CHALLENGE WEEK #5

Well nothing to report to me for this week. With trying to get caught up last week before I went back to work and then going back to work, ran out of time. So-------therefore, I didn't get anything else done but I plan to have the border on by next Monday and then I will be finished. Does that mean I made the deadline. Oh yeah, I do. that is a good way to start out the new year. Don't forget though to check with Perry, Lisa and Nicole to see their progress. I know that have been working diligently this week.

I have been working on catching up with all my BOM's and I am not going to start anything new except to keep on working on them. I am making a deadline for myself and will post a picture on Friday of what I have gotten done this week. Don't forget, I only really have 2 hours a day to sew.

The diet, I mean reformed eating habits are going well. I am taking so much more time in grocery shopping and figuring out what I am eating but I guess that is what needs to be done. I am increasing my protein when I am still hungry and increasing my vegetables. I can have all the vegetables I want can't I????

DREARY WEATHER

Well this week was my first week back at work after the New Year and I was slammed like usual. So many deadlines and so little time. One of my friends at work makes jewelry and we had walked to Barnes and Noble on Friday at lunch. She was looking jewelry magazines and came across this bracelet.

Isn't it cute. Of course I had to have it so I ordered a kit for her to make it for me. I figured it just wouldn't be for Valentine's Day I could wear it with other things also. Not much is new here at all. Did a little sewing today but not much. I am working on getting caught up on my BOM's and will start working on my challenge quilt again some time next week.

The diet went well this week so far. I have been really concentrating on my portions and what I am sticking in my mouth. It seems like I am starving all the time though. I don't think I have been eating enough protein so I am going to adjust some things next week. Tomorrow I will start working on cleaning the basement to make room so there will be room when we go buy the treadmill. I am hoping to be able to make a trip to Sears by next week sometime. I don't think I am going to have a lot of spare time to start exercising next week but it is supposed to be nicer and I think I wmight just take a little walk once I get home and before I start eating dinner.

Well have a great Sunday gals. Will check in later.

CHALLENGE WEEK 4

Good morning everyone. I can hardly believe that it is New Years Eve morning. Where did 2007 go. I definitely need to make some changes in 2008. In 2007, I stopped smoking AGAIN and this is something I struggle with everyday so in 2008 I am going to make changes in my eating habits and start the exercise regime. The exercising is something that I really need to do. I find that the older I am getting the more stiff I become. We need to clean our basement out some and I am going to invest in a good treadmill. My hubbie has an eliptical trainer but I cannot do it. I don't know why, but I just can't do the darn thing. He gets so mad at me because he said it is just like riding a bike. Well, I never like riding bikes.

I did get a lot done on the challenge quilt this week in the last few days. As you can see the quilt is assemblied and I just have to put the border on it. I might work on that today but I have to go to the post office this morning to mail a quilt to the quilter and get stamps. Hubbie said he might be leaving work early today so that interrupts into my sewing time. LOL.

Anyone have big plans for New Years Eve? I always like to have a quiet New Year. We are going to go to an early dinner with some friends and then come home and watch a movie. We have gone out to parties in the past, but I prefer to stay at home. What does everyone cook for New Years Day? I will be making a pork roast, kielbassa and hot dogs roasted in saukerkraut. I will make mashed potatoes for my side and that is what I consists for New Years dinner. The other tradition I have is sometime today I will but a penny, head side up outside on one of the ledges by the front door. My mother always told me that this means that money will come into the house the whole next year. I can remember my mother doing this and ever since I have left home, I do it also.

I only have 2 days left of vacation. Very sad. Tomorrow I will start stressing again about going back into the mad race but at least I will only have 3 days to this week. It will take me all of Wednesday just to get caught up.

Well off to get a shower. Happy New Year everyone.

Hugs, Cindy

AFTER XMAS SALES

Today is the first day that I have been home by myself since before Xmas and to tell you the truth I am enjoying the piece and quiet. I heard Joe getting ready for work this morning so I just got up with him. Have lots to do to start to straighten this mess up around here but decided to go to the quilt store to see what their after Xmas sales was like. I really didn't get that much at all as you can see. I got the new Fons and Porter because Perry told me there was some things in there that I must make, I got a kit for a Xmas table runner and 2 FQ that I am collecting for our tree/present quilt. Not much at all, even shocked myself. Than went to Barnes & Nobles to buy some new books. I always read for about a half hour before I go to sleep ever night, reading makes me tired. Like I said, I am very behind around here even with being after from work. I was truly exhausted from getting ready for Xmas and now preparing for the New Year. I am going to go in my sewing room this afternoon and work on my challenge quilt. I am doing the laundry which I am 2 weeks behind so I think it will probably take me 2 days to get caught on up that and then have to do ironing tomorrow.

Hope you all are enjoying your holidays.

Hugs, Cindy

CHALLENGE WEEK 3

I hope by now everyone isn't truly exhausted. I know I am. Just wanted to take a few minutes before talking about the challenge to wish everyone a blessed and Merry Christmas. Hope you will get to share the day with family and friends.

This week has been really a hectic one for me. Still don't have all my baking done but finally and I mean finally, all the gifts are wrapped. I spent every night wrapping and my back feels like it is breaking. Yesterday, I had enough and decided to sew for a few hours after I came home from my moms. Here is my progress so far.

My 12 patches are finished, my 8 patches are finished and my blocks of 4 fabrics are finished. I have started pinning some sections together but I ran out of energy. Don't forget to check with Perry, Lisa and Nicole to see what progress they made this week. I am hoping to get alot down with my challenge to show you next week. I am on vacation and I am hoping to get some sewing done. My DH at the last moment decided he was going to take off on Wednesday so that will still consist of some family time.

Tonight, we are going to church are then over to some friend's house for a quick bite. I haven't decided if we will open packages late tonight or not. Now that my DD is older I usually don't make her get up early on Christmas morning but some years I have. Tomorrow morning we will go over to visit my mom and let her open her presents and then it will be back home for a traditional turkey dinner. We didn't have any left overs at Thanksgiving so I haven't had enough of turkey yet. Then tomorrow night we will be playing some games. Just good quality family time.

Will check in later this week.

Hugs, Cindy

CHALLENGE WEEK #2

I can't believe that a week has gone by already. Where in the world has time gone. I have not been feeling very well at all. I have been fighting a UTI infection, which apparently was very bad, because it spread into my kidneys. I stayed home on Thursday and rested pretty much most of the day and then my daughter and I went out that night and did some Xmas shopping. I finally finished my shopping on Saturday but I didn't have one gift wrapped unitl tonight. I managed to wrap 4 gifts tonight after I went and had my hair down. I really need to have someone take a picture because it turned out so darn cute but I am just darn popped. tonight This working businesss is really getting in my way of having to get everything done in time for Santa.

So back to the Challange Week #2. Needless to say, I haven't gotten very much sewing done this week. So not much progress to report for me . I did get to sew some 2 patches together to make 4 patches but not more than that. I promise to get some sewing time in this week, hopefully later on in the week, and to have pictures posted on Monday or maybe I will take some pictures of how messy my sewing room is at the moment and I won't be able to help if those 4 patches get included in the pictures. You see, my sewing room is where I have all the Xmas presents stashed. You couldn't move in there before all the bags got thrown in that room and you definitely can't move in there now.

Don't forget, to check on Perry, Lisa and Nicole. I have to go and look at the progress that that have made this week. I checked Nicole's blog this morning while at work, and I sure do love her progress. Love the fabrics that she is using.

So is everywhere else as bogged down as I am. I am on countdown for vacation. As of Friday at 4:00 p.m. I will have 11 days off. Please pray that they go SLOW because I definitely need a break. Nothing planned special after Christmas. I just want to clean some closets out and have some sewing time for me and maybe experiment with cooking some new recipes. I was thinking of having the girls from work (2 of them don't work with me anymore) over for dinner one night just to catch up. The best thing is my husband is working the rest of the week and I will have the house to myself which is very rare.

Well gals, will check in later. Off to check on my gals progress.

Hugs, Cindy

UPDATE ON CHALLENGE

Well it is Monday so I am here to report on my weekly challenge project. This week I believe I have sewed all of my 2" strips together and cut them into 2" segments and 6 1/2" segments. There is one particular fabric in this line I decided I do not like. It has a pretty floral in it but it has some lines and they didn't cut right so I don't think I will be using them in the body of the quilt. I then have started sewing my 2" segments into 4 patches.

The strips in the back are my 6 1/2" strips, then my 2" stripes, then my pinned 2" strips, then the 4 patches I have finished. So that is my progress for the week. Hope to have some more done by next Monday. Don't forget to check with Nicole, Lisa and Perry on there progress. I love the fabrics that Nicole just got for her challenge. That is going to be wonderful.

I used 2 different settings on the camera today to figure out which one would come out better. I think I like the first picture and I believe that was the one on automatic.

This weekend just flew by. Started Xmas shopping yesterday and boy what a treat that is. Didn't even make a dent. I am going to try to go out a couple times after work this week and I am hoping to be done by the weekend so I can start baking. That is the fun part and it always makes the house smell so good.

Has anyone been checking out The Fat Quarter Shop for the month of December. Kimberly has been having some fantastic sales on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during Christmans and I have been picking up some great deals especially on Christmas fabrics. She is also starting to get some of the new FQ bundles in already.

Not too much else is exciting here. The weather has been dark and gloomy and the snow turned into rain. I don't really mind the rain so much but then we have some of that icy stuff which I don't like. I have the news on right now and they are starting to talk about the ice storm that is coming from the mid west. I better go watch this.

Hugs, Cindy