Its Christmastime....

I'm sorry I haven't updated in a week or so. It was finals week at school, and I had to devote possibly too much time to that. However, it paid off, when I got my grades! One more class to go in the spring and then its diploma time!

Today marked the beginning of the Christmas holiday for us as we celebrated with my father's mother-in-law's extended family. We haven't had children there since I was about twelve (my sister was nine and brother was 6), so it was especially nice to have two youngsters there. Brings back the real feelings of Christmas. It was magical watching them run up and down the stairs playing hide and seek and then later take on the vital roles of Santa's Helper and Reindeer, passing out gifts to everyone, even if it was the family shellacked moose poop necklace that Nannie collected on a trip up to Moose Country over a decade ago.

My Brother, winner of the Moose Poop

Anyway, If I haven't been working on school projects I have been wrapping Christmas presents. Just have to wrap a couple more and I will be READY for Christmas next week! How about that? Tom on the other hand... I have to spark a little fire under his shoes...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

Today Tom and I put up our Christmas tree! So exciting! Henry is super pumped as well! He just loves sitting underneath it.

 

   

Also, I watched some Youtube tutorials on crocheting and I crocheted my first heart. I used knitting yarn because that's what was used in the tutorial, plus it was all I had handy at the time, but I later picked up some smaller crochet hooks and some crochet thread in white, natural/beige, and burgundy. 

So right now I am going to try and make some hearts using the burgundy crocheting thread. And that brings me to the previously mentioned super secret project. I told Taylor already, but I am making her a doily table runner using doilys that I bought at the store. Now I want to make one for her table or at least one that she can use somewhere, maybe on the gift table or something. I have until August of next year to perfect it, so I should be able to accomplish it! :-) This is the picture that Taylor found of a doily table runner and posted to her Blog.

I also read that Toys for Tots is in some pretty dire need of toys for the little ones. I picked up some toys at the store the other day and am going to drop them at one of the Toys for Tots drop off sites in the area hoping it helps a little bit.

So hopefully that makes a little bit of a difference for someone's Christmas. 

In other news, Taylor told me that one of the members from Edward Sharpe contacted her and sent her the piano chords and stuff and she's going to forward them to me so I can take a look and perhaps play it at her wedding. That got Jordan and I thinking over dinner. The song that Taylor and Jeremy want played at their wedding has a rain sound in the background, which I think almost makes the entire song, so we are going to make some rain sticks for him to play maybe. Dad suggested perhaps we make some for the guests to hold when we play the song, which would also make an adorable keepsake. Still need to run it by the bride and groom, but I know she likes the idea of the rain stick, so thats one step. I'll let you know what comes of it. 

Wacky Wednesday!

Urban Outfitters

Today at work we decorated the tree. It was fun, we had some minor setbacks with the lights, but solved that quickly, and were back in action. The residents loved it. Even those folks who were shy or apprehensive about getting up and putting an ornament on a branch didn't want to sit back down but instead, just keep decorating! I can't wait to decorate my own tree this weekend! I bought a gingerbread house to put together also!

So this afternoon, I had, what I think, is a brilliant idea. It involves Taylor and Jeremy for their wedding, but that's all I can say for now. I don't want to spoil it just yet, and of course, there will be pictures when I have it finished, and they've seen it first. Tom approved, and thought it was a great idea too.

I have also decided that I am going to make a scrapbook of my Project 365, where I take a picture everyday for a whole year, rather than just uploading them to a file on the computer. I think this will push me to do more in the process, and get some 101 in 1,001 completed, so I don't have a year's worth of photos of me sitting around the apartment. It's always nice to see results.

So lately I've noticed that I am better at saving money if it is sitting in coin form in a jar, rather than a bank account, and i'm crazy for making themed jars for what I want to save up for.

The vegetable themed jar was for a composter that Tom and I wanted so we could make our own soil out of rubbish. We've decided to wait on that, seeming we have barely enough room in this apartment for what we have. The blue jar was just me goofing around with the chalkboard paint and ribbon while I watched Glee tonight.

Alright, well its off to bed for me. Good night!

Ta-da Tuesday

So today I had fun with chalkboard paint! I mentioned it that I wanted to buy some, and she was kind enough to give me her left overs after having painted her daughter's room with it!! I've seen projects where they painted flower pots and plates, and I had both just lying around so that's exactly what I did. Here's a picture:

It was fun, and super easy, but i'm wondering how the chalk will work out. I will have to pick some up at the store tomorrow. Hmmm..

I've also completed a few more questions on the 50 Questions that will Free Your Mind so that will be done soon. I've decided to take part in the Project 365. I have to take a picture, every day for one whole year, to show what I have done, who has been with me, and what the heck I look like. I think as well as posting them up there, I will make a scrapbook of the photos I take for it.

Its going to be fun!

"I love smiling, smiling's my favorite!"

The bad news is that I have misplaced my copy of Elf, which I wanted to watch so badly this evening while Tom and I put out some Christmas decorations. Boooo...

The good news is, that I checked off another task on my mother of all to-do lists: # 52, GET MY SNOW TIRES. Last winter was tough in my little clown car without snow tires, so i'm relieved I have them. I've also started working on the "50 Questions that Will Free Your Mind" which is number 60 on my list. Its going to take a little while though to fully complete it because some of the questions really do make you think. It's really interesting though.

I went out yesterday and took a few pictures that I might use in photo club next week. Here they be:

Well, that's about it for now! Until tomorrow!

Day Two.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving yesterday, and didn't go too crazy shopping this morning! (Ughhhhh). So the pies came out pretty tasty, and I think Tom's family was impressed. Yay! Score one- Ashley!

Today was a pretty busy day at work, but, I managed not to stress out, at LEAST until 1pm, when it started to get a little crazy, but I regained composure. So I would say there is a bright outlook on task number eight:

                                            Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.

I'm not crossing that one off just yet, but at least there sun in the horizon for it.

Today I spent some time thinking of a Christmas gift for my grandmother, and looking up new craft projects that I would like to try, and will post soon. After dinner, Tom and I put a movie in, and I completed task number sixty-eight...
                                  Actually Stay Awake for an Entire Movie.

Score Two: Ashley! I figured out that I have until August 23, 2013 to complete my tasks. I think a party is in order if i actually CAN complete this list on time. Bar-be-que, bonfire, karaoke... sounds like a plan to me!

Anyway, I have nothing else to report for today, so here's a picture of Henry, my kitty, in his Halloween bandana.

Thanksgiving Day Resolutions

Happy Thanksgiving! Odd as it may be, Thanksgiving is my New Year's. When I make resolutions on Thanksgiving, I tend to stick with them better than if I make them for January 1st with the rest of the population. I believe it was four years ago yesterday, that I last had a piece of meat, that is, up until the end of this summer, when I gave up being a vegetarian. When I first decided to become a vegetarian, I was living on my own. The majority of my friends were vegetarians so it was just easy being surrounded by it and grocery shopping for one. You can tell my dad thought I was crazy, but I was pretty proud that I actually stuck with it for almost four years, without falling off the bandwagon.

Lately I have wanted to do so much, whether it be at the craft table or out in the world, and I wasn't sure what to pick as a Thanksgiving Day resolution, seeming about 85 things on my list would obviously overwhelm me, stress me out, and leave me feeling like a lame old failure. So in my doping around on the web, I stumbled across and read about the '101 in 1001' campaign and decided to join the bandwagon. It sounds pretty reasonable, list 101 things I want to accomplish, and try to get it done in the next 1001 days. I always feel like things need to be done right now. Especially at work.. everything is a priority, which I know, is pretty unrealistic. So, this is my meager attempt at changing that perspective. I'm sure I can come up with 101 things I want to do, and hopefully can knock them off the list in the next 1001 days. Let's see, that's... almost three years and about ten days to an item . I think I can do it!

So, it being Thanksgiving Day, here is the first entry. Number 1 on my list of 101 in 1001.

                             1. Don't burn the pumpkin pies....

Anyway, that's it for now. More from the list next time. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!