.10 on…the 16th?!. better late than never!

Holy Moly – this is almost a week late. Forgive me?!

1. Our home renovation (or whatever you call it) is pretty much complete. Things are getting put back in order slowly but surely! My bathroom got a makeover – which was badly needed! New paint, new tile, a new shower curtain, color palate, etc. The paint color turned out more blue than gray, which I was kinda bummed about, but with the rugs, towels, and other things on the wall, the color is toned down a bit.

I love my necklace storage – and so pretty to look at!

 

I spent Friday night purging the bathroom of unused beauty items that have been taking up space for WAY too long! 1 1/2 garbage bags full! Feels GREAT!

2. Today marked the completion of proctoring 6 exams in 11 days. Whew! One SAT exam and 5 AP exams. So glad they’re done….but don’t worry – the Algebra, Geometry, and Biology EOCs are coming up in three short weeks plus the ACT at CHS, so there will be plenty of exams to go around. No one get jealous! :)

3. I helped my Mom transfer some files from one file cabinet to another – and found some gems! There were files from when our family moved from Tacoma to Connell…in 1985! I also found this birthday book that my Mom kept for me up until my 5th or 6th birthday – there were spaces for her to write who my friends were, what I liked, etc. plus all the details of my birthday party. I took a picture of this page where it listed my friends that came to my birthday party – Christine, Tracy, Kristiane, & Lindsay. I texted the picture to those girls and said “26 years later and you girls are still my dearest friends!”

 

4. Amber, Mom, & I hit up some yard sales on Saturday in Pasco to look for books, DVDs, or games for her classroom (5th grade in Basin City!). The funniest part was at one house, Amber found about 7 books and went to the yard-sale-host (what do you call that person?!) and asked how much for the books. The girl said, “how about $1.75 – 25 cents a piece? Is that ok?” Amber said, “oh, that’s not enough! How about $3?” I told her she was the only person I’d ever seen barter to pay MORE at a yard sale! Go figure – and she’s the tightwad of the family!

5. I met up with Kate, Beth, & Kamryn at Melissa’s yard sale on Saturday morning. Kamryn looked like such a big girl with her “sunnies” and ponytail! She gave me a super cute “Happy Godmother’s Day” card that she colored on herself! So sweet!

6. The craft room is getting some use again. I have a couple little quilts that I need to take pictures of and share that I’ve completed since the craft room has been usable again. I need to bind a table topper, finish piecing a quilt, and quilt two quilt sandwiches that I basted today. Always lots to do!

7. I got to spend a fun evening with some friends last night at Jessica’s Pampered Chef party! Lots of laughing, great food, and some pretty fantastic girls make a fun evening!

8. My first trip of 2012 to Priest Lake is this weekend…”goin’ to the lake, I just can’t wait…just a little place I know up in Idaho!”

9. Everything is winding down at school. The seniors have less than 10 days left at school, everyone is getting antsy for summer, and even my days left til summer are getting close to a month or less!

10. With the craft room/area complete downstairs, I really want to have friends over to get our craft on…but the weekends are BOOKED for the next….WEEKS! Memorial Day, graduation/parties/Farm Chicks, Combine Derby, weddings, Priest Lake, etc. etc. etc. I hope we can find one day that will work!

11. – an extra since this took so long to post. – I read a book this week where the girl accidentally ran over their family dog…and while I read it, I made Samson lay by me. And now tonight, on Revenge, their beloved dog died – and it makes me so sad! It makes my heart drop and scares me for when the inevitable happens for Coco and Samson. I can’t stand to even think about it! I just want to snuggle with them and give them lots of kisses. So sad…

.10 on….12?!.

My 10 on 10 post is a few days late this month. Hope you’ll forgive me. The reason why is…

1. Cheer tryouts for 2012-2013 were tonight. We had practice on Monday and Tuesday after school and then tryouts tonight. It makes for a long week, but it’s good that it’s “one and done.” As we were walking out tonight, Karlye and I remembered that we didn’t take a picture! DARN! We have a great group of girls for next year! It will be my SIXTH year coaching! Woah! I never thought I’d coach more than one year when I started!

2. Our last regular Beta meeting for this year was on Tuesday night. We have two more parties, but this was our last meeting. Mom and Melissa lead the program and taught us how to make these cute scarves:

http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2011/1/19/no-sew-shirt-scarf-necklace.html#comment13751696

3. Our basement is slowly but surely making progress…the carpet got ripped out today and the whole thing was painted earlier this week. I’m hoping to get back to IKEA next weekend to pick up the shelves we need. Crossing my fingers that we’ll get to move back into the craft room ASAP! I’m tired of everything I want to use being in that dumb container!

4. I’m pretty excited about celebrating little Miss Kamryn’s 2nd birthday this weekend! Her momma and I texted back and forth this morning about some crafty decorations to make to fit with the Finding Nemo theme!

5. I’ve got my eye on a new wallet…I’ve looked at them at Nordstrom before and last night, Karlye & I stopped in at Heritage and there it was! Maybe a sign?!
Just can’t decide what color to get! Patent or soft leather? Pink or black? Oh the decisions!

6. Samson has been panting for no reason lately and makes me kinda worried…any input?

7. It took me 2 1/2 days to figure out what I was doing at work before Spring Break….now I finally figured it out and it I have no umph to do it! I’ve been working on letters of recommendation, the cheer tryouts, scheduling, and more scheduling!

8. Next week is Spring Fling at school – a spring Homecoming. I got the email yesterday with the dress up days and got SUPER excited to see pajama day on Monday! YAY! The other days are College Day, Hawaiian Day, Neon Day (thank god for 80’s accessories!), and Eagle Spirit Day!

9.  There is dirt moving down at the football field – FINALLY the concession stand and bathrooms are being built! YAY! This will be a huge improvement!

10. Looking forward to Thursday night TV – Grey’s Anatomy and a new show we’re enjoying: Missing with Ashley Judd. Revenge starts again next week (!) and maybe WIP Wednesday will begin again too. Let’s hope!

.10 on 10.

Time for another 10 on 10…have you noticed, this is one regularly scheduled post I’ve managed to keep up with three months in a row now? Applause Applause!

Here we go!

1. Loving time with Kamryn right now…she is so funny! She was here the other night and was spinning spinning spinning to keep herself awake. She was loving rocking in the little Kamryn-sized rocking chair my Mom has…singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and rocking so she could see her reflection in the glass on the entertainment center. She’s into high fives, pounding it, and exploding (in that order). She even did it to Samson! She is demanding…”sit” “hugs” “piano.” Who can resist?!

These pictures are from before they left for Europe. They got a backpack for her, which should have kept her busy for hours with the multiple buckles!

I love this picture of her!

 

Kate got her a little book of flash cards with a letter from the alphabet along with a picture of an animal that starts with that letter, then the animal’s name in English and Spanish. The funniest one that she can recite is “newt.” Seriously, what 23 month old knows the word “newt?!” Last weekend, she was identifying the newt and I asked her who she was voting for for President…”NEWT!” haha….

2. It was a sad sad day last week when I noticed I’d blown a hole in my favorite gray TOMS. I wear those a couple times a week and they were my most comfortable shoes EVER! And I’m picky about shoes! I quickly ordered a new pair and they arrived on Thursday.  Hallelujah!

3. The class I’m an advisor for at the high school sponsored a MORP dance last night. Instead of having formal pictures, we had these casual, fun pictures. These are two of the fun groups of couples!

4. I went to Spokane today with Amy, Jessica, and Fran! It was a lot of fun to be with them today and shop for kids clothes, get lunch at The Onion, go to Nordstrom, and get pedicures! The most fun was the trip there and back….those girls can make me laugh!

5. This week is the Reading and Writing HSPE at school….I seriously cannot believe it is March and already time for that. I really cannot believe it! The countdown for Spring Break is on and I’m already thinking about being at Priest Lake in a few months!

6. My Mom & I went to a student production at Richland High School last week called “And Then They Came For Me.” It was a drama production about that Holocaust…the student actors interacted with documentary film. It was really thought provoking and very well done. I read the book that it was based on in one day…and my Mom went to see it again last night with Bonnie. I think the theater productions Tri-Cities schools produce are amazing!

7. Random likes this months:
Song: He’s Mine by Rodney Atkins and Over You by Miranda Lambert
TV Show: Smash & GCB
Nail Polish: Designer…De Better by OPI (I’ve been wearing it for 4 months at least!)

8. I’m pretty excited that flip flop weather is so close…I wore them out of the house for the first time in 2012 yesterday. It was a little cold, but it won’t be long before that’s all I wear!

9. Lamb Weston has been making garlic fries this week. I think it’s terribly unfair that they don’t provide free samples along the roadside or at least a drive through! They smell delicious!

10. I’ve been working on finishing a lot of quilts lately….but I’ve almost made it through my quilt top box…which means I have free range to start new ones! Good thing because I’ve got a bunch to complete! Stay tuned…as if you have a choice!

(That was incredibly pathetic….why don’t you send me some ideas of things I can include on my 10 on 10?!)

.10 on 10.

The second installment of .10 on 10. is here. Hopefully it's not too painful for either of us!!

1. I'm still trying to recover from last weekend's craft retreat. Getting a total of about 12 hours of sleep over three nights makes for a very tired Marcie...work was brutal this week!

2. One fun thing at work this week was celebrating National School Counselor Week. Esther and I had candy in our offices for students that stopped by...Jennifer took us to lunch on Wednesday at Mei Lings (yummy!!)...Cyndee brought us lunch today from the taco truck...and Tim & Todd spoiled us with a Starbucks card and a gift certificate for a mani/pedi! We felt appreciated!

3. I got to spend Monday afternoon with Kamryn. I brought her to our house while Nick and Kate got ready to leave for Europe. I am going to miss them so much while they're gone! Kamryn keeps us laughing all the time! Dave and Angie will be amazed at how much she has grown and how her language has developed since they saw her in November!

4. You would think that I crafted till I dropped last weekend (well, I did, technically), but I am looking forward to having next to no plans for this weekend and so, I'm anticipating lots of sewing in my future! I am currently sewing the blocks together for a new quilt top. One of these days I'll have to turn the quilt tops into real quilts...but for now, I'm enjoying piecing the tops!

5. Speaking of piecing, I've always considered piecing my most favorite part of the quilting process. Well, last weekend, Amy and Beth were shocked when I told them that I don't use spray starch when I press my quilt blocks. So, this week, I tried spray starch...and wouldn't you know...I think I found a new favorite step. Hear that, Amy?!

6. Since we're on the topic of crafting...I'm going through one of those phases where I have so many projects in mind that are itching to become reality. I just wish I had more time! Right now, the project that I really want to work on is a bag. I just am waiting on the yardage to come. Can't wait to get started!!

7. Continuing with crafting (I guess that's the theme for today!), last weekend Amy and I talked about doing a quilt a long to try a Dresden quilt. We're going to use a pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew. I'm pretty excited to get started. I've been wanting to try Dresdens!

8. My mom and I have been drinking smoothies every morning for two weeks now. We went grocery shopping last night for ingredients. I look forward to the morning because they are that good!

9. We have one more week at school until a 4-day weekend! Hip hip hooray! Mom and I are trying to decide if we should go somewhere...any suggestions?!

10. I downloaded "One For the Money" by Janet Evankovitch on the recommendation of Jessica, Amy, and Beth. I haven't read more than about 10 pages yet....but I'm working on it!

Happy 10 on 10!! I'll try to be more creative next time!

10 on 10

In order to beef up my blogging, which seems to have become sparse and rather boring, I’m bringing you this: another copycat idea that I’m going to try for Twenty Twelve. I’ve seen this on other blogs, including my good pal Lyndsay's blog. The idea is basic – post 10 thoughts/ideas/comments on the 10th of the month. I kinda like that idea. :) If you like it too, join in!

1. I knew this was coming…in fact, I anticipated it all during November and December. As soon as we returned from Christmas break, my life at school would become harried and incredibly busy. It happens every year and so now I’m used to it. I like being busy at school – I feel a sense of accomplishment looking back at the end of the day at all that I completed during the day. It’s the end of the semester next week, so that means schedule changing season among a gadzillion other things. Good thing there is a 3-day weekend coming up to look forward to!

2. I got happy mail today! I ordered a table runner pattern from Camille to replace the one I lost last summer in our craft room catastrophe. Read about it here. Not only did Camille send the pattern, she included two fat quarters too!  

Might they be from her new fabric line, Vintage Modern?! Camille – you are THE BEST!

3. Speaking of Vintage Modern…I love everything Camille does and I know Vintage Modern won’t disappoint (houndstooth? be still my heart!). When I saw the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop.com was using Vintage Modern, I knew I had to sign up. I’m not sure what to expect, but I think it will be a great challenge. I’m excited to get started. The first block comes in June!

 

4. I really need to blog about our vacation, but it’s a daunting task and frankly, intimidating! One day at a time…just do it! Part of the intimidating factor is the mass number of pictures we took. Janica told me about picnik.com so hopefully I can turn some of those babies into collages and speed up the process of uploading pictures.

5. After working since October to pick a date, my friends Jessica, Amy, Fran, and Bobbie planned to get together last Saturday for a day of craft shopping, pedicures, and lunch. Guess who woke up with the flu? Awesome. I was so looking forward to that day and incredibly disappointed that I didn’t get to join them. I hope we can plan another day soon!

6. The first Beta of 2012 is tonight. We are getting closer to our big fundraiser for the year, the Crafters Getaway! It’s the first weekend in February. I am really looking forward to spending a weekend with friends from many parts of my life and working on craft projects. Want to join us? (Mijken?!) I cut fabric for 4 quilts in the last week. I’m ready to go!

7. Melissa and I got Just Dance 3 for Christmas and haven’t got to play it yet. Maybe we’ll get to this weekend? Melissa got a new car last week to replace the one that was totaled when she was in a car accident in November. It’s a beauty – a black Nissan Rogue. I think it’s a 2008. It has all the fancy-schmancy features…including a sunroof that makes me drool.

8. There is so much AWESOME TV on right now…Grey’s and Desperate Housewives is back, Revenge, Dance Moms, Jersey Couture, Bethenny Ever After…the list goes on. I do love to DVR trashy reality shows to watch while I sew!

9. I have a big commissioned quilting project I’m working. It’s not the most exciting project I’ve ever worked on – but I know that the finished projects will bring a lot of joy to the recipients and so I keep trucking along. My goal is to be done by the Craft Retreat so I can work on my own projects that ENTIRE weekend!

10. Just as quickly as it showed up, the basketball controversy at CHS seems to have died down. I do not want to contribute to the internet frenzy that was created but I will say that I am proud of my little community for sticking together and supporting one of our own. I am so glad to live where I do. A place where, when tough times arise, we become even more united. It’s interesting to watch “newbies” experience this for the first time. Yes, a place like this still does exist. :)

So – what did you think of the 10 on 10? I’d love for you to join me (and Lyndsay).