Embarking on a new journey

I know I've mentioned it in my last post, but this week I have embarked on a new journey.

Last week, I started my first week-long residency of an MBA program in Pharmaceutical Management.  There's no turning back now!  Actually, once I submitted my $1000 non-refundable deposit, I knew there was no turning back, but being back in the classroom makes it that much more real.

Just a few minutes ago, I submitted my final assignment for the class!  One down, 16 more to go!
Last week was a bit intense because I had around 12 hour days. We had about 6 hours of in-class lecture, a break for lunch and then group projects due in the evenings.  I got to stay in a hotel near campus, which was really nice since the commute could take about an hour to and from my house.

I will be done with the program in March 2013.  It seems like it's so far away, but I know it's going to fly by!!

Adding another level of complexity to my life makes me wonder when I'll find the time to craft and blog. I've been really slacking on the blogging lately, but I hope to catch up as a creative outlet!!

Wow, It's been a while...

I haven't blogged in way too long! Things have just been so busy with work, family obligations and trying to get my Etsy shop started.

Things are just crazy! I took an awesome Dale Carnegie Leadership Immersion course for work, which was a three day course and it was really inspiring.  I was lucky enough to be able to stay in a hotel and save myself a crazy commute and it gave me some nice down-time to crochet.  I missed Derek and the kids terribly, but it was a nice break when I wasn't in class.

Next week (EEK!) I start my MBA program. It starts with a week-long residency, which means another week away from my family and not a whole lot of "me time" in the hotel to enjoy the break. It's actually going to be pretty intense, but it's fully paid by my company and will provide a ton of opportunities when I graduate. It's a 2 year program, so I'll be finishing up in the spring/summer of 2013.

Aside from that, we enjoyed a trip away for our nephew's baptism:



Ben hanging out with Uncle Joey before church




The Little Man of honor getting all dressed up




My little princess




Victoria having a talk with Daddy

And I've been working on some bags for my Etsy shop:

Good news: I've made my first sale!!!
I was asked to make a custom blanket for an awesome lady named Cathy, from Cathy's Creations (go check out her site!) for an auction she's doing to help a Susan G Komen 3-Day walk ambassador. You can check out more about the auction on her FB fan page.
The blanket is pretty nice, if I do say so myself! I'm doing it a darker pink and light, shimmery pink stripes. One the weather brightens up a bit, I promise I'll share some pictures.

I'm also working on a baby blanket for a friend's new baby who should be arriving in July!

Hopefully I'll be around more often and spare you these loooong update posts!  I can't guarantee that just yet though- I have no idea what I'm getting into with school starting next week!!!

February in Review

Another month is nearly over, I can't believe how fast the first two months of 2011 have gone!


February was not a very productive month in terms of creating or blogging.  This post is only my tenth in all of February.  Work has been insanely busy this month with my new added responsibilities.  It's fun but it's draining, and I've been coming home as Derek is leaving for work a few nights a week and I've just been too tired to do much of anything.


February started out with a trip to the Philadelphia Auto Show and a slice of Pumpple Cake:

Victoria made some pink rice krispie treats for daddy to celebrate Valentine's day and we enjoyed a lot of "pajama days" to avoid the frigid cold.

And since I feel as though I haven't had a lot of creative time, I thought I'd look back to my Crafting through 2011 list of goals, and show some updates on the minimal progress I've made. 

1. Finish Teddy's Star, hopefully by the end of January This was finish in January, as planned
2. Finish Derek's wool scarf that has been terribly neglected lately The poor scarf remained negelected, with the exception of getting moved to new bamboo needles! I <3 the bamboo needles so much more than aluminum needles.
3. Make 8 Tangled Happy's Granny Stripe Boutique Bags as party favors for the girls that I anticipate will be attending Benjamin's first birthday. I finished 10 Boutique Bags, sewn seems & all.  I'm just trying to make the final decision about embellishments.
4. Make a blanket for our good friends' new baby that is due in July. I hope to make it either as a Granny Stripe or Neat Ripple or a Mini Hexagon, but we will see when the time comes. They should know the gender of the baby by March, so I plan to decide once I know who I will be creating the blanket for. We found out that our friends are having a BOY! So, now I have to go pick out the yarn and I hope to have a good start on it in March.

I also made a purse for our cousin's daughter for her birthday, which you can check out here. I'm working on a much larger version of this bag for my aunt, which I hope to complete this coming week.  I'm almost ready to start working on the handles, so I think I'll get it done in time.

I've also signed up for an Etsy shop, which I hope to populate in the coming weeks to try to earn some extra money to save up for a flight to San Francisco for Derek, since I'm going out on a business trip and we hope that he can join for a mini-getaway.  I'll give more details about the shop as I get products in it!! 

Impromptu Hiatus

I've been slacking on the blog front, with the exception of this week's Monday Mentions. 

Life has been busy, to say the least. Work has been crazy and full of meetings regarding the move to our new location slated for next year. When I get home, I don't feel like spending the time on the computer which means no new posts.

My crafting has definitely been lagging too. I haven't really gotten anything new done, but I did start a new large Tote for my aunt.  I hope to have the tote finished and post pictures soon, but I just haven't had time to pick it up.  I still have a pile of 10 boutique bags begging to have the seams sewed up and finished off too, but I haven't gotten to it.I really hope things will turn around and I'll find the time to relax and craft and enjoy myself!!  More posts to come soon... and hopefully with pictures so it won't be so boring.

Monday Mentions

I missed this feature last week, so I wanted to make sure I shared something this week!
I'm still catching up on all my blogs that I normally read because last week was crazy and we were away this weekend, but I had one blogger that just really jumped out at me and I wanted to give it a great big Monday Mention. 

Please go check out Alison's blog, Journal from a Jane of All Trades.
Alison is amazing. She's a busy SAHM to three kiddos with another on the way - and where she finds the time and energy for cooking, cleaning, crafting and more - I have no idea. It's been said she's Martha Stewart's twin with all her creativity!  She just posted a great post about how to make all kinds of play dough, so I must find the time to try it out with Victoria! 

Check it out, I'm sure you'll find something that you're dying to try too!