TV or No TV That is the Question

TV or No TV?

In the past few years we have had our ups and downs in this household and along with the layoff/beginning a new job cycle has been a cycle of having our Direct TV suspended and reinstated several times. During the times when we have no TV we borrow movies from the libarary... watch tv shows on Hulu... and since the addition of an Xbox 360 back in December we have also watched Netflix directly on our tv. So we stay entertained.

I go back and forth in my head about whether we should have any television at all. I know that we can do without. I know that keeping things simple around here is in everyone's best interest and tv complicates things even if only a little. So it is probably best not to have it. (and save money) By the way, when we do not have our satelite turned on, we get zero stations.

However... It is the beginning of summer. We have watched everything on Netflix instant watch a dozen times (the kids stuff anyway) The movies at the library will be slim pickin's now that all the other kids are out for the summer. (and because our library made it possible to checkout 10 dvd's per card so now they stay wiped out) and well.. I like having tv.

So this weekend, I let hubby know that I was thinking of having it turned back on. There is just something about having tv that makes me feel like we aren't on the edge anymore, but getting back on our feet. There are two levels of tv in our house though... lately we stick with the lower of the two levels.
This package of stations only includes kids channels, the Food network, HGTV and Weather channel (also Hallmark and Science channel) it only runs about half the cost of the "lowest package available" at Direct TV. Yeah. I know I just contradicted myself. That is because the folks at Direct TV are liars.
If you call them and ask them (or look it up on their site) what their cheapest package is, they will lie and tell you the one that is twice as much. Only if you know about this one ahead of time can you request it.
Crazy!
It's like knowing that you can order Pintos and Cheese at Taco Bell, though it isn't on the menu.
Yeah, just like that.

Anyway, Hubby got the satelite back on for me last night as like a gift kinda thing. Today I will begin the fight to limit the kids tv time. If it ends up being more trouble than it's worth we may have it turned off again.
In the meantime, I will be enjoying the Disney Channel, HGTV and Food Network. I hope they have some good shows for the summer. I already plan on probably having it turned off again in the fall when we begin homeschool and maybe making it a regular summer thing to have it back on again.

Oh by the way... I don't hate you Direct TV even though you lie... I really appreciate the fact that we can call anytime and suspend our deal until further notice. Thanks for that!

Finally Got an Etsy Shop

Here is my darling Allison modeling my first quilt for sale in my new Etsy shop. I really need to work on a finishing a couple more to post in the shop. Here is the link, just in case you want to visit sometime (or shop). There will be an option to have a baby or toddler quilt custom made too. I can do this same sort of strip quilt with novelty fabrics for boy or girl. (this one is for a boy- with Thomas the Tank Engine, Disney Pixar's Cars fabric and bugs, racecars and baloons)

Cozy Cuties (my Etsy Shop)




And I can also applique a name on it in contrasting fabric. Much like I did for the baby quilts in the previous post.

I know, One measly quilt... but hey, it's a start!

Unanswered LOST Questions

This is dedicated to those of you who, like me, invested a lot of time, energy, and fanatical fandom to the LOST universe and have now been left wanting to throw a hot pocket at Abrams and Lindeloff!

This video includes some (not all) of my unanswered LOST questions (plus a few questions I know the answers to)...

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1936291

Fresh Look

Well, I felt like changing up my blog. I think I like this. I will probably add new artwork soon too.

As for what is going on this week, I am back to quilting and thinking again of starting an Etsy shop.. I did an easy toddler quilt this week to donate to a fundraiser some friends are giving for another friend in need, and I had some material left over so I made another to sell. I usually do baby quilts and I am thinking of offering to custom make them with the baby's name on them like I did for my daughter... Below is a photo of that one and one of my recent gifts. Soon I will post the one of the quilt I have for sale and another gift quilt I made recently that I can't seem to find right now.

I am interested in anyone's opinion on how much I should charge.. what I could name my online shop and whether you think there is a real market for these.

Thanks!

Misty

What's goin' on?

This looks like a few of my great Uncles. He is headin up my blog today because I today I am talking about talkin'.

Lately I am tempted to try to sound more charming by droppin my g's ... you know like sayin' and walkin' and singin' ? (mostly because I have been addicted to 'LOST' for the past 2 months as previously mentioned and Sawyer and Kate sound so darn cute!)

"Well, well... Lookee whose hooked on phonics!"

After all, that type of speech is part of my cultural heritage. Raised by my Grandparents I should be talkin' that way all the time. Unfortunately, I spent most of my life trying to lose the drawl that comes from my extremely rural upbringing. Now, that didn't actually work, I still sound very southern... but I don't actually alter my words. And it doesn't stand out much since everyone I live around sounds exactly the same. I wouldn't even know that I sound pitiful if it weren't for a few comments that have been made and a terrible phone-in radio event! First, I used to work as a receptionist for a Christian publishing company. They got calls in from all over the country so it wasn't unusual for people to point out my accent. That's ok though I found a few of their accents cute too.

However,

My most embarrasing moment of bumpkin-ism was when I called in to my favorite talk radio show on WLS Chicago- the Roe Conn show. (click to listen live online Mon-Friday 2:00-7:00pm) I had been listening for years and I called one day because they were on the topic of people who go to those weird sci-fi conventions and I have a cousin who traveled to Paris the previous year to go to a Stargate convention.(She also has gone yearly to a stargatecon in Canada and has even served as a body gaurd to one of the stars there) Anyway, I was so thrilled to talk to my fave radio personality and thought it was cute when he mentioned liking my accent, but then I later heard myself on the radio (due to a time delay) and it was horrible!

Accch! I didn't know I sounded like that. Like a total hick.

There go my dreams of ever being on talk radio.
You know how they say 'He has a face for radio'? Well, I have a voice for blogging. lol

In other news... I am hooked on Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. And Chocolate Milk, but that has been going on since I started nursing. You would think I was trying to gain weight.

Oh, and my little fella is 4 months old as of yesterday! Pics coming soon.