After my fun bloggie dinner outing, I came home to veg on the couch with my WIP: an amigurumi bunny.

I had completed the body, head/face and only needed to make 2 arms, 2 legs, and 2 ears.

Once I had all the pieces done, I just had to assemble.

Voila! My MIL named her Betty.

Betty proved to be very adventurous and promptly started exploring.

Since it was late, Betty didn’t get very far before wanting to be tucked in.

But, in the morning (this morning), she was up early and moving about.

I finally found her outside and tucked her away into a gift bag to be opened later.

I enjoyed some coffee in a mug hubby and I gave his mom. They are from Starbucks and have a pretty, bright red finish on the inside.

I had plans with hubby’s fam (his sister and her fam drove in late Christmas night from out of town) to do a lunch later, so I kept breakfast light with an egg and cheese biscuit and piece of chicken sausage.

Post-breakfast, we had another round of gift-opening for hubby’s sis’ fam.

Betty found her new friend, Cami (in the red dress), and will be going home with her.

Yay presents!

Hubby and I headed to Durham to see his mom for her birthday Friday night.

We stopped by Cracker Barrel on the way. I got Chicken and Dumplings with corn and greens.

I only managed to eat about half my entire plate. Guess I ate too much for lunch, eh? I did save room for one of their famous biscuits with some honey.

We got to my MIL’s place later and hubby made nice with the dogs before we headed off to bed.

On Saturday morning, we had a nice eggs and bacon breakfast – I also had a half english muffin.

Though I had a cup of coffee in the morning, I asked hubby to stop by Copa Vida. I had the best latte ever there awhile back and vowed that this, along with dim sum, would be one of the spots I tried to hit up each time we were in town.

I love Copa Vida for the coffee and for the fact that they use as much local as possible, which includes milk from a local creamery – Homeland Creamery.

Turns out they were out of HC whole milk, so I went skim to stick with the local milk. It was very good, but I missed my whole milk! I’ll be back, though. Hopefully, they have it next time. Oh and PS I found out this business is family owned. Love that!

Next, we hit up Barnes & Noble

I took my coffee in and cracked open a Clif Kid Zbar in Honey Graham whilst browsing the craft books. Ahh…How I LOVE craft books! I think I like looking at them more than actually using them sometimes! lol

We also swung by Michael’s, so by the time we got home, I had some real goodies: Amigurumi World Seriously Cute Crochet, 3 balls of yarn, stitch markers, and 2 crochet hooks.

The yarn, Sugar ‘n Cream, is made with cotton grown in the US. It’s apparently made in Canada, which seems kind of weird…why not grow and make in one place? But anywho, the yarn was affordable and I liked how it was 100% cotton.

I started a new project.

And snacked on some dates before heading out to the movies.

Me, hubby, my MIL, and hubby’s brother went to see The Blind Side. Wow, what a great and inspirational movie! Has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

After the movie, we hit up Fuddruckers.

I got a “suicide” to drink. Did anyone else drink those when they were kids? A “suicide” is a drink, which is made when you have a self-serve soda machine and you just mix up a bunch of different sodas. For some reason, I always think of getting them at Fuddruckers. Call it tradition.

For dinner, I had a kid’s meal – small burger (topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard) & small fries. I actually am getting more and more skeeved out by buffet style restaurants and all the toppings here are served buffet style – you get to pick your own. So, once I had topped my burger, I was off to the restroom to wash my hands. I know…I’m weird like that.

I didn’t quite manage to finish mine, but hubby helped me out with the burger, thank goodness! Sheesh, I can’t even eat a kid’s meal!

My meal came with a cookie, so I got chocolate chip.

When we got home, I was back to crocheting…I started a new project, though.

My MIL made her own birthday cake. She insisted. She made a margarita cake topped with defrosted-frozen strawberries and a pretzel crust. I was too stuffed from dinner to have any.

In the AM on Sunday, I slept in till 9:30am and then had some coffee upon waking up – this is my fave mug at my MIL’s house – the snowflake mug.

I worked more on project #2 – hot pink yarn this time.

Brunch – potatoes/onions/peppers, bacon, turkey sausage, french toast, 1/2 toast.

The dogs played all weekend long.

They look so vicious!

After our late brunch, hubby blew his mom’s leaves off the front yard and then we were off.

On the way back, I knew I’d need some food before getting home, but after much searching on my iPhone, I couldn’t find any healthy options! wth! So hard to eat healthy on the road when you haven’t packed your own snacks! Grr…

Luckily, I remembered that Starbucks has some pretty healthy options and I knew where one was on the way home.

We swung by and picked up some ice water and a tall coffee…

…and a breakfast sammie with turkey bacon, egg white, and cheese on a whole wheat english muffin. I think I saw a flaxseed in my muffin! I wanted the spinach feta wrap, but they were out, so this one hit the spot. I wasn’t terribly hungry, so this worked out great!

Before we knew it, we were home sweet home!

So good to be home again…even if ours is still in disarray.

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Since I had Monday off and had planned to spend Saturday out of town, I met up with bloggie buddy, April, and her daughter, Bella, Monday afternoon for some crafty shopping and a delicious lunch.

First, we hit up a fabric store where I was really good!  I latched onto a bolt of this yummy floral pattern with bright pinks, turquoises, greens, and yellows that were all toned down by a pastel pink background.  I carried the bolt around the store for about 15 minutes before finally caving into the realization that I was, indeed, going to buy some (been trying to not buy craft supplies lately).  I also picked up 10 fat quarters of some super pretty vintage-y fabric that I think will work well with the fabrics I'm collecting for my quilt!

Next, we hit up a glass shop where they sold stained glass, lampwork beads, and other glass craft materials.  I didn't buy anything here…phew!  I wanted to, though.

Next, it was time for lunch!  April and I both share a love for this home-town joint, Henry's, which will always have, to me, the world's best BBQ.  April and I got the same thing – Regular BBQ sandwich plate with cole slaw and french fries.  Mmm…

After lunch, we hit up ABC (Atlanta Bread Company) for some hot cocoa.  Bella was working on a hand-knit scarf.  I totally forgot about how I used to do this all the time when I was a kid!  I think the colors look great with her sweater and shirt.

April and I browsed her new collections of magazines – the new Knit Simple and a Quilting magazine with "lots of easy project".  We noted that these "relaxing" projects were far from what we would consider relaxing, but I've only ever made one quilt, so maybe they are marketing this towards die-hard quilt fanatics?  April worked on a baby hat for a friend and I worked on my scarf for my mom's b-day.  We got a lot of good work done and had a blast in the process!  Thanks, April, for the fun day!  Let's do that again some time soon!

I finally finished my Misti Chunky Ribs & Ruffles Scarf WIP!  Just in time to give to my mom for her b-day, too!

Above are some more in-process photos.  I worked on this here and there over the weekend.  The yarn is so plush and a dream to work with.  I loved seeing all the different colors of the handpaint showing through here and there.  The browns would transition to the most vibrant turquoise…then to a pretty purple…then a hint of pink.  The colors on this yarn are great!

And, here are some photos of the completed work.  Phew!  I barely finished this on time.  No, seriously, I was working the last row (of the regular pattern) as my parents were pressing me to go, saying "It's going to snow later, you guys better get on the road."  Then, I had to hit up Youtube.com to figure out how to knit in the front and back of a stitch, but found a great video by Knitwitch (I think that's their user name).  I knitted up the last 2 rows (of ruffle) and hid the tails and voila!  Project complete.  B-day present?  Check!  I happily gave mom her new scarf and we hit the road to head on home.

Yesterday, I did something completely stupid and idiotic that seems to be a bit of a trend for me from time to time.  See, we had been planning for awhile to visit my parents this weekend to hang out with my mom for her birthday.  A couple weeks ago, I got an invite for a baby shower for my sorority sister, Courtney, and the location would be about an hour and a half away from my parent's house, so I planned that Saturday would be my baby-shower day, and the rest of the weekend would be for my mom.  Friday night, I stayed up till 1 am finishing those baby booties I've been working on for her gift.  Saturday (yesterday), I got all gussied up, grabbed my new (guess it's not so new, but it still is to me) camera and headed out of town.  I was so excited to see my friend, celebrate her new family, and be there when she opened her gift!

However, when I arrived at my destination, something seemed amiss.  There were no other cars and no decorations indicating a special event was taking place.  I got a sinking feeling that I had done something terribly wrong and double-checked my watch.  Yes, it was almost exactly 2PM (the start time of the event).  Did I have the wrong location?  The wrong time?  Why didn't I print that darned evite out, I wondered?!  I gathered my camera and gift and headed up to the front door anyways.  I had been to this house before for Courtney's wedding reception.  It was her mom's house, so I felt comfortable with the fact that I was most likely about 5 seconds from making a total ass out of myself.  When Courtney's mom opened the front door, I timidly asked if I was at the right location for her baby shower, and she regretfully told me that the shower was Sunday.  Oh no, I thought to myself…not again!  Her mom was very nice about everything and clearly felt terrible for me, but I was mostly just mad at myself and felt like a complete moron.  See, I don't know why, but I seem to do this kind of thing all the time!  I show up to appointments at 3PM, when they're supposed to be at 2PM.  I go to the wrong places.  I just mess it all up somehow.  I haven't done something like this in awhile, but I guess I messed up pretty good this time, eh?

I handed Courtney's mom Courtney's baby shower gift and explained that I may not be able to make it on Sunday, since I was supposed to be spending the weekend with my mom and may possibly have to go back home (I have Monday off, but wasn't sure when we were leaving).  About 5 minutes after I left, Courtney called me and she said she was so sorry that I had gone all the way there and she didn't get to see me.  She also said that she would be really excited to see me Sunday if I could make it, but totally understood if I couldn't.  She was really sweet about everything and it made me feel 10 times better.  After I got off the phone with her, I gassed up my car, got some snacks, hit up the rest room and turned around to head back home.  I had the whole car ride to think about what a stupid mistake I'd just made, but it was all washed away when I saw Bailey waiting in the window for me when I got back.

Btw, the baby booties are the Hot Step pattern in the Candy Crochet book.  These are supposed to be bears, but I think they look more like monkeys. 

After my little misadventure, I decided I needed some retail therapy.  I wanted to get something fun, but not too expensive.  Maybe something for my kitchen since I just cleared out all those old plates and what not.  Mom and I went to Pier 1 first and I was sadly disappointed to not find one single thing there I wanted to get.  I looked at the mugs, the plateware, the placemats, the table cloths, the pillows…nothing!  Next, we hit up Macy's, thinking surely Martha would pull through with something from her Marth Stewart collection.  Again, I didn't see a thing.  Fiiinally, Williams Sonoma pulled through for me with the most amazing deal I've seen in a long time.  I got two sets of a 4-pack of placemats.  I love the embroidery and the color will be perfect for when (if) we host Thanksgiving. 

I had to do a serious double-take when I saw the price tag.  $5.49 down from $59?!  I thought they had typoed the price and had to check a couple other sets to verify.

I found one 4-pack of semi-matching napkins.  I'll call them "coordinating".  

I had to do another double-take on this price tag, as well.  $3.49 down from $39.  I have to wonder, though, who buys this stuff at full price?  I guess I may consider it if it were for a very special occasion?

My final most-awesome deal I got was this box of Godiva chocolates…50% off!  Hubby and I used to do this trick all the time when we started dating and were just waiting tables.  We'd go to the Godiva shop the day (or days) after a holiday and sure enough, they'd have the holiday-wrapped chocolates half off.  Same delicious chocolate…old decoration.  We didn't care what the box looked like…we just wanted the candy!

I've also been wanting to get a box of chocolates to re-create a little something I learned in France.  See, I did an exchange to France in high school and stayed with a French family, and every night, after dinner, they would open this gigantic box of chocolates, and we would each have one, maybe two, pieces.  The poor family probably had no clue what a raging sweet-tooth I was, eying their box of chocolates from the other side of the room, mouth watering with the taste of a single piece of chocolate still melting away on my tongue, still wanting to tear into that box of chocolates gobbling down every last piece.  But, I refrained.   Eventually, I learned that a single piece of chocolate actually makes a rather awesome dessert – one that is decadent without being too over-the-top.  One that fulfills my sweet-tooth without making me feel terribly over-stuffed.  And, one that I would like to enjoy again.

So, have you ever done anything bone-headed like I did yesterday?