...Tote Bag...

To This....

So my awesome sister Angela bought me a brand new Janome sewing machine for my birthday!!  Props to the sister!  Well tonight I officially started my first project without the help of anyone (minus some awesome directions over the phone about straps...)

First up, if you know me, right now, although I don't wear it often, because I don't own a lot, I'm in LOVE with grey and yellow together!  So this weekend while I was hanging out with the boyfriend and his son, we bought the material.  I said "we" because my sweet sweet boyfriend bought the material.  Can I just say how much I love that boy!!??  His son and him together in a fabric store are a hoot, let me know and I'll rent them out to you!  They had all the girls entertained as Stephen picked out good fabrics and Austin would come back with even better ones. Mind you Stephen was seriously picking out stuff...he's a picky man. Austin was just being a jokester and making us bought laugh.  It was defintiely a fun time at the fabric store. 

Anyway.... I decided to do my own pattern.  I have a tote that I decorated for Vacation Bible School this year, so I took those measurements and I'm going to wing it!  Yep, first big girl project and I am WINGING IT!  Go me!! 

So it went from this...  

To This....

It's nothing fancy...and I may still add some trimwork to the top, but I completed it in just under 3 hours. Not too bad for my first, no pattern, make up the "ruffle" as I go kind of bag!!!

...siblings...

I can't imagine a world without sisters and brothers.  I feel for the child that has no siblings or no close relatives that act like siblings.  I've grown up with two older sisters and two younger brothers and one younger girl cousin.  To say I've grown up with a few siblings would be an understatement.  No, we're not the Duggars, but there are a few of us. 

Just a few of us... Chris, Angela and Alicia

My oldest sister Tiffany has a heart of gold, she loves gardening and baking, and man can she bake!  She's an excellent cook too!  Between my dad and her mom, she got a double whammy of genes in the cooking field. 

My older sister Angela is super smart, very giving, sweet as pie and very caring when it comes to others.  She showcases God's love to everyone around her and is going to be an excellent mother! 

My older little brother Christopher is hard working, great with vehicles and can make just about anything grow in a garden.  He loves animals and has a huge heart.

My baby brother Jason enjoys his work and works hard daily to do everything from his regular job to his side business, he's loyal and a great man of God.

My cousin Lisa is a really good mother to her two boys, has grown into a really great woman. She loves animals of any sort would take care of you in a heartbeat, even if it meant giving you the shirt off of her back. 

As we've gotten older we've grown up, but we've also moved away from each other, some more than others.  Although I saw my entire sibling group this weekend, minus my oldest sister, I still hate that we're all so far away from each other.  I somehow wish we all still lived within walking distance of each other.  However, it makes the time we do have with each other super special. This weekend was one of those special weekends.  My older sister and I spent Thursday night with my cousin, having dinner, doing homework with her oldest and just hanging out.  Friday was spent just her and I at the beach and running around before picking up my brother in law and Saturday was spent with our entire family, both brothers included to celebrate in the new baby that my sister will soon give birth too.  I'm so excited to watch her growing belly, even if it will be over Skype, and I'm over the moon that I hope in early December when I fly to see them, that I will be able to meet my new niece! 

Everyone says it, but I know it's true that I have the best brother's and sisters in the whole world!

Love you guys!