Last Post

This is going to be my last post on Shades of Purple.  It's not my last blog post ever, and I have created a new blog.  I hope that you follow me over there, and keep reading.  I have decided to create a new blog for a few reasons.  I started my blog for "crafts" and slowly it started to spread off into many different things.  I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to take it and I just stopped posting for a while.  

Now that I've gotten everything sorted out, am so ready to get started on my new blog.  PLEASE go check it out.

Butterflies and Lullabies

Job Woes

I have been job hunting for well over 3 months now.  Ugh.  What a pain.  It makes me thankful for our new president more than ever, the economy, especially in these little towns like where I live, is hard on the job market.  I've been searching a 55 mile radius for a job, and I just can't find one.

Quitting school after my freshman year of college was a dumb move.  I wouldn't take it back, it brought me to the place I am now.  An amazing husband, a beautiful daughter and an amazing son.  All those things are wonderful and of course, wouldn't have happened had I not made the decisions I did.  But now, grown up, I wish I'd stuck with it.  I look at all these jobs that I could have, if I had a degree.  I want to start going back to school now more than ever.  

I've sent in application after application, forwarded one resume after another and been on countless interviews... Which might I add, is a pain when you have to find a babysitter in the middle of the day on short notice!  I am trying to stay positive and think that when the right job comes along, I will know, and that is why I haven't gotten anything up until now.  I surely hope so.

My hubby has been home for a week, and I've neglected all kinds of stuff like friends, and blogs, and all that.  I feel terrible for not catching up with them all for the past week.  It's just been nice to have him here and spend time with him.  See him, get to talk to him whenever I want... I always miss him when he's gone.

If I Only Had A....

Interchangeable Harmony Wood Circular Knitting Needle Set..... [Singing to the Wizard Of Oz's "If I Only Had A Brain"]

I want this!  Not only is it pretty and have Shades of Purple in it, but it's wood, which I love, and it would be so much easier to keep track of all my stuff!  I just thought I would share that tidbit of information.

After about a week long break, I am finally back.  There's been alot going on in the house, and with the family.  I guess I've been feeling a bit blue lately.  Not very talkative.  But things are getting a bit better, slowly but surely, and I am feeling better in the process.

I am writing this blog as my husband forces me to watch House Hunters on HGTV.  I love my husband, don't get me wrong, but I don't really care for this show.  "Oh I don't know which of these many houses to choose from, my wallet is so full I guess I should just pick one..." Bite me!!!!  Maybe it's not that bad, but still I don't like it so I'm blogging instead.  I guess it's payback for all the episodes of "The Golden Girls" I've made him watch.  In my opinion he secretly enjoys it.  But sshhh.  Don't tell him I said that.

I have probably 3 UFO's on either hooks or needles sitting in my basket.  I have one half of a pair of fingerless gloves finished for myself.  I keep looking at the one lone glove and thinking how I should do the other one, I just can't seem to make the time.  Then I'm working on an afghan for the living room.  I am really excited about that because ever since I picked up knitting about 4 years ago, that has been a project I wanted to start but just never did.  Now that I've finished a blanket I know I can do it, and I'm confident enough to start one.  I can't wait to get started next on my scrapbooking.  I haven't done anything with that in probably a year.  I have so many pictures and just don't know what to do with any of them.  A friend of mine has suggested DigiScrapping and I am definately going to look into that.  Anyone have any suggestions? 

Hope you're having a fantastic start to your week!

Once Again..

I need a blog break.  I have sat down to write for a week.  I can't seem to find anything to write about.  I don't really feel like writing about my personal things, which is all I can seem to think about.  My personal stuff is causing me a big writer's block.  

I have a blanket I'm crocheting, I have funny stories to tell, exciting stories to tell....  I just don't feel like it right now.

I hope you don't stop reading.  I know there's nothing to really read right now but there will be soon.  Just have to get some things straight around here.

Stuff

I'm tired and have no witty title for this blog.  I wish I did, it almost feels wrong not haivng something interesting to say in the title.  Oh well....

I need this picture blown up to posterboard size and then mounted on one wall of every room in my home.  Can I do that?  Probably won't get my security deposit back....

Sometimes life is just STRESS.  And I have been having one of those weeks.  The past week or so has been one obstacle after another.  Nothing too major that my family can't handle.  But all the while frustrating and leaving me wanting to "BANG HEAD HERE" at the end of the day.  

It makes me think of that short from Sesame Street I used to watch as a kid.  It was a cartoon cat wanting to get fed, and her owner is just talking on the phone, she keeps trying to get the can open herself to no avail and then finally when it's opened, she runs over there, and SMACK.  Her face lands in it, too tired to eat.  That's me.

Craziest thing is, I'm complaining about being stressed out, and I am looking for a job.  Weird combination huh.  I love staying at home with my children but I'm ready to go.  I've been at home with my children for almost 7 years now.  And I'm 26 years old.  I want out of the house, I want to be with other adults, and I want to do something that's for me.  My kids are older now, and my daughter isn't even here during the day, and next year at this time the same will be for my little man.  Kids always need their parents.  But they don't need me now like they did as babies.  I almost think they'd enjoy getting out of the house and playing every day!

I have a job interview on Thursday.  I'm VERY nervous.  I've been trying to get a certain type job now for a few months, and I've had a hard time.  I don't have but about a year's worth experience in this field and I know there's alot of competition with people that are much more qualified.  I finally have a chance and I'm so nervous I can't stand it!  

Send me good luck vibes if you can.  I need 'em!

And if you made it to the bottom of this rambling, incoherent, boring post... Wow, you are my new best friend!

Thursday Tummy Tickle

"I am NOT tired!  I do NOT wanna go bed Mommy! No No No!  You mean!"  

Imagine how mean I became when the camera was pulled out and started flashing in his oh-so-happy-cause-he-most-definately-is-not-tired face.  I never really thought that looking at a picture of someone soooooooo mad, could make me chuckle.  

I'm showing this to his girlfriends when he's 30.  And yeah I said 30, he won't be dating anyone before then.

Just thought I'd send a chuckle your way, I hope you got at least a smile out of it!  Happy Thursday and thank goodness tomorrow starts the weekend!

Crocheting and Super Cute Babies!!

So I posted already that I was learning how to crochet, and as much as I love knitting, I have a newfound passion for crocheting.  It is soooo much faster than knitting.  I started this baby blanket that I found via Ravelry two weeks ago, and had it finished in one week!  I was so thrilled, and needless to say I gave this blanket to baby Eliza since the ominous yellow blanket is still light years away from being finished.  Both my best friend and I are partial to the "alternative" type look so I decided instead of doing the normal pale colors, to make the blanket hot pink with a black border.  It looked great, and she loved it, which is even better!

Over the long weekend I got to meet Miss Eliza and she is the most precious little thing I've ever seen!  She was adorable, and of course she is, given who her Mommy and Daddy are!  Mom and baby are doing great, and I was sad to have to go.  But it was a wonderful weekend, and I couldn't be more happy to have gotten the opportunity to go.  Here's a picture of the finished blanket and then another with Miss Eliza...

That's about it for now.  I have tons of pictures of other stuff and more blogs to write so instead of cramming it all into this one blog I'll space it out so I look like I have lots of interesting things to say.... HAHA.

BUSY!

Oh lord, I didn't realize it'd been so long since I posted!

I have a TON of pictures to upload, and a ton of crafting progress to update on.  Not to mention I got to see the baby I've been waiting so long to see!  

Things here are a bit hectic and I'm having a hard time keeping up.  Feels like I'm treading water but I will be back tonight to post about everything!

I hope if you read, you haven't stopped, my few followers are precious to me!

Cell Phones, Blonde Moments, and Crocheting

It's no secret that society today revolves around cell phones.  One of my pet peeves is when someone is yakking on their cell phone, oblivious to anything and/or everything.  Like when you're weaving down the road texting.  Or pushing your shopping cart at snail speed right in the middle of the aisle with your phone glued to your head, standing right in front of the one thing I went in to get.  It never fails.  Another one is when someone is on their cell phone completely IGNORING their children.  Gah, that totally gets on my nerves!  It's bad enough that so many parents don't give their children the attention they need and deserve.  It's even worse when you're ignoring them and they're running around causing havoc in every direction and you don't even care.  

Liv had dance class this evening.  This is the first class after Christmas break, and before vacation they informed us that the Tuesday and Thursday classes would be switching days.  No problem.  Well come to find out nobody showed up Tuesday, because they didn't pay attention, and all of Liv's class plus the normal Thursday group showed up!  Well, while I was in my car, enjoying my pitiful hour of peace and quiet, a lady pulled up in her minivan next to me.  I see four kids file out of the van, and three of them (all boys) proceed to start running around in every which way.  The lone girl takes her bag and heads into the building.  About two minutes later she comes back out.  "Mom" she says.. "Mom!  MOM!" -- Mom doesn't answer.  While her three boys are running around into the street weaving around parked cars and her daughter is yelling her name, she is, you guessed it... YAKKING ON HER CELL PHONE.  Doesn't even bother to look up.  Her daughter goes back in, and then comes back out a few minutes later, to do the same thing.  After almost 20 minutes, Mom finally gets off her phone.  Daughter then tells her that class is Tuesday now, and they are there on the wrong day.  She has the nerve to get MAD at her daughter for not telling her sooner!  The nerve!  I was so irritated at that.  How could you be so oblivious to what is going on and then blame it on your no-older-than 12 year old child?  

Some people just push my buttons.

Now on to my blonde moment.  Across the street from said Dance Class, there is this restaurant. I have always stared at the name of this place, knowing it's a play on words but not quite getting it.  "Dine 'n' Crewe".  Crewe being the name of the town this is in.  I always stare at it.  "Dine IN Crewe? Dine and Cruise?"  Never got it.  Then it finally dawned on me after almost 5 months of staring at it every week.  DINING CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Duhhhhhhhhhh.......  I love it when I feel super smart.

And as for the crocheting part of the title, I have learned how to crochet!  I am SOOOO excited.  It's been fun, and I picked it up way sooner than I would've ever expected.  I'm so proud of myself.  I am sticking to my New Years Resolution and trying new things.  I think this will be fun!!  

Early Beginnings...

My biggest New Year's Resolution this year, was to stop being so scared of 1)change and 2)learning/trying new things.  I'm a creature of habit and both of these things are a constant hurdle of mine that I want to get rid of.  So, on NYE the kids and I went up to my mother's for the night.  We had a ton of fun (as always) and of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without me forgetting something.  Well this time is was my bag.  Yep!  My whole overnight bag with everything in it, to include MY KNITTING.  I was not impressed to say the least.  But then again I'm always doing something like this so why should I be suprised?

     

Anyway, since I didn't have my knitting, or should I say "THE BLANKET THAT WON'T END" .... I decided to ask my Mom for some lessons on knitting in the round.  I've been knitting for 4 years almost and still haven't even tried to learn.  (Hence the new years resolution) So I decided to make a hat.  A hat for whom, you may ask?  Well the baby!  Of course!  I found this adorable hat that is done in the round.  People always told me that once I learned how to knit in the round, I would wonder what I was so afraid of.  It couldn't have been more true!  Mom sat down with me, showed me two simple things, and I looked at her and said "That's it?"  So anyway here is the hat I made for Miss Eliza! 

I was SO excited that I made another when I got home.  I had to tweak the pattern for just straight knitting since I don't own any DPN's.  I don't like it as much, I don't think it's as cute as the other, and it's definately bigger, but she can grow into it.  

Now, I want to learn how to crochet.  I have a friend of mine who knows and is going to hopefully show me a thing or two on how to do it.  

Now if I could only stop being so afraid to go somewhere new without getting lost....

I could NEVER be a Truck Driver

So the week before Christmas I went out with the hubby "OTR". Now for all you non-truck-driving folks, that means "Over The Road". Okay so I just really learned that but let's be real here, it's nice to feel "in the know" sometimes. We rode from VA down to Florida. Then to Georgia, then back up to VA where I was dropped off. I absolutely LOVED spending the time with him. I've missed him ALOT lately. The selfish two year old in me wants to whine and throw a fit because he's not home, and it's "NOT FAIR". But, unfortunately, the grown up in me takes charge, and starts speaking all the normal "adult" stuff, like "He's doing this for you and the kids" and "You're so lucky to have such a great husband who takes care of you and works so hard."


So yeah. I cherished my time with him, and we went riding. Now he usually takes the dog with him. Our little 4lb long haired chihuahua, Chopper. What a killer name, huh? Although not much of a guard dog, he's company and loves to be in the car. So here's me, on day one, always unimpressed to get my picture taken. Especially when I'm caught off guard and from that angle have the most lovely double chin. But I digress. I was glad to be there, and so happy to be on the road with him.





Now. Here's day 3 I believe. We'd been caught in rain for all three days. I was soaked to the core and hadn't had a shower in said three days either. None the less, I am mustering up a smile for the camera because gosh darnit, I can do this and it's not that bad. Not to mention, I am with my hubby. Granted I think you can tell by the general look on my face that my thrill level had decreased significantly.


This is later on that day. Remember Chopper? Yeah, he's sometimes a lap dog. But suprisingly not really. He likes to be left alone. And to be honest with you he and I don't get along as well as we should. But since I was invading on "his territory" i.e. sitting in HIS seat, THIS is what I had to put up with! As cute as he might look, he paced back and forth in the truck and would do this "snort" thing kindof like "Hmpf. MOVE!"

But anyway. I had alot of fun none the less, and can't even imagine having to do what he does. It seems like it wouldn't be so much work. You know the whole theory, get in the truck and drive? Well it's most definately not. What a great early Christmas present for me, to get to spend time with my lovely hubby since I miss him SO much. (Greasy hair, and unimpressed smiles aside)

I promise next time I post pictures of myself they are going to be much more flattering!