Some of my favorite things

The wind and rain has returned to Seattle. Gone are the recent unseasonably warm sunny days we’ve had recently. It was just what I needed to help snap me out of my February funk.

 (I snapped this pic on my camera phone while out for a walk along Alki on Sunday morning. The snow capped mountains in the background are the Olympics.)

So as I reach once again for the rain coat (really, this is Seattle so it’s never that far away), I’m going to try and think about some of the things that have made me happy these past few, warm sunny days. I thought I’d share them with you:


500 Days of Summer – I recently saw this movie. And I loved it! Seriously loved it. It was such a good story of love, friendship, heartbreak and the hope that there is love out there. I’ll admit it left me crushin’ a bit on Joseph Gordon-Levit.


The Guernsey Literary and Sweet Potato Pie Society – I’m about halfway through this book and I feel like I’m right there on Guernsey with the crew. I don’t think I want this book to end.


Seeing a movie by myself – I don’t get to do this often but I recently had the opportunity when the hubby was out of town. I love going to the movies by myself because I can watch whatever I want. And I don’t have to share my movie popcorn with anyone. In case you’re wondering, I saw New Moon (and loved it!)


Roasted Vegetables – I haven’t been doing a lot cooking lately (the hubby is doing it for a while these days) but I recently tried a new recipe for roasted butternut squash, onion and garlic. When they were done roasting the recipe called for squeezing half of an orange over the veggies. I can’t even begin to describe how good it tasted. I ate the hunks of butternut squash and onion with my hand as I stood over the stove, it was that good.


So there you go. A few things that are making me happy as we slip back into the gloomy dark days of late spring. What makes you happy these days?

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.

Livin' on a Prayer

That's right baby, it's here. Opening night of Bon Jovi's U.S. World Tour here in Seattle. And I will be there.

What's that? Wish you could be there too? Well, thanks to the generosity of Bon Jovi, and modern technology, you can. The first three songs of Friday's concert will be streamed live.

Enjoy. Because I will.

Oh, and expect a follow report on the concert this weekend.

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.

Nothing says I love you like handknit socks

The first sock for the Hubby took me nearly a year to knit. I was bored with it. There were lots of other knitting projects that kept pushing these socks to the bottom of the knitting bag. But then, I decided, enough was enough. I was tired of always looking at them. I wanted them done. So I set a deadline and then knit like a mad woman on a mission. A mission for handknit socks for Valentine's Day. And it worked.

Pattern: Simple Socks by Cat Bordi
Yarn: I started these things so freakin' long ago I don't remember.

I've been working on these socks for so long that the first one actually went to France with me last March. Here it is at the beach in Nice. I'm happy to report I wasn't the only woman knitting at the beach that day. Just more proof that I could easily live in France.

February Blahs....

I was hoping to avoid these this year. But I'm pretty sure the February Blahs have set it. I seem to be doing a lot of hibernating lately. No blogging, no surfing my favorite blogs, just a lot of taking it easy. Which is nice and all, but I'd like to be a little more productive and creative.

So I'm hoping Saturday's trip to Tacoma for the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat will help! I'm not signed up for any classes but I'm ready to buy some yarn and be inspired by all the creative knitters who will be there!

I can't wait for a little show and tell!

P.S. Another reason I've been anti-the blog lately is because I'm frantically trying to knit up the hubby's socks for his Valentine's Day gift. Yes, those socks. The socks that I started nearly a year ago! Oh, and I'm still sucked into the Twilight series.

Oh Boy!

I decided that 2009 was the year of the girl. Last year I whipped up projects for Emery, Sloane, Macie and Diya. Soren was the token male of the group.

And so far, 2010 is shaping up to be year of the boy. Taylor arrived not long ago. My coworker will have her baby boy in mid-April. A dear friend is having her second baby. And while it's too early to find out if she's having a boy or a girl, she does already have an adorable little boy! And my stalker, er, I mean friend from Purly Girls, Abby just announced she too is having a boy!

Now it's time to start looking for some adorable boy projects. I've got some ideas, but if you have any sugesstions, I'd love to hear them!

Sucked in

I have a confession. I’ve recently started reading the Twilight series. And while they aren’t works of literary genius, they are quite addicting. I don’t remember the last time I blew through 500 plus pages in a weekend.

(This picture is completly and totally ripped off from Sara's site & her Twlight entry)

I will say this: my inner 15 year-old-girl is so loving it! While she can’t decide if she’s on Team Jacob or Team Edward (it flips pretty much with each chapter), one thing is for sure, neither of them are quite like Gilbert*. And my inner 15 year-old-girl will always be on Team Gilbert.

(*You get bonus points if you know what I’m referring too. That is anyone, except Sara!)

Stolen Hand Knit Items

Stealing stuff is no good.

But stealing hand knit items, well, I'm sure there's a special place in hell for people who steal hand knit items.

My sister recently had some items, we'll say liberated, from her possession. Among them, a pair of hand knit fingerless gloves my mom worked very hard to make for her. They were super cute and she loved them.

I seriously hope, whoever owns them now, is at least wearing them. And I hope they are still wearing them when they are arrested and booked for stealing. I'm sure the cops will appreciate the fact that the perps fingers will be easily accessible for the finger printing portion of the booking process.

Ishbel: First Finished project of 2010

I finished Ishbel last week and I love it! It's a beautiful shawl pattern that I would knit again.

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock

Colorway: Stonechat

More pictures can be found on  my flickr site or ravelry site.

The return of the sun

I snapped this picture the other morning while waiting at the bus stop:

The sun was rising over the Cascade Mountains and reflecting in such a lovely way on the clouds. My camera phone seriously does not do this image justice at all. But as I enjoyed the colors on clouds it made me so happy to see the sun returning to the Pacific Northwest. The bus ride over the West Seattle bridge was so beautiful that morning, with the view of Mt. Rainier and the Duwamish River on one side and Elliot Bay and the Seattle skyline on the other side.

I wish I could have snapped a few more pictures, but mornings like that make me feel good to take that ride into work.

Welcome back sun. I hope you're hear to stay for a while. We missed you.

A take on the Market Tote

I found some time in the sewing room today and after sifting through patterns and fabric I finally found a project that I could whip up in the afternoon. Sort of.

I made a modified version of Amy Butler's Market Tote*. I didn't have any home decorator fabric, but I had plenty of lovely cotton fabric so I pulled out some for the exterior and the lining. I also added a pocket with a little trim just because. I also didn't have enough fabric for the really long handles to run the length of the bag so I modified those as well. In my book, as long as handles can swing over your shoulder without cutting into your armpit, they'll work.

I think I'll make this pattern again and try the home decorator fabric to see what it's like. It's a good sized bag and I do love the shaping at the bottom of the bag which makes it deep and wide. I think this will be my new knitting bag for a while!

*I find it slightly ironic and funny that I've declared 2010 the year of clearing the clutter - especially my bag obsession. And what do I go and make for my first sewing project of the year? Yeah, a bag. Guess I need to take another bag to Goodwill or consignment!

A Homemade Life: my book report

I decided to treat myself to Molly Wizenburg’s book A Homemade Life. I can honestly say it’s one of the best treats I’ve bought myself in a long, long while.  
                                                            
To say I loved this book is a bit of an understatement. Molly’s* writing is so clear and conversational, I felt like we were great friends and she was simply telling me about her day.

I believe Molly and I could actually be friends if we met in real life and here’s why:
1. We both live in Seattle, thus making the friendship geographically feasible.
2. We both have a slight obsession with Paris, to say the least (as I write this I am listening to French music).
3. We both love to cook, bake and eat.
4. We both love chocolate – dearly.
5. And she shares my belief that goat cheese pretty much makes any dish freakin’ rock.

I’ve recommended this book to pretty much everyone I know. If you haven’t read this yet, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The chapters are short and sweet and end with a recipe that leaves you with a bit of a hungry rumble going on in your tummy.


And it’ll make you want to call your dad just to say hi and tell him you love him.


All of those things my friends, are very good.


*On an somewhat unrelated noted, Rebecca sent me an email today about a soup cooking class next week, I had ready decided to sign up before I got to the bottom of the email and discovered the class is going to be held at Molly’s restaurant Delancey. I did a little dance of joy in my cubicle. Slightly stalkerish I know.

Red Onion, Potato and Goat Cheese Pizza

Potato Pizza. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm crazy. Finally lost it. Well, you're not alone with that thought. But you're dead wrong.

There's this fabulous pizza place in town called Serious Pie. It's got some delicious, serious pizza. My favorite of which is the Yukon Gold Potato pizza. I've taken several out of town guests there for lunch and then made them try the pizza. They are all skeptical at first, but I make them try one bite. Then they usually admit it's fabulous, or they don't like it and I eat it all myself. Either way, I'm pretty happy.

So imagine my delight when I was flipping through a Cooking Light magazine and found a potato, onion and goat cheese pizza. I ripped it right out and decided this was going to be a staple in my kitchen before I ever made it.

If you're looking for a different type of pizza, I promise this won't disappoint.

Red Onion, Potato and Goat Cheese Pizza

Fruit...beware....

For Christmas my sister gave me the book jam it, pickle, cure it. She also gave me a bunch of fun jars (plus some other fun goodies!) The book has a bunch of really great recipies for jams, pickles, meats, cheeses and crackers. I think this will keep me quite busy and hopefully quite full through out the seasons!

Ishbel

I've cast on my Ishbel by Ysolda. It's beautiful and I love it. Practically everyone else in my knitting group was knitting one or had knit one and I so longed to have one as well. So I ran out and bought some fabulous yarn.

It's sock yarn from Malabrigo in stonecraft.

There are more pictures of my project on my Ravelry page and flickr site.

2009: Projects in Pictures

Here's a few of the projects I worked on in 2009. From baby hats to jam to baby dresses, quilts, sweaters and a few little projects for me (hat, started a sweater and made myself socks). Oh, and I learned how to make creme brule. A pretty productive year if I do say so!

Looking back*

It doesn’t seem like we’ve come to the end of a decade, but it’s all about 2010 now. And I thought I’d look back at the decade that has been the most meaningful to me. I can’t really remember everything but here are some of the highlights, and sadly, a few lowlights.


2000: While everyone I knew was out partying like it was 1999, I was in the Fox 12 News room in Nampa, Idaho waiting for whatever Y2K would bring us. If the world was going to meltdown, computer crash, ATM’s stop working, I was going to be there to report about it. Well, as you recall, it was a pretty uneventful night. The rest of the year was pretty much the same, but if I recall, a few friends and I had some pretty fun times!


2001: Of course this year is seared into all of our memories. 9/11 changed a lot. Even in Boise, Idaho. The economic impact from the attacks reached to the television world and the show I produced was cut, I was moved to part time back on the main news show I had started on. While I felt this was a setback in my career, a funny little thing happened along the way. Now that I was back on the night shift, I began a real friendship with the woman who had earlier replaced me on the main new show. She had been moved to reporter/anchor.


2002: This was the year that things began to change. One night after work, my new friend said, hey let’s go out for a drink. I of course, said sure! Then she added, my fiancé is going to meet us out and he might bring a friend, is that ok? Sure why not! And you guessed it, that friend of a friend would later become The Hubby. The year ended on a very sad note with the passing of my dear college friend Brian Ellis. He lost his life long battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Every time I go back to visit my old stomping grounds of the University of Idaho I think of him and all the fun we had there. I cheer extra loud at our football games to make up for the loss of his voice, but I know he’s cheering on from Heaven.


2003: A pretty good year, treasuring friends and having fun with the Boyfriend.


2004: This is one of the most impactful years of my life. After being with the TV station at a job I loved, it came to an abrupt and somewhat painful end on July 1 (I remember that date clearly because it was day one of the Golden Birthday Month, I was turning 29 on July 29th. Ironic I know.) It turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. After spending a fun summer hanging out with my friends, hiking, going to our place in Cascade, Idaho, and of course doing a lot of knitting, I took a leap of faith in myself, my boyfriend and our relationship and I moved with him to Seattle, Washington that fall. It was a place I had been to twice briefly and where I knew no one and didn’t have a job. Shortly after we moved, I got a job offer from the Fox station in Seattle, but it wasn’t the job I wanted. After a lot of soul searching, I turned it down, hoping it wasn’t the end of my TV career. The fall brought new adventures as we explored our new city. Oh, and I found a knitting group online and decided to just show up and see what happened. I still show up every Monday night. Monday is now one of the best days of the week for me.


2005: This was the year I turned 30, took my first trip to Europe with a visit to London, Bath, Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France. And it won’t be my last. We were world travelers this year with a fall trip to visit family in the Grand Cayman Islands. Seriously, this is the place to have family to visit!


2006: On my birthday, the Boyfriend became the Fiancé. It was a great birthday as I had already planned the event. My friends were meeting up at the Fremont Outdoor Film Festival for a sing along showing of Grease. It was a great night. This is the year that I found my current job, back in TV, doing what I love, only at a much, much better schedule than working nights/holidays/weekends like a traditional TV station. I am very thankful for it and feel like I should enjoy my holidays for my TV friends still working/living that lifestyle! This was also the first year that I'd participate in my first triathlon! It was challenging event and I loved every minute of it. I went on to do event for the next three years.


2007: On June 16, the Fiancé became the Hubby. It was beautiful wedding and all of our family and friends made the trip to Seattle to celebrate with us. Then we spent a week and a half in Nassau, Bahamas on the beach. Not a bad way to celebrate the beginning of our adventure.


2008: The first year of marriage was a great one. A few trips here and there. We went back to NYC for a surprise trip for the In-laws wedding anniversary. Turned out it was the very same weekend Sara (now living in Washington, D.C.) was in town. It was great to meet up with her and spend a day in NYC together. Unfortunately, it was a sad visit, as our college friend Jen(and Sara and April’s college roommate) had lost her very long and very brave battle with breast cancer that very same weekend.


2009: Started with a fabulous once in a lifetime trip with my mom and sister to France! We rented an apartment in Paris and took in the sights and lifestyle. We visited Arles, Aux en Provence, and Nice. It was a trip like no other. A trip we will all cherish forever. My dad was sure we’d come back not speaking to each other, and while there were squabbles along the way, there was a lot of fun, laughter, wine and crème brulee. Shortly after my return, the Hubby and I found what would become our first house on Easter Sunday. By Memorial Weekend it was officially ours and we were in by the Fourth of July. The summer and fall sped by with gardening work, trips to the Oregon Coast, Priest Lake, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Boise, Idaho and then back to Post Falls, Idaho. Twice. It’s been a busy year. A busy decade for that matter. But a great year and decade.


I can’t wait for what 2010 has in store for us!
 For my house to yours, I hope you had happy holidays and here’s to a wonderful 2010!


*I’m pretty sure these events happened in these years, but no promises! It was a long time ago!

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.

#$%@*!!!!

Always listen to your inner knitter.

That is the moral of today’s lesson.

Why you ask? Good question.


I had been so pleased with myself and the Foliage Hat I was working on for my sister’s Christmas Present. I finally had some time to work on it this weekend and I was happily knitting away. I was enjoying the project as it was just coming together so beautifully, much better than the first time I knit the project about 2 years ago. I was thinking that I’ve really progressed as a knitter since this time around was so easy.


Boy was I freakin’ wrong.


As our plane began the descent from our flight back to Seattle, the little nagging knitter voice inside me was getting a little louder: this hat looks small. Really small for my sister. Then when I was just 7 rows from finishing, I really listened to my inner knitter: these needles also look a little small.


But the plane was landing so I just shoved the knitting and my inner knitter aside and went home.


Then, after the bags were unpacked and laundry churning away in the machine, did I dare open the knitting. I pulled out the project. And I pulled out my needle guide. Then I realized my mistake: the size 5 needles were actually size 3!!!


How could this happen I yelled (among other things I also yelled)? The empty size 5 needle package was also in the knitting bag. So where are these needles I wondered aloud? The hubby called this the Great Needle Thanksgiving Mystery.


I called it Really &%*#*%^ Annoying.


Now it’s all about the ripping out and starting over. Only this time, I’ve got the right needles. I’m sure of it. I just bought news ones instead of searching for my missing ones. Nothing like a little retail therapy to ease the knitting nerves.

A random list on a “short, easy holiday work week”

The hat I made for the hubby’s birthday was too big. Thanks Rebecca for the suggestion of washing/drying it. It’ll either shrink enough to fit either him or myself. I was on the verge of ripping it out and starting over. Not good.

 I’m annoyed/insulted that the car dealership only offered me $200 for my beloved car. So it’s only a1999 Plymouth Neon, but it’s been well taken care of, it’s super clean on the inside thanks to my Type A skills and it’s been loved much. They so don’t deserve Leon the Neon.

 If anyone one in the greater Seattle metro area needs a used car that runs well and has a cd player, drop me an email.

 I’ve lost the recipe for the one dish I was signed up to make tomorrow: homemade cranberry sauce. I know it calls for cranberries, sugar and apple cider vinegar. The rest is a bit of mystery.


Note to self: Google cranberry sauce. Don’t wing it for a family holiday dinner (that last quote courtesy of the hubby.)


Got another massive work project dumped on my plate yesterday.


I may be getting an intern next year to help me out. Am thankful that my boss has recognized that I’m beginning to get just a wee bit overwhelmed with work.


I have to write a show script, find a location for another show and deal with a few other fires before my plane leaves in just a few hours. No problem.


Here’s to a happy, healthy Thanksgiving with not so questionable cranberry sauce and a good bottle of wine to recoup from this “short and easy holiday” week!

Happy Birthday to the Hubby!

Today is the hubby's birthday!

But what do you get the guy that eats your "experimental" recipes; puts up with your vegetarian/crazy hippie cooking; installs a new headlight in your car that turns out to be way more complicated than we both thought; doesn't mind when we go to a bar to watch football and I bring my knitting and helps clean the house on a regular basis?

Nothing but a little hand knit love in the form of a new hat:

And an XBox 360 football game. But shhh....it's a secret!

Pattern: Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in men size
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy worsted in Jungle Cloud

luv.

I am in love with my new yarn. I bought a skein of Malibrigo sock yarn in Stonechat. It will soon be cast on to be become my Ishbel.

That's what all the cool kids at Purly Girls are knitting. I'm loving their Ishbels so now it's time to get my lace knit on.

Fingers crossed. You know my history with the lace knitting. We're not BFF's. More like frien-enemys to say the least.

Some are keepers; others go straight into the compost

For the past few months I’ve been loving my new subscription of Everyday Foods by Martha. I read it on the bus (yes, that’s how much of a cooking nerd I’ve become, I read cooking magazines on the bus). I’ve tried dozens of new recipes and they have all been delicious and quite easy.


So imagine my surprise when I tried the latest one from the November issue called Beef Stew. As you know, I’m a sucker for a soup recipe and I figured I’d try a meat one for the hubby. But I gotta say, I had my doubts from the beginning.


Now I will admit here, that some of this is partly my fault. I forgot to take the stew meat out of the freezer before going to work that day. I tried to thaw it out before I started cooking it, but I only got part of it thawed and it was getting late. The recipe does take a while so I figured what the hell, and just started cooking. That wasn’t the only problem. The stew base was really a soup base and just so watery. I tried adding garlic. This recipe didn’t call for any garlic and that should have been my first clue. I’m always skeptical of any recipe that doesn’t have garlic because it’s so good….why not have it? I also tossed in some of my standby soup seasonings. Nothing. Didn’t help.


The hubby came home. I explained my concern. He was now concerned as he’d never really seen me this concerned over a meal that I hadn’t even eaten yet. We talked about alternatives. There really weren’t any and besides, I was determined not to let this recipe get to me. I powered on and made the rolls to go with the stew. The same rolls I make all the time. For some reason, they turned out not finished on the inside, and after tossing them back in the oven, I nearly burnt them trying to finish them.


We sat down to eat dinner, both of us filling up on the unburnt portion of rolls. The stew meat was chewy and bland. The “stew” was even blander. The hubby dumped a bunch of his favorite seasonings in his bowl which didn’t really help my self esteem. Or the soup.


In the end, we called this recipe not so good to say the least. Neither of us finished our helping. I was feeling bad for all the time, money, food spent on the recipe, but really, it wasn’t good.


But I managed to cheer myself up with a big bowl of popcorn and by watching Glee that night. And those two things made for quite the tasty dessert.

For Hannah and Olivia

Project: Kim's Hats

From: Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy

Color: Butterpeeps

For Hannah

For Olivia

Raveled project here.

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.

I call it the Quick-Easy-Healthy-Homemade-Soup-Despite-Not-Much-Cooking-Time

Or I call it the Haven't-Eaten-Enough-Veggies-In-A-While-Soup.

Whatever name you use, this soup rocks! It's super quick to toss together, even when you've got a totally crazy schedule. All you need are a few pantry/fridge staples and a little creativity and an appetite and you're set!

2 cans of Low Sodium/Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can white beans
a bunch of carrots cut up
a few Yukon Gold potatoes cut up
1 or 1/2 of an onion (I like the sweet ones, but really any kind work)
handful of orzo
a few crushed/chopped garlic cloves (or if you're really pressed for time - toss in some garlic salt)
salt/pepper/seasonings to taste

As you can see, I'm not big on measuring. It really depends on how many are eating the soup or how many days you want to take this to lunch. The thing I love about this soup is how versatile it is. For example, I've made it with Veggie Broth and tofu; zucchini makes a lovely addition as does chicken, sausage, whatever you've got on hand or are craving. Tonight I also tossed in a handful of spinach just for some extra goodness!

Serve sprinkled with parmesan, warm bread and enjoy!
*Sorry for the crappy pic, but my camera died when I went to take the pic. Since I didn't want it to get cold, I just used my camera phone. It doesn't take the best pics.