sewloud

For the first year ever Rob and I didn't go anywhere for Thanksgiving this year. We laid low, and counted pennies to get us a thanksgiving feast. I was very careful with the budgeting, was super proud of myself for doing the whole thing for under $35.00. It helped that we ate with several friends so I didn't have to provide the whole meal. But I got a nice big turkey, make a double batch of stuffing, gravy, pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream and make a new nice centerpiece. That was a pretty big accomplishment for me! I made a big chart and compared all the prices for the ingredients I would need, hey I know time is money but I have the time and not the money! 

It all went relatively smoothly, as smooth as it was apt to go in my closet of a kitchen. Rob's brother joined us as well as Alice and we actually ate in my upstairs neighbors apt. It was a lovely meal with friend, and while a job isn't on the list I have a lot to be thankful for this year and stopping to remember is a GOOD THING. It's easy to get lost in the unemployed-my-life-is-a-mess feeling. But really I have great friends (LJ friends counted high on the list!), a wonderful family, an amazing husband, and two cute chinchillas that are looking at me lovingly at the moment (I'm pretty sure it's a ploy for raisins, but I shall ignore that and bask in the loving faces). And that's a lot more than a lot of people have. 

We decided as it was the one year when we were at home we'd live dangerously and go to Macy's at midnight...WOW...just wow...I kinda thought it'd be deserted, but boy was I wrong!...I think I made it about 30 min before I had an enormous GET ME OUT OF HERE urge. Clearly I'm not destined for crazy Black Friday shopping.

Today Rob and his brother went to a Flyers game downtown so I had a lovely quiet day. There was minimal thanksgiving mess to clean us as I was super careful to clean as we went yesterday, leaving me free to make some stays progress! I cranked up the Christmas Carols and got too it. I managed to squeak the interlinings out of some duck cloth I had on hand, which was AWESOME. I'd really like for this to be an all stash project and I was pretty sure I needed more interlining so huzzah! So far they're all cut out and I got the boning channels all marked on one half and I was standing pondering how the hell I was going to copy them exactly to the other side when Rob got home.

Now I am stuffed with leftover thanksgiving goodness, listening to Christmas music and about to dig into the pile of decorations boxes brought in from the car. 

Yesterday was my Birthday and thanks to my family and Rob turned out to be a pretty lovely one.

Rob and I went to the apple orchard that was apparently my very first outing (shockingly I don't remember this). But I do remember going in pre-school, playgroup, first grade, and just with my family. It's a very sweet local orchard that has pick your own, a little store of all local produce/products and a small resturant. and the world's BEST apple cider doughnuts. They do pick-your-own by a volume system instead of weight, so the smallest amount you could buy was a bag that held 60 apples! So we now have more Cortlands than I really know what to do with. My grand plan is to make applesauce and can it for the winter. I have this crazy contraption we used as kids called the SqueezO it's a giant food mill.  And it shall make me loads of sauce!



When we got home from apple picking I crashed out and took a nice long nap. My Mom got home from work and frosted a cake for me. With the most amazing homemade frosting ever! She melted chocolate chips in the microwave, added sour cream and vanilla and a pinch of salt and voila! It's sooo delicious. Then we opened a few gifts. Okay everyone but Rob gave me a birthday check (apparently they're sensing I might need cash more than other things) but Rob got me A MEMBERSHIP TO DRESS U!!! WITH ALL THE EVENTS!!! WHEEEE I'm going and doing ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAY So a special thank you to madamekat for helping him find the right website! BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVAH!

Now this morning it's raining and dreary, and I know I SHOULD go home, but I don't really want to. Rob and Mark are both still asleep and Mom's left for work. I think I might go doze and watch morning TV for a bit.

Well I had all these grand plans of bodice construction last night...but life happens.

Rob's brother broke up with his serious-thought-it-was-forever girlfriend. He came over here last night and the rest of my night was spent hearing about the whole story. I feel really bad for the guy. And I now know more about what they've done for the last two weeks than I think I remember about my own. 

So this morning we went to the diner for breakfast and now Rob took him off to a movie so I can try to salvage any attempt of having this dress to wear to Belvidere...but I won't lie, hope is fading fast. 

So far this morning I got the mock-up taken back apart and drafted out a new pattern from it. Next step cutting out the bodice.

So My Mom and Sister are coming here tomorrow for my bridal shower, and therefore someone will be sleeping on the spare bed in the sewing room...currently this bed is being used as a storage/dumping ground in my sewing room. So I really need to clean it off and tidy up in there. But I just can't seem to get myself to focus today.  I'm all anxious about everything. My house is cluttered. Try as I might Rob and I just seem to accumulate stuff. We have stuff heavy hobbies. So I feel embarassed about my house. I was informed on Wednesday that while Molly invited a bunch of people to the shower turn out has been "very low" which makes me feel bad. They're paying for this big fancy place because we couldn't possibly have something in my small backyard. But if no one's coming we could all have saved a pretty penny and just done it in my tiny backyard! I know all the reason's people aren't coming. I KNEW there were events that weekend, and and apparently one of the Coccagna's has a big graduation so I cannot begrudge them not coming, and the wedding guest list isn't huge so it's a limited amount of women to invite to begin with, and most of my family is far far away. But even though I know alllll the rational things I still can't help feeling like the 'uncool kid' who no one will come to their party.

And I REALLy need to get in there and clean but all I want to do is pace.

So I was going to write one of these great Costume recaps like everyone else and then I came the horrible realization that I only made TWO outfits all year...and one was only a bodice. I MUST improve this for next year. However I did accomplish a fair amount in life, so to make me feel better my things-that-got-in-the-way-of-costuming recap

1. I took a non-matriculated graduate course at temple in the spring semester. I had to read around 700 pages a week...I ended with a B+

2. Rob and I moved into an apt that required gutting and rebuilding the kitchen, along with repainting everything, scraping the ceiling and insulating the walls. I did however learn to and installed a sink all by myself!

3. Rob and I got engaged and with that came all the wedding planning crap. I bought a dress, set a date, and found a location.

4. I suckered , begged, convinced kass_rants that she should hire me to a fabulously exciting new job! So I'm leaving Joann's in 6 more shifts. And tomorrow I don't even have to be grumpy about since it's a holiday and I get time and a half. I will miss the good people I work with but I am SO ready to join the fabulous team at RH. I'm going to bring treats my first day since I figure if I win them over with treats I'll be starting on the right foot.

So with all that said I don't feel so bad about not having had time or energy to make stuff. I'm sure with my new job where I'll be dressing up much more I shall very quickly get tired of the same 10 outfits  I currently have and make lots of things for events.

and now to watch the ball drop in my jammies and be in bed by 12:30 as I have to work at 7 tomorrow and am old.

A few things I am thankful for...

My Family. I am incredibly blessed to have a family who plays boardgames after dinner, eats the pie I forgot to put eggs in with a smile, and supports me whole heartedly in everything I do. I take for granted sometimes that family is my rock, they will always lift me up when I am down.

Rob. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful loving,supportive, handsome, creative partner to go through life with. I cannot imagine my life without him. And he fits in just perfectly with my family.

My job. Yes it has caused me lots of stress over the past few months, but as the dust has settled I look back and realize what a significantly better place financially we are then we were last year. In this economy I feel thankful that my personal income is drastically higher this year than it was last year.

My health.

That I was lucky enough to be born in a prosperous country where I can take for granted things like running water, electricity and the internet.

That today is blackfriday which means I can DECORATE!!! ha ha! Now Rob cannot stop me! I LOVE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! WHEEEEEEE