Sneak Peak!

We're nearing the end of our trip. I have never been more exhausted in my life. Oh wait, I have had a baby, so I guess there was 1 other time. We fly back tomorrow and I get one day of rest and then it's back to the airport for a flight at 6:40 am on Monday. Yes, I know I am nuts, but I will be gone for 5 more days next week for work. I long to sleep in my own bed, in my own house with no other people there. I love my family, but I am peopled out!!! after I get back from Colorado I am sleeping for 2 days!!! Next week, I will have time on my hands to blog so I will catch everyone up on the antics of the last 9 days. In the mean time I will leave you with a glimpse of some of the things I am thankful for.

Relaxing views of the Puget Sound from my aunt's couch

My 2 favorite boys

Natey and Aidan-pod in the matching onesies I made

Natey with his cousin Tristin

Me and my daddy

Leftover turkey sandwiches...mmmmmm

Not Me! Monday -Vacation Folleys

You didn't think that my vacation was going to keep me away from my favorite post of the week did you??? A seven nation army couldn't hold me back! Did I just steal a line from a White Stripes song?? No way, not me!! As a matter of fact, a cross country adventure is a prime way to rack up stupid things to {NOT} admit to doing. If you want to share in the painfully funny therapy, head on over to MckMama's blog and play along.

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I am absolutely not blogging right now. I am on vacation and decided to pull the plug while I was away. I have enough will power to stay away, I do, I swear!!!

I did not book only 2 seats for our flight to Washington. I did not rationalize this because of the fact that every time we have flown we have lucked out and got an extra seat for the boy. I am aware that, even though a child less than 2 can technically sit on your lap, it is not a good idea when you have an extremely crazy toddler.

I didn't tear up in panic when they told me the flight was overbooked and we would have to check Natey's car seat at the gate. I would never think of begging the guy at the gate for an extra seat even if it mean sitting apart from my hubby. I would never proceed to pray (and call my grandma and ask her to pray) for an extra seat and then practically do the happy dance in front of a line of passengers when they told me they had a seat for us at the last minute!

I would never, in a million years, chug a glass of wine after my son finally fell asleep (after 3 hours) to take the edge off of the Quasimodo sized spasm I had in my back...and then ask for another.

I am way too smart to let my son play with the keys to the car while in his car seat. {you can just see where this is going can't you} If I were thoughtless enough to do that I would definitely not shut his car door, walk around to the driver's side and feel a sense of dread when I heard all of the doors lock. My fabulous hubby did not talk my (17 month old) son through pushing the middle button on the remote thereby unlocking the driver's side door (how freakin' smart is this kid??!!). I don't even have to say that this saved us a call to AAA and them a call to CPS!!!

I will not do anything else ridiculous for the rest of this trip and tell you all about it next time!!

What did you "not" do this week??

Checkin Out!

I can't stay away! Oh wait, yes I can. I am on vacation and can either be looking at the computer screen or the sun shining hazily over the Puget Sound. Guess which one I'm going to pick??

I'll have load to talk about when I get back though!

Riding the Range Hoover??

I started cleaning this weekend and as soon as the vacuum was fired up my boy was chasing me around yelling "Pulllleeeeeasssse!" at the top of his lungs.

I didn't quite get what he wanted from me, so I turned off the vacuum to ask him.

He proceeded to mount the vacuum and bounce up and down.
I laughed at him and thought he just wanted to sit there and keep me from making all the noise (which would have been just fine with me). It took me a minute, but I figured out he wanted to go for a ride. What the heck, right??

He was hooting and hollering "E-haw!"while riding on the vacuum.

Who knew that could be so much fun??I guess all of the fun tuckered him out because this is what I saw when I had to wake him from his nap after almost 3 hours!!!

I'd like to thank The Academy Liz

I got my first blog award. Thanks Liz!

Not sure why there has to be so many rules, but there are.

The rules of this award are:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.

{This I don't mind}
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

{This just sounds like fun}
3. You must copy and paste the rules/instructions below in the post.

{Ehh, not so much}

Ok, so I'm bucking the "rules" system and number 3 is out.

So if you want to read the formal rules click here!

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My 5 fabulous addictions are:

1. Mck Mama's my charming kids blog: I think everyone who reads my blog reads her blog, so I don't have to go too much into this! She is an amazing mommy who loves God and has a wonderful outlook on life. I love that she shares her ups and not so ups with us and is an inspiration to so many. Her blog (and Heather's) are the main reason I am now addicted to the whole bloggy life!

2. Bobby pins: Huh, how is someone possibly addicted to bobby pins?? I hate my bangs. I never should have cut them, and even though I knew this (stupidly, I have done it before), I did it when I cut my hair off 3 months ago. If I didn't have bobby pins I would be forced to shellac my hair with glue until they grew out so they would stay out of my face!!!

3. Craftiness: I am newly addicted to forcing encouraging my creative side to come out and play! I have always wanted to be able to take an amazing photograph, sew something or paint. I never thought I would be good at it, so it was almost a self fulfilling prophesy and I never really tried. Well, with inspiration from fellow bloggers I am getting better at it! I am sewing and taking better pictures and I will eventually tackle scrap booking, once I get my pictures organized.

4. I am super addicted to my boys. My big and my little one are both amazing. I love that my little one is getting to be more cuddly. In the past he has been so into whatever is going on around him, he has had no time to cuddle, but that is changing. I think he realizes that I love hugs and kisses and he is obliging me more and more, and I don't even have to ask now!! My big boy is the best friend and partner I could have ever asked for. He shares in the responsibilities 50/50, and from what I hear that is not the norm! He is the best daddy and I am so glad that I found him after my many mistakes in relationships past!!

5. Chocolate: Ok, so the last one is a gimme. I love chocolate in almost any shape or form, except when mixed with mint. I have no idea why, but it just ruins it for me! I have been loving chocolate chip cookies lately. This, I blame on my husband, mostly. I bought a big bag of chocolate chips and 2 days later he comes home with another huge bag. I laughed because we were on the same page, but now all of the semi-sweet goodness has been calling my name from the freezer. "Please make cookies out of me!" Well, I couldn't let them down now could I? Oh, I could? You could have fooled me!

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So, the people I am giving this award to are blogs I have been getting a big kick out of lately. I love their witty sense of humor and look forward to reading their blogs each day. I will preface this by saying that I just want to let you know how much I have been digging your blog and you don't have to follow the lengthy directions and pass this on, yadda, yadda. If you just want to get a smile out of the fact that I love your blog, then that's what I think awards are all about!!

1. Heidi: Sacred and Profane

2. Nikki: Life as we know it

3. Katrina: Jordy's Mommy

4. Alicia: Two B's and Me

5. Liza: A Diva and A Princess

Had a Ball!

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a charity ball for the Arthritis Foundation. Before you go thinking I am loaded and go gallivanting off to balls and the like all the time, think again! My company is a sponsor of the foundation since we make a drug for rheumatoid arthritis (Enbrel). They buy tables at the event, normally $200 bucks per person, and do a drawing at work for people interested in going. I work for a really big company so it is just ironic and awesome that I have managed to finagle tickets 2 out of the last 3 years!

The hubby is not a big fan of hoopla so I knew he wouldn't be all that interested in going. He said he would go, but then I started thinking he would get bored and want to leave early and I was getting a little bent thinking about it. Since I had already invited him, I left the choice up to him, knowing he would back out if I put the pressure on to decide. I was right, he said to take one of my friends because I would have more fun, so I invited my friend Joelle. Yippee, dressed up girlie night!!

It was black tie and did I mention I LOVE to dress up. I used to be such a tom boy but now dresses and girly stuff makes me super happy. I just don't get to go overboard all that often. Seeing as how I chase a 17 month old speed racer around most of the time, ball gowns wouldn't be very practical.

The fundraiser is also sponsored by Swarovski and hence is called the Crystal Ball. They even had 2 people doing tarot card readings. Now, I don't necessarily believe in all that jazz, but it was something I had put on my 101 list under the "For Shits and Giggles" category. I had my "energy" read and it was entertaining if anything. Yippee, I can cross another thing off of my list!!

As most of the people who attended this event were couples, they had a photographer taking professional {aka uber posed} pictures. It was fine and dandy (and probably meant) for the tuxedoed men and ladies in fancy smancy dresses, but Joelle and I decided to do it anyway....and we looked like we were each other's prom dates!! Ok, don't believe me, why don't ya see for yourself!

I think the faux cobble stone was a nice touch.

Oh well, at least my dress was FABULOUS!!

Not Me! Monday

It's Monday ad time for my rantings and ravings of the things I absolutely did not do in the last week. If you'd like to share in the laughs and free therapy visit MckMama's blog and play along!

I did not take a vitamin and 2 Tylenol on a mostly empty stomach and have to pull over to the side of the road to throw up.

If this terrible thing did happen to me it would have been on a quiet street and not in front of a large middle school with parents dropping their kids off staring at me.

I would also have been alone and not have my 17 month old son in his car seat clapping and shouting "barkin" at the lovely retching sounds he heard coming from his mommy.

I didn't proceed to take my son to daycare with every intention of still going to work and then pass the south entrance to the highway, go back home and sleep for almost 4 more hours. Nope! Not me!!

Being the addicted blogger I am, I didn't take a 4 day break from writing and reading people's blogs because I didn't feel I had anything to say in a post or a comment. I never run out of things to say, EVER!!

I did not think it was the cutest thing ever when my hubby and the boy inadvertantly had on matching outfits for our trip to the grocery store. I didn't proceed to give my hubby a lecture about how It wouldn't kill him to do it for a family picture!

I am not dreading getting on a 6 hour flight on Thursday with my son and hubby because I'm afraid they with BOTH act like babies on the plane and I'm not sure if I can handle that. I am also not contemplating drugging the big baby with Benedryl so he is relaxed and (hopefully) sleepy so I can deal with the little one in peace. I would never think about doing something like that!

What did you "not" do this week??

Look what I can do!

Hello my crazy little boy! You are 17 months old today. I can't even believe the fullness and hilarity you bring in to my life. Just so you know what tricks you had up your sleeve at this time in your life, I am going to jot down a few things you are doing that make me laugh, cry and/or sometimes pull my hair out!

• You officially have 12 teeth! Seriously, how is it that you have so many and why do you like to bite my toes? Do they just call to you from beneath the white socks?


• With so many teeth, you'd think eating would be going swimmingly, but alas, nope! I still have to give you bite size pieces, a few at a time. If I didn't, you would shove an entire banana in your mouth and then decide you couldn't chew it all and take the whole mushy mess out. Gross, child.


• I also wish you'd just set aside the things you don't want to eat, instead of smashing them and throwing them on the floor with a furrowed brow.


• Dining aside, your manners are developing quite nicely. You say "thank you"all of the time. Mind you, it is when you give someone something, but you have the right idea. You are starting to learn that please will get you what you want instead of those terribly forced tantrums you were throwing for about a week. Mama and Dad-oo thank you for stopping that as quickly as you started.


• You are starting to be able to communicate what you want. I love that you pat your belly and say "hungy" (hungry) when you want something to eat. It is much easier to interpret than "AaaaaahhhhhEeeeeYaaaa".


• You are also starting to make connections. You learned that the sound doggies make is barking. You repeated it and knew what it was the next day when we heard it again. You made me laugh when I sneezed and you said "barkin". Then I had to teach you sneeze. I think you have it straight now! You say yawn after you see us do it and you say "bwess em" when we sneeze.


• Every color is still bu-lue, but you can now identify 2 letters in addition to B. (O & T) you can count to 4 if i start you off with 1.


• You are developing an addiction to 2 cartoons. We don't let you watch too much TV, but in the morning while mommy gets ready for work and in the evening while we're trying to make/eat dinner it comes in handy. If we didn't put the shows on, you would certainly destroy something. Sorry, but you are mesmerized by the TV. Unfortunately since you watch these two shows often, you come home, grab the remote and shout "P.B." (T.V.) "gardigins" (Backyardigans) or "boos cloos" (Blue's clues).


• You have developed an interesting obsession with doors. You make sure to point out every door you see and really enjoy opening and closing them. I'm not exactly sure why you do this. Often, in the morning when I go in to get you, before you even say "hi" or "morning" you say door. Yep, it's a door!

So those are some of your latest antics. Thanks for keeping me entertained. I love you budgins!

Through His Eyes

My boy will be 17 months old tomorrow. It amazes me how much he grows and learns each and every day. I wish I could remember what it was like to discover everything for the first time.

The sound of a beeping horn, and knowing you are making the sound happen.

The feeling of a wet leaf in your chubby little hands.

The sight of a bird looking back at you from the branch of a tree.

The taste of an acorn that you're not supposed to eat!

The smell of pretty flowers in your grandma's back yard.

Finding your balance in a not so stable world.

I see the world a little clearer just by photographing my inquisitive little boy. Huh, and all this time I thought I was just taking pictures of him!

A Walk in the Park

This weekend I wanted to get out of the house and enjoy as much of the outdoors as possible before it gets too cold here. Unfortunately is was raining on and off Saturday, but Sunday was gorgeous. Saturday night we took Nathan to the Armenian festival. This is his 3rd time going! His first time was in the womb. I got sick and wasn't sure if it was from the food or if it was my one and only bout of morning sickness! Hmm, you decide. Last year he was 5 months old and was happily passed around to my MIL's friends and relatives. The poor kid's cheeks were all pinched out after that experience. This year (at 16 months) he got to sample some of the food. He ate up the shish kebab and rice pilaf and of course he loved the sweets! He tried baklava and kataifi (chopped nuts inside shredded wheat soaked in honey). It took a while for my hubby to get back with the food and the only thing that kept Natey busy was the stupid Boobah book I had bought him and the old lady that was sitting next to us had a cane he was very intrigued with. Luckily he managed to not freak out because he was hungry and held captive in his stroller until the food arrived.

After we ate, I let him run me around for a little while. His complete lack of stranger anxiety is amazing to me. He took off running and probably had no idea that I was following close behind him the whole time. I wonder what he would have done if I hid and he turned around and I wasn't there. I'd like to think he would be a little scared, but I doubt it. He'd probably just find the closest lady and hop right up in her lap. I can see it now...

"Are you my mother??"

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On Sunday I made it a point to get us all out of the house and let my border collie-esk son run around to expend a little of his energy. We went to Roger Williams park and I was so excited to see they had completely re-done the playground! Hasbro is located in Pawtucket, RI and they fund a playground inside the park. It was in a state of minor disrepair so they closed it for a month and now it is all brand new. Nathan ran amok inside and tried to go on all of the equipment that was way too big for him. He has no fear. We went down the highest slide and he "weeee-d" all the way down and then shouted "gen!" (again) when we were finished. He had a lot of fun and it will be so much more fun for me him once he is big enough to climb everything by himself.

After we finished up at the playground, we headed over to where the geese and ducks were hanging out. I hate birds. They are pretty much the grossest creatures in my eyes; right up there with rats. In fact, I think I would rather have a rat for a pet than a bird. I digress. So another kid's dad gave us some bread to feed to the birds with {thanks friendly guy, now my kid's going to get pecked to death}! Nathan couldn't seem to throw it far enough away from him and the geese kept getting too close. I was prepared to kick one if need be, but I decided to cut that part of the activity short instead and move along to the carousel.


Nathan loved the carousel. He has been on it 2 other times, but this is the first time he has shown any real interest or delight at being on the ride. He "e-haw'd" until the ride came to a stop. It only took Aaron about 10 times around to get a decent picture of the boy. I almost wanted to snatch the camera as we whizzed by so I could do it myself. Oh, I'm sorry, did I say that out loud?
After we got home from the park we all desperately needed a nap, so nap we did! We had a great weekend and I really hope the weather holds out a little longer. I'm not ready for snow boots and scarves just yet!

More than you ever wanted to know-Tag!!

Ok, so I got tagged twice this week by some of my new bloggy friends. Rather than do an individual post for each one I will have a tag-off right here before your very eyes!! That's right people, two tags for the price of one!!
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The first one is from Tarah over at Eyeglasses & Endzones. I am supposed to state 15 random things about myself, so here goes....

1. I am so analytical that I have a hard time cooking creatively. I have a compulsive need to follow the directions in a recipe, down to the tsp. My hubby laughed at me once because I measured out 6 cups of water to boil Mac'n'Cheese. This is also why I am an excellent baker!

2. Playing off of number one and my overly analytical mind, I have a weird habit when I work in the lab. When I use pipette tips out of the box, I have to use them in rows. I can't stand when people hunt and peck all over the box. I guess I am slightly OCD. There, I said it, now you don't have to!!

3. That being said, I am equally obsessed with becoming more artsy and crafty. I love all things creative like photography, scrap booking, sewing, you name it. I just have to try really hard because I am not innately creative. I am working on it though. I finished my test run of a sewing project and I was so excited it turned out so well for my first time!!

4. When I got pregnant with Natey I wanted a girl so bad I could taste it! I was my mom's first born and we had an amazing relationship so I wanted that for myself too. The funny thing was, from the moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew I was having a boy, and now I wouldn't change it for anything!

5. I would love to be more edgy when it comes to fashion, but I am not willing to wear uncomfortable shoes.

6. I have a weird sense of humor and lot of what I think is hilarious, people don't get. I guess I just love irony and clever play-on-words humor.

7. I had a major uncomfortable moment at my bachelorette party. The "dancer" finished his spiel and then tried to offer us "Fire and Ithssss (Ice)" for an extra charge. I was so embarrassed I pulled my maid of honor and another bridesmaid in to the bathroom and told them I had absolutely NO interest in whatever "Fire and Ice" was and I wanted him out of there IMMEDIATELY!!!!

8. I can identify cultures of bacteria by their smell. (Sorry I am a science geek!!)

9. I want to get a tummy tuck and a boob job after I am done having babies.

10. I wanted to be a doctor when I first started school, but then I worked in a hospital. I decided that I couldn't deal with other people's sorrow and pain all day without deadening my heart. That was a sacrifice I was not willing to make.

11. I am the world's worst speller. That being said, I am so vigilant about using spell check, that I even copy paste my comments into Word and check them before I post (most of the time). Nothing annoys me more than spelling and grammatical errors.

12. I check on my son every night before I go to bed. I have to do it, not my hubby. Even if he checks I will still do it. I guess I need to see him with my own eyes.

13. I only have 5 true friends. I have many acquaintances and friends, but only 5 people know my secrets.

14. I love how I feel after I exercise, but I have to force myself to go to the gym EVERY time. You'd think it would get easier, but I really just hate it.

15. If I could have one wish, I would wish to have my mother back. I would even trade one of my senses for it.
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The next tag was from Brooke at Dinky pops no more. She tagged me with the five things quiz. Wow, if you're not bored enough from the first 15 things, by all means, read on!!

Five Things I was Doing 10 Years Ago {November 1998}
1. I had started my first semester at Cal State Fullerton. I loved my townhouse in Orange County! Only 15 minutes from the beach. :o)
2. I had just turned 20, but because of my idiocy (I can see this now) I had a fake ID and was going a little crazy.
3. I went to a party at Dennis Rodman's house in Newport. Yes he is as weird and creepy as he seems on T.V.
4. I was working at Jerry's Famous Deli in Costa Mesa, CA. I was always running late to work and would hop in the carpool lane to pass all of the traffic. I never got caught, but if I had it was a $271 fine!!
5. I was in the best shape of my life. I worked out 1-2 hours a day and was in a size 6. The down side was that I barely ate and I had to work out like a fiend. I will never be that size again. Not worth it!!!

Five Things on My To-Do List
1. Get the yard all locked down for the winter. This includes blow out the sprinklers, cover our patio furniture and the grill, clean up all of the grapes that have fallen off the vine onto our deck and close the pool.
2. Stop putting off a project I have to do in the lab. OK I am doing it today!!!! I mean it this time, Joyce!!
3. Make diaper cakes and onesies for our craft exhibit at work.
4. Order pictures for my grandma, especially since I told her I already did it!!
5. Get my eyebrows waxed. They are a sight to see right now!

Five Things I Like to Snack On
1. Anything with chocolate, except chocolate mint, yuck!
2. Yogurt
3. Granola bars
4. Blue corn sesame chips. Mmmm, I want some now!!
5. Peanuts

Five Things I Would Do If I Were a Millionaire
1. Help my friends and family out.
2. Have as many babies as the good Lord would want me to have, since I could support them and not have to work!
3. Travel the world
4. Have my hair blown out all the time. I suck at it and it always looks so good when they do it for you at the salon! Oh, and have massages at least once a week.
5. I would hire a chef who would cook me good food that was good for me!

Five Places I Have Lived
1. Springfield, OR
2.Costa Mesa, CA
3. Studio City, CA
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. Providence, RI

Five Jobs I’ve Had
1. Food server
2. Graduate teaching assistant
3. Research associate
4. Senior Associate
5. Mommy (my favorite!)
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Well, if that was just more about me than you ever needed to know, blame Brooke and Tarah!! I guess I will tag a couple people, but if you don't wish to participate, I won't cry about it!! Oh yeah, and just pick one. I don't expect anyone to spend as much time as I just did on this post!!!

Katie @ This Crazy Life
Heidi @ Mommy doesn't live here any more
Heidi @ Sacred and Profane

I picked you guys because you usually crack me up and I'm sure your lists will be way more entertaining than mine!!!

Not Me! Monday

Another week has gone by and that means another 7 days of things I could not have possibly done! Drop on by MckMama's blog and get your free therapy by seeing that you're not alone in the random happening of the week!

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I did not sign up for a flu shot, a dentist visit and minor surgery all in the same week! I am not a glutton for punishment and am smart enough to space these things out.

While having surgery on my arm, I did not have an entire conversation with the doctor and nurse about living in California and the celebrities I used to wait on while putting myself through school. I don't even know how that topic came up. I did not also love the fact that they were hanging on my every word like I too was a celebrity for even coming in contact with these people. I don't need attention to make myself feel good!

I did not scream at my hubby several times for bumping into my stitches and sending a shot of pain up my arm. I never scream. Nope, not me!! I always nicely state my feelings. After lecturing him on being more careful, I did not bang the same spot on the refrigerator door and try not to scream again.

I did not almost do the happy dance when I got the guy hygienist at the dentist office (see this post for details). I also did not smile smugly and walk by the room where the annoying woman hygienist was talking the head off of some poor unsuspecting soul trapped in her chair! Nope, not me!

My toddler was not acting like a lunatic to the point I wanted to duct tape him to the floor. Not my child! He is so well behaved and never hits me or the TV with the remote (or his blocks, or his sippy cup...etc).

I did not buy my son a Boobah book because he was amazed by the bright colors and because it was the only thing keeping him quiet in the store. I HATE that show and would never promote those stupid blobby weird [animals?] things. {What the heck are they supposed to be anyway??}


I did not lay awake last night wondering and worrying about when to have another baby. Part of that worry was not about whether I am capable of handling another baby in conjunction with the crazy, screamy, high energy munchkin I already have running around.

What did you "not" do this week??

Enough for one day

Before I get in to this post I want to thank my friend Liz at About a Boy (or Two) for making my amazing new layout and header! Pop over to her blog to check her out and let her know what an awesome job she did!

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I have had a long day. I had minor surgery on my arm to remove a suspect mole that they sent out for biopsy and now my sutures are bleeding. I already had a flu shot and a dentist visit this week, so I am all poked and prodded out. Natey didn't get his morning nap and decided an hour in the afternoon was enough for him. He has been running me ragged all day. For those of you who have 3+ kids, I hope none of them are as crazy as my almost 17 month old. If they are, God bless you because I don't know if I could do it if there were more of him. As we speak he is screaming (for fun not because he's upset) while daddy finishes up the bed time routine. He's lucky he's so cute. It's the only thing that keeps me from duct taping him to the floor some days.

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I also promised my hubby's brother that I would hem his pants for a wedding he was going to tonight. I just got my sewing machine and hadn't even set it up yet. I had to run to the fabric store at 2:30pm to get thread and some shears (and of course some fun fabric to practice for my first real project). I got home and managed to measure, cut, zigzag stitch and whip stitch his pants and was finished with 10 min to spare before he had to leave! I must say, for my first sewing project since I made scrunchies for myself in high school, I did a great job. Yes, I said scrunchies. You know you had them and rocked 'em like they were going out of style!

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I am tired and bleeding and have a bizillion shows to catch up with on my DVR so that is all for now. Isn't my new layout cute?? Thanks again Liz!!!