Throwing In The Towel(s)

About three weeks before Christmas a decision was made in my honey's family that we would do a Secret Santa gift exchange instead of buying everyone a gift. I thought it was a great idea as this is something we did in my own family years ago.

After I selected the name of whom I would gift some sort of fabulousness, I was stumped. This person themselves are very creative, but as being a creative person myself, I know how purchasing supplies for whatever their craft is can be very personal. Sooooo I scratched that idea.

Then one day about a week later a light bulb went off! This person always comments how much they love my knitting. So that's what I decided to do. However, with only two weeks until Christmas, what could I possibly knit quickly?!?!?!?!

Honey said socks. I said no.

I also said no to myself about knitting a Lap Blanket or Throw Pillow Covers. Not enough time.

After spending what felt like countless hours of Ravelry browsing and losing a million minutes of sleep, I decided I would knit an oversized dish towel and then purchase some lovely items from O&Co to go with it.

I had the perfect cotton yarn already in my stash so we were a GO!!!!!

Pattern: Stripes and Texture Dish Towel
Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway - Coffee
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 13, 2014
Finished: December 16, 2014

After knitting a few rows, I was really pleased with the texture of the knit. The original pattern called for Size 7 needles and one skein of yarn. I decided to use Size 5 needles and two skeins of yarn. I wanted a firmer fabric since it would be used as a dish towel.

It quickly grew and before I knew it the towel was done! So I cast on for another. Yup, one towel turned into two as I thought this would be perfect to gift to another!

Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway -  Linen
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 17, 2014
Finished: December 20, 2014

Sadly I am a bad blogger as I forgot to take FO pictures of these two towels before I wrapped these babies up for the intended recipients.

However, I did cast on for one more towel before the year ended!

And finished it in the new year!

Yarn: Knit Picks Dishie; Colorway -  Pomegranate
Needles: Knit Picks Circs Size 5
Started: December 21, 2014
Finished: January 2, 2015

When the towel is open it measures at 16.5" by 23" and used up practically every little bit of yarn. I love it when there are no real yarn leftovers.

This towel truly lives up to it's name of Stripes and Texture. I love it!

Besides changing the needle size, I did a couple other things that I thought made this pattern more to my liking. I completed a crochet cast on because I wanted it to match the traditional bind off. My formula for knitting the alternating pattern rows were 6 rows of seed stitch and 4 rows of garter stitch for nine repeats and then I knitted 5 rows of seed stitch before binding off.

The question is, will I knit more of these? Absolutely. They are like potato chip knitting for me and I think make really quick (i.e. last minute) gifts.

So there you have it. My last two FO's for 2014 and my first FO of 2015!

I'm done with towel knitting for now. I currently have a couple new projects on the needles which may or may not be socks. I am also tackling some of those old WIPs I mentioned in my Knitting Goals post. We'll see where I am at with that at month's end.

Right now I am gearing up for a little trip to see my family at the end of the week. I will be gone from the frigid temps, to something hopefully a little more balmy, for eight whole days. I cannot wait! Rest assured knitting will be packed.

It's A Wrap!

Oh man it's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone!

I did manage to get the tree done.

Rudolph even got some lights.

After work last Monday night and over the next two days, I spent all my time preparing to host Christmas day dinner for myself and my honey's family. Including us, there were a total of 12 people. This was my first time cooking for this many and while it was a lot of work, I enjoyed the end result of sitting around the table with loved ones enjoying the home cooked meal that I put so much thought and effort into. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

Only after the table was all set, I could then focus on finishing cooking the dinner.

Our vegetarian dinner included a total of nine dishes, plus one dessert. I am still amazed that I managed to pull that one off, especially since according to my honey, they were complex dishes. Even better, is that I managed to get them to the table warm or, oh my gosh, even hot!

My menu included (all recipes are linked):

• Tuscan White Bean and Garlic Soup
• Festive Kale Salad with Wheatberries and Tempeh
• Vegetarian Portobello Wellingtons
• Quinoa and Spinach Stuffed Tomatoes
• Maple-Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Mushroom Walnut Stuffing
• Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Cranberries
• Quinoa with Cauliflower, Cranberries and Nuts
• Green Bean Casserole
• Peanut Butter Pie (Made my own Oreo Cookie Crust as follows: 25 Oreo's Pulverized in Food Processor. Mix with 4 Tablespoons melted butter. Shape in pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes. I also did not make the Hot Fudge Sauce and forgot to purchase the chocolate for the shavings.)

With it being a vegetarian dinner, I wanted to include a variety of items. I think I succeeded. I was told everything was delicious and here I was just praying it would all be edible.

I didn't take pictures of everything as it was finished. I completely forgot. But I do have these:

The soup I made the day before and reheated.

Leftovers I had the next night.

Somebody enjoying the rest of the green bean casserole.

Frozen Peanut Butter Pie I managed to make on Tuesday.

After dinner, gifts were exchanged, dessert was consumed and before we knew it, our guests were departing for the evening.

Between myself and the help of some elves (my honey, his mom and his cousin) all the dishes were cleaned, dried and put away. I tried desperately to clean all the crumbs up from the floor and sofa's before going to bed. After our house guest departed the next morning, my honey and I went into cleaning mode and we got the place all back in order.

I spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday recovering. I had sleep I needed to get caught up on and didn't feel overly ambitious to do too much. The remainder of the long holiday weekend was spent on the couch knitting.

One of these items may have been finished during a Harry Potter moviethon! Will have to follow-up with a FO post.

All in all my Christmas was wonderful. It was all I had wanted and hoped it to be. I have to give my honey a huge thank you! He was the most supportive person during the days leading up to, during and after Christmas. He helped me whenever and wherever he could. He never hesitated to help. I am truly blessed to have him as my partner in life!

With that I leave you with one of my favorite photos from Christmas day:

Hope everyone had a beautiful holiday! Tell me, what were some of your highlights from this holiday season? Any traditions old or new?

The Five Stages

Christmas is officially 6 days away and I am wondering where the heck the time has gone?!?!?!

My honey and I are hosting Christmas this year, so I am in full on preparation mode right now. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, so while many have told me I am crazy for wanting to host, I say "Yes Please!" even though at times I may look like this:

I am actually very excited as this is our first year to be living in a home where we can have more than 1 person over to visit comfortably at a time. My honey and I have our very first Christmas tree together even though we've been together for 5.5 years and this will be the first year in a very long time where we are celebrating in our own home. So what's not to be excited about is what I say.

While my brain has been mulling over recipes, making a list (checking it twice) and finalizing the menu and grocery shopping list, I have also been trying to finish decorating. Our Christmas tree has gone through some stages during the past two weeks since we've welcomed it into our home.

It all started on December 7.

Stage 1 - Sunday Afternoon

Managed to get this 8 foot baby up to our top floor apartment. Picture honey pulling it up the steps while I am pushing it. I had moments of thinking I was going to be landing at the bottom of the stairwell. Who knew just how heavy this baby was? Apparently not I!

Stage 2 - An hour later (or so it felt)

I saw scenes from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation flashing before my eyes here folks.

But alas, all turned out well. The tree became upright even after some tricky moments of trying to secure it in the base. I was holding, while honey laid underneath the tree. I envisioned us trapped under the tree for days without food or water.

Stage 3 - Sunday Evening

It's up. It's got lights and the star is shining! Then it's determined more lights are needed.

Stage 4 - Saturday Morning (Almost one whole week later - December 13).

Conversation between me and my honey:
Me: We need to go to Home Depot for more lights.
Honey: Ok.
Me: Sooner rather than later in hopes of them not being all gone?
Honey: OK

Late Saturday Afternoon:

Honey: I am going out for coffee.
Me: What about us going to get the tree lights.
Honey: I will try and go afterwards.
Me: Well please try as I am worried that the lights we want will be all gone.
Honey: OK

Saturday Evening - 3-4 hours later

Honey: I got lights!
Me: Yay lets put them on so we can put on the ornaments.
Honey: Ok

Ok turned out to be Monday evening after work.

250 more lights later, including a super cute strand of snowflake lights . I think it still could use a few more strands, but we are calling it all good for this year.

Stage 5 - Operation Get Those Ornaments On

Um, so yeah, Stage 5 is still in the works. I've been waiting all week for the honey to have some free time to decorate the tree with me. I thought he'd want to help since this is his first tree as an adult. After a quick discussion in the car this morning, it was determined that I would start putting the ornaments on and if he could free up his work life, he would help. So come heck or high water, this tree will be finished tonight!

I've been decorating here and there in the meantime. Still need to pull out some more stuff, but I need the honey to bring the boxes down for me. We did get this cute little guy when we bought the tree...

What I love the most about him, besides his adorableness, is that he is made from the Christmas trees that didn't get sold the previous year. They cure the wood and make these little guys in three different sizes and then sell them the next year. And no he does not light up. I know that the outlet and plugs behind him makes it look like he does.

While all this Christmas craziness has been going on, I have been getting some knitting done. Been working on a couple last minute knitted gifts. Once those are done I'll pick back up with my Hermione Everyday Socks.

How are your holiday's shaping up? Going crazy? Enjoying the season? Getting knitting done?

FO: Mystik Spiral Socks

Happy Friday! Another work week is almost over and we are another week closer to Christmas. Eek!

My honey and I managed to get our 8 foot Christmas tree up this past Sunday and quickly realized we needed more lights. 350 lights for an 8 foot tree is pretty, but just isn't enough and honestly when the lights were purchased we had no idea how big of a tree we were getting. Hopefully tomorrow we'll have success in purchasing additional lights and then we can finally put all the ornaments on it.

Once the tree is all decked out, I'll share some pictures, but today I'll be sharing another FO with you!

Pattern: Mystik Spiral Socks by Josh Ryks
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn in Bubble Gum Hop Scotch
Needles: Knit Picks Circulars 1 1/2 (leg) and 1 (foot)
Started: August 7, 2014
Finished: November 29, 2014

This beautiful sock yarn started like this...

and ended up like this...

These are the socks that went on my European Backpacking Adventure this year.

They were on planes...

 

Trains...

Balconies in Greece...

 

Ferries in the Aegean Sea...

  

Only to be completed and then realized there was a huge mistake...

On our last evening in Greece, I frogged the ribbed cuff and figured out I forgot to knit 11 rows right after finishing the heel gusset. I had to make the decision of whether or not I would just add the 11 rows right before the cuff or if I would frog the whole leg of the sock. I was quite perturbed with myself and couldn't make my mind up right then and there. I was sad that I wouldn't be bringing a completed pair of socks home with me.

Once home, the socks went into a very long time out. I battled with myself whether to "kind of" fix the issue and have some seriously fraternal socks or to fix the issue properly and have matching socks as much as the pattern allowed.

The perfectionist in me won out. I spent a little time the day after Thanksgiving with it and frogged the whole leg. By Saturday, I could call them complete.

In the finished picture at the top you can see the cuffs are a little fraternal. I am not entirely sure what happened. It could of been where I started the second sock in the skein and also that I had to reattach the yarn from where I cut it when I originally thought the socks were complete. (Note to self: In the future, make sure both socks match up before snipping the yarn.)

With that little issue aside, I am beyond thrilled with the final outcome. This was my first time knitting with self striping sock yarn and I am happy with my pattern choice. I knew I wanted to try something different instead of knitting traditional vanilla socks with the yarn. The pattern is straight forward and well written. I did find a little error in the pattern and will be noting it on my Ravelry project page.

In the end, I am sure I'll be knitting this pattern again and now every time I wear these socks, I will think of the fabulous time we had venturing through Italy and Greece!

Little Life Tidbits

Edited to add: I wrote this post this morning and as of now we have all heard of the tragedy that struck Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. I am deeply saddened by this and my heart and prayers go out to all who have been affected by this. I can not even begin to imagine what all these families are feeling and going through, especially so close to Christmas.
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I can not believe it's been almost a complete month since I last posted! The past few weeks have been such a whirlwind. I think I will sum it all up with a few Life Tidbit bullet points.

1. 11/18/12 - I completed the Philadelphia Marathon. With a 05:00:01 finish, I became a two time marathoner! Everything from the super warm welcome us displaced NYC Marathoner's received at the start, to all the awesome crowd support this marathon offered, it was a perfect day for me. My honey ran around the course to cheer me on at three different mile marks and the most important one was at mile 25.5 when he ran out to me and told me that if I hurried I could have a Sub-5 hour marathon. From that point on, I kicked it into high gear and sprinted towards the finish line. I didn't get that Sub-5, but I am sure proud of my 5 hour finish. Not bad for being 6 years older since my first marathon. I was only 11 minutes slower.

2. Thanksgiving Weekend - My honey and I flew to Atlanta, Georgia to spend the four day weekend with my family. Lots of fun was had by all. Tons of delicious food (Peanut Butter Pie), alcohol (Home-brew) and football.  Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures to document our adventure and by the time my honey and I flew back home on that Sunday, I was going home with a soon to be bad head/chest cold courtesy of one of my nephews that left me out of it for just over 2 weeks. I can now say thanks to this illness I was forced to not run for 2 weeks and my body has fully recovered from the Philadelphia Marathon (with the exception of my 2 baby toes, but that's another story I will spare you from for now).

3. 12/01/12 - Decided that I was going to knit 6 Christmas presents! My head must of still been clogged from the cold to think I could knit that many gifts in less than 21 days, but hey I'm crazy like that. I 411'd my sister and told asked her to drop everything and help me pick out yarn colors. To my astonishment within minutes I had an emailed list of her choices. Must have been the amazing night of sleep she got because we never decide yarn colors that fast! By Wednesday (12/5, just over 2 weeks to knit 6 gifts, EEEKS) I had my yarn! 

4. 12/06/12 - Decided that I couldn't stand my piece of crap Android phone anymore (I mean really I had to turn the phone off/on to be able to make/receive a phone call), I stopped by my local Verizon store and turned to the Darkside. I am now a proud owner of the iPhone 5 (was eligible for an upgrade) and I could not be happier!

5. 12/11/12 - My running boot saga ended! Ya'll may remember me asking for some helping picking out boots that would fit my ginormous muscular calves and then subsequently had to return all 3 pairs? Well, the 4th time must have been the charm because I hit the lottery with a pair of Clarks Mascarpone Mix Boots that zipped up around my calves beautifully! I have been asked to provide the information for them because there are more lovely ladies out there than we know who have the same problem. So I got them from Zappos and you can find them here.

6. 12/12/12 - Company Christmas Party at the office! Of course I wore my new boots! Here's proof that a good time was had:

Well it doesn't really show that, but trust me we had fun! 

As a side note, by the time I got above ground on the subway ride home from the office party I checked my email, on my super duper new phone by the way, and received an email congratulating me on being selected in the lottery for the Inaugural Nike Women's Half Marathon DC in April! I entered myself, my beautiful niece Tori (will be her first half marathon race) and my honey (also his first official half marathon even though he ran more than a marathon while training with me this summer/fall) as a group into the lottery and didn't really think we'd be one of the 15,000 lucky runners! Don't be fooled by the word Women in the name of the race, they welcomed male entrants too so my honey decided to sign up also since he would be there with us anyway.

7. 12/13/12 - I am really having trouble getting into the holiday spirit this year, even despite my last minute insane Christmas gift knitting idea I had. I am hoping sending out Christmas cards will help me out with this little issue. Of course, finding the time to address them will be another issue, but at least I have them purchased.

So that brings us all up to date with my oh so exciting life these days! I am looking forward to only 1 more week of work and then I am off until after the New Year! I will be having a little staycation this year in which I hope to accomplish many great things like reading, sewing, knitting, running, figuring out some goals for 2013. I am sad I won't be able to go back to Georgia to see my family over the holiday (by the time I received the extra vacation days to take the week off, the airline prices were way to high to try to visit), but it will be wonderful to spend this time with my honey and his family

I am off to knit like a fool! I'll be back next week and we'll see what great things I am accomplishing.

In the meantime, tell me what are some of your most favorite Christmas holiday memories and/or traditions? One of my favorite traditions that I started several years ago is to watch my most favorite Christmas movie every Christmas Eve, "It's A Wonderful Life."

Anyone else out there making Christmas presents? I have been known to make my gifts in the past, whether its something knit, sewn or scrapbooked, but I don't usually start three weeks before Christmas. Madness I tell ya!

"Oh Christmas Tree"

This is how I spent my afternoon. I almost didn't put the tree up this year, but today I changed my mind. I figured there are still a good three weeks of the holiday season to enjoy it and it did make it feel a bit more like Christmas for me.

This is the first time since 2006 I have put the tree up. It's a special tree to me. A really good friend of mine ventured out with me on a chilly December afternoon back in 2006 to purchase this tree. At the time, both she and I were feeling a bit blue and declared that getting this tree and decorating it would cure what ailed us and yes, it worked. She and I had so much fun that afternoon three years ago. Lots of laughs were shared. Memories were captured within my heart. Nothing like a true friendship to treasure forever.

While I didn't have any help decorating the tree this year, I still had fun. At least once I got past figuring out why some of the lights weren't working. I don't know why I don't put up the tree every year because I love being able to go through the multitude of ornaments that I have. All of them being gifted to me over the years. When you look at my tree you'll notice three things I love. Tigger's, Angels and Barbies. There are many strewn through the branches of this little fella...

The most special Tigger on the tree - It's a Radko.

I love this little guy too. It's a Radko Paddington Bear my parents gave me several years ago.

A precious little Angel. One of at least five or six I think.

One of a few puppies with another Tigger hanging out in the back.

I even have a few of the handmade ornaments my mom made years ago.

Another of mom's ornaments.

This little guy is a new addition to being on the tree this year.

Another pair of the precious Angels.

Tigger snowshoeing on the back of the tree.

This is one of three mini glitter heart ornaments I have on the tree.

Gift Knitting Roundup

Before the new year got to far ahead of me, I thought I would share the remaining Christmas gifts I knitted! All items were started and finished in December.

First up are Turn A Square's #4, #5 and #6. Two of them went to my nephews and the other went to a co-worker. I used Cascade 220 Superwash and Noro Kureyon. Since I already knew I was not going to have enough Kureyon for the 3rd had (first picture here), I knitted 2 rows Kureyon and 3 rows Cascade (instead of 2 and 2). Hats were loved by all.

I also knitted up some wascloths. I used Euroflax linen from my stash. The pattern is a Seed Stitch pattern. I can't remember where the pattern came from but it's in my Ravelry info. One thing that is so true about linen is that is does soften up with each washing! These washcloths make a nice light exfoliating cloth. I gifted these to my sister's Mary Beth (yellow), Kathy (purple) and my mom (blue).

The last 2 things I knitted up were a couple of very cute cable purses. They are done in a chunky yarn and knit up in a day on size 17 needles. They are even lined with a black cotton fabric. I purchased the handles in SC at Knit-N-Purl. Two of my neices received these and I know for sure one of them loves it. I witnessed her using it many times before I left SC!

Next time I'll be sharing my last FO of 2008 and my first FO of 2009. All were completed while on holiday in SC.