I Love My New Blog Design

After a few months of debating to have my blog made over I finally decided to give it a go. I'm so happy I did. I love my new blog design. It's simple but elegant and cute all at once. Madeline did such an awesome job that I might have to order some more custom items later. If you want to give your blog a make over check out Madeline's blog at http://www.theshabbyvanity.com/ or click on the pic. You'll be glad you did. You can also see some of her past work on her blog as well.

A Spider Told Me To Snap Out Of It

How was everyone's weekend? Did your team win in the Super Bowl? Mine didn't! BOOO!

For those who follow my blog you know that I haven't been in a great mood. I still don't know why. On Saturday my mom needed some help with Facebook so my daughter was kind enough to help her. So my daughter and my mom are in the other room and all of a sudden my daughter comes running to my bedroom yelling at the top of her lungs. "Mom you need to see this awesome spider!" What?! My daughter hates everything buggy so I thought this odd. So off I go to investigate. She was right. It was the most awesome spider ever. It was just a regular ole' daddy long legs but it was huge! The spider web was the biggest web I've seen in a very long time. Goes to show how long it's been since anyone has been in that room.

I couldn't stop staring at this spider. All of a sudden I had this odd feeling this spider was there for a reason. It honestly felt like Spidey was trying to tell me something. Something like "Get off your ass and start doing something!" Or "Life is passing you by, snap out of it!" Or even " If a spider like me can make a home in this little corner and be happy why aren't you happy about this huge space that you get to live in? Seriously?! How selfish are you?" Hmm, Spidey has a point.

So yes, I feel much better now thanks to Spidey. I wonder, did God put that spider there or am I over thinking this? I'll stick to God put Spidey there to give me a slight push. Thanks you God! And of course thank you Spidey for being God's messenger.

What happen to Spidey you ask? I let Spider be and is probably making another web somewhere. I haven't seen Spidey since that day, that moment actually. Which makes me wonder even more. Hmmm

Thank you everyone who sent me words of encouragement. I am blessed to have you all as my friends. Thank you and God bless.

So Unmotivated!

For the last few weeks I've been in such an unmotivated mood. I wake up in the morning and feel like there's nothing I can do to make my day good. I haven't made anything in weeks. My Etsy shops are suffering because of it. I turned 40 last week and I wonder if that's my reason for my depressing state.

My husband however did take me to Las Vegas this past weekend for our anniversary and we had a blast. We saw The Blue Man Group and that was the best show I've seen in years. What an awesome show. We gambled and lost of course. But we were ok with that. Isn't that what Vegas is all about? Those 4 days in Vegas was the most fun I've had in months. I even laughed a lot. The penthouse suite was sooo awesome. Thanks honey!

But then we got home and BAM depression all over again. So I determined it's not that I'm 40. I think I'm actually ok with that. So what is it? Is it because we're still living with my parents so they wont be alone and think that we(me, my husband and daughter) should be in our own place? Is it because we have no privacy? Is it because my parents ask so many damn questions that is none of their business? Is it because my daughter is starting high school next year or because my dog wakes me up 3 times a night to do her business? Or is it life in general?

Whatever it is I hope I get over this soon. I really hate this feeling.

Copy Cats

  I was searching a website today to see what new patterns have come out from crafty people and noticed that someone had a pattern for a zipper 3 ring binder pencil pouch that was almost exactly like mine. The only difference was that it was top stitched  all the way around. I couldn't believe it! I was so mad! I spent countless hours making my pattern for someone to come out with "their own" 2 years after mine was out. That explains the decline of sales on my pencil pouch.
  Unfortunately I can't do a thing about it. Our creations are out there for anyone to steal. It happens in the fashion world all the time. How frustrating! I think if someone had made the actual pouch and sold it it wouldn't be as bad. This person made a pattern and copyrighted it. All I know is if this person contacts me and claims that I stole her design there will be war.
  Have any of you had this happen to you? I feel so violated! I want to cry! And no I don't feel honored that someone thinks my item is that great that they had to steal it! Don't you hate it when people say that?

Sorry about the rant. I promise my next post will be much more happier and crafty.

Andy Rooney's Commentary on Prayer

I found this on the Christie Cottage blog and I had to repost it. I'm really fed up with those couple of people out there telling us Christians that we should not pray or say God in public because it offends them. There's so much out there that offends me but I'm not trying to take away their rights.

Pray if you want to!

Andy Rooney's commentary on prayer.   Folks, this is the year that  we RE-TAKE  AMERICA & CANADA   ********* Get  Ready ********* Keep this going around the  globe. Read it and forward every time you receive it.. We  can't give up on this issue. Andy Rooney and  Prayer Andy Rooney says: I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December.  I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school  teacher taught his Theory of Evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a  30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal?  It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts.  They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game. But it's a Christian prayer,  some will argue. Yes, and this is the  United States of  America and  Canada , countries founded on Christian principles.  According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1.  So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna? If I went to a football game in  Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer. If I went to a soccer game in  Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China ,  I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.  When in Rome    ....... But what about the atheists? Is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized.  We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds.   If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs.  Go to the bathroom.  Visit the concession stand.  Call your lawyer! Unfortunately, one or two will make that call.  One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's  foundations. Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of  all our rights.  Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.  Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying. God, help us.  And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me. The silent majority has been silent too long.  It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want.  It is time that the majority rules!   It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honour Him.  That is your right, and we will honour your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away.  We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!" God bless us one and all...Especially those who denounce Him, God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults, We are still the greatest nation of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God. Let's make 2011 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the wars. Keep looking up.

"Be glad in the LORD and REJOICE!"  --Psalm 32:11a

"This is the day the Lord has made;
      Let us rejoice in it and be glad"
        Psalm 118:24

Thank you in my friend Susan for emailing this to me!

Merry Christmas

Jesus Is The Reason


In Bethlehem, God gave to us
The source of Christmas joy;
A star shown on a miracle:
The virgin birth of a boy.He was born both God and man,
A Savior for us all,
The way to get to our heavenly home,
If we just heed His call.So as we shop and spend and wrap
And enjoy the Christmas season,
Let's keep in mind the sacred truth:
Jesus is the reason.By Joanna Fuchs    

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas and new year. May this new year be filled with many blessings.

Christmas Bags

Happy Saturday everyone. I hope that your weekend is filled with holiday crafting and baking. My mom is making tamales today and I can't wait to eat them. Yummy!

When I started out with my Christmas decorating this year I realized I didn't have all my stockings. I really didn't want to buy new ones because only some were missing. So instead of stockings this year I made Christmas goodie bags. I added initials to the bags with ribbon along with a little bell.

The bags did come out a little bigger then what I wanted them to be but now I can stuff some really fun gifts inside. I used two fat quarters for each bag, bought two rolls of ribbon, a bag of bells and used paper for the initials that I already had. Total price for one bag turned out to be around $5. I can live with that.