Monday, June 30, 2008

SHUT UP!

I WON! I freakin' won! I can't even believe it! Seriously, people. I never win ANYTHING.

First, I'd like to thank the Academy for allowing me the opportunity to be among such other talented individuals. . .

Okay, that might be a bit overboard. But I am in love with the "random number generator" just a little bit for pulling my name out of the hat! Thanks Apronista!


PS I chose the blue one! Oh and I WON!!!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Remember that summer fabric?

Well you can WIN some now! First, if you haven't checked out Fresh Squeezed Fabric and you have an interest in sewing at all you should! And secondly if you want to win some head on over to Tracey's and check out her swap. You can also enter to win some of that summery fabric! Tracey is hosting a Tote Bag swap and I'm joining in. I figure since I have already made my FIRST TOTE all myself I've got it in the "bag" so to speak. Hardy, har, har. So head over to Tracey's, say hello, and join the swap! You only have until Sunday to do so!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Farmer Hubby


Hubby has been growing tomatoes. Or at least trying. He was getting really frustrated because he kept having to move his plants around and couldn't find the best place for them. But suddenly, there they are. Tomatoes. They are green and won't be good for another couple of weeks but the man's green thumb is finally coming through. Thank goodness. I kill any plant I touch!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Summer is in the Fabric!

I stumbled across this new little blog today that has the most BEAUTIFUL summer fabric and she just opened an Etsy store to sell it! Not only that but she has the most adorable sewing projects and has given me lots of ideas! Since the Fresh Squeezed Fabric just opened up she is having a fabric giveaway and I'm putting my name in the pot! Check out her stuff! It's to die for!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Jean skirting it

So the sewing continues.


Old jeans=new jean skirt.

This was fun to make. In fact I wish I had more old jeans. I think I may run off to the thrift store and pick up some used jeans. Since I didn't really have any idea how to make this I checked out Threadbanger and Instructables. I took a little from here and a little from there and made my skirt. It is so comfortable I think I could wear it every day! Want me to make you one? Send me your old jeans and I will!!

Oh and that fabulous little purse? That's my borrowed Furla. Yes, I am that girl. I see something in a movie and I check it out. And because I am also the girl that bargain shops I borrowed it for $5!

She's trying to make me weigh as much as her cattle

I'm serious. I think the Pioneer Woman is trying to give me a heart attack. Because all of her recipes are SO delicous I have eat 10 pounds of it and these recipes, my friends, are not for those that are faint of heart. Or faint of fat. And that's probably why they are so gosh darn delish. I've made about 4 or 5 of her dishes and I have yet to make one that hasn't been a hit.

Take for instance THIS recipe. YUM.




And not bad for you at all. No really. No fat. I cooked this tonight for hubby and I and it was a hit! I seriously wanted to eat the whole thing. See, I even added some fruit to my plate to balance out the butter. And cream cheese. And cheese. And. . .oh whatever. I give up.




Monday, June 23, 2008

Look, just GIVE me something already!


Don't they know I NEED it! Apronista is giving away another apron! YES! Yet another chance for me to win! And how CUTE is this apron?
So click this link and take a look. Don't enter though! You'll ruin my chances!

I'm just a regular June Cleaver

That's right. I've been transformed to a cooking, cleaning AND SEWING housewife. And I'm loving it. I never thought I would. I never thought I would be the girl that would spend HOURS in the grocery store and fabric store poring every little product. But I am. Huh. Weird.

So here we have some DELISH Whiskey Steak. I heart this steak very, berry much. I stole the recipe off the net (thanks internet peeps!) and marinated that steak in some good 'ol Jim Beam for a few hours and then grilled it up with some veggies. YUM.
And tonight I finished my SECOND sewing project. No pattern this time either! Of course it's not perfect but I'm pretty pleased with myself. I've decided I'm going to use it as my grocery bag or book bag. I was going to give it away as a gift but it's my first. Can't give away my first! Plus, it's not perfect and I'm WAY to Type A to send it off not looking perfect. And the total cost of this project? A little over $3.50! I picked up 4 placemats at Target on clearance (.74 each!) with some polka-dot ribbon. How's that for a bargain?

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Pay it Forward


I came across this little concept on this blog and I thought how cool is this? I LOVE to get stuff in the mail. It totally makes my day. And to have a surprise package show up! I would be in heaven.

So I thought why not PIF myself? Would you like to receive a surprise gift from me, on a surprise date, in the next 365 days?

Here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment on my blog that says you want to play. The first three peeps to comment get a surprise package from me! Make sure you leave your contact info if I don't have it already!

2. Do the same thing on your blog!The first three folks who leave a comment and commit to doing this on their blog, too, will get a surprise from YOU at a surprise time in the next 365 days!

Friday, June 20, 2008

They just keep giving it away

Where do these girls get the money to just keep giving this stuff away? I need to figure it out. So that I can give stuff away too. And maybe get a little something for myself too!




Okay, so this giveaway is for Lime Ricki. Such cute bathing suits and what better time for a free bathing suit than now? It's freaking hot! It's 100 here in the good 'ol Bay Area and it SO should not be that hot here. So check out the giveaway and enter to win!

I rock apron strings


I really, really do. I made an apron. All by myself. With no pattern. It took many long hours hunched over the sewing machine and checking out all the aprons I own. And yes, I know. It doesn't look life it took HOURS but hey, give me a break. It's my first apron. :-)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

MORE free stuff! Man, I'm in heaven!

Don't you just LOVE these:


I think they are so adorable and I, of course, want the pink one! So here's another chance to win FREE STUFF. Head on over to The Full Mommy and enter to win a cupcake courier. There are two ways to win: send an email and link to The Full Mommy in your blog. Of course I don't REALLY want any of you to enter because I want to win it myself!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day. . .a day late

I know quite a few father's. Some of them great, some of them not so great. But I know of three exceptional father's.

My Dad:

My first love, my supporter, my voice of reason, my comforter, MY DADDY. Thank you for always being the one to treat me as an adult even when I was 5. I loved that. Thank you for always taking care of me when I was sick, because no one else would do. Thank you for always telling me the truth and never letting me quit. Thank you for loving me with all of your heart.



My Hubby:

Even though I've only see you be a dad for a few years the love that you have for your girl is undeniable. You adore her. You have continually made sacrifices for her life to be better and have been there for her however you can. You are a wonderful father and I can't wait to watch you be a father with our kids.


My Brother-in-law:

Never was there a more fun dad! You would lay down your life for those girls. It was been so cool to watch you grow into the dad you are. Your girls know that no matter what you will always be there for them. They know that no matter what it takes you will take care of them. And squeeze in a little time for tackle city while you are at it.

Happy Father's day to these 3 wonderful men and my life and all you other wonderful father's out there!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Because I'm ALL about free stuff

If you love aprons and have to have them I've got two giveaways that will be just up your alley! Check out Cathy's blog and enter in her apron giveaway. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHY! So cute!

And then go check out the Apronista blog and enter to win a Carolyn's Kitchen apron. I of course am in LOVE with the cupcake apron. Although I am afraid if I wear it I will want to eat it!


So run off and enter my little friends!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


I just have one thing to say about men. )*(&#:l<>

And that's all I have to say about that.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Hangin' with my Momma

The last weekend in May my mom came to visit me. She was our very first in our little marital home. It was so nice to have Momma here visiting. We had such a great time. One of the things that we did was go to tea. My momma LOVES her some English Tea Service. So as part of her Mother's Day gift I took her tea.
She loved it. And she was SHOCKED by my other surprise. Little did she know that she brought it with her from my wedding photographer. I was able to get my mom a parents album of my wedding album (Don't worry! I will SO be blogging about that later!) My mom had really wanted one and wasn't able to purchase it so she was so surprised when she saw her album. She really, really loved it and it made me so happy I was able to give it to her.


While she was here we also did a little shopping, got some pedicure's, ate some yummy food. You know all the usuals. I'm so glad she came and I can't wait until she visits again!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Sneak peek


So this weekend, along with my little trip, I got to have my FIRST EVER engagement shoot. My cousin Natausha is marrying a very lovely man named Phillip in October of this year and they asked me to take their pictures. I was honored to be asked and spent a lovely, bright and hot Sunday morning take some pretty pictures of the lovely couple. Here's a few of my favs.


Surprise!

The hubby and I took a trip to Bakersfield this past weekend. Which was fun for two reasons (despite it being BAKERSFIELD). One, this is the first trip SINCE OUR MINI-MOON that we have taken together. Every trip we have taken to visit family has just been one or the other. Secondly, we got to hang out with my big, huge extended paternal family. We went there for my Aunt Carlene's surprise birthday party. She turned the big 6-0! Her daughters Natuasha and B'anna worked really hard along with Jeff who made the most AMAZING tri-tip I've ever had. We all gathered at B'anna's house and Aunt Carlene had no idea! It was a great weekend to hang out with our crazy family. We had a blast!



I'm a terrible, terrible person

So I was informed this weekend, rather bluntly, that I was a slacker. How are people supposed to keep up on my life if I don't blog? I know, I know. Terrible.

Life has been, shall we say, overwhelming. The job is still no fun. I just want to survive it. So there is that. And then there is the whole married thing. Gotta keep that alive and kicking! Can't live on love alone people! Oh and then there is all the crafting projects that I decided I just had to do. I'm teaching myself to sew. Not necessarily an easy thing! But I did make a very cute jeanskirt. Next project is an apron. There have been visits from the familia (hi Mom!) and trips out of town. And the other little blogs and newsletters and projects I'm working on. Whew. I'm tired. And of course I have to squeeze in my TV time. Can't miss my Jon & Kate Plus 8!

But I'm back with new resolve. No really. Just be patient with me. I'm a work in progress.