A little Halloween Fun!

Owen got his first Mr. Potato Head for Halloween. He's called Trick or Tator! How cute is that!? He came with a costume too. Owen has had a great time rearranging his features.

Just in case you didn't know...

Here's a little "muffin top" tutorial! I was looking for the Caroline Rhea bit that Aimeslee mentioned but didn't find. But this should help!

And I would really like to know if this is a fashion phenomenon happening outside of the US or is it just exclusive to us!?

And Lynn brought up a very valid point yesterday by wondering what fruit you would be if you were larger on top and small on bottom. Now I'm going to say that lots of those women are probably apples. But if you were say very well endowed and just a bit chubby in the middle and had long thin legs you would not be an apple or a pear. Good point Lynn. So I think this apple or pear thing is just too constricting. It leaves a lot of women out. Not unlike the fashion industry!

Some insight...

Last week I learned from the Today Show my body type. This is important stuff. So important that it was on national news. If you can call the 4th hour of Today news. I'm not bashing, I like the 4th hour. It's fun. But I digress. I learned I am an apple. The choices are apple or pear. And according to the description I am an apple. But I really feel like a papple most days. If you carry most of your weight around your middle you are an apple. If you carry it mostly in the lower 1/2 of your body you are a pear. Considering I don't break 5" I just carry it all over. But neck isn't fat so I could be a pear. It's tricky to do a segment like that since people are in all different shapes.

I also recently learned that "muffin top" refers to the fat that blossoms out over the top of ones low rise jeans. I wasn't aware of this term! I love it when I learn something new. I however, do not have this problem as even low rise jeans on me come up far enough to cover the "muffin top". Whew! After learning about this phenomenon created by the fashion industry I started to wonder why women buy jeans that would case this to happen. I don't like to have fat bulging out over the top of my clothing. So I buy a size big enough so there isn't a bulge. But I've seen these women, well girls mostly, between the ages of 12-25, with the "muffin top" and I've got to wonder if they don't notice it. Perhaps Nikki, you would like to be in charge of informing them. I can see it now, she walks up to these girls in her teacherley way and says, "Excuse me miss, I wanted to inform you of your "muffin top". It appears you didn't notice. Since there it is. For all of us to see. Perhaps you need a larger size."

I try to keep my fat contained to where it belongs. Well, either within my pants or within my shirt. And I'm lucky to be short enough that it fits into either or.

And now I'm off to find some chocolate. It is after all Halloween week!

A beautiful weekend...

On Saturday Owen and I went to my mom's to play. He loves to play outside at her house. The yard is so much bigger and much more interesting. And there's also Grammie and Auntie Sissy to play with and "help"!

Here are Owen and Miranda playing in the leaves!And Owen had a great time helping my mom transplant a plant.

Then he decided to take the shovel and dig in whatever planters he came across.

And here he is in the leaf pile with Miranda's pumpkin. A little photo shoot. And the other two I took didn't turn out because he was not interested in sitting still!

Sunday we went apple picking. It was a beautiful day for it but the picking was not good. I guess it's better to pick earlier in the season. We picked a bag from the orchard for baking and then just bought already picked apples from the store for eating.

It was a rather large orchard and Owen wasn't all that interested in riding in the wagon. We spent a good long time walking in the orchard with him or carrying him! He's getting heavy too.

Last week Owen came down with a cold. The first one ever. His little nose is running like a faucet and I am not a fan of snot. I find it more gross than poo. And if I don't wipe it fast and right away he's getting snot all over the place. He got is across my face yesterday! And as would be expected I am now sick too. Morgan doesn't seem to be though. Which I find funny since I'm an almost compulsive hand-washer and he's not the most sanitary person. He said to me yesterday you know you're a parent when it occurs to you that you could just lick the crusty snot from your child's face if you don't have a tissue. Um, WHAT!? YUCK! I must not have very strong maternal instincts then because that thought NEVER occurred to me! Ga-ROSS! So it is odd that I am sick and he's not.

And I wanted to share a book that I'm reading. It's called Living the Creative Life by Rice Freeman-Zachery. She has compiled information about creativity from a variety of artists talking about their process, how they live and what creativity means to them and how it functions in their lives.

In one part of the book one of the artists mentions that her father was a contractor so she grew up around people who made things. And that just really resonated with me because I did too. I have many times thought about getting rid of all my "stuff" because it would be so much neater around here without it. And then I think "but what would I DO?" And I'm like that because I grew up with "doers". My grandmother was not a person to sit still. She was always doing. Not always in a creative way. Although when she did sit still it was to paint or knit or sew. Which is similar to how I am. I guess that's how I'm able to be still.

Anyway, it's a great book. Very insightful.

Some thoughts and some quirks...

Here are my thoughts for today:

1.) After 30 acne should just NOT be an issue a woman has to deal with.

2.) Cake is a food group and should be eaten for breakfast daily!

And I've been tagged 3 times for the same tag! So here are my answers:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

I was tagged by Colleen, Lynn, and Dana.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself (on your blog, we all want to know them).
1. I can read upside down and backwards very well. Lots of practice from working with my students.
2. I think boogers are way grosser than poo. Seriously yucky. I can wipe a bottom just fine (well, Owen's) but noses I get all gaggy!
3. I am left handed but I golf, knit, crochet, and cut with my right hand. I can also play pool with either.
4. I am 5" tall but wear a size 8 1/2 shoe. I don't fall down much!
5. I am a bit of a germphobe. The other day they had this segment on the Today show about the 12 places where germs are most prevalent. So I went on a cleaning binge. I also bought a small water bottle yesterday at Target so I could have a bleach/water solution to disinfect stuff like door knobs and things.
6. I count stuff. Just random things. Like walking up the steps or when I'm sort things. I just find myself counting.
7. I listen to public radio everyday. Yes, everyday.

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

Okay. Well, several of the people I wanted to pick have already been tagged! So, I'm going to pick them anyway and call it good.
Lynn (already tagged so she's off the hook)
Dana (ditto above)
Noelia (ditto above)
BonnieRose
Shannon
Aimeslee

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. I've done this. I'm sure they will be thrilled! It's like internet chainmail.

And today Maureen posed this question: When your scrapping/card making do you ever look at your surrounding for ideas?

I guess it depends on what she means by surroundings. Currently my favorite place to get ideas is from magazine ads. I adapt the layout design to my idea for the project I'm working on and take it from there. Ads tend to have a pretty simple design to them and I prefer that in my work. Then I add a few embellishments and viola!

Here's a layout I finished yesterday for a ScrapInStyle challenge. No magazine ad lifts though. Just from my brain! It's a 6x12 layout so I had to scan and stitch. Hence the little overlap at the top. I need to practice a bit with my scan and stitch!

He can speak!

Today Owen said "crackers"!!!! Of course it's not clear as day but it's the same word over and over after I say "crackers". I was so excited. I made him repeat it and repeat it to Morgan.

Now, if I could just get him to day "mama"....

My color is...

you are yellowgreen #9ACD32

Your dominant hues are green and yellow. There's no doubt about the fact that you think with your head, but you don't want to be seen as boring and want people to know about your adventurous streak now and again. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

If you want to find out what color you are, check out the link above.

I don't have much to write about today. Sleep has not been good in our house this week. I don't know what is going on with Owen but he's not sleeping well and it's taking a toll on all of us. Well, except for Ludwig. Ah, the life of a retired greyhound!

So I'm off to peruse a CK magazine and take a morning nap. Luckily yesterday was super productive for house cleaning so I can slack a bit today.

DOM cards

Here are the Deck of Me Cards I have been remiss in posting. I've had then done, just haven't photographed them or posted them!

Week 38 I wonder... Week 39 Someone spesh...

Week 40 Not anymore...

Week 41 Magic Carpet... still sitting on the table! I forgot it when I gathered them up to photograph. Oh well! It's not that good!

Week 42 Grateful for... It's like a mini gratitude journal. Each day I will fill in what I've found to be grateful for. Such a good idea! I've been a bit of a downer lately!

Politics as usual...

This morning I was listening to MPR, a regular occurrence in our house, and they were discussing a recent debate among the republican candidates. Specifically that they were trying to follow in Regan's footsteps but had forgotten his 11th commandment to not attack your fellow republicans.

Now I realize I'm violating one of my own commandments, don't discuss politics in mixed company. But it's my blog and I'll keep it brief!

I feel bad for Hilary Clinton. She seems to be everyone's receptacle for mud. You must really have to have a thick skin to be a politician.

I wish they would all vow to campaign on their own platform without attacking, bashing or tearing down one another. Because when it comes down to it, I can't vote for that kind of person. The kind who believes it is okay to belittle another to get ahead. And when it's all said and done who's left to vote for that hasn't done that? No one. And that's sad. We can't find a candidate to vote for who upholds the basic principal of do unto others... Perhaps I'm too simplistic in my thinking. Or idealistic. I'm also certain I'm not the only person in the country that gets tired of this. I want to know what each of the candidates is about. I don't want to know what they think of the other candidates and their platforms. I want to be able to learn this from the news. I shouldn't have to spend hours on the internet investigating to find out the candidates basic philosophy and political beliefs. The candidates and the media are letting the country down. And then we end up with politicians in office who do the same.

Friendship...

BonnieRose posed this challenge today: Blog about friendship.. anything..
Blog about your thoughts on being a friend. a really good friend...

It's another dreary day here in MN and I don't have much else to write about so I thought I'd just run with BonnieRose's topic.

I maintain a fairly small number of friendships. At least I think I do. I know a lot of people but as for close friendships the number is small. Less than 10. One reason, it can be difficult to maintain friends. Just knowing someone doesn't make them a friend. I think friendship requires an investment on the part of the people involved. And different friends fulfill different purposes. Some friends have history. You've been through something with them. High school, college, grade school even. I have one friend from each of those stages in my life that I keep in touch with. Just one from each. And that is enough. Some friends are situational. Roommates, work friends, scrapbooking friends. I had three good friends in college that I lived with and did almost everything with at the time. But for various reasons I have not seen any of them for a long time. And I'm okay with that.

Friends also provide for us in some way. Support, advice, laughter. These are the things I get from my close friends. People I know I can go to and lean on when I need something. Anything. And I won't be judged or gossiped about or torn down, just listened to and accepted. This is the smallest group of people. A select few outside of my family.

Friendship requires give and take. You need to be able to listen more than you talk. For women especially. Women work things out by talking and complaining. Sometimes that's all we want. Not necessarily a solution to an issue but the opportunity to let it out. It's taken Morgan some time understand that. But he does a pretty good job of it.

Sometimes friendships fade. And that's okay. I'm not one to get wrapped up in someone else's drama. Those are the people who I usually need to let go of or distance myself from. First of all I have a short attention span. I don't stay mad long. I don't have a lot of drama in my life. I like to keep things simple. Uncomplicated. And I like to surround myself with those kinds of people. They tend to be happier and more fun. I've had to let friendships go because the other person just held on to too much. Drama, anger, resentment. Those things that are toxic to friendship. And those are the people who don't make good friends anyway and tend to have few friends or don't keep them very long. Unhappy people can't maintain good relationships when they don't have a good one with themselves.

I am not a person that can live without friends. I don't need a lot of them, but I do need them. I've known people who think they can survive without friends but I just disagree with that. Life is so much richer and fuller and more fun with friends!

FOUND!

Hooray! I found my checkbook and various wallet junk! It was in my shirt drawer under a pile of shirts! How clever am I!?

It's been dreary and rainy here for the last 3 days and that just makes me a bit cranky and out of sorts. I didn't accomplish much yesterday and I'm feeling like accomplishing even less today. Supposedly we should have a peek of sun today but judging from what it looks like outside right now, I'm not buying it. Our next chance at sun is Saturday or Sunday. This fall has not be lovely at all. Which is unfortunate because fall is my favorite season.

Last night we had a surprise visit from my mother-in-law! She was on her way back from visiting my sister-in-law and her family in Kansas but she missed the connection to Montana because the flight from Kansas was delayed. The plane was still here and at the terminal but they had closed the doors and refused to let the passengers on. Good ol' Northwest! Showing their timely and helpful service. Good for them. I'm hoping they continue to show how they've improved since their bankruptcy! Anyway... so Morgan picked her up at the airport and brought her back to our house. Owen was very surprised to see her this morning! But it was a short visit as we took her back to the airport this morning. Hopefully the rain will not delay her flight today!

Thank you to everyone who has experienced my lost issue and to my sister for volunteering to help me find my junk. Interestingly, she was always the one to help me find things when I was still living at home! She just has a knack for finding things I guess. Apparently not her own though!

Oh, and Ashton Henry has posted some interesting photos on his blog so pop on over and check them out. He's also trying to decide where he should travel to next! He had many generous offers.

And Maureen posed this challenge today:
Share four things about yourself that make you the person you are today as a creator/artist.

Interesting challenge. I've never actually thought about that.

1. Short attention span and need for instant gratification. I gave up drawing and painting after high school because I had ideas about who things should look (realistic) and that's now what I was producing. I wasn't patient enough to practice until they looked that way either. When I discovered rubber stamp images I was in heaven! I loved to color!
2. Genetics/nurturing. My grandmother was a great artist and my grandfather was a carpenter and I grew up around all of this creating. It's what they did and I was allowed to do it to. I got my first blood blister making the control panel for a space ship in my grandpa's garage with a hammer, nails, and a bunch of left over scrap stuff!
3. I'm a collector and I like to collect lots of things. Mostly things that I can repurpose, recycle and reuse. Sticks, TP tubes, egg cartons, restaurant coasters, hang tags from clothes.
4. I just like art. I always have. I guess I don't remember if my mom encouraged stuff like that but I don't doubt it. She encouraged most things we showed an interest in. And she made lots of stuff too. So Miranda and I were always creating and constructing and collecting. It's just part of who I am.

Great challenge Maureen!

Ugh...Ahhhh!

Have you ever put something in a safe place only to realize exactly how safe it is when you go to find that something?? Before we went on vacation I cleaned out my purse and emptied it of all the things I wouldn't need on vacation. A bunch of stuff from my wallet and the checkbook. Those items are all still safely in the place I put them. BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT PLACE IS! And this isn't the first time I've done it either. That's the kicker!

My library card just happens to be one of the items in the safe place. I've got a bunch of books on hold and I'd like to go get them so I'd like to find the card! But not that I think of it I think I can just type in the number to check out books. And yes, I am one of those people who has their number memorized! I go to the library a lot. After all the books are free!

Right now Owen and I are having a few minutes apart. He's listening to John Lithgow and playing with some toy that makes noise. And I'm typing. It's a mommy time-out actually. He's kind of whiny today and I just can't take that. Especially when I'm looking for something I've safely stowed away from myself!

And it's raining... it's a great day!

A little bit of fun...

Noelia had a fun little tag posted on her blog so I thought I'd do it here.

Four jobs I have had in my life...
1. mortgage planner assistant
2. elementary school teacher
3. retail clerk
4. babysitter

Four movies I would watch over and over...
1. Love actually
2. The Princess Bride
3. Legally Blonde
4. The Wizard of Oz

Four places I have lived...
1. Brooklyn Center, MN
2. Minneapolis, MN
3. River Falls, WI
4. Circle Pines, MN

Four TV shows I love to watch...
1. The Office
2. Biggest Loser
3. Martha Stewart
4. Mr. Rogers (Yes, still!)

Four places I have been on vacation...
1. Montana
2. Maine
3. Oregon
4. Canada

Four websites you visit Often...
1- SIStv
2- Two Peas
3- blogger
4- flickr

The last CJ layout...

This is the layout I did in Char's journal. Her word was do. This has also spurred the idea for a layout with pictures of a similar design. My journal should be on it's way back to me this week!

Have a great day!

A new week...

and I've got some goals. A to-do list. Ideas. What's missing?? Time! I could always use more of it! I'm sure you could too!

For this week:
1. Get caught up on DOM cards!
2. Blog more than one day this week.
3. Halloween decorations.
4. Get some exercise.
5. Keep up with the chore chart.
6. Create a little something everyday!

I finished the last CJ layout today. I will bring it to the post office tomorrow. I've enjoyed this CJ group. It's fun to see other people's work each month and browse through the journals. I'm very excited to get mine back too!

I'm a bit behind on my DOM cards. Or, rather posting them. I've been doing them, except last week's, but haven't photographed them or posted them.

At Michael's last week in the dollar bin I bought a little calendar that has columns for each day and I'm going to use it to track projects and ideas and the things I create each day. Which has been a goal for me all week.

I'm increasingly frustrated at how difficult it is to fit everything into the day that I'd like to get done. Which also includes play time with Owen. His play time often feels a bit like wasted time for me because I'm not doing much but it's important for him. I haven't been working out again but the house has been clean. Both are important to me but it seems like I can't do it all in a day. Maybe I need to rearrange my chore chart to alternate with workout days. Or heavier workout days.

This week I'm working on getting some Halloween Decorations made and up. I got some small pumpkins and gourds at Michael's this week and glittered them! They are so sparkley! I LOVE glitter!

(Are you gathering that this is a random post!?)

This weekend Owen and I went to the 120 year celebration for my mom and sister's company. There was a walk around the nature preserve where the HQ is situated. Then a building dedication. I didn't get that part since the building has been there for years and years! Then a picnic and pumpkin picking!

They had set up a pumpkin patch up on a hill! So Miranda and I took Owen up and he picked out a pumpkin. Mostly he pointed at and poked them. I picked out the on to his right for him. I'm not sure what we will carve in it yet. Owen had a good time at the whole affair. He's such a social baby!It is amazing how he grows and changes so much from week to week and sometimes day to day. He's been running a lot lately. Unfortunately he also falls down and bumps into things a lot too. Tonight he was running out of the kitchen with his Fischer Price Piano and managed to go sideways and hit the wall with his head. He cried for just a moment but he's going to have a bruise. Our baby class teacher keeps saying they have tough heads but I keep thinking he may need a little helmet like the one the lead girl in Garden State wore! Just something to provide a little padding!
He's also babbling and jabbering like crazy. He says a few things that sound like words but for the most part it's his own language. Complete with facial expressions and hand gestures. It's so fun to watch. Morgan and I were just talking about how funny and silly and fun he is. Last night I started crying because I don't want him to grow so fast! But I'm also happy that I'm not missing a moment of it. I spent a lot of my life up until now waiting for or anticipating something and I can honestly say that I don't do that much right now. Most days I'm lucky to know what day it is and get where I have to be, if I do need to be somewhere! And I don't mind that.

The 2P's challenge, posted by BonnieRose, for today is: What do you think of people who leave hurtful anonymous comments?
Your thoughts?
Myself and a few of my sb acquaintances locally have had to deal with this in the past few months, blog about your thoughts.
Do you feel by blogging your public thoughts publicly, that well.. it's almost expected? Blog about it.

Blogging is an interesting forum. While it's a personal journal of sorts it's done in a public forum, which leaves you open to criticism from whomever happens to read what you write. So in that respect I guess you need to be tough. However, I personally believe that if you don't have something constructive to say then perhaps you shouldn't say, or write for that matter, anything at all. I may not agree with what I read on the blogs that I read but I don't feel compelled to hurt the feelings of the writers. I think the people who's blogs I read all nice people and deserve to be respected. I also find it inappropriate to be so involved in someone's life through an online forum that one would feel compelled to get involved in mud slinging or some other such behavior. I have a hard enough time managing the few close friends I have without getting involved in the drama of people I hardly know!

Oh, and if you have not stopped over at the Funky Photo Friday blog yet there is a new challenge and the Flickr group is up and running! I'm so excited about all the new activity going on with it! There are some great photos in the Flickr pool so I hope you will join in too!

I almost peed my pants!

Today I was watching a little video over on Donna Downey's blog. She's been doing some video blogging which is very fun. While I was watching her little video she had both her girls say hi. And when her oldest daughter stepped into the frame I was so thrilled to see the monkey shirt I made! I almost peed my pants! But I'd also just finished a diet coke and I have a small bladder! If you go to Donna's blog and watch the video for 10/10 you will see it too! It is very similar to my felt monkey shirt! When Donna was in MN I took two classes with her and I wore my monkey shirt. She liked it so much she asked me to do one for her daughter. So that's how she got a monkey shirt too!

I'm BACK!!!

We had a great trip to Montana. We arrived back in MN Saturday evening to 80˚ weather. When we left Morgan's parent's house it was about 35˚ and snowing with 8" already on the ground! The flight was uneventful with the exception of Owen not sleeping! But he wasn't too disruptive.

Yesterday and today has been spent cleaning and doing laundry. We were so busy the week before we left I didn't get the house cleaned and tidied like I prefer to leave it. So I've got to do it now. Morgan helped a lot yesterday so I'm feeling good about it.

While in Montana we did a short hike to Ousel Falls. Below are pictures. It was a gorgeous area and just the right sized hike for me. I'm going to use the photos to make a little mini album.

I took a ton more photos but all need to be processed as I shot in RAW. So I will be sharing lots more throughout the week! Happy Monday everyone and Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in Canada!