Sew time

Well friends, I've decided to expand my domestic realm and recently joined a quilt exchange. I'm super excited! Thanks to my good friend Jane who linked me up with some other quilters, some experienced and some "wannabes" (like myself). The fabric collection is so bright and beautiful, and my lovely choices just arrived in the mail today-hooray!!

We are doing a rail fence design. And, to all you readers out there, we are still lacking 3 quilters in order to make the full 16 square quilt, so if you are interested let me know and I can give you the details. And honestly there is no need to be intimidated...even if you've never quilted. This is a great way to get your feet wet for first-time quilters and it ends up being less expensive because you make all your squares out of the same fabrics.

Here are my choices: (everyone will be doing white for the third strip in the block)

And if you have any quilting tips I'd love to hear them!

So long BFG

After 28 years resting at Hains Point, this sleepy giant-a wonderful DC monument and a favorite of mine-has moved! The Awakening, created by artist J.Seward Johnson, was transplanted this week across the river into Maryland. And I'm sad to see him go.

I first discovered Hains Point with some of my intern buddies. One of them, his last name Hains, insisted we visit this 'namesake' place. One cold winter evening we did; and I have been bringing people there ever since. After taking a full-time job in DC I used to run to Hains Point after work. I felt like it was a place where I could clear my head, and feel distanced from the fast-pace of the city. What better place to think than in a giant palm?! The statue has always reminded me of a scripture in 2 Ne 1: 13 & 23
• • •
"O that ye would awake; awake from a deep asleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
"Awake, my sons; put on the armor of arighteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust."
• • •
That's what The Awakening represents to me. The strength of man, shaking off the shakles and arising from the dust (literally) to a better and new life.

I've been tagged

10 Years Ago: I was nearing my 15th birthday and wishing I was old enough to 'date'. My friend Heather and I were the only two freshmen on the dance team, and I think we thought we were pretty cool (right Heather?). I was involved in speech and drama (my mother is an English/Theater teacher) and we were getting ready for my first region and state competitions...that year I was region impromptu champ. Let's just say I've always had the gift of gab :)

5 Things On My To-Do List Today: 1)workout with Joseph 2)set up appointments for clients at work 3)fold the laundry 4)finish sewing a few baby shower gifts I've been working on 5)go grocery shopping so I can make dinner (my poor husband! We've been a little busy and our pantry shelves are a little bare).

Things I Would Do If I Were Suddenly Made A Billionaire: Pay off school loans. Visit family and friends. Buy this million dollar + house in Georgetown that I've had my eye on. Own a Bed & Breakfast. Travel, travel, travel. Save. Invest in the Perpetual Education Fund (I have this thing for education. I don't think there is a greater investment than in someone's education). But you know, I honestly don't think I have to be a billionaire to do all the things I would like to....it just might not be as easy!

3 of my bad habits: 1)I am a clutter-bug. No matter how hard I try I am always absent-mindedly leaving my stuff everywhere. Literally, at the end of the day I will look around and there will be little piles of "maren" everywhere--my coats, shoes, books, crafts scattered all over my house. (Never is it any of Joseph's stuff)... 2)The above to-do list should be telling enough. I sometimes procrastinate folding the laundry or going to the grocery store among other things. This was a particularly bad habit in college 3)I am never really ready for work when I leave the house. Just knowing that I have a 40 minute metro ride somehow slows down my entire morning process and I end up putting my makeup on while I metro to work, everyday!

5 Places I have lived: Utah, Alaska, South Dakota, Virginia...and...heaven (is that sad I really haven't lived in 5 places, haha)!

5 Jobs I have had: Shelf stocker at Al's FoodTown, EFY counselor, Bryce Canyon cowgirl, teaching assistant, Senate scheduler, legislative anaylst.

Things most people don't know about me: For a comprehensive list you can refer to this post.

I am tagging....anyone who is reading this (lurkers and all).

Happy Valentine's Day: Even more than before

I left a little Valentine note for my hubby this morning, just to tell him how much I love him....it said, I love you even more than I did before. I realize that might come off a little wrong. But what I am trying to say is that I think it's a miracle how love can grow so much in a few short months, a week, or even a day. I was laughing as Joseph danced in the kitchen last night (he has some really great dance moves, by the way) and I told him, "this is why I married you!" The thing is, I didn't know all of those crazy, quirky dance moves before I married him, so it wasn't really true. So I thought (and said aloud, of course), "why did I marry you?"...(meaning what was it that I loved about you then that I have since added to now) :)

Let me tell you a few reasons why:
He is always thinking ahead. I knew it from the moment he told me one of his New Year's resolutions was to marry me in the temple (this was prior to our becoming really that serious).

He is unpretentious. He is never false or showy, regardless of the numerous life-experiences he has had. I loved this about him from the moment I met him. His direct, to the point kind of attitude makes him oh so loveable!

He is my goat. And by way of explanation let me tell you something about relationships and an old tradition. In every relationship there is a goat and a race horse. The goat is the calming influence that keeps the race horse from being in an incredibly wound-up state for much of the time. Traditionally, Goats have been placed in a horse’s stall on the night before the race, because they are thought to have a calming effect on high-strung thoroughbreds.

He is determined. When he makes up his mind to do something, he is going to get it done (and in the most efficient manner possible, too).

He is patient. I think he would disagree with me on this one, but I have seen his patience in our marriage time and time and time again (thanks honey)!

There are many more, but I'm not going to bore you all with a never-ending list of reasons. I just hope that today you will remember to tell the person(s) you love-WHY.

Great men remembered

As we celebrate the birth of one great man today....
We also celebrate the birth of another....
Happy Birthday Ben! You are GREAT in so many ways. I hope you have a fabulous day--full of love, smiles, songs, cake and of course, snow! I LOVE YOU!