Etsy Update

Today I mailed off 2 hats to Canada for a special requested sale on Etsy. One was the Cat Hat (from the other day) and here is the second one:

Love the ribbed stitches and it's a pretty quick hat to whip up!

I also made 2 more flower dog collar sleeves and listed them on the store.

I had to bribe my model with a yummy bone =D

Seriously, Grow up.

To the girl in my ballet class,

Grow Up!!

Back-story:

At the beginning of class we have to take the ballet barres to the center of the room for barre exercise. She (I honestly don't even know her name) and I were carrying one out and it accidently hit the mirror. The teacher just said something along the lines of "careful"

and she literally extended her whole arm to point at me and shouted "she kept pushing it!"

Yes, I was annoyed, but I let it go.

Then, after the barres were removed and we started dancing in the center of the room, there was a ring of water from the condensation on my water bottle. I didnt notice it was there or I would've wiped it up. When the teacher came to the center, he saw it and simply asked "Does anyone know, is this just water?" and AGAIN the girl extends her whole arm, points at me, and shouts "its from HER!"

I turned and looked at her with the dirtiest look I could muster up and spoke my mind "you really like pointing me out dont you?"

she replies "well it was from you"

I say "I'm well aware that it was from my water bottle, but what are you 12 years old?"

That made me feel better. I still can't get over it though - who does that in a college level class?? She's not any younger than I am. Grow up! Another side note, I've been told that I've inherited the "teacher-look" from my mother so I'm sure/hope the look I gave her helped get my point across =P

Weekend Recap

This weekend I ...

Finished another Kitty Cat hat for a private Etsy sale

Made 2 out of the 4 blocks I have left to make before the end of the month

Crocheted my additions to 2 beautiful travelling scarves

and studied for Pharmacology midterm.

We all had a great time at Oktoberfest yesterday where I drank beer, did a little wine tasting, ate a giant soft pretzel & bbq corn on the cob (my favorite fair food), made our way through a corn maze, and bought a bar of yummy watermelon handmade soap!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Also, I am getting close to my 100th blog post. Keep an eye out for an upcoming giveaway!

Introducing....

My new blog layout!! You like? I'm proud. It forced me to figure out htm codes. I did most of it myself, but had just a little help from our IT guy at work.

We celebrated my dad's birthday earlier this month which gave me an opportunity to bake! His gf surprised him with an amazing trip to Rome in March so the theme of the night was Italy. All his gifts, including the cake hinted at the trip. They included a bottle of Italian dressing, a street map of Rome, and a tour book. Boy was he surprised! He was born in Italy and moved to Canada when he was 4 years old, but he's never been back since then. I'm really happy for him to explore his home country and see his family there. It's about time!

So back to the cake... It seems like every time I try to bake a multi-layered cake (this one had 3), the layers crack and I get fault-lines. Sure, it doesn't look bad when filled with the icing, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist. It may not have looked perfect, but it was delicious! The recipe was called "Italian Creme Cake" and it was infused with coconut and chopped pecans. It was VERY tasty & the leftovers didn't survive long! =P

In about 20 minutes I'll be heading off to Oktoberfest with some friends! Yes, I know it's only September. My afternoon will be spent drinking beer and eating pretzels and brauts!

Prost! Cheers!

(Hofbrauhaus, Munich, 2006)

On Edge

Warning: venting post

One of my coworkers, who will be referred to as LACW (lazy ass co-worker) continually gets under my skin. Why does LACW think its okay to neglect their work, and assume I'll pick up the slack? I did it last week (and previous weeks before that), but I won't this week. Do you think I can grow a backbone overnight, because I'm really tired of dealing with this? There's always something. Just lacw's mere presence puts me on edge - and I'm generally a pretty positive person. Maybe being within cubicle walls, and sitting at a desk all day is finally getting to me. I sure as hell could not do this the rest of my life - SO not my cup of tea. I need excitement, I need to be on my feet, otherwise I spend my days staring at the clock and getting worked up over trivial things. Have I mentioned my deep hatred towards filing? I sure hope I get into nursing school next semester....

BTW I'm working on my new blog layout, it's currently just in a simple, premade template. I'd really like to get navigation buttons at the top and create a new banner. Any tips??

First Day of Fall

For me, I equate Fall with comfort foods, wind, and prepping for the holidays to come!

this season will be:

Butternut squash soup

crocheting gifts & warm goodies

completing our bathroom redo

warm chai/black teas

ballet

carrot soup

frequent dog park trips

daydreams

pumpkin patch + carving them

pumpkin pie

fires it's already coming close

dressing up for Halloween

just to name a few

(in response to Theurchiness)

My New Favorite Hat

I got home late tonight from a long ballet class to find an intriguing package from Germany in my mailbox. Even though I was terribly hungry and still had to make me and the hubby dinner, I was too excited to just let the package sit there. I quickly tore it open to find the perfect hat! It was from Corinne (TricotinTicota on Ravelry) for a secret hat swap! I love it! Love the style, knit pattern, fiber, color, fit, everything! So dinner had to wait as I tried it on, danced around and took pictures in it. Also in the package was a kinder chocolate egg (already gone!), and a skein of pretty blue and brown Regia sock yarn.

Our Crazy Poochie!

She had just gone through the trash minutes before (hence the papers all around her) and then conked out. We think the noises she makes when she dreams are hilarious! I FINALLY captured it on video without waking her up! Enjoy!

Time to Play Catch Up

Hello fellow bloggers!

I feel like I've been neglecting my blog a bit yesterday. I really love reading everyones posts and seeing their pictures, but I've been slacking on my own posts lately.

In home improvement news: we got our new fridge!! It is amazing! It's so funny that I'm excited over a fridge, never did I did think I'd be excited over an appliance =P It's a stainless steel, energy efficient, double door fridge with a pull out drawer freezer on the bottom. HUGE upgrade from the 13yr old one we've been using. We already went to Costco to stock it up!

Also, we hired a gardener. My husband cutting the lawn every 2 weeks (which was often almost 3) was just not cutting it, literally! They came for the first time last week and our yard has NEVER looked this good since we got the house in January! They weeded, trimmed, edged, mowed, everything! Worth every penny.

In crochet news: I finished the green mitts for a swap, and I made an adorable pink baby sweater! (Brie, both yarns used were from you!) I have no idea why I made it, but I was just feeling a quick and cute project other than my typical slouch hat. I think it will be one that I'll stash in the back of the closet for a few (3-4) years. It's just way too cute and I love the fun buttons. Now I somehow need to whip out 4 more afghan squares by the end of the month. That will be the last of them, but I can't find the motivation for those lately!

Remember my puff striped hat pattern? I've gotten a lot of great feedback on it from Ravelry peeps! Every time someone queues it or makes it, I do a little jig! Makes me really happy to share it with others, and the fact that they like it is even better!!

This week I went back through all of my old posts and created tags. Hopefully this will lead to a new blog layout in the near future. I also went back and edited my old post about the boho pendant necklace to include directions on how I made it! Let me know if you make one too - I'd love to see pictures!

I've been loving all the season premiers on TV lately! So excited that my favorite shows are back! Anyone watch The Office last week? Grey's Anatomy this week!!

Last but not least, have I mentioned that I'm starting a crochet club for my mom's 6th graders?? Tomorrow will be the first day and I'm really excited to teach them! They all seem very excited too as they already brought in the necessary supplies weeks before I was scheduled to come in. Many of them are already planning to make hats and scarves to raise money for their outdoor school trip!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, I know I did. Plus, I have tomorrow off! yay! g'night all!

Many Projects

It's been a really long time since I blogged. I have LOTS of new projects to show you all!!

This weekend I made 2 more of the wooden pendant necklaces with tan thread. One for me, and one for the shop.

Also made a few slouchy tam hats. Was going to use one for a swap and the other for sale, but I liked the turquoise/green one - so I'm keeping it =D

Got my hair done on Friday - yay! finally! I love how she styles it, if only I could duplicate the look on my own.

This one is for the swap, hope she likes it!

I also started one in just the blue color, but I ran out of yarn and need to run to the store before I can finish it. It's such a quick and easy pattern (by creativeyarn) love it!

I also finished felting and blocking this cute clutch. I weaved in ribbon and made a silk flower pin. I think it turned out really cute! Now I just need to decide whether or not to line it, and what kind of closure to use.

Here's the completed 3 piece set! All pieces are in my store.

Also made Izzie a little sweater. Please, don't judge me for dressing my dog. Usually, I'm totally on board with the "It's a dog - it doesn't need clothes!!" way of thinking. This will be my first winter with a small dog, and I don't know, maybe she'll need it? I have seen her shiver before, so it might be necessary. Doesn't she look so cute in it?? It's all fuzzy and fluffy =D

Getting these pictures were not easy to take. As soon as I put it on her she went crazy, started running around, rolling over, and barking at me until I took it off. She'll get used to it.

Last but not least, my current project is another pair of fingerless gloves for a swappy swap. One glove down, one more to go! I just love the ribbing on the wrist.

I hope you all have a great week. It's time for lunch! Ciao!

What have I been working on?

Well let me tell/show you!

First, I am in a secret hat swap. shh! don't tell my partner that I'm showing you her hat before I mail it off! I was browsing through her favorite FOs and patterns (while rav-stalking) and I came across this cloche. It was meant to be since I had the exact yarn in my stash. Same color, same brand, plus the pattern was already in my queue. Without further adieu, here's the hat:

Here's a scarflet/neckwarmer that I made a few weeks back. I finally got a chance to take pictures of it this morning. Its made out of an alpaca blended yarn. The flower is on a pin.

And to match will be a pair of fingerless mitts. I'm working on mitt #2 right now. There may even be enough leftover for a hat.

We've also been working on a bathroom redo - pictures to follow. And today we're installing a doggie door for the little pooch. I just taught her "lay down" this morning! So proud.

"Dance is the unfaithful mistress"

This is a saying that my ballet teacher likes to use and it couldn't be more true. As dancers, we give our youth, our bodies, and our lives to the art. We devote all our free time to classes, stretching, practicing, and bettering our skills in any way. Even when we couldn't dance, we'd be thinking about it. Whether it be going over choreography in our minds or tapping our feet under our school desk. Then, as we age, our bodies turn on us and don't work the same as they used to. Some of us develop curves that hinder our high jumps and deep stretches, while others fall prey to injury. It's a sad truth, but we keep coming back for more. For some reason, we can't get enough of it!

Honestly, I wish I could dance more. Dancing completes me. Last year, when I sprained my ankle, tore many ligaments, and couldn't dance for months it was a struggle. I had identified myself as a dancer since I was 6 year old and to not dance for a full year was a really difficult time. I am so happy to be taking class again. My goal is far from becoming professional dancer, but I couldn't imagine living my life without it. Thank God for muscle memory - I was able to jump back in the class with ease, but not without the unfaithful mistress rearing her awful head! My healed ankle is doing well, but now my other foot is giving me issues. A pain I'm willing to deal with in order to continue dancing.

The thing I miss most... tap! That being said I will leave you with a video of one of my favorite tap dancers, Laurie Johnson. I've had the pleasure of taking classes from her on a few occasions. Her rhythms just blow my mind!

Quickie

Just a quick post to show what I've been working on.

I finished this pretty purple lacy scarf yesterday. It was a really quick project made with 100% silk yarn. Obviously it doesn't match my shirt, I just threw it on and snapped a picture as soon as I was done. It will probably go in my etsy store or to my mom as a present (she loves purple).

and for a little more detail:

I also whipped up this fun glove. Unfortunately, I used some handspun yarn that I got in a swap and there was only enough for one mitt. What am I to do with one mitt? So I frogged it... =( I'm still planning on using this pattern for a "fingerless mitt" swap I'm in.

On another note, how delicious does this look?? Yum! It's definitely on my "to do" list.

I'm so excited!

I just found out that I won this amazing giveaway from Chloe at naturally frugal! I feel so bad because I didn't see her post announcing I won and so she thought I didn't want it. Totally not the case! If you have a chance - check out her blog (linked above).

thanks Chloe!

Many Thanks

Thank you... Blueberry bagel for being so delicious with your whipped cream cheese.

Thank you... Yogi Chai Tea for the lovely saying "Love is where compassion prevails and kindness rules".

Thank you... Ballet class for kicking my ass and making me sore today.

Thank you... Etsy sales for feuling my passion and for the funding to participate in fun swaps.

Thank you... Hubby for being my constant supporter, and the best a gal could ask for.

Thank you... flat iron for changing my "look" today.

Thank you... Pandora for playing exactly what I want to listen to.

Thank you... Friends for helping me unwind and let loose.

Thank you... The-N for your weekend Degrassi marathons.

Thank you... Ravelry for introducing me to an amazing online community.

Thank you... Fellow bloggers for your continuous inspiration and entertainment.

Thank you... Izzie pup for being such a cuddle bug and always making me smile.

Thank you... Crochet for being a means to express my creativity.