Silly kids....

I had to post this picture of my two nephews with Chris and I - we couldn't keep ourselved together!!

Engaged

Many of you know already but Chris proposed to me on November 17th. Of course, I said yes! We had talked marriage before and my girlfriends were asking if I thought he would propose on this day - our third dating anniversary - and I honestly thought no. I figured he had a plan but wasn't thinking he would put it in action until next spring or summer (why I thought I knew what his plan was I still don't know). This man continues to amaze me. He can keep a secret better than anyone I know. I should have realized this when he planned a surprise party for my birthday this past year. So imagine my surprise when he put the box in my hand and I realized what was happening. Exactly how I wanted it to be - where I didn't know it was coming - and in our home.

For those of you who don't know Chris, he is the most wonderful man I know. He is kind and cares about people and is genuine. He makes me want to be a better person in life and he supports my goals and puts up with my cheesy sense of humor. He loves me exactly how I am, even when I freak out. He is the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with and THAT makes me the luckiest woman on the earth.

Midwest Morning

We've been here in Indiana since Thanksgiving morning and enjoying our time. We fly back tomorrow morning and then it will be back to the 'real' world -- which includes work. Chris and I have really enjoyed spending time with family, eating too much and trying our hand at the casino :-) We're very fortunate to have the families we've been given and the love and support they give us every day. I leave you with a picture from a midwest morning.

Christmas CD Swap

The CD's are all ready and going in the post tomorrow! I have gotten some really great Christmas CD's so far although Im trying to hold off on playing them until after Thanksgiving Day! I forgot to print off the song list for you gals in the swap so here it is here:

Track 1: It's the most wonderful time of the year - Andy Williams
Track 2: Mele Kalikimaka - Jimmy Buffet
Track 3: I'll be home for Christmas - Frank Sinatra
Track 4: Ava Maria - Chris Cornell
Track 5: It's a Marshmallow World - Dean Martin and friends
Track 6: Christmas Day - Dido
Track 7: I've got my love to keep me warm - Dean Martin
Track 8: Bringin' in a brand new year - B.B. King

I hope you all enjoy it!!!!

Blanket Goodness

So many friends and family are having babies lately so it's nice to give something that is home made and also that they can use. Following this tutorial http://craftapple.wordpress.com/2006/07/23/chenille-backed-blanket-tutorial/ for what is probably the easiest blanket to put together, I bought the supplies last night and started on my projects. It is a chenille on the backing and a soft flannel on the front.

Did you know that over on Sew, Mama, Sew blog that there is a tutorial a day for projects all through November. You can check it out here: http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/. Happy crafting this weekend!!! I'll be working on getting my Christmas Mix CD's out in the post for the swap!

Pins and Needles

Were getting everywhere. I've officially been sewing for over a year now (off and on) and I didn't have a pin cushion - so yesterday amidst my other sewing I followed this tutorial http://whipup.net/2006/03/01/stickin-it-to-the-pincushion/ and made a pin cushion. The fabric is an Amy Butler fabric although I cannot remember the name.
The weekend on a whole was nice. I got a chance to catch up with some girlfriends on Friday night. We had a great time catching up and enjoying some quality girl time. But before meeting them out I checked out this http://swallowfield.typepad.com/swallowfield/ opening at Edith and Edna in Portland. Jennifer's work was amazing and there were lots of great people there for her opening. Congratulations to her!

Happy Halloween (a day late)

So I had hoped to have cool photos of how I set up our walkway (or lack of a walkway) for the trick or treaters last night, but I forgot to bring the digital camera home. If you can imagine I made paper bag luminaries and lit the candles as our neighborhood is sort of dark so it looked really nice and lit a path for the kids. It was a great Halloween - we handed out candy, ordered great Brit-Indian food from Haggarty's (which is becoming a Halloween tradition as we did the same last year), drank some Autumn ale and finished our evening with Hitchcock's Psycho (the original).

So tonight is the first meeting of our dinner and a movie group. I have already been involved in a book group for a while but we've branched out to do dinner and a movie once a month. I believe we are watching either Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Whos's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. It should be a lot of fun.

Happy November!