Currently...

Playing... with mini camera lenses. For Christmas, I got some iPhone lenses for my iPod Touch. I have been having a lot of fun using them. I even started a new iPod only 365 day photo project just so that I would have the perfect excuse to use them.




Caring... for a sick kitty. I am so happy that she is so much better than she was at the beginning of the month/year.




Eating... Lemon Oreos.

Crocheting... lots of squares. I joined the Crochet Mood Blanket 2014 365 day project. I am crocheting one granny square every day for a year, with the color based on my mood. Or in my case, whatever color I feel is pretty that day. My yarn arrived late in the month so I have a lot of squares that I need to catch up on.

2013: A year in scrapbooking

I started 2013 excited about Project Life and ready to scrapbook my year. But now 2013 is over and I didn't manage to scrap more than one weekly spread. What I did manage to do was collect monthly Project Life kits. 

I scrapped the first week of 2013, but then put everything on hold in order to study for my certification exam. But once the exam was over (in March), I just couldn't get back into the groove.

I never even shared my first layout because I couldn't decide if I wanted to upload the photos to blogger or just use Flickr, like I do with all my other photos. I still haven't decided which option would be better.

Then, I got to thinking that maybe no one would want to see them. I mean, there are only so many ways a person can dress up a page protector pocket.


Even though I didn't really scrap this past year, my scrapping supplies did get some use.

For the second year in a row, I participated in the Index Card a Day challenge. I managed to create a few index cards this year but only shared 8 of them on the blog. 

I just didn't seem to have it in me to be as creative as I was when I first did this challenge back in 2012. I do enjoy the project and I plan to do it again. Not only to try to get myself to be more creative, but also because it is the only time of the year that I let myself buy some of the supplies that I have always wanted to try. Like Distress inks and spray mists and stencils, oh my!




I do see a lot more scrapping in my future though and not just because I need to do something about this giant pile of cardboard kit boxes that keeps growing taller and taller.

Here's looking forward to a scrappy 2014!

2013: A year in yarn

I worked on lots of yarny projects this past year, but only managed to complete two yarny projects in 2013. Yep. That's right. Only two.

My first completed project in 2013 was a knitting project. I finally finished knitting my first pair of socks. YAY! And to think it only took me 1.5 years to do it. I finished the first sock back in 2012 but since a pair of socks is not considered finished until there are two, these socks were not officially done until 2013.

: : DETAILS : :

Pattern: A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C. 

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Jacquards in Aqua Jacquard

Needle size: US 2.5 - 3.0 mm

My Ravelry link: The sock attempt

My other yarny project for the year was another crochet ripple blanket. I guess I should just call it my annual ripple blanket, as I plan to continue to make these until I run out of nieces and nephews, and since that will not be happening any time soon, I see a lot of ripples in my future.

I finished crocheting this blanket on Christmas Eve but to be honest I still have to weave in the ends. So technically, even though it may not REALLY be finished, I am going to say that it is.

For this ripple, I used KnitPicks Brava Worsted and I have to say that this is my favorite acrylic yarn so far. It is so soft and I really enjoyed working with it. I think it even makes my crochet look better. I had originally planned to crochet a border on this blanket but the ends of the rows ended up being perfect. I have never had such perfectly crocheted row ends on a blanket. Ever. There was no way I was going to cover those up.

: : DETAILS : :

Pattern: Neat Ripple Pattern from Attic24

Yarn: KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Peacock, Cornflower, Dove Heather, Brindle

Hook size: US 5.50 mm (I)

My Ravelry link: ... {ripple}  

I look forward to being a lot more crafty in 2014. I have lots of new (and old) yarny projects already in the works.

2013: A year in photos

It's January, so that must mean it is time for my annual year in photos post.

2013 was a bit different when it came to photos. It was the first year that I had my iPod Touch camera. So that is where most of my photos for the year came from. The ease of downloading and sharing these photos, compared to the hassle of getting my computer to even recognize my DSLR, made the iPod Touch the best choice.


In January, I submitted my application for the CTR certification exam.

In February, it snowed!! In the desert!!!!! Really, it did!




March was super special. I passed the CTR certification exam! No more studying. No more worrying. I feel so grown up having letters that go after my name.




In April, I started using my new purse. It sounds silly but it was a pretty big deal for me. My Mom bought me this purse for my birthday in February and it took a couple of months to get myself used to the idea of using it. It is big and it is orange. It is so big that it needed a name. I call her BOP (Big Orange Purse).




In May, it was Spring time in the desert. 




By the time June came around, Spring was gone and Summer had arrived. And boy was it hot! We had over 10+ days of 100 degree temperatures (at least 40 days by the time the heat wave ended). 

One Saturday morning, I found myself awake early enough to watch the sunrise. Pretty big deal for a person who loves to sleep in. I am a huge fan  of the sunset but the sunrise sure is pretty too. I probably should try to catch the sunrise more often.




In July, I was back to watching the sunset. 




Long August days meant that I got out of work while the sun was still up.




In September, the husband and I took a vacation. We take one every year around this time. We didn't go anywhere. We just stayed home. For me, staying home is one of the best ways to spend a vacation.




In October, the sun started setting a lot earlier which meant I missed a lot of sunsets. Sometimes though, I was lucky and left work just at the right time. The desert really does have the best sunsets!




November was full of blue skies, rainy skies and whiny kitties. I worked a lot and got home way too late to catch the sunset or even the sun for that matter.




December was a busy month. I went to a baby shower, trained a new employee, got things ready for Christmas, took time off from work and then of course, there was the actual celebrating of Christmas. The last month of the year just flew by. By the time December was over, I was ready for a nap.




Well that was my year in a nutshell. I thought that 2013 was a pretty great year!

Happy New Year!!!

2013 was a pretty great year! I sat for and passed the exam for my CTR credential (Certified Tumor Registrar). I finally finished knitting my first pair of socks and it snowed. Yay! For desert snow!