Vanity, thy name is....

My Mary Kay adventure has been so good!! When I started this new career back in October, I wasn't sure where it would lead.  It was just months after Sam passed away, and all I knew was that MK would give me a platform to bless people. 

Quilting does that (and I always receive sooo much more than I give!), and now MK gives me even more people to know and love.  Weird combo, huh?!  Quilting and Mary Kay??!!  Imagine my great surprise when our make-up artist Lori Hogg trained us in "color correction" -- how the color wheel helps determine what we can use to conceal skin discolorations and blemishes...COOL!! I know color wheel stuff!!!!!

I have qualified for the "Court of Sales" -- a major accomplishment for this newbie and totally NOT possible without the fabulous people who buy from me and (can you believe it!?! LOL) trust me when I talk about make-up.  This plain-jane homeschool mom has enjoyed the unlikely transformation to "glamour guru."  LOL

But it's not without some serious pitfalls!! The business!? GREAT! MK is a fabulous product. The recognition...?  Well, I thought I wanted it....

Enter Exhibit A...

Black Sequined Dress.

The Court of Sales includes a Royalty Reception complete with formal attire, an appearance on stage at our convention (Seminar in  Dallas!!), and if I'm #1 in my national area (I'm currently #2) or my Division (I'm currently #18), a speech.  That's been my motivation.  To talk about a life well lived.  To talk about making a difference.  To talk about Sam.  LOVE! LOVE!!

Problem? 
Um....
The dress is a size (or so! :-(  too SMALL.

Vanity, thy name is IDIOT!!! LOL
So I'm working out.  Walking 3+ miles every day. Step Aerobics three times a week.  Weight Watchers.  I have 7 weeks.

Aren't there better ways to spend my time!?!?!  Perhaps a little machine quilting?

I'm still very much a novice on my home machine.  But I'm enjoying the process.  This "little Jo" -- a Jo Morton pattern (can't remember the name) from her club -- is a veritable eye feast of her fabrics and colors. 

The original was square...I got so wrapped up in those quarter-square-triangles that I ended up with a rectangular quilt.  Can't wait to put on the binding!!

I'll be binding another quilt before long.  Judi Madsen at Green Fairy Quilts emailed today that she hoped to finish Sam's Darlin' Hearts very soon.  Be watching her blog for pics!!

I worry that I won't fit into my dress.  That my hard work will be for nothing!! :-)  In quilting there is always a payoff.  Same with a walk with God!!

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15: 57-58, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Isn't that a great promise!?  I like knowing that what I invest with Christ is not vanity. 

Unlike the fiasco my black-sequin-dress may prove to be! LOL! :-D  And in case I get discouraged, I need to remember how to weigh....

 Blessings!!





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Kilt

I wish I could say I was getting in touch with my Scots/Irish/English heritage with a title like that, but of course, in eastern KY, being "kilt" has an entirely different meaning!

I allowed myself yesterday, January 1st, to continue my completely self-absorbed devil-may-care descent into hog-heaven.  For those of you who don't know, hog heaven is that blissful place where you do what you want, when you want, for as long as you want....

My hog heaven?  Movies (Lord of the Rings trilogy!!), Facebook, Words with Friends, gallons of ice-cold Pepsi, cheddar jalapeno crunchy Cheetos and these seasonal favorites:  Snyder's of Hanover's White Chocolate covered Pretzel Dips.....Bliss in a salty/sweet combo that melts in your mouth.  Yummy goodness that is highly addictive! Sigh.

And today, of course, the New Year really began for all us self-improvement, get the heck-outta-hog-heaven individuals.

So off to Step Aerobics this morning.  My first foray there in over 3 months, and I haven't been regular since back when Jeff came home from Afghanistan in May!!  So, yeah!  Might be time.

Surprisingly, I've only gained about 5 lbs (and 3 or more of that has been holiday eating!!  But I'm sure it had nothing to do with the pretzels!!!! :-D)

Working through the routine today was difficult.  Manageable, but difficult! :-)  I had too much pride to go back down a level on the step, or to use less than the 8 lb weights I was using when I was a regular worker-outer.  So, tonight, as soreness settles in, I am well and truly kilt!!!

 I'm sure my dilemma would seem less serious if I could drink an ice-cold Pepsi, but I'm off those, too -- AGAIN.  It's only about the 103rd time I've quit them.  But I really mean it this time!! LOL 

Otherwise, it's been a good second day of the new year.  I started my "Boxer Rebellion" quilt with Sam's boxers! :-D  What a hoot!! The "Dizzy Geese" pattern is one I've wanted to do for a long time, and Sam's plaids (kinda makes you think of kilts, too, huh!? :-D) are gonna be just perfect!

I've got this and another quilt top to finish in time for classes I'm teaching in a couple of weeks!!  My "Contrary Wife in Kansas" quilt uses two traditional blocks, and I'm waffling over the fabrics I wanna use.  Need to have both these quilt tops done by January 18th!

This deadline is why I've not "joined up" with Judy's UFO Challenge for 2012!  I will get there! It's just gonna be February.  So, no time for wallowing in Hog Heaven! No time to be well and truly kilt!

Paul wrote to the Philippians,

 ^"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:17-21 NIV)

"...their god is their stomach...
our citizenship is in heaven..."

I'm pretty sure Paul didn't mean Hog Heaven.
Here's hoping that step aerobics, better eating habits and the Lord Jesus Christ will "transform our lowly bodies!"

Blessings,