Latest Craft Project

This is a doll I'm working on for the new baby in the friend-group: Kavenia. I used a black apple template available through the Martha Stewart website.

I still need to whip-stitch her head closed and paint on her face. The painting hasn't been done yet because I'm super nervous about it. :/

O' Tannenbaum!

Before it gets too late, I need to post some pictures of my tree. Alas, I plan to take it down this week even though I feel I didn't get ample time to enjoy it.
I thought my tree turned out very "Dr. Seuss-esque" this year. The topper is just some spray I got from work last year when every thing went 90%. I just tied it together with some ribbon.

Here are some of my favorite ornaments from this year:

This is a fabulous ornament my sister made. It's available on her etsy, which you can reach on her blog: The Petticoat Pirate.

This is one of four huge red bulb ornaments I got for $1.50 at Lowes. Score.

This is probably my favorite Pier 1 ornament this year: my cute little moose.

This is my German pickle ornament. Sadly, I was the only one who could find it. Since I was also the one who put it on the tree I couldn't get a prize. Oh well.

Relaxing Vacation

I'm sorry that my blog has been on vacation lately. I've had so much going on this past month that I don't know where to begin to recover from it. All these events have significantly taken from my blog time, so I offer my apologies.

Christmas was crazy. Since I work in retail that meant very long and strange hours. When the day arrived, Steven was here to celebrate the day with me. As you know, he tends to usurp all of my free-time, especially now that he lives in Northern Virginia. On Sunday night, my friend from London called and said she was in the states. Since I had Monday and Tuesday off from work I hopped in the car and made the 5 hour drive home to see her. I spent most of Monday with her, saw my mother for 30 minutes, slept, saw my best friend and her sister, shopped, hopped back in the car to make the drive back, stopped in Richmond to have dinner with my Dad and then got home at 10pm last night. So I'm exhausted!

I wish that I could dazzle you with news of fabulous New Year plans; however, I'm working today and tomorrow, so no plans.

Anyways, game back on here at Ms. Domestique. Yeehaw.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Holiday Survey

Because Steven has my camera (our friends Eugene and Andrea had a baby 2 days ago and he obviously needed to get pictures for me) I haven't been able to blog about anything I've been planning to blog about since Thanksgiving, e.g. my tree, the new doll I made, my B Moss adventure, and Steven's graduation. So that means that you will be bombarded with all that as soon as he gets in town tomorrow.

Until then, I feel the need to complete this survey:
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap, however, wrapping does not lend itself to being very environmentally friendly. At least bags are reusable.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial for me. We had real ones growing up and they were too much work. Had to hike out into the woods, chop one down, drag it home, water it, and then watch it shed all over you. So I just keep mine in my closet. That way I get a little tinge of a wish for Christmas every time I see it.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving day

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years day

5. Do you like eggnog? Negative

6. Favorite gift received as a child? um...I remember a really cool doll once with black hair. No...I think my favorite was my barbie mini-van complete with car-seat.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Steven

8. Easiest person to buy for? That's probably me. I leave hints regularly.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? no

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I remember my grandparents on my mother's side getting me something very lame one year, so lame I can't remember it. 2 Christmases ago my parents got me a remote-controlled VW bus. Awesome since I love Volkswagons, but I couldn't do anything with it, so I returned it for the money.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yeah, I probably have.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My grandmother's mashed potatoes. They were the best.

16. Colored or Clear Lights? Colored, my tree is a tacky mess and I love it! I really want some bubbling lights. Steven has never heard of them, can you believe it?

17. Favorite Christmas song? O holy night, or Little Saint Nick by the beach boys.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Every year, while my father's parents were in good health, we used to go to their house. It was amazing and I looked forward to it all year. In future I intend to be the house every one goes to. This year it's just me and Steven and I wouldn't have it any other way.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star, I've just got some multi-colored spray on top.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. No one has let me open any at night.

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? non-traditional. I like pinks and teals and greens and silvers

22. White or Warm Christmas? White

23. Favorite Christmas Tradition? Waking up everyone super early after I've been trying to sleep until it's officially Christmas. My kids will get me back for this: hello mom, it's 1 a.m. officially Christmas. That's what I did to my parents, after I had been sitting up in the living room since 12 just looking at my presents. ;)

24. Favorite Christmas Location? Charlotte, N.C.

25. Who do you tag? Anyone

Bummin' Holiday

I came to the realization tonight that I had not sent out all my Holiday cards. I sent out the ones to the parents during Thanksgiving break and I made Steven sign all the other cards. So I've had everything signed, thoughtful notes written, return address stickers adhered, and they've set here waiting to be addressed. The delay was caused by Steven, who has been promising to get the addresses of his friends for like a month.

So my apologies if you get your card late. I'm a bum who was busy trying to graduate in the Spring. However, you were, and are, always in my thoughts.

Lovey Dovey Kiss Kiss

My pining for a tattoo finally culminated in two gorgeous doves on my wrists. I'm in love with them; although, it's hard to get used to having tattoos in such a visible place. I've ordered some extremely cute cuff bracelets to cover them with.

Tomorrow Steven graduates from college. I'm so excited for him! Tonight his amazing family rolled into town. His mother and I altered his robe (it was too small around the waist since robes are based on height not size. We added some side panels. Steven and Pat--his little brother--played with the cats. :D) Tomorrow my parents come into town...and the parental units meet for the first time. I'm very nervous about that and keeping my new tats covered. My Mother is not a fan of bod mods and my Dad was ok until I got more than him. Tomorrow will be interesting to say the least...kill me now, kthx.

My sister asked about my other tats a while ago so I'll catch everyone up on my previous tattoo endeavors.

1: My stars


2: My flowers

I'm aware that I've completely disappeared for the past...oh...week. I'm working through my exams. I only have 2 more to go (Ren Lit, Technical Editing). I'll be done Wednesday, then I can enjoy my break!

Plan Foiled

I've got this huge paper I'm supposed to be working on. Since it is the last paper I'll be writing for a month I'm having tons of trouble concentrating. I can procrastinate like no one you have ever met. In fact, I'm doing it right now. My big plan was to go across the street to Burger King and sit there and write without the distraction of internet and with the luxury of food right there. Well, it turns out they have absolutely no power outlets. The one I found didn't have power running to it. So alas, I'm back on campus. Once I get my quote from Lady Susan I swear up and down that I'm turning off the internet and writing. ALL DAY! I want to get this dumb thing done so that I can stress about my finals. Yay?

Crafty list

Can I seriously be done with classes already? It is getting in the way of my fabulous craft and reading plans for the holidays.

Crati-dos:

• Finish Steven's stocking complete with beading and pleating. Yes, pleating has made it's way into this project.
• Sew the finishing touches on the zipper on my pencil-case that I started like 3 months ago.
  
• Make polkadotted stuffed trees! I may be becoming a little obsessed with The Black Apple. On her latest blog post she had a fabulous stuffed tree sitting beside her advent calander. I'm not sure if she made it, but I love the idea of it. So I'm going to try my hand at it. Post to follow.
• Make a doll.

Oh and read Dracula. I realized yesterday that I haven't read it yet. Nothing says Christmas like Gothic literature, right?

Our Cats

I just realized I haven't posted a picture of Penelope. You can see how grumpy she is. These were their mug-shots to turn into the housing agency.

PS- check out the argyle sweater I found for Steven.

Wounded in Battle

Tonight Steven and I had to give Oliver a bath. Because of his long hair, he tends to have...lingering...smells from the litterbox. If I had plants they would die from him walking by. After I washed his body we tried to wash his head and as I held him he freaked out (even though he normally likes water, I think he got it in his eye) and then he ripped into me through my sweater. It's super ouchies. Notice the bruise. I took these pictures right after it happened. Ouchies.

PS- I secretly love being pale.

Big News

After much debate, Steven has decided to accept the job offer in northern Virginia. So that means that I'll be staying in the state for a while. It just makes the most sense for us now so that we can save some money and gain work experience.