Holiday drinkage

What's your favorite holiday drink??? I have too many to count, although mulled wine if realllly up there. I mean. It's wine. Y'all know me (Oh, yea, I say "y'all" nonstop now. I effing LOVE Texas!). 

But last year, after becoming really close to one of my best friends Amanda, I made up my own drink! This woman can make a MEAN white russian with just the right amounts of milk, vodka, and Kahlua to warm the belly and leave me begging for more! A friend had given me some random liquors, including a peppermint mocha Kahlua. Um. Yum, first off. But it was the beginning of the holiday season, and I wanted to do something with it! Welp, turns out we had some marshmallow vodka. And the result? What I like to call a White Ded Moroz!

Which sounds like it's made for Halloween. But Ded Moroz is actually the Russian Santa! So this holiday treat is PERFECTLY named, I think :) Anyway, it's easy to make. I do equal parts peppermint mocha Kahlua, marshmallow vodka, and then milk until it tastes perfect, basically. Here is my concoction, the latter picture all prettied up with the window view which would have been better if you could read the Kahlua bottle. Sad face. 

Enjoy :)

And yes, I am definitely drinking it right now!

Crocheted Creations - Turkey Placemats

GOBBLE GOBBLE!

Yes, I realize now that I should have written this one BEFORE the Christmas stockings post. 

Alas, truthfully, I made the stockings first, so we'll say that's why :)

Since I made the freaking awesome Fourth of July place mats, I now want a holiday themed setting for every holiday!!! I think I'll make Christmas ones for next year (I'm sick of red yarn at the moment and I want to do cute Santa's belly/belt ones. How cute would those be????) Anywhoooooooo....

I, once again, went onto Ravelry! There I found these adorable turkey placemats. (PS you might need an account to see the pattern. It's free, and I haven't gotten a single spammy email since signing up!!)

They were super easy and quick to make! At least the bodies were... 

The beaks were pretty quick, but oh em gee, those legs....

I also just realized the only picture I took (they're already up on a shalf packed away) was this one on Instagram. So enjoy the one simple picture I have of a cutey patootey turkey. :)

GOBBLE!

Crocheted Creation - Christmas Stockings

It's that time of year again!!!! Since hubby and I will be moving basically right after Christmas... 

and we have no idea where our lives will take us, so saving is better right now... 

and if the movers can only come before Christmas, than the tree will have to be down early...

 I decided, at the very least, that we would hang stockings!

But wait.

He has his goofy Corps Cadets ones.

I finally got mine from childhood... covered in Mickey Mouses....

And the real reason? They don't match! I like things matching and looking purty! 

So I decided to take things into my own hands (and hook!) and find a pattern :)

 Since we're saving, I also DEFINITELY needed a free pattern. 

I took my tookus over to ravelry and searched!

  These are the ones that were simple, and just perfect! 

By the way, this is the first time I've ever made stockings. They caused a bit of anxiety in the midst of making them, as I had NO idea if I was correctly following the pattern! I got worried and sent my friend this picture to show how it just kind of looked like yarn vomit to start...

And when my friend started making them, I sent her these AWESOME diagrams to try and explain how to do the hell and then to foot. The only thing I didn't like about the pattern was the fact that there was a "right" side and a "wrong" side. Really, Red Heart?? I have enough trouble trying to tell my rights and LEFTS apart!

Explaining how to go from the heel to the foot. You know. In case you need help as well!

See? Yea it doesn't make much sense...

Honestly, you should have seen the instructions for how to make the toe.

 Lots of boob words thrown around!

Anywho, after making most of it, I of course realized I made too many rows of green 

(the first stocking at least) and redid almost all of the crocheting after the heel.

Once it was finished though, I LOVED it! 

Super fun sewing it together and seeing it really FULLY take shape. 

And after making the first one, it was much easier to make another (and then two for my bestie and her hubs)

Here are the finished results! I hope you enjoy! And if you choose to make these, feel free to ask questions :)

Pretty!

AWESOME stocking hanger from http://www.markandkassie.com/ :)
Miss you guys! Wish we could do another ugly sweater minute to win it party!!
(that's right, we won that gorgeous baseball-playing Santa!)

Crocheted Creation - Diaper Bag

Unfortunately, this will be lacking in some pictures. Like I think I only have one "in between" except for the final eff up. Anywaaaaay, my good friend Mandy is pregnant (due date in four weeks, eeeeee!) and back when I learned of her knocked-up status, I told her I wanted to get her a diaper bag. Super nice friend, right? Yea, I'm a super AWESOME friend, but not one with HUNDREDS of dollars to spend on a dang bag! And those were on sale.... Soooo then I almost made her a star blanket . Like to the point that we picked out super cute colors and everything!

But why do that? Why make something she KNOWS I'm making for baby Emeline? So I decided to surprise her. And of course waited until the last minute. And little did I know this project would take a REALLY good amount of time. But dang it, I promised her a diaper bag, and I was going to deliver! So out of, I think, the THREE patterns on ravelry that were for crochet, had a picture, and were free, there was thank God ONE that didn't look like yarn took a giant poo. And it was this one: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/HookedBags.html#materialsMenu

And here is the picture I had to go off of, so you can giggle at some of the mistakes that I made along the way... like the first one being gauge. I was CLOSE to the gauge they wanted. But had to make my own measurements for half of the things after I got the first sides done to make everything work. Oops? Ah well.

SUPER cute right? So in love ♥

So yes. Awesome. I really had no idea how LONG it would take to make two big sides, two pockets for those, a long gusset (and yes, this is the pattern where I learned just what a gusset was. Who knew?!), pockets for the sides, and handles, all doing single crochet, double crochet, single crochet, double crochet..... But it was worth it! Seeing everything start to come together was so great! 

Soon, I was done the sides, pockets, and gusset. Time to start on the handles!!!

We all saw from the pattern picture that the handles are different colors, right?... Yea.... I guess I was a little purple hungry (that was the main color (MC) for this project. The contrast color (CC) was green. So yaaaay I'm DONE the major crocheting! I made the handles! And then I swore. A lot. I mean lots of profanity. Then I learned a fun pinterest tip of using a clothes pin for spare yarn, so I took apart and used on to roll up the rest of the purple yarn from the handles! And I began it in green! Yes, no other way to screw up! I make it, put it all together, and I'm grinning because I'm so happy I made it! It felt weird to hold it the way the handles were, but no biggy, I'm sure it was meant to be that way........

Effffffffffffff

Ok one, ignore the fact that it doesn't have a button yet. That was the last thing I needed! Then I FINALLY realized that I had done the handles wrong. While they were SUPPOSED to just be one length curved up and then back down on the same side, I made one handle go one side straight back to the other. I was MAD. Either way, thank God it was easy to actually unsew it and redo it! An hour or so later, and thankfully with a cute green button, the final project emerged! She liked it, and I hope she realizes that she can throw it in the washer and dryer and it'll come out just as awesome (or it should. I really shouldn't jinx myself on this.)

And that's that :) As much as it takes forever to make, I'm so excited with the simplicity of the pattern and how well it turned out! I can't wait to make another for the next close friend whose eggo gets preggo. :)

Crocheted Creation - Star Blanket

So, a couple years ago, I found the cutest star blanket pattern ever! I loved it! And then I made it. And either the pattern never told me to decrease even time you're in the middle or something, but it was a messed up dead starfish creation. I had my cats sleep on it. And was very ashamed.

But alas, one must move on and try to improve! So I found a non-granny-square-like version of it, called "Beth's Little Star Afghan". A little harder to start off, but my GOODNESS did I like the results! But the cats already had their shameful dead sea star, so I made this one for a friend back up in DC who has what one might called, oh, an OBSESSION for objects with five points.

Tada! (please don't mind the fact that the points are cut off. Turns out I was wobbly standing on another part of the couch. Whoops? Alas, it still makes me smile so shush)

Yay! A star shape! A pretty star shape that I wish gave magical powers like in Mario and came with reallllly fast music when you touched/magically absorbed it into your skin! Alas, just a regular star shaped blanket. I'm pretty sure SHE used this as a blanket for her kitties too! (loves stars and cats, she's pretty awesome).

So even, after washing the shameful blanket enough, I REALLY needed to make a new one. I had used different scrap yarn, so the orange got realllly poofy, the blue looked withered... it was just bad. So I decided it was time to make the kittehs a special, actually from the heart and not from shame star blanket. And how I LOVE it! Even though it doesn't match the decor in the living room at all (eventually I'll make it ALL work), I love love LOVE the colors I chose. I wash it with the lights every week to keep it clean for kittehs, and they love to sleep on it! So alas, a kitteh and blanket montage for your entertainment...

The finished project! Yay!

Peaches kept bugging me to finish it already!

Gizmo's favorite spot to look cute while she's plotting evil schemes with her mustache.

Cuteness, right? 

Next up: well for the star, one to match the decor or one for a baby shower or something. Besides that, I'm working on Christmas Stockings right now! So I'll post about the diaper bag awesomeness for a great friend I already miss dearly, then eventually the hilariousness that will be stockings when I've never made them before and half the pattern has me going, "Ahhh, what? Isn't this supposed to be on the easy scale?!"

-Em-

Crocheted Creation - 4th of July Placemats

Pinterest  basically rocks my world. Just browsing, I happened upon a picture of amazing place settings! So iIfollowed the link to the FREE pattern here, ran out to Michael's and got the yarn! First off, you DEFINITELY need about twice as much blue yarn as red and white. Just an FYI. Also, the pattern is for two settings. I wanted four, so I had to double everything! The stars were tricky to understand the pattern at first, but then I made tons and would LOVE to use just the star pattern to make a mobile or something when I have a babers. Or maybe a cool abstract art thing on a canvas with blowdried crayons????? Ahhh, the ideas!  Anywho, here are some pictures! 

The first set of two I made!

An artsy close up :)

Oh falling stars, how I love you!

For the actual 4th of July, I ended up gettinng white napkins and a white tablecloth (harder than I thought to find for my small dinging room table) and put two settings on the table and two on our bar counter in the kitchen. They were a success! Woot!

DIY Creation 2 - Entertainment Center

A friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of an old dresser she and her husband transformed into an extertainment center. So clearly I wanted to try! We needed something bigger for our TV anyway, so it was worth the shot! Here's the original dresser:

We took out the top drawers (that look like two drawers, but it's really one!) to start. Bought primer, paint, paint brushes, rollers, tarps, all that good redecorating stuff! We also had to buy a piece of plywood to put on the top of the middle drawers. After a couple coats of primer, paint, and painfully waiting almost a week to make sure it's REALLY dry, it was almost ready! Just one more step... drawer liners! With a little wrapping paper and TONS of Modge Podge, I had beautifully lined drawers! Slightly crooked since everything was too big and some were tilted, but hey, they're closed most of the time. :-p Here is the finished project, followed by what it looks like in action!

Open...

Closed...

In action! We LOVE it!

DIY Creation 1 - Bottle Cap Trays

I have taken a new fancy to not just looking through Pinterest items and dreaming of what I could do with random items in my home, but actually completing some items! This first post is for my bottle cap trays, which Pinterest and other crafty ladies had nothing to do with, actually! 

I was beginning to notice that the wooden trays I purchased at Target a couple years ago had taken a beating. Water stains, other random marks and scrapes. So I decided it was time to fix these with my Crazy Pack Rat Lady amount of beer bottle caps we had. The first one has our last initial at the focal point... in my hubby's favorite beer, of course :)

The next one is much more recent. After making some AWESOME patriotic place settings, I was inspired with my next creation! Why not do a FLAG?! So I did :)

The first time I had the "D" in there, I didn't glue each bottle cap in place. Bad idea. It looked just weird after a few months. So I redid it, just did a little bit of Elmer's in between the caps as I laid them down, and now they're stuck there! The tops are just thick plexiglass we got cut to size at Lowe's epoxied on the sides to seal it in! Here they are together (haha one with flash, one without, couldn't decide which I liked the best!)

50 Qs 9-12

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

I don't believe I have any control. Which is weird. Because I looooove control. There have been too many factors that have been coincidence or an act of God, that I can't say it was because of me. And I'm beginning to really love that :)

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

I think they're one in the same. I try to do the right things right! But overall, I'm more worried about doing the right things.

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

Tell them to STFU. After letting them spill. Hey, they made me feel awkward, I'll do the same! But I'm going to let them finish so I can defend my friend, and let them know what they said that was wrong.

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Take your time growing up. Childhood is over before you know it!

50 Qs 5-8

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

War. Life would be so much easier without it! And I guess with that, I'd like all diplomacy to work and no reason to START any wars!

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

Working around animals. No doubt in my mind!

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

Kind of a mix of both. I don't know yet (still!) what I'd want to make a career, so I'm making my own spending money (I believe in doing that if possible) and supporting my husband in his endeavors (definitely not settling there!)

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

Ummm.... maybe have babies sooner??? I would probably try to succeed faster in life in some areas. And maybe would have created a bit less debt so that it wouldn't fall onto family members when I would die early.

50Qs, 1-4

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

It's a mix! When I'm hyper and playing I'm about 5 years old. When I'm out and about I'm always the mom, looking to make sure everyone is ok. And my bedtime is that of a grandma (haha or a 5 year old!)

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Never trying. You automatically fail if you don't try, but if you DO, you have the chance to succeed :)

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

Fear? Money? Not sure about this one. I think everything happens for a reason. Plus, life it just about what we "like" and "don't like". It's about living, learning, becoming a better person every day.

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

Does me talking nonstop count??? Haha probably. I really do hate taking risks, but I love my life and where it's going. I plan to continue doing what I'm doing and live life to its fullest capacity!!

50 Qs... a new reason to post!

Thanks, Mal for posting these :) It'll get me back in the blogging mindset!

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

Which is worse, failing or never trying?

If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work wouldmake you rich?

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?What’s holding you back?

Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

Why are you, you?

Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

What are you most grateful for?

Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

Has your greatest fear ever come true?

Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?

At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

If not now, then when?

If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?

Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Sometimes it just sucks

I know I'll get through it. I have amazing friends, awesome freaking inlaws, and my own stubborn streak that'll get me through anything!!! This deployment WILL end. In less than a month, it'll be halfway over.

But you know what sucks?

Moments like right now. Where I can scarcely breathe. Where it feels as though my LUNGS miss Matt, and don't want to work without his gentle touch. I will survive. I am breathing. And I'm not crying, either. I'm continuing to count my blessings and thank God every single day for the permanent and fleeting gifts that I have seen and encountered.

But man, I wish time would go by quickly DURING it. Yes, it's wonderful that when I can look back on it, I'll go, "Oh my! It seems so long as the time but it really flew!!!" Yea. Not so much right now!!!

I miss you, Matty. You're my Duders, my lurver, my everything ♥

PS. I got inked last night :)

Holy Moly

My husband is beyond amazing. This man, no matter what my image of myself is, always thinks I'm beautiful. Always manages to make me FEEL beautiful on my horrible "fat" days and everything!

This past week, Kimberly Burke (http://www.kdburkephotography.com) took some amazing photos. Most for Matt's eyes only, but this head shot I just had to let her post.

I'm in awe.

That's ME! The beautiful me that my husband sees me as every time he looks at me. And she captured it!!!

Thank you, Kim (and Chelsie for wonderful makeup!!!). You have no idea how much this means to me to have captured how he makes me feel and made it real ♥

I've fallen behind - Ten Good Things Tuesdays

Well, Matt's deployed. Definitely NOT a good thing in my book, but that's why I haven't blogged in so long. I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my baby! Now the hard part... in the midst of already missing him like crazy, can I find ten things???

1. I'm going to love my job! And how busy it'll keep me! So far so good :)
2. My FattyMcFatFat just completely rocks. Love spending time with her!!
3. Gizmo has been off meds for over a week now! And although her stool is definitely softer, it's not stinky and no blood! YAY!
4. So far I haven't had any deployment insomnia. Knock on wood!
5. I've gotten into watching Glee. And I LOVE it!
6. I've already gotten one video chat with the hubs! And I THINK I got a call from him today but stupid me pressed text instead of the answer button and missed it :-p
7. I have ingredients for salads. That and these Sargento sharp cheddar cheese sticks and I'm happy!
8. Although I got burnt at the beach, I ONLY got burnt on my back! Woot?
9. Matt's and my Disney movie collection is slowing growing, and I love it :)
10. NEW CAR!!!! Need I say more??

MilSpouse Fill-in (a day late :-p)

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

1. Tell us about your dream job...one that you would do regardless of pay.

Working with animals. Potentially saving baby seals and such too. But something with animals for sure.

2. What is your most prized material possession (kids and pets don't count)?

Probably my laptop.

3. What has been you favorite duty station and why?

I luuuuuurve Lejeune! Everything about it :) But I also did like Quantico! I just didn't spend much time there. So I guess camp Lejeune it is!

4. What is your least favorite chore?

Laundry. I always hurt my back folding clothes. Go figure.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to a teenager today (not specifically a MilTeen), what would it be?

Stop being so dramatic. Because if you don't, you carry it into "real life" and then people have to deal with your drama even though you're 30 and should know better :-p

Fed-up Five!

Ok, so basically I'm fed-up with the government not being able to make up their minds. And what makes it worse? The fact that I'm hearing about it only literally 75% of people's statuses. I'm sick of the problem and the complaining! And yes, I'm freaking out too and in doing this blogpost am talking about it too :-p Ahhhh, the irony...

Ten Things Tuesday

1. It's rainy and windy. And I LURVE it. Perfect lazy sleepy day feel!

2. I MADE A PROFIT!!!!! At the craft fair that is :) And I just sold more today and have an order to do by the beginning of May!!!

3. My husband is probably the most understanding, gentle, loving person in my life. I love him and all the modd swings he's putting up with, since strangely IM the one adjusting more to him being back form Mohave than he is!

And I love these pictures :-p

4. I ♥ Caroline Faye. That girl sees what I see, is a great cuddler, loves good times, and I can talk to about anything. She basically rocks my world :)

5. I've removed myself from almost all the drama that has happened in the last couple weeks! There are still nuisances, but yay for being a grown-up :)

6. It's warming up again! Last week was brutal, but now the warm days are back and Emmers is a happy camper!!!

7. Matt has been working out in the guest room and putting some of his blankets and whatnot in there. And it doesn't smell bad, it just smells like him ♥ Haha maybe I'll be sleeping in the guest room at first once he deploys!

8. Nevada in less than a week!

9. This is probably the best good thing that's happened to me in the last week: Doritos is making Taco flavored ones again. OMG. HEAVEN. And no I don't mean the nasty "midnight taco" ones. I mean old school Taco flavor! AWESOME!

10. Peachy is snuggled up on me and keeps snuggling even closer! She's so freaking cute ♥

Marine Corps Monday 4

This is sort of a repeat. But not fully.

I love the sense of community in the Marine Corps (you know - minus the two-faced people, but I guess even they have their place here in life!). It was so nice that even though the guys had the day off, Matt and I still went into the office Friday for a then Gunny/now Master Sergeant's promotion ceremony. And I wasn't the only wife either! AND we got to be there for another promotion too!

And I love being able to do that. Being able to stand with someone's wife, while another is taking pictures for them, and be involved in the pride of a promotion.

Or knowing that if someone needs something, there are always people around that can help.

And truthfully? Even knowing full well that some wives in the company don't like me at all, I'm really happy knowing that there will always be someone for someone to help and support. It might not be me, and that's perfectly fine! Haha that sounds selfish, but I do mean that there are many niches, many different communities. And in the end we all love and support our husbands and share that pride in what they do. :)

Fed-Up Friday Four

Two-faced-ness. Oh. Em. Gee. I really can't say any more than this. It just sucks. And I'm fed-up with it!!!!!