Cut Out & Keep..

Ooooh looks like there is another lovely craft community that I didn't know about! Can't wait to search all through it. =o)

Baby steps... 15 Minutes a day

Things have gotten a little out of hand around our house. Partially because we are in the process of turning our spare bedroom into a craftroom for me, and partially because we just have too much *stuff* everywhere. I try to go to minimizing/ leaving excess blogs to inspire me. Between work, and doing all the things that I need to for Avery, I don't feel like I get a lot accomplished. Randy is great, but really the *stuff* is mostly mine, and he can't really sort through it like I can.

So.. I've made myself a mini goal. I started a month ago, then Avery & I got sick and I've slacked. I thought maybe if I wrote it down on paper (err.. typed it out on the internet?) .. I'd be more likely to follow through (or at least remind myself of what I'm *supposed* to be doing.)

GOAL: Spend (at least) 15 minutes every day doing something (anything!) around the house outside my normal "duties."

Going to put my 15 minutes in now! =o)

Cheytown dress..

I needed to post this because it's one of my favorite tutorials out there (despite the fact I've never attempted it.)

Coal

If you do not live in an area where coal mining is a way of life.. you may never have thought much about it. As someone who grew up in Southern West Virginia, where coal mining is a way of life, I have mixed feelings on it. My father worked (and still works) for a coal preperation plant... so coal has always been a part of my life. I remember him coming home from work when I was little, covered with black coal dust from head to foot. No matter how many times he showered or washed his hands, there still remained traces of black, because it would become a part of your nail beds, or cracks in your skin. We had a coal stove in our basement, and the whole basement had a layer of dust with it. I remember going down, and when I would come back up, I had traces of black dust on my nose from breathing it in. There are some messy things associated with coal... like Black Lung, and Mining accidents caused (usually but not always) by unsafe work conditions. There has been much debate about the different types of coal mining.. strip mining, moutaintop removal, clean coal, etc. I'd be the first to say that my opinion on the subject is biased. I can not look at coal as a product without thinking about how we get that product. The coal miners & coal preppers who are such a part of my heritage. I would probably be one of the first to tell you that coal mining can be hard on the body. It is physical and labor intensive.... but I would also be one of the first to tell you that where I came from, it was (and still is) a way of life. I don't know the percentages, but I would say the majority of your well-paying jobs in the area I'm from were related to Coal. Although I never personally worked with coal, I definitely can say I feel a tie to it. The home I grew up in, the clothes I wore, my food, my education, everything physical that gave me a start to who I am came from work tied to coal. With the economy being what it is, sell of coal has taken a big hit.. coal mines are temporarly closing, asking for paycuts, laying people off, or closing for good. I have family, friends, and people who I went to school with who are all being affected by this. So right now.. coal is on my mind. If you would like to learn a little more about the ins and outs of coal.. this King Coal podcast(also includes typed up version) of Podcast Appalachia goes into more details & history than I ever could. Saying a prayer for all those effected by this.

Two great ways to make Maternity Jeans...

No.. no baby here, but I'd really like to keep these links handy for future reference. Back when I was pregnant with Avery I found this DIY Maternity Jeans tutorial on Craftster.

Tonight while reading New Life on a Homestead, I stumbled across a link to this really simple Jeans & Underwear to Maternity Jeans Refashion from This Simple Life.

ETA: And here is a great way to make a Maternity Skirt!

Contrary Books..

I just read this review at 5 minutes for books about some contrary books. How cute are these? Avery's too young now, but I can definitely see her enjoying them when she is a little older!

The Good Guide

I want to come back and look more at The Good Guide... for safe, healthy & green products.

Another Montessori Option..

Apparantly there are more Montessori Elementary School Options than I originally realized.

Buzzzz & Raspberries

A few days ago, Randy was reading Avery a story, and there was a picture of a bee. He said Buzz and did some buzz-buzz-buzz tickling. Now, every time Avery sees a bee in one of her books or hears us say it or buzz, she takes our hands and has us buzz/tickle her.

For awhile now she's also been fascinated with raspberries on the belly. (Not sure if I mentioned it before or not). Most of the time she wants Me (Mommy) to give Daddy a raspberry on his belly. She will pull our shirts up and "pretend raspberry" and gets a big kick out of it. My favorite (that almost always makes me giggle) is when she pulls my shirt up and tries to pull my head down so I can give myself a raspberry on my belly. Yep.. not going to happen baby. LOL.