i really don't have to do it myself?

Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy oh boy. My mom and stepdad are coming for a short visit tomorrow. My in-laws are coming next weekend. And I've been so busy at school that the house is a wreck: cluttered, messy, dirty, gross, disgusting... you get the picture.

That's the problem. The solution? A cleaning service! I've never had someone clean my house for me before... it's a very novel idea. Hubby was not happy about it because it means spending money. But for me, it's definitely money well spent. I don't have to clean tubs or toilets? I don't have to vacuum floors? I don't have to mop the kitchen? LOVE IT!

I called a local cleaning service. The nice man on the other end asked me what kind of cleaning I wanted. A general clean? A spring-clean type of deep clean? I told him I wanted a My-Mother-is-coming-this-weekend-and-my-Mother-in-law-is-coming-next-weekend type clean. He laughed. I wasn't kidding.

Luckily, he correctly deduced I just need a general clean. There's really no time for a deep clean, anyway. So a cleaning team is coming this morning and all I'll need to do is declutter. Which is a massive job in and of itself. Wish me luck.

project list update

Two posts in one day after several weeks of nothing? Fabulous. :)

In the wake of my Christmas happies from the last post, I've decided to revisit my project list, originally posted about here and here. Before I add lots of Christmas projects to my plate I want to make sure I've done enough justice to the last list. Here's the updated version:

•use cute brown fabric to make a skirt (I realized I didn't have enough of the brown fabric, so this is being deleted.)
•turn plaid dress into skirt (I cut the skirt part off the dress and lost my nerve. I'll get it back eventually and finish this project.)
•chair cover for classroom with owl print flannel (DONE)
•finish my large size Starling bag (Still in progress.)
•punch needle owl kit (Put away for now. It's not high priority for me, although I'm looking forward to eventually completing it!)
•messenger bag (DONE)
•recycle an old pair of jeans into an apron (DONE)
•Make a fabric basket for my teammates to hold back-to-school goodies. (DONE. Although I didn't make the baskets; I made different things for each teammate to enjoy.)
•Make a fabric cover for my planner/to do list for the school year. (DONE)

So... justice done! I still need to finish the Starling bag but other than that I'm going to put the other things away. Christmas, here I come!

sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'...

Ahhhh... I love the holidays! I know it's only September, but every year I swear I'm going to start my holiday crafting early so that I'll actually have the chance to make all the things I want to make.

I've been so busy with school that I haven't had time to think about anything else, and I really don't have the time now! But, the other day in the mail I got one of those monthly book club offers and the first book they want to send me is a Christmas book with crafts, recipes, and gifts to make. I actually already have one so I (probably) won't buy this one, but I went digging for mine (it's made by this company) and bookmarked all the things I love in there.

I cut out a few of the pictures from the catalog I got on this new Christmas book to use as an inspiration board of sorts. You've been looking at three of my favorites! I plan to wrap presents in simple white paper and embellish with ribbons and such. The advent calendar is simply beautiful; I've been looking for a pattern for a couple of years now. Plus, who wouldn't love Chocolate Chip Cheesecake squares?? Yum.