Scales are Down Another 4 Pounds

I was pleasantly surprised to hop on my scales this morning and see that I had lost another 4 pounds.  This puts me at  a little over a 40 pound loss since January.  I am pleased with this rate of loss, although I have lost faster in the past (because I have so much to lose).  This time,I am having things I really like, that aren’t really allowed on the South Beach Diet  once in a while.  This makes the whole dieting aspect so much easier.  I hope I am learning healthy, new habits which help me to make good food choices most of the time and splurge once in a while, instead of the other way around.  This time, if I know I am going to have a bit of a splurge at dinner, I try to be careful the rest of the day.  Actually, even if I am not straying from the diet, but know we are having bread or pasta at dinner, we leave it alone the rest of the day.  This seems to really help.  I would be thrilled to have 75 –100 pounds off by Christmas.

I have finished the poker bag my niece requested for her boyfriend.  The bag itself turned out well, but the drawstring doesn’t seem to work right.  Is the drawstring required to be a certain material or size?  If anyone is a drawstring bag expert, please HELP!!  Tony certainly can’t keep $20 worth of quarters in a bag that doesn’t close properly. :o)

Sunny Saturday

So happy to get up to the sunshine, even though that was at 6:30 am. on the weekend which really should be a crime. Nicholas was wide awake and raring to go which of course got the puppy revved up. LOL  Nick is doing somewhat better now that he is taking Stettera for his ADHD.  He could not take any of the stimulants as they made him really hyper and agitated rather than calm and focused.  His teacher has seen a huge improvement in his ability to control his temper.  The doctor said we probably wouldn’t notice improvements for a month, and we were seeing much improved behavior with in a week.  Lets hope it just keep working well for him.

I found this great blog for those of you with an Etsy business.  She offers all kinds of advise on how to improve your shop.  Please check it out and maybe leave a comment.   http://lifecraftinessandeverythingelse.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-get-etsy-sales-you-want.html

Our dog groomer stopped by yesterday and bought one of my “Doggie Travel Bags”.  She said she has customers asking if I am going to be making any tiny dog collars.  Our dogs go to see her in a little over a week, and I told her I would have a bunch of collars ready to display.  This is the “Doggie Travel Bag” that she bought.

One more topic before I close today’s update.  I watched “Twilight” the movie last night.  Quite frankly I was afraid I would be disappointed after reading the 4 books, but it was pretty good.  My hubby even enjoyed it and he hasn’t read the books.  The movie “New Moon”, based on book # 2 is being released in November and looks really good.  Megan found some clips for us to look at.  :o)

Friday is Here Already

This week has just flown by and I can’t believe it is Friday already.  I guess the holiday on Monday caused the week to speed by and totally confuse us as to what day of the week it was.

I have been busy working on this adorable monkey wristlet for a couple of days.  I finished it today.  I am thinking it is very cute. ( I am a bit prejudiced however). I would love some feedback as to whether you guys like it or you can think of any improvements I could make in this pattern.  I created the pattern because my niece needed a black wristlet for a wedding she was in. 

I will be working on a poker bag for my niece’s boyfriend to keep his quarters in later today or tomorrow.  :o)

It’s Raining…It’s Pouring

We got so much rain so quickly this afternoon that I was worried about flooding.  We managed to walk out into it when we left counseling and it poured for 3/4 of the way home.  The strange thing was that then we drove through an area with no rain.  By the time we got home it was raining cats and dogs again.  At least the humidity has let up.

I made a matching collar and leash today for Karli.  They turned out quite well.  She has chewed up her other leash quite a bit and hopefully this one will hold up better.  I also started a new purse out of some very cute, Debbie Mumm monkey fabric.  Yesterday I finished two wallets but I need to figure out a way to get the pictures to come out better.  Here are the pictures I took tonight.  Definitely not great pics. :o)

 

 

 

 

 

Twilight

Ok, I have now finished the fourth book in the “Twilight” series.  Those books are so awesome.  My girls kept telling me how great they were, but I didn’t think they sounded like anything I would like.  Boy, was I ever wrong.  If you haven’t read them it would be well worth your time to give them a try.  Now I am going to watch the movie.  I didn’t want to watch the movie until I had all the books read.

We are watching the George Straight special tonight.  It has already started and the music is quite good.  I think it is on for 2 hours.  The kids are in bed and I am ready to sit down and relax.  Tomorrow we have to take the boys for counseling appointments after school, so that will be hectic.  :o)

My Birthday

I turned 51 years old today and I have to admit I was not looking forward to my birthday at all.  I was pleasantly surprised bright and early this morning to get a text from my brother Joe, in South Dakota.  He sent me birthday wishes and it made me feel very special.  I then went onto my Facebook account and had birthday wishes from my niece, Liz and also from Megan and Reid. I had other birthday wishes throughout the day also which was really great. Steven and Reid called today also.  Megan and Rachel went together and got me an awesome pair of sneakers . Steve and the boys are getting me the flowers I want for my flower boxes for my birthday.  Rachel and Steve and I went to Red Robin for lunch today and did a little shopping at Joann Fabrics and then at Target.  My Mom invited us for dinner at their house tonight and everything was delicious.  Brad and Nick behaved wonderfully and we were able to stay until around 7:30 pm.  Oh yeah, my best friend, Peggy in Virginia also called to wish me a happy 50th birthday…I laughed and told her she was a year behind..LOL  I have to say that I really had an awesome birthday and I feel quite special.  

I had a surprise this morning when I discovered I had sold the nautical beach bag I had listed in my shop.  It is winging its way to California.  :o)

Memorial Day

We have been busy the last couple of days cleaning our camper and getting things ready for our big picnic today.  Megan is driving down from Canada and bringing her mother-in-law, Bev.  Bev is visiting Megan and Scott as she lives in Ottawa.  We have not seen her in almost three years, since the wedding, so we are very much looking forward to seeing one another.  Since it isn’t a holiday in Canada, Scott has to work and won’t be joining us.  My parents are coming also, and we are having some good picnic food to eat.  Steve is grilling hotdogs and I made a potato salad and a Greek salad.  We have chips and pickles and rhubarb cake.  The weather sounds promising, and we are hoping for a wonderful day together.

My niece Nicole, who lives in Aberdeen, SD got married last night.  It is hard when family lives so far apart…….we miss each others important moments.  I am sure my brother and  sister-in-law felt the same way when Megan and Scott got married.   Anyway, we wish them much happiness and a long life together.  I can’t wait to see some pictures.  :o)