New Blog Address

www.mignonnesblog.blogspot.com/

Here is my new home. I think it is going to go well and I will be very happy there ;) If not I will come back to this address. Thank you for caring.

I have found a glich in my plan and info about my Calendars

If I move my blog I will need invites again to all the private blogs I read. Maria, Mere and Michelle that means you. I know there are others but right now those are the three that come to mind. It's not really that big of a deal though. Just another inconvenience.

Now about the calendars. I got them from here (Click) early last year. I didn't not create them, I just filled in the blanks. I love them. A lot. They make me really happy. I have a whole year of them. I dream of them all together in a book that I can refer back to. (remember this is my dream world) It will be lovely. I will miss doing these.

They have a similar version of them in the shop this year that looks like it's just a template. (click) Because it looks like it's a template I *think* you could totally customize it (maybe even move days around so it's accurate year to year?) but don't quote me on that. Since I am not taking a picture a day (however it has been really close!!!) I will not be able to do them again. Sad. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Thank you for all the compliments.

I Think I'm Moving my Blog

This post is for the nine of you over there that follow me LOL!!!!

I have a new blog set up but I need to decide if it is worth the effort to move. If I do I will just start fresh. All this stuff will stay here.

If you are wondering why, here is my explanation.

When we first got our gmail email address I used it as my junk mail account because I didn't think I would need anything besides my trusty Yahoo email. Now it gets hundreds and hundreds of spam emails daily. I can't stand it. One thing I always keep tidy is my in-box. I just want to forget that email ever existed and walk away.

However, nowadays everything blogger/google is linked to that email so I can't just walk away from it. I either need to keep things the way they are or I need to start switching things over. I have my own gmail email that no one uses. My in-box is very clean and manageable ;) I hate signing in and out and going back and forth so I have decided to switch everything to that account, I think. In theory it should work perfectly. Right?

Anyway, once I get everything sorted out I will let you know if I will continue to post here or if I am moving there and I will put up a link to the new blog.

All my Calendars are Finished

It feels good but I still have a really long way to go.

January

January is never a good month for me. We've had a horrid inversion lately. Usually you can see the whole valley and across the lake to the west mountains but on this day you could hardly see anything.

I was starting to get pretty down so I did some things to help snap myself out of it.

My visiting teachers were coming over Wednesday so I got the house straightened up (to my standards at least) and I finally found my snowmen/winter stuff to put out. I didn't even worry that it is sort-of late and Valentine's Day is coming. I put them out anyway. The house has been looking so bare since Christmas. There was nothing on the piano or any of my knickknack shelves. Having my snowmen out has brought a smile to my face.

I baked some banana bread.

I took my change into the bank. This had $77 dollars in it!!!

I've made a point to exercise every day this week, sometimes at home, sometimes at the rec. center.

It helps that some of the gunk has moved out of the valley too. I've opened all my blinds open and thoroughly enjoyed my bright sunny house.

Yesterday I went to quilt group and got a few rows sewn on a couple of different projects.

Now I just need to hang on until February.

To help me get excited and perky again I need to start gathering stuff for Valentine's Day. I am making candy bouquets for everyone. I can't wait much longer or everything red/white/pink will be gone. One problem, we don't know when we are going to get to celebrate Valentine's this year. We have a hotel reserved in Moab for presidents weekend but it's not looking like we are going to go. It has been freakishly cold down there so we might just stay home. If we do go we will have to celebrate Valentine's early. I'm okay with that but I need to be prepared.

Grizzly Greeter

Emma was chosen to be a Grizzly Greeter. This is an honor that only the 6th graders get. Only students who are doing well in all of their subjects and exhibit kindness and follow the rules are asked to do this service. Becoming a greeter has been a goal of hers since 3rd grade. She was so excited about it, she kept asking if it was a dream.

Her responsibilities last for 6-7 weeks. She greets the kids arriving to school, has an extended lunch and watches for kids who need friends or that are having troubles. She also gets a snazzy hat and if she does her job well she gets to keep her hat.

We are very proud of her and we know that she will do great!

Resolutions 2010

First off, Holy Crap! I just counted and I did almost 100 digi-scrapbook pages last year!!! Who knew? Even though it wasn’t a layout a week I guess did my fair share.

Last year my resolutions really helped me though a lot and for that reason I wanted to put a lot of thought into them this year. I really wanted to pick good ones that would help me improve, become a better person and grow closer to the Spirit. I have taken almost this whole month to choose and the downer is, I need them now to get me through January LOL! I don't plan to share them all here since some are personal but here are the ones I can share that I have come up with.

On top of the things that I did last year that I want to continue this year (which is pretty much everything: try a new recipe once a month, go somewhere new once a month, continue working on my potty mouth, try not drink soda, lose weight, get rid of things I don’t use, scrapbook once a week and prepare my lessons early)

I plan to~

Sew more, shop less

Help Emma earn her Faith in God

Help Andrew get his Wolf and Bear or get him really close to earning his bear

Do the 10 pictures that represent each month that I posted about last year and do double page layouts showing them for each month.

Don’t eat out as much and do good things with the money we save

Read the D&C as a family

Try to be a kinder, gentler, more Christ-like person

Try to be happier with what I have and realize that I can’t get happiness through stuff

Oh and I almost forgot! I resolve to have myself a 35th birthday party. It might just be dinner out with friends, maybe a limo, maybe something more. Who knows. I just want to celebrate. I mean after this birthday I am on my way to 40. Eeeek! So girls, who wants to party with me?

So there we go. Wish me luck!

Just Doing my Part

This time of year we see a lot of this. I noticed these two yesterday while I was sitting at the table eating my lunch. Aren't they fun?!?

Now let's go back in time. After Halloween I put the three pumpkins that weren't stolen off of our porch, while we were awake sitting right in our living room, into our garage. I wanted to go out shooting and use them as targets. Fun right? They sat out there for a long time and finally Paul had had enough. He recently moved them outside by our fence.

I didn't know about this until I noticed them sitting there as I was driving up to the house. Just a couple of days ago I noticed that they had been knocked over or smooshed. I couldn't believe the nerve of some people. Would they really walk up our hill to smash our only surviving pumpkins? I had to investigate.

No one had destroyed our pumpkins. They had became deer food. Awww! I hope they enjoyed their treat. We will have to find something else to shoot.

One deer left behind a little piece of it's self. It was creepy and cool at the same time.

I think I'm having a panic attack

The thought of what it is going to cost to get these quilted is making me break out in a sweat. I can nickel and dime away thousands and not bat an eye but when I have to put down more than a hundred dollars at any one time I get nervous. Can't explain it, it's just they way I am. Anyway this is going to cost a lot more than what I am comfortable with. Should I trick myself and take them in one at a time? I may just have to do that. I think I will.

This is my Figgy Pudding Christmas quilt I made this past November. I know you have seen it on the other blog but since I will delete that sometime this year I wanted it over here too. It is suppose to have a red border but I didn't like it so I am using the red as the binding. It might be on the bottom of my priority list since Christmas is so far away.

Same story on this one. I don't think I have put it on this blog and I know I haven't taken a picture of it since I straightened it.
I love all the different types of fabrics in this one. It will be bound in a peachy colored pinstriped fabric.
This one I have been working on, off and on, for months. I had issue with this (block directions) and issues with that (size, should it be bigger?) and finally said screw it. It's never going to be perfect so I just used most of what I had and made it as big as I could. I didn't want to spend a ton of money on it. It was suppose to be my super cheap quilt. I got the layer cake for a screamin' deal, the red border was free (filled up a frequent shopper card) and I opted to use four pieces of clearance fabric to piece for the back rather than using them to make more squares to make the front bigger. I think all in all it could still be considered a bargain quilt.
It would be cute to have out for Valentine's Day since it has so many pinks and reds. I wonder if I can get it back in time... It will be bound in the green fabric with the dots and flowers that you can see toward the bottom center.

Here is another Christmas quilt. This one I put together in just a couple of days. Don't look too closely or you will be able to tell. The blocks would. not. line. up. Oh it was buggin'. I tired really hard too. Once again I said screw it and just slapped on the borders. Some of the blocks are off by more than a 1/4".

I got fabric the fabric for this at an after Christmas sale with a gift card from my parents. Emma loves it so some day she might inherit it. The paisley on the outer border is a bit too busy for my liking but it's what I had so I used it. (This is why I love to buy kits. I have a hard time "seeing" how it is really going to look when I am picking fabrics out.) It will be bound in the same red holly fabric that you see on the inner border.

The good news is I had a bunch of pieces of the layer cake left over since I only used the Christmas colors. There was enough to start another quilt with them. I will work on that one Thursday at quilt group. It is and unexpected bonus!

I have two quilts planned that are sort-of quilt as you go quilts. I am excited to think that I don't have to pay a quilter and terrified to try something new. I'm even more terrified that I will screw them up!

Anyway, that's what I have been working over the last several months. Hopefully there will be more to show soon since my goal is to spend less and sew more. I really don't like the sewing part as much as the spending part though.

Shopping for the beautiful fabrics is what makes quilting fun LOL!

Some 2010 "Firsts"

My first meal of 2010. We ordered room service on New Year's Day, a first, and I had breakfast in bed. I didn't even have to worry about crumbs. It was heavenly.

First family/homemade meal of 2010. Personal pizzas.

First thing I organized in 2010. My sweater closet. They were literally vomiting out everywhere. Must. Not. Buy. More. Sweaters.
First book I finished. I started this right after midnight and had it finished in no time. I can't wait for February when the next one comes out. These books are total fluff or as I read recently, brain candy. LOVE!
This is the first project that I started and finished in 2010. I need to get a picture of it now that it's all done. This makes four quilts that are ready to take to the quilter. $$$ Eeek $$$
The first dessert/FHE treat of 2010. We used Rees' January kit tonight. It was pretty dang awesome. We set family goals to work on. Our big, year long goal is to read the Doctrine and Covenants. If we finish D&C this year, and finances allow it, we will be able to all go to Nauvoo in 2011. Awesome!
These suckers are addicting. Holy moly they're yummy. It could also be my first new recipe of 2010. I will totally make these again.

Now I am off to watch my first reality show of 2010. I have a thing for bachelor Jake. ;)

The Vacation is Over

Paul and the kids were off from school and work for 12 days, yes, that's almost two whole weeks. At times it was glorious. Other times, not so much. Today it was back to reality. Paul went back to work, the kids went back to school and I practically ran to the store this morning so I could shop alone.

While they were gone and I was home alone in the quiet house I will admit that I missed them. Especially Paul. I love having him home. Why oh why can't we be independently wealthy and just spend time together traveling and hanging out?

One thing I won't miss is Paul's stubble. He shaved for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and most of the days through New Year's Eve. Then I had no more photos that he was required to be in so he stopped shaving. Guess what, so did I. It didn't even phase him. He was way too happy with his hairy self to even notice my rebellion. I refused to kiss him, he still didn't care. Sad. Today he shaved and when he came home I kissed him, a lot. I like my Paul smooth.

Resolutions from 2009

Taking a note from my friend Maria (Waving Hi!) I am going to review what I wanted to do last year vs. how I really did.

In 2009 I planned to:

*Stop having such a foul mouth (this means being crude and cursing)

I think I improved dramatically however I have a long, long way to go. I am trying to change something that I have been doing for over 33 years and it's hard. I started cussing when I started talking. Seriously. It's not going to change overnight.

*To take a photo every day in an effort to learn my camera better (see other blog)

I think I only missed maybe 5 days throughout the whole year. Not too shabby. As far as learning my camera better? Yes, I suppose I did, but I still like to shoot on auto, a lot.

*To go somewhere new at least once a month (For example, it could be a new city, state, store, restaurant or activity. I just want to broaden out our horizons) Some places I would like to experience are Wyoming, Hawaii, Timpanogos Cave, La Caille, Logan Temple, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and New York City. We already have a trip to Zion’s planned. We’ve never been there! Look at that, we’re off to a good start ;)

We did do this! Not everything was as exciting as I had hoped, a lot of months it was just a new restaurant, but we did have fun and I might do this one again.

Here is a small re-cap of some of our new experiences. We added two new states to the list of states we've been to (Oregon and Hawaii), we saw more of Wyoming than I think we needed to, we went to Mt. Rushmore, we went to Zion's and Stadium of Fire. We still haven't gone to La Caille, Timp. Cave, Logan Temple, Yellowstone or New York. We have a few things in the works that might cross some of those off the list ;)

*Of course I would like to lose weight. (Don’t hold your breath)

I lost between 5-7 pounds after the kids started school this fall. The problem is it was weight I put on in early 2009 while on vacations. Hopefully I can continue in the right direction in 2010.

*I also resolve to throw away more stuff and to be more organized. (Maggie are you listening? I already tackled my kitchen junk drawer. I only have the rest of the house left, Yeah me!)

Hmmm, I'm thinking this could be a fail. At the same time it might not be. I didn't really organize so much as just removed things and put them in storage. There really isn't space to organize. I did get rid of stuff but not as much as I brought in. Everything we did did make things around here slightly more livable.

*Finish reading the Book of Mormon with the kids (we have hit a plateau in Alma)

We did this!!! Now I can't decide if I want us to start it over or if we should start D&C and plan a trip to Nauvoo. I am leaning toward D&C and the trip for obvious reasons.

*Try not to procrastinate so much (I want to read my lesson for the first time the Sunday night that I taught)

I always started preparing my lesson early but maybe not this early. I think I am doing better at not procrastinating.

*Finish the Projects that I start (I have always had issues completing projects and committing to things. I'm not really sure why, but I am working on it. I know how great it feels when I do follow through with something and see it to the end so I want to do it more! I feel like I am already making leaps and bounds and that I crash through those old walls and barriers with each completed project. I just need to keep my momentum going. I would like to have six quilts done start to finish in 2009. Whew, that's a lot.)

Well I did finish three wall hangings and two quilts this past year and a few more tops. I would have had the tops quilted but it just costs sooo much money. Still I was not too far off from my goal.

*Try a new recipe once a month or more (We used to do this every Tuesday but when the kids got older and pickier we slacked. They are far more adventurous these days so it might work again. It would also be a great way to not eat out as much)

I was going gang-busters on this until Dec. I was going to try making homemade marshmallows but ran out of time before Christmas. After that I slacked. 11 out of 12 months I tried a new recipe. Once again, not too bad. I will probably do this again too.

*See how long I can go without soda (EEEEK!)

I can't tell you how much less soda Paul and I drank this past year. It's a lot less. I almost always got one when we went out to eat though. I just can't stand the ice cold water that restaurants always serve. It's still a work in progress.

*Do a scrapbook page a week (It should be easy with all the photos and new experiences LOL!)

Well I did do a lot of pages. Was it 56? I don't know for sure. What I do know is I didn't actually do one each week. It has made for a lot of work in 2010. I will be upset with myself if I went all year taking pictures but don't end up doing anything with them all. I have probably 5 months worth of pictures that I need to scrap. Oh well, with all the blogging I did I think my life was pretty well documented don't you ;)

I have started working on my list for this year. I know I am behind. What can I say? One resolution that I know for sure I am going to make is to shop less and sew more. I need to clear out my closets and finish up some projects. Fabric lines retire you know. If I don't start working my butt off I won't be able to find matching backing for my quilts. That would bug me. Hopefully I will have my 2010 list up soon.

Welcoming 2010

A few months ago we were pretty sure that Paul and I were going to spend New Year's Eve in Vegas. David and Nancy have a condo in St. George and were heading down right after Christmas. We were going to go down and spend a day or two with them, leave the kids and drive down to Vegas for the night. The more we thought about it the more we realized we didn't want to go to Vegas.

The shows that we want to see there were dark, the crowd was sure to be ruckus, and the weather getting down there is always a factor in the winter. We waited until the very last minute to change our plans but once we did we felt pretty good about our decision.

A storm rolled in that would have made the drive down treacherous. That would have made me a nervous wreck. We didn't have anyone to take care of Marius while we would be away and I didn't want to leave him out for days with all the snow.

I really think it's best we stayed close to home. We hope to play in St. George a little later, early spring maybe.

We decided to try out Eve.

It's a new three night party (we only went to the last night) that Salt Lake City was having. The price was right, the location was right and I wouldn't be in my PJ's!

We dropped of the kids and then started out the afternoon with a late lunch/early dinner at Thaifoon.

After that we did a little shopping while still at the Gateway. They were having great sales. I love when I get to take an additional 40% off of clearance prices! After shopping we got ready to party. We went down to the Gallivan Center and checked everything out.

We were really interested in the rail jam and decided to do that first. It was awesome and they were very generous with their freebies. We got a knit cap and a t-shirt.

We took a Starbucks/Cocoa break and warmed up a bit.

Then we wandered around listening to the live music, checking out the news crews and seeing what else was going on. We went to an improve comedy show that was really fun. After that we got some some snacks and warmed up again and watched the news coverage from our room. As it closed in on midnight we headed back out to join in the festivities.



I don't know what the heck this guy was doing but he was quite popular. Who could resist having their picture taken with an abdominal snow-monster?

We waited for the countdown and then watched the 90 second fireworks display. They put 10 minutes of fireworks in a 90 second display. It was pretty intense. We kissed, danced a little and went back to our room to toast in 2010.

My toast was that 2010 would be even better than 2009. Cheers!