Mug Rug Swap

I went to my second FRMQG sew-in two weekends ago and participated in my first swap ever. We were to make a spring themed mug rug. Not only had I never done a swap, but I also had never made a mug rug. I made a few as "practice" and found it pretty addicting to whip out a cute little quilt project.

I received a mug rug from Danielle (who was a reader of my blog long before we met just this year - how fun is that?). My mug rug from her is the perfect size for my teapot and has been used daily. And how cute is this fabric?

I gave a mug rug to Traci. I was a little nervous as Traci makes some amazing projects, but I was pretty happy with my results.

And Traci then surprised me with another mug rug gift. How adorably cute is this little chicken?!?

The next swap is for a sunglasses case, which reminds me that I need to go sign up!

Spring Goals

And my resolutions update reminded me that I haven't posted my seasonal goals this year. I'm not going to bore you with how I did on my Winter Goals. Let's just say I accomplished about 50% and rolled over about 50% to Spring Goals. Here are my spring goals...

Financial

• Complete financial advisor's recommendations (already done!)
• Revise wills
• Read one book related to finances and children
• Start Save/Spend/Share with kids

Home/Garden/Possessions

• Clean out basement
• Plant Garden
• Make 2005 & 2006 Photo Albums
• Sort garage sale items into giveaway piles (since a garage sale is NOT going to happen this year)

Community/Career/Creativity

• Maintain volunteer hours
• Read one book on education
• Complete 2 FRMQG challenges (one done!)

Health/Nutrition/Fitness

• Schedule physical
• Schedule eye appt (this week!)
• Read a book on strength training
• sign up for 2011 races (mostly done!)
• take a private tennis lesson
• Go to yoga x5
• Start running plan (done... sorta...)
• organize meal plans by season (done for spring)
• plan 1 run a week with a friend(s) (started this week!)

Family

• organize craft ideas
• sign up for library summer reading program
• plan summer travel including a Sand Dunes trip
• figure out piano lessons
• list lunch ideas

Spiritual

• Start attending church again regularly (ski season put a crimp in our attendance)
• meditate at least once every 3 days
• memorize 1 spiritual passage

2011 Resolutions - Quarterly Update

Posting about my 2011 theme yesterday reminded me that I haven't done a resolutions update

- Run 5K in goal time (unaccomplished the last 2 years...) - no progress other than starting back to regular running

- Visit one state I haven't been to (I'd like to hit 2, but I'm not sure that is realistic. States left on the list are Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and Delaware) - no progress and no real plans yet

- Visit 2 new national parks (I'm being conservative... I think we might visit 4 new ones this year!) - visited Mesa Verde, lots of ideas for other park visits

- Build one carpentry project (a new skill I'd like to add to my repertoire) - will learn some skills this weekend from Uncle Mark

- Make quilts for Kate and Jack - I've been thinking about them and put aside some fabrics

- Play an official tennis match - joined a couple summer leagues! Nervous and excited.

- Complete a second triathlon race - registered for a tri at the end of summer. excited.

- Run half marathon race - thinking I'll do one in December. My plan is to focus this summer on shorter distances and going a bit faster and then increase my mileage after the triathlon

Simply Live

My friend Krista in Minnesota got one of those thingy-ma-bobbers that cuts out letters and shapes. She sent me my "theme" for the year in vinyl letters. I hung it over my office door so that I can look up while at the computer and be inspired. I love it!

DayBook 4.25.11

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... a beautiful spring day! A snowy peak topping the low clouds. When the clouds cleared for a few minutes earlier, the whole range was majestically covered in snowy trees. Reminded me how much I love living near the mountains.

I am thinking... that I don't want to get a puppy anytime soon.

I am thankful for... technology. Sometimes all the email/texts/voicemail/etc. drives me bonkers, but I love having so much at my fingertips.

From the kitchen... leftovers!!

I am wearing... pink tennis skirt with my sweaty running pants from this morning. White half zip. Slippers, of course.

I am creating... I'm almost done with a new quilt! Just need to do the binding. I'm really pleased with how it turned out and had a fun time quilting it. Makes me want to baste and quilt the multiple quilt tops hanging in the closet.

I am going... tennis lesson, grocery store, maybe to see Miss D. Looking forward to my afternoon at home.

I am reading... Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things is still on my bedside table. I've been busy sewing instead of reading at night, and I've also been catching up on my magazines. Just started listening to The Blue Notebook. Not going to be an easy listen.

I am hoping... for an early bedtime all this week.

I am hearing... the twittering of so many birds. The back door is open to let out the dogs and let in the fresh air. I love spring.

Around the house... ugh. So much I want to do. I did manage to start organizing my sewing room a little more. I just have better things to do than clean and organize.

One of my favorite things... I'm doing a trial of OmniFocus software. I want to move my big organizing binder with all my lists and to do's and goals to an electronic format. So far so good.

A few plans for the rest of the week: tennis, tennis, and more tennis, early morning runs, oil change, eye doctor appointment, charity breakfast, ceiling fan install, and a visit from Uncle Mark, Mimi & Dick (Matt's mom and her SO) to build a chicken coop!!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: On the hunt yesterday

Good, Lazy Day

Happy Belated Earth Day and Happy Early Easter!

After 8pm, and I haven't gotten out of my PJs yet today. I love a good, lazy day. It's been cloudy and cool most of the day with just peaks of sunshine here and there. And now we are getting snow!

Spent a lot of time in the kitchen today. Made a double batch of crepes for blintzes. Also prepped some side dishes and cut a bunch of strawberries for brunch tomorrow.

Dyed Easter eggs with the kids but didn't take a single photo of the process.

The kids are beyond excited about the Easter bunny coming tonight, and I really enjoy watching them hunt for eggs. We've already set up their baskets and hidden the eggs.

Even with our Easter plans, tomorrow should be another good, lazy day. But I think I'll actually get dressed for the days events.

Denver Day

Right this very minute I'm sitting in a coffee shop in Denver.

I'm enjoying a chai tea, catching up on my email (only 23 more unread ones! but then I have a bunch more that need a response...), and waiting for my "tri talk" at Outdoor Divas to start.

I've spent the day shopping at some of my favorite stores - Container Store, Sundance, Patagonia, Lucy.

I'm looking forward to the dark, quiet drive home later tonight while listening to my favorite podcast.

Ahhh...

Definitely need a repeat performance of today soon.

Puppy Sitting

Look who has joined our household for the next month!

Gunny is Cousin Hannah's 7 month old Australian Shepherd, Blue Heeler mix (we met him at Christmas). We are puppy sitting while Hannah is in Chile.

It was a pretty quick adjustment to having him in the house on Sunday, and now it feels like he belongs here. As I type, Gunny and Nina are chasing each other around the backyard. The kids are thrilled to have another pet in the house. Only Oscar is still a little uncertain about the situation...

Day Book 4.11.11

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... clear sky, snow capped mountain peak, greening grass, and a new trampoline!

I am thinking... about my mile long to-do list. I'm mostly thinking that I don't even want to look at it.

I am thankful for... that I survived last week. It really got crazy for me. I don't stress very easily, and I was STRESSED.

From the kitchen... I want to try Almond Butter Snickerdoodles for an after school snack. I've also been in the mood to make granola. I don't think I've made granola since before Kate was born (with good reason - someday I'll blog about it) It's time.

I am wearing... a teal tennis skirt and grey half zip top. Need to go shower and change.

I am creating... I'm really more finishing than creating anything new right now. Hopefully by next week I'll have some finished projects to show off.

I am going... nowhere for a few hours. Waiting on a guy to turn on our sprinklers and another guy to look at our back lights.

I am reading... Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things and listening to the audiobook of Prayers for Sale. Both are enjoyable. I'm a bit disturbed at how closely my thinking is to that of some hoarders, and the novel is especially enjoyable for me since it is set in Colorado and is about the friendship between an elderly woman and a younger woman who both quilt.

I am hoping... for a relaxing summer. Looking forward to not-so-much travel.

I am hearing... the gnawing on a bone by Gunny (I'll tell you about him tomorrow!)

Around the house... still want to hang some art work. Need to organize my sewing room. The office is turning back into a dumping ground. The donation box(es) need to be donated.

One of my favorite things... my Mossimo olive green tote from Target. I take it everywhere right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week: well visits for the kids, lunch or breakfast with my friend Ashlee, a little sewing with Miss D, a little more sewing with the FRMQG, a visit from Ito (Matt's Dad), hopefully a yoga class

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: A few photos from the crazy wind storm we had a week ago.

What was left of our backyard umbrella

The tree that caused our power outage all the next day

Other neighborhood scenes

Circle of Moms

I've been nominated (not sure how?!) to the Circle of Moms Top 25 Eco-Friendly Moms. Go vote for me!

Please.

Pretty Please.

(I don't want to have a pathetic showing...)

Rest of Spring Break

Going to try to make this quick so I can go get in bed!

A few great days in Moab with Uncle Mark. I didn't realize until I was home how few photos I took...

Campfire

Toasty Toes

Roasted Marshmallows!

Monday morning Matt took a little commuter flight home from Moab, while the kids and I headed towards Cortez, CO. We made a quick stop at Four Corners.

In Cortez, I splurged for Jack's birthday and got us a hotel room with a kids bunk bed fort in the room. So much fun.

We spent a snowy day at the Anasazi Heritage Center which was really interesting, and the kids earned a Junior Ranger Badge there (although this is a national monument, it is run by the BLM not the NPS, so it isn't an "official" Junior Ranger Badge).

Grinding Corn

Lowry Pueblo

Just Cute

The next morning we went to Mesa Verde National Park. It is off-season, but we still learned a lot and got to walk through a cliff dwelling.

Spruce Tree House

Coming out of the Kiva

Junior Ranger Badges

From Mesa Verde, we drove to the Pagosa Hot Springs Resort. The kids loved trying out the different temps of the spring fed hot tubs. It was a great little town, and I want to go back soon to explore more.

Hot Springs

Splitting Shrimp Tacos at Kip's

Tired Boy

We drove home the next day but had to make a pit stop at Colorado Gators on the way. Definitely an interesting place.

Holding an Alligator

Lots of Alligators

Easy to Get Up Close!

And that was our great spring break road trip adventure.