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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas Celebrations

I am currently taking a break from my work duties, though I am continuing with my education by attending webinars and some networking. I might be teaching at Sewing Source in Lake Villa, we will see what happens with that.
Our son came in from Iowa on Christmas Eve while we were at a party at a neighbor's house. Then he and our daughter and son-in-law attended midnight Mass with us. It was a beautiful ceremony. On Christmas morning our other son then joined us all for Christmas breakfast followed by presents and stockings. Later that day we went to my sister-in-law's home to celebrate with that side of the family. There my other sister-in-law announced she had gotten engaged the evening before. Congrats to Mary and Bob! On Boxing Day, after watching the Packers win big, we celebrated at another neighbor's home. It is so fun to live where we can all get together and just talk and enjoy each other's company.
Santa was good to me, I got some CDs I was looking for, Yak Traks to run in the snow, jewelry, memory card for my new camera and gift cards to two of my favorite places to shop, Nancy's Notions and Coldwater Creek. I have already spent all of Nancy's Notions and some of Coldwater Creek.
Haven't done much working out, though my daughter and I did get in a 9 mile run on Christmas Eve morning. Did do a computrainer interval workout Tuesday morning and did a 4 mile run this morning. After the new year it is back to work and training for the half marathon in Nashville in April. I plan on doing it in under 2 hours which would be taking 8-9 minutes off my best time.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas is Coming

Just three days until Christmas. I finished my baking last week, all twelve batches of cookies. On some of them I cheated and didn't do all the different shapes but I figured when I started with mixing on Tuesday and had to finish before company came on Saturday, that a few shortcuts were needed. Most of the gifts are bought and I have started the wrapping. Usually by this time I am completely done, oh well the wedding was more important. We are going to be celebrating with my husband's side of the family on Christmas day, already celebrated with my side the day after the wedding. The newlyweds are still trying to find someplace they could maybe do a inexpensive honeymoon over the Christmas break.
Business has pretty much come to a standstill over the holidays, so I am just resting and doing some clean-up to get ready for projects after the New Year.
The weather has remained cold with occasional snow. This morning's run was slow due to very slick roads. Some sunshine would help.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Wedding is Done


Well my daughter's wedding is done. Only a few minor hitches but nothing that couldn't be overcome. We got to the Byron Colby Barn a little late to get started on the decorating but with help from the Matron of Honor and her husband plus the groom and his best friend and our son from Iowa, everything got done. We got to the salon only 5 minutes late for our appointments and we were out even earlier than we thought we would be which was a good thing because the photographer was a half hour early to the house. My poor daughter didn't get to eat any lunch until after she was all dressed and photographed. Unfortunately it then started to rain, so everyone was getting wet getting into church. It kept raining so their pictures after the ceremony that were supposed to be in the snow turned out to be just a few taken with them standing under an umbrella. Oh well! When we got to the Barn later that evening it was magical. There were candles all lit around the perimeter, the tables were set with all the shiny plates and glasses with the purple napkins. It did look beautiful. Dinner was delicious and the first dances went well. She looked so beautiful and grown-up.
The next day we celebrated Christmas with my side of the family because one sister and her husband were in from Arizona and another sister took off the whole weekend. The newlyweds stopped in for a bit but then were off to the Bears game which was a gift from the bride (a Packer fan) to her husband (a Bears fan). It was very cold, windy and snowing but they went anyway.
Finished the embroidery on Christmas stockings and the drapery panels with fringe. Now to take some time to get my Christmas sewing, baking and wrapping done. I am looking forward to the new year when I have some throw pillows and two different top treatments to make for clients.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

3 Days Away

Just 3 days until the wedding! After I finished the veil and bustling the bride's dress I decided to make clutches for the bridesmaids. My daughter can use them to give them their gift of jewelry and then they will have them to use at the wedding. Last week Thursday my daughter did the embroidery on the table runners so I was able to sew them up on Friday and Saturday. Things seem to be going along okay, now if the weather will just cooperate. There is snow and freezing rain in the forecast. We will keep our fingers crossed. I did the final fitting on one bridesmaid on Monday and did her last little alterations. One girl comes tomorrow and the other on Friday. Then rehearsal and dinner on Friday and Saturday is the big day! Oh and I have to make a garter still also.
Kids classes are finished for the year. We will start back up in January. I am looking for at least other person to take lessons on Wednesdays with Lauren otherwise I may have to cancel the class. If you know of someone who would like to join us and will commit to taking lessons until June I will give a month free, a $40 value. Lauren did finish her pajama pants and almost finished a notions bag that she is going to use as a gift bag. What a great way to use leftover fabric and also have a reusable wrapping.
I finished the drapery panels for a client and next week we will discuss the pillows she would like to have made. Finished the embroidery on a towel and now just have to do the Christmas stockings. Trying to figure out the best way to do them without having to take them apart. That is what makes my job so interesting, new challenges all the time.
Saturday a group of us got together and did a run in the falling snow. It was actually very pretty and not that cold. It has gotten quite cold since then, in the single digits this morning when I did my run in the dark. I miss the longer days. On Monday evening it was just too cold and windy to do speed work outside so my daughter and I wound up on the treadmills, not my favorite place but for a half hour workout not too bad. Trying to decide if I will do a quick run on Saturday before the wedding or maybe Pilates early in the morning or maybe just sleep in:-)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

10 days and counting

10 days until the wedding. I finished the bridesmaids' dresses and the flower girls' baskets. Yesterday my daughter and I worked on how to bustle her dress, picked out an embroidery for the table runners and finalized the veil design. Now just need to do the work. Her future in-laws dropped off the centerpieces over the weekend and I got my shoes Monday. Slowly but surely it is all coming together.
In classes, Anna finished the gathering and has the band attached to her tote, Grace finished her denim skirt ( Meghan was wearing hers yesterday, she said she has worn it several times), Meghan finished the peasant blouse for her sister (she's trying to decide between giving it to her right away or waiting until Christmas), Sammie is hemming some too long sweat pants and Lauren is working on her pajama pants.
I met with two clients yesterday for some window treatments. Talked with one about the new shade safety rules. As a person with no young children she didn't know anything about it but saw that for resale value she would need to comply also. It is going to be a tricky situation for a time while we educate our costumers. Need to finish the panels for another client before the holidays and get some embroidery done.
Had a cold run this morning, the wind was pretty bad and it was just starting to snow. I miss the warmer weather where my hands and ears didn't freeze.