Super Bowl Here We Come

What a week it has been. The weather hasn't improved much, but at least it is a little warmer, not below zero anyway. I could use a little sunshine though. The e-vites for our chili party have been sent and we've gotten mostly yeses as responses. Should be another full house. I need to design and make the apron prizes.
Sunday was a busy day in our house. John and I had his company party in the morning where we played some bocce ball for the first time. Not sure if we followed all the rules but it was fun. Then home to where our daughter and her husband and one son with his fiance were already camped out in the basement watching THE game on the big screen TV. My daughter set down some rules for viewing, #1 being no taunting the rival team but cheering was definitely allowed. We enjoyed some appetizers and then homemade pizza. Some of us were pacing for the last few minutes of the game until the Bears back-up back-up quarterback threw for the interception. Then my daughter and I celebrated while the rest of the house groaned. As soon as the game was finished, John and I left for a Darius Rucker concert in Hammond, IN. We got there in plenty of time. It was a good show.
Christmas is finally all put away with the tree being hauled out Wednesday evening and the last of the boxes put into the closet on Saturday.
In class Anna has started on a tank top, Grace is working on her peasant blouse, Meaghan is almost done with her pajama pants and Sammie put in the buttonholes on her nightshirt. Lauren will come this week for a 1 1/2 hour lesson. We will see how it works out.
I have some minor alterations to do for a couple of clients, one of who is going on a cruise Saturday. Finished the piano bench cushion and throw pillow for another client and started working on the dozen throw pillows for another client.
New Years resolutions, I'm trying but the weight just isn't going anywhere. This is a recovery week in my training so not as many workouts or as hard. Nice to rest a little. Going to do another run assessment on the treadmill Friday so we will see if anything has improved.

January Blahs

This photo is from last January. Right now we are getting more snow and the temps are supposed to drop to below zero in the next day or two. I need some sunshine and warmth. On top of that we both have colds here and so don't feel well. Oh well, things will be better soon. With all the holiday parties finished, it is time to start planning our annual chili party. I can't believe it will be our twelfth one. We actually have friends that spend several weeks trying out recipes just to win an apron! It really is a lot of fun.
It has been exciting football viewing in our home this past weekend with both my Packers and his Bears winning. This week is going to be very tense in the house as my stomach is all in knots worrying about the game on Sunday.
I have almost finished taking down the Christmas decorations, just the dining room left to do and then haul the tree out to the curb. I always decorate the dining room first and undo it last because I love the way it just sparkles in there during the holidays.
In class Anna finished the hand sewing on her tote and put on a label. It is all done and she is so proud of it as she should be. She worked hard and did an awesome job. Grace is working on her peasant blouse and Meaghan on her pajama pants. Sammie is working on her nightshirt. I showed her a different way to do her interfacing on the neck facings. She really liked how it turned out. I need to start planning for summer camps.
I started on a piano bench cushion for a client and will do a pillow for a chair in the same room for her next. Then on to a bevy of pillows for another client.
My new year's resolutions aren't working out so well. Weight loss just isn't happening but I am getting in at least a two mile walk every day as well as whatever else my trainer has on my schedule. Saturday was a 7 mile run in high zone 1 to low zone 2. It was actually quite difficult trying to maintain a steady HR while running some elevation differences and wind changes.

January Fun

We had our last holiday party, a Twelfth Night Celebration, on Saturday night. As usual it was a lot of fun with good friends and food. It is always a little sad when the holidays are over that we won't see as much of our friends as the cold weather keeps us inside more. We got about 3-4 inches of snow yesterday, so that kept me busy with shoveling. Still have some Christmas decorations up. I am slowly working on taking them down and also cleaning each room as I do it. The tree still looks really good, very few needles have dropped but I know we need to get it down soon.
I received another call from someone that would like a nursery ensemble made. I had to tell her that I wouldn't make bumper pads for her since the state of Illinois is looking to have them stop being manufactured due to concerns about infant deaths. I feel bad for new moms because so much is always changing regarding infant safety. I've been working on the copy for my web-sites. My friends in my CEO advisory group have graciously responded to me call for help by reading and commenting on my writing. I have looked into taking some classes at Custom Home Furnishings Academy in March. It looks like I will be going for a week possibly.
In my Kids Can Sew classes, Anna is almost done with her tote, just some pressing and hand sewing. She is so excited and her mom loves it. Grace started sewing on her peasant blouse and is finding that the knit she chose is a little more difficult to work with than the cottons she has been using. Meaghan is zigzagging her pajama pants pieces and Sammie has started her nightshirt but still needs to get the extra fabric. We are trying to find a solution to have Lauren come back for lessons since I still can't find anyone to share a day with her.
NY resolutions update: I have lost a pound, walked at least two miles every day, besides doing my normal exercise routine and I have been logging my food except for the party and Sundays, which I consider my day off. The stress of following my football team, Green Bay Packers, in the playoffs isn't helping:-)

Back to Work

Well the holidays are over except for Twelfth Night. I have been slowly taking down the Christmas decorations, I really don't like to take anything down until after the Feast of the Epiphany so the main rooms are still all fully decorated. The live tree in the living room is looking good and has a bit of new growth on it. It is always sad when we have to take it down and out to the curb for recycling. We had a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration with neighbors at the barn. Met some new neighbors even.
I started back on work, drafted some pattern pieces for a master bedroom window treatment. Now the client will have the fun task of shopping for fabric. I may go with her to be sure she gets enough fabric to be sure all the pieces have the motif centered properly. Also did some quotes for a nursery ensemble. Working on getting the final pieces together so my web-sites can finally go live. I have a meeting today with my CEO advisory group. I am hoping I can have them help me to figure out the best way to go forward in the new year.
The girls came back to class yesterday. Anna is working on her tote still. She applied the narrow bias tape to the sides on the handle which was quite difficult. Grace got her peasant blouse cut out, Meghan cut out her pajama pants and Sammie is working on cutting out her nightshirt. Unfortunately she needs to get more fabric because when she pre-washed the flannel she bought it shrunk so much she is one sleeve length short. I used this as an example for the girls as to why pre-washing your fabric is so important. I am still looking for another girl or boy to take lessons so that Lauren can come back. She is really wanting to learn more.
I have made some New Year resolutions. Who hasn't? I am writing them out here so I can be held accountable by all. I am planning on running the Nashville half marathon in under two hours. In order to do that I have started a four month training program that is going to help me increase my speed. I also need to lose about 12-15 pounds to be at a better running weight. I plan on be better at logging my foods and add some walking into my exercise plan.