Raggedy Old Annies

Happy 4th of July!!!

Yes.....it's been a while since I've blogged...but I wanted to wish everyone a Happy 4th!!!!! Have a safe and happy day!

Where did the month go?

I cannot believe that Christmas is this week! This month has just flown by! I think I'm done...well except for the gifts for the 2 gift exchanges that we are doing....but I need to take the boys out to do that. They need to pick out what they want. One of them is one of those "white elephant" ones. Those are fun. The other we pulled names, so we have ideas on what we need to buy for those.

Our tree has been up since Thanksgiving weekend. I was super excited to put it up, along with each boy (3 of them) having their own. They had fun decorating them. Mine, I did all alone! I prefer it that way. That is why they have their own!

There are quite a few presents under the tree now. I don't usually put things under until Christmas Eve....so that it looks like tons in the morning...but my mom started putting stuff under and Christopher kept complaining that there was nothing for him, that they were all for my brother and his son. I put 3 alike under the tree...and it drove the boys NUTS! Then the next day I put 3 more just alike and again they were complaining. So early this morning when I was up with "yummy boyfriend", I put 3 more alike...and of course...I heard the comments about them being "clothes" and that my son wasn't happy about it! oh gosh! Whatever! he's 12, almost 13, what toys does he possibly want? And he already has an xBox, Ipod touch, cell phone....what the heck more could he need....or want? I painted up that cute bag last night! I didn't have anymore boxes and I have a ton of these brown bags from my craft show days....so I thought they'd be cute all painted.

We took the boys out for a photo shoot this past weekend. They were awesome!

This one below is my fave of Christopher! LOVE the look on his face! I love to see him happy like this! Makes me smile!

Okay, so, some news about my website. I have decided to close it. But I'm not quitting, yet......I will still sew, and I will still have dolls up for sale, I will just be adding them to Etsy. And of course I will show them here too. And if you don't want to register for Etsy, you can just let me know, and I can invoice you through PayPal. I haven't made the transfer yet of my .com, as I am paid up through the beginning of January, and I'll deal with that right after Christmas. And I haven't added anything to Etsy yet, except for a few patterns that are on there....but I will let you know when I do.

If I'm not on here bloggin before Christmas, I want to wish each and EVERY one of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! I am excited about it this year, my family is alot bigger this year with yummy boyfriend and his cute boys in it! And we have all the kiddies Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, so we are super excited about it! I'll try and take lots of pics!
 
  
 

Merry Christmas!

 

We hope your Christmas day is GREAT and that Santa brings you everything you wanted!

the "present" police......

Christopher just cracks me up! He asked me to put presents under the tree. I normally don't do that until the night before Christmas morning after he goes to sleep because that way it looks like alot...and especially now that he's older and the things he wants are more expensive.....if I put stuff under there now....it would look no different Christmas morning...even after Santa comes! but I gave in this year. I just put a few. And you know what? They are buggin the crap out of him! literally! He said now he wished I didn't put them there because he can't stop thinking of what they might be. He questioned if they were clothes. He didn't want clothes! What...and 11 year old doesn't want cool clothes? I just don't understand that! I would only buy the best. anyway...he shook them all....asked what they possibly could be in the same size boxes...yes....my lil trick...put everything in boxes! He's convinced they are underwear! LOLOL That's hilarious! LOL Well last night....he asked me for my post office scale. I said "what do you need my scale for?". He says, I'm doing  "what kids do". I found him out by the tree WEIGHTING the presents! What? Hold on...let me get my camera for this!

 

even the cat seems interested......

 

and here's that darn grumpy cat again....

 

I LOVE this picture. Wish I had it before I sent some xmas cards out.....bummer....

 

and here's my new favorite picture of the week......

 

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!! Have fun getting your last minute shopping done! I bet the malls are going to be crazy this weekend...or maybe not...I really haven't seen a "Christmas Rush" yet. Darn economy!

a christmas project.....

I saw the cutest tinsel wreath over here. Then I saw the one on the top right here. oh...and I love love love the one below it too......but..omgosh! I had to make one!  I've been holding on to silver tinsel garland for years....I have a hard time throwing anything away. When I saw this...I knew that I had a use for it now! The only thing I had to buy was the wreath....and I bought a straw one, like Red Velvet Art used because is was only 1.99! cheapo! I already had vintage ornies...and I even had some vintage yellow ribbon. It felt like paper! loved it! Here's mine!

Happy Turkey Day....

a little late....the day is over...but still I wanted to wish ya'll a Happy Thanksgiving....and I hope you had a great day and stuffed yourselves full and enjoyed every minute of it!

this is what I chose to "gobble up". I can never get enough of him!

 

 

I am getting up early to shop. Don't ask me why. there is really nothing that I need. I think the ads were terrible this year! I don't understand what people are camping out for! I just don't get it! I think I'm doing it to try and help me "get in the mood". am I crazy? this could turn me off totally! I hate crowds! C wanted to go with....but I'm just not ready for that yet....I'd hold onto him for dear life! Well...and not to mention I'm trying to shop for him! What could I possibly get done if he were there? I'm not very good at being sneaky and distracting him. I could do it when he was like 2 or 3 but NOT 11! Joking and lying is something I never mastered! a good thing right?

Have a great weekend!!!!

Merry Christmas!

I am amazed that it is already Christmas! I swear, the older I get the faster the years go by and by! But even Christopher said Christmas came quick this year...and even this past month...well even week has just flown by! I'm a little worried this year...as my Christmas tree is looking very empty with presents! Normally I do not put anything out until after Christopher goes to sleep on Christmas Eve...but this year he was buggin and buggin me....so I put stuff out..but with no names! He's not stupid though..he knows they are all for him! And I even wrapped everything in similiar boxes! He has no clue! And what he is making guesses on is totally WRONG! And I even tricked him on one! LOLOL Here is a view of what little is there...and there is very little because EVERYTHING a 10 year old wants is VERY EXPENSIVE!!!!!! He's totally into XBox and anything electronic!!!!! I can't afford the boy! And clothes...only Quiksilver, Volcom, Element, etc will do! Is it just me...or do they start this fashion trend alot younger than we did? Don't forget....Santa will leave a little something too....and little probably doesn't mean cheap either!

I received my "WINNING GOODS" from Jen Duncan! OMG!!! Awesome fabric...and look at all the extra stuff she put in!!!

She spoiled me! If you do not frequently visit her blog...than you MUST!!!! She is a great inspiration! I even saw her post of her goodies from Kmart...and what did I do yesterday after seeing them??? Headed right over to Kmart! All the Martha Stewart Christmas stuff was 50% off. But sadly, not much left! There were lots of really cool ribbon and such to decorate your trees with. I LOVED the tree skirts....and they were a really good deal...but I already have one...so I didn't feel the need for another. Here is the little bit that I bought.

Then I spent the rest of last night baking cookies! My favorite M&M cookies that I have been making EVERY year pretty much since I've been married. Phew...that's a long time! I have tried several different M&M recipes, but this one is my favorite...and it's one my mom has shared with me! So I am going to share it with you!

M & M Party Cookies

• 1 cup Shortening
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups plain M&M's

1. Blend shortening, brown sugar and granulated sugars in a large bowl. Beat in vanilla and eggs. Sift remaining dry ingredients together; add to sugar-egg mixture, blending well. Stir in 1/2 cup (I add more) M&M's (reserving the rest for the tops of cookies).
2. Drop from teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet; decorate tops with remaining candies. Bake in moderate oven (375) for 10 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Remove cookies with spatula to wire racks (I just lay them on foil); cool completely. After baking, some candies may be slightly cracked. This adds texture and interest (plus all the calories fall out).

Okay..there you  have it! I have made so many..they will be my breakfast, lunch and dinner! LOLOL

Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!!!!

Happy Halloween!

This is our pumpkin!!!! Pretty cool huh? Okay everyone with kiddos...stay safe! I HATE driving on Halloween night! Not sure if we are trick or treating....C hasn't made up his mind. It's either that or Pizza with some friends.

I spent tonight getting another costume together for C.... he needs something scary but not too scary. He's working the "Haunted House" at school so they have to be spooky...but...they are not allowed to be spooky for school. So which is it? I'm not sending him with 2 costumes! UGH! So he's going as a bum....or hobo...whatever you wanna call it! I'll take pics in the morning.  oh!!!!! and I was working on a few things for Glitter and Grunge. Don't forget..that updates Thursday!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I cannot believe it!!!! Where did the past year go? It just flew by and I feel like I have accomplished nothing!The picture above is me and my lil one taken just after mid-night at a friends house. Yes, we stayed up late to bring in the New Year. Rarely do I ever make it! But last night...they had me going...they were trying to teach me how to dance, and don't ask, because I WILL NOT share those photos (yes there are pictures)!!!!

It's the 1st of the month...so you know what that means!!!!! Glitter & Grunge update! Well the "Glitter" side of it! Grunge side won't be until the 15th. My update for Ranting Raven isn't working...as I had issues uploading and haven't heard back from them for help yet. So I'll let you know when I get that all figured out.

The doll sale is over.....and now I plan on moving just some of them over to the "Orphan" page. I plan on doing that on Tuesday, the 2nd and I will post when I do!

I have lots of goals for the New Year. I also plan on making some changes to  Raggedy Old Annies. I won't mention them yet.....still tossing it over in my mind! I also need to discipline myself better to keep on tract.

A special THANKS goes out to every one of you who have supported me over the years! I've had alot of customers since the beginning...and that's ALOT of dolls they must have in their houses!!!!

Happy New Year to you all !!!!

What I did today....

Well Christmas is now officially over. Sorta sad, and sorta glad! Christmas Eve was fun at my dad's. We did the ole Christmas Swap game, and I went with a present that I wanted...and stole it because I really wanted it, and come to find out....it wasn't what I "exactly" thought it was! UGH! So that means I burned myself! So I gave it to my mother in law. Ohwell...Christmas is for giving right? So what did I do the day after Christmas? Well I woke up to my alarm set for 5am and slapped some make-up on, and tried to curl up my hair a bit (showered the night before) and met up with my friend Vanessa and we headed out to the mall to find some GREAT deals! And that we did!!! I bought that pink tinsel pre-lit tree that Michaels had!!!! I wanted to buy it before Christmas but didn't....and sure glad I didn't because it was $39.99 and I got it today for $11.99!!! BIG SAVINGS! I cannot wait to put it up! It's going in my sewing room! I keep a tree year round in there! Maybe I'll tackle that tomorrow....as I am pooped today....as believe it or not....I took down ALL my Christmas decorations!!!!! Everything is packed up and back in the attic!!! I know...I'm early...but I generally do it the day after Christmas. Christopher was a  bit sad to come home and see it all torn down.

So now that the rush is all over...it's time to get back to work! I've been slacking a bit lately, so I'm going to try and get myself back into the swing of things. Christopher is out of school the next 2 weeks....and he'll want to keep busy...but I want to try and get my sewing room back into shape after the last minute Christmas projects. I'd like to SLEEP IN every day until he goes back to school...funny huh? I would like to get some more dolls finished and on my website....and maybe some new designs....and maybe try some new stuff! And I'd really like to re-vamp my website, which means I'll need some help from my best friend Missy!!!!! She'll do anything for me if I ask nicely! So I will keep you posted when things change...and I've added some new stuff. And again..the sale is still going on!!!!! I'll keep it on until the last day of the month...then the dolls will be back to full price, unless they go to the "orphan" room! Please don't let that happen!!!!!