Category Archives: Blog

At home, Blog, Friends, The babes

Staying Positive.

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

We had a rough week.  Dan’s uncle Dave past away on Sunday very unexpectidly . Thankfully he was only suffering  in the hospital for two days, although he was there for most of that alone as he didn’t want to ruin his families holiday.

Unfortuanly I only knew him for one year, eight months. I feel angry, like
I missed out on having this man, who I felt a grand kinship with, in my life for longer.  Every time I saw him I reverted to a little girl who wanted to curl up in his lap and listen while he told me why the grass was green and where I could find a stream to catch tad poles.  He made me feel at home, he made me laugh and one night he stayed up with me, helping me drink 64 ounces of medicine because I was horribly sick. He was the first person I told on the phone that I was in laybor with Auggie and he was the first adult that I thought consistanly chose pleaseure over pain- no matter the consequences.

So this blog is for Dave.

Things that bring me pleasure:  Img_0744_2

A beautiful latte that I made with my own hands on a Saturday morning.

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How happy and heathly Auggie is.

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Things my mother in law makes me.

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Dan making Noah laugh.

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Taking Dan home with me.

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My best friends.

At home, Blog, Food, Friends, Sew Sew Sew, The babes, Work

Self Portrait, Age 26

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

In the wake of my 26th birthday (Sat, yahoo!) I have flown  into reflection mode.  How things have changed this year. If I would have made predications based on my state this time last year, I would have said that the year was going to be horrible.

Au contrer mon ami.

If all the years in my life were in competition for who was the best thus far, 2007 would win. Here is why:

1. Auggie was born.

I cried an awful lot last December. I had the baby blues somthing bad and no puppy or $500 esspresso machine or new furniture could make it stop. I really tried to bandaid it though.

In January I found out that I was pregnant.  Next to my wedding day, this was the happiest day of my life.

It literally feels like a miricle that Auggie, only one short year later, is here— flesh and blood here. I didn’t think that he existed, not this year or any year. And not only has he made an appreance, but he is amazing. He is perfect. He is all mine.

2. I quit smoking.

Woohoo! I will live to be a very  tawdry version of myself and damn my skin will look good.  More importanly, I will be around to teach the grandkids about the importance of drinking good coffee, creating every day, and the power in buying handmade.

Oh, and I get to see Dan as an old man. he he.

3.  I fell in love with my husband all over again.

Wasn’t sure that we were going to make it through the first year of marriage, but we did it and are way more crazy about each other than ever before. No pain no gain, eh?

He lets me be me. And he like me too. Couldn’t get any better than that.

4. We moved into an amazing house and got really cool jobs.

Love the new pad– there is so much room for all of us now. I must point out that the decorator was impecable. 🙂

Both Dan and I work as editors, he during the day and I at night. It works out perfectly. Noah and Auggie always have one of us home and what can I say, I like the night life.

5. I fell in love with sewing all over again.

I create, therefore I am. Anyway, that is what I tell myself for validation. It had just been so long and it felt so unbelievely good the first time I pulled something off my machine that was real. I always defined myself as an artist but I had to re-evaluate after I hadn’t created any art in months. I thought that I had lost myself. It is really fantastic seeing that part of me come back to life.

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6. Lastly, and maybe most importanly, I am so healthy now. And I am sure that it is due to the 5 forementioned things that I have to be happy about.

Now I shall leave you with this:

“There are some days when I think I’m going to die from an overdose of satisfaction.”

~Salvador Dali

At home, Blog, The babes, Work

Waiting for Guffman, Gudot, and Oprah: A Blog About Existentialism and the New Mom

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

Auggie got his first set of shots this weekend. He was quite a trooper, better than I was for my flu shot earlier in the week.  He cried for a bit and then was his normal, happy self again as soon as I nursed him. He and I are good at nursing. I really love it. That’s the thing I would say if Oprah ever asked me what is "One Thing That I Know is True."  Strangely,  it is so encouraging to me that I at least know that this one thing is 100% true.  Sometimes it seems as if no one knows anything really.

Our nursing makes Auggie so happy he has to throw his hands in the air and laugh really dramatically.   

In other news, Noah has really great hair. I came to this realization after I downloaded the photos from a memory card that we lost last year and happily found recently. This being a cool haircut is not something Noah says he knows is true. Believe it or not, he would rather have this beautiful hair shaved off so that he would never have to wash it or comb it again. Although lately, with the new baby and going back to work, I appreciate his plight.  He usually has the freedom to create the meaning in his life, but I have to draw the line at his hair. Everyone has their limits after all.

Oh and I ended up eating milk products while baking with the girls on Sunday. And Auggie’s tummy got upset, I was super sick at work and Dan didn’t sleep all night. It’s no joke that we are ultimatly responsible for our destiny.

I blame the whole mishap on the fact that I forgot to bring my apron with me. All that talk about taking it to make me feel better and then I left it at home. I am weak, what can I say. 

At least I take responsibility for it all: the apron, the desserts, the haircut, the fantstic nursing. Yup that’s right.  I am a regular  Postpostmodernist today,  a Sammy Beckett if you will.

At home, Blog, Sew Sew Sew, The babes

And a very happy December to me!

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

My mom was so cute last night. My birthday is still two weeks away, but she got so excited about my present that she gave it to me early. I couldn’t really imagine what it was as she lead me down the hall to her sewing room, but when she opened the door and there lay a brand new Singer with every function a girl could want , I have to admit that I was in a state of shock. My very first sewing machine! And she is beautiful! For the last few months I have been borrowing a machine from Alissa’s boyfriend Nelson — who ever so trustingly and graciously let me keep his baby here as long as I needed it.

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After my mom gave me the new machine, whom I think I will name Consuelo after her, we went shopping for new fabrics. Now between the new books, my Singer, and all the new beautiful fabrics we found, I should be good to go. It was the most fun I’ve had with my mom since  before I went to college. We don’t usually get to spend any time alone with my 3 little sisters, Noah and Auggie around (not that I am complain about them, its just nice to get some time with your momma sometimes — even when you are a momma yourself.)
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I got so excited to come home and show Dan that I lost my car keys in the process of bringing the machine, Auggie and my bags from Ann Taylor (sale weekend yahoo!) in the house. But I didn’t let that break my stride, I was giddy like a little kid all night long! This is turning out to be the best birthday ever. Dan built my work area, my mom got me the sewing machine and I have the new baby here now. Last year at this same time I was a wreck.  I was sure that I would never get pregnant and hitting my 25th year of life made me realize my mortality.  It’s amazing how in only 360 days things changed so drastically. Now Auggie is 2.5 months old and he and Noah are totally healthy and happy, all a mother could want.

Noah brought this takeout box home today after going out to eat with my uncle. It gave me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. I love when he pops up with things that make me feel like we are actually doing a good job with him.Img_0672

Not a bad couple of days. Not bad at all.

At home, Blog, Food, Friends, Sew Sew Sew

Mimi Pink Apron to the rescue

Posted on by Amanda Jackson

My UPS delivery guy made me so happy yesterday. I finally broke down and ordered these books for myself, I’m sure you all recognize them. I can’t wait to make myself a pair of Amy’s PJ pants. I am dreaming of a weekend wearing these pants exclusively, drinking lots of warm drinks and reading by the fireplace.

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Besides that, I want to work on perfecting my apron pattern. So far it’s looking good, but there are a few changes to make yet. I love how the fabrics are coming together, its really like  a birth every time i finish one.

 

I’m not much of a cook so I am using mine to catch all the thread and fibers that I am endlessly pulling from my clothes. And the pocket is perfect for holding my very loved, absolutely beautiful  new Gingher thread snips.

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I’m so excited to show this to the girls on Sunday, we are getting together to bake Christmas cookies.  I might have declined the invitation since I’ve had to cut dairy from my diet (baby Auggie can’t handle the proteins in the milk) but somehow getting to wear the apron makes my missing-out-on-holiday-yummies-sadness all better. An apron band-aid of sorts.