fall artsy fun stuff

hello there! it's been awhile but i am happy to do this post and show you guys a few cute things i've been working on since i got a tad burnt out on cake making this summer. fall is my absolute favorite time of year and it really inspires creativity. i really enjoy checking out crafty people blogs and trying out some online tutorials.

i really had the most fun making this dinner with my older daughter. this is super fast and easy and i got the idea from here.
basically, you just take uncooked spaghetti and put it through cut up hotdogs and boil them! i recommend you try this with the kiddos!



i made these pumpkins, i didn't use a tutorial, but i saw that this blog is working on one.

i also made this owl. i love him. every christmas gift that i give this year will be something i make. i wish these guys were christmas-y.


before i go, here's a picture of something i really dig! i love 60s illustration, and this picture is tops! it reminds me of my niece and nephew, Ramona and Arlo.


credit
oh and i'd love this coat. (from urban outfitters) i love big neck coats and sweaters.


now, go make some art people!

Sanoii. The walking baby.

it has been an exciting few days here at the Sever house. we knew that noii would walk soon after she started standing. and out of the blue... she did!! we decided it was because she started carrying around snacks to eat and you can't crawl and eat at the same time so she came up with walking!

it also helps that she has a big sister that she wants to follow around. everywhere.

so just a quick post to put this video up!

this rainy day

i love the rain. it rained and hailed and flooded and thundered today. such a good day! but not just the weather. gareth and i talked a lot about our family plan. like the future of buckets n boards. the future of dixie stampede. the future of my cakes. it gets crazy and scary sometimes. but one thing for sure is that the path we take will be the one that leads us to more family time. that is what we strive for. what is the point of work work work and no time together. gareth and i are both lucky to be able to be creative and make dough at the same time. right now we have come to a point where we decide what is most important to us.

today i got this amazing Kewpie Ho-Ho. gareth's family has said that noii reminds them of a laughing buddha. since i first heard that, i have thought of her as such a happy little buddha. she is a good luck charm and such a chubby baby that is always laughing! after i got the kewpie, i decided to do research on it. sooo interesting. how lucky am i that the creator, rose o'neil, lived right here in branson. she was very big in her day (late 1800s-1940s) and there is a museum that i am definitely going to...right down the street! anywho, the kewpie ho-ho was her last creation, and this is what she wrote for the box it came in:
Ho-Ho, the Little Laughing Buddha. Being the God of Wisdom he had the "Supreme Wisdom of Laughter." He was to laugh all your cares away.

I am the little god Ho-Ho
The wisdom of ages I know-ho
When I hear a boo-hoo
I chaff it off.

So if you have started
To getting down-hearted,
Just hurry to Ho-Ho
And laugh it off.

i love that!! laughter. a brilliant word of wisdom.

another project i have been thinking of for a long time is a new blog. it is a blog centered around creating. i love checking out what people create and the tutorials they put up. my goal is to make time to try out these tutorials and post them. i love trying recipes and cakes from websites. i am most appreciative of these people that bake or craft and then share with the world how to do it. unless it is baking or cooking related i have a TERRIBLE time following directions so this will be a doozy. but i really want to try it out. stay tuned for that!

also... another no spend month coming up! join us if you want to cleanse out the over-consumerismness and get a whole new outlook on spending. you might just discover that you buy stuff...JUST TO BUY STUFF!!!!

bowling night

bowling night was the night of our first date. g and me. are you guys ready to gag? okay. you asked for it.

i totally believe in love at first sight. or maybe it's more like "know your life will never be the same from here on" at first sight. most of you know that story already. i tell it often because i am very proud of it. so i will skip to our first date.

it was supposed to be on a monday. after weeks of joking around that we should go out, we finally said we would for real. but that monday night after the show (i was a server at dixie..he was.. skeeter) i walked passed him and said hi and he was sweeping the hallway but didn't say anything. so discouraged, i got in my car and went to a friend house.

the next night we tried again. i got done with work and went downstairs, fiddled around with the soda machine. (bought a sunny d for me and 1 for him) i was hoping to be walking out the door at the exact same time as he was. but no luck, so i went to my car and waited without looking like i was waiting. 20 minutes (that felt like 2 hours) later, he was in my car. my heart was fluttery. but the weird thing was, we were relaxed. i wasn't trying to convince him i was cool and he was just telling me random stories. (he told me he didn't know if he could ever have kids after an unfortunate christmas tree farm accident) we drove around and played video games at a big arcade (that an enormous titanic replica now takes the place of) ended up at a park (that we now live up the hill from) stopped by the favorite drinking establishment called "the roost" (that an enormous outdoor mall now takes the place of) by this time we were holding hands and walked in to all my close friends freaking out about it. it was dixie bowling league night. he was on a team. i wasn't, but i often went to support/make fun of everyone. then i went home. but not to diss him. i just wasn't sure if he really liked me because he wasn't all nutty around me.

luckily i had to return his enormous bag he always carried around that he left in my car. i went to his place the next day and we sat uncomfortably on his couch until work.

a week later we never were apart. and never have been for the most part. which makes me wonder. are 2 people really destined to be together? when i look back at my life before g, i always think: how in the world did we end up together?! i like to think of it as a movie. you'd get to see how destiny is working hard to bring these two together. a random friend recommending a job at dixie because tips are crazy, to someone talking him into making the audition just to see what happens. next thing you know the 2 are finally united. and it feels like home from the very first kiss on the cheek.

our first date was the tuesday following mother's day. we used to celebrate our anniversary every tuesday for about 4 years. we don't really celebrate our wedding anniversary. that tuesday means so much more to us.

who'd a thunk years later we'd be married with 2 crazy wonderful kids? i did! i knew it from the first time i saw him! but that's another long story altogether.

the poop story

every once in awhile, i am stopped abruptly in my tracks. where i want to stand as still as possible and soak up the scene. the biggest example of that happened to me yesterday. and maybe you guys wont get it or think this story is random but i tell you that this moment told me that i am on the right track in life. my everyday hugs to my Lilli and kisses and i love yous have not gone unnoticed by my 3 year old (wow she seems way older than that).

lilli doesn't like to poop. or pee. she still gets fun stuff for pooping because that means she didn't try to hold it in. every few months though... watch out. she totally doesn't want to "go" so after a couple days it just piles up and then... we have total blockage. so then comes the need for "bummy medicine" to say the least she does NOT like it.

yesterday was a time for bummy meds. she never cries. never. but when we got the bummy med out she went nuts. unfortunately after the dose, she still didn't poop. a few hours later, after a swig of prune juice, she finally dropped the ol' deuce. we celebrated with song and dance and she was so proud.

wayyy later that night she and i were brushing our teeth together. being silly. and out of nowhere she says "mom, i'm sorry that i didn't want to do the bummy medicine earlier." i froze! i had already tucked that situation away. and here was this tiny girl who felt bad for being upset and wanted to apologize for something that happened 10 hours earlier. and she's three. i wanted to pick her up and kiss her and hug her and kiss her and squeeze her and tell the world: i have an amazing compassionate sweet kind smart daughter!!! she frequently says stuff that amazes me daily. but this. this was her telling me she felt bad for something that we never would have asked her to apologize for. and at that moment when we were brushing our teeth and being silly, she wanted to tell me how she felt. and when she did, my eyes welled up (as they are right now) and i held her tight, too tight probably and soaked it in.

and isn't that what life as a parent is about? you can constantly worry about poop and pee and sneezing and runny nose and eating enough and fitting in and being polite and not watching too much tv and spending quality time. and then a simple act brings you back to the real deal. in this present moment. my daughter is loving. isn't that what we really want? love! and our kids to be full of love! i think that is right. and i am telling you guys this because of course i am proud that perhaps i have done something right so far in this mommyhood adventure. but i also want to soak it up. keep this feeling alive for a little while longer. and perhaps reread this when she is a teenager...

CHALLENGE!!!!

as you might remember, october was NO SPEND MONTH (i haven't figured out how to put a link in here, so if you want to read about it, it is in my entry from sep. 30 2008). that was a great month for us. probably the best month ever. i was watching the oprah today and there were families on that had done something similar except for a week instead of a month. it got me thinking about how much october had changed my life. i have to admit it was a little hard at first. your mind is used to thinking the thoughts that it is accustomed to thinking. those thoughts used to be: what stores we were going to, what place we would be eating at, and how much time we would have until G had to go to work. (i have to admit that those thoughts are still there in a round about way, but not nearly how it was before the challenge.) but, once we committed to the challenge, and we realized that we would survive, the shift into awareness living was remarkable. i still very much remember how clear my mind felt when i began to think about where i was going to shop and then realizing that i didn't have to concern myself with that!

the reason why i am bringing this up again is because 5 months later we still are benefiting from the no spend month. i think i can officially say it changed my life permanently. we still only buy what is needed. i barely go shopping. (i have to admit that i bought a bag full of valentine's day stuff when target had it all for 75% off... i can't resist those cute lil treat bags!!) i don't feel that i need to buy clothes to show who i am. i've sharpened my cooking skills. we still might go out to lunch more than average. but in general, i can say it was a success and still is.

for the passed couple of days we have literally cleaned out half of our house. our house wasn't very cluttery to begin with, but just knowing that there was clutter in the cabinets and closets made my skin crawl. i firmly believe in the saying "cluttered house, cluttered mind" knowing that i've gotten rid of what i can has been a very long breath of fresh air! my closet is half empty. my kitchen only has what i actually use in it. up next is Lilli's toys. we do this often. but it's never enough!

i would like to challenge you all to really attempt a no spend month. i know that most of you might say that that will never work for you because of this or that. but it can work. you just have to commit. i just believe that it is truly a gift you can give to yourself and your family. (and the money you save can go to savings! that's always good and you just might drop a few pounds from not going out to eat! also good!) if you don't want to do the no spend, then try the de clutter of your house. clean out those closets! those cupboards! it felt so good to get rid of the stuff that i always held on to thinking that i would wear that later, or use that eventually. the truth is: you wont. you haven't so far. i also let go of the idea of having a garage sale. when i used to think i'd have a garage sale, it made me keep holding onto things. today, the thrift store got some pretty rad stuff!
if you accept this challenge, let me know! i'll check in with you often! and i'll bake you some delicious cookies! haha! but seriously... i will!

obsessed

well folks, things are simply wonderful these days.  i got a new phone as an early birthday present, a baby that is gassy/fussy free for the past few days and a 3 year old that is taking the dancing world by storm!

despite being hungry all of the time i am feeling great.  i have changed my diet drastically to see if that helps sanoii's tummy a little bit.  another new thing for me is i have a new show i am obsessed with called FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.  it is hilarious!!  

another new obsession?  FACEBOOK!  goodness!  i am in touch with people i haven't seen in 20 years!  here is a thing i wrote on there: 25 random things about me

1. i pick my nose. a lot. ummm, but i wash my hands a lot...uh..
2. i am a very slow reader. i am very jealous of fast readers.
3. i once cut the head off of a cat. (i worked in a vet clinic, i guess that could be a a list on its own, all the crazy stuff i've had to do in the vet clinic)
4. i love my in-laws! every last one of them.
5. i used to be a crazy party girl.
6. i'm scared to use big words in case i have the meaning all wrong.
7. i went to 2 different grade schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. every move was equally difficult, but each move brought rad new friends.
8. i love painting and sewing but am terrible, TERRIBLE at pottery.
9. i love being a mom.
10. i can't wait to turn 30.
11. it was love at first sight when i saw my husband. for reals.
12. my husband's middle name is robin.
13. i totally dig the series LOST even though i'm not quite sure what is going on.
14. i wish i was funny enough to be a member of flight of the conchords! or am i? hmmm.
15. one of my favorite things to do is to sit on my back porch and talk, talk, talk... hurry back Rachoo!
16. i have really skinny fingers. my wedding ring is a 3.5
17. i have had my dog dixie my whole adult life, which means we're both getting old.
18. i would like to live in oregon one day.
19. i LOVE thai food.
20. i have a blog www.robynbloggin.blogspot.com in case you can't get enough of me!
21. i delivered my first baby at home unassisted in the water. my mom, hubby and sis were there.
22. i have a very high pain tolerance.
23. i love french fries. all of them.
24. i did a no spend month that changed my life.
25. i wish i could play a musical instrument.
well, i hope everyone is doing great and i will be posting pictures soon of my latest projects.

fat fatness.

i was a little insane when i said that i would be posting a picture of myself in order to inspire me to lose the baby weight.  i don't need to torture myself.  we recently got a wii fit and you have to set up a profile.  the board that you stand on weighs you and can tell you very interesting things like where your center of gravity is or how poor your posture is... and how ENORMOUS you are.  it really is quite lovely.  you tell it your height and they combined it with your weight to make a cartoon (aka mii) that is physically accurate.  so in a matter of seconds my mii developed a spare tire.  and the screen told me that i am overweight.  there was no way that i could tell the wii that i recently had a baby and that my boobs must count for 5lbs because i am nursing and have a VERY healthy milk supply!  i also couldn't tell it that i also developed a pretty big sweet tooth during this pregnancy.  mainly because i perfected the art of making nanaimo bars.  i also perfected the art of eating them.  i would make them for every special occasion like birthdays and christmas and lunch.  losing this weight could be a doozy.

  i honestly had a cranky day earlier this week because i took a long look in the mirror.  i became angry.  it wasn't fair that you gain weight from being pregnant.  not only do you change your everyday actions for the safety of the unborn baby and get to deliver the baby drug free and are put on a short leash with the newborn because you are her food supply, you also get to be 20 pounds larger.  i had worked so hard to get the body i had before.  crossfit is something i was very proud of being a part of.... 

so for a good part of the day i was very "grumpy".  i'd look at my thin/fit husband and get jealous.  then gareth called me on my attitude.  i told him that i couldn't help it.  and he said quietly, "yes you can"  now, at that moment he wasn't saying yes you can lose the weight.  he meant you can change your attitude.  but it snapped me out of my funk immediately.  yes you can.  i realized that i was feeling sorry for myself.  and was forgetting just how lucky i am.  i have 2 beautiful healthy girls, a rad house, and a very very very loving husband that could teach classes on perfecting husband and father skills.  

so with all of that in mind, i am on my way to pre pregnancy form.  but i'm still not putting up a picture!

we also realized that i need more alone time.  today i read the book "the reader".  i still have 3 & 4 of the twilight series to read, but i get wayyyy too involved in those books.  this was a great book.  the author gets pretty deep with why people do and think the way they do.  it is set after the holocaust.  for some reason i have always been drawn to stories with the holocaust in it.  every essay or speech i wrote in high school and college that was of a subject of choice was about the holocaust.  the book isn't mainly about that, but the main female character was once a concentration camp guard.  there is a movie version out starring kate winslet as the lead.  it is a short book and i'm glad i had the chance to read it.  there are some pretty racy parts in it, so its prob not for everyone.

i hope everyone is staying warm.  it is 12 degrees outside but feels like 4.  yikes.  around this time every year we get to see some of gareth's side of the family.  this winter feels incomplete without a trip to austin or oregon.  stay tuned to see if we make a last minute getaway!