Jazzy Jemz

Army ACU handmade military purse

2011-05-23T22:14:00.003-08:00

Just wanted to share with my followers some of the military purses I have completed. This design is one I created back in 2008 & is my original design. I love what I do & My Bragg Bag has taken off from a side hobby to a small side business to something very productive!

Orders are taken on my website: www.mybraggbag.com

Get discounts & specials for fans only: www.facebook.com/mybraggbag

Army ACU Military Purse Pattern Air Force ABU Marine Coast Guard

2010-11-20T14:48:00.005-09:00

I'm so very excited! I finally finished my first pattern! This pattern is for military uniform purses for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and even can be used for fire fighters, police or sports uniforms.

It's only for sale for those who are planning on using for home use. Use of my pattern for sale or profit is prohibited.

Available for sale on my website or on Etsy. Pattern is available as a PDF download.

www.mybraggbag.com
www.mybraggbag.etsy.com

Power Up: DJStoreroom

2009-08-08T22:06:00.003-08:00

Name: Diana

Shop Name: djstoreroom

URL Links: Etsy, Artfire ,Flickr, Blog, Twitter,

Product Range: PDF Sewing Tutorials with Sewing Patterns for Zip Pouches and Wristlets, Vintage Buttons, Handmade Bags and Purses, Handmade Vintage Button Bracelets and more...

Experience: I started sewing during my school days and totally stopped once I finished my O'Levels.. And, I couldnt believe that I got first place for fashion and fabrics in the whole school.. It was only when my daughter was born that I started sewing again.. To get back my skills, I went online and registered for a long distance course on Dressmaking and Design. Today, I sew and craft daily with my daughter. Many times, I sew using my own patterns and decided to share my them online through pdf sewing patterns. These include really simple english, lotsa pictures and sewing patterns to print, cut and use immediately! Perfect for the busy sewers like you and me...

Special Promotion: Free Reversible Pin Cushion Sewing Tutorial with Sewing Pattern with each purchase of a Pdf Pattern

Unique Gifts !

2009-08-03T15:08:00.006-08:00

How fabulous is this? I love Charity's work at Subearthan Cottage. She repurposes old t-shirts into bags. How green and unique.

You can find more unique gifts by searching Artfire Cafemom Team on Artfire.

Birthday Celebrations

2009-06-15T10:38:00.004-08:00

This year I was very worried that my birthday would be a bummer. My husband is deployed and I am thousands of miles from family.

My birthday was made a blast because I have such wonderful friends. Thursday we played a softball game and my teammates surprised me with a wonderful celebration. They sang and gave up cupcakes and gave me a dozen roses. How special! Then the team sweetened the day by winning our game. Afterwards, I met my friend Kelsey for dinner.

This Saturday came the best celebration. We went out to the bar and club to celebrate my birthday. All 8 of us packed into my Suburban for one heck of a nite. Don't we look beautiful?

Thank you to my wonderful friends who helped to make my birthday awesome. Without you gals I dunno how I would survive this deployment.

Happy Birthday To Me

2009-06-11T13:57:00.004-08:00

Happy Birthday to Me!!!! Today I turn a quarter of a century old!

While my hubby is not here to help me celebrate and the military has taken me far, far away from my lovely family. I do have some awesome friends who will be helping me celebrate. While I would love to get this hunk of a present:

I will settle for just a piece of this:

We are in our NEW Home

2009-06-08T09:11:00.003-08:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging during my move. But I am back!!!!!

We moved in and what a trying time. First the movers were 2 hours late. The movers were here from 1 to 11 pm trying unsuccesfully to move all my items. They brought a truck and two guys and apparently underestimated my move. They also charged by the hour. *gasp* They dropped my armoir and it broke in half. Then the next day I demanded that more movers come as they did not finish moving all my items. So they were here for another 4 hours moving us. The didn't really set up the house or ask where I wanted things. They threw everything in our garage and put the furniture wherever. VERY unprofessional.

Unpacking was a bore-- but I got it done. I have about 5 boxes left to unpack. Im still trying to get the house decorated, photos up. In the meantime I have started buying things to fill the house.

Very exciting to decorate! As it is military housing, I can't paint or anything but I can do themed rooms now! Tons of closet space! Tons of room for Jasmine to run around and play. This house is just soo big and we love it!

Here are some photos. These were taken at 11 pm and before I upacked.

Our house from the front

Our view from the family room

Our kitchen and island.... very roomy

Jasmine's playroom / my office

There is more to the house but this is just some of the downstairs. Just downstairs we have 4 closets, a bathroom, family room, dining room, playroom, pantry and two mud rooms. Upstairs-- 3 bedrooms w/ walk in closets, 2 large baths, laundry room/ craft room with cabinets and shelving !

Here is my daughter being adorable and playing with some beads at a Memorial Day BBQ.

One More week!!!

2009-05-18T09:10:00.002-08:00

One more week until I move into my new house. I am excited! I hate packing, but will be doing lots of packing this week in anticipation. I got to tour my house last week and man am I happy we got this house. It is huge and I hope to post photos when we get in and decorated. I don't have enough furniture to fill it!

I am hoping that the sunny weather continues and I can have a fruitful garden. I have purchased basil, thyme, rosemary, chives, green onions, tomatoes, peppers, snap peas, zuccini, lettuce, mint and cat nip to plant this year. *cross fingers* it goes well.

Ill be updating and blogging more after I get in my new house. Sorry for the lack of comments and posts until then! I hope you all understand!

What makes a great Guild/Team

2009-05-17T09:03:00.001-08:00

Isn't that the question everyone wants to know? How to become a successful guild or team is a new series on Handmade News.

Part one of the article:

http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=993

Choosing the Perfect Guild or Team

2009-05-16T09:32:00.001-08:00

I have written an article for HandmadeNews.org discussing how you should choose the perfect guild or team on handmade venues.

Please go check it out by clicking this link:

http://www.handmadenews.org/article/index.php?id=953

Artfire Cafemom Team!

2009-05-13T20:41:00.001-08:00

A selection from our guild. Search Artfire Cafemom Team to find more items from our talented ladies!

Surgery Center

2009-05-13T09:24:00.003-08:00

Thank you all for the warm Mother's Day wishes! Jasmine and I enjoyed our day out to brunch. I have been MIA trying to pack and prepare for our move!

Here is some laughter for the day, courtesy SNL:

Video Recaps Full Episodes Webisodes

2009-05-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Mother's Day!!!!! I love you Jasmine! You make Mommy's Life so spectacular!

Going to treat myself to brunch with other mommys whose hubby's are gone. So its mommy and daughter day! Hooray! Hope everyone else has a wonderful Moms Day!

Finished Daughter' s Summer Dress!

2009-05-08T08:23:00.004-08:00

Thank you all for the lovely comments yesterday! I really do feel as though I have grown so much in the past year. I will be posting about my trip to Alaska with photos soon! So stay tuned!

Finally heard from the hubby after a few days and he is in a funk. You feel so helpless when your hubby is thousand of miles away and you can hear the emotion in his voice of his sadness. You know a hug be the world for him and you can't. I mean, how do you give a hug over the phone? If ya'll figure it out I would love to know!

I finished my Daughters Summer Dress and loved it soo much! It is such a pretty pattern and the ribbons and buttons really make the dress stand out. The ribbon is sewn on with a machine so it doesn't come off and ties in the back. The ribbons at the top allow the dress to grow with my DD- so when she hits a growth spurt and gets taller, the ribbons tie and adjust to the new height.

The second dress I made after that was of white cotton and had the prettiest floral ribbon. I decided to list it.

I am not sure if you can tell- but my model was completly uncooperative with the photo taking process so I wasn't able to get a good shot of the white dress. I made some tweeks to the pattern and I like how it turned out. These are so beautiful and much easier than a blanket to whip up!

Jazzy Jemz

Im not sure why, but I am moving back into a crochet mood. I think its because I need a change from all the ACU purses I have been doing. I got another order in last nite and I hope that is all for a bit!

I got my embroidery machine fixed!!!! Super excited to start embroidery again. Apparently the machine was not level. LOL.-- Didn't realize the machine had level sensors.

Yesterday I got two phone calls. One from Housing at Ft Richardson. My house is almost done and they scheduled a day for me to do a walk through and get the keys. They also said I could borrow a set of keys and go check out my new house! So that is on the to-do list next week. Ill take photos for ya'll to check it out!

The second phone call made me mad. My landlord called to see if I could have potential renters do a walkthrough . UM- NO! I still live here and frankly haven't cleaned and its a disaster and I still live here. She pushed and said that I wouldn't have to be home and she can just walk them around and they can see if they like the house enough to rent in June.

Hmmm-- what about the lack of insulation in the attic , the windows that still need to be fixed and the kitchn tiles that are bowing and coming off. Don't you need to fix that before hand? I may be moving out- but I have paid to rent the place out until May 31. Why should she invade my privacy by trying to get in before the end of the month?

She still has our security deposit and we are moving out a month before our lease is up -- per a military clause. Do I have any rights to say No. I feel like I do- but she is so darn perisistent it just wore me down. 5 minutes of nos and she still kept insisting that renters need to see the house. I broke down and said yes, only if we are home. I can't wait to get out of this house!!

Looking back...

2009-05-07T07:38:00.001-08:00

It has been one very wild ride this past year. I can't believe where I have come from in such a short period of time.

May was a turning point in my life. An end of old ways and the beginning of new ones.

I had just had my first daughter in Feb. I moved back home with my parents while Scott was in BOLC II and III and then Airborne. He was never in one place long enough that the Army would pay to move us, so we went 5 months without living together.

May was the month that would bring him back into our lives for awhile. May also was when I formally announced I would not return to work after my maternity leave was over. I decided not to go back to the world of counseling drug addicts and the mentally ill. It was not a tough choice, as how could I help others when we were preparing to move across the country! After never living more than 10 minutes from my parents house, even all through college- I was preparing to move across the North America with my newborn and two cats.

Moving to Alaska was the best trip we every had! We drove about 6 hours a day and stopped to view the sights. It took two weeks, and it was wonderful! Even with a teething baby and two cats mewing the whole time! Scott and I got to reconnect after 5 months, and having a baby without him. It was awesome. I will have to blog about that trip and show off the magnificent photos.

Scott and I arrived to Anchorage and he started making his way back into Army life and his new career. Long hours were something new to me. He was working 16-18 hour days and hardly home. I was stuck in Alaska without friends and family, all alone. That truly is tough. I forced myself to make friends and these friendships will last a lifetime! After making friends, I was no longer longly and homesick.

Soon summer ended and made way to fall. Fall in Alaska is tough. The days are dark and long. It is very sad and depressing. To make matters worse, Scott had to leave for NTC for another month to prepare for deployment which was fast approaching.

It was during the fall that I really kick started myself to sew & crochet and make more out of my hobby. I started selling at craft shows and online. This gave me some purpose. I am a busy body and staying at home with my daughter- while wonderful -- was keeping me in idle. Since I couldn't go back to school, making a business is what I started to do.

Scott came back from NTC on Thanksgiving. The rest of the year was a whirlwind of holidays, birthday parties and then the dreaded deployment. The tears, the goodbyes, the anxiety, the irritable husband, the irrational wife, the lack of cuddles and love. The mental seperation before the deployment. The fears.

I underestimated myself. I honestly thought I was going to be sooo depressed. So sad that I would be moving my butt back to Maryland. That so far has not happened. Three months in, i am still going strong. Thanks in part to my deployment buddies and literally keeping myself involved in as many volunteer and business endeavors as possible. I am more than thriving, I am surviving this deployment.

This past year, I think I have shown incredible strength through all the life changes we have gone through as a family. This is my way of patting myself on the back. Everytime I thought something would break me, it didn't. I know now that my marriage can survive my husband being gone more months out of the year than not. Heck, I didn't think I could survive childbirth and the first few months of her life without him. The move to Alaska scared me half to death to loose all my support system due to distance. My niave thoughts are no more. I have grown so much and am grateful to have learned so very much about myself this past year.

Giveaway!!!

2009-05-06T09:29:00.002-08:00

Artfire Cafemom Team is having a 15 item giveaway at their blog!!! Go check them out:

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/05/major-giveaway.html

Also their sale is still going on: http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/05/come-shop-in-our-open-house.html

Today I have a big day of events going on. I am in charge of fundraising for our Battalion. Since they awarded me with a huge plaque and a ceremony announcing me Volunteer of the Month, I feel kickstarted to really work on fundraising. We hope to have a ball and homecoming party for the guys early next year so that is a lot of $$ we need to raise.

This week, we are having two fundraisers- t-shirt sales and a car wash. Talk about a lot of time and energy preparing for these. Our next fundraiser is the ever fun cookbook. Guess who gets to collect and type and prepare a cookbook? Muah.

Yup, lots of fun fundraisers.... Got any good ideas for fundraisers ? I would love to hear them!!!

Leashes and Kids?

2009-05-05T08:35:00.003-08:00

As Jasmine has learned to walk we are constantly playing a game of tag. I try to keep her with me. When I don't have her in a cart when shopping she rarely goes more than 5 feet ahead of me.

I have been talking to my friends as they give their horror stories about run-away kids and how to keep them in line. Most swear by the leash method.

I don't get it. A leash for your child? Its like your child is a dog that can't be kept in line.

Yes, I understand the practicalities of keeping your child tethered to you. You can always have the child near you. No one will kidnap the child and he or she will not get lost. If you have more than one toddler or pre-K , then its easier to handle when they are leashed to you.

What I don't get is why Moms today can't modify their child's tendency to run away. It would be easier on the child and the mom to have the child behave properly. My mom did it, my grandma did it- they certainly didn't have leashes. Call me old fashioned.

I see leashes two fold. While practical for all right safety reasons, it allows moms to let their guard down too much. Kids want freedom, but need to be taught that freedom is allowed inside their home or outdoors on the playground. I think that if Moms use leashes, they are allowing themselves to partially ignore their children.

I know I will get a lot of crap for this post. The bottom line IMO is that if you teach your child to behave properly and stand beside you when shopping that goes a lot further in life than a leash will. Are you going to hone your behavior modification skills now with a 2 year old, or wait until they are 16 and too big for a leash?

I found you!!! Hide and Seek

2009-05-04T12:48:00.002-08:00

One of the events I am coordinating this week for the Artfire Cafemom Team Open House is the Hide and Seek Challenge.

What you do: Browse through our members shops. Each participating shop has a photo of a letter hidden in one of their item listings. Write down each letter. Find all the letters and you will unscramble them to have a phrase. Each day we will give another clue to let you know if you have found all the letters!

What you get: Correctly figure out the phrase and you are entered to win one of 3 $10 gift certificates for use in any participating shop!!! How fun!

Get your seek on! Bet you can't find the letter in my shop ;)

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/05/hide-and-seek-time.html

Artfire Cafemom Team Open House

2009-05-03T11:00:00.001-08:00

This week I am coordinating my guild on Artfire's Open House. Many shops will have a sale going on in their shops. We have lots of talented ladies in our guild and make a variety of items from baby to glass to jewelry to paper goods to original artwork.

Please support other moms (and grandmas) by browsing their shops and supporting handmade mamas!

Here is a list of shops on sale. Feel free to grab the list and help us promote this awesome sale. Goes on until Saturday May 9th!

Jemz – 20% off , free shipping on orders over $30
www.jazzyjemz.artfire.com

Bows for Baby: 15% off items in store, not on custom orders. Free shipping on orders over $20 before shipping.
www.bowsforbaby.artfire.com

Stitch’N Love : 10% off all orders
www.stitchNlove.artfire.com

Spirit Essence Art: 20% off all items, Free shipping on orders over $30
www.spiritessenceart.artfire.com

Creations with Heart: 15% off all items
www.creationswithheart.artfire.com

JewelrybyJanzia: 15% off all items
www.jewelrybyjanzia.artfire.com

Chantilly Lace: 15% off all items
www.chantillylace.artfire.com

Totally Tyra: 15% off all items
www.totallytyra.artfire.com

Diecutz: 50% off all items
www.diecutz.artfire.com

Bittersweet Design Studio: Free Shipping
www.bittersweetdesignstudio.artfire.com

Francisbel Boutique: Free Shipping
www.francisbelboutique.artfire.com

Waters Girls Crafts: 15% off all items
www.watersgirls.artfire.com

By Coco: 15% off all items
www.bycoco.artfire.com

SW Designs: 20% off all items
www.swdesigns.artfire.com

Eddy’s Pressies: Free shipping on all goods over $25 to UK, US and worldwide
www.eddyspressies.artfire.com

Soft Shell Body Shop: 15% off all items, free shipping on orders over $30.00, after discount
www.softshellbodyshop.artfire.com

DJ Storeroom: Free international shipping, international airmail, delivery confirmation and insurance for all items.
www.djstoreroom.artfire.com

Vestque Creations: 50% off all items
www.vestque.artfire.com

SubEarthan Cottage: 10% off all items
www.subearthancottage.artfire.com

Handmade with Love: 20% off items in her store
www.handmadewithlove.artfire.com

Go Blogger Awards!

2009-05-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

My very FIRST blogger award was bestowed upon me yesterday by the very gracious, very sarcastic, very loveable The Obnoxious SAHM. Her blog is a daily read I enjoy and she graciously gave me the Blogger Buddy Award.

Gee I am so honored!

It is an award that goes to blogging friends who you find truly awesome. So I am going to pass on the torch to my blogging friends.

Bows For Baby is one who really roped me into the blogging scene.
Creations with Heart is a regular follower and a fellow crafter.
Boylerpf: you are so awesome and we share a passion for jewelry
Girl in the Glasses- I love your Would you Weds feature
Julia's Sew Sweet- You are great at what you do and I look forward to seeing your creations every day.

Congrats on your awards! Look forward to more interesting posts from you ladies!

Drum roll..... 37 bags

2009-05-02T08:22:00.002-08:00

For those of you who took part in Thursdays Blog asking how many bags it took to rake up my back yard, the answer is 37 filled to the brim bags.

That is a lot of bags for a small yard. I now understand why some people take the lazy way out and buy leaf blowers. Seriously, how tempting would it be just to blow them all into another persons yard?

So yesterday I went over to my new house with some friends to show them where I will be living. Obviously we don't have the keys yet so I couldn't give them a tour of my new larger house.

With my new neighbors watching, we went out and about like peeping toms and peered into the windows. The place is HUGE! I personally love the bay window. I know my Brownie and Raven will love it too.

Speaking of Brownie and Raven...... Jasmine is now saying both of their names. Although she sounds adorable, apparently only mom knows what she is saying.

"Bow - knee caaaat"

How adorable. Then she ruins the moment by pulling "Bow-nee caaaat's" tail. But I figure that is just the torture he needs for the attempted homicide of my camera.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!! And if you haven't voted in the artfire cafemom team challenge- please check it out www.artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com

Weekly Contest: Flowers

2009-05-01T15:04:00.001-08:00

ACT's Weekly contest this week had some great floral entries! Please check it out and vote for your favorite!

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/05/weekly-contest-flowers.html

Gotta love the sweet moments

2009-04-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a cuddle with Mommy Day. Jasmine is getting too stinkin cute. I know I complain when she is cranky and teething or sick. I do have it really easy.

She is getting at the stage where she is trying to be independent but still runs back to me for help. She tries hard to put her socks on and wants to try to dress herself but it all goes awry. She tries to play with the big girls but gets so scared. She tries to feed herself, and well we get a mess.

I'm grateful she is investigating and trying new things. It is so cute when she gets excited about doing and comes waddling back to show me. It is those moments that I love being a proud mommy and saying "YAY!"

Here is where I need some expert advice:

In all the brave new investigating of her world, she will not investigate the outdoor world. She is terrified of being put down on the ground outside. She wails and cries. I try to just stay close and she clings to me. When I go to walk away she has big alligator tears in her eyes and shreeches. We have gone outside every day this week for at least 30 mins at a time. Same routine, different day. She is not acclaimating herself at all.

So how do we overcome this stage?

How many bags does it take

2009-04-30T07:00:00.001-08:00

Guess how many bags it took to rake up all the leaves in my backyard?

Okay that really isn't my bags all lined up in a row on the curb- I don't have OCD, but it comes close to the amount I gave to the trash guy two weeks in a row!

Yes, my hubby was lazy and "forgot" to rake our yard before the big snow came. Mind you, we are in Alaska and we have 3 weeks of fall and before the snow comes- but still..... Our yard has 13 trees in it. It really isn't that big, but we get huge gusts of wind and things seem to collect in our yard. This is a photo of our yard to give you an idea of how large it is.

So two weeks of leaves have been bagged and handed over to the trash guy. If anyone asks how I lost 10 lbs- that is how! Man that is tough work with just a rake and my two hands. Talk about blisters!

How many bags do you think I raked out of this yard?

I won! I won!

2009-04-29T15:46:00.002-08:00

Super duper excited!

I won in Boylerpf 's blog giveaway! Out of 82 comments, my one comment won!

Can't believe it!

This just made my day! Look at this beautiful necklace I will be sporting soon- purple is my favorite!

For more antique and vintage jewelry pieces you can check out her Etsy shop by clicking here.

Woot Woot !!

2009-04-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Here comes the Crazy Train!!! Next stop is Bijoux Designs on Artfire. This shop has some very special jewlery for Moms Day at excellent prices. Click the photo to go to the shop!

Yummy Peanut Butter

2009-04-28T07:16:00.000-08:00

So in my love of Peanut Butter and my PMS state this week I did a search for Chocolate & Peanut Butter. I found some awesome Peanut Butter items in the google search and some came from my second home- Artfire.

Except, when I clicked on one it wasn't a product for me.Found in Divine Canine- It was something for dogs! Don't they look like human PB cookies?

Almost good enough to eat right? now I am craving some homemade PB cookies! Gah!!!!! Guess I need to get on making some yummy cookies today!

Currently on my nightstand

2009-04-27T13:21:00.004-08:00

I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble a bit ago and finally go started reading it. It is called Marked- a vampire book by PC Cast and Kristen Cast.

It certainly isn't the same story as Twilight and frankly, is very teenage. The language is like talking to a high school girl. Its so frustrating to read. Run on sentences, thoughts in left field. I can not get into this book.

And the premise of how one becomes a vampire is completly new to me. They are choosen by the undead and marked on their forehead. Then they go to the House of Night- a school for vampires. The human world is away of this co-existence are are working to find a way to eradicate vampires.

Interesting concept. But, man I can't get past the very 15 years old language. Ill let you all know if I can make it past Chapter 5.

What books are you reading? I need suggestions for some brain stimulating books!

Needing a long hot...

2009-04-27T08:54:00.004-08:00

Needing a long hot bath (you dirty folks probably thought I was gonna say another 4 letter word, huh?)

I am feeling very bloated and sore right now due to that monthly influx of hormones to my body.

Remember those two years of pregnancy & breastfeeding where I didn't have my monthly hurricane of hormones coming down on me to wash me into this bloated, bottled over in pain, bitch of a woman. Can someone knock me up again just so I can avoid the unpleasant side effect of monthly PMS. Please?

My lovely family called this morning and got an earful. I mean, cmon, pick your battles. After I complain to my mother about my new obsession with Pamprin, she promptly goes into a tirad about how I need to visit home more often.

Hmmm, you have never flown your butts out to Alaska, yet I have traveled with my then 10 month old to Maryland. Maybe you can pay $800 for a roundtrip plane fare and get out here.

Then, the DH called. My hubby is in Afghanistan. Far Far Away from my mess here. Yet he got the whole mess of PMS thrown at him-- very rightfully so. He started badgering on about my recent retail therapy.

I ripped him several new holes about how he needs to lay off me- we are a military family and do not need to save money for a new house. We are paying down my student loans. My retail therapy is for fabric for the business, clothes and dinners out. It could be worse. He should thank his lovely stars I am not throwing my daughter at a babysitter and being like some wives who go out and party at clubs and get their therapy by grinding up against other men. I then told him to go somewhere when he started to resist my argument.

The call was suddenly dropped. Poor guy never got service again to call me back. Can someone get me a chocolate bar? Seriously, I am needing chocolate therapy today :(

Im Moving!!!!!

2009-04-25T08:41:00.003-08:00

I am moving! I am super duper excited about this move. Im not going to lie, Im pumped that I am moving into a bigger house!

We got notice that we have a housing unit on post. This house is a 3BDM 2.5 Bath, 2 car garage. It is huge! We have an Artic entry way, a formal sitting room and dining room, a family dining room and living room. We have a huge kitchen with a nice island with bar stools around it. We also have a sweet amount of closet room!

As painful as it is to orchestrate and complete a move all by myself. I am totally pumped to do it.

I wish I could show you guys my photos, but my camera is still recovering from its attempted homicide. See this post for a recap. Doctors tell me it can take up to 12 weeks for recovery. Needless to say my cat Brownie has been charged with the attempted homicide and will go on trial shortly. Stay tuned.

Are you Ping-ing yet?

2009-04-22T23:00:00.003-08:00

If you are like me, spending countless hours updating your status on the various social sites can seem daunting. Ever wish there was a way to do a quick update across the board without logging into every site?

There is a solution!

Check out Ping.

Setting up your free Ping network allows you to update your status, post blogs and other promotions without logging in to those different sites. You don't even have to log in the online Ping dashboard to update your status either, you can simply text message or instant messge your updates and Ping will format them to each of the different sites.

For use with:

Twitter

Myspace

Plurk

Facebook

Blogger

Xanga

Friendster

Delicious

& Many, Many More

Yes, I realize this reads like an infomercial- but what a time saver! ;)

Chocolate Martini Time

2009-04-22T11:25:00.004-08:00

Wow, I am surprised most people don't know what a Chocolate Martini is.

Let me give you a little insight into the awesome, sinful duo of Chocolate and a Martini.

This delectable martini combines all these ingrediants together for an orgasmic shot powerful one two punch of chocolate and vodka that brings me to my knees(figuratively).

1 1/2 shots Godiva® chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 shots creme de cacao
1/2 shot vodka
2 1/2 shots half-and-half

Mix like so:

And enjoy! Trust me, its the best drink on the market if you are a social drinker and want a dessert to the end of your meal without all the calories. Yum!

There is also a white chocolate variety as well. Just as delicious and using the white Godiva and white cocoa liquers.

So next time you order a drink, think about my favorite the chocolate martini!

What is your favorite drink?

25 Random Facts about Me

2009-04-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

25 random things about me.

1. I love to fish, but hate putting a worm on the hook and never keep the fish to eat- I toss Nemo back in the water every time.

2. My favorite drink is a Chocolate Martini

3. I have played softball for 20 years.

4. I like to think I can dance and get my groove on (but a video of me at our wedding proves otherwise).

5. My hubby and I met through Yahoo personals (don't judge!)

6. We have two cats. My cat is named Raven. My hubby the die hard Cleveland Browns fan had to adopt another cat (a bigger cat) and name him Brownie.

7. I grew up in Maryland- and went to a school that a documentary was made of called "Heroin High"

8. I used to work with drug addicts and do home visits on them- even if they were not sober- talk about scary walking into a drug deal!

9. I have epilepsy.

10. I want 6 kids.

11. I always wished I was a twin

12. My sister and I were baptized together. I was 18 when I came to know Him.

13. I love to volunteer my time

14. I wish I had finished grad school - my MSW

15. I am obsessed with collecting Precious Moment figurines. Someone buy me a curio cuz Jasmine knocks all of them over.

16. I wanna hug a polar bear while in AK (I know I am crazy).

17. I am a huge crafter- and am obsessed with watching Martha Stewart

18. I am obsessed wtih shopping. Although before I would shop for me, now I love to shop for Jasmine. Luckily I handle the finances in our house.

19. I am forever jealous of my sister and how awesome she is. She will be great- I know it. She is a smartie and is going places. Look out politicians in Washington D.C.

20. I am huge on denial. I had a hamster that died for weeks and I ignored the smell and just thought he was sick. My hermit crab was dead in a month and I kept him in his tank because he never moved much anyway and was sick. Those are just mild examples of my denial.

21. I want to buy a house for my future family of 8.

22. I died once. I had a fever so high ( I have heard it was 105) and I was 2. I stopped breathing and was dead in my grandmas arms. EMTs arrived and resusitated me. I have scars in my brain and on my heart from this ordeal.

23. I fear that my parents will prematurly die. I fear this about all those around me. It is my worst fear.

24. I have little tact and am socially awkward.

25. I love gross humor.

Searching for Jasmine

2009-04-20T12:20:00.005-08:00

So , as I am trying to distract myself from my daughter as she cries her cranky sour puss butt to sleep, I search on Artfire for Jasmine.

I found this awesome shop of candles that I had to post about. He is THE Candle Guy.

This candle is entitled "Rain Water" Click on here to see the item.

His description is fabulous:

"The candle fragrance “Rain Water” is best described as a white floral bouquet of carnation, lily and crisp white grapefruit. The heart is a very nice blend of jasmine, tuberose, cyclamen and violet. The base gently combine’s vanilla beans, East Indian sandalwood, rose crystals, and aromatic musk. The hot and cold scent throw is excellent, certainly a room sized fragrance. This is a light blue candle at the top blending into a royal blue color with streaks at the bottom and weighs one pound. "

How can a candle with jasmine sound so alluring & calming as my Jasmine screams her head off. Seriously, I need this candle to counteract my stress.

Can someone help me find my hair

2009-04-20T11:40:00.003-08:00

Cuz seriously I think I may have pulled it all out!

Its funny how difficult single parenting can be. Although I am technically not a single parent, this deployment has made me one.

Jasmine is teething and has what apprears to be another head cold or sinus infection. YUCK!

So she is cranky and monopolizing my time.

Can mommy have a time out please?

Outraged over the Neglect

2009-04-17T08:56:00.004-08:00

As a horse lover I am outraged.

This morning while watching NBC's Today show, I started crying.

They showed the story about a horse racer who owned 177 Thoroughbred horses who he has neglected to the point of near death. They were eating wood fences, mud, ice. Lice, parasites, leasions all over their body. No health care, no food, severly dehydrated and malnorished. All were near death.

The Humane society has come in an rescued the horses, which are being taken care of medically and need loving homes.

Here is video of the story and information for adoption of these loving horses. If you are animal lover, you will be outraged and may cry.

http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/17/1895781.aspx

I DO NOT understand how someone can be that thick that he can not see the obvious maltreatment of his animals. To blaime their care takers and his mismangement. I hope you go to jail and do your time for the 22 counts of animal cruelty. I hope you never enter the horse racing ring again.

Need your vote!

2009-04-16T10:19:00.002-08:00

I entered an artist contest with my guild and would appreciate your vote!
My entry is #4--Jemz- Carnival Bloom Splat Mat

Thanks my faithful followers!

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-weekly-artisian-challenge-is-under.html

ACT Giveaway : Earrings

2009-04-15T20:07:00.003-08:00

Reminder to everyone to check out Artfire Cafemom Team's giveaway! One lucky winner will receive these very spring earrings!

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/04/giveaway-4-abitofcolor.html

Celebrity Look alike

2009-04-15T09:49:00.007-08:00

Happy tax day!!!! Don't these celebrities look like sisters?

Zooey Deschanel (actress-Yes Man) and Katy Perry (singer)

These two are really sisters though- Zooey and her sister Emily from the t.v. show Bones. I didn't know that! Both are awesome actresses !

Easter Recap

2009-04-14T08:45:00.003-08:00

Easter was something that I dreaded this year. With Scott being deployed and having our first Easter all the way up in Alaska without any family , I thought it would be disappointing.

Pleasantly it wasn't. My friend Kelsey and her daughter came over for dinner and we had a blast just eating a ham dinner and lounging afterwards.

Jasmine went bonkers for her Easter basket. She is a chocolate fiend already at 14 months old.

This is a photo of the destroyed Easter basket. There was a stuffed bunny in there , which promptly got flung out in an effort to make way for the chocolate.

So in talking with moms around the area, it never occured to me that a child can be "too little" for an Easter basket. Some moms forgo the Easter Bunny basket until the child is older and can grasp the concept of the Easter traditions. Others simply go over the top with a basket, candy and presents.

So how young did you start your Easter traditions? How much did you spend? What kinds of things do you give for presents?

2009-04-12T10:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Easter everyone!!!!

Class of 2002

2009-04-11T08:05:00.002-08:00

Last nite I was listening to this internet radio station that played nothing but songs from the year I graduated high school- 2002.

Talk about a flashback!

You know how a song can bring back memories? These songs reminded me of hearing that last bell ring and racing to get to my car just to drive to Burger King and hang out with my friends. While I "raced" to get out of my high school, I would be jamming to some of these songs on the radio. When I was chilling with my high school sweetheart we would be listing to these songs. Two words: Senior Week.

Get The Party Started, Pink
Hot In Herre, Nelly
Ordinary Day, Vanessa Carlton
Girlfriend, 'N Sync
What's Luv?, Fat Joe f/ Ashanti
Where Are You Going, Dave Matthews Band
Your Body Is A Wonderland, John Mayer
U Got It Bad, Usher

Class of 2002, what a great year! What songs were came out in your graduation year that bring a flood of memeries back to you?

Attempted homicide of my camera

2009-04-09T07:57:00.009-08:00

My camera fell while I was trying to capture a video of Jasmine and I. Thank you Brownie (yeah the one that can't hit the brakes and runs into a wall).

I had the camera posed on my desk and was capturing Jasmine and I sending Scott a video of her walking. Brownie wanted to get in on the action and jumped up on the desk.

Like slow motion, the camera wobbled and started falling.

Falling

I start rushing forward leaving my teetering daughter behind and jump to catch the camera.

CRASH!!!!

The camera braced its fall on my Singer sewing machine.

It hit exactly where the metal rod holds my thread. A verticle metal rod stabbed my camera.

It landed right on the LCD screen-- shattering.

It still takes photos- but I do not have an eye viewer. Luckily I do have a service plan with Ritz to fix or replace it. But is there a Ritz in Alaska- um no.

My camera was pushed off a cliff by my large cat and stabbed by a jutting rod upon landing. Do you think Brownie will see jail time for this attempted homicide?

Celebrity Look Alike Day

2009-04-08T08:37:00.005-08:00

New segment today! Celebrity Look alike! Today's contestents are :

Robert Downey Jr vs Danny Goeke (American Idol)

Look alike- yay or nah?

Giveaway- beenie

2009-04-07T11:16:00.004-08:00

My Artfire Cafemom Team is having a giveaway! A beenie is being given away by Bows For Baby.

To enter, its as simple as a comment. Go check it out! Ends Thursday!

http://artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome-to-giveaway-3.html

Crazy cats

2009-04-06T07:35:00.003-08:00

So we have two cats in this house. They are loco crazy. Seriously its like having a toddler and a 6 year old. here.

Raven is the older kitty and my cat. Very docile, but he is the alpha male.

Browie is going on 2 years old. He is still very kittenish. He is one large orange tabby.

Last nite as I was getting ready for bed I hear them at the french patio doors. I also hear this sound I have never heard like animal squeak.

Brownie was running from one end of the house to the other in excitement and never kicking the brakes on in time and using the wall and the door to stop him.

Raven is crouched ready to attack.

I hear the noise again. I look for a mouse or a bird or something. Hear it again and think well maybe its a grasshopper.

Hear it again and see Raven shaking his butt. So I go over to where they are and just watch them.

There is a bird right outside our patio window staring at Raven.

Raven opens his mouth.

He is the one chirping.

No, he did not bag himself a bird. He has mastered the art of talking to birds.

Seriously, this cat was chirping in response to the birds chirp.

Mixed bag of news

2009-04-05T07:32:00.005-08:00

First off, thank the Lord for a 45 minute conversation with my husband last nite. I needed that. I needed to hear his voice and unload. I unloaded a lot of my frusrations onto my husband in Afghanistan. We talked business, we talked FRG, we talked family.

So, he has been offered a scholarship via the Army to advance his career. He just has to pledge at least 3 years for every year they pay of schooling. Now the hubby already has an AA, BS, MBA and certification in Regulatory Compliance.

What more can he go to school for? Well this program is to get his doctorate or a masters of his choice. Going to school full time while still getting the pay and benefits he would if he was active. He isn't sure if he wants to be a Ph.D or a become another Master candidate.

So... what that means for us. If he gets applys & accepted. He will be going to school full time. It also pretty much confirms he has a desk job for his career in the Army. So it will be bases with Army hospitals that we will go to after we PCS from here.

Also, can I just say if he goes to school full time for a doctrate or masters I think we will be splitting hairs at home with all that tension. Seriously, you already have a Masters. Let me finish mine!!!

Sweet hubby just wanted my blessing to fill out the application. Of course Itold him that his desire to get another degree are only going to benefit our family and we will live with him going back to school full time. Eventually I will finish my masters in social work..... one day

My hubby (on left) in Afghanistan with two of his medics.

The Day has come!

2009-04-04T19:02:00.004-08:00

My darling daughter is walking!

She has been taking steps but falls after 4 or 5. Now she is walking from one side to the other.

I am super excited! This milestone is a big one. Just wish daddy were here to see it. Alas, no video will get some soon!

Newest Project!

2009-04-03T14:08:00.003-08:00

Now that I have somewhat caught up to my stack of items to sew. I am embarking on something new and exciting.

I am making my 13 month old daughter her very own Easter dress! The pattern I am using is a Simplicity 2767- Project Runway inspired children's dress. The style on the right in the photo is what I plan on using.

I will be using this fabric. The blue is the primary fabric- a pastel blue. The sash in the middle of the dress will be the floral print. Tulle will be used underneath to make the dress poofy!

I can't explain how excited I am to start this! I will post photos of my little model in her dress when it is all complete!

Feeling accomplished

2009-04-01T10:54:00.004-08:00

I feel like I have been going and going and going lately.

Last nite I finished my final Bragg Bag. All ACU purses are done, and I will probably get some more this month with all the upcoming FRG meetings. I am excited to finally start working on items for me. Well not me, but my daughter.

I have new fabric that I can't wait to cut into and use for a Easter dress for my little bug. She will look so cute in the pastel blue dress. I am excited to start working on that today!

Heard from Scott and we have a converstation like we are always good at doing. Poking fun at each other just enough to get a laugh. He was having a tough day and really enjoyed talking to me. I could tell he was happier afterwards. I love him dearly and can't wait til Oct for R&R. He is already trying to figure out what he wants to do then.

Can I stop being insane today?

2009-03-31T08:32:00.006-08:00

Work work work. I feel like all I have been doing lately is working on pre-ordered items. My to sew pile keeps getting higher as I finish products. I am grateful to have orders come in, but right now my daughter is teething and very needy.

She is getting her year molars in. She is 100% clingy and whiny and and any remenents of my sanity is gone. When she is feeling good (ie when the Tylenol kicks in) she becomes the baby that wants to take over the world or destroy it at the same time.

Anyone who has seen my daughter go into hypermode knows what I am talking about. She races about like she just had a bunch of sugar, crawling everywhere, throwing toys and being very mischevious & cute.

Then in a split second she becomes whiny, clingy and won't let you leave the room If you are in the same room, she needs to be on your lap or hip as if her life depended on it . She claws her way up your leg and burries her nails into your shoulder in anticipation you may put her down.

Today I hope to get a break from it all. She is going in daycare for 4 hours. I need to get my sanity back.

How to make a Crochet Hook Roll Up

2009-03-28T12:38:00.006-08:00

Being a crochet enthusiast, I set out to make a stylish crochet hook roll up that will keep my crochet hooks safe and not misplaced. I also thought that it would be nice to have my scissors in the same place, so I am not always looking for them together. This small crochet roll up is small enough to toss in your bag so you can crochet on the go.

Here is how I made it with photos:

You will need:

Two compliment fabrics- one for the exterior and interior

Cut two 12x8 inch pieces from the exerior fabric

Cut one 12x8 inch piece from the interior fabric

cut one 11x7 inch piece of fusible interfacing

18 inches of complimentary ribbon or bias tape for closure

Thread

Before you start it is a good idea to prewash all fabric and press all wrinkles out. In my demo, the floral print is the exterior print and the pink is the interior and the tie-closure.

Take one of the 12x8 pieces of exterior fabric and fold it in half and press it. This will become the pocket for your crochet hooks.

Next, take your fusible interfacing and iron it on to the wrong side of the exterior print. Follow the directions for the fusible interfacing.

After you put the interfacing on, you will take your folded piece of exterior fabric and line the unfinished edges with the bottom unfinished edge of the interior fabric. The folded edge of the exterior fabric will be in the middle of the interior fabric and the unfinished will all line up. You will pin to mark where the crochet hooks will go. For mine, I left a 2 inch space on one side for the scissors to be placed, then I marked 1 inch over for each crochet hook. This allowed room for 10 hooks. If you want to alter the spacing to fit more hooks, you may.

After all the pining was done, I sewed a straight line down from the top of the folded edge of the pocket to the bottom unfinished edge. I would recommend reverse stitching to improve the strength and durablility of your Hook Roll.

After the spacing was complete, you move on to attaching the interior of the hook roll to the exterior. You will sew an invisible seam for the hook roll.

Place the right sides of the interior/pocket and exterior fabric together I begin pinning by placing my tie closure. Fold your ribbon or bias tape in half. Then attach the tie closure where the folded pocket begins in the center of the hook roll. Be sure to put your loose ends of tie closure inside the the hook roll, don't dangle it outside where you plan to sew.

Pin all around the outside. Sew a 1/4 inch seam around the outside raw edges of the hook roll. Be sure to leave a inche opening in the seam. This opening will allow you to turn your Hook Roll insdie out, leaving an invisible seam.

Here is where I left an opening in the seam. I recommend not leaving the opening near the bottom where the hooks are going to placed in a pocket OR near where the tie closure is sewn in. Put the opening on the top of the hook roll.

Next you will turn the insides out. Be sure to turn all the corners outward as well. Once this is done, you will use a slip stitch to finish the hoook roll. If you need help with a slip stitch see this video

The finished product will look like this with the crochet hooks in it.

To roll the Hook Roll, you will fold the excess fabric on the top down like so. This helps keep the crochet hooks from falling out. And roll the end without the tie closure towards the end with the tie closure. Tie and you are set !

To purchase a hook roll or other crochet items, please check out my shop The Tangled Skein.

The last day for the Nursing Cover giveaway

2009-03-26T20:30:00.001-08:00

Is Friday so go check out the blog- as I am giving a way a nursing cover to one lucky commenter!

Waves of Rainbow

2009-03-26T12:21:00.004-08:00

Thank you all for commenting and giving me words of support yesterday. I was feeling sad and down and needed to hear it was okay.

I just finished a new crochet baby afghan. I am soo proud of myself. This thing seemed to take forever because I had to stop after each color and add the next. It was quite time consuming but looks fabulous!!!

Here Jasmine is helping model. I hope the sun comes out today so I can get better photos!

I am going to be listing it in my crochet shop: http://www.thetangledskein.etsy.com/

It hurts

2009-03-25T08:39:00.004-08:00

I know this may sound bizarre to alot of women who may not be part of the military life. It may sound bizarre to those that are married to the military too.

It hurts when he calls.

Yes, I am grateful.

Yes I am happy he is safe and in sound mind.

Yes I am happy he tells me he loves us and misses us and wants to come home.

But everytime he calls it is another reminder that he isn't coming home for a while. It hurts to know that it isn't just another day at work. Its a year long seperation not by choice. Hearing him with a 5 sec delay and then having him leave to tend to an emergency only makes my fears surface.

He calls in the morning almost every other day. Yes, I know I should count my blessings but it brings the reality to the forefront.

I cope by being in denial. I cope by thinking he is just off in training and not off to war. When he calls my auto pilot gets turned off. I stop being in denial and have to face the true emotions of war.

Lets pray he never stops calling....

To dye or not to dye

2009-03-24T10:13:00.004-08:00

So I recently got several inches cut of from my hair. It is now an angled bob with the front longer than the back. Now I have to decide whether I want to dye my hair a lighter shade for the summer, do hi-lights or just keep it as is? Please give me some direction, I am hair -challenged.

Brand new bag completed!

2009-03-23T15:26:00.006-08:00

I finished another military purse! I hope she likes it! This one I think I will name Roxy Knoxy. Her hubby is airforce- so that is the uniform used.

What do you think? The outside of the bag has her last name embroidered on it

Inside there are two smaller pockets and one large on. Magnetic clasp.

www.mybraggbags.etsy.com

Simon and Seaforts oh lala

2009-03-22T09:22:00.002-08:00

What can I not say about Simons? A pal and I seem to frequently dine at this wonderful restaurant in Anchorage. FABULOUS! fabulously pricey too... but ya gotta treat yourself right?

It overlooks Cook Inlet in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. Wonderful service.... Wonderful mohitos... oh and their Halibut Cheeks are to die for-- soaked in some asiago sauce over mashed potatos. YUMmmmm

Funny things happen when hot momma dress themselves up and look fabulous. They get carded. Here is the funniess. My friend Kelsey was told her id was fake. The girl said it was flimsy and tried to snap it in half. Kelsey was like, um no thats my drivers license.... see the hallogram. The girl still was bending it back and forth saying it wasn't thick enough for a drivers license and she was going to have to get her manager.

Kelsey whipped out her military id and gave a look to the lady like "haha showed you, now bring me my mohito!"

So yeah, we drank half the mohitos before realizing they were not the ones we orders, so she replaced them for free! woohoo!

Here we are looking so fly. Thats Cook Inlet behind us. im on the left and Kelsey is on the right and that is our Alaska Halibut Cheek dinner and the mohitos:

Yarn Giveaway !

2009-03-19T13:19:00.003-08:00

Check out this yarn giveaway over on stardustshoes blog.

She is giving away not one, but two skeins of lovelyBerroco Seduce #4330 in Earth Stone.

Click here to enter.

Getting pumped!

2009-03-18T09:48:00.004-08:00

So everything seems to be falling into place. I have a new endeavor that I have been working on behind the scenes of my other two online businesses. I have been making military handbags.

They seem to be really popular and I am consistently getting orders! woohoo! But now am at a crossroads. Do I want to go legit and put my stuff online? They are all custom made and take time. It is not like I make a product and sell it, I make demo bags and photo them for custom orders.

Anyway, the reason why I am happy is because a third battalion just asked me to fundraise with them by selling the bags! Woohoo!!!

wowzer

2009-03-17T12:57:00.003-08:00

So my Sunday and Monday went by so quickly. It was a whirlwind.

At dinner at Red Robin with some friends my friend went into labor!!!!!! I have known her since we moved to Alaska and when she told me she was having a baby she was so elated. Sunday nite she was craving a Whiskey BBQ burger and forced me to go to Red Robin. I swear, it was like she knew just how to convince me I needed to eat out for dinner.

At dinner she was having contractions. In denial , she swore they were Braxton Hicks. Nah, cmon my bud and I knew better. So we ate dinner as she clutched her abdomin. She finally called the hospital and they told her to go in. Without a beat, Kelsey and I went into go mode taking charge and telling Sarah what we were going to do to help. I took her toddler while Kelsey decided to take her to the hospital.

So before we leave, we make sure its okay to leave her car at Red Robin. The manager comes over and tries to do small talk telling Sarah to make sure to have the kids first birthday at Red Robin. Seriously, cmon guy she is in labor!

Oh Kelsey and I didn't forget out milkshakes to go either. hehe.

Sarah called me around 11pm and tells me they are releasing her and she will be by to pick up her daughter. Next Txt I get is from Kelsey saying they are taking her to ther OR for c-section.

After getting through the nite with a toddler who wanted to snuggle all nite and my toddler who was jealous, we heard the good news that Baby Alister was born! yay!!!! Kelsey helped with the delivery and blogged about it here.

Alister Reekie was born on the same day two years later, as his only sister. Daddy is proud he only has to remember one birthday for both. Daddy Cody was able to fly in and see his son hours after his birth.

The day Alister was born I also had to help my other friend whose family suffered a terrible loss. She lives about 45 mins away and needed a ride to the airport- about 1.5 hours from her house. I offered to help prior to all the labor and delivery. So , with the two kids, we drove around for 4 hours on monday playing taxi. If you have kids you know that makes them cranky.....

Very tough and exhausting 24 hours, but the good news at the end of the day, I got a phone call from Scott. He is doing well and is safe over there!

Fake hair for babies

2009-03-15T14:28:00.004-08:00

So my daughter has hardly any hair for her age. There are these headbands you can put on your child to make him/her have hair. no lie- its a headband with fake hair on it.

For $29.95 that is a rip off. My daughter would grab it and yank it off in a nanosecond and proceed to chew on the hair.

Where do people come up with this stuff?
http://www.babybangshairband.com/index2.php

How to place ads on Project Wonderful

2009-03-14T11:58:00.008-08:00

I have gotten many questions about placing ads on Project Wonderful. Project Wonderful is a website that links advertisers to websites in need of advertising. Its like an Ebay for the advertising world.

You can find Project Wonderful at http://www.projectwonderful.com/

In order to place bids on ad space you need to have $5.00 in your account. You can paypal the money to Project Wonderful. Ad space starts as low as pennies for a day. Very affordable!

When you enter the site, you want to sign up and confirm your account. You need to do this prior to placing any ads.

After you confirm your account, you can upload your ads. You can make text ads or graphic ads. Your ads can be animated or not. The sky is the limit. There are many options for the size of your ads as well.

Once you have signed to your account you may upload your ads. On the top left corner, click "My ads". A screen will pop up looking like this:

On this screen you have varying options for the size of you advertisement. Make sure your advertisement fits inside these parameters or your advertsment will be pixelated. Project Wonderful does not resize ads to fix the boxes. You are not limited in how many advertisements you can upload. However, the sites you bid on may only allow one type of ad size. You can not put a banner size ad in a square ad space.

Once you have choosen your ad size, the next screen will prompt you to ad the link to the page you wish to advertise for. Type in the link to your homepage. Make sure it is accurate! The second box asks for the text your cursor will show to the page. For my Artfire shop, I put "Jemz Artfire Shop". You can be formal with your text or cutesy. "Take me there" "Going Shopping" are some cute ones. You will last title your ad.

Next step is to upload your ad. You must choose what type of rating/content it is. Some ads if they are explicit will not be placed on certain sites.

Once you have uploaded your ads, you can bid on the sites that will have your advertisement placed on them. Let the bidding begin!! Go to "place new bid" in the top left corner. This screen will pop up:

This is the search screen for Project Wonderful. On the left you choose which ad spots you want to search for based on size. The next column is for the Catagory of the ad space. So which genre site do you wish to target. For Jemz- I sell Baby items, so I click "Parenting & Kids". I generally don't go to the third column to filter the results- but you can explore that if you would like.

The next button will take you to your results. Let me explain how to read this page, as it may be confusing for some. Your screen will look like this:

The second column shows you what size ad space is available (banner, square, etc.)

The third column is the site that has advertising through Project Wonderful. Click the hyperlink under the name to view the website.

Under publisher- this is simply the sellers profile name This name may not be the same name as the site that is selling the ad space.

The next two columns are one of the more important columns to look at. It is how I discerne whether I want to put my ad on that page. The current page views and average page views. This shows you how much traffic goes to the site. The more traffic=more potential visitors to your site.

You may also want to see if there site receives consistent traffic by viewing the trends. The views for today may be high if they are running a special blog or giveaway. But if the graph shows consistent visitors, then the site has traction and is a great site to place an ad.

The next column shows you the price for the current bid. Generally the more traction the site has, the higher the bids. Project Wonderful allows the highest bidder to get the ad space. This is the column to look at to see if you can afford an ad on the site. Bids prices are per day. You DO NOT pay for however many clicks your ad gets. This per day payment of advertisment prevents fraud (ie someone clicking your ad a gazillion times to make money for the host site). I LOVE the per day rate - which is why I think Project Wonderful is Wonderful !

If you click the last column where it says more details, you can get more details about the potential ad space. It tells you information about the site, the current ads on the site. People who refer traffic to this site. Where in the world the visitors come from. Graphs to show traffic.

Check this page out prior to placing bids. I encourage you to understand the sites before putting your money into an ad on that site.

If you like the site and want to place a bid, click "place bid". These screens below will pop up. One is the top half, the other is the bottom half when you scroll down.

Choose the ad you wish to run. You must place a maximum bid (which you can go back and raise if needed). When you bid, you can put a time frame on how long your bid is active. The default is 30 days. You may also put a cap on how much money you are interested in paying for ad space. This way you don't have a bid for $5.00 a day for 30 days. You can cap your bid for $50.00 and have your ad up for 10 days. However, if you lose out, you can increase your bid for that ad space. If you don't rebid, and someone elses ad expires, your ad may be placed in that spot if it has not expired.

If you are still confused, please check out this link:

https://www.projectwonderful.com/aboutauctions.php

Addies Hat Part 1

2009-03-11T13:25:00.004-08:00

One of my buddies enlisted me to crochet her a cap. She was unsure which color combo she would like more, so I told her I would crochet both. Here is the first one. Its black and pink. Hope ya like!

The Tangled Skein

The day that keeps giving me hell

2009-03-09T19:06:00.005-08:00

Yah its been a bad day.

Bad in the sense that my daughter still is vomiting 6 days after our intial ER visit for a high fever, vomiting and a febrile seizure. Still sick, and the doctors just continue to say its a nasty virus and they can't do anything for poor dehydrated bug. Yeah, love military health care.

Then, lets see, last nite in the dark and ice of my driveway- I backed the tow hitch of my Suburban into my garage door. After pounding on the steel door for a half hour, I gave up trying to fix it and called a garage repair guy. In 5 minutes he fixed it and charged $85.00 WHAT!

Oh and theres more.....

My Suburban which I only drive once a week as its a gas hog-- I drove yesterday into town to go to a fabulous pizza house called the Mooses Tooth with some girls of mine. Well I parked next to a little Yellow VW bug. This morning, guess what I find on my car. Yellow paint scraping my black paint off the right rear of my car. Yup, their mirror put two scratchs all on the side of my car. A hit and run. I got an estimate to repair and my deductable is $500 and they want $425 to repair two straight , almost key marks on my car.

So, then just to top off my day. My wonderful daughter decides to grab my glasses for the umpteenth time. So they snap and break. My only pair of glasses. So I am blind as a bat. Seriously , my nick name in middle school was Mole if that gives you any idea of how bad my eyesight is. No appointments for three weeks at teh military eye doctor.

FABULOUS. Anyone else wanna share their worst day experiances?

I did photograph a new item. An Awesome Newsboy Cap in Eggplant:

The Tangled Skein

New group I belong to

2009-03-09T12:25:00.002-08:00

Hi everyone! Over on Artfire I have started a new group just for moms. Artfire Cafemom Team! We already are rocking over 100 members strong in less then a week. We have some pretty talented ladies in our group. Please go check out our new blog for the Artfire team:

www.artfirecafemomteam.blogspot.com

Artfire

2009-03-06T17:43:00.003-09:00

I love it. I joined and became verified. It is the new and better version of Etsy. A place to sell your handmade items.

There are so many talented, crafty people on Artfire. The staff is awesome. They answer my questions immediately. There is no relisting items, and the searches pull up randomly. So your items never get burried by people relisting every day.

Best part, you can list 1 item or 1,000 items and its only $7.00 a month.

Jimminy Cricket! Go sign up now- whatcha waiting for?

http://www.jazzyjemz.artfire.com/

What have you cut back on?

2009-02-19T20:54:00.003-09:00

With the economy in a recession , what have you cut back on in your expenses? What have you decided are frivilous purchases?

For us in our house, we are making more homemade dinners and I have been giving LOTS of handmade gifts. We also are becoming more green by making our own laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. It works!

Un BUH lievable Day

2009-02-18T19:38:00.001-09:00

UN-BUH lievable Day

I can not believe me today. Seriously I am asking myself "What the hell are you thinking?"
So we are on day 3 of the deployment and my mind is in a haze. I left my oven on last nite. Yup, coulda burned the house down. But that is not what is scary.

Today I had a car accident and didn't even realize it. Yup, I was a hit and run. No I didn't hit a person. I hit another moving vehicle.

One thing you must understand, up here in Alaska when it snows and snows, plows don't use salt to melt the ice. Salt attracts moose. They move as much snow as possible and then lay down gravel for traction. Sometimes you can't even see the pavement. If you are lucky enough to be traveling on the pavement, you are not going to see the lines. They are washed away by all the snow and moisture. So traveling on a 3 lane highway you must stay in the tire tracks- as there are no lines.

So driving 65 mph on a highway, minding my own. Lost in my thoughts, I go to turn on the seat warmer. I hear a smack on the side of the car. I look over and see the side mirror flat on the side of the car. I look down at my hand and assumed I pressed a button to get the mirror to turn in. I press the button to turn it back out.

So I pull up to a stop light and this car pulls up beside me. The driver motions for me to roll down the window and proceeds to bitch me out. WTH??? SHe is screaming because she says I hit her car and drove off. Tells me I was crowding her side of the road. Now she has a freaking old ass Suburban. Her side mirror wasn't even broken. It looked like it was popped out a bit.
Nothing she couldn't pop back in. No scratches, or broken mirror on her cheap plastic mirror- nothing.

So I question wheter we even hit each other. Since I didn't feel anything, clearly it couldn't have been a huge hit, maybe just a clip. I ask if she was the one in my lane because I was following the tire tracks of the person 4 feet in front of me. She told me it was her lane I was driving into. She continued that it was my fault, but she used less intelligent words. She then told me that I knew I was at fault because I continued to drive. I drove like 500 feet after the sound and my thoughts were that I pressed a button. Before I could explain or ask if she lost traction or slipped on some ice and clipped my car, she rolled back up her window and drove off as the light turned green.

Now, if I were at fault, don't you think you would have asked for information?

So I parked at the next exit in an IHOP and checked my car. Perfectly fine. Not even a scratch on the outside paint of my mirror.

Still dunno what happened, but at least my car is fine.

1/2 my heart...

2009-02-13T12:27:00.003-09:00

Half my heart is leaving. How can it be so?

Yes, I knew what I was "getting in to". But that doesn't make leaving any easier.

As the troop surge in Afghanistan begins, so does my heartache.

My darling daughter is turning 1 year in a few days. Imagine a whole year of her life missed. She loves her daddy so much and he regretfully is being take away to help another country establish peace.

Its tough times in this house as we prepare to takeoff in our first deployment. Anxiety is high; tears keep flowing; anger and frustration are also thrown into the mix.

Just keep all troops in your minds. 4,000 families from our brigade are going to be deploying. I can't fathom how many solider's family & friends are saddened by this deployment.

http://www.adn.com/front/story/677925.html

Flying out

2008-12-19T17:30:00.000-09:00

Ahhh going home for the holidays. What bliss. Flying out on a red eye tonite. Hope to be in MD tomorrow afternoon. I hope that my LO is good on the flight. She is 10 mo old and a handful sometimes. So active at this age.

Merry Christmas ya'll!

Increase traffic to your Etsy site

2008-12-14T13:53:00.003-09:00

Here a fellow pro Etsy store explains how to increase traffic to your store. How to make advertising work for you $10 into 1000 views. How to make your Etsy store the top of the google search page. He has put up many links to follow for each subject all on one blog. Take it from him, hes been on Etsy for a year and half and has over 1,000 sales:

http://timothyadamdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/11/increase-your-etsy-traffic.html

Cool toys

2008-12-10T21:52:00.007-09:00

So a new hot item I have been selling at the craft shows and have custom orders in the queu for are my new toys!

Im really excited about the I Spys and the Crayon Rolls I have made. Some of my crayon rolls have been purchased by a local boutique and they are hugely popular with kids these days..

The I Spy is the original handheld game! I have a photo list of items on the back side and the front has a vinyl double sealed opening to peak in and spy the treasures inside.

I have some listed in my etsy shop but I have lots of color choices to choose from! Last day for Christmas Delivery is 12/16 . Hurry and get your orders in today!

www.jazzyjemz.etsy.com

My newest purchase!

2008-12-02T11:32:00.003-09:00

I was browsing the shops on Etsy this weekend and found this awesome shop called Ollie Ollie: http://www.ollieollie.etsy.com/

All original prints designed and created by the shop owner Amariah.

For those that read, you know we live in Alaska so when I saw this, I had to have it! I plan on putting it up in my daughter's room.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vt_related_3&listing_id=18099349

Then she has some Holiday Cards: which I purchased as well. The shop owner is so sweet she threw in a freebie for me too. So family and friends check out the holiday cards you might be receiving:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17752138

My SUV ran me over

2008-11-15T16:00:00.000-09:00

So I park the car after going to a meeting tonite. Mind you my driveway is completely shoveled and although on an incline, the car parked fine. I put the e-brake on. Go inside. Put Jas to sleep. Gather up the trash for trash day tomorrow. Go drag the bag of trash outside. (so its been like 20 mins).
I turn around after putting the trash at the end of the drive and what to my wondering eyes see--- why yes, its a suburban barrelling down on me. I jump to the side and land in the snow. Barely escaping his 1/2 ton tow. Realizing the car is heading down to the house... i jump to my feet and race to pop the door open and hit the brake.
It didn't hit anything (thank you Lord). I pulled it to the curb thinking that didn't we just pay $1500 for a new E-brake job? There wasn't too much ice on my driveway as I had scraped pretty well. I just can't believe that an e-brake on the rear would not hold and keep my car from baralling towards me and the neighbors house.

Sneek Peek at New items

2008-11-11T15:18:00.007-09:00

The ideas just keep flowing... Here are some of the new items I have been working on. Check back frequently as more are rolling off the production line! http://www.jazzyjemz.etsy.com/

Splat Mat - vinyl covering. measures approximatley 54X44 inches. Machine washable. Air Dry only.

Christmas Items--- more coming soon

Long sleeve, turtleneck onesie with Christmas tree and Polar Bear, Christmas bib.

Missing him

2008-11-09T14:37:00.001-09:00

Just in a funk. Missing my hubby. Haven't heard from him in a while. Won't hear from him til after 11/21. I hate it when they go in the "box" and simulate what it is like in war.

It doesn't help that my daughter is too iritable . I need a break.

My booties

2008-11-08T13:00:00.000-09:00

Okay I tried to make some booties. They don't fit Jasmine but they turned out great. I tried enlarging the pattern and making them in cloth- but it didn't work.

Here are the cloth bottom shoes and the Blue Suede Shoes.

I was tagged!

2008-11-07T20:49:00.000-09:00

THE RULES:*** Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.*** Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.*** Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.*** Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I have died. Yup, I died when I was two. I had a very high fever and was being babysat by my MomMom (grandma). Apparently the fever spiked and she said I wasn't breathing. The ambulance came and I had not been breathing for a while. They shocked me. I came back to life and was hospitalized. I have scar tissue in my brain and heart (and prolly other organs) BUT I am here today! No, I can't recall seeing the afterlife or tunnel or GOD.

2. I have epilepsy, have had it since I was two. See #1 for why.

3. I eat a Little Debbie Swiss cake roll in layers. As I do with Candy Corn and those Nutter Butter bars.

4. I am allergic to eggs but love to eat them despite the allergy.

5. I chopped straight thru my thumb before. Had to be stitched on . DIdn't go through the bone though.

6. I have jumped off a balcony and lived- Just shattered my arms and had bones sticking out but I lived. I was playing tag at this house on a hill. The balcony/patio was safe. My cousin started counting down the time I was allowed on base. He also blocked the entrance/exit. So I jumped. I landed on my arms and rolled all the way 100 yards down this huge hill and slammed up against a tree. But I lived. If you saw the hill you would be shocked.

7. My hubby and I met online through the personals.

I tag: Bows for baby
Flutterbaby
Katydid Creations
Mamas Little Monkeys
Queen Bows

Tag your it!!!!!

New Project in the works

2008-11-06T20:13:00.000-09:00

So my baby needs new shoes. She is a porker and continues to grow. Her current Roobeez just aren't cutting it.

So instead of buying her a $30 pair of shoes to which she will grow like a weed out of ... I figure I sew right? Let me try to find a tutorial on baby shoes. So here is the tutorial I plan on working tonite while Jasmine sleeps.

Wish me luck!

http://family-centered.com/needleworks/?page_id=278

Jasmine's newest accessory

2008-11-03T22:42:00.000-09:00

So I bought this from another Cafemom Etsy-er. We shared a booth at the craft fair together. Her shop is called Bows for Baby http://www.bowsforbaby.etsy.com/

Doesn't Jasmine look fabulous in this new accessory? Jasmine doesn't have much hair so here is a great solution. First bows!

Excitement

2008-11-03T14:56:00.000-09:00

So in addition to the awesome craft fair! I had my first sale on Etsy. I sold a nap mat! I hope the person loves it and adds to my feedback quota. I hope this is the beginning of the sales fairy coming to visit my store!

On a frustrating note, my daughter is still very sick and coughing up a storm. I hope she gets better. We got snow today-- so I hope to go out and play in it :)

Craft Fair yesterday

2008-11-02T17:28:00.001-09:00

So I did a craft fair yesterday and unvieled some of my new items. The fair was decently attended and I made a profit. Unfortunatly they had our booth right in front of the Santa Claus station- so the parents that would have made it to our booth got a bit destracted by having photos with Santa.

I just unvieled my new products:

Here is a diaper stacker. Very good for hiding diapers in the livingroom. I will be putting no slip feet on the bottom of them to make sure they don't slid off the shelf when you pull a diaper out. I made 5 of them intially with all different patterns. I am gonna sell them for $30. Let me know whatcha think!

My nap mats are lined with bamboo fabric and have an attached pillow. They convienently roll up and are being sold for $45.00/each. I have 4 to choose from:

Jemz: Products that make moms shine

2008-10-27T00:39:00.000-08:00

Today I start my business. Today I begin Jemz. A business that produces products for Moms, Babies and Toddlers. You can view my business at : www.jazzyjemz.etsy.com

I am so very excited about my new business. It all started when I realized up here in Alaska there are not many quality products with reasonable prices. Seriously, everything up here costs more and you have a limited selection.

Light bulb went off-- what if I create items for moms and babies that are stylish and affordable. So, I started off with what I know best..... welcome my first collection

THE BOOBIE BRIGADE!!!!!!

The Boobie Brigade is a line for nursing moms.

Nursing covers are the best way to descretly nurse in public. With an adjustable D-ring on these styling covers, moms will not have do deal with those embarassing moments when the blanket falls down. Best thing about these are the two inside pockets that you can store your cell or keys in. Put anything in thee pockets to help weigh down the nursing cover when the baby starts to kick. A convienent burp cloth also comes in the pocket to help with those spit ups.

Another element of the boobie brigade is the nursing necklaces. These necklaces help to distract the baby while it eats. No more pulling of the hair, snapping of your nursing bra. This necklace engages the baby and is strong enough to withstand 26lbs of weight. Stylish enough to be worn everyday.

My Boobie Brigade collection also comes with nursing pads that have 4 layers. Outside is flannel, which wicks away the milk. Inside is bamboo padding which is naturally antibacteria- and may help reduce the risk of mastasis. These "green" nursing pads are much more comfortable then the disposable kind.

I have more products on the way. I hope this business becomes successful! Please check the site out and give me some feedback:
www.jazzyjemz.etsy.com