My latest obsession...(as if I am not already obsessed with enough!)

For an entire week (although I amazingly still got a ton of other things done and was really good at posting blogs while at work to cover up my obsession) I was totally engrossed in the last three Twilight Saga books!

I wasn't going to get all obsessed with them, I was sure.
Big mistake to jump to conclusions like that!
The first book was alright, but I had already seen the first two movies, and I just wasn't overly impressed, but I did want to read them, and I had kept them over Christmas (even though they were my sisters Christmas present) so I put them as top priority on my to do list!
It turned out it wasn't really much of a choice after I really got into it...I HAD to read them! Starting on New Years day (I had read the first few chapters earlier) I really got into New Moon..by Sunday I had started Eclipse and come Thursday-well I guess Friday because it was 1AM-I finished Breaking Dawn.
I loved them!

Kevin just laughed at me, because I haven't been so obsessed with reading a series (especially that fast) in...well, maybe ever! I wouldn't say they are my favorite books or anything, but I really did LOVE them. Now I really want to put Stephanie Meyer's other book, The Host, on my reading list. I really think she did a great job, and I love how everything turned out...it was how I wanted it to be in my head, and I love it when they actually end up the way I want them to!! In case you haven't read them I won't say anything more...just that you should clear up some time on your schedule and plan a nice sit-in with these fantastic books!

***

Over the weekend I cleared out my closets and cabinets etc. (I love the feeling you after getting rid of a car load of stuff, we still have more to clear out, but I was pleased with what I got done!) I also did the sewing and cutting I needed for my two swaps I had signed up for, so I didn't start any of the books for my challenges I had signed up for until Sunday night. I only got a few chapters in, but I am excited to read "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by Anne Bronte. Now I don't expect to get through it in a few days, like I did with the Twilight books, because reading that much isn't really healthy, it was ALL I could think about, and I have too many other things I like to fill my time with...but I do hope to make good time, because I have a ton of reading to do this year!!

***

Big news!!!!
(Well, OK, not really that exciting, but I am excited!)
My name was drawn as a winner for some cute Maverick Star quilt squares that a fellow blogger made, but decided she didn't want. I am excited to get them and see what I can do with them! I think my luck is changing!
All those little childhood scars of trying so hard and coming away a loser from the Hokey-Pokey at the skating rink are being smoothed over with some fabulous wins here in blogland!!

***

Also, I know I just posted about a giveaway yesterday, but I saw one today that is adorable, and I get 5 EXTRA CHANCES at winning if someone comments on her blog and says I sent you there...so if you get the time, please swing by here and leave a comment and mention that I sent you that way!! (It is open through Thursday.)
Also there is a chance to win a gift certificate for Dayspring here. The Nester, over at Nesting Place, is hosting a giveaway from Dayspring for a $50 gift certificate to be used on a customized sign by Danielson Designs. Very cute! Check it out here.

Have a FANTABULOUS Tuesday!

Another Giveaway!

As I was blog browsing today in between phone calls at work, I ran across this nice giveaway and had to pass along the word!

So go on and sign up as well! If you win you can always give it to me for my birthday. (Sure it is 6 months away, but who's counting? We can celebrate my birthday anytime...right!?!)


Also...I got some sewing (and cutting) done this weekend for the two swaps I signed up for, and popped them in the mail this morning on my way to my Dr. Appt. (Betsy, I finally got that mole looked at, they think it was most likely nothing, but just to be safe went ahead and took it off and sent it to the lab!)

Here everything cut up and ready to go for the Pink/Green/White No Sew Block Swap!
And here are the nine patch and Christmas tree blocks (12 total of each) for the Holly Jolly Block Swap! (Since the fabric was already a bit flashy (It has a good bit of gold in it), I went with a simple pattern, not sure it I should have done more or not, the nice thing is that you can easily add more to it, so if the people in my swap want more they can easily "decorate" the tree with ribbons, buttons, etc!)

Winter weather in GA!

We got some snow last year, but the temps were above freezing by the time we were heading into work, so there was no real danger to hitting ice or anything. This year however, we have less snow, but the temps are still in the teens and we really don't know how to handle that.

Kev had to work, but I get to stay home and off the roads! (Which is really a good thing considering my driving skills...I will be the first to admit I am NOT the best driver!)

So this is what leaves us helpless and stuck in our homes here in the ATL...

(Well, that or trying to fight our way to work with ice and 20+ car pile ups in our way...seriously, we are rendered helpless when snow and ice come our way!!)

(The two night pictures are from last night when it was snowing, the two daylight ones are from this morning...yeah that's right, I tried to hit Kevin with a snowball or two--too bad I have such bad aim!)

Reviews 1, 2 & 3

Over the long holiday weekend I ended up watching three movies from my list for the mini movie challenge that I signed up for!

1) Northanger Abbey (2007 version starring JJ Field and Felicity Jones)

I am pretty sure I have read this Jane Austen book, but it has been awhile, and I had never seen a movie version of this one before. So I was really excited when I got it for Christmas, and when my baby sister came over to hang out with me on new years eve and wanted to watch it, I was so happy to be blessed with such a wonderful little sister! (Something in all us Binkley girls just love anything/everything Austen!!)
I enjoyed this movie thoroughly... it doesn't go on my favorite list, like this version of Mansfield Park, but I did really enjoy it. The story in this one is really fun, with the main character having such a crazy imagination, because she reads too many novels! The actors were good looking, which I would say wouldn't matter, but I found out it did (read my review on movie #2) and I think that for the Austen heroines, Catherine is really quite a funny character. I feel that normally the Austen heroines are really complex characters, but Catherine is refreashingly young and adorable and a simpler character than normal. Not that she didn't have enough depth, just different. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE Austen's other heroines, I just liked the change of pace with this one!
If you are a Austen fan, or you like a victorian era movie, than I would certainly suggest giving this one a watch. It is worth your time! (It really made me want to read the book again, so we will see if I can fit that into my busy reading schedule soon!)

2) Persuasion (1999 version starring Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds)
This is another one I got for Christmas. I have watched a different version of this Austen classic before, and read the book, so I had a lot of expectations for this movie. I was a bit disappointed. I like the story in this one, but I wasn't impressed with the movie. It felt long, normally (even though Austen movies are often very long) I don't want them to end, but this one felt like it dragged on a bit. I am not sure why. It might have been that I stayed up too late the night before and so I was too tired when I watched this (I watched this with my sister on new years day morning), or maybe it was the actors, or director...I am not sure. I really can't remember much about the other film, because it has been too long since I watched it, but I saw that it will be airing on PBS soon, so I will have to watch it again. Back to the review: The actors were not beautiful in this film, which as I type this I want to kick myself for even thinking such a thing, forget typing it out, but lets face it....Hollywood has us setting EXTREMELY high standards when it comes to beauty in film and I wasn't impressed. Not that the actors weren't nice looking, just not what you feel like you would normally see in a movie! I guess I have become super shallow when it comes to the people I want to watch. How embarrassing, but I think that has to be at least part of it. I watch a ton of movies, so I think I am open to anything, but I was really kinda bored at parts in this film. Not entirely, I still liked it, and I am not saying I wouldn't ever watch it again, it just wasnt' as good as I had hoped. Maybe that is the problem right there, I had too high expectations for it!!

3) Sherlock Holmes (In theaters now starring Robert Downey, Jr, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams)

I was so excited to see this film, and I was still very pleased when I left the theater. That is saying something, because often times I get so excited about a film, it has no chance of living up to my expectations. I have never been I huge Robert Downey, Jr fan, but I thought he did a great job in this film The chemistry between him (as Sherlock Holmes) and Jude Law (as Dr. John Watkins) was great. (They were perfect as best friends!!) I love Rachel McAdams (plays Irene Adler). It was fun to see her as this style of character, I thought she did a great job with it. Maybe it is the director, I don't know, but I was truly entertained and left wanting more at the end. I would say that is a job well done for a movie, especially in this day of sequels, trilogies, etc. I remeber reading some Sherlock Holmes and watching either movies or tv specials about Sherlock Holmes growing up, and this was a fun new version of his character. I had always thought of him as being more refined, but maybe that was just because of what I had seen him portrayed as before. Although it wasn't like anything I had seen of Sherlock Holmes before, I bought into it and really enjoyed it. I would vote go see it!

*Warm and Fuzzy*

As I was getting ready to head out the door to work this morning,
I was going through my basket of all things warm (hats/gloves/scarfs that I keep by the front door)
and found this little warm and fuzzy that I didn't recognize.
I LOVE IT!!
It was perfect for an extremely cold day like today! It was in the teens today (and yesterday) as I drove into work.....TEENS people!!

I live in GA!!

Note: I realize that posting this online will most likely have the real owner of this little beauty call me...I don't remember buying it, or getting it as a gift, which means it is most likely something that belongs to a sister that got left at my house, so speak now or forever hold your peace, because I am falling in love with this little piece of heavenly warmth!!





On another note....

Something that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside when I see them:My Brazil (Salvador) paintings are finally hung!
Don't they look fan-tab-u-lous!!

(I got this done before Christmas, but I hadn't had a chance to post these yet!)

No Sew Block Swap

As I was browsing some of my favorite sewing blogs out in blogland today, I stopped in at Jane's blog and found out about a No Sew Block Swap that Kathleen over at Welcome to My World is hosting.

All you have to do is pick out a pattern from here and cut all the pieces for 9 blocks and send them in! How easy is that!! I signed up for it, and although I haven't heard back from her yet (I literally JUST signed up for it!) I am hoping that I can get in on the fun! (I would do the Pieced Star block in Pink/White/Green if I get in!!)

Here's to being optimistic!!
(and getting to work when I get home tonight, because I still need to finish my blocks for the Holly Jolly Swap also and get them both in the mail before the end of this month!!!)

Welcoming in 2010!

Wow! I can't believe it is really already 2010! 2009 really flew by. It was a very full and wonderful year, and I am looking forward to an even better year for 2010. I don't really like to make New Years Resolutions, because that is just another opportunity for me to fail at something, but I would like to make some challenges/goals for myself known to the online world, so maybe you can help encourage me along the way! (They aren't really new, most of them have been challenges/goals of mine for awhile!)

In 2009 I really enjoyed a ton of travel. I LOVE to travel and especially when I get to visit with friends or family AND see new places! I hope to do a good bit of traveling this year as well, but there really isn't anything in the actually planning stages except Washington DC in February. I am really excited about that, I haven't been to DC since I was around 11 or 12 I believe. In case you are wondering what my dream list of travel plans would be....here are a few places I would love to have on the travel list for this year:

Hawaii...my dear friend Natalie has just moved there to work on a YWAM base and will be there for 2 years, so I believe a visit to her will be a must...and would be a dream come true as well, so Lord willing Hawaii will be on the travel list this year!

Alaska has always been a place I wanted to visit, so maybe we can add that to our list for sometime over the summer this year. I really want to see the beautiful Northern Lights someday, so wouldn't that be an amazing place to put on the travel list for 2010!?!

Kevin really wants to see New Zealand, and I am never one to turn down an opportunity to visit a new place, so if that worked out I would be ecstactic!! (Hey if we are dreaming here we might as well dream big right!?!?!)

OK, back to reality and making my goals for 2010 known...

I really fell back in love with sewing last year, and I hope to continue to develope that passion. I have gone a bit crazy lately with my fabric purchases, so I will have plenty to keep me busy for ages to come with some new projects.

These gloves I had read about online and so I picked up a pair, I used them for my last finish of 2009 (the quilt at the bottom of this group of pictures) and I LOVED it! It was SO much easier with the gloves than it had been without!!

Here is one of my other presents from Kev a container for my thread and a new circle cutting tool (and a $50 gift card to Joanns!! Do I have an awesome hubby or what!!)

I signed up for a challenge in November for finishing up some UFO's and I am over the moon with pride that I got 6 out of the original 10 I signed up for finished, and another one that I had forgotten about. Plus I started and finished a Christmas quilt (a wall hanging I did as present for my mom) and started some other Christmas projects. I did more completions in the last two months of 2009 than I had done in the last 2 years, and so I am over joyed. (Signing up for 10 finishes was really shooting for the stars, but again I tend to do that...I kinda aim for the stars, go big or go home right?) So anyhow, the goal for 2010 is to continue to improve my sewing skills and hopefully learn how to use the embroidery machine my dear hubby got for me for Christmas (2008) that I still haven't tried to tackle. It really scares me for some reason. I think I am afraid of failure and machines are kinda scary to me! (Speaking of Christmas presents, I am typing this up on my present from hubby this year...a new laptop!! Love it!!)

Other than sewing I really want to work on making time for other interests. I love to sing and play the guitar, but I never seem to make time for it, so I hope to be better at time management this year and enjoy a better variety of activities when I am not at work! Reading will be another interest that will be taking up a good bit of time this year, since I signed up for two reading challenges for this year, and I really want to finish the Twilight books before I see my sister again. (Yeah, I know I am a truly selfish person for keeping her present and giving her some "filler" books to keep her busy in the meantime, but thankfully she is my older sister and is used to me by now and loves me anyhow!! I really have been "bitten" by the Twilight madness and I finished the second book in record time...at least for me...and so I hope to be able to get the other two finished quickly as well so that I can get these books to her when she comes up for a wedding in two weeks...plus I need to get started on the books for my challenge if I am going to even attempt to reach that goal!!)

I read about a 365 challenge, where you take a picture every day of the year, but if I had thought I had a chance at completing that challenge, the idea was blown out of the possibility list when I didn't take a picture yesterday...wow! I didn't even get ONE day!! But, maybe I could make it for one picture per week!?! (Hey! Actually I did take a picture yesterday!! It was of my quilt that I finished on new years eve, which is one of the pictures above! "What-whhhhaaat! I am not starting the year out as a failure!!" But, I still think that taking a picture everyday would not be an attainable goal, so I will challenge myself with one a week, which is still questionable as to whether I will be able to do that, but I think I just may!!)

New Years Eve was spent at home with my baby sister. Since Kev has to work every New Years Eve (Chick-fil-a Bowl) I am used to making plans to be elsewhere, but I really just wanted to be at home this year, thankfully my sister Mary thought a relaxing night at my house full of movies was the perfect night as well! (I was really glad not to have to be by myself!) So we watched a ton of movies (including some for my mini movie challenge that I signed up for ) both Thursday night and Friday morning and chilled at my house! It was wonderful! Don't worry, we did watch the apple (NY) and peach (ATL) drop on t.v. between movies so that we could jump up and down with excitement for the new year at the right time!!

Oops! I keep distracting myself...back to the goals!!

Last, but not least, I really do want to do better about my health this year! If I want to continue to dream that my body will ever decide to work properly and let me have the wonderful experience of becoming a mother I need to take better care of myself. So the goal for 2010 is to be braver about trying new foods (I can't live in fear!! I don't want to let IC rule my life!) and I want to be better about exersize. I REALLY DON'T LIKE to exersize, but after a workout, I really do feel better about myself, so I want to make an effort to exersize more often, and more than that, to be joyful in that exersize. I have so much to be greatful for, although I have plenty inside of me that doesn't work properly I do have two legs and two arms that work properly, so I should really take advantage of that and work hard to keep my body in shape and as healthy as possible!

So to recap:

1) I want to continue to enjoy sewing and improve and learn new things (embroidery machine here I come!!)

2) I want to limit my time in front of the tube (although I do really love to zone out in front of it after a long day at work!!) and spend some of my free time at home pursuing some of my other passions: reading, singing, guitar playing, etc.

3) I want to develope my love of photography by taking a picture (and sharing with you or coarse!) every week!

4) I want to explore this big and beautiful world we live in whenever the opportunity presents itself

5) I want to take better care of myself...because lets face reality here, the main thing I would love to have happen this year, more than ANYTHING ELSE would be to become a mother!

Here's to a wonderful and exciting new year

filled with opportunity!!