Sara's first haircut

The before

The during

The after

I am so proud of Sara. She didn't fuss or cry at all. She is such a big girl now.

Finally some change!

OBAMA WON! THANK YOU LORD!

Perfect blackmail picture someday!

My Daughter the Dainty Flower!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I 've fallen and I can't get up!

Well I have really done it this time. On Tuesday I fell down my back cement steps and really hurt myself. I cracked my head on the cement, landed on my tail bone, and finally rolled to the floor on my right side. Needless to say I am bruised and soar. I had a big goose egg on my head which might be a slight concussion, I have a bruise on my ass that is bigger then my hand, and I can't raise my arm to even put a hair tie in my hair. It all rather sucks. Most of all I have taken more advil then have ever done before, I have burst out in tears from pain, and I have orders I need to get done. If only Eric knew how to sew!

I am in pain!

I can't take it anymore! At this point if I could rip the front half of my face off and clean it out I would. I don't know if it is allergies, infection, or what! All I know is nothing is working to help me. I can't take it much longer. I might have to break down, see a doctor and pay some inflated amount of money to see him. This sucks!

Who needs fake lawn ornaments...

Who needs fake lawn ornaments when you can have the real thing! This picture of elk is from a sub-division housing area. This is what happens when we build in their back yards.

The most dangerous cake in the world

I tried this last night and I have to say it works!( Not my picture above. Many have tried this with great results.) The cake isn't to bad. Now keep in mind that the cake is being micro waved so it doesn't exactly taste like a baked cake. Also buy some frosting to put on top. It does make a difference. Then again when does it not. LOL. Overall not bad for a 3 minute cake. Personally I say ROCK!

Minute Chocolate Mug Cake
1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

I love this pic of Pookie Poo!

This is why you don't show boat!

Just look at all that hair!

New Harry Potter Look!

My little girls matching dress

I am so excited! The family and some friends are going to the Great Lakes Medieval Faire on July 20th and this will be the first time Sara will be dressed up. So of course I had to make her a matching outfit. I know, perhaps overkill, but I think she will look super cute. Not only that but, I can use the dress as a display gown to go with mine when I sell at my booth. I even made her a cute little coif to go with the dress. The only thing that is different is the trim on the dress. Mainly because I couldn't find the one that is on my dress. I think it might be discontinued. :-( The one on her dress does seem to pop. As for the partalet that is under my dress, I think I might put a short sleeve onsie on Sara so it fits a bit better on her. I will need to experiment a little to see what works. I can't wait to take pictures of her in the outfit. I just hope it isn't going to be to hot to wear the dresses.

One of my favs! A Renaissance Jester costume!

This is one of my favorite men's Renaissance outfit I have made. I wanted to make a Jester's outfit as soon as I saw this fabric. I cut the fabric on the bias to get the diamond shape with the squares. Once I had that done it was all about sewing the bells on ribbons onto the doublet and pumpkin pants. Of course I couldn't stop there, I made a Jester hat with bells too. With the help of some lovely ladies from a sewing group I belong to I got the porcelain doll head and started the make the Jester's wand. I dressed the wand jester just like the costume. You can see the wand below. I ended up selling the outfit on Ebay. The man in the pictures very graciously to let me use these pictures. It is always so nice to see your work in action. He ended up selling the outfit himself when he changed persona's. So where ever this outfit is I hope it is getting a lot of use.

The Ped Egg ROCKS!

This handy little thing is a Ped Egg. It is awesome! I got mine a few days ago and finally used it last night. My feet look and feel great. I highly recommend it to anyone who has bad calluses on their feet. For me this comes around every spring when my feet get to breath in sandals again. For me the pumas stones never really worked. So when I would get out the shower I would...bare with me here.... take my thumb nail and scrap the dead skin off. I know it sounds gross but that is what I did. Even then they still looked like crap. I have tried creams with no help, a pedicure by a professional with no help, and a pumas stone on a stick with no help. So I saw this Ped Egg on TV and thought, "I wonder if it really works?" I have seen things on TV for sale and thought, "right, that doesn't work or it isn't worth the money." Then I got a 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath, & Beyond and thought, "Lets give it a try. If it doesn't work then I am only out $5.00." So I asked the girl behind the counter if she heard about these and if they work and she told me, "We sell a ton of these things. Women come in and buy one for themselves and then come back to get them as gifts." A glowing review and I have to admit I totally agree with them. My feet look lovely. The only complaint I have is that not all the shaved skin gets caught in the egg. Most of it does. So I would do this over a small trash can just in case of fall out. So my lady friends guess what you might be getting as a gift... a Ped Egg!

Because real men wear cod pieces!

So I was going through some pictures on line and found a few good pictures of men wearing Renaissance clothing. I thought to myself, "Now that is a cod piece!" So in honor of the cod piece I thought I would post a few pics of my men's outfit that had a cod piece.

No thrills airline

Ah yes. With the airlines now getting rid of free nuts and charging you to bring luggage with you on a trip, this clip has even more meaning then when it was first aired on the Carol Burnett show.

My baby is 1 today

I can't believe it! My baby is a year old today. It is a bitter sweet day for me. On one hand my baby girl is starting to walk, play, and be a big girl. She can hold her on bottle, feed herself puffs, and sit up to play with toys in the bath tub. On the other hand she is no longer my little tiny baby. To hold as she falls asleep on my chest, to fall sleep when she was in her swing, and wear her cute little footie onesies.

It was one year today that this angel came into Eric and I's life and I haven't regretted a single moment of it. I thank god that there was a way for me to become pregnant with her. I thank god that she came out ok with no complications or health problems, and I thank god that I was able to keep another human being alive for this long. LOL On a serious note, I thank god for her being in my life. I feel complete.

Happy birthday my pookie poo.

My father-in-law

All week long I have been looking for the right words to say to my husband, and how I feel about the passing of my father-in-law. It has been hard for me to express the sadness I feel. The pain, anger, and the overall hurt. Dave was a good guy. Even though I only knew him for the past 15 years I felt that he truly liked me and thought I was good for his son. I don't feel like he ever held back around me when he needed to get something off his chest or had a bad word to say about me. Even if he did I don't think he would say it. Some of the things I will remember about him is his tractor rides with the kids, playing games with all of us, working on the pool in the summer, and how he always wanted a belt and wallet for his birthday. After he got his belt and wallet he had to come up with something new. Not to mention his penchant for being a smart ass when he could. Perhaps maybe that's why I liked him. We share that. He was also so excited over the fact that I started my own business. He kept telling me I would need to get employees some day.

I guess what I am angry about is the fact that he won't get to know Sara and vice-versa. I got to know my grandparents and spend time with them. I have fond memories of playing golf with my grandfathers, going camping with them, and going for bike rides. I even remember eating the best hamburger I ever ate from my grandmother. It is hard for me to think that Sara won't have those type of memories about her Grandpa Williams. He won't get to share in her first birthday and take her for a tractor ride.

I guess I am also angry at the fact that he smoked for such a long time. Even though the doctor told him he needed to stop he didn't. He smoked cigs for most of his life and I know it is hard to give the habit up. I guess I was just angry at the fact that I knew what was going to happen and there wasn't a damn thing I could say or do to make him see that. Doctors talk about lung cancer but that isn't what kills people; it is emphysema that kills people. It is what killed Dave.

Over all I just have a sense of loss. Knowing that he isn't around anymore. That if Eric needed help his dad won't be there. Knowing that none of our parents are immortal here on Earth and that some day I will need to do the same with my parents. I can't even bear the thought of losing my Buster puppy let alone a parent.

I am also sad at the fact that Eric couldn't be there when he passed. I know that things happen for a reason and he didn't want Eric to see him that way. It is still just hard. I have been seeing Eric beat himself up over the fact that he didn't take enough pictures of him with Sara or videos of them together. It breaks my heart.

I have been crying off and on over the past few days and little things have set me off. I cried when Eric told me about his passing but what really made me cry was when Eric brought a small part of his air hose home. Sara would play with it when she was on his lap. As Sara played with the hose I couldn't hold back my tears. Suddenly Eric was consoling me instead of the other way around.

I know that you are going to read this Eric and I am sorry he is gone. I am sorry you will not see your dad again. I am sorry if you think I was harsh about his smoking. I knew he wasn't going to make it out of the hospital but I didn't want to say anything. I wanted you to have hope. Most of all I am sorry we couldn't spend more time with him at the end.

Wherever you are sir, what ever you might be doing, I hope you are happy. I hope there isn't anymore pain. I hope that there is plenty of air to breath and lots of people to talk with. I hope you know what you meant to us still left behind. Over all a loving man.

We all will miss you.

All I want is some good looking plus size clothing!

I have been a plus size gal for many years of my life and it has been a bummer. I know I am fat and I have grown to accept it. I am never going to be a size 10 or less and I know that. I came close once when I was in college but I did nothing but exercise my life away. I don't have that kind of time on my hands now. Granted I would love to be a size 14 again but unless I go on a drastic diet and liposuction program I don't see that happening anytime soon.

The main reason I bring this up is I recently saw a lovely blouse I was interested in buying. For this blouse to fit I would have needed a solid 3XL size to give me enough room. Now this is nothing out of the ordinary for me since I have an extremely large chest. I wear a size 40I bra. I have always had a big chest. Even when I was close to a size 10 I wore a 36DD bra. So getting shirts big enough hasn't bothered me. So I go into the store to check out the sizes on this shirt. They only go up to a L-XL. I was bummed. The store lady comes over and asked if she could help me. I told her I was interested in this lovely blouse but it wasn't big enough. So she insisted I try it on. I am thinking, "HELLO LADY HAVE YOU LOOKED AT MY CHEST?" so I thought well I would give it a try. Needless to say I should have gone with my first thought and not even bothered. I came out and said there was no way. She said, "Let me check the catalogue and see if there is a bigger size offered. HOPE! at last nothing. The biggest sized offered is a L-XL.

Feeling rejected I left the store. Now why is it all the nice looking stuff is made for a woman a size 14 and smaller. I looked in a plus size store and everything looks like a sack! I don't want to wear a sack! I want to wear something pretty, airy, and creates a shape other then round! Not only that but there doesn't seem to be a middle ground. It is either all made for older ladies or for overweight Huchie-mamas! I don't want to look like a grandma but I don't want to look like a hooker either! I just want something that is nice, casual, and elegant. Who buys this crap for stores to sell!? I am thinking it is either some skinny bitch or some brain dead man with no style! I mean really, who in the hell thinks multi-colored paisley shirts look good!?!?!?!? Not only that but if I do find something nice to wear and it is big enough it doesn't fit right. Either the shoulders are to big of the bottom half is to tight. I think I am doomed to be naked!

One of my favorite Italian Renassance dresses

This is one of my favorite Italian Renaissance dresses I have made. It isn't traditional fabric but the cut is based off a period pattern. I have the ties on the side of the dress so it will fit a wide array of sizes. I have made a few of these dress ensembles over the years and I love the way this one turned out. I also like this one:



On this dress I have the ties sewn into the pieces instead of through grommet holes. Also the front panel comes out if you want to create a different look.

Best surprise party ever!

Coming up is the anniversary of one of the best surprise parties ever! Let me set the the scene for you. In the below post I talk about the Wooster Rotary Auction. I go every year and stay till the bitter end. I like to see how much things go for. Last year I was 8 months pregnant with my first and only child little Sara Marie. My plan was to get a dry sink and turn it into a changing table for the baby. On the first day a lovely dry sink came up. I bid on it and it went for over $200.00. I couldn't justify paying that much for it so I let it go. Besides I had a different one to bid on the next day and I was hoping to get that one.

The next day arrives and I feel like crap. I got up and told Eric I wasn't feeling all that well and thought about just staying home but our fiends were coming down for the auction so I thought I better go. Plus I really wanted that dry sink. So off I went and I waited for my loving husband to arrive later after he was done at work. Showing up late, very late I might add, he finally made it there before my auction for the dry sink came up. What he didn't know was I had planned a surprise of my own. To buy him something he always wanted to replace from his childhood. A Pinchinco game. I won it and was so excited to show him. He arrived sweating, and out of breath. I asked him if he was alright and he said, "Yes. I just had a bunch of running around to do." I showed him the game and I became the coolest person in the world that day.

Little did I know the reason why he was late and sweaty. He was helping to plan a big surprise Baby Shower for me. At some point I had expected a baby shower to be thrown for me by the coolest BFF around Ms. Trixie Ray. However, I had expected to be told about it ahead of time. This is when my Husband, BFF, Andy, Shannon deuce, and Kevin decide to through a surprise baby shower. Throw me off my guard.

My husband had been asked strange questions when he arrived at the auction like, "Is the football in play?" or "Is the notebook orange?" I didn't think anything of it mainly because my friends are just plan strange to begin with. At one point my husband said he needed to call his Dad on the cell phone which I thought, "Why? It is almost over."Then my dry sink came my in the cue. Eric said he would bid because of my loss of the other the night before and he knew I was upset about it. Pregnant remember!? Anyway, we got up there and I told him, "If it goes to high stop bidding. I will stop hitting your leg when it gets to high." The dry sink went up to $200.00, I stop hitting but he kept going. AHHHHH! I later found out that he got it because there were people in our house and they were all waiting on us to get there. My plan was to bid on something different down the list if I didn't get the dry sink and Eric couldn't take that chance. After we won and paid for the item Eric said to me, "I need to eat. Also i don't want someone to steal my Pinchinco game." I thought to myself, "No one is going to steal your damn Pinchinco game." I wanted to stay but I relented and we went home. I followed Eric home and noticed a bunch of cars parked on the road. I thought, "Wow, someone must be having a party." Eric parked and was running up the sidewalk with his game in hand and I thought, "What the hell dude! And you were worried about someone stealing it and here you are running with it!?" I pulled into the garage and this is when the fun starts.

I went up to the door, put the key in, and the door opened. My first thought was "Oh my God Eric didn't lock the door!" Then it went to,"I hear voices, Who is in my house and Oh God don't take my TiVo!" The lights were on and I walled in to confront the people in my house! That's when "Surprise!" The pictures below are the first pics of me walking into the house.


I can truly say for the first time in my life I was speechless. I am never speechless, ever! I couldn't talk for a good full 15 minutes. This whole time Eric was calling the house and letting them know we were late, then we had left, and finally, "To the people in my house, we are here. Hide!" Andy and Kevin almost didn't make it for the big reveal because they went to the store for beer and went through red lights to make it back in time. What a cleaver deception.

All I can say is, I have wonderful friends, a loving husband, the coolest BFF, and a $225.00 changing table. I am truly blessed.

Auction time again!

As many of you know it is time to go to the Wooster Rotary Auction in Wooster, Ohio. this auction is frickin' big! Hundreds of stuff to bid on. The Wooster Rotary hold this auction to help raise money for the community and it has become a look forward to event for many years now. Here is a link to the auction and a list of all the items being sold. http://pages.sssnet.com/rotaryclub/
This year we are selling some items that I got at the auction and simply no longer have room for or have replaced through the years. My husband is even selling some of his comic books. 2 great big boxes full of books. I am hoping for some good money from our fine items. We are selling a wooden rocking chair, 5 kitchen chairs, a lovely round table, and the comic books. However, any money I make will more then likely go towards the buying of new things.

My husband also has a pension for buying strange and unusual things. One year it was a small cheese box with a jingle Santa and a Canadian Mountie in it. He was so proud of that purchase. The best story is of my friend Marni. After a screwed up attempt at buying a rocking chair for herself, she was bound and determined to buy a small child's rocking chair for her son. The time came around the end of the auction and she stood up, got in view, and started to bid. Unfortunately she was bidding against a dealer and the price had sored to a high 100 dollars. Once she had won the bid she cried in a determined and stern voice, "405!" The high light of the auction. As she went to pay for the chair the people bidding against her thought she was a dealer and was jacking the price up. They soon realized after watching Marni's son standing on the chair that she was indeed not a dealer. They apologized. She still ended up paying $100 for the chair. Afterwards she put her hand to her check and said, " I just bought a chair for $100.00 for a 3 year old. He'll probably break tomorrow." It lasted a little longer then that but not by much.

We have a few new people coming in for the auction this year. Here is hoping they get auction fever too. After all there might be whale vertebra again this year to bid on!

adult smurf? WTF!?

Words fail me.

In honor of St. Patty's day

In honor of St. Patty's Day I made this Irish over dress last year. The black linen has wonderful embroidered shamrocks all over it in kelly green. I thought a kelly green skirt would look perfect under this dress. I had a hard time selling this dress. I really loved it. If I ever come across this fabric again I am so buying. This time I will make a dress for myself. :-)

when will Lee make a new post

Missing (in) Action

So I have checked in on Lee's blog every once and awhile and nothing new has appeared on her blog. Now I know Lee reads this blog and the other various people I have linked at the side of this blog so I am hoping this will be a HINT to Lee to post something new. Perhaps from this month. LOL

top 5 chase scenes

Last night Eric and I saw the Bourne movies again. What a great series of movies if you haven't seen them. Well, anyway we got to talking and I asked him what his top 5 chase scenes were. Here is our list.
Honorable mention: Indian Jones and the Last Crusade. Scene: Indy and dad on the motorcycle.
A great scene with good interaction between Harrison and Connery. Always a cleaver idea to use a road blocking stick as a lance. LOL


Honorable mention: Bond, Tomorrow Never Dies. Scene: Michelle Yoeh and Perice Bronsen on the motorcycle being chased while being handcuffed together.
I have to say this was cleaver. I loved the way they bickered on the bike as they tried to get into a good spot to drive the bike.


5. Blue Brothers. Scene: end scene being chased by everyone and there brother.
When you can have that many people chasing you its got to be great.


4.Bourne Ultimatum. Scene: foot chase through the roof tops and apartment buildings.
What a great chase scene. Two chases going on at the same time. We have Bourne being chased by the police and Nickles being chased by the "Asset". What a great way to shoot the scene too.


3. Bond Casino Royal. Scene: Chase on foot through the construction zone.
Any scene where two men are chasing each other on a beam that high up in the air has to be great. Not the mention the great foot work were Bond finally catches up with his man.


2.Bourne Supremacy. Scene: Car chase through Russia
I love the chase through Russia. It starts on foot and quickly leads to the cars. I sure would have hated to be the person trapped in the tunnel when those two cam through. Not to mention the poor Russian woman who got her truck stolen by the Russian assassin then smashed into pieces. You know the Russian government isn't going to replace her car.


1. Blues Brothers. Scene: car chase through the mall.
This scene speaks for its self. Who wouldn't want to drive their car through say the gap or Victoria secrete.

How I can tell I am a mom now

I can tell I am a mother now mainly because I can sing with all the songs from Jack's Big Music Show now. I knew this would happen over time. The more you play with your children and let them watch TV shows there is bound to be one that they love. For Sara it is Jack's Big Music show. We have done the "wiggle dance" and the "Mel polka" since we have been watching and she has loved every moment. It has gotten to the point that she even recognizes the show when the lady at the start talks about how this show teaches certain skills. We do the theme song together and have fun singing along. I have gotten to the point that I don't even need the music to sing the song with her.
Am I going insane?! Perhaps. I would like to think that it is becoming involved in my daughters life and enjoying the things she does. On the other hand maybe I need to get out the house a little more often. Below is a picture of my daughter watching the show. Such utter joy!

I guess I don't need to sew

I guess I don't need to sew anymore. Everything can just be made from balloons! LOL