Friday, January 25, 2008

One track mind...

Last night Max was so upset, all of his Superman PJ's were in the laundry. He was crying, almost throwing a fit (but not quite.) It's all he could think about, having a Superman pajama shirt on. Pretty much that's what he wears everyday, even under his clothes during the day. We have enough of them for almost everyday of the week, I've been a little behind on laundry apparently! He finally calmed down in his Scooby Doo pj's and realized that the Superman pj's were in the laundry room and would be clean in the morning. First thing I hear this morning is "MOM! It's morningtime! I can wear Superman now!" One track mind, I tell ya!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Love Notes

I'm into Valentine's Day early this year. I had the kids paint some really cute wood hearts, and I assembled them together with wire and beads. Maddy helped me add some finishing touches with glitter stickers (from the dollar bin at my favorite store... Target). We hung it on the front door. It's so cute, and by golly I better get out there and take a photo! It's grey and snowy so I'm staying inside at the moment but I'll get a pic up soon. I'm also working on some other bright happy and colorful Valentine designs.
Meanwhile, I'll can you what else I've been up to. This is the Love Notes Collection available at Scrap Girls:


Monday, January 14, 2008

Broccoli

My kids like broccoli. Interesting? It is if that's about the only vegetable I can get Max to eat!

Monday, January 07, 2008

Towanda!


I think my key word for this year is TOWANDA! Just give some can-do attitude and get it done! I made this layout for a Designer's Life article that appeared in today's Scrap Girls newsletter. So, today I remind myself to 'towanda.' Have some can-do attitude and today that applies to 2 things. I started exercising again, and blogging. Hope to do both on a more regular basis! If you hear from me again before August, I might be doing alright!
Here's the Designer's Life article, and wishing you all a Towanda New Year!
A Designer's Life: Amanda McGee
Towanda!
There is a phrase from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, where the Idgie character yells “Towanda!” as she drives away with her friend Ruth and then later Kathy Bates’ character, Evelyn, adapts the phrase. She shouts it as she takes charge of her own life and tries to change it.
I have fond memories of watching that movie with my mom, laughing at “Evelyn” ramming her car into the younger girls’ car, after they took her parking place. My Mom and I often find ourselves using that phrase. Now, mind you, we don’t go around ramming other people’s cars and yelling "Towanda!" for taking our parking spots, no matter how much we’re tempted to! However, we have adapted and used that phrase for when a “can-do” attitude is required, followed by successful completion of the task.
Recently, our family moved into a new house. We’re still trying to get the hang of things around here, pardon the pun, including where to hang up coats, hats and backpacks. We’ve moved things around a couple of times, trying to find just the right spot for things. Somehow, I just haven’t been able to manage to get the kids to hang up their coats and backpacks. They needed a place to put their things that would be at “kid-height.” I bought some hooks with the intention of hanging them next to the garage door, so as they came in the house they could be responsible for their belongings. Unfortunately, these coat hooks weren’t doing a bit of good, they have been sitting in the shopping bag for over a month now! Oh dear, time for me to be responsible!
This weekend, I asked my husband to please hang the hooks for us, but alas, I couldn’t find the hooks! Now, it was going to have to wait until another weekend. Until this morning, I decided I could do it! I said to myself, “I’m going to find those hooks and I’m going to hang them up!” It’s so silly; really, I didn’t have to rely on him. I know how to operate a stud finder, a level and even a cordless power driver. I can get this done! This is one of those Towanda moments in the making.
First, I gathered up all of the tools. I pre-drilled holes on a decorative board and attached the hooks. I used the stud finder to locate where to attach the board to the wall, even managing to level it, all by myself! It seems like such a simple task and I have no idea why I kept putting it off or handing the responsibility over to my husband when I was clearly capable of completing the task myself.
Often times, there are things on our to-do list that just keep getting pushed to the back burner because you think you need another person to get the job done. When really, all you need is a little can-do attitude. Next time you find yourself in that situation, take charge and yell "Towanda!" Now, if I can just get those kids to hang up their coats...

Towanda!
- Amanda