Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Bedridden and Bored...

Feeling a little bit sorry for myself these days...so this is going to be a bit of a downer post.

For the past almost 7 weeks I have basically been bedridden. I have bulging discs in my lower back that have seriously stopped me from doing almost everything. I woke up in late September on a Saturday with my back really hurting me, but it was the town wide garage sale...lol...and I really NEEDED to go. I went with a neighbour friend of mine and we had been looking forward to going for a couple of weeks now. But with just a twinge in my back I thought that it would disappear as the morning went on...not realizing how bad it really was...or how much worse I was going to make it. As the morning went on, everytime I got out of the car I was in agony....and I got slower and slower. Four hours later I was back at home lying down....just not moving at all....I could not sit, it was to painful. For whatever dumb reason I had in my head, I went to another neighbours BBQ that night....thinking that plying myself with alcohol might work. Not so much, I ended up standing for the whole night and then walking home. Yup, pure pain.....the next day I could not get up at all. Thank goodness it was a Sunday :)

For the next week I struggled through, lying down a lot, thinking it was my sciatic and that it would go away in a week or two. I had teacher meetings to go to for Gavyn to finally meet his Aide's and his support team, and parcel's to deliver to the PO. But going into the first week of October I was able to admit that this wasn't going away and that I needed help. So hubby made me (yes he did) make an appointment with his chiro team to see if they could fix me.

We are now into the first week of November...almost a whole month of chiro. I have also gone through MRI's(yup, I am claustrophobic), EMG's...and another test that I wasn't to fond of that involved needles. The MRI came back with the results about the bulging discs and severe impingement on my sciatic nerve and another nerve and some on the other side of me as well. So I am told that this could last from 6 to 12 weeks....ummm ya.....like that's a long time. This is Christmas season, the busiest time for me come doll production...I am really losing out. I am able to stand about 4 hours MAX a day......but definitely not at one time. So it is about an hour in the morning (okay, maybe 40 mins) to get the kids out the door and dogs fed,watered and let outside. Then it is back to the lying down position. Lunch I get the dogs out again, make myself a tea, get the dishwasher loaded and started and back to bed....rinse and repeat(shower time) and then back to bed.....kinda ditto when it is dinner time..... OMG I AM SO SO SO SOOOOO Bored!!!! Going on 7 weeks of this I am starting to sound pretty pitiful to the family. I am walking (if you can call it that) around with a cane now. I really hate that thing, but it is a necessary evil so I have discovered if I want to get up the stairs...and believe me I do, the heating pad is up there.....but shhhhhhh.....don't tell hubby or the chiro, they have threatened to take it away from me. But seriously it is the only relief I get....I am NOT giving it up. Besides, the bedroom is FREEZING this time of year and I need it on my feet :)

Going to try and make my day today a little more "exciting" going to try and sew (yes I said sew, so that means sitting) some doll faces on and then hand stitch the eye, nose and mouth on. I need something to do while sitting in bed all day...6 hours of computer time everyday, ALL day...just is not doing it for me anymore...

Wish me luck....

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Busy, FUN....but busy...how are you??

This summer has flown by, where did it go?? it is the first(ish) week of September and I am already pulling out the cardigans....which is kind of sad....but I do love my Cardi's. They are have such a cosy feeling....I would wear them well into summer if I didn't look so ridiculous and I kinda got tired of explaining to people that yes....I really was cold.....in 80 degree weather. Yes I am odd that way :)

Kids are all back to school (YEAH!!) and so far no calls from the school...hey, I know it is only two days in...but it has happened in the past...ohhhh Kyle...do I have stories to pass on about you...lol....


Hubby and I have decided (crazily) that we are bored...and that we need a project...a kinda of bonding sort of thing...not going to go into details...well because I hate to jinx things :))) But I will let you all know more about it if and when it happens, but sewing and crafting may get pushed on the way side for about a year or so....so one one hand it will be good....on another...not so much....

but crossing fingers and well wishes would be appreciated :))

I did manage to get in a nice big order of my Knotty Dress's so I have been plugging away at that :) I love mixing the fabrics, they really do not go or fit together all that well, but in my eye they do...and well...heck isn't that what counts...hehehe...

Here are a couple of things that I put up in the store today

I have a few of these at a custom sz

Halloween BOO



and I have a few Christmas Dress's up as well...

Snowy Day Dress



T'was a Night Before Christmas Dress




Quite a few others in the shop as well...I have had quite a bit of the dolls go out as well recently....some are shopping for Christmas it seems...much much better than I am being....eeeks....only a few more months....


Okay...so when I know about our "NEW" hobby.....I'll let ya'all know...better yet...I may even let hubby tell you....

But I won't jinx it...I really believe in that....so...shhhhhh :)))

oh, and check out the swagbucks linky thing at the side there...its addicting ;)

Monday, July 26, 2010

I know...I suck :(

Not that I have been meaning to ignore you and all that, but my computer broke, and with that all my camera software went with, so I feel kinda blah about posting my fabulousnesses (like that word...I do)...and not having anything to show for it...

Hubby and I went on our 15th wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month, we went to the Southern Carribbean and had an amazing time....again....I would ummm...put up pictures....but I can't, so please take my word for it :)

I have another big order going out to Summer Studios in Avalon NJ....well it is big for me anyways...lol...More *Scrappy Dress's* and matching *Scrappy Dolls*...and a lovely old college friend (okay she is not old at all...we have just known each for forever) sent me a picture of her daughter wearing one of the *Scrappy Dress's* that I can share with you because she sent it via FB :)





Isn't she a cutie :) Of course when my puter took a dive I lost a TON of old photos of designs I had down in the past....so I was super excited to get this :) Thanks Alana

So that is all that has been happening in a nutshell...Kids are good, Gavyn has had Summer School this month to help with socialization and behaviour....and also to get him outside....which all and all will only help him in the long run....Autism sucks, but he certainly makes my life wonderfully full :)

Gave Lucy (the beagle) a well deserved bath today...she smelled like deathes door...ugh....now she is lovely and sweet smelling, until she rolls into the next horrid thing.

Tomorrow I have 90yrds of fabric coming in....I hit an AMAZING sale at fabric.com...I think it ends today (July 26th) so if there is any left (I did leave some behind, I am not that greedy....well maybe just a little bit) you should really check it out.

I now have to go and make some room for all that coming in :)))

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Did I tell you that I was dieting???

Good thing that Sawyer knew....he saved me from eating those cookies that I baked yesterday....3 dzn completely inhaled in like 60 seconds....bad dog....



I am hoping that the kids at least got a few....lol.....but it does save me from sneaking a couple at midnight....the temptation is gone....


But I am baking some more.....:) For the kids....of course.....

Friday, May 28, 2010

Gotta try to Butter-"Milk" it.....

Have you ever bought all the ingredients to a recipe only to find out that you are not in the mood anymore to try it?? Okay...well that is how my ADD brain works sometimes :) Either I change my mind or I have forgotten the recipe I wanted to try completely.....

So what does that leave you to do??? Well often said ingredients end up going bad and smelly if they are the perishable kind in my house...with Kyle usually digging around for something to eat (like any normal healthy teenager does) to feed his bottomless pit, and he'll reach his hand to the back and quite often will pull out a bag of mush (ya, I hate looking at the back of my fridge some weeks).....I don't know what it was...but PLEASE just throw it out now (I am actually making the icky smell face remembering this).

Well I recently came across a stack of recipes I wanted to try using buttermilk...I have never used it in cooking. It always seemed a little risky because it goes bad quickly. Or at least it has the few times I have used it in the past....or I buy to much of it and forget about it and the whole smelly thing starts over again in my fridge. But again, I bought to much of it...I made the ButterMilk Chicken the other night....but ummm now what??? I have half a quart left...so off I went to scour the internet for the perfect blend of recipe that both me and the kids will eat (Stef is not to particular).

So far this is what I have come up with....a Chocolate Bundt Amaretto Cake and these basic but yummy ButterMilk Cookies





I am so so happy that I got to use my recent bought Garage Sale domed cake plate. I am always super happy when I can justify a buy with using it right away...it always a "SEEE" kind of moment :) The ButterMilk Cookies call for chopped walnuts sprinkled on the frosting, but Gavyn truly hates nuts of any kind (apparently peanut butter does not count) so I thought that I probably overdid it with the almonds on the cake...:) But since there is alcohol in that cake he won't touch it anyways...


I have only tried the ButterMilk Cookies....and while they are very good, they definitely need the walnuts for a bit of crunch.....and as for the cake...that will be for tonight....After we watch Iron Man 2. And possibly after I clean up this mess....




anyone else know of some good buttermilk recipes?? I have a little bit left and the due date on the carton is coming up fast....

Monday, May 24, 2010

My Very First Clafouti and Knotty Dress's....

One of the fun things that I picked up at this weekends Garage Sale was this great looking recipe book called Luscious Berry Desserts



In a nutshell...the book is pretty sweet (see what I did there...desserts=sweet....ya ya I know). Tons of "healthy" recipes for me to try. Especially during the warm Summer months coming. I love new cookbooks....especially the yummy kind. So I opened the book and went looking through it today to see if I had any ingredients in the house to make a Yummy for after dinner today. Dessert is an essential meal in this house....if it is not happening people just do not eat (that just could say a ton for my cooking, not my baking though). As I was skimming I came across a recipe for a Raspberry Almond Clafouti. I first heard about this dessert from fabulous blogger Posie Gets Cozy she is my favorite blog to stalk. I have made so so many recipes from her site I just can not even count that high, heck she is probably the reason that my kids still eat my food, by the mere chance that I might make one of her concoctions for dinner....but I digress :)

The Clafouti was a dessert she introduced me to....not quite a cake....almost pancake like....but again not. It is set in a glass pie dish and I substituted Blackberries for Raspberries because that is what I had on hand....I also think I should have added a twitch of Cinnamon or nutmeg as it was a little bland...but that is the fun with recipes....making it your own....but I will try again...with the twists.....and oh ya....whip cream must be dolloped out in heaps. Oh and please ignore the "greasy" look to it....I literally had just pulled it out of the oven and it was still bubbling, it turned into a nice crispy texture.

Made a couple of Knotty Dress's that I will be adding to the MisMatched Molly store tomorrow or Wednesday....a few of them will be Customs...So WOOT for me....more sewing ;) Here is a couple of pics...





I need to keep telling myself that the iron is my friend and that I should not be afraid to use it....but darn it, I keep burning myself...so I am a bit tentative to use it. Gotta learn how to tumble dry iron :) So hopefully these will be up and in the shop in a bit.....

But for now....off to dreamland....I clocked in 9 miles of walking today....plus 45 mins on the treadmill....so my feet hurt a little bit.....just a little bitty bit :))

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Oh How I love my Garage Sale finds....

Today was the town wide Garage Sale and what a beautiful day it was (is)....now let me start off saying that I grew up going to garage sales when visiting with my Dad and Step-Mother. For the 2 or 3 weekends in the Summer that I (we actually, my brother and I) would get to visit my Dad, Saturday mornings were reserved for finding the best deal EVER!!! It didn't matter how long it took either, it had to be found. We would start off at 7 in the morning and would not be back till past noon. That was a lot of leg work for an 8 year old and a budget of 1$....but boy could I ever get a lot for a 1$ back then....lol...not so much anymore, but there are still fun deals to be found...


This was my first time today going to sales in a long long long long (well you get the point) time. One thing is that it is really hard to get hubby to stop for them...lol....lotsa times we will pass a sale on the weekend and hubby will say before I even can see the sale "We are not stopping..." most of the times I would not want to....looks like all baby stuff, or tools anyways....but occasionally I would gaze wistfully and wish he would stop. But that is what I get for not having my drivers license so no one to blame but me.

But this is the loot that I picked up today with my GF Abby that apparently goes on the town wide sale every year. I gave myself a budget of 35$ and prayed that I did not find thee most awesomest thing ever for 5$ more that I had....lol....but nope I was good, I spent it all....but I got a ton of goodies this is the hall I got...












I also got a copy of "Eat, Pray, Love" which I have not read yet and have really been wanting to get too (found it hiding in one of the baskets)...and will be reading this on our recent cruise that we just booked for next month. Those rolls of fabric that is sticking out of the picnic basket (2$) were all just a dollar each.....there is over 12 yrds of fabric and I got it for 6$. My fun finds was the glass cake dome (2$) that I was going to buy over on Amazon a couple of weeks ago for 35$ plus shipping...man would I have been kicking myself if I would have....grrrr.....but YIPPPEEE for me. Plus that little Vintage Raggedy Andy doll....it needs a little cleaning up cause it's a little dusty but it is still a cutie, and glad it has found a new home. I also found an extra remote for our TV as they always end up disappearing, so hubby was happy that I picked that up...


I was on a basket hunt....but I love the picnic style ones....and was happy to find a large and a smaller version, both for 2$. The vintage floral cake plates had all the right crackling throughout the porcelin to make it pretty and shabby too...and for the 1$ price tag I was not going to get to upset if I left it over a neighbors house by mistake (okay I maybe a little upset, they are so so cute). I was also surprised to find the bundt cake pan. I can remember seeing things like this in the past at Garage Sales and of course never really paying attention to them, basically because I was like 10 years old...lol....but my Step-Mum used to gaze at them and still thought that they were over priced even for these types of sales...but again this was something I had been looking at the buy, because I need a replacement for the ones I have, but spending the 45$ on it kinda irks me....not that I won't use it often, I just can not picture me paying that much....but I will happily pay 4$ for one...still maybe on the high side, but I knew it was a newer version so I did not mind paying more than I normally would.

My friend Abby and I shopped till we dropped and were pretty pooped in the end...fantastic weather and numerous sales, I am sure we missed more than half of them. But all and all I good some good fun loot!!!

Thursday, May 20, 2010




I love my neighbors.....they made me smile 3 miles wide this morning....The "Warren Street Happy Hour Birthday Crew" struck this morning. How cool is that :)) I had a row of birthday balloons this morning in my garden. I felt like a fairy princess walking through it...hehehe....

But I wasn't the only lucky one to get Birthday goodness....it seems that we have 3 people on our street that has a birthday today....so we all got Birthday Balloon goodness. How lucky our we!!! I say VERY VERY Lucky.....My good friend Abby has her birthday today and I brought her a birthday cupcake complete with pink jellybeans and a candle...not lit, but only because I did not think I could master walking down the street with it lit and not burning myself...ALSO it was little Jessica's birthday today as well....and I wanted to make her something sweet....so I made her a patchwork skirt and matching Scrappy Doll. I love the girly colors :))





I also got a fabulous bouquet from my little loves and a cupcake cake....lol...yummy. I am going out for Sushi tonight with hubby....what a lovely nite to be had....


oh and little brother rocks!!! he got me my own domain name....even though I have always wanted to do it....I have always been a bit of a ditz about it...now it is done, I can not wait to start fiddling with it....hopefully I will finally open a store on it...WOOT!!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

We went visiting Avalon, NJ.....

This weekend we took a little drive (2.5 hrs) down to the Jersey Shore...not because I am a fan of any of THOSE shows :) but because I really was itching to see where my designs were going to hang in a new shop. So I happily convinced Hubby to be stuck in a car with me for 5 hr's...and took a drive to Avalon, NJ to the Summer Studio Artist Shop. Where boutique owner Kim is starting a new venture. And "My OH My" was I ever blown away and happily surprised with her store (I should have taken an outside shop pic as there are Multiple French Doors leading out to a patio...very open and airy) and all the artist's that were being represented....

please be prepared for picture overload...I just really could not stop...she has over 69 vendors/artists in the boutique, and thankfully not everything has arrived yet or else I would not have known where to point the camera. But for the places that I DID point the camera...hehehe....I have those items stuck in my head and I know I will be coming back for, if I am so lucky....

The Boutique has a lovely mixture of Womens, Mens and Childrens handmade apparel as well as wonderful homewares




































As you can see....yup....a ton of pretty pictures.....but none with my designs on the racks YET!!!! only because I was just dropping off the first boxful when I was taking the pics....but I can certainly imagine a bunch of my *Scrappy Dolls* and Dress's hanging out with those sweet and awesome clippies and purses :))). I saw a LOT of etsy designers in the boutique and I am so happy to be in such amazing company.

So if you are in Avalon, NJ anytime soon check out Summer Studios on Ocean Drive (right next to the Antique shop, and Tiger Lillies Boutique). Eventually (soon) the studio is going to have an Art Gallery on one side of the shop, and a fantastic (so I have heard) Cheese and Coffee-ish shop with a small patio Terrase....CUTE!!!


Small side note....if anyone of my boys would have been a girl, Avalon was top name pick...just thought you should know....;)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Afternoon Tea for Three (plus me)




Had my (4th) cup of tea out on the front stoop today (and I had company too)...we had planted a bit this past weekend and I was "overlooking" the progress. We probably won't be doing all that much since we are renting. While I want to pretty up the place, I am not sure how much I really want to give the landlord, since he is not reimbursing us. One thing that we HAD to do....for my sanity's sake (and probably hubby's as well) was mulch...






and lots of it....28 bags later and we probably could still do a couple of bags more...but that sounds like crazy talk....since we weren't wanting to help out the landlord all that much....right....lol....





I did buy a couple of flats and enough flowers to fill up some pretty pots that were sitting in front of my front steps. I still need to plant my Mother's day flowers in a nice rusted metal planterish thing that I have...still debating if I want to spray paint the outside of it, or let the grunge look work??? maybe by next weekend I might make up my mind...



We also bought some cheap solar little lights to light up the front walk path....we shall see if they actually work or not? or I just threw money away again. Last time we bought these things Sawyer used them as chew toys....



Going to enjoy the rest of my tea (with the spoon...ALWAYS a spoon) and toast (and yes you can make fun of my snack...but I buy the chocolate chips now so I can eat them all I want....I love being a "grown-up") with my snack buddies. They know that I will share, they are just waiting for me to look there way....hehehe

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Coming Out of Hiding :))

Well at least until the next whirlwind brings me along with it...May has already been such an exciting month for me. This month both Peppermints and MisMatcHed Molly are being featured in new stores.....actual brick and mortar stores :) and I have been so very excited...and running around like a chick with her head cut off at times (well really to be honest it is not much different than I normally am)

Peppermints will be featured at Summer Studios in Avalon NJ...




Where a variety of my *Scrappy Dress's* will be on display (and purchase) as well as matching *Scrappy Dolls*. I was little on the late side in getting these to Kim the owner as I was kind of out of it all last month with surgery. So I wasn't sure I would be able to get all the dress's done....but they are and I am happy that I can wipe the sweat off my brow....hehehe.....here are a few samples of what will be in the shop...








MisMatcHed Molly is now also happily getting settled in my friend Delilah's new shop in Madison TX called Ruffled Rebelles



She has been working so hard at getting all the fine tuned details, and it has been a joy to be able to "watch" her get it all together and open this month...even if she is late at getting in in the morning....hehehe...





So scarily to say....I have been going a little overboard at getting all things sewing done...my studio is a wreck and I am needing to add more stock to my stores (just check over at the sidebar there for my stores) but I got a few of my tunic dress's in the Peppermints shop...and now I need to go through my stash again to add it to the MisMatched Molly shop....

and then I have to do the dishes.......Like I REALLLLLY have to do the dishes....lol...

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A month late (or so) and a dollar short??

We had guests this weekend...my in laws actually, passing through onto a warmer climate for the month (grrrr...need warmth). They haven't had a chance to visit since we moved in (well MIL was able to a few months back, but they have not been here as a couple since move in date) and of course things have changed in the DesRosiers abode :) first off is that the house is not covered in boxes....lol. The other big change is that I was able to paint. I LOVE to paint....it really is the easiest and biggest change in a room, not to mention the price.

Now if you know me then you know that I am NOT a neutral girl....while I always find that they look beautiful in other peoples homes....for me...not so much :) I our home before, our living room was raspberry and cantaloupe coloured with a chartreuse hallway/dining room....yes...I like it bright and loud. It was once mentioned that maybe I did not see colours "right"....this coming of course from someone who's home is all neutrals :)

So this new place, since it is not ours and I know that I will have to eventually paint it back to the original boring white, I painted only 2 walls (okay maybe really 4, but 2 of the walls are like half walls and in my mind they do not count) but I made those two walls count and then some. The living room I painted a really amazing deep magenta, it is such a rich and surprisingly soothing colour. I have a collection of oversized family paintings on the wall and it really makes some of the colours just POP that I normally would not have noticed....and then on that half wall that I painted there are some of Stef's photographs that he took that I have framed out it great black frames that is matted white....which also just POPS.

But I always felt that the space was missing something. While we do not have a lot of furniture in the room (dogs/kids destroy things like nothing) and it is slightly on purpose. I tried putting bench there...a chair...it just did not work. I had something in the back of my mind, but it was pretty much a lost cause. Price/would Stef approve kind of put it out of my mind. I did tell Stef that I did want this piece of furniture, and I had wanted one almost since we have been married...its an Apothecary. I have been looking at them in antique stores and in magazines for ages...drooling and then dying at the price tags. Always out of reach. They are such neat and interesting pc's of furniture...all those little drawers to put stuff in (more stuff). In my head it would be a great place to organize (HA) our little things...a place for gloves and hats ...heck a drawer for everyone. Mail would finally have a proper place as well...no more would it be absentmindedly left on whatever flat surface I would be off to next with. The apothecary would provide a drawer, not only a place, but a HIDDEN place. No longer a messy eye sore (because we have so much of those...lol)....sigh....an apothecary would solve all my problems. It would, I swear...

But years and budgets passed by and that lovely dream would not be mine...until our good friend went for what seems like his annual trip to Tibet and came back with his new business. Selling furniture that was made and handpainted by the monks in Tibet...all of it is just stunning and tells a great story and history with it. I have been in his "shop" a few times and drooled over many pc's of his, but the one that always stuck out was the apothecary. Not what in my mind was a traditional one...but an overdone and over the top handpainted one in such amazing colours...colours...yup that is what got me...just about always does :)It was just perfect, for me that is. I fantasized about it, eyed it in my perfect spot for the pc....even probably painted my walls for it, just in case. But the price always stopped me from truly getting it. Still a pipe dream.

Until Christmas....the day was as crazy as ever...morning chaos with the boys and friends over for Eggs Benedict Brekkie. Friends that owned the fabulous furniture...and while we were busy setting tables and making sure the holandaise sauce did not get lumpy....said friends wanted me to take a look at their newly car washed truck (it really was a dirty little thing and had been the butt of a few jokes) that they just had to show it off to me...like.....right NOW....in the back, in the bed of the truck, was the Apothecary, with a big purple bow on it :) Hubby had bought it for me for Christmas and with help of our wonderful friends they all managed to pull it off and I was just stunned.....and ecstatic. More than thrilled....such amazing friends for helping hubby pull this off, and really it boggles my mind at how lucky I am for having Stef in my life....not for the things he gets for me....but for because he "gets" me. Thank you so much sweets if I haven't said it lately...or enough...everything is starting to feel a little more perfect....and not because of the stuff. But because you make it so...










oh....and I will save it for another post...but I did not tell you what the other wall I painted was...and in what colour....can you guess?? :)