hearts!

Aren't these cute?!? 

We had a very busy and very fun weekend.  Lots of good times with good friends.  Now it is Monday and we are all wishing we had time for a nap today.  Little V is the lucky one, she is napping on the couch as I type.  I am hoping we get a snow day this week for a little extra down time, we will see if the weatherman is right...

Any free time I had this weekend was spent creating.  The hat I am working on is coming along nicely (I will definitely get some pictures up this week.)  I created a very cute little gift, but I can't share it until the recipient gets it in the mail!  I spent alot of time making these cute little hearts.  There are many more already knit but still in my knitting basket waiting to be stitched together.  I have no idea what we are going to do with all of them, but they knit up so quick and easy, I couldn't really stop myself!  I got the idea from A friend to knit with, and the pattern can be found here.  I modified the pattern a little, decided to do a yarn over for the increases and a different needle size to obtain a bigger gauge.  I just think they are great little Valentines. 

Are you working on any Valentine projects?

Hands

I love the moment when Little V grabs my hand to hold.  When we get out of the car in a parking lot, when we are about to cross the street, when we enter a busy place, when we share a quiet moment.  And my most favorite, when it is bedtime and in her sleepy slumber, she reaches out for my hand.  I love feeling that little hand in mine, and I only hope that no matter how big that hand grows, that when I feel that grip I will always remember how small it once was.  May I always feel that grip...

The scarf

Well, the scarf is completed!  I am very happy with the finished product.  After much trial and error I decided to go with the curry & spice pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman in the book Knitted Gifts.  I just think it turned out so nice with the colors in the yarn. 

I have to brag for a minute, this is the most technical pattern I've followed to date (I know- its really not that hard) and I am a little proud of myself!  I have been wearing it every day!

Now I have cast on my first knitting in the round project.  I have already taken it fully apart once, I'll keep you posted on the progress...

I also have to take some time for thankfulness today.  I am so incredibly thankful for my wonderful friends.  It has been a pretty interesting week around the L house (and it's only Wednesday-eek!), and I have bent the ear of a few very close, very supportive friends this week.  You know who you are, thank you for always being there.

A choice...

Ok, I'll be honest, I have not been the most positive person for the last week or so.  I admit to feeling overwhelmed by my growing to-do list of life things - work, home, family, the usual suspects.  And today has been an extremely trying day.  But, after a night of great conversation with Big V, I have a question... What if we all made the choice to focus on the positive?  I mean everyone has a story, everyone has something that they are dealing with in their life that is consuming all of their energy.  The nutso driver on the freeway, the unpleasant checkout lady, the person at work who is determined to convince you that you are wrong.  And typically, those life consuming things are the negative things, the things we wish we could change/fix/heal/solve for someone, be it ourselves or someone we love.  So, my question is, what if we try to remind ourselves of this, what if rather than getting annoyed and letting it be part of our story, what if we took a second to remind ourselves that everyone has a story.  What if we allowed everyone just a little wiggle room, and rather than try to combat the negativity, we accept it with positivity.  I promise, each and every one of us has something (if not several things) to be thankful for.

I have to say, just putting all of this out into the universe is helping me to face the things I have to deal with, with a little more positivity.  Try it, what is one thing you are thankful for?

And, since I have been talking about knitting so much, I finally completed my scarf made from the beautiful yarn Big V got me for Christmas.  Here is my ravelry link so you can check it out.  I plan on blogging about the scarf and the process in the next few days.

the obsession is growing...

As my knitting obsession continues to grow, today I am thankful for my Gram.  When you are sitting and knitting row after row it provides alot of time for reflection.  Today I have been thinking about how I started knitting, and it all goes back to Gram.  She taught me several years ago.  Whenever I come to a hurdle she is always there to help me figure things out and offer words of encouragement for the projects I am hesitant to begin.  (Really that last sentence applies to my entire life!)   She has also found some of her old knitting books and copied them for me.  (What a hoot those are to go through!)  Then as if all of that wasn't enough, today she loaned me a treasure trove...

Look at all of those needles...  Long ones, short ones, double pointed needles, cable needles, even row markers!  I am so thrilled to begin knitting with all of them, the obsession is growing...

Love you Gram!

What do you think of the new look?  Big V didn't like the green, let me know what you think.

My latest obsession...

This is my inner monologue lately...  When can I knit next? Can I squeeze in a couple rows before little V goes to school, maybe while she's napping or finishing her lunch?  What am I going to knit next?  Should it be the purple hat/scarf, how about the green seed stitch hat (autumn leaves) with the matching one for little V?  I am in the midst of a "selfish knitting month."  (thanks for giving it a proper name French Press Knits)  I spent alot of time the last few months creating things for those I love, I decided in Jauary I would create some of the things I have been wanting to make for myself.  Now it has become an obsession!  There is not enough time in January for me to complete all of these cool patterns I have found.  (You see, part of the obsession has also involved finding several cool websites too!)

So off I go to finish a row here and a row there...

Looking for some knitting inspiration?  Check out these great sites:
Magpie Patterns - great patterns for knitters, crotcheters, and sewers
Jane Richmond - I just love her designs, at least five of her patterns are on my "must knit" list!
Brooklyn Tweed - really loving all of the great lace details
Kniterella - when the selfish knitting is over, I am going to have to order some of her great gift tags!
Ravelry - an incredible place to find patterns, advice & inspiration

13 Years

13 years ago today a wonderful thing happened; I went on my first date with Big V.  Who knew on that blustery January day that our two very different worlds would become one wonderfully shared life.  We have had so many incredible moments and adventures over the years.  I am so incredibly lucky that on that day I found my best friend. 

Today, I am thankful for Big V.  I look forward to everyday we spend together…

Home Again

We have returned home after a fantastic week in Aruba.  We had many great adventures.  We saw beaches, lighthouses, caves, cliffs, sea life, scorpions, sunsets, amazing plant life, and mosquitoes (many, many mosquitoes!)  We saw so many wonderful things, I am filled with ideas and inspiration for so many new things to create.  It was a great time with great friends and wonderful family.  A spectacular way to recharge and set the tone for 2011.  Of course, we are incredibly thankful for the wonderful week, and incredible oppurtunty to explore such a beautiful place.

I must say, no matter how great the vacation, it is always amazing to me how wonderful it feels to be home again.  To sleep in our own beds, shower in our own shower, and fall back into our own well-worn spots on the couch.  The picture of Little V sitting in her bedroom re-aquainting herself with her sincerely missed toys is not something I will soon forget.

I know it sounds silly, but I even missed my knitting needles.  You see, Big V gave me this beautiful yarn for Christmas and I spent much of our vacation dreaming of what I would create.  After 7 attempts (not joking, each time it was knitted to a length of at least 5 inches, then completely torn apart) I have finally settled into a pattern for this beautiful yarn.  I am so looking forward to the completed project.  (The thought of the finished project is also helping me to adjust back to winter temperatures after a week of 85 degree heat!)

One Inch

Yep, one inch.  That is what I am thankful for today.  Sometimes one inch makes all the difference in the world.


We are embarking on a exciting journey tomorrow.  Next week's thankfulness will be expressed in photographs.

Picture this...

It is a busier than average Thursday night in the kitchen.  Dishes sit on the counter awaiting their turn in the dishwasher.  Plants are reaching out for the sunlight they so desperately deserve.  Snacks are left open and half finished.  Mail is sorted but waiting for a home.  Big V & I are discussing the usual work and life scheduling.  The table is strewn with evidence of the day, sketchbooks, stickers, colored pencils, remnants of a necklace being made.  The dog is in his corner chasing a rubber bone that continues to elude him.  And in the middle of it all, there she is, little V.  With her ridiculously skinny legs, unbrushed end-of-the-day hair, twirling like a dervish and a smile as wide as the ocean singing, "hey hey hey-no matter how life gets today-there's just one thing I got to say-won't let another moment slip away."

And I promise, I won't ever let this moment slip away...


The song is Hey hey hey and it has to be one of the best songs ever written. Thank you, Michael Franti. (confession- I have to listen to this song at least once every day.)

Crayons

This morning Little V is thankful for something very simple, crayons.
I am thankful for simple things that remind you how lucky you really are.

Back to work...

Well today was the first day back to school and work after the holiday break.  And, I have to tell you it was busy and non-stop, but kind of great too!  A few fun little moments...

Little V got to hear her songs for her dance recital. She was very happy and made the cutest little face at Big V & I upon realizing her tap song is one of her favorite songs.  She will be dancing to Michael Franti (one of our family favorites, Big V & I actually got to meet him back in February!) and Pure Imagination from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (who doesn't love Willy Wonka!)

And of course we had our thankfulness conversation over breakfast, here is how it played out today...
Me: "What are you thankful for today?"
Little V: "nothing"
Me: "You're not thankful for going back to school, or dance, or your cool colored pencils, or even your cinnamon toast crunch?"
Little V: "Well yeah, I'm thankful for all of that, but nothing else!"

I am thankful Little V has so much to be thankful for!

(And yes, for you who know me & are saying "cinnnamon toast crunch???" it is organic cinnamon crunch by Cascadian Farm!)

Happy 2011!

So hard to believe another year has passed.  We had an incredible year and we have many plans for 2011.

Now here I sit, setting off on my latest endeavor, a blog.  Why? What am I going to say? Who is going to want to read it?

Well... In November, I began a daily post on my facebook stating what little V & I were thankful for every day.  It became such a positive way for us to start our day.  We sat around the breakfast table every morning thinking about how fortunate we are.  It made it kind of hard to start the day in a bad mood after focusing on all of the positivity in our lives.  It turned out that we developed quite a following amongst our friends and family.  I stopped doing it and I found people asking us to bring it back.  I have been following so many great blogs that inspire me in so many ways I figured why not put the thankfulness in a blog and see how it evolves. 

Today I am thankful for the excitment that new endeavors bring.  Let's see what happens...

And, because it is the New Year, I feel it's important to post my resolution.  (You know send it out into the universe!)  So, for 2011 I will consume less, create more, and spread positivity.

What's your resolution?