Smart Habit Saturday

In 2008, Smart Habit Saturday will be a goal we work on through the month. I consciously did not make any resolutions this year but am instead focusing on a few little things that I need to tweak here and there. Something I always need help with is finishing what I start.

I probably have close to 30 items that are ready to be listed on my etsy shop. These are COMPLETED items. All I have to do is take some pictures and list them. This is my least favorite part---the making is fun, the listing is boring---which is probably why I'm so backlogged. If I list one or two things a day, I should be caught up pretty soon.

I already have one finished for today. It is this really cute coupon book. Actually, this one probably shouldn't count because I just made it yesterday. However, it is one less item in the line!

Want to join in on the Smart Habit fun? Go here.

Smart Habit Saturday

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/smart-habit-saturday.html

Maniac

This commercial makes me happy.

Maniac

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/maniac.html

For Sale

I love these booties! I've improved the design since this pair I blogged about last month. I'm using a finer gauge yarn which makes them smaller and I switched to acrylic so they can be cared for in the washer/dryer. These are going to my sister who is expecting her first baby in a few weeks! I'm almost finished with another pair but I went ahead and posted them on etsy already. You can find some crochet converse booties on etsy but I didn't find any knit ones. The crochet ones are cute but I think the knitted ones look more like actual sneakers. Am I biased? Maybe. At any rate, I am loving these.

For Sale

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/for-sale.html

Sicko

It's a good thing school started back today because I could use the break. I've got my January cold. Eva's not feeling so great either so we're going to lay around the house today indulging our every whim. I'm going to try a new flavor from my fruit tea sampler (maybe black cherry berry or cranberry apple zinger), put it in my butt mug (it's an Oklahoma thing), add a bit of honey, and enjoy! I wonder if Eva will let me watch Order of the Phoenix this morning? She might be persuaded.

Did you watch the Tostitos Bowl last night? I'm sad OU lost but I was so impressed with West Virginia that I wasn't too disappointed when they won. It was a really good game. I can't wait for the Kansas/Virginia Tech game tonight. Who are the Traylors going to root for?

Sicko

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/sicko.html

Bathroom Antics

Here are the kids playing in our old bathroom vanity. It is out of our bathroom and now our new one has taken its place. We still need to do another coat of paint on the new one but decided we better do it in the house since it took all day yesterday to dry--even with a space heater blaring on it! I'm so glad it is in there. I'm looking forward to buying some baskets to go underneath and I've already got some bins to reorganize the linen closet. Before Saturday I have to go buy the new mirror and lights. It is going to be SWEET!

Bathroom Antics

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/bathroom-antics.html

Rose Parade

I love watching the Rose Parade. I do it every year. My grandparents used to live in Pasadena and while we never actually went to see the parade in person, we did go and see the floats. They leave them out for people to see for a couple of days. They smell SO good! The picture is my favorite float from 2007's parade. They don't have too many pictures online yet of today's parade.

I don't know whether it is because I haven't lived in California for almost 20 years but there was something I didn't get. I saw so many people wearing scarves, coats, and hats. Uh, I know it wasn't up to the projected high of 75 (SEVENTY-FIVE, PEOPLE!) degrees yet. Seriously, though. How can they be that cold? I was out painting today in our garage (a projected high of 18 today) and not even I was as bundled up as some of these people. They don't know how good they have it there. We're out here walking uphill everywhere with snow up to our waist.*

Happy New Year!


*All in good fun, people.

Rose Parade

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/rose-parade.html

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Do you want to know who won the subscription to Everyday Food?

KERRY!!!!

Congrats, my friend. I know you will enjoy it. In fact, I think my random number generator was picking up my vibes because out of all the people that entered I think you will enjoy it the most. I have your address so all you have to do now is just wait for the first issue to arrive (they say 6-8 weeks).

Did you all stay up to ring in the new year? We did. After the kids went to bed we primed my new bathroom vanity. We were going to paint it last night, too but it was so dang cold that the primer wasn't drying all the way. I haven't been down in the garage yet this morning but Carl said it was ready for me to paint. I guess that's what I'll be doing this morning. I thought we may be able to get our bathroom floor done today but now our goal has been lowered to just getting the vanity installed. We can work on the floor little by little over the next week or so. I can't wait until I have some 'after' pictures to show!

We also watched the movie About Schmidt. We got it on our DVR when it was on tv a couple of weeks ago. I had no idea it takes place mostly in Nebraska. It was fun to see all the places we've been before. Carl liked the movie but I thought it was kind of stupid. At least I didn't feel like I was wasting my time because I got a lot of knitting done.

RESOLUTIONS for 2008:

I don't think I'm going to make any this year. Instead of a resolution, I have more of a theme for 2008.

Keep it up, only BETTER!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2008/01/happy-new-year.html

Lessons Learned

This is it, folks! Post 1,000! You have all day today to comment on all the posts from 12/24 to this one. I will draw a winner on Jan 1st for the year subscription to Everyday Food magazine (a Martha publication).

Here are the details to enter the giveaway for my 1,000th post.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

I thought I would mark this occasion with a look back at 2007 and some of the lessons I've learned this year. I don't think I could have planned it out any better to have my 1,000th post fall on the last day of the year.

1. Blogging every single day this year wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. In fact, I loved every single minute of it.

2. Blogging is cheaper than therapy but sometimes you need therapy, too.

3. My friends are extremely supportive and generous. We raised a good chunk of money for autism research in April.

4. Having two kids is just right for me, for now.

5. I can't help myself. I have to make money--no matter how little. I opened my etsy shop and sell Stampin' Up. I also started doing Pay Per Post.

6. I can't do everything. But, I can try!

7. I need at least one weekend away from home so I can remember what it is like to be an adult and also remember how much I miss my family when I am not there.

8. I can't resist Bit-O-Honey candies. Mmmm.

9. My husband isn't perfect.

10. Choosing to medicate a child isn't an easy decision but it turned out to be the right one for our family.

11. Yarn is a good investment. It is kind of like emergency preparedness. I store up flour, sugar, water, and wool.

12. I can't resist Dancing With the Stars.

13. Severus Snape is a good guy (Harry Potter). Jacob is a wolf (New Moon). Adeline and Emmeline aren't alone (The Thirteenth Tale).

14. Most people that find my blog through google searches are here for i-cord tutorials and felted oven mitt patterns (which I have never actually made).

15. I can accomplish anything I put my mind to!


Yesterday's answer: Cornbread Casserole

Today's question: What was a lesson you learned in 2007?

Lessons Learned

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/lessons-learned.html

999

Short blog today. I'm not feeling so great. Carl made me some oatmeal so I'm at least good enough to get out of bed to check my email and blog. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to church today. We'll see how I feel after I shower.

You still have today and tomorrow to enter my giveaway for the magazine subscription. I'll draw the winner on Tuesday.

Here are the details to enter the giveaway for my 1,000th post.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

I see that my question yesterday was too easy. Most of you didn't even have to go and look in the archives! The answer was: The Count of Monte Cristo. Love love love it.

Today's question: What is the first recipe I ever posted on my blog?

999

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/999.html

What's Up With Me?

If I post once a day, my 1,000th post will occur on MONDAY!!! That's the plan, people. Keep commenting to get your entries for the giveaway. There was a question about the links. If you include a link to me in a blog post, let me know and you'll get an extra entry. Example: Christy is such an awesome blogger! Go comment on her posts for a chance to win her giveaway in honor of reaching 1,000 posts.

Easy!

Answer to yesterday's question: Sam likes Hufflepuff and Joe likes Ravenclaw. Kerry gets extra credit for her superior knowledge of even which kind of scarf they preferred.

Today's question: What is my favorite book of all time? (HINT: Sept 2007)

I worked on getting our Christmas cards out last night. Here's the deal. No cards! I feel a little weird not sending cards considering that's WHAT I DO!!! It just seemed a little late to send an actual Christmas card so I'm going to save them for next year or post them to my etsy shop for next Christmas. Instead some of you will just get a picture and some will get a picture and a letter. Actually, if you read my blog I didn't include a letter because I basically pulled all the information off of here.

My theme for Christmas 2007? Lower the bar!

What's Up With Me?

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/whats-up-with-me.html

MMMMMalabrigo

I think some of my favorite yarn to work with is Malabrigo. I love it. Yesterday when I hauled my butt up to Personal Threads for the sale I knew I would be bringing some home with me. I wanted to get some to make these mittens. The colors I chose are natural and taureg (the blue). I think the mittens are going to be absolutely gorgeous and it has really motivated me to finish up some of the projects I have from Christmas (some gloves for Carl and a secret present).

I got a few other skeins of yarn at the sale, too. I bought two skeins of Koigu (Mulberry Tree colorway) and one lone skein of Plymouth Galway (color 130-an avocado green). The Galway color didn't really come out true in the picture. It is a beautiful green. It is the one I am always drawn to--I can't help myself. Karen from the knitting guild made this beautiful bag and has it listed on etsy. I wanted to buy it but Carl thought I should just make one myself. It will take a while for me to get around to it when I could just enjoy this bag that is already made. Alas, Carl's frugality won out so I started looking for a good cable pattern that I like. I found one. Now I just need to find another skein or two of Galway. I bought all they had yesterday.

With all this yarn acquisition, you'd think I would be able to knit a lot while Carl is home. Too bad that doesn't seem to be the case. While I was gone yesterday, Carl finished up the drywall in the bathroom (most of it, anyway). He said Caleb and Eva were good helpers. Today we'll tackle something else---maybe he'll build our vanity. I'm going to try and finally get our Christmas cards out. There is my goal for today.

I'm only a few more posts away from 1,000. Don't forget to get some entries into my giveaway.

Here are the details to enter the giveaway for my 1,000th post.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

Yesterday's answer: The World's Strongest Man Competition! I've been watching this every year for at least 7 years. Last year an American won but this year he got beat quite handily by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. Mariusz is pretty much a stud when it comes to this competition. This is his 4th win and that ties him with 2 other guys for the most career wins.

Today's question: My brothers love for me to knit them Harry Potter stuff. I've knit them quidditch sweaters, scarves, and hats. They always choose the same houses. Which houses do my brothers prefer? For the muggles, there are 4 choices: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.

MMMMMalabrigo

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/mmmmmalabrigo.html

Family Day Out

Yesterday we braved the crowds to do some after-Christmas shopping. Oh, wait. There were no crowds. We went to Wal-mart. NO LINE at customer service. NO LINE at checkout. It was crazy. We loved it! We also went to the mall where I scored these Handy Books for $5 each (I got one boy and one girl). They aren't the Daring Books that have recently come out but I was really impressed with the fun stuff included in these books. Carl is really excited about reading about knots and hitches in the boys book.

Last night I went by myself to Hobby Lobby and CVS. I got some of those butter cookie mini tins (that hold 20 cookies) for $.50 each. They are going to be really cute to decorate. Carl's happy he gets to eat the cookies. I also got some super cute gift bags that match my blog banner. I bought ribbon and wrapping paper, too. The wrapping paper is red w/ white paisleys and can be used for any reason---which I love!!! We had a fun day.

I wonder what today will bring? I'm trying to figure out how to go to Omaha to shop at the Personal Threads sale with the kids with me so Carl can work on the bathroom. I may just end up going by myself and then taking them out of the house when I get back. We'll see.

GIVEAWAY!!!

I though it was about time to do a mini giveaway for everyone that has entered so far.

A package of peppermint bath confetti will make its way to Heather! It might even come with a belated Christmas card!

Here are the details to enter the giveaway for my 1,000th post.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

The answer to yesterday's question was: Breckenridge, CO! In 2008 we're going to San Antonio! You know I'll be posting details about when the time comes.

Today's question is: I've mentioned before that when there is a particular competition on tv I have to watch it. It is a compulsion. It was on again last night. What did I watch? HINT: You'll find the answer if you dig through my Jan 2007 posts.

Family Day Out

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/family-day-out.html

O, Ye of Little Faith

Here is post 995 with photographic evidence of the answer to yesterday's question. The answer was C. I finished it right before we went to bed on Christmas Eve. I didn't take the time to print out Eva's name in the same font I used for the rest of our names so I just free stitched it. It doesn't look as nice as I hoped but she can hate me for that later. I think I have a few years before she'll notice/care. By then I'll probably make some other kind of stocking. I definitely need a few years off, that's for sure.

Today we are going to brave the crowds and go shopping. I'm going to buy Order of the Phoenix with a gift card we got. We're also just tired of being at home. We need to get out of the house and do something. The kids have been begging to go in the car for days.

Only a few more posts before we reach 1,000! Here is a reminder on how you can enter my giveaway of a year subscription to Everyday Food.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

Question for today: Where did I go on the first annual girls weekend?

O, Ye of Little Faith

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/o-ye-of-little-faith.html

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

Caleb and Eva opened their Christmas pjs last night. You may notice Eva's dress. She picked it out herself from her closet. It used to be my sister's when we were little. Eva danced all day in that thing! Very festive.

Here are a few from this morning. Caleb's favorite things so far are the Care Bears. The green one is actually Eva's but he doesn't care (and she doesn't, either). The bears are in bed right now so he can play with his other toys. He is really enjoying his hoppity ball and mp3 pillow speaker.



Eva got a lot of dress up clothes and some Little People. She has changed her clothes so many times already today. The outfit in this picture is from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. The Little People came courtesy of the Greer grandparents.

We're having a great day. Carl and I have been rocking out to Guitar Hero III (thanks, Mom!). So far I'm the best at Hit Me with Your Best Shot. I also did okay on Barracuda. Maybe it is because those two songs are on my iPod and I know them the best. I haven't tried Welcome to the Jungle yet but I'm sure I'll totally rock on that one, too!

This is post 994, people! Enter my contest! You have lots of ways to win the year subscription to Everyday Food.

• One comment per post between 12/24 and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.

Answer to yesterday's question: Carl was my Sugar Daddy, Caleb was Frog, and Eva was Big Apple.

Today's question is multiple choice and you'll just have to guess the answer because only Carl and I know the real answer:

When did I finish Eva's stocking?
a. Right after Christmas last year.
b. This summer.
c. Last night before bed.
d. I still haven't finished it.

Merry Christmas!

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/merry-christmas.html

Giveaway Announcement

I'm so close to my 1,000th post! I will get there before the end of 2007. How fitting since this year was, as declared by me, the year of my blog.


To celebrate, I will be having a giveaway. The grand prize is a year subscription to Everyday Food magazine. This is one of my favorites! If you already have a subscription, my gift will add on a year to what you have remaining. I will also be doing some smaller, random giveaways this week leading up to my 1,000th post.

• One comment per post between now and when I reach 1,000 will get you an entry for each of those comments.
  
• Link to my blog to get an entry (let me know in the comments if you've done so and a way for me to check).
• Bonus entries for answering my question of the day in the comments. You may have to search to archives or have been a regular reader for a while to know the answer.
  

Ready to play?

Question for today:

When I first started my blog, what names did I use for Carl, Caleb and Eva?

Giveaway Announcement

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/giveaway-announcement.html

The Talk

Carl and I are speaking at church today. I've known about it for a month and I've been thinking about it a lot. Speaking on the Sunday before Christmas is always a little stressful. I know I always look forward to those talks every year. Now I feel pressure to make sure that mine doesn't disappoint.

Maybe a lot of people will be gone for the holidays.

Or, maybe, I will have found a really inspirational story to tell and everyone will cry and be moved to act. We'll see. If you're going to be at church today and you don't want a "spoiler", don't click the link until after church!

The White Envelope Project

The Talk

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/talk.html

And So It Begins...

School is out. Carl is home for just over a week. We have NO PLANS for the next several days (aside from church and the like). I'm not dressed yet. I haven't eaten my toast (still a little sick). The party went well last night. My chili was awesome (made up recipe). I made a HUGE batch and we had zero leftovers. I felt a little bad because these huge college guys (one girl--not huge) probably could have and would have eaten more if my crock pot was big enough. It was already filled to the brim. They brought lots of goodies so I was glad I didn't bust my butt making more stuff.

I'm going to try and get some serious knitting done this week. I'm also trying to do some serious yarn shopping but I'm running into some difficulties. Personal Threads is having their annual sale. Their website is horrible. Does anyone know if their shop is still open or are they just taking online and phone orders until they move to their new building? They don't have a search option by yarn weight so I have to go to other online stores to do searches there and then search for specific yarn at Personal Threads. It is a pain and is taking up too much time. I'd rather just go to the shop and spend some money. Free money. Yep, Joe (the PT guru himself) called me yesterday to let me know he finally got my gift certificate (from the State Fair). He tried to make it for $15 but I had to kindly let him know that it was for $25. I had to prove it to him by giving him the link to the entry book. Kind of annoying but worth the hassle. It isn't like I haven't dropped a pretty penny at that store before. I earned that $25!

I'm going to try to shift gears at my etsy shop, too. It is time to start stocking it up for Valentine's Day. I'm going to be making some of these coupon books. This is the one I made for Carl last year. I have some little love note mailboxes to make. I guess maybe I will be a little busy this week.

And So It Begins...

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/and-so-it-begins.html

Diagnosis

Earlier this week, Carl was pretty sick. He stayed in bed late every morning and went to the bathroom a lot. He thought it might be something he ate but then it lasted for a while. He had me enter some of his symptoms on Webmd. Here is a short list of his possible ailments:

• lactose intolerance
• appendicitis
• premature labor
• lupus
• traveler's diarrhea
• menstrual cramps
• childhood cancer

We decided it must just be some sort of bug and that he should eat lots of toast and applesauce. He's better now.

HOWEVER...just in time for the big party tonight, I'm on a strict diet of toast and applesauce.

Diagnosis

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/diagnosis.html

Nelson Bakery

My kitchen has seen so much action these past couple of days it is unlikely to recover any time soon. Just last night I made a double batch of coconut sandwich cookies and the filling, two batches of rice krispy treats, and a double batch of fudge. Add that to what I've made in the past couple of days (haystacks, chocolate dipped pretzel rods, lollipops, breadsticks) and you can catch a glimpse of why I wasn't that excited to spend another few hours in the kitchen making tamales (Carl voted for vegetarian chili, btw).

I'm feeling good about all I've got accomplished, though. The gifts for the teachers (3), paras (2), OT specialists (2), and bus drivers/paras (4) are finished and on their way to school. The teachers and paras got homemade checkbook covers, the OTs got magnets and chocolate, and the bus drivers/paras got treats and herbal tea.

Treats for some people from church will be going out this weekend. I'm also in the midst of making the gifts for the whole ward Relief Society. I won't say what they are...because a lot of them read my blog...but they will get those on Sunday. I am also speaking in church this week so I need to work on my talk. Ay ay ay. When it rains, it pours.

All but one of my Christmas packages has been mailed (Eric & Connie will have to wait--sorry!). Wendy helped me out big time with my Christmas card picture. Dude, I need photoshop. I am picking those up at Walmart this morning and should get Christmas cards out by the day after Christmas. My sister, Lisa, told me that if people have lower expectations of you then it doesn't really matter when you get all this stuff done. Good point. This is the year where I lower the bar.

Nelson Bakery

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/nelson-bakery.html

Admitting Defeat

It is time to start retreating and waving the white flag. There is no way I'm going to be able to make my usual tamale dinner for the party we throw for Carl's grad students. I don't have the ingredients. Even if I went shopping tonight or even had the ingredients on hand, I wouldn't have time to cook everything. Carl works all day tomorrow and then has scouts in the evening. Making tamales while alone with Caleb and Eva is not an option. Friday is the party and Carl will be working all day and come home just about 30 minutes before the rest of our guests are due to arrive. I also need to clean the house. And do some more baking for our friends and neighbors treats. And wrap up the presents I made for Caleb's teachers and bus drivers. And finish up some last minute gifts. And wrap all our presents. And keep Caleb and Eva from killing each other (not as easy as you might think).

Oh boy, I'm tired.

I'm thinking a slow cooker recipe is in order. I have to decide soon so I can go and buy everything tonight. Any suggestions? My only limitations are that a few of the students are vegetarians.

Chili?

HELP!

Admitting Defeat

http://craftyconservative.blogspot.com/2007/12/admitting-defeat.html