Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday verse

Psalm 100

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
And his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Happy Sunday!
~Amber

Saturday, February 26, 2011

new bedding - no weigh-in/workout

Well no weigh-in/workout post today. Sorry! I let my Weight Watchers membership lapse. Well if you want the real truth I freaked out 3 weeks ago and cancelled but I had already paid through last week so I continued going. I was just having a weak moment, lol. But anyways, I will probably rejoin - and since I'm a lifetime member I never have to pay anything additional to join - I just pay the weekly fee or the monthly fee. So no big deal.

I've been doing well on my cardio but I've been struggling to get a good strength workout in. I don't want to do the same thing every time I go to the gym and that's not effective.

So starting Monday - I'm going to begin the awesome strength workout in the book "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" - I see promising things for this. And will let you know how it goes. :}


We also went to Target and picked out new bedding - I'm soooo excited. I love the brightness that it brings to the room. And I love the detail - so pretty. Of course Boots had to be in a picture - he thinks he owns the bed =) And yet again pictures at night with bad lighting - so sorry, I just couldn't wait to share.


Thursday, February 24, 2011

zippers and zippered pouches

I've been really wanting to learn how to make a zippered pouch and well, this week I've made two.

Small:



Large:



And I will be able to try my hand at perfecting the pouch - those two were definitely learning experiences and I learned a lot from them that I will do different for my next one.

I received 35 zippers in the mail today. =)

~Amber

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday verse

This morning I was answering some questions in a workbook from a study I'm doing and these verses were mentioned:

Hebrews 12:5-8
5-6
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he acceps as his child."
7-8
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

This was very thought-provoking to me and helps put struggles into perspective. It also helps me understand how some people seem to get away with anything and may seem never to get punished for their behavior or the hurtful words they say. How sad this is and these are the people we really need to pray for.

Happy Sunday! Spend it with your loved ones!

~Amber

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Weigh-in Saturday!

Alright, I'm freshly back from Weight Watchers.

Well, I heard, "Ok, I got you." Now I told you what this means last week. I gained .2 lbs. I'm fine with this based on the fact that I know I did a lot better this week than I did for the last 3 weeks. The human body is odd. I was cheating all over the place the last few weeks and maintained my weight and then really concentrated on making wise choices this week and gained. But 2/10ths of a pound is small stuff in this journey I'm on.

As far as exercise - our week runs from Tuesday through Monday. I am currently at 9.3 miles this week and I am headed to Salem Lake in just a few to put several more miles under my belt.

It has been a good week - thanks for checking up with me!

"Yes I can!"

xoxo
Amber

Friday, February 18, 2011

What I'm working on...

Well, I know it's been several days since I've posted so here's an update on what I'm working on...

I made my first purse/tote style bag this evening. It turned out ok. I like the fabric I used on the inside better than the outside. Go figure! But I'm just happy that I was able to finish it and I think I learned a lot from it. Hopefully I can design something that I like way better very soon.

I also wanted to share a few more star blocks from the quilt I am currently working on. I obviously need to take these pictures during the day with natural light and I have a lot to learn about taking pictures but you get what you get. ;)








There you have it! Thanks for looking and please if you would "follow me" - I could really use some more followers.

xoxo
Amber

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

I thought today would be the perfect time to introduce you to my Valentines!

My husband Thomas, Lucky Ducky, and me

We were married on April 24, 2005 - I will share more about us on our anniversary. :)

This is my first-born Boots Joaquin. He is my mischievious cat. I'm convinced he enjoys driving me crazy! He knows just how to push my buttons. But I love him just the same.

Boots was 5 in August.

This is my second kitty Petunia June. She's my sweet kitty.

Petunia was 4 in November.

And then Lucky Ducky. Lucky is very loyal.

Lucky was 2 on January 1.

Alright, that's us. I'm sure you will see a lot of us. =)

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo
Amber

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sunday verse

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

I love this verse - it brings great comfort.

These words are included in an awesome song by Lincoln Brewster called "Everlasting God.". Check it out!

xoxo

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Alright, it's Saturday - which means it's workout day and weigh-in day at Weight Watchers...

Ok, well maybe I skipped a couple of weigh-ins. Two to be exact but it had been three weeks since I last stepped foot in Weight Watchers. What's wrong with me, you ask? Well, I let my emotions get the best of me and I was being lazy, making excuses. But I faced it today and I stepped on that scale and I actually maintained my weight. Honestly, that was great news! When you step on the scale and they don't say anything other than, "ok, I got you" that means you gained. Hehe - but to me she said, "you maintained!" O boy, I thought this is great for my mental health because I was worried I had somehow completely ruined it. Could it ever really be completely ruined? NO! Of course not but that's the negative inner thoughts I constantly have. I suspect I'm not alone. We can do it ladies!

So anyways, I thought I would make Saturday my weigh-in/workout day checkup on the blog.

Since beginning Weight Watchers this last time I've lost 6.5 lbs. I have much more that I want to lose but I don't want to undermine the progress I have already made.

What you should know about me is that I'm a lifetime Weight Watcher member. Wow, shouldn't that mean that this hasn't been a struggle for me. Man do I wish that was the case. I achieved lifetime status nearly seven years ago. And I'm still struggling but I will not give up.

I will learn to love myself as is and enjoy the process of becoming healthier! Yes I will! Yes I can! This reminds me of the movie "The Nutty Professor." In the movie he gets to the part where he is eating his ice cream I believe and watching TV. On the TV, Richard Simmons is giving some encouraging words and Professor Klump gets up stomping repeating "yes I can." Well that's me today. =)

So my weight checkup reads as follows.

Down 6.5 lbs

My workout checkup involves a 15-mile a week challenge that my husband and I are doing. If we do at least 15 miles a week of activity/60 miles a month (doesn't have to just be running although, I do like for several of the miles to be ground pounding as I call it) then we each get $50 a month to spend on whatever we want. So that junk he buys that I nag him for - well I try not to nag him because he can spend his $50 on that and that is his choice because he earned it and the same goes for me. This challenge has actually been very inspiring and has kept me in the workout mode - I mean I want my $50! I also strength train but I don't have specific goals for that - just know I do it!

During the month of January I did 83.87 miles. I blew the 60 out of the water. Many of those miles were earned in spin class though, and it is much easier to get a lot of miles under your belt on the bike. But I still did those miles so they count.

So far in February I have done 25.39 miles so I've got a ways to go but as I said I let my emotions get the best of me and starting today remember my motto, "yes I can!" And I will! And to offer more of an excuse why I'm not further along - well I haven't been to spin class this month - most of my miles have been pounding that ground. =)

Alright, there you have it - me getting real with myself.

Til next Saturday - let's hope I'm down next week!

xoxo
Amber

Friday, February 11, 2011

What I'm working on

Here are a few of my favorite blocks that I'm working on for my current quilt and a picture of my friend, the sewing machine. =)









Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Look what came in the mail! =)


Following the advice from Gussy http://www.gussysews.com/ I picked up "bend-the-rules SEWING" and I saw a suggestion for the other book somewhere on facebook and grabbed it off of Amazon too.

So excited to expand my sewing horizons!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Introducing me!!

Hi!

My name is Amber. I'm a 20-something mother of 3 children of the pet kind and married (6 years) to a wonderfully wonderful man.:) I have known how to crochet at least half of my life and I'm in my third quilting class. I'm really itching to break out and really get to sewing new things "beyond the quilt."

This blog is a lot more than just sewing though. It's my journey through life, what I'm up to, what I find encouraging, what God is doing in my life, and just living life "silly side up." I will share all of my sewing projects but I'll be filling in the middle with lots of good stuff!

Join me!

xoxo
Amber