Who called?!?!

On Wednesday, while I was brushing Pi's hair, I had a revelation of sorts. I guess its not actually a revelation, since its obvious to most people, but to me it was pretty big. It dawned on me that I wouldn't be brushing her hair forever. One day, and probably too soon for my taste, she'll be grabbing the brush from me and doing it by herself.

I know it shouldn't seem like such a big deal, but its something I take for granted...that she needs me. Even beyond just needing me, she still wants me to do things like this for her. I know she's growing up and that one day she'll go to college, move out, and maybe get married. I've been so busy preparing myself for the big things, that I neglected to realize all of the little things I'd miss too, like brushing her hair. Or hearing her sing America the Beautiful in the shower (really, she does this).


At 8, she's already wildly independent and there are some things she won't let me do for her anymore. She doesn't let me pick out her clothes or make a sandwich for her anymore (she says she makes it better than I do, lol). She doesn't cuddle with me nearly as much as she did when she was 5. Sigh, my baby is growing up.

To bring that point crashing home to me, she got her first phone call from a boy this week. A boy! On the phone! For her! Holy friggin cow.!! Pick me up off the floor someone. My husband repeatedly said he wasn't ready for this yet. Hello! Me either! Pi ran off to her room to have her conversation in private and then roller her eyes at me when I told her it was time to hang up over a half hour later. That boy called again the next day. This time, Pi locked herself in the bathroom, while I did my best to eavesdrop. All I could gather was a lot of giggling. After both calls ended, she was gushing and giggling and blushing. Lord, help me! I'm too young to have a kid with a crush.

This is a whole new stage for me to process. I'm not quite sure how to handle her growing up so fast without being an emotional, gushy mess. Is it too much to ask her if I can go to college with her?


Sigh!

Swing Dance

About a week or so ago, I entered a blog contest at Half Time Lessons. I was randomly picked as one of three winners. My luck has been pretty decent lately, banking woes aside. Maybe I should play the lotto? If I win, you all get yarn! Thick yarn, thin yarn, pretty yarn, ugly yarn!!! YARN!!

I've gone off on a tangent. Ok, I'm composed now. Sorry 'bout that.

Back to the blog contest. The prize I won was an amazing 8x10 print at the Etsy store, Oranje. All of the prints are gorgeous, but I really felt a strong pull towards this one called Swing Dance. It arrived in today's mail and is prettier in person (though my snapshot doesn't do it justice).



Looking at this print makes me feel all nostalgic and fuzzy. I want to babble about that more, as I had a revelation of sorts while brushing Pi's hair tonight. Its just too late to give it the attention it deserves right now.

Thank you Nannette for the gorgeous print. Now I'm off to find a frame that I can only hope does the print justice.

Not much crocheting going on. I've got a nasty cold that has kept me from doing more than going to and from work, then immediately climbing into bed. Hopefully I'll have more stuff to show you soon.

P.S. - Kristina P., master of funny, I do sell some of my stuff in the Etsy store linked on the right. There's not much in there now, but I'll be filling it up soon.

Crochet Ninja!

This weekend we went on a Girl Scout bowling trip. There were a ton of troops there...easily over 100 girls. The noise level was amazing. I didn't know children could be so piercing.

Pi did great. She's already got my high score beat, which isn't very high I might add. Bowling a 50 makes me excited.



I crocheted while I was there and got lots of questions. The girl scout leader wants me to come in one day and teach the girls to crochet. I agreed because its a great idea!

I didn't get too much done this weekend, but I did make Crochet Ninja! Not sure why, but the idea of a crochet ninja just makes me giggle.



(I printed out the pattern ages ago and it doesn't have the website on it. I'll look for it, so I can post where you can find it a little later.

K Family Weight Loss Challenge

Hubby and I have been having our own private weight loss challenge over the last 4 weeks. We're calling it the K Family Weight Loss Challenge. Anyone who knows me IRL knows I'd lost about 55 pounds 2 years ago and have gained back a few (cough25cough) over the last year or so.

Generally speaking I love sweets and hate exercise. You do the math. :) But I decided I didn't want to gain back those last 30 pounds. I'd rather lose the 25 I regained. Hubby only needed to lose about 20.

Our methods differ a lot.

Hubby gets on the elliptical for an hour a day. I stare at the elliptical for an hour a day.

Hubby happily enjoys salad for lunch and a side salad at dinner everyday. I will only subject myself to a salad once a day, usually at lunch, cursing it the entire time.

Hubby has cut back on coffee and is still just as chipper as usual. I've increased my coffee intake...might as well stick a caffeine IV drip in me.

Hubby lifts weights and is getting definition in his arms (hot!). My weight lifting happens at work, with the large dusty files. No definition to be seen.

Even though our methods differ we've both lost a few pounds over the last 4 weeks. I wanted to celebrate how great we're doing, so I made these:



I know, I know...I'm backwards! Couldn't help myself. Pi and I had a little Friday night bake fest and I let her decorate. Do you see her adorable Frankenstein on the bottom there?

I'm going to go have one of these bad boys for breakfast while trying to forget the upcoming lunch salad.

Have a great Saturday peeps!

Pretty in Purple

When I went to check my account, the bank hadn't returned my money as planned. So I went into the bank yesterday and had a massive, giant, pissed off fit. After planting myself firmly in front of the manager and 45 minutes of arguing, the bank returned my money right there and then. They also agreed to reduce the 90 day investigation to 10. What the hell happened to good customer service?

I hate to admit it, but getting into a big argument like that gives me a rush. I don't go looking for fights, but when I find myself in one, its like I become super animated... I want to scream BRING IT ON! Anonymous hubby claims I should have been a lawyer.

Anyhoo, I found a lonely skein of Homespun sitting in my stash. Homespun rocks for scarves because it works up soft and fluffy. What more can anyone want in a scarf? I know a lot of people hate Homespun, but I can honestly say I like it! I used the shells scarf pattern I've used a gazillion times before.

(my pics are oddly small)


I threw it up on Etsy to see how a scarf might do and my very own cousin bought it, haha. Talk about family love.



Quick question - do any of you use eye cream? If you do, can you recommend one? A new brighter light bulb in the bathroom has revealed that the perfection that was once me (like back in utero) has begun to age, especially around my eyes.

Lord grant me the serenity to accept the wrinkles I cannot change, good cream to smooth the ones that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference!

P.S. - the yarn I used in the hats was Lion Brand Suede in blue and TLC Essentials in Light Green and Art (the variegated).

Hats, hats, and hats

Last week I got into a hat making frenzy. It was probably because it was beginning to get a little chilly at night. Good thing I went hat nuts last week because its pretty warm this week!

This first one is a free pattern from the Lion Brand Website. I used more than one strand to give it a really thick, warm feel. I love the way the color striped itself diagonally.

I wanted to try something in this same colorway but have it be looser and soft, so I came up with my own simple pattern using multiple strands and a really large hook. I got the same effect with the color but the hat is a lot more casual.

You'd think I'd stop there but no. I had some suede yarn lying around and tried my pattern with it. Love it! Its sooooo soft. Like a baby's ass soft!

I still have a little hat fever and really want to try a newsboy style or something similar to that.

Ok, gotta head to work. Happy Thursday!

P.S. = Thanks Inky Binky for being my model!

Queen Anne Lace scarf

So I spoke with the bank today who agreed to give me my money on a conditional basis after they process the paperwork. The condition being that after their investigation, I get to keep my money or if they find fault with me (don't know how that would happen) then they would take it away. I know I'm not at fault, so I'm not worried about that. So, it'll be a sigh of relief when the paperwork is processed and my new debit card comes in. Oh yeah, and its Citibank.

I finished another Christmas gift, the Queen Anne Lace scarf.



Love this pattern! It worked up really quickly and was very easy. I think its kinda funky, in a not a normal looking scarf kinda way. This one will be heading to Pi's teacher for Christmas.

I also got 18 rows added to my scrapghan. I just might get all my Christmas gifts done on time this year!