Sunday, July 17, 2011

Sunday Knit update

Hola Mi Senoritas and Senors...sorry watching Golden Girls and conversing in Italian. None of that which I stated is italian..but as close as it gets....now where was I..oh yeah.

Hello Beautiful new followers and the rest of my knitting brigade! :)

I'm so sorry I've been such a slacker on updating my blog this week. A couple of things have gone on which are beyond my control which require my full attention. I am (maybe) moving by next weekend, so this weekend has been chocked full of hassles and pains which come with any move. Although, some of them are almost to the point I don't think I WILL move, which is a whole other blog entry on its own.

However, I did manage to login (ha!) so I am leaving you with a flashback to an older blog.

October 2009: Karen Yarn

I have this lovely set of yarn via my best friend. It's called "Karen" as it reminds me so much of my stepmom in the colors. She's a fanatic about purples, teals and greens.

I absolutely love how this knits up and how delicate yet sturdy it is...plus the pattern is helpful in making it look beautiful. I can't take credit for the colors or the pattern, just the knitting of it!

If you would like to check out where I got my yarn, you can go to http://undonesweater.etsy.com.

For this pattern, it's from http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/scarfdiageyelet.htm

This is one of my favorite websites as a lot of the scarf patterns are easy, yet beautiful and also easy to memorize so they are great knits in front of the tv.

I know my stepmom will love this as much as I am loving knitting it! I'm naming this particular scarf and hat set "Grapevines" as it reminds me of lattice work with climbing ivy and grapes.

Karen yarn

Karen yarn

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Happiness Hump Day

Today is normally the day I post about what made me happy today. This will be a stretch as had a rough day. I did take a nice long nap and naps are my way to reconcile any stress or anxiety happening. I feel a little better.

So my happiness things today are....

1. Sadie,my dog. She is such an amazing dog. She always knows how to make me feel good and even get me to laugh when I am grumpy. I love her more than anything.

2. Twizzlers

3. My nephew, Fboy, is such a crack up. He's totally hit the terrible 3's and I love it every second...but then I don't have to live with it. ;)

4. My friends. I seriously love my friends and there are times I know that they were brought into my life because they are SO the opposite of me and keep me grounded.

5. Cherry Diet Dr. Pepper. yeah...you make me happy

I feel a little better now after that exercise too. Remember to count blessings, bc they are blessings for a reason.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 14

Things I love about...Friday July 8th.

1. My work day flew by
2. I had amazing sushi
3. I reconnected with my friend (whom is also my boss and don't tell me that is tough)
4. we saw Better Than Ezra
5. We had the most amazing sushi EVER
6. I tried a new sushi roll with fried calamari
7. We had a blast dancing and singing at the top of our lungs
8. We were the most fun people there (okay maybe not but sure felt like it)
9. I was able to discuss some fears openly about my job and life
10. The only thing which could have made my day better was if my BFF was there to enjoy the festvities

What about you? can you make a list of things you love?

Monday, July 11, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 13

Day 13 is DIY to try. It's funny how learning knitting has suddenly inspired me to try all sorts of crafty things. I sort of feel as these are things I wish I had learned many years ago, but never too late to try anything.

1. Continue trying out new knitting techniques, yarns, ideas
2. learn to crochet
3. learn to hand sew
4. learn to machine sew
5. take up card making


I think that will keep me quite busy for a while. ha! Not only am I going to enjoy going to 'formal' education but will also enjoy working on arts/crafts more. Yippee!!

What about you? is there anything you know you would like to try this year? maybe something you've laid away to restart?

Sunday, July 10, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 12

Have you done 30 days of lists? I am truly enjoying this little self introspection. It's lovely. :) If you would like to join in for the March session (what I'm doing now) or the upcoming September session you can read about it here.

Today's list is weekly rituals. I cannot say that I am particularly good about doing anything on a regular schedule. Something which I am working to remedy over the next few months. So, I guess this is a good time to list what I do now and how that will change over the next months. Yay for comparison!

SUN: coffee on patio, lunch, pool time, knitting, blogging and blog reading.
MON: work, dinner, knitting
TUES: work, dinner, knitting
WED: work, dinner, knitting
THURS: work, wkly dinner date w/ friends
FRI: work, dinner, knitting
SAT: coffee, blog reading, cleaning, lunch, sister's house


Yep, that's the weekly rituals. Ugh so droll. no wonder I'm bored!! Must remedy quickly!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 11

Date Night Ideas:

Oh boy! The thought of dating is not anywhere near on my radar (divorce, now single, no step kids anymore, etc). However, I do like that they include self dates as an option. Why yes, I think I will take myself on a date!

The best part about a self date or a Bff date is that there aren't any rules, there's no impression to make, and you get to go somewhere you really want as opposed the 'compromise'.

So my self date, bff date list is as follows:

1. Trip to Nelson Atkins Museum w/ accompanying picnic on lawn.
2. Trip to Toy and Miniature Museum
3. Pick 5 local yarn stores within 50 miles and visit them all
4. Go on an antique/flea market spree
5. Find a park to visit for weekly dates w/ pup

what about you? do you have any favorite dates or places to go?

Thursday, July 7, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 10

My Wish List:

I constantly have a wish list. It's not a wish list in an 'oh I need this' type of wish list. It's an all encompassing wishlist and what I can do to actually make those wishes come true that are at the top. You can call it a long term goal list or whatever...I'm not picky, but this is how I like to look at my wishes.

My list is EXTREMELY long so I'm going to give you the top few.

1. Have visited at least 5 European Countries
2. Have taken a 2 week vacation which includes leaving US
3. Visit Ireland, England and Scotland in one trip
4. Visit a country to which I don't have on my list
5. Take a cruise to a foreign area (not bahamas)

My immediate wish list is not quite as grandiose (i love that word)
1. Finish my associates
2. Plan where to take my bachelor's
3. Declare a major
4. Finish my bachelor's
5. Debate on a major

A large part of me wants to jump in and decide on a huge major undertaking for school...and then there is a part of me that is like nope, go for what you really really want...bc my ultimate major would be history with a concentration in european early history. Oh to be a nerd full time!

Finally the 'I really just want it' wishlist:

1. 2 pairs of Tom's wedges, gray and red.
2. new car
3. 2nd dog
4. new ipod
5. 4 new video games (yes specific list)
6. to grab an order from sanguinegryphon.com
7. signature dpns

I love wish lists..can you tell?!

Peace, love and purl,

Nicole

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 9

What are your favorite websites/blogs?

Holy moly. I have a lot of favorite websites and blogs. I follow like 20 blogs so those are all my favorite automatically. Of course, I will pick out a couple that are my absolute favorite and really...the only reason I'm picking these is because there are certain aspects of their blogs I like and would love to mimic. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

7. Whimsical Poppysmic
3. After 9-5
6. Punk Rawk Purl
5. Pixie Polly
4. The Dainty Squid


Nope, no order. ;)

Okay other favorite websites include
Ikea.com
xkcd.com
knitpicks.com
ravelry.com
mint.com
netflix.com
anything with yarn and a .com

What are YOUR favorite websites? any agree? disagree? tell me about?

Happiness Hump Day

Wednesday is to be my new day to make sure to try to blog. The 30 days is going well but I can see how having a regular day to do certain things is kind of fun. I don't know which is more fun...plotting what to say or unveiling it!

Anyway, so today is the day I am reminding myself of things to be happy for/about/with in my life.

1. I got an award at work in recognition of a project I did.

2. I have the best dog ever (sorry no questions or rebuttals) :P

3. I have the ability to make my own destiny.

4. I have the best friend ever (sorry no questions or rebuttals) :P

5. I'm going back to school in 6 weeks.

Somedays it is really really REALLY hard for me to be always be happy and remind myself of the happiness around me.

What do you do to remind yourself of your happiness?

30 days of Lists: day 8

What's in my bag:

That's just my bag baby. Really! It's just my bag. I'm getting a new bag soon. I seriously cannot WAIT to unveil it. I collaborated with my sister on it (and the help of an Amy Butler pattern) but the matching of patterns is all mine. You know I love colors/patterns right? yeah, can't wait!!

Anyway, my current bag is a black cloth messenger style with white pleather piping and white handle. Like most, it seems as though it is an extension of my entire self encompassing everything which somehow describes me.

I have my union flag zip pencil case which holds light pink lip gloss, make up brush, and eye drops. My anti bac gel-berry flavored with union flag on the front, my ipod, my smartyphone w/ rhinestone case with cherries as the design, my pink and black damask-wannabe wallet with a smiling skull on front, another tube of lip gloss in dark pink, digi camera, nail file, black pen. I also have knitting bag made by bff with vortex shawl encased within it's zippered black and white folds.

What's in your bag? do you love your bag? would you trade it for another?

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 5 Update

So this is what day 5 blog looked like:

Day 5 is Weekend Goals:

Oh my...my weekend goals list is long as of late, but I will try to shrink it to something not quite as broad as 'pack more'. lol

1. Clean floors in living/dining/kitchen
2. pack pictures
3. pack corningware
4. pack (most) glassware/mugs
5. clean bathroom
6. pack extra bathroom toiletries/decorations

I'm hoping to get a lot more done then just these few things, but I need to keep it realistic.



The best thing about blogging is the fact it keeps you accountable for your actions right? It's all in black and white, no throwing away list to make a new one (I do this all the time) just so I can cross stuff off I actually did....this is all about 'what I'm planning' v 'what I did'. So here's the actual list of things done:

1. Pack Pictures
2. Pack Corningware
3. Pack yarn stash (no lie, this hurt)
4. Decluttered Jewelry
5. Decluttered shoes
6. Did 2.5 loads of laundry
7. Swept LR floor
8. Packed away winter clothes, decluttered winter clothes
9. Cleaned fan
10. Gave Sadie a bath

So, looks like I did a little more than planned, but a far different list. As you can see most of the cleaning plans were left out. I hate cleaning, however it is on the list to do this week as it must get done. I know packing away bathroom toiletries will help with this because it will be much more open space!

Also, must drop line to say WELCOME NEW FOLLOWERS!! :) Yippeee!!! So thrilled to have you!

What about you? What is the one thing you dislike/like about packing or cleaning?

Sunday, July 3, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 7

Blog Goals.

Wow! What an excellent topic. I definitely have a list of blog goals running through my head which I hope to enact. I can say that actually putting them to a list might help them come about much more quickly.

1. Continue to always blog on Sundays, but also start Wednesdays regularly.
2. Sunday blog: update on knitting
3. Wednesday blog: Happiness
4. Reach 20 followers by December
5. Continue to read other blogs and widen circle
6. Personalize background
7. Continue to update knitting bucket list.

I think those are realistic goals to set. Plus the list is small yet concise. What's on your blog list?

30 days of Lists: day 6

Day 6 is Least favorite words: I really don't have any that aren't far from the typical list I suppose. It is difficult to like words which are generally negative. ;)

1. divorce
2. termination
3. repossession
4. foreclosure


Yep that's my list. It's a bummer list.

Friday, July 1, 2011

30 days of Lists: day 5

Do you know what the 30 days of lists is? Have you heard of it? No? Maybe? Yes? It's never too late to start. There's a whole blog about it and trust me, this will make you think about who you are and reflect on why YOU are YOU and no one else. I'm 5 days in and I love it already.

Day 5 is Weekend Goals:

Oh my...my weekend goals list is long as of late, but I will try to shrink it to something not quite as broad as 'pack more'. lol

1. Clean floors in living/dining/kitchen
2. pack pictures
3. pack corningware
4. pack (most) glassware/mugs
5. clean bathroom
6. pack extra bathroom toiletries/decorations

I'm hoping to get a lot more done then just these few things, but I need to keep it realistic.

What about you? Do you have good weekend plans?