Happy New Year!

And you thought that I was done with Straight No Chaser. They will be touring this spring the closest they are getting to Stockton is Fresno. I would really like to see them. They will also be at the Grove in Anaheim. I could fly down after work, go to the concert, stay the night and fly back the next day.

Scott has already brought in the New Year. He was able to celebrate it by running back and forth from the bomb shelter. When talked to him at 9:30am they had had 6 bombs come in with more on the way. Almost like being at home. Here we will be counting the gun fire.

Have a safe and happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Last Day To Shop

I told you I am loving these guys. Really go buy the CD it is worth it. The only down side is Delaney told someone they were singing the 12 days of Christmas wrong because they didn't sing it like SNC. Oh well.

I still have a little left to do. Today we will be hitting the post office and mailing the last of the cards, Ralley's for food I forgot to buy and then wrapping presents. We will be going to my aunt's tonight for my mom's sides Christmas. Tonight I will be up assembling an Art Tower and downloading books to a Tag Reading System. I might sleep sometime.

Only 2 Shopping Days To Go

Not much left to do around here. I need to finish the Christmas cards, buy a toothbrush for Delaney, wrapped gifts and maybe go to Ladybug quilt shop.

Delaney just knows Santa is bringing her a Little Mermaid Spinning Toothbrush. Of course Target only had Cinderella last night so now I have to hit every WalGreens I can find. Plus I have WalGreens Rewards money to spend by the 26th. So it will be a free toothbrush.

If you don't know LAdybug is having a pre-Christmas sale. They have Christmas patterns 50% off. When I was their last week I saw a few I wanted. Let's see if I can make it.

Three Shopping Days To Go

So what do you have left to do? Me I made a list, yeah go figure!

1. address and mail 125 Christmas Cards 61 of 125 Gone
2. Finish decorating the tree
3. Buy Daphne Christmas presents, really what does she need
4. Start wrapping Christmas presents
5. Get something for Dad and Josh
6. JoAnn's I have 2 50% off coupons and I am starting stuff for Delaney's Birthday
7. Buy Groceries for Christmas Eve and Day
8. Clean the house
9. Need to go to Ladybug Quilt Shop

Four Shopping Days Left!!!

I am loving this group, Straight No Chaser.

I delivered the client quilt today. She is very happy with it. She will be sending me a photo of it once it is opened on Christmas. I will share it with all of you when I get it.

I have decided that all I am getting done between now and Christmas is the cards that need to be addressed and mailed and wrapping gifts. Everything else is waiting until next year.

The Colors of My Life

With both of my degrees I have taken a few color class. I have take Color Theory and Psych of Color and something to do with kids and color. Working with color has always been easy for me. Heck I have 15 different colors of paint in my house.

I am talking about different colors today though. On the freeway today I saw the back of a trailer and knew where it was from just by the color. I am going to share a few of the colors of my life with you all today.

Corvette Red
Safety Orange
Cherokee Freight Yellow
Bragg Goldenrod
Teichert Green
Brock Blue
DSS Brown

I will tell you that we saw 3 trucks today all together in Bragg Goldenrod. The better part was they were coming out of the yard in Reno, one truck was a sub hauler and had that info on the door. My uncle runs Bragg Reno. The lead truck was a crane I have no clue what the other two truck were hauling.

What To Do This Week?

I have so much to get done this next week I think I should write some of it down, where I wont loose it.

1. Finish and Mail Birth Announcements
2. Baking 3 of 12 batches Done
3. Make 12 Potholders 8 of 12 Done
4. Make 10 more toys for the Toy Society's Christmas drop on the weekend 1 of 10 Done
5. Finish binding Client Quilt
6. Pick up my quilt
7. Finish decorating the tree
8. Start decorating the house
9. Finish Pillowcase Tutorial and post it
10. Start the Dinner with Scott Quilt
11. Make Gingerbread house
12. Wrap Presents
13. Drop stuff off to Packed With Pride
14. Grocery Store
15. BOM for 3 Creative Studios
16. Write Christmas Letter

I am sure as the week goes on I will need to add to this list. Hopefully I will across some stuff off too. Check back often to see how it goes.

Life Happens At Midnight

I just got a message from a friend asking why I am still up? Life happens at midnight was my answer.

I missed turning off the TV in time, and the Phin and Ferb Christmas Special came on. Delaney has been waiting 2 weeks to see it. It was on at 8pm but she was at a Christmas party with Gram and Papa. When she got home she finished watching another show then it was supposed to be time for bed. I gave in. She didn't get to bed until 11:30pm.

In the mean time I am doing load number 6 of today's laundry. I might as well stay up and get another load in. The one coming out also needs folded. What the heck I am up.

Plus tomorrow is the big day, we are going to Old Sac with friends to ride the Polar Express. I need to get the gifts wrapped that we need to take with us. Also 2 of the kids had birthdays in October and I need to put the finishing touches on their birthday presents. What the heck I am up.

Since we are going to Old Sac, what a perfect place for a toy drop for the Toy Society. Now I just need to make a toy. I think I want to try for making a snowman. I have plenty of time we don't have to leave until 2pm tomorrow. But I have no time in the morning for this. What the heck I am up, I'll do it tonight.

Christmas Giving On A Budget

This year most of us are on a tighter budget than in years past. Which makes our gifting giving a little more creative. I am going to share some ideas for the people on your list and giving to those less fortunate.

First, give a gift to a whole family rather than buying each individual a gift. Give them a family night gift. You can create a gift basket with a movie or game theme. The new Harry Potter movie came out yesterday and is $15 at Target. Combine your movie with a few bags a microwave popcorn, 2 liter of soda and a couple boxes of movie candy (WalGreens has 3 boxes for $3). Package this all up in a plastic bowl you can pick up at a dollar type store. You can keep this gift between $20 and $25. Another idea is a game night, Steals and Deals posted about getting games inexpensive at Kmart this week. Combine a game and junk food and you got a great gift for the whole family.

Another idea is to stretch your baking with gifts to be used when the food is gone. Here is the idea instead of overloading on baking, who really has the time, whip up a few potholders from my tutorial. One yard of fabric will make you 4 potholders and they take no time at all. For those with a little more time and sewing skills make a matching apron. I found this apron in an hour tutorial. It is very cute, I think I am going to try it!

Most of use give to those less fortunate than ourselves at this time of year. The bad news is some of us are close to being less fortunate this year too. So here are a few ways to give to others that wont break the bank. If you usually adopt a family, why not ask a few friends to adopt a family with you. You each buy a gift for a member of the family.

Also the Toy Society has a big Christmas drop each year. All you do is join their group, they e-mail you the link to the letter to print to enclose with your toy, make a toy and drop it for someone to find the weekend before Christmas. ALL of my toys have been made from scraps, with the exception of the felt I bought.

Another idea is make a donate a pillowcase. I know of two different groups doing this. First is Jackie over at Canton Village Quilt Works sent out a call to help donate 2000 pillowcases to the Hole In The Wall Gang. If you are local and would like to send pillowcases to Jackie's group I will be mailing my box by Jan 15th and would love to include yours in the box. So far I have 12 going to Jackie, 6 made by my friend Bonnie and 6 by me. The other group is American Patchwork and Quilting is looking for 1 million pillowcases to be donated, to the cause of your choice. They also have a few different tutorials on how to make different pillowcases. I will also be posting a tutorial in the next 24 hours on how I make mine with no exposed seams, tons of photos.

Here is my last idea, it is for soldiers serving overseas. There is a group in Stockton that sends boxes to soldiers year around. The group is called Packed with Pride. They have a list of items that you can donate that they will ship in the boxes or you can make a monetary donation. Each box that is shipped cost $8.95.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Toy Drop #2

I dropped off a snake at the Downtown Stockton Public Library in the children's section. The library was quiet so it wasn't a problem to find a spot for my snake and take a photo. I had both girls with me, Delaney was busy reading and playing.

This snake is super easy to make and took no time at all. It is leftover strips from my Bento Box quilt pieced together with a white strip on each end. I folded my strip piece in half, I drew a curve on one end and a triangle on the other. (curve for head and triangle for tail) I started sewing at the fold, around the head and down the side. About half way down the side I left an opening for turning and stuffing. I continued down the side, around the tail and to the fold. A little trimming and flip. Next sew on the eyes, stuff and sew hole closed. Mr Snake is done.

I am having a lot of fun with this. This week I am hoping to make a small stock pile of toys for the BIG Christmas toy drop. I have a ladybug, doll and alien cut and ready to sew. The doll and alien are both the Black Apple Doll, the alien was cut out of green fabric and will have small antennas.