DOORBUSTERS!

Steve and I were "DOORBUSTERS" this morning. Meaning we got up to go to the 8am-1pm sale at Penney's, because Steve needed a new suit, and Jenna's Steve had gotten a fantastic one from there. I was a little skeptical about Penneys, having had a less than fantastic experience with it as a child/young teen, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Steve of course, found a fantastic suit (which looks very nice on him). It is a tan wool/cashmere blend, retailed at over $400, he got it for $198 because of the sale. Sweet!

I got not one, but TWO dresses (both at 50% off--woo!), both of which I really like. Now I will only have trouble deciding which one to wear to Kevin & Rachel's wedding on Friday.

We also went to the fabric store, to stock up on stuff for my new (new-to-me) sewing machine. I bought thread it different colors (including hot pink and aqua!), a seam ripper, and a measuring tape.


I made this little guy (below) as a warm up. It's been a long time since I've used a machine, so he was fun. He appears to be a seal, though he was originally intended to be a porcupine. Obviously he had other plans. Even though he isn't the best looking thing, I love him, and I'm proud because he's the first thing I made myself on the machine. Steve named him Frederick.


This is my "sewing area" a.k.a. our kitchen table:



AND... to top off an already fantastic (I've used that word like 3 times, sorry) day, my copy of HARRY POTTER came in the mail today!


I am such a geek that I sat right down and immediately started reading it. Steve was very nice about it. Though as I sat down to post, he started in on it as well...


We might have to battle it out...

Elephants!

There's something about the air getting warmer that makes me feel better--it's that promise of summer that always got me through the last weeks of school. So the weird thing right now is not having school. Ever again.

It's been strange (but cool) to sometimes have free time... I still kind of don't know what to do when Steve has to study, but I'm figuring it out.

Also, suddenly, I'm on a huge saving kick. (That may be the product of working at a financial planning company). Seriously, though. I'm suddenly really having thoughts--and often--like "I wonder how much we can afford to put in a Roth IRA per month?" and "How much would we have to save per month to have a 10% down payment for a house by the time we're 30?" It's kind of sick. But at least we'll be sort of prepared. I hope. I think that's a big concern for me right now, with grad school approaching for Steve and not knowing where we'll live, and how much it will cost to get through those years.

I'm figuring out other ways to make money, too, besides my job. I'm working full time, still editing for Steve's dad's magazine, and now I'm taking on a small tutoring job for a local family. I think I need to just relax, but I'm not very good at that sometimes.

BUT! I am taking on some hobbies, now, and it's pretty fun. I decided to try some baking, but so far all I've gotten to is brownies and these cupcakes:

They came out really well, by the way. And were iced with chocolate frosting.

I've also started (trying) to get in to scrapbooking. I've bought a lot of supplies, but as of yet I have no pictures to start with. I should really get on that. But I did make this super-cute envelope to send to my friend Kari. It was a business envelope but I embellished it with hand-cut...

PAPER ELEPHANTS!

:-)