I got caught crafting in public and I LIKED it.

Those of you who have been tuning in have noticed I enjoy craft blogs. Have you been wondering about my crafting skills? Have you been asking, "Does this woman have any creative abilities?" Well, I don't know because my self-esteem is not what it should be, but here we go anyway. Meet my sewing machine. It's a Pfaff 1222. I love this thing. It was my Grandma's. It's amazing. I think she would be proud that I use it.

Meet what I have been working on this week. Dog toys. I love dogs. I love to sew. I got caught crafting in public. Mr. Handsome tolerated me taking a bag of fiber-fill into a swim meet so I could stuff dog toys. He tolerated a conversation between myself and a voyeur crafter (some lady staring at me while I stuffed dog toys at the swim meet.) I will admit when it comes to being creative and talking crafts, I'm pretty passionate. Mr. Handsome has gotten used to this, he puts up with me. I think he thinks it's sexy. This is how my conversation went, in abbreviated form.

craft voyeur: "Excuse me, what are you making?"

me (a bit shocked): "Oh, they are dog toys."

C.V.: "I thought so, but then I wasn't sure. They're cute."

me (still a bit shocked): "Thanks, they are really fun to make. Do you sew?"

C.V.: "Yes, I do. I just finished hand-piecing quilts for my boys for Christmas."

me: "Wow, that's impressive. Will they like that for Christmas?"

C.V.: "I sure hope so."

me, thinking to myself: "My boys would be totally pissed if I gave them hand-pieced quilts for Christmas. Q would want to know how his Wii remote plugs into the quilt and Elvis would be looking for how it becomes a Transformer."

C.V.:"Do you sell your dog toys online?"

me (embarrassed because how many times has Mr. Handsome said, "you should sell those online"): "Oh no! I just have friends who buy them from me."

Mr. Handsome: SCOWL!

me: "Have fun sewing!"`

So after recycling Calvin Kleins that I have been saving since 1987. And loving every minute of it. Here are the personalized dog toys, complete with squeakies inside. The luckiest dogs in all of Oregon are receiving these as Christmas gifts because of my cute friend, Geri. And while we are at it. Meet the Wonder Dogs. Our dogs. We love them as much as we love our children. They are amazing.

Left, is Titus, the one-eyed Wonder or "That Naughty Dog (TND)". On the right is Emma or "TND's accomplice". She's as naughty as he is, only she comes off as innocent. Just like Mr. Handsome! TND is new to us. Adopted at 8 years old. We are just getting to know him. He LOVES to eat. Want to see what he loves to eat? Here we go.....

One bag of Generic Frosted Flakes. I buy bag cereal. It's cheaper.

Bread, any kind of bread. Bread off the counter is the best. White, wheat, rye. Doesn't matter.

A little frozen chili with some Ziploc bag to go with that bread? Even better. No matter that it's frozen. TND loves a challenge. He has also eaten 2 lbs. of raw ground beef with the styrofoam tray, 23 cupcakes and 18 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (That's a whole story in itself, Hey Jay!) I have a new list on my sidebar. It's what TND has eaten and survived. I love that dog so much I'm making him dog toys for Christmas. He'll probably eat them.

Add to My Life Soundtrack: "What you waiting for?" sung by Gwen Stefani

Let's sing one more round of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" everybody. And Cole stop touching Ethan!

Okay, so here's how the story begins. And not Twas The Night Before Christmas story, however that has something to do with it.

This morning I took Elvis to school. He was more excited than usual because I was staying for a little while. You see, since I am still in the running for Mother of the Year, I volunteered to help Elvis's class work on their lines for their Christmas Program. They are reciting Twas The Night Before Christmas. It's going to be a disaster. I'll tell you right now. 4 year olds trying to remember "kerchief", "coursers" and "bowl full of jelly." Honestly. But I agreed to help so I'll try to be positive.

Well, we arrived at school and the kids in his group were sitting in their circle working on the alphabet. We are always late. Poor Elvis is only going to know the last 9 letters of the alphabet. I sat down in the group and suddenly an announcement comes booming over the PA system. "We are now experiencing an immediate lockdown. Please begin lockdown procedures."

You gotta be sh*tting me! The teachers gather up 17 two, three and four year olds plus me and shove us into a 6 x 12 foot bathroom that is also being used as a teacher coat room and storage closet and shut the door. I was informed at this time that it was a "practice" lockdown and not to panic. Oh thanks for telling me cuz standing here with all these little guys thinking this was a "real" lockdown wasn't doing my already high blood pressure any good.

Needless to say folks, when they do a lockdown, all the rooms in the building must be checked and cleared before you can come out. WE WERE IN THERE FOR 55 MINUTES! Not kidding. We sang, read a book, played "I spy", recited the ABC's (Elvis was shocked to hear the 15 letters that come before the letter "R".) I think I heard the teachers say, "I know you are hot, I am too and please stop touching so and so" probably 15,000 times.

Elvis's teachers rock. They did the best they could in very tight quarters. If it was a "real" lockdown, God forbid, they would keep those little people safe. I am glad I was there for Elvis. It was scary. It's sad we have to practice these things. I would have much rather heard Twas The Night Before Christmas recited by 4 year olds. No matter how painful.

*Regarding the video above. It's totally amateur but cute nonetheless. I hope when Ladycakes, Q and Elvis are in their twenties they remember and appreciate all of our family traditions.

My house smells like a pine forest. That's a good thing.

So as you can imagine, in between helping study for Social Studies, plowing snow off the driveway and "encouraging" the adolescent bees at this hive to CLEAN THEIR ROOMS (okay there was some yelling and threats of no Christmas tree) we managed to decorate the house for Christmas. I think I mentioned here that I just wasn't feelin' it. It's a lot of work and all I could think was "I'll be putting it all away in 3 weeks." I got over it and it was fun. Wanna see?

Here is Mr. Handsome opening his birthday present. Happy Birthday, honey!

The tree got some twinkling white lights, then I walked away and when I turned around the only lights that were lit were the bottom strand. Stupid Christmas. I figured it out. The strand right in the middle of tree died. So I just took it out. No big. Sorry Christmas, I like you again.

Here's the whole thing decorated. Now when we first moved the furniture around (this is a new spot for our tree) I began to shake, then I felt queasy, then I freaked out. Because this long, narrow room looked BAD! Seriously, making room for a tree in your house isn't natural. But after some shifting and one of Mr. Handsome's rum and diet cokes. I found that it actually looks good. And, because I can justify ANYTHING, listen to this. The space is very intimate this way, meaning there's not a lot of room to move around. Perhaps, because of this, less presents will actually seem like more presents. Are you feelin' me? Less is more. Less is more.
This is a little village I set up. A la, Alicia over at Posie Gets Cozy. For years, I collected birdhouses, including all the little birdhouses the children had painted. But then they started to bug me. I was just moving on from the birdhouse thing. So I put them all with the Christmas decor. They work perfectly with the little elves, snowmen and vintage chenille Santas I've acquired over the years.

Here it is in full and not lit. It really is pretty at night.

And this little fellow is keeping an eye out for naughty children. Won't find any here, Mr. Elf! **wink, wink**

And finally, the stocking were hung by the chimney with care. Note that Elvis does not have the adorable cross-stitched name "pillow" on his stocking. Poor child, he'll actually be the most well-adjusted of the bunch. He was my decorating buddy through all of this. He reminded me of how magical this season is through the eyes of a child. Every time we unwrapped an ornament from it's tissue he would say "Oooooh, this is soooo cute!" Seriously, everytime. Even when we opened the plastic Grinch in a sleigh, straight from a Happy meal ornament. It was awesome. Thanks for helping me find my Christmas spirit, Elvis!

50-8=39( at least at this house) It's new math. All the schools are teaching it.

This week Mr. Handsome celebrated a birthday. It was his birthday that he celebrated. Not just some birthday at his office, which by the way are crazy ridiculous. They buy a huge sheet cake for the birthday person and the office goes at it like vultures who haven't seen carrion in six months. Then those who haven't fallen into a mid-afternoon sugar coma, sneak back in to grab any leftover cake to take home to their families so they can celebrate all over again at home. Gross.

Anyhoo, that's not where I'm going with this. I just wanted you to know that Mr. Handsome is very kind to always spend his birthday picking out our Christmas tree. It's our birthday/Christmas tradition. I think he likes it, but don't tell him I know. The kids really like it and by all means we live to please them! Our sacrifice is their reward, every single day!

We love Mr. Handsome here at the hive. Love him like the worker bee that he is! He's the best dad and husband this hive could have. We are so lucky! He's going to get his fair share of the honey! Eeewww, TMI!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Handsome.

xoxo

Jen

Hilary made me buy that! Really, she said I NEEDED it.

Check, check, check it! Look at these.... I mean, really look. These are why Advent calendars ROCK! Are you kiddin' me? Spongebob sweatbands! I'm thinkin' just regular sweatbands would have rocked Elvis' world but Spongebob? It's perfection. He wore them to swimming lessons. Not just TO swimming lessons but to swimming lessons. Like in the pool with his goggles swimming lessons. It's marvelous. You actually do sweat when you swim you know. For the picture, I made him wear them with Spongebob's face looking toward his hands. However, for real life wearage... he prefers Spongebob's face looking right up at his. They have a relationship, with that configuration they can communicate. It works for Elvis.

You'll be pleased to know Q opened his Advent calendar today and found........wait for it..............

Spongebob sweatbands! It's beautiful! Although Mr. Handsome immediately asked, "How are we going to be able to tell who's is who's?" That Mr. Handsome, he's a thinker, a worrier. So, what did Ladycakes do, you ask? Went lookin' for the box that was sweatband-shaped is what she did. It's not there! Oh no. Will there not be Spongebob sweatbands for Ladycakes? You'll have to tune in to find out.

In the meantime, we put up our Christmas tree. What do think? Isn't it gorgeous? It's a bit smaller than last year but we love it just the same. Take a look.

JUST KIDDING! Can you imagine? I don't have the energy to bring the Christmas stuff up! Maybe tomorrow I'll feel inspired. I just wish I could snap my fingers and it was done. I'll get into it, promise. And, I'll show pics. First, I want to show you a project with 2 pringles cans and a hot chocolate container. I know, it sounds like the start of a really bad joke. Maybe, it is!

I better get ready cuz Santa Claus is comin' to town!

Jingle lingle ling!

Can you believe it's December? I mean really, December? Christmas is practically next week. I haven't done any shopping. NONE. First of all, there's no money left for Christmas so I am gettin' my creative on. Making socks, underwear and all the other necessities look Christmas-y is one large task! Okay, I do have a few special people on my list that I need to shop for. And, because I took the pledge (see my sidebar) I am sticking to handmade and hopefully local. I'm going for it ladies and gentleman, taking the challenge and running with it.

Here are the hot spots on my list for this weekend....please join me if you live in the area. If you don't, Salt Lake City is a Delta hub. Hop on a plane and join the fun.

Friday, December 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Allison Dayton Jewelry and Cherella USA is having a sale and it's their biggest sale yet. This is great jewelry, clothing and accessories that you can't miss out on. Look at this stuff, it's amazing! I'm going Friday. I'm going for the good stuff folks, step out of my way. This is going on Saturday as well. If you want directions let me know. I share well with others.

Saturday, December 5th Ladycakes will once again be working her little tush off selling those darling barrettes. Cute as a Button Barrettes will be featured at The Little Dickens Boutique here in Park City.

The Little Dickens Holiday Boutique

When Saturday, December 5, 2009 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Where The Park City Community Church - Fellowship Hall

4501 N. HWY 224, Park City (behind Park City Nursery)

Come on by and say hello. We'll be there all day. It's going to be fun. She's made some darling holiday barrettes that will look great with any holiday outfit.

Finally Sunday, December 6th. Come on down to this. This is one you can't miss, seriously. And, I really like the gals participating in this bad boy. I've talked about them before and here I go again. Nice, talented, local! Totally cool!

What: a 'Holiday Gift Boutique'
There will be some soup, lite snacks, tea and most likely some wine!

When: Sunday, Dec. 6th from 3-8 pm

Why: So you can buy locally made products, directly from the artist!

Who: Threadheads (me) - handmade hats, scarves, jumpers etc.
Ashen Moon - recycled sweater mittens
Katie Stelpflug - ceramist; coffee mugs, vases etc.
You've Been Framed - the coolest picture frames out west!
Brent's Bread- amazing, fresh breads and possibly some chutneys and/or jellies/ hot sauces etc.
Marcy Hacisavas - LMT offering gift certificates for tense loved ones:)


Where: My house 335 McHenry St.
Follow Deer Valley Dr. toward Snow Park
Turn right onto Rossi Hill Dr.
Follow Rossi around to the left then back right
McHenry vears off toward your left (dead end street)
I am the 3rd house on the right, with a for sale sign out in front

If you don't find what you need, you just ain't lookin'. As always, happy to help you spend your moolah. It's what I do!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! A must add to this month's Life Soundtrack. Excellent.

"I can afford to board a Chattanooga Choo Choo" Not really, but wouldn't it be fun?

Here's a peek of what's on it's way to Sophie's, a charming shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ladycakes' Cute as a Button Barrettes. Lots of lucky little girls and young ladies in Tennessee are going to be rocking some super cute hair accessories for the holidays and into the New Year!

Who wants to head South with me? I think a little shopping at Sophie's would be mighty fun before the holidays!

Anyone? Anyone? I know you are thinking about it! Let's go!

New song for my life soundtrack. Find it here. http://www.myspace.com/capramusic