Festive Frankfurt

My mom and I went to the Frankfurt area to get in the spirit of Christmas by enjoying all the German Christmas markets. We had a great time eating our way through the markets. But next year we're going somewhere festively warm.
Chalk artist

The important thing about this picture is I'm holding some pastries that were so good we bought 3 more (mind you each one was the size of a good dinner plate) and carefully carried them home. And grudgingly shared with dad and Brandon.

The Forgotten Quilt

I barely had this quilt in my possession long enough to sew it, as I had to hurry and get it done before my friend's move back to the east coast. I finished it last September for for my quilting sensei's new little girl. It was a lot of pressure to make a quilt for the person who taught you everything you know. But I think it turned out rather well especially considering I made it in a record time of 3 days. It was a long 3 days. I should have her take all my quilt pictures, she makes my quilts look much better.

It was the first time I'd picked out the fabric from multiple quilting lines and matched them all on my own. Unfortunately I think this one turned out so well it gave me a false sense of confidence. Other projects have not gone so well.

Sometimes I take my work home

So another aspect of my hibernation from blogland and real life is that I hadn't been feeling very well the last few months. Not to panic, I'm doing better now, thanks to my fantastic doctor, and no thanks to my immune system. I couldn't say anything at the time, as I was trying to hide it all from my mom, and would have succeeded until my parents surprised me and showed up for Thanksgiving day. Being the good mom she is, she worries too much.

I was on some medications that required me to get IV infusions twice a day. I had the option to be in the hospital for a few weeks or learn to take care of it on my own. Obvious choice. So I came home with a PICC line, laymans terms: an IV that goes to the heart. I'd like to say this is just a bad picture of me, as it is, but it's really what I looked like for a few weeks if I wasn't at work. It was really hard to wrap my arm for a shower, and then shower one handed, and get ready one handed. Plus, trying to find an outfit that hid my bulging bicep but would also fit over it, and that still left me access to it. Plus I didn't feel really stellar. Too much effort. So I bought 5 seasons (no, not season 5) of "Scrubs" and laid up on the sofa.

It's not even that I'm behind

Lame internet + lame social calendar = neglected blog

The Age of "Auntie"

My mom had a few good friends growing up. They became our "Aunties Marsha, Lynette, and Patty." They always sent really good presents growing up. I've now entered the realm of being the "auntie" and I'm loving it! The most recent little one I've become auntie to is this little girl and I just couldn't love her any more than I do! I got to go to Arizona and spend an entire weekend just holding and loving her and it was the best weekend. Not to mention her parents are pretty good company as well. We watched a few good shows/movies, went to the botanical gardens, ate good food. But mostly just got to know this peanut. And she has to love me forever because she pee'd on me within minutes of meeting.

Mark Your Calendars

I'm not a runner. I had a brief stint in high school running long distance track. I was pretty good. Just ask Lacey Fortier--she never could beat me. Now I don't even like running but I like to think I would like it if I just did it more. I'll learn to love it, I'll have to. I signed up with some girls at work to do the Ragnar Relay next June here in Utah. I'm actually really excited. A little scared but excited. So I expect all of you to be there next June 17 or 18th. I'm flexible, you can choose which day. In the mean time you can find me running somewhere around town.

Lotoja

I had the best weekend (a few weeks ago since Amanda took so long to get these to me)! I was the support car with Amanda to her husband while he participated in Lotoja. The 206 mile bike race from Logan to Jackson. Amanda's job was to make sure Neil had enough food/drink everytime he stopped. My job was to take pictures, make a colorful sign, and stare/admire the bikers' calves as we passed them in the car. I did all jobs exceptionally well. It took us about 9 hours to drive what took us 2 hours to drive home the next day. But it was so fun having all day to talk between stops, and then the whole excitement of watching all the racers doing something which is impressive but which I have NO desire to do. Contrary to Amanda stating we'll do it tandem next year. Never. gonna. happen.

p.s. Neil did exceptionally well

Remember when my blog wasn't about quilting

But that first quilt I made as a baby present really paid off, as it earned me bonus points with this little guy. It's his favorite blanket. He is just about the most adorable baby!

When his mom said it was time to leave...

Remember my first commisioned quilt

I'm always flattered when people say how much they love my quilts. Some have wanted to pay me for one, others have threatened to have more kids to get one. I think you'd just have to have more kids, cause I'm so slow you couldn't afford to pay me for my time. Really, it's not even a consideration, but earlier this year I struck a deal for which I think I got the better end. Not to embarrass Ashley, but maybe to embarrass him, he discovered how nice minky fabric is while I've been quilting oodles of baby blankets. Then he wanted a minky blanket. But it had to look boyish, er, mannish? I'm not sure mannish and minky go in the same sentence. So the deal being, he bought all the materials and exchanged my time for some manual labor needed around my house. Done and done. And I got it done just before he moved to Florida where he won't even need a warm and cuddly blanket.His definition of "Let me get a picture of you and the blanket"

Remember when I went to Yellowstone

My love affair with my National Parks pass continues, this time to Yellowstone. I had never really been there before. I say never REALLY, because I drove through when I was about 6, then went to Old Faithful for a day on a college biology field trip, but never really explored it. So we packed the Jeep with enough food for 5-6 days and the parks pass and headed off. It was the best! We camped at a different campground every night and got to see lots of the park. On our way out we went the long way and spent a day in the Tetons. Although the weather was so bad, we couldn't actually see them. I wish I could post more pictures, but I have yet to be able to get my pictures off my new camera. So here are the classic pictures from Yellowstone.

Remember the first time I bought beer

To kill slugs people. My yard has been infested with them, they're eating my plants, and have nearly killed a few. I debated whether I wanted to be seen buying beer, so I had decided I'd try traditional slug killer. But when they didn't have any at Maceys, they left me no choice but to browse the beverage isle. Plus, this is organic, right? I went with Miller high life because it was the cheapest that wasn't light beer. I figured nothing light was going to tempt them into my snare.
The cashier looked at me very judgingly as I paid for my large can of beer. I tried to hurry and tell him it was to kill snails. I'm not sure he believed me. I was a little skeptical about it working, as I think beer smells gross and I can't imagine the slugs being all that drawn to it. But slugs are gross too, and it is proving to be very effective! I put 4 bowls out, and after a few hours they already had about 30. After 1 day, I can't even count them all! I'm just not sure what to do with the slug contaminated beer now. How does one dispose of this?

Remember when I cheated my way to the summit

In the little goody bag from one the the 5ks we ran earlier in the summer Ashley and I got free passes to use the Snowbird chair lift/tram. I had never been to Snowbird in the summer and I realized quickly I really enjoyed being there without having to worry about 15 lbs of gear, and trying to navigate the stairs in boots. Especially ski boots, I'm HORRIBLE at walking in those. Probably the #1 reason I prefer snowboarding. Plus, I got to venture to places I'm not good enough to visit in the winter. I was most excited to hike to the summit of Mt. Baldy. There might not have been as much satisfaction since we rode the lift nearly to the summit, but it was nice to reach 11,068 feet in a 20 minute hike. And then ride the chairlift down, which I have never done before. It's such a disgraceful thing to do in the winter, but not in the summer!

Just below this is where you start hiking...I know, it's cheating

The pictures don't do justice to the wildflowers everywhere

Remember when I made those cute chairs

I'm going on a trip in a few weeks, so then maybe my blog will get back to more exciting things, as opposed to all this craftiness, but I just reupholstered some chairs with the help of this tutorial (you can also check out the nastiness of their before state). I highly doubt I would have tackled a project like this without step by step instructions. I made one for my room and one for my dining room. And I LOVE them. They're not quite finished, but close enough to put pictures up because my mom has been begging to see them.

Remember when I got all mushy

My mom asked me the other day how I can give away all my quilts. I told her it's not very hard when I know they're loved and appreciated. Plus, what good does it do me to keep a bunch of quilts? I told her it's like love. It does no good to keep love and not share it. You get the most from love by giving it away. Awwww. Yeah, isn't that mushy? But true, and I do love this family, and am so excited to meet little Abby!

Remember when I got separation anxiety over a quilt

This really has been the hardest quilt for me to give away. I just love it. I love the fabrics and the colors and the pattern. So it's a good thing I love this little baby's mom too! That makes it much easier knowing it will be loved. I know this isn't a quilting blog by any stretch, but look for the girl version of this to be posted soon. What can I say, I have LOTS of pregnant friends that I love.

Remember when I kept getting junk comments

Dear Asians who keep commenting on my blog,
I'm sure you're just constantly telling me nice and wonderful things, although I wouldn't know because I can't actually read what you're writing. I do appreciate how you are much more loyal about commenting than my actual friends (ahem, hint hint). But really, how do I make it stop? I tried putting word verification on but that hasn't seemed to stop you. What can I do to stop you?
Kristen

Slacklining

A few people have asked what slacklining is. This should help. But more importantly, I'm pretty proud of my newfound skill with the jumpstart. I always thought this trick was reserved for the super skilled slack liners and was always awed and amazed at those who could do it, never thinking I would be one of them. So either its not as hard as it always looked or my skills are really improving. I hope its the latter.

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,
Thank you for sending the cake. You're right, it wouldn't have been a birthday without one. However, I do not like the look of all the candles. It took 2 packages just to put enough candles on it. I think this is the first year I couldn't blow them all out.
Love,
Kristen

5k

Last weekend I completed one of my New years resolutions. I ran my first 5K. I'm not quite sure why I haven't done one before now but I could be easily convinced to do more (Yes Kaley, I will come again next year). I beat my goal time by 2 1/2 minutes. But no, I won't tell you what that time was. Mostly because half the people would be impressed and the other half would wonder if I had crawled the whole way. Now only 23.1 miles to go. JUST KIDDING!!

It's the Real Thing

I went with my mom on her trip to Atlanta. She was working the trip, which was fortunate for her because she was being paid to go as well as being guaranteed a flight to Atlanta. I did not have either of those advantages. I left early Friday morning after work and spent the next 19 hours travelling to Atlanta. Most of those spent in the Denver airport either sleeping or paying too much for food just so I could go in and watch the World Cup. I then spent the next 26 hours enjoying Atlanta with my mom doing such touristy things as visiting CNN and the World of Coke. For dinner we decided to go local and ate fried chicken and tried the okra, pickled watermelon rinds, collard greens, and other such Southern foods I don't quite understand. Then followed it up with dessert from The Varsity. We went to bed early because I had to wake up at 330 the next morning just to spend the next 24 hours travelling home. I went from Atlanta, Washington DC, LA, to San Francisco where I got stuck and BARELY made it back to Salt Lake. Yes, I spent way more time gettting to and from Atlanta than I actually spent there, but totally worth it.

Sketchy

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you have to actually WALK to get the benefit from these shoes?

Remember that time I was sick?

0-Vitamin C taken
1- Day I Called in sick
2-Packages of Tylenol PM used
3- Packages of Sudafed used
5 Full boxes of tissues used
6- Nights I had to wear a mask at work
10 Glasses of Orange Juice my mom brought me
15- Hours I stayed in bed straight
18- Days I've had this blasted cold

My inner crafty side

My roommate is a very talented sewer/crafter/you name it. But she is very modest about her talents. She keeps the things she does very quiet. I'm the opposite, I sew a straight line and I'm showing everyone. Let's face it, I like being praised about the things I'm making. Why else would I post pictures on my blog? I do have to admit though before you think I'm so exceptionally talented, other than the diaper cake, none of these where my original ideas.

For the aforementioned baby shower, I did some serious sewing/crafting. The hosts of the shower had asked me to make a few things for the shower. A banner, clothes for a clothes line (as decoration), and a diaper cake. I think they turned out well for my first time doing these things. My favorite thing I made though was Miles' present. Insert praise of oohs and awwwws here: