Twinkle Twinkle

This is another test-knit. I love how it turned out! It was a bit fiddly because it is a small project with small needles and lots of increases and decreases, but definitely worth it. I am already thinking about making some more.

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Brites
Content: 100% acrylic
Color: Lemonade
Care: Machine wash and dry
Needles: US 2 / 2.75mm
Pattern: Christmas Galaxy of Stars (will link to pattern when available)






















Would definitely recommend this pattern and the designer.

p.s. The husband grabbed it and threw it at me like a throwing star!

Blub Blub the Amigurumi Fish

This was another test knit. It is very cute. The yarn required is worsted, but I was getting to open of a fabric, so I switched to a chunky yarn. This is not a surprise since my gauge is almost always loose compared to others.


Yarn:Bernat Softee Chunky
Color: Circus - which may be discontinued, as it is not on their chart
Content: 100% acrylic
Care: Machine wash and dry
Hook: G / 4mm
Pattern: Blub Blub the Amigurumi Fish























Overall, crochet is just killing my wrists too easily, so it's unlikely I'll make another once soon. But I will most likely make it again. Maybe in a much thinner yarn for a smaller fish! Some stripes might be nice.

Bakers Dozen Square - November

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl's BIG (It took about 1.3 skeins)
Color: Tan 7820
Care: Machine washable
Content: 100% Superwash Wool
Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm
Pattern: 24.19 in the The Harmony Guides Vol 5
Gauge: Pre-blocking the finished piece was 4.5" x 11" - This stitch has great stretch width-wise.



I originally was going to chart my own. I flipped through some stitch dictionaries for inspiration. When I saw this pattern I fell in love with it and decided I had to do it. Still really love it and think I may put this stitch pattern into the blue socks I am making myself. The stitch is super stretchy and forgiving.

The square freshly off the needles. Isn't the texture just absolutely delicious!





Off it went to take a bath.


It blocked out beautifully and I fell even more in love with the pattern.





To make it a 12" square and add stability to the square I did double crochet stitches on the sides.


And single crochet stitches on the top and bottom.


Off for another bath.


After the second blocking.


This square, as so many others was hard to part with.







I so extremely love this stitch that I am using for the blue socks I am knitting. So much for just a simple pair of socks. They are going to be perfect though.

Food Friday – Cream Cheese Chicken and Vegetable Soup

I wanted to try this recipe because the cream cheese sounded interesting. I can never get the cheese to melt as well as I want or it’s too tedious . . . so using cream cheese instead sounded interesting. Surprisingly, love it with cream cheese. It adds another dimension to the soup that is worth it.



















I have since made another soup using cream cheese as the thickener and cream agent, a bacon and potato soup. Very yummy! I would suggest trying it if you haven’t.

Healthy Thursday

We will begin with apologies for having disappeared from the Blog-O-Sphere. Besides a few inclination issues which are discussed below, the old computer wasn't working so well anymore and I pretty much feared it would crash every time I would use it. My very nifty husband bought me a new computer for Christmas and gave it to me early, so I am back and with much more confidence in my computer. :)


So, onto the topic at hand . . . Healthy Thursdays are not so healthy this week. I seemed to do nothing but crave proteins and sweets this week. In the end, I figured it was Thanksgiving week and I would let myself indulge. This was good and bad. Good because I don't plan on completely depriving myself of anything. However, just letting it all go this week made me feel crankier, tired, and more emotional. So essentially it back-fired!

I only exercised once this week because I felt cranky, tired, and emotional! So yes, it proved its point even more that the eating better and exercising really was making me feel better.

It showed in the pounds too, unfortunately.

Weight :276.7 (+1.6 lbs)

But I am okay with this backslide and if anything this will mean a better week this coming week. :)


Goals
Exercise: 4 or more exercise sessions (These will probably be in door, because the weather is definitely turning into winter now.)

Food: Salad at least 4 out of the 7 days. (Don't want to over do it again and burn myself out). Make sure at least 2 veggies with dinner.

Sleep: At least 7 hours a sleep per night. (This is going to come along with a penalty, since this is my hardest goal to maintain. For every night that I do not get 7 hours, I have to put $5 in the change vase.)


I hope each of you had not only the time, but the inclination to take care of yourselves this week! If you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, I hope you had a most wonderful Thursday!

Healthy Thursdays

Ah, I am back . . . with a new scale. I am not sure that the other one ever worked correctly so I won't judge the numbers against each other, it will be like starting anew with numbers. Any who, this week was a good week physically, but I have REALLY been struggling with the sleep.

Weight: 275

Exercise: 6
~Walked home - three times (one was about a mile longer than normal, making about 4 miles, because I took a detour to buy some sauce at a particular restaurant)
~Arm Weight Routine - twice
~Took the Stairs at work - once

Food:
~I took a break from the constant salads and only had salad once this week, but ate plenty of other veggies with my food.

Sleep:
~Really struggled with this one this week. Every day was between 5-6 hours except on the weekend I got around 8. I am having difficulty still switching things around to being up so early. Still trying though.

Goals:
~Sleep is my first and foremost goal. For the time, my goal will be to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
~Salads are back in this week.
~I am working in exercising more and more, but instead of adding a higher goal, I will keep it at 4 but that at least one of those has to be one of the cardio work-outs I have on DVD.


I hope each of you were able to take some time this week to take care of yourselves! ☺

#23

This one was just a smidgen over 15 minutes, so I had to divide it into two segments.







~Notes~

What's going on :
~Not much at all! :)
~Figured out the scale is broken, you have to hold something that is like 5lbs to make it shift any. Oh well, gotta go get a new one.


Finished Objects (FOs) :
~Paulina Hat
~Blue Bandanna with the wheatear stitch.
~Yellow Bandanna with the closed button stitch.


Knitting Works In Progress (WIPs) :
~ Baby version of the Brattleboro Hat!
~ Whirligig Shrug
~Blue Socks


Sewing Works in Progress (WIPs) :
~Red Bandanna with Herringbone stitch.
~Green Bandanna with Button Hole Stitch.


Tempting Ideas :
~Spinning.
~Might design some cables for the Bakers Dozen Square.


Favorite Thing :
~Was very unorganized and had nothing for the video this time. It was an odd week and my brain thought of nothing in particular for a favorite.

Sunday Inspirations

Gathered Clutch Tutorial is a cute little bag. I like bag sizes like these for carry notions in. I found this because Yarn Sprout post the one she made. Love the colors she used!

More lovely stitching over at artsy-crafty babe.

Love the Yulie Hat from Claudia's Blog. Already went on Ravelry and downloaded the free pattern from Grumperina.

Love this embroidery piece and this embroidery piece from CrazyQstitcher.

Handmade Advent Calendar is beyond adorable! If I had time, I would definitely make this for my nieces . . . maybe next year.

Absolutely love the Pincushions from the Barefoot Shepherdess. They are lovely, complicated, but not over done. Makes me to make some.

Got my post card in the mail for Caps for Good. I hope everyone who can take the time will make a cap and send it out.


Recipes I'd like to try:

Cauliflower Soup from Joyful Abode.

Carmel Corn looks delicious and bet it taste better home-made!

Love this simple way of Preserving from Simply Recipes.

Green Bean Casserole from the Pioneer Woman.

Food Friday - Week of Spinach!

First I tried the Spinach Bisque that I had mentioned a few weeks ago. The recipe is super simple, however, it wasn't well received at our house. It is quite thick, which makes it almost more suitable for a dip. Also, we thought it could use more seasoning, you basically tasted the Velveeta. Overall, it was okay, but neither one of us liked it enough to finish off the leftovers.







Second, we tried the Southwest Egg Rolls with Creamy Chipotle Dipping Sauce that I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. We decided to try it more like taco style, since the husband prefers his flour tortillas, while I need my corn tortillas.


The inside mix was absolutely delicious! We will definitely be making these again. I suggest just a bit more cumin, but otherwise perfect.


I chose to put the dipping sauce on the tortilla and then put the mix in. Very yummy.


This was my plate.





Overall, loved this dish. I am thinking about making a baked version that is more like enchiladas. Basically wrapping them like the egg rolls, but then using the dipping sauce and then a layer of cheese.

I do recommend following the recipe and making the dipping sauce in the beginning, it doesn't really get its flavor until after it has sat for a while. I made it at the end, and it was much tastier the next day when I took leftovers to lunch!

Healthy Thursdays

Well, another week has rolled around. I had today off, since I work at a bank. It was nice to be able to sleep in and get some stuff done.


Weight: 274.4 (no weight loss)

Exercise:
~Walked home once - Would have walked home more, but didn't want to aggravate my ear.
~Did 20 minutes of arm exercises twice.
~Took the stair one day - I work on the 6th floor, so my calves were complaining the next day!

Salads: Had salad every day except one. The grapes didn't look good this week, so I had canned oranges on my salad most of the days.





Sugars: Ate more sugars this week, because I tend to turn towards them when I don't feel good. I have cut out pop almost completely. I drink it maybe once a week now, but I am not that big of a pop drinker anyways.

Goals are still the same for next week:
4 days of exercise
Salads.
Less sugars.

I hope each of you were able to take some time this week to take care of yourselves! :)

Paulina Hat

This was the last test-knit I am doing until I make progress with all the gifts I would like to accomplish! It was a fun test-knit though and I am glad I did it.

Yarn:Patons Shetland Chunky
Color: Mustard (I believe this color is discontinued, I got it at Michaels a couple years ago for like 33cents a skein)
Content: 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool
Care: Machine wash cold, lay flat.
Needles: US 8
Pattern: will link when she posts it

I decided to make my own buttons, so they would match. I used the tutorial I had linked to on Sunday for Sister Diane's Dorset Button Tutorial. The first one was a little fiddly, but they are quite easy to do.


This is one side of the buttons.


This is the other side.


I like how both sides of the button look, so the button faces one way on the top of the hat.


And the other way on the ear flap.


This is the amount of yarn I had left from the skein I used.


The hat can be worn a few different ways. First is open.





Second is with the ear flaps secured under the chin.








And thirdly, with the flaps secured on the top of the head.








Overall, this was a quick and enjoying knit. For the most part I love how the hat turned out,I just like my hats to come a little further down on my head. I will most likely be making another one and will just cast on a few more stitches in the beginning to give it a little extra length. Will definitely be making more of my own buttons too!

Diamond Leaf Mitts

Not only were these a quick knit, but I loved the yarn, loved the color and loved the twisted stitches!

Pattern: Diamond Leaf Mitts (test-knit)
Yarn: Bamboo Ewe
Color: Twilight (Even online it looks more blue, but I swear in person it's more of a purple-ish blue)
Content: 55% viscose from Bamboo, 45% Wool
Care: Hand wash gently in cold water. Lay flat to dry.
Needles: 4mm/ US 6 (recommended it pattern)

I test knitted these because when I saw them I thought of my sister Echo and that she would like them. So these are part of her Christmas present.













Overall, love how stretchy they are and will be knitting myself a pair soon! Might knit them to match a hat I am test-knitting . . . we shall see.

#22

~Notes~

What's going on :
~Addiction to test knitting
~Winter is coming!

Finished Objects (FOs) :
~ Diamond Leaf Mitts (test knitting)

Knitting Works In Progress (WIPs) :
~ Baby Hats - - Baby version of the Brattleboro Hat! Forgot to mention this is the podcast, but have been knitting on this, almost done with the brim.

~Paulina Hat - - (test knitting)


Sewing Works in Progress (WIPs) :
~Still working on John's bandannas.


Tempting Ideas :
Colorwork - I would like to get back to working on my colorwork leaf socks.

Favorite Thing :
~Daylight savings ended. Both a blessing and a curse. One more hour of sleep, but less daylight.

Sunday Inspirations

Crocheted Skulls from Emilee Knits. The pattern is Day of the Dead Crochet Skull on Ravelry. I like how Emilee altered the pattern just a bit to make it more solid looking.

Pillow Week Challenge makes me want to makes some pillows! As a weakness, the husband and I are definitely pillow people! You can never have enough pillows!

Dorset Buttons are adorable and you can always make a button that matches!

Knit Wits Podcast is hilarious. If you like podcasts, unscripted, and with plenty of humor then you should try this out!

The preview for Interweave Knits Winter 2010 is out! Can't wait til my copy arrives! I like the look of the: Ginevra’s Pullover, Thandie Funnel Neck, and I think I might be truly in love with the Gloucester Coat. The socks look very nifty too! I think the Isobel Skirt might be the nicest looking knitted skirt I have ever seen.

This tricky technique for Traveling with your Embroidery Floss is super nifty!


Recipes I want to try:

Crockpot Turtle Pudding sounds super delicious. Super sweet also though! This is definitely something I'd like to try though.

Gluten-Free Stuffing sounds good. Although I'd need to find a decent gluten free bread to use. Not sure If that is in the cards.

Food Friday - Gluten Free Lasagna

Ah, gluten-free lasagna noodles. I almost thought it was too good to be true. Lets face it, gluten-free anything will never taste like the gluten-filled version, but this is a fairly good rival!

Tinkyada Lasagna Noodles were the first gluten-free lasagna noodles I had seen in the store and knew I had to try them. I missed lasagna.



Boiled some noodles, I only did about 6 noodles as that is all that's needed to make about 4-5 portions. Even though the package says they can be cooked for quite some time and keep their consistency, error on the side of caution. Once they become mushy, they aren't salvageable.


Here is the sauce I used. Once again, trying new kinds that guarantee to be gluten-free. It was a good sauce.


Gotta have the black olives, I am a sucker for them.


Fried up some pork sausage in a little bit of sesame oil.


Also Wegmans brand, because it guarantees that it is gluten-free. Plus, their brand is pretty tasty.


Chopped up about a handful of the pepperonis.


I tried it this with two kinds of cheese, which is okay, but I think I like it better with just the mozzarella.





Gotta have the ricotta cheese. When we were young, we use to use cottage cheese, which is a pretty good substitute, but I love the creaminess of ricotta.


So first, we spray the pan with a little PAM, this is just a bread loaf sized pan. Put in enough sauce to cover the bottom. Then lay down two noodles, they are too long, but this works out later.


Add some dollops of ricotta cheese and smush them down some.


Add some sausage and pepperoni.


Sprinkle some cheese on.


A nice helping of sauce.


Now we fold over the noodles from the previous row and continue with two more noodles, in the same fashion.


I overlap them just s smidgen.


After doing the above layer twice, it doesn't take much to fill up this pan. Put a layer of sauce on top.


Sprinkle a nice helping of cheese.


Add the olives.


And bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Doesn't it look yummy!






Overall, I have made this about 4 or 5 times. It is super delicious and I cannot tell the difference between these noodles and regular noodles. Even the husband likes them and he usually doesn't so much care for the gluten-free items. I would definitely recommend them, even as an alternate to your normal noodles for those who can eat gluten. They are a bit pricier, but you don't need many noodles per dish if you are making it for only a few.

I am very glad to have lasagna back in my rotation of available foods!