New Projects

Knitting:

I have completed several new projects but I still need to take pictures and post them. I finished 2 bandanas for me that I use quite often at the gym and a couple of dishcloths using the bandana pattern then decreasing with k2tog after the yo and later that row with a ssk. They both turned out ok and I'm keeping these two anyway. I'm trying to use some of the leftover cotton yarn so these dishcloths are multi-colored.

I finally decided to start another Beanie for Angelica and believe or not - I FINISHED THIS ONE... YAY!!! I used the House Hat pattern from "Charmed Knits". I love this pattern - nice and simple, although when I tried starting the smaller size for Jonathan I would have had to use dpn's and I just did NOT want to do that yet so I used size 3 and cast on 110 st. I'll be starting to decrease today but it looks like it will fit. I have been requested to make a few for my co-worker Angie's husband and kids. I was so excited about the first one that I took it to work on Friday to show her. I'm going to make several more with our swim team colors and give one to each of the kids and coaches.

On the Weight Front...

I weigh in tomorrow, however I have lost 10 lbs and have gained lots of muscle. I can do 20 push-ups without straining myself and chin-ups are becoming easier too. I enjoy exercising now and have decided to do a 5K Easter Run/Walk with Jonathan. We did 1 1/2 miles on Saturday night and will go again tonight.

I'm using the training schedule from Cool Running - "From the Couch to 5K in 2 Months". We will start out slow - 3 times a week for 20-30 minutes including stretching. I have to buy some very good shoes today so I don't kill my feet. I just wish I could get Jonathan not to talk so much while running. He just does NOT realize I am unable to talk at that time.

I'm going to knit for 20 min then take Angelica to the bus.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to a New Me.

I've decided it was time to make some New Years Resolutions again:
1. Stop cussing - each bad word costs me a quarter.
2. Stop nagging - if I have to tell the kids again to do their job it costs me a quarter but them a quarter also if they fail to do the job.
3. Biggest One Here: Eat Healthier and get more exercise - a/k/a Lose some weight.

My ultimate goal will be 100 lbs over time. I know it won't happen right away but I will be happy with 1-2 lbs/week. Of course more will always be accepted. I'm keeping track of my calories and exercise on my D & E Assistant and so far the week is looking pretty good. I've really had to push myself to get extra good calories but I just need to add some milk. Normally I'm a good milk drinker but there are times I forget to drink it - that won't happen any more.

Yesterday was J's 10th birthday and I allowed myself one slice of pizza and a cupcake. I ended up eating only half the cupcake as it felt like a brick in my stomach. The kids had a great time ice-skating while us mom's talked and watched them skate. We all had a great time. Had dinner at my mom's house and made great choices and felt good after dinner. I did go to the gym for some cardio and to burn the cupcake off.

Today I go to the gym with my personal trainer who should be proud that I've done so well this week but will be even happier when I tell her I'm committed to the weight loss and exercise - thanks to the Biggest Loser. She said it would inspire me and was she right. I want to live a long time and asked dh how long he would like me to live. I made it clear I need support from everyone: family, friends and co-workers. So far - soooo good!

Tuesdays are my weigh in day so I will post my ups and downs on this day.

My Family

Just thought I would post a few pictures of my family. Life is pretty hectic around here but we make it work.

My Finished Dishcloths

I took some pictures of my FO's - mostly dishcloths so far and I am attempting to add them here with this post. I'm hoping it'll work and I won't have to edit. I will be starting the Central Park Hoodie in 2008. I'm also going to CO socks and a beanie for my kids.

I'm in Ravelry - finally

I finally received my invite from Ravelry earlier this evening. It's going to take me some time to take pictures of my stash, FO's and WIP's. For those non knitters/crocheters: FO = Finished Objects and WIP = Work in Progress. Then there is always the UFO = UnFinished Object like my dd afghan which is on hold until after Christmas.

I have a couple of dishcloths in progress along with a scarf for dh, which I will probably frog and start fresh with an easier stitch since the Herringbone is way too slow for me, but it looks nice.

I've added a few friends from KH and will continue to add them day by day.

That's all for today but there's always tomorrow...

Yeah, it's Sunday and I'll finally be able to sleep in a little... 5 am is just way too earlier to rise!

Blogger Newbee

There has to be a first time for everything, right?

I woke up this morning and thought "hey, I wonder how I can make a blog". So I type blogspot (since that is what I've seen for a lot of other people) into Google and away I go. So much easier than I really expected.

A little bit about me:

I'm 42 (and proud of it), married for 15 years (almost) and we have two kids, girl - 14 and boy - 9. We moved to Southwest Florida 5 years ago and I LOVE the heat! I'm the only one that really does love Summer here. Now our Fall is here and the weather is beautiful. We are originally from Northern Illinois and I never want to shovel or drive in snow again (if I can help it).

We have three cats (I will post pictures when I learn how): Pepper is our oldest 1 1/2 yo, he is black and brown tiger striped with lots of white on his belly and legs. He is such a smart cat, listens to my husband but not me, oh well. Oreo is next at One yo, he looks just like his name when you twist off the bottom of an oreo, but our Oreo has this cute (macho) half mustache. Our newest is Lilly, she is 6 mo. old and as a kitten gets into everything. She is grey and black tiger striped with white on her belly. She could almost pass as Peppers sibling. Lilly has freckles with her whiskers, they are so cute.

I decided to do this blog to post pictures of my knitting - mostly dishcloths so far, but I'm going to try my hand at clothing in 2008. I have started and frogged socks for my son and a beanie for my daughter two-times each but I will keep trying until I succeed, although I'm waiting for after Christmas.

Christmas - it's not too far away. We have out tree "up", actually it's been up since just after Thanksgiving although we haven't decorated it yet. In fact if we want to decorate the tree we may have to put it in the garage so our youngest kitten can't reach it. She LOVES to climb it.

I'll stop here and see what comes next. I hope I didn't bore anyone too much.

Thanks for reading