Edit Me This

Remember a while back when I mentioned I was going to start writing articles over at TypeAMom? I've been writing about an article a week and I just started working as the editor of the Trying to Conceive section. It has been a lot of fun doing some research for the articles and now that I'm not so emotional about trying to conceive, I think I can write a little more rationally about the subject.

There are always new articles popping up over there so go and take a look! Go and write a few!

Edit Me This

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/edit-me-this.html

Okie Girl Reunion

Melessa, Tiffany, and I met up at Ted's Cafe Escondido (YUM!) for a little reunion. It is always great to see them. Even though we only get to see each other maybe once a year (or less) it seems like no time has passed because through our blogs we can stay in almost daily contact. Just one more reason I love to blog!

We reminisced about the good old days and talked about our crazy lives.

See you on The Internets.

Okie Girl Reunion

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/okie-girl-reunion.html

Choose My Adventure

image via Flickr

I'm going to have three days to explore the city on my own while Carl is at his conference. I thought it would be fun if you guys suggested some things for me to do. Do you want me to take a picture of myself at Coney Island eating a Nathan's hot dog? Should I pull a Kids in the Hall and crush some heads? Leave a comment suggesting a possible adventure and if I do it while I'm there, I'll send you an authentic NYC souvenir!

Choose My Adventure

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/choose-my-adventure.html

Vacation. All I Ever Wanted.

Today we are on our way to Oklahoma. We should pull into Goldsby by dinner time. I'm really looking forward to this trip. It should be great fun. We will stay down in the Norman area until Tuesday night and then we'll head up to Tulsa. We'll have a few days to relax there before Carl and I head out on our 10th anniversary trip to NYC. We'll be back in Tulsa late on the 6th and then drive back to Nebraska on the 7th. Phew.

I've got some blog posts lined up for the next several days. I should be able to blog while I'm in Oklahoma but I'm not taking my computer to NYC. I've added the twitter badge on my sidebar (to the right underneath the google ads you all should be clicking so I can make $5/month) so it can serve as my mini blog. I can update that from my phone rather easily and I won't feel like I'm copping out on my goal to blog everyday.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my Okie peeps: Tiffany, Melessa, and Tracy. I'll also get to see a Nebraska friend, Rachel, that was recently transplanted to Oklahoma (lucky).

Until later!

Vacation. All I Ever Wanted.

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/vacation-all-i-ever-wanted.html

Project 365

07/21/08


Caleb and his Uncle Sam at the McDonald's playland in Topeka, KS.

07/22/08
Princess Corn Shucks a Lot

07/23/08
Bubble blower at Lost in Fun.

07/24/08


Caleb and Sam at Star City Shores. I think they had fun!

07/25/08

Eva's had too much fun. Here she is asleep on the couch.
07/26/08

07/27/08

Carl was the closest person to me so I snapped a shot of him for my Sunday picture. Notice the book I checked out for him? NYC Free & Dirt Cheap.

Project 365

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/project-365_27.html

I Made it Myself

If you'd like to participate in this week's installment of I Made it Myself, please take a moment to review the guidelines here.

This week I spent some time with my sewing machine to finish up a few little knitting project bags I had been thinking about. A while back in one of the swaps I participated in, Periodic Mumbling made me a knitting project bag. I love it and use it all of the time. I thought I could probably figure out how to make some more so I took some measurements and got to work!

This is what I came up with. I didn't add any handles to this one. The drawstring cinches up enough that it is just the right size to carry on my wrist. I didn't think ahead enough to take pictures of it during the day. I will when I get ready to list it in my etsy shop. Yes, this one is destined to make someone else happy. I made a matching one (with handles) that is currently on its way to the county fair for some harsh judging!

I love the colors of the fabric. It is no secret that I'm a fan of lime green! I think this bag has just the right amount!

The bag is fully lined and measures about 10" X 10". Just the right size for a sock knitting bag or even just a cute bag to carry around your little treasures.

This was so much fun to make!

So, what did you make this week?

I Made it Myself

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-made-it-myself_25.html

Preparations

Getting ready to go on vacation is no easy task. Add to it a nasty cold I picked up yesterday and it turns into an almost insurmountable task.

Lucky for me, Carl took half a day off of work so he could go to the Omaha Zoo with us. Now that I'm sick, I've taken "me" out of "us" so it is just him, Sam, and the kids. Should be fun for them. They just left so I'm home alone for the next 5 hours.

Now I just have to muster up the strength to do some laundry and sort through clothes so we have enough to last us 2 weeks away from home.

Preparations

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/preparations.html

My Little Cinderella

One of Eva's favorite jobs is to shuck corn. I make her do it every time now.


Her arm is blurry she's shucking so fast! Don't forget to check out her attire. Her favorite green ruffled dress, princess shoes, and an apron.


Here she took a moment to look at the camera but didn't stop working! What a happy helper!

My Little Cinderella

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-little-cinderella.html

Twitch-a-like

Fans of So You Think You Can Dance will know that Twitch likes to wear glass frames with nothing in them. At Lost in Fun today, Caleb put on the glasses for the 3-D mini golf and didn't want to take them off. Oh yeah, and he has on his hairband (it is red w/ white polka dots and he thinks he is a pirate). My kids are awesome.

Twitch-a-like

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/twitch-like.html

Talk About Tuesday

I started a new blog carnival a couple of weeks ago called, I Made it Myself. Every Saturday bloggers have the opportunity to share links to their own posts showing something they've made themselves. It has been a lot of fun and if you haven't been by my blog on a Saturday---I invite you to check it out and participate!

Here are a few of the things that people have blogged about:


Karen's knitted journals

Heather's outfit for her daughter

Teresa's clever use of sheets

Sarah's wristlets from recycled pillowcases

And, those are just a few!

You can see all of the items here and here.


Do you have something you'd like to talk about today? Do it here and check out Lazy's new digs.

Talk About Tuesday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/talk-about-tuesday_22.html

Miss Me?

I spent the day driving to Topeka, Kansas and back (with the kids). I met my sister there and she brought me one of my brothers (Sam). He'll be staying with us for the week. We'll do just enough fun things for him not to realize the real reason I have him come is to play with the kids and wear them out.

I'm the one that is worn out after today.

See you tomorrow.

Miss Me?

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/miss-me.html

Project 365

07/14/08

We did A LOT of Safari clue hunting this week. Eva was too cranky to pose in this picture.

07/15/08



07/16/08
07/17/08
07/18/08
07/19/08
Garage sale day. I'm getting rid of my double stroller. Finally. I had a lot of nibbles but nobody bought it yet. I have it listed on Craigslist right now.

07/20/08
I made these dolls for the kids. They LOVE them! I got this book from the hurt & overstock sale from Interweave Press and it is the most excited the kids have ever been about my knitting! They keep picking out outfits they want me to make for their dolls and which new dolls to make. I have one right now I'm working on for Caleb because he wants a brown one now. I tried to have him pick a brown doll from the beginning but he wanted white with yellow hair. Now he wants his brown one so I should have that made in the next couple of days. What I really should be working on are my mittens!

Project 365

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/project-365_20.html

I Made it Myself--Lizard Ridge

If you'd like to participate in I Made it Myself this week, please take a moment to read over the rules.


This week I have my Lizard Ridge blanket to share. This has been a labor of love for just over a year. I was never in a hurry to finish it. I just wanted to enjoy it. And, I did!

There are 20 squares. Each one is unique. I used approximately 15 skeins (including the leftovers). Some of those squares are made up of little chunks of a bunch of different skeins.

Once I seamed it up, I realized that I wasn't a fan of the back. So...I went to The Quilted Kitty (a quilt shop just down the street from my house) and found some gorgeous flannel (soft and on sale!). It is a really pretty orange color that really compliments the blocks. I'm very happy with the way it turned out.
I still need to handstitch the backing to the afghan in one corner and then I'm going to use some leftover yarn to tie it together. I'm going to have the ties be on the back. I think it will look really great.

Do you have something you'd like to show off today that you made yourself? Blog about it and come back here to share the link!

I Made it Myself--Lizard Ridge

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-made-it-myself_18.html

I Made it Myself Reminder!

Tomorrow we'll be having another edition of I Made it Myself!

Get your blog posts ready and come back and share them tomorrow!

I Made it Myself Reminder!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-made-it-myself-reminder.html

Hear that?

My kids were formula babies. Even though I know there are some adoptive moms out there that choose to breastfeed, I didn't feel like I needed to join the club. I have never once regretted that decision. My kids have been healthy and happy. I guess maybe some breastfeeding advocates could say that maybe formula caused Caleb's autism? Although, there are probably more breastfed kids with autism than those that used formula. I'm just guessing.

I have always liked that I kind of have a free pass out of the breastfeeding debate. I don't ever really feel the need to get involved. Besides, why should I care about what someone else wants to feed their baby. It isn't like formula is crack. Maybe breastfeeding (over)activists think it is just as bad as crack so they can justify putting mothers that can't or don't breastfeed down? At any rate, I prefer to stay out of it.

Sometimes I can't help myself. Most people recognize that a main benefit of breastfeeding is fewer ear infections. When my kids were younger and bottle feeding, nearly all of their friends were breastfed. Nearly all of their friends got ear infections. I was wondering when it would happen to mine. Nothing. Some of those kids got their second and third infections. Then some of those kids got tubes in their ears. Mine? Not even a hint of infection. I know that there are a lot of other reasons to choose breast over bottle but from my personal experience, I know that this one doesn't hold a lot of stock for me. Whenever this point in the argument would come up, I'd put in my $.02 that my kids were exclusively on formula and have never had ear infections.

Until today.

Eva has an ear infection. I am certain this has more to do with swimming pools than the fact that she drank formula for the first 12 months of her life. Still, I'm sad that my streak is over.

Hear that?

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/hear-that.html

Zachary

We've been super blessed this year. Caleb and Eva welcome their new cousin, Zachary!



Here are some of the things they said when I told them the good news and showed them the cute pictures that Eric sent us.

Caleb: " Eric & Connie have a baby like Lisa & Kenny! Mark & Jared & baby Zachary can come over tomorrow and go to the park! He's so cute! Look at his boobie! He is so cool!"

Eva: "That baby Zachary! Look! Baby Connie's Baby! He's sleeping!"

Zachary

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/zachary.html

All of Me

If you don't get enough of me by reading my blog every day, I'm now on twitter (I'm sra_nelson). I fought the urge for a couple of months now but all the chirping of that cute twitter bird won the battle.

Twitter low-down (if you aren't on it already)-- You type what you are doing in 140 characters or less. You can update it as little or as frequently as you'd like.

That's it.

Sound silly?

Sound addicting?

It is.

What are you doing?

All of Me

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/all-of-me.html

County Fair Countdown

I never found anyone to take my county fair items and drop them off. It is just as well---my knitting friends might be tempted to sabotage my entries! Ha ha. I called the superintendent and she said I could just drop them to the county fair office before I leave on vacation. I have 10 days to get everything finished. Here is what I entered:

Knitting

1. Bird in Hand mittens. I am about 70% finished with these.

2. Project lincoln top (I hope this is okay, Wendy!) done and ready to go

3. Lizard Ridge afghan. I think I'm going to blog about this on I Made it Myself Saturday. It is all seamed up and even has a flannel back on it now.

4. Green bunny. I still need to give it a mouth. Other than that--it is ready.


Sewing (I'm branching out, here!)

1. Baby shoes. I'm going to make another pair of baby shoes in some girly fabric.

2. Bird ornament. I don't know if I ever took a picture of the one I made for Wendy's birthday. It is the one on the cover of this book.

3. Tote bag. I'm making a small knitting project bag. I'm kind of winging it so I don't know exactly what it is going to look like yet. Fun stuff.

County Fair Countdown

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/county-fair-countdown.html

Talk About Tuesday

Today's Talk About Tuesday post is all about tampons. Okay, not quite. Stay with me here. When I buy tampons (usually Tampax), I get a big assorted box. Inside of that box are 3-4 sizes of tampons and they are usually separated by size in little boxes. Those little boxes are perfect for organizing!

The boxes come in different sizes and I love to use them to organize my baskets. I have this basket in my kitchen and I use it as my bill paying center.


Did you notice the little box holding my pens and my stamps? Now I don't have to go fishing around the bottom of the basket looking for those things that I need every time I pay bills or want to write a note.

This next photo shows another box. It is one of the bigger boxes and I use it to hold a calculator and my extra pair of glasses. It also helps as a buffer between a couple of my sections in the basket.
I'm building up a little stash of these boxes because I have some big ideas for them! They aren't exactly the prettiest boxes but think of all the decoupaging possibilities! If you plan on using them as stand alone storage, they would be really easy to decorate.
No one ever needs to know that you're organizing with tampon boxes. Unless you're like I am and you blog about it.

Got something to talk about today? Do it here.

Talk About Tuesday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/talk-about-tuesday_15.html

Music Mondays

Don't worry, folks. Eventually the novelty of having Mr. Linky on my blog will wear off and not every other post will be an invitation to play along with me. For now, you'll just have to indulge me.

If you'd like to participate in Music Monday today, make sure you post your link at the end of this post.

These are the first ten songs that play when I hit shuffle on my iPod.


1. Roxanne by The Police. Their concert was AMAZING!!!!

2. Walk this Way by Aerosmith. This is the old(er) school version without Run DMC.

3. Fields of Gold by Sting. Carl and I used to listen to this CD every day when we were dating.

4. Island in the Sun by Weezer. This song reminds me of Hollie.

5. Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. Caleb and Eva love this song. I used to until the kids made me listen to it over and over. Caleb can play it for you on the piano sometime.

6. Hate 2 Love Her by Blake Lewis. You know, Blake Lewis. Runner-up to Jordin Sparks on American Idol. I usually avoid music with titles that are mispelled or use numbers in the place of words (exception: 2 Legit 2 Quit--Oh, Hammer, don't hurt me!). This song I really like, though.

7. Sexx Laws by Beck. Apparently, I don't avoid this music enough. Here's one with a mispelling that I love.

8. Forever in Blue Jeans by Neil Diamond. Money talks. Enough said.

9. Goodnight Goodnight by Maroon 5. I love me some Maroon 5.

10. Surrender by Blake Lewis. His album was kind of an impulse buy one night when all the American Idolists were on sale on iTunes. I haven't regretted it.

Music Mondays

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/music-mondays.html

Project 365

07/07/08University Place Safari clue.

07/08/08Talk about Tuesday picture.

07/09/08Morrill Hall Safari clue. (Caleb is wearing a different red shirt than the one on Monday.)

07/10/08Playdate at Trendwood Park. (Yes, Caleb is wearing the same clothes as the day before.)

07/11/08Shoemaker Marsh Safari clue. (I talked Caleb into wearing a green shirt on this day.)

07/12/08A windbreaker I ripped apart so I could make a tote bag. Anyone know how I can sew nylon on my regular sewing machine?

07/13/08
Fabric I cut out for a bag to make once I realized that I have no idea how to sew nylon.

Project 365

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/project-365_13.html

I Made it Myself

Welcome to our first installment of I Made it Myself! If you'd like to participate, read through the guidelines and then show us all what you made!

I'm trying to become the boss of my sewing machine.

These little baby shoes are so quick and easy to make! I used some fabric I got from Hobby Lobby. It is 100% cotton and I used two layers of the fabric for some stability. I didn't add an interfacing because I thought that might make them a little too stiff. I really like the way they turned out.

I liked them so much that I made a card and a bib to match.


This card is one of my new all-time favorites. I've been doing a lot with the circle punch lately. I don't know why. The colors match the fabric perfectly and I just love how it all came together.

I listed the booties, bib and the card as a set in my etsy shop.

What did you make this week? Share it here!

I Made it Myself

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-made-it-myself.html

INTRODUCING... I Made it Myself!

Starting tomorrow, this blog will feature "I Made it Myself". Here are the FAQs.

1. This is a blog carnival for all those that would like to share something that they have made themselves.

2. These blog posts are not meant to be one long commercial of items you have for sale--but to share something that you made that you are proud of. At the end of your post, you can certainly include where and how to purchase your item if it is for sale but please limit yourself to one advertising link.

3. Please only blog about one item at a time. If you have some items that are related, that is fine, but only include one advertising link per post.

4. Include the "I Made it Myself" button somewhere in your post. Here is a link to the image or you can just right click the image at the top of this post. Please save the image to your own computer and use it in your posts and/or on your blog.

5. Use the Mr. Linky widget at the bottom of each week's post to put in the link to your blog post. Make sure the link is to your specific post and not to your blog home page. When entering your name, please include what it is that you have made.

6. Remember to link back here so everyone will have an opportunity to see all of the great handmade items!


Okay, everyone! Make something. Blog about it. Post it here every Saturday!

INTRODUCING... I Made it Myself!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/introducing-i-made-it-myself.html

Knitting-- 1 Movie-- 0

We watched Benchwarmers last night. I'm not even going to bother linking it. The whole time we were watching all I kept thinking was that it was a good thing I was knitting so those 2 hours weren't a total waste of my life.

Knitting-- 1 Movie-- 0

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitting-1-movie-0.html

Dear Blog,

I am obsessed. I can't stop making things. I can't stop listing things on etsy. I can't stop thinking about things I want to make.

But, for today...I am playing with the kids. It is 11am and we've already been to Morrill Hall and to look at the sculptures at the Sheldon Art Museum. This afternoon is piano and pizza. Right now I'm taking a little breather.

All I can think about is what I'm going to make tonight! What will it be?

Dear Blog,

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/dear-blog.html

Talk About Tuesday

Today it is all about my craft room. Again. Sue me. I love this room. I spend a lot of time in here when the kids are at Mary's or in bed. I even have an extra chair for Carl to come and visit!

I've done a few new things in here and Positively Organic asked me last week about my yarn organization so I thought I'd talk about that a little bit.

I ordered this new wall vinyl from Stampin' Up. They are expanding their product line and I love it! I knew this one would be perfect for my craft room. I can look at it whenever I'm at the table.

I keep all of my yarn in the closet. It is directly to my back if I'm sitting at my table.

This wire cube organizer came from Target. I have twelve cubes in the closet and three beside the closet. I keep my fabric in the one beside the closet.

When I did my major craft room clean up, I went through a lot of my stash and sold some of it and gave some of it away. I also packed up a rubbermaid container to keep in the basement. The yarn in there is stuff I'd like to use for charity work but I go through that a little more slowly and don't want it taking up closet space.

Most of the yarn is divided by the way I use it. The top two rows are for my most used yarns. It is mainly wool and cotton. The bottom rows are my acrylics and sock yarn. I also keep two bottom cubes (not pictured) full of stamp sets I'm trying to get rid of. *shameless plug--I am listing them in my supply section on my etsy shop and they'll be showing up throughout the day*

The best thing that happened to my yarn organization is ravelry. If you knit or crochet and you aren't on the site yet---go sign up! They have a great database full of yarn and you can keep track of your own stash that way. Most of my stash is photographed and documented on that site so I know exactly what I have and how much. Now that I have internet on my phone---this will be great to have when I'm at a yarn shop!

There you have it. I better stop blogging and start crafting! Time's a wastin'.

Talk About Tuesday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/07/talk-about-tuesday_08.html