Happy New Year!

So I went on a little trip last week and this beautiful beach was one of our stops! I've decided that a warm weather location is the best place to be in January post-holiday! Helps postpone the holiday blues a bit and this year it definitely took the sting out of celebrating my 40th birthday! Looking forward to a new year, and maybe, just maybe, getting back onto this blogging train!

Do you want to hear about our post deployment/birthday trip? Or would it just be annoying?

 

vacation all i ever wanted...

I just got back from a trip to see my mom who happens to live in Utah fabric shop mecca.  I took a bunch of projects with me, but didn't get as many finished as I'd hoped.  I was too busy hanging out with family, friends and sewing bloggers in real life!  It was so fun!  But I'm afraid 2 weeks wasn't quite long enough.

I have over 500 pictures to go through, so I'll leave you with a few snapshots of some of the things we did.

It was my mom's birthday while we were there. So I made a little cake. Lemon cake mix, lemon curd filling (recipe here) and cream cheese frosting. And yes, that is basil on the top - just for decoration. The cake was a hit! The boys (and there were a lot of them) ended up cleaning up the leftover lemon curd out of the bowl with their spoons.

I finished another one of these tops. This time I made it a bit longer, and I like the length better. I also used bias tape to finish the neckline like it says too. Once again I used elastic thread to finish off the sleeves. I also learned that I like my serger (a White) better than my mom's Hobby Lock. It's probably because I know my machine better.

I finally got the back of this quilt figured out. I was hoping to quilt it on my aunt's longarm while I was there but I didn't get it put together. Luckily I have an awesome mom who said she would do it for me! THANKS MOM!!

My sister-in-law made this cute dress out of a size 14 thrifted skirt. She just took chunks out of the sides and then sewed some pleats in the top and added the straps. Genius!

I tried to spend as many nights as I could watching the sunsets from the back deck. Seriously gorgeous.

There are some other fun things I was able to do, people I met and fabric I bought. I'll share more soon!

one more bloggy meet-up, last one!

I know, are you tired of me talking about all the blogging friends I met while I was in Utah?  I promise this will be the last vacation related post (well, maybe....)

I found Vanessa's awesome blog, V. and Co., sometime this past spring/summer while my husband was deployed.  I can't even remember how I stumbled upon it but I'm so glad I did!  She is funny, creative, crafty (just check out her tutorials), SO nice, etc. etc.  Her husband had been deployed the year earlier and she was a big support to me while mine was gone.  I was elated when she was able to work it out to come up and see me while I was in Utah.

She drove THREE AND A HALF HOURS (after having a 24 hour flu bug!!) to come see me.  See what I mean?? TOTALLY NICE.

We had tons of fun shopping, eating, chatting.  Did I say already how nice it is to meet my friends in person?  I'm telling you, this blogging community is awesome!

We met at Joann's, then ate at Cafe Rio - delish!  Then we went to a place called Tai Pan Trading.  It's like a warehouse full of home decor stuff.  I'd heard a lot about it but had never been.  I told myself I wasn't going to buy anything because I already had to ship some stuff home.... but I couldn't resist.  I bought 3 of these (the other 2 are different colors).

They are ceramic decorative balls.  I know!  What am I supposed to do with them?  V. suggested a hurricane or something to put them in, probably like this.  I'm trying to be hip.  We'll see how it goes.

We then went back to one of our favorite shops, The Material Girls.  I love that place.  She bought me some Nicey Jane!!  I KNOW!  I said she was totally nice.

Okay, so she bought it for me to make something for her.  But still!  I'm excited to work with this fun fabric!

And then, just because we were feeling dangerous we headed over to IKEA.  Man, I really love that place.  I like the idea of dreaming that my house will one day be so clean and organized.  Or something.

As we were saying good-bye, we realized we hadn't taken any pictures.  So here's a lame-o photoshopped self-portrait, with the flash too close in a dark warehouse store.  Captions added a la Vanessa.

I could go on and on about all the cool stuff on her blog.  But really just go check it out for yourself.  And a bonus? She's updating her Etsy shop today at 11:00 a.m. MST.  Awesome patterns and even some things made by her!

One thing I found out is that we share a common love for bright, fresh spring green.  It's her favorite.  It's my #2 (and goes so well with all the lt. blue, baby blue, turquoise of which I can't seem to get enough.)   So I had to snap this picture of this bench I saw on the porch of a new home for sale.

I thought about taking it, but I didn't know how I would get it home.  Plus, I didn't think larceny would look good on my record.  But it would look so great with my dresser.

Thanks again, Vanessa for making the trip up!  Next time I'm coming to the middle of nowhere to see you!

P.S. - Oh, one last shot.

I love their slogan.  I love their chocolates even more.  Especially the dark chocolate raspberry cremes.  Mmmmmmmmm.

P.P.S.  Woah sew & tell-ers!! 40 people this week!  Awesome - I'm working through them all!  Sorry I've been slow on the commenting! I do ♥ every last one of you!  Thanks for making each week so fun and motivating!!

back to life. . .

Back to reality.... (am I dating myself here?)

Back to cooking.
Back to laundry.
Back to the cold.
Back to schedules.
Back to cleaning.
Back to grocery shopping.

On the bright side:
Back to sewing!
Back to blogging!

Bye California.  We'll miss you and your wonderful January sunshine!

vacation, all i ever wanted!

Edited to add:  Here is the listing for my bag if you are interested in helping Craft Hope's Haiti efforts.  Please note that the earliest I will be able to ship is Jan. 27.  Thanks!!

I've been feeling a little wordy lately - can you tell?  I hope my longer posts aren't boring you - I just have felt like telling some stories lately.

I lived here in Utah for about 10 years as I went to school and then worked.  So it's a little like coming home, to my second home.  I have lots of friends to catch up with and lots of food to eat!  (Cafe Rio, Haggerman's Deli, See's candy. . . it's a good thing I'm pregnant!)

I spent 18 months as a missionary in Belgium and France.  It was on many levels a life-changing experience. Not to diminish the spiritual and personal growth that went on there - my appreciation for good food was definitely sparked!

Yesterday I met up with a friend with whom I served and we went to this awesome place!

Run by a Belge who makes authentic Gaufres de Liege - or Belgian Waffles!  I haven't had one in years, and they are still SO tasty.  I mean, just look at them!

I had to put down my fork and take a picture of them before they were devoured by me and my two kids.  It's hard to describe them, but they are made with a dense yeasty dough with sugar pearls in it.  So they are heavier than what you might be thinking and the sugar pearls melt and almost glaze the waffle.  I like them straight up - my friend got strawberries and creme fraiche - yum!!

The fries are great too - but I didn't take a picture and I'm too tired to explain why they are so good.  It has something to do with the fact that they are fried twice. Once for prep and the second time when you order.  And the sauces.... oh..... trust me.

*****
My brother and his wife were missionaries in Haiti about 20 years ago.  They have seen first hand the way people live there and love that country and the people will all their hearts.  I feel connected through them and I'm so happy to have found a tangible way to help.

As you have probably seen, Craft Hope has opened an Etsy Shop with the proceeds going to benefit the Doctors without Borders effort in Haiti.  I donated this bag (I'm not sure it's listed yet) and hope that someone buys it not just because they like it, but so they can help.

i've been a little busy . . .

I've been pretty busy vacationing and all.  It's been rough.

Feet in the sand.

Seal watching.

Pelican gazing.

Soaking up the salt water spray.

and that was just last Saturday at La Jolla cove!

Now that I'm in cold and gray Utah it's time to brighten up the days with some fabric shopping!!

My daughter spied a sample bag at the shop and wouldn't let it go.  I finally convinced her that it wasn't for sale and I bought the pattern:

it's interfacing printed with the pattern and instructions on it - I'll let you know how it goes!

and she picked out these fabrics! 

Are you surprised?  I'm in love with LOVE.

I bought enough to back and bind the baby quilt I'm going to make with the LOVE fat quarters I won from the very shop we visited today!  Material Girls is one of my favorite stops when I come to Utah.

I also picked up this darling skirt pattern!  I can't wait to make one!

I have more to share about my visit today - but that will have to wait until Sew & Tell!

rocky gap

I feel like I haven't had many crafty things to share with you lately, but I'm planning on changing that soon!  I've got a few things in the works to share in the next few weeks!  And don't forget about Sew & Tell on Friday!  I'm hoping to share my completed bird quilt top - hold me to it!

In the meantime, here's a few pictures from our trip last week.

 

 

 

 

Yep, fall is here!  I made our first apple crisp of the season last night!

that's right!

I was at a wedding in California! It was the antithesis of the road trip I took with my kids. I went WITHOUT them. Woah! I kept thinking I'd forgotten something. I told my husband that on the phone while I was gone, and he said "yes, you did. And his name is Andrew."

That last top ten list was fun, so I thought I would do another one. This time:

The Top 10 Things I learned Going On a Trip Without My Kids

10. The preparation and anticipation of being away from the kids is MUCH worse than the actual being gone.

9. Getting up at 3 AM to catch an EARLY flight is worth it when you have a whole row to yourself.

8. Being gone is sufficient motivation for your 7 month old to start saying 'Momma'. But only in a complaining way. (It's still super-cute though!)

7. Not having to tell anyone what to do, or answer any repetitive questions for nearly 3 days is restful all on it's own.

6. Having GPS navigation in a rental car in an unfamiliar area is GENIUS.

5. Crocheting and reading are really fun when you aren't interrupted every ten seconds.

4. Being gone gives Daddy a great opportunity to bond with the kids without me overseeing every little thing.

3. Being gone gives Daddy a whole new appreciation for what my day-to-day is really like (he even said so himself - "They are really time-consuming!" and "These guys are a lot of work." As if I were sitting around all day doing nothing. Pshaw!)

2. I felt the need to let anyone know who would listen that I had two small children - I felt like a fraud running about without them. They are so much of who I am right now.

1. The three faces at home were the best thing to see after an exhausting, but fun, weekend away.


Congratulations and Best Wishes to my dear friend Carolee who was married on Saturday. She was radiant, he was beaming, all is right in the world. I am so happy for them, so happy they are so obviously in love and right for each other. Thanks for letting me be a part of such an incredible day!

Beautiful Bride

A Sparkling Send-off

The Giddy Couple

Great Friends
(p.s. yes that is my new haircut - but I wasn't really happy with it in the dry CA heat - it didn't work like it does here in humidity central.)


Airplane Activities

on the road again!

Can you guess where I am?

a little getaway

So, my husband has to travel a bit for his job. He went down to Camp Lejeune, N.C. and I thought it would be fun to take the kids on a little road trip to see him. The kids being 2 1/2 and 7 months. Well, I learned that some things are better in theory than in practice. Now, I'm glad we went - it was good to be together and we got to take them to the beach - which is always entertaining. To give you a glimpse of our weekend, I give you:

The Top 10 Things I Learned on a Road Trip with a Toddler and Baby

10. You have to limit fluid intake because public restrooms, with a baby in the bjorn and a toddler with an aversion to public toilets, are not an option.

9. Scheduling a departure post-lunch and just in time for naps is a recipe for a few quiet hours of driving.

8. Cute toddlers can get away with stealing blueberries from the roadside fruit stand.

7. Frazzled, tired, lost mommies can't get away with speeding.

6. Toddlers have an infinite supply of questions.

5. Dido makes great lullaby music.

4. It is possible to carry a baby in the front and a toddler on your back. And survive.

3. A baby with a cold doesn't sleep well in hotels. Therefore, no one sleeps well.

2. Your cherry tomatoes have time to actually ripen before little hands get a hold of them.

1. Memories are made no matter what you are doing, so you might as well enjoy it!


It's amazing how much I feel like I have missed out on while I was gone for just 4 short days. I have a ton of blogs to catch up on! But now, I have to go get some rest. I did get some more fabric in the mail over the weekend - but I'll spare you the minutae of what was in each box and just get the projects done so you can see them!
ttfn - Amy