Down to the Wire

    Welp folks, we're down to the wire over here again. August 31. Meeting my monthly goals on the last day of the month should be pretty embarrassing, huh? (And by early August, I clearly meant, AUGUST. Right, La!?)   But in all fairness, we had a busy month-and a wonderfully celebratory and crazy month! First, we celebrated Handsome's birthday and our anniversary! Then he surprised me with a trip to Clearwater Beach, FL so we traveled and ate and sat out by the water and had many adventures per usual.
Then he started school and we recovered from our trip! and now I'm prepping for another trip to go home to see my parents and meet their puppies! In the midst of all that, I've been sewing and filling out job applications! Sooooo, instead of boring you with lots of info about THAT, I'll just show you some of my fave pics from August!   Here are Mr. RH's birthday presents! Two from me and one from the bloodhound.   

 

I'm quite proud of the next two actually. Not because they are photographic masterpieces, but because I got my big 102 pounder into my car and drove her thirty minutes to her pet resort (aka the boarding kennel) all by myself.  She isn't a "jumper." Usually my husband lifts her in to vehicles, but she neither trusts me to lift her, nor am I particularly able to lift a squirming beast. Thus, coaxing her in was quite a feat. And settling her down once she got in was no small task, but as you can see, she eventually relaxed and started soaking up some sun! 

Left: Sniffing everything and wandering around.
Right: relaxing after realizing that there are no new people smells in the car and that she might be in for another 12 hour car ride (but that is a story for another day).

 And these last are of paradise. All taken from our vacay. LOVE the beach, and we live in a "landlocked" state, so it is not very often that we get to go to the sit near the shore. It was a blessing and a really sweet time.

Most of those are pretty self-explanatory, except the second one of the dolphin is Winter! The dolphin who lost her tail and is now the star of a major motion picture called Dolphin Tale. It is a pretty sweet flick, similar to Free Willy, and I'd recommend it to you, except I don't recommend movies with Ashley Judd in them. (Again, a story for another day). 
More Later, but who knows when later will be.... *could be soon with so many stories for other days, huh? Ha! 

Meeting Goals: Photo Dump Cop-Out Post.

Yikes!! So I haven't posted since the 1st of June! But getting this photo dump completed today keeps me on track to meet my (slacker) goals for 2012!

....

These little angels are my parents newest family members. I haven't met them yet, but I DIE over the cuteness. I have to get home to meet them before they get much bigger. 

This was a beautiful scene on my way home from work the other night. 

I'm participating in this Hexy Modern Flair (MF) quilt along. It is my first time paper piecing and this is my first completed flower! I have made a few others and have some progress on basting, so it will take a while, BUT I'm enjoying it!

We finally have a yard! (First time in our marriage... and in my adult life). SO we planted a garden and I finally found this little lovely a few weeks ago! It was delish!

I made this Pinterest inspired wreath for the 4th of July! It has been on our door all month. I think it is coming down tomorrow, because I'm ready for something a little less THEMED.

Ok, that is it for now. Back soon, in early August to share a few surprises!

Y-O-Y-O-WHY?

So lately I've been asking myself a lot of WHY questions and thought I'd share them with you. (Don't worry, none of them are super deep and thoughtful. Just funny things about my little life).   Why do I like starting the washing machine, but hate taking things out of the dryer?  and Why do I hate loading the dishwasher, but like unloading it?   Why does my Big Baby need a human to stand with her while she eats her breakfast and dinner? Why have I been moving from one injury to another the last few weeks?
Why do I want to go to Starbucks EVERY single day?
Why do I like starting books so much more than finishing them?
Why do I think workout clothes are so much cuter than regular clothes?
Why am I still thinking about adopting the cutest little dachshund we saw at a tractor supply store a few weekends ago? Why do I not like cutting up fabric for projects?  Why does chocolate come into my thoughts at least four times each day? Why do I like vegetables more than fruit? Why do I like homemade soup more than almost anything else for dinner?  Why am I obsessed with the NBA right now? *And when did this start?* *GO HEAT!*
Why would I still be thinking about a blog redesign when I'm terribly bad about posting consistently?
Why did I write a WHY post? Hmmmm.

 (P.S. I've been singing Y-O-Y-O-Y-O-WHY, Oh Why, Oh Why to the tune of Ole-ole-ole-ole. Where does this stuff come from in my brain?)

Photo Dump!

 So May has just about come and gone, and I haven't posted. I'm sure you aren't THAT surprised. But because one of my 2012 goals was to post at least ONCE every month, I'm throwing this one in at the last minute.  These are a bunch of photos from my phone that show you some of what I've been up to and have been enjoying the past month.   Here is my new girl! She is our "BIG BABY" bloodhound. She weighs a solid 102 lbs and is 4 years old already. We adopted her in the fall and are having sooooo much fun with her.   

I went to visit my parents and utilized my mom's fabric stash to create some baby quilts for friends having babies this summer. I made two very similar, very simple little tops for these two sweet baby boys who are due in late July/early August. They are both the second boy in their family, and while I didn't make a quilt for either of their big brothers, I think sometimes it is good for the second child to get a spoiling the first child didn't get and I hope their moms like the quilts!

 I also got my hands on this pretty little charm pack of Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille. LOVE it!

Here I am sinking my painted toes in the sand and water on a remote tropical island. Ha! Just kidding. I snapped this photo of my feet in the pool at my parents house one day when it was already like 90 degrees in April. LOVED it!

I ordered a new phone case for my phone, because mine was not doing well at all. This is a reflection of it on the mirror of my purse. Along with my granny hand at the bottom of the reflection. It is a bright and cheery-cherry case! You can get your own from Gelaskins. 

Turtles on a log on the golf course. No one wanted to be in the water that day, so it was tight quarters on that branch.

Pretty flowers in our yard.

Another pretty.

Seeing a trend? I took that Big Baby Bloodhound for a walk one day and I forced her to stop while I took pictures of these flowers. I thought the color was so vibrant that I had to have a pic! It was quite a feat keeping her still without dropping my camera phone, but I'm happy with the result. 

While RH was home for his one-week summer vacay, we stained our planter this darker brown color for a change and to protect the wood. We love the new color!

 Hope you enjoyed these snapshots of my life! I'll be back in June!  

 

Work In Progress Wednesday: Emroidery 101

 So last week, for the first time I ever, I linked up and shared my Etchings quilt in progress. I had so much fun visiting other blogs and having new visitors commenting on my blog that I decided to do it again! This time I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced. Thanks for stopping by if you're visiting from the link up!
 I went to my first (right Mom?) embroidery class this past weekend. (I add the parenthesis because my Mom would know better if I had taken one as a child. Her memory is better than mine. Not sure what that says about either of us.) Anyway, I signed up at my LQS (that is my Local Quilt Store, for my non-quilting-lovely readers).  For our class we needed to get our hands on a copy of Redwork Winter Twitterings and show up! So I did! And I had the best time.  Here is Redwork Winter Twitterings:  

 There are lots of snowmen and snowbirds in the Winter Twitterings book. It is very cute and I think I'll do some bird-y projects for Christmas.  My teacher traced a pattern* on some cotton fabric and explained a bunch of the basics to us! Here is the progress I have made so far.   

 I love doing handwork, because I can sit with my husband and work on something while he studies or with the television on in the background. It is a great way to BE around each other. My machine is noisy and in a back room, so if I want to spend time with him my man and get some work done on a project, embroidery is the way to go! After this project I'm going to get started on another piece that I'd love to frame for my living room or one of our bedrooms!
Thanks for checking in!

 *Personally, I'm not into super country-cutesy stuff like snowmen for my house decor, but I'm going to finish this project for the practice. It does have a certain Christmas charm to it that could definitely be made into something... hmmm.

I'm Wanting A Spring In My Step!

(Pre-post note: This new blogger set-up is very strange and I'm hoping I get used to it very soon).  * * * * * *
Hello Lovelies,
Spring has sprung and it is quite beautiful and green where we are! 

  We have had a number of rainstorms, afternoon showers, and lots of sunshine! I feel like everything is breathing and alive! It is definitely refreshing. It almost has me wanting to move outside and do most of my living on our patio! 
All the wonderful weather has me itching to go shopping. I have resisted the urge to go into any stores because I know seeing the cute springy / summery tops and bottoms will have me really wanting some new wardrobe pieces. But, I'm going to stay away (as best as I can) because 1. I'm still unemployed! and 2. I'd really like to drop just a couple of pounds before I get anything new for the bod. 
However, I have NOT been able to resist looking at shoes online. It is a terrible thing, that started with the need for a new pair of running shoes (mine have been causing me some pain). I got onto Zappos, shopped around, and ordered with a giftcard that I had. But I didn't stop there. Somehow I shopped around, and went from site to site and ended up on TOMS and now I'm swooning for a pair. I have never tried them on, so I don't know if I'd like the fit, but the idea of shoes (not sandals) that don't require socks sounds sooo appealing in these warm wonderful days. These are my favorite : Ash Canvas Women's Classic for the low, low price of $44.00.

But I like these a lot too: Cream Metallic Linen Women's Classic for $48.00

Ahhh, if only I had a spring birthday!

Work In Progress: Etchings Quilt

One of my newly revisited hobbies is quilting! I sewed and quilted some as a child and then spent many years away from the machine. I made Mr. RH a quilt for his college graduation the year we got engaged and married, but did not have my own machine until Christmas a few years ago. I now have a machine and a great fabric stash, thanks to my Mama, and have recently been inspired and have gotten back into the swing of things. 
I took a class at a local quilt store (LQS) in February  and signed up for another this weekend. It forced me to do some prep work and re-learn how to thread my machine and spin a bobbin before I went to class, so that was a great kick-start. I'm thinking my next class will be very inspiring, too!
But in the meantime, I've been using the skills and  fabrics I already have for a few projects! One of those is, what I hope will be, a very beautiful quilt.   The pattern is called: "dream big" and is found in Camille Roskelley's book "Simplify." 

 She is a wonderful designer and the pattern is easy to read and understand.
I used a jelly roll for the fabrics in my quilt. A jelly roll is around 40: 2 1/2" strips of different fabrics that all coordinate from a fabric line. The one I chose is called Etchings and was designed by 3 Sisters for Moda. It is beautiful: featuring greys, blues, reds and creams. It has some prints that look like tourist maps and some with words etched on. 

The pattern had me cut various size rectangles and some squares from the jelly roll strips and arrange them. I haven't sewn all the strips together, yet, but I  took a photo of the whole arrangement.  It took me a solid six or so hours to get everything laid out exactly how I wanted it.  Now the next step is to stitch all of those interlocking crosses and rows together.

I'm really excited about it. Now, off to the machine!

   P.S. I am linking this post up to The Needle and Thread Network WIP!

A Little About Me.

Whoa!! Where did March go? I woke up this morning and realized I had better get a move on if I was going to meet my bloggy goal for the year of at least one post each month! Ha, I know that is not much of a goal for most bloggers, but it is a step up from last year for me. Anyway, I figure it is about time I answer some questions Callie, at Through Clouded Glass, posted when she tagged me for a post way long ago!
1. If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?  This question is REALLY tough. I want to say it'd be a mixed CD, but... that is probably cheating right? So instead of writing out the mixed songs I would LOVE to have with me, I'll just go with my (probably all-time) favorite CD, Matchbox Twenty: Yourself or Someone Like You.  

2. If you were a teacher, what subject would you teach? This is hard for me, because I'm really thinking about wanting to be a teacher. My background would let me teach something like government, law, or history. However, I wish I was a talented artist or art history student that could teach in one of those more creative ventures.  
3. What is your favorite verse and/or quote? Verse: Zephaniah 3:17. It's been my favorite for at least ten years. It says"The Lord your God is with you, He is might to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

4. Why did you start blogging? I liked reading other blogs, so I thought I might like documenting my own stories, thoughts, and whims. It is a lot more difficult for me to get to that documenting part than it once was, but I still really like collecting recipes and occasionally photos and thoughts through blogs, so I try to add a little to that world when I can. 
5. What is one book you think everyone should read (besides the Bible, because that's a given)?
6. Favorite drink to get at Starbucks? Well, before food allergies I would have said a Iced Tall Soy Latte. But these days, I mostly enjoy iced black teas (1/2 sweetened), hot Refresh teas, and the very occasional tall soy hot chocolate with only 1 pump of mocha and 1 pump of vanilla and no whip cream.
And speaking about the 'Bux, I also really, really, loved Iced Caramel Macchiatos at one point before I quit the espresso. I ordered those with a little less caramel than they choose to drizzle. Yummm!   Now I'm drooling and I'm going to go cry a little river thinking about espresso.
7. Would you rather it snow or rain? I'm a big fan of rain. I like watching it when I'm inside and curled up on a couch. Actually, I like watching snow when I'm curled up on the couch, too. And I didn't even really mind shoveling it the few times I have done so recently. So it is tough to choose.  Final answer: I'll say if I'm inside I like rain. If I'm outside walking around, I like snow.    And yes,that is a complicated answer but I grew up in a very dry climate (like the middle of the desert) so any moisture is awesome in my book.

8. Advice that your mom gave you that you never forgot? Do what you love, even if the world doesn't value it or understand it. 

9. Most read website or blog (besides mine, of course . . . *wink, wink*)?I read www.blueeyedbride.com almost every day. I love Erin's posts. She is a thoughtful interesting mother and I enjoy that she posts all the time, because I like new blog content. Pretty funny considering how often I write and publish my own blog content.

10. One thing you would tell your 13 year old self (got this idea from Jessica)? Muscles are beautiful.
I would tell my 17 year old self to hold onto her voice. Meaning, never stop speaking out about things that are wrong. Never worry if your words might offend someone, if you're still being true to yourself.
11. What do you hope people will say about you after you die? I actually think about this sort of a lot. Is that weird? I hope people will say that I was a loving, enthusiastic, deeply committed friend and wife, and most importantly a light (shining because of Him) in this dark world. So that was fun! And thanks to Callie for tagging me.   I know I'm supposed to tag my friends for the same and come up with questions, too so 
Kelley La  BrittanyBrittney Answer these questions: 1. What is your favorite holiday?  2. What do you like most about yourself? 3. If you can only choose one type of accessory to have for the rest of your life what would it be and why? 4. What was your favorite subject in high school? 5. Are you still friends with friends from high school? 6. What is your exercise of choice?  7. What is your most guilty grocery store indulgence? 8. Any shows that you are loving?9. Favorite all-time movie and album?  Thanks for playing along.

 

Leaping!

 Happy Leap Day 2012 Friends! Did you know that there are 97 leap days every 400 years? It's true! Leap years are every four years, except in years ending in 00... UNLESS they can be divided by 40. Don't believe me? Check out this explanation. I'm just love facts about days and dates, so I just thought I'd throw this tidbid out there for you to enjoy as well! Hope you get some wonderful leaping in today!  

Songs I'm Loving

I have recently found some new Christian music that I just LOVE. You may or may not have heard these artists, but I just have to share them, because their music is TOO good and TOO uplifting not to.   First up, Lindsay Mccaul.  I bought Lindsay's cd "If It Leads Me Back" a few weeks ago and I tweeted about how excited I was then.  I had only heard a couple of her songs at that point, but since I have gotten the album, I have pretty much been listening to it non-stop. And that is saying a lot for me, because I don't often listen to music any place other than in my car.    
Here is "Say My Name" which is definitely one of my favorites:

 Next is Audrey Assad.  I don't have her new album "heart" yet, it just came out of Valentine's Day, but I have listened to many of the songs. "Sparrow" is way up at the top for me.  Listen to it: 

 And finally, I have had the newist Shane and Shane cd , "the one you need," for quite some time, but I just LOVE it too and think you might enjoy it. I have listened to it sooo many times already that it just might be my at-the-house soundtrack. The whole things pretty much rocks, but "Miracle" might be my favorite on the whole album.  

So I hope I have introduced  you to something new that will intensify your all-day worship experience of the one who made us and loves us. 
I'm here and I'm still writing,
Katie Beth

Wreath-Making: A Fall Wreath

 So one of the things I have been doing with my time lately is making wreaths.  It all started when I realized I was going to have a very beautiful, almost hunter green front door and that it would be mine, all mine, for at least the next several years.  I decided then and there that I would REALLY like to have a wreath for every season. I started brainstorming and imagining what they could be and what they could look like.  I would have a beautiful orange and brown and yellow leafy one in the fall and I would have a beautiful berry one for Christmas and I would have a heart for Valentine's day! Oh the possibilities were so endless... 
I started looking a little online, and a little at stores, and quickly realized that the offerings neither 1) fit my budget, nor 2) fit with my vision.  Some came close in either category, but none fit both categories, so I just ventured on into the blooms section of my local craft store and gathered up a bunch of lovelies and a grapevine wreath and set off towards home.
Now, I'm not one for hot glue.  I think its stringy and not so permanent and it just bugs me, so I quickly realized I needed to attach the blooms, leaves, ribbons, etc., in another fashion . I decided to wire them on and I think it worked quite well. 
I started with fall, because that was the season it was when we moved into our house with our very beautiful hunter-green-esque front door. So without further ado, here is my homemade fallish wreath!

I still love it and can't wait to put it back on my front door next year! I'm here, and I'm still writing,

  

Lately

Lately, my head is spinning with creativity.
 Lately, I've been swooning over quilting patterns and fabrics. Lately,  I've been driving my Mama and my hubby crazy with all my fabric and quilting chatter. Lately, I've been dreaming of a more creative career, but I really have no idea how to create THAT for myself.

Lately, I've been working on reshaping my body and my thoughts.
Lately, I have been trying to part with Dr. Pepper, or at least severely limit our interactions with one another.
Lately, I've been sore from working out,  but so satisfied with the soreness. Lately, I've been reading and reading and enjoying both novels and non-fiction. 

Lately, I've been paying more attention to how much things cost and flirting with the idea of trying to incorporate coupons more successfully. 
Lately, I have been sleeping with both my ceiling fan and heated mattress pad on low.  
Lately, I've been happy at home.   

Intentional Changes.

I have spent the first two weeks of the new year brainstorming ideas that I could work on or change.  Some people declared theirs "resolutions" and began at the beginning of the year.  After being inundated with  reports about how unlikely we are to actually effect long-term change if we start on January 1, I was tempted to wait or not announce anything. However,  I gave it some serious thought and came up with a few things I have been thinking about or already working on, and created a list of what I'd like to do or accomplish in the next fifty weeks.  Here is my list: 1. Finish 12 books.  I say finish because I have a few books sitting on my nightstand that I really should get through before I purchase or begin any new ones.  2. Make curtains for two bedrooms and our living room. 3. Train for and consider running 13.1 miles in June in a race.   4.  Continue to cook regularly and maybe add in a few more recipes so that Handsome doesn't get bored. 5. Post pictures of wreaths I have made recently to the blog!  6. Order our wedding album before our anniversary in August and order prints... Embarrassing I know.  7. Work on more scripture memory verses and get at least a little plugged in at a church in our new town. 8. Blog more. Even if it means I just get one post posted a month. So, that is all I have.  Some of these things have been troubling me for a great deal of time, so 2012 would be a great time to take care of them.  I have other thoughts and ideas and little to-dos but I'm thinking big picture here people and I want to set attainable goals that still might do some stretching and make room for growing. I'll try to keep you updated.  

2011 By the Numbers

So it is now the middle of January. I still want to do some form of 2011 recap, so  here is 2011 by the numbers!
1: Trip to the Emergency Room,
1: Anniversary celebrated at a very delicious steakhouse, complete with flowers and a bracelet from my man
1: Morning in my old high school
1: New addition to the family! (our 102 lb. bloodhound named Big Baby)
and 1: missed trip to Hawaii! :(
2: Moves! One across the country, one across our town.
and 2: Missed days of work (one following our 1 trip to the ER). 
3: Job applications completed!
and 3: Friends having beautiful babies! 
and 3: Weeks of eating-in, almost exclusively...the longest amount of time we have avoided restaurants during our entire marriage.
4: Months of school and months of being jobless.
5: Big finals for hubby, but 0 big tests for me!
6: ..is close to the number of times I blogged. So embarrassing. 
and 6: times I stepped out of my comfort zone to meet new people since moving to our new town.
7: Trips to Hometown throughout the year.
8: Months of work!
9ish?: Different churches we visited or tried due to trips out of town and our move!
10: (approximately) the number of new recipes we have incorporated into our regular repertoire.
11: States visited including, but not limited to, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Texas! 
16: Church league softball games
21: times I felt embarrassed or put my foot in my mouth. (I'm guessing here people).
(approximately) 40: Known food allergies
60: Skin tests for hives
(approximately) 80: Prescriptions filled and taken! Sheesh!!
(approximately) 120: Boxes packed and unpacked.
Countless: hugs, kisses, shouts, "I love yous" and "I'm sorrys"
********
And Christmas by the numbers:
We saw: 4 parents, 3 grandparents, 2 brothers, 1 sister-in-law, 4 nieces, 3 family pets, 2 aunts, 2 uncles, 1 cousin, and countless friends and  family.  It was a busy but full time.