FOLLOW THE STRAY

Juju's Hat & Scarf

2013-02-18T16:17:00.002-05:00

This winter I made Julian a hat and scarf set. Everyone loved it so much my husband wanting a matching set (minus the pompom), my mom wanted a matching scarf, and my aunt wanted a matching set for her grandson. I still haven't gotten pictures of how the adult sized scarves look (everyone likes them because their circular shape makes them stand up in a Shinobi type sort of way and my mom likes how the crochet stitches look knitted), but here's Juju modelling his set.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Baby Outfits

2013-02-18T16:04:00.001-05:00

Here's some pictures from one of my latest creations. It was my first time making baby clothes (other than hats) so I'm pretty proud of how they all turned out. (I'm not however, so proud of the picture quality. I wasn't home when I finished these and had to mail them out so I didn't get to photograph them the way I would've liked--boooo)

Mickey & Minnie Crochet Baby Cotumes

Crochet Mickey Hat

Crochet Mickey Diaper Cover

Crochet Mickey Booties

Crochet Minnie Hat

Crochet Minnie Skirt

Crochet Minnie Slippers

Crochet Minnie Diaper Cover

Minnie & Mickey Mouse Baby Outfit Set

If you want to know how I crocheted these, check out my Hub on how to crochet baby outfits.

Spring where are you?

2013-02-02T23:59:00.002-05:00

Just changed my background here and on all my social networks. As you can see, I'm longing for spring to come already. I'm so over this cold!

I'm pretty excited, because as I mentioned in my last post, I have a lot of exciting things going on. Among them is moving and fundraising for my church. I bring those two things up in particular because I've been planning a lot of projects around them.

I'm so excited about moving because I just want a new canvas to work with and decorate. I really didn't do much with our current place because a few months in it was obvious we would not be staying there for very long--and once we learned I was pregnant again, we definitely knew we weren't going to stay past our lease. However, we are planning to make our next move be one that we stick to for at least a few years (I'm so sick of moving). Now armed with my moving and living-on-my-own experience I feel better prepared for taking on the challenge of home decorating.

So in the coming months there are several projects I'd like to take on:
- Re-vamp old unwanted furniture for a profit--or just get rid of it D:
- Make furniture we're keeping look fresh and new in our new place.
- Decorate with pictures and decor that make our new place feel like home.
- Childproof our new place better than we did the last (there is nothing like a hyper curious toddler to prove to you that your best efforts at safety just aren't good enough).
- If we're stuck with carpets again, figure out a way to keep them clean easily with (soon to be) two babies and a dog.
- Reuse all these cardboard boxes we're using to pack to make an awesome play house (and maybe more) for Juju. I've been itching to do this since the boxes to pack have started piling up in my house. For now all I can do is prepare until we move D:
- Do all of this on a tight budget because we are broooooke! Haha.

I'll be documenting my progress as I go along. I actually plan to make my cardboard box playhouse into a Hub.

As for the fundraiser, I wanted to share this as well because as I was creating a list of projects I put up some posts on how I made the crafts. My list is pretty extensive right now, so I think I will just make posts as I go along and make them.

Oh man, I can't wait! This year is going to be awwwwesome!

I Kinda Miss My iPhone

2013-01-27T15:56:00.001-05:00

So...I'm not dead.

In fact, I'm very very alive and busy and have been up to some really great stuff!

I think the main reason I haven't been blogging so much is because my iPhone broke a few months ago (it was my major way to connect to the web when I had it and also take lots of pictures of what I was up to), I've been working really hard on my apprenticeship with HubPages, I spend most of my free online time on Pinterest, I'm working again as an art teacher and computer teacher at SMART and selling awesome natural soaps and stuff at Edelweiss Soap Company, Juju is now a rambunctious toddler that loves to run around and play 24/7 (he hates to sleep), I've started becoming active in a church community, the Pointe of Praise, which I adore (those who know me are probably thinking "wtf" but more on that at a later time...) and...what else...oh yeah, I'm pregnant again, haha. I'll be due in April, but before then my hubby and I are looking to move since there's just enough space for us in our current apartment, but we're quickly going to outgrow it once #2 comes along. Plus, althoug I do love my community and all of my lovely woodland views--it's terribly isolated and impossible to walk anywhere. That, and the commute is killing my hubs (and our wallets, sheesh! I miss public transportation SO BAD!). So we're looking for a place closer to work, transportation, and--most importantly, I think--civilization.

So yes...that is why I have not been updating as frequently as I used to.

But I have been in the highest spirits lately, despite all the stress and chaos around me and I can't wait until I really have time to sit down and share all that's been going on. I've been working on some really awesome commissions that I'm excited to share and I feel my skill has improved leaps and bounds in the past few months (if only I had my iPhone to show off!). But I have some tutorials to share and other fun stuff. I'm really excited.

In the meantime, you should definitely check me out on Pinterest and Hubpages because those are the places I frequent the most--and once in awhile I'll still pop on to Twitter with some randomness.

1 Year Anniversary & My Wedding Regrets

2012-12-17T14:48:00.001-05:00

Today marks one year since Terrance and I got married. It has been an extremely difficult year for us on so many levels...but as I sit here and write this today, I can honestly say that I am happy.

I live someplace nice and comfortable with a man that truly loves me and is willing to do anything to make me happy. I have a beautiful, healthy, and intelligent son who has become the joy of my life. I have another son on the way, who so far is growing healthy and strong--just as his brother did. We all have our aches and pains, but overall we all have our health. I've finally started to lay down roots in my community and make friends. What reason do I have not to be happy? Sure, there are certainly things that make life hard--but no matter how much money I make, or where I live, or what I do, there will always be things that make life hard. This is true for everyone.

So I'm happy. And I'm determined to stay happy no matter what life throws at me...because it's just not worth it to feel anything less than joy in life. I've realized that if I'm trying to wait for things to be perfect in my life to smile, I'll die frowning. Nothing will ever be completely perfect and life certainly doesn't care about my plans and desires.

Yet, despite my resolution to just be happy about life, there is one aching regret that I just can't shake no matter how hard I try. Every time I think about it I just feel so much resentment, regret, and annoyance. It is heavy on my mind today because this regret happens to be my wedding day.

My wedding nearly ruined my marriage.

Sounds ridiculous but it's true. Our wedding was planned last minute after a wedding planner at the venue we were married at sold us a dream about how perfect it was going to be and how it was the "right way" to get married.

I was never one of those girls that dreamed her perfect wedding, with her perfect wedding dress, and her perfect wedding cake, and the perfect date to get married. Honestly, until I met my husband, I never wanted to get married. It just seemed like too much of a headache...and what was the point anyway when most people just wind up hating each other or getting divorced anyway?

So, when I got engaged I was instantly overwhelmed. What the heck do I do? Where the heck do I do it? I was exhausted by the mere thought of getting married--and honestly, watching all those wedding shows on TV is probably the worst thing I could have done. I think they're the worst thing for any engaged couple to watch honestly.

Wen this wedding planner told us that everything would be taken care of by the venue I was sold. I was going to get my TV wedding--so I thought. Turns out it wasn't so simple. We still had to send out invitations, get party favors, get a photographer, videographer, and DJ. Get someone to marry us, put together our bridesmaids and groomsmen. Figure out what the heck they were going to wear. And who remembers what else...all within the course of a month. Yes, we put the whole thing together in about a month! And yes we are flipping insane!

Our original count was supposed to be 40 guests, since that fit perfectly into our budget. 20 for me, 20 for my husband. Since we were so short on time I decided we should each send out our own invites to our guests. Apparently, my husband doesn't know how to count--or maybe he just doesn't know how to say no, because his 20 jumped to 90 confirms, leaving me figuring out who I could cut from my already limited list. I was livid. I still am livid. In fact, the rage I feel towards this miscount threatens to erupt from my throat like volcanic lava every time a friend or relative of my husband dares to ask why they weren't invited. It takes all the self control I can muster to not ball my fist and sock these people in the face--especially since most of these individuals who have the audacity to ask this don't even know my name.

But I digress. Next to the horribly disproportionate guest list, there were so many other headaches and disappointments--I don't even have the energy to list them off. At the end of our wedding night, my husband and I were just glad it was over. We barely touched our food, the only taste of our cake I got was what my husband mushed in my face, and we certainly didn't get to take advantage of the open bar as much as we wanted (/needed) to. We were just exhausted.

My point in writing this is not to complain or to scare engaged couples. I really just want to share some advice, whether or not you chose to listen is up to you--but if just one person can have a happy wedding learning from my mistake, I think I will resent it just a bit less.

The whole thing wasn't a wasted nightmare. There were parts of it that I enjoyed. My bridesmaids were all my best friends--and really the only guests, other than my family, that I really cared about being there. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have any fond memories of my wedding except walking down the aisle and exchanging vows with my husband. Though there are people I regret not inviting, I don't think inviting many more people on my side would have made me any happier. My husband invited 90 guests and he still feels the same way about the wedding as I do.

Invite the people who matter most to you. Don't invite people out of obligation or because you want to spare their feelings. This is about you--not them! And if they are rude enough to give you a hard time about it, then that's their issue, not yours.

In retrospect, I wish we had just eloped the day he proposed to me. It would have been simple, romantic, and stress free. No one would have been offended--because no one would have been invited! Best of all--we could have saved so much money!!! D'X

Keep things simple! Don't plan your wedding according to what other people think you should do, or what you think is the "right" thing to do. In the end, if you aren't happy with the way things turn out--you're the one who has to live with those memories (and PAY for them too!).

Overall, even though there were things that caused me a great deal of grief, there were moments that were absolutely sublime. I walked down the aisle to a beautiful cover of "Moment for Life" sung by one of Terrance's friends. Seeing him there, waiting for me at the end of the aisle, made my heart swell. I finally found someone who I loved who loved me back. Someone who made me believe that maybe marriage wasn't such a bad idea and happy endings don't have to just be in fairy tales. I was going to be his and he was going to be mine--and we would never have to be alone or feel unloved ever again, as long as we stuck together. I really wish I could have had that moment for life, because it was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever had.

A year later, though the thought of my wedding still sometimes threatens to give me a brain aneurysm, being married does not. Even though it was never necessarily my goal in life to be a wife or even a mother, I feel like I've found...I don't know...my place in life. I love being a mother and I love being married.

I love waking up next to my husband every morning and being able to smile and know that every morning I wake up he'll be there. I love holding my son and rubbing his back and belly until he's fast asleep. I love knowing that no matter how uncertain tomorrow is one thing will always remain true, I have a family that I love, who loves me. I have a foundation that I can rely on to get me through these hard times. I have faith and I have love and with those two powers combined, I know nothing is impossible.

So to all of you fiances, fiancees, and those who may be one of the two one day, please--if nothing else please at least remember not to lose focus about what your wedding is supposed to be about:

A wedding lasts a day. A marriage lasts a lifetime. A family is forever.

Finn & Jake Crocheted Hats

2012-10-29T12:04:00.000-04:00

For Halloween this year I wanted to go with an Adventure Time theme. So I crocheted a Finn hat and book bag for my son and a Jake hat for my husband. I wasn't sure who I was going to be until Friday, so now I have until Wednesday to finish my Cake hat. If I fail I have a purple wig, so I have Lumpy Space Princess as a back-up.

I had so much fun crocheting these hats! I freaking love Adventure Time! I didn't create or use any patterns for these, but if you would like help creating your own just contact me.

Crochet Adventure Time!

Crocheted Jake Hat

I modeled the hat when I first finished because my hubby was at work

Hmm, where's my sword??

Juju in his crocheted Finn hat and bag

Hubby in his handmade Jake hat

Happy Halloween!

October Apprenticeship

2012-10-29T11:50:00.000-04:00

So, as I may have already mentioned, I was accepted into the HubPages Apprenticeship--yay!

I've shared a few of the Hubs (specialized articles) I've written already, but I decided at the end of every month I'll compile a list of the Hubs I've written.

Here's what I've completed so far:
How to Be a Faithful Husband or Wife in Marriage
How to Type a Smiley Face with Keyboard Characters
How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone and Succeed in Sales
How to Use Hot Chocolate for Makeup
Healthy Yogurt Snack Recipes
What is Being a Mother Like?
How to Tell Your Parents You got a Bad Report Card
How to Build a Website for Fun
Warning Signs of a Potentially Abusive Relationship
How to Get Good at Crafts and Art Projects

And I have on I haven't finished writing yet:
Hello Kitty Themed Restaurants

I'd like to point out that apprentices have to choose titles from a lists...we aren't allowed to make up our own titles unless we get permission. This has made the process very challenging but interesting at the same time. Most of the titles I've listed I probably would not have written on my own, but I had a lot of fun working on all of them. While finding titles I could write about was kind of difficult I think I would have had an even harder time thinking up 8 things to write about on my own.

Overall, it's been a positive experience and I've been getting a lot of great feedback :)

How to Tell Your Parents You got a Bad Report Card

2012-10-05T09:54:00.001-04:00

I'm happy to announce that I was selected to be in the HubPages Internship. :) I hope this really improves my writing and my understanding of publishing 'net articles.

Anyway, it's already been a lot more challenging than I thought it would be. Not because the work is hard or anything...but because we have to use these darn "Exclusive Titles" and I am finding it difficult finding ones I'd like to write about.

Anyway, I came across this title and thought, "I would have loved to read this when I was a kid." Now that I'm a parent, I also have a new perspective on the topic. So I wrote this article targeted towards kids from the POV of a loving mom.

Read it here.

Quit Pinning, Start Doing

2012-09-29T14:54:00.002-04:00

Yeah...I'm basically addicted to Pinterest and have all these boards filled with projects I want to do and recipes I want to cook and ways to decorate my house.....and I haven't done any of it. Now that I'm working on the weekends, I actually have a little Julian-free downtime while I wait for customers to come in. My boss said I'm free to crochet or read while at work, so I've decided that I must use this time to be productive as possible! (I didn't plan ahead last night though, so today is less-than-productive in terms of me working on personal projects)

So, I've decided to make a list of projects I could easily do to keep me active. Maybe you'll see a couple projects you like too and work on them with me ;)

This is mostly to remind myself to DO STUFF!

From Crochet Board:
- pumpkins
- ghosts (already started these)
- mini mermaids
- centaurs
- warm comfy hooded scarf
- lace poncho
- hats
- little purses
- crochet bag (owe my mom one!)
- crochet backpack
- little teddy boxes
- lace top
- ruffle scarf
- booties
- kids hats

From Projects Board:
- leather & cloth pouches
- origami flowers (maybe made into earrings or hairclips? Maybe too summery for right now so I will wait until spring for this one I think lol)

Other:
- Halloween costumes D: I'm thinking of doing a family Adventure Time thing; Juju as Finn, my husband as Jake, and me as Princess Bubblegum or anthropomorphic Lady Rainicorn...I'm leaning towards Anthro-Lady Rainicorn right now because it would be just soooo fun and colourful!

My Mommy Pet Peeves

2012-09-22T12:31:00.001-04:00

Now that I'm a mom (and wife), I now understand why my mom would get so annoyed with me and my siblings. I suppose karma is getting back at me for giving my mom such a hard time because my husband is just like a kid! I sure hope I can get Juju into some good habits before he's old enough to start forming bad ones. Here are a list of things that I find really get on my nerves as a stay-at-home mom (and as a person in general!).

1. Clothes being left on the floor instead of put into the hamper. I can't stand it when stray articles of clothing and shoes are scattered all throughout the house! Are they clean? Are they dirty? I don't know! Why are they here?! Does it really take that much time and effort to put them in the hamper?? Really??? You can't spare a few moments of TV time to get up and put your clothes away!?!

2. Dishes scattered all over the house. Same thing! You were easily able to remove the dish from the kitchen. Why is it so tedious then to simply place it in the sink? I'm not even asking for you to WASH it. Just put it in the freaking sink! Not the table, not the counter, not next to the sink, IN THE SINK!

3. Speaking of dishes...if you're going to LOAD the dishwasher then RUN IT! There is nothing more irritating than opening a dishwasher, expecting to find clean dishes because someone else loaded it--only to find that they are stinky and dirty and now have tried caked on food that I now have to scrap off and put back in the washer. Not only that but now I'm stuck running the dishwasher twice!

4. It's so annoying when I'm asked to do something and am expected to do it at that moment--but when I ask the askers for a favor they take FOREVER or don't do it at all! I say this is a mommy problem because I know moms and dads ask there kids to do things and don't get results. But heaven forbid if their children ask for something and don't get it right away! Annoying!

5. Repeating myself. Why must I repeat myself a hundred times and still not get an answer? That's just rude!

6. Doing all the housework with no help. "But you're a stay-at-home mom," SOOO? Honestly though, this wouldn't bother me as much if the other things I listed above we're taken care of. Because of all this I feel like I'm always cleaning! And if I'm NOT always cleaning then the place turns into a disaster zone before the day is done! It's like, as soon as I finish straightening up I turn around and--as if by magic--it looks as if I've done nothing at all. It really put a damper on my housekeeping morale.

Anyway that's my rant for today! I hope this list doesn't get too much longer as Juju grows up!

Sickle Cell and Athletes

2012-09-14T13:26:00.002-04:00

Sports have always been really important to my husband, Terrance. In High School he played football, basketball, and track (though football was his game and what he was most known for). So when Julian was born, of course, Terrance wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. I'm not big on sports myself, but I decided--if that if Juju wants to be an athlete I will support him.

Now that we know he has the sickle cell trait, I've become a little apprehensive. I've told myself and I'm sure Terrance feels that if he could go his whole life, playing sports, being athletic, Julian could probably do the same without any complications. In fact, incidents where athletes suffer or die due to the sickle cell trait are quite rare. However, me being me, I still worry that Juju would be one of those rare cases (mom's are such worrywarts haha). Prevention is the best medicine, in my opinion. Even though it will be years until Julian is able to do anything athletic at all I've decided to study and prepare myself with the knowledge I need for when that day might come.

I came across this useful article on the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America's website. Here's an excerpt on useful tips/precautions athletes can take to prevent medical complications due to sickle cell:

National Athletic Trainer's Association (NATA)
Precautions and Treatment
No sickle-trait athlete is ever disqualified, because simple precautions seem to suffice. For the athlete with sickle cell trait, the following guidelines should be adhered to:

Build up slowly in training with paced progressions, allowing longer periods of rest and recovery between repetitions.

Encourage participation in preseason strength and conditioning programs to enhance the preparedness of athletes for performance testing which should be sports-specific. Athletes with sickle cell trait should be excluded from participation in performance tests such as mile runs, serial sprints, etc., as several deaths have occurred from participation in this setting.

Cessation of activity with onset of symptoms [muscle 'cramping', pain, swelling, weakness, tenderness; inability to "catch breath", fatigue].

If sickle-trait athletes can set their own pace, they seem to do fine.

All athletes should participate in a year-round, periodized strength and conditioning program that is consistent with individual needs, goals, abilities and sport-specific demands. Athletes with sickle cell trait who perform repetitive high-speed sprints and/or interval training that induces high levels of lactic acid should be allowed extended recovery between repetitions since this type of conditioning poses special risk to these athletes.

Ambient heat stress, dehydration, asthma, illness, and altitude predispose the athlete with sickle trait to an onset of crisis in physical exertion.

Adjust work/rest cycles for environmental heat stress

Emphasize hydration

Control asthma

No workout if an athlete with sickle trait is ill

Watch closely the athlete with sickle cell trait who is new to altitude. Modify training and have supplemental oxygen available for competitions.

Educate to create an environment that encourages athletes with sickle cell trait to report any symptoms immediately; any signs or symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty breathing, leg or low back pain, or leg or low back cramping in an athlete with sickle cell trait should be assumed to be sickling.

In the event of a sickling collapse, treat it as a medical emergency by doing the following:

Check vital signs.

Administer high-flow oxygen, 15 l pm (if available), with a non-rebreather face mask.

Cool the athlete, if necessary.

If the athlete is obtunded or as vital signs decline, call 911, attach an AED, start an IV, and get the athlete to the hospital fast.

Tell the doctors to expect explosive rhabdomyolysis and grave metabolic complications.

Proactively prepare by having an Emergency Action Plan and appropriate emergency equipment for all practices and competitions.

Source: NATA Consensus Development Document

*The NATA's recommendations posted on the NATA website and are provided for your information only. Providing this information to you does not translate to an endorsement of these recommendations by the SCDAA.

Sickle-Cell Anemia Awareness Month

2012-09-14T10:22:00.000-04:00

September is Sickle-Cell Anemia Awareness Month. In the past this would have just would have been completely off my radar. I would have thought "is that really even a thing anymore?" Seriously, I've been completely ignorant to this. I thought it was something people dealt with in the 70's and then it just sort of disappeared. But I guess that's how most people think of HIV nowadays too--it was terrifying when the epidemic first hit the scene, but nowadays most people just react with a "oh yeah, wow, that." So, I suppose, my oblivious reaction to Sickle-Cell is really just kind of stupid and uninformed.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't even be writing this right now if it weren't for the events that occurred last month. I may have mentioned before my family has been going through a lot lately, well, one of the scariest things we've had to deal with recently was a phone call from our son's pediatrician saying that he needed to come in for immediate tests after she found something strange with his blood. At the time she wasn't prepared to bring up Sickle-Cell.

After a whole fiasco of trying to get tests done, nurses being unable to take blood from Julian (because his arms are so chunky and his veins are hard to find), then scared of taking too much from a baby even though all these tests had to be done--FINALLY they took just enough to run the most necessary tests. All that was left was to wait.

And we waited.

And waited.

Our pediatrician told us if it was as serious as she had feared she would contact us right away. So, no news was good news in our mind. But no news also led our minds to wander into dark places. Finally, she called my husband and explained Julian had the Sickle-Cell trait with Thalassemia. I boelieve he must have the Beta+ trait because his red blood cells are just smaller than normal and she told us really not to worry. Regardless, I will be coming prepared with a list of questions at our next appointment. I sort of felt like we were playing telephone the entire time because the Dr. would call my husband and then he would tell me what was saying. So, I really need to hear for myself what she has to say about it.

Anyway, after we learned about Julian's condition I decided to do some research on my own. I couldn't believe that there "wasn't anything to worry about." In addition to that I'm a firm believer that fear comes from ignorance, so the best way to combat fear is to learn about what you're afraid of.

I learned the sickle-cell trait can only be passed on one way; through parents. In this scenario, my husband was the carrier of the trait. This actually comforted me a bit because he has lived a pretty average--and in some cases, such as in athletics, an above average life without any health complications related to the trait. He wasn't even aware he had it until now! This really put my heart at ease.

Sickle-cell, I learned, can only become sickle-cell anemia when both parents have the sickle-cell trait. This is probably the fact that made me the most sick to my stomach. I keep thinking what if I had the trait too? What if when my son is an adult he falls in love with someone who has the trait? That could end in tragedy for any children he might have. For this reason I cannot allow my son to grow in ignorance of his condition like his father did. Honestly, this has sort of pissed me off. I mean I can't be that angry because he really didn't know, but part of me still can't help but feel a bit upset. It just feels so unfair that I wasn't made aware that this was something we would have to deal with. That's why I just can't let anyone my son may end up with not know what they might be getting themselves into, it's just not fair. It may make things more difficult but it's the right thing to do.

In addition to these facts I've learned a few other things. Sickle-cell trait is mostly harmless except for (maybe) in a few situations; high altitudes, unpressurized planes (all commercial airliners are pressurized nowadays though), extreme physical conditions (such as fighting in war), and when dehydrated. In these situations, not enough oxygen gets to the blood so the normal blood cells a trait carrier has begin to sickle (become crescent shaped). If enough cells sickle this could lead to medical problems, or even death if too many cells sickle.

The most amazing thing I learned is about where the sickle-cell trait came from. No, it isn't a government conspiracy to kill off black people (considering the earliest cases of sickle-cell were found in African-American soldiers in the Civil War I highly doubt anyone at that time had the know-how to design such a complex condition--unless of course they were aliens or something, but that's beside the point...). It's actually way more interesting than that.

It's evolution.

Yes, evolution. In the areas of the world where sickle-cell originated (mostly in Africa and some places in the Mediterranean) malaria plagues the indigenous people. However, thanks to the crescent shape of sickle-cell blood cells, trait carriers are completely immune to malaria. Considering that this mutation is deadly itself, I'd say this is an evolution that was never allowed to fully mature--but that's just my opinion. Anyway, thinking of sickle-cell in this way has made me feel a little better--or at least think of it differently. The trait itself is not really a disease, it's the human body trying to learn and adapt to survive in a potentially hazardous environment. Now if only it will go BACK for people who aren't living in such environments, haha (yes, I know evolution doesn't work that way).

Overall, what I've concluded the best thing I can do for Julian is make sure he is healthy, drinks lots of water, and as he gets older make sure he's active but knows when he should take a break. But, shouldn't all people live this way?

There are still so many things I don't understand or know (for example, there's several different types of sickle-cell trait and thalassemia), but I've only just begun my journey. Since this is Sickle-Cell Awareness Month I may post more articles on my findings.

To any other parents like me, or people who are advocates for Sickle-Cell Awareness, I'd love to connect! So feel free to leave me a message!

Here are some sources for the information I talked about and places where you can learn even more (and in much better detail) about Sickle-Cell:

- Sickle Cell Beta Thalassemia Disease
- Wikipedia: Thalassemia
- Wikipedia: Sickle-Cell Disease
- Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (I will be joining them)
- September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month
- What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
- Sickle Cell Disease Genetics
- 92 Years Later, A Sickle-Cell Surprise

Fed Up with Parenting Critics

2012-09-10T22:42:00.000-04:00

Was going to post this on my new blog, but decided it was too ranty for the wholesomeness I'm trying to go for on that site, haha.

I just read this article from Not Just Cute and it was so moving I nearly cried. I guess it's because I'm SO tired of dealing with MY parenting critics.

One of the many inspirational quotes Not Just Cute posts.

I currently stay home with Julian, partly by choice partly because it's difficult for me to find work. I won't go into the intricate details of my family's dynamics, but being a single income household has not been easy on us--financially speaking.

And people adding in their useless two cents hasn't made things any better.

Yes. I want to stay home because it is my belief that children should be raised by their family, whether it's their mother or father or grandparent or whatever--in my opinion, family should be the one--and mom and dad most importantly of all. I didn't want and still don't want strangers raising my son, teaching them THEIR values, raising him to be like THEM. I want to give him the best childhood possible, with all the love, affection, and attention he needs to grow to be the happiest, healthiest, strongest kid he can. Who better to give a child that kind of love than his own mother?

My staying at home aside, my parenting decisions are also constantly in question because I don't follow the American norm. I don't believe in the "cry-out-method," I don't believe that babies sleeping in cribs are the best thing for them, I don't believe a baby crying or wanting to be held means he's "spoiled for attention." I don't believe these things because I've gone out and I've done the research and I've read the studies and I've learned that these things HURT CHILDREN. Maybe if we didn't do these things people in our country wouldn't be so depressed and obsessed with fame and fortune because they would know that they were loved and be satisfied with their lives. Maybe we wouldn't waste our lives away eating, taking drugs, drinking, or shopping to fill the void where our parent's love should be. Does that offend you? Well I'M OFFENDED every day when people talk to me like an IDIOT because I want to raise my child on LOVE and not INDIFFERENCE. So you can take your offense and stick it somewhere--because I don't care!

Even my husband combats me sometimes by saying things like, "you just always have to be different." This hurts most of all, because if anyone should be on my side--it should be him!

Look look look, I'm not trying to be unreasonable. I'm not even trying to say that the way I want to do things is the best way. I am totally open to adjusting my methods. I am not, however, willing to do that because "this is how my mom did it, and her mom did it, and her mom's mom did it." And I'm definitely not willing to ignore the detrimental consequences of being like "everyone else" without some sort of evidence to prove that maybe, what I've learned, is wrong.

I am not TRYING to be "different," I'm trying to do what's right--and judging by the amount of people joining the Attachment Parenting movement, and adopting parenting styles similar to that, I know I'm not alone in my beliefs.

I just wish I didn't have to turn to the internet to find people who understand....

Whatever though. Meek as I feel sometimes when faced with the constant barrage of mind-numbing comments, I will continue to go to battle for the well-being of my son. And when he is a confident, well-adjusted, and intelligent adult I won't even care if people don't acknowledge the fact that my parenting decisions are what helped him get there. Seeing him live a happy and fulfilling life is the only victory I need to know that I did my job as his mother.

Halloween Construction Paper Crafts

2012-09-10T16:27:00.001-04:00

Here are two projects I posted to get ready for Halloween. Hope you all have as much fun making these as I do! You could probably use felt or other materials to make these projects too. Be creative and us that imagination. ;)

Cute Baby Crafty Mom: Construction Paper Jack-O-Lantern

Cute Baby Crafty Mom: Make Your Own Monster

Wow I get to give birth AND change diapers!

2012-09-05T21:19:00.001-04:00

Here are some of my favorite vintage pinup humor pics from Anne Taintor. Haha! They're hilarious because it is how I feel sometimes EXACTLY.

Cute Baby Crafty Mom: Anne Taintor Favorites

Cute Baby Crafty Mom: Tye Dye Cupcakes

2012-09-05T21:17:00.001-04:00

I've decided to start a new blog to organize all my parenting/Juju/kid stuff related things. It's called "Cute Baby Crafty Mom." I want to share all my favorite kid's shows, toys, games, activities, art and science projects, recipes, and anything else having to do with being a Mom. I've gotten a few posts up already, but I still have a lot more ideas for things I want to do. I'm trying to get as much as I can up in the next few days to see what people think about it and if I'm going in the right direction.

Anyway, this post is about the tye dye cupcakes my sister and I made for my birthday this year. I love rainbow cupcakes and rainbow desserts so I really wanted to give them a try. They end up being really fun to make (and eat). I included the recipe we used as inspirational and some tips on making them as well as pictures of the process and the final product.

Ah, I could really use a rainbow cake right now....

Cute Baby Crafty Mom: Tye Dye Cupcakes

If I only had a few months left

2012-09-03T00:18:00.001-04:00

If I knew I only had a few months left to live I would take out any and all credit cards I could.

Then I'd buy wigs in all my favorite styles and colours and learn to do my make up right so I could look like a banging hot anime babe every day.

Speaking of anime, I'd cosplay everyday as the cutest most stylish characters I've admired or like Asian pop idols.

I would stop looking for a stupid stinking job and spend every moment of every day with people I love, especially my son, Julian.

I would never watch tv or play video games or waste time on the Internet. I would be outside exploring the world! Seeing everything there is to see before it was too late!

I would eat well enough that I could prolong my inevitable demise, but hamburgers and gelato would be staples in my diet. Oh and bread too...lots of delicious fluffy bread...oh and mozzarella cheese--the real Italian kind that comes in big round balls. Mmmmmm....

Food in general would always have to be delicious or I would not eat it! Not even to be nice!

Any little thought or desire of something I wanted to do would be done. No procrastinating, very little thinking it through, it it seems like a good idea it's going to happen.

I would sing. Loudly. I don't care it I suck.

I would dance. Just because I effing could.

I would tell the people I love that I love them every day. And the people I hate...I wouldn't say anything at all. My time would be too precious to waste on them.

I wouldn't sulk or cry or despair--at least I would try not to. There would be too many more wonderful things to do with that time.

I would cuddle my husband every night and let his heartbeat comfort me into sleep.

I would write letters and draw pictures and make videos for my son so that I could always be a presence in his life. I would try to leave him as much of me as I could so that he would always know I loved him so very very much.

I would not get angry with god or the universe or curse the world demanding to know, "WHY ME?" Why not me? Why not now? If not me, then who should it be? There is no answer for any of this. Not really. It's not worth getting angry over if it's not going to make a difference.

I would pray, all the time. Not to find a cure or to save myself but to give thanks to all the wonderful things I was given in life that made it worth living; all the things I love so much that I don't want to leave behind. I would pray for my family and loved ones, for their happiness and their futures and their safety. I would pray that one day no one would have to go through what I was going through because virtue and love would overcome greed and power and cures could be made.

I would not be disrespected by anyone at any time. If that means breaking someone's nose, then so be it--I've got a mean right hook!

I would not allow others to be disrespected in my presence. If that means fighting someone else's battle then bring it on!

I'd studio Jeet Kune Do and convince other students to stage fights with me in the street so we could make our very own Kung fu movies!

I wouldn't clean up ever again. And I would certainly never do stupid stinking laundry!!!

I'd write a book. Or two. Or twenty.

I'd go to space camp or try out a zero gravity simulator.

I'd parasail.

I'd go to Hawaii and learn how to hula.

I'd buy a four wheeler and use that as my mode of transportation.

I would paint my walls the colours of pastel and neon rainbows.

I would hug strangers.

I would smile more--because what's the point in crying?

And when I couldn't smile...because I'm sure there would be days when I just couldn't smile...I would not be alone. I would demand to be held and comforted and loved.

All I ever wanted in this life, after all, was just to be loved.

And if I could not do these things, I would at least try my hardest without wasting too much time or obsessing. The point isn't really to do the thing, the point is just to enjoy life and do things that make me happy.

.....

So now that this is all said and done, I wonder--why do I have to wait until I'm dying in order to start living?

It's Called Personal Responsibility

2012-08-22T09:17:00.002-04:00

You can't change people. No matter how much you want to. No matter how much you know they need to change. People need to change for themselves. They need to do better because they want to, not because you want them to. If someone changes just to make someone else happy the change is meaningless and will not last.

What you can change is yourself. It is easy to look at what is wrong with everyone else. It is easy to blame someone else for your life being miserable. It is easy to ignore that you are in charge of your own destiny or make yourself believe that you have no say in what happens to you at all.

But that's wrong.

Even when things happen in life that you didn't want to happen or hadn't planned on happening you hold the key to your destiny.

Human beings are unlike any other creatures on this planet. Whether that's because we are blessed by God, descended from aliens, or are just plain freaks of nature--I don't honestly know. I don't know why we're different, but the indisputable fact is, we are.

We try to hold ranks like other animals do, but inevitably it always falls apart. Why? Because our brains just don't work like that. We aren't drones. We have ambition, no matter what our position in life is; we have the ability to dream big.

I used to think I had no control over my life and that mad me so depressed. Sometimes still, especially when something difficult happens, I feel like I have no control over anything. But once I pull myself out of that mindset I realize that way of thinking is the ONLY thing that is preventing me from taking control.

I'm currently faced with some very difficult decisions right now. It would be easy to run away. It'd be easy take no responsibility at all and act like I have no options and no say in anything. But I'm not going to do that. I can't afford to. There are people counting on me. My son is counting on me. I need to be the strongest person I can. I need to be the strongest person in the world.

And I will.

I swear, I will.

Baby Mermaid Invitations

2012-07-25T18:07:00.003-04:00

So I started off my mission to boost my portfolio by working on one of my two little girl invites. I actually planned on making this invite for awhile.

Baby Mermaid Invite

Hi Sireina! As you can see I made myself 4 instead of 24 because the only mermaid invitations I've ever come across are for little girls and not young adults like me >_>.... I also refined Sireina's lines and stuff. I still like the drawing of her on my background better...but smoother lines seem to be more popular with people so whatever...

Baby Mermaid RSVP Card

Here's a RSVP card to go along with the invitation featuring my mermaid lineart. I also made Thank You Card stationary but I'm afraid to put it up because I don't want it to be stolen....then again I suppose people could steal these too...that would kind of suck but I guess I can't do much to stop it--except put a big ugly watermark on it, which I hate. Oh well. Poor Sireina.

Customizable Mermaid

I decided to sell this invitation on Etsy. I wanted to make it as customizable as possible without killing myself. My original idea had all the colours in this swatch chart and more plus 5 different hairstyles. That was just too much, so I cut down a lot of the colours I wasn't especially attached to, kept the skintones natural and basic, and offered one hairstyle. If these invites actually sell and I find that people are requesting other hairstyles I may offer more in the future, but for now that's it.

In addition to the invites I also decided to sell customizable mermaid graphics. This way mom's can have a couple different mermaids at their parties or just regular people can make stickers or something out of them. I don't know. As long as people aren't selling it, I don't care what they use it for.

Challenge Update

2012-07-25T10:05:00.001-04:00

So my birthday was Monday and...obviously I failed to do 23 projects again u_u....

However! The month is not over! So if I can complete the last 13 by the end of the month I'll feel like I redeemed myself, lol.

I've been applying to some graphic design jobs recently and am kind of embarrassed because I don't have much proof that I am good at graphic design. I've been pretty stupid about keeping copies and records of my work so I don't even remember all the stuff I've done or don't have access to them. Also, thanks to some technical problems, a lot of my favorite pieces are history. To put it bluntly, my portfolio is WEAK.

So, I'm changing my challenge YET AGAIN to focus on beefing up my portfolio. I think 13 nice designs will make a fine portfolio--especially with the works I do have to compliment the work.

So here's a list of the designs I'm hoping to finish by the end of the month.

For every project I'm going to do 2 designs; one classic/professional and one modern/edgy/fun (don't really know how to explain...just the opposite of classic/professional). This way I can show a nice range, right?

1. Two barbershop posters (T needs these done anyway)
2. Two business cards
3. Two website designs (with splash pages)
4. Two wedding invites (with RSVP and Thank You cards)
5. Two children's birthday invites (for a boy) ("")
6. Two children's birthday invites (for a girl) ("")
7. Two children's birthday invites (unisex) ("")
8. Two adult birthday invites (for her) ("")
9. Two adult birthday invites (for him) ("")
10. Two show posters
11. Two mock advertisements for some bogus product (this should be FUN)
12. Two business logos
13. Two book covers

The projects may not be completed in this order but we'll see. On top of this I'm workign on some other graphic design projects for people as well so maybe I'll share those (if they let me).

Let the games begin!

Day 10 - Invites for Juju's Bday

2012-07-19T01:31:00.002-04:00

These are prospective invites to Julian's first birthday. Yes! The theme has been disclosed! Did you guess what it was from looking at my Pinterest board? The theme is LION KING vs. T-REX!

I picked this because I really wanted dinosaurs but Terrance wants Lion King everything D:
Then I thought it'd be cool and different to combine the two :D
Terrance then said he didn't really care what the theme was, but it was too late. An idea was born--and I'm sticking to it!

It probably will not be as epic as it sounds, but I am thinking about making a volcano cake.
It's all going to be on a super tight budget and at our house, but it should be fun anyway...I'm not really a party person and I'll definitely never be one of those parents that spend THOUSANDS on their kids birthday. BUT I do love spending time with loved ones. :)

If you swipe this theme idea I'd love to know how it turned out!

Day 9 - New Layout

2012-07-18T13:10:00.001-04:00

As you can see I made a new layout, afterall. I was debating whether or not I wanted to do this because the Blogger dynamic layouts are really cool, but there are some design flaws about them that really sort of bother me.

Anyway, this layout isn't quite done yet. I'm trying to figure out how to make it a little less transparent so the links on the side aren't so hard to read...but it's been awhile since I dabbled in HTML and when it comes to that stuff--even just a year out of the game can set you back a century.

The little mermaid seen here is Sireina. She has a bunch of sisters too. I'm planning on using them for my first sellable birthday invites. My goal is to have a whole bunch of different looking mermaids so little girls (or boys too, I guess) can have a mermaid on their invite that looks just like them--or just have a mermaid that they really like. Sereina is just one I really like with her cool pink hair. Hahaha...

I'm using Zazzle to make the invites right now but it looks like I'm going to have to make a different invite for every single mermaid (and with multiple skin tones, tail colours, sea star bras, hair colours, and 4 different hairstyles this is going to take some serious work!!). With all the work that's ahead of me I'm wondering if there's a better way to do this! D: Etsy maybe?

We'll see, that project is still in the works...maybe it'll be ready by next summer HAHA.

I never handled death too well, no...

2012-07-16T23:59:00.001-04:00

It's crazy how in a single moment the very fabric of your reality is warped forever; a person dies, a baby is born, a bond is made or broken. These are the moments that change us, shape us, remind us that we are alive and demand that we focus on what is important.

The "grand scheme of things," the "master plan" is irrelevant to this moment, right now. The only thing you own is the present. The only thing that belongs to you is this very moment right now. The past isn't yours anymore and the future is never guaranteed.

No one wakes up on their last day thinking, "this is the day I will die."

I realize my mistake now. I'm a dreamer, a thinker, a shut in. I need to be a liver, a doer, open to the world.

What is a life behind closed doors worth?

What is the value of thoughts and ideas never spoken?

NOTHING!

I'm always lost in other worlds and alternate dimensions when the only thing that is worth anything is right here, right now.

I....just want to survive. I want to protect my loved ones.

I'm scared to death of death.

Day 8 - Made Sculpey Charms!

2012-07-16T22:11:00.000-04:00

Well started Sculpey charms...I baked most of them but I have to paint and finish them up.

I've been a bit down lately...for reasons I don't really feel like talking about just yet, but also because I'm kind of tired of being cooped up in the house. T knows this and so when we came across a Ben Franklin Art Supply store in town he insisted on getting me something new to occupy my time with.

I decided on some Sculpey III clay because I've been really missing sculpting. When I was in college and was feeling down, the fastest way for me to get out of my funk was to spend a night in the ceramics studio just throwing clay and making cute little clay figurines.

I have a little experience with polymer clay from using it in my art class but not very much. It's definitely a lot different than natural clays! Especially the Sculpey III which is super soft and smooth once it's been warmed up a bit.

When trying out new materials I really like to see what I can do on my own first before I learn techniques. So here are my works in progress!

I have seen beautiful polymer creations made out of impressions so I wanted to give it a try. I'm going to test out adding another colour to some of these, painting some of the others, and leaving the rest alone. I wonder which ones will look best :)

These sculpey mermaids were the most fun to make. I enjoyed it so much I did a tutorial on how to make them which you can read here: How to Make A Cute Polymer Clay Mermaid

I started practicing with the clay by choosing a colour and picking an animal to make with the colour. The first colour and animal I chose was purple and an octopus. So I made 3 purple sculpey octopi. I had a little clay leftover from the chunk I took so I also made a little purple sculpey dragon with green spikes. Cute, don't you think?

Next were green sculpey T-rexes. I thought about making different polymer dinosaurs, but since T-Rex is going with the theme I'm planning for Juju's birthday party, I decided to stick to it. I made another dragon with blue spikes.

The last colour I chose before I eventually started working on the mermaids was blue sculpey birds. Their design is based off of the amigurumi bird I made a little while ago.

My last little experiment were just some stripey rings. My favorite one was the white and orange one. I might make earrings out of the two purple ones...maybe...

So this is what I've done so far! When I've finished everything I'll share. :)

Day 7 - Created First real Hub

2012-07-16T03:50:00.001-04:00

So I created my first Hub on HubPages.

That was a lot of work D:

It was great though, I really like it. I definitely understand how the site works now and feel comfortable and confident using it.

This Hub was a showcase of my favorite amigurumi pieces. Next I think I'll do my favorite crochet pieces. Then I'll work on some tutorial type Hubs. I might even work on a story or two. Who knows!

Now that I have a grasp of how the site works, I'm really excited to use it. :)