I Am A Stitchin Machine

Okay kiddies, it's grandma here, ready to share with you the coolest thing on the block. Ready (and no, it is not my ginger snap cookies)? It is stitching, aka needlepoint, aka embroidery, aka FUN!

I have been a stitching machine for about a month now. It all started with the dreaded $20 cat. I saw this super cute shop in Winter Park and thought that I should stop in and see what stitching was all about. The lovely, con-artist of a woman "helped" me to the cheapest starter kit they had. $20 poorer and with instant regret, I walked out of The Black Sheep with a stupid cat pattern that took me over 24 solid hours to stitch (seriously, it took weeks). I have the picture of it (I'm SO proud of it) on my iPad and am having trouble getting it off. Its nothing special. Seriously. Just trust me.

Then, this wonderful angel from above, named Meagan Meyerson, told me about her friend's stitching shop online. I went over, found what I wanted for $4 (had it emailed to me within a couple of hours) and bought the string for under $7. Ta Da! Instant gratification, super cheap and far less time consuming (not to mention wayyyyy cuter. I changed the colors from the one's that she suggested and I love how they turned out:

 (I'll post the picture of my second one when I figure out what to do to get the picture off of my iPad. F.Y.I. I did this one and that one)

I've found a ton more really cute patterns online for FREE people. Yes, FREE! I'm working on this one right now and have these two to follow. I cannot even tell you how easy it is to do folks. It is SUPER easy. There, I told you.

So jump on this train to grandmaville and lets have a stitchin good time!

P.S. this song is what inspired the title. LOVE IT!

I Have a Dream

This song fits my mood today. 

Listen to it. Cry with it. Smile with it. Reflect with it. 

Just promise me you'll listen to it. 

It's wonderful. My dad and I are so dancing to this at my wedding. DIBS!

This is the Girl, Who Stole My Heart

  This is my niece. I like her. No wait. Scratch that. I love her. She is pretty dang cute. 

(Auntie KayKay, please STOP taking my pictures)

(I'm so dainty and adorable)

(and sometimes, my life is exhausting) 

(This is Ben, I think he liked her)

(oh, and I may have loved on her too much. So what, who cares)

An Amateur, On Being An Aunt.

Happy Birthday, Ryleigh Nicole! (well belated birthday... man I'm already off to a bad start).

Here is a picture of Pops holding you on your actual birthday. Ben and I had just left when they decided to let you be held. I was majorly bummed.

Yesterday (at an ungodly hour.... like 2:09 to be exact) I was woken up by Mimi telling me I needed to rush to the hospital so I could be there when you were born. Little did I know, that I would literally get to be there when you were born. Like in the room. When you popped out. It was exciting. You were perfect! Seriously, I have never ever seen anyone else come into the world as fabulously as you did (maybe that is because I've never seen anyone come into the world, but hey, let's not count that against you). Your mommy was stellar in getting you here. I have never met such a determined person that wanted to get her baby here. You're already so much like your mommy (whom I love, a lot). I was right there beside you when they weighed you in (4 pounds, 13.2 ounces), measured you (21 inches) and even gave you this horrible vitamin K shot (ask me about how much of a trooper you were during that). After that, I got to hold your hand for like .2 seconds and then you had to go to the nursery  That's where you are now my little dinosaur! Mommy just told me that you will probably go to NICU now for a couple of weeks because you don't know how to eat yet (you and I know this is just because you want the special attention, and you're scared of leaving the hospital with mommy. Trust me I would be too). 

As your aunt, I promise the following:

1. To teach you how to be a grandma (remind me to tell you about the time someone thought I was your grandma). I'm quite the professional.

2. To spoil you your entire life (I've already started).

3. Listen to you when you are really irritated with mommy or just can't talk to her about something. I'll always listen to you, good or bad (I'm not promising that I won't tell her later though... she is your mom after all).

4. Be at all your major life events (with the exception of when you have your first kid. I was there for yours and it was enough to last a lifetime, love).

5. Always love you, no matter what you do or who you become. I will always love you.

I'm so excited to be your Auntie KayKay (I'm determined to make you call me this). One day, I hope to graduate from being an amateur aunt to a professional, like my two incredible aunts (Jodi and Jamie). They have taught me all I know. One day, I'd like to be half of the aunt that they are. I'm about to leave work and go see you. Supposedly I'll be able to hold you today (FINALLY! The .2 second hand touch was not enough).

Love,

Auntie KayKay

Mr. Darcy Who?

This is probably sooo high school of me (image  that phrase said in a valley girl accent), but I have to do it. I've always loved (I mean LOVED) Jane Austen, but I've always secretly adored Jane Eyre with its Gothic romancy self. Why? Oh its not because Ben watched the BBC mini-series with me (and actually liked it... I think). Nope, its because of Mr. Rochester. His smolder. His flirting. His passion (why am I going on about a fictional character? WHY?!).  I keep seeing all of these things on pinterest and etsy about waiting for a Mr. Darcy and "I want a Mr. Darcy"- this or that. Lame. I've always wanted a Mr. Rochester. I want someone with so much passion, he literally will beg me, on his knees while crying, to be his mistress after I find out he has a lunatic wife (not really the last part, but still...). After seeing the new rendition of Jane Eyre (I loved it. I know its not at all like the book, but I loved it), I decided that Mr. Rochester was steamy. So here we go; the moral of this post:

A lesson for all of those pathetic Mr. Darcy fans ;)

Just a Few...

...things happening right now:

1. Lindsey is being induced, like in an hour, which means.... I will be an aunt soon! Come on little Ryleigh!

2. I love that yesterday was Labor Day, so my half of a Tuesday (see number 1) is really like a half of a Monday, but I come back to work on Wednesday (all paid for)!

3. As much as I hate having to go to classes, I have a pretty decent schedule (Monday & Tuesday, 7 - 9:45pm; Wednesday, 5:30 - 6:45pm). 

4. I really love this guy. Not only does he fix my car's broken AC Compressor like a pro, but he makes me insanely happy as well. You are too legit King Benjamin.

5. I posted on my wedding blog, Quintessentially Yours. Check it out, yo. I need the following to make my dreams come true (so, please, make my dreams come true.... and send this to your friends). 

Ugh.

I'm sick. It sucks. Hope you aren't either. 

The end.

Oh, and if I die, no black is allowed at my funeral.... and Lindsey can't play that morbid country song about dying young. It sucks too (not really, but still).