Spoke too soon

Well, not really because I still think the last week or so was a great one, but today, I'm sick. UGH! My chest is super congested and my throat is all scratchy. My voice sounds weird, and I just feel tired and achy. It came on so fast. Not fair! I think I'll survive though. Cross your fingers for me.

Life is Good

Hey all, thought I'd just give you an update on life.

As I mentioned, my newest niece, Leah Kristen Crooks, arrived on the 17th at 7:45 am. She was 7 lbs 9 oz, and I think 20in, maybe 21. Anyway, Leah got to spend some quality time with Aunt Lydia a couple times last week. I'm so glad that Sarah was just up in Orem for the delivery, because I was able to go up a couple times and just hold Leah so she and Matt could get a break to nap and shower. I loved helping out, because who wouldn't love holding a beautiful bundle of joy, just arrived straight from heaven. Leah's usually asleep when I hold her, but it's still super special, and she is certainly adorable!

Today I stopped by for a while and got to spend some time with big sister Evelyn! She is growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it! I taught her a new animal sound today; the elephant! We're still working on it a little, but she got it pretty well. Next goal: teach her how to say my name. Kids often struggle with mine, so it'll probably take a while, but we'll get there. I also went with Evelyn and Grandma(aka my mom) to the store to pick out some brand new footie pajamas for Evie. I'm so jealous! They were adorable, I need to find some that fit me!

I did have some great finds for myself tonight though, at Honks! I seriously love that store just for the $1 necklaces I find there. Today I bought 6 necklaces for $4 because three of them came together. A couple of them I like as are, but you better believe I'm taking the rest apart for use in future projects of my own.

I also got an increase in fabric today because my mom brought down a bunch of the scraps from my projects in my high school sewing class. I am super excited to have more fabric to make accessories with, but I'm even more excited to use it for my newest project: A baby mobile for baby Leah! I found a great idea for one on a blog(I can't find the blog again, so I've got to off of one from an etsy shop) and it turns out that Sarah needs a new one they can hang from the ceiling because Evie still uses the crib and Leah will be in a pack 'n' play for a bit. I am so excited to provide them with one! It will look something like this but not as color coordinated since I'm working with what material I have. I'll try to show you the finished product when I get it done though!

That's pretty much it. Jacob and I are staying busy with school and work, and I'm definitely looking forward to graduating in April. I'm not looking forward to finding a real job or a good, paying, internship, but I'm sure things will work out.

Call for Pictures and an Announcement

Hey all! Remember when I told you about the awesome magazine I'm working on? Well, I have another favor to ask of you: I am currently co-writing an article about great places to stop along I-95. Only problem is, we can't actually make the drive along I-95 to get pictures of the locations we've picked. It's a long shot, but we're asking friends and family if they happen to have pictures of the awesome places we've picked.

They include:

Ward's Berry Farm in Sharon, Massachusetts
Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington, Delaware
South of the Border in South Carolina
Historical sites, especially Civil War related in Richmond, Virginia
Tybee Island in Savannah, Georgia
and the historical Spanish sites in St. Augustine, Florida

If by any chance you do have pictures you think could be useful to us, please let me know ASAP.

Thank you muchly for reading this.


Also, She is here! My newest niece Leah was born this morning, 7lbs, 9oz, and 20in long. I hear she's adorable with lots of hair! I can't wait to go see her this afternoon. Don't worry, pictures WILL be posted at a later date.

We bought a glue gun yesterday . . .

and I already have a blister.

We also bought more DI fabric today. The bag had some felt in it. And by some I mean actually a lot. It will be useful. I've already put backs on all of the different flowers I've made so far. Now I just need the hair clips and headbands to put them on. Speaking of flowers, I've made five different kinds now that I can use for accessories. It makes me feel cool.

However, I've felt kind of crappy lately. As in my back keeps aching for no reason, or maybe because I bend over to work on crafts too much. It hurt all day today, and I felt so tired and grumpy because of it. I was supposed to be working on getting my portfolio ready so I can hopefully get an internship with the Church Magazines. I didn't really work on that today. However, I did do some organizing today! At the beginning of Christmas break I organized our nice big closet and it looked all pretty, but it had become a disaster again. Well, today it looks nice and pretty again, and I have a shelf for my newly acquired craft supplies. Woohoo!

Anyway, this post ended up being longer than I intended, I really just wanted to let you know about the glue gun blister, cause I'm super tired. So, I'm going to bed now.

p.s. Next time I blog, I may be telling you all about my newest adorable niece, who I am very impatiently awaiting the arrival of. But not as impatiently as my sister Sarah. Please keep them in your prayers so baby Leah can arrive safe and healthy!

Want to be published?

Okay, so here's the dealio,

As you may or may not know, I am an editing minor and I'm graduating in April. For the editing capstone class that I'm in right now, we students basically become the staff for a magazine that will actually be printed and published! Awesome, right?

Well, the magazine is a travel magazine, and always includes a section called "Tales from the Trip" where we have people submit their funny or interesting stories about their vacation experience to be included in our magazine. I'd love to have one of my family members or friends write wonderful story we choose to include.

You won't be paid, and it's not like we're a famous magazine, but you'll be published! And you'll be helping me and my classmates out. If you're interested type up a 150-250 story about your experience and e-mail it to me at lydia.hirschi@gmail.com before February 22nd.

Hope to get some fun stories from you!

P.S. There is also a photo contest! You can check out more about that and the magazine at our website: stowawaymag.com

Still Craft Crazy

I'm still in a crazy crafting mood!! I've even added a couple of craft blogs to my list. You can see them to the left, they are Ziggy Crafts and Homestitched. Homestitched is even having a giveaway right now. I don't know the people who make the blogs, but they have both supplied me with even more craft ideas and I just wish I had the time, materials, and therefore money, to make all of them!!

Also, I did have a craft night with my sister. It was so much fun! She reminded me how to crochet and taught me how to make a crochet flower headband! I love it. And I gave her some tips on jewelry making. I want to have another craft night with her soon, but hopefully baby Leah will arrive soon and delay that second craft night.

I also bought a big bag of material at the DI (thanks to Catherine for mentioning doing the same thing on her blog! I didn't even know they had material!) And I discovered that Honks, the dollar store behind my house, actually has some beads and other jewelry supplies! Jacob was even more enthusiastic about getting some bead supplies than I was! So we got a whole bunch. Usually I just find jewelry there to take apart, seeing as it only costs a dollar.

Now I just need a sewing machine. Anyone have one they want to donate? But really, thanks to Jacob's friend Alicia for letting us know there are smaller craft sewing machines, we're going to start keeping an eye out for one at a good price.

But I'll seriously take any craft supply donations you might want to make. Or you know, money donations to buy said supplies with works too.