. . . but you don't even sew!

Christmas has passed, so now I can finally proudly display my past sewing projects for the past 1 1/2 months. I saw the most stylish and chic apron at anthropologie and had to get it for my sister for Christmas--but not for $45! So, I decided to attempt to sew one myself--my first project since high school. Well, almost two months later, I am finished with two aprons--my mom and I made up a pattern for a matching apron for my brother in law--and I am rather proud of myself (yes, I know a matching cow apron for a man is lame, but I am hoping to capitalize on their love of cooking together and hosting dinner and dessert parties--but my father in law still laughed, and all the other men in my life quietly smirked). It has been hard to sew without my own machine and I have been back and forth between my mom's and mother-in-law's machines, but it has been fun.

I have even shown enough enthusiasm in sewing (my new self-proclaimed hobby to keep myself busy while my husband works) that I got a whole sewing set up for Christmas! My sister was so surprised, she said, "but you don't even sew!" Well I do now! Anyway, first, we had to return the peice of junk Europro Shark originally given to me. It wouldn't even sew a single stitch! So, after some research, my husband decided to spring for a Viking--and what a beauty it is!! I never knew I'd be so excited for a sewing machine because I always thought I was no good at sewing, but I am thrilled and ready to start my next project.

It looks like I am one major step closer to making my much anticipated sock dogs. Wahoo.

Christmas on Crack. . .or maybe Speed. . .or perhaps Miracle Grow

Today my friend frantically grabbed me and insisted I follow and help her pick up a Christmas tree--I had no idea what was going on, but always ready for a field trip, I blindly followed. We practically ran to her car and waged our way through the icy streets to Lowes where we bought every live Christmas tree still available--17 in total. First of all, Lowe's was awesome. Everything we bought was $1 or less--even though the signs said only 50% off.

Next, poinsettias. Ended up picking out 35--yes, again for $1.

Then on to garlands, boughs, and wreaths--probably 10-15--this time for $.50 each.

And the biggest deal--real baby pine trees--looked like blue spruces. 10 count for $1 each. These were the biggest steal because they could theoretically be sold year round and they will grow to be huge pines.

So, why all this Christmas madness? And I tell you, loading it into the three car loads really made it feel like madness--the pictures really do not do it justice as the cars were packed full of poinsettias, wreaths, baby trees, and boughs, plus all the Christmas trees in the bed of the truck. Never in my life have I seen so many pine needles in one space! No, my friend really isn't a Christmas freak, although it did feel like we were both mentally ill buying so much shrubbery. Anyway, she is getting married next week and just happened to get the best deal on wedding decorations EVER. The receipt literally said "total savings" about $1200--for about $70 total. Way to go Lowe's!

I also purchased a baby Christmas cactus as a gift for her wedding. I told her it was a tradition to have a Christmas cactus when one gets married--totally making it up--but it seems like a good tradition. My mom has one she's had for about her whole marriage, my sister has one and she just got married, and an old lady neighbor I had had like a 50 year old one--probably when she got married, right? Makes sense to me. Plus, it will bloom every year on her anniversary. Anyway, she bought it (as in, believed me) and even told her mom it was a tradition. Who knows, maybe it will catch on and really turn into a tradition. You'll know it started with me.

Life's Rough When You're High in Demand

Life is rough when you're high in demand. Apparently my beauty has caught the eye throughout UVSC as I have found myself a model for several campaigns in my short residency at UVSC so far. Today I was cast as an extra in a UVSC commercial. Yes, in just a few short months, you can see my beautiful profile on tv as I use my amazing acting skills to show how interested I am listening to a lecture. Some of you may scoff, but this was hard work--trying not to scratch my nose, making sure my posture was good, and ensuring I didn't yawn. Hard work. And who knows how far channel 17 will carry my face and extend my popularity (who has channel 17 anyway--and who WATCHES it?).

I have also posed with the famous wolverine as a medical patient on a career fair poster. Those images have become so popular, they were extended to table tents and screen savers for our department--all with me resembling a lovely shade of neon green. Yes, I am famous. I had one man approach me in the cafeteria to ask if I was the one on all the tables and posters. I'm sure he wanted my autograph as well, but didn't have the nerve.

And don't be surprised if you see my face on a bus, green with UVSC's Green Fever. Our career fair photos were so well done, the photographer insisted on using them in the campus wide Green Fever marketing campaign. Or maybe you'll get a postercard you can put on your fridge or in your scrapbook. I can't wait to see my face throughout all of Utah County!

Who knows where this will contine. My beautiful face is so versatile--I look great in both white and green!

Honk if you see that bus. And cheer when you watch my commercial.

The grass is always greener!

I constantly find myself in a life-long chronic dilemma--I am either way too BUSY or way too BORED! I cannot figure out why life cannot come at a constant stream, instead of raining cats and dogs, followed by drastic droughts, only to flash flood once more. Work has been incredibly painful--even physically! The students are gone, I have already caught up on the career fair I am in charge of, and I cannot think of any projects to initiate. My dad did a good job instilling work ethic and integrity within my soul, so any moment spent not working causes anxiety and guilt. I have spent numerous hours typing in survey data--yuck! Can I mentally do anymore? And my neck hurts because my office set-up is not "ergonomically" correct. Whoever heard of that word, anyway, ergonomics? Unfortunately my valuable ergonomics training I got at Three Springs was all in vain. Perhaps I'll injure myself so bad I can get worker's comp. ;)

While I can't wait for January--I'm sure I'll be drowing in the flash flood. Career fair in less than 4 weeks with my co-planner resigning, as well as having students back--that's a lot! Too much!

Well, I'm off to my work Christmas party--Ruby River (but unfortunatly, no filet minion!!!) and white elephants. Too bad I couldn't find my "Panties: a Brief History" book I bought last year for this purpose. But, alas, probably safer around the older, "more professional" generation I work with.

Sock Animals

So I've been totally inspired by my friend's blog to be more creative. http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com This mostly happened when I became infatuated with her sock dogs and decided I just had to make one, too. Now that I have a neice and a nephew, perhaps I have an excuse for making one--although I think I may just be too selfish and want to keep one myself!

I told my husband I wanted to make a sock dog and he laughed and even jokingly asked his work buddy if he had ever heard of a "sock dog." Yes, my fears of appearing childlike and silly were affirmed. yet, I am convinced he just doesn't understand. Afterall, he is a man and probably only sees socks as a way to keep feet protected and dry.

So now, determined to begin my first sock creation, I don't know whether to ask my friend for the pattern, or to avoid copyrite infractions, to ask for the book for Christmas. Need an idea for a gift? I think it is called Sock & Glove.

Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue Christmas, woooooooooo!

Yesterday we played a pictionary type game at work. Yes, in theme with the upcoming holiday, all pictures were based off of Christmas carols. Well, guess whose team won, and guess who guessed every song for that team? Yep, me. Apparently my elementary days in Mrs. Morgan's class (she was obsessed with singing) and our weekly sing-in assemblies, along with our Christmas Eve sing-around-the-piano with Dad has finally paid off. While my co-workers think I am a conosseuir of carols, what they don't realize is that I am simply a pictionary-whiz. Bring on the next holiday--I'm versatile enough to even play President's Day cherades.

Yes, I do family and company parties. All I require is a free meal. Afterall, a married woman has got to feed her family somehow!

And yes, I also performed my own rendition of Elvis' classic, Blue Christmas, for all the poor souls who had deprived childhoods. I recommend the entire album, especially to those who appreciate good back-up singers. The back-up vocals are to die for.

I'm on lunch break, I swear!

Yes, I'm at work and although it is past 2pm, no, I haven't had my lunch break yet. Now I know a lot of people who work all day throughout their lunch break, but that's not me. I think I have a happy balance of working hard for my employer, unlike many of my generation; however, if I have to be here for 9 hours instead of 8, sorry, but I'm going to take a break.

So, what better way to spend lunch than joining the new blog-phenomena. I am typically anti-trend, but I suppose I am also not immune to peer pressure. Yes, I have my own facebook account and some days, you might even catch me wearing pointy witch-shoes. I've never watched an episode of 24 in my life, but I find myself contemplating borrowing it from my parents. So here I am blogging. . . I am secretly hoping, however, to win over a few resistant souls. I'm witty and funny--I swear (although my husband does not believe it)!

Well, with my first blog on it's way--looks pretty lame and shrimpy. What's the blog etiquette for the number of times you can blog in one day?