http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1413

Thanks to everyone who left a comment! I have another giveaway soon, its an awesome Christmas cookie book! A real blog entry later today..ETA- I think I posted the comments up there backwards sorry, but whatever you get the idea haha

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1407

I have been having so much fun reading all your family traditions for the holidays, they are are so wonderful to read and really have me getting all excited. I promise that after my update Sunday I’ll post a bunch of Thanksgiving stuff, and will lay off the December holidays until Thanksgiving is over ;) Not all all that I want to rush it. I almost wish the whole season was longer.

The Ebelskiver above was totally inspired by HappyDoodleLand’s blog. When I saw that I just knew the kids and I had to give it a try. She has a link to a wonderful Youtube video that is really helpful too. For the first try I just used Light Bisquik mix and soy milk, mixed to a good consistency. They turned out soo good, and now I can’t wait to make a filled batch.

Oh and here are some photos of the studio. I tried to take pictures of all of it, but it was so overcast today. If it is sunny tomorrow I will try again.

My pre-auth for the next rounds of frankenbabying went through today.

I'm covered for four rounds of injectibles/IUI. Although my cost for drugs is $$$$$ because my bennies are by percentage, not flat copay. But still.

Holy crap, this is really happening.

• 10:54 @shayBL Shay, you are my inspiration—as "the biggest girl" I know, I never found someone on BL that I could connect with. Thank you for that #

From Loudtwitter. Google it yourself.

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1396

MunnyWorld
Custom Toy Exhibit
3 days only
Nov 13th-15th 12-7pm
Eloquent Delinquents Gallery
41 Wooster St. New York, NY

Kidrobot hosts MUNNYWORLD, the year’s largest custom vinyl extravaganza, showcasing talents of over 60 artists, including FIVE winners of the MUNNYWORLD Custom Contest and Kidrobot artists including 64 Colors, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Bukubuku, Chuckboy, Coolvader, Frank Kozik, Huck Gee, KRONK, MAD, SEEN, and more.

I know its hard to tell from the photos, but this is the big Mega Munny–which is 18 inches tall, the size of a small child. It took forever and so many layers of shellac for me to do the sprinkles. In some respects I wish I left it all sprinkles only because I liked the simple look of it, you can see photos of it in that stage here. Alas, I wish I took better finished photos, but it was so big and I was trying to get it out by the deadline :)

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1390

I am super proud to announce a giveaway of my new woodland kits. I cannot even describe how fun it was for me to make these, design all the packaging, and then assemble them. I am going to be adding them to the shop on the Nov 15th update, and will also be bringing them with me to the two holidays shows I am doing.

Each kit contains almost everything you need to make four hand sewn plush. You’ll just need scissors, glue, and needles/pins. They are small enough to turn into ornaments for the tree, but non-Christmas-y enough to use for all sorts of other things. Plus all the felt included is eco-spun recycled polyester which means this kit is great for vegan too-no animal fibers.

The pattern pieces are on a separate sheet of paper and ready to be cut out and used. No photocopying or enlarging needed. Plus even once you run out of materials you can your felt you have on hand to make more. I’m kind of thinking a whole mini tree filled with the cheery gnomes would be pretty fun.

I am going to giveaway two of the kits on Saturday the day before my big update. All you need to do to enter is: Just leave me a comment on this blog entry telling me one of your favorite holiday traditions.. Just please remember to leave the comment on the blog, not any blog feeds (like Livejournal) because I do not get those comments. All comments must be posted by Saturday 10am EST.

On Saturday I will use the random number generator to pick two winners, and you will each receive one kit.

Visit Super-junk.com on November 11, 2009 at 11:00 am PST to purchase these girls.




Sally, Peggy, Jennifer, Trudy, Jane and Carla are all looking for nice homes!
Be here 11/11 at 11:00 to make them yours.

I never followed up on our day care situation. It's all good now.

In the end, I decided to drop a little e-mail to our child care provider about the SpongeBob action, but so it didn't sound all crazy, I couched it in a longer e-mail asking how she was adjusting, is she napping, etc. and also mentioning that I really liked this little craft project that Punk had come home with that day. And I sort of casually mentioned the SpongeBob issue and just said something like, "I know a lot of little kids don't really pay attention to what's on, but you've probably noticed by now that my child is obsessed with television, and I'd rather she didn't mimic anything she heard or saw on SpongeBob." She wrote back right away and said she always puts on PBS or Disney for the kids and that one of her sons (they are something like 7 and 9) probably changed it. And you know, that's really plausible. So I wrote back my thanks and said we were happy with everything and Punk seemed happy and blah blah blah.

She seems quite taken with Punk (who isn't, really?) and Punk is happy when she is picked up, so honestly, it's all good for me. One thing I /do/ like is because this place is really set up for younger kids, they're doing more stereotypical toddler/preschooler crafty things - you know, making trains out of ziti and stuff like that. The old place was awesome because of its creative academics, and Punk ate that stuff up with a spoon, but I think that as a 2 year old she's really entitled to make some macaroni crafts for a while before I send her off to junior college. :)

In other news, she's become 2 and a half all of a sudden and I am ready to sell her to the gypsies some days. She has discovered the fine art of hitting for attention and otherwise being blatantly uncooperative (i.e. I ask her to do something and she makes this "I'm going to be naughty" sound - it's like BOP!! - and then does the opposite... and then says, "Do you like that sound, Mama?"). And has been fighting sleep again. GOOD TIMES.

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1387

Thanks so much for all the great feedback on the photos! Here is a peek at the Christmas cards. They will come in sets of 9, with 3 of each design. They are flat cards, printed on front and back. The fronts are glossy and the backs are matte so you can write a little note in the space provided. And of course they come with creamy white envelopes for mailing.

Just a reminder that the card sets will be a part of the Holiday Update on November 15th :)

I am still working on the Chanukah (or Hanukkah? I am not sure on the preferred spelling so any input on that would be fantastic!) cards, so photos of those soon! Now I am off to gather supplies for a top secret project after a trip to the post office.

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Here are some sneak peeks from the photo shoot yesterday. My sister Heather came over, helped me set up the scenes and then photographed my plush…which will be turned into holiday cards.

It was so much fun, and although these are not the exact photos that will become the cards, it gives you an idea what to expect. I think Heather did a beautiful job! :)

• 17:00 iTired. Luckily there's a nap for that.... #fb (via @newsdesign) #

From Loudtwitter. Google it yourself.

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1380

I don’t know if it is too soon to keep bombarding you with photos of holiday cheer, but I just cannot help myself!
Up there is some egg nog plush with nutmeg and a bit of whipped cream. I’m still going over the whipped cream. Not sure if it is just right or not.

I love egg nog but mostly prefer the Silk version. We saw some last night and we were going to buy it, but we were going out to eat and worried it would get warm in the car meanwhile…but soon soon we will be drinking some!

One of my favorite things about right after Halloween is all the vintage Christmas goodies that start popping up in the thrift shops. I stopped by one shop today and the Christmas section was jam packed with people. I still managed to get the goodies above, but wow-it was crowded!

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1376

Things are coming along nicely for my big Holiday update on Nov. 15th. Here are some Christmas ornaments and hot chocolates (with mini marshmallows or plain) I will not be doing a Dec. 1st update…but instead will add everything I have on the 15th and just keep the shop open as long as there are items in it to sell.

I forgot to mention but I am doing two holiday shows this year.
Bazaar Bizarre Boston on Sunday Dec. 6th
and
Handmade Arcade Saturday Dec. 12th in Pittsburgh PA
So December is going to be quite busy!

Jude:

for reals
i should be a doctor
i watched et.
umm
er
maybe i shouldn't be a doctor

• 17:21 @deraven I love you and you partner and your child :) #

From Loudtwitter. Google it yourself.

I am officially "that mom."

Punk started her new home day care yesterday. After looking at a number of day cares, we didn't find one we LOVED except for the big Montessori school in Springfield but they require 2 year olds to be picked up at 4 and umm, that's not possible. So we looked at a lot of "not our favorite" places and in the end had to kind of choose a lesser of evils thing. Well, none were EVIL. I hate that expression. But anyway.

So we went with this woman who was very nice, very personable, very sweet to Punk, who had a nice house and had a small gaggle of little girls who were not doing anything outrageous. There were a few things I wasn't jazzed about (TV on at drop off until about 9am, seemed to eat more "kid foods" more often, a bit less structure) but overall she seemed like a lady who is a nurturing mom type and would be very present for Punk, and I thought she would like that group of kids - a bunch of girly girls who like "beautiful dresses" and playing "dress up," both very big in our house right now.

Yesterday was her first day and I brought her diapers and wipes and blanket and pillow and all of that and it was fine. She was excited to be there and sat down at the bookshelf with all of the books, picking out her favorites. ("Look, Mama, The Foot Book!" etc.) And I left, and at pick-up Jen said it was a little more chaotic than she liked but Punk seemed to be having fun, and the day care provider was flexible in trying different ways to help Punk nap, etc. Punk said she had chicken nuggets and fries and ketchup for lunch and came home asking for vegetables for dinner, but whatever. You know? I'm not a total psycho hard-ass.

This morning I dropped her off and there were a few other parents dropping off, and Punk was a little freaked by the new parents. I heard C mention that the TV was on (Punk came in and asked for TV) so I tried to kind of move Punk over to that area so she wouldn't be so freaked by the parents. I am not bothered by the TV being on at drop-off for 30 minutes or so before breakfast as Punk watches TV at home. When C told me she has the TV on in the morning, I simply stopped having Punk watch TV at home in the mornings so she would have her morning TV time over there. No big.

But when I brought her over to the couch I saw that SpongeBob was on. I'm not some freak who thinks SpongeBob should be banned or anything but I don't think it's appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers. And I have never let Punk watch SpongeBob. And I don't plan to for quite a while. I don't like the way they act on that show and I don't like the way they talk to each other and I don't really need my kid calling people "stupid" and acting like a nutter. I am actually kind of furious about the SpongeBob.

I sent an e-mail tonight to the day care provider asking how Punk is adjusting and also asking if it's possible not to have SpongeBob on for the toddlers in the morning. I vacillate between worrying about being a psycho-mom and wanting to find a new day care ASAP before she gets attached. And then I worry that I will mess her up for life if I switch her day care a million times, too.

Being a mama is HARD.

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1368

These guys are for Luvable + Hugable at Gallery Hanahou, which is coming up soon! I will have more info on the show on my news page very soon. I have a few more plush for the show that are almost done (they will be shipping out tomorrow) but meanwhile here are the finished two.

I’ve had to stop taking dinner photos, since it gets dark so early now. Let me tell you Butternut Squash with browned butter looks pretty gross when you take its photos with a flash. But it tasted good :)

I did get a photo of the Spanish Tortilla I made for my son’s Spanish class the other day. Everyone brought in food to celebrate the end of term. I found these instructions and tips so very helpful, the whole thing seemed like it was going to be scary, but went so smoothly I think I might make another next week for us to eat. I also made Polvorones de Canele for a taste of Mexico, which I remembered from a class party when we lived in Texas. But I didn’t get a photo of those because as soon as I got the last batch cooled and packed up I had to head to the school to drop them off.

Anyhow without my own photos here are some of the recipe we have enjoyed so far this week…Butternut Squash with browned butter (their photo had me sold), Roasted Cauliflower-which was oh so good, I can’t thank the person that reccomeneded the Simplyrecipes site enough, it’s great! Tonight I am making up a batch of these amazing looking pumpkin parfaits for Thursday, but will veganize them so Tom can share the goodness :)

I have my moments when my child is not sleeping because we've changed the clocks or whatever but on a daily basis I am reminded how blessed I am to have the child I have, because she really is amazing and awesome. Blessed, I tell you.

Yesterday afternoon, our pediatrician practice's website announced that they would have an H1N1 vaccine clinic tonight and was opening the vaccine to all children 3 and under. (Previously it was available to chronically ill children and children under 5 with asthma.) The clinic was from 5:30 to 7:30pm and Jen was going to aim to get there around 5:15pm. You can imagine where this is going.

It was a three-ring circus over there. The traffic was backed up waaay past the pediatrician office, the parking lot was full and people were walking from other parking lots down the street, there were kids and parents everywhere, having to wait outside, packing in the place, etc. They gave out numbers and said they would serve up to number 104, and Punk was number 82. When I got there around 6:30pm to give Jen some backup, they were up to number 30.

Punk rocked the house. When I got there, she was in a jam-packed waiting room and was quietly sitting on a chair coloring a magazine with a pencil. Then she rocked on the rocking chair. Then I took her outside and she threw mulch around until I got too cold, and then she willingly came inside again. Then she went back to the magazine and the pencil. By the time they called her number, it was about 7:10pm, and then she got her temperature taken, then waited a few more minutes, then got the nasal mist (which she had never had before). She completely cooperated with the mist, itched her nose a few times, and asked for a sticker. We left at 7:30, and got home at 7:40.

Typically she eats dinner around 6pm, has a bath at 7 and is in bed at 7:30. She did not throw one fit, she did not act out at all, and though she scarfed her dinner we managed to make it without any meltdowns. I am so proud of her and so impressed with her ability to keep it together. She really is amazing. God, I love her.

~//~

At one point this one girl was throwing big pieces of sidewalk chalk into a metal bowl and it was making this awful CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! noise, and Punk is all, "Mama, what is that sound?" and I say, in sort of a passive-aggressive manner, "The girl is throwing the chalk into the bowl and it is making a very LOUD noise," and then added, "And that's probably a no-no." The woman next to me started laughing and said, "I think you're right!" and then told me she was a teacher and ran a tight ship. Aaah, waiting room bonding in a cattle call vaccine clinic.

http://www.mypapercrane.com/blog/?p=1362

Yesterday I decided to stop by a few of my favorite thrift shops. It has been awhile since I’ve done any serious thrifting and it was a good day!

The vintage suitcase looks like it was never used and cost me $1.50. The mouse fabric was pretty irresistible (and also $1.50) I love the little mushrooms on the ribbon (.25), and the last fabric has 3 and 1/2 yards ($3.00)…so I think it might become a Christmas table cloth, or pillow backings. I found a couple more items but they are being saved away for Christmas gifts so I can’t show any photos yet. I cannot resist a bargain :)

My child no longer wants to go to sleep, ever, and I want to claw my eyes out and scream. It's like she's an infant all over again, where she won't nap unless I am holding her or in some way restraining her. And at bedtime, she's all over the place, doing all kinds of things, often not falling asleep until after 9pm. For a brief period of time, I had a kid that slept. What the heck happened?

I am hoping this is one of those things called "a phase." Because if it's not, there might be "a homicide."