Wordless Wednesday: Easter Fun

My New Hobby

For most of my life, if I wanted to be creative, I did so with words.  I wrote poetry and short stories and of course, this blog.  But over the past year, I've been trying out my creativity in different ways too.  I've picked up sewing, dove back into embroidery, and have tried my hand at yarn wreaths.

My new hobby?  Crocheting.

It is addicting.  And so very satisfying.  My first attempt--a scarf for Evie--didn't turn out so well.  I kept forgetting to count my stitches so the lines weren't at all even, and it was just an utter disaster.  But I refused to give up, so I tried a somewhat simpler pattern for a hat.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

Then I crocheted a flower to adorn it.  It was exactly what the hat needed.  Now it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.  Because I'm super humble like that.

It's a good thing Christmas is right around the corner so I have an excuse to create a bunch of things.  My goal is to make most if not all our of Christmas gifts this year.  Personalized gifts made from the heart are always more fun than something mass-produced in the stores anyway.

For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own "darling hat" or "slinky flower", check out Crochet Geek's Youtube channel.  She makes it so easy to follow along, even for a complete novice like me.  She even has videos teaching you all the basic stitches you will need for her huge assortment of patterns. Someday I may even attempt her Angry Bird hat tutorial! 

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day everyone!

I always love this holiday.  It's summer; it's hot; lots of grilling out and other great food; fireworks.  Honestly, what's not to love? 

Remember to thank those people in your life that put their lives on the line to keep this nation FREE!

Three Years and Counting

I've been married for three years today!!!

Since Michael is halfway around the world right now, it sort of feels like any other day.  We've had a lot of anniversaries in our relationship--this fall will be ten years together!--so they don't always hold a lot of excitment and pizazz.  But I have noticed one thing.

The years just keep getting better.  When we first started our relationship, we were so young.  We had our whole lives ahead of us, and we had no clue where we would end up.  We've gone through a lot of changes as a couple, and they've only made us stronger.  I'm beginning to really understand how two people can stay married for their entire lives.  There is always a new adventure around the corner, and what better person to spend those moments with than my best friend?

We've only spent one wedding anniversary together so far, and I'm really hoping this isn't becoming a trend.  But whether we're together or on different continents, our love will never die. 

Since our relationship started before widespread digital camera use (gasp, that really makes me feel old), I don't have pictures from the first few years of our relationship.  But here's us from the last six years.  Try not to laugh too hard.

 I love you babe! 

Christmas Stockings

Over the weekend, my creative juices started flowing again.  I mentioned last week that I've been feeling crafty lately and not in a book-writing-way.  In a working-with-my-hands way.  My newest project was Christmas stockings.

I don't have a sewing machine yet so I had to sew them by hand which kind of took forever, but that's okay.  I got to practice with choosing fabric and following patterns and improvising so it was a success.  It was definitely a learning experience, and I'd say by the third stocking I had it down pretty much perfect.

Michael's Stocking

My stocking

Evie's stocking

I'm ridiculously proud of myself for the finished outcome simply because I've never been in any way, shape or form considered artsy.  My siblings got that gene, not me.  But I think I picked great fabric and did a good job of making sure the best part of the fabric design was displayed.  I love sewing!

Here's how pretty they all look together.

Now I just need a sewing machine so I can start making more complicated things!

Squadron Holiday Party

Friday night Michael and I donned our slightly-more-than-casual clothes and headed off to our first official Squadron Christmas party.  It was held in a meeting room at a local hotel.

For our first military party, I think it went pretty well.  We didn't know many people there so we ended up sitting with a table of single Airman since Michael knew one of them.  Me, Michael, and seven single guys equals an interesting evening.  Of course, I was the oldest as always.

We had a surprisingly yummy meal.  And we had cheesecake for dessert!  I've heard the food isn't always great at these things so I was pleasantly surprised with the quality.  And did I mention cheesecake?!?

The rest of the evening was spent with dancing, karaoke, and the giving away of prizes.  The real reason people pay to go to events like this.  The prizes.   Alas, we didn't win anything. We don't usually have that kind of luck.

All in all, a decent evening.  We don't get to spend a lot of time alone out of the house so that in itself made it worth it. 

Black Friday Done Right

I hope everyone had a fantastic Turkey Day!  Ours was perfect.  It was weird not being home with our extended families, but that's probably the new normal for us now.  Even without family, it was a great day spent with even greater friends.

And with the end of Thanksgiving comes the beginning of something that I look forward to all year.  The Christmas Season!  And nothing begins the Christmas Season better than good ole Black Friday.

Of course, I'm not sure you can truthfully call the shopping I partook in as Black Friday anymore.  Not when stores insist in beating each other out of the earliest opening times.  With Toys 'R Us opening up at 10pm Thursday evening, I didn't even get to go to bed for a few hours after stuffing myself to the brink.  I had to keep on trucking.

I know some people think the shoppers who go out after Thanksgiving are kind of crazy and that nothing could possibly be worth braving the chaos that goes on, but I disagree.  I think a lot of people go out not only because they can buy a lot more for their money with some of the amazing deals that are out there, but because it's tradition.

Black Friday has been going on for over fifty years now meaning it's spanned a few generations of shoppers.  I know when I look around at the crowds of people surrounding me in the stores on Black Friday, I see a lot of families out shopping together.  Mothers shopping with their adult daughters.  Aunts and cousins tagging along too.  It's a bonding experience even if it's based in consumerism masked as holiday cheer.

I may not have gone shopping with my mom and sister this year as I have in years previously, but I didn't go out alone.  I stayed up all night--stopping at five different stores in a seven hour span--with Ara, one of the my favorite people ever.  And we photo documented our travels. 

In line at the first store, Toys 'R Us.  (Which we didn't even shop at because the line into the store was taking hours and it was too darn cold to be worth it!)

Ara was completely prepared to take out any line jumpers or pushy shoppers who got in our way!

Keeping entertained in the hour long line at Old Navy.

At Kohl's, our second to last stop of the night.  We were pretty exhausted by this point.

 

The end result!

 I hope everyone is as excited for the Christmas season as I am! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

I love this holiday.  Family.  Friends.  Stuffing.  Cranberries.  Pumpkin Pie.  And of course lots to be thankful for:  an amazing daughter, a hilarious husband, supportive family and friends.  Don't forget to take a moment to think about what you're thankful for this year!