The start of Fall

Today is the first Sunday of NFL football which means two things for me. Soup Sunday, and the official start to sewing season!! Lots of projects on my list for the remainder of the year.

Back from another great vacation

We had a wonderful time in Mexico with Callie's family. Yes, we had our ups and downs but by the end it was a great trip. Everyone came back with a little color and pretty tired of the heat and tortillas.

A couple of photos from our parent's 30th Anniversary Photo Shoot on the beach.

It's Almost Friday

It's almost Friday, which of course brings my favorite...the weekend. This weekend we have visitors. Carrie and Blake will make the journey up to Minnesota for the weekend to hang out while they wait for their apartment to open up. We will be headed up to the cities to Ikea to look for odds and ends for their new place.

With guests coming I better put the ole apron on and get into the kitchen. I'm thinking...

Saturday
B: Vanilla Bean Scones
D: Pineapple Skewered Shrimp, Garlic New Potatos, Ceasar Salad, Bread

Sunday
B: French Toast & Fruit Salad
D: Beer Can Chicken, Grilled Vegtables, Corn Casserole and Strawberry Short Cake

All homemade including the scones and bread!

If you haven't heard, I am now the biggest fan of Artisan Bread in Five Mintues a Day. I am amazed that I am now able to make bread that is out of this world. Wonderful crunch to the crust with a chewy inside with a deep flavor...taste like it was from a speciality bread shop. But really just made by me. This week alone I have already made 1 loaf plus 2 pizzas. Feels good to be able to turn out such a great end product on your own!

Now if I could only find someone to do the all the dishes....

So much done!!

With my weekend I got a ton done.

-De-cluttered several areas in my house

-Laundry

-Shopping

-Planting

-Baking

-Laying out...got a little red

-Plus started my vacation skirt project

Here are a couple pictures of the annuals I planted and the new swing we got.

3 Day Weekend Ahead!!

It's only Thursday, but my busy week is slowing down dramatically. The wedding I was planning for a coworker went off beautifully. I little rain in the afternoon, but that helped to cool things down a bit. I will post pictures when I get my hands on a few soon. I had a ton of compliments on the event, even asked if I was a professional event planner and suggestions that I should think about picking it up on the side...HAHAHA...that's what I need more stress in my life!

Just getting ready for my 3 day weekend of doing whatever I WANT!!! I think I will sew and plant flowers.

Where did May GO!!!

Well the traveling is done for May....now onto more projects. Cleaning out every nock and cranny of my home. My mom helped me with basement, after I get through Tuesday I am onto the upstairs. Until then I am playing florist/cater/wait staff/wedding coordinator at a coworkers wedding on Tuesday (yes, a Tuesday!). Pictures to follow.

Tour de Missouri

Graduation season is upon us. Both of our sisters are graduating this year...not to mention me too! So much to do. Gifts to finish, packing, prepping the house and the pets. The acadia is pulling out at 8AM on Friday morning...better get to it!

Callie's New Car

Callie's New Car is a 2007 GMC Acadia SLE. It has AWD which should serve us well up here with our LONG winters. It also has rear seat DVD entertainment, even though the only ones who ride back there now wouldn't like the headphones very much. As you can see Teddy is ready to go for a ride.

Busy Busy

I've been super busy this month, so busy that March is almost over!

This is the first time I have ever completed 2 quilts in a month, both very different but both beautiful.

Photos of Elizabeth's quilt, I gave her for completing her treatment. It looks pastelly, but it is really bright.

A couple coworkers and I at Elizabeth's 8K Benefit Walk/Run

Well off to start another project!

Finally off the To-Do List

This week I finally finished this monster of a quilt. It maybe red and black, but is isn't a Jaybird quilt. It is for a co-workers sister, they went to Hannibal High School in Missouri.

This massive beast of a quilt is a king size and is made up of 42+ t-shirts, some blocks were compiled of several t-shirts. It took me two visits to actually get quilted. Even custom quilting with a softball border.

Now on to the next project!

Back from Fabulous Las Vegas

Well we got off on Sunday. We couldn't find the camera charger...of course! I found it today at work in my work bag. So before taking off we made a mad dash to Best Buy to Mall of America for a universal charger, we were in luck!

Las Vegas was a little chilly and little rainy at times. But overall a great trip.

The Food

We dined on a few favorites that are hard to come by in the Rochester area including sushi and dim sum. Enjoyed the Bellagio buffet...prime rib, seafood and some very decadent desserts. On top of the "free" drinks. I slipped Miami Vices as Craig took in anything with Whiskey (Gross!)

The Entertainment

We planned ahead and got discount tickets to a Cirque de Soleil show-Mystere at Treasure Island. The show was amazing! Worth every penny, very neat! Since we had planned to spend some time laying the pool, which was closed because it was too cold. So we decided to pick up another show. We ended up seeing Jubilee at Bally's. It was everything of Vegas I was expecting, the big head-dresses, feathers, and sequins. When we were buying tickets the lady next to us had an extra 2 for 1 coupon, so the show was even better.

Gaming

We lost some, we won some...over all a good time. We loved playing Rapid Roulette, video poker and the slot game Texas Tea. We played all over the strip, but those games were our favorites.

One of the best things in Vegas, besides the above is the people watching!!! So many characters all in one place!

Now for the Photos:

Craig outside the fountains at Bellagio

MnM World...check out all the different colors!

Craig with our "Around the World" Coca-Cola Sampler. Some were gross and some were good.

Callie outside NY NY, hoping to cross this one off our list this year too.

It seems like a lot of Europe is in Vegas, guess I will have to settle for this as my European experience for now. The gondola ride at the Venetian.

Going out for the night, check out the art work. If you have taken the art tour at Mayo Clinic you will know the artist. It's Chilhuly!

The trademark sign of Vegas-check out my plaid shoes. PS we walked all the way down there too, it was a haul!

Craig and the Eiffel Tower at Paris

The Golden Nugget-Dad's Place

Wild Cherry Slots-Mom's Game

Overall a wonderful trip and defiantly plan on going back. Now back to the real world to make some moo-la to save up for our next adventure.

Ready, Set...Get with it

Oh...so much to do before we get to leave on Sunday.
-Laundry-I need the clothes to pack, of course
-Homework-stinken group projects
-Errands
-Pedicure-gotta look pretty you know in sandals
-Clean (Thanks mom for instilling this trait in me...do I look like I need the extra work. And who really "needs" to dust before leaving on vaca?)
-Prep the animals for the house sitter
-Bind a quilt-it is "due" Thursday, we get back late Wednesday. So this is me thinking/cramming ahead

Once I get through my list, I will be ready for a vacation.

Bring on the warm desert sun, relaxing with the husband, and a variety of cocktails!

P.S. Both puppies have gotten to go on walks this week. It is warm(er), sunny and melty. Dogs love slush and muddy paws. But it was get to get out even though Craig refused to join me (he didn't want to get dirty)

Spring...pretty please?

Since spring is no where in site, we must look forward to our trip to Vegas. Less than two weeks away. I am super excited to get away from the SNOW!

I've been busy quilting the weekends away. I've headed back up to the cities to use the long-arm. I am currently working on king size t-shirt quilt. I am an ready to get this thing binded and off my list! It is a big one. It's so big it requires two trips. But so far it is looking fabulous.

A Sweet Weekend

It's Valentine's Weekend...and we/I have nothing planned. Which sounds pretty amazing.

Craig has to work Saturday and Sunday.... :(

So that leaves me to:

homework

clean the house

....wait those things are done!!! I have gotten my act together and get more done during the week so I can enjoy the weekend.

So if you need me, you can find me in my sewing room with my other valentine sleeping curled up at my feet.

SNOW. SNOW. AND MORE SNOW

Looks like the next couple of days are going to be snowy ones. As it keeps falling, I wish I could have a couple of snow days. But in a month we will be in Vegas. So at least we have something to look forward too. I will take 60-70's any day over more snow.

A Fun Weekend...

I had another sewing mastery class, we got to use the rufflier foot. It was fun and I'm sure lots of cute things could be created with it.

We booked a trip to Las Vegas!!! We are going in March, so it will be a nice little get away to the desert as winter continues to linger in Minnesota. We are staying at the Belliago on the Strip.

This morning we took the dogs to the dog park, they had a ball running around with the others. They are pretty tuckered out now...so naps for everyone.

Another week...

Normally the weeks of January drag on, but not this one. Work is super busy, and so is life outside of work.

I had my first two mastery classes this week on my new machine. I didn't learn a ton, but I did get to use a lot of the nifty feet that Bernina offers. But what I really learned wasn't on the outline. I learned a lot about troubleshooting and tinkering with my machine.

Plus my last semester of grad school starts on Sunday. This is it, the FINAL two classes. It is going to be a busy spring, but I can see the finish line.

Winter

We are not yet 1 month into "real" winter and I am already tired. So cold, so snowy, so icy....so over it. I guess I will just have to dream of summer and all that it brings.

The beach would be nice, but even just a warm sunny day would be great.

Walking the dogs, picnics and taking the dogs swimming...enjoying the harvest from our garden. Oh how I long for summer time.

I guess I will just settle for snowy, cold Minnesota. If you need me I will be sewing up a storm and trying to plow through my endless list of unfinished projects.

New Year = A better blogger

With the 2010 now upon us. I will do better blogging about our busy days and weeks. We are busy putting away Christmas decorations and getting the house organized. The holidays left us busy with work and family visits. Time to get off on the right foot in the new year.