25 Random Things

I've been tagged from several different directions to do a list of 25 random things about myself.

Even though I can't imagine why anyone would care about reading these things about me, I have to admit I really enjoy reading other people's lists.....

So...here goes the randomness:

1. I got married and had my 1st baby at 16.
2. I had my second baby at 18 (and 3rd at 23)
3. I became MIMI (grandma) at 37!
4. My first name is NICOLA and in 51 years, no one has ever gotten it right the first time.
5. I wish I could be a writer professionally....Pat Conroy and John Irving inspire me.
6. I could eat chips and salsa with a diet coke (lots of ice) every day.
7. I am a nightowl... I always think of one more thing, then one more thing to do before I can go to bed.
8. I own 5 pairs of Crocs (all different)...they're better than barefoot!
9. In my early 30's, I played so much Women's soccer that at one time I was playing 7 times a week on 4 different teams.
10.I have NEVER once in my life left my bed unmade.
11. I love cookbooks. I often read them from cover to cover, just like any other book.
12. I think I'm addicted to my Neti Pot (don't tell anyone...that's probably kind of weird)
13. I really enjoy doing laundry. The whole process...sorting, folding, organizing.
14. I like hanging laundry on a clothesline. I miss being able to do that.
15. Spiders and snakes don't bother me, but I'm TERRIFIED of grasshoppers!
16. I have been behind the same desk, in the same office, at the same avocado company for 24 years.
17. I am really good at looking in a refrigerator and making a decent meal out of whatever I find.
18. I am a list maker. Every day for all kinds of reasons. I once even made a list of lists!
19. I use Mentholatum for everything....chapped lips, cuts, burns, scrapes...my sons once said I'd probably put it on a bullet wound
20. I once almost, accidently, picked up a rattlesnake (long story...)
21. I have tasted alligator meat and kangaroo.
22. I love condiments of all kinds: hot sauce, dressings, salsas, whatever. My fridge is very often 50% full of condiments.
23. I am VERY afraid of heights.
24. In spite of #23, and the fact that I'm also afraid to fly, I'd go up with the BLUE ANGELS in a heatbeat!!(??)
25. I love pickled beets, lima beans, and brussel sprouts (separately, not together!) which most people can't stand.

There you go all you taggers...more than you could possibly care about!!

Now, how about you?? Go make your own list of 25 things about yourself and then leave me a comment so I can come read YOUR list!

We interrupt this blog for a commercial message.....

O.K. I'm thinking this might be a weird thing to post about, but I have 2 new items (new to me at least) that I am currently obsessing over and I'm going to tell you about them, even though they are actually small and insignificant ....but right now I'M LOVING THESE TWO SILLY LITTLE THINGS!!

#1. 2.5 gallon zip-loc bags

How have I never seen this size before? These things are GREAT! They're huge! I can put entire sewing projects-in-progress in one of these: many yards of fabric, notions, pattern, etc. all in one bag! Then I line up all these "bags of projects" in a laundry basket...VOILA! instant organization!

These are going to work great for organizing some of the grandkids toys that have a thousand pieces and for storing sweaters in the off-season. I'm actually looking around the house to see what else I can use them for......

Oh! and in the kitchen I fit 2 entire racks of ribs in one bag for marinating!!!

#2. 5x7 spiral notebooks

O.K......so I've confessed my need make lists in a previous post (here) and these things have saved my life! (well, o.k....I guess I'm being a little over dramatic?) Lets just say they definitely make my life run smoother.

I keep one of these in my purse at all times to write down stuff: important dates to transfer to my calendar at home, movies I want to rent, blog ideas, songs I want to download from itunes (you know, you're in a store and hear a song playing and think "I need to put that song in my ipod" and by the time you get home you can't remember what the song was? NOT ME! I WROTE IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY IN MY LITTLE FRIEND!)

I have a constant grocery list going on the inside cover and things I need to get done over an upcoming weekend.

I keep my list of sewing projects in here, too, in case I see some good fabric somewhere and I need a good reason to buy it......

The obsessive part is I only can use one of these at time but I keep buying more when I see a color or pattern I like. But eventually I'll use each one up and need a fresh one, right???

Well I hope that didn't make me seem too ridiculous.......come on.....I know you must have something silly you really love like this, too, don't you?

Tell me what little things you can't live without. I'd really like to know! (and then I won't feel so silly....)

playing along.....

Some of the members of my Sew Craft Blog group are playing this on their blogs, so here goes:

You can copy, paste, and play along, too!

1. Where is your cell phone? always in the pocket of whatever apron I'm wearing
2. Your significant other? it's been a long time since I've had one...
3. Your hair? shoulder length and blond (to cover the gray!)
4. Your daughter? busy stay-at-home mother of 3 girls: 13,11,8
5. Your son? 2 sons: 33 yr. old Detective and 28 yr.old Chef
6. Your favorite thing? planning my next sewing project
7. Your dream last night? I never can remember!
8. Your favorite drink? diet coke w/ fresh lime and lots of ice
9. Your goal? lose 50 lbs.?
10. The room you’re in? my bedroom/office/sewing space
11. Your church? when I actually get myself there: Rancho Community in Temecula
12. Your fear? GRASSHOPPERS!!!
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? still living in close proximity to all my kids/grandkids
14. Where were you last night? home, always home, cooking, sewing, playing with grandkids
15. What you’re not? thin
16. Muffins? english, with lots of real butter
17. One of your wish list items? a sewing studio
18. Where you grew up? Southern California
19. The last thing you did? got apron swap package ready to mail tomorrow
20. What are you wearing? loose fleece p.j. pants & mans XXL softball jersey (old and faded)
21. Your TV? cable shows: the Closer, Saving Grace, Breaking Bad
22. Your pets? No pets
23. Your computer? laptop
24. Your life? full of 5 grandkids
25. Your mood? today, hormonal!
26. Missing someone? I'll I'm going to say is.....yes
27. Your car? company car
28. Something you’re not wearing? make-up
29. Favorite store? anywhere with a good fabric selection!
30. Your summer? too hot (I like cold weather)
31. Like(love) someone? My family
32. Your favorite color? purple, turquoise
33. Last time you laughed? today...I live with very funny grandkids (3 & 5)
34. Last time you cried? can't remember....it's been a long time!
35. Who will repost this? No idea!

Movies to listen to

Over at the Apronista things have been pretty quiet all summer. I assume everyone has been busy with vacations and visiting guests and getting kids ready for school. I'm hoping people will be participating again soon! The theme for the July-Aug apron project is "Movies". Well, it's almost the middle of August and I was the first one to post my project!

It certainly wasn't hard to guess that my movie is "You've Got Mail", and for once I made an apron just for ME! The fabric is covered with pretty mail and envelopes of all sorts and I made a pocket that looks like a letter.

I love this movie because I want to live the life of Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan's character), living on the Upper West Side in her cute lttle brownstone apartment and owning a children's bookstore.....I won't be living the life but can I certainly wear the apron that reminds me of it!!

This movie is one of many that I own and have watched so many times I know all the dialogue. I have a whole list of movies like this, mostly romantic comedies, that I put on as background noise when I am sewing. These are all movies that I know so well that I don't need to give them my full attention and can sew away all day without being distracted by what's on the screen....

Here is a list of others I watch like this over and over:

When Harry Met Sally

Sweet Home Alabama

Bend It Like Beckham

Sliding Doors

Tortilla Soup

Something's Gotta Give

Ocean's Eleven

Bridget Jones's Diary

Notting Hill

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Serendipity

Life As A House

I think I'll go pick out a DVD or two to "listen" to and get busy sewing....

No Couch Potato

So how does one justify spending the weekend watching 14 episodes in a row of a newly discovered TV show? (see previous post)........by getting LOTS of sewing done while watching! I actually made a (very small) dent in my future projects list.....

I completed six aprons (one was a custom order) and three purses for the ETSY SHOP!

Bandana hearts and Denim (reversible)

Prairie Horses

Horses in the snow

3 Debbie Mumm fabrics (reversible)

Flirty Cherries

and the custom order: Flirty Leopard w/ Red accents

and last, but not least, 3 tote bag/purses made with some fun fabrics

Does anyone see a couch potato around here? I think NOT! It was a very productive weekend in the ETSY SHOP studio.......

A list for the 3 day weekend...

I am a list-maker.

I make lists every day, several times a day, for many different reasons. I have so many things bouncing around in my brain at any given time that I need to write them down, in list form, so I can stop thinking about them, knowing I have them on paper.

I have a note pad in my bedside table so I can write things down if I wake up at night, thinking of something I don"t want to forget.

I am a bookkeeper/office manager during the day and have sticky notes all over my desk.

I have left myself brief lists on my cell phone voice mail when I don't have pen & paper handy.

I carry this notebook, my "List Book" with me at all times. I have perpetual, ongoing lists in this book that I am constantly adding to:

right now in this book are these lists:

Potential sewing projects

Potential craft projects

Books to read

Movies to rent

Songs to download on itunes

Things to do on my Wednesdays off

Places to go/things to do with grandkids

Recipes to try

Things to buy/do when I have the money

Apron ideas

Apron orders

(hey! I just made a list of lists!)

In my purse I have temporary lists of things like:

things to ask/tell my son when I call him this weekend

things to ask /tell my Mom when I call her

Grocery/Walmart list

phone calls/ e-mails to take care of

Every morning when I get to the office I make a list of what I'd LIKE to accomplish that day. As the end of the workday nears, I make a list of what I'd like to accomplish when I get home.

On Fridays I make a list of what I'd like to get done over the weekend, both necessary (cleaning, fixing, etc.) and fun (sewing, crafts, cooking).

But, hey! Please believe me when I say these lists hardly ever get completed! I am absolutely NOT rigid about my lists. In fact, there are times when I never even look at it again, after I've put it on paper. I just feel better knowing I have it written down so I don't have to mentally try to remember all these things!

So..... all this was just the long way of mentioning what projects I crossed off my list for the past 3 day weekend.....(3 days always seems like so much time! Still not enough time to accomplish everything I want to)


I tried something new.....I made aprons from some colorful bandanas I found at Walmart and some wide ribbons. I'm really happy with them! I'll definitely be making some for the ETSY shop.







I made a purse-bag for a co-workers birthday. This went over so well with several people at the office I think I'll try some of these in the ETSY shop as well!





I made a new cover for my ratty old ironing board, following a tutorial I found on one of my new favorite blogs, GROSGRAIN GARAGE. I'm going to make one for Daughter this coming weekend (......writing down on weekend list)




I also had plenty of family time! A swimming party/potluck (with the ususal over-abundance of great food) at My Sister's house.





............not much crossed off the 3-day-weekend list, but a little bit of all my
favorite things = THE BEST KIND OF WEEKEND!!

I've been tagged!

Hey! I just noticed that I've been tagged by BELLA of SOUTH OF PURPLE!

OK....so here are my answers to the current questions:

What was I doing 10 years ago? I was living by myself in an apartment, trying to adjust to an empty nest. My youngest son had just graduated from high school and gone off to work at a Christian Camp for the summer. Talk about an adjustment! It had been just the two of us for 5 years and I did not have an easy time of it!

What are 5 things on my to-do list for today? Sew 3 flannel baby blankets for a friend having triplets, finish 4 dishtowel aprons, take my sewing machine to get fixed, grocery shopping, clean out shed so I can fit son's belongings into it since he moved this week to Martha's Vineyard and is only taking minimal stuff.

Snacks that I enjoy: Chips and salsa with a diet coke/lots of ice. Wheat Thins w/ cheddar cheese. Sourdough toast w/peanut butter. Fuji apples, sliced, with a sprinkle of salt.

Things that I would do if I were a billionare: First the obvious: pay off all my kids bills and mortgages, put all the grandkids in Christian School, get a tummy tuck! Then I would buy the house next door to us for myself and let the kids have this one. I would put in a pool and make a connecting gate between our houses. I'd make the entire upstairs into a sewing/craft studio. ...Oh! and get all new commercial appliances for my new kitchen!

Places I have lived: All in California: La Mirada, La Habra, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Murrieta.

Jobs I have had: Sandwich maker at Swensen's ice cream; deli at Albertsons; fabric cutter at Pumpkin Patch Baby Bedding; office manager at Harvest Time Produce for the last 23 years!

Wow! That was fun..... and somewhat theraputic! Thanks Bella!

Now I'll tag these friends & family.....

Shannon @ http://thethreedaughtercircus.blogspot.com

Caitlin @ http://caitlinshirley.blogspot.com

An Avocado Collection

I have an avocado collection. I've worked for an avocado company for 25 years and love finding odd little things with avos on them or avo shaped or whatever. Most are from Ebay, some were gifts. My collection has been packed away for several years for various reasons (mostly very small, curious grandchildren!) After much procrastination, today I FINALLY put up some new shelves in the kitchen and am once again putting these items that I love on display:

I have Avo Cookbooks, too....

and some cute little miniatures......

Doesn't it feel great to cross something off your to-do list?

feeling happy and productive

My weekend was busy, busy! The good kind of busy (see previous post). I got a lot accomplished.

Besides all the time with Grandkids, I had plenty of sewing time and actually needed to go fabric shopping for an order (really!)

I finished an order for two aprons for a pre-school:

I finished an order for 3 aprons for a church kitchen:

All of these aprons were rather utilitarian, so I now feel the need to do something more creative in the next few days. Time to get out the fabric stash and come up with something new and different. (I can feel my brain already heading in that direction....probably won't be able to sleep tonight!)

My creative cooking need kicked into gear today, too. I took the leftover CHILE VERDE I made on Friday night and created these CHILE VERDE ENCHILADAS. They were delicious! (now if can just remember how I made them...I never seem to write these recipes down)

I also found time to make a list of things to get done this week:

"Open Etsy Shop"

"Organize fabric/sewing stuff onto new shelves in garage"

"Sew matching sundresses for grandaughters #3 and #4"

A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND....(is it Monday already??)

A List....

For lack of something better to say today, here is a list of some of my favorite things, in no particular order:

1. Cracked Pepper flavored anything
2. "La Playa" handmade soap from Simply Soap
3. Emu oil
4. Crocs (5 pairs so far)
5. Craft blogs
6. fabric shopping
7. Children's literature
8. Mentholatum
9. Hummingbirds
10. Weiner dogs
11. iTunes
12. my Neti Pot
13. Vetyver scented anything
14. Knit scarves
15. Black jelly bellies
16. Flannel sheets
17. my Tempurpedic pillow
18. Pureology hair products
19. used book stores
20. mowing the lawn
21. the "Apronista" website
22. tearing apart old magazines
23. Libraries
24. collecting recipes
25. Food section of the newspaper
26. MAKING LISTS!


How about you? What are your favorite things?