Unpredictability

Remeber this from last Saturday ?


This Saturday we have this, we had our first snowfall of the year yesterday.

Does she look like a piggy bank ?

Reagan apparently thinks she is. TWICE, yes you read that correctly TWICE she has deliberately swallowed money tonight. I don't even know what to think or say.
The first time surprised me as she was never a toddler who put things in her mouth. She came out to me crying asking if swallowing a penny would kill her, I told her no and asked her why the question and she went on to tell me she had just done that very thing. Huh ? why ? She wanted to see if it was clean... and if it wasn't ?
I explained that no it wouldn't kill her, that it wasn't a smart thing to do and if she was that hungry she should have asked for a snack. I explained that just like corn, it will probably make it's appearnace in the next day or so and that was that.
Well I just got in from the garage and she looked at me, all smiles and said "I swallowed another penny " WTH ??? WHY ?? She's the prankster child so I thought she was going to yell "Psych" but she never did, instead she dissolved into tears because I started "Yelling " at her, not really,I raised my voice a little asking why she would do it again, then the thought hit me, what if it wasn't a penny, what if it were a quarter, so I spread coins out on the table and asked her to point to the coins she swallowed... 2 dimes. So in the next 24 hours or so my kid won't be shitting roses, it'll be 20 cents.

Purses, fabric and celebrities

What do you get when you morph all 3 of those together ? A fabulous contest hosted by Lila Tueller Designs

First one to email her with all 12 correct morphs receives one of her awesome purses made w/ her yummy fabrics.

So go on over, have some fun and see how many of those morphs you recognise.
Personally I'm going to wish on my lucky star tonight, I've been lusting her purses for a while now, it would be pretty sweet to find one of those under my tree Christmas morning.

So in the spirit of good sportsmanship, I wish you good luck,and will keep my fingers crossed that one of you will be a Runner Up.

Do you have a smelly dog ?

Yes ? Then go get his anal glands checked out. Not even kidding.
We have a large black lab and the one thing we have said on more than one occasion is how he has never had that 'doggie odor' and for that I've been very thankful. Well all of that changed 2 weeks ago, I noticed he'd started to stink, so I had Marc take him to the groomers and get him bathed, he came home looking shinier than ever but he still stank, last week it got so bad, the whole house was smelling, I could tell if he was in a room or not because I could smell him,it was the nastiest thing ever. It got so bad I couldn't be in the same room as him and at one point was tempted to go check into a hotel, Marc thought I was over reacting... no not at all.
Last Friday I couldn't take anymore and told Marc to take the dog to the vet, that I couldn't believe it was just a regular doggie odor that there had to be more to the smell than that.
Sure enough, I wasn't being over dramatic, his anal glands were full, freaking gross, I'd never heard of such a thing.
Anyway I'm not going to go into detail because it will truly make you lose your Wheaties, but the vet drained them, gave him some meds and as every day passes the smell is less and less.
So be warned, got a smelly dog ? Get him checked out.
If you really want to learn more about it then go here

Why I love living further south

You can do things like this, in mid November

When it's cold and rainy outside

Is there anything better than lounging in your favorite chair w/ a good book and a furry friend ?
Ben thinks not.

These are a few of my favorite things

As Christmas approaches I know several of you are out there scratching your heads wondering what to give loved ones for Christmas gifts, so I thought I'd make up my own little gift guide and show off a couple of my favorite things from some fellow Etsy sellers.

For a special teacher:
How about the card that keeps on giving from AMomentAMemory28 a personalised card mounted on seeded paper.The teacher can peel off the special photograph and keep it as a keepsake,then plant the paper and before s/he knows it they'll have a display of wildflowers, clover or catnip, your choice. How cool is that ? It's a nice inexpensive gift that won't break the bank and it beats another coffee mug.


For a special friend:
Go visit dpholkdesigns she sells the most beautiful glasswork, everything from ornaments to serving dishes, personally I'm salivating over the wall pocket pictured below. This is also a seller who will go out of her way for you,she will ship your item directly to the gift recipient, even overseas if that's what you want.


For the avid bookreader:
How about a really cool bookmark, again another seller who will go over and above for you don't see what you want ? Convo her and if she has the charms she'll custom make you one. Ben LOVES the bookmark I gave him for his Birthday, he claims they are much better than the traditional ones


For the special teen:
Jeweledblossoms makes some of the prettiest jewellery, I personally purchased the necklace below, Victoria had seen it and went gaga over it, so she'll be receiving it in her stocking this year. This is a beautiful piece of jewellery and something she can treasure for a very long time, the craftsmanship is outstanding.


For the hard to buy for or the perfect stocking stuffer:
Go visit Karin over at Awindowintowhimsy she has some of the prettiest keyfobs you'll find on Etsy,


For the tween, college student or young at heart:
Go visit Shauneil these racks are the coolest. Shhhh Ben will be getting one of these under the tree.


For the little people:
Go visit Mountainsidecrochet she has some sweet little characters, but this has to be my favorite, how cute is that little mouse ? What a great giftset, 2 plushies and a book. The perfect combination.


Of course you are also more than welcome to come visit me over at my store, if you don't see what you want convo me, customs are a big deal this year. Pillows, aprons and ovenmitts are keeping my machine whirring.

Just to clarify

Several people have asked and wondered why I don't write very much about my older 2 children, plain and simple they have asked me not to and I respect that.
There have being times when they have asked me to post something about them, i.e the post about Victoria's love for Michael Phelps and so I did and that's the way it will continue. It's not that I love them any less, or play favorites, it's that I respect them as young people and take those types of requests seriously.
Reagan on the other hand at this point in time really doesn't give a hoot when I post something cute or silly about her, but when that day comes and she ask that I stop posting about her goofy behavior then I'll quit that too.

She's a dreamer

Reagan must be having some pretty vivid dreams lately. Last night after sleeping on the couch for a good 30 mins, she sat up looked over at her brother and said in the most disgusted voice ever "It's just a lion, Ben." Ok then. This morning she came and snuggled in bed with me for a little and fell asleep almost immediately, when she woke up she looked me square in the eye and asked "Can I chop the cheese ?" I asked her why she needed to chop cheese, she replied "For the Macaroni and cheese" then rolled over and slept for another 30 mins.
She has no recollection of either conversation.

Guy Fawkes Day

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot
Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason.

The Tradition begins...
The following year in 1606 it became an annual custom for the King and Parliament to commission a sermon to commemorate the event. Lancelot Andrewes delivered the first of many Gunpowder Plot Sermons. This practice, together with the nursery rhyme, ensured that this crime would never be forgotten! Hence the words " Remember , remember the 5th of November" The poem is sometimes referred to as 'Please to remember the fifth of November'. It serves as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten. In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man. Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy".

I have to admit that despite all the hoopla over here in the States over the newly elected President, it wasn't him that I woke up thinking about this morning. It was childhood memories of Guy Fawkes Day. By and far that was one of my favorite days of the year. My Dad would help me make an Effigy of guy Fawkes, I would then put him in either the wheel barrow or my doll stroller and together with a friend we'd wheel him down to the corner shops and pan handle... OMG, we really did that and people really gave us money. At the end of the day we would take the money into the corner shop and buy the biggest box of fireworks we could afford. That night dinner would be done around the bonfire, generally baked potatoes cooked in the fire. The Guy would burn on top of the fire and Dad would let off all the fireworks, I think Catherine Wheels were my favorite
One year I was too sick to participate in the outdoor activities and so sat in the kitchen window watching as my Dad let all of the fireworks off.
Another year as we were all standing about in the garden my Dad let off a traffic light and for whatever reason it started following my friend Lian, as she ran from it, it kept jumping in her direction, why it did that nobody knows but it certainly gave us all a laugh, except of course Lian.
If you live in England I hope you had a wonderful fun time tonight, eating your baked potatoe and drinking your hot chocolate

Maybe she'll become a Dr

Reagan ran out to the kitchen to me tonight and asked "Mom, will you please come in and watch that show where people go to the hospital and the doctors have to find out what is wrong with them ? "

For the next hour she sat engrossed while watching Discovery Health's 'Mystery ER'.
Beats watching Sponge Bob ;-)