Cleaning

Proved a point to Arthur yesterday.  His cleaning is not up to par.  We both cleaned half the upstairs hallway.  He "vacuumed".  I vacuumed.  Needless to say I won.  The vacuum was sent to me with a CLOG in the tubing.  That is why his vacuuming was sub par, he got a clog while vacuuming & just kept going.  AJ & Alex both offered to "fix" daddy's side.

On another note, LOVE my shark vacuum.  Works wonderfully!  And, when it does clog, it comes apart quickly and easily.  LOVE that I can easily pinpoint and take care of clogs. I also love that my boys can easily use the vacuum. They have been helping since they were able to walk.... they have also learned the dog is terrified of the vacuum and love to chase him with it!



 

Axel during our latest trip to VA... and yes that is my gear shift... he seems to think this is a good spot to nap!


 

 Isn't that dog the cutest? He puts up with the boys well. Even lets them use him as a pillow sometimes! Pug is a breed that I would really recommend for families with young children and they are laid back and not really easily excited.  At least this is true for our pug.

 

Its getting late here (1242am) so I should head to bed. MAYBE, just maybe the kids can go back to school tomorrow... had way too many snow days this year!

 

 

Starting over in 2014 --

Looking to revamp this site.  I think I want to document everything we as a family are doing.  Not just what I am up to!

Lets start the boys:

AJ has been attending play-days at the local high school.  Its designed to give their early childhood classes 3-5yr olds to work with. AJ loves it. Thinks its the greatest thing ever!  His little brother Alex, not so much. He says to me all the time "I miss my AJ. Can we go get my AJ" its cute the brotherly love they share!  What is Alex going to do when AJ starts kindergarten next year and is gone 5 days a week x8hr/day instead of 3days a week for 2.5hrs?    But I will state that the separation has worked wonders for their relationship!

Love the brotherly love!  LOL. They love playing tag. This is one of my favorite photos taken by my friend Jen, @ Jennifer Ann photography. 



 

My wonderful husband lost his job last Jan, when he was still unemployed in Aug, we opted to send him back to school! He should graduate this spring from the Diesel Program. He has already earned his CDL-A drivers license! I'm very proud of him.  He is set to graduate this June, but the overwhelming amounts of snow may delay that for some time.  My hope is that he does graduate SOMETIME!  This dang snow just wont let up!  I just want to be able to switch jobs so that when AJ starts kindergarten, I can be home with him most evenings (I currently work full time 3-11 at a localish nursing home).  I cannot do that until Arthur has a job too.   

 



 I have tons of plans for this coming year. Maybe, just maybe this blog will keep me on track! Plans for the year include: 

• Reorganizing the house
• Building loft beds in the boys TINY room
• Possibly paperbag flooring the boys bedroom (Found it online & LOVE the idea!)
• Working on using my new camera better. (I bought a DSLR last year)

 

I plan to take photos and post as I go. 

 

Maybe i will see you around & Maybe I wont, but hope you have a WONDERFUL 2014!

 

Toni

Catching up!

Been about a week since I have checked in!  I have been busy with my kids, work, and of course crocheting!  Just finished a BEAUTIFUL sun hat for my Aunt's grandbaby! She will be the envy of all the local toddlers! I will have to upload photos later, but her is a sneak peek!

That's the flower for it, see that ivory (off white) circle? that's the future sun hat!  I have it completed, but I don't have any photos of it yet!  will have to add when they are taken! 

I recently got asked to do some newborn items for a friend who is scheduled to do a newborn photo shoot!  A great way to get my name out there!  I am hoping to have a few items for her to take with her!  I plan to make a blue puppy, bowtie & suspenders, bunny ears and tail (either diaper cover or round cover), and I am not sure what else! I hope I can upload some of the photos when she is done!

Best get back to work! 

Lazy Saturday

Spent the day at a Gun Raffle with my Hubby and his extended family.  Gun raffle : all you can eat hotdogs/chili dogs/ hot sausage, all you can drink sodas/beer (until tap is out), 50/50 drawings and of course, GUN drawings.  Sounds like fun, right?  At first yes, at the end of 4 hours, not so much.  So, I started to design something for my kids to wear on St. Patties day.  I plan on making Alex a green belt hat, and try and make AJ a green top hat! That should keep my busy! I also have a monkey hat to complete for my etsy shop order! Exited!

first attempt at a sheep

I wanted to try a farm themed blanket, but couldn't find any farm animal appliqué patterns, so I created my own for a sheep using a bigger fuzzy white yarn and plain ol' red heart supersaver black for the legs and face.... here is the result of it on the block I created for it!

The kindest comment I got was it looked like someone stuck a cotton ball on a spider... so back to the drawing board I go!

First free pattern

This is a pattern to make this Beach / Market bag.

 I created this bag when the pattern my Aunt had asked me to use wasn't working quite right. So I made up my own!  She loves it!  Here is a pic she sent me:

 

This is my first attempt at writing a pattern, so please bear with me!

 

Materials:

J hook (it really doesn't matter too much, I crochet tightly and wanted a more open bag, smaller hook = smaller openings)

1 skein worsted weight color of choice (I used Red Heart above)

measuring tape

yarn needle

scissors

 

Chain a length of about 25" add 3 chains after this length.

round 1:  Dc in 6th ch from hook. *ch 3, skip 3 ch, dc* repeat across making sure you end in the last ch space (may need to elongate/shorten a skipped space to make this work). Working along opposite side of beg ch *ch 3, skip 3 ch, dc*  repeat across until you reach the last 2-3 ch spaces. Ch 3

 

Round 2: Dc in first space made by the first 6 skipped chains.  *ch 3, dc in 3 ch space* around, ch 3.

 

Round 3-?: Dc in the next ch 3 space,   *ch 3, dc in 3 ch space*  repeat in rounds until the length is approx. 13 inches. do not fasten off

 

next round: Ch 3,  * 2 dc in next ch-3 loop; repeat from * around; join with a slip st to top of first dc.

 

Last Rnd: Ch 1, hdc in same space; hdc in next dc and in each dc around; join to top of first hdc. Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

Strap (Make 2): Make a chain 18" long.

Rnd 1 (Right Side): 2 Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch to last ch; 3 sc in last ch; working along opposite side of beg ch, sc in each ch to last ch; sc in same ch as first 2 sc; join with a sl st in first sc.

 

Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc in same space, hdc in each sc around and work 2 hdc in each of the 3 sc at each end; join in top of first hdc.

 

Rnd 3: Slip st in each hdc around. Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

Sew approximately 1" of strap ends firmly to right side of bag 4" in from side edges as shown. Weave in ends.

 

I hope to make another bag like this soon, when I do, I will take pictures to add to this pattern!

 

If you don't crochet, I also sell this bag in my etsy store : https://www.etsy.com/listing/123542693/beach-or-market-bag-made-to-order

 

Toni

 

 

 

 



First one, opening day!

This is the first post of what I hope will be many.  Lets start with the basics about me.



Alex's self portrait caught big brother AJ in background!

I am first and foremost a mother and wife.  My two little boys are 2 & 3 right now.  They make life interesting to say the least! 
 
My husband and I have been married for over 4 years (Dec 30, 2008).  There is also a very special pug in our life, Axel, who is now 5 years old.  He is great with the boys and loves to just laze around! 


Watching a movie in bed...

I am a newer LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). I passed my boards on 11 July 2012 and got my first job in August which I started in September.  I work about 8 days a month, every Friday and every other Sat and Sun.  This leaves plenty of time for my family and cuts back on daycare/babysitting costs. So I am not quite a stay at home mom, but I come close!  Having 2 toddlers to talk to all day can drive me crazy, so I am hoping to make some friends out here in cyber space to help with this! 

I have been crocheting for years, my Grandmothers both contributed to my education on it (one taught me the basics, the other to read patterns).  I appreciate them both for this!

I this past summer I started to crochet a TON, it gave me something to do between Graduation from nursing school, passing boards and obtaining a real job as a nurse!  My friend, Lindsey, kept telling me I needed to sell my creations to fund my crafting.  At work one day while working on yet another silly hat for my boys, one of the ladies I work with wanted to know how much I charge! Word of mouth sold another 5 more at work in 4 weeks!  I was really excited and gave me the confidence to open my etsy store! Crochetkreations.etsy.com

I love to crochet and to use my crockpot! So look out! I hope to add to the world of free patterns and recipes!

I have been inspired by pinterest and other bloggers out there. I want to give this blogging a try again.  I attempted it several times in middle and high school time frames, but never lasted that long.  Hopefully this one lasts longer!

Some of my favorite blogs would have to be, the lovely crow @ www.lovelycrow.com.  Little Bit Funky @ www.littlebitfunky.com , the krazy coupon lady @ www.krazycouponlady.com , and Collin @ www.hip2save.com  and I will have to list the others later as a come across them again!

Again, this will be a place for me to document my fun days, my new creations, life's teachings and much more.

Thanks for making it through my first post!

Toni