Sunday, February 18, 2007

Happy New Year!!

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone.
It's official, Year of the Golden Pig has been rung in, and I am really hopeful that our baby girl is going to be born sometime this year.
I am afraid to think that out loud, and jinx myself.
We went out and enjoyed some lovely warm, and sunny weather today, then we went to our favorite Chinese Restaurant for lunch, and then off to pick-up the baby doll I ordered from Learning Express. I had to laugh when they handed her to me, as she is awfully fair skinned. But the salesgirl pointed out to me that she is positively Asian, as she does have brown almond eyes, and all of the other baby dolls have big round blue eyes.
Regardless, she is very cute, and we now have her first baby doll in hand. This was her New Years gift, we considered new clothes(Chinese Tradition) but she already has so many clothes, and didn't have a baby doll yet.
So while we still have a lot to learn about Chinese New Year, I have been doing some reading, and wanted to include a little info for you in case you are not aware of the importance of this holiday.
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4705 begins on Feb. 18, 2007.Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.Common expressions heard at this time are: GUONIAN to have made it through the old year, and BAINIAN to congratulate the new year, or Gung Hay Fat Choy to wish a Happy New Year!
There are many celebrations during this time of the year. It last for 15 days, and there are many festivities that go on during this time. The lantern festival must really be spectacular. Lots of red and gold. Lots of fireworks and food, and the dragon dance to scare away the evil spirits.
So this will at least give you a little background info on the significance of this holiday. But there is also major significance that it is the year of the pig. The Chinese consider children born under this sign to be very lucky, and will have much help throughout their lives. So I hope the only luck we get here is the luck of her being born this year, and maybe getting to go get her next year!

On the BWM(big white machine) front, things are going quite well. I have learned a lot, I have embroidered a lot, and I have my first paying customer coming by next week to bring something for me to embroider for her(which is making me sweat, just thinking about it) I still have so much to learn, but I have made some serious progress.
It appears right now that the name of my business is going to be: The Pink Polka Dotz, I have a graphic design artist working on my logo right now, and then I will have my business cards made. I am going to have someone help me with a website soon, but don't think I will be taking orders on it for a few more months. I have ordered some things that I will have available, so I need to wait to get them in before I really start with the on-line stuff.
I will post a few of my things that I have available now, as some of you have posed some interest in buying some things from me. So as long as you can do check or pay pal, I should be able to help you out with some really cute things. The pig picture above is one of the designs I have available, so I will be doing these on some long sleeve children's t-shirts and onesies. I have the entire Chinese Zodiac, and they are all as cute as the others. So bear with me, and I will have some pictures up soon of some products. Leave me some comments on what you think of this design....I think it is too cute. I have also ordered some Chinese characters such as: truth, happiness, love, prosperity, health. So I think I will be able to incorporate these into some really cute things as well.
I really appreciate every one's support in this new business. You all were right in saying that it just takes time, and that I would learn everything I need to know. I am definitely getting there, and can't wait to show you some of the things I have made. I am really having a lot of fun with this now.
So stay tuned, and I will get some pictures up very soon. My MIL is visiting(I have the best MIL in the whole world) but she is here for another week, and then I will drive her back to Houston, and stay a few days. When I get back I will have more time on my hands to get some pictures out there.

Well, enjoy the rest of the weekend. It is a great day because while it is the start of Chinese New Year, it is also the start of The Amazing Race-All Stars tonight on CBS 7 p.m. CST.
Can't wait for it to start, it is 7:00 yet??

Peace Out!

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentines Day

Just wishing everyone a Happy Valentines Day!

I personally think this is not a very nice "made up-marketed" holiday. Why would we ever make up a holiday that leaves people feeling blue and left out? I think really only children should celebrate this pretty day of cards, candy, parties, and more candy. I think the pressure should be off adults when it comes to this day. Last night when I was at the grocery store, there were all of these men there trying to pick out flowers, candy, cards, etc. I feel as though there is this giant ball of stress to make sure you pick out the right one for your sweetheart kind of takes the "specialness" out of having this lovable day. I would rather get the special card or something sweet on just a random day of the year to let me know someone appreciates me, not on a manufactured day, when everyone feels a little forced to do so even if they don't necessarily want to.
This is the holiday that I love to make and send cards to my best girlfriends to let them know how much I care about our friendship, and appreciate all that they do for me(mostly because it is so unexpected) I also love to give valentines and sweet surprises to the all the kids in my life. Kids love valentines, and they love to feel so special when given something you have made, and put so much love into. There is no pressure for them, they just cut out a big red heart, sprinkle some glitter, write their name, and it is as though they made us a Picasso. I think we should adopt the same feelings towards our spouses, or significant others, or just our loved ones. I also think that we all have birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays that the people in our lives can let us know that we are extra special. So I think the need or desire for a dozen of overpriced roses, the biggest box of chocolates, or worse yet, a very pretty box of bling on Valentines Day is a little passe.
So there will be no roses(or any flowers), no candy, certainly no bling. There might possibly be a card, but not much more than a BIG I LOVE YOU said, and maybe we will celebrate with a little skillet queso from Chili's while we watch American Idol tonight. But that will be about the extent of Saint Valentines Day at our house.

But if you love Valentines, and this is your special day for people to say I love you, then please know that I do. XOXO

Finally to all of those marrying in Las Vegas today....you picked a very loving day to wed, and we send you wishes for many years of happiness ahead-LOL

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Wii Bum

Okay, I must start this by saying that I am not really into video games at all, not so much, no real interest, nada, zip, zero, haven't had any interest in video games evaaar(okay, I did enjoy a little pac mac in his day) Occasionally a little solitaire while I do something on the computer, but just don't get the whole video game phenomenon. Well that was until I played Wii.

We went to visit my in-laws, and my 12 year old nephew just got his Wii that he actually got for Christmas, but just received because you can't find them anywhere. I had heard this story, and of course thought it was so silly that people wait in line all night for anything, much less a video game, and certainly could not find the worth in paying an exorbitant amount of money for something you could get cheaper if you would only wait a few months when everyone lost interest.

Well do I owe an apology to all those silly people that waited in line all night long, or paid ridiculous prices to get their hands on what may be the most fun anyone can have in the comfort of their own home. No need to go join a health club.....just buy a Wii, and you will save the guilt of not ever going to the gym. This thing is incredible, and I don't say that lightly. It really is as though you are bowling, playing tennis, or even playing a little golf very badly.

It has Tennis, Boxing, Bowling, Golf and something else. Sorry I was only there for 48 hours so I didn't get a chance to play all of them, so I don't remember exactly what is on there. What I do know is that between Tennis, and Bowling, my shoulder and my bum are hurting as though I went at it with a personal trainer for a week straight. I can barely walk my bum hurts so bad, I am limping around like an 80 year old woman.

I had so much fun playing these games that I couldn't do anything else while I was there. I was so hesitant at first to play, but then they showed me how it works, and off I went to the black hole of being an "gamer" Every time I got a strike I would yell in excitement, every time I won a tennis match I was doing the dance of celebration....I was acting like a complete idiot, and I loved every minute of it. Including everyone laughing their arses off at me!!

All I can say is we came home, searched to see if any stores in our area had it in stock, and then it took about 5 minutes after coming up with nothing that we were buying our own Wii on Ebay. So I suspect in about 5-7 days our own personal health club will be arriving UPS, and I can only suggest that you seriously consider getting your own....you won't regret it, I promise. I do suggest that you get at least 2 remote controls, it will make it all the more fun.

Now I must go put some tiger balm on my Wii bum, and hope that it feels better before our system shows up next week. Then I will be very busy bowling, and developing bunns of steal!

Friday, February 02, 2007