Cotton Crazy

Working on lots of things these days. I’ve got lots of potholders that I’m making for Christmas. I can easily take my large crochet bag in the car to work and work on things in the car. Cotton Yarn is just so easy to work with! I’ve seen a lot of people use it for blankets but I prefer mine for dishcloths and potholders. What do you make with cotton yarn?

Grandma Pt. 1

I remember being in my Grandma’s kitchen, watching her move from one spot to the next. Adding bacon to the frying pan, checking the eggs In the next pan and over across the room getting the bread out of the breadbox and back again. It was this beautiful dance that just entranced me. 

My Grandma knew how to cook! The way she showed us love was in her amazing food! Grandma was always telling us to go get more food and “Let me fix you a plate”. Grandma always had lots of food and always cookies and ice cream for the grandkids. Actually, we were lucky enough to get ice cream for breakfast if we wanted! 

We all have very fond memories of eating together at Grandma’s house. Four of my cousins lived in Wisconsin and when they came into town, Mom would load up my sister and I up and go over to Grandma’s for Apple Pancakes. These pancakes were made from a simple recipe, but they tasted like absolute Heaven! The smell of those pancakes, all of us together at Grandma and Grandpa’s house are some of our fondest memories. 

Over the years, many of us have tried to replicate Grandma’s Apple Pancakes, but there always seems to be something missing. We joke and say that maybe Grandma spit in the batter! In the end, Grandma took the secret with her 14 years ago when she passed...her. 

Since then, I have enjoyed sharing my love with my Famiy, just how my Grandma taught me. I make dinner almost every night for my hungry brood of guys. I try to make the meals as healthy as I can...but let’s be honest with ourselves, nachos are not healthy! I let my boys eat brownies for breakfast...with a banana and a glass of milk for balance. I put love in every step of the cooking process. 

I used to sit at Grandma’s kitchen table and talk with her while she cooked. We would chat and I would watch her move around making dinner and taking in all of the little things she did. Later on, we would stand side by side in the kitchen, chatting away and cooking. Now that I have my boys, that’s usually where we talk. I’ll be working on dinner and they will come in a talk with me and sometimes jump in and help. When Shawn comes over, I end up teaching him about different foods and how I’m cooking them. He even helps me make the “Sweet Treat” for Christmas Morning. Now, he is part of his school’s Culinary Arts Program! I love these times with them just like I loved them with my Grandma!

Food feeds your body, but Love feeds your Soul.

Soapbox Moment

No worries, there will be no preaching here today!

My oldest son, Logan, competed in the Soapbox Derby in Akron, Ohio over the weekend. He was part of a STEM group at his school that built cars and raced at Derby Downs. He was then given the oppurtunity to race in a regular race and he was thrilled!

Logan went down the hill about 20 times that day. He would say that he was living his best life every time he went down the hill at 30+mph. He placed 8th out of 20 Drivers which is amazing because he had been racing since April of this year!

I, however, would say that I lived my best life that day when I saw my oldest child get out of his car, walk over to his opponent, shake her hand and said “Congratulations! Good Race!” I saw that moment and cried Proud Momma tears!!!!

Raising kids isn’t easy and growing up is even harder. In that moment, I was reminded that I have a pretty fantastic kid!

What’s in a Name?

Before you get any further...No, my real name is NOT Beanie!

Beanie has been my nickname since the day I was born. I’m pretty sure, if I have the right information, I’ve technically been called Beanie 2 days longer than my real name. For the most part, I’ve always loved my nickname. Not everyone has the name, Beanie, so people usually remember it.

If you’ve ever met my parents, you’ll know that my Dad has an interesting sense of humor. He always seems to give just about everyone a nickname. None have the sticking power like mine, though.

So, how did I get such an epically awesome nickname? I was born with a full head of dark, thick hair. In my hospital picture, my hair is combed up to a point and it looks like a Brownie Beanie hat was on my head. Thankfully it’s a cute story! I could only imagine if it would have gone the other way!

Everyone calls me Beanie! The only times I’ve been called my real name was on the first day of school, school paperwork/official documents or if someone asked what my real name was. John has never called me by my real name and there have been times that my parents have actually forgotten my real name! It’s hilarious because they named me!

My sister has a nickname. I will not share it because only my Dad has ever been able to get away with calling her by it. If you’ve met my sister, then you know that she’s not a “nickname person”. Which is fine, not everyone can handle that kind of lifestyle (pretending that I’m much cooler than I am lol!).

I do have 1 acceptable nickname associated with my real name. I’ve had it since 3^RD OR 4^TH grade. Only a couple people have ever called me by it, but it has been around for over 20 years, so I guess I’ll keep it. You’re probably thinking that Beanie must be a derivative of my real name. It’s not. Not at all.

My real first name is…Maureen

There it is, my secret identity has been revealed!!!!

Ha! Yea right! To me, I don’t look like a Maureen. It definitely fits me better than other names would. Personally, I just feel more “Beanie” than “Maureen”.

Acceptable Forms of Beanie:

Beanie

Neen

Neener

Bean Bag

Bean
Beans

Beanie Bean

 Acceptable Forms of Maureen:

Maureen

Maureen Biology

When people meet me and hear my name, I hope that it lets their guard down. Hopefully they get that I’m not always a serious person and that I like to have fun. I guess I also want it to be part of my entrance…”The Party don’t start till I walk in!”

Crochet The Day Away...

Crochet The Day Away

I’ve been crocheting for less than 10 years. My Grandma tried to teach me as a kid, but I didn’t have the patience for it then. All I could do was chain…a really super-duper long chain! Fast forward to my Sister telling me that she was pregnant with her first baby and I immediately knew what I wanted to do…crochet the Baby a Blanket!

I asked my Mom to teach me and I’m thankful that she was able to teach me a simple pattern. Single Crochet Chevrons are a gold standard for me. I started our pretty rough but now, I can make an afgan of single crochet chevrons that measures nearly 7ft tall and I can have it done in less than 2 months. I’ve improved since then and I’m able to usually pick things up pretty easily.

I like to make beautiful things for the people I love. I find it calming to crochet. I usually have a small project with me to throw in my purse and take in with me for a doctor’s appointment or waiting for a Band Concert to start for my kids. I’ve often said that there is Love in every Stitch of something I crochet.

I may not be able to do all of the fancy things with yarn that other people do, but I’m always proud of what I’ve accomplished and I know that I’ve made someone happy. My friends joke that you either have to get married or have a baby in order to get a blanket from me. That used to be the case but I’ve since had to expand to graduating from school. If you’re a sibling or a niece or nephew, you will get at least 2 before you’re 10!

Honestly, what better gift than to give your time, love and effort and make something beautiful as well as useful!

Recently, a cousin on the other side of my family told me that her 17-year-old son had received a crocheted baby blanket from my Gram when he was a baby. She said that he has slept with it since infancy and he still sleeps with it now! She knows that with him going off to school that he probably won’t want to take his blankie with him. Don’t worry, I’m already thinking of colors so he can have a more grownup version. How sweet that he loves that blanket so much that he still uses it!
Love in Every Stitch. Love being shared from one person to another.

About Me

Hi! My name is Beanie!

I am a 34-year-old married, Momma of 2 and Step Momma of 1.

I have been driving my Hubby, John, crazy for nearly 14 years (11 years married). Don’t feel too bad for him, he drives me just as crazy! John is the only person on this planet who has seen all of my craziness and still loves me! He’s a Keeper, for sure!

I am a #BoyMom!!! Logan is 12 and just as strong willed and inquisitive as I am. Mason is nearly 11 and he is the extremely independent little brother. Shawn is John’s son from a previous relationship, he is nearly 16. Shawn is very much the Gentle Giant that his Dad is. He is 6’ 3” and quiet as a mouse.

I have a very eclectic collection of interests. Mainly, I love Cats (I have 2!), Crochet and Cooking the most!

Hang out with me and there will be plenty of posts that will introduce you to this fun life I live! Just in case you thought it was “that kind of blog”, there will be no discussion of politics. Politics bring out the worst in people and instead of getting a point across and maybe explaining a different viewpoint to someone, people end up fighting! Sorry, but this may not be the Blog for you if that’s what you’re looking for.

Follow my Blog and prepare for a fun time!