January in Pictures

I didn't get many pictures taken in January.  I've not found much to inspire me outside. I cannot wait for spring!!  However, I did take some, so here is my January in pictures:

First new recipe of the new year.  Will be made again.

Coalie's favorite place to relax.

A sleeping Belle.

Second recipe of the year.  One that will not be made again.

Best Friend's birthday present as modeled my the Mom and sewn by me.

Socks and inquisitive cat.

Whatcha doing? Am I bothering you?

First finished pair of socks for the year.

Hopefully February will be a more exciting month.  I'm taking a photography class and am very much looking forward to it.

Goals - Progress Check

Let's revisit the 2011 goals now that we are a month and change into the new year.

1. Focus more on my health:
        Well I did sign up for the Treasure Valley Weight Loss Challenge with my Mom and I've added exercise to the formula.  So I suppose this one is going okay.  It would be better if I had added the exercise before this week.  But a girl has to start somewhere!

2.Get my finances in order:
         I've decided that one week a month I will not spend any money.  This is my 2nd time doing this and it's going well.  I don't quite feel the satisfaction I thought I would so I may revisit this in the future and define it a bit differently. 

3  Finish all knitting projects currently on my needles:
          As demonstrated by my previous post, I have done that with one project.  This leaves me with two projects still on needles and I am very much thinking that one is going to get frogged before too long.  It has been on my needles since 2008 and I'm just so not into it.  We'll see how I feel in a bit.  In other news I also wanted to complete a pair of socks every quarter for 2011 and I've cast on and knit the ribbing for the first pair.  Go me.  :-)

4. Try at least one new recipe a month:
          This has very much been a success.  In the month and 10 days since the beginning of the year I've done 3 new dinners (maybe 4) and only one has not passed muster.

As for the other goals, they are moving along at their own pace.  I've been quite focused on my new business but that will be it's own little post when everything is all squared away! 



 

First Finished Object of 2011

One of my knitting goals this year is to complete the projects that were on my needles at the end of 2010.  I've cast off one.  My 2nd pair of socks.

These are called May Flowers (ravelry link) and the yarn is from The Loopy Ewe.  I was in a sock club last year and this is one of the packets.  I refer to these as my Pittsburgh socks because I started them when I was traveling back to Pittsburgh and they are yellow which is one of the colors of the Steelers.  Though I must admit I'm rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl.

Since I've finished these, I've cast on my 1st quarter socks Worldly Socks (another ravelry link).  I'm in a knit-a-long so I aim to have these completed by mid-March. A lofty goal with everything else I have going on, but I'm gonna try!

Some additional pictures of the sock.  On the front of the leg is a tulip and I think it's interesting how each sock had a different pooling effect (the stripes or how the colors came out).  I love them though.  Great fit and lovely yarn.

Coalie looking at the socks.

And deciding that they looked to comfy to not lay on!

A Lazy Sunday

It is needed every once in a while, that day that you do nothing strenuous.  Today consisted of going to church, changing into my comfy close, watching playoffs and knitting.  The kittens have enjoyed quite the lazy day as well....

January New Recipes

I have done well on my goal to try a new recipe each month. In fact I did two new recipes this weekend and it's only 1/3! :-)

The first was Arroz Rojo with Beef from Campbell's Kitchen:
















 It is the meaty mixture in the burrito.  I added lettuce, cheese, salsa & sour cream.  YUMMY!I will definitely make this again and the recipe is going into the binder. 

Tonight I tried a crockpot meal from a Better Homes & Garden recipe book.  It was a Cheesy, tortellini casserole.  Now, in order to like this you must like cheese tortellini.  I thought I liked it, my friend makes a soup and it has tortellini and I LOVE IT.  But this, not so much.  I would totally make the recipe again just use some other sort of pasta. 

In the crockpot.

In my bowl all steamy hot.

My first attempt at broiling a roll.











So all in all a good start to this goal.  :-)

2011 Goals

2011 Goals

1. Focus more on my health
2. Get my finances in order
3. Finish all knitting projects currently on my needles
4. Set up my business
5. Send out one handwritten letter every month
6. Try at least one new recipe a month
7. Design a knitting pattern
8. Take more time to be happy
9. Go to a movie alone
10. Work on being a better friend
11. Take more pictures

 And that is what I have so far.  Totally do-able.  I saw today that someone does easy, medium and hard goals for the year.  I think I have a mixture of the three on my list.  I'm very much looking forward to 2011.  

I am editing to add the following:

1. Plan my Christmas knitting now and have it done by the first week in December.
2. Find a Church

Also, these are quite vague, I'm in the process of defining what I think will allow me to complete these goals.  :-)

Daily Writing

So my goal to post every day in November was an utter FAIL.  I thought about it, but then something would come up and away I would go.  Life seems to be insanely busy at the moment, but I'm coming to the realization that it is going to continue that way so I just need to acclimate to this new normal.  In order to be able to be more productive at work I've decided to dip my toe into selling my handmade things.

I'm creating a design for a project bag, I have the proto-type done, but the sewing needs to improve.  I have my Gram's sewing machine that she was given by my Grandpa & my Mom & her siblings clear back in the 50's.  It's awesome and still works fabulously.  Of course I do go use my Mom's machines as some things are a bit easier to do with a surger.  :-)

I'm also busy knitting away on Christmas presents so no pictures yet, but in a week. 

I finally got my hands on a set of Addi Lace Clicks and oh my gosh they are heaven.  I love the cords, it makes it so easy to magic loop things and they just slide in my hands.  I am anxious to make a pair of socks on them. 

My next project is one of the infinity scarves.  I'll be designing my own pattern, fairly plain, but with some beautiful yarn that I purchased at Knit Wits here in town.  As soon as I am home I can update with the actual yarn and if I can get a good picture, one of those as well.