Thursday, December 15, 2011

Stocking

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Well I placed in the top ten again with the Prudent Baby contest!  :)  One of these days I hope to win- but still am proud! Here’s my stocking!  Placing in the top ten means I get to pick out a yard of Fabric over at fabricworm.com.  Woo-hoo! 

I have to admit that I enjoyed using an old sweater to sew with and even used it as my bias tape around the stocking!  And was glad to get come practice at the Chevron quilting- not as simple as I thought… thinking I will use a different pattern for the baby quilt- which I need to start!

Speaking of baby- this baby is getting so big and strong!  I can’t believe just 3.5 months left.  I am so ready now so just think what I will be saying in March!  ;)  Hopefully things will continue to fly by!

Soon I can post nursery pictures… I need to finish a couple of key things before I can do any decorating- but want to show the room soon!

Lola’s Christmas program was today at school and hope to post a little video and some pictures soon!  She is so big, but so little at the same time.  Just love her.  Actually cried today thinking about how much I love and adore this little bitty person… I think I will be glad to have pregnancy hormones gone, but until then- I will enjoy my break-down moments.  Hehehehe…

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Prudent Baby Stocking…

Prudent Baby had a contest that I surely knew I would enter… but this pregnancy feels like a drug and not the kind that makes you all giggly and hyper, but the kind  that makes you want to sleep (and eat… a lot).  But thanks to an extended deadline and some Prudent Baby energy being sent my way (Their website and their prize will energize you too!) I got my unmotivated pregnancy booty in my sewing chair for… um…. hours.  And I am finally finished with a stocking I am proud of!  The contest gist- make a stocking using knit fabric in some way… and the prize… a Brother serger… Really excited about the prize, but not so much with sewing with knit.  Something I have been putting off.  It wasn’t terrible, but definitely not my go-to choice of fabric!  Stretchy stuff… not my sewing friend.  Oh but the things we will do for a good PB Contest! ;)

I’ll give a sneak peak of it finished on my work table…

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And before long I will be sleeping like a baby Lola.

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But first I must go set up for a work party, mingle a bit, come home to a nice long bath and cup of hot chocolate, then organize my closet.  Not putting it off a day longer, unless the pregnancy pill takes over again! ;)  At least the house and sewing room are all put back together with a fresh vacuum.  Awe.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Thanksgiving- When? What? Ooops.

I don’t know if I can blame this on pregnancy brain drain, lack of NO pictures, or simply not being my favorite holiday- but I totally didn’t blog or acknowledge Thanksgiving!  What in the world?

Well here is this year’s run down of the holiday- My side of the family did a Thanksgiving lunch the Sunday before since Nick would be gone on Thanksgiving- Where might you ask?  Only gone to Cozumel to become an Ironman!  Woohoo- which he did! So it was nice… didn’t get any pictures but my mom covered the table in paper and wrote our names down as place settings but everyone wrote something by your name telling why they are thankful for you… my dad wrote on Clay’s name “For putting up with Natalie”  Bauhahahaha… the rest were pretty sweet…. And I liked the idea a lot!  We had a great time and everyone liked the new recipes these year (except Lola and myself- we both agree it is weird to eat Turkey).

On Thanksgiving day we had a nice time at Debbie and Rocky’s house with Clay’s side.  It was nice not having to split up the day-  Took Lola awhile to warm up to extended family she doesn’t see as often, but once she did- she was very entertaining and had a great time.  Once again, lots of good food and good times…  Clay stayed awhile after us to watch the game and keep hanging out, but Lola was ready after several hours, so we headed home and c-r-a-s-h-e-d.  My pregnant self gets outlasted by Lola a lot now- but at the end of the day we both equally love to crash.

I really am much more of a Christmas girl though and am looking forward to the next couple weeks.  My oven is broken (tears falling…) and so hopefully we can fix it soon so I can keep baking holiday cookies.  They are my favorite.  Lola and I will need to make some Spritz cookies!  Such a sucker for sweets.  Hoping it’s nothing major- and just the element thing at the top… half the oven works still!

Well- despite Thanksgiving not being my favorite and slipping by me- I am a very thankful girl this year. 

1. A new baby arriving less than 4 months away (Do you like how I said arriving as if he or she will pleasantly be dropped in my lap and I don’t have to actually push the baby out of my vagina!?)        

2. Clay has a wonderful new job as an Editor for Boy’s Life Magazine… he started the first of this month and seems to already really enjoy it!  We are really excited about the change… Clay is good at landing job’s when I am pregnant!  Seems to be a pattern now! :)

3. Of course I am always thankful for Lola- extra thankful that she seems so excited about being a big sister though!  I know she will be the best big sister!

4. Thankful for so many other things this year too: family of course, Sew Creative, CFA job, my home, health, and just the joy over the fact that 2012 already seems to be falling into place for everyone.  It’s going to a be damn good year and excited to see what God has in store for everyone- including if this kick-boxing baby of mine is a boy or a girl!  Woo-hoo!   

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Dear Silent Reader-

This isn’t to a secret lover people- but this one silent reader will hopefully get a kick out of my funny (but loving) jokes today….

Love, Natalie

 

Monday, December 5, 2011

Merry Christmas from Sew Creative

It feels quite odd, but this year, for possibly the first year in my entire life, I don’t have a tree in my own bedroom… Our second big tree I decided to put in the Sew Creative Studio (my craft room) since I spend so much time sewing and creating in what now is my favorite room in the house (even though every room is quite favorable to me!).  I thought the girls taking lessons would enjoy it too!  Can’t wait for them to see!

Thought I would share pictures of my room and crafty Christmas tree that I actually didn’t decorate- my mother did!  Kind of a trade off- I went with Kebby to help register her for Spring classes (good ol’ college advising- do not miss that!) and mom stayed at my house to entertain Lola and… she got crafty and decorated my tree.  I didn’t want to spend the money on ornaments for it and thought at some point this month I would make some… mom to the unmotivated, pregnant girl’s rescue!

Okay I will show the tree first!  Not one penny was spent on decorating this tree…

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My mom may have bought the little red frames she painted- so maybe a few dollars?

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Pictures of the entire room! Absolutely love that I turned this into a crafting and sewing room! (Ignore Lola trying to put her panties and pants back on in my foyer- crazy, sweet girl)

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My ironing board gets used religiously and I think I should just leave it set up- similar to bed making- why make it every day when you get back into it at night?  Just makes you feel better to make it I guess… so I hang it back up.

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Ginni and I managed to shove this $25 bookshelf into her car and so glad we did.  I have loved it and even grew to really like it stacked on top of the dresser donated by Clay’s parents and painted by me!

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Still love the green shutter solution to hide to Lowe’s garage type shelf when entering… but still love the Lowe’s garage type shelf for storage.  It works perfectly.

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The room has gotten tons of use and imagine it will only get more and more through the years.  Everyone seems to so enjoy it like I do and that makes me happy to share it.  Also, love that other lovelies are developing a passion to sew and create!

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For more pictures and information on Sew Creative, visit Sew Creative.