Update

Just in case you were wondering-- I have NOT given up on my book challenge. In fact, I'm reading two books right now. One is incredibly huge and incredibly boring, but I'm almost finished with it, so I might as well persevere. And I just started a second book, Persuasion, by Jane Austen. So far it is a good read.

I'm also quilting. Trying to get a good stock up for the craft show in November. I also need to start focusing on my card and paper crafts (I'll be selling those at the craft fair too). So much to do!!

I'm dancing again. I've cut it back to two nights a week this year. So far, so good. I need some SYTYCD inspiration though (which will start getting good in the next couple of weeks). Woo-hoo!

That's all the major things going on right now. Okay, back to work now.

Pears and Polka Dots (and apples)

I just fell in love with this fabric a couple months ago and when I had a little extra money, I got me some. And I fell in love with it even more!

So here is my take on a log cabin pattern.

The back is actually my favorite. The colors look so nice against the white flannel.

Such a sweet quilt. This is actually a larger size quilt-- lap quilt size or toddler size blanket.

The quilt is on sale at my Etsy shop.

She's like her momma

This is my fat cat, Sadie.

She does not like people food EXCEPT for two things-- yogurt and Krispy Kreme.

That's right, Krispy Kreme makes her purr.

She's just like her momma.

Life

For the past couple of weeks I've felt that I've just hit a wall. I so long for something different and yet, I'm stuck doing the same thing that I've been doing the past 7 years. Work is just not fun at all and it is such a shame that I spend most of my waking hours there-- interacting with people that are not family and not friends (per se, I get along fine with my co-workers).

I'm praying so desperately for a "change." I need it. I don't know how much more of me I can give to a place. To anyone really (except Grant).

This is not to say that I don't enjoy my work-free time at home and with Grant. I LOVE those times and look forward to those times. It is just that those times are so small compared to the 40 hour work week.

Grant and I have talked and he's even given me a future date that I can quit my day job (if we don't have a child by then). I tell you, it was the best gift he could have given me. I need that deadline. I need to look forward to something.

Just a little rant for a gloomy Wednesday.

Please Lord give me the strength to continue this journey!!!

More Quilts

Well, as you can imagine, I've been spending my time quilting. Here are two recent quilts I've finished.

Sock Monkey Quilt. I just don't think there can be anything much cuter than a sock monkey quilt. I love the colors. I love how it can be for a boy or a girl. This special quilt will go to a special person, who I just happened to mention in my last post. If you haven't checked that last post out you should!

The fabric is just to die for (the knits actually look like knits-- amazing).

A little pizazz for the back. Also I needed a little extra length. Problem solved.

Here is my sophisticated baby girl blanket using the Panache line from Moda fabrics. The colors are scrumptious. This one is on sale in my Etsy shop.

I liked how the borders turned out. Something different.

Simply Divine Designs

I wanted to introduce you to a friend of mine, Melody. She, like me, loves to sew! She makes the neatest baby items (just to name a few): bibs, burp cloths, boppy covers, blankets, diaper clutches, nursing covers and slings (my personal favorite). She uses the trendiest fabrics and makes some pretty special pieces. Her business is Simply Divine Designs.

But what makes her business is even more special is that all funds raised will be going towards their adoption fund!

So, please go take a look at her business website and see what she has to offer. Not only would you get a special baby item, but you would get them one step closer to bringing home a baby!!!!

I don't know about you, but that seems like a pretty special investment to me!

He's Laughing with Jesus

This past weekend Grant and I lost an old friend from high school and church youth group, Chris Raynor. This has to be one of the most tragic stories I have ever heard. Chris was set to be married at 11:00 on Saturday. Sadly, someone ran a red light and hit the car he was in. He died a few hours before he was supposed to walk down the aisle. Here is the story from the newspaper.

I haven't seen Chris since high school, but I have never forgotten him. He was hilarious and liked to channel Chris Farley, who he actually kind've resembled!

If you are reading this post, please just take a minute and pray for his family, friends and fiancee. He was an only child and I know his parents are beyond devastated. Clearly, from the things I read, he and Karen were a wonderful, bring-out-the-best-in-each-other kind of couple. I cannot even imagine the pain in her heart and the days ahead for all them.

(Providence Baptist youth group ski trip- 1996)

I have no doubt, however, that he is laughing with Jesus right now.

Gyro Recipe

I've been asked for my gyro recipe after a post on the tzatziki sauce. For this recipe, I don't use measurements per se- it's one of my throw it all together and hope it works kind of recipe.

* Steak (i.e., flank steak-- anything that is sort of flat)
* Cavender's Greek Seasoning (I use this seasoning in almost everything)
* 1 or 2 cloves of Garlic, minced
* Worcestershire
* Whole Wheat Pitas
* Mild Banana Peppers
* Tomato slices
* Tzatziki Sauce (yogurt sauce)
* Paprika

I like to pound my steak to make it thinner (or buy some from the butcher already sliced thin). I marinade the steak with a little splash of Worcestershire , minced garlic and generous sprinkling of greek seasoning. Let the steak marinate for as little as 30 min. to overnight. Then I sear it/cook it in my cast iron skillet with a little olive oil over medium high heat. After steak has rested it for at least 10 min., I like to slice it.

Then I put the steak in a pita pocket with a generous serving of the yogurt sauce, some banana peppers and tomato slices (sometimes cucumber slices too or a little lettuce). I like to sprinkle a little paprika on the pita (specifically the yogurt sauce) for a little extra color!

That's it. Super easy and yummy. I have also done a loaf style gyro with hamburger meat and spinach. I don't like that as well, because it seems like meatloaf in a pocket (not as authentic to me).

A Cute mistake

Grant accidentally bought boys' large undershirts (instead of adults) the other day. Since he couldn't wear them, he suggested turning them into rags. I detoured the idea. I just knew there was something creative I could do with them.

So, I took some of my fabric scraps and sewed those suckers right on to the t-shirt.

This was my experiment t-shirt- it's unwearable, but at least it gave me some ideas.

The sock monkey is my favorite, but sadly I don't have any more scraps to play with.

My Business Cards

Oh, they turned out so cute. I couldn't choose which design I liked best, so I chose 8 styles. I wanted to choose some with "baby themes" and some that represented my idea of "greener beginnings" and then the rest were images that I just liked. Clearly, I have an obsession with birds.

(Baby stuff and "greener beginnings")

(my birds)

It's a little dorky, but I like it.

My name is Andrea . . .

and I have an addiction.

An addiction to pretty fabrics. I can't help it and I can't be stopped. I see something pretty and I must have it.

Actually, my addiction is slight (compared to some) because I exercise extreme self control when I am in the fabric store. Really, I could easily buy hundreds of dollars worth of fabric (I just spent $33 today). However, if something is irresistible and I see pretty quilts in the future, then I must have it.

Here is what I found today. I have great plans for all these "pretty" fabrics.

I have been in love with this apple & pear fabric for forever. I finally got it.

Okay, the line is named Eva. My niece is named Eva. Obviously, I needed to purchase this charm pack.

Not necessarily "pretty" but seriously fun!

Keep coming back to see how these fabrics turn into quilts.

Tzatziki or Yogurt Cucumber Sauce

So my breath smells like garlic right now because I just ate some homemade tzatziki. And it was good, just don't come too close to me. No, seriously.

Grant and I like to make gyros at home. It's an easy dinner to throw together and it is so good. Well, you can't have gyros without the yogurt sauce or tzatziki so here is my recipe for tzatziki (it's just a fun word to say).

*about 3 cups of greek yogurt (here's the thing- you need a thick yogurt it's just not as good with plain "watery" yogurt. So I would recommend buying greek yogurt or you can take plain 'ol yogurt and put it in cheesecloth to drain overnight or at least a couple of hours. Bonus, you get whey which you can use in other healthy type recipes)

*one cucumber peeled, deseeded and finely diced

*2 cloves of garlic peeled and minced

*handful of fresh or dried mint leaves crushed or finely chopped (this is completely optional, but it adds a nice flavor)

*salt to taste (pepper optional too)

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for an hour.

So easy. And it's not just for gyros-- this makes a great dip or just eat it as a snack.

Because my family is Lebanese, we've used this dip a lot with various Lebanese/greek type food. Yummy.

That's it. Go make some for yourself and then give your loved one a kiss.

Anne of Green Gables

I adored this book. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series when time permits. It's so sweet and inspiring. And a trip to Prince Edward Island seems like a great place to vacation!

The "Anne" series was one of my favorite movies as a child. I can't even imagine how many times we watched those movies. I think the movie did a great job depicting the book, so I've no complaints there.

This is most definitely a series I want my children (probably girls) to read and watch. Love it.

It was a crafty kind of day

Today, I went to the Scrap Exchange and found some pretty cool finds-- some fabric, a stamp set and paper. I also went to Michael's and found some great deals. I'm trying to get some ideas for the craft fair I'm doing in November, so I'm all about some experimentation.


These adorable little notebooks were $.60 at Michaels. What a steal. I decided to "dress them up" a bit to make them even more special. What do you think?







I also made some cards. Very simple, easy cards.





I've got more things to play around with, so I think this is how I will be spending my Labor Day weekend!

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Oh my, I had to put the book down several times so I wouldn't be crying while at work (towards the end of the book). This book is hard to describe. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the characters. It was interesting. It was also painful at times and sad. In fact, I want to cry right now.

It's a love story and it is sweet to think Clare grew up knowing her husband. It was painful to think about the eventual loss and the constant waiting (and throw in the miscarriages and emotions that go along with all that).

I was confused at first, but as the story progresses, I started to "get it" and it was easy to place Henry in the story. It truly is an interesting read-- something different.

This was a fast read for me-- three days (of course, I had some free time at work)!

I don't know if I will see the movie. I hate sad movies and I have a feeling it would be sad. I don't know, I'll have to think about it.

For those of you who have read this book or seen the movie- what did you think?

Gone With the Wind

Oh my goodness, I'm in love with Rhett Butler. I know he's a rogue and a "scallywag," but my goodness he's got a good heart! This was such a fun book to listen to on tape. It was so easy to follow (I really wasn't sure what to expect). Of course, I hate the ending- another novel with a sad ending, but you can't say that Scarlett didn't deserve all that came to her.

There are some differences between the book and the movie- most noticeably is that Scarlett has two children prior to marrying Rhett- that adds a whole new dimension to Scarlett.

Wow, this 50 + hour book on tape was so worth listening to. I made many a quilt top to this book (and eliminated many hours of mindless tv watching too).

Would highly recommend listening to this on tape. I think reading it would be great, but it would take so looooong to finish.

I heart you Rhett Butler.

Two More Quilts

Another special order done. Yay!! This one was super easy to get done. I love the fabric, so I didn't struggle with fabric boredom.

Aren't these ducks precious!

The other quilt is a tiny little thing, but cute! This was made out of a charm pack that Rhea gave me for my birthday (so this picture is for you Rhea)!

I believe this is considered a 9 patch.

Next up-- a sock money quilt. Now how cute is that?