arg.

this is what my sinuses are doing to my face at the moment.  i found this image and thought it was hilarious.  

tired.  counting down the MINUTES to vacation.  trying oh so very hard to not eat the boxes of girl scout cookies on my desk at work.  can't wait to party saturday night with dave and his family and then go see the rangers on sunday in the city!  just about finished with my amigurumi kitty ... just have to make the ears, a tail and then the sash for the dress.  i think she will be cute ... but this was SO labor intensive.  :\

watching american idol with da-veed and then heading to bed.  ooooh i think the sinus medicine is kicking in.  huzzah.

oh what a night ...

work was good and productive.  i freaked out a bit when i realized my reviews are due on monday ... i lost yesterday to snow and friday and saturday to being sick ... so i am a little behind.  but ... i am not TOTALLY freaking out ... yet.  LOL.  yeah, this is the new calm, cool and collected jessica! ;o) and this will last just about until sunday night when the real freak out occurs. ;)

dave made a pot roast tonight that was just amazing.  i am SO full.  even mittens enjoyed a little taste! :)  we watched american idol ... and i crocheted some more.  i got the skirt finished on my break today at work and then it took me all night to make one little arm!!!  i really struggled with the back post single crochet.  but now that i know the general idea of how to do it ... i hope the next arm won't take as long.  then comes the face.  i actually thought today of making her a little girl doll instead of an amigurumi animal ... or making a little bonnet for the head ... not sure what direction i am going to take it.  i don't have to decide just yet ... still have another ARM to finish!!!  arg!

off tomorrow ... coffee with mom planned ... laundry ... a little cleaning ... i should bake for maria's little party tomorrow but i am just not feeling cookies tho.  maybe cupcakes?  we will have to see!

alrighty i am gonna start the other arm before bed ... wish me luck!

creepin' on.

feeling slightly better ... but it's hard to tell when all you've done for 3 days is sleep.  but, i suppose if i am sleeping this much, i needed it, right?

went to work this morning just to open.  when the mid manager came in, everyone sent me home.  so home i went, nyquil i took, sleep i did.  i was a little tired because, apparently, when i am sick, i am not as sound a sleeper as i usually am ... and dave's snoring kept me up all night.  i would try to wake him up to have him roll over ... and he started babbling about spreadsheets and work-stuff and how "it's not going to work."  lol.  it's funny now ... but a little frustrating at the time.

i worked for a like a minute on a amigurumi project ... i am hoping to get a little more done tonight after dinner.  i have a few cute ideas ... i just have to EXECUTE them.  but hopefully with being so sedentary these last few days, i will feel better and be able to do something tomorrow.  i should be back in action (i hope!!!) by monday. :)

it's been kinda nice, tho, doing nothing.  observing, dreaming, tuning out totally when i feel too overwhelmed.  i feel a little ... revived.  a little ... more me again?  i think i let work so totally take me over that i loose myself ... my creativity ... i loose ME.  but i am feeling a little more together ... and that makes me feel better (despite the cold!).  maybe i needed this cold/hibernation after my total-stress-out earlier this week.

and now i sit on the couch ... watching any NCIS, Law and Order, or House i can find. :)  

sick and cranky.

i'm sick.  i'm tired.  i haven't showered.  i have a headache.  i haven't sewn in a week.  i haven't done a thing but sleep and watch tv the last few days.  my apartment is a MESS.  i think i am stuck on the couch.  and i want dave to come home with my COOKIES.  yeah life is thrilling these days.

i made it.

i made it, blogger-world. i stressed myself out like you would not believe (or, if you know me, you WOULD believe!) over today's visit with the boss. and it went FINE. really FINE. i was practically giddy with relief when it was over. and i think i am doing an OK job. i still hate the pressure and stress and politics of running a corporatized retail business ... but i think i can relax a bit now ... and just keep on keepin' on! :) i came home and passed out for like 4 hours ... it was blissful, really. did a little bit of crochet while watching american idol, of course! but didn't work on anything of note. i was too tired to focus. i needed mindless after these last few days. :)

tomorrow i am off but am going to visit my grandfather ... then i have darts in the evening. i am kinda bummed that my BIG DAY OFF after my work visit is a bit filled with plans ...but at least the pressure is off for awhile. that is what i am MOST thankful for! :) and maybe, just maybe, i can get something accomplished tomorrow afternoon! :)

nighty night!

so busy internet friends.  work is just taking up all my energy, all my time.  i have finally come to terms with it ... i am trying to remember that, should a house be in dave and my immediate future, this job will afford us so many wonderful things.  but, even though i have comes to terms with this … it’s still difficult having work and nothing else in my life at the moment.  :(   

it's almost 2am and i am crocheting ... just because i have to do something creative before i fall asleep.  

Lord, keep me strong.

happy day after valentine's everyone! :) i hope everyone had a sweet day filled with love and chocolate! :) i had a great couple of days ... we decided to go out to dinner friday to avoid the crowds and pricey special menus ... and had a WONDERFUL yummy dinner!

then, yesterday, these georgous flowers arrived for me at work .... my favorite gerber daisies ...

then, once we both got home, dave gave me this AMAZING card. i can't believe he made this! he's going to put me out of business!!! lol. well, if marketing doesn't work out for you, honey, i'll hire ya! ;)

then we had this with fresh strawberries ... just cuz ...

then he made an AMAZING chicken and potatoes dinner that filled us both up to the gills! but i promised to clean up ... and there is still this to be dealt with ...





hehe ... so that is why i am sitting here avoiding the kitchen! haha.

it was a sweet and relaxing weekend ... and i loved every minute of it! thanks sweet pea! :)

today's shop additions and some musings ...

my latest shop additions ... and some frustration musings ...

i love to create.  sew.  cut and design.  i do this for me because i enjoy it ... not because i am looking to make a buck.  BUT.  that being said.  i do like getting my stuff out there.  i would love to have a little shop and sell  my things and help support a family some day.  and, i know that the world is spending differently these days ... we have all felt the pinch.  but i just don't seem to sell much of anything.  i know i haven't been doing this for that long.  etsy shop has been open only a few months ... since the fall, i guess ... and i've only done one little local craft show.  but i don't know ... why keep going if nothing sells?  i mean, i'll never stop creating and making things ... and i always think a handmade gift is so much more special than something store-bought ... so i will always try and create things for friends and family.  but etsy?  craft shows?  am i like those singers on american idol who think THEY ARE the next american idol .... only to be laughed at by the judges and sent on their way with a "sorry sweetie this just isn't the thing for you?"  (thank you dave for making me the weirdo who is now comparing life to an american idol audition! ;) ♥)

so ... why internets why do i keep going?  how can i justify going to michaels or target to buy up supplies ... only to make things and have them sit in baskets or the closet getting mittens's fur all over them??  am i doing something wrong?  not being aggressive enough?  is there just no niche for my items?  do i have to pay for etsy features?  when you make items that are predominately under $10 ... how do you pay for any type of advertising and still make a little profit?  hmmm ... not so sure ........

warm ...

so so warm today in northern new jersey! :)  windows are open, breeze is blowing in ... is it possible that this weekend could be back to 10 degrees???  well, i'll enjoy it either way! 

i am working on some stuff today (LOVE LOVE LOVE days off!!!) and taking some pictures ... so keep your eyes peeled!  oh and as i said in my last post, if anyone has tips on taking some better photos, please let me know!!!

enjoy the weather wherever you are! :o)

hello bloggy friends.  i first wanted to thank the sweet people who commented on my last post! :)  thanks for all the encouragement! :)

i have some new completed items to put up in my shop ... but i have a question for all you etsy-ers.  how do you take your photos?  what tips can you share about taking good, artistic photos?  i seem to stuggle a lot in this area and see the quality photos on etsy ... any tricks of the trade would be appreciated by this newby etsy-er!!

have a nice day! :)