A New Chapter Begins

Tonight, I could sum up my feelings as a big ball of emotions..anxiety, nervousness, anticipation, and excitement, because tomorrow is the first day I get to go back to school! For those of you who do not know, I finished my associates in 2006- three years after I graduated from high school but this time I finally know what I want to be "when I grow up".

I was accepted into the Pre-Graphic Design program, and have two classes for this summer and will take a full course load in the fall, but I think this will help me to feel better about my "what-if's" that I have been asking over the last couple of years on what is next to come in my life.

After a good talk with my friend Crystal over dinner the other night, we both summed up that everyone goes through this and suffers with questions on the things they will get to fulfill in their life- and although we are proud of the blessings we are given(children, spouses, homes..etc) it is still ok to explore and find out the individual of what makes you ..you.

I have been praying lately that God would provide guidance and direction for where I am going so I don't feel lost in the dark--because let's face it, adventuring out in the great unknown can be scary.

But this is something I love, am excited about and have prayed over and look forward to having as an occupation and still be able to watch my child as she grows up.

I shall report more on my adventures soon!

I will leave you with this...the most ugly fashion statement EVER unless you are just scrawny.

I hope this keeps a smile on your face :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPSxKeywGm8

Run-in with the Sewing Machine= Baby Halter Top

Well, hello, Sewing Machine, fancy meeting you here at this time of night. Looking all intimidating with your glowing light, gleaming needles and accessories and your many bobbins to wind up string. Would have given me the case of the chills a few months back, but now....now, I am a changed woman.

How's that you ask? Well, you see, I have gained steely determination that what my hands set to work will inevitably lead to a completed project. No, no, I haven't been ordering patterns lately.

What's this on my table you ask? Oh well I sure am glad you inquired. You see, this right here is a fully functional BABY HALTER SHIRT!! Yeah, Yeah I said it! And I had you going the whole time! Heh, heh.




I know, it's hard to believe, but don't deny it, because it is evident it was you. You see, if you take a glance with me, you will notice your wobbly stitches, pieces of untrimmed fabric to be adjusted and slightly off kilter arm holes. But, what me and you have is a good thing here..and a good thing is hard to come by nowadays.

Leaving so soon, you notice? Yeah, it is time for us to part ways. My work here is done. But, I will return, and I will return soon. So don't you cry.

Until then. This looks like this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

So much happening in so little time.

So in continuation of my previous craft predictions, I am working on my artwork for the living room this week, it had been postponed for a week of rest last week due to running around like crazy the week before. I have to say that being an "almost" stay-at-home mom has it's work cut out for me because I haven't sat down to rest for a SECOND! But, in a postive retrospect of it all, I feel blessed and am pleased with the turn of events that have taken place in such a short time since February when I transitioned from full-time to part-time work:

I have learned to play basics of piano
I am now a youth pastor with my husband at our church
I am about to attend school for Graphic Design (that has a whole other story on its own!)
I am branching out and able to meet and invest more quality time with people that I never gotten the chance to before
I am gaining more accountability on my priorities in life and learning balance
I am receiving a chance to delve further into my craft passion-projects
I am able to have more time to work out and get better health for my body
I am given time to work on upkeeping my household better
I am learning to take time to work on my relationship with God more
And of course able to spend more time with my child!

So.. although I haven't completed or gotten close to exactly where I want to be quite yet on some of these venues, I am getting closer and I have achieved so much. I have been given so many blessings and am very thankful God has given me the opportunity to do this, but I have bathed it in prayer, so I do feel peaceful about this decision. Hopefully, once I start losing some weight and getting more fit I can work on our next child..motherhood has truly been a enjoyable experience.

Yes, I realize it will not be easy, but I have never slowed down anyway, so what's a new challenge?

This is more of a pondering of my own thoughts, but it is good to look at what I have done or am working on..goals are sooo important and give meaning to your life.

I would also like to brag on what God is doing in our church. It has been a wonderful experience just to partake in what he is doing. We got to give 105 families free food this last Wed, and I truly loved every bit of it...





when they said it is better to give than to receive, it is so true! We basically had a truckload of over 7,000 lbs of food to give away and were able to give more out after these families had left.


Not only that, but the money that was spent to provide this ended up being covered later by local businesses that wanted to participate!
I am glad for this journey and am excited for what's around the next bend.. Onward!

Chaotic Week..New Project

I noticed a lot of my blogs are started projects but I have not followed-up on them to show my results! So..as a commitment to myself I am determined to show progress on my costume for upcoming Dragon*Con this next week! I also came across a deliciously exciting decor project for the walls of my living room since I have given it a total makeover. I will have to scour my computer to see if I have any before pics of my living room, but anyone who has even briefly visited me can attest that my livingroom looked like a highlighter color...and a green couch as an accessory is not the best fashion statement for myself. I proudly can say the walls resemble a bandaid color and the furniture looks brown now..however we are a huge bookcase short due to an avalanche that occured after moving around furniture, much to my husband's dismay. So..this last weekend on top of preparing a sermon for our youth group since we have been named youth pastors, I have began preparing appetizers for my jewelry party that was on Friday, getting together plans for my best friend's birthday (which I missed due to my baby getting a high fever :( ) and painted my living room, put on slipcovers and rearranged the entire area. Okay, the most stupid piece of advice I could possibly give that is the most obvious is..DON'T start a project in the middle of the day before a party! UGH. That was almost the ending to a disastrous and stressful week. Here is the progress so far on the livingroom.. I still have some adjustments to make but I am going to be working on some wall hangings that will cost me less than $50 to make for above my mantle on my fireplace: Back to the idea of decor and my newest craft.. I got this idea from styrofoamcrafts.com and it is relatively easy to make! Super excited to start working on it! I think this would be a great idea for anyone who is not a Van Gough or is not willing to pay some $$$ on artwork to jazz up their home. Plus, craft making rocks..nuff said.

Remodeling Time!

I have been waiting for so long to finally make up my mind and decide when and what to do with my living room that I began designing in my dreams. So..with no further adieu, I will be starting my reconstruction process tomorrow!

Got my paint in mind, the colors planned out and the slipcover picked that I want to go on our poorly mishappen couch. The new furniture touches will have to be a little at a time since our budget has lowered due to my part-time work status, but I will thoroughly enjoy this.

The pic above is how I am wanting it to look, and now all I have to do is figure out the riddle of how to situate my furniture around my off-center fireplace yet still make it feasible to walk around in my small livingroom without tripping over yourself.

When we get there.. well, we'll see!

Preparing for Dragon*Con

A few years back I had planned to eventually set up the time where my husband and I could attend Dragon*Con, a highly known sci-fi/fantasy convention for all those nerds out there. When I say nerd, I say it with high affection, as this is a fond term I call my husband and borderline claim myself as a closet-nerd as well.

So, we finally got it set up, and I think I am probably more excited than him! It had originally was supposed to be a surprise birthday gift for him, but go figure I had no idea the tickets would be coming in the mail with DRAGONCON in bold letters on them. The confirmation told me that I would just print out the receipt for admission, for pete's sake!

Oh well, anyway, needless to say he was quite happy but I think I have worked myself into bubbling excitement for the mere fact I highly enjoy looking forward to planned events together whatever they may be and even have discovered what I will be wearing as a costume the first day.

YES, a costume. Where besides Halloween, you have an excuse to dress up and nobody stare at you funny.
My character I have chosen is the mechanic, Kaylee from Firefly, for her personality she represents and just because it will be super easy to make as well.

Fairly easy, don't you think?
Basically I will need some coveralls, make them sleeveless, wear a bright shirt and I got it down!

I will be doing some minor touchups, she has a little teddy bear patch and a few others that I will add.. but in the meantime I will be hitting up a few Goodwills to avoid ordering a Dickie's outfit.

I am excited! Be looking for pics of my progress!

Monogram Keychains

Okay, so I have extended my craft adventure into the realms of monogramming. While I am venturing further into the different avenues this can take me, I have successfully completed some cute round polka dot keychains which I have put up for sale in my craft shop and etsy site. This is so fun and easy!

I actually got my first sale a couple of weeks ago, so I am hoping that once I begin to expand further with more variety it will take off.

My next project I hope to post very soon in the next week will be monogrammed fob keychains. :) Hope you enjoy!

Let me know if you have any suggestions! I love tips and advice.