tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89466562552387443282024-03-05T14:03:12.388-08:00I need Knitters AnonymousSarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-72291407455581786862011-01-03T10:19:00.000-08:002011-01-03T10:20:50.439-08:00New BlogHey there! If anyone is still checking this site, I am moving my blog to <a href="http://www.eatknitlove.com/">www.eatknitlove.com</a> which is now up and running. I still have a lot of formatting to do, but I've started posting again.<br /><br />Happy New Year!Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-19845196140686841272010-12-02T07:06:00.000-08:002010-12-02T07:44:53.517-08:00Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!<div align="left">So, with all of the big events of this year, a new baby, international travel, and numerous weddings, all of which I've failed to document, what could possibly now be important enough to bring me out of my blog-silence? Well, jingle bells, of course! Not the Christmas song, but the actual noisy kind...on a ribbon...that you wear around your neck. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">These particular jingle bells come from the Brennan's restaurants located around New Orleans and are given out every December to the happy, lunch time patrons of these wonderful establishments. Each year, it's a little mini-competition to see who can gather the most bells. There's no prize really, just the joy that comes with frequent fine dining. So, this year, when I'm not really feeling myself (super tired from having an eight week old who won't sleep more than four hours at a time), I've decided that Connor and I (he's the eight week old, I'll fill you in more about him in another post) are going to attempt to get all ten of the available jingle bells. Yep, there are ten Brennan's restaurants in the city and we're going to visit each one over the next three weeks.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">We began our Tour-de-Brennan at <a href="http://www.ralphsonthepark.com/">Ralph's on the Park</a> yesterday. It is one of the few (actually the only) Brennan's restaurants that I have never eaten at. The restaurant itself is beautiful and from the lunch crowd yesterday, seems to be very popular with the "ladies-who-lunch" crowd. Seriously, I only saw three men in the place and one of them worked there! I opted to sit in a corner away from the rest of the patrons just in case my plan to dine with an infant didn't pan out as well as I was hoping.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Our server, Emily, was super friendly and very attentive and after running through her favorite items on the menu, I decided to go with her recommendations of the soup of the day, which was oyster artichoke, and her favorite entree, panneed veal with a panko crust. The restaurant was running a special for the two course lunch for $19. I was happy with both choices, although the soup was a tiny bit on the salty side, it was very tasty and the veal was <em>incredible!</em> I'm a big fan of the baby cow and this was one of, if not the best veal I have ever had. I opted to add jumbo lump crabmeat to the dish, but in hindsight, that really wasn't a necessary addition, the entree stood well on it's own, but it was an effective up-sell by our server.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546106806968422770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ5xBw5nzN1k37yaNPZplyLvpI5iIvTDWZwnXM7Ork-B6erZIF-6JGp486Zsdm7lkcXkUSf7a3EWP8ASDJQVdc7-uhOlFW7QeRni0PtboG2o1IbjEmkWXAFd0VbZrB9NDnRxrN8RZx88K/s320/IMG_4946.JPG" /> <p align="center"><em>Oyster Artichoke Soup</em></p><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546108318246537266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gVfSya4C6hvBoTqXIqePom-ZOQ8_xnG0o1jZXEcE5vwcvrOKP9hjhFVmuSIKBrgmszYJRfrvC9KBg2Usr78jUCXavjQhH4B8A96PtQblGl_etVIBgG046CnN96eqvt2KENBEMGM1jNZ9/s320/IMG_4947.JPG" /><em>Panneed Veal with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat</em> <div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Surprisingly enough, I passed on dessert after my meal, which rarely happens, but I was completely stuffed by this point. Next time I go back, though, I'm totally saving room for the chocolate mousse cheesecake I saw on the menu. It sounded divine!</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">So, all-in-all, I'm giving our experience at Ralph's on the Park a big thumbs up! Connor was a good boy and cooed and smiled at me all through my meal. He was also greatly admired by said lunching ladies and the wait staff. And, most important of all, we received the first of our ten bells of the holiday season!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546108789984910530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sZcf9JOE8xxJMvAqxz-uB7rQ7PELH__-Z7BmF7bYOjrZchm3N4AfCQ5sakHnH2a-NGqBf5j9N-IhGJFuXxtrRdZCcjhc6BXGpGIoB4pw6-ksQ8BUaNtU4IlV3233WL2Ud_xHRw4nKba9/s320/IMG_4943.JPG" /><br /><em>My Sweet Boy with his first jingle bell!</em><br /><em></em><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546108801149769058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRAs9AA0iKQToCXzq9v0KzLrc_AQCzLCXcni8m1CIoIN_iqYAj78bIUIcg_Ybx-s3JCcw1nmL1sYvLcvIEkMzc5U6MWcjVft37VtuBEiFRpeU4Mz0O_6AKSnyclTS57-gZb9rc47Kmfm7/s320/IMG_4944.JPG" /><br /><br /><div align="left">Join me again Friday because I'll be giving you the run-down on the second leg of the Tour-de-Brennan. Connor and I will be joined by my friend, Kelly, at Cafe Adelaide for the second jingly prize!</div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-31825838710186834512010-05-09T18:34:00.000-07:002010-05-09T19:03:11.242-07:00Happy Mother's Day!Happy Mother's Day, everyone! Unfortunately, my day wasn't the greatest, as I am suffering from yet another cold, but Hubby was amazing and kept Bean busy all day so I could relax and sleep as much as I could. They also brought me some lovely flowers, which made me feel quite loved!<br /><br />I'm stealing this idea from another <a href="http://parentingspecialkindofcrazy.blogspot.com/">blogger</a>, but thought it would be fun to try on my own 3 1/2 year old and my husband. So, here goes:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Interview with the Bean</strong></span><br /><br />What is something Mommy always says to you? <span style="color:#3366ff;">I don't know (meaning she couldn't come up with an answer, not that I always say that)</span><br /><br />What makes Mommy happy? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Hugs</span><br /><br />What makes Mommy sad? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Don't find out the answers</span><br /><br />How does Mommy make you laugh? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Funny faces</span><br /><br />What was Mommy like as a child? <span style="color:#3366ff;">You were a girl and used to wear my white hat</span><br /><br />How old is Mommy? <span style="color:#3366ff;">I don't know</span><br /><br />How tall is Mommy? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Are you this tall? (holding her hands about 18inches apart)</span><br /><br />What is Mommy's favorite thing to watch on TV? <span style="color:#3366ff;">News</span><br /><br />What does Mommy do when you're not around? <span style="color:#3366ff;">You're sad</span><br /><br />What is Mommy really good at? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Finding me</span><br /><br />What is Mommy not very good at? <span style="color:#3366ff;">I don't know</span><br /><br />What does Mommy do for her job? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Clean the house</span><br /><br />What is Mommy's favorite food? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Sandwich</span><br /><br />What makes you proud of Mommy? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Poopin' on the potty (can you tell we're in the middle of potty training?)</span><br /><br />If mommy were a cartoon, who would she be? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Who?</span><br /><br />What do you and Mommy do together? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Don't know</span><br /><br />How are you and Mommy the same? <span style="color:#3366ff;">You're tall and I'm short (think we need to talk about same vs different again)</span><br /><br />How are you and Mommy different? <span style="color:#3366ff;">You're taller and I'm shorter</span><br /><br />How do you know Mommy loves you? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Very much</span><br /><br />What does Mommy like most about Daddy? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Handsome</span><br /><br />Where is Mommy's favorite place to go? <span style="color:#3366ff;">Mall</span><br /><br />Clearly there are some challenges with interviewing a three year old...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Interview with a Daddy</span><br /><br />What is something Mommy always says to you? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Love you</span><br /><br />What makes Mommy happy? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Yarn</span><br /><br />What makes Mommy sad? <span style="color:#ff0000;">No cuddles from Bean in the morning</span><br /><br />How does Mommy make you laugh? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Being a smart ass</span><br /><br />What was Mommy like as a child? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Cute and blond</span><br /><br />How old is Mommy? <span style="color:#ff0000;">...love shows no age</span><br /><br />How tall is Mommy? <span style="color:#ff0000;">....really flippin' tall!</span><br /><br />What is Mommy's favorite thing to watch on TV? <span style="color:#ff0000;">CSI or Family Guy (actually I never watch CSI, it's NCIS or Bones)</span><br /><br />What does Mommy do when you're not around? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Mourns my absence of course</span><br /><br />What is Mommy really good at? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Knitting, cooking, accounting, word association games, and sudoku</span><br /><br />What is Mommy not very good at? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Manual labor (in the sun), cleaning the litter box, and understanding why I'm ALWAYS right.</span><br /><br />What does Mommy do for her job? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Primary teacher and care-giver to the Bean, CEO of the household, and personal therapist (physical and mental) to the Hubby</span><br /><br />What is Mommy's favorite food? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Anything with lots of hot melted butter</span><br /><br />What makes you proud of Mommy? <span style="color:#ff0000;">She's a good Mommy</span><br /><br />If Mommy were a cartoon, who would she be? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Kanga</span><br /><br />What do you and Mommy do together? <span style="color:#ff0000;">We like to: fine dine, play with Bean, roll in the grass, watch Family Guy, sleep in and cuddle, make and eat tacos, and listen to the Scorpions (ugh, I HATE the Scorpions!)</span><br /><br />How are you and Mommy the same? <span style="color:#ff0000;">We like to eat debaucherous food, drink wine (when she is not pregnant) and hang with friends, smooch on Bean</span><br /><br />How are you and Mommy different? <span style="color:#ff0000;">I'm a neat freak, she likes dessert, I like to work and sweat, she has an excellent memory</span><br /><br />How do you know Mommy loves you? <span style="color:#ff0000;"> She's still putting up with my sh*t after 10+ years</span><br /><br />What does Mommy like the most about Daddy? <span style="color:#ff0000;">There is not enough space here to list all of the ways</span><br /><br />Where is Mommy's favorite place to go? <span style="color:#ff0000;">Disney World!</span>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-71668967654040448482010-04-28T09:17:00.000-07:002010-04-28T18:04:03.355-07:00Stitches!!!<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">I don’t think it takes a mind reader to know how excited I was about Stitches this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Last year was my first time attending and I had an amazing time, so when the opportunity to attend again this year rolled around, I jumped on it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My friend, Lara, and I decided to go and within a few minutes of making that decision, we also determined that an invitation needed to be extended to our friend, Anna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We know Anna via our blogs and our only relationship with her so far has been via the internet and somewhat over the phone for her and Lara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was interesting, though, that there was no hesitation for either of us about inviting her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s just one of those people that her natural warmth comes through and we knew we would have a great time with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I thought it was pretty great that as quickly as we decided to invite her, she only took about half that amount of time to accept the invitation!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">So, after waiting what seemed like an eternity, we finally went to Stitches last weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I actually left home on Wednesday to bring the Bean over to Florida to stay with my Mom and Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My mom’s birthday was Friday, so I joked that Bean was her birthday present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I knew they would have a great time, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Thursday morning I got on a plane to head up to Atlanta and met up with Lara at the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was so wonderful seeing her again and after picking up our rental car we headed out to the hotel and conference center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our first class was that afternoon, Cut & Paste with </span><a href="http://www.sarahpeasley.com/Handknitter/home.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sarah Peasley</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and it was brilliant!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took one of her classes last year and knew she was an amazing teacher, but this class took it to another level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the most part, it was about the Kitchener Stitch, which is a wonderful grafting technique that I use all the time to finish the toes of socks or finish the underarms of certain sweaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It creates a row of knitting as opposed to a seam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Sarah took it a few steps further and showed us how to graft live stitches to a side seam, how to graft in pattern (including in ribbing) and even cooler, how to pick up stitches and then cut off an area of knitting that we might not like, without having to rip out an entire item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Say after you’ve knit a sweater, you decide that you don’t care for the ribbing at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, using this technique, you can just cut off that portion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Or, if you decide that you don’t like a section in the middle, pick up stitches above and below that section, cut it out, re-knit and then graft it all back together!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224879457962242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtwHzwWyKV43exZpMVLvMNB74HJzqIhrEYpwqm3Uuleamp3Vv6pTmhcYVYBPzU3scviYlfT8rGsVSZ0STkbRrkwJvP1gXPzSLX4IWxpr1QDVc5v1FSiNfoFKlmYtJqXpp3hyzqe3Xtrra/s320/IMG_4404.JPG" /></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Me & Sarah Peasley!</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">After our class was over, Lara and I headed back up to our room to meet up with Anna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We liked her immediately and there was never an awkward moment or lull in our conversation or laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amazingly, we never made it to the Market that evening or to the Ravelry meet-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were just having too much fun on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That night we hit </span><a href="http://www.sottosottorestaurant.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sotto Sotto</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> for dinner, which was my favorite restaurant from last year’s adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They have a seafood risotto that I dream about!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their Caesar salad is also really yummy and I topped it all off with a wonderful ricotta cheesecake with fresh berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was SOOOO full when we left!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">The next morning I was up around 6:30, as per my usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I never can manage to sleep in anymore, darn that adorable little girl of mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I puttered around the room, took my shower and killed time while waiting for the others to wake up, but finally just had to leave the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I headed down to the Market and hung out with some lovely ladies while we waited for the doors to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>My first stop was, of course, the </span><a href="http://www.knitwitch.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Knit Witch’s</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> booth, where I picked up a couple of beautiful skeins of sock yarn and got to visit with the wonderful Brittany and Wayne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are such a delightful couple and I loved getting to see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Brittany has done a lot of custom dye work for me through the year and is always so great to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After my stop at their booth, I headed down to check out the wares at </span><a href="http://dragonflyfiberdesigns.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dragonfly Fibers</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Kate does beautiful work as well and I selected a fabulous hank of laceweight yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a huge skein and has 2,500 yards of yarn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Finally around 11:00, the other girls were up and ready to head out to get some “breakfast”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I sort of envy the ability of those without kids to sleep in, but I think with that much yarn in the building, I would have had a hard time sleeping in any way!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyhow, I met up with the ladies and we headed off to introduce Anna to one of the staples of southern food (as far as I’m concerned at least), the Waffle House!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately, I don’t think Anna was as enamored by it as we are, but I do think she enjoyed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">After breakfast, we headed back to the MARKET!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Lara and I hit every row, but Anna was much more efficient than we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She picked out a project and headed off to enjoy the beautiful sunshine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I ended up with four bags of Noro, two of Yuzen and two of Silk Garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then we hit the Unwind booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The ladies working that booth were a lot of fun and they had some great yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I picked up two skeins of Unison yarn in some really great autumnal colors to make a baby sweater, hat and some booties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The ladies there were also super kind and offered to babysit my VERY </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1PWDO35qi2GFGukjWFiEDhfhSit0z1TFbBXDSMsJlbqjQuMRJGvv1VbBcutS1dBexgbNzmvJO7kwfyXuXG55UFmKWHz5S2L2xmUa6joFUQ_3KkMgb3zNVvdxT_9DKIZLFEvWGv2ypx7N/s320/IMG_4395.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;">large tote bag</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> (see last post) so I could shop more freely in the rest of the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I didn’t add a huge amount after that point, but did pick up a couple more skeins from Kate at Dragonfly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">That night we hit </span><a href="http://www.southcitykitchen.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">South City Kitchen </span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">for dinner and once again, it was delicious!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got she-crab soup for my appetizer, shrimp and scallops with grits for my entrée, and banana pudding for dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Divine southern fare!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I was in a great mood when we headed back to the hotel and that continued when we joined in the pajama party in the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I did win a prize, not for my fun pj’s that I made, but for having my wee one with me, albeit not visible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s a scarf kit and I think I’m going to enjoy making it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Probably not something I would have picked out on my own, but the colors are nice and heck, if I don’t like it, I’m sure I can find someone who will!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday morning came and we had our second class, Basic Pattern Drafting with </span><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=60135"><span style="font-size:130%;">Melissa Leapman</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I have a knitter’s crush on Melissa and she is a wonderful teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took her intro to cabling class last year and loved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This class didn’t involve any knitting, but I learned a lot and even got to use algebra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know that might not sound like a whole hell of a lot of fun to some folks, but I kinda love math and was thrilled when the lightbulb clicked and I figured out the formula to solve the problem before Melissa even got to that part!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Yes, I am truly a geek, but I finally have learned to wear it proudly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This was supposed to be our last class, but I opted to add Melissa’s afternoon class since I had enjoyed the first one so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The second class was Celtic Cables and was incredible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m really tempted to take the elements that I learned in both classes and try and design my own sweater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then again, maybe I’ll just work one of Melissa’s patterns first….<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygNy7CX11e8Y5YKKOUHWYgdLYAzrwhgDRL_RNGowYDhR-DHBJNkvKyUz05RLKK_nPhkZ7tR1xE9ILOpuCdqHNU7_15Sk0ofVZZnY8jpPnHTfb-HdlwF6wX02g2L_LIN50OVSa6kZnpU0b/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224870509260274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygNy7CX11e8Y5YKKOUHWYgdLYAzrwhgDRL_RNGowYDhR-DHBJNkvKyUz05RLKK_nPhkZ7tR1xE9ILOpuCdqHNU7_15Sk0ofVZZnY8jpPnHTfb-HdlwF6wX02g2L_LIN50OVSa6kZnpU0b/s320/IMG_4403.JPG" /></span></a><em><span style="font-size:130%;"> Me & Melissa Leapman (who totally thinks I'm her stalker, I'm not, I just get easily excited when around knitting genius)</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">I did hit the Market again after my second class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What can I say, I have issues!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I went back by the Unwind booth and am so glad that I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I picked up eight skeins of MadelineTosh yarn, buy one get one free!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It may be the yarn that I use in my first designing effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday night, our little threesome broke up so Lara could go to see some of her Atlanta buddies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anna opted for some quiet time at the hotel and I headed out to join 150 of my closest new friends to a dinner hosted by Brittany (Knit Witch) at her dad’s restaurant, </span><a href="http://www.scalinis.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">Scalini’s</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will be honest, I was expecting more of the company than I was the food, but I was pleasantly surprised on the food front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The meal began with a family-style salad and the best garlic rolls I have ever had in my life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fresh baked light rolls literally soaking in butter with minced garlic on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think I smelled like garlic for days after!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For my entrée I got the meat lasagna, which was huge and I thought there was no chance of finishing all of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But it was so incredible that I didn’t leave a single bit behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Dessert followed with a big tray of desserts served family style again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The food was excellent and the company was even better!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I sat in the back of the room with the funniest group of women I have ever been around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We didn’t have a full table, but I think we may have had the biggest laughs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am so glad I decided to go to the dinner, even without my roommates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you are ever in the Atlanta area, I think Scalini’s should be a must visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Plus, Brittany’s dad is just adorable and charming!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224614184612642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN47Kb43VUBFZlgmnQqE-sQk1hyGdS1zKmfAnVxFa8xvGFbbkUKT329v9Y_KM7GQdBrrYvtbprD4eytDrBlg5iGZD_8Ldx17noTpC3Yqodd2PlQY4ADsFRVerl80LC7Hwuz-GzPxKLXwtv/s320/IMG_4408.JPG" /> </span><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>My tablemate, Dawn, who was a riot! In the background is Miss Babs, another incredible lady!</em> </span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8qLI2j0iCrn1jzYA5Gn1zHRtIw9y2rx6IJEZVLQNbuMcH2AQfaD7oWflH1uXwTlD6ZBU30QprgGCZRvCCsrukTpCTdJfuhS_7XR1WxjK7RL56wi06xsvv7CD-OdAerAyD2VaXlLFWNUL/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224607958465298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8qLI2j0iCrn1jzYA5Gn1zHRtIw9y2rx6IJEZVLQNbuMcH2AQfaD7oWflH1uXwTlD6ZBU30QprgGCZRvCCsrukTpCTdJfuhS_7XR1WxjK7RL56wi06xsvv7CD-OdAerAyD2VaXlLFWNUL/s320/IMG_4409.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Brittany's super-cute dad, John!</em></span></p><p><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sunday was the wrap up for the event and Lara and I decided to hit the Market one last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hit Knit Witch one more time and got five skeins of DK weight yarn and a couple more skeins of fingering weight yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I must’ve really liked her Pisces colorway, because I picked up another skein of it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not that I mind, just that much more to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also went<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to visit Miss Babs, one of my dinner companions from the night before, so I could get some of her Yowza yarn to make an outfit for my upcoming addition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If it’s a boy, I will make a sweater and pants with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A girl?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A cute little dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also got some oyster laceweight, which I think will become Jen’s wedding shawl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Just for good measure, some of Babs’ Yummy sock yarn found its way into my bag!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Two final stops:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>one more trip to Unwind, mostly to say goodbye, but they lured me with buy one get one deals on Koigu!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ten skeins later and two more Unison to boot, we finally said our adieus and headed over to the stage for the grand prize drawing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but the ladies who did were so cute, I don’t really mind losing to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, not so much, anyway!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:130%;">After the drawing we were going to head out, but the Webs booth drew us in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I picked up three Zaerballs and some other sock yarn, Jawoll Magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know I went really overboard on my yarn purchases, but I got some really beautiful stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:130%;">Stitches was a wonderful experience yet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I just loved being around so many like-minded people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the end, I felt like I had learned so much and made so many wonderful new friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thanks to Ravelry, I will be able to easily keep in touch with them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On Sunday, when it was time to leave, I had the same feeling that I used to get on the last day of camp and now that I’m home, I’m trying my hardest not to completely bore my family to tears by forcing them to hear every last detail of what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hubby has been great, though, and seems to really enjoy hearing about how much fun I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The man who even a year ago would have ribbed me about it, now seems genuinely excited that I have developed this sense of community and take such joy in my knitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I knew picking him was a great idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Of course, he hasn’t seen all the yarn that came home with me…..</span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:130%;"><o:p>Here are some photos of some of the people who made my weekend so wonderful! Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Anna, but I kept forgetting about my camera and she does tend to be a little camera shy!</o:p></span></p><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'font-family:'Times New Roman';" ></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmyyq-8GalxPDLb03SdxqY2iFIsrBMHE_H1uJaNAykhN1tE8kQ4a9eZKNeK8DSfy27tmisA3f5ypjaFdmdfnszSBT0-uyOCBPdlfhzxS25qAApCZOzFTY2QDQ19rBRCM2_tgk9XmtG80h/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224602166489842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmyyq-8GalxPDLb03SdxqY2iFIsrBMHE_H1uJaNAykhN1tE8kQ4a9eZKNeK8DSfy27tmisA3f5ypjaFdmdfnszSBT0-uyOCBPdlfhzxS25qAApCZOzFTY2QDQ19rBRCM2_tgk9XmtG80h/s320/IMG_4412.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Jennifer & Miss Babs</em><br /></span></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w2FNdTn1FieRymJCfCH1OSuw7EUFyd0rsKn6wRHsij9uoU9lII2pWK-WlZJUKomFOZLTSiaberWbKsd1JT3fa603IL5o4UtVlSRNhrmoHjaASmv1cwPSo8rcRdBiSn909pWhZ-32_rnh/s1600/IMG_4413.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224595648542530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w2FNdTn1FieRymJCfCH1OSuw7EUFyd0rsKn6wRHsij9uoU9lII2pWK-WlZJUKomFOZLTSiaberWbKsd1JT3fa603IL5o4UtVlSRNhrmoHjaASmv1cwPSo8rcRdBiSn909pWhZ-32_rnh/s320/IMG_4413.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Brittany & Wayne</em><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrL0LalqWqSd3cYzeFqOXguAY1tEXeFHDQWJSgr_kafWjaoqtJyJvXui5ABC-XQUiWWgKBrCcwLIs_wz4iEmBTHUWOrthHoYbURNYCh-ydZBzjn50Wrd3STV2aBfYZWG-dNyh8pU4xWbP/s1600/IMG_4414.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224048696953698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrL0LalqWqSd3cYzeFqOXguAY1tEXeFHDQWJSgr_kafWjaoqtJyJvXui5ABC-XQUiWWgKBrCcwLIs_wz4iEmBTHUWOrthHoYbURNYCh-ydZBzjn50Wrd3STV2aBfYZWG-dNyh8pU4xWbP/s320/IMG_4414.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Me & Molly</em><br /><em></em><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qbY5VETnNops84Y4pTBmGBvL6jrAt6gb7dkC9Yc6p4iWCWBoWcFb6tfnTNXDMiNbu9N9Pwb0vyYaIKB8H9ov75z7RSaFu28GR1GEk3NRLVzLRXTkqBvc0ulTj_M6KFq4SNfK_vWvCWPc/s1600/IMG_4416.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224038703683154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qbY5VETnNops84Y4pTBmGBvL6jrAt6gb7dkC9Yc6p4iWCWBoWcFb6tfnTNXDMiNbu9N9Pwb0vyYaIKB8H9ov75z7RSaFu28GR1GEk3NRLVzLRXTkqBvc0ulTj_M6KFq4SNfK_vWvCWPc/s320/IMG_4416.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Jessica, Me & Lauren</span></em><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><p align="center"><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYzQhBWY01FC6xWS2Nsot7c64i9cDn4ldZ0FCwyLeTEAR7gB9z1_v_EuXhh7pe05C1ovSW9T0c-3c0t-dXqjOcdFddJUpxphiN1bTaO5i31Ypyf8xN_CKxhPOY-T5ToKm-L0LyPPyvz_P/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224025153341506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYzQhBWY01FC6xWS2Nsot7c64i9cDn4ldZ0FCwyLeTEAR7gB9z1_v_EuXhh7pe05C1ovSW9T0c-3c0t-dXqjOcdFddJUpxphiN1bTaO5i31Ypyf8xN_CKxhPOY-T5ToKm-L0LyPPyvz_P/s320/IMG_4417.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <em>Lara & Me!</em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKz0qSPq6uMMmlzgwPT6XR25Pe26RAE9S9J91Z4wAYDqCrLBPv7fZPnY1XTdeP3ENkZFWYjwQNgBv6BByzf_PWGZnMYILLgytE6i4eBPMlpgkMAeUjq6UIQOaTbftwurXf_SiBr2dXdkl/s1600/IMG_4420.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465224017524728114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKz0qSPq6uMMmlzgwPT6XR25Pe26RAE9S9J91Z4wAYDqCrLBPv7fZPnY1XTdeP3ENkZFWYjwQNgBv6BByzf_PWGZnMYILLgytE6i4eBPMlpgkMAeUjq6UIQOaTbftwurXf_SiBr2dXdkl/s320/IMG_4420.JPG" /> </span><p align="center"></a><em><span style="font-size:130%;">The Stash!!!!</span></em></p>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-82543593486390388132010-04-27T17:26:00.000-07:002010-04-29T08:20:18.623-07:00Been lovin’ the postal system lately!I know I have a lot to catch you guys up on, but there's so much that I'm going to divide it up into two posts. The first one will deal with all the loveliness that has been gracing my mailbox lately, then I'll focus on my Stitches adventure in the next post.<br /><br />I really have enjoyed checking my mailbox lately (and the front door, since a lot of things won't actually fit in the box)! Back on April 17th, I got the most amazing package from Vespa, who was my angel partner in a birthday swap that I participated in. She included the loveliest things including some yummy treats, gorgeous yarn, a bracelet that doubles as a row counter, a fabulous neck warmer, and several patterns from my Ravelry queue! The best present as far as Bean was concerned was the knit red fox tail made from Fun Fur. She looked so cute modeling it and pretended that she was Swiper the Fox from the Dora the Explorer cartoons. I have so enjoyed getting to know Vespa and look forward to continuing a friendship into the future as she singlehandedly saves the Canadian turtle population from the brink of extinction! Seriously, doesn't that sound like a story that needs to be followed? I do believe she may have need of a cape...<br /><br />Please forgive the formatting of the photo below, it was blogger's choice, not mine!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RLvQ9tzcx3t2xKdh0b1NRBA_xBMMjn7_HWOIXcz0vIAzrwrcDTKaCEthS8WPV8x-7DfaXvUTVNOcPBxvB95JE6ydwsFTE3o7_fqw81r_aPMWzCblLD1OnZe780an2vc0THqzy0-WPZR_/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464980042125441170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RLvQ9tzcx3t2xKdh0b1NRBA_xBMMjn7_HWOIXcz0vIAzrwrcDTKaCEthS8WPV8x-7DfaXvUTVNOcPBxvB95JE6ydwsFTE3o7_fqw81r_aPMWzCblLD1OnZe780an2vc0THqzy0-WPZR_/s320/IMG_4390.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jEGgjcCiAlzxF96hNsIkHoCBHcMMTTrQuPksRuRMbMD-3AASPRXLRhMu6zRSuXV_5rdPiUCM06pVo8ou4matL-tFhXinQf9Axupf93bnWtwFp7InD_axq81UIC11OewiTUka-RGvw8Z4/s1600/IMG_4389.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464980035043077026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0jEGgjcCiAlzxF96hNsIkHoCBHcMMTTrQuPksRuRMbMD-3AASPRXLRhMu6zRSuXV_5rdPiUCM06pVo8ou4matL-tFhXinQf9Axupf93bnWtwFp7InD_axq81UIC11OewiTUka-RGvw8Z4/s320/IMG_4389.JPG" /></a> </div><div><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Two days later was a really big mail day for me and SO exciting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The first thing I got was something that made me squirm a little bit because it presented me with a bit of a moral dilemma, but I think I’ve worked out my karmic balance so I feel better now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was my gift for the birthday swap from my original partner, Annie-bom-Bannie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For various reasons, she had been delayed in sending it, and I had a lapse of faith and that’s how I got Vespa as an angel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This will teach me not to doubt and she sent me some wonderful gifts (and spoiled Bean, too!).</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: minor-bidifont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:11;" >For Bean, there was a fairy costume with a matching purse, a Winnie-the-Pooh watch that actually has a little projector in it that will shine a pic of Pooh on the wall, and a super-sweet crocheted rose scarf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The scarf reminds me of an afghan that my grandmother made for me when I was around six.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ll have to pull that out and photograph it, so you guys can see the similarity.<span style="mso-no-proof: yes"> </span></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu28K7kwkRGo36dgStiY69MpI9eyMPBXfvyO8j5tmlJxK7bO5wQ3fYwSltuVo1VRpS_5IRcIH20v3BHeXKiqQx3ySGvKN4tWJoDRh7H_j4cdWIemjkANvdXhM51_on_4qJsoX_o-no56r/s1600/IMG_4397.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464980027298028466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu28K7kwkRGo36dgStiY69MpI9eyMPBXfvyO8j5tmlJxK7bO5wQ3fYwSltuVo1VRpS_5IRcIH20v3BHeXKiqQx3ySGvKN4tWJoDRh7H_j4cdWIemjkANvdXhM51_on_4qJsoX_o-no56r/s320/IMG_4397.JPG" /></a><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And for me there were two different types of yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One is called a Wonderball and it looks like a variety of colors and textures in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has a pattern included, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it knits up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think it will look very arty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She also included a hank of blue and green wool that has a great texture to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I forgot to jot down the brand and am feeling a bit too lazy to walk downstairs right now to check, so if you want to know what it is, send me and email or follow-up in the comments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I also got a lotus leaf scarf, which made me giggle since I had sent her the same scarf in a different yarn, some delicious chocolate biscuits, which made for yummy road trip nibbling, and a pair of really pretty silver earrings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are faceted and add a bit of bling to any outfit, but are simple enough that you can wear them with anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Truly my type of jewelry!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I brought them with me to Stitches and wore them quite a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Annie is also a super nice lady and her daughter is right around Bean’s age, so they have become “internet buddies”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Keep your fingers crossed that Annie gets over her morning sickness soon and can start truly enjoying her little miracle that’s on its way!</span></p><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTWgKW8kBGhX9Zo3M8du5_Ir6ItNVfUIy4vTwxiaxzEn7D23P1tdBmZ00_NhagrKc5OW75kvOcF7SxZotySwQmmUNaTFZJ-2kc77FgVRrH37t0_SgiZsXi2b0Cs0zD4xt-9hvXwSK8_MU/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464980023985336546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTWgKW8kBGhX9Zo3M8du5_Ir6ItNVfUIy4vTwxiaxzEn7D23P1tdBmZ00_NhagrKc5OW75kvOcF7SxZotySwQmmUNaTFZJ-2kc77FgVRrH37t0_SgiZsXi2b0Cs0zD4xt-9hvXwSK8_MU/s320/IMG_4398.JPG" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464979358447847186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH59dI27jVyor_1_eaGpixwccbQDiOBNup7gAcPWm7wT29iMiYUq7f5SZTGqLqDl7rt67yYMXenNI_zkccJNTDLh_9cjj1AIy8zQfdHsqH4qs_CzSzbcyGUpK89xkLj4n5VwriFKT9kdrg/s320/IMG_4401.JPG" /> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Also in the mail that day was the latest installment from the Dragon Witch sock club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love this yarn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The red is so vibrant and it feels so skooshy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’m looking forward to working with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really like the pattern Kate created to go with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I may alter it to include a ribbed cuff for a bit more elasticity and sag resistance, but that will be the only change.</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464979364896781122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD1i3Xb5gT_cxbu-DmMJpWxEuzxI06mLzE4BYae6sfl8_9TdXar71vSZjyRdf3AYklH9vN0Zyr9AUgB8dvZ60LwqYOa7CSwTQP6tprkBLEbUgFgBub4CernXrg8HUcGIgBakT3vCRinWw/s320/IMG_4396.JPG" /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">And finally, for my big mail day was my first etsy purchase ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I’ve deliberately avoided etsy because I can easily see myself getting a bit carried away, but I think this was an excellent purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was made by <a href="http://maidenjane.blogspot.com/">Maiden Jane</a>, whose blog I really enjoy and it is huge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You will see in the next post exactly how much yarn this gorgeous red tote can really tote!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jane is so sweet, too and included a couple of little treats for me and Bean in the package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got a ribbon marker to keep track of my place in patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s such a simple, yet incredibly clever, design using ribbon and a strip of magnet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s already been put to work for my latest lace project (more on that later).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And for the Bean, a really cute little kerchief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Again, simple design, but I wouldn’t have thought of it. </span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464979376671539042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1PWDO35qi2GFGukjWFiEDhfhSit0z1TFbBXDSMsJlbqjQuMRJGvv1VbBcutS1dBexgbNzmvJO7kwfyXuXG55UFmKWHz5S2L2xmUa6joFUQ_3KkMgb3zNVvdxT_9DKIZLFEvWGv2ypx7N/s320/IMG_4395.JPG" /> <p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">My final fun package that I’ve gotten in the mail this month was waiting for me when I got back from Stitches yesterday, so I don’t know exactly what day it arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s my swap package from the Favorite Things Swap on Ravelry and it’s from Alphamperry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I love everything in it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I got a really pretty pink scarf adorned with leaf patterns down the side, a baby blanket of Alice’s own design in some great nature colors (I’m not all that into traditional baby colors for this baby, so the blanket is perfect), a red paisley pashmina, two Godiva chocolate bars, a couple of little bags of Ghirardelli coffee, Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitter’s Almanac, a children’s book about a knitting mouse, and three different yarns including Dream in Color, Happy Feet and Fashion Toes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had actually looked at the Happy Feet while I was at Stitches, but ended up not getting it because the booth only had it by the bag and I didn’t need that much, so I’m really glad to have gotten it from Alice! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her that things settle down a bit at work and she gets over a cold so she can enjoy the rest of what spring has to offer!</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464979385958151154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLy7mf70uAxD9PkcwUj83yvStcqjKm85Ji64o_EyJrCswGD2YnlMi6i6P1pqESdE3mnyijRG5qlSpCb7rNYBC8NSp7UELj9LDkFeTtYXZ6EAQJyDhmic6p1ayzSfqMhTdoEtlB3Na701w/s320/IMG_4418.JPG" /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">So, all of these items add up to me really loving my postal delivery person this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I always love getting packages in the mail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>(hint, hint)</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Coming up next, STITCHES!!!!!</span></p><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-19678743535159515092010-04-12T18:50:00.001-07:002010-04-12T19:07:26.233-07:00Promised Photos<div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434151048212642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi873vbtWquRRr9XBLcfE9HmJ4rtcv1mGX-M648AifsM0EWTwk6QfJNdIdhpCmZCcB4Aa0GgSoqS6a_aL96Uvb3eMeHIlXSw5R5y4UDpgrEbUh3OxKltpmvqj0QhcAFDOsGqHk-xFUN7Ah8/s320/IMG_4212.JPG" />Beautiful azaleas!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434140105285826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNc1CxXY_z5T6PMMlg8xAMUi6IHIOsjuJ6O_oYXldKsq669xoixq-UfWlsnUS8MAPVur4DUvQP7kLSnErEbGHtC88bFY-i5qn5mENX6fDiyRZMqaHcVTU_-F46S0fhrZar_-zqjTTEl4L/s320/IMG_4209.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Peek-a-Boo!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434159021109746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-5GPwzu-onF6TVBcdBfZUt_25MzTnci_g9O3VfZ0gha4ZdU2kRN1VZrnSdo0wMf8RnvtAM9jgP2f9Bnu5301k2CPdWzsMwtDtLCckcRMNHdSrgTmRxO_tuupR3ToaMPoPwLgMliwwG1X/s320/IMG_4222.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">St. Louis Cathedral and a sweet girl</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434167705970754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUABO6W8gZyeOJoOWgY690DzGM0lP-b6ibHwau2nFvmpYgbtGPFIe5iunGGW6OGfxulwcPdJS4UiU8DWzwpeFNnIp6n-hEemqUJUOsOLJTYD35qf5JULgji3gjePdpiHGOgm43eva_wEwY/s320/IMG_4262.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Cafe du Monde - Bean took this picture herself!</div><div align="center"> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434538117774498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o5mqIbuodAI2MZeWqF8BPNCGzz9LrdYHGeoIxxnKGc48b8m6HyrrqX6Szc1jT_7UGm2Rd2Wgs4FTWhnU_s21kgxL_T-xx5YkR5Dx_ygXO_g91AhHf1DpoXeQxKWm3E3SIBNQDlaO22vc/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Eating beignets and listening to jazz</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434548816776770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEWgSNKBRptRNCbnhvg5oH38F9BVyKcQM26wKIsK2NoNK8zXWJbGpy118pL6_0tA6Om-H7l0s91L15rG383qEX9H0WTX1CtA_VLbWtE4svvoY6irm2K6XAm9R3A5DbL0nPGQmYavH0we0/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Mommy, Bean and a cannon</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434553548245474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfBohL3nSKvKMeuige-IbFBk8TNZEOmVx0WGLaRbDCozku3cc3-FmbTUyFhWFM9mbzMpPhXEPN1-qYA-aPZGric7sCEC8bAW3RGNWli9zA8aSLqupnH9BVooRWgjTNHgLebPfghZ4VkHt/s320/IMG_4325.JPG" /></div><div align="center">Dancing with the brass band!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434910175942146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnVzSPkMhHaE8Ak7Qo-PUtU4Vdeh3qIHh587lnIDykJrKb3jmjiDQAQ9T9WZhRKGJhSvUx5NIedZX1oxkkOgYROtP7ry0PxndZz-40s2RBtBZvvFq3b1fyUOtHQbTVj2PP-2vWniShQxh/s320/IMG_4340.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">And the rock-a-billy group!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434927828584738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYywOltxAFbikgmEJv_3AivFVngaffwXYrNmNo3m7RJUgKMM-f3rX98VGuoS86uNRlkrd9baQzrNw8EMcUH-n_YDdESPzkdv6dcwtMwPp6LMaUc5_Q5vFXiJ9cXxq_6CO76MBTyBAZ8hF/s320/IMG_4368.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Mommy's haul from the Quarter Stitch</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459434916999733138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmVIonf5UHB75vXvv-0lce3kYeyPCksDyiMOukoN4TPAA3JqjX73MQIMLsukgOtGXpHbCst1tNSwjwD-xvyLBQn2g4RnkzCCTcRxWxAAC8hrpJUUlTZjVM-60P8bHVWhU8iIVwWLiBAnh/s320/IMG_4358.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Teacup ride at the Strawberry Festival</div><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-84921311438935466222010-04-11T18:32:00.000-07:002010-04-11T19:16:15.515-07:00Local Tourism and the Kickoff of Festival SeasonHave you seen the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog yet? If you haven't, please go out and rent it. We've been watching a lot of it since it came out on video recently and I think I love it every bit as much as Bean does. Cute story, great message and best of all, it's set in my beloved New Orleans! Each time we watch it, I bust with pride about being a New Orleanian. And yes, I mean bust, not burst....I'm a Southern (prounounced: suh-thuhn) girl after all.<br /><br />What I found interesting, though, after watching this movie so many times, is that Bean had no idea that she lived near this amazing city. So, on Monday I decided that we would become tourists in our own home town. Now, I take her into the city quite often, either to the zoo or the aquarium and quite often I will take her for a little walk on the waterfront edge of the French Quarter, but I don't think I had really told her Where we were.<br /><br />We started out the day by parking in the Uptown area, so called because it is upriver from downtown, not because it is particularly ritzy, although there are some AMAZING mansions along St. Charles Avenue. Due to the crazy nature of this city, you can have an incredibly wealthy neighborhood right next to one of the poorer ones. It just adds to the gumbo that is New Orleans. And no, it's not N'Awlins as so many would like to call it. Yes, we do slur the two words together a bit, but we definitely start the word with a New sound.<br /><br />Anyhow, back to our day. We parked our car on St. Charles Avenue not far from Tulane University (my alma mater) and jumped on the streetcar headed downtown. I pointed out to Bean that we were riding on the streetcar just like Tiana (the princess) and her mommy did in the movie. This clicked with her and she really enjoyed the ride. It was a perfect day, cool with low humidity and we rode with the window up (open) for about half of the ride. I pointed out some of the houses that I had grown to love while I was in school and she pointed out others to me that she liked. So much fun!<br /><br />When we got downtown, we hopped off the car and headed into the French Quarter. I walked a little ways with her on Bourbon Street (it was early in the day, so no drunks walking about) then cut over to Royal Street (where a lot of the art galleries are) and made our way to Jackson Square where the St. Louis Cathedral is. The square was so beautiful with all the azaleas in bloom and we had a lot of fun playing peek-a-boo from behind the crepe myrtles!<br /><br />Once it got to lunchtime, we headed to one of the restaurants on the square to get some gumbo. Bean had promised to try it, but true to her picky nature, refused once it got to the table. She ate chicken fingers instead while I enjoyed gumbo and some fried crab claws with remoulade sauce. Yummy! I swear half the reason I never left this city after I graduated is because of the food! Okay, well maybe the Hubby has more to do with it...but I really do enjoy the food, too!<br /><br />After lunch, I allowed Bean a really great treat as we headed over to the World Famous Cafe du Monde for some beignets. She loved them and amazingly enough did not make a complete mess of herself with the powdered sugar they liberally dump on them! We sat next to the outside edge of the restaurant, which is fenced in by a low, wrought-iron fence. Right outside the fence was a trumpeter playing lots of local jazz and he loved it when Bean began singing "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In" with him. She can be so outgoing when she wants to be, and quite charming. I was really proud of her the whole day on Monday.<br /><br />We walked around a little bit after our beignets taking in the sights and sounds of the quarter, including a brass band and another kinda folksy, blues band. Bean loves music and danced around quite a bit and got a real kick out of putting money into the bands' tip jars. We also made a quick stop by the Quarter Stitch, one of my favorite yarn shops! No matter how much yarn I seem to accumulate, I never can seem to pass that store up. They are so sweet in there and have a shop dog that is more than happy to keep my little darling busy while I browse. Somehow, six skeins of koigu and one of Jitterbug sock yarn found their way into my stroller. Not sure how that happened exactly.... ;-)<br /><br />But, we had to call it a morning as the Bean was starting to get a bit tired (heck, so was I) and jumped in a cab back up to our car. It was such a fantastic day and even stepping in a little dog poop once we got back to our car didn't take me out of my fabulous mood! I enjoyed introducing my little girl to the city I love so much and can't believe how long it had been since I actually stopped long enough to enjoy it properly!<br /><br /><br />--------------------<br /><br />This weekend kicked off one of my favorite times of year in Louisiana - Festival Season! Not to be confused with Carnival Season (which culminates with Mardi Gras) Louisiana has some of the greatest outdoor festivals around celebrating every type of food you can imagine and lots of great music. I truly am not meaning to dog on any other part of the world, but this area of the South has such a unique personality, and this time of year it really showcases all of the things that make it special.<br /><br />This weekend we started things off right by heading down to the French Quarter Festival on Saturday morning. Bean was very excited to be going back to New Orleans so soon and I think had her heart set on getting some more beignets. (Sorry, kiddo, there was no way I was waiting in the crazy line for them this time!) But we did have a great time sitting out on a big lawn next to the river, listening to a brass band and eating all kinds of yumminess. You wouldn't believe the variety that exists among the food booths at these things, everything from bbq to fried alligator on a stick. I had shrimp tacos and some of the most delicous, creamy macaroni and cheese I have ever had in my life. Then followed that up with some fresh strawberry crepes. Mmm, mmm, my belly was happy. Then we walked around, again finding ourselves near Jackson Square and then walked up Royal Street toward where we had parked. On the way, we found a wonderful little gypsy-jazz group playing on the street (it's a pedestrian mall during the day) and stopped to watch them for quite some time. Bean danced and joyfully put some money in their jar again and was so excited when we let her buy one of their cd's. She wasn't so excited about the cd itself, but got quite a kick out of giving someone money and getting something back for it. What a little grown-up, huh?<br /><br />Anyhow, we headed back to our car and home so Bean and I could catch an afternoon nap. She was supposed to go over to her grandparents' house that night and Hubby and I decided to take advantage of the fact and head out for some dinner at one of our favorite little restaurants, Cafe Degas. The sole basis of the decision to go there was the fact that I was totally craving paneed veal! This kid is definitely giving me much stronger cravings that Bean did when I was pregnant with her! Dinner was amazing (escargot, veal, and frozen lemon ice box pie for dessert)! All in all, I think Saturday was a perfect day!<br /><br />But the weekend continued to be so much fun! This morning we got up and once again, the weather was lovely. We headed up to the small town of Ponchatoula, which is up on the north shore of Lake Pontchatrain, for their annual Strawberry Festival. So much good food to be had, along with rides and midway games. We met up with one of my dearest friends from college and her family, which is always a treat and had a great time. For those of you who know me, you know my world tends to rotate around food and today certainly did not dissapoint: a rib-eye sandwich (so Tender), a seafood baked potato (which was basically a potato slathered with a creamy cheese sauce and topped with shrimp and crawfish), gumbo, strawberry shortcake, and a (non-alcoholic) strawberry daquiri! I was so fat and happy when we headed out of that festival! Bean and Hubby had a great time, too. They spent a lot of time on the rides (which I can't go on right now) and it was wonderful bonding time for the two of them.<br /><br />Sometimes Hubby has to spend a little too much time at work and when he does, he definitely needs a little time to reconnect with her. She adores him, though, and it was wonderful watching them play and chase each other around at the festivals this weekend. Made me fall even more madly in love with them both!<br /><br />Okay, I know this post is woefully lacking in pictures, but I'm feeling a bit lazy tonight and I don't feel like going out to my car to get the camera out. So check back tomorrow and I will have a post with just pictures and captions in it to share with you how much fun we had.<br /><br />I hope all of you had great weekends, too. Hugs from the Deep South!Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-71924813768369775092010-04-04T13:38:00.000-07:002010-04-04T13:53:37.331-07:00Hoppy Easter!<div>We've had a beautiful Easter here! It started early, with me heading outside around 6:30 to "hide" eggs around Bean's playhouse. I don't really try too hard to hide them, I don't want to frustrate the poor kid. Next year I think I will make it a bit more challenging for her. When she and Daddy woke up, we chilled out and watched a couple of cartoons and then I decided to make some cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Unfortunately, I left them in for just a minute or so too long. Enough to burn the sugar just enough to where we wouldn't really enjoy them. So, bagels it was!</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>After breakfast, Bean was very eager to find out what the Bunny had left for her. She already had some candy that was left outside her door, but she likes finding eggs! I had hidden two dozen of them for her along with a couple of little toys and they made her very happy. In fact, we had to hide them another four or five times in the house so she could keep hunting! For lunch, we headed over to the in-laws' house for a late lunch. It was delicious, but Bean was getting pretty cranky so we didn't stay over there very long. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Currently the Bean is taking a nap, and I just finished up weaving in the ends of my latest finished object! They are <a href="http://crazyknittinglady.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/pretty-wicked-stockings/">Wicked</a> by Glenna C. and were a lot of fun! I started them back on February 24, but put them down for a long time while I worked on Iron Knitter socks. After making so many pairs of socks for other people, I'm really happy to have a pair for myself. I'm still working on one other project, but I'm at the finishing stages of that one, too, so I fully expect to have some pictures for you in the next day or so.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>So, here are my Wicked Socks! Have a great Easter!</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjfI7F2-HmublptY4qbApw6A6wreqroFnvxBKO8UVEYdCsdn51-o8EOkL6Mdni1UKqdU0EIXJ9HaqFowsjmUkdwxAr6ANeEO6zEXgkCsCHSSVimgq_MMyBDXJbO-6PYwc88U5fbU_DPEG/s1600/IMG_4196.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456387910758292738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjfI7F2-HmublptY4qbApw6A6wreqroFnvxBKO8UVEYdCsdn51-o8EOkL6Mdni1UKqdU0EIXJ9HaqFowsjmUkdwxAr6ANeEO6zEXgkCsCHSSVimgq_MMyBDXJbO-6PYwc88U5fbU_DPEG/s320/IMG_4196.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGiVDbth8xwLbarAQ-eBdsXIOHNAUIt6K3q7fQcqnyNZZBBXM_wAjQkAb_QPHAgCLEDy2zlseVFj7VuaV8731VeiA1y-A2S9KgzYbK978EKiMCb1hlZf9IfTLHaYwPKC20-Z3LDtRn3kS/s1600/IMG_4197.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456387904430203282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGiVDbth8xwLbarAQ-eBdsXIOHNAUIt6K3q7fQcqnyNZZBBXM_wAjQkAb_QPHAgCLEDy2zlseVFj7VuaV8731VeiA1y-A2S9KgzYbK978EKiMCb1hlZf9IfTLHaYwPKC20-Z3LDtRn3kS/s320/IMG_4197.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-7476170149945276792010-03-29T17:31:00.000-07:002010-03-29T19:15:54.034-07:00Iron Knitter Wrap-Up and Other Events of NoteWell, another two months have passed since I've posted and I doubt that I have any readers left. But, I'm going to post anyway because I have a LOT of finished objects from the past two months!<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm guessing you remember me telling you about Iron Knitter. As of the last post, I had one pair of socks done for the contest. Well, now there are five more to show you, since the contest is over. The first pair (second from IK) is a pattern called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wishing-for-spring">Wishing for Spring</a> (rav link). I used Knit Picks Kettle Dyed Essential in Spruce. This round began on February 2 at 1:00pm and by 5:30pm on the third they were done. And yes, I did sleep that night! I didn't pull any all-nighters until the final round of the contest, contrary to popular belief among the other competitors. Like the first round, I won this one! Woot!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux2h8QNFJfgWdkqXeSczb8uYKPUPGYlQL3oQAO3syZ2MwnExh9L0yeYlD2E0AEOMR53RFhPGVGxY99X7OKTpzpgpBblWQvpau6VAXlK5nRsACACWBIc533M7vT3DGGU9PAU0lQd0pS8IL/s1600/IMG_4152.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454242364837375490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux2h8QNFJfgWdkqXeSczb8uYKPUPGYlQL3oQAO3syZ2MwnExh9L0yeYlD2E0AEOMR53RFhPGVGxY99X7OKTpzpgpBblWQvpau6VAXlK5nRsACACWBIc533M7vT3DGGU9PAU0lQd0pS8IL/s320/IMG_4152.JPG" /></a><br />The third round was originally schedule to begin on February 12, but unfortunately the woman organizing the contest had a bit of an emergency and the start was delayed until the 14th (bit of an emergency is an understatement, the poor woman was hit by a car!). The pattern was released about 8:00 in the morning, but I didn't get it until 10:30am. Hubby had "lost" his car the night before during Mardi Gras festivities (in his defense, someone else parked his car for him and gave him crappy instructions about where it was). Anyhow, when I got home, I got crackin'. The pattern is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shop-around-the-corner-socks">Shop Around the Corner</a>. This was my first time doing colorwork on a sock and I really enjoyed the new challenge. I'm not as crazy about the buildings at the top, but I really love the colorwork going down the foot. Unfortunately for me, the moderator made it an allowable modification not to do the colorwork on the foot, which in my opinion really penalized the competitors who wanted to remain true to the patterns we got. I did not win this round, the competitor who did chose not to do all of the colorwork and still only beat me by two hours. So I will consider it a moral victory even if it did show up as a big L on the scoreboard! Yes, I am aware of the fact that these socks do not "match", and no it was not a mistake. I like the negative mirror effect. I used Knit Picks Essential again, in Burgundy and Soot.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfL5YSpWMMIj1hM89AmEsDZG96WK_lLRYYvmgsPVvIlkiLVdhc7t_jx6vFAhR94MenymD56kBxlRjjJ0la15xrBE0kbMpzW9KxkXmsVbhYq05G3gTvYrSBK_ngtYPbHdyjRCrKKRa_np2/s1600/IMG_4153.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454242961504106194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfL5YSpWMMIj1hM89AmEsDZG96WK_lLRYYvmgsPVvIlkiLVdhc7t_jx6vFAhR94MenymD56kBxlRjjJ0la15xrBE0kbMpzW9KxkXmsVbhYq05G3gTvYrSBK_ngtYPbHdyjRCrKKRa_np2/s320/IMG_4153.JPG" /></a><br />Round four began on March 6 but I don't remember what time. The pattern is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maeve-2">Maeve</a> and I really loved working this one! It's a beautiful sock, worked from the toe up, which I don't have a lot of experience with. It also involved working with charts, because there was no way I was going to be able to memorize the repeats for these bad boys! They are Knit Picks Essential (again) in grasshopper and have such a great, Springtime feel to them! I finished these up late of March 7. Wes wouldn't let me stay up late the night of the 6th because I was just getting over being sick (more on that later), otherwise, I would've finished a bit sooner. I did win this round though.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_y_Exf4NVpbZtkhRKhSY7icXSRGakn0XFmSI6aw3gWnTs4ZUL7WKt8OKxxyP5CM_FKHx6uUa263myThheR5L7rjL0uQL66T7xVK9d9zWqJwvsG6yLyyEYZ1AuTanwNoPGQTQHdU0fkKD/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454241262048327650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_y_Exf4NVpbZtkhRKhSY7icXSRGakn0XFmSI6aw3gWnTs4ZUL7WKt8OKxxyP5CM_FKHx6uUa263myThheR5L7rjL0uQL66T7xVK9d9zWqJwvsG6yLyyEYZ1AuTanwNoPGQTQHdU0fkKD/s320/IMG_4154.JPG" /></a>Onward to Round Five and the patterns just kept getting better. The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-and-lace-socks-2">Cable and Lace Socks </a>and it was such a relief after Maeve because the repeat was only 8 rows and was super easy to memorize. I used Knit Picks Essential (shocker, I know) in Ivy and they really feel like St. Patrick's Day socks. This round began on March 20 and I wrapped it up on the 21st. I'm actually kind of shocked that I won this round because I took about four hours off on Sunday morning to have brunch in the city with two of my dear friends. They were worth the risk though and for various reasons, I hadn't seen them in about a month.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxhff-eZ8fHV3zZUlhyKYSQfRcWogCFDQ6IjiaW5aA_c4rLFeOPnIDwgp8Id35suuVKrlN3sVGkWX2flSiLkKrf2d6zYcsRU7HZMfO0NIo9nHIO9J8z9n8k7wSQxALxJ7xR-3eiCrPuc2/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454240866130880994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxhff-eZ8fHV3zZUlhyKYSQfRcWogCFDQ6IjiaW5aA_c4rLFeOPnIDwgp8Id35suuVKrlN3sVGkWX2flSiLkKrf2d6zYcsRU7HZMfO0NIo9nHIO9J8z9n8k7wSQxALxJ7xR-3eiCrPuc2/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" /></a></p><div><div><div><div><div><div>The finals for Iron Knitter began on March 27 and that couldn't have been more inconvenient for me (I know, it's not always about me, dammit!). That evening we were committed to going over to my in-laws house to celebrate my MIL's birthday and there was no way I could've gotten out of it even if I had wanted to. Which surprisingly, I didn't. They are my family and certainly take precedence over any contest. We spent about four hours over there and that really handicapped me in the contest, but I toiled away at the beautiful <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/meander-3">Meander</a> pattern anyway. Again, Knit Picks Essential, this time in Bordeaux. This round was the first time I gave myself permission to pull an all-nighter and I certainly did. I posted the picture at around 6:20 my time on Sunday morning and lost the round by about 50 minutes. In fact, I came in third. This was very discouraging at that hour of the morning, especially considering that I won the most rounds in the contest, but after stewing for a little while, I realized that I'm still thrilled with what I accomplished in the contest and I met some really incredible knitters along the way! Besides, there will be other Iron Knitter competitions, maybe I'll win some other time. In the end, I have six gorgeous pairs of socks to give to some of my girlfriends in two months time. Can you believe that I've made 9 pairs of socks already this year and March isn't even over yet?!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj6G0ffIEm1prpjHdKH_VVqIHsAkrIk1pTgIJHmvBc6e_R8x15_V9eW_NPpnDrVdUP0z2ALiFNxIEgJhq3dn7p9Fi8umU2Le_qwRlPoKwrmhvj_q8dWseS9apL802voK1tpCTF9yS6XHD/s1600/IMG_4157.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454239866573780802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHj6G0ffIEm1prpjHdKH_VVqIHsAkrIk1pTgIJHmvBc6e_R8x15_V9eW_NPpnDrVdUP0z2ALiFNxIEgJhq3dn7p9Fi8umU2Le_qwRlPoKwrmhvj_q8dWseS9apL802voK1tpCTF9yS6XHD/s320/IMG_4157.JPG" /></a><br />How's this for a beautiful "family" portrait of socks?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ltd61vebAoiojpcLG-eP2Je8NYtSsjWC5RocdIWJ-UzgeVXOZCbXb1gtZmvf2JwXc7WgvIf9SgbrNpIV-nQN9qrH_SoICpjg7IdEcwMxdsx338rGTzw206epEFgNxdwBa5C6coxRNSQH/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454239853806674738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ltd61vebAoiojpcLG-eP2Je8NYtSsjWC5RocdIWJ-UzgeVXOZCbXb1gtZmvf2JwXc7WgvIf9SgbrNpIV-nQN9qrH_SoICpjg7IdEcwMxdsx338rGTzw206epEFgNxdwBa5C6coxRNSQH/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div>Oh wait, ten pairs if you count these little ones for Bean that I made from some remnants of some other socks. Okay, I don't know if they should really count, they're pretty small....</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEtMhaEUiRPpXTA5yXJrpNAPhTkTnfb6hn8vkkWHGRwGcEjd5PtZtZkvaxS7g_sLfu2VoZLDjbYSqfoMs-p11RCJTG-JTzS9kHq_UZkGELjEdzo7c-wDU2FlrnDbzvOHh_gZL-eerz85V/s1600/IMG_4160.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454239843601169938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEtMhaEUiRPpXTA5yXJrpNAPhTkTnfb6hn8vkkWHGRwGcEjd5PtZtZkvaxS7g_sLfu2VoZLDjbYSqfoMs-p11RCJTG-JTzS9kHq_UZkGELjEdzo7c-wDU2FlrnDbzvOHh_gZL-eerz85V/s320/IMG_4160.JPG" /></a> And I haven't only been cranking out the socks here. This sweater got wrapped up in February. It's another Spiral Sweater. I loved making the first one and this red Koigu just demanded to be made into one. I'm hoping that the darker band that appears in the spiral will fade a bit after some washing. That's the risk with handpainted yarns and I just refuse to frog it and re-do it. This is the first of my Christmas knitting. I'm going to try and get gifts done throughout the year so I don't stress myself out come this fall and winter.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454238831562721074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgYMcskAFGYnaGLcmUVLEqRYv6NM0DNM_XDitsh1X46N3sQGebpiDhP6bDuPnBkeRnepSjz1pVHbcpqb-5UDHEv2Uqulu8SX-hq6iVz48pQeryP8_3WXLD8v_Hps1NEWNZrmbxR_B0zqxC/s320/IMG_4148.JPG" /> </div><div><div><div>And this is another Christmas gift, for my cute and quirky cousin. Technically, she's "EMO" (not that I understand what the hell that means), but I know she likes <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005306/">Pauley Perrette</a> from NCIS, who plays the character Abby, who is a goth. This reminded me of something Abby would wear around the holidays and I also thought it would look really cute on Catrina.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhcditDely9YHYXD0p83f_6C9vuL5hY6XoPlnnpTwccc_Mpn_4KcYOEEL-559nbnhRSQQVWxrftGTWq3DGDbbDKPxRGnZChc27KsWJXDVnhXbhyDDBSrZoJfYp9_FrxbavqQasfe0BUOp/s1600/IMG_4161.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454238479587981458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhcditDely9YHYXD0p83f_6C9vuL5hY6XoPlnnpTwccc_Mpn_4KcYOEEL-559nbnhRSQQVWxrftGTWq3DGDbbDKPxRGnZChc27KsWJXDVnhXbhyDDBSrZoJfYp9_FrxbavqQasfe0BUOp/s320/IMG_4161.JPG" /></a>And these two shawls I actually did back in December, but for whatever reason haven't posted, so I'm going to take the opportunity to show them off because they are WAY too pretty not too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbfH_i08SPos0kPpPBzgDCQ-hjCaG_gpj3xnKkREhuM2jm4r_QcGucS0El9Wx3BYkEzN5_khA17JqEbjkM5w6fwePCVZImeXiFb03W1jQfB7W-UPJgfTQEoER2V2DmLMqfqIftBdiYzuh/s1600/IMG_4142.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454237432613644402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbfH_i08SPos0kPpPBzgDCQ-hjCaG_gpj3xnKkREhuM2jm4r_QcGucS0El9Wx3BYkEzN5_khA17JqEbjkM5w6fwePCVZImeXiFb03W1jQfB7W-UPJgfTQEoER2V2DmLMqfqIftBdiYzuh/s320/IMG_4142.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGSksK85O4bbwr9AYbIgNHMokRiYLHnNO9mVHyqqAtVnZ_7En4fzY7pCeBxJ9WZU-EwIoHZhGOFZNNfw7PP9VAfAcyPbBHQw3NzeN22f21oeVDNI9z1JuwRsTMXAutBvEackr0UKZ8I21/s1600/IMG_4147.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454237426870298770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGSksK85O4bbwr9AYbIgNHMokRiYLHnNO9mVHyqqAtVnZ_7En4fzY7pCeBxJ9WZU-EwIoHZhGOFZNNfw7PP9VAfAcyPbBHQw3NzeN22f21oeVDNI9z1JuwRsTMXAutBvEackr0UKZ8I21/s320/IMG_4147.JPG" /></a> I have two other projects on the needles right now that will probably be ready to post within a week or so (unless I get totally distracted), so stay tuned! Yes, I have been a total knitting-maniac lately!</div><div> </div></div><div><div><div><div><div> </div><div>With all the knitting that has been going on, I bet you'd think there hasn't been a lot of time for anything else in my life, wouldn't you? Well, that's not quite the case. If you remember, last time I checked in I had just broken my foot and poor little Bean was suffering from pneumonia and a double ear infection. You will be happy to learn that both of us recovered from those fairly well. While Bean was sick, though, I got some rather surprising (and incredibly welcome) news. I'm pregnant! We have been trying for a long time, but the reason it was surprising is because they did a pregnancy test on me when I was at the hospital for my foot, prior to doing an x-ray which came back negative. Hubby and I were heartbroken and decided that the following month we were going to try some fertility treatment. Well, about a week after my trip to the ER, my monthly friend still hadn't paid her visit, so I decided to pee on a stick. That bad boy didn't even wait the full three minutes to tell me that come October, we are going to have a new little one around here to dote and love on along with the Bean. I have taken to calling it the Sprout. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Pregnancy this time around has not been as kind to me as it was with Bean. I had pretty bad morning sickness and exhaustion that was compounded when I came down with a really horrible cold that developed into an ear infection of my very own. I had just started to recover from these when I was attacked by a vicious stomach virus. All told, between illness and morning sickness, I have lost about 14 pounds during my first trimester. It's not unusual that I lost weight, I did it with Bean as well, but this was a lot of weight and not the way I would've wanted to lose it. I'm actually wearing jeans today that I haven't worn since before Bean came along. I don't expect that to last very long though, because the appetite is coming back and I expect in the next couple of weeks for the Starving Pregnant Lady to appear in full force! I am feeling so much better now! I had a bad bout with allergies when Spring finally sprung on us, but I have those under control now and I feel like "me" again. Perhaps a little more short tempered than normal, but hey, I've got crazy hormones, cut me some slack! :-)</div><div> </div><div>So, hopefully there are still some folks checking in on this blog. If you're out there, check back again soon because I'm going to try and keep this blog up to date a bit better from now on!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-25034429027616434962010-01-29T09:25:00.000-08:002010-01-29T10:03:08.442-08:00What a week! (and a contest notification)Since you heard from me last, things have been a little crazy around here. I'll start out with the fun part!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last Saturday night Hubby and I attended the Tucks Ball with a bunch of friends. I had a blast making my costume (in spite of a broken and throbbing foot). This is what can be made with about 15 yards of glitter tuille:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 604px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs237.snc3/22461_1311647105190_1050992330_30974817_7782279_n.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />The picture is a bit blurry, since it was taken on my camera phone, but you get the idea! There are other pictures from the ball, but they make it abundantly clear that I was not the most sober person in the world, so I don't think I'm going to post them! The other girl in the picture is the infamous Kate (aka SB or Sugar Britches). She's the one who took care of Bean while Hubby and I were in Chicago last September. She's a Saints angel, and if you can't figure it out, that's a decapitated Viking on a stick. The ball was the night before the NFC Playoff game. I still cannot believe that the Saints are going to the SUPERBOWL!!!!<br /><br />The ball was so much fun, in no small part because of the friends we were with! Tucks is one of the more irreverant krewes of Mardi Gras, so most of the people there were costumed instead of decked out in formal wear like most of the other balls. I'm sure you can see a huge difference between my attire here, and what I wore to the <a href="http://knitting12steps.blogspot.com/2009/02/krewe-of-eros-2009-bal-masque.html">Eros ball last year</a>. Both kinds are fun, but I think I like Tucks better!<br /><br />Needless to say, I was hurtin' on Sunday. I definitely do not recover from drinking as well as I used to! Unfortunately, we had some family obligations the next day. Hubby's aunt and uncle were in town and we were expected over at the in-laws house for lunch. Not a terrible thing, Auntie is one hell of a cook and had homemade lasagna for us! But I was definitely not up to much socializing and used my foot and a percocet as an excuse for being a little more quiet that I normally would be.<br /><br />My big brother came over that night to watch the NFC game with us (Geaux Saints!) and that was one hell of an exciting game. We were watching it on tape delay, which is usually great because you can fast forward through the commercials. It didn't work out so well for us this time, though, because we were about five minutes behind when the game actually ended. From where we were watching, the game was still tied and about to go into overtime, but our neighborhood exploded in fireworks, so the surprise was kind of blown for us. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, though, since we were all about to collectively have a heart attack!<br /><br />After such a fun weekend, I was in a pretty great mood on Monday. The town was alive because fo the Saints and it was just a fun day to be out and about. Everyone in town was friends and we were all reliving the game again and again. But, like always, when things are going too well, a shoe was about to drop. When I picked Bean up at school that afternoon, she was coughing and definitely didn't feel very well. She went downhill rapidly and by that evening was running a pretty good fever as well. I let her sleep with me so I could keep a better eye on her. Not terribly condusive for a good night sleep, but I always sleep with her when she's sick. <br /><br />Tuesday, she didn't even leave my room, I just brought her whatever she needed. We rested and cuddled most of the day. That night, her fever shot up even higher and she coughed a bunch. I kept treating her with Tylenol and an expectorant that we had from the pediatrician, and she responded a bit, but it was a rough night again. Wednesday, she seemed a lot better, the fever never went terribly high, so I really thought we had turned a corner. Unfortunately, that night was the worst of all and she was coughing so hard that she would cause herself to vomit. We definitely didn't sleep much that night and I had a lot of sheets that needed to be washed yesterday! Finally, I decided that I needed to take her into the doctor, she just wasn't responding the way she should be. Turns out, the cold she started out with had developed into a double ear infection and a mild case of pneumonia. Is it just me or does it seem weird describing any case of pneumonia that involves your child as "mild"?<br /><br />So anyhow, now I have to give her amoxycillin twice a day, which is about as much fun as giving a cat a bath. I actually have to put the kid in time-out until she finally caves and takes it for me! Then, around four this morning, she needed some Mucinex really bad and I had to carry her downstairs and put her in the time-out chair before she would actually take the stuff! I am so tired today. But fortunately, she slept in this morning and I didn't get out of bed until almost 9:00. I think she must be doing better today, she's slept most of the morning, which I hope means she's breathing easier and finally getting the rest she needs to get better! Fingers crossed!<br /><br />So, the summation of this very long story is, this week has basically sucked so far!<br /><br />But did I mention that the Saints are in the SUPERBOWL! I swear, I keep thinking about that, and it keeps making me smile. So on that note, I want you to follow this <a href="http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/contest.html">link</a> over to my favorite indie dyer's blog and check out the contest that she's running for the SUPERBOWL (yes, you do have to put it in all caps, all the time)! All the money's raised go to Charity: Water and will help benefit those suffering in Haiti by providing them with clean drinking water, something that is in desperately short supply. Brittany and her husband are offering up some really great prizes to keep the SUPERBOWL even more interesting! Oh, and did I mention, that if you win and you're not a knitter, I would be more than happy to lay claim to your prize....just puttin' it out there....Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-4086906104346463052010-01-23T06:15:00.000-08:002010-01-23T07:13:48.639-08:00Sock Wars, Swaps, Iron Knitter and Broken BonesIt's been a busy past week or so around Chez Sarah! There has been lots of knitting involved though, so I've been having a lot of fun.<br /><br />First off, I decided to join not one but two knitting competitions this month. They are both through <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sockwars.org">SockWars.org</a>, but not everyone is doing both. Sock Wars started first, on January 15. Basically, you get the name of your target and have to "assassinate" that person by sending them a pair of socks before the person you got your dossier assassinates you. So, it's not just about speed, you have to hope that either your assassin is a slow knitter, or that someone gets them first! Well, I got my part done quickly enough. I did a pair of socks from a pattern called Jeckyll & Hyde, which apparently was the SLOWEST pattern in creation. Even though I got them done over MLK weekend, they took FOREVER. I do think that I was the first person to finish a pair, most other people picked another pattern that was significantly faster. It was beautiful, though, I should know, I got off'ed by a pair!<br /><br />In spite of my best efforts and mailing out my targets socks on Tuesday morning, by Wednesday morning, I was out. My <a href="http://slperrett968.blogspot.com/">assassin</a> knit me some lovely purple socks that she had dyed herself with Wilton's icing dye. She also included a ball of yarn and a story about the colorway she had created. She called it Purple Death, after a rare type of coral that is very beautiful and also after the 1918 outbreak of Spanish Influenza that caused it's victims to bleed from the eyes just prior to death. Mshmom is a little twisted like that!<br /><br />So, here are the socks that I made for <a href="http://knittingbee.wordpress.com/">Sarahbee</a>, and the stitch markers that I included in her package:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949064758891266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYraGlzt_7qhvNrPAbASgqv7yMaE7_ZRHPxVkRU_X0KJ-RUcsMZ6LN7t8fotHUOyVCzwQX9SKvTGRUDT0sLoSZPheYg5eDQCxF3b_5WUtfcX8gEhz2bolcNhNxJ2WyPNyrMkQ15yzrFK2/s320/IMG_3892.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949054293733474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgzo2mqStcMoK3JSKbDm3CzyWRRcD_rMYSlP2aKQYsKQ_5OWtI1rw7NLVtdmOp5wfgQWXCkW7gmxDEntGG6m_MIcdWAJU2VmudiIlGHjF5zoqCBi6y8wlPuLHRifRXLFmoK7gbz6jmO5c/s320/IMG_3867.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>And here are the purple death socks that I got:</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOseKG9RgXZIlDWlQUmcPGidvidggj9BVPJwPB0OO_L5E5riLtj0NhBQr3NrGaHJ-wP1GKkxITqHdqpL28cd4Yfd7XCa68nTGFPhpVtq9hoW0SVW4uIWMRM5WjmZd8LGPQTwRp-M2XfZr/s1600-h/IMG_3927.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949072082074450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOseKG9RgXZIlDWlQUmcPGidvidggj9BVPJwPB0OO_L5E5riLtj0NhBQr3NrGaHJ-wP1GKkxITqHdqpL28cd4Yfd7XCa68nTGFPhpVtq9hoW0SVW4uIWMRM5WjmZd8LGPQTwRp-M2XfZr/s320/IMG_3927.JPG" /></a><br /><div>In addition to Sock Wars, I'm also participating a Mardi Gras swap. I don't have a picture of the package that I sent to my partner, <a href="http://rms-ravelingmysensibility.blogspot.com/">rms</a>, but I did photograph the handmade item I included. A pair of handwarmers:</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949036084835954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzo0tejLlc8gNHpoFrKuNvNut6Pg2PSMDIoAEjxmH_EeW-cpIcWedXSUb5gyRkQSfGfBxfYE3EzvceWNu5ST8WW_6_Gxy69ut3T63354zdKh-iFbb26IAmfNyMUSPnG_G7HsbYmaEDlz1N/s320/IMG_3859.JPG" /></div><div>I also included the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3nnSOOe4UrI1PyIZrWR-M0sEdE4EOwvmkiUThRKPPLkdI2RPI5xk0-92EnJrmuwciWIZ2_2WP_UYfRZwoHL5s6xmQwuwg2Tb1F7YW6mQYR_6YRhF_ys3royh2k8RDtj_RjTYc5lN-Jwr/s320/IMG_3850.JPG">Mardi Gras themed stitch markers</a> that I made. </div><div></div><div>And here's the wonderful package I got: </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949406259203842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnElXFLya39BwmIIRGCB3pYZexvVDNra5-syK8d34sX4btz2z3qk9HYm6z-UFHShPuJVec8jslnP2h9S6mN2tSUKL5IOHh9vCzTJQBg23A-eh3U48anqG5dhAviS9gRVZSPgqCcPatzR0/s320/IMG_3936.JPG" /></div><div><div></div><div><div>She included a beautiful scarf that she made using the Tunisian crochet method. It is super soft and I'm hoping that it's just a little cold during Mardi Gras so I can show it off! She also included three skeins of purple, green and gold yarn from Classic Elite and a bag of gold cocoons. I was a little daunted by the cocoons, since I don't spin, but she told me she likes to use them as beads for stringing or for embellishing. I like that idea because as much as spinning fascinates me, the last thing I need right now is a new hobby! So, at least some of these will become a super cool necklace and then I'll figure out what to do with the rest later. Oh and as a happy little side note, she let me know last night that she had forgotten to put the scarf pin she got for me in the package, so I'm going to get another present next week! You know how I love me some presents! (speaking of which, tick tock, folks, my birthday is coming....)</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>I got her package the day after I got my death socks, so it helped cheer me up from being knocked out of one competition so early! </div><div></div><div> </div><div>Thursday night, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/iron-knitter">Iron Knitter</a> (Rav Link) kicked off. This one is predominately about speed! But, prior to receiving our patterns, we have to solve a series of clues. Our Supreme Commander allowed us to form teams in order to solve the questions (and also to reduce her email load, I suspect!) and that's been a lot of fun. I'm on team Ninja Needles. It's created a great sense of camaraderie, even as we try and win the contest for ourselves as individuals. I definitely find myself cheering for my teammates as we go on.</div><br /><div>The questions were released on Thursday night at 7:00 and by 7:36 my team was in possession of the pattern. This is where teamwork ended! I cast on and had just a little bit done before Bean had to go to bed. As I was carrying her to her room, I slipped and fell, landing really hard on my foot. Oh My God, it hurt so bad and I was convinced that I had broken it, or at least sprained it pretty bad. I didn't want to go to the hospital, though, because I was determined to start knitting and even though you can knit while your waiting at a hospital, the constant interruptions are not exactly condusive for SPEED! So, I grabbed and ice pack, propped up my leg and got to knitting. I did end up popping a percocet left over from when Bean was born (you can see how often I take painkillers). By 2:00am I had finished my first sock, and although my competitive spirit was telling me to keep going, my eyes and the percocet were telling me it was time to turn out my light and go to bed! So I did. It was really hard going to sleep though, I kept worrying that taking time out was going to cost me the first position (I really wanted to win at least one round), plus my foot really hurt! Anyhow, I finally got to sleep and dreamed of knitting the whole time!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>The next morning, Bean woke me up around 7:00 and I immediately cast on for the second sock. Bean was happy since I let her keep watching cartoons long after I normally turn off the TV. My only breaks from this point on were for food or diapers. Oh and anothe percocet. Two painkillers in a day? Yeah, I was hurting pretty bad! By 1:00, I was weaving in the ends on my second sock and posted a picture on the Iron Knitters group on Ravelry. I was the first person to finish by a couple of hours! Woot!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Here are the socks:</div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429949394307323314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__MKYOulEHmQ28dPg0vtys_4W62mut2yBaNEePmcGvdaI5R6uO2sqXo93ZiIXp_9i7zb6TC6VQoKKsTQ9g-8WbS8_Rtpva9PgMtckfGN1asbc17zP53sKoQq50iYSph8lfnFnWaKjn_vs/s320/IMG_3933.JPG" /><br /><div>There have been a couple of people on the boards who have basically been commenting that I must've stayed up all night to finish, but I didn't actually. I didn't sleep much, that's true, but I definitely did sleep!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>That afternoon, I decided that it was finally time to go get my foot checked out, so when Hubby got home from work, I left to go to the hospital. Fortunately, there was no wait at the ER and I got in right away. They took x-rays and determined that I had a spiral fracture in the second bone of my big toe on my left foot. Now, that's a pretty thick bone and also fairly short, so breaking it like that is quite a feat! (Heh, feet!) Anyhow, I now have to wear a cast shoe for the next six to eight weeks. Which means I will not be wearing fun shoes when I go to the Tucks ball tonight....boo!</div><br /><div>Check back here later and I'll have a picture posted of my costume for the ball. I spent most of the day yesterday working on it!</div></div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-26164026057240038612010-01-08T17:41:00.000-08:002010-01-08T17:59:30.018-08:00First Attempts at Making Stitch MarkersWhat do you think? <div><br /><div>These are for Mardi Gras (obviously)</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424551047394598178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3nnSOOe4UrI1PyIZrWR-M0sEdE4EOwvmkiUThRKPPLkdI2RPI5xk0-92EnJrmuwciWIZ2_2WP_UYfRZwoHL5s6xmQwuwg2Tb1F7YW6mQYR_6YRhF_ys3royh2k8RDtj_RjTYc5lN-Jwr/s320/IMG_3850.JPG" /></div><div></div><div>And these, I just loved the blue. (I have no idea why blogger decided to format this one like this, the picture is supposed to be horizontal)</div><div></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424550601264333538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwK0Pe4kvzvC7YoMfDWpYZOjF0BAbvLxhUtJX5sLjIGsDdoyPT1maqnm7uwWQ-SJjVgFcvIkGQj5wPNh6_LWvOgxzAU7_armclzPxwt06Wfljxeii9K0vGAub7LEiWIg2gsozOARnz9RhG/s320/IMG_3852.JPG" /><br /><div>I used really small split rings (basically little keyrings) as the ring at the top. I still need some practice working with the wire, but I'm really liking the results so far. </div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-80886105104331904892010-01-07T15:27:00.000-08:002010-01-08T15:31:09.124-08:00What does one do with an entire bag of Noro?Well, of course, one must use all of it! I know! I know! I could use what I needed for a project and leave the rest of the bag for a later date, but that just felt wrong somehow. I began my Noro journey with an entrelac scarf for myself. I LOVE it! I was worried while I was working on it, because, let's face it, even silk garden (<em>did I mention that I was using silk garden</em>?) doesn't feel that great while you're working with it. But, oh my goodness, does it ever block up nice!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EfAXUsQIQy-PS06ToiKxI8dP1XdeFM1EQdB1cyq9czODM-mdxR0y7sfF-c42_M4C4z8OczhQh1C53-HpxntF813Dx5bq6pfN9J24N_tphp0wGpzeCohnp5DPVC-Ix_VAx_0-tgCJgiSy/s1600-h/IMG_3843.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424442662629354578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EfAXUsQIQy-PS06ToiKxI8dP1XdeFM1EQdB1cyq9czODM-mdxR0y7sfF-c42_M4C4z8OczhQh1C53-HpxntF813Dx5bq6pfN9J24N_tphp0wGpzeCohnp5DPVC-Ix_VAx_0-tgCJgiSy/s320/IMG_3843.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div>So, the scarf took four balls. Do the math, I have six left. This is a respectable number to leave in the stash, but I wasn't ready to stop playing with it, so a slip-stich scarf (<em>again, for me</em>) was next. Okay, I'm feeling a little guilty now, I haven't worn it yet, maybe it will go in the "gift box" for someone else. I don't know, I'll figure that out later.</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424442650502365746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrVS0MFQJETWJnYMUeWlvO1LKppt74qz_K2UrIa9va3EgQ6vjgZ4Nbniyz_fQtU05qy_ynogDpOh2COA3utJjvxpWtgY2ZlZVS-7w2pkjq1UbJzCf7JwzjVnegxoBHTL2jF02uzaYutZ3/s320/IMG_3841.JPG" /></div><div>Shortly after I got this done, (<em>it took two balls, bringing me down to four</em>) I realized that I was having a Christmas party the following night, and it would probably be a good idea to have something for my Dirty Santa Swap. (<em>No, the gifts weren't risque, the "dirty" came from the fact that we could steal other people's stuff</em>) So, I whipped up a Lotus Leaf scarf. Unfortunately, I didn't photograph it before the party, but here's a picture of one of the subsequent ones that got made. Three more, for a total of four, which killed off the rest of the bag.</div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424442654080204738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaVmKP26eMKybGEGVRv50dfknSObAegtOzz0ERC7HJtmZFds_zxP5YZlhaXio7YNaur06I1JWYvCTY5aPXvBAt9_ZLQREBai3K3fcB0qhfvE-Gq_upn323qmsC9FqPWjquAoN3rYVRBoj/s320/IMG_3842.JPG" />And a family photo of what can be made with a bag of Noro Silk Garden (<em>minus the scarf that was gifted prior to photographing</em>).<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424441933248916690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0coMM-Ui9kAGGeooTQEqYdfiebn1_9zRoMgdifEx4IKu_IXX5ck7jg9V9gDCAK33TWktTUuJE7ZdlQmgtv1sYXV2dtDw3q9UVVqQaK9RsEc7bUHu1jdxz0cDnvqG7dVH3xGqcAvioGVv/s320/IMG_3817.JPG" /><br /><div><div>I'm really digging the Lotus Leaf scarf pattern. It works up super quick and everyone has seemed to like them (<em>I've given two away so far, but some of my other friends have put in requests</em>). My friend, Kate (<em><a href="http://knitting12steps.blogspot.com/2009/09/babysitters-facebook-updates.html">of Bean-sitting fame</a></em>), requested that I make one to donate to her Mardi Gras marching club's silent auction, but instead of wanting one of the Noro ones, she wanted something pink, sparkly and fabulous, so this one, made out of Karabella Pima Gold, was born. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to make another one for her when she sees it.</div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZH7X4vFQ8On_z7bBTvEm5FXkm8TSqziRroWbWbtsxptzoAmd3WVFiJX0PSQXCDeq_2fiP9y923ATxPEtPRcb57YjZgdhOkC7b6NxCkh3O5y9dZpDWROoVtdbkOk2lkqRAHGaHDOCRUBh-/s1600-h/IMG_3827.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424441947138056466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZH7X4vFQ8On_z7bBTvEm5FXkm8TSqziRroWbWbtsxptzoAmd3WVFiJX0PSQXCDeq_2fiP9y923ATxPEtPRcb57YjZgdhOkC7b6NxCkh3O5y9dZpDWROoVtdbkOk2lkqRAHGaHDOCRUBh-/s320/IMG_3827.JPG" /></a>Also, my friend who got the first scarf during my Christmas party called yesterday (<em>while I happened to be in a yarn store, go figure</em>) and asked if I would be willing to make one for her child's physical therapist as a belated Christmas present. So, I picked up some really pretty red Cascade 220 and made this one for her. Even made myself $20! I wasn't going to charge her for it, but since she was giving it as a gift, she wanted to buy it. <div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424441954975233058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNhOYEeEAmD1T_KGgmXzzddlTUqr2XTjl2720cLqk6ZFWt8neEYlXJ3cuMPPyvvDkAsaZen2NARyU2NwHy-HFihTOgcnPeEJm7rxGMfA33QNy-5fv_Jx1q4aF-i06Wa2v5fvYVVyUkrIR/s320/IMG_3833.JPG" /> <div>What else have I been doing? Well, I finished this really great pair of socks for my friend, Kelly's, birthday present (<em>only two months after the actual birthday</em>!). They are made with yarn from the Knit Witch in the Brewtopia colorway, which is kinda perfect since I call her "Beer Kelly". (<em>I have two Kelly's in my near group of friends and when referring to them to Hubby, I have to clarify which one I'm talking about. She likes beer. The other one is short, so she's "Little Kelly". I'm not terribly creative</em>.)</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9AW6gCbsTQNxjd_gEjmfffQBZX-0rQ92Hh7wHfqSjyfIiPreP8b4IFtKDVLjkXXm2lrRLxUypFmWKxNmtwx6N_EJLpPyI1G_zd8PIbS6jV9e5iEiuzyPoh5yeYR7HrO9Rhsp3VL4wGBn/s1600-h/IMG_3820.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424441941317818978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9AW6gCbsTQNxjd_gEjmfffQBZX-0rQ92Hh7wHfqSjyfIiPreP8b4IFtKDVLjkXXm2lrRLxUypFmWKxNmtwx6N_EJLpPyI1G_zd8PIbS6jV9e5iEiuzyPoh5yeYR7HrO9Rhsp3VL4wGBn/s320/IMG_3820.JPG" /></a> <div>Also, I'm participating in Sock Wars V later this month, so I decided to test myself to see how quickly I could whip up a pair of socks that actually had a pretty complicated lace pattern to them. The good news is that I knocked out these bad boys in one weekend, the bad news is I really hurt my left hand. It was pretty sore after I finished up, most likely because I was holding the yarn differently to accomodate a new purling technique, called Norwegian Purl. I like it a lot because you don't have to shift the yarn to the front of the piece to accomplish a purl stitch, saving precious seconds when knitting for speed. These are called Flying V socks. I like that pattern a lot and wish I'd done them with a prettier color. I was just using the brown because they were practice socks and I just didn't care.</div><div></div><div>Sock Wars is a contest with about 200 knitters from all over the world. At the kick-off, you get a dossier with your "target". The point is to assisinate them by sending them a pair of socks from a specific pattern that will be released all at the same time before the person that had your dossier can assisinate you. During Sock Wars there is a side contest called Iron Knitter that I will also be participating in. During this, contestants will be knitting six pairs of socks. In each heat, a certain number of knitters who finish the pattern first will move on to the next heat. The knitter who finishes the sixth sock first, wins. So,wish me luck in the contests! I'm out to win a bunch of sock yarn from the Cocoa Beach Yarn Company. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2tz3ciyl6Bp_7PXZpZuqvfk2pHJSv8UoVSpnbLIQ0ScA0k5KMtzwccW1FUK2xraPXaOa_xAMf2qhb87o9UfQiuLf7BsD2EgJfziSD8ThVQENmkJw3LkCgwc3vyQVUu0nSVDfAJmYzsOy/s1600-h/IMG_3838.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424441962108275154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2tz3ciyl6Bp_7PXZpZuqvfk2pHJSv8UoVSpnbLIQ0ScA0k5KMtzwccW1FUK2xraPXaOa_xAMf2qhb87o9UfQiuLf7BsD2EgJfziSD8ThVQENmkJw3LkCgwc3vyQVUu0nSVDfAJmYzsOy/s320/IMG_3838.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-3626816695652135322010-01-04T18:21:00.001-08:002010-01-04T18:37:46.361-08:00It's a New Year, now what?So, I've obviously neglected this blog for a while and although I would love to catch you all up on everything that has been going on, well...no one wants to read a post that long and it would kill me if you didn't think it was as interesting as I do!<br /><br />Let's talk about this whole New Year thing. I know the standard practice is to come up with a list of resolutions that, let's face it, will be abandoned within the first month. I'm not going to do that this year. Instead, I will focus on one word, DISCIPLINE. I need more of it, from my eating, to my exercising, to my (gasp) yarn compulsion. Maybe if I just try to practice better habits, rather than setting milestones for myself and being disappointed in myself when I fail, I'll end up getting the things that we all know I truly want.<br /><br />This year has started off well so far. My best friend and her fiance came to visit on New Years' eve and stayed until the second, as did my older brother. We had a great New Years' eve. We spent it at home, drinking, laughing and roasting marshmallows while the world exploded (fireworks) around us. My neighbors spend a FORTUNE on fireworks. We sometimes join them, but refrained this year. We did, however, decided to blow up a bunch of helium balloons, attach them to glowsticks and release them into the air. I know, I know, it sounds like there was something a little more "recreational" going on, but I promise, we were only drinking... We were even all in bed prior to midnight. I know, we're lame.<br /><br />The next day we pretty much lounged around all day, watching football, and that night went to the Sugar Bowl to watch the Gators whoop up on the Bearcats. So much fun! We had two Bearcats fans sitting in front of us when the game started, but when they heard how loud Jen and I can scream, they moved over a little ways and by the end of the second quarter, had left entirely. Awww, sucks when your team can't handle the SEC... (sorry to any Cincy fans that might be reading this, okay, maybe not....)<br /><br />Saturday, everyone left and we began the cleanup from the holidays. Sunday, we lounged and watched football (see a trend in my house). The Saints have had a really disappointing finish to the regular season, let's hope they get their sh*t together for the playoffs. I truly never thought I'd see the day when the Aint's were the top seed in the NFC!<br /><br />Today, Bean returned to school. She has been eager to return and see all of her friends and teachers and I, quite frankly, needed a bit of a break. I love that I'm the center of her world, but after a while, a little alone-time is a very good thing. I took the opportunity to take the trimmings off the tree and haul it down to the curb. I'm pretty proud of that, it was a big tree and I did it all by myself! So, now Christmas has returned to it's plastic boxes to await release again next year, I just have to bring said boxes down to the warehouse this week and it will be business-as-usual around here once again.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to this year, we're hoping to expand our family during the course of it (fingers-crossed). We've also got some really great travel plans brewing, including a trip this summer to Sweden (yes, I've purchased Rosetta stone). I hope you and yours are happy and healthy and that the New Year brings you all that you need and want.Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-24492791265690202002009-10-12T08:38:00.000-07:002009-10-12T08:40:50.394-07:00Give-away announcementHi Guys! Just wanted to let you know about a <a href="http://www.annettesacre.com/stitchblog/?p=199">giveaway</a> that I found out about this morning. There's a bunch of yarn up for grabs!Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-25096097618177694812009-09-30T12:10:00.001-07:002009-09-30T12:17:38.334-07:00Resolutions for OctoberOkay, we all know how I handle long-term resolutions (like not buying yarn for 6 months). I suck at it, but I think if I set a hand full of goals for a month, maybe I can handle it. I mean, it's only 31 days, how hard can it be, right? RIGHT?<br /><br />So, here goes:<br /><br />1 Shocker I know, but the first goal is not to buy any new yarn this month. None. Not even if I decide to make someone a gift that I somehow don't have the yarn for. If it ain't in the stash, it ain't getting made.<br /><br />2 I will go to the gym three days a week over the course of the next month. I have to take Bean to school anyway, might as well hit the gym while I'm over that way.<br /><br />3 I will avoid fast food and other crappy selections six days out of the week. If I can handle eating healthy for six days, then I will reward myself on Sunday with the return of No-Rules Sunday (as opposed to my No-Rules Every Day that I currently practice).<br /><br />I have a couple of other things I would like to add to this list, but I feel I'm being fairly ambitious as it is, so I will save those for a later month. The goal here is to establish habits, so, once these items are habits, then I will build upon them, hopefully resulting in an improved Sarah. I know, I know, how does one improve on perfection? Well, the answer is, with difficulty, my friends! Ha, just kidding, you know better than to believe that I think of myself as perfect. Don't want to be perfect, it's gotta be dreadfully dull, but I would like to feel like I'm a little more put-together as a human being than I currently feel.<br /><br />So, there you have it. What do you think my odds are?Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-4051763051671472632009-09-29T05:59:00.000-07:002009-09-29T09:19:31.908-07:00Babysitters Facebook UpdatesSB was awesome about posting on FB while we were in Chicago, so I didn't feel like I had to check in all the time. In fact, I only called at night to say goodnight to Bean, even though she didn't want to come to the phone....I've done my best to remove all of the "real" names, so if you see initials in a comment, it's most likely because I changed it. Other than that, this is completely unedited. I highlighted her name in purple to make it easier to follow. (Just to note, the weekend before taking care of my child, SB was taking care of another friends diabetic cat, I'm telling you, this girl is earning her place in heaven!)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Friday Morning at 12:10</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span> - is 17 hours shy of a weekend of MY MISS SB duty... who has started the wager process and what are my odds?<br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=667157017&v=feed&story_fbid=140013047625&ref=mf">September 25 at 12:10am</a> ·<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_ICON_Image like_users_link UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_ICON_Image like_users_link" title="Click to see people who like this item" onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#"></a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kellyedonaghy">KD</a> likes this.<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Branden Wade Favre" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406">BWF</a><br />What?<br />September 25 at 12:27am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />Spending the weekend with Bean, a three year old who is confident and clearly a tad territorial<br />September 25 at 12:40am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Branden Wade Favre" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406">BWF</a><br />Nice!<br />September 25 at 12:46am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Dan Au" href="http://www.facebook.com/Dan.m.au"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/Dan.m.au">DA</a><br />Can I bet on the little girl?<br />September 25 at 1:29am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Scott Glendening" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1389177035"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1389177035">SG</a><br />tad territorial? What she is going to pummel you if Barney is not on the tele?<br />September 25 at 7:17am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Carlene Lynn Oehler" href="http://www.facebook.com/carlene.oehler"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/carlene.oehler">CLO</a><br />I've seen Miss SB without cigarettes. Ten bucks on withdrawl.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Friday Night at 8:45</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks?ref=mf"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />: 3-year old asleep (tear free, at that), tree frogs singing, cheesy-melty-shrimpy goodness consumed, cold beer in hand, and the strange echos of hanville high school's (I think) version of friday night lights echoing across the golf course. And... y'all doubted my abilities as a munchkin rangler! I will say that whatever animal making that noise on the colf course (hopefully not in the yard) scares the poop outta me.<br /><a onclick="'CSS.addClass($("></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406">BWF</a><br />So proud of you! You can come take care of me anytime!!!<br />September 25 at 9:01pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />You?!?!? You're more high maintenance than the insulin dependent cat!<br />September 25 at 9:03pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Branden Wade Favre" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=553506406">BWF</a><br />Whatever! I am not!!!<br />September 25 at 9:05pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />Wait 'til the racoons start playing on the roof! I love you!<br />September 25 at 9:46pm · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />Oh, and it's destrehan high school. Go Wildcats!<br />September 25 at 9:47pm · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />I'm sorry, the racoons do what!? Is that why the ladders are there? Ah, hell! Where's the pink gun?<br />September 25 at 9:47pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />They don't need the ladders. Do you want me to send you the code for the gun locker?<br />September 25 at 9:56pm · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />It is best for everyone if I remain unarmed. PS wildcats beat ehret tonight. They play at lutcher next weekend. Sound really bounces, huh?<br />September 25 at 10:00pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Cordelia Anne Cale" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale">CAC</a><br />I am loving this country stuff. Pink guns, raccoons, and high school football schedules.<br />September 25 at 10:48pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Julia Carey" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1385266860"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1385266860">JC</a><br />Should we get Bean a Wildcats cheerleading uniform?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Saturday at 8:28am</span><br /><br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks?ref=mf"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a> 3-year-old was up at 5:10 and magically convinced to go back to calm mode until 7... I've still got tricks! Today, some place owned by the Audubon Institute, the weather will decide which destination though. (She just looked at metyping and opened her kiddo laptop to get working! Too funny.)<br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=667157017&v=feed&story_fbid=154376952896&ref=mf">Sat at 8:28am</a> ·<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />Oh I am so sorry about the early wake up call! Give her smooches from me!Btw, your status update and following comments got many laughs out last night! Love you!<br />Sat at 8:47am · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Rocky Garrison" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1497851048"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1497851048">RG</a><br />Be careful - babies are a contagious disease you catch from their cuteness.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Saturday at 3:22pm</span><br /><br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks?ref=mf"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />to recap: talked LB out of 5 o'clock wake up call, accomplished AM routine, did basic workout w/additions of an audience & occasional human resistance band, visited fish, attacked play equipment with gusto, ate lunch (at least, looked at the... food meaningfully for a while & ate some of it), picked up 45 pounds of cake ay a Haydel’s without munchkin consuming anything sugary or illustrious caregiver dropping the cake, maintained awake and alert munchkin until arriving home, & convinced her that even though she 'feels better' (not that she felt badly in the first place) a nap was in order. She was asleep before I left the room & I am on my way to power nap. (If you question the need for running munchkin commentary, try leaving your kiddo with a friend for the weekend. You'll appreciate the ability to stay informed without calling to check in!)<br />Sat at 3:22pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Cordelia Anne Cale" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale"></a><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">CAC</span><br />I am duly impressed. Actually like running commentary. Would like even more info on 45 lbs of cake.<br />Sat at 3:28pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />I am bringing it to a baby shower tomorrow. Childcare and a baby shower. Huh. I suddenly feel very grown up. DOn't worry. It will pass.<br />Sat at 3:31pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kristina Ohlmeyer" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1236701247"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1236701247">KO</a><br />If you need help with Bean, let me know :)<br />Sat at 3:47pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />Thanks! So far, we're having fun!<br />Sat at 3:48pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Patrick Read Friley" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1606540077"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1606540077">PRF</a><br />I think I need you to babysit me sometime.<br />Sat at 9:55pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />pay the airfare and buy the liquor (and benddy straws) and I am there!<br />Sat at 10:14pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Katie Watts" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1029698342"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1029698342">KW</a><br />We have bendy straws, lots of strange liquors, movies you can cry over and, best of all, NO ONE under 21!!<br />Sun at 1:33am<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Saturday at 9:22pm</span><br /><br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks?ref=mf"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />Miz Bean asleep, Big Fish on tv, and I am having a cocktail, eating Easter candy. I have not broken her yet, and I with only fourteen hours of responsibility left I am cautiously optimistic that I will return a high-functioning two-and-a-half year-...old to her parents tomorrow. Of course, there is still time for me to irrepealably damage her psyche...<br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=667157017&v=feed&story_fbid=138659512461&ref=mf">Sat at 9:29pm</a> ·<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_ICON_Image like_users_link UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_ICON_Image like_users_link" title="Click to see people who like this item" onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000131400271">SM</a><br />reading your updates on this has been one of the highlights of my weekend. I have not laughed this much in a while.<br />Sat at 9:50pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />Glad you are laughing, because I am crying! The double whammy of the heart wrenching Big Fish ending and the discovery that my dear friends, who not only have a two year old but a fully stocked, built-in bar (and, of course, your illustrious caregiver as a frequent visitor) DO NOT seem to own BENDDY STRAWS! Oh, the indignity of having to lift the glass to my lips and tilt!<br />Sat at 10:18pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Cordelia Anne Cale" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale">CAC</a><br />You know, you probably should have your own monogramed benddy straws-in pink, naturally. I'd like more detail on the Easter Candy. Are we talking the classic Louisiana confectionery "Elmer's" or have you found something else.<br />Sat at 10:32pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />better yet (at least this far out of season) I found unloved (or, at least, uneaten and therefore fair game) reeces pieces eggs. second only on my fav list to mini eggs... which have also been spotted... but I am trying to resist!<br />Sat at 10:34pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Cordelia Anne Cale" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/cordelia.cale">CAC</a><br />You have achieved "post-Easter candy in early Autumn" perfection. There really should be an award for this.<br />Sat at 10:52pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Toru Bennette" href="http://www.facebook.com/torub"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/torub">TB</a><br />Should I take this as the level of kidwatching available from Aunt SB in the future?<br />Sat at 10:59pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />That depends. Do you stock benddy straws?<br />Sat at 11:01pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Toru Bennette" href="http://www.facebook.com/torub"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/torub">TB</a><br />Not only do we have bendy straws...they are umbrella bendy straws! and they come in a variety of colors...<br />Sat at 11:02pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />And, yes, TB. You get illustrious caregiver usage. But, I am much friendlier when supplied with banddy straws, a zoo membership car (though children's museum works, too), and some sort of evening amusement.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ff0000;">Sunday at 8:47am</span><br /><br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks?ref=mf"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />wonders how I could have ever doubted that these parents would have benddy straws!?!? These are not ordinary parents; they are amazing parents! And the Bean's needs for all things are clearly met. (Malow would suggest that benddy straws, like ...excrection, food, water, and sleep are fundamental to human survival.) Now, I wonder how I could have failed to spot them behind the splenda...<br /><a onclick="'ft(" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=667157017&v=feed&story_fbid=290428900569&ref=mf">Sun at 8:47am</a> ·<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />And, of course, kiddo in my care is well... Hey, that whole eating-paint-chips-is-bad-for-you thing is a myth put forward by the non-lead based paint marketing teams, right? After I spread some peanut butter on the wall, she said it really improved the texture issues.<br />Sun at 8:54am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Dawn York Veraldo" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo">DYV</a><br />You are SO bad - but I love you anyway <:) Sun at 9:11am <a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><br /></span>Forget anyway. You love me BECAUSE of how bad I am!<br />Sun at 9:13am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Keyana James Fletcher" href="http://www.facebook.com/keyana"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/keyana">KJF</a><br />yay bendy staws! they make a kids life complete:)<br />Sun at 9:14am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Dawn York Veraldo" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo">DYV</a><br />True...<br />Sun at 9:15am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Dawn York Veraldo" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/dveraldo">DYV</a><br />Are you still planning a NW visit soon, I hope????<br />Sun at 9:16am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Terumi Anderson" href="http://www.facebook.com/terumi.anderson"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/terumi.anderson">TA</a><br />chunky or creamy peanut butter? :p<br />Sun at 9:36am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />KJF- forget the kidos, I require them for a complete life. DYV- looks like Thanksgiving week for a bit :)TA- crunchy, of course!All- I should note that these partents accomodate MY playtime needs to the extent that there is a swing on the swing set adjusted to my height requirements! I should have never doubted thw presence of bendy straws!<br />Sun at 10:21am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />BWF- if you read this, please note you arte not the coolest playhouse anymore. You need a swing set!<br />Sun at 10:22am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />I am sitting here at breakfast, laughing my ass off! Love you!<br />Sun at 10:30am · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Sarah Harasimowicz Bordelon" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/sarah.h.bordelon">Mommy</a> aka ME<br />And the bend straws were completely bought with daquiris in mind!<br />Sun at 10:31am · <a title="Click here to remove this comment" onclick="'remove_feed_comment_dialog(">Delete</a><br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />See! Told you they spoil me rotten out here! I mean look out for my primary needs...<br />Sun at 10:33am<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Mindy Lynn Molaison" href="http://www.facebook.com/mlmolaison"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/mlmolaison">MLM</a><br />Malow=Maslow?<br />Sun at 1:19pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Kate Speakes" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/k8talks"><span style="color:#cc66cc;">SB</span></a><br />Typo, but yes!<br />Sun at 1:20pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Mindy Lynn Molaison" href="http://www.facebook.com/mlmolaison"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/mlmolaison">MLM</a><br />Yay hierarchy!<br />Sun at 1:21pm<br /><a class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_TYPE_PROFILE_SMALL_Image" title="Veronica White" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=664991023"></a><br /><a class="comment_author" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=664991023">VW</a><br />Enjoyed your babysitting weekend. Glad you got your bendy straws.Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-1184787322073285502009-09-28T15:41:00.001-07:002009-09-28T16:47:55.860-07:00Happy Birthday, Hubby!So, last week was Hubby's 40th birthday and I would love to tell you that he handled it gracefully, but I don't think that would be entirely honest. Now, he didn't come home with a red sports car or some other mid-life crisis toy, but he did complain a lot about getting old. Now let me tell you, I think he looks pretty great, but that didn't help him much last week.<br /><br />Originally, I had planned on throwing him a huge party that would last the whole weekend with a surprise portion happening at the House of Blues followed the next night with a balcony on Bourbon Street with a band and lots of food. Well, right before I signed the contracts for Wes-Fest '09, he somehow caught wind of it and let me know that he really wouldn't be comfortable with such an extravaganza (he doesn't really like people to fuss over him). So, I pouted for a couple of days and then decided that it wasn't about me, it was about what he wanted (plus, I got the brownie points for planning the event without actually having to follow-through with the work).<br /><br />Anyhow, what Hubby wanted was a trip to Chicago to see his buddies that he hadn't seen in ages. So, off we went this weekend! We were met there by his friend from New York and his Swedish fiance (NYC & the Swede). We were all staying at the <a href="http://www.danahotelandspa.com/">Dana Hotel & Spa </a>which was really cool. The rooms were a little small, but very chic and had the bonus of a little balcony. The biggest plus of the place was the spa and we all had massages scheduled! The guys got theirs on Saturday morning, the Swede and I waited until Sunday.<br /><br />Friday afternoon when we got there, the first priority was finding something to eat! We made our way over to <a href="http://www.loumalnatis.com/">Lou Malnati's </a>for some deep dish and were so fat and happy afterwards. God, I love melty, cheesy goodness. After that, we definitely needed a walk to work off the pizza, so we started walking toward the river and from there to the lake. I think we probably walked a good two or three miles. Then we found a little bar with some outdoor seating right on the river for some Irish coffee and lots of laughs. I haven't laughed as much in a while as I did over the course of this weekend. The Swede and I get along so well and she has the most amazing sense of humor, I am so thrilled that NYC is going to marry her. (Plus, they're getting hitched in Sweden, so I'll get to head over there for at least a week next summer)<br /><br />After a while, we decided to head back to the hotel for showers and a little rest before heading out to dinner to meet up with a couple more friends. Dinner was at the <a href="http://http//kinziechophouse.com/">Kinzie Chop House </a>and we met up with Newbie and Mrs. Newbie, who live in Chicago and T-Sum who calls Dallas home. Dinner was phenominal and again, we were laughing our asses off the whole meal. It's great when you get a group of people who all get along so well together. No awkward silences for us. I think the only time we were quiet was when our mouths were stuffed.<br /><br />Following dinner we headed out to one of Hubby's favorite old hangouts, <a href="http://www.chibarproject.com/Reviews/Delilah">Delilah</a>. It was pretty much a dive bar, with great atmosphere and we continued to have a great time. Another friend met up with us, we'll call him Nugent because he looks just like Ted! There were a couple of other people with us as well, but NYC, Newbie, T-Sum and Nugent were pretty much Hubby's closest friends when he was in Chi-Town, so I think they're the only ones I'm going to bother making up nicknames for. We stayed there talking and drinking until last call (2:00am) and again, we had a blast. It was great not having to worry about whether or not we were going to have to get up early in the morning and take care of Bean. My friend, Sugar Britches (SB, nickname from the Vegas trip) was taking care of her for the weekend, how awesome is that?! I think I'm going to have to dedicate an entire post to her Facebook status updates, they were hysterical!<br /><br />In spite of not "having" to get up early, for some reason we were both up by 8:00 the next morning. Uggh, I hate the internal alarm clock that happens when you have kids! Well, we had a great breakfast at the hotel, and then Hubby made his way to the spa and I ventured off with the Swede to Michigan Avenue to buy presents for SB and Bean. I also introduced the Swede to the joys of <a href="http://shop.ghirardelli.com/?s_kwcid=TC16074ghirardelliSb3992840422">Ghiradelli,</a> I think she shall love me forever!<br /><br />That afternoon, we gathered up the boys and headed over to an event that the Newbies had put together, a smoked rib cookoff. Yum-E! It was held at a really cool bar called <a href="http://moonshinechicago.com/">Moonshine,</a> and they had one of the ribs that we voted for. Really good stuff! My kind of event, going around sampling ribs from 13 different teams and drinking beer! Plus, I got to meet Newbie Jr. who is 18 months old and absolutely adorable. I had lots of fun playing with that little boy!<br /><br />After many ribs and much beer, we decided to go back to our rooms, so we could rest up a little before going out. Plus, I really wanted to catch a little college football. My Gators and Tigers both did great! The guys went and grabbed a little dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, but I grabbed a bite from the Whole Foods around the corner and stayed in the room to watch a little more ball. I gotta tell you, I was pretty tired! I'm definitely not accustomed to going out more than one night in a row with day-drinking thrown in. So, that night when it was time to go out, I wasn't terribly excited about it, but was happy to know that I would be making it back to the hotel early (we had promised the boys they could have guys' night).<br /><br />We met up with everyone at the <a href="http://www.chibarproject.com/Reviews/Matchbox/Matchbox.htm">Matchbox</a>, so named because the place is tiny. There was no place inside for all of us to sit and talk, so we grabbed a table outside and I was introduced to a gimlet. Yummy, yummy! It's basically like a key lime martini, with powdered sugar around the rim of the glass. So good! We were pretty much the same group as the night before with the addition of MW (Music Writer), who is best friends with Nugent. She was really nice, but I think a bit dissappointed in the rest of the girls when we headed home early. I had to go, though, I was just so beat! Plus, I wanted to be able to enjoy my massage the next morning. I'm glad I didn't decide to hang with the guys because Hubby made it back to the hotel around 6:30 in the morning and NYC didn't make it until after 8:30!<br /><br />The massage was definitely the best way to end an already great trip. I was so relaxed when we got home and it was awesome seeing my Bean. SB did a great job taking care of her and even did a little housework for me while we were gone. Have I mentioned how lucky I am to have such amazing friends? Hubby was also recharged during this trip from being around his closest friends. I think sometimes the stress of work can get to him and being around people who can totally distract him for a little while is a great thing!<br /><br />I know I need to post some pics, but I haven't downloaded them yet. I'll try and get them up soon!Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-66427033398569721292009-09-28T11:54:00.001-07:002009-09-28T15:18:09.459-07:00Does anyone even come in here to check on me any more?Or did you guys pretty much assume that I had finally lost my grip on the edge of the earth and fallen off?<br /><br />Well, I'm still here and I cannot believe it's been over a month since I've bothered to write any thing. There have been so many times that I've been doing something and started my post in my head, but when it comes down to actually sitting down at my computer, well, apparently that's just a little bit too big of a commitment for me.<br /><br />We've had a pretty good past month here at Casa Sarah. We've had a couple of get togethers around the house, one a cookout to basically kiss the summer goodbye. I love when an afternoon cookout morphs into something completely different and the last of your guests don't leave until well after midnight! (Oh wait, we had people not leave until the next morning this time!) I think that just shows that folks are really comfortable at our house and that makes me really happy. The other one was supposed to be a girls' day by the pool, but thanks to some rotten weather, it changed into us sitting around drinking daquiris, eating melty-cheesey goodness and watching really bad movies. Such a great time! I neglected my girlfriends for a while after I got married and had Bean, but I'm so glad that I'm reconnecting with this incredible group of women.<br /><br />Also in the past month, Bean and I took a little trip up to Louisville to see my best friend in the whole-wide-world! Unfortunately we don't get to see her nearly often enough (in fact, it had been over a year between visits this time), but when we get together, it's like no time has past at all. This trip was also a great chance to talk about her upcoming nuptuals! I'm super-excited that she has found such a wonderful guy to spend her life with and that I get to be her matron of honor! Also, Bean is going to be her flower girl! I can't wait to see how cute she's going to look in her little dress. I think it's pretty funny that my friend has no real idea about what she's going to wear for the wedding, but she's already got Bean's outfit picked! Of course, this just means we have to get together again at the beginning of December so we can go wedding dress shopping!<br /><br />Bean wasn't the best behaved kid during the trip to Kentucky. She seems to be going through a phase and testing all of her boundaries. She has been throwing some pretty major temper tantrums. In fact, one of them lasted about two hours while we were at BFWWW's (Best Friend in the Whole Wide World) house. Fortunately, she's pretty understanding about such things and helped me power through instead of just caving and letting the monkey get her way.<br /><br />Once we got home from Kentucky, things didn't improve too much for a week or two. Tantrums became a daily occurence and my tactic has been a combination of time-outs and just flat out ignoring her. She seems to be looking for a reaction from me and when I don't give her that reaction, she gets fed up and quits. The biggest face off right now is over me waiting on her hand and foot. She wants me to come upstairs and get her after her naps even though she is more than capable of coming downstairs. I don't mind getting her if she asks me nicely, but she's been DEMANDING that I do what she wants, and I'm just not having that. It was pretty funny one afternoon, she started throwing her hissy fit and refused to get out of her bed unless I carried her "like a baby". This started around 4:00 in the afternoon and lasted until about 6:45 when she finally gave up, apologized for her screaming and came downstairs for her dinner. Well, by the time she got finished with dinner, it was time for a bath and bed. Ooops, she wasted an entire afternoon that she could have been playing!<br /><br />She has started figuring out that she is going to have a lot more success getting what she wants by being sweet than by screaming her head off, so I hope we've turned a corner and are on our way to my sweet little girl back.<br /><br />Let's see, what else has been going on this past month? Well, last week I got to go to a very fun event up of the North Shore. Which was a return to McNeedles for Pam's one year anniversary of the opening of the shop. She's been having a sale all month and it culminated with a bit of a party on Wednesday. She had food and even brought in a masseuse to give out 15 minute massages to her guests. I was only planning on popping up for a little while, but ended up staying for about three hours. I had such a great time and really enjoyed getting to spend time with the other women that were up there. As a little bonus treat, there was a yarn rep there as well and he dumped out an ENORMOUS pile of Claudia yarns on the table to Pam to peruse. I really wish I had my camera with me that day, it was so pretty! <br /><br />I did my best to stimulate the economy in the store that day and came home with some really beautiful yarns. Of course, I'm thinking once again that some grounding is in order, I've been a bit over the top with my purchases again. Oh well, I'll think about that tomorrow, right?<br /><br />I have one last thing to tell you about from the last month, but it's gonna have to wait for now. It's time to cook dinner!Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-66063400415461595902009-08-26T06:13:00.001-07:002009-08-26T06:34:33.098-07:00And now for a good cause...<div><em>Today I'm hijacking a post from the </em><a href="http://knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/"><em>KnitWitch</em></a><em>, Brittany, because I think she's bringing a really good cause to our notice. As you guys know, I love Brittany's yarns and </em><a href="http://www.knitwitch.com/"><em>online store</em></a><em>, but I also love the fact that she and her husband are really great people who are genuinely concerned for people, animals and our planet. If you don't already read her </em><a href="http://www.knitwitchblog.blogspot.com/"><em>blog</em></a><em>, I definitely recommend it. She always has beautiful pictures, stories of outdoor adventures and really cool details of their renovation of an old house in the woods! I'm just going to cut and paste her post from today, so if you skip ahead and get confused about why I keep referring to "Wayne", well, that's your problem! :-) </em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>Oh, and I'm going to start typing again after the picture of the Morning Glory, so you have to read all the way to the bottom!<br /><br />So here goes:<br /></em><br /><br />Water<br /></div><br /><div>Do you ever think about it? For the most part, we never really have to. We turn on our taps or water hoses, flush the toilet, run the dishwasher, wash clothes and there it is - clean, drinkable water. We are so fortunate to have access to such an amazing thing yet many of us never give it a second thought unless we are without it for some reason.<br /><br />Here are some interesting facts for you:<br /><br />- 1.1 billion people in the world have no access to clean water (that's 1 in 6 people).<br />- If we divided all the freshwater among all the people we could allot about 2.5 gallons/person/day. The average person in the US currently uses 300-400 gallons/day.<br />- Our planet is 70% water - of that 70%, 97.5% of that is saltwater leaving us to divide the remaining 2.5% of freshwater.<br />- Many communities must have wells in order to access underground aquifers for clean water<br />- Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.<br />- Many people in the developing world, usually women and children, walk more than three hours every day to fetch water that is likely to make them sick. Those hours are crucial, preventing many from working or attending school. Additionally, collecting water puts them at greater risk of sexual harassment and assault.<br />- Children are especially vulnerable to the consequences of unsafe water. Of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation, 90% are children under 5 years old.<br /><br />Wayne and I have been struggling and looking for a charity to support with Knit Witch. We want to support something that is worthwhile, does good, is necessary and has a reputable mission and goal. There are so many things that we are passionate about that we will probably end up supporting different organizations in different ways. But, no matter what we think about, it all comes back to one thing - water. You have to have water to do anything so that is where we have decided to start. We already run <a href="http://www.braea.org/">BRAEA</a> and <a href="http://www.smallerfootprint.net/">Smaller Footprint</a> and we do work for our local Humane Society so we are reaching out a little more globally this time.<br /><br />This morning, Knit Witch donated $50 to <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/index.htm">Charity: Water</a>. I know that isn't a whole lot but it is enough to give 2 people in Africa clean drinking water for 20 years. Here's why we have decided to support this charity:<br />- Water is the basis for all life as we know it and necessary to support hygienic conditions, medical aid, growing food, raising animals, environmental issues, human rights issues, animals rights issues - pretty much everything.<br />- This charity uses 100% of donations for their field work as their administrative costs are funded by other means. If you donate, even the paypal fee is funded via their private donor money specifically used for administrative costs - therefore 100% of your money actually goes to building clean water sources. You can read more about this <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/faq.htm">HERE</a>.<br />- This non-profit works to support other non-profits already working in the field. In other words, they use resources that already exist, organizations who are already familiar with the people, the needs and the language and they work to support people who are passionate about helping others - information on this is <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/projects/partners/index.htm">HERE </a><br />- They have amazing documentation of their work <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/projects/">HERE</a><br />- They have great information about their organization and their mission <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/projects/">HERE<br /></a><br />So, why am I telling you all of this? Because I know that knitters are a generous, caring bunch of people. No one knows better that great things are built one little step at a time repeated over and over and over again. <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/">The Yarn Harlot</a> supports <a href="http://doctorswithoutborders.org/index_alt.cfm">Doctors Without Borders</a> - another wonderful organization that provides another thing that I am passionate about - health care for those who need it. She has inspired me to give to this cause as I am sure many of you have done as well. <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/index.htm">Charity: Water</a> gives us knitters another way to make the world a better place.<br /><br />Knit Witch's Goal = $5,000 - don't you think we can achieve this in order to provide clean drinking water for 500 underprivileged people? I do. I started it off with $50. I don't care if you donate $5 or $500 - whatever you can afford helps. If you skip your morning Starbucks coffee tomorrow you can send that $5 as a donation instead. Send me an email to theknitwitch@gmail.com and let me know how much you donated so that I can keep track of our total - or - you can leave a comment on the blog. I'm keeping track of the progress over on the right hand side of the blog.<br /><br />Everyone who donates will be entered in a drawing and we will draw some names for prizes. The first drawing will be on October 1st and I'll let you know the prize when I figure it out. If you blog about what we are doing and link to this post I'll give you an extra entry into the pot. Just email me and let me know that you did it - theknitwitch@gmail.com.<br /><br />Let's do this. Let's make a difference in the world around us. Let's make a difference in the life of someone who is less fortunate than ourselves. Let's share our resources. Let's show the world that knitters are the most amazing group of people in the world who can come together to create good in the world.<br /><br />Here is a picture that I took in our garden yesterday morning. This beautiful flower certainly wouldn't be here without life sustaining water............ <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrVPWYlwYp_ZUtI2UEUfo6ySCbuza4xrjN2yzD69bwrJetCBSkSzR_DTuMykdcD8j3unx8I-tpS1Vm1fFBwOe8BWvhOKwOgg0ZthjtM2Z__vKVU-kquBibO7UETNfz_pLLSkYWSriw8-e/s400/Purple+Morning+Glory+8-09.jpg" /></div><br /><p><em>Now back to Sarah:</em></p><p><em>I gotta say, I think this is an amazing cause. It's something that I really haven't thought about until now, but seriously, think about how blessed we are to have such a valuable resource so available to us that we don't even think about it! I matched Brittany and Wayne's donation this morning and hope that you will add to that amount if you are able. Even a couple of bucks helps! Let's help Brittany blow her goal of $5000 out of the water!</em></p><p><em>On a selfish note: If you are not a knitter or have no interest in a fiber related prize, how 'bout you let the KnitWitch know that your entry is in my name? Just sayin'.... </em></p>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-47372905566882705012009-08-25T18:14:00.000-07:002009-08-26T07:18:23.545-07:00Obsess Much?<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374086166880772162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1IPiAWdbKWuVbP9lP2DPwvJz4J31D7BGiNfyhi-BQJw6VtTM8KPe8wG6xDCVQZwCXAmtbDZEipXDVbfuUlioNnxijQMWfKso6eILbCvkQ1Mb3I8FC-9UFn9WbxYtw6GcSA7awa0vnlFfq/s320/IMG_3094.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUv67fYFOju23zzfkzbzvmKrL_Vy3Kx7Nf7YA4eOkD3nM6g1-rlUf8rgwcPCZ5G4p-0XFgx6ghjxMCQf8IqAITlajOqhp94E0O9RFHrDjJKLW-Z9WPm-FAq4KKr-za4EG8hsOJDZMfsvJ/s1600-h/IMG_3093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374086160165118114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUv67fYFOju23zzfkzbzvmKrL_Vy3Kx7Nf7YA4eOkD3nM6g1-rlUf8rgwcPCZ5G4p-0XFgx6ghjxMCQf8IqAITlajOqhp94E0O9RFHrDjJKLW-Z9WPm-FAq4KKr-za4EG8hsOJDZMfsvJ/s320/IMG_3093.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374086144320593682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLvaugu9HEy-tDEFTnsO0wqqDwRipFVeHA9jp0vwkeqAM_qDwOFtgyQCfVLpLEe88-wX3uB8sVt0X9NgCAcTIc58jWSUsz5_HiBdRTsbkvpadcPvfBlaQoP-L1VoRrf6MElpkKuYVl-cn/s320/IMG_3092.JPG" /><br /><div>Okay, I know I promised like a week ago to catch up my blog on all that has been happening lately, but I guess I must've lied....</div><br /><div>I do have a good reason for neglecting this promise and it's name is <a href="http://www.tangledyarns.com.au/blog/2009/06/sage-remedy.html">Sage Remedy Top</a>. I cast on last Thursday and wove in the last end yesterday. I think it's definitely a new record for completing an entire sweater for me, but it was definitely a fun knit with the feather and fan lace inserts! These pictures are really bad, but it's nighttime and the light kinda sucks. I'll try and get a better photo tomorrow.</div><div></div><div>But, I do owe some stories, don't I?</div><br /><div>Ravelry Meet-Up</div><br /><div>A couple of months ago, I met <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Asappa">Asappa</a> on Ravelry when she posted on the New Orleans Forum that she would be visiting New Orleans in August and was wondering about the local yarn shops. I wrote her back and after a little communication, we decided that I would take her up to the Northshore for a special viewing of a yarn shop that is owned by the lovely, Pam, who I met in Atlanta at the Stitches conference, but had yet to check out her shop, <a href="http://www.mcneedles-la.com/">McNeedles</a>. </div><br /><div>The day we selected to meet up, Bean and I went to her hotel and picked her up. She was a real sweet person and even came with gifts, which included a handknit kitty for Bean! After a yummy lunch at Johnny's po-boys in the Quarter, we headed out to the shop. It's about a 45 minute drive and I was a little nervous about taking a road trip with a random stranger. I shouldn't have, Asappa was lovely and we chit-chatted the entire way. </div><br /><div>Upon locating the store, Pam came hobbling out to greet us. Poor thing came and opened the store specially for us while recovering from knee surgery! And I'm so glad she did! Her store had a great selection and I bought a ton of yarn! She also has an <a href="http://www.mcneedles-la.com/">online store</a>, so you should definitely go and check it out. </div><br /><div>Meeting up with a complete stranger is not something I would normally do, and neither would she, but I'm so glad I decided to step out of my normal comfort zone this once to meet a new friend and find a great new source for fibery goodness!</div><div></div><div> </div><div>VEGAS!!!</div><br /><div>A couple of days after meeting up with Asappa, I headed out to Vegas on a girls' trip. This was only my second time leaving Bean for any amount of time (the other was my trip to Atlanta) and it was the first time that I had left her with Hubby in charge! </div><br /><div>The trip was so much fun! We had five of us staying in a two bedroom suite at the Palms. Drinking began early, with us starting on the plane out there around 8:30 in the morning. The flight was a blast and the flight attendant was even mixing shots for us! (He also only charged us about 1/5 of what the drinks should have actually cost!)</div><br /><div>When we got to our hotel, we quickly ordered room service and then headed off to the pool. It was super-windy that day and ours was the only pool in Vegas that hadn't been shut down. I will admit, it was a little wild to see white caps on a pool! The drinking continued until it was time to get ready for dinner, which was over at a sushi place at the Bellagio. The food was good, (I tried kobe beef) but certainly not plentiful. After dinner, we headed to one of the bars at the Bellagio, but by 10:30 I was struggling to stay awake! 15 hours of drinking will do that to me! So I headed back to our hotel, with two of the other girls, who shortly after that woke me up to let me know they were going back out! More power to 'em, I needed sleep!</div><br /><div>The next morning I was up way before everyone else, so I took advantage of the gym at the hotel and got myself some breakfast. By the time I made it back and was showered, some of the others were up and we relaxed until it was time to head down to the spa. Did Imention that Hubby was the most wonderful man in the world? Well, he is! When we checked into our room, a bell hop showed up shortly thereafter bearing gifts from Hubby which included a bottle of champagne, flowers and spa treatments for each of us! I think all of the girls were in love with my husband after we were done at the spa! I got a massage and facial and felt pretty much like putty when they were done.</div><br /><div>That afternoon, the rest of the girls headed back to the pool but I took a nap and relaxed (knit) until dinner time. I like taking it a little bit easier than most of my friends on vacation. That night we ate at Simon in our hotel and it was DELICIOUS! The topper on the meal was when they brought out a giant plate of cotton candy for dessert. I love me some spun sugar! After dinner we had planned on heading out to a nightclub at the Wynn, my friend Matt had gotten us on the guest list, but we were all feeling a bit lazy and decided to just hang out at the casino. Once again, I was the first one back in the room, but I did manage to last until about 2:00am. I have no idea what time the rest made it back.</div><br /><div>We slept in the next morning, but headed down to the main pool at the Palms for the afternoon. One of the girls managed to talk the pool host into dropping the drink minimum for a cabana (usually about $1000) so we rented one and spent the whole afternoon lounging, drinking mango daquiris, and eating lobster rolls! That's my idea of vacation!</div><br /><div>That night we planned on meeting up with some other girls that one of my friends knows. We grabbed a quick dinner and headed over to the Hard Rock to meet up with them. We were totally hooked up that night with a limo, VIP at Tao, and bottle service at the table. I don't even want to know what our tab looked like that night! We had a ton of fun and stayed out until about 3:30, which normally wouldn't be too big a deal, but given the fact that we had to get up at 6:30 the next morning to head to the airport, it was maybe a bit too late!</div><br /><div>All in all, I had a great time. The women I went with were so much fun and I loved the restaurants, pool and spa. But even though I had fun at the nightclub and casino, I don't think I'm going to head back to Vegas any time soon. I'm trying to steer the next girls' trip toward a beach resort...</div><div></div><div>I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to find when I returned home, but I was pleased to see that the house was clean, the child well-cared for, and I was very missed! I do love getting lots of hugs from my two favorite people!</div><div></div><div>So, now that this post has gotten excessively long, I am going to succumb to my burning desire to start swatching for <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/147-sylvi-by-mari-muinonen">Sylvi</a> and continue catching up on my blogging tomorrow.</div><br /><br /><div>Oh, Alice asked me a question on my last post: Alice, we are heading to Disney on November 5 - 11. Wish we were going to be there when you guys are, but we decided to overlap the trip with a friend's wedding.</div>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-56822049804258284782009-08-18T06:23:00.000-07:002009-08-18T06:30:12.163-07:00Playing Catch Up Part OneI think you nearly every day, Internetz, and remind myself that I need to log on and fill you guys in on some inane moment in my day or another. Or hey, maybe not just the little silly stuff, maybe the big, fun stuff that has been going on as well. But I have been a big ole slacker lately and haven't even mailed out the prizes from my last give-away, or even sent emails that really need to go out to some friends that probably would take me all of five minutes to write, but for some reason, I just can't be prevailed upon to do it.<br /><br />So, today I am making myself the goal of catching up on all the sh*t I've been neglecting lately. We'll see how that works out! <br />As for the blog, I have a few things I want to tell you about:<br />-my awesome Ravelry meet-up<br />-the girls' trip to VEGAS!<br />-our cookout last weekend<br />-knitting!<br /><br />Blog posts are going to come out in blurbs, so if you don't want to get confused, maybe you should read them in order.<br /><br />But first, I need to go feed my child. And maybe make a run to the UPS store and ship some things. Isn't that the reason I'm doing the give-aways after all? To get stuff out of my house?Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-66330412998466884892009-07-31T08:40:00.000-07:002009-07-31T09:32:21.967-07:00On Wednesday I made a to-do list that needed to be taken care of before I was going to allow myself to do any knitting on my spiral sweater. I think I set my bar too high! Although I did get nearly everything done (the hotels for Disney are still not booked, but it's not my fault, we're still not set on exact dates for the trip), I also did not get ANY knitting done until after Bean was in bed. I also did not have any time for posting the promised yarn pictures, so I suppose I will start with those.<br /><br />I don't think I've made any secret of my love of the <a href="http://www.knitwitch.com/">Knit Witch's</a> hand-dyed loveliness and she certainly did not fail to please this time. My box was stuffed with such beauty and Icouldn't be more excited to have it in my clutches!<br /><br />I got three more colors from Brittany's Bridge to the Summit collection. (BTW, if you haven't voted in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/socksummit">sock summit indie dyer contest</a>, go do it now!)<br /><br />First is Brewtopia:<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364656956532710402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYK-DG7lrN44BGVKkm8XWNF7vvUKSTOfncAZEiYLwiJw06qYEv1adLuPlkyA3Lv0TVg7e3C_XAtCRY0850tHxvyJZczDPDM6bnqS1X2zomHeuuvEaC0_JoEsA6D5FTpYj-ecgXnzvVxfs/s320/IMG_2902.JPG" border="0" /><br />Followed by Portland Rain: </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364656963413066194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-n7q6JXOvJARJrtAscOL2BW2de9Th-DufW9BtadTIxxUo3oydYLGABrbOavb2Gvpk7aO7pGpp91Tsn3M0bT_w9AqOho_l0MeNByzW3lJtrmNSDuX2GbRAxQ-mYQMmxIC3C7baLoBYzva/s320/IMG_2903.JPG" border="0" /><br />And Oregon Merlot (I think this one might be my favorite): </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364656965210445938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQVUVxXMmJr2iffNjYL8Zl0Gb3OAxBU_QiJmxdpb24rw9y-fdYF6mZLhLOv2_TnnraVgbYTB45YpdZVoo43-PjmkrpAZPdicdnM3AZ8_XCYgymR7XnNBpRcpNpRQLIOCZ8moHIP7Knhkk/s320/IMG_2905.JPG" border="0" /><br />I also got another skein of Waters of the Willamette because I didn't want my prize skein to be lonely.<br /><br />Then I got some her Celestial Cloud yarn in the Aries colorway. </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364656972538497538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXj8CUj_gWjy-z526KNL-CM_oQp1Hp3e2ixgrJ9Yt_vc6T2DtlhHnjXLmb84Vqx17tkAGsFFqaMp-GpqDfkOZFMCt4EdUR7ZCzYQEvuC2C0DUfmnRq60uFWL-QnKk8ZLHaySm8vhwPZt7/s320/IMG_2906.JPG" border="0" /><br />And finally I picked up a little lace weight from her Mystical World line in Fire Nymph(I seem to be obsessed with lace lately, even though I haven't acutally tried it) </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364658676249297810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiD3wC52euQYP4XokoOLXp84bP8kKy4wZfSQ4pAwMq2_5agrX-Yb2Imdsii4drVr5DrFARr-fVYA-DvOxooIt1Z-w4DU6MuL-U55mxZ6yx5M-wa5l7eiORhyphenhyphenfTj5g2cROUNx-08rjcbNw7/s320/IMG_2907.JPG" border="0" /><br />Although I didn't get any knitting done during the day on Wednesday, I did get a lot done after Bean went to bed that night. In fact I stayed up far too late, but got within 14 rows of completing the second sleeve on my spiral sweater before having to concede defeat (and exhaustion) and go to bed. I finished it the next morning however, and here are the pictures of my progress so far. </p><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364658687318662258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN75TJhGiRE-JtfF-KChftvaUaWChXIUej-CfeAET8PV0UFIna5DobuKV8AD77fWShvg-5NL9wq412YSRT04F4ymuIFmnemuCm3C-uYVvKH62YuMrPBcQLZcHGQLlj2MsLMP_A_gg1XYL/s320/IMG_2911.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364658679550801810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qEaleKmoBZBLIU_i64K4TS-GBNEERv4gNJ9GFnXRIkNFx23D-LLCsMeAzSu05IntBrfdmYv6-eeuf8fwXU7NQKe7mPzj8RfR-PHhAfoTgiHMy__-63h9VgGrSJMKvdoMwFTZh-oK9-ja/s320/IMG_2909.JPG" border="0" /><br />I'm really looking forward to Shelly's next post on working the yoke and finishing, but am also going to try and finish some WIPs while I'm waiting. I still have to do the lining and zipper on the laptop case (I hate pulling out the sewing machine).<br /><br />I also still have to finish the second Pomotomus sock that I've had to rip out TWICE because I'm an idiot who can't follow instructions. In fact, I decided to start putting in a lifeline every couple of inches so that if I do make a mistake I don't have to rip out the whole stupid thing again. If you've never worked with a lifeline, it's wonderful when you're working with a complicated stitch pattern that's hard to frog. A little crochet cotton worked through the stitches of a row will save you so much frustration and it's thin enough that it won't get in your way as you continue to knit.<br /><br />In not-knit-related news, today is Bean's last day in her summer day camp program. She's going to be so miserable over the next three weeks until pre-school starts! I'm already planning on taking her to the zoo, aquarium and another trip to Cocoa Beach (we're going to try one more time to catch a shuttle launch), but she seriously loves "school" and gets upset when she hasn't been for a few days. Wish me luck!<br /><br />I'm also at T-minus six days until my girls' trip to Las Vegas! I absolutely cannot wait! Six of us have a three bedroom suite at the Palms for three nights. Is it a bad thing that I'm already trying to figure out what knitting project to bring with me?<br /></p>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-69539690802175221622009-07-29T05:30:00.001-07:002009-07-29T05:47:59.103-07:00Resolutions for the day....I will not wind any new yarn for my spiral sweater until:<br /><br />1. I go to the gym after dropping Bean off at school<br /><br />2. I remember to mail my package for my Ravelry swap partner<br /><br />3. My kitchen is clean<br /><br />4. My craft room has the appearance of a floor<br /><br />5. The laundry is folded<br /><br />6. I've put the sheets back on the bed<br /><br />7. I rember to make hotel reservations for my family (parents, brother and us) for Disney this fall. Somehow, I volunteered to be in charge, and somehow, I keep dropping the ball.<br /><br />8. I photograph the stash additions, that, while not hidden from Hubby, were not exactly placed out in the open until he left for his trip this morning.<br /><br />And, then, and only then, will I return to the obsession that is my spiral sweater.<br /><br />Anyone think I can actually hold out?<br /><br /><br /><script language="javascript" src="http://static.polldaddy.com/p/1819886.js" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script><noscript></noscript>Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8946656255238744328.post-57102615352880725182009-07-28T16:39:00.001-07:002009-07-28T16:57:15.879-07:00It's Tuesday again, must be time to pick a winner!Hi guys! Thank you so much for entering my contest. I really wish I had a tub of thread to send to each of you because I know in the hands of such talented folks, it will become something beautiful. But, since I think Hubby would kill me if I went out and bought enough thread to make this an actuality, I had to settle for picking just one winner. I had 43 entries for the thread and according to <a href="http://www.random.org/">random.org</a>, the winner is....drumroll please....Amy!<br /><br /><br /><br />Competition was a little less fierce for the screen printing kit (go figure, I announced the contest on Ravelry!), and I only had nine entries. Again turning to random.org, the winner is...<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.redredwhine.com">Lara!</a><br /><br /><br /><br />So, if you guys will <a href="mailto:sarah@bordelonmarine.com">email me</a> your mailing information to me, I'll get those packages out ASAP!<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm still slowly but surely working my way through the craft room in an effort to get it a little more streamlined. And so it can hold my ever growing stash of yarn. This whole trying to control my spending by "grounding" myself has been a total and complete wasted effort. Not only did I add the koigu when my mom was here this weekend, but there's also a BUNCH of new Peaches 'n Cream cotton, along with the rest of my order from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.knitwitch.com">Knit Witch</a> (which is gorgeous and I will photograph tomorrow after Hubby goes to work).Sarah B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09078473765976012321noreply@blogger.com2