pattern if you do. And please don't claim it to be your own. I get that great minds think alike, so there's probably the exact same pattern or something about identical out there. I'm not trying to take credit away from anyone. Just tried my hand at it and this is what I came up with. Works for me. :)

Hope you guys enjoy this!

Pinteresting: DIY Solid Perfume

2013-02-11T23:58:00.001-06:00

When I saw this pin and clicked the picture, I didn't think it'd take me into a wormhole. Honestly. Crunchy Betty's blog? It was amazing. And I stayed on there for about a day. I was hooked.

I knew I had to try this solid perfume thing.

So I go up to the Hob Lob to grab a 1lb. bar of beeswax. Heh. There was ONE bar marked at $4.99. The rest were somewhere like $14.99. I knew, I KNEW it was a mistake. But I grabbed it, and I took it to the register. Here's how the conversation went:

"Okay, I KNOW this is wrong. I'm in here atleast once a week-" - Me

"Oh yeah, I know. *laughs* I remember you and your kids." - Sales Associate

"*laughs* Yeeeeah, hard to forget us. Anyway, I'm still iffy on buying this. I figured if anything, I would bring it up here so you guys could retag it correctly." - Me

"Hang on, let me call back there." - Sales Associate

*phone calls made*

"We're going to go ahead and give it to you for the $4.99 since you're in here so much. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, though!" - Sales Associate

O.O "Okay." - Me

Moral of the Story:

Build rapport with the people working at a store you frequent, and PAY ATTENTION TO THE TAGS.

Anywho.

Over on Crunchy Betty, you'll notice that the "recipe" calls for some essential oils. This is to steer clear from the synthetic oils and all the crap they bring. However, I had no essential oils on hand and I was eager to try it, so I used some of the fragrance oil I had on hand from when I was trying out melt and pours and whatnot. It's scented in Love Spell. I can't hate on it.

For my carrier oil, I used some extra virgin olive oil and, whodathunk? This WORKED. And it works WELL. As in, this is permanently going in my purse, and I need to find more containers and some essential oils and whatnot and make more. A lot more. Because I think I'm in love with this stuff.

Though I'm not sure how long the scent lasts after the first initial application, do it. You won't be disappointed.

Disclaimer

Grating all the beeswax will fill 2 quart sized freezer bags, but it's a royal pain. I'm not responsible for any frustrations or actions from those frustrations.

Pinteresting: DIY Shaving Lotion

2013-02-11T20:56:00.002-06:00

I'm sure you've seen the photo strip here. I'm sure you debated it. Lucky for you, I did it. So, here goes.

So, verdict?

Mine didn't thicken. At. All. As in, it was as runny later as it was before.

However, it DOES work. It gives lubrication (hehehe) to your razor while you're shaving and it does moisturize a bit. I don't recommend using baby oil, but that's personal preference. I've used baby oil and Vaseline prior to this for different reasons, and I've had horrible skin experiences.

I'd recommend using maybe some coconut oil. That may thicken it up to a "lotion" standard. Mine is like water, almost. I can't use coconut oil due to an allergy, so I have no way of telling you if this will help or not. Also, using a thicker lotion may help, too. But give it a shot. It does work, and it lasts a good bit.

A Boy Of Many Colors.

2013-02-06T11:01:00.000-06:00

I want to tell you a story, those who read this. A story about a boy who opened my eyes to a whole new world. A world that I'm not special enough to see.

His name is Logan.

Logan has Autism.

I've posted about him before, and his mom (Kristy). Their whole family is amazing, and have welcomed me into it with open arms and Bud Lights open.

Logan's journey hasn't been the easiest, nor has it been the hardest. And though it may be easy for you to say "Oh, gosh. Autism? I don't know how I could handle my kid going through that.", I can guarantee it's not a death sentence, it's not a national disaster. Spend a day with this kid and he will open your eyes quick.

You see, Logan gets to see the world completely different. A lot of us see it through jaded eyes, second guessing everything everyone does, doubting our every step. This boy? He gets to live. Really LIVE. He gets to see the world in all its glory. He gets to believe in magic. He gets to go out in the world and own it. In some ways, I'm jealous that he gets to be this way. I wish that we could all see it the way he does.

Logan has the greatest family he could ever ask for. And he deals with them on a daily basis, not the other way around. (Truth, the family's kind of crazy, which is why I mesh with them so well.) He's blessed so much more than any of us could even wish to be, and yet the world side steps around him because, what, he has Autism? The world is missing out. Autism IS NOT a disease. It's NOT a curse. An estimated 1 in 88 kids born have Autism. And the only thing holding them back is YOU. The "normals", whatever that means. With your big ignorance-filled hammer, you smack a label down on these kids, these tiny humans, these AMAZING children, and refuse to understand.

And that's why I'm doing the St. Louis 2013 Color Run.

http://thecolorrun.com/stlouis/

This year, they're pairing with Autism Speaks, a charity to promote Autism awareness, something the world NEEDS. Ignorance isn't acceptable. Knowledge is. Get yourself educated.

I'm blessed to have a husband who is beyond supportive of this. Not only did he put in for vacation time the weekend of, he's choosing to do it with me. This guy has terrible knees, and he's STILL WANTING to do the whole 5K. Not even for me. For Logan.

And while we'll have enough money to cover registration, I'm not sure that we will have the money for the gas to get there and back, not to mention food.

Now, I'm sure when it comes down to it, we'll find a way to make it work. This whole thing literally happened in a matter of seconds for me, and started with a random "OHAI! Let's go look at the info for maybe next year!" on a whim. This is where we need the help.

I'm not asking for much. Prayers, positive thoughts, those are excellent. But what we could really use is donations. If 100 people just donated $1, we'd have enough money for gas. No joke.

I'm not asking you to donate. I'm not begging you to donate. But if in your heart you feel that you should/could/would help, we would greatly appreciate it. Something in the universe pulled me to this. I'm meant to do this. I know it.

Help us help Autism. Help us fight the ignorance. Help us to get people to SEE.

Pinteresting - Lips Peeling DIY

2013-02-06T07:23:00.000-06:00

I'm sure you've seen this one floating around.

http://thebeautythesis.com/2012/11/28/lip-peeling-keeps-your-lips-soft/

In theory, this is going to work great already, based on one simple ingredient.

Olive Oil.

I'm sorry, but that stuff is BEAST. I use it a lot in life, not just cooking. I should probably just go ahead and put one in my bathroom.

Well, I made a batch of this the other night. I don't have pictures, but here's the thing.

This picture shows no ratios.

If you can get your ratios right, this stuff WORKS. You mix it together, and then using your finger put it on your lips. You then use your finger or your toothbrush to scrub your lips, and rinse it off with water. Top your lips with your favorite lip balm (I like Aquaphor Lip Therapy, personally) and you're done.

And they're right. It DOES work. IF YOU GET THE RATIOS RIGHT.

I'm not even gonna lie, I had olive oil/honey/brown sugar dripping all over my chin when I was trying to use this. It was a mess. It WORKS, but it's a mess.

Suggestion? Try it. Make it in SMALL batches, maybe 1/2 tsp. at a time batches. That's about 1-2 uses, depending on how much you need to use. Play around with it. Once I can get the ratios correct, I'll edit this and post what they were.

And super serious, if you're like me and allergic to tree nuts, using olive oil is a GREAT alternative in these DIY things. I can't use coconut oil without pretty much death. Just sayin'.

It's a dark place down here.

2013-02-04T22:53:00.001-06:00

I'm a pessimist. I'm admitting it, free and clear.

You probably wouldn't make that assumption if you met me.

I've been called many things.

Carefree. Wild. Crazy. Fun. Odd. Exciting. Hilarious. Cute. Adorable. Happy. Amazing.

But most don't know I've been called many other things.

Bitch. Cunt. Worthless. Nothing. Ugly.

Unfortunately, most of the worst things were said to me by my ex-husband. It was a toxic relationship, to say the least. My husband? He's amazing. He's a hard worker, and breaks himself everyday just to give us all maybe one extra thing. He lifts me up in every way he possibly can, and sometimes seems to go out of his way to do so.

But me? I'm just me.

I'm a depression survivor.

Depression isn't something talked about often. And many people just don't get it. A lot hold firm that it's a desperate desire for attention, ridiculous that these people would cry all over themselves and harm themselves over something as miniscule as the radio not playing their song. I get that, because that's pretty much what it's hyped up to be anymore. It's rarely taken seriously.

Put me in a circle with 6 women who are in toxic relationships as I once was. I will, in any way, shape, and form, try to PROVE to them that they are worth so much more than that. That life doesn't have to be like this. That they need to look at themselves and realize that THEY are the only reason they need to keep going strong. They need to fight for THEM.

Put me in a room with any one of my kids and the first thing I tell them is how smart they are. I praise them on their discoveries, their advances in education, and how much they just know. I make it a point to tell my girls, all 3 of them, that they are gorgeous and never to let anyone tell them any different. They are all beautiful, inside and out, and they need to not just know, but believe this. I tell them I love them more than all the stars in the sky.

Put me face to face with my husband and I will thank him for everything he does. I'll probably give him a shoulder rub in hopes to relieve some of his tension. I'll tell him I love him more than he'll ever know. I'll thank him at random, for how he saved me. He'll probably never realize how much.

Put me in front of a mirror, and the first question I'll ask myself is why I haven't just left the world yet. Why am I still here? What's the point in getting out of bed in the morning? I'm easily replaced by hired help. I'll take harsh notice to every imperfection plaguing my body, from the random stress breakouts on my face to the stretchmarks that adorn my body after giving life to 3 amazing children who are bound to change the world. I wonder if people would honestly miss me, or the things that I do for them. I wonder if I can even feel anymore. I crave to feel something, ANYTHING, aside from going down this wormhole of darkness that leads to nothing.

It's a personal Hell. That's what depression is, ladies and gentlemen. And the sad fact is that most of us can put a happy face on for everyone else. On the days we can't, we stay hidden away from anyone. Why would anyone want to see us, me, anyway?

Recently, I hit a whole new level.

See, parenting was one of the things I never doubted. Before every major decision, you could always find me infront of the computer, finding out EVERY possible thing imaginable before deciding. If my kids had to go through something, I was right next to them, doing the same thing. Except immunizations. They frown on getting extras of those. And I have a major phobia of needles.

Now I'm just not sure that I'm doing anything right.

Are my kids just better off without me? Would they even care? Am I even doing this right? What if the worst possible outcome happens in their future over me insisting that they just try ONE new food? Did I screw them up for life? Did I ruin their amazing future ahead of them?

These days, I peel myself out of bed. I will myself to believe that today will be a good day. I convince myself that if I just get out of bed and throw a smile on, which is now my constant necessary accessory, I can make it. I tell myself that my kids need me for more than food and the occasional diaper change (i.e. Gabey).

Look, I know, I sound like this little poser emo kid. And if you know me, this just sounds like mumbo jumbo bullshit. I've done this dance for many years. I know how to put up an amazing front. But here's where me and the stereotypical poser emo differ:

I GET UP.

No matter how I'm feeling. No matter how much I don't want to face the day. No matter how much it physically hurts to know that I woke up, and that I now have to fight myself for another 10-20 hour period. I still get my ass out of bed. I'm still moving. I'm still breathing. I'm still living. And I refuse to let myself get upset about that when so many others are wishing and praying to have that same blessing over them.

Moral Of The Story

This is the face of depression.

And if I didn't tell you, there's a good chance you never would've known.

You may find me dancing in the car, singing at the top of my lungs, or you may find me in my house, on my couch, my hair a mess, with absolutely no motivation to do anything, barely breathing.

Depression is real, and many people suffer from it without getting help because of the stigma that comes with it. Don't be one of those stereotyping people. Hug your friend or family member. Get ahold of one that you haven't talked to in a while, just to say "HI!" and let them know you're thinking about them. It's not hard, it may just take 5 seconds. But it could change the world for someone.

ERMERGERD. ECKTERVERTERS.

2013-01-24T18:39:00.001-06:00

YUP! I'm back to posting things! Oh, how I've missed this blog.

I've been so busy lately. It's been insane in the membrane.

Here's what I've been up to.

And a whole buttload of other stuff. I've been busy with this since about the last week of November until now. Insane, huh? And these are all ORDERS. I've met so many amazing, encouraging people lately. It's been amazing.

Oh, and this happened.

EPIC, right? It's epic project number 1.

I'm in the works of epic project number 2 right now, but that'll take a few months to actually complete. Until then, here's some teaser shots.

Soothing the Strep.

2013-01-08T18:42:00.000-06:00

I've been sick on and off for the past 3 months. It's been real fun. /sarcasm

But a few days ago, I noticed a familiar tickle in my throat. One I hadn't felt in a good...6-7 years, but one I could recognize very well. So, I grabbed a flashlight, went into the bathroom, and took a look at my throat.

Yup. That's strep.

But it's worse this time than when I was younger. This time, it was just one tonsil, and something happened. I don't want to say it ruptured, but there was a whole mess of not good stuff coming from it, running down my throat. I couldn't eat, I could barely swallow my own saliva. It was getting harder to open my mouth, and God forbid I move my tongue. So, since Kyle was at work, a great friend drove me and Gabey to the hospital so I could get looked at before it got any worse, and I got my antibiotics.

But I was still having an issue with eating.

Back in the day when I used to get strep throat atleast once a month, no exaggeration, I used to eat mashed potatoes all the time. And for someone who's trying to lose weight, this wasn't an option.

Enter some broccoli cheese soup.

It has all the comfort and warmth that you want.

But it's only 80-100 cal. per serving. I'm okay with that.

Lower Calorie Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 c. chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 c. fat free, low sodium chicken broth (could use vegetable broth, if you want)

16+ oz. broccoli florets (I used about 24 oz., because I really like broccoli)

2 1/2 c. skim milk

1/3 c. all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. black pepper

8 oz. light velveeta

non-stick spray

Spray a large, non-stick pot with your spray. Let it heat up on medium heat.

While it's heating, cut up your onions and garlic.

Sauté these in your pot for about 3 minutes.

Add your broth and broccoli and turn the heat up a bit higher to bring it to a boil.

Once it starts boiling, lower it back down to medium heat and let it cook for 10 minutes.

While that's all going on, combine your milk and flour together with a whisk, to get the lumps out.

Add this to the broccoli/broth stuff and stir. Let it cook for 5 minutes on medium, or until it slightly thickens.

While that's going on, cut up your velveeta.

I like to cut it up into smaller pieces so that it melts easier.

After it thickens, take it off the heat and add your pepper and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.

Spoon 1/3 of the soup into a blender and puree the crap out of it.

You don't HAVE to do this, but it adds a bit more smoothness to the entire soup.

Add the pureed stuff to the rest of your soup, mix, and you're done.

This is excellent for when you're feeling bad, or even just looking for a good dinner.

At first glance, it may not look appetizing, but it's actually quite good. :) Give it a shot.

New Year, New Me

2013-01-01T11:18:00.000-06:00

Why, HELLO 2013!

We went through a lot in 2012. A lot, and I think that's an understatement.

But it's all resolved and done, and we finally get to enjoy this next year.

I don't make resolutions, because I don't feel like a lot of people keep them. But I'm doing something for me this year.

I'm worrying about myself.

I know, I know. As a mom/wife, we don't typically put ourselves first. It's almost ingrained into our brains. I don't necessarily plan to change that, because it's what I do. But looking back through my life, I realized one consistent thing.

I never, NEVER take care of myself. And because of that, everyone else suffers.

So, I'm making a lifestyle change.

It's going to be a slow process, one that I'm taking baby steps to. I don't want to rush it, I want results.

I have 60 lbs. to lose, and energy to build. And I want to begin living better.

I want to be able to run around with the kids without getting exhausted in 10 seconds.

I want to be able to go shopping and find clothes that fit easily.

I want to be able to show my kids what it means to live a healthy lifestyle.

And it's hard. I'm not going to lie, it's extremely hard.

But I'm going to do it.

I've reached the limit.

2012-12-23T09:23:00.001-06:00

I have SO MANY RECIPES TO POST. All holiday treat stuff.

But here's the thing.

According to Blogger, I've reached my maximum bandwidth for hosting photos. And Photobucket + all other img uploaders is being REALLY lame about letting me upload my photos.

Thus, no new posts.

I am quite sorry. :( And bummed.

But I hope everyone has some happy holidays coming at 'em. :)

A Day Of Remembrance.

2012-12-17T09:21:00.000-06:00

Do's and Don'ts of Buying From Crafters

2012-12-12T07:50:00.002-06:00

Buying/selling on sites like Etsy has made it quite easy to shop online and buy from people around the world. It's quite nice, actually. Especially if you're into a lot of all natural things. Or custom items. These people put a lot of time and effort into their projects. Their passion really comes through and it's great that they can make some extra money, or even a full income, doing something they love. A lot of people just sell via Facebook, through a specific page of theirs (like I've done). The perks of this are great. It's easy, it's extra money, and you can end up meeting some great people.

I've had customers hug me, for a hat they ordered.

I've had a customer tell me to believe in myself.

I've had great customers.

Granted, I don't necessarily do all this for the money, but it's a great way to justify my craft spending (*coughHUSBANDcough*). However, a recent custom order had me about pulling my hair out. And then I got to thinking, "What would I have done differently as a buyer?"

Hence, this blog post.

So, let's have it. MY personal do's and don't list for buying from a crafter.

1. Make your custom idea as vivid as can be. Use specifics.

2. Be polite.

3. Be forgiving. Sometimes things happen. Sometimes they're out of the crafter's hands (i.e. mail gets lost).

4. Be realistic. There are just some things that your imagination can come up with that we can't get out of our fingertips.

5. Get all the details (final price, shipping price [if applicable], colors, etc.) worked out before the project is worked on.

DON'T

1. Be rude. That goes without saying, really.

2. Expect the crafter to read your mind. You have to tell them exactly what you want, or else they'll go about doing their own thing. You may not end up happy.

3. Back out of an order. A custom order isn't something that can always be resold easily.

4. Get ahold of them the day you're supposed to get your order and complain about the price. A lot of buyers have you pay up front, where as others have you pay after a piece is done. Either way, you should already know what the price will be (unless special circumstances arise).

5. Get ahold of them the day before pick up wanting something differently done to your order.

I may end up adding to this as time goes on, I'm not sure. I'm also going to end up making a list of Do's and Don'ts for Sellers. This is just a very basic list of things that you would think are givens. You'd be shocked at how many adults forget the one rule that I think is the most important.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Crafting for Christmas

2012-12-09T14:03:00.003-06:00

Kyle's family does a Secret Santa every year for Christmas. And it's a lot of fun.

Except that I haven't been in the family for..2? 3 years? I don't know them well enough to really shop for them, and Kyle's just not good at it. I don't know why. He has some good ideas sometimes but..pretty much, it's up to me.

So when his cousin's boyfriend showed up at the Thanksgiving shindig with a bearded beanie, I had an idea.

I've been wanting to try making a dead fish hat for..a long time. Ever since I found the pattern a good 4 years ago. I just never had the perfect time to make it.

The time is NOW.

I honestly don't want to give it up.

If anything, it's a great conversation piece, yes?

His girlfriend says he'll love it, so I'm going off her word.

But if he doesn't love it, I'll gladly take it back and wear it.

Christmas Traditions.

2012-12-02T00:58:00.003-06:00

When you meet me, the first thing you'll find out is I'll cook you or bake you just about anything. No matter what.

You sad? Here, have some cookies.

You happy? Here, have some brownies.

You hungry? Here, have a burrito.

I'm good like that.

One thing you'll learn about me is that I love Christmas. I love it. LOVE it. I can't emphasize that point enough. I'm giddy for homemade Christmas tree ornaments. I adore decorating the house. Oh, Christmas movies? Forget about it. Those, I'll watch all year.

Christmas is my holiday.

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving (as long as I'm not terribly busy) the decorations come up and Christmas throws up its metaphorical goods all over my house while my tv spews "JOY TO THE WORLD" as Clark Griswold lit up his house dedicated to the Griswold Family Christmas.

It's a tradition.

Every family has their own. We're still a rather new family. We're still working on our traditions.

But one tradition I will NOT understand is the whole Elf On The Shelf thing.

That little cartoon elf? The one on the book? That thing's cute, huh? Adorable, even.

The one in the box? Um..yeah. No. Not happening. Someone PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one.

That thing is going to use its magic to kill me off in the middle of the night.

The info on the official Elf on the Shelf website states:

The Elf Tradition
Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf®: A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages.

The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family’s Christmas each and every year.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus’ cookies!

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don’t expect to find them in the same spot! While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families.

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa’s bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy. Join the tradition and adopt your own Elf on the Shelf now!

Cool story, bro.

So this elf, you buy it, name it, read the book. It watches your kids to report back to the Big Guy on if they've been good or not. The concept alone is great. Good job, creators.

But then this part about the elf moving? Traveling? Likes playing games? One thing is screaming out to me.

Seriously, this movie gave me nightmares for a solid week.

Now, I'm not going to lie. I've been tempted to get one for one solid reason:

I LOVE seeing the photos of the "mischief" that my friends are posting on Facebook.

Some of their creativity has me rolling. It's excellent. I can imagine the looks on the kids' faces. It would be epic.

But that doll...that..no. It's not a doll. It's a possessed form of plastic, polyester fluffing, and good intention.

It really bums me out, though, because I try to be that mom. You know which one I'm talking about. The one that volunteers for everything school related. The one that goes on 0 hours of sleep a night to make sure everything is just perfect. The one that bakes cookies and goodies from scratch. I try for that. I AIM for that.

If that elf wasn't so creepy, it'd be in my house.

I never got to really celebrate Christmas with the whole "Santa" thing when I was younger. And as I got older, I was kind of bitter about it. It was like I was robbed of something magical as a kid. I never got to experience the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny, either. Oh, sure. I got money for losing teeth. I got gifts on Christmas. I got an Easter basket full of goodies. I didn't miss any of that. But, man, the spirit of it all? I never had it. I WANT my kids to have that. Even if it means eating a dozen cookies and finishing off a glass of milk on Christmas Eve. I DESPERATELY want them to grow with the stories of magic and wonderment and, once they're parents, to be able to enjoy those moments with their kids.

Screw it. I'm just going to crochet a little toy figurine that was mailed here from Santa. I mean, that's a good compromise, right?

Better than looking into the eyes of that soul-less being thing that's for sale at Target for $30.

Busy, Busy, Dreadfully Busy.

2012-11-29T12:34:00.000-06:00

Okay. Not really dreadfully. That's a lie.

Thanksgiving happened. We ended up spending it at my parents' house early, then at Kyle's aunt's house. That's always a fun time, his family getting together.

Then we got home and Christmas sort of exploded in my house.

This is the upstairs tree.

This is the tree in our bedroom. Yes, we have two trees. What can I say? I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

Also, we got this one via FreeCycle. Love that.

This is a sofa table in our living room. Also free, but via Craigslist.

The decorations came from Kyle's Papa, again, free.

This was, again, from Kyle's Papa. Kyle's uncle Paul, the one who cornered me and asked me about my Facebook name upon our first meeting, made this. I love it. His name is Dolph Lundgren.

This ornament tree sits ontop of our DVD rack. We got it from my in-laws 2 years ago for Christmas. I love it.

SPEAKING of our DVD rack. Let me tell you a little story.

We had seasons 1-5 of FRIENDS, which happens to be one of my favorite shows.

Keyword here, HAD.

We were planning on selling them and saving up the rest of the money to get the box set of all the seasons. Good plan, huh?

Well, Selena made these friends on the school bus that lived down the street from us. Their mom came by from time to time, we had polite chit chat, whatever.

These people screamed white trash, but who am I to judge? I just tried to look past what their outward appearance and actions put off. There's good in all people.

So, one night she comes over. Kyle's at work. I'm home alone with the kids. Before leaving, she asks if we can swap movies for a couple nights. No biggie, they live down the street. She goes home and grabs seasons 1-3 of True Blood. They're mangled.

She grabs all my seasons of FRIENDS. I treated these things like gold.

About a week passes by without any visits from the kids or the parents. I grow concerned, but I figure it'll be okay.

Kyle goes to their house with their True Blood DVDs to swap back.

They've disappeared.

Their landlord is there, and he's mad. The house has been destroyed.

The glass in all the windows has been broken out.

The carpet is ripped up and/or burned.

And the icing on the cake?

These people left their pets, dead, in the basement. In Wal-Mart bags.

What kind of people do things like this?! It's disgusting that people can be like this. Even more horrifying that they have kids. These kids didn't ask for a life like this. They deserve more than that.

Needless to say, I don't have my FRIENDS DVDs anymore. And when I found out, I admittedly about cried. I know, it's so petty and small and easily replaced. It could've been so much worse. The LANDLORD has it far worse than I do. I know.

Now, I'm not so mad. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm upset and hurt and disgusted at these people, but I'm to the point now where I almost feel sorry for them. What kind of life is that, so empty that they act this way? What kind of future is happening for the kids? My heart hurts for them.

I keep telling myself that they need the money they would get selling the DVDs more than I need them for watching. They need good food on their table, or Christmas presents for their kids. I don't know or believe that they would be spending the money on that, but if I think that the money will go towards good things, I'm not so mad anymore. I can handle it. It's not a huge loss.

After that huge blow to my emotional side, I got busy.

I made Riah and Dot Monster some owl hats, which I posted a picture of once before. Here they are again.

After I made them, Riah decided she wanted a pink one instead.

You know kids.

So I made her a pink one. The purple one went to her cousin, along with a matching small purple one for her baby cousin. Then I made a small pink one for their half-sister.

Then, after being told by MANY people MANY times, I posted a photo on a Facebook "garage sale" group with prices, to see what kind of response I'd get.

Well..I'm up to my ears in crochet projects right now.

I was overwhelmed. I'm still overwhelmed, actually. As it stands, I have about 9 owl hats that need to be made, along with a few other hats. I'm getting them done, but with a quantity like that it takes a bit longer.

Plus Gabe's an animal.

So, I may not be blogging so much lately, but I do have a banana bread recipe I want to post because, well, I love me some banana bread.

In parting, here's another photo.

This was a specific order for someone for a pink and grey sock monkey hat. Um. I want one. In my size.

100 Things I'm Thankful For.

2012-11-23T19:20:00.000-06:00

I started doing this via Facebook a few years back. I haven't done one recently, so I figured now would be a good time to start it up again!

These are in no particular order.

100. Leak-Proof Sippy Cups

When you have a toddler, these save your life sometimes. Or maybe just clothes, floors, etc.

99. Hair Clippers

Trying to cut Gabe's hair will clippers alone is tough. I can't imagine having to cut his hair with scissors. No thank you.

98. Electricity

Yeah, that's a big one. I'm extremely thankful I'm not Amish. I respect how they live but...I need my electricity. It's a luxury I really want to keep.

97. Comedic Movies

Sometimes, we all just need a good laugh. Some of my favorites are:

Fired Up!

Zack And Miri Make A Porno (er..anything by Kevin Smith)

Elf

A Christmas Story

Any of the old National Lampoon's Vacation movies, except for European Vacation. That one was weird.

96. Cheesy Jokes

Come on. Everyone loves them.

95. Rubbermaid

I love their containers. I love their home storage stuff. A lot of love all around.

94. Board/Card Games

We love a lot of old school games in our house. We have Candy Land, Battleship, Phase 10, The Game Of Life, and a few great ones. Monopoly is pretty hardcore here. We're competitive.

93. $5 Bins At Wal-Mart

We're movie people. What can I say? With a collection of over 400 movies, I thank Wal-Mart deeply.

92. Microsoft Excel

It helps me keep a catalog of all our DVDs. It's necessary when you insist on having them in alphabetical order, along with a toddler who insists on messing them up.

91. Nail Polish

My toes almost always have nail polish on them. It's one of my things. They make my feet look better.

90. Craigslist

Creepers aside, I've found some great things on there for free or relatively cheap. A couple years ago, I ended up finding a job via Craigslist.

89. Tyler Ward

I love his covers on YouTube. I love his original song, "The Rescue". It ends up bringing me to tears, all the time.

88. Online Banking

Seriously, who wants to wait for mailed statements or stop by ATMs anymore? Not this girl.

87. Bobby Pins

I may lose them all the time. I may find them at random. They are ALWAYS welcome in my possession.

86. Steve Martin

I love him and his comedic work. He never fails to make me laugh.

85. Lunchables

For the days I'm feeling lazy, these are lifesavers.

84. Government/State Assistance

I hate that people abuse the system, but I love that it's there for people who need it.

83. Military

It takes a lot for a man/woman to put their life on the line to serve our country. They protect our freedoms, which is more than many of us can say for ourselves.

82. Westboro Baptist Church

Yeah, I know. Sounds so backwards. But you know what? Without them, we'd never realize just how much pride, love, and respect that we have for our rights and those who protect them. Not to mention, they give the rest of us a sense of community and connection as we all stand together to protest against them.

81. Windows

Natural light FTW!

80. Bud Light

Don't judge me.

79. John Grisham

I could read his books all day. He has a way of writing that just sucks you in.

78. MarioKart Wii

Despite my yelling and screaming at the screen as I see the blue spiked shell flying through the air at me, the dance that Yoshi does when he wins is too adorable for words.

77. Apothecary Jars

I just love them. They're gorgeous and bring character to just about any room/house.

76. Ice Cream

Nomnomnom.

75. College Courses Online

It'll be the only way I can go back to school. I like that I could do it without pants.

74. The Salvation Army

The deals I come across are sometimes excellent. It's hit or miss, but I'm okay with that.

73. Remotes

Yeah, we're getting lazier and lazier as years go by, but it's so much easier to use a remote when you aren't wearing your contacts or glasses.

72. Mod Podge

I use this stuff way too much.

71. Hot Chocolate

Filled to the brim with mini marshmallows. Yum.

70. Buffalo Wild Wings

Their food makes me all too happy.

69. Tim Curry

With the exception of IT. No. Screw that noise.

But Rocky Horror wouldn't have been the same without him.

68. Pizza

Who doesn't love pizza? We just got a Little Ceasar's down the street from us. Heaven.

67. Dry Active Yeast

I always have a jar in my fridge. Always.

66. Spellcheck

Because it's freaking necessary. It'd be better if they could get grammar correction in there, too. Not just the run on sentences, but the whole "two, to, too" thing, or "they're, their, there" thing. Come on, people. That's 1st grade stuff.

65. No Kill Animal Shelters

I wish there were more of them. I also wish there were responsible pet owners that spay/neuter their pets. It's expensive, so we haven't gotten the money yet to be able to do so, but we WILL be. And when our pets are outside, they're in a fenced yard. We're being as responsible as possible. I wish I could say that about other people.

64. Dance Dance Revolution

In high school, this was the ONLY way I lost weight. I'd love to own the game again and maybe get the same results.

63. Snow

It's beautiful. Hate it all you want, but it's gorgeous.

62. Spotify

Music is amazing. Enough said on that.

61. The St. Louis Science Center

I love going there. I haven't been able to go in years, but I LOVE that place.

60. 9gag.com

Sometimes you need a good internet meme.

59. Bubbles

They're just happiness floating around the air.

58. Biotin

I've been taking biotin for about a month or so now and this is the strongest my nails have been without taking prenatals. I haven't really noticed a difference in my skin or hair, but strong nails? Yes, please.

57. Pinterest

It's like it calls to me. I have to try to many things.

TRY ALL THE THINGS!

56. Diaper Wipes

Those things can clean so much more than a baby's butt.

55. Spices

We all need to spice things up sometimes.

54. Aluminum Foil

I use this stuff all too much. Mainly because I insist on baking loaves of bread that need to get wrapped up.

53. Dawn Dish Soap

Saving all those baby ducks and other animals from oil? D'AWWWW!

52. Lotion

It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.

No, really. My skin is insane.

51. TJ Maxx

I got Gabe a Rams jersey for $6. He looks adorable. <3

50. Olive Oil

I use it for just about everything in life. Have you seen or read The Help? If yes, you know how Crisco is a cure all? That's how olive oil is for me.

49. HE Washers

I love that it controls the level of water and whatnot.

48. Pyrex

I have an infatuation with their glassware.

47. Dimmer Switches

Sometimes full blast is too harsh.

46. Ceiling Fans

I have to have a fan going for me to sleep well. The sound helps soothe me.

45. dafont.com (and other font freebie sites)

I have a slight addiction to fonts for Photoshop. >.<

44. Ketchup

Gabe's favorite meal. And I do mean meal. He'll eat it straight up. But I can typically add it over something and he'll atleast try it.

43. S'mores

The ONLY reason I'd ever consider camping for. Nomnomnom.

42. Casa Gallardos

BEST margaritas. EVAR.

41. Bras

Once you have kids and get other, gravity becomes the most sinister force of nature there ever was.

40. Razors

I hate shaving, but I hate the feeling of stubbly legs more.

39. Make Up

Dear God. Words cannot express how much I love make up. I love playing with it. I love that it makes me look less tired. Just...I could dump thousands of dollars at Sephora. That's all I'm saying.

39. High Heels

When you're a measly 5'5" and have a husband who's 6'3", they come in handy.

39. Oil/Wax Burners

I have one in my kitchen that smells like cupcake. Kyle about punched me because it made the house smell like Funfetti cupcakes.

38. Autumn

I LOVE when the leaves change. So beautiful.

37. Vinegar

SO many uses for this stuff. Fabric softener, disinfectant, and in my sweet and sour chicken sauce.

36. Clearance Aisles

I LOVE me a good deal. I'm not Black Friday crazy, but I love sales.

35. Fleece Blankets

There's just about nothing more cozy.

34. Natural Comedians

Like Gabe. Gabe is a natural. He HAS to make people laugh. He THRIVES on it. It's hysterical.

33. No Slip Grip Pony Tail Holders

We have 3 daughters. These things are necessary.

32. Arms/Legs/Hands/Feet

I'm beyond grateful that mine work with my body and I still have them fully intact. Props to those who use prosthetics. I don't think I'd have the strength. I honestly thing I would just give up.

31. Home Pregnancy Tests

Sometimes it's good to fail a test.

30. Toilet Paper

I hate having to do laundry. Having to wash the cloths that people are wiping with is even less appealing to me.

29. Bear Hugs

Sometimes you just need to hug it out. And when you get one from your kid, it's like the world stops spinning and in that moment, you're just happy.

28. Saturday Night Live

For the longest time, Weekend Update was the only way I found out what happened in the world.

27. Internet

It's my only outlet to the world. I hardly ever leave the house. I need the interaction.

26. Tools

They may not always be necessary, but things are so much easier with a hammer, drill, screwdriver, wrench, saw, etc. around.

25. Q-Tips

Cleaning my ears. Helping with my make up. The world is a happy place with them.

24. Swagbucks

I've gotten quite a few things using their search engine. I "buy" Amazon gift cards and buy real stuff. w00t!

23. Hobby Lobby

Our local Hobby Lobby knows my kids on sight. I'm there THAT often.

22. Wal-Mart Being Open 24/7

When you can't sleep and it's late at night, you'll go ANYWHERE as long as it means away from the house. And shopping. Great combo.

21. YouTube

Videos of cats, kids, and bands. Can't go wrong there.

20. Skype

Through Skype, I've been able to talk to friends overseas in the military and my in-laws. Skype is so amazing. I love it.

19. Tattoos

When done right, the personal artwork on someone's body is a beautiful thing.

When done wrong, it's pretty funny (if it's not you).

18. Paint Primer

Sanding sucks.

17. Twilight

Now I can really show the girls how NOT to behave. They don't need a man to make their lives worth something. They're always worth something. A relationship doesn't define your worth.

16. Divorce

Because, honestly, at 17 I was too young to be married. I'll admit that. At 18, I was too young to become a mother. I'll admit that. I have NO regrets, though. Because these are the mistakes I needed to make. I learned so much about life and myself through the decisions I've made.

15. The Baby-Sitters Club Books

I'm collecting them for the girls. They were my favorites growing up. I still like them.

14. Knitting/Crocheting/Crafting In General

It's my outlet. It helps zone me away from the stress and tension. And I really love seeing the kids wearing things I make.

13. Facebook

I still get to connect with people I haven't seen in years. I like that.

12. Piper, Izzy, Loki, and Gizmo

The crazy animals. They're fun. And funny. And Izzy with her underbite? That's comedic GOLD.

11. Coffee

This is a big one. I love coffee. Probably too much. I get at least 2 cups every day.

10. Kyle's Family (My In-Laws)

Never have I met such an amazing group of people in my entire life. They accepted me, for some unknown reason, and welcomed me into their family with open arms. They've gone out of the way for us, even. Things my family hardly ever does. I love them, so much, and I'm so grateful to have them in my life.

9. My Parents

Things have gotten better between us. Sort of. While we don't really maintain a strong relationship, we talk often and see eachother. We help eachother as best as we can.

8. Kristy (Moonshoes)

I can't put into words just how much she means to me. I owe her a kid and 5 years in food. She's been there for me through thick and thin, more than my family has.

Above all, she's the mother to my Logan. And Logan opens my eyes to such a better view of the world. One where everyone is a prince, princess, Mario, Luigi, Harry Potter, Hermione, or anyone else they could be.

7. Nikon

I love my camera. I love the memories it's catching for me.

6. Online Photo Labs

So much better quality than Wal-Mart.

5. Kyle Matthew

He's infuriating sometimes. I want to punch him sometimes. But always? Always, he is a great man. He works hard to provide for us. He is amazing with the kids. He has a heart of gold. He treats me like a queen. He...he's just amazing.

4. Selena Ann

3. Gabriel Ryker

2. Tegan Grace

1. Myriah Lyn

I love you more than all the stars in the sky. Thank you for making my life worth living, kiddos.

Surprises, Birthdays, and a KittyKat

2012-11-09T22:35:00.002-06:00

This past...week? weekend? weekend prior?...was busy. It was full of fun, friends, and a few beers.

It started with a car trip to the St. Louis area for a surprise (late) birthday party for one of Kyle's aunts, Lisa.

I love her. She's such an amazing person with talent in so many things. She deserved this.

Everyone came, including my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. That was another part of the surprise. Lisa had no idea they were flying in from Washington!

Many props to Liz and Jordan, Lisa's daughters. They arranged the whole thing.

Albeit, the waiting plan changed. Gabe about ruined it with his babbling. We were in the garage for about 20 minutes or so. It was all worth it.

We stayed the night at Liz's house and left the next day to go see my Kia. :)

Kia, being the amazing person that she was, made Selena a birthday cake! How amazing is she?!

Selena was so excited. She had no idea!

The cake was deeeelicious. I could go for another piece. Or 5.

Selena had a great birthday. She didn't know Aunt Amanda and Grandma Barbie were flying in for Lisa's party. It made her birthday all that much better.

I can't believe she's 6 already. Where did the time go?! :(

Oh yeah. That baby? THAT'S MY KITTYKAT! :D I FINALLY got to see the little gorgeous bundle!

She made her Aunt Rachel go a bit camera happy. All in all, she was a great sport.

I got to snuggle on her and love on her and changed 3 diapers (yeah, bragging about that).

Kyle says no more babies.

Gabey says "Don't want one."

And THAT, my friends, is the blanket that would never be finished. Looks great with her, if I do say so myself.

All in all, it's been a lot of running around. Trying to get back into the swing of things hasn't been all that easy, to say the least. We'll all get there, though.

You're my brown eyed girl.

2012-10-31T07:18:00.000-05:00

Hey, where did we go?

Nanu lovins.

Days when the rains came

down in the hallow.

Playin' a new game.

Laughin', and a runnin', hey, hey.

Skippin' and a jumpin'

in the misty morning fog with

our hearts a thumpin' and you,

my brown eyed girl.

You're my brown eyed girl.

My baby girl turns 4 today.

No I don't know how time stole that one from me.

It seems unfair that she was able to get so big, so fast, considering how traumatic everything was after she was born, but it really opened my eyes to just how much you can take things for granted and how quickly life can slip from you.

I love you, teeny T-Dot. More than all the stars in the sky.

Happy 4th birthday, baby girl.

DIY: Argyle Nails

2012-10-26T13:06:00.002-05:00

Okay, to be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of prints in general. Maybe because I can't really wear them, or maybe I just don't enjoy being "up and up" on the whole fashion thing. I wear a lot of black.

It's the color of my soul. >.<

The only time I can wear any type of print is if it's on my fingernails.

Today, I'm going to show you how to make an argyle print easily.

Here's what you need:

Base coat - To protect your nails

3 colors of your choice

Nail striper in your choice of color

Top coat - To protect it from chipping

Aaaaand here we go.

The photos are pretty self explanatory, but I'm going to type it out as well, because that's just how I do things.

1. Paint your nails with your base coat and let dry. Paint on your first color. I suggest doing one of the lighter colors you use. Let it dry completely.

2. Take a piece of tape and stick it to your palm a couple times (3 was the magic number for me). Then tape off your nail diagonally. Repeat the same process with another piece of tape until you make a "V" shape at the top of your nail.

3. Paint on your color.

4. Remove the tape slowly, before the nail polish dries.

5. Let your top "V" dry completely. Now tape off another "V" on the side of your nail.

6. Apply your third color.

7. Remove the tape carefully before this polish dries.

8-9. Once the polish is completely dried on one side, repeat steps 5-7 on the other side of your nail.

10. This is optional, but you can take a q-tip (or a brush) dipped in nail polish remover and clean up around your nails.

11. Taking your striper, make 4 lines that intersect at the top, bottom, and sides of your nail.

12. Seal it all with a top coat.

And then you're done!

If you have a fast drying top coat (like Seche Vite) I'd suggest using it between the taped layers, because it really speeds up the process. Without it, well...it could take a while (speaking from personal experience).

Also, if you have a hard time painting with your non-dominant hand, just keep practicing.

My right (dominant) hand doesn't look very great, but it works. It's not like it'll last for a good while, anyway. I DO have kids. And dishes. And laundry. And..yeah, you get it.

Hope you enjoyed this quick DIY!

Pinteresting: DIY Eye Makeup Remover

2012-10-18T13:55:00.001-05:00

Original Pin Here.

When I saw this, to be honest, I wasn't all that impressed. I have an eye makeup remover that works okay, and when I'm in a bind, I use extra virgin olive oil. Yes, you CAN just use that. It works, and it's very moisturizing for your skin. Unlike other oils, it won't clog your pores. It's just an all around amazement.

But I figured I'd give it a shot anyway, because extra virgin olive oil can get a bit pricey, and I don't necessarily like all the chemicals in eye make up remover.

The best part about this stuff is you can use it to take the makeup off your face as well.

Here's what you're gonna need.

1 c. water

1 1/2 tbsp. tear free baby shampoo

1/8 tsp. baby oil (I don't like using baby oil. I used extra virgin olive oil instead.)

Add it all into your storage jar.

You'll notice the oil floats on top. Each time before use, you'll want to give it a good shake.

Unfortunately, the container I used wasn't as sealed as I assumed it would be.

I had to switch to an old (clean) sauce jar.

Shakey shakey.

Aaaaaand you get a ton of bubbles. Kind of sucks, but you can work with it.

So, here's the test. I'll be comparing the stuff I just made to the stuff I use currently.

I'm going to use waterproof mascara, because it plays a key role in make up removal for me. If you can get waterproof mascara off your lashes with makeup remover, it's a good day.

I made two marks on my arm, then let them dry completely.

And here we go.

The left side is the homemade remover. The right side is the store bought remover.

I dabbed a bit of remover onto a cotton ball.

Here's one swipe.

Here's the second swipe.

Here's the third swipe.

Clearly, the homemade stuff CAN work, but it's not up to my standards per se.

It took a bit of rubbing and strength to get the last bits off. Something you DON'T want to have to do around your eyes. The tugging and pulling will cause damage and may lead to wrinkles. I don't want wrinkles.

But, now I'm going to show you something else.

A little bit of extra virgin olive oil onto a cotton ball.

Here's one swipe to the same waterproof mascara.

And the second swipe.

That's right. It's ALL gone. Clearly, the extra virgin olive oil works the best. Not to mention, the moisturizing of it is really great for around your eyes. I've never had an issue with it irritating my eyes before, either.

So, it's all up to you on what you want to use, but the DIY remover doesn't do amazing things with waterproof makeup.

DIY: Mock Corset Cut Tee

2012-10-04T11:50:00.001-05:00

Cut up shirts have been around for...a long time.

Today, I'm going to show you one way to cut your shirt up.

I'm using one of the tye dye shirts Jesse and I did.

I call it a "mock corset" because the way it's cut reminds me of a laced up corset. Simple enough, huh?

Keep reading to see how I did it.

You'll need:

A shirt (old or new, no matter here)

Scissors

Start with your shirt.

Kyle didn't plan on wearing this one, so it was all mine to do whatever with.

Lay it out flat on your work surface. Using your fingers, eyeball where you're going to cut the neck hole.

And then cut. This is completely optional, but I planned on wearing this shirt while running/exercising, so I wanted some added comfort. Collars aren't always comfortable.

Now grab the shirt from the middle of the front and back and flatten it out, so the two side seams are laying on top of eachother.

On the side that is the back, cut all the way down the shirt. You want cuts that are about the width of your finger and about 2-3 inches long.

Once they're all cut, lay your shirt so the front and back are together (like you typically lay your shirt flat) with the back (cut) side up. Gently pull on the strips you cut. They'll roll together and look almost like strings.

Leave the first cut strip alone. Pick up the second cut strip. Hold it over the first cut strip.

Take the second strip and put it underneath the first cut strip.

Take the third strip, put it over and under the second strip.

Continue going down the strips until you've reached the end. I'd suggest pulling the sides a little bit, or pushing slightly inside the holes between the strips to give a nice ladder.

You should be left with one strip loop hanging.

Cut the loop in half.

Tie each end onto the previous strip. I tied it twice. You can tie it as many times as you want. I don't suggest cutting off the excess. Once you wash, things become loose and tight and loose and tight and you don't want to risk your ties coming out.

Put your shirt on and enjoy the breeze you feel.

It's pretty simple and basic, and only takes about 15-20 minutes to finish it. You could also do this to the sides instead of the back, or even the front (you'd have to wear an undershirt with it, or...you know..just..yeah).

Hope you enjoyed this! If you have any questions, comment and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Pinteresting - 5 Minute Nail Polish Removal

2012-10-03T12:51:00.001-05:00

Though Pinterest, I see quite a few things that just catch my eye.

DIY crafts I want to do, photos that I think would work well with my kids, food. You know how it goes.

But then I saw this pin from Gingerbreadmanne and knew I had to try it.

As a mom, we typically try to do things the easiest/simplest/fastest way possible, and that's more true when you have multiple kids, especially the younger ones.

This was the perfect time to try. My nail polish started chipping.

It looks messy, but the mess is fairly minimal. You can actually see your nail polish being "soaked" into the cotton.

Oh. And this isn't mentioned anywhere, so many it's just me, but my fingers got SUPER cold. Like chillin' chillin' cold.

The results were worth it.

These were done in about 5ish minutes, and SO much easier than the typical "soak a few cotton balls and make a huge mess" thing I did before.

Moral: I'll never go back to my old ways. This way FTW.

Adventures In Tye Dying.

2012-10-02T19:24:00.000-05:00

My friend, Jesse, has been itching to do a craft project. Everytime she comes over, we try to figure out something to do.

I may have rubbed off on her a bit.

Hehehe. That's what she said.

So, she shows up last night with a tye dye kit.

And we got busy. The end results were pretty great.

Here's Jesse's. She did 5 shirts.

She complained the entire time that they wouldn't come out right. I kept trying to tell her (yeah, ME, Ms. OCD) that it's not about it coming out right. It's about being free and just going with it. She was pretty happy.

These are mine. I did 2 shirts (1 t-shirt, 1 tank top that I use when exercising) and 5 old burp cloths I had left from back in the day when Gabe threw up on everything (reflux SUCKS).

I'm pretty happy, too. I actually did the typical twist + rubber band thing with the shirts, but for the burp cloths? I hardly used a rubber band and just free twisted everything, going nuts. I think they're my favorites.

I also tried on my tank top and I felt so good about it, I may even go do a mile on the treadmill.

Maybe not. But it gives me a good feeling.

Carpal Tunnel - I blame Kia.

2012-09-30T16:05:00.001-05:00

So I have this friend. Her name is Kia. She's one of the most amazing people I know.

I met her through Kyle and, apparently, he hadn't wanted me to meet her back in the day. He was worried that a cat fight would ensue. He had no idea she and I would hit it off as well as we did, which was pretty effing well.

So, when I found out she was pregnant, I started going nuts. Even before finding out the gender.

Her sister, Sam, situated her baby shower. I made things.

Like this super adorable hat.

I took pictures at the shower, too.

I also made this blanket. This blanket is known as the Blanket That Would Never Be Finished. It's done in complete single crochet with sport weight yarn. It took MONTHS.

And now?

NOW POOKA'S HERE AND SHE CAN WEAR THINGS I MAKE!

Pooka came a month early. She's an itty bitty.

I was worried that the rainbow hat would be too small for her, that she'd never wear it.

I'm now told that it's one of the only things they have that actually fits her.

But THEN.

Then I saw these little boots online and I HAD to make them.

Now I gotta find a way to get to see my lil' KittyKat. I haven't met her yet but I love her so much, just like her mommy.