#FridayFinds - Tacos and Margaritas (Las Vegas)

So, apparently, I had a lot of restaurant pictures from our last trip to Vegas... Which was a long time ago. But Vegas was opening up after COVID shut down, so some of our regular places were no longer options. :( 

Tacos and Margaritas was the stop this time...

Another one that didn't make the repeat list...

And it has been so long, that I have no idea what the dishes were that we ordered.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - Heavenly Snuggles

Halfway through making this quilt, the sweet baby boy was called home to heaven before even blessing us with his presence...

I couldn't touch my sewing machine without the tears...

I finally pulled myself together and let myself feel and blessed his parents with this gift to go in his memory display case.  

I am glad that I could remember him and all of the love that everyone felt for him for the short time that he was here, even if we never got to hold him.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Buca DiBeppo (Las Vegas)

Last summer when we were in Las Vegas, we had a group dinner.

Buca wasn't bad for a large group, but I definitely have other Italian places in Vegas that rank higher.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - Pool Pro in Training

One of my dear friends and fellow pool player just grew her family and added her first little one.

Since both of her parents are very good pool players, I expect it won't be long before she has a baby pool stick in her hands!

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Zeffer's (Las Vegas)

On one of our many trips to Las Vegas, we visited Zeffer's.

It was typical Vegas fair - different and pricey.

I wouldn't "avoid" it in the future, but it didn't get added to our "must go" list on repeat visits.

Namaste.

#CraftyTuesday - Baby Girl's Baby Girl

There have been a few quilt creations over the last few years, but they were stuck on my phone - so it is time to share!

When I was 10, I was blessed with a cousin who become my "Baby Girl".

Now, many years later, my Baby Girl blessed us with her own Baby Girl - her daughter.

I loved creating this one as our tastes are very similar and this one would look right at home in my home just as it does in her nursery.

Welcome Baby Girl #2.

Namaste.

#FridayFinds - Village Idiot (Maumee, OH)

There were a lot of #FridayFind pictures on my phone (about a year's worth) that I'll be working to get uploaded...

This one is from Village Idiot Tavern in Maumee, OH.

I mainly wanted to go because of the name. In the almost five years that we lived in that area - we went once.

Namaste.

Update...

I'd love to type - "We are done relocating!"...

But alas, we still have a few things to check off the box in order to make that statement.

BUT - we are ALMOST done!

We have a house...

The boxes are unpacked...

The cars have the right state on their license plates (that took 4 attempts) ...

I have a permanent parking garage at work...

The work travel has begun...

We still need to get some pictures on the walls...

We're waiting on our Driver's License to come in the mail...

We've begun working through our damage claim from the move...

Yep - almost done.  :)

I also just downloaded about 1,500 photos off of my phone and have many restaurants that need to be added to the blog.  My goal is to get to that in the very near future, but I have a few deadlines that I have to get through first.

Wish me luck.

Namaste.

Hurry Up andddddddd Wait...

It feels like this relocation is taking forever, even though it isn't...

We are constantly rushing to meet a deadline, then twiddling our thumbs until it is time to rush again.

So what are we waiting on?

> Windows and Glass for the house in Michigan... Then we will be able to move forward selling it.

> 2nd attempt on our closing in Kentucky... OK, Ok. - Luckily, that wait is finally over as of yesterday.

> Keys for our new house... This has probably been the hardest wait - knowing it is ours, but having to wait just a few more days while they finish moving out.

> Our belongings... They are being stored on a semi-truck in Michigan.  Once we get the carpet dyed and the walls painted, we'll be welcoming all of the boxes. If I only had a dollar for each time I said - "Yep, we have that - on a semi in MI."

> Getting out of temporary living...It has a great view and short drive to work; however, it is not us.

> Just being done with being "in limbo"... I really don't like not being settled!

I am really starting to appreciate "my stuff"... Especially my kitchen tools.  As I was making Beef Stew tonight, I had to count to l0 a few times while trying to do something that is usually so easy... with my tools. I must say though - I have a good list of things that will make good gifts for a bridal shower or Christmas present. :)

BUT... I have to say that I am extremely blessed that I really like my new job.

If I had a huge amount of stress both with the new job and relocating, I don't know how I would manage.

Hopefully, the next post will be about "we are done" and then I'll get all of these restaurant/food pictures off of my phone and onto the blog. 

Namaste.

Relocating...

As I mentioned last month, we are in the process of relocating south to be closer to family.

This is my 4th company relocation...

The 1st one was straight out of college with very little belongings, but new job, new town... 

Just a bit stressful for a 21-year-old starting out in the world...

The 2nd (and 3rd) was a bit easier... 

Same company in the same job...just moving office/home locations. 

I did a personal move between the 2nd and 3rd...

I must admit - I prefer being moved as a part of a relocation and not having to pack/move/unpack all of it myself...

Now, we are in the middle of the 4th!

I must admit - this has been the most stressful move of all of them. As I was about to pull out my hair over the anxiety, I realized the number of things that we are going through right now.

Retiring from a job...

Starting a new job...

Reliving the "goodbye" of a loved one due to legal issues...

Buying our two vehicles...

Arranging for extended warranty on said vehicles...

Selling a house - in the winter...

Buying a house - in a crazy market...

Moving insurances...

Waiting on a parking spot (the joys of working downtown)...

Living in corporate living - a 2-bedroom apartment with a queen size bed is a challenge...

(NOTE - all furnished apartments should have a soup ladle, whisk and 9x13 casserole)

If something isn't on the To Do list or a reminder on the family calendar, then it doesn't get done.

If it doesn't go smooth the first time, then a colorful word is coming out of my mouth.

And I realized that everything (including my job) is really data focused right now...

Which may be why I feel like I am crawling out of my skin.

I am 50/50 right brain/left brain...

I have to have both data and creativity to be balanced and I am not balanced right now.

So, I opened the ole blog and started creating some words...

And I hope that this will help bring me back in balance...

And if that doesn't work, then later this weekend, I get to take pictures of our youngest grand's birthday celebration...

Until the next creativity need arises...

Namaste.