International Doll Quilt for Kathryn

My sweet mother in law, Kathryn, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Uterine cancer this Winter. She has begun her chemo, and the whole family is hopeful but distressed nonetheless.

Kathryn is one of the most inspiring women I am privileged to know. Since I worked in Little Rock the last two years, I was able to get to know her so much better and really build a strong relationship with her. I love her so much and cherish all that she has taught me. Even though I am glad to be back in Boston and no longer travelling, I have felt so far away as she has begun this very hard trial. Since she has been one of my greatest influences in learning how to be a faithful woman, I felt like I needed to make her something extra special to know that John and I care and are thinking of her.

So...thus began one of the most extensive and over-ambitious quilting projects I have ever completed! I wish I had better photos. Kathryn loves dolls, and she loves different cultures from around the world. So - we made her an International Sun Bonnet Sue quilt. 

I was not even remarkably alone in making this quilt. My mom did over 10 of the 25 blocks, and provided so much moral support. I had friends from Church helping by making blocks, lending sewing machines so we could run at "double capacity", and of course John doing the bulk of he finishing. John may not be the first to admit it - but he is so talented at anything crafty or detail oriented. I was feeling extremely ill the week before we needed it finished, so John did all of the border, quilting and binding. He also did all of the cutting (I don't exactly have the same precision to detail... say as an Analytical Scientist). I am so grateful for all the help we had in making this quilt.

We chose 25 different countries/regions in the World to represent, and cut out and ironed on the designs to attach them to the blocks. I also did blanket stitch applique on all of the pieces, which really helped them "pop" out. We ended up just tie quilting it due to time constraints, but hope to have it quilted one day with a long arm. 

My mother in law loved it. She sent me photos of her using it in Chemo and said it is actually the perfect size. We did a snuggly flannel on the back, so it is very soft and warm. 

Quilt Top before Finishing

Here are some of the blocks before we did the applique. 

Middle East

Boston, MA

Peru

Spain

Here John is pinning on the binding. Yes - those are my purple pajama pants. Yes - I love this man to the moon and back. He is so good to me and to his momma. 

It may be eons before I decide to tackle another applique quilt, but this was a really great project with lots of help. It was truly a labor of love.

Eye infections, cuddle kits and other thoughts

Currently I have a stye in my eye. Thanks to google I know that this is an infection similar to pink eye - but is not quite so contagious (I was hoping it was so I could work from home for a few days... yep I said that in public)

Anyway, thinking about this stye made me think of a funny memory I want to document from the last time I had an eye infection.

It was right after John and I has started dating. We were in what I will call the "blissful butterflies and hearts stage" where just hearing his name made my heart skip a beat (as opposed to now when I am this jaded married lady who shudders when I hear his name....kidding).

I had pink eye and didn't want him to get it, so we weren't going to see each other for a few days. As young lovers do... we both didn't anticipate the separation. So the second day apart I get a call from John. He is down stairs. He came to see me.  He misses me so much. He has a plan to avoid getting pink eye!

Skeptical, but desperate to see John I let him upstairs. As soon as he came in, he pulled something out of his bag... and proceeded to put these two things on...

Yes friends, those are lab glasses and rubber gloves.

 He told me they were his "cuddle kit" and his plan to be with me and not get pink eye. I almost died laughing. I told him I wouldn't come near him with a ten foot pole in that attire, though I did care for his health!

I don't remember using the cuddle kit for long, but I will forever have the image of him in those goggle and gloves seared in my mind with his adorable smile. It makes me laugh and smile to this day.

And that my friends... is what made me fall in love with this stud.

His quirky, silly, scientific, albeit romantic sense of humor.

2 years... wow

John and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary on Monday. We had a wonderful evening. We reflected on our wedding day, the past years, and did some dreaming for our future. And of course we enjoyed some delicious food and a few good laughs.

I am so grateful for John. I can't express enough how much this man has shaped me in just a few years. He is just a pillar of light and goodness in my life. He always seek to do good things, to laugh, to make me laugh, and he is my BIGGEST cheerleader. I know he believes I can do anything... and that gives me such confidence.

I am the luckiest woman in the world! Happy 2nd anniversary to my love-- I can't wait to see what is in store for us.

the best kind of friday night

homemade tomato soup for dinner, made especially for me by the hubby



flowers for sweetest day


working on home projects together as we listen to our favorite music

These are my favorite kind of Friday nights. Just relaxing and being home with the man I love.

Accenture Ball 2011

Here are a few photos of John and I from the recent 2011 Accenture Ball. The Accenture Ball is the Detroit Office's annual gala to celebrate the accomplishments from the previous year.



It was held at the Westin in downtown Detroit. We ended up staying there overnight to avoid a late and wintry drive home (and to have a romantic evening away from the apartment). It was a great evening and escape from reality, we danced the night away and enjoyed some much needed us time.



I am so grateful for my husband John. Besides being extremely dashing and handsome (look at him in that new blazer!) he is also thoughtful, caring and kind. And as if he wasn't prince charming enough, he is also a stellar dancer sweeping me clear off my feet.

1/2 birthday

John's birthday is the day after Christmas, so it has sort of been lumped in with the holidays for a long time. For John's half birthday this year I threw him a little party. It was a complete surprise, and a ton of fun.

Early that day (a Sunday) I made a big chocolate cake with yummy ganache frosting under the pretense it was going to a woman I visit teach. John kept saying... "Kristin, I am not sure if we should give away this cake. Can we maybe just give her a slice and eat the rest?". Then I started dinner (and my sweet John didnt notice I was cooking for way more than 2 people), when our friend Abe called needing help with moving some furniture. It couldnt wait until after dinner, so John left and came home about 25 minutes later to find a some friends, birthday decor and a big spaghetti dinner to celebrate his 28.5 years of life. It was wonderful to celebrate the man who means so much to me :)



I am bummed I don't have more pictures... I will just have to remember to take some on his next half birthday (ha!). I am feeling an "over the hill" theme coming on...

a love(ly) day

enjoying northern cali coasts together <3
Can't wait to be back in A^2 permanently. I miss John.

#37: How Much I Love my Family

One of my greatest realizations during college was how much I love and miss my family. I don't know why it didn't click before I left, but I really took for granted how much my family meant to me. Heck, I was excited to go at the time. But a lot of things struck me after being away from home. I missed my sisters so much. I tried to connect with them via phone or facebook, but it just wasn't the same. Sometimes I felt sad or lonely and just needed someone to talk to, and that would have been when I plopped on my moms bed and talked her ear off. Sometimes I wanted to explore nature, but I really just couldn't enjoy it as much without my dad.

Our family has gone through a lot in the past few years. I love them so much, and I hope they realize how much they mean to me. I am not always the kindest to my family. It is a hard truth that sometimes we are most cruel to the ones we love most. It is also true that often we take for granted that which we love most. I have learned both of these things in my college experience, but mostly to appreciate the the people you love, and let them know how much you care often.

This past weekend I spent with my family was incredible. I took long walks with my dad, Heather did my makeup. Lauren and I fought over covers sharing a bed, Mom and I worked on a craft together. What a perfect weekend.

How grateful I am for my family.

Heart Attacked!!

John is pretty much the most amazing man you will ever meet- and he loves me!! He "heart attacked" my room for vday, and left some chocolate saying that if I took them and called him in the morning I would be fine. so clever! And then he led me on a scavenger hunt of notes to find my present, a hymns made easy piano book! SO perfect. So wonderful! And that is my John-David :)

Overview of the Holidays

Hey all! So instead of write an expose on each thing I did over break I thought I would highlight some of the greater moments since I got out of finals!)

The day of my last final, to celebrate I stayed up all night sewing a bag. Yep, dork.

While I was still in Michigan I convinced John to play hookie and go have a "christmas day" with me. We headed to Frankenmuth, and also hit a tree farm on the way.
We got our first ever Christmas tree together. And... we even decorated it! We only got to enjoy it for a few days, but it was so much fun!

I prepared and sang a song with John for my family (it was called Star Bright, and we sang in Spanish and in English!)

I gave my mom a homemade quilt (I even designed the top!) and my dad a decoupaged bird house. (pictures to come)

I went to midnight mass with my family, then woke up the next morning for presents and egg nog french toast (YUM).

John had a birthday, so I planned a party :)

I went bridesmaid dress shopping (yes, one of my BEST buds Jamie is getting married and chose me to be a bridesmaid!!!!!)

I went to Arkansas, hung with John's awesome fam and saw one of his nephews be baptized!

I went to the emergency room at 4 in the morning... yeah not being able to breathe is scary. (allergy attack-gah!)

I went to a church new years dance, and then hardly could stay up through the new year.

I had a wonderful, relaxing break where I cherished many loved ones and felt enriched by their love and the spirit. Oh what a joyous season! Christ is born!

And now, feeling prepared and ready to get going... it's back to the grind!

<3 Kristin

In Love

John is such a wonderful and selfless man. When I am so down, he lifts me up. I know that he truly believes I can do anything, and that unending faith in me is SO empowering. I am so grateful for his presence in my life, for his love and ultimately for the relationship we cherish.

Today was a rough day. I was tearing myself down because again I felt incredibly overwhelmed and not up to any of the tasks ahead of me. John also didn't feel well, and his work wasn't going well in the lab. I also have had work and group projects every night, so tonight, as most days we won't get to see each other.

But lo and behold, upon arriving at work there was a letter in my inbox. A love letter. I instantly forgot my uncertainties as my heart swelled at the incredible support John gives me each day, especially when I am in need.

It is my only hope that I can love him, and support him in a way that I can always be his and just be deserving of such goodness.

So today, in perhaps a slightly intimate, slightly mushy blog post, I express my love for him.

Off to take on the world, for he loves me!
Kristin

Alpha Gamma Delta= LOVE

I am so proud to be an Alpha Gam. Here are my beautiful Junior Sisters just being wild and crazy.