The Belly

My whole life I always knew that I wanted to be a mom. I remember playing dress up and stuffing a pillow in my top and thinking I am just going to be the cutest pregnant woman. Well, pregnancy certainly hasn’t been achieved easily and I no longer hold on to the dream that I will be one of those cute women with an adorable pregnant belly. I think it is harder to swallow because one upon a time I used to be so skinny.  But, Alaina was worth the extra pounds and Sam will be too.

So, here is the almost 27 week belly. At least the pajama pants are cute!  And although it doesn’t make a huge difference there is a little shadow by my belly. I will take every little bit that I can to not feel like such a whale.

My name is Steph and I used to craft….

Goodness, where do I begin? Apologies to my faithful friends and readers who have sent me such lovely messages of concerns and worry? A promise of a new craft? An explanation of where I have been? I think of the above are in order!

When I announced my pregnancy I had no idea that that would be my last post for months! It is safe to say that I completely underestimated how exhausted I could possibly feel. Daily naps and in bed most nights by 8:30 pm has taken a large chunk of my crafting time. Ok, it took all of it. I literally sewed out of necessity this past weekend and I had to dust my poor machine. Dust, I tell you! Maybe an apology to my sewing machine is in order too. Neglect is an ugly way to treat what you love. The first trimester is now done and I can get through a day without a nap and my urge to create more than just something in my womb is alive and kicking again!

I pulled out my sketch book this morning and fondled my fabric and the ideas started coming back to me so it is my hope that today is the day that something actually gets made!

For those who have been so sweet to email me and inquire if I was still alive the answer is yes! The pregnancy is going well. The hardest part is the fatigue but seeing the little bean squirm around and hearing the heartbeat made it all worth it. Last night after dinner I was sitting in the chair and felt the baby move for the first time, you know when you are positive it isn’t a direct result of indigestion.

My name is Steph and I used to craft and I plan on getting back in the saddle soon! Thanks for continuing to visit and check in on me while I have been gone.

Almost out of the Rut!

I didn’t want to write another post of how busy I had been and many time this week I walked lovingly past my sewing machine and even sat down to it and for once the fabric didn’t speak to me. Crafting has been my creative outlet in the last few years but this past week I have had my head so clouded with real life that I couldn’t sit and enjoy it. I opened and etsy store last year that I never stocked and closed my busy website after a year because I didn’t want crafting to no longer be pleasurable for me. So, I sit with my fabrics and notions waiting for the inspiration to come back and for peace and balance in the rest of my worlds that I may actually create something as beautiful as one of many sketches.

Seven More Things About Me

I was tagged twice in the last week by Sullivan Sitcom and Kara to share seven random facts about myself. Which, is a stretch for me since I just completed my list of 28 a few weeks back. But, I am always up for the challenge and hope that this new batch of randomness isn’t too strange for you!

• My feet are always cold. Especially my toes. It is the running joke at night with the hubster that I can’t stand when his feet touching me and he hates when I try and warm up my feet up on his legs. But, I can’t wear socks when I sleep so I have gone so far as to crochet myself a toe sock but it fell off in the night so the cold toe dilemma continues on.
• I am fascinated by the show “Cities of the Underworld” on the History Channel. It never ceases to amaze me what secrets we could be walking on at any given time.
• Much to my public declarations of my hatred of the clog style crocs, the first time that I tried on my mammoth crocs, I was in love. If loving them is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
• I love pajamas. Especially flannel pants. They get better with every wash and I own 29 pairs of them. I change into my pj’s usually within minutes of getting home. I choose comfort over style at home any day of the week.
• I don’t mind cleaning our toilets but scrubbing bathtubs and showers gross me out.
• It has taken me 32 minutes to come up with 6 random facts that I haven’t already shared and contemplating trying to find a seventh is making me feel incredibly uninteresting.

Happy Birthday to Me!

To celebrate my 28th birthday I have complied 28 random facts about myself that will hopefully not scare you all off!

My apologies if the numbers aren’t in order. I am not dyslexic but they are showing fine on edit screen but not on the final draft. But, trust me there is 28!

1. I don’t have a favorite color. Too many wonderful hues to choose just one.
2. I can’t live without Diet Coke. Seriously.
3. I have to have a scented fabric softener. If I can’t smell the clean it just doesn’t feel clean to me.
4. I hate wearing sunglasses because it make me think that my ears are uneven because glasses always sit crooked on my face no matter the style.
5. Embarrassingly, I don’t hate Yo Gabba Gabba. My name is Stephanie, I like to dance. If you don’t have a toddler and haven’t seen this show skip to the next one or you will think I have officially lost it.
6. I have no arches in my feet.
7. I collect Willowtree Angels
8. I have a shelf full of fabric I bought that I know I will never cut into because it is too pretty and I don’t want to mess it up. I would rather let it sit there and inspire me.
9. My whole life I have wanted a chaise lounge and now that I have one I never sit in it.
10. I crack my knuckles and my knees.
11.  50 lbs and many years ago I used to be on a competitive dance team.
12.  I don’t get the whole Myspace/Facebook phenomenon and I don’t even have the desire to figure it out. I did set up an account to search for a few old friends, but apparently they couldn’t get into it either since I couldn’t find any of them. However, I did find out that my cousin is lying about her age on it so I guess I need to keep my account active to keep an eye on that.
13. We have been trying to have another baby for longer than I care to realize. I am incredibly blessed by the princess but I hope to add a sibling for her to our happy little family.
14. I took guitar lessons when I was in middle school, sadly the only song that I have memorized when I pick up a guitar is “Dust in the Wind”
15. I have always wanted a tattoo, but I am a total wuss and would never get one.
16. I did have a moment of rebellion and got my belly button pierced when I was a teenager. I took it out when I got pregnant and ended up with stretch marks in the shape of an X over the hole. I think that was my punishment for sneaking off to do that without my parents permission.
17. My favorite ice cream is Edys/Dreyers Slow Churned Chocolate Ice cream. I am a total ice cream snob with this one. Can never go back to generic ice cream again!
18. I don’t post about half of the crafty projects I do because I am too intimidated by the how amazing some of the masters of craft are and feel mine just pale in comparison.
19. I made and sold hair bows and tutus for a year and that allowed to stay home with the princess for a year when I was unexpectedly laid off. However, I made so many that I developed an aversion to tulle. If I ever work with it again it will be too soon.
20. I love to read but my time to read is slowly being replaced by my love of blogs. Darn those bloglists that keep me clicking!
21. I have a secret desire to be on What’s not to Wear. I seriously need their help as I don’t think my favorite t shirt in ever color as being stylish. Other than my hot mamas shoes. Now, those are hot.
22. My grandpa was an amazing artist and could draw and paint anything and I am so disappointed that I didn’t inherit any of his talents.
23. I am scared of losing weight even though I definitely need to. I have done some pretty disastrous and unhealthy things to my body to lose weight and now that I don’t know how to lose weight without getting carried away with it so I have been avoiding it.
24. My mom named me after a girl that used to beat her up and steal her lunch. My mom said she always felt bad for her and ended up packing up two lunches so Stephanie wouldn’t beat her up. She said she always saw something good in her despite her being mean. I don’t know what she expected me to end up as given the names history but I hope I have proved to have something good in me despite my flaws as well.
25. In the age old dessert battle of cake vs. pie. I would have to side with my Dad and choose pie. Click for my decadent apple pie recipe!
26. I have always been nervous about getting my hair cut and now that I found a great stylist I am itching to get my hair cut all the time. Shout out to Tammi in the words of Sharpay…you are FABULOUS! (yes, I work with kids all the time so I often have to speak in High School Musical speak and embarrassingly here as well I didn’t hate watching that either!)
27. I have always round up on my age so turning 28 doesn’t feel like a big deal since I have said I was 28 for the last year.
28. I have April 10 marked on my calendar for one reason. The return of The Office

I have a confession….

I am a closet Paula Abdul fan. There I said it. I realize that some of you may never want to visit my little blog again as you are questioning my overall taste. But, in my defense I have very fond memories of my “straight up now tell me” days. When I was younger, I desperately wanted to be her to the point that when I was in the 4th grade, I choreographed and made my friends learn dances to all of her songs in hopes of making it on Star Search. Don’t hate, you know you all had secret addiction to the beloved Ed McMahon! Up until a few years ago I had slight resentment of my mom for not sending in our videotaped dance numbers in to old Ed, that was until I saw how silly we looked and I would like to publically apologize to my mom to say that I am over it.

However, my love for Paula Abdul music continues and I can’t get into her Bravo show “Hey Paula” as it pretty much just ruins my childhood idolization of her and although some of her comments on “American Idol” make me cringe. But, my heart still went a little aflutter to see her comeback before the Superbowl last night.

Laugh at me, indulge me with your guilty muscial pleasures but please don’t desert my blog forever in fearing I have lost my credibility. I promise to redeem myself with future projects!

Seven Random Facts!

I was tagged by Sheree to share seven random things about me! So, here we go! More about me than you ever wanted to know!

1. I recently stopped biting my nails. After almost 28 years of biting my nails, four months I stopped cold turkey. Now that I finally quit I am not sure what I could never do it before when I had tried. Now I have long and pretty nails and have only suffered one broken nail since

2. I have a thing about symmetry. Pillows, picture frames, bookshelves. Things have to be symmetrical or it bugs me to no end!

3. I drink way to much diet coke on any given day. It is a sickness and borderline addiction. I swear to you that I literally get a little high on the first sip. Only another diet coke addict would understand that but I know I am not alone!

4. Two of my favorite foods in the world are two that I can’t have. I love peanut butter and eggs (not together!) but Alaina has a severe food allergy to all nuts and eggs. We choose to be an egg and nut free house to help protect her from what could make her sick.

5. I love to sew (ok, that is not a new or a random thought!) but I can’t read a pattern to save my life. I can follow an ebook with step by step picture instructions but give me a pattern I just can’t get it. Everything I make for Alaina is based on pictures of things I have seen and I just guess how to make it. I have alot more things I have sewn that don’t make it to the blog because they turn out to be complete messes. Anyone want to come to Kentucky and show me how to use a pattern? Lol! There would be a lot more pretty blog posts:)

6. I am obsessed with candles. I have a candle burming almost all of the time in my house. I am picky on the scents and can’t stand any floral scent. Fall is my favorite time of the year because I can bring out my pumpkin scented candles!

7. Cinnamon. I like cinnamon but cinnamon flavored makes me gag. Cinnamon gum or toothpaste makes me nauseous. I like cinnamon toast, I like it sprinkled on my applesause but full on cinnamon flavor makes my tastebuds revolt!

For those who were wondering!

I was having a rough weekend and have been at odds with myself over my job. If you volunteer or a part of a ministry I am sure that you understand the overworked and underappreciated feelings. I have been feeling very upset over my job recently. It has been really hard for to to take over this position that someone else created and make it my own. I know that we are not doing the best job that we could and I truly believe that there is nothing worse than looking at your own work and finding it sub par. I can’t do my job alone and I have to count on volunteers to have the same passion for my work as I do which is not an easy feat.

What I was not relying on was the one thing that I needed to have my focus on. On Tuesday I had an absolute vision from God of what this ministry is supposed to look like and I feel so at peace now. I know how hard the job will be from me now but I no longer feel like I am flailing. I know that not everyone who reads my little blog is of the same faith and that is ok. But, I do hope that you are not scared by this. I think everyone can understand feeling relieved when direction has been placed in their lives. For me it is a huge relief to know that their is a new direction in my life and in my work. A much better one that I could have originated on my own.

I also heard from my boss yesterday that I did a great job. But, you will all be happy to know that I had my little revalation before he had a chance to tell me! Thankfully, I haven’t stewed over it too long!

Ever feel under attack?

I knew that I had to teach at church this weekend. I teach most every weekend so it was not a big surprise for me. I was comfortable with the lesson and knew where the props were for the activity. But, we started the evening to a meeting that had really low attendance for what we were expecting. Then I couldn’t get my lessons to print out. I couldn’t find my props out of my supply closet and to make a quick trip to the store and find a replacement. I come back to church in time and get things set up. Lesson still won’t open on my work computer and therefore I have nothing to refer to as a I teach. I do my best not to stress and pray with my other adult volunteer and let her know of our technical difficulties. Feeling a little better I take the stage and begin with announcments and in walks my boss. (Have I mentioned that I work at the church? I am in charge of the Elementary ministry) Pretty much caught me completely off guard since I had talked to him an hour ago and he never mentioned that he was sitting in on my service. I feel like I did suprisingly well given the circumstances and he left before the service was over but now that I am home I am left wondering how I did, was it good enough and did I do something bad that warranted me being evaluated. So, now the overanalyzing begins and hope I get good news later. I hate that I am feeling so self concious about this but it is hard to sleep easy not knowing the circumstances around it all.

 Ok, enough rambling. Back to your regularly scheduled crafty discussions.

Oh Happy Day!

Ok, so in all honesty today started out pretty miserably. Last night the hubby and I got in a little tiff and even though it was silly I didn’t like falling asleep knowing that he was upset with me. So, I wake up today and hubby has already gone to work and the little one is waking up. I drag myself out of bed and bring the princess in her pj’s over to the next door neighbors to take care of their cat. Why you ask? Because I have an inability to say No. I am the favor queen. I will fill in for just about anyone without blinking an eye and today is the 9th day in a row that I have trounced over to my neighbors give an insulin shot to my neighbors diabetic cat. First of all the cat is part Lion or at least its growl would lead me to believe. Yet, that is the cat that is supposed to be nice. The other one hisses like a snake. Rewind to this morning I finish giving the cat a shot and as I go to put the insulin away the cat I refer to as “Hiss” attacks my foot and I drop the insulin. Broken glass and insulin all over their kitchen. Well, there is no back up supply of insulin so I call the vet and they call in a prescription and they call back telling me it is there and it is $83! Ouch! Not a good start. Note to self, never ever try and start the day without at least one sip of Diet Coke. The results are never good.

But, then my luck turned. I decided to give a lounge set a try. I have had this flannel for months and it has sat in my stash and although I had already invisioned what it would someday become I had not had the courage to try because I had a fear of making it. I had not yet tried to make pants and given the mornings earlier events I had a feeling anything I tried to make probably would not turn out. But, alas I tried anyway and much to my surprise I winged a pair of lounge pants and they turned out perfect. Added a little initial applique to a shirt that had once succombed to an orange juice stain and we were in business!

Coming off of the high of a project in my head actually working out with little to no issues I check the mail to find my patchwork swap package! It is like Christmas when I get a swap package! Partners were a surprise so I was thrilled to get a package from Veronica. She did an amazing job with some new and vintage pieces and a lovely patchwork clutch! Thanks so much, Veronica! I love it all!