I've been going back and forth for a year to go back to school to get my Masters. I didn't want to get an MBA or some other "business" degree, I want to go back for myself - to just learn what I want to learn. Well Thomas Edison State College in NJ looks like the best option I have because they are online and let's face it with work, James, home life, Philip working crazy hours at his job there's no way I can sit in a classes during the week. Besides it's amazing to me how many more and more are opting for degrees online! Anyhow, I looked at my Alma Mater, Rutgers, (BS in Political Science) but they only offer online Master degree in Accounting and Library Science, both I don't want to do at all. The application is printed out and I looked up to see where I can go to get my transcript from Rutgers transferred, so maybe I'm slowly moving towards this goal after all!

OK so the winner of my giveaway - ready?

Putting the #'s into the good 'ol random number generator:



and click the lucky # is....



oooooo #13, let's start from the top and #13 is....



Janine you are the lucky #13! Please email me your address and your prize will be flying over to your home!

And finally a Green Snowman update...wooohoooo - I have only the brown in the tree to do and then I can start the hill. So I see 1-2 weeks of work stitching left on this and maybe another finish. Hmmm...shall I get the Jill Rensel matts as well? Hope everyone who reads my pretty boring blog has a great, awesome and stitching intensive weekend! Ciao!

I guess my giveaway isn't that interesting? I'm sad... :( I tried to offer up something that you may not have yet, but only a few entries...thank you to those that entered though!

IN OTHER NEWS! Guess what came back to me yesterday? My New Years Fairy!

I don't know about any of you, but I feel lately with Christmas creeping up like the pressure is building. The pressure to get gifts, decorate, make plans for baking. It's tough when you work all week. You basically have the weekend to shop, bake, decorate, do all that you could do during the week. Add into the mix the everyday things you do on weekends, laundry, catching up on weekend errands, playing with your only child...it's tough around this time of year for working moms! But I won't make this post a pity party for myself, but I will just plow ahead and do what I have to do to make this Christmas extra special for James. Just like I will make all the future Christmas' extra special for him!

But first up we have thanksgiving and I premade this turkey from an Oriental Trading craft. I have 11 more to make, LOL! I figure we can make these one weekend and hang them on a little ornament tree. Depends on what I find at HomeGoods.



and last but not least the Green Snowman update for the end of this work week

                         

Who's up for a little giveaway contest for Christmas?  Well, here we go!  This is for a Cookie Craft Christmas book which I purchased from Amazon this week, but find a bit too advanced for my cookie making standards.  But if you are more experienced in making cookies and/or want to take upon a new adventure for the holidays I think this book is for you!  I think even if you just give yourself the right amount of time and the proper equipment you can get away with making all these wonderful cookies!  Sadly I lack in the time department BIG time!  So, my loss is your gain!  Post a comment and make sure you leave an email address.  If there's NO email address I will not count you!  If you have a blog, twitter or Facebook account, post there and let me know - for each extra one you post to gives you another chance.  Remember that email address!!!!

Contest ends Monday Nov. 16.

Monday is back.  Nothing too exciting happened today, just the same old stuff.  We munched on apple cake at work that I made over the weekend. It turned out really nice, but I could have eaten just the maple glaze, it was so sweet and scrumptious.  I made the wise decision to leave the cake at work - I simply would have snacked on it all night long at home.  

So the weekend was spent baking, hanging out, dealing with leaves.  We have a lot of leaves. I know you're thinking oh yeah we have a lot of leaves too...no we have A LOT of leaves.  It's at least 1-2 feet deep in the back yard.  The landscapers normally do this, and of course they came 2x (yes twice and we still have 1-2 feet of leaves) but I figure they are waiting until the leaves have all fallen so as not to waste their time.  So Philip went out and bought a more powerful leaf blower to take care of the steps and driveway.  

James of course had to "help" with the mini sweep leaf blower.  It's not powerful at all, but it's light enough for James and I know he's happy helping daddy.



So what about stitching you may ask? Yeah what about!?  HAHA, just kidding.  Only a little is being done here and there.  I did start the Sept Needle's Content floss tag and I have an update on the Green Snowman (the buttons are on!) so at least it's something.

   

Otherwise not much has been happening and sometimes I wonder, "Can my blog be anymore boring??!!

By now almost everyone has heard that the NY Yankees won the World Series!  To say that everyone in my office is tired this afternoon is an understatement, but a good, happy tired.  I started popping some Jolly Ranchers to get a much needed sugar high, LOL!  While I may not be the biggest fan of baseball since my heart rests with football, I'm so happy for all those fans of the NY Yankees and very proud of the NY Yankees bringing home #27!

Today starts the Online Needlework Show for retailers.  Check it out!  It ends on Sunday Nov 8.  My LNS is in it (Where Victoria's Angel's Stitch) so check them out! 

I've been stitching on the Green Snowman this week.  I am almost done with the top half so will probably work on the bottom by next week.  I'm surprised how quickly it's stitching up being a lunchtime at work only project.

The Yankees may win the World Series tonight.  I hope they do because going to a game 7 would be nerve wracking!  I'm not a huge baseball fan.  My heart belongs to my NY Giants football team, but right now the Giants are in such a rut I can't even bear to watch.  I read a lot of the Giants blogs and honestly no one can stand to watch them lose over and over again. They won the Superbowl 2 years ago! What the hell happened Eli!  Stop with the Oreo commercials, step it up a notch and win a few games!  So tonight I will put that aside and hope Jeter, Posada, Pettite and the whole Yankee clubhouse can bring it home. 

But now back to stitching.  Have you started your Christmas stitching? I haven't, but that's because I don't have anything planned.  One year I'd like to just dedicate the year to Christmas stitching, but that won't be until further down the line.

Until then I'll just find and save (and share!) some great Christmas freebies out there:  CEC Freebie

Into Needle Felting?   Check no further!   Moonforest Studio

Want to make some cupcakes? Who doesn't like cupcakes?  How about Snoopy Cupcakes?  What?  Did you wake up?  Oh I know Snoopy cupcakes, who can resist THEM?!  Check out this Flickr tutorial on how to make Snoopy Cupcakes and when you're finished baking them email me for my address so you can send me one! (or two?!)  Snoopy Cupcakes

I am all over the place today aren't I? You know who else is all over the place?  James.  He jumps from toys to toys in his room.  What used to irk me was when this set of toys mixed with that set of toys.  But  what I forgot sometimes is that he's a KID!  Kids can do what they want in regards to their toys because KIDS don't have boundaries. There's obviously a reason when the toy dinosaur sits alongside the Thomas the Tank lego set.  And if Sir Topam Hat wants to mingle with Mickey Mouse at his playhouse - well is that really THAT bad?  Of course not. They're all friends!  So to all those kids out there that mix their toys - I say to you - HAVE FUN and NEVER GROW UP!  Always have some childhood ambitions in life. 

Lunchtime I dug out the Green Snowman from Shepherd Bush.  Hey, I think I'm restarting him early enough that I might have him finished in time for Christmas?  NO?  It's worth aiming for.  He's my lunchtime only stitching - hence no schlepping back and forth. I'll let you in on a little secret - starting coat season I don't carry a bag anymore.  Wallet, keys and phone in pockets.  Whatever else I need is in my car or in my desk drawer and to be honest it's not a lot.  It's great not schlepping anything back and forth to/from work.

Want another freebie?  Sampler Girl has a great Thanksgiving one.  I'd like to thank all the designers that release these freebies!  While I know they don't make any money of them, I hope it leads stitchers to their sites and therefore stitchers spend a little money on charts they may not have seen before.  Also - the freebies are great for this quick stitches that all of us need sometimes to feel we had a finish!

Carry on.

There are some cute Christmas Tree patterns here:  Freebies

I've been selling some eBay items - toddler and cross stitch related - I'm going to list a few things a week - probably 1 item per day - because quite frankly there are only so many hours in a day!

eBay

Friday afternoon I left for James' daycare parade.  He saw me and stopped midway, but I slightly pushing him to carry on and he did good, peeking around once to see if I was still there. I then ran up ahead to get a quick video.  The party was actually better than the previous years, but I think it's because he's losing his shyness and they are all sort of more into it.  They got to pick a pumpkin as well before they left as they made a makeshift pumpkin patch outside the center.  We went to grocery store afterwards and then at home called it a night.  On Saturday we headed down to my parents and handed out candy then went trick or treating. He had such a nice time. It was a little awkward at first, but then he got into it as he saw his bag of goodies get heavier and heavier.  We left there and he slept the whole way home which is a rarity (weekend naps).  He did wake up asking if we're going trick or treating again tomorrow...but I said no...when we get home though we can go through the ToysRUs big book and pick out Christmas presents!  LOL!  One holiday after another. Is it any wonder kids love this time of year?  Oh to be young again!

So again, no stitching happened in my life.  But I keep mumbling under my breath, "My time will come, my time will come."  I mean honestly - does having one kid really cut out so much time from my life?  Or is it the constant running around on weekends? 

Great article on distinguishing the right/wrong side of cross stitch fabric: 
From About.com

This has been a trying week.  I have no kitchen sink.  Thankfully we're dieting so there's not much cooking/cleanup happening.  James can easily use a paper plate.  I'm also grateful that we only eat one real meal at home (dinner)...if the sink is not fixed by tomorrow then this weekend will have a whole lot of eating out on the agenda.  There's worse.  There's always worse.  I ran the dishwasher and on rinse all the water came up the sinks (double sink).  Our guy snaked down 25 feet and nothing...so now he's going to go down to the basement to snake down an additional 35ft with some other snake contraption he has.  Hopefully he'll have time either tonight or tomorrow afternoon.  Which of course means making arrangements at work and working around the daycare Halloween parade tomorrow.  There's always worse.  I"m not complaining, but like many other stitchers would just like to have a teeny tiny bit MORE stitching time.  <Sigh>

Not much new to show on Boo House, but here it is:



I'm putting this one away because tomorrow there will be no lunchtime stitching since I need to take 1/2 day at work.  So tonight I'll start on the September floss tag. I'm behind already and I hate when this happens.  But I hope to get this one done this weekend and the Oct one done next weekend and then back on track...can't believe I sort of stayed on top of these this year.  Basically it's the ONLY thing I stayed on top of.  So what to start next week at work on lunch break?  Probably Green Snowman from Shepherd Bush.  If I continue him now I might just have it finished in time for Christmas.  Would be nice anyways!

So what's up with baby carrots?  Being on a diet I've been snacking on plenty of them, but what the heck are they? Do they grow to this size? Mini size?  Or do they get cut in 1/2?  I don't know why, but to me they are the funniest looking snack.  I finally found a bag of them at my grocery store with a resealable top...yeah me!!! Can you imagine me standing in the produce aisle happy as a clam, grinning from ear to ear because the bag of mini baby carrots has a resealable top?  Yup.  That's my excitement for the day. 

Since starting my longterm quest to lose weight I've always looked for healthy alternatives and there's a great giveaway right now at Prior Fat Girls Blog:

check it out!

If you haven't gone here lately - go NOW!  She has some incredible designs that you have to purchase through her blog...so easy though through Paypal and don't blame me when you're stash pile grows!

Danybrod

Try it for yourself! - COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY

Posted using ShareThis

Spent the weekend doing everything...but stitching!  It's OK though, my time will come, oh yes my time will come and this blog will be filled with pretty little beauties....large samplers and quirky little finishes.  Oh yes they will...I just need to be patient and collect stash.  LOL!

Collecting stash though can also mean collecting freebies...so here's another one perfect for Thanksgiving....

Thankful by Primitive Betty

Part of the weekend we went to a local farm that had hayrides, mums, pumpkins to pick as well as animals...it's a nice place to have literally a mile down the road.  We go there often, even in the winter to look at the animals...sometimes we just look out our car window though when it's cold....


Don't mind James strange look - there's a lollipop he's just won't take out of his mouth.  I'm sure you understand, LOL!

And finally - how's this for getting into the Fall mood?

Woke up to pounding rain on the window.  Woke up at 8am though which was really a treat!  I got a full 8 hours sleep.  Enough said.  So what to do on a rainy day?  Shop.  We wandered to and from a few stores and accomplished two very important things.  James Halloween costume and lunch at Panera !  HAHA - I bet you thought I would say the LNS!  We were hungry, believe me lunch was important.  

It was a good trip to my LNS.  I went in needing two GAST threads, but she didn't have them in yet, sooooo what's the next best thing? Check out the new stuff.  

Needless to say I didn't come home empty handed.



See the little Just Nan Birdie? I love it!  I can't wait to stitch up the berry!  And from that Blackbird Design book for Christmas the design I NEED to stitch is below...Good Night







Sorry to add that there was no stitching today!  Maybe tomorrow...

Back again...miss me? 

A little update on my Boo House - I think I'm going to simply adore this finish.
I stitched the eyes with french knots, not too bad I think.


Onwards...stash.  <sigh> I don't know what to say, but it's an addiction that I don't want an intervention for.  Why would I? It makes me sooo blissfully happy! 
Some scissors: 


some charts:


Where you may ask did I purchase these beauties?  From Tanya of the Sampler Girl fame of course!  She never ceases to amaze me.  2 children, a house, beautiful designs.  And consistent new ones...fresh ideas - they're just beauties!  And did I mention she posts some amazing recipes as well!?  Head on over to her website - it's new and today she's having a sale - Five for Friday!  The Sampler Girl
Don't miss her current freebie:  Ghouls Night Out

And FINALLY!  FINALLY - want a new freebie.  Brand new just released for Thanksgiving? 
Well here you go:  From Heartstrings Primitives!!!


                                              GIVE THANKS

Back in June I left off with the 12th finish of 13 Vonna had finished for me....I don't know WHAT happened after that, but I had one more to share and I really neglected doing so.  IN my defense it was in a drawer here at work because it's meant to be a gift for someone in November so I just figured I'd keep it here safe and sound until then.  Well the months have gone by and I bought a card and some wrapping; it's time to take her out!  Here she is - finish #13 in the huge batch of finishing Vonna did for me back at the beginning of the year -


Jingle Sparkle Joy Freebie from Midsummer Night Designs!

Well there you have it, that's all the lovely finishing I have to show off. Now I do have a bunch of things ready to be finished by Vonna - but I'm holding off a few more weeks because there's some more things I want to stitch up.  For example the floss tags, no point in sending her Jan-August when I need to finish up Sept-Dec, but Nov and Dec aren't even released yet! I'll want them finished up the same way soo....will take a while longer to get all my necessary finishes lined up for their finally finishing.  Nice.

After posting a photo of Quaker Lady I didn't go back to her. Shame on me!  I made the pleasant mistake of going to my LNS to have a look see and came out with this kit:


                        Boo House by Mill Hill

Isn't it adorable?  This is what I have done on it so far:


I've decided to go with some 28ct Cold Winter's Night linen from R&R only because I like it better. I want to finish this into a pillow or something and not frame it. Though the frame is cute seeing it again so I might be on the fence about this one.  I hope to have it at least stitched up by Halloween, but it might not be so - I have a few vacation days left to take in 2009 and I'd love to use at least 1/2 for stitching at home/movie days - we'll see, might use one for this particular piece, it's just too cute. 

It's almost November and time I poked around to find my next New Years Even project...well I decided on this one:

Elves shoving out 2009 for 2010...I plan on doing the top one, not the one where they are sitting on the year. Of course I'd have to change the years, BUT I think she creates a new freebie since there's a similar one for 2007 changing to 2008...then this one for 2009...anyone want to join me in the New Years SAL? 

Here's a freebie you may enjoy:  Vinney