$$$ = Value?

Does paying more money really mean you're getting a higher quality product?

Unfortunately, in some cases, yes. Working in a store that sells both high-end and mid-grade baby gear I have realized that paying a little extra can do wonders in the long run.


Yesterday a rep from the Baby Silk company came by. While I wasn't there when she came by, I did get some sample products to take home (yay goodies!) One of the products I got was a travel size of their lotion. It is honestly the best lotion I have ever used. Ever. My hands take a huge beating throughout the day between washing more then the average person should (because I must) and eczema my hands look like old lady hands pretty quickly. This stuff made my hands feel like, well, a baby! I would love to use this all over. Unfortunately the full size bottle is $20. (no lies)

Another area I see $$ = quality of product is jeans. The average person had probably 2-4 pairs of jeans that last years. Assuming they aren't super trendy. So I see no problem with spending $80 on a pair of jeans. Especially in my case. I have a -hell- of a time jean shopping. Until I found Guess Jeans. I can't go wrong in this place! Yes, $80 for a pair of jeans, but I go into the store knowing I'm going to walk out with a pair of jeans that actually fits. That used to never ever happen for me.

Here's an example where $$ does not necessarily = Quality. Strollers. Yep, another baby example. We carry a variety of different strollers from strollers that cost $1200 to ones that are $125. Disclaimer: Those two strollers are vastly different in so many ways it would take an entire post just to explain them. My favorite is the Baby Jogger City Mini (plug plug plug) $220, will take an infant, car seat, holds up to 45ish pound, big wheels, easiest fold in the universe, and only 17lbs. Amazing stroller. You could try and get away with only having this one stroller. (most people end up with 3) Not much money, lots of value. While it's only 2 years old we've -never- had a problem with them. Not one return because it was defective. Without bad mouthing any of the other strollers we carry, let me just say, this kind of quality/awesomeness doesn't always come in a stroller. Some strollers seem great, but just tend to break down quickly.

Working in the industries I do I've learned that doing some research before you go buy something, even if it's not a huge purchase, it not a bad idea. Research research research!

Oh, and organic fruits really do taste better.

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It's a Boy!

His name is Jackson, and he's a big baby! So I'm really glad I went with a really stretchy pattern. Can I just say, that this yarn is gorgeous? I think I can.

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!!

Look at what Amy made!

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On to the Next Chapter!

I have quite a few things I want to talk about, so this might end up being two separate posts. First and foremost, the Inauguration! It was absolutely amazing to watch history take place. I really wish I had the forethought to make a trip to DC for it, but I'm not sure if the city could handle any more people! Mike and I took extended lunches and watched the swearing in and the speech at the Old South church (which is beautiful). It was as close to being there as one could get without suffering in the cold. When they said to stand, we stood, when they prayed, we prayed. It was really awesome. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Obama is going to put into place all the changes that are needed to dust us off. :)

Since I hate ending on a sour note, here's my gripe for the post: FAFSA changed their qualifications for independent student status. I'm not kidding, it's now TWENTY FIVE to be independent! WHAT? They really think parents support their children for 7 whole years after high school? Sorry, but I don't know -anyone- who's parents have done that. But, I don't know any privileged children either. Here's how I feel about this. If the drinking age were 19, I am currently 18 and 7 months old. Oh, just kidding, they changed the drinking age to 21! And then, when I'm finally 21, they change the drinking age back down to 19. -.- I'm really upset! I was so thrilled to finally get more financial aid!

Alright, so a good note to end on! Mike's cousin is having a baby (yaaay!) Of course he forgot to tell me until two days ago and she's supposed to be having it this week. Goof. They don't know what sex it is so as soon as they have it his mom is going to call me and I'm going to knit away! If it's a boy I'm going to make a hat and booties out of the same yarn I made the previous baby gifts in, only blue and green. If it's a girl I only have enough for booties and maybe some mittens. I have some yellow and green I could use, but they are really, really, bright. Mike said I should just knit both because there's always babies to pawn off booties for. And, if I make a hat and it's a girl I could probably sell the hat to MK so she can sell it at the store. (maybe I should do that with the booties...)

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Always forget to put a Title!

I want to talk about some movies coming out this year that I'm really excited about!

First off, I'm really excited about Disney's Princess and the Frog movie. I found out about it Christmas of '07 and have been anticipating it ever since. They are going back to the old style of animation and (get ready) it's the first ever African-America princess movie! Originally I thought it might be an actual African princess, but it takes place in New Orleans during the hight of the Jazz age. Very exciting.

A book I read while in Canada: The Lovely Bones, is being turned into a movie staring Mark Wahlberg. I must re-read the book as soon as I get through my stack I have from the library! It was a great great book.

They are making the second Twilight movie.... Ok, I LOVED the books, absolutely. I haven't seen the first movie yet because I don't want to pay for a movie that gets bad reviews. I've read that the special affects are laughably cheap and you need to have the state of mind that it's not a serious movie in order to not be disappointed. Now they are making the second one, and CUTTING THE BUDGET! lol.. this'll be interesting... Not everyone can do what Harry Potter did. (which is also coming out this summer woo!)

Where the Wild Things Are was turned into a movie! Not sure when it's coming out. Apparently there is controversy and it might be refilmed. But I can't find any other info on the web about it, so who knows. Also, this book wasn't very long at all, I wonder what they'll do to make it a full movie.

Toy Story in 3D! The third toy store is going to be great! Why? Besides the fat that it's Toy Story, every movie (with exception to the Jonas Brothers Concert) is awesome in 3D!

The new Pixar movie Up looks really cute too. Basically, an old man wants to have an adventure before he's done with life. So he ties a million balloons to his house and goes! Only to find that a stowaway (boyscout selling popcorn) was on his porch!

(this post is getting long, there are way to many good looking movies coming out!)

Who can forget: WATCHMEN IS COMING! I only recently read this graphic novel, but oh man, it's good.

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale are doing a mob movie. Fainting.. Have to go see that. No matter what the story line is.

Of course the next Transformers is going to be good. And Angels and Demons is being made into a movie. It was good, but just not as good as other books I've read. I'll watch it eventually though I'm sure.

Oh! Fast and Furious! The third in line, and guess whaat, it's the original cast! Yay Vin Diesel! And Terentino is making a new movie. About WWII (I see a theme lately) so that'll be awesome!

Apparently I'm equally as excited about the kid's movies coming out as the adult ones. But kid movies are so much better then they used to be!
All in all though, going to be a great year for movies I think!

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Bebes

Made these for a friend from HS who just had a baby about a month ago. Hopefully they'll still fit her! They look kind of orange in the photo, but it's really a tomato red. If I have time at work today (which I probably will) I'll make some booties to go with them. I'll edit that picture in once I get them finished (probably by tomorrow).

Here they are!

I would have finished them last night but my hands were really sore. Now to get them to Jarrod so he can mail them out!

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Learn the Art of Layers.

I'm happy to say that yes, I can layer my yoga pants with my jeans and still fit them inside my boots. Which is very helpful when it's 13 degrees outside and overcast.

I've been waiting for a week to get a bunch of yarn I ordered and it came on Saturday (yaaaay!) I started on a pair of leg warmers first:

Now, as you can see, I'm not very far. They are going to come above the knee when I'm done, and I'm about.. 3 inches over the heel. So I might get them just in time for Spring! lol...

I got a Barnes and Noble gift card from the toy store for Christmas so I went to the library and checked out all the books I wanted to read that I didn't feel the need to purchase. So now I still have my library card and 6 books sitting around to be read. I just don't know if I have time to do anything else!

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New Obsession; Take One

Alright! Let me introduce you to my new friend: ravelry.com! Best.Site.Ever. I can keep track of what yarn I have, what patterns I want to do, and search a HUGE amount of patterns and people to help me with them! My first project from the site was Squishy the Fish.



This is his good side! He really turned out well in the end, but I'm a beginner and the pattern was weird for me. But he's adorable. On the other side I somewhere picked up an extra stitch and there's a bit of a hole, but I still love him. As I was stuffing him with love <3 Mike asked "So what are you going to do with him?" Well, I thought maybe I'd give him to the ferrets. But he'd get pretty chewed up so I'm not sure if I could bear to see that happen! But I don't know what else to do with him, he's sitting on my end table keeping watch over the living room at the moment.

More project posts soon! I have a bunch of yarn on it's way, will be here on Tuesday wooo! I got bright pink, yellow, blue, green and purple to make some more toys and then some to make a halter top and some leg warmers for myself.

:D

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Are you there?

This is like walking into a house that hasn't been lived in for a year. These most recent posts are so old! So, one of last year's resolutions bombed: being in school by the end of the year. :\ I was hoping to get in for this spring but FAFSA is a boob. But I'm going to get early admittance for the fall and possibly the summer if I can get aid. Probably going to go to UMass too, it's the cheapest option here and a good school. Mike's a little wary of me going over there at night though. S'ok. I beat'em up!

Christmas brought a wonderful, well earned, and much needed vacation of just over a week. I've also cut Monday's out of my Magic schedule so that I have a little more time for around the house. All my spare time at the College has gotten me back into crocheting and I learned to knit! Weeee. I'll put up pictures in a separate post.

So this year's resolution is to quit putting things off! Stop putting off school, stop putting off getting my certification through work, stop putting off everything! Unfortunately that little resolution also gave me the wedding bug >.< but I think I've made it subside somewhat. I love Mike more then ever (yes more then last year when I said the same thing) and I wouldn't want something stupid like me being antzy about wanting a huge party all about me to put a strain on our relationship.

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