Mega Mesh Premium Magnetic Screen Door Review

 I am so excited because I just received my Mega Mesh Premium Magnetic Screen Door from Amazon the other day.  I received this item for free to review but would definitely purchase more for other doors.  Not only was this baby easy peasy to install, it looks great from the inside and out! Our back door does not have a screen so this is exactly what I was looking for to let the air in without the bugs of St. Louis attacking us.  Reina learned very quickly how she can go in and out while the door is open.  The heavy duty magnets allow the screen to self close.  Great find and great job!

Easy Instructions

Reina is not so sure right away

Outside view...PERFECT

Miguel showing Reina how to use :)

Coming Back with a Vengance

I know that I have been quiet for awhile....a LONG while...I let the fibro and the arthritis get me down.  I let people in my husband's "family" get to me and bring me to some very dark places but it is no longer the time to sit back and enjoy the scenery of my bedroom, it is time to react and pose some very long needed questions.

To Denise.  Who do you think you are?  You are the grandmother and NOT the parent of OUR grandson.  How dare you put poison in his mind about his mother, myself, or any other target  you deem fitting at any given time.  You told me that this world would be a better place without me in and I bet you thought you had the best of me.  I am stronger than you know and your words and actions only qualify you as trash.  You lie to manipulate your children and your grandson and to make yourself out to be some victim.  Well, guess what?  I don't care and am not falling for it.

Let's just put one example out on the table, shall we?  Last week you took OUR grandson to the HOSPITAL, not an urgent care, not a doctor's office, but an emergency room at a HOSPITAL.  With your college educated mind, did you not even once think to pick up your damn phone to call his mother?  With all of the texting you did with your son, I know the thought crossed your mind but with malicious intent, you did nothing.  For two minutes, step back and put yourself in a mother's shoes.  How would you have felt if this had happened to you when your children were young?   If, as a mother, you find out that your child has been taken into the hospital and she is then purposely sent to 3 different locations, unable to find him, you too would have been as frantic as Ashley.  Not only was she being led astray but she is also being manipulated by your son into believing that he was the one with him. She was available the whole time.  The feeling of helplessness doesn't even come close to what I can imagine she was dealing with.  When finally told to call you because you had him at the hospital, for no less than 3 hours without a single word of communication from you, would have made me beyond furious.  And we are not even finished, if one parent is unable to take care of a situation, the other parent has every right to step in and care for the child.  Instead of allowing Ashley to leave and care for her son until your son got off of work, you choose to stand there and berate her as a parent and bring up court orders and such in front of Marcus and the nurses and I am sure whoever else would listen to you.  Again I ask, Who do you think you are and How dare you?  SHE is his mother and not you and you just proved that you are a very vindictive, hateful individual.   You are the same person that speak ill about me to my grandson when I have nothing but positive things with and for him.  He is one of the greatest loves of my life yet you continue to tell him how I am not a "real Mimi".  "In the best interest of the child"....LOL, you don't even know what the means!  Why don't you stop being bitter for long enough to truly look in a mirror and see what all of this evil is doing to Marcus.  He is a very intuitive child and knows what is going on, especially considering you and your son are so open with him regarding court details...things that NO 5 year old should know or ever have to worry about.  If you ever stopped for a minute or two and really looked at the situation from a mother's perspective, you might actually see that enabling your son, lying for him in court, and outright hateful deeds, are more destructive for the only one that should matter....Marcus!

Now onto Jason.  I have tried with you so many times, I can't even count but I am done because you have hurt your Dad for the last time  All that he wanted the other night was an evening with his FAMILY, which includes Ashley, Steve, Marcus and Jackson.  You throw a temper tantrum and go off with "how dare he invite Ashley", well I want to ask, How dare he not?  She is closer family to both of us than you have ever been.  She calls and checks in on us both as well as allows us to see our grandson, something you have not done in almost a year.  The only time you call your Dad is when you want something or to speak your hatred for however he wronged you.  You have told him straight out that I won't be allowed to see your new baby when she is born which is fine as I never want to get close to you or your situation again, but how did you think that makes him feel?  Get over it because I am not leaving our relationship and neither is your father. Learn that you are a grown man, responsible for grown man issues.  When you stop blaming other, you might actually be able to see a clearer reflection of yourself.  What I see is a liar (even in a court of law), a manipulator, someone who resorts to bullying, theft, and harassment when you don't get your way,  a lazy thug that deals drugs because it is "easy money" instead of trying to earn an honest day's work, a cheater in life and love (Justine will figure out eventually that you are not quite so honest with her about where you spend your time),   I used to praise you for the fine father that you were becoming but everything has changed.  You have kept our grandson away from us, you take him into unsafe situations and around people that are unsavory at best, you do drugs in front of him, and you talk bad about his family.  Someday he will be old enough to hate you for it all because he sees it.  I just pray that it is not too late and he doesn't go down your same path.

Enough for one night.  Until next time
Mamalou

I Hate Labels But I LOVE Me Some Lace!

I really do hate labels or labeling people or things but I must label myself.  I have had a "recent" obsession with things that are opposite.  Meaning I am one of "those girls" that likes to put a little good in with the bad....like a little bad boy in my wonderfully awesome hubby....like a little yin with my yang.....like a little sun peaking through on a rainy day.  I have to admit that I don't mind a little bad news mixed with my good news.  I know odd eh?!  LOL  I only say "recent" with the quotation marks because you know that this is something that just does not happen over night, it is something you are born with.  Cue the Lady GaGa music......

I definitely don't take myself as a girly girl at all.  The only day in the past 6 years that I have worn a dress was on my wedding day (and it was black and white polka dots....go figure!).  I have bought one skirt during this time and it still hangs in my closet with the price tags on it.  Wait, I did buy another skirt but it was for the fabric so I took it apart.  But I have this obsession with flowery fabrics and lacy, girly materials.  If I see something that even resembles shabby chic, I have to have it.  When my friend Dawn and I go fabric shopping (often), she knows what "Lisa prints" are and I know what "Dawn prints" are.  She is a very mod type of girl and I can pick out a color or print that I know she will just die for.  See, another yin and yang (love ya Dawn!).  

So that brings me to my point, I have this project that I saw out on Pinterest that I really want to make and can't get out of my mind.  It was a bag made of canvas with a beautiful lace border.  Now that I have my embroidery machine, I have the ability to find that perfect lace, make it myself and add it to that bag....YEAH ME!  So check out my pic below...I am making the lace now!!!

Thanks to Mike over at Sew for Less and his Aqua Lace stabilizer, this is an extremely simple job because this stuff will just dissolve to nothingness when I put it into water.  I love it!  Now for the record, I am not being paid to advertise for Sew for Less or endorse their products, I am just excited about this whole new world and the fun tools that have been opened up to me through embroidery.  Sew for Less is a local store and I support local shopping! :)  Here's to hoping I have a finished bag soon.  Dawn....I may need your help on that bag! LOL

Until next time,
Mamalou

My Pride and Joy!

Before I head off to sleepy town....I need to share one more thing.  This is a video of my 2 year old grandson that I took today.  He is incredibly talented and gifted when it comes to just about everything (grandma sees no wrong of course) but when it comes to basketball, he rocks the world!  His mom's side of the family are ALL incredible basketball players and his Grandpa still coaches so he has been around the sport since he was born. It is just amazing to watch him shoot and dribble so I had to capture him on video.  Keep in mind that he is 2 and just turned 2 on 11/22.  Enjoy!

Mamalou

Judging Others Without Knowing Their Story

I just want to share a post that caught my attention on Facebook last night.  I am not putting this out there to berate anyone, just to bring attention to maybe thinking before you make a judgement call. I won't mention names either because the names are pointless.

One person on Facebook posted "When did it become acceptable for people to wear pajamas in public?".  The responses were incredibly closed-minded and really just nothing short of rude.   Below is an excerpt.

"Did you go to Walmart today too?"
"It is so wrong!!"
"See it all the time, not a fan!!"

Of course I joking stated "ummmm.....last night when I went to QT???  Hey, it was very late and I was tired!  Don't hate! LOL"

Those are typical responses but the following response really got me.

"Isn't it disgusting??? People take no pride in themselves anymore."

Disgusting?  Is it hurting you?  Is someone stepping out in their flannel jammie pants actually causing YOU some type of physical harm?  The last time I checked, it only embarrassed me that I didn't have the energy to get dressed up to go to the store, gas station, convenience store, etc.  I had to comment because this is what is wrong with the world today, so many people judge without ever really knowing the person or their story.  Unless you have walked in that person's shoes, how are you to know what they are experiencing?  My response to that comment follows.

"are you guys serious?  You may need to take a step back and consider that there may be a situation behind why that person is in their jammies before calling them "disgusting".  A new mom that needs a pack of diapers last minute because she ran out.....in my case, a disabled person that just didn't have the strength to put back on her jeans so she left on her comfy jammie pants.  It does not mean necessarily that the person lacks pride, it may just mean that the person lacks strength.  Every person has a story and instead of judging, learn sympathy and maybe even empathy."


The person that had the "disgusting" comment came back with the following....

"I do understand about the people who ghave to go out in an emergency....but I think we were talking about the people trying to make a 'fashion statement'."


I must have missed that piece of the conversation (not) but nice way to clarify your feelings and backtrack your response.   My thoughts are that if we spend a little less time judging others and pretending that we know the reasons they do what they do and maybe for once, help someone in need, we might become a less arrogant society that plots people against their fellow man.  Just making  a general  judgement call makes you look ignorant and the person in the jammie pants.....well, the are comfy if nothing else.  I for one would rather be the latter and be comfy! :)  Oh and also, I make jammie pants for anyone that would like to make a fashion statement so contact me if you would like a pair for your next shopping trip. :)

Until next time,
Mamalou

Stoked and FRUSTRATED

Yes, that was a frustrated all in caps.  Can you imagine.....me yelling?  NEVER!!!  lol  Just kidding.  All joking aside, I made the sale of a lifetime last night.  First let me start with, I made the best chili I have ever made yesterday and our annual tradition of our friends, the Miller's coming over for the first big pot of the new year went off without a hitch.  Jen and I decided to take a little road trip over to Hancock's and see if we could look at some embroidery machines.....cheap, easy to use, did I mention cheap?  Yeah well that was the plan but we got there and then lady at the Bernina counter was well, shall we just say, she was new, very, very new and suggested we come back tomorrow.  She even went a little further and told us to come after 2pm because the morning girl was "new" also....ok then!  On our way out the door, I had a sudden thought (aka "brain fart") that we should just go and take a gander at the machines being sold by Hancock and not just Bernina.  Well low and behold there was a machine and it was actually a Bernette by Bernina.  There was a tag on it marking it from $599.00 to $399.00.  You can imagine my surprise and my thought of cha ching, this might be our lucky night.  Well my buddy Jack went back and looked for us to see if they had a unit available and he came back with good and bad news.  The bad news was that the floor model was the only unit available, the good news was that it was 90% off.....WHAAAATTTT?  Yeah, my thought exactly......$59.00 for an embroidery machine....SOLD, ring it up.  Wait, not so fast, check for all parts....check.  Check for hoop.....check check.  How about software.....nope, nothing there and it says it is optional.  OK, now I am a computer geek and love a good challenge but this one is getting me.  It calls for use of eXplorations Lite software and the machine is the Bernette H79 for Bernina.   I have been searching the internet for 24 hours now and nothing.  I went and visited the Bernina lady today (yes after 2pm thank you very much) and she was extremely helpful but I am still without software and without a way to get images into the machine.  FYI, the machine was a usb port but it is the fat end of the usb if that makes sense and not like I can stick just a normal memory stick in there.  Also, the manual says that the machine's internal memory holds up to 99 designs (40 are pre-loaded).  How do I get the other designs there?  If anyone knows what I am talking about, I would be happy to load pics.

If anyone knows anything about this embroidery machine, please contact me and I will be forever in your debt.

Until next time,

Mamalou

2011 Reflections and Thoughts for 2012

First I have to say that I don't believe in "resolutions".  I think that this is a sure way to set yourself up to fail.  Sure, I want to make changes in my health in 2012.  I want to eat better, exercise more, yadda yadda...don't we all?  That is so vague and I think it is better to hope for peace in our families and that we all have a more prosperous new year than to set a goal that I am going to feel guilty if I am unable to obtain.

With that said I would like to reflect on the past year and the events that have effected me and the people that I love and care for.  First, my Daddy married his equal, his partner, his true love.  THAT makes me so happy to see him and his new wife happy.  It doesn't necessarily make me think that my job here is done because I still know that I am his one and only favorite daughter (his words, not mine...lol).  He is still the first man that I loved but I am happy that he has found true happiness with Peggy.

With that being said, I also had to put closure on my situation with my mom and let go of the pain and heartache that I feel/felt.  I truly now realize that we are just completely different people with completely different morals and beliefs and I have to accept that she is never going to be the storybook mother that we all dream of.  People change and sometimes not for the better and sometimes it is just best to walk away and lick our wounds to heal.  She is not what I want for my life, period, and that is OK to say and stand behind.  When I say I have had enough and I see how the negativity is effecting those around me, I have to stand behind my own decisions and that is just what I have done.  One day it might change but right now I am in the healing phase and the wounds are too fresh to open that door again anytime soon.

Also in the past year, as I have talked about many times, my disabilities have gotten worse.  My psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia have been diagnosed but I am in no way close to resolving the issues that burden me daily.  It continues to be a daily struggle that I deal with and as the year drew to a close, I was on my 3rd round of antibiotics due to sinus infections and a horrible cough.  I have come to deal with the issues however and know that even when I feel horrible, life goes on.  I must still try to do things that I need to do and coming to grips with that knowledge that "I can't do everything" has been hard but I don't let it tear me up as I used to.

As we move into 2012, I will continue to learn to delegate and release some of the control of items to other family members.  It does not make me weak, it makes me loved that I have people around me that care about me enough to want to help. I need to accept the help and love without feeling like a lessor individual.  I am still working on that but getting much better.

Also, I have learned that I need to make better choices on the people that I let into my life.  Unfortunately I have made some choices in the past that have not been so great.  Friendships are a give and take and I never intentionally hurt anyone.  I have learned who my true friends are and who really couldn't care less.  I guess it takes an illness to see how strong a friendship really is.  On that same note, I have met some extraordinary people this past year (yeah Dawn, you're in there :)) that have taught me some wonderful things about friendship.

On a closing note, I wish all of my readers a very happy new year and hope that all of your wishes and dreams come true in the upcoming year.  You all deserve the best and don't accept anything less!  Thank you all for reading about my antics and rants and I hope you stay around for more!  Love you all!

Until next time,
Mamalou

Things I have Learned from Sewing

Mind you, these items have just been learned in the past two hours.

1. If a pattern says use a pressing cloth with a specific interfacing, it is best that you follow this instruction.

2. If an iron, whatever the cost, says "self clean", that is exactly what that means...YOU will clean it YOURSELF, with a heck of a lot of elbow grease.

3. When heated, Goof-Off smells just as bad as when it is cold.

4. Vinegar does not clean everything...specifically said iron.

5. If you don't have plain vinegar but apple cider vinegar, try it. When mixed with baking soda, it makes a fun bubbly mix but still doesn't clean crap off of said iron! But the good news is, when warmed, the concoction kinda smells like bread is baking.

6. I don't really need fingerprints anymore. As long as I don't plan to be murdered anytime soon, they are only useful in identifying a body.

I think this is about enough lessons I need for a day but if anyone has a sure fire way to remove gluey residue from an iron, please leave me a comment. Also, check out what I am in the process of making below. It is a nice little ironing board caddy (how ironic) from sew4home. You can check out the link in my pinterest.

Until next time,

Mamalou

What if I said "Yes"?

What if I said "yes"?   The question is "can I do anything for you?" or "do you need anything?".  My "friends" know me and know that my response is always "no, I am fine".  I would never go out there and ask for assistance.  I wouldn't because in the past, when I have actually taken the steps to get someone to help me, the answer is always the same, "I have (insert whatever) and (insert whatever else) to do and am really busy, but I might be able to fit you into my schedule next Thursday at 9pm".  I get that everyone is busy but for a person to put themselves out there and ask for assistance (when you have volunteered), please don't try to fit me in at a time when you know that I won't be functioning or better yet, when the help is no longer needed.

I am not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, that is not the point of this post but you find out who your true friends are when you are disabled.  I am not always able to drive to you and I am not always fun anymore or even the happy go lucky girl that I used to be.  I KNOW that.....better than ANYONE, I KNOW that.  Some days it is hard to even live with myself and yes, it is depressing.  It is hard to see me like this.....I get that....I am depressing.....check check.  But when you say to me "What can I do to help" or "Do you need anything?", what if I responded with "Yes, thank you, there is"?  What would you say?

Mamalou

The Love Purse

Almost finished except for the straps

Straps going on

Interior (completely changed)

different options for a closure piece

Close up

Temporary closure

So this is it!  I still need to do some minor adjustments on it but essentially it is done.  I stayed up late the night before Thanksgiving because I was on a roll.  Of course it took a test run on Thanksgiving to determine the additional changes that it needs (closure, duh!, tightening of one of the straps, etc).

Right now I am working on some Christmas items for a holiday bizarre that I was invited to this weekend and then it is time to get house in order for the holidays and do some more sewing.  I want to make my own stockings this year!!!  Wish me luck!

Until next time,

Mamalou

What I learned today.....

This list is in no particular order so just go with it...lol

Will Ferrell is a worse actor than I originally thought. I caught pieces of Land of the Lost and he ruined what was actually one of my favorite shows when I was a kid.

I learned that I should let go of the past.  I can't change the things that I have done, I can only change how I act in the future and hope that I have learned from my mistakes.  The things that I do, make me, me.  Looking forward is so much better than looking back and continually tripping over my own feet.

On that same note, I can't keep beating myself up for mistakes that I made in my past.  I can only hope that people are forgiving.  If forgiveness is never granted, I can only move on alone and cherish the memories.  I only have control over ME and how forgiving I wish to be, no one else.  I am just thankful that God is much more forgiving than most people.

I learned that my aunt Lani is probably more likely my mother and that I have more in common with her than my biological mother.  Funny how much stuff you find that you have in common if you just talk.  I found out that she has the same love of sewing and even sews with a serger like me.  She also told me that they think she has psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia just like me.

I learned that my mom's family does NOT hold me accountable for my mom's actions and they just want to see ME.  I have been in fear of seeing them for so long because of my mom did and I shouldn't have been.  Even though I might have been embarrassed for my mom, I didn't do anything to my family and should have been more willing to see them because we have so much wasted time that can't be brought back.  I am fixing that today and meeting my aunts to catch up.  It will be a wonderful Sunday and a weight off of my chest!

I learned that I can serge a pair of pants for my grandson in under an hour from start to finish and they look as good, if not better, than a pair of fleece pants that can be bought in the store.

I learned that Christmas lights make me happy when I see them lit up after Thanksgiving.  Also, Christmas music on the radio AFTER Thanksgiving makes me a little giddy!  Some people in our subdivision go all out and it makes me happy that Christmas is fast approaching.

This is all for now but I am sure I will learn more today!

Until next time,

Mamalou

Making Progress on the Love Purse

I must admit that this bag is harder than I anticipated.  I don't know if it is because it is SO much thinker than I am used to working with or if it is just because the material means so much more to me than just normal fabric I pick up at Joann's.  Probably the 2nd one but I want to get it just right.  Here is what I have so far.

HAHA...Yeah, I know, it doesn't look like much but the bottom and sides are completed and this is just the top part next to the picture of the original sweater.  As I think I said before, it really didn't felt up like I wanted it to so you can see the interfacing from the liner.  Once I sew the edges and turn it, it will be able to be seen better but I just didn't want a limp sweater, thus the interfacing.  Also, since I am not using a pattern and just free-styling what I want, it has definitely taken more time along the way so that I didn't mess anything up.  I did use my new serger for a few areas but it seems that even the serger is not exactly liking the thickness of this piece and I have a feeling I might be finishing the handles in areas by hand.  That is ok and I want to be happy with it.

On another note......did you see the Joann's Black Friday specials????  Fleece for $2.99 per yard???  Flannels for $1.49 a yard?  OK, I am so there with my extra special additional 25% off even sale price stuff till noon.  Dawn, you with me?  Yep, that's what I thought! I think we should go now and get a number because you know we might be waiting until 4pm for them to call #2987...lol.   Now, if I could just get my hands on the Hancock Fabric Friday specials.  Has anyone seen them?  

Until next time,

Mamalou

Physical Age Does not Define your Maturity

I just have to get this down and off of my head and heart because it really bothers me.  When things bother me and I can't talk about them with anyone that will make a difference, I may as well self com-bust!

OK, so we have my grandson's 2nd birthday party today which has been planned for the last couple of months.  My daughter in law asks all of the grandma's (3 of us total, her mom, myself, and my husband's ex) to get together and make cupcakes.  Bless her heart, she thought it would be any easy and smart way to get the cupcakes done in one sitting so that the rest of the time could be spent on the other food items, decorating, etc.  I am friendly with her parents just fine and offered up my house to do the baking but of course there is always one person who can't get along with ANYONE regardless of the issue or even that it isn't about her, it is about our grandson in common.  The excuse used was that she would feel uncomfortable in our home as we SHOULD in hers.  First, I don't feel uncomfortable there and in fact was there earlier the day before.  Walked right in with both of my step-sons, went into the bedroom to get my grandson's clothes, dressed him and went on my way.  In fact, I have been in there quite a few times.  I learned from my step-daughter years ago that no one MAKES you feel uncomfortable, that is you doing it to yourself.

So, even with her feelings of discomfort, I still extended a text invitation directly from me, stating that she was  more than welcome to come and help as this day is about our grandson.  It was ignored just as any text that I send.  Ignored and not responded to even though she knew that she had other plans.  These other plans included paying $50 for a cupcake cake for the birthday boy....more cupcakes.  Now, had WE (daughter in law, her mom and 2 sisters, my husband and myself) not spent at least 3 hours making and decorating 75 cupcakes, this wouldn't have been an issue....but we did.  We bought the cake mix, as well as the eggs, oil, frosting, kit and stuff that she wanted to use to fill the cupcakes and set aside this time weeks ago to do this.  This morning I was up early making the chicken, rice, and the beans for the meal with help from my daughter in law but had we not wasted all of that time last night on the cupcakes......the whole meal could have been completed and packed up ready to go to the party site last night and it wouldn't have been a mad dash.  But it was and it all could have been avoided by stepping out of her shoes for a mere second and into the others helping.  She would have seen how much time and energy was being wasted on something that wasn't needed.  If you choose to pay that much for cupcakes, that is on you but now we have 75 cupcakes left over because she wanted to "make a point".  Point taken but I am sure the point that you were trying to make is probably not the point that I took away from this.

Points I am taking away from this:

• after being married to my hubby for almost 6 years, you WON'T change 
• you ARE still so self absorbed that you don't care about what anyone else has to go through
• you ARE so petty and childish that you need to draw attention to yourself 
• for some reason, EVERYONE is scared of confronting your childlike behavior, but not me
• you ARE immature or you would just suck it up and be a normal for one day out of the year
• you ARE nothing but a trouble making, drama queen or you would have either not done this or let everyone know your individual plan in advance.

In the future, I need to consider everything that I do for you or you are included in.  I never like "what's in it for me" because what I do for others is from me because I want to help, but I do need to consider "how will she use this against me".  When everything I do comes back to bite me, she makes it quite difficult being cordial at all but I have always strived to be.  Example, her mom passes away last year right before Christmas.  I knew that she was away from our grandson for 3 or so weeks so I sent her pictures via text so she could see how he was doing.  I also sent a custom memorial vinyl saying on canvas down to her for the funeral.  Never a thank you by the way for any of it. When I have made an error or let her get under my skin, I have apologized for things I have said, to her face nonetheless, but sadly she interprets that she is perfect and that she has not done anything worthy of an apology.  My God is the only perfect person in my life.   When she had colon cancer, I always made sure that the kids took home food for her when they were over.  No acknowledgment for any of this either.   By my doing these things, she is under the very UNREAL idea that I want to be her friend.  Her kids tell me this. Honestly, I have enough friends but there is absolutely no reason that you need to be such a malicious backstabber to me when I was not involved in your divorce, nor have I ever done wrong by any of your children.  I need to take her for what she is, a miserable, unmarried, lonely woman.  A little less self absorption and a little more self reflection may help in these areas.

I am done venting for now......wow, I actually do feel better!
Mamalou

PS.  the cupcake cake that she purchased was REALLY purchased by us anyway as she was hunting my husband down for the child support check early.  Now maybe if we could get her to actually pay her debts to my husband from the home equity that she has owed him for about 8 years......THAT will have to be for another post!

Saddened

I know that most of my posts recently have been of the crafts that I allow to fill my mind and mostly make me smile but today I have a personal post that makes me extremely sad.  It makes me sad because I am not a bad parent and I know that.  I have never left my son's side, never....while others have walked in and out of his life, important people, family people, people that shouldn't do that shit.  But I have been here, never leaving but not able to make a difference and it sucks. Once an important person leaves you, it causes damage, damage that might not be seen from the outside, but it is there and it rears it ugly head at the worst times.

A parent can give all of the heart-felt advice that they can but it is up to the child to take that advice and run with it.  You can't do it for them but you are forced to watch what happens when they don't take that advice, and you are left to deal with the damage left in the wake. You are forced to watch it like a slow motion car accident that you can do absolutely nothing to stop.

My son did something stupid, and when I say stupid, I mean stupid because that is a word that is rarely in my vocabulary.  Instead of coming clean immediately and admitting his stupid act to the people that mattered most, he tucked it into a small pocket in his gut where I know it was eating him alive.  I know that I have a tendency to run...run from my problems, run from my issues, get defensive and just run for my life.  My relationship with my wonderful husband has taught me not to run.  He had the patience of a saint and has been able to break down walls that no one else ever has and has allowed me to face my demons without the fear that he will leave me.  He is here, for better or for worse, richer or poorer and definitely in sickness and in health...he is here for me and me for him and I know that I don't need to run anywhere but into his arms.  But for a 16 year old that has had people constantly leaving, that is a hard lesson to teach.  His stupid action, tucked away, all from his fear of someone else leaving him caused yet another heart break.  And he is running still, hasn't wanted to go to school for the past two days and deal with face to face.  How do you explain that actions speak louder than words?  I know that he is sorry for his action and I hope that he has learned a valuable lesson from this, but the words "you can trust me" are nothing but words.  You have to show people that they can trust you though your actions and that takes time but wounds can be healed over time from actions, not by simple, plain words.

Until next time,
Mamalou

I Don't REALLY Hate the Holiday "Season"!

Despise is probably more accurate.  I know that people love the Fa La La'ing, the glitter sparkling, the idiot's shopping, the caroler's caroling, the car's trafficing, the mistletoe kissing, the colors, the drinks, the parties, the bell ringing, etc....blah blah blah.  I get it....I just hate the fact that it is TOO DAMN EARLY!  Only in the US (I hope) are we so money minded that we go from Memorial Day directly to Christmas, don't pass go, slow down enough to spook the crap out of the neighbors, but never really even see Thanksgiving for more than an extended weekend to eat too much and SHOP.  I hate that I got in my car last Monday and turned on not one but two radio stations that are already playing nothing but Christmas music.  Why are they forcing so much noise down our throats so early?  Do they know the true meaning behind the holiday?   Do they know that the event that we are celebrating was much quieter?  That a baby was born in a stable with a beautiful bright star leading the way for people to come and see Him. Come let US adore Him?  Quiet, nothing but the animal's stirring. I am going to assume that Jesus himself didn't even scream bloody murder like the kid I saw the other day in Walmart.  It was peaceful and it was quiet, yet every year gets louder and louder, earlier and earlier.  Shoot the messenger if you want but I want to celebrate the event, not the season.  I don't want to hear "this is what I WANT for Christmas".  Do you think that Jesus WANTED to be born in a stable?   Don't you think that there might have been a much more suitable place for the son of God to be born?  Think about this, November 13th, 2000+ years ago, do you think that Mary was hanging lights and throwing tinsel on a tree that is surely going to drop its needles by December 25th?  Kinda doubt it.  And what about "Happy Holiday"?  I am going to bet that even the person who came up with that phrase as to not offend anyone with a "Merry Christmas", didn't think people would begin saying it in September!

Now before you go and call me scrooge or whatever else, YES, I celebrate Christmas.. absofreakinglutely!  It just annoys me that we have made what used to be a month long celebration into a 3 month shopping event and are missing the true meaning.  This is not meant to offend anyone that celebrates Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or any other religious or cultural holiday that may fall in December/January, if anything, thank you.  Thank you for not allowing your celebrations to be littered or watered down by society.

Shutting up now :)
Mamalou

PS.  I have some new Christmas vinyl images going up soon but I think I will wait until after Thanksgiving is over.

What's the Time? It's Time to Get Messy!

OK.....so I guess I had a little old school rap happening in my head as I was mod podging away today.  You know that Pinterest is my best friend (don't take that personally ANYONE).  I have had the worst couple of weeks to date but even when the rest of my body is pretty much shot and hurting horribly, my brain is still functioning and those gerbils are running on their wheel.

Paper, knife, wood, glue, material.....
Yep, that about does it!

Some of the pieces drying and getting ready
for a few more coats

One dried that I did a week ago.  It is ready for a
few more coats of slop

These guys are just sitting here patiently waiting
for their glue bath!

Once they are all done and dried, they will be getting some vinyl sayings applied to them like "Let it Snow", "Feliz Navidad", "Merry Christmas", "Wise Men Came", etc.  I can't wait till they get to that point but I am happy that I have had this much progress so far.  I will be doing a Holiday Bazaar on December 3rd and I think these will make great little inexpensive stocking stuffer or white elephant gifts.  If you are in need of some gifts, please don't hesitate to contact me as I have tons of Christmas and Holiday art and saying and I would love to make something special for you!

Until Later....Dream Big!
Mamalou

My Newest Creation, the "Love Purse"

I am going to have to call this the "Love Purse", not because it has little hearts or even any type of pink on it, but because I am up-cycling an old sweater that I wore the first night my hubby took me out (and a few more times after that).  It is a Tommy Hilfiger wool mixed argyle sweater that I purchased on clearance (of course) and I fell in love with it immediately.  I had lost a large amount of weight and it fit me like a "T".  It no longer fits me but it was not one of the items that I could not bring myself to give up to Good Will as it just held too many memories.  AND, I still have this killer pair of red high heal cowboy boots that look incredible with the sweater so they are like a matched set.  Let me first show you how it looked originally.

This is Miguel, Tara, and I at
her going away party

Now after some cutting and washing.

General "possible" style of finished
purse

Sweater with back and sleeves removed

Fabrics I am using as liners and pockets

I am still working out the different ideas floating around my head but you kind of get the idea.  I can't wait to use a piece of our beginning and change it into something functional instead of just hanging in my closet!  Let me know if you have any thoughts and/or suggestions because I love new ideas!

Until next time....keep dreaming.....

Mamalou

My First Blog Award!

I am so happy because I was just awarded my very first blog award and it couldn't come at a better time.  As anyone who reads my blog know, I have been feeling like caca for the past few weeks so it was so nice to smile about something.  Jen at The Nifty-Thrifty Lady  gave me the award for helping her out when she was just started out blogging with some helpful links and information.  It is always so nice to know that I was able to help out

By accepting this award I have agreed to:

• Thank the blogger who presented it to me and link back to her page.  Check Jen's blog out at the link on my right sidebar or above.  If you stop by, please tell her I sent you over.  She is very cool gal and it is always nice when folks leave feedback for you.
• Share 7 things about myself.
• Pass the award on to a newly discovered blog.  

Ohhhh, 7 things about me.....this could get interesting..lol.  

1. I have two obsessions that I can't get enough of.....shoes and jammies!  I wish that my body would have held up better so that I could wear some of the fierce heels that are out there now.  On the jammie subject, I have tons of flannel and cotton jammie bottoms, shorts, and t-shirts.  I love them and depending on how I feel some days, I might not get out of them.  Which leads me to #2.
2. I suffer from psoriatic arthritis AND fibomyalgia.  I give myself weekly shots (yeah me!) that are supposed to help but they don't.  Both seem to tag team each other so when it is not the weather messing with the arthritis, it is someone stressing me out or the arthritis meds messing with the fibro.
3. I lived in Arizona for 6 years.  I loved the people but hated the allergies.  I don't care what people say about Arizona being good for allergies because unless you have lived there, you don't understand that things have changed.  People have brought in different vegetation and there are so many man-made lakes and pools that the weather is different now than it was 40 years ago.  Also, if dust is one of your allergies, you are screwed.
4. I have very few female friends because honestly, I don't trust them.  I have been stabbed in the back way too many times and I don't take my friendships lightly.  I can't just "toss aside" a friendship, it is not in my makeup to just give up on people so it is easier to not even get involved.  The friends that I do have, I have had for years because I know they too just don't give up on people.  Thank you my YaYa for loving me through ALL of my faults and seeing the real me, even if I let you down or disappointed you.  YOU my dear are a true friend and I will love you till the day I die.  We may not see each other as much as we would like but I always know you are right here in my heart.
5. I was craftily retarded until I hit 30 years old and then I don't know what happened.  I started scrapbooking and liked it for about 5 minutes but got extremely bored.  I got into fusing glass a few years back and I love it but have had so much pain that I have been unable to do the steps down to my studio like I used to.  Through glass I got into the vinyl and I love it because it allows me to do a lot of computer designing.  In high school, I took sewing classes and bought a sewing machine awhile back that has just been accumulating dust.  I recently pulled it out and have been sewing.  It is relaxing and I love that I can complete a project in a couple of hours.  Sewing, I have found out, is kind of like riding a bike, you can stop for awhile but then start up again and the techniques and ideas just come flowing back.  In the past I have also knit and crocheted but it hurts my hands too much to do anymore so I will stick with the vinyl and sewing for now.
6. I can't lie.  I just can't physically do it because I have the guiltiest conscience and things just eat me alive if I do it.  However on that note, I have learned over the years that even if you tell the truth and speak your mind, there is a way to do it without being rude or disrespectful.  Which leads me into #7.
7. When I was growing up, there were two things that I wanted to be when I grew up, a chef or a lawyer.  Of course I am neither now but I do love to cook for my family and my son is in the culinary program at school so it seems he is following one of my dreams.  On the lawyer side, I have taken many college classes and even did an internship for a lawyer here in St. Louis and I loved it.  I always was afraid that I would never succeed at being a lawyer because of how I like to argue my point and speak the truth.  I had a lawyer tell me about 10 years ago, that I would have made or would make an incredible attorney because the arguing I do is not of a disrespectful nature but of a passionate nature.  I didn't know there was a difference until he explained this to me and many younger people need to realize this early and take note.  You don't need to curse someone up one end and back down the other to get your point across.  In fact, if you do it in a calm manner, sit down and explain the reasons you feel the way that you do and why, it generally makes for a better discussion.  

The blog that I would like to nominate is Patty from Patty Trends.  She has some of the coolest DIY stuff on her blog and she is a fellow Pinterest user.  If you have little ones, she has the most awesome tutorial for making a time out chair.   When you go by and see Patty, tell her I sent you.

Is it Really Thursday Already?

Wow....this week seems to have flown by and what do I have to show for it?   A NEW BAG!  Well, almost a new bag.  Actually, Briar is on Fall Break (don't even get me started on this stupid "break" thing) and I have not been feeling all that great so most of this week has either been spent following him around trying to figure out what he is doing or in bed.  Bed is only good if my hubby is home (oh la la) and not when I feel like death has knocked my door down.  One of these years I am going to get used to this pain or I will die for sure trying! :)  I have to share pics of course as I always love to do because it gives you a glimpse into my crazy world I call life.  Today is going to be kind of random cause that is the kind of girl I am.  Let's start with the new bag.  I showed you the one that I completed on Monday (yes, I know, fantabulous) and I used it for the first time on Tuesday.  There are some minor adjustments that I will definitely be making when I make this bag again, because I am a perfectionist and I want to get the stupid thing right in my eyes.  First....the dumb thing needs a pocket on the inside.  How could I have forgotten to include this or better yet, why was it missing in the instructions?  What do others do with all of your little "junk" like business cards and reward cards and well, stuff too small that shouldn't just be floating around in a big bag?  This girl needs at least one pocket!  Next, I have to say that I LOVE carrying this bag because it hangs just right and most of the purses that I have had in the past few years have had handles to only carry them on my arm and not my shoulder.  This is great and seems so much lighter.  BUT, cause you know that there always is one, even with the suiting material that I used as well as the flannel, the bag was kind of flimsy when I sat down and put it on my lap.   I know that sounds like a stupid thing to be a turn off but I guess I am used to my big, sturdy leather Michael Kors bag or my Vera Bradley and thought it should just hold its shape a little better.  That also can be fixed easily and will be with the next one.  Besides that, I love the shape and again, how it hangs.

The bag I am finishing up right now is below and if going to make an excellent laptop bag that I can throw my puter in and on my way I go.

Pic from book

Both side panels and liner

My first flat bottom....yeah!

view from other side.

Now all that it needs is handles and it will be finished.  Can't wait to throw my laptop in it!

Help me decide on the next project from my book.  Leave me a comment and let me know which one of the two below projects YOU think I should make.

Weekender Bag

Side View

Felted Corsage Bag

Bag with the Copper Canyon felt I want to try

Until Next Time,
Mamalou

Newest Project.....Purse

I was inspired by my friend Dawn and her cool bags that she makes but I had to give it the "Mamalou" touch.    We are into really different fabrics which is cool in my book.  While I love and swoon for the Shabby Chic, floral look, she is into the modern/artistic prints.  While my first attempt didn't stay in either category, I love the mix of browns I used and love even more, the mix of different material types.  I love it so much that I am going to use it today :)

The template that I kind of went from, but mixed it up some, was from a book called "The Perfect Handmade Bag" by Clare Youngs.

I picked it up this past week at Barnes and Noble and it contains some of the coolest designs that I have seen and it was so easy to understand, which I needed!  The template that I used was for the Wool Bow Bag but I did some modification to it because I wanted a longer handle and I didn't really want to put a bow on it.  Also, I wanted to use a few different materials on it instead of just one plaid throughout.  OK, so here we go.

Outside and liner cut and tapered

Accents

Burberry Plaid <3

Finished product 

Love my little green "tag"

That's it.  Had I not have been distracted by Grey's Anatomy episodes that we are trying to catch up on, I probably could have made this in a matter of a couple of hours but it took about 1/2 a day since I did make a few errors that I had to correct and I kept changing my mind on the fabrics but essentially it was easy and I can't wait to make more of the bags in this book.  I am so stoked that I didn't get rid of my sewing machine like I thought about many times! :)

Until later,
Mamalou