First of Many

Although we were semi-rained out, we still managed to have a great time. We kept the costumage very simple. A handmade pumpkin hat (thank you aunt Linda) a handmade tutu ( mama) and some very inexpensive (dollar store) wings. The group consisted of my parents,brother & wife, their 3 kids, Zach and us. We only went to the houses that knew us- but Hazel wasn't that into it- just yet.

The remaining weekend was spent rearranging bedroom furniture and books. Switching the books in the living room from my craft/sewing/art books - Hazel's board books etc. This way when she is pulling them off the shelf, she isn't doing any damage. We also rearranged her crib and our bed. Living in a small space- you MUST be able to have an open mind and be willing to try something new. Parts of our space is cramped- so other parts are free of clutter in order for Hazel to play & crawl etc.

Was advised to call my GI tomorrow and then we can go over a new medication. I'm just happy he seemed open to helping me via telephone, because it is a big deal to go into the city to see him. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Trying to e a s e back into gluten free, not that happy about it.. but t r y i n g to stay POSITIVE!
xo

checking in

The weather this fall has amazed me. Pouring rain for two days straight- now we have a sunny day, with a yard full of golden yellow leaves. gorgeous.

Hermione, our first kitty has been going through something, I took her to the vet and it appears the spell of fleas we had during the summer- must have affected her and she seems to have developed an allergy of sorts. She is nibbling her little, skinny legs down to the bone. She's now on antibiotics and received a shot of cortisone for the itchy & inflammation. So when I see her in peace, sitting next to me- basking in the sun, I'm grateful for us both. A cat, that when we met her at the shelter they were calling "Angel" yet telling everyone she was "vicious" intrigued us. We didn't want a kitten, we wanted the runt- who was a little older (3 at the time) and possibly in need of real love. She is still a very shy kitty and scares easily- but the love she shares when cuddling up can warm the coldest heart. She's even gotten over that slight scratch/bite people thing.

Then there is this girl...



I can't even believe a year has almost gone by. Another holiday season beginning. Halloween starts it all off for me. I'm very excited to get dressed up- in whatever random-fun I can find and take Hazel around the neighborhood. My brother & sister-in-law and nieces & nephew- we'll also drag my parents out too. Still figuring out what Hazel is going as, Zach calls her a mischief fairy- which is very appropriate.

So much to do- 4+ knitting projects in baskets around the apartment- gifts to be finished- 3 December birthdays, including Hazel's first. I'm looking forward to the weekend!
xo

False Alarms & New Friends

The false alarm I am referring to is my 6:45am call of serious abdominal cramps and terrible back pains. As an inexperienced pregnant woman I thought, is this it? Is my labor starting? Then I remembered my midwife saying if you take a hot bath/shower and the pain goes away- it isn't true labor. So I took a hot shower and then went back to bed. When I woke an hour or so later I felt a little better. Whew! No Baby Yet! As I looked around the apartment and the baby's crib ( full of clean linens,clean baby clothes & other items) I thought- dear Lord- don't come just yet.. we still have SO much to do!
With that cue, Zach hooked up the car seat and we took some of the other things out of the closet. I even started decorating for Christmas! Yes, this will be by far the earliest I've ever started, but I wanted to have most things ready so whenever Hazel arrives, I won't have too much to do by way of the holidays.We traded (most) of our Harry Potter busts for our collection of (mostly) holiday-oriented snow globes. I hung a wreath and scattered a few semi-neutral winter pieces around.

The new friend I mentioned is this guy:::


(or girl) Zach found in the bushes by our recycling bin. Much smaller than any other kittens we've seen around our apt. complex. Z had been feeding and checking on it all day- he said he couldn't tell how old it was. When we walked back over to it, he was asleep on the paper plate we had fed him on earlier. The plate we used was a cake plate, so can get a visual of how tiny. As soon as it saw me, it ran directly into my arms! It was pretty amazing considering it was hissing and scared of Zach at first.So I carried it back to our apartment and directly to the bathroom. He mewed, we fed him some soft kitty food and Cat's Milk ( I don't even want to know). We called a bunch of places trying to find a home for him, but it was 5 on a weekend night- so we didn't have much luck. After writing emails to friends and family- including this photo in all of them- we got a few replies for possible homes. Then out of nowhere- my parents decided to adopt him. They've always had kitties and now have Bean- the one-eye-wonder cat and thought maybe it was time to get another. My mom had such a positive attitude about it- she was grateful they have a roof over their heads and that they could take this little guy in. At one point we we're scared we would have to raise a 3rd kitty with a baby on the way... he/she is adorable- but kittens are a lot of work so you can see why we we're so grateful to find him a home. Now we'll still be able to watch the baby grow and play with him!

Friday I started making these::::



They're little girl ornaments.You can hang them on a door knob, a tree branch or anywhere you want something sweet. I've filled them with a mix of organic lavender or rosebuds and polyfil. Just in time for the holidays!

The Halloween party I planned for- we passed on. My tummy just wasn't into leaving the house. Here is what I would have worn- minus the yellow stripes



This is where I've started sitting and taking cat naps, reading my favorite stories to Hazel and dreaming of when she'll arrive. The pillow and crocheted rug (!) are both from my dear friend Suzanne, who just moved. I love this little nook. Once Hazel arrives it will be my nursing corner as well.





Here is an excerpt from one of my favorite books to read to Hazel:::

A Child's Calendar, by John Updike- illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman
::::::::::::::::::
November
The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The loss of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds have flown.

And yet the world,
Nevertheless,
Displays a certain loveliness-

The beauty of
The bone. Tall God
Must see our souls
This way, and nod.

Give thanks: we do,
Each in his place
Around the table
During grace.
:::::::::::::::::::::

It goes through every month. If I am running short on time I read her my favorite months or just the two I think she'll be born in ( Nov & Dec).
Hope you enjoy it~
Happy Monday
M

300 Sales

Yay! We reached our 300th sale this past weekend! So exciting! It has been a long road of handmade goodness.I'm so thankful to all of our beloved customers~

I've been trying to figure out what steps to take for the next few weeks/months for our shop. I hate to get rid of custom orders, but alas I need to. They take a lot of time and effort and I am just not sure what the next year will bring (aside from giggles, cuddling and some dirty diapers). So I think the only option is to freeze our custom orders for now.

The Vagabond Scarves will be in the shop by Friday, October 31st. I urge you to take a gander!Different sizes & colors.

Tonight we'll carve our pumpkins. One from the market- the other from my husband's step-father's garden. At some point today I will be picking up Halloween candy.(what to get- what to get- maybe sending a preggo isn't the best idea!?) This will be the first year we'll actually have some Trick or Treaters! I'm so excited! We also have our costumes to work on for the Halloween party on Saturday. Plus, I need to finish up the birthday girl's gifts and get started on a few coffee cuffs as Thank-You gifts. A lot to do. I'm already feeling out of breath! I've opened most of the windows to entertain the kitties and let the fresh air in. Last night I was very sick, so I'm trying to get a lot done but in a mosey sort of way. No actual time constraints!! For an easy-on-the-tummy dinner I'm making soup.
What are your plans?
xo
M

A Three Brownie Day

Using my new bowl and my Trick or Treat mug I ate 2 more brownies after lunch. I had one before lunch too! One for me, one for Hazel, one for me...

This morning I ran errands like, the post- the library- and getting some key fabrics for our Halloween costumes. One of my BFF is turning 30 and her B-day is so very close to Halloween- so she's having a costume party. At first I must admit, the idea of being 30 pounds heavier and finding a costume was not exciting. I didn't want to be one of the cliches like a pregnant nun or a basketball.. besides I want my belly covered! So after seeing the cutest little girl ever- belonging to this lady I decided to go with Eleanore and be a bumblebee!
Zach wasn't sure what to be- I think I may have talked him into being a piece of candy corn (seeing as he eats so many) I thought it appropriate.
We've been having some weird computer problems- so forgive me for not uploading my current projects and a few other goodies.
Have a great day! Stay Cozy~
M

Saturday

Here are some old-fashiony bibs I made for the shop, they're reversible and made with some new and vintage fabrics.
I like the tie around the neck ones, that way they can't be ripped off by little hands.
I also had a fruitful day, Thursday creating new cuffs.

I've started using holiday/solstice fabrics. Hopefully this weekend I can get some more finished and into the shop and possibly a local brick & mortar in Nyack.

So far the envelope method is working. Last night we went to Stop & Shop and found all of our Nature's Promise items to stock up on and Zach made a trip to Trader Joe's this afternoon. We should be set for a while now. Stocking up on broth, butternut squash soup,bread and TJ's amazing vegan veggie pizza ( which compared to Amy's is like 3-4$ cheaper depending on the store!). We dorkily used our little designated envelopes- but it felt good to have tunnel vision- just get what is on the list. I typed up my list and used some of Simple Mom's shopping list PDF tips.

The weather is so beautiful out, of course this past week I felt pretty good aside from the aches & pains I've started having. So that would explain why today I've been couch ridden. At the OBGYN, I was told I am almost weighing in at 190, so I've gained 3 or 4 pounds- which is good because I had been loosing.

We rented Rob Zombie's Halloween, which I figured would put us in the Halloweenie mood, but I couldn't get through it. I'm a fan of horror films, but I think there is just something about Rob Zombie's movies specifically that weird me out and upset me. I guess I was expecting something similar to the original. Plus with the baby, I feel weird watching something violent like that. So we've opted for the new Hulk, which Zach will be writing about for work anyhow. I'm a big fan of Liv Tyler and Ed Norton- so I'll let that put me in a Halloweenie mood.


From the couch, I've been working on my thank you notes for the shower. Thoughtfully, my big sister Susan bought me thank you notes. They're pretty adorable and of course, I need to save 2 for my baby scrapbook. I'm a fiend. I've also been working on my second hat. Originally, for Zach after asking him if he, as a man would wear the color(olive with burgundy,yellow & red pieces)out in public. His first response was yes, of course he'd wear it- however on a second asking he kinda of changed his mind. So as it is I am knitting myself a new winter hat and I'm delighted! I'm sure I can find some sort of yarn in my stash for a manly autumn cap.

With that I am going to nestle into our living room for the night. Finish up some coffee cuffs, dust and refigure our owl collection, eat some chocolate
(Tia of Christopher & Tia turned me onto these), knit and cuddle with my hubbie- the kicker of a baby in my tummy and some SNL. Assuming I don't fall asleep before 8pm- that is!
xo
M