Knitting Stuff. September 29, 2009

I’m looking for the perfect knitting bag. I’m thinking that a diaper bag would actually be the best thing, they tend to have lots of pockets… Hmm. I don’t like the one I’ve got, because it’s a bit flappity, and the straps are really uncomfortable on my shoulders. It’s heavy, because I have this stupid pattern binder/notebook that I can’t be without. Along with all my knitting stuff. And I knit “out” at least once a week, so it does get carried around a bit. Actually, I have a diaper bag around here somewhere. It’s not horrible – pink with stars – but not fantastic either. Maybe I’ll try it for a few weeks and see how it goes.

I’m working on another little baby sweater now, while I wait for some yarn to be delivered. I’m making the Striped Smock Top right now. I love this pattern. It’s so easy, and freakin’ cute. I’d like to make one for Em, but I’m afraid she’ll be to big for the pattern before I get to it. Though, I suppose I could suck it up and do the math to make a bigger one.

Next in my queue is the Sunday Market Shawl. I’ll be knitting it in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in the Bittersweet colourway. It’s going to be a swap gift. I figure I can’t screw it up, since dropping stitches is part of the pattern, for a change

I’m saving my pennies for another spinning wheel. I have an antique already, but she needs a little love to get her in spinning shape. I didn’t get around to it this summer, and I think I’d like to wait until next spring, when I can work on it outside. So, I’m thinking of getting a Babe. They’re made of PVC and wheelchair wheels. Sounds funky, but apparently they’re great, light, and they’re inexpensive.

Okiedoke, that’s it for now. I’m thinking I’ll hit the hay. Early mornings around here.

I kind of can’t think of a title. Hmm. September 25, 2009

Oh, we’re having a rough day around here. The girls are both in foul moods. See, one thing they’ve definitely inherited from me is their need for a decent night’s sleep. Last night? Eh, not so much. We were all up at the bum-crack of dawn today, and now, at 9:30 am, everyone could use a nap. But no one (aside from me) seems to think that’s a good idea. I`ll have another coffee, I think

I ordered a cell phone this morning. I haven`t had one for over a year, and didn`t think I`d ever get another. I hate contracts. But, I just felt so out of touch not having one. I`m a serious worrier, so when I was out without the kids, I was always so worked up that something might happen, and hubby wouldn`t be able to get ahold of me. One less thing to worry about. I`m actually a little excited. I got a pre-paid plan, so if I want to get rid of it, or want a new phone or something, I don`t have to worry about getting out of a contract. And it`s kind of pretty. It`s sad, I know, that I`m concerned with how my phone looks, but that`s just me.

I finished my M-I-L`s scarf yesterday, it`s just drying now. Turned out pretty alright, I think. I love Malabrigo. I`ve got two skeins of Silky Merino for another Christmas gift, and from what I`ve heard, it`s even nicer than the merino worsted. It`s certainly very pretty in the skein. And a bit shiny.

Ah, Starbucks opened just around the corner from me. I`m hoping it doesn`t become dangerous. My plan is to use my airmiles from buying groceries to get Starbucks gift cards… free coffee=win. And I`ve got to buy food anyways, right? They just opened this morning, so imagine it’s insanely busy right now. I’m hoping to go tomorrow morning after my WW meeting (which seems very counterproductive… oh well).

I’m in the process of re-arranging/organizing the kitchen. We picked up a big cabinet/pantry thing from Canadian Tire, and all our food fits into it, so now I have a little bit more cupboard space. I’ve also put the bread machine in a cupboard, and am hoping to move a few more things around so I can get more use out of the tiny bit of counter space we’ve got.

Well, happy Friday everyone. Hope you have a good weekend

Fail September 18, 2009

So, I’d put myself on a yarn diet. Until the end of the year. I’m not on it anymore. I’ve got a Knit Picks order ready to go… I’m just waiting to find out who I’m sending to for a swap so I can see if there’s anything I can order from there to put in. I suck. I feel like such a fail whale, but I just can’t stop myself. Oh well. At least it’s not crack and whores right?

My baby started to crawl, really really crawl a few weeks ago, and now the little imp can stand up (using the inside of her play yard or the couch, of course). She’s so hilarious, you can see how proud she is of herself. And she has the best giggle.

Christmas knitting has commenced, with a scarf for my MIL. I’m hoping to start on some ornaments soon. And spinning.

I’ve got to hunt for the hairbrush now… I need to brush Nugget’s crazy hair. Not looking forward to it.

September September 14, 2009

Wooooah. Where the heck did the summer go? It’s always like this. I love fall, and I really don’t care for the summer heat, but I miss it when it’s gone, know what I mean?

I’ve been working away at knitting more baby things for friends and relatives who are having little ones this fall. I’m currently working on http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=223, which is quick and easy and fun. Also, very cute. I wish there were more sizes, I’d like to make some for my girls, I think they’d be sweet with little skirts.

After this, I’ll be starting Christmas Knittings. I’m excited and nervous. I’ve never given people home-made gifts before, so I’m not sure how well they’ll be received. I’m trying really hard to get away from the over-commercialized Christmases, and teach my girls that it’s about family togetherness, not new toys.

I’ve started putting together the girls Hallowe’en costumes today. Nugget is going to be a pirate-girl, and Tinky is going to be a parrot (I found a parrot costume at value village for 3 bucks. It looks brand new, and doesn’t smell weird, so I think I did alright ) I love Hallowe’en and I’m so excited that I’ve got kids of my own to dress up now!

Hubby and I have been working our way through Dexter in the evenings. Wow. Love it. Michael C. Hall is wicked as Dexter, I like him even better than I did in Six Feet Under. I’m hoping that maybe we can watch True Blood after this, but we’ll see. Vampires aren’t really his thing.

Okay, I’m gonna go watch Days of Our Lives It’s kind of my mid-day guilty pleasure.

Good Morning! August 14, 2009

I just have to say, I’m not really a morning person. But I am. Know what I mean? I hate getting up, (and since moving Tink into her and her sister’s room, it’s been a week of getting up in the middle of the night, making mornings a little tougher, more on that later) but once I’m up and about, I actually kind of like it. Mornings are full of potential, you know? You’ve got the whole day ahead of you. I particularly like being up before the babies, to have some quiet and coffee.

Anyways, the Nugget’s bed finally came. We ordered it months ago (she was still sleeping in her crib). Her dad set it up for her on Saturday, and she loves it. She stays in it all night, until I go in to get her in the morning. Little Tink goes to bed at the same time as Nugget – 7pm. I know it’s early, but neither of them nap much during the day (Nugget very rarely) and if they aren’t in bed around then – it’s actually closer to 7:30, after jammies and books – the next day is just a whiney tired hellfest. Tink cries for a few seconds still, but zips off to dreamland pretty quickly. She still wakes up once (usually around 2) but she settles back down after a little drink and a cuddle. It’s kind of a relief to have everyone settled into their own beds, but I’m a little sad that my little babies are growing up I know they can’t stay babies forever, but I just wish they’d slow down a little bit.

Ah, the food thing isn’t going so great this week. I decided on Tuesday morning that I was giving Weight Watchers the finger, and giving up and eating whatever I wanted from now on, the heck with it. So, I went on a bit of a bender until Wednesday night, when I figured that maybe flushing all my hard work down the pooper was a stupid move, and I’d better get my crap together. I’m back on track now, but suspect I’ll pay at the scales tomorrow morning. I just wish my favourite things weren’t so freakin’ bad for me. And that I loved lettuce.

I hope you’ve had a good week, and have a very nice weekend. I, for the first time in ages, have absolutely no plans at all.

August 6, 2009

Still knitting away on the “dream scarf”. I’m going to have to graft two bits together, so the ends match. That’s something new. Wonder what my next project should be? Might do the matching hat. Might whip up something scarfly that I could wear in the early-fall, less cold weather than this one is. Ugh, why why why am I uninspired to knit the things that have timelines? I know three more people having babies in the fall, and I’d like to make them gifts, but I just can’t get my arse in gear. Ah well.

Oh, I went out and bought some foam floor mats for blocking. I got 8 all together… 6 will stay on the livingroom floor for the kiddos to play on (Tinky-poo is learning to crawl, and finds it a bit hard on the laminate… she keeps slipping. These have more grip)

Got the cable turned off the first of August. What a difference. We spend so much more time playing and going for walks… and we did plenty of that before! I do miss True Blood, but otherwise, I’m glad it’s gone.

Thinking of cleaning and organizing the girls’ room this weekend, in preparation for painting it. What colour? I don’t know. Of course I lean towards pink. But I’m not sure yet. Nugget’s bed is coming tomorrow, so she’ll be moving over to that, and Tink will move out of our room and into the crib. Eeep! She’s ready. Me, not so much.

Ah, I think that’s it for this afternoon. I’ll post some pictures of the scarf before and during blocking (which I’m hoping to do tonight… it’s my first time. Wish me luck?!). I hope you’re having a great Thursday!

Poor little blog… August 2, 2009

Oh, I’m so crappy at this. So very crappy. I want to be a good blogger. I read good blogs, I’ve had other blogs, I know I’ve got it in me…

Oh well. I’ll just have to try harder.

So, I’m knitting away on a scarf that I dreamed about last night. I was wearing it in my dream, and when I woke up, I knew I had to make it. It helped that I had the exact yarn I needed in my stash (Um, I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with it lately, and that crept into my dream?). I’m going to make a matching hat. I’m very excited about it. It’s nothing too fancy, but I think it’s gonna be pretty rad.

I’m on a mission right now to spend less than $100 a week on groceries. My strategies are to only shop every 3 weeks (except milk and diapers if we need them), make my own bread, laundry soap and doing most other cleaning with vinegar and baking soda. I’m cooking way way more from scratch, and with that making meals that can be leftovers at least once. I’m trying to give up pop, but my gosh it’s hard. Every week I swear it off, and every week I’m running around the corner for a bottle of Diet Pepsi. It’s the effin’ devil. Anyways, back to the topic at hand, I’m doing alright so far. I spend roughly $200 every three weeks.

OH MAN IT’S SHARK WEEK ON DISCOVERY! I’m horrified by/fascinated with sharks.

Wanna talk about knitting some more? Okay, in addition to my scarf (and the hat I mathed out in my head to match) I’ve started considering my Christmas knitting. It’s my plan to make hand-made gifts for everyone this year. I’ve got the “storm cloud shawlette” done for my mom. I’ll make a Calorimetry to match (they’re in Red Java coloured Malabrigo. So soft.) I’ll probably start some mittens soon.

Yeah, I guess that’s it. Time to put the babies to bed. Talk to you later!

Prettiness June 10, 2009

So, I like to wear make up. I really do. I try to wear it every day, even if I’m not going out. It’s just one of those things. Some days, I really don’t want to, but I put it on anyways. Just before Tinky was born, I tossed out all my old stuff, and spent a bunch of money on new stuff. A few really good products. Two eyeshadow compacts, foundation, primer, eyebrow pencil and primer (which is the one thing, if I don’t wear anything else I put on. It makes your skin look great). Most of my stuff is Quo from Shopper’s Drug Mart (it’s their higher end store brand). I should’ve known better. In the past few months, I’ve missed the variety of having a pile of different colours to choose from. So, today I ordered from E.L.F. I spent $45, that was with shipping to Canada, for a pile of makeup, brushes etc. There are 20 different items in my order AND I get a free “mini makeup kit”.  I’ll let you know how it is. I’m excited.

I’ve really turned into one of those “Order it off the internet” types. I buy most of my yarn online anymore.  Knit Picks being my poison. I order all my books online. If I could get my groceries delivered, gosh darn it, I would. Not because I don’t want to leave the house, but because I can do so much more with my kids if I don’t have to go shopping for the stuff I need. I’ll be a hermit when I’m old though.

Kind of Dull June 3, 2009

I went to see Angels and Demons last night with some friends. It was good. I knew how it ended, so I wasn’t surprised. But it stuck to the book pretty good, which I like.

I really want to learn how to sew. Not clothes or anything, but aprons. Vintage looking aprons to wear while I make cupcakes! Which, currently, are what I’m obsessed with. I don’t know what to do about it. My desire to lose weight doesn’t mesh well with my desire to bake cupcakes. And I don’t know anyone to give the cupcakes to. It’s rough.

This is a bit dull. Sorry. I’m off for a long weekend, for my cousin’s wedding. It’s just me and Tinky, and though I’m very excited to introduce her to my family, I’m going to miss the King and Nugget terribly.

Memo from the Department of Chubby. May 27, 2009

It would be easy enough to keep from you all that I’m a fat kid. I mean, this is the internet, right? I can be whoever I want. But, I figured that it’d get tiring keeping up the facade that I’m very skinny and glamorous and can buy jeans in any store that I want to. And eventually I’d slip up, and you’d find me out, and hate me and not ever read my blog again. And that would make me so sad.

Currently, I weigh 193 lbs. I’m five and a half feet tall. I’ve lost 36 lbs so far, with Weight Watchers. I’ve gone from a size 20-22 (depending on the brand) to a size 16, and those are a little loose on me.

I didn’t want to have a strictly weight loss blog,  because I don’t feel like I’d have enough to say about it. I mean, I do need and want to write about it, but not just recording my weight and talking about what kind of week I had, which is what I’d need to do to warrant having a separate spot for it. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of interesting weight loss blogs out there, people who write every day and manage to keep it fresh and interesting, but I’m not one of those people. So, you will recieve the occasional Memo from this Department.