Keagans Baby Blanket, a full shot.

I have waited a very long time to put this little quilt up on my blog. I have had it done since Christmas and I was just buying my time until little KGS showed up. Now that he is here I will show and tell.
It was the first quilt I made all by myself (no help from anyone). It was before my quilting class so it's a little rough around the edges, but it was made with a lot of love. Anyway, I had a TON of fun making it and I just love all the sweet fabric. Most of it I got online but some of it I got from the local JoAnn and Hobby Lobby. I intend to post the directions (along with pictures) at some point, so you all can make your own. Anyway for now here are a few pictures.

Little Mister

I wanted to share my new nephew with you. Isn't he a doll? I am severely in love. I wish they lived closer, he will be soooooo big the next time I see him. Keagan's surprise face!We put him in a bowl This was really cracks me up... he looks like a devil child. what a cute little peanut.on the quilt i made him he was such a sleepy boy (well only during the day). poor Brooke and Karsten.
I am so glad I got some with his eyes open.he looks just like his big brother in this one.AND of COURSE you can't forget about THIS guy... I mean do you get any cuter?

If you can't get enough visit here and here to see more.

When the husband is away...

Since Matt is out of town for the rest of this week, I decided to use the free time to sew up a storm.  I have been starting AND finishing lots of fun projects out of my sewing books that JoEllen gave me for Christmas and I can't get enough.  Some of them are super messy, but I am learning a ton (mostly because I mess up).  Tonight I created a cute little clutch with a big yellow button (don't look to closely at the seams, YIKES!).

p.s. isn't the pincushion adorable (another Christmas gift from JoEllen). Gotta love Etsy.

I am also putting the finishing touches on my quilting class quilt (I am the ONLY person who messed up sooo severely in class that I had to do a lot of it at home).  Oh well, still learned a lot, even if it was just how to effectively use my seam ripper.  I am all finished except for stitching the binding down on the back.  This is the tedious hand sewing part, ick.  Oh well, the end product will be worth the sore fingers I guess.  Here's a little sneak peak. 

Contest is Closed!

And the winner is!!

FAITH!!! 

I'm soooooo  glad you stopped by!!!

You can email me at shan.anderson07@gmail.com with your address.

Just call me Auntie...

Keagan Gabriel Slater
8 lbs, 6 oz.
21 inches

(I'd smoke a blue cigar for you, but the last time I did that I got bronchitis... so I will toast with a Mt. Dew instead. I love you baby Keagan!)

Paying it Forward

To my faithful followers (all 2 of you),

Recently, I was the recipient of a random act of kindness.  

What kind of random act you ask?  

A few weeks ago, I  was sent a gift in the mail... two tea towels adorned with tea pots to be exact. They look like this (cute... I know).  

My friend Courtney was this giver.  No reason, just because.  How cool is that?  I mean I knew Courtney was cool, but that was just straight 

t up awesome.  Thanks Court... it seriously made my day/week/year.  

I thought about sending her a thank you card and showering her in gifts of my own but I decided that Courtney would probably want me to pay it forward and send someone else a random gift.  

So here's the thing.  Since Courtney and I reconnected because of our blogs, I decided to have a little contest here.  Whoever leaves a comment (about anything) gets their name put in a hat.  By the end of the day on Wednesday I will

 randomly pull out a name and whoever he/she is, will receive this in the mail. 

It's a grocery bag dispenser, lovingly made by me.  It's not perfect, but it's functional.  I even made it extra large for all of those grocery bags hanging out in the bottom of your pantry.  If you already have one that's okay, enter your name anyway and when you receive it in the mail turn around and give it to someone else... you get it now, right?  Paying it forward?  

Courtney: (you are eligible!)

Happy commenting!

Jack Frost Pays Visit

Jack Frost at the window,

Jack Frost at the Door
Go away you can't come in
Don't come back no more!

So Much for Global Warming.

Piecing...

This is my first official post on Apple. I still can't believe that I am officially a mac owner (I'm kinda glad our old computer crashed). I feel like a kid in a candy store! Since I got an ipod from Matt'a parents for Christmas I have been downloading all of my c.d.'s onto itunes. I have even played with my "turn your records into mp3s" record player. Haven't quite mastered that one yet. I feel so technically savvy.

Anyway, I took the first half of my quilting class this weekend and this pile of fabric...

turned into this.

I learned a ton about the CORRECT way to piece and I can't wait until I start to actually quilt it next week. I'm not thrilled about the pattern... but man it was fun. Especially since I was the only one there under the age of 50.

A Few Things

That made me happy this morning...1. A newly brushed/de-matted Iz.
Since spending time with the shitzu cousins at my parents house over the holidays, Izzy's chest was one giant hairball caked in dog saliva. I brushed the heck out of her last night and now I can rub her belly without the risk of losing my hand in a snarl of hair.


2. Kashi waffles.So I started working out regularly about a month ago. Since doing so I have noticed that I have more energy and I am in an overall better mood. But man am I hungry and I mean all the time. Take this morning for example. I woke up at 7:00 (this is earlier than usual mind you) and my stomach was already growling like an angry polar bear ( This may or may not be a reference to Lost). So I toasted up some Kashi Honey Nut waffles and ate them with devotion. If you haven't tried these delightful breakfasty treats I suggest you visit your neighborhood grocer's freezer section.

3. Smucker's Strawberry Syrup to go on my Kashi waffles.
I am crazy over this stuff. Maybe that is why I've had breakfast for dinner 3 nights this week. They also have blueberry and blackberry flavors. The best part? Matt doesn't like it, so that means I get it all to myself. Mmmm, sticky goodness.

I Have a New Pet

Her name is Apple. She is joining our family tomorrow. I love my husband...

Bonnie... the Baptist Bachelorette

I met Bonnie the first week of my sophomore year of college at the BCM. She had short blond hair and was the most Baptist girl I'd ever met. She was quiet and reserved. Our relationship went as far as saying hello at the BCM and when I came to visit Megan and Charvi in the dorms. I didn't find out until much later that she was in my music class that fall semester. I didn't notice her for a couple of reasons. I was madly in love for the first time in my life and I spent most of that class wishing I were with Matt or writing my name with his last name - &- I always sat front and center and Bonnie was more of a middle girl. Apparently she noticed me because I always came late in sweats with my hair in the highest, messiest ponytail she'd ever seen. We laugh a lot about this now because this pretty much describes Bonnie and I to a T.

After going through a severe depression that Fall I moved out of a sorority house and back into the dorms with a random roommate. My best friend Megan left school after that semester and I was terrified. She had been my rock and now I was going to have to make it on my own. However, I found out quickly that I was far from alone. Spring semester Bonnie (& Ashley) let me lounge around on their dorm room floor, eat their food, and allowed me to be me without asking questions. After that semester Bonnie and I only got closer and over the years we have both changed. As Bonnie's hair got darker, her views on life changed too. Although we both hit bumps on the road, we came out on the other side stronger, more determined, and most importantly... better friends. I respect Bonnie for her convictions, her strength, and her relationship with Christ. She isn't afraid to apologize for her mistakes and her love is genuine.

Last year, this independent Baptist girl met the man of her dreams in a red headed weatherman named Clint. Instantly she was smitten and I got to see a side of Bonnie I had never seen before. Next month she will become a wife and begin an adventure that she never expected. Bonnie is giving her future husband the gift of herself for the rest of her life and I think Clint would agree that he got a good one.

Congratulations Bonnie and Clint!

This weekend those who love her celebrated Bonnie by going ice skating in Forest Park and eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I think the photos will speak for themselves.