Need a Break...

You may have noticed I've been a bit MIA around here. Let's just call this an extended coffee break. The past few months I've really been concentrating on getting active, running a few days a week and biking a couple others. Combine that with a full time job and well...some things get neglected - cooking, grocery shopping, keeping a tidy house, reading, blogging - hmm, that sounds like pretty much everything besides work, running & sleeping, ha!

Then to top things off, a couple weeks ago during one the nightly storms we seem to be having lately, we lost power & that fried my imac where I edit pics and store all the images (via external hard drive). Hopefully the power cord is only fried & not the actual computer. So until things equalize around these parts, I'll probably be MIA a bit more.

Until next time!

A Post A Day In May: Year 3 Starts

March Mystery KAL Dishcloth

In an effort to finally get back into a blogging groove, I'm attempting to do my annual "A Post A Day In May" challenge. I'm not sure if the official challenge still occurs, but May's kinda my month, so why not keep it going.

Hopefully this will help me get back into using my camera more regularly and more importantly, taking the photos off and editing them more than twice a month.

I have a few ideas for weekly "features' to make it a bit easier to post, so we'll see how it works. This year is a bit different the past couple, as my new job has my daily schedule off from what it had been, I don't have as much time for recreational internet usage, and then there's the whole being active thing. Exercising like 5 days a week also eats up my already limited time (and I won't mention my husband who has commandeered the netbook, leaving me with the super slow imac - just kidding honey).

Mario Dishcloth

I'm still hard at work making dishcloths. I believe I'm up to 7 for the year, not a ton, but a good start. I figure I need at least 8 more to at least do a limited version of the gifts I wanted to put together for Christmas this year. If I get more done, then more people will have the gift packs bestowed to them.

The funny thing is I actually finished another one, that I had been picking up on and off for about a month in between clues for the March KAL. Just as I was getting ready to bind off, I held it up and sadly realized I had repeated a row so my picture was split in half. One half facing the proper way and the other half upside down.

You're probably wondering how I didn't notice earlier. But I had made a push one day to finish it and just was work, work, working. Sad, but true. I ended up frogging it completely. I'll reknit it eventually.

February Mystery KAL Dishcloth

...eventually. But I've moved on for now.

I'm tackling my first full sweater! I'm hoping to have it complete for the state fair in August. I don't expect to place or anything, but hoping the pattern itself will draw some attention. It would be especially fun if I could get a pair of fair isle mittens knit in time as well - in a fun pattern. I guess I'm just hoping to spice things up in the competition. I learned last year when picking up my entry that the entrants are typically older women with very traditional styles, so it would be fun to see something atypical and maybe encouraging others in the younger age brackets to enter things. Fisherman sweaters aren't a requirement, so can do like anything with knitting.

Despite not really being evident here as of late, I have been crafting up a storm (I believe I'm up to 5 completed projects and 2 works-in-progress for the year, not that I'm counting).

A few weeks ago, right after committing to knitting Fair Isle Totoro mittens for A Small Fox, in typical Sarah fashion, I went out, bought the yarn for the new project, got home and promptly decided I needed to knit a surprise baby hat for my college roommate's newborn daughter.

Why my brain works like that I do not know. It's just something I've learned to live with. At least I was getting something done because if I try to fight it, nothing (and I mean, NOTHING) gets done (that includes housework).

At least this time, I didn't choose a big procrastination project. Just a tiny little baby hat that I've had my eye on for months. I'm so happy I finally jumped in and did it because though I swore off hats for a while in December, having zero pressure to do this one made it a breeze. No problems. Yay! And it knit up quick, but you know what was even quicker than knitting it? The USPS. I sent it out standard 1st class mail on a Saturday afternoon and by Monday evening I was seeing picture of my adorable teal hat on an adorable baby girl.

I think the Aviatrix will become a go-to baby gift (that and the Saartje Bootees).

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The Aviatrix is actually being modeled by my childhood baby doll, Rosie (wow, mom dropping off all those boxes of toys came in handy!). If you saw Rosie without this adorable hat you would think that I was a very bad child, but actually it was my sister who was the bad one. You see, Rosie belonged to her well before I was even a glimmer in my parents' eyes. And it was my sister that took scissors poor little Rosie's head. So Rosie has wildly chopped hair, but after searching around for what kind of doll she really is, I think I'm partial to the chopped look as opposed to the 70s bob I think she originally came with - from what I can tell she's a 1975 Vogue Hug-a-Bye Baby (life-size and she used to cry) - she's just a little bit hardcore. ;)

Let me tell you what a pain it was to search for information on this doll. All I had to go on was the copyright imprint on the neck (1975 Vogue) and that brought up only one result that was feasibly her (the rest were tiny little dolls). I also tried searching by the information on her pajamas, but it turns out those belonged to another doll, a World of Wonders Pamela doll, who I guess was a little like Teddy Ruxpin, but I have no recollection of her at all.

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PS I'm still not done with that Teal yarn. Despite making an adult size hat and a baby hat, I still have more left. When it's not going into a dishcloth, this yarn I'm trying to destash sure does take a long time to use up! Any ideas what I can do with 1/4 - 1/3 of a skein of teal acrylic (it's surprisingly soft) and 1/2 - 2/3 of a skein of guacamole colored yarn (same stuff as the teal - see here for the color). I've been tempted to do a scrap yarn blanket, but I don't think I have enough scrap yarn in non-clashing colors. Hmm, maybe I should just do it. It can be a hodge podge of colors & fibers, just adding to it when I have those partial skeins. Ugh! I just don't know. Does anyone have experience working a bunch of different weights & fibers together into a blanket or something?

Cookbook Challenge: How to Eat Supper #23

The Splendid Table's Three-Pea Toss

Wow, I'm realizing it's tough to write about these meals from How to Eat Supper weeks after actually cooking them. Ever since getting the netbook, we don't have the iMac on which is where my external hard drive and Photoshop is. I actually sat down a couple days ago to empty off the memory card in the DSLR and I realized I had only emptied it one other time this month! I gotta make a better effort at making blogging a priority, which includes keeping up with the photos I take. Hmm, maybe I'll make February a post a day month - just because I love a challenge. ;)

One for Me, One for You: July Sneak Peek

Incredibly beautiful day today. I was actually in a tank top for part of the day, raking leaves and trying to clean up our backyard. This is the kind of weather we're supposed to have throughout October, but instead we had rain, rain and more rain.

We opened up the house for one last airing out and then spent the day outside - me doing yard work, Mike working on our cars - I just couldn't bring myself to not be outside.

The apples Darcy chose to use on this quilt square fit perfectly with today. A perfect fall day.

Hell Yea!

Project # 25 in '50 in 2009 Challenge'

It is complete.

And even christened, having worn it about for the unseasonably cool day we had.

It fits. It's comfy, a nice accessory for a cold movie theater in the summer. And it doesn't itch!

Back in the beginning of May, I finally embarked on the journey of creating an adult-size knitted garment and to make it even sweeter, I made it for myself. Something I rarely do with my knitting or crafting in general.

Two months and 9 days later it was complete. Granted I took at least a month break in there from working on it to make a heck of a lot of yo-yos.

The Shoulder Warmer pattern was a great pattern for a garment to take out and about. As the finished product isn't very big at all, it was very portable making it great for taking along on car trips, to baseball games or drive-in movies, and most definitely Tuesday Night Craft Group. With the initial use of stitch markers and then lots of straight stockinette and ending with a seemingly never-ending band of 2x2 rib, it's pretty tough to loose your place.

That's definitely my kind of project.

My intent is to enter this, my first knit adult garment (3rd overall - the others being a baby bolero and a baby dress), into the state fair this August. First place premium is a whooping...wait for it...$14!

I'm not expecting much as my first and only other foray into fair competion yielded no recognition, not even an honorable mention or participant ribbon at the county fair level. Hopefully the couple decades since that first go-around has improved my craftsmanship.

Plus Mike thinks the state fair will be flooded with knitwear by old farm wives. We shall see I guess.

For a dollar entry fee, it's not too much of a commitment. It's kinda exciting, and definitely gives reason to head on over the fair this year. I'll go, eat some BBQ pork & maybe some cheese fries & a "milkshake" (that is really just soft serve), see the butter cow & the diving show, and finally stop by the hobby building with anticipation.

If the weather continues on with these wonderfully spring-like temperatures, I'll have to risk washing it before the fair. Yikes! I didn't even block it (because 1, it doesn't look like it needs it and 2, it's a wool/acrylic blend so it doesn't really work, does it?), and I can see the ends just unraveling in the wash the day before the entry is due.

WIP Sunday

Things I'm loving now:
- Saturday night at the drive-in double feature: Up & The Proposal, both funny and cute.
- Sleeping until 10 on Sunday & seriously considering not getting out of bed.
- Giving our upstairs carpet a good thorough cleaning. Only thing better would be getting hardwood floors up there.
- Nibbler's first doggie playdate. We just may be able to give the dog park a shot.
- Jumping on the laundry before it takes a few days to get it done.
- Getting time to start a late birthday present while listening to Jim Dale read Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince.
- Making a homemade pizza sauce using tomatoes & zucchini from our garden and basil from the windowsill for my homemade crust.
- Ending the weekend curled on the couch with Nibs, knitting and listening to the Cubs game.

One for Me, One for You: May Fabric

My Choice - Amy Butler Midwest Modern 2: Orange Dahlia colorway: Blush/Martini


Darcy's Choice

Just in time for the turn into July, I finished up my May square…and sadly only one. The second sits with pieces collected, I just need a break from the tedium of hand sewing. Hopefully it doesn't become a habit, but I'm allowing myself to move on for a bit just because the construction of one square took nearly month (perhaps more) of pretty continuous work. Where I typically take a weekend or two to spend an afternoon with my squares, my May square was a regular companion, coming with me on a couple road trips and to Tuesday night craft group every week. Plus a few other random nights during the week. It could pretty much be said that I can't stand to look at or touch a second square at the moment.

Which is great, considering I have my Camel Shoulder Warmer to finish. Started back at the beginning of May, it has sat dormant while I fit in a couple other projects with looming deadlines (2 late quilt squares, a wedding gift & a father's day gift). But in the week or so since I finished up the May square (#1), I've been steadily working on my little shrug and am actually nearing completion. Though the 5" of 2x2 ribbing that encompasses the neck, bottom back and the cardigan-like front sides, is starting to wear on my patience much like the quilt square did. I've been working on it pretty diligently, all intention is to enter it into the state fair, and in a few days of working exclusively on the edging this week, I am only 1.75" into the 5" I need.

This thing has been so portable that it has accompanied me to a collegiate league baseball game, craft group a couple times and Fourth of July fireworks all in the two weeks since I got back at it. And tonight I intend to tote it along to the drive-in, when we go see Up & The Proposal (that's another story, but let me just say how ecstatic I am to have moved from one are with a drive-in to another. there's nothing better than seeing 2 first run movies for $6 with the nostalgic novelty). But that means I've been working on it much longer than I usually would be working on a project during the same time period, and I'm beginning to feel like it may never be complete despite how close I seem to be.

WIP: On the Road Again

It seems my best work-in-progress shots come while cooped up in the car.

I guess it's to be expected. I'm close to the objects. There's not much to get in the way, to ugly up the shot. And of course, the natural light conveniently filtered by the slight tint of the car window.

Hmm, I never actually thought about it, but it does seem that the car is a little studio of sorts.

We were on the road again this weekend, this time sans dog, but with the brother-in-law, for a trip to Cincinnati for a couple of Cubs games. Needless to say, I was pretty excited having barely been east of Illinois (only Florida & South Carolina) and the prospect of 5 hours in the car each way. Enough time to have some uninterrupted sessions with a book or some crafts, but not long enough to go crazy in the confinement.

One for Me, One for You: Additional Inspiration

1. Whirlygiggles Quilt Top, 2. hello, Fall. [little quilt no. 1], 3. Dexter's quilt, 4. Pink Charm Quilt on design wall, 5. Matrjoska doll quilt, 6. little quilt, 7. string quilt blocks, 8. Doll Quilt, 9. New quilt

Yesterday I was feeling pretty uninspired about my quilt squares, so I decided to do something about it. I went on a quilt search through flickr, like the one I did to start us off back in September. It seems to have helped, I have an idea for the April fabric (hint, it's pictured above), but it will involve me purchasing new coordinating fabric. I don't think there's anything in my stash that will do. At next craft group, I'll probably take a break from my Shoulder Warmer and start on May's square as well. It's a more time-extensive idea that hopefully I can finish up before the end of June. And I have an idea for another square…I just have to wait for the right fabric to roll around.

It's fun being inspired, isn't it?

If only this was rubbing off on my actual work load as well. Today I got a wonderful brainstorm for creating a custom recipe box, which has me scoping out ebay for deals on a Yudu. Yikes, right? A personal screen printing machine sounds awesome, and the price tag sure does match but if I came across a deal on ebay, I would be out of my mind not to jump on it.

The past few days I've been rededicating myself to a little thing called exercise. I bought a new fitness game for the Wii on Tuesday (EA Sports Active), and am so far thoroughly impressed. It actually is a workout. As Mike put it the other day, I was "damp" from my 20 minute workout. I'm on day three of a 30 day challenge, and I'm pretty serious about sticking with it. It's much easier to stick to so far than Wii Fit because it actually is like a personal trainer. The game decides what I do on a given day, keeps the exercises going at a pretty smooth pace and has variety. I do much better when it's not up to me to decide what exercises to do - where on Wii Fit I'd do the things I was more comfortable with. Tomorrow is my first rest day, but I think I'll supplement some Wii Fit yoga just to keep in a groove without straining my body too much.

In addition, to my new dedication to some physical activity, we have also been working around the house in preparation for this weekend's birthday celebration. First landscaping the front yard early in the week, and the past couple days I've been working on the upstairs. The craft room is probably the cleanest and most organized that it has every been and the rest of the upstairs was finished up tonight. Heck I even cleaned out the bathroom linen cabinet and my drawer. Old things were tossed (or recycled), items were organized, it's amazing. There were probably more pressing things that should have been done, as our downstairs has become a disaster while focusing on other parts of the house, but I figured while I had the motivation I better do it.

All of this plus the strive to blog more regularly has definitely kept me up way past my bedtime. I haven't been sleeping in any later, but then again I was getting up pretty late anyways so if I let myself stay in bed any longer I would be late for work every day. I'm sure I'll crash one of these days, but it's nice to be busy with actual things and not sitting around watching an hour or so of tv at night. It's funny because I'm always disappointed at the end of the tv season, but then I realize how much more time I have.

I have some pretty big food plans for this weekend, so hopefully I don't relapse into my time-suck ways because it would be nice to get some knitting or quilting in too during the long weekend. And let's hope for some sun and in return some good craft and food pics to share next week!

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Don't forget to enter my Blogiversary/Birthday Giveaway for the Everlasting Birthday cupcake hat! Enter through May 25 at 7:20pm CST by sharing your favorite birthday tradition or memory on Wednesday's post. We've had some fun memories shared so far, come on over and join in the fun!

WIP Friday: On the Road

As ten o'clock rolls around we're finally into the ole hometown. Nibbler has plenty of energy after being cooped up in the back seat for nearly 4 hours, so I have at least an hour or two before I can head to bed.

Luckily the car trip up was nearly uneventful. I say, nearly because despite beautiful weather, minimal traffic and something to listen to on the radio that we both agreed to, the trip started kinda rocky on our way out of town. We decided to stop at the local DQ for a after dinner treat.

Every trip to this DQ is disasterous. But it's the only fast food place on our way out of town, so when we travel we often stop.

You'd think, how could Dairy Queen mess up an ice cream cone or two? But they did, folks! Mike received his first and it was mush. Ok, he's a pretty go with the flow guy so he was going to suck it up, but as the server brought out my dipped cone (I can't believe they don't have Cherry Dip!), I spoke up for him. Yes, I'm the outspoken ones in situations like these, shocking, I know. So the server said, ok I'll make another, as I'm looking woefully at my even more pathetic cone...so mushy the dip couldn't set.

In the 3-4 minutes before someone came to tell us the server needs to refreeze the ice cream, I sat looking at my chocolately, drippy, mushy cone, discussing with Mike a course of action and swearing to NEVER return, as we always do.

When the server returned with Mike's new cone, she asked, "is this one better?" as the ice cream looked even mushier than before, practically a puddle in a cone.

My answer, as Mike stuck his toungue in, was "No, not at all. Can we have our money back?" And once our 4 dollars and change (for 2 cones!) was in our hands we drove off, now at least 15 minutes behind schedule and no ice cream in our tummies.

So I state once again, we will not be going back. No matter how good a Blizzard sounds, or how desperate we are for a burger on the road after work. Because everytime we stop, we are provided lack luster service, incredibly long waits (I assume DQ does not have service time quotas like McDonald's) and food that leaves much to be desired.

Nibbler: Never too sure on the ride up. But always fast asleep on the ride back.

But after got back on the road, the trip was clear (I say this now as it begins to thunder and pour a half hour after arriving) and rather productive for me at least.

I've begun working on my first adult-sized knitted garment, and it's actually for myself! Three gauge swatches, three needle sizes smaller and I slight set back that required me to rip out the first 10 or so rows I had completed yesterday, I am on my way to having a Shoulder Warmer of my very own.

And though I'm nowhere near completed, it kept me occupied for several hours in the car and the easy stitch pattern and use of stitch markers made it possible for me to work well into the waning light, stopping only when it had become pitch black.

Here's to hoping everything still checks out ok in the morning light.

In Action

Project #14 in '50 in 2009 Challenge' - Chocolate Kiddie Cadet
photo courtesy of this little guy's mom

Look how lucky I was that this little guy's mom sent me a picture of the hat I knit him in action.

If my kid looked that cute yawning, I'd want him to be seen too!

About a month ago, an old high school friend contacted me after seeing the Guacamole First Hat and asked if I'd be willing to make a hat for her new baby boy, and sent along a link to a hat she'd admired.

Needless to say I was up for the challenge, but as luck would have it the hat she liked was crocheted (which I cannot do - though I'm getting closer and closer to finally taking the plunge because I need to make these). I poked around and found the same style hat in a knitted version available in a free pattern, Kiddie Cadet. And after running it by my old friend, I was off and running (well, after that 2 week hiatus from a real life).

My goal was to finish in time to hand deliver to my friend at Easter while we would both be in our hometown. And despite needing to restart after being nearly complete (are you noticing a trend?), I was able to finish it even before we headed on our 4 hour car trip.

There was actually enough time for me to take pictures…in my own home. Go out and buy a baby head-sized ball with I realized a wadded up towel would not suffice, and then go home and take more pictures. And then heck, I even made a fabric easter basket and 3/4 of a doggie diaper bag.

What can I say?! I was on a roll last week.

Hopefully I can be half as productive this weekend.

On a side note: Don't you love the top of this hat? I'm so going to use this decreasing technique when I reknit the Robin's Egg Pink hat. Though with all the modifications I'm planning on making to it I'll have to come up with a different name.



Things I'm loving right now:
• riding my bike to work today(though my butt's sore from the seat-oww!)
• grilled turkey cheeseburgers & pasta salad eaten outside in the sun
• being treated to 3 straight home cooked meals
• satisfaction of completing a design that will hopefully rock the socks off the client
• a new knitting app
• an exciting Cubs win this afternoon
• it's Friday!



I'm going to go snuggle on the couch, put some NPR on and start knitting my cupcake hat…again.

One For Me, One For You: Sneak Peek…Tweet

We're a little behind, this I know. Yesterday I sent out both January and February quilt squares, as well as March fabric. Got the month's fabric out before the end of the month, so that's progress…I guess. Perhaps April will be the month to catch up, but from what I hear Darcy's going to Thailand for a week or two and I have a list as long as a roll of toilet paper of things that need to be done by Easter, so probably not.

This week has been busy at work, I've been laying out a magazine for the majority of the week. Deadline's Monday and by then I have to have all 104 pages printed. Considering that it can take half a day to print out a 34 page version of this magazine, I came to the realization upon waking up this morning that I need to have the whole thing done before Monday.

So what was going to be a working Saturday weekend, is almost 100% sure going to be a working Saturday and Sunday weekend. I needed a vacation like two weeks ago, so imagine what I'll feel like after working 12 days straight. Yikes, poor Mike!

Off to pack up the dog (lucky her, she's coming to work with me), run a couple errands and then off to work to put in at least a half a day at the office.

From what I hear, there's a strong possibility that we will be getting 5 inches of heavy, wet snow tonight, so perhaps a work computer will be packed up and brought home with me tonight.

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On a side note (but related to my photo and post title), I've been twittering (or is it tweeting?) more regularly, especially since dear ole Craft N Clutter has become a bit neglected as of late. I've added a roll to my side bar, so follow me if you'd like!

found wednesday

Project #10 in '50 in 2009 Challenge' - Firefly Meathead

What to do on a Wednesday when there is no new episode of LOST? Because gosh, I'm gaining 2 full hours of my life that has been consumed since late January and will continue through the end of May.

Instead there will be homemade pizza…a scrabble game…some laundry…hey, even a little blogging…and of course, there will be knitting…of a hat.

Surprise, surprise.





And I must admit, tonight will most likely not be LOST-free. I don't have that kind of resolve to get through the week without at least watching the replay of last week's episode, but knitting will be in hand.

What's The Bzz?

Project #4 in '50 in 2009 Challenge' - Cream Bzz Deux

Another state holiday, another relatively quiet day here in the state capital. Practically nothing is open downtown. There was a dog barking in the bar under my office. And the drive to work was happily free of school traffic.

I've been on a crafting kick lately, I'm proud to say. Though there has also been alot of time wasted in front of the tv. I very clearly could be knitting while watching tv, especially since I've been finding myself watching things like The Cosby Show late on Friday nights, but I just don't have the energy to pick it up. Or really I should say collect everything I need, bring it downstairs and then pick it up.

My hat-a-polozza did begin last week when I frantically knit this second Bzz Hat for my sister's birthday. But you say, Sarah, I thought you already knit that exact same hat for your sister for Christmas. Well, you would be correct, this is technically for my sister's chiropractor, but considering my sister commissioned me to knit up 7 hats for her, I thought it'd be nice to get a freebie in there. Even if I am disguising it as a birthday gift.

I know every time I knit a hat I say this, but I think hats are the best things to knit (ask me again after I finish hat #7 this year for my sis). So compact. So fast. And so many different patterns to choose from. Even this hat, which looks the same as the one I knit just a couple months ago was a totally different experience.

I decreased the number of stitches, knit it inside out and adjusted the number of ribs I made, and this version turned out to be a dream to work with. And it fits so much better. I told my sister that she could feel free to keep this version if she wanted. She has a tiny head, so if the last hat was big on me, I can only imagine what its like on her. I promised not to tell her chiropractor if she handed off her "old" hat instead - especially if you guys promise not to tell that I tried the hat on. It looks cute on me though, so perhaps a Bzzz Trois is in order (yikes, 8 hats in a year!).




Oh, and if you're wondering how I got from project #1 to #4, see #2, The Fruity Swifty & #3, The Diva Swifty here. Besides being different colors, they look the same as project #1, so I decided to spare you.

I'm doing pretty well on the project count for this year's challenge. Six weeks into the year and I'm finishing up project #5 and have #6 completed, waiting on my camera to be uploaded. 50 projects may really happen this year!

Currently Enjoying: 01.24.09

• Homemade pizza, topped with spinach, artichokes and chicken (well…the prospect of it in a few hours).
• Settling down at night with Knit Two by Kate Jacobs.
• A puppy cuddling at my feet.
• My ipod touch.
• The triumph of landing an $140 American Girl accessory for $30 (shipping included) straight from the source.
• Bad reality television, like True Beauty, Confessions of a Teen Idol, Tool Academy and Sober House.
• The anticipation of receiving my Delight.com Mystery Box. Oh, what goodies will I find inside?!
• Trying to wrap my brain around LOST.

I'd like to add some warm chocolate chip cookies or a cookies n cream caramel sundae to that list, but I'm not sure it's in the cards. ;)

Because It's Been Awhile…

She's grown, hasn't she?

The past couple weeks I've been working on cleaning off our computer. Putting things on a new external hard drive. Watching gig by gig come back to the actual hard drive (so very satisfying). Going through 3 years of photos, deciding what we should get prints of. Seeing craft progress. Food techniques becoming more refined. Photography skills slowly improving. Several homes each getting our (my?) style imprinted on them. A little boy growing mightily fast. And now a little pup growing even faster. Files from college design classes finally were deleted (though they still survive on the external hard drive and several "back up CDs").

Wow, that's been four years ago already. It took me 4 years to finally let go, and realize I won't be jumping back on those projects.

I'm Itchin'

1. Reading Pillow 2, 2. stir thoroughly, 3. Sewing Machine HK, 4. knit me a moustache!

I really need to get back in the swing of things. I haven't done much of anything the last month or so but spend time with Nibs and Mike, work, clean up, watch tv and drive.

The things I enjoy have become severely neglected…reading, cooking, sewing, knitting. Do I even know how to do those things?

With my long weekend birthday coming up, I hope to wade back into things. Being sick makes me want to do these things even more, but I just need some time.

Where We Find Comfort: #1

This may become a series of sorts, I actually just thought of it as I was linking to this picture of Tuesday night's meal.

After a tough couple days in the design world, whether justified or not, Tuesday night I came home with only one thing on my mind…that the healthy, calculated meals we've been eating the two weeks would have no place in my kitchen that night.

What I really needed to escape from the strain in my brain was some good ole fashion comfort food. I call this my Midwestern "Southern" Dinner, as I've never had real southern comfort food before. Nor, now that I think about it, have I had southern food. So this is strictly a midwestern girl's take on the things she hears, sees or reads in stories.

Panfried Chicken Tenders dipped in ranch, buttermilk biscuits buttered with honey and creamed spinach and onions.

It hit that spot that night, like most comfort foods do when you need them most. I know it's not the best for you mentally or physically, but I admit it now…for all the world to read. Call it stress eating. Call it emotional eating. Call it what you will. When times get rocky, I turn to it for comfort. To relax. To forget, if only until the next morning.

Now that's a truth. And it's out there.

Isn't it funny how people are so different? I remember in college, my last semester, design classes were crazy, huge projects, big deadlines. And while I turned to cans of Dr Pepper and an occasional Milky Way bar to make it through the long night in the lab, another one of my classmates realized that she had not eaten all day. For her, when stress piled up, she just didn't think of things as mundane as eating.

Complete opposites…yet really the same.

And that's a lot more than I could have ever imagined come out of a photo of a week night's dinner.

Itchin' to Finish Up

The Foyer as it currently stands.

I've been getting the itch to finish the painting of our downstairs floor. That would involve a third or fourth coat in the kitchen bathroom, an extra coat on the back wall of what will be my American Girl display nook and painting the foyer.

I was even tempted to paint the foyer tonight.

I didn't, but I was tempted. Instead I did some computer imagining of what the space could look like (PS I'm not the best at photoshop). This is what I came up with.

Foyer Concept #1

I've always wanted one of those Movarian Star Pendant Lamps, and there is a store downtown that is selling them at a reasonable price, so I'm planning on getting one in the coming months. The chocolate brown walls give the space a crisp, finished look and tie in well with the rest of the house, but I'm thinking they may be a bit too dark. Especially since the foyer doesn't get a ton of light, even from the stained glass front door. But then again, with the star pendant maybe it will have a nice ambiance. Though will it flow from a grass green front door?

I just pulled the console table of the Crate and Barrel website, it's vaguely what I'm thinking for the space. I want something that can hold a plant, a guest's purse or a large urn filled with sodas and a guest book when we have a fun gathering. Though color is throwing me off again. A wood color would probably be too much brown, right? Perhaps a black piece? Or maybe silvery, and then in that case I could go with a silver star pendant? Wow. I didn't think it would be so tough.

When I asked Mike his opinion, he pleaded with me to finish painting the outside (front door & shutters) first while it's nice outside. So perhaps I have time to figure this all out, though I would like to have it completed by Thanksgiving.

Any ideas?