Cutting table camaraderie

I’ve been hitting up Jo-Ann’s Fabrics quite frequently lately. Along with Michael’s, it’s one of my favorite places to go. To shop, to browse, to get ideas. All much more enjoyable without children of course, but still a good place to go when I’m bored. And at Jo-Ann’s especially, I’ve noticed a trend: everyone is friendly. It’s like some unwritten sewing/crafters code. Inevitably the person cutting your fabric will ask you what you are making with it, and since there’s always a line, everyone can hear. Then everyone starts piping up and commenting on your project, giving tips, personal anecdotes about when they tried that project, etc. Last night was no different. The man (yes, man) cutting my fabric asked me what I was making (scarves) and the lady cutting for the woman next to me asked her. She had Packers and Badgers fabric. She said she was going to cut each logo out and glue them to ornaments for her Packers/Badgers Christmas tree this year. (Only in Wisconsin!) She then asked the lady what kind of glue she should use. Well, if that isn’t an invitation for everyone in the store to offer advice then I don’t know what is! Of course I immediately suggested Mod Podge (I use it for everything!) and everyone agreed. The lady then promptly led her to the right place to get it and she came back asking for tips, which we happily offered. It’s a weird little subgroup and I love it. I know if I ever had a question about what I was making there are plenty of grandma’s around who are just waiting to impart their decades of sewing expertise on me, a young novice seamstress. (Not that I’m a seamstress, per se, but I typed out sewer, and well, who wants to be referred to something stinky?)

Anyway, totally random, I know. Am I alone on this? Surely some of you have experienced the same thing??

Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are a funny thing. Everyone has their preferences: flat, folded, photo or no? Everyone has their lists. Our list had gotten quite extensive, to well over 100, and when I looked at it I just had to cut it back. Who got cut first? The people who never, ever, not even once sent us a Christmas card. Not that it’s a one-for-one type deal, but I mean c’mon, these things aren’t cheap, and if you’re not scratching my back then I’m gonna stop scratching yours.

I looove getting Christmas cards in the mail. I know once I get the Denham’s (which is always the first one to get here…way to go Melissa!) I know more aren’t far behind. I love to read (in one page or less, please) what people have been up to in the past year, and more importantly, and I know I’m not alone, I hope there’s a picture. And no, not just a picture of your kids. Sure, your kids are pretty cute, but I don’t really know them. I know you. I want to see you, especially if you live far away, never post pictures on Facebook and have no blog. It’s the nosey nature in me that loves to know all the details of your life. How else will I know that you lost 30 pounds or dyed your hair green? Until I’m ridiculously obese and balding and have no teeth we will probably do a family picture every year for our card. Plus, it gives us a reason to update the one on our mantle. Which up until 2 weeks ago was still just a picture of Derrick and I. Poor Summer didn’t even get her own time up there with us.

I’m happy to say that for the most part all of our cards are sent! This family picture was our second attempt…the first one was horrible, due to my 3 misbehaving children. My 2 little girls and my one adult boy. Nightmare. We snapped this one in Phoenix 2 weeks ago, and with the help of Photoshop and some inspiration (read=copying) from tinyprints I whipped this puppy up in an evening. I must say, I’m pretty impressed with myself!

Oh, one more thing—even if you don’t have kids I think you should still send a card. Use a snapshot of a place you visited, it doesn’t have to be all formal. Let us know all the fun things you’re doing, so we can reminisce about how we use to do fun things before we had kids!

Merry Christmas!

Recent Faves

A Costco just opened near us a couple months ago (and by near us I mean still 20 minutes away) so of course we bought a membership. We have a Sam’s Club membership too but it’s kind of in the hood and go there only like once a month if I have to. Let’s just say I’ve been to Costco twice just this week. Besides the cheap milk, cheese, fruit, chicken, and free samples, one of my most favorite Costco things is their Kirkland wrapping paper. SO AMAZING. I think they only make it in Christmas patterns which I’m so sad about because if I had my way it’d be the only wrapping paper I ever use for the rest of my wrapping life. I might even resort to wrapping gifts all year long in Christmas wrapping paper just because it’s so awesome. What makes it so awesome, you ask? Well, first off it’s reversible. Which is perfect for me because I have two kids, and Santa wraps their presents in their own wrapping paper, so I only needed one roll for that. It’s also super thick. Definitely no thin paper you can see through—no present peeking!! You get a ton. Like 800 yards or something ridiculous like that. Seriously, it’s huge. I’m thinking of keeping a roll next to my bed in case I need it for self defense, it’s that big and heavy. Pretty sure Santa will be using the same wrapping paper for the girls until they leave for college. And the best part? All of this for only TEN BUCKS! Super cute patterns, too. If you haven’t started wrapping your Christmas presents yet, I’d run and grab some. Use your other stuff to fuel a fire on Christmas Eve.

Next: The Laughing Cow cheese wedges. I had these at my friend Laura’s house a couple weeks ago and I’m totally hooked. They are a soft spreadable cheese, and the perfect midday snack with some crackers. Yum. Laura says she spreads it on her sandwiches sometimes instead of mayo. Gonna have to try that. And in case you’re not a swiss fan, I don’t think it tastes very Swissy…much more mild.

For those with kids, my last fave is the Portable North Pole. It’s a video message from Santa to your child! You fill out a questionnaire and you get a personalized message! He says the name, you can upload pictures of important events from the past year, he talks about gifts if you want and in Summer’s, he says, “you’ve been asked to be extra nice to your sister”. So, so cute. And FREE! Summer loves “talking to Santa” and I’m pretty sure she thinks she’s actually Skyping with Santa. She’ll nod and talk back to him like he’s really talking to her. It’s pretty awesome.

That’s it for now! Anybody have any new favorites?

Elmo!

The weekend after Thanksgiving we decided last minute to take the girls to see Sesame Street Live. We didn’t tell Summer until the morning of the show and she was pretty excited. I was worried that she would be scared, since she’s afraid of mascots (whose child is this again??) but since none ever got close to us we were in the clear. She loved it and sat mesmerized the entire time. Hannah, on the other hand, was just a wiggly little worm. She did ok for the first half but the second half I spent with her climbing up the Bradley Center stairs then taking her to the bottom to climb up again. And again. And again.

  Yes, I got suckered into buying a $10 Elmo balloon. We’re gettin’ on towards lunch and naptime, hence the no smile.

It was a really cute show and I’m glad we went. It was during this show that I realized my favorite characters are The Count and Grover. The Count because I love the play on words with his name and Grover (mostly Super Grover I guess) because he’s just so clueless and makes funny jokes that kids don’t really get. I know a lot of people bag on Sesame Street because of the cheesy characters these days but it’s a pretty good show I think, and pretty educational. It’s really the only TV show we watch. And I’m OK with that.

I love little outings like this with my family.