Bens-day

Christmas Catch-up

We had such a great Christmas Break! The Krecklows came over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so here's some pics from both!

I like this version better...

Nap Day

You know when it's super cloudy or rainy/snowy and all you want to do is curl up and take a nap? Well, today was that day. I thought for sure Ben would feel the same way, but of course since he's 3, nope.

I've been wondering alot lately if he still needs naps, I think I have an answer:

6pm -



It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. - Blues Traveler

Bens-day

So here's something trippy for you...

Below is Ben:

And below is my brother:

Those are some related people! :)

Concrete jungle that dreams are made of...

And below are some pics from our FAB tour of NYC! Seriously, it was such a good time. And I'm not just saying that because there were adult beverages present at almost every meal. Though there were. And I liked them. Lots. Too much on Monday night in fact. Apparently the walk to the subway home was filled with me waxing-poetic on how homeless people are made. Yes. Made. I don't know either.

In an effort to fill you in on everything that happened, I have categorized stories by major event and in the grande tradition of my favorite sitcom, titled them a-la Friends. If you'd like to hear any particular story, let me know! :)

The one with the mimosas
The one with the ATM
The one with the ice fleecing- er- skating
The one with the running
The one with the Gospel
The one with the F train
The one with "whitey"
The one with when we almost got attacked
The one with the Michelle Bachman joke
The one with Jimmy Fallon's tush
The one with the $120 meal
The one with the WTC
The one with my wellies
The one with Le Pain
The one with Hugh Jackman
The one with Beir
The one with the layover

New York, New York

Thanksgiving Break this year will be the first time Tim and I are both off for a full week. Since he is teaching now, he has a break too!

We leave Saturday morning and don't come back until Thursday afternoon, so it is a good LONG time. I will super miss Ben, but I am very excited to get to travel alone with Tim. Not so excited about the flying part though mind you! :)

Here's a pic from our first ever trip to NY together - October 2002

And just for context, here's one from 2011. :)

Yes, Tim is less-fat. I am the same. :)

Bens-day

Tim probably won't love that I put this up, but hey, it's hilarious.

Happy Bens-day!

Crafternoon: Garment Bag

Garment Bags!

My show choir kids are forever losing or breaking our vinyl garment bags. They are at least $8 a pop and I'm buying them in bulk every year! So, I had the idea to do fabric bags for them, since they don't need to be waterproof. Here's what I used:






You need 2 1/2 yds of a cotton fabric, like the standard type used for quilting. Generally, it is sold for between $4-$10 a yard. There are often good sales though! The width of standard fabric is wide enough to make a cut at 26", then have 7/8" seam allowance. Fold the fabric in half lengthways before you cut. This creates the bag bottom.

I then sewed the finished edge together, right sides together. Pin then sew the freshly cut edge.







The next step is to make a "button hole" for the bag tie to come out of.





See the tube for your tie next. With the wrong side facing up, roll the good side over and tuck in the unfinished edge.





Flip right side out. Use the bodkin (or safety pin if you don't have one) to attach to the start edge if your tie. Thread it through the tube.

Done!! Slide it up over your clothes and you're good to go!!





PS- with the other fabric left over from your original cut, make accessory bags to match!!

It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. - Blues Traveler

Stop the world...

I want to get off my diet!

I realize I have posted something related to this recently, but it bears repeating.

I hate my shape.

However, here's the difference, I am beyond unmotivated to fix it. I have been weight watcher-ing in earnest for 2 weeks with little change. It's making me crazy. Not crazy thin, just crazy.

And it's not even that I want to be smaller. I really just want to be shaped...better...like, toned. So that is why, I am quitting diets.

Dunzo, as Nat would say. So I will concentrate on working out and being healthy. And...not buy double stuf Oreos.

Manic Monday...er...Tuesday

Love this outfit. It will definitely make the trip to NYC in a few weeks!! Ben is yelling "iPhone for me!!!" Can't even take a picture or text without Ben trying to take the phone...

The top is from Zara via Buffalo Exchange. The pants are Old Navy.




It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. - Blues Traveler

Halloween Costume

This year I did not make any part of Ben's Halloween costume. But, I am proud to say that I did have the foresight to purchase it early. As in August. And then I successfully hid it until just now!!
Feel just as proud as if I had actually made it!













It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. - Blues Traveler

Bens-day

Ben is cuddling with plush versions of Lighning McQueen and Mater, on the floor of a Hallmark store.

Fall!

I have decided, despite the 87 degrees weather, that fall is here! I had to share this ensemble, partly because it was purchased at bloom, partly because it looks great! :)

The necklace is from Charming Charlie's and is a pine cone!!! Love it! 

Manic Monday - twins!

First day after the musical and it couldn't have been better. I so enjoyed getting to actually hang out  with and talk to people again!

When Nat came in this morning, she and I are wearing  the same outfit! Love it!!

Shoes

Feels like a full, accurate explanation of my life...




It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection. - Blues Traveler