THE DRESS - REPRISE

Well, the blouse is done.  The inner skirt is done.  The bodice is done.

I have one night to finish sewing the out skirt.  The open seam in the front is done.  The zipper and the back seam are done.  I need to sew the front to the back.  Gather the waist.  Sew on the waistband.  Hem the skirt.  And then, I can sew on the gold braid that runs down the front of the open seam and along the hem.

I have found the workmanship has been a little shoddy as I have rushed.  I don't have finished seams on the blouse or the skirts.  The only piece that has finished seams and lining is the bodice (and it is the most beautiful part of the ensemble).  I guess this is one of the hazzards of waiting until the last minute to finish a project.

I must say, Aislyn is getting a really good deal here.  Poor Evan had to wear an unfinished shirt for his banquet.  I couldn't bring myself to hem it and finish the embellishments.  I hated his shirt!!!   It has been two years and he still asks me if I am going to finish it.

I DON'T THINK SO

THE DRESS

Today is Tuesday, April 27th and Aislyn's Banquet is this Friday, April 30th.
All the pieces are cut out for the peasant blouse and the skirt. I have three evenings to sew and fit the blouse, the skirt and bodice for Aislyn to wear to the Banquet. I am a little stressed out!! :)

I usually respond one of two ways to stress generating projects:

1) I buckle down and work hard and the project gets done in the nick of time. This usually results in me being happy and quite pleased with myself. :)

or

2) I completely shut down. This reaction is instinctual and I often have to fight the urge to quit. I would rather walk away than endure the torture of pressure to complete something.

Aislyn has been reminding me sweetly that the banquet is coming up and wants to make sure that I have enough time to finish the dress. I have assured her that it will be done before Thursday evening.

So, tonight; tomorrow night and Thursday evening will be devoted to finishing the dress. I'm cringing... I would rather buy her a dress; except that I have no money. All the fabric I am using was given to me by various individuals... so, I must finish the dress.

GARDENING

I was out in the garden again on Saturday.  I planted some more vegetables on the Gonzales side of the garden.

We have:

beans
peas
cucumbers
tomatoes
watermelon
yellow squash
yellow zucchini
strawberries
corn
habeneros
seranos
jalepenos
celery
red onions
chives

After the new seedlings were planted in the ground I covered each plant with a two liter bottle (bottom cut out and lid removed).  This is to protect them from the naughty squirl that keeps eating my plants and the added bonus of little miniture greenhouses to help my plants grow quickly.  Of course, I will have to remove the bottles when the plants become overly crowded.

I got a little sun and some sore muscles.  I am very happy with the work.

This coming Saturday the activity day girls will be working on their side of the garden.  Allisa has been dutiful about watering the gardens and the plants are thriving :)

SUMMER FAST APPROACHING

In less than two months my children will be released from school for summer break.  This years seems to have gone by a little to quickly.

I only realized how close the end of the school year was when my daughter, Aislyn, hands me the notification about the DC trip the 8th Graders will be taking next spring.  I was stunned that we were already talking about next years activities.  Holy Cow!  :)

Then it occured to me that my youngest will no longer be in elementary and that she will begin Junior High in the Fall.  Aislyn will be in her final year of Junior High and will be scheduled to graduate in June 2011.  Evan will be a sophomore.  What happened to all the time?

The countdown to the last one turning 18 seems to be happening a little too quickly.  Not long after I am certain that we will be planning weddings for our children.  This is just crazy.

I need to find a way to slow down time so that it doesn't escape from me.

Any ideas?

POLAND

Well, we had our country drawing Saturday morning as Victor and the boys made breakfast.

Vincent, being the oldest drew the country from the jar.

We are studying and researching POLAND.

The kids are excited.

We will share what we have learned as often as my children pass on the information they have researched themselves.

Does anyone else want to be a part of this excursion?

LOOK FOR WHAT'S RIGHT

Most of us are trained to scan for what's wrong in any given relationship or situation.  We're experts at describing what isn't right about our bodies, our jobs, our parents, our relationships, our teachers, our children, our government, and our bank accounts.  But one thing we can be guarenteed of is this:  When we look for what's wrong in any given situation,  we'll find it.  And then our experience will be one of disappointment and discontent.

By making the conscious choice to look for what's right, we invite life to shower us with all its many gifts.  Looking for what's right opens our hearts and allows us to live in a state of gratitude for all that we have.  Suddenly we're able to see the good in every situation and person.

Your assignment this week is to practice the art of looking for what's right and to notice that when you do, you feel strong, worthy, and grateful.

ASSIGNMENT:

Think about someone in your life who irritates you, annoys you, or with whom you don't see eye to eye.  This week, spend at least ten minutes writing down everything that's right about this person.

Make a commitment for the next week to think about what's good and what works about this person.  Notice the difference in how you feel.

GIVE YOURSELF POINTS:

Give yourself 50 points every time you shift your focus from what's wrong to what's right.

TOTAL YOUR POINTS EACH WEEK:

Log your point somewhere like a journal or notebook.  When you have accumulated 1,000 points, you must reward yourself with something that you've been wanting:  a new outfit, a massage, a night out with friends, or simply a Sunday morning to stay in bed and do nothing.  Choose a reward that makes you fell like the amazing person that you are.

WISH LIST OF TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

The other day I was browsing the internet and I came across the World's Cheapest Distinations.  I spent my lunch time reading about each of the locations.

After reading about each place I wrote each location on a piece of paper and folded them into little squares.  The idea is to draw one out of a jar.  Learn as much as I possibly can about that place (travel there in my mind).  Then make plans to actually take a trip to these places.  Here is my list of future travel destinations:

INDIA
LAOS
HONDURAS
INDONESIA
NEPAL
POLAND
MOROCCO
MEXICO
ECUADOR
BULGARIA
ARGENTINA
ICELAND
EGYPT
VENEZUELA
LAS VEGAS (been there - done that) :)

Where would you like to go?  Maybe you can come too. :)

GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa . Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally Beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe .Well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain , very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece , gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel, has been through war, doesn't make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet .. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. An adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

BLESSING AND A CURSE

This past week we had purchased a new television for the bedroom and had switched from Time Warner Cable to Dish Network.

I love that we have the television in the room for two reasons:

1)  I can straighten my room and fold laundry while watching a movie or a television show (usually Disney).
2)  I can watch something other than what the kids are watching in the living room when they are permitted to watch television.

Downside:

1)  Victor loves to watch television right before he is ready to go to sleep.  The problem is that I go to be about an hour before he does.  Since he likes to be with me while watching television he has started to watch television in the room until he is ready for bed.  I have not had good sleep for about a week.

We switched from Time Warner to Dish for a couple reasons:

1)  Time Warner was getting a little expensive and didn't offer the variety that we desired in television viewing.  Dish offered more for the same dollar amount.
2)  Since Time Warner had purchased the cable company we used to have we no longer could watch conference at home (unless we watched it at the computers on the internet)

The blessing received from switching to Dish wasn't only the cost it was the opportunity to watch conference again at home.  I love conference and this past weekend I was deeply touched.

The Curse:

There is so much garbage on television and it is so easy to get trapped into watching a movie that you hadn't intended on watching.

Last night was the case.  I ended up watching two movies that I wish I hadn't.

1)  Roller ball - violent (unrealistic) - story line interesting and it ended violently
2)  Lonely Harts - John Travolta and Selma Hyak - a couple of my favorite actors.  The movie was distubingly violent and extremely realistic.  I told Victor I didn't want to to watch it because it bothered me...  He was engrosed and watched it to the end (1 1/2 hours after my bed time).

Every time I closed my eyes I just kept replaying parts from the second movie in my mind and did not sleep well...

It is interesting that mom mentioned the talks given my President Monson and Elder Ballard and for some reason that counsel escaped my attention.  I have to listen to and read their addresses again and then share them with Victor so that last nights experience isn't repeated  :)

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

This past April Fool's is the most fun I have had!  It take a lot of thought and planning for me to come up with a good prank.

Yesterday's blog was my attempt at getting a few folks out there... :)

I fooled 5 people at work.

Michelle:  "Are you kidding me?"  She looked terrified.  I couldn't tell if it was fear for me or if it was the amount of work that would be piled on her desk when I went out on maternity leave.

Lorine:  "Oh know!  All that weight you have lost..."  She looked very sad.  We have been working on the look great lose weight together.

Miwako:  Nothing came out of her mouth.  Eyes and mouth wide open...  she then says:  "I was imagining you with a big belly."

Janet:  Turned white as ghost and looked like she was ready to cry "Really?  Oh no..."  When I told her it was joke "You made my heart race.  I don't think I am going recover from this.  I can't even concentrate on my work now."

Paco:  "Really?!?!?"

Too funny!  I laughed all afternoon.

UH-OH! (othewise untitled)

I didn't put a title on this blog...  I couldn't think of an appropriate title.

Any way...  I have been really tired and haven't been feeling well.  I sat down with the doctor a week or so ago and he ordered up some blood work - thinking that I was anemic... :)  That would explain why I'm so tired...

The results came back and I was stunned into silence.

hhhhhhhmmmmmmmm

Victor and I have had our future all planned out knowing that we would be entering our 50's with all our children grown.  Well, the blood panel revealed that I get to spend the next 18-19 years working on growing another child into adult hood.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

I wonder what my kids are going to say when we tell them.