Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

well. thanksgiving has passed, and its time to get the Christmas stuff out.

I decorated the livingrooms yesterday. and also finished the first of my presents. with only 5 more to go (though i have no idea what these other five will be)

The "stark" coat. I need to add the name on the tag. so its not 100% percent finished, but enough that i just had to share pictures.

the buttons are recycled from an old pair of jeans.

rarely do my sewing projects come out as well as this one

Costumes

As I prepared for Halloween this year. I realized that I have had lost of costumes these last few years.

I never got to dress up as a kid, my parents didn't support the whole notion of Halloween. But now as an adult, I have had several non-Halloween dress up opportunities and some actual Halloweens as well.

Here are some pictures,

Enjoy

Getting to dress in some traditional Japanese outfit thanks to the International Students at MSSU.
The international club's Halloween dance, this year i was Cinderella.

The first International Club Halloween dance. I was dresses as a gypsy, this is actually one of the costumes I could not find tonight. I wonder were its at.

This is my 1920's Flapper out fit that I made for the swing dance party at a College Age retreat.

This 1980's bridesmaid/prom dress has been worn on two occasions. First, Amanda wore it to her prom. Second, i wore it to the 1980's dance party with the College Age.

Though Ive never worn this one in public. Its what i like to call my India Maria outfit. Its a traditional dress that dad brought back for me from Mexico. The shoes are ones that Bev brought back from Guatemala.

This one is a really dark picture that makes it really hard to tell the colors. But its Erica's Renaissance out fit. I like it, I'm prepared if I ever need to dress for a Renaissance fair.

Last but not least. This is my costume for this year's trick or treat. Its a Native American/Pocahontas. I plan to wear this one to go trick or treating with Karen and Brenda.
For the college age "monster mash" has other plans, but they are a secret.

I made jam. Or is it jelly...

Well ill have to wikipedia it to find out which of the two it technacally is.

Untill then, i get to enjoy this. I know its a bit late in the season to be making stuff from strawberries, but better late than never.

Making jelly is just another thing off my list. im liking my list. i still have to spots to fill in and some things listed to complete.

New Living Room

this morning dad woke me up and demanded that i make a new curtain for the upstairs living room. his demand got me going on actually cleaning the living room and getting it organized.
here is the result:

my "craft" corner. where i will strive to keep all my yarn, material and embroidery stuff.

Amanda's corner inspiration. i tried to put up some of amanda's art and her amazing green chair

the TV. its bev's and just here temporarily. in the background some of my Christmas decor, waiting get pictures taken to get put up on my new etsy site. check it out when you get a chance: firstandcedar.esty.com

and the curtain that started it all. its some of the material that i got at IKEA almost a year ago.

Pumpkin Pie

I made some pumpkin pie.

I also got in trouble for making it.

Dad says I am not allowed to make such yummy smelling food after 10pm.

Mostly because it ready to late for him to have some.

Guest Room and Luggage Rack

Mom and i have been talking of arranging my grandmother's bedroom as a guest room.

Today Dad and i made it actually happen.

Here is the result:

This however, will not be the final product. Im still thinking of curtains, some more furniture, different bed cover, but that will take time.

But...I did manage to complete the first project for the guest room. A luggage rack, perfect for guest. A place to put their suit case (thats not the floor).

I remember being a kid and going to hotels. There were always luggage racks in them, but Mom was always the one to use it.

So here are the supplies:

And the finished product:

I like it, because it can also be used to place a laundry basket on, and many other things as well.

As of latetly

So I finally have some pictures of completed projects:

1st is a dress for Ela. I made her one like this before, but she has out grown in. Seemed like it was time for a new one.

2nd is a project that has been "in progress" for quite a while. I just got it finished tonight. So Im posting these even before i get the chance to deliver it. It's a baby blanket for little Avery Foreman.

And finally, some other things i do with my free time. Some reading that leaves me encouraged.

And some amazing clouds that remind me of how truly awesome God is.

A Dress

This is the first dress that i have made with out a pattern. For it being a first, i dont think it came out to bad. I learned a lot and will be giving this idea a second try here soon.

Here is the inspiration behind the dress: Here is the sketch of what i wanted it to look like, it was pretty close, but not quite the same.

Here is the dress. I made it out of some material i picked up at Ikea. I know its like not supposed to be for a dress, but its thinker than some material and i though it perfect for a dress.

The back of the dress. There are still a few things i need to work out, but it doesnt look to bad from far away.

The neck line. I like that it looks delicate the way the material is gathered.

The front of the dress. It shows how the gathering.
And since the dress turned out to be a bit short for my liking. I folded it under to see what it would like like as just a shirt.

The end.

Grieving

every one does it differently.

for me, well, i guess i didnt know i was grieving. then it hit me. like a ton of briks.

so now, it pretty much just hurts.

courage

I don't have much of it. or maybe its boldness.
As i start this post im stopping, i really dont know what the difference is between these two words. it seems we use them interchangebly.
Lets look these up the in the dicionary, shall we

Courage
Pronunciation: \ˈkər-ij, ˈkə-rij\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English corage, from Anglo-French curage, from quer, coer heart, from Latin cor — more at heart
Date: 14th century
: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty

Boldness
Pronunciation: \ˈbōld\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English beald; akin to Old High German bald bold
Date: before 12th century
: showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit

Basically, boldness is required to go into hard situations, courage is what it takes to make it through. Its almost like boldness will get you into the mess, and courage will see you through it.

I feel like im very low on both fronts, i dont have the boldness to enter into hard situations, i am getting thrown into them; and once im in the middle of them, i dont have the courage to get through them. all of this leaves me feeling like apretty big faluire.

Please be praying for me that i will have boldness as i see problems arrising and that i will have the courage to get through them in a way that shows not only my character, but also my passion for Christ.
Thanks.

Finishing

This saturday i ran my first half marathon. It was quite an experience.
I am hoping to do more in the future. Its been about a year of "training" that has finally paid of into some kind of tangible result.
After my surgery last year i started walking, then running. i started slow because i was still recovering , and the more i recovered the more my tolerance built.
13.1 miles is a lot, i walked quite a bit, and was sore beyond measure the rest of the day and the next day (after some stretching it calmed down a lot).
Really i not to bad after the run. Tonight after work im ready to head out again and run some more. Just NOT 13.1 miles. Ill stick with like 4-5.
If only i would finish more of my sewing projects. I believe i have like 3-2 of them that just need things like buttons, button holes or a hem. Ahh, well, i will finish them eventually.
and when i do, ill try and post pictures.

Time were did you go?

Ohh yeah, away with my routine.

I love routines, i feel like it allows me to get things done. Not always the fun things, but the things that need to get done, like laundry, and such.

It really throws me off when my routine gets messed up. But I try and remind myself to be flexible. To move with what ever is going on.

This week is turning out to be quite busy. It reminds me of my need to be flexible. Its gonna be pretty fun i hope.

Im house sittng next week. It will be interesting, Ive never done that before. It intrigues me more than a little. I will be caring for a dog or cat or something. I hope its a dog because then i can take it on walks once im off work.

I stayed up late last night which caused me to give in to coffee this morning. One of the only times i can remember enjoying drinking coffee was in Italy, and that was entirely because of the time differente/jet lag.

2010 New Year, New Look!

So i have not been the best at keeping up with my poor blog. But since we are a good 3 months into 2010 i though i would give it a face lift and start writing in it again.

On mondays after work i usually go work out at the gym, stop by the grocery store on the way home. and then go home to cook a dish that i can take to work with me for lunch the rest of the week.
Yesterday i did mondays routine. On the way home i picked up the essential ingredients for my Greek Penne Pasta and Chicken Recipe. It tastes amazing!
i love it. its very good re-heated. and i will be eating it for lunch tomorow and friday. the only thing that surprised me was the strength of the artichocke hearts have. next time ill use a little less of those and a little more fetta chesse.
i like making a yummy dish to bring to work for lunch. it saves me money and its heathier. last week was an odd week for me and i didnt get a chance to make anything, so i ate lunch out. I spend almost 3 times as much as i usually do on food. it made me mad!
while at the store i picked up come chorizo, im not sure what im going to make with it. but its in the fridge just waiting for my cooking creativity to come out.
i also bough a can of hominy. also at home waiting for me. nexts week's lunch could be sooo yummy.
Any ideas? im open to suggestion.