Catching my my breath & catching up

Holy cow. How did it get to be mid-September? This summer has flown by. It's been one of the busiest and most stressful ones I've had in a long time. And to top it off, I was dealing with all the fun/craziness/hecticness while being pregnant. If there was ever a summer I could have used  a gin and tonic (or several, let's be honest here), it was this one.

But it's over and the cooler weather has set in pushing off the handful of summer-like days here in Seattle. I'm welcoming the change of cooler weather, fall leaves and general change in the seasons. It signals to me things slowing down. At least for a little while longer as I'm 37 weeks today. I'm relishing in this peace and quite and slower pace until our baby girl shows up.

But first, let's look back at one crazy summer shall we? It was definitely worthy of several blog posts, I just didn't have the time/energy to get them done.

First, there was a great visit from our friends Shannon, Mike and their two adorable kids! We had a great time with them and can't wait for them to come back! The highlight of their trip was the U2 concert! Which sadly....those pictures seem to be MIA right now. I'm thinking they may have been deleted off my camera accidentally...so sad...such a great concert!

That concert was followed up by another visit of dear friends, Sara & April! They came up to Seattle since I wasn't doing much (or any) travelling this summer. We hit the NKOTBSB concert to relive our younger days! That's the New Kids on The Block & Backstreet Boys concert for those of you wondering what that is. While we all took a bit of ribbing for this, we had a blast in the end, and really that's all that matters!

Oh, and then something really freaking crazy happened this summer. I won not only one, but two Emmy Awards for television producing! I was completely shocked, stunned and thrilled at the same time!

And yes, those bad boys do have a little heft to them.

The summer was also full of several visits by both of our families..of which no pictures were taken. Clearly my camera took the summer off. Decorating the nursery (more to come on that later), planting a garden that went absolutely no where (so depressing...) and just trying to enjoy time together as a couple for the hubby and I before two becomes three. Oh, yeah, and lots of baby knitting. More on that later!

Hope your summer was just as jam packed and fun as mine!

Wrist Update #1

Surgery last Wednesday went well. The surgeon said I had good bones (thanks mom for always having me drink milk when I was a kid because I still love milk!). Now I'm just recovering & taking it easy. Which is hard for a perpetual putterer & knitter/crafter to do. I'm getting addicted to the diy network which could be an issue once I'm healed. My list of home improvement projects has grown immensely.

Should make for an interesting spring!

And I wanted say thanks for all of the support I've received over the past few weeks! It's been really appreciated & needed!

xoxo

Canned Salsa

The other day I got together with a few Purly Girls for a little canning instead of knitting. We hit the farmers market on a rainy Saturday morning for the fresh local ingredients, then headed into the kitchen for some serious chopping, blanching and stirring. And of course some chatting and laughing.

The end result is a ton of jars of homemade salsa that smells and tastes delish! The summer salsa season will live on in our house as the gray, cold and rainy winter approaches! Pass the chips please!

Happy Birthday to Me!

This past week I turned 35. I felt that it was a milestone birthday for some reason, but I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's farther away from my 20's? Maybe because it's closer to my 40's?

I don't know. All I know is that it was a good day, filled with family, friends, some pretty flowers and a fancy chocolate cake from my fabulous hubby.

Then, two days later I got carded buying PBR's at the grocery store.  I guess it doesn't matter that I'm 35 as long as they still want to see my id!

Here's to another year filled with fun, crafty and tasty adventures!

S'mores - Seattle Style

The hubby & I had a BBQ this Memorial Day weekend. We decided to make homemade marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores on our fire pit. We followed the directions from jam it, pickle it, cure it & other cooking projects by Karen Solomon. If you like to try new things in your kitchen, this book is for you. I have to admit, I was a little intimidated at the idea of making my own marshmallows, but they were surprisingly easy to do - albeit quite messy. Just like a good s'more.

The marshmallows setting in the pan. I didn't get any cooking pics because the process happens pretty fast.

The hubby helping to get them out of the pan. Then you cut into squares and dip in powdered sugar.

Voila! Homemade marshmallows!

Homemade graham crackers. Again, didn't get any cooking pics, it was pretty busy in our kitchen!

The roasting of mallows. Note the jeans and fleece in the pic, yes, this is a BBQ in Seattle. A little cold weather and rain does not stop us! There were homemade mallows to be roasted people!

Get ready for it...

Ooey, gooey, s'mores goodness!

Self Portrait Series: Girls weekend in Vegas

Sara & I are pretty famous for our self portraits.

But we couldn't leave April out of the fun (or Ms. Green M & M)!

Poolside fun at the Wynn (in the shade with SPF 70 of course)!

We had a little help with this one.

 Sara and April figured out they've been friends for about 20 years. Good thing they've also known me for 17 of those years! 

It was a great weekend filled with lots of laughter, lots of memories and a lot of fun! I miss not seeing them everyday like back in college, or even about once a week when we were living in Boise, but I'll take a weekend like this anytime!

A few things both knitting & non-knitting

To say that it’s been a bit busy around here is a bit of an understatement. I’ve been wanting to blog for quite a while now, but haven’t had the time/energy/motivation/etc. So in true type-A personality form, I’m doing a list to sum up a few things. Here we go:

• My sister came for a visit. We had a blast getting pedicures, shopping for furniture (nothing bought but lots of ideas) and drinking margaritas on the patio in some rare Seattle spring sun.
• My parents came the following weekend; more family fun, day trips, fixing things up around the house.
  
• I scored some sweet deals and even sweeter yarn at the Fiber Gallery annual sale. Details on projects to come soon.
  
• I cast on for my first big sweater for myself. I’m making the Minimalist cardigan out of some beautiful pink wool. However, between the pattern and the yarn, it hurts my hands. Like really seriously hurts my hands. Like, it’s the reason I’m not knitting these days. I think I’ve averaged about 4 rows in about a month.
  
• I’m trying to decide to proceed slowly with the project or rip it out and find another project.
  
• In an effort to get knitting again, I’ve cast on for the Simple Shawl pattern. It’s quite pretty and painless. So far I’m on row 8 and all is well. Fingers crossed.
  
• And in an effort to truly relax and get some much needed R & R, I’m off to Vegas for a weekend of fun at the Wynn with my dear friends Sara and April.
  
• I hope to be back up and blogging and knitting much more often when I return, until then, here’s to some R & R for you, and of course, happy knitting.

Sunny Sunday

A sunny Sunday. A hike on Cougar Mountain in Issauquah.

 The view from the top. That's Mount Baker in Bellingham in the background.

My hiking partners, Soren and his mom Mara.

 A great day.

Rebecca + Scott

It's official....they're now married!

The wedding party...in all seriousness...

See...totally official and some seriousness....

And a lot of fun!

Shot through the heart - since the 4th grade

It all started simple enough. A good song on the radio. Sung by a cute guy with great hair (it was the 80's afterall). And that was pretty much all it took to get me hooked. I was a Bon Jovi fan for life.

Friday night was the opening night for their U.S. tour. And the hubby, my friend Darcy and I went. It was fabulous. I cheered, I sang, I danced, it was great!

It was like Bon Jovi was singing right to me. Me, and several hundred other women who've loved him over the years as well.

Moral of the story: There is safety in numbers

This past weekend a few friends and I headed to Tacoma for the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival. It was a gray, rainy February day but we were all looking forward to a little knitting, a little yarn shopping and hanging out with friends.

After a quick trip around the market place, I was pretty proud of myself for showing some serious restraint. I had a shopping plan. I wanted to pick up some Socks that Rock to make another clapotis. I have one, but I don't love and I don't wear it. I want to love it. And I want to wear it. I've learned a lot from my last one so I'm going to make another one.
After we all purchased a few things, it was time for lunch. We hopped on the light rail and headed into town for some beer, burgers and knitting. It was fun. Our waitress was just learning to knit so she was thrilled we were all sitting at her table.

Back at the retreat, we visited with more friends, chatted about books, podcast, movies and just generally enjoyed a rainy Saturday without thinking about things that needed to be cleaned, cooked or whatever back home. But then it was time to load up and head back to Seattle. Before that, however, Katie decided she needed one more trip to market place to check on some yarn. Not wanting to abandon our friend, we all decided to accompany her.

And that's when it happened. In less than 5 minutes into the marketplace, we all split up, ran around and fell down. A lot. We all fell onto lots of piles of soft, lovely yarn with our credit cards slipping through the card machines as we went down. And then we got up, laughed and ran to another booth where the same thing happened.

(So pretty. I was drawn to lots of pinks and reds for some reason. They were all very Meg like colors.)

When it was all said and done, we decided there was safety in numbers. But it sure was fun to split up. Now, to go play with my new yarn.

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!

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.

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.

Out of whack

The work life balance has been a little out of whack lately to say the least.

But, my big work project that has consumed my life for the past month is finally finished and behind me (and it was a HUGE SUCCESS if I may say so)!

Now, it's time for a little R & R, catching up with old friends that luckily are very patient with me and understand when my life gets ahead of me. It also happens to be getting into one of my favorite times of the year: holiday season. I'm ready to cozy up on the couch with a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, my knitting and the hubby (ok, so he really doesn't like to get cozy when I'm knitting....something about errant needles....).

I'm ready to get back in touch with my life, my family, my friends, my knitting and my home.

Thanks for your patience everyone.

I've missed you.

Surviving September

About mid-August I took a look ahead at my work to-do list for the month of September. It scared me. Like really scared me. My job isn't your normal 9-5 gig so sometimes the workload varies depending on the day and story. But this month wasn't pretty. I decided instead of stressing over it, I was mearly going to embrace the challenges ahead and run with it. At least that's what I kept telling myself.

Throw in a few busy weekend (a trip to Boise to see the family and a visit from the in-laws to see our new house) it all just kind of made for some really exhausting days. And nights. Hence the few and far between blog posts. And the even fewer and farther between knitting projects. And my sewing machine? Yeah, there's a layer of dust on it. Which is really too sad because while I was home my mom hooked me up with some very cute sewing projects!

But luckily for me, the knitting waits, the sewing maching is oh-so patient with me (even when I'm not patient with it) and my friends and family are supportive of my seemingly constant complaining about my work load. When the truth be told, I'm lucky to do what I do, and even luckier to have a job (unlike a few of my coworkers who didn't quite survive September and our surprise layoffs that came a few weeks ago.)

So here's to October! Here's to a new month full of possibilities, new projects and most importantly - so freaking time to just relax!

Birthday Delight!

I'm a lucky girl.

I got to spend my birthday with my hubby having my favorite cocktail (ice cold margaritas) and a fabulous meal at El Gaucho.

Friends and family gave me pretty things.

Soft things.And tasty treats!

Then, the fun continued the day after my birthday as two dear friends and I went to see Jewel at an outdoor concert complete with picnic and cooler temps of 98 degrees (compared to the record breaking 103 degree heat on my birthday!)

I have a feeling it'll be another great year!

Seattle Purly Girls: yeah, we rock!

I've always known how great the Seattle Purly Girls are, and now so does the rest of Seattle.


Our knitting group was ranked in the Seattle Weekly's Best of 2009 as the Best Reason to learn the Slip Slip Knit. Check out the blurb written by the politically savvy and fiber friendly lovely Laura.

Celebrating a change

A very dear friend of mine has recently come to a crossroads in her professional life as a television journalist. After nearly a decade of working in her chosen profession and many of them in her dream job as a main anchor and producer for a TV news station, she is moving on to something different.

She wrestled with some very serious and emotional issues while trying to come to this decision. At times I know it was very hard for her. But she is a hard worker who is determined to take on new challenges in life. And that's just what she's doing now that she's at this crossroads. She's blazing her own path and incorporating some of the things she truly loves best: writing, interviewing, cooking, blogging and of course her family.

I'm so proud of her for launching her new blog anchormommy.com. It's a fabulous site designed to pass along insightful interviews, helpful parenting skills, and some seriously fun stuff as well. The thing I love about this site, is that it isn't just for moms. For example, she had a great video interview with a new author who just published a book on tips to save money. Now really, who doesn't want to do that?

So whether or not you've got kids, I highly encourage you to click on over to anchormommy.com and check it out. I'm so thrilled for Shannon and I know she'll be incredibly successful!

Tag - I'm it!

Thanks Holli.

I've been photo tagged by Holli. She actually tagged me few days ago, but I've been enjoying an off-line weekend so I'm only now just discovering this. Unfortunately, it means a not-so-flattering pic for me.

Here are the rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.
Load the picture onto your blog.
Tag three people to play.

Today was my yoga class, laundry, errand running, craft Sunday. A perfect day. But I was doing all this without a shower and still wearing my yoga clothes and no make up. Lovely, I know.

So I just snapped the pic on my cell phone.

Now it's my turn to tag folks. I'm tagging Sara, Shannon, April and Jen. I know I'm only supposed to tag three people. But I just miss seeing these ladies lovely faces.