Happiness is ...

Happiness is

1. the baby sleeping for more than 2 hour stretches (one week of it and still going strong! YEAH!)
2. swinging in the hammock with my dh3. my child telling me she loves me as she gives a great big bear hug just because4. catching up with my cousin on the phone yesterday =) Hopefully I will have more catching up with some phone calls today!5. sleeping in on a Saturday morning6. doing pilates with my girls - okay doing pilates is not happiness, but the girls wanting to be like me makes me happy ;-)7. Doing more catching up yesterday - one with a friend expecting a baby boy in November (and I hate to admit it but we haven't spoken in about 14 months :X) and another cousin who just bought a new house!
8. Hanging out with other moms who, like me, are not quite perfect and being able to commiserate together on the tough days!
9. Trying something I wouldn't have thought to try a year ago, and even if it doesn't work out, being satisfied just in trying and not letting fear of failure hold me back!10. Buying 30 boxes of crayons for $3.00, 30 glue sticks for $4.50, 5 bottles of glue for 45 cents, and 10 notebooks for $1!!! I love deals on things like that LOL!
11. Good friends to laugh with and cry with.12. My dh letting me sleep all night long while he contended with the baby!13. Finally finish knitting all the pieces to make my dds sweater (last night at about 11:45pm I did it LOL!)
14. Birthday celebrations
15. A cousin staying to help decorate cookies and a cake even though she doesn't have to and probably has about 100 other better things to do - all just to help out!16. Whole grain goldfish ... I love them and so do the kids!
17. A cousin who will watch the girls and give me a break!
18. Pretty pictures drawn for me by the kiddos!19. My daughter walking up to me, on her own, and asking to start school20. Hanging outside with the family on a beautiful day
21. A cremsicle shake on a warm day.
22. Venting with a friend when I'm feeling stressed and knowing she is just listening and not judging at all.
23. Babyboy suddenly deciding he did not need to be attached to my hip all day today!
24. Not having to wake up for school early this am when we were awoken by a bad thunderstorm in the middle of the night ... homeschooling is good for that ;-)
25. Playing a new game called Fish Tycoon ... I am trying to convince dh that I need to buy the full version
26. dh pampering me when I don't feel well.
27. sleeping 5 hours last night all because I pulled babyboy into our bed - apparently he sleeps well in our bed.28. Welcoming a new little one into our circle of friends! Welcome little Miss M! =)
29. Babyboy giggling hysterically in his sleep in the middle of the night!
30. Finally buying Fish Tycoon (see number 25)
31. Paying off debt (as of today, my dh and I are officially debt free! WOO HOO!!)
August is Happiness Is Month! Come on and play!!

Booking Through Thursday

1. What is your favorite kind of reading? Novels? Biographies? Mathematical textbooks? Historical Fiction is my most favorite, followed by mystery, but I do like to mix in some non-fiction in there as well. But by far, historical fiction.


2. What do you like best about your favorite kind of reading? What keeps you coming back to that kind of book? Following a gripping story? Watching characters develop? Being educated about things and places you didn't know about? Letting your mind relax into someplace completely different? I like history a lot. But I enjoy the story aspect of it - it's not just straight history, it's a bit more. Sometimes though, it's hard to seperate the history from the fiction and that can throw me for a loop, but aside from that historical fiction just brings history alive for me. And I love that!

Baby Bunting outfit

Baby Bunting in progress -


close up of my work!

I am learning some very valuable lessons in this project: watch which direction those cables go! The only other project I have done with cables is the Irish Hiking Scarf. All the cables go in one direction on this scarf.
Not so on this project. I have already had to redo two cables (which I didn't realize I screwed up on until I got up a few rows. Thankfully I learned to undo just a few stitches in the middle of the row and work down that way or else I would still be fixing errors).
Anyway, I have figured since I started last night I made it 1/18th of the knitting done with it. Now, I kind of want to finish it by next week. So, yeah, I need to pick up the pace I guess =)

Crazy or what?

I think I'm crazy.
I have started another knitting project.
For anyone keeping track, currently I have going:
* a sweater for my 3 year old
* a sweater for my 6 year old
* 2 flower girl baskets and 2 ring bearers pillows (wedding is Oct. 7)
* 6 placemats (which should ideally be done by mid-October
* a scarf for my 6 year old (which will be a birthday present at the end of October)

I have been asked ot patch a pair of pants - which I've been avoiding even though it's the easiest thing on my list

And now I have started another project. It's an aran baby bunting outfit, that should ideally be finished by the end of next week. What am thinking? Too many things to make, not nearly enough time to do them all in! Wish me luck ... I am off to knit, knit, knit, knit!

N

is for naptime =)

We get about 2-3 naps a day here - mostly about 20 minutes long. But at least I get a few breaks a day. Don't get me wrong, I love my children dearly but at the same time, I love and appreciate a few breaks from them every now and again.

All moved in ...

As you can see, I packed up my bags and moved. Now I think I'm settled for a bit. Still have a bit of tweaking to do, but I will wait a bit and change links and all that stuff in a few weeks.

I just decided I didn't like "cute and crafty" anymore. I didn't know what to name this blog when I first started it. I had recently been to a party where I gave someone a gift (handmade) and one of her friends comments "Oh my! Not only is she cute, but she's crafty too!" So then I kind of had cute and crafty stuck on me, and it seemed an appropriate name. But, I don't feel it fits anymore, so I changed it. Nice that I had that ability to do that!

Anyway, I'm happy with the new name "A journey of 1000 stitches begins with just one ..." It fits my most favorite crafts - sewing, knitting, and now quilting ... all of which have stitches! So hopefully I'll like this one for a few years =)

Moving ...

I will be moving the blog soon ... not sure how to do it without losing all the old information .... more updates to come when I figure out what I'm going to do ...
and if anyone knows how to change from one blogspot address to another blogspot address and keep the archives, please, oh please, share how!

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

Music Video of Unwritten by Nataha Bedingfield I am just loving this song right now ... I even turned it into the ringer on my phone! I called myself several times to make sure it worked tonight. And yes, my dh did laugh at me and say I was quite silly!

Booking through Thursday

Booking Through Thursday

1. Have you ever wanted to travel to a place described in a book?
   Yes, many a times.


2. Have you ever ACTUALLY travelled to a place because of the way it was described in a book?
   No. Never. I'm terrified of most methods of travel and although the thoughts of going are lovely, the thoughts of getting to the destination usually leave me panicked, sweaty and thinking I'll never travel again! LOL!


3. And if so, did it live up to the expectations, feelings, emotions you expected from the book? Did you feel like Anne was going to come romping around the corner of Green Gables? Was it as if Jo was upstairs at Orchard House, scribbling on a story? Or was it just a museum, or just a city street? Like Abbey Road without the Beatles?

Project Runway

My my, what a show. I don't know what to think about it honestly. I think a lot was missing from the big "fight" but I was sad to see so many people upset and sad.
And Laura - pregnant. Okay, her comments about really not planning on a 6th but she'll just throw "it" in with the others and blah blah ... well, I think she was trying to be funny, and it was probably a shock to discover she was pregnant and not even when she is at home with her family, but it just really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know, I just, I guess I didn't see the humor in it. ::shrug::

So, on other topics ... I've been hearing about the Mason-Dixing Knitting book all over the knitting blog world. So I've been interested in looking at it ... but dh would kill me if I bought another book because 1) we have too many books and 2) we have absolutely NO room at all. So I kind of just figured it would be another thing I won't get my hands on for like 5 years and by then I'll probably have forgotten all about. So, yeah, I had given up on it, but then. I walked into the library and looked at the new books, and there it was! Waiting to be checked out for the very first time. I snatched it up quick as I could, and now it's all mine for 3 weeks. Fabulous! LOL! =)

Finished ...

the blanket I started Saturday.
Granted, it is a lap blanket, so not huge, but this is still a major feat given that my babyboy feels he needs to be permanently attached to me almost every waking and most sleeping moments ...

all done, folded and ready to go!
Project Info:
Pattern: Lion Brand knitted "Waterfall" Throw
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun - 6 skeins on size 35 needles
Start: August 2006
Finish: August 2006

SURPRISE!!!

There is actually knitting content on this blog! How amazing ... I was starting to wonder if there would ever be more knitting content here ...
But I did manage to finish a hat that has plans with the preemie project ...

Little bitty hat

Secondly, I started this blanket ....

it's a present. Of course the party it was supposed to be given at was today. Oops. However, in my defense, I didn't get notice until Friday ... so, yeah, I think slightly more than a 1/3rd of the way through a lap blanket is actually pretty good. Besides, better late than never, huh?


Anyway, here's a close-up. I love this pattern. This will be the second one I made. Someday, I vow to make one for myself ... I actually had the yarn here already with the plans to make one for me, but alas, it will be going to someone else. Which is okay because I have too much yarn anyway, and I need to work on depleting my stash! LOL!

A bit late ...

on my booking through Thursday, but here it is, better late than never I guess!

1. Do you enjoy books that have cooking or eating scenes in them?
2. Have you made or eaten anything that was inspired by a recipe or scene in a book?

Umm ... I never really think about it. I haven't read any books that are specifically about cooking or that have a strong tie to cooking in them - I have thought about reading books by Diana Mott Davidson as I've heard they are good, but not yet.
I recently made cookies that looked like quilt squares which came from on the Elm Creek Quilter books. I have also requested the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook so I can make things from that series - although that has more to do with my love for Anne than cooking LOL!!!

From: Booking Through Thursday

Bye-bye ...

Allison.
I might have mentioned before, that I am absolutely in love with Project Runway. And tonight it was on again. And of course I had to watch.
And I'm sorry to say that I was sad to see her go. I really did like her and I liked things she had made to this point. And she actually seemed authentically nice and sweet, and she was talented IMO.
On the other hand, um, Laura is really throwing me for a loop. The first few episodes I thought she was a very refined, elgant woman. But I don't know ... lately I'm thinking it's all a mask for a potty-mouthed, stressed, crabby woman! LOL! I don't know ... and seriously all her things just kind of look the same week after week. And I swear she wears the same outfits week after week. Yes, I know, I'm being too critical. I'm sure IRL she is a lovely person and it's all the editing of the show to make her look bad. But I have to say she is shocking me for the last few weeks now.
Anyway, I am loving my Project Runway this season! It's a lively group of contestants I will say that!!

Quilting ...

But not necessarily with fabric ...
These are my newest "quilting" creations! I made these last night for a birthday party today for my quilting teacher. I wanted to do something special, so this is what I did. She liked them, so since that was the goal ... yeah! =)



cake


Big spread


close-up of a few


my fav


my cousin/helper's fav

M

is for my darling daughter M!


She makes life more fun and sometimes a little more crazy! She has her unique quirks (i.e. she won't walk in rain without crying about it), still loves to suck on her thumb, turns 4 next month and wants a Thomas the Tank party. She loves to wear dresses and would probably wear the same exact dress every single day if we let her! She loves Disney Princesses and baby dolls of any kind. She is a true joy and we love her!

Booking Through Thursday

1. Do you plan ahead for your reading? Work off of a to-be-read pile? A reading list? Or do you wing it, choose whatever you're in the mood for?
2. If you do plan ahead, how far ahead? Do you have two or three books waiting in queue? Or are you backed up by dozens of volumes waiting their turn?
3. If you do not plan ahead . . . well, never? What about if you're reading a series? Or someone gives you a book for a present?

I do sort of plan ahead. I have a list of all the books I would like to read. As a matter of fact, I moved them all to amazon.com and created a list of all the books I would like to read someday. That said, I don't have them in any special order. And when I pick out the next books to read, I sometimes pick from the list and other times just pick out books that catch my eyes. Since most of my books come from the library, I am usually limited by what they have available. If I really want a book and now I want it soon, I will request it and patiently wait for it to come in!


From Booking Through Thursday

L

L is for my

laptop.
Dh gave this to me for Christmas 2 years ago. It's where I blog, surf the internet for patterns, ideas, how-to's, do embroidery designs, lesson plans, record keeping, and all sorts of fun stuff through out the day! And as a bonus it's wireless and I can do these things pretty much anywhere in my house I want to! LOL!

Ballet Sweater ...

I'm almost done knitting all the pieces.
Okay, I never knew sleeves could take so long. I thought I'd finish both sleeves up in no time at all. Not the case. It has felt like I knitted enough for my 3 year old's to be 6 feet long, but alas, when I hold the pieces up to her arms, they seem to be the correct size!

Anyway, as soon as left sleeve is done, I'm ready to block it and piece it together. But there's a problem. I've never done that before :X
So I will soon have my first foray into blocking and sewing pieces together. I hope and hope and hope and hope it goes well. I am going to try my darndest. And maybe, just maybe, I will in secret begin work on the leg warmers and make a tu-tu and then this will become her birthday present (which is coming nearer and nearer). We'll see.
I'm a big nervous. But I know I can do this - with a little help from some good books ;-)
And maybe tomorrow there will be some pics to show you of finished pieces. :::crossing fingers:::

Project Runway

The new love of my television life is Project Runway. Okay, it's not new, I was in love with it last season as well, but boy was last night's show fun or what?
Scandal, someone had to leave, others picking up slack, some great designs, some good designs, some nasty language! It had it all! LOL!
I so can not believe Keith was removed from the show. Who would have thought a few books could have caused all that?
And I have to say, Laura shocked me! She seemed, so, I don't know - put together, social elitist, but the language last night. Just shattered my perfect image.
And my Allison - I have no clue why she talks how she does - I think she has a wierd accent thing going on and why or where it came from is beyond me, but she is a sweetie. And so cool under pressure. And has good fashion sense. I'm liking her.
Bonnie - sorry to see her go. No, honestly not really. When they picked her as a team leader last night I thought hmmm ... I don't remember her from the other shows. Oops. Well, her outfit was not something I would want to wear honestly. The neck on that shirt - looked like it was going to eat the model alive!
Anyway, I think next week I would like to host a Project Runway Party. Guess I'll have to find some people who like it just as much as I do! That or party with myself ;-)

Too Many Tuesday ...

So in an effort to be "cute" and have some sort of thing I do each week, I will officially start "Too Many Tuesday." I tend to buy in bulk, overbuy, etc, and end up with too many of well, too many things!
I'm such a nerd, but each week I'll pick one thing I have too many of and share it with, you my lovely readers.

Anyway, today, I have too many

bobbins of thread!
What is even more sad is that this is only the thread that has been unpacked. I have plenty more packed up in a box in our storage unit. And what's even worse is several colors are represented twice, three times, and even four! But I buy thread when I buy fabric and sometimes, well I forget I have all of this thread at home! But I vow to not buy any more thread until after I have brought fabric home and compared to what I already own! LOL! Gotta start thinning out the thread stash!

And now if anyone would like to play along, tell me what you have too many of in my comments ;-)