I have a big birthday coming up in less than a month and want to finally buy myself an embroidery sewing machine as my prezzie. Don't you just love "to me, from me" presents in life?! I seriously pick out the best gifts for myself! I never have to return them and they are just what I have been dreaming of. Anyhoo...I would love your suggestions. Do you have a machine that you love? Or can't stand because it is difficult to use? Or your best friend's next door neighbor's sister has one that she raves about? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for something that has several fonts and possibly the ability to add more fonts to it. Really I am hoping to monogram a few of my sweaters (how cute will it be on my new Target cable knit sweater!), and burpees and onesies as gifts. I don't really care if it can embroider bears and flowers and stuff. I doubt I would really use that so it is not a selling point for me either way.

Let me know your thoughts. Thanks soooo much in advance!! I can't wait to find my fun new toy!

Ugh! Blogger is driving me batty today. It took me hours to upload my pics from my earlier post because blogger was having issues and now I cannot for the life of me add in spaces between certain paragraphs and pictures and stuff. Am I the only one who struggles with this frequently? Why are you being so mean to me today blogger? Why?!

I am sitting here slowly sipping a diet coke (my first in more than a week- I have been really good about cutting down so far in 2008!), reading blogs and watching Garth Brooks on CBS because I have some sort of stomach bug. Try not to be jealous of my truly exciting Friday night. But who am I kidding? It's cold outside and staying in is just more appealing, bug or no bug. Anyway, I used to be a big Garth fan. My musical taste runs the gamut but Garth is just a classic. Always good- no always great. But...um...either it is because this is filmed at a live event or because he has been hiding out for the last many years and is out of practice ....he just doesn't seen to be as good. I'm guessing it's the out of practice thing. Don't get me wrong, I still think his songs are awesome. I just think he should either get back to touring shape or really retire. It annoys the heck out of me when singers "retire" every few years. I don't know why, it just does. Personally I vote to get back into touring shape and cut another album.

There is clearly no real point to this post other than to tell you that Mr.Brooks still plays great music but needs to practice singing more before he goes on National TV for a two hour time block.

After frustrating conversations with a girl who is crazy disrespectful and ungrateful for all I am trying to do for her that is above and beyond what she deserves and qualifies for, I ran over to Target. I was just ready to scream after dealing with all that sorority mumbo jumbo and needed a break. Now I am a little bitter with Target at the moment as they have been teasing me for weeks now with cute shorts and bathing suits. It is only January Target and we reside in Upstate NY. Maybe those FL, CA or TX folks can dream of bikinis and flip flops but winter will likely hang around my town for several more months. Or until like April or May to be realistic. It's not fair to tease me with things I cannot have. But while I feel my friend Target is being cruel, they are also making me love them for showing me pretty colors. I am just not at all a fan of drab "winter" colors. I don't wear maroon and hunter green. I have nothing against them- they just don't feel like me. Oh I might be shoveling snow but I am wearing pinks and greens and bright colors. I don't care if they are not seasonal colors- they make me happy.


But Target delivered big today. They have the most darling cotton cable knit sweaters in the yummiest colors for only $19.99. I will be back for sure to buy several other colors but today I branched out a bit and went with this pretty pretty aqua blue.



This cardigan in black and another in yellow with a pink/blue argyle print. I wear cardigans buttoned up as shirts and as a sweater and tied around my neck. They are a staple in my wardrobe and these are all on sale for $8.48. Can't beat that!



And this cute pink stripe top (light weight sweater) that was also on sale for $8.48! Totally wearing this tomorrow with jeans!



Oh sure, I still have to deal with little miss ungratefully rude. But right now I am super excited about my cutie tops. I have the hardest time finding tops that fit and flatter so this was a BIG find for me today. Woo-hoo! Gotta love that Tar-jay!

While searching for something to keep me entertained while working my way through a huge stack of ironing the other day I stumbled upon the cutest new show. On a channel I never watch- mainly because even a 1/2 second glimpse of an abused dog or kitty or donkey or whatever sends me into a fit and an extended "ugly" cry. Ugh- I can't stand to see that stuff and don't understand in the least why they put those horrid shows on the air. But I digress.... Perhaps the Animal Planet realizes that they need shows that don't make me sob and they created the cutest little show all about Orangutans. Now I am not like a super uber animal person. I love LOVE dogs but really beyond that I have no desire to momma other species of animals. But this show is just too cute. All of the Orangutans have such darling and distinctive personalities. It's like Real World really but without all the sluttyness. And since there is nothing else to watch with this writer's strike....I am now officially a big Orangutan Island Fan!

But my city is cold and I have spent many hours lately flipping for something to keep me occupied. And I have really come up with more questions than answers. For example...

Who is Kim Kardashian (spl?) and why does she have a TV show?

Why does Kim Kardashian's mother dress like a hooker when she seems to have the funds for both a proper top and bottom to be worn at the same time?

Why do those parents let their young daughters take turns playing on a stripper pole?

What is the Hollywood obsession with stripper poles and general trashiness?

Why doesn't Britney at least brush that mop of hair on her head?

Why is Donny Osmond still making me listen to him on Entertainment Tonight? Marie is no longer on DWTS and surely you must have a life somewhere doing something, right?

Am I the only one who finds Tom Cruise to be scary? Not annoying- I mean wifebeater scary!

Do the "Real Housewives of Orange County" talk about anything other than money? I am pretty sure at least three of them would sell their offspring for bigger houses.

How exciting is it that there is a new Real World/Road Rule Challenge coming up? I have not watched either RW or RR is probably eight plus years but I love the challenge. Or really I just love to see that there are people on the challenge that I still recognize. They are that old and still trying to squeak out a living from a cable show they were on ten years ago. I hope Beth is back. Real World #1 representing! Love it!

Does Flavor Flave not own a watch? That clock necklace thing seems cumbersome.

Does Britney own and know how to use a coffee maker? It's not all that difficult to learn. It would save her a lot of Starbucks change to just make it at home. I challenge the little train wreck to stay off my TV screen for just one day to see if the world implodes from lack of up-to-the-minute updates of her life spiral.

Holy Guacamole! Gigi is A M A Z I N G!!! Her "Tags and Swags" swap package was the most incredible present ever. EVER! Her talents are endless. I could smell both the tags and the swag the moment I started opening the box- yummmmmy!


Look at her box- it was awesome before it even began. And then, a note warning me to open with care. I was so nervous as I had no idea what it was but knew it smelled good enough to eat. She made these tags using (I think) royal icing on card stock. Brilliant! That never occurred to me before but the result was stunning. You must have a very steady hand Miss Gigi. The tags were a hit with my family at Christmas too. Although I must admit I was very very selective as to who and what gift was given one of those special tags. They were for adults only as I knew the kids could care less. I was a little bit of a tag hoarder- I just love LOVE them soooo much!




I next opened the other fun goodies such as a personalized tag full of fun fall ribbon and strings, cookie cutters and my new favorite lippy in Twizzlers flavor. Mmmm! I saved what turned out to be my swag last. Talk about saving the best for last. Look- just look! A breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely delicious tasting swag of gingerbread cookies! So detailed and just divine! I tried hanging it up for the entire season but truth be told, gingerbread is a personal favorite and well....it was just too yummy to make it un-touched through Christmas. And I reasoned that it would likely not all stay in-tact if I attempted to save the cookie swag. I just cannot tell you though how much I adored this gift- it was more special that I could have ever imagined!! Thanks Gigi!!



So in return, I sent her this very belated package. The swap was supposed to last a total of three months but due to my overwhelming to do list before I left for Hawaii (and then again after I returned from Hawaii) and a sewing machine that stopped working and the purchase of not one but TWO new sewing machines that were both duds (both Singer with Martha's mug shot on them- ugh- will never buy Singer again- soooo disappointing!)...our swap only just ended this week. I seriously have the sweetest and nicest swap sister in the world for being so patient with me.


While I think my goodies were fun to give, nothing compares to my royal icing tags and cookie swag. But hopefully she enjoyed it anyway. Since we were both late in sending and since she doesn't really decorate much for fall, her gift was pretty much all Christmas. The only exception was a set of note cards in fall-ish colors and a little set of cheese spreaders. The tags were holiday fabric on one side and card stock on the other- sewn with a zig zag stitch and a ribbon to tie. The swag was my favorite part and something I have played with for other projects on a much smaller scale. She said it was her favorite part too- I love the way she described it- very Dr. Seuss. It totally is very Seuss-tastic! I also loved it rolled up and thought if she didn't like/need it as a swag it might look cute in a glass as a table decoration.




I opened my last swappy goodness package yesterday and literally screamed with glee at seeing two of the gifties inside. Will share that with you very soon...

(The amazing desert at the Bridal lunch- three types of the most delish sorbet in an almond sugar bowl on a bed of fresh whipped cream. Oh yes- it was even more delish in person. I ate the whole thing!)

I was surprised to see how many different climates were located on one fairly small island. The resort was of course lush and beautiful but outside of the resort was just miles and miles of this crumbled up lava rock. To me it seemed so prehistoric looking and I half expected to see a brontosaurus walking across the rocks. Not really my definition of beautiful but it was interesting for sure. I feel the same about the desert- just not my thing. But the further north we went, the more lush and green our surroundings became. It was wild to see such landscape diversity every 20 minutes.

(The base fell apart so we stuck it in a martini glass. Looks adorable I think!)

(Bestie, Me and P at the very chilly but very fun UGA/Ga Tech game 2007)

The update is that Little and Groom moved last week from far away Hawaii to Las Vegas. Yippee! I am so excited to have her closer. And she is thrilled to have modern conveniences like affordable groceries and Target. I can't wait to take my first trip out to Vegas to visit them soon!