Morning Quiet

I like my morning quiet. Shawn is a night owl and a late sleeper. Most mornings I'm up by myself. I especially enjoy this on Sunday mornings, when I can be a bit lazy. I like to stay in my pj's, read, spend too much time on the computer, knit or scrap. This morning its gray and rainy, I'm still not feeling 100% and its been one of those weeks where too much negative stuff has happened. I need my morning quiet more than ever this morning. In fact, my lazy morning routine just might extend well into the afternoon and evening today.

I spent all of Friday night and yesterday with some sort of stomach bug. Not really what I had in mind for my weekend. Yesterday I stayed in bed much of the day, reading and watching movies. I started off this morning with more reading and some online surfing. Though I did manage to start a load of laundry, I'm not expecting much from my day. At some point, the house needs to be cleaned, meals need to be planned and groceries need to be purchased. I might save that all for tomorrow in between a morning meeting and evening make up session. I think today I will finish this book, do more laundry, knit and play a bit with this kit (which launches later today at Scrap for a Cure).


Beyond that, don't expect much from me today. I'm enjoying my quiet.

Random Thoughts

I spend too much time online.
I am kind of excited about being back in school.
I actually scrapped 2 pages today.
I just learned I can pursue my masters and post-bacc program simultaneously.
I have a lot of ideas.
I am obsessed with knitting.
I hate the way Shawn's new strawberry banana gum smells. Ick!
I did not vacuum or clean the bathrooms today.
I have spent too much money this month.
I no longer have a garden full of weeds.
I miss coffee.
I wish money wasn't a concern.
I have crafting ADD.
I miss classical music.
I need to get rid of my current sweet tooth.
I have cold hands and a cold nose.
I want new furniture.
I should purge and reorganize.
I need a pedicure.
I am excited about getting my hair done tomorrow.
I need another project like I need a hole in the head.
I wish I had a magic wand (one that really worked).
I am currently in love with birds.
I have hardly taken any photos this month.
I kind of want to make a quilt.
I need to exercise.
I should go to bed early tonight.

And if you are not bored yet, here's some recent scraps I haven't blogged yet. My January Project 12. The first 12x12 2 pager I've ever done:


Based on Studio Calico's Sunday sketch a couple of weeks ago:

Tuesday 10

1. Really wanting something from here. Thinking I may use some leftover Christmas money and a discount coupon to order something. Not sure what to pick though. This one, this one, this one...what do you think?

2. Chocolate Mousse left over from Valentine's day. So good and so easy to make.

3. Making another one of these (sorry for the crappy phone photo):


4. Just purchased these monogram letters on sale at House of 3 and downloaded these free tags. Anticipating some fun banners in my future.

5. Still admiring my fun Valentine's treat bags from Elle's Studio. Thanks Elle for the fun prize!

6. Making to do lists like crazy. March is going to be a busy month.

7. Really wanting to learn to crochet. I don't need another hobby, but I already have a ton of yarn and have seen so many cute projects lately.

8. Looking forward to a possible sushi date tomorrow night, Wednesday lunch with my sister, breakfast with some artsy girls on Thursday and hanging with Steph this weekend.

9. Hoarding gift cards from Anthopologie and Pottery Barn. Also an Amex gift card (though that may be used this week--see #1). Waiting for the perfect items to purchase and/or a bit of extra money to spend with them.

10. Enjoying the Olympics this week. Finding myself interested in sports I've never watched much before.

Happy Valentine's Day

1. Paper Heart, 2. It's raining hearts (365/351), 3. Lens Heart, 4. Heart in my Hand, 5. heart of stone, 6. The shape of my heart..., 7. Day 162: Hearts, 8. Trees grow hearts, too. *Christmas 2007*, 9. the heart sock phenomenon continues...

A Little of This and A Little of That

I had some request to let you know what I accomplished from the list yesterday. I did pretty well. I did not however, get the oil changed (I seriously dread this task) nor did I play with that yummy pile of felt. I know, I know, how could I not play with felt...well, here's what happened.

I went into the craft room to hem my pants. In order to use my sewing machine, I had to move a pile of goodies off the desk. On top of the pile was a package of heart shaped doilies. Oh yes, I had plans for these....when I bought them, I was thinking banner....but, as I pull the chair out to sit at the sewing machine, I find a styrofoam wreath sitting on my chair. Hmmm...doilies plus wreath=valentine's wreath. So instead of playing with felt, I was creating this:


What do you think? I'm thinking it needs a little something. Maybe somethings sparkly or red. I want to keep it simple though and not froufy (yes, that's a word) or cutesy. Any suggestions?

I did also get distracted by another project yesterday. While dusting, I came across a folder of recipes torn out of magazines. Now, this folder has been sitting there for awhile now, but yesterday I suddenly got the urge to deal with this. So yesterday, I sorted all recipes (we're talking TONS of recipes) into categories, to match the categories in my recipe binder. Today I hope to glue these babies down to pages and insert. Although I did impose a try it first policy on magazine recipes awhile back as I had to rip out several in my binder after trying and not liking. Shawn might be looking forward to a month or two of experimental meals....

Again today, I am only seeing one kid. Already reduced schedule combined with lots of cancellations this week, leaves me home a bit more. So I've got another big list for today, here it is:

• lentils out of the freezer (my dinner tonight)--done
• work on class (more on this later)
• finish recipe project
• make Irish stew and biscuits for dinner (I owe Shawn a hearty meat meal after carrot ginger soup and pumpkin pasta on the menu already this week)
• more mileage
• knit
• calendar page
• purchase piano books
• pick up photos
• play with felt?
• blog--done

First, I must go to work.
Happy Wednesday!

The 10 is Back Again

10 things to do today:

1. Go to the post office to mail valentine's
2. Knit
3. Upload and order photos for Friday's crop--Done
4. Dust
5. Etsy planning
6. Work on mileage
7. Oil change
8. Finally hem those pants
9. Do something with all that felt I bought
10. Blog--Done :)

I'm only seeing one kiddo today so this list might actually be doable, if only I'd get off the computer.

Knit Obsessed

I think this is my new motto. For the past month or so, I have spent virtually every evening (well, the ones where I actually get off the computer) knitting. This year I have already made a scarf, a hat, a felted coffee sleeve and a cowl. I currently have this sweater (which I may have to redo due to sizing), another cowl and another scarf on needles. Oh and there's that blanket I started long ago...I have about a million bookmarked and printed patterns in my queue of projects as well. Shawn tells me knitting has overtaken scrapbooking these days. It's a close race....

Here's a few of my latest projects. Please overlook the crappy pictures. They are all self portraits taken in the bathroom mirror on a Sunday (the day I wear loungey clothes and not a touch of makeup). One of these days I'll need to get better photos of my knitting projects, but until then, here's what you get.

The chunky knit cowl (pattern here), my latest obsession:


Flower Hat made with Debbie Bliss alpaca silk yarn given to me for Christmas. I also made this hat for my mom for Christmas in a icy blue color.



This scarf, which I made as a gift for Michelle's birthday.


One of these days I'll need to post a better picture of my tunic top and I need to collect photos of all the knitted gifts I gave away without photographing so I can update my ravelry page. Pretty soon I'll be working on some spring and summer knits (I've got a couple t-shirt patterns stashed away) as I won't be needing scarves and sweaters much around here soon.

Late to the Party

I've had lots of blogging posts planned in my head, but I've not gotten around to posting them. In between restructuring my whole schedule and professional life, setting new goals and researching school options, I've been a bit overwhelmed. I've also been doing lots of knitting and mindless blog searching, both good ways to quiet the mind. To top it all off, I feel like I've been fighting the ick too. I was feeling a bit achy and sore throaty by Sunday and that was before I was coughed and sneezed on by at least 5 kids this week. Now I'm doing my best to avoid full blown sickness.

So, I'm totally late to the Scrap for a Cure new kit party. I should have posted my layouts from French Kiss several days ago. I loved working with this kit. Seriously, once I started playing with it, I couldn't put it down. I made 4 layouts plus a little valentine's mini and could probably crank out another page or two with what I've got left. Here's my pages:


I really love the Basic Grey Origins line (paper above). I've always been sort of ho hum about BG, but this line has hooked me. There new releases look pretty amazing too.

I'm loving that I have all these photos of Miss Ella to scrap. Channeling my inner girlie girl for pages about her. This page was based on our February Sketch created by Jana Eubank:




This last project is a little valentine's gift for Shawn, so in case he decides to actually read my blog, I'm not posting the whole thing. I made it from 2 red envelopes, which I turned upside down, stacked and stitched down the middle and some collage press journaling tags. Here's the cover.


I promise to be back later with more blogging goodness, including some recent knitty projects and an update on my word of the year.

Happy Thursday!