Great Grandma Lydia

What a cute guy

Watches and rings

I've had the watch and rings pages done for a few weeks, but silly me, never published them. So, NOW they are published and on my site.

Take a look, go to the accessories page, then to rings or watches.

http://www.sierranicoledesigns.com/accessories.html

Has anybody heard about this??

Apparently there is a regulation that will be enforced on Feb 10, that will keep me from selling any baby things, or anything for children under 12. I am just learnign about this and reading about it, but I think all you who have children should take a look, because it will affect EVERYTHING your children come in contact with, not just handmade stuff.
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.html#sect101

Contestants...

I am surprised at how little people have entered. I thought more poeple would be interested in a free something 12 days in a row...I'm going to take picture and post them on my site, blog, myspace, etc, so people can see what they'd win, then maybe more will be interested.

12 Days of Christmas Sale!

To enter, just leave me a comment with your name and e-mail address! They'ell be hidden from others, don't worry.

On Santa's lap...

Who is this weird guy?



Mom, save me!

Watch #1

Turquoise and wood, with tall rectangular face

What do you think of it?

I am psoting it on Etsy right now, so if you want it, go get it! I don't have enough beads to make another like it, but I can make something similar if you want it and it is gone by the time you see this.

I am crazy

So, tommorrow is Thanksgiving. Since we just moved into a new house, and it has a big kitcken and lots of room, I decided I was goping to have Thanksgiving here this year.
I am crazy.
Me, Anthony, Neils, Tony, Cait, Atreyu, Minnie, Stuart, Mom, Dad, Liz, Chris, John, Luke, Kirstie, and maybe Weasel.
I am making dinner for 14 people and two babies. Wow.
My list of things to make:
Regular turkey
smoked turkey
regular mashed potatoes
rosemary mashed potatoes
wasabi mashed potatoes
cornbread stuffing
regular stuffing
green beans with bacon
corn
relish tray
2 pumpkin pies
2 double layer pumpkin pies (the best things ever!!!)
um...
my mom is making rolls and chocolate cream pie
my dad is making ham, gravy, and yams
Stuart is making cinnamon rolls
Minnie is making fruit salad
I could have delegated more to more people, but I really like doing things on my own.

Yep.

Working at a bead store/ interchangeable watches

This is an interesting job. Sometimes it is boring, but then I can just make stuff ,or do this, or he gives me a lot of things ot do sometimes.
Something I have noticed...
There sure is a craze for interchangeable watches! Has anyone else noticed how many people there are with these things? Geez...I have never physically encountered anyone who makes them or even has one outside of this store, but I do know of a lot of people who do it. So, what do you think, should I try?
I am going to anyway, but just one or two for now. I think I will just make the bands, though. I'm sure people already have the watches, but if you like teh idea, and you like my bands, but you don't have a watch, I'll get you one. I'm just really curious about it now.
For those of you who read this, who are reading this, PLEASE answer these questions for me. PLEASE:
Do you know anybody who wears these watches? How many people?
Do you know anybody who makes these watches? How many people?
Are you interested??

Thank you friends!!

Zion National Park

On Friday we decided to do something fun and go see Zion. I've been wanting to go for so long, so we finally did it. I was disappointed, though, because it was colder than I expected, and I didn't think about the cliffs and how that would give is only a few hours of sun shining on us to keep us warm. Grr. but we did well, and I WILL go back when it is warmer and do more.

Market research reports

I was doing an assignment, and I thought about looking at some research in teen demographics. All the sites I find, you have to pay to get information. one site, has documents for thousands of dollars. Grr. This sucks. There is one I am intereted in, and it is $3,750. Wow. Market research is a good niche...people go to them for info, and they WILL spend that money to help them better understand and reach their target market. These reports help companies develop better campaigns, better products, and better marketing.
Last night I was just thinking about communication research, and how excited I was to do my content analysis paper (for a different class). I think research is awesome, and I was wondering if it might be a good idea to try that, but I have been in school long enough...I would only have to be in a little bit longer since my major is advertising and they are both under communications...maybe I can do a composite major instead....I'll go look up some stuff...

oh, all the thoughts that run through my head....


I just discovered...they don't have a major in communication reasearch, but there is one in communication studies. I am not sure they are similar enough for me to do it, but, there is a lot of research in advertising. Maybe I am okay. Maybe....I don't know....is it possible to have a double major, and still have a minor?? hmm... Maybe I can go on to the graduate program, too.

I love being a student. If you couldn't tell. Just last week, I was thinking that I could be a student my whole life, and I wouldn't mind. Anthony said "We are students our whole lives. We learn things everyday." But, I was thinking about being a student in academia....I'm crazy.

Custom Christmas Stockings!

$7 each - Customizable with names of your choice in 5 colors: red, blue, green, silver and gold.

50% off everything on my site!

Coupon sites...

There are all these sites where people have a bunch of coupons to print out and use, but there are so many that you have to search so hard for, and put a lot of work into it. My problem is, I don't have the time to sit there and figure it all out so I can just do it easier each time. I really want to be able to do it, I see all the HUGE savings some of them have, but it seems so hard and time consuming, too. Grr.
Does anybody know how to explain it better to me??

Photo taking ideas

I got these from the Studio 5 website. They are from a photographer named Patrick Webster.

Tip #1- Concentrate on one subject
Ask yourself three questions:
1) What's my subject?
2) Pay attention only on that subject and
3) Simplify the subject (nothing should distract from the subject)

Tip #2 - Let kids be themselves-
1) Expect the unexpected
2) Have your camera ready
3) You won't usually get a second chance

Tip #3 - Let older kids become involved in what they're doing
1) Older kids lose child "innocence"
2) So photograph them without their becoming self conscious
3)Try to use natural light
4) Avoid direct sunlight

Tip #4 - When shooting more than one child, show relationship between the children (or adults)
1) Should be looking towards each other
2) Should be interacting w/ each other

Tip #5 - When shooting outdoors, use fill-flash

Running shoes

What's the point in spending $70 on running shoes if I don't go running?

I will. I sure will. They are awesome, and I feel awesome when I do it, but it is so cold! I will get my fees paid off in the next few days and I will go to the school gym, at the indoor track, and run. Yes, I will do it!

Little Neils is 9 months old

And today the doctor says, "Yeah, he has TWO ear infections." Grr. No wonder he has been so mean to me lately. He is almost constantly fussy, and he always needs me to hold him. Nobody else. And usually when I'm holding him, he is arching his back and whining. I hope it gets better now. I thought maybe it was teething, since his top right tooth just barely broke through yesterday. He has had the left one for a few weeks, and the right one just kept playing with him. Mean tooth. But now, it is out and everything should be getting better now. Yay!

So, more about Neils...

• He can stand on his own, for like 8 seconds at a time.
• He waves "hi" and "bye, bye". Today in the hospital (where the clinic is) he had to have his own chair so he could stand there and say "hey" and wave to everybody. It really sounded like he was saying "hey!", too. He was so funny, I just laughed at him the whole time.
• He weighs 19 1/2 lbs, and is 29 1/2 inches long.
• He has 4 teeth now!
• He really likes to feed himself. He is so good at using his fingers, that I think he could really pick up an ant if I'd let him.
• He likes to eat whatever I'm eating. He shares my oatmeal with me in the morning, and I usually have to give him tastes of whatever I am eating through the day.
• He plays peek-a-boo all by himself. He will hold something up over his face, you say "Where is Neils?" and he will pull it down. He is so cute and so good at it.
• He shakes his head "no" all the time, but I don't think he is really saying no. I think he just thinks it is fun.
  
• One of his favorite people ever is my brother Luke. He always smiles when he sees "Uncas" (I abbreviated Uncle Lucas just for Neils. Yep.)
  
• He shares all the time. When he has a teething biscuit, he will usually put his hand up to you, and you taste it (or pretend to) and say "Thank you!" and he gets the biggest smile.
  
• He knows how to get down from things (butt and legs first) and how to climb on things. He tries to climb into the bathtub all the time. He can even climb up stairs. Wow.
• He fake 'coughs' when I cough or sneeze, or when anybody around him fake coughs.
  
• He isn't afraid of anything. We tried to see if we could scare him with masks and stuff on Halloween, but nope. My brother even jumped out form behind the door the other day, and I was startled, but Neils didn't even blink. He just looks at you with a blank stare.
• He is so interested in everything. If he wants something, he will reach his hand out toward it and pull it back. He'll even make a little noise (uh) and do it again. I have to lift him up to touch pinatas and balloons in the store all the time. Even the signs on the aisles. Anything above his head, he just has to touch.
• He has a lot more hair now. It is blonde, (duh) and has a cute little curl on the left side by his ear.
  
• He still doesn't sleep through the night...but I bet it is mostly because of those stupid ear infections, and that tooth!
• He can push a car along the floor, while crawling along with it.
  
• He LOVES squash. It is his favorite thing to eat, whether it is baby food squash or real squash. Mmm. He also likes apples and pickles, but I don't give him pickles anymore because he bites off big chunks and I am afraid of him choking.
  

Hmm...that is all for now. :)

Finished Halloween Costumes

My piglet cosutme...It was supposed to be shorts, but I messed it up and had to make it into a dress.

This is the swedish maid costume, in the middle. I had two days notice...

This is luke's. I made the nurse dress last year for anthony when he was the nurse (Elle Driver) from Kill Bill, and I had to make it skinnier for Luke and make him a belt.

I made this for Luke a few years ago, but had to post it because Kali wore it and I think it is awesome.

This is my mom in law minnie (I didn't make anything for her) and Chris, as Old Greg. I made felt seaweed for his hair, spray painted his coar silver, fashioned a tie out of white fabric, and made the tutu.

Ugh. gross. I just don't like it.

This is cait as a flapper. I think her face was funny, so I had to post it.

And the three of us. Piglet, Pooh, and Christopher Robin... He is also wearing short shorts. I'll find it.


Ha ha ha...I kept pulling them up to make them shorter, because that's what they're like, but he didn't like it.
He is dancing, by the way. He does that a lot.

Artichoke Chicken Recipe

This is off the top of my head, I hope I get it all! This is one of Anthony's favorite recipes that I make. I found the recipe a few years ago when I was living alone, but I have changed it a lot. See what you think.

Artichoke Chicken

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can artichoke hearts, marinated or not, chopped
2/3 cup mayo (I use light mayo, to be healthier)
2/3 cup sour cream (I use reduced fat, sometimes fat free. All work fine.)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus 1/2 cup more
1/4 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese, plus 1 tbsp more
2 cloves garlic, chopped (optional, if you like garlic. I love it!)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Rinse and pat dry chicken, and place in bottom of a casserole dish. In a medium bowl, mix chopped artichokes, sour cream and mayo (you only have to use as much as you want, if you like less, use less. As long as you have enough of the mixture to cover the chicken in the pan, it will be fine. I promise!), 1/2 c mozzarella and 1/4 c parmesan cheeses, garlic and salt and pepper. Spread the mix over the chicken. Bake, covered, in the oven for 20 minutes, then uncover and sprinkle the rest of the cheeses on top and bake for another 25 minutes, or until chicken juices run clear.

I usually serve this with couscous. If you don't know what that is, look for it near the pastas. My box says to mix (for 2 people) 2/3 cup couscous with 1 cup water. I usually add a little bit of bouillon for more flavor, but you could just use broth instead. It is excellent with the sauce form the chicken.

Mmm. I hope you enjoy this, let me know if you try it!

New house

Right now, I am sitting in my new living room, watching a DVD and relaxing. It is a neat house, it was remodeled 6 years ago, so it seems practically new to me. Expecially compared to my old house, which seemed so old and dingy. The carpets were just washed today, too. I still need to do some cleaning, and I need to put everything away. Nothing is really set up, we're just hanging out for now. We have 3 bedrooms upstairs, and an unfinished basement that is about half as big as the main floor. It is really cool though, because I have so much more storage space. It is a lot bigger, and everything will feel better. Neils won't have to crawl around on hard wood floors, and I know the floor is really clean, and I will try really hard to keep it clean. I am happy about our new place :)

Whoah...that's scary!

There is this website called babysteals.com where they have a new time every day for 50-70% off (I think that is right...) but, I have been looking at it every day, and today it really caught my eye!

This lady's belly really scares me! Look at how weird those muscles are! That freaks me out!
I know there is never any way my belly would look anything similar to that, ever. I can't work that long and that hard, and afford the tummy tuck it would take to get my skin that tight and take all the stretch marks out. Plus, I don't even think it is attractive. I think that much muscle definition is just yuck. I like softer definition, especially on girls. It just looks better. Weird.

Costumes...and more

It ends up that I am making/arranging costumes for...Me, Neils, Anthony, Chris, Marlee, Rose, TJ, Luke, and helping my mom. That is 9 people needing my help for Halloween costumes! It is overwhelming, but I love it. I love to do things like this, to create something that someone is exctied about. Yay. But, I don't have anything really completed, except the baby's.
Neils is being Winnie the Pooh, so Anthony is being Christopher Robin, and I am being Piglet. Neils's costume is already made, though, so maybe I shouldn't count him above...
So, this is what I have left to do today and early tomorrow.
For Anthony, I have to cut a pair of pants into shorts, and make the collar and cuffs of his shirt white.
For me, I have to make my dress...which is piglet's body...and that's it, I think...
For Chris, I have to spray paint a jacket silver, make a wig of mossy/seaweed-y hair. and make a hot pink tutu (he is being this character called "Old Greg." You can find him on YouTube, but I really don't suggest it. Don't do it. It is kind of gross, and you probably won't get the humor (I don't, really, but I can see how some would).
For Marlee, I have to make a Swiss Maid outfit...a top, skirt with suspenders, and an apron.
For Rose, I have to find a flapper-style dress and accessories (I offered my old flapper costume to my sister, but she already had a costume, and Rose said she'd wear mine,but she is too big for it...so she said I should come up with one)
For TJ, something to go with Rose's outfit. I'll find a tux-style shirt or just find a vest to go over a white button up shirt so he looks like a man from the 20's or so.
For Luke...I need to make a stretchy white belt to go aroudn the waist of his nurse's outfit, because he is beign the Joker in the new Batman movie, where he is the nurse talking to Harvey Dent.
For my mom, I need to make a necklace with baby stuff on it, like pacifiers, bottle nipples, othersmall baby items. She is a being a "Fairy Grandmother." She thought of it herself, how tricky.
Yep.
And, I'm in charge of the Halloween party, too, so I have to make some more things for the party. I have to make some bones of skeletons for the kids skeleton game...it is a relay race where they run to one side of the room, grab a body part from a dish, run back, and they build a skeleton of the parts.
The second thing I need to do is make tombstones for the musical tombstones (like musical chairs) game.
And...I need to make the dip and the frozen juice hands (grape kool aid ice hands to go in the orange soda) when I get to my sister's house tomorrow. Actually, I won't have time for the ice hands there, will I? Geez...I better make them today then.
Ahh...some days I have nothing but Neils, some days I have so so much to do...

Blogger bucket list

The Blogger BUCKET LIST.
You are supposed to put a star(*) next to everything that you have ever done, next to the things you would never do put a (-) And add a (#) next to things you would love to do.

1. Touched an iceberg #
2. Slept under the stars *
3. Been a part of a hockey fight-
4. Changed a baby's diaper *
5. Watched a meteor shower *
6. Given more than you can afford to charity *
7. Swam with wild dolphins #
8. Climbed a mountain #
9. Held a tarantula*
10. Said "I love you" and meant it*
11. Bungee jumped#
12. Visited Paris#
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea#
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise *
15. Seen the Northern Lights #
16. Gone to a huge sports game *
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty#
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables*
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment*
21. Had a pillow fight*
22. Bet on a winning horse-
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill*
24. Built a snow fort*
25. Held a lamb#
26. Gone skinny dipping*
27. Taken an ice cold bath-
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar-
29. Seen a total eclipse*
30. Ridden a roller coaster*
31. Hit a home run#
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking*
33. Adopted an accent for fun*
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors#
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment*
36. Loved your job 90% of the time*
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied*
38. Watched wild whales#
39. Gone rock climbing#
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach#
41. Gone sky diving##
42. Visited Ireland#
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant-
44. Visited India#
45. Bench-pressed your own weight #
46. Milked a cow-
47. Alphabetized your personal files*
48. Ever worn a superhero costume*
49. Sung karaoke*
50. Lounged around in bed all day*
51. Gone scuba diving#
52. Kissed in the rain*
53. Played in the mud*
54. Gone to a drive-in theater*
55. Done something you should regret, but don't*
56. Visited the Great Wall of China#
57. Started a business##
58. Taken a martial arts class#
59. Been in a movie*
60. Gone without food for 3 days-
61. Made cookies from scratch*
62. Won first prize in a costume contest#
63. Got flowers for no reason*
64. Been in a combat zone-
65. Spoken more than one language fluently*
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone*
67. Bounced a check*
68. Read - and understood - your credit report#
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy#
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did#
71. Called or written your Congress person*
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over?? not sure if i want to
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge#
74. Helped an animal give birth-
75. Been fired or laid off from a job-
76. Won money*
77. Broken a bone-
78. Ridden a motorcycle#
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph#
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon#
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing-
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days#
83. Eaten sushi***
84. Had your picture in the newspaper*
85. Read The Bible cover to cover -
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions-
88. Gone back to school*
89. Changed your name*
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands-
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes#
92. Read The Iliad#
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch*
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt*
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
97. Been elected to public office-
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream#
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care-
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you*# it's my life :)
101. Had a booth at a street fair* yes yes
102. Dyed your hair*
103. Been a DJ#
104. Rocked a baby to sleep*
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours-
106. Raked your carpet-
107. Brought out the best in people*
108. Brought out the worst in people*
109. Worn a mood ring*
110. Ridden a horse# I was so young, it doesn't count
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap-
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe#
113. Buried a child-
114. Gone to a Broadway# I went to a Queen show in Vegas...
115. Been inside the pyramids#
116. Shot a basketball into a basket*
117. Danced at a disco-
118. Played in a band-
119. Shot a bird-
120. Gone to an arboretum#
121. Tutored someone*
122. Ridden a train#
123. Brought an old fad back into style#
124. Eaten caviar#
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need*
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant#
127. Published a book#
128. Pieced a quilt*
129. Lived in an historic place*
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage*
131. Asked for a raise-
132. Made a hole-in-one#
133. Gone deep sea fishing#
134. Gone roller skating*
135. Run a marathon###
136. Learned to surf#
137. Invented something*
138. Flown first class#
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite#
140. Flown in a helicopter#
141. Visited Africa#
142. Sang a solo-
143. Gone spelunking#
144. Learned how to take a compliment*
145. Written a love-story* :)
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David#
147. Had your portrait painted*
148. Written a fan letter*
149. Spent the night in something haunted-
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane-
151. Ran away-
152. Learned to juggle#
153. Been a boss#
154. Sat on a jury-
155. Lied about your weight*
156. Gone on a diet*
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget*
158. Written a poem*
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox*
160. Gotten food poisoning*
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission#
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon#
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks*
164. Gone to the opera*
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous*
166. Worn knickers*
167. Ridden in a limousine#
168. Attended the Olympics#
169. Can hula or waltz#
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books-
171. Been stuck in an elevator-
172. Had a revelatory dream*
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane-
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert*
175. Saved someone’s life#
176. Eaten raw whale-
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint*
178. Laughed till your side hurt*
179. Straddled the equator#
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing*
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival*
182. Sent a message in a bottle#
183. Spent the night in a hostel-
184. Been a cashier*
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt#
186. Joined a union ?? not sure
187. Donated blood or plasma#
188. Built a campfire*
189. Kept a blog*
190. Had hives-
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots#
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation*
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course-
194. Served at a soup kitchen-
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube#
196. Know CPR#
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible*
198. Found a long lost friend*
199. Helped solve a crime#

Oh, the things he says

Sierra: We should go to the DI to look for Halloween costume stuff.
Anthony: Okay. But you have to change Neils's diaper first. That's my only stipulation......what's a stipulation?

Photos from the weekend

For some reason some of these pictures uploaded with weird colors.


Isabelle, Ryan, Hope and Meg


Katrina and Travis


Katrina, Me, Neils and Travis





Sleeping in a chair with Neils


He really enjoys the back of the car for some reason






Isabelle and Hope playing with Luke...he was trying to make it say 867 5309


Neils loved this kitchen!



HAPPY HALLOWEEN! When my mom saw this picture she asked me who it was...


Reading to Isabelle and Hope

Poor kid was fussing so much

Isn't he funny

Hope was swiping the placemat back and forth, and Neils thought it was hilarious. you shoudl have heard them giggling

Playing with blocks. Isabelle keps saying "baby, baby..." and hugging him and trying to kiss him and he was getting kind of angry

Yay :)