It Just Makes Me Smile

This isn't really a good pic but it still makes me smile.  Ask Parker to show you his teeth and this is what he does!!  {heart smile}  I LOVE IT!  Don't you?  I just wish it was of better quality...that makes me sad  :(

Things have been crazy busy this week.  Worked on wedding invites, went shopping, bought stuff to make a veil for the bride, started creating invites, found out I needed to host another shower, the list goes on and on.

Oh, and I made this super cute diaper cake for a baby shower I am co-hosting at my house.  I still have to get a topper and I'm still trying to decide what that might be.  I hate to toot my horn but I think it looks pretty good for a first-timer.  I liked how the individual diapers are not rolled up individually and wrapped with a rubberband.  For my taste I just thought this style looked cuter.  No offense to people that do it the other way...I just liked this.  {By the way, I did realize that the top tier isn't going the right way.  After I took the pic I made it right.  I'm a little anal like that.  You may not have noticed it, but I did!}

Remember THIS POST?!?!  Turns out I was not really ready for Parker to give up the binky.  The poor thing is sick now and it was just bad timing.  Good thing the little stinker found two binkies somewhere in the house that I hadn't cut.  Guess I'll have to save the broken ones for another time.... 

So now on to my crazy busy weekend of more shopping.  Some fun {wedding, birthdays, showers} and some not so fun {grocery - UGH}.  And more planning.  More creating.

I'll show you the invites when I'm all done with them.  Hopefully this weekend!  They involve stamping {which is a newfound love of mine}, vellum paper which I have never worked with and ribbon.  I hope they turn out delightful!  More importantly I hope the Bride loves them! 

WINNER...WINNER...

THE WINNER IS...number 20 according to Random.org {sorry, I couldn't get the darn image to post over here for some reason}

Pixie said...

I'd get my dad a trunk golf organizer for his birthday!

Sweetimpishpixie(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Hye Pixie, I'll forward your email to CSN and they will get in contact with you about your free certificate! 

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Am I Really Ready for This?!?

Today was the day!  I did it!  I've decided and changed my mind, decided, changed my mind, over and over again.

Poor little Parker has a broken binky now.  A small slit in the top makes them completely unusable.  Before naptime this morning, I just did it.  No second thinking, no comtemplating, just did it.

Now he's crying and looking at me to fix it.  I had to lie him down and leave the room.  He's crying.  I'm really sad....I want him to have comfort and this was it.  He has a pillow...but he still wants his binky.  :(

UPDATE:  He lived with his broken binky all day long.  It probably wasn't a good thing but I did giive him a real one when he went to bed tonight.  The poor thing was just so fussy all day and that was all he wanted.  He went to bed so quickly and is sleeping very peaceful right now.  Now I don't know whether I should just take them away during the day and only let him have them at night or what...Maybe it's just not time yet?

This is for sure going to be hard!  Thanks for all of the encouragement!!

Recipe Help - I'm Begging!!!

Hey all!  I have been uber busy and it doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon.

I'm having a baby shower for a friend of mine in two weeks.

Then a couple weeks after that I will be throwing a bridal shower for my step-daughter that we just decided on today.  I haven't started any planning so I need to get to work on it, FAST.

A couple weeks after that is my hubby's 40th birthday party.  That is going to be big- he's 40!  What else is to be expected?

A couple weeks later, September 25 to be exact, is the wedding day.  I have sooooo much to do before then and I am really hoping that I can get it all done in time and, most importantly, that it all looks good.  On my plate right now {most of which is handmade} invitations, programs, flower basket, ring bearer pillow, tissue pom pom balls, centerpieces, bridal veil, and so much more.

Oh yeah...and a wedding cake!  I have never made one but after doing a lot of research I am hoping that my confidence and my measly talent can pull it all off.  I'm thinking I'll be making cakes for the showers and parties before as practice. 

This is where I need your help...

I need a SUPER YUMMY, DELICIOUS, TO DIE FOR wedding cake recipe.

Can anyone help me out, please.

Oh yeah, and I also need a really good punch recipe to go along with the cake.

Simple.....I'm sure someone out there can help me out.

I'm begging!! {please...please...please}

Oh yeah, and I'm also hoping to win THIS GIVEAWAY.  Meg at A Little Knick Knack has been a guest on my blog and I think it would be REALLY cool to win her awesome Personalized Cupboard Door redo!  It's totally awesome.  You should go check it out.

I Must Be Dreaming...

My oldest son has feet ALMOST the size of mine.  He's 7, I'm 34.  REALLY?! 


As I was picking up the house today, I slipped James shoes on so I could take them to his room since I had things in my hand.  I really didn't think they would fit that good.  Seriously, by next summer he will probably be the same size as me.

He is going to be one big boy!

Things I'm Loving... {warning - picture heavy}

I love my kiddos!  As much as they seem to irritate me towards the end of summer, I don't know what I would do without them.  They are everything to me and they remind me of my job here on earth.  I truly, truly feel blessed to be able to call each of them mine!

This little man gave me the most emotional and high strung pregnancy ever.

I would definitely not be the person I am today had he not come into my life.

He is so stinkin' cute...

I absolutely love this face!

My wonderful hubby has to get much praise for what he does for our family!

Alysia and Ashley, me neice, are inseperable when they are together.

HANDSOME!

Beth and me {Beth}  You've got to be cool if you share the same name!

My {little} girl is growing up so fast!  I may be partial, but I think she is beautiful!

Parker loved running through the vineyard and peeking through when he went to the next aisle. The simple things are so grand to him.

A rare moment when Alysia and James are not fighting. Man, they do that allllll the time! I'll cherish this photo forever and remind them that they do love each other when they want to {kill} each other.

Parker + Icing = Mmm Mmm Good

I love my flowers - had to get a pretty shot in here.

{sigh}

Did I tell you I love my family?

Wii All Need A Break Every Now and Then

Just Dance is the best thing next to cotton candy.  And I LOVE cotton candy.  This game takes a close second to the Zumba classes I was taking at the first of the year.

Everyone was home for the evening, including my neice Ashley.  That doesn't happen to often.  Parker was asleep, but I am sure had he been awake he would have gotten in with the action.

Go ahead, LAUGH...

Pretty funny, huh!  It was a much needed good time though and I look forward to doing it again!

Perceptive Perspective - Critters

This week over at 2 Baby Cakes the Perceptive Perspective Challenge was "Critters".

I always have the best intentions of participating in these photo challenges and it never seems to happen.  You know, life just gets in the way and I forget.

Anyways, I did snap a shot of this "critter" and I have no clue what it is.  It was on my chives plant - do you have any idea what it is.

Pretty cool, I think.  If I only knew what it was...

A New and Long Lost Craft

To start with, I found these Pom Poms made out of tissue paper.  Leanne over at Organize and Decorate Everything shares a wonderful tutorial.  I have been patiently waiting for a party in which I would make them for.  Now I have a baby shower, birthday party, and a wedding all coming within the nest month and a hald, so I thought I would try them first for the baby shower.

The theme is Noah's Ark and my dear friend, Christina and her husband Tim opted to do things the old fashioned way and not find out the sex of the baby.  I think that's cool.  We did that with James and it was like Christmas morning times 1000!!

There are four of us hosting and since it is at my house I am going to be responsible for decorations.  I chose to do green and orange simply because yellow just seems to plain.  My friend, Beth, came over today and we made four tissue Pom Poms.  We thought it would take us awhile but it was very quick and easy to do.  I am going tomorrow to get more tissue paper {some with designs like Leanne's} to make more. 

Do you like them?

I still haven't quite decided if I am going to hang them from the ceiling, the mantle or what.  I have a couple more weeks to figure that out.

Now for the Long Lost Craft -

My mother went to her lake house this weekend and was cleaning out my grandmothers trailer since it was being sold and she came across this...

Can you tell what it is?  It's a flour sack tea towel that I embroidered on when I was about "10 years old".  I remember doing these all the time when I went to the lake to see my grandma and grandpa.  I can't believe that there is actually one that looks like it's never been used.  My grandma always used these towels so me getting one is very special.  It could be that it was never used because the little boy and cat are missing eyes.  I think it's been waiting for 24 years for me to finish it!

I can't decide whether to put eyes on them or leave it as it is...I'm thinking I'll leave it.

Sorry for the bad pic quality.  Honestly I was just to lazy to get up and get out my camera and upload so my phone was the closest thing to me.

I hope that you had a GREAT and relaxing weekend, as I did!

My Past Life

Thanks to the iPhone app, A Past Life, I found out a little bit more about myself {this was all just for fun, I don't know if I believe in this stuff or not.} 

"I was born in a Fishing Village in Cornwall, South West England in the early 1600's.


I was the daughter of a local Inn Keeper.  My mother died while giving birth to me.  With no other siblings, my father and I worked the Inn together.  He carried heavy barrels while I worked the taps and entertained the local fisherman with my girlish charms.  Seeing men at their worst day in day out I had no desire for marraige.


Soon after my 25th birthday my father contracted a mysterious illness and died.  I took full control of the Inn and ran it for the next 40 years.  Strong and dominant in the man's world, the local fisherman knew when I called last drinks it was time to leave.


This may explain why I sometimes prefer spending time with male rather than female friends."


Interesting, what do you think?

CSN Giveaway

Who wouldn't want a gift certificate from CSN!!

I was so excited when Ashley from CSN Stores contacted me about doing a review or a giveaway.  I wanted to be able to get my readers involved so I opted to go with a $40 Le Creuset giveaway.  I have entered a few CSN giveaways in the past and have never had the glory of winning one so I was really excited when Ashley contacted me about doing my own.  On top of that I am going to be doing a review for her in about a month.

If you haven't checked out CSN you really are missing out.

They have over 200+ stores with merchandise ranging from furniture, home decor, housewares, kids and children, outdoor, school, home improvement - you name it, they have it!

I have lots of favorites...especially from the Le Creuset site.

I cook with fresh garlic ALL THE TIME and so this would be really awesome.

I am starting to love nice pitchers instead of plastic ones and

I think this one would be really nice to have.

And honestly, I just loved the look of this Wok.

I love how it looks from the stove straight to the table.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN ENTER:

{leave a comment for each thing that you do}

~ For your first entry, go over to the CSN Stores website and tell what you would spend your $60 gift certificate on.


~ For one extra entry, follow my blog and leave a comment telling me that you do.

~ For another entry, put my button on your blog and leave a comment telling me you did.

~ For one more entry, follow me on twitter @PatchworkChron and leave a comment telling that you do.

~ For another entry Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway then leave a comment with the link to your Tweet or Facebook. Copy and paste the following: CSN stores $40 gift certificate giveaway @ The Patchwork Chronicles http://tinyurl.com/2eorm36

~ For three extra entries, blog about my giveaway linking back to this post, then leave three comments telling me you blogged.

This giveaway will end on Monday, July 26th at 10:00 pm CST. I will use random.org to select a winner and announce the winner on Tuesday, July 27th. Please make sure you have an email visible in your profile, or include your email address in your comment!  You DO NOT have to have a blog to entire. 

Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only. Thanks for entering and thanks so much to CSN stores for providing the gift certificate for the giveaway!

I Have a Confession - If You Really Want to Know

I'm ready for school to start again!  Seriously!!  It's amazing to me how just a few short weeks ago everyone was excited for school to be out and for summer fun to begin.  Now here I am ready for school to start just so I can "attempt" to have some normaly in my home.  I'm guessing there are many of you that are in the same situation.

Today was a good example.  I didn't get ANYTHING done but I also didn't do anything fun with the kids.  I don't know whether I was just in a funky mood or what but today it just wasn't there for me.  I'm sure the 100 degree weather didn't help the situation.

My house is full of people all the time, which don't get me wrong, I don't mind, BUT with kids in and out, I can't keep my stinking house cool!  "CLOSE THE DOOR", "CLOSE THE DOOR" that's all I say allllll day long it seems like.  I have been tempted to lock the door and make the kids stay out but with the heat and humidity I just can't do that to them.  So they come in and play.  That's okay, until Parker takes a nap {in which he still takes two a day} so then the kids have to be quiet.  Let me tell you...that doesn't work out to well with school age boys.  They start off quiet but the voices steadily get louder and louder and louder.  Pretty soon it sounds like an unruly lunchroom.

AND, don't let me get started on the nit picking, irritating, behavior and fighting that boys do.  Believe me, I'm not fooled by my own flesh and blood son either...he has his share of times when he really doesn't understand what respect is.  He has just been flatout rude lately and I can't figure out why.  It's not something I am happy about and something I need to address before it really starts affecting his friendships.  I know that I can't force who "I want" him to be so I just need to pray over him for guidance every day.  And I have...Lord, I'm patiently waiting...

And Parker...sweet little Parker!  He is sooooo stinkin' cute and he has wanted nothing more lately than to be on his momma's hip at every minute of the day.  I'm loving it though!  He would always settle with my attention, but if daddy or sissy were in the room he wanted them first and foremost.  I'm glad he is loving his momma right now...BUT I really do have other things that need to be done that involve both of my hands.  Cooking is not the easiest nor the safest thing to do while you're balancing a child on your hip and I dont' recommend you do it.  BUT I have, just to keep him quiet and have a little sanity while I make the umpteenth meal this summer...I definately pay homage to the ladies that cook school lunches everyday.  I gave you a break for the summer, but you can have them back REAL soon.

I'm ready for school to start just so my grocery bill will go back down!  Feeding neighborhood kids a meal or two a couple days out of the week really starts to add up and this momma is not the best couponer yet so it's really starting to break the bank.  James told me today that his dad was the best dad and I'm not very nice.  All because I made one of his friends go home during lunch {it is the day before payday and there wasn't much to eat anyways} and his wonderful daddy would have let her stay.  I'm the mean mom.  I make other kids go home and eat the food that their mommies buy them.  And so I can have a little bit of a break from all the noise and chaos.  

And the pool...oh the pool!  It's the first one I have ever owned and I seriously didn't know how much work it was.  First of all it turned a REALLY ugly color after the 4th of July and I haven't been able to get it right since.  It's just cloudy...levels are fine...just cloudy.  In the meantime I keep spending money on chemicals and filters just to keep the thing going and I haven't even gotten my water bill yet to see how much it cost me to fill the darn thing up.  I'm starting to realize why my husband NEVER wanted a pool in the first place.  Granted, it is nice to be able to walk out your door and have it right there...I like that.  But the whole argument I had about it being cheaper than the public pool...I think I was wrong there!

Oh yeah...and did I tell you about the speeding ticket I got last week on my ANNIVERSARY!  $162.50 to be exact.  I guess I feel a little better knowing that there were three cops that day and thrtwo other ee people got pulled over at the same time.  A little disheartening that, that makes me feel better but hey...it did.  I wasn't the only moron that decided to speed that day.  And apparently the cops knew that since there were three of them waiting for idiots like me  So since it ws my anniversary you know we did something special, right?  Nope!  Nothing.  Brian was out of town {workin' to pay for the grocery bill and pool chemicals}  So really soon we're going to try to go to dinner at the least.  I'm hoping I can get my dear daughter to watch her brothers "again" while we go. 

And speaking of Alysia, she has been wonderful this summer helping me out.  She really has and I don't thank her for that enough.  Let me tell you though...she is ready for school for the same reasons I am!!  She wants out of this house.  The other day she was sitting at the bar and she said, "How do you do it?  How do you stay here all day and not get bored or pull your hair out?"  Well dear, I don't know.  I just do and I don't complain because I am thankful for the job that I have.

SO....I think I'm done confessing all of my dirt to you.  Tomorrow I can wake up and try to have a "normal" day after a funeral and the dreaded payday grocery trip.  I hate both of those things, both of which will take up a big chunk of my day.  Then I'll come home to my sanctuary...{I can dream}!

Ahhhh...the first day of school can't come soon enough for me.  Please tell me someone out there is with me on this thought. {silence......}

Need A Favor?

We have 155 to be exact.  Ashley and Alex came over last night to make thank you favors for their wedding.

Remember THESE cake balls?!  We tried our hand out at them and they tasted sooo good AND they're super cute!!

Ash decorating...

Wrapping and tying thank yous on...

And here's the happy couple...

I can't wait to start on our next wedding project!  I will keep you posted...