Busy Friday...

Today is going to be a really busy day. Taking a quick break at work to jot all this down.
Have to go out of town (6o minutes round trip in the car!) during my extended lunch break to file some papers for Chris, then finishing up the rest of the work day.
At 5 p.m., I have to go home, give the dog a bath (what's with all the fleas in Chico?!) and prepare the crafts I have planned for the girls to do tonight. We're making ghost decorations to hang, and I think they would love to decorate the ghosts. I will be posting a how-to on that later!
Then dinner, which thankfully Chris has offered to shop for and prepare. Then more decoration hanging and some cleaning tonight, I want to get as much done today so tomorrow won't be rushed and stressful...it's a party, I want to enjoy it!
Then tomorrow, Chris and I will have our alone-time in the morning sipping our coffee and talking while the kids sleep. I remember waking up to that on Saturday and Sunday mornings - being woken up to the sound of my parents coversing with each other in the living room. I think of that each time Chris and I sit and chat, waiting for the kids to wake up. They may not realize it now, but in the future it will be a blessed memory for them to wake up to that :o)
More cleaning tomorrow (I can never clean enough!). I'll start preparing my food, setting up the food and drink table and then my girl friend will be coming over to help and get her items ready.
Chris is taking the kids trick or treating, so no doubt I'll be taking a million pictures of them. Luckily the girls are both hams and LOVE to have their pictures taken. I just found out the other day that the 5 year old girl loves to look in a mirror as much as I do. My soul mate!
Then by the time they all return, we should have a few people over enjoying food and drinks and each others company. Very much looking forward to it! Planning and preparing dinners and parties is totally in my element, so I'm a happy clam!
xoxo
Miss Irish

Blog I'm currently enjoying...

Creolewisdom.com

Nothing Better Than...

What on earth is better than what you see above? My all-time absolute favorite desert has always been, and will always be, dutch apple pie a la mode. Chris bought this pre-made pie some time last week with some vanilla ice cream. We just got home from a visit with his brothers, we ate KFC, and when I got home, a nice long hot bath, a book and a glass of chilled white wine was the perfect ending to a great visit. Then, I remembered...we still have pie! So I heated it up, topped with some ice cream, and am enjoying it slowly as I type!
I got the cute bowl at a Thrift store down the street from my house. It came with another bowl and a set of 4 plates. It's my favorite set so far. I'd love to build my dishes and serving dishes stash, so this will do for now!
xoxo
Miss Irish

Apron Time!

After looking thru some of my mom's craft magazines, and looking around on my new-found favorite blog (see below!), I found some gorgeous ideas for aprons! I thought to myself, how fun would that be?! I like to sew, and I think aprons are so classy, so fabulously 1950's housewife!
One idea I read from blog listed below is to recycle clothes around the house that maybe don't fit...that's so easy! I have a few skirts that are a bit too short for my stubby, chubby legs, yet they used to be my favorite skirts and I didn't have the heart to get rid of them. I took my favorite skirt, as you can see below.
Then, I cut it right in half, on the seam, as you can see it laid out on the table. I cut two long strips from the bottom, longer half, about 2" thick. Then I cut out a pocket. I seamed the two strips, which are the apron strings, seamed the skirt on the sides so it was even. Then, I sewed both ends of the strings on the sides.
Chris was kind enough to model for me so I could get a good direction as to where to place the pocket.
Last picture is the finished product! It's very simple...I'd say it took 30-45 minutes total to sew. Not too bad with no pattern, huh?
Can't wait to tackle a more elaborate apron, I think they would make beautiful Christmas gifts!
xoxo
Miss Irish

Another Fabulous Blog!

I'm currently obsessed with this brilliant woman's blog:

http://lisatutmanoglesby.typepad.com

And don't forget to take a look at the blogs I'm following: My mom started a scrapbooking/card making blog, and my girl friend, we'll call "A" has super cute craft and yummy-looking baked goods on her blog. Check them out, and I hope you enjoy them and are as inspired by them as I am!

xoxo
Miss Irish

I smile

I heard a song on the Christian radio station the other day that has onelittle powerful line that I can't get out of my head.The guy is singing that he smiles when he thinks about how far he's come,where he is today to compared to yesterday, he smiles when he thinks of whatGod has done for him. He just thinks of it and all he can do is smile.While listening, I realized I was smiling. And I've made sure to thank theLord every day for what He's given me. I don't have two pennies to rubtogether, but God has been good: I have a home that's warm, cozy and alwaysfull of food. I have a car that despite a big dent, drives great and keepsme warm in the winter and cool in the summer.I have the sweetest little puppy that quietly accepts when I'm not in themood or don't have time for a walk or a snuggle and gives me my space. Thenshe is always there, right where we left off, happier than ever to give melove and kisses I most of the time don't deserve from anybody.I have a family that, despite issues with siblings sometimes, I wouldn'ttrade them for anything or anyone.I started with a wonderful friend who turned into an awesome boyfriend whohas seen worse of me than anyone including my family, and still loves me. Imess up, I burn food, I can't remember a joke to repeat and often ruin thepunch line, I trip if I blink while walking, I'm not very patient and can becontrolling. He smiles, chuckles to himself, and says, "You have no ideahow much I love you."I now have a little part-time family of my own that used to look at me likeI was some strange, redhead with too much coffee in her system, and made meso insecure I couldn't be myself around them.Now, I'm as silly as I want to be and they think it's hilarious.I have a little girl that wants to whisper in my ear that she loves me, andruns to tell me she pooped so I can jump up and down and high-five her. Sheliterally screams with delight.I have a boy that wants to cook for me and show me his computer games that Idon't understand and speak in different languages with me, even ones I makeup, and he just smiles and tolerates me quietly and patiently like his dad.I have another littler girl that just stares at me: sometimes in shock,sometimes in awe, and it irritates me. Until I realize she constantly asksme for my opinion, wants to play games with me and only me, not even dad,and loves to go through my scarves, jewelry and shoes, and shares that incommon with me. She stares not only because I'm usually the loudest one,but because I know she is studying me, getting used to me and trying to knowme in her own way. This is my blessed life.And I smile.

Bloggy Blog Blog

Just checking in on this chilly, fall day.
Spent the weekend with my parents, got my mom started on a blog - check it out: http://sisll-linda.blogspot.com/
My mom loves to scrapbook, so I helped her create the blog to show off her work to her friends and family and give her some space to teach a "how-to" to simulate the craft blogs she likes to look at.
Spent Sunday playing with the girls, watching Chris take a nap between football games, had a good dinner and went to bed early. Yesterday was a busy day at work as I was sick last week, so I had a lot of catch-up to do. Went grocery shopping with Chris and we talked about the holidays: Trying to figure out a schedule for us to spend time with the kids, and plans we have for the up-coming holidays. Had steaks, baked potatoes, salad for dinner, which was delish. Settled in to watch "The Brothers Bloom" (great movie, love Adrian Brody!) with apple pie and coffee liquors. Tonight, Thomas makes dinner, so we'll see how that turns out! :o)

dinner

Just a simple dinner setting for a simple dinner :o)
I am really starting to enjoy cooking. I look looking up recipes and comparing them to how easy they are to make! :o)

Desperate Housewife?

I just got back from lunch, I took out pork chops to thaw for dinner tonight, then settled in to watch Desperate Housewives. I LOVE that show! It took me until about season 3 to actually get into it, and now I am addicted! I love the comedy, for the most part they have cute clothes, GORGEOUS hair, and there's always something creepy and mysterious on the show. Soooo happy they play free episodes on abc.com! Check 'em out!

Fall around the House...

Chris and I have been busy this weekend - he's doing major projects (re-building the storage room door, taking out window A/C's, etc) and I've been shopping and decorating. I posted a few pics of the new window treatments I set up and the new lay-out for the dinner table. Very happy with how they turned out! Looking forward to a little bit more small decorations around the apartment today in between blogging and cleaning :o)
Was looking at some video blogs yesterday, found a cute one called TMI Weekly on youtube. I'd love to merge into a video blog, just as soon as I get a camera that has audio. Hope you all have a great Sunday, talk soon!
xoxo
Miss Irish

Crafty Me!

Crafty Kimberly!
I've realized I miss being the crafty little person I once was! I was a writer, a painter, a scrapbooker (kind of), made flower pins, sewed, used to LOVE sewing lace on hankies, etc. I miss that! My grandma and my mom are very crafty and gifted with creativity, and I know it's in me, too, I think it's just lack of passion. If you really love something, you won't let anything get in the way of it. My attention span (or lack thereof) doesn't necessarily allow me to sit and do something for so long, but I used to be there. I'm showing a picture of a present I wrapped for some friends' housewarming party. Very simple, but I had a blast adding a few personal touches. Chris and I are child-free this weekend, so I have some crafty ideas up my sleeve...making some pillows for our couch and a few other pretties. Will post pics!

xoxo
Miss Irish

Fall!

Been busy thinking about the upcoming Halloween Party a girl friend and I are hosting at my house this year. I've decided to keep it small and intimate, there will be children there, so a too-crowded house is NEVER fun!
Been thinking about some appetizers I want to make since we will be having finger foods. Parties are fun! I love planning, preparing and hosting - always have, always will! Maybe it's just another part of me that likes to be in control, as Chris thinks I'm so fond of that :o)
If you have any ideas for kid & adult games to play, let me know! I'll be trolling some websites later to get some ideas.
xoxo
Miss Irish