Small Pseudo Victories...

I have been buying a lot of clothing lately... Like, a lot! (I seriously need to stop)...

Here is what I have discovered...

1. I can fit into a size 3x winter coat that I found at Winners... I have NEVER been able to fit into torso-clothing at Winners... I stopped looking at pants there a long time ago; I found they always had too much butt... Let me specify: I have next to no ass... It is flat...

2. I can fit into a size 11/12 jean at Maurices... Granted, I have a pair of their jeans size 18 that is hanging in my closet, tags still on, that I can't button... I have also thrown away size 18 jeans from them because they were falling off of me... *shrugs*... (The pair that I can't button is being donated away; too much leg room)...

3. Size 2x sweaters from Pennington's in the athletic styles fit me well... And they had a customer appreciation sale last night...

I've been buying to fit me lately, not the size I think I should fit into... This has led to me trying on things that I would never have thought I'd fit into, and being happily surprised; and then being annoyed at being happily surprised, because I know I am not defined by my clothing size... It also highlights that size isn't standard across the board, even for plus-sized people... I should fit neatly into a 3x everything, and depending on the store or even the style within the store, it can range wildly... At Wal-Mart I can still fit what they call a 4x...

There's always been issues with me finding things that fit me that I like... I'm almost 35, and I want to wear fun things... Plain-Jane has never really been my style... I like pop-culture references, grunge, pops of colour... I still CAN wear fun things, but it's a little easier to find those options in the real world now that I've downsized...

(Yes, I know there's way more options in the internets, and I have purchased things online, but I like to try stuff on before it comes home with me!)

Here is a story that I saw on Facebook this morning... https://www.littlethings.com/jeans-sizes-differences/?utm_source=iheart

Update: Now between 260 and 265 pounds... I use a range because it fluctuates based on so many factors...

Weight Loss Journey...

I weighed 296 pounds last November... I am down to 268... I am still working on that... My clothing fits better... I was wearing a size 4X to 5X, and am now mostly in 3X shirts... I was wearing a size 18 pant, and now am down to a size 14...

It's a journey... Requiring a lot of walking... Like, a crazy amount of walking...

We'll see how far I can go...

My Other Finish From Yesterday...

"Bless This Home"
From Dimensions
Designed by Angela Staehling
Finished August 17th, 2014

 

So, I was a little busy yesterday with the crafting... To be fair though, there was just the backstitching in the quilt area and a few french knots left to do... I was motivated... And then I went to see Expendables 3... Busy day...

 

For the record, I am not religious in any way.... My stitching seems to be trending that way though... Weird... :D

Birthday Present!!!

"I'm Actually a Mermaid"
From CloudsFactory
Finished August 17, 2014

 

I made a pillow!!!! So proud of myself... This was hand stitched, because I really suck at using the machine... I think it turned out awesome, especially for the first time I made a pillow... Like, ALL OF IT!!!! I even had to do surgery of the pillow-form because it was round-ended, and I wanted rectangular... Yes, it's a franken-pillow-form... The back fabby is from Wal-Mart... I think it matches loverly... So excited!

 

Finishing Prowess = leveled up!!!

A Small Finish...

 

"Large Circle Peacock"
From Dimensions D.I.Y. Stitch Kit
Finished July 11th, 2014

Goodbye, my friend!

"Leap of Faith"
From Bucilla
Finished June 26th, 2014

 

 

Framed about 2 hours before it was given... Lots of time, right? I figured this was very appropriate, seeing as how this girl is going to the Yukon to serve in a remote community for 5 weeks, and then in the fall she's off to Alberta for Bible College... We spent last night with co-workers past and present, eating, and then hanging out around a fire pit and watching fireworks... She will be missed...

Upcoming Events...

Will be watching the GoT's finale on Tuesday a my friends house... Excited for that...

Tea Party concert on the 28th of June... Awesome...

FanExpo in Toronto at the end of August...

In stitchy news, working on a quick goodbye present for a co-worker who is leaving in 9 days... I should be able to get it done this week... Will post a picture when it's finished...

Easter Bunny!

"On The Hop"
From CrossStitcher Magazine # 277
Designed by Sarah Cookland
Finished April 12th, 2014

 

I wanted to do something quick and easy because I feel like I've fallen behind on my resolutions... This literally took less than an hour to stitch... I popped on some jump rings and put it on a chain instead of the silk cord the magazine calls for... I think it turned out really cute, and I will be wearing it to work for the next few days...

 

Until I go on my short vacation, that is... Yup! I've booked 6 days off around the Easter holiday... I needed some time away from work... This includes a couple of days with the family in Ottawa, so good times shall be had... Kicking the whole thing off with a visit to Port Huron and their lovely craft stores...

 

Just have to get thru the next 4 days of work...

Imagine Dragons...

 

That was an experience...

In Other News...

So, working on my little resolutions... Been hanging out with friends, watching TV, or movies... Or Coriolanus on the big screen, which was absolutely fabulous, btw...

Next up on the entertainment schedule: War Horse, playing live at the local movie house as a simulcast with tons of other movie theatres... It's the same deal as Coriolanus... Which makes me super excited...

After that, Toronto for a "HiddleHunt" as my friend calls it, and Imagine Dragons... In April, six whole days off of work and a trip to Ottawa...

I think things are progressing awesome...

Finished!!!

"Morning Lake"
From Dimensions Gold Collection Petites
Designed by Darrell Bush
Finished February 17th, 2014

 

And thus, I beat last year's completion count... Next up, Max's Moon to finish...

There Is Progress...

Hopefully, at some time tomorrow, I will have a finish...

You know, unless I get super distracted by the computer, or going out, or television, or something...

Just sayin'... Could happen...

Only Finish of 2013...

"Pretty Dove Festive Hoop"

From CrossStitcher Magazine # 271

Designed by Fiona Crouch

Finished December 19th, 2013

 

Here's my only finish of 2013... A very small Christmas ornament I made after a co-worker gave me a jar of her delicious habanero jelly... Totally worth the exchange!!!

 

Not saying this was all I did last year in the crafty front... I certainly stitched on other things, I just didn't finish anything else... That's one of the goals I had in mind for this year; finish some of those WIPs that have been kicking around for far too long...

 

I am way more then 3/4's done with Morning Lake, which I started last year as a charity project... It's the next thing on my to-do list... I look forward to getting it off that list...



First Finish of 2014!

"Cardinal in Snow"
From Dimensions, Daydreams
Designed by Les Didier
Finished January 26th, 2014

 

 

I'm excited because this makes this year already equal to what I finished last year, and I'm hoping to do much better then that! This is a great start to that goal! Yay for me! :D



New Look...

Updated the blog a bit... See? I'm trying to stick around! I really really am!!! :D

Goals for the Year of 2014!

My year last year was a crazy combination of all things life...

Work was successful and stressful, with getting my Regulation for Pharmacy Technician in April, and I am now able to take prescriptions verbally, process transfers, and check physical components of medications... I have many new responsibilities, and while sometimes frustrating, I do love my job...

I vacationed in Newfoundland yet again in the summer, spending a week in my hometown and then a week in St. John's... We watched many of movies, went on a boat tour with whale watching, and visited Signal Hill and Cape Spear (Where I went missing for over an hour with no cell phone signal. There were things to see!!!)...

I also spent some time in Ottawa last year, and managed to see my first NHL game live... It was terrifying, and not just because of all the Leaf's fans... Those seats in the upper levels are high and steep!!!

There was shopping in London and in the states to be had...

There were seasons of television to be watched with good friends, Lannisters to cheer and zombies to yell at... I made cookies to eat while enjoying the zombie apocalypse, for 8 weeks in a row...

I had a tooth extracted after I broke it on a bagel... Not the root-canal tooth, a wisdom tooth... I also had an emergency filling in the spring when I couldn't take the pain of a cavity anymore and had been up all night with the hurt... Both dentists were fantastic...

A friend came up to visit for 2 weeks, and I'm sure he had a good time...

New glasses... I love my new glasses...

Debts were paid down massively, and I have almost finished paying off one of my credit cards... It has been a year since I have received a phone call advising me of delinquent status of anything... I think that is my biggest accomplishment of all, and I am very proud of it...

I came out of last year better then I went into it... Things were busy and good...

But I want this year to be better...

1. Blog! Yeah, that's right... Blog! It's been about a year, and I've been horribly remiss... I probably don't have anybody to even blog for anymore, it's been so long... But, forget that, I can blog for me, as a record of the things I've done... Now, to just do it!

2. Do more stuff! I'm a homebody at heart... I love sitting in my comfy chair by my fireplace, reading a good book... That needs to change... I am 31 years old, and I'm feeling like I need to get out more... A lot more! Not that there's anything wrong with what I've been doing, but I have friends, and I need to see them more often then I have been... At the end of the month I will be going to see a National Theatre production of Coriolanus (taped production at the movie theatre, but still, awesome), and at the beginning of March I will be going to see Imagine Dragons live in Toronto... In addition, I am saving up some money to take a trip to Australia to visit a good friend who's been down there for more then 2 years already, if that's this year or next who knows... So, yeah... The year is looking up already...

3. Stitch more! I finished 1 project last year... And it's not the project you think... It was a small Christmas ornament that I made as a thank-you for a co-worker... It took 2 days... The rest of the year was spent not-stitching... So, this year, I want to finish 3 WIP's, and get started on a large project that's sitting in my stash...

I think that's it for the moment... Wish me luck! :D

New Beginnings...

I started a new kit last week... I had actually received it from my boss for Christmas... She is also an avid cross stitcher, so she knows how obsessed I am... Sadly, it is one that I already had in my stash, and that I was going to get to eventually, anyway... However, I've decided to do it now, before I start a larger kit...

I work for a large chain drug store in Canada... Yes, that one... Every year there is a charity drive and we collect thousands of dollars for local woman's charitys... Last year, a co-worker made a crochet quilt, and tickets were sold for raffle, with the entire amount of money collected donated to the cause... Seeing as how it was my boss who gave me this kit, I'm planning on stitching it and donating it to this year's fund-raising...

This is "Morning Lake" from the Dimensions Gold Collection... I've got approximately 1/6th of it stitched, and every stitch has been a joy... Hoping to have it finished by the end of March... I know that's a long time for a small project like this, but I have other things to finish as well... I have recently started my practical training for my job, which involves a lot of homework... Fortunately, I already have an excellent grasp of what the answers are, but everything has to be okay'd by my preceptor (my boss), and then sent on to the professional body that regulates all of us... They also have to review and mark what I've submitted... So, I can't be slack about what I submit...

My Totally Out-of-Reach Goals for 2012... :D

EDIT: December 12th, 2012 - Reached my goal of two of these projects completed this year!! Yay! I actually reached my modest goal!!! Buahahaha!!! :D

EDIT: April 16th, 2012 - Bought "Leopard Cub" today... I was totally surprised to see it at the Mary Maxim... And I had a coupon... Yay! Still working on "Cardinals on Sled"...

EDIT: March 25th, 2012 - Bought "Love Birds"... Quite a while ago, actually... And started "Cardinals on Sled" today... There's a progress picture posted...

EDIT: February 28th, 2012 - **So, I changed the date on this post... It's going to stay at the top of this blog until the end of the year... That way, I can edit this sucker to within an inch of its life, and not forget about these projects that I want to do**...

So, I want to try to get some of these things done this year... I know, I am not the most constant of stitchers... I work, and study, and play, and my life sometimes cannot keep up with my hobby aspirations... But, I do get some projects done from time to time... This year, I want to get at least two of these things done... I have motivations for a couple of them, and others are purely for me... 

 "Cardinals on Sled" is a kit I currently have twice... This one is on comission from a co-worker... It has to be done by August or September so she has time to get it framed for her mother for Christmas...
EDIT: Started March 25th, 2012... Progress picture posted...
EDIT: Still working on this as of April 16th, 2012... Will post another progress picture soon! 
EDIT: December 12th, 2012 - Finished...

"Chickadees and Lilacs" is what I have come to believe is the prettiest of kits I own... I really want to start on it this year...  

"Faith Ornament" is already started, but I probably won't be working on it anytime soon...

EDIT: February 25th, 2012 - Finished...

"Leopard Cub" is adorable... I don't own this kit, yet... It just came out, and I haven't had a chance to buy it... I know I have a ton of things in my stash already, but I really can't resist... I just have this thing for big-cat kittens...
EDIT: Purchased April 16th, 2012... It's so freakin' cute!!!

"Love Birds" is a beauty... I don't own this one either... I am hoping to get it soon, and then stitch it for my parent's anniversary in May...
EDIT: Purchased back in February... Shortly after I originally posted this entry...

"Sled Dogs" just looks like fun... :D

So there's my list... I have no real hopes of getting all these done... I have exams in March that I'm somewhat furiously studying for, and that takes up all my spare time... In the meantime I am working and trying to etch out a small life of fun times... And take care of two cats... And not neglect my friends or family... Balancing acts are my specialty, you know...

And has anybody else noticed my complete love affair with Dimensions Cross-Stitch Kits yet? Sheesh... I stitch almost exclusively from them... I just think they're awesome...

"Cardinals on Sled" Finish!!!

"Cardinals on Sled"

From Dimensions

Designed by Donna Race

Finished December 12th, 2012

Finally... I feel like I've run a marathon... This took me so long to finish, and now that I'm done I'm kinda stitched out, but raring to start something new... For me, this time though... :D

I Think I've Been On Vacation, Or Something...

Well, that's what it feels like, anyway... I have been horribly negligent in posting pretty much anything, so, here's a small catch-up post to throw your way...

And apparently, I can't upload pictures at the moment... Boo-urns!!!

So, vacation to Newfoundland... Fun times... Visited and hung out with a lot of people I have missed dearly... It's hard sometimes when the people you consider your best friends are thousands of miles away... But, I think I made the most of the time I had with them... No regrets on how time was spent there... We drove back to Ontario, which was funner then I thought it was going to be... That highway through New Brunswick is a thing of beauty, and I would totally drive on it again... Spent a day in Ottawa, ate a Beaver Tail, hung out with family, rode on a ferry boat across a gulf, was on the watch for moose... It was good times...

My brother got married a couple of weeks ago... To a fantastic lady, who is just perfect for him... I'm so happy for him... So happy, in fact, that the day before he got married, I wrecked his car... Never say that I am one to not bring the drama... I'm fine... Still somewhat bruised... But the car is probably never going to be driven again... At his reception, he made jokes all night long about woman drivers... *sigh*... Never gonna live it down, I suppose...

I have been stitching... I swear I have!!! I just have no pictures to show... There was the small wedding sampler I made, then a tiny embroidary piece, and a pillow I patched... I am currently working on "Cardinals on Sled" for my co-worker... I am so far behind, but I'm aiming for November... If I work at the pace I've been stitching for the past few days, I will easily make the deadline... Then there's my own Christmas stitching I'm thinking of doing... Then again, maybe not... I might be stitched out by then... Ugh...