All that and a bag of CHIPPS

Needing a new print

2011-01-17T22:25:00.008-06:00

Now that I've moved all my office things home to my new office, I'm in need of some new prints to hang on the wall.

I had this Picasso print since I was in high school. It's seen better days and I need to frame it badly. But really, I think it needs some friends to help it fill up the walls...anyone have any good suggestions for some complimentary Picasso or other artist that would help out? I'm kind of liking these...
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Vase-of-Flowers-on-a-Table-1969-Posters_i2104173_.htm
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Interior-with-a-Girl-Drawing-Posters_i310194_.htm
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Lesson-Posters_i356695_.htm

Meredith

2011-01-13T21:46:00.003-06:00

What an angel, huh!? Our precious Meredith turns 4 on Saturday and the festivities have already begun! Today I frosted 20 cherry cupcakes with pink cherry frosting and pink sprinkles so she could take them to preschool for treats. Tomorrow we're having the family over for a party and she and I are going to decorate! After 15 minutes of looking at cakes online, she decided on the Princess cake that lights up! Pink balloons, pink streamers, pink and yellow plates! I feel like my dining room will look like it's been hosed down with Pepto Bismal (sp?)

Did you catch it!? Direct line from Steel Magnolias...

All the same...Happy Birthday to our Miss Meredith.

Let's try something new!

2011-01-13T08:43:00.004-06:00

Well, I now it's been forever since my last post but I've been a bit preoccupied! But now that I've recently became the victim of the economy, I'm going to get back to blogging! Hey, some mom's make a living at it, maybe I'll see if I can too! So...here's to the first posting. There will surely be more to come!

Oh, and I guess I should mention that I'm going to get my business off the ground and hope to make a living as a freelancer graphic designer too!

good bye and best wishes

2009-04-27T22:39:00.005-05:00

My favorite teenagers in the world are fluttering off into the real world next fall. Our Seniors in Senior High Youth are graduating high school and I'm so excited to see who they become after a year on their own. Best Wishes to you!

Grandpa

2009-04-15T21:52:00.004-05:00

I love my Grandpa. I've been thinking that a lot more lately. I'm pretty sure he knows I do even though it's not words that fly around our family loosely.

Grandpa found out a few months ago that he has developed a tumor in his esophagus. When I found out, I immediately went into prayer mode. God knows that I know how well it works. Once he went to have things evaluated, they discovered that it had moved into the lymph nodes and I was very sad to think that my time with him was getting short. I had reason to think so, my Aunt Esther, who I saw as a grandmother, lost her fight with breast cancer a few years ago once it had moved into that stage. My prayers got stronger...and I recruited others to help pray with my family. Not just for Grandpa, but also for Grandma...and their three girls.

Each time I see him, he looks more and more tired, more and more older, more and more unhappy. Why wouldn't he, he's going through Hell to kick this. Grandpa has always had coal black hair, perfectly coiffed pomp-a-door and a great big smile on his face. Always ready to tease. All those things seem to fade away each time I see him...

But today, I found out that all those things may be on their way to reverse themselves and I'm so thankful to God. I heard from Grandma that during his third round of radiation that he started just this week, showed that they couldn't find what they were suppose to be healing. He's a tough guy...I knew it. I have faith that he will continue to fight and hang in there and be back to his old self.

And I do pray that he gets his wish and that coal black hair comes back and it's curly...because he thinks it will be.

Look what the Easter Bunny brought!

2009-04-15T21:47:00.003-05:00

We have a new addition to the Chipps family. NO, I'm not expecting...nor was I! We adopted a dog on Saturday for the girls. Mitch and I took Good Friday off for a little one-on-one time and decided to just head to the ARL and check out the pups. I knew if I went in there, I'd fall in love with one.

The one we went with is a Beagle/Spaniel mix...so they say. He definitely has some Beagle in him and is the best "new" dog ever! He is so good with the girls and loves to play, or just curl up on the couch and take a nap with ya.

The Rescue League named him "Red" but we changed it to "Meyer". I know...another M! Well, reason being was we had Meyer picked if we ever got a boy and he's it.

New business taking off!

2009-04-15T21:37:00.003-05:00

I've been keeping busy...that's the only excuse I can use for not posting forever!

Chipparoo announcements is taking off on a sprint! I've done invitations for quite sometime but never really announced them myself. Well, here it is! I do all kinds of invites from weddings, birthdays, graduations, baby announcements, etc. Pass on the news if you know of anyone needing to get a word or two out!

Almighty Deer Season...

2008-12-07T16:01:00.008-06:00

Every year at this time, Mitch gears up for his fabulous weekend of deer hunting. Above is the kill from last year that is so proudly adorning my wall. At least he lets me add some festive decorations to it :)

The tradition with this weekend is very drawn out. Thursday night before opening day, all 16 of the hunters are required to show up to the person's house that will be allowing the trophies of the season hang in their garage. Once that is all done, beer drinking can occur. Although I'm sure that it helps out with the cleaning as well. Friday night is typically their "planning" session where, yet again, beer drinking assists. I know, is it really safe that all this beer drinking is happening? As far as I know, there have been no mishaps as a result. This year has proved these boys are a little older than they think and events have commenced earlier than in the past. Oh, and before I go into more Friday night's activities, I'll also mention that there is a meeting three weeks BEFORE deer season to go over the spreadsheet of landowners they need to ask permission.

This year some wives planned to do things a little differently. Typically we've had a family potluck on Saturday night but last year we waited for them all to get back 'til 7pm and then were ready to leave by result of sleeping by 8pm. So we decided to do the potluck on Friday night. There was a little resistance from the better-halves as we were cutting into their planning and...beer drinking but all must say it worked out fabulously. I have had the potluck handed down to me from the veteran wives. Although I think most of us are in that category any more. I had 28 adults and 18 children, give or take, at my house and it was not a problem at all. The kids stayed in the basement with the toys, wives in the dining room around the table and guys in the garage. We got the hint around 9:00 they were ready to have their uninterrupted male-bonding as they started hauling food in from the garage and putting tables up. They were off to do what they had to do. They wives and kids stayed at our place 'til about 10. We had some scheming of our own to do. First and foremost...should we just consider having the women "hunt second season", next year or not? Leave the kids with the boys? We're considering it and finding ways to extend it as much as they do. Another part of the scheming was done by those wives that had older kids...they got the kids home and then went to the newly tagged "man-shack" and moved vehicles that had keys in them. (mind you this is a small town and keys are very rarely taken out of the vehicle let alone locked) So some got moved and I guess it caused a little chaos for the evening. I had no part of that.

So Saturday, before dawn, they all rose to meet at the house of one of the older wives for breakfast and more strategies. I did hear from Mitch later in the day say that one of the fearless hunters did end up having an accident but no worries...just a few stitches above his eye from falling in the bathroom that morning before breakfast. Seems he didn't turn the light on and slipped. Good Lord, I would at least said his gun backfired on account of him shooting at a huge buck...I mean, c'mon!

Another reason we changed the night of the potluck is because five of us wives spent the night at hotel with a water park. It was really fun and actually relaxing to do that. I motion for doing it again next year. The kids had a blast and I must say I did too. It was nice to have our own thing to do rather than sit around and wait for them to get home. I think some of the dads missed their families but knew that they just wanted to go to bed after a day of walking through the cold Iowa winter weather so it was OK.

Today we got up and let the kids swim again until we had to check-out, ate some McDonald's on the way home and then crashed when we arrived. Margo is currently still sleeping and it's 4:30. She settled down about 1:30. Meredith took her typical nap and I rested during that time too. Mitch should be arriving home some time around 6:00 and will likely eat supper and head off to bed. Unlike some of the other more dedicated hunters, he has to go back to work tomorrow and they will be finishing out the season until Wednesday...then he has to spend his Saturday cutting up the meat and getting it ready to be processed.

I say two prayers every year...First and foremost, make them safe. Don't let any accidents happen. Although we raze them about the spreadsheets, aerial maps and syncing up of the watches, they really do make things pretty clear about what they should be doing. Second, don't let him shoot anything I have to hang on my wall. From the photo above, you can see the second prayer was not answered last year. I guess God listened to Mitch more than me that year.

My Little Winner!

2008-11-09T22:19:00.004-06:00

In addition to all the other things we had going on, we also experienced Margo's first tumbling meet. It was awesome!

I tumbled when I was a kid. I wasn't great but I enjoyed it and actually stuck with it until I was 14 years old. My family traveled around Iowa to meets and a lot of my favorite memories as a kid are those weekend trips.

I discovered that a gal that coached when I was a kid was doing it again in nearby town. I take Margo over to the gym two nights a week and stick around to add any of my "expertise" to the cause. I must be doing OK since the head coach announced today that all the double-mini competitors that I coach got 1st or 2nd place. Not bad for someone that never competed or got on one herself as a competitor!

But enough about me...it was Margo's day! She was so nervous! We went to pick her and Meredith up at Grandma's (they stayed over while we had our soup supper) and Margo kept saying she didn't want to go. I was so nervous of what could happen beyond that. She asked if I could be down on the floor with her and I told her I would see if it was OK. When we got to the meet, I asked the coach if I could, since I coach too, and she said "No". Margo immediately welled up with tears. I got her calmed down and at least let her know I would be right in front to watch. OMIGOSH! She did so well. I couldn't be more proud of her! Although she was nervous and told us all the way down she didn't want to go, she did perfect. I just wanted the day to be about the experience, I didn't expect her to get 2nd place out of eight! I know, how awesome is that. The cute thing about it was that now Mitch is hooked! Not that he ever was against the whole thing but now that he sees how good she is, he's so proud of her he's already making plans for Nationals next summer! It was a great day!

Soup Supper

2008-11-09T21:52:00.009-06:00

For the last three years Mitch and I have hosted our friends in the fall. The first year it was just a random weekend that felt like good chili weather and we invited a few friends over...now it's a full fledge party!

I took Friday off as did Mitch to do some last cleaning and decorating for the get together. Above is a close up of the centerpieces and I really wish I was thinking when I took this and went from the other side. The covered jars had a more appealing appearance from there. Anyway here are a few pictures of the decorations:

I wanted a fall theme of course but wanted to be little more bright and cheerful rather than the usual. The paper that I used around the jars were my inspiration. Because our garage is lighted on one side pretty well, I draped the lights on the other end and then made tissue flowers and hung them above each table. I got rave reviews from the guest and even got asked to help with another party that has been in the works for, um...three years! My friends Cathy and Missy have talked for awhile about planning a prom for all us ol' foggies and would like me to be on the decorating committee. (Oh, the memories that would bring back!) 80s theme and fun! I think we came to the conclusion that if it happens the invites would read: "Get Laid on Prom Night" and possibly have "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as the theme song. How can we go wrong with that one!?

Everyone enjoyed the chili, chicken tortilla and potato soup. All the guests, all 40 of us, brought wonderful munchies to go along with the soup. Lots of bread, dips, bars...it was all delicious. Not to mention lots of good wine and other beverages :) Mitch also made Hot Apple Pie...

We also played a game that was so fun! Mitch and I got together with our friends, Kevin and Andrea to come up with the ultimate scavenger hunt. We broke everyone up into teams of five and each team received an empty six-pack carrier with only one bottle that had the first clue attached. Andrea and I went around town and hid the bottles. Since the party was at night, we even supplied them with flashlights! I heard after the game that everyone was discussing during supper that they couldn't wait to hear what the game was, who's team they were on and so on...I think we did good this year although the winning team solved it in a mere 20 minutes! We even tried to make it hard! Here are the winners and a picture of the bottles:

Family Photos!

2008-10-20T20:51:00.003-05:00

I know it's been a long, long time since I blogged last but I've been so busy! It's actually been a good thing because I've been doing some freelance work on my spare moments. One step closer to my dream. I'm without work right now and hopefully I'll get called for somethings soon. (and get paid for those ones that are completed!)

One freelance job I had was to design a logo for my friend Cari. She's wanting to start up her own photography business and since I know all about wanting to start up my own business, I was happy to help. She offered to pay me but instead I chose to swap services. Since Meredith has been born we've had no photos really of all of us together. So one Saturday afternoon we headed to the golf course and had a few taken. If you're interested in having your photos taken by Cari, contact me and I'll get you in touch with her!

Off to kindergarten

2008-08-18T20:53:00.003-05:00

Margo started kindgergarten this morning. If you're wondering how I did, I was fine. In fact being among the sea of sobbing mothers, I wondered if I was missing that part of my heart or brain that made me emotional about this day. I tried and tried to cry but really, I wasn't really sad or emotional about anything. Sure, it's something to think that Margo is getting so big and doing so much with out holding my hand but I was more happy for her rather than blubbering about my first born growing up. Meredith might be different on the the other hand. She seems to be far more attached to me than Margo ever was. She's just my independent kid. Never wanted my help not needed it. I know she's capable and she'll be just fine.

Hopefully it's a good year and I know it goes fast...I revealed in every moment of her last day of summer as well as her first step into the school years.

Not so little anymore!

2008-08-17T20:56:00.002-05:00

So today Mitch and I got home from the fair to pick up the girls at my in-laws. My mother-in-law took Margo on a shopping spree at Wal-Mart for some back-to-school clothes. Much to my surprise the first thing my five-year-old had to show me were the sport bras she had to have. Grandma of course can't say no and I took it in strides thinking, "how bad is it really?" We just all smiled and figured a lot of it was the influence of her best-friend that is ten and more suitable for that sort of thing. Again, no big deal. I just couldn't help but laugh at the conversation Margo and I had on our afternoon bike ride.

Margo: Man, this bra itches me!

Me: It does?

Margo: Does yours ever itch mommy?

Me: Yep! That's just part of wearing a bra.

She was satisfied with the answer but it really wasn't a conversation I thought I would be having with my first-born until at least six or seven more years!

Dropping her off to her first day of kindergarten tomorrow, I'll have a report to how that goes.

Mamma Mia!

2008-08-04T21:40:00.002-05:00

I went, I saw, I LOVED IT!

Family Reunion

2008-07-07T21:27:00.000-05:00

Every year on the last Sunday of June, the Wooldridge family from Knoxville get together for a reunion. This would be my paternal grandma's sisters and brothers. Although she's gone, my grandpa still comes along to visit with family. It's pretty interesting that a family of 15, a few of which have passed on, only draws four siblings and their families. This probably is a strong visual of how bull headed this family is! I love them though, they are down home, small town, interesting group of people.

I tried out a new recipe and it went over pretty well. Leave a comment and I'll post the ingredients. It was called "Chicken Pecan Casserole".

Karen Katz

2008-06-03T21:46:00.001-05:00

I migrate Karen Katz books when I'm wanting to buy baby books. We have a number of them at our house and I just love the simple illustrations and the short thoughts on each page. Plus my girls love them :) Aren't they cute!?

House updates

2008-06-03T21:17:00.000-05:00

So with warm weather comes work around outside. I'm pretty comfortable with the way things are on the inside and now ready to move to the out. Although there are a few things I'd like to do in a few rooms, they are fine the way they are for now.

We have been getting water in our basement pretty much since we moved in. A fix the previous owners assured us was taken care of. My dad is a contractor and first told us that he was certain that the large bushes in the corner of our house by the breezeway was likely the issue. He thought that the old roots may be helping water travel to where it's coming in. So taking Dad's advice, we ripped them out, spent $500 and laid a nice brick patio. We love the patio...hate the water that continues to come in. I wanted to update the front doors to something a little more "classy" and dad's next thought was helpful in that aspect. Next it could be that rotted threshold from the breezeway door causing the problem. So, a $1,000 and two interior and screen doors later, we still have water! Ok, so I'm not too frustrated since I got my new doors but now what? Believe me, I don't ever doubt my dad. He is the knower or all but I'm just hoping that the next idea doesn't go up in price from the last one. As you can see, we doubled from the first...I'm not sure we've got $2,000 to invest in the next maybe. But since the water is coming in through the bottom of the stairs in the basement, our thought was to take a few steps out and see what we could find.

The bushes that line the front of my house underneath the bay window along with the tree on the corner are to be taken out soon as well. I'll probably wait to replace the space until next year or maybe even this fall. Just depends how green my thumb appears by then :) The main reason for taking them out is because our next project is painting...the other, I hate them! What a stressful decision. Our last house was easy but this one just scares me. I don't know if it's because it's bigger and has more things to "match" but I'm nervous about my choices. My thought is to go with a dark warm gray for the peak. Mostly to cover the dirt from our lovely oak trees and because Mitch really wants dark. Then a shade lighter for the main part. I think it will work well with our burgundy shutters but I'm still undecided. I also thought it might be nice to stay in the color palette and paint the trim a cream color of the warm gray. I'm planning to take a picture of the house when the last door is put in and do some photoshop work and see how it looks. Our neighbors' houses are playing a large role in what color as well. To the south, avacodo green and the north...although white now, have told me that "paper bag" is the color they are going with. So my reason for staying away from green or tan. We'll see!

Long time, no read...

2008-05-22T22:34:00.000-05:00

It's been awhile since I last posted and I can't say that it's because of anything juicy other than typical motherhood!

Now that the weather has gotten nice we're either outside until the last moment of the day or just plain being lazy. After a week of laying around on the couch after supper, I finally got fed up enough with the house and stayed up until all the dishes were done, laundry was sorted and started and most of the house is picked up. Now I can only hope that it stays that way all weekend. But with rain in the forecast, I think it won't last.

My main reason for wanting to get a handle on the house is because my purse business has been lagging. I've got umpteen people wanting bags from me and I can honestly say you can't see my machine from all the heaps of stuff! I'm hoping that maybe a rainy day might get me into the craft room and get cracking on some of my orders.

We had a garage sale a few weeks ago and the remainder of the organization needs to be done...maybe I can get to that over the long weekend as well.

As for now, I think I'm going to get me a nice big glass of ice water, curl up on the couch and see what's one TV. Tomorrow brings a short day at work. Mitch and I are going to cheer the PCM boys golf team on at the state meet tomorrow. Long over due for us to hang out and just be Melissa and Mitch.

Have a great weekend!

I'm a FREAK!

2008-03-13T22:36:00.000-05:00

OK, so I've never been a "die hard" American Idol fan but this season...I've got a huge crush on David Cook! I'm mean, his audition was pretty dorkie (although he sang my favorite Bon Jovi song EVER!) But man, I never thought he had this in him!

I'll be the first to admit, I love rock stars. I know, I know, I really married one didn't I!? Mitch just shakes his head whenever I go on and on about Vince Neil, Jon Bon Jovi, the infamous Nelson twins and now David Cook. He knows I don't have a chance in hell with any of them, so I guess there's not much to worry about. At least the rock star shrine hanging on my desk doesn't out weight his presence there!

I don't know what it is. I grew up on country music and still love it. Give me some of that vintage Alabama and I'm singin' along and slappin' my leg and line dancin' like a good small-town Iowa girl should...but rock-n-roll, I'm not sure where it came from. My mom's into the songwriters stuff...her collection is a lot of Carole King, Carly Simon, stuff like that. My dad's a sucker for the Bellemay Brothers and pretty much anything playing on the country stations. But somewhere in the last ten years I can't listen to anything other than rock. New rock, hair band rock, 70s rock, anything rock-n-roll. In fact, I've also been exposed to some great Christian rock. I love it all!

Mitch isn't much of a music buff. If it's music from his high school days he's game but anything else, he knows nothing. Talk radio is his station of choice.

I don't even look like a rocker...whenever I tell anyone that my secret crush is Vince Neil from Motley Crue and my favorite book is The Dirt by Motley Crue, I get some pretty surprised looks. My hair isn't wild, I have no tattoos, only my ears are pierced and I had a pretty quiet and "well-behaved" childhood and teen years.

Maybe it's my wild streak that hasn't ever came out...but this rocker mom has to say I'm pretty pleased when my girls are boppin' their heads to all my good tunes :)

The "Hannah" cake

2008-03-04T21:55:00.000-06:00

On Saturday we had a family get together for Margo's birthday and this is her cake from that day. I hope I don't run into copyright infringement but I created it from the "Hannah Montana" logo.

My "Rock Star's" FIVE!!!!

2008-03-04T21:43:00.000-06:00

Margo turned five today! Woo Hoo! She's had so much fun with this birthday and Mom and Dad are exhausted...and we have more to come!

This was the first year that we had a "friend" party. Mitch and I felt that all we could handle was four little girls and Margo. We had a Hannah Montana theme and it was very fitting. The four little girls: Jacki, Abby, Celeste and Hannah (not Hannah Montana ;) all arrived at our house ready to party. We started off with opening presents of course. Margo recieved a lot of cute things from her friends and I'm sure they had fun picking them out! Once that was over, our friend Jill, who is going through Cosmetology school, came over to do make-up and hair. I guess you could say we started the party off as Miley and ended it as Hannah! While the girls waited their turn, they decorated Chinese take-out containers filled with girlie stuff like lip gloss rings, nail polish and candy...every girl loves candy :) After all the girls were made over, we got a picture and just let them have fun. At one point one of the girls arrived upstairs and said Margo wanted to know if they could take off their clothes! HUH!? Well, how can you possible dress up if you have your street clothes on! (and not to mention either my daughter is bossy or she's figured out that if you send a friend, mom will likely say 'yes') At any rate, they all came up with fancy dresses and clickey-clack shoes carrying musical instruments...it was priceless! Two hours of fun came to an end and now it's on to next year!

Having girls is like "The Best of Both Worlds"...I love Hannah Montana!

Change of Mind

2008-02-28T20:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I had once said I wanted to keep my living room "electronic-free" but I went back on my word! It's seemed lately that it would actually make sense to have a TV in there. We always miss the news because we're either fixing or eating supper, I feel lonely when upstairs cooking or cleaning and everyone else is downstairs, and plus it would be nice if Margo could sit in the living room while watching Hannah Montana rather than back in our bedroom.

So last weekend Margo and I went TV shopping! Isn't that what the guys are suppose to do? Well, Mitch kind of did the shopping too. Although he was home with Meredith, we used the internet to compare prices and find the best one for the best price. I think we got a good deal!

Now that I have everything arranged, I'm looking for something to fill my new TV stand with. I gathered some of my "art" books and stacked them but now I need a few more things. I'm leaning towards this vase I found on etsy.com. I love the colors...very vivid. But I love the Pottery Barn look so I've been skimming the old catalogs I've kept to get ideas too.

Nine years together...

2008-02-21T21:19:00.000-06:00

From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

Mitch and I have been married for nine years. Wow! What a nine years it's been. We've been though a lot. A lot of laughs, a lot of tears, a lot of arguments! Last night we really didn't do much as far as celebrating but I decided to get out my keepsake box full of our wedding stuff. It was fun to go through cards, our wedding registry and brochures from our honeymoon. As I went through it all, I was reminded about how our love is different. I can still see myself growing old with Mitch, living in the same house we do now and enjoying grandchildren there.

But we've been through so much! I can't even begin to tell you about the tears, laughter and heartache we've had. But you have to go through it. You just have to. I was recently told by a friend of ours that is having marital problems that they never fought, NEVER! I just can't believe that! How can you be married for a number of years and never fight?

Mitch is my best friend. I can tell him anything. We agree on how to raise our children. We both know that God is important in a strong family and we also know each other better than anyone else in the world. He supports me in all my endeavors, I love that even though he's not a "jack of all trades", he's a great father, golfer and cook.

I love him...and always will. No matter what anyone says, he fits me :)

My newest creation!

2008-02-13T21:31:00.001-06:00

Here it is! My newest pattern for purses and I hope to do a few more. I love it! I saw it somewhere and figured out how to make it all on my own! It wasn't as difficult as I thought and I'm pretty pleased!

It's for sale out on http://chippshandbags.etsy.com

Sweet Dreams

2008-02-11T22:37:00.000-06:00

The first hand-me-down that caused a meltdown happened tonight! Meredith just got out of the hospital this past weekend with a bout of pneumonia and the hospital had her sleep on a pillow. Since I didn't have any here at the house that were full-size, I snagged Margo's small pillow she used when she was in the crib. Of course she pays no mind to the little thing until she realizes that Meredith now has it! The pillow usually resides under Margo's quilt rack and honestly, I think she probably forgot she even had it until I put Meredith to bed tonight. Oh sisterly love!

So I decided that we'll make a full-size pillow just for her and she could pick out fabrics that I had in my craft room. She really didn't seem too excited about it until it was finished. Now I can only hope that she proves her love for it by needing to have it with her at all times.

On another note, CHIPPShandbags is now officially on etsy! I'm so excited and have sold a purse already and have a new one on the way. Be watching http://chippshandbags.etsy.com for the newest design coming soon. I've got one last stitch to perfect and it will be there. I'm hoping tomorrow.

Spaces

2008-01-19T10:37:00.000-06:00

I wanted a space of mine own and I pretty good at taking what I have and putting things together for minimal cost. This cart was left at our house when we moved in. Too big to move up the stairs so we figured we could use it. I'm hoping to paint it but quite a big job for a mom of small children...it will happen, someday!

It's just an area in a big room in our basement but it works. I can't wait until after my garage sale in the spring so I can clear out alot of the stuff I've been hanging on to and are trickling into the area. Monday I'm off from work and I'm planning to spend the whole day in there.

Margo loves spending the day in there too!

A Year Goes By...

2008-01-14T23:04:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is my baby's first birthday. I can't believe we made it...especially a year ago I didn't think we would be so blessed. Meredith was born by c-section and developed Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension during delivery. It's where the heart goes into a hypertension because it's trying to transition the oxygen into the lungs and the blood vessels going into the lungs aren't relaxed to do so. Not to mention one lung was very full of fluid.

It was scary. I delivered her in Newton, got to see her for a few minutes and luckily her big sister and grandparents got to see her too before she was transported to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. I had to stay...by myself and wonder. Will she be OK? Will I ever get to see her again? Did I make the right decision to have a tubal ligation? So many thoughts running through my head and so many hormones trying to make their way back to their place (not sure they've made it yet...but I'm hopeful it will be soon :)

Thankfully my doctor and friends of family helped get through that first week and got me up to the hospital to see her. And what a shock that was! Tubes, bandages, everything hooked up to this helpless baby...but man was she strong!

Mitch and I spent three weeks up roller coaster emotions up there. Not just trying to take care of Meredith but also to be with Margo and hope that at her young year of three, she could understand.

She got better, with a lot of prayers, great doctors, nurses and friends and family to help her pull through. On Super Bowl Sunday we brought her home! It was so surreal but nice to be there...all together!

The last year has been fast and healthy. We had to really be careful with her health and hope that a little cold didn't develop into anything else. We succeeded and so far this winter, we have too.

I love her so much. She's such a fighter, lover, and the thing that really made me realize how strong I am. It was an experience that made me realize what a great husband I have, how much people really care about us and most of all...how precious life is. She's been blessed with a wonderful big sister too! A better one than I've ever been.

I can't believe we've made it this far! I'll probably be in tears most the day at work tomorrow just remembering how lucky we are to have her, how far she's come this past year and how my faith in God is so much stronger than it was a year ago.

My Dream...

2008-01-09T21:23:00.000-06:00

Everyone should have a dream, right? Here's mine:

I want, more than anything, to be a stay-at-home mom but not just to be with my girls, but to have my own business. The first asset of that would be my handbags. I started sewing these a couple years ago for friends and family. With the encouragement of my husband, I'm trying to build a business around them. Every one of them are unique. I've not done any that are the same and I try to include the customer in on how they look. Because face it, it's theirs!

The other area of this business is to do freelance graphic design. I'm a graphic designer by trade but I'm growing very bored with corporate brand. There is just no creativity...sorry Dave, don't care how much you try to convince me...I'm bored! I've done projects for my community, wedding stationary and many, many other side projects. But there is a little thing called money that holds me back from getting that up and going. The programs are expensive and I'm just getting used to paying for this MAC!

I have one more area that I'd love to explore...helping with interior design. I've been an adviser for many friends but I of course don't ask for any money...maybe I could?

That's my dream in a nutshell. I know I can do it, many people do but I have to remember to be patient with time and know that it will all come.

Warm up!

2008-01-05T17:42:00.000-06:00

Today it was warmer so the snow was melting. A perfect day for a snowman and some sledding! Margo and I spend some of the late afternoon outside rolling snowballs and sledding at the church. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same so my inner-child has a chance to come out again...I love having kids :)

Sisters

2007-12-30T19:39:00.001-06:00

My sisters and I are so different that it's hard for us to be as close as some. I'm the oldest. Been pretty independent for most my life. My younger sister, well...GOD LOVE HER. She's had a lot of struggles in her life. Beat to her own drummer and very passionate. She just recently got married and has found a great person to love her and her son. My baby sister came as a surprise to us but since she's so much younger (17 years) it's hard to be a sister but easier to be more like an aunt. We love her though...don't know what we'd done without her!

I love them both and sometimes we can get a little crazy :)

My Pretty Living Room

2007-12-27T20:35:00.000-06:00

When we finished our basement, I took a vow that I would not clutter up my living room with any electronics. But we did have a nice stereo system that would come in handy for entertaining or just background music while hanging out reading a book or cleaning. I came up with the idea to make a screen and hide it. I went to a surplus antique shop in Walnut, Iowa that is full of furniture and fixtures from old houses. I came across these doors for $35 a piece and couldn't be happier with them! My husband shook his head when I came home with them and insisted that he get out the electric screwdriver and help me put them together. He won't admit it, but I think he likes them :)

I've never adorned them with decorations but decided at Christmas time they needed something. I bought the grapevine wreaths at a dollar store, had the green ribbon laying around and purchased the snowflake ornaments at Wal-Mart. I'm thinking about leaving them up all winter and possibly come up with something to stay up all year. Any ideas?

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T00:59:00.000-06:00

It's here...and I'm still awake! Christmas Eve may have come and gone for some but it's still coming for me! (If I don't go to bed soon, Santa will be flying over and the Chipps girls will get nothing from him this year. Ok, so that's not true since it's all under the the tree thanks for his lovely elves :)

I can't believe that I actually managed to make a chocolate almond cheesecake, go to my parents for a wonderful celebration with them and my sisters, nephew, and new brother-in-law. Then drive to my husband's aunt's for more fellowship with family...come home, clean up a bit, head off to church and make it home to throw (exaggeration) the presents under the tree and maybe get a few hours of sleep before the wake of my children. Or should I say my husband. Not sure who gets more excited, the kids or him :)

Then it's off for some more festivities, more toys to figure out where they'll go and wonderful gathering of family and food :)

Best wishes to all of those who follow my blog...hope your new year is as wonderful as you dream it will be!

Where we come from...

2007-12-19T21:19:00.000-06:00

I really love to know where I come from. I mean, it's important to me to know who my ancestors and family are and I can only hope that my two girls feel the same way. Mitch feels it's important and that helped me complete this home project. In my dining room I have this long, odd wall and I just didn't know what I should do to fill it up.

My mom happened to be working on a scrapbook for my grandparents' 50th anniversary and I saw an opportunity. I gathered some photos from the pile and then was able to scrounge up enough from my dad's side. I scanned them in and made them the size that I wanted and then bought simple black frames. My mother-in-law was able to help with some older photos from my husband's side to complete the other end. Although I'm not sure my parents nor my in-laws love to know that they adorn our dining room wall, I love it! Margo knows who each of the photos are and what their relationship to her is. If it really means anything to her, I'll never know...but at least feel like I'm instilling that in her early enough for it to stick.

So for the last couple years it's just been black frames floating on this otherwise blank plum colored wall, I had to come up with something else. I love curly-q's so I painted a "frame" around it. I like it...don't know if anyone else does...but it works! I also purchased a "family" plaque to somewhat label it.

Always remember who you are, where and what you've come from and most of all...where you're going.

FINALLY!

2007-12-17T21:02:00.000-06:00

After two hours of sitting at the "Genius Bar" Saturday, the computer is finally ready to go! They got everything figured out and now I've got the chance to sit down and do some surfing. Although I've got tons of stuff to do tonight like make purses for Christmas orders, wrap presents, laundry, etc. ...I need a night off! I just finished up a freelance job that will be nice extra money for the holidays. I think I'm entitled, right!?

But now Margo is up and I have to try and get her to sleep...until next time :)

Christmas

2007-12-10T19:59:00.000-06:00

With all the hub-bub that goes along with the season, I must be nuts to put up not one, not two, but three Christmas trees! I just can't help it! I of course have to have the one in the middle of the big picture window in my tv-less, pretty living room with all the matched decorations for all the world to see. And then there is the entry to the house, or breezeway as we call it, that gives all my snowmen ornaments a home...the tree that I leave up all winter long. The basement needs one too of course! How can we possibly sit down there and watch TV and basically live without one. It just wouldn't be right! The one downstairs is the one that I let Mitch have his way. He loves the colored lights, the homemade ornaments, so I put all those on the informal tree. Don't get me wrong, I love them too but he's been promised that the basement is his domain...next year's photos will possibly have the remnants of his deer kill hanging on the wall from last weekend.

I try to remember why I love them when I'm spending the whole day putting them up...I love Christmas!

getting something started

2007-12-08T16:40:00.000-06:00

So, I'm new to this but some girls at work have got me interested in my own blog. I just had to do it. So...I'm a blogger now! I'm pretty excited!

Some things I'll probably be sharing is projects around the house, things going on with my kids and most importantly...showing off my side job I'm starting up CHIPPS handbags.

I had a little show at the local library. My friend Pat did the wine bottles.