Look what followed me home from the Sewing Expo today:

Just kidding about not telling my husband; he’s actually the one who urged me to buy a new sewing machine. My last two machine purchases were from a big discount retailer. Great for the budget. Less so when it comes to sewing quality. Things started out well with my last Brother sewing machine — purchased about a year ago — but I soon found that it could be … inconsistent. Random thread tension issues that cropped up in the middle of a sewing project. Snapping bobbin threads. The complete unwillingness to sew a buttonhole on an actual garment (but willing to cover every scrap fabric with perfect buttonholes 10 times in a row).

I’ve heard great things about Janomes and the price was right, so I handed over the bank card and drove home with my very first Janome sewing machine. It’s currently on the living room floor, where I sat playing with it while watching the most recent episode of Lost with Honey. It’s so quiet, it didn’t interfere with our viewing experience even a little bit. And it sews like a dream, just so smoothly and perfectly.

Yes, I’m in love.

The sewing expo is taking place here, through the weekend, and I spent the morning there. I went last year, just for an afternoon, but didn’t take any classes. This year, I got it together and registered for a couple, including a millinery overview and another on finishing touches for apparel sewing.

The hat class was neat. Dawn Anderson brought lots of samples in different stages of construction and covered choosing materials, basic stitching and fitting tips. It was a nice introductory lecture and I really got a lot out of seeing and holding the various foundation pieces. I’m a hands-on learner and that’s always a good thing for me.

After the class ended, I had a little time to go explore the expo floor and see all the goodies available for purchase. Wow!  Pretty much anything you could imagine for sewing, plus needle felting, knitting, crochet, embroidery — even scrapbooking. I was fairly restrained and walked out only $50-ish lighter, with three patterns and two yards of fabric in hand. And maybe a notebook filled with info about a couple of machines.

I don’t remember when I got my first migraine. I do know that I thought it was just a headache. Painful, but just a headache.  After a couple of years, I finally realized I was having migraines, and around the same time every month. Somehow, it made it easier to deal with.

I have three “triggers:” hormones, low blood sugar and barometric pressure. Of those, one is completely within my control and the other is only an issue every 21 days.  Thanks to the Weather Channel, I can usually get some warning on the third.

My beautiful BFF has debilitating migraines. That’s her neurologist’s term, not mine. Her knowledge of pharmacology is frightening. It’s probably more frightening that very little actually alleviates her pain. I can tell from her voice — just the “hello” when she answers the phone — if she’s got one. They can last for days and she gets them far too often.

I’m grateful that my headaches don’t have that kind of ferocity or frequency.  Since my last pregnancy, I’ve suffered from far fewer migraines — and even those have been much shorter.

Until today.

It stormed here overnight and was still storming when I woke up this morning. I could feel it in my face as soon as I woke up, that telltale pressure that immediately clued me in that I had a headache. Not a migraine, just a sinus headache. No big deal.

At least it wouldn’t have been had two other things not happened: the weather system that continued to move in and the fact that I FORGOT TO EAT. Seriously, who forgets to eat? Well … I slept in, rushed to get Mis L ready for school and out the door, then came home to work on a custom order while she was at preschool. I got so caught up in what I was doing that I ended up picking her up late from school (by about three minutes). By 2 p.m., when I finally ate, the damage had been done.  The worst migraine I’ve had since 2003.

I can’t say that it wouldn’t have become worse, given this weather, but not eating sure didn’t help the situation. Honey has been very sweet but is annoyed with me for not taking better care of myself.

He’s got a point.

• I’m totally jazzed about the Project Runway finale this week. I’ve been watching the back-to-back eps on Bravo this evening to gear up. However, I’m starting  to get numb to the plight of the polar bears. I was saddened the first time I saw that commercial. By the fifth time in 90 minutes? Not so much.

• Coyote Ugly is a fun movie. It would be perfect if they cut out all the scenes that take place outside the bar.

•  Today’s West Coast dispatch: Celebrity sightings include Peter Gallagher and his eyebrows and Jon Stewart (whom my BFF walked past while wearing pedi shoes and Kleenex between her toes).

• The fact that no one else in my family likes beets means I can have as many as I want. And I did. I’m particularly enjoying this recipe. I sprinkle a little goat cheese on top. Super yummy! (Although I use canned beets. I know fresh probably taste better but my initial attempt yielded too firm beets that I couldn’t eat.)

• My oldest has eaten his body weight in Friendship Bread this week. Oh to be 17, six feet tall and a runner. And male.

• Why did they make a Knight Rider movie? What’s next? A remake of Magnum, P.I.? (OK, that wouldn’t be so bad, especially if they bring back Tom Selleck and those tiny shorts.)

• I really, really want to see Juno, Penelope and Charlie Bartlett. I’m kind of cheap, though, and usually wait for movies to hit the dollar theater — which isn’t always known for it’s selection of artsy/indie films.

• I recently bought and read the book Skinny Bitch, not really knowing what I was getting into. I think the authors would be less angry if they ate something. I’m hateful enough without giving up all the food I enjoy.

• Is it incredibly geeky to admit that I’m excited about tonight’s live, new SNL?

(Is it stuck in your head now? Good! Maybe it will get out of mine!)

My BFF is on vacation in sunny L.A. for the next two weeks. This weekend, she and her hubby will be attending Elton John’s Oscar party for the third year (I think that’s right). Yes, she lives the glamorous life, far more glamorous than mine. (Ignore the a pile of unfolded laundry on the chair in the living room. I’ll get around to it … sooner or later.)

One of my favorite parts of her little jaunts is that she calls me every time she sees a celebrity. Since it’s celeb central there, that means I get a lot of calls. And text messages. Yesterday, she bet her husband $10 that he could tell me they saw “Gummi Bear” and I’d know who he was talking about. (That was an easy $10.)

My phone rang at 7:30 this morning so she could tell me she just saw Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi. (Denise will be so jealous!) An hour ago? Minka Kelly was there, picking up shoes at the Jimmy Choo boutique. “Oh my gosh! She’s the cutest little thing ever!” she gushed. “She’s texting! Oh my gosh — she almost walked in front of a car.”

You’re jealous of that level of celeb play-by-play, aren’t you?

Five minutes ago, I got a text message: “Just saw Amanda Bynes!”

Should be an interesting two weeks.

Did you miss me?

I took an unexpected blog break this week. On Tuesday, I found out that my cousin and her boyfriend would be coming to visit us. It had been nearly three years since we’d seen each other, between her deployments to Iraq. Needless to say, I dropped everything (more or less) to get ready for her stay.

Sasha is my first cousin once removed and hands down the most mature almost-23-year-old I’ve ever met. Very bright and just “together.” She was taking college classes while still in high school and is majoring in international affairs. Among her hobbies? Taking part in Civil War re-enactments — she actually owns a six-bone hoop skirt frame! I just love her to pieces and am so glad we are as close as we are, and Honey and I were thrilled to be able to play host to she and her sweetie for a couple of days.

Miss L warmed up to “Cousin Sasha” very quickly, as well as “Mr. Paul.” We stayed up late both nights they were here just yakking and looking at pictures and playing catch up. As much as I love my friends, there’s really nothing quite like being with your family; they know your embarrassing stories but know better than to bring them out since you also know their embarrassing stories!

It was a little sad to see them leave today but they needed to get home to take care of their kitty. And I think we’ve managed to convince them to return in April to attend the renaissance festival with us (and I think Sasha’s convinced me to dress up this year!).

Lent starts tomorrow, so I guess that makes today Super Fat Tuesday.

The little miss is sick. Yesterday’s snap was just the beginning of the really fun part, if by “fun” I meant “lots of whining, crying, fitful sleeping and a good puke.” Seems the cold she’s had has morphed into a “raging” double ear infection. Antibiotics, ibuprofen and topical numbing drops to help with the ear pain. Yeah, not so much. She’s been in bed two hours and keeps crying out because her ears hurt.

Poor bunny. Methinks it’s going to be a long night. Guess we’ll just take a nice nap tomorrow.

Boy, it’s been a whirlwind few days around here. Snow, a birthday, a holiday. It’s enough to keep me occupied and away from the computer, for sure.

My oldest celebrated his 17th birthday yesterday. SEVENTEEN. That seems so old, which makes me feel so old. LOL! He and his best female friend went to the rock-climbing gym and then the movies (I Am Legend). Afterward, we had our annual family dinner at his favorite Italian restaurant.

Today I got a little sewing done while Miss L was at preschool: Burda 2989. I actually picked up the pattern and fabric to sew them up for my sister-in-law. She’s been wearing a similar style on stage and is always in need of extras for when she does her mini-tours. I found some pretty linen/cotton at Joann’s during the 50-percent-off-clearance-fabric sale, which was perfect for my first attempt at these pants.

I love them! It doesn’t show up in the pictures but the fabric has embroidered circles on it. My only criticism is that the ties are a little too short (although to be honest, the pants are probably a size too small for me, since I made them for Jenn). They sewed up pretty quickly, too, although it’s such a big difference to sew “grown-up clothes” — man, do those seams go on forever. I’m definitely going to sew up a pair (or two) of these for me. They’ll be perfect for the steamy Southern summers.

I’m definitely going to have to sew them, since I signed up for the new challenge posted at the blog At Home. It sounds like a fun way to make sure I sew a little something for me this year. Go check out the details and sign up!

The snow is here! It’s so pretty and white. And cold.

We bundled up and headed outdoors for a little playing. The boys expressed no interest in joining us until they saw their parents hurtling snowballs at each other.

There was no getting their sister to pose with them. She was too busy flinging snow at Pop. The snowman looked better before it fell. I still contend that my oldest knocked it over when he ran over for the photo op. It ended up being used as “snow cannon balls,” according to my younger son. They didn’t get much air, but made quite the spectacular splat.

It seems to have slacked off a bit now but our temperatures aren’t expected to get above freezing until after the weekend, so it should be lots of fun to drive tomorrow.