my little stinker

My son will be 1 year old in just 2 short weeks. He kills me with the cuteness. It just gets more awesome everyday. This photo proves it...from our Eames series...photos of Flynn's growth.

ALL ABOUT ME IN 7 RANDOM FACTS

Okay…a month and a half later, I’m finally getting around to doing this. Oops. Miss Amy tagged me with a 7 Random Things About Me, so here are the goods. 7 of you will get tagged too - watch out!

1-
In my early 20’s, I went skydiving (solo) and my mom jumped too, which is a more interesting fact if you knew my mom...totally not her character. She didn’t want me to bungee jump and thought jumping out of an airplane would be safer. Okay? I don’t know if that’s true but it was pretty freakin’ awesome.

2-
On my second date with my husband (in my very late 20’s), he took me up on a grain silo south of downtown Oklahoma City to shoot a photograph of the Skyline for Oklahoma Today Magazine. It was cool and romantic at first…then I learned I was afraid of heights…out of the blue. I pretty much had a panic attack and couldn’t climb down the ladder to get off the thing. It was such an awful and humiliating experience. For some reason the man still married me.

3-
I love sleeping with the windows open when it rains and thunderstorms all night and the cool breeze puts you to sleep.

4-
If I was alone on a Friday night (without the fam), one of my favorite things to do is sit in front of the tv and watch old movies with a bunch of junk food, a Coke, my knitting and a stack of magazines and stay up til 2am. Then fall asleep on the couch with the pugs snuggled up with me and have absolutely no obligations the next morning so I can sleep til noon. Love that.

5-
Pet Peeve #213
I hate sweaty drinking glasses, cans or bottles. It makes me crazy. I have to have a napkin wrapped around them so I don’t have to touch the wet…just feels gross to me.

6-
I love vintage stuff…love love love. I wear vintage and love the hunt.
But, when I go to vintage clothing stores, I get a creepy icky feeling. I don’t like to touch things and I hold my breath so I don’t take the air in...like I'm gonna get cooties. Because in my mind, it’s old and stinky and dirty and has been on someone else’s body from 40 years ago…even though I’m sure it has really been laundered since then. For example: polyester clothes from the 60s/70s. No way…very cute and all…but I could never let that fabric touch my body. I envy those girls who can just throw on a 60s crocheted poncho and be all about it…but ewww! Totally mental. It’s so stupid.

7-
I don’t like other people to be messy, but it’s okay for me to be. It’s like my eyes don’t see my pile of clothes that need to be hung or my dirty dishes. They’ve just become part of the décor somehow. But, if my husband’s are there, I know which ones are his and he dang well better take care of it immediately…totally weird.

Aren't I fascinating? But anyway…here are the lucky 7 that are now tagged by me:

-Pinku
-Red Lipstick
-Read This & Tell Me What it Says
-Designer Line
-Blue Rose Knits
-Living to Tell the Tale
-Knit Wit Girly

UFO's

Okay, so I have a lot of catching up to do...and how am I gonna get all of my planned birthday/mothers day, etc. projects done with a broken wrist? Hmmm...don't think I'm gonna make it. I have 18 inches or so more to go on the Chevron scarf for my sister. Yes, I had to present it unfinished...which I so hate...but she understood that it was taking longer with the cast on. I hadn't posted any photos cause I didn't want her to catch a glimpse just in case.

NOTE: I HAVE AT LEAST 8 MORE WEEKS WITH THE CAST ON...OMG...I HATE THIS THING. OBVIOUSLY IT'S TEACHING ME A LESSON OF SOME SORT...WHAT COULD IT BE???ARGH!

These projects in the photos are all taking up space on my needles and so I have no needles to work with (my Denise cords anyway). The One Skein Wonder is for my friend Becky from at least two years ago maybe three..hopefully I can give it to her this year...if they are still in style...ugh. I need to make a second wrist warmer and will probably give those to Dawn for her bday. The orange thang is a bag for me. And, or course the little knit pants for my baby boy...those have got to be done...they probably won't fit him for sure now.

That's what I get for being a procrastinator. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

So not a fashion statement

but, at least it's pink!

I started a new job last Monday. As I was leaving the building at the end of my very first day, the heel of my gorgeous high-heeled black leather boots clipped a crack and I went flying. There was no stopping me. I basically landed on all fours, skinned my knees, sprained my right wrist and fractured my left, hence the lovely cast. This totally suckity suck suck sucks!!!!! In my whole 30-something years, I have never broken anything. This freakin' cast is so claustrophobic I could just scream! Argh!!!!!!

I have a couple of months at least with this thing. Insane!

So, there will be very slow progress on knitting if any at all. And, I was going to get back on my scooter this spring...not happening until this is off, especially since you shift with the left hand. Not a good kick-off to the warm weather ahead.

Otherwise, Sweetpea had a great 1st Easter!

NOTE: there is no product in his hair and it has not been styled in any manner. This ciaos is all natural..the craziest hair I have ever seen, so hysterical!

I'm spying on you little one

Somehow it's like he knows we are watching him. Our little racoon was up to no good one night. We were watching him on the tv monitor... a little spy cam we have hooked up on his bed so we don't have to wake him up with the creaking door every night. It's hysterical to watch him and sometimes he pops up and looks right at the camera. I just can't help but giggle...what a cutie pie.

Veggie Tales

This is what I have been up to in the past week besides knitting a baby blanket...which should be blocked tonight...just gotta weave in those dang ends...ick.

I made a Mexican Lasagna last night with a side of Spanish Rice and tortilla chips. I'm so proud...my husband actually said he would like to have this again. I said, " Well, how about lunch tomorrow." That's what I'm having. It was dang good. I've been getting all of my recipes, except the lentil soup, from those Martha Stewart Everyday Food mini magazines. There are a ton of vegitarian recipes in those and they are really good. This lasagna has a spinach/cilantro mix layered with pinto beans, salsa and pepper jack cheese on corn tortillas. It was super easy.


Also, another thing I'm excited about...a coworker asked me today if I have lost some weight. I can't believe someone can actually tell. Yippie. I've lost almost 10 lbs. This is a good thing! Note: that's a play on words since I mentioned Martha up above...dumb huh?

I have been making these veggie sandwiches for lunch and they are so freakin' good.
I got some of that Tofutti, oh good grief that stuff is awesome...faux cream cheese.
I put that on one layer and olive tapenade on the other, then layer spinach leaves, cucumber and tomato...garnish with vegetable chips and hummus...the best. The bread is a 3-seed wheat from a friend's bakery called Big Sky Bread Company. It's very dense and de-lish.

This is lentil soup from last week...pretty good. It had zucchini, tomatoes, lentils, bay leaves for flavor, some lime and yogurt to top. I believe it is from Vegetarian Times magazine, but don't quote me.

Me and my big ideas

Well, crap...it just dawned on me all the gifts I have to make and everything is at the same time. Me and my big idea to try to be a little "slow" this year and not to spend a bunch of money on gifts. This is my list. I better get busy.

1. Mare's birthday is the day before Flynn's and I'll be getting ready for his first birthday party, so I have to get this made now. Since it is her special "big" birthday, I want to make her the Counterpane Carpet Bag by Carrie Brenner. She will so love this. I've been planning on making me one too...some day! This photo is from the pattern on Ravelry...so pretty...love this yarn!
NOTE: This is the Ravelry link.

2. I would love to make Flynnie something for his birthday...maybe a knitted amiguri monster or something.

3. Dawn's having her special "big" birthday this year too, but I have until August for that one and have to figure out what I'm going to knit her...maybe something to wear...hmmm.

4. I'm already working on a baby blanket for my cousin. The shower is next weekend...nothing elaborate as I haven't had a ton of time to prepare for this one. Photos to come. I'm about 1/4 of the way done with it. It's a baby pink and tan striped blankie.

5. My sister's birthday is in April. I don't know what I'll knit her.

6. Mother's Day...I'd love to make one of the Chevron Scarves from Last Minute Knitted Gifts for my mom. I'll see if I have time to make one for my mother-in-law. Her's might have to be done for Christmas. I want one of these too...and since I'm not getting around to working on those socks I started, might as well use the yarn for now.

7. Father's Day beanies I'm sure will be the easiest and the guys always like those...easy peasy...Ugh!

I'm sure this isn't the last of it.

Knitting What Not

Here's the boy modeling a baby girl "sluggo" hat. It's a little tiny for his big knoggin.
I'm putting together a few pieces to start selling locally and probably/finally on Etsy.
I've got a black one done too...see below...lots more of these to come.

I love how the top of hats turn out from the decreasing. This yarn in particular made a pretty flower-y shape.

Here's Ape (ah-pey) modeling the black one. He's not diggin' it.
he hates hats! And, of course I have a little fez for him...guess it will have to be Flynn's now.

This kid...

I swear. I can hardly stand it....I love him so much. Happy Valentine's Day Boo Boo.
Just look at that face, not to mention the crazy hair-do. He is hysterical...what a card.

We were laying on the bed reading his photo book (he's on the cover at about 4 months old) last Wednesday and I got some great shots of him flipping through tht pages. He's so funny cause he almost points at things cause he used his finger to touch. He's touching the tag on this one. He loves tags by-the-way...goes right for those. I suppose pots and pans will be his next adventure. He is such a happy little man. He's toothing right now too and not a peep about it (got one pokin' through)...just happy go lucky...no, how lucky am I?

I take Wednesday's off and get to spend the whole day with him. It's so much fun. We take naps together and read and play on the floor and go shopping. We just take our time and do whatever we want. He is going to be crawling I bet within a week. He can flip and flop and rotate around but can't scoot anywhere just yet. What an amazing thing is this little boy!!!

Buttnernut Yum!

Her it is...my very first "vegetarian" meal...and my fist soup from scratch.
It turned out really good. My husband and sister both liked it for real. I got it from a Martha Stewart Food Magazine...a recent issue.

You can take pretty much any vegetable and put it into this formula:
I used one large butternut squash, peeled and cubed
brown an onion in 2T olive oil (I hate onions, but knew the flavor would add a lot to the soup and since it was pureed I would hardly know it was there...except in my head...I will probably only do an half onion next time so I don't taste it as much...I have a weird life long relationship with onions...eww.)
Then, boil all with two cups veggie broth and water to cover then simmer until tender.
Puree in batches in blender and add salt, pepper, lemon and a dollup of non-fat yogurt (yes, dairy, but working on that).
It was super easy. I'll try mushroom or carrot next time. And, you can freeze this really easy. It makes a lot...probably 6 servings.

You're a WHAT?

I’ve officially become vegetarian. Oh my gosh…What?

Uh yes, I said vegetarian.

I have lived my life without a thought about what food is and where it comes from. I’m a junk food junkie…well, I guess not anymore. I’ve felt icky about eating meat off and on for a few years now…just basically get grossed out…but have put it behind the ol’ thinking cap and ignored it. Plus, now is the time in my life when I have to be responsible to myself and my son…and why not, let’s throw the husband in the mix too.

It scares me to think about what yuckiness I have put into my body from eating fast food over the years, mostly McDonald’s. What goes into my body makes me who I am…lethargic and fat.

Maybe it would make a difference if it was all organic and came from good farms, but some stuff I’ve read even talks about how humans are really herbivores and shouldn’t even eat the meat of other animals period. It all really makes sense. And, I’ve known this…it just finally hit me and became real in the last couple of weeks. I’m contemplating fish…but we’ll see. Trying to avoid milk and eggs…that’s another story I suppose, cause I don’t really want to be hard-core vegan. Anywhoo…

I’ve been doing a lot of research and reading up and after having to eat at Eischen’s Chicken this past weekend, not by my choice…no more….I’m done….ewww!

It is my commitment from here on out to not eat meat.

I read Fast Food Nation a couple of years ago and was grossed out by the meat manufacturing and mistreatment of animals as well as human workers for that matter. But, somehow…call it laziness and lack of motivation…I got pulled back in by the fast food giants down the street without thinking about the details.

When I was at Target recently, I picked up a comical little book called Skinny Bitch…which I thought would be just a fun diet book to give me a little motivation…no, it’s on the same lines as Fast Food Nation, giving you the “skinny” about what we put into our bodies and why we shouldn’t, ie: meats, dairy, etc. That book is hysterical by-the-way and tells it like it is, which is what I needed to hear. I highly recommend it! I just got the sequel, which is a little vegan cook-book, Bitch in the Kitch.

Other motivations for making the move are:
1) Need to eat my veggies anyway and get healthy and loose weight
2) Need to learn to cook and like/love to cook
a) to save money
b) to slow down on the consumerism and purchasing/eating out
c) to be a good momma and wife and provide healthy meals for my fam
3) Doing the “Biggest Loser” competition at work and I can win some much needed dough.
4) A good excuse to do my Bento Box again

I’ve never been a hard-core committer on diets, so I’m going to take it slow adding this into my life so as not to be overwhelmed. I’ve never enjoyed cooking, never had to cook and really don’t understand it if that makes any sense. I just walk into the grocery store dumbfounded sometimes.

So, over the weekend, I put together some yummy recipes and went to the store for this week’s meals:
- tonight: butternut squash soup
- veggie sandwiches with hummus and tapenade
- Mexican lasagna…yum!
- lentil burgers
- lentil soup

I want to start going to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s because it was really depressing all the non-organic or vegetarian items at the grocery store. And, we don’t have a Whole Foods, just a tiny little health food store that’s really expensive.

I’ve also been inspired by my knitting friend Aimee and her friend Riana in their commitment to being SLOW. You must follow what they are up to. They are both American’s in France…which is cool in itself to experience that. Riana has made a year long commitment to not buying anything and making and growing her own everything…unbelievable. And, Aimee’s trying it out for a month. These women are so interesting and amazing mothers!

Consumption is a problem for me. I spend way too much and therefore have way too much crap in my house and it’s bogging me down. Slowly but surely I’m getting rid of stuff, but not fast enough. I still feel overwhelmed. So, I’m making a commitment right now to work on this…

- Don’t spend
- Sell what we have that we don’t need. Or give it away.
- Make gifts…don’t buy. Knit… therefore I’m working on a baby gift for a shower coming up in a couple of weeks. Lots of other knitting posts to come. I swear I've been knitting!

This is certainly not a political statement or pro-anything. I’m not a granola that’s for sure. And, I’m not an activist. But, I do want to make a difference to myself and for my happy little family. Who knows, maybe I’ll rub off on somebody else.

Pint / Half Pint

Can you stand the cuteness? My sweet boys...Daddy and Bitty.
These tees were a gift for JD for his birthday. Of course he put it on instantly and had to have Flynn's on too...and photos soon insued. They are so adorable, especially with their matching skullys, denims and trainers.

I know you all think your kids are the cutest in the world...but that's just not humanly possible. Just look at that little baby boy. He makes me so happy I cry sometimes just looking at him.

Knit for Tattoos

This is hilarious. I love this illustration.
I've actually been planning on a couple of tattoos recently.
Nothing knitting related though. There are some super cool girls out there that are getting yarn, needles, thread spools, etc. tattooed and they are really cute, but I'd rather have something related to my boy on my body....so, more to come on that thought.
PS: This is by artist: Natalie Dee

Knitted Walls

This is so wicked. I love this. Of course my husband would never have it, but how creative! These wall decals are so cleaver!

Ravelry Projects Updated

I finally had a chance to upload all of my knitting projects to Ravelry...well, the ones I have photos of.
There are a ton of scarves I made way back when I was selling them. And, there are a couple of other projects I have on the needles that I haven't taken photos of. Wow...I've done a lot. It's kinda cool to see all of your accomplishments on one page...kinda inspiring too to get to work on more!!! I still have details to include on the projects, but at least they are listed. Most of them I have no idea what yarns or needles I used, so whateva!

PAY IT FORWARD

I hereby pledge to send a handmade gift to the first three people who comment on this entry. No real promises about time frame, but it’ll be within the next 365 days. In return, you have to post the same offer on your blog, and prepare to send a gift to three other people.

Remember, you have a year to get your gifts done! Please remember, you don’t have to knit or crochet to participate, anyone who can make a nice handmade gift is welcome to join.

NOTE: I GOT HOOKED UP ON THIS THROUGH AMY....EXCITED TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END ON THIS TOO!

LOVING THIS!

I'm not a fan of Robert Plant and have never really been one of Allison Krause either...BUT...
This album is fabulous!!!! Check out the interview and hear the tunes! So loving this!!!

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!