A Surprise...!

So I love to sew.  I don't think that's a secret.  I started really sewing again about a year ago when I decided to make Miss Niece her favorite princess's dress for Christmas.  She loved it (and still does according to my sister, in fact Little Niece loves it too).  I loved seeing her face light up because of something I had made- even if she didn't know I had made it.  I was hooked.  I needed to make more.  So I started sewing for Miss Niece and Little Niece, and it was always on my mind: what could I make them next that they would always want to wear more than anything else?  I ended up sewing their Easter dresses, Halloween costumes, Thanksgiving outfits and Christmas dresses plus a few little outfits here and there (and my older sis loved the clothes too, bonus!).  With each outfit, I feel my skills improved, I slowed down more so less mistakes had to be ripped out and learned SO much.  It's even gotten to the point where Miss Niece will ask me to sew her anything she wants and Little Niece is starting to follow suit.

Now I have a nephew!  I don't think I've properly introduced him.  Here's The Neph:

He's a cute little squish-able,  huggable, squeezable thing.  I kinda adore him.  And I started sewing for him as well, which meant two firsts- sewing boy clothes and sewing baby clothes.  I've only made him two outfits so far (Thanksgiving and Christmas) but the pants that I made him, my little sister LOVES.  She's mentioned how she wished she had a sewing machine so she could make him lots and lots of pants like the ones I made and possibly learn to make him other clothes.  Well, I thought about getting her one when Target had a machine on sale for like $60/70, but a coyote had just given it's life to destroy my car at the time, so I had no extra moolah if I wanted my car back (a must for working and making moolah).  I've been keeping my eye out for one I could afford since then, but no such luck.  Until this week...

Introducing, for the very first time (besides a quick stint on Craigslist), Matilda!

She's a hip older lady with plenty of kick.  She was playing difficult at first, but with a thorough cleaning job (and a free downloaded user's manual) she's rearing and ready to sew.  In fact, I had to take her for a test ride.  I really like her and I mean I REALLY like her.  I actually wanna keep her, but I feel my other two sewing machines would be jealous (and that might be a little gluttonous of me).  Besides that, she's a surprise.  When I brought Mattie home I told my sister I had a surprise for her, and then proceeded to allow her to play twenty questions without giving her a straight answer.  Yeah, she loves me!  So, SHHHHH!  She still doesn't know.

As I was pondering what to make for Mattie's and my test drive, I decided she needed some hip old lady clothes to accompany her to her new home, so a sewing machine cover it was.  It couldn't be too girly cause tho my sister is definitely a girl, she likes subtle girliness, not over-the-top ruffles and bows or anything like that.  

My version of dressing Mattie- throwing the cover on...

Mattie made me fix and straighten it out...

She likes it, can you tell?  My sister takes care of her things very well, but I wanted to make sure that this could take care of itself, so all edges are finished (for no fraying).  There's a pocket for throwing things in quickly and pulling it back out later (cause who actually puts things away only to get them back out- not me!).  I split the bottom for the cords, so no bent or squished up cords for Mattie.  And check out this corner, I was so happy/impressed with how it makes it look like a little box on top:

A boxy top- that is SO old lady

Happy and free cords

All seams are french seams- absolutely NO raw edges (that took some time to do!)

I'm driving to my sisters house today and can't wait for her and Mattie to get acquainted with one another.  If she ends up not liking Mattie, I'll DEFINITELY offer one of my other (newer) machines and continue to bond with Mattie myself.  Ha!  I only wish...  At least we have these memories together, and maybe my sis will let me use her whenever I visit (which would also mean no more lugging a sewing machine around- two pluses).  

Anyone have a kickin' old lady sewing machine they wanna give away?  I'll give her a good name, home and clothes, promise.  Until next time, sweet Matilda!

The Big News (but not too big)

Wanna know something?  If you're friends with my older sister, you might already know (she can't keep her honest mouth shut).  I'm moving!  I'm finding that moving is an exciting prospect until it becomes time to start packing.  Then it's not so exciting, rather, it becomes an item on the list of things to avoid.  When cupboards start becoming empty and your apartment starts to show bare walls and floor spaces again, it's back to exciting.  Friends start to talk about the adventure of moving and the realization that these friends won't be near anymore makes moving once again undesirable.  The solution I've come up with is that I need to learn to teleport- then all my stuff could be moved without packing it and finding time or money to visit friends left behind won't be an issue!

ACK!  Sorry, had to kill a spider attempting to sneak across my arm...  ~shudder~

Back to the issue at hand: moving.  I've been wanting to move for years.  Originally, I wanted to move to a cooler climate (i.e.- Washington, i.e.- Seattle, i.e.- I like the Olympic Peninsula too), but my family is growing and I will be an auntie for the third time at the end of September (maybe beginning of October?).  The thought of living so far away while my nieces (and almost-here nephew) are so little is a depressing thought.  All I could think of is Miss Niece and Little Niece calling me "Buggy" when they see me (my little sister's nickname).  They've both done it (goes to show family resemblance is obvious in my family).  Every time I haven't visited for at least five months, I'm back to being the other Bug.  Not cool, especially when I LOVE being an auntie and want to watch them grow up.  Being the unknown aunt is just not acceptable.  So to make this long story short: because my little sister is having a baby, I'm moving south instead of north.  Yes, back to dreaded SoCal I go...  I'll admit, I'm still rather excited.

I'm not moving back to my hometown, not to incredibly hot L.A., or to the desert-I-would-DIE-in-known-as-Palm-Springs-where-most-of-my-siblings-live.  This cold-weather-loving gal is moving to the (I've been told and hope it's true) beachy, same-weather-most-of-the-year area of San Diego.  It is a new adventure that is filled with many perks:
-I get my own room again
-I get my own bathroom for the first time ever
-I get a new roommate/friend
-I will be only two hours away from most of my family (in the desert and L.A. area)
-I will be 30 min away from the beach
-There is a public library about a half-mile away from my new apartment
-The city park is less than a mile away (Big Sis- feel free to bring nieces weekly!)
-There's a Sprout's Farmer's Market store 1.3 miles away
-According to the world wide web, there are farmer's markets every day, all year long, not just seasonally
-San Diego is the second largest city in CA, there's going to be so much to do, see and explore!

The time I've spent here in SacTown has definitely seen me grow.  The people I've met and the things I've been able to do have shaped me into an independent individual who has learned the value of family and friends and how to fight to hold onto faith-based roots.  I am definitely going to miss many people here, yet I am certainly planning to embrace all the opportunities this move will bring.  A new place, new people, new things, same me...  For now.

Joy, Time, and Possibly Randomness

I feel as if I have no time to post anything these days!  If I have time to write a blog post, I feel I should be working on my ten-page essay for English instead or do a chapter of Psychology homework or start studying for the next Biology test, even if I just took the last one...  The few times I pulled out the computer to blog, I blanked out...  It's not that I have nothing I'm doing or to talk about, I just keep thinking, "Oh, as soon as I get some pictures, I'll put that post up," or "I can't write about that yet because it'll be so much better after it actually happens." Meaning: I have a trip coming up next week that I'm super excited about, but I want to blog about it with all the juicy details. Also meaning: I have a craft-ie-y-ish post just waiting on pictures of the actual crafts (which I think are SUPER cute). I'm also toying with a post about my nieces cause I can never get enough of them (proud and obsessed Auntie right here) and I think a blog post full of their pictures would make me smile for a week! Oh, AND, I have a clean room... And a re-organized room... And a clean room... And my laundry's done... And a clean room! I know you all don't believe me about my clean room (I like saying that) and I did promise my mom to post the "after" pictures (apparently the "before" were that bad...) so that's on the list as well. I'm finding my biggest problem is time. Time and I are always just missing each other, kind of like Sleep and I are doing... No time, no sleep, but homework and I are becoming... very acquainted.  So now what? How 'bout this:

I love life! I'm not sure how many people are aware of that fact, but I do!  Even when my schedule consists of only work, school, and homework (as many BUSY weeks do!) I still find myself laughing constantly and taking joy in little things.  I have so much to look forward to, I feel it would be easy to rush through today hoping to get to tomorrow faster.  I'm so glad I don't tho.  Joys from today: Laughing with my co-worker over thoroughly silly and random subjects, making and enjoying a new recipe (Lemon Olive Oil Banana Bread with a Lemon/Brown Sugar glaze= SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!), a delicious vegetable lasagna for dinner, a totally unexpected picture and text from dear friend that had me trying not to laugh (dang, Nolly!)...  What am I looking forward to? ALOT!

Besides the upcoming trip (seriously excited!!!!!!!), I feel I have a jam-packed, well, year! I have a Valentine's Day "date", kinda, sorta, ok, not really...  A co-worker and I made plans to go see "The Vow" the Tuesday after it came out, not knowing that would be V-Day.  Neither of us have or anticipate other plans, so we decided to keep our "date", we're even adding lunch to the movie.  Honestly, it's just a "Girl's Day Out" to us, so it'll be alot of fun.  For Spring Break, my older sister and brother-in-law and NIECES are coming up to stay for the week.  I'm quite excited, ecstatic, happy, delirious with joy over having family come to visit me for a week!  In June, I get to go see "Wicked" again with The Ginger (our Christmas/birthday gifts to each other).  In July, I'm going to San Francisco with Ramen Girl to go see "Les Miserable" (my first time seeing it, happiness!).  I get my nieces for two weeks this summer (both this time).  I apply for PTA programs in March and get responses in May.  If I get accepted, I start the program in August.  The most exciting thing to look forward to?  Drum roll please: In September, I become an Aunty for the third time!  :-D I think being an Aunty is the perfect job for me, I love being the crazy, eccentric Aunty and I adore my nieces (and possibly nephew?) sooooooo much!!!!

My goodness!  See why it's important to remember to enjoy today with so many wonderful things to look forward to?  And now I think I see why I have a hard time FINDING time!

The Outdated Update About... Pretty Much Nothing!

My Goodness!!! Time most definitely does fly! It's been well over a year since I last bored anyone to death on here, how tragic. What have you been up too? What have I been up to? Currently, I'm sitting on a train that is jostling back and forth so much that I'm having to delete or backspace just about every other word. But the jostling is for a good cause; each shudder of the train car and thought of death at squealing wheels feeling as if they are about to lift off the track is bringing me closer to my mom. I'll be very happy to be able to hug her again, and then cry with her when we pick up my brother at the airport tomorrow night. I'm actually quite bored on this particular trip. The train is running behind schedule and is probably going faster than normal in attempt to make up some time, but I feel as if it's taking twice as long as normal! That's what happens when you're used to driving everywhere- when I just sit, I've no idea what to do with myself!

I've gone back to boredom, I mean school... Again... For like the millionth time... I've actually had friends and family members comment that they believe I will be in school for the rest of my life and that I actually enjoy it... What a horrible thing to say! I'd cry so bad if I let myself consciously believe that, so I keep that truth buried very deeply. I'm heading into my third semester back with 274 more to go, or so it feels.

I'm still with the same job, the same client/patient, the same, the same, the same. Yep, I'm almost about to break the record for how long I've worked for any one company. Usually I move on between a year and a year and a half... I'm almost exactly at a year and a half now, this will be a bit odd to have to put at least three different years on my resume: 2010, 2011, 2012... Scary!

I might have touched on my family in past posts, but since my youngest niece was born (I only have two) I'm officially obsessed with them! My roommate is thoroughly disgusted with this doting aunt! I go into toy stores to see what would make the biggest mess in my sister's home, I mean see what Lizzie and Kenna would enjoy right now... I look at all the little girl clothes and wonder how much threatening it would take to get my sister to send me a picture of them in the cute clothes I buy them... I spend my spare time thinking of where to take them next summer when I get to kidnap them (with permission of course!) for two weeks... I look at pictures I have of them and as soon as I'm done I call or Facebook my sister to whine until she promises me new pictures... I meet someone new and within minutes they know who Lizzie and Kenna are and have seen at least three pictures... I buy a lot of useless things intending to make it into something awesome for them so they'll think I'm the best auntie ever! Yeah, like I said, I'm just a little obsessed. But you would be too if they were your cute, adorable, big-blue-eyed and blonde haired little nieces with smiles that melt your heart and voices that hurt your ear until Lizzie says "Hug, Coley?" or "I love you, Coley" and then you turn into syrup! Yep, you would be too...

Umm, what else... I'm quite excited to go see my eye doctor on Thursday! Is that a little weird? My eyes see double often, like the two eyes that I have do not want to cooperate and let my brain combine the two pictures or is it my brain punishing me for having to use it in school that's keeping the images my eyes send it separate...? Good question! Anyway, this trip is going to go by very fast, I'm only in my hometown for a little over 48 hours this time... Tomorrow morning my mom and I are going to breakfast with a couple that come into her restaurant a lot. The husband is Deaf and the wife signs and ASL (American Sign Language) was my absolutely favorite class this past semester and I just kept going on and on and on about how much I liked it and signing to anyone and everyone who wouldn't get mad at me. You like how many "ands" I managed to get in there? So yes, breakfast in the morning, tears in the evening, and better sight the next morning (I hope)!

Everything is still as boring as ever here in my life, but for some reason, there's a lot of laughter and fun... I think I might have to look up the definition of boring because I could have sworn that work, school, homework, and sleep would count towards that style of a mundane life... Guess just not if I'm in the picture! :-D

Some like it Hot, Some like it Cold, I HATE the Wind...

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Text message from work: Can you work 8-7 next week?
Me: every day?
Them: m-f [June 7-11, 2010]
Me: ok

Saturday, June 5, 2010

A client: Do you have brothers or sisters?
Me: Yes! Two sisters and a brother
Client: Older or younger?
Me: One older sister, one younger brother and a younger sister
Client: How old are they?
Me: Steph's 24, Mike's 20, and Jenni's 18, she's a senior this year
Client: Oh! When's her graduation? Will you be able to go?
Me: It's this Thursday [June 10, 2010] and since she lives in Palm Springs [CA] I'll have to drive down there and back...

SUDDEN Realization: I agreed to work on my sister's graduation!

And that was the beginning of my crazy trip that took all of 18 hours of driving (I only drove 12 of those hours) and the whole "she-bang" was barely 48 hours long (including sleep)! LOL

I'm blessed that my work was willing to cover two days for me so I could go! If you think I'm crazy for taking only two days off to travel 10 hours worth of distance each way just for a graduation, you don't know me very well! Last year, I made about 6 trips back and forth to Tehachapi from Sacramento and each was approximately 24-36 hours long, including driving. I even managed to get in some rehearsal dinners and being a bridesmaid twice in those short trips! This is SOO not new for me, I'm actually beginning to believe I might be the queen of short trips. :-D But back to this trip!

I arrived in Tehachapi on Wednesday at quarter to 1, yes, in the morning... What time did I leave? Well... *whispers* 8pm... NO!!! I'm not that crazy of a driver (despite what some might say, and that was FIVE years ago!) and I didn't speed... much... Anyway! My mom forgot to leave the garage door unlocked so I could get in and I was freezing! I didn't bring any sort of sleevage with me, but come on, it's JUNE!! Somebody needs to tell that to Tehachapi. I called her phone, knowing I'd have to wake her up, but figuring that was the better option than becoming a popsicle. Now, her blinds to her kitchen are open, and I see her coming thru to look for her ringing phone. Thinking I'd save her the trouble, I knocked on the window, and apparently scared ten years off her life. LOL, Sorry Mom, but it was funny! Get to bed only to have to wake up five hours later... Sigh... On the road AGAIN we go, but this time I got to be a passenger! Yipee!

Nothing of blog-worthy occurances happen on the drive, so we'll skip ahead to our arrival in Palm Springs. We left pretty early so my mom could go with my sister to her Dr.'s appointment. Ashley (little sister's best friend and just like my little sister as well) and I watched my niece Lizzy while my mom and Steph go into the appointment. I have to admit, I'm feeling OLD! I used to babysit mulitple kids all the time and was a full-time nanny of a two year old boy and four year old girl, but I don't ever remember feeling so exhausted watching any of them... My hope is that I'm not old, my niece just has the MOST energy any two-and-a-half year old could ever possibly have... (I'm wondering if there's another two-and-a-half year old out there somewhere that's incredibly calm because my niece has her share of energy) We were running outside aound the Dr.'s offices (sorry to everyone who heard us!) and making noises and squeals, Lizzie was trying to head for the stairs every moment she could or she'd stop by her mom's Dr.'s door and knock then try to get in. If we let her back in, she'd pull all the pillows off chairs and couches and throw them on the floor, climb over them and say "Good girl!" LOL It was really cute, just hard to keep up with! At one point, we went into the elevator and didn't push any buttons, hoping to just keep her in a confined space for a little bit. We showed her how to jump in it (much to her mom's dismay) and we danced around... There must've been a moment where we didn't see her reaching for the buttons, because next thing we know, the elevator alarm was going off... Yes, Lizzie pushed the alarm button... We got out of there REAL quick and went back to the Dr.'s office, just in time to see my mom and sister come out of the examination room.

Mom: "We have to go to the hospital"
Me: "Now?"
Mom: "Yes."
Me: (hesitantly) "Why?"
Mom: "They want to monitor Steph's blood pressure... Looks like we might have a baby soon."
Me & Ashley: "What about Jenni's graduation?"
Me: "Should I call Dad to have him pick us up?"

This dialoging went on for a bit, and we were all worried about both... Jenni's graduation being unattended and Steph being by herself in the hospital if we went... So, ANOTHER round of Ashley and I watching Lizzie while Mom and Steph went to the Maternity Ward and we waited for my dad and lil' sis to arrive.

"E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I-E-I-E" was SO loud everyone in the hospital cafeteria was looking at us! Honestly, we had just been trying to entertain her without letting her run all over. We didn't think they'd appreciate us letting her loose right there. We'd tried food, juice, a plastic spoon (thank goodness she can't wield it right or I'd be missing an eye!), and nursery songs, which worked! Until she started singing along, but only the same two letters over and over and over and over again! Out to the couryard we went... And the moment we got out, she stopped singing. The little... darling! Instead, she went up to every single person out there to say "Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!" until she was brought back to where we were. She has to be the cutest little mischief maker ever!

Finally we were rescued, I mean my dad arrived and we went with him, all over town. To pick up my brother, to get stuff left behind from my sister's apartment, to the grocery store, etc... My mom actually beat us to his house and Jenni and I still had to get ready for her graduation. We got the news that my sister could be released from the hospital which relieved us all and she was able to come with us. I don't think it was the nice relaxed family get together my dad had been hoping it'd be, but all worked out well and everyone made it out the door on time and with no casualties.

Now, again, thinking logically about the weather to choose my clothing before leaving Sacramento, I had brought all of three things to wear: the tank top and jeans I was traveling in, and two dresses, one strapless, the other sleeveless. Assuming since I was in the desert, the black cover up I had would be more of a nuisence than anything else, so I slathered on sunscreen and left the cover up at my dad's...

It... was... so... WINDY!!! and... COLD!!!! My brother jokingly said something about doing Marilynn Monroe impressions, it was so windy... I think he jinxed me! I had to hold my dress the whole time! Walking, standing still, sitting, didn't matter! I got so cold that I went through my niece's diaper bag, found her flannel sleeper and draped it over on arm while smashing the other one against my brother's side. The whole trip I kept wondering why these particular cities and towns had not been informed that it's summer, winter's over...

My sister looked beautiful walking across the stage with grad gown flapping and cap threatening abandonment and I was SOOO proud of her! I even got Lizzie to yell, "Go Aunt Jenni!" :-D After the ceremony, she went off to Grad Night and my mom took the niece and other sister home while she and Ashley went off to their hotel and I traveled again to my dad's abode. We had to stop at Walgreen's on the way back to pick up my grandma's prescriptions and I decided while my dad was doing that, I should get some chocolate sauce and ice cream. While in the store I was incredible tempted by the sight of graham crackers, marshmallows and hershey's bars... Yes, those were included in my purchase! Out the door I walk, bags and purse in hand, only to have the wind greet me so that my other hand must be occupied by taming my dress... The problem with this was there wasn't any available hands to open the car door. Taking a chance, I let go of my dress, grab the door's handle and pull... and pull... and pull... WHOOSH! There goes my dress... Sigh... I manage to slide my body between the door and seat, but couldn't climb up as i was busy fighting the door, the wind, the bags, and my dress... You should've heard the laughter going on at my expense! Finally situated, my dad comes back with no idea that I even went in, so while I thought the whole world knew of my mortification, apparently it was only the other four bodies in the car.

At home and safely in a pair of my little sister's PJ pants, I make microwave smores for everyone and then proceed to make the biggest mess eating them! I had chocolate coating my teeth, on my mouth, dripping down my chin and stringing between my fingers! Mmmmm, it was good! They managed to snap a picture, but hopefully none of you will get to see it! "Alice in Wonderland" was put on the TV in Jenni's room and I fell asleep before Alice even went "around the bend"! LOL

Back to Tehachapi my mom, Ashley, Lizzie (who's staying with my mom till Steph has the baby) and I traverse. From there it's back to Sacramento for me and to my wonderful bed!! Oh, how I love my bed!!

I love seeing my family, and I was thrilled to see so many of them this time, but I have to tell, you, one of these days, I hope they visit me instead! :-D