My first clothing project was somewhat of a success. After two weeks of quiting and returning to it I  finished it (mostly) on my birthday!

no belt

belt!

 Clearly my modeling skills need some practice time

There are some flaws (ha, to say the least). The worst being that I can't get in and out of it without a production (you know, the kind where you're in a change room and you thought you were a small but really you are a medium and you get stuck half way taking off the shirt with your arms in the air and the shirt over your head so you can't see and you start to sweat because one more cm of movement means you're going to hear that dreaded ripping sound and you just hope that the sales lady isn't standing too close to the otherside of the door. yeah, like that).


Also, I can't get the buttons done up once it's on without assistance (I don't mind though, he's hot). Details, details. I might try to make it again, but maybe with a zipper up the back instead of buttons and a few other changes.

Although tricky and infuriating frustrating at points, I learned lots and am excited to make more.

Up next: Pants! 

 

 It helps that I got an awesome birthday sewing table to work at! (and a side kick cat to boot)

 

toooooo much

These last two weeks have been too busy. Busy has it's benefits, like it stops me from falling asleep, which inevitably happens every time I sit down on the couch. And, it seems the more I have to do, the more I get done (why, I have no clue but it's a fantastic phenomenon when you're often busy!) While I'd rather be busy than bored, even I have my limits and I think I hit them. It's not all terrible and horrific things, but it's been constant. I need a little ebb and flow, give and take, more 50/50...

I preach like a pastor at least twice a week to my staff at work about what have they done for themselves this week, to make sure they aren't working too much and that their lives are in balance etc. This week I even took one of their day timers and blocked time off for them. So why is it so hard to do this for myself sometimes?! Or at least, just not schedule something or have something to do. Just be.

This week included too much over time at work, a disastrous attempt to take the cats to the vet (which ended in one broken kennel, one seizure and Gord being peed and pooped on. In a snow storm. The second attempt went much more smoothly), a trip to buy new kennels, a second trip to the vet, baking cupcakes, organizing an 80's murder mystery party for work, seeing the Globetrotters, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, dealing with d.r.a.m.a. at work, working out THREE times (trust me, three is big) and one doctors appointment. It's now Friday night. I'm tired and working on being less grouchy and more relaxed (cause of course now that I can finally sit, I'm having a hard time getting my arse in a chair).

This weekend I am looking to be more arse in chair and less go (Happy Birthday to me!)

Less go and more of this:

 seriously, can they get any cuter?

Doctors and Traditions...just not together please!

This week was very uneventful, full of too many doctors and too much work. Although we are riproaring through the adoption process (first workshop down this weekend!), there are still a few tests to complete and follow up on so we can completely close the door on becoming pregnant, and also appointments to make sure my health is covered (I've now been officially diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure). All of this takes no less than 4 different doctors, who despite their ability to receive phd's, cannot coordinate themselves across a city. Every time a new test is ordered it means an appointment for the test and another appointment to follow up on it, and it's all a little maddening and overwhelming some days.

What I find even more maddening though, is people who complain about things but never do anything to change it. So, lesson this week: don't schedule three appointments in one week that is already jam packed with work (I have only one coming up. I take my lessons very seriously).


  



 

 I don't know how I did it, but I have kept 4 orchids alive all winter and 2 have bloomed again!  

 
Lucky for me, after one particularly mind-blurring, overwhelming day, I had a husband who met me to drop off my dance clothes so I wouldn't miss class after being stuck in traffic, made me steak and mashed potatoes for when I came home, cleaned up an incredible explosion of clean laundry that occurred that morning in our room AND bought me mini eggs to make me feel better. I love that man.

I am expecting this coming week to be much, much better. How can it not when it's full of this?

I am ridiculously giddy to bake these tomorrow night. I haven't been baking very much these days as we've been trying to eat more healthy so I think all my baking energy is pent up and ready to be unleashed on pink and white icing.

I've also been thinking and talking to Gord lately about creating more traditions, and my latest kick is about doing more to celebrate holidays more and have more fun with them. I've never done anything for valentines day, which is fine, I don't expect and would not want romantic dinners and teddy bears with I love you sashes, but a few cupcakes and a thoughtful wee bag of cinnamon hearts sure would make my day and I think would make Anthony's and future humans too! And birthdays, birthdays need to be taken to a whole new level in this house. March 1st when a certain somebody turns 10 there will streamers. There will be balloons. There will be cake. There will be an explosion of new tradition. Next thing you know, I'll be driving around in a mini van to soccer practice....