Scrap Quilting

Quilting is one of the most versatile things in the world - there is a style out there for everyone!

Mine however, does break many rules. Most quilts you attach all three layers together with some form of pattern or stitching.
The front is going to be a compilation of needle point & my children's clothes - the ones that are beyond reusing or handing down.

Glasses

I know many people may not understand my excitement but really I love my new prescription transition glasses!
I've had glasses for the last 10 years, I only need them to see far away.
Normally night driving, theater watching, storms, rain ect. are the times I HAVE to wear them.
However over time I like wearing them while I drive - I can see better, clearer, & actually read street signs in enough time to turn!

Rites of passage and boys

I don't know if its just a boy thing, an initiation rite or a rite of passage, but some how some things that my boy does seems almost movie script perfect.
Today for the first time in his young life he broke a window.
With a snow ball.

Prissy's Allergies

Today I hit Shopko - ordered new glasses (very excited!) Then rushed out and picked up Prissy from school.
I don't know which one of us was more nervous, her or me.

The majority of her allergies I already knew or could have guessed only one really surprised me.
She is allergic to dogs.

Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow my girl goes in for her first allergy scratch test.

         This is a huge thing - a painful thing

                         I have been putting this off for a long time

                                           A very long time - like since she was two

                                                              Now, that she is allergic to lidocaine-injection

                                                                                   She also needs dental work

                                                                                                  Badly.

Tomorrow is not going to be a day I am looking forward too

watching what I know will happen

because it's happened to me

I, unlike my daughter, choose not to go back and get the rest of the testing done.

Instead I choose to pay close attention to all the small signs and avoid things that cause problems - without official diagnosis.

My daughter does not get that luxury

her allergies are worse then mine.

 Also without medical records stating what she is allergic too - she can't get the help she needs.

I am not looking forward to tomorrow

Renewal and is Pinterest for you?

For those new to my blog if you want the full story please read the links under - The Path to Me - page on the page bar of my blog.

Why? Well because that is where the story starts for me. I went into deep depression and then it became a habit. Not thinking, feeling, focusing or caring is a very dangerous apathetic habit.
Only with the help of depression meds (that all sorts of studies say don't work, I say after six years of trying to pull my self up - Oh Hell Yes they do!) was I able to start to wake my brain back up. To fully sleep at night, and truly awake in the morning.

At first the task is daunting. I am so behind in everything. The whole house must be cleaned, organized, sorted and redone. Things that have been long put off are finally caught up on - many times I want to return to numbness as the ever growing list of things to do, and people who are watching, continue to grow.
The pressure I am sure would crush many, for me it only serves to make me angry.
For me though, that's a good thing - I clean better when I am angry.

For six months I battle before I even feel like I am finally getting ahead of things! Its a very long slow process.
Being awake again, has brought new things to my attention and has again sparked my creative side!
I started making and fixing more things at home (darning, repairing, reusing & Home Made products) and then I joined pinterest.

Where I found a new organizing tip! Instead of shelving your sheets like grandma did, you fold the whole set top, fitted & extra's INSIDE the matching pillow case!
Brilliant! I only wish I had done this when the kids were younger! Night time bed changes would have been so much easier!
No digging or searching just add them into piles - boys, girls, king, queen & twin. Voila!

Also going through my linen closet I was able to determine which sheets were loners - extras - leftovers.

Instead of throwing these away 

I'm going to start a scrap quilt.

Now a scrap quilt is much different then the beautiful quilts you see with patterns.

However, I will save all of that for another post ;).

Also I made our family a chore chart - I keep getting in trouble for NOT being a mind reader! I do a ton of work but because it's NOT what HE wanted done - he's not happy. I know, I feel his pain too - boo hoo!
Now he can write down one thing and I can write down one thing! Brilliant!

Now on to Pinterest and if it's for you!
First off many wonder what pinterest is and if its for them.
Here are the basic questions I have to help you.

1. Do you often find recipes, blogs, tips, hints & good ideas and say - That Rocks!
2. Do you do, How to - Do-It-Yourself or crafting projects?
3. Do you like gardening? cooking? scrapbooking? -------- fill in any hobby right here!
4. Do you like to keep up on certain products or items?
5. Have ever found something (online) that makes you say OMG! That is amazing! 

If you have answered a loud yes to more than 3 of the 5 questions and you don't have a pinterest YOU NEED IT. If you answered with a mild yes to 3 or more, you would like pinterest and get on every few weeks as needed.
If you only said yes to one or two - pinterest may or may not be for you - you should give it a try and decide then.
If you shook your head No, or didn't even understand half the questions -Pinterest is not for you - most possibly neither is the internet.

Valentines Day Pampering

First off I stated by taking the kids to school - if you want a nice morning of pampering getting rid of the kids is a MUST!
Next I made my version of Lemon Sugar Scrub, substituting Lime for Lemon - you can also use a scented oil - I wouldn't I really like the acid of of the citrus it gets rid of all sorts of smells - including garlic.

I cleaned the bathtub - I know most people already have a clean tub - but if I am going in for a nice long soak I like to double check.
Made the water as hot as I could - added some bath salts, soaked, shaved, relaxed, inhaled my scentsy and just was.
After washing my hair & adding in the conditioner I emptied out the tub (I know you wondering where all this detail is going - be patient) then I grabbed my new scrub and rubbed it every where decent you can apply it.
Here's the thing. For those of you out there that like salt scrubs - they dry out your skin. The do exfoliate - but they also damage.
Using salts in your bath is a good way to prep your body to shed skin - without drying out your skin.
Sugar scrubs are just as exfoliating (I think they are a little better due to smaller granules).

Then of course I washed off under hot - then warm water. Ending the shower on a colder tone help to re-close the pores.

Also side note: another bonus to using a sugar scrub instead of a salt is if you end up accidentally liking your fingers it isn't that gross.

After then I pat dried and sat in my towel allowing the rest of the oil to soak into my skin for at least half an hour.
My skin hasn't felt this great in years - why? - because I rarely take time to take care of myself.
Take a moment figure out when you can pamper yourself for just a little bit - turn one regular part of your routine into something extra special.
This is cheap - easy and WONDERFUL!

The above recipe is normally for Hand Scrub - do not use to often on your body or you will also hurt your skin!