Updates

I have spent most of the week packing, yet I’m still not done. I hope to be finished before the holiday weekend is over. I’m done to just a few boxes and odds and ends, so I’m hopeful.

I have a million things to do before I leave, and I just can’t seem to get them all in. I really need to take my sewing machine in to be repaired, because I have a feeling it will be more expensive where I’m moving. I just don’t see that getting done in time. In between packing and errands I’m trying to spend as much time as possible with my friends, family, and those people that are important to me.

My mom was making me crazy earlier in the week. I was ready to snap. Then she left for appointments, and I went to run errands, and it kind of started to sink in that pretty soon I’m not going to see my mom every day. Not every week. Not every month. I will be lucky to get back home once a year. On one hand, I know it will be really good for me to get that kind of independence. On the other hand, it terrifies me to be so far away from everyone I know and love. So far away from my safety net.

“Go go go go now
Out of the nest
It's time
Go go go now
Circus girl without a safety net
Here here now
Don't cry
You raised your hand for the assignment” ~ Tori Amos

Mom and I have been watching movies at night while we work on packing. We watched PS I Love You. It was a really good movie. My mom is in love with Gerald Butler since he was in Phantom of the Opera. It was really romantic, what his character did in the movie. I want to be loved like that. All the sexy Irish accents weren’t bad either. Another night we watched 27 Dresses. It was cute. I’m not usually into chick flicks but it wasn’t bad. Lastly we watched The Golden Compass. I haven’t finished the book yet. It’s hard for me to get into, but the movie strayed from the part of the book I have read. I hate when movies do that. I also don’t see what all the fuss was about. Maybe it’s in the next movie, but she didn’t kill God. But I could see the from some of the things said where Christians would upset.

I finished the green baby blanket that I have been making for my sister. I started on a second one. This one is a new pattern – the zig zag. I really like doing this one, and I can’t tell if it’s the pattern that’s fun or if I’m just so bored with the old one. My mom is also supposed to teach me the shell pattern before I leave.

I have bought a ton of yarn recently. I’m kind of soaped out, until my niece comes, so I’ve been using the Michael’s and Joann’s coupons for yarn. That and there have been some really amazing sales. How can you not buy yarn when it’s marked down from $5.99 to $1.97 and even $0.99? I’m not buying just anything, but if it looks like something I could use I pick it up.

I didn't buy this because I don't know what I want to do with it yet, but I like it - and the one below.

These were on sale for $1.97. I can either make a scarf from each or make some kind of blanket.

These are for scarves.

I'm going to make a throw blanket out of these. Rotating colors. Probably a shell pattern.

The dark ones were on sale for $1.97 and I'm making a scarf out of them. They are fuzzy. The angel hair one I'm making a scarf from too.

These are for scarves.

Scarves for my two future stepdaughters

Wednesday night I went out for Thai with Emily. We had a really nice time. We got desert too, which is something I don’t usually do. Afterwards we went for a walk on the beach. We took my car so we could ride with the top down. The Scrabble title charms that I had ordered from Pieces of Me Pendants came in, so I gave her the one I bought for her, and Helen’s as well. She surprised me with a bath tea that she had picked up a tearoom. I’m really going to miss Emily when I go. It sucks that we didn’t start getting so close until now.

We are going to make these now. I have a ton of Scrabble tiles and Helen said she can figure out the rest.

Friday I whipped up 3 dozen cupcakes for mom’s bookstudy group. I made a dozen each of cookies and cream, chocolate mint, and chocolate orange. All are adaptations of the chocolate cupcake recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. I had wanted to make the rose pistachio cupcakes but quickly changed my mind after I saw that cardamom costs $11.99 a bottle. Ouch! The rose water isn’t cheap either, but I already have that. I’m pretty sure pistachios aren’t cheap either. I guess I won’t be making those any time soon. Not unless one of the health food stores sells cardamom bulk and I can buy just the small amount I need.

I spent the rest of Friday with Steve’s grandma. We went out for Thai, and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening talking. I really love her. I don’t usually talk a lot but she is so easy to talk to. We really have a nice time together. I’m going to miss her when I move.

John took off last week for vacation at Disney. It was hell answering the phone, the door, and doing both our jobs - but it's paybacks when I go out west for two weeks. And he brought me back this cute coffee mug.

Saturday I went out with Josh for a little bit. We went to Target where I got these cute crab salt and pepper shakers. I couldn't resist. They are just so happy and friendly and bright. They have Dinosaurs and Fraggle Rock on DVD! I'd love to watch them. I used to love those shows. "Not the Mama!" And now I have the Fraggle Rock theme song stuck in my head on repeat...

Look how cute they are!

I finally used the last of my Revolution Money bonus. I ordered a lilac candle and solid perfume for Steve's grandma. I gave her that with a lavender eye pillow I made, a lilac soap I made, a lilac soap from Magic Hands Workshop that came in grab bag, and some breast cancer awareness charms and pins. Oh and hand cream from Bathed and Infused. I used the rest of my RME at Daisy Cake Soap. I ordered violet soap (my favorite flower scent) and since I had extra money to use in the account I made an arrangment with her and she sent me expresso soap and mint soap as well.

I finally finished reading Lolita. I hated it when I started, and it’s taken me over a year to finish it – reading a little at a time. But in the end I kind of liked it. Liked the remorse felt.

Today I'm taking a break from packing to go to the beach with my parents. It is a holiday weekend and beautiful outside afterall. And I am really going to miss the ocean. But tonight it will be back to packing again. I'm almost there, so I'm not too worried.