Sam My Man

This little guy keeps me smiling from morning til night - he also is what makes me hit the pillow and fall asleep so quickly each night.  He is a ball of energy and is learning new things every day.  I wanted to document a few things so I can remember them for years to come.

- Instead of saying yes he says "I do"
- loves hot dogs
- gets Mike his hat each morning so that Mike will take him to McDonald's for pancakes
- says hi and bye to everyone he see's (even at drive thrus)
- says thank you whenever I get him what he is requesting
- when we go for a ride in the car, if we drive by Little Gym and don't go in, he says "wrong way"
- loves diet coke, cake, chocolate, and bottles
- gives the best, tight hugs of any little two year old I know
- loves to play games, pretend he's a ghost, see's imaginary ghosts, and pretend sleeps
- when he wants something he says "come here" or "Jakie, come here"
- I love how he plays with Jake and wants to do everything Jake does
- knows what he wants, what car he wants to drive in, what show to watch, food to eat - knows what he wants in life
- doesn't seem to need much sleep (I hope to forget about this sometime soon)
- loves to be spooned and snuggle in the middle of the night
- calls Grandma Grammy, and Grandpa Popee

Sammy is a bundle of joy and energy in our home and I often think of how boring my life would be without him.  So grateful to have this little guy in my life.

Love you Sammy

Menu Mondays

As always I started the week strong and fizzed out....here's another try.

Monday - Tacos (with leftover roast)
Tuesday - French dip sandwiches w/fruit
Wednesday - Turkey Meatballs w/salad
Thursday - Chicken and Spinach shells (frozen last time I made them) w/garlic bread
Friday - Walking Tacos

Swoon ALong

A few months ago I started my Swoon quilt.  I am using Hometown fabrics by Sweetwater and I am in love with this line!  It is bright fun and cherry.  I kind of put my swoon quilt to the side when I started up on fall table runners - then Christmas hit and I haven't gotten back to Swooning just yet.

In an effort to feel motivated I started following the Swoon Quilt Along and viewing all the amazing and different swoon quilts in the flickr group.  If that doesn't motivate you to make a swoon quilt, not sure what will!  What I love most about this quilt along is that it is stress free.  Nothing to be done weekly - it can take you a month or a year to complete the quilt.  There is just pictures and tips galore to help you through your quilting journey.

Here is a quick look at my current blocks that are done.

Block #1

Block 1 is so far my favorite color combination - yet it was my very first block so as I went on realized some tricks etc.  So although it may be my favorite in color - the quality not so much. 

Block #2

Block #3

Block #4

Playing Together

Clearly I need to break away from the red and add in another color or two....

Going Coastal - a Love Story

I had seen the Going Coastal line before - but I was browsing blogs the other night when I saw this pattern here which lead me to the designers blog here  and to this pattern.

I love these colors - the Going Coastal pieces - I HAVE to make this quilt.  So I set out looking for some of the fabrics.  Hit a local quilt store that has most the line but no plaid, which in my opinion is the best part.  But they did have these cute little 17 piece charm packs they had cut out of the line.  Which I bought 3 off.
That night I quickly found several pieces from the Going Coastal line online and submitted my order - but what do to that night (this is last Friday) to get my fix.  And let me tell you - it was a serious fix.

So I started this - and got the front minus the border done on Friday night...ok Saturday morning round 2am.  (Mike...fabric bought on Friday and used in the same day - new record).

On Saturday it was raining here - what better way to use a rainy day then to finish up a quilt, right?  So I got Sammy down for a nap - and Mike was laying with Jake.  Jake didn't want to take a nap, but Mike did. So Jake and I went downstairs to quilt.  As soon as Mike was asleep we snuck out to find a red stop border for the quilt.  We are sneaky - no one ever knew we had left the house....

On Monday I received the plaid in the mail.  The perfect plaid - 5 yards of this plaid.  I have to make sure I don't run out anytime soon.

Tuesday I quickly turned the quilt into this....

 I LOVE this plaid!  I even got the back sewn together (its the cute bottle cap print) and have it on the quilting machine - which is where it has been since TUESDAY!  No time to sew this week.  So this long story short - this will be my Friday finish as I am going to get it quilted today....or maybe early Saturday morning like 2amish....

I'm still jonesing to make the Jack's Block quilt - so I think I'll buy the pattern since I have all the fabric now!

Linking up again this week to Whoop Whoop and Finish it up Friday

WIP Wednesdays

I had fun looking at all the projects people are in the middle of last week, so I decided this may become a weekly thing for me.

I decided that I would like to try and participate this year in the Another Year of Schnibbles.  I've been collecting these patterns since they first came out, yet I've never made one.  So I decided this is the year.  For the month of January they picked Full House as the pattern.  I love this pattern.  The blocks go together so quick and easy.  

I decided instead of making the one of the pattern, I would try making this one, seen on Miss Rosie's blog

Picture taken from Miss Rosie herself
 http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/

So today I laid it out to take a picture, finally realizing that my star blocks and my house blocks are not the same size.....I went back and reread the pattern found here called Around the Neighborhood.  It looked like I did everything right, so I looked at the picture again - I had to be off somewhere.  Low and behold you are also suppose to use the Tiny Town pattern to make your houses smaller for this project....I missed that step. So my houses are the same size as the Full House pattern....how to make it work?  I'll figure something out as I just have the checkered board and border to do now....my goal is to have it done, and quilted before the end of the month so I can submit it for the schnibbles parade!

Lets hope I get some sewing time this week!

Menu Mondays

This weeks menu ...

Monday - Lemon Grilled chicken w/spinach salad
Tuesdsay - Tomato soup and grilled cheese
Wednesday - Chicken over toast (this one keeps getting away from me each week)
Thursday - Fish Tacos
Friday -Chuck roast w/mashed potatoes
Saturday - Walking Tacos/chili

Some Thoughts

A lot of people the last year or two, myself included, have picked a word for the year.  To be honest I don't even remember my word I picked last year - so really what is the point if I'm not going to follow through?

Over the last few weeks - without even realizing it I think a word picked me.  Organized.  As in my life needs some organization.  The last 2 weeks I have changed a few things - listed out what we should accomplish certain nights of the week, started a menu back up, cleaned my house - and it has actually stayed clean (that hasn't happened in 4 years!) I've given myself a few easy tasks each day or over the weekend and said to myself, "if I don't accomplish anything else, this will get done" and it has worked.  For example this weekend it was to get a quilt hanging back up on my rack above the stairs.  I have been staring at a blank wall far to long.  It might be 8pm on Sunday - but it got hung!

I don't like to clean (who does) and I get really ornery when I clean.  Folding clothes is even worse.  So I've started with a concept - fold clothes as they come out of the dryer....what?  I know...what an idea.  Clean up nightly so each morning the house is in some kind of order.  And now I've made Sunday mornings my cleaning day - We ran through the house to pick up, did a little vacuuming, dusting, hit the bathrooms, mopped the kitchen floor...who knew I could get the whole house cleaned in under 2 hours when it started out fairly picked up?

What a difference the last week has made with me sticking to my schedule.  Game night on Monday was fun, spending time with the kids throughout the week did us all some good.  Clean house, means happy mom - who knew?  I've had time to sew and didn't even feel guilty about it this weekend!

I have even started cleaning out my sewing room.  Oh that is a task I'll tell you and won't happen over night.  I clean a little then have to stop and sew.  I keep thinking I can sew my way out of the mess.  If I start on this project on the floor - I'll be able to see it again, right?  Not so much, so even though no one but me can tell it is a little cleaner this weekend - it actually is.  Give me a few more weeks and I'll have this place in top order!

Organized - I'm usually fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl - but I'm kind of liking this scheduled change of pace.

Valentine Wall Hanging

I saw this quilt on pinterest and decided I needed to make one of my own.

I had bought a jelly roll of Chemistry by Cosmo Cricket for Moda and wasn't disappointed.  There are very few prints in the line - and redone again in 3 different colors - so you have a ton of repeats in the jelly roll.  I was worried I wouldn't have enough variety in the heart - but I love how it turned out.  I think this is the perfect project for repeat fabrics as you barely notice.

I stippled through the white and did an outline in each square.  I really like how it turned out.

The backing was a red/red tonal print and the quilting stands out a ton on it!  I love how it looks, yet I can see every flaw....

This was a fun semi quick project and will add wonderful pops of color anywhere you put it.  The original pin I saw was done in French General fabrics, and I think I'm going to have to make one of those next.  I think this one will be hitting the etsy shop.

Maybe its because I love red and white so much (my wallpaper when I was little was red and white striped) but I love adding red pops of color all over the house during the Valentine season.  There is a cute Moda line out right now of all red and whites that I haven't looked at much until I was making this - then the wheels got turning and I was thinking of all the cute possibilities for it - may have to grab me some of that line too!

A New Family Favorite

This is what Jake and I ate for lunch on Tuesday - it is quickly becoming a new family favorite - as we had them again for lunch today.

I first saw this recipe on Pioneer Woman or Tasty Kitchen  a year or so ago - and made them then and love them.  But for some reason forgot about this little sandwich.

I found them again on interest and I'm so glad we did!  Jake said while eating on Tuesday - "this is the best sandwich in the whole world"

Give them a try - you'll love it!

Valentine's Runner

I spent a few hours binding last night and finished up a few table runners - two of which are Valentine ones.

I love this quick and easy table runners using jelly roll strips or half a charm square and white fabric.  The white border makes it for a more modern feel which I love.

I also made another strip runner to put on my island - again, and easy quick project to add a little color throughout the house.

I am linking up this week to Finish it up Fridays and Whoop Whoop for my first time.  Trying to stay productive and having something to show each week!

WIP Wednesdays

This is my first time linking to WIP Wednesdays - but I'm so inspired and loving seeing what others are working on, I thought it would be fun to submit a few of my projects and help motivate me to get something done each week!



This last week I have been trying to get some Valentine's runners done for my Etsy shop and a few to have at my house also.  I got two done this week from start to finish!  Along with one ready to bind, another one to be quilted, and a fun heart wall hanging that just needs borders.  Gotta love pinterst for those great ideas!  Now if Sam would just stay alseep at night I could get things done.  Also, I wouldn't recommend sewing with the Kardashians on - its like a train wreck I can't look away from.  So slowed me down last night!

This is the runner I finished on Monday - its long for my entry way table - love how the white border makes this a more modern feel. 

I need a long runner to use on my entry table - fits perfectly!

Also finished up this runner, which will go nicely on my kitche island.  Making the house look a little more festive for Valentine's day! 

Now I just need to get the heart wall hanging done - its coming together so much cuter than I had thought.  Don't you love being surprised!

Menu Mondays

Last week was HORRIBLE in the cooking department.  After Tuesday I don't think I cooked again - HORRIBLE I know.  So this week's menu - may look a lot like last weeks.  For as lazy as I was with cooking this week - I have to say I got a lot accomplished. 

A few Valentine's runners to show you this week, a heart table topper that is almost done, and a new love affair with this line - which I bought a few charm squares on Friday and whipped up a quilt that night!  Just waiting for my yardage to come to finish up the borders now.  I am so excited about this line I can hardly stand it.  I'm coming a little late to this party as its been out for some time - but now I have several quilts in the works that I feel have to be made from it.  More coming this week.

I also got my house cleaned - as in took all day clean!  I love the feeling of a clean house.

On to the menu....

Monday - Southwest Chicken Wraps w/ fruit
Tuesday - Tater Tot Casserole w/salad
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Chicken over Toast
Friday - Turkey Meatballs w/ fruit

BTW the chicken spinach shells from last week were a hit!  Give them a try.  They are a great meal for the kids, to take to people, freezer meal.  So good!

A Day of Firsts

Being a working mom sometimes sucks.  Today - my little guy Jake had a big first for him - he went skiing for the first time!  It sucks because I stayed at home to get some work done and missed his first big day.  As we were getting him ready to head out - he said to me (sitting in the bathroom so cute in his little long johns) "I'm kind of nervous mom".  His nerves must have faded quickly because once he was at his lesson he was asking the instructor when he get on a lift.

Here is is walking to the slopes with his instructor.  Note to anyone wanting to take a lesson - go to Alta, during the day - midweek - he basically got a private lesson as there was only 1 other kid who left the lesson before it even began.

Luckily I Mike was around to take a few pictures, some video and give me a few play by plays.

It was a beautiful day to be outside - sunny and not crowded at all.  Jake loved it, so we will be heading back out real soon.

Back at the ranch (Tal do you remember that reference?)  This little guy had a first of his own - he told me he had to pee - went to the toilet pulled down his diaper and peed all by himself.  Too much info?  But we are proud - we jumped around screaming "I did it!"  He was very excited.

It was a big deal all round - whether it be skiing our peeing my boys had a few firsts!

First Finish of 2012

Mike would be so proud.  I bought these fabrics December 26th.  I had the quilt completed by January 2nd or so.  That may be my fastest turn around yet.  He gets upset when I buy new fabric, because he wonders why I like to waste money and let it sit in a closet....

I love these colors - love the border fabric - I wanted to make something, wasn't sure what so I went for a quick and easy baby quilt.  A charm pack (line is Circa from Moda) 1/2 yards for borders and some solid red binding.  But the backing - the back is what drew me to this line...

Don't you just love the numbers?  How cute would this be for any baby quilt?  The only problem I found is there isn't a lot of different prints - just a few redone in the different colors.  I think the pattern Can't Cut It Up that uses 5 fabrics would be so cute from this...may be one of my next purchases!

Love this cute line - and fun finish for 2012!

Menu Mondays

I did pretty good until Friday - still cooked, just not what I had planned so a few meals are carrying over from last week.

Sunday I took dinner to my sister and a cousin and I have to say this meal was a hit with my kids also.  May just be the best dinner night we've had with Sam.  He's so picky and eats hot dogs for nearly every meal.  I've been trying to get him to branch out - he finally did - eating two of these shells.  The exciting part for me is they had both chicken and spinach in them - actual healthy ingredients!  Its like a dream come true.  Hopefully he's turning a corner and we can slowly add in a few new items.

Sunday - Chicken and Spinach Shells
Monday - Pork Roast and mashed potatoes
Tuesday - Southwest Chicken Wraps
Wednesday - Tater Tot Casserole
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Chicken over Toast
Saturday - Meatball Wontons

Quilts for 2011

I look back at my completed list for 2011 and I'm so excited I got so many things done!  I think 2011 was the year of the table runner.  I really got into runners.

I have to say fall brought in the most runners for me this year - I went crazy for pinwheels!

I went through a swoon phase - and made a fall swoon table topper, a baby swoon quilt, and am 2/3rds of the way through my big Hometown Swoon quilt.  My goal is to finish up my swoon quilt by March.

I made a few baby quilts that are some of my all time favorites.

And the zig zag....

I made several larger quilts that have yet to be quilted.  So I haven't add them to my completed list yet.  My quilting goals for 2012 will be a little different from last year.  Instead of giving myself deadlines, as I don't seem to follow through with that due to life... I'm telling myself once a quilt is finished, it gets quilted and binding added to it all at the same time - before starting something new.  At least this way the quilts won't continue to pile up in my closet waiting to be completed.  The other goal is to quilt at least 1 a month that is hanging up staring me down every time I walk into the room.  My goal this year is to focus more on quilts I want to make for me - and less on quilting for others - and quilts for the etsy shop.  I don't want to give that up - but it seems whenever a holiday rolls around I start projects for my etsy shop and then I have nothing new for me.  I'm going to do it the other way around this year - make a project for myself first - then move onto the shop.  I've been wanting a 4th of July quilt of my own for years now - I think this is the year!  I also want to complete a few UFO's I have laying around.  Swoon, Route 44, Grace Star quilt and a few My 3 Stars quilts I have in mind.  

I'm excited for all the projects I have waiting for me - and most of all trying to use up a lot of my stash this year! 

Fandango Turning Twenty - Christmas Quilt Project

This was my final quilt from my Christmas Quilt project I started about December 10th or so.  This quilt was for my sister and was done out of Fandango by Kate Spain.  I used the Turning Twenty quilt pattern as she loves the big block look in quilts.

This was the only quilt I bought a back for.  I felt like the fabrics were different enough that I couldn't just slap on some random back.

I love this fabric line and my sister does too - so it worked out great!  I finished binding it on Christmas Eve - just in time to give it to her Christmas morning.  It was so fun being able to give so many quilts this year.

I had one for Mike that didn't get quilted - but I think I'll save it for Valentine's Day and do one for all my boys!  Gotta get started on that now.

Menu Mondays - on Tuesday

I know I'm late - but I've spent the last day or so researching recipes, making grocery lists, going to the store in hopes to help keep me on the straight and narrow.  So here goes my menu planning again.

Tuesday - Steaks and Pear and Blue Cheese Salad (the salad was delicious)
Wednesday - Pork chops, green beans and cooked apples
Thursday - Tacos - I may even turn mine into this
Friday - Chicken over Toast
Saturday - Turkey Sandwiches
Sunday - Pork Roast, roasted veggies, noodles

Bliss Zig Zag

Awhile ago I made this quilt and had it sitting in my "to be quilted" pile for a few months.  I finally got around to quilting it because Marta decided she needed a quilt on her wall in her new cheery office - and this quilt was auditioned and won the part.

I love this quilt.  LOVE this quilt - the fun colors from the Bliss line by Bonnie and Camille - the modern look of the zig zag or chevron style quilt mixed with white.  The polka dot border.  It was one of my favorites from the moment I laid eyes on it through someone else's blog and new I had to have one.  This is my first zig zag and I loved working on it.  I had decided I wanted some clean line quilting for this quilt and thought it would take me forever!  I was so happy with the results and so glad I stuck with the line idea.

I did little lines about an inch apart in the outer border - outlined the inner border - and did a zig zag motion through the zigs and the zags.  I'm so pleased with how it turned out.

I knew if I let this quilt go it would have to go to someone who would appreciate this quilt and love it as much as I did - and Marta is that person.  I was counting the number of quilts and table runners she has at our cousin party in December and I think she may take the prize for most Abby quilts in one location.  So I was happy to let this one go to live with her.  She will take excellent care of it and I can't wait to see it at home on her wall.

Thanks for sending the pictures Mart - can't believe I forgot to take them!

Happy New Year

Sure hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and is ringing in the New Year.  We had a wonderful time with both of our families.  The kids loved their new toys, and I have been lazy most of the week.  Worked a little more than I wanted, didn't clean nearly as much as is needed - but it has been nice to be at home this last week.

Mike and I took our first little getaway together this weekend.  Can you believe we have never left the kids together before?  I've gone on a trip or he's gone out of town - but we've never gone together.  We ran up the mountain to Park City for some alone time and I took my first skiing lesson.  Can you believe I've lived in Utah all my life and never skied before?  It was fun.  I'm still sore 3 days later - but it was fun.  I hope to make this a family affair and start going often.  I can't explain how beautiful the mountain is later at night, when its almost empty.  Going up the lift looking at the mountain - I wish I had a picture cause it took my breath away.... or that could have been from the boots I was wearing the the way my legs were shaking.... but it was a fun time either way.

I'm excited for 2012 and what is has to bring.  Tonight we went to dinner and I watched the kids race back to the car.  I think this is going to be a fun year for our little family.  The kids are FINALLY playing together.  Sam has turned into a little person instead of a baby.  We can get out of the house and go places and he behaves himself (most of the time).  My goal for 2012 - to sit in a movie theater with both my kids and watch the whole movie.... we'll see how that goes.

I was reading my posts from last January - the goals that were set and not kept.  I would say I did sew a little more then the previous year so that was good.  Eating and working out went out the door in January... I'm so fat right now I don't want to leave my house!  Clearly that needs to be priority #1 on my list this year.  Starting tomorrow - work outs will start - healthy dinners will be made - less eating out - no coke - YOU HEARD ME - NO COKE!  I've been cheating on coke with another man - Red Bull - so I'm going to allow myself a Red Bull now and then - but I'm done with the coke.  We have a tripped planned in April and I plan to allow myself to be seen in public in a bathing suit - so I've got to get my butt in gear!

I've got my Jillian Michaels DVDs ready to go, a new nano with some great play lists, the couch to 5k in mind - and I'm going for it.  Stay tuned to see a healthier me this year.  That is my only goal - I'm not even going to give myself a number I want to get to weight wise.  I just want to be healthier - like what I see in the mirror cause I've been very down on myself lately and would like to change that.

The other few things I'd like to do more of this year - finish a few quilts - which I think after doing 5 in 2 weeks I can prove I can get things done.  I have tons of kits and have been working to buy backs when I feel the need to buy fabric.  So I should have plenty to keep me busy this year!

The other goal is to find us a babysitter and try to go out more.  Mike and I have definetly let this part of our lives slide away since having kids and I think its important to bring it back.  At least once a month we are going to have a date night.

I've also implemented a new weekly night schedule - here's how I see it playing out.  Obviously if we sign Jake up for anymore activities my life will be overtaken by karate or baseball or soccer - but in the meantime this is how its going to work:

Sunday night - hang out
Monday night - Family night - focus on the kids, playing games, reading, an occasional movie night etc
Tuesday night - Abby night - I get to disappear downstairs and not do a thing once Mike gets home
Wednesday night - hang out
Thursday night - Mike's night - to do whatever he wants while I take care of the kids
Friday night - Family night - go out, stay in, but do something fun together
Saturday - Date night or hang out doing whatever

I think by having specific nights set aside for family time - and nights off for both Mike and I we will be a happier family.  Its something I've been thinking about for awhile now and feel its important to focus on.

Anything else???? This is a random post.  I'm excited for 2012 and all that it brings.  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to dig in to the new year!