Just so you know...

I do knit other stuff besides my mother's shawl. Two weekends ago I could not take it anymore, and I starte going throug my project stash looking for something quick to knit, and distract me.

I remembered that my wonderful SP from SP7, Fawn, had sent me a kit for her Glamorous Scarf. Such an easy, mindless, and most importantly DIFFERENT project! It was great. I finished it that same day and of course sent it to one of my most glamorous girls: Tony's little sister Mushee.

I had never made her a gift for her birthday in October, so I packaged this up with cute paper and box, and mailed it to her. Even though we live 15 minutes ago, I wanted her to have the same excitement I have when I get an unexpected gift in the mail. Problem is, girl does not know her own address and does not check her mailbos (her and her fiancee just moved into their very first condo). So I had to break the news, and have her make sure to check her mail.

She was so excited to get it, and I cannot wait for the fall to see her wearing it.

I am approximately 62" into the shawl. I am almost done - 10 more inches. I did not get a lot of knitting done this past weekend due to the birthday festivities. (will post pics later). I am already planning what to knit once it is finished (of course). First, I will finish my Salina. A wonderful tweed sweater for the middle of the summer - doesn't that sound perfect? Tony's mom is going to visit her mom (abuela) in Mexico, and abuela loves and collects teddy bears. I had bought Jess Hutch's pattern book a while ago and wanted to make Tony Henry Bear. However, he told me he thought it was spooky...hmmm... if spooky means adorable - yes, he is spooky. So I have the yarn and the pattern, and now someone to give it to.

"I got a package!! I got a package!!"

Tony and I went out to dinner last night because I was too lazy to cook. He was talking when all of the sudden I interrupted him and said - "oooh! wait, did I get a package today?" and he of course, said no. Cause as we all know, boys like to lie. (hi tony! I love you!!).

I did not make a beeline for the "mail spot" in our house once we got home, because I knew all that would be there were bills, since Tony had told me there were no packages. After cleaning up some, lighting some candles and watering my new geraniums outside, I finally made it to the "mail spot", and started screaming "I got a package! I got a package!". And what a package it was! In it, I found the cutest birthday card I have ever received (see above), and the following: I had to take a picture of the sushi tape!; look at the confetti in the box; and my new favorite water bottle!

beautiful yarn to make my very first knitted purse! I cannot wait!!! (when is this darn r.r.s. going to be finished!!)

an adorable bag (hellokitty - of course) firlled with noisemakers to celebrate my birthday, "blha blah" post its to leave note to tony, emory boards - i am always loosing some, mini pinball machine for the now less-frequent boring days at work, and the aforementioned birthday card.

So, as you can all see, I am one lucky girl! Thank you Secret Pal!!! My birthday celebration - yes, I drag it out for at least a month - has started out with a bang. I think that Tony's weekend away plans have a hard act to follow.

What was I thinking....

On Wednesday I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon. My strategy is to tell everyone about this, that way, when I get a moment of regret and wanting not to do it, I will remember that everyone knows I am supposed to be running it, and if I don't I will look like a looser.

I was excited the whole day at work. Then on the way home, I started thinking about how I would have to spend less time knitting and more time running. And how I was going to have to start getting up earlier to get my miles in, and how I was going to have to start not just talking about watching my diet, but doing it. And how it is 26.3 MILES!!! Really, what was I thinking?

But, this is one of my lifetime goals, and on October 29, I will have accomplished it.

Ohhhh... and I measured my mom's shawl, something I have been avoiding because I really did not want to know how much more I had to do, and I am 62% of the way there! (approximately). I have knit 48 of the 77 inch shawl. Wooo hoooo!

I have been knitting all morning, but now... I have to go for a run...yayyyy

Pictures...

I have not been motivated to post anything, because my knitting life sucks right now. As you can see from my previous post, all I have been doing is boring knitting on the shawl. I saw my mom this Sunday for Mother's Day and told her that I was dissapointed I had not finished it, but that I had really been working non-stop on it. She said in her female Ricky Ricardo accent "Don't worrie honie, just make every leetle stich with a lot of luv." She is so cute my mom!

Let me tell you, if it weren't becaue I love my mom a LOT , I would have taken a break from this already. It also has not helped that we have been so busy lately, with my cousin's wedding, new hires at work, and redecorationg the house while Tony was out of town (tee - hee!).

I thought I was getting faster at this knitting thing!

Here are some more progress pics:

I have a total of 6 balls of incredibly thin yarn. I am through almost 2 of them...

On the bright side, it has given me a lot of t.v. time, including:

• Daily General Hospital
• Lost
• 24
• American Idol
• America's Next Top Model
• Season 6 of Dawson's Creek (shuddup - i hear pacey!)
• Alias
• Desperate Housewives

I love me some bad t.v.!

P.S. Don't you love some morning sunshine pics?

K2P2, k2p2, k2p2...

Sounds boring right? Ya, cause IT IS!

I hate not having pics on my postings, mainly cause I am nosy and love pics on blogs. However, I have not had time to take pics of anything cause all I have been doing is k2p2k2p2k2p2k2p2... I cannot wait for this shawl to be over. I am determined to not do anything else but this though. Because I know that if I put it down, I will not pick it up for a long time.

Congrats ms. pea!

My secret pal from SP7 just celebrated her 100th post! And to celebrate the first three commenters got prizes, and I was one of them!

Check out the cute phone cozy I won. It has come in really handy since Tony and I have the same phone, and we are always taking each other's phones by mistake.

As always, her package came full of cute stickers, and a note and some postcards (now adorning my blah cubicle). I have loved getting packages from her cause she is so cute!!! Congrat's ms. pea, I love reading your blog.
I am chugging along on my mom's mother's day gift, and I cannot wait for it to be done because it is painful. I thought the repetitive ribbing would be simple and fast, but man am I bored. It is turning out really pretty though - don't you think?

SP8 Questionnaire

I love me some exchange!

1.What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I am def. starting to be a bit of a yarn snob. I do not like novelty yarn, no eyelash or anything like that. (see… I am a snob).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a Denise Interchangeable case, so I keep most of them in there. The rest (the smaller sized ones) are thrown in the beautiful knitting bag my little/little bro got me.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
My mom taught me when I was little, but I have been (obsessively) knitting for a bout a year and a half. I think I am intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes! It is also on the sidebar.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla… yummie.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
No, I am more of a chips and salsa kind of girl – especially lime chips.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I just ordered Happy Hooker. I want to learn to crochet because there are so many cute patterns out there that combine both. However, unless I get fired from work, I do not think that I will have the time to do both. Knitting is def. my first priority.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Any kind of music! Really… well… maybe not strong rap that much. I like bluegrass (Alisson Krauss), Latin, Hip Hop, and I love any good mix that will keep me longer on the treadmill.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like neutral colors, but I also like pinks, purples, dark reds… and I just discovered dark blues don’t look too bad with my skin tone!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with Tony, my boyfriend of almost 7 years (gasp!) and he won’t let me get a Great Dane, and that is all I will say about that.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
No ponchos – please. Scarves – ALL THE TIME.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Ohhh… anything that is challenging, and makes me feel like a knitting superstar. I have so many knitting idols, and I have FO envy too!

13. What are you knitting right now?
A RRS shawl for my mom, and Salina for me.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I thought I did not, until Fawn (my last SP) made me these AMAZING socks. I cannot live without them now.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circulars are my fave. I knit with the plastic Denise set, and have not tried bamboo yet.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I own a winder, but man do I need a swift – as evidenced in my posting below.

17. How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me when I was young. But, I have been perfecting it by reading blogs, and increasing my knitting book stash.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
A month. I need to finish stuff.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Does my birthday count? Ok, then Christmas.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn?

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I constantly update my wishlist, (hi boss!) I only subscribe to Vogue International.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to learn when to use different types of casts ons, as well, as different finishing methods.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
May 30 SOON!!!