One reason we're in a recession...

I've been shopping around a little the past week or two ~ you know how it is... when you want something new for yourself (because it might make you feel cuter when it's 70 degrees outside in January and you're dripping sweat in your winter clothes), you have a little money in your checkbook, it never fails you cannot find ANYTHING. Granted, I like to shop cheap and try to find a good deal - especially so late in the season with SPRING clothes coming out and all. I just have to say, from what I've seen, I can see why we're in a recession! Excuse my language, but I've never seen such crappola in all my life! And half of it is marked "clearance" for $40. To me, $40 for an ugly shirt is not clearance!! It all looks oversized, frumpy, dumpy, tacky, gaudy, cheap, awful unflattering colors and I could go on and on! Don't get me started on shoes either. I have even seen tinted acid washed jeans in a couple of places ~ I mean like purple, yellow, pink from the 80's! Please tell me those are not coming back?? Skinny jeans and short boots ... OK, but no acid wash!! I've seen clothes you could not pay ME to wear. That bad!! Maybe everything is picked over, but it still seems like a whole lotta ugly stuff was left over. Or.... I am most likely browsing the wrong stores? Please tell me where to go and not spend a months salary??

The Bachelor debuted Monday night! That is my one guilty pleasure show. I honestly haven't watched anything in months, so I'm excited to have a little fun on Monday nights! Of course they made every girl look crazy and the previews were "the most dramatic" I've ever seen. Is Deanna really back to compete?? Jeff said American Idol starts next week too, which is always fun.

G, Mal & I were grocery shopping at Walmart yesterday and I noticed spring tees - Garanimals short sleeve tees are out for the girls in a variety of colors. I didn't see anything plain at Target and didn't notice short sleeve for boys at WM. I didn't see anything comparable to the cute gingham shorts Walmart had last year either, or at least not yet. I went to Target tonight to buy diapers and looked around - swimsuits???? In January?? Yes I'm all white and pasty and a few lbs over from the Holidays... let's try on a swimsuit! That won't happen til at least May.

Heather - you asked about monogramming a swimsuit - I did one last year, but it was a cotton material (one of those clothes shows?) I'm not sure about one of the spandex-y ones? I did see the cutest little swimsuit at Target for Mallory - it is a simple light pink & white stripe and would be precious w/ a monogram if it would work? I might get it for $9.99 and just try!?

Back to Work!!

What is this?? When does school start back again???












I had a lovely vacation but am now back at it! Here are some shirts I did for a Dance Studio in Texas. Their colors this year are black & purple (and maybe silver?). It was fun to do them and they turned out cute! Love the long distance business too!

I just loaded up the kids and went to Starbucks at 3:30 in the afternoon. I've been so good over the break and have only gotten 2, maybe 3 a week (compared to my daily run when I was so busy!). Today has just been one of those days - G fell out of the bed before 6 AM so he got in bed with us. Jeff got up shortly thereafter to go back to work. Garrison is now trying to potty train a little bit and thinks he gets candy if he sits on the pot, so that can be a 30 minute affair when he sits there and nothing happens (and has had 2 dirty diapers so far today). Then he helps himself to a piece of chocolate out of the pantry (after scaling the shelves) and when I take it away, he goes crazy!! He & Mallory took about an hour nap maybe, the house is a WRECK and a mocha frap seemed to be my best option!! Kinda like CALGON!!

Here is a pic of G & M taking a bath last night. I think all the splashing covers everything up. I was soaking wet just sitting there trying to take their picture! Hopefully this means she'll love the pool this summer? She is a mess - she likes to imitate the smack sound of a kiss and says "uh oh" now. We think she's off the bottle and we're moving towards milk! YEAH!! I think we all can relate to that no-more-formula feeling!! (and no more bottles!!). She'll be 1 all too soon! 2 teeth still and not walking yet, but she can balance on her knees so it won't be long!

My monogramming shelf is very bare! I have maybe 4 things to do and that's it (which makes sense since I've been on "vacation"). Jeff & I are so thankful we settled for another Brother machine!! When we were considering the big $$ daddy I was monogramming about 8 hours a day! Things have slowed down so it's a relief to not have that financial investment!! I would imagine I'll be slow and steady until SPRING!! As you can see I've done a few samples for Valentine's Day for EB! I guess then there is St. Patrick's Day? Easter? SPRING??

Happy New Year!!

Jeff & I took a do-it-yourselfer pic last night before going out! We had a great fun time and stayed up til 1:20!! Of course we didn't get out of bed til 11 this morning (no kids here) so I guess it all evens out. Yesterday we painted Browder's room, which meant today I had to put it all back together. It looks so cute and more 5 1/2 year oldish!! The window is bare and no bedding yet, but at least it's not lime green anymore. He told his Gigi we were painting it purple (his favorite color-?), so we'll see what he thinks about Butterfield (a neutral yellowish TAN color).

I'm doing some late night sewing tonight ~ had a nap today so I'm trying to get everything done before the kids come back tomorrow. I'm technically "off" til Monday so what I'm doing is for my sis in law and a few things I had last week but didn't do. Also, some Valentine samples for EB!!

Jeff & I have had a fabulous no-kids few days, but I miss them, hate the quiet house and am ready to get them back! I don't know what people do before kids? I guess if you don't have them, you don't know what it's like to miss the noise, diapers, messes and all that (which I do miss!) We ate at Bonefish Grill Tues night and Moes tonight. We went out to eat tonight just for the heck of it b/c we didn't have the kids! I'm ready for the chaos to return!!