2015 Here I come!

Calvin just has a way of saying things perfectly, don't you think? I think I'm pretty awesome, but I do have some goals for this coming year. There are projects I want to complete, new skills I want to conquer, and life I want to enjoy.

GOAL #1 -- UFO Project: Finish at least 6 of my current WIP projects.

I need to conquer a few UFOs. As I've been organizing my new sewing room, I've come to realize that several of my UFOs are so close to being completed. I want to finish at least 6 of my current WIP projects, including:

• Project: Fractured Flower Quilt

Fractured Flower Quilt

I'm still mad at this project, so it hangs out in a time-out bin. I just need to buck up and finish it. All the rows are sewn, I just need to sew the rows together. That is all! 

• Project: Wheel of Fortune Quilt

Wheel of Fortune Quilt

Again, so close to finishing this one. Just need to finish quilting the edges. I've already made the binding. Not much longer.

• Project: Cathedral Window Pillow

Modern Cathedral Window Quilt

This only just recently joined my WIP page, but I'm anxious to complete it only because I LOVE Cathedral Window quilts. I want to make a pillow for my quilting Great-Great Aunt's chair I inherited.

• Project: Purse

I have been intimidated by this project. I absolutely LOVE this purse, but I've never done anything like this so I'm afraid. I'm afraid I won't understand the instructions. I'm afraid I'll mess it up. I'm afraid mine won't be as pretty. 

My goal is to banish the fear, learn something new, and embrace what comes. (fingers crossed)

GOAL #2 -- Learn New Skills: There is so many things I still want to learn!

• Skill: Free Motion Quilting--I have had so much fun quilting my own projects. I want to explore new FMQ patterns. I especially want to improve my feathers. I've been eyeballing a class on Craftsy called Free-Motion Quilting Feathers. Hmmmm.....maybe I'll take the class.

• Skill: Machine Embroidery--My mom LOVES machine embroidery. It is her  preferred method of quilting her quilts. My new (to me) sewing machine has an emboidery module, and I want to learn how to use it. I might love it, I might hate it, I might thing "meh." But I want to learn the basics. 

• Skill: Crochet--I know this isn't a quilting skill, but I still want to learn to do it. My craft pintrest board is being filled up with more and more crochet projects. 

GOAL #3 -- Enjoy Life: Be Grateful for Each Day!

I want to be able to go to bed each night knowing I accomplished something good. It could be supporting my kids with their various sports activities, making a new friend, finished a quilting goal, or cleaning my fridge.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. -- Psalms 118:24

This has long been my favorite scripture because it reminds me that each day is gift. Each day is a new beginning. And I should make something out of every day.

Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I'm excited for what 2015 might bring. 

Happy New Year!

 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

And here's a blast from the past--our first New Year's Eve together.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Last night we drove up to Salt Lake City to take the kids to Temple Square and see all the lights and nativities throughout the grounds. It was cold, so we had to bundle up. We had such a fun time walking throughout the grounds and looking at all the colored lights, cool nativities, reflection ponds, and tabernacle. Later, we stopped in the visitors center to warm up and watched Luke II.
C & S kept testing their "sliding" skills in all the snow. We had to keep S away from all the water--he kept trying to get up close and personal with the reflection pond and water fountains.

When we left for home, I asked the kids what their favorite part was.
C: The orange and red lights in the trees.
S: The movie and the Christus.
MK: Probably being pushed around in the stroller in cozy comfort.

Our First New Year's Eve

10 years ago tonight marks the first time R and I went out. Our history together is quite funny, looking back. When I got back from France, an old roommate asked me if I wanted to share an apartment again. R lived in an apartment on the same floor just kitty-corner to mine. I had acquired a stalker who I couldn't seem to shake and who claimed R and him were great friends. So thinking that R was in the same vein as this guy, I avoided him. The first time we spoke to each other, I walked away mid-conversation once R brought up that other guy. So for a few weeks/months I tried not to be ambushed and forced into talking to R again. I was more embarrassed than anything around him--because of the whole walking away from him while he's talking and because I thought he was like that stalker-guy and because I thought he thought that I LIKED that stalker-guy. Then came New Year's Eve.

I got back to my apartment on New Year's Eve Day. Originally, I had plans to go out with some friends from home.....but they abruptly changed their plans to go some where I didn't really care to go to. My roommie was there and we were hanging out in our living room wondering what we would do when a guy from downstairs came along saying that he's trying to get a group together to go up to SLC for New Year's Eve. His 2 sisters were visiting and he was trying to find others to come along. My roommate and I agreed, then I found out R was going to be part of the group. Yikes....and I had done so good on avoiding him.

So, the 6 of us drive up to SLC through all the fog. I remember it was hard to see the road as we drove up. They had fireworks that no one could see because of the fog: Instead, the fog just changed colors. We took some pictures, and EVERYONE of them R would put his finger in my ear! Weird-o!

 

 

So both pictures we have from that night I'm making a crazy face because who would think that a guy you barely know would stick his finger in your ear? During a group picture? Apparently, R would. (He still does that to our boys. Hilarious to me since it's not me this time around.)

We all had so much fun that we all kept getting together every night after that until classes started up again. Then, a couple days later R called me up and asked me out.

10 years later, we've been married 9-1/2 years, have 3 kids, and a mortgage. Oh, and I still have the coat.