The Sewing Mom

We have two driving vacations that we’ve got planned for this summer. With the cost of gasoline, it really makes us think harder about where we can go and what we’ll do when we get there. Paying these high prices for fuel means we either have to have extra vacation budget (which we don’t) or reduce costs else where. I try to find deals on lodging and that’s where we try to make up the difference.

We own a full size conversion van which is terrific for traveling, very room and comfortable. We’ve been talking a lot lately though about looking at New RVs and comparing the cost of traveling and living in an RV while on vacation, versus paying fuel for our van plus paying hotel costs. We’re beginning to think the RV might be the way to go. MotorhomeRV.com has reduced prices and this is really a very good time to buy a motorhome.

Years ago, my parents always had a nice motorhome and it was very enjoyable to travel with them. Everyone had their own space and it was nice to not have to live out of a suitcase, we actually had closets! I think we saved on meals too because we did so much of our own cooking.

I’ll let you know if we decide to upgrade to an RV, but it’s definitely looking like a possibility.

I wound up not feeling too well today and so my good intentions of finishing of a few fleece blankets and a couple of bags went by the wayside.  I’m very disappointed in myself for not getting them done, but hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

I have a lot going on tomorrow around the house.  We are donating a sofa to charity and they are picking it up tomorrow, so it has to be in the driveway before 8 A.M..  I’m having the downstairs windows cleaned in the afternoon, inside and out.  Lastly, the lawn service is coming to aerate the yard.  We’re trying desperately to  nurse the yard back to health.

So, how was your day?

I so thrilled about our upcoming vacations in July. You read that correctly, we’re actually taking more than one vacation this summer and both of them are in July. There are many years that we don’t take a vacation at all, so, for us to have two all ready planned is just unheard of!

Our first will be a working vacation in Tennessee. We’ll be spending a few day selling our fabric items at a booth in Knoxville. We have a few extra days though that we plan on seeing some sites and visiting with family. We’ll be heading home from that trip so that we can do laundry and regroup before heading out on a secret vacation to celebrate my husband’s birthday. I can’t tell you where we’re going because he might just read this post and that would give away the surprise. Let’s just say we’re going to have some fun, do some exploring and enjoy some great family time.

It’s not always easy planning a trip with kids of any age. We have a twelve year old and I always like to make sure there is something for all of us to enjoy. Most importantly, the activities have to be things we can enjoy doing together, that’s what family time is all about.

If I lived on the east coast, I might be looking for things to do in New Jersey. And, if I were looking for family fun activities to do in New Jersey, I’d very quickly discover that the first three Mondays in July are being called Magic Mondays. Magic Mondays are when radio Disney’s hottest musical artists will appear live on Morey’s Piers for free concerts, twice each Monday, at 1 and 4 P.M.. The Radio Disney Summer Concert Series finale is scheduled for 2 pm Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the Wildwoods Convention Center Oceanfront Arena.

If you’re considering a vacation to New Jersey, consider Cape May hotels and Morey’s Piers. Great places to stay and great places for entertainment.

Do you have plans this summer?

During the recent EC outage, many of us were quite bored and didn’t quite know what to do with ourselves. I found myself tagged by one of my new found blogging friends who I met via Entrecard and am happy, even though the outage is over, to now do this meme. Thanks for the tag from Cindi at Moomette’s Mama Mentor Blog.

First, here are the rules:

1. link the person(s) who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

I’ve all ready taken care of #’s 1 and 2, so let’s move on to 6 unspectacular quirks of mine. This would probably be easier if my husband were home so I could just ask him. Of course, maybe I wouldn’t want to know what he thinks are my quirks! Let me see, I’ll just have to come up with these on my own.

1. I love quiet. I enjoy sitting outside and just listening to the breeze (or here in Dallas, the WIND), the birds and simple sounds. It drives me nuts when my husband will suddenly turn on the outdoor speakers and blast me with music, even though he thinks I want the entertainment. I really just want the peace and quiet.
2. I can’t sit and watch t.v. without my hands being busy. I used to sit and cross-stitch while watching t.v., now I sit with my laptop.
3. I hate crowds. Guess that’s why I am not a fan of going to amusement parks. I force myself to go about once a year for my daughter, but I can’t stand it. I don’t like standing in long, crowded lines and many times feel panic attacks coming on when feel like I’m enclosed by all the people. I’ve learned to do deep breathing activities to help keep myself calm.
4. I REFUSE to pay over $40 for any item of clothing. I think it’s insane. I do make an exception if it’s a special occasion item such as a dress for a wedding (like the one I wore to my step-daughter’s wedding) or shoes. My limit on shoes though is $60. I do usually buy quality shoes because I’ve had foot problems in the past, along with surgery on both feet, so I like good shoes.
5. I have a tendency to forget to eat, especially in the mornings. I just get busy doing things and, even though I’m hungry, before I know it, it’s time for lunch. I don’t intentionally skip breakfast, it just sort of happens. It’s sort of like right now, I’m hungry, but I want to finish this post, then I’ll eat. Well, that is unless something else comes up! Don’t get me wrong, I definitely have my coffee, in fact, I usually have at least 2, very large cups every morning.
6. I don’t like white vehicles. Yes, I do own one, but that was not my choice and I’ve complained about it the entire 8 years that we’ve owned that big white van (nickednamed Van-na White). Maybe my husband finally got the hint because for the past year he has been driving it to work.

I am tagging 6 bloggers and fellow EC droppers:

Ellen - All In A Day
Mommie - Mommie’s Home.net
Kelly - Aerten Art
Chilly - On The Bricks
MaryLou - Time2cre8
Kim - Life With Kim

And now, for the final step, I am off to comment on all of the above blogs to let them know they’ve been tagged!

I had a very productive weekend, especially on Sunday. I began the morning as usual on Sunday with my morning coffee, sitting outside on the patio enjoying the fresh morning air. As I sat there, I realized that my head was only hurting slightly, a huge improvement over the last several weeks. I then decided it was a good time to begin trimming the bushes as they were still in the morning shade and it was going to get hot when the sun came around. So, I quickly put on some shorts and shirt and got busy working outside. I spent about 3 hours trimming bushes, taking a small break to eat a bowl of cereal and drink some water. When I finished the front yard, I came indoors and rested, doing a little work on my computer.

After lunch, I mowed the backyard on the riding mower and then decided to go for a swim. My daughter and husband both eventually joined me and we played some pool volleyball. I then convinced my husband to fix dinner so that I could then trim the bushes in the back of the house which were now in the afternoon shade. I completely exhausted myself, but I have to say, I’m so proud of the way the yard and landscaping looks right now!

I finally took a shower for the first time that day and let me tell you, after all the outdoor work I really needed that shower! I also need it to feel refreshed. The shower acted as an energy booster, sort of like sublingual B-12 can. I felt so much better! If the shower isn’t enough to re-energize you, try Sublingual B12, a safe, affordable and painless B12 shot alternative. Get your own box of sublingual B-12 from Trivita today.

I’m progressing in the sewing of fleece blankets that I’m planning on selling at our booth in July. I was able to use my serger a week or so ago and finished the edges. This is a photo of one of the blankets as it’s being run through the serger.

Yesterday I spent time sewing the lace and trim to the edges of the blankets. This red one is now finished and the blue one is also finished, I added fleece binding to it instead of lace, I think it looks more boyish that way!

I have two more fleece blankets that are almost done. I am going to do the machine embroidery on them today and then they will be finished. Then I will be back to sewing a few fabric purses and bags.

I’m working hard to have a productive sewing week, which also means I am having to spend less time at the computer. That’s not an easy thing for me since I am totally addicted to my computer! I am still checking in though and will reply to all comments eventually!

Visit 5 Minutes For Mom if you’d like to participate in Tackle it Tuesday.