three twenty seven designs

some pics

2009-02-15T20:43:00.011-06:00

here are a few pics from aprons i made this weekend :)

if you look closely, you can see my new label sewn inside this apron...heehee!

feels so professional...

the adelaide...for sale on etsy

the cecelia- for sale on etsy

the heather...a custom order for an "urban, retro girl"

has layers of swirl fabric, mod fabric, and "think green" fabric :)

hmm, this one is unnamed...it's also part of an order. guess i need to find out the receiver's name!

happy vday

2009-02-14T09:13:00.006-06:00

this apron is for a tiny 5 year old as a vday present! adorable!

my friend that bought it actually works at Attitudes & Attire...she is part of the reason the whole suit drive/apron journey even began! her enthusiasm for her work and her love for the clients that come to A & A make her quite an exceptional young lady! Thanks Bec!

oh yeah! working the label :)

please visit my shop: www.chelsburleson.etsy.com

brag book

2009-02-13T23:18:00.002-06:00

a customer (and sweet friend from high school) emailed me a pic of her and a friend in my aprons :) LOVE IT!!! thanks Amanda!

photo shoot

2009-02-12T21:02:00.002-06:00

tonight Jenny with Jenny Leigh Photography- www.jennyleighphotography.com - took some rad pics of 6 of my aprons!!! they are awesome! i don't want to spoil the surprise or anything, but i will tell you that we tied some clothes line between two trees in the middle of addison circle. sweetness.

check my mac site: www.web.mac.com/chelsburleson for the pics!! coming soon, real soon!

labels!!!

2009-02-09T18:28:00.006-06:00

my grandmom Vonnie sent these to me in the mail! ahhh! i LOVE them!

etsy!

2009-02-08T09:04:00.004-06:00

get over to etsy friends...i have been a sewin' this weekend :) one already sold! wahoooo!!!

www.chelsburleson.etsy.com

loves!

(would write more, because i am in a talkative mood, but this girl has gotta get ready for church!)

classy tassie

2009-01-25T16:10:00.003-06:00

sold!

but i still wanted to show off the tassie :)

so polka dottie and charming!

the livy got a facelift

2009-01-25T16:01:00.006-06:00

head over to my etsy site to check out the new livy :)

i love her pleats but she was quite a bore with no pocket, soooo...

i gave her a groovy pocket today.

www.chelsburleson.etsy.com

valentine's apron numero uno

2009-01-06T20:05:00.003-06:00

meet Val

such a fine gal

she helps your baking

more fun when you're making

muffins and scones

in your sweet little home

wow, i'm a really bad poet. ha! but she is cute, isn't she?

happy new year!

2009-01-02T18:33:00.003-06:00

hey blogging buddies!

w-o-w. i have not held up my end of the blogging deal, i apologize. life gets busy. ;)

and i'm actually about to walk out the door to hear my friends' band Ruby Queen play at the mokah lounge here in Dallas...that was a really long sentence.

but real fast, i wanted to tell you that i'm jonesin' for some sewing time. and santa brought me a sewing table so i don't have to work on my coffee table anymore. yes, i'm serious, it was not a very ergonomic work environment, lol. anyways, i'll be working on some cutesy valentine's aprons and taking custom orders...

love you guys! hope all is well with your new year!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

2008-11-15T18:23:00.005-06:00

can you believe the way christmas has snuck up on us this year?! i sure can't.

while working on some orders today, i thought i'd go ahead and make two halfers out of some christmas fabric i bought...and i really like them. here is one below...

the henrietta. kind of sounds like poinsettia... :)

i adore writing checks

2008-11-09T08:04:00.005-06:00

hey!

long time no blog :) but since my dog woke me up this morning an hour before my alarm was going to go off, i thought, "now would be the perfect time to blog!?!" ha...

the picture above is from the bear creek united methodist church craft show. my sweet friend lizzy flew into houston to join in the fun. and it really was so much fun! we talked to so many women about aprons, attitudes & attire, and how they can join in the mission. after the bazaar, i wrote attitudes & attire their check for 20% of proceeds and it was an AMAZING feeling to sign that check. makes me want to sell these remaining aprons so that i can write them another check!! i just adore writing checks, it's my forte. ha!

so, spread the word, especially with christmas gift ideas on everyone's minds...i have 12 left on etsy and they really need to go before i do any more creating! i do have a ton of fabrics, so if you want something special, shoot me an email: chelsburleson@gmail.com . please help me in raising more money for this great organization that empowers and equips women. :)

wow, my intention wasn't to make this a sales ad but that's just where my brain goes i guess. hehe. i will post a couple apron pics later that i made for two girlfriends from high school! super cute aprons... it's so great being back in touch with old friends...love it.

website

2008-10-24T21:39:00.005-05:00

holler!

i don't have a lot to say (i know, it's amazing, ha) but i did want to share my new website with you all. go HERE and spread the apron word peeps :)

have a wonderful weekend!

here's the dealio

2008-10-12T21:14:00.005-05:00

hey blogger friends,

soooo....i have made a ton of aprons and i seriously want to share them with you all. but times have been crazy lately. i just finished the 27th apron to take to the bazaar and yesterday and today i completed two orders for full aprons. i actually had made 30 for the bazaar but a sweet friend bought three of them :)

in between sewing, singing at church, attending fc dallas games, reading for book club, going to choir practice, and working full time, (ha!) i just have not had a second to take pics of each apron and post a blog on each one. :( i'm sorry to let you down like that.

but the exciting part of this blog is to tell you that yesterday jenny from jenny leigh photography did a second photo shoot with my aprons. we got a pic of each apron in front of that sweet blue door (like in the pic above). which means as soon as i get those pics back from her, i will put them on my website and then, ohmygoodness, i will send out my new website's link!!! i am pumped about this, and i made it by myself too. it's definitely been a work in progress but it's almost ready to be seen by the public. after the church bazaar this upcoming weekend, i'll post the aprons that didn't sell on my etsy site, get the pics on my new website, and then BAM! the site will be ready and you're going to get a mass email with the announcement. ha. so there's the plan...now let's just see if it goes how i want. :)

checking in

2008-10-07T21:22:00.005-05:00

sorry friends, i have been swamped with things lately. all good things of course ;)

here is a pic that jenny from jenny leigh photography took of me with my creations. wow. she is so very talented. more pics will be on my website which is almost done. i cannot wait to show you that, but i have to be patient and make sure it's all how i want it before i send out a mass email :) if you want to be on that email, click on "comments" below this blog and leave me your email. get ready to rumble. ha.

countdown for Bear Creek United Methodist Church bazaar (oct 18th): 11 days!!!

bold beatrice

2008-09-27T09:31:00.006-05:00

i couldn't think of a song with the name "beatrice" in it...ha

but here she is, and i like her!

great pocket...does anyone recognize this fabric? i already had one friend notice it right off the bat...hmm...i'm definitely a recycler :)

clean back side

ruby dooby doo

2008-09-26T18:51:00.005-05:00

ha, that title made me laugh.

this lady is sold :)

but i wanted to show her off bc i made her from valences and a pillow sham...

country chic y'all

come away with me, nora

2008-09-26T18:39:00.002-05:00

the nora, a toile delight

quite pretty

lovely rita meter maid

2008-09-26T18:02:00.004-05:00

where would i be without you? give me a wink, and make me think of you :)

gotta love the beatles...

stellar pocket

touch o' fun

emma laura

2008-09-26T16:50:00.007-05:00

quite a special little apron right here :)

pocket is actually a hankie from Jakarta

back side

conundrum

2008-09-23T07:08:00.002-05:00

i'm in a bit of a conundrum. my work computer is blocked from blogs, ouch. ha. granted, the personal blog-world is in no way related to accounting, so i can understand. however, i have this little cable thing that connects my camera to my work computer and it does not work at my home computer. any ideas on what "cable thinger" i can use for my mac? i think i'm going to have to schedule a one on one training for this at apple i think. i can always go old-school and save my pics on my way computer, transfer them to my jump drive (that's what i call it, do people still call it that? i learned that term in like 03 or 04 so it could def be called something else by now), and then bring my jump drive home and save the pics on my mac. hmmm...no idea. i might do that today though, just for now, because i've been a sewing machine again and i have to show you these chaprons! lol, i mean aprons :)

i'll just keep you in suspense for now while you await some groovy apron pics...loves!

verda love

2008-09-19T13:13:00.004-05:00

the phrase "verda love" is quite a play on words if i ever saw one...i do have love for the apron verda, but also my great grandmother's name was "Verda Love." what a sweet, sweet name. she wouldn't want me telling you all this either, but her middle name was Alree, Verda Alree Love. so pretty.

this apron is made of a crisp linen table runner, it was so hard to cut in half! i'd venture to say it's from the 60s and it's gorgeous!!
sweet little ribbons tie it around you, one thicker one and one thin one, pretty stinkin' feminine!
LOVE it!

did you miss me?

2008-09-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

so...i greatly apologize for my lack of blogging, but a ton of stuff has been happening. bible study started on monday nights, choir started on wednesday nights, i'm in a book club with a book due this thursday and i bought it over the weekend (yikes), and a hurricane happened (my fam lives in houston so all weekend i was on the phone getting updates and damage reports)...and my camera decided to die on me. so while i have been a sewing machine, haha, i have no proof to show you on this blog. stay tuned...i borrowed a friend's camera and some should be up tonight or tomorrow :)

LOVES!!

waltzing matilda

2008-09-08T10:37:00.007-05:00

waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda, who'll come a waltzing matilda with me?

remember that song? haha love it.

well this is matilda. and ironically, she's very good at waltzing.

made of fabric circa 1970, she's groovy, baby.

but then a touch of lace adds the charm.
polka dot waistband with a wooden button.

a sweet gathered pocket, i love the contrast in fabrics here.

back...l-o-v-e it.

poppin' penelope

2008-09-08T10:26:00.008-05:00

pop it like it's hot, penelope...

this one is funky, unique, and has some great color combos going on :)

close up of waistband and complimenting fabrics
pocket... the geometric shape of it vibes with the octagonal shape going on.
penelope's behind

lovin' loretta

2008-09-08T08:27:00.004-05:00

loretta...

this girl is simple, sweet, and soft

up close: hand-stitched and hand-crocheted doilie...

b-e-a-utiful!

i found this at an antique store the other weekend.

sometimes you have to look long and hard but you can stumble upon that "perfect find."

back :)

models

2008-09-05T15:33:00.005-05:00

my beautiful models...

this is my sister Chevonne and her 2 year old Lauren (she got a little half apron made of yellow tulle and then ribbon like her mommy's)...three week old Emily does not have an apron yet, but i'm sure one will be created shortly!

the Cady and Kimmy team!! these two gals are just plain crazy, however, they sure do model their matching aprons well! **thank you for sending pics, girls!**

it is really a special feeling when you see people enjoying your creations. that is cheesy, i know, but i work so hard on each of my aprons and then it's all worth it when people love them.

deep thoughts, by jack handy.

awestruck by Olive

2008-09-05T08:29:00.004-05:00

it's hard to see olive's awesomeness through pictures, but i'll attempt.

the fabric is greens and grays with a floral print. it's a light cotton and because of all the gathers, she's a very full-bodied gal, if you know what i mean ;)

one rad pocket...stitched in contrast lime green thread, this has a very raw and vintage feel.

quite possibly my fav designed pocket yet waistband, a pretty sherbert green grosgrain

back side

jubilant josephine...

2008-09-05T08:19:00.005-05:00

oh josephine, you're going to steal hearts looking that good!

this fabric is spunky, it's alternating yellow and organge apples, yum-o!

the waistband is a cream grosgrain with buttons every couple inches...

no worries, i didn't stay up all night sewing buttons, i bought the ribbon that way :)

coolest part of josie: this pocket is made from a hand-crocheted and hand-stitched doilie...

an amazing find at an antique store over the weekend!!
close up of the amazingness...each flower is made of tiny knots.
what meticulous work!

back side

michelle my belle

2008-09-04T09:26:00.007-05:00

Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble, tres bien ensemble

moment of truth: i did not know that french part of the song, i googled it. :)

this special apron was made for a bride (michelle) who happens to make cakes too...so the fabric was all too perfect.

gathered pocket
wasitband, notice that beautifully matching seam!

side view, see the blue cake stitched in the corner?

close up

the back, so pretty!

june bug :)

2008-08-29T08:21:00.006-05:00

meet June...

song that comes to mind:

you say you're looking for someone who's never weak but always strong, to protect you and defend you whether you are right or wrong. someone to open each and every door, it ain't me babe, no, no, no, it aint' me babe. it aint' me you're looking for, babe.

...and since we're on the topic of june carter, i have to share this link with you. my friend makes some awesome necklaces and Cathy Cash herself bought one from her that said "because you're mine, i walk the line." awww. go here: http://www.pinkricrac.blogspot.com/

ok, but back to June bug ;)

close up of fabrics used...i love this combo. a little funky fabric for the peplums, and then a nice classic twist by using toile and lace on the waistband.
poor cell phone pic, but i wanted you all to see how cute the waistband is from the back.
how girly!

oh please eloise!

2008-08-28T08:09:00.002-05:00

eloise

** this fabric is from the 1970's and was a large panel displayed as wall art when my parents were first married. very special fabric, very special apron!

gathered pocket
sweet pleat
it's kind of disguised in this crazy fabric ;)

good golly miss mollie!

2008-08-25T09:00:00.006-05:00

mollie

some gathers, lace, and a rad pocket
close up

and the back...i love this ribbon!

mabel, mabel...

2008-08-25T08:48:00.006-05:00

very interesting fact: the name "mabel" is only one letter off from "amber" (and scrambled off course) and that's the girl's name for whom this apron was made...weird. i didn't even do that on purpose!

due to the incredibly light weight of this fabric, it appears that the sides are two different lengths, lol...they're not, one side is just "slouchier"...is that a word?

pleated pocket
waistband made of some darling fabric

see how darling that is?! ha

packaged and ready to go :)

you picked a fine time to leave me lucille

2008-08-25T08:34:00.007-05:00

lucille...

i was asked to make a pink apron, and i came up with this :)

two pleated pockets on the top peplum
pom pom fringe...oh so girly!

her hot pink back side!

lucie in the sky with diamonds...

2008-08-19T08:15:00.007-05:00

this one's for the birthday girl, Lucie!

she's a hardcore Texas Tech Alum...we have a sweet rivalry going between my baylor bears and her red raiders :)
pocket!

tag

lucie's rear, heehee.

what a nice rear you have, Luce! you've been working out haven't you?

handmade for the bride to be!

2008-08-19T08:08:00.007-05:00

coco's first modeling experience...lol...

i think she's doing a fine job ;)

lil' bit o' lace
embroidery...don't be fooled, i bought it like that!
pretty pocket

love this!

2008-08-18T12:54:00.003-05:00

world famous runway model Christine modeling the Texas Tess :)

ok ,ok, maybe not world famous, but bear creek united methodist church famous...

especially now bc she has such a HAUTE apron!

thanks for sending me this pic Christine!! any other proud owners, feel free to send your pics too!

"you are a sewing machine!" says Suzy...tis true!

2008-08-14T08:53:00.015-05:00

cheers to collette!

*she's for sale on etsy

three gores and a funky pocket make up a really girly, cheery apron

there's a wocket in my pocket, oh wait, those are just some darling ruffles :)
clean seamed too!
buttons on each bottom corner

backside

etta...

At last, my love has come along, my lonely days are over, and life is like a song

*nota bene: this is made of barkcloth from the 1940s...does that make etta a vintage piece?

precious pleats

ribbons galore! i like that i used two ribbons here...and they are only sewn together on the front of the apron, after that, they're on their own! adds some dimension i thought...

etta is sold! but there's more where that came from if you'd like one out of that same awesome 1940s barkcloth!

and this one is MINE! haha. i have neglected myself throughout this apron journey,

so the nellie is mine, all mine.

i'm hooked on pleats...

of course, her backside...i just like you to get an idea of the ribbon and the finish...and what your rear will look like when you're wearing your apron...lol

take care!!

calling all kates...

2008-08-13T08:24:00.006-05:00

*kate*

while sewing this i had a special friend in mind. her name is kate, although i know her as katie, and we grew up on Windy Cove Drive together...i think since we were about two years old or so.

we were quite a team to say the least :)

bit o' lace...

please note, on the right, it appears that the lace is flipped...and yes, it is, but it's not sewn like that, i just didn't notice it was misbehaving for the photo shoot. argh...
some grosgrain on the corners

what a fine apron...mighty fine!

weekend sewing pics via cell phone

2008-08-11T08:21:00.009-05:00

apologizing in advance for very blurry pics...but they're all i have of these aprons!

bonjour bernadette...

mother-daughter time!

meet the cady and the kimmy... a stellar mother-daughter team :)
pocket...

texas tess!

this was a custom order for a patriotic friend in houston!

she wanted red,white, and blue and she got it!!

blurry pocket pic, but i thought it was cute with the yellow fabric peeking through there...

that's all i have for now :) more to come, i'm sure!

LOVES!!

greetings georgina!

2008-08-08T08:48:00.006-05:00

a sweet halfer for Lauren...if you haven't noticed, the past few aprons have been for that ordering fool named Lauren. haha. She ordered seven, and i only have two left to make :)

a cheery waistband
pocket made of scraps...i like them better this way!

rick rack attack

back side...don't mind that wine bottle on the table, lol

i really only bought it bc of the label, i promise!

i just realized, there's not a button on here...i will probably add one the minute i get home from work today...haha...it wouldn't be a chapron without one!

the clara and the elise

2008-08-08T08:38:00.008-05:00

toddler aprons to the rescue!!

this little blue one is for Elise Koenig :)

darling ribbon
go fig, a button!

a pocket to store all sorts of goodies

this one is for Elise's big sis Clara!

this ribbon is awesome, lil' bit of argyle there

and a button to top it all off

a pocket for Clara's goodies

Ira: the "watchful" apron

2008-08-06T13:52:00.008-05:00

really, the name Ira means "watchful"

good to know, maybe this apron will help Ira be a little more watchful in the kitchen!

i was really excited about how this turned out- the lace below the waistband...

makes it ultra fem
ira from the back, so you can get the full effect :)
personlized tag...this one is for my coworker's grandma Ira
isn't that sweet?!

hey there delilah, part deux

2008-08-06T08:19:00.007-05:00

holy smokes, i heart delilah!!!

yes, a button, it's going to be my trademark...
pretty little lace on the corner

pocket from scrap pieces...

rick rack rocks

delilah's back side

this one was made for my friend lauren, but, if you like her, shoot me a comment and i can make you one too!! (to leave a comment, click on "0 comments" and it will take you to a page where you can leave one). thanks!

hey there delilah

2008-08-05T09:14:00.002-05:00

more pictures to come! this is just a ghetto shot of the delilah hanging out in my office...

but i had to show 'er off :)

we'll put her on the form at my apartment...err...the studio and get some better glamour shots.

btw, the form is now named Mame!! as in Auntie Mame!

...drove my chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry...

2008-08-04T10:50:00.011-05:00

the chevy

this one is for my sis and we used to call her "chevy" as a nickname...

i think i see some buttons...
who doesn't love rick rack?!

handmade pocket...

more rick rack :)

don't mind the "winged" look, ha, i tucked those puppies in and changed my pattern really fast! ha! hence the addition of some buttons :) i'm sneaky like that...

the birdie

2008-08-04T08:25:00.010-05:00

i really did have a distant relative named "birdie bee busbee"...seriously. ha!
this one was made for the one and only Lauren Koenig :)

and i apologize in advance for the blurriness...sad thing is, on my camera, they looked totally clear to me...maybe i need to get my eyeballs checked!

funky pocket

ribbon at the bottom

ahhh yes, a button!

oh and a couple more buttons for the ribbon that goes around the neck

nice back side, birdie!

holler at ya hazel

2008-08-01T09:46:00.007-05:00

the hazel...very simple, very chic.

on sale at http://www.chelsburleson.etsy.com/

i love this japanese owl fabric i bought...too cute! and the lace adds a nice touch :)

sweet satin ties...they look different lengths but they really are the same, ha.

don't be fooled.

20% goes to the one and only Attitudes & Attire (tm)

it had to be lou...

2008-07-31T08:30:00.008-05:00

this one is just plain sweet. i made it for a coworker's mom, and i hope she likes it!

buttons on the waistband...i have discovered i'm a real button fan! they're on every single apron i make :)
little bit o' lace for the lou

lou's backside...every pic i take from the back is blurry, not sure why....

check out my shop: www.chelsburleson.etsy.com

have a WONDERFUL day!

bcumc bazaar

2008-07-30T12:30:00.001-05:00

soooo (must twirl hair and say it like kristin wiig on snl), i think my mom and i have decided that i am getting a booth at our church bazaar (in houston) and selling my aprons!!!! i'm a tad worried they won't sell...i mean, i like them, and my friends seem to like them, but...will random strangers wandering around at a church bazaar like them? i hope so :)

my plan: fulfill the orders that i have so far, and then start on a collection for the bazaar in october. that SEAMS far away, but it's not in apron world. lol...please keep me in your prayers as i prepare for this. i know it will be fun. and hopefully will raise some money/awareness for attitudes & attire.

jive on giselle

2008-07-29T08:24:00.005-05:00

the giselle

*i love this awesome yellow fabric...it has chandeliers all over it!

two rows of satin brown ribbon
sweet buttons

pretty little bow

i'm proud of this one...she's pretty darn cool.

www.chelsburleson.etsy.com

how swell estelle

2008-07-25T08:09:00.007-05:00

oh how i love thee...

four buttons are sewn are the second tier...very very sneakily...
who doesn't love lace?

buttons finishing off the ribbon around the waist

haute leopard ribbon to throw a funky twist on estelle

this girl may be sold! but if you like her, i have more of the same fabric and can design something for ya!

a sneak peak and sara's debut...

2008-07-24T08:24:00.006-05:00

sneak peek of estelle...

see any buttons on there? it's like where's waldo...

the sara, baby apron

http://www.chelsburleson.etsy.com/

***

i'm all about doing custom orders, so convo me on etsy or leave a comment on my blog and let me know what you're thinking...

meet florence

2008-07-23T08:26:00.007-05:00

i heart florence...a lot. i made this one last night...constructed from a hand towel and some adorable seer sucker fabric. the colors are a rust red, cream, gray, and light yellow...i'm still amazed that both pieces of fabric look like they were made to go together! exact same colors!

a little gather with a gray button...so you can see the birdie of course!
pretty waistband

a tad blurry, sorry...i loved this yellow ribbon, however, it is not long enough to tie in a bow. a square knot looks super cute though!

*********

florence is for sale for $25 and remember, 20% will go to Attitudes & Attire!! i have a few people with orders for a half apron, and if you like this one, then let me know! i have enough fabric to make 2 more. if i don't hear back, florence is going to be my first etsy item! either way, i want someone to be able to wear this gal!

the rosalind

2008-07-22T09:09:00.006-05:00

about the rosalind...
i love this shabby chic look. each tier has a seam about 1/4" from the bottom, so there will be a small amount of fraying. i wanted it like this because it just seems to go with the light, cotton fabric and the "vintagy" feel. yup, "vintagy," i made it up. ha.

finished with a wide grosgrain ribbon of pinks and browns

at the bottom there are 2 places where i gathered the fabric and finished it with a pretty little button...both gathers are about 4" from the sides

each lower corner is finished with a button too..i love me some buttons

orders! orders! place your orders :)

2008-07-21T08:51:00.013-05:00

the Stella

the Mina

the Karsyn

who knew...

2008-07-18T08:48:00.002-05:00

so i found this out this morning:

the acronym "CHELS" stands for Cargo Helicopter External Lift System. so from now on, if you could please refer to me as "cargo helicopter external lift system" that would be great. :)

update on baby/toddler aprons: three are in the making right now and they're looking awesome! i got some ruffles, leopard ribbon, and colorful buttons going on...only problem is my needle broke and i cannot get it changed for the life of me!! any suggs? there is a clamp that i'm supposed to turn to let out the broken needle and i cannot get that clamp to turn either way. i even got out pliers to assist me and nothin'. these aprons will be finished this weekend though so i better get me a new needle fast!

loves.

hahaha...

2008-07-16T15:24:00.002-05:00

this has absolutely nothing to do with sewing or aprons, but i read it and laughed out loud, so i have to post it. this is from an article on msn about what your car says about you...here are the ones for porsche and corvette (my personal fav):

Porsche (as interpreted by Corvette owner)"What a jerk. Probably a lawyer, trust-fund brat, never worked an honest day in his life. Bet he gets his nails manicured."
Corvette (as interpreted by Porsche owner)"What a jerk. Probably thinks NASCAR is real racing. He thinks 'dressing up' means a monogrammed bowling shirt."
Corvette and Porsche (as interpreted by attractive woman). "What a jerk. Probably takes Viagra. Twice divorced, mid-life crisis. Sad."

ouch. ha!

and just for laughs, here are two more:
Lexus "I don't even like cars, but since this is shopping, I'm going to spend a lot of money."
BMW "My [insert noun] is better than yours."

unfinished projects, my specialty!

2008-07-16T10:46:00.009-05:00

first of all, i am in love with my new blog design!! thank you jennifer!! it is exactly what i had imagined for this apron journey that has taken over my life...in a good way of course!

news flash: i'm sewing and selling aprons :) ha. some of you are laughing and thinking "that chelsea, she just can't sit still!" and you're right! i cannot. and thus the reason for this whole idea and new obsession. whatever items i make and sell, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to attitudes & attire (tm), the awesome non-profit org helping women become self-sufficient. on saturday i was able to meet about 15 women who now have jobs and are on the right track because of attitudes & attire...it was a purely amazing, god-filled day.

*********

toddler apron, not finished. made from a terry cloth hand towel. the bottom is tucked under to make a large pocket- cute. and i think i'm going to make a flower under the rick rack out of buttons...i have buttons galore!

this is my fav so far, and it's not finished either, almost, but not quite...ha...that seems to be my pattern here. no pun intended, lol.

a work in progress...this is a dish towel i found at an antique store. i'm putting pleats in the middle and then will put the perfect ribbon as the belted tie...i have yet to find that ribbon.

sweet baby aprons (bibs) for my niece Lauren and her little sis Emily (who is not even born yet! i love her already!) ok, now these are complete! hallelujah!

sew many things, sew little time

2008-07-15T10:32:00.003-05:00

hey peeps,

sorry for that hiatus in blogging. i'm ashamed. ha. really i have just been so busy, and so much is going on, that when i sit down to blog, i don't know where to start. but i thought i would post the picture above...crystal says i'm flipping off the camera...lol...and darcy is just smiling pretty.

apron sewing is cruising right along and my confidence is building by the day. it has become really fun and quite a release of all this creative genius-ness i have. i hope you caught the sarcasm with the genius reference, of which i am not. :) but i'm a tryin'.

and i already have three orders...i can't post pics yet of my finished products, but i will this weekend...

a few punny names for the new apron journey i'm on...

*let us gather together

*striving to pleat you

* 327 or bust (at the seams)

*joined at the hip

anyone got anything better than that? click on "0 comments" below this post and add what you think we should call this thing.

post addison circle's july newsletter

2008-07-09T11:18:00.002-05:00

attitudes & attire article (click to make larger)

oh who's that sweet pet of the month?? why, it's coco!

i'd like to retract my statement please...

2008-07-09T08:29:00.003-05:00

have you ever said something and immediately regretted it? let me preface my story by telling you that adidas (their offices are located in our building) let me borrow one of their industrial type rolling racks for the suit drive. it was a seriously sweet rack, and i was so grateful to have it.

so yesterday as i'm leaving work, i see a girl from adidas that i kind of know, and she's rolling in a rack full of sample clothes. i walk by and say "nice rack!"

what?!?

it's too early to think of a title...

2008-07-08T08:13:00.004-05:00

i don't even know where to start friends...there has been a lot of random things that have happened since the last bloggie...i'll just start listing:

-went to the lake house for the 4th and it was crazy fun. i will post pics when people send them to me :) you know who you are...ha!

-while at the lake, we had the biggest storm i've ever witnessed at this lake...waves crashing over our pier (we had to hold coco the whole time bc she could have easily been washed right off the pier)...the waves looked like the ocean. seriously.

-the storm also brought out every spider in livingston and apparently snakes because i almost stepped on what i was told was a water moccasin. g-r-o-s-s.

-i received some fabric yesterday that i ordered...heehee (random fact: my fav class at baylor was a ridiculously hard "textiles" class that i absolutely loved...i should have known i'd revisit my love for textiles...)

-i also was practicing on my first apron yesterday and got incredibly frustrated. something is wrong with my tension or something bc i have excess thread stitched all over that poor apron, ha. no worries, i will get the kinks worked out and try, try again. i'm not giving up on these chaprons...

-this saturday is a celebration party at Attitudes & Attire and I get to join them...it is for the women who are coming back for the 3rd time (which means they went to their interview, got the job, and have been at the job for a certain amount of time)....YOU GO LADIES! :) i can't wait to meet them...

-i booked my flight to el paso for the end of july...oh how i miss lizzy! i cannot wait to see her new home...and get facials. i love me some facials.

quick prayer: lord today i am so thankful for you. i praise you because you are so holy and so awesome and so constant. help me to praise you all day and to see you in everything. for your reputation, amen.

pretty please

2008-07-02T16:29:00.004-05:00

*if you come across some chic, weird, pretty, or even odd fabric for a good price, please let me know!!

i just got fat squares in each of these fabrics.

hoo doesn't love owls? punny...

saving it for when i "get good"

2008-07-02T15:59:00.005-05:00

i bought a yard of this fabric to use after all my practice rounds...i had no idea what all was out there! but this has been my favorite so far...now if that doesn't make a delicious apron, i just don't know what will :)

apron journey

2008-07-01T16:22:00.005-05:00

so my fabric is washed and my new journey is about to begin. i'm so excited i could hardly work all day! on my lunch break i even went out and found some more fabric on clearance for "practice fabric" and a huge bag o' ribbon for $1.99. what a steal! ha. i know the first try will be ugly, ha, and the third time prob won't be a charm either.

practice makes perfect people.

my goal is to make some darling aprons (or "chaprons" as charissa calls them because they're aprons made by chelsea...get it? ha!). i'm talking darling like anything from funky cool to shabby chic...nothing preppy, nothing pretty...well ok, sort of pretty, but not like little girlie looking. i'm talking about some seriously awesome aprons. i'll fill you in on the rest of my master plan later. let me see how i do at this first part...

i put some new blogs and links over to the right that talk about aprons and how incredibly cool they are. the funniest thing about this is that i can't cook worth a darn. grape nuts might be my specialty. so it's ironic i'm going to make aprons...i can wear them when i clean and stuff...or when i wash my car, wait...i don't do that either. well, that's why i'm going to make them for other people, so that they can be little domestic divas with their delicious "chaprons."

just wait...i have a feeling in my bones that these are going to radically change the world. :)

sew happy

2008-06-30T13:11:00.005-05:00

i'm the new owner of a singer 2250 portable sewing machine!!! i have decided to dust myself off and try again...i clearly remember the teddy bear i sewed in junior high. i did the darts the wrong way for it's eyes, so they were sunken way into his head and he looked very...wrong. but i used to sew a lot...seasonal pillows (poor mom had to put them out every christmas, ha). well maybe not a lot because all i can remember is that wrong teddy bear and lots of christmas pillows. but i enjoyed it, i know that. sew i decided to sew again...hardy har har. i made a quick stop at joann fabric and craft store and bought 3 different fabrics that were on sale (since my "dusting off" process will take a few tries for sure) and some other fun accessories. heehee.

here i go, swatch me SEW! (you're going to get very tired of my clever sewing phrases, i can already tell). i just feel sew liberated...(i stole that from a website, i won't lie).

sweet jesus

2008-06-27T09:43:00.004-05:00

so i definitely have something cool to share with you this morning. you know that toolbox class i started this past monday that i love? well, part of our "homework" was to start a daily prayer time/quiet time with the lord...i have chosen to start mine in the morning, like most others. this is the time that is still quiet for me and my brain isn't racing yet. once the day starts and things begin rolling, it's hard for me to focus. and this way, i feel like i'm just starting my day off in the best way possible. reading scripture, praying, listening, and journaling what i'm thinking/feeling really brings a peace to my heart and kind of sets the tone for the day. i'm in love with this morning time, and i hope to do it daily for the rest of my life. i mean that.

but the very cool thing that i wanted to share was how i'm waking up. the night before my first "early" morning (which is only about 20-30 minutes earlier, but that is precious time when you're talking 6 am!), i set my alarm and was kind of excited about this new adventure. i prayed that i would awake refreshed, energized and ready to start this thing that i hoped would turn into a daily habit. but not like a habit that you do carelessly and effortlessly just because you do it daily, but a special habit that i enjoy day after day. so this was my prayer.

my alarm went off at 5:45 am, and i have never felt so ready to wake up and go meet with the Lord. that is what my heart was feeling was this urgency and excitedness to get out of bed so that i could join the lord in conversation. and the minute that my eyes opened, a song was playing in my head, loud and clear. and i felt a nudge; a nudge to get up and go meet with the Creator of the universe. no lie. and this exact thing has happened every morning since.

the first morning was tuesday, and i arose singing "jesus you have called us, freely we've received, now freely we must give. we must go, live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken, we must go. stepping forward keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go."

wednesday, was "open the eyes of my heart lord, open the eyes of my heart, i want to see you, yes i want to see you."

thursday was the same song as tuesday "god of justice"- the message is so powerful and just makes me want to go...go feed the hungry, go stand with the broken...i love those lyrics.

and today was "praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore him! all that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him. let the amen sound from His people again, gladly for aye we adore Him."

what a sweet jesus we have that he wants to wake me each morning with a song on my tongue and joy in my heart.

keep 'em coming

2008-06-26T08:11:00.004-05:00

pretty rad update:

i received SEVEN more women's business suits, 2 blazers, and 4 nice blouses...

i thought i was done with the suit collecting thing but God has other plans it seems :)

so, if you never had time to clean out your closets or sift through older/not-fitting-anymore kind of clothes, looks like you still have time :)

( www.attitudesandattire.org )

praises to him...

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. --Psalm 143:8

mexico or bust!

2008-06-25T16:29:00.004-05:00

just got the OK from the boss man...in october, i am headed to mexico on the mission trip with buckner! and lizzy is coming too!!! we'll spend thursday through sunday loving and hugging on orphans...

could this day get any better? why, yes, yes it could. just got off the phone with darcy and we're having dinner tonight at the new Jake's Burgers by my place. sweetness people.

for more info about buckner international, click here .

we're blessed, let's get out there and go bless others!!

i heart toolbox

2008-06-24T09:41:00.004-05:00

Last night was my first night of my "toolbox" class called "drawing near to God through prayer." i know i am going to love it. i already do. i won't go over everything we discussed, although it's tempting because it was all soooo good. but here are a few things we covered that stuck with me:

1. we read an article that Rick Warren had written (condensed from his book Dynamic Bible Study Methods) about how to have meaningful time with God...and this hit me hard:

"Remember that you are meeting with the Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of Men." wow. he's totally right...puts quite a spin on just praying to God, huh?

2. in groups we listed different attributes of God...this was fun. after naming off about thirty, you see in writing (your writing), that man, we have an awesome God! a few we listed are: loving, caring, comforter, creator, jealous (for you), merciful, forgiving, omnipotent, omniscient...the list goes on and on. but when i reread my list last night, i remembered that He is the only one with all these characteristics. no person on earth could ever have all these attributes, only our precious God. aaahhhh.

3. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

arrested development

2008-06-21T08:07:00.004-05:00

sweet! looks like i figured out how to embed a video...heehee...and this is a really good video too. double whammy.

memories

2008-06-20T13:07:00.003-05:00

i just ran across this picture of our callie girl who passed away february 18th.

darcy had to put her beagle hillary to sleep yesterday, and seeing darcy's pain brings back tough memories. hillary was suffering from kidney failure. :( i'm grateful that she's no longer in pain, but man, that's hard.

pets are just such a special part of our lives and families. you can't really explain that bond, but there is nothing else like it. keep darcy and her husband matt in your prayers please as they endure this trial.

stinky brother

2008-06-20T08:34:00.002-05:00

i have been anxiously following the story on 6 year old Jessie Hall who had hemispherectory (removal of half of her brain) due to a disease called Rasumussen's Encephalitis...she is doing great and even cracking jokes. i loved this news article, it was written so sweetly...
http://wjz.com/jessiestory/jessie.hall.ben.2.752707.html

praise God for this little girl's life, her recovery, her impact, her enduring family...our God is an awesome God.

dadfest- june 21

2008-06-19T09:58:00.003-05:00

want to volunteer at the dadfest 5k run at texas stadium this saturday? email Lewis George at lewis.george@mellew.com

warning: we have to be there at 6:30 am so roll out of bed with enough time to grab starbucks :)

UrchinWear

2008-06-19T09:02:00.004-05:00

hope this gets a giggle outta ya...happy thursday! i was playing with "pages" last night and this is what happened...

i know you can't read it bc it's so small, but click on it and you'll see my huge face appear with my huge orange goggles. oh i can't believe i'm posting this but i did it for my mom :)

blah blah blog

2008-06-18T14:05:00.002-05:00

i didn't know what to title it, but this blog is full of randomness...

first off, a great article with 10 tips on how to stay cool and fit this summer...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/lifetravel/stories/DN-nh_10summertips_0617liv.State.Edition1.3574353.html

next, i am 90% sure i'm headed to el paso on a mission trip this fall. i could not be more excited to join the Buckner team and deliver shoes and hugs to children in orphanages in el paso and mexico. and best yet, lizzy might be joining! if anyone else is interested contact me! it's october 22nd-26th (that's a wednesday to sunday). click here to learn more...

also, keep my bro-in-law in your prayers as he just got to minne-sooo-ta (tried to spell it phonetically but that didn't work too well)...it will be a long job and my sister is scheduled to have her baby on august 15th. please don't come early emily!!

and last but surely not least, i am loving kristin wiig on snl...here is something that will make you laugh! http://www.hulu.com/watch/19681/saturday-night-live-suze-orman

now, can anyone tell me how to make that video appear on my blog, instead of having to post the link to it? ha...i'm such a newbie at blogging...

have a great day!

pics!

2008-06-17T09:24:00.016-05:00

b-e-a-utiful banner!

suit drive cake!

made by lucky lucie designs

http://luckyluciedesigns.synthasite.com/

and the darling dog jumps in the fountain

adding to the rack

kimmy digging into the donated pizzas from PASTAZIO'S

the gang

l-r: me, katie, cady (in front), shonda, darcy, kimberly, suzy

suzy wondering where my table went

where will i sleep?

showing off some beautiful pink suits

tada!

clothes taking over my apartment

celebratory dinner at Tirelli's

l-r: kimberly, crystal, darcy, me, mom, lizzy, suzy

true methodist...

2008-06-15T17:50:00.005-05:00

i guess i'm a true methodist bc i'm all about the numbers! ha...

so here are the results of a successful suit drive:

suits (blazer and skirt/pant set): 84

blazers: 27

pants:28

blouses:49

skirts: 30

dresses: 15

handbags: 15

for a grand total of 248 usable items!!! (there were even more items donated but some were deemed "non-business related" and are not in the 248 total).

thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person who helped, encouraged, donated, supported, worked, labored, toiled, made cakes, had pizza donated for lunch...i could go on and on...it was a blast and a true blessing. my apartment is stuffed to the brim with clothes...sort of smellin like a goodwill store over here. ha! here's a pic but there will be many, many more pics posted tonight when my momma sends me some from her camera. i'm pointing to the 50 suits on one rack, the rest are laying on my couch, ha! i think coco is mad at the clothes everywhere, they're taking over her lounging spots...she spent most of yesterday under my bed...pouting.

tomorrow, tomorrow, i love ya tomorrow! you're only a day away!

2008-06-13T10:11:00.002-05:00

hokay, so here we are, one day away and things are really picking up!

lizzy got in town last night... my sweet, little coworker laura van horn has collected some suits and is bringing them up to work today...another sweet, little coworker lucie brought me a ______ for me to surprise my friends with tomorrow at the suit drive (it's a secret, hence the blank, ha)...katie collected suits from one of her coworkers...my mom will be here this evening...and then the party starts tomorrow at 10am.

i'm quite excited.

i also just got a hit counter thing for my blog today, it's at the bottom. i'm a little bummed i didn't know how to do it when i first started the blog. it says 8 people have come to my blog, ha! more like 8,000...kidding! i'm not that popular :)

and tonight lizzy, her mom ronda, me, and my mom are all going to dinner, yay! our moms have never met, so this is a blast just waiting to happen.

mission suit drive= 2 days away!

2008-06-12T10:25:00.003-05:00

yes, i know, i can't believe it either! the suit drive is only TWO days away! and i've got some last minute things to do still :)

planning this drive has opened my eyes...while we humans have our flaws, we want to do good. it's like people might not know the hows or wheres to giving generously but when you put something in front of them that enables them to give back, they take it and run. in the right direction, too. so many people have already contributed to this drive- we have collected 32 suits (full suits, blazer and pants/skirt set), 8 business skirts, 10 blouses, 4 slacks, 4 dresses, 4 handbags. and the drive hasn't happened. and people that didn't necessarily contribute a suit want to help too. we have 4 restaurants that are giving coupons to all the people that donate and a jewelry store (www.hersoutherncharm.etsy.com) that is giving a 5% discount if you donate to the suit drive. and then there's all the people that have given their time, energy, thoughts, etc to make this suit drive happen...it's truly amazing how so many want to be a part of something good. and this is good. :)

it might be that this drive has given some of you a chance to rid your closet of the old so that you may purchase some new. or it may be that some of you have been in the same position as the women who have been helped by Attitudes & Attire (tm), and you know how these women feel and what they need. and then others caught the giving bug and just want to give, give, give because it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. whatever the reason, we all deep down inside want to help others and to do good things. i like this. we don't always do good things, and we have moments of greediness and an un-giving spirit, but innately, i think we really do want to help. we are wonderfully and fearfully made and i praise our god for this.

if that don't make ya feel great, i just don't know what will.

catch the giving bug too and head on over to the SUIT DRIVE on SATURDAY!!!

special prayer

2008-06-11T08:29:00.003-05:00

heavenly father, take extra special care of sweet jessie hall today as she undergoes a major surgery that will remove half of her brain. father god we know you're the healer...heal jessie and her brain disease. bless the doctors today and make steady their hands. prayers for her family as they patiently wait for the surgery to be completed lord, i pray that they find peace and comfort in you through all of this. may jessie be a light to the world. please keep her safe. it's for your son's reputation father, amen.

http://cbs11tv.com/local/Jessie.Hall.surgery.2.745620.html

4 more days...

2008-06-10T08:33:00.001-05:00

http://www.attitudesandattire.org/ has our sweet, littly flyer up on their website :)

check it out and spread the word.

peace!

5 mo' days

2008-06-09T13:23:00.002-05:00

omg, only five more days until the drive-o-rama is here ;) gosh, then i'll really have to come up with things to blog about. the suit drive has been my life for the past month. hmmm....

also, my friend lucie makes incredible cakes and just got her website up and running...
http://luckyluciedesigns.synthasite.com/index.php

way way cool. and yummy too.

that's all for today, hopefully more lazers...

sale?!

2008-06-05T12:43:00.006-05:00

so in my spare time, i browse the internet, particularly clothing websites, and more particularly nordstrom. i should not do this. it only makes me want things. and i know i do not need anything. ok, except maybe some colored heels to go with this new yellow silk dress i got. ok, ok, that, too, would be classified as a want. just think of the amount of money we spend on things...i need to digress for a second. look at this dress i just found (on the left). so cute, so summery, SO expensive. it was $795 and is on sale for the low price of $469. w?! $469 is not a sale people!!

back to my point, yes, i have a point. instead of looking at websites that honor earthly things, what about looking up sites of non-profit organizations, churches, your community's calendar (which probably offers some kind of volunteer opps)? we need to build up our treasure for heaven, being kingdom-focused, and honor our God, not the world. we discussed this in depth this past semester in IBC's women's bible study. which btw, i miss greatly. i kind of feel a little empty and lost without that weekly community of women studying God's word. there's just nothing like it. any good suggs for a summer bible study? IBC offers ToolBox classes too, maybe i could look into one of those. actually, now that i journey to IBC's website and read about ToolBox, this seems like a very good idea. ok, back to my "point," (ha, as i type, my point is lessening and becoming a little preachy). back to bible study...we had a chart and we wrote down how and where we spend our money. i know most of you think my big, chunk of mula is thrown down on clothes (not because i'm the best dressed, but because i really do shop a lot...it's called retail therapy). but it's not. my dough is spent on food, food, and more food. or it was at the time. since then i have started packing my lunch almost every day of the week. i splurge on wednesdays because that is subway's special for the turkey-to-die-for-sandwich (after tax, it's only $3.02). now that is a deal. actually, i have blogged about that sandwich before, ha. see, i love food. but i also love giving and helping and trying to live more generously. so i sacrifice a tad on the food area of my life. i get all my veggies and nutrients, don't be worried, but i don't eat out and spend a ridiculous $2 on iced tea. that is like the cheapest drink to make and they totally rip you off on tea!! and i do still meet friends for dinner once or twice a week. but i think i have the "saving money of food expenses" part pretty under control.

the next chunk is shopping, this my friends, is where i DO need help :) it's just what i do when i'm bored (online shopping- aaahhh!) or when i've had a bad day. you cannot tell me that new pink pumps don't turn your frown upside down. they do. but just for a short bit.

if you have time, jot down where your monthly income gets distributed...rent/mortgage, food, necessary stuff (toilet paper, household cleaner stuff, etc- let me advise, do NOT try to go without toilet paper, let me repeat, do NOT try to go without toilet paper! that is not the point of my rambling blog :) ), tithing, medicine, etc. just check out where your money goes...because where it is, shows where your heart is too. ooh that sounded a lot like luke 12:34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

i guess my "point" is, let's use our time and our money better. i have really tried to visit different Dallas-area non profits' websites lately and read about the situations at hand and what they're doing about it. and how we can make a difference.

less nordstrom.com and more:

* http://www.shoesfororphansouls.com/

*http://www.healingphotoart.org/ (not a dallas one, but a great one)

* http://www.jpkids.org/

*http://www.servicesofhope.org/

* http://www.centraldallasministries.org/

there are a ton more. try it for a day...it puts your heart in a different place, sets your priorities straight, and even helps you distinguish between wants and needs. chelsea needs that reminder :)

**we're blessed, let's go bless others**

we have made the KLTY website

2008-06-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

http://www.klty.com/family_fun_calendar.php?date=2008-6-14

scroll down and look for "women's suit drive."

KUDOS DARCE!

happy times

2008-05-29T12:19:00.006-05:00

so i've been really, really happy as of late. a long, four day weekend at the lake triggered it all, i do believe. the group included: mom, dad, kimberly, cady, crystal, addison, darcy, brandon, and lauren. in the words of addi "oh boy!" did we have fun! ha. sunday morning i woke up to a stiff right arm and blamed it on being a weakling. i haven't lifted weights in ages...but i think i'm a gonna start. i ended up "straining the crap out of my tricep muscle" (verbatim of what the doc told me yesterday). sooo it hasn't been very useful since sunday, and my left hand/arm is just about as useless. a coworker of mine told me that she used to train her left hand to do all the same things her right hand could do in case she ever found herself in an unfortunate situation where she could only use that left arm. what a marvelous idea, really, i might work on that in case something dumb like this happens again :) the funniest part of the arm incident was the comparison of my arm to a barbie arm. barbie arms don't really bend either, they just go up and down, and therefore, acted a lot like my stiff arm. and thus i received the nick name "barbie arm" for the duration of the weekend. lol! thank you crystal. it was true, there was no denying it! ha....

back to the happiness though...coming out of a really fun weekend (despite the barbie arm), last night i enjoyed an aggressive fc dallas soccer game vs houston dynamo. fun group of friends, fun game, and a funny little "event staff" man who kept having "talks" with fans throwing streamers on the field. he was very serious about his job. that's what made it even more comical.

tonight i'm going to my first "one to one" training session at the apple store in willowbend. it's a sweet deal. up to an hour a week of personal training, we go over anything and everything i want to learn about my macbook, and i do it all year for only $99. it's a steal and i'm excited.

found out today that my dear friend amy is having twin GIRLS! yay yay yay! Reese Abigail and Riley Grace...can't wait to meet them :)

tomorrow i'm headed back to the lake and suzy is joining me!! omg this will be fun. i'm going to lay off the tubing for a while though since that is what caused my muscle to strain the crap out of itself. the doctor started some rant about how "as we age, blah, blah, blah." made me feel old. he said i can't go out there and be a hot shot and do things that i normally don't do. i was the farthest thing away from being a hot shot. i wish i were a hot shot. this weekend my 11 year old nephew nicholas and 3 of his friends are celebrating the end of elementary school by having a party at the lake. my bro and sis in law will be there too, and i can't wait to see them all. and see the mom and pops again too!

next weekend is my friend lindsey's wedding in houston! road trip for laura and me :) then a stay at hotel zaza. and then the next weekend is the highly-blogged about suit drive.

the fun just never ends...

return of the mac...

2008-05-22T14:24:00.004-05:00

you are singing that song right now, aren't you?

well, i'm happy to report that i'm getting a new hard drive and then i will once again have a computer at home. sweetness. the other night i was at home and i was so bored that i ironed clothes for like 3 hours. granted, it was for a good cause. this thing called a "suit drive." lol...i was ironing suits that an awesome friend brought over, but they just needed a little pressing (on a low, low heat of course which averaged about 5 hours per suit...not really) . and since i didn't have a computer to help me waste time, i ironed :) ha! quite a romantic little evening, if i do say so myself.

question: does this mean i lost all of my music? so when i go to plug in my ipod, what happens? riiiiight, did i mention that i'm starting a class at apple about how to understand your machine? ha...one day, you'll be asking ME questions.

and i'm posting the banner again for you myspacers...trying to make it as convenient as possible. i mean, heck, heaven forbid you have to scroll down a few blogs to find the banner! ha, only jokes. so here it is again, in clear view:

wanna help?!

2008-05-21T12:36:00.003-05:00

300 flyers are printed for the drive...oh? what was that? you'd like some so that you can put them at your place of work? oh and you know someone at a restaurant or business nearby and you'd like to see if they would put some flyers out for people to pick up?
WONDERFUL! i'll be over to your place in a bit to drop off the flyers :)

did you like my role-play to show you how easy it will be for me to give you flyers, and then you can put them somewhere for people to see? easy cheesy indeed.

lol...i apologize, i just ran a few miles and have tons of energy now!?!?!

ok, well i'm prob going to be out of pocket until next tuesday...i'm headed to the lake house tomorrow for a mini vacay. i'll post pics next week of how i won the waverunner races and tubed the longest...lol...i kid, i kid. but i will post pics :)

until then, take care, be safe, and enjoy your holiday!!

happenings

2008-05-19T16:45:00.004-05:00

my sweet little macbook has crashed and burned...it's at the apple doctor as we speak...err type. note: a flashing folder with a question mark in the middle of it is a bad sign.
on the brighter side: they offer one on one training classes for $99 where you have your own "personal trainer" that teaches you all the wonderful things this genius machine can do. so i'm enrolling pronto.

also, i am not sure how all this works, but for you myspace peeps, i think you can copy and paste this banner on your page to help advertise the quickly approaching suit drive...

did i do that right? lemme nose...

Suit Drive, baby

2008-05-14T18:26:00.002-05:00

click image to view bigger :) now go spread the word please!

lots of thoughts in my head

2008-05-13T20:30:00.007-05:00

-just picked up 100 coupons from Astoria!!!! free glass of wine with purchase of food. sweetness.
-Zen and Antonio's will also be supplying coupons to us.
-minutes ago i got an email from greenz saying they have 75 coupons for us...hallelujah!
-the flyer is complete (well, almost, we're lacking one sponsor's logo)
- darcy is a flyer making rockstar
-katie is a dear for dealing with my multiple emails/text messages ALL day :)
-these tiny kids on dancing with the stars are incredible. lol...have you seen the way they move their tiny hips?
-oh back on track...does anyone know how long helium balloons float? really, that is relevant. if we got balloons filled friday night, would they still float on saturday for the duration of the drive (until 2pm)?
-is apple really coming out with a new iphone next month?
-oh yes, suit drive, suit drive, suit drive. kidding. we're doing good, we have lots of things in place and ready to go. i finally feel like i can breathe because it's really happening and so many people are helping to make it happen. when it started it seemed so big and such a difficult thing to pull off. however, family and friends along the way have offered their services, knowledge, time, even finances to make this thing be as big and as awesome as possible. you have no idea how great my heart feels as friends and family step up. you all know how important this drive is for me and so you make it important to you too. that's just greatness, people. i love each and every one of you.

after saying how warm and fuzzy my heart is (lol), i also need to ask you for a prayer request. my friends jason and crystal elwell have an uncle named Son. He has down-sydrome and has amazingly lived 62 awesome years...he is in the hospital right now with pneumonia and tomorrow the drs will be taking out all of his tubes- feeding, breathing, etc. Crystal called tonight and said he's already having a very hard time breathing with his tube, so tomorrow is going to be tough. for Son, for his loving family, and for all the people who have been blessed by knowing this really great man. i'm kind of typing like he's already passed away, and he hasn't. crystal just said that the drs said there's nothing more they can do, so the time has probably come. living until 62 with down-syndrome is an amazing thing anyways.

wow, i don't want to end on that note, but i'm going to...our god is faithful, true, loving, and kind...he has blessed us all in so many ways. reflect on that. sweet dreams ;)

updates

2008-05-07T20:39:00.006-05:00

so today after work, katie and i walked to a few restaurants in addison circle and asked if they'd like to help out with the suit drive. we were thinking that if they could offer a coupon or discount to the people who donate clothes then that would be even more incentive for people to be a part of this drive. plus they would get more people to visit their restaurants as well as their logo on our flyer...i think that is a fair deal!

*Zen said "absolutely!" the owner's mom should be calling me soon ;)
*Astoria, Antonio's, Greenz, and Avanti's all said probably, they'd have to check and then get back to us.
*and Addison Circle Cleaners is donating hangers and possibly rolling racks.

it was a GOOD day!!

and on top of that, i talked with the town of Addison yesterday. i just wanted to make sure that we could use that parking lot next to my building. the past couple days it has been barricaded off, so i thought, "hmmm i'd better check!" i talked to a very nice man Rob who talked with the Addison police who said "sure!" well that was just too easy. thanks Rob!

one more day gone by and many more goals accomplished...that's how i like it.

my first tag...and i'm not talking about the watch...

2008-05-07T12:47:00.004-05:00

I have been tagged, by Megan!!
Write six random things about yourself,Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs,Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment at their blog,Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

6 random things:

1. i could live on peanut butter, i eat WAY too much of it.

2. i have a secret crush on meteorology...even looked into going back to school for it...i LOVE the weather.

3. in college i lived across the street from the dr. pepper museum...ironic, isn't it!?

4. my dog and i kind of look alike...really, we do.

5. i am a HUGE elvis presley fan.

6. i'm hosting a "suit drive" for Attitudes and Attire which i'm sure you all have probably read about on my blog...and if you haven't, then please go read about it :)

one day only and that would be TOMORROW!

2008-05-06T18:31:00.001-05:00

i needed to read this...

2008-05-04T09:07:00.004-05:00

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

*thanks for that one, Paul.

be my spark

2008-05-02T20:58:00.003-05:00

so tonight katie, maggie, and i got together and nailed down some details. as far as getting the word out, we came down to a general consensus...

it only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around will warm up in it's glowing....

be the spark and spread the word about the "suit drive"...

JUNE 14TH, 10 AM-2 PM

WOMEN'S BUSINESS CLOTHES (interview-ready...aka clean, pressed, and on a hanger)
ACCESSORIES/SCARVES/HANDBAGS
PANTY-HOSE (must be brand new, no used ones please :) )

***i tell you this 6 weeks in advance bc you will need time to take a good, long look at your clothes, possibly get them to the cleaners or iron them, hang them, and tell everyone you know to do the same***

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
so, what i'm trying to say is....thank you.

bueller?

2008-04-29T20:06:00.003-05:00

put on your thinking caps peeps...we are in need of:

extra hangers (clothes are required to be on hangers, but i anticipate that not all clothes will be on them when they're dropped off)
large, plastic bins- quantity 5
signs

we need a large banner with the name of the event on it
smaller signs to point people to our location (anyone in the sign business?) :)

paper to print flyers...something thick and sturdy

anyone? anyone? bueller?

*and the date is now leaning towards june 14th*

the suit drive is on!!

2008-04-28T20:26:00.006-05:00

ok, so some brainstorming has gone on, and this suit drive is on!! the date will either be May 31st or June 21st...i would like to do the May date, but i also don't want to rush it. i want to make sure that it's planned well and ready to go with ample time to advertise. the awesome thing is that i talked to my apt complex and they want to help put it on. SWEETNESS!

so here are some ideas/thoughts:
*location: esplanade park in addison circle (area where jazz concerts are held in the summer)
*time: 10 am- 3 pm (is that a good time...wanted to give people to have time to see signs and go home and get stuff)
*need signs in the area, directing people to the park; also a large sign for the location
*music? what do i do about that?
*need rolling clothing racks bc clothes have to be on hangers (ask adidas and vanity fair, both are located in the building i work in)
*extra hangers??
*bins to collect nice accessories, scarves, handbags (also a bin for non-interview items that people bring)
*make flyer...errr....get darce to make the flyer :)
*what about asking local restaurants (avanti, pastazios, astoria cafe, greenz) to offer some kind of discount/coupon to people who donate? think they would??
*need volunteers to help at the drive- accept clothes, sort them, help take them to WTC in dallas (guys, this is where you'd be of great help!)
*becca with attitudes and attire is emailing me a receipt (to duplicate) to give people to use for tax write-off

*advertising ideas:
-flyers at work places of volunteers or...anyone who wants to help advertise
-see if IBC's women's ministry can help advertise...or maybe just email lots of women
-put small flyer in showcase boxes on 1st floor of each building here at post apts
-get flyer printed in post's newsletter
-darcy is making a banner for people to use on their myspace/facebook- yay for that!
-hand out flyers to businesses in the area

whew...i'm beat. are there any doable ideas in there? any suggs? please help friends!!

for more info... ATTITUDES AND ATTIRE

:) loves!!!