Tomorrow is the big day

Big day for what you ask? Week 6 of maintenance on Weight Watchers - if I am within 2 lbs of goal I officially become a lifetime member!!! 2+ years in the making. I cannot believe it. So, of course, who is STRESS EATING today??? Me :( Cross your fingers.

The Vest...

One trip to the mall with a 13 year old can get you into trouble - sewing trouble. Hence, the vest!! Seemed like a simple project and quick but it was more challenging than I thought. However, it is done and I did most of it on my own (with a little help from Linda at Sew It All and prep work from Mackenzie). I even had Mark try and help to interpret some of the directions.

Pink, purple and green. Stripes. I love the pink lining.

I got to use fusible web for the stripes (which was cool) and practice my hidden stitch (I cannot hand sew worth a damn).

So here it is and will be shipped out this weekend.

2010 - Hope you are ready!

It has been so long since I have updated my blog. Well, for 2010, I will be doing more blogging with the focus on my sewing and scrapping projects.

Wishing everyone a great 2010!

Crop Cocks run a muck....

I just realized that I have not blogged since December - time sure does fly and fast.

My post is to give a shout out to my scrapbooking buddies. I had such a blast in March at Ashland - good food, good conversation, lots of scrappin'.

Unknown to me, the contest was on for the best cock award - let me set the scene. At the Warren Center, it seems that each room has some type of rooster picture, whether small or large. My pal Kristen M, was quite in a fluster to find out that the girls weekend was truly not a 'cock free' one as planned. So, begins having a crop cock with us.

So the contest is on, for the next crop to have the best cock to represent you! Here are some pictures of this years activities:

The prize - isn't he cute!





The girls around the big rooster pic in the stairway











Kristin and her scary mask (she made me laugh all weekend)













And so the hunt is on - I will be ready for next year. Cock-a-doodle-doo

For my best friend

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."
– Helen Keller

It is now time for you to turn away from the closed door and go through the open one.

Random Caroling...

'Tis the season to be jolly...
Caroling starts before Thanksgiving
It makes my heart sing
Why not share with friends
My karaoke style of song
On their voicemail when not at their desk
SURPRISE!
It's a feeling I need to share
My most favorite time of the year

History in the making

I was part of a historical event last night! I helped to elect the first African-American President of the United States. A man who, I am confident, will bring great change to our wonderful country. To my democrat friends - WE DID IT!! To my republican friends, sorry but it was the right choice for all of us. I felt relieved and truly blessed - not just that the candidate I wanted to have was elected, but that we live in a great country that allows everyone to make that choice. Even Nicholas was excited about the election which was fantastic.

Flea Market Finds are great!

Ahhhh, the best thing to do on a beautiful Sunday is go to a Flea Market. This one, at the Marshfield Fairground this past Sunday, offered so many different vendors. Yes, I did score on a number of things



First, a cute machine pieced, hand quilted quilt. The guy gave it to me for $10 if I bought it before his wife came back! All it needed was a wash - the hand quilting is really nice to look at.








Here is a great buy - for $10 I got this Vera Bradley bag - it was never used, clean and in perfect condition. Even if it is not a true Vera Bradley bag, it is still my bag (and I needed a winter bag)






A couple of beautiful pieces of fabric - the colors are fantastic. Not sure what I will be making with them.






Now, I have been into costume jewlery. I saw something on Martha Stewart where the old costume jewlery earings were repurposed into magnets - so cool. So I got to thinking how much, as a kid, I loved wearing my grandmothers jewlery. I thought she was so rich - she had so many sparkly items and I could wear the clip-on earings! So, I have been on the hunt to craft with (if I find mismatches) and to create a dress up box for a Christmas gift (I think Meaghan is a good candidate for it).

I love to find treasures...

Beauty right in our backyard

OK, not really in our backyard but close - only 8 minutes away. We decided to go camping (since it was guaranteed nice weather) so we headed to Myles Standish State Park. Here are just some amazing pictures to share with everyone - enjoy.

Quilt for a great cause

Here it is - the quilt I made for the Relay for Life. I wanted to make sure that it went to a cancer survivor or one who is in the process of being a survivor. My pal, Lisa, pulled through and made the quilt part of a survivor raffle. Kathy Wickert was the winner and sent a very nice thank you card.



This was one of the hardest types of quilts I could have made (being only my 2nd one) but I am glad I did it. It came out better than I expected. I cannot wait for next year and what I will create for this great cause.

Ben is having a baby!

Well, more like Emelia is having a baby. We cannot wait for Kamryn to come and it will be soon - Oct

Erica and Thaissa coordinated the baby shower and it was at my house. It turned out great.

My brother looked so happy and Emelia looked fantastic.



The 'mommy' chair with the clothes line decoration - turned out really cute.





Here is the mommy


And here is the daddy (playing with Meaghan)





The cake was the cutest! The baby had a real pacifier in its mouth!!





Thaissa made the favors - vanilla fudge yummy








And the games - Name the baby food and Measure the mummy's tummy













Congratulations to Ben and Emelia with all the love and happiness a new family can have.

So close to goal!

Well, I am now 5 lbs. away from my goal of 155! This has been such a long road to get to this point. My goal is to hit my goal weight and become a WW lifetime member (so I don't have to pay anymore). I am deciding how my 'after' picture will look so I can show the difference. So, watch...

Hello from North Carolina!

Nick and I are on vacation - visiting David and Carrie in Lillington NC. Amtrak was our mode of transportation - very long ride but cost effective.

We went out on the boat yesterday and had a blast.

I will add pics when I can.

Here is your post Margaret

I've been called on it - why aren't I out there??? Well, this ones for you Margaret - my bestest pal!!

How time flies - especially 25 years

June 13, 1983 - that was the day I began my career with BCBSMA and still going strong today. The celebration the company gave was awesome.
I celebrated with 77 other folks who have been with the company 25+ years. The picture is of me with my IT crew - Ellen Curley, Joanne McManus, Kevin Campbell, David Palubicki and our interim CIO Ed Esposito.

Mark, Sydney and Nick were there with me which made me very happy. I will have to wait another 5 years to get a party like that again!

WW Update - 41 lbs!!

Yes, I hit a total loss of 41 pounds last week - very exciting! I am hoping to do an after photo to show the difference.

Bunnies make me laugh

Angry Alien has a new 30 second short for Sixteen Candles - enjoy
http://www.starz.com/bunnies

Find other funny shorts at www.angryalien.com

Sewing project updates

Here are just a few things I have completed so far:

Sleep pants for me (no pic)
Placemats (showing the front and back)
Nick's cool Yoda sleep pants

I also made a cute tote bag and I am on the finishing stages of a twin size quilt! My next project is to try and make myself a skirt - we shall see!

Guess who talked to Martha?

YES, it was me, talking to Martha Stewart on her radio show Wednesday!!! I knew Martha could help me out on how to remove the smell from my vintage dress form - I will be trying it out today to see how it works. I even got to hear myself cause there was a slight delay from me talking and hearing it on the radio.

My family thinks I am obsessed but I am truly not. I just find that this is a mentor. Someone who has great working ethics and talent that I inpire to be like. Great minds think alike!

Here is my dress form that I got for Christmas - solution to remove the mustiness? Baking soda - how simple is that?

Weight watchers update... and the number is????

35.4 lbs! That is right my friends - and this last 5 lbs took forever!! Yipee...