Many Updates.

I am currently typing this post on my new 2-in-1 HP Pavilion laptop *big smile*  My other laptop has been dead for ages and while I have a loaner tablet from work, it never felt right using it for anything but work things.  Plus, I certainly wasn't about to upload photos onto a work computer.  So, once again I return.

There has been a lot going on.  The biggest of which is...we're moving!  I did a novena to St. Joseph just prior to listing...and it worked out that we listed our townhouse on the feast of St. Joseph.  3 days later we had our first offer...2 days after that we had 3 total offers and accepted one at 10K over our asking price!  Then...to give you a few more chills, we fell in love with a house and put in an offer...our offer was accepted on the Feast of the Annunciation.  God is good...all the time.

We're moving from a 2 bed 2.5 bath town house to a 5 bed 2.5 bath single family home - so come vist!  We'll have lots of room *wink*.  We're going to have a yard!  And I will have an office/craft room that I am just itching to set up.  We settle on our townhouse April 29 and on the new home May 1 so we are already deep in the thick of packing.  Which is daunting, let me tell you.

Would you like a little tour of the home that was our first?  Ps. our house never has and probably never will look this clean again.

Entry way...kitchen on the Right

Kitchen...painted those cabinets ourselves!

Dining area and Living room

no fireplace in the new home...I'll miss it

1st floor

basement family room 

office/laundry

Master bedroom...the room that sold us on this house 

basement bath

guest room

the deck Chris and his dad & brothers built

I still can't really believe we're moving.  Chris and I are both so excited to be a. closer to our jobs and b. to have a little more space.  We're moving to Catonsville which is a small suburb of Baltimore County.  It'll cut both of our commute times down which will be really nice.  Plus we can walk to "old Catonsville" which has a ton of cute shops/coffee shops/farmers markets etc.  AND we'll be able to become parishioners at the parish that I grew up in.  I got a little thrill of joy thinking about the possibility that if/when we have children, they'll be able to grow up in the same church I did!  Once we're in the new place I'll post some pictures.

I'm also excited that once I have a designated space for my laptop/camera/crafting supplies I'll really be able to dedicate some time and energy to getting my Etsy shop to where I want it.  I've already put out a request on my Facebook page that anyone who has ordered from me - if they don't mind having pictures of their children and/or themselves on my shop to let me know if I can use photos of them wearing or using my items.  And one of my co-workers/friends who has a photography business on the side offered to take professional pics of my items this summer (which I really hope actually happens!)

To give you an update on what I've been working on crochet wise...I recently feel in love with this Animal Alphabet crochet blanket by Repeat Crafter Me.  So I have started to work on the appliques.  Here's what I have so far:

A is for Alligator.  B is for Butterfly

C is for crab (cause we're in MD!) D is for Dog, E is for Elephant, F is for Fox

F is for Fox, G is for giraffe, H is for hedgehog, and I is for iguana

That's all I've got for now.  Just thought I'd update this real fast.  Hope you all are doing well :-)

God Bless.

7 QT vol 4

Head over to Jen @ Conversion Diary for more 7 Quick Takes!

1. Chris has been on his 2 week MVP (Mandatory Vacation Period) since last Thursday when we left for the Hamptons.  I, in a fortunate turn of events, have not had to go to work either.  So we unexpectedly have had all of this time together that I am absolutely loving!

2. Thanks to Stephanie over at Captive the Heart I started reading Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, and the Universal Longing.  I've always loved Christopher West so I jumped at the chance to read this, and let me just say, I am soaking it up.  I'm not even half way thru but I am trying to savor it, piece by piece.  Maybe I'll write  a "book review" of sorts when I've finished.  But so far I am loving the images he uses of the "starvation diet" the "fast food diet" and "the banquet."  It was interesting to identify for myself where I fell growing up (the starvation diet) and how I found myself moving towards the "fast food diet" at times in my life.  I can't wait to keep reading.

3. I finished the beach bag I had shared with you a few weeks ago...you may be saying, "Hey, Tiffany, that looks different than what you posted before."  How very observant of you!  It is indeed different because I messed up the other one...so I had to get some new yarn (the name of the color was "Ocean" so I thought it was appropriate)  Anyway, I love how it turned out and can't wait to use it!  If you're interested in the pattern I used, you can find it here.  The only changes I would add are that I used 3 balls of yarn and 3 of the thread.  This may be because I chained more in the beginning than it called for.  Also, when you start the next rounds of crocodile stitch, make sure you slip stitch over to where the "scale" will be between the "scales" of the previous row...that's where I messed up before.

4. Speaking of crochet, my newest "thing" is crochet dishcloths...I've done a few different patterns.  One is a bumpy dishcloth - found here (only change here is I just repeated row 2 for the whole dishcloth - for whatever reason when I followed the pattern the "bumps" didn't show up)

The other pattern was for a shell stitch dishcloth.  I followed a pattern in a book I have so if you'd like me to write it out, just leave a comment or shoot me a message

The third pattern is a tunisian crochet dishcloth...it's a form of crochet that uses a longer hook (called an afghan hook) and you can do a mock "knit" look with it.  Which is what the dishcloth is.

I'm not really sure what to call the final "style" of dishcloth but I found this super easy pattern here.  It works up quickly and while I haven't used this one yet, I can tell it will be a great dishcloth.

No more grimy sponges for the O'Hara household!

5. Chris and I are lucky enough that we get the change to get away again this weekend!  His best man's parent's have a house on the Jersey shore in Little Egg Harbor.  Their entire first floor was completely damaged by the hurricane and they just recently got everything fixed up.  Another relaxing weekend on the water up for us!  So excited.

6. Our poor pup is back on antibiotics and steroid and has another ear infection.  Poor thing, he seems so miserable it breaks my heart.  But the doctor has hope that hopefully this last round will be the end of it.

7. Next weekend we build our deck!  I am so excited, all I can do is picture coffee out on the deck...although as of now I have no idea where we will sit on it...ha!

I'm off to find a new bathing suit...I don't know how I was ever comfortable in a bikini (oh wait, I never was) but right now I am in search of something more modest and appropriate.  I am loving all the cute one pieces and tankinis they've come out with...although I'm hating the price tags attached.

I bind unto myself today...

...the strong name of the Trinity. (from St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer)

This Memorial Day Weekend and Feast of the Holy Trinity was spent in New Jersey with Chris' family.  We had a fantastic time.  Chris and I left late on Friday night so that we would hopefully avoid holiday traffic on 95.  Buster was super excited to go for a car ride.  As soon as he sees his travel crate he knows we're going somewhere and goes nuts.  I gotta tell ya, getting a dog together plus all of the things he needs for a weekend is rough.  Mother's of young children, I applaud you and your ability to get your children together, in the car, safely with all of their things without pulling out your hair in the process.

We got to Chris' family's house pretty late Friday so after saying hi we went right to bed.  The next morning our wonderful pup heard Tim, Chris' youngest brother, get up to go to work at 6:30 in the morning.  Our dog does not like to know there are people up and awake and he can't say hi.  So needless to say, Chris and I were therefore also awake at 6:30.  We spent the morning relaxing - and drinking lots of coffee.  I started a new crochet project that I love.  It's that crocodile stitch beach bag I was talking about here.  As I've said, I LOVE the crocodile stitch.  I just think it looks so unique.  And the fact that you crochet with a strand of yarn and a strand of crochet thread held together helps make the whole thing strong plus adds some interesting contrast.

                                  My work in progress, I chose the colors to look like the ocean

After lunch, Chris' mom and I went to get facials.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I've had facials before, many years ago, but NEVER like this.  I left that place so blissed out.  And after everything I've been going through recently with work and what not...let's just say it was needed.  Plus my skin was literally glowing, and who doesn't want that??  That night we had dinner and played a game with everyone.  His family is definitely a game family which I LOVE because my family so is not.

I love Sundays while traveling.  I have always loved finding a church to go to wherever we're vacationing and having to opportunity to meet a new priest and see a new church.  When we're visiting Chris' family we go to Our Lady of Good Counsel.  I love this church.  Not only is it a beautiful church, but the Irish priest is fantastic.  He always gives a wonderful homily.  Which is actually where the title of this post came from, he read part of St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer.  I really enjoyed the readings yesterday as well.  The second reading yesterday from Romans is one of my favorites.  "we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint"  Hope does not disappoint.  Bam.  Now that is something to hold on to.

Yesterday after mass Chris' mom helped show me how to use my new (well, new to me) sewing machine.  Chris' grandmother was getting rid of her sewing machine and asked if I wanted it, and I of course said yes!  I've been wanting to learn how to sew.  The sewing machine is awesome.  It's vintage, green, and comes in it's own cabinet.  Who doesn't love vintage??  It fit perfectly in our little office, which is great because now when Chris is playing his video games we can still be spending time together.  I can't wait to try some sewing projects.

                                             Seriously, how awesome is this??

Like I said, this weekend was fantastic.  And Buster absolutely loved running around in their fenced in back yard.  Makes me wish we had a yard for him to run in!  One day...Buster also almost had the chance to make friends with a black bear.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Yesterday afternoon we found out on of Chris' neighbors had spotted a black bear in the wooded area behind their houses.  Talk about scary.  Oh, and our incredibly friendly dog almost left us...he hopped right into the car of another family ready to go for a ride.  Oh this dog.  After such an eventful weekend he has be content to just sleep...which is exactly what he is doing right now next to me.

                                             Buster's (almost) new friend

We got home last night and today are planning on taking advantage of Memorial Day sales and getting a new fridge - I hope.

Oh!  And to top off this great weekend, we came home to a small package on our doorstep from our wedding photographers.  They had sent us three magnets with our wedding photos on them.  And some Worthers Original, oh yum.  I can't even tell you how much Chris and I loved our photographers and the amazing photos they took.  Seriously, I can't speak highly enough about them.  If you're in the Maryland area, I would definitely recommend them.  Check out their website if you don't believe me!  http://www.photographybysusie.com/

                                                 I am in love the the magnets...and the candy hit the spot

7 Quick Takes Friday vol 1

So here is my first post contributing to one of the "community" link-ups I was talking about!   Check out the other 7 Quick takes here!

1. Today is Friday and the start of Memorial Day Weekend!  Which is exciting simply for the fact that it is a three day weekend, but also because Chris and I will be heading to New Jersey tonight to spend some time with his (our) family.  I have some fantastic in-laws...in fact, I hate calling them my in-laws because I feel like that has a negative connotation.  My family by marriage, that's better.  Pray that we have safe travels, and I will keep everyone else traveling in my prayers as well!

2. As another long, grueling work week ends, I am trying to remind myself how blessed I am to have a job.  Yes, it is stressful, difficult, and a struggle to stay true to who I am, but bottom line, I have a job.  And a job with great hours.  Focus on the positive.

3. This week I was able to talk to my old college roommate!  From the time we met as Freshman at Mount St. Mary's University we have been inseparable.  If one of us were ever out without the other people would also ask what happened to our twin :-)  We were SO inseparable that she even ended up moving into the same neighborhood as Chris and I (completely by accident too!  We both separately found houses in the same development, talk about providence!)  So for almost a year we enjoyed being able to just stop by each other's homes and sit and chat over a glass - or two - of wine.  Now, enter Pete.  Pete is one of Chris' friends whom Lindsay met at our wedding...and then began to date.  Pete lives in California.  AKA Pete took her away from me!  Just kidding, they're really great together.  But anyway, a few months ago she put her house up for rent and moved to CA!  So with the time differences and our work schedules it has sometimes been hard to stay in touch, so the phone call this week was fantastic!

4. Myself and my coworker have been working on a video project for our students.  We asked them to write one thing they think adults should know about 6, 7, and 8th grade boys.  From their responses we created a sort - of video montage.  It's powerful, let me tell you.  I'm super excited to show it to them, and we get to show them...TODAY!  I can't wait to see their faces

5. Michael's is having a 4 day yarn event...I should have posted a picture of my yarn stash and then you might understand my husbands reaction to my desire to go to Michael's today.  But my philosophy is, you can never have too much yarn!  Plus, I really want to make this beach bag before our anniversary!  Crocodile stitch is my absolute FAVORITE.

6. Chris and I are trying to be healthier.  We're trying to eat less red meat and eating more lean proteins like chicken and fish.  We also joined a gym and are trying to get our butts there AT LEAST 4X a week...but so far it's been more like 2, maybe 3 times a week.  We just started so I'm trying to allow us a "grace" period but we definitely need to work on our dedication.  We've been going after he gets home from work, which on a good day, is around 7 p.m.  I think we miiight start going in the morning...which would be a 5:30 a.m. alarm...which just makes me cringe.  I am anything but a morning person.  But then at least we would still have our evenings to relax with each other rather than rushing to the gym, hurry make dinner, hurry eat dinner, whoa where did the night go.

7. My "tia" is visiting from Colombia and just arrived this week!  I think she's actually my mother's cousin, not my aunt, but either way we call her tia.  She is quite possibly the sweetest woman I have met, and she was really there for my mother and I after my grandmother died.  She even flew home with us after the funeral and stayed with us until after my wedding.  I can't even describe how much of a help she was.  She came bearing gifts and I left my parents house laden with a juice box sized aguardiente (a staple liquor in Colombia), 4 handmade placemats, 6 cazuelas (special bowls to serve ajiaco - a delicious Colombian soup), true Colombian coffee - Sello Rojo, and a make up bag from a store there called Boots N Bag.  I can't even tell you how excited I am for all of these things!  But, I am most excited to spend time with my aunt and brush up on my spanish!  

I hope everyone has a safe, blessed Memorial Day holiday.  Lets remember in our thoughts and prayers all those who have served and defended our freedom, including my father-by-marriage!

Hookin' It Up

No...this is not an inappropriate post, I just thought it'd be a good idea to talk a little more about my passion for crocheting and how it all got started.

A few years back, while I was in the midst of my graduate work, I learned about a ministry through my church called the "Prayer Shawl Ministry."  I can remember watching these women carrying up to the altar these beautiful knit/crocheted shawls and having them blessed by the priest to be given to people who were ill, home-bound, or those who just needed comfort.  The shawl was meant to symbolize God's love, His peace, embracing them.

Well, I just HAD to be a part of this ministry.  So I bought some knitting needles and some yarn and sat down with my mom and asked her to show me how to knit.  She showed me the two basic stitches, the knit and purl stitch.  And I made my first prayer shawl, just a big rectangle of knit stitches.  I was so proud of myself; finally I was the one carrying my shawl to the altar to have it blessed.  I think the biggest thing I learned was not the simple knit and purl stitches but rather that knitting gave me my own inner peace.  When I was stressed out by my internship/clients and coursework, picking up those needles and yarn centered me and helped cool me down.  What we in the "biz" refer to as, self care.  

After another shawl and a few scarves I decided to try my hand at crocheting.  I had read somewhere that crocheting is unique because while knits can be replicated by machines, crochet cannot.  Sweet, sign me up.

Enter YouTube...Oh, the many things one can learn from YouTube.  What I learned was how to crochet a pair of fingerless gloves.  I stayed up waay past my bed time and made them in one night...and LOVED THEM.  I was offically hooked on crocheting and from there I learned as much as I could.  I made blankets, hats, scarves, dishcloths, leg warmers...any free pattern that I could get a hold of I made.

And so began my love affair with yarn and hook.

Here's one of my most recent project...a granny square blanket for a very special baby girl who is due in July.  I was literally finishing this blanket in the car before the mother-to-be's shower so the pictures don't show the white border (and hence the pictures of the blanket on my bed of all places)...but one can use their imagination ;-)

I am currently finishing a blanket for C in his favorite football team colors - green and white for the New York Jets.  I'll post some pictures when it's done!  

Who am I?

Welcome!

Well, I am new to this whole "blogging" thing, but it's been something I have been wanting to try for a while so...here it goes!  I figured the best place to start would be with a sort of, "About Me" post.  

I am 25 years old and last June I married my best friend, "C".  We also bought our first home last year, and three months after we were married we adopted our first "fur-baby," Buster.  

                                               Buster!  6 months old when we rescued him

Last year was a pretty crazy year...we got engaged in November and were married 6 months later.  During that time I was finishing up coursework and clinical work for my Masters in Pastoral Counseling.  C and I were also looking for a home for ourselves which we were able to find...and move into the Monday after our wedding (we were married on a Saturday).  

In March my family welcomed my niece "E".  We call her our little miracle baby.

In May, my grandmother passed away and my mother and I jet-set to Colombia to grieve the loss and rejoice in the life she led.

June 16 finally arrived, and while I could probably write a book on how amazing, fun, beautiful, spectacular, and a "dream come true" our wedding was...I won't make you suffer through that!  Just let me assure you that it was all of that, and more!

                                     Married at Mt. Saint Mary's University (Photography by Susie)

After the wedding, and moving in to our new home, I finished up my final class for my M.S. degree and in August C and I took a cruise to the Bahamas for our honeymoon/my 25th birthday.  It was amazing.

                                             I have a thing for sunsets...beautiful, right?

Now, here we are, almost a year later and we are (mostly) settled into our home, our pup is a year old, I have a new job that I started in January as a counselor, and I am continuing with my crocheting and even trying to start up a lil "business" with it (enter shameless plug for my Etsy shop here - https://www.etsy.com/shop/GloryDesignbyTiffany)  It is still a work in progress, I'm working on better pictures etc.  Any suggestions would be fantastic!  

                   The inspiration for my shop name and the name of this blog comes from the bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  So this blog, my crochet, being a counselor, wife etc.  I hope it is all for God's glory


Until next time