Happy Valentine's Day!!

AJ is just like his momma, he loves to play with glitter! He worked so hard on his 14 Valentines that he made this year. I was so proud of him. :) Happy Valentine's Day! Hope it is great and spent with someone you love!

Magazine Obsession

I have always had a small obsession with magazines. Okay, it's not really small. It's big. Really big. What's worse is that I feel compelled to look through all of them. I don't have time to read most of them so I keep them. And I have stacks of them. I moved them. Why? Because I didn't have a chance to look through that issue of Parents magazine from December 2007 and there might be something helpful in it. It is probably more of a compulsion actually. So on top of all those magazines, I also cut out articles and recipes and what not that I may use later. I have boxes full of unorganized file folders and papers that I can't seem to find anything in anyway. I have been working really hard to eliminate the stacks of magazines this past few weeks and organize the recipes and crafts that I may actually make. My husband thinks I am crazy. He thinks I should just throw the magazine away and not cut anything out... well honey, then you wouldn't have been able to try those 8 new dishes that I have made in the last 4 weeks. They came from those magazines. I have to find my favorites. In my lifetime, with the amount of recipes that I have, I will not be able to make everything. Not even close. So I am only cutting out lower calorie dishes that contain only ingredients that I like. I am going through the other already cut out things and being more realistic... will I make that?



What is totally annoying though is that as I am trying to unbury myself from the stacks, I continue to receive magazines in the mail that I didn't even subscribe to! Martha Stewart Living- where did you come from and why are you in my mailbox? I like to cook comfort food and hers is too high in fat or froofy stuff that I'll eat in a restaurant rather than at home where in northcentral Wisconsin you can't even find half the ingredients... I received Ready Made today. Never heard of it and don't have any idea where it came from. Better Homes and Gardens is decent, I used to subscribe, but out of sight, out of mind. Now I got a gift subscription from someone for Christmas. Parents and Family Fun I got because of a donation phone call to Special Olympics (I can't pass up anything from SO...). I love Family Fun but I don't read Parents. I have discovered that I am appalled at how many calories and grams of fat are in the dishes from Cuisine. Never thought much about it before. Another gift subscription that I think I will cancel. (Sorry Mom!!) I will keep Cooking Light because I find the most recipes that I make from there. I recently let a few go by the wayside so my mailbox isn't quite as full- Adoptive Families (while helpful, I just didn't read it) and BeadStyle (not making enough jewelry to justify it). Getting cancelled are Cuisine and Parents. I have to start holding back from buying issues of anything and everything at B&N. Especially cooking magazines. I just think about that big mess in the corner (all of it is confined to that corner actually) of our unfinished media (or what is supposed to be that- I'll post later about what it is probably going to be!) room. I will continue to organize it until it is in nice, neat binders and ready to peruse. I will continue to piss off my recycling guy with the heavy paper bags filled with magazines until it is all done and gone out of there. Soon. And as I receive a magazine it will be looked through immediately and any recipes and crafts will be filed away in their places right away to avoid the colossal mess I have had for the last, um, 15 years of my life. Yeah, it's been that long. It's time it came to an end.

The Bada Bing Panini

I don't have a picture of what should become my famous sandwich but I will tell you that it is damn good. It is inspired by one of my favorite restaurants in Wausau, Red Eye Brewing Company. My sandwich isn't really like theirs (Chicken Soprano) though, just inspired by. So I present you the recipe for the Bada Bing Panini...

*Two slices artisan French bread (I like La Brea French Bread for it)
*Basil Pesto (any kind you like will do, I like Sauces n' Love's or another that I can't remember the name of...)
*Sun Dried Tomato Pesto (my fave is Delallo, it is generally found by the pasta sauces in the supermarket)
*Fresh Mozzarella, 2-3 slices
*Turkey Pepperoni, 5-6 slices(I cannot tell the difference taste wise between regular pepperoni and turkey. There is a lot less fat and grease though with turkey pepperoni!!)
*Garlic Salt
*Rosemary, dried or fresh
*Pam Butter Spray

Warm up your panini maker (or pan, whatever). Spray one side of each slice of the bread with the Pam, spread the 2 different pestos on, throw the pepperoni on next, cover the pepperoni with the mozarella cheese and sprinkle a little garlic salt and rosemary onto the mozzarella. Grill it in a pan (flip too if needed) or in your panini maker until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!! Yum...

So I know it isn't low fat but I did make it lower in fat than what you would get in a restaurant (but nobody's servin the Bada Bing cuz I have never seen it before anywhere and since it is my creation) by using the turkey pepperoni and the Pam. And can I just say that my panini maker was one of the best gifts I ever bought for myself from my husband and son for Mother's Day!! I make everything in that- quesadillas, grilled cheesers...

Make them tonight for dinner, I know you'll relish every bite!

Movies I have seen recently... in my living room

A couple of these movies I saw a few months ago but most were within the last 2 months. There have been some others but I can't remember them. Anyway, this is what I thought of the this bunch.

Great cast- Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett... BORING movie. The absolute last line of the movie was the only one that made me laugh and it wasn't said by any of those three. Such a sad waste of great comedic talent.

Cute. Again great cast. Allison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhal were so funny in it. It was delightful to watch.

It's too bad this one wasn't better. Kinda raunchy but not as bad as Apatow movies. Had its moments but overall, it's okay.

So boring. I was trying to figure out the point.

Funniest classic movie ever. It was so much fun to watch. Jack Lemmon is HILARIOUS in it!

Great Cast, charming movie. I really enjoyed it. Ellen Page is adorable as ever.

SUCKED!!! Don't bother!

Quirky and sweet. It is actually a mockumentary about falling in love. Both actors are charming.

This has got to be one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It has plenty of raunch but appeals to both males and females. When the movie hit the theaters I thought it looked so stupid and wouldn't do well at all. I wish I would have seen it in the theater with my hubby. I laughed so hard that I was crying.

2010 Goals & Aspirations

Okay, it is time to commit to my goals for this year. So here they are. Hold me accountable.

* Stick to my fitness plan. I usually do this until October when the days get shorter and it is hard to drag my butt out of bed. I get up at 5:15 a.m. to workout because I can't think of any other time to fit it in to my schedule.

* Practice portion control. It is not exactly dieting. I just need to watch it and not overindulge. It is amazing how I feel after eating the correct portion size. I don't need the extra! So 2 Tbsps of peanut butter not 8... And hey, if I lose a few pounds while doing it- great!

* Go to church more often than last year. This should be easily attainable. We have even received compliments on how well behaved AJ is in church from fellow parishoners.

* Continue trying new recipes. This was a fun goal from last year but I am not going to commit myself to once a week although so far I have done that!

* Read more books than last year. I am off to a good start- I have already finished 3 in January! One was started in early December and I bought one for my Kindle on Christmas but still I finished 3 books. I think I have to read over 22...

* Purge and Organize. I cleaned out the pantry, fridge and freezers a couple of weeks ago... Holy bananas! They were bare after that! I need to tackle the storage room again this year. Aaaahhh!

* Craft more. For me.

* From last year: One silver piece, build a fairy house in the backyard, one scrapbook and do my rock star item!

Man, I hope these happen this year. I'm going to try not to overschedule myself this summer and relax more too. Happy 2010 and good luck with all your goals!!

How I know I live with a toddler: Part 8

1. I have to be careful he's not climbing on the dresser. I suddenly have to think about these things!
2. We have this ball popper and one day it started making this horrible noise... that is what happens when you stuff crayons and sidewalk chalk in it and the fan starts grinding the chalk away.
3. 75% of the time he thinks he is a cat, 10% of the time a cat-dog and 15% of the time a human boy.
4. He watches Sesame Street instead of taking a nap so mom can get a little mom time. I miss naps. He is so much better if he takes a nap.
5. I read the same book over and over and over again at bedtime. I am sick of the truck book.
6. Knows every truck ever made and can spot them from a mile away.
7. He is scared of the snowplow and comes in everyday at 6 am telling us that it woke him up even though a snowplow hasn't even come by in a week.
8. He gets a charge out of watching the garbage man. So we have to wait for the garbage man on Thursdays before we go out.
9. I get excited about going to the waterpark resorts! And I use it for bribery the whole week before.

A new playlist

(Regina Spektor)
(Okkervil River)

1. After Tonight- Justin Nozuka
2. Beatbox Harmonica- Yuri Lane
3. On the Radio- Regina Spektor
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
5. Don't Stop Believin'- Glee Cast
6. Lover, You Should've Come Over- Jeff Buckley
7. Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe- Okkervil River
8. You and I- Ingrid Michaelson
9. Golden Train- Justin Nozuka
10. Warm Whispers- Missy Higgins
11. One of Those Days- Joshua Radin
12. Hotel Song- Regina Spektor
13. Better Man- James Morrison
14. A-Punk- Vampire Weekend
15. Sugar Assualt Me Now- Pop Levi
16. Dropped- Phantom Planet
17. 3 Rounds and a Sound (Live)- Blind Pilot
18. Beyond Here Lies Nothing- Bob Dylan
19. Hold On, I'm Coming- Sam & Dave
20. We Are Not the Losers (Anymore)- Actionslacks
21. This is Beautiful- Tyrone Wells
22. Dance Tonight- Paul McCartney
23. Looking At the Sun- Gramercy Arms
24. Black & Gold- Sam Sparro
25. Backwards Walk- Frightened Rabbit

So it is a little long for a CD so I'll have to carry a couple songs into the next one. Like I said before, I am addicted to Vampire Weekend. Beyond Here Lies Nothing is Dylan at his grittiest. His gravely voice just gets to me. Yuri Lane is definitely out there rockin' it plus he lives in Chicago. Woohoo! I just think he is amazing. Check out this video. (They wouldn't let me put it on here- Boo!) I love the range in Regina Spektor's voice. She's a little quirky. Okkervil River just rocks (although I like Unless Its Kicks better- great workout music!). Looking At the Sun is a fun song. Catchy. Black & Gold makes me want to bob my head and tap my foot to the awesome beat. It reminds me of an 80s song kinda. I am not a fan of 80s music (I know that is actually shocking but it is too pop-y for me...)- I like the classic rock & punk songs that were produced from the 80s but that's about it. I even put a somewhat kibosh on it at my wedding. Cruel, I know. I am ready to catch flak for this, it doesn't hurt my self esteem one bit. You don't want to know what I really think about it. Okay, I just opened a can of worms so I am just going to stop. Enjoy the music if you choose too. :)

Vampire Weekend

I am addicted to Vampire Weekend! I love the song Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa especially. Give them a listen!

Happy 101

Mel at Chicago Girl Gone Mild listed my little blog as one that brightens her day. Maybe it would brighten Mel's day even more if I updated it once in awhile! Thanks girl!! :)


The Rules:
1. List 10 things that make you happy.
2. List 10 blogs that brighten your day.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

1. My boys (MOST of the time...) ;)
2. Compliments on my work/creativity
3. Fresh, clean sheets (my husband and I talk about this all day on clean sheet day until bedtime... I don't know why making the bed doesn't work the same way but it just doesn't!)
4. When my little boy says, 'Love you, momma.'
5. Doing something nice for other people when they aren't expecting it
6. Baking a fabulous dessert (I'm not a huge dessert person but I love to make them for others. I do like chocolate though!)
7. Art fairs
8. Stumbling onto something that you absolutely need, want, love or is just perfect for a project, etc. (this happened to me recently with a website/CD that is so cool for a project I am doing!)
9. Really, really good food and wine
10. A book that I can't put down or a song that is played on a continuous loop

10 Blogs That Brighten My Day (in no particular order... BUT #1 is #1!!) :)

1. Lipowski Family (I know, I know- I write it! I love it b/c it has pictures of my family on it though!!)
2. Chicago Girl Gone Mild (I know she gave me this post but her blog is one of my faves!)
3. Crafty Crow
4. Whimsy Love
5. Paisley Wallpaper
6. Operation Nice
7. The Magic Onions
8. Majer Minutes
9. Hostess with the Mostess
10. Blue Yonder Ranch

2009 Rewind

Me and AJ New Years Day 2009

AJ, Luke and Annie (my nephew and niece, Steve's sister's kids) New Years Day 2009

AJ, Parker and Adreanna (my nephew and niece, my brother's kids) sledding on Boxing Day 2009

2009 was super great! Here is an overview of last year:

* all attorney dinner * Gainesville, FL * AJ turned 2 * AJ's playdate birthday party * painted the office yellow (straw) * tissue paper flowers with 4H East kids * Entered an art auction with a painting of a dog and a stone bracelet * Madtown * 1st Madison farmer's market of the year * UW Madison Spring Football Game (AJ's first football game- he LOVED it!!) * Visit with Paske's * Visit with Steph * Boston * FENWAY!!! * North End eating * History strolling * New, big TV, entertainment center and basement painted gold (while we were in Boston) * Block Party (so windy and cold!) * 7 year anniversary * Hillie's grad party in Minneapolis * June parties including one at our house * visit with Johnson family * #34 * Gary & Earlene come to visit * pimped out garage * annual family reunion (Koehler family) at our house * VEGAS!! * Spa at Bellagio * GREAT eats in the desert * coming home a winner!! * zoo with a bunch of Dietrich's * visit with Julie and family in Hancock * visit with Stacy and her girls * Minneapolis visit to see Carol, Mark and Hillie before Hill goes to Georgetown * party at Mella's (with croquet and my team won!) * girl's night out * fairy and gnome party at museum * visit with Steph and her boys * another successful Road Rally * fairy party at our house * Martha and Patrick's baby welcoming shower at our house * visit with Gary * 2 huge trees cut down in our yard- it changed everything! * Birds in Art dinner and reception * Wausau Festival of Arts * Firehouse open house * Talk Like a Pirate Party at John & Nancy's * visit with Mark & Jen * Apple Orchard * OctoBIRDfest at the museum * Pumpkin patch * Gary & Earlene visit * Trick or Treating with Mower Man * hired Nikki our super awesome babysitter * started volunteering at Boys & Girls Club in the Art Room * Jeanne's party * Click, Clack Moo at The Grand * Lucy's party * Kim's party *Thanksgiving up north * B&B Party * Wildtree Party at our house * Mobile Meals Holiday party * Chicago with mom * Met my blogger buddy, Mel in Chicago * One of a Kind Art and Gift Show (I will blog about this) * good eats in Chitown * Marty & Laurie's Holiday party * Mosaic star ornaments with 4H East kids * Steve's 35th and an awesome bottle of wine * Mella's holiday open house * Christmas * sledding on Boxing Day * Christmas with the Dietrich's * opened an ETSY shop!!

Whew! What a year! It seems we upped our popularity this year since it seemed like we were invited to a lot of parties but we also had a few too. Seemed like we were always busy and 2010 is going to be busy as well. Fun busy. We have a trip to New York planned for March and a family vacation to Florida (Captiva Island) in May that we are looking forward to and a few big projects for me. I opened an etsy shop to keep me on my toes (hopefully!) and I have a custom invitation job early this year (500 invitations) that will keep me very busy and up late at night.

Please visit my new etsy shop!! http://www.mypepita75.etsy.com/ It includes artwork from both me and my mom.

Happy 1 year anniversary to me!

So 1 year ago today I decided that 2 blogs weren't enough and started this one. So I say Happy Anniversary to me. Guess what? I am doing the exact same thing on New Year's Eve that I was doing last year- blogging, editing pictures and trying to catch my breath. I don't particularly care for New Year's Eve. People feel forced to have fun and stay up late. The service is usually slow and sub-par. It is generally icy or snowy out in these parts. It just feels fake to me. Maybe it is because I have never really had an awesome New Year's, maybe it is in my genes as my mom doesn't like it either, I don't know. It is a day of reflection more than anything for me. I'd much rather stay home and spend a normal night with my family and be hangover free tomorrow.

Anyway, I did have a list of goals for 2009- some of which were achieved and some that weren't... Here was my list for 2009:

1. 15 new card designs for My Pepita's Magic *
2. Read 15 novels *
3. Try a new recipe once a week *
4. Go to church at least two Sundays per month
5. Make at least one silver piece
6. Clean out the storage room *
7. Throw an awesome fairy party *
8. Build a fairy house in the woods behind our house
9. Paint the new office, basement, downstairs bathroom and AJ's room *
10. Hang our artwork *
11. Try one felted project
12. Keep up with 3 blogs *
13. Do one scrapbook
14. Do something a little rock star

Well, the asterisks indicate which ones I did... But number 9 gets a half of an asterisk- I didn't paint the downstairs bathroom because I actually decided to keep it the color it is for awhile anyway and I have yet to paint AJ's room. I did try a new recipe once a week for the most part- sometimes it was 2 in one week if I didn't get to it the previous week. I even made a new delish casserole tonight! I cleaned out the storage room BUT it is a great big mess once again! This summer was crazy busy so I didn't get a chance to build the fairy house. And the rock star thing that I want to do I may still do... just in 2010. I need my girl, Kendra's help with it and I think she might do this with me too. My husband will probably kill me but- oh well! :)

My 2010 list is not ready yet but I will probably have some of the goals from 2009 that I didn't get a chance to do on it. Look for my list in January!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have many, many things to be thankful for but these are the two I am most thankful for!

How I know I live with a toddler (Part 7)...

* Everyday is like Dance Party USA in our house. The music is cranked, the living room lights are on and he boogies down. He'd dance to static if that's all he could find on the radio.
* He knows he can get the lids off of everything. One day during naptime (but obviously not napping), right after he went into a toddler bed, I found him rubbing Vapo Rub all over his cheeks. He came downstairs with goop all over his hands and cheeks and I took one whiff and just shook my head.
* We have a song that we sing about poopy diapers: 'Poop goes in the potty, poop goes in the potty, poop goes in the potty and we flush it down!' When else do you make up songs about poop?
* Speaking of that rhyme... Last week I caught him in the bathroom pulling tissues out of the box (brand new, of course) and the toilet paper roll missing (oinly about 1/4 of it gone before)- the cardboard tube was empty in the trash can (at least he put it in the trash when it was out). As I am walking down the hall, I hear and 'We flush it down!' and it was a slow motion 'NO!!!!' to the bathroom as he was trying to flush it down. There was so much tissue paper in there that the top was dry and there wasn't much water left...
* Tonight he sucked all the dressing off my salad greens and threw the lettuce back in the bowl for me to eat. Gee, thanks.
* I left my makeup bag on our bathroom counter (I usually put it in the linen closet on a higher shelf) before I went out last week to a girls night out party and my husband came in to the bathroom looking for him and he was putting my lipstick on... all over his face.
* He is always stealing and wearing our shoes around the house.
* I was on the phone one day on a particularly naughty day and you know they are always even more naughty while you are distracted on the phone right? Well I walked into his room and he had the wipes down off the dresser and his floppy dog, Pound Cake, was laying on the changing mat spread eagle and he was wiping off his nether region with the wipe! It was so darn cute!
* He's ALWAYS jumping on something. The trampoline at gymnastics class is his absolute favorite. He also likes to jump into the pool and on the bed and on the couch and on the floor and anywhere else he can find to jump.
* Everytime I put lipstick on he wants some too. So I use chapstick for him!

Current Playlist

So my 'Autumn '09' (which some of was made before Autumn started...) mix is currently on loop. Or overplay. Use whatever term you'd like but I am digging it. One of my current (current being the last 6 months) obsessions is the group, TV on the Radio. They are awesome. BTW, Mel, you'll find some of these songs a little familiar since they came from one of your playlists...

1. Golden Age- TV on the Radio
2. Turn On Me- The Shins
3. Skin Is, My- Andrew Bird
4. Love Dog- TV on the Radio
5. If I Had Eyes- Jack Johnson
6. Relator- Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
7. Recycled Air- The Postal Service
8. You Look Like Rain- Morphine
9. Chicago- Sufjan Stevens
10. Modern Guilt- Beck
11. On A Cloud- PPP featuring Karma
12. Koop Island Blues- Koop featuring Ane Brun
13. Fireflies- Owl City
14. Poker Face- Lady GaGa
15. Winter Song- Sara Barielles & Ingrid Michelson
16. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)- Michael Buble with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
17. Your Ex-Lover is Dead- Stars
18. Friend Like You- Joshua Radin
19. Under Cold Blue Stars- Josh Rouse
20. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)- Beyonce

I am so in love with the songs Love Dog and Fireflies. Can't get enough of them! I often find myself singing Relator because of the great beat and dancing to On a Cloud for the same reason. You Look Like Rain and Koop Island Blues put me in a mood (or should I say in the mood?). I laughed out loud when the football team on Glee sang Single Ladies. I don't normally like Beyonce but I love this song and Halo. Chicago has a sense of nostalgia tied to it. I like it. Listen to them on itunes or Pandora and you'll hear that you like them too!

Sugar Doll

Okay, so I am not sure if this is really an 'award' or not but Mel at Chicago Girl Gone Mild nominated me for it... Thanks! :)

The rules are that I have to now post the logo, reveal 10 interesting things about myself and nominate 10 other bloggers for the award. Here goes:

1. I have never been on a diet. I think that is going to change soon as it is starting to show...

2. I am an incredibly loyal person- to family, friends, businesses I like, etc. However, if a business betrays me or really drive me nuts, I boycott it. One business I have boycotted and will never go to is Home Depot. Their customer service sucks.

3. I keep in touch with a lot of people. Friends often come to me to hear what is going on with others or for addresses.

4. I love mail. I hope we never go all electronic. Do you think that would happen?

5. I am a homebody. I like to hang out at home and create, play on the computer, watch TV, read... There are many weekends that I don't leave the house.

6. I love board games, dice games and card games. I am also pretty competitive. My favorite card game is Skip-Bo and dice game is Yahtzee. I don't have a favorite board game- I love them all! I also enjoy word games & jigsaw puzzles. I don't play games often enough. Back when I lived in Minneapolis, I worked for 2 different daycares for school age kids and I played board or card games everyday...

7. I knew my hubby and I were going to be together forever when, after 2.5 months, he wrote me a sonnet in iambic pentameter and he had a dog named Squirt. I always wanted to name a dog Squirt! Also, I think our AJ is one of the cutest kids on the planet and is going to keep the girls chasing after him!

8. I have only straightened my curls once and that was for a Halloween costume. And it was only half my hair.

9. I am a very giving person- time, objects and money.

10. I won 'Funniest Walk' in two different dorms with completely different people in college. I never thought about my walk until then. Then I asked a couple of high school friends and they said 'yeah... it's true.' I still can't figure out why my walk is so funny!

Ten Bloggers- How about 4? Well, I'll give you some but I doubt they'll do it from mine... I don't read many blogs regularly except for these (and Mel's...).

* Operation NICE

* paisley wallpaper

* WhiMSy Love

* Majer Minutes

Thanks Mel! :)

My love affair with Halloween

I love Halloween. Always have, always will (well, maybe I won't when I am old and can't get up to answer the door for trick or treaters...). I love dressing up for it and thinking of a costume months in advance. I love that there are so many craft ideas to do for Halloween. I love that it is in the fall, my favorite time of year. I love that there is no pressure to entertain (just buy the best candy!). I love that Almond Joy candy bars are in abundance this time of year. But most of all, I love it because 11 years ago yesterday I met my husband.

I was living in Minneapolis in 1998 and was looking for a place to party for Halloween weekend (I was 23!) and my friend, Stacy, invited me to Madison. My brother, Geoff, also invited me to Lutsen (northern MN). I debated where I was going to go but ultimately chose Mad-town since I had never spent much time there. Have you ever been to Madison on Halloween? It is insane in the membrane! Stacy (and Steve) was in her 2nd year of law school. We met up on Friday night (30th) at the UW- UMinnesota hockey game. Steve sat in front of me and missed a lot of the game because he kept turning around to talk to me. After the game he met a friend from undergrad out and we went to a party that I really wanted him to be at but he wasn't. The next day we were set to go to a Halloween party with a bunch of law school types. I was looking so forward to it. I went as Cosmic Nic, a superhero, with silver miniskirt, cape and go-go boots and a black shirt, mask and tights. I wish I had a picture of that night! Steve showed up at the same party as Captain Stubing. We started talking and I told him I could read palms (a load of crap) and started 'reading' his. He bought it and we were smitten! We had a long distance (no closer than an hour drive) relationship until we were married. A little less than 2 years after we met (September 13, 2000), he proposed. A little less than 4 years after we met (June 1, 2002), we were married. And 11 years later? We are still as happy as can be!

Happy Halloween!

So I know that I have been so lame when it came to writing but I have been busy trying to get Christmas and winter cards to the galleries. I have no idea why I am not doing that in July because every October it is the same! And with a very busy 2.5 year old I don't get as much done as I used to...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We had fun this year! AJ was Mower Man, a lawn mowing superhero. Goofy, I know. He's kind of known in our neighborhood for either the lawn mowing or for having a wicked golf swing so Mower Man was born! Next year maybe he'll be a golfer...

AJ in his costumes- 2007 he was a devil (we just handed out candy in 07- I had a red Baby Bjorn so the devil was just perfect. My Mom made the hat, tail and romper and added the flames with a loose stitch that we later took off and replaced with fur trim for Christmas but he was too big by then...), 2008 he was an owl (specifically the Tootsie Pop owl- he even passed them out. I made this costume. He could wear it over his jacket or sweatshirt depending on the weather. There are little ears pinned to his hood.), and this year Mower Man. The face makeup was supposed to look like a mask but that is hard to do on a ticklish 2 year old! The hair was a hit with both him and the houses. Easy peasy to make- I winged it!

I do have a love affair with Halloween but this was just a day of dress up with my friend Julie circa 1983! Can you imagine dressing like that for a Chicago Halloween? I recently dug this out of my mom's photo album and posted it on Facebook for Julie to see- she loved it! :)




Costumes through the years (some are friends or relatives that are just clever (and that I had on my computer)):

1. Halloween 1996- Senior year of college I went as Conscience. I spray painted half my shirt and skirt silver and the other half red. One leg red tights, one silver tights, one red shoe with flames painted on it, one silver shoe with stars. More intense makeup and hair teased on the devil side, lighter makeup and straightened hair (only time I have ever straightened my hair...) on the angel. My headband had a horn and a half of a halo. It was a pretty good costume, one of my favorites.

2. 2000: My sister-in-law, Lisa, as a zombie and my brother, Geoff as Lucifer. Dude, he's scary.

3. 2001: I am Igor in the center. My back hurt like hell after that night. Bartending with a hunchback is not fun. And I had a hard time talking with the fake teeth. Check out Mary as Olive Oyl- she was so perfect!

4. 1999: Geoff as a ghost cowboy. He drug (dragged?) his shirt behind his truck and shot it with a shotgun to get the proper effect!

5. 2001: I am Iris Retina. Don't ask me- I am just bizarro! The blue skin itched.

6. 2000: Fairy. Favorite costume EVER!

7. 1999: I was inspired by Smashmouth's Astro Lounge album cover so basically I am an alien. I actually spray painted my skin and hair (and yes it took forever to get out!). I wonder what Smashmouth is doing these days... I saw them in concert when they opened for U2 in 1997 but haven't heard much since. My dad was Cyrano de Bergerac. He was a pirate first and we decided he looked more like Cyrano.

8. 1999: I was a shiek complete with a fake nose. See Cyrano... People didn't even know I was female until I spoke.

9. 2001: Friend, Liz, as a Titanic victim. I gave her the idea and she ran with it and looked great! (Everyone used to ask me what they should be...)

10. 2000: That is me behind the bar as a skull. It was so freaky. My dad is the nun. I was very close to winning a costume contest with that getup but we left before it was over.

TV, TV, TV!

Oh, to have a TV like that! Yeah right. From my list of fall TV shows blogged about HERE there are a few that I axed already... Some old shows and one new one. The shows that I am watching are So You Think You Can Dance (I will watch this as long as it is on!), How I met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, Greek, New Adventures of Old Christine, Bones, The Office, 30 Rock (well not yet since it hasn't returned), Psych, Brothers & Sisters, Dexter, Castle, Vampire Diaries, Community, Modern Family, Glee, Flash Forward, Cougar Town. I axed the new Melrose Place after the first AWFUL episode. Dancing with the Stars is too long, I don't care about any of the 'stars' and I have way more fun watching SYTYCD. DWTS is redundant and getting boring. The choreography on it just seems so same old, same old. So that is now gone. I am so OVER Grey's. Quit your hospital bitching, I don't care. Everyone is in 'stable' relationships so there is no more steamy are they or aren't they. I am BORED! I haven't yet decided if I am giving Desperate Housewives the axe too. I am curious what the new Bolen Family is hiding. The scars on her back intrigued me but if they drag it on too long and don't give them enough screen time to figure it out, I am out. I'll read about it in TV Guide. I LOVE Vampire Diaries. Stefan is dreamy and it is the perfect teeny bopper escapism. I am reading the books by LJ Smith right now as well and the show is better than the books. My blogger buddy, Mel at Chicago Girl Gone Mild, and I are constantly exchanging emails about our latest obsession! Modern Family is decent. I liked it enough to watch it again. Phil cracks me up on that show as the I-wanna-be-friends-with-my-kids dad. Glee is still great. Kristin Chenowith guest starring was gold, baby! Cougar Town I am still on the fence about. Courtney Cox is a little (ok, a lot) over the top on that show. It was funny though. Community is good. That is Joel McHale's perfect part. Senor Chang, el tigre chino, is hilarious. And Flash Forward is so intriguing that I cannot wait for more! That's my fall (and my opinion regardless if you wanted it) in a nutshell or in a boob tube, take your pick!

Some more treasures from Artrageous Weekend

There were a couple of other things that I got at Festival of Arts that I didn't blog about before. Here they are:
I bought these 3 cards individually with the intentions of doing the above for an artsy Halloween piece. The pumpkins are batik fabric that artist Linda Nelson Bryan (St. Paul, MN) stitched with decorative thread and stitching onto paper and then did borders in leaves, Boo! and monsters. I then took them and mounted them on glitter paper in lime, violet and orange and framed them in this simple black 3- 5x7 frame from Target. I thought it turned out kinda fun and it is the only thing up right now for Halloween (more to be decorated but I am not a store and decorate for Halloween in July).

This tiny canvas collage I 'won' (you don't 'win' it if you end up paying for it...) at the Festival of Arts silent auction. My mom said something about it being perfect for the little shelves by the kitchen window that I can't find enough for the rest of the year besides Halloween and Christmas. I think it is cute and whimsical and I did admire her bigger pieces and talk to Ginnie at her booth. This canvas was done by Ginnie Cappaert of Stephenson, MI. Now if that heart would have been a star, I would have loved it even more! That little nest next to it is felted wool by etsy seller Winsome Hollow from Atlanta, GA. Head over to her etsy shop for some sweetness!