AAAHHH....Monday

So it's Monday.  I'm sewing and it feels great.  I truly need this solace to recover from work.  As I have mentioned in my previous post,  I work in a children's  hospital.  I love it.  It's easy for me to work with children.  It comes naturally to nurture these kids.  But it does have a down side.  In the past two weeks that I have worked, one child came to our hospital as a full code which means they came to us receiving  CPR and  life giving care but unfortunately, this child didn't make it.  Then this weekend, another child came to us as a near drowning.  His mother was able to give CPR continuously until he had a heart beat.  I believe this child will make a full recovery but I'm not so sure that the mother will fully recovery from seeing her child face down in the pool and then giving life saving CPR.  The look on her face was of a woman who wasn't about to forgive herself  taking her eyes off her child and him being found in the pool.  It is easy for many  hospital employees to judge this family.  We see this over and over.  But I believe we shouldn't judge.  I'm a parent who knows how easy it is to be distracted (maybe even with another child) and still you believe your child is safe in your house. Then you go looking and you can't find them.  And then someone finds the child face down in the pool.  I don't think we should punish the parent with judging them; they are punished enough with what happened to their child.  I plead with parents to do all that can be done to protect children around their swimming pools.  Please teach little ones very early on how to swim.  Practice with them to make sure that they can swim even if they accidentally fall in the pool.  Some kids learn to swim but then panic when they fall in accidentally so they drown.  I know this subject is a real downer but I'm passionate about kids.  I know that we can't/don't see every thing that kids are doing.  So I want parents to protect them in different ways.  Teach kids to swim, have a pool gate, have a door alarm so if the door to the pool area opens the alarm  goes off.  Also, have a pool alarm that stays in the pool and sounds an alarm when something over 10 pounds is in the pool.  Please spread my words... I don't want to write a letter of condolence to one of my blogger friends.  

OK, enough of my soapbox .  Tomorrow, I'll share what I'm working on.  So until then, have a happy Monday.

Princess Pea Blanklet

This is the latest project I am working on that's listed on my "TO DO" sewing list:  I'm making the Moda Princess Pea Blanket.  Here's a picture from the creator of this very cute blanket, Angela Yoston:

I'll take a picture of the one I'm making later.  I couldn't find the honeybun she used so I chose something different from Moda's fabric but just as cute. Also, I used a Jelly Roll.  I'll write about it later.  Just wanted you know... I'm busy, busy, busy  working on my projects. 

Wonderful Wedding Anniversary:

Today was my 6th wedding  anniversary.  I had an absolutely wonderful day with my husband.  We got up around 7am and I made us a breakfast of omelets and fresh French baguette.  After a yummy breakfast, we packed up and went for a 3-hour, almost 4-mile hike. Now, let me explain: walking 4 miles really isn't that hard.  When we walk around our own neighborhood, it takes me a little less than an hour which is also about 4 miles.  So you can imagine what the terrain must have been like for me to take 3 hours to do the same distance.  Let me share some pictures; they will tell the story...

I had to be careful around all these prickly cacti!

It would be embarrassing getting them picked out of my butt if I fell on one!

The trail wasn't really marked well; it was very rocky plus it wound up and down that damn mountain.  I was really pooped when I got home!  The only thing to remedy this was to go straight to the tub for a good soak!

Isn't he a hottie!!!

I had to be careful  not to fall on one of these!

This is the type of wild life we have in Arizona

Luckily, we ended our day having dinner at the Roaring Fork restaurant.  They made us a wonderful meal.  When we arrived at our table, this was waiting for us:

  The service, food, and atmosphere gave us one of the best dinning experiences we've had in a long time.  It reminded me of our wonderful wedding.

Have a fabulous day!

PS:  Three things I'm grateful for:

1. Hiking Stick
2. Hiking Boots
3. My Husband

(Not necessarily in that order!)

If You LOVE Aprons, Coffee, and Granola....Check This Out

So, Susan at not quite june cleaver is having a giveaway!  Have you ever been to her blog?  If not, you're in for a treat!  She's been away from blogging for a short time but is now coming back strong as ever.  I have been popping by her site; watching  and waiting to see what she does next.  I love what she's doing.  When you visit her site, click "meet NQJC".  It's refreshing to meet someone you can relate to.  She is one of those ladies that I would love to sit down with and have a cup of coffee.  I love that I get the feeling she would be real with you. Plus, I would bet she has some interesting funny stories to share.  You would have to with having raised six kids, cooked at much as she has and run a business on the side.  I like that she shares her good times and her bad times; it makes me feel like she can relate to every other woman on this planet.  Please, check out her website, enter her giveaway and support her new upcoming shoppe.


http://www.notquitejunecleaver.com/2010/03/notquitejunecleavers-spring-fling-giveaway-and-so-much-more/

Apron Memories Blog: a Mommyhood In Shades Apron Giveaway!

There's an apron give away!! Go here: Apron Memories Blog: a Mommyhood In Shades Apron Giveaway!to see what it's all about....I'm hopin it's mine; I love wearing aprons around my house. I have very fond memories of my grandma wearing aprons. My grandma's name was Audra and if there was a lady I would most like to be like, it would be her. She dressed nice, looked nice and I never heard her say anything bad about anyone. She didn't gossip and I loved her spirit.

What a Great Day

Well, I LOVE progress... today I finished Karin's pajamas.   Sometimes I procrastinate, but not today!  I even mailed them!  Don't they look cute?

My honey is home so I wanted to do something nice for him.  He's always doing such nice things for me like making coffee every morning when he is home.  Well, today, not only did he make delicious coffee, he went and had my tires rotated!  I'm a very lucky woman.  I want him to feel just as lucky so today I got the bread machine out....

... and after the lovely bread machine did it's magic, this is what came out.....

My husband is from the Czech Republic.  I have been lucky enough to visit his country twice.  While there, I got to eat many pastries.  The one above is  called Kolace.  Fortunately, I was able to find a recipe close to what they make in Czech.  Mine turn out more like a bread than a pastry but he's happy with my results!  Kolache have a sweet surprise in the middle.  Mine are I filled with poppy seed filling but you can use jams too.

Treating us to some good old fashion pumpkin bread....YUM!

Today, I made something yummy!  My husband requested my pumpkin bread....so this is how it started...

I love to cook...especially when I get to use this much sugar....

and this much oil.....

in this beautiful kitchen my husband made for me...

And the end results.....

I am sure that the good in pumpkin cancels out the bad in sugar and oil????  Plus, the smile on my husband's face when he sees the bread is worth the extra pounds I'll gain eating a slice (or a few slices)! 

My Progress

Well, I'm working it!  I had a goal to complete many unfinished projects by the end of February.  I didn't get them all done but I"m happy with my progress.  If I look back at the posts about completing them, I still have some to do.  However, I have the following projects finished: 

1.  Bedroom curtains hemmed and rehung.
2.  Tote bag for Cindy, my sister.
3.  Tote bag for baby shower gift.
4.  Muslin made, mailed, and returned for niece's pajama bottoms.
5.  Skirt for niece, Karin.

Baby tote bag







So, I need to stay committed for the following:

1. Bedspread needs 2 seams sewn.
2.  2 pairs of PJs.
3.  Tablecloth for living room.

I would like to add four more projects:

1.  A cloth doll for niece, Laura.
2.  Baby blanket for friend's daughter.
3.  Blanket for son, Mathew.
4.  PJs for me.

Of course, I need to get this done in between ALL the rest of the things women do!!!  Piece of cake!!!!

What Mondays Mean to Me (Even though today is Wednesday..)

I work every weekend.  Even though I feel lucky that I like what I do (I work at a great hospital) and have it easy compared to the people who work full time during the week, I'm tuckered out by the end of Sunday night. Come Monday, I make the day about what I like.  Sometimes, I don't even make it out of my PJs!  Other Mondays (like today) I feel the need to look and feel like a woman!  I'm so lucky that I'm at that stage of my life where I am able to  indulge myself.  My kids are grown and my husband travels during the week so he's not here.  So Mondays are totally mine without any guilt.  I feel that women give to everyone else but hardly take the time for themselves.  Most of the time, even when we are dressing, we think: Will my husband like this, will he notice?  Today, I dress for myself.  It's not to get noticed for what I'm wearing, it's to look good in MY eyes.  I don't know what happened that I stopped dressing.  I think that's because in four years, I have gained 20 pounds.  Although I would like to lose about 10 of them, that shouldn't stop me from dressing like a woman.  I think that I have gotten used to wearing medical uniforms and when I come home, it's into the shower and then into sweet PJs.  So today, I decided I needed to feel like a woman: no sweat pants, no jogging outfit, no lounge wear.  It's a dress and my hair curled and my toenails painted.  I’m not the perfection you would find in a magazine picture. Here’s just me, flaws and all... Feeling like a woman!

My First Sew Along

I'm excited!!!

I am going to participate in my first sew along.   Here's where to go if you want to be a part of the fun.  You don't have a know how to sew, pick any project...please join the fun

A Few Facts about Me!

Over at http://surfsupbuttercup.wordpress.com , Laura wrote 100 things about her. I thought, WOW! I don't know if I could list 100 things about me all at once. So, I'll start off with just a few: Here are 10 things about me.


I have lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for about 8 years and still love it. Before that, I lived in Florida for about 22 years. I was really ready for a change but didn't want to go somewhere cold. So, I traded humid heat for dry heat!

I met my husband in Flagstaff, AZ while I was on a three month assignment. We dated a year and then took the plunge and never looked back. While we come from very different backgrounds (he’s European), we live together with pleasant ease. I can’t say I always understand where he’s coming from with ideas and such but he doesn’t always understand where I’m coming from! I believe it’s partly just being different sexes. Will men really understand women…I don’t think so!

Even though I know it's vain: I hate to admit to myself that I'm 46 years old. In the last six months, I look more like my mom! How did that happen? Ready or not, I have to learn to accept changes in my appearance.

I truly believe I have a good life.

I have two sons; Mathew and Jason. Mathew is 27 years old and Jason is 23. They both live in Florida. Even though they live so far away, they are never far in my mind. I look forward to when they get married and have kids. Right now, they are just working on life.

I work at a children's hospital in radiology. I have an associate’s degree in Radiography and currently work in CAT scan. I love the hospital where I work. I have a really kind and easy going boss. I work three 12-hour shifts on weekends so I have four days off to do whatever I want.

I love sewing!!!! I wanted an outlet that was creative even for someone like me. I can't draw and I'm not creative but I can follow a pattern!!!! I took our guest room and turned it into a sewing studio. It's my paradise.


I also love cooking. I'm glad that people at work don't mind me bringing food to share. I need someone to share all my brownies or I would eat them all, usually in a couple days. I have a really fit and trim husband so I want to look my best.

Also, I'm trying to lower my sugar intake. That's a very hard goal for me. I take after my grandma, she loved chocolate too. Well, really it wouldn’t be a problem if I only loved chocolate but it's all sweet things!

I hated peas all my life. Well, that was until my husband asked me to try fresh peas. I said “Are you kidding me, I HATE peas.” To appease him, I tried one….then another…and another. I LIKE peas!!! Now, I just hate canned peas!

I have been to Hawaii twice! It was just as wonderful the second time as the first. I even tried to get a job there so I wouldn’t have to leave! I don’t know if I could live there a long time but I would sure love to try for a year. This is one of those places that gives me serenity.

A little about me....

Here we are kayaking for the first time.  I'm the leader!!!

My first attempt at snorkeling. Our guide told me that seeing a shark would bring me luck...who came up w/this??  I think that if I spotted a shark, I must be the most unlucky person...

My son Mathew, talking with his cousin, Gabbie.  I love how Mathew kneels down to listen to her.  He has a special gift  w/little ones.

This Might Help Me w/My Blogging....

Since I started this blog, I have had some issues! I look at many blogs and notice how nicely created the blogs look and have no idea how women have done this. I saw this blogger's bootcamp and wonder if it might help me (it certainly can't hurt me!). I live in the Phoenix area and could easily attend. Has anyone in blogland atttended bootcamp and could comment on what they had learned from the experience. If you're interested, visit the website: http://www.bloggybootcamp.com/feed

When I think of bootcamp, I think there has to be some type of pain involved!

Pillow Factory Alphabet Down Filled Pillow GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Pillow Factory Alphabet Down Filled Pillow GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

How cool is this.....go and check it out....I did!!!

Continued Progress!!

It feels so good to report progress. Everyday, I'm sewing. Some days quite a bit others just a few minutes. I'm happy to report that I finished my sister's tote bag! Even better, my husband had a business meeting in Florida so he was able to hand delivered the finished item. My only regret: I forgot to take a photo of the finished project. The design was Amy Butler's Sling Bag. This is the fourth one I've made and I'm onto making the fifth as I type. It's for a baby! I will definitely get a photo of the finished project. But for now...here's a pic of the material I made my sister's bag and a pick of the fabric I'm using for the baby's tote: cute!

Progress.....on my Commitment

I'm off to a good start! I have finished the skirt for my niece, placed one seam in bedspread, cut out all the material for one tote and all the interfacing for both totes. I saw this skirt as a free pattern and thought....I can make this! Here's a link for anyone who would like to have

the pattern.http://http://www.oliverands.com/downloads/Oliver+SLazyDaysSkirt.pdf .I am happy w/my progress; especially considering that I just bought a new computer (Mac) and I have spent quite a bit of time learning my way around it!

The top picture is a sneak peek of the fabric I'm using for a tote bag. I am making this for a friend's daughter who is having a baby girl due in May. The pattern I'm using is The Sling Bag by Amy Butler. I have made 3 of these totes and have received great feedback; people like this bag. I'm also making one for the my sister, Cindy. I keep promising her one and each time I make one I end up giving it away when I show off the bag. So, as part of my commitment, she is going to get her bag!! No showing it off except on my blog!

Being responsible for finishing projects!!!

I need to do this.....I have read many blogs that talk about unfinished projects just sitting around waiting to be finished. I really don't want to be one of them! ....So I figured that if I actually wrote it down and post it; I'll be a responsible women that has made a committed decision to finish a few projects by the end of February. Well, it looks good on paper! So here it goes....

By February 28th I would like to have finished:

2 pairs of PJ for nieces, one tote for sister, one tablecloth for living room table, finish skirt for Karin and one tote for baby gift, hem bedroom curtains and finish putting in two seams on bedspread. All in all, I'm very capable of doing this. I just need to be committed!

Here's the place to be this week

Go take a look here and leave a comment for a chance to win a great prize

Here's the place to be this week

A chance to win....good enough for me!!`

Here's the place to be this week.....go check it out....great prizes!!!