Not bad for a first try. . . .

So I finally finished my first quilt.  Overall, I'm pleased with the results.  It certainly has it's quirks and is kind of small, though I imagine it's a great baby quilt.

I followed the tutorial posted on Moda Bake Shop for Pure Baby Boy by Teaginny Designs. 

I used thee Fandango by Kate Spain Jelly Roll.  I cannot remember the solids though, but I'm pretty sure they were Bella Solids by Moda.

I followed the directions on the post pretty much to the letter.  I did add the extra solid colored strip on the back, but found I didn't really need it. 

 I always have a few lessons learned after a sewing project and this one is no different.

• Don't be afraid to remove some stitches and do it again.  If you look close at some of the blocks you can see some of the seams don't line up perfectly (which honestly, really bothers me)
• Stick to solid backings for a while.  The backing on this is pieced and when I basted it, it was not straight so the top and bottom pieces are not even.  Ah well, live and learn.
• Spray basting is sticky.  I really wasn't happy/impressed with the spray for basting the quilt.  It was sooooo sticky.  When I was doing the binding, my needle ended up covered at the end.
• The edge of the presser foot is definitely bigger than expected, which made the binding a bit more difficult to complete.
• Quilting is lots of work and I need to find a walking foot for the next project.

I think I'll stick this one in my office at work for days when I get cold, plus it'll add a little bit of color.

Overall, I'm calling it a success and a learning opportunity.  On to the next one (I may have started it already).  All recommendations, suggestions and tips welcomed.

Tag you're it!

Katie from Oui, Bien Sur! tagged me to answer 8 questions about myself.  I thought it would be fun to play along.

1. What is your least favorite food?
   My least favorite food would have to be muscles or clams or scallops.  They're just a bit too slimey for my tastes. (shudder)
2. As a past wedding guest, what is one thing that annoys you? How did you (or plan to) avoid it at your own wedding? (whew, sorry, long answer, brace yourself!)
   For me there were 2 things that annoyed me.  The first I suspect is common and unavoidable in some situations, 'the gap'.  Mostly common in Catholic weddings, but I went to a wedding where we had to wait 2 hours between the ceremony and the reception (with nothing to do in between and we were out-of-towners).  To avoid this as much as possible at our own wedding, we scheduled our cocktail hour during the gap and missed it ourselves.  Honestly we never had any intention of attending a cocktail hour, so this was the best option for us, though I do know it's unavoidable so I try my hardest to understand and not be annoyed when it does happen.
   The second thing was kind of more of a bride thing, but as a guest I was all kind of like, it's a little upsetting that we didn't get a picture with the bride-and-groom at all.  I mean if it was me I would want to remember everyone.  So when it was our turn.  During our cocktail hour, when everyone was in the other room and our formal pics were taken, we sent the Bridal Party on a mission to go in to the cocktail hour and find groups of people for pictures.  All the people we went to college with, all the people from mom's sided, dad's side, etc etc.  We took a picture and sent them on their merry way back to the cocktail hour until we started the reception.  It worked really well and I'm so glad we did it.  I think we have pictures or almost everyone that was there!
3. What movie can you quote along with the best?
   Hmmm, I don't know, I'm not much of a movie quoter really.  I'm getting to know The Ugly Truth, 27 Dresses and The Proposal though because I've been watching them lately.
4. What’s one thing that will be on your Christmas list this year?
   Fun answer - MacBook Pro - oh how I long for you! or iPad - though I'm holding out for the next generation!
   Semi-fun answer - Fabric! - I am loving so many different fabrics out there it's so hard to decide.
5. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
   My favorite thing about blogging is the people.  Everyone is so nice and offers help and leaves some great comments.  The ideas people have are amazing and I just want to try them all! 
6. If you could live in any other decade which one would you pick?
   I have no idea what I would pick.  Mostly I think I would pick the roaring 20's.  Known for a time when people were breaking traditions, the jazz era, women got the right to vote.  I would have loved to see my great-grandma when she was younger!
7. Where has the best meal of your life been and what did you eat?
   This is tough, I think that the best meals of my life have both been meals where I ate salmon, one being one of the specials at McCormick and Schmick's (with a blue crab stuffing) and the other at Top of the Hill (with mushroom Risotto and grilled tomatoes).  Two things about this, first, both of these dishes were specials for the day when we went and it's rather upsetting that I can't have them again (or find the exact meal to tell you what it is), though I suppose it opens my horizons to trying new dishes!  Second, up until about 3 years ago the only seafood I ate was shrimp cocktail and fried haddock.  I now love salmon out but struggle to cook it at home.
8. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?
   I don't consider any of much shows that I watch regularly guilty pleasures.  My guilty pleasures are the Lifetime or made for TV movies that I get drawn into watching when I'm hanging around channel surfing.  Once I start watching I'm hooked and can't turn it off until it's over!

That was fun (and tough!).  I'm not one for tagging people because I want everyone  to participate!  Link back if you answered them, I'd really love to see peoples answers to these.  

Here are my questions:

1. What's the one thing you and your husband or significant other have agreed to disagree about?  
2. What's your favorite flavor of potato chips?
3. What's the one fall/holiday tradition that you're looking forward to?
4. Do you sing out loud in the car?
5. If you could have a shopping spree at 1 store, what store would it be?
6. What's your favorite dessert?
7. If you could have a role in 1 TV show, what would it be?
8. Coke or Pepsi?

Love Long Weekends!

Hey, remember me, the girl that used to blog here.  I hope so.  Last week was a good and bad week.  I got a new job (Yeah!), but I'm having trouble coming up with blogging content and I don't really want to get too caught up in participating in things just to have some blogging content.  So I'll slowly make my way back and blog what I've got and not push myself too much.  I'll get back to commenting too!  I have been reading though, so please don't think I haven't. With that said, it was a great weekend.

We decided on Wednesday that we should take Friday off.  We had plans for the weekend and wanted to enjoy them and had some things to get done around the house.

Friday we got some stuff done (cleaning, cooking) and headed off to the beach.  On the way we stopped at the Outlets where I got some new running clothes (finally some shorts) and visited the Loft Outlet.  I think I could have stayed in there for hours!  I found a few new shirts and sweaters.  With my new position I feel like I need to dress up a little bit more.  I'm pretty sure KC doesn't want me going back there for a while, but I'm planning to go back when mom and dad visit!  I'm limiting myself though to what I can't buy (solid sweaters, ruffle tanks and plain cardigans (without something underneath - not allowed!).  I think I need to expand my accessories, scarves and jewelry will go far.  I've never been one to branch far in the jewelry area but I think it'll help!

We got to the beach house late Friday and stayed up late chatting.  Saturday while KC went to play Ultimate with his team I went for a run/walk.  Half marathon training is not going well though.  I was fine until last weekend, when my ankle started hurting and I just can't figure it out.  I tried to go easy on it this week but I think I just need to let it rest for a few more days.  It just hurts and I don't know what's wrong, it's in the back, so doesn't feel like I rolled it.

The rest of the day Saturday we went to the beach and it was wonderful.  Earl couldn't keep us away.  The water was a bit rough.and the waves were definitely big.  Sunday the waves calmed a bit.  All in all though, the weather was phenomenal.  Temps in the upper-80's I think and just beautiful.  We could not have asked for more perfect weather.  One a little bit of a sun-burn so all-in-all a very successful beach trip!

It was different people's responsibilities to plan meals (we did breakfast) and one of his teammates was talking to KC about dinner and they had the fabulous idea to replicate a Tahou's Garbage Plate.  His teammate is from Rochester and we went to school there so it was a must at that point.  Now before I go into the details into what is contained in a plate, I should say that the first time I heard of it, I thought, how disgusting, are you serious.  Then I tried it and I was like, whoa, not bad.  Then, one night at 2AM as we headed home from the bar we stopped and that was it, it is like heavenly drunk food!  Ha ha.  Your typical garbage plate looks similar to this:

What is it you ask?  Well, it's have 'hash browns' and half macaroni salad on the bottom.  Then 2-cheeseburgers on top, followed by the 'special sauce'.  Typically there are fresh chopped onions on top (not on mine) and then people put various amounts of hot sauce, ketchup and mustard on top.  The key is to cut it all up and mix it together.  It looks gross, but it is so delicious.  I only at 1 burger and definitely it wasn't as big as the pic above.  If you ever go to Rochester, NY, I would highly recommend a Tahou's garbage plate, either from the original Tahou's or at a local 'Hots'.  There are other varieties, with hot dogs and chicken and other things instead of burgers, but that is a traditional plate and the only one I've had to vouch for.

Monday we headed to the local Triple A team's baseball game as friends had extra tickets.  It was hot but it was nice to spend an afternoon at a baseball game.  We went into extra innings and had a lot of fun.  It was relaxing, nice to sit and chat.  Afterwards some people came over for dinner and then we took to relaxing.

At the game this was the foul pole:  "Eat more Fowl".

I find it so funny and I love watching all of the Chik-Fil-A commercials and billboards.  The cows are so funny. Who-ever came up with that marketing idea is a genius and I hope they got their share of the $$.  They make me laugh every time I see them.

I started Firefly Lane and I'm halfway through it.  So far, I'm liking it.  I didn't read a description beforehand, just some recommendations and decided to just wing it.  I kind of like doing that, I have no idea where the book is going right now, but I'm definitely liking it.

If you made it to the end, thanks, sorry it was so long!  I hope everyone else had a great weekend as well.  Time for a 4-day week, just think, it's already Tuesday!

Book Beginnings and Bookends - CeeCee Wilkes - Chapters 36-50

I'll admit that I'm happy we're getting to the end.  I read ahead and it's getting heard to go back and answer questions from weeks ago!  I did enjoy the book though and I'm looking forward to participating again.

1. Have your feelings about Tim changed through out this last section of chapters?
I definitely had a better feeling about Tim in the last few Chapters.  I was honestly a little surprised that he didn't just toss her to the wolves and tell, but at the same time, I think in my heart I knew that he wouldn't do it though. Something in me saw a little good in him. 

2. Do you agree with Cory and her behavior as an adult and her life with Ken? Is she justified in cutting her mother and father out of her life?
I think that her behavior and life with Ken is just like she is trying to get away from with her parents.  Isn't he controlling her life almost like she thought Eve was doing.  I don't really like Ken much and I think he's kind of rude and almost a little controlling of her just as she is trying to get away from.
I'm not sure if I'll be in the minority with this, but I don't agree with her cutting her parents out of her life.  I think it's a good idea for her to distance herself a little but completely cutting them out just doesn't seem reasonable to me.

3. At what point do you think Cory decided to spend less time with her mother?
I think that Cory not getting answers from her mother really made her feel that she needed to distance herself from her parents.  I think she needed some answers to really gain some insight into her past and maybe that would help her to connect with Eve and not getting them really made her take a good look at things.


4. What do you think is Eve's biggest fear?

I think that jail is really not her big fear.  I think her biggest fear is distancing herself from Cory further, basically losing her and the possibility of losing Jack and Dru.

5. When the story about Genevieve's body came out, what would you have done if you were Eve? Just sat back and watched things unfold? Come forward? Would you tell Jack?

I think I would have gone crazy.  I mean as I've said all along, I don't know how I could have kept it to myself for that long, but now to have it resurface, years later.  She's made a new life for herself and a new identity.   I'm pretty sure I would have become consumed by it at that point and would have had to say something, just not sure if it would be to the authorities or just to Jack.  I mean, Tim didn't appear to be throwing her name in there, but I just think it would eat away at me.  Plus, I think this all has a huge impact on her illness.

6. Do you think Eve should tell Jack and confess? Why?

Jack is supposed to be her partner for life, in good and bad.  I think it's better if she tells him.  She needs someone to talk to about it.  Otherwise, I think she'll get sicker and it will consume her at some point.  I think that if she decides to tell Jack she needs to think about him too.  I mean they have been married for so long.  There are a lot of lies that have come as a result of this and they've been there since the start.  He might feel betrayed and unsure of what is really the truth.  

You can link up here!

Things to smile about

Sometimes I just need to sit back and think about the good things, the things to smile about.  

1.  Getting a new job on a Monday, makes it not such a bad day after all and a great start to the week/month!

2.  Spending the weekend turning your closet from this:

to this:

 plus all this to go to the Goodwill (4 bags of clothes and 1 bag of shoes!):

3.  Sitting outside on a Saturday night in 80 degrees and watching a concert where the headliner played for 2 hours

Source

4.  Learning that mom and dad will be coming for a visit in October for 1 week+.
5. Going to the store and buy 2 sweaters, 1 tank top and 1 scarf for your self and 1 sweater for your husband and only spend $50 for all of it.

6.  or when I order a shirt just to get my order over $50 for free shipping and absolutely loving it when it gets here.

7. taking a Friday off so I can have a 4-day weekend, just because!  Today is my 'Friday'!

Hope everyone is have a great week.  Happy September!