Joy is not in things; it is in us.
-Richard Wagner
Friday, October 05, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Have you ever...
Just looked at yourself wearing an outfit and said...AS IF and then laughed yourself silly? I did that with my newest Cycling Kit. The bike pants are like capri pants only much more form fitting and the jacket, well it's kind of (insert eye roll here) tight. Not much is left to the imagination to this outfit! Then again this stuff is suppose to be form fitting. Heck I feel as if I'm wearing a wetsuit. The only good part of this is that I'm not the only one wearing this sort of thing (thank the Lord for that). The disturbing part is when you see this kind of thing on men, oh bless my soul if I don't want to blush sometimes!
quote of the day
I write down everything I want to remember. That way, instead of spending a lot of time trying to remember what it is I wrote down, I spend the time looking for the paper I wrote it down on.
Beryl Pfizer
Saturday, September 22, 2012
My" To Do" list
We all have them, you know- the never ending "to do" list here's mine...
- Do the actual quilting on those pieced table runners. Currently I need to quilt 10 table runners-ugh!
- quilt those darn lap quilts! I'm up to what 5? Sheesh!
- Clean up that guest room! I've got quilting stuff spread out all over the place in there!
- Laundry...need I say more?
- Clean upstairs bathrooms (it never ends)
- Finish putting pictures on digital picture frame and send it to my mom.
- list stuff for sale on E-bay (I gave up on Craigslist)
- Haul Hibiscus Tree upstairs
- Sand large square coffee table, paint and seal it!
- Hang up quilted Flag wall hanging
- Hang up quilted nature scene wall hanging in family room
- Hang up framed map in eat in kitchen area.
- Wash my bicycle ( I enjoy riding through puddles and it shows)
- Dust and mop upstairs hallway
- Figure out this weeks dinner menu
- Put paper on back of Hannah's book shelf
- Rearrange guest bedroom
- Make list of items to be donated
- Take donations to Hudson
- Go Grocery shopping (does this ever really end?)
- Write to my sister and to my mother
quote of the day
The more you find out about the world,
the more opportunities there are
to laugh at it.
-Bill Nye
Monday, September 17, 2012
Just toodling around...
I love this house! I love how I'm able to work through each room, giving it it's own unique stamp and adding in a little of my own personality. To some , walking into a new room in our house is much like walking into a different chapter in a book. I like variety- truly creative people rarely have the same theme going on throughout their home.
Quote of the day
If there is one thing worse than being an ugly duckling in a house of swans, it's having the swans pretend there's no difference.
-Teena Booth, Falling From Fire
Thursday, September 13, 2012
quote of the day
Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes
of their minds,
can change the outer aspects of their lives.
-William James (1842 - 1910)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Laughing at life
My goal for myself is to be 50 and fit. I’m working my ass off at the gym- the elliptical machine is one mean lady! I work out on it an hour a day 5 days a week and I feel so much better for it! I also joined a cycling group- oh yeah this is going to be fun!
Now to make you laugh- Bike Shorts! Have you seen them? To say the least, they leave little to the imagination (especially on men, oh yeah). So this cycling group has lunch at the end of each road trip. As you may have guessed it, they dine in their cycling apparel…there’s no way on this planet I will be sporting bike shorts into any kind of eating establishment! So, I bought myself an ultra cool bike skort! Oh yeah, I am the epitome of fashion! Stop laughing!!! Go ahead and call ME the Girly Girl in this cycling group! There’s no way I’m wearing neon yellow either! I know it’s the big “safety color” and it's meant to get you noticed by people behind the wheel; but in all fairness so are those pretty cycling jerseys with floral prints or graphic designs on them! I’ve got a couple of what I call “pretty jerseys” and I plan on getting a couple more. I’m also all about PINK (always have been). My bike skort is made by Castelli and is it ever cute and comfortable! So much so that I bought it in fuchsia and damn if I don’t think it’s the best thing ever! I just ordered another one in white. Every web site I’ve tried for the black ones are out of stock so I’m going to make a black skirt to go over my black bike shorts (I just now ordered them while typing this- I am a woman who can multi-task). I bike because it makes me feel good and I like to dress girly because it too makes me feel good.
Cycling apparel isn’t exactly inexpensive, but then again neither are quality gym clothes. I refuse to wear cotton t-shirts to work out in ever since I discovered athletic wear that's made from moisture wicking fabric. I would come out of the gym feeling as if I was wearing wear a soaking wet sponge if I was to wear a cotton t-shirt.
Now this next part will have you laughing with me!
Finding a comfortable sports bra when you’re a D cup can be quite the challenge. I was laughing uncontrollably while shaking my head in the dressing room last week. Under Armor makes sports bras and are you ready…they also make a “sport thong”- I about died laughing! Sport thong, really now?! Oh do be serious! LMAO! Oh and of course I can’t get my D cups into any of their sports bras! What the hell is with that zipper in the front? I have to say that it is strange to have a "zipper" on a bra! The only thing I could think of was it's like putting a zipper on a jock strap...ouch! But I was determined, and I got that sports bra on...OMG! It lifted my breasts up more than a push-up bra from Victoria's Secret . Holy Catfish, My breasts were practically under my chin. No one and I do mean no one needs that sort of notice at the gym or other wise! And to be able to find a sports bra in say beige or white OH that would be way too simple! Nope, at the store I was shopping in, I had colors choices like lime green, safety yellow, neon pink, poke your eye out with a stick florescent purple and my favorite "hello look at my boobs" electric blue. Apparently these so called sports bras were made to be an article of clothing all on their own as in "not to be covered up with a t-shirt" and of course they are to be worn with the sporty looking short shorts that I saw for sale at the same store (you know, the kind that your butt cheeks peek out of). Oh as if the women wearing these outfits are really going to go to the gym to work out on the machines...uh huh yeah. They are there to catch the eye of a man, there's no getting around that one! Thank the LORD that sort of thing is not happening at the gym I go to! Now back on topic... of course you can find black in just about everything in athletic wear. I’m fine with bright colors, heck most of my athletic wear tops are in cheery colors, there’s no hiding at the gym for me (as if I could...it's a small gym with lots of windows). I even have some bright colored gym shorts, they make me feel "pretty" What I'm saying is this...I dress for myself, if I can make myself smile before I leave for the gym then I’m half way there in what I want to accomplish which is to “feel good about myself”.
Now to make you laugh- Bike Shorts! Have you seen them? To say the least, they leave little to the imagination (especially on men, oh yeah). So this cycling group has lunch at the end of each road trip. As you may have guessed it, they dine in their cycling apparel…there’s no way on this planet I will be sporting bike shorts into any kind of eating establishment! So, I bought myself an ultra cool bike skort! Oh yeah, I am the epitome of fashion! Stop laughing!!! Go ahead and call ME the Girly Girl in this cycling group! There’s no way I’m wearing neon yellow either! I know it’s the big “safety color” and it's meant to get you noticed by people behind the wheel; but in all fairness so are those pretty cycling jerseys with floral prints or graphic designs on them! I’ve got a couple of what I call “pretty jerseys” and I plan on getting a couple more. I’m also all about PINK (always have been). My bike skort is made by Castelli and is it ever cute and comfortable! So much so that I bought it in fuchsia and damn if I don’t think it’s the best thing ever! I just ordered another one in white. Every web site I’ve tried for the black ones are out of stock so I’m going to make a black skirt to go over my black bike shorts (I just now ordered them while typing this- I am a woman who can multi-task). I bike because it makes me feel good and I like to dress girly because it too makes me feel good.
Cycling apparel isn’t exactly inexpensive, but then again neither are quality gym clothes. I refuse to wear cotton t-shirts to work out in ever since I discovered athletic wear that's made from moisture wicking fabric. I would come out of the gym feeling as if I was wearing wear a soaking wet sponge if I was to wear a cotton t-shirt.
Now this next part will have you laughing with me!
Finding a comfortable sports bra when you’re a D cup can be quite the challenge. I was laughing uncontrollably while shaking my head in the dressing room last week. Under Armor makes sports bras and are you ready…they also make a “sport thong”- I about died laughing! Sport thong, really now?! Oh do be serious! LMAO! Oh and of course I can’t get my D cups into any of their sports bras! What the hell is with that zipper in the front? I have to say that it is strange to have a "zipper" on a bra! The only thing I could think of was it's like putting a zipper on a jock strap...ouch! But I was determined, and I got that sports bra on...OMG! It lifted my breasts up more than a push-up bra from Victoria's Secret . Holy Catfish, My breasts were practically under my chin. No one and I do mean no one needs that sort of notice at the gym or other wise! And to be able to find a sports bra in say beige or white OH that would be way too simple! Nope, at the store I was shopping in, I had colors choices like lime green, safety yellow, neon pink, poke your eye out with a stick florescent purple and my favorite "hello look at my boobs" electric blue. Apparently these so called sports bras were made to be an article of clothing all on their own as in "not to be covered up with a t-shirt" and of course they are to be worn with the sporty looking short shorts that I saw for sale at the same store (you know, the kind that your butt cheeks peek out of). Oh as if the women wearing these outfits are really going to go to the gym to work out on the machines...uh huh yeah. They are there to catch the eye of a man, there's no getting around that one! Thank the LORD that sort of thing is not happening at the gym I go to! Now back on topic... of course you can find black in just about everything in athletic wear. I’m fine with bright colors, heck most of my athletic wear tops are in cheery colors, there’s no hiding at the gym for me (as if I could...it's a small gym with lots of windows). I even have some bright colored gym shorts, they make me feel "pretty" What I'm saying is this...I dress for myself, if I can make myself smile before I leave for the gym then I’m half way there in what I want to accomplish which is to “feel good about myself”.
Monday, September 10, 2012
To my freinds...
First off let me say that I feel blessed for having as many dear friends as I do. There is something to be said by having lived in so many different places over the years and with that comes having made so many terrific and diverse friends!
Being so close to so many does tend to have an effect on me. I feel their pain and their joy. Currently, I have a great many friends that are going through big changes in their lives, those changes range ever so greatly. From the death of a child, a parent or even of a spouse to something as lovely as the beginning of a new life or even a lifetime of love with a new marriage. There are (I am sad to say) a large handful of friends who are dealing with the mixed feelings of pain and relief at the end of a long term relationship and those friends who are experiencing the roller coaster of emotions when their child child goes off to college (out of state) for the first time. I have friends that are in the process of moving- across the country and across an ocean (or two).
Of course there are all sorts of things going on around me as well...my daughter Hannah is now a senior in high school and this is our last year with her at home and all too soon we will be empty nesters. My dear friend Liz (of whom I am super proud of) had gastric bypass surgery a year ago. She is at her goal weight and looks amazing! I know that it was not an easy decision for her to make or easy to work through the emotional journey to her decision to get this weight loss surgery. But she's done it and seeing her before and after photo (they were taken 1 year apart) well frankly the pictures moved me to cry tears of joy!
Now there's me, I'm onto something big here myself. I do listen to my sister-in-law when she talks about health and fitness- even if she doesn't think so. She's an amazing person who inspires me. Her determination to fight depression through exercise so many years ago now has her certified and teaching a variety of fitness classes at a handful of different gyms. The woman has a following! Trust me, everyone enjoys her classes. It's not that I want to be her when I grow up, I just want to be healthy like her. She's an all around good egg and well, she's fun to be around!
Now for my own journey- I want to be thin again. Not that I'm not happy with who I am as a person, I think that I'm great, LOL! But seriously, I'm out of shape and now I'm finally out of the public eye... I can't begin to tell you how I LOVE being able to go someplace and not have everyone in the building know who I am and who I am married to because of his job. There truly is something to be said about anonymity! I no longer feel self conscious about going to the gym, donning athletic wear, grunting while working out with weights or sweating my ass off on the elliptical machine. We all work at our own pace and have to set realistic goals for ourselves. I've been losing weight and best of all- it's be staying off! Now for me to kick things up a notch. I'm now exercising 5 days a week and I've joined a cycling group which meets up twice a week. I want to get out and be more active and see things at the same time- what better way to do that than cycling!
I've decided that I want to meet and make friends with people that have things in common with me (you know, besides status of being "retired" my sex or age). For example, I joined a woman's group earlier this year and lets just say that besides being a woman and having that "retired" status, I have nothing in common with these women what so ever!
I'm still very much a creative crafty type person, and I look forward to getting back into paper crafting as soon as this scrapbook/quilt studio of mine is completed. For now I keep myself happy by creating small projects that I can work on in my spare bedroom. Enjoy your day, I'm off to the gym and then a bike ride!
Being so close to so many does tend to have an effect on me. I feel their pain and their joy. Currently, I have a great many friends that are going through big changes in their lives, those changes range ever so greatly. From the death of a child, a parent or even of a spouse to something as lovely as the beginning of a new life or even a lifetime of love with a new marriage. There are (I am sad to say) a large handful of friends who are dealing with the mixed feelings of pain and relief at the end of a long term relationship and those friends who are experiencing the roller coaster of emotions when their child child goes off to college (out of state) for the first time. I have friends that are in the process of moving- across the country and across an ocean (or two).
Of course there are all sorts of things going on around me as well...my daughter Hannah is now a senior in high school and this is our last year with her at home and all too soon we will be empty nesters. My dear friend Liz (of whom I am super proud of) had gastric bypass surgery a year ago. She is at her goal weight and looks amazing! I know that it was not an easy decision for her to make or easy to work through the emotional journey to her decision to get this weight loss surgery. But she's done it and seeing her before and after photo (they were taken 1 year apart) well frankly the pictures moved me to cry tears of joy!
Now there's me, I'm onto something big here myself. I do listen to my sister-in-law when she talks about health and fitness- even if she doesn't think so. She's an amazing person who inspires me. Her determination to fight depression through exercise so many years ago now has her certified and teaching a variety of fitness classes at a handful of different gyms. The woman has a following! Trust me, everyone enjoys her classes. It's not that I want to be her when I grow up, I just want to be healthy like her. She's an all around good egg and well, she's fun to be around!
Now for my own journey- I want to be thin again. Not that I'm not happy with who I am as a person, I think that I'm great, LOL! But seriously, I'm out of shape and now I'm finally out of the public eye... I can't begin to tell you how I LOVE being able to go someplace and not have everyone in the building know who I am and who I am married to because of his job. There truly is something to be said about anonymity! I no longer feel self conscious about going to the gym, donning athletic wear, grunting while working out with weights or sweating my ass off on the elliptical machine. We all work at our own pace and have to set realistic goals for ourselves. I've been losing weight and best of all- it's be staying off! Now for me to kick things up a notch. I'm now exercising 5 days a week and I've joined a cycling group which meets up twice a week. I want to get out and be more active and see things at the same time- what better way to do that than cycling!
I've decided that I want to meet and make friends with people that have things in common with me (you know, besides status of being "retired" my sex or age). For example, I joined a woman's group earlier this year and lets just say that besides being a woman and having that "retired" status, I have nothing in common with these women what so ever!
I'm still very much a creative crafty type person, and I look forward to getting back into paper crafting as soon as this scrapbook/quilt studio of mine is completed. For now I keep myself happy by creating small projects that I can work on in my spare bedroom. Enjoy your day, I'm off to the gym and then a bike ride!
quote of the day
Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.
Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)
Friday, August 31, 2012
Exersize...like your life depends on it!
I've been going to the gym 3 times a week for a while now and I'm about to step it up to 5 times. I'm serious about getting back into shape and being MORE active than I have been in the past. I'm pretty sure that my doctor will be thrilled to learn that I've jumped off of the ledge and have taken up all sorts of things. I've lost weight and I do feel better about myself and my endurance.
When I first started going to the gym I thought that the personal trainer was out to kill me. Now she looks at me and smiles and nods at me as I get on the elipticle machine and torture myself. When I leave the gym I'm a sweaty mess but I no longer hurt like I did when I first started going. Life is Good!
When I first started going to the gym I thought that the personal trainer was out to kill me. Now she looks at me and smiles and nods at me as I get on the elipticle machine and torture myself. When I leave the gym I'm a sweaty mess but I no longer hurt like I did when I first started going. Life is Good!
quote of the day
I like weights. You know where you stand with them. Well, sometimes you're lying under them, trying not to let them crush you, but you see, you KNOW they'd crush you if they could. There's honesty.
-
T. Campbell and Gisele Lagace
Thursday, August 30, 2012
My latest obsession...
No, it's not a new "craft" rather it's an activity. I've wanted to get back into bicycling for ages. So, when my husband and I were at a bike shop getting a bicycle packed up so we can ship it to our son in South Dakota- well I started checking out the bikes there. You see, I'd gotten hooked on watching the Tour de France and knew pretty much which bike companies bicycles I wanted to take for a test drive. It was down to 3; Trek, Specialized and Cannondale. I left with a new bike helmet and a new bike. What did I buy? I got the work bike by Specialized and I love it! Here's a picture of my new bike
I also happened to have bought myself something else that I've wanted for quite some time...a Nantucket Bike Basket.
Needless to say, I took BOTH with me on a recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. All 3 of us (myself, my husband and daughter) road all over the place on our bikes and had a blast! I want to ride and explore the area in which I live on my bicycle! Now unlike riding in California, around here there aren't any designated bike lanes. There are loads of bicycle enthusiasts out here. I'm excited to say that I see a great number of bike teams riding around in our area. I'm working on my endurance levels and bike riding makes me feel good about myself.
Okay now for the funny side (with me there's always a funny side)...I'm a skirt wearing kind of girl, everyone knows that. Alas if there's one thing I know, it's not to wear a skirt while riding a bike. I did wear one on our trip to the bike shop and even while taking a bike for a test drive- that was a hoot! I kept worrying about flashing my panties to everyone in the bike shop (talk about a laugh out loud moment). I didn't realize that I was getting myself a bike that day. So any way I need to finish this to make you see the funny side of things and have you laughing with me...
I'm on Martha's Vineyard riding my bike with my family in tow. My saddle (that's the bike seat) was just a little out of adjustment and yes it felt off (I thought I'd just ride through it). Heck after crashing my bike and landing in a gravel filled ditch ( yes, I was scraped up and bruised up), having my saddle feel a little off was nothing! Apparently it wasn't just nothing. I ended up with bruises on the inside of my right though like no one knows and a very sore crotch! Those bruises were the ugliest scariest looking things I'd ever seen! I had to go to the gym and work out and every single person there who looked at me grimaced when they saw my leg. Okay lessons learned- 1-no you just can't pedal through it and 2- I need to wear padded bike shorts. Alright now for the laughter part- Unless you are model skinny and even then, bike shorts are not a good look as they do hug every curve! And lets face it, we women are curvy. You've got to have a lot of confidence in order to feel comfortable walking around in padded bike shorts and I'll admit it right now, I'm not feeling that confident with having people look at me while wearing them. Now, unless you are a professional cyclist and you happen to be say...Lance Armstrong, Christian Vande Velde, Tommy Danielson, or Tyler Farrar, well then by all means please do walk around in those bike shorts ;-) Now where was I going with this? Oh yeah...I'm not about to go out and about in said bike shorts (did I mention that they have a padded crotch/seat in them? As if I need to have that shown to the public eye) and that's when I discovered something super cool- there are some companies out there that make skirts to go over said bike shorts! So I ordered myself some swanky bike riding apparel! Once it all gets here, well then I will get my daughter to take some pictures of me sporting said apparel! No more will I suffer with having a sore crotch or bruised thighs when going on long bike rides for me! There, I know I just made you laugh! Trust me the more I think about it the more I laugh!
Needless to say, I took BOTH with me on a recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. All 3 of us (myself, my husband and daughter) road all over the place on our bikes and had a blast! I want to ride and explore the area in which I live on my bicycle! Now unlike riding in California, around here there aren't any designated bike lanes. There are loads of bicycle enthusiasts out here. I'm excited to say that I see a great number of bike teams riding around in our area. I'm working on my endurance levels and bike riding makes me feel good about myself.
Okay now for the funny side (with me there's always a funny side)...I'm a skirt wearing kind of girl, everyone knows that. Alas if there's one thing I know, it's not to wear a skirt while riding a bike. I did wear one on our trip to the bike shop and even while taking a bike for a test drive- that was a hoot! I kept worrying about flashing my panties to everyone in the bike shop (talk about a laugh out loud moment). I didn't realize that I was getting myself a bike that day. So any way I need to finish this to make you see the funny side of things and have you laughing with me...
I'm on Martha's Vineyard riding my bike with my family in tow. My saddle (that's the bike seat) was just a little out of adjustment and yes it felt off (I thought I'd just ride through it). Heck after crashing my bike and landing in a gravel filled ditch ( yes, I was scraped up and bruised up), having my saddle feel a little off was nothing! Apparently it wasn't just nothing. I ended up with bruises on the inside of my right though like no one knows and a very sore crotch! Those bruises were the ugliest scariest looking things I'd ever seen! I had to go to the gym and work out and every single person there who looked at me grimaced when they saw my leg. Okay lessons learned- 1-no you just can't pedal through it and 2- I need to wear padded bike shorts. Alright now for the laughter part- Unless you are model skinny and even then, bike shorts are not a good look as they do hug every curve! And lets face it, we women are curvy. You've got to have a lot of confidence in order to feel comfortable walking around in padded bike shorts and I'll admit it right now, I'm not feeling that confident with having people look at me while wearing them. Now, unless you are a professional cyclist and you happen to be say...Lance Armstrong, Christian Vande Velde, Tommy Danielson, or Tyler Farrar, well then by all means please do walk around in those bike shorts ;-) Now where was I going with this? Oh yeah...I'm not about to go out and about in said bike shorts (did I mention that they have a padded crotch/seat in them? As if I need to have that shown to the public eye) and that's when I discovered something super cool- there are some companies out there that make skirts to go over said bike shorts! So I ordered myself some swanky bike riding apparel! Once it all gets here, well then I will get my daughter to take some pictures of me sporting said apparel! No more will I suffer with having a sore crotch or bruised thighs when going on long bike rides for me! There, I know I just made you laugh! Trust me the more I think about it the more I laugh!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
PURGE and don't feel guilty about it!
Here it is, my final push to get rid of the BIG stuff. The emotional baggage that we let ourselves attach to some items is simply ridiculous! Even I am guilty of this very thing I tell people to "get over". So here it is, I'll lay it on the line...I'm guilty of carrying around things such as dishes (our wedding china) that I never liked and rarely ever used. Every time I pulled them out and thought about sticking them on e-bay or Craigslist I felt this crushing guilt wash over me. Part of me was saying "Sandie, this was a wedding gift" and the realistic side of my brain would retort "Yeah and you never liked it, it wasn't what you registered for and you don't ever use it. It's taking up space just get rid of it". It was like Good Angel versus Bad Angel on my shoulders. Can you guess which side was the Good Angel? It wasn't until recently that I realized that it was the side telling me to purge and the Bad Angel made me feel guilty. For the longest time though, I thought that it was the other way around.
Now I've got this new felt freedom surging through my veins and I'm going through things in the basement looking for MORE things to purge! It doesn't matter how much something cost 20 years ago or the fact that something came from your great grandmother or your best friend- if you never use it then it's simply taking up valuable space! Over time peoples tastes change, it's a natural occurrence and nothing to be ashamed of. We do it with clothing, shoes and handbags and even furniture so why not our dishes and artwork? The counted cross stitch pictures of the nursery and birth announcements of my children will stay stored in the basement for future generations. But the rest, well I've already got a good selection of framed prints and even some paintings that are going to be list for sale on the internet. Now if you happen to know of anyone looking for a service for 8 of Noritake Greenbreir, complete with a large platter, serving bowl along with a creamer, sugar bowl and a teapot let me know!
Dream BIG
I've got this thing in my head about not posting to my blog because I've got nothing "crafty" going on in my life. I suppose that's true in some ways and not in others. I do have some pictures to post of the progress of my next Scrapbook Nook. Sheesh, one can hardly call that space a "nook". Below are some pictures- it should give you a good idea of how large a space my new "nook" will be.
Next step is the framing, then the electrician will come in and do the wiring. We've got to get with it and get some bathroom fixtures. My side of the garage is full of construction stuff such as doors, all of that insulation and of course the wood for framing. So there IS progress being made. And the best part is that when this is all finished, it will be my biggest Scrapbook Nook yet!
Quote of the Day
Life is full of surprises and and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.
[info][add][mail][note]
-Condoleeza Rice
Thursday, July 19, 2012
I'm still alive...
So there I was, knee deep in plumbing contractors doing interviews to get proposals (of the plumbing kind) on our basement. I have the drawn out plans of my future paper crafting/quilting space aka biggest ever My Scrapbook Nook. I've got framing plans, electrical plans and of course the plans for my new half bathroom that's for me in my basement. I will have 2 windows although they are on the small side they will let in a little light or a slight breeze.
Contractors out here seem to take their sweet time getting back to you with their bids. After contacting over 20 companies and having them come out and me calling all of them to remind them to get their bids submitted- only 5 have done such. We made our decision the other day and now to get started on the framing. I still can't believe that I've not unpacked any of my paper crafting supplies or tools. Then again where would I put them? I mean really...where? I've got all kinds of pottery stacked upon the chrome shelves (stuff I need to consign that's just taking up space).
I'm looking into starting up a business- on that helps people to declutter and organize their homes. I will also service those that need help in staging homes for the resale market. I'd say that I have quite a lot of experience in that! Simply put I'm putting all of those military moves into use and will use my knowledge to help people to get their homes ready for the resale market or simply to help them realize the potential in what they have and help them to reorganize.
Contractors out here seem to take their sweet time getting back to you with their bids. After contacting over 20 companies and having them come out and me calling all of them to remind them to get their bids submitted- only 5 have done such. We made our decision the other day and now to get started on the framing. I still can't believe that I've not unpacked any of my paper crafting supplies or tools. Then again where would I put them? I mean really...where? I've got all kinds of pottery stacked upon the chrome shelves (stuff I need to consign that's just taking up space).
Saturday, April 21, 2012
quote of the day
"You know you're in love
when you can't fall asleep
because
reality is finally better than your dreams."
- Dr. Seuss
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The start of the beginning
What's today's blog post title even mean? Really, right? Well it has to do with my first meeting with a contractor to finish off our basement and to build my new and much larger Scrapbook Nook! I'll even get a bathroom that's adjacent to my scrapbook nook/creative art studio...now I'm living large! I'm giddy with excitement as we're to meet with a different contractor this evening- apparently my husband has several different contractors coming over this week to give bids on what we want done to the space that is now just a basement.
Our basement, currently it's just a big hole that contains the majority of my quilting and sewing goodies, the bulk of my beautiful fabric stash and of course ALL and with that I do mean my entire scrapbooking and paper crafting world! Everything I own in the way of creative mediums is either packed in cardboard boxes or plastic bins, ugh! Well with exception of my kitchen toys, they are on shelves.
The crazy life of a creative person such as myself whose mind is always percolating with ideas is a complicated one at best(insert laughter here). I'll have to pace myself so I don't overboard before we even begin on the space. I need to think about paint colors, yup that should keep me busy for a little while, LOL!
Now before I digress yet again... the real fun begins as I start with designing the actual floor plan for my new creative space. Where do I want the electrical outlets? Where do I want my work surfaces to be? And of course there's got to be cabinetry, lots and lots of cabinetry! I know that I want to do radiant heat flooring in there since my new creative space will be in the basement - I always say that warm feet are happy feet♥.
I'm off to have another cup of coffee and to look at my diagram and think about cabinets and shelves and a big island in the middle to use as a design/cutting table. Oh the possibilities!
Our basement, currently it's just a big hole that contains the majority of my quilting and sewing goodies, the bulk of my beautiful fabric stash and of course ALL and with that I do mean my entire scrapbooking and paper crafting world! Everything I own in the way of creative mediums is either packed in cardboard boxes or plastic bins, ugh! Well with exception of my kitchen toys, they are on shelves.
The crazy life of a creative person such as myself whose mind is always percolating with ideas is a complicated one at best(insert laughter here). I'll have to pace myself so I don't overboard before we even begin on the space. I need to think about paint colors, yup that should keep me busy for a little while, LOL!
Now before I digress yet again... the real fun begins as I start with designing the actual floor plan for my new creative space. Where do I want the electrical outlets? Where do I want my work surfaces to be? And of course there's got to be cabinetry, lots and lots of cabinetry! I know that I want to do radiant heat flooring in there since my new creative space will be in the basement - I always say that warm feet are happy feet♥.
I'm off to have another cup of coffee and to look at my diagram and think about cabinets and shelves and a big island in the middle to use as a design/cutting table. Oh the possibilities!
quote of the day
Believe in yourself!
Have faith in your abilities!
Without a humble but reasonable confidence
in your own powers
you cannot be successful or happy.
-Norman Vincent Peale
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Sewing my life away...
I don't know how to word it other than to say that I am in the throws of a creative explosion. I'm still sewing like there's no other thing in the world for me - you should see the guest room, it's a hot mess of thread snip-its and fabric scraps all over the floor. I've got loads of fabric spread out in heaps all over the bed, so much so that you can't tell that there is a bed in the room. While I was looking for a particular piece of fabric (to make a liner for a waste basket in my bedroom), I came across some fabric that would be great for lining the baskets in Hannah's bathroom. I tell you, my mind is just percolating with creative ideas today!
Now I'm off to deal with the cable guy and then the auto glass repairman...never a dull moment around here!
Now I'm off to deal with the cable guy and then the auto glass repairman...never a dull moment around here!
quote of the day
Cheerfulness, it would appear, is a matter which depends fully as much on the state of things within, as on the state of things without and around us.
Charlotte Bronte (1816 - 1855)
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Hard work and Perseverance
Hard work and perseverance really does pay off!
I had this vision of what I wanted for our en-suite bathroom. I wanted to incorporate feelings of relaxation in the space, yet have a fun and energetic vibe happening at the same time. Finding the right color for the walls to make the space feel large and open. The previous owners had a dark dusty purple color on the walls and dark brown (the oiled bronze look) bathroom fixtures which soaked up all of the light and made the room feel small and drab. Sometimes people have an idea of what they want for a space but don't know how to make it all come together. Whatever the previous owners were trying to do (and I'm not condemning them), it looked more haphazard and thrown together. I know that I see things differently, that I can look at a room and be able to transform the entire space in my mind; Changing it all together into something new and completely different as if I was waving a magic wand. Being able to pull colors, textures and patterns together out of the air is something that most people have great difficulty accomplishing and they usually end up throwing in the proverbial towel. Now for me, it's been something I can just "do". I've always felt a little frustrated that others can't see what I see, until I learned that most people are blind to change. But I digress...
Our en-suite bathroom is now being transformed into a tropical paradise.My inspiration comes from a trip we took to Hawaii a few years ago. The experience left me with ideas for a future project. I wanted a room full of energy yet one that gives you that take your shoes off and stay a while feel. I'll take you through the process with a photo spread detailing what was done once I finish my sewing and take pictures of the "almost" finished space. I'm still deciding on some artwork (actually I have it all in my mind what I want- you all know how that goes). I'm on the lookout for a cabinet to go above the toilet for storage space. What I like about the master bathroom is that the toilet is in a separate little room with a door. Now we'll be closing off the bathroom adding a small wall and doors. Currently it's a open space concept bathroom minus the little room for the toilet. We're going to be working on that very soon- look for pictures and even patterns in the very near future!
I had this vision of what I wanted for our en-suite bathroom. I wanted to incorporate feelings of relaxation in the space, yet have a fun and energetic vibe happening at the same time. Finding the right color for the walls to make the space feel large and open. The previous owners had a dark dusty purple color on the walls and dark brown (the oiled bronze look) bathroom fixtures which soaked up all of the light and made the room feel small and drab. Sometimes people have an idea of what they want for a space but don't know how to make it all come together. Whatever the previous owners were trying to do (and I'm not condemning them), it looked more haphazard and thrown together. I know that I see things differently, that I can look at a room and be able to transform the entire space in my mind; Changing it all together into something new and completely different as if I was waving a magic wand. Being able to pull colors, textures and patterns together out of the air is something that most people have great difficulty accomplishing and they usually end up throwing in the proverbial towel. Now for me, it's been something I can just "do". I've always felt a little frustrated that others can't see what I see, until I learned that most people are blind to change. But I digress...
Our en-suite bathroom is now being transformed into a tropical paradise.My inspiration comes from a trip we took to Hawaii a few years ago. The experience left me with ideas for a future project. I wanted a room full of energy yet one that gives you that take your shoes off and stay a while feel. I'll take you through the process with a photo spread detailing what was done once I finish my sewing and take pictures of the "almost" finished space. I'm still deciding on some artwork (actually I have it all in my mind what I want- you all know how that goes). I'm on the lookout for a cabinet to go above the toilet for storage space. What I like about the master bathroom is that the toilet is in a separate little room with a door. Now we'll be closing off the bathroom adding a small wall and doors. Currently it's a open space concept bathroom minus the little room for the toilet. We're going to be working on that very soon- look for pictures and even patterns in the very near future!
quote of the day
Always bear in mind
that your own resolution to succeed
is more important than any other.
-Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Spring Cleaning wih a twist
It's in the air...Spring. Sure, the weather might be unpredictable, right now it looks like it could start raining any minute but that won't stop me from my latest project. Now what action or should I say annual event do we associate with Spring? It's Spring Cleaning of course!
My thoughts are with reorganizing my kitchen. The cupboards and pantry were in dire need of some serious help. As it is with any kitchen, things get stored in a certain order and then over time things fall out of order. Every kitchen needs to be gone over every few weeks, mine is no exception.
I took everything out of my 2 pantry areas, my appliance garage and even the storage cabinets that I need to stand on a chair to see into. Now that I've rearranged everything I seem to have even MORE space then I did before :) Life is Good!
My thoughts are with reorganizing my kitchen. The cupboards and pantry were in dire need of some serious help. As it is with any kitchen, things get stored in a certain order and then over time things fall out of order. Every kitchen needs to be gone over every few weeks, mine is no exception.
I took everything out of my 2 pantry areas, my appliance garage and even the storage cabinets that I need to stand on a chair to see into. Now that I've rearranged everything I seem to have even MORE space then I did before :) Life is Good!
quote of the day
We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-Joseph Campbell
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Up-Cycling!
I'm a scrapbooker, a quilter, a foodie/gourmet cook, a gardener and now I'm a self proclaimed up-cycle queen!
I am all about giving item a new look with a little paint and maybe a few alterations to their original design. Take our master bathroom- we're giving it a fresh new look. I bought some spray paint and we went to town! The original color of the hardware and light fixtures was a dark brown almost black and we switched it up to silver with a hammered texture. The dirty purple walls are now a lovely serene aqua reminiscent of tropical ocean waters. I decided to go with a Hawaiian theme as I have fond memories of us spending our 15th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. By using exotic tropical flowers such as orchids (real ones) along the wall by the jetted bath tub, I've managed to give the room the feel of a tropical garden. I purchased fabric from a quilt shop in Hawaii for making window treatments and basket liners. The floral print is an authentic Hawaiian print, one that's full of Orchid, Plumeria, Hibiscus and Antherium blossoms as well as a few varieties of green leaves. I hope to find a large leafy plant for the bathroom to round out the tropical garden feel.
While I was out scouting around in my favorite consignment shop, I found some great things to work with...there was this small half round table that I HAD to have! With a little bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint and it'll be perfect for our half bath! I'm very much into Pinterest- if you haven't joined yet, then you must! I'm always finding things I like, things that inspire me and things that I want to make or recreate for our home. Another one of today's great finds was a wicker picnic basket- I am going to gut it and make it into a Pet Bed for my spoiled cat. I'll make a fabric liner with Velcro tabs so it can be easily removed for washing.
Now to look at some fabric for my kitty's new bed.
I am all about giving item a new look with a little paint and maybe a few alterations to their original design. Take our master bathroom- we're giving it a fresh new look. I bought some spray paint and we went to town! The original color of the hardware and light fixtures was a dark brown almost black and we switched it up to silver with a hammered texture. The dirty purple walls are now a lovely serene aqua reminiscent of tropical ocean waters. I decided to go with a Hawaiian theme as I have fond memories of us spending our 15th wedding anniversary in Hawaii. By using exotic tropical flowers such as orchids (real ones) along the wall by the jetted bath tub, I've managed to give the room the feel of a tropical garden. I purchased fabric from a quilt shop in Hawaii for making window treatments and basket liners. The floral print is an authentic Hawaiian print, one that's full of Orchid, Plumeria, Hibiscus and Antherium blossoms as well as a few varieties of green leaves. I hope to find a large leafy plant for the bathroom to round out the tropical garden feel.
While I was out scouting around in my favorite consignment shop, I found some great things to work with...there was this small half round table that I HAD to have! With a little bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint and it'll be perfect for our half bath! I'm very much into Pinterest- if you haven't joined yet, then you must! I'm always finding things I like, things that inspire me and things that I want to make or recreate for our home. Another one of today's great finds was a wicker picnic basket- I am going to gut it and make it into a Pet Bed for my spoiled cat. I'll make a fabric liner with Velcro tabs so it can be easily removed for washing.
Now to look at some fabric for my kitty's new bed.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
quote of the day
There's something almost perfect in the ugly duckling syndrome. Because a sensitivity is tattooed on a part of you no one else can see but can somehow guess is there.
-Stephanie Klein
Friday, March 02, 2012
Crocs with Socks
For as long as I can remember my Mom can make me see myself in a way that no one else can. She can make me frustrated, annoyed, cranky and sad, but most of all she can have me laughing and seeing the silly side of things.
Oh my word I laughed so darn hard I almost peed myself, twice!
We talked about bedding...this is something I'm a stickler about. You see, I like solid colored sheets, in colors that compliment the quilt or comforter on the bed versus ones that fight for visual attention with the bed covering. All my life my mom has been obsessed with patterned sheets. There were at least 15 different sets of printed sheets for our beds! From those wildly colored floral prints to one set with what I thought of as an insane geometric pattern to those crazy Asian inspired bird sheets right down to Christmas themed sheets. Believe it or not, that sort of thing drove me crazy as a kid. My mom and I had a good laugh about the time I begged her for solid colored sheets. Apparently normal kids don't ask for sheets for Christmas or birthdays (who knew?).
She had me laughing about life's little things...when she would be so thick into a sewing project that she would "forget" to make dinner for us. Oh yeah we called it "fend for yourself night". If she was into a sewing project, we'd be going hungry. My family has a similar thing going on when I'm into a crafting project, they call it "cheese and cracker night".
My mom had me seeing how we are the same but also very different. She made me laugh with my obsession with dishes. Growing up, I remember my Mom and her love of all things Corelle. I remember how she would buy a new set of Corelle dishes and just add it to her existing set. There must be 30 or more Corelle dinner plates of various patterns stacked in her kitchen cabinet! We laughed pretty hard at that. She poked fun at me and my huge dislike using paper plates. I can't help it if I'm a little odd. We all have our hang ups and mine is disposable dinnerware. I did tell her that I used disposable stuff when we had the house warming party (it was plastic and I was able to recycle it all, which makes me feel better about the stuff).
There are so many things we laughed at, for example- how I wear Crocs with socks and how she wears socks with sandals.
Silly is as silly does.
Oh my word I laughed so darn hard I almost peed myself, twice!
We talked about bedding...this is something I'm a stickler about. You see, I like solid colored sheets, in colors that compliment the quilt or comforter on the bed versus ones that fight for visual attention with the bed covering. All my life my mom has been obsessed with patterned sheets. There were at least 15 different sets of printed sheets for our beds! From those wildly colored floral prints to one set with what I thought of as an insane geometric pattern to those crazy Asian inspired bird sheets right down to Christmas themed sheets. Believe it or not, that sort of thing drove me crazy as a kid. My mom and I had a good laugh about the time I begged her for solid colored sheets. Apparently normal kids don't ask for sheets for Christmas or birthdays (who knew?).
She had me laughing about life's little things...when she would be so thick into a sewing project that she would "forget" to make dinner for us. Oh yeah we called it "fend for yourself night". If she was into a sewing project, we'd be going hungry. My family has a similar thing going on when I'm into a crafting project, they call it "cheese and cracker night".
My mom had me seeing how we are the same but also very different. She made me laugh with my obsession with dishes. Growing up, I remember my Mom and her love of all things Corelle. I remember how she would buy a new set of Corelle dishes and just add it to her existing set. There must be 30 or more Corelle dinner plates of various patterns stacked in her kitchen cabinet! We laughed pretty hard at that. She poked fun at me and my huge dislike using paper plates. I can't help it if I'm a little odd. We all have our hang ups and mine is disposable dinnerware. I did tell her that I used disposable stuff when we had the house warming party (it was plastic and I was able to recycle it all, which makes me feel better about the stuff).
There are so many things we laughed at, for example- how I wear Crocs with socks and how she wears socks with sandals.
Silly is as silly does.
The time to purge is now!
What do you do when you have lots of stuff that you keep for sentimental reasons but don't use? For me, I keep it all packed up in boxes. Today I'm going through those boxes and am making myself part with those items.
I have openly admitted that I am a dish hound, well I've got a few boxes of dishes to go through and weed out. Who am I kidding, it's A LOT of boxes! I've decided that it's just plain nuts for me to keep dinnerware that we don't use. I thought about saving it for my kids...what a joke! I can wish as much as I like that they could appreciate quality made in the USA dinnerware but it still isn't going to happen (insert small chuckle here).
At the same time, it's also insane for me to keep dishes that I never liked, even if they were a wedding gift. This is a different set than the ones I was just talking about. Now it's been over 20 years and we've been dragging this stuff from assignment to assignment and state to state. At times it was in permanent storage (one of those out of sight out of mind sort of deals). Well the time to purge them is now. Seriously, why am I keep something that's been stored in cardboard boxes for years? I should not feel guilty for wanting to get rid of something that I don't ever use- but yet I do. Is it because it was a wedding gift? I need to move past that. I just need to get rid of it all right now, kind of like tearing off a band-aid off in one swift yank!
I have openly admitted that I am a dish hound, well I've got a few boxes of dishes to go through and weed out. Who am I kidding, it's A LOT of boxes! I've decided that it's just plain nuts for me to keep dinnerware that we don't use. I thought about saving it for my kids...what a joke! I can wish as much as I like that they could appreciate quality made in the USA dinnerware but it still isn't going to happen (insert small chuckle here).
At the same time, it's also insane for me to keep dishes that I never liked, even if they were a wedding gift. This is a different set than the ones I was just talking about. Now it's been over 20 years and we've been dragging this stuff from assignment to assignment and state to state. At times it was in permanent storage (one of those out of sight out of mind sort of deals). Well the time to purge them is now. Seriously, why am I keep something that's been stored in cardboard boxes for years? I should not feel guilty for wanting to get rid of something that I don't ever use- but yet I do. Is it because it was a wedding gift? I need to move past that. I just need to get rid of it all right now, kind of like tearing off a band-aid off in one swift yank!
quote of the day
Men are like wine - some turn to vinegar,
but the best improve with age."
Pope John XXIII
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
quote of the day
The basic principle behind behavioral therapy for OCD is that you cannot be bored and scared at the same time.
~Fred Penzel
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
quote of the day
Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding.
--Louis Gerstner
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
color, design, texture and fabric
This is my formal living room. I've got a lot of color and texture going on in here...and I love it!
I finally found a lampshade for my Burleigh Lamp. I went to a shop that specializes in custom fitting lampshades to lamps- it was worth every penny!
Here's a close up of those antique brass pineapple finial drapery panel holdbacks. Ever have an idea if what you want and then spend months looking for it? This is that very thing from to life!
I simply LOVE the finial! The shop owner at the lamp and shade store picked this out and it was perfect for this lamp! Its the intricate design that sold me on it!
The whole room plus the cat. Apparently my cat loves this rug.
I'm always rearranging stuff in this little corner. Antique milking stoll, Polish Pottery crock, some small American flags and some Americana themed Longaberger Baskets.
Looking into the formal living room from the foyer.
a deeper look...
Looking out into the foyer
I'm always changing out my displays. I received these lovely Burleigh cannisters as a farewell gifts from my closets girlfriends when we were stationed in England.
A view from the foyer ,,,now to take you into the half bath...
Looking in- it's pretty enough but I'm not really into wall paper. Now the Kohler toilet and pedestal sink are rather cool.
So here's the True color of the wall paper and yes the ceiling is painted some sort of grayish green. I have plans for a reno in this bathroom and will be shanging it to fit my ideal New England half bath.
a deeper look...
A view from the foyer ,,,now to take you into the half bath...
quote of the day
Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.
-C. S. Lewis
-C. S. Lewis
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
quote of the day
Any idiot can face a crisis -
it's day to day living that wears you out.
Anton Chekhov
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
quote of the day
Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
more thoughts for my new Scrapbook Nook
I made the decision that I want all of my paper crafting cabinets and drawer units to be "white". I like the white and chrome look as it gives me free rein to other aspects of the room. The sewing and quilting stations will be a warm wood. That way there will be an obvious separation of spaces and crafting components. At first I had wanted a tile floor, I know what I like but then the more I started thinking about the flooring the more I've decided to go with wood flooring. I just don't want to deal with the grout lines. You'll laugh at my reasoning...the wheels of my desk and sewing chairs will get stuck in the ruts of the grout lines and make for a bumpy ride, oh yeah I told you it would be funny! I need to make a drive out to an Ikea store and check out the latest innovations on display so I can get inspired.
quote of the day
Without friends no one would choose to live,
though he had all other goods.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
My military life moments...
Moving every few years means always having to go through your "stuff"; weeding out what you no longer need, want or have a use for. Even though our last duty station was only a 2 year assignment, I swear that we has aquired at least 1500 pounds of "stuff"- if not more!
Yes I've been in this house almost 3 months now and I'm "still" unpacking boxes. Heck my entire Scrapbook Nook is still packed in cardboard packing boxes. I'm not even going there until my new and improved scrapbook nook is finished. I still have quite a few boxes in which I have not opened from our South Dakota storage delivery. There's no way I'm going to open that can of worms any time soon! Not until I can properly go through it all, sort out what I want to keep and what I'm going to donate.
It's funny how I go through things and purge until I feel as if can't purge any more. Then we move into a new place and I suddenly feel compelled to purge some more. I swear I've turned mental with all of this purging! So here I am today, looking at the cardboard boxes in my basement and giving a HUGE sigh as I shrug my shoulders and walk to where I have cake plates stored and I put yet another one on the shelf -that makes 14 in total (most were gifts). The sad thing is, that number doesn't reflect the ones that are a part of my china and dinnerware patterns. It's an illness, it really must be! Why oh why can I not just say, "Thank you for the lovely cake plate but really I have so many already, wouldn't you like to keep it for yourself?" Maybe if I'm lucky there will be some Charity Event in the very near future where I can make some scrumptious desserts and donate some of these cake plates along with it! Oh I can only hope! I know I've got a problem when I look at the latest cake plate and say..oooh I really like this one!
Now to go back to getting this place sorted and put together. We're having friends and neighbors over this weekend to celebrate our moving into the last house we'll ever buy!
Yes I've been in this house almost 3 months now and I'm "still" unpacking boxes. Heck my entire Scrapbook Nook is still packed in cardboard packing boxes. I'm not even going there until my new and improved scrapbook nook is finished. I still have quite a few boxes in which I have not opened from our South Dakota storage delivery. There's no way I'm going to open that can of worms any time soon! Not until I can properly go through it all, sort out what I want to keep and what I'm going to donate.
It's funny how I go through things and purge until I feel as if can't purge any more. Then we move into a new place and I suddenly feel compelled to purge some more. I swear I've turned mental with all of this purging! So here I am today, looking at the cardboard boxes in my basement and giving a HUGE sigh as I shrug my shoulders and walk to where I have cake plates stored and I put yet another one on the shelf -that makes 14 in total (most were gifts). The sad thing is, that number doesn't reflect the ones that are a part of my china and dinnerware patterns. It's an illness, it really must be! Why oh why can I not just say, "Thank you for the lovely cake plate but really I have so many already, wouldn't you like to keep it for yourself?" Maybe if I'm lucky there will be some Charity Event in the very near future where I can make some scrumptious desserts and donate some of these cake plates along with it! Oh I can only hope! I know I've got a problem when I look at the latest cake plate and say..oooh I really like this one!
Now to go back to getting this place sorted and put together. We're having friends and neighbors over this weekend to celebrate our moving into the last house we'll ever buy!
quote of the day
I really do believe I can accomplish a great deal
with a big grin,
I know some people find that disconcerting,
but that doesn't matter.
Beverly Sills (1929 - )
Friday, January 13, 2012
quote of the day
Poverty cannot deprive us of many consolations. It cannot rob us of the affection we have for each other, or degrade us in our own opinion, of in that of any person, whose opinion we ought to value.
Ann Radcliffe (1764 - 1823), The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Inspired
It's safe to say that I feel rather inspired today. I have a basic planned outlined and now to fill in the blanks and make it happen. I have to give credit to my husband as a large part of my inspiration stems from him having taken me to a really nice craft store over the weekend. This crafting store puts on events and does outreach events to local communities not to mention that it's also hiring. I have applied for the job. I figure that will all of my experience in hosting military spouse functions, co-managing the base thrift shop and and hosting crafting groups that I'm well suited for a job with their company. We shall see what they think. Now for me to get things organized for me to create my latest crafty endeavor :-)
quote of the day
Talent hits a target no one else can hit;
Genius hits a target no one else can see.
--Schopenhauer
--Schopenhauer
Monday, January 09, 2012
Getting involved locally
I am who I am- creative, dedicated, hard working and so much more. So here I am this afternoon having just come back from my first meeting with a new to me social group in my little neck of the woods. It was fun. Am I the youngest woman in this group? Probably. But this is my first big group social interaction with civilian spouses- that right there is a HUGE change for me. They do a lot of community service work and fund raisers for college scholarships. There's some smaller committees for various sub groups- looks to be like it could be a lot of fun. So I joined!
I'm also getting myself back into being creative. I've got projects that I want to finish, heck I've got projects that I want to start. But until I start on new projects I want to finish up a few little things here and there around the house. First off is getting the rest of the Christmas decorations wrapped up and put away-ugh! It's down to a few little things that need to go into boxes but it's just dragging on. That's why I'm getting rid of at least half of our Christmas ornaments. I plan on boxing up the kids special to them ornaments and labeling each box with thier name on it and giving to to them for their first Christmas away from home. Well with our son being in college and all , well that does pose a small problem. So maybe I'll wait until he's married.
I bought a couple of new counted cross stitching projects- cute stuff abounds here at my house! Well I've got to wait for the one of the charts to arrive in the mail but it's gonna be adorable once it's finished! I'm all about instant gratification and this dish towel project will fit the bill! The other is a two toned counted cross stitching project that is a little more intricate but will look nice framed and hanging on a wall.
Time for me to change from this dress and high heels to clothing more appropriate to schlepping around cardboard boxes to the recycle bin and then working some more in the basement getting Christmas decorations stored away fro another 11 months.
I'm also getting myself back into being creative. I've got projects that I want to finish, heck I've got projects that I want to start. But until I start on new projects I want to finish up a few little things here and there around the house. First off is getting the rest of the Christmas decorations wrapped up and put away-ugh! It's down to a few little things that need to go into boxes but it's just dragging on. That's why I'm getting rid of at least half of our Christmas ornaments. I plan on boxing up the kids special to them ornaments and labeling each box with thier name on it and giving to to them for their first Christmas away from home. Well with our son being in college and all , well that does pose a small problem. So maybe I'll wait until he's married.
I bought a couple of new counted cross stitching projects- cute stuff abounds here at my house! Well I've got to wait for the one of the charts to arrive in the mail but it's gonna be adorable once it's finished! I'm all about instant gratification and this dish towel project will fit the bill! The other is a two toned counted cross stitching project that is a little more intricate but will look nice framed and hanging on a wall.
Time for me to change from this dress and high heels to clothing more appropriate to schlepping around cardboard boxes to the recycle bin and then working some more in the basement getting Christmas decorations stored away fro another 11 months.
quote of the day
A creative genius cannot be trained.
There are no schools for creativeness.
A genius is precisely a man who defies all
schools and rules, who deviates from the
traditional roads of routine and opens up new
paths through land inaccessible before.
A genius is always a teacher, never a
pupil; he is always self-made.
-- Ludwig von Mises
Monday, January 02, 2012
Is it 2012 already?
I know, I know...I've turned into this horrible blogger who hardly ever posts anymore. Shame on me for not updating this blog! But since I've had to put all of my crafty endeavours on hold because of this move, not a whole lot of sewing or paper crafting is going on around here. My plans on having a crafting emporium in my basement are coming along. I've got loads of cardboard boxes full of crafting goodies-but until I get the room finished I'm leaving it all in the boxes. Funny thing though, I will be setting up my sewing table and sewing machine amidst all of the cardboard, I love my ¾ size travel sewing machine but I've used it for 2½ years and frankly I've had enough of it! I want to using my regular sewing machine!
I have pictures- oh do I have pictures to share! We've painted a couple of rooms and wow what a difference a new coat of paint makes to brighten up a room! I've got furniture arriving this week and I'm hanging up pictures on the walls! I know, I'm behind the curve on getting things done around here but hey! We moved in on Halloween, had Thanksgiving, then it was Christmas and all that went on while I was unpacking! I'm still unpacking! So hang in there with me, I'm getting with the program and I'll keep you all up to speed I promise!
I have pictures- oh do I have pictures to share! We've painted a couple of rooms and wow what a difference a new coat of paint makes to brighten up a room! I've got furniture arriving this week and I'm hanging up pictures on the walls! I know, I'm behind the curve on getting things done around here but hey! We moved in on Halloween, had Thanksgiving, then it was Christmas and all that went on while I was unpacking! I'm still unpacking! So hang in there with me, I'm getting with the program and I'll keep you all up to speed I promise!
quote of the day
It is not because things are difficult
that we do not dare,
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
--Seneca
--Seneca
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
