I am MOVING. Ok not my physical address but my blog address. Look for me here now.

http://livinglovinglaughinglosing.blogspot.com/

Thanks,
Ali

So I recently found this blog that I love for crafts and fun ideas and I wanted to share it with you all. If you click on this link http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2010/05/new-sponsor-and-fun-giveaway.html she does free giveaways and has all kinds of amazing craft ideas. Love it!
Have a great weekend,
Ali

Todays sewing project was diaper bags. It seems like I have purchased a million diaper bags over the years and a ton of them were terrible. I decided to see if I could make the worlds best diaper bag and I think I am pretty happy with this one. It has a ton of pockets and places to hide bottles and baby stuff. check it out at www.etsy.com/shop/alibee78
on the home front the hubby is out of town fishing which leaves me even more time to sew. Watch out!
No really life is great and busy, I can;t complain. My family is healthy and happy.
Have a great weekend,
Ali

I was talking with a few people and they said that I never put the link on my blog to look at my prices and other things that I offer. so here it is
www.etsy.com/shop/alibee78
Here are a few new things I have been working on

What trouble have I been getting into lately? A ton I am sure. Actually if I haven't been doing school work, cleaning, the house, or doing all my Mommy duties I have been sewing still. I have made 2 sales on etsy so far. I made a purse for myself last weekend and the last few days I have been working on stuff for bday, baby shower, and just because gifts. So here are a few of my favorites

So these are the newest things I have been working on.
Other than sewing and school life has been busy with baseball. The kids are doing great. Garrett's team has lost once and Cody's has lost twice. Cody has been pitching which is awesome to watch.
We have been working on getting Pj ready for school next year. He has been to the doctor and we have filled out all of the papers. He goes for an assessment next week for class placement.
Today is Shawn's bday and we are taking him out to dinner and then a walk around Bass pro shop.
Well I will check in again soon,
Ali

Well I have been at it again. Sewing that is! Shawn and I have been thinking of ways for me to help out the family, be a stay at home mom, and finish school all at once. I decided that since ceramics is very hard to do in my garage and really pricey I would sew. I have sewn almost all of my life. My mom used to sew everything for us and it was actually part of her major in college. I took home economics in junior high so I know the basics. What I didn't know is that I am pretty good at looking at something and recreating it without a pattern. I have been looking online, at Target, and other places and putting my favorite ideas together to make new items. So far I have purses, diaper bags, nursing covers (for breastfeeding), camera strap covers, and coffee cup sleeves. I am  hoping that some of the items start selling so I know what to keep sewing and what was a flop. I think today I am going to make a messenger bag and later this week I am going to make a black corduroy purse with cherries on it.

What else has been going on? I started back to school so I am gone Monday and Thursday at night. I am almost half way done with my credentials. Yay! I feel like it is taking forever but at least I am going somewhere.
We went on our annual Easter vacation with the boys. We had a great time for the most part. I had a cold from Friday on so I was a little bummer but the kids swam, played all kinds of games, and played the weekend away. The kids were in the pool for our fun little earthquake so they didn't know what was going on. Here is a pic of easter morning, please excuse Garrett I can't get him to take a normal pic for the life of me.
Well I am off to get to real life,
Ali
http://www.etsy.com/shop/alibee78

Spring break baby!!!
So how does a Mom on spring break spend her time? Sewing, that's how.
I purchased a new sewing machine and went to work.I love to sew so I thought that maybe I could make some stuff to sell. So here is what I created this week.

What do ya think?

I posted them on a popular craft site that people sell things on to see how they do. Check them out at 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/alibee78

Have a very Happy Easter everyone and remember why we celebrate, it's not all about eggs and candy. 

Ali

Sorry it has been awhile again. The last few weeks have been crazy. I was in finals which is always tough but the kids were on spring break and wanted to go do stuff. We had a good week and went to the beach to my grandpa's house and got it clean and ready to turn the keys over to the new owners. We stayed until Friday and when we got home Shawn called and I had to drive back to City of Industry because he had lost his keys while golfing. Once we got home again I got a phone call from my Mom that my Grandpa had passed away. So all in all it has been very busy, hectic, and sad all rolled into one.
I am on spring break this week so I am spending my days sewing a few things for a baby shower that is coming up in a month. I sat down to sew yesterday and my machine (which is from like 1960) wasn't working right. I had been saving up to buy a new dining room table but decided that my table is fine and I went and bought myself a new sewing machine with the money. I am so excited to sit down and see what this baby can do.
So the last few weeks have been tough but I am doing well. I am glad that my Grandpa had a great life. He dies peacefully and he was ready to go. He had gotten tot he point where he couldn't golf, drive, go out, or even watch tv. He said he lived a very fulfilling life and was't able to live the quality of life he wanted to be living anymore. So I am sad but I am relieved that he went peacfully and without pain.
Well I am off to sew. We are going out of town for easter and to get away from life for the weekend.
Have a very Happy easter.
Ali

I attached a pic of my grandpa with my brother and my super cute niece Emily. I have ones with my family but was being lazy and didn't want to dig them out and scan them. We will miss you Grandpa Don.

I broke the plateau of 199.8, I got stuck for over a week. (yes I weigh in everyday) anyways I am down 2 pounds this morning. What a relief.
So with that said I did my first teaching demo last night where I had to show a class of my piers how to do an art project as if they were students. I think I rocked. I think the teacher loved it as well and she is hard to please. She loved that I had options for the kids and lots of fun and unique ideas using recycled materials. All in all it was a success.
I am in my last 2 weeks of school and my house, family, and I are all feeling it. I have been doing homework pretty much non stop. I have managed to keep up the laundry and the dishes but I need a maid to keep up with my kids and everything else. I keep apologizing to Shawn and he keeps saying don't worry about it I haven't had tome either. Shawn has had baseball for the boys every night since last Sat. and we don't get a break from that until this coming Sunday. Life is hectic but when we have down time we aren't sure what to do with ourselves.
So I can't think if I mentioned this or not but my Grandpa is back in the hospital. He has a bacteria infection in his blood and a bruise on his head from falling. The bruise is making him moody and irritable. Yesterday was his birthday and he spent it in the hospital. I so want to go break him out and taking him golfing or something I know he loves. Maybe when he moves back to the home he will be well enough to come out and play:)
Ok well off to do more homework,
Ali

What is happening to education in the state of California? Last night while in class the professor shared a news article with us about the terrible test scores some of the local schools have on standard tests. I was very pleased that not one of the schools was in Etiwanda where our kids go but many of the schools were in Fontana and the surrounding area. I woke up this morning to the same information on the news. We also got a phone call from our school district yesterday saying the 80 teachers in our districts are getting pink slips in the next few months.
As a future educator who is currently in school to be a teacher what does this mean? Well first I can't ignore it because every time I go to class it is talked about. I am currently spending thousands of dollars to pursue my dream of being an art teacher. I can't let all of this talk convince me to do something else. The one thing I am relying on is
1. There has to be an upswing in jobs eventually. The state cannot keep firing teachers because we still have kids that need to be taught.
2. I have a specialized credential. As a teacher you have two choices. The first is to get a multiple subject credential and teach elementary. The second is to get a single subject in a certain subject like I am doing. This means that if a teaching job in art opens up they must hire someone with an art credential. They cannot hire someone with a math credential to teach art. So this is good for me if a way.
3. Many of the local art teachers are reaching retirement age and looking to be replaced in the next few 1-5 years. So even if I don't find a job on my first year I know there will be one in the next few years.
So as I face this everyday I know that the future in teaching isn't ideal, I know that teaching is always a necessity, and I know that teaching is what I really want to do. So as I go deeper in debt to fulfill my dream pray for my future job because I know it is out there waiting for me.
Ali

So I am a little frustrated. I have been sticking to my diet 100% except for the Islands burger this weekend. Even with the burger i was still within my calories for the day. Despite all if it I gained a pound this week. I know week 2 can do this but it still doesn't make it feel better. So anyways I will stick to it and if next week I haven't lost I will rethink the diet. I can't complain over all because I still am down 9 pounds in 2 weeks. So I am looking at the up side and getting on with the week.
Last night the kids had their first baseball games of the season. I threw on my thermals, 2 sweaters, a big jacket, gloves, scarf, and down blanket and sat at the park for 5 hours. It was still cold but both kids won their games so it was well worth it.

This week is a busy school week. I have to present an art lesson to the head art lady on campus. I am nervous but excited. I have some great ideas. My art project is recycled art which means that all of the items have to be used items or things that you can recycle. So far I have made fish using 2 liter and shampoo bottles, a mobile using fused plastic bags, and my favorite a light bulb vase with soda can flowers (See above image) I have to teach the other students in my class as if they are high school age kids how to do an art project. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
Ok well I am off to do some more homework.
Ali

Did you know that on most diets you are allowed a cheat meal and it won't affect your results greatly? I am so thankful that I get a cheat meal once a week. I did great all day Sat. and packed snacks for the baseball field. Sunday I actually got to spend the whole day with my family. It was perfect and much needed.
Sunday we decided to take the kids bowling. We had a free coupon so off we went. The kids love bowling. After bowling we decided to go to lunch/dinner at islands. Looking at the menu there were a few choices that would have been good but they were all vegetarian and I was in the mood for a burger. I got a mushroom hamburger on a wheat bun. It was delicious. I ate a few fries but they weren't that great so it made not eating them easy. The burger was great and it was the only meal I ate for the day. I had a pear and some dried fruit, nut, but did great to keep my calories low before and after the meal. Cheat for the week done!
So on Friday I was saying how I was going to make trail mix. I did and it is yummy. I got raw cashews, peanuts, organic raisins, and yogurt chips threw them all in a ziplock and done. he kids love it and have eaten more then I have. Shawn even ate it as a snack at the baseball field and was impressed. I think we have a winner.
So my other fun adventure this weekend was making my own dishwasher soap. I heard it was easy and much cheaper to make you own dishwasher soap but was always leery on actually doing it. I went to but some on Friday and decided to buy the ingredients to make my own instead. The box I was going to get was $6.00 I got all of the stuff for mine for $3.00 and it makes twice as much as the $6.00 box. I got a plastic container to store it in and it worked really well. I was surprised.
 So here is the recipe.
equal parts borax and baking soda mix it in a container. Use 2 tablespoons for a load of dishes. Its really tough I know. So if you want to save a little money try it.
Ok well off to get some homework done for the week. The kids both have baseball tonight so figuring out a portable dinner to take or something filling to eat at 4pm to hold us all over for the night.
Ali

Thank the Lord that it is Friday. I think adding up all the time I have seen Shawn since Monday the total is about an hour. It has been a heck of a week. I do have homework yet again today but it is only one chapter so not too bad. I am eating my breakfast of sprouted wheat english muffin with sugar free peanut butter. Mmm warm peanut butter is so good. So as of this morning I have lost 10.4 pounds in less than 2 weeks. Yay!!! I was starving at school last night, I guess my fruit dinner on the run just wasn't enough. I had calories that I was going to use when I got home but my tunny was grumbling. I had a 10 min break and 1 vending machine close enough on campus to go to. I normally pack snacks but forgot. So I go to the vending machine and I was pleasantly surprised. There were stickers by the cost of some of the items that said "healthy choice" now beef jerky that is flavored is loaded with sugar so I knew that was a no. I looked around and they had the perfect snack. I got trail mix with peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins, and yogurt chips. It was no sugar and everything I could have. I was so happy. I liked it so much as a throw in the purse idea that I am going to make my own today. It wasn't super low in calories but at around 140 for 1/4 cup it is perfect for a quick snack. I think I am going to leave out the sunflower seeds because they all sunk to the bottom of the bag and were hard to eat so out they go. I also might add carob chips if I can find them.

So as you all know my good friend is moving back to New York. She had this thing called a lovesac that she can't take with her so she gave it to me. It is basically a really big, unpopable beanbag chair. I got it in the house this morning and it is HUGE. The thing is a 6 foot circle. The kids love it and I am trying to figure out how to fit it into the kids playroom doorway. So my exercise for the day is lifting this 70 pound thing around my house.
As for the hula hoop I am getting the hang of the waist thing. I can keep it up so that is a step. Soon I will work on doing more with it. I wasn't sure about it but I wake up and my abs and legs are really sore so I guess it is.
Ok I had too much coffee so forgive the lang post.
Ali

Hey everyone,
I feel great today. I had a ton of homework but it wasn't bad because I was in a great mood. Isn't it funny how if you eat the right things you body feels so much better. If I stuff myself and eat terrible stuff I feel terrible so why do I do it? No idea. I just know that I have been on this for 11 days and I have energy and feel good.
So how funny is it that I say I love something on my blog and the people who make the product respond. I really do love the Coconut bliss bars:) if you ever go to Henry's pick them up, unless you don't like coconut and then maybe don't. Or do and if there not your thing you can pass them on to me:)
As for the gross quinoa my friend Ali explained that it may have been gross because it sprouted. I think she may have been right. I am going to give it another try once I go buy a new box.
So what else is going on..... Hmmmm. My good friend Nicole who I went to school with is moving back to New York. Last night I went to dinner with her and I did great. I had a steak dinner. Why is that so good? I ate half the steak which is protein,  half of my dinner salad(would have had more but it was swimming in ranch), some steamed veggies, and a half of a baked potato plain. I say that was a success. I didn't gain this morning so yay for me.
Well I guess that is it for today. See y'all tomorrow.
Ali