Old Habits Die Hard

I have noticed lately that my sewing and housecleaning are completely antagonistic. I tend to throw myself completely in what I am doing. When I am cleaning, all the sewing stuff is put neatly away. I take a piece of paper, write down what time I will start, and then go by 5 minute increments. I then figure what needs to be done, in the most efficient order, and how much time each task should [reasonably] take. I blast my music and the list keeps me on schedule so I don't get distracted...usually by the computer. This system only works if my dear hubby is away. :) Once the house is clean, I reward myself by getting out my sewing stuff again, and focusing on a project...and it all goes downhill from there. I sew for a few days, forgetting laundry, scraps all over the kitchen floor, and the table taken up by my sewing machine and cutting mat. A few days later and I am back to where I started. Today was a great session of cleaning - although it doesn't look like it at the moment. The house was clean, until I took EVERYTHING out of the car. It is amazing how much stuff accumulates in 3 years, even though you keep cleaning it out. (The car is clean though! :) )

Anyway, getting on track, as I am writing this I am realizing that while the sewing is not conducive for a clean house, the clean house helps my sewing, and both aid my sanity. After I clean, I refocus and go back to one project. IF I get some sewing done this week,it will be stockings again. However, Nate has been offered a temporary position about 4 hours away, with the posibility of extension....so we may be moving in a couple of weeks. "May", because while they have offered him the job, they are still waiting for funding. Fingers Crossed!

With the warmer weather comes the desparation to clip the poodles! It is such a funny phenomenon - their personalities change when they are clipped. When they are shaggy, they act like cuddly teddy bears, and when they are clipped, they know they are Hot Stuff, and prance around!

Spring!

Nate and I went for a walk the other day at Rogers Environmental Center in Sherburne. It was so nice to be out in the fresh air and seeing the earth come alive once again!

Go Figure.

Psyche likes Doritos. Why am I surprised?

Another Bag

I had a slight mishap with the baby dress. The collar ended up getting clipped, and so I will need to put a new one on. It is very cute, I just haven't had the patience to finish it yet. :)

Today I got out of work early and decided to make this bag.


I used this sweater...


And this shirt.




I love how it came out!




This is my first bag that I have put in a zipper. I love it! For me, the more pockets, the merrier!


Psyche approves!

Sweater Refashion

Thursday, my coworker asked if I had gone over to Sally's after work. I hadn't, because we left town as soon as I was done to go ice skating with my sister. She said that they had a winter clearance sale and all sweaters, long sleeve shirts, and other winter items were only $1. I couldn't finish my work fast enough! I went over and found a bunch of stuff that I will post later. I figured that I had to do something with at least one of the items so Nate would know that I really planned on doing something with them, so I took a silk/wool sweater and made a dog sweater out of the body, and a cat sweater out of the sleeve.



It was over a half hour before the cat figured out she really could walk. As soon as I put it on her, she thought she was dying and collapsed. It was quite entertaining.....for me at least. She and her sister have done the same thing when we have put harnesses on them. They just go limp. Anyways....



The dog at least loved her sweater, which will come in handy soon, as she really needs to be clipped. Nate was too busy laughing at the cat to be concerned about the rest of the clothing. I also found some dress shirts that I really want to make tops/shirt dresses out of. Unfortunately/fortunately, I got the idea Thursday morning from CleverGirl, otherwise, I would never have picked up the shirts I did. I did find some nice ones for Nate, so he was happy!

Meanwhile, Tigg looked on wondering what on earth Psyche did to deserve that, not realizing the sleeve wouldn't have even fit over her head!

Happy 4th Anniversary to My Darling!

Time really does fly when you're having fun! I can't believe we have been married for four years! It is really amazing! Nate surprised me with flowers tonight - and chocolate because he couldn't find the cards in the store because they have moved it around. I like cards, but I like chocolate too! It was so cute how the Cadbury eggs were placed in with the Narcissus. Kind of like an Easter Egg Hunt!

I really, Really, REALLY wanted lobster for dinner. Nate suggested Red Lobster, but then we decided to do it at home after seeing the prices! WOW! It was so good! We had the lobster with melted butter, after eating a salad. After the lobster, we had cauliflower and broccoli and it was all so yummy! I have also been craving Tiramisu, and figured that our anniversary was a good excuse - because we have been trying to watch our diet as well as exercise more. We have found that once in awhile dropping our diet for a night actually helps - We aren't so desperate to sneak in junk food during the rest of the time. The tiramisu turned out amazing as well. We were full after dinner, but wanted to try the Tiramisu, so we split a piece. That piece led to another, because it went down so fast! Nate will be taking it in to work tomorrow, so that we don't eat it.....because we would.

I ended up using the recipe on the back of the Ladyfingers package with the addition of chocolate liqueur. Here it is:

1 package Lady Fingers
8 oz. Mascarpone Cheese
2 eggs
2 Tbsp sugar
2 cups strong coffee
chocolate liquer
cocoa powder

Beat the egg yolks until pale in color, then add Mascarpone Cheese and mix gently until smooth then add Chocolate Liqueur (I think I added about a shot - not totally sure). In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and sugar until very stiff and gently place them into the cheese mixture. Dip half of Lady Fingers quickly (very quickly, or they dissolve) and place in 8 x 8 glass pan. (This covered the bottom of the pan) Then cover with half of cheese mixture. Repeat with rest of Lady Fingers and cheese mixture. Sprinkle the top with cocoa powder and refrigerate at least an hour. YUM!

Psyche was turning herself inside out trying to figure out what the new smell (seafood) was. She didn't dare get on the table to check it out, but kept jumping into the other chairs trying to get closer to it!

Will Be Back Soon.....

More posts are coming! We have been pretty busy lately, and our internet wasn't working yesterday. We have been working on refinishing the apartment next to us - it looks amazing now. I really wish we had taken before pictures. It ended up being almost too much to take on. When we said we would do it, Nate was working part time. Since then, his grandfather has gone in the hospital, resulting in him not being able to drive for the time being. I have been chauffering him around - being his "girlfriend". It's been fun, but we haven't been able to work on the house as much as we wanted to because Nate has also jumped to full time. Anyways, we ended up tearing up the disgusting carpet, painting all the walls, putting down wood laminate flooring (which by-the-way is tedious when working around an ornate staircase but a lot of fun) in the dining room and living room, making a pattern for the kitchen floor to cut out the vinyl and oops - going and getting more vinyl because the pattern was put right side up on vinyl that was wrong side up - giving us a perfect mirror image of the kitchen, but something that we couldn't use. The kitchen now looks so big and bright, where before it was small and dark. It's been fun practice for when we have a house of our own. It should all be cleaned up by Wednesday. Nate is putting down molding around the floors, while I am doing last minute touch ups.

I promised my sister in January that we could go ice skating, so we will be going on Wednesday. And Friday!!! Friday will be our Fourth Anniversary! I can't believe how fast it has gone by - and how fun! I swear, I am married to the most wonderful man ever!