excuses and explinations

i am so missing.

missing out on blogging.

and these excuses are really poor.

but, i miss you guys. i know.. these words mean little.

but i kinda loved you guys.

loved your ideas.

loved your crafts.

loved your styles.

so much so i think I may be slightly intimidated.

but the REAL reason I'm so missing is..

I'm lazy and I miss my macbook.

it was so much easier to blog while sitting on the couch

while watching t.v or feeding doodle.

now, i have this room i have to go into

this HUGE monitor to look at.

this UNCOMFORTABLE chair to sit in which leans way too much to the right.

i miss the clicks of the mac keys

and the luminosity of the screen.

but we are much, much better off without mr. mac.

no icky payment we can't afford.

on top of missing blogging..

i've been missing on crafts too.

*sigh*

the last thing I made with my hands was granny squares for the

granny square swap.

i think i'm secrectly just waiting for them to get here

for fresh inspiration and happiness.

i have tons of ideas like

a blanket or pillow cases or framing them or making a tote bag..

you know crafty things.

these are just ideas

because when they DO get here

I am going to let them speak to me.

Let them tell me what to do.

But I SERIOUSLY need a trip to Hobby Lobby.

I think it would prove VERY theraputic to me.

ALSO, I'm still engulfed in the swaptree world.

devouring books like candy.

and getting more books.

and trading more books.

Just to name a few...

City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass (LOVE LOVE LOVE them)

Tithe

Valient

Dear John

Glory Revealed (this book is currently changing my life.)

and my to read pile is growing!

plain truth

the other boylen girl

kite runner

ink exchange

the last song

and a few others I know I'm forgetting.

So really every spare momeny of time i have has been spent between book covers.

so when i stop being missing and get inspired again. i'll be back.

and will someone please make me complain less.

So, really in ever single moment of spare time

Update on life

hello old friends. :)

How is everyone?

I've been doing quite well... but, busy trying to get life situated for my new job that I start next week.

It's the first time i've went to work since little doodle was born, so I'm slightly nervous about being away from her and if that is going to make me a horrible mother. I know lots of first time moms go back to work within six weeks of birth, but I chose to be a stay-at-home-mom because thats what we wanted. Things have changed a great deal in our finances and I NEED to go back to work. It's crazy how my new job fell into my lap though.

I was at a regular WIC appointment (a program that helps mothers & babies get medical care & necessities like milk, bread, eggs, baby food..) when our case worker asked me if I was still breastfeeding my 8 month old. I kindly told her yes and she began to tell me about this new position that the state had opened up to help promote breast feeding. It was simple... they were looking for women who were passionate about breastfeeding and had at least 6 months doing so. I thought (and think) it was a GREAT idea and an awesome sounding job so I filled out an application right there! Our case worker knew my situation and how many trails I went through over the course of mine and Doodle's breastfeeding experience. So, she recommended me.

Now, I will be a part-time employee for the state making a pretty penny encouraging women how important breastfeeding is for babies & mamas. I'm super excited, because I've really wanted to impact someone on that level. I know firsthand how hard breastfeeding can be, but also how rewarding it is and eventually how easy it becomes AND how much it helps a family who really can't afford to formula feed. Hopefully, the women I'm reaching out to will see something they like in my experiences and finally decided to breastfeed or encourage them further in their decision making process.

So, I'm excited, scared, nervous, anxious and giddy about this new change in my life. I have no idea what to expect... or how any of this will play out. I know that each day will be different, because I won't always be in an office or even in the same place, but I'm looking forward to it. As for our home life, I'm a little scared how things will play out, but I know that all will come together.

So, that's where I've been. I've been filling out stacks of papers for my new job and trying to get a few loose ends tied.. on top of having a really bad infection this weekend.

I've started working on my GRANNY SQUARE SWAP grannies though!!! I've got 4 or 5 made... I'm super excited about this project and I have a little post it on my computer so I don't forget!!

OH OH OH, I have to tell you all about this AMAZING website a friend told me about.. but I must WARN you... it is HIGHLY addictive. It's Swaptree. A place where you list the books, movies, cd's and games that you are ready to part with to get THINGS THAT YOU WANT! All for the cost of shipping and item!! It's awesome and I know this sounds like some crazy commercial but I swear! I've already gotten the novel Dear John by Nicholas Sparks and Dead until Dark by Charlene Harris! I traded some movies I HATED for them too.. which makes me feel like I've done something special. You should check it out and start getting some things you REALLY WANT. Plus in the books they have a CRAFT AND HOBBIES section! :P Seriously, go check it out.. www.swaptree.com

Well, thats all folks. I'm off to bed.

poor person, really.

Where in the WORLD have I BEEN!?

I've completely spaced out as a blogger and crafter.

I've just been reading ALOT.

And playing games on the playstation3.

And trying to keep the house clean.

And all my craziness together.

So, faithful followers... I am sorry. I am a poor blogger.

Poor commenter.

Poor peer.

Just a poor person right now, really.

Excuse my mess & the lack of everything.

I promise to be back when life gets normal again.

p.s. happy valentines day.

(sucks that its on sunday, though.)

regardless, I love you all!

lost in austen

I've been lost lately.

It's okay. I promise nothing bad has happened!

I've just been nose deep in Pride and Prejudice. :P

Little has happened in my world other than sitting on the couch

with Earl Grey tea and Miss Austen's imagination.

Lost in Austen, a four part t.v. series, came on over the course of

Tuesday and Wendesday.

It was pretty good too! It kind of helped me understand

a little bit more about the society and what not.

Okay, I admit I stayed up till 2 a.m. watching it last night! :P

Then couldn't sleep.. so I picked up Pride and Prejudice and read a little more.

I also bought this book when I picked up Pride and Prejudice.

It was on sale for $5. I really couldn't resist myself.

Good thing I bought it too, because I feel as if I

fit in the category suggested by the books title.

The hubby swears I've lost my mind and I think he is growing

quite tired of my obsession already.

At least it isn't as bad as it was with Twilight. :] haha.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

I'm so very excited to have a good book to read though.

I honestly look forward to stolen moments with it.

Now, I'm off to eat peanut butter cookies & watch this:

<3>

Hope your tomorrow will be amazing!

Flattered With Jane Austen

I watched this movie last night and fell in love.

Not because of mr. mcavoy. (swoon)

Or miss hathaway. (love her so much!)

Both equally worthy of admiration.

But because I've never really understood

an Austen plot until now. (shocking I know.)

(I promise I'm not illiterate!)

With this new understanding I am challenging myself.

I want to read Pride and Prejudice and understand it.

I've never read an Austen novel,

even if I was supposed to read one in Highschool

I didn't. (hehe whoops :D)

I've always shied away from the vocabulary she used.

But after seeing this movie that was loosely based

off of Jane's life I just need more.

I've seen the movie Pride and Prejudice

and it made little sense to me as well,

but it was on t.v. so there were some

parts missing I'm sure.

But I want some unfiltered and pure Jane Austen to

feast on.

So, with a dictionary in hand I will embark on the Jane Austen road.

Its a well beaten path I'm sure and I will be a small bump

on the way, but I'm taking this journey because I want to.

Not because some literary list says I should.

So, I guess you can wish me luck!

And I'll keep you updated on my progress!

Tell me, have you read Jane Austen's work?

What was your favorite and why?

Have a lovely night!

xoxo

la te da :)

2010 you've been pretty good so far.

You're making me twentythree this year.

Soon too.

I don't know how I feel about that..

but I guess I have to deal with it.

The pictures were taken before the new year, but they are

too fun to stay tucked away in a folder on the desktop.

I'm so thankful to have loving friends.

Friends that entertain me and make me laugh.

Most importantly that make me feel loved.

And needed and wanted.

That's best friend up there and her hubby, Duck.

They are a truly wonderful couple to be around.

I just got back from a quick visit to their house.

We missed the snow here in middle georgia,

and Natalie living a few hours North of Atlanta

got a couple of inches.

I couldn't resist the call.

So I hopped in a car and headed that way.

We had a mad time playing Phase 10 with her family

and eating peanut butter cookies.

There were talks of us going to hell for

playing a little to friendly.

And babies munching on treats like

Cheeze-its for the first time.

It was a refreshing trip.

Spontaneous trip.

The types of trips I need more often. :)

So far this week I've been trying to get the house clean.

It's early Thursday morning and I still have a lot to clean.

I've pretty much gotten everything done except for

our bathroom, closet and Doodle's room.

But for the first time in MONTHS I can see the floor in my bedroom.

Okay, I know you're thinking I'm a hoarder but I promise I am NOT.

It's just we take our clothes off in the bedroom and

we don't put them in a laundry basket...

so my room is the dirty clothes pile.

Therefore no floor.

I did away with that today!

I think I will sleep better tonight! :P

The room already feels more relaxing!

I've been collecting items for my living room update.

I said in my resolutions I wanted to add more hand made

and vintage decor to my home and slowly

but surely it is coming together.

I can't wait to share pictures with you

and hear what you think.

Well, until next time...

hope you all have a lovely day

full of inspiration and creativity!

xoxo

Hello Decade.

I made a resolution list before the new year.

it says this:

*learn to knit properly

*create more from my imagination

*decorate my home with handmade & vintage goods

*learn fun new recipes for dinner

*start cloth diapering

*be an inspiration

*crochet and FINISH a blanket

*be more giving and kind

*learn to save

*pay off debts

*know God deeper

*write and record an album

*blog more often

*be less envious

& of course;

*loose weight

They are in no particular order. I'm actually surprised I wrote a resolution list, because I've never been fond of them. I will tell you that I've already started working on a couple of these points. For example the last one. We purchase a work out DVD yesterday and started it last night. It's from the Biggest Loser show & let me tell you... it kicked my but last night. I am so sore right now.. but I need and WANT to keep this up. I seriously need to loose weight and sometime this year I want to start getting ready for another little one. (Yes I realize Doodle is still in diapers... I really just want more kids. I've always said 2 was the LIMIT... I've changed my mind. :) )

I took some pictures of BEFORE the work out & in 6 weeks I will take some after and then post them. I was going to post them now, but because I am way to embarrassed to show me in work out pants... I will wait. Maybe the image will improve so much that I will be proud of what I've made my body look like. I hope so. That should be another point on my resolution too... *be proud of myself & what I look like.

Well, what are your resolutions? Did you make a list? Have you started a new work out? Or vowed to learn something new? I'm curious!