Crafting 101

So I am into recycling and if I can keep something out of the landfill, even the smallest thing, I’m excited. Every year I make special ornaments to send to my friends and family. This year, I decided to use the tops of the baby food jars that I used to make candles with.

The girls took glue and put glue all over the tops of the lids. Then they sprinkled glitter on it and we let it dry for a day. Then I took Christmas ribbon and glued it around the edge of the lid. Then I used the same ribbon to make a hanger for it. On the back will be a sticker with our name and the year on it.

These took roughly five days to make only because I used craft glue (couldn’t find my glue sticks) on the ribbon so it had to dry and we used Elmer’s glue for the glitter and that needed a good twenty-four hours to dry. But it was easy to do!

So did you make any special ornaments? If you did, let me hear all about it! TTFN!

This is a great recycling project! We decided to make candles for our friends and family for Christmas. We wanted it to be special and homemade and get this, it’s cheap! LOL! It’s cheap because we are recycling and keeping things out of the landfill and making someone very happy in the end!

We took old baby food jars of all sizes and painted them and then sprinkled glitter on them. We are then going to put a clear coat on them to keep them from chipping and then pour wax from old candles into the jars. The only thing to be purchased is the wicks! But someone gave me a neat tip. You can put old birthday candles in there instead. How neat it that? So that’s what I’m going to do. I might add some aroma to it, but haven’t decided yet.

We are using the baby food jar lids as ornaments. So we are recycling everything here. Here are Megan and Deanna working on them last night. This took the entire kitchen table. Whew! But it was fun!

So for the month of December, there’s not really a class going on, but I’m merely going to post things I’ve made as gifts (without telling who they are for) and let you know where I got to recipe or pattern for them or if I made it up myself. I have lots of things to make and only so long to make them! Eek! We are down to 22 days until Christmas.

My plan its to get all the presents that must be mailed done by mid-next week. That way they can still be mailed priority mail and get there in time. So I started working on one while traveling over Thanksgiving. Good news is, I’m almost done with it because I worked on it while Megan and Deanna were at ballet practice Monday night. That’s the key, take things with you when you are just going to be sitting osmewhere. You can get lots done then!

So I’m making this really pretty dishcloth. I’m using cotton thread, it probably won’t be used as a dishcloth, but something pretty to have.

Now I got the pattern online, but it’s originally from 101 Easy Scrap Crochet Projects. I can’t find where I got the link from to print out the pattern, but I provided the name of the book. I do plan on purchasing this book. It’s got lots of neat patterns in it.

Now, I’ve got more projects to post, but I can’t do them all in one day now can I!  I will show you this one when it’s done. I should be able to finish it today in the middle of doing laundry and dishes and cleaning up kiddos! TTFN!

Well, as I type this, NaNoWriMo is just about over. I was trying to upload some more of my book to verify my word count total, but I can’t even get to their website! Overload! But on my Word document, I’m at a few words over 61,000. Yes, 61,000 words. Whew! I got onto a roll Saturday and Sunday and the words flew off my fingers! I was hoping to get a final word count in, but if I can’t, it won’t be the end of the world.

I had fun this November actually winning NaNoWriMo for the first time in four years. I’m still writing the book, I will probably get over 100,000 by the looks of it. My DH and I decided just to keep at it and get it done so that next November, I can write the next in the series. It was really nice to be able to spend the last week with my DH in the car and we actually discussed my book. He told me if my ideas sounded stupid or if they might actually happen. I loved being able to do that with him.

Well, this is the last post of November. I haven’t thought of a topic yet for December. I’m thinking December will be showing you all the things I’m making as Christmas gifts. Yes, I will be making most of the gifts. I started on one over this last week. If I can, I will be able to take it to ballet practice tomorrow and finish it since practice is long tomorrow night. But it’s that time of year to get those presents done!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! LMK how you did with the writing! I’ll let you know when the book is done! TTFN!

I did it!!! I’m so super duper excited! I got to 50,641 words officially this afternoon somewhere between Gulf Port, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama. As we pulled into a hotel to stay the night, I looked down and saw my word count. Then I went to NaNoWriMo’s website and put my novel in there for validation and to get my winner status!

I’m super excited since I’ve never written this much before in my life, I’m pretty sure. Well, I have another book I’ve written, but it’s not on this computer so I can’t see how many words that is, but anyways, 50,000 words is a lot!

Here’s a short exert from the book, I have until Sunday at midnight to put my final word count on the website so I’ll give an update then. Enjoy!

When we arrived home, I didn’t care if I got punished or not, I went straight to my room, put on my pajamas and crawled into bed. At this point, I really didn’t feel anything anymore. My entire body was numb. I turned my light out and just stared out the window. I’m not sure when Dad came into my bedroom. I felt someone there and turned over in the bed. Once I saw it was Dad, I sat up and started crying and held out my arms for him. He came closer and hugged me while I cried. I cried and I cried and I cried. It felt so good to get all that out.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Dad asked finally.

“Mom.” I said. Dad handed me some tissues and I blew my nose and wiped my eyes.

“She told me that the problem she had with me was that I was born. Why would a mom say that to their child?” I asked, the tears starting to well up again.

“Oh ballerina, she didn’t mean that.”

“Yes she did. Why doesn’t she love me? Did she not want to have me? Did I cause her too much pain? Why Daddy, why?” I started crying again and Dad held me close.

“Annette, it’s not that she didn’t want you, it’s, you were unexpected, that’s all. We thought we were done and then we had you.”

“So because you had me, she decided you needed to have all the rest? Is she mad because of that?”

“No, Annette, please come with me.” Dad got up and pulled me out of bed to follow him downstairs. We went down to the family room where Mom was with Analise and Andrew. Dad came behind me and led me to sit on the couch. He went and sat on his recliner.

“What’s wrong with Annette?” Mom asked.
Okay, that’s all I can give you. I hope that you have been able to make progress on your novel! LMK and I’d love to read it! TTFN!

Well, sorry for taking a few days off, but we’ve been traveling. But lucky for me, I have my laptop! So I brought it in the car with me. I typed while the husband drove! LOL! The good news is, I am up to over 47,000 words. Hip-hip-hooray! Only 3,000 more and I’m a winner!

The story is going well too. Lots of stuff going on in it so I’m hoping it sounds good. My main goal is to get over the 50,000 words and actually come to a conclusion to the entire thing then once I’m done, I’m going to edit it. I feel like I need to add some more to it in other places, but I’m not worried about that right now. Just have to hit the 50,000 mark.

I thought I’d post a photo I took of me writing the novel while traveling on I-20 Monday evening. I meant to post it then, but we were tired after driving like seventeen hours halfway across the country.

I’m hoping to type some tonight and if I’m lucky, I’ll get it finished! Hope everyone else is reaching their goal! TTFN!

Well, I made it over 32,000 words today. I was able to sit down while the kids ate some popcorn and watched some TV. I only got a thousand words our, but hey, that’s 1,000 more than yesterday! But I’ve got to get on the ball because there’s only one week left in November and I really want to hit 50,000 words!!! Cheer me on! I do like that NaNoWriMo has the Facebook application where I can post my word count so it helps me to be accountable and it helps others give me some encouragement.

I’m hoping to find some time to write tomorrow afternoon since I don’t need to be at church tomorrow evening. Lots of football on so the hubby will be preoccupied. LOL! So how is everyone else doing? I have been browsing a little bit and the prospective books are interesting! Well I need to get off here and get some sleep. TTFN!

I’ve been kind of bummed the last few days because I’ve hardly been able to write. I was at a little over 30,000 on the 18th and I looked today when I got a chance to write some and I haven’t even hit 31,000! So it’s been one of those weeks. But today, I’ve got the laptop downstairs on the kitchen table and in between cleaning up and doing other things, I am going to write.

I did hit a sudden patch where I was like, I’m not sure what to do on from here or what could happen. In fact, when I go back to edit, there’s a part around words 26,780 thru 28,000 where I’m probably going to rewrite it as right now, it’s okay and gives another angle to the story, but overall, I need to make it more exciting and bone-chilling a little bit. Just to give another punch to the storyline. But because of that occurrence, it leads to why Annette is afraid of talling her parents what happened.

I do plan on introducing in person her older siblings that are off in college. The timeline has the Thanksgiving holidays approaching so they will be visiting and I plan on making a lot of things come out in the open. If you were wondering how things would go with her academy dreams and what about George, those questions will be answered, all before Christmas break!

As I’ve been writing this, I’ve been thinking of possibly creating a series. Of course, I want to see how well this does and if it goes like I’d like it to (meaning, actually sell loads of copies) then I want to take on Janet’s life during this time or possibly go back in time to see how all this ended up happening with Annette and I also thought of what happens when she goes to the academy (well, if she gets to go, LOL!). Lots of ideas, but I guess I need to get this one done first!

I will be back tomorrow with another exert. I desperately need to hit 40,000 words by tomorrow at the latest. I know I’m behind! EEKK!!!

I did it and it’s exactly halfway through the month of November! I’m super excited to be this far with fifteen days to go. Here’s a little bit from the last few pages:

“A tutor? I don’t need a tutor.” Wally shouted out.

“Wally, that is enough.”

“I know that I’m not smart, not as smart as goody-two-shoes over there,” Wally said, pointing at me. I ducked my head and slouched in my chair. “I won’t have her as a tutor, you can’t make me.”

“No we can’t, Mr. Smith, but if your parents see your grades, they would rather you have a tutor than see you stuck in remedial math throughout the rest of high school. And I can guarantee you, Mr. Smith, colleges do not give basketball scholarships to incoming students who cannot pass geometry.” A few of the kids laughed at Wally.

“It isn’t funny class.” Mr. Masterson spoke up. “Colleges want you to know how to use all sorts of math. I’ve never had such a bunch of bright students who can’t seem to grasp the subject of geometry.”

“So, this is how it will be. After the exam and after Mr. Masterson gives me the results and your grades for your report card, we will determine where to go from here with all those involved. Now, good luck and good day.” Principal Stoner left the room. The class was silent for the first time in awhile.

I’m happy to be this far in such a short amount of time.  I thought I was stuck for awhile the other day, so I had to stop and actually think where could I go with this? Once I thought about it, I was able to keep streaming on and on with the words.

So how is everyone else doing? I need to check out the NaNoWriMo website to see if anyone has hit the 50,000 word mark yet. Oh, you can check out my profile here if you’d like to see it. I don’t know if I’ve posted it yet or not. My word count there is different than where I’m at, but I only update it like once a day. Anyways, hope that you have some comments for me! I’d love to hear from you!

That’s right! I think everyone is into facebook now! I found NaNoWriMo on facebook.com where I not only became a fan, you can install their application so it’ll post how many words you have written on you profile. I think it’s really cook! Check it out!

So right now, I’m at a little over 22,200 words. I had to take a break these past two days so I could get some PTA stuff done and I had to do some housework before my husband kicked me out! LOL! I am fixing to write some more and the next time I post, I want to at least be over 25,000 words and even better, 30,000! I’m telling you, this is the most I’ve written in the first two weeks of November than I’ve ever done before! It’s awesome!

So, like always, here’s a little bit from the novel. LMK what you think!

The normal crowd was at the bus stop, the bus arrived and I grabbed my normal seat next to Janet.

“Hey girl!” I said to Janet. I put my backpack on the floor by my feet.

“Hey, can I still come over tonight?” Janet asked. “Mom my said it was cool to stay over as long as your mom or dad said it was fine.”

“Well, I asked my dad and he said it was fine, but then Mom springs this baby-sitting thing me for the whole weekend.”

“What? Man, I really want to come over.”

“Go ahead and come over after school with me. You got your stuff?” Janet picked up an extra bag she brought with her. “Just come, they can’t get rid of you if you are already there.”

“Okay, sounds good. Who do you have to watch?”

“The twins, Adam and Amy. My parents are going to DC and they are taking the rest to my grandparents.”

“Why are they going to DC all the sudden?”

“Something to do with Dad’s work is what my mom said. Who knows and I don’t really care.”

We arrived at the school and exited the bus. Cally and Roger were waiting for us and I saw George getting off his bus and jogging over to us.

“Annette, good morning.” George said, coming up beside me.

“Good morning, George.”

“The two love birds!” Roger teased. Cally hit him with her purse.

“Shut up, Roger.” I said. I punched him gently in the arm.

“You are just jealous that you don’t have a girlfriend.” Janet said.

“Yeah, well, I’ve been thinking of asking someone to the dance at the end of the
month.” Roger said, defending himself.

“Oh yeah, who would want to go out with you?” I asked. We all laughed.

“I’m hurt,” Roger replied. “But it’s that gorgeous looking girl right over there.” Roger pointed to a girl sitting next to the water feature in the front yard of the school.

“Alexis? Your science project partner?” Cally gasped.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing, just, the two of you have been in class together since like sixth grade and you’ve never noticed her before you became partners.” Cally said.

“Well, love is blind.” Roger said.

The first bell rang letting us know it was time to head inside to class. 

I’m hoping that you all like it. I can’t wait to see how it finished! TTFN!