Winter Swap Package!!!!

TADA!!!!! And the best Winter Swap Partner is......Sharon V of Welland, Ontario!!!!

Winter Coffee Swap Package!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!

GOT MY PACKAGE TODAY...(WAS HERE BEFORE CHRISTMAS BUT I WAS NOT)

It is phenomenal words can not address how much I was spoiled by one Sharon V of Wellad Ontario!!!! She treated me like a princess WOW! I am thrilled overwhelemd, excited and thankful and so much more!!!!!!

I will be posting pics very soon...as soon as the baby's fed...she does need to eat...and I am trying to keep my 5 year olds hands off as well.

Funny thing she has two red headed daughters like me...

Though the babe has little hair what she does is red including the eyelashes.

I should ask if her daughters have a sensitive head when their hair is brushed too LOL:)

This is my sister Sarah, her husband and their 4 ( yes I SAID 4 ) kids:)

Isn't the little blonde pigtailed one adorable in it?

Winter Coffee Swap Contest Question

Topic of The Week Last weeks topic, we wanted to know what is your favorite activity during the "Wintery" months. Please post what would be the perfect vacation during the Winter Season? Would rather you head to the beach, to escape all the cold weather or want to pack your ski's and head to the mountains. You tell us what vacation you prefer during the Winter Season.

For me it would absolutely be the beach! I love the beach...I live to be in the water ask anyone in my family...They joke I am forever in the bath. I once refused to move to a particular apartment because it only had a shower.
I love to swim and snorkel.
I picture myself on a beach with my family in the warm sunshine escaping the cold drear!!

New Scarf

My Mom gave me this Great new scarf! I love it! It goes with my new Cape my brother gave me from Italy!!!

Winter Coffee Swap Contest Question

For many people, Winter is a time of cold weather and snow - and many fun outdoor activities that can only be enjoyed during those times! What's YOUR favorite activity in Winter, and is it even outdoors??

If I had time and money I would love to ski again. I have not in years, we lived at the beach in the south and for many reasons it was a no go...

I like to sled down steep hills or go in a tube down a ski slope.

I also HATE TO BE COLD...so I really enjoy hanging with friends and reading.

My favorite thing to do in the winter though is hang with good Friends at Pam and Mike's New Year's Party! It is always a blast and we enjoy hanging with Friends we do not see that often. Some of them I have known since birth or elementary school:)

New Felted Bag

My darling daughter thought it would be great to make her teacher a felted bag like the Noro one I had made previously so....I have been very busy trying to finish before Christmas....
And I am done with everything but the handle and the felting! Whew I was a little nervous!

On the plus side my Mom gave me a great knitted scarf that I will post later today! Beautiful, my daughter tried to get it from me but I am not giving it up!!!!

Winter Snow Decemebr 2007

Our first Snow of December 2007!

Noro Knited Bag Felted

Here is the felted bag I made with the Noro 100% Wool yarn my Mother sent me. I love the colors!

You are 87% Pisces

How Pisces Are You?

Christmas 2007

Here are pictures of my girls:
Katie in Blue decorating the tree
Kennedy laying under the tree

I think they are too cute!

Cheryl's Awesome socks

I went onto her blog trying to find someone new I have not talked to and found she had knitted awesome socks!!!! I love them! I really want to try my hand at socks but am very unsure of how it will turn out....

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty. At work and school, you do best when you're researching. When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often. In friendship, you are considerate and compromising. Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking. You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

New Project

Well, I am enjoying my winter knitting projects. I have finished up my lil project for my winter swap partner as well as a pink fuzzy scarf or my adorably girlie niece Rachel (she is 5) shh don't tell her it is a gift. I am planning a purple one for her three year old sister.

I got a wonderful box from my Mom yesterday filled with some coffee, 6 books by some of my fave authors and all new releases....and the most beautiful wool Noro yarn. Needless to say after searching online all morning I found a quick felted bag pattern that will look really nice I think.

I have started it inspite of not finishing my other scarf yet...oops!
I will post some pics of the yarn later!

Winter Coffee Swap Contest

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

My fave place would be sunrise on a deck outside overlooking the beach and the water....in the summer...on a beautiful sunny day around 75degrees....I love the ocean!

Lace Dish Cloth

This is my crazy lil girl who loves to pose and was upset I was taking a picture without her in it...imagine!
Anyway it was my first attempt and after ripping it out five 5 times and ripping out more rows as I did it I finally decided to just plow through it and so this is the result. My next will be better!!!!

Cable Scarf Finished!!!!

This is a shot of my model (Katie) wearing the cable knit scarf I made me well now her....

Quick Note

Chan is having a great contest....stating your favorite charity adn why! Be sure to check it out even if you do not enter(Why you wouldn't I have no idea:)) there are many worthwhile charities mentioned!!!!

http://chanknits.wordpress.com/

Cable Scarf Completed!!!

I have finished my cable knit scarf and it turned out much better than I thought it would turn out!
My daughter has taken it as her own so I will hopefully get a picture to post soon of her wearing it.
I am so pleased m hardest project yet, now I am set on finishing Katie's jumper!~Maybe by the end of the weekend!!!

Winter Coffee Swap Contest

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

I am thankful for my daughters and time I get to spend with them. I am also thankful to have my Mom, I am still sad and miss my father and would be devastated if anything happened to her so I am glad she is taken better care of herself.
I am also thankful for my life and my friends and family! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Cable knit scarf

As I said in the previous post, I finally got the hang of the cable knit. Now please do not be over critical...this is my first attempt and prior to this I ripped it out 4 times. I know it is too loose in places but overall I am pleased with my progress...finally...I know the next one will be better:)

YEAH ME!!!!

Well I have been working on teaching myself to cable knit. It is a fairly easy pattern and as I have said before I have always been intimidated new stitches and harder patterns. Basically I am not a crafty person, my sister Sarah can quilt (smallest stitches in her class) sew (my Middle school sewing teacher gave me a C if I promised to stick with pillows and not sew...LOL) and Sarah makes fabulous food and especially cakes( I can burn cookies from a package). So for me to try a new type of stitch besides purl and knit was a bit overwhelming but when I saw newer knitters than me with exciting knitting projects I decided to try it out....
YES!!!! After ripping out my cable 6/8 scarf three times maybe 4 I have done it and am on a roll. It is not my best work the one edge looks a little loose and amateurish but the middle bears a good cable...I am even doing one in the front and one in the back. I will take a picture and post later but remember be kind in your thoughts and words when you look as it is my first attempt:)

Katie and Kennedy

This is my 5 year old in February 2003 wearing the outfit I have Kennedy in today. Everyone says they look exactly alike so I wanted to see...Keep in mind I have a much better digital camera now.
This is Kennedy Novemebr 2007
Kennedy
Katie in Feb '03






So tell me what you think do they look identical? Alike? Or Different?

TAGGED!!!!

Okay my *evil* sister has tagged me so be prepared I am out for you.....(*wicked smile*)


Open the book you’re currently reading to page 161 and read the fifth sentence on the page, then think of 5 bloggers to tag.

here-we have the maximum, in the late teens, early twenties; and then it

New England White by Stephen L Carter
ohh I get to sound smart I guess it was lucky I was not reading porno...or maybe that would make it more interesting....Smiles...
Well now I have to tag five unfortunate people: Holly, Ingrid, Anne, Karin G, Kim M

Knitting

Okay, so I am trying out this new stitch, to try and learn it, but alas, I keep screwing it up. I think this may be because my 5 year old interrupts me and I forget what row I am on and then I purl when I should have knit. Then I try to rip out the row and reverse it but it still looks screwed up....so now I have ripped out the entire thing for the third time but I am determined!!!!! The sad part...till I lost track through the pesky distractions for minor things such as food (or yesterday...Mommy I think I have to throw up:) or feeding a baby...it was looking FABULOUS!!!!! So sad....
On the humorous side...I fell again this time at the local post office. Yesterday I was walking out carrying the huge and cumbersome baby carrier when I fell...Nothing new to my family,I fall all the time. In fact, when I told my husband he asked what I was thinking about:)
This happens to me often, usually I start thinking of other things: what I have to clean, how broke I feel, the book I am reading, how I could have screwed up my knitting...and then bang I fall....Those who know me often see the blank look and know a fall is imminent.
However the kind elderly gentleman at the PO was so worried he walked me out and down the stairs telling me to please be careful on the steps...LOL and he was 80 if he was a day...

Kennedy's Bunting

This is a picture of Kennedy's new Camo bunting in pink made by my mom!





Look how happy Kennedy is in her new bunting...She loves it/

Topic Question Number 2

I really do not change the projects I work on as I do not feel I am a good enough knitter to make gifts for others. Now that said I am making three scarfs. Two are just to try out new stitches and one is for my daughter the other is up in the air and I am making a pink fuzzy one for me I think although I amy keep it aside as an in a pinch present really not sure. I am also making a dress for my daughter which I have been making forever......I kinda lost interest in it...when she said she did not like it. Now she does again so I think I will quickly finish it:)

Sarahs' Gorgeous Wedding Cake! She made it!

Knitting projects

The Scarf I am now knitting for my daughter in a mock rib...I decided to try something normally I am afraid to try new stitches but I decided the only way to learn is to try so I did and it is easier than I thought and actually turing out well...
My mindless kniting a simple knit pattern in the fun fur for a scarf for me I think....
A dress I am almost done for my daughter who when I was more than half done decided I could give it to my neice:(
Maybe she will wear it when it is done or else I will save it for my daughter Kennedy:)

Mean Mom

Okay so I feel like a really mean Mom today. My five year old who is usually a very good girl and ocassionally gets in a little trouble for not listening, in all day Kindergarten, got in big trouble today for not listening. We had previously set up consequences for this behavior, to include loss of TV and bed after dinner when she loses a bee ( behavior plan) and gets a frowny face. We had just talked this AM, about her wanting ice cream, on Friday for having all smileys...so of course she loses her bee and gets a frowny face so I get the sucky part of parenting enforcing the consequence....
I hate punishing but I know it is necessary but it does make my heart hurt as I tell her and it is just as hard on me as it is on her.
As she sits in her room away from the TV and reading to herself, I really miss having her little self around chatting happily at me. We are very close, as my husband works long hours as a football coach, so it has always been her and I.
I may be a little hard on her because I got in so much trouble in school, not out and out bad just not listening and talking:) so I want to nip it before it gets out of hand.
Plus as a public school employee, everyday I see the result of parents who fail to enforce a home school connection, fail to discipline, and then believe their child over the teacher for things and so teacher their child nothing!!!
Do not get me wrong, I believe in the public schools, as I am not a fan of homeschooling or vouchers, as I believe children need to experiance all people and cultures, for we are a global society and it helps kids learn coping and people skills. I believe, we as parents get as much out the puclic school as we are welling to put in, I always go above and beyond for my kids on my caseload!

Gas Whores Part Three

For those of you, appalled as I am, by the way the gas companies disregard the envioronment and raise gas prices that effect the vast majority of middle income people while they continue to make outrageous and obscene profits: you will be horrified, as I was, to see that since 9Pm last night the Cambridge gas stations went from 2.89 to 2.93!!!! WHORES!!!
I want to move to Sweden where:
A. I can walk or take great public transportation or bike
B. 100% Literacy
C. They actually care about their people especially children as everyone who has a baby has 1 year off and then an additional 9 months the father must take off. WHIILE BEING PAID! Then upon returning to work they only have to work 35 hours a week and keep their jobs and pay!!!!
D. Socialized medicine: Good for preventative and kids but not so great for emergencies....Ups and downs!
If I could I would move there but alas no job....I do enjoy being an American but sometimes I get sick of the way we treat our kids and families....

Megan's 100 question contest!

Head on over to Megan's page at http://tangledupinknots.blogspot.com/ answer a question on her list of 100 things contest to win a prize. Be sure to tell her I sent ya!!! FYI great questions!

Weekly Posting Contest and Kickoff

When did you first start drinking coffee? What age were you? Was it about the caffeine, or do you love the taste and smell? Tell us how your passion began!

For me it was an outward sign to others that I was grown up. I started drinking it in college b/c my boyfriend and friends did. When we would go out to Denny's late at night we would get coffee because it was cheap and you could sit there as long as you wanted and get free refills. As an additional benefit, drinking caffeniated coffee was a great way to stay up all night to study and hang out with friends. Of course I have loved coffee ice cream since early childhood:)

I also love the smell of coffee shops.... coffee brewing it makes me feel warm and safe.....however unbelievable to me my husband hates coffee and the smell!!!!How can anyone hate the smell of coffee.

Gas Whores Part Two

How can gas prices go from 2.75 to 2.89 in less than 24 hours!!!! I know that the price of oil has risen however, the increase has not yet effected them so this is totally proactive...they do not drop prices this quickly when the price goes down...no wonder they always make sooo much money even in the face of a poor econmoy.

November 1

Well today is my Mom's birthday and she is very sick with a virus...not near death or anything she just sounds dreadful what a way to spend your birthday...UGH!
Yesterday I took my two girls out for Halloween, Katie the 5 year old likes it but like me is not much of a costume wearer, prefering instead cosutmes that are more like real outfits...she was a cheerleader...

As for the Winter coffee exchange I am getting very excited about participating and even having a blog...I will have to take a picture of my current knitting project it is just a scarf but it is quick and easy to knit in betwen taking care of my newborn who is now almost 3months!!! Hard to believe!!! I am enjoying it but forgot how much you are up at night.
Of course last night while feeding he at 2AM I got sucked into MSNBC documentary mysteries and then had to watch the whole thing so today i was exhausted!!!! Oops!

Kennedy's 1st Halloween

 

Gas Whores

I just want to say how is it possible that the price of a gallon of gas goes from 2.63 yesterday to 2.77 today at the same gas station! Gas companies are whores!

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? Starbucks: hazelnut winter specials!
Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?Ground
This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? yes
Do you enjoy special blends?yes
How do you take your coffee? skim with splenda
Straight up? Decaf?Both
Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?Mug
What is your favorite part of Winter?Snow
Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?Christmas
If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?yes
Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package? Winter
Do you collect anything? Not really
Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?Snmowmen
Do you wear scarves? yes
Mittens?no
Hats? yes
What is your favorite holiday or winter treat? warm fire with wine and friends
Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.
Yarn and Crafting Do you Knit or Crochet? knit- beginner
For how long? 7 years
Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?metal circular
What sort of projects do you enjoy making?scarfs, things for my girls,
What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?Do you spin or dye?no
Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? not very crafty read a lot though
General
When is your birthday? March 11
Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!) 2 daughgters 5 years, 3months, 2 black labs: Magnus 8 yrs Blue 1 year
What are your favorite colors? pink, fall browns and oranges
Do you have any allergies? No