Pampered Brat & Co.

My Favorite thing about fall

2011-10-25T06:58:00.001-07:00

My Favorite things about Fall:

Fall Portraits!

Fall Scented Candles

Hooker Boots

Curling up with a quilt

Fall Portraits

Fall Baking

Pumpkins

Fall Portraits

I have to end this because my Niece who has been mentioned in other post is being a pain in the booty!

Don't you have some Jam to blog about

2011-09-01T07:50:00.001-07:00

My first attempt at making homemade jam.

OMG!

It was to die for. This was strawberry and I followed the directions on the package of pectin. Strawberries and sugar.

The recipe make 9 half pints and they are already all gone.

The building of the Pink Playhouse

2011-09-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

We have promised the girls a playhouse for years and now that my oldest daughter is almost old enough to drive a car we decided we best get to it.....lol

We discovered the wonderful site by Ana White, she offers plans for so many home projects that its playground for DIYers.

Here are the plans we used for our playhouse. I had planned on making this playhouse myself but Brian had a weekend off and highjacked my project. So I decided to go for broke change the plans up a bit.

Set one: Clean the site. I wanted to make sure all tiny creatures were out of harms way. Including this little guy. Gosh they are cute!

Step two: Make sure the view is just right! Love watching the boats on the water. It is so relaxing.
Step Three: Build the plate form. We found this swing in some ones trash pile one night while dumpster diving and Brian has been trying to hang it from everything he can think of. I finally gave into the playhouse. The kids love it.
Step Four: Enjoy the Sweet Iced Tea while watching the hubs hard at work.
Step Five: Paint the Playhouse Pink.

We had to take a break thanks to Hurricane Irene. The Hubs may have a long weekend this weekend and we might be able to finish it!

Vintage Sheet Quilt top

2011-09-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hailey loves her some ducks

I love Vintage sheets so we decided to collect some at our local thrift store. I found this duck pillow panel on ebay. After months of it sitting in my sewing box I decided to do something about it. One of these days I will find the time to quilt it and add some binding.

Meet Jerry the Crab

2011-09-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

Meet Jerry the Crab

Justin, who is now 15 decided he was going swimming in the river. Of course he has been told 10 million times if he gets in the river I will break his legs, but who am I, just his mother, I don't know what Im talking about.

He decided to go swimming with a group of friends and this crap decided his foot looked like a tasty treat. He was so excited when he brought it home wanting to keep it for a pet. I was upset that I didn't get to cook it. In the end Jerry was released back into the wild.

Community Clean up

2011-09-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Our house is on the Elizabeth River and we have a beautiful river walk in front of the house. There are a lot of people who come to enjoy the water but don't always pick up after themselves. So our community got together and did a clean up of the area. Kylie was very excited to help out. Im so proud of her.

This was her treasure she found in the sand. She was so proud.

She wanted me to take this picture to email it to Daddy to show him she looked like him. He works in railroad construction and wears a safety vest and hard hat everyday.

Happy Mother's day to Me

2011-09-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

South Coast 22

Since I was 12 and a friend of the family took me out sailing and let me "drive" the boat I have wanted to buy one and sail away. To live in the islands. Brian had to be out of town during Mother's Day so I decided what better time to get a "Pity Present". I got these a lot this year. A pity present is pretty much anything I want because he feels bad about missing the holiday. This just happened to be the second Mother's Day he missed so I played it up. When I found out he was missing Mother's Day again I said, "Fine, then I want a sailboat." He said, "If you can find one for under $1200 then yes you can get a sailboat." So the search began. I found this one for $950 including delivery and the trailer.....lol

We didn't have time to take it out this season but hopefully next season. She is going in for a paint job this winter. We are still deciding on a name for her. I want to name her "Socialite" because until we put the boat in the driveway we didn't know any of our neighbors but every time we are out there playing on it someone else comes by to meet us. Brian thinks its stupid for a boat so small.

We have pizza partyies inside the cabin every so often and the kids love her as much as I do. We look forward to all the adventures on the Chesapeake Bay next year.

Birthday Cakes

2011-09-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

Because Im such a slacker, we get s post just for the cakes I made this year.

I have another one planned for this weekend so hopefully I will be with the program and have it blogged in a timely manner.

Strawberry Shortcake: Got to love that fondant. This was Violet's cake. She wanted a mermaid cake but we could not find an Ariel doll so she got this one. She loved it. But of course its better then any store bought cake she looked at. Her mom stayed up with me all night making fondant bugs. Good Times.

Tangled Cake. I had the idea for this one and was so excited that Lilly agreed to have it. It was my Master Piece. I have never made the kids wait to cut into the cake before but this one I made them wait so I could bask in its glory. It took me 23 hours to make....yes crazy I know.

This was Kylie's cake from last year but Im almost positive I didn't post the picture, if I did you get a second helping...lol

Going Blog Crazy today.

2011-09-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of blog post that are in my head but never made it to the computer. There is a very good reason for that.

Meet Linnea aka "Nae", my niece.

I babysit her during the day while her mom is at school. Holy crepes it is like having a very untrained monkey running loose in the house. But today no more excuses my blog is going to have all the post added. So Im going to look very productive today even though its almost 12 months of posts. As I type this she is hanging on my chair blowing slober bubbles at me. Just 1 more hour until nap time!

Found in the Trash!

2011-03-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

My sister went for a walk last weekend and called me to tell me she found an awesome chair that I would love sitting in someone's trash. It was wearing a sign that said "FREE CHAIR". I told her to sit in it until I got there. I flew out of the house so fast my mother in law thought someone was hurt. I can not wait to re upholster it. She will be beautiful!

Family Heirlooms- Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

2011-03-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler Quilt

I just started reading these novels. Great books!

I love Family Heirlooms We are making a quilt for our 4th of july picnic. Im going to make each one of the kids help with the blocks. The fabric is patriotic and we are using some to create blocks of the military branches that family members served in. We have the Navy for my father,grandfather and sister, we have army for my brother who has served 2 years in Iraq, and the Air Force for my father in law. There is much more fabric to come but the mailman is being sooooo sloooow.

Stay tuned finished blocks on the next post....ok I have one more post about something found in the trash then I will post the first blocks to our sampler.

Fathers Day in Myrtle Beach, SC

2010-06-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time this fathers day. I have wanted to visit Myrtle Beach for as long as I can remember. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I hope all you dads out there had a wonderful fathers day!

We stayed in Wilmington, NC and it has become my new home away from home. My new personal goal is to move there...that will be my forever home with the porch I shall grow old sitting on.

Banana Pudding A southern Staple

2010-06-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

Banana Pudding from Southern Living

Brian's work had a BBQ last summer and he brought home some banana pudding and it was the first time I tasted...it was the most amazing thing I ever tasted.

This recipe from Southern Living was good but it was really sweet. I personally think there was to many wafers. (Im sure that I added more then the recipe called for) The topping was a bit much too. Everyone in the house loved it but it made A LOT!

This would be great to take to a pot luck!

Easy to make

Looks amazing

Taste Great too.

We're Farmers

2010-06-14T19:44:00.001-07:00

We were out playing in the garden today. It has been fun watching our plants grow. When we started our garden I was not on the "Raw Food" diet or I would have planted more stuff then just produce for our salsa.

Hailey with her watermelon. This kid could live on watermelon alone. When I buy it at the store I have to buy 2. One for us and one for her. I sure hope it gets bigger then a golf ball!

This is my Kylie she is always flashing the peace sign when I have the camera. She my lil' hippy at heart.

My roma tomatoes I have about 11 of these plants. I want to can these babies so that I can eat tomatoes all winter.

My jalapeno. I'm going to need a whole lot of these to make a bowl of salsa!

These are Better Boy, I wonder how they taste as fried green tomatoes. They refuse to turn red and they just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Its been forever and a day since my last post

2010-05-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

This is my latest find from the thrift store.

Boy she was Ugly when I found her but after 12 hours of sanding, priming and coat after coat of cottage white she looks pretty as a picture. Now to just get the room she is in fixed up. Brian has been on vacation for the last 2 weeks and is making great strides around the house. Our bedroom is almost done.....then I get to decorate!

I wonder if my husband would let me paint our house pink...humm

2010-05-14T13:01:00.000-07:00

I just love this.

Right now my house is white with black shutters....what girl wouldn't want a white house with pink shutters.

Had a blast during the 4th of july

2009-07-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

We had a great time this 4th of july. We headed out to Olive Branch city park and listened to live music and saw some great fireworks.

I found these little cutie pies up by the lake, Kylie and I were looking for dragonflies and I guess its a popular things among little girls that age because that what they were looking for too!

I also learned that if one must photograph fireworks use a darn tripod. I thought I was too cool to use a tripod and all my firework shots look like someone painted them because of the blur. Oh well.

Karma

2009-06-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Kylie was having a tea party and in walks Issac, he sticks his face right in the middle of it all and lays his head on the table. Kylie does not miss a step, sticks a crown on his head and hands him a tea cup. Hailey walks into the room, takes one look at Issac and runs up stairs and is back in 2 seconds holding this pretty purple dress. Issac was such a good sport.

I must have taken 200 pictures of him. I think it upset him because this morning while taking our walk at the park he spotted a squirrel and drug me across the park. He never pulls on the leash or acts likes this so I was caught off guard big time. I really wish it was just my pride he bruised. But now Im getting a new Maxi for Hailey's dance recital because Im not wearing my white mini sundress with all this bruising and pavement burns....lol

Castles in the sand

2009-06-16T09:44:00.001-07:00

With the temp rising to the mid 90s and humidity around 60% Im so wishing we were still at the beach.

Things are moving along slowly however at least we are moving forward. The house has about received all the finishing touches its going to get. The yard is being cut clipped and weeded as I write this. Im spending my day sorting stuff to be taken to the thrift store, we have so much stuff......where did it all come from?

Right now I need boxes lots and lots of boxes.

Virginia Beach

2009-06-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

This was my favorite picture from the trip.

The trip was fun but I was beat by the time we got home.

The kids are very excited to move. I just want it to be over.

So far finding a house may just put me over the edge. I went to Century 21 and they gave me this nice print out of the houses for rent in the area. Right away we found the perfect house. I head back the next day to turn in the application and deposit...well would you know that the list she gave me was out of date and most houses on the list were already rented out including the one we wanted. So we spent another day looking...OMG everything was in the $1700 a month price range....I don't think so.

So we called a friend who had a friend whos mother is a real estate agent, She sends us to this fabulous house on 1 acre out in the country for only $1,000 a month! Well we call her back after looking at it to tell her we will take it and she then starts to give us the run around. Finally we end with her telling us that she is email us the application and we can send the deposit to her latter on in the week.....ok well still I have received NO email from her.

So we started our own hunt on craigslist....well that turned up a wonderful house, so we thought. After a couple emails back and fourth the owner tells us he now lives in Africa and if we could send the payment via western union.....ok sure. $700 for a three bedroom house utlitles included. The more emails he sent the better his offer kept getting...we then hit waters that said if its to good to be true it is.

So as of right now we are putting the finishing touches on our house before we call the people that have made some offers on her already....Im so scared to sell my house before I have another one to go too.

Splish Splash!

2009-05-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

I found this tiny cheapo pool at the Dollar store and it was really hot that day so we filled it up and played in the sun sipping Sherly Temples. Fun Fun Fun afternoon!

Justin wanted me to take a picture of him splashing. Then the new one of Hailey...she is so pretty and grown up looking... how sad.

Crazy Story

2009-05-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

A week ago our cat Sparta went outside, a couple minutes latter a terrible storm hit and we couldn't find him anywhere. Me and the kids went outside day after day calling him. Lastnight a storm blew in with lightening and thunder. I woke up when I thought I heard Sparta crying outside. Brian told me to go back to sleep that I didn't hear the cat. I flew out of bed and ran down stairs. When I opened the front door Justin was right behind me saying, "Mom, its Sparta I heard him." So we run outside in our night clothes in the pouring rain calling him. NOTHING no Sparta so we came back inside and back to bed, heart broken. Brian woke me up this morning telling me he found Sparta on the porch all soaking wet and hungry. Sparta and Penny have been great friends since Sparta was a tiny kitten. Well first thing this morning he runs upstairs and jumps onto Penny's Chair and they spent the whole day sleeping together.

Its so great to have this goofy cat back. Sparta you can NEVER go outside again!

Playing with new camera

2009-05-13T17:32:00.001-07:00

These were all taken with my Canon 400D. Her poor little birthmark shows up really big on this computer. On my laptop it was almost invisible. I guess I will have to spend a little more time in photoshop.

Child's Play

2009-04-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

One of Kylies favorite flowers is the dreaded dandelion she loves them when they are bright yellow but she loves them even more when she gets to blow them all over the yard. I caught this shot today and I think its now one of my favorite ones.

This picture is Hailey its one of the many I took yesterday and her dad really likes it so I thought Id post it here for everyone to see.

Opps I forgot Kylies pic

2009-04-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Oh how I wish I had better camera.........(sigh)

Pictures of the Kids

2009-04-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Im trying to talk Brian into getting me a new camera for Mother's Day. Im after the Canon 40D.

So Im taking pictures of the kids so I can show him how much I need a good camera.....no more point and shoots!...yes these are all taken by a FujiFilm 8.3 mega pixels point and shoot.

First Rose of the Season

2009-04-27T05:04:00.001-07:00

This is from my Iceberg climbing rose bush. Today she opened for the first time. I drove around Memphis last week and saw that most rose bushes were in full bloom so I knew mine would not be far behind. Oh it smells so wonderful this is the best smelling rose I have grown. I will be sure to add more of these because the smell is amazing.

I planted 7 rose bushes this year and so far this one is the only one the produced any buds so far. Hopefully it wont be to long before we get some real color outside.

My Frog Has Hopped Away

2009-03-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well there is no picture to share because the bodice of Kylie's dress that I spent 2 days embroidering has decided to hop away. I guess the Frog was just to darn real. I left it sitting on the arm of my favorite chair and when I got done making dinner I came up and everything is gone. The thread, the bodice, all my needles....and of course NO ONE knows where it is at. The sundress was part of my sewing challenge for sewing patter review. One pattern many looks. I will try looking for it again tomorrow when my temper has cooled.

On a more positive note:

I started walk away the pounds today. The workout is awesome. I was shocked when the first mile was over....I thought I can do this so I went on to 2 miles. Still shocked further more when I finished mile three. Feeling as proud as a rooster in a hen house I started mile 5! I was so glad to see the end. My legs still feel like they weigh 100 pounds each. But it was A LOT of fun. I also started Leslie Sansone Walk off a Meal A day challenge. My meal plan will very just a tad....Im not going to cook dinner 12 times each night. NO junk foods for 10 days, I can do that.

So Im starting at 169 pounds....this is almost the heaviest I have ever been so lets hope this is the last time I will type that horrible number!

I just now looked across the room as saw my little frog sitting under the table so a picture will be posted tomorrow....along with the finished baby blue bishop with matching bonnet.

Good Night Everyone!

Happy time change (Its this time every year I miss living in AZ)

2009-03-08T07:57:00.001-07:00

Lastnight I splurged and bought two new cds, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney.

So this morning Im enjoying some new tunes. Im so upset about Kenny's new cd. I LOVE his music but this one just made me feel depressed. The sand, sun, steel drums band and rum are not suppose to do that to you! There are a couple good songs but when you pay $13.00 for 11 songs I feel gimped when I don't love the cd.

Taylor's didn't let me down, we have it cranked up as high as it can go and everyone is singing and dancing around the house. The girls LOVE "love story" its right our of a Jane Austen novel!

Update on the baby blue bishop

2009-02-26T13:11:00.001-08:00

Sorry this update took so long.

But the kids have taken over my camera and every time I pick up the camera the batteries are dead.

I just love bishops. About half way through the smocking the dress started begging for a bonnet, luckily my mom has taken a smocking class when I was a baby and the book she gave me with her pleater had a pattern she made for a bonnet.

I ordered some name tags so I have to wait to sew on the collar. I had some in my stash before we moved but I guess they didn't move with me. But as soon as I get them this little set will be added to my ETSY shop.

(I hope there isn't to many typos. The dog has been barking all day and Im starting to see cross eyed- I hear there is now prozac for dogs...BOY mine needs it)

Its MINE!!!......NOT!

2009-02-11T06:33:00.000-08:00

Darn those snyper bidders on on ebay!

I left for 15 minutes to run to the post office and BAM! They snuck right in there and got the pattern I was trying to win for Kylie's easter dress. Martha Pullen sells it on her website. I'm just going to have to pay retail for it. SHEEZ!

This is the baby blue bishop Im working on. Today its all about bullion roses!

We had a little bit of a freak attack last night. SOME ONE I wont mention any names (kylie) broke a couple crayons into tiny pieces and crushed them into my floor, then jumped in my bed with all these tiny crayon bits on stuck to her feet. I sat the baby blue bishop down as I grabbed her before blue was everywhere. I cleaned up the mess then went back to work on the dress. I got the iron on hot and started pressing the dress when all of a sudden all these bright blue streaks started showing up everywhere. I guess when I sat the dress down I laid it on the crayon shaving then when ironed they melted ALL over the dress. I gabbed my Grandma's Secret Spot Remover. (I didn't plan to buy it but I was a couple bucks short of getting my passport stamp at hancock fabrics last week) A tiny drop on each wax spot I let it sit for about 5 minutes then scrubbed each spot with my finger nail. RIGHT BEFORE my eyes the spots vanished! I was so excited I ran in to show Brian that all the wax came out....he was shocked that wax got on the dress in the first place, he didn't even know it happened I guess I didn't say any bad words, or scream and yell, or threaten to eat any children when it happened...lol Good job MOM!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Baby Blue Bishop

2009-02-10T08:11:00.001-08:00

Sorry no picture today.

(Im to lazy to go through the hassle of hooking up the camera)

I was talking to a friend this weekend about Etsy and I was asking her if there was any money to be made there. She told me to make 10 things and post them in my shop. Worst case it cost me $1.00 in listing fees. So I have been busy smocking baby day gowns.

Today its a baby blue bishop and it has been a pain in the rump! I thought I was going to throw my pleater out the window. I have NEVER had such a hard time getting something through the pleater straight. I redid it so many times I stopped counting! With the pleating finally done the smocking got started and its coming out so adorable. It going to be raining all day today so I wont be tempted to wonder outside so I should finish all the smocking today.

I really wish I had been into heirloom sewing when my girls were babies. How sweet it would have been seeing them in handmade daygowns instead of a onsie. I guess Im going to have to start sewing them heirloom easter dresses. Im pretty sure we are done with the baby making here. A friend of ours just had a baby last weekend and we keep laughing at him talking about his sleepless nights........I walk away thinking how LUCKY I am its him not sleeping...lol

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Its snowing in Memphis

2009-01-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

Its snowing in Memphis

Bottoms Up!.....Flipping on a frozen trampoline
Kylie has been waiting all winter to make snow angels.
The kids have only seen snow half a dozen times and this is the first time Kylie played in it. She had no idea it was going to be cold. She made a couple snow angels and then came inside and said snow is bad.

Awesome Giveaway

2009-01-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

As I was reading my favorite blogs tonight I found that Miss Molly at Mommycoddle with the help of the good people at Epson is giving away a Epson Artisan 800! All you have to do is leave her a comment on her blog, so head on over there and check it out! I have my name in the hat for this as well but even if I don't win I think this baby is going to find its self sitting in my home office. This was something like love at first site.

Well Im off to get dinner ready the kids are hungry.

Loving the start to 2009

2009-01-05T09:50:00.001-08:00

I joined a sewing contest on Sewing Pattern Review to get myself sewing again. The contest was to take something old and make something new from it. I took Hailey's Cleopatra costume and I made this adorable day gown from Sew Beautiful Magazine issue #121 called Rosebud day gown. Its a gift for someone who works with my husband. I want to keep it and I offered to make them something more modern like an Embroidered onesie with the baby's name on it...but Brian really wants me to give it away. I have never spent this much time on something....I think I just might cry when I wrap it up.

This is the reason Im such a terrible blogger.

2008-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

I bought myself an Imac last year. When we moved I gave the kids my old lap top. Well it didn't take them long to kill it so they have taken over my mac. Kylie lives on the computer. I have never seen a 4 year old so addicted. I snapped this picture as I was asking her if I could check my emails. All I got was this "Don't bother me" look.

Today Im moving the computer into my bedroom so I can at least use the darn thing after bedtime.

The weather has turned cold in the mid south and Im ready for christmas. This is the first time in almost 15 years that I have got to see the seasons change and Im soooo loving it. For the first time in years Im ready for Thanksgiving because it looks like fall outside and Just yesterday the christmas tree lots were starting to set up! Im really excited for a real tree this year.

Just for the fall season I decided all week we are eating HOT lunches. No more quick PB&J on wonder bread. So I have a giant pot of stew on the stove and a warm loaf of homemade bread that are filling my house with the most amazing aromas.

How can something so horrible look so darn beautiful?

2008-11-07T09:19:00.001-08:00

POISON IVY!!!!!!!!

Right in the corner of my front yard. Im from the desert and we don't have this kind of thing there. Im terrified to get close enough to remove it.

Catching up!

2008-11-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

I finally got to sew again.

I spent 2 days making costumes. Hailey was Cleopatra, Kylie was a princess, Justin was a boxer. My back hurt so bad by the time I was done. I thought I was going to be a permanent hunchback. Please excuse my very wrinkled drapes....I did not realize they were that bad...lol

Boy I have been a BAD BLOGGER!

Since we are hoping to move at the first of the year we are working in over drive to finish the house and hopefully sell the thing in this lovely market.

Today Im getting a new fireplace....well not the wood burning kind. I really miss the fireplace back home so we are going to add an electric insert. We are putting in a travertine hearth. I bought a washing machine on craigslist and when I got there to pick it up the lady had a bunch of travertine tile she was selling as well, so we snatched that up! I have a small love affair with travertine.

I made some banana bread this morning..... It was not my normal recipe but OHHH so much better. It was from The Martha Stewart Cookbook- Collected Recipes for Everyday. My old recipe calls for pudding, the new one calls for sour cream....... It was so moist and perfect....yummm

Brian is cleaning the yard and just threw away the city Kylie was building for her ponies so I need to go do some damage control. Im not sure how Im going to make everyone happy this time...lol

Deep thoughts for the day

2008-10-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

I bought a house last year in an old forgotten neighborhood everything around here was build during the 1880s-1920s. My house sits across the street from this very old wonderful cemetery, between two schools.

Yesterday right as school would have been letting out, had it not been Columbus day. A car came speeding down the street. She lost control, ran onto the sidewalk hitting another woman and throwing her into the air. The car stuck a tree in the cemetery, making the most horrible sound I have ever heard. The woman driving was thrown from her car and the woman walking was pinned between the car and the tree.

The driver past three speed limit sighs limiting her to 35 miles and hour. She tore through four school crossings which had it been any other day would have been full of children! What could have possibly been so important that she felt the need to drive so fast down a quite street?

It just seems that lately there are more inconsiderate people then not. Are people so caught up in their own lives that cant find time to smile at a passing stranger.

I didn't sleep a wink last night so if this sounds like some crazy ramble......it is just that.

Look what my dear sweet children did this time.

2008-10-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

My older kids thought it would be great fun to draw a stash on my baby with a sharpie.

Brian keeps telling me that my days CAN NOT be that bad. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get sharpie off of a 4 year old face? Me either....my other kids had it easy. Why do they have to be so mean to her? Its no wonder she wants to hang out with me all day and refuses to play with them.

Right now Justin is crying that he can't do his school work because he has a pimple that hurts and he needs to rest. Brings back memories of finding my little sister vegging on the couch on a school day. I asked her what she was doing home and she said she couldn't got to school because she was having a bad hair day. She was scary looking.....lol Now its funny because my niece is 3 and she refuses to leave the house if one little hair on her head is out of place. My sister says she is the hardest kid to please when it comes to her hair. Mothers curse!

I must have been a nightmare to my mother.....lol

Im beat... Is it friday yet?

2008-10-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

just a pretty picture of a butterfly in the yard

Where to start? Where to start?

Saturday was our 9 year anniversary, Brian worked late and didn't make it home in time to do anything. I was not to upset about it, I spent the entire day painting our bedroom, so I was not in the mood to try to deal with drunks being the bar was the only place open that late....lol

I have spent everyday this week scrubbing, plastering and painting, and my bedroom still looks like a mess. I'll admit it looks better then it did before BUT I can't believe there is so much more left to do. This old house just might be the death of me.

We are moving to Virginia this spring and I feel really bad leaving the house. I feel like her caretaker. I found her all battered and beaten, Brian and I have polished, plastered, and painted her into this adorable little cottage. I hate to leave her in someone elses care who may not love for her as I do.

Now that my body is beaten lets work on beating me mentally

Last night the dog decided to pig out on cat food. Her food just isn't good enough I guess. Well because she is a little dog and she PIGED out so she had to go potty ALL NIGHT LONG and Nope she could not bother to wake me up. I got up three times because the smell was just horrible! Then to make matters worse I guess my makeup bag was in some ones way last night because they sat it on the floor and the dog peed on it! Im going to need flowers by the time friday rolls around. Pretty selfish flowers that you buy just to toss out when the die a week latter. Not of the crap with roots thats going to want to me give it a life time of TLC. Just a big fat vase full of cut fall colored flowers...I just may throw in a few roses for the dog pee.....lol

I think I may go make a fresh loaf of bread for lunch.......yeah fresh bread, cheese, and salad with a tall glass of ice tea for lunch....sounds like a winner to me!

Wishing I had time to sew.........(big sigh)

2008-10-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I found this dress and thought OHHH thats cute...$140 ha ha ha NOPE we can do better then that.

Now I have a reason to buy this pattern from Favorite Things I have been in love with it all summer. Maybe if I use fall fabric I can get away with it for fall. Its still 85 degrees here in Memphis.

Too cute to keep this to myself!

2008-10-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

This is my baby....she just turned 4 last month.

I actually had the batteries charged and loaded in the camera....and I knew where the camera was to boot!

I should go buy a lotto ticket Im on a roll!

Hide and Seek

2008-10-02T10:50:00.001-07:00

The story about these blankets.

The bunny one was given to me when I was pregnant with Hailey... yes 8 years ago, handmade by a lovely woman who worked for my husband. The blue one was also given to me when Hailey was born, it was made by a dear friend who has since passed .

Hailey has always hated blankets so these were brand new when I packed her baby stuff away. Hailey was to be our last baby so I gave everything away except these two blankets that I treasured being handmade gifts from two very special women.

Well 4 years latter God had other plans and we welcomed Kylie into our family. This little rugrat has LOVED these blankets. For the last three months they have been missing. I have search high and low. I knew that they moved with us because I remember giving them to her at every rest stop along the way. So they had to be here. All the while my little girl went to bed everynight heart broken.

Well yesterday I found them. Hailey has stuck them under her rug in her room to be used as carpet padding!

This picture was taken after I gave them a good washing and has left them on the line to soak up some sunshine........sunshine is one of Kylies favorite smells. She wakes up every morning and makes me smell her blanket. As soon as the smell of fabric softner and sunshine wear off she makes me wash them again. The blue one is starting to show the signs of its many many many washings but Joyce would be thrilled to know that her blanket has brought so much joy to this little girl for so long.

Im spitting mad this morning

2008-10-01T07:15:00.001-07:00

(Penny crashed out under my computer)

We bought our Penny dog a year ago when she was 16 weeks old. She has been a very spoiled and adored member of our family ever since.

Every morning at about 7:00am I let her and the cats out in my back yard. Its a small fenced in grass area. The three do their business then after I finish the morning dishes I join them for some morning sunshine.

This morning I was running late. I guess it was just one of those mornings, my down comforter was so warm and cozy I just didn't want to get up. Well I hear kids in my yard, not my kids, I can still hear them snoring in the next room. I think "NO!, they can't be in my yard." Well they were in my yard. I opened my upstairs window and I hear them talking about taking my DOG! Since we were having a lazy morning the cats were still crashed at the foot of my bed and Miss Penny was snuggled safely in bed with the kids. So no harm was done

I called Brian at work all upset.

Brian: "Whats wrong?"

Me: "They tried to take my DOG!" (insert crying)

Brian: "Who?"

Me; "Three kids in Staxs uniforms."

Brian: "Where was Penny?"

Me: "Still in bed"

Brian: "So they didn't take her?"

Me: "No! "

Brian:"Why are you crying"

Me: "They could have! She was suppose to be out there!"

LOL! What goof I am. But those darn brats had NO business walking around the back of my house, opening my gate and messing around in my back yard!.....they really have made me angry this morning.

Second post today... Aren't you a lucky one!

2008-09-30T09:49:00.001-07:00

I went to the kitchen to make myself a fruit smoothie, I grabbed the last banana and I found this little guy.

My son is such a goofy guy!

Because I have nothing better to do......

2008-09-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ever since I learned how to smock (4 months ago) I have wanted to make a bishop dress. While thriften' last week I found a Grace Knotts pattern for a peasant dress....aka bishop dress for 45 cents. I snatched it up so fast and ran to the counter with my find clutched to my chest. On thriften' day everything gets tossed in the back of my durango to be sorted when I get home. Not this pattern. I tucked her safely into my purse. The whole day I day dreamed about the fabric and smocking pattern I would used and how adorable my little girl would look in her wonderful handmade dress.........Latter that night I read the pattern and found out it was a DOLL PATTERN! For an 18" American girl. My girls have never been into baby dolls. Except for 1 that Kylie has had forever and it was just a dollar store cheapy. Well I decided to make the dress anyway. As soon as the smocking started my girls ran to their room on a major search for the one and only baby doll we own.

This is what they brought me......gross!

So Kylie went to work cleaning her. Baby got a good scrub down with comet cleaner, then a bleach soak, then a final washing in Gain. (just to let you know- I need all the major cleaning with the toxic cleaners-Kylie is just there for the photo)

After a week of sewing, pressing, and smocking this is Baby in her new dress

The dress had to be altered to fit her. On day 2 I almost put the whole project away because I thought, "WHY in the world am I spending so much time on a dress for a Baby doll my kids don't even play with!" Then Brian answered my with his response... "What else do you have to do?" I think that man needs to be reminded what I do all day!

Fall sewing.....well pattern and fabric selection

2008-09-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

This wonderful pattern I wanted sooo bad but I lived in the desert so there was no need for a winter coat. We moved to Tennessee this spring and the pattern was out of print . BUT I found it at a thrift shop this past weekend for 45 cents! ( still doing my happy dance)

Now I cant make up my mind which fabric I want to use.....I have not been able to come up with a good enough reason as to why I need two winter coats! We live in the mid south its just barely cold enough for 1!

*thinking out loud* Im a SAHM mom so when I DO leave the house its to the grocery store, dance class, music lessons, and sometimes I get to stop by an antique shop and or thrift store. The dark one looks more casual, my favorite color and sooo me-BUT- I always wanted a pink and gray tweed coat!

THE STRESS OF IT ALL!

Thriften Weekend

2008-09-22T08:46:00.001-07:00

We had a pretty cool weekend. Brian was off for the first time in months so we decided after the kids ballet and guitar class that we would hit some thrift stores. We didnt find too many awesome deals but we did find a couple things. I found an awesome deal on patterns some great Threads patterns that have been on my "To BUY" list. I got them for 45 cents each! I also found this adorable vintage swimming suit pattern for Kylie. Im excited to make that one up. I need to order fabric ASAP before the weather gets any cooler and she cant wear it anymore. Its one of those old patterns that come in 1 size. Im sure glad times have changed and you get more sizes in pattern. Much more bang for you buck!

Kylie thrifted till she dropped.

She had soooo much fun. At every store we went to she bought some little treasure. But at the end of the day she walked in the door and crawled up on the couch and crashed.

Brian found this little whicker toy box/ chair at the last store we hit. I think we paid a bit much for it ($20) considering when we got home he had to almost rebuild the whole darn thing....This picture is the before pic. I will post another one when the paint is dry and the cushion is done.

Here is Hailey learning how to crochet. Her face was cracking me up. I think I need to buy her some chuncky yard and a big ol' fat hook. But heck this is what I had on hand...lol

Random thoughts of the day

2008-09-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

The fabric I ordered online finally came. I bought it with the thought that I would make something for my ETSY shop. I opened the account last year and never did anything with it. Well I opened the package and Kylie grabbed my fabric and took off. she keeps trying to wear it wrapped around her. She even picked out tops that will match her "new skirt" So I guess I will have to order more fabric. It isn't her turn for something for a Momma Creation sooo there is going to be a giant fight.

Does anyone out there sew for teenage boys. My son keeps asking for something and I cant come up with anything. Id love some ideas.

I went for my run the other day......

Look what the winds did to MY park! I spent years living in the desert and I love trees. So I was pretty upset to see this in my pretty park.

Kylie sat on this tree and jumped up and said it was SMELLY! I guess that one was lost an account of rot....lol

I love to sit outside and enjoy the morning sun. Yesterday while enjoy a lovely morning breeze I noticed I was not alone. This creepy little guy had joined me! I held a tape measure up to him and he is darn near 3 Inches LONG!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Spring

Oh its Monday again!

2008-09-15T06:23:00.000-07:00

This is my Penny Dog.

I have not done much sewing lately and I miss it. I spent all week buying fabric ...so I have a couple of outfits I want to make this week. I picked up the cutest piece of vintage fabric with oranges, limes, and cherries on a pink background....Im thinking something called Tootie Fruity and Im in the mood for some smocking. I know its more of a spring theme.

I also pickup two quilt panels with tons of flower squares on it. The idea was to use them for appliques. I really need to think fall, because it is coming! Here I am sitting in the house wearing sweat pants and a flannel night gown...lol It will warm up today but the house is chilly from last night.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Spring

Something else I found and wanted to share

2008-09-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

This is an adorable pattern designed by Samantha Caffee.

You can get it at The Homemade Dress Sweet and simple. My sister lives in Hawaii and I think her girls would love a box of these for christmas. You could have SOOOOO much fun with this. Possibilities are endless.

I have been meaning to share this one for a while now.

Enjoy!

Missing my summer vacation.....(sigh)

2008-09-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

This is Hailey and Kylie playing in the sand at Lake Tahoe last summer.

How I wish I was there now.

Growing up in the mountains then moving to the desert was so hard. We were at Lake Tahoe for a week and I cried when we got in the car that morning we left. It really is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Yesterday I went for day 2 of my 5K training. I really can not believe how out of shape I am. All the fat that I want lipoed is sore as heck...LOL!

I spent the rest of the day buying fabric online. I don't even know what I am planning with it. BUT when we moved I sold my stash...all of it for something like $11.00 So I need to restock. Most of the stuff I bought was spring prints that were on sale.

I need to get busy on halloween costumes. These darn kids keep changing their minds about what they want to be and the youngest wants a Princess Ariel McCalls pattern that has been out of print for years. I keep trying to win one on ebay but I haven't had any luck yet.

I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon!

Running is for the birds!

2008-09-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

This is my three kids in April when we hiked the Apache Pass at Fort Bowie Arizona.

Justin (that handsome kid in the front) and I are training for the St. Jude Children's Hospital 5K run on December 6th. Im really out of shape. We ran 1/2 a mile last night and I came in and fell on the floor and didn't move for five minutes. Justin came in and said, " Mom, Im very disappointed in you....whoa! MOM your sweating all over the place!"

Brian said if I keep it up for a month I get new running shoes....ok Now those of you who know me know I will do anything for a new pair of shoes....not sure I want tennis shoes but mine are really gross looking so I guess I do need to replace them.

I think we are on the right track. This morning I traded my morning coca cola in for a bowl of Special K. Im feeling cheated but healthier all ready!

Enjoying some online Shopping!!!

2008-09-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

These are all from Heather Bailey's website. If you have not gone.....OH you have to check it out!

Hailey my 8 year old has been begging me to teach her how to sew. I think we might start with these cute little pieces of fruit as christmas gifts for all the crafty people on our list. And how about that adorable apron! Normally Im not an apron person but this one....LOVE IT!

Now those of you that know me know that I cant sleep at night until I have had my "alone time" away from my kidos. I love the little monsters but Momma needs her peace. So the other night I decided to spend my alone time reading blogs...What a treat I discovered. Fabritopia! The name says it all. I got so many cavities from all the fabric eye candy. Jona has left no stone unturned, when it comes to fabulous fabric!

I will be back with more goodies to share tomorrow!

My little one...being cute!

2008-09-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is Kylie in her new outfit. I love this pattern....Im not sure how Im feeling about the capris. I did an awesome job on them so I love them in person but Brian said it looked like a pillowcase so OF COURSE now I have a complex about them. This picture was a very difficult picture to get. This evening I bought a tube on Hannah Montana lip balm. Now I bought the lip balm for Brian. He is always stealing mine so I bought him his own...I thought how funny would it be when he whipped that out at work with all the boys working on the railroad.....lol Well he tried it when I gave it to him...he thought it was pretty nasty tasting..said he'd rather taste my lip gloss (hehehe) SOOO I told Kylie if she tried on her new outfit and let me get a picture of her in it, that she could have the Hannah Montana lip gloss. Lucky I had that there.....lol She has always been the worse model, even as an infant. Notice how shiny her lips are in the picture....lol little goofball!

I need to fix the poodle top I shared with you earlier, I have to fight the kid to take it off and I cant stand it cause the pattern I tried didn't work. But smocking is so much fun and SOOO addicting. Everytime I start a new project Im already planning the next. Im due for another trip to the fabric store.

Hello Again!

2008-08-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Last year I decided there was not enough cute modest sewing patterns out there for those between the ages of 7-12. So I started drafting my own. So instead of starting my own clothing line I have decided that it would be more affordable to make and find buyer for these vs. a whole clothing line....lol

It has also come to light that since I have stopped working that I have become very lazy and Im starting to pack on the pounds. For those of you that know me know that I work best when Im being bribed. So for every week that I worked out for an hour each day I get a new pattern and fabric for myself (not the kids) . So by Christmas I should have a whole closet full of clothes! Last christmas my brother who was stationed in Iraq sent me a Coach purse SO my knew clothes are all going to be made to match! Dark Brown and Tan is going to be my color theme. I know how creative...right. Maybe we can add some rich jewel tones as well.

This is the first pattern Im going to get this Friday!

I love the wide waist bands. Great for that "I have had three children belly roll." Plus everything has to have some stretch....lol I must remember that you DO look smaller when your clothes fit right....lol

Alright well I have a rowing machine upstairs calling my name.

Hugs,

Spring

Catching Up!

2008-08-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

I love this little poodle. She was a big hit the day she was finished. Kylie kissed with with a face full of brownie. I wanted to cry but it washed up well.

I feel in love with this pattern last year and I had to have it....I didn't know who made it or where to find it. All I knew is that I HAD TO HAVE IT. Did I mention I had no idea how to smock....lol I found it in Designer Smocking for Tots to Teens. Great book and I think if you have little girls and you sew...This book is a must have.

This adorable top has straps that go over the shoulder but they are still waiting by the sewing machine to be finished.

My terd monkey....(sigh) I wanted her hair pulled to the side with a pretty pink bow but she wanted 2 pony tails off the back....she won, but was still angry about having to fight for her way....so every time I snapped a pic she would make a funny face. This is the best one we got that night.

Well lets see......

My sewing machine died. I couldn't live without it so the next day I bought a cheapy one off craigslist. My other machine is a computerized fancy fancy thing.....It has been nothing but heartache I LOVE this new one. Its so nice always knowing its nots going to jam and tear my project.

So I have been busy! These are all of my newest projects.

Until Latter

XOXO

Spring

A little piece of heaven.....

2008-07-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Since we moved to Memphis I have not really been shopping. I get everything I need from the little store on the corner. Im born and raised in a small town so all this traffic scares me to death. Well Brian was sent out of town for three weeks............OH this little birdy got wings. I decided to adventure out and find me some real conditioner. Oh that was the best shower EVER. My hair feels almost human again....Oh and the traffic was not bad at all.

The machine is here!

2008-07-18T17:08:00.000-07:00

Shopping Day

Today I went to one of my favorite antique shop and found my dream sewing chair. My handy husband Brian built me a wonderful desk and I was on a search for a comfy arm chair to match it. After three months I found her. It was on sale 25% off...who could pass on that! She does need to be reupholstered but all in all I only paid $32.00 for it!

My sewing machine was delivered today... Boy I have missed that thing. The girls were helping me pull all the goodies out of the box, Hailey grabbed my tape measure and said, "Can you measure us and make us something now!" How cute was that. Of course I have not ordered the fabric yet for the First Pampered Brat launch. The theme is Pretty Pink Poodles. Im having a hard time deciding on a design for the fall. Its so darn hot and humid here in Memphis my mind just think fall.

ONCE UPONE A TIME

2008-07-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome!!!

Pampered Brat & Co. is something that I have wanted to start for many years. After my husband took a new job and a lot more hours it was decided that unless our children were going to raise themselves that one of us was going to have to give up their job, meaning, "Hey honey, haven't you always wanted to be a stay at home mom!" At first I felt lost and lonely then I remembered all those clothing ideas sitting in my desk collecting dust. So faced with to much time on my hands I have decided to launch my own clothing line called Pampered Brat & Co.

What makes a brat a pampered brat? You take the chic look of the famous boutique styles with ruffles, fun funky fabric, and sequins then mix in a pinch of southern charm with embroidery, lace and hand smocking and Voli'a you have a Pampered Brat!

Clothing is modeled by my two daughters, Hailey and Kylie and also by my two nieces, Lilliana and Violet. They rage between the ages of 18moths to age 8.

Pictures will be coming very soon. We just moved from New Mexico to Tennessee and my sewing machine has not made it here yet.