Bam.

Whew! It's done. That was a lot of work. No wonder I've been putting it off for so long.

The Olives on a String shop is officially open. What did I put in there? Oh, so many wonderful random things:

Illustrations on plates like these.

Custom illustrations on paper like this. (More of those to come.)

Hair things.
For the little ladies.

And for the big ladies, too.

Accessories that can be made into clips, headbands or broaches.

Graphic design offerings. Banners, headers--that type of thing.

Insulin Pump Cases.

...and whatever I feel like making whenever! Randomness, glorious randomness. Yay!

Go and check it out: olivesonastring.etsy.com

And hey--if you're my friend but can't/don't want to buy anything, don't be all shifty eyed and awkward with me the next time we see each other. It's cool, man. But if you do want to buy something, that's cool too.

Week 50

This little lady will be one year old next Saturday.
She thinks she's so big.
She sort of is.
Sniff.







And this was from like a week and a half ago--my friend gave us this push-toy
that her son had grown out of.
As you can see, she finds it most excellent.
Thanks, Melissa!

"Annie Garlock Even Keeps a Dream Journal!"

I can't sleep. My newest strategy to slow my mind is to lie here and
think about the previous night's dream. Mostly scenes and dialogue--
it's very much like watching snippets from a movie. Tonight, needless
to say, it's not working.
Dreams are something that have always interested me. I remember boldly
exclaiming to my Young Woman's president, the leader of teenage girls
in my congregation at church, that I faithfully kept a dream journal,
diligently putting pen to paper and transcribing my dreams every
morning while they were still fresh in my mind in hopes of unlocking
what my true inner self. I was twelve. I commend her for keeping a
straight face.
About six years later, my former Young Woman's president was giving a
talk about the importance of journal keeping. There I was, leaning
against the brick wall of the chapel, doodling in my sketchbook and
listening, when all of a sudden I heard her say "We should follow the
examples of the youth in our ward. Annie Garlock even keeps a DREAM
JOURNAL!" Oh yes she did. Sounds of stifled laughter scattered across
the congregation, along with a lot of not-so-stifled laughter. She
meant well but I wanted to evaporate.
Though I'm still interested in dreams and the process of dreaming and
while I use them as a sleep-aid, you won't find me keeping a dream
journal any time soon. I really doubt my posterity wants to read "I
was just walking around this RV campground with the Von Trapps and we
were like just cutting through it to get to this concert but it turned
into this mall and we were just walking around when my sophomore
English teacher comes up to me and she goes "You never turned in your
final paper twelve years ago. That means you failed my class, thus you
didn't graduate from high school. That college degree you think you
have is actually null and void." and so I like ran through the mall
crying, which was South Coast Plaza but kind of Disneyland too now and
I ran all the way back to my house but it wasn't my house; it was this
little cabin filled with a bunch of clay pottery and Southwestern
decor but I lived there. And that was pretty much it."

Yah. So...sweet dreams everyone.

Sent from my iPhone

Our House in the Evenings Lately

Go in his workout clothes, at the computer studying for his big test.
One, sometimes two, occasionally three girls on his lap, everyone
singing to Arcade Fire. Dinner in the oven and the stove. Smiles.
Sometimes fussing but mostly smiles.

Snow Day

Today was yet another snow day for Ruby. The girls spent the day playing with play dough, making art projects, watching Mary Poppins and playing "TV" with this box.
I hope they remember days like these when they look back on their childhood.

Week 49

tubby time

Airport sketches

I found this page while skimming through one of my old sketchbooks today.

These were the faces of some of the people sitting near me while we all waited for our delayed flight out of Chicago O'Hare. The year was 2003, I'm quite sure.

It's always awkward when someone realizes you're sketching them so I did these at lightening speed in case I ended up sitting next to any of them.

"You were drawing me, weren't you?" I had imagined any one of my subjects saying.

"Yah," I would have replied sheepishly.

Then they would have demanded to see it and I would have shown them.

And then they would have turned indignant. "My nose isn't that big!"

"Uhhhh...yah it is. Sorry."

I'm Going to Do It. Once and For All.

And I'm not talking about streaking down my street in the snow. I'm opening an Etsy shop. For reals this time.

A Most Random Post: Drew Barrymore, Country Music, GLOBES

A couple of things happened when I watched this movie two weeks ago:

1. A truth was manifested. While I think Drew Barrymore is a very interesting and fun gal, I think she's a horrrrrrible actress. Despite only having like 7 lines, Whip It only further solidified this opinion. And it furthered my love for Kristen Wiig. And Ellen Paige. And Marcia Gay Harden. And of course, my Jimmy Fallon. But especially Kristen Wiig.

2. I discovered Dolly Parton. Though I abhor modern country music, there's a part of me that likes old country music--it's folksy. In the movie, there's a great scene with Dolly Parton's Jolene. How rad is this song? It's like old country meets disco.



3. I decided to start collecting globes. During a scene that takes place in a school, off to the side there's about a dozen globes clustered together. I jumped up from the couch and yelled "Oooo! Look at all those globes!" Go burst out laughing, sighed and said "Oh, I love you." If he thinks I'm weird now, just wait until dementia hits in about 60 years. It was then when I decided that I needed to start a collection of globes. Vintage ones, because things are cooler when they're old...like country western music. You like that? Eh? Eh? You like how I brought that around full circle? And did you like THAT? Full circle? Like as in globes? I really out did myself that time.

So I've mentioned this before, but we don't have the expendable income for me to just be, you know, out buying vintage globes or whatever, so I put it in the back of my mind for a rainy day. A day when it be rainin' cash, ya'll!

BUT today, TODAY! we were driving though the country side to pick up the girls from a birthday party. We passed a farmhouse that had a bunch of trash bags and junk sitting out in front of it by the road and what did I see? A blue sphere.
"AHHHH!" I shrieked.
"Wha! Wha! Wha!" Go yelled back, looking around like we had just run over somebody and he hadn't realized it.
"That was globe! On the side of the road!"
"Ohhhh," he said with relief. "You scared me."
"This is so weird! I've been thinking about nothing but globes for like two weeks! This is meant to be! That's my globe! We have to go get it!"
And we did. We flipped a U-ey, talked to the owner and walked away a free vintage globe. I am in love. Not only with my 1954 Replogle globe but with my husband who loves me for my quirks.

Here is my short, cute, and squatty beloved, as opposed to my tall, strong and lean beloved.

The 1954 version of Russia: Union of Soviet Socialist Republic:

"Everything you want to know about your Globe--and how to use and enjoy it."

Week 48

Happy Heart Day

A New Pump Case. Made Outta Leathah.

If you've spent much time with our family or are a very observant bloggy person, you might notice that Ruby's insulin pump is loosely slung about her waist and hangs down in between her legs. Not a good look, especially on a little girl...

There aren't many options out there for insulin pump cases. Boys usually slide them into a plastic case made by the pump company that has a clip and clip them to their belts or pant loops like a pager. Since Ruby prefers skirts, she has to wear a belt around her waist and hangs it from there. We usually use CaseLogic MP3 cases that fit her pump great, but they have been discontinued. Since then, I have a great pal who sent me some cases and I found some on eBay and we've been using those. But, like I said, they hang down vertically and flap around and it gives me all kinds of heebeejeebees, so last week I set out to make her a new pump case and a new belt. I'm kind of surprised I didn't do this before.

We wanted it nice and sturdy, so after purchasing some leather, Go and I came up with pattern inspired by my beloved Moleskine books, with an elastic band closure. I've never sewn on leather before and was sort of dreading it but our Bernina is a champ. Leather was a totally fun material to work with. We bought several different kinds but Ruby was drawn to the ox blood because it was "smoooooooth." She's a very tactile child.

Here they are together, her new belt and case. Nothing fancy, but I think they turned out pretty good. I'm thinking of adding some sort of embellishment since they're for little girls and then selling them on etsy...we'll see. I've been talking about selling things on etsy about three times a week since its launch years and years ago and still haven't done a single thing so...yah.

Week 47

Her first tooth!

Blizzard #2

We were given even more snow last night and today.
Well, aren't we lucky.

A Quilt and Snow

This is the quilt my Mom made Olive.
Isn't it cool?


And this is Ruby and May enjoying the snow.
Good for them.

My Mom circa 1981

Week 46

Today's Song

Paying our taxes is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Paying our taxes is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Changing a diaper is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Changing a diaper is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Switching to Geico is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Switching to Geico is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Awkward talks with State Farm is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Awkward talks with State Farm is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Scrubbing the tiolet is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Scrubbing the tiolet is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Folding the laundry is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Folding the laundry is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Changing a diaper is fun to do again, fun to do, to do, to do-
Changing a diaper is fun to do again. To do, to do, to do.

Scrubbing out mascara on my duvet cover is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Scrubbing out mascara on my duvet cover is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Putting May in time-out is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Putting May in time-out is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Scraping dried baby food off the high chair is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Scraping dried baby food off the high chair is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Dusting ceiling fans is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Dusting ceiling fans is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Coughing on dust bunnies is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Coughing on dust bunnies is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Vacuuming under the couch is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Vacuuming under the couch is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Finding old string cheese is fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Finding old string cheese is fun to do. To do, to do, to do.

Changing a diaper is still fun to do, fun to do, to do, to do-
Changing a diaper is still fun to do. To do, to do, to do. And do and do and do.

Just Shut Up and Clean My Teeth

I had started this entry a couple of weeks ago but got distracted and never finished it. I found it in my drafts today:

Dental Hygienist: So are you from here originally?
Me: No. California.
Dental Hygienist: Really? Well, Pennsylvania is far from home.
Me: Yep.
D.H.: What are you doing out here?
Me: My husband is a resident at the medical center.
D.H.: And what do you do?
Me: I stay at home with my kids.
D.H.: Oh...so do you have any hopes of going back to school yourself? What about your dreams?
Me: Um. I don't know. Maybe I'll get my masters someday.
D.H.: That sure sounds like a long road.
Me: A masters? Not really.
D.H.: Well, how much longer do you have until you have your undergrad?
Me: I graduated college.
D.H.: Oh. But I thought you said you stayed at home.
Me: I do. I just also have a bachelor's degree.
D.H.: ...Oh...

Heaven forbid there be an educated stay at home mother just wondering about.

Week 46

We've been hit by the stomach flu. Perfect excuse for an iPhone pic.
Obviously, she doesn't mind.

What She's Listening To.

Back before we had three kids and Go was a resident, mostly every day when Go would get home from school, we'd play our own Name That Tune from iTunes' site. It was usually Go at the computer, and I on the couch or making dinner, facing away from the computer and he'd test my mad skillz. Things really got fun when iTunes started having celebrities post their own playlists. After playing Name That Tune with all the songs on a particular playlist, he'd have me guess which celebrity's playlist it was, based on all the songs I just guessed. I looked forward to this every day. And yes, we were, and still are, nerds.


Want to play? Last night, while I was making a mix for a friend, I came across this playlist on our own iTunes.

Who's playlist is this?

Blackbird-Beatles
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)-Looking Glass
A Dustland Fairytale-The Killers
For the Price of a Cup of Tea-Belle & Sebastian
Girl-Beck
Girls-Beastie Boys
Good Day Sunshine-Beatles
I Gotta Feeling-Black Eyed Peas
I Like to Move It-Shaggy
I've Just Seen a Face-Beatles
If You Want to Sing Out Sing Out-Cat Stevens
Let's Get it Started-Black Eyed Peas
Oh What a Night-Four Seasons
Penny on a Train Track-Ben Kweller
Que Onda Guero-Beck
Read My Mind-The Killers
Say Hey (I Love You)-Michael Franti & Spearhead
Walk Like an Egyptian-The Puppini Sisters
You Make My Dreams-Hall & Oates
1234-Feist

Can you guess?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It's Ruby's! She compiled this list of all her favorite songs herself.

I think if I was able to make a playlist at 6, it would have looked a lot like this:

Beat It-Michael Jackson
Ricky Don't Lose That Number-Steely Dan
Part Time Lover-Stevie Wonder
Crush on You-The Jets
Hip to be Square-Huey Lewis
Can't Fight This Feeling-REO Speedwagon
That's What Friends are For-Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John
We Built This City-Starship
How Will I Know?-Whitney Houston
How Sweet it Is-James Taylor
Material Girl-Madonna
Jump-Van Halen
Sussido-Phil Collins
Don't Stand So Close to Me-The Police
You Can Call Me Al-Paul Simon

And with that, I leave you this shiny gem from my childhood:

Grandma Margaret

My Dad's mom, Grandma Margaret, aka "Grandma Love It."

Week 45

And Then She Was Like "Heck No! I Want a Bottle!"

If you didn't catch it--I'm talking to you, person who only looks at the pictures of my darling baby without bothering to read my darling blather--Olive and I are no longer one. Yes, she has stopped breastfeeding, which was totally her choice, not mine. Huh? Whaaa? You are, no doubt, recalling my lack of enthusiasm for the sport of nursing and are confused. Yes, I know. But I've eaten my words and they taste like chicken. I never stated it publicly, but after a couple of months, I started to enjoy nursing and even looked forward to the peaceful moments (read: 15 minutes every three hours of watching television in the middle of the day without feeling losery), so I wasn't very happy when instead of latching on, Olive would arch her head back like she was farsighted and was trying to read my boob. There are, however, already in the first week, despite my disappointment, two happy benefits of having Olive weaned.

1. My smallish boobs are back. Glory be! Biggish boos are completely overrated. Please don't tell my husband's future clients this. Mama wants a new pair of shoes.

2. Melatonin. My insomnia came back with a vengeance this past week and now that I'm no longer nursing, I am able to take it. Last night, I took some at 9:30 and was super tired at 10. I fell asleep WHILE PROJECT RUNWAY WAS ON. What the what? Plus, in the middle of the night, I was gently awoken (awakened? English peeps, please advise) by the sound of my yelling, teething and diaper rashy baby, I took care of that business and then went right back to sleep...like a normal person. I slept a couple of more hours, and was again awoken/awakened by my teething and diaper rashy baby and I wasn't the least bit groggy. So much not-groggy, in fact, that I did some P90X Core Synergistics before the sun came up. Sweet, sweet nectar of bottled sleep hormone.

And there you have it. Two reasons why bottle-feeding Olive for two months will be just fine.

Week 44

This girl is on the move. She's still looking kind of orange but not as orange as she was. Maybe that's why she decided to wean herself--she thought mother's milk was too betacarateney and she was tired of looking spray-tanned.

2010 Project

Instead of resolutions this year,
I'm doing a big project I want finished by December 31, 2010:
a family tree consisting of illustrated portraits.

I've completed the first one--Go's Papa, Bob Callister.

I'm excited about this.

Random Pics From the Trips

Crystal Cove on New Years Day with Papa Tommy.

Loves with Uncle Joseph.

My old elementary school playground with Uncle Johnny.

Waiting in Baker to meet Daddy halfway .

Being a reindeer in Baker.

New little nephew Rushton McClane.

Reading with pregnant Aunt Cindy and cousins.