Hope It Isn't a Theme...

Although with only 10 courses left, it might just stay that way during school. What am I talking about?! My random gaps in blog updates.

I am pleased to report that everything is well! I have been using all of my time to study, work, knit for 4 hours a week (more if the homework is light), and maintain my social life (by studying with friends..2 birds).

I was only disappointed with one of my midterm grades, and after talking to my teacher, he said that I am doing really well, but that if he just handed out A's it wouldn't reflect that we were learning anything. So hopefully I can get that B+ up to an A by the end of the term.. Other than that I have two A's, and in my most difficult class, a B. Not to shabby.. especially if you know how my grades tend to go! I am loving school! It is actually a lot of fun... I shouldn't have gone back to the classroom when I first moved here, instead of waiting for 3 years..of course I really wasn't ready yet.

On other notes.. I have no finished objects, but still make it to knitting almost every week. I wasn't able to go to any of the fiber fests this year :( maybe next year I will go to all three to make up for it!

I have pictures for you somewhere, but I don't currently have time to sit here and wait for them to upload.

I will try to make it less than a month before I make it back again, and the next post will hopefully have some pictures...maybe of hand knit socks, or hair cuts, or who knows...

Happy Firday! Happy weekend!

Been a while

I finally found time to update!

After that last post, literally the same day, I was coming home from a jog, and got swarmed with Hornets! I recieved 5 stings, along with the information that I am not allergic to them whew! That was the last big thing to happen during the Hamptons trip.

We arrived home a few weeks ago on Sunday, and then School stuff began. My orientation was that Monday, and my classes were that Wednesday. My apartment had one full suitcase, and a full duffle from the trip, waiting to be unpacked, and between work, school, meeting up with friends I hadn't seen in a month, and the rest... I must admit, I still haven't unpacked the duffle! (Aren't you glad to find out that I am updating you before unpacking?!)

School has been going very well! I am taking classes towards finishing my Interior Design Degree, and I love all of my classes! Even the math. But there are a lot of hours put in to doing the whole school thing.. both inside and out of class. I am noticing a huge difference this time around in taking my classes. I am so motivated to accomplish everything and finally be able to start my career, and finally call myself an interior designer, instead of a nanny! (Not that there is anything at all wrong with being a nanny.. look where it's gotten me!) The point of this rambling is that I am loving school, and everything about it!

The Bean Family is all good as well, work is great, I love the kids and the 'rents are great too! They are working around my classes, and we are all making it work. We have finished the first Freddy book, Freddy Goes to Florida and started on the second, Freddy Goes to the North Pole. Because of my classes though, I haven't really been here to read bed time stories, and we haven't ready any of it since we arrived back in CT. They are great books though, I'm not sure who is enjoying them more, me or the kids! I'll try to keep you posted on our adventures, even though I'm busy with school!

My knitting has been receiving about the same amount of attention as my blog has. I am going to continue trying to make it to my weekly SnB. I think 2 hours of knitting a week is allowed. I am currently knitting on my Blue Tweed Vest, the pattern is from knitty, and is called Milly. I am almost finished with the Right front, and I took it to our Stitch and Pitch this past Sunday. It was such fun!

Okay, School, Work, and Knitting... that completes the update... sorry for a photo-less post. Hopefully I will find time to update soon!!

Happy Tuesday :)

Nature's Beauties

The Hamptons are definitely a place that I would have on that list. It is gorgeous here. We are nestled in a residential area in East Hampton, near Amagansett. We can see the Bay from the house, and it is just a two minute walk (at kid speed) to the beach. Simply wonderful.


So far work-wise, things have been good. Extremely better than past Nannying work trips I have been on. I have my own room.. enough said.

We have explored a little bit of the area. Took the kids putt putt golfing the other day, and I won a free game for the next time. We have spent a lot of time adventuring by foot, at the beach. The weather has overall been great. Although as I'm sitting here typing this, it is overcast, a little chilly, and there is actually enough fog in the air that our view of the water has turned into a view of smokey-white abyss this morning. All in all a great time is being had.

I have been knitting and jogging daily to keep myself sane. The knitting is my zen, and the jogging is just a wonderful breath of fresh air. I have only missed one day since arriving, and that was simply because I was the adult on duty and couldn't leave the kids here to go out.

My spirits are great, and we are almost finished with week one. Hopefully things keep up in the direction that they are going! More to come soon!

Non-Knitting FO

Wrapping Paper!

Why spend money on wrapping paper, when your town has a plastic bag ban, and every time you buy more than will fit into your re-usable bags, you get paper.

Here's What you do... cut the paper bag so that it will lay flat.


Choose no more than 5 coordinating colors, and get a ruler (unless you want to free-hand it)



Come up with a design.. Stripes are fun, and using a combination of different widths adds a new design element than just stripes. You could also do polka dots in different colors and sizes, or big swirly lines, etc. When you are doing something that isn't as rigid as stripes, it will take less time to color the paper.



I used the width of my ruler as a spacing guide, that way you can just roll it over and mark along the width of the paper. You mark with one color, then two times with the next color, that way you get the variance of wide versus thin stripes. Go back after and color them in.



Voila, you're done! You can use the paper for any holiday, birthday, wedding, or other gift giving reason.


Happy Crafting!

Blog Neglect

I'm guilty!

I have no excuses either! I am down to 2 days a week at my current job, and I am filling in the rest of the days with random babysitting gigs for now, and my new Nanny job is set to start on the 22nd.

Instead of blogging in my spare time, I have been taking Charlie for long walks, working on my knitting, and just hanging out. My knitting is going well. I finished my coquette lace top, but then the bust was much too roomy, it fit everywhere else, so I decided sense it was a quick knit I would frog it and start over. It is in the process now. I am also working on DW's sweater. I have one sleeve down, one sleeve, end weaving, and buttons to go... my goal is to have it completed by the time my sister is her (the last weekend in March) so that she can take it back with her. I have been plugging away more on my coquette top, than DW's sweater, though so I'm going to need to get to a stopping place (or just finish it real quick) and get back to DW's sweater! I let you know which way it goes, and when they are both completed.

Other than that, no blog news here. I will try to be good, and post again soon. In the meantime, I have yarn for a shrug that I want to make to go over the coquette top, as well as many other summer ensembles, but I can't find a pattern I love. I would prefer a free pattern, and just something simple so that it is versatile enough to have options. If you can think of anything let me know! Thanks!

Happy knitting, and blogging!

Rockin Sock Yarn

One of the wonderful gals in my SnB gave me this absolutely delicious yarn for helping her move into her new place.


I love the colors in it, and I can't wait to work with it. The only problem, is that I don't knit socks. I love looking at sock patterns, and I love wearing my hand knit socks, however I have no desire to make them myself.



So now I am asking you to help me decide on some patterns of what to make from my Socks that Rock Yarn. I would love to make something for myself out of this yarn, I can't remember the last time I was knitting for myself, and I can't wait to be excited about something for me. I am however not opposed to knitting it up for someone else, as long as I get to work with it soon! Let me know what you think. I have 360 yards of this new love of mine, so plot away!

Birthday Week, Day 5

Tonight I am enjoying a relaxing evening with my kiddos. Sheila got to hang out on the couch with us for a while, and Charlie got a nice long walk! Now we are all just lounging.

Yesterday I worked, came home and walked the dog, and packed dinner, then went to job number 2 (I accepted a second job seasonally, and they asked me to stay on, and with my hours being cut at work, I agreed). Came home, and then I went to bed (after walking the spoiled dog again!).


Wednesday, I had split pea and ham soup cooking in the crock pot all day long, and when I got home, not only did I get to enjoy a great comforting meal, but I also got to open a package! It was a Christmas/Birthday box filled with goodies especially for me! I am the new owner of an awesome wine bottle plug thingie, that is hand carved, and has some sort of mechanism that allows you to screw it on so that you can lay the bottle flat without it spilling. (what are these things called?)
In addition to that I got an awesome key chain with a poodle, and a bunch of cute dog things on it.
Sheila got an awesome bed warmer thing, that will keep her warm, and all I have to do is microwave it for 30 seconds a few times a day. I think that ultimately I am going to try to get another one so that I can alternate between the two, we'll see how long it actually takes to find one and buy it.

My mom also made a felted stuffed Hedgie for me, and it is a giant compared to Sheila, but it is so cute! It is sitting on top of my entertainment center, and watching everything. Sheila hasn't seen it, but I'm sure she would approve!
Oh and I also received some knitting notions to add to my new knitting notions bag, that I didn't post about yet, but my mom did!

For my birthday I received 5, yes five, new charms for my charm bracelet! They are the cutest!! I now have, in addition to my birthstone, snowman, and hedgie; a cute sparkly pink bead, a dangling high heeled flip-flop, a very cute swirly heart, a paw print, and a way cute cupcake with pink icing, sprinkles, and a red cherry on top! I even wore it to work to show it off to anyone and everyone there!



Birthday week is the best. I made some cupcakes tonight, to bring with me tomorrow for knitting group, and some to bring to work on Monday. Tomorrow, I have knitting, then a few errands (I have to deliver a gift for a little girl I watch whose birthday is coming up next week!), and then getting all dolled up and going out to dinner and dancing with a girlfriend! Can't wait :)

Hope everyone is having a good week, birthday week or not!

Birthday Week, Day 2

Today after work, I went and got a haircut! It has been such a long time that not only was it a treat, but a necessity! Here are the pics:

Front:


Back:


What do you think?

Squawking Artichoke!

So, today is day one of my Birthday week! I have a few fun things planned throughout the week to make this birthday an overall success! Today I went grocery shopping after work so that I could make sure I had all of my favorite foods in the house for cooking with this week. Artichokes were on sale, and so I decided I would get one, as it turns out they have a decent shelf life (I've been told they will last for about a month.. wonder if I should refrigerate them?) so I decided to get 2. However, there were only three left in there spot (and of course they all looked pathetic), so I asked the produce guy if they had more, and he went to fetch a box of them and meet me at there spot. When he returned he asked if he could pick out a few good ones for me. I actually know how to pick out an artichoke (leaves tight together, and when you squish them they should be squeaky) but hey, if he wanted to pick them out for me why not! So I told him I would like two, and he started squeaking away. The first one was good, but it took a few more tries to find the second. After making all the artichokes squawk, I made my way through the store to get everything else that I needed, and then headed home to hang with the pets.

So, you will have to wait until tomorrow to see what tomorrow's birthday plans entail :) (Hopefully I will have pictures to go along with that post too!)

Raveling

Well, I have been instructed, by my mother dearest, to update my blog, and my Ravelry!

So this morning I updated my Ravelry, and now I will update my blog...
I have completed a lot of projects sense I last updated the Rav. And now that it is after Christmas, I have added all of the pressies that I had sense cast on and then cast off.

The list is as follows: Mom's Shawl. Pattern: Luna Moth Shawl. Yarn: Saphire from Road to China Light. It turned out pretty well for my first real lace project, and I even think she likes it, I have been stressing about whether or not she would sense I got the yarn. Which was ordered from Clementine's Dry Goods.


Jessica's Mitts. Pattern: His and Hers cabled hat and gloves by Lynn Wilson Designs. Yarn: Indigo by Thaki Torino Chunky. These also turned out well, silly me didn't even take a picture of them, but I'm sure the sis will send me a picture soon so y'all can see them. I loved the cables in these, and have sense been wanting to do more cables.

Anderson Family hats. You've seen.

Also Laura's Sweater, cropped cardigan thing. Pattern: A combo of patterns that I combined different elements from. Yarn: Lang Silk Dream in dusty pink. The outcome is that she got it for Christmas, and it was too large, so she is sending it back, and I am sending her her alternate gift, re-knitting it to hopefully fit and be done by her birthday in July... plenty of time!

And now I am working on finishing the last of the hats for the W family. I have completed 3 of 4 and will post more on them when I have finished.

There, everyone is up to date!

More Thanks

So, A long long time ago, in a faraway land I signed up for a pay it forward on my mom's blog.. however, nobody signed up for mine... so do I just not send any hand made items? I guess if anyone wants to they can respond to this post and the first three commenters will be gifted within the next year.
Anyhow, this is the gift that I received in the mail last week!


It is a beautiful shawlett in this awesome greenish yellow color, and it can be worn in 2 ways,(traditionally, wrapped around the shoulders; and scrunched up around my neck in the front, which is way cute with this shorter length shawl) and I love love love it!

Thanks Momma :)

Thanks is Due

It has been over a week sense I have blogged... and there is good reason- My internet is connected through a data stick that plugs into the usb port in my laptop. Well being myself, I left it plugged into my computer on my ottoman, and one morning when Charlie decided 3am was an ok time to wake up, and I decided it was a great time to keep sleeping (I think I was in the right on this one) anyhow, he got my data stick out of my computer, and used it as a chew toy... it turned into little bits of plastic... thank goodness for having insurance on these things!


So anyhow, onto giving that thanks! As you may have seen on Chan's blog, she whipped up a sweater for Mr. Charlie! And he and I both love it! SO thank you very much! In the box with the sweater, was my pizza kit that I won in her October birthday contest! It is way cool, there is a pizza stone that handles molded into it, a dough kit, and an awesome pizza cutter! I can't wait to use it.. I do love my pizza :)

Sheila Update

Yes I did go meet Charlie this morning and it went very well, but there will be more to post on that later. Right now I would like to update on my girl.

When we left the vet's office on Tuesday night, things weren't sounding so great. They said that they hadn't seen enough of an improvement with her over the past week and that if no drastic change for the better came about we were going to have to run some diagnostic tests on Monday when I bring her back for her final round of shots. The tests were going to be to find out if she had cancer, fatty liver disease, or anything else along those lines. My job is to keep watching her closely between the appointments and monitor her improvement.

Well I have never seen her as upset and worked up as she was Tuesday night at the Veterinary Clinic. Probably because she had realized that this was the bad place where they poke her with things and make her a little sore, and groggy. I thought she would be somewhat better when we got home, but she still wouldn't even let me touch her for a good half hour... which was fine, she stayed in her carry bag to calm down while I cleaned out her cage.

Then it was like there was a switch that flipped with her when I put her back into her cage. She ran over to her food and water, and was eating and drinking normally, then up to her wheel to run, then down to her litter for a dust bath, and then I swear that if she could smile, she looked out at me and smiled! She is back to normal! I am so relieved--granted I am still monitoring her, but so far, all is well! She has been running again every night, and eating and drinking normally, so I will have a good report to give the Dr. on Monday night when we go in, and then hopefully that will be the end of the stress for a while.

As far as the rest of the weekend goes... this weekend is Reinbeck's Wool festival, and I will be attending with several people from my knitting group. I originally was not going to allow myself to spend any money there, but then my mom, and several other people pointed out to me that if I find something that I love I am going to regret not purchasing it, so I am going with the mindset that I have a limit, and I can only use it on things that I LOVE! Then after the day of shopping all the vendors, and checking out all the cool wooly fun, we are going to an after-party. I'm not sure exactly what all this will entail, but I will be sure to post on it soon! Other than that Sunday I am going to a friends 25th birthday dinner and just running errands earlier in the day.. maybe taking a nap, or just lounging about the house with pj's on and my knitting in my hands :)


Have a great weekend!

I have been instructed..

To tell you all the wonderful things I have in my life... or at least those of those that I am thankful for, and that make me feel blessed. (Instructed by miss Channon, by the way, she is feeling very thankful this month for a few reasons, which you can read about on her blog.)

I am of course thankful for the obvious, food, shelter, clothing, water, transportation, etc... and then I am thankful for a few more... Starting with my family.. I am one of the lucky ones that gets more than your average 2 parents, to love and support me, and help me whenever they can, I have a sister whom is very loving and considerate, and always puts me before herself (as well as many other people);
I am thankful for Sheila who was my only local friend when I moved 3,000 miles away from everything that I knew, and I am extremely blessed to have found a vet that not only works well with Sheila, but has worked with other hedgies and knows what she is doing!
I am thankful for my amazing network of friends, both near and far, through the blog-o-sphere, and through live encounters, all of whom I can contact when I need opinions, or just want to share about my life.

I am a very blessed individual to have all of these wonderful things surrounding me through my life.

What are you thankful for, and how blessed are you feeling? If you have something to say on the topic, you might consider going over to Chan Knits Blog, and looking into the contest posted here. It is going through October 26th I believe.

Road Trip Ready!

While I was in Block Island, fabulous Mr. Jay made the transaction to purchase my new car! (Now all I need to do is sell my Jeep..know anyone who wants a Wrangler?)



The New car is a 1997 Lexus GS300, Black Exterior, and tan leather interior... it has auto everything, and a sun roof!! Yaya!



(These pictures are not of my actual car, but just of ones I found when searching Google Images for "1997 Lexus GS300".)
In exactly a month I will be driving the new ride across the country, from Seattle, to Connecticut, with miss Laura, taking i-90 most of the way. We haven't solidified the drive-plan but we have a good outline, and a slight bit of lenience in the plans.. So if anyone knows of any excellent destinations along the Northern US, close to Interstate 90, feel free to let us know, we are open to suggestions, and I'll clue you in on the plan when we know more what we are up to.

For now, however, I am very excited about the new vehicle! :D

Oh My Goodness...It's almost been 2 months!

I apologize for the big break...
Classes started up again, and then my computer was out of service again... work has been busy with G on full time bed-rest waiting for the new baby girl to arrive (5 weeks to go).

So I have been doing a lot of school work, knitting, packing and just hanging out with people...

I hope to get back to my regular blogging soon... hopefully withing the next few days. I also have a lot of blog-reading to do to catch up on what has been going on with the rest of the blog world, as I've been slacking with that too....

Sisterhood Award

I got an award a while back from my madre and never posted about it:
Here it goes...



Now, the rules of this award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
I don't know that I have 10... but here are a few that I read and love, that have most likely already seen the award:
Bora Bora...So glad that you have a blog now too!
Ani....a funky fun gal that I met through my knitting group.
Not so Cynical Knitter...Now Knitting in an urban zoo... a blog friend that I found through a swap over a year ago.
Channon...I love all of your wonderful comments, and our great little email chats throughout the day... I even look forward to them now!
Nichole & her lapdog creations... she is such a creative gal, and a wonderful blog-friend, full of good tips, reviews, and other fun stuff
Ok well I can only get up to 5... but they are 5 worthy recipients!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.

Go Check it Out!

I finally made enough cards to get posted in an Etsy shop. (They don't have a minimum, I just didn't want to only have one or two items up at a time.)

Anyhow, here is the link to my shop, Krystle's Creations, I am selling all kinds of different cards that I have made. Some for St. Patty's day, and I will make some for Easter (the next holiday on the calendar) and get those up soon too, along with a variety of other cards. I hope you enjoy browsing around my shop, and a purchase wouldn't hurt either! ;)

Here are some of the cards:

It Has Arrived!

I got my Kindle :)
It is super sleek and stylish. Functional and wonderful. This is a photo of the oh so cute packaging it was wrapped up in. So, at Chan's request, here is what I think of it so far.

It is small and easy to bring with me wherever I go.
I love the sleep mode for when I have to quickly stop reading to run around with the littles.
I love the fact that you can set it to read out loud, sense lately we've been trying to spend more time outside playing and going for walks, I can set it in the stroller and plug in some headphones and listen while we walk.
I love that you can also change the pace of the reader to set it to a speed that is easy for you to follow along with, and you can also choose a female voice or a male voice.
I love that you can turn it off and the next time you turn it on it will go right back to where you stopped reading. It also does this if you choose to read another book for a while and then go back to another one, it will start you back where you left off.
I love the ability to shop for new books right from the Kindle store on the device and if you aren't sure you are going to like it you can get a free sample of the first chapter instantly downloaded and you can start reading. Then if you like what you read you can just click and buy the entire book which will also instantly download.
I love that it has a built in dictionary, so if you come across a word that you don't know you can scroll to it and it will give you the definition.
I love that it also has wikipedia on it so if you want to learn more about a specific topic you've read about you can search for it.
I love that the pages look just like the pages in a regular book, and there is no glare when you are reading outside.



The only thing that I don't like is that the first one came with a case included and this one doesn't so you have to spend an additional $30 for one. But I chose to just go find some wool sweaters from the Goodwill to cut up and sew together for cases. I will get multiple cases out of the 3 sweaters I purchased for $20. I will of course post pictures once they are done.

All in all I love my little Kindle. Oh and I have decided to give it a name. Krykit. Like a little bug cricket, but on the Kindle it calls it Krystle's Kindle so I took the Kry from my name and the Ki from kindle and added the t. Cute, I know.

Happy Reading :)

hip hip Hooray!

SO, I'm really excited because I recently pre-ordered the Kindle 2! It is the electronic book by Amazon.com. I have actually been looking into their first one and other e-books for about a year, and just now caved. It was supposed to be released today, but I got the email yesterday that it was out and being shipped so instead of getting it Thursday I think it's coming tomorrow!!! Woo baby! I'm stoked! :)

Happy Tuesday...go order yourself something nice that you can get excited about :D