Nothing Like Making Something Out Of Nothing!

I have recently bought my first sewing machine. It's a Verticle Kenmore, and I love it! About a week and a half ago I made my first project with my new sewing machine and it turned out beautiful. I learned A LOT because I haven't done much sewing in my life (on the sewing machine that is) and this was the first item I have sewn on my own. (With only long distance advice from my mother.) It's an apron, and I enjoyed making it so much I think I will make a bunch more. It is so amazing to take a piece of fabric that is nothing in particular and prepare it and sew it up and make something you can WEAR! It's thrilling really! I'm excited to find some fabric and make a shirt I already have a pattern for.
A friend of mine has a tutorial on how to make designs on tee shirts... It's kind of hard to explain so I will just post a picture when I make mine. I came up with a tee shirt design for my husband last night and I'm so excited to make it for him. :)
I've been preparing for Thanksgiving by trying out new pumpkin pie recipes. I'm determined to find the best pumpkin pie recipe ever! :)

The Happiest Halloween Since Trick or Treating

It has been the best Halloween since I could go Trick or Treating! At work we had a Halloween potluck with hotdogs, chips, soda, pasta salad, cupcakes and sugar cookies. After I got home from work Jon and I went to our ward's annual Halloween Carnival all of Jon's family who live in Arizona came including his grandparents. We had Sopapias and cookies and corn on the cob Nacho Libre style (by the way, it's not as yummy as it looks, they use mayonnaise instead of butter!) After we ate we came home and carved pumpkins! I've only attempted carving a pumpkin one other time in my life and it was a disaster and did not work out at all. This year I had a proper pumpkin to carve and it was so fun! Jon made his with one eyeball and jagged teeth and I made a funny face on mine. While we gutted and carved we listened to my Halloween CD and gave out candy to trick or treaters. I wore a big round red nose for a costume. :) The Jacolanterns turned out great! We bake the seeds and we are eating them with candy while watching movies tonight. Happy Halloween Everyone!

Finding My Joie de Vivre

Where have I been! Lately I've busied myself with cooking. About a week ago I receive a package of two Julia Child Cook Books I ordered from Amazon. Besides reading, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" like a textbook, I've been trying new recipes I find online, reading my other book, taking piano lessons, going to job interviews, and working in my church calling. (Along with the everyday life stuff like cleaning and grocery shopping etc.) I just haven't felt like blogging about it much; although, as you can see I have plenty of subject matter. The other day I was writing my mother and I realized I had gotten into a habit of wanting STUFF, and I'm done with that. I want to do constructive things. Stuff doesn't really matter, it breaks or wears out or I realize I don't really use it and then what? All I've done is spent money. Gaining experience and learning new things stay with me forever! I have plans to find the perfect material and sew myself a beautiful apron to keep my clothes nice through all the cooking I'm doing. I hate plain aprons with no style or elegance or personality. Mine will look something like this one I found online the other day. It will be cheaper to make it myself and when I'm done I will always be able to make aprons. Make new aprons when the old one wears out, or make and give them as gifts, and improving my sewing skills (which are always useful) at the same time. I hereby dub it a worthy pursuit.
I love being a wife! I love domestic activities; not that I just love scouring floors and scrubbing dishes, but I love keeping house for my family's well-being, and finding creative ways to conserve money and resources. I love learning how to do it. I love doing little things for my husband I can tell make him feel loved. It makes me feel special and irreplaceable, and really isn't that everybodies' heart's desire? That's how I find my Joie de vivre.. just in doing the little things that make me feel as though I live a charmed life. Soft little kisses, singing while loading laundry, a bright kitchen sink, a long walk while the morning air is still cool, a delicious dinner set at the table, a long distance call to my parents, petting the dog, a quiet read.. I know I'm a romantic, but if a person can't enjoy the little things she does every day -then where will be the joy in life?