Keeping Busy!

It's been a few weeks since my last post.  I'm terrible at keeping this up!  I don't do much better with my own personal journal either.  See!  I'm consistent with being inconsistent!  LOL

Weather
The weather has been crazy lately.  Sunny one day, rainy the next.  A few days of really intense cold (lows in the 20s, that's pretty intensely cold for the South) and then warming back up to the 60s.  I cannot wait for spring to arrive!  Sunday was pretty nice weather, sunny and in the 50s, so I spent some time on my patio cleaning up some of the damages of winter.  I swept up a garbage bag full of leaves.  I live on the 2nd floor so as you can imagine, the wind has been kind of wicked this winter!

Cooking
The last 2 Sundays, I have cooked dinner for my parents.  Typically my Dad always cooks Sunday dinner but I've done it the past two Sundays.  The first Sunday I made rosemary chicken with red potatos.  It was sooo good and easy!  Yesterday I made chicken cacciatore.  Once again, sooo easy and good.  How was it so easy?  (ready for a commercial?) McCormick Recipe Inspirations.  Ever heard of them?  They are packets of spices that are required for a meal.  The packet includes all the spices, a grocery list of other ingredients and then the actual recipe.  It really is simple!  Even my Dad liked it! And he's a tough customer!

Job Hunting
I am still looking for a job.  I keep on sending out resumes.  I've had a few interviews but nothing "good" has come along yet.  I'm hopeful though!  One of the guys in my apartment complex has been unemployed for the past 3 years and last week he finally landed a job!  I take that as a good sign that things are starting to turn around in the economy!

Exercising
I've been exercising for the past 2 months.  Yep, I can't believe that I've kept it up for 2 whole months.  I hope that this is a habit that I can continue!  As much as I hate to admit it, (Jill is laughing to herself to hear this) it does help take the edge off the stress and I feel much better after a good brisk workout!  Makes me look forward to the spring when I can take the workouts outside!!!

Stitching
I've been stitching.  I've already accomplished 1/2 of one of my stitching goals.  I have finished the 2nd page of Queen of Hearts!  Yay me!  Of course it has been pretty easy stitching as it was only 4 colors but you can start seeing items instead of just "blobs".  In the bottom right corner you can start to see one of her wings emerge!

The other WIP I picked up this weekend was The Kiss by Mirabilia.  I couldn't remember the last time I stitched on it so I did a little searching of the ole blog here.  The last time I posted an update was July 2009 (click here for the last photo and post of The Kiss)!!  Yep, over a year and a half ago!  Wow!  And it is such an easy stitch!  In the post I stated that I had run out of one of the threads.  Guess what!?  I still didn't have it when I pulled it out on Saturday.  When I realized it, it was about 2 pm, my LNS closes at 3.  I jumped off the couch and ran right out to get the kreinik thread I needed to continue.  As you can tell by this updated photo, there is a ton of kreinik threads in it!  It has been so long since I've started this project I don't even know what color fabric this is or who I purchased it from!  What a shame because it is sooo pretty!

Update: Jennifer asked where I got the pattern for Queen of Hearts.  I got it from Heaven and Earth Designs.  Just click the link and it will take you to the pattern. http://heavenandearthdesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=160_12&products_id=2496