Spring Break Project #2

Today's project, although a new pattern, was an easy one. It's your basic dish/washcloth. The pattern is called Waffle Knit Dishcloth from Homespun Living. I originally found the pattern on Ravelry.

It knit up very quickly. Also, even in this variegated yarn, the pattern and texture pop out nicely.

I haven't decided who the recipient will be yet. However, as usual with dishcloths, I'll wrap it up with a nice bar of soap and some ribbon. It will be a fun surprise to send to one unsuspecting family member. My cousin, Lydia, and I were talking about how nice it is to receive packages in the mail - how much better is it when it's out of the blue and a surprise?

I can't wait to get it out!

Love, Andrea

A Steal of a Deal

Lately, I've been introduced to several ladies who are bargain shoppers. I'm not just talk good deals here - I'm talking about getting a whole mess of things for virtually nothing. They have helped me realize there are bargains out there to stretch our dollar a little farther in this economic crisis we are all currently living through. It's an exhilarating experience.

Today, I took the advice of Frugal Chic Living and stocked up on Ronzoni pasta products. I got 10 boxes for $2.50! Safeway is currently running a Mix'n'Match promotion where if you buy 10 products then you get them all at a reduced price. With the Mix'n'Match promo they were already a bargain at .75 cents a box. However, Safeway currently has a coupon dispenser for the Ronzoni products. The coupon was for .50 cents off. That brought the cost of each box down to .25 cents per box!! Too good to pass up.

I should add that when I went to "my" Safeway they were out of coupons. So, I had to stop at a store while out in the valley this morning. I'm glad I did though. Now, if my kids had a little more patience I might have got double that. It takes a little time for the coupon dispenser to dish out all 10 coupons. Maybe this evening one my hubbo is home I'll try another Safeway store.

Lots of love,
Andrea

Spring Break Project #1

This is my first year, since having kids, that I get to officially say I'm on Spring Break. With Tyler in school now and me working at the school we are joyful that we are able to have a week to spend together without running around crazy. I've decided that if I'm going to finally have quality time at home I'm going to get some things done.

Today I finished up two knit bibs, one that I started last week and one that I started this weekend. It's a cute pattern that I found on Ravelry called: Modern Cable Baby Bib. The pattern is written by Andrea Pomerantz @ www.string-theory.blogspot.com. It was a super easy and totally cute project.

Here's what my final product looks like:

They've been packaged up and sent across the state. My cousin & her little peanut should receive them in the next couple of day. So much fun!

Day 13: Unplugged

Do you find yourself distracted? I know I do.

Computer.
Blog.
Facebook.
Websites.
TV.
DVR.
Cell Phone.

Those are only a few of my daily distractions. What are yours? We're talking about the things here (that generally plug-in) that distract you from participating in the life that is standing right in front of you. Is you breathing starting to increase anticipating what is going to be asked of you?

Slow down. Breath. We will get through this challenge together.

Unplug. For 24 hours. Invest time in the life you are in. Online will always be there. Offline won't.

I'm following along with Kimba at A Soft Place to Land. 03-27-09 is being declared as a day to unplug. See? You're not being asked to this today - regain your breath. This is a week from now. You have time to prepare.

By unplugging, you are simply eliminating your distractions. It's a change to practice everything we've been working on for a full 24 hours. It's a chance to love on your husband 100%; with all that you have. It's a chance to do those things with your family "if you only had more time." Make time. Unplug.

Day 12: Sing a Song

The Song of Solomon, in The Bible, is a love story - detailing the relationship and love language of a man and woman. Verses 5:10-16 is the woman's description of her lover. It reads this way in The Message translation:

My dear lover glows with health—
red-blooded, radiant!
He's one in a million.
There's no one quite like him!
My golden one, pure and untarnished,
with raven black curls tumbling across his shoulders.
His eyes are like doves, soft and bright,
but deep-set, brimming with meaning, like wells of water.
His face is rugged, his beard smells like sage,
His voice, his words, warm and reassuring.
Fine muscles ripple beneath his skin,
quiet and beautiful.
His torso is the work of a sculptor,
hard and smooth as ivory.
He stands tall, like a cedar,
strong and deep-rooted,
A rugged mountain of a man,
aromatic with wood and stone.
His words are kisses, his kisses words.
Everything about him delights me, thrills me
through and through!

That's my lover, that's my man,
dear Jerusalem sisters.

It can do a husband in if he feels repulsive to his wife. Remember this: "Criticism leaves scars; but encouragement can bring healing." Encourage your husband today by praising his uniqueness.

Today's Challenge: As you look over your husband's body, from the tip of his toes to his bald or bushy head, thank God that your husband is "wonderfully made," then admire your husband verbally. (Strong arms? Hairy chest? Firm hands? Big feet? Rugged chin? Wide shoulders? Compassionate eyes? Broad smile?)

Love, Andrea

Day 11: What's Your Love Language?

According to the book, The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, there are 5 ways that we receive and/or give "love". Giving and receiving love isn't as easy as just saying "I love you." Love is a choice. You must choose to express love in a way that will be joyfully received as love by your partner. If your spouse doesn't enjoy physical touch - when you hug him it may not say "I love you", it may say "your smothering me".

As mentioned before there are 5 languages and they are:
* Physical Touch
* Acts of Service
* Receiving Gifts
* Quality Time
* Words of Affirmation

It is important to know and realize that your love language and his may not be the same. So, it's worth your time for you to both find out what your love language is. Discuss it. Be specific. Work with each other on how to best "talk" to each other.

Today's challenge is to go to this website: http://www.afo.net/hftw-lovetest.asp
Both of you should take this test. It will help you both find your language and then begin to perfect your dialect. Work together on this.

Day 10: 20 Questions

I think I could honestly say that each of us have filled out a "Meme Survey" in the past. You know the ones....a survey that question you - thus making it all me, me, me. In the beginning stages of a marriage/relationship we do that, don't we? Ask question after question to make sure we are with "the one". Once you're married, though, and living together EVERY DAY, it's sometimes easy to feel like there's nothing left to say. Try these questions to jump-start some lively discussions between you. * If you could keep just one memory, which memory would you keep? * How would you describe your ideal day? your ideal weekend? your ideal vacation? * If you could spend one uninterrupted hour with any person alive, who would it be? why? * If out house caught fire (and everyone was safely out) what three things would you most want to save? why? * What do you want your life to be like at 70? This topic is dear to me because Troy and I often do this on long trips to make the time go faster. On most occasions it's prompted by passing a billboard that says the lotto is currently as some crazy amount. Then we talk about what we would do if we had that kind of money. In the end we laugh together because we both say, "now, if only we actually bought lotto tickets!" It's interesting though, to see our priorities change each time. We find that just by sparking a new conversation we learn things that we may not have known before. That's your goal here. Don't assume you know everything. Whether you've been married for 5 years or 50 years there's always more to learn about the mate you've chosen. Go for it! Make this FUN ladies!! Oh, and one more thing - do not take anything personal! This is a conversation, NOT a debate!! If you ask your honey, "If you could spend one uninterrupted hour with any person alive, who would it be? why?" and he doesn't say YOU - don't get offended. You asked, let him answer.