Busy Bee

I've been a very bad blogger... I've just been so busy!  This time management thing is clearly not my forte...

I've been working hard to keep my scholarships at school, there are big changes at work (I'm working full time during the big release of a new product), and still trying to be a good wife to S and a good mom to Biggie (my lovely pup).  It took me four months to find time to get my hair done... my roots had grown out so much that it looked like a bad ombre dye job.  I haven't even been knitting (which kills me the most).  Not having that zen time has been really bad for my morale.  Plus, I'm presenting research at a national conference in June and I have three to five mini anxiety attacks about that every day.

I just realized that I never posted the finished braided hat (my new favourite for the winter season)

But really, I'm too busy for anything right now.  I'll be back at the end of June when my life quiets down.

something new

So I've decided to try something new every week this year.  This week I kept it simple by trying to make my own lemonade.

 I made a simple syrup to start.  You heat one cup of water and one cup of sugar until all of the sugar has dissolved.  Then juice about 4 or 5 lemons so that you have one cup of juice.  Mix together in a pitcher and add as much water as desired (more water if you want the lemonade to be less sweet).  You can fancy it up by adding some lemon and lime slices to the pitcher or make it fun by adding some vodka to spike.  I am for sure going to whip some up for summer BBQs... to bad it's only January :(

On that front, here's some knitting I've been working on:

This is Drops 114-31a by Garnstudio.  I'm using some leftover Cascade ECO+ in a greyish colour.  I really like the braided cable but I'm going to add a pompom to the top to make it a little more fun :)

While I was procrastinating doing some schoolwork, I made a few potholders.  I drink a lot of tea and it's nice to finally have something to rest my teapot on.

In terms of the new years commitments, I have been taking a lot of time to do the things that I love while still getting all of my work done (so far... let's be real here, I'm sure I'll slip at some point).  My spending has been a little more than usual lately, but it's my birthday month so I feel like I deserve a little treat.  I've still been saving a lot and staying within budget on everything else, I just could save a little more... starting next month.

So far, 2013 is on the up :)

- B

lazy days

I really have no excuse.  For some reason, I haven't had the motivation to do anything lately.  I keep trying to come up with excuses, but they don't seem like good ones.

For weeks now, I have just had the desire to do nothing.  Nothing at all.  Not even knit.  One of the main excuses that I use try to justify doing nothing is 'I'm so busy all the time with work and school and this and that, I deserve to have some time to myself to do nothing'.  This is not true.  Yes I am busy with work and school and this and that, but I've always been that busy.

Then I thought it's because for some reason this year I have been sick constantly.  I've had colds and the stomach flu constantly.  Once one finishes, the other starts.

So, reflecting on this, I have decided that the reason why I can't get anything done is because I am just a lazy person.  Enough excuses.  That said, I am going to make some drastic changes in the year ahead.  I'm not talking about new year's resolutions.  I'm talking about life-long changes.

Let's start with health, since that seems to be an issue lately.  I vow to start taking care of myself.  I will make time to get proper sleep and eat healthy.  I will make time to go to the gym. [but let's be real here: I'm starting with one day a week]

Next, love.  I vow to spend more time with S.  Like 'us' time, not 'we live together and see each other everyday' time.  I may even be able to schedule a date night once a week (like we used to do).

Next, finances.  I used to have a substantial amount of debt from school (who am I kidding, I love shopping...) and spent two years spending nothing and paying it all off.  I refuse to get into that mess again.  Now the focus will be on saving for the things I want in my life.  S and I are saving for a house already, but I plan on adding wedding savings (just in case) and an emergency fund.  I figure I'll need about $30,000 for a wedding and I'm going to save six months worth of expenses for an emergency fund.  I vow to live a debt-free life.

Finally, spirit.  I vow to spend one hour everyday doing something I love.  I may even schedule certain activities for certain days... not sure yet.  But I need to keep my spirit alive so maybe I can stay happy and motivated to do things that I have to do.

Enough ranting... time for action.  I will periodically update how my vows are going so as to keep myself accountable.  If anyone reads this, please keep me accountable.

...and a happy new year to all :)

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past week was the busiest week in my m.a. program so far... deadline week.  I had meetings for possible experimental studies, classes, a stats take-home midterm, two papers due, and a handful of articles to read.  I am so thankful that it is over.  Unfortunately, because it was so busy I didn't really have time for much cooking or knitting.  However, last week I knit some fingerless mittens for a friend of mine.

The pattern is Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts.  I used some Cascade 220 that I had hanging around in a brownish-grey.  I love this pattern... the scalloped edge is pretty and the decorative bands add some more flair without being too dainty.

I also finished a cowl that I've had on the needles forever.

The pattern is called GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley.  I used a grey Cascade Eco + for this one and I love it.  The seed stitch really completes it and I finished it just in time for the cold weather.  It's long enough that I can double it over and so, so warm.  It's great for covering my ears when I walk my dog in the crisp fall morning air.

well here we are

Over the past year, I've been contemplating starting a blog.  One asks themselves: what would I write about?  I've decided to start writing about my life: knitting (the loops), food (the soups), and everything else that I find important or amusing.  I'm currently doing my masters in experimental psychology and working pretty much full time, so I can't guarantee frequent posting, but I will try and squeeze it in :)