Up Past Bedtime

Other than a dimple in a cute little chin,
What's more adorable than a toothless grin?
–Azu "Betty" Espezia

Some people are really great at telling stories in a few sentences or paragraphs. I'm not one of those people. But since it is past my bedtime, I'm going to give it a try.

The facts are these; LadyBug had a loose tooth. It had been loose for a few days now, but today she really started to wiggle it with the goal in mind of getting it out before bed. A little apprehensive about doing what it took to get the tooth out, it was still hanging by a thread when she was sent to bed promptly at 8:30 9:15, only to reemerge several times to tell me that her tooth was bothering her.

When Mr. Bug got up just before 10:00 to get ready for work, he stopped in each of the Little Bugs' rooms to say goodnight, which reminded LadyBug that her tooth was bothering her and she couldn't sleep. And suddenly everyone was out of bed and giggles and schemes ensued. Mr. Bug suggested that they tie a string around the tooth and then tie the other end of the string to a doorknob and slam the door. Grasshopper added a creative twist to that. He suggested that they tie the other end of the string to a remote control car. The necessary materials were procured. There was more giggling as the plan was set into motion. At last LadyBug stood, poised with a bit of dental floss tied to her tooth, which was tied to a string, which was tied to the back end of a race car, control in her hand. She took a deep breath and set the car in motion.

It was a smashing success.

Getting the Little Bugs to school on time in the morning may not be so easy.

I Must Ask . . . What Is Your Favorite Music Genre?

Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead. –Benjamin Disraeli

I had so much fun reading the comments from last week about your dream jobs. A fair few of you already have your dream jobs, which is really awesome! Doing something you love definitely makes work a lot less like work. While we're on the subject, it's been a long work week for me {with a lot to go, still}, so I'm going to cut my comments short today. I wanted to write a whole bunch, but I'm just worn out. I'm even too tired to sew tonight and I'm going straight to bed as soon as I post. But there was one job mentioned that kind of tickled my fancy. Anna is a ranger at Yellowstone National Park. How cool is that!?! Even though I'm mostly an indoors type of gal, I would love to take a vacation to Yellowstone. When we were little, my parents took the three oldest kids to Yellowstone {the three youngest weren't born yet} one summer. We stayed in a cabin on the park, which was already occupied by a squirrel. I don't know that anything spectacular happened and I'm sure it was a lot more like camping than a vacation should be, but I have kind of fond memories of that trip. I would love to take my Little Bugs there. I can't persuade Mr. Bug, though. He's convinced that we'll all be eaten by bears.

Today the big question I must ask is . . . what is your favorite music genre? I'm all over the map. There are only a few kinds of music that I don't like. They are the kinds that aren't so much music as they are like noise. Of course, that is a matter of taste, so I'd like to hear what you like. Tell me what your favorite bands and songs are. And if you're so inclined, tell me what is the most embarrassing song on your iPod/mp3 player/playlist or the most embarrassing CD in your collection. In that category, I have most of Celine Dion's CD's, but I totally own that. She has such a beautiful voice. I also have a couple of Brittney Spears songs on my iPod and I even have a little bit of a secret crush on Barry Manalow. After all, he writes the songs that make the whole world sing.

And what would a post about music be without a music spot? I just love those spunky Dixie Chicks, so here's a little something fun to end with.

A Stitch in Time: January Finishes Giveaway Winner

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. –Frank Tibolt

Thank you to everyone who linked up with your January finishes! I had a really great time visiting all of you and seeing what crafty things you've been up to. I'm really excited to announce the January winner, who will receive a Good Fortune by Kate Spain Jelly Roll, sponsored by The Fat Quarter Shop. I had my little in-house random number generator, LadyBug, pick a number between 1 and 26, reminding her that she could pick 1 or 26 or anything in between. She chose number 17.


Congratulations to
Richard
of Richard Quilts


whose quilt, Train Wrek, was the winner.

If you haven't already, take a minute to visit these really great finishes. I think you'll be inspired! And get in on the fun at the February Finishes Linky Party. We have another great fabric giveaway, sponsored by The Fat Quarter Shop.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Outer Wear

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. –Unknown

Over the past few years I've been working on a little project. About five years ago I gained a considerable amount of weight that has just stuck around. My casual wardrobe of t-shirts and jeans didn't look good anymore and I just didn't feel pretty. It was around then that I started watching TLC's What Not to Wear, a make-over show that focuses on teaching people how to dress for their body type in age-appropriate and flattering clothes. I learned that I could embrace my body, no matter what size it was, and play to my strengths when choosing clothes.

The participants on the show are given $5000 to buy a new wardrobe and the hosts of the show sift through all the clothes they own and get rid of anything that just does not work for that person. While I did/do not have $5000 extra dollars to spend on new clothes, I've been playing along at home. I like to think of it as the What-Not-to-Wear-on-a-shoe-string-budget-distance-learning-program. I've been wanting to share with you some of the fun clothes I've found for almost a year now. I pay close attention to WNTW when someone with my body type comes on and I shop by “the rules” the stylists on the show give. I always shop the clearance rack in department stores and also shop at discount stores like TJ Maxx and Ross. I've gotten some really awesome pieces and have built my wardrobe up over time. Averaging it out, it comes to about $15 a month that I spend on clothes for myself. And the more cute new things I get for myself, the more I am able to let go of and get rid of those old clothes that just don't flatter me.

Despite feeling more put together, I have lacked the confidence to actually post photos of myself posing for the camera. The posing in and of itself is pretty scary. But putting yourself out there for public scrutiny under a microscope is terrifying. We're all friends here, so you'll be gentle on me, right?

I'm starting with outer wear {a.k.a. coats} because it is winter here and having a nice coat or jacket does a lot for how you feel when you go out in the cold. I showed you my new red coat last Friday but because it is just so darn cute I put together a little collage for today. I haven't really had a nice winter coat of my own for quite a few years now, mostly because it is a huge investment, but also in protest of winter. As if me not owning a proper coat would make winter not come. I usually wear a jacket with a sweater underneath, but if it gets really cold, sometimes I'll put on one of Mr. Bug's old Pea Coats from the Navy. They are black and wool and very boring. This is how you do a pea coat.

Style & Co. Double-Breasted Pea Coat with removable hood, Macy's
Retail: $150.00
Out-the-door: $18.69

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32
What can I say? If the jeans make your butt look good, buy them.

Boots: I'm pretty sure I got them at Wal-Mart 3 or 4 years ago and paid less than $15 for them.

This next jacket, a trench coat really, is the aforementioned jacket that I have been wearing fall, winter and spring for the last three-ish years. Maybe four, but I can't be sure. Now that I have a nice coat, I'll save it for late fall and early spring because I still really love it.

George ME Women's Double-Breasted Satin Trench Coat, Wal-Mart
Retail: $25.00
Out-the-door: $25.00
Even though I paid full price for this {I knew it wouldn't make it to the clearance rack, or even be there the next time I went back}, I still think it was a really great deal.

American Eagle Women's Avery Bow Flat, Payless Shoes
Retail: $19.99
Out-the-door: $7.25

Gray trousers, TJ Maxx
Retail: $60ish
Out the door: $16.99

Red by Marc Ecko Purse, second-hand
Retail: $70ish
Out-the-door: free

I have a more of my crazy bargains to show over the next few weeks. I went shopping a couple of weeks ago, spent $50 out-of-pocket, got eight items of clothing {the red coat was one of them} and saved $426 dollars. I feel fabulous wearing them because they flatter my body type and I got them seriously on sale. I want to show those things as well as a few other great finds from other shopping trips.

A Stitch In Time: February Finishes Linky Party

Well done is better than well said. –Benjamin Franklin

Welcome to the February Finishes Linky Party! Thank you to everyone who linked up in January. I really enjoyed seeing all your finishes! While I was there, I left a little comment, something which I plan to keep up with throughout the year. And if you're new here, so glad to have you. Here's how it works:

In a Nutshell:
• Finish a project and blog about it.
• Scroll down to see what other bloggers are up to and link to your own finishes.
• Make sure to include the February button in your blog post.

<center><a href="http://emsewandsew.blogspot.com/2012/02/stitch-in-time-february-finishes-linky.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEVMskDSXaW_Lbz3fMILVLFqfl3NBsdLBS88ehSwtHra5mrfyQo7Qih7YgOZzPOvYZBlEWC_mNGsPWANKnI-M5B8uy5AAKqYTluaAm9jneJ7Rcc1gBEmWS9swPlnUR-MLImaUL46smvg/s169/A%2520Stitch%2520In%2520Time%25202012%25202.jpg" /></a></center>
• Each time you link up a finished project, you're entered to win the February giveaway, a Reunion by Sweetwater Jelly Roll. {As a side note, looking for an awesome Jelly Roll project? Check out this tutorial.} The fabrics in this line are gorgeous! Finish a project, link it up and you could win it!

• Thank you to our giveaway sponsor:


The Fine Print {which might be boring but you really should read}:
• Projects must include stitching of some sort. For example: appliqué, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, knitting, practical sewing {garment construction, bags, curtains, etc.}, quilting.
• Projects must be completely finished. As in done, finito, nothing more to add, ready to use/display/give away.
• You can pick something new to do, but projects do not have to be started during the month. If you pick up a UFO, Ph.D, WIP and finish it during the month, it counts.
• Finishes must be completed during this month, but you have until 10:00 am MST on the 1^st of the next month to link your post.
• Post about your finish and then link your specific post {instructions here} above. Links to your blog and not the individual post about your finished project will be deleted.
• Have more than one finish this month? Great! Post about each finish individually and then link the specific posts up separately. Each finish, and therefore each link you add, counts as one entry for this month's giveaway.
• If you've already posted about a finish for this month, there's no need to do a separate post. Just add the button to that post and link up.
• Please copy and paste the code below to include this month's button somewhere in your post {not your sidebar}.

<center><a href="http://emsewandsew.blogspot.com/2012/02/stitch-in-time-february-finishes-linky.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEVMskDSXaW_Lbz3fMILVLFqfl3NBsdLBS88ehSwtHra5mrfyQo7Qih7YgOZzPOvYZBlEWC_mNGsPWANKnI-M5B8uy5AAKqYTluaAm9jneJ7Rcc1gBEmWS9swPlnUR-MLImaUL46smvg/s169/A%2520Stitch%2520In%2520Time%25202012%25202.jpg" /></a></center>
• Don't have a blog? You can link from your flickr account. Just post a picture, include a little note about your finish and a link back here {code included below} in the description. Then join the linky party.

<a href="http://emsewandsew.blogspot.com/2012/02/stitch-in-time-february-finishes-linky.html">A Stitch In Time: February Finishes</a>
• Make sure to visit a few of the other links and leave them some love {ie, a comment}. A good rule of thumb is to visit two links for every one you include.
• Winner of the sponsored giveaway will be drawn randomly from among the links and announced by 8:00 pm MST on the 3^rd of the following month.
• Instructions for making an index page to your finishes can be found here.
• Kindly consider changing your comment settings to the pop-up window option for faster and easier commenting for visitors to your blog. Instructions can be found here.