A Thursday Kind of Day

While Patch is at school, I try to get as much done as possible. Sometimes that is eat breakfast and take a shower. Sometimes it's much more. Usually Ginger goes down for a nap. But sometimes, like today, she cries like the saddest baby in the world and refuses to sleep. I am giving her 10 more minutes. I'll go get her if she's still crying. Am I the meanest Mommy in the world because I can listen to my kids cry? Probably. I just know how tired she is, and that she needs to sleep. Eventually, she'll stop and do that. Sometimes the crying just breaks my heart and I have to give in.

My schedule has been off the past two weeks. Flower's grandparents are in town from California, so she has stayed at her mom's house this whole time. It's hard to know what day it is when we don't drive out to get her, or drive her to school the following morning. The routine starts back up again this weekend, and we'll all be glad for it.

10 minutes is too long -- I am going to go rescue her now.
Go check out The Molly Patch blog for today's product spotlight!

Weight Loss Wednesday

You thought I was going to forget again, didn't you? No sirree! This week was mediocre, at best. I need to find my motivation and latch on. I really just need to take things a day at a time. No more of this "tomorrow" business -- I can do it today! I just need to focus on the present, and worry about tomorrow when it gets here.

Today's Gratitudes: I had a brief but meaningful chat with a friend today. I was explaining/complaining and she stripped to the heart of the matter and told me I needed to go to the temple more often. Boy howdy, is she ever right. I am grateful for good friends who can tell it like it is without judging. It's a skill and a talent wrapped into one delightful package.

Oops

One year ago, we potty trained. I am so glad we're not doing that this year.

I forgot to be grateful yesterday. Oops. In the spirit of not overwhelming myself (too late, I already did), I am not going to play catch up. I am going to start anew today.

I have cut some cute aprons today for the Nov. 13 show (are you coming?) and hope to sew them tonight. I didn't get to watch White Christmas last night. I learned early on in life that you don't come between a man and his remote. We'll see if Curly is more willing to share tonight. I would just watch it upstairs, but our DVD player isn't working. I don't want to buy a new one because I'd rather get a Blue Ray for downstairs and move the DVD player upstairs. But, having a high-def movie system makes no sense with a 15 year old TV. So, I think we need a flat screen. This is now very expensive, so we'll just make do with what we've got. Again I ask, are you coming?

Today's Gratitude: The sun is shining and Ginger's second top tooth is almost through the gums. My gratitude will increase when it actually comes through.

A Little Sew and Tell

Christmas is in full swing. Working with these fabrics makes me happy. I mean, who would want this lovely red and white fabric in their home? This is the back of a table topper. I did in the ditch quilting with white thread.

Here is the top. The binding is ready to be hand sewn down while I watch White Christmas tonight. I like to do in the ditch quilting for a table topper because I like the focus to be on the fabric. Straight lines really make the fabrics pop.
Here are 15 sets of pillowcases. To learn more and see additional photos, join me on my Molly Patch blog.
The big day is November 13. The bazaar runs from 9:30-4. Hope to see you there! Bring your friends. And your wallets!

Weight Loss Wednesday

It's been a couple of weeks since I had a Weight Loss Wednesday post. It was also a couple of weeks between weigh ins. There are several reasons for this, but sometimes when I give reasons, it sounds like excuses. So let's just leave it for now. I am down a grand total of 31.8 pounds. So close to 32! My goal is to be down 40 by Christmas. I am taking it one day at a time. I have been getting slightly overwhelmed lately, so a small goal each day is what is going to get me through this.

I have been thinking a lot about my motivation lately. When I was 16, I was heavy. Not Biggest Loser heavy, but I was overweight. I was also unhappy. I had one day that was my turning point. I will never forget it. While at school, I thought this one guy in my class was really cute. I was talking to him about something and I noticed that he wasn't looking at me. He was looking at someone thin and pretty. It broke my heart. Later at home, I went into my mom's room, laid on her bed, and cried. The gist of what I said was "I am so fat. I am so unhappy." My mom has never met a problem she couldn't solve. She looked at me and said, "Okay, let's fix this." We called Jenny Craig and I went that Friday, September 24. It was the first place I ever drove by myself. My junior year, I lost about 50 pounds. Being thin didn't solve all my problems, but I felt like I could conquer the world. I am convinced that nothing in this world feels better than when you look your best. It also feels really good to be on the way there.

Today's Gratitude: McDonald's Happy Meals are $1 tonight and I don't have to fix dinner. That is welcome news on a Wednesday.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like It

I am in the mood for Christmas. Aren't you? I'll admit, it's probably just all the fun Christmas fabric I've been working with the past few weeks. I have even allowed myself a few songs here and there, but this week may allow myself a movie. I'll make a deal with me. If I get a table topper to the point of binding, then I can watch a movie. Probably White Christmas. Deal? I'll hold me to it.

Todays Gratitude: Ginger slept through the night again. It's heavenly to wake up in the morning and not the middle of the night.

A Special Day

Seriously, cutest kid ever.

Today is Saturday. It's a special day because, well, it's the day we get ready for Sunday. We have run most of our errands today. Only one left -- to the store to pick up milk and diet coke and bread. You would think snow was in the forecast with our shopping list.

Isn't this banner cute? Not as cute as Patch, I know. It's for sale in my etsy shop. You'll need to hurry, though. There's only one left!

Todays gratitude: I am grateful for my mom. She's awesome and such a good example for me. That's all I have to say about that.

On Gratitude

Lately I don't get much (read: any) sewing done for myself. I used to love linking up with Sew and Tell every Friday, but feel bad doing it when it's all stuff for sale. Yesterday as I was finishing up a few things, I was having a grand old pity party for myself. Not just about sewing things, but about a lot of things. I resent the cost of gas and the necessity of driving certain places. I am bitter our budget does not include money for new clothes. This thinking started early in the afternoon and continued much into the night. It was, in a word, ridiculous. I can get so caught up in what I don't have, or what is less than ideal in my life, that I neglect what is right in front of me. The answer to how to solve this problem came to me pretty easily: Show more gratitude. So here is how I'm going to do that. At the end of each post starting today, I am going to include one thing for which I am grateful.

Todays Gratitude: I am grateful there is no school today and Curly is also off so that we can hang out as a family.

Corn Maze

About a week ago, we went to the corn maze. It was awesome. And more than a little muddy. The day before we went, it had rained about 5 inches. It was sunny this year, as opposed to years past when we've gone at night. Personally, I like going during the day. It makes it much easier to see the map.

Look, I was there, too!
Ginger enjoyed riding around in the backpack. She thought the whole event was pretty funny.
The kids took turns leading. However, Flower was the only one who found the markers.
Patch and Mini-me each fell several times. Earlier that week, Mini-me was asking what "hobby" meant. I told her it was something you were good at and that you enjoyed doing. She thought for a minute and said, "Well, I am good at falling, but I don't like doing it. It's NOT my hobby."

Friday? Again?!

I cannot believe it is already Friday. And it's October to boot! While I am busy playing with the loveliness that is Kate Spain and Basic Grey, I thought I would share some photos. Oh, what am I doing with this fabric? I am making Christmas table toppers to sell at the November 13 craft fair at the Vienna Community Center. Thanks for asking!

My kids enjoy getting their face painted and then eating chicken nuggets on the curb. This was taken at our favorite festival, In the Street. Usually it's held the first Saturday in October, but this year it was in September. It was awesome.
Giant turkey leg, anyone? Flower may look slight, but she can sure put it away! She opted out of the face painting and instead got a Redskins tattoo on her arm.
When I was in elementary school, I had an obsession with jelly bracelets. Mini-me is similarly obsessed with silly bands. I haven't seen her wrist in a month.

This was one of Patch's favorite rides at the fair. He is not craughing, he is full on laughing. He did this ride twice.

This is what happens to Ginger a lot. She falls asleep wherever we are. It's almost nap time, so I need to go put her in her crib, take a shower, and then get to work. Christmas table toppers do not make themselves, you know.