Hmm...

I love this video... It totally sounds like me when ordering!

Shame on me!

I guess the ~Slacker Award~ goes to me when it comes to blogging.  I have been busy though with the job hunt and quilt making.

Still don't have a job yet but I did sell one of my quilts!  I also set up an Etsy account... You can see the link on the right side bar of my blog... ItsyBitsyQuilts :)  Go ahead... Take a look!

This quilt sold!!

Here are the other quilts I have completely finished and listed to sell...

I have decided to stick with crib/baby size quilts.  They are much funner (<--- Don't think that's a word, lol) to do when it comes to colors and patterns!

So as you can see, I've been busy.  I almost have another one done :)  Going to work on that today.

But, on a sad note, my boyfriend is out of town for a month... He left yesterday and I miss him so much already.  Although, if I keep myself busy with quilting then I won't think about it too much... Except for dinner time, bed time, packing his lunch, lol... Who am I kidding... I can't keep my mind off of him regardless of what I do!

On a Roll!

Here is the 3rd quilt I have completely 100% done :)  A true American Patchwork Quilt :)  (like they used to make back in the day, lol)

Large Patchwork Quilt showing some of the backing

Top of the Patchwork Quilt

Second quilt finished

This is the second one I have completely done!  It's the size for a crib or a baby.  I love it!
(the backing is a dark purple)

Ugh...

Why is it that men (most of them anyway) don't think housework is a full time job?  Anyone who cooks, cleans, does laundry, takes care of kids/dogs knows that it's a full time job.  I bust my ass every day to keep a clean house with two shedding dogs and to get no appreciation for it is very upsetting.  Especially when my other half thinks I only work about 20 hours throughout the week in the house to keep it clean!  And weekends?  I don't get a weekend!  Yeah, he works 40 hours a week... I work 40 hours + without a day off.  He gets 3 days off and doesn't even lift a finger to help.  Nope, according to him since I don't have a paying job, it's my job to wait on him hand and foot and clean his castle every single day.  I'm really starting to feel like a maid... Not an equal... Not a girlfriend...

Sorry for my b*tchy attitude... I just needed to vent a little.  I guess I'll play dirty and leave his clothes for him to wash, he can wash his own dishes that he uses, he can pack his own lunch and start his own pickup before work and he can get his own glass of water.

I finally did it...

I finally finished my first ever ~100% done~ quilt!  It's such a great feeling :)

I had originally made this one for our bed but I didn't measure before I got my fabric.  It will fit a Twin bed nicely though with over-hang.  I think I'm going to do some research and see about selling some of my quilts on Etsy for sure :)

Have a great day all!

I'm such a slacker...

I have been slacking on my blog here lately.  Yet, I've been extremely busy with life, lol.

Here is a short~but~sweet update on me (like anyone truly cares)

1 ~  I had a job interview last week.  I think it went good.  It was a group interview (first time for me, lol) so I was a little nervous but... We shall see!  Wish me luck all!  They aren't hiring right yet but they will be within the next few months.

2 ~  I've been quilting, quilting and quilting, lol.  I have another one done (pic coming soon) and another one in progress :)  Well, I guess I shouldn't say they are done.  Only the fronts are.  I still need to do the batting and the backing.

3 ~  I've been busy with housework (like always) and now starting to get busy with the yard work... Joy.  The weather was nice a while back but now it's gone to crap again.  Yard work, for now, can wait.  We did have quite the snow storm last week.  It actually broke one of our trees in the backyard... Good thing it didn't land on the house or the neighbors fence, lol!

The landlord will be coming over sometime to see about taking the whole tree down.  It would be wise considering it looks to be splitting into three sections... with the first section down.  The other two sections WILL hit the house and the neighbors fence.

4 ~  Still debating with Kris about the dogs... We talk about it, then we forget about it.  Progress is little.  So, looks like we are going to keep them and do our best to feed them and ourselves, lol.  Dogs come first to me though.  I would rather go hungry then to feed them.  They're like my kids :)

So, that's my update  :)  I've pretty much been slacking on my blog but I've been pretty busy with life.  I hope you all are doing great!

Number 4

Here is the 4th quilt I've done.  I still need to get them all finished up. The middles (the quilting stuff, lol) and the backing.  Then, I need to decide who's getting which one or if I'm going to try to sell them :)

Take great care all!  Until next time :)

~Shannon~

The Best Part

Mmmm Cheese!! Too fricken funny!

Mentos | Spider

See why I HATE spiders? Creepy little @#$%^&*!

Doggie Dilemma

Kris and I are at a spot right now where times are though and money is tight.  We are considering giving our dogs away to loving homes.  I will be completely bummed if we do.  But at the same time, we would save a butt-load of money (monthly dog food bill is sky high!).

Here are the pros and cons with our dogs ~

Pros ~ Keeping both dogs...

• Our best friends (aside from each other)
• Always happy to see us
• Always keeping us happy to see them happy
• Fun to take to the park or for a truck ride
• Great walking buddies

Cons ~ Keeping both dogs...

• Way too expensive food and vet bills
• Dog hair!
• Our back yard is torn up 
• Not fair to the dogs for being in a little house with a little yard

This here is Ian.  He's the big dog and the one who sheds hair all over, lol.  He may be blonde but he's very smart and knows lots of tricks.  No, I'm not putting blondes down... A lot of them happen to be smart, lol.  He is 8 years (I believe) and pretty calm... At most times, lol.

This here is Zoey.  She's the controlling one.  She thinks she's the boss of everyTHING, lol.  She chases her tail when she gets mad and she likes to sit on Ian.  She's the easy one to manage (baths, dog hair, pretty calm).  She is around 15 months old.







Now, we've thought about keeping one (Zoey) but I don't find that fair.  We would only keep her over Ian because she's easy to take care of.  Baths are easy, she doesn't eat as much, she's smaller... Kris and I got her together.  She's OUR dog.  Ian is Kris's dog from before me.  Ian is an awesome dog and pretty much turned into MY dog.  He follows me around and lays by me... It's so cute, lol.

So, that's our doggie dilemma.  Keep one, keep both or give them both away to loving homes...

Best buds!

Quilting

Just a few days ago, my mother taught me how to sew.  Since then, I've been sewing quilts like crazy!  I've been super-fueled with coffee and the excited-about-my-outcome jitters, lol!

I've just done the fronts of the quilts for now.  I'll do the backing later on (I'll have to learn how to do that as well, lol).

So far, I've gotten 3 quilt fronts done and I must say... I'm damn proud of them and myself!  Also, I have found the craft project that does not bore me, lol.  Quilting!  I get bored easily with a lot of things but I haven't (yet) with the quilts.

Here's all the things I've done or have tried to do...

Make jewelry ~ Yawn...
Make/Paint wooden signs ~ No patience!
Make bird houses ~ Bore!  And I don't have the proper tools.
Plastic Canvas Crafts ~ Not my thing...
Holiday Crafts (centerpieces) ~ Ok for a once a year thing :)
Knitting ~ Bah! Only fun for the first 5 minutes...
Make Quilts ~ Love, love, love it!!!

I will take pictures of the quilt fronts I've gotten done so far this weekend and try to upload them on here.  I'm ubberly excited about getting them done!  Who knows... Maybe I'll open up an Etsy account if I get good feedback from people :)

I don't know what it is about quilting that doesn't bore me... Maybe the sound of the sewing machine?  Taking control and picking my own colors or reasons for the shapes?  Maybe it's just the simple fact that I, myself, LOVE quilts?  I don't know my reason for liking it so much but that's ok.  I find it to be relaxing and therapeutic in a way...

(Strange... I found something that is relaxing and doesn't stress me out)

First quilt I did

Second quilt I did

Third quilt I did

Coming up

My man is leaving for the weekend with a buddy.  They are going to his buddy's Dad's house.  I'm sure they are going to be doing manly things, lol.  I will stay home and do girly things :)

I plan on cranking up some music, dancing/singing around the house and being a complete dork!  It's been forever since I've done that and I must admit... I'm looking forward to it!

Benatar,  Lauper, Swift, Spears and Gaga... The weekend is ours!

Aside from being a dork, I would like to try to re-vamp my blog a little (if I can get smart enough to figure things out) and possibly do some deep cleaning.  Ok... I WILL do some deep cleaning since the messy love-of-my-life will be out of the way enjoying his manly weekend :)

I will miss Kris though.  Yeah, it's only going to be 3 days but we live together and do everything together.  But, I guess it would be good for us :)  I just know he's going to miss me like crazy (eye-roll)!

Well, I must go finish laundry and pack his bag... Have a great day all!

Deep, Dark Secret (or so it was)

I once had a shrink who told me that talking about things helps a person heal.  I took her advice and I've talked and healed from it.  I've been through things in the past that hurt me terribly but now, they don't bother me.  I've learned from these things and I've grown as a person due to these things happening to me.  I've also learned that bottling things inside does NOT help... It just makes me even more mad and when I do end up talking about it, I'm like a firecracker with a short fuse.  I blow up!

So, with all that being said, I'd like to share one of my secrets from the past.

I was in an abusive relationship.  I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that a lot of people have been in relationships like that.  But, how many people actually speak out about it?

I was 'young and dumb' and thought he truly loved me.  He was 5 years older then me.  I was with him for 3 years and the first six months were heaven... No abuse.  Then, I moved in with him and the very first night was the start of abuse every night.  He would choke me, throw me around, slam chairs and end tables on me.  Punch, slap and kick me.  Call me names... Horrible names.  He would literally toss me over his shoulder and slam me to the ground.  He did this EVERY SINGLE NIGHT for two and a half years.  After the beatings, he would apologize and say he loved me and beg me to stay with him.  Yep, I believed him and always stayed.  Towards the end of our relationship, I knew he was just lying... Every word out of his mouth was a lie.  There was one time, his own father asked me how I got 'marked' up.  (I had a few scratches and he seen them)  Of course, I lied to protect my ex.  I also knew that if I didn't cover for him, it would be worse once we got home.  He had neighbors watch our house to make sure nobody came by while he was at work.  He wouldn't allow me to work or drive or hang out with my friends.  Everything was on his terms.  Very controlling... He threatened me a few times... About how if I ever left him, he'd find me... How nobody else would have me... He was at work when I left him.  My mother drove the 6 hours to pick me up with my clothes... The rest stayed.  We were loaded up and gone before he got off work.  To this day, I'm scared to death of him finding me but I know he can't and won't hurt me.  I'm surrounded by people now who love me and will protect me.

Why did I stay with him for so long?  Well, he manipulated me.  He told me my family didn't love me.  He told me he'd get help for his anger.  He told me he loved me.  He asked me to marry him several times... Honestly, I think I put blinders on.  I didn't want to see the truth and I lied to myself when I said  I loved him.  I didn't.  How could you love a monster that treated you like that?  I was scared and I fooled myself.

What has he taught me?  Well, I don't take crap from anyone.  The first sign of abuse, I leave.  He made me a stronger person.  As a human being, I deserve respect as well.  I've never been in an abusive relationship since then.

Anywho, sorry this post is so scattered... I hope to help others who are going through this or who have been through it.  Just know you aren't alone and others will not judge you if you talk to them or ask them for help.  :)    

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

I started sneezing like mad last Thursday and on Friday, I woke up with a sore throat, stuffy nose and a cough.  Ugh... I hate having a cold!  I feel like I've been run over by a truck and left along side the road for dead!  And when I'm sick, all I want to do is curl up on the couch and sleep... But, I can't do that.  I have a house to keep clean and lunches to pack and dinners to cook... And, it's just my boyfriend and I!  These are the times when I miss living with mom, lol.  She would make me stay in bed and take care of me.

It sure is different when a man is sick though.  I make Kris stay warm, either in bed or on the couch.  I give him medicine and cater to his every need.  Plus, I still keep the house clean when he's sick.  But, when I'm sick, it's STILL me doing everything, lol.  What is up with that?  I guess it's true... A woman's job is never done!

Life

One of my 3rd cousins, Shane, passed away yesterday morning.  He was involved in a head on car crash.  I don't know the complete story (who else was involved).  May he rest in peace!  And others as well if they were hurt.

I had just met Shane this last summer at our family reunion.  Awesome guy!  Going through medical issues and on the verge of dying back then but he always seemed to be in a happy mood.  He didn't let it get him down... And then for a car crash to take him?  It's sad...

On to something else...

I recently started working out again :)  Hopefully, I stick with it and procrastination doesn't kick my ass!  I will be keeping track of my workout on another page on my blog so as to not clutter my main page with my failure success!

Thinking... Thinking... Yep, I think that's all for now.  Short and sweet :)  Later all!

The Band Perry - If I Die Young

 This is such a good song.  It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother

She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors

Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no

Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom

I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger

I've never known the loving of a man

But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever

Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls

What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar

They're worth so much more after I'm a goner

And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing

Funny, when you're dead how people start listening

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

The ballad of a dove

Go with peace and love

Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket

Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life

Well, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys

And I'll wear my pearls

Wow, very powerful song...

New Year ~ 2011

My New Years Resolutions...

1 ~ Actually follow through with my 2011 goals!  I'm such a procrastinator!

2  ~ Get healthy!!  (this is pretty much my only goal that truly matters)
       ~ I would like to try to eat better and exercise more.
       ~ Try to quit smoking and cut back on the beer drinking, lol.

3 ~ Blog more.  I need to put on my thinking cap a little more and post more then I do.


4 ~ Once again, follow through!  No more procrastinating!

That should be enough for one year, lol.

I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year and I hope 2011 brings greatness to all!  :)