It's a good day to be an Idaho Vandal!

Now that is what college football games are all about!
                                                                         
The University of Idaho Vandals won their second bowl game today, the Humanitarian Bowl. I was at their first bowl game 11 years ago with some of my favorite Vandals (my sister and Sara). Tonight, we were all scattered all over the country but still watched the game and cheered together thanks to texts and cell phones!

With 38 seconds left and down seven points - after a back and forth leading game - the Vandals made it down the field to score the tying points. Then with 8 seconds left, instead of going for a field goal to tie the game and force it into overtime, they went for two points. And made it.

What a game - final score 43 to 42! What a day to be a Vandal!

2009: Holiday of the Hats

The holiday of the hats has come to a close. It was a close one this year as I just finished the last hat. I seemed to have spaced out the fact that I didn't get a gift for my bestest friend. Not sure how that happened but luckily, I am a knitter so whipping up a last minute gift isn't that stressful. Rebecca offered up a pattern sugesstion: ButtonTab Knit Hat, a free pattern that is super cute and super easy. I highly recommend it. In fact, I may be whipping up one of these for me because is so cute! And really, you can never have too many cute knit hats now can you?

Project: Button Tab Hat from ilikelemons

Yarn: Cascade 220

Color: Merlot

Christmas Classics

It seems all of the magazines this time of year have dozens of different types of cookies splashed across their pages. They are all pretty, mouthwatering and no doubt incredibly yummy. As a cookie connoisseur myself, I would love to bake them all. Despite all the new fancy recopies, I always come back to this staple in my family’s house: the sugar cookie.

My mom, sister and I have been making this recipe pretty much my entire life. When I was 3, my preschool teacher asked my mother if she’d make some cookies for our Christmas party. She gave her a recipe. And a tradition was born. Every year the three of us would make these with my dad acting as the official taste tester. It’s a rough job, but someone’s gotta do it.


Sugar Cookies


1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 C powdered sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 C vegetable oil

4 ¼ C sifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla


Mix all the dry ingredients together with a wisk. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and oil. Add dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix well. Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Bake 9-12 mins at 350. Makes 7 dozen.


Or you can let them cool completely and frost with powdered sugar frosting.


Powdered sugar frosting


Heaping Tbl of soft butter

2 C powdered sugar

Add milk slowing to make right consistency

1 Tbl vanilla

Mix with mixer at high until just right.


From my family to your, enjoy the treats of the season!

Foliage redux

The holiday season of hats continues. Of course, it took a slight detour the first time I knit the Foliage Hat for my sister (on the wrong sized needle). But now it's finished and I'm quite pleased with it. And if I do say so, it looks quite cute on me. Maybe Lindsay won't get the hat after all.....

Project: Foliage Hat from Knitty

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

A Hand-me-down with love

Two years ago, I knit one of my first baby sweaters for my dear friend Jen who was expecting her first baby. She and I had both moved away from Boise and were now, quite literally on the opposite ends of the country; she was in Richmond, VA and I was in Seattle. I wished I could be there to throw her a shower and to go shopping for cute baby things the way we had shopped for single girl things - a new lipstick, cute top for a hot new date, shoes. But I couldn't. So I did the next best thing. I knit her a baby sweater for her first born. I knit it with love. There are a few mistakes in it. And I swore at it along the way, but Jen knows that about me and still loves me so it's ok. Not only did Jen love this sweater, my first sweater, but her baby girl Isha loved this sweater.

And you know what? Isha baby sister now loves this sweater. And I couldn't be happier. Ok, I could be if I could be there in person to meet Diya, hang out with her, Isha and Jen.

Sweater: Child's Placket Sweater from LMNK
Yarn: It's been a while and I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it's the same as the yarn called for in the pattern.

Just one photo...please?

Clearly getting both Olivia, 2, and Hannah, 4 in a picture with their new hats is a tall order for an aunt.

Hannah likes to sit for pictures, but this one was a little blurry. Probably because Auntie Megan was still laughing about the picture escapade that occured moments earlier.

I finally managed to score this picture of Olivia only after she was strapped (and trapped) in her car seat. She and baby George wanted to go for a ride in Uncle Matty's Jeep. Baby George did not get a new hat.

They did finally get together for a picture with Rudolph, but only one was wearing their hat. But it's still a super cute picture!

Craft Show Season

Confession. Another reason I so love the holiday season is becuase of all the holiday craft shows that seem to pop up every where! I just love buying gifts for people at various craft shows. It's a great way to not only support local artists, but to also find a really unique and wonderful gifts for the people you love!

While I was in Boise last weekend, we hit an Etsy show in the Pioneer Building. Boise has always had great craft shows, but they've recently started having Etsy shows and Indie art shows which are a little bit hipper then a few of the things you may find at craft shows. I did a little holiday shopping...ok, it was all for me, but still. I met Heidi at Pepperberry Knits. I picked up patterns for her Hannah newsboy hat which after I saw it over at Living Senses knew that it had to be mine. I also picked up the pattern for her Jodie Fingerless Flap Gloves. I may have picked up a few other things, but shhh.....it's a secret.

My sister also picked up the cutest baby gift from Mockingbird Clothing Co. I will be hitting her Etsy page for a little holiday shopping for the neices!

If you're in the Boise area this weekend, you must check out the Hip Holiday Market at the Flying M Garage in Nampa. Pepperberry Knits will be there as will Sew Happy Jane!

If you're in the Seattle area, this weekend is the Holiday craft show for the Urban Craft Uprising! I checked out thier summer sale and it was fabulous! This is a must hit holiday show.

I won't be able to go to it because the hubby and I will be in N. Idaho for my sister in law's wedding. I can't wait to see what you all get from these fabulous shows! Craft on my friends!

Thanksgiving recap: 2009

A pictoral review:

I met Macie Marie, daughter of my lifelong (literally, I've known my entire life) best friend Kelli.

Her big sis Cameron loved the hat I made her. And she graciously tried on a hat my mom was making to test it's size out for another little kid.

I also got to hang out with sweet little Jossy and rock star Kellan and their moms. It was a fun night!

This is what happens when I ask my sister to hold my camera for a moment. Clearly we're still 7 at heart.

And wine tasting with my mom and sister at Indian Creek Winery in Nampa (they are owned by Idaho Vandals). They make the best Reisling! If you haven't been on the wine tour in Canyon County I highly recommend it! We hit 5 locally owned vineyards and had a great time!

It was a great trip to Boise as always! Although, I didn't get any pics of our fabulous Turkey dinner. I guess we were too busy cooking and then eating to bother with a silly little thing of a picture.