getting my craft on!

Lately I have been bitten by a craft bug!

Seriously, I love doing crafts.  I wish I could have one day a week completely devoted to doing crafts.  In my spare time, I love looking at craft blogs to help me get ideas of what to do in the future.

My only problem is that I am extremely OCD and a total perfectionist when I am working on something, so sometimes crafting is very frustrating for me.  I want everything to turn out perfect!  At some point, I just have to be content with the fact that I tried my best.

Anyway, for Christmas my in-laws gave me sewing lessons and to say I have enjoyed them would be an understatement- I have absolutely loved every minute of it!!  I have always wanted to learn how to sew, so this was the perfect gift for me.

Here are some of my projects...

First up, chair cushions for our kitchen table chairs.  I love our table and chairs and want to make them last as long as possible. I had been looking for some cushions for a while, but never found any that I liked, or if I found one I liked, the store wouldn't have enough of them.  A few weeks into my sewing class, I had a brilliant idea to make my own cushions!

I am really happy with how they turned out!  I made 4 chair cushions and then I also just finished a matching cushion to go on the bench that goes with our table.

I love love love the fabric I found!!  Here it is up close.

My most recent project was a window valance to go with our bedroom set.  Here is our bedding, courtesy of the best store ever, Target!

When we got our bedding last summer, they didn't have anything for windows to go with it. A few months ago while browsing Target.com, I discovered they had just come out with either a window valance or a window panel to go with our set. Unfortunately, the valance was way too small for our window. I would have needed 3 valances for our one window, so I decided to improvise. I ordered the window panel and made my own valance in my sewing class. I wanted to add a little something extra to it, so I bought some black fabric to add to the bottom, and voila! A window valance! I love having something on our window. It totally completes our bedroom. 

(Don't you love the brownish blinds! :) Gotta love apartment living!)

Next on the agenda in my sewing class....a skirt for myself and possibly some throw pillows for our bed!

Better luck next season, Jazz....

Oh I am so behind on blogging.  There are so many things I have wanted to blog about lately, but I have always found other exciting things to do like ironing or cooking or cleaning or doing laundry.  Hopefully I'll get around to blogging more often since this blog practically doubles as my journal.  Have I mentioned that I am terrible about writing in my journal?  Well, I am. 

Anyway, this post is so two weeks ago, but I am blogging about it anyway because about 2 weeks ago, one of my dreams came true...

I attended a Jazz playoff game!!

We were offered tickets just a few short hours before the game(thank you, Bolerjacks!!) and it was such a blast!  I had been trying to win tickets all day for this game, but was unsuccessful.  When Josh called to tell me we had tickets, I thought he was joking!  The boy LOVES to tease, so sometimes it's hard to know when he's being serious.  :)

Anywho, it was a great game and what made it even better is that our win that night knocked the Thuggs out of the playoffs.  The Nuggets are one of my least favorite teams in the NBA.  They fall second behind the Lakers on my "least favorite" list.

Here are some pictures of our fun filled night!

I love my Jazz!

I love the mini Jazz bear!  SO FUNNY!

I love that his number is "1/2"

The regular Jazz bear is pretty funny too

My lover....Korver, NOT Birdman or Fes...ew

Me and my real lover.  Not the best picture, but whatev.

We also bought jerseys that night!!  Josh got a throw back D-Will jersey and I got an old school Stockton jersey.  John Stockton has always been my favorite player and I was so excited when they started making his jerseys again!  And you wanna know a secret??  We bought youth sized jerseys! They run so big and they are almost half the price of the adult ones.  SCORE! 

We are sad that Jazz season is over.  I miss watching games a few nights a week.  Seriously, I. love. the. Jazz-always have. I am anxious to see what happens over the next few months with so many free agents on the team and what draft picks we end up with.  Hopefully we can pick up a good center. That's what the team really needs!  And if Korver leaves, I will shed tears. Lots and lots of tears. But if Fesenko and Kofous go, I will shed tears of pure JOY.  Also, the Jazz will be getting new uniforms.  Can't wait to see what they look like!  Hopefully the Jazz will have better luck next year.  I think Jerry deserves a ring.  So does D-Will.

Oh and I guess go Suns!!  I will cheer for ANY team that plays against the Lakers.  Kobe Bryant is probably my least favorite person on the planet.

So inspiring!

I know I'm not the first person to post this video on a blog, but I wanted to share it with any of you that might not have seen it.

On Tuesday I was home with a violent case of the stomach flu and saw this video for the first time.  I was feeling absolutely miserable and having a little pity party for myself until I saw this video.  I was immediately humbled and reminded that the stomach flu really isn't that bad.

If you haven't read Stephanie Nielson's blog, you should probably check it out.  You have to read back a ways to know the whole story, but believe me, it will be worth your time.  She is such an inspiration and helps me remember to be thankful for my blessings.   I hope I can have her kind of strength when I am faced with trials in my life.