reminiscing...

From time to time I go through my memory box containing the ghosts of my childhood. Each time there's a different toy, knick-knack, or trinket that triggers me to reminisce about the "good ol' days"... This time it was my girls:

I love the different outfits they're wearing (stylish even in storage!):

(From left to right): A dress made by Auntie Lorna for Barbie, a (store bought?) outfit for the Skipper doll my sister gave me when she outgrew playing with her, an outfit I no doubt received as a birthday gift for my Barbie (note the 90's neon, acid wash combo!), the outfit that "Totally Hair Skipper" was wearing when I got her from Seth (She still smells of Dep hair gel), an outfit Auntie SAM made, my mom's Barbie wearing one of her original outfits, and a blouse that was handed down to me with a pencil skirt of my own making (from those early days of sewing). 

Little shoes on little feet!

I only got a picture of Lael wearing the shoes...she won't be in them much longer, but they will be cute while they last! I'm pretty sure I'll have to be making these in the next size up for both girls 'ere long! :) So fun!

 

Little shoes for little feet!

I cannot wait to try these sweet little shoes on some sweet little feet!

And I have just the little feet to fill them! Uh, no, not mine! I used some scraps from another sewing project to make these up. They were a little tricky, but so worth it. The denim came from a bag I made for Ava, the ribbon came from a birthday gift mom sent me, using this ribbon to embelish it, the minky fabric inside is left over from previously made "loveys".

Now all that's left (before they meet little feet) is to figure out how to make the flaps work on the "boy boots". Hmmm... Mom? I followed the pattern, but they seem to be giving me a little trouble, so they're just pinned right now.

Up for a mini sewing project? This to this? Super!

That age old question...

Perhaps it isn't an age-old question, but I do feel like it's the question of my generation: "WHAT should I do with my life?" Ugh! It's reared its ugly head again. I have been contemplating school again. This time for a paralegal degree through Athens Technical College. The thing is, I don't really know if I want to be a paralegal... Right now it would be better than being a legal secretary, but in the long run? I don't know. What I do know is that it still feels somewhat asinine to go to school to get a two year degree when I have a four year degree from a reputable college and I can already DO the paralegal job in most respects. The rest I could learn in a month or two tops of on the job training.

Sooo, the degree isn't expensive, but it WOULD be time consuming. Some days I wake up and think I should just be a nanny. I am really good with kids. But really what I want is to have my own children. I can't plan or prepare or school or career my way into marriage and family, so what do I do? I keep plugging along and trusting God's plan.

His plan for me feels like long-term singleness. I don't like dating. I mean, sure, it can be fun, but really it's a lot of frustration and questioning and being blindsided when all seems to be going well with the seemingly inevitable "this isn't working". I can do single. I'm pretty good at it. I know how to budget, cook for one, be a friend to other singles, get along with marrieds and enjoy others' little ones... In a way it's easy for me. But I still feel like I'm missing out on something. There's something there, just beyond my ken, that's what I'm supposed to do with my life: whether it's motherhood or an awesome career or ministry or mission work, I don't know, and I'm so longing to know! 


Well, it doesn't seem that today is the day to find out, so I need to go refocus; spend a few minutes praying, reading my Bible and reminding myself that Christ finished the work, He is sufficient in a way I can't fully fathom, and He has a perfect plan. I need to learn to listen. To Him. 

Yum!!!

Had to share tonight's dinner creation! I'm crediting Auntie SAM with the idea! I had an eggplant in the fridge, a bit of spaghetti sauce and some pepper jack cheese... What to make? hmm... A few more ingredients and I'd have quite the meal: eggs, check! potato flour, check! garlic powder, salt and pepper? check, check, CHECK! Eggplant parmesan, here I come!

I sliced the eggplant, coated it in egg and dredged it in potato flour with a bit of seasoning mixed in. From there I popped it on a hot (and lightly oiled) George Foreman grill until it looked amazing, then popped on some pepper jack cheese (for an extra kick!) and some spaghetti sauce and, well, you can see the results below. It took only a few minutes and YUMMM!!!

I think next time I'll try it with cornmeal and pan fry it. Deeelish!

As Noah likes to say "This is real life!"

I figured it's about time I started a blog so all my non-socially networked family could be in the loop on my (mis)adventures and crafty creations! Yep, this is my REAL life. :) We'll see how this goes!

I've spent a good bit of this weekend so far organizing my fabric stash and planning projects. I did find time to do something more than organizing and mending, and I'm including a couple of pictures to prove it. :)

New, snazzy camera strap! 

 Finally got around to making THROW PILLOWS to tie the room together!

I'm still trying to decide what to do with this 100% silk fabric....

And this, well, this my friends, is my nightly entertainment!