Playing Dress-Up

I may be 26, but I know when to play dress-up. Chatting with my grandmother in her yarn room the other night I noticed this pair of sunglasses hanging from a mirror. Curious, I asked her if she used to wear them because they looked vintage to me. She said yes and asked if I would like to have them. Jackpot! Another style that has made its way back around...

SURPRISE!!!

I LOVE surprises. It doesn't matter if they are for me or I'm the one doing the surprising. I think they are great! Back in April, Mom had an excellent idea for a surprise. My grandmother turned 80 this past Friday and Mom thought it would be a good idea for everyone to be there to celebrate with her...and of course it had to be a surprise!

So Friday morning, My brother, his wife, and I headed out for the 9 hour drive to Arkansas.



We got there just in time to freshen up and then head over for the surprise.

I think this was probably the best surprise we have ever pulled off and I'm glad we got to be apart of her 80th birthday celebration.




It was also nice to see my mom and stepdad who just got back from Scotland on a mission trip and my extended family that I only get to see at Christmas.





After dinner we took a few minutes to catch this wonderful occasion on film. Here are all the ladies in the family...









My grandmother with her 2 girls.











My mother and I.








My cousin and I.











My grandmother with her 3 children.









I had an awesome time at dinner and am so thankful for my family. I have had great role models throughout my life and I am so blessed!

Finally Friday

You know those weeks...the ones that on Monday you say to yourself, "Is it Friday yet?" Even though this week wouldn't even make the "bad" list, I'm so glad it's finally Friday!

Spring is here and always brings with it a sense of joy. Thank goodness because it's definitely needed right now.

As I was walking up the steps to my front door the other day, I noticed something new in my flower bed. Back in the Fall, my g-mother, g-father, dad, and step-mom came over to spruce up the yard. I remember my g-mother finding a bulb and planting it, but had forgotten until I saw this a few days ago...
It helped me remember to slow down and notice the pretty things in life. You never know how long you have left, and I don't want to regret. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

6 days until my 24th!

P.S. anyone know what kind of flower this is?

It's in My Blood

Recently when my g-mother came for a visit, she expressed her joy in the fact that one of her girls had inherited her love for sewing. She said that my mom nor my aunt wanted anything to do with it and my aunt's girls never did either. My mom actually has shared her "horror" stories with me of when she would be drug to the fabric store while my g-mother looked through pattern books and fabrics for "hours". She also hated having to try things on while my g-mother made them. I can understand being a young girl and being bored with these activities. It was kind of an accident that I started sewing I guess. I just realized that I wanted to always carry apart of my g-mothers with me. What better way then to learn one of their skills! It turns out I'm not half bad.

I have throughly enjoyed the time I have spent with them and learning new things about sewing like terms and symbols. When I finish something, I am proud of myself. That is something I think everyone forgets to feel sometimes. So, your project for the day it to be proud of yourself. It really does feel good and sometimes it's okay to be full of pride. So with all this said, let me bring you up to speed on my latest projects...

After work on Friday I went over to my g-mother's to start on my dress.

I'm using a chocolate brown for the dress and a satin magenta for the sash. We got as far as cutting out the fabric, but will probably work more on it this week.



I finished my brown vest on Saturday with some helpful advice from my g-mother and step-mom. It actually looks like something you could buy at a department store!

See for yourself...


It turned out so good, I decided to make another shorter version yesterday. It was the first time I had started and finished something in the same day.



(You will have to forgive the wrinkles ;) )
It's black with a silver lining and I love it!







I hope you all are having a great week so far!
The countdown has begun:

24 days until my birthday!

Project #2 and Updates

I have discovered that I HATE cutting out patterns. I have also figured out why the patterns at Wal-Mart are $4. They are so thin! It takes lots of skill to cut one out without tearing it. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they are on the cheaper side because of my tight budget.

Tuesday night, I got the sewing machine setup and cut out the pattern for project #2.


I couldn't wait to get home yesterday and start working on it! Sewing is the fun part, after all.


One very important "skill" that my g-mother taught me was the importance of basting. I have learned very quickly how right she was. And last night, I took her advice...
It really helps when you have to take stitching out.


Even though I had a few mistakes along the way,
I think overall I did a pretty good job. I have to remind myself that this is only the second thing I have ever sewn and the first thing I have done on my own. I didn't finish it completely, but I only have one sleeve and the bottom hem left! I might even wear it tomorrow!


I really like my sewing machine. It is easy to use and is quiet. I worked on my shirt all evening and the time flew by. I can see how this is going to get addicting. There is a great deal of pride though when you finish something.


In other news...

Honey bought the Mach I Mustang. I love it! I even talked him into letting me take it for a spin last weekend.

Gage is getting so big! He is 11 weeks today. At his 6 week checkup he weighed 5.9lbs; at 9 weeks he was up to 11.1lbs! He is just barely taller than Landry, but much stronger. I still hear Landry laying down the law though. I guess his seniority is what's keeping him out of harms way. Gage is slowing understanding the proper place to use the bathroom, but still has some accidents. Last night was the first FULL night he has slept in the big bed without waking me up to go outside. He is becoming more and more cuddly the older he gets. We have also noticed his fur is getting a brown cast to it. He is going to be a pretty pup.


I decided (since I don't have anything else to do ;) ) to change my layout every month. Gives you something to look forward to! Let me know what you think and let me hear from you!

Sewing Lesson #1

I did it! I learned to sew! Well, kind of. But my g-mother informed me I did a really good job. Her approval is the most important, after all. I started off simple. I bought a pattern at Wal-mart for about 4 bucks for lounge pants. I got some t-shirt material, which was not really a good idea for a beginner fabric. The edges rolled up while I was sewing a lot which caused a few mistakes . On my first night of sewing, I finished everything but the hem and elastic in the waist.



I have really enjoyed spending time with my g-mother. She attempted to teach me to knit about a month ago. It went okay, but I kept forgetting when to do what...but I'm not one to give up on things very easily, so we'll see. I'm glad that she is taking the time to pass on these skills to me. I really have grown to appreciate her and my g-father more in the passed year or so. I guess I finally realized that they aren't going to be around forever, like I used to think, and that I wanted to carry them with me as long as I can. This way, I can pass things on to my children, and so on.

Which reminds me...as we were sitting there chatting and sewing, my g-mother said, "there's something for you in that blue box over there." So of course, I get extremely excited and say, "what is IT???" (all slow and dramatized like). So she proceeds to pull out a huge envelope and hands it to me. As I pull out its contents, I realized it's all my stuff. Stuff from since I was a little girl that she has saved. I was really taken back. It meant a lot to me that she did that. I haven't even really done that. It included things like, programs from my piano recitals, band concerts, choral concerts, and graduations. I read every single thing in that envelope. She had even saved thank you cards and Christmas lists I had given her. My favorite was on from when I probably 8 or so. It read:

a purple ice ring (that I actually think she got me or maybe my mother did)
a neckloce
a puppy. if you get me this don't get me anything else
a girl hampster and I'll give you one of her babys

There were many other things on the list, filling up almost a whole page, but those were my favorites. Especially the 'girl hampster.' I'm sure she rushed right out that day and bought me one. HAHAHA! She told me a story of going to buy me a cabbage patch doll one time. She described all the crazy moms and grandmothers she ran into that HAD to have one too. Needless to say she wasn't going to participate in that craziness and left that to my OTHER g-mother, who succeeded in the task. I guess there aren't crazies in AR.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my night with my g-mother. If I didn't have to get home to two pups and take dinner to my honey (which I hadn't made yet) then I would've stayed much later than 9:30pm. Can't wait for Sewing Lesson #2!