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Happy Halloween Everyone!
Have to make it quick, I need to go pick up the kids and maybe some more little pumpkins to carve for tonight :) Hope everyone has a fantastic and scary {but not too scary} halloween :) I will post photos tomorrow :) Enjoy and don't eat too much candy!
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Hope everyone had a terrific weekend. It was a nice and relaxing weekend for us.
I made some homemade chili {yummy} and the above cuppie cakes with the kids for their Halloween Party on Sunday. We made some buttercream frosting, tinted some with green colouring, and then used whatever candies I had in the pantry. {some marshmallows, chocolate chips} I did buy some red + green candies that I used for the tongues.
This is the second time I made a batch of monster cuppie cakes. I got the idea from Martha Stewart Kids Magazine a few years ago. {loved that magazine!} The kids love helping and of course, they wanted to name them. How cute is that?
Have great Monday!
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Erin S is the big winner! Woo hoo :)
Congratulations Erin! Send me an email with your address and I will send you a fun filled package!
{kat at taylormadedesigns dot com}
Thanks to everyone who left me a super nice comment. After I wrote the post, I thought, "Gee, talk about asking for compliments!" And thought I would change it... but then it was nice to hear what you like about my blog. Some days I just don't know what to post or what interests people. I sometimes worry that I post too many photos of my kids... and not enough "crafty substance". So thanks for letting me know that my blog is entertaining + fun to visit. You sure know how to make a girl feel good.
Kids are feeling better, but not a 100%. Today was picture day at school. (figures, right?) So I sent them off on their merry way. Can't wait to see how their photos come out.
So far, I've managed not to get sick! How crazy is that? I'm drinking Emergen-C everyday, and trying to go to bed before 11:00pm. though... I am working away in the evenings... I'm totally swamped with work!) The Emergen-C is a 1000mg Vitamin C drink. Maybe that is helping? Plus, rain or shine, I take my dogs for a three mile walk in the morning. I have to tell you, the walk is one of my favorite times of the day. It's just me, Monty + Koty. I usually leave the house at 8:15. Neal drives the kids to school, and I do the pick up at 11:30am.
Can't believe it's Wednesday already. My favorite show is on... Pushing Daisies. Oh if you haven't seen it, you are missing out. It's so sweet, so surreal, and charming. It has the feeling of Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands". It's definitely not your "normal" TV show. It's quirky and some people don't get it. But I do. I really enjoy it... which means it will probably get the can! {while other junky shows live on forever!}
I can't get over the fires and all the people who are losing their homes out in Southern California.
Nancy over at Right Brain Gal has a post of what it is like living + breathing over there. Reminds us, that while we're complaining about little things in life... bigger things are happening around us. I'll be keeping them in my prayers.
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So many great stores over at Etsy! I came across Jim's store a few months ago and just love his work. Most of his prints are done via the Gocco. And you know how much I just love that machine! I keep thinking how cute these prints would look framed and hung together!
Thanks so much for all your kind, sweet, and encouraging comments from yesterday :) Today I'll print out your names and have the kids pull a winner from a hat/bag. Right now they are tucked away in bed. Both have colds. William has been sick since Sunday, so I haven't sent him to school this week. Davis developed a fever yesterday. So no school for her today. Hoping with enough rest today they will be feeling better soon.
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Guess what? I have been blogging for a year now! Woo hoo, happy birthday to me :)
Not sure of the actual date {for some reason typepad hasn't archived 2006, so I can't check} but I know I started the week before Halloween.
It's funny, in the beginning I was afraid I wouldn't have anything much to say, and that it didn't much matter because only my sisters and my mother were reading by blog. But now, I actually have non-family who stop by everyday and read + view whatever I happen to post :) Thank you so much!
I really love being part of the blogging community. I've been motivated to do crafty things, inspired to give a go at sewing {you should see the new drapes + pillows I have made for my bedroom + dining room}, and to finish projects I started but never seemed to finish. But best of all, I've "met" some of the nicest people around. Really, it's the people who make blogging fun.
SO, a big fat thank you to everyone out there who visits me regularly and leaves me comments + emails! I wish I could send you all a little something :) But since I can't, how about if you leave me a comment on this post, tell me what you like best about my little blog {this way I can see what you like and dislike + make my second year of blogging even better} I'll then have my little monkeys pull a name out of a hat {contest closes at Tuesday 10:30am EST} and the winner will win some Taylor Made design stuff :)
Happy Monday!
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On Saturday William and I hung out together. We went out for lattes + juice, and then went to an art opening. My sister Nicole's friend Liza just opened up a new gallery. She has some really great stuff. Afterwards we decided it was too nice to be inside, so we stopped by Duxbury Beach and walked on the Powder Point Bridge. We had so much fun. That's our shadow above :)
I asked William to pose for me, and he did. Top photo. It's funny, I did not ask him to place his arm that way, he just did it. But it did not last long, next thing I knew, he broke out in a dance – the kid has some great moves :)
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Last night my sister Nicole and I went to Fabric Place They are closing their Randolph Store so everything was 30% - 60% off. {ok hardly anything was 60% off... only the ugly fabrics were} I was determined to find some new fabrics... preferably not black and white. {I find I have too many black and white fabrics and really need some colour!}
I want to make aprons + placements/napkins for the kids for Christmas. So the teal and little polka dot fabrics will be used for that. I figure I will add some ribbon for the ties and maybe have their names monogrammed on them. I can't wait to make them – I think it will be a fun project to work on.
I also found some great Amy Butler prints which I just love. Not sure what I will make with them, but I could not resist them. Nor could I resist more black and white fabric. The top black + white I bought a few weeks ago from Sew Mama Sew for some curtains. The other two black + white fabrics I found last night. I just had to have them. I love how graphic they are. What will I make with them? No idea :)
It's funny, I never bought fabric before, but now, with all these wonderful blogs out there, offering plenty of inspiration, all I want to do is buy fabric + make stuff!
I also found some great pink yarn. I have not knitted since last year, so I'm going to stick to the basics and try to make a pretty scarf for Davis. The yarn is so soft and the pink is so pretty. I can't remember how to cast on, so I'm going to hook up with Nicole today who will get me going. I'm giving myself the next two-three weeks to finish it :) I think I can do it!
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Here are the Halloween invites I created and produced for the kid's Halloween party for school. You would think that after all these years of creating invites I would know how many hours it would take to finish them. But nope. I always underestimate how much time it really takes. And it takes a lot! I wonder why I misjudge... is it just optimism? I wonder? Is anyone else like that?
Anyway, I think they came out pretty cute. And the School loved them. So that makes me feel good.
I created the kitty kat illustration based on the Ugly Dolls. We now have four of them at the house. Are you familiar with these dolls? William got "Ice Bat" {on the left, the blue one} for his birthday. He picked him out. Can I tell you how much he loves him? Will has never taken to stuffed animals. But for some reason, he loves Ice Bat and even sleeps with him. Of course, Davis had to get one too, and she picked out Toodee. {the purple one}. Then Aunt Nicole gave them each one. Target and Jeero. Myself, I love them and can't wait to get more!
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I sat down last night to post and then decided to check my stats. Something I do at least a few times a week. Wow, I thought, "when did I become so popular?" Well, I guess when Grace over at apartment therapy wrote a little something about my blog :)
A big thank you to Grace for her kind + lovely words. I'm really so flattered.
For those of you interested, I have been working on my ABC book and I am playing around with making a poster. Some of you wrote + commented that you would be interested in certain letters. If you are, do let me know and I can create a print for you :)
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My William turned five about a week ago and I feel badly that I did not write up a little something about him at the time like I did for Davis when she turned three. I did however make this little photo book for him to bring to school to share with his classroom. His teacher Tracy requested I make a poster, but I thought I'd make a little book instead. {that's more up my alley}
I really like the way it came out. I just picked out some cute photos from each year and then with the help of William, we wrote a little bit about him. Such a fun project to work on together :)
So if you'll indulge me now, here's a little more about my sweet William.
William is extremely smart, curious, funny, and bright. He is a natural ring leader, organizing the kids into groups to play games. He makes up knock, knock jokes that make completely no sense, but he laughs as if they are the funniest thing he has ever heard. He loves the computer, playing his V.Smile + he loves reading books. His favorite book? “The Big Book of Knowledge”. It worries me that in a few years, William will most likely be smarter than me!
He is a terrific big brother to Davis and though they have their fair share of fights, I know he would defend and protect her to the end of time, which makes me so happy. I love to see them play together, laugh together + yes, get into trouble together. His imagination is astounding. You should see what he creates out of legos. He just blows me away with his creativity.
He loves to snuggle + hang out in bed with me, to read books, and watch a movie. He is not too big to want and to give me a hug and a kiss in front of his friends. He tells me he loves me every night and tells me I’m the prettiest and best mum around. (see, I told you he was smart)
I love the person he is growing up to be. He’s kind + polite with the right amount of naughty, that makes you smile. I love this little boy with all my heart and soul. I sometimes look at him and can’t believe he is all mine... Well, ours :) Happy Birthday my sweet sweet William. Mummy loves you always.
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Are these not the funniest logos you have ever seen?
What if you saw these for real? I think the Arlington Pediatric Center one is just too much. Gosh, that MUST be modified now. Someone help these guys!
What were the designers thinking? And how did they get their client to approve these logos?
And...did they get paid :) {question is... how? he he he}
I feel badly that I can't remember where I saw these. I did a screen grab and thought I wrote down the blog that first showcased them. SO if anyone knows what blog they came from, just let me know! Apologies in advance :)
Have a great weekend everyone! It's a long holiday one for us! Woo HOOO.
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Hey there!
Sorry for the lack of posts this past week, it's been crazy busy at our house: birthday {william's} surgery {my dad} sickness {me}. It's been hard to keep up with everything... so somethings, well, get put aside.
William turned five last friday. I can't believe my little boy isn't so little anymore. I usually throw a fun kid's party (if you look at my flickr photos you'll see I usually go all out, but I just wasn't up to it this year.) But William has had four parties: one with grandma yarranton, one with granddad yarranton and aunt bobbi (she made that fabulous sailboat cake) another with my family at a restaurant and one at school. So I don't feel too badly. I think he made out pretty well.
My dad had neck surgery (two disks) on Monday so we spent the day in the city at Beth Israel. The surgery was a great success and now my dad is feeling fabulous. So happy for him.
Five months being on all this medicine is really doing a number on me. The drugs feel more toxic than good. The side affects are enormous. I do try to keep it happy around here, but let me tell you, I feel like they are killing me :) Thankfully this week after a battery of new tests I'm able to drop the steroids down. I'll still be on them till December, which really stinks, but at least each week the dosage will be decreased.... which hopefully will lessen all the side affects. (which are many, you have no idea!)
Thanks for checking in and still visiting :) I appreciate all your emails! I will be back to regular posting :)
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