Sunday, October 16, 2011

Bad Blogger!

What have I been up to for the last 2 weeks?  Obviously not blogging.

I did some sewing for gifts/thank-yous.  Luckily the recipients didn't point out my sewing flaws, which there were many and my mom did point out when she saw one of the journal covers.

There was a quick trip down to San Diego (home of the parental units) to take a car-load of stuff down.  Princess Annie took the chance to use my pillow as her throne, since she's usually shut out of that room.

There was also a quick stop in Las Vegas, since its a great half-way point between Utah and San Diego.  Super quick review of the Cosmopolitan, one of the new hotel/casinos in City Center.  Public areas look like the designer didn't have a cohesive theme, and was using just whatever was leftover from other hotels/casinos and cheap (which would make sense since Deutsche Bank bought it out of bankruptcy and decided to go into the casino business).  The rooms were fantastic, which is good considering they were supposed to be condos.  Almost all of the rooms have a balcony, mine was on the 35th floor, looking right over the fountain at the Bellagio.
That was the good part, now for the bad.  Water pressure in the shower could have been better (but the soaker tub with champagne bubble jets more than made up for it), and I never could get the lights or climate control working through the TV remote like it was supposed to.  The restaurants I ate at were either fantastic (Milos) or a dismal failure (Va Bene - the cafe).

The real kicker about The Cosmopolitan and the reason why I'll never go back is being treated like a criminal at check-out. There were 2 charges made to my room, that weren't mine.  I didn't even recognize the name of them and had to ask.  I was told it was one of their restaurants, and the charges were at 6:30am.  Impossible. I had complained about housekeeping barging into the room at 8 am, and if they wanted to review security logs, they'd see the only entry I made to my room was at 10 pm the evening before, nothing after that.  How could I charge something to the room from a restaurant when I wasn't even there?  Front desk staff kept questioning me, not believing what I was saying, but refusing to get the information from security that would prove I was right.  The end result was them finally saying they'd do me the favor of letting me fill out a dispute claim.  Thank you Cosmo, your rooms might have a great view, but I won't be back.  Deutsche Bank, stick to banking and get out of the casino business.

Sheesh, I still get riled up, even a week later.  On to something else, if anyone is still reading this.  I did get some stitching done.  Part 6 of the iStitch SAL.  Totally love the scissors Carol added, and I added a new color.  I had to make the scissors a grey.

Raven's Roost, by the Good Husewife.   This is sort of cheating, since I started this last year and it was about 905% finished, I had just forgotten about it.  Oh well, a finish is a finish and I'm claiming it.


My biggest finish was BBD Greetings, from their Christmas book from 2004.  I started this a few weeks ago, and actually had a half-way pic to post, but it never got posted.  This is actually a scan, since I want to try and print it on some cards to make Christmas cards.

The next pictures are all finish-finishes.  All stitching was done over the last year or 2, and had just gathered in a pile needing something done with it.  Pumpkin Row got stuffed with a lovely mixture of cloves, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice, dried ginger chunks and anise seeds.

Such a lovely smell!

I've also done some baking!  Chocolate Pumpkin Spice cake with a Cinnamon Glaze (totally yummy, you'd never know it was good for you and low fat).

And just out of the oven this afternoon, Apple Buttermilk cakes.  One of these will go into the office tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone that made it through this post, and my rant!  I've been reading blogs, but barely commenting.  I'm sorry about that, but life has been a bit hectic the last couple of weeks.  Hopefully I'll be back to my routine, for at least another month, before it all goes upside down.

11 comments:

Ranae said...

You may think your a bad blogger, but you have made up more than you think with this fabulous post.
I love your two finishes. I stitched the Greetings, it was a delight.
Your smalls are fantastic and the food, yum!!!!

Chris said...

Wonderful post. Sorry about the bad hotel experience.
Your finishes and the baking look great! Gotta love fall!

Have a great week!

Myra said...

Your post was worth the wait! I personally love my journal and don't see a problem one. Lovely BBD piece - that will make a gorgeous card. Great idea for the stuffing on the pumpkin stitch, I may have to borrow that one.

Theresa said...

Sorry to hear about your bad hotel experience... Now I'll know not to stay there if I visit next time. I can't believe you drove all the way from Utah to San Diego!!!! I've always wanted to visit Utah but my husband refuse to drive the distance. Still in the process of convincing him....

I love your stitches!!! That BBD finish is gorgeous!!! I love how you filled the pillow with those lovely mixtures. I can almost smell it from here!!! And those cakes, YUMMY!!!!! My mouth is watering just by looking at the photos!!! Think is time to have a slice of pie now just to stop the craving....

Annie said...

What a great blog you have! Love this post!
Cool idea to print images of the BBD piece for cards. Much quicker than stitching multiple ones!

Isn't it always the case that our mothers can be brutally honest! The covers look lovely to me.

Yummy-looking baking. Your co-workers are lucky!

Penny said...

You've obviously been up to some pretty sewing and stitching. :) That is a gorgeous view, it's a shame about the way you were treated though. Your baking looks absolutely delicious!!

Margaret said...

Oh I love your stitching! That Good Huswife piece is so neat, as is the BBD finish! Nice SAL as well! The journal covers are lovely! Your bowl of smalls is wonderful -- I'd love to do that someday -- if I ever stitch enough smalls. lol! And your baking -- yum! I'm having issues with wanting to eat and this doesn't help. lol!

valerie said...

Wow, lots of great stuff Mindi! Your journal covers looks amazing and your finishes are great as well. I think the BBD piece would make great cards for Christmas. Raven Roost looks wonderful too. Just in time for Halloween.

Sorry to hear about the LV hotel. Nice view though...perfect spot to see the water show.

Do you happen to have links for the recipes? They both look delicious. Appeals to the baker in me. lol

cucki said...

oh dear so sorry to hear about the bad experience with the hotel..
lovely stitching and yummy baking..
hugs for you xx

Carol said...

I absolutely love the journal you created for me, Mindi--I can't find a single flaw...Think you're being too hard on yourself :)

Oh, your parents live in San Diego!! Lucky you--I've never been, but I've heard they have the most perfect weather in the country there.

Love your bowl of fall finishes and your BBD--just perfect :)

marly said...

Oh do I love that Raven's Roost!! Fabulous. Your fall pieces make a great display. And....yum.