Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! My photo tonight is of our Butternut Squash patch just before hubby and DS harvested! We are supposed to get our first frost Tuesday or Wednesday so it was time for everything we wanted to keep to come in. More about that later this week:)

So, let's get started with the Chit-Chat!

• Reading: Still reading If I Stay and loving it!
• Watching: Just watched Philomena. Oh my! It was an amazing but emotional movie. Judi Dench never disappoints!
• Listening to: The TV in the background while I am writing this post. I think it might be 60 Minutes.
• Wishing for: A new Janome HD 3000 sewing machine:) Looks like it will be my Christmas present this year. 
• Looking forward to: A day out with hubby tomorrow. 
• Happy you accomplished this week: I got 14 bags of bell peppers chopped up and put in the freezer (2 cups in each bag). 
• Grateful for: A hardworking and loving husband! 
• Thinking about: Thanksgiving...guest list, menu, decorations.

Well, that's it for me tonight! Thanks for stopping by! Since I will be out all day tomorrow, I'm not sure I will be able to do Happy Homemaker Monday. If not, I will be back for Tasty Tuesday!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

So happy that Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is back from her blogging vacation in time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! 

Today the weather cooperated so we could mow the lawn plus hubby and DS cut our tree back...again:(

They actually cut the branches on the other side as well. When they did this last year I thought the tree was a goner but it was beautiful this summer. Hopefully the same thing will happen this time. Hubby said it was shading the solar array we put on the roof last summer and he wants as much solar input as possible this winter.

What are you...

• Reading? I just checked out If I Stay from the library so will be starting it tonight.
• Watching? We have been watching several of the HGTV shows that are on Netflix...so fun! Today we watched the movie New Year's Eve...again! I have a habit of forgetting what we have watched and tend to rent movies a second or even a third time.
• Listening to? The wind blowing outside. All else is quiet:)
• Eating? We had Curried French Green Lentil Soup with sandwiches.
• Looking forward to next week? Ladies Craft Day at my church on Tuesday. I am hoping to get some projects finished.
• Saving $$ for? Christmas gifts. I have some bought but need some gift cards and need to make a few gifts as well. I spent more than I should have when I went to my daughter's last so I am a little short in the Christmas fund.
• Thinking about? How many to have on the guest list for Thanksgiving. We have invited 7 so far but I am really thinking about adding another family of 4 which would bring our total (including us) to 14. Hmmm...
• Wishing had went differently over the last week? Everything went pretty well. Of course, I always wish I had been able to accomplish more but that's a given.

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Kat

Five Things Friday

Here are my Five Things for this fine Friday...

1. OH! I have good news!!! It has been over a week since our 6 month old puppy had an accident in the house!!! Do I dare hope?!!! It didn't take long AFTER we took the puppy pad away. It seemed to remind him that "hey, I need to pee here!" I am so proud of him and he is so adorable! I love him to pieces:)))
2. I have my starter working for my new No Knead Artisan Bread that I am going to bake in my new stoneware covered baker:) I was hoping the starter would be ready by Monday but it has been cool in the house and the starter isn't working as good as it should; will likely be later in the week. If you are interested in bread baking, especially the no knead variety, check out Breadtopia! Trust me, everything you ever wanted to know about baking bread...by experts!
3. I just received an order I placed to Springfield Dolls for clothes/shoes for my granddaughter's American Girl doll. I was beyond pleased with the order! I plan to make a few more clothes for her doll plus her uncle is going to make a bunk bed for her dolls. Of course I will be making the mattresses, pillows and bedding. It will be an American Doll Christmas...minus the doll (got that for her last year).
4. We are loving our Tempur-Pedic mattress! We have been sleeping on it for two months now. My favorite part is I can't feel when hubby rolls over or gets up. I used to wake up every time he moved but now don't feel him move at all:) It took me a couple weeks to get used to it but I am so happy with it now!
5. The busiest two months of the year are coming up and I'm starting to panic:( I need to just sit down and make a list of what needs to be done and when. November includes my darling son's birthday, monthly Happy Stampers Club, Thanksgiving complete with overnight company! December includes Happy Stampers Club (early), trip to the coast for 3 days, Christmas, trip to visit daughter and granddaughter for 3 or 4 days, New Year's Eve party (not at my house). Add to that making/buying Christmas gifts which I should have done months ago and sending Christmas cards. Am I the only one who panics this time of year?!!! Any suggestions? 

Thank you for stopping by today! I am so thankful for each and every one of you who stop by to see what's going on. I will be back on Sunday for my version of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is feeling a bit overwhelmed so is taking a week off! At least she's not taking 2 1/2 months off like I did!!! Carla is amazing...she has 4 kids, homeschools, creates custom sewing items as a business (I am fortunate enough to have a few of those amazing items) all in addition to being a wife, cleaning, cooking, etc! Did I say she is amazing! No wonder she needs a week off!!!

Tootles for now! Have a great weekend:)

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Yay! Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is back with the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Be sure to stop by her blog and say hi! Thanks, Carla! I love the Chit-Chat!

Motto I am learning to live by!

So, let's get to the Chit-Chat!

What...

• Are you watching? Ah! The Paradise is on tonight!
• Are you reading? Still reading The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by Luanne Rice. Should finish it this week:) 
• Are you looking forward to next week? Stamping order will arrive about Thursday--Woo Hoo! Also hubby's brother and sister-in-law will be visiting sometime this week!
• Was your best moment over the last week? We had a fabulous day yesterday visiting with new friends! We are so blessed to get to know them!
• Is your #1 goal next week? Get the house cleaned before company arrives!
• Was your best/worst financial decision over the last week? I spent too much money while visiting my daughter a couple weeks ago so I shouldn't have bought 2 new sweaters and a pair of leggings but they were at Costco and were sooo cheap I couldn't resist! 
• Is on the top of your wishlist right now? I think I want one of those folding tables that fold in half! That would come in so handy for a lot of things but especially for crafting!

Well, that's it for this week's Chit-Chat! I will be back tomorrow for Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday and then on Tuesday for Tasty Tuesday:) Wednesday and Thursday I have cards to show off so until then...

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Don't you love the photo Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily has for the Chit-Chat this week?!!! Beautiful! I have so many photos I need to download to the computer but...Oh well, Carla's photos are amazing!

This has been one very busy 4th of July weekend but I am home and ready to get back to my real life:) We had a very sad thing happen on the 4th of July and I really need your prayers that a miracle will happen. Our precious Rocky (English Bulldog) was outside with our Great Dane Beau while hubby went into Portland. DS and I were at DD's for the holiday. When hubby got home, Rocky was gone and hasn't come back:( We live on 20 acres in the middle of nowhere and are 1/4 mile from the county road. We have left the dogs outside many times with no problems but...My heart is broken! 

Okay, now I will wipe my tears (literally) and get on with the Chit-Chat!

I am...

• Watching...We still have a few episodes of Royal Pains left to watch on Netflix. Last night I watched Flushed Away with my granddaughter and family:)
• Reading...Still ready Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice
• Listening to...Hubby has Pandora on...loud!
• Cooking/Baking...Just got home but for 4th of July I made Potato Salad, Raspberry Lemonade (from scratch) and S'more Bites. Everything was a hit, especially the S'more Bites!
• Enjoyed over the last week...A wonderful holiday weekend with my son, daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law!
• Thankful for today...Thankful to be home safe and sound!
• Happy you accomplished this week...I made it to my daughter's with everything I was supposed to bring except the potato salad I had worked so hard on (made another one at her house). And I think I made it home with everything that was supposed to come home with me as well. I almost always leave something!
• Thinking about financially...Starting to save money for my next trip to my daughter's...in September! I try to go every 3 months.

Well, that's it for me tonight! I am super tired and very, very sad! See you tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Photo from Franklin Planner website

It's time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! A big thank you to Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily for hosting the Chit-Chat each week. My picture is of the wonderful new planner I purchased this week! I am super excited about getting organized!!!

• Watching? Silver Linings Playbook DVD and Royal Pains on Netflix
• Reading? The Geometry of Sisters by Luanne Rice; just finished from Paralysis to Praise by Shirley Thrush yesterday; still enjoying Living Life Undaunted by Christine Caine
• Listening to? The wind blowing hard!
• Cooking/Baking? I haven't been in a cooking or baking mood lately so nothing. We had sandwiches and potato chips for dinner!
• Enjoyed over the last week? Planning visit to my daughter's for 4th of July weekend.
• Thankful for today? I am thankful for our home, our garden and my family. 
• Happy you accomplished this week? I ordered and received a weekly planner from Franklin Planner and started working on a schedule to become more organized. I also sent two bags of my clothes off to the Goodwill! Yay!!! So many more to go!!! I have put a reminder to purge in my new planner.
• Thinking about financially? I haven't been thinking about money at all lately. Hubby takes care of the household finances and I get an allowance. Right now everything seems to be running smoothly. I would like to save for a nice electronic piano so I can take piano lessons so will need to work up a plan for that.

Thanks for stopping in for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

My beautiful new lavender plant:)

I had a busy day today! My son and I went to The Dalles (nearest big town to us) to do some shopping. He needed to have some maintenance done on his car and I needed some yarn...among other things! But with 1 1/2 hour drive each way, it was a long day!

It's time once again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! A big thank you to Carla for hosting the Chit-Chat each week over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily:) So let's get started!

• I am watching...America's Got Talent while I am typing this post
• I am reading...Finishing up From Paralysis to Praise by Shirley Thrush; also reading The Litigators by John Grisham
• I am looking forward to next week...Planting some new plants I bought today:) Oh, and being able to place my first order from the NEW Stampin' Up! catalog!!! So excited!
• Did I have for dinner tonight...DS and I ate at Cousins Restaurant in The Dalles. I had a yummy Veggie Burger with Bread Pudding for dessert! I ended up bringing over half the pugging home.
• Are my 3 top goals for next week...Get items ready for thrift store; clean guest apartment (didn't get it done last week); make hubby some cinnamon rolls
• Best/worst financial decision over the last week...At Joann's today I got a lot of stuff and it was all on sale. I spent $43 but saved over $22:) I also discovered that Dollar Tree has American Greeting Cards that are regularly $3.89 for just $1. Though I make cards I am averse to making cards for people who really don't appreciate the time it takes to make one. So, being able to purchase some nice cards for a great price was GREAT! Worst decision (but still glad I did it) was dinner at Cousins. I had a $5 coupon plus a $25 gift card but the meal still cost us $20! I am not used to spending that much to eat in a restaurant but the food was really good:)
• Made me happy this week...I received two cards this week! Always love receiving happy mail!
• Is a lesson I learned this week...I really NEED a schedule and need to start using a Franklin Planner again. I was never so organized as when I used one. Thought I could get by without one since I am "just staying home" but am learning different.

Well, that's it for me tonight! Thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Ahhh! Carla is back with the Sunday Night Chit-Chat and all is right with the world:) Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is our host and I love participating and linking up with her Sunday Night Chit-Chat! I hope you enjoy it as well. Check in with Carla to see what she's been up to. She is such a busy person!!!

So, let's get started!

What...

• Am I watching...Not sure but probably nothing tonight.
• Am I reading...From Paralysis to Praise by Shirley Thrush; The Litigators by John Grisham; and totally enjoying Living Life Undaunted by Christine Caine
• Am I looking forward to next week...Soaking up some sun and getting a few cards made.
• Did I have for dinner tonight...In the teeny tiny town of Granite, Oregon, I enjoyed an Amy's Black Bean Burrito with a bag of barbecued potato chips and an iced tea! By teeny tiny I mean 23 permanent residents and they are all over 60 years old!!!
• Are my 3 top goals for next week...Clean our guest apartment; get my design team projects for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges made and uploaded; start walking on the treadmill again.
• Best/Worst Financial decision over last week...Not sure. I don't think there were any good or bad financial decisions made.
• Happy I accomplished this week...I got the strawberries weeded and got some cards made and mailed off for swaps.
• Was my best moment from the past week...Actually today spent with my son at a huge flea market in Sumpter Oregon! This was our fifth annual trip to Sumpter!
• Is my current favorite website...It is Stampin' Up!--my addiction!
• Is something that always makes me smile...beautiful flowers!

Well, that's it for me tonight! Thank you for visiting!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Hello, everyone! I hope your Mother's Day has been good. 

I checked Carla's blog at My 1/2 Dozen Daily to see if her Sunday Night Chit-Chat was up but it isn't so I am going to go ahead and post mine. If she posts hers later I will link up; otherwise, I am on my own this week. I do love the Sunday Night Chit-Chat...well, any Chit-Chat, actually!

Today I was sharing with my mom about how much I love blogging and am so happy that after nearly 4 years I have over 40,000 visits and have written over 700 posts. Am I the only one who is impressed by that?!!! My mom seemed totally unimpressed. It was like I am about people who do extreme mountain climbing...why would they do that? Well, that's kind of how she was about my blogging...why would I even want to do that? Hmmm...have I ever mentioned how unsupportive my mom is? Now, the question is, why would I even share the information with her in the first place. Lapse of memory, I guess!

The Peonies are just about ready to bloom but I thought they
looked so pretty framing the red tulips.

So, on with the Chit-Chat!

What...

• Am I watching...Just watched Frozen. Last Sunday we watched Saving Mr. Banks. 
• Am I reading...Light on Snow by Anita Shreve.
• Am I looking forward to this week...Happy Stampers are meeting on Wednesday night!
• Am I obsessive about...Having my books in order--some kind of order! I have a book shelf where all the books are alphabetical. I have other shelves where the books are in order by height. Some shelves are ordered by subject. Yes, I have a lot of books and a lot of shelves! A house with a lot of books is a happy house in my opinion:)
• Is my #1 goal for next week...I have to finish getting ready for my Happy Stampers Club! I am such a procrastinator:( I think I say this at least once a month, right?!!!
• Is my Best/Worst financial decision over the last week...I am supposed to be on a 21 Day Financial Fast but it hasn't been going so good:( As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I am able to pre-order some items that are in the catalog that launches on June 2 so it's really hard for me NOT to order some of these items to share with my customers, right?!!! Well, let's just say that so far this month I've spent about $100 for new catalogs and pre-order items. Guess it could be worse.
• Am I most happy I accomplished this week...I managed to get the vacuuming/mopping done before I went to the Chiropractor so as not to undo what he did! Hoping to keep everything in place for a couple weeks this time:) For some people NOT vacuuming wouldn't be a big deal but we have two dogs who shed the equivalent of a whole dog everyday! Why they aren't bald I have no idea! We brush and brush and still they shed:( 
• A wonderful Mother's Day surprise...I loved the cards and gifts from my kids today. I loved the phone call from my daughter this morning. I am so blessed. But, I was surprised this morning with a text from my niece telling  me that I am "a beautiful woman, amazing person and wonderful mother"! Boy, how I needed to hear that today! Thank you to my precious niece for this very special surprise!

Well, that's it for me tonight! Can you believe I did TWO posts today?!! Me, either! I will be back tomorrow with Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday:)

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Well, the A to Z Blogging Challenge has really kept me on my toes so far this month! I hope you have been enjoying learning more about me! The blogging challenge has stirred up some ideas in my brain that I hope to be developing in the next few weeks and months. Plus I think my blog needs a bit of a facelift so will be working on that as well.

But, alas, it is time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. She is amazing! If you haven't visited her blog yet, check it out! That woman has 4 kids, homeschools, blogs two or three times a day and could run circles around me! I love seeing the beauties she creates with fabric! My current favorite is her Pleated Wristlet with matching coin purse! It is definitely on my wish list:) 

NOTE: At the time I am posting this, Carla has not put up her Chit-Chat but when she does I will link to hers. Didn't want to keep you waiting! lol

Check out this photo I took this morning! I call it the Kitty Sandwich:) See Graycee in the middle?

I could not resist getting a picture! Usually Rocky is trying to lie ON the cat! They stayed like this for about half an hour! Now, before I get lots of comments about how skinny Beau is, he is a rescue dog with eating issues PLUS he is super neurotic so even when he eats he doesn't gain weight. Believe me, we feed him plenty and I even doctor up his food to get him to eat! Now, Rocky is a chub, weighing in at 60 pounds! He has no issues with food at all except that he wants to eat waayyy too much! We have HIM on a diet!

On with the Chit-Chat...it appears I am more chatty than normal tonight:)))

What...

• Am I watching...Just watched Austenland! Hubby had to comment throughout the movie about how stupid it was. I loved it for it's absurdity! 
• Am I reading...I didn't end up starting The Paradise after all. I decided to read Body Surfing by Anita Shreve instead.
• Am I looking forward to this week...Oh, so much going on this week! Happy Stampers meet on Wednesday night; dinner with hubby's brother and sister-in-law on Thursday night; staying in Portland till Saturday--a little motel time for me (love it)!
• Am I obsessive about...Stamping! I love, love, love stamping! I never get tired of it and most of my extra money gets spent on my stamping! So hard to say no to stamps and paper and ink, oh my!!!
• Is my #1 goal for next week...I have to finish getting ready for my Happy Stampers Club! I am such a procrastinator:(
• Is my Best/Worst financial decision over the last week...I didn't spend anything this week which is great! I had a few temptations but kept telling myself NO!
• Am I most happy I accomplished this week...I managed to stay on track with the A to Z Blogging Challenge plus visiting other blogs on the list.

What are you obsessive about? It would be fun to hear! I will be back tomorrow with the Letter L:)

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

It's time once again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily.

My photo for tonight is from my recent trip to Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR.

This giraffe walked so close to our car that I could have touched him!

Let's get started!

What...

• Am I watching? Tonight I will be watching PBS--Call the Midwife and Selfridge's
• Am I reading? I just downloaded The Paradise by Emile Zola to the Kindle app on my iPad.
• Am I looking forward to this week? My normal home routine after a week's vacation!
• Am I planning for this summer? There will be a visit to DD and DGD for granddaughter's 9th birthday. Our 35th wedding anniversary is in June and my 60th birthday is in July so hoping for something fun!
• Am I obsessive about? My daughter was teasing me while on vacation because the notebook in the room was all upside down and backwards...I had to straighten it! She also chided me for cleaning up the room before the housekeeper came each day! She and my mom were teasing me about being OCD!
• Is my #1 goal for next week? To get the house back in order after being gone--laundry, dusting, floors.
• Best/Worst financial decision over the last week? Can't think of any bad decisions because I stayed within my budget for vacation. I was thrilled to be able to get a pair of FILA tennis shoes for $20! 
• Most happy I accomplished this weekend? Two loads of laundry plus caught up with 2 days of blog reading for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I am supposed to read and comment on 5 per day. 

I won't be able to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday this month because of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Please check in tomorrow to see what I write about for the letter F.

Kat

Sunday...Monday Chit-Chat

Hello from beautiful Southern Oregon! We arrived safe and sound at our destination in Medford, Oregon about 7:00 last night. Our hotel is amazing! It is a suite with two Queen beds, kitchen with full size refrigerator, stove, dishwasher...my daughter said, "like we plan to cook!!!" Actually, this hotel has a full complimentary breakfast each morning and complimentary dinner Monday thru Thursday evenings! The last motel I stayed in was the Red Lion and this is definitely several steps above:) Thank you to my son-in-law!

I was working on this post last night but could not get the internet to connect so had to wait till today to wrap my brain around the issues and get everything working properly.

My precious granddaughter wanted to visit the pool first thing so I in a chair poolside trying to write this post using Blogsy--at least I could write even if I couldn't post. She enjoyed the pool for an hour so slept really good last night!

Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily, our weekly host for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat, decided to unplug for the day so did the Chit-Chat early thus removing the "night" from our usual chit-chat. However, I was traveling all day so am still doing mine at night!

What...

• I am reading...Still reading Sanctuary by David and Beverly Lewis:) It is a good book, just haven't had a lot of time to read lately.
• I am watching...Not sure...whatever DD and DGD want to watch. My son is recording Selfridges for me tonight so I can watch it when I get home. I think I might need to invest in a DVR. Do you have one; use it?
• I am looking forward to this week...Obviously some quality time with my daughter and granddaughter in this super comfortable hotel.
• Lesson I learned last week...Old friends are precious! We had a long phone visit with some friends hubby and I have known since high school. It was like coming home! We don't visit with them often but when we do it's like we just saw or talked to them yesterday. So precious!!!
• Was my best moment over the last week...Meeting up with my daughter, granddaughter, son and brother for brunch this morning in Portland, OR!
• Is my #1 goal for next week...To survive the week with my psyche in tack! I am "chilling" today but will visit mom and sister tomorrow. My brother's advice? Keep the visits short:))) Love that!!! 
• Best/Worst financial decision over the last week...So far, so good! No best and no worst...just spending according to plan which is a good thing:)
• Recipe is next on my "to try" list... I want to try another bread recipe from my new book, Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Bread! I have tried the Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread with both the Biga starter and the Sourdough Starter--both are delish!!!

Well, that's it for me for today! Tomorrow starts the A to Z Blogging Challenge...6 blog posts a week for a whole month starting with the letter A and ending with Z! My "theme" for the challenge will be all about ME! 

Have a great day!

Kat

March Take 3 Challenge

We are getting some real RAIN today which we need! I live in high desert country and our average rainfall is about 12 inches per year! This rain will bring up the Spring wheat and be a big boost to the winter wheat that was planted! Yay! Rain on!!!

I am leaving on my road trip to Southern Oregon Sunday morning so I may or may not be back for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Depends on if I feel chatty after all that riding/driving. It's a 7 hour trip; more with stops and Grammas have to stop!!!

I have been participating in Carla's March Take 3 Challenge over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. I thought I would give you one last update since it is so close to the end of the month! Tuesday I will be starting the A to Z Blogging Challenge AND will be on vacation so I most likely won't get another chance.

Financial: My financial goals are regarding my monthly allowance of $200.

1. Continue to fund my budgeting envelopes--all funded and up to date!
• Personal (hair, makeup, personal items)
• Gifts
• Trip to daughter's (quarterly trips)
• Clothes
• Misc--lunch out, postage, etc.
2. Purchase 3 gifts this month (from money in "gift" envelope)--Yes! I have the gifts tucked away ready for giving:)
3. Have $500 saved for trip the end of March--already have $300 saved--Trip fully funded thanks to my hubby who gave me $200 from out tax refund! I would have made it anyway so maybe I will still have money when I get home:) Now that's a novel idea!!!

Decluttering: Finish decluttering my office and start working on craft room.

The decluttering did not go well:( I will put this on my "to list" for April and see if I can make it happen! 

Personal:

• Walk on treadmill 5 days per week for 60 minutes at 2.8 mph and 4% incline. I am counting this one a success because I am walking 5 days a week for 60+ minutes at 2.8 mph but when I tried to increase to 4% incline it really hurt my back so will continue at 3% and try 4% again next month! I am moving and that's what's important here:)
• Sauna 3 days per week for 30 minutes--Only twice this week...working on making it more of a priority.
• Weight training 2 days per week for 20 minutes--Not at all this week; have I told you how much I hate exercise?!!! I tried the workout from Weight Watchers but ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I would have to be 30 years old to do some of those exercises! I will plan out a workout when I get back from vacation.
• Continue with Weight Watcher's Online through the month--Yes, I am working the program but haven't lost any weight in two months:( I switched to the Simply Filling Option where I have certain Power Foods to eat; hasn't really made a difference. HOWEVER, I have lost some inches this month; not enough to go down a size but good nonetheless!

Well, there you have it! I still have things to work on but I got a good start this month! Am I glad I took this challenge? Yes, indeed! Without it I most likely wouldn't have made the progress I did!

Our motel in Medford has a nice Fitness Room and an indoor pool so will be getting my exercise there as well. Besides, I will need to keep up with my 8 year old granddaughter and that's no small feat!

Have a great weekend!

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Found on Pinterest

It's time once again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. So let's get started!

What...

Am I reading...Oh my! I am still finishing up two books I have been reading for a long time--The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter (e-book from the library that I was checking out for a week at a time; having to wait till it was available; check out again--frustrating but then learned how to change setting to check out for 3 weeks at a time:) and Sanctuary by David and Beverly Lewis. Hopefully will finish up both books this week!

Am I watching...A documentary about Steam Trains (DS loves trains). I watched an episode of The Paradise earlier today--love this BBC production:)

Am I looking forward to this week...Getting ready for Road Trip with DD and DGD--we leave next Sunday and there is so much to do before I leave!

Is one thing I did last week that I don't want to repeat this week...Enjoyed our trip to Boise but don't want to repeat it this week! I had no idea Boise, ID was sooo big!!! Population of Boise is 212,303! This is big time for a girl who lives in a county with 1500 population!!!

Was my best moment over the last week...Spending some quality time with my hubby traveling to and from Boise! Being able to shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's--love those stores!!! We ate at the best Chinese restaurant in LaGrande--super yummy food and excellent service!

Is my #1 goal for next week...Get card swaps finished and in the mail; get Design Team project finished and uploaded before I leave for my trip.

Song I can't get out of my head...Nothing at the moment:) That's a good thing!

Best/Worst financial decision over the last week...Best financial decision was I did not go to the Twisted Ewe Yarn Shop in Boise. I read some reviews that weren't very positive so decided to forego the foray. Worst decision wasn't really a decision at all but a mistake...I accidentally ordered double of a couple Stampin' Up! items on this last order. Grrr! I didn't need to spend the extra money this time even though it was under $20. 

Is something that I'd like to learn to do...I want to knit a sweater! I have been knitting for years but have never knitted a sweater for myself or anyone else so that is definitely on my "bucket list"! 

Well, that's it for me tonight! Have a great evening!

Kat

Five Things Friday

I was thrilled to see that Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily was doing a 5 Things Friday today! This has been a crazy week (for me) so this gives me a good opportunity to share some snippets of what's going on in my world without devoting a whole post to them.

1. Hubby and I drove to Boise, ID yesterday enjoying beautiful Spring weather with temperatures in the low 50s (F)! 

Funny story...we went to Whole Foods to get some goodies to eat. Leaving Whole Foods Hubby asked Siri for directions to get back to the motel. We were started in the right direction, then Siri turned us around and was heading us toward the freeway. Hubby picked up his phone to see what was up and realized Siri was directing us to the Red Lion in Pennsylvania and we would arrive in three days. He pulled over, got the map via Google Maps and we arrived at our motel in about 5 minutes!

2. I have been in a real creative slump for the last couple of months:( I need a really fun project that I can't put down to get my mojo up and running again! Any ideas???

3. Daughter, granddaughter and I will be leaving on our road trip to visit family on Sunday!!! We have been looking forward to/dreading this trip for 3 months! Can't believe it's finally here:) DD is buying DGD a journal so she can journal about the trip. We will take pictures and get them printed so she can add them to her journal and have something truly memorable to take home. DGD loves to write and is enjoying a scrapbooking club she is in so this project should be really fun for her.

4. I recently discovered (via One Good Thing by Jillee) a DIY heavy duty cleaner that I LOVE!!! You mix 1 part Dawn Dish Soap and 2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide in a spray bottle! This cleaner is truly awesome! It gets oily spots out of fabric as well as dried blood! It also gets those nasty yellow sweat stains out of white (or colored) clothes. A less aggressive cleaner can be made with equal parts water and Hydrogen Peroxide plus a couple drops Dawn Dish Soap.

5. My favorite iPod/iPhone app is Redo by Iterex Ltd. I love to make lists and this app allows me to make lists, check off the items and then put the items back on my list when needed! I use it for trips, shopping and to do lists! I have been using it a lot lately so I don't forget things. When I think of something that needs to go on the list I just put it on and forget it:) The best part? I always know where my list is--no more bits of paper here there and everywhere!!! The cost? A very reasonable $1.99.

I hope you enjoyed my 5 Things Friday!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

It's time again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily has some new questions for us to answer tonight! Let's see how I do!

My picture tonight is three squares I received for the Easter Sampler Swap. More on that later this week:)

So, let's get started!

What...

Am I reading...Still reading Sanctuary by David and Beverly Lewis. I may actually finish it this week.

Am I watching...People Like Us. So good; a different kind of love story. Inspired by a true story.

Am I looking forward to this week...Happy Stampers Club meets this week and trip to Boise with hubby:) Hoping to visit a yarn shop while in Boise called A Twisted Ewe.

Is one thing I did last week that I don't want to repeat this week...I ate a little bit of dairy...I was sick for a whole day following:(

Was my best moment over the last week...Lunch and visiting with my friend Kim. We wait waayyy too long between visits but the time spent with her is special.

Is my #1 goal for next week...To get ready for my Happy Stampers Club and get packed for Boise trip.

Song I can't get out of my head...Nothing running through my head today!

Was the best/worst financial decision over the last week...The best financial decision this week was to NOT buy several things I really wanted. The worst financial decision this week was I DID buy some stamping stuff (surprise!!!)!

Is on the top of my *wish list* right now...Oh my! I just got the item that had been at the top of my list for about 4 years, the Infrared Sauna. Right now I am really wanting an Ott Lite.

Well, I think that's it for me tonight! I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday!

Kat

March: Take 3 Challenge

Today I am updating you on my Take 3 Challenge started by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. I will be linking to her blog with my updates.

Financial: My financial goals are regarding my monthly allowance of $200.

1. Continue to fund my budgeting envelopes--all funded and up to date!
• Personal (hair, makeup, personal items)
• Gifts
• Trip to daughter's (quarterly trips)
• Clothes
• Misc--lunch out, postage, etc.
2. Purchase 3 gifts this month (from money in "gift" envelope)--I purchased one gift and am planning to purchase two more on my trip to Boise next week, even if they are just gift cards.
3. Have $500 saved for trip the end of March--already have $300 saved--Trip fully funded thanks to my hubby who gave me $200 from out tax refund! I would have made it anyway so maybe I will still have money when I get home:) Now that's a novel idea!!!

Decluttering: Finish decluttering my office and start working on craft room.

Not good:( I only spent one hour decluttering this week so will have to step that up next week if I am going to complete this challenge successfully.

Personal:

• Walk on treadmill 5 days per week for 60 minutes at 2.8 mph and 4% incline. I am walking 5 days per week for 60 minutes at 2.8 mph but only at 3% incline. I will see if I can increase that today.
• Sauna 3 days per week for 30 minutes--Not at all this week so definitely need to work on this next week.
• Weight training 2 days per week for 20 minutes--Not at all this week; have I told you how much I hate exercise?!!! I just printed out a workout from Weight Watchers that I am starting today.
• Continue with Weight Watcher's Online through the month--Yes, I am working the program but haven't lost any weight in two months:( I just switched to the Simply Filling Option where I have certain Power Foods to eat and will see if that makes a difference. I am hoping the Power Foods and the addition of Strength Training will make result in weight loss:)))

Well, there you have it! The Good; the Bad; and the Ugly!!! We are only half-way through the month so there is still time to improve, right?

Have a great day! I am going out to walk on the treadmill and try that new strength training workout!

Kat