Nicole the Knitting Goddess

It's Thursday?

This week is getting away from me somehow.  I just realized that it's Thursday and that means:

1. Halloween is tomorrow!
2. Michael is off tomorrow!
3. I missed WIP Wednesday!

Today I'm working on my Halloween cross-stitch, which will obviously not be done in time.  But it will be done for next Halloween!!!!  I'm halfway done with the ghost.  Approximate percentage done: 20%

My Swallowtail Bridal shawl is coming along nicely.   I'm almost finished with the leaf motif.  Here it is with my dress swatch.  Approximate percentage done: 40%

I finished one of Michael's socks and have moved on to the leg of the 2nd sock.  Approximate percentage done: 58%

My lace ribbon scarf looks the same but longer... approximate percentage done 65%.

Hopefully next time I'll have finished one of the WIP's and moved onto something new.  I've been very distracted this month and have not made very much knitting progress.  Tonight we'll be carving our pumpkin and getting ready for trick-or-treaters.   I hope that we at least get a couple or else we'll be gorging on candy for a month!

Random FO Friday

I meant to post this on Friday but got too caught up in prepping the house for guests that I forgot.   This weekends activities are posted on the wedding blog, I ordered my dress!

There are a couple of FO's that I'd like to show you that don't need their own photo shoot because they're tiny... and I can't think of several situations to take pictures of them in.  I'll be showing a lot of washcloths today and I just found my next one.   Click here, it's ridiculously cute.

Project: Butterfly Washcloth
Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin in Kohlrabi

Project: Flower Washcloth
Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin in Kohlrabi

Project: Miss Meow Washcloth
Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin in Desert Turquoise

Project: One Piece Swimsuit Washcloth
Yarn: Knitpicks Cotlin in Desert Turquoise

Project: Embossed Turtle Cloth
Yarn: Sugar N Cream

Project: Camper Washcloth
Yarn: Sugar N Cream

Project: Knitted Baby Chevron Afghan
Yarn: Bernat Baby Coordinates

Weekend Consumerism...

We hit up two of my favorite stores this weekend, IKEA and Kohls, for some household items.   Next weekend I'm going for extremely selfish consumerism and hitting up some clothing stores.   As well as David's Bridal... woot!  Because let me tell you something... all I really do is spend money.   I make it as well, but man can I spend it.  Especially with the wedding.  The bright side is that I've already paid over a 1/4 of our wedding costs.

We got a rug for the kitchen.   We can't really buy furniture yet so we settle our decorating cravings with small things that we need in the house.  Hence, IKEA and Kohls.  Percy really likes the new rug.

We got a table runner from IKEA that matches placemats that we have.   And a new table runner needs fall flowers!!!!  And pumpkins of course.

We also bought tiny tiny bowls (like Alton uses I'm told) and some vases that I plan to fill with ornaments around Christmas time.

We also did some mad fall cleaning around the house.  My family is coming to visit next weekend and I felt the need to make the house very sparkly before they get here.

What did the cats do?   They refused to let me get pictures of them playing with their toys.

WIP Wednesday: I Have a Vampire!

Look at my little vampire!!!!!

Isn't he cute?  I'm currently working on the ghost next to him.

I started my Swallowtail Shawl.   I've already had to rip (I wasn't keeping track of my rows... silly mistake!) but I'm back on track again.   I should probably insert a lifeline soon.

My lace ribbon scarf is 25% complete.

I'm on the toe of Michael's socks.   I've decided to do the toes in the dark brown yarn that I used for my own Roza's socks.  I think that the colors go really well together.

For wedding WIPS go check out the wedding blog... it's a fun one this week!

On my bloodwork WIP things are going well.  We're averaging 4 times a week at the gym so far and have been working out hard.  There's no progress pictures to show you yet!  But maybe in awhile.   :)

Top Ten on Tuesday

Top 10 Bands/Artists That Remind You of High School

1. Tool
2. Nirvana
3. Offspring
4. The Smashing Pumpkins
5. The Toadies
6. Bush
7. Korn
8. Green Day
9. Notorious B.I.G
10. Silverchair

A Foody Weekend

We ate a lot of delicious food this weekend.   It all started with Friday, when I went to town on my pie pumpkin and made some roasted pumpkin seeds and chocolate-chip pumpkin bread.

I bought two more pumpkins with the intention of making homemade pumpkin pie soon.

Saturday would have been a completely lame day if not for dinner that night.   We spent the morning cleaning the house and the afternoon cleaning the carpets at the townhouse.  But for dinner we went to Seasons 52 with Michael's parents!  We were scoping out the place for a possible rehearsal dinner venue.  We tried quail for the first time!  Everything was very delicious, the service was great and the private rooms were really nice.

Sunday we went to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival again.   We ate food from Chile, Australia, and Austria this weekend.   If anyone plans on going to the F&W Festival our top favorites are:

• Cheddar Cheese soup and Maple Glazed Salmon with Roasted Corn and Arugula from Canada
• Seared Beef Medallion with Cheese Polenta from San Francisco
• Spicy Beef Enchilada from Chile
• Escargot Persillade en Brioche and Sparkling Pomegranate Kir from France
• Beef Goulash with Bacon Dumpling from Austria

To combat all this eating we spent a fair amount of time at the gym this weekend.  Now our arms hurt but we're looking forward to going back tonight for some cardio time!

This weekend we also made a quick stop at Costco to get some gas and look at the Christmas trees.   We will be getting one this year and what we've noticed is that the Costco trees are pretty expensive.   Does anyone know why this is?  They're like $50 more then the ones at Home Depot and they look exactly the same.  We'll probably do some Black Friday shopping this year so maybe we'll get a tree then!

The Change I Need

Ok, this isn't meant to be a political post but my title reminds me... did anyone else watch the debate on Tuesday?   And if so when McCain said "he (Barack Obama) spent 3 million dollars on a projector for the Chicago planetarium." think that must be one bitchin' planetarium?   Because I really want to go to the Chicago planetarium now.   I mean, look at this thing, it's awesome!

I went to my hematologist yesterday and after several tests and shots we sat down to talk about all I can do to get better.  The changes that I need to make are as follows:

1. Less stress.  Practice deep breathing exercises and meditation.   Take lots of baths.
2. Eat more protein and eat it often.
3. Listen to my body when it is fatigued and don't push it.
4. Exercise more and strengthen my endurance.

So we went to the store and loaded up on protein snacks.  We joined a gym.  I bought some bath bombs.  I have new pj's.

Although my stomach is still behaving violently towards me, I feel confident that if I make the recommended changes that I'll start feeling better by the end of the month.

I've also started drinking coffee.   That's not on the list, but it does help with the fatigue.  And I like the smell and accessories.

Also, I want to give a shout-out to Amber... look what I did!!!!!!!

Coming up next: FO Friday and fall activities!!!!!!!

WIP Wednesday: Knitting for Others

I had a new cousin enter the world this past month and so I'm working on a hat and bootie set for him.  I used TLL Basic Knit Hat Pattern for the hat.

I also finished Michael's secret Christmas gift and started a Lace Ribbon scarf.  So far it's going well, the pattern is easily memorized and it's cute.

I've started the heel flap on the Roza's socks and now I'm figuring out how to do a heel flap with magic loop.  These socks are taking awhile but I figure it's no big deal.   I have until December 24th to finish them!

On Sunday we stopped by Sip N Knit so I could pick up 2 balls of Zaol Olive.   I'm going to make a Swallowtail shawl and if I like it enough it may be my bridal shawl.  If not, I'm going to try the Shetland Triangle pattern.  I've got a year to figure it out.  To see my possible dress choices go to the updated wedding blog.

Another WIP today is figuring out why I am becoming increasingly sick.  I'm nauseous or vomiting daily now, very fatigued, and dizzy all the time.  My hematologist will be poking and prodding and testing me today to figure out what we can do to correct my blood.  I'll also be getting a flu shot!  I'm hoping the solutions are homeopathic and easy to apply. 

FO Friday: Clementine Shawlette

In exactly one year I will be come a Mrs.   Eep!!!!!! 

I've got a lot of pictures for y'all.  This shawl is a lot of fun and very versatile.

Pattern: Clementine Shawlette Interweave Knits Spring 2007

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in Moss Green

This pattern was a lot of fun to knit and quick.  Debbie Bliss Pure Silk is amazing to work with.  It's a nice little something-something to throw over my shoulders.   I wore it to the grocery store yesterday and it kept some of the chill off.

WIP Wednesday: Knitting has resumed!

I haven't made a lot of progress in my knitting the past week.  Maggie's wedding festivities began on Thursday and I had a big work deadline yesterday so I really only knit a bit on Sunday and a bit today!

Our tenant moved out on Friday thank goodness!  That's a huge load off of my shoulders.  The townhouse is super super dirty but we're having Merry Maids run over there on Friday.

I did manage to knit a bit more on Michael's secret present and it should be done soon.   I've also managed a bit of process on his other gift...

You can also see my manicure that I got last Thursday.   I still haven't chipped it, it's a complete miracle!   I'm tough on nails.

I finished the basket rib hand towel on Sunday.  It took roughly a skein of Cotlin.  I haven't used it yet but it looks absorbent.

And here is Max and his work-in-progress today... making sure the lawn men do their job.

Lastly, as promised, a picture of Michael in a kilt!  We had a blast at Maggie's wedding.

I hope to finish up Michael's present this week and to cast on for my bridal shawl.   I think I'm going to make a Shetland Triangle.