Day 9: NaNoWriMo and SBD, with some Christmas crafts thrown in for spice

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Chez Murphy.  That doesn't mean that I have my tree up already, or lights twinkling in the windows.  It doesn't mean that I'm watching movies with my kids like Elf or Polar Express.  It also doesn't mean that I'm whipping up batches of cookies or wreaths of fudge, planning my holiday menus with care.  Nay.

What that means here at my house is that I'm busy making Christmas crafts.

I do this every year.  I blame my mother, who started me early down this road, making sequined ball ornaments for teachers, watching her crochet a baby afghan for the procreating teachers I had through the years.  So, in keeping with family tradition, I make at least half of the gifts that we give away.

Sometimes it's a scarf, sometimes it's a toe sock filled with dry rice and cloves to be heated up in the microwave to sooth those tense muscles.  Sometimes, it's a rag doll, or a doll quilt.

This year, I only had a few crafts to undertake.  Which is good, because between my full time job as a wife/mom, my part time job at the mall and the full/part time job as a wanna be writer, there was hardly any time to pick up a knitting needle.

So this year, I focused on my two nieces, living abroad in Germany.  Just about everything I've ever given them has been either hand sewn or knitted.  I like this, I hope that one day, they remember Aunt Kearsie as that Lady Who Made Me Cool Stuff That I Probably Just Drooled On Or Let The Dog Use As A Chewtoy.

For my youngest niece, I added to her collection of felt food and made these:

Felt utensils

A flipper spatula, a rubber spatula, a wooden spoon, a whisk and an utensil cup, to hold them all.  I might get crazy and add to this, it just depends on time.

Then, for my older niece, I found out she collects elephants.  Sooo, I sewed this little thing up:

Now back to our regular junk.

NaNoWriMo:  inspiration struck twice yesterday, which had me at my keyboard, tap tap tapping away.  I've just put my main character into the worst situation possible, which made my head hurt and I had to take a giant break where I watched the first episode of Conan on TBS and ate a leisurely lunch.  Now I'm back, refreshed, if not a bit sleepy from my Zucchini Lasagna, and ready to write some intense scenes.  Or watch a movie.  With my Snuggie.

South Beach:  Totally bored to death, but I lost 2 more lbs so whatareyougonnado?  Tonight, I'm making something uber easy:  Italian Chicken.  I'm just beating the tar out of a couple of chicken breasts and marinading them in Italian dressing, then cooking at 325 for an hour.  Boom.  

Hope your day is oisome. 

I felt like having fun, or my attempt to play on words, or get ready for shameless self promotion

You know that old saying?  There's more than one way to peel a banana? 

Wait, you mean that's not a saying? 

 It should be. 

Personally, I only know one way to peel a banana. 

You know, just...peel the banana. 

I go for simple.

Another saying in the making:

In the sandwich of life, you are my mustard. 

Or mayo, if that's the way you roll.

Sometimes, I like to check out my condiments. 

You know, to see if they look tasty. 

Or if there's bugs.

Ooh, one more yet undiscovered saying:

Life is just a bowl of ravioli. 

What's the plural of ravioli?

You won't need rubber gloves to handle this bad boy.

Also, it looks like a cartoon chicken leg. 

Also, I'll bet that skin has fiber.

Occassionally, I crave me some red meat. 

I'm only human. 

I wonder if cows are ticklish? 

I never crave steak.

Because I'm apparently not like other humans. 

But if I did, I'll bet this would be a good choice.

I'm pretty short.

I have pretty short kids.

One might even call us shrimpy.

These were all items made for a custom order.  You like what you see?  I can hook you up. 

My debut in The Happiness Project

You know what makes me happy?  I love making stuff for people.  I can't say that they love it when I make stuff for them, but that's not what this is about, is it?  I get a high when I take a piece of fabric, some string or old sweaters and do a little magic.  Sometimes, seriously cool stuff is the end product. 

Recently, I made some felty foods for my youngest niece.  Which led to a custom order for a friend.  Which led to a whole lotta sewing at Chez Murphy.  It's so creative and challenging and it is so.much.fun!

This makes me very happy.

Felt doritos and a chip bag. 

This post was brought to you in response to Leigh vs. Laundry and The Happiness Project