Do you think you need a winter hat on Memorial Day?

 I hope everyone had a very happy Memorial Day weekend!  We have been out of town for a few days having fun in Island Park (just outside of West Yellowstone.)  Before I left I wondered what weather of clothes I should pack. I decided to throw in some winter clothes because who knows what the weather will be like in the mountains.  I am sure glad that I did because it was pretty much winter the whole time we were there.

Here is a picture off of the deck of the cabin we stayed in. Yes, the die hard fishermen in my family still went out on the lake fishing!

I guess the fish don't mind the cold because the fishing was successful!

Even the bears were in the snow!

We spent most of the time inside or if we were outside we were bundled up! 

Come on! It is almost the first of June! 

At the last minute I threw in this hat that I had been working on.

It is knit and I liked the band that wrapped around and buttoned. I kind of made up the pattern, but liked how it turned out.

On my early morning runs this hat was greatly appreciated by my ears.

I have another hat that I have been working on.

This one was a special order for a little girl whose Dad is a BIG UTAH fan!

He can't wait for football season to start so his little princess can wear this.( I bet after this weekend he didn't have to wait!)

I made up this pattern as well and used an eyelash yarn to crochet around the edge. I then used my embroidery machine to make the "U". (Can I tell you how much I love that embroidery machine! It makes sewing so much fun!)

I hope your Memorial Day weekend was warm, and dry, because mine sure wasn't!

Easy Peasy Cupcakes

Yesterday we received these yummy treats from a friend and I remember making these when my children were little. I had forgotten how cute they are and how yummy they are to eat.  Who doesn't like cupcakes?

I was going to get a picture of the cute bow tied over the top but before I could Mr. Jones found them and couldn't resist. (hence the one missing.)

I put them on a platter and served them for dessert for Sunday dinner.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw them.

They just say spring! After frosting them with lemon butter cream frosting take some kitchen shears and cut a large marshmallow into 4 slices.  Before attaching the marshmallow petals to the cupcake, sprinkle them with any sugar colored sprinkles of your choice. Then stick the petals onto the frosted cupcake and put an M&M on the center for the center of your flower.

Lemon Butter cream frosting:

1/2 cup butter

2 cups of confectioners sugar

1 tsp of lemon extract

1/4 cup of milk

Mix all of ingredients together and beat until creamy.

Frost your cupcakes and enjoy!

They make up quite quickly and the cute flowers look like you really put some extra thought into these cute treats!

Go ahead, make some cupcakes, deliver them to someone you love and watch them smile!

One year later

I can't believe that it has been one year since I took this before picture! I can remember taking this picture and thinking WOW, I need some help! I started Living the Life one year ago and it has made such a difference in my life. I am more physically fit, I feel healthy, and I have energy to do everything that I want to do and more.  I have lost 43 pounds in this last year. When I took the after picture I had lost 27 pounds in the first 12 weeks!  Over the rest of the year I lost the rest. After the first 12 weeks I stayed on doing

Phase 2, 3, and 4.  I love the food that I eat and have found that it is quite easy to eat healthy.

I bought a new swimsuit this spring, actually it was for my birthday, (yes, I am a year older and actually feel younger than I did a year ago!)

I do the workouts 4 to 5 times a week and I now have definition in my arms that I didn't think was possible a year ago.

I think I am going to stay on Living the Life!

My least favorite before photo was my back side, I can actually look at this one now.

Here is a sampling of all of the yummy food that I get to eat every day. (Doesn't this food look delicious!)I eat 5 to 6 meals a day and I can definitely see that my metabolism has increased.  If you would be interested in this program just click here.  If you want to try the 7 day free challenge click here, and you can start Living the Life too!

My Royal Mom

For the last little while all I have been seeing and hearing was news on the Royal Wedding. It has been interesting to watch and see the fairy tale unfold. It was fascinating to watch the customs of the British common wealth. I was trying to figure out what I should do for my Mom for Mother's day and all of this royalness kind of got my mind to thinking. The most Royalty in my family would have to be my Mom!  I decided to make her some towels for my "Queen Mom."

I got to work with my embroidery machine and made these for her.

I used different crowns and made her three so she would always have one clean to remind her of who she is to me.

I added some more pampering items in a box.

of course chocolate was included.

And also one of my felt cupcakes. If you missed out on how to make these go here.

I wrapped it up in a Royal box.

With of course a Royal bow and gave it to my Royal Mom.

I want to tell you about my Mom. We have always been best friends and all through my life she had always been someone that I looked up to and could also share my life's problems and successes. She has supported me in everything and then when I had children she supported them in every game or activity that they had. It was great that she supported my children when we lived so close but when we moved an hour and a half away she didn't miss a football, basketball, or track meet then either. She is an amazing Mom and she has friends wherever she goes, I think I can go almost anywhere, even out of the country and she will find someone that she has a connection with. (I guess if you are royalty that is the way it is.)  The last few months she has a new battle to conquer, she was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's lymphoma and will have her 3rd chemo treatment next week. Her hair is starting to fall out and she now sports this very short doo. I told her she sports it quite well and she is still so beautiful. I love her and know that this battle with cancer is one that she will beat.  She is a survivor and has always shown me that when things in life get hard you just need to try a little harder. I love you Mom and hope you liked your Royal gift.

Happy Mother's Day!

I Did It!!

I have been knitting for about 5 or 6 years, (well I did make some slippers when I was 12, but that was about it.)  I really wanted to learn again because who can remember when they were 12! I had a friend teach me and I struggled because I had learned crochet first and it was quite different from crochet.  I learned to knit the American way which I believe they call the throwing method. One day I was looking around on You Tube trying to figure out a stitch in a pattern, (I love You Tube it will show you any kind of stitch you are wondering about), I saw someone knitting the continental way and realized, "Wow, you can knit so much faster that way."  After looking at several different versions of knitting continental, I got out my knitting needles and practiced a long with the video. Oh, was it ever hard to train my fingers a different way. I had cramps in my index finger on my left hand like you wouldn't believe. I was not going to let the cramps beat me and I just kept practicing. I first practiced on a cotton wash cloth and practiced as many stitches as I could in that little square.

 I then made Mr. Jones a hat to wear to the barn, it turned out okay but the stitches were not very uniform.  After a while it got easier and easier and soon it was much faster than the way I was knitting before.

 I have always wanted to learn how to make  knitted socks.  I was in a cute little yarn shop(you know how I love yarn!) and saw that there was a sock knitting class where you could learn to knit socks on 2 circular needles,meaning you knit them at the same time. I signed up for the class and have been taking it for the last 3 weeks.

This was  a very fun way to make socks especially making 2 at the same time.

Here is the ribbed top and I just finished the heel on one of the socks. You make the socks at the same time until you get to the heel and then you do them one at a time.

Here is the heel.

Then after you finish both heels you continue on until you finish to the toe.

TA DA! I finished! I wish it would have been that fast but knitting the continental was way faster than before.

Don't these socks just make you smile!

I love wearing wool socks, I started a few years ago and I will never go back to wearing any other kind.

Yep, I am pretty proud of these babies!

They are probably the most expensive socks I own, if you count the cost of the class, but look what I learned!

I better hurry up and start another pair so I don't forget how.

but for now, I DID IT!!!

Going Green!

I was thinking about going green this week with earth day and all that. For my going green project I needed some cotton yarn. I was going to go and buy some, then I looked into my yarn stash and decided that I better start using what I have! I had yarn stashed in all different places so I really didn't know how much I had. You know how some things are an addiction,( well I think I have a problem.)  When I see some beautiful colored yarn, I just want to buy it!!!

 This last week I put some of my yarn, (I say some because I probably have about this much more stashed in another cupboard) in an open book case. I figured if I could see it then I would most likely not go and buy more.With the yarn out in the open I haven't bought any yarn at all this week! I am 7 days clean from yarn hoarding, it's a start to recovery!

Doesn't this just make you want to make something! I just love all of those beautiful colors!

 On to my going green (remember I am trying to recover!).

I saw some bags like these and thought how cute they would be to stash in your car for when you need a bag for something.

I used cotton yarn so it would be easy to wash and because I didn't have enough of the ivory I added the yellow. (See, that is probably why I buy more!) I know I am rationalizing.

I added some bright flowers and polka dot buttons.

I think I am ready to go shopping!

This bag worked up quite quickly and I am thinking they would make a great gift. I better make some more!

Hmmmm, maybe I should go buy some more yarn :)