Catching Up

I can't believe it is already December! Yikes! I haven't even started thinking about Christmas knitting. All I can think about are baby knits!! Fortunately, I have stock piled some finished knitted items throughout the year. Just have to figure out what goes where.

So, finished knits. I did end up finishing the rainbow striped socks; and in less than a week. Definitely worth frogging!! They are plain, simple, and I love them.



I have a bunch of leftover rainbow yarn, so I made this baby hat:



Then I seemed to get on a kick of baby knitting. During a recent knit night, one of the knitters brought some of her leftover sock yarn and let everyone have at it. Now, I have a ton of these leftover sock yarn balls, but somehow when it comes from someone else and there are different colorways, it is just so much better. With the one ball I took, I made this hat:



I thought I had enough leftover still to make a pair of infant socks. I got this far on the second sock and ran out of yarn:



So clever knitter that I am, I ripped out the top part of the hat and knit off from the hat onto the unfinished sock and then finished the hat up again. Hopefully the hat will still be long enough. Here are the finished socks:



Next I decided to knit another pair of infant socks that would match the first baby sweater I made for our first baby. You would think that I would have learned my lesson. Here is the first sock:



And the second sock:



As you can see, I managed to do it again. Unfortunately, this time I did not have a rolled brim hat that I could steal some yarn from. Doesn't quite work the same with a finished baby sweater.

Recently, when listening to the Knitmore Girls Podcast, they advised that "it never hurts to ask." I am usually one that doesn't like to ask for help or especially for freebies. Don't get me wrong, I love freebies; I just don't like ASKING for them. But then I remembered the knitter from knit night who gave away all those leftover balls of sock yarn and thought I would turn to Ravelry.

I just have to say, knitter's are the nicest, coolest people ever!! Within a couple hours of posting my desperate request, a fellow knitter on Ravelry (who I did not know previously) offered to send me the required yarn to finish off my sock. Amazing!! And, to boot, she let me know that she wouldn't be able to mail it to me until Monday because she was in the process of moving. Are you kidding me!?! Awesome!!! There should definitely be some good knitter's karma coming her way.

So basically in the last month, I have been doing more knitting than blogging, which I sometimes feel bad about, but not really. Let's face it, it takes much longer to knit things to blog about than it does to actually type up the blog post. Besides how can you resist knitting when it's cold outside and this is your view from the couch:



(That boy LOVES the fire!).

Also a baby "bump" (more like bulge) update:



Thanksgiving, 31 weeks

Crazy or Brilliant?

Now I am sure we all have those projects that need to spend some time alone and think about what they have done to us. They get put away in a bag, a drawer, or shoved into the back of a closet. I recently pulled out one of these such projects. This guy had been on "time out" for about a year (not really sure, because for some reason I never entered it on ravelry...so not like me). Here is the project that had to think long and hard about what he did:



They are sideways socks. The pattern wasn't particularly hard, just a different way of constructing socks, which I thought would be fun when I started them. I also thought it would be cool to have sock with vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones. Turns out I was wrong. These socks were not fun at all for me. If I was dreading working on the first sock, what made me think I would ever do the second sock? It might have been my first case for Second Sock Syndrome (SSS).

So the sock was shoved in a bag and then smashed into the bottom of my knitting basket. I pulled it out the other day and didn't want it sitting there unfinished any longer (maybe pregnancy is causing finishitis). I hated to rip it out because I spent so much time on it already, but after realizing that I would have to keep knitting this sock plus the second one in order to finish the pair, I finally decide to frog it (something that is sometimes very painful for me as I watch hours and hours of work be undone in minutes).

In these situations, all you can do is slip the needle out and RIP IT!



It actually ended up looking like really colorful top ramen, which is kind of fun. Plus once it was all ripped out I immediately cast on a pair of basic toe up socks. I finished one sock in about two days and have already cast on number 2.

I felt a little crazy at first when I frogged all my hard work, but felt brilliant once I had finished that first sock.

Made My Day!

About 5 years ago, I was able to go to a book signing for the Yarn Harlot. Me, being a shy person (and newer to the knitting world), didn't say much. Just got my audio book signed, took a picture, and that was pretty much it.

Stephanie just finished another book tour, and there weren't any events close enough for me to attend, but there was one in Portland where my cousin lives. I begged her to go so that I could live vicariously through her. I informed her that she should take her first pair of socks and at least one of her kiddos so that she could be on Stephanie's blog.

I am so glad my cousin made it to the event and she went all out! She took both kids and her husband. I don't think she showed Stephanie any of her own knitting. She had everyone in the family wearing or holding something I had knit for them. She even told Stephanie that they were there for Aunt Amanda and that I had knit all those things. To this Stephanie said, "Aunt Amanda rocks!" That was seriously better than if I had gone to a signing by myself and not said much to her.

Here is the post. My cousin is Laurie, with husband, Timothy, and kids. The Yarn Harlot even mentions "Auntie Amanda." Absolutely awesome!!!

Excuses, Excuses

In my last post I said that I had been super busy, but didn't explain why. Without going into a drawn out story of every little thing we have been doing for the past six weeks or so, I will just say this: we bought our first house!! This is a very exciting time, but also very exhausting since the house we purchased needed/needs a lot of TLC. Hopefully I will be able to post some before and after pictures soon.

On top of all the house projects, I have also been working on growing our baby :)



We found out we are having a GIRL!!

On the knitting front (somehow I was able to sneak it in...including while standing in line at the paint counter at Home Depot), I have some finished projects to share.

Remembering that I have been busy, you must also keep in mind that it was just easier to take pictures with my phone and upload them that way. Translation: quality of pictures sucks.

After finding out we are having a baby girl, I immediately started and (relatively quickly) finished this sweater:



And these longies:



I also made slippers for my niece. She turned four and there was a cute conversation her mom had posted on FB about how she was born in the year of the "Piggy." Being born in the year of the Boar myself, I appreciated the change to the year of the "Piggy" and I figured these slippers would be the perfect gift from me to her:

A View From Behind the Needles

During the last week or two, I barely have enough time to go grocery shopping, let alone knit. So for my post today I bring you another "AVFBN" (see title).

This is where I could squeeze in about 25 stitches today:



That's right, the car wash. Fun times.

Craft Bug

Lately I seem to have been bitten by the Craft Bug. I know that knitting is crafty, but I have the urge to branch out. Some of these crafty things remind me of my childhood, like making friendship bracelets. I used to love making and wearing them. I just finished a bracelet this week, although the method of making it was new.



So basically you just keep moving the thread to the opposite side of the wheel, rotate and repeat. Then a bracelet comes out the other end. Amazing! (What can I say, I'm a simple girl.)



Then after looking around on my new obsession, Pinterest, I found wire wrapped rings, so I decided to make one of those as well. Super quick craft!





Also, on Pinterest, I found a ton of nail art. I was inspired. I used to do fun things with my toenails all the time (again, feeling a little nostalgic). I did something fun with my toenails for Fourth of July this year, but what to do next??



Zebra print!! DH just laughs at me. Oh well. I might as well enjoy doing fun things on my toenails now. Soon enough I won't be able to see my feet anymore. The beginnings of the bump:

One Year Ago Today...

I married my best friend.





We have accomplished so much together in our first year of marriage. Here's a quick run down and review of the last year...

You started your new job and we moved within our first month.



We carved pumpkins together for the very first time.



You prepared and barbecued your first Thanksgiving turkey and now you may be stuck doing it forever. Seemed like nobody could get enough of it!



We celebrated Christmas and sent out our first family Christmas card.



Then we went to Reno with friends to bring in the New Year.



In February, I started my new job. We also hosted our first Super Bowl Party, which I'm sure is something that you would love to repeat every year :)



In April, you spoiled me on my birthday and we celebrated Easter with both of our families.





In May, we found out that our family will be growing :)



For the Fourth of July, we had a great view for fireworks and the least amount of traffic I have ever experienced for a fireworks event. (You were right!)



We celebrated our anniversary early in Pismo since I would be starting work and wouldn't be able to go anywhere during our anniversary weekend.



In August, we celebrated your 30th Birthday.

Currently, we are on the final stretch of owning our own home. It's hard to believe all we have done in one year and I can't wait to see what the next 74+ years (as you say) has in store for us. I love you!

Yum Yum

I love fresh baked goods on a Saturday morning! Is there anything better? It also makes me feel amazing when I can put together some simple ingredients I have on hand and create this:

Bar Exam Update

Let me just start by saying that no, I was not allowed to knit during the Bar Exam. Yes, I knew that would probably be the case, but better safe than sorry.

Last week I proctored for the Bar Exam. I got this assignment through a temp agency and didn't really know what to expect. All I knew was that I was scheduled to work Monday 12-5pm, and Tuesday through Friday 9-5pm. Turns out what little I did know was incorrect. The hours for Monday were correct, but the rest of the week was basically Tuesday through Thursday 6:30 IN THE MORNING to 6:30 IN THE EVENING! Needless to say the "short" work week was very long. Especially when you add in the hour it took me to get home everyday with traffic. One day it took 35 minutes just to get out of the parking lot!

The way I can best sum up proctoring for the Bar Exam is this: I don't know who has it worse. The person taking a test for 18 hours over three days or the person just watching people take a test for 18 hours over three days. At least the people taking the test have something to do!

Now I know I was paid to watch people take a test, distribute and collect test questions, and watch for potential cheaters and they had to pay to take the test. I guess you also have to figure in all the hours they spent studying to prepare for this test knowing that only about 50% of them would pass. But if you just think about those 18 hours, I think the proctors and myself had it much worse!

I tried to keep myself entertained by counting how many people had sandals on, or were wearing jewelry, or were younger than me, or had long sleeves on, etc. Some proctors even created scavenger hunts to trade with other proctors for their different sections. Each proctor was watching over 30 people and there were about 1500 examinees (which I kept calling them testees, after which realizing how that sounds).

Needless to say, I don't know that I would do it again. If they let me knit, then it would be another story. I could have knit a baby sweater and then some!

Just In Case

This is my last week off before I go back to work. What am I doing with my last week, you ask?? Working.

I can't complain because I've already had five weeks off. It just so happened that the only week the temp agency called me with an assignment was my last week off.

I will be helping to administer the BAR Exam. This sounds somewhat interesting, but will most likely be very boring. I have given the CA State Standardized Test to elementary and middle school students for three years now, so I assume it will be very similar to that, except with adults. Basically checking people in, reading directions, and then hours of monitoring and watching for cheating. When talking to my mom about this I said, "Do you really think I'll have to monitor them the whole time? I mean they are adults and they will be lawyers." My mom's response: "Exactly. They will be lawyers." No offense if you are one or know one (I know a few myself), but I see her point.

I was really hoping I would have some time to do some knitting while they're testing, so just in case I started these infant socks.



Here's hoping it's not too boring and that I can do some knitting.

Little Monsters

I love these little Monster Chunks. Not only are they quick, easy, and use up leftover sock yarn, they are adorable too!



I really prefer the eye placement of the monster on the left. I completed the one on the right first, so I guess it's like the "first pancake," the one you throw out because it doesn't turn out as well. I won't throw it out, but I might donate it to the cats. They seem to enjoy it.

Lack of Knitting

I have not been knitting as much as usual. I did not even post during the month of June, which is somewhat disappointing since I had been pretty consistent up until that point.

Instead of posting about knitting, I will just post pictures from what we have already done during July (I don't even have pictures of anything for the month of June. Not sure what happened there).

We went to the Alameda County Fair with my parents (an annual tradition). They were able to beat the World's Record for the largest hamburger, so of course we had to take this dorky picture.



We ate corn dogs (a fair must!).



For the first time, we went and watched the pig races. How have I missed this in all the previous years we've gone??? Hilarious!





I don't know why, but I always love wearing things that relate to a holiday, like black and orange on Halloween, or red, white and blue for the 4th of July. So on the Fourth I wore some patriotic earrings that I made that morning, a white top, a blue skirt, and red flip flops. While I don't have a picture of this amazing ensemble (ha ha, I crack myself up), I did happen to take a picture of the artwork I did on my toenails.



In the morning we attended a parade. It was probably 95 to 100 degrees! That's commitment my friends. I don't know the last time (if ever) that I have gone to a parade for the 4th of July, but we all had a great time. DH took tons of pictures, so I will just include the beginning and the end of the parade.





After the parade we tried out a new BBQ place. DH loved it more then his usual BBQ place and we plan to go back. It was a LOT of food and also very delicious. I hate to admit it, but my favorite part was the free ice cream.



After lunch, we went home and took a nap. Then headed over to my in-laws for a BBQ dinner. Believe me, we did not go hungry that day! Then DH, my sister-in-law and I headed out to watch fireworks. We actually ended up watching them from DH's work parking lot. I was a little skeptical, but it was actually very quiet and easy to go when we were ready to leave.





Our one year anniversary is coming up on August 14th. Since I will be starting a new school year on August 1st, I will not be able to go anywhere during that month. We decided to celebrate a month early and since DH's work closed for the week of the 4th of July, we took that opportunity to go to Pismo Beach. The weather was perfect. Of course, the first thing we did when we got there was eat (notice I never leave out this important part of any event).



It's almost a little sad how much we look forward to having that clam chowder bowl at Brad's. I highly recommend it!

Most of the time we were there, we spent it in the hotel room just relaxing. I was able to actually get a sock finished and started on the second sock. Yay! Since these are going to be a Christmas gift I am extra excited that I am now almost done with the pair. That's my one bit of knitting news in this post :)

We did go down to the beach as well.



We have never taken a beach umbrella with us before, but it was totally worth it!! Here's our little set up.



Hope everyone had a safe 4th of July and is having a wonderful summer!