My new top....errr dress.

I wanted to make a top...

and I ended up with a dress! lol

Here's why. The pattern I used said that the standard height for my body type was between 5'5 to 5'6. Well, I am about 5'10 so I lengthened the pattern 4 inches...right? WRONG!! I still do not know why this didn't work. I must have the upper body of a 5'5/5'6 female and just have longer legs. I mean I knew I was high waisted but man! Maybe someone can enlighten me on why this didn't work. Another weird thing is that my base of neck to waist measurement is the same as someone 5'5 to 5'6...WTH? Anyway, I love this top/dress lol and everything else turned out perfectly so next time I will just make it according to the original pattern. Luckily this was my practice one so I will start on the REAL one today. I had a great experience with my first knit garment. Just for kicks here is my SUPER long top with some capris~maybe you can get the idea of what it is SUPPOSED to look like lol.

Domestic duties...

I just got back from dropping my truck off at the Autoport and walking back home. I thought it was 1-1.5 miles but it turns out that its 2.5 miles! It ended up being a beautiful 45-60 min brisk walk. My ears got cold though and that dampened my spirits a bit. I think I may even walk back to pick it up in the morning. It really puts in perspective what a sedentary society we live. Even though I work out I cannot imagine living in a world where I had to walk everywhere instead of drive. Luckily I have the option!
I have domestic duties to do today--make bread, do all the laundry, clean the house, clean the fish tank, blah blah blah. I just hope my patterns come in the mail. I hope to pick out what fabric I want for them today too.
I watched Bankok Dangerous last night with Nicholas Cage and it was "eehh", not great but not bad either. I also caught up on The Biggest Loser. I love it! I can't stop wondering though how the pregnant host of the show, Allison, is not boohoo bawling at LEAST during every elimation. I mean everybody is crying and I know when I was pregnant I would cry during TV commercials! Maybe she does cry but they clean her up during takes or something. Anyone else's take on this? Okay well I'm off to start my day officially.

BOOOOOOOORing...

I am so excited to report that the tank has entered its second stage of cycling. The ammonia levels were 0.0 today so that means that the new bacteria is converting the ammonia into nitrite and sure enough the nitrite levels have risen to 0.5. Wow do I ever sound like a nerd!
I'm taking my truck in to get fixed early tomorrow morning and I may walk the 1-1.5 miles back to our house. It sounds peaceful and practical, for if I do it at a brisk pace I may be able to get in about 30 minutes of cardio. I hate paying the money to get my old clunker fixed but I am going crazy just sitting in the house with my little monster so I will do what I have to do and I am thankful that we have the money to do it.
I started two photo albums last night--one for me and one for Rice--that contain pics of our lives before we met. They have spaces next to each photo to write something and I think it will be cool to look back on the stories of the pics. We also have a ton of pics of us together before we had Taison so I think I might make that into an album too. Our kid(s) can see someday that we did actually have a life before them!
Well Taison is up from his nap now so I am leaving. If I have anything else to say I will make another post tonight. BYE!!

Pattern review for New Look 6854

Pattern Photo:	New Look Pattern Info
Pattern Rating:	Easy & Great for Beginners
Fabric:	Denim [See other projects in this fabric]
Pattern Description: Five different skirts. I made View D here are the back and side views Pattern Sizing:Size A 8-18 I made an 8. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Yes Were the instructions easy to follow?Yes very What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?The liked that the pattern was very easy and not very many steps. Fabric Used:100% cotton denim(thicker) for the final skirt. I first made the skirt using 100% cotton plaid (thinner) to practice. Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I originally wanted to make View E but according to the final measurements on the back of the pattern it would have been well above my knee as I am tall so I made View D and took the hem up 5 inches instead. Also I made the hem 1/2" longer in the back than in the front so that it would appear more even. I extended the front darts down another 3 1/4" beyond what the pattern calls for because on the practice skirt I made there seemed to be too much excess fabric there for my body. This helped but it still didn't "cure" the problem. I have never tried any alterations before so these were all just trial and error for me. The lady at Joanns said to use an invisible zipper instead of the regular zipper the pattern called for so I did and I used basting glue on the zipper instead of machine basting it in and that was a lot easier for me except when I got done I realized that I had put the zipper in facing the WRONG way! Next time I will check an extra 14 times before I do anything. Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I may sew this again but I will definitely use a lighter weight, stretchier fabric. I was looking for something a little more casual so I will probably make another view from this pattern soon. I would recommend this pattern to others, just to use a lighter weight fabric than I did. Conclusion: Bottom line--basic, classic, easy, pencil skirt, great staple for any wardrobe and easy to make.

Lazy Saturday...it is Saturday right?!

Well my "modified" shorts project is done. Here are the pics...
started with these...












and then BAM!! Ended with these. I still need to wash them so that the markings around the cuffs will go away. Can't wait to make some summer tanks and tops to wear with them.













Remember our foster kitten Levi? Well I am happy to report that he is finally well, thriving, and honestly is starting to be seen as another toddler running around. I hear strange noises in the night and hope that I don't wake up to find something utterly destroyed, thinks anything and everything is a toy--for him, he certainly rivals Taison in vying for my attention these days which is a little suffocating, he eats like a horse, stays up all night, and poops A LOT! We take him back to the Jacksonville Humane Society on Monday and hopefully he finds his forever home with a loving family soon.









I am yet to check the ammonia levels in the fish tank yet but we did have another floater today--RIP--so I will report on that tomorrow. As for the rest of the day, I am making bread, going to the grocery store, working out, and hanging out at home with the fam. What are you doing this weekend?!

In the works...

Fish tank is in a lull. The ammonia level has been stuck at 1.00 for 3 days now and we lose an average of 3 fish a day.
I finished my denim pencil skirt last night. I will be writing a review of the pattern complete with pics here and I will post my review here as well so stay tuned for that. I am currently working on recycling some of last summers Bermuda shorts that are too big into a shorter version that fits. I am taking pics as I go so I will post more on that when I finish. I have two other pairs of Bermuda shorts that I might make into casual skirts. I ordered this pattern for the View A purse and this pattern for the View B and C shirts today. This will be my first time making a purse, tops, and working with knit fabric. Wish me luck!
Rice and I went on a lunch date today at Okinawa Japanese Grill and Sushi Bar. It was our first time eating Japanese. We sat at a group table where the chef prepared our meal in front of us and we both tried sushi for the first time. I loved it! I had a blast and it was refreshing to go out just as a couple and not as "Mommy" and "Daddy".
I received my free giveaway Tracy Anderson Post-Pregnancy Workout DVD in the mail today from my favorite blog Fit Bottomed Girls. Even though it is a post-pregnancy workout I am excited to try it out and see what it is all about. I just watched Rice do his P90X workout--I am SOOO proud of him-- and now it is my turn to workout so...catch ya lata!

Quickie Post

Five more casualties in the fish tank...
Ammonia levels up to 0.50...
Still working on my skirt...
I finished the zipper tonight...
It's still not "professional" looking but I did a lot better with this one than the last one...
I am putting some weight back on thanks to my Mass XXX...
Been working out hard again and now that I am eating enough it is finally starting to show...
Here I come bikini season...
WooHoo!