4 years ago today . . .

 . . . my eyes changed forever. 

I had LASIK surgery.  I've heard it called a modern miracle and for me it was a good thing.

I did need an enchancement within the first few months after my original surgery.  My eyes were so terribly bad in the beginning, an enchancement is not unusual.  I found it was better to be under corrected, rather than over corrected.   Over correction would have resulted in needing readers immediately.  Even though I'm nearing that age, I'm not quite there yet. :)

After my enhancement, things have been great.  I do have some glasses that I sometimes need when driving at night.  It's not a bad trade off.  I don't need other vision correction, not even readers just yet.  It's nice to get out of bed in the mornings without reaching for glasses. It's nice to not worry about taking contacts out before bed.  It's just a wonderful convenience.

LASIK is not for everyone and this post is not  an endorsement of any procedure or any doctor.  It is merely sharing of my personal experience.

So Blessed

One month ago today, our little town was forever changed; but I am still blessed!  Simple things can bring the most joy.  Enjoy this little glimpse at some of my joy. :)

Wishing YOU joy today!

February 1 . . . really?

Ok, where did January go?  Wasn't it just Christmas last week?  Seriously!  I've always heard that the older one gets, the faster time passes.  Just because I had a birthday in December doesn't mean that time has to hop on a freight train and zoom right past me.   I promise, I haven't been slacking in 2011.  Things have been pretty busy.  As I looked back over the pictures I took in January, I realized just how busy.  {apparently a little too busy to blog much!  LOL}

We started the month off with a huge snow storm.  I know you folks experiencing this right now may not have much compassion; and that's OK.    Our 6-7 inches of snow is nothing to compare with what you all are dealing; however in Alabama, those things don't happen often.  School was out for a solid week and that is unheard of.  A FB fan asked if our school system didn't have built-in snow days.  Well, not that many.  If we do have to miss school because of weather, there is a day here or there to make it up.  As it is now, we have 6 days to make up . . . 5 from our snow week and one from a previous bad weather day in 2010. 

The rest of the month was busy too.  We visited the Rick and Bubba show, attended a sports banquet, celebrated a birthday, participated in our first ever pageant {no, we are not and will not be pageant people; but it was a good confidence builder}.  Oh, and I did a little sewing along the way too!

Here's hoping that February will be another busy, fun, productive month for us all!  Happy February! {stay warm and get ready for Valentine's Day!}

Bad Blogger

Ok.  Obviously my blog needs a little love.  I knew I hadn't blogged in a few days, but didn't realize it's been 2 weeks.

Bad Blogger

In my defense, it has been a busy 2 weeks.   I've been:

sewing like crazy; catching up on orders that came in during my vacation
working with several smart brides got their bridesmaids from me on Etsy
working new items
going to Little Gracious's softball games 
celebrating that Little Gracious made the volleyball team at her school for next year
planting our veggie garden {pictures to come soon}
planting annuals {more pictures to come soon}
dodging some typical Southern severe weather
getting back to working out regularly {attempting it anyway}
having some landscaping done {major project that would be hard for us to do alone}

I could tell you more, but I think you get the idea.  Real life happens.

I have been posting on Facebook regularly so you can become a fan to stay updated {or now that they've changed things again, you have to "like" me}.  I hope you like me anyway.  :)

I promise to try to be a better blogger. May is going to be a super busy month but I have SO much new fabric that is calling my name.  Hang in there with me!

Miss You Much

Isn't this the sweetest picture?

I have shared it before, but it is one of my favorites.

I thought today it was appropriate to share again.

Today, my Daddy would have been 75 years old.

Hard to believe.  He went to be with Jesus shortly after he turned 69.

He never looked his age, nor acted his age, right up until the day he died. :)

I saw him that morning.  The last thing I did was kiss him on the cheek & tell him I love him.

He loved me too.

He always smiled.

People say that about me.  I smile all the time & I look like my Daddy.

What a beautiful compliment!

In this picture, I am about 6 or 8 months old and my Daddy is 31.

Look how handsome he was.

He was a wonderful Daddy, but an even better Grandfather.  He thought Little Gracious hung the moon.  :-)

He loved his 2 other grandchildren very much, but they lived out of town and were already on their own by the time he retired.  That's when he REALLY started to enjoy life. He was still working like crazy when they were little.

Little Gracious was there, his sidekick, to enjoy his retirement with him.  One of their favorite pasttimes was sharing a bowl of ice cream whenever she spent the night at Nanny & Pa's house.  What wonderful memories for her!

Since he's gone to Heaven, 2 great grandchildren have joined the family.  He would have been SO excited about these 2 precious ones, Ethan & Gwyneth. 

I miss my Daddy.  I wish he were here to enjoy all that we worked so hard for.  I wish he were here to spend time with Little Gracious.  I wish he were here for so many reasons, but he is not.

I do know he is in Heaven; watching over us always.

I love you, Daddy!

Spring Forward

Set your clocks forward one hour before going to bed tonight

Happy Spring!

So good I had to share again!  Originally posted in 2009

Fabric + Sephora =

A GOOD MAIL DAY!

It was a dark, rainy, dreary, yucky day here yesterday.  I did get LOTS of sewing done {about 25 items and 15 orders completed.  WOO HOO!}   but it was a long day. A day where I had to keep working to avoid a nap; one where chocolate was a good pick-me-up after lunch; one where I could have consumed coffee all afternoon but thought better of it in favor of a good night's sleep.

I was home alone, which is the best atmosphere for my work.  When I'm interrupted, I have a hard time getting focused & back in the sewing groove.  No one was here, the phone didn't ring, I didn't turn on the TV or iPod.  It was quiet and I was by myself.

What better way to bring a little sunshine into a day that to receive 2 packages of fabric and a box from Sephora!  I'm just sayin' . . .  I was smiling, big time and maybe even did a little happy dance. 

The fabric is a combination of new goodies and restocking staples.  The Sephora order was mostly skin care products that I needed, but I also treated myself to some new perfume.  We'll see how I like it.  The best part of a Sephora order is the 3 free samples!  LOVE!!! 

So, rain and all, it was a good day!
Life is good!

It's a BIRD!

not a plane . . . just a bird.

A Downy Woodpecker to be precise

We've always had a bird feeder outside our kitchen window because we enjoy watching the birds all year long.   It's a peaceful thing and something we should slow down to do more often.   It's been SO cold this winter, we added a suet feeder to the buffet we currently offer.   We didn't really know if the birds would feed on it or not, but they went crazy.  It seemed to draw so many new birds that we had never seen before.  We were amazed at all the new kinds of birds we saw.  We didn't know if it was the suet or just because it was so cold and they found a food source.  At any rate,  we fed them and they provided us with lots of entertainment.

Sew Daddy snapped this picture of a little woodpecker at our suet feeder.  We'd never seen a woodpeck that was so small.  I didn't think it would be a baby this time of year, but I don't know the mating habits of woodpeckers either.  Thanks to Google, I found that it is a Downy Woodpecker.  This little guy visited us regularly for several days.  I haven't seen him lately, but it has warmed up a little.

Suet feeders are a tiny investment with a huge return.  For less than $5 you can feed the birds!  Grab a cup of coffee, slow down & enjoy!

American Idol TONIGHT

You know you love it!

AMERICAN IDOL starts tonight!

I always enjoy AI, but it hasn't been the same in the past few years.  With the addition of a 4th judge last year, things really started to change.  I have to stay, I don't care for Kara.  Nothing personal, but I just like the chemistry of the original 3 judges. 

Now, we know this is Simon's last year.  I think this is definitely the beginning of the end of Idol.  I don't want to be doom & gloom . . . everything runs its course eventually.  I'm going to enjoy this season and hope that Ellen brings a much needed freshness to the group!  She {along with the talent} may just save this season. 

Bring on the bloopers tonight.  Those are always good for the first few shows, but then I'm ready for some real talent!

Who's GOING TO HOLLYWOOD?

Wordless Wednesday : Eye See You

Need A Vacation

Hmm . . . that could be a question or a statement.

Q. Need a Vacation?

A. YES!!!!!

or

NEED A VACATION!!!!!!! {now!}

If you're like me and won't be taking a vacation anytime soon, treat yourself to a new nail polish. It's alot less expensive and you don't even have to pack!


I usually wear hot pink shades on my toes in the summer, but saw this pretty soft pink {which is actually prettier than this picture} at Target yesterday. I decided to take a break from my usual shades and try something soft. I was surprised when I realized the color is called "Need a Vacation". CUTE! I've used Essie polish before and have always loved the colors & wearability.


Even if you won't be having sand between your toes; at least your toes can look good this summer!

Happy Pedicures, Sweets! Life Is Good!

Thanks Proctor and Gamble

If you clip coupons, you probably got this Proctor & Gamble Brand Saver Coupon flyer in your Sunday paper yesterday. I'm not a professional coupon clipper, but I do save money by using coupons on items I would be buying anyway.


As usual, I was perusing the coupons yesterday and came upon this page. It immediately caught my eye. Can you see it? Put on your best "where's Waldo" thinking cap. {hint . . . it's NOT the coupons}

Right THERE!!! Lower left, right above the Venus Razor coupon.

It's a Sew Gracious Wristlet Key Fob
in a national ad campaign!

Can I get a huge WOO HOOOO?!

My family wondered why I yelled "OH MY GOSH!" when I was looking at coupons. I mean, saving money is exciting, but it's usually my own little personal victory. I didn't know if or when any of my products would be used, but I did know that several had been in a photo shoot for P&G. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to see one of my items in full color in a national ad!!!

So, take a look when you clip those coupons for this week. You can say, "Hey! I know her!"

Lots of Sew Gracious Wristlet Key Fobs as well as Mini Fobs & other accessories are always available in the Sew Gracious Etsy Shop. :-)

Halfway There and a little more

How did it get to be July 1 already?

I cannot believe half of 2009 is in the past! We are halfway to 2010. I hope the rest of this year is a good one for you.

It's been a busy time around here. If you are a regular visitor, you know that we've been doing some home renovation projects. The hardwood is down and we are hoping to get all of the trim put up this weekend. We are also having a new roof put on the house thanks to some hail damage.

Once this house put back together, {and the sound of hammering is a distant memory} I will definitely share pictures. I'll be glad when the work part is done and I can shop for some accessories. That will be the exciting part! At least we are much farther than halfway there on our home projects. Maybe the frequent trips to Lowe's will be fewer and farther between as well. ;-)

Be sure to visit here on Friday for a special surprise!

I DO!

and 14 years later, I'm still glad I did!

An Anniversary Message to SewDaddy:

{it's not too mushy; you all can keep reading if you like}

You've earned a gold star.
I know it's not always easy being married to me.
I mean, what's not to love, but I do occasionally have my moments!

Sometimes.

Not often.

Less than I used too; I've mellowed.

Rarely.

Once in a blue moon.

Almost never.

Ok, maybe a little less than you.

.........

........

hmmm, maybe I should get the gold star? ;-)

I will always offer a kiss & a hug.
through thick & thin

no matter what

you are there for me

supporting me, encouraging me, loving me

I am SO blessed and I look forward to going through the rest of

my wonderful life
with YOU!

May we enjoy many, many, many, many, many, many more years of happiness together!

I love you, SewDaddy!
Happy Anniversary!

Demolition Man

Meet Demolition Man, aka SewDaddy

Yes, friends we are still working on getting hardwood flooring put into our house. To save some coin, we are doing the prep work ourselves. Let's face it, our labor is cheaper than the floor dudes. We are taking out baseboards and replacing the subflooring ourselves. I should really say "he". I'm a DIY kind of girl and can paint with the best of 'em, but SewDaddy is much better with sledgehammers and saws so he did the lion's share of this job.

Demolition Man's Best Friend . . . Spartacus the 36" Crow Bar

Sick of sawdust, dust in general and the mess. My mantra "it will be worth it when this job is done". ;-) Looking forward to the Floor Dude's appearance this week! :-)

A Nesting Place

As you may have gathered by previous posts, we have a pool; which in turn means we have a little pool house. It's nothing fancy; nothing more a storage place for floats, chairs, etc. We opened the pool a few weeks ago and cleaned out the pool house for the season. At that time, we found a baby bird and a little nest. The bird was literally at the point of flying the nest so we did away with that nest. We thought the birds were gone for the season.

No so! We were getting some floats {LOVE my Spring Float} out the other day and discovered THIS nest! It had been abandoned, but I was amazed at the construction of pine straw and moss. Birds are truly amazing. This nest was not there a couple of weeks ago. It's a simple little thing, but oh so incredible. This would have been a good picture for Pampering Beki's Fingerprint Friday! :-).

. . . and it ain't New Orleans

Until recently, I thought the one and only, world famous Pat O's was in New Orleans. I've been there, had a great time, drank a cyclone {it's much better than a hurricane and the glass is pretty cool too} and enjoyed the beautiful courtyard. Good times!

I was so surprised when I discovered THIS Pat O's in Destin, Florida. It's beautiful and sits right on the Destin Harbor at the new Harborwalk there. A Commanders Palace restaurant is a short walk away and the view is incredible. It's in a great spot for catching the sunset . . . very romantic.

Marathon Week

Hey there! Remember me? I used to post this blog regularly. Lately. . . not so much.

I really haven't abandoned you, I promise. You see, I'm a mom, it's the last week of school and I am running a marathon.

Today was the talent show and this afternoon is a surprise beach party for the class. Honors assembly is also this week. Last week we had student council elections, 2 field trips, the spring musical & field day. Needless to say, I've been juggling. I still have orders to work on, sewing to do, etc. Oh yes, and remember, we are trying to get this hardwood flooring put down, so I've also been moving furniture. Luckily Sew Daddy has headed that up; I'm just helping him a little bit. Oh and we opened the pool . . . a whole Saturday was spent on that. Whew! Are you tired yet? ;)

I have a camera full of pictures of new items just waiting to be listed in my Etsy Shop, but haven't had a chance to upload them to my computer for editing. Hang in there, new things are coming. I PROMISE!

In the meantime, I just wanted you to know that I'm still alive & kicking. Just bear with me while I enjoy doing my Mom duties. That's the great part about being a work-at-home-mom. I can work from home, but still be able to those things at school that I enjoy. I don't have to ask off or worry about a boss who might not understand my crazy schedule this time of year.

If you saw my Tweet on >Twitter this morning, you know I've deem this Marathon Week for Moms. It's the last week of school. I wouldn't change a thing. It's good to be a Mom!

Summer starts soon!

It's Good to be The MOM

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I hope your Mom was as blessed & felt as much love as I did. My family literally showered me with gifts, none of which I asked for or expected. Those are the best kinds. I awoke to a kitchen table filled with gift bags & cards. Photos & hand drawn pictures were among the treasures.

This is one of my favorite gifts. Sew Daddy & family made a secret trip to the local paint-your-own-pottery studio. They made this especially for me. They even painted the back and painted the stand.

It just doesn't get any better than this. Well, the hugs & kisses were the absolute BEST, but this little reminder, sitting on my kitchen counter, will remind me of how much I'm loved every single day.

It's definitely Good To Be THE MOM!

A Busy Week

WOW! It's been a busy week!

So sorry I've neglected my blog, but apparently 24 hours in a day just aren't enough. It seems that my days of late have been filled with sewing for custom orders, preparing for a student council election, getting a go-go girl costume together, a trip to urgent care, dealing with a house in shambles due to installation of hardwood flooring {still not done, so the house is still not in order; but it will be SO worth it when this job is done}.

Those are just the extras that have come along on top of the usual laundry, ironing, making dinner, etc. of every day life.

But, I'm not complaining. I am SO blessed to be a wife, be a mom, work from home, have a home that we can make improvements to. Life is Good!