The Daily Giggle

I've added a little side section to the right to record some of the hilarious things that happen during the day that getting me laughing. I've also added a page so that I can archive them as the side bar gets updated. Here's three recent ones to get started. They may not be as funny to everyone else as they are to me, which is why I won't be doing them as actual posts, but I wanted to make sure I remember them and have something to go back and make me laugh! :)

Sat, Aug 29, 2010
Ethan asks, "What is glory?" I think for a minute and then say it's giving God credit for the awesome things he does. Ethan says, "Is that the same as when I go under the water and get glory in my eyes?" I try desperately not to burst into fits of laughter and explain, "That's not glory. It's chlorine."

Thurs, Aug 27, 2010
Haven learns the importance of math. 1/4 cup (milk) times two equals 2/4 cup, not 2 1/4 cups. A stash of velveeta from the fridge saves the mac-n-cheese and all is right with the world once again.

Sat, Aug 14, 2010
While driving down the road we passed someone walking their dog. Ethan shouted, "LOOK! That dog is wearing the Cone of Shame!" If you don't know what that means you really really need to see "Up." FUNNY!

Digital Scrap Store - New Look

The team over at my Digital Scrapbooking Store, Ahhh Scrap, has been working on new logo/packaging ideas for the store. This logo is something I came up with tonight. What do you think? It may seem simple but trust me, this is after like a gazillion trial versions...

Here's what it would look like on the new packaging:


What do you think?

Simple Solutions - Sewing Room

Quart Ziploc bags make awesome pattern containers! They are just about the same size as a normal pattern package and you can stuff them full with the original pattern and your traced copy! My patterns are about to outgrow their box, so I'm trying decide if I want a second box, or if I want some clever clipping system like this one. Anyone have super clever pattern storage ideas?

Do you know about Pattern Ease? I learned about the stuff this year and I can't sew without it now! It's pattern transfer paper, but it's kind of heavy and it clings to the fabric when you lay your pattern out. It is also great for designing your own patterns. You can pin it to your dress form and it's more durable than tissue paper. It's super cheap and easy to work with. We recently ran out at the store and I went through some pretty severe sewing withdrawals. When it came in I bought a whole bolt. I don't want to go through that again! :) Don't worry though, there's still another bolt at the store for anyone else who needs some! Have you known about this stuff for years? Tell someone else! They'll be glad you did!

An inexpensive Ikea kitchen hanging system takes care of scissors, rotary cutters, rulers, and anything with a hole that can hang. The buckets hold odds and ends that can't hang.

Simple stuff that makes crafting easier!

Action Kivu

One day a missionary gave a presentation at church about his work in Zanzibar. Something really touched me about his project, I think because he was teaching the people a trade at the same time he was providing them with aide and teaching them the Bible. I was touched, but thought, well I can't fix cars (what they were teaching), I wonder if they need a seamstress. Today I saw a project on a blog called Action Kivu, which is about teaching women to sew! Hooray! If you want to know more about the program their website is here.

The girl who blogged about it is here. She is offering some giveaways if you tell her you donated. She's trying to raise $7500 for them through her blog. The money actually goes straight to the organization when you make a payment, but if you comment she can raise the amount on her little thermometer widget.

*I only know about the organization through blog surfing and don't have any personal experience with it.*

Birthday Party

Ethan's birthday was mid-July and we had a party at Sensapolis, my favorite indoor play area! Seriously, this place is so cool. We went ahead and got year passes for Ethan and I so it isn't as expensive each time. The day we went it was almost empty (it happened to be one of the last games of the World Cup) so the kids had the run of the place. Even Jennifer, me, and my mom had some fun in the Jungle ball pit! My favorite part was when Ava and I had a little bonding moment. I brought the girls (Emily and Ava) Shaun the Sheep toys. Ava had them both so I took the larger one to free it from its packaging. She. pitched. a. fit. I didn't back down though. I held her back while she screamed and opened the box. Then I handed her the liberated Shaun. She looked at me, red eyes, looked at Shaun, then handed me the smaller one to open. Classic!

The boys were amusing too. They had tons of fun running around, but I had to go tell them to change areas every once in awhile so that every kid had a chance to do what they liked. And when they decided they wanted to eat (which was 30 minutes sooner than when the food was coming) they really wanted to eat. Lesson learned, don't wait longer than 5:30 to have the food. Cake? Not so much. Really? No, none of them really wanted the YUMMY strawberry torte that Sensapolis made especially for us that Ethan specifically picked out even though I tried so hard to talk him into chocolate which seemed more like a little boy kind of cake. breathe. Oh well. We enjoyed it for breakfast several times!

Gift time - always a hoot. I have decided that the next birthday we will do the gift giving German style. That means, you open the gift as each child arrives. It gives the kids one on one time to enjoy the gift instead of tearing through the pile like mad men. Not that tearing through the pile isn't entertaining... ... ... read: messy. But next time, presents up front, one on one time with each guest.

Sensapolis Review: The party package was great! It included food and beverage for EVERY guest (even parents) for only a few euros more than the normal entry fee! And each kid got to choose their meal! That was cool. I thought we'd have to buy one big pizza or something, but no, each kid got to choose. You cannot bring in your own food, so go ahead and order one of their cakes. We have tried the chocolate cake and the strawberry torte and both were yummy. When we had Haven's party there a few years ago we got one of the themed "stalls." (It's actually made to look like stables, so yeah, it's a stall.) We didn't do that with Ethan this year but enjoyed the party just as much. So, if you want to pay the extra it is fun, but not necessary. One warning if you do your party there, it does not come with party favors. The website says it does, but it's not like what we think of favors. So if you want to give away goodie bags, bring them yourself. I recommend Sensapolis if your kid is between 5 and 11 and not afraid to run around and climb and stuff without you following them around. I know there are less expensive places to have a party, but for me, it's worth it!

Simple Solutions - Halter Tops

*Hanging photo frames by Katie Pertiet found here

Even though it's been almost a year since we moved in, I still don't feel quite comfortable in the new space. The apartment is great, it's just slightly smaller than the house we had, and I've had trouble organizing all my junk. We had to leave behind one BIG wardrobe, which means I now have all seasons of clothing in one space. I've been trying to thin my clothing, but I still have to get creative with the organization. I was having trouble with my (hand-made) halter tops since they won't go on a hanger. I had them in a drawer, but they were always wrinkled, and the drawer got too stuffed. I tried hanging them with the clip type hangers, but that takes up too much space on the rod. Then it occurred to me - trouser hanger! The hanger holds four halter tops with minimal folding and minimal wrinkling. If you live where I live you can pick up these cool trouser hangers at the PX.

Happy Birthday Corinnea!

For those of you who were unable to attend, Paula had the genius idea to sing "Happy Birthday" to Corinnea when she arrived at the Farewell dinner. I say it was genius because it really helped us all cope. We just kept pretending it was her birthday! We love you Corinnea!