:: BACK ON TRACK ::


So... the last two weeks have been filled with summer outings and barbecues and I have come to a weight loss halt. Just when I was coming to the realization that dieting isn't hard if you are eating the right things (just look at that delicious salad above - tomatoes, avocados, carrots, peas, tofu, feta cheese, and some beans, and salt & pepper), I tasted potato chips again. Honestly... nothing replaces the taste of a potato chip.

But, I am back on track and ready to be serious again. I help take care of the pool at our apartment complex and so I was making a schedule for the entire summer with the other gal doing it. Anyway, I noticed how close my September 1st weigh in is and it is time to get strict again.

Summer is shaping up to be super busy. I do love the carefree feeling of summer. I am glad that didn't go away after I finished school. It is still in the air. I'm excited for July 4th. I've been making a festive wreath that will be the death of me, but I am almost finished. I hope I get it finished before Friday. Mike and I are also on the planning committee for our annual neighborhood July 4th breakfast and parade. I am in charge of centerpieces. They are kind of cute so far. I have a lot of gluing to do and a lot of coke bottles to fill with sand. I'll take a picture when they are all done.

I wish I had something exciting to show and tell. But I don't. I got my hair done yesterday and that is always exciting. If you ever need a new stylist and live in the SLC area, I have a GREAT one!

:: MOURNING ::


Well... last night I stayed up so late with my computer in front of me, my cell phone in one hand, and the land line in the other. I was the ring leader of the "Van Wagoner Disneyland Summer Spectacular" and I was determined to make everyone happy. IMPOSSIBLE! There were too many "maybes", and "Let me call...", or "Can I ride with..." or "how many can we squeeze..." type questions. I lost it. My logical bro-in-law said, "Let's go in September" and now it is all behind us. Planning things is so hard. Especially when there are so many people involved. That is just how it was.

I went to bed in the wee hours of the morning thinking about how to make it all possible, and then had a nightmare that Mike took me Disneyland to a bar where the cronies were playing table top war games and because I sat around watching (and fuming), I wasted one of my days of my 2-day park hopper days. When we finally left the bar, gas cost $20 a gallon and we didn't have enough money to get enough gas to get back to the park. I took it as an omen to give up and plan a more relaxing, longer vacation, when the temperatures are cooler and all of the rugrats are back in school. I'm just really sad. I even bought us all new swimming suits for the beach. :-(

But in good news, I had a fantastic weekend. I got to see so many friends on both Friday and Saturday. Then we spent Sunday with Mike's entire family and had dinner last night at his cousin's house. Tonight is our book club and we're discussing Uglies by Scott Westerfield. It is a great little Young Adult series and I am excited to read the rest of them.

And in other good news, I got a great package from Malinda that include the brooch pictured above along with other buttony goodness.

So, now since Mike has that week off that was originally reserved for a trip to NYC for my friend Erin's wedding (this fell through - not the wedding - our plans) that was then changed to Disneyland (see above). Where should we go? We want to be able to drive. We have four days. I really want to go to Yellowstone or Jackson Hole. Maybe we could even go hike Table Rock (here are some other guys pictures). I haven't done that in 10+ years. Any suggestions?

:: LET'S MAKE A DEAL ::

I was at DI last week looking for Mason jars (read: I am in charge of centerpieces for our neighborhood 4th of July breakfast... I have to make 30+... YIKES!). The selection was below par so I made a detour to the random stuff isle where I've found crafting goods before. I was drawn in by a small ball of sock yarn. When I lifted it up, I found all of these knitting needles! The best part about this find is that they are all different sizes and lengths. WAHOO!

Only one of the cheaper packages had a price tag of fifty cents on the back. I found a manager the following conversation took place:

Lori: Excuse me ... as I approach him with hands full dropping needles...
Manager: Can I help you?
Lori: Yes, I just was wondering if you could give me a price on these.
Manager: Hmmm.... what are they?
Lori: Knitting needles and crochet hooks.
Manager: looking at me like I'm a crazy person. Do people still knit? Hmmmm....
Lori: This one is marked fifty cents, but the rest just have their original price tags on them.
Manager: looking at the back of a package... Someone once paid $15 for these? Sheesh...
Lori: Yeah... hoping this wouldn't sway his decision
Manager: Hmm... well... I guess you can have them for fifty cents a piece. Sound okay?
Lori: Yes sir... picking my jaw up off the floor...
Manager: Glad I could make your day ma'am.
Lori: You have no idea.

So, I think I have officially had a thrift store score. I bought twenty four pair of needles and three crochet hooks for $11. Some of the packages were double stuffed. Wooooooohooooooo!

:: WASHING FABRIC ::


We've been sick this weekend. I didn't even post a "Happy Father's Day" post for Mike. He really is the best, though. He told us not to worry about getting him anything (so in typical Donnie - my mom - fashion, I really didn't) and he said he'd take care of it. So, he shopped and wrapped gifts and put them on the table. I was surprised that for Father's Day he gave us gifts. The poor guy didn't get a thing. Well, I did make waffles and his mom gave him a card, but I felt a little sheepish. However, he bought me a subscription to CRAFT for the year. YAHOO! Anyway, I'm not too fond of the weird cold that we all have. Cohen started it and we all followed.


I attended the wedding ceremony and reception for one of my mission companions this weekend. Ariane and I served together twice in FL. The ceremony was in the most beautiful garden and the day was gorgeous. I sat in the sun and just wished that I felt better. But she was beautiful and happy, and that is what mattered most.

And... on washing fabric. I only do it about 1/2 of the time. I get lazy or forget or get so excited about starting the project that I just dive in. I've started to go back and wash all of my fabric and it has been fun to sort through it and see what I have in there. The fabric pictured above is going to be a blanket for one of Mike's coworkers. Tis the season for baby gifts. Sheesh, I've got a lot of pregnant friends right now.

Life isn't too exciting. I need to go grocery shopping in a bad way. We're out of everything. While dieting, it seems easier to open the cupboard and see nothing there. It makes me feel like I have so much will power. On the diet update, I am down 11 pounds. I need run a tighter ship on the diet front and get going if I am ever going to make it to -30 by September 1st. Mike is already down about 20 lbs which is INSANE! He looks great. We're determined to win the contest ($100 in September and $1000 in January) and it has been fun to do it together. Sometimes my favorite parts of the evening is when we sit and talk about how good some ice cream would be while we drink another glass of water. YEAH... that rocks.

:: ORGANIZATION GONE OCD ::


When I was about 15 years old, I got this yellow box to organize my (very few at the time) beads. After a few months I quickly filled it up. Of course, as soon as it was full, I knocked it over onto my mom's lovely calico shag carpet. I probably vacuumed most of them up. Finding seed beads in shag... not my idea of a great time.


Fast forward about 12 more years. The box, now even more full and disorganized, was left on the coffee table within the reach of a barely walking toddler. There it was all over the carpet again. Woops! Recently I've been asked by a few people to help repair, repurpose, and build jewelry. I felt the beading itch and was ready to make myself some stuff. With my hot hands, I opened my yellow box to find a complete buzz kill. The sorting fairy still hadn't visited it.


In the immortal words of the Doors, "The time to hesitate is through" (name that movie quote) and I got out some bowls out and started sorting. Three days later, I was finally done. Whew!!! I ended up casting off most of them, and only kept the ones I knew I'd really use.

I didn't take a picture of my sorted box (duh!?!), but here are the cast offs. I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet, but they are bagged up and ready to go somewhere. There is a mixture of glass, plastic, stone, metal, seed beads, findings, sequins, shells, letters, spacers, complete necklaces, clasps... you name it... it is in there. If any of you want them, I'd be happy to send them your way. You just have to sort them.

:: REALLY BUSY ::

I am so busy with everything in my life right now. I'm enjoying myself, though. I'll talk about it some other day. I've got a lot of stuff to give away, too... So come back!

In the meantime, enjoy Cohen's new favorite song by the Flobots (Handle bars). He doesn't know that the song really isn't about a little boy riding his bike without his hands, but we'll let him believe that for now. I love when he tries to sing along to the "no metronome" part. Haha.

:: HOORAY ::



This is how I feel today. It is Friday. I am babysitting no one. The sun is shining. Cohen and I are heading to the zoo. I am going fabric shopping to start some baby blankets. And... I have Season 2 of Project Runway ready for my weekend viewing pleasure. I anticipate a great weekend. I hope you have one, too.

:: CAN'T GET ENOUGH ::



Man, I am having a blast back from Rick's College this month. Since purchasing the new Pennywise album a few weeks ago, I just can't stop listening. I've been pulling out all of my 90's skatepunk CDs and adding them to my iTunes library. I'm even wearing the old brown Independent hoodie a lot more.* (side note: I bought this sweatshirt with my very first paycheck when I was 15. Yes... I know the sweatshirt is 15 years old and is a ragged mess. The worst part about it, is that I still wear it at least 2 times a week.) Am I digressing?

*disclaimer:: for the last 5 years, said sweatshirt is not allowed outside of the house.

:: BUNCO ::


Yes, like all good housewives should, I belong to a Bunco/Bunko/Bonko/Bonco group and have for the last two years. My old group was lacking in the personality department, but I LOVE my current group. I used to work with 2 of the gals I play with, but the rest are all friends of theirs. But, we play quick and dirty and the room gets LOUD.


Last night was the hostess. For my invitations, I used more of the old photos that my sister gave me (they used to belong to her aunt-in-law, or something). I chose groups of girls to add to the invites and they were just perfect. I love the simplicity and randomness of the designs. I hope these old photos never run out. They are always the perfect touch.

:: A NEW PROJECT ::


I'm going through my stash and deciding on my next project. I don't have much to report. In the meantime, I walked into the living room and found Cohen like this. He stayed this way for at least 10 minutes. Crazy kid.

:: YO HO YO HO ::

Just in time for a friend's pirate birthday party, Cohen got a rad shirt in the mail. Hayley and I did a swappy-swap and she made him this fantastic shirt in return for one of my market bags. He has wanted to wear it everyday since it came. We've already washed it three times, and I am impressed with the quality of it. She does a great job.


Go visit her blog and etsy shop. Get your kids some new clothes. She is also having a give-a-way through her blog right now. I know you all love free stuff.

A pirate's life for me.

Disclaimer:: Shirt not guaranteed to make your kid as goofy as mine is.

:: Calorimetry ::



I made my first calorimetry for a swap. It was a fast fun project and I was able to complete it in one afternoon.



And... look at this fantastic leather button. I love it. The free pattern is linked above. It seriously is a fast project!

::KIDDIE KANDIDS::

I had the opportunity to have breakfast with all of my aunts recently. These are my mom's sisters. She only has one brother. I don't know what they were all doing in town, but I am sure glad my mom called me to join them.

I asked them if I could take their picture before I left. They wouldn't stop laughing long enough to look at the camera. Their giggles are contagious. There was a group of gals my age standing a few feet away and they would laugh every time my aunts would erupt.

Corri Theobald, Donalyn Sessions, Sally Brown, MaryAnn Batt, Kaye Judd

This is the closest I could get to seeing all of their faces. What a great bunch! I couldn't have a more positive group of female role models.

I titled this post Kiddie Kandids because they were as wiggly as Cohen is when we're trying to get his pictures taken.

I'll sleep when I die::

Did you hear about this?

::I've found a replacement for treats::


WOOT! The boys are baa-aack! I'm serious. I am SO ready for this. Let me tell you a story::

In 1988, my family moved to St. Anthony, ID, from Carson City, NV. The following summer, we all went back to see our old friends. I stayed at Jaime's house and she introduced me to NKOTB. She had this poster on her wall that she kissed each night before bed. She had a pillow with Jordan's face on it and a little pin she wore on her "jean jacket". We were 10!! Sheesh. My friend dubbed me a copy of the tape and I went back to Idaho with a new obsession and was so excited to tell my friends all about the band.

Over the next few years, I am sure my bedroom looked a lot like all of yours. I bought every Tiger Beat and Teen Bop magazine and wallpapered my room with New Kids posters. My jacket was covered with "I love NKOTB" and "Donnie's Girl" pins. My mom wouldn't buy me all of the bedding or clothing. I did buy some socks from K-Mart for $2.00. My friend Lacey had all of the videos of concerts and the dolls. We would watch those videos every day after school and act out the scenes with the dolls. haha!

My obsession lasted as long as it could while I could still keep my "cool" rep, but secretly I held on a lot longer than that. New Kids came to SLC to a concert in 1990. Did any of you go? I did not get any tickets, but my mom did bring me to Ogden that weekend (I still lived in Idaho). She said she'd drive me by the Salt Palace to see the tour bus anyway. Unfortunately, that weekend also marked my first ride on the crimson wave and I refused to leave my Grandmother's house.

When I moved out of my parents house, I packed my New Kids stuff safely away in my cedar chest. I found a New Kids shirt at DI while I was attending Ricks College and wore it at least once a week. In 1999, I moved to SLC and lived with my Aunt Sally. Jordan Knight was putting out a solo album (that was no bueno) and was on a US Mall Tour. The South Towne Mall was on his list, and my cousin Lauren and I headed down for a free show. We casually hung out on the balcony and pretended we just happened across it. :) He was as cute as ever and I had butterflies in my stomach the entire time.

So - what I am saying is that I am SO READY for the KNOTB reunion to happen. Their blog is already bookmarked. I'm a geek... but admit it... you loved them, too.

(about the title:: I'm doing a Biggest Loser challenge with my family. I'm down 4 lbs this week! Woohoo!)

::MY MOM::


Last weekend all of my siblings (minus Tim who was 1/2 way trough Canada on his way to Alaska for the summer), in-laws, nieces and nephews, aunt and uncle, cousins and their kids, all got together for a barbecue to celebrate my dear sweet mom. She just finished her Master's Degree at Weber State (great! great! great!) and graduated. She looks cute standing there next to Pops in her 'wizard costume'.

I'm grateful for my mom for many reasons:
:: she gave me life :: she trusts me :: she taught me to love education :: she is a great teacher :: she hardly ever made me clean my room :: she is a great grandmother to Cohen :: she keeps us in check :: she challenged the entire family to lose weight - and we're taking it seriously because she said so :: she always let me have a 'sip' of her diet coke :: she is crafty :: she encourages creative thinking :: she never gave empty threats :: she washed my clothes and let me come home to do laundry during college :: she appreciates my handmade gifts :: she loves my dad :: she gave me awesome siblings :: she's righteous - in all the right ways :: she sold 2 mustangs and traded them for family cars :: she's smart :: she gave me consequences and never let me off the hook :: she made huge breakfasts for my friends and let us borrow her mini van to go to warped tour (from ID to SLC) on several occasions :: she also let me borrow her mini van for several spring break trips to Las Vegas :: she is thrifty :: she has a plethora of good ideas :: she made us go on a walk before opening our Christmas gifts :: she lets Pops have a dog even though she hates them :: she loves her parents :: she loves her siblings :: she believes in family :: she fed my cats and cleaned their litter boxes when i 'forgot' :: she believes in God :: she loves me ::

Thanks, Gramma Dough-knee, for all your hard work. I love you!

::FOR SALE::

These are by no means "leftovers", but these bags are what I did not sell at the boutique. If you are interested in any of them, please email me and we'll set up payment and shipping options. Prices and fibers are listed below each bag. Prices do not include shipping. For all Book Totes and Market Totes, please add $4.60 for shipping (if you are in SLC I'll drop it off where you want and there will be no shipping costs). For the Messenger Bag, add $9.00 - unless you really want me to smash it and then it will only be $4.60.

::TOTES::

Story Book Tote $12.00
Measurements: 15" x 12"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: No inner pockets

Flea Market Book Tote
$12.00
Measurements: 15" x 12"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: No inner pockets

Pink Floral Book Tote
$12.00
Measurements: 15" x 12"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: No inner pockets

::MARKET BAGS::

Fiber Information and Care Instructions on all Tags

Pink/Brown Market Bag $25.00
Measurements: 19.5" x 19"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: Large inner patch pocket

Pink/Green Market Bag $25.00
Measurements: 19.5" x 19"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: Large inner patch pocket

Natural Rose Market Bag $25.00
Measurements: 19.5" x 19"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: Large inner patch pocket

Patriotic Market Bag $25.00
Measurements: 19.5" x 19"
Shell: 55% Linen & 45% Cotton Blend
Lining, Handles, Patchwork: 100% Cotton
Info: Large inner patch pocket

::MESSENGER BAGS::

SOLD

If you are interested, please email me at lori(dot)vanwagoner(at)gmail(dot)com.

Whew...

We're done until Fall. YAHOO! What a great boutique. We had a fantastic turn-out and it was so great to see all of you SLC-punks represent! I do have a few bags left. I am going to take pictures of all of them tomorrow and I'll post them on here. If you are interested, they are for sale or trade. :) You are a good bunch.

Lori

EXCITEMENT::

Well, I was over setting up my table at the boutique this morning. The excitement is setting in. I am so in love with some of the stuff I saw. I was tempted to buy right on the spot. Good thing the vendors had left. Seriously... too cute.

This is the final style of bags I've made up. I am a big fan of the owl, but only because I already two different bags made out of that crazy polyester floral print. About three years ago I bought the entire bolt of that stuff and that, my friends, is the very last little bit.

We are in Ogden today celebrating my Mother with my siblings (well, except for Tim. He is half way to Skagway, Alaska, where he spends his summer driving tour buses). My mom graduated with her Masters today. It was fun to see her all dressed up in her robes, ropes, and tassels. She looked great and we are so proud of her. The grand kids thought she looked like a magician. Sometimes I think she really is. I'll share pictures later.

I hope to see you all tomorrow! If I do not know you, please introduce yourselves. I'd love to meet you and connect in "real life".

How long is this going to take::

Today is my last official sewing day before the big day. WAHOO! This is the point where I am going, "Why do I enjoy this?" But, as soon as I sew up the last few bags I have cut out I'll remember that I really do love sewing and preparing for boutiques.

Although I am not setting up my booth until Friday morning, I have stuff going on every minute up until then. I am very excited about Wednesday night because I am taking a knitting class at Unwind. We are learning how to make socks on 4 double-point needles... YIKES! Seems pretty tricky and tedious, but I am excited to learn something new.

On Thursday is our 2nd Book Club meeting. We read the Count of Monte Cristo this month. What a humdinger! As I've mentioned here before, it is such a fabulous book. I wish I hadn't been so busy this month so I could have paid more attention to it. Last week I just plowed through the end to make sure I'd finish. I am going to encourage a quick, light read for our next choice. 600+ pages of intense revenge is about all I can handle. The book I am reading now is hard to get into. I might drop it. A book has to be pretty bad if I don't want to finish it. Maybe next week when I am not so side tracked by sewing and boutique blogging I'll be ready for it.

The above bags are some of the Market Bags I made for the boutique. I love how versatile the look is. They are all the same pattern, just tied up in different ways. Very cute. As much as I hope to sell them all, I wouldn't mind keeping the brown one with orange birds. I kept just enough of both fabrics just in case.