Stitch markers

Here's my latest project... stitch markers. I have lots of small amounts of cute beads from all my beading project and since they are not enough for anything (maybe just for earrings, but how many pairs does one really need?), I decided to try my hand at some stitch markers. I told my friend K. I will make her a bunch and she promised to blog them. If you know any knitters out there who would like some, please let me know. I have more than I know what to do with and will be happy to give some away...
Let me know what you think.

Yup, that's my child

Tuesdays are "story time hour" at the Attleboro library. C has been going there since she was 2 weeks old. For months and months at the very beginning she used to sleep thru the whole thing. Now she is crawling around with the other kids, licks the books and smiles at everyone. Yesterday morning was no exception. She "talked" to a bunch of kids, ate some cheerios (some of hers and some of another boy), and settled in to listed to the stories and sing songs. Or so I thought! The room was dead quiet, she was in the middle of the circle (yeah, she is not a drama queen at all), and she let out the loudest burp I have ever heard coming out of her! Everyone thought it was the funniest thing, including her! I tell you, she is the sweetest, happy go lucky kid, and then she turns into this "truck driver" ( sorry for the stereotype) in a second.
I wonder what's next....

Balanced!

One of my goals at the beginning of this years was to get in shape. I think I wrote about getting a personal training (and how she kills me each week)! I also started to be mindful of what and more than anything how much I eat. While I am making progress (12 lbs in 4 months, thank you very much!), I am far from being done. Honestly, I don't think I will ever be done. People always talk about eating right as a way of life and not just a 6 months state of life. And I finally get it (I think!) I still don't love to go to the gym, but it's becoming more part of my routine much the same way drinking coffee so I can stay awake did.

I have been a huge fan of the "Biggest looser" over the past few months. Part of it because I have all the respect for people who want to change and do something about it, and part because it motivated and inspired me to keep going. I would rationalize that if the 340 lbs teenage boy could run each day and struggle thru, so could I!
Last night while I was watching this week's episode, one of the trainers said something to the extent that we need to have a balance in life, and not just stress out about the 200 cal glass of wine you had or the desert you ate for your friends visit. And it finally clicked for me. I finally got it! I often go to one extreme or the other. I either stress about it to an obsessive compulsive level, or I just don't care anymore!
So my goal is to find that balance between being healthy, exercising and living life to the fullest with no regrets! But as always that is easier said than done, so any help would be much appreciated!

Money saving pampering trick!

In light of the declining economy, and as many other women, I am always on the hunt for cheaper solutions to the little life indulgences.
After a long day on Saturday (running errands with C. most of the morning, and spending the afternoon in the park pushing her on the swing), my feet were achy and tired and sore. So I decided I would love to soak them for a bit and use some scrub on them, and ... you got it, pamper a bit! Of course I discovered I have no more of those handy jars of body/foot scrub mix, so I decided to make my own. And it's so easy and muuuuch cheaper than the retail version that I don't think I would ever go back to buying it. I just mixed some baby oil with some salt (or you can use sugar if you like) in a little cup! And it worked just as well as the ones you buy in a jar. It was not the fancy kind, no lavender or rose petals in it, but it did what it was supposed to do: pampered my tired feet.

Has it really been that long?

Goodness! I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged.
Lots of things happened during this time.

My brother came and visited. He got to meet C. for the first time and that was really neat! They were playing and ticking each other and all that. If you would know my brother you would know that's a huge deal. He, like most men I know, is not one to express feelings and all that. But he was really sweet with C, and really did not hold back! It made me wish I could be back in Romania so that she could grow up with her cousins there!
Oh, and we did lots of shopping! He did actually, I was just along for the ride and to chauffeur him from Walmart to Target, to Old Navy, Borders and then back to Target... You know, the works!

Easter happened too! It was great to spend time with A's family, but it's always bitter sweet for me. Holidays always make me think of my family back in Romania. You would think that after 7 years I would be used to living here and not still miss it! But I still do. None the less, I loved being able to see the whole family together, especially that C's cousins came and they played together.

I am running back home now, but will update more in the next couple of days!

Not so fast buddy!

Hi everyone! It's Poomba! Yeah I know, Mari wrote about me being gone, but I was just at a party and lost track of time. I really did tell my sister, Timone about it, but she wanted to get me in trouble and never told anyone where I was.
I am a little confused though. Mari was all excited to see me at the door and she let me in immediately, and then within 5 minutes of being back she was already yelling at me to get off the counters! In her defense though she cleans those counters at least 4 times a day when she is around. I just can't help it, there is so much to look at and play with up there (I am honestly fascinated by this machine that makes brown water collect in a carafe. I think they call it a coffee maker! I love sitting there and watch the brown water and I sometimes try to get to it, but it's always too hot.)
Anyhow, I just wanted to make sure you all know I am back. Mari promised to buy me a new bug collar so I can go and visit with friends, but until then I am grounded.

PS. Thanks Pumpkin for telling me how to hack into Mari's blog!

Poomba no more!

It has been a sad weekend in our household... Poomba, one of our cats disappeared on Saturday. He usually goes out during the nice weather, but never ventured too far. And he always comes back at night for food, cuddles (though he hates them) and a nice place to sleep. This past Saturday he went out, but never came back. We have been walking around the neighborhood, and we have not seen him. We are hoping he just got lost and not killed by a car or some other awful event.
Poomba has been with us since we bought the house 4 years ago. He was/is a pain in the butt: he steals food from your plate, gets up on the counters, eats like a pig (first he gets his food all over the floor and then he eats it), but he was ours and we loved him. He was also one of those strange cats who loved ice-cream and bananas, hated soda, loved to cuddle and be petted on his own terms and only for certain amounts of times!
We keep hoping that one day he will come back, but until then we are just sad!