Trying Tuesday - Just like to be busy

This is going to sound weird but I started giving more time to my volunteer agency of choice.  It seems like once a month for 3 or 5 hours is not enough.  I asked my coordinator if he might need some help at the office.  It was last month when I mentioned it to him and now he has taken my offer.  So I go into the office twice a week for 4 hours to help out with whatever needs to get done.  I love what I am doing because I can help him get organized and I keep my mind working.  It is not going to be a permanent one, just temporarily until things get back to normal.  This way I can still do some of my sewing, crafts and or whatever it is I would like to do.  Last week since the three days of the week I was home, I decided to do more sewing.  I bought this fabric that was so attractive for $1.99 and I knew it would become something useful.  The fabric was not very big and I had to make sure I plan my project so I can get the most out of this.  If someone buys them for a very cheap price, it would still be a profit.  Although my labor is not included in the price because it will make the item a little too expensive.  To me, it is just for fun and I can always use it as gifts for any occasion.

I was able to make two of these tote bag aka shopping bag.

Then I made three of these flat iron/curling iron (small type) travel case.  

Sweetest Sunday - Not for diabetics

As much as I love trying new sweet treats, I know that I can only try it just as a taste test.  In fact all the baking I did around the holidays are still in the freezer.  Sometimes it's nice to have handy when neighbors come over or maybe I'll take some assorted treats when I do my volunteer.  But one good benefit of having them around is when I need something very sweet when I am experiencing low blood sugar specially during the middle of the night.  It's a life saving treat.  Although Jeff has not problem snacking on some of these treats, he prefers his favorite chocolate chip cookies that he makes.  While I prefer the different assortment of treats specially when you are arranging them on a small plate.  They look amazing and so mouth watering.  Last week I tried a new recipe by Ina Gartner and it turned out so yummy.

#5 artisan bread that comes out perfect each time - thank you Pinterest

Ina Garten's granola bar

Assorted plate with brownies, almond bark, macarons, 7 layer bar, pecan cookies.

Freehand Friday - Quick paintings

Now you are probably going to say, it must be another snowy day.  Correct.  I need to make use of the days that I stay indoors and be productive.  Since I have not done any painting since before Christmas, I took out the paint brushes, acrylic paints and four very small frames.  You might ask, how small are there?  They are 4 in. x 4 in ready to paint canvas from the Dollar store.  I had done a couple for my sister while she was visiting and she really liked it.  Now I am doing 4 for my room or for someone who might like it and it will become a gift (souvenir from my collections).  The next project I completed was a sign for our front door.  Since we have taken the Christmas decor from the front door, it looks empty.  I needed to make something that will be great for all year round.  Of course I would make up some other theme ones like (Valentines or Easter, etc),  I actually got this idea from a floor mat that I saw at one of the stores.  I wanted to get it but by the time we return to that particular store, they mats were gone.  That is why I am making one as a door sign. 

 

Summer

Autumn

Spring

Winter

Seasons Collection

Threading Tuesday - Back to sewing and more

Every morning when I look at the window and there is still snow, I end up back in my sewing room creating new projects and or finishing something I had started.  After the middle of the month, my contents ended and there was only 3 entries therefore everyone was a winner.  All of them received their prizes and everyone is happy with what they received.  So you are probably wondering what I have done in the last few days.  Here's some of the photos and although not everything was sewn, it was still something that I made. I feel bad that during the snow days, Jeff does the shoveling and I usually stay indoors and do crafts or chores, etc. By the way after all these years of making those easy NO SEW fleece blanket for others, I finally made one for myself.  

Scarf for my BFF who is a Montreal Canadiens loyal fan.

This was part of his prize for entering my contest.

My new patriotic reversible blanket - just plain red on the other side.

In case you are wondering what these are, my daughter showed us great floor exercises using these.

Sacked Sunday - Not for Brady

If the Patriots win today then it means I will have a Superbowl party in our new home and invite some of the neighbors.  But if Tom gets sacked more than once, I am not sure if I can take it.  What is funny is that I didn't know any of these football terminology except for TOUCHDOWN.  But since I moved to San Jose where football is everywhere and almost everyone you talk too is cheering either the 49ers or Raiders, I began to really pay attention to the game and with Jeff's help and even my bff from Houston.  Susan even came to visit up since the Superbowl last year was in San Jose at the Levi's Stadium.  Every time I watch now I pay attention to some of the rules and some of the challenges and reviews.  What is good about the DVR is that we can record as many games being covered by different stations.  As well as I can rewind to check out what really happened, ask Jeff if it was not clear to me what the flag was about.  But when the Patriots are playing, I get very edgy on our couch.  This Sunday I won't be wearing all my gear but maybe just my favorite t-shirt.  I started checking Pinterest as far as ideas for my maybe Superbowl party.  In fact I already have the Patriots napkins which was the leftover from last year.  I told my good friend Gord from Ontario that I might need his help to make the squares for the game if I did have a party.  The winner will get a chance to pick whatever charity they wish to donate the winnings.  Now here's some of the treats I want to make for our party.  GO PATRIOTS GO.

Spanish Saturday - Together is better

When you live in a place where winter months are long and cold, you will need something to do indoors that does not require a lot of energy.  This is when we decided to take a new hobby, that's right.  We are learning the language of Spanish and we are doing it together.  Now one might ask, why Spanish and not French.  Our response is simple.  We think it is easier than French.  In addition to that, my other first language is Tagalog and we have a lot of similar words to Spanish.  I believe it was because the country was under Spaniards for some years.  Another reason is that Jeff actually took Spanish with his buddy Carlos many moons ago.  In fact he still kept his textbooks and notebook for that class.  At first I started it and then Jeff realized I was having fun with it.  After a few days, he began his lessons.  Sometimes he would ask for my help when he is getting stuck with a particular word.  That is when I thought that I would wait for him to catch up with me, so we can be in the same lesson together.  We found out later that together is better.  When we get stumped with a word or two, we seek each other's help but not trying to outdo each other as to how many correct answers we can do in a row.  Although Jeff knows that I am just a tad ahead of him.  I almost forgot to say that when I first moved to San Jose, my MIL and I took some lessons at the senior center to kill some time.  It cost us $1 per class so we kept going until we got bored.  The teacher was not that great and although I had fun helping him create new flash cards for our class, after a while he was just annoying since we just learned words but never really put them together.  DUOLINGO is the way to go.  I have it on my phone and my Kindle.  Luckily for me, my BFF from Mississauga, Ontario is fluent in this language.  Once in a while we do our text in Spanish just to practice and we also do a video chat when we need some questions regarding conjugation.  Now we all need to practice it somewhere.  Maybe I can convince Jeff that we need to get away for a week at an all inclusive resort where they speak Spanish.  Probably Dominican Republic would be our first choice.  If this cold weather stays longer than expected, we might want to reconsider and actually go somewhere warm. LOL

Tricky Thursday - Cosmetics life span

The beginning of the year seems to be a good time to do some tidying up and cleaning whatever it is you have been putting it off since last year.  So I started cleaning my cosmetic drawer beginning with washing all the brushes.  But what really got me to really do some purging of old make up is when my eyes got all red and part of the white of the eye got a little swollen.  As I recall what I did that day, I thought it would have been the change of mascara. I opened a new purple one that my daughter gave me some time last year.  It was timely that my annual eye check up was the next day.  During the examination, I told the optometrist what happened. She told me that it probably was not the mascara since I had it on for almost the whole day and it didn't irritate my right eye until around 4 pm.  She then asked if I was doing something with glue.  Well, that was the answer, I was in fact doing some crafts and using hot glue and sometimes, little bit of it gets under my nail.  I must have touch my eyes and this little particle got in.  When glue gets wet in your eyes, they react to it, TA DA.  Mystery solved.  After this experience, I truly cleaned out the drawer of everything that is older than 3 months.  Then I went out and bought the basic make up I needed.  Loose powder, trio eye shadow and plain black mascara.  By the way, I used the following chart that my daughter sent me a few months ago.  Now I will be using this guide and I actually have written on the make up the date I started using it.  It is funny that it had been a while since I bought my own stuff since I have been spoiled through the years of receiving free make up from my daughter and her sister in law.  So when I was shopping for the items, I didn't realize how expensive things are now a days.  I am retired so technically I don't wear make up unless I am going out plus I am on a budget for this type of things.  LOL

Here's what I ended up getting at the Superstore and so far I am happy with them.  And since I now have to be careful regarding life span of each item, I would not have any problem throwing it away if I get bored with it or if I start having some type of reactions.