Welcome March!

It's already starting to feel like Spring here. Today, a high of 70. Sunny, breezy 70. Though, 2 days ago there was the most snow we've seen all winter on the ground... almost an inch. Oh, and 3 days before that there were multiple tornado warnings.

In my goings on, I've been enjoying our local library DVD collection as I rewatch Gilmore Girls. One of my all time favorite TV shows.

I took a break from knitting other people things, and made myself a hat. It's a little small, but I love the cables and the color.
Another project I finally tackled was sewing up some bunting. I just love how bunting adds fun and color to a place. And even if it is mostly used for parties, I made some for our apartment anyway. I used scrap fabric, my own triangle template, and used binding tape as the string holding it all together. It's double sided, so no raw edges or wrong sides. And I actually have everything all ready to make another. Maybe I'll use 2 for a party, 1 for decor. For a long time now, I've been shopping around for some kind entryway coat rack/place to hang keys. I've found things I almost like. And then I've found individual hooks I liked and thought about buying a piece of wood and making my own... Then one day while browsing in Target, I found one at different from others I'd seen with a framed section with chalkboard paint above the hooks. It looked cute, but I was totally unsure if it's what I really wanted, partly b/c of the chalkboard section. I just couldn't think what in the world would I use it for. Then I found this image on Pinterest. With the caption, "there is always something to look forward to." So I went to Target thinking, if the shelf is still there, maybe I'll get it. And lo and behold, it was 30% off. So I snagged it, wrestled with it a little to hang it, but love the outcome! That's right! Just 8 days until vacation! Looking forward to getting out of town for a little bit. And hoping the weather is a lot like today.

Handmade/Homemade #5

Yes, this was a 2011 goal, but only one of five in 2012. Seems pretty good to me. :)
I mailed this out last week to this former roommate. She's so crafty herself, with things other than yarn, it was hard to find a pattern I thought 'fit' her. Hopefully I did okay though. ;)
It was a first changing colors (other than stripes) in an actual pattern. Definitely willing to try some other patterns like this now.
Here's a recap of what I've done this year. I only used yarn I already had in my stash so I only paid for postage. It was pretty fun, and good experience, since each pattern held something new to learn. I'd say I kind of wish I kept the first mittens I made, though, if I'd made them for myself I'd have used a lighter grey yarn - which I guess means I should make another pair!

Some of what happened in January...

So, I disappeared for the month of January... unintentionally. I kept thinking I'd do a Christmas recap but got distracted by some of the gifts! Reasons for distractions?
David got me a Kindle Fire. I was shocked. Definitely didn't ask for it. It hadn't come across my mind at all. But now that I have it, I use it all. the. time. Often more than the laptop... which might not be good. It also got my sucked into this trilogy:
Which I decided to read because I could borrow it from the Kindle lending library with Amazon Prime. Pretty cool. The first book was my favorite, though I did just love the ending. So excited and interested in the movie coming out in March!

Another thing I've been enjoying a lot of is coffee. Christmases past always brought me all kinds of Starbucks gift cards, but this year I got a new coffee press. David and I have been enjoying coffee and lattes from it. And it's been a great way to use some of our home-roasted beans. Only problem is that this picture lies. If I just used my fingers to press the coffee, I'd never get anything out of it! Takes a lot more effort, but the coffee turns out great!

This new original print has been brightening up our living room since Christmas too. I just love the matte and frame I found for it at Hobby Lobby. And seriously, I love the addition!
Finally, do yourself a favor and go see The Artist in theaters. It's seriously really good. Really entertaining. And really different from the usual movie. I loved it, and definitely recommend it.

2011: A Year in Review

2011 was an eventful year in our household.

In March, we found out where David would do his Internal Medicine/Pediatrics rotation, and where we move at the end of May and live for the next 4 years.

In May, David graduated (with honors) from medical school. I finished my 3 year stint of work for our church.

In June, we moved to a new city/apartment and David started work as a doctor while I started staying at home.

We also vacationed in Venice, FL with David’s family and celebrated our 3rd wedding annivery.

In July, David’s brother got married, and as some people from the town said, “it’s the wedding of the century.”

In September, we had our first break from residency in a 2-week vacation, 1 week of which we spent in San Diego, CA.

In October, I started playing keys and singing with our church band, spent a long weekend in Gatlingburg, and celebrated my 27th birthday.

This year, I discovered the fun of an Amazon Universal Wish List and Pinterest. (!!!)

I knit 7 knits (2 pairs of booties, a hat, a pair of mittens, a pair of handwarmers, a pair of socks, and a cowl), sewed an alphabet embroidery sampler, and painted a painting.

I read 22 books.
1.Emma 2.Cranford 3.This Momentary Marriage 4.The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 5.The Secret Adversary 6.Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 7.Little Women 8.Adopted for Life

I watched 38 movies. (Not including the movies I saw for a 2nd, 3rd, or more times.)
1.Inception 2.The King's Speech 3.Downton Abbey 4.Sherlock 5.Tangled 6.True Grit 7.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 8.The Adjustment Bureau 9.X-Men: First Class 10.Courageous 11.Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Oh, and I wrote 16 blogs (including this one.)

I'll recap Christmas later, felt like doing this one first. :)

The Thanksgiving Holiday

First, handmade/homemade item #4 was mailed off on Wednesday! Handwarmers, and a quick project of a coffee cozy.

Only 1 more to go. Hopefully it will be done this year. That was the goal, after all...

Thanksgiving itself was a bit different this year. David had to work the day of and the day after so instead of us travelling, his family came in town Friday, and I cooked for everyone Saturday. It was a lot of preparation, but in general, I had fun doing it. And all the food was a hit. David and I finished off everything last night for a total of 18 servings. Just should have made more sweet potato casserole! You can never have too much.

The table.

The people.

With Thanksgiving on Saturday, David and I put up the tree on Sunday. Finding a place to put a Christmas tree in a new apartment is kind of a challenge, but after some rearranging it looks great!

Still hard to believe it's the holiday season, and that we've lived here a full 6 months!