Knitting Tote for the MIL

I made a knitting tote for my mother-in-law this Christmas. She has been so supportive of learning arts and crafts - taking a jewelry class with me, teaching me some knitting, sewing with me..... and I felt horrible for having made items for my mom and sis-in-law, and haven't made her anything yet. I just couldn't seem to find the right project. Then I saw the pattern for this bag. It's one of my favorite projects to date. :)








**Please ignore the stray threads I hadn't trimmed off yet**



I, of course, didn't start it until the week of Christmas. My husband asked if I "like" to sew, because I seem flustered/stressed when I do it. I told him I love to sew, just not when I'm on a time crunch. He said, "But you're always on a time crunch when you sew." Point taken. But time crunch and all, I loved making this pattern. It was straight forward and relatively easy for me to understand. I'm new to sewing, and had to look up a few terms and techniques, but I got through it relatively unscathed - short of cutting my fabric pieces out in the wrong layout and having to go buy more fabric. Twice.

I was proud of the little details like the velcro tab, velcro strap handle, and pleated pockets. I was so excited to give it to her, and so touched by her reaction. She really really loved it. :)




If you're interested in trying it, the pattern was Butterick B5006. It also includes patterns for some accessories like a knitting needle roll, round needle case, sewing pouch and a pincushion. These will be great follow-up gifts (mother's day, birthday) for me to give my mohter-in-law to go with her new tote!

I Finally Got My SLR!!

I have waited so long for this. I have done my research. I have saved my money, but each time I had enough to buy it there were more important things to take care of than having a new camera. But now, it's mine!! All mine!! Bwahhahahahahahahaaa!


I have to admit - when I first got it out of the box and started playing with the functions, I was thinking "what did I get myself into? I can't even work this thing!". But, I'm starting to get the hang of it and really enjoying the learning process. I feel as though doors have been opened for my love of photography. :)

I originally only purchased a 100mm f/2.8 lens, but having not understood which lenses do what, I immediately purchased a 50mm f/1.8 as I couldn't so much as take a photo of family in the same room with the 100mm. I thought that would settle it. But there are now three other lenses I want to get, then I'll be satisfied. Maybe. Probably not. I can see this being an expensive hobby.

Here are some of my first shots (of course, they're the best of what I've done so far).........

Yes, Perhaps, I Am A "Weirdo"

I came across this comic today and got a kick out of it. Myself, and several of my friends, can find ourselves on this chart. ;)

Tattoo

I saw this tattoo online today and just LOVE it. I've been wanting another tattoo for a while now - I already have one on my hip and one on my lower back. I haven't been able to figure out where to put another. As much as I love them and think they're beautiful, and that some girls can pull off a pretty tattoo with a nice dress, I'm too chicken to get anything that is too visible at a time when I may not want it to be.
I think I've decided to get a henna pattern done on the inside of my left ankle. I'd have it inked in an auburn hue to look like a naturally faded henna. Now I just have to find the perfect henna pattern....

Incubus at DTE - 2011

My friend Amber and I are huge Incubus fans (more their old stuff than the new stuff). We were hoping to get seats somewhere in the first 10 rows or so this year, but ended up halfway back under the pavillion, dead center. Still great seats, and still an AWESOME night. :)

Meet Emma

After losing Meadow a little over a month ago, the house felt so empty - she always made herself a part of whatever we were doing. She sat and talked with me while I got ready for work in the morning, did my homework with me, surfed the net with me, sat in the back yard with me while I gardened, made the bed with us at night (or at least played in the covers while we tried to make the bed), and slept beside me through the night. Needless to say, I have been feeling quite a void with her gone. And with our other cat Griffin being so needy for attention, we know he's been lonely too.

We have been searching Petfinder.com for a while now looking for that special kitten to help with the loss. But it couldn't be just any old kitten, this kitten has some really big shoes paws to fill in the personality department.

Enter: Emma (or Daisy as she had been named by the shelter). I found her on Petfinder and she was ADORABLE! But she was also in Indiana (a 4.5 hour drive from where we are in Michigan). I knew there was no way the hubby would drive that far to meet a kitten. I asked him anyway. He said there is no way he would drive that far to meet a kitten. (Told you.) BUT THEN, the HUBBY found a firework display that he wanted to go to in western Michigan this past weekend, just a few miles from the Indiana border. Oh, so nnooowwwww he's willing to drive 4 hrs - for FIREWORKS.

I told him this kitten I really really reeeeeaaalllly wanted to meet was at a shelter just under an hour from the firework thing, and we were already driving so far..... he said yes.

We went.
We fell IMMEDIATELY in LOVE.
We signed.
We left, with "Emma".

She literally took my breath away when I first saw her in person. We had looked at a couple kittens - going thru the INTERROGATIONS (application processes) that make you feel like you are attempting to adopt a child of royalty and are entirely not worthy. We were approved each time though, but none of the kittens were the right fit, until now. There she sat in all her cuteness, captivating me... and then she tilted her head to the side and batted at our fingers, and that was that.

*This was one of the friendliest shelters we had been to, and they just wanted to see these animals get homes. If you're anywhere in their area and looking to adopt, or just want to help out - I can personally vouch for this shelter and would love to see them get a little extra support.*
Visit their page here: Starke County Humane Society

So here is our newest family member, Emma.
Griffin has slowly been warming up to her over the last couple of days. She is convinced that his tail is her plaything, and he is convinced that it is NOT. But I think they'll soon be best of friends. She is very sweet, and affectionate, and already makes herself a part of everything we do. I will never forget Meadow and her place will never be filled, I still think of her every day. But I'd be lying if I said it didn't help ease the pain to have a fluffy, clumsy little kitten rolling around at our feet.

If you are looking to bring a new pet into your home, please adopt. There are so many homeless animals out there needing a caring home. Take a look: Petfinder.com

I am so devastated to have lost my beautiful Meadow Kitty. I have had her for 7 years, and she was so incredibly special to me. She will be forever in my heart as one of my dearest companions. I love you mau mau Meadow kitty.

Seeing Red

I'm beginning to plan out our as-yet-unattained home. We tried purchasing a house last year. We put bids on a few, but in the end the cost of the wedding prevailed and we decided to put everything on hold until this year or possibly next. So we don't have a house of our own yet, but that doesn't mean I can't start tentatively planning it out!

(Example above. This is not our house. Yet.)
Currently, our kitchen and dining room are starting to aquire an ethnic feel. I love it. I want an asian or moroccan ambiance. I love the vibrant colors and am becoming very stuck on the idea of red walls - so I am beginning my collection of "inspiration photos" and waiting for the day we have a house of our own.

I'm picturing red walls with a black or very very dark brown (nearly black) wainscoating. And perhaps drapes in the same color as the walls in the photo to the left.
Or would it be better to do the walls in the olive color shown here with lots of red accents, to allow for a more versitile room in the case of a desire to redecorate?

I just LOVE the warm, vibrant atmoshpere created by the bright red tones. It feels inviting and lively. I can picture large family gatherings, and simple family dinners with the kids (also as-yet-unattained). :)

Soon enough. Until then, I'll keep planning and dreaming.

Yoga

This yoga video from Yoga Journal is such a good core workout. I love it! :)

I Can See!

I've known for a while that my vision when driving at night is not the greatest. Especially if it's raining. I went to the eye doc and he gave me a prescription for eyeglasses needed only for nighttime and distance. I had no idea how bad my vision was until I put these on! My up-close vision is fine, but wow was I missing out on the far away stuff! So those street signs still have words and numbers at night, eh? And no more stopping at shadows in the road thinking it's an animal!

I'm pretty excited to have my new glasses. I got the frames for a really good deal! If I wear them a lot I may end up getting a pair that I like a little more, but for now these will do.

A Matter of Height

At 5'11" I am sometimes a little apprehensive about wearing any heel over about an inch in height, even though I LOVE wearing heels. I love the way it feels to walk in heels - an instant notch up in confidence and sass.

Lately I've been really into these mid-calf boots and ankle boots. I've been eyeing them for sometime now, but apparently it seems that for the most part the boot manufacturers think if you're wearing boots that surely you're 5'3" and yearning to be eye-level with the NBA stars. Not true for me. So my option is to be taller than the NBA stars (well, ok, not quite) or to wear flats, which seem so...... flat.

Exhibit A: I fell IN LOVE with this pair of booties the other day while shoe-shopping with my mom. I felt the heel may be too tall though (it's 3 3/4", though it looked taller to me). I had my mother stand next to me in the mirror while I stood with one sock-foot and one in the heel. I'm already taller than her and when I stood on the heel my head disappeared above the mirror on the wall. Despite the amazing price, I left the shoes for someone else to adore.

I keep thinking about these booties though, and all the boots I've been looking at:



Final conclusion: I don't care if they make me Gigantor, I have to have them! I guess when you're nearly 6' and already towering over everyone, what's a few extra inches?

Time to go shoppin'! :D

Yoga Moves of The Day

A friend of mine shared this yoga video with me yesterday. These are a few nice moves to add to the ol' yoga routine. I'm feeling it now (the next day), so it must be doing something for my derriere! :)



Oh yeah, except the "splits" part. HA! Yeah right. Real people can't do that. Lol...

Temple Grandin

The hubby and I watched the most wonderful movie over the weekend: Temple Grandin. It's the life story of a lady who is autistic and through her autism she feels she can better understand animals, or at least the way they perceive things. She uses this understanding to help redesign the equipment used in the beef cattle trade to make it more humane and more efficient.

It is an absolutely wonderful movie. Claire Danes plays the role of Temple Grandin and is truly phenominal. Catherine O'Hara is also in it, and some other faces that may be familiar. If you get a chance, it's such a good movie!



Temple Grandin has also written several books on autism and on animals. I've read her book Animals In Translation and it's really good. I'd like to check out more of her work.

Brrrrrr......

Today is cold. Freezing. Colder than freezing. Today is 0 degrees with the wind chill. 0. As in ZERO warmth to be found. I am sticking close to my little space heater today as I stare at my photos of warmer places of times past....




Ooooo. I can feel the warmth of the space heater tropical breeze, as I sit here sipping my burnt coffee pina colada. I bury my boots toes in the snow sand, and look up at the grey blue skies.

.... I'll keep working on it.

Well, this is kinda cute!

I'd really like to make some more time for crafty creatives, like this:


Instructions can be found HERE.

Work, my two college courses, a certification exam I'm studying for, and the need to get off my derriere from time to time are a slight hindrance to craft-time. But I know someone I'd like to make this for. I think she'd really like it! :)

Oooohh... and this:

...and this too:

Both found HERE.

I think I'll be having some fun with these!

2011 Personal Goals

I don't believe in new year's resolutions. If you want to make a change in your life, what's wrong with starting today? I feel that rather than waiting for next Monday or the first of next month for a "fresh starting point", it is more empowering to say "right now". "I am going to make this improvement in my life right now. This moment. It is that important to me that it cannot wait, and I will improve my life from this moment forward.

That being said, I don't have a list of changes to make in 2011 starting January 1st. However, that does not mean that I don't have changes to make. I will acknowledge these needed changes as they arise, and will make improvements in my life and myself as the necessary changes become evident to me.

So here goes:
2011 Personal Goal #1: Focus on the positive.
(#1 only in sequence, not necessarily in importance)

And there is a lot of positive in my life to focus on. I am a newlywed (4 months and going strong!). I have an amazing, comunicative, attentive, affectionate, loving and supportive husband. I have a wonderful family (both blood and in-laws) that I am fortunate to have in my life. I am lucky enough to have a job that I have had for over 8 years (since I was 18), despite the economic lull that cost so many their jobs. I have the opportunity to attend college to futher my education, improve myself, and follow my dreams; and I do well in my classes.

I can tend to sometimes see all of my downfalls. I see all the places I'm falling short, yet I go blind to the accomplishments I make and the things I do well, as though somehow I am only as good as my "worst mistake".

From this moment forward, I intend to let my shortcommings go. I will seek to improve my faults, but not focus on them. I read this in an article the other day, and it really stuck with me:
"It’s like getting a flat tire—you fix it and move on,
you don’t poke holes in the rest of your tires."
The article was in regard to weight loss and blogging, but can carry over for just about anything. If you mess up, don't beat yourself up about it. Fix it and move on. This year, starting now, my goal is to fix my flats and keep on rollin' down the road because if I focus too much on my tires, I'll be missing all the beautiful scenerey.

My Lazy Meadow Kitty.

Life Lessons from Big Cats

2011.

New year. New name. New 'do. New me.