Candy n' Crochet

I decided to buy candy to pass out to the trick or treaters on Wednesday. I have no idea how many I will get, but I will pass out candy until my little pink witch bucket is empty. I am the designated candy person so that my sister can remain anoynomous. I think it will be a lot more fun this year because in my parents' old neighborhood, the subdivision was so big that we would get like close to 1000 trick or treaters and we would go through almost 20 bags of candy. My mom has no idea how many they will get at the Carolinas house but my dad left her with plenty of candy just in case because their subdivision is still under construction but there are a lot of kids in the neighborhood.

I made L a purple camo hat on Saturday per her mom's request since it is getting "cold" outside and she is two and has outgrown her little baby hats I made her. I liked the purple camo yarn from Bernat so much that I made myself a little ipod cozy using an old Crochet Me pattern with the leftovers. I have finished the green scarf and wove in all the ends on it and the Boss Lady scarf. I even finished skein 4 of L's blankie and tied on skein 5 so I consider that some major progress.

I made some Jello No-Bake cheesecake for snack day tomorrow. I am a huge fan of No-bake anything because I hate cooking and we have a hoopty oven that doesn't keep a level temperature. LOL...

I am pooped. Fiscal year-end closing sucks. It was nuts at the office and we kept having server problems (probably due to the high usage) so it was hard to run jobs. My trick or treat mug that I got at Starbucks was a huge hit at work. everyone told me it was really festive and kept asking where I bought it. It's one of the tall skinny mugs and is black with white line drawings on it. It is really uber cute.

Thank-you Secret Pal 11

Secret Pal 11 goodies here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shoe_girl/1782489027/

I received my final package from my Secret Pal 11. She has been a totally awesome pal. She has done a wonderful job picking out the perfect goodies to spoil me and she included really nice letters with the packages. This has probably been one of my top swapping experiences.Here's what was in the package:

1. Eight skeins of Palette yarn in orange, pink, hot pink and burgundyish purple
2. Pumpkin wax melts (they smell really good in the package)
3. A Halloween treat bag
4. Halloween socks

I was really excited to receive this package and I am either going to make a pillow or a stripy scarf with the yarn. I just finished the scarf that I made with the Plymouth Tweed yarn that she sent in the last package and I am really happy with how it turned out.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

Misc. Thoughts

Things are so crazy at work right now because it is our fiscal year end. Multi-tasking makes me tired! I started reading Into the Wild (recently turned into a movie) last night and made it about halfway through. Boston Legal was pre-empted because of the California wildfires coverage and there wasn't much on tv, so I ended up reading instead. Plus, reading a book is easier to do curled up in my denim quilts. i will admit to turning on the heater on low but if the house is too cold then my sister turns into a Smurf and my hands get all cold and i don't like cold hands.

My sister and I are debating on whether or not to pass out candy on Halloween. this is our first Halloween at this house and there really isn't many little kids on our little street, just annoying teenagers. Plus, my sister is concerned that her students would accidently find out where we live and tee pee our house for life...LOL..

Where Did the Sun Go?

So I spent the entire weekend in Iowa where it was in the mid 70s which is unheard of in October and then I come back to Oklahoma and it is rainy and like barely 50 degrees. What in the world?!!! this evening, I had to turn on the heater for a little while because I couldn't figure out why I was cold and then I realize that the little house thermostat said it was 60 degrees.

I did finish the Boss Lady Scarf on the way up to Iowa, I just need to weave in a couple of ends. It is really huge and I haven't laid it out yet to see how really long it is. I did start a scarf with some of the Plymouth Tweed that my SP 11 sent me. I am almost done with skein number two and it looks really pretty and bright. I like my scarves long so that if it is actually cold outside, I could wrap them around my neck.

Anyways, I am back to my dull boring life. I had a blast hanging out with my cousins. Lots of good food and laughs. It was kind of nice being around the family. I also managed to go a whopping 4 days without getting on the Internet or checking my email.

I managed to do a load of laundry tonight and make some Suddenly Salad (ranch and bacon) for our ladies' luncheon at work tomorrow. I am currently burning a bunch of baptism photo cds for the relatives right now.

My sister picked up three pairs of the over the knee socks for me at Target on her way home from night class tonight. YAY!!! I love socks like this and Target has them on sale this week. I feel like such a bad ass when I wear them. I love accessories. Tall socks keep me warmer too and my fun socks are wearing out since I bought them in 2004 when I worked at Sears in the mall.

Traveling

Right now, i am trying to get things prepared for my trip to Iowa on Thursday. It is going to be a whirlwind weekend for sure. I have been trying to plan out what I am going to wear so that I have enough clothes for the weekend. I also ran the dishwasher tonight because Wednesday night will be last minute laundry night.

i am just not motivated for anything right now because I am learning all these new job responsibilities at work and it is like information overload so i don't want to do crap when I get home, especially not homework. I think I am just generally overwhelmed with the amount of stuff going on for school and work.

I have tied on the fourth and final skein for the boss lady scarf. It is looking really nice and it would definitely keep you nice and warm while you shovel a foot of snow off your driveway in January. She will really like it. It is what I would call mindless crochet, because I am just doing rows of half-double crochet, which is a stitch I can do practically in my sleep.

Anyways, I promise a big exciting post Monday or so after I get back from Iowa. I am sure there will be tons of stories to tell.

Song of the Day: Undone (the sweater song) by Weezer

Secret Pal 11 Goodness

So this morning I went to the post office to mail my secret pal a letter and when i got back from my errands, there was this awesome package waiting from my Secret Pal (the one spoiling me). She sent:
3 skeins Plymouth Tweed in color 5324 (this is like a blueish green color,sooo pretty)
1 skein Knit Picks Swish Superwash Capri (so soft and it's an electric blue color
1 skein Plymouth Sockotta color 06 (blueish/greenish color)

Thanks so much! I love all the yarn and I can't wait to turn them into projects.

I have been cleaning today and doing laundry in preparation for our trip home to Iowa this week. I started making the Boss Lady Scarf this week. It is a black crocheted extra-wide extra long scarf for my boss that is transfering to North Central Iowa where it is really cold. she is like 6 ft tall and always has her heater in her office turned on. Anyways, we are making her a cold weather survival package as her going away present. I think this is going to be my trip project because she is leaving November 9th, so I don't have much time to get this done.

Random Thoughts Sunday Again

Song of the Day: All I Ever Needed by Bret Michaels

Why are all the good shows on at the same time? Seriously people!!!! I have this problem on Sundays and Wednesdays and it stinks!

Today was pretty special. I was on one of my "i have too much crap" kicks so i ended up taking a trunkload of stuff to Goodwill and my sister stuck a bunch of old science textbooks in one of my bags and I was carrying the dumb bag and the dumb thing broke on the driveway and I could have smashed my foot. What does she do? She is laughing so hard I thought she was going to fall over and wet her pants. So we took the cds I didn't want anymore to Hastings and we got stuck behind a couple who was also selling back cds. they must of had like 30 cds and they were so bad they were coming up with 1 cent value and were the kind of stuff I would have just stuck in the bag for Goodwill. Anyways, we waited a good forty minutes in line for our turn. Anyways, I made a nice chunk of change and so my sister and I bought the Baptism present for Baby K and I bought a little stuffed dragon for A-dolly. I also bought Eclipse and New Moon, the next books in the Twilight series. this is a series of books I know I will re-read over and over, they are just that good.

I'm excited because we got our swap pals for the Favorite Place and Color swap. I think this will be a lot of fun. I am also excited because I finished my AIS homework ahead of schedule. My sunburn is faded but the peeling is minimal because I have been lathering on the aloe lotion. The lotion works better for me then the sticky gel does.

I managed to make it almost half way through skein 4 on Baby L's blankie. I just had a good rhythm going this evening. I wish I could keep working on it this evening but it is late already and I do have to show up at the Office tomorrow.

Bookworm

Last night I bought a copy of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer because the hold list for this book at my library is really really long. I stayed up until two in the morning reading it and I am still not done, but it is so good!!!! This is the first book in the series and even though it is technically young adult, it's written in such a way, that it is ageless. There are two others out so far, but I am making myself wait until Pay Day to buy them. I was planning on reading them on the way to Iowa in a week or so, but I am devouring the first book and wouldn't be surprised if I have read them all before I leave.

Since our lawn is now nicely mowed, I was able to go out and do lovely yardwork. My sister gets to hold the trash bag because she is not good with the hedge clippers. The rose bushes were getting too tall again and this mystery fine with pepper like objects hanging off of it was growing in our overgrown evergreen tree. The yard looks a little more presentable now too. We also filled up the ol' Subaru with our recycling. This is definitely worth the trouble of driving over to the drop off boxes because we save so many trash bags and it's reducing our footprint on Mother Earth. It's odd because I did all these chores today, but I don't feel like I have accomplished much.

I have squeezed a little crochet work on Baby L's blankie today. I haven't worked on it much today. I have a good excuse though, I was making something for my Secret Pal that I am in charge of spoiling. I made her a little ribbon bound book with little quotes and fun facts. I think it turned out really cool.

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love was on Oprah last night. I loved her book and she is just as endearing in interviews. Normally, I don't like to watch Oprah, but if she has an author on that I like, then I will watch her show during the late night repeat showing on our tv.

I did go to the library this morning too. But I only checked out two books, which is really low for me. I blame on the fact that I am reading a bunch of books my sister bought this past Spring that neither one of us has gotten around to reading. All I need are books, yarn and music.

EDIT: I just finished skein three! Skein 4 has been added on. This blanket is turning out to be a hell of a lot bigger than I wanted it to be, yet again, but I think it will end up turning out good in the end.

My Beautiful Lawn

It is so pretty. My lawn now is golf course short instead of Tallgrass prairie length. He EVEN EDGED AND MOWED DIAGONALLY!!!! We ended up going with a retired railroad worker that we had been refered to by a couple of people my sister knows. I am pleased as punch. It really bothers me when my yard looks nasty and now it looks great!!!

I have been doing boring stuff like housecleaning this evening so that I can do homework and crochet this weekend. I might read another Nicholas Spark book too. I am a couple of books behind now, but I like to savor his books cause he is one of my favorite authors. I also want to read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer because I have heard great things about her books and I am just an all around book fanatic.

I promise I will write more this weekend after I do something more exciting.

itchy

I'm peeling. YUCK!!!! I am covered in so much aloe that I feel like I smell like a house plant or something.

The Cubs are planning for the NL pennant and it is very nerve wracking. to make matters worse they are playing arizona at arizona right now so the games are starting way late, epecially when you consider that we still play more day games than night games. I really hope we can break the curse this year because we have come so close.

I crocheted some more tonight and finished reading the lone book that I checked out from the library on Sunday. My energy has been sub-par this weekend, so i am not motivated to do much of anything.

Cross your fingers that the lawn boy will actually come tomorrow as promised and mow our tallgrass prairie. i hope it doesn't rain. it has rained a lot this week, and when it is not raining it is really hot. I just want a regular temperature. some nice cool fall weather would be nice.

En Fuego

So at the Marching Band contest on Saturday, I did a very stupid thing and forgot to put on sunscreen. i thought i would be okay cause I was just going to stay for a couple of performances, but I was having such a good time that I stayed longer and ended up with the world's strangest sunburn. I have a V from the v-neck shirt I was wearing, I have an official "red neck" , I burnt half of my right ear and 3/4 of my face because I use acne medication that you are supposed to avoid direct sun with. I know, not so smart, but I have a giant stash of Tylenol and aloe lotion, so I am making it through. I just hate the fact that it raises your body temperature really high and I have a naturally lower body temp so my type of hot is way hotter then the norm. In the end, it doesn't really matter because I had a blast watching the bands perform. It was like half time all day long which we all know is my favorite part of watching a football game.

i had so much fun though, I crocheted a dish cloth in between performances and I got to take video with my digi cam that I bought about a year ago. It has really great sound, better then I expected but it was really hot and windy that day, so I don't think this footage is perfect, but it gets the point across.

I started working on Baby L's blankie again after I finished dish cloth number 4 this past week. i'm not sure how many rows I actually did this weekend but I made a lot of progress.

I also was stuck doing a ton of homework which I hate because it is all busy work. I managed to get it done before all of my Sunday shows premiered. I can't wait to see the Rock of Love Reunion show--it will be a hilarious cat fight most likely. Brothers and Sisters was really good but some time I am going to have to get that season on DVD because apparently I have forgotten a couple of minor plot twists.

I really don't want to go to the office of complete boredom tomorrow. I love my company, just not the office biddies I work with.

By the way, I was very naughty and bought chocolate covered expresso beans at my new Starbucks in town this weekend. They are so good, but I will only eat one at a time.

Anyways, I am going to sleep on top of my bed directly under the ceiling fan and pretend that I am staying at the hotel made out of ice in Canada.

Hooks Up!

1. Purchased Ravelry "where my stitches at?" limited edition shirt and button set. It is so cool, I can't wait until it gets here.
2. purchased another skein of Sugar and Cream Stipes. This stuff is my new crack candy. I need dish cloths like i need a hole in my head, but I just started number 4 tonight and that is the fourth one for this week. LOL.
3. Purchased top secret gifts for secret pal 11. Yay for sales! At the same sale I bought another Susan Bates bamboo handle hook (the second one this week, but only because they were fifty off at Hobby Lobby)
4. Finally took yucky finance test!
5. Gathered up recycling
6. Did dishes
7. watched the first three episodes of Margaret Cho's sitcom All-American Girl. It is still hilarious over ten years later.
8. Visited my town's 1st EVER STARBUCKS!!!! Hot chocolate is great!!!! If I drink enough of it, maybe it will feel like fall weather.

In other news, good luck to Sunshine tomorrow. His marching band is competing and I know they will totally kick major ass. i will be attending a separate marching band invitational closer to home. I am attending the prelims so I can see my hometown band's show. I got to see them march at the homecoming parade before my night class on Thursday, but that doesn't really count because it's not the same at all. i am a total marching band groupie!!! I am all about supporting the Arts in schools, especially music.

My secret pal 11 (the one I'm spoiling) sent me a funny e-card for my birthday. I have been sending her almost weekly letters because I think it makes things more fun, people love real letters and i think it makes the time between packages go faster. I just want her to have a really good experience because the person spoiling me has been sending me great packages and e-mails, so I feel like sharing the love.

Birthdays are Exhausting

I haven't posted in awhile because I am trying to play catch up. I am basically caught up on everything except for homework, I still have that to turn in this weekend. My sister is in a total crab ass mood and doesn't want to do anything except for Mtv when she gets home from teaching. I really need a break from her, so i think i am going to go to Owasso on Saturday. I am thinking about looking for work pants at Old Navy and there is a marching band competion going on at the high school then and so I am thinking of at least watching the prelims because several of the local high schools will be there (that have strong programs). Plus, I know that my sister would definitely not want to see that.

Dallas was awesome. the Dave Matthews Band is an awesome band to see live. there was lots of shopping but I really didn't buy much. The big purchases were a sweater hoody on clearance at Old Navy and Crazy Aunt Purl's new book. Sunshine and I tried really hard to buy ipods but we ended up going home empty handed, they were out of the Touch that he wanted and I was paranoid about spending money, so i think I am going to wait a week or so. I liked playing with the new ones in the store though, it helps narrow down the choices. I just wish the regular video ipods came in more color choices like the nano video.

I did make two dish cloths on the trip and I started a third on my birthday which I am almost finished with. Sugar N Cream cotton has some really awesome striping colorways that come out looking really nice.

Special Thanks to Sunshine for driving, being generally awesome and playing referee. it was a blast. I promise next time we go to a concert we can go to a symphony type concert with a less rowdy crowd.

Secret Pal Goodies!

I received package #2 today! It is the Pink Package and it is so awesome. I love it all and I will edit this post to add in details but it is starting to thunder and lightning outside and I don't want to blow my router again. Thank you Secret Pal!!!


I'm back!!!!
So the mini-storm is over and I think it will be a late night because Justin Timberlake is on Oprah tonight! I have to watch the re-runs on the CW at 10:30 pm if someone good is going to be on and I saw the ads during the premieres of ANTM and Gossip Girl. Gossip Girl is going to be good I think.

Now for the goodies! My Secret Pal is the coolest ever! I opened up the package when i got home from work and it was like Yarnpalooza!

I received:
1. Hello Kitty candy! Hell yes!
2. Pair of Pony Pearls knitting needles
3. Kool-aid and a skein of Cotton Fleece to try kool-aid dying with
4. Cotton Fleece that was dyed a rose color by my pal
5. Fisherman's Wool from Bartlett yarns that was also dyed by my pal
6. Knit Picks Tulip
7. And a nice note describing all the lovely yarn.

Thanks so much! I was stoked about my birthday coming up on Tuesday but honestly any day when someone gives me yarn is almost better than my birthday.

I was naughty and bought the new issues of Knit.1 and Bust, but since i have been on a magazine buying diet for the last month, I figured it was okay. There was a couple of others I debated about but I made myself be good and pick two. Yay!

Favorite Place and Color Swap Questionnaire

FUN STUFF!

What is your favorite color(s)?
Hot pink, black, blue, purple

What are your least favorite colors?
orange, olive/moss green, yellow

If you have a favorite brand of yarn, what is it?
Cascade 220, Koigu, Sugar and Cream

What weight yarn do you prefer?
like a sport weight or thicker. I like anything that
isn't super bulky or really dainty. I like to make a
lot of scrap afghans if that helps any.

Is there any weight of yarn you'd rather not have?
No lace weight or sock yarn, because I just don't work
with those types.

Do you enjoy novelty yarn? If so, what kinds do you
like and dislike?
No fun fur or ribbon yarn, I like to try the other
kinds of novelty yarn, but it has been awhile since I
have bought anything.

What are your favorite fibers?
I like wool, cotton, bamboo

Do you have any fibers that you dislike or worse yet,
have an allergy to?
No allergies
Do you have pets? If so, what do you have?
yes, but they live with my parents in SC right now.
Two Yorkies, Haley and Daisy

Do you spin?
No

Would you enjoy receiving spinning related items, such
as roving?
I don't spin and don't have any spinning supplies, so
no.

Do you knit, crochet, both, or other?
Crochet first, still slowly learning to knit

Is there anything within your craft that you haven't
tried yet that you'd like to try or learn?

Is there anything that you enjoy collecting, aside
from yarn?
Hello Kitty

Is there anything else that your pal should know to
help her spoil you?
I don't think so. I post on my blog almost daily, and
I usually talk about what I am into right now at the moment.

I GOT IN!!!!!!!!

I received my invite to join RAVELRY THIS MORNING!!!!!!!! I couldn't ask for a better early birthday present. This site is possibly the coolest thing ever! I feel like this massive window of wonder has been opened up to me.

Anyways, for those who want to see, my user name is: shoegirl (no spaces). YAY!!! There goes my free time! I now have this instant urge to catalog every thing. YAY!

Edit: I just added my inventory of needles and hooks. the only things I didn't add in were a couple of pairs of mutt needles that I have no idea what size they are and my itty bitty crochet hooks that they don't have in the list yet (they are like the thread crochet kind). this is so cool, it's like crack candy. I am having no luck exporting my LibraryThing Library to Raverly so if anyone has tried that before, let me know!

Edit #2: I finally downloaded the new version of Yahoo Messenger for Mac, I hope it works better than the last one. My computer doesn't really like the old one, and people would message me and I wouldn't always get their messages which is annoying!

Factory Girl

Yup that's me! I had to be at work by 6 am to the quarterly inventory audit of parts in the factory. Did I mention that I have to be up at 4:30 am so I can get ready and squeeze my commute in? I will also note that this is for a random sample of parts and it takes about four hours to complete the audit. I wish I had a dorky picture of me and all the safety gear I have to wear: ear plugs, metal tarsals and safety glasses. Why don't metatarsals come in pink? That would be really nice.

Songs of the Week:

1. Stronger by Kanye West --- I don't always agree with his tantrums, but the man makes some of the best hip hop out there and I am really picky about that type of that music because it is out of my usual box.

2. No One by Alicia Keys --- She never fails to disappoint me, and I love the piano part in this song. I think this is one of my favorite singles of hers. This songs is just beautiful, and if you are reading this Sunshine, you need to listen to this song.

New Show -- Episode 1 of Gossip Girls is free on ITUNES right now prior to the premiere!!!!! The blonde girl from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is in this show and the books the show is based on is a guilty pleasure teen read for me and my sis.

So apparently, things are very slowly becoming less of a disaster. I am looking forward to October and the Fall season.

Crochet and Cleaning Day

Today was scrub the bathroom day. It is sparkly now. yay. Tomorrow is my night class, so I won't be doing any cleaning projects. i have designated Friday as vacuum and sweep day. Saturday is take in the recycling and trim psychotic bushes day. My sister did sort out the half-empty shampoo bottles, so the shower is less junky now. We also now have mystery shampoo in a cup. I just want the house to look pretty for when Sunshine comes next week.

On the crochet front, I am nearing the finish line. I have no idea what to do for a border yet. I am thinking that I will get a solid green or blue matching yarn to do the border. We will see. i am going to finish this skein and then work on baby L's blankie because it has been neglected for a long time. I also have some yummy dishcloth yarn I need to use up.

The creativity project is going great. I cheat. I refuse to get up extra early to do morning pages, so I write them during my morning break. I have a long ass commute and I don't like to get out of bed any earlier then I have to. I will find out tomorrow afternoon whether or not I have to be at work at 6am to do an inventory audit. the only plus side to that would be that I would get off work really early on a Friday. We will see. I am indifferent either way.

**** In a Box

D*ck in a Box and Kathy Griffin both won Creative Arts Emmys! How awesome is that!!!!! I would like to note that I am not offended by either one of them.

So work was boring as snails. My security badge is fixed now so at least I can get in the front door now. That is a huge plus. I did our nasty ass dishes. I can't stand it when the sink smells because my sister won't rinse the pan after she makes cheeseburger helper in it. Gross. Gross. Gross. Thank god it was trash day.

I plan on spending the rest of the night reading the rest of Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and crocheting on the Splash blanket. There is not much excitement going on in my life right now. I have been helping my mother with some genealogy research, which I don't mind doing because I think it is kind of fun. I have been given a list of things to find when I go back to Iowa in October for Baby K's baptism.

Somethin' to Believe In

MY HOMEWORK IS DONE!!!!!! YAY!!! I also completed my AIS Exam one. All this before my Sunday night shows start. Usually I don't even start on my homework until late sunday night. More crochet time for me. My sister and I have been watching Grey's Anatomy Season 2 all day because there is nothing on tv right now and they keeping running the same episodes over and over. I am so excited for Season 3 to come out this week, because my sister still hasn't seen the finale and I forgot the some of the little things that happened on the show.

I have also been going through my tiny recipe pile looking for recipes for my college student because she put easy recipes on her list and I don't even like to boil water, but I do like to collect recipes because I like the pictures. I am going to put them on brightly colored cards, and then hole punch them in the corner, so that I can put them on a ring, so they are easy to use and keep track of in the kitchen. I think it is going to look really cool when it is done.

By the way, I just finished watching Rock of Love. Holy crap. tonight's elimination was not what i expected and I think the Meet the Parents episode next week is going to be great. There's just something about watching a good chick fight, especially when a rock star is involved. Plus, I always get a lot of rows done on an afghan when watching this show.

I hope this week goes okay. With radios, etc banned at work, I felt like I was in solitary confinement all week. My poor shuffle feels abandoned.