Tony, the nude model....

hee hee, how cute is that smile?? (over exposed due to bad lighting in my bedroom)
Okay, onto the post...

*WHEW* What a sick 4 weeks we have had!! And I mean totally blah, too, not just the sniffles. We started off with a nice round of the flu (the respiratory sort), followed immediately (and sometimes simultaneously) by what may have been the worst cold ever, and most recently topped with a 12-24 hour stomach bug...although that has only hit the babies thus far. Let's just say that I am *SO READY* for the beach next week!!

It hasn't been all bad though, earlier today my Boy got me THIS lovely blue vacuum...I feel positively giddy. :) After being without one for a good month, well...I'm sure all of you housewives can understand my delight. :) And how perfect that it was on sale when we got there! I have already cleaned two rooms. :)

So, you might be asking yourself, what has been going on here, during my computer/TV free time? Well...first off, I have been knitting LOTS. Sadly my camera isn't working at the moment, other wise I would show you. But I'm working on a gift for my friend Sommer's upcoming arrival, as well as a darling little Easter vest for Tony. (On a side note, for any of my readers are on Ravelry ~and if you knit or crochet and aren't on ravelry, you really must sign up!~ then please feel free to add me as a friend, or at least look me up... my username is MackenzieH) As far as around the house goes, I decorated my hall way a bit. It still really needs paint, as does that mirror there, but that's okay. :) I like collecting cheap-y mirrors, that have those really ugly plastic, fouax gold/bronze frames. I spray paint the frames a nice glossy white, and *poof*, they instantly go from really REALLY ugly to really REALLY pretty. :) (I wonder if white spray paint has this effect on other things...perhaps if I just spray painted that extra post-baby belly....?? lol) The really great thing about these though, is how very, very cheap they are. I find that people will often just give them to you if you ask (Mommy, when you re-do the bathroom can I have that hideous mirror? etc.) And spray paint is of course very cheap...and lasts for more than one mirror. The heart baskets/wreathes are from my Mama, the tea set was for my 13th birthday, the little silver image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is from Joe's mom, and the sweet little candle and holder are from my good friend Sommer. The sewing machine itself is from my aunt...so really it is sort of a wall of my favorite things. :) I often find myself standing and starring. :)

Tony has been doing allot of riding around on my back...(to keep him from climbing and/or terrorizing his sister) which has led to lots of this...

Oh the joys of play silks!! I was a bit hesitant at first...I mean, what would they actually *do* with them?? By Joe's mom got some for Jenny at Christmas time and they have been in nearly daily use since. The sling is by far the most popular use for now! Although, there are other uses...

Costumes for example! She loves to have me tie them into a dress for her...and she loves how the feel against her skin. ;) So funny to turn to a "Mommy, help me!" to find a diaper clad face and a fist or two full of silk. :) What does one do when decked out so fancifully??Play tamborine of course!! She loves playing music with her daddy...mostly Irish/pirate-y stuff. She knows so many songs now!! And we're really amazed at how steady her beat is on that thing. :) Oh, and Tony likes to sing...but we're slightly less impressed with that...for now! :)This is the other "like Mama" thing she does...grocery shopping! If you look, you can see her baby Julio (the "J" is said like an "H"), her ever important mail, some "good books" in the cart. She's holding her notebook and pencil (I wonder where she got that one! lol) and the purse contains her cell phone, wallet and keys. :) I have to say it's rather flattering. :)

Well, I'm off to care for my sick little man, please pray that we are all over and done with all of these germs!!!

Cheaper Chocolate :-D

I just thought I'd share a cool savings...on chocolate chips. :) Costco sells Nestle chocolate chips for $1.99/lb. (I think the bag is 4.5lbs fwiw). WalMart sells Nestle choc. chips for almost $3.30/lb. (it's a bit less than that for the standard 12oz. bag). That's over $1.00/lb. of savings!!

End of Summer Sales!

Thanks to Heather, I was able to get over to Target's end of summer sales. I might try to get back this weekend to see what the sales are like for me, but I was able to get some great stuff for the babies next summer! In the interest of encouraging others to go look at the sales, I'll share my deals...

Bathing suit for Jenny... reg. price: $6.88, sale: $4.81
Bathing suit for Anthony... reg. $5.88, sale: $4.11
8 pairs of shorts for Anthony... reg. $3.99 each... sale: $.98 each (!!)
2 pairs lace tights... reg. $2.99 each, sale: $1.48 each (I can never find these because of how quickly they sell out at Easter time!)
2 *soft* ribbed tanks for Jenny- will be t-shirt dress style nightgowns... reg. $3.99, sale: $.98 each!
10pr. white bobbie socks for Jenny... reg. $6.00, sale: $3.00
10pr. white crew socks for Anthony reg. $6.00, sale $3.00
5 onesies for Anthony reg. $9.88, sale: $4.94
3 pack of footie jamies for Anthony (current size) reg. $8.88, sale: $4.44
Soft leather shoes for Anthony (for this fall/winter) reg. $12.99, sale: $6.48
onesie shirt for Anthony reg. $3.99, sale: $.98

So...instead of spending $105.28, I spent $46.75! Hurray for sales!! That takes care of allot of the needs for next summer, which is great. I have a bin of stuff for Anthony this winter, and have fabrics for Jenny...which is just as good as clothes!

$32.00...

Okay, so I'm strolling through the baby department in Wal*Mart...bumbed that I can't find sneakers that fit, and still thinking about that pink fabric I put back on the rack that would be *perfect* for a wrap skirt (I'm going back, lol)...I notice the sales racks have been updated so I figure, hey, why not? :-D Here's what I found (bare in mind that some of it is to store until the right season/age)...
For $5.50, a red plaid corduroy jacket for Anthony next fall/winter
for $2.50 a black cord. blazer that fits Jenny now so I'll add some girly embellishments, and then take them off for Anthony next winter
4 plain front t-shirts, some gray, some blue, for $1.00 each for Anthony next summer
2 plain front t-shirts in the same blue for $1.00 for Jenny's t-shirt dresses this summer
4 robins-egg-blue t-shirts for Jenny's t-shirt dresses (these just scream for embroidery...)
2 green sweatshirts, size 24mos. and 3T for $.75 each. :-D
3 pairs of knit pants in size 0-3mos. for Anthony this summer for $2.50 each

So not finding shoes really turned out to be just fine, the ones I have will last a while longer, and now I have some clue what Jenny's dresses will be made out of...and that red cord. jacket is really terribly cute. :-D Oh, and the coolest part? I totaled up what the original prices would have been, and it came to $71.17!! It's like filling a clothing pantry....

Thursday Update

Hello all! Things are going well here, but keeping me busy! :) It has been *so* cold here today and yesterday...I had to put on a coat to work in my pantry, and imagine my surprise when I found frozen olive oil! :) I guess that it is just normal winter weather though...it's been so warm lately that we've become spoiled! I've been spending my time the past few days cleaning up and setting things in order for the baby shower I'm hosting for Heather (my sister in law) this Saturday. She's due right around Valentine's day, so I'm doing a girly pink/Valentine theme...so cute! :) The food will be simple...some wonderful chocolate related treats...I'll share recipes and pictures once they're all done...my sister and I are going to bake them all on Friday night, so that I don't have tons of dishes to do "the morning of". :)

The week after Christmas I made my first baby purchase! I found an adorable set of bedding on sale at Target, and decided that it would be well worth it to be able to check those things off of my sewing list. What with moving I'm sure I'll be able to find plenty to do! :D This is the crib set, and I also found these two blankets, an extra sheet, and a set of receiving blankets...all on sale for about 50% off! :) I decided to add a few of the other items to my registry, and I think it will be a cute room for Jenny and the baby! We'll find out if it's a boy or girl later this month, and then I'll choose paint colors and all those things. :) It will be so exciting get to set up a new house! I'm already trying to choose paint colors, and settle on the general "style" of the place...it's so open that I want it to flow well from one room to the next, and there is so much natural lighting that I can use any sort of color I want...which is nice since I tend to lean towards darker/richer/cozier colors. I even have plans for re-doing the hand-me-down living room set we have...I think that a fresh coat of paint and some new fabric will make it look brand new! :) This is what the sofa looks like right now... with a sheet making a simple slip cover...
and this is it without the slip cover...rather worn, and not exactly my style...but not in bad condition...I might add an extra layer of foam to the cushions for a more refreshed feel...then I'm thinking of (though it's very likely to change, lol) painting it all black, and using a cream and red tiole print to cover the cushions...sort of an updated cottage look? :)

So far as sewing goes, I have several pictures I need to get uploaded in the next day or two. I got pictures of most of the Christmas gifts I made, plus a few projects since...including a dress (complete with bloomers and pinafore) for Jenny, and a wonderfully comfy pair of maternity pants for me...

I'm going to scoot now and get some more work done...but I'll try to be better about updating, especially about our upcoming move! ~Which, by the way, is simply waiting on things like an inspection and the final signing... our offer was accepted, and we hope to be signed by the end of the month! :-D

Clothes, China and Coffee

This afternoon I took my sister Olivia shopping at our local thrift shop. :) Here's what I found...
1 plaid (white, gray and pink) flannel button up~~~~~$1.50
1 burnt orange long sleeve t (L.L.Bean!!)~~~~~$1.00
1 cream and rose long sleeve t (my favorite piece)~~~~~$2.00
1 blue, yellow and turquoise long sleeve t~~~~~$2.00
1 periwinkle button up cardigan~~~~~$1.50
1 light blue polo style sweater w/ floral embroidery (grins)~~~~~$2.00
1 long sweater in green, light pink and rose (I LOVE this one too)~~~~~$1.50
1 long khaki house dress (that I can nurse in!)~~~~~$2.00
and the best find of the day...
set of china:
8 dinner plates, 8 soup bowls, 7 salad plates, 7 tea cups, 8 saucers~~~~~$8.00!!!!

So much fun! They were closing so I didn't get a chance to look for in their second room, where they keep all of their children's clothes so I'll have to go back... :)

I'll post pictures of the China and my tea set (Sommer!) as soon as I take them. :) I also got most of my grocery shopping done and some long awaited on-line purchases made. Vacuum bags from www.vacuumbags.com, part of Joe's birthday gift, as well as my friend Christen's (www.mamamanak.blogspot.com) from Leaflet Missal (a little hinting never hurt, right) ;), and these two pictures from www.allposters.com










Aren't they beautiful?