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?)

Vintage ABC Swap

My friend Kim makes WONDERFUL tags and cards and is a part of a tag swapping group on Yahoo.  She found out about a wonderful swap and convinced me to join in the fun. 26 tag swappers got together and each took a letter of the alphabet. I was Miss I.  For each tag, we tried to incorporate lots of things beginning with our letter from color to flower to virtue.  Our wonderful coordinator is going to bind the cards into an ABC book when everyone finishes.  Almost all the cards have been sent in and I am so excited about the sneak peeks that have been shared. 

I forgot to take a photo of my card. If you look closely, you can see it in the second row from the top. It is the INDIGO card!  I made up this sentence and created my card around it:  "The Imperial Infant had an Imaginative Idea about an Insect."  Hopefully, everyone will like it. I promise to post photos when I get the finished product. So exciting!!!

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

I was feeling low yesterday. We found out our landlord is raising our rent. With my husband still out of work, we have been just managing to cover our bills. Trying to come up with another $300 a month is going to be very difficult. I was trying to put this out of my mind for a little while and focus on my child when a knock came at the front door.


I have a dear friend who is a publicist for a local publishing company. She is helping to publicize Alice Walker's new book of poetry and had gotten one signed for me. She wanted to drop it off. It was just the boost I needed. Did you notice the title of the book?


Somehow God knew I needed that knock on the front door. And with friends like these, I know I will get by.


(By the way, the poems are great! I read a few last night and look forward to reading a few more today. Sometimes, you just need a poem to give you a boost!)

Super Fast Superhero Cape

Thanks to Jenny over at the Southern Institute for Domestic Arts and Crafts, I tried out a super-fast Superhero cape this weekend.  Still needs a little work but it inspires me to make more!!!

(It was hard to get a good shot of my little superhero!)