tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71119245953620050372024-03-13T06:42:47.234-04:00Late Night CrafterBeverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-24648314110284569932011-01-11T21:40:00.000-05:002011-01-11T21:40:24.508-05:00Muddling through and catching up ...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, here we are on the 11th of the month ... so far I've put away all our Christmas decorations (in the attic where they belong) and have started going through the random boxes and piles filled with paperwork that seem to have accumulated between Labor Day (when we have our annual barbeque) and Christmas. (Yes, I will admit that in order to present a lovely, clean and organized looking home, I go through our house and clean the "public viewing" areas by throwing everything in a box that I don't need immediate access to. Don't judge me.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.seejanework.com/productcart/pc/catalog/413300_general.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.seejanework.com/productcart/pc/catalog/413300_general.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">M.O. Signature Binder - Photo courtesy of seejanework.com</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I go through all of these papers, I'm sorting them into my newly developed Project Binder. What's this you ask? Well ... it's a lovely purple binder that was neglected for oh, 2 years that I had sitting on my bookshelf and decided to use along with the box of page protectors and package of dividers that were there even longer. I love these binders ... cute inside pattern, pretty purple color and a little cut out to easily pull off the shelf. Since I have umpteen hobbies and interests, I divvied the sections into the following: Scrapbooking, Knitting, Cooking & Baking, Quilting/Sewing and General Projects. After I sorted through most of my paperwork I slipped my printouts of projects, patterns and ideas into the page protectors. Now instead of trying to remember if I printed something, archived it in emails or simply just haven't thought of it in a while it'll all be in one place. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After that mess was organized, why not continue? While my niece and husband played his new Batman Wii game that he got for Christmas, I emptied out our 2 front hall closets ... the surprise storage area for my quilting and sewing projects. Oy vey. I have quite the little stash going. I went through my fabric for a couple of upcoming projects that I need to get working on ... and the rest of the closet contents are still sitting on the floor in our front hallway. (Luckily we don't have visitors coming through the front door in the next couple of days.) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's where the muddling through comes in ... the hubby is sick, we're expecting anywhere close to a foot of snow tomorrow ... which means that I'm hoping so very very much that it will snow so badly that I will justifiably have to call out from work. If that happens ... then I'll be able to attack the mess in the front hall and be done with it. Once that's done, please don't worry - I'll have plenty more to organize. Namely the boxes that have the "organized" crap in it that I've sorted through.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have to say ... after proof reading this, I realize how pathetic this little organizational feat sounds ... but it makes me happy, so I'll live with accepting that! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-48406255740083457432011-01-06T22:50:00.000-05:002011-01-06T22:50:08.960-05:00This weekend ...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I think this weekend may be it. I want to go through our house room by room and list (here's where I wish I had a little mini recorder, but I guess I could leave myself a voice mail, huh?) everything that I want done or thrown out or moved or SOMETHING in every room.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ambitious? Yes. Will the hubs think I'm nuts? Of course. (What else is new?) ... But on my quest to be committed this year (not institutionalized, mind you) .... I need a really good and reasonable plan of action. I think one room a month isn't a bad idea. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now, it's off to bed ... there's supposedly a snow storm coming in NY ... as per the lines at the grocery store (and the weather report). I'll believe it when I see it! </span></span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-79029912870349559442011-01-02T18:54:00.003-05:002011-01-02T23:23:08.008-05:00Welcoming 2011 with open arms<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not that 2010 was a <i>bad</i> year ... it just <i>was, </i>if you know what I mean. Come December, I felt like I had been </span><span style="font-size: small;">sideswiped by a moving truck ... Christmas came out of no where, and I was probably the most unprepared for it that I've ever been. Forget about no time - I didn't even know what weekend it was most weeks!</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway ... it's over, all we have to do is put the boxes of Christmas stuff back in the attic and life will be back to normal ... which brings us to 2011.</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I'm sure many of you have seen in blog-land, <a href="http://aliedwards.com/">Ali Edwards</a> had started this little phenomenon called <a href="http://aliedwards.com/2010/12/one-little-word-2011.html">One Little Word</a>. Thinking about my life, the year to come and what my plans for it are ... coming up with one little word that epitomizes this for me. I've "done" this for the past couple of years ... thinking long and hard about a word and it's meaning for me and my intentions ... then, I forget about it until I start seeing it come up around December.</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This year though, I'm trying again. Call this word self-inspired ... but my 2011 word is: </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="header" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><h2 class="me"><span style="font-size: small;">com·mit·ment</span></h2><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="pronset"><span id="nonfav"></span><span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">kəˈmɪt<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />mənt</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for Spelled" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7111924595362005037&postID=7902991287034955944" title="Click to show spelled">Show Spelled</a></span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">k<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-<span class="boldface">mit</span>-m<span class="ital-inline">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />nt</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7111924595362005037&postID=7902991287034955944" title="Click to show IPA"></a></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="body" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">–noun</span></span></span> 1.<span id="hotword" name="hotword"> the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">act</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">committing.</span> 2.<span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">state</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">being</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">committed.</span> 3.<span id="hotword" name="hotword"> the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">act</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">committing,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">pledging,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> engaging</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">oneself.</span> 4.<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">pledge</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">promise;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">obligation:</span> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">We</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">have</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">made</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">commitment</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">pay</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">our</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">bills</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">on</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">time.</span> 5.<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> engagement;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">involvement:</span> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword">They</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">have</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sincere</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">commitment</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">religion.</span> </span> </div><div class="pbk"></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Definitions 6 - 12 weren't all that applicable, so I nixed them ... who needs talk of being committed to an institution so early in the year anyway?) </span></span></div><div class="pbk"></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a couple of reasons why I chose it ... I'm usually the go-to girl for everything and everyone. </span> </span>I stress (I call it stress, but really it's just some small fretting) about what I'm going to make for dinner - not for me ... but for my husband, who let's be honest here, couldn't really care if it was hot dogs with french fries or a roasted chicken with all the trimmings <span style="font-size: x-small;">(meaning he's just thankful I cook our meals and loves whatever I put in front of him)</span>. I make sure I call my mom <span style="font-size: x-small;">(remember ... we live in a 2 family house together) </span>to find out if she needs something from the store if I'm going because (gasp!) what if I actually came home and she needed a box of cereal because in 2 days she was going to be out? (You see where I'm going here, right?) Like a good percentage of women all around the world, I worry about and prioritize everyone and everything but me. There are <i>so many</i> things that I have said I wanted to do, make or go to that just don't happen. Granted, there are times that I just don't *feel* like going to do said things, but there are also times where I think that it's more important to go run errands, clean or do something that someone has asked me to because my just somehow isn't as important. I change my plans before the hat is even dropped if it'll make someone else's life easier. </span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;">I also know that for myself I try to take on way too many things. It's just part of my personality. I look at things and think "oh, I could make that!" and then they get filed away in my emails (all 2,000 of them somehow sitting in my in-box ... thank God for g-mail!) and forgotten about until I find myself searching for something else. </span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;">This year, I'm going to stop doing that. I'm going to commit to doing the things that I want. To finishing projects that I say "oh, I'll do that Saturday" and then I'm somehow doing something else that is no where near what I wanted to be doing and the project is still undone 6 months later. I'm not going to feel guilty about saying "No" and I'm going to give into some of <i>my</i> guilty pleasures ... like curling up on the couch and finishing a book in a day - just because that's what I wanted to do. I'm committing myself to being a better manager of my time; of letting go of the DVR (hubby, if you're reading this ... it'll be okay ... I promise ... I won't abandon all our shows) and moving myself into my craft room to CREATE. I'm so happy when I accomplish these things - and I don't know why I don't carve out the time to do it more often. </span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;">How am I doing all of this? With baby steps ... and I think organization. This morning I pulled out a binder, some page protectors, a lined pad and some dividers and made myself a Project Binder. I'm tired of having all these papers around or emails linking myself to projects that once archived away, I hardly ever look at again. I think seeing these ideas will prompt me to act on them more. At least, that's my hope. It'll also be a fun way for me to kind of keep track of all that I can accomplish. As to the guilt ... I know that I'm the only one that puts this on myself ... and the only cure for that is to stop doing it to myself. No one's standards or expectations are as high as the ones that I put upon myself, so I just need to learn to loosen up a little and let myself enjoy the days and moments as they come.</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;">What about you? What is your "One Little Word" and how are you going to go about living it?</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;">~ B</span></div><div class="pbk"></div><div class="pbk"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-33120112729205859092010-04-19T22:54:00.000-04:002010-04-19T22:54:01.637-04:00A Week in the LifeSo I've tried the 365 daily.<br />
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I've even tried A Week in the Life probably the first or second time <a href="http://www.aliedwards.com/">Ali Edwards</a> did it.<br />
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I don't do well with structure in my personal (read: my very own) life. With the hubby there's a bit more success ... when it's just me? Well, other things take over.<br />
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In my usual ass-backwards fashion, I decide on the ride home from work tonight to participate in this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://aliedwards.typepad.com/AE_WeekInTheLife2010Ad_giveaway.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://aliedwards.typepad.com/AE_WeekInTheLife2010Ad_giveaway.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No idea what I'll be structuring it as ... but that's okay. It'll be reality, and that apparently is a good thing! Wish me luck!</div>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-76292629177922967532010-04-18T00:44:00.000-04:002010-04-18T00:44:34.710-04:00Celebrating 50 years together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qILNP_35I/AAAAAAAACaI/QXbKVWU9UJg/s1600/m%26d+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qILNP_35I/AAAAAAAACaI/QXbKVWU9UJg/s320/m%26d+wedding.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qIQ6MPT_I/AAAAAAAACaQ/EX9IgjOEQy8/s1600/m%26d+dancing+-+bj+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qIQ6MPT_I/AAAAAAAACaQ/EX9IgjOEQy8/s320/m%26d+dancing+-+bj+wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Today we celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Nothing huge - just family ... but it was terrific. I was the "coordinator" for everything. My parents didn't want any of us to go to the expense of throwing them a party ... so they gave the party, and I handled the rest. I'm not exactly sure how I managed to pull it all off, but everything came together. <br />
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My sister made them a DVD with pictures from the family through the years, which they absolutely loved. We had pictures of them placed around the house, along with their wedding album, which everyone loved looking through. As part of their gift I'll be making them a scrapbook of the party. We asked everyone to write a little note wishing them well ... and we also took video of everyone doing the same. (That should be interesting to edit, knowing some family members .... )<br />
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My parents have been through ups & downs, like any couple after a long period of time together ... but they have taught me how to stick with it. The fact that you may not <i>like</i> your spouse every single day, but you will <i>always</i> love them. How to keep a family strong, roll with the punches and know what to make important and what to dismiss as insignificant in the grand scheme of things.<br />
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These 2 are amazing people. Committed to each other through thick and thin ... and there have been both! I can only hope to have my marriage stand the test of time as well and for as long as theirs has.<br />
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Amazing when you think about it ... all because my mother went to buy car wax at Pep Boy's ..... all because my father's boss suggested that he go help her after work. All because two people fell in love ..... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qOHXeonyI/AAAAAAAACaY/PZn3aqcpQpE/s1600/family+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S8qOHXeonyI/AAAAAAAACaY/PZn3aqcpQpE/s320/family+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-11711016155036981842010-03-31T18:31:00.000-04:002010-03-31T18:31:34.398-04:00How is it April ... and why do I miss my knitting class?<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As of tomorrow ... it's APRIL people! When did this happen? And why does it seem like 2010 is FLYING by already? Maybe the fact that i wasn't working in 2009 factors into the "this year feels like forever" category.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So as I mentioned, I've been knitting along like a good little knitter (contrary to said knitting teacher's opinions ... ) and I'm really enjoying it. I <i>love </i>some of the yarns ... and well, that has lead me to purchase some pastel-like yarn with which I have no inkling of what to make. My poor goddaughter, Norah will most likely be gifted these little creations, because let's face it - who else can pull off multi-colored pastel items like nobody's business but a 6 month old <i>adorable</i> little girl?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think I pulled about 6 different possibilites ... but here again - I find myself hindering myself. I refuse to buy a knitting pattern when I know there are so many cute ones out there available for free ... but I have neither the time nor the patience to sift through them to see if I can find exactly what I want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then what I want has to be something with instructions I can understand since I don't have another class till next Tuesday. (Easter break and all that ... )</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As to my hat ... The band looks <i>fabulous</i>. I have started and ripped out and restarted the actual hat part about 4 times now and I'm just thinking that I will have to get it ready to restart once again for Tuesday night. This activity should amuse my husband because the ripping out part usually happens right next to him while we're watching TV and he doesn't realize it until I start re-rolling the yarn. The poor boy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Easter on the other hand .... is SUNDAY! (I feel like a monster truck commercial ... Sunday SUNDAY <b>SUNDAY ... </b>) Totally came up on me unexpectedly and well ... we're joint-hosting again with my parents (I do the majority of the cooking and they insist on providing the food ... which works for me) ... so it'll be a busy Friday - Sunday morning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two weeks later, we're having a 50th anniversary party for my parents - nothing huge, but sill around 20 - 25 people and I want to make sure it's special, memorable and perfect for them. <i>Note to self ... get on top of that project!<b> </b></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I did try and find a slew of pictures to make an album for them with ... but no such luck. Not really a lot of photos of the two of them together throughout the early years. I think my sister is making a photo-collage disc ... so we'll see what that winds up to be. Maybe it'll be a post-party gift to them with all the pictures I can make sure get taken at the actual party. (Yeah, that sounds like a better idea!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's it for my little update right now. I'm off to make meatloaf & mashed potatoes for dinner. Hopefully it'll be done in time! :) </span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-34626108129146862732010-03-19T21:49:00.000-04:002010-03-19T21:49:03.708-04:00Long time, no blog ...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It kinda stinks that I can automatically tell that I haven't blogged in 18 days. Made my husband yell at me. (Not yell yell ... just "What do you mean you haven't blogged?" yell. (Thanks honey. You're supposed to remind me BEFORE that long passes!)</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So what have I been up to since March 1st? Trying to re-acclimate myself to being a working girl. I have been forgetting that I don't have as much time as I used to to get things done ... and that I have a daily obligation to do </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">work</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> at work. (Strange concept, huh?) So besides discovering that my new boss is a secret paper hoarder that I am having weekly interventions with ... I also signed up for a knitting class and have been working away on that quilt I keep talking about. Oh ... yeah - and we can't forget I've actually been having a pretty busy social life too. (Well, busy for my standards.)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The knitting ...</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've been wanting to take a knitting class for well over a year now. I blame my cousin, Lynn for this. She has been knitting for a couple of years now - and brings these <i>beautiful </i>projects to work on when she visits from Massachusetts for the occasional weekend. Enabler, I say. So one weekend, we went to my <a href="http://www.yarnsneedleshooks.com/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">local yarn store</a> where I found </span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the most</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> beautiful multi-color merino wool yarn. It had purples, maroons, blues ... just such a pretty blend ... so I got it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I made my very first scarf. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love the scarf. Get compliments on it constantly. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had (so I thought) the basics down. I kept an eye out for the newsletter for the shop, and they had some beginner classes. WAY too out of my price range. Just couldn't justify the cost for 3 "beginner" classes anyway. So ... I waited. And waited. Then .... just as I started my job, I get the flyer for our local school district's Adult Ed courses. I hemmed and hawed about it for over a week, then signed up just a few days before the first class. 8 weeks ... 1 night per week ... $30. I couldn't go wrong! So now, Tuesdays are my knitting nights with two other ladies and the sweet older woman that teaches. The same sweet, older woman that looked at the other beginner knitter watching her cast on, and said "You'll be a good knitter." and then looked at me casting on and said "You'll be okay." Talk about a motivator! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My name is Beverly and I like to prove people wrong. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.o-wool.com/images/hky_Sept-08-025-cropped-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.o-wool.com/images/hky_Sept-08-025-cropped-2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What am I knitting, you ask? I decided to be ambitious and try to make this beautiful hat from a free pattern I found online <a href="http://www.o-wool.com/free.html">here</a> ... isn't it pretty? So after much nightly amusement of hearing me muffle my cursing on my end of the couch ... I am now just about half-way through the little braid-looking band on the bottom of the hat. How the heck I'm supposed to make the top of the hat, I have no idea ... but I'll muddle through with some actual cursing and figure it all out. And by George, it'll be the best damn hat in the class! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>The quilt ... </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S5RNOfRxgsI/AAAAAAAACOs/O15ceVsEEeA/s1600/IMG_3628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S5RNOfRxgsI/AAAAAAAACOs/O15ceVsEEeA/s200/IMG_3628.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S5RNUdYnA5I/AAAAAAAACO0/yuX3CDpriKE/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S5RNUdYnA5I/AAAAAAAACO0/yuX3CDpriKE/s200/IMG_3630.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For whatever reason, it's feeling like this quilt is taking forever. A few miscalculations on the amount of borders & backing I needed wasted some time as I tried going back to the store thinking that they'd have it in stock, then having to go online and re-order. Thankfully my friends' mom isn't in an all-fire rush to get it! (Maybe that's the real reason I don't have a fire under me to finish it?) Hopefully it'll be worth the wait when I give it to her. (I'm crazily aiming for the 28th when I'm going down to visit my friend.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And that, my lovely blog readers, is what I've been up to! What about you? Been doing anything fun?</span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-42683431091357136322010-03-01T23:37:00.000-05:002010-03-01T23:37:23.382-05:00Happy Birthday Honey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S4yU_yce-sI/AAAAAAAACOA/ERD4cP6_24U/s1600-h/ai2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S4yU_yce-sI/AAAAAAAACOA/ERD4cP6_24U/s320/ai2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love this picture. This picture inspired me for so many little things in my wedding. Truth be told ... this picture has inspired me for a lot of little things throughout my life. It's my grandparents - Ann & Emil on their honeymoon in Atlantic City. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today is my grandmother's birthday. She would've been 99. Maybe it's silly to say that ... but its something that I think about every year since she's been gone. Honey (that's what we called her) taught us all so much. <i>Such</i> an amazing woman. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love you and miss you every day ... and so much more than I could've ever imagined. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thank you for teaching me what you have ... and for guiding me as I know you are.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You'll always be with me. Always.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love you, Honey. </span></span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-30847521516705867002010-02-21T01:21:00.000-05:002010-02-21T01:21:36.848-05:00Spring in the air (for today anyway)<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today was GORGEOUS. So beautiful in fact, that I forced my husband outside to play catch with me. (I told you that I make him do strange things.) Nothing crafty to report, but just sharing that for today at least ... I was outside enjoying the sunshine and crisp air before more snow comes with us.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">How about you? Getting out from under all the winter blahs? </span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-64049928856597077082010-02-18T19:17:00.001-05:002010-02-18T19:20:03.037-05:00What I've been up to ...<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let's just say that I now understand why we're given children as infants ... we need the time to adjust to them! Watching my 9 yr. old niece for 3 days really tired us out ... not to mention screwing up our routine!! But ... I wouldn't have changed it for the world. Love her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After bedtime, I was able to squeeze in quite a few projects (surprisingly!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Christmas Ornaments</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First ... a little late for Christmas ... or is it a little early? I had made personalized Christmas balls for my in-laws my first Christmas with my hubby. Needless to say, I didn't include one for myself (didn't want to be presumptuous) or for his other grandparents (only one was living with them at that time) ... fast forward to our 5th year together ... I decided it was time to follow through and get all the grandparents done ... and as I type this, I've realized that I still have to do another one for me for their tree! (Pardon the background and poor lighting ... I wanted to get these done & up!)</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Coffee Cozy & TomTom holder</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My sister has been pestering me since Christmas to knit her a holder for her TomTom navigation system. (Yes, there are premade ones out there that are probably better, but asking me to do it is cheaper.) So ... I put together some crafty things that she's been liking of mine for her birthday. (Still debating on whether or not I can finish a pair of fingerless gloves by the time I see her!)</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIWMdJsFI/AAAAAAAACGk/5h5EYC02GQw/s1600/100_0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIWMdJsFI/AAAAAAAACGk/5h5EYC02GQw/s200/100_0282.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIRxVsQGI/AAAAAAAACGY/itqAZoS__fY/s1600/100_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIRxVsQGI/AAAAAAAACGY/itqAZoS__fY/s200/100_0278.jpg" width="150" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIYlZhq2I/AAAAAAAACGo/m_GMZGyMKs8/s1600/100_0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIYlZhq2I/AAAAAAAACGo/m_GMZGyMKs8/s200/100_0283.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIbBHK3JI/AAAAAAAACGs/VApzqN2AFRE/s1600/100_0284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIbBHK3JI/AAAAAAAACGs/VApzqN2AFRE/s200/100_0284.jpg" width="150" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Valentine's Day/Anniversary</span> </b> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My husband and I started dating in the beginning of February ... I like to make sure we remember this anniversary as well as our Wedding Anniversary ... and usually I wind up making him a small album at least once a year. I wasn't going to this year (for the stupidest of all reasons ... I couldn't come up with a good "theme" ... but then I decided that I needed to do one. One night, about 4 hours later (thank goodness for some <a href="http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/">Library of Memories</a> organization!) and voila! A mini-album on his bedside table for him to look at and cherish (and thankfully, he does - cherish them.) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One thing I love about this album was that it is literally just pictures and journaling. I didn't need to go all-out with a page. I got down what I wanted to relay to my husband and took some of the pictures that I loved to tell that story. PERFECT. I don't even mind that my handwriting isn't the best in the world - it's totally authentically me - and that's 100% okay!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIr74k4NI/AAAAAAAACHY/8pXETE413MM/s1600/100_0300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIr74k4NI/AAAAAAAACHY/8pXETE413MM/s200/100_0300.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIwluLksI/AAAAAAAACHg/nkTex0MYEso/s1600/100_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIwluLksI/AAAAAAAACHg/nkTex0MYEso/s200/100_0302.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIycuuXWI/AAAAAAAACHk/ffLe9U0qX7k/s1600/100_0303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nIycuuXWI/AAAAAAAACHk/ffLe9U0qX7k/s200/100_0303.jpg" width="200" /></a> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> Journaling reads: Our 5 month anniversary, The first time I realized just how much you listened and paid attention. After a passing comment on our 2nd or 3rd date about loving Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when I was little, you surprised me with tickets to the new Broadway show. It still amazes me 5 years later how you pick up on the little things ... both in what I say and what I look at. I'm so lucky to have one of "those" husbands ... the one everyone wishes for ... the one who can really pull off a perfect present without being led straight to it. Granted ... it probably helps that once I look at or talk about something I like, I tend to forget about it!</span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI0Sy15mI/AAAAAAAACHo/z_j9CGtlQ5Q/s1600/100_0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI0Sy15mI/AAAAAAAACHo/z_j9CGtlQ5Q/s200/100_0304.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Journaling reads: 10 weddings in 5 years. Six of them within one year. Part of me sometimes dreads seeing those invitations in the mail. Weddings are expensive - to throw and attend ... and you've got A LOT of single friends and family ... still! Then ... there's the other part ... the one that LOVES being dressed up along side you, looking so very handsome in your suit and tie. I love being there next to you. I love that you don't mind dancing with me. I appreciate that you love to socialize and have a damn good time at most weddings and am happy to supply the safe drive home when needed. Besides ... I really just love showing you off whenever I can!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI62s5yKI/AAAAAAAACHw/tkcP8KW0cks/s1600/100_0306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI62s5yKI/AAAAAAAACHw/tkcP8KW0cks/s200/100_0306.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Journaling reads: Why does it seem like every vacation we have must include some unplanned adventure built in? On our trip to Las Vegas, we dealt with the relationship issues of others. In Vermont, you kept dropping the ring as you tried for the perfect moment. Then ... there was Aruba. Who else has the best Honeymoon stories but us? A double ear infection, the wave runners, the lovely Jeep excursion and the drinking bus. Through it all, we just keep moving forward, taking care of each other when needed and most definitely laughing. After all, we at least get some great stories out of all this!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI8ne6FkI/AAAAAAAACH0/vS7rKn-ruO4/s1600/100_0307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI8ne6FkI/AAAAAAAACH0/vS7rKn-ruO4/s200/100_0307.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Journaling reads: OH ... my Johnny. The things you do for me. You grunt and moan and try to reason me out of my so called crazy ideas, but in the end ... (most times) you let me win. (and yes - I know you LET me.) This picture is often the result. Outside with me and my camera. You get the job of being my subject as I search for the "perfect" photo. You crack me up every time. You make me be more free and more fun - two things I always need more of. Now the question is - can you take another 50 years of this? (Please? :) )</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI-pTmDkI/AAAAAAAACIA/PYgHchd0RGE/s1600/100_0309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S3nI-pTmDkI/AAAAAAAACIA/PYgHchd0RGE/s200/100_0309.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">Journaling reads: Together. That's us ... always. Five years later, I really thought the desire to be with each other as much as possible would fade. It hasn't. I still want to be snuggling on the couch instead of being somewhere else in the house doing something else. Luckily for me - you still like having me around, and love snuggling just as much as I do!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">By the way ... is the light colored text annoying to any of you? Trying to figure out a "theme" on this blog and stick to it ... so help me help you! :) Let me know what you prefer seeing (plain background, black text, etc.) </span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-33296198655051513582010-02-16T08:56:00.000-05:002010-02-16T08:56:15.187-05:00I haven't forgotten!We're watching my niece for a couple of days (since Sunday) so snuggling on the couch watching the Olympics has taken priority over the computer. I'll post about my weekend creations tomorrow!Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-33377972056362645962010-02-09T22:59:00.000-05:002010-02-09T22:59:39.066-05:00Back to work (literally) ...After being unemployed for WAY too long (in my humble, unbiased opinion, of course) I am finally back at work. This isn't something I talk about much to people. Well ... not even just "people" .... really - I don't talk about it much with anyone other than my husband. But here, my blog-land friends ... here, we share in safe place. :) We won't go into the details of my little stay in unemployment land ... but we will say that now ... now we're employed and so far, liking it and the people associated with it.<br />
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Which leads me to the purpose of my post. I'm TIRED. I'm not getting up much earlier than I did while I was home ... and I'm not going to bed much later (not on school nights anyway) ... but dear Lord ... I'm just sleepy this week. I'm guessing it has to do with being "on" and being in front of people. Guess it just doesn't take that much energy to be "on" with paper and fabric, huh?<br />
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I'm VERY much looking forward to this weekend though. My dear hubby has to work all weekend - so that means that other than whatever errands are a <i>must</i> ... I can hole myself up in my craft room and finally get stuff DONE! I'm planning on being a busy little bee and having a bunch of new things to share and list. (More on that later though.)<br />
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For now ... (YAWWWN) ... Good night, internet.Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-41927447797097051272010-01-27T02:50:00.000-05:002010-01-27T02:50:30.225-05:00Why am I still up and online?<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's 2:48am ... and I'm still surfing around online. What is wrong with me? I told my husband I was going to bed over an hour ago! I did finally get one thing accomplished though - I cleared out my Google reader after almost a week of having anywhere between 300 - 500 unread posts. It was hard to do, but I persevered and of course came out with tons of cute ideas. I just can't click "mark all as read" and feel okay about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm glad I can sleep in tomorrow. I think I'm going to need it. I'll have to remind my internal alarm to be quiet though. <br />
</span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-57239490727923380022010-01-26T18:41:00.000-05:002010-01-26T18:41:03.555-05:00Project Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S199M_nfsXI/AAAAAAAACDI/S6pSEvOGwMg/s1600-h/Craft+Projects.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S199M_nfsXI/AAAAAAAACDI/S6pSEvOGwMg/s400/Craft+Projects.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div>As promised ... pictures of the few things that I've been up to. Pieces of the quilt are currently pinned or waiting to be pinned and sewn together tomorrow - so hopefully by Thursday I'll be posting a picture of the quilt top.Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-19425840611360895742010-01-26T09:29:00.000-05:002010-01-26T09:29:45.018-05:00Some of what I've been up to ...<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the past couple of days, I've been crafting away ... finally! I took pictures ... but they're on my laptop and I forgot to upload them ... so no pictures right now - I promise to repost with them later!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> First (and finally) I altered a cigar box for my mom to send to one of my aunts. It's so hard choosing a pattern and/or color when you don't really have a good feel for a person or their home ... I at least had the memory of my aunt's house to go off of! Then I made the frame & burp cloths for a friend to give as a gift. This is my 2nd baby gift set done for that particular friend - and both kids' names started with an "a" ... as did the set I did for one of my husband's co-workers. Apparently little girls names starting with "A" are popular around here lately! I get to do a boy themed set for that same friend later this week.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm also turning the corner on finishing the quilt that I've been working on. It's currently laid out on my den floor and this afternoon (after a trip to Barnes & Nobel and lunch with my mom :) ) I will be piecing that together and finishing the top ... then the search for the backing is on!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Enjoy your Tuesday!<br />
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</div>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-6428961412117058472010-01-24T02:30:00.000-05:002010-01-24T02:30:39.943-05:00One stitch at a time<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So I've been making <i>great</i> progress on finishing up this quilt. Until earlier tonight. I had to take apart way too many pieces because I screwed up due to lack of attention. Paying attention to the process and enjoying the sewing, but apparently missing the finer details.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Nothing that couldn't be fixed or modified ... but just frustrating - especially when you feel you're on a roll!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The hubby intervened after hearing one too many f-bombs and made me stop to go finish watching the extra scenes from The Hangover. Ladies ... when this movie first came out, I said no way ... I was SO SO SO wrong. It is <i>hysterically funny</i>. It's a great movie to watch and kept us laughing the whole time. And ... there have admittedly been some lines that have stuck around too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It's 2:30am ... what the hell am I still doing up? Night all! </span></span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-83780090707322641752010-01-20T12:04:00.001-05:002010-01-20T16:36:46.762-05:00Have you ever .... ?<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I'm working on a commissioned quilt for a friend. I've cut all the fabrics, labeled them so I don't confuse myself and was going to pin them together for sewing while watching TV with the hubby. (See? All ready to go.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S1YhDloP-YI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/37Pcln70Hsw/s1600/100_0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S1YhDloP-YI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/37Pcln70Hsw/s200/100_0261.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S1YhANg4VOI/AAAAAAAAB-U/MKjSakk8lbI/s1600/100_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/S1YhANg4VOI/AAAAAAAAB-U/MKjSakk8lbI/s200/100_0260.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now ... I have my lovely & beautiful craft room ... however - I don't sew there. I sew on our beautifully huge kitchen table. It's big enough for me to spread everything out, or quilt a queen size project - and it's closer to my hubby since he probably wouldn't like me using the sewing machine next to him while we watch TV. (Just a guess there.) This being said .... I kind of have taken to putting my sewing supplies in our front foyer closet. (Who needs to hang guests' coats?) Around Thanksgiving when everything has to be "guest perfect" ... a whole bunch of stuff got put into an extra large reusable shopping bag that I picked up from The Christmas Tree Shoppe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had only taken out what I needed so far (cutting mat, ruler, tools) and had left the other stuff in there. I now needed pins ... and lots of them ... the pin cushion just wasn't going to cut it. I had to get my other box of pins that I use just for this type of thing. Only problem? They weren't where I thought they were. They *should* be in the little tote carrier that holds all my little stuff ... seam ripper, measuring tape, etc. for sewing .... shouldn't they?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And so began "the search" .... I couldn't find the pins in the bag, in the containers or in any other godforsaken item that I had around. I searched. I looked in my craft room, the laundry room and everywhere else I could think that I may have used or put them for "safe keeping". Nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What else is a girl to do? I had (HAD) to organize all my sewing stuff. That's right - go through all the fabric stash and reorganize into different containers ... after all ... I *have* to do this, so why not make it useful organization time. I *still* couldn't find them. All my fabric had been sorted, folded or refolded and categorized (felt and flannel have their own boxes, yardage and fat quarters do as well) and I, like a good wife ... went whining to my husband. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God Bless him ... he actually helped me look for about 3 minutes - and marveled at the fact that I couldn't find them. Then he asked what was to me the funniest question ... "well, why don't you go through your stuff and look for them." I stared at him. I looked back at the kitchen table, did my best Vanna arm swipe to show him the table and said "What do you think THAT is?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He shook his head and went back to watching TV. I, however could not. I needed those damn pins! EVERYTHING that was downstairs had been sorted through ... where the hell were these things? I went back up into the craft room and looked on my desk ... nothing ... looked around the room in various places ... nothing. Then ... sitting on the old sewing desk/table from my grandmother was a white basket. Hm ... it wouldn't be in there - that is just old sewing stuff that I had put aside. How wrong was I? They were right there, next to a pair of scissors and some bobbins ... just waiting to be used.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Needless to say, I was too damn tired after reorganizing everything to even think about pinning things together that night - but I did finally get it done last night as my husband snickered next to me, mumbling something about me being crazy. It's not my fault the pin found his arm! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Please tell me that this has happened to you at some point too ... that I'm not the only one that has reorganized an entire section of something looking for one tiny little thing?<br />
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</span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-49401504954360307272010-01-13T08:37:00.000-05:002010-01-13T08:37:41.619-05:00Amazon Wish List ... did you know about this?Somewhere in my blog <strike>stalking</strike> reading last week, I found someone talking about clearing out their Amazon Wish List for the new year. Hm ... clearing out a list to begin anew? I like this! So I hopped over to <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon</a> and looked for a Wish List.<br />
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</div>Of course, I easily found it and started one up. Then ... then, my friends ... I realized that I could add a "short cut" button to my tool bar and put ANYTHING on my Wish List. FROM ANYWHERE! Poking around <a href="http://twopeasinabucket.com/">2Peas</a> ... click "add to Wish List" and voila ... it'll get in there. <br />
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Now, why am I so enamored by this? (1) It's super easy. (2) I'm the person when asked "what do you want for __________ (insert any gift giving occasion here) that says "I don't know ... whatever" (don't hate me). (3) It fulfills my need to think I'm going shopping but never checking out and actually spending money. Let us not forget the most important one .... (4) It lets me have one easy access place to remember where I saw what I wanted! <br />
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I tried the same thing once with Kaboodle, but it annoyed me and I didn't keep going there. This one is straight forward and easy ... and really - I don't need to know what other people want (like on Kaboodle), I just need to know what I want!Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-42511974067759551182010-01-01T12:48:00.000-05:002010-01-01T12:48:33.173-05:00Hello, 2010 ... I've been waiting for you!<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I don't know about you, but I love New Year's Day. It's one of those lazy holidays where you're just recuperating from the night before ... mulling around and deciding if you "feel" like doing something or not. At least, that's what it is for us! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We had a great NYE night ... hung out at a friend's house with other couples and ate, drank and played games. (It's hard to play Taboo while drinking ... but damn funny!) We didn't get home till after 4am - and that to me is a sign of a good night!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So ... have you guys heard about choosing one little word for your year from </span><a href="http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2009/12/my-one-little-word-story.html" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ali Edwards</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">? I've done this in the past, and while I may not live with it imprinted on my forehead ... I do find myself remembering my word throughout the year - especially if I feel myself getting discouraged about a situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This year my word is <i><b>embrace</b></i>. </span><br />
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</script><embed align="texttop" flashvars="soundUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsp.ask.com%2Fdictstatic%2Fdictionary%2Faudio%2Fluna%2FE01%2FE0132700.mp3&clkLogProxyUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fwhatzup.html&t=a&d=d&s=di&c=a&ti=1&ai=51359&l=dir&o=0&sv=00000000&ip=620fc98e&u=audio" height="15" id="speaker" loop="false" menu="false" quality="high" salign="t" src="http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/d/g/speaker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="17" wmode="transparent"></embed><noscript><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/E01/E0132700" target="_blank"><img src="http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/g/d/speaker.gif" border="0" /></a></noscript> <span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ɛmˈbreɪs</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" onmouseout="swapLunaImage('selected', this);" onmouseover="swapLunaImage('default', this);" src="http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"> <a alt="Toggle for Spelled" class="pronlink" href="" onclick="javascript:show_sp()" onmouseout="status='';return true;" onmouseover="status='Click to toggle pronunciation';return true;" title="Click to show spelled">Show Spelled Pronunciation</a> </span> </span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron">em-<span class="boldface">breys</span></span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" onmouseout="swapLunaImage('selected', this);" onmouseover="swapLunaImage('default', this);" src="http://sp.ask.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"> <a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="" onclick="javascript:show_ip()" onmouseout="status='';return true;" onmouseover="status='Click to toggle pronunciation';return true;" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a> </span> </span> </span><span class="pg">verb, </span><span class="secondary-bf">-braced, </span><span class="secondary-bf">-brac⋅ing,</span> <span class="pg">noun </span><div class="Lsentnce"><div class="Lis"><a class="AU" href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=Use+embrace+in+a+Sentence&qsrc=2892&o=101993" id="us" onmouseout="linkOut(this,'qry');" onmouseover="linkOver(this,'qry');" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;"></a></div></div><div id="webres"><div class="Lis"><a class="AU" href="http://ask.reference.com/web?q=embrace&o=100049" id="wl" onmouseout="linkOut(this,'wqry');" onmouseover="linkOver(this,'wqry');" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;"><b id="wqry"></b></a></div></div><div id="imgres"><div class="Lis"><a class="AU" href="http://ask.reference.com/pictures?q=embrace&o=100049" id="il" onmouseout="linkOut(this,'iqry');" onmouseover="linkOver(this,'iqry');" style="color: #333333; text-decoration: underline;"><b id="iqry"></b></a></div></div><span class="pg">–verb (used with object) </span><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">1.</td> <td>to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">2.</td> <td>to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: <span class="ital-inline">to embrace an idea. </span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">3.</td> <td>to avail oneself of: <span class="ital-inline">to embrace an opportunity. </span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">4.</td> <td>to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): <span class="ital-inline">to embrace Buddhism. </span></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">5.</td> <td>to take in with the eye or the mind.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr> <td class="dnindex" width="35">6.</td> <td>to encircle; surround; enclose.</td> </tr>
</tbody></table><table class="luna-Ent"><tbody>
<tr><td class="dnindex" width="35">7.</td> <td>to include or contain: <span class="ital-inline">An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For me, it's all about definition No. 3 ... to avail oneself. I want to take a more active part in my life. (You're probably thinking um ... duh!) This year was a somewhat hard one. Lots of things that I thought were just a given, weren't. I doubted myself and my abilities - though I vanquished that doubt quickly time and time again. I sometimes felt that my life was just being spent going from one task to another and that I was forgetting to enjoy the process and the moments in between. So for 2010 ... I will embrace the changes that will come into our lives - expected and unexpected. I will embrace new opportunities and go after the ones that I truly want. I will embrace my life. I will find ways to enhance it and stick with the ones that work for me, and change the ones that don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now ... I need to go embrace some cleaning. For whatever reason this year, I want my Christmas decorations <i>away</i>. I usually keep them up longer, but not this year. I actually considered taking everything down on the 26th, but held off. I think it has to do with just wanting all of 2009 to be done and finished. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Later I plan on doing some self-evaluating. Seeing where I am within myself and what I would like to accomplish for myself this year. From unfinished projects to personal goals. That and some quality snuggling time with the hubby. Sounds like a good day to me!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-38558011975550886212009-12-23T22:59:00.000-05:002009-12-23T22:59:41.350-05:00Merry Christmas to all ....We have family coming up early tomorrow to start our Christmas Eve traditions ... so with being sick this past week, I know this will be the last "liesurely" time I have to check in and wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. <br />
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I'm already starting to think ahead at the possiblities that 2010 will hold for my family and I ... and am feeling extremely greatful and hopeful ... for all the things that we've been blessed with this difficult 2009 and all the things that God and life have in store for us in 2010.<br />
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Embrace the craziness ... you can't escape it. Let it happen, and enjoy the moment! See you after the chaos is over!Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-59243620339643403302009-12-17T00:25:00.000-05:002009-12-17T00:25:10.431-05:00Anyone else feeling the Christmas Crunch?Man ... does it suck. I feel like I've got 100 things to do and definitely not enough time to do them in. Besides all that, an unexpected Saturday entertaining family (which I love and am thankful to see them ... but ack!). It seems that I keep pushing everything to the back burner thinking that I'll somehow find the time ... but secretly - secretly I know that this is what <i>always</i> happens to me when I get overwhelmed. Suddenly the most silliest of things get done before what needs to get done. <br />
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Do you do that too? (Please tell me that you do!)<br />
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Today I honestly couldn't tell you what I did other than load & empty the dishwasher, clean pots, scrub the sink, make macaroons (then eat one too many cause they were so darn tasty ... and btw ... really easy to make - followed the recipe from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/BAKERS-ONE-BOWL-Coconut-Macaroons/Detail.aspx">allrecipes.com</a>), did laundry (still have the whites to do), made a fabric flower pin from this tutorial at <a href="http://blairpeter.typepad.com/weblog/2006/03/fabric_flowers.html">WiseCraft's </a>blog and made dinner. After that I sat down to eat dinner with the hubby and vegged out as we watched Sing-Off (I think that's it?) on NBC and wrote down the sizes of particular fabrics I need to get started cutting for a quilt and did a Suduko puzzle.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/Sym_RCkq1FI/AAAAAAAABzo/GZ0NpQeH8mQ/s1600-h/stroofies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/Sym_RCkq1FI/AAAAAAAABzo/GZ0NpQeH8mQ/s320/stroofies.jpg" /></a><br />
Totally motivating, isn't it? I'm hoping tomorrow is better ... and that I have more energy than I did today. Going to bed now (12:15am isn't late, is it?) and waking up early tomorrow to make these guys ... Stroofilies (for lack of proper spelling - it's how I spell them!) They're an Italian thing ... basically small dough balls, fried then coated with honey and rainbow sprinkles. SO yummy. <br />
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After that, clean up - go with the hubby for his haircut and then hit the mall to finish up some last minute shopping! Planning on finishing wrapping everything that night. Well - that's the plan. We'll see if it works!<br />
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I'm <i>so</i> wishing that I could be pulling out my sewing machine and get started on the quilt & some other quick projects - but it's too cumbersome to take everything out for 1 or 2 days before company visits. <br />
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Oh ... and since we're confessing here ... I've totally dropped the ball on my Journal Your Christmas/December Daily/Holidays in Hand album. This year though, I've made it farther than ever ... I actually put together an album! I've also tried to keep track of what happened on what day - but we'll see if it ever winds up coming to fruition.<br />
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I hear my bed calling ... Hopefully all of you are finding your way out of the chaos that the season creates and into some peace & quiet. Good luck! I'll be here sporadically as I can ... and maybe even to post some pictures of what I make!Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-37326185124588835822009-12-11T01:09:00.000-05:002009-12-11T01:09:04.501-05:00Busy week<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I can't really come up with a good list of why it's been so busy ... but it feels like it has! Just the usual cleaning, cooking and crafting going on! We had about 5 inches of snow yesterday in the wee early morning and I was up with the hubby as he left for work ... and watched him take a big whooping fall onto his tuckus ... twice. The poor thing ... he has a wife that only stifles her laugh long enough to ask if he's okay then lets loose!<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm a lucky girl though ... today (the 11th) is my birthday and he always comes through for me. He's taking me into Manhattan to see "my" tree (also known as the Rockefeller Center Tree) and a quick visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral (love that church) to light some candles and say some prayers ... lunch is still up in the air - <a href="http://carminesnyc.com/">Carmine's</a> or <a href="http://www.brotherjimmys.com/">Brother Jimmy's</a> ... (I'm a tough date, aren't I? ... old school Italian or really good pulled pork & hush puppies).<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tonight he called on his way home from work telling me that he was running late because something happened as he was leaving ... no biggie, just held dinner up a bit ... and in he walks with a dozen red roses and a Milky Way (my favorite). (I'll get my card later today since it's only 1am.) Seriously ... men could take lessons from him. He's attentive to the small things (not all the time, but definitely when it counts!)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He gave me my present over a week ago though ... now, never in my life did I think that I'd ever <i>ever</i> want this item ... nor be thrilled - yes - <i>thrilled</i> to get it ... no, it wasn't the gold initial pendant that I saw at Tiffany's that I mentioned in a <a href="http://latenightcrafter.blogspot.com/2009/11/tiffanys-christmas.html">previous post</a> ... nope ... it was a <a href="http://www.fansedge.com/Jason-Witten-White-Reebok-NFL-Replica-Dallas-Cowboys-Jersey-_1599578452_PD.html">Jason Witten jersey</a>. SO awesome. The man has converted me into a football lover. <br />
</div><a href="http://product.images.fansedge.com/31-73/31-73571-P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://product.images.fansedge.com/31-73/31-73571-P.jpg" width="189" /></a><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Enough lovin' on my husband I guess .... off to bed so we can catch an early-ish train into the city and be back in time for dinner with my parents and then lunch with his and mine Saturday.<br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Oh ... did I neglect to mention the 2 <a href="http://latenightcrafter.blogspot.com/2009/12/thanksgiving-recap-and-december-plan.html">paper/book wreaths</a> that I'm making for my sister in law and her friend that I need done by Sunday? Yeah ... that's just one of the major reasons I've been busy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Enjoy your Friday! <br />
</span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-34724028167775071732009-12-08T01:21:00.003-05:002009-12-08T01:25:56.098-05:00Finally decorated<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I feel like I'm behind the proverbial 8-ball this year ... and not sure why. Today I finally got everything decorated. If there's anything left, it's just minor odds & ends that I forgot about and will put out when I find out about them!<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have realized something though ... I <i>hate</i> putting ornaments on the tree. Just find it to be such a hassle ... but love the final look of the tree. Go figure, right? I had to guilt the hubby into helping me finish it up today ... whatever works, right?<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's the finished product:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/Sx3DKRqtlrI/AAAAAAAABqw/RUcAVFR_gNs/s1600/IMG_3291b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/Sx3DKRqtlrI/AAAAAAAABqw/RUcAVFR_gNs/s400/IMG_3291b.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have to remember to put the tree "skirt" on tomorrow. I just remembered that I used some brown ultra suede fabric that I had ... Let me tell you - it's difficult to work around a train track! Everything is just too bulky and goes too near the tracks.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxwiRWONV9I/AAAAAAAABlo/BSRNUeteR2c/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxwiRWONV9I/AAAAAAAABlo/BSRNUeteR2c/s320/IMG_0764.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We're fortunate that my father-in-law is an avid Lionel train collector/lover - and has been for years and years. The train peeking out from behind the tree there ... he made that for my husband when he was little. After we got married, he got my initial added onto the "train line" on the side. So loving and adorable. Here's a better picture of the train from a few years ago at our old apartment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My husband still doesn't understand why I switched out the accent colors of our tree ... in our apartment I kept the purple that I had when I was single - it went with the brown couch and accents we had in the living room. In the house ... the purple kinda clashes with the blue walls, know what I mean? Poor guy ... he just shakes his head while I carry on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I was going to be all tech-savvy and attempt making a little collage with our other bits & pieces of stuff here ... but the computer I'm on doesn't have Picasa loaded and quite frankly, I should've been in bed an hour ago! Maybe tomorrow?<br />
</span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-78043326556367566442009-12-06T16:32:00.000-05:002009-12-06T16:32:44.119-05:00Today ...<span style="font-size: small;">Doing a lot of Christmas decorating and cleaning ... so I'm posting from <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Simple Woman’s Daybook</a> which you can find <a href="http://scrappyknitter.typepad.com/odds_and_ends/" target="_blank">here</a>.<strong> </strong></span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Outside my Window:</strong> Is beautifully covered in snow.<br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Thinking:</strong> That I love how the decorations look once they're done ... but gripe about doinCg them.<br />
<strong> I am Thankful For:</strong> A husband that worries when I drive in bad weather.</span> <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>From the Kitchen:</strong> Spaghetti & Meatballs ... starting the gravy in a few minutes</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Learning:</strong> that I have too many projects going on</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Wearing:</strong> sweats & a long sleeve tee<br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Creating:</strong> Christmas :) <br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Going:</strong> To stay home <i>all</i> day :)</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Reading:</strong> CK Magazine<br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Hoping:</strong> That I'll finish all the decorating by tonight<br />
</span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>I am Hearing: </strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">The sound of my DVR shows being watched after a few weeks of neglect, which will result in a happy husband when he checks out the DVR tonight</span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong></strong></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Around the House:</strong> Are boxes & </span>bins of Christmas<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>One of my Favorite Things:</strong> The Lenox ornament my husband bought me on our first married christmas</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>A Few Plans for Next Week:</strong> christmas cookies, making some other holiday favorites </span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A Picture to Share: <span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"></span></strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span></strong></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxwiFZPUIvI/AAAAAAAABlU/7vvBRgMvEj0/s1600/IMG_0759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxwiFZPUIvI/AAAAAAAABlU/7vvBRgMvEj0/s200/IMG_0759.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></strong></span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111924595362005037.post-38553718353303848552009-12-02T01:17:00.000-05:002009-12-02T01:17:43.534-05:00Time off as family photographer ...<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love getting pictures of my family - the candid ones, the posed ones ... you name it, I love to have it ... but sometimes it's just too difficult. The men & children argue about not wanting to do the pictures, they won't cooperate and frankly it just irritates me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm finding more and more though that I'm the only one left that is willing to pull out the camera at family functions. It's a little disheartening. Especially when I realize (like I did today) that I frankly didn't have time to take random photos (like of the turkey, us all hanging out, the Wii tournaments that went on, etc.) and no one else even thought of it in my place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxMrVbumxtI/AAAAAAAABhM/4gHW9Wj9VJk/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_iH2AuQffX2E/SxMrVbumxtI/AAAAAAAABhM/4gHW9Wj9VJk/s200/IMG_3248.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The only pictures I did get were a couple of my nieces & nephews and my brother's family photo (because my sister in law asked me to take it for them) and one that I ran in to take with my husband because we haven't had a good, recent picture together in a while. All my other table & decoration pictures were taken either the night before or during the 10 minute lull after I came downstairs from getting ready and waiting for guests to arrive.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I guess I'll have to add one more task to my list that day and be sure to remind my husband that he's my backup photographer, and not just the Wii Tournament coordinator.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Beverlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04628956753546598224noreply@blogger.com1