Seriously?

You guys don't have any ideas for me to blog about? You can't think of ANYTHING?! Even the offer of a possible box of goodies isn't thought provoking? I know you guys have something. Anything at all. Really. I'll blog about any suggestion you give me. Otherwise, you will have to read about what I had for dinner and other weird things, like chess notations and detailed accounts of my vacuuming.I'll even extend the contest to November 3rd. So please, for my sanity, and your reading pleasure, give me something to blog about all month! I promise I will use all of your ideas, as long as it isn't something completely insane, like nude pictures of me lying in my yarn stash. You can leave an anonymous comment, too, if you're too scared to own up to your suggestion. Let's get commenting, folks!

NaBloPoMo and Contest

Yep. NaBloPoMo. I'm sure you're thinking, "What the fuck is that?" Well my friends, it is National Blog Posting Month! I am going to post every day in November. Lucky you! I think this is much more do-able for me than writing a complete novel. (I'll try for that next year...) Knowing my past blogging record, there may just be a complete month of posts with random babbling and what I had for dinner. Now, before you run off to bloglines to stop subscribing to my blog, let me offer you a suggestion. How about we have a contest? Yep. That's what I said. A contest! Everyone loves contests, right? So, here's what we're going to do. I want all of your suggestions for blog topics. Maybe you would like me to research the mating habits of mosquitos in the Panama Canal. Maybe you have a burning question you've been dying to ask me. Maybe you want to know my favorite recipe, or see pictures of all the sinks in my apartment. I'm game! So, give me your wackiest, your funniest, your scariest, or even just plain old normal ideas. You have until October 31st at midnight to leave me a comment or email with your idea. My favorite one will get a package of goodies from me. It'll be a great package, too. I promise! So, get to thinking. Get to commenting. If your lucky, you'll get to winning! C'mon. You know you want to. Don't be shy. Lurkers, this means you, too!

Birthday Goodies

Last weekend was a pretty great weekend. Sorry it has taken me so long to blog about it, I am generally consumed by motherhood, knitting, and work. Oh, and James. Jeesh, good thing he doesn't read this. Moving on. Saturday the 14th was my 22nd birthday.I worked a six hour day shift, which was okay- not too busy. I got home, and James gave me all the great presents he had gotten me. A dozen red roses, notecards (of which I am seriously addicted to), a really nice candle, some notepads (which I also have a place in my heart for), the new dvd limited edition of The Little Mermaid (one of my favorite movies), and to top it all off, the most beautiful sock-weight yarn. It is Merino and silk, dyed in amazing jewel tones of reds, greens, purples, golds, and blues. It is soft and amazing! I can't even fathom knitting it into socks where it will be hidden away and mushed around in my stinky shoes. I've decided to make a really pretty lace-ish scarf out of it. At least that way I can show it off properly! I wish I had gotten a picture of it skeined, because I think it's the prettiest that way, but here is a picture of it balled. The yarn is from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company, Inc. in the colorway "storm". It is super pretty and soft, I really love it! Don't I have the greatest husband EVER?! You know it's true love when he'll venture into the yarn shop alone, and come out with expensive, wonderful yarn that he picked all by himself. I'm excited to start knitting with it, but Christmas knits come first. Must keep telling myself that. Christmas knits first...Christmas knits first... Another great highlight was being able to go out with James and our friends. It wa Granted, the babysitter is family, and has kids of her own, but still. We went to a local poool hall/ cocktail lounge, played some pool, I tied one on, and great fun was had by all! I got more great gifts from our wonderful friends- Stitch N' Bitch Nation, Fragile Things by my favorite author Neil Gaiman, Some really great earrings, and Where's My Cow? to read to Joie. I really had a lot of fun! Of course, I got a good chunk of birthday cash, and picked up Mason Dixon Knitting (I know, I'm a bit late to jump on that wagon), the 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Calendar (which is awesome, go get it!), a few other books, a Giants (my favorite football team) hoodie, and a couple skeins of Malabrigo. We actually drove all the way to Taos to get it, which is a good 120 miles from here. I got some for me, some for a scarf for James, and some to make his sister a scarf for Christmas. Have I mentioned how much I love this stuff? Here's a picture of my skein- it's in the colorway Hongos- it's a great dusky pink color overdyed with a chocolate brown. Yum!

The Topi

Yes, folks, I finally have this one hundred percent completed. I finished knitting a few weeks ago, but still had ends to sew in and the plastic mesh to stick in the brim and such. The pattern was really easy to follow, and I love the way it turned out. the yarn I used was KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in coal. I also have yarn for the same hat in a more khaki color, which should be just as cute. Now to find the time to knit it... anyways, here are some pictures the wonderful James obliged to take last night of me in my new hat. So, there you have it. Enjoy your Friday the Thirteeth!

I'm Not an Addict, Baby.

That's a lie. I am. Malabrigo is my new favorite yarn. I know I've already illuminated all the glories of this yarn, so I will spare you my Malabrigo monologue. I really did love knitting with it, though, and my new favorite scarf is completed. The scarf is glorious. It is light as a feather, but warm and cuddly. I am so amazed that anything this soft could be pure wool. I am already searching for more, and will most likely order some online, as it seems no one in New Mexico sells it besides a store in Taos, which is over 100 miles from me. Thank goodness for online yarn stores! So, without further ado, here are some pictures of the scarf. And, for those of you that wonder (because I did) what the back of this looks like, her's a shot of that. And, of course, the obligatory close up shot. I really love this stich, and it is so easy to do! I really think that if you like to knit scarves, you should give this a try. so there you have it! If you know me and live in the state, I'm sure you'll see this scarf many, many times this winter, you lucky ducks!

F*ck Cancer.

The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Since I have some breasts of my own, and I'm sure many of my dear readers do as well, I am in full support of this. I personally have not had anyone in my life with breast cancer, but sadly, the chances are good that I will at some point. To show my support for the cause and all that, I'm going to go pink for October. Okay, okay, I was already pink. So I guess for the month of October I will be dedicating my preferred pinkness to the cause. So do your boob checks in the shower, wear some pink, and show your support!

Change of Heart

Well, actually, it's more of a change of pattern. Last night I cast on for the Double Cable Scarf, and after about three rows I knew this was not the right pattern for the Malabrigo. The pattern was getting lost in the yarn, and the yarn was getting lost in the pattern. So, I decided to do the "My So-Called Scarf" instead. The pattern calls for a yarn very similar to Malabrigo, so I knew it would work really well. It took me a while to get it started though- I cast on while James and I were watching Capote (which we both thought was really excellent), and screwed up the first row. Twice. Then I screwed up the second row. Now, this is not by any means a complicated pattern, but I hadn't gotten into the groove of it yet, and was pretty wrapped up in the movie. So, I sadly set it down for a little bit until the movie ended, and then cast on again and started knitting. I got seven rows into it and kept thinking, "Wow, this is a lot smaller than I thought it would be!". I decided to check the measurements of the completed scarf online, and lo and behold, I was using needles 2 sizes too small. So, I once again ripped all the way back and re-cast on using the proper needles, with no distractions. I knit about 12 rows last night, and finally had to put it down when I was so tired I was dropping almost every other stitch. I am absolutely loving this. All of it. The knit is super easy now that I got the pattern down, and I love how it really shows off the colors without overpowering them. Plus, this yarn is such a dream to knit with. As I knit last night, I fantasized about staying awake untuil the sun came up, happily knitting away on my scarf with this amazing yarn. One o'clock came around and I decided to go to bed, lest I make a fatal error in the project, but I went to bed chanting the pattern in my head, my hands tingling for more knitting, but my brain not being able to comply. As soon as I finish my cereal, you can find me on the couch, knitting in hand.

Fiber Love

About a week ago, I won a skein of Malabrigo yarn from the stash of L. over at Is It Time To Knit Yet? and I got it a few days ago. I have never really seen this yarn, mostly because I am a really cheap knitter and I think shelling out ten bucks for a skein of yarn is silly. As a direct effect of my cheapness, I tend to stay out of high-priced yarn stores where I could stumble upon this skein of Uruguayan beauty. Okay, sure, I've heard about it here and there on my daily stroll through Knitbloggia, read about it's lush softness and gourgeous colors, but c'mon! TEN BUCKS A SKEIN?! No yarn can really be worth that much, right? I mean, damn, it's just sheep fur! Wrong. This yarn is worth it and then some. It really is buttery soft. The colors really are magnificent. The handspun, hand-dyed yarn is delicious. Well, not that I actually tasted it, but if it tasted the way it looked, I bet it would taste like the best cheesecake in the world. Smothered with fresh raspberry sauce. With dark chocolate on the side. And a really big glass of excellent red wine. Served by some really hot, shirtless, musclebound man with a really sexy accent and olive skin and peircing green eyes and... well, I think you get the picture. I am so glad I won this yarn, because had I not, I might never have been exposed to it, and I will definitely be buying more in the future. So, what is to become of this lone skein of lovely? I'm making it into a cabled scarf- the Double Cable Scarf from One Skein, if you were wondering. I should have approximately 75 yards left when I am done- any pattern suggestions for the leftovers? Otherwise I may just knit it into a little square to carry in my purse to rub against my cheek when I'm having a bad day. so, onto the next thing... What? You want some pictures? Oh, well, I suppose you can have a few... Pretty, huh? And really, the pictures don't do it justice. So if you're a fiber lover, go buy some. If you're not, go buy some and send it to me. I'm off to go lovingly fondle this jewel of a yarn some more.

New Read

Since I am currently too poor to pick up the new book I've been coveting, and my list of "Books to Read" is really long, I have moved on and am currently reading The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall. I picked it up because it was really cheap, and about a tattoo artist. I've been struggling to get it started, but it is really interesting so far, and I can tell this is going to be one of those books that sucks you into its pages and doesn't let go until you've read every word. The author writes beautifully, and it is so easy to get the feeling and images she conveys. I like that. I'll keep you updated and tell you all a bit more once I get a little further into the story. I think once I finish this book, I have three more that I own that I have on my list. At least, I can only think of three at the moment. I think that my reward for reading all three will be a new book. Can you guess which one it might be? Hmmm....

Life is Good

Things here are going really well. Sorry it has taken me so long to blog, but I've also been pretty busy! Things with the family situation have calmed down, and are going better. I'm glad- that whole issue was really stressing me out, along with a lot of my other family. It still upsets me, but things are working out better and I'm glad. So, onto happier things! I got a job! It has been a really long time since I've worked- I stopped working at my last job when I was about 3 months pregnant. James and I had gone into Borders to lok for some books, and I noticed that they were hiring some part-time baristas. (for those of you not in the know, a barista is one of those people who work at a cafe and make your coffee.) I've worked in two different coffee shops, and it really is a job that I love. I have a passion for coffee, and can proudly say I am a bit of a coffee snob. So, I applied, and it took them a while after my second interview to get back to me, so I was sure I didn't get it, but then they called earlier this week and told me I was hired! I did orientation on Friday, and yesterday was my first day of work. Mostly training, but since I've been in the business before, it isn't too heard to learn. I'm really liking it, and everyone I work with is cool. plus, I get an AWESOME discount on everything in the store. Yaaay for book discounts! Speaking of books, Neil Gaiman has a new collection of short stories out called Fragile Things. He is one of my all-time favorite authors, as I'm sure I have mentioned before, so I am excited to pick this book up. Soon... I also finished Geek Love. Wow. It is amazing how beautifully written this book is. The story is kind of fucked up, but not in that way that makes you sick to your stomach. I really, REALLY liked this book. I'm glad I've read it, and I think I would read it again in a few years. I don't think it's so twisted that most people couldn't handle it, so I do recommend you pick it up and read it. Although, my views might be a bit tainted, so use your own judgement, I guess. It is an awesome book, though. This diet is going really well. It's really pretty easy to do, I'm never hungry (unless I'm dealing with Joie and don't have time to eat), and it really is working. Last week we went to Santa Fe to have dinner with James' Aunt and his dad who was in town for a few days. EVeryone there noticed I had lost weight, and it always nice to hear other people say you look thinner. The icing on the cake, though, it that I finally can wear my pre-pregnancy jeans. I am soooo excited about this. The other day, I was looking for some jeans to wear, since the ones I've been wearing are too big. I stumbled across them and tried them on, and they fit like a dream. Comfortably. I didn't have to hold my breath to zip them. Plus, they look good on me. Yaay! I'm still working to go down a few more sizes, but I've been doing South Beach for less than 2 months and gone down 3 jean sizes, so hopefully I can drop a few more in the next few months. The words of enocouragement from family and fitting into smaller jeans have definitely motivated me to keep going and cut back on my cheating a little bit. When I get ot where I want to be, amybe I'll post before and after pictures for you guys! Yep. All in all, things are going well. Joie is growing more every day, I'm keeping the house out of downright squalor, keeping busy with a new job where I get to talk to real grown-ups besides my friends, and autumn is here. Oh and my birthday is coming up! October 14th! Two weeks away! As I've stated before, my birthday kicks off my favorite time of year. so, yeah. things are great. Hope things in your life are going well, too!