Blessing Baskets

The past two Christmases my mom has bought me baskets; each basket for the purpose of making a sewing box.  Unlike most people who would go to a store and buy a traditional sewing box/basket[image], my mom chose to buy baskets from The Blessing Basket and then allow me to decorate and modify as I see fit to make my own sewing box.  As I know my mom doesn't shop online, I must assume this organization brought their display to the hospital where she is employed.  If you happen to see a Blessing Basket display, perhaps you could check it out as well.

2011 Basket

2011 Basket - Inside: Organized Chaos

2012 Baskets

Last year my basket came with a note about what the Blessing Basket was in addition to a note from the maker herself.  This year was similar except I actually went to the website this time to find out what the Blessing Basket was really all about.  http://www.blessingbasket.org/

According to the website, the Blessing Basket is "a certified nonprofit organization" having one goal to "lift the artisans we serve out of poverty". They say that they pay their weavers "a Prosperity Wage, which is significantly beyond fair trade, in fact more than anyone else in the world". "Our mission is achieved when the artisan uses their Prosperity Wages to graduate from our program into a life of sustainable financial independence."

It's a nice thought that something my mom bought is helping others, and so, I'm glad to fill as many baskets as I can with all of my frivolous sewing things.  I have always tried to do the right thing by people; I try to give as much as I can to others, I don't take from those more needy, and I always try to make the best decision I can given the information I have at the time; something I picked up from my mom.  Yet again, she shows how wonderful a person she is by simply getting me a very honorable gift.  (Or, perhaps she knows me so well she tries to avoid things made in China and ran out of ideas, but, I like to think it's mostly part A and just a dash of B).

Most Memorable Gift

I'm having one of those days where I've learned it's best to put my headphones in, put my head down, and ignore the world. When I'm overwhelmed I become surly. That is in fact one of my nicknames, Surly. So, I just ignore people so not to offend. You might be wondering why I'd take time to write a post in my surly mood. Well, I entered a contest where I simply had to answer a question. I knew the answer before I finished reading the question. Even though the answer made me a bit sad, the thought of the gift made me very happy!

The question: what was your most memorable holiday gift ever?

My Answer: My most memorable gift was a cassette tape recorder I received as a child (maybe 4 years old, I loved gadgets back then too).I used that recorder for countless hours of fun with my friends creating our own radio show and made up songs for many years.I would say though, more than that recorder, the most valuable part of the whole gift was the cassette inside.When I played it for the first time, it was “Santa” greeting me (an amazing thing all its own).Learning later that my dad couldn’t get Santa to sit still long enough to record a greeting, he recorded one for me in Santa’s place.Now that my father is gone, I’d pay a lot of money to get that cassette back so I could hear my father’s voice one more time.

Do you have a favorite gift?

Christmastime 2011

While this wasn't Dani's first Christmas, I like to think of it as her first REAL Christmas since she was just over a month old in 2010 and could only see lights. This year, she could play with and enjoy her presents as well as the lights, the tree, the ornaments, and family gatherings. While I haven't written anything over there on the Baby Blog, be sure to pop on over in the near future as I'm sure to include some highlights!

As for my Christmas, aside from the virus my computer got (from a blog they say?), the cold that I got (not terrible though) and the teething Dani is suffering (molars, what a bitch!) it was great.  I got an amazing new sewing machine from Chris and a great sewing basket (that is to be my next project) from my mom.  I got some gift cards, pajamas, a bracelet made by my Uncle Kirk, and of course some delish food and time with friends and family.  Festivities are actually not over yet either.

I should also mention, while this isn't something I got for Christmas, it was something that I received around Christmas, and that was news that I passed my Professional Engineering Licensing Exam, which officially makes me a licensed engineer in the State of Missouri.  We celebrated at work!

A lot of people have asked me how this changes things for me.  For starters, it's a huge relief, one thing marked off my list, one less test I have to take (yes, I still have more testing for some specific other states), and a bit of an accomplishment for myself as I get to add the letters PE to the end of my name and remove the EIT.  In terms of work, it may mean little for now as I don't have any Missouri projects that I can sign and seal drawings for at this time.  Perhaps in the future I will add some states or projects for which I am responsible and then I will sign and seal drawings.  Pay doesn't really change for me, nor do my tasks, but they could potentially for the future.  One thing though that has changed, I personally can be sued.  Before I was working directly for a PE, who was the responsible party, now I am.  That's not so great, but oh well, with all good things there are some bad things.

Now, onto other things, like sewing...here are a few pictures of things I've made recently, new gifts, and planned projects...

Insulated Horseshoe Tote with magnetic closure given as a gift

Insulated Lunch Tote with button closure made with scrap materials

My new Bernina sewing machine!

Plans for my sewing basket - making inserts

A Necklace Made Me Cry

I got a package in the mail today. An unexpected package is almost always good! I looked it over to be sure it was safe. As you likely know, I'm paranoid enough to believe someone would mail me anthrax in an effort to murder me. Little does that person know, all they would have to do is send me some Blue Gatorade with cyanide and the problem is essentially solved! Anyway, off course here...mail...package...me. I noticed the package was in eco-friendly holiday shipping paper. While no name was on it, I recognized the address, Lami, St. Louis. Aha, my dear friend Kelly sent me a package.

Do I open it, do I not open it...what to do...gah, OPEN IT! Inside was a ribboned and wrapped box. I couldn't wait. I know, I know, I should have waited...but I couldn't, I was too excited! Inside was a beautiful necklace, and exactly the kind I like. A bronze colored simple but beautiful necklace!

It of course brought tears to my eyes.

So to Kelly, who may or may not read this...Thank You. Thank You for making me happy, for making me cry, for my gift. Mostly, thank you for being You!!

A Couple of Chuffing Questions

It's been a real fucked up day. My computer program hates me and is using Chinese symbols for my icons/buttons.



I was told to uninstall and re-install to fix the problem. Great! I'm so thrilled you told me that Bentley! Of course, considering some of the things that are happening around me to people I know, I should really stop bitching! I like to bitch about stuff though. I really like to bitch about China!

Here's my real point to writing today! I'm doing a gift exchange with friends. The gift needs to be generic and non-gender specific. In addition to said gift, I am including a small home made gift. What I would like are some ideas! What would you like that is small and relatively cheaply priced?? Small bottle of alcohol? Wine? Calendar? Crossword puzzles? A block of cheese? "Don't Let The Pigeon Stay Up Late" book? [Preferably something I can find that is not made in China, thanks]

So, give me some ideas while I give you some words!

rock:

1. To use. To make do with, usually to great effect.

In use: We don't need you to make the spare bed, we can rock the couch.

2.Streetball term for the basketball.
3. A form of cocaine.

V-Card: Virginity. All virgins have a "V-card" until they "cash it in" for sex.
BA: Badass, pronounced as bee-ay (as opposed to bitch being bee-ya).

NOW, a word question for you! Twitter friend @ibificus used the word "chuffed". Having never heard the word before I looked it up and found several different meanings. Now I'm curious. How do you use the word "chuff/ed"?

chuffed=adjective British Informal. delighted; pleased; satisfied. [As in, I'm chuffed by stories with sheep!]

chuffed=adjective British Informal. annoyed; displeased; disgruntled. [As in, I get so freaking chuffed when people talk to me when my body language says "get the fuck away".]

chuff (chuffed, chuffing, chuffs)=verb. To produce or move with noisy puffing or explosive sounds. [As in, I really didn't want to move those boxes, so in point I chuffed through the task so everyone knew.]

chuff (chuffs)=noun. A noisy puffing or explosive sound, such as one made by a locomotive. [As in, well, you get the idea!]

[By the way, those of you following my blogs (all One of you), you might have noticed my lack of letter writing as I noted I would do...nice of you to notice...I'm a slacker, you should know that by now]

Crunk On Gatorade

I started my morning off great! Rode my bike into work, drank Gatorade, and really, does anything get better than Gatorade? I think not!



Anyway, I have two really cool gifts to mail out today. I would post what those are, but the recipients read this so it will just have to be a surprise! I did take photos so that once the recipients receive their gifts, I can share with you!

I posted online for the HOK Life blog, I think you should go check it out! (I of course always think you should check out the HOK Life blog)!

I am a traitor. I went yesterday and bought a lime green iPod Nano to replace my stinking bastard of a music player I once called my beloved Zune. The Zune won't work, and it pissed me off, so I traded sides! The blasted Zune still doesn't work, so I am contemplating driving over it tonight just to get some aggression out of my angtsy bones!

For Drew, here is the Chet the Jet link!

Word-
crunk: Highly intoxicated. Combination of "crazy" and "drunk". Made popular by hip-hop artist Lil Jon.