I won! I won!!

I just won 2 skeins of Marisol Miski 100% Baby Llama in Lilac for designing this:



a Ravelry mystery swap banner and badge set.

Happy and excited doesn't even begin to describe my feet as they are doing the happy dance.

Beach Bungalow

It was as if all the fates had a family meeting and decided that this weekend our little family needed to get away. It started Wednesday night, right before bed, C mentioned that we should go to the beach. "Funny", I said "B was just saying to me that she wanted to go..." We checked the calender and this weekend happened to be one of the few where we had no little league game scheduled.

By Thursday night we had confirmed reservations for a two night stay at a beach bungalow in Manzanita and were busy packing. Friday was a whirlwind of work, picking up the kids, packing everything into the truck (including dogs) and setting off.

Two hours later we arrived at a very cute little house with an ocean view. We were surprised it wasn't cold and rainy so we ventured down to the beach. For April, the weather was spectacular and we couldn't have been happier.

To get to the beach we had to cross a quiet two lane road, walk to an adjacent neighbors driveway to get to the public beach access. After crossing a small wooden bridge over a small babbling brook you saw this:


All the kids played. And it was hard to tell who had the most fun...the hairy ones or the non!





We asked...and nope, their feet weren't cold; until it was time to go, that is.

The weather stayed warm and sunny until Sunday. But we were packing up and going home by then anyway. We were able to hit the beach on four different occasions. Plenty of time for the kids to build castles, dig ditches and to build a damn. By all accounts this was a fantastic little vacation!



oh...and i did manage to get some knitting in. :-)

yarn harlot rocks portland

On Tuesday night a LOT of knitters descended upon the forestry center to listen to the one, the only... the yarn harlot. There was mischief. There was laughter. And of course, there was a lot of knitting. It was so much fun but I curse the day my flash broke. I am bummed that none of the pictures were usable for this blog. Bah Humbug.

On the home front, C and I have appointments with the "man" (aka the bank) and the "woman" (aka awesome agent recommended by a coworker!) within the next week. Right now everything is a guesstimate of what realistically we can afford. Anyone know of some property on the market in the St. John's area?

And in other news...

This weekend was a big weekend for 'things'.

I was able to knit and block two more mushroom wrist warmers. They are waiting to be steeked as we speak!

On Saturday, I bought plane tickets to Germany! Woot Woot. That's right. Blake and I will be flying from Vegas with my dad to Frankfurt to visit her father's parents for a nice winter holiday break! I was so excited that I made up my own German travel dance. And it so happen that in the mailbox that very day was our passports!

Last but not least C and I have decided to buy a home together. We are starting to talk about location, must haves, and money....this is going to be fun!

How we met.

via email...

C: I was browsing through the "single moms aisle" and came upon your profile...then I get to read your blog to find out you've given up men, dating and sex...LOL.

V: "single moms aisle" hugh? I didn't know there was such a way to peruse on myspace. So was I the generic on the bottom variety, the flashy and overly designed package in the middle or the quality hard to reach type placed on the top shelf?

C: Just so you know, you were on the single mom, 28-38 yr old, college educated, within 20 miles of Portland aisle. I'd say that puts you in the natural food section at Fred Meyer, shoulder level, and something tasty/fun like organic chips or fruit but not as oppressively healthy as bean curd or wheat germ.

V: I heart Fred Meyer. My favorite has to be the one on Walker road. Great location, FANTASTIC whole foods section and their produce guys are hot. [as a single mom I get my kicks where and when I can!]

C: So the Fred Meyer produce guys are good looking, eh? Now next time I go I'll have to check them out, then I'll catch myself, then I'll have to question my masculinity for doing it...damn you! Anywhere else I should go to check out guys? lol.

V: I have an odd taste in men. I go gaga over the border book boys, the Fred Meyer produce boys and especially the good looking chaps that twirl signs at the side of the road. You have to admire their perseverance and strong feet!...

...that was only the beginning!

Happy Anniversary C!

Holy Steeking Batman!

So normally I'm not too big of a dork when it comes to doing something I've never done before. If it doesn't involve knife throwing, flaming torches or mandolin playing clowns that is. But this week I sat and stared at this small little wristband dreading the next step.


To cut, or in knitting terms "to steek", caused me much grief. I purposely used a small project for my first time. I knew it would be quick and if the results weren't satisfying, I could easily cast it aside to begin again with another! Not to mention my first was in public...in a starbucks no less with a bunch of PDX knit bloggers by my side. But oddly enough it was the chit chatter among the group and the overall "YARN ROCKS!" vibe that gave me the final push to just do it already.


I finished the wristband but am unhappy with it. This was my first three color project and my tension was a tad tight in the beginning but towards the end I loosened up. So I've started another.

In other non-knitting news, C is getting back into the rhythm of our lives here. He is currently out with the kids getting dinner so I could have a moments peace. Work has been extremely stressful this week. There's nothing like juggling different categories, requests from random people and trying to hit a crazy arse deadline to put me in a fowl mood. I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Wicked, Pastels and Mushrooms.

A couple of nights ago I sat down and quickly tacked on the pocket for my wicked sweater. I went to the bathroom, tried it on, looked in the mirror and tried not to wake the house with my laughing. The pocket looked terrible. It brought too much attention to the one area on my body where I least want it. So off the pocket came and in the FO (finished object) pile the sweater went.


The sweater still needs to be blocked and properly photographed on me. I'm very proud of this sweater. I'll always look back fondly to my first!

I also finished my pastel socks.


I added a picot edging to the top and called it a day. They are not too flashy, but will work well as work horse winter socks!

Next up are mushroom wristbands. They will be my second array into colorwork and my first ever into steeking. The thought of cutting into my knitting terrifies me but so did knitting sweaters. At least this is a wristband so if I royally screw things up, it'll be a small one!

And lastly...C is home. He's currently sitting on the couch watching sports. lol...it's like he never left!

Busy Bee

The past week has been busy busy busy. I really don't know how the 'soccer moms' do it. They come to the baseball games looking very put together, makeup perfect, with a cheerful look on their face. I, on the other hand, am running around keeping the girl entertained while trying to remember if I put on deodorant that morning.

Little League season has begun and with Chris still in Florida that means I get to play taxi, cruise director, and caterer. It's not too bad; just exhausting. Here's the boy up to bat...


I did manage some knitting. I noticed at the last baseball game how B's coat hood kept slipping off. I remembered a cute little pattern by Neither Hip Nor Funky called the Urban Homesteader Hat. Rummaging through my stash I found just enough Knit Picks Swish Superwash in pink and purple to make it! B didn't feel like modeling, but I did manage to get a few decent pictures...


I only made the pony tail opening and I added a crochet trim, crochet flower and ear flaps. B picked out the button herself...of course it was the one with the most sparkle!


I also finished my first sweater Wicked. I may knit up a pocket for the front. After all is said and done, it feels like it's missing something.

And because I couldn't be blessed enough, some yummy yummy yarn came in the mail! Meet Pansy and Snowflake by the wonderful Emily of StarBugKnits. I have a project in mind for snowflake, and pansy...well, she was a complete surprise! Thanks Emily! You made my day!

A little wee sock of my very own!

It's here! It's here!

Yesterday I received this.


A beautiful wee little sock by Starbugknits in her hand-dyed colorway Pansy. She hit the nail on the head with these colors. Can't go wrong with anything green, pink, and purple!

This woman is a talented. You can check out her luscious yarns at her Esty shop.

So what will I be doing to the wee little sock? I'll be adding a cute little ribbon loop to the top, add a little note inside of when and by whom i received this wee little gift and add it to our Christmas ornament box.