Breathless

Remember this?

I won I won I won!!!!
I can't believe it!!!!

When I was a little girl, I went through a big "King Arthur" phase.  I daydreamed about knights in shining armour going on quests and fighting for the honor of fair maidens. 

By the time I got to high school, it had worn off.  A little bit.  My friends and I went to the local Renaissance fair every single year although I could never afford to get a costume.

In college, I continued the Renaissance Fair tradition but I also took a course on Arthurian legends which reinvigorated my interest.

Now, I will finally have a costume to wear for any festivals or fairs that come my way.  Of course, I won't look as pretty as Kathleen (Grosgrain) but I will do my best.  You think I could get Noodlebug to dress up as a knight?

Halloween Preparations

The costumes are finished. (I'm hoping I can get a good photo of Noodlebug in his costume for the GILT contest)

We carved a pumpkin last night. (photos to come later)

I am ready to proctor the pumpkin contest at work today wearing my flashing pumpkin necklace and my new handmade pin by Kim.

Now, if the rain will just stay away so we can trick or treat. 

Fingers crossed....

Check back here soon for photos.

In the meantime, I am adding this book to my wish list:

Partly because I love Amy Sedaris and partly because I am a poor person who loves to craft!!!

GILT Halloween Best Dressed Photo Contest

As a mom on a budget, I love shopping all the wonderful sample sale/flash sites that have come up over the last few years. Many of them sell high-end children's items at deep discounts which I love. GILT is one of my favorites!!!

When the opportunity came up to share this GILT contest with you (this is a compensated post through the Mom Bloggers Club), I felt I couldn't pass it up!  So many of you are so creative that I know you can win!!!

If you think your child’s costume is the cutest on the block, here’s your chance to prove it. Post a picture of your kid in his or her outfit to enter for a chance to win $1,000 Gilt Credit.
 
Visit the“contests” tab on the Gilt Children Facebook page or click on this link to enter to win:

How the Contest Works


Between October 22 and November 8, upload a photo of your kid in his or her costume to the Gilt Children page by clicking on the Enter link above. The 10 most popular entries—as voted on by Gilt Children fans until November 19—will become finalists.

Fans can encourage their friends to vote for their the following ways:

1. Invite friends to participate in the contest using this link.


2. Post your vote to your Facebook wall my selecting “share on my wall” when you vote for your favorite photo.

3. Let your friends know that you can vote for each entry once per day -- so submit your entry early and vote often!



A panel of Gilt Groupe judges will then select five winners based on the overall quality of the photo and the costume, announcing the results by November 26 on the Gilt Children page and Twitter account. Each of the winners will receive a $1000 credit for use on Gilt.com.

I know I could REALLY use that credit!!!

The Ever After Frock Halloween Grosgrain Giveaway

The Ever After Frock Halloween Grosgrain Giveaway

Want to win something pretty? How about your own "Ever After" Halloween costume made by Kathleen of Grosgrain?

(photo borrowed from and owned by GROSGRAIN)

Of course,  I hope to win this costume too but I would also be happy if YOU won.

Follow the link at the top of the post to sign up!!!

No Tricks Just Treats

You know those women who seem to be able to do it all?  Well, Kim is one of those women. In between her mom duties, her non-profit work and training for an Ironman triathlon, she created some wonderful Halloween goodies for me and packaged them up so beautifully.  It felt like Christmas when I opened the box!

A wonderful wall hanging



A garland and some beautiful cards



BOO blocks that Noodlebug had fun stacking

The Sweetest Handmade Cat with Noodlebug's name on it



I wish my photography was better.  I really don't do these pieces justice.  She also made me an adorable cat pin which I can't WAIT to wear. You'll have to wait for the big reveal!!!!

Of course, sometimes the simple things are the most fun:

I can't believe he fit in the box!!!  You can't see it but his new kitty is in there too.

Thank you, Kim, for all of our Halloween goodies!!!!



Searching for Divine Divinity

(photo borrowed from and owned by the Food Network)

Our church's bazaar only happens every other year.  As part of the bazaar, one of the women's groups holds a bake sale. There is always divinity. My mother and I LOVE divinity.  When I was growing up back home in Texas, my grandmother made divinity every year and I associate it with the holidays. I made sure to start my volunteer shift at the beginning of the bazaar so I could stock up on divinity.

There was no divinity.

I couldn't have been more disappointed.

So, now I am on a quest to learn to make my own.  First, I have to buy a candy thermometer. The very idea scares me.  Then, I have to find the perfect recipe that won't be too difficult for me.

I'm going to start with Paula Deen's recipe because....well....I love Paula Deen.

If anyone has any recipes or advice to share, please leave a comment.  If I can pull this off, I may be giving everyone divinity for Christmas!!!

Weekend Highs and Lows

Well, the Craft Bazaar went well.  All of the toddler aprons that I made sold which made me happy.  My mother picked up some hand-carved cars for Noodlebug for Christmas.  They are amazing.  An elderly gentleman in our church makes them.  What was even more special was that he and his wife celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary this past weekend!!!  I picked up this Fall item for myself:

I'm going to hang it on the wall.

Noodlebug picked out this penguin family of hand-painted gourds:

Aren't they sweet? 

On Sunday was the big event I have been waiting for since last year.  It was a trick-or-treat fundraiser at a local children's museum.  I had worked hard to get Noodlebug's costume ready and we arrived right on the dot.  As we were getting out of the car, Noodlebug accidentally kicked me in the eye.  I thought I was going to pass out from the pain.  We didn't know it then but the kick had scratched my cornea in several places.  So, not only was I in pain all day but I was also blinded.  And it poured down rain.  I couldn't really see anything. I missed out on all the decorations and getting to see Noodlebug play the games. It was such a let-down. I soldiered through but when it was time to leave I broke down in the car from disappointment.  And a little bit from pain.

My husband and I went to the emergency room and got my eye looked at.  After drops and pain meds and keeping it covered, it appears to be a bit better now.

Here is a photo of us at the event. I have my eyes closed and Noodlebug's costume is covered by a raincoat:

Oh, well. Maybe next year....

My Dentist's Choice Tooth Tissues Review

You already know that I feel strongly about dental health in general and more specifically that of my child from this post.  I am always looking for ways to make dental care of a small child easier. That is why I was excited to get a package of My Dentist's Choice Tooth Tissues to try out.

I had heard of tooth tissues before but I had never tried any. I just resorted to using a washcloth on Noodlebug's gums when he was an infant.  There are a lot of positives about this product.  It is fluoride-free.  It is 99% Natural. It has Xylitol which several dentists have told me is a great product for little ones.  It is paraben-free and unflavored.  And they couldn't be easier to use.  They come packaged like wipes in a resealable pouch so all you have to do it pull one out and run it over your little one's teeth and gums. The only con is getting your child used it it. Noodlebug wants to bite down on my fingers when I use the wipes.  He does with the toothbrush too, though.

I have decided to keep these in the diaper bag for tooth-cleaning on the go.  While I try to limit Noodlebug's exposure to sweets and juice, these could be great to use when he has had a ice cream treat or a glass of juice.  They tuck right into the diaper bag.

To find out more about this product, go to the My Dentist's Choice website.

(I received one free sample pack of this product from the manufacturer to try. I did not receive any other form of compensation for this review.)

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

My Current Project

(This is as much of myself as I feel comfortable showing in photos these days)

In the middle of working on Halloween costumes, I am working on another big project.  Me. 

Not only am I really overweight but I don't think I'm very healthy. And I'm not happy with myself.  So, I started hitting the gym at 6am each morning back in August.  My goal is five days a week but I don't always hit that goal.  Right now, I am doing cardio work on the treadmill, bike and elliptical.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are the days I am working on a running program. I'm starting very slowly but I hope to work up to running about 4 miles.  Also on MWF, I have been trying to implement the 200Squats, 200Situps and 100Pushups programs. (these are free on the internet)

It is a real challenge to get up in the dark and head to the gym. And then I struggle on the treadmill while these skinny fit women around me seem to do it effortlessly.  But you know what my daily treat is? I get to take a nice long shower at the gym and take my time with my makeup.  Since my husband and child don't get up until about 7:30am, I used to have to stumble around in the dark in our little house and try to be as quiet as possible. Now, I can take my time getting ready in the morning. And, after work, I get to go home and be with my family instead of exercising. And I get weekends off.

The one thing I am really struggling with is changing my diet. So, I have only lost about 4 pounds so far. I'm not going to give up this time, though. I get inspired by the older women at my gym. They are in the gym every morning and they all seem vibrant and sharp and fit. I want to be that way when I get to that age and I know being active is part of it.

So, that's what I am working on. 

This will be a light post week because I am getting ready for my church's craft bazaar on Saturday but I'm going to take photos at the event and share them with you. Hope you are all having a lovely week!!!

What I Did This Weekend

I made Noodlebug a Trick or Treat bag to go with his costume. My blanket stitch wasn't the best so I used the sewing machine on the corners to reinforce it.

Then, I made Katy's adorable trick or treat bag from her tutorial just because it is so darned cute!!! It turned out really well. It may be MY trick or treat bag.

(It's a little wrinkled because *SOMEONE* was playing with it!)

I'm almost done with Noodlebug's costume but you can't see that yet. (wink)

More to show you soon!!!

Blog Find: NO BIG DILL Candy Corn Necklace

(photo borrowed from and owned by No Big Dill)

No Big Dill is one of my very favorite blogs. Katy always has the cutest tutorials. I really want to make this necklace. It is such a nice classy take on Halloween-themed jewelry. Find out how to make your own here.

Now, I'm craving candy corn.

FEED Trick or Treat Bag

(photo borrowed from and owned by FEED)

The popular FEED line has come out with a special Trick or Treat bag this year. Sold by HSN, these bags retail for $13 and $3.50 from every purchase goes directly to UNICEF to cover the cost of delivering a year’s worth of micronutrient powder to a child in a developing country.  I especially like the reflective tape on the bag because I am a big safety girl!

I am hand-making a trick-or-treat bag to go with Noodlebug's costume this year but I think I may purchase one of these for myself to use as a handbag or carryall. 

Sold exclusively at HSN.

Dear Santa...

I'm starting my list early this year because I have been a very mostly good girl. 

Will you please bring me this book?

It would really help me with my sewing projects.

Also, I could really use gift certificates to support my various habits that have become true luxury items in my family's current economic status:

Starbucks
Joann's Fabrics
Michael's
Cinema West movie theaters

Thanks, Santa.

You're the best!!!

(What's on YOUR list?)