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!