Catchin' Up...

It's been busy trying to get life back together since Granny and my sister were here.  I've re decorated every  room in the house. Of course, though, I redecorated with things I already had. I moved things from one room to another.  My dining room looks pretty great, with the re arrange. I even made some gorgeous tafetta curtains to finish the room off.  I founf the fabric for $1.95 a yard, so $18 later, wa la! I have these elegant curtains.
I also, cut my hair a little shorter tonight. Hubby didn't freak, so I know I can go a little shorter. Will try and get a good pic. 
Hmm...I cleaned my sewing room and found a ton of goodies for my future YOE swap buddies. I think I may also do a giveaway. What do you think?

Deb is hosting Bootcamp for Shop owers this week. I speak between 1-2 tomorrow about Social Media Marketing. Wish me luck. I always get nervous speaking in front of strangers.
Hope everyone is having a great week. OOOHH! I almost forgot, anyone else reading , Dear John? I'm on part two, I love it!

Too Long

Holy Moly I haven't said hi in almost a month. I've missed telling you about the snow, about my Anniversary on Valentine's, about my swap stuff, or work or my Granny's Birthday & Sister visiting....I'll share with a ton of pics, though! I'm thinking that pictures can speak a million words, so I'll end this post with all the images since, I've last posted. :P

The End <3

So Out of Touch

Seriously, our "puter" got sick and we've been without. The world takes on new meaning with realizing that life can and must go on without internet service. It was hard, but we did it! (wink) lol
Anyway, I can finally blog about my awesome ornie package I got from Missy last month! How great, huh?!
I got new specs last week, too! I really, really like them. I wasnt sure how I'd do with the chunky look, but I dig 'em! :o) I also dared to cut my hair, not too short...Its gonna be gradual, but you can def. see a difference.
I have a million and twenty projects Im working on, including a couple of handbags, an ornament, table runner, round robin & oh yeah..a balloon valance...But Im here writing in this thing..I better go!
XOXO

New this week...

Woo hoo! I got my new ornie partner (yay, Anna! & my last partner, Melissa) It's fairies this month! Woo hoo!
Hmm, I have the day off tomorrow...Woo! Jon & I are gonna have a day date while the girls are in school and I'm gonna get some much needed housework done.
Haven't been sewing too much lately, but here is the ornie I sent out for last month on the YOE Swap.
Its wasnt hard at all I found a really great tutorial by googling quilted ornaments...Way cool!

I still haven't gotten the guts to cut my hair shorter than my shoulders...I struggle between these 10 crappy lbs. but for the most part, I feel so DARN GOOD!

Hope you're well! XOXO

New Do?

I've been debating cutting my hair....I think I'm ready, I've been wearing long hair since I've had kids and its getting old wearing the same hair style. I feel different, so I wanna look different. I cut about 6 inches or so off, and Im shoulder length now...I didn't have the nerve to cut it all the way, but I think Im decided on a hairstyle if I can get past the hubby..He's freaking out that I wanna cut it. Anyway, I like this style Rhianna is wearing. What do you think?

Hmmm...I must admit it's been a great weekend. The girls and I cleaned house yesterday. I took full advantage of their labor, too.  They kinda just weasled their way around me early in the morning, until I told them they would have to pay me if I had to clean their room...That got 'em moving, 'cause I was gonna charge each kid $20. LOL SO, my house got cleaned real good yesterday, including windows and dusting!

I'm getting some creative urges....Will have my ornie package out this week. :o) Since I will be going to Spring Market in May, I am having ideas of what I will wear. Yes, I have noticed, that some attendees wear some great handmade apparel, and of course a bag is on the agenda, too! I am getting excited to run into Keri Beyer & Pat Sloan!

I promise not to post without a new handbag made! XOXO

Gonna go browse Swapdex!

Inspired

Well, I should be posting more, I know....I will...I've found some really great inspiration for my Enchanted Swap buddy...And guess where's she's from??!! Arizona, oh yeah! LOL Ugh I miss it there, the smell of the dirt after it rains, the mesquite trees and of course those gorgeous sunsets! See what I mean? (pic to right) One day, I will make it back....hopefully sooner than later.
I've been on a quote kick on FB (hee hee) but hey, I can't help it. I do our motivational quotes at staff meeting each week...Gotta quote you just adore? Please leave a comment. My all time favorite is this one:
(ok so its a little longer than a quote but most of you probably have read a portion of this)
I love you,


Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.



I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me

That you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.



I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not a reproach

But a song.



I love you

Because you have done

More than any creed

Could have done

To make me good

And more than any fate

Could have done

To make me happy.

You have done it

Without a touch,

Without a word,

Without a sign.

You have done it

By being yourself.

Perhaps that is what
Being a friend means,

After all.”
Great, huh?  Ok, so since we're on the subject of mushy gushy stuff.... Sparks has a new movie coming out Dear John, its also a book..I will be buying it!
Um, well, although not much but so much seems to be going on, I have nothing really to report. Oh, but I will be posting when I get my Swap Ornie done!

It's A New Year

Wow, didn't realize how busy I've been until I noticed I haven't posted since Dec. 20th! Gheez!  Ok, so to get this in writing, I think will be the best way to start with my goals for the year. Hmm...Well, I will start off with the musts, like, new glasses & renewing my DL. :o)  Deb has us listening to Retail Mastery Audio Cd's, so I have to get those noted and imply.  I want to read at least 3 books this year. Which means, maybe I will do another book swap! Woo hoo! Wait, must finish Guernsey Literary & Potatoe Peel Pie Society...
I must do big things on the Stitchin' Heaven Howdy, including some much neglected book reviews for the Vintage Worksop. That's another project though...I hope to have trim put up throughout the house. We are freezing our tails off right now in this weather....Someone please remind me that I want to think twice next time I am wanting to buy a house that is a "fixer upper". So much blood, sweat and tears continue to go into this house. But hey, it's ours, right?!
Need to track down some ornanment tuts, maybe on etsy or craftster.org. I've joined in on the Enchanted Year ornament swap! Wooowey!
Anyone have a natural rememdy for cold and congestion. I can't seem to shake this (going on a week) and I hate taking medicine!
Oh yes, and I must continue my quest for a healthier lifestyle. The holidays are over and must not make any excuses why I couldn't eat right or excersize.
Ok, guess I'll talk lata!

Happy New Year!

Christmas So Soon?

Wow, hard to believe how quick it's coming up, huh?  I've been a busy little sewer, though. I made these tonight....

Also, Friday I got my Secret Santa gift.  Seriously, she must be spying on me....How did she know I needed pot holders?! LOL Then I got some cute ornaments that are abolutely perfect on my tree! I got a bunch of little goodies! Thank you, Secret Santa! I love my gifts! XOXO that was really fun, thanks so much Amy & Georgie for such a great swap!

I just read on yahoo that Brittany Murphy died today....Crazy....I loved her, she was such an adorable actress....

Yet Another, Sunday Afternoon

It's seems like Sundays are my productive days....I made the Nieman Marcus Cookies today ( only had one), and tried out a new pattern by Lazy Girl Designs called the Maggie Bag. Its a cute little thing! See? This is gonna be another neat little gift!

Weather has been fireplace worthy, so cuddling with the girls has been fun!

  So, coming up in June is Spring Market in Minneapolis. Usually, this is somewhere that Deb goes on her own and we (the managers) usually stay home. Well, Friday, my boss told me she had an idea....It involves me going with her to Market. WOO HOO! Yay me!  So, I am absolutely excited and am going to hardly stay sane thinking about all the new fabrics, patterns & celebrity designers there will be and the project ahe wants to do! Anyone been before? Is it anyting like Houston Market?

Well, just wanted to say hey...Hubby is screaming his head off at the TV watching the Giants & Saints...I'm gonna go....Talk to ya soon!

ME: On A Diet

Alright, this isn't working out, I find myself not knowing how to eat in certain enviornments, like I conscienely know I shouldn't be eating an Angry Chicken sandwich from Burger King, but I do it rather than getting a salad, it's like my husbnd is skinny and wants to stop somewhere without very many healthy choices available and in a hurry we go..So, if I eat just once, I'll be ok....Nope, then I eat it again telling myself the same thing....and again.....and again......I just feel miserable about it and myself for being so weak and I'm always starving!!!!! I gotta do something else!  So, you all know who Dr. Oz is right? Well, he also has a series of YOU: books, I own them all, including YOU: On a Diet.  Why now I am remembering this?? I should have started reading it when I got it almost 2 years ago.  Anyway, the books has the inside reality of how your body functions, helps you understand and then use that knowledge to eat healthier and lead a healthier life.  One of this things I've read about is excersize. Here's the plan it suggests: walk 30 minutes a day every day and when youre done, then stretch your muscles for 3-5 minutes. Every other day, you are doing a 20 minutes work out where it gives illustrations and a website to see how you are supposed to do them correctly. Says if you do this while also eating the suggested "yes" foods, I can lose a dress size in 2 weeks. I started today....178lbs...We'll see where Im at \on the 20th.  love you guys!

Tis the Season..

Woo Hoo! I am jolly!  So, just when I was thinking my ornament swap partner forgot about me..I get a package! OMG and she is the sweetest ever! She didn't send any candy as she was lookin' out for me and my diet. Thanks, Chic! You're awesome because I so would have eaten it! LOL  LOVE LOVE LOVE my ornament! Its so pretty and will do nice on my "bling" Christmas tree. (that I put up 2 weekends ago) Thanksgiving night is traditionally when we put up the tree, but my blog buddies got me excited early!
I've been working on Wonder Wallets by Joan Hawley of Lazy Girl Desgins and, MAN! Those little guys are the easiest, funnest, addicting things to make! See? I WILL make 50 by Christmas! Just watch and see! I've been posting on Facebook!

Ok, so the diet....Errrr....lifestyle change.....Well, I was a little naughty during Thanksgiving, and ate a little more than my 1800 calorie diet allows, but I had to, the lovely "Aunt Flo" was visiting that week and food was the only thing keeping me sane...Wait, yeah...I actually wasn't stressed or overwhelmed at all. I cooked 15 dishes and entertained about 15 people throught the late afternoon. And like awesome guests, they saw how tired I was and left early....Not that I wanted anyone to leave, they didn't try to keep me up....My wonderful hubby then cleaned EVERYTHING! Dishes, put food in Tupperware...so good! Oh so anyway,the diet....I'm gonna tell you a little secret...My weight....well, I'll tell you what it was the day after thanksgiving  180! Yeah, it's Tuesday and down to 172, so Im guessing a lot of that was water/bloating/Flo.  My goal is 150..I'd be happy even with 160. I have excess belly weight that doesn't help the acid reflux, heart burn and even the difficulty in tying my shoes and then the swollen feet , Ugh! Plus, I'm way outta shape and need to excersize a little more maybe than I am.
Enough about that, I'm at a blah stage in the "lifestyle" change, I'm making the Holidays excuses for me not staying on track...(to self: *Schlap!* Stop it!) But, I'm not grouchy at all, I'm happy when I eat...and thats the problem!
Ok...I blah blah blah blah'ed enough....

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL

Wow! It'a already here, which means Christmas is soon after! That's ok though, 'cause I really love entertaining and decorating and getting the girls all dressed up. How fun!  I had yesterday off, so the girls and I cooked and baked. We made these chocolate covered pretzels with fall sprinkles....They turned out pretty good, except that I need to work on mastering my almond bark skills....I'm  a beginner baker/chef and I just can't get that stuff to cooperate with me, its always chunky, never smooth...Am I missing somewthing? Do tell.

Jenny S. my Enchanted Forest Ornament swap buddy got her ornies...I made them...Finding flying pigs out and about is not easy...Though, I am working on the 2nd part of her gift from moi...

Well, in case I take another week to take a minute to ramble, I hope you all have the most amazing holiday and the safe travels...XOXO

Holding On

Well, I'm still holding at 3 lbs.....Although, I havent made any extra efforts. When I get home and make dinner, do homework with kiddos, sew a little (if Im lucky or not tired), work and of course do my Farmville, I don't feel like exersizing and its getting darker earlier....I'm making excuses, huh? Well, Im hangin on...Again, the diary really helps and planning out meals.
SarahBeth  got her package from me for the swap. Glad she was excited. I was too! I can't believe this Saturday is swap deadline for the Enchanted Forest Ornament Swap...I'm working on it! I hope she likes! Then I have the SSS Swap, woo hoo to Georgie for being my most frequent commenter. Thanks, Girl. And thanks to you all who have stopped by and given me encouragement. You are awesome and I can't tell you how much it means to me!! Thank you!

Ok, holidays are coming up and I dont know about you guys but I am a thifty/bargain Queen!  Check out what will be part of my Thanksgiving table setting.
I found the black candle stands at a yardsale $2 for all 3, the wreath at Goodwill $.59, the glass pumpkin jar at Wal-Mart $3 & the pillar candles for $1 each at Dollar Tree~! How great huh? Ya know, it looks awesome espcially when I fill the pumplin with fall colored hershey kisses..... and didn't cost hardly anything and well, I think it looks great!

Anyone know of a good online source for bargaining and sometimes free stuff, other than Yahoo! freecycle and cheapcyle. Oh, are any of you members? If not, you must check it out. They have freecyle and cheapcyle Yahoo! Groups available for most areasm I think, just look for your county. Let me know if you need help and I can send you the link.
We're doing staff Thanksgiving at work tomorrow, Im bringing greenbean casserole...Yummmmmmmm....
Guess it's goodnight for now... XOXO
Oh wait.....I made this bag too, the other day!