knitwit

Knitting Class Schedule Jan, Feb, Mar 2010

2010-01-22T16:36:00.001-08:00

Hey all! it's been forever since I've posted- I know, shame shame. So much has happened and I promise to catch you up later. The latest most exciting happening is that I am now offering knitting classes for all levels. You can view the full schedule for the months of January, February, and March here. If you don't see a class or time that suits you, please call and schedule a private indevidual or group lesson!

Knitting Class Schedule: Jan, Feb & March

2010-01-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It's been forever since I posted last. I know, shame shame. So much has happened but i'll have to update later 'cause right now I want to let everyone know I am now offering knitting classes for all levels! To view class schedule for the months of January, Feruary, and March click HERE. If you don't see what you need or the times won't work for you, contact me for private single or group lessions. Spaces are limited so call to reserve your spot today!

phantom sweaters revealed!

2008-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

alright. finally, here they are. chad and i went out yesterday evening and got some pics of the phantom sweaters i've been talking about. all three of them are cardigans-which i love. this first one is from twinkles big city knits. it's called the "best friend cardigan" and it's so cute. it was a really quick knit. i think i did it in like 4 hours. i used cheap-o yarn because i didn't know how it would turn out. i really would've liked to buy the twinkle yarn; but it's like $19 for 80-some yards. there's just no way. plus, i've heard that it pills really bad. so, i used lion's brand thick and quick and it worked out perfect. i made the size small even though the measurements for the small in the book are like really small (i think 26 or 27 inch bust?) and i measure a 32". if you read the book info though, it explains how to find the size you should make. overall, cute, fun, and fast. and best of all, i get so much use out of it!

This one was a pattern that i got off of ravelry called the "february lady sweater". it took me about 4 weeks to finish; but i'll be honest, i wasn't really that diligent. it's a raglan and is knit all in one piece. i love that 'cause i HATE seaming. the lace pattern was really easy-the whole thing was pretty brainless actually-i like that. i think the pattern is modeled after an elizabeth zimmerman pattern; but i can't say that for sure. anyway, it's nice.

this is the last one. i got this pattern from sweaterbabe. it's the "peplum waste top down cardigan". i really like working this as well. it's also done in one piece with raglan sleeves. it looks great with a skirt or jeans. it's comfy and i love wearing it. i used lions brand yarn on this one too ( mostly because i'm cheap). the sash was given to me by my sister keiko. it just happens to match perfectly.

overall i'm really happy with how all of these turned out. the two three-quarter sleeve ones will be great transitional pieces for fall because they look great with long sleeve shirts under them. i've already gotten so much use out of all of them, and so many compliments. it's so gratifying to wear something i created.

recent happenings

2008-09-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

i'm finding it difficult to blog on a regular basis since chad and i live seperately now and i have not a computer of my own. it's tough; but i'm coping. here is a condensed version of not even a fraction of what been going on lately. no, not one bit of it has to do with knitting. and yes, chad promised that tomorrow he'd take pics of me and the phantom sweaters i've been talking about. i'm telling you people-they are real!

Here's the one and only picture i have of my engagement ring that i've yet to wear. there's nothing worse than being engaged and not having the privilege to flash around that shiny new rock. because i'm super anal, i had to get a new setting made for the ring. oh, but not just any setting. of course the one i want is no where to be found, we had to take it to a place where they specialize in custom jobs. i literally wore the ring for a day, took it to the shop, and almost two month later, still no ring. i guess the first time one of the prongs looked bent. the second time the cast blew up in the kiln. so, last weekend my mom threw an engagement party for us so we went to billings, where the ring is. my mom had picked it up for us as we arrived in town late. when i opened the box, hoping to find the ring of my dreams, i was crushed to find a ring that didn't even slightly resemble the picture which i had given these "specialists". so, yet again it's back in the hands of these alleged "professionals". this time i took a couple hours and drew a diagram (to scale) of the ring i was given, and the one i want. hopefully they get it this time...idiots.

On a lighter note, just 'cause we don't live together doesn't mean we don't cook! and yes, this was likely one of the tastiest meals we've ever made. particularily the shrimp you see on the left. it's walnut shrimp and is AMAZING! thank you silver seafood!

now that we're back in the M.T., it's only right to hit up a griz game. these are a blast.

here we are decked out in our griz gear.

our stadium is pretty cool. it's state of the art and seats 25,000 peeps. they're sold out every game.

chad and his buds: chance, rj, and cole

and a bbq after. classic.

Engaged!

2008-09-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

it has been forever since i last wrote. so much has been going on and i've got so many pictures to post. in the last three months i've left chicago for montana, hung out with my folks for a month, done the six day hike from hell with chad, rocked my Arbonne, and moved to missoula. all the while keeping up with my knitting-producing three super cute sweaters (pictures to post later). of all this, though, the most exciting and life changing turn of events was that on august 12 chad and i got engaged! i know! i can hardly believe it myself! it was so unexpectd, but i was and am so so happy! it was so cute how he did it to-details on that later. in the mean time, i've posted a few of our engagement pictures. Brooke Peterson of Missoula, MT took them. she was so fun to work with and she did such a fabulous job, they turned out so well and we love them. thanks Brooke!

update: sister reunion

2008-06-17T19:56:00.001-07:00

i haven't blogged in quite a while. so, here's an update of what's been goin' on. my sisters flew in from montana last tuesday afternoon, so i spent the next 5 days hanging out with them! it was awesome! we had so much fun together and i'm so glad to be able to share my gorgeous lovelies with everyone. here's their trip in a nut shell:

this was just after they'd arrived. we went to get chad after work. aren't they beautiful?! keiko is in the middle, and kai is on the right.

that night we went to cafe iberco down town. it was a good time and a great first night in chicago for them.

keiko didn't really like the looks of the mexican sausage. except for chad it grossed all of us out a little. sausage is weird like that~especially a plate full of it.

the smoked salmon with dill cream cheese was pretty good. chad had never had it before, and we enjoyed it.

i don't know why, but this is my favorite iberco dish. i normally don't care for goat cheese; but with the marinara it's wonderful.

these fancy cheese stick thingies were really good too.

after that we headed to see the sights at night. of course we stopped by rock n' roll McDonald's. we all got at least one pose in.

i was flirting with this b-ball guy. chad beat his face in. now that's love.

the next day we went to the beach. it was so relaxing and nice. i think these pics are my favorite.

i love this pic. i wish it hadn't turned out blue.

later we went to navy pier. also very nice.

then we ate at giordono's. kai loved it.

then burnin' some time is boy's town. chad pretended to pick his nose.

then finally the blue man group. very cool.

the next day we met kate for lunch. the twins are growing so fast. i miss them already!

also during their time here we, of course, had to go to millennium park. the bean is sweet.

we walked with claire.

after a quick ride home and a shower, we got all dolled up for sushi at sushi wabi.

this place has the best sushi i've ever eaten. it's so delicious! keiko and kai rated it their best meal in chicago. thanks wabi!

after sushi we walked around down town, soaking in the beautiful chicago evening.

on their last day here, we just wrapped things up by hitting some stores the girls wanted to check out one last time. top it off with a final pic.

i had so much fun with my sisters when they were here. kake and keebs~thanks for a great time. i love you tons!!!

a sneak peak

2008-06-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

so, i've gotten a pretty good 50 millionth start on the original design which i'd made reference to in my earlier post. i'm hesitant to make it public because, really, who knows what's to come of it. it may not turn out and if that's the case, then all the world will be expecting this non-existent work of greatness to emerge. and you know, i'm only just a girl. i don't know if i can handle the wait of the world! ok, ok, it's not that big of a deal, and i'm sure it's going to be fine. plus, who really reads this thing anyway? so, without further adu-the debut of my latest wip: my key hole caplet.

yarn: 1080 yds. fingering weight 100% merino wool, in banana creme pie from yarn chef

needle: circular size 5

this yarn is really nice to work with. it's soft and light and though it's wool, i think that with it's light weight it will be perfect to wear on those breezy summer nights (we have those in montana but maybe chicago people don't know what these kinds of nights are).

other than the grocery sack, this is my first original pattern. so, i don't really know what i'm doing. i've never even made a caplet from a pattern. i don't have an inspiration that i'm going off of either. let's just say i'm pretty much winging it. whatever the case, i'm using seed stitch for all of the edges and a simple eyelet pattern for the body. the whole thing will be done in one piece-you know i hate sewing seams. it's pretty slow going as what you see below is the product of a yesterdays 7 hour knitting binge. about half of that 7 hours was spent designing, knitting, frogging that, revamping design, knitting, frogging that, more revamping, etc. overall, i think i made good progress. plus, i'm all reved up to knit today. i feel like the design is all in my head now, since i dreamt about it all last night. obsessed? no, not me! you must be thinking of someone else:)

my progress

it's pretty yarn though, right?

primo pasta

2008-06-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

we made some really delicious pasta the other night. i thought it was such a great summer dish because-though hot (as in stove)- it's light and fresh. it was so simple to make and we had it with steamed broccoli as a veggie.

ingredients: Italian sausage (spicy?)
two cans diced tomatoes
onion
cheese (asiago/parmesan/etc)
basil
salt & pepp to taste

first you brown the sausage. we've got super dull knives so we always just de-skin it then break it up into chunks; but it doesn't really matter how it's done. once it's almost cooked through, throw in the onion and any other additives. i think we also put in fresh mushrooms and garlic. add whatever you like. make it your own! once the onions cook to tender, add in the basil and tomatoes. we did put in about 1/2 c. of fresh grated parmesan and asiago combined in the sauce. then just let it simmer. that's it!

we didn't even have ours with pasta because we didn't have any. but, we are rice people, so we just had it over rice-which i was weary of; but chad said it would be good. and, sure enough, it was delicious! of course we had to sprinkle some more of that fresh cheese to top it off.

we drank cheap wine to go with it. this bottle was ok. a bit too alcohol-y to me; but we must leave no wounded soldiers. we drank the whole bottle.

grocery sack

2008-06-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

my first design ever-finished! i know, this one kinda snuck in out of the blue. chad and i have this problem with plastic grocery bags piling up like crazy in our kitchen. we first started saving them for picking up claire's #2's; but (and i hate to admit it) for about the past 2 months, she's been going in the ivy under the tree, and i can never find 'em when she's done! so, i just leave the little tootsie rolls in there. what person walks in the ivy anyway, right? never the less, we now have a build up of plastic bags that we feel too guilty to throw out; but week after week we forget to take them to the store to the plastic bag drop off thing. that's when i decided to make my own grocery sack so as to avoid this whole dilemma all together.

i looked all over the internet for a pattern that i liked; but seeing as how i'm pretty particular, i just didn't find any that encompassed all that i was wanting. many of the market bags i saw were completely netting all the way up to the opening of the bag. i thought there should be a little something at the mouth. also, almost every bag used just an i-cord for the strap. ouch! you know when you fill the plastic bag up and it's heavy and it cuts into your hand or arm? that really sucks! so, i decided my bag must have a wide comfy strap. also, for some reason i really hate sewing seams. plus an item such as this seems like it'd be sturdier if it were done in one piece. sadly, almost everything out there is knit like a rectangle, folded, seamed, and handle attached separately. too many pieces. i wanted mine to be knit in the round with handle and all. behold, my grocery sack!

wip

finished product

first, i'll de-brief on how this one was knit, then i'll talk about what i'm gonna do with the next ones, since obviously i'm gonna need more than just one grocery sack, and this one needs improvements.

i knit this all in one piece using size 11 circular needles. i used cotton, cream 'n sugar yarn two strands held tog. i started with the strap which i did in rib stitch. at the the end of the strap i cast on additional stitches to make one side of the sack, then picked up stitches from the other end of the strap. then i cast on stitches for the other side. after that it's all knitting in the round! i started the mouth of the sack with rib stitch, then after a few rows changed to stockinette stitch. then i began the lace pattern. i used the lace pattern from elisa's nest tote and it worked wonderfully. after knitting the lace pattern for a while, i did some math and decreased on the remaining knit rows of the lace pattern until there were only 10 stitches left. then, i thread the tail yarn through, tied off, and it was done!

improvements: first of all, this one is a great template. for my first ever design project, i think it's pretty good. but, there are quite a few things that need to be improved: the strap is a great width; but needs to be about 4 inches shorter. also, the sack itself needs to be deeper. a little over double the length i think. the mouth of the bag is ok, but if i get ambitious i may try to keep it smaller, increase from the mouth, then decrease at the end. i'll get back to ya with the new improved version.

note: i actually used this bag to get groceries today. it's very sturdy. i put sacks of apples, oranges, caned food, and cheese in it. i walked the 4 blocks home and the strap was comfy. even with the modified strap length, it should still be able to cross the chest (if you don't want it on your shoulder) which worked well today.

dinner and a movie

2008-06-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

chad took me on a date last night. i didn't know where we were going or what we were going to do, so it was a pretty fun surprise. we rode our bikes because it was so nice out. first we went to jewel to get some candy. and since i had no idea where we were off to, i though, "hmm, maybe an outdoor concert or something?". then when we had arrived at our destination, which turned out to be a movie theatre, he told me he was taking me to see "sex and the city" which i've been talking about for weeks now. oh how i'd wanted to see that movie! let me tell you, it was so worth it! i loved the show. sarah jessica parker was absolutely fabulous; but not as fabulous as the fashion! if you haven't seen it, you must. trailer below:

us in front of the theatre

afterward he took me to raw bar in wrigglyville. i expected it to be crowded because of the cubs game yesterday; but it was really quiet and romantic. chad had the prime rib and i had beef pare ribs. we had alligator for an appetizer, which neither of us had ever had before so it was an experience. i'd give it a 3 out of 5. mostly because i can eat chicken and get the same effect. the food was nice, and i enjoyed it. but, what really made the night was the live music. we sat right in front of the stage where brian harrell entertained. he played his guitar and sang classic songs like: the way you look tonight, fools rush in, etc. it was really nice.

delicious food, great atmosphere, beautiful entertainment. all with my favorite person!

this is him performing. i couldn't get the video to work, so a photo will have to do:(

do division

2008-06-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

yesterday and today there's a thing going on called "do division". all on division st. they've got vendors with goods and food and even pony rides. it was pretty sweet. i love going out and doing stuff like this in the summer. do division will be going on through today (sunday).

the ponies

this 3 man band was pretty good. the two guitarists were just kids. the drummer i'm sure was their dad.

this little guy is a cocka-poo. so cute! he was the same color as claire. looked like he could be her parent! i wish they would've sat together better.

ice cream fridays anyone?

2008-06-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

on friday chad and i cooked home made hot fudge to put on an ice cream friday for chad and to put in a hot fudge milk shake for me! it was pretty delicious. you know, hot fudge shakes taste totally different than plain old chocolate milk shakes. if you're not privy to these kinds of things then, well, i feel bad for you. but, i'm here to deliver the good news: you can discover the goodness of your own home-made hot fudge shake any time! that's right, in your very own kitchen! all you need is:

vanilla ice cream

for sauce: 2c. sugar
1c. brown sugar
1c. cocoa
2 Tb. flour
1/4c. butter
1 1/5 c. water

mix all dry ingredients together, then add butter and water. simmer while stirring for about 4 min. then serve over ice cream or in blender for shake. serves 12.

p.s. if you didn't notice, this recipe serves 12 so chad and i cut it in half and had left overs. it's always the best on the first day, so take into consideration how much you need!

p.p.s. for an even more super shake, add malt to make it a hot fudge malt. this my friends is my absolute favorite. i wasn't able to do it because we didn't have malt-i cried (almost).

the hot fudge

the hot fudge on a banana. who doesn't love a chocolaty banana?

shake preparation

the goodness revealed. it was so delicious!

meathead hat

2008-05-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

for the past week or so i've been slowly banging out a clover lace caplet-of my own design. it's been slow going and i really needed some relief. so, since it was chilly out today, i decided to knit up these quick meathead hats. i used lion's brand extra bulky weight yarn and size 15 needles. the pattern called for bulky weight held tog; so i figured single strand would be fine. you have child, small/med, or large size choices and the first one i made was the sm/md. it ended up being way too big even for chad (he's wearing it). so i quickly did another in the child size which fit me like a glove! it only took about 30 min to do and it's just so darn cute! i also knit the flower which was quick as well. it was on a pattern for house slippers as an embellishment, and i thought it would be a nice touch. i attached it to a safety pin, so it's removable and can be used on anything else you choose. this hat was exactly what i needed, what a nice break!

i had to post these because they're beautiful. it's the sunset view from our window.

lincoln park picnic

2008-05-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

on memorial day we rode our bikes with claire down to lincoln park for a picnic. we walked all around on clark and on broadway, looking in all the shops and enjoying the beautiful day. it was so nice. i love days like this.

claire in my bag

ready for the ride

yum!

oh, hello!

claire's tongue was hanging out so long!

what a cute puppy! claire's curious

it's a shizu/poodle, i call 'em shitty poo's

we had to capture this "great head" moment;)

cut n' curl

2008-05-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

claire's been getting some mad dreads lately. her hair is curly and if i'm not up on combing it (and sometimes even when i am) it gets all matted especially on her ears and leg pits. i usually cut her when i'm sitting on the couch watching tv or whatever; but then i have to be careful of where the hair falls, etc. so, since it's been kinda pleasant outside i figured i should just do it outside during her walk so i can just let it blow with the wind. it worked out great-this is definitely gonna become the routine.

claire, do you recognize this brush? duh, duh, dummmmmm.....

she hates getting combed-but she's a trooper

getting cut

won't someone please help me?!

lush and lacy cardigan: finished

2008-05-25T17:55:00.001-07:00

well, my lush and lacy cardigan is finally finished. actually, it was done about a week and a half ago; i just never got around to having chad help me get pics. so, here they are. overall i think it turned out pretty well for my first big project. though, i haven't put buttons on it yet. i decided i will definitely do this one again in the near future (while the pattern's still fresh in my mind) and when i do i'll: do it an a brighter color-yellow?, do it in a small instead of medium (it's kinda big for me), and be more careful of the arm and arm hole decreases (i kinda botched 'em and had to frog a lot)! overall i'd say this project was: fun for the first half then i wanted it over with-i'm sure this was because i had to frog a lot, the pattern was pretty simple and easy to follow, and the design is super cute! i'm actually excited to do it again. thanks sweater babe!

not such good color w/o the flash; but the lace is a bit more obvious.

fried green tomatoes

2008-05-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

i really always loved this movie. even though it's sad, i must have watched it like 15 times in a row when i was a kid. some of that may have been because i always thought the fried green tomatoes looked so darn good, although i never ate them until yesterday. over the past couple months chad and i have become burnt out and bored of opening the fridge and seeing the same old food with which we make the same old recipes. in remedy of this we've begun searching for new and exciting dishes to spice up our dining experience. enter: fried green tomatoes! i saw them at the store and, on a whim, new we just had to try them. we did it, and it turned out fabulously!

i looked up a bunch of recipes on the Internet and then decided that i'd make my own hybrid recipe. you'll need the following ingredients:

3 green tomatoes
1/2c. flour
1/4c. milk
2/3c. bread crumbs/cornmeal
1/4c. oil
2 eggs
salt
pepper

first, slice your toms into 1/2" thick slices. not too thick, not too thin. then, in a bowl combine eggs and milk. beat. in a separate bowl, combine flour and bread crumbs. you may need more flour and bread mixture depending-so keep it on hand. dip tomato slices in: egg mixture then bread crumb mixture, twice (egg, bread, egg, bread). put oil in pan and heat. after hot, fry the slices 'till brown on both sides. salt and pepper to taste. enjoy!

these were so delicious. they've got an almost citrus-y taste to them. as we were gorging ourselves we decided that there are endless possibilities for these. they'd be great with mozzarella cheese them and a marinara sauce. or maybe baked with goat cheese? you could even add stuff to the bread crumb mixture like basil and oregano for an italian feel. or cyan pepper, or garlic. mmm.....

chad's picnic

2008-05-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

for weeks i had been trying to think of something special that i could do for chad; but was having the hardest time! we are barely ever home and when i'm home he usually is too. so, it leaves little opportunity for keeping secrets or preparing surprises. but, both of us recently had pretty drastic schedule changes and it just so happens that we have opposite days of. i have thursday and he has wednesday. it kinda sucks; but in the long run i think it gives us both time to chill out on our own and to have time to scheme little extras for one another. i hadn't done anything special for him in quite a while so i decided to surprise him with a dinner picnic. he gets off work at 7 and i wanted to be there in the grassy field waiting for him with blanket and meal displayed. i prepared an asian type meal of beef and broccoli with vegetable fried noodles. when i got to the field it ended up being pretty chilly and there was a family of 4 kids who were completely in love with claire. i left a note on his bike directing him to me and when he showed up the kids were all over trying to cuddle claire. turns out he was chilled to the bone from sitting inside an overly air conditioned building all day and it didn't help that it was super nippy outside. he obviously wasn't in the mood to picnic:( still, he obliged and we ate dinner, bless his heart. in the end the whole shebang was kind of a bust; but my main point was received-that i really appreciate him.

some pretty flowers i saw on the way

thanks for appeasing me chadley!

we were so distracted with kids and the cold that i forgot to take pics of our spread. that sucks.

colorful stuff

memorial day parade

2008-05-25T09:39:00.001-07:00

memorial day is tomorrow; but the chicago memorial day parade was yesterday! we rode our bikes down town (17 mi. round trip!) and met up with our friends renee and jeff who took the train. this parade wasn't nearly as crowded as the one on st. patty's day. we had a great spot across from the chicago theatre and could see everything perfectly. for some reason when i think about a chicago parade i imagine huge floats-a big to do. but, apparently it's not like that. it felt like a montana parade, only longer. i guess the big floats only happen in new york. afterward, we enjoyed a picnic and revisited our tourist days!

this is mostly what the parade was all about (above)

this guy was kinda cool. he's full of air; but there's an actual person in there! dangerous right?! i mean, he's made of plastic!

these cute little cta buses seem way more fun than the life size version.

afterward we all had a picnic in millennium park. it was so beautiful out. so good to get together with friends.

pretty tulips.

i had to get some pics of the bean-just a refresher.

i like this sculpture

brownies

2008-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

i don't know what's gotten into me; but ever since i made those statements about not being a baker, i've been baking! it turns out, even though i've been baking, that doesn't make me a baker. so, the statements weren't completely false! i decided to make brownies the other day-even though it called for two sticks of butter and i know my body's not gonna like that. of course i went ahead and did it anyway. well, the pan i had was already being used to cook our dinner, so i decided it would be perfect to make little individuals using the cupcake thingy. when i made that decision i knew that the brownies would only have to bake for half the time. but, as expected, i forgot about them. they over cooked. therefore, even though they look delicious, they turned out to be dry. imagine trying to swallow a mouthful of sand. need i say more? see the damage below

doing good

doing gooddoing good

looking good

they weren't good, so we drank this bottle along with some leftover vodka instead. i must be getting old because my hangover comes almost immediately after my last sip. a little alcohol effects me a lot these days~in a bad way:(

a ride and a walk

2008-05-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

since the weather is getting nicer we decided that we would start riding our bikes at least once a week together with claire. we'll find a cute place and walk her there then make our way home, exploring the city little by little. this past weekend was pretty nice and we rode to a cute little area surrounding clark and foster. there's a bunch of shops and restaurants. it was pretty fun!

we caught one of those push cart vendors and bought some ice cream. just a little refreshment!

these signs were outside of a dance studio. we enjoyed them.

claire girl's a tom boy?!

2008-05-13T18:14:00.001-07:00

claire and i started our lives together when she flew in from california on december 1, 2006. she was so little, 2lbs, and adorable! her hair was so dark red and i was sure she was just the daintiest lady. she'll be two years old this june 16, her hair has really lightened up, and until about a week ago all signs of the "dainty lady" were in tact. and then she decided to mark her territory. i first saw her do it once about a week ago. i was shocked but didn't think much of it. she's always going from pole to pole sniffing each one thoroughly. i didn't really expect her to ever "mark" again. until last night when both chad and i thought we caught the tail end (ha, ha) of her marking yet again, on the same pole even! then today she marked that exact pole once on our way further into the park and once leaving. it's crazy! it's not like she's lifting her leg or anything; but still! maybe she just thinks it's what she's supposed to do since she's smelling other dogs' marks on all the poles. i think our little claire girl may be a tom boy!

i unsuspectingly put her in a dress today. that's irony.

she looks so cute in it!

kisses!

and we saw a mama and her goslings on the way home

baking binge!

2008-05-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

so, i know i said that i don't consider myself a baker, and that's still a true statement-i think. except for last night when i made angel food cake to enjoy with the deliciously ripe strawberries and whip cream in the fridge. i think i may be on a baking binge! strawberry short cake is my absolute favorite kind of cake. though it's more of a summer delight, it's what i always chose to have on my birthday (in december). i love it and i have to say, it was as delectable!

my plate

chad's plate

almost done

2008-05-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

so these are updates of my lush and lacy cardi. i can't wait to be done and am already plotting my next project! as you can see, i've finished the back, left, right panels and one sleeve. one more sleeve to go and i'll be wearin' this sucker! i'm gonna try to get 'er done by wed. and hopefully the next time i post on it it'll be an fo!

biking around

2008-05-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

we rode our bikes today down to lake shore. though it seemed nice, it was pretty windy once we started riding. and why is it that no matter which directions you're going, it's always into the wind?! regardless, the lake was beautiful. we got some nice pics.

after that we cruised over to loyola where there were tons of really pretty tulips. i love flowers!

on our way home we ran into some geese. there were really funny waddling around and s**ting everywhere. hilarious!

they were talking to there friend in the water.

banana bread

2008-05-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

this was only my second attempt at baking banana bread. i've never considered myself a baker of sorts, and don't usually have the inkling to mix up dough and utilize my oven. but, there are those accasions when the bananas in the basket have crept just past their ripe status and into the relm of black and icky. at our house we go through fruits and veggies like monkeys, so this is rarely a problem. the first time i made banana bread was a couple months ago, and it was dense and dry. chad told me it was delicious-bless his heart- but i know the truth. it was like eating sugared cotton balls. this time, though, was much better. i added an extra banana for more moisture and it turned out beautifully! delicious!

why do the banana chunks turn purple?

what a sunday!

2008-05-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

yesterday was a great day! it was sunday, still a weekend day, and therefore very lovely. of course we had to make pancakes. chad made them, which is usually my job; but he gave me the day off. that was really nice because i sometimes don't enjoy the food i make. i don't know why. maybe after putting work into it that by the time i'm supposed to eat it, i'm already sick of it. but, he did a fabulous job and the pancakes were scrumptious. needless to say, i ate way too many! he even wore my flirt apron. hilarious!

don't they look great?! nice job honey!

new knitting needle designs

2008-05-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

i've been making my needles which you can find on my etsy. these ones are a new design and i think these are so cute with the argyle ends. don't forget to check 'em out!

mmm, ribs!

2008-05-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

a couple months ago chad and i realized the fact that we are so busy was causing us extreme tiredness which was causing us to never spend time together which was causing depression. ugh! so what is a young couple with too much work, and a nagging case of deprivation depression to do? why, date night of course! in remedy of this problem, twice a month we indulge ourselves and splurge on a night of decadence and care-freedom! which, in reality isn't a date, since we're poor and we always split the cost, and it isn't always that decadent because, as stated, we're poor. none-the-less, it's a great way to spend time and enjoy each other's company. this week we decided to check out chicago's bbq scene and hit up "fat willie's rib shack". this joint is apparently one of the best in chicago. naturally, we ventured out to compare this alleged "award winning" bbq to the best we've ever tasted, a.k.a. "knucklehead's bbq" of missoula, mt. i truly expected for the big city critically acclaimed bbq place to give the small town joint a run for it's money. but, after scarfing down half a brisket sandwich, and some pretty good fries the consensus was in and i have to say that "knucklehead's" is the prevailing champion of the world. thanks "knucklehead's" for gracing my taste buds with delicious brisket.

considering the disappointing outcome on the side of the chicago challenger, i don't have any pics to post of "fat willie's" shack. only of me standing outside the car, getting ready to set off on our taste quest, with me driving (since chad lost his wallet).

lazy dayz

2008-05-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

the other day we took claire for a walk at the park down the street. we caught some pics of her, which is tough 'cause she's pretty quick. the weather's been kinda chilly; but everything is so lush and vibrant in color. i wish her red showed more in these photos. oh well, she's still a doll!

shaken' it out

butt shot

what aroma is this?

acrobatic, just like her mother...

the cute and happy couple

family pic

beach trip

2008-05-05T18:16:00.000-07:00

we rode our bikes to the beach today. we took claire and she loved it. i was really surprised too because she was adventurous enough to go up to the waters edge and drink. so cute! we made sandwiches and had a picnic there. then we just rode our bikes around the cutesy little neighborhoods of chicago. it was really fun. and, we got some sun. i love summer!

chad and claire

drink this water claire girl!

here's the love birds (we always have to take our own pics).

we love pizza!

2008-05-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

last night chad and i made our first home made pizza- scratch from crust to topping! it was really fun, easy, and more delicious than any other. seriously. for sauce we used pesto then topped it off with tons of spinach, mushrooms, olives, broccoli, and cheese. the dough was so easy and it only took 15 min. to cook the whole thing in the oven. then there's nothing to do but eat it up. yum!

the dough is ready and chad's ready to butcher the tomato

i'm putting pesto on it. i love pesto.

now for the toppings-lots of 'em

the finished product. out of the oven and ready to see my stomach!

back panel-done!

2008-05-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

well, i've finished the back panel of my cardigan. i think it looks really nice. i've started on the left front now and i think it will be fast going from here. i can't wait to get it done! yea!

looptopia

2008-05-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

last friday was looptopia. apparently it's like the mardi gras of chicago. it had been rainy all that day; but turned out to be a really nice night to see some spectacles. there were a bunch of performances all over in the loop. they had art on state street, a percussion band in the methodist church, a night circus, and all kinds of other stuff. it was pretty sweet.

chad and i at the station, off to the loop!

one of the art performances on state st. this chick had a ton of white masks (seen at lower right) and this one was pretty freaky.

i got my face painted in macy's at the elizabeth arden counter (mrs. arden was probably rolling in her grave)

we even say jack sparrow there!

what's in a fart?

2008-05-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

warning: this post is not for those sensitive to subjects concerning bodily functions.

you know folks, when contemplating my entry for tonight, something came up and i decided to discuss the topic less talked about. chad and i were in the kitchen earlier, and he accused me, yes me, of farting! he said that he smelled it. well, i didn't do it, so i protested. he insisted that it's only me, him and claire (the dog) in the house, and if he didn't do it then.... i told him that there's no way i did it and i know that for a fact because, if i were going to pass gas, i would've had to use my "special technique". but, i didn't use my "special technique", therefore, i didn't do it. plus, pixie farts don't stink!

so what is this special technique...i think all girls have one. ya got to! this is how we preserve our image. like i said, this is my "special technique" taught to me by my favorite cousin. thanks cuz! there's two different way to do it (mine is the latter). it seems that the most common and well known is to let it out slow. apparently it's supposed to minimize both smell and sound. in my opinion, the risk is just too high on both with this method. if this is your way, it's time to change it up! instead, you gotta hold one cheek open. yep, that's it. hold one cheek open (you can do it with your hand or sometimes just leaning does the trick) and you can release naturally. there will be only silence! it works like a charm-even chad thinks so! he's totally a convert! now, if you've got a smell issue, you're gonna have to work something out, i.e. casually take some space. but, it should work.

go ahead and try it out on your own. perfect your technique before you pull it out in public. good luck, and happy passing!

on the road again!

2008-04-30T21:48:00.001-07:00

all i have to say is: thank god for ravelry! seriously. i'm pretty sure that after my week of writing, still nobody knows that this blog exists. therefore, i'd bet that that's why nobody responded to my cries for help on the lush and lacy cardigan that i've been desperately trying to figure out. well, after i got my long awaited for invite to the exclusive ravelry site, i immediately entered the forum and begged those more experienced than me for their help. graciously, several knitting peeps delt advice; but a particularly kind woman named erika really hit the problem on the head, and i'm so thankful for it. thank you erika!

anyway, i'm totally enjoying ravelry. but, more than that, i'm loving knitting my cardigan again! i'm really making progress, though i didn't get finished with the back panel yet. close though. here are some update pics:

here was the nightmare spot-which is now really fun for me!

naughty needles

2008-04-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

this morning, before whisking off to work, i took the time to take additional (more satisfactory) pics of my "naughty needles". i just think they are so cute! i can't wait to make more; but one only has so much time. i hand create each needle. they are all 12" long and come in various u.s. sizes. i've got all of the ones below for sale on my etsy. what's really cool about them is that i can personalize them in any way you like, any color combo, any letter, number, design or phrase. they're the perfect gift for your favorite knitter; and we all need to treat ourselves every once in a while! plus, mother's day is just around the corner. i'll keep you posted as new designs emerge.

sassy right? givin' some love to those naughty knitters!

i can also do fruits, or pretty much anything else. i've got some sushi in the works!

accepted as one?

2008-04-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

yes! my just received my ravelry invite! i am so excited! you can find me there as "uknitwit". i already browsed through the site just to get primed on the who's whens wheres and whys of everything. hopefully i can find someone on there to help me with my knitting dilemas-as i often have them. i can't wait to make my presence known. fantastic!

naughty needles

2008-04-27T21:31:00.001-07:00

i'm posting my hand made knitting needles tonight on my etsy: http://www.clairegirl.etsy.com/. i'm calling them "naughty needles". i hand make each one out of wooden dowels. i widdle the ends to a point, sand them each one by one with 4 different grades of sand paper so they are super smooth. then i give them each 2-3 coats of latex stain to give them a nice sheen. lastly, i mold each end by hand. i make a variety of ends which will fit into one of three categories: "simple", "expressions", and "desert". the "simple" needles have ends which are solid in color either with nothing on them or with a simple design such as polka dots, stripes, etc., on solid background. these are $15 a pair. the "expressions" have letters, numbers, or words on solid background and/or stripes, dots, etc. these are $18 a pair. lastly, the "desert" needles have ends that are far more intricate such as fruit, flowers, sushi, or any other design you can imagine. these are $20-$24 per pair. right now i have sizes us17, 15, 11, 10.5, 9, 8, and 5; but hope to carry all sizes soon. here are some pics of them. i will get some individuals up tomorrow. don't forget to have me make something custom for you. these are the perfect gift for that special knitter. am i hearing mother's day?

i think these would make great gifts!

popular girl

2008-04-27T21:21:00.001-07:00

lots of people stop me when i'm walking with claire. it's kinda ridiculous actually. so many people are interested in her, that sometimes i just have to ignore them and pretend that i can't hear what they're saying. after all, if i stop for everyone, i'll never get anywhere! but today at the park there were these four cute little boys. i had to get pictures. it's funny when the little kids ask if she's mean. she's only 3.5lbs, and she's the sweetest love! she couldn't hurt 'em if she tried!

pancake sunday!

2008-04-27T21:05:00.001-07:00

so, finally the day we've been waiting all week for finally arrived. pancake sunday! yea! when chad and i moved in together we accidentally started a, sunday: breakfast feast, tradition. we would have omelets, bacon/lil' smokies, and pancakes. well, recently it's become, sunday: pancake day. all week long through the dull-drum of our daily routines we've come to appreciate the ritual of pancake day. what a relaxing time of good food paired with great conversation across from a handsome man. m-mm, good!

me cooking

chad and claire with pile of cakes

don't forget me!

shrugin' it

2008-04-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

in between figuring out my lush and lacy cardigan dilemma and working on my market bag design, i've decided to post some pics of my recently finished chunky bell sleeve shrug. it's super cute and perfect for spring. i bought the pattern from ficklefiberdiva on etsy. it only took me one day to knit it and shizam, a perfect little piece to throw over anything. in fact, i wore it to sushi last night!

isn't it cute?!

of course claire had to be there. camera diva.

sushi!

2008-04-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

so last night chad and i went to "wabi" for sushi. it was soooo delicious! apparently the place was rated the best sushi in chicago by "time out chicago"-a magazine i stole while i was waiting at the doc's office last week. and man, they weren't lyin'! it was a little pricey; but i've payed more. we ordered a few different small (cheaper) rolls i.e. the spicy tuna, california, and shitake. and then we had two expensive rolls. i'm talking like $18 each. but they were worth every penny. the "godzilla" which was massive was filled with all kinds of goodness like tempura shrimp, orange tobikko, avocado, cream cheese, green onion, chili sauce, spicy mayo, and sesame seeds. orgasm for the mouth. honestly. the other spendy roll was the "ecuador" which was more light and refreshing with ingredients like maguro, hamachi, cilantro, cuc, avocado, green onion, jalapeno, orange tobikko, tempura crumbs, chili sauce, wasabi mayo, and sesame seeds. i was a little iffy on this one 'cause of the cilantro (which used to make me gag; but i think i'm getting better with); but it was pretty good, and chad really enjoyed it. i really wanted to flash some pics; but you know these kinds of places. crowded, trendy, and kinda expensive. now the place to be snapping shots like a tourist. but, i do have pics of us after. see below....

theres never anyone to take our pic for us. we're getting really good at doing it ourselves!

chicago buds

2008-04-23T22:35:00.001-07:00

today when i was nannying and walking the twins, i just had to take pictures of the beautiful buds that are bursting out announcing spring. the weather is just so pleasant right now and i know it won't be long until the sun comes out full force and melts us with it's heat and humidity. i'm enjoying every minute of this mild weather. i hope you can enjoy it through these pics!

cherry blossoms

beautiful tulips

i don't know what these are; but they're fabulous!

homework, done!

2008-04-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

alrighty! i've done my homework as promised! i wanna update with pics of my project in progress. i'm right at the point where i have to start the lace portion on the back panel and for some reason am hitting a real road block. i've frogged the lace panel row like 50 million times today. i'm supposed to knit the lace pattern: k2, *k2tog [k1, yo]2times, k1, skp, k3 rep from * end with k2, and do it over 21 sts; but it just isn't working. i looked it up on sweaterbabe -where i bought the pattern- and there's a help page describing this very moment in the pattern. it says that i have to: k2, k2tog, [k1, yo] 2times, k1, skp, k3, k2tog, [k1, yo] 2times, k1, skp, k2. but, even after reviewing it and doing it i'm still going over 21 sts! i just can't figure it! if anyone out there has any ideas please send 'em my way. anyway, here's my pics so far...

no time!

2008-04-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

ok, precisely my point! i just started my life as a blogger yesterday and i'm already letting it slip! maybe night time isn't such a swell idea. periodically throughout the day is seeming more reasonable. i really feel like i gotta get some pics up in here. i mean, who wants to read all this mumbo jumbo anyway? i'll admit it, when i blog surf, i usually just look at the pictures. then when i see one that interests me, sometimes i'll read what it's all about. so, i promise-i'm making this vow right now-i will take my camera with me tomorrow and i will take at least one picture to post. i'll also try to include some of my knitting needle making process.

lush and lacy cardigan to be!

on the knitting front, i've recently started my first cardigan! i got the pattern off of sweaterbabe.com, and it is so cute (as seen above). i know i'm a little late for sweater season, but being that i am a newer knitter, my abilities are just now at the point where i'm able to possibly accomplish such a feat. so now i will battle the ever escalating temps, needles in hand, cardigan in progress!

fresh out the womb

2008-04-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

well, here i go with my first blog post, like an infant ready to grow! it's kinda scary knowing that i'm posting my rantings for all to read, judging at every angle. it took me a while to drudge up the courage to nook my own web cranny but i gotter done! my biggest dilemma was choosing a name. how is one supposed to choose a name for something like this anyway? there's too much freedom in it. it's like having to choose out of thin air what kind of personality you want to have. i mean, the name's important right? it's got to encompass the essence of ren! how am i supposed to do that in a word or two? i was going for something kinda clever: "knitwit". it's cute right?

so now that i'm webbing with the name and the whole bit, i think i should figure out a schedule. probably blogging at the end of the day is best that way you all can read about my life as a swim instructor slash lifeguard slash nanny slash caregiver. yeah, i know, busy busy busy. but, those things aside, what i really want to write about is what i do during my down time i.e. knit knit knit along with all things crafty. i've recently begun making my own knitting needles which are so darn cute! i'll take pictures today and post them tonight. you guys are going to love 'em! they look so young and fresh and your yarn slides like butter on and off the tips! i can't wait to get them on my etsy. i'll keep you posted.

alrighty, i think that's enough to get started. this entry was a good practice for me and i'm feeling reved up and ready to go! cheers to knitting, blogging, and blogging about knitting!