My New Addiction

So, since my kids are practically grown, I'm trying to figure out what to do with all the free time I have since I'm not running Mom's Taxi Service anymore.

Well, I think I finally hit on something that I thought I'd NEVER be able to do but now has become somewhat of an obsession for me: Quilting!! I haven't sewn a stitch (other than the random button repair now & then) since I was in 6th grade and made my Nana an apron in Home Ec. class. Anyone remember Home Ec.?? I really wish they still taught that in school as a requirement!

Anyway, here's my first project - was supposed to be a throw quilt, but after much trimming to make it somewhat rectangular, it ended up being a cute little baby girl cuddly:

Not too bad for the first time out, IMO. :)

I'm also working on some 12x12" blocks for other projects:

Love, love, LOVING this new hobby of mine! Any other sewers here??

Random Dozen!

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
Pan-fried thin boneless, skinless chicken breasts w/salad

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
Cell phone

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
Washington, DC - can't wait to go back for Memorial Day weekend!

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
As Sandra says "We don't have a family tree, we have a briar bush..." - in other words, LOTS of in-laws, out-laws, steps and halves...

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
"...thought I knew it all. I was wrong."

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
Hmmm, practically - gas. But really, probably BackStreetBuzz "Payne" frappes!

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
I have a LOT of food quirks - just ask my hubby.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
I'd probably have to give it to my kid... lol

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
My daughter - she's the funniest person I know!

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Not eat a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie from Subway. It's calling my name from the office kitchen...

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
I think I'll give out extra hugs at church tonight - to people that I usually don't hug (you know we all have those 'regulars' LOL)

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Esther Bible Study tonight - only 2 weeks left and I'm so sad that it's ending!

Click on the Random Dozen button at the top to peek into more random lives today...

Harris Teeter Super Doubles!! with all Printables!!

Below are the Super Doubles Deals for this week – with Printable coupons!! Just click the links to print your coupons, and remember to hit the “back” button and “refresh” to print another (in most cases)

Free after Coupon!

3/$9 Mystic Pizza Pepperoni (15.8 oz.) $1.50/1 http://www.mysticpizza.com/coupon.pdf = Free
Wholly Guacamole 7oz $1.99-$1.50 off Wholly Guacamole printable (sign up)
Muir Glen Tomato Paste $1.33-$1 off Muir Glen Product printable
Fisher Fusion Trail Mix $2-$1 off Fisher Product 4 oz printable
$1 off Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate Bar or Bag 3.5oz+ (exp 6/13, SS 4/18) bar $2.00 = Free
$1.50/1 8th Continent Soy Milk Printable coupon ~ $2.99 = Free
$1/1 Bic Pens/Mark Its Printable Coupon~ $1.97 and up = Free
$1/1 Friskies Cat Treat Coupons.com ~ $2 = Free

$0.01-$1 Deals
KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce, $2.19-$1 off KC BBQ Sauce, SS 5/09, printable (makes it 19¢)
Bagel Bites Mini Pizza Bagels, 9 ct. 7 oz., $2.49-$1 off Bagel Bites printable (makes it 49¢)
Yoplait Lowfat Yogurt, Yo Plus, $2.75-$1 off Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt printable or printable (makes it 75¢)
8th Continent Soymilk, 64 fl oz, $2.99-$1 off 8th Continent Soy Milk, printable (makes it 99¢)
Soft Scrub Cleaner $2.50-$1 off Soft Scrub printable
Carpet Fresh Foam $2.99- $1.50 off Carpet Fresh Foam, 10.5 or 16 oz, printable
2/$5 Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats (15.8-18 oz.)-$1.50/2 ip on Redplum.com = $1 per box
$1.50 Wheatables Crackers Printable and $1.50/1 Keebler Wheatables Printable -$0.29
Dove antiperspirant 3.35 - 1.50/1 Printable here = 0.35
$1.50/1 Dove Deodorant or Body Mist ~ $3.35-$4.79 = $0.35-$1.79
$1.25 off Dove Ultimate Deodorant ~ $4.79 = $2.39
$1/1 Glass Plus Cleaner ~ $2.69 = $0.69
$1.00/1 Nexcare Product ~ $2.79 = $0.79
$1.00/2 Scotch Brite Product ~ $1.99 = $0.99 each
$1.00/1 Soft Scrub Cleanser ~ Gel $2.39 = $0.39
$1.00/1 Starbucks Frappuccino ~ $2.19 = $0.19
$1/1 Yoplait Yo-Plus or Yoplus Light Yogurt ~ $2.59 = $0.59
$1/1 Lance cracker 8 pack ~ $2.79 = $0.79
$1/1 Nestle Refrigerated Cookie Dough any variety ~ $2.69 = $0.69
$1/2 Dean's Dip http://www.deansdip.com/ ~ $1.99 each = $0.99 each
$1/1 Bar Wonka Scrumdiddlyumptious, Waterfall or Domed Dark chocolate go here ~ $2.29 = $0.29
$1/2 Stove Top Coupons.com ~ $1.85 each = $0.85 each
$1/1 Energizer Battery Coupons.com ~ watch batteries $1.99-2.99 = Free-$0.99
2/$6 Asstd. T. Marzetti's Dips & Hummus $1 off Marzetti Dip printable *zip 90210 (makes it $1)
$2.99/each Degree Invisible Solid Deodorant (2.6-2.7 oz.)
-$1.25 off Degree Men Deodorant printable (FF) and printable (IE)
-$1.25 off Degree Girl Deodorant printable (FF) and printable (IE) (makes it 49¢)


$1.01 to $2
South Beach High Protein Living Cereal Bars, 5 ct 6.15 oz, $3.09
-$1 off South Beach Fiber Bars,printable (makes it $1.09)
Trans Ocean Crab Classic 8oz $3.49
-$1 off Trans-Ocean Crab printable (makes it $1.49)
V8 V Fusion $3.75
-$1 off V8 Fusion, 6 pk or 46 oz, printable or printable (makes it $1.75)
Sun Crystals 50 ct $3.79-$1 off Sun Crystals All-Natural Sweetener, printable (makes it $1.79)
Cascadian Farm Granola Bars, 7.00 oz, $3.99-$1 off Cascadian Farm Product printable and -$1 off Cascadian Farms printable (makes it $1.99)
Stayfree Pads $3.55-$1 off Any Stayfree product printable
Garnier Fructis Hair Care, 13 oz, $3.19-$1 off Garnier Fructis Hair Care RP 4/25, 4/11, printable
Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil - Heavy Strength, 37.5 sq ft. 1 ct, $3.79
-$1.25 off Reynolds 100% Recycled Aluminum Foil printable (makes it $1.29)
Pup-Peroni Beef Dog Snacks, 5.6 oz, $4.00
-$1 off Pup-Peroni Dog Snacks, printable (makes it $2)
$3.99/each Wisk Detergent (50 oz.) $1/1 Promotions- Wisk = $1.99 each
$1/2 Classico ~ $2.79 = $1.79 each
$1/1 Hidden Valley Dressing ~ $3.29 = $1.29
$1/1 Lea & Perrins Thick ~ $3.55 = $1.55
$1/1 Chinet Paper Plates ~ $3.49 = $1.49
$1.50/1 OxiClean Max Force & $1/1 OxiClean Powder ~ 10 ct. MF $4.35 = $1.35
$1/1 Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals Crackers ~ $3.49 = $1.49
$1/1 Renuzit Pearl Scents, $1/1 Neutralizer Sprazy ~ Pearls $3.55 = $1.55
$1/1 Reynolds Foil, $1.25/1 Recycled Foil, $1/1 Parchment Paper
$1.50/1 Right Guard ~ Not listed, check your store
$1.50/2 Rosetto Pasta ~ Not listed
$1/1 Rubbermaid Container & Bottle ~ $3.29 & up
$1.00/1 Sun Crystals ~ $3.79 = $1.79
$1/1 Scott Naturals Product ~ Check price of wipes in store
$1/1 Seventh Generation Product ~ Dish Soap $3.29 = $1.29
$1.00/1 Smart Balance Milk ~ $3.89 = $1.89
$1.00/1 V8 V-Fusion 6-pack slim cans or 46oz bottle variety or $1.00/1 V8 Fusion or $1/1 V8 Fusion ~ $3.75 46 oz = $1.75
$1.00/1 Uncrustables ~ $3.15 = $1.15
$1/1 Visine any Use for cheap travel size
$1.25/1 Yoplait Smoothie ~ $3.75 = $1.25
$1/1 YoBaby Yogurt ~ $2.99-$3.89 = $0.99-$1.89
$1 off Kix Cereal printable ~ $3.09-3.55 = $1.09-1.55
$1/1 Naked Juice Sign up, sent via email ~ $3.29 = $1.29
$1/1 Murray Sugar Free Cookies~ $3.19 = $1.19
$1/1 Trop 50 Carton ~ $3.49 = $1.49
$1.50 off any flavor Wanchai Ferry frozen entree ~ $4.99 & up = $1.99 & up
Coupon link in lower right hand corner.
$1/1 bag Ghirardelli Squares ~ $3.99 = $1.99
Bottom left hand corner.
$1.50/2 General Mills Big G Kids Cereals ~ $2.79 & up = $1.29 & up
$1/1 Purina Beggin' Strips Coupons.com ~ $3.69 = $1.69
$1/1 Welchs Juice 64 oz Coupons.com ~ $3.87 = $1.87
$1/1 Kikkoman Ponzu Smartsource.com ~ $3.79 = $1.79

Simple Woman's Daybook for Tuesday, 5/11

Haven't done one of these in awhile, and I just saw that there's now a link-up so we can read other's daybooks. Fun!

Outside my window... the rain has just stopped and the sun is trying to peek out. Perfect for my deck garden!

I am thinking... that I really wish I was a SAHM/housewife.

I am thankful for...diet orange soda.

From the kitchen...I have a pork roast in the crock pot - yum!

I am wearing...yoga pants, 3/4 sleeve t-shirt, lab vest, Earth Footwear sneakers (my work gear)

I am creating...my first quilt! I can hardly wait to sit and sew awhile.

I am going...to stop surfing and get back to work after I finish this post. :)

I am reading...The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

I am hoping...that my quilt is functional when I finally finish it.

I am hearing... Rob Thomas on the radio.

Around the house...I have started re-doing my quilting area, moved part in the dining area until hubby can take out the spare bed and I can move the table in there with all my sewing goodies.

One of my favorite things... seeing a new, red strawberry in the pots of them that I planted on the deck this year. My first time trying to grow them, and they are so sweet & juicy!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Sewing, cleaning/decluttering, getting things together for church yard sale donations, church tomorrow night, walking - trying to do at least 10 miles this week thanks to inspiration from my friends!

New Giveaway!

I have a nifty new product for you at Frugal Grace Giveaways!

Enter to win a set of CoverMate food covers! :)

From Coffee Pot to Clothesline

What I'm Making...

I love Spring! I love hanging sheets on the clothes line, but I hate the way my wooden clothespins look (since I forgot them all winter and left them outside - who knew they weren't made of treated wood??). I finally got some plastic ones, and then decided I was ALSO tired of the old linen bag that held them. So last night, I decided to try a new project. Here's what I came up with:

First, I found an empty coffee canister with a handle:

Then I had the Mister drill some holes in the bottom to drain out any rain that will come over the summer (please, can we get some rain this summer???), and cut the the handle straight across - you'll see why later...

Next, I used the handy-dandy $1.17 spray paint that my crafty friend Michelle got me hooked on last year.

Now comes the part that I *know* I wasn't exactly qualified to do, but I tried anyway. From a distance, it's actually pretty good...but let me preface this next photo with: "I am NOT a painter!" Somehow my children absorbed whatever artistic talent I had and now - Ptttpph. It's gone. : p

Notice that I can't even paint a CIRCLE. How pathetic is that?!? LOL

And the final product (minus the clear coating I have to go buy today to keep the paint from chipping off).

Just slip the clotheline through the handle (remember I had hubby cut through the plastic there before painting). It hangs at a perfect angle for grabbing the pins out as you work!

So here it is - a convenient clothes pin hanger made from stuff I had already in my craft box! I'm pretty happy with it, but I'm sure I'll try to improve on it the next time I empty another coffee canister. (maybe I can get an artist to do the painting portion next time. ;)

Do you do online college??

I've been wanting to finish my degree for some time now (umm, ok about 13 years now). I just found ed2go and I think I'm gonna check it out. Have any of you used this service?? Or do you know of a good online-based college program that's legit? I know some out there are kinda sketchy...

Note: I just realized that these are "non-credit" courses. But there are some there that I might still take - lots to choose from...

Still looking at online-based college degree programs - if anyone has any recommendations!

Last-minute Mother's Day gift!

If you're a procrastinator like me and you need to find a last-minute Mother's Day gift, check out this site that has some SUPER baskets at great prices!

and get 15% off with coupon code "MOM"!