How It All Began

Many of you know I run a (very) small side sewing "business", Quilts by Nicole. Ashley suggested I write a post about how it all began, and I thought it was a pretty good idea too. 

It all really began with my grandmother. I've always been a really creative person, especially as a kid. A friend of hers passed away and his wife, who was a sewer, had passed away a few months before he did. They didn't have any next of kin and so my grandmother was charged with clearing out his possessions. She gave me all of the woman's sewing kits (she had quite a few) and I started to play around with hand sewing things together. 

My grandma Maxine passed away almost two years ago and one of my biggest regrets was that she wasn't able to see how much I've grown as a sewer and that I couldn't thank her for helping me realize this gift. 

The spring break of my 10th grade year, I didn't have anywhere to go so I decided to take all my spare fabric and patch it together to make a quilt just to see how it would look. It took the entire spring break of me doing nothing but hand sewing each piece together but the end result was this: 

It's not pretty by any stretch of the word, but I did this with no help or tutorials or real prior knowledge. I still know where each patch came from. The leopard print was for pillows I made my sister, the Taz fabric was for pillows I made for my mom, the country pattern was for a hamper I attached fabric to for my mom, the checkered blue print was for an angel set I created for my mom, and the colored blocks and brown fur was for a werewolf I had made for my step-dad at the time. I was so proud of this quilt for so long I kept it in the back of my car for years which is why some of it is discolored. 

I've definitely come a long way since I created that quilt so long ago and I still have a lot to learn, but it's nice to be reminded of where it all began. 

What if Magic Eye was the Entry Exam to Hogwarts?

Much to my delight, I've got several new readers gracing me with their presence. Hello new friends! 

I thought today it would be good to post a few more tidbits about myself that extends beyond my "About Me" page. 

For example, Dave and I play "The Price is Right" at the grocery store. Meaning that when we check out we both guess how much the bill will be. Whoever gets the closest without going over wins. There isn't a prize or anything its more about the bragging rights, but it is fun when the cashiers get involved, which most of them do because Dave and I trash talk each other the whole time (all in good sport though!). It's a fun way to break up the monotony of checking out at the grocery store. 

Just replace "the contestant" with Dave and you got me when I win

I can't stand Dave Matthews Band. I'm sorry if you're a fan, because then I have to question your taste in music, but I'll let it slide if you will. I can't explain why I hate them so much, there was even one point where I did like them in high school for about a month. But now the minute they come on the radio I have to change the channel. There's even someone who lives a street away from me with "1 DMB FAN" for their license plate and every time I see it want to ram their car. Okay maybe not that bad, but the idea has crossed my mind. 

Source

Since I made fun of you for liking DMB you can make fun of me for this: I love Phil Collins. He was my first concert, I've loved him since I knew what music was. But even I don't freaking know what a ssuu-ssuu-sussudio is. 

#Truth

I order my hot drinks at kids temp. Also, I have no idea what a latte or cappuccino is, no matter how many times a friend explains it to me. Tea and hot chocolate for me, please! I order the drinks at kids temp because I'm impatient and I like to drink my stuff right away, rather than burning the crap out of my mouth, I'll ask for the cooler temps. 

I am completely incapable of seeing the hidden image in the Magic Eye images. I've never been able to do it. Ever. Also, if it was the entry exam to Hogwarts (as per my title), I would have clearly failed. 

And there you have it, some more random facts about me. Do you relate to any of these? 

VS Five

Happy Friday everyone! Today I'm hosting a giveaway with a bunch of other awesome ladies. You have a chance to win $150 from Victoria's Secret! In honor of the giveaway I thought I'd highlight five things I would get from VS. Go to the bottom of this post for the giveaway, and good luck!!

1. Perfect Shape Bar (or three!). This bra is my favorite bra ever!

2. Belted Asymmetric One-Piece. This bathing suit is gorgeous!

3. Cashmere Crewneck Sweater. I love the feeling of cashmere but it is too darn expensive!...that is of course unless you have a $150 gift certificate!

4. Most Loved Yoga Pant. My mom gave me a pair of hers and I love them so much! They are very comfy!

5. UGG Moccasin...because there is no other way I'd pay for UGGs. 

And now me and some lovely ladies have joined together to give you a $150 Victoria's Secret gift card to one lucky reader!! Giveaway will last from Feb 4 - Feb 11! Go buy something sexy for your partner or just some yummy smelling beauty products.  Otherwise, we all need a good bra and we know Vickie's has the BEST bras. Good luck!

lauren / nicole / michelle / sarah christine / sarah / lindsay / hayley

krista / andrea / carly / kerri /  emelia / tabitha 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The One That Got Away

We all have that long lost love in our life. The one that got away. My heart aches everyday for my lost love: my first car. 

I started working at my family's gas station when I was 13 or 14. I saved all my money because really what can a 13 or 14 year old spend their entire paychecks on, right? When I was 15 I was heading home with my mom when I saw it: my perfect car. The car I'd been dreaming of since I knew what cars were. It was a 1989 Jeep Cherokee Laredo manual with a car phone (yes that matters, it's all about status!). 

I always knew I when I started driving I wanted to learn stick shift right away. I also knew that I wanted my first car to be an SUV of some type, I've never been a sedan kind of girl. So when I saw this car and it met every expectation I wanted in a car, I knew I had to buy it. I was only 15 at the time so the Jeep would have to sit in my driveway for at least another year (it ended up being a year and a half, I was slow to get my license), but I didn't care, I didn't want to pass up this chance. So I drained my savings from working those two years and paid $1600 for the Jeep plus the $20 bucks or so for the Rainbow Brite wheel cover. 

My Jeep ended up being everything I've ever wanted in a car. Unfortunately about a year into my driving it consistently the clutch and calipers went on the Jeep. It was going to cost me about $1000 to fix it and it was $1000 I just didn't have at the time. 

It's one of the few times in my life that I would go back and change things. I would have found a way to keep that car, because I miss it every day. 

And that's the story of the one who got away, excuse me while I go pine away and stare at the picture above.  

Let's Talk Books

I'm a stickler when it comes to my books, which is evidenced here. I know everyone treats books differently but I'm curious on what your take is on certain things that I do when it comes to books.  

Like, I can't write in books. Even school books or books given to other people. 

There was only one exception to this rule and that was my literature book and that was because my professor pretty much insisted upon it. Even when I give books to friends or as part of a baby shower gift, I have to write my little note on an index card to them and then paperclip it to the front page. I just can't bring myself to write in a book. 

I was listening to a podcast the other day and one of the people on the show talked about how they write notes in the margins of the novel to notate things. I was kinda horrified. 

Or, when I read a hard cover book I have to take off the paper cover. 

I can't stand it sliding all around while I read it so I always take the cover off and store it until I finish the book and then replace it. 

How about re-reading books? I don't do it unless I have to. 

I've only ever re-read two books, the first was for the teen book club I run. I read the book in question about 7 years before I decided the club was going to read it and wanted to brush up on it again. The second was a book that is coming out with a sequel this summer and I wanted to reacquaint myself with the story. Otherwise one and done. Although, I'm not closed to the idea of catching back up with Harry Potter.....

Lastly, it took me a long time to do this, but I don't finish books I don't enjoy. 

I used to think I had to finish a book. The problem with that is that I would hate reading the book so much I'd stop reading all together. That's not cool. Now if I find myself avoiding picking up the book because I dread reading it, I just stop reading it. Nothing is worth me not reading. 

So what are your thoughts on all these things?