Today:

I am so thankful for the great friends I have and for such a caring mommy I have

I am thankful for my husband who is my true soul mate and who I will love until the end of time…and probably after that, too.

I am thankful for my 2wheatens who show me so much love, especially when I am in pain. There is nothing like snuggling with a warm puppy when no one else is around or coming home to the pure excitement they exhibit upon my arrival.

I am also thankful for my new phone, which (unfortunately) is going to make me go broke from buying new music after listening to Pandora all day long I love the suggestions and the fact that it only plays Rachel music.

I am thankful that the Bread Garden has its own parking lot. I will be visiting more often now that I know that the Tuscan Tomato soup is still fantastic (and the only soup I actually like).

What are you thankful for today?

I decided to take matters into my own hands yesterday and finally unpack everything in JP’s computer room and get it organized!  I don’t have a before picture, but just imagine only being able to walk in and sit at the computer.  If you tried to cross the room you would have had to trip over 8 opened boxes and miscellaneous things sitting around after being pulled out of the boxes.  It was a mess!  Now, everything is clean (wiped everything down) and organized!  Including the closet.

A healthy version of sweet and salty:

A cap of lightly salted peanuts + 8ish freeze-dried grapes from Just Tomatoes, Etc (available at the Hy-Vee in Coralville).

Completely healthy and absolutely delicious!!

Just Grapes: http://www.justtomatoes.com/JGR-P.html

PS: if you like sour and salty – try the Just Cherries!  Warning, they are tart and may make your eyes water at first!!

*Today by Rachel Diggs
*You Picked Me by A Fine Frenzy
*Guess I’m Doing Fine by Beck
*Dark Side of the Sun by Tori Amos
*La meme histoire by Feist (English version We’re All in the Dance)
*Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
*Together by Raconteurs
*I Wish I Was the Moon by Neko Case
*The Greatest by Cat Power
*Anything But the Truth by Jack Johnson

Why would I  enter a drawing to win a serger? Hmmm, good question.
Basically, I’ve been fascinated by sergers since I learned how to use my embroidery sewing machine.  Before that I thought they were weird looking and a little scary…however, there were always beautiful samples all around the sergers in my local shop.

It would be another thing to help me create some great finished edges and try to make things with some “not so easy to work with” fabrics.  I think I’d be most happy to use it to start garment sewing and doing some hemming.  I would probably buy a bunch of books to find out even more wonderful that I could use it for!!

If you’re interested in entering the contest – make sure you do so before Aug 31st on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog!!  The drawing is for a Husqvarna Viking Serger!! OOOOHHHHH, AAAAAHHHHH!!

Today I start what I hope to be a wonderful long weekend!

The only plans I have are:

1. Try to sew a little bit on the baby quilt I’m working on.
2. Try to finish a book that I’m reading, but not that in to.
3. Have lunch with James, since he is working the entire time I have off.
4. Go to Des Moines with Mom to look at new beds and maybe a sleeper sofa…and since it’s Des Moines…stop at all my favorite places
5. Try to be creative in other ways.

That’s about it!  And if I don’t do some of that stuff…so be it!  I’m just going to relax and have some fun. 

I’ve already started my mini vacation by downloading the acoustic version of Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette.  I hadn’t heard it until two days ago when I was doing some formulations at work with April.  I know how huge a fan April is of Alanis, so I took a listen.  I loved Jagged Little Pill when it came out while I was in High School, but I had no idea how much soul and emotion was in the acoustic version. So wonderful!!  If you like Alanis and haven’t heard it…you need to.  The hidden track “Your House” is so fantastic!

As I sit on the couch with my laptop Booker has invaded my foot space, which is normal behavior for him and ackward for my back at the same time…Bella, who is always a sweet little love, always makes sure to lie in her crate or next to me on floor (but not in my foot space).

I am going to challenge myself for August to blog some fun things…

Lately, I’ve been playing a lot with my digital software and now that I know I can use downloads from places like 2 Peas and Pink Trike Designs - I may be even more apt to play, especially since James has a weird work schedule.  I love sitting on the couch with my laptop, a glass of water, and HGTV playing in front of me while I dink around making layouts! So relaxing and fun!  There’s usually at least one dog at my feet sleeping and/or snoring, which is too cute!

I’ve made a set in Flickr that has my digital scrapbooking pages for anyone who wants to peak from time to time. I’ve decided to put any page I’ve made in the set, regardless of whether or not it’s super fabulous. Basically, if I’ve taken the time out to be creative I’m going to show it.  I also joined a couple groups on Flickr for digital scrapbooking to keep me motivated and seeing other styles is always fun.  And while I’m talking about Flickr, one of my photos was selected for inclusion in the schmap for the iPhone.  I cannot remember if it was me or James who took the photo with his Incredible, but fun just the same.

Things in August I’m looking forward to:  Angie’s free crop at Scrappin’ for Keeps on August 21st and the Back to School crop at Camp Milan put on by Shari from Creative Memories.  Also, football games!  James just started practice this week and hopefully the Little Hawks will do as well as they did last year

I decided to go to Scrapfest this year!!  September 17-19th is going to be one big party with my buddies Connie, Chris, Rose and Cheryl (mom)!  I intend to only do some make and takes and then just shop and take in the Minneapolis area.  We already talked about the fact that we will be getting massages, reflexology and many other spa-like fun stuff done!  I need a refreshing take on things and plan to have as much fun as possible.

In October I have made plans to go to the Maroon 5 concert in Minneapolis with my friends Erin, Kim and Lori.  Since, I was pretty much obsessed with Maroon 5 from the time they only had an EP with a few songs…I decided I needed to see them on stage.  In general, I just need to go to more concerts!!!  Everybody does!!

I am also hoping to go to Chicago in December for the Holiday Renegade Craft Fair. I had so much fun with Kirsten, Deb and L at the regular Renegade Craft Fair last September that I definitely think it’s worth a trip back. Plus, handmade holiday goodies are always the best!

As far as today goes…I’m counting down the minutes until 1PM where I’ll be going in for my 3rd 10 hour shift this week.  My coworker, Sara, had a baby a couple weeks ago and since we are short-handed I’m taking a turn at the 1PM – 12AM shift this week. Completely opposite of my normal shift it is making me super tired, but the positive side is that it ends tomorrow and then I’ll have a 4 day weekend without having to take time off.  Hopefully, my mom will come out and we can do something fun.  I really want to see the Ramona and Beezus movie! 

I’m still getting over the fact that Deb left me for an adult life of teaching and all that   I wouldn’t mind taking a little road trip to Des Moines…always fun, however, it might make me sad that it won’t be with Deb, since we always used the car trip to listen to new music or sing really loudly to Wicked or Rent!  I’m looking forward to seeing her in November for the Get Inspired crop on the 13th in Des Moines…

So, those are my upcoming plans. There may be more fun news at the end of the month, but I’ll save that for later.

James and I went to the Quad Cities (Rock Island, IL actually) to support the lovely people at my mom’s work (Tri-City Jewish Center) today by attending their “Feastival” – where you don’t have to be Jewish to have a great time!  That was sort of their tag line and it was absolutely true…and I found it to be very adorable

Over the years I’ve tried lots of different Jewish foods having helped my mom at a few Bat Mitvah’s and Bar Mitvah’s, but James had never really had a chance to enjoy the excellent food. So, when mom called me last night to have me help her get her sewing machine in order to make bean bags for the kid games at the Feastival – I asked James if he was interested in going.  He thought it sounded interesting, so…

It turned out to be SO MUCH FUN!  We ate lots of good food and bought some bake sale items to bring home. We walked around and checked out the booths and listened to music and watched people dance.  Then I took a bunch of photos for my mom, so she could share with the members, who were mostly working and enjoying themselves. It’s a lot easier to take photos when you aren’t directly involved with the event that’s going on! 

I think one of the things I liked the most about Feastival (not including the food) was how open the synagogue was to the public…the sactuary was open for people to see, they had a room that taught about the different Jewish holidays, and they just had the rooms marked for what they were.  I thought that was very cool!

Now for the FOOD!  This is the run-down of what James and I ate and brought home:

Lunch for James was a Brisket sandwhich on a Challah roll with coleslaw and a pickle, with a side of Potato Boureka.
Lunch for Rachel was a Falafel sandwich (duh, right?!) with a side ofJerusalem Kugel (James and I shared).

Then we went to the bake sale counter and picked up a loaf of Challah, a loaf of Babkah, some Matzoh Toffee Crunch bars, and some Hamantashen (raspberry, cherry and apricot).

James is so in love with the Babkah that he wanted to know where he could buy some on a regular basis. “There must be a Jewish bakery somewhere around here!” – uh, nope. Sorry, buddy!  He’s a sucker for dark chocolate and the Babkah, to me, tastes like Monkey Bread with Dark Chocolate inserted into it…so good!!!!

Everyone should give the Feastival a chance next year, I know we will!

To see a bigger version of the photos below, click on one and then when you go to the next page click on it again to view full size.  I have about 90 more photos than these!!!!!!

Today’s 20 minute me time was me doing a trial project.

I took an old Caribou coffee cozy and ripped it apart to use as a template.  I grabbed some left over fabric from the crochet hook case and went to work.

It was really easy. I’d do a couple things different, but all in all – it works and is pretty cute. So I’m happy!

Here is a link to the pictures and the steps:

COFFEE COZY

In other news:  James and I had a blast in Chicago last week and also tonight is the first class for the Japanese Crochet Animals…I’ll let you all know how it goes!!

I made Bella a bandana this morning that has pink paisleys with glitter in the fabric. She looked so cute with it on and loved posing for it. I uploaded the pics to flickr, but there are a couple of photos below.

Yesterday, I had gone to Michael’s with a coupon to get the crochet hooks I need for my upcoming crochet class at Home Ec and came across some cheap squares of fabric for $1.29. There were some doggie ones and some other ugly ones, but I saw the pink paisley one and decided I had to buy it to make a bandana for Bella.  Doggie Bandana’s can sell to up to $12 – $15 depending on where you get them, so I was thinking that I could at least try and make one for $1.29.  I had directions in my one yard wonders book, but decided that I would just try and make one without looking at it.  It was way easy!!! 

$1.29 Bandana Directions:
Fold the square into a triangle (printed sides together) and press.
Cut off the excess on the side.
Pin and sewed around the edges (1/4″).  Leave a 4″ opening for turning.  Remember to secure your corners.
Trim the excess fabric at the corners to minimize bulk.
Turn it right sides out and pressed.
Sew the finishing stitch (1/8″) around the outside.

You are finished!!!!   I even changed out my thread to my pink quilting thread because it was an easy project and Bella deserved a little more pink!

Something to note is that the squares of fabric will probably only fit a medium sized dog. It just fits around Bella’s neck. However, the triangle is big enough to look good on a large sized dog, so you could probably add a button to one side and add a ribbon piece to the other to extend the bandana. Still super easy!!  I folded the top of Bella’s bandana before tying it on her to make it look a little smaller.