Some Fabric Notes

Ugh, let's not even get started on how I feel, okay?  I have a zulu of a cold (see: 12 Angry Men) and I currently can't taste anything but I'm so hungry.  Why would my body do this to me?  Because it's mean, that's why.  I still can't trust it.

Anyway, just a few things.

Yay!  Heather Ross Far Far Away III!  I could only afford 1/2-yard of each of the fabrics shown because the prices are insane, but worth it.  What should I make?  I'm still on the fence about having kids, and I'm convinced I'll only get boys (curses!), so I'm hesitant to make something and put it away.  Any ideas?  Truth be told, I'll probably just make Ice Cream tops out of them and call it a day.  

Shameless, free promotion: I bought the Girls with Horses print at Pink Chalk Fabrics, and the other three are from Alewives Fabrics.  I love Alewives because Rhea, the owner, is pretty much living out my dream, owning a fabric store with her mom and being awesome.  Sigh.  One day.

Also, in an effort to make myself feel better, I took advantage of the Ann Taylor Loft sale online last week.  Did you know that I have, like, five different sizes from that dumb store in my closet right now, and they all fit?  Tell me, how does that make sense?

That's me at the office today in my new embellished linen shift.  I love linen but it'd be so much better if it wasn't a mess as soon as I sat down.  I don't know where that pimple came from, because it wasn't there when I was doing my make up this morning.  Anyway, I just wanted to show off the beading.  Full disclosure: I was totally wearing Spanx under that (I said it fits, not that it fits well!  Or maybe it fits a little too well...)

Anyway, I've gotta figure out what to eat that won't make me feel bad for missing out on the taste.  Oatmeal?  Lame.

Repent!

Ugh, I'm so sorry it's been forever.  Last week was the kidney infection, and just as my insides were starting to feel good again, I came down with Nick's cold.  So I've been dealing with a sre throat, hurty eyes, headaches and sinuses that just won't stop.  All in the middle of summer!  Aren't I lucky.

Subsequently, not a whole lot has been going on.  I did throw out tons of produce yesterday--we bought it the weekend I got the kidney infection and I didn't feel like eating for almost an entire week--including two pints of cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, limes, a cucumber that was actually growing mold, potatoes that smushed in my hand...it's really sad and I feel awful when that happens, but I just didn't feel good.  Now we have no produce and I'm not going to Safeway until this weekend, dammit.

I haven't sewn in a few weeks either.  Either I haven't had the energy or I haven't had the motivation, but both are linked to the awful insides I've had lately.  I finally sat down and read a pattern last night (for the Oliver + S Playdate dress, if you must know), and I'm hoping to work on it this weekend, but, sigh, I'm just tired, you guys!  I've had a lot of work to do lately and very little sleep and I'm just not feeling it.

Anyway, so right now my mind is on the near future.  We're trying to decide what to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas, because Nick won't have the time to go home for both holidays.  I'm hoping someone will make it up here for one of the holidays and we can go home for the other, but people in Florida are just so unwilling to leave!  (Dad.)  (This is all guessing, but I'm also guessing I'm right.)  I'm also trying to narrow down Christmas presents, as I'd like to make something for everyone.  However, how will that play into the spending limit, if there is one, and will everyone think I'm lame?  Most likely.

As you can see, you haven't missed much.  One last note: if you have a ton of cherries you don't want to throw out (yay, I saved something!), make this.  I didn't use sour cherries, just bing, and I made it in an 8 x 8 pan so it's a bit fluffier and more like coffee cake.  Delicious!  Nicholas has banned me from taking any to work because he said he wants to eat it all.  So far, he isn't doing a bad job.

Have a great 4th!  Tell me exciting stories!

Why I no longer trust my body

Since my last post, a few things have happened.  I had a great weekend, bought a pair of madras shorts, and Nick tried the lobster roll at Panera.  (I know, it sounds weird, and it kinda was.  Instead of a butter sauce there was remoulade.  Ew.)  But I also got a bad kidney infection.  I've never had one before, so this is new, very scary territory for me.  Sunday afternoon I was nauseous and just thought maybe my Kashi Heart to Heart breakfast was bad?  It was a stretch, but I didn't have another explanation.

Sunday night I went to bed early, after suffering on the couch.  I had a fever, chills, extreme nausea and couldn't explain any of it.  I was freaked out and scared.  Yesterday morning, at 4 AM, I woke up and felt like I was dying.  Everything hurt.  I looked up the symptoms, and all signs pointed to a kidney infection.  It also said I needed immediate medical assistance, so of course I worried that waiting the 12 hours or so since the first sign of symptoms would surely lead me to the grave.

I lied awake until 6, when I woke Nick up.  He was tired and also didn't feel good, so he was less than sympathetic, though at 6 AM, it's hard to be anything but pissy.  I talked to my mom, drove Nick to work, and after finding out my usual doctor didn't treat them, got an appointment with another doctor, who confirmed my suspiscions: it was a kidney infection, and it was bad.

So I'm still suffering.  I'm taking antibiotics but they haven't kicked in yet (or they haven't kicked in enough).  I worked from home yesterday and left early today because I had felt like I was going to keel over since about mid-morning.  I barely have an appetite thanks to this, so I can count on one hand what I've eaten in 48 hours.  I'm hot and cold, nauseous and fine, and today, I was pretty sure my right kidney was heading for the hills, because something in there was kicking its way out.

I heard that kidney infection pain is on par with early labor pain, and honestly, that scares the crap out of me.  I just laid there and cried for hours yesterday, it was so painful.  Maybe this is the final adoption straw?

Here are some pictures from the weekend.  I'm sorry there are no kidney pictures--believe me, if there had been a sonogram, the pictures would be here.

The Nationals vs. Orioles game.  Nats won!

Dippin' Dots!  I don't even know the last time I had these.

Nationals Park

Nate, Nick and me.  Nate came up from base in Virginia Beach to join us at the game.

Giant-headed Abe Lincoln

Ben's Chili Bowl at Nationals Park (Nick's second lunch in 1 hour)

Abe and George, together at last.

The Geico Gecko, my personal hero.

District Taco in Arlington, VA.  I love this place!

Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD

Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD

Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD.  This is an old church that has been converted to law offices.  Irony.

Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD, and my ghost purse

Time to go rest.  Eleanor's a pretty crappy nurse, but she'll have to do until Nick gets home.

Purl Soho is the Plastics

The women at Purl Soho in New York make me feel like an unpopular teenager again, and I've never met them.

I read the Purl Bee and love love love everything they make, even if it's a little weird.  (I'm pretty sure my dad wouldn't wear monogrammed cufflinks, and I don't really want to make myself a garter, but I'm glad the options are there!)  And I always feel inadequate.  Remember how my last Purl project turned out?  Yeah.  What a mess.  And everything they do always looks so great!

For that reason, I feel like, if I were to meet them, I'd be totally in awe and they'd immediately cast me aside, like I'm back in middle school.  What?  You can't believe I was unpopular in middle school?  Well, let me tell you, red hair, the body of a twentysomething and five years' worth of braces do not equal happy teenage times.  Just trust me on that.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, last night, famed Purl blogger Molly posted her version of the Lisette Traveler dress.  A dress I've never even considered.  And now?

I want it.



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 In all its Liberty Lawn glory, it's gorgeous and I'd bet it feels amazing.  I'd also bet a mere mortal attempts this dress (see: me) and it somehow makes her look even dumpier than a potato sack.  Hmph.

Anyway, you can read the rest of the glorious dress here.  God, why can't I be as cool as she?

Happy Friday, yall.

Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips

Please tell me you've tried these.  They're my absolute favorite.  In fact, I just spent $1.10 on a teeny bag of them in the cafe downstairs, and if I had actually thought about it, I probably could've bought a whole bag for that price while grocery shopping over the weekend.  Oh well.

I'm just really hungry, and when you're hungry, all logic goes out the window.

You know what else went out the window?  The plans for our anniversary.  They were cancelled before they even began.  So now I'm at a loss for what I should get Nick.  Do you think he'll accept dinner, cake and a tie and think it's the best thing ever?  Or will I be seen as a cheapskate?  I ponder as I fit an entire Sun Chip in my mouth. 

I also worked on the Sew Mama Sew Pretty Blouse last night.  It's free!  Why not!  Why not?  Because it makes me look like I'm six months pregnant.  That's why not.  Oh well.

This has been the longest week of my entire life.  I just want to be in bed.

Wednesday's Thoughts

I like this blog much more when it's just rambling.  Who has time for discussions anymore?  Not this girl, that's for sure.

• Due to a very old Fresh Air interview with Jay-Z on the Metro this morning (I was in a non-music mood) and reading Nat the Fat Rat's archives in my downtime, I have this newfound urge to move to New York.  I've never even been there!  And from what I hear, it's cold, smelly, dirty, and filled with crazies.  But I want to go!
• My boyfriend just messaged me to say he can't wait until Dogfish Head 120 Minute comes out this/next week, and it will be $30 for a four-pack.  This is my world.
• After seeing an incredibly large, naked, pregnant stomach, I've officially closed up shop in my uterus.  That just simply isn't going to be my thing.
• Still no closer to discovering who I am.  How must it feel to just know, in your bones, that you're meant to be a mother, or a lawyer, or a doctor, or a writer?  Because I don't have that feeling, and I'd love to know where I'm going.
• Why don't people pick up their feet when they walk?  Stop shuffling around.  (Said Betsy.)
• It's only Wednesday?  Really?



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Oh yeah.  And all I can think about is Christmas.

Be Still My Heart

You guys...

That's right.  That's an Adams Morgan Mellow Mushroom official website.  Which means it'll be open soon.  Like any day now.  (Okay, not really, but seriously, I'm excited.)

This just made my week.  Now, back to work!

Life-long To-Do List

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Here are some things I'd like to do in the next year, two years, three years, five years, hundred years:

• Embroidery, such as the above Sarah Jane Studios pattern.  I used to do Sublime Stitching a million years ago, but I didn't really have anything to do with it.  I made a couple tea towels and called it a day.  Now I'd like to actually make things.  It'd be easier if I had a kid, but I don't, nor do I want one anytime soon, so it looks like I'm at Gracie's will.  Hopefully she won't be too much of a tomboy.
• Be successful.  At something.  Something I enjoy.  I'm still fleshing this one out, but everyday I sit in an office is another day I wish I had the money to open my own business.
• Open my own fabric store.  And make it awesome, not dowdy or weird.  If I could be surrounded by creativity everyday, and creativity of my own making, I think I'd be happy.
• Bake bread.  I eat enough of it; I should contribute some to the world.
• See the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I want to do this before I have kids.  I want it to just be me and Nick, and I want to watch it from a hotel window so I don't actually have to deal with any crowds.  I thought about doing that this year, but the prices are ridiculous.
• Pay off all my credit cards.  This is boring but true.  I'm getting closer, but I'll still have a couple big ones for a while.
• Live far, far away.  Further away even than now.  This move has taught me that I did not die by moving far away, and neither did anyone else.  We can do it.  It's crazy hard and sometimes you just wanna cry, but you do it anyway, because someone still has to make dinner and pay bills.
• Have good hair.  I constantly look in the mirror and think, "Now, if only my hair would cooperate..."  However, I'm sure that once my hair is under control, I'll have something to say about my skin or, eyebrows, or something.  Whatever.
• Grow tomatoes.  See: bake bread.
• Manage my stress.  A personal one, but still relevant.  Whether it's anxiety or panic attacks, I tend to have stress issues frequently and always have.  I don't like to resort to medications (bad experiences / I tend to think things aren't as bad as they really are) but I would like to have the time to go to yoga or something, as a way to manage it.
• Live close to my family.  After living far away, if we could all come back together, that'd be great.

I kinda just want to figure out who I am, I guess.  Do you know who you are yet?  Do you have any tips for someone like me?

Long Week!

I know, I know, it's been forever since I updated. It's been a long, busy week, people. Work has been crazy and I've been doing the little sleep/lots of work cycle since I got back. When does that end? Honestly.

My parents left Florida for my dad's leadership meeting in Gettysburg on Friday. They stopped here in beautiful Silver Spring, Maryland, Saturday for the night, so I was able to take them around. They hadn't visited since we left Florida, so everything was new and exciting, at least in their eyes.

We went to Matchbox Rockville for lunch yesterday. Not gonna lie, I wasn't a fan. The food was overpriced for what it is (just pizza) and the waiter had an attitude, even though it took him 15 minutes just to say hello to us. Ugh.

My dad has been sick, so we left him at the hotel while Nicholas and I walked around with my mom downtown. When we lived in Maryland before, we never went through Bethesda, Rockville or Silver Spring. We walked in and out of stores and drove around different neighborhoods, finding gorgeous little houses. We even discovered that Kensington is less than 10 minutes away. We never knew!

Unfortunately they left this morning before we were out of bed, so we said our goodbyes last night. It was so much fun seeing them though. And now they know where I live!

Today we've just been running errands and doing chores. Oh and getting yelled at by cops. That's always fun. I wish they sold anti-anxiety meds over the counter because I'm still reeling from this morning and it's been nearly four hours.

How was your weekend? I'm hoping for a fun week. I'd like to at least get some sewing done, now that my machine is fixed. I have no idea what was wrong with it; my mom took it all apart and never found a nest or anything. Oh well, it's all better now!

Happy Sunday! Have a great week!

Think Tifton!

Oh my gosh.  It's been a long week!  Well, short, but super busy.

Thursday night I left for Florida.  After flying through a lightning storm and making friends with my plane neighbor, I finally got into Jacksonville and headed to my parents' house.  Blah blah blah, worked all day Friday (and ate lunch at Sonny's with Paco and Jake - I really missed barbecue), and finally left for Tifton Saturday, which is when we had the party.

All in all, I had a really fun time, and now I'm tired.  I made friends with Gracie, even though she wanted nothing to do with the clothes I made her.  No really, it's cool, kid, just remember that when you decide in twenty years you want to sew but you don't want your mom to teach you because that wouldn't be cool.  Luckily for her, I love Grace and Jesse enough to not deprive them of clothes just because of that.  That would be crazy.

Now I'm back at work and ready to go back home and sleep.  Typical.



Yuengling and flowers.  Those bouquets were the cheap ones from Publix and they're still going five days later, even after sitting in a hot car overnight!



Old doctor's tools from the Agrirama.  Ew.



Cupcakes and decorations



Fat Tire!  Thank you, Georgia!

Old bike in a shed

A large, open lot with one statue of a naked woman in the middle.  What?

Winnie dog!

Ice Cream dress in Sherbet Pips - front

Ice Cream dress in Sherbet Pips - back

Jake and Kali getting ready for the party

The food - a low country boil

DC from the Yellow Line

 So how was your weekend?

Sad Day

Ugh, you guys.

I broke my sewing machine.

I was sewing the Sherbet Pips Ice Cream dress last night, and suddenly the bobbin case got all tangled up.  I did what I normally do and I cut the thread, pulled the scraps and the bobbin out, and rethreaded it.  But I'm guessing there's some thread stuck in there somewhere, because the hand wheel is really resistant and rethreading it just makes it go haywire.

I can't get the needle plate off because my screwdriver won't fit in there.  I'm going to work on it more tonight, but still, ugh.  Thankfully my mom has a machine up and ready so I can finish Grace's dress.

I'm glad I'm leaving tomorrow for five days, because if I had to be at home for the next week and a half without my machine, I'd probably go crazy.