Back In The Saddle... Almost

I'm so sorry I have a week's worth of catching up to do! I got sick, then lazy and tired (probably lingering sickness), then a little sick some more. So, let's catch up!


Here's the gift I made for my friend, Christy! A pineapple scarf! I have crocheted for 10+ years and never done pineapple. Sacrilege, I know!





I'm almost done with my Infinitude scarf (pattern on Ravelry)! I'm not sure I have enough yarn to finish it, let alone the matching wrist warmers I want to make along with it. I had to order more yarn online, as stores around here don't seem to carry Bernat Super Value anymore, especially not in that color. I figure even if the dye lot doesn't match well, no one will know. The pattern has a lot of shadow in it and the way it's worn will distort any color differences anyway.


Morgana and I made sugar cookie bars last week. They have the same texture and taste as the store-bought ones. So happy I found this recipe! I've been looking for a soft sugar cookie recipe that actually turns out soft for ages! This is Mo's favorite part about making sugar cookies.


...Well, and this, too.


Here's a yummy-licious photo of the finished product.


Morgana drew Dot from A Bug's Life. 2.5 years old, people.


GGMa was staying at Nana's this week, so we had a visit. All the girls played Ring Around The Rosey with her. I swear, this woman looks and moves like she's 10+ years younger than she actually is. (I may have said that before, but it's just amazing!) I admire that!


Then, Mo and I brought GGMa along to get Chinese take-out for dinner. We saw this BIG goat in a fenced area right next to the restaurant. First goat Mo has ever seen. She loved him/her.


My silly monkey getting her hair did for bed.


Presenting Miss Curly Mo! She loved them and asked me to do curlers again for her tonight. The curls fell out by the end of naptime today. =( Oh well. Still fun!


We had more garden fun this morning. So far, we've planted cucumbers, pumpkin, carrots and spaghetti squash.


The garden isn't much to look at and I'm not done planting (or weeding for that matter), but I'm so proud of the work I've done so far!

Morgana's doing well with her sleep changes. I leave the room at nap and bedtime, checking on her periodically. She usually falls asleep for nap in 10-20 minutes and bed takes about an hour. But, she's getting really good about just laying still and quiet in her bed every time. I'm proud of her!

My Mom also gave Morgana some big girl panties. Stu and I have told her that she can wear them for a little while if she goes in the potty anytime before dinner. She seems excited about the idea, but hasn't tried to go yet.

Sunday, Stu and I saw the new Star Trek movie. We loved it! Nice to have a date with my hubby again as they are few and far between these days.

I had two of the three college girls upstairs (we live in a multi-family house with an apartment upstairs), Shelby and Kira, over to crochet tonight. I've had them over a couple times prior to help them with crochet. Shelby already knew how, she just needs a little help advancing her skills and with a pattern she's working on. I taught Kira how to crochet and she caught on SO quickly! Tonight, we started her on some single crochet squares as she wants to make herself a simple tote bag. It's such a pleasure having them over. Morgana loves them, they love her and they're very patient, just going about their crocheting without being distracted by Morgana's shennanigans as she plays in close proximity.

Still trying to catch up watching Angel so I can watch Buffy and Angel in storyline unison. I think I have at least six episodes to go.

Hmmm, I think that's everything. Gonna, go check on Morgana and see if she's asleep yet, then watch some Star Trek Enterprise with hubby.

How Long Was I Sleeping?

I meant to post last night, but I fell asleep with Morgana when I put her to bed and didn't wake up until almost 3:30 am and went to my bed. Sorry, guys. (And sorry to my husband who I was supposed to watch an episode of Star Trek Enterprise with.)

I can't remember everything that we did yesterday, but here are the pictures I took yesterday and some that were taken in the last week or two.


Navy blue afro or long live the queen? I think I've exposed her to too much RuPaul's Drag Race (which I'm over watching drag queen shows, even if just for a bit).


Morgana got a Doc McStuffins dry erase table with markers from Nana and Papa as a late birthday present. Her face looks so weird. I think this was just before her squinty, big grin "cheese!" face.


I got Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2!!! Yay!!! I hadn't even seen it in theaters. I watched it with Teen Miss on Monday. It was fun to watch. =)


Morgana had her first dentist appointment yesterday and got a new princess toothbrush! She did great! She was a bit nervous, got startled and little spooked a couple times, kept asking to be done and if she could get down, but she still did really great! I sat right next to her on the chair and touched her the whole time. Just wish the dentist and hygenist weren't such loud talkers. I don't think that fostered a calm and relaxing environment, lol.


I made frozen yogurt bites for Morgana after seeing them on Pinterest.


I made saltine cracker toffee. OMG, you guys! This stuff is superb! I found the recipe at A Southern Grace blog.

I also soaked off my acrylics. I just get so fed up with acrylics when they lift because I don't want to deal with the lifting. It's challenging and I can never get that sliver of an air pocket under the edge filed down before filling them. I hope to fight the urge to put acrylics on again and grow my own nails out again. Being a stay at home mom who cleans house and constantly has her hands in water from all the cleaning, dishes washing/rinsing, hand washing and Little Miss face washing I do all day makes it hard to have a manicure that lasts more than a day and to not break nails constantly. But! I found this video on youtube and hopefully following this will help. I subscribed to her channel. She does awesome nail art AND she crochets!

My weight loss / healthy lifestyle change journey is not going so well. I haven't lost any weight since I've been trying (trying, not doing) to get healthier for several months. I know everything I need to do, I just can't get myself to stick to it. I know I'm getting enough activity, because I'm maintaining my weight, even when I eat like I'm eating for three. I just need to get my food in check. I am really sick of being overweight and that's what drives me when I do well. But, I never make it even 24 hours before doing something unhealthy. Sigh. Guess it's time to pray for the strength and willpower to do it. I should have been praying from the start.

Until next time!

The Best Birthday

Now Playing:
Pride
by U2
on slacker.com

Well, Miss Yarn Pixie is 32 now. Where does the time go?

Now I'll tell you about my awesome birthday!


Well, the day before my birthday, my knitting friend, Michelle, brought me this eyeglasses case that she knitting for the reading glasses she bought me earlier.


Stu, Ryn and I went to Yellow Fin Sushi for my brithday dinner.


Stu and Ryn got me this cake, complete with Disney Princesses and my picture!


But I forgot to make a wish... DOH!


Ryn got me a huge framed Jack Skellington picture and now The Joker has a neighbor on the wall. I love Tim Burton junk!




Dude! I got a Dell! Stu got me a pink (OPI Strawberry Margarita to be exact) Dell laptop! I love it! He got it equipped with everything I would need, since he knows what I use a computer for... blogging, flickring, raveling, watching DVDs and online videos and listening to music online and on computer. This baby has a 6 hour battery life!!!




My sister, Ashley, gave me this adorable laptop case and my parents gave me a wireless mouse in red for my laptop and two packages of pink peeps!


Stu also gave me Edward Scissorhands! Did I mention that I love Tim Burton stuff?


My sister, Brandi, gave me pink tulips. Spring flowers for a spring baby. I love them and I love spring!


That Baby eatin' some popcorn and lookin' cute. She sang and said "Happy Birthday" a lot while we were at my mom and dad's yesterday for cake and ice cream with the family. She even mimicked Stu's ring tone for when I call when she heard it. It's the Axe commercial, "Bow, chicka, wow, wow!" So hilarious... she wouldn't say anything else for a little bit.


My mom and dad gave me my very own little (pink) strawberry brithday cake. I shared it with Stu last night.

Thanks to everyone who made my birthday so special... especially my husband, who bent over backwards to make sure I got everything I wanted. Love you, honey! <3


More Konad fun! Clear polish and white flower tips. These are one of my favorites so far!

In yarn news...


I finally crocheted the star pin I promised Ryn.


I'm making a "Grumpy Old Bear" from Itty Bitty Nursery. But, I'm gonna try and make him happy... not grumpy. He's made completely of garter stitch rectangles... super easy... just some stuffing and sewing.


And he's getting a sweater too! Maybe that will make him smile...

Until next time...

Mmmm, Lazy Sunday

Now Playing:
Viva La Vida
by Coldplay

I really haven't been up to much of anything in the past week. Mostly just working, knitting and chillin' in the evenings.

Here's the progress on Stu's robe:


It's the back piece. I have about 10 more inches left on this piece... I have a lot left to do still. *sigh* I am having a hard time wanting work on it, but only because it's such a plain stitching. Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit, purl... *yawn*. But, I love my hubby, so I keep going! =)

Although, I did buy a brown sheet and a light blue sheet from the thrift store the other night. I actually went to get a coat because the zipper is breaking on the one I have now. I couldn't find anything I liked, so Ryn and I browsed the store a bit. I've been wanting to pull our bedroom (and every other room in the house) together visually for a while now. I found the perfect two sheets to start the ball rolling on that(Thanks Ryn for volunteering to call Dad and talk him into it, haha.) I just threw the light blue sheet on our box springs for a dust ruffle and tossed the brown sheet over our exsisting comforter and "Voila!", new look!


Before.


After!


And for just 8 bucks! Nice what a change only a couple things can make, huh?


Next, I plan on painting this pink monster dark brown. I'm excited!!!


Here's a little fluffy heaven in a tub... Can you guess what's it's for?


I've been craving a S'mores pie for about a week and a half. I finally made one today. I just made a graham cracker crust with butter and a little sugar, filled it with chocolate pudding pie mix... easy peasy. And then, the "pièce de résistance"...


Here is it with the heaven (marshmallow cream) on top! I can't wait to dig in tonight! Hey, that'll be my new begging line! "Pretty please, with heaven on top?"

I've also had a craving for old movies lately, especially those with Sharon Tate. Hey! It's not creepy! I really like her. So, what if the only way I found out about her was through coming across something about the Manson Family that spiraled into a thirst for any information on that case. Pffffft! She's beautiful and I love watching her.

A-NY-WAY!


My favorite right now is Auntie Mame. Love, love, love this one!!! It gets five yarn balls. Rosalind Russell is BRILLIANT in this film and the interaction between Mame and Miss Gooch cracks me up something severe. It's even made Stu laugh as he gets caught watching it as he passes by.


Next is Eye of the Devil. It only gets two yarn balls because I found it boring and the story flat. I had to make myself keep watching it to finish... and I only did that because I'm a completist (if that's a word). The only thing that saved this one from no yarn balls is that it had good cinemetography and Sharon Tate.


Next, I'll be watching Don't Make Waves, another Sharon Tate film.


And from the library yesterday I got Holiday with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant and...


The Trouble with Angels, another Rosalind Russell film (with Hayley Mills! I haven't watched her since the old Parent Trap when I was a kid!)

Well, I'm gonna watch some Ghost Hunters and knit now. Have a lovely Sunday evening all!