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!

It was all over in just a blink of an eye

Christmas has come and gone and I am left wondering, where did it go?

When I was younger, I remember Christmas being much much slower. This year it just sped on by.

This year, Christmas Eve was spent with my family at my parents' house and Christmas Day was spent with the in-laws. It was nice being able to visit with everyone but all the visiting was over way too soon. I remember Christmas Eve used to last past midnight. Now people stay for just a couple of hours.

But I can't complain. I'll take any time that I can, no matter how short, to spend with my family. So even though I only had a couple of hours, I still had a good time.

So how about you? Did you have a good Christmas?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Santa pj's, fuzzy socks and twinkly lights

Currently...

Listening... to Nightmare and the Cat. These guys opened for 30 Seconds to Mars last month and they put on a fantastic show. They are a pretty talented bunch and quite polite too. I met the band after their set and they were very kind to chat and pose for a photo for me.

Thinking... of doing a new 365 day photo project. I wonder if I can do one but only use my iPod? I know that I can, but will I be happy with the results? Plus, I still need to finish uploading my project photos from 2009 and 2010.

   

Worrying... that I may be running out of yarn for my Christmas ripple. The bad thing is if I do run out of yarn I will have to order more online and with it being so close to Christmas it may not be delivered to me on time. So, my response to this is to work on the blanket as little as possible so that I can put off running out of yarn. I am sure I will post many more times in the near future about my upcoming yarn shortage emergency.

Needing... to go Christmas shopping. I haven't started. I haven't even started thinking about it. Next week isn't too late is it? Have you finished your Holiday shopping yet?

Watching... Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23. It's on Netflix and I found myself needing something to watch. It was actually pretty funny. That James Van Der Beek is quite the funny guy! Too bad the show has been cancelled. I would have liked to see more.

from where i stand

Announcement

There are only 20 crochet days left until Christmas.

something new

I bought a new pair of glasses. 

The prescription is so strong that I feel like I am in a fishbowl and everything is in 3D. It's so strong that I actually can't really see all that well, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of wearing glasses.

Happiness is...

Getting to use my umbrella.

Wordless Wednesday: Cat in a Box

more forgotten photos

My art for today was editing some of those old forgotten 2010 Project 365 photos.

I guess in a way it is kind of cheating in that the pictures weren't taken today, but editing them was the only creative thing I did all day.

October 20, 2010: Quilted

October 21, 2010

Hello November

Some days it seems like there are just not enough hours in the day. Actually, I don't think there are. It's dark when I leave work and there are just a few hours left in the day to do stuff. Any stuff. Like creative stuff. Or clean my house stuff.

It's pretty much my own fault. I get to work later than I used to and so I then have to stay later. I am so not a morning person. Even if I get up early I somehow still manage to get to work around the same time every day. Give or take an hour. Working late means I miss the sunset. I hate missing the sunset.

Today I arrived at work a little earlier and so I got to leave work a little earlier than usual and the sun still had already set. I guess I missed it by 15 minutes or so.

Yesterday, I learned that November is Art Every Day Month. Did you know that? This is a challenge started by Leah over at Creative Every Day. I like the idea of being creative every day. Being creative makes me happy.

Today's creative endeavor is my crochet ripple blanket. It is growing slowly. Very slowly. For some reason I keep messing up. 

Currently...

Eating... Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts. I have to say that these are my new favorite. They actually taste like real pumpkin and are not too sweet and fake tasting. It's a good thing that they are a limited edition or else I would be eating them all the time.

Have you tried a Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tart? Holy Cow! These things are awesome!
— Stefani (@dreamsofnyssa) October 8, 2013

Shampooing.... the carpets. I spent the last two weekends (both Saturday and Sunday) shampooing all the carpet in the main rooms of my house. Seriously, this shampooing stuff is hard work. I hate that it takes so long. You have to move the machine so very slowly. I miss having hard floors, where all it took was a quick sweep and mop to keep it clean. I pity the person who is the first to get this carpet dirty.

Listening... to Lana Del Rey.

Watching... the 5th season of Sons of Anarchy. It's finally streaming on Netflix. I have never been able to watch this show in real time. I am always a year behind. The ability to watch any show that I want days, weeks or even years later is quite the awesome invention.

The Christmas countdown

The countdown to Christmas has begun.

The yarn I ordered and have been waiting for arrived days before it's expected delivery date. Yay!

So, I was able to start crocheting this year's ripple blanket a day or two sooner than I had expected.

This is my first time using KnitPicks Brava Worsted. I love this yarn! It is so soft. I think I found my new go-to yarn to use for blankets. There are so many colors to choose from and the amount of yarn you get for the price is actually better than the local stores. At least the local stores around here. My only fear is running out of a color too close to my Christmas deadline and having to order it and wait.

I really like how all these colors look together. The colors are definitely more 'boy' than 'baby'. Now all that's left is to figure out what to name it.

It's that time again

It's that time of year. Time to be working on those yarny Christmas presents. But here it is the middle of October and I haven't even started.

I have always wanted to make my nephews and nieces something special just for them. I decided crochet blankets would be the best thing for me to make.

My Grandmother used to make us all Christmas presents and there is just something about that memory that has stuck with me. My brother still has the quilt she made for him from when he was a teenager. Listening to the way he still talks about it, all these years later, I think it is probably one of his prized possessions. So, I decided to start with his family.

But there are just so many of them! So, I decided to spread out the yarny love and choose only one child per year to make a gift for.

This year I am going to crochet a ripple blanket. I have crocheted a ripple blanket for the past two years and this year is not going to be any different. 

First, Nephew 1.0 got the Brownie {ripple}. 

Then, Nephew 2.0 got the Blueberry {ripple}.

And now, Nephew 3.0 will be getting a ripple blanket of his very own.

But this year I wanted something different and something softer than what is available at the local chain stores. Plus, it was a better value to order my yarn online. So I did. Let me tell you.... ordering yarn online is hard! I am worried that the colors I chose are more 'baby' than 'boy'. 

I am trying not too worry too much about the super late start. This is the first year that I don't have to worry about studying at the same time so I should have a lot more free time available to work on it.

Now if only that yarn would hurry up and get here!

So what do you think? Is this yarn more 'baby' or 'boy'?

[Things I ♥ Thursday] Vintage cars

I really love the look of old cars. There is just something about them.

1. 219. Deluxe, 2. 633 - Thunderbird, 3. October 18, 2010, 4. Day 250

All photos in this mosaic © their respective owners.

 

As comfy as can be

Someone sure does look comfy. I don't think she could get any flatter.