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!  :)

Shrinkage, Overs and Smells... Oh my!

First of all...

Over or under?  That's the question.  Toilet paper should (and must) roll OVER for me.  It doesn't matter where I am, I will switch it if it's the wrong way.  My mothers house is totally wrong... I always have to correct her roll of toilet paper!  My boyfriend and I always argue about this topic, lol.  He's an 'under' man.  I'm an 'over' girl.  Total chaos in our bathrooms.  Toilet paper wars will never end here, lol.

On to something else...

My house smells like a mix of wet dog and black-cherry.  I gave the dogs a bath today and now I can't get rid of the stupid wet dog smell, lol.  It's haunting me!  I have 4 black-cherry candles lit in hopes to over power the dog smell.  It's not working all too well.  But, at least the dogs are clean.  Our big dog, Ian, decided to shake as I was bent over the tub and him... Completely soaked me.  Maybe that's what I'm smelling... Wet dog smell on my clothes, lol.  Oh well, life goes on and the dogs smell like roses now :)

And now...

When I was going out and helping my mother get firewood for her house, I was using my boyfriends long johns, lol.  They went clear up to my armpits!  So, I bought myself a pair of them in my size :)  Well, I wore them once, washed them, dried them, went to fold them and noticed that they now fit Barbie!  I guess next time, I will read the tag before I wash and dry anything!  I felt completely...stupid (to put it nicely).  And of course, Kris laughed at me!  "That'll learn ya!", he says.

To be continued...

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Why does Santa have 3 gardens?  So he can ho, ho, ho!  Silly, I know but still kinda cute :)

These are a couple of center piece tree things I made for a few gifts this year.  I made 4 total...

2 Silver
1 Green
1 Red

 

I forgot to take a picture of all the things I made (including the red tree center piece) but after people open their gifts, I will take pictures and edit this post to upload them.  I wish I could have done more for friends and family (gift wise) but this is my first year of making things.

Blood, sweat and tears went into everything I made!  Well, not the canned jellies I made and the pickles my boyfriend and I made (gifts also).

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Safe travels and happy gatherings!

Ten years from now...

Remember being asked where you thought you'd be 10 years from now?  Well, 10-11 years ago (roughly) I was asked that question.  I think it was back in high school.  I am now 27 years old.  Yeah, I have a hard time getting out of bed and I'm feeling pain in places I didn't when I was younger... Getting older is a real bitch joy!

Someone ~ "So Shannon, where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
Me ~ "I dunno... Maybe rich, un-married, kid-less and happy.  Oh yeah, and definitely NOT at my high school reunion!"

Well, I'm still un-married and kid-less and happy!  But, I'm still a part of the broke folk community!

Why am I un-married?  I'm pretty sure I will never get married.  I don't need a piece of paper and a ring to prove that I love someone.  And on the plus side, if we ever get tired of each other, we just go our separate ways!  No messy divorce and nobody going into debt paying for the divorce :)  What about common law marriage?  I don't know the rules here in the great state of Oregon for that but I'll just play dumb, lol.

Why don't I have kids or want them?  Well, don't get me wrong... I love kids so long as they aren't mine!  Growing up, I was a complete brat to my mother and that's something I DON'T want to deal with, lol.  Another me in the world?  I think not!  Although, I will admit that some kids can get under my skin... What about those kids in the store just screaming their little heads off if mom or dad won't buy them something?  Annoying?  Yeah!

Babies... Understandable.
Toddlers... I get it.
Anywhere from 5 and up... Get your kid in order!

I think a lot of 'screaming, fit-throwing, temper tantrum' kids is just a result of parenting.  Spoil them too much and they think they deserve everything they ask for.  When told "no" they get upset and throw fits.  Set boundaries and rules and kids respect parents more.  They need to earn what they get, lol.  Mow the yard for a summer (older kid, of course) and you'll get a PS3 or something like that.  Then again, maybe this is why I don't have kids, lol... I know nothing about them!

Why do I not want to go to my 10 year reunion?  Because most the kids I went to school with were... Well... They were very rude and judgmental.  I had a small count of true friends.  Preppies?  Nope.  Jocks?  Hell no!  Smart Geeks?  No.  I was in the 'Loner' group.  I hated cheerleading, sports, pep rallies, computers, video games... I liked writing, reading and hanging out with my friends.  Although, most of my friends were out of high school (I hung with the older crowd).  I always got home after my curfew, lol.

Why am I broke?  Ask Nobama!

So, right now, where to you see yourself 10 years from now?

Me?  Still un-married, kid-less, poor but still happy!  (yeah, I set my goals low so I'm not that disappointed when things don't go my way)