Social anxiety

I would have written this post sooner but I have been in the closet curled up in the fetal position.

That's how I feel sometimes when being thrown into unknown situations. I do try  to make the best of every situation. Taking it as a challenge and, hopefully as a learning experience. My Dad's words always ring heavily in my ears, "The good time is within you. If you don't have a good time, there's something wrong with you."

After a long time of filling out applications, I finally got an interview (with a company I did not apply to).  It really isn't my dream job, but, hey, it's a job.

This all went down on Saturday.

My interview was with a popular clothing store in the mall (two places I don't want to be at, especially during the holiday season).  It was a group interview.  My first group interview.  That's where you interview with the manager and other job candidates.

Believe it or not, I was the oldest candidate.  I know.  I know.  Me?  Yea.  I couldn't believe it either. 

It was a fun interview.  Very interactive.  We all got to answer the questions (the manager would ask a question, then we would each take a turn and give our answer).  Then we were instructed to pick out an outfit that someone could wear to a business meeting and then a piece that they can take off to turn it into an outfit they can wear out on a date.  I think I did pretty good on that one.  (so did everyone else...I loved all of the outfits that were chosen)

We were then told that we would all get a call back within a day or two.

Outside of the store (in the mall) several of us gathered to discuss what just happened (that's where the age thing came up).

Each person was unique.  One was from Kenya, one was from Pakistan and another from Poland.  We talked for awhile then wished everyone luck as we said our goodbyes. 

I came out of the experience thinking it was quite enjoyable. As the one woman said, "I try to enjoy every minute. I don't get nervous. I take this as something new to experience."

Wise words. 

Fort Hotel Day

It's one of those cozy up days. 

Make a fort and hang out in the house. 

Here is Bella's fort hotel. 

The board to your left is to let you know who is in. You have to leave your drivers license. (Post-it note with hand drawn picture)

Probably because he's afraid to go inside the fort (he's afraid of pillows and blankets). 

Have a great day!

Pumpkin Drop

As promised, HERE is a link to the famous Pumpkin Drop that our church does every year.  This one was pretty cool.  Hope you enjoy it!

Don't forget the cake! Owl Cup cakes and Owl Cake

What is a birthday party without cake (or cupcakes)?

And for an owl birthday you must have owl cupcakes.  Maybe an owl cake.  Or, how about  both cake and cupcakes?  Everybody likes cake.

For our cupcakes:

 

Frost your cupcakes (you can use vanilla or chocolate frosting).  Split apart sandwich cookies (or oreo cookies).  Put a dab of frosting onto an M&M and place onto center of cookie.  Use candy corn for the owl beak.  We made some owls with kooky eyes.

For the cake:

Bella decorated the cake.  I think she did a great job. 

Frost your cake (we used vanilla frosting).  Chocolate chips for the big eyes (and wings).  Candy corn to make the owl's beak.

I think that's it for owls for awhile....it's hard to pass the spa socks in the store without thinking what a cute owl it would make 

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Wood Owl Key Chain

Another owl birthday party post.

Another activity that the girls got to do was to color wooden owls.  I purchased small, plain wood owls from Michaels craft store.  The owls can be painted or decorated however you choose.  Since we were working in a certain time frame, I decided to have the girls use colored markers to decorate their owl. 

Supplies needed:
Wooden owl
markers
modge podge
brush
ball chain and closures
scissors

I had RT drill a hole at the top center of the owls (so we can then put the chain in for the key chain).

The girls colored their owls using the markers.  We put a coat of Modge Podge on both sides of the owl.  I used the satin finish.  Makes them look sparkly.  :)  

Make sure that your chain is cut with the closures attached.  I made them so the girls could attach them to their backpacks.  About 2" long.

Once the owl is dry, thread the chain through the hole, close it and you are done!

The girls had such fun making these key chains.

Owl sock plush animals - Fuzzy Owls

Bella decided on an Owl theme for her birthday.  She says she likes the colorful owls.  I like the colorful owls, too and thought that would be a fun birthday theme.  Of course, then I had to scour the Internet for owl birthday party activities.  Oh, the life of the birthday party planner....

Bella mentioned that she loved when she had her veterinarian party and a box of puppies appeared on our front door step (stuffed animals,  not real puppies) and all of the girls got to adopt a puppy.   I thought, why not adopt an owl?  A cute, colorful owl.  

I had a hard time finding little, cute owls that the girls could adopt so, I did what any normal person would do.....I decided to make them.  AHHHH!! 

Thankfully, I found this wonderful tutorial HERE an appropriately named blog that is titled, How to make a Sock Owl.  Great pictures and easy to follow instructions on making a sock owl.

My first sock owl

I did make a few adjustments (of course).  I used fuzzy spa socks I found at the dollar store.  I purchased both children's socks and some adult socks for this project.  I found that for the adult sock, you can make two owls out of each sock. 

they multiply pretty fast if you let them

I had felt (white for the eye and a light beige felt for the outer eye, and an orangy yellow for the beak) and buttons for the eye balls and I even had some stuffing on hand (SCORE!). 

Just follow the instructions on the blog.  The children's socks I used worked out great.  They can be cut a little shorter if you want.

On some of the owls I used Adult spa socks.  The only difference: cut socks straight across at the heal.  You will have to trim where you made the cut (to straighten it out a little) before you start the entire owl making process. 

With this cut, you can then make two owls (one from the top piece and one from the bottom piece).  They will be a little smaller, but, they turn out adorable.  We are calling them baby owlettes.

Oh, and don't forget the owl adoption certificate!  That official piece of paper needed for all owl adoptions.  I went quite simple with this one.  I made the certificate on my computer, printed it out and glued it onto some pretty scrapbook paper.   I made a small owl template and using scrapbook paper, made an owl to put onto the certificate.

"Owl be your friend forever!"

Love it!

 

These sock owls are so much fun to make that when I was finished, I still wanted to make more!  I think Alex was right.  He will come home one day and find his room full of stuffed owls.




 

Maybe I should make one HUGE owl for him????

Owl Birthday Party

I thought I would share some of the craziness that has been taking up my life for the last month.

I briefly talked about sewing owls.  If you missed that most you can find that right HERE.

Bella mentioned that she wanted an owl Birthday Party.  "The colorful owls."   I thought that would be fun to do and I'm always up for a challenge.  Little did  I know I would be making 8 stuffed owls for the girls.....

Let's start with the invitations.  I made an owl template by folding my piece of paper in half and drawing half of the owl. 

I made it very simple and made sure that the piece of paper is a little smaller than the size of my card.  Open up the template when done cutting and then start drawing your owls on your paper.

I made a second template of the owl and cut out wings so I can use them as a wing template.  I used some of my pretty paper for the owls.

Inside it reads:

 

Guess WHOOOOO is turning 8? 

Bella! 

Come on over and help her celebrate. 

Date

Time

Place: (last name here)'s  nest

RSVP

So, once all of that is done....

I had to start making stuffed owls.

 

This is the part where Alex was worried because of the multiplying owls.

There are owls everywhere in our house.

Tune in tomorrow to learn more about how to make stuffed owls.  You won't want to miss it.