15 Questions

So there are a few blogs that I like to follow and they do a "Fill in the blank Friday". I have ripped their questions off a few times I must admit. Go check out the legit "Fill in the blank Friday" gals at The Little Things We Do, Everybody Needs a Little Sugar and Beans and Ink.

I decided to take a different spin and hope that you play along. I picked 15 random questions and would love for you to comment on what your answers would be.

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1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My Paternal Grandmother- Carrie Louise (oh yeah and I am the one grandchild that looks just like her)

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
I am sooo cold hearted I don't remember the last time I cried. I guess back before Christmas when I found out that the company I was working for was downsizing and I was out to look for a new job again.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It does its job. I have yet to master cursive.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Prefer sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese to meat on my sandwich

5. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
BFF's! I would have myself laughing all the time.

6. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Yep. Could you not tell from the last answer?

7. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

8. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Nope-- I am K R A Z Y, but not that crazy!

9.  WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cheerios and Grape Nuts mixed with a bit of Sweet N Low

10. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, but I can remember my HS track coach saying that not untying them would ruin the shoes. I say give me flip flops.

11. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Strong willed. I can hardly carry my purse, but I will sure tell you exactly how to carry yours.

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Mint Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate with Chunks mixed please

13. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they are speaking, I notice their voice. I could listen to a gentlemen with a Georgia or South Carolina accent for hours reading from the phone book.

14. RED OR PINK?
I like to wear both (those are my "power" colors), but I like to surround myself with blues, tans and grays.

15. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lavender, Old Spice bath soap or chocolate chip cookies baking

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Oh how I hope you play along!!!

New Year, New Favorites

Troy and I have a new list of favorite 2012 commercials. Our last link from June 2011 needs some updating...

#5-
Not a Star Wars fan or necessarily a fan of Volkswagen, but a HUGE fan of dogs.

#4-
A little bit of Carrie-Oke.. They should have called me

#3-
Like Father like Daughter?!

#2-
Takes my breath away each time, then I almost pee my pants. Oh Roseanne...

#1-
Spoiler Alert (I posted this last weekend, it is still the best!)

Lots of Stuff

1) My quilt topper is done, now it is time for selecting the fabric for the backing.
Here is the last blog, http://c-hampe.blogspot.com/2012/01/strip-quilt-topper-done.html.

Troy isn't a huge fan of the colors in this topper. But he was a trooper and went with me to select fabric. I lead him down the batik isle. This is what we have found.

Blue Batik Fabrics

Testing the topper with backing

YEAH--- I think we will have to find something different

2) My Unemployment Journey
I think I have told you, I have found myself unemployed for the 2nd time in less than 12 months. Last year while unemployed, I sat at the house all day mad at myself and others and lead myself down a depressed road. I wouldn't go anywhere for days, not getting out of my pj's for days. That was sooo not productive!

This year with the unemployment experience, I have found myself working part time at a great jewelery company, I am making myself get up, dressed, make up and heels on almost every day. I have become proactive in the job search. I have met new people that are helping me and I am helping them. I know that I am not in this pit of unemployment alone any longer. The way that I have tackled this is more like how you would expect me to tackle any project- running head on into the project, with a smile on my face, and with the end goal of a future customer or employer in my sights.

Look out that HUGE confidence that I thought I lost, Its B-A-C-K!!!

I hope that tomorrow I have time to sit down and do a link love post to all the sites that have helped in my search.

3) Cooking New things
crockpot barbecue chicken ---- this was THE BEST recipe we have found in a long time. Friends were fighting over how many chicken pieces do they get. I wish I had a picture, but the food was gone before I thought about the camera.

comfort food night--- Troy and I have wanted hot dogs, this isn't something either of eat buy maybe once a year.... He loaded his dog up with mustard, chili and cheese. I loaded my up with homemade mac n cheese. His didn't look good, so no photos... but check out the best dog dinner.

Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach--- this is coming soon soon!

4) We hosted Dinner In with Friends
That's where we feasted on the Crock Pot Chicken. We played L-R-C for nickles and then busted the Go Fish Card game out (had all the Golden Book characters). I hate to admit, we are all mid to late 30s, with no kids around.... GO FISH???

Girls

Couple #1

Couple #2

Couple # 3




L R C in actions

L R C Pot

30- somethings playing Go Fish

Really?? Go Fish??














E*Trade Baby Commercial

Troy and I have hit the rewind button three times during the 49er v Giants game tonight. This commercial is the best thing I have seen on TV all night!

Great job E*Trade marketing dept!

Strip Quilt- Topper Done!

I can not believe that I completed a quilt top and it LOOKS good! The tutorials and guilds that showed this online was giving a time frame of 30-50 minutes. WELL, not for me that's for sure.

Here is the break down on time for this newbie-
Wash, dry and iron strips- 55 minutes
Sewing 48 strips end to end- 45 minutes
Cutting on the crap scraps off the cheap fabric- 30 minutes (THIS WAS THE WORSE!)
Matching end to end and right side to side side on the first length- 2 hours
Matching end to end and right side to side side on the second length- 1.75 hours
Matching end to end and right side to side side on the third length- 1.5 hours
Matching end to end and right side to side side on the fourth length- 45 minutes
Matching end to end and right side to side side on the fifth length- 25 minutes
Total time (the best leisure time to myself in a long time)- almost 7 hours

The "recipe" for this quilt top calls for 40 strips of 2.5"x42". I of course used 48 strips (over achiever). The topper has finished (before ironing) at 50"x68". I am now thinking what the border/binding and backing will be.



Layed out on a queen bed



Horizontal?

Vertical?

Hanging in the hall

Strip Quilt- 2nd Day Sneak Peak

Its coming together!!! Here are some rough pictures...

Cant wait for it to be complete and snuggle in!!

Take 2-- New Quilt

I showed you back in November what my first quilt looked like and what my inspiration was for a 2nd quilt (check out that post here).


I purchased a cheap "jelly roll" for this quilt. I washed my strips and thought I had ruined it all before it started; the cheap fabric FRAYED big time. But hey, I am a newbie and I am going for it! (Here is one of the blogs I am using to help me along in the process, thank you Kate!)


I have the "Step One" done and tomorrow hope to sit down and complete the topper. Check out these first few photos.

Jelly Rolls-- so sweet and innocent looking

Washed, dried, ironed and waiting

Crazy colors

Everybody in the bucket for random draw

Strung down the hall

Looks like a party!

As a beginner, I couldnt just do what the directions state--- 2304 inches of fabric

Stay tuned... hope to have a finished topper soon soon!

My Quiet Place

I hadn't been to the park in almost 10 months, not sure why, guess life has gotten in the way, so I stopped by yesterday.... AHHHHhhhhh Quiet!
It's hard to believe that a major road runs right thru the center of the park and still remains so quiet. I love love love Harris County Precinct 4 Meyer and Collins Parks.

Check out my pictures from yesterday's walk....

We NEED rain- notice the lake is way below level

A bend in the creek shows how low the water level is

Hawks flying overhead





Send photos of your quiet place!!

Finding My Way in 2012

As we are all excited about the new year and resolutions, I am trying to find my way back. I am looking for a job, no no a career. As I am cruising the Internet this morning about to pounce on employers that will find me as their answer to an opening within their company, I find this photo and want to be HERE and find myself and where I am supposed to go from here.

Hiker, Scottish Highlands

Photograph by Luis del Río

A solitary person walking across a forest in the Highlands, Scotland

Where is your dream quiet spot? Do you have a favorite photo that you have found while cruising the web?