Wooden Stick Q-Tips

In the house i grew up in on Echo Road, there was one thing for certain. . . there was always a supply of q-tips with wooden sticks. They were always behind the oak cabinent door in the pink bathroom. (yeah, my poor brothers had to put up with a pink bathroom becasue my mom was single) My mom was addicted to q-tips, and she passed that addiction on to me as well. She also "taught" me how to clean my ears with wooden stick q-tips. Some of you might be grossed out about what i am going to reveal, but you will just have to deal with it or try it. My mom would stick the clean q-tip in her mouth very quickly to just get the swab a little damp. She found it had better cleaning clingy power that way and it felt better in her ear. I learned it that way, tried it and like it. I cannot stand an over-dry q-tip swab. I remember when TJ first realized i did this. . . now he does too. We always had wooden stick. The others just didn't even come close to comparison. . .too floppy and too bendy. They would bend and flop at the first touch of wax or the ear canal.

As i got older, wooden stick became harder and harder to find. When my mom or i found them, we would stock up on them. . . until finally there was no more to be found anywhere (we even sank so low as to look at Walmart). Our everyday ear cleaning just wasn't the same. It no longer brought that sense of comfort and satisfaction. It just brought frustration and bendy q-tips.

I write this because last night TJ ran up to Meijer to get me some cold medicine and do you know what he brought back as a surprise to me? Yep, Wooden Stick cotten swabs (not the q-tip brand, but i didn't care) I almost wet myself. We both opened up the container, inserted a q-tip head into our mouth, and began to clean our ears. The feeling that came over me was so wonderful. TJ, now, also agrees that wooden stick is far superior to bendy stick. He bought two boxes of them. I will savor every one of them. It breaks my heart to think that my mom passed away thinking wooden sticks were gone forever. I am sure now she knows differently. . .in fact, she was probably waiting for me to discover them. I think i will go clean my ears now.

Staying home

well, four weeks into school and i already have to have a sick day tomorrow. I am stuffed to the brim with snot, have a headache and my arms feel really heavy. I figured if i didn't take a day off, it might take me twice as long to get better. Also, tomorrow is a long day as it is with my doctor's appoinment at 4 and then class at 6 in G.R. I just need to sleep a lot, take it easy and drink orange juice. I don't need to eat a lot of points. I have been doing that lately and it is going to get me into trouble.

I made 6 "Loopies by Lindsey" blankets this weekend. I gave two away to friends. I dropped the other four off in the lounge because i only had one left in my basket. By lunch time (11:10) they were all gone, but one. I even got paid in advance for a special order. Hooray! Thus far, i have sold 13 loopies. I need to make more, but i am almost out of having a variety of ribbon. Jo-Ann's has also been out of a lot of the colors i am looking for. I really need bumpy pink fleece and green microfleece. The microfleece is so much softer than the other stuff and it is still machine washable. Maybe to take a break from napping tomorrow i will pin ribbon. We will have to see.

We also visited a lot of "parade of homes" homes this weekend and last weekend. One house had the most amazing built-ins with hickory wood. They were unbelievable. . .actually the whole house was. I loved averything about it. Then, i come home and feel so blessed to live in the house that we do. It is nothing spectacular, but for its size it has a lot of extras that we fell immediatly in love with. I could live here forever. There is room to grow and if TJ does built-ins there will no way to leave. We saw a similar built-in to the one we are going to do in the nursery someday when it is needed. As for now, there are other things to work on.

Where was the weekend?

It seems i spent a lot of my weekend on the road. However, it was very enjoyable. I got to see family and listen to Harry Potter while i drove.I went to see my cousin in a play in Royal Oak. I had to take the longway there because i was scared of the shorter way. The shorter way included many turns, 80 mph traffic, merging, bearing left or right, three expressways, white knuckles and headaches. So, i opted for the three turn, twice as long route. I took maple from wixom all the way to Royal Oak. . . through downtown Birmingham and everything. It was refreshing to visit with my aunts. I saw the same twinkle in their eyes that i used to see in my mom's eyes. I heard her laughter, excitement and stories in them. And my Great Aunt Glyda's voice sounded just like my grandma's. I sucked it all in. When i wasn't driving or visiting, i hung out with Gail. We went to Border's Book Store. I just love book stores. I, of course, could have spent a fortune. We also ate slow churned ice cream together. Speaking of ice cream, i ate very well this weekend. I feel pretty proud of myself. I knew i had to weigh in for the biggest loser today and i didn't want to gain a ton. I had Alaskan King Crab on Saturday before the show. It was delicious and already cracked for me. :) I tried to ignore the melted butter for the most part.
I need to catch up on house things, bills, grad stuff, and school stuff. Better go.

10% lighter, 100% happier!

I should be on the couch winding down, but i am going out of town tomorrow and wanted to share the happy news before i left. I went to weight watchers tonight, and i was down 1 1/4, so that puts me below my 10% loss. Hooray! If i count from my first time i joined weight watchers then i am way lower than 10%, but tonight i am officially 10% down. I had to set a new goal and i was surprised that they want me a lot lower than my doctor wants me. Hummmm.

Well, i am almost packed. I didn't do any school work tonight, but i did read a chapter for my grad class and write a small paper thing about it. Dreadful. I am excited to hang out with gail and see my Aunt Sharon, Aunt Andrea and Cousin Diana. I just feel like i need to connect with them. . . it has been a while. I so wish TJ could go, for so many reasons. He hasn't seen his mom in awhile, he likes to go to plays with me, i am getting all dressed up, i like to sleep next to him, he likes to eat steak (i am meeting my family at a steakhouse), he is a good driver in crazy situations, he is wonderful company for the ride, i will miss my kisses at night. BUT he has class this weekend. :(

Heavenly heated seats

I have had goose bumps all day. You know, the kind of chill that is deep, that you cannot get rid of by just a little sweater or socks. School was cold. The air conditioning is still running, in the lounge and library, only our building is old. So. . . air for the computer lab makes the library frigidly uncomfortable. Our old librarian used to have sweaters hanging from a coat rack. After a much too long staff meeting, i walked in the rain out to my car, yearning for a blanket, a good book, and a bowl of chili. I got into my car, turned on the heat and then my eyes stopped and were fixed upon a wonderful button i had forgotten i had. . . heated seats. I pushed level two, instead of one and had a very enjoyable ride home getting nice and toasty warm. The internal, pestering chill finally left my body after being there all day.

many smiles for today

Things that made me smile today. . .
1. inpite of weighing in at night (i normally weighed in the morning) i am 3/4 of a pound down. Which means i have 3/4 a pound to go to get to my 10% goal!

2. i received compliments from two different fourth grade teachers at two different times of the day. They specifically walked down to my room to let me know that what i taught my kids last year has stuck with them. I really appreciated that. They did not have to tell me, but they did.

3. Today is thursday. . . that means friday is next.

4. I sold a "Loopies by Lindsey" today and two other teachers told me they want one when their friends find out what they are having.

5. I am making grilled cheese and french fries for dinner. I get to have two servings of fries because i have the points left and i am hungry.

At what point did this happen?

I left school at about 4:15. Had been there since 6:45 and wanted to leave. I was on auto-pilot as i drove home listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on CD. Got home, put my stuff down and immediatly went to our bedroom. I was so anxious and excited to put my "jammies" on. As i am sighing with relief as i pull on my "loungewear" i realized that i am my mother. Not only am i my mother, but i did the very thing that i used to give her such a hard time about. When did this happen? Was it gradual or did i transform over night? I am seeing and hearing more of her in me and i often giggle to myself as i ponder this destined transformation that i vowed i would never do. There were many, many good qualities about my mom, don't misunderstand me. However, there are some characteristics that i am not fond of. If i ever catch myself whinning to TJ that he needs to put gravy on his food or salt his potatoes becausee they will taste better, i will cry. If i ever have a designated chair in the livingroom. . . oh, wait, i guess i kind of do. . . nevermind. If i ever come home and take and hour to two hour nap, i will cry. In a way, i guess our children will know what mom was like. . . there is a lot of her in me. I think i will go satisfy my sweet tooth, i still have points left for today.

Finally, the first day

I am so very tired, but filled with anticipation. I only had a half day with the children, but felt as if i was teaching for two days straight. I wish there was a way to tell them everything at once. They are so anxious and excited to know about everything at once, but there is no way of passing along all the information they want without making their tiny little heads explode. Every year i try to do less talking the first day. And every year i do the same amount. . . A LOT! My throat is soar. I had fun. My class seems very chatty. Normally it is so quiet on the first day because they are all so shy. . . not this bunch. It is going to be interesting. I look at their faces and think about all that they will accomplish in their lifetime. It is a little frightening to know that i play quite a big role in that process. I am going to go and relax as i watch House now.

For those of you who are curious (sorry for those who don't want this much information) I am on Day 18 of my cycle and still no ovulation. AAAHHH! Come on egg, you can do it. Get out of that ovary and come on down!

Loopies By Lindsey

I spent my last days of freedom shopping and making those loopy blankets. I made five of them. I put them in a basket and i am going to make a cute sign and try to sell them at school. They make perfect little gifts and mine are much less expensive than the ones in the store, but just as cute. I am thinking $12.00. In the stores they are $24.00. We will see.

I am in denial about school. I tried palnning for the week, but found it too difficult. I never know how long things are going to take the first couple of days. The good thing is is that i have planning for the rest of the week after tomorrow.

How i spent my Saturday!

Ater cleaning, i promptly got to work on my wall hangings for the future nursery (no, i am not pregnant)

Ironing the quilt panals

Trimming and sewing the quilt panals

Getting ready to cut out the frame for the quilt panals. This background shows up and compliments a lot of the fabric i have already used.

I sewed the panal onto the background

I applied the ribbon that acts as a border. . . yes, this is the "sex" feet of ribbon described in my previous post. This ribbon is perfect because it is close to the wall colors that we are doing for the nursery, minus purple. And one whole wall of the nursery is going to be big square blocks of these colors.
I then sewed these cute square buttons to each corner

Stuffed it for some dimension

Hung it on the wall to see what it looked like

Then, i completed the other two! Eeyore wil be the one hung in the middle because he has no words on him like the others and his buttons i did in green.

I am seriously thinking of making some of my blankets with ribbon loops to sell at school. I could just put a box of them in the lounge with a cute little sign and an envelope. They are so expensive if you buy them at the store, and i could make them for so much cheaper. Plus, they just make cute gifts. Hummmm. . . . Lindsey's Loopies. . .

oops!

I needed ribbon to complete a project i am working on. I brought the ribbon up to the counter at Scrapbook 101 and told the young girl " i need sex feet of ribbon please." How embarrassing.

Yum!

Isn't this cool. . . you can change each letter, too. Try it!
Well, gotta go clean, or sew, or do school work, or make some phone calls (with my phone phobia that will probably get done last).