Come on Spring!

Last weekend was a bit of a tease.  Saturday we reached the low 60's and Sunday we were in the mid-60's.  It was fantastic and I certainly took advantage of it, by taking Maya (the doggie) for a walk.  A tease is all it was though, the rest of the week was a mix of upper-40's to maybe 50.

I am so looking forward to spring.  I never thought that living in the 'south', I would be so cold.  This year has been unseasonably cold for NC!   Hailing from Upstate NY (like way up there, think Canada) and going to college in western NY, you'd think I'd be used to the cold weather.  After living down here for 3yrs, my tolerance to the cold is zero!  Going home during the winter is torture, I'm bundled up in sweaters and jackets all the time.  I'm so glad we moved here, it's 2hrs to the beach or 2hrs to the mountains and 2 months of winter a perfect combination.

I want to see days like this in my very near future:

I wanna pack up the car and head to the beach, enough of this cold!

(all photos by me)

Come on spring I know you can do it!  Ok, well if it's too early, maybe more sunshine for the next few weeks.  Please?!?!

Reading List

For my birthday last year my wonderful husband bought me an Amazon Kindle.  I have to say, I wasn't sure at first because of the price (yes, he bought it before the price dropped and missed the cutoff), but now, I can say that I love it and it was entirely worth it!  Maybe sometime, I'll do a review of the Kindle and a comparison to some of the new readers that are out.

One thing I love about the Kindle is the option to create a reading list and store it online and on the Kindle.  This allows me to go to Amazon and add things to my reading list and then see them when I am on my Kindle and vice versa.  I added so many books to my wish list off recommendations from Amazon, that I was getting lost.  I'm trying to pare down this list a little a add items based on personal recommendations.

I am setting a personal goal for myself of 1 book per month, so I'm hoping to add some recommendations to my list.  Here's what I have so far, let me know if you have any recommendations.

Currently Reading (February):

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
I pretty much love every Nicholas Sparks book that I have ever read, this one slipped by me as I usually read them right when they are released.  So far it's a great read.

Wish List:

Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin
Released in May, I have loved all of her previous books.  I would recommend them if you haven't read them already.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Recommended by Blue-Eyed Bride

Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin
I loved the Nanny Diaries and some of her other books, I'm hoping this one is just as good.

Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella
I have read all of the books in the Shop-a-holic series and loved them.

These are the top 4 on my list.  I have a few others that I've seen on lists as well.  I might go back to Blue-Eyed Bride's list and add a few more to my reading list that I haven't read before.

• Good Things by Mia King


• Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison


• Firefly Lane by Kristin hannah

Here's what I've got so far:

• January - I finished one in January but the name escapes me right now, I'll update later with the info!


• February - The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks


• March - The Help by Kathryn Stockett


• April - Nanny Returns - Emma McLaughlin


• May -Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella


• June - Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin


• July -


• August -


• September


• October -


• November -


• December -

Suggestions/Recommendations encouraged!  :-)   (Oh and yes I've read Twilight and loved them!) I have a stack in my book case at home that I've read that I liked, someday I'll pull together an all inclusive list.

Source for all Images

Jack and Jill Shower Inspiration

Update: Candra if you do find this, please don't read it!  Thanks!

My friend is getting married in October and would like to have a shower here for guys and girls in addition to her shower up north with her family.  Since most of the other Bridesmaids live north, I've taken on the task of planning this shower and leaving the other one to them (plus it doesn't appear that the MOH's (sisters)) really want much input, but that's another story.  She asked for something fun and mostly just for people to have a good time and hang out.

I'm looking for ideas for "themes" or types of showers that go well with both guys and girls there.  My first thought is a "Mexican Fiesta" theme.  What makes this more appealing is that my friends owns Fiesta ware in practically every color.

Here's the inspiration board I've put together for the shower.  (This is my first one ever, so please don't judge :-), I didn't even do one for my own wedding!)

Source 1 - 6 & 10, 7, 8-9 & 11

I think I might have hit the jackpot at Party-City for most of my supplies if we go this route.

I'm looking for other suggestions for a Jack-and-Jill themed shower.  I'm also looking for 'games' or things to do.  We were looking at mini liquor bottles as 'prizes'.

Doing your civil duty

I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, I was called to jury duty. I had been called to serve when I lived in NY but did not have to go because I was in college a few hours away and was excused. This time was different. I called the night before and my number had been called to report the next day. I had no idea what to expect and everyone kept telling me to say different things, but it was part of being a grown up and I knew I had to go and if I was needed I'd serve.

Arriving bright and early I filed into a room and sat there. And sat there, and sat there. Every 90 minutes we got a 15 minute 'break'. As if sitting there wasn't enough of a break! We were released for an hour and a half lunch at which point I returned to my car so that I could charge my phone, because I'd drained much of my battery sitting there the first 4 hours in the morning. While on lunch there was a bailiff behind me who said that there was a murder trial going on and boy was I glad that I hadn't been called last week and serve on that jury.

Returning after lunch we sat there some more, chatting with the people around me, everyone came from varying backgrounds, a stay-at-home mom, career mom, career husband, and a variety of other people. Finally at about 3 o'clock they called back about half of the people in the room and everyone around me had to go but I was left in the room to hurry-up and wait.

The murder trial mentioned earlier reported a verdict at 3:45, which turned out to be lucky for me because if theyhad finished earlier we probably would have been called into that courtroom for the next case.

Finally at 4:15 we were released for the day. Bored and $12 richer, I served my duties of reporting for jury duty and thankfully don't have to go again for 2 more years. Just another step in adult life.

Have you had to report to jury duty? Did you have to serve on a jury or did you luck out like I did?

A new hobby

I've been reading a lot of different blogs lately and one thing that seems to appear frequently are beautiful sewing projects that people are making.  I am in love with the quilt and bag seen at bijou lovely and have checked out Presser Foot as well.  My only sewing experience comes from 6th grade Home Ec where we all made tote-bags.

I've checked out some sites for learning how to sew and which sewing machines to purchase.  Do I got with Mechanical or Electronic for my first sewing machine?

The Brother XL-2600i seems to be the most popular Mechanical sewing machine and the Brother CS6000I seems to be the most popular basic Electronic sewing machine

I don't have a sewing machine yet, and that's where my dilemma begins.  If I buy this, will I use it?  I did just join Stampin' Up not less than a year ago and I have been stamping and have a lot of fun.  Not as frequently as I could be but you can only make cards for so many people right.  That's my fear with sewing.  Will I run out of things to make/people to make things for?  I love the idea of being able to make beautiful quilts and bags,

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all of which I know will take me some serious time to learn and become decent at.  I certainly wouldn't take on a project this large for my first one either.  The Mr. is in support of it if I want to get a sewing machine, so that's not a problem.

So do I take the plunge?  If so, Mechanical or Electronic for my first machine?  What should I take on for a first project?  Any recommendations to a newbie?

Getting to know you!

Well, it seems that you have clicked a link to my blog for a reason. I guess you want to know why I started this blog.

I've never blogged before but I subscribe to more blogs in my Google Reader than I am willing to admit.  My writing abilities and topics are a little meek right now but I'm hoping that will improve over time.

Many of my posts will probably mention my new husband.  We were married in May last year (2009) so we're exploring the world of being newlyweds.



I'm dabbling in the world of crafting by joining Stamping Up, and would like to start some sewing projects (but first I need a sewing machine)!  I tend to dabble in cooking and trying out new recipes on my husband and sister who is living with us for a while.  I thought I'd combine all of these into one little blog and see where I got with it.  I have no idea if people will read this, but if no one does, heck, I’ll enjoy looking back on it 5 years later and laughing!