We're gonna Sco-o-ore tonight!

Last night we did something I haven't done in a long long time. We went bowling!

We precluded our bowling outing by meeting up with some friends for dinner. The lovely Lils kept everyone entertained and I had some fun playing with my camera.





We ended up playing 3 games and ended with total domination by us girls!

K and A (That's Me!)





Game One



Game 2

  

Game 3- DOMINATION! That's me at the top :)



2buckeyes

Post-bowling ended with a nightcap at a local bar where we heard a surprisingly great cover band. When you see the name "Booger Prestley" on the board you likely aren't thinking of some great talent. But they were good! Played excellent music that we could all sing along too, and the singers voice was actually pretty great.



Getting up today took a little bit of effort but we did make it out of the house to run some errands and grocery shop. Now it's time to just relax the rest of the day away.

Perhaps some knitting...

Last Run

Well, yesterday I decided to go forward with my plans for a 5k. My last run before the big day.

It was... an experience.

I picked K up after work and we drove to the happy place. Have I shown you the happy place?

Here it is. It really is a happy place. Except for yesterday.

While driving to the happy place, we got a phone call from Mr. Buckeye with a warning that we were going to get wet. Yeah, a little water won't hurt us, so we continued on. Starting off, sure it was sprinkling but we figured we drove all the way out there and come rain or shine we had to do what we needed to do.

The happy place? Not so happy.

This picture was taken approximately .75 miles into running, approximately 10 minutes before the monsoon came. I've never seen so much rain in my life. But we were already out a mile and a half and had no choice but to keep going. That is, until we literally couldn't see. I was guarding my phone, trying to see, and K was trying to hold her pants up that were now soaked to the bone and incredibly heavy. We laughed it off and decided to walk the mile back to the car.

And wouldn't you know... as we got about a quarter mile from the car... it stopped raining. But just long enough for us to drive down the road into the second downpour that was coming our way.

It's a bummer that my last run didn't go so well, but I've got high spirirts and find it rather funny.

Now the leg needs rest. It's slightly worrying me that it doesn't feel better and I feel as though I'm walking with a gimp but the run wasn't too bad. Walking hurts more than running oddly enough.

less than 3 days till go time!

Holden Shawlette

So yesterday I mentioned that over the weekend I finished not one, but TWO! shawls. Well allow me to introduce to you one of my new loves.

Reader - Meet the Holden Shawlette.

Isn't she fabulous?

This new love of mine is an original pattern written by one of my friends Mindy Wilkes! (Mindy on Ravelry) She has all these creative juices flowing and decided to spill some of them onto paper and share with us! This is her first design, and I was lucky enough to get to test it for her. I used Knitpicks Stroll Haindpainted Yarn in colorway "Dolly" and I think it complimented the pattern nicely.

The pattern is extremely well written and has the option for both charts and written instruction. I'm still somewhat of a chart n00b so I used the written version. The lace appears complicated but is surprisingly easy. She arranges basic stitches to create a gorgeous wave lace that is accented by the picot edge. I'd definitely recommend it to an adventurous beginner. This took me 2 weeks from start to finish and of course I was working on other projects as well. So even better that it's a quick knit! (Slightly dangerous too because I want one in every color now!)

In doing this pattern I learned a couple new techniques as well! I used a tab cast on method (which she explains really well... it seems odd but just go with it, it works) and the picot bind off was a new adventure for me. It is surprisingly stretchy and really compliments the waves that work their way up to the plain section. I'm not 100% sure I "enjoyed" the picot but I'm so unbelievably happy with the way that it looks it is something that I would never dream of not including it now!

I'm not sure as to when Mindy plans on releasing her pattern to the public, but rest assured I will let you know!

My Ravelry Project Page

Slacker

Holy wow, I've been a slacker blogger lately. My super apologies.

The weekend was here and gone before we knew it. I took off work on Friday in order to prepare for our annual P-fest this weekend. There was a mountain of laundry to tackle (success!) and cleaning and errand running to be done before the troops arrived on Saturday.

After a highly productive Friday, I woke up Saturday and went out for my long distance run. A personal distance record for me! 6 miles! IN. THE. RAIN. and did I mention it was uphill? My calves and shins were screaming at me for the first 2 miles and I wanted to give up. Luckily I was on a loop so there was no where to keep going except further!

I wish I had photos to share of the party, but alas my camera stayed hidden. But it was a great time had by all. The basement reveal went awesome and everyone was impressed with the 180* change that took place since last year when they visited. I'll be able to reveal here soon. Promise!

Sunday was spent at the shop and I got in some quality knitting time followed by a 3 hour nap. I definitely needed it!

Monday was another 5k during lunchtime and tomorrow I'm looking forward to girl's night. Hosted Chez Buckeye. Luckily the house is already clean from the weekend :)

Catching up on some DVR and bedtime!

Sex and the Sippy Cup

So over the weekend the girls and I headed out for a little girls night. Enough of our husbands getting together 2+ times a week for golf. It was our turn. We decided to have a nice dinner at PF Changs (Orange Peel Chicken? NOM!) With girly beverages (The Pink Bellinis were super yummy!) followed with a night at the movies. Of course we chose to see Sex and the City 2. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m not a die-hard, seen every episode, kind of girl and I liked it better than the first one. Perhaps because it was a bit more theatrical? And the rugby?polo? players didn’t hurt much either!

But one of my favorite parts of the movie (don’t worry, no spoilers here, was during a particularly steamy scene. During which the 4 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL sitting right behind me started yelling “I CAN’T SEE! I CAN’T SEE!” Seriously? I kid you not. There was a little girl in the theater. Brought by her (I assume) parents, and sister. 4 years old (I’m guessing here… but I was with 2 friends that are moms and they said she was probably only like 3 or 4 years old) and they thought taking her to see SEX and the City was a good idea? She was yelling because Like the good mom that she was, she was covering the girl’s eyes. WTF?!?!

This particular favorite was only topped by another where I became completely distracted by the fact she was prancing in the aisle and kept hitting my seat, jarring me forwards and backwards. But rest assured, there is more. During one of the said gallops across the seats she proceeds to knock over a pop- spilling it alover and I assume losing her balance. Well, it was only natural then that she would GRAB. MY. HEAD! Hello? Anyone else see a problem here?

Overall she was very well behanved and only had a few breakout moments, but knowing that there was an inappropriately aged little girl behind me, made the whole experience a bit uncomfortable.

Parenting: FAIL.

I haz a hotdog!

So that moodiness continued for most of the day yesterday. Especially considering I walked in the door at approx 7:00pm. But alas, we will chalk it up to a bad day. Though I still have questions. And I hope to get answers.

But on a lighter note Today is friday!

And guess what- I got my hotdog! Remember me mentioning Jaclyn and her brother Joey?

Well, I had to have one of these adorable necklaces for a good cause. Jaclyn has raised over $100 for Autism Speaks this month so far and she is still ready for more! 25% of all purchases from her etsy shop during the month of April will be donated to Autism Speaks. And $5 from every Joey's hot dog goes right to Autism Speaks as well!



Not a hot dog person? Check her shop out anyway for some beautiful jewelry and help support a great cause. Click my photo above to go directly to Jaclyn's Joey's Hot Dog section- and take a look around the shop!

(And that hotdog, totally put a smile on my face even after a terrible horrible no good very bad day. Thank you Jacy! I picked red because I wear quite a bit of red... and I like ketchup on my hotdogs. and relish- but there was no green bead option :) )

Here

That's pretty much it for today.

I'm here. Still thinking about friends and terrible tragedies that are happening around us.

Luckily I did not come home to Animal House last night. And was rather surprised at the transformation just yesterday. But I'll just tease you with that and share photos tomorrow.

My heart is just heavy today. In more ways than one.

Trying to fill myself with happy thoughts. But life can sure be a bummer sometimes.

But I'll keep chanting a mantra that I learned from Ms. Britt


Photo borrowed from CutPastePrint Etsy Shop

Terrible Sadness

I know that I typically limit myself to a post a day. Keeping up with that is hard enough. But I'm so compelled by my friend Mandy's post that I'd like to send you, my 10 lovely readers and hopefully more, over there to read.

A Small Act of Kindness

I couldn't have said it better even if I tried to.

My heart is literally shattered in a milliion pieces. Even though we've yet to meet in this lifetime, I'm more affected by most of these women than some I've known my whole life. It's been a fabulous 4 years growing and learning with these women and I'm thankful to see that we can reach out to each other and be there to help when we need to. It pains me that we have come to this, I'd never wish it upon anyone in the world, but I'm grateful for the community that has brought me many loves over the years.

Please go read, and if you can help.

And if you can just say a little prayer and give your loved ones hugs tonight.

Thanks

Olympics

Knitting Olympics that is :)

Warning: this post is all about knitting and has lots of pictures. :)

I was lucky enough to be a part of my first knitting Olympics this year at Lambikins Hideaway.

See, the way it works is that during the Olympics (Summer or Winter) the knitters and crocheters of the world get together and host their own version of this awesome event. What happens is everyone picks their "olympic projects." It must be a challenge, it must be something that you think you can complete in the 2 weeks Olympic time, and it must be something that YOU pick, oh and it can't be started until the Opening Ceremonies.

(You can "train" by knitting up swatches and figuring out your needle sizes and gauge though, but no casting on for the actual project!)

Lambikins hosted an Olympic Party, there was lots of great food to eat, and 2 events that we could compete in that night!

First up was Blindfolded Knitting.


That's Leslie- She's a hoot.


This is Mindy, she's totally focused.


A sampling of the blindfolded Knitting. Hallie's is the orange one, mine is the pink one, and Donna... poor Donna. Hers is the bottom one. She had a terrible ribbon to work with and well, it didn't turn out quite like the rest of ours. But that's okay. She still rocks at lace!!


The medal winners. Hallie (Gold) Genevieve (Silver) Me (Bronze)

After a bit more snacking it was time for speed knitting. Now since Leslie and Genevieve are the 2 fastest knitters this side of the Mississippi, they had to be handicapped just a little bit. They were given this Hairy, difficult to work with eyelash yarn. Christina said GO! and I took off, knitting faster than my eyes could see (I kid, but for reals, I was quick!)

The results of my speed knitting race. It's a Beer Sweater!


I was so quick I won the Gold Medal!!!
Hallie popped up right at the same time as Genevieve (Silvers), followed closely by Leslie (Bronze)


We then spent the rest of the time watching the Opening Ceremonies on TV, eating, and chatting and just having a really fun time.

Until I had to frog my Gretel Hat. After only doing 5 rows... that took me about 2 hours.

But that's okay, I've recovered and am progressing quite nicely. Hopefully Gretel will be finished tonight and I can cast on for my Burberry Inspired Cowl to match.

Here's Gretel. A lovely cabled Slouchy Hat in my favorite MMMMalabrigo. The color is called Pearl. It looks Gray in the photo but it is actually a combination of gray, purple, blue, pink, green. Pretty much like a pearl! I love love it and can't wait to have a matching set to wear!



And has everyone seen the US Olympic Moose Hat? Well, I found the pattern on Ravelry and I really really want one too... so I may have to fit this into my schedule over the next week. (Lesley already got hers done! I'm so jealous!)



I mean really... how awesome is that hat?!?!

White Chili

Had 3 of my 4 best girls over for Girl's Night last night. Unfortunately, mom couldn't make it. She certainly missed out! I made an awesome White Chili/Chicken soup/ bowl of deliciousness. And I had just enough leftovers so that I oculd bring for work!

I kid you not, this recipe was so incredibly awesome and easy. (made even easier by the fact that I used a can of chicken!) Whipped it up in less than 30 minutes and let it simmer away till we were ready. Served with some shredded Monterey Jack cheese and Sour Cream. It was unbelievably delicious and I have proof. Vickie, who doesn't like beans, went for seconds! And she didn't pick the beans out!

So now that I've got you al salivating and wishing you had a bowl of white chili I'll share what I did. I sort of mixed 2 recipes. The Pioneer Woman and a good friend's recipe. And come to find out there was another similar recipe on the back of the bean can.

My recipe had approx 10 1 cup servings.

1 can of chicken breast (it's what I had- I cut it up into chunks) or you can use about 1 lb of chicken cooked whatever way you want.
1 Large can of chicken broth (Mine was a 6 cup can- low sodium)
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup (Healthy Request please!)
1/2 large yellow or vidalia onion (or a medium one)
1 can of green chiles- you can used diced but they are more expensive and hey, you'll have your knife out so just run it through the chiles too!
4 cloves of garlic- minced
Olive Oil- just enough to cook the onions and chiles and garlic
2 cans of Great Northern Beans
1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
3/4 tsp Oregano
1.5 T Cumin
couple shakes of red pepper flakes

Dice the onions- Mince the garlic. Cook together in about 1-2 T of olive oil until onions are translucent. While they are cooking, dice up the chiles (or open the can of already diced ones if you went that way) add to the pan and continue cooking another couple of minutes.

Add chicken broth and chicken soup to a pot (or crockpot) stir together. Add Cooked Chicken. Open beans and rinse thoroughly. Toss those into the pot. Add the Onion/Garlic/Chiles. Stir together. Now season as you'd like! I used the above amounts (give or take) of the spices. If you like it a little spicier, you could chop up a jalepeno and cook when you add the chiles.

I let it cook together for about 45 minutes on the stove.

Served with (grated by me!) Monterey Jack cheese and Low Fat Sour Cream.

It is so delicious! I swear! and not heavy like regular tomato/beef chili. Not terribly spicy, just warm you up, fill you up, bowl of excellence.

Please try it. You'll love it!

Disclaimer- This is probably not really even chili- I'd almost argue it's more of a chicken soup since it's not thick and has broth (but the broth- oh! it's fantastic!) but it's my blog and I'll call it what I want :)

Vacation Plans 2010

Obviously I was knitting my heart out last night so I won't bore you with that again. (even though I did get 40 rows done- only 68 left! I'm in the double digits!!!)

The most exciting thing that we did yesterday though was book our flights to Vegas and Cali! We have a yearly trip to Vegas with friends and this year was going to be a little bit different. We decided to go to Cali instead for a friend's super big (30th) birthday bash. Well lo and behold we are now doing both! Flying to Vegas on Wednesday, Cali on Friday, and back home on Sunday. It's sure to be a whirlwind of a weekend but we are so excited to get to one of our favorite places in the world and visit with some of our bestest friends in the entire world.

I'm so ready for this:

I took this pic in Vegas last year while IN the pool at Monte Carlo :)

Instead of this rain we are getting.
(Mother Nature- Vegas and Cali better be warm and sunny when we get there!!!)

PS- We also placed our first order for the home project. Pretty exciting!



Do you know what it is?

So Proud!

One of my great high school friend's was on American Idol.

I'm sure you remember Amy Lang!



Yes, she is really like this IRL. Girl is crazy hilarious!

I'm so proud!

ETA: Fixed the video. It works now :)