Bazongas, boobies, fun bags, hooters, jugs, mamaries, sweater puppies, tatas, the twins

Last Monday I had breast reduction surgery. Since then I have had a good number of people tell me that is was something they were thinking about, or just had questions about. While I normally use this blog to write about the things I craft, I thought I could use it as an open forum.

I am working on an Ask Me Anything post regarding the subject matter. Ask me what ever you would like. I am an open person and clearly this is a subject matter that there is much curiosity about yet I think people hesitate to ask. Which is just plain silly. So, we're going to do it here. The internet makes everything easier, no?

So, please leave a comment on this post with any questions you have that you would like me to answer. You can ask me anything and will answer you as honestly as I can. Feel free to post anonymously or if you are really shy you can email your questions to me at thatmoxiegirl [at] gmail [dot] com.

This week I will collect your questions and post the answers. And some pictures. You've got to have before and after pictures, right?

Craft of Shame

I swore I wasn't going to make any gifts this holiday season. That is not true. I swore I wasn't going to make and gifts for holiday presents this year. I did make a few things this month that are gifts; they were just due months, if not years ago. (Hangs head in shame.)

I bought this fabric to make my husband a Hawaiian shirt in 2010.

This Hawaiian shirt is a gift for my friend, Mike, who took care of my mother in law when she had her heart valve replaced this June. (sigh) Yes, it took me longer to make the shirt than it did for her to recover from open heart surgery.

I am extra proud of the pockets on these shirts. And proud that as my husband was trying them on he told me "this is real professional looking stuff."

Also, I lied and did make two Christmas presents. I swore I wasn't going to do it but these his and hers Mustachioed Mug Sweaters had to be made since, despite all her craftiness, Rachael does not know how to crochet. Don't worry, despite finishing them before Christmas, I have not yet mailed them.

A special thank you to my husband for modeling for me. And for being a good (read: tolerant) crafty husband. And for taking all those packages on the kitchen table to the post office! (wink, wink)

Be the good

I try to be a good person. It is one of my parenting goals to teach my children to be good people. The shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary school have shook me. More so than any other violent event to date. I don't know if it is because I am now a parent, but every time I look into Jane's innocent face I weep for those sweet angels and their families. Losing my children is my worst fear. I want to take action. I can not stop the crazies of the world. The only way I know to combat hate is with love. (This is not true, since I am a terrific fighter, but showing love seems to be the only way to have an effect on hate and keep me out of jail.) It is not easy to show love in the face of hate. But know that anger thrown in the face of anger only breeds war. (Or sends me to jail.)

If you have young children like I do, I am certain you have days where bedtime seems too far away. A few weeks ago my husband and I had reached our limits well before dinner was over. I ordered everyone to get their effing shoes and coats on and get in the damn car. We spent the next hour or so parking in front of our neighbors homes to ogle their holiday lights. Jane squealed with delight at each candy cane and cartoon character. Jimmy for once was silent in awe.

As we tucked our passed out little bugs into bed that night, it occurred to me that we ought to thank our neighbors. This was not our first, or last trip out to stalk their decorations. I wanted them to know that their efforts were not only appreciated, but helped put Team Dorsey into a much more merry mood. So this is what we did:

I shrunk our awesome Christmas card drawing that Rachael of imagine gnats made for us and printed them out onto card stock. On each one I hand wrote a thank you note. Because I think a hand written note kind of makes it more personal.

We spent ten dollars at the dollar store on chocolates and put them all into snack sized zip lock bags so they would stay dry. On the evening of the twenty-third we went cruised the neighborhoods again; my husband and I running from the car like jackasses to leave our secret treats on porches.

Next month I am participating in an online auction of handmade items and craft/sewing supplies. The auction will take place January 14-18. 100% of funds raised will be donated to Newtown Parent Connection (http://www.newtownparentconnection.org/), where all funds will go directly to those affected by the shooting in Newton. If you have anything that you could donate to this cause, I would love for you to be a part of this as well. Please visit Rachael or Kelley to sign up.

Here is a sneak peak at my donations:

I hope all of your Holidays were merry and bright. And I expect to see you at teh auction! I'll post the link as soon as it is available.

One thousand and ninety six days in the making

I sang to her for forty one weeks. When they put her face next to mine she sang right back to me. I believe in love at first sight.

Happy birthday, Jane Felix. You make my heart explode.

Rocky Raccoon Shoelace Pets

Today I am over at imagine gnats showing you how to make these little Rocky the Raccoon Shoelace Pets! You know you want a pair for yourself! (I am totally making a pair for my chucks!)

Now pop on over there and you make sure to tell Rachael that Moxie sent you!

Mustachioed Mug Sweater

If you are a mom like me, then the phrase 'hot coffee' is an oxymoron. If the stars align my first sip will be warm, but after that you could measure its temperature with the thermostat.

Well now, all your coffee dreams are about to come true. Introducing the Made with Moxie Mustachioed Mug Sweater! Tired of your coffee mug having a chill? Need a sexy little pick me up in the morning. Search no more!

The Mustachioed Mug Sweater makes a great gift for all the hot beverage drinkers in your life. And who doesn't love a hot beverage? Rock one of these babies at work and you'll be the talk of the office. Slip one on at home and you'll have the kids wishing they had one too. (I've totally got to make one for Jane now, too. With a pink mustache.)

Added bonus: the make time on the Mustachioed Mug Sweater is short so you can have one done in no time. Bingo!

Go get your crochet hooks and those scrappy yarn skeins. It's time to get all hooker.

What you need:
Two colors of size 4 yarn (yarn A and yarn B)
Size I/9 5.5mm crochet hook
Two buttons: 1/2 to 1"
Needle and thread

Row 1:With yarn A ch 31. Turn.
Row 2, 3 & 4:Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 5:Change colors. With yarn B, sc in each stitch. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 6 & 7:Change colors. With yarn A, sc in each stitch. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 8 & 9:Change colors. With yarn B, sc in each stitch. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 10:Change colors. With yarn A, sc in each stitch. Ch 1 and turn.
Row 11, 12 & 13:Change colors. With yarn B, sc in each stitch. Ch 1 and turn.

Button holes:Chain 6 with yarn B. Turn Sweater on its side. Sc up the side. I used 12. Chain 6, then sc into corner. Tie off yarns and weave ends into sweater.

Buttons:Use needle and thread to sew each button on to the corner of opposite sweater side.

Sketch out your mustache on a piece of felt.No good at drawing? Use a free mustache template! Cut it out then stitch it on to your Mug Sweater. Use the mirror. No one likes a cockeyed mustache.

Disclaimer: I have no data regarding how much longer the Mustachioed Mug Sweater will keep your coffee or tea warm. I just made it today. In the very least it has got to add some insulation to your mug, especially if you use cotton or wool yarn. But more importantly, you're adding some moxie to your day.

Salted Cinnamon Mocha Dough Ornaments

Confession time: I am a complete control freak about crafting with my kids. I don't care how big of a mess they make...so long as they don't mess up mine. Sigh. It's horrible, I know. I'm the mom. They have to learn. Who really cares?!?

I'm working on it. Really. This fall when we were carving pumpkins I kept getting twitchy each time Jane reached her sharpie over to try and put a scribble on my pumpkin. It was ridiculous. I eventually gave myself a lesson in letting go and let her draw on my carved pumpkin. All over it's face.

Then I had a beer.


Last week Jane and I made some salt dough ornaments. I admit to purposefully waiting until Jimmy was taking his nap to roll them out and paint them. Hey, I let them help mix it all up with me. (And what a mess of baking supplies that was!)

I changed the recipe up a bit though because salt dough is stinky. So I added some chocolate and some cinnamon and some coffee. When you bake these puppies your house will reek of lovely yummy baked goods.



Disclaimer: Do not try to eat these salted cinnamon mocha dough ornaments after you have baked them. They will break your teeth. And taste like crap. Better then plain old salt dough ornaments, but still, like crap.



Salted Cinnamon Mocha Dough Ornaments:

1 cup flour (use what you have, AP, wheat, etc. I used bread flour.)
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp coffee (use the leftovers at the bottom of the pot. Or water.)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Mix all your ingredients together. Get fancy. Break out the stand mixer. Use a spatula to make sure all dry ingredients get incorporated. Mix for a few minutes until dough is smooth. Resist the urge to pop a bit into your mouth. These are the best diet cookies!

Roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out your favorite holiday shapes (skull and crossbones are Christmas-y, no?) Once you get all your ornaments cut out and on baking sheets, take a drinking straw and poke a hole in the top of each ornament. If you want to stitch up an ornament like the stars, poke more holes.

Bake ornaments at 200 degrees for three to five hours. Yeah, hours. You want to bake this puppies until there is no moisture left in them and they are completely hardened. Don't sweat it tough because for three to five hours your house will smell like heaven. Seriously. My husband came home from work during this step and got all excited thinking I had baked something for dessert.



After your salted cinnamon mocha dough ornaments cool completely it's time to decorate! Any acrylic paint will work on your ornaments. Acrylic paint is good because it will dry fast. Children have little patience. (Okay, fine. Me too.) I painted mine with gesso which is white acrylic paint with a polymer added. It's intent is to prime canvases for artwork, but it works fantastic for these. I like it because it is very opaque. And Jane's monstrous glops of it dry out fairly quickly. You can find it at and crafting or art stores.

Once your paint is dried, paint or spray your salted cinnamon mocha dough ornaments with a clear coat. Make sure to cover all surfaces. You want to seal the ornament from getting any moisture in it. After Christmas store your ornaments in a cool dry place.


Thread yarn, embroidery floss or ribbon through the holes in the ornaments and you're done! Hang on the tree or even use as fancy schmancy gift tags. Jane is still super excited about them on our tree. I think salted cinnamon mocha dough ornaments will be an annual tradition in our house.

Enjoy! And if you make some salted cinnamon mocha dough ornaments, please post a picture of them in the Made with Moxie Flickr group. Happy Holidays!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Week *CLOSED*

**This giveaway is officially closed.** Howdy there! I'm Jill and welcome to Made with Moxie. Today I am offering one of my custom Carry All Clutches and Auriful threads as part of the Sew, Mama, Sew: Giveaway Week.

While the giveaways are what ya'll are here for, I've got to tell you that I added lots of new blogs to my Google Reader during the May SMS giveaway. And now, five months later, I have gained new friends, new skills, and participated in new swaps and events.Yeah, I got a little huggy on you there. Did you see the rainbow as that unicorn ran by?

The three ways to enter to win one of my Carry All Clutch bags:

1. Leave a comment on this blog post. Tell me what what sewing skill you would like to learn this year.
2. Decide my blog is awesome sauce. Follow my blog. Leave a comment telling me you did this. Current followers please enter too!
3. 'Like' my Facebook Page. Leave me a comment and telling me you did.

The winner will be drawn Friday, December 7th at 5pm EST. International entries are welcome! (Who doesn't love airmail?) If you are a no-reply blogger, leave me your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win.Please check your Google profile to ensure you "share your email address."

The Carry All Clutch has a lobster claw clasp to hook on your keys or clip it into your bag or a belt loop. Front pouch holds essential cards and license. Inside zippered pocket holds cellphone, chapstick, cash, etc. Large enough to fit iPhones, Droids, and Windows phones.

Winner will choose from one of the above four pattern choices. Two additional winners will be selected to win a sample pack of Aurifil thread.

So, stick around and become a follower. I'll teach you to make all sorts of awesome things. In between you can read about my misadventures in being a stay at home mom. Pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee. Make sure it isn't too hot; I don't want a lawsuit when you laugh so hard it shoots out your nose.

Welcome to Made with Moxie! And good luck!