Is this really the last day of June?

Hi All!
I'm back by popular demand (from Mandy!) to write another post in my blog.

Can you believe those Chicago Blackhawks! I don't really follow sports that much except when they're in the "super bowl" (my name for all sports final games! - irritates the heck out of my boys!) So, of course, I saw the last 17 seconds of the last game and feel qualified to say I'm a fan! It was exciting and also exciting because I work downtown and witnessed all the hoopla! Very much a fun day! Just wish I hadn't missed the parade! Story of my life....

I can't believe the year is already half over! I guess time really does fly! It will already be the Fourth of July on Thursday! Before you know it, Mandy and Thomas will be visiting us in Chicago again!

June 24, 2013

I decided in order to encourage me to be more diligent about posting on my blog, I will be starting a new format. I am announcing the "12 Days of Crafting." Each day you will read about one craft project. Some will be mine in the works or completed and some will be done by other people. Every Monday I also plan to have a "firm floral arrangement of the week." This will be a beautiful floral arrangement the law firm I work at has on display for the week. Each one is more beautiful than the last one. For example, this was the arrangement from last week. Every time I looked at it I felt like I should see a bride around the corner. Last, but not least, each Monday I will write about a book I've read and loved or one I'm currently reading. Stay tuned.....







I had a wonderful weekend last week. (I know that was last week, but we had so much fun!) Let me tell you....on Friday Ro, Liz and I went to the International Quilt Show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Before getting there, we stopped at McDonald's for a quick lunch and soon became trapped inside due to monsoon rains! Eventually it stopped raining and we were able to make a mad dash to the car and go to the show. We had such a wonderful time walking around looking at quilts, shopping, looking for things to buy, stopping for Starbucks, chatting and shopping! What a great time we had! I bought a cute kit to make a paper pieced bowl. It was so much fun to make as well as very easy. I hope to make many more. This is the Christmas design bowl I made. I photographed it with a Sharpie to you could see the size.

Then on Saturday, Ro, Sonia, Liz, Gladys, Sandy, the other Gladys and I went to Grayslake for the Fiber Fest. Ro was nice enough to drive us all there in her new car. We were laughing from start to finish! The Fiber Fest was fun but being together was the best part. Poor Ro had 6 back seat drivers telling her how to drive! She was patient with us but was very happy when we pulled into her driveway and left! She's such a sport! We all laughed like we were teenagers again!

This weekend (yesterday) we all got together at Sandy's house for a bar-b-q, eating, drinking and knitting fest. Such a great time with so many wonderful friends! Thanks Sandy and Jim for a wonderful day!

Well, goodnight for today and be sure to catch my post tomorrow!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Hello all!
I had a big surprise when I walked out of the house this morning; part of our fence fell down into our neighbors yard! Yikes!!! What a shock! No one was hurt but now we need to have it fixed. Now, I'm also worried another section will fall! Is there no end to the worries I have?

Oh well, at least my food intake today was better than Friday and Saturday! I had Mexican food on Friday (just ate 1/2 of it - and some chips and salsa - oh well) and then on Saturday my cousin Janice and her husband Mike came over for dinner and the Blackhawks game. I had pizza, wine and a cupcake! That's in addition to some candy, etc. before dinner! Confession time.... I was a bad, bad girl but got right back on track today. I actually earned 8 points through activity yesterday so I didn't feel TOO bad! I just hope I stay the same weight and don't gain when I weigh in on Thursday!

Speaking of activity, after our breakfast out this morning, I walked home from the restaurant. It was about a 20 minute walk so I felt good about that. Then my DH and I walked to Dominick's and back which was another 1/2 hour or so! Can't wait to see my activity points for today!

I am happy to report that I've lost 45 pounds now through Weight Watchers. Only 5 more pounds to get to my mini goal of 50 pounds!!! I know I can do it even after falling off the wagon this weekend. After that, just another 15 pounds and I will reach my WW goal and become a lifetime member! Yeah for me!!! I actually feel so much better, sleep better, and look a whole lot better! Yeah, I said it - I look pretty darn good!

Now for craft time. (What would my life be without craft time!) I found some great YouTube videos by accident last week on making quilts sponsored by Riley Blake Designs. They have a great series of 9 episodes detailing how to quilt from start to finish. I already have several great ideas to make some very unique items. The first item I want to make is the Jack and Jill Travel Pillow Case. It's a free pattern from Riley Blake Designs. One of the items I did make was found in the how to quilt YouTube video 1. It's a cute little needle holder with a small little "hidden" pocket. I made three today and am pretty proud of them.

 

They are quilted using a nine-patch pattern and measure about 6 x 3. Very sweet little gifts and fun to make. They're great to use up scraps and all those fat quarters I've collected.

I've still been knitting so don't worry about that! I'm currently take a Bioche knitting class and will be taking the Cat Bordhi Sweet Tomato Heel Sock class taught by Brigitte Biver at Woolly Lamb Yarn Studio next month. The first Brioche class was pretty easy but I have a feeling the second one will be harder! Always great to learn new things!

Will close for now so I can get ready for work tomorrow!