Thursday, July 19, 2012
Fourth of July Cupcakes
I was volunteered to make dessert for a 4th of July party we were attending. I had been craving cupcakes, so I made a batch of both chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. Yes, I cheated and used boxed cake mix. I had some pretty red, white, and blue liners, but did not think just using the liners was fancy enough for the party. So I laid out the cupcakes in a rectangle and used red, white, and blue icing to make a flag design. I even used store-bought icing and just added in food coloring, so it was a quick and easy project. I didn't have the gel coloring on hand, so I used liquid food coloring. I hate that I can't get colors as vibrant that way, but it's what I had. I think they turned out cute, and I hope everyone enjoyed the cupcakes!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Truthful Tuesday - Money In The Bank
I have been asked by several people to blog about my recent experience. I aim to please, so here goes.
I stopped to get some food and a drink late one afternoon as I was famished and needed a snack. My check card did not work. That was strange because I knew I had plenty of money in the account to cover my purchase, so I logged into my handy-dandy mobile bank app and discovered that I had a whopping $12.77 left in my account. That was way less than it should have been by several hundred dollars.
Everything turned black for a second and I literally could not breathe. There was no way that could possibly be correct!! We had just gotten paid the previous Friday and I keep very careful track of our expenditures. I scrolled through the transactions, and found thirteen transactions in varying amounts at Wal-Mart stores in three different cities, all from the same date. Well, Deputy D and I were both at home on those dates and had definitely not been on a Wal-Mart shopping spree.
I called Deputy D and could barely get enough words out to tell him what was wrong. After several minutes of trying to verbalize what was going on, he finally understood what I was saying and cop-mode kicked in and he started barking orders. He sent me to the bank to talk to someone, while he called our local police department.
I was in tears by the time I got to the teller's window (who ended up being the assistant branch manager), and she calmly helped walk me through the conversation as she looked up my account. She was very helpful and compassionate, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated her assistance through the entire process. Once I told her what was wrong, she asked me a couple of telling questions. She asked were the transactions in three specific cities in amounts of around $99? Well yes, most of them were. And had we recently eaten at a particular local restaurant in the last couple of weeks by any chance? Well yes, we had.
Turns out that I was the sixth person to come into my branch that week with the exact same problem. And by same problem, I mean we had all eaten at the same restaurant, and all had the same unauthorized transaction amounts at the same Wal-Mart stores. Suspicious, isn't it? The bank's security department had already flagged the transactions as suspicious because they were out of my normal purchasing routines, and she immediately cancelled my check card.
I started thinking about the evening we ate at the restaurant, and I should have listened to my inner Spidey-sense that night. Maybe, I could have saved us a lot of stress and time. The waiter kept my card for at least 20 minutes, which was really unusual. When he returned, I signed a receipt that said he had keyed my information in because my card would not swipe and had an imprint of my card at the bottom. I didn't argue, because we had been having trouble swiping my card every time I used it. I left a tip, signed the receipt, and went on my way without giving it too much thought.
I know. Stupid, right?
It turns out that these people can use a skimmer to take your card information and put it onto a blank card with their name on it, so the cashiers who check them out are never the wiser. They put my check card info onto their fake cards, and then went to Wal-Mart and purchased prepaid gift cards. They simply do transaction after transaction after transaction until the card is declined because there is no money left. They keep the amounts small so they have more of a chance of the transactions going through. I would think that any cashier worth keeping would find these types on transactions suspicious or know that they are supposed to watch out for them since this is apparently a really common crime, unless they were in on it. But what do I know?
Our local police department would not take a report because we suspected that the theft of the information was actually in a neighboring city's jurisdiction. We filed a police report with them, but they said we would have to file a report with each individual city for the use of the cards in those cities. Work was kind enough to let me take a day off to take care of this, and we actually did travel to each of the three cities and file reports. However, in each of these three cities, the police departments argued with us and did not want to take a report because they said our local department should be taking the report and handling everything.
What it boils down to is that they have no way of actually catching the people who did this, so no one wants to add another report to the stack of hundreds of reports that already exist. The waiter probably was hired under a fake name and address, and has probably already left town. One of the police departments we visited with said that their Wal-Mart has military-grade surveillance cameras in place and even been used to solve crimes across the highway, but even though the people where caught red-handed on video, there was no way of knowing who they actually are to arrest them.
Out of the five police departments we visited with and filed reports with, not one has called us back for a follow-up or to get more information. Deputy D says that they will wait an appropriate time (basically enough time for me to calm down and stop feeling victimized), and then they will call to tell me that they are sorry but they are closing the case because they have no leads and no one of catching the person that did this to me.
I did feel really victimized, even though Deputy D still thinks that is funny that I felt violated. Someone stole my personal information, and had the audacity to think they had the right to the money that Deputy D and I worked hard for. And they are going to get away with it. I still feel a little panicky every time I log on to check my bank account, and the when I went in to make a deposit I would not let go of the check and the teller had to rip it out of my hands. I was assured that our account itself was safe, that just our check card information was compromised.
We filed a dispute claim with the bank, and the fraud department ruled in our favor and just replaced the money that was taken. I am grateful for that, but I am amazed at their procedures. I just got a letter in the mail this weekend that the bank noticed some unusual activity on my card and has frozen my account until they talked to me. A letter. In the mail. After everything was already said and done and the police reports were filed and I was moving on. Really??
From now on, we will not be using a check card at any location for anything unless we are the ones who actually swipe it. There is still a chance we could be swiping a card skimmer, but it at least makes me feel better to be the one who swipes. And we are only going to use cash or a credit card in restaurants or stores that we are not familiar with. I might even dig a hole in the backyard to bury coffee cans with our money from now on. I have hesitated to shop online or use my new card anywhere.
I know eventually it will all pass and I will be alright again. And I really am grateful that the bank replaced the money and everything was taken care of. But I am still REALLY mad at the guy that felt he had the right to just take all my money because he doesn't want to work for a living. And I am still REALLY mad that he is going to get away with it.
I thought maybe if I shared my experience, it would help other people protect themselves a bit more or would know what to expect if it ever happens to them. Plus, it just feels good to vent and get it off my chest.
I stopped to get some food and a drink late one afternoon as I was famished and needed a snack. My check card did not work. That was strange because I knew I had plenty of money in the account to cover my purchase, so I logged into my handy-dandy mobile bank app and discovered that I had a whopping $12.77 left in my account. That was way less than it should have been by several hundred dollars.
Everything turned black for a second and I literally could not breathe. There was no way that could possibly be correct!! We had just gotten paid the previous Friday and I keep very careful track of our expenditures. I scrolled through the transactions, and found thirteen transactions in varying amounts at Wal-Mart stores in three different cities, all from the same date. Well, Deputy D and I were both at home on those dates and had definitely not been on a Wal-Mart shopping spree.
I called Deputy D and could barely get enough words out to tell him what was wrong. After several minutes of trying to verbalize what was going on, he finally understood what I was saying and cop-mode kicked in and he started barking orders. He sent me to the bank to talk to someone, while he called our local police department.
I was in tears by the time I got to the teller's window (who ended up being the assistant branch manager), and she calmly helped walk me through the conversation as she looked up my account. She was very helpful and compassionate, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated her assistance through the entire process. Once I told her what was wrong, she asked me a couple of telling questions. She asked were the transactions in three specific cities in amounts of around $99? Well yes, most of them were. And had we recently eaten at a particular local restaurant in the last couple of weeks by any chance? Well yes, we had.
Turns out that I was the sixth person to come into my branch that week with the exact same problem. And by same problem, I mean we had all eaten at the same restaurant, and all had the same unauthorized transaction amounts at the same Wal-Mart stores. Suspicious, isn't it? The bank's security department had already flagged the transactions as suspicious because they were out of my normal purchasing routines, and she immediately cancelled my check card.
I started thinking about the evening we ate at the restaurant, and I should have listened to my inner Spidey-sense that night. Maybe, I could have saved us a lot of stress and time. The waiter kept my card for at least 20 minutes, which was really unusual. When he returned, I signed a receipt that said he had keyed my information in because my card would not swipe and had an imprint of my card at the bottom. I didn't argue, because we had been having trouble swiping my card every time I used it. I left a tip, signed the receipt, and went on my way without giving it too much thought.
I know. Stupid, right?
It turns out that these people can use a skimmer to take your card information and put it onto a blank card with their name on it, so the cashiers who check them out are never the wiser. They put my check card info onto their fake cards, and then went to Wal-Mart and purchased prepaid gift cards. They simply do transaction after transaction after transaction until the card is declined because there is no money left. They keep the amounts small so they have more of a chance of the transactions going through. I would think that any cashier worth keeping would find these types on transactions suspicious or know that they are supposed to watch out for them since this is apparently a really common crime, unless they were in on it. But what do I know?
Our local police department would not take a report because we suspected that the theft of the information was actually in a neighboring city's jurisdiction. We filed a police report with them, but they said we would have to file a report with each individual city for the use of the cards in those cities. Work was kind enough to let me take a day off to take care of this, and we actually did travel to each of the three cities and file reports. However, in each of these three cities, the police departments argued with us and did not want to take a report because they said our local department should be taking the report and handling everything.
What it boils down to is that they have no way of actually catching the people who did this, so no one wants to add another report to the stack of hundreds of reports that already exist. The waiter probably was hired under a fake name and address, and has probably already left town. One of the police departments we visited with said that their Wal-Mart has military-grade surveillance cameras in place and even been used to solve crimes across the highway, but even though the people where caught red-handed on video, there was no way of knowing who they actually are to arrest them.
Out of the five police departments we visited with and filed reports with, not one has called us back for a follow-up or to get more information. Deputy D says that they will wait an appropriate time (basically enough time for me to calm down and stop feeling victimized), and then they will call to tell me that they are sorry but they are closing the case because they have no leads and no one of catching the person that did this to me.
I did feel really victimized, even though Deputy D still thinks that is funny that I felt violated. Someone stole my personal information, and had the audacity to think they had the right to the money that Deputy D and I worked hard for. And they are going to get away with it. I still feel a little panicky every time I log on to check my bank account, and the when I went in to make a deposit I would not let go of the check and the teller had to rip it out of my hands. I was assured that our account itself was safe, that just our check card information was compromised.
We filed a dispute claim with the bank, and the fraud department ruled in our favor and just replaced the money that was taken. I am grateful for that, but I am amazed at their procedures. I just got a letter in the mail this weekend that the bank noticed some unusual activity on my card and has frozen my account until they talked to me. A letter. In the mail. After everything was already said and done and the police reports were filed and I was moving on. Really??
From now on, we will not be using a check card at any location for anything unless we are the ones who actually swipe it. There is still a chance we could be swiping a card skimmer, but it at least makes me feel better to be the one who swipes. And we are only going to use cash or a credit card in restaurants or stores that we are not familiar with. I might even dig a hole in the backyard to bury coffee cans with our money from now on. I have hesitated to shop online or use my new card anywhere.
I know eventually it will all pass and I will be alright again. And I really am grateful that the bank replaced the money and everything was taken care of. But I am still REALLY mad at the guy that felt he had the right to just take all my money because he doesn't want to work for a living. And I am still REALLY mad that he is going to get away with it.
I thought maybe if I shared my experience, it would help other people protect themselves a bit more or would know what to expect if it ever happens to them. Plus, it just feels good to vent and get it off my chest.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ice Cream and Cake and Cake
Deputy D really like ice cream cakes, so I decided to try and make him one for his birthday. Yes, once again I perused Pinterest for ideas and then just went off and decided to make up something on my own.
I used a chocolate cake mix that he picked out, and baked it in two 8" round cake pans. I baked the cakes according to the package directions.
While they were cooling, I put the ice cream on the counter to soften. I should have put the first cake layer in the freezer before starting to assemble, but that's what I get for not following directions.
Anyway, I used a 8" Springform pan and lined it with two pieces of plastic wrap. I put the first cake in the bottom and then put in a layer of softened ice cream. You could mix and candy, fruit, or nuts into the ice cream, but I left it plain.
I put the cake back into the freezer for about an hour and then added the second cake layer. I put back into the freezer for another hour, and then added the final ice cream layer and put it in the freezer overnight.
I added a final frosting layer of whip cream because regular buttercream tends to be too sweet for both me and Deputy D. To make it pretty, I added chocolate chips to the top. Then, I put the cake back into the freezer until we were ready to eat.
Remove the cake 30-45 minutes before eating.
I used a chocolate cake mix that he picked out, and baked it in two 8" round cake pans. I baked the cakes according to the package directions.
While they were cooling, I put the ice cream on the counter to soften. I should have put the first cake layer in the freezer before starting to assemble, but that's what I get for not following directions.
Anyway, I used a 8" Springform pan and lined it with two pieces of plastic wrap. I put the first cake in the bottom and then put in a layer of softened ice cream. You could mix and candy, fruit, or nuts into the ice cream, but I left it plain.
I added a final frosting layer of whip cream because regular buttercream tends to be too sweet for both me and Deputy D. To make it pretty, I added chocolate chips to the top. Then, I put the cake back into the freezer until we were ready to eat.
Remove the cake 30-45 minutes before eating.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Truthful Tuesday - Brother Knows Best
Hello. My name is Emo Marie and I like to play video games.
Yes, I know that I am in my 30's and I am a parent, but I still like to play video games. My favorites are the Lego series. I just finished up Lego Batman 2, and got 100% completion and all of the achievements. I realize they are targeted towards children, but I love to solve the puzzles and figure out how to unlock all the characters, and it's something that Deputy D and Little Man and I can play together.
I also occasionally play shooter games with Deputy D. I am one of those players who likes to camp and snipe people, although the last couple of games he has brought home has not been conducive to this style of playing. I like the fact that I get on the headset and people are amazed that it is a girl playing, and we get many game invites this way. This benefits us when higher level people invite us to play, and we are able to take some time to level up on a winning team.
There is a whole other story to how Ammo Girl was born, but I will save that for another day. Today, I want to focus on the dark side of gaming. I started thinking about it when I traded in my Skyrim game to help and get the new Batman one.
To understand where this is going, you need to know that back in college, my brother (Smartypants) gave me an ominous warning. He looked at me, and in a very stern, serious tone of voice said that I should NEVER PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT. For many years, the command rattled around in my brain, but I never gave it much thought because I did not know what World of Warcraft was and I never looked into it.
Last year, our friend got every excited and said that a game just came out that I had to play. Deputy D asked him what it was and was told, "Skyrim." We didn't know much about the game series, so we said alright and he brought a rented game disc over. I was hooked within 30 seconds. You mean I not only get to customize my character's appearance, but I can also choose character attributes and magical abilities?
I quickly took the controller from him and eagerly listened as he instructed how to start quests, earn money, and level up my high elf character. In the back of my mind, I could hear Smartypants repeating, "NEVER PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT," but paid him no heed. Because, after all, this was not World of Warcraft.
I played and I quested and I battled and I became an assassin just to get one of the puzzle pieces I needed. I played at lunch and I played after work and I played while I waited for Little Man to get dressed in the mornings. I promised Deputy D and Little Man that I would cook dinner just as soon as I finished the quest that I was on or as soon as I slayed the next dragon. The phone would ring and I would just stare at it as I kept chasing the attackers or trying to figure out how to carry more weight so I could keep the sword I just forged.
Deputy D called Smartypants at some point and told him what I was playing. Smartypants just sighed, and asked why he would have let me get started on a game like that. Didn't he know that I was never supposed to play World of Warcraft or anything similar to that? Deputy D said that I hadn't shared that bit of information, but it would have been good to know.
On the weekends that Little Man was gone, I would stay in my pajamas on the couch the entire weekend, and would play until I fell asleep with the controller in my hands. I would play until everything was blurry from exhaustion and I could not even think straight, and then Deputy D would come home from work and carry me to bed. I have mentioned that he works nights??
I forgot to stop and eat, and I tried not to drink a lot so that I would not be bothered by having to get up and go to the bathroom.
Our friend would text and ask what I was doing. I would look at the phone, and then keep playing. A little while later, I would get another text, "Oh, Skyrim again? You should really take a break."
They tried to stage an intervention for me by making me watch the South Park episode that deals with World of Warcraft. I am not really a South Park fan and I have to say that my response to it was probably not what they were looking for. I laughed and then went straight back to playing my game.
Luckily I was playing on the PS3, which had a serious lag issue with the game. It was so bad, that it would take 30 seconds or more for my character to take one step. I was never able to actually complete the game. The lag got so bad that it was completely unplayable. And the patch did not really fix the problem, or they went behind my back and uninstalled the patch when I was not paying attention. At any rate, one day my high elf was running after a dragon, sword raised, when she finally froze for good. I stared at the screen forlornly, holding the controller in my lap wondering what to do next. Deputy D came and gently took the controller from me, turned off the PS3 and television, and said that he thought maybe some fresh air would do me good.
I squinted at the bright ball of light in the sky and then took and deep breath and realized that Smartypants knew what he was talking about all along, and I should probably listen to him more often.
I wish I could say that I traded in Skyrim because I know better than to start playing again. But the truth of the matter is that I just didn't want to take a chance on the lag problem not getting corrected, and I am hoping to get the game for our new Xbox. If Deputy D knows the lag problem has since been corrected on the PS3, he certainly didn't volunteer the information.
So I am begging all my friends and family to just let me stick to the Lego games and not try and introduce me to role playing games that they think I will like. Because I should never play World of Warcraft or anything remotely similar to it. Brother knows best.
Yes, I know that I am in my 30's and I am a parent, but I still like to play video games. My favorites are the Lego series. I just finished up Lego Batman 2, and got 100% completion and all of the achievements. I realize they are targeted towards children, but I love to solve the puzzles and figure out how to unlock all the characters, and it's something that Deputy D and Little Man and I can play together.
I also occasionally play shooter games with Deputy D. I am one of those players who likes to camp and snipe people, although the last couple of games he has brought home has not been conducive to this style of playing. I like the fact that I get on the headset and people are amazed that it is a girl playing, and we get many game invites this way. This benefits us when higher level people invite us to play, and we are able to take some time to level up on a winning team.
There is a whole other story to how Ammo Girl was born, but I will save that for another day. Today, I want to focus on the dark side of gaming. I started thinking about it when I traded in my Skyrim game to help and get the new Batman one.
To understand where this is going, you need to know that back in college, my brother (Smartypants) gave me an ominous warning. He looked at me, and in a very stern, serious tone of voice said that I should NEVER PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT. For many years, the command rattled around in my brain, but I never gave it much thought because I did not know what World of Warcraft was and I never looked into it.
Last year, our friend got every excited and said that a game just came out that I had to play. Deputy D asked him what it was and was told, "Skyrim." We didn't know much about the game series, so we said alright and he brought a rented game disc over. I was hooked within 30 seconds. You mean I not only get to customize my character's appearance, but I can also choose character attributes and magical abilities?
I quickly took the controller from him and eagerly listened as he instructed how to start quests, earn money, and level up my high elf character. In the back of my mind, I could hear Smartypants repeating, "NEVER PLAY WORLD OF WARCRAFT," but paid him no heed. Because, after all, this was not World of Warcraft.
I played and I quested and I battled and I became an assassin just to get one of the puzzle pieces I needed. I played at lunch and I played after work and I played while I waited for Little Man to get dressed in the mornings. I promised Deputy D and Little Man that I would cook dinner just as soon as I finished the quest that I was on or as soon as I slayed the next dragon. The phone would ring and I would just stare at it as I kept chasing the attackers or trying to figure out how to carry more weight so I could keep the sword I just forged.
Deputy D called Smartypants at some point and told him what I was playing. Smartypants just sighed, and asked why he would have let me get started on a game like that. Didn't he know that I was never supposed to play World of Warcraft or anything similar to that? Deputy D said that I hadn't shared that bit of information, but it would have been good to know.
On the weekends that Little Man was gone, I would stay in my pajamas on the couch the entire weekend, and would play until I fell asleep with the controller in my hands. I would play until everything was blurry from exhaustion and I could not even think straight, and then Deputy D would come home from work and carry me to bed. I have mentioned that he works nights??
I forgot to stop and eat, and I tried not to drink a lot so that I would not be bothered by having to get up and go to the bathroom.
Our friend would text and ask what I was doing. I would look at the phone, and then keep playing. A little while later, I would get another text, "Oh, Skyrim again? You should really take a break."
They tried to stage an intervention for me by making me watch the South Park episode that deals with World of Warcraft. I am not really a South Park fan and I have to say that my response to it was probably not what they were looking for. I laughed and then went straight back to playing my game.
Luckily I was playing on the PS3, which had a serious lag issue with the game. It was so bad, that it would take 30 seconds or more for my character to take one step. I was never able to actually complete the game. The lag got so bad that it was completely unplayable. And the patch did not really fix the problem, or they went behind my back and uninstalled the patch when I was not paying attention. At any rate, one day my high elf was running after a dragon, sword raised, when she finally froze for good. I stared at the screen forlornly, holding the controller in my lap wondering what to do next. Deputy D came and gently took the controller from me, turned off the PS3 and television, and said that he thought maybe some fresh air would do me good.
I squinted at the bright ball of light in the sky and then took and deep breath and realized that Smartypants knew what he was talking about all along, and I should probably listen to him more often.
I wish I could say that I traded in Skyrim because I know better than to start playing again. But the truth of the matter is that I just didn't want to take a chance on the lag problem not getting corrected, and I am hoping to get the game for our new Xbox. If Deputy D knows the lag problem has since been corrected on the PS3, he certainly didn't volunteer the information.
So I am begging all my friends and family to just let me stick to the Lego games and not try and introduce me to role playing games that they think I will like. Because I should never play World of Warcraft or anything remotely similar to it. Brother knows best.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Make Something Monday - Star Wars Curtains
I am slowly redecorating Little Man's room in a Star Wars theme, because he loves Star War. What little boy doesn't? I found a sheet and comforter set, but there was no matching curtains. I came across a fabric that I liked that matched, and decided to try and make my own.
I had seen several posts on Pinterest about homemade curtains, and they did not look too hard. So I pulled out my sewing machine and decided to give it a try and see what I could do. Before you start laughing hysterically, you should know that the end result wasn't too bad and you might not guess that I broke into tears and ended up on the phone several times with my mom throughout the process.
Also, I was completely winging it most of the process. Mom walked me though what she could via long-distance, and the rest I made up. I don't know what the different feet are for on the sewing machine, and I haven't a clue what bias tape is really used for. I was doing good to accomplish a straight stitch, and I use the term "straight" very loosely. I assure you, I was completely sober through the whole process, in spite of my crooked stitches.
So to start the process, I gathered my materials: 2 yards of 44" wide fabric, 2 package of extra-wide double-fold bias tape, matching thread, and wide satin ribbon. I will note here I ended up replacing my original ribbon choice with a wider version at the end of the process.
I opened up the bias tape and pinned it down along the edges sides and bottom of the material. (I only made one wide panel for the window.) I stitched it down, and the folded it back up and pinned down again. Then, I took made a final seam that stitched down the bias tape.
This sounds easy, but it took me several tries and phone calls to figure out what I needed to do. My original thought was that I would just fold over the bias tape and stitch it down, but the bias tape was not wide enough and I could not get the material to stay inside it, even with pins. Again, I am going to stress that I am a complete sewing novice, and am making all of this up as I go along.
After I got all the bias tape sewed down on the sides and bottom, I tackled the top. My original thought was that I would fold the ribbon in half and stitch it down on the bottom edge to the top of the material to make a sleeve for the curtain rod. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, the ribbon kept moving around and would buckle and bubble, and would not sew down flat, even when I had it pinned. I ended up folding the ribbon in half and then ironing it to make a seam. Then, I stitched the back side of the ribbon down to the back side of the material. Then I folded the front side down, pinned it, and stitched it down by hand.
I am pleased with the end results. You can't really see all of my little mistakes, especially once I put the curtain on the rod. If I can do it, anyone can! I hope Little Man likes the new curtains. With most little kids, you would not have to worry about them noticing the small details. With Little Man though, he will notice the fact that one side is slightly longer than the other and that some of the seams aren't completely straight.
And he doesn't understand that social convention dictates that he should probably keep those observations to himself. Last time I mended something for him, he noted that I should probably take it to Grandma and let he do it, because he is good at sewing and knows what she is doing.
So here's hoping that he doesn't notice the flaws, because I might end up in tears having another Emo Marie moment!
I had seen several posts on Pinterest about homemade curtains, and they did not look too hard. So I pulled out my sewing machine and decided to give it a try and see what I could do. Before you start laughing hysterically, you should know that the end result wasn't too bad and you might not guess that I broke into tears and ended up on the phone several times with my mom throughout the process.
Also, I was completely winging it most of the process. Mom walked me though what she could via long-distance, and the rest I made up. I don't know what the different feet are for on the sewing machine, and I haven't a clue what bias tape is really used for. I was doing good to accomplish a straight stitch, and I use the term "straight" very loosely. I assure you, I was completely sober through the whole process, in spite of my crooked stitches.
So to start the process, I gathered my materials: 2 yards of 44" wide fabric, 2 package of extra-wide double-fold bias tape, matching thread, and wide satin ribbon. I will note here I ended up replacing my original ribbon choice with a wider version at the end of the process.
I opened up the bias tape and pinned it down along the edges sides and bottom of the material. (I only made one wide panel for the window.) I stitched it down, and the folded it back up and pinned down again. Then, I took made a final seam that stitched down the bias tape.
This sounds easy, but it took me several tries and phone calls to figure out what I needed to do. My original thought was that I would just fold over the bias tape and stitch it down, but the bias tape was not wide enough and I could not get the material to stay inside it, even with pins. Again, I am going to stress that I am a complete sewing novice, and am making all of this up as I go along.
After I got all the bias tape sewed down on the sides and bottom, I tackled the top. My original thought was that I would fold the ribbon in half and stitch it down on the bottom edge to the top of the material to make a sleeve for the curtain rod. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, the ribbon kept moving around and would buckle and bubble, and would not sew down flat, even when I had it pinned. I ended up folding the ribbon in half and then ironing it to make a seam. Then, I stitched the back side of the ribbon down to the back side of the material. Then I folded the front side down, pinned it, and stitched it down by hand.
I am pleased with the end results. You can't really see all of my little mistakes, especially once I put the curtain on the rod. If I can do it, anyone can! I hope Little Man likes the new curtains. With most little kids, you would not have to worry about them noticing the small details. With Little Man though, he will notice the fact that one side is slightly longer than the other and that some of the seams aren't completely straight.
And he doesn't understand that social convention dictates that he should probably keep those observations to himself. Last time I mended something for him, he noted that I should probably take it to Grandma and let he do it, because he is good at sewing and knows what she is doing.
So here's hoping that he doesn't notice the flaws, because I might end up in tears having another Emo Marie moment!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Let's Hear It For the Boy, Let's Give the Boy a Hand
Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Deputy D! In honor of his birthday, I thought I would list 31 reasons that I love him, although there are many more than that!
31. He called me for a second date, even though it turns out I was not a blonde.
30. He likes dogs and small children.
29. He makes a point to learn my favorite things, and makes sure I have them on a regular basis.
28. He is my complete opposite, and balances me out in so many ways.
27. He lets me clutter up the house, because he knows clutter makes me happy.
26. He married me despite strong discouragement from other people in his life.
25. He picked me up and carried me, even when I was 100 pounds heavier.
24. He gave up his sports car so that I could have my dream car.
23. He doesn't mind when I spend money on girly things (shoes, clothes, etc.)
22. He makes a mean grilled cheese.
21. He puts gas in my car for me.
20. He thinks things though before taking action.
19. He likes to spoil me and makes it clear that my happiness is important to him.
18. He helps my parents whenever he can.
17. He makes it his mission in life to get me every little thing I mention that I want.
16. He looks really nice in uniform.
15. He served in the Marines.
14. He likes fast cars and video games.
13. He encourages me, and tells me I can do anything that I set my mind to.
12. He immediately comes to help me whenever he sees me struggling with anything.
11. He compliments me on my "lady-like" sneezes.
10. He let me decorate the bedroom with purple paint and Bella's comforter.
9. He puts up Christmas lights for me in October.
8. He brings me a cup of coffee every morning when he is up before me.
7. I feel safe when I am with him.
6. He gets me a Barbie every year for Christmas.
5. He takes me dancing, even though he doesn't really enjoy it.
4. He lets me have control of the remote control when I am home.
3. He is an amazing father to Little Man.
2. He cleans house.
1. He loves me unconditionally, even when I am being Emo Marie.
31. He called me for a second date, even though it turns out I was not a blonde.
30. He likes dogs and small children.
29. He makes a point to learn my favorite things, and makes sure I have them on a regular basis.
28. He is my complete opposite, and balances me out in so many ways.
27. He lets me clutter up the house, because he knows clutter makes me happy.
26. He married me despite strong discouragement from other people in his life.
25. He picked me up and carried me, even when I was 100 pounds heavier.
24. He gave up his sports car so that I could have my dream car.
23. He doesn't mind when I spend money on girly things (shoes, clothes, etc.)
22. He makes a mean grilled cheese.
21. He puts gas in my car for me.
20. He thinks things though before taking action.
19. He likes to spoil me and makes it clear that my happiness is important to him.
18. He helps my parents whenever he can.
17. He makes it his mission in life to get me every little thing I mention that I want.
16. He looks really nice in uniform.
15. He served in the Marines.
14. He likes fast cars and video games.
13. He encourages me, and tells me I can do anything that I set my mind to.
12. He immediately comes to help me whenever he sees me struggling with anything.
11. He compliments me on my "lady-like" sneezes.
10. He let me decorate the bedroom with purple paint and Bella's comforter.
9. He puts up Christmas lights for me in October.
8. He brings me a cup of coffee every morning when he is up before me.
7. I feel safe when I am with him.
6. He gets me a Barbie every year for Christmas.
5. He takes me dancing, even though he doesn't really enjoy it.
4. He lets me have control of the remote control when I am home.
3. He is an amazing father to Little Man.
2. He cleans house.
1. He loves me unconditionally, even when I am being Emo Marie.
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