The Sewing Mom

I have been receiving the most annoying phone call for the past several months. My phone rings. I answer it. The automated voice on the other end says my vehicle warranty is about to expire and would I like to purchase and extended warranty now, if so, press 1. If I would like to be removed from the calling list, press 2. Of course, I press 2, but weeks later, the call comes again.

This is a problem for a couple of reasons, the biggest being that at no point in the call, and I’ve listened to it many times, does it ever identify exactly who the company is that is calling or which vehicle it is talking about. This is either a random marketing call or, a complete scam. It drives me even more crazy because the call comes in on my cell phone, a very private number and it’s listed on the “Do Not Call Registry”.

My caller i.d. isn’t identifying the number, it says “unknown”. The next time I get a call from that number, and I’m sure I will, I’m going to use reverse phone lookup to track down exactly who this is and then I’m going to report the company for harassment. The service from TraceNumber.com can be used on land lines as well as cell phones and will look up the name and address of any unknown phone number. So, if this nuisance is calling from the United States or Canada, I should be able to identify who they are.

For now, I’m just going to enjoy the fact that my phone has been quiet for the last couple of days!

Tags: phone number, prank call, reverse phone lookup, telemarketer, tracenumber.com

I received this in an email and thought it was cute.  Thought I’d share it here. 

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.

They boys’ mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.
The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, ‘Where is God?’

They boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, ‘Where is God!!?’ Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, ‘WHERE IS GOD!?’

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, ‘What happened?’

The youngest brother gasped for breath and replied, ‘We are in BIG trouble this time dude. God is missing and they think WE did it!’

No tags.

I am waiting for my daughter to get out of bed so we can head out and hit the stores. We’ve been doing her back to school shopping and the only thing she hasn’t found yet are tops. I am going to suggest that she look online at the Cheap Junior Clothing available at Heavenly Couture.

Heavenly Couture, www.getheavenly.com, specialized in cheap clothing that is high in quality, not price. What’s heavenly about it for me is the fact that everything on their site is $17.95 or less. They have a great selection too, I’m sure she’ll be able to find things she likes. Here are a couple of items that I found that she may like.

So, when she gets up, I will have her take a look online first, and maybe then, she’ll have the clothes she wants to start school and we won’t have to go to the mall!

Tags: Couture, Heavenly Couture, www.getheavenly.com

It’s a rainy Friday morning here in the Dallas area, and I for one, am happy to see the rain and happy to see Friday. To celebrate, here is my favorite meme. If you would like to participate, head on over to leave Valmg a comment at Fun, Crafts and Recipes.

This weeks questions and my answers:

#1. What is your favorite appetizer? I love artichoke dip with salty chips. Super fattening and super delicious!

#2. Do you eat enough appetizers that you get full and can’t eat your meal? I do tend to eat too many appetizers, but I don’t order them too often, for that very reason.

#3. Do you usually make frozen or fresh appetizers? I very seldom make appetizers, but when I do, they’re fresh.

#4. Share a recipe or instructions for an appetizer. The easiest recipe I have is to take one brick of cream cheese (the light or fat free works fine here) and a package of imitation crab. Shred the crap crab and lay on top of the cheese, randomly. Serve with crackers. As the crackers are dipped into the brick of cheese layered with crab, they get mixed together and taste delicious.

Tags: Four Foods on Friday, meme

School is starting is less than two weeks here in Texas and I’m all ready thinking about teacher gifts. I always enjoy giving each teacher something personal that shows a some thought was put into the gift. After spending 5 years working in elementary schools, along side teachers, and seeing what they received as gifts every year, I feel that I do have some insight as to what they like and dislike. While most of us enjoy a good candle, I have to say, teachers do get tired of receiving them, especially the cheap candles. As a parent, I like to try to find out unique things about my daughter’s teachers, such as interests or hobbies they might have and then go from there.

For example, if a teacher is a big coffee drinker, I might get them a cool coffee mug with a gift card to a local coffee shop inside of it. If a teacher likes to cook, I might get them a set of cooking utensils or some serving dishes. I like putting things together to make a unique gift to thank them for what they do for my daughter. Teachers are special people who work very hard and I want them to know they are appreciated.

I posted earlier today about the Villeroy & Boch NewWave Caffe mugs that are on sale this month at 50% off the suggested retail price. I think these would make excellent starting points for teacher gifts and, with them being on sale, they are right in my price range. With my daughter being in junior high this year, she will have multiple teachers, so I will need multiple gifts.

These mugs have a beautiful design with a really wide handle that is designed for comfort. They’re a basic white which works with whatever I decide to put inside and then look pretty with colored wrappings and bows. I really like the idea of placing flavored tea bags and cinnamon sticks inside a mug and gift wrapping it in pretty cellophane wrap. It will have a very classy look. Instead of tea, I can use flavored gourmet hot chocolates with chocolate stir sticks and maybe a recipe for hot cocoa attached, or specialty coffees with biscotti placed in the mugs. Any of these, wrapped in pretty cellophane, make excellent gifts. Gift cards can also be added for the extra special teachers.

There are also other styles of cups and mugs as well as dinnerware that matches the NewWave Caffe mug for added gift ideas and they are all 50% during the month of August. Of course, I will be ordering an extra mug for my own use, I really like the styling and the size for my morning coffee routine!

Tags: NewWave Caffe, teacher gifts, Villeroy & Boch

  I had fun making this blanket, in fact, I made several of them. Each one is approximately 36″ square, a great size for travel or keeping in the car. The edge of the blanket was sewn on the serger giving it a nice finished edge before adding the lace trim. The blue blanket has a fleece binding instead of lace. The bunny and words are designed and machine embroidered by me.This is such a great baby gift, for only $15.

Tags: baby blankets, embroidery, fleece, machine embroidery

I have been staying up late every night since the Olympics began, I’m hooked on watching the games. Of course, they always show the finals and the most popular athletes during the night time prime time show, which means I have to stay up to watch it. Yes, I do TIVO it, but I’m too busy during the day to watch it! Staying up late every night is causing me to be super tired in the morning.

Yesterday, I was so tired that by the time I even made my coffee, I forgot to drink it. I finally got my coffee mug, put my liquid creamer into it and poured some fresh brew into it. Only problem was that I had forgotten to put any coffee into the coffee pot and so all I got was nice hot water poured into my creamer. Sheesh! I had to leave the house without having any coffee. I wasn’t letting that happen twice, I made sure I put coffee in the pot this morning!

I don’t know about you, but I have my favorite coffee mug. I like my mug to be big and have some weight to it. I prefer the mug to be a nice thick ceramic. I was shopping online this morning and found some really up dated, very modern looking mugs called NewWave Caffe at Villeroy & Boch. The mugs are just under 12 oz and are tapered so that they’re larger at the top, just the way I like them. There is also a Cafe au Lait Cup that is 13 1/2 ounces. The handle has a really unique design that makes them really comfortable in the hand and it even comes in a left handed version. If you happen to be looking for dinnerware, these mugs coordinate with an entire New Wave dinnerware set, all of which are dishwasher safe.

 August is a great month to be purchasing dinnerware and NewWave Caffe mugs because they’re 50% off the MSRP. My favorite piece that goes perfectly with the mug is the large party plate. It’s so cool, the mug nests in the plate and the plate provides a great spot to place all those hors dourves at your party.While you check out Villeroy & Boch, I’m going to go have another cup of coffee!

Tags: coffee, dinnerware, NewWave Caffe, Villeroy & Boch

I really enjoy this little bag. It’s called a lunch bag because of it’s size, 11″h x 10″w x 4″d. It’s great for carrying smaller amounts, such as a lunch or snack. I made this by cutting strips of fabric and sewing them together to create the front. The back and lining are each made from one piece of fabric. All of it is layered together and then quilted. I use a polyester batting in the bag and handles for added support and comfort. The bag is washable on gentle cycle.

I am selling this bag for $18 plus shipping.

Tags: fabric charms, lunch bag, quilting, sewing

I love looking at new cars, even if it’s going to be a while before I get another one. I also love the smell of new cars. My sister’s vehicle is about a year old and it still has that wonderful smell of being new, it makes me want one!

Although I’m not currently shopping for a new car, I do have a tendency to keep up with what’s available and the newest trends. I also like to read new car reviews and see what other consumers like or dislike about a vehicle. Take for example the fact that one thing I really don’t like about our car is that it only has two cup holders. I realize that’s not critical, but inconvenient? Absolutely.

I also like to look at used vehicle reviews and pricing. Both give me a good idea if a car is worth buying or not. Currently, used car dealerships have a lot of stock, especially in SUV’s, and deals can be found. I’ve been reading up on the BMW X5, probably used, that I hope is in my distant future. Auto123.com is a great place for reading reviews on both new and used vehicles. Plus, they are hosting a Drive, Rate and Fly Contest that is worth checking out.

Are you buying a new or used car any time soon?

Tags: auto123.com, used car, used car dealerships

I’ve tried to do Wordless Wednesday, but I can’t seem to simply post a photo without saying something about it. So, this is my own version and I’ve titled it Not So Wordless Wednesday.

On our drive to Tennessee last month, we were crossing the Mississippi River into Tennessee and I was attempting to take a photograph of the Welcome to Tennessee sign. Of course, I was on the interstate and there was quite a bit of traffic, it was a monday morning in Memphis, and trying to operate a camera while driving is not the best idea.

I wound up snapping this shot instead and for some odd reason, I really like it. I like the way the sun is coming through the steal girders of the bridge, it really reflects on what a beautiful morning it was. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Tags: bridge, Memphis, Mississippi River, Wordless Wednesday