Temporary Pause

I'm not sure for how long but I do not think I will be making many posts this January...I know I've mentioned before that I had been home visiting family, that was true but it was because my husband and I decided to get some space. I came home on Monday thinking I was coming home to move forward and work on our marriage, only to have a bomb dropped on me...so, long story short I'm gathering up my things and I am making my way back to my family and what will be my new old home this week sometime.

I've been on such an emotional roller coaster the last couple of days that I haven't even had the urge to pick up my needles and knit...and until that happens my knitting blog will be put on hold.

Thanks to those of you who have been reading, there will be more to come; just not right now.

My new work in progress...

I have had loads of knitting to keep me busy, I've mentioned before the shawl I'm doing. It's been a lot of fun, I've done up two medallion type things already and I plan on taking that project with me on the plane. Here's a quick pic of what they look like so far, of course I'm going to block them so they lay nicer but I'm going to wait until I have them all done first. I plan on taking a peek at the book I have at home with a similar pattern to see how many they did and how they put theirs together.

Knitting Resolutions...

Happy New Year!!!!

I know it's a wee bit late, but better late than never....

I'm usually one of those to make New Year Resolutions, nor am I all that affected by the new year; it's just a continuation of what was. But this year it's different for me...not sure why. I have a lot of plans for this year.

I've already decided to make some afghans, and I figure I best start now that way I'll have all year to finish them. And if you knew me you'd chuckle at that, because I'm the kind of gal who gets very bored very easily with my knitting...I'm like the poster girl for procrastination. But I'm bound and determined this year will be different. *fingers crossed* I've also started to get more involved in some groups, I'm hoping to be a part of a yarn box exchange and I've discovered the art of being a Yarrn Ninjja! Which I think will be fun and a great way to use up some leftover yarn.

I have also started a new project for myself...I saw some shawls in a vogue knitting book I have and decided to use a stitch pattern and do something similar to it. I don't have the book with me so I'm going off the top of my head but I'm sure it'll be great!

Not only do I have resolutions for my knitting but I also have decided that it's time I get my butt up and in shape. I know that's like the #1 resolution every year for people but I've been thinking about this for a while.  I've just never been motivated enough to want to do anything about it. But my resolution is not to diet or become some ubber gym goer. I simply want to start eating healthy, and getting more active with our dogs. I've never been 'ok' with giving up everything you enjoy eating simply to lose weight, I mean I want to be happy....not skinny and miserable because I can't have a chocolate bar every now and then. My new motto is "In Moderation". Plus I don't want to be skinny, I want to keep my curves!!  Even now as unhappy as I am with my body I love my curves, it's the bulges I'm not a big fan of. ha ha

I guess to really sum up my New Year's Resolutions is this...I simply want to live my life. I've spent the last couple of years living in a bubble in my house and I'm tired of that. I want to get out and enjoy life, enjoy my family and really dive into the things that make me happy. Even if they are nerdy. : p

Snowflake Cap

Alright, so after a good long Christmas holiday with my family, I am now up and ready to post some of the gifts I made for my family. Today, I've done up my pattern for the Snowflake Cap I made for my mom. I ended up not doing a lining for it as I ran out of time; and in honesty I kind of gave up as I really didn't have the right idea on how to sew the lining in. Like I said before I'm severely challenged when it comes to sewing.

So, here's my Snowflake Cap pattern. You can find it here, Snowflake Cap . One last thing...this is only my second pattern I've written, so if you find mistakes please don't hesitate to leave me a note and I'll do my best to work them out. Enjoy!

I didn't have a model available so I used a lamp shade...not the best but it gives you an idea of how it looks.

Merry Christmas!!

Today my husband is making his way here with his dad and sister, so I don't plan on doing much posting over the next little bit. I mean it is almost Boxing Day! So, just thought I'd put this up and wish you all a

Merry Christmas!!

Have a good and safe holiday, no matter what you celebrate; enjoy it!! : )



My Culinary Awesomeness...

Today my mom had a group of girls from work over for their annual Christmas Party. I love to bake and cook and just do things for parties, you couldn't pay me to cater something but I just like doing it for myself (and in this case my mom). We went grocery shopping the other night and I got started in the kitchen this morning. We agreed on meatballs and sauce, a fruit tray with cream cheese and marshmallow fluff dip, a veggie tray shaped like a Christmas tree, and a bread bowl type thing with dip in the middle. For dessert we had Christmas cookies, cherry bread, plum pudding with rum sauce, and candy cane and skor fudge.





My first picture is of the bread bowl dish, I got the recipe from the Pillsbury website; it's called Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath. I've attached the link bellow for the recipe. I was actually really impressed with the dip itself, I like spinach dip but I'm picky. I loved how the bowl was edible, it was not only environmental conscious but also easy clean up. I'm taking a moment to brag over my holly garnish...my husband always tells me one day I'm going to end up cutting a finger off when I cut things...but to every one's surprise I didn't. : p

The next dish I prepared was one of my favorites, I love veggies and dip and this was a neat little way to display them. Again I got the idea from Pillsbury's, but I added a bit to the tree. It turned out great and I was lucky to remember to snap some pictures of it before everyone dug into it.

My mom got the cherry bread from a local store called Taste Of Country. It's my favorite store to go to when I'm home, it has all these neat little home things. For the past couple of years we've gotten tree ornaments for our animals, they write their names on each of them for us. Off topic a bit but oh well. So with the bread platter I topped it off by making Christmas cookies. To most of the world they are known as shortbread cookies, to my grandma they are known as scotch cookies. I have some of my fondest memories making Christmas cookies with her. The mess we'd make in her kitchen, and on ourselves. All the decorations we'd put on them and the variety of cookie cutters we'd use. It's something I'm proud to have the ability to do, because most of the women in my family can't bake...at least not like my grandma and I. I might post the recipe later on, but for now I'm keeping it my little secret. he he

The last of the desserts that I made was fudge, I love making fudge. It's so easy to make variations from the same recipe. I use the Carnation Evaporated Milk Fudge recipe. And I usually just buy the can of milk and rip off the label to get the recipe while I shop but this year I was really disappointed to find that Carnation has chosen to put an assortment of other recipes (milkshakes) on the labels. So, I had to resort to the very helpful Internet; not that I minded...I'm just a creature of habit. lol For one batch I did the regular recipe but then place a couple tablespoons of crushed candy canes in and then topped it off with some bigger pieces of candy cane. I have to say once I tasted it all I could think of was how good it would be if I had of made my mint fudge with the candy canes. Can you say good. And speaking of mint that was also a big disappointment for me. I couldn't find any mint chocolate chips at the grocery store...and I can't even say it might have just been the store because this is the second time I couldn't find them. So, this time I opted for skor chocolate chips, and it turned out to be amazing. Not all the chips melted so it made it crunchy which was a nice change. As I mentioned above I've attached all the links for the recipes I've used....hope you enjoy them as much as I know we did.

Spinach Dip Crescent Wreath

Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter

Carnation Fudge

White Knuckles and Sore Wrist...

Ever notice when it's crunch time something always seems to go wrong...or something else unexpected comes up. Well consider this to be one of those situations. Let me bring you up to speed...last Fall I was diagnosed with tendinitis and a cyst in my thumb. The doctor called it a trigger thumb, if I moved my hand/thumb in a certain way it'd feel like it popped out of joint and was very painful. So, what would the crisis be?? We're less than a week away from Christmas and I still have a couple of projects to finish and my stupid wrist is starting to hurt. I noticed it today when I was driving and realized my thumb and pointer finger were going numb for no reason. I have bruising around my wrist...and to make matters more annoying I didn't pack my brace with me and the hubby has already left for the airport. So, to add to the already busy weekend I'm going to have to go and look for either a brace or something that can help relieve the pressure and strain.

Alright I'm done with my pity party, onto some more exciting and fun issues...like how to finish the hat. See, in the project it suggests sewing in a fleece lining. So, I went out and got some fleece and then sat down and tried to figure out how to get the right measurement and then how to sew it into the hat. And I'm sure some of you are wondering what the problem is. Well let me tell you...see I can sew but I can't sew. Make sense? I can knit up a storm and I usually have no problem putting projects together, but when it comes to sewing for some reason the ability needed to do the simple task of sewing fabric gets lost somewhere. Now don't get me wrong I really really wish I could sew, my dream is to one day own a sewing machine and be able to make things like curtains and aprons and what nots. But, I am the girl who once attempted to hem my own pants and ended up cutting them too short, and sewing the wrong side...so that is a far fetched dream.

But seriously, I'm really boggled on what to do...any help? I'm actually thinking of throwing that whole idea of the fleece out the window and just picking up the stitches needed and doing the hat pattern again and sewing that to the inside of the hat as a lining. Then again that requires more knitting....boo erns.

I shall report back soon hopefully with a completed hat. : ) Until then feel free to enjoy this video...I'm not getting into the habit of posting videos but I love this one. It's by the band Ok Go, they're an amazing DIY band.

Song: White Knuckles

Artist: Ok Go