In my blood...

For Christmas my Mom got me a great gift - a sewing machine. This weekend I finally got down to a real project that involved using it - I made pillow covers.

I've had the fabric and the pillows since my Hubs and I moved into our first apartment... four years ago. For awhile I kept the fabric folded and pinned on the pillows, but that only looks so good for so long.

I was proud of myself because I had to troubleshoot the machine several times and I figured it out each time, with very little yelling even! More importantly, the pillow covers turned out great.

My second project is a little bigger - a t-shirt quilt. This is something I've wanted to do for longer than the pillows. I've had some squares cut for a long time, but this weekend I got down to business and cut a bunch more squares. I've got to get some more interfacing, but I've got a good start!

I feel blessed to have the sewing gene, because although my Mom just showed me how to use a machine last year, I think watching her use one for years when she used to make dolls for a living helped me catch on really quickly.

Plus, my Grama is a quilt making master, so I've got that going for me too.

I'm really looking forward to making many more projects on the machine, especially now that a new JoAnn's will be opening up at a convenient location. Before I would have had to drive like 45 minutes out of the way or go to a "fancy" fabric/quilt shop. Not that I don't like browsing "fancy" fabrics, but at this point, I'd like to save dollars on fabrics until I get more experienced.

Just one of those days...

Warning: This post is kind of long. Rambling. And a little bit sappy.

This morning, shortly after I arrived at work, I received an e-mail from my husband. The first sentence contained several expletives and he proceeded to say why. He didn't get a very good grade on his business valuation mid-term and he had screwed up a group project he had been in charge of turning in... for the second week in a row. His final thoughts were, "I can tell it's going to be one of those days! I just want to go back to sleep!"

I e-mailed back something encouraging and he returned to say that not only were those things screwed up, but that he had also made a mistake on a draft financial he sent to a client yesterday. So, not only did he have school things to stress him out, he also had uh-ohs at work, plus too much work to do today to worry about all of it.

I supported him as best I could through e-mail and he said he'd be fine in a bit, he just wanted to be pissed off for awhile. Enough said and I don't blame him.

Now let's travel back to this morning when we were getting ready for work. He had mentioned last night that he wanted to go to lunch with me today. For some reason it didn't register with me last night or this morning that this would be a lovely thing and, as I have a tendency to do, I was being difficult about it.

We ended up getting a little testy with each other and I could tell I kind of hurt his feelings, so his day started poorly as it was. Then he got all the other crap tossed on his plate when he got to work. If I didn't feel bad before, which I did, I definitely felt bad after receiving his e-mail.

Anyways, we met for lunch and sat down at a twofer table by the window. We didn't really discuss all his grievances, other than me apologizing one more time for being a jerk, but talked a bit about what else had been going on. Well, mostly he talked. He likes to tell me things and I like to listen.

After we left, I texted him just to say "I love you." There's something about having an unexpected lunch, meaning I can't remember the last time we had lunch together on a work day, with your husband who's been working his ass off until after you're in bed at night for months that makes you want to simply remind him, especially when he's had a crappy day.

He texted back that he loved me too and then he thanked me for meeting him for lunch, followed by: "u made my day good for a few minutes."

I responded that he made mine good too and that he always does. I know that's super mushy, but it's the truth. It made me smile from ear to ear to have him "say" that. I want little more in this world than to support him and make him happy and today, one of the most bummer days he's had in awhile, I did.

"And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love."

Amen.

Spring has sprung...

It was a gorgeous weekend here in the NoVa area, though today it's gloomy and rainy. On Saturday, my sister and I went into DC for a little wandering.

We got off the Metro at Arlington Cemetery and walked across the bridge, up around the Lincoln Memorial, down through the WWII memorial, past the Washington Monument, and up the mall to the National Gallery.

We meandered around the Gallery for a bit, rested our feet for a few moments in front of this painting we always loved to look at when visiting with Mum, and finally decided we were hungry and headed out for a snack.

We sat around on the mall eating a little something and Karen's friend met up with us. After we chatted and enjoyed the sunshine for awhile, we walked her friend to the Metro and then headed towards the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. Yes, we ate a snack and then like an hour later went for dinner. Unfortunately, but not really, the Hard Rock had too long of a wait. We were mainly in the city to see a show at Ford's, and there was not enough time to wait for a table and order and wait for food and eat before the show. So we started wandering again, checking a bunch of different places before deciding on a place called Chop't. We were both planning to have salad for dinner anyways, so it made sense. It was really good and I've been craving a yummy salad since.

After dinner we made our way back to Ford's for the show: Little Shoppe of Horrors. It was a fun play, especially because we were watching it with about 270 early teen kids from a school, who laughed and cheered and giggled through the whole thing. They thoroughly enjoyed it and that was entertaining in itself.

Once the play was through, we went to a bar across the street to hang out with my sister's friend who works at Ford's. Then I jumped on the metro to go home, exhausted and ready for bed!

Yesterday I spent in front of the TV watching a Harry Potter marathon. Sadly, I'm serious, haha. It was really relaxing though. And I thank God for DVR, because it allowed me to tape it all and then watch it without commercials. Next time, though, I'll just borrow the DVDs from people I know who have them!

I hope everyone got to enjoy the sunshine this weekend, but if not, that it comes around soon. I hope it comes back around here again soon, though I'll be happy with having it at least on weekends!

Quickie.

It hasn't been a very productive week so far and the days have gone by really fast, plus I've been unreasonably exhausted, so I haven't really felt like blogging about it. Plus, time just slips away, as usual.

We went out on Saturday night to a coworker of Hubby's house for a St. Patty's Day party, complete with green beer. We weren't out very late, but the time change and getting up for church the next day was exhausting.

Monday was my 26th birthday. The detectives took me out to lunch, my coworker friend brought me an ice cream cake, and my Hubby sent me an Edible Arrangement of strawberries, grapes, and heart shaped pineapple. When I got home, after going to the grocery store and to pick up filing labels, I checked the mail and found an awesome birthday journal card from my sister. I love it!

Yesterday, Hubby and I went to Mason for their first round game of the CIT tournament. They had a 27 point lead early in the second half and lost by like 5 in overtime. That's all I'm going to say. Besides UGGGH.

Tonight I'm hoping to get back on track. I've decided I'm going to start writing a couple goals in the morning for the evening time after work. That way I can think about them during the day and get amped up to get them done! Stuff tonight and tomorrow will be preparation for a huge spring cleaning on Friday.

Lucky!

My husband's MBA program requires an international residency. Last year when he was planning his schedule and looking at what his options were, he found out that his first choice (to go May of this year) was all booked up. So he put himself on a list, not expecting there to be enough cancellations for him to go, and changed up his schedule to accommodate going next January.

Well today he got an e-mail and immediately called me. Turns out there was a cancellation. The thing is, he needed to decide today so they could get his passport info, etc and make final travel arrangements on Monday. He really preferred the locations over what was likely to be offered in January, but he would know more people on the January trip and so he was torn between going where he'd rather go and going with people he knew better.

Well, turns out he'd rather go to his preferred location and meet new people. Which I think is awesome. So this May, he'll be headed to Munich and Prague. And after looking at photos, I'm super jealous, but also very excited for him!So, tonight we're celebrating by eating pizza and clearing off the DVR list. Nothing like finding out your going on a once in a lifetime trip and then spending the night doing the same old, same old. It's probably because it hasn't really hit that he's going. He said it probably wont until he's on his way home, haha!

Anyways, off to spend the evening relaxing with Mr. Awesome. I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Being awesome.

Tonight after Bible study I called my husband while I was in the car driving home. I was calling to playfully scold him because he sent me a text message that had words inappropriate for reading while at a church. I know he was mad that he overcooked his Lean Cuisine chicken enchilada, but seriously, I'm in the house of God after a time of friendly fellowship, keep the curses to yourself!

He, of course, had forgotten where I was tonight until I called and he could hear that I was driving home. Not that that's any excuse. Anyways, he knows that one of the women who attends the Bible study is a professor at George Mason, where he is a student. He is quite strange so he asked me if I could talk to her to see if she could give him a discount.

I said, "What would she give you a discount for?" Meaning, she's a communications professor and you're an MBA major, they are not exactly related and she doesn't exactly work in a position that involves giving discounts.

He said, without hesitation, "Being awesome."

Let me repeat:
I said, "What would she give you a discount for?"
He replied, "Being awesome."

That, my friends, is the man who completes me. Those are the kinds of moments that make me laugh and thank the Lord, because he is so confident in himself, even if it is silly and a bit ridiculous sometimes, and he shares that confidence with me.

I could be having a crappy day, and I might even want to yell and take it out on him, but he just gives me a hug and/or a kiss and without saying a word lets me know everything is okay and all will move on whether I have a hissy fit or not, so I might as well skip it and get to the good stuff.

Speaking of good stuff, I've got a loaf of homemade banana bread still warm from the oven and a hot cup of tea all ready for my enjoyment. Then it's time for bed and a book and to wait for the awesomeness to get home so he can give me a goodnight kiss.

Ah, the good stuff.

A good beginning...

The first half of the week has been great. I've been chipper, focused, and thoughtful about how I spend my time. Today started off a little rocky, but I pushed onward by reminding myself how awesomely blessed my life is.

Last night I watched Steel Magnolias and had a little cry for myself. I had never seen it, but it was good to sit down and be inspired by the friendships among women. Afterward, I worked in the guest room on a journal card for my sister. Tonight I ran errands, watched "Parenthood," and now I'm writing this little post before finishing up the journal card and going to bed to read and be inspired by the most fantabulous magazine, Flea Market Style. If you haven't been introduced, click the link and/or find a copy on your local newsstand. Below is what the cover looks like so you know what to look for:In addition to creating and keeping house, I've also found a new, slightly addictive, time spender. It's almost a time waster, but as long as I don't let it absorb all of my evenings, I think it's a great creative outlet and place to keep inspiration. I'm talking about Tumblr and the link can be found in the upper right hand corner of the page. The photo for the link is a journal card from my Mom, the one that gave me the final push to make a change (Thanks Mum!).

I'm so glad to be moving in a good direction and I'm looking forward to what the tail end of this week, and beyond, has in store for me. But first, time for the cup of tea I just prepared...

Grace Like Rain...

Don't be surprised if I begin to post more than once a day. I've been dreaming a lot lately, which equals poor sleep, and a remedy is to clear my head through various mediums, this being one of them. And also to exercise so I sleep too heavily to dream, but that's another realm alltogether... all together... altogether... hmm.

On Sunday night I was on the last leg of my drive home from Vermont and I decided to take a shortcut, though one I wasn't really familiar with. My husband knows the way, so I called him and asked directions. They weren't particularly clear, but I hoped my raised-in-the-country sense of direction would help me recognize landmarks and guide me home.

Well, I got off the initial exit and then the second exit with no problem. Then I wasn't sure what was next, so took the exit that seemed like the one my husband was talking about. This brought me into the far right lane of four lanes and the (too late) realization that I needed to be to the left. When I didn't make it, I got all frustrated. Which meant yelling a bit because I was tired and had already been in the car for like 10 hours. The last thing I needed was a detour.

Anyways, I sent up a little prayer and kept my eyes peeled for something that told me I was going in the right direction. There wasn't much to see for awhile and the stuff I did see only seemed vaguely familiar, and maybe I was just making it familiar because I didn't want to be going the wrong way.

As I'm driving, a wonderful song I recognize from church, "Grace Like Rain," comes on the radio. The next thing I know, as I'm singing along, maybe even raising my non-steering-wheel hand in the air a bit, things begin to look familiar and I realize I'm headed in the right direction.

Of course this caused me to start singing a little louder and after the song was over and I finally got home, I kept singing. And then I thanked God for a beautiful bit of grace.

Starting anew...

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens."
~ Ecclesiastes 3: 1 ~

Thank you to my Mom for sharing the above verse. It was on one of the most recent journal cards I received from her and it's helping to motivate this post and the changes that go with it.

I want to live The Pie and Apron Life. It's been on my mind since that first e-mail conversation with my Mom.

I've just come back from a break from blogging, not to mention a refreshing trip home to Vermont, and I'm ready to truly live the life I desire. A fulfilling life, not a lots-of-wasted-moments life.

Pretty much, I'm taking old thoughts, redundant thoughts, that have plagued me for so long and putting them into action. Starting anew with old ambitions. For real this time.

This blog will help to keep me accountable and as such, I've changed the name and the blog address to stick to the theme and act as a reminder. If you've put me on your blogroll in the past, thank you, but be sure to change the address so your link works.

Cheers to the days to come. They will be filled.