USPS can ....... it.

I had planned a lovely sweet blog, however I'm really upset.

I have lived in my apt for a year as of 6/1. So why am I receiving calls from my bank, insurance, company and relatives stating my mail is being returned? Also, why am I STILL receiving junk mail for people who haven't lived here for 3 years without fail?!

No answer is required. I know the answer. Because our mail system is a failure. I have known multiple people who have worked for the postal service. I'm not saying they're all incompetent...but I'd give it a good 78%.

I finally figured out the answer. Even though my name is PLAINLY labeled on the inside of my mailbox (as instructed), clearly, that is not enough. So, I took it into my own hands to be as blatant as possible and short of hanging a banner, this is what I devised:

RJ's Barn

Hi All!

This post is a little early this week as it will probably be..well a little long. :)

First off, I am home from my amazing vacation. I had an amazing trip to Washington DC to visit my BFF. We started our vacation off with a bang by going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Then, we went to IKEA.

I love you IKEA.

I am a decorator at heart...I love decorating, however I chickened out on completing my interior design degree after I heard about drafting class. I now think, gosh how silly, and am putting it on my bucket list. I truly am terrible at measuring, so that will definitely be an interesting class...however I have jumped the track and turned around to start a new adventure on this blog. okay going back.

Anyway, so while at IKEA (insert angels singing), I was looking for gifts for my nephew, RJ. His birthday is coming up and I wasn't sure what to get him. I did get him a gift (yay!) but I also purchased this little adorable set because he has no toys to play with at his Auntie's house. I plan to purchase a couple of other things to go with it, but gosh what an adorable place to start.



This is the whole set.



And the little pasture folds up with storage room for the animals and accessories.



Finally the whole thing closes up and there's a little velcro at the top to keep it closed.

How perfectly cute is that? The best part is that it fits perfectly on my bookshelf and within reach of his little hands.

I love being an Aunt.

Maryland Sheep and Wool

Oh my lovelies :) there is a reason for the delay in blogging this week. I've been enjoying my week in Washington DC. The best part is that I got to spend a day at Maryland Sheep and Wool. I love coming to this festival and I loved it even MORE this year because I'm not such a knitting novice as to not know what to do while there.

First thing, made a list, and this helped me a lot and definitely kept me on task. I thankfully have graduated beyond simple hats, scarves, etc so it made looking for yarn so much easier. Also, I planned to buy yarn for my own projects as well as projects for others.

Second thing, I limited my cash on hand. I know this is really really hard for us to do as knitters as we usually see something we cannot live without in the perfect yarn and colors.

Third thing, I allowed myself ONE splurge. This means, it wasn't in the budget, but once I bought something with the splurge money I was done for the day. (This came really really early in my day but SO worth it.)

Fourth thing, I limited my booths. I made sure I hit the booths I absolutely had to hit and also enjoyed admiring so many beautiful knitting, crochet, spinning items I could barely contain myself. Trust me, loom and spinning wheel hit the -must learn- list. Also, if I had to wait in line it was no big deal because I knew I had planned my booth day.

Fifth thing, we had the perfect weather to make all of these things possible. If it was hot, sticky, and crowded...most of this list probably would have hit the road...like last year. ;)

Also, am posting pics of goodies bought (& won!) because I am proud that I supported handmade goods.



My Splurge



My Win!!



My Goodies :)

Mark it down...May 1. Cooking happened.

I will fully admit to not doing much cooking as honestly, I'm only just okay at it. Like anything creative, I believe there are some people who are meant to be cooks and others who are blessed enough to be able to survive. I'm in the 2nd category.

I can dress a plate well as I'm excellent with colors and proportions, but ask me to flavor a plate and you are S*** out of luck!

Fortunately, since I can do simple things well, occasionally I get an idea.

My idea this week involved breakfast foods. I must eat breakfast every day otherwise I tend to binge eat after dinner (it's a vicious cycle). So, I normally buy little frozen or stop at popular chain to snag a sammy. This week, I am cleaning out my fridge with foods which need to go and as such, had this lil idea.

I took some ham (sister sent me home with a tub from easter), cut it up into 1/4 in slices, scrambled eggs and potatoes and voila: breakfast bowl.

Now, had I not had the ham already prepared, I would have had to make some bacon. The main point is that it took me 15 min to cook it all and package it and it cost me 3 potatoes (1 for each day) and the remainder of eggs....so for around $1.50 for all 3.

Awesome.

socks, socks, socks part 2

So last week I posted about starting socks and this week I am posting that I not only started but FINISHED my first sock. One sock in one week is pretty good I say. I am really proud of this for a couple different reasons. One of them being that I actually went found the pattern, researched the parts that I just went "Wha?" and completed it in the timeline I set myself. I know this doesn't sound like much, but for me this was a big accomplishment.

I am pretty good about starting and finishing a project as long as I can just get it done. I do lack the motivation to stick with a project if I have to research too many parts of it. This project gave me a new sense of pride and encouragement to tackle other projects which I have put off because they could be 'too much trouble.'

Drum roll please :)





So there it is my knitter friends. One beautiful sock in some of the most gorgeous colors I've ever seen. I now have motivation to buy LOTS more sock yarn as I see presents for all (including myself). :)

One I have both done, then I will post the matching set. Plan to have it done in time for next week's blog, especially since I have plane and airport time happening next week. Yippee!

socks, socks, socks

I think the scariest part of learning how to knit socks is the use of dpns. I'm not going to lie, it is a little daunting especially since I am a whiz with the cabled needle.

I know, I know, one can easily do socks on a cabled needle, but there is something sort of..nostalgic about using dpns. Plus I also feel it's sort of part of my knitting initiation to learn how to use them.

My BFF encouraged me to start socks last year and I started a couple of times but then put them back down after becoming discouraged with the needle issue. I also feel that this is a prime reason to pick them back up again as one of the shawl patterns I chose also requires use of dpn to start. I've tried it with the cable needles and yes...big failure. I'm starting to get to the point where dpn is becoming more of a necessity as the patterns I am wanting to work on are more difficult.

So, I have pulled my sox that rock yarn and dpns out of their hidey hole and plan to make a valiant effort to restart. Plus I would like to have enough finished so that when I learn the heel, I will be in Washington DC with my BFF and she can help me properly.

Life is good.

25 shortcuts for more knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc

I saw this on the ravelry.com website. You must have a login ID for view, but the original article is here: http://www.ravelry.com/twir/84/25-ways-to-cut-back-housework

I can say that these are definitely cute ideas if you have munchkins running around. :)


*Use a every flush toilet bowl cleaner. Sure it makes the water blue, but you don’t have to think about it being dirty all the time.

*Have cereal for dinner once a week. Choc full of vitamins. Let everyone know ahead of time to pick their favorite cereal. Saves you oodles of prep time.

*Use paper plates for a week when you have to finish that special UFO.

*Pay your teenager to grocery shop for you. Make them spot the sales. It is a great learning experience. Saves you the shopping, packing, driving and unpacking time!

*Barter with the teen for a handknit…..he wins for sure!

*Hang those towels up and reuse them a few times. After all, you are clean when you get out of the shower.

*Invest in a dark colored kitchen floor. No one needs to know how dirty it is but you!

*Clean the kitchen on the first of the month and don’t let anyone use it AT ALL for a week. This will keep the kitchen spotless. TV dinners were meant for a reason after all.

*Invite people over if you must and close all your doors except for the room you are forced to entertain in. Make it the kitchen. See * 8.

*Serve hot dogs once in awhile. Ketchup is a vegetable….

*Hire a cleaning service……I didn’t say these were all cheap ways to gain more knit time.

*Put the dog on the treadmill while you knit next to him.

*Put the kids on the treadmill while you knit next to them.

*Put the significant other on the treadmill while you knit next to them.

*NEVER clean unless someone is home to see it and appreciate it.

*Spray the shower down with cleaner a half an hour before you get in.

*Teach your kids to do their own laundry early in life. My kids did all their laundry once I read that Martha Beck taught her child (with Downs Syndrome) to do anything he could once he was capable……

*Consider a container garden…. easier to weed.

*Soap the car up right before a thunderstorm. (yes I have actually done this!!!!!)

*Cut the grass less frequently…it discourages weeds when it is longer.

*Keep a broom handy, it is less daunting that hauling around a heavy vacuum.

*Ask people to take off their shoes in the house…. they can show off their handknit socks.

*Invest in a Furminator. You wont believe it until you use it. I’m a believer.

*Find an orthodontist that your children can walk themselves to…….you’ll swear you live in that place otherwise.

*Tell your son he needs to learn to cook if he wants to be a fireman….(don’t they all at one point?)