Goin' Solar

The van is packed! Don't know how I'm going to get the divas up and moving in the morning since the excitement of headng out delayed bedtime but up they must be so we can get to Florida. All of us are in need of some recharging in the warm sun to try and get us through what portends to be one heck of a winter!!!! No computer at Grandpa's house so I'll only be able to update you if I can drag myself off the beach and into an internet cafe....smile.

Silent Night

The presents for the cousins are all wrapped and placed beneath the tree! The reindeer food (carrot chips, raisins, and oatmeal) has been spread on the front lawn....er front snowbank I mean.

Two little girls pretended to fall asleep on the couch...but Mom wasn't born yesterday!! They are now tucked in and hopefully seeing sugar plums dancing in their dreams....no wait!! ...that would be too weird in this day and age.

The baby Jesus has been placed in the manger...I know you see the Maji already but we don't have a mantel for them to 'travel' across and we will be traveling soon so they are already at our stable!

Now it is time for me to wish all of you the very happy, healthy, and holy holiday. May all your roads be plowed, all your stairs salted, and may you all be adrift in family and friends!! Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Nollaig Shona!!!!!!

Tuned-up

Today, so far, has seen a great deal of progress. The van has had it's oil changed and four new tires in anticipation of the flight south.There are forcasts of precipitation for the next couple of days so it will be an interesting challenge to get the luggage up into the cargo bag on the roof but we will be on the road by Saturday evening NO MATTER WHAT!! Christmas shopping and wrapping is nearly complete! The little Puppy Love outfit got some more trim and is now only awaiting a little blouse. I've ordered labels in my new company's name "Sticky Kisses Studios" and hope they arrive in time to get put into all of the outfits I hope to sell on eBay. Let's hope the wheels of progress stay this well oiled for a few more days.

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

All morning I hid in my sewing room hoping that the party would be cancelled due to the weather. I'm well under way on a little Valentine's ensemble to list on eBay that I'm calling "Puppy Love". Still going to get more trims and need to make co-ordinating blouse and hairbows but here's a peek.... Very ruffley twirl skirt that I've attached to a denin overall shorts which I found on a sale rack. Cut off the legs to make it a skirt and appliqued on back pocket and bib.

Close up of the applique on the back pocket.

These are my divas waiting for Santa to arrive at the party.

Funny how Father Christmas makes even the most "mature" diva eager to join "those babies" waiting for her name to be called.

The party got waaaay more fun after Santa made his appearance!

Suprising turn out given the FREEZING weather. My van's two sliding doors are frozen shut so the girls have to climb in through the back hatch and the radio is out ....need to find where I wrote that darn security code after the last time the battery went dead! Have I mentioned lately how much I'm looking forward to Florida??

FRIGID!!

Woke to -6 degrees and wind!! No more want to go to the Christmas party today than fly a kite!

Greased Pigs

Well folks, today is just one of those days when you wish you could go back to bed and get up on the other side! The schedule was pretty tightly packed and the backup plans scarce. As I raced around trying to do my best supermom impression I knew I was losing ground early....and then the car sabbotaged the whole afternoon!!!!!!!! Picture the scene, an excited 8yo dressed and ready to attend a classmates birthday party jostling her sister who was looking forward to spending a Target giftcard as they layered on the winter gear. Then pan to the Mom shaking the contents of her purse out on the diningroom table in the hopes that the car keys are just hiding under the other ...ah...stuff. Nope, no keys. Scurry, scurry, scurry looking for keys then bright idea! Send 11yo out to check the porch and walkway in the event that they fell from overloaded hands on the way in from the mornings errands. Success......sort of....they are found sitting in the ignition of a now battery dead car! Watch sobbing 8yo as multiple friends and relatives are called hoping to find an angel who can run her up to the party which is 3 miles from our home. Watch Mom wishing she could sob as she hung up from the last chance call with no success. Quick camera pan to the bathroom where 11yo sister is doubled over in pain crying because worry does that to her......OFTEN. Back to UN-supermom who does not know who to comfort first while she wishes for a nice hot tub for herself. Ring, ring listen as Mom profusely thanks Auntie Peggy for coming to the rescue. Watch eyes being wiped and noses blown. Fade to black...real black.....freezing cold real black as Mom stands in knee deep snowbank trying to hook up battery charger brought by Uncle Steve now REALLY wishing for that hot tub!! Pan to bright window and see same Uncle feeding laughing 11yo pizza. Pan down driveway to see laughing 8yo being dropped off by Auntarie (aka Aunt Anne Marie) carrying her party goody bag. Slow pan back to snowbank where Mom climbs into car and turns the key.....varoom. Pull back as Mom lays head back on headrest and blinks back tears. Just when do you learn how futile it is to chase after a greased pig? Thanks guys for giving this UN-supermom a soft landing when she crashed.

Dresses for Shoes!!

Well Mr. UPS man did NOT help my latest plan to raise money for shipping the shoes to Guatemala!! Since I no longer have little co-operative models anymore I sent off a batch of little Christmas themed outfits and dresses to Vanessa hoping to have them there in time for the pre-school Christmas party. The idea being that envious tot moms would possibly buy the extras after seeing the two darlings in theirs. The delivery was a day and a half late for the party so there they sit in New Orleans with the weekend Christmas parties about to begin!! So if any of my southern readers are interested leave a comment and I will put you in touch with Vanessa. Meanwhile, I'm now officially taking orders for upcoming holidays. $25 + shipping will give you a two piece outfit in holiday prints made to your measurements. I am donating my labor to this project but will be deducting material costs which results in $12-$17 to be placed in the shoe shipping account. Remember my northern friends that a tee or turtle neck can be worn under the pillowcase top to make it more weather friendly!!....or if you would just like a top to pair with her favorite jeans that can be done for $15+shipping. Paypal is accepted. Meet my new models! Miss Olivia and Miss Arianna of NOLA.

The outfits can come capri length or full length and can come with or without a ruffle.

The tops can be long enough to be a dress this year and a top next year...two holday seasons for the price of one!

The tops can have a set in shoulder strap as in this style or ribbon ties as in the above style!

Valetine's day anyone??

How about a "puppy love" Valentine's ensemble?

Mardi Gras outfits are not just sitting on any store shelf you know!!

How can she not have this for the Easter egg hunt?

Of course, St. Patrick's day prints will be available soon and for the very organized readers I can even start your patriotic styles now too!! If you are interested please leave a comment and I will answer all questions ASAP.