SCD: SPRING FLOWERS AT SHOEFLY

Well, technically they're dogwood blossoms, and I'm not sure what season they bloom . . .but it's spring, and they're new and now at ShoeFly!

PROCRASTINATED PROJECT: BUMPER BLANKETS

They are DONE!!

Well. . . The Winnie The Pooh blanket has been done for about a year. Which was about 2 weeks after I accepted this little project. Someone asked if I could take apart the bumpers from their kids' crib sets and make them into blankets. Seemed like it'd be pretty quick and easy. The first one was a breeze, simple to take apart and arrange to re-sew. It was finished before this little boy's birthday, but I thought that his big sister may be upset if she didn't get her blanket then too, so I waited and life went on and I kinda forgot about the second blanket.

When I finally started the second blanket it was not so easy. Whatever company made it sewed the heck out of it. . . it was kinda hard to find good pieces to use that didn't have holes all over it from where the old stitching was. Eventually I got it all taken apart and then was not looking forward to re-assembling things. So it sat some more. And more. . .and more. I got so close to finishing it and just needed to get the binding on. .. and then we were moving. So it sat a little longer while we packed and unpacked and then got busy with other things.

But I've had a super productive weekend (a painting project coming soon!) and there are so many other things I've got going in my head to do, but promised myself I'd finish this before starting anything else.

They are done . . . SIGH!

PLANNED: ALASKA TRIP 2010

After lots of frustration with how Alaska Airlines allows you to redeem miles and syncing flight times with ferry times plus what we want to do while we visit we have tickets to go home this summer!!

The end of June we'll fly up to Sitka (via Seattle AND Ketchikan - ugh!) to meet up with my parents. We're going to take a 3 day boat trip on their boat up to Haines where we still have a cabin on Chilkat Lake. Maybe we'll fit in a quick Skagway trip and then spend the 4th of July in Haines. The last time I got to visit there was in 2004, it's been awhile!

We arranged our tickets to get back to Seattle as quickly as possible with having to take a ferry and then catch a plane so that we can stay the night with some friends and do a little bit of shopping the next day. So excited for a vacation!!

I HAVE A WONDERFUL BOYFRIEND

Chad is the greatest boyfriend EVER! He recently was in Missoula and there's a Hollister there now! Apparently I didn't get my wishlist to him soon enough, but he went back again before he came home and got me two of my favorite tank tops (turquoise and a light green). They are so comfy!

"IT'S YOU. . .IT LOOKS LIKE A SCARY MONSTER, BUT IT'S YOU!"

Said by the 4 year old that drew my shadow on the sidewalk . . .

BREAD MAKING ROUND 2 . . . SUCCESS!

My first attempt at making bread was mildly successful. I think I had too much flour and didn't get the dough to rise very well. I'm blaming it on a recipe that had poor directions and was just random from the internet. Even though it turned out really dense, it had a sweet taste that was pretty good.

Round 2 came from my red and white plaid Better Homes and Gardens book (also online here). With pictures!! Things went much smoother -- yeast fermented, dough rose, bread cooked. . it's still not as light as I thought it would be, again maybe too much flour, even though I used less than it said. . . but it makes great toast!

Hoping to try for round 3 in the close future. . ..

LIST 3: FOOD FETISHES

Since I shared with you all the things that I will not eat under any circumstances, I thought it was best to let you in on what I love to eat (in the event that you invite me to dinner).

1 - Pizza: just pepperoni though

2 - French Toast: with vanilla, cinnamon and powdered sugar!

3 - Frosted Flakes

4 - Egg Noodles: just with butter and parmesan

5 - French Fries: I think McDonald's might be the best . ..

6 - Red Hot Blues Chips: these are the yummiest and only flavored chips I will eat

7 - McDonald's Sweet n Sour Sauce: they look at me silly when I ask for more packages

8 - Chocolate Milk: or strawberry. . . but not plain milk

9 - Grilled Cheese: only one slice of cheese

10 - Chicken Strips: I'm a cheap date because I can order off the kids' menu

11 - Lemonade: very, very sour lemonade

12 - Breadsticks: I love bread!

13 - Sweet Tea: when I have to order regular tea and ask for a bunch of sugar to put in it I'm only ever brought 3 packets. . . seriously, I mean A BUNCH of sugar, just bring like 20. . .

14 - Fruit Dip: cream cheese and marshmallow cream. .. heaven

15 - Strawberries/Kiwi/Pineapple: with the fruit dip

16 - Jerk Chicken Nachos: very odd for me to like things that are mixed together, but these are so yummy!

HOLLISTER HANKERING

I've done a lot of extra babysitting lately and can feel the extra money just burning a hole in my pocket. Not really . . . it's responsibly gone towards paying off furniture and student loans and to savings. But I still think about all the things I could be buying and right now I'd just die to go on a major shopping spree. A buddy of ours just went to Vegas and though he wasn't there for shopping purposes, he reminded me of all the great stores that aren't anywhere near Bozeman.

It was awhile ago, but my last experience at Hollister was amazing. . .so many things on sale and so many things that fit perfect. Checking out the website and there are a few things I wouldn't mind showing up in my closet.

1. Point Dume Dress (sadly I think they took this off their site as of sometime this morning!)

2. San Buenaventura T Shirt

3. Northside Swim Suit

4. Crest Canyon Tank

5. Cali Flare Stretch Jean

BOZEMAN BRIDAL WALK

After 5 and Weddings will have a booth set up in the Baxter Hotel. You can find me working at the store!

GREAT FALLS THRIFT STORE JUNKIE

I'm still a little sweater obsessed. I haven't been lately to any of the second hand stores here in Bozeman, partially because they're a little expensive and I'm afraid I'll find a perfect sweater that's marked at $9 and won't be able to help but buy it.

Over the weekend we went to Great Falls. I haven't been since Thanksgiving, when I went on my first thrift shopping outing. I've had the itch to go back and right away Saturday morning went to check them out. There's 3 that I know how to get to and have a TON of stuff.

Salvation Army Bargains and Treasures
Scored 8 sweaters for less than $5!! Typically they're about $3/each, but I hit it just right with the time that I got a couple of really good deals : )

Goodwill
Found the most "fashionable" sweaters here. .. meaning ones with more of a pattern, which are what I really like to make my mittens out of. They're just a little more fun that way.

St Vincent de Paul
Didn't have so much luck here with great deals or finding many sweaters mostly made of wool. I did find a wool sweater dress! And an old men's jacket that I'm gonna tear apart for a bag or a hat. .. we'll see.

Also am going to try make some fun hats with any extra pieces!

LIST 2: NO THANK YOU . . . I'LL PASS

(Also known as things that I will not eat)

I am a very plain girl when it comes to food. There are many, many, many things that I will not eat and really gross me out that so many other people absolutely love. If you ever invite me to dinner, do not be offended that my plate will look like it belongs to a bird or worry that I got enough to eat . . . I'm just really, really picky.

1 - Pickles: If you had pickles yesterday, I'll smell it . . .

2 - Peanut Butter: Just a jelly bread for me please . . .

3 - Spaghetti Sauce: With butter and parmesan only . . .

4 - Hot Dogs and Burgers: I'll just take the bun . . .

5 - Coffee: Gross, gross, gross . . .

6 - Beer: This makes me an expensive date . . .

7 - Seafood/Sushi: I grew up in Alaska and do not eat fish . . .

8 - Eggs: Really . .no thank you . ..

9 - Flavored Chips: Just plain chips . . .

10 - Ranch Dressing: Or any other condiments for that matter . . .

11 - Yogurt: Tastes funny. . .

12 - Sandwiches: I will eat a grilled cheese . . .

13 - Cooked Vegetables: I don't like mushy food . . .

14 - Fancy Pizza: But Pepperoni rocks my world . . .

15 - Bananas: Again, the mushy thing. . .

16 - Soup: Mixing things together and letting them get soggy is just not smart. . .

MY FIRST KNIT HAT

I've known how to crochet for years, but just in the last year learned to knit. I'd been given Hats, Mittens, and Scarves: 25 Cool and Cozy Projects before knowing how and was very excited after a few basic scarves to try my first hat.

It was made over a weekend trip, Thanksgiving maybe?, in Great Falls, for one of the little boys I watch. I love how it turned out and was very glad that it fits him. He's not much of a hat boy right now, but he does keep it on while we are outside during trips in and out of buildings and vehicles. He loves letting me put it on his head, just to take it off and laugh and do it all over again.

PERFECT RECIPE BOX

I have many cookbooks. How often do I use them? Rarely.

Every now and then when I'm looking to make something for the first time, but so often it's a cookie recipe I got from my mom or something I tore from a magazine or something scrawled on the back of an envelope. All these lonely and random recipes needed a home. I was not having much luck finding a recipe box and figured it wouldn't be that difficult to make my own.

I decided that I did not want it to have a top and that it would be something to keep out. I found a 5x5?? box at Micheal's . . painted the inside. . .mod podged some paper to the outside . . .created some dividers for different types of recipes . .. and ta da! . . .perfect recipe box : )

And it looks great next to my pear colored Kitchen-Aid . . .

LIST 1: THE THINGS IN MY BAG

After reading a few other blogs that have emptied their own bags for their 52 List projects I feel like the stuff in my bag is a little lame in comparison. Nothing too quirky. And really not that much. But at the same time a lot of it is stuff I have for a few "just in case" moments.

1 - Keys: a must

2 - Phone: most of the time on silent mode, unless I need to use it to make a call, I won't know that you've tried calling

3 - Planner: If you don't know what's going on, I do. As before mentioned I'm a big planner. There's little things that are okay.. .but if you're planning a camping trip and tell me the day before, I'll be opposed to going just on the basis of the short notice.

4 - Notebook: There's room in my planner for notes, but for all the random things I've got this. . .sometimes several notebooks. There's wish lists and a list of blog posts I mean to do. There's vacation plans. There's books I want to read. There's decorating ideas. There's a lot of really random stuff too.

5 - Lots of Pens: preferably from MacKenzie River Pizza and in blue ink

6 - Checkbook: I made it .. if you'd like one too, let me know : )

7 - Wallet: Love the hard case wallets, I have a few

8 - Business Card Case: I have some personal cards I've made, to give out for someone that needs a babysitter, or wants me to make something . .. and a few of Chad's, because he never has his own on him when he needs one!

9 - Pill Box: Rarely used, but the day I don't have it in my bag is the day I'll need some Advil

10 - Emergency Candy: A job lifesaver! The perfect bribe for a 3 and 5 year old to behave and get in return later . . . or to pacify an 18 month old having a cranky pants moment at a very imperfect time.

11 - Hair ties/Bobby Pins/Barrette: I wear my hair up a lot (Bert, if you ever read this, you were right), so there's a smattering of hair ties and bobby pins and a barrette I made in high school, which is one of my favorite things.

12 - Nail File: If I don't have it, I'll need it!

13 - Aveeno Chapstick: Discovered this a couple years ago at Target. It's a little more than some other kinds, but so worth it!

14 - Roll on Perfume/Lotion: Falling In Love by philosophy

15 - Emergency Make-Up: The kids don't care what I look like and I am not a morning person, most of the time I won't have anything on. If I do, it's because we went out the night before somewhere and I didn't take it off before bed. For all those last minute events that don't allow for me to go home and clean up I got this. It's a great little compact from Mark/Avon, which eyeshadow, blush, lip gloss and a mirror. Also a mini mascara/lip liner. It's an effort to embrace spontaneity and has done a pretty decent job is keeping me from freaking out too much at the last minute stuff.