yesterday

ate caviar for the first time. (yuck!) i don't even like fish, i just wanted to say i had eaten caviar. the gala was at the Point Restaurant (beautiful) with the most exquisite view of the city. fun night!

today...

Currently I am in the pharmacy computer lab waiting for Mr. W to finish his homework. L had half day of school and is hanging with grandma. (scooby-doo and gummy hamburgers contributed to the excitement) Tonight...pharmacy gala with my hubby. Fun day!

today's joy

• I am a wife!!!
  
• I am a mother!
  
• went to the temple (always a treat)
  
• my house is clean 
  
• We ate these delicious turkey burgers (thanks again sugar city blog) and sweet potato fries for dinner. Summer can't be too far away to be eating this right? I had to laugh at our attempt to make it feel like summer, when during our dinner it was snowing and we actually heard thunder roll a few times! ha ha...better luck next time.
  

today's joy

 dancing with Mr. W to Josh Groban in the kitchen after we cleaned up dinner dishes (it felt so good a few tears were shed)

 laying in bed with Lauren reading stories (never tease a weasel...classic)

 Megan's gift and company

 the snow is melting!

thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you Megan. My knitting needles are so nice and cozy in their new home! You always seem to know the days that I need a little boost. Thank you for everything.

what it is all about...

Do you ever get caught up in the motions, your head swirling, and it seems like life is just happening around you? I have to work hard to filter out all of the non-sense the world deems as success. There is too much to do and achieve, after all, all I want is my little family in a country setting, gardening, gathering eggs from the chickens, sewing clothes, listening to great music, laughing and dancing. I was reading this blog that I have followed for a while and it brings it all home. If you need a little inspiration, or justification for being content "just being a mom," read nie nie's letters, they are beautiful.

japanese sewing success

I did it!!! I had an entire Sunday afternoon, a new sewing book, and a piece of linen that has been sitting around for a few months. I can't say this was the quickest project to pass through my machine, (the only directions were in Japanese after all) but I felt like a hero of sorts when it was finished! I loved the challenge, and L is so excited to have Japanese clothing! 

I have found my new addiction. I can't wait to conquer all of the patterns I have (24 of them to be exact!) and order my next book. I have never made leggings, never really enjoyed sewing with rib knit, but these are so easy and versatile for many outfits! 

(Thank you Mr. W for giving me numerous, uninterrupted hours to sew...I love you!)

fun weekend

This has been such a great weekend! Yesterday L was out of school, so we went to Salt Lake with Mr. W! L actually attended one of his pharmacy classes with him. She drew pictures for his colleagues and loved all of the oohs and ahhs over her. After classes we went to the Draper Temple open house to tour this beautiful structure. It was breath taking, sparkles and shimmers everywhere you looked, and trimmed in the most exquisite African cherry wood. (unfortunately no photos) Next stop was Ikea where we picked up a few items and ate dinner there. 

Today was a ski day! 43 degrees and sunshine, what more could you ask for? My Japanese pattern book I ordered came in the mail just before we left!!! I studied it all the way up the canyon and all the way home. I am working on tracing a pattern and can not wait to get started! (no cutting out these pattern pieces-they are printed on top of each other) The pictures are gorgeous and the patterns are to die for. I mean it, I never come across patterns so cute! Wish me luck. Not a word in English, but I think the diagrams are quite thorough. 

megan's pillow

Megan came over today to do a little sewing with me. (always a great time!) Needless to say, her project was more successful than mine. I made another dress from the vogue patten and it is too small. Luckily it fit her better than it did myself. (I promise, you really don't have to take it Megan) Anyway, here is a picture of her project. I love it! She purchased ties from the DI and thrift stores, zigzag them together and you have yourself a pillow front. I love the large buttons and corduroy on the back.

not even throwing up 6 times in one day can keep my girl from her art...

happy president's day! we were supposed to go skiing, but miss l is sick today. flu it would seem, so be warned if you have been around her. being stuck at home + potato bread= cinnamon twists! (yes, that was me last night that said i would consume no sugar today)

the black dress

vogue 8413 proved to be a success. (thank you hubby and megan for the encouragement) i wish these pictures were better, i love the open collar in the back and the four pleats on the front of the skirt. overall-easy to sew and comfortable!

reasons why i love valentine's day

treasure hunt for my favorite girl

card and chocolate from my sweetheart

crepes with fresh cream and raspberries for breakfast

listening to hubby play the piano

taking a little extra time getting ready...plucking, primping, and fresh coat of polish on nails

husbands anticipation of seeing me in the little black dress i have been working on for the last two days

the perfect excuse to utilize grandma and focus on being a husband and wife in love, hopefully for 6 or 7 hours!

my sweetheart getting tickets to jazz night (a night of great dining, music, dancing, and conversation)

knowing my mom and dad are celebrating by driving 3 hours each way to attend the temple 

love...

ahh... love

It's valentines party day at school! L loved her valentines outfit, and all those valentines to give to her classmates! I finished the scarf for Mrs. P just in time. Fun day...

2 skirts...

I finally made L the denim skirt that has been on my list since I made mine. I can't believe it was on my "to do" list this long,  it only took a little over an hour to cut out and make.  Of course she is at school so I hope it fits!

I saw this picture on Leslie's Good Report a couple of days ago. The image has  not left my mind. Are there words to describe it? This is all I want for Valentine's day.

evidence of a little girl...

I love the little reminders that I have a little girl! Lauren left these clues for me this morning. It makes me miss her when I return home from taking her to school. I love being a mom. 

I did finish the skirt yesterday. Maybe I can get her to try it on after piano lessons today!

Today...project day. New fabrics to make a valentine's skirt, and working on valentine's for school. Aunt/grandma Mary sent L a valentine! So sweet.

finally getting it...

For years I have felt...different from a lot of people I know. I have this unbelievably, sometimes very irritating and insane desire and drive to CREATE! I become obsessed about whatever it may be at the moment, decorating, sewing, painting my house, hanging pictures perfectly, cooking...you name it. I even wake up in the middle of the night with ideas that I seemed to be thinking about and have worked all of the details out, when I swear I was sleeping. Seriously, I cut out a pattern a couple of weeks ago and had let it sit for days (as it continues to do) but I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that I had cut the back and I was not going to put a zipper in. The more I blog surf I am finding I am not the only one!!!  I think this blog thing is great for people like us. It helps me feel normal. 

we love grandma...

L received yet another letter from grandma C yesterday. She sent her more stickers and window clings! I love the window clings (I never thought I would say that!) because they remind me of home. Mom always decorated our house for every holiday, making each one so special. I become more amazed the older I get by all of the wonderful things mom did. How in the world do you have 9 children and still find any energy and time to sew clothing, wallpaper bedrooms, make bedding, make homemade birthday cakes and suckers, grow beautiful gardens, and maintain a personal relationship with all of your children. I want to be like her when I grow up!

ironing board cover

before after

Here is the Saturday morning, 45 minute project...the ironing board cover. I have wanted to do this since I saw it on this blog a few months ago.  Now it looks so fresh and clean, I love it!

a new blog

I stumbled onto this blog today, the photographs are breath taking. It made me think of sunshine on a cloudy day...just thought I'd share. FYI - made the ugliest dress ever today, I'll post some pics soon after I take it apart and redo.

Oh my, this soup is sooo good! Mr. W bought me the Food recipe book for my birthday. (yes, happy birthday to me!) He did buy me other thoughtful gifts as well, but I did request this one in particular! I can't wait to try other recipes, it's so nice to have a new menu to choose from. I made a few changes, as true to character. I added 1 c. half and half in place of 1 c. of the chicken stock, and reserved a few pieces of the cooked broccoli and chopped it instead of pureeing it. We topped ours with cheese and sour cream. (L will eat anything with cheese and sour cream) A few pieces of toasted french bread to dip in olive oil with balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper were a nice complement to this dish.