Introducing, The Gramber Babies!

Good Day Blogging People!  I would like to introduce you to the two newest miracles on earth, as well as the newest members of the GramberBie Family.

Our Beautiful Bouncing Baby girls:

Baby A

Baby B

Ready for my labor story, because you just know I've got a good one.  It all started with a blood pressure test gone wrong, and then a pee test that proved the blood pressure test right, and that I was the one that was wrong.  So I picked up some yummy cookies with the hubs, and went home to enjoy them in bed.  Where I stayed, for two days, waiting for labor to kick in.  It didn't.  So we went to the hospital instead.  After 5 hours of labor, which I felt only about 2 of, (thank you pain killers) Our midwife told us it was Baby Time!!  Now Mommies with twin most always give birth in the OR, not a labor and delivery room, just in case.  Which eased my mind because they told us Baby B was breach, and was most likely to welcome the world thusly, but that they weren't worried because she was sooo much smaller than her sister (who had taken up residence at the cervix, head down, for the last 2 months), they figured she would slide right out.  They had no idea. Off to the OR we went.

It didn't take long for Miss Baby A to make her amazing arrival. For the past 9 months, I knew I was pregnant, in fact during the last months that's ALL I was.  But it didn't really dawn on me until they handed me my daughter, that there were babies inside of me.  It was so weird.  They let me hold her for a minute while they (nurses) hurried to get equipment for Little Miss B, they wanted to ultra sound her to see if she had turned, and while my Midwife was helping me and Miss A, the OB that was present and helping the Midwife checked on Miss Bs possition.. internally...(ewww...) and out came Miss B!!!

No one, not even the OB checking her, was ready for her to come out.  Hubs, the Midwife and all of the Nurses were in the nursery area with Miss A.  I was relaxing and waiting for someone to tell me to push.  But instead of the 30 minutes to an hour they expected, Miss B made her stunning debut, BUTT first, after only 2 minutes.  The OB just brushed the amniotic sack, it burst and out slide Miss B, no contractions or pushing helped her.  Baby A: 6lbs 3oz Baby B: 4lbs 1oz

 Can you tell which is which?  Chubby Baby A, tiny Baby B

They are the loves of our lives, the Hubs and I couldn't be happier with them if we could have picked them out ourselves.  We waited 8 long years to get them, and now they are here!  We are still in awe with how perfect they are.  Neither of them needed the NICU, the worst was Miss A was a little tongue tied.  We were in the hospital for three days, and left with squishy wishy babies, Miss B was only 3lbs 10oz and no one stopped us!

Candy Jar ~ How to

So everyone who has an Etsy shop also has a twitter, and tumblr (where's the e?) and facebook and website and blog and billboard in every city around the world, and cats with sandwich boards on them and.. I know I missed some form of ... OH! flyers, pintrest and booths in farmers markets!


As to not miss out on all those fun things I got them too!  Introducing MY BLOG!!!  And you're here, now, looking at it, thank you so much.  Confused?  Let me help:  I learned my lesson long ago that I can't have more than one blog.. I seldomly listen to myself, but this time I did.  This blog is now my everything blog.  And to celebrate my newly classified Everything blog, I will give ya'll a Candy Dish Tutorial.  So now you don't have to buy one from my shop, just make your own.

This is in honor of all the amazing tutorials I have gotten free off the web.

CANDY DISH

Materials needed. I got the glass candle sticks and bowls from All a Dollar.  But you can get them anywhere.

Optional materials, any decoration you want you can have.

Believe it or not hot glue works really well.  Run a ring of glue around the top of the candle stick.

Pretty ring of glue.

Squish the bowl on top of the gluey candle stick.

You don't have to hold it, hot glue dries fairly quickly so just let it stand.  Don't touch the glue.  Ouch.

This is me cutting tulle for my ribbon.  Any length you want (I know, helpful right?)

Ribbon!!

Decorate!!!

Display the candy dish. For best results, fill with candy first.

You, me and Etsy

Sooo.. Blogger just changed format, again.  Have I ever told you how much I LOVE change?  Probably because I don't.  It's sticky and messy and we don't usually get along.

Unless it's change I like, HEY LOOK! Change!  I have an Etsy store *does mini dance of happiness*  Actually I'm not sure I like it yet, I've been ready to can it for a week now, but then I sold something, so I liked it again.  It's called Stones Bee Hive/ Bee Hive design.  And no it has nothing to do with living in the Bee Hive State.. though you'd think that wouldn't you.  It has everything to do with my last name, and Stone, well Amber is a precious stone (I'm precious ;) hence Stone.  Which is my name pretty much everywhere on the web.

Sorry about the no updates thing.  I didn't really have anything until recently.  Bestest bud Jillie-bean was visiting my sister Cindy up in Idaho, I haven't seen Cindys new home or Jillies newest little muffin-cake.  So I drove like a mad woman up to see them over a very short weekend.  It was awesome.  I honestly couldn't have had more fun, and Jillies Muffins are soooooo cute!!  (That sounds wrong, doesn't it?)

Littest Muffin.

She is sooo cute!!

Biggest Muffin, look-it her smile! So darling.

Muffins don't look when you want them too, but it's still a fun picture.  One of them is smiling.

Because Heaven is a Super Joanns/Michaels/HobbyLobby Warehouse.  Oh and Drop Dead Diva marathon.

Joey wanted to make Littlest Muffin into a Puppy Jockey SOO bad.

She didn't mind.

20th time SUCCESS!!

These are the wreaths that we made.  Jillies isn't done (her's is the top) She better post her finished product so I can see (*glares at Jillie*, I know you are reading this)

We had a great time, learned many of lifes hidden secrets, and ate way way too many sixlettes.

Halloween in April

I've meant to blog this back when it actually happened, but too much was going on at that time.

Soooo most of you know that I went to Anime Bonzia last year in Layton. And I actually cosplayed this year (means I dressed up) I rallied all my knowledge, as well as my sweet mother in laws knowledge, had killer fun. The theme was Steampunk, I'll let you google what that is, cause I can't really explain it. And here is my costume:

Now all the bits by themselves, just so I can show off.

  7 of these are handmade, I made 6 of them.

Fluff skirt, really easy to make, Mother-in-laws design.

Sorry, I meant to tip this. The over dress was the hardest to make because we didn't have a pattern.  My awesome mother-in law knew how to work it though.  She took the vest pattern I found and the skirt pattern and mushed them together.  Something I could not have done.

I bought this, cause I was just in the right place at the right time.  I did however add the cameo

These I bought off Etsy.  I've been wanting to buy something from this vendor for years.  Finally I had a need.  I was super excited.  However she's the one that gave us the magic fish.  But I think the trade evens out.

Another Mother-in law creation.  I did some of it's work, but it was mostly her.

Another awesome find :D

This was pure stressed out me.  I couldn't find a fan, let alone a good one, and I mean I really could NOT find one.  I searched for days calling places begging for information from facebook.  No, finally I found one that I ended up cannibalizing and making it fit my needs.  It doesn't fold up, but it fans really well.

These shoes are ten years old, but you couldn't tell with these snazzy spats.  I made these too. Again another stressed out flurry of madness.  I cannibalized the pattern again, and made these do what I wanted, and it took forever, and I learned you really shouldn't hot glue ANYTHING, and sewing works better, albeit slower.

My hat was, can you guess? Yes, another source of stress, but not because it was hard to make.  I just didn't know how I should decorate it.  I tell you what, options SUCK.

It looks more like a hat if you view it from the side.  It has hair clips under it, and Tiffany my awesome hairdresser can tell you that they work :D

Earrings that I've probably stolen from someone.  I don't know whose they are or where they came from. But they match nicely :D

So there you have it.  The ins and outs of my awesome costume.  Sadly it will not make a second appearance at the Anime Con, I shall be making another one, can't tell you what though, it's a surprise.

I don't want to grow up.

Proof that I’ve never grown up:


Yesterday the Hubs and I went to the store to get paint for our bathroom. (Which no longer has blankets for curtains, I’ll have you know) We were only getting a gallon of “Crème in my Coffee” and not “Moose Mousse” which sounded better, but was much too dark for our needs, which is the real tragedy here.

It would take about 10 minutes, for the paint to be mixed so we decided to investigate other departments. I was told to pick which, however was blocked every time I did. No biggie, we ended up where I wanted eventually, because I’m queen.

Ever since I was a small child I have been drug to Home-fix-it places, mostly against my will. Luckily for only me, I have a very good imagination, and I found ways to entertain myself. This hasn’t changed. What also hasn’t changed is my love of all the displays Home-fit-it places like to show off ie: particle kitchens and bathrooms. I choose Kitchens this time because the Hubs loathes home-fix-it place cabinetry, you could say he’s a wood/quality snob. For ten minutes I tried my best to add a silver lining to all the cheap-totally-not-made-by-Hubs-old-employer cabinets. It remained visible only to me, but that’s no real surprise.

We had exhausted the Kitchen displays around the same time we needed to head back to PaintLand. And to my inner child’s delight, we traveled back through an isle that was lined with microwaves. Hubs never saw this coming, and honestly, neither did I. But as we walked I found myself opening all the microwaves, and leaving them that way. Did I mention I giggled madly as I did it?

Because I totally did. Hubs of course didn’t find this comical at all, he had to quickly trail behind me to shut them and then grabbed my hand and removed me from temptation.

Tanget: I’m convinced I grew up on a different planet. Because things that I do normally and that seem natural to me Hubs finds completely alien. ie: Butt Smacking. He can’t even fathom that a family could do this without it being a punishment, let alone a family that held this as an Olympic sport for 3 years, and that I won the gold medal.

We left Home-fix-it-Wonderland $20 lighter and slightly humiliated, or at least Hubs did. I was still giggling, but this time at him and not the microwaves, and the bewildered/annoyed worker-bees I was sure I would have left in my wake.

To easy the mind of my mother who reads this, I promise I have slightly matured. I vaguely remember the debate that went on in my head before I started opening microwaves. Someone in the back of the in-crowd was slowly banging their head against the wall wondering why. Poor guy, he’s so out numbered.

FIFTHWIND. The first in the Kreggorian Series.

Does that sound awesome or what? 

Ken Kiser is the author of Fifthwind, and exalted founder of the Fifthwind Forum.  The very forum that is solely responsible for me finishing my novel.  Did you read that?  I know, personally, a published author!!  That is so cool, my mind can't even grasp how cool that is, because no one knows authors.  They just exist, and make up really cool stuff.

When he told us he was publishing his book, it didn't really sink in at first.  To me being published is something only really cool people that live in castles and eat off gold forks, do.  No offence to Ken, it's just it's such a special thing to me that it just doesn't compute to: normal people can get published too.

But he DID!  I'm just dumb struck and so very very very happy for him.  I already knew his story was awesome, we've been Internet Buddy's for almost four years.  But now everyone gets to know how awesome he is.  It's, overwhelming, and almost like it's my own novel!

I could go on and on, but I think at this point it'd just be spazziness.
If you want to read an awesome Fantasy Novel go here:
http://thekreggorian.com/

Like a true author who just wants to be read, he's got his E-book for free a lot of the time, so DUDE! free book.

Truth in Advertizing

(yes I used a 'z' in advertizing.  I'm quirky.)

Usually when I listen to the radio I tune out the commercials.  I'm sure I'm not alone in doing this.  In my mind commercials are relatively counter productive to the product/service.  Especially if it's stupid.  In fact if the commercial is really retarded I go out of my way never to purchase that product.

Only the truly clever or cute will influence my purchasing decision. ie: Goldfish Crackers.  Puffs facial Tissue.

Puffs is in the grey area though, I'm still not sure if you should rhyme need with indeed.  Their performance is beyond excellent though.  So they won my loyalty even with a stupid jingle and weird looking animation.

This brings me to this:  newish Wendy's commercial.  If you haven't heard it, great.  Anyway here was a conversation I had with Susan, who gets to hear all my daily commentary.  Lucky her.

Amber: Radio ad confusing me.

Susan: ?

Amber: Oh,well it's my "bacon loving" part of the brain telling me to go get the baconator at Wendy's

Susan: lololololol

Amber: and if I don't then he's going to switch me to the side that secretly loves broccoli
but.. if I'm connected to the side that loves broccoli then I'll love broccoli and it wont actually be a problem.
It's only a problem when I'm connected to the bacon side.  It's a valid threat... but if you think about it, you won't know it was a threat once it's happened unless you're still cognizant that you hate broccoli while eating it.  But then you wouldn't be connected to the "I love broccoli" side, because you wouldn't be loving broccoli
you'd be hating it, and eating it anyway.. which is what I already do.
(some time later after actually doing work)
this is so going to be a blog

Susan: it is definitely blog worthy thinkyness!

Because I always do what I'm told.

I'm trying to remember if I said I would keep up with my blog.  I think I did somewhere, so this is me keeping up with my blog. 

Actually it's not.  Actually, this is me just saying I'm going to keep up and I will have an actual post later this week.  I have several already semi written I just need to give them a little love.


Later taters!

(Jillie this is for you.)

Away in the Manger

Nativity sets are a Christmas staple in the Christian world.  Heck, even Santa has visited baby Jesus in the creche.

This is very much like one my mom has.  Or had, we played with it a lot.

Everyone I know has at least one, if not many many more.  And they are, one and all, beautiful.  There are Crystal ones, and porcelain, wooden, both hand carved and machine.  There are flat ones, round ones, square ones, and 3D.

Many Groups celebrate our Saviors Birth, from:

Charlie Brown, to

 Precious moments, to

 Willow Tree, to

Random Bears.

I love all of them, and often stress over finding the right one for my house.  Until this year.  You see, I've actually had one for years, but in my immaturity I didn't think it was good enough.  Because I made it when I was between 12-16, and it was a craft project my amazing Aunt had creatively come up with.  I don't remember the circumstances under which they were created, because I am the only one in my family who has one. Which is ok.

Apparently they are somewhere very cold, hence the random ice cube.

I have put these little people out every year, along with my billions of snowflakes (I may not have that many for reals, but if you ever saw my bedroom in high school or my house this year, you'll know I have a LOT)

But always considered them my "stand in" nativity, just waiting for the real one.  My, Adult nativity, if you will.

But during my freak-out when I found the box they belong in and discovered them not in it, I realized how much they mean to me, and how much I love them.   

Sure, down the road I may buy another one, or even two. 

 But they are the real one, and will always be apart of my familys Christmas. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Nothing is wrong with a little "white trash"

But there is something totally wrong with kamikaze gingerbread men. So, very wrong.

That's why this year my tree is Barbies Christmas getaway, again:

There is nothing wrong with this picture, move along.

This season I'll be sharing other family traditions. The first one is a childhood tradition.

When we were all very little we had one tree, and it was festooned with all the glitz and glitter that we young'ins could put on it. It had no glass bulbs, nothing sharp, or accidentally edible, and nothing my mother didn't want destroyed.

Which left her with all the "beautiful" ornaments the public school system inevitably sent home with us excited Littles every year. The upside to this, is that even if it was edible, or destructible, because the we made it, it wasn't going anywhere. (unless a certain little has an ever littler little sibling that has no respect for all the time spent glitterfying that gingerbread mass that looks almost like a person.)

Our family tree grew with each additional year with more and more globby glittery goodness until the last of us was out of Elementary school, because ornament making didn't catch on in Jr. High and High School, not entirely sure why.

Somewhere in between those years the "pretty tree" showed up, the one we weren't allowed to touch. It was, alternating years, green and gold or red and gold, and it was my mothers pride and joy. As we were older we liked it too, and left the bulb breaking to our cat.

The only problem with this new "pretty tree" was that there was no room for our decorations!! The family stuff that we had poured our blood sweat and tears (literally) into. Even at our mature ages we still wanted to see our bulbs, our hand prints our STUFF. So, my mother set up two trees, and has ever since.

Last night I was privileged to join in the decorating of this tree, each time I held an ornament in my hand a million memories began to pour out of it... it took a long time to decorate the tree..

So for your viewing pleasure, I have picked a few of my favorites to show.

My parents got married in december, every christmas since then they have bought some type of christmas item.  Some ornament, or statue, but mostly awesome music box statuette things.

My mom made all of us one of these when we were really little, and we love them dearly still

It was my father who trapped this little guy in the stained glass house, it's a heavy sucker and has taken a nose dive or two, and yet it's still intact.

I don't know where this teddy came from but I remember him from way back and love him, the birds *there are more RUN FOR YOUR LIVES * I don't touch them, but they used to be on my grandmothers tree, so here they are now.

My mothers grandmother made this beautiful little angel. I love her and lay claim on her RIGHT NOW!

This is another dated ornament, they got this the year Lolligog was born :D he's one of my favorites.

Someday my tree will be as full of memories as this one, and I'll love to look at it for more than just it's beauty.

Throwing in the Blogspot Towel - EDIT

Ok seriously people this is getting ridiculous. I can't maneuver pictures around without ruining my entire blog, and for each picture I add, the spaces grow exponentially. So I have to go around deleting spaces with increasing frustration. Or I have to upload the pictures IN THE RIGHT ORDER (cause try moving them afterwards and you're in for a real treat.. not.) and then write my blog around them

I CAN"T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!!!

I know I've been here for around 3 years, but I can NOT stand it any longer, Blogspot has done something with their system and I don't like it.

Just letting you know, I'll be hopefully moving to a new address. Or doing SOMETHING to save my sanity.

If any of you know how to fix this, please let me know, cause I really don't want to go through the hassle of moving and changing everything.

Thanks.

EDIT -

Ok, thanks to my awesome Sister-Inlaw Angie (I owe you babysitting) I've updated my editor, and now it looks new and shinny and didn't add a billion spaces to this post just because I wanted to edit it.  So far so good, hopefully this means I can stay.  We'll see.

Truth is stranger than fiction

Here's a conversation I had with a my charming cohort, who basically keeps me sane while at work. Though from the convo below I don't think sane is the right word..

Susan: I always say god and jesus have senses of humor..just lookit the platypus

Amber: So true. Just imagining what went behind some of the creatures..like me playing with clay! I have this awesome idea and then... what they heck did I make? Oh well, we'll put it somewhere no one goes a lot.

Susan: roflmao

Amber: thats why all the freaky looking fish are at the very bottom of the ocean

Susan: omgosh ROFLMAO!!!!!! X A BILLIONTY