Finally a finsh!!

One of my projects this year is the PalkoLap SAL.  It's in four parts.  The first part was sent to us on January 16.  I finally finished it!!  I was going to stitch it in 3 shades of purple.  However, while looking for threads, I came across a skein of Dinky Dye's Kalamunda.

 I love the colors in this thread, so I decided to do the entire piece in that one color.  I quickly messaged Queen Deb, owner of my favorite LNS, Stitches N Things and asked her if she had any in stock.  I only had one partial skein and I knew that that was not going to be enough!!  She had 3 skeins on hand and sent them off right away.  Here is my finished Part 1:

Not much else going on this week.  We went back to Steger last week for my nephew, Luke's birthday party.  Isn't he a handsome guy?

We sign the papers on our new mobile home next week and start moving in Thursday.  Mariah will continue at Barnwell until we get moved & then she'll be taking the rest of March off.  April 1, she starts homeschooling again and has decided that she's really looking forward to it!

That's it for now.  What's everyone else up to?

Happy Sunday!

Hello, my lovelies!!  We woke up to snow this morning!  Just a dusting, but the most snow we've seen so far this winter.  And it's cold!  14 degrees!  Not as cold as a lot of friends and family have it, but still cold.

Stitching:  I can't show you guys what I've been stitching on this week because I'm working on the model for Myrtle Grace Motifs.  Tomorrow I start working on the PalkoLap SAL.  She sent out part 1 yesterday.  I'm going to be doing mine in purples.

Home:  We're getting closer to moving!  The utilities are turned on in the new place in our name.  The owner has to fix a couple of pipes that busted, and move the rest of her stuff out.  We should be able to start moving in by the end of the month!

Job:  I've given up on being able to find another position at my current company with earlier hours.  Last Friday I updated & posted my resume on CareerBuilder.  On Saturday, I received an email from a headhunter for Edward Jones.  I had a phone interview on Thursday and Monday I have an in-person interview.  It means much better hours & more money too!  I will have a life again!!  :)

I'm also selling for 2 different companies that I LOVE the products for.  The first is American Serenade Coffee, Tea, & Wine.  Our coffee is awesome.  It is single origin, farm to roaster to you.  It's not roasted until you order it!  The price is a little bit more than you pay for a good coffee in the grocery store, but works out to .29 per cup.  There is NO bitterness or acid after drinking it and the flavors are amazing.  If you are a coffee lover like me, try it!!  We even have samples that you can order to try it before you buy a full bag.

The second company is Sparkly Expressions.  We sell accessories, scarves, jewelry, purses, boot cuffs, jeans, and lots of other stuff!  It's a girly website and I am having a lot of fun with it!  If you like to accessorize your outfits, need a gift for a friend or loved one, or just like to shop in general - check it out!!

School - Mariah is doing a Victory Lap at school this Friday.  The teachers nominate students who have exhibited above & beyond in one of the B's - Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be a Learner.  Her reading teacher nominated her for raising her reading lexile 21 points.  The entire school, along with the parents of the students who were nominated, line up through the school while the kids run a lap.  We cheer & high five them.  I'm actually taking time off of work to go see her.

Well, that's it for this week.  How's everyone else doing??

2016!

Happy New Year, everyone!  Wow!  I started off the new year with a very nasty cold - so bad that I had to take 2 days off work and pretty much lost those 2 days.  I'm feeling better now, but Rich & Mariah have both caught the bug.  Hopefully, it'll work it's way through the house soon!

In the meantime, I've gotten a good start on my new stitching project for this year.  My new project for this year is Lizzie Kate's 'Boo Club Double Flips'.  Boo Club   Here's my progress so far after 1 week (with 2 days sick & no stitching):



I'll be rotating this with a model for Myrtle Grace Motifs, a new SAL from PalkoLap (I'm doing mine in purples), and a CAL from Moogly.  It's going to be a very productive year!

On the home front, we are in the process of buying a newer mobile home.  There's one down the street from us that is a size between a single & a double wide.  It is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.  The kitchen is huge with a marble topped island.  We have several people interested in buying ours and if everything goes right, we'll be moved into the new one by Valentine's Day!

Jobwise, I'm floundering.  I'm praying for a solution and ask that my friends & family pray with me.  My department has gone to later hours and that makes things difficult for me with Rich & Mariah.  There is so much that they can't do on their own & need me to help with.  Me not getting home until 7pm or later makes getting dinner, homework, etc, really late!  I have found a couple of positions that I can do from home, and am very interested in one of them.  Once we get moved and I can set up an office in the spare room, I may try that on.  I love working at my job.  I put in 104 hours in volunteer time last year, most of which was done AT the office!  There aren't many companies that offer that kind of perk.  We have a Faith group that meets once a week for prayer and worship, and I really need that.  We have great benefits & I work with a great group of people.  I just need something with earlier hours!!

School - Mariah is doing great in middle school.  She loves it, but it will end soon.  We've been told that the district has redrawn the boundaries and 6th graders and new students will be going to a different middle school.  Mariah can stay in her current school because she's already there.  If they keep her program the way it is, she will stay.  If it's going to change, then, we're going to go back to homeschooling.

Her counselors and her state caseworker and I have talked at length about this.  The public high school is a lot more geared towards college prep.  We know that Mariah will not be able to go to college.  First, she could not do the math that she would have to do for a degree.  Second, the course load would overwhelm her.  She would have to split a 2 year degree into at least 6 years.  In addition, she needs so many support classes that she has no electives whatsoever and is missing a couple of core classes, such as geography & writing.  So instead of public high school, we have worked out a program where she can not only earn a high school degree, but also experience in a career that she wants.  She will be doing time4learning 3 mornings a week for her core work; a local co op 2 mornings a week for art, music, & drama; the Rec Plex 2 afternoons a week for swimming & basketball; and volunteering at the local pet shelter for career training.  Once she turns 16, she will be able to work part time either at the pet shelter or a nearby pet store.  The co op has proms, school pictures, picnics, etc, so she won't be missing out on any of the fun parts of school.  We actually think she will get a more well-rounded education with this program than by going to the high school!

Well, that's all for now.  How is everyone else doing??

2015

2015.  Wow.  I can't believe 2014 is over already!  I don't know about you, but it seems like just yesterday that we celebrated 2014 New Year's!  This year, I'm setting some very simple, realistic, achievable goals.

1.  I have 2 stitching projects that I want to finish - Fright Night Friends & the Mystery Christmas SAL.  Fright Night Friends needs to be finished AND made into a quilted table runner by June so that I can enter it into the county fair this summer.

The Mystery Christmas SAL needs to be finished by June so that I can make it into a quilted duvet cover for our bed next Christmas.   

#2 - Lose 75 lbs.  Over the last few years, our family has been under TONS of stress!  As a result, I have put back on 50 lbs, and have developed high blood pressure that I need medication for and Type II diabetes.  I WANT MY LIFE BACK!!!  Mariah has been having more and more episodes where she has a meltdown & throws a temper tantrum over the littlest things.  I know that part of it is she's 11, the hormone thing, and being in public school with other kids.  I spoke with her pediatrician and he recommended putting her back on medication.  NOT an option!  Rich has also put on about 30 lbs. over the last few years.  So, for all our sakes, we are going back on her ADHD diet - fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats.  One day a week will be a whatever you want day.  Most weeks that will be Saturdays so that we can do it as a family, but there will be times where it will be an individual choice.  I may have a party at work or an order out day, Rich may have something that he wants to do, Mariah may have something special at school.  We've also joined the Rec Plex, a local recreational complex with a track, pools, cardio room, weight room, ice rink, basketball court, and lots of classes.  We're all going to have fun, but we're going to get healthy!!

#3 - Get our own place.  Due to circumstances that were mostly beyond our control, we have been living in Value Place for the last six months.  While the place is nice, safe, and very clean, it is still a small studio apartment for 3 people.  By June, I want us to be in our own place, whether it's an apartment, a townhome, a house, or a mobile home.  

#4 - Read 100 books.  I'm joining a stitching challenge to help out with half of this goal.  The other half will be books that I choose to read from the library!  https://meganskitchen210.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/wpid-28ac88647e7b7abd3a1faa0284636e4c.jpg

That's it!  4 simple goals.  Anyone else??

Last post for this year!

Wow, it's hard to believe that 2014 has almost ended.  So much has happened this year!

Stitching

I've spent the last year participating in a Stitching from Stash challenge.  We had a monthly budget & needed to stick to it if we could.  I managed to spend almost NOTHING for the entire year!!  This month, I did need to buy new needles, a total of $9.47. I almost bought a pretty floss organizer to use with my bigger projects so that I don't have to carry around 50+ bags of floss with them!  That was $7 so I spent a total of $16.47 on tools for my stitching.  I think I did pretty well this month!

I didn't have a lot of finishes this month.  I did do an ornament for an exchange.

I hope that you all had as wonderful a holiday as we did!!  Until next year, enjoy the rest of the holiday season!!

November Stitch from Stash

Well, it's that time again - time to update you on my stitching this month.  I've been very hard at work, however, most of it I can't share with you yet!

1.  I've been working on a couple of models for Myrtle Grace Motifs.  They're really nice, but I can't share until they are published.  Ironically, the designer lives just a few miles from where we moved from in IL!

2.  I finished an ornament for an exchange this weekend, but I can't show it until the recipient gets it!  I can show you the one I received in the exchange.

Didn't Lori do a beautiful job?  She not only made the snowman ornament, but the bag it was in & sent a cute little Santa pin too!

ALL of my stitching this month was done with $0 SPENT!!!

Well, till next month, happy stitching!

September Stitch from Stash

I did it again!!  I managed to go a whole month with NO BUYING STASH!!!  I have started & finished several new projects.  I finished the model I was stitching for X's & Oh's.  Can't show you a picture yet, but as soon as its published I will!

I made this pumpkin cocoon for a coworker's newborn.  We have 4 more coming between now & February so my crochet hooks will be smoking!!

This is a RR I was working on.  I did the bottom quarter of this one.  I can't wait to get mine back & start on a new round!

This is the StitchinMama Mystery Christmas SAL.  I'm working on it on Sundays & this was the first Sunday.  When it's finished, I'm going to use it as the center panel for a Christmas quilt.

These were the towels I got back from another RR I was in.  I love them!!

My stepmother was busy too!  She made me this beautiful tablecloth.  Look at the satin stitching on those grapes.  She did an amazing job!!

Well, that's it for this month!!  Have fun looking at all the blogs in our

Stitch from Stash challenge!!

The Well Planned Day planner is my favorite planner!!  I love that I can fit ALL of our family's needs into my purse - school assignments, dr appointments, grocery lists, you name it - it's in there!!! I love it so much that I have become an affiliate for them!

Right now, there is a new offer for you - when you purchase a Well Planned Day Family Homeschool Planner - or - a My Blog Plan you can add a Well Planned Day Wall Calendar for just $.99!  

Rockcrok's are awesome!! You can use them in the microwave, on top of the stove, in the oven, in the freezer, or on the grill. But- you think they are too expensive at $95 for the 2 qt one?? Well, such a deal I have for you!!! From Sept 1 until Sept 15, for every $65 purchase, you not only get your choice of any one of 6 cooking tools, but you also get 1 ticket to win a free Rockcrok!!! Book a party & you get another ticket! Sign up to be a consultant & you get another ticket!! On September 16, I will draw the winner's name. So, who wants a Rockcrok now???

New Year!: Good morning, everyone! I am so excited! The next ...

Good morning, everyone! I am so excited! The next 4 months are big ones at Pampered Chef. We have lots of new products to introduce to you! We have new cookie baking workshops & dinners done workshops. 

So, to get the season started, the next 4 people who book parties for September will get our new Holiday Cookie Collection recipe cards

 & our new small bamboo Snowflake spoon, 

as well as our September hostess reward - 60% off one of our dinner essentials!!

 The party can be live, Skype, Facebook, or catalog. Email me with the date & time!!  krmattox@yahoo.com

Back to school!

Wow, this year is just flying by!!  We've had another great month!

 First, stitching.  Not much news there.  I'm doing great on my Stitch From Stash challenge.  $0 spent again this month!!!  I'm working on a model for X's & Oh's & she sent me all the supplies so that was easy!  Check out all the other blogs in the Stitch From Stash challenge.  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWLBoH9gA6FZRstNIKwZNUla_Gl7JqcZKUX2CW68-kPlw3Myl7J00jQK1QkD70OdmsfkSBumu3TXTc9t696JvPd8u_27iS_FTuN4WQZzl5sZB-kRbBVChZYiVWYnfTe_174eyUFr1-lk/s1600/SFS2014-button.png

After 4 years of homeschooling, Mariah has chosen to go back to public school.  On the one hand, I'm happy for her.  She'll meet lots of new kids & hopefully make lots of friends.  With me working full time, it takes a lot of pressure off of me to homeschool her in evenings & on the weekends.  On the other hand, I'm worried for her.  I remember all the nightmares we had before & am praying non stop that the school will work with her this time.  We picked up her schedule last night & she's excited because, in addition to all her other classes, she has piano keyboard every afternoon!  She also signed up for a reading club that meets once a month.  

Well, that's it for now.  How did YOU do?

Stitching this month

Wow, it's hard to believe that another month has gone by.  This year is just flying!!  A coworker pointed out yesterday that it was exactly 6 months until Christmas.  I told her she was evil!!  :)

I've had another great month stitching from my stash and managed to spend $0 AGAIN!!!  That is not easy when there is an LNS, Michael's, Hobby Lobby AND Joann's within minutes of you!!

I did have another finish this month.  I'm in a RR in my Happy Stitching Niche group.  I finished this piece for Sue.

Currently, I'm working on a model for X's & Oh's.

If you'd like to take a look at some of the other blogs participating in the Stitch from Stash project, go here  Stitch From Stash

Until next time!!

Stitch from Stash - May

I can't believe it's already the end of May!  Lots has happened the last month with home & work.  I've put most of my stash up for sale.  I have another huge load to put up this weekend.  We've moved out of the apartment and for the next week we'll still be at Red Roof Inn.  After that, we'll be moving into Value Place for a few months.  Hopefully, we'll be able to find a house by the end of the year!

My stitching has been great!  I spent $0 again this last month!!  I've been working on a RR piece for one of my groups and almost have it finished.

I'm also working on some crochet pieces, but no pictures yet.  How's everyone else doing??

Stitch from Stash

This is going to be a very quick update.  I SPENT NOTHING LAST MONTH!!!  I'm so proud of myself.  I even won a chart in our challenge that I can't wait to stitch for myself.  It's a Wizard of Oz chart and absolutely adorable!   May will be different though.  I have 2 babies to make samplers for and have very specific ones in mind.  The fabric & most of the threads will come from stash but I'll have to purchase the charts.  Faith, a very dear friend whose blog Faithfully Stitching always inspires me, had a very good idea.  Since we are saving $25 a month by stitching from our stash, she is putting into a special account to use for Christmas.  I think I'm gong to do the same!  We'll have a nice little nest egg for Christmas presents, not a lot, but enough to do something special for the 3 of us.  Well, that's all for now.  Sorry this is so short, but we are in the process of moving & only have 2 days left.  If you want to check out all the other blogs in this challenge, click on the button on top or follow the link here:  http://epicstitching.blogspot.ca/p/blog-page.html

Easter weekend

I hope everyone had as glorious a weekend as we did!!  We started off Thursday evening with unexpected company from out of town.  Art lives in a motor home and every November travels from Wilmington, IL to somewhere near Dallas, TX for the winter.  In April, he travels back.  He had stopped for a few days on the way down and stopped Thursday on the way back up.  He had only planned to stay one night, but decided that since he didn't have to have the tow trailer for his car back until Sunday, and I had Friday off work, he would stay Friday night as well!  We had a great time catching up and can't wait to see him again in the fall.

Saturday, Mariah & I went to the roller rink & then the library.  We had the pleasure of seeing a special performance on Saturday morning.  There was a 10 yr old girl who is training for National Roller Skating Champions there.  She & her coach (a 10x winner) had been there for 3 days working with the girls in the Skate Club.  At the end of the lesson time Saturday morning, she did one of her routines and was amazing!!  Mariah was inspired - until she learned how hard she would have to work to get that good!!!

Sunday morning we were up bright & early - 4am for me, 5:30 for Rich & 6 for Mariah.  Doesn't she look pretty in her Easter dress?  She's getting so grown up!  I baked a sausage breakfast casserole to take to church and we went to the sunrise service at 7am.  Afterwards, we had Easter breakfast.  Everything was very good and the sanctuary was beautiful with all the lilies & Easter drapings.  We went home afterwards & Rich & I laid down for a nap.  Mariah woke us up at 11:30 and we went to Bob Evans for dinner.  We enjoyed it so much that we decided that that would be our new Easter tradition.  When we finished dinner, Mariah & I decided to go geocaching.  There was one close by and although we got within 9 ft of it, we never did nail it down.  We decided to search for it another day!  We came back home & watched 'Percy Jackson & the Sea of Monsters', 'Dallas Buyers Club', & 'Captain Phillips'.  All very good movies

I did get a lot of stitching in this weekend.  I finally finished my February ornament.  The only reason I can think that it took so long is that it was very monotonous - all shades of brown.  It did come out very nice though!

I got started on my March ornament.  It's Eeyore sniffing a butterfly!  I have it in my purse and worked on it at the roller rink, library, and Bob Evans.

I also pulled out Fright Night Friends.  The top picture was from the last time I worked on it.  I came pretty close to finishing 'O'.  A couple of more evenings of stitching and I should be able to move on to W!

Well, that was our weekend, how was yours??

March Stitch from Stash

It's been a pretty quiet month.  I was VERY good!  I spent Friday, March 21, wandering through downtown St Charles with a friend.  We had a beautiful day & it was so nice out that we even had lunch on the patio at the winery.  I went to both the yarn store & the cross stitch shop & DID NOT SPEND A PENNY!!  I did, however, spend money in the spice store, the English shoppe, and a couple of others.  I haven't really even done a lot of stitching this month, although I am a few stitches away from finishing an Easter bread cloth for a friend!

February's Stitch from Stash

Well, it's that time again.  I haven't gotten much stitching done this month.  Between work, crochet orders, & not feeling well, it just hasn't been in the cards.  In our Stitch From Stash challenge, we are allowed to spend $25 a month for 11 months out of the year.  My personal goal is 12 months and get 10 ufos finished.

 Laurel's Stitchery, one of my favorite shops, had a sale on Kreinik this month and I needed several spools for the UFO I'm working on.  Fright Night Friends takes LOTS of Kreinik, especially since I've decided to do the lettering in purple braid.  So, I spent a total of $15.21 on spools of Kreinik and now I have enough to finish it!  I hope.

Update on UFO goal

Today, I finished my 2nd UFO for this year.  It is version 2 of Mary's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers.  I really enjoyed this piece, both versions.  I hope she does another one like it soon!

My next UFO will be Fright Night Friends by Stoney Creek.

Stitching from Stash update

This year, I decided to take a stab at reducing my pile of stash and UFOs.  To help with that, first I made a couple of resolutions - stitch 12 ornaments this year and finish 10 UFOs.  I also joined a group that's spending the year putting ourselves on a stash diet.

So far, I'm doing great!  I stitched one ornament

finished one UFO

started and finished a quilt square

and almost have a 2nd UFO finished!  All of this was done from my stash, with only 2 skeins of DMC thread purchased that I was missing.  I have spent a grand total of 70 cents!!