Hello weekend!

I feel like I haven't been here in a long time but I think it's been a week or so...don't remember when I last posted.  My son is on the way to recovery and luckily no surgery was needed; however, he does have a nice bright orange cast for 5-6 weeks but at least the majority of his pain is gone!  The orange is for the Fighting Illini....go Illinois!  Football season will be starting soon and always enjoy stitching and watching a game on tv.  I don't really like to watch sports all that much unless it is Illinois basketball or football....I really do not like baseball. 

My daughter is all moved in her apartment on campus and it is very strange at home without her....a lot quieter though.  I wonder all the time what she is doing and text her often but I'm trying not to be bothersome.  I keep telling myself she is 20 almost 21 but it is hard to let go.  She finally met one of her roommates and they are getting along great so that makes me feel a lot better.  Hopefully her other roommate shows up soon and they all get along.

I also just started a very strict diet and so far so good.  It is called Ideal Protein and so far I like most of the food.  I've also lost about three pounds so far and just started Thursday.  I know you are not supposed to lose weight fast but this program is monitored by a doctor so I am comfortable with it.  I also have to meet with my coach on a weekly basis and give her a chart with all of the food I've eaten for the past week.  I really lack willpower so having to be held accountable for sticking with the plan and eating right is a neccesity for me.  Once you meet your goal you are allowed some other foods again and they are reintroduced slowly.  I will reach my goal!

The only downfall to this diet is that it will be challenging to eat out which our family loves to do.  I told my husband I could just get a salad or something but he said he would feel bad eating steak or something in front of me...what a sweetheart.  He is very supportive but this is going to be a struggle for him too.

Before I started the diet we went to the state fair, thank goodness it was before I started!  I ate quite a bit knowing it was my last chance for a while....my fave was the strawberry crepe, it was awesome!  I have a pic on my phone and will try to upload it later.  My husband and I also had a corn dog, corn on the cob and lots of samples of Illinois wine.  My son and daughter had italian treats....toasted ravioli and mozarella sticks.  We also saw Luke Bryan in concert and all I can see is that he is an amazing performer.  This is the second time I've seen him and he was great!  We are going back tomorrow for another concert...Lady Antebellum and I can't wait...except for the fact I can't have another strawberry crepe :(  I already have a plan and will be taking a diet approved snack with me and will drink bottled water.  Luckily we won't be there the whole day so the temptation shouldn't be so bad. 

Alas, there has been no stitching but Sabrina is calling my name!  Today is some more cleaning and hopefully then I will relax and get some progess in on her.  I received the fabric I ordered from the PTP sale last week and it is beautiful.  I got a piece of Haunted and Heroic.  I know what I am using the Haunted for but have no idea on the Heroic but the colors were just so pretty on it that I couldn't resist buying it.  I also ordered the chart for Mirabella and a piece of fabric from Silkweavers for her.  I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get that fabric...I ordered it well before the PTP sale on 7/25.  I don't think they are the same since they were taken over by Needleworkers Delight.  This is the first piece of fabric I've ordered from then since the change so I hope it is as nice as what it was in the past.

I also just ordered my first thirty one bags from a friends party and can't wait to get them.  I got a shoulder bag and thermal tote with my initials.  I know it's not that exciting but I am looking forward to getting them.  I am also a big Sephora addict....speaking of which I really need to go there and get a couple of things. My favorite skin care regime is Philosophy.  They have amazing products and my husband and I adore the shower gels too...they smell dreamy!  They are a little pricey though.

I can't think of much else to say so I hope everyone enjoys their weekend and I will see you soon!

Unusually eventful week for me

Like the title says this has been an usually eventful week for me.  Thursday night after dinner my son fell off of his rip stick and we took him to the emergency room and xrays showed he broke his wrist :(  He is now in a splint and we go see the doctor Monday morning.  He is in some pain (medicine helps) and has trouble doing a lot of things but he'll get the hang of it.  Today I took him for an eye exam and he ended up getting glasses.  Luckily he is thrilled about this.  He can see much better and they look good too.

My daughter is all packed up and we will be moving her out tomorrow to her apartment on campus.  I don't know what else to say except I can't believe she is this old already and I'm going to miss her.  I hope she enjoys her new job which she starts Thursday and I really hope she gets along with her roommates.

Monday is the 15th which means a new Mirabilia release is due!  I always enjoy getting up those mornings and checking online first thing.  A lot of the recents ones have been gorgeous such as September Sapphire Fairy, Lady Alexandra and Charlotte.  I am not really into the churches and muses but everyone has their own taste. 

Until next time!

Another weekend has passed...

Well, another weekend has passed and I have not gotten a stitch in but I plan to yet tonight.  I have been busy with school preparations this weekend.  We finished buying most of my sons school supplies today and yesterday I got my daughter some needed items for her apartment (she moves in in 8 days!).  She is transferring to Illinois State University and I can't believe she is moving out, boy do they grow up fast!

Today started with a trip to Petsmart to get the dogs some treats and bones to chew on.  I think I spend more money at that store than I ever thought I would.  We have two rather large dogs though, a chocolate lab named Riley and a Weimaraner named Casper as well as two cats, Katie and Oliver.  I love them all dearly but I think we got in a bit over our head with four pets.  Our cats are pretty old though and don't cause much trouble except for the occasional hair ball and shedding.   Three of them insist on sleeping in our bed all night so we usually  have to end up putting one of the dogs in their crate in the middle of the night so we can get some sleep.  They often decide that it is time to wake us up to play in the middle of the night and it doesn't feel too good when you have 80-100 pound dogs jumping on and about your bed. 

Jill Rensel always has cute stories to tell about her cute little dogs but my stories are not quite so endearing.  Riley is a quite good dog and pretty calm and laid back.  Casper on the other hand is a handful.  We recently layed sod in the backyard and he thinks it is fun to dig it up and run around with it.  Needless to say my husband is not pleased.   Our neighbor likes to sit outside and watch the dogs and give them treats.  He told us that one day Casper was trying to get some sod up and Riley was just sitting on the step by the back patio door looking at him like he was going to be in big trouble and he wanted nothing to do with it.  Casper finally got about a three foot section of sod up and started running around the yard with it in his mouth and the length of it going over his head and onto his neck and back.  How in the world he didn't run into a tree or something I don't know since it had to have been covering his eyes.  Our neighbor said it was one of the funniest things he had seen.  Riley evidently gave in and started playing tug of war with Casper and the sod.  My husband plans to go pick some more up and fix the yard soon so no more dogs in the backyard for awhile!  With all of this heat and virtually no rain it has been so hard to keep it pretty and green so some new pieces aren't a bad idea anyways.

Well, I have lots more to say but I think I will wait until next time.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week and see you all soon!

Only Tuesday???

Wow, it seems like it should be at least Thursday to me.  I haven't felt the best since Sunday evening but thankfully seem to be getting better now.  I took a look at the site for the New England Stitchers Retreat just a while ago and I am very impressed.  It looks like it would be so much fun.  I asked my mom if she would consider going with me since I have no stitchy friends but I don't think that will happen.  I see you can take a non stitchy friend or spouse but I have no idea what they would do all day.  It looks like such a beautiful and relaxing area.

Speaking of my mom, she taught me to stitch when I was a freshman in high school and I've been doing it ever since.  I remember she would stitch with a friend every other weekend or so and they would drink wine and eat snacks like veggies and dip and crackers and cheese.  When I started stitching I would join them at times (minus the wine :) and it was quite fun.  I wouldn't mind starting that tradition again if I could get my mom to pick up a needle again...she hasn't stitched much for quite some time.  I would love to have friends who shared my cross stitching interests but I think many of us are alone in this from what I've read. 

Well that is about it for me tonight, still a little under the weather so I'm off to bed.  Until next time.....

Here is a photo of my finished Halloween Fairy (stitched on Fuzzy Navel Flair by Enchanted Fabrics):

Here is a photo of my WIP for Christmas Flourishes (stitched on the recommended fabric):

One of my HAED projects (Luminescent Rapture) which has been untouched for a looooong time (stitched on In The Clouds by SMF):

The other neglected HAED project (Fire Mermaid):

And last for today my Cirque des Cercles WIP (stitched on Silkweavers Porcelain with HDF's Russian Sage):

Thankful for the weekend

The weekend is finally here, I am sitting here with a cup of coffee that was made in my Keurig and relaxing a bit before I get busy.  I love my Keurig by the way, it was one of the best purchases we have ever made.  I love several of the flavored coffees.  This morning I am enjoying Winter Carnival which I was lucky enough to find online even though it is out of season. 

I have been wondering if anyone has even read or looked at any of my blog yet.  It makes me think of the movie Julie and Julia (which I love).  She mentions wondering if anyone is even out there and now I know exactly how she feels.  It's not even been a week so I will just have to do some 'advertising' on the Mirabilia BB I suppose!

I have tons of laundry and cleaning to do today and I so desperately just want to work on Sabrina.  I suppose the sooner I get started the sooner I finish.  I have been in a stitching slump for a few months but I am ready to get going again.    I still have a few more photos to take and post so I can share all of my finishes...I think I am just missing Halloween Fairy, Mermaids of the Deep Blue and Spring Queen.  Maybe I can get those posted later today.

Everyone enjoy your weekend!  Until next time.....

Some additional photos of finished projects

Well, I am glad to be home for the day and will hopefully get some stitching time in after dinner and laundry.  I had to find the pictures that Jill took of some of my other projects...for some reason her pictures turn out so much better than mine. 

Circle of Friends (stiched on Fallen Leaves lugana by Polstitches):

Miss Easter Fairy (stitched on Silkweavers Tutti Frutti):

Lilly (stitched on SMF's Leprechaun):

Mediterranean Mermaid (stitched on Sterling by PTP):