A hat for Brooke

With one weekend left before starting my study plan for the next exam I decided to make something for Brooke. This hat, with left over scraps of Amy Butler fabric was quick, easy, and fun. Its reversible which is also nice. I really can't wait to make her the entire outfit with the Moda fabric I purchased on Saturday. And believe it or not. . .this is the only hat she doesn't take off immediately.

Birthday Cake a Success!

From scratch yellow cake (Best Ever Birthday Cake - from http://smittenkitchen.com/2009/07/best-birthday-cake/. Came out great and will definitely file that one away in my receipe box. It was also the first time I played with fondant . . which i really love! It opens up so many options for decorating that you just can't do with regular butter cream. And if you don't like the taste you can flavor it with extract.

Also made some cute lady bug cupcakes so she would have her own little cake to make a mess of.

Now some people would say I went over the top a little but hey. . .some of my favorite memories with my mom are the great cakes she use to make for us. Besides I love her to pieces and she is worth it right? :)

Happy 1st Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday baby girl! One year ago today you changed my life. I hope I have made you as happy as you have made me. . xoxoxo!

Crazy week but I did squeeze in . . .

Lots of deadlines this week and next so I have been straight out. I did however in the middle of everything squeeze out two projects. . .not sure I slept this week. . .can't remember

Lime Cupcakes for the office. It was our Administrative Assistants birthday. These were fabulous! Could still use some tequila I think. . .maybe tequila frosting for April 16th??? Recipe via http://www.lanascooking.com/2010/01/22/lime-cupcakes/

And I was up Friday night making this quick gift for my mother-in-law's birthday. Simple bag from Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts. Simple yet a really nice gift. Since my mother-in-law reads a lot I thought a nice travel bag for a book with a bookmark with the cutest little baby there ever was on it was a great gift idea. I just used card stock wrapped with fabric for the book mark with some very fashionable stampin up ribbon and a scrapbook accessory punched through on the top.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

New project! Lace Twist Mitts by Debbie O'Neill from the Fall 2009 Knitscene. Yarn is Dream in Color Classy. Only one skein. Now that it is getting lighter I can knit on the way to work . . .hooray! Carpooling isn't such a bad thing after all :)

Entrelac Scarf

A nice afternoon with a nice Noro entrelac scarf. Not a lot going on here but tax returns. This week seemed to be over before I had a chance to blink. . oh well. . just means it is closer to April 15th . ..independence day!

Budgeting time

Budgeting my time has always been a struggle for me. These days its even more of a challenge. Tax season is in full throttle, I have a 9 month old this year, and I am trying to study for am exam in April. How do we accomplish all this and not end up at the crazy farm you might ask? Well, I bought this book on time management a few months ago to not find any easy answer but to get some key tips. One of the most important things I picked up from this book as to make a list of the top three things you want to accomplish that day. You can have more than three but in reality those top three are the most important and the only guaranteed ones you will accomplish that day. So far this little trick has worked for me. Keeps me focused. . I will always have my list of long term goals and plans but this weeds it down to a manageable level. It has been working . . .I have been more productive at work and getting there on the home front.



Today's list includes: 1. Cutting out the pieces for my next bag. Another Amy Butler Birdie Sling bag out of Amy Butler fabric this time. . .just for little old me :)

check! Number one is off the list. Now on to the next.

2. Knit for an hour and just relax. I put in 9 billable hours yesterday. . I need a little break or I will crack by April 15th. I have my favorite side kick today and she likes to watch mommy knit. Especially when she is sitting in my lap with a bottle. She pets the item I am knitting as a comfort tool for going to sleep.

3. And three. . hit the books. I don't plan on taking this auditing exam until April so I have time and I am taking it slow. . actually enjoying it. I do enjoy auditing and I have so much exposure to it that this is mostly a refresher and the new things I am picking up are really helping me in the field. Becker is definitely the best out there for CPA exam review. . I enjoy and look forward to studying. . that has never happened before!

Well I better get to number 2 & 3 before the day is over :)