75% off deals!
Christmas cards in the making.

First off I apologize for all the misspelled words in yesterday's post. For some reason blogger didn't save the changes I had made :(

Before I finish packing up the very little decorations I had out for Halloween I wanted to share the deals I picked up at Williams Sanoma.

Set of 4 plates regular price $29.95 sale price $6.99

Pancake molds regular price $ 19.95 sale price $4.99

Spatulas regular price $12.99 sale price $2.99

I ended up buying 4 of each item to put back for gifts. Since we are not home on Halloween these days I like to leave a little gift for the boys next door ages 1 and 4, this year I made up a bag with the spatula's and pancake molds then left them on their front porch. Mom called back the next day to let me know they used the molds for dinner that night, the boys were very impressed with the fancy pancakes! I originally went to the store to pick up some super hero cookie cutters to use on Halloween night, my sister gave me a GC for my birthday that has been burning a whole in my pocket, walked out with 2 bags full on goodies and only forked over $12.88 after tax. I love GC and sweet deals!!!!

I started diligently working on components of our Christmas cards yesterday, 18 done, 20 more to go. The little girls are a bit wild today so I won't be getting anything accomplished until they head home this afternoon, then I will get back on task. I REALLY want my cards ready to go December 1st so all I have to do is add the family photo when "baby Bubba" arrives.

I also need to get my ducks in a roll at nap time today for a shopping marathon list. I have lots of coupons, customer rewards and such that need to be used before they expire, also have a nice stack of GC that I could use if need be, some are only good for this weekend. As much as I hate to shop or be out at night I figure tonight will be better than fighting the crowds tomorrow along with the fact I have Ms. Kara again tomorrow. I SO NEED to get back to a good working schedule I seem to be running here and there but so many 1/2 done things are starting to pile up again, grrr. Next week looks to be another crazy week with voting on Tuesday, teachers workday Thursday and Veterans Day Friday. I am considering declaring a Nanny holiday so I can get things back in order, as much as I adore our big kiddo's and grands I need some me time to get back on track.

Are you up for a challenge?

My Vetrens Day project

Are you up for a challenge on Veterns Day this year Friday, November 11th?

Each year for the past 10 years or so (maybe longer) I have been spending Veterns Day making cards for our troops. Sometimes I can get freinds together for the day other times I have run a card class where 1/2 the cards made are donated to our troops or I might just be home alone making cards. This year in celebration of my new sewing machine I will be starting a "Quilt of Valor". I picked up the fabric back in the spring when one of our local stores was going out of buisness at 50% off with this project in mind, since that time the quilt keeps being moved to the back burner. NO MORE, THE TIME IS NOW!!

I picked out the pattern way back when, it states "easy", well see. I'ev been advised by the insturcters I have taken classes from that my quilting skills are way above beginner so I feel confadante I can pull off the quilt, the real intimidation is keeping a journal durring the process. I'm still looking around google to see what others have put in their journal, it seems trivial to me to write about the everyday happenings around the house when these men and woman are putting their lives on the line each day for all of us.

So here is my challenge to all of you. In some way be it large or small, please do something on Veterns day to support our troops. I know for many the kiddo's are out of school so taking the day off from our normal activities will be a real pain, others might want to get in on some of the Veterns Day sales but each and every one of you can do SOMETHING!! I have a list of charitable orginzations at the end of this post to get the wheels turning in your creative minds or maybe start budgeting to make a donation to one of the very worthy causes.

Leave a comment or send me an e-mail amber25@roadrunner.com of what you did on Veterns Day to help our troops. I will be giving away some blog candy the Monday after Verterns Day as a thank you for helping out. I'm not sure yet what the blog candy will be, I do have some things in mind but haven't landed on the projecit (it will be good, I promise) Time to get busy around here!

http://soldiersangels.org/scarves.html

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org

http://www.uso.org/uso-operation-phone-home.aspx

http://www.operationwritehome.org/

http://www.qovf-um.org/

http://scrappingforsoldiers.com/

Exciting Day

Hot rolls and cinnamon buns, hey their made with fresh milled wheat so they are sorta good for you right?

Halloween sugar cookies, used 1/2 white, 1/2 wheat flour

The sugar cookies went FAST

I'm so stinkin excited!! I took the Harley quilt to the free arm quilter today for a consultation (I think that's what its called) I was so nervous that she would reject the quilt since I am such a newbie to quilting.... heart racing, sweating bullets, face turning red. She LIKED it and complemented me on what a nice job I had done on the piecing. I am floating on cloud nine, she gave me the price for the batting and quilting, now I have to piece the backing then return next week to turn it all in so she can get started!! Ya me, the quilt will be ready for Christmas morning.

I received Deborah's buisness card from my favorite quilt shop "Sew Much Fun", they were very complimentary over her work as well as what a nice lady she was. Were they ever right, her work is amazing!! I didn't pick out a design for the quilting, I am leaving that up to her, she after all is the expert in the deal. Here is the link to Deborah's blog "deborahsquilting.blogspot.com", she is new to blogging but already has lots of super cute quilts posted. She also quilts for Amanda Murphys designs, check out her blog on my blog roll for some sewing inspiration.

AJ the beagle and I have our feet up, snuggled under our picnic quilt, I am working on my never ending to do list, AJ is snoring away. AHHH, quiet nights in the fall are such a blessing.

Cozy and Warm

PJ set for a buddy of mine
How darn cute is this fabric, and it's flannel to boot, should be nice and warm this winter.

Why is it that men can sleep like logs? This whole menopause thing stinks, if I can get 5 hours sleep at one time I fell like a lucky girl, hubby however has no problem getting in 12 hours each night !

I had an e-mail requesting I post photo's of the gift I sent out to a friend last week, had to make sure she received it before I posted the photo's. Happy late Birthday once again Jackie! I was waiting until I took the PJ class to learn how to do french seams before I made these PJ's but since the class was a bust I had to go with regular seams. I did at least finish off the seams with a binding stitch but still... maybe someday I will take the time to watch a u tube video and figure french seams out. The pattern calls for an elastic waistband but I am a good enough friend to NOT ask my buddies what size their waist is so I went with a draw string instead, she can always add elastic if she wants. I picked the tee shirt up on sale at Kholes then added a few embroidered cocoa cups to match the PJ bottoms. It would cost 2 or 3 times as much to make a tee shirt at home!

Hubby is headed back north today but only for a short time!! He will get to come home in 2 weeks for some some meetings and maybe even be done with the project and get to have a normal life for a period of time. I'ts going to be odd (in a good way) to have someone else around the house when he returns. After a week or 2 we both adjust pretty well. I have a ton of to do's that I need to get back to this week. Hubby has been doing a bit of Christmas shopping while he has been away, the progress I have made in the Christmas room is no longer noticeable when he unloaded his bags. The scrap/sewing room is upside down (nothing new) and I am beginning to get low on a few things in the pantry, time to start collecting coupons again and stocking up.

For our family Halloween seems to be the kick off of the holiday season, from now until Christmas things will be non stop. In all the riping and running around we will also be meeting our newest member very soon, Daughter #1 sees the OB once a week now, we expect he will want "Baby Bubba" to arrive before the end of November. Time to put it in high gear!!!

Happy Halloween!!

The little girls wouldn't stand still
Angry Bird and Iron Man

Angry Bird was the escort for the Princesses

We had a great night with all the kids and Grands, nothing like a neighborhood that is overflowing with little ones to trick or treat with!! My sweet hubby was a hit in his Angry Bird costume, it amazes me that all the little ones know the angry bird game, what's up with that?

My tail is dragging, lots of time in the kitchen today getting supper and snacks ready for the big night and a trip to town to pick up a small gift for the little boy's next door. I scored big at Williams Sanoma 75% off Halloween sale, more on that later, for now Nanny is ready for bed!!

Digging in the dirt with the boys

Sweet Potatoes before

No tater can be left behind

carrots before

Carrots after

Hubby and Tyler helped me dig sweet potatoes and pull one of the beds of carrots Saturday before we get a hard freeze, nice to have some guy help around the place for a change!! The rest of the day was hanging around the house with our little man just having fun, we miss our time alone with Mr. Ty boy so when it works out we steal him for the day.

Sunday has been Kara day, lots of "Dickle Dickle" (tickle tickle) with Papaw then to mommies work to show off her Cinderella costume. The little girls are so funny dressed up in their costumes, they act like they really are little princesses. Hubby thankfully fits in his "Angry Bird" costume, no need for me to rip out seams and add a little or fabric.

Tomorrow will be filled with lots of cooking and baking getting ready for Halloween with the whole family. So looking forward to whipping up some goodies with my favorite bowl licker (is that a word?) hanging around the kitchen.

Surprise Extra Time

Piecing Complete!!

I got 6 free unexpected hours yesterday afternoon!! Karsyn had her 1 year check up so she left at 1:00 leaving me a free afternoon. Instead of frittering away the time I decided to make a go at finishing the Harley quilt so it can head to the long arm quilter next week when Hubby heads back north. This quilt is a whopper measuring 90in X 126ins, Hubby should have plenty of room to cuddle up under this monster. I fear he will want to use it in our room as a bedspread, that ain't happening.

The girls are down for their AM nap, it's time for me to get busy mixing up cookie dough and putting together a pot of chili for carry out when the Daddy's pick up the little girls. The big girls love when they get off work and don't have to worry about whats for dinner and since I have no idea when my better half will roll in chili will be easy to warm up for a late night meal.

It's sure to be a weekend of all out running around and activities with all the kids and grands while Papaw is home and of course Monday night is Halloween (please let the "Angry Birds" costume fit) We always have a long list of to do's around here, hubby enjoys having time at home doing guy stuff, beats the heck out of setting alone in a hotel room each night. I could care less if we get a thing done, it will just be nice to have my best buddy home for a few days.