Tax season is over!! My husband actually gets to come home and spend time with me. We are actually both "quality time" love language people so tax season was challenging for both of us. The really awesome thing about tax season was that I really got to dive into my hobbies. As in, I had ample time to be creative.
Some of the things I am currently interested in:
Sewing!
I did not have an apron and after 3 years of really wanting one I finally looked up an easy pattern and made myself one.
There is a lady in my local church congregation that has fabric to make quilts for life flight patients. She has a great/easy pattern to make this. That's what I'm all about easy, beginner projects. I've made a few of these and they are so fun.
Remember when I started this?? I finally finished the quilt top. I like how it turned out. I like this pattern too. Again, easy and super fun. If quilting wasn't so stinking expensive I would make a million. Unfortunately, quilting is expensive so I'll just take this hobby slow and steady.
Embroidery! Wow, I had no idea how much I would fall in love with this super easy hobby. The top one I made for my brother's mother-in-law. It was so fun. With this piece my mother-in-law taught me about color. Which is super helpful because I have no knowledge in this. She suggested the gold and I love how it turned out. The bottom piece I made for our young women camp fundraiser (silent auction). I was super nervous to donate something that I made, but I was satisfied with it.
Flower Arranging:
This is something that I really wanted to try, but had no idea where to start. When I finally settled on a job it required that I do some flower arranging. This is an arrangement I made. There is so much about flower arranging that intimidates me, but the process is so fun and then who doesn't love fresh flowers??
This is an arrangement I tried on my own. I just bought the flowers at a local Smith's grocery store. I had such a fun time putting it all together and being able to experiment. The quality of the flowers weren't stellar, but I like how it turned out.
Some of the others things that I have really enjoyed doing, but don't have pictures for:
-cooking
-cleaning (ha!)
-yard work
-READING - the most engrossing book I read in the last few months was The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Wow. I pretty much read it in one day. Loved the character development and twist in the end! Also, I just really love libraries. They are my favorite.
-aqua Zumba (grannies are my favorite!)
-planning dream vacations
-watching movies - I think I watched Moana a dozen times. Seriously the best movie.
Things I am looking forward to now that I have my best friend back:
-trips to see family
-more reading! I LOVE reading with Mckay and I have an eternal book list. Who's with me?
-gardening - Mckay and I are going to try to plant our own garden this year and we are both so stoked!
-BBQ's with friends and family. We bought outdoor bulb lights for our back yard and we are so excited to spend as much time as out there.
-hiking and camping
-not having to work for the months of June and July
-family reunions
-exercising together
There were a few super fun things that we were able to do during tax season. Here's a few pictures.
This was our very fun Valentine's Day Date.
We got to go snow shoeing twice while it was still snowy. So beautiful and so fun!
Mckay and I were able to quick go out to my sister's and watch my nephew get his Arrow of Light. He is the cutest and growing up way too fast. I steal cheek kisses from him as much as I can before he gets too old/too cool to be kissed by his aunt. Also, my niece. :) She really enjoyed the refreshments at the Arrow of Light ceremony. She has the most adorable personality. It is so fun to live so much closer to my sister and her kids.
Mckay didn't come with me to this, but I was able to go to SALT Women's LDS Retreat. It was so awesome. I am so excited because they are going to do their next retreat in Provo!
So I LOVE Asian food. Mckay and I were able to go on some dates together. We were able to go on some quick dinner dates and quick tennis dates. Such needed time together!
Sunday walks, weather permitting, have been our favorite.
For Easter, we were able to go to my sisters house. We ate a yummy dinner and celebrated my niece's 9th birthday. We also played pie face.
Life has been really great. We have felt so blessed and so grateful for this time of our lives. God is so good. He understands us, loves us, and gives us all that we need and more. I have been especially grateful for the opportunities I've had to explore my interests and create beautiful things.
xoxo,
Joanie
