Sono

Today i had a sonogram. So far everything is all good. No word yet on what it is, but i am assured that i will definitely know at my next visit in another 4 weeks.

Productive Insomniac

Another night of i nsomnia. You see, i have had this relationship with Tylenyol Pm since college. Sometimes i am lucky enough to get Ambien but i really dislike that 'cause hard core sleeping aids give me nightmares. When i'm pregnant i give sleeping pills a found kiss good- bye like my cigarettes and occational glass of wine.
I've tried everything from warm milk to melato nin . Nothing works. I guess i was born this way. I believe strongly that in a previous life i must of been a cat. Napping is one of my favorite hobbies. I can fall asleep almost instantly in the warming light of the sun. Night comes upon us and i am like a vampire in search of blood.
Why do i share this intimate detail with you? Well, i have no idea. I've always been a person that shares too much personal information.
I remember when i was younger i would have these weekend binges of no sleep. I would camp out in front of the tv with a typewriter (i loved writing) or a babysitter's club book or a fresh stack of paper and markers. I would watch Cinemax (lmao), those awful 80s movies like <Hamburger: the Motion Picture or reruns on Nick at Nite. On Sunday i actually brought the paper in because i heard them throw it on our doorstep at 5 am.
Now, i blog; journal; watch DVDs (no cable, remember); craft and the new hobby: bake. Tonight i made chocolate cupcakes! They were awsome!! I didn't expect make 3 dozen (that i also practiced my piping skills on) as a result of my midnight endevour, but holy $hit they were so soft and perfect. I actually danced and busted out the camera because i had to share it with you.
Did i eat 'em all? Afterall i am eating for 2. Nope. I gave a dozen to my doctor's office; another dozen to the ladies of the library and i'm keeping a dozen for us (and if i see the meter reader, the mailman, etc.)

Camera phones are swell

I gotta new cell phone today courtsey of, once again, my mother (she upgraded her cell to a Razor). I love it. The rings and graphics are so much livelier! I have UNO and Solitair in my games! Yahoo! Who said hand me downs can't be cool.

Goulash is No More

Today i found my beloved cat Goulash lying dead in my driveway. I do not believe that he ran out into the busy street for he was the biggest pu$$y (even though he was known to attack the occational snake). We have reason to believe that he fell out of a tree and broke his neck for he wasn't the best climber (this is the first place we lived where he's ever had trees to climb).
I cried and cried and cried. We had a love/ hate relationship. He was a terror that loved to meow at your window sill at 4 am because he needs more food or he just needed more affection. He climbed screens at 6am making a person believe there was a burglar lurking. God i miss that silly cat.
He picked me at a Maryland SPCA (paw in my hair as i was inspecting a litter of kittens below him). It was an impulse adoption and he was a perfect fit. He was filled with personality and he never bit or scratched (that is if you weren't touching his belly). Tug his tail ever so lightly and he sat forever by your side.
My first pet is now gone and i couldn't be more bummed. I broke down at Walmart (as the hubby buried him in our backyard); at the Goodwill donation center; my neighbor's driveway; and a handfull of phone calls. My daughter walked up to crestfallen body and gave me the biggest hug. That of course made me cry too. I'm a crier.
So that makes it 2 beloved cats buried in my back yard since October with my other 2 cats running around somewhere (the hubby swears he saw one of 'em today).
Goulash, you crazy f*ckin' feline. Here's to you. I miss ya already.

I dub thee Poof

I'm on a roll. Thank God for insomnia or i wouldn't get anything done. I made these thingies i call "Poofs". They are built similar to Furbies but minus all the puff and stuff..lol.
I've been constructing them in 3 hour, or so, blocks for the last several days. My first came out kinda scary but the more i practiced, the better the result. I had a genius idea to fill them not only with the stuffing (Walmart $5) and the tiny bean like pasta- used to weigh it down at the base , but with some scent.
Off to Earthfare to purchase lovely lavender and Walmart for those $.85 packets of scent (apple & Cinnamon and Rose Petals). For another touch, i had these pewter engraved thingies (jewelry making supplies at Hancock Fabricks attached by a ribbon. I sewed it all up and viola! It's an attractive scent thingy perfect for the car, office, bathroom or where ever the heck you want to put it..lol.
The pattern consisted of 3 sides (equal), a face and base. You can make it yourself it's so easy (i did on some left over brown paper bags). Felt was a wonderful fabric to use since it's cheap, easy to sew and i had a $hit load left over from a craft project from 18 months ago..lol.
I used embroidery thread to do the eyes and mouth (I have so much thread leftover from the Christmas Quitlts i never finished). I think i may experiment with it. Embroidery is easier than i thought (third time's a charm).

I am a Crafter

I am a crafter.
I have a Crafting closet that is filled to the gills with supplies for any craft imaginable. You want to Quilt? Mosaic? How about glass bead making? No? Papier Mache? or is it lamp making your cup of tea? Still no? Writing songs or novels? I've got it all. I do wish i had a kiln though. Polymer clay is fun and all but it has me wanting more..lol
About 18 months ago, i was making stuffed animals for my not yet born daughter and any child that was interested. I had bought this 2 pound bag of felt for like $3 at A.C. Moore. I made 3 stuffed animals and stopped when i had issues with Norma (that's my sewing machine Norma Rae). I hadn't figured out that you can't use hand quilting thread in a sewing machine yet. Anyway, i blew the dust off the bag and had tons of embroidery thread and magnets from another forgotten project (naughty glass marble magnets- i took pics and text from porn mags and pasted them onto magnets). The result was these fun felt animal magnets.
I got the idea from my fav website project page. She made some for Valentine's day (i didn't stuff mine with cotton but with stuffing courtesy of Walmart's craft section). I went an extra step and made animals.
I didn't have patterns so i had to wing it mostly. I used Corel sometimes. For my dolphins, sea horses and whales i actually used some left over birthday wrapping paper i snatched from a friend's son's 1st bday party garbage. I'm proud of the results!
With this project i suggest going to Lowes and purchasing the strongest ceramic magnet (says so in the top left corner) and NO glue gun. Glue guns- to me- lack longevity. I used LiquiNails. Just a smear. Have fun and good luck!

We Really Miss You Nic...

Dear Nic,
When you left us two years ago at such a young age, we knew that it all would be different. Throughout the 5 months after you found out that Puffy Daddy was actually a tumor, you always maintained high spirits and hope. A true testimate of how you were to all of us you left behind. We still talk of you as if you were in the next room.
What great times we had! I showed you The Breakfast Club and you taught me Smelly Cat on the guitar..lmao. Remember the time we spent Valentine's Day together because Larry had to work late. We ate at OCB (Old Country Buffett) and joked that we should pose for a picture and give it to him as a gift? How about the time when we spent an hour in the Home Depot plumbing section?..lol
i know there were times when i was the biggest b*tch on the planet. I was just so jealous how you and Larry were so close. You were more like brothers than childhood friends. That eventhough i was his wife, i was the third wheel. I'm so sorry for my behavior.
I thank you for all that you introduced to me (big and small): my husband. The Beatles and Jimi. The REAL Charleston and the Real DC. The Polyphonic Spree and the Postal Workers. Your family and Melody. The Commitments and the Velvet Swells. The Dark Side of Oz and the Hitchhicker's guide. Thrift store finds and VWs.
You were a great friend and the coolest person i ever met. You made me feel like i was finally part of that club that i use to daydream about in high school. Not the 90210 types but the artsy kids who drew on their Chucks.
I'm glad that you are no longer in pain. I'm glad that you got to see your God- daughter and she holds your name proudly. I know that you gave up your space so that she could have yours. It was hard for all of us when you left, but we will never forget you! We talk about you still as if you are in the next room...lol
I know you are watching us. Happy Birthday and happy St. Patty's Day. !
WE MISS YOU.
XO
J

A new comfy bed

We got our new bed today! Yahoo!! I haven't owned a brand new bed since i was 6 years old when my parents traded in my uber girlie canopy bed for new big girl bed for my 8th birthday. It still sits in my childhood bedroom with the shiny brass headboard. The new bed that arrived today is AWESOME! It's even higher off the ground than our old one (foot raisers and all). Thanks Mom and Dad (another part of my birthday booty!)! I can't wait to go to sleep tonight!

**Strawberry Spectacular**

I bought half a flat of strawberries this past weekend at the flea market for $6! I made a Strawberry Mille-Feuille, Strawberry Smoothies and Strawberry Morning Cake. All totally yum! This is a recipe that usually calls for blueberries, and it surely offered just as tasty results. I suggest trying any fruit.. within reason. Enjoy! PS- Use whole milk for a rich taste and alternate with dry ingredients. DON't OVER MIX!!

Paper Mache Fun!

I have been nesting these last few weeks and in the process have finally started crafting again. I'm trying to decorate my home with my handy work so that it brings life to my beautiful blue and brown walls.
Tada! Paper Mache! I should have discovered it years ago!
I bought wheat (wall paper) paste last week for $3.08 at Ace Hardware during an afternoon stroll to the grocery store. Balloons were $.97 at Walmart and i raided the Dollar Tree (a crafters' heaven!)for tissue paper, paintbrush and bucket.
As you can see, i have down a few. The only problem is that when i deflated one of the balloons once the paper mache was completely dry, it collapsed. I tried to apply another coat of tissue paper but it began to look like a decapitated puppet. I wonder what i'm doing wrong? I'll be bummed if all of these have similar results.

I've been missing again..

I know that i keep disappearing but my siatica these days doesn't allow me to sit for too long of periods. So i've decided to at least make a a week's worth of posting every Monday. We'll see how long that lasts..lol We are doing quite well these days. Been enjoying the perfect weather (it's 80 degrees for example today) with my family. Yesterday we went to the beach. baby had a ball. She tried to eat the sand but was left with a big surprise. The water is still too cold to get in but that didn't stop 2- 4 people (one being Larry but his excuse was that he had to pee..lol). Well, the Peanut has woken from her nap and she beckons.

80 degree ...Winter?

We have been blessed with hot, yet beautifully sunny days here in James Island these last few days. After church and a big brunch (blueberry morning cake, bacon and eggs) last week, the hubby and i took advantage of the great day. We went to the beach and played in the sand.
You see, i'm a black woman from the suburban metropolis of D.C. and i'm married to a countryish white man from South Carolina. I've never studied the Farmer's Tan ever so close than i have in the last 7 years.
Isn't the oddest thing you ever seen? Being that or children will be a soft shade of the perfect cup of tea, i will certainly make sure that sunscreen will be applied properly at all times. What if you decide to wear a tank top and you spent the whole previous day mowing the lawn or something sans sunscreen? It just looks like one is wearing a tshirt.
For those of you out there that don't know, black people are victims to the sun but not as bad as our fairer brethren. I think it is because we have more melanin in our skin that provided better UV protection (for those interested in the scientific reason). My mother gets tanned REAL quick- she's what we call "red boned". Me, not so much but i have gotten the zebra feet.
Anyway, i have blocked out my hubby, er, i mean the model's face to save embarrassment.

Moleskine...um Notebook part duex

This was my first journal that i made myself. It had computer graphics and words of wisdom every 10 pages or so. It dated may 2000 to september 2000. i actually see that i didn't even finish writing in this one..lmao (165 pages) This was my favorite cover art that i did. I still have the originals of these drawings in my portfolio. The images came from an artist named Janseko. I drew these images and made them into a mosaic like effect using random shapes and color making them my own concept. This journal dates April 2003- December 2003 (279 pages).

a Moleskine..umm. a Notebook

I am a compulsive list maker, writer, doodler, what-have-you. I was elated to find a mate in a man that shares this compulsion. It was certainly a learned behavior because my earliest journal dates at age 14.
My cousin- we'll call her "K"- use to write down EVERYTHING in a marbled composition book every night right before she went to bed. I will bet money she still does it. Anyway, i was fascinated by her dedication and the information she would put in these books (there were a few times she let me read some). By the time i picked up the habit she most of had a hundred.
"Aren't you afraid someone is going to read 'em"? i asked.
"No," she retorted. "If they see something about them and don't like it, then that is their fault for invading my privacy."
Wow.
I tried to write, but i found that my mother was a snooper- so was i..lol- and i felt i could not be as candid as i wanted. For the next 5 years i went through one journal a year. I would pick a pretty book to write in- i didn't fancy the compositor books. Sometimes i would find one that i couldn't write in 'cause the pages just didn't call for me to do it.
In college i moved into my own apartment by myself and had a pretty cool computer setup (i HATED dorm life. I was the bitch who use to call the cops because i was trying to sleep and it was 4 in the morn on a Friday). "Why don't i make my own journal"? So using Microsoft Word, Paintshop Pro, a scanner, 200 looseleaf papers, and Kinkos i produced a cool journal that i was excited to write in. I was so impressed with my results i made a very personalize year planner with a Janet Jackson Velvet Rope theme (we'll talk about my janet days another time)!
i eventually graduated to these hard back, wirebound, lineless journals from art supply stores (the pages fall out) since the looseleaf papers of my old journals aren't archival. Now i use a soft cover, sketchbook dilly from Walmart. It's only $5 and it does the job: documents my life and keeps my mind clear. I actually sleep better 'cause of it.
This blog entry had a point..lol. I read an article while in MD about a renaissance of journaling/ note taking on paper rather in a blackberry or some computer thingy. An inevitable backlash to everyone being so dependent on computers. They mentioned something called a Moleskine (make up your own pronunciation). Famous writers like Hemingway and artists like Matisse used these moleskines.
I had no idea that people didn't write notes or journal on paper anymore. I haven't a blackberry but i write all my appointments on my Van Gogh calendar. I never journaled on a computer like Doogie Houser, MD because i always thought "what if i crash my computer..again"? I would lose everything. With journaling, i'm also creating a legacy. Something that may be found in the rubble after the machines take over the world.
Why have we even come to this? An existence that finds conventional forms of documenting our thoughts and plans strange? I know this is kinda weird since i'm going to print this blog entry and paste it in my journal..lmao.

Birthday Booty

I turned 28 on February 22 with such glee. Being in Maryland and having my mother in town meant that i was surely to be spoiled. My day started with snow. A heavy snow that left me happy but equally sad. I hadn't seen a real snow in years and it felt like it was a gift from God, but Mom is scared (i believe it's an excuse to stay in her pjs and call in sick) to drive in any inclement weather and she was to be the chauffeur since Larry was going to be babysitting.
Thankfully the snow melted completely away by noon and we were off to shop. My mother had already given me a Nano iPod that she found on the subway several months ago so we were off first to Best Buy where i got all the fixin's for it. I used some of a gift card that the hubbie got me and she the other half.
I had to get something for Isabella since it wouldn't be nice to come back with nothing for our little peanut so we went to Buy Buy Baby for a quick $50 detour.
Next was Hecht company for a beautiful pair of earrings that i've been desiring forever (gold hoops that didn't come from some cheesy, teeny bopper store). I loved them so much i wore them out. "if you like these i have some smaller hoops with diamonds your father gave me that you can have," mom offered. HELL YEAH! "I'm on FIRE"! i thought to myself.
Once we finished our mini shopping spree at Pearls Arts and Crafts for a few more items, we returned home to my very sleepy baby. Mom was departing for Trinidad- Carnival time, you know- and had to still pack her stuff so she offered to stay behind with the now sleeping baby while hubbie and i went to dinner.
Cheesecake Factory worth every penny. The staff didn't sing the obligatory happy birthday song but i did stuff my gut with this wonderfully, spicy, Cajun shrimp, chicken pasta and a snicker cheesecake a la mode (well, duh). I'm so surprised that i didn't gain like 10 pounds that night. $109 later, we visited our dear friend Nelson at his new job and kick ass place in Takoma Park, MD.
We went to sleep by 11 pm and what a wonderful day it was. It was the first birthday in a long time that i had a memorable time. The other special part of my birthday was that i spent it with my mother, which was a first since i was about 9 years old. My birthday falls during Carnival time and that means i'm usually sans parents. I use to go with when i was little but once i got to an age where taking me out of school was becoming problematic (i would be home schooled for those 2 weeks but would come back like 2 months ahead of the other kids) i spent my bday with friends and brother.
All in all it was a kick ass bday and i'm so thankful for my family that i got to celebrate it with! Yahoo!

My love affair with Chipotle

I have been going to Chiptole since my days working as an assistant at the Associated Press right out of college in the heart of Washington, DC. I loved it (please forgive them that they are owned by McDonalds). No matter how long the line, i got my food within minutes and within my budget (but then i was making Maryland Money and i was a shopping DIVA). The burritos are HUGE and are so damn tastey i dreamed about them longingly when i moved to a Chipotle free city. Three years i ate Chipotle bragging to anyone who had yet dined there. Everyone was instantly hooked like a junkie. "Give me more. Give me More"! they cried.
I always have the same thing- yes i like to try new things but it's so gooooooood- the marinated and grilled chicken burrito, sans beans, with cheese, tomato salsa and cilantro lime rice. Oh $hit! Damn just thinking about it makes me all excited. The hubbie hates burritos because i like to buy the big 2 pound f*ckers that take two hands to hold, but that was before this past week. He's in love too..but he has it as a salad (pu$$y).
I have a sad tale about my lovely burritos: last summer i flew up to MD for a week to introduce our new baby to my family. First and last place i went to was Chipotle. The morning of the day we were to fly out i spent around $30 on burritos for me to freeze when i ggot back to Charleston- that's $7 a pop! I put in the fridge knowing that it would be safe upon my return. Unbeknownst to me, i had a slew of cousins that came over that raided our fridge. They ate every last one. OMG! i was $hittin'. "Who ate my damn Chipotle"?!?! I stood mouth agape at the fridge. I screamed at my mother and father but neither would hurt me like that. "I bet it was (bleep*)" mom suggested.
My cousins were long gone with MY Chipotle swimming happily in their full tummies. "I hope you all get inagestion," i mumbled venomously under my breath. So now whenever i want to save my precious culinary treasure from vultures, i write with my huge sharpie Eat it and Die. God bless the mister who comes between me and my Chipotle. I guess you can say i'm like Joey on Friends "Joey Don't Share Food"!
*we will refrain from naming names to protect the guilty

It's been a long time..

I know it's been a while since i last made a posting, but a girl has been busy. I have been fighting siatic pain (presently sitting on a heating pad; a bout of hives (allergy of some sort that is now leaving me with this sunburn like peeling from head to toe; spent two weeks in Maryland (ahhh..home sweet home) for my 28th birthday (Larry and i had an actual date feasting on my mother's dollar at The Cheesecake Factory ); living with a teething toddler who also has a stomach virus (daddy was mad ill because of it); sleeping. Anyway, i'll be back soon to post some of my musings and adventures these last couple weeks i've been absent from the cyberworld.