2011 Resolutions

I don't usually get into the whole "New Years Resolution" thing, but I thought I might try it this year.

I think.

I've been working on this list since the first of the year. But I've never published it because I'm already not doing well on some of the things. And yet, I'm doing really well on other things.

1. Last year I have really gotten into crafting and I have LOVED it. I want to do even more. I have already found found a few cute things I want to try, like this cute t-shirt scarf. I also really want to start making my own greeting cards. I wanted to do this last year, but I kept putting it off and then I didn't have any to send out for Christmas. I want to have a well stocked collection for all occasions so I'm going to try and break it up.
January - Christmas cards
February - Valentine Cards
March - Happy Birthday Cards
April - Happy Mother's Day Cards
May - Happy Father's Day Cards
June - Thank You Cards
July - Get well cards
August - Just thinking of you cards
September - maybe more Happy Birthday Cards
October - maybe more Thank You Cards
November - maybe more Christmas Cards
December - Lets me honest now, I'll probably take a break so I can concentrate on Christmas. :)

2. Exercise. Lets face it, I am not in very good shape and I don't like it. Around Thanksgiving I found a stationary bike for $50! It is like new and the people I bought it from paid $200 so I got a killer deal. I thought about putting it in my craft room so it wouldn't be in the way, but I figured it would become an out of sight, out of mind thing, so its in my front room. Ask my husband, he has stubbed his toe on it many times now. (This is one of the areas I'm already not doing well at. But I recommitted myself this week.)

3. Save for a cruise. Its something I've always wanted to do and something I've had to talk hard about to convince Josh to try out. We thought about going on one this year for our 10th anniversary, but I think we need a little more money saved up first so we are shooting for a cruise in 2012.

4. Housework. That is almost a foreign concept to me because I have become such a slacker! I need to find a routine that fits my schedule.

5. This was originally pay off the truck and then buy a new car. But when the car became such a hassle we had to reverse this one to: Buy a new car and then still try to pay the truck off early. Hopefully sometime this summer.

6. Get a handle on some health issues. I'm not in bad health, but I have some things that bother me. My PCOS has suddenly got my body all out of whack again and its driving me nuts. I also have some foot pain that I have been living with for years now. I am going to see a doctor about it this year and figure out why it hurts all the time and what I can do to fix whatever the problem is.

7. Just enjoy life more. Stop sweating over the big stuff and start enjoying the small stuff.

New & Improved

For Christmas, I got Josh a new hat. The exact same hat he got last time he got a new hat. I asked him his size and asked him a few times if he was sure because I was ordering it online. His hat size used to be 7-1/4. It probably would be still, except he now shaves his head. He didn't have a lot of hair before, so its hard to believe that his hat size changed so much.

We finally got his new hat last week. It fits perfectly.

 I am married to such a sexy man!

Another correct item we had to track down was one of my birthday presents. I asked for an external storage device. Instead I got an external hard drive that burns DVDs. When I took it back to Staples, they asked me if anything was wrong with it. I told them, "Its not an external storage device." They look at me funny so I added, "No, just a husband error."

 When I ordered my external storage device online I also ordered this ScanDisk micromate. I love it! I can just plug my memory card into it and then plug that into my computer. (Basically, so I can blog at work.)

 In case you are wondering why I am taking so many pictures lately (of even the dumbest things like Scandisk Micromates), this is why.

 So far, I am in love. I got a new Kodak camera in 2009. Within a week I hated it. But I tried to give it more time to make sure it wasn't just me. By the time I realized how much I hated it, I had lost the receipt. So I've just tried to make myself like it. A few weeks ago I had enough and I ordered this Cannon. I am trying to take pictures of EVERYTHING so I can make sure I like it. If I decide I don't in the next two weeks, I'll send it back and try again. But at this point, I don't see that happening.

 So be prepared for posts with lots of pictures!

Quilt Square Scarves

A few weeks ago Jessica and I went to Vernal together. While in Wal-Mart she wanted to look at fabric for a scarf Kim was going to help her make. She invited me too, but I told her no, that involves sewing, and I DO NOT sew.

Then I thought about how much fun they would have. And how one of my New Years Resolutions is to craft more this year. So I went and bought some fabric. Wow, that is expensive, now I was committed.

On Tuesday night, we were able to get together and Kim's house to make our scarves.

My fabric selection. I love the colors!

We started by cutting out 5 inch squares. At first we were going to make scarves that were 9 squares long, but then we decided to do 11 instead. So I cut out 22 squares total.

Then I laid them out in the pattern I wanted.

Then I stacked each side into a pile so as I sewed I could just grab from the top of the pile.

Then came the sewing. Yikes! I can't remember the last time I sewed. It didn't take me long to remember what to do. It also didn't take me long to remember that I don't have the patience to sew.

I sewed each side by sewing two squares together with the pretty sides facing each other. Then I would sew on the next square.

After both strips were sewed, I ironed the seams flat. I ironed them open, but now I'm wondering if I should have just ironed them to one side.

Then I went back to the sewing machine and sewed both strips together with the pretty sides each facing outward. I started by carefully sewing a short end, with the trim. (That took a few attempts.) Then I went up one big side. Then sewed the other small end with a trim. Then back down the last end.

After that I cut the long ends in small strips up to the seam so they would get the frayed look.

I survived sewing!

(Top to Bottom) Kim's, mine, and Jessica's scarves.

When I got home that night, I hurry and threw it in the washer and then the dryer so it would get the frayed look. But when I pulled it out, one of the ends had come unsewn where I had tried to sew in the trim. Argh! That is why I don't sew!

I hurry and dug out my old machine that was covered in literally 14 years of dust. Luck was with me and it was still threaded after all of these years. Heaven help me if I ever run out of thread.

I am so proud of my new scarf. I took it to work and showed to it to just about everyone and I kept bragging how I actually sewed something. Someday I might even make some more.

Hello World

"Well, hello world, how you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

Sometimes I feel as cold as steel

And broken like I'm never going to heal

I see a light, a little grace, a little faith unfurl

Well, hello world"

One of my New Years Resolutions is to try to find more joy in everyday life. Infertility has held me prisoner for too long. I became so caught up in my infertility that I lost everything else about me. Now I slowly feel like I am rediscovering myself. I can't be a mom, but I can still be other things.

I am a wife.

I am an aunt.

I am a mom to too many cats.

I am a friend.

I am a crafter.

I am a somewhat good cook.

I am a wanna be amateur photographer.

I am a over zealous blogger.

I am someone who enjoys good company.

I am someone who enjoys reading.

I am someone who enjoys girls nights.

I am someone who loves learning new things.

I am a child of God.

I think I still have a ways to go before I feel complete and content with the life I have, but I'm enjoying my journey as I look for other ways to enjoy life.

Traffic crawls, cell phone calls

Top video screams at me through my tinted windows I see

A little girl, rust red minivan

She's got chocolate on her face, got little hands

And she waves at me, yeah, she smiles at me

Well, hello world, how you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

Sometimes I feel as cold as steel

Broken like I'm never going to heal

I see a light, a little hole, and a little girl

Well hello world

Every day I drive by a little white church

Its got these little white crosses like angels in the yard

Maybe I should stop in and say a prayer

Maybe talk to God like he is there

Oh, I know He's there, yeah, I know He's there

Well, hello world, how you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

Sometimes I feel as cold as steel

And broken like I'm never going to heal

I see a light, a little grace, a little faith unfurl

Well, hello world

Sometimes I forget what livings for and I hear my life

through my front door

And I'll be there, oh, I'm home again

I see my wife, little boy, little girl

Hello world, hello world

All the empty disappears, I remember why I'm here

Just surrender and believe, I fall down on my knees

Oh, hello world, hello world

Hello world

(Lady Antebellum "Hello world" lyrics found on http://www.songlyrics.com/)

Weekend Pictures

Here's a few pictures from our weekend. 

Me and Ally chilling on the couch. We had to get a picture because she usually isn't this loving. 

 Me getting ready for my date. ;)

 The stud that took me on a date this weekend.

We looked at rings and then went to Quizno's for lunch. 

 Zipper pouting because I'm outside cheating on him. 

 He's jealous because I'm outside holding Holly. I tried to get a self portrait, but I'm not very good at that. See the milk on her chin, she would only cooperate long enough for one picture because she wanted to get back to eating. 

Artful Delight January Sketch

One of my big goals this year is to craft more, especially cards. I'm a little nervous about making cards so I have found some new blogs to follow. One blog is Artful Delight. I'm still browsing through the website, but it looks like she does a challenge each month. She posts a sketch (blue print) and then you you it to make something be it a scrapbook page or a card. I thought this sketch looked pretty simple, so I thought I would give it a try. 

 I needed another thank you card, for a friend, so I thought I'd make one using the sketch. I used Close to My Heart paper, some ribbon and then a flower. I used liquid glass to glue on the accessories, I hope it works.  I think it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. I'm little worried it will fall apart when I mail it, so friend who is going to get it, if it looks funny when you get it, this is what it was supposed to look like. If it falls apart, look at my picture and know that I love you. 

The Three Stooges

While sleeping Monday night, I heard a crash in the kitchen and I thought "Hm, wonder if the cats found a mouse." We live next to a hayfield and the occasional mouse does get in, but they never last long. The next morning we couldn't find any proof anywhere. Most cats eat the mice they kill, but ours are spoiled, so they usually don't. Then on Tuesday night the same thing happened. This time we got up to investigate. Sure enough, Buddy had a mouse in his mouth. I was so proud, it was his first mouse. When we woke up the next morning, all we found was three of the cats watching the book shelf very intensely. That's a pretty good sign that the mouse got away and that was the last place they saw it. How can ONE mouse evade THREE cats? I've decided the cats probably get in the way of each other, so now we call them the three stooges.

Last night the same thing happened again, but it was right at bed time. Since we weren't half asleep, we got up to check. We found three cats (Buddy, Ally and Zipper) trying to get under or behind the computer desk. We finally got it pulled out enough and Buddy dove behind it and came out with a mouse. A mouse that Buddy had every intention of playing with, but apparently not killing. I was standing on a kitchen chair for most of this.

Several times the mouse would get away. I was on the chair shooing it with a stick while Josh was trying to hit it with broom, (maybe I should call this the 5 stooges). At least with our efforts we were able to keep it confined to a corner of the kitchen. The only place for the mouse to hide was under my kitchen shelf, which sits about an inch and a half off of the ground. It should be a safe place for the mouse.

Nope, Buddy's going in after it! He went under the shelf three times (because he let it get away three times).

 Each time Buddy had the mouse, Josh would try to get it with the broom, but Buddy didn't want to share and we didn't want to smack the only cat that could actually fit under the kitchen shelf. Finally when the mouse got away again, Josh was able to get it under the broom and "take care of it."

If it wasn't an mouse (EW!) it would actually be quite hilarious to watch all of this.

  

Thank You Card

I was feeling crafty tonight, so while Josh showered I hurried and whipped this Thank You card together. I used my favorite Close to My Heart paper pack, Sarsaparilla. Its pretty simple, but I think as a beginner card maker, its pretty good. I left it blank inside and penned in my own message, but when I said I LOVE my car, I stamped the word LOVE with a few hearts around it. I'm going to send it to the dealership tomorrow to thank them for my new car. 

More Birthday Stuff

My brother John got me this pretty earring holder for my birthday.

 Because birthday's are so much fun, I celebrated it again last night with my best friend Jessica. (We missed you Kim!) We went to Vernal and did some shopping where of course we bought some stuff for some crafts we want to try out. Then we went to Cafe Rio for dinner. YUM! We always have so much fun together.

Jessica thinks its time I jump into tucks and learn how much fun they are. She always makes the cutest ones, but it involves sewing, so I've never joined in on that fun. But she found the perfect tucks to get my attention.

The bowl to display them in.

Some super cute sunflower tucks! She was right, I LOVE them. Now I just might have to add tuck swap to my monthly girls night out activities. 

 She also got me a cute sunflower sign to go with it.

Thanks Jessica, I love them! Birthdays are so much more fun with good friends.

She came back!

Friday night we had a new stray cat show up. She is very friendly, so I fed her. Then I watched for her all day Saturday. I had finally decided she wasn't going to come back. I looked just as it was getting dark, and there she was!

 We are considering different names. I want something winterish. Right now my list includes:

Nippy (short for Frostnip)

Blizzy (short for Blizzard)

Holly

Felice

Nieve (Spanish for Snow)

 Zipper is all bear rugged out because the house is so warm. But I thought this picture also shows how he has been pouting since the new cat showed up. He does NOT like to share his momma.

 Proof that I need a new point and shoot digital camera. The sunrise was so pretty this morning, but my camera doesn't do it justice.

Holly

I came home yesterday and when I stepped out of the car, I heard a cat cry. My cats are spoiled, so they haven't been out much since it snowed. Most cats can live outside in the winter, mine don't think they can. But Zipper was extra whiny today, so we had thrown him out a few times. He would go to the end of the porch and then cry to come back in. I'm sure he is trying to tell me to make all of the white stuff disappear. 

So when I heard the cat cry, my first thought was that it was him. I could see a cat on the porch, but it wasn't as white as him. So then I thought it was Ally, but it was too white. As I got closer, I realized it wasn't one of our cats. So I carefully set my groceries down and slowly approached. The cat is pretty friendly, it ran right up to me. I picked it up and petted her. Then I walked up to the door and just looked in so Josh could see us. 

 She is so friendly that we think she is someones pet. And since she let me hold her, I decided to give her some food and milk. She followed Josh when he went out to get more of my groceries, and she was out there later when I looked out just to see if she was. But the last time I went out, she was gone. Hopefully she is settled somewhere warm for the night and we will see her again soon. 

And by "we" I only mean me and Josh. Everyone else was pretty jealous. 

 While she was eating I tried to get a better picture of her. She decided on a close up.