VD is just around the corner!

Valentine's Day that is.
For some reason, this year I'm really getting into Valentines Day. There was some interesting discussion on Auntie M's blog about VD in France. I loved Valentine's Day when I was in school. I remember getting the class name list and filling out those paper cards with such care. Not to mention the shoe box mail box that you made that week. I wish we had the kind of art supplies back then that we do now. I'd be the Martha of second grade!

Since my kids are homeschooled, I feel the need to make the holidays special for them. It was one of the only cool things I remember from my school days. So, I think we'll make decorated shoe boxes and sugar cookies. If I'm feeling really motivated, I might even plan a party. The one problem with that is Chloe's birthday being really close to VD. Two parties is just a lot to deal with within a weeks time.

As VD gifts for the kids, I made some personalized pillow cases. This has been a kind of new crafty hobby I've started doing. I'm always seeing fabric at the craft store that I love but don't really know what to do with it. Pillow cases are the perfect thing. It takes only a little fabric and is really easy to do. All straight lines and such. Everyone who's gotten one as a gift has used them and loved them. Here are the ones I made last week.

The top one is mine. I have this horrible weakness for sock monkeys. I love to make them too. Everyone in my family has their own.(I'll post about this soon)
The Hello Kitty one is for Chloe. She's really gotten into Hello Kitty within the last few years to the surprise of most of her family since she's such a tomboy.
The last one is for Henry. He LOVES snoopy and I think this will make him happy. I should mention that the above photos show them folded small so I could take a good picture.

If your interested in making your own pillow case, here are the directions:

Personalized Pillow Cases
(for a standard size pillow)
Fabrics:
2/3 yd of main fabric
1/3 yd of 2nd fabric
1/8 yd of trim fabric

Cut your main fabric - 24" x 42" (61 cm x 1 meter 6cm)
Cut your 2nd fabric - 12" x 42" (31 cm x 1 meter 6 cm)
Cut your trim - 2 1/2" x 42" (7 cm x 1 meter 6 cm)

Fold your trim piece in half the length and press.
Fold your 2nd fabric in half the length and press.

Stitch the trim piece to the 2nd fabric (along the long side using 1/4" seam allowance)
And then stitch to your main fabric (again, along the long side using 1/4" seam allowance)
Finally, stitch along the bottom and side of your pillowcase(right sides facing), and then you're done.

If you need more details let me know. I could do a picture tutorial if needed.

I'd love to know if any of you actually make a pillow case and would like to post your pictures here. (hint, hint)

Why Vita-mix Rocks!!

Thanks for all the great encouraging comments on my new vita-mix. Some of you were wondering why this machine is so great. Here are some key points:

• When making juices or smoothies you use the whole fruit/vegetable. Skins, seeds, everything. You don't use bitter skins like banana or orange, but apple, carrots, etc. you do.
• The machine is like a food processor, juicer, blender, grain mill, coffee mill, smoothy machine but on steroids. The motor on this baby is 2 horse power. It takes about 30 sec. to make a really thick smoothy or a batch of ice cream. I made a cafe latte this morning in like 20 sec. and the foam head on this thing was almost like mousse. In 3 seconds (yes, three) it will crush a container full of ice.
• The container holds 2 liters of liquid. You can fill it up because it has a locking lid that won't leak or pop off.
• The lid has a hole in it to feed items in during operation. You can also use this stick thingy that comes with it to push the food into the blades. It (the stick thingy) has a safety on it that will only allow it to get 1/2 inch from the blade so you don't have to worry about shredding it.
• You can cook things in it. While it doesn't have a heating element, the blade moves so fast that in 6-8 minutes of running, it will boil water. Break some eggs into it and let it run a few minutes and you have scrambled eggs.
• It cleans its self. After using it, you put a few cups of hot water in it, add a drop of dish soap and run it on high for 30 sec. . You rinse out the suds and it's voila, clean machine. The blade mechanism is completely sealed so you don't have to remove the blade to get that "gunk" out of it.
• You can make your own flour, cornmeal, oatmeal, and grind your own coffee. It also will kneed dough and is a batter makin' monster.
• There is a variable speed setting, it can go from gently chopping onions to a smooth silky mousse (ooh, but not an onion mousse) by slowly turning the knob to the desired speed.
• It's kinda loud, but that helps drown out the voices in my head.(hee hee)
• There is a HUGE yahoo groups community.
• You can "sneak" healthy foods into your kids' smoothy or ice cream. At the demo we watched, they put carrots and cabbage in vanilla ice cream. You couldn't even taste it! My son, Mr. Picky, at 3 serving of it!!!
• Since you are making a lot of things at home(peanut butter, ice cream, soups, sauces, etc) you really cut back on your consumption of preservatives.(and packaging)
• Just since we bought it, I can't believe the amount of produce we are eating now. It has at least doubled. I thought this might get spendy but it's actually costing us less. A box of cereal can cost at most $4.99 and as little at $2 with little or no nutritional value (but it is what hits the spot some times). I can make a smoothy for Chloe, Henry, and me out of 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup yogurt, a handful of grapes, and 1/4 of an apple. Throw in a handful of ice and there is breakfast for 3.
• The fiber....lots of fiber. I don't think I need to say more(-:

If you want to learn more check out their website here: Vita-Mix

Also, you can check out yahoo groups. Just enter Vita-Mix in the search line.

Long Live Vita-Mix!!!

Vita-mix 5000

It's Here!!!


Vita-mix is the coolest machine you can get for your kitchen. It's not just a blender, it's a way of life(hee hee)

I've been wanting one of these for a long time now and now I've got it.
Yippie!!!
Thanks Troy!

The Sweetest Valentine

I'm getting the coolest valentine's day present!!

Stay posted for an udate and pics on Monday.

Knit Poetry

Found this morning on our magnetic poetry frame.
Done by Chloe.

"My Mother Has An Obsession To Knits"

What a clever girl

Creepy Cute

This is Blythe

I just learned about her and am feeling an obsession coming on.

Tell me she just isn't creepy cute link

Twisted!

I'm currently in training for the aran afghan square I volunteered to knit for our local knitting guild. To flex my cabling muscles, I'm working on a cabled scarf out of the extra homespun from my shawl. Here is progress:

It's moving along pretty quickly but I think it's going to be a bit of a short scarf.

I figured out something kinda nifty I wanted to share. To determine if your going to have enough yarn for a project, weigh what you've knitted so far. Then, weigh the yarn you have left. If your over half finished with the project and they weigh the same or the ball of yarn weighs more, your rockin' in the free world. If the ball weighs less than what you've already knitted, you better run to the yarn store, and quick, to pick up a new ball in your dye lot.

To all my knit friends here's to
frog free knitting wishes, and complete pattern dreams.

Ameribag...how I love thee

I just bought the coolest new purse. It's called the Ameribag. It's an ergonomic bag that won't strain your shoulder or back. The current bag I have just wasn't working. I loved it, but it was hard to find things and I was constantly loosing things in one of the sections. I liked that it was canvas and very washable and virtually indestructible. And so is the new one. It actually has a lifetime guarantee on parts and workmanship. I bought the extra small because I don't like to overload with stuff. And if I have room, I'll fill it. It's still a very nice size and holds tons of stuff if I need it to.
See my new purse:

My favorite features include a cell phone pouch, grip type fabric on the underside of the shoulder strap, and the silver colored lining that lets you see everything in there.

Now I want to carry it around all day.

***UPDATE***
You can buy this bag online or in my area at:
A-1 Shoes
201 N Edison, Ste. 245
Next to the Bookworm in the marineland village

The owners are really personable and love to answer any questions. The Mrs. owner actually came across these at a trade show and loved them so much she wanted to carry them in her store.(she actually has a green that would match your coat Jennifer!) In addition to these way cool bags, they repair and fit shoes (including Birkenstock) and carry these lines of shoes- Dansko, Ecco, Brooks, PW Minor.
Just a great local business!

My Favorites

Today,while knitting with some friends, I was talking about the knit and craft blogs that I like to read. So here is my current list that I like. The list does change at times but here are the current must reads(in no particular order), enjoy.

Chic Knits
Dogs Steal Yarn
Ei Knit
Fluffa
Hello Yarn
Life in the Frogpond
Purls Before Swine
Shmoo Blog
Super Eggplant
LJCblog
Glampyre
Not Martha
Craftlog
louknits
Jejune
On my mind
Super Naturale
Domestic Sphere

And it's Yummy Too!

Shmoo posted this wonderful recipe for a German Pancake.

Not only was it REALLY easy, but it's impressive looking too. Here's what mine looked like:


Since this delicious breakfast is just loaded with butter, I only tried one bite. Boy was it good. I didn't expect the egg-y quality of the pancake, it's very good.

It serves a lot so our neighbors got some too. They were very impressed and even called to thank us for the deliciousness of it. I think they were hoping there was more.

No luck, they polished it off.

Thanks Shmoo!

Wish I had a Better Blog

I've been checking out other blogs and have decided mine is boring.

Learning html is driving me crazy.

I just know my blog could be so much better.

btw
weather pixie is now replaced with unky moods.
Thanks J.Shmoo!

Because of Opposable Thumbs...

So, I'm BIG on the resolutions this year. I'm not sure what this means.

Am I so unhappy with myself I feel like I need to change a lot?

or

Am I so near perfection, I just want to hurry and become the ultimate me?

I'm going with the second because I really need to think about the first one and heck, after you see my list you'll realize that is just not on the agenda for this year.

Since some of my list is a bit personal...ahem, I'm only posting things of interest. (in no particular order)


Lose the Weight: ok, this one is predictable I know. I figure if I try and lose 5 lbs a month I'm golden.

Finish All Knitting Projects: I am the queen of the project started. I am officially on a yarn diet until all projects are finished. really

Save $500 cash for Emergencies Only: I'm tired of having to run to the bank for $ when there is an emergency. Also, this eases my latent Y2K paranoia.

Pay Down Credit Card: This last year we paid off 2 of our 3 credit cards. I'd like to pay at least half off the current one this year and maybe the rest in the beginning of the next year.

Learn a New Language: I am ashamed that as an American I only know one and a half languages. Ok, well two and a half if you let me count pig latin (no I don't speak ubby-dubby). I'm not totally language inhibited, took 4 years of French in school so I could probably get by. That is, if I needed to tell someone my name.(thank goodness my name IS Michelle, that would take the pressure off)

Do School Better: I think my kids are getting bored with homeschooling. I want to spice it up a bit this year. More fun stuff.

Have a Productive Garden: OK, I did have a garden last year and got some ketchup tomatoes, carrots, basil, sweet peas, and onions. But, truth be told, I probably lost money on the venture.

Keep a Cleaner House: I feel a purge coming on again. It's like a game, how much more can I live without? Stay tuned.

Learn Violin: I stopped taking lessons in Nov.. My schedule was getting heavy and it was expensive. I'd like to start up again and get my own instrument. Then I won't have to rent one.

Spin up all Fleece before June: I get to go to Black Sheep Gathering this year and want to get rid of my stash so I can come home and start spinning without guilt.

Get Passports for the Family: I want all my options open.

Make our own soap for the year: I love our home made soap. I have the stuff, I need to just make it.

Pay Cash only for our Vacation: See the post about the credit card.

All Gifts made or bought for under $10: Through out the year, I spend lots of $ on gifts. Well, lots to me anyway. I want to give cool gifts on a budget. I bet I can do it. Well, except for Chloe's birthday. We already promised her an ipod.

Read with the Family on a Reg. Basis: I love doing this. I just need to make it a priority.

Brush the Animals Regularly: Pretty self explanatory

Always have back up Supplies: I am tired of having to run to the store because like a dope, I forgot the toilet paper.

Replace Dining Room Linoleum: HBomb took the claw side of a hammer to the floor a while back. He liked the patterns it was making. Grrrrrr

Paint Bedroom: Our bedroom white. I need change.

Clean Basement: The basement has become a pit. There is so much crap down there, it's pissing me off every time I have to do laundry.

So there you have it. I've revealed myself to you.
I think I've figured it out....why I must do these resolutions.

Because I have an opposable thumb, and can grip the pen to write them.

The Best of 2004

In keeping with the nauseating trend of listing the best of the past year, here is my list. (not in any particular order)

Free Online Knitting Patterns: This is so great! There are so many talented knitters out there designing and sharing their patterns. Here are some favorites- ChicKnits, Knitty, Hello Yarn

Selling on Ebay: There's nothing like making a little moo-lah off your old crap.

Cable Internet: How did I ever live without it?

Chow Magazine: Great food is fun again. Eat happy. Read CHOW. It'll make you smarter, It'll make you happier, and while it won't make you dinner, it'll show you how.

HBomb Loosing his first Tooth!


Significant Others: This new show on Bravo is edgy and hilarious.

Bloglines: If you haven't subscribed to this you need to. It really cuts down my blog time.

Online Crafty Sites: Crafts that are cool, something you like to do, and things others like to get. Here are some favorite sites- Not Martha, Super Naturale, Jejune

Chloe's New love of Horses

BUST Magazine: With an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female, BUST provides an uncensored view on the female experience. note-not for young children

Cartoons that Rock!: Finally cool cartoons that parents want to watch too. Check out these- Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Atomic Betty

Chalkboard Paint: Thanks to Melonary for this one. It's paint you use to create a chalk board surface. We've done the doors on the TV armoire.

Computer to Stereo Linking: My world is so much bigger now.

Kid Blogs: The kids are writing again! Finally a way for kids to express themselves and to share with others. (see the links on the side bar under "Training Blogs")

And last but not least....All of you fellow bloggers out there.
YOU ROCK!!!