Goodbye 2009

I think that I have finally settled into and appreciate my role as a SAHM. I have spent the last couple of days reading through Family Circle & Women's Day magazines while snowed in at my parent's house and the reoccuring theme that I am noticing is how to be happy in the recession, how to get organized, and how to be healthier. All of which, I think appeals to every woman...good targeting magazines. LOL! I am probably the happiest I've ever been, even though we have very little money, and have had to do without, we have taught ourselves a lot of things that I probably would not have learned or looked into had we not been faced with these challenges.

Over the last year, we have learned to cook a lot of meals that we used to go out for, such as Curry, Thai, philadelphia cheese steak, deep dish pizza, egg rolls, and Chinese dumplings and some excellent barbeque. We also went out and picked blackberries at a farm, and taught ourselves how to make blackberry pie filling, three different kinds of jam and we bought a few cases of tomatoes and made three different batches of salsa. It was an excellent summer of trying new things and figuring out what we can do to help lower our food budget. I also learned how to make my own laundry soap...both the liquid and the dry form. And just this week, I made my own dishwasher detergent.

I am thankful for each and every person in my life, and the gifts that God has given in in 2009. So ready to see the blessings of God to unfold in my life in 2010.

Isaiah's Outdoor Adventures

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Another Project for 2009

Tutorial: here

Artist Trading Card

So yesterday I was surfing the net, looking at the wealth of talented artists out there and I came across: Maria Pace Wynters and I was so impressed. I loved the way she captures everyday moments with her children. I am always a fan of multi-layered, multi-meida art...especially portraits. I was so inspired by the webpages...that I decided to do a little of my own. Here's a little artist trading card of the day after my son was born. I exaggerated the curls a little bit...but I loved his curls when he was itty bitty like that...when his hair was wet it would get all curly...so cute. And his eyes when he was first born were a slate blue color. Kind of like his Grandpa T's eyes. I am quiet in love with this style and this illustration of my son. I may end up making quite a few of these...but I don't know if I will be able to part with them...nor do I know what I will do with everything that I want to make since I will soon run out of storage. I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do.

My Christmas Gifts-Michael's

Did anyone else notice the logo change for Michael's Craft Store? They have completely redone their floor layout. It seems that they have cut way back on their merchandise, and I was a little disappointed when I went in there to tell you the truth. It looks really nice, and there isn't crap sitting around like there used to be...but it costs more to shop there. It was sad. This is all I could find. Although 20 4x4 canvases for $12 is really awesome!

My Christmas Gifts-HobbyLobby

Can you believe that I got all of this for $30....it was probably the best trip to Hobby Lobby ever, according to how much we got for the money and the number of potential projects. :D I LOVE LOVE LOVE after Christmas sales well, any sale that has things that I can use or repurpose at 80% off!

My Christmas Gifts-Old Navy

Okay so you know you're a Mom when....you get a $20 gift card and go, hmmmm...I could get myself a T-Shirt and possibly a thin sweater....or I could get a bunch of things for my son. Now it was a little tricky predicting what size Isaiah is going to be when Christmas rolls around next year. But I figure if it's too big, I can just pad him with extra sweaters to make him fill it out. So this is what I got for my $20 giftcard from my brother Mike. I am going to be saving the majority of it for Isaiah's Christmas or birthday presents for next year. I LOVE after Christmas Shopping.

Illustrated quote: 1/52

Bookmarks

Draw something Daily 2/365

Here's the drawing that I did in the Red Sketchbook. I am not all that happy with these either. I don't feel like I am doing well today as far as art goes...but I am pressing on and pressing in.

Art Journal Page 1/365

This was one of the most frustrating art journal pages that I've ever done. I am not all that happy with it. But Alas....Persevere!

#69. Rent Movies at Family Video

I rented the following movies. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory...the original not the Johnny Depp one. Bugs Life, August Rush, Honey We Shrunk Ourselves, Smurfs Season 1. Volume 1.2, and Robots.

293. Pork Chops

We made Iowa Pork Chops...on the day of the Iowa Hawkeye Football Victory, first one of the year. Unfortunately we did not get to watch this game...due to the fact that we don't get cable...and only have rabbit ears.

Anyway. I got the recipe for the marinade that we put on the Iowa Chops before we stuck them in the freezer from this cook book:


It was a big hit with my husband..and for the price..we are getting about 3 meals out of the package of 6 Iowa Chops.

#194-Draw my dinner

So I don't know if this counts...you tell me. I didn't draw the pizza because it was all falling apart and no one would have been able to tell it was pizza anyway. I may have to add another picture or entry to this one later. :D

Red Sketchbook Update

Here's a few sketches from the red sketchbook that I don't think that I've uploaded. They are from way back in November when I didn't have a camera to work with.

Jan 1.

So I am starting on this adventure of trying to do 29 things daily. I will be posting the visual documentation of this here.




These are the pictures of my son. I figured out how to manipulate my photos to black and white and color...in Gimp. It was quite the achievement for me last night. I had always wondered how other people did that.

The next set of pictures are drawing that I did of items in my purse.