I finally got my Brown Paper package exchange package

I am so excited. I finally received my lovely package from the Brown Paper package exchange that I particiapted in during the holidays. If you remember, I had the lovely Thuy of Lollilicious Designs. I forgot to photograph what I received but she did. Here is a link to the goodies I sent her. I kept checking the mail for a package from my partner but I never saw one...that was until last week. I meant to post this sooner but a trip to San Diego thwarted my plans. I received a great Valentines package from Stacey at The Fancy Fritter. I got a bag of yummy chocolates (which I only had 1 of because my 2 kids found it and ate it all in a day), a yard of super cute fabric - which I have plans to make a super cute apron with, some V-day socks and gorgeous pens which have already taken up space in my purse and beside by bed. I just love these exchanges. I love putting together packages for others that have a touch of me and Minnesota and receiving packages from people from other parts of the country. What a great way to connect with those out in the blogosphere.

Shop Local

Another blog that I read, Amelia Sprout, posted about shopping local and supporting local businesses this holiday season. I can't agree with her more. I am a huge fan of shopping local. One place that I love, and totally heard about from her is Crafty Planet. I fell in love with their fabrics and have taken several sewing classes there. Although I can't seem to stop making tote bags. My favorite things to shop for are kids toys and clothes. And amazingly the locally owned shops also have little things for the moms also. Here are some of my favorites: Kiddywampus, Bebe Babble and Pacifier. I also love to frequent locally owned restaurants. One new favorite of mine is called CupCake. Not only do they have amazing cupcakes, but they also have amazing food. One thing I did this summer was participate, for the 2nd year in a row, in a CSA. I think that has been so far my biggest support of shopping and eating locally. Some other, not necessarily local, but etsy stores that I love are Cakies, Resa Design and Kennedy & Friends.

Brown Paper Package Exchange

One thing that I absolutely love about the internet is the ability to bring people together. My first experience with this is when my cooking club was formed. We all met online and that was 8 years ago.

Now you can really get personal on the internet, especially around the holidays is to participate in exchanges. Max and Ellie are hosting a holiday gift exchange - the Brown Paper Package exchange. Join me! You have to sign up by October 24th and she has some other rules. All totally reasonable. I did an ornament exhange last year and what I got is one of my favorite ornaments of all of them. So I totally encourage you to sign up if you have never done one before.

A fresh start

I have been contemplating a overhaul of my blog. I haven't regularily blogged in such a long time and I think it is about time I do. The question is do I revamp this one or do I start fresh. What I do know is that it will be about the things I like, my kids (of course), cooking, sewing, trying to go green with 2 young kids and what I don't like. There is definitely no shortage of my opinion to go around. So next up, decision time.

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sugar Cookie Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

A lot of rambling

Fall is finally here and it is my favorite season of them all. Why you ask??? Well - My birthday for one - my anniversary for two - Halloween for three and both my kids birthdays for four - not necessarily in that order. But I just love everything about fall. Yet it is still warm here. Warm enough to send Harrison to school in shorts but with a jacket for the morning. Am I complaining about this - no - but I do love it when you can wear lightweight sweaters and no jacket....is what i'm saying.

We are coming off a busy weekend and looking straight at another busy one. Last weekend we took Brady in for his annual check up and surprise surprise - that stinky breath of his is all his bad teeth and gingivitis. Well - we will get his mouth fixed up eventually. Then Cliff and I got a sitter for the kids and had an evening to ourselves. What did we do on our big night out??? We went to the MOA. Really. Cliff had to get a watch battery replaced and apparently the only place he can get it done was as the fossil store where the only store was located in the MOA. So off we went for our evening of fun. Much to my surprise it was fun. Going to the mall without the kids was fantastic. We had dinner at Sushi Tango...Yes - Sushi at the mall. But is was some of the most delicious sushi ever! Then we shopped around browsing at whatever we wanted to and then headed to a movie. Saw Burn After Reading. It was a good movie. Completely unpredictable and similiar in feel to Fargo.

Sunday I had the kids to myself all day. Boy that is tiring. Cliff went to the Vikings game with Ken. I took Harrison to his swim class - made Apple Crisp with Harrison and played Soccer with him. By the time Cliff got home I was wiped.

This week was cleaning lady week. I love it when the cleaning lady comes. The house smells and is so clean. I have been trying to keep up with it between each cleaning.

Chessa is on the verge ow walking. She has taken 1-3 tentative steps but hasn't gone much beyond that. She is getting there and will probably be walking by 11 months.

I found out last night that my grandfather, who is 93, just married his 60 something year old girlfriend. No one was there. They just did it and told everyone after. I guess if that makes him happy.

I am still here....

Just a little more tired and with another kid in tow. Some things have changed yet somethings have not. I has been almost 2 years since I last blogged and to tell you the truth I have no idea why I stopped. I really enjoyed journaling all of Harrison's adventures and activities. As I was re-reading throught my old blog posts I noticed that Crab Feast was one of my last blogs, and guess what. This past weekend was Crab Feast 2008. It was very late in the season to have it but due to scheduling conflicts and mine and Cliff's laziness, we did it in September. And like last year, it rained. Which made for a very stressful 2 hours leading up to the party. We finally decided on moving the party from our yard to the garage. Great Choice!! It was dry and cozy and I didn't feel all spread out or that I had to do "rounds" to see everyone. I was able to sit in one spot - enjoy my crabs and relax.

This summer also marked the summer Harrison really developed as a swimmer. So much so that I signed him up for real lessons. He now goes to Foss Swim School. He has had 2 lessons so far an this Sunday he honest to goodness swam the crawl (or freestyle - how ever you roll). He was perfect. I almost cried...ok I teared up. I was so proud of him. I guess I was channeling Debbie Phelps. His lessons are on Sunday afternoon. Right in the middle of the day, not ideal but so far it is working. We did have to hussle after this last lesson because he had a birthday party at, you guessed it, Pump it Up. We were about a 1/2 hour late but he still had more than enough time to run around with his friends - he was very happy to see some of them because they went off to kindergarten and he is still at Country Day.

Just another busy weekend with tons of plans - somethings just never change!