Real Life: Live & Unscripted

**Waves**

Hey guys! Just wanted to do a quick check in.

Things have been super busy since the kids got out of school.

I got a clean bill of health from the DR!! Praise GOD!! Yall just DON'T know lol. God is indeed good to ME!

I still have some things to review (yep been doing a little sewing and a LOT of fabric shopping lol) so I will get that up soon.

Been doing a LOT of cooking lol. Will post some of that also lol.

Let's seeeeeeeeee lol what else?

So much lol. I'll do a phone dump to play catch up lol

Thanks for ALL the emails. Y'all are the best!!!

Toodles!

Hump Day Ramblings

• I just marked all my blogs as read.

• I NEED to be asleep.

• The past couple of weeks have been hard. I REALLY miss you.  I miss my friend.  "Bet on Black" lol

• Kayla & I have been talking about not having an idle mind. Boy boy boy. The lessons you learn trying to teach your kids.

• I'm in my own tough situation right now and all I'm doing is trying to figure out ways to bless others lol.

• My mom bought an Ipad 3 and she can NOT use it. She has called me a gazillion times about it lol

• God dropped an idea in my heart and I'm going to RUN with it. Right after I journal about it lol.

• Had a conversation today that took a turn and got SUPER personal. I was SHOCKED Tony said something because he does NOT open up to folks on that level. I mean I was SHOCKED. Like my mouth was literally open the entire time. He said God led him to talk about it. I trust God and I trust Tony so we will see what happens. I KNOW God has this thing under control.

• Ok, I'm sleepy now.

• I hate when people waste my time. My time is REALLY valuable.

• I had the BIGGEST BURGER so good. I thought about an old friend who loves burgers lol.

• I love to see people being blessed and doing well. It warms my heart.

• I love celebrating other peoples blessings with them. I love it.

• I need to take some time and just disconnect. Maybe towards the end of the month.

• Can't believe school is almost out.

• I slept SO long today. INSANE. Now I'm up all night.

• I go back to the dr this week. Praying for a good report and that nothing comes up.

• Made a lace dress to wear and ended up wearing a sequin skirt.

• I am totally mind blown at the kindness of others. Totally.

• Something upset me SO BAD today. It normally takes a LOT to upset me, but when you are dealing with the same person, stuff just kinda adds up and boils over. I had to pray and talk Tony's ear off about it. He is a wise dude.

• I made a dress that didn't really work out. I wore it once and threw it away. I need to blog about WHY it didn't work on me.

• Tony is HOOKED on that LOGO game. He just unlocked level 7 and has like 21 hints. If any of you play it you KNOW what it is.

• My parents are SO funny. Yep.

• I'm having a slumber party, well Jaelyn is. On a school night, during the middle of the week lol. They are great kids and I'll just take them to school tomorrow. I ROCK.

• God has blessed my hands. Yes He has!!!

• I love my relationship with God.

• Whew I'm dizzy. Gotta go now lol

• It's amazing how friendships are showing up in places I NEVER would have expected. God is good!!!

• 6 week dr appt in the morning. WOOHOO. So excited :/ lol

• Alright, y'all ramble lol

 

Butterick 5706...A Review & Epic Fail

Now. I had GRAND plans for this dress. I won't EVEN post my inspiration pic because it really doesn't do it ANY justice.

This dress Butterick 5706 view c is a TOTAL fail. Here is the pic:

Ok. let me start by saying I was inspired lol but this is when inspiration goes wrong.

I was talking to my friend about it and let me tell yall, YOU NEED A FRIEND THAT WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU LOOK A HOT MESS LOL. Now this isn't exactly a hot mess but this dress doesn't work for me.

• It's too linear. It needs to fit and flare.
• Even though I lengthened this in the back and left the front short, I think the back could've been longer.
• This was the first dress I made to wear while I was on bed rest. I didn't PLAN to belt it. I should have added some shaping. This dress has NONE. 
• I don't have a defined waist so I HAVE to have some great shaping or a belt to compliment my figure.

So my try at a high low / color block was a total fail. This dress is now in the trash, but I did learn a good lesson and me & my friend got a GOOD laugh lol. I did wear it once and put it in the black bag when I got back home lol.

I won't make this dress again but I WILL make another one based on my inspiration dress that I still won't post lol.

I'm finally getting to where I "get" what compliments my shape. I have to "create" a waist. I'm having fun now looking at patterns and discovering things that I really didn't notice before because I have figured out what looks good on me. Yep. WOOHOO lol. Not without the help of my dear heart though lol.

Alright, lemme go! More later!
Toodles!

Proverbs 31 Woman

Two posts in one day? This HAS to be important lol

This has to be one of my most favorite things to study in the bible.

ANYTIME I can find something on Proverbs 31 I'm ALL over it. REALLY.

I linked this ebook some time back Proverbs 31 E book and now The Proverbs 31 Series is beginning and I am SUPER DUPER excited lol.

Just wanted to share in case you all were interested lol.

Toodles!!!

Butterick 4443... A Review

I recently fell TOTALLY in love with gingham:

http://mysoulisthesky.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-trends-4-gingham.html

http://weheartit.com/entry/9882805

So I had to have a dress lol

Pattern Description: Dress: close-fitting bodice and slightly flared skirt has bodice variations, back zipper and is below mid-knee length. B: contrast band, tie belt and purchased flower. C: tie belt. D: purchased ribbon and bow trim. E: purchased ribbon bow.

I made view A

 
Pattern Sizing: 8-14


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? I only glanced over them. They seemed super easy.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? Loved the simplicity of the pattern.


Fabric Used: Cotton


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: None

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I think this is a great basic to have. I may use it again when I want/need another simple strapless dress.

Conclusion: Super quick and easy dress.

My hair is in a bun until I decide what to do with it. I'm >< this close to cutting it ALL off.

Seems like my kitten wanted some pics too lol. Hey Wallee!!

That's all I have! Have a great day!
Toodles!

Soul Food, My Walk With God

Hope Defined:

noun

the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best:

verb

to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. (My definition would say ALL confidence, not reasonable).

to believe, desire, or trust.

Today. I have hope. I have hope. I have hope. My hope is in God.

I'm going through a situtation and it's a HARD one. One where I've been trusting God from the very beginning. From the moment I found out about it.

I cried. I mean I BAWLED. But I praised God through my tears. Because my hope is in Him.

I know He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or even think, so my hope is in Him.

If He can do ABOVE all that I can ASK OR THINK??? Whewww yes!!! HE IS ABLE!!!!!!!!

So I am waiting. Expecting Him to do exceeding abundantly above what I'm asking and thinking. Yep.

Because I have Hope.

If you are going through anything HAVE HOPE. In God. Yep. HE IS ABLE.

 

Enjoy this song if you have time. I LOVE IT! I KNOW He is able!!! Waiting to see what He does!!!!

I'm EXCITED!!!!! Because His Word won't come back void. He HAS to do it because HE SAID HE WOULD!!!

I'm not perfect, just striving to be the woman God wants me to be. Keeping my life lined up with the WORD!

Menu Planning

I was on twitter uhh the other day and we were talking about menu planning.

Since my surgery my menu planning was pretty much null & void. I didn't do ANYTHING. Didn't want to. Didn't have to, so I didn't lol.

Normally things run like a well oiled machine here. MOST TIMES. EVERY now and then things just kinda go crazy. I have these lazy spells where I don't want to do ANYTHING, so I don't. *shrugs*

Anyway, we were talking about menu planning and seems like my entire TL seemed to think I was crazy because I plan for the whole month. YEP. THE ENTIRE MONTH.

**clutches pearls**

That is what works for us me.

I've tried to do it a week at a time and it would work for a little while but I found myself spending more and more time in the grocery store. I mean I have OTHER stuff to do lol.

So I changed it to monthly.

AND THE ANGELS SING. It WORKS for us me.

I don't have picky eaters, so feeding them is fun. I love to cook, they love to eat. It's seriously a win-win situation.

The way it works, normally I will take some things that I've previously cooked that I know everyone likes and just pick some days and put them on the calendar.

The kids will sometimes get online and find things they want me to cook or sit and look through the cookbooks and find something. Tony has fallen in love with all the food on pinterest and he will look for something on there lol.

They all give me ideas. It works.

I strategically place the items on the calendar. ANYTHING involving a crock pot is made on Tuesday OR Saturday so we can have leftovers. I don't like cooking on Wednesday or Sunday.

There are a few days during each month when I'm "off" or I'll put "feed yourself". Hey I'm entitled.

Once it is all finalized, I print it and put it on the fridge so EVERYONE can see. Do NOT ASK ME WHAT IS FOR DINNER. LOOK AT THE CALENDAR.

I make my grocery list. I check my pantry and cabinets for things I already have (I keep a pretty well stocked pantry) so I normally don't need much unless I'm replacing something I've run out of OR trying something super new that requires me to buy stuff I don't normally use.

It is THAT easy.

I did my shopping for May yesterday. Only took a couple of hours, I did have a list.

Yep I'm a little late in the month but hey I'm still healing. I put up the cold stuff left all the other stuff for everyone else to put away.

TECHNICALLY we are supposed to be having leftovers tomorrow BUT they killed it and I doubled the recipe. I said ok. Tomorrow is Friday soooooo they can eat whatever lol.

Planning a menu for the entire month has ONE drawback... what if I have a craving for something else.

I will do one of two things. I will either just cook it and make what I was going to make that day later OR add it to the next months calendar. It works for me.

I normally work on the next months menu as soon as I print the current menu out. It stays open on my computer and normally by the middle of the month I'm about ready to make my grocery list. I know how much we use certain things so I can always tell if I'm going to need more for the next month.

The ONLY time I go to the store during the month is if I have forgotten something OR if I'm buying fresh items. That's IT. I hardly ever forget to put anything on the list OR pick it up but it does happen lol.

Ok, that's about it. Any questions? Feel free to ask!
Toodles!

 

Pics from my G2- Phone Dump

Menu planning is fun!

I love these. Fell in love with them back in January lol

RAINBOW!!!!

Might have to try these out...

Before...

After... MAN. See. what had happened was...My mom tried to get me to take the WHOLE cake home so SHE wouldn't eat it. NERP! Not finna pull the okie doke on me lol. I got ONE slice and was SO glad I didn't bring that whole cake home lol. I would have eaten ALL of it. I have NO restraint when it comes to certain foods lol

Yummyyy

Really pretty...

THAT is how you fry fish lol

Wallee was LAID OUT lol

Really?? ok.

Can y'all read that? It's a mobile barber shop. I passed by this same place the next day and it was still there. If it's mobile, uhh why was it in the same spot? LOL

Jaelyn will bake on a whim lol

We love nailpolish lol

Aint it purrrtttyyyy

Getting it all together lol

Nothing like going through your pics and your 16yr old has had a photoshoot lol

I love doing a bantu knot out on my hair UNTIL it's time to shampoo it and untangle it. NOT FUN.

Aiden was having a BLAST lol

I do not know WHY my dad put ALL of my kids on there. I mean. They have their OWN. Let them drive lol. Guess he had a granddad moment lol

The FIRST place I went when I could drive was chick fila lol. I HAD to have a banana pudding milkshakie lol

Tony makes THE best candy apples!!!

LOL from Hancock lol

Umm YUCK. The kids TRIPPED OUT when they saw this lol

Uhh say wha?

NOTHING better than a milos burger when you crave a burger lol.

Ok, that's it for today lol

Toodles!

Linky Love...

WOW

http://www.thefrisky.com/2012-03-06/10-things-every-woman-needs-to-throw-away/

http://pastormark.tv/2012/04/17/7-tips-for-better-bible-study

http://www.imom.com/espresso-minute/2012/04/13/10-things-kids-should-know-before-they-leave-home/

http://www.purposefairy.com/3308/15-things-you-should-give-up-in-order-to-be-happy/

http://www.fitsugar.com/Mistakes-Prevent-Weight-Loss-22511597

http://www.bgr.com/2012/04/09/nyc-to-transform-old-phone-booths-into-32-inch-smart-screens/

http://blog.instagram.com/post/20659758466/photo-tips-android-apps

http://money.msn.com/how-to-budget/3-money-tips-for-every-income-weston.aspx?ocid=vt_twmsnmon

http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement/ Get your SS statement online...

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/08/30/12-things-happy-people-do-differently/

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/13-things-a-movie-theater-employee-won%E2%80%99t-tell-you/ O_O

http://news.yahoo.com/how-to-delete-yourself-from-the-internet.html

http://www.fabsugar.com/Dresses-Every-Woman-Should-Own-22652963?slide=0

Some of these are SO old lol. My twitter peeps link the best stuff.

Have you seen anything interesting? Link me up!

Toodles

 

Simplicity 1873...A Review

So I was doing my daily blog reading and ran across this dress on NuSophisticate and was INSTANTLY in love. I clicked the link to the original dress on jcrew.com and this can NOT be the same dress!
Well I'll be. It IS the same dress. HATE it on this model.

Well NOW, I want one too. Bow belt and all lol. Enter in Simplicity 1873

Pattern Description: Misses' & Miss petite dress in two lengths with pleated skirt and loose fitting cape jacket. Cynthia Rowley Collection.

Pattern Sizing: 14-22


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? SUPER EASY!

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about this pattern. It was really close to my inspiration dress.


Fabric Used: Linen polka dot (the dots are raised) that my mom gave me lol.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I made view c without the tabs on the waist.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? This dress is already being made again. I LOVE this style on me. LOVE IT!!! My oldest daughter has also put her request in lol.

Conclusion: This dress is SUPERB! If you like this style GET THIS PATTERN.

 Here are some additional pictures:

I really didn't have enough fabric for this dress. The polka dots didn't extend all the way to the selvage of the fabric so I ended up positioning the center back on the white part all the way down the dress. It works for me lol.

This dress is SO twirl worthy and I LOVE my magenta shoes!

I told Tony I felt so pretty! LOL. I LOVE this dress. Like seriously. LOVE IT. You will see it again soon. That is all. lol

Soooo Jaelyn went to the prom...

Y'all KNOW I took like fifty-leven pics right? lol

I'll just post a few of my favs here lol

Ok, I could really keep going but I won't lol

Toodles!

I can't believe it's been 3 years...

It has been three years since I wrote this post..

http://adrienneslittleworld.typepad.com/a_glimpse_of_me_a_peek_in/2009/05/it-hurts-so-bad.html

It STILL hurts. We STILL miss Patrick. We STILL love him. He is STILL so very, very missed.

We love you Patrick RIP

McCall's 6559...A Review

  I fell in LOVE with this dress:

But at THIS PRICE? NO WAY lol. Mine isn't EXACTLY like it because I still can't have anything restricting on my stomach but the next version I make will be.

Pattern Description: Misses Unlined Dress

Pattern Sizing: 14-22


Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?

YES!
Were the instructions easy to follow? I didn't even need them.

What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I love that this pattern is TWO pieces lol.


Fabric Used: Missoni type knit from Joann's


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: NONE

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I am going to make this 100 times over lol

Conclusion: It took me longer to match the print than it did to sew the actual dress. I also underlined it to the knee with a white knit since the fabric is sheer.

I didn't hem it. I actually liked the way the selvage looked:

There ya have it. LOVE this pattern. Can't get any better than two pieces lol.

Happy Birthday Patrick (RIP)!!!

I still can't believe you are gone.

This is THE ONLY picture I have with Patrick. I spent so much time behind the camera that I never got many pictures with people.

We love you so much Pat. RIP Happy Birthday!