6 am

Saturday, November 21, 2009

This is the second day in a row I've woken up at 6 am on the dot WIDE AWAKE! I don't understand it. I haven't really gone to bed earlier or anything. Yesterday it was nice because I was able to kind of relax while I got ready for work, but today is another story.

I needed to get up anyway today because I'm driving to Peoria for my sister's bridal shower, but not that early. It's going to be a long day of driving so I really wanted to sleep in as much as possible. I just guess it wasn't in the cards...

I'm getting excited for this shower. I get to see my sister and mom, but more importantly I get to go out to eat. :) Just kidding! I haven't gone out to in over a month so I'm ready for my treat!

To the shower I go!

a quilt???

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Am I ready for one??

I'm thinking about starting my first quilt. I wanted to do small sewing projects until I was comfortable with the machine, the fabric and the technique. I'm really glad I went with this approach. I taught myself to pull through and finish. Now, I know I'm probably jumping the gun, because in reality I won't start it until January; but I'm constantly looking through patterns and fabrics to find the perfect match for my first quilt.

Things I'm looking for in my first quilt:
-queen size
-matching shams
-pattern that Mike likes {believe it or not, he's picky}
-lots of white with pops of color

Yes, I'm going to make it for our bed. We have a plain white quilt on it now and I love it, but I want another to accent with.

thoughts

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

We unfortunately haven't been up to much lately...but we did have a new development come up a couple nights ago.

We've always know we would have to move in the near future. Mike's job is an entry level/training position that should last about 2 years, and then he would be promoted to an official resource forester. Well, the first job popped up this week that is in a "okay" location. We aren't going to be too picky on applying for jobs except for where the cost of living is higher aka St. Louis. We are not getting our hopes up just because it is in a very desirable location in Missouri. See, Missouri has a lot on itty-bitty towns.....and this job is in civilization. It's down south near the Lake of the Ozarks. :) That is where we would like to end up. It's a bit warmer, more to do when people come to visit, and the lakes and forests.

I'm putting this out for the world now so that we can be in your thoughts. Not for this job in particular, but just this upcoming process. When he does get a new job is just going to snow ball into buying a house, me getting a new job, finding new friends, etc. I feel our life will actually start once we move. I know that's silly, but I just feeling like I'm on pause right now since I know this isn't permanent.

I wish we weren't at the beginning of this process and it was just...done. I hate the waiting and I feel this is going to be like a year long wait. {let's hope not...}

43

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

That's how many days there are until Christmas. I only know this because I work for a catalog company geared toward this holiday and I have a counter on my computer at work. Work has definitely got busier in the last week. I work in the credit department, so everyone and their brother is calling in to get their payments up to date and an increase in their credit limit. The sad thing is is that I know this is just a preview of what it's going to be like between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's going to get worse and busier, there's no slowing down in the near future.

Last night Mike and I made a trip to Quincy to go to the orchard! We went about a month ago for apples, cider and pumpkins. Ever since we've had those apples, we can't get enough. We bought a 1/2 bushel! We also bought cider again because I'm wanting to try and make Apple Cider Donuts that I saw in a magazine. If they turn out, I'll definitely put them on the cooking blog. I hope they do...

We also were able to stop at Hobby Lobby. I say we, but Mike stayed in the car. I just need to pick up some sewing supplies that I can't get in Hannibal; cheaply anyway. I love Hobby Lobby; too bad it was an in and out quick kind of shopping. I could just roam for hours.

the start of the season

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

I know it's just the beginning of November (wasn't it just March???), but I feel the start of baking season come on. I love to bake-cheesecake, cookies,brownies, pies (am I making you hungry?). But there's also my other favorite kind of baking-casseroles, lasagna, pot roast, pot pies (how about now?). I LOVE food like this. I think that's why I like fall so much; I can do all this baking with the foods I love and still have beautiful weather.

I'm glad Mike works where he does because everyone brings in goodies around this time of year. So I can make something, have a serving and ship it off with him to where I know it won't get wasted. :) I feel like I'm in training to have a kindergartner....

silly anniversaries

Monday, November 9, 2009

This weekend was the 5th anniversary of Mike and my's first kiss!

I'm such a sap.... I try to remember all these little moments of our life together. I always remind him and he rolls his eyes at me (not in a mean way, just a "I can't believe you remember these things" kind of way), kisses me and says "happy anniversary". It always brings a smile to my face. :)

At the end of this month, we will have been officially together for 5 years. half a decade. That is just crazy to me. Time sure flies by and I doubt it will ever slow down.

the funny thing about purses is......

Sunday, November 8, 2009

that I can NEVER have too many! :)

Mike went out to his uncles farm this morning, so I decide to make another purse. Why not? I think I'm really getting the hang of this because the one yesterday took about 6 hours and the one today, just under 3 hours! I seriously can't believe how easy they are. Why did I wait so long to discover purse making??? B.M. (before marriage) I probably bought about 6 or 7 purses a year (don't worry, nothing super expensive); what can I say, I just love the feeling of carrying around a new purse. Well, I have yet to buy a purse in the 13 months we've been married. It's shocking, I know. I joked with Mike last night that this may be the only way for me to get new purses. He just laughed; men don't understand the want/need of a new purse. It's not something that you need, so I get that point on view, but still!

Well, here's my most recent creation. I actually think I'm going to carry this one first. I have to take a 3-ring binder back and forth to work and the first purse was just a tad too small. But this new one fits perfectly. So the other will just have to be a weekend purse for now.


from Amy Butler's Midwest Modern Line

It's funny, I always hate making the first cut into a new fabric. I know I'm about to make something lovely out of it, but I feel like I'm destroying this beautiful fabric at the same time.


I'm really liking this flower/purse pose.

Well I'm off to the park to go for a walk! It's too gorgeous of a day to be inside all day.

my first purse!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

My $3 fabric!

I really didn't think I would get a whole purse done in an afternoon. I'm still a little shocked. Since I was finished, I couldn't wait to post these pictures! I'm pretty proud of myself for how well this came out. I definitely learn things though; when I snap it closed, it doesn't lay flat, etc. oh well. This was also my first time using fusible interfacing; I don't know why I was so nervous, it was so easy and it definitely gave the purse structure. Anyway, after completing my purse I decided to have a little photo shoot...I know, I'm a nerd.

frost and chirpping

Two nights ago we had our first "frost". I'm using this loosely because I didn't have to scrap my car's windows, I just used the windshield washer fluid. I guess our surrounding area has been having a morning frost basically every morning, but since our house is so close to the Mississippi River, we are sort of shielded.

Last weekend while I was sewing I started to hear a fire alarm chirp. It was really faint so I figured it was downstairs. But then we I went downstairs, it sounded like it was upstairs..... So for like 3 days, Mike and I were trying to figure out where it was coming from; neither one of us could figure it out. Finally on Wednesday, I had a thought...what about the BASEMENT! duh. Well, I was right and we got it taken care of. I still can't believe we didn't think of it sooner and that I could actually hear it on the second floor. I guess that's an old house for you.

Today is such a gorgeous day! I went to the fabric store to get some fabric for the lining of my purse! That's right, I'm finally making my purse. The one I've been talking about since before April. Since this has been in the plans for a while, my original fabric for this purse was pretty "spring-ish" so when I was at the store I found a beautiful "autumn-ish" fabric on their sale rack for $3 a yard! My heart skipped a beat I think when I saw it. So the spring fabric could be scrapped all together or I'll just make it later this winter, who knows.
I'm so excited and nervous. I don't want to mess it up. But if I do mess up, it's just on $3 fabric. :)
Anniversary