Progress

I am feeling a little on top of the world right now!  I ran 10 miles yesterday, and survived.  My legs feels as if they have been ran over by a train.  And on the last 3 miles, I really did consider sitting down and waiting for Justin to come pick me up.  But I kept on, and I finished, so I am beyond excited.  I am going to celebrate this feat for a little more, before I start thinking about next week's long run.

Anyways,  I am plugging along on my sweater.  I wish you could understand how much I am in love with this.  I could not be happier at the moment.  And much like running, I am going to celebrate this accomplishment a little longer, before I start thinking about the sleeves.

I have made some serious progress. This is Saturday night.

And this is this morning...

This is around 7:30 before hair and makeup, so no judgement. 

I hate short sweaters, so I am going to knit on, and then the sleeves.  But who knows?  I may be wearing my first sweater as early as next week!!  



Finally, A First

I have said for at least 3 years I was going to do this, and I haven’t even made an attempt to start.

I read a lot of knitting blogs, and I always see these fantastic sweaters knitted with fantastic yarns.  And I want so bad to be able to knit one for myself or my hubby, if he would ever wear it.  But I have been scared and nervous about starting one.

Until Now

 I am finally starting, and as you can see from the pic it is going pretty well.

Pattern:  $5 in Paris

I found this pattern on Ravelry, and a lot of people used this pattern for their first sweater.  One of my hang-ups, is that most sweater patterns call for really nice (read: expensive) yarn.  I was nervous to invest that much money into something I didn’t know if I would or could finish.    However, this pattern was written for cheaper (yet, still nice) yarn.  So I thought, I will give this a try and see what happens.

I am very excited, and thrilled with how this is going.  I am anxious to work on it this weekend.  I will keep you informed on the progress.

I am doing it, finally doing it!!

Happy Friday, Friends!

Izabella Miya

Like most people my age, I had quite a few toys when I was growing up.  Nothing like the kids today, but I still had quite a few.  And my parents taught me from a very early age that “things” don’t matter.  It is about the people around you and the experiences that you share.    My memories of my childhood are filled with people, fun times, and times when my sister got me in trouble, which was always. J

My mom and I didn’t keep a lot of my toys after I outgrew them.  We lived in a small house and there wasn’t room for two teenage girls and a whole lot of toys.  So we donated what we could and threw away the rest.  I have a teddy bear that has a special meaning to me, but that’s about it.  I am okay with that.

However, I do miss one toy, one baby doll, one red-headed cabbage patch doll.  I can remember everything about her.  What her hair looked like, what she wore, and I also know that there would be a stain on her chest, where I mimicked my mom changing my sister’s bandage on her chest.  I wish I had had the foresight at 13 to know that even though I had outgrown her at the time, that I might still want her in the future.

Whenever I am in a toy store, I take a quick look at the cabbage patch dolls, hoping to find her or one like her.  Now they have corn silk hair, preemie cabbage patch dolls, newborn cabbage patch dolls, and so forth.

So when this came in the mail yesterday as a belated Christmas present, I was pretty excited.  Justin had done a lot of searching for a vintage style, red headed, green eyed cabbage patch doll.  No, this is not exactly like the one I had.  The clothes are different.  The hair color is right, but the style is not.   It is still pretty dang close. Close enough that when I texted a picture to my mom, she recognized that it looked like the original.   I can assure that I am going to take better care and track of this one.

Please meet Izabella Miya.

This is me and Izzy on my new chair.

P.S.  Next time I am in Alabama, I plan to dig up a pic of me and the original and add it to this post.

2013

2012 was a great year for me.  I had a lot of fun.  I learned a lot of new things.  I met new people.  I traveled to new places.  It is going to be pretty hard for 2013 to top it, but I am excited to see what’s in store. 

Now Justin and I aren’t very superstitious, but we make sure to eat some black eyed peas.  And I make sure to eat something green. 

As Justin and I were taking the Christmas tree down last night, we were talking about goals for ourselves and our family.  Things we wanted to do and accomplish, our dreams for our future.  It was a great time of reflection and of looking forward into the future.

Some of my personal ones are...

1.      To knit and crochet things that I want to make, and challenge myself.  Even if this means I have to cut other things out.

2.      To be healthier than I was before.  And to continue to run.

3.      To keep not biting my fingernails.

4.      To be more organized.

5.       To look for the adventure and make the most out of it.

Some of our family ones are...

1.      To watch less tv.

2.      To save more

3.      To not “buy” any Christmas tangible Christmas presents next year.

Yesterday was filled with everything that I want 2013 to hold.   I had breakfast with friends.  I ate some great food.  Saw some beautiful scenery.  Had plenty of time to knit and crochet.  Didn’t spend any money.  Organization of the pantry.  Watched some great football.   Spent quality with Justin.  Yes, 2013 is going to be a great year.

2012 Wrapup

In preparation for 2013, I have been thinking about the direction that I want to move myself in. What do I want Brittany to look like one year?  But before I get into all that, I would like to take a look into the past year. 

A lot of great things have happened this year.  This has been a really great year for us!  Last year, I had a New Years post, and I knew that I would have to answer to it this year.  I thought it was going to be bad.  Really bad.  But I don’t think I did too shabby.

Let’s review.

2012 resolutions

1.      To stop biting my nails Again. – I have done this.  I am typing this with painted nails that are on the short side, but that is because I had one break. Ugh. 

2.      To learn new knitting techniques – I did learn how to fair isle, but that is about it.  I wanted to make a sweater, but I didn’t.  I will definitely have to revisit this 2013.

3.      To figure out a direction for Yarn Fairies. – Umm, I am still working on this one as well.   I have gotten a great deal of special orders this year.  But that balance between doing orders, preparing for a booth, learning new skills, and charity knitting, is really hard to find.  This will have to be redefined in 2013.

4.      To be more organized. – This is a progress.  Yes, Kacee helped me organized my master closet in Feb.  Does it look as bad as when she first saw it? No.  Does it look like it did when she left that Saturday? No.  Rome wasn’t built in day.

5.      To learn to sew – I am learning to sew.  I have taken a few classes.  Found a great seamstress to help me on the side.   I made a beautiful apron for my sister for Christmas.  I should have gotten some pics, maybe she will send some.   I am really proud of that apron.  I know it is something that Becky can use and keep forever. Check!

6.      To be healthier -  I have done this as well.  I have started drinking green smoothies.   I joined a gym that I go to sometimes.  I am also training for a half marathon.  Check!

7.      To Say Yes- Some days I am in the mood for this.  Some days, I am not.  But I would consider myself greatly improved in this area.  

I thought I was ready to give you a list of my 2013 resolutions, but I think I need more time to reflect.  I will get back to you. 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

It is that time of year again!  And oh, how I love this time of year! 

Things I love most about Christmas!

-Christmas Lights

-Warm Holiday Beverages

-The Ornaments on our tree

-Our lopsided tree (it suffered a cat attack last year)

-Our new tree that Justin found in the Garbage

-Christmas Movies

-Christmas TV

-Sugar Cookies with Icing

-Christmas Carols

-Mistletoe (wink, wink)

What I love about this Christmas is that Justin seems to finally have gotten bit by the Christmas spirit.  I don’t know if it has been by choice or by force.  Let me explain, I was out of pocket last week.  That was two weeks before Christmas.   As every crafter, shopper, baker knows, that is the week where you are supposed to get the most done.   The week before Christmas is reserved for last minute baking and shopping.  It is reserved for last minute touches and holiday parties.  It is reserved road trips and arrivals.  

I was afraid that with me out of town for a week, that I would not be able to make “Christmas” happen.  I would just be too far behind.  ENTER – my knight is shining armor, Justin.  He has been amazing this Christmas.  He has done so much shopping and wrapping.  He has kept the house as clean as he can with me still on the loose!  I don’t know what I would do without Justin.  He has bought several Secret Santa gifts for parties that we will attend, and already has them wrapped and under the tree.   So either by choice or by force, Justin has been filled with the Christmas spirit!  And I could not be happier.

But because it is the week before Christmas, there is baking, last minute touches, holiday travel plans, and some last minute crocheting to do.  And no matter how much Christmas spirit Justin has, he refuses to learn to crochet.  Yes, I have tried to talk him into it!  Anyways, I still have a lot to do. 

I was getting ready for work on Monday, and realizing that I was getting really stressed worrying about how it will all get done.  I ask Justin to help me prioritize the things on my list, and cross off some things that don’t really matter.

So I looked at my list, and I crossed a couple things off.  And I feel good about it.  I will still have a busy week.  But I am going to make time for the things that I want this year.   I want to watch Christmas Vacation with my husband.  I want to meet my girlfriends for cookies on Thursday. I want to have sushi with my sister on Saturday.  I want to go to Bro. Lloyds’ church on Sunday.  I want to spend Christmas Eve with my parents!  

So yes I am skipping some things this year, but that’s okay.  I am making sure that I make the most out of this Christmas by spending time with family, friends, and Justin.

Our Anniversary

November 26, 2012 marked nine years that Justin and I have been together, it is also our 2^nd marriage anniversary.   I can/will speak for Justin, we had an amazing anniversary. 

I don’t like to think gift giving it a contest, BUT if it was.  Justin would have certainly taken the prize on this year.

Now, Justin usually waits until the last minute to shop, and I mean the very last minute.  So you can imagine my surprise, when he told me weeks before that my present was already in the works.  But due to it being custom, it may not be ready in time to take on our trip to the cabin.

I am nosey.  People know that.  So I badgered Justin with questions, and he gave me the following clues.  Don’t scroll down, See if you can guess what my gift was...

1.      Had to have sex to use it.

2.      Some assembly required

3.      It was small but could be large

4.      It was made of natural material

I had no idea what my gift was.  No idea.  I am going to talk about something else to give you time to guess.

We went the Bear Creek Log Cabin for a couple of days.  It was so relaxing and so much fun.  We took this picture.

 In this pic, he is wearing his anniversary present.  I got him a CM Punk shirt.  After all, it was our cotton anniversary.

When we got home, there was a package that awaited me, my anniversary present.  From the above clues, I had no idea what would be in this box.  So imagine my surprise, when this comes out of the box.  This pic does not do this yarn justice.  The yarn is so soft, and the color so rich.

I asked Justin why this particular color choice.  He said that this yarn was hand painted based on the color pallet of this picture, a picture of our family.

Then I replied, Justin this is very sweet.  But why did you get so much of it.  The box contained 5 skeins of yarn totaling 1370 yards.  That is quite a bit of yarn.

That is when Justin told me what the yarn was for.  He had the yarn custom made, inspired by a picture of our family, and he had bought enough for a baby blanket.   As you might have guess, I promptly burst into tears. 

The idea the one day, when Justin and I are ready for that next step, I will be knitting our first baby’s blanket with a yarn that represents our family.  And better yet, that my husband was thoughtful and creative enough to have made the yarn made.  It was too much for me.  It was a great gift. 

Did you guess it?  

He is going to have a really hard time topping this next year.  He should probably get started now.