Shop Update!

Yes, the long awaited shop update is here!

I just listed three new knit hand muffs in my etsy shop today, and of course I wanted you guys to be the first to know! It's just the first batch, and as I have ironed out some kinks I should be cranking them out a little bit faster from here on out. Please let me know if you would be interested in any holiday gifts ASAP so I can make sure I get them out in time. Custom orders are welcome.

Oatmeal with plaid flannel lining (and pocket!)

Storm with plaid flannel lining (and pocket!)

You've seen this one before

Sky cable 100% knit (no lining)

bah humbug

I've been talking about this at work for a couple of weeks now, but somehow no matter how many times I admit it (isn't that the first step?) I still can't get myself out of it. Denial. Complete and utter denial. 

I have put up festive decorations, photos of people all bundled up with their stacks of Christmas presents or the tree on top of their car. I have hung ornaments and peppermint candies and Christmas crackers in all the windows. Christmas music has been on our playlist for at least a week now, and I even caved and put the She & Him Christmas album on my iPhone last week (and have listened to it exactly once because I realized I just wasn't in the mood).

Yesterday someone reminded me that Thanksgiving is next week (well, they were talking about Black Friday, but same difference) and I was FLOORED. I had to check the calendar. It's true. Thanksgiving is NEXT FREAKING WEEK! And it still doesn't feel like the holidays. Normally at this time of year I'm getting anxious to put up the Christmas tree and being forced to wait until after Thanksgiving, and frankly this year it feels like it's just coming and I'm trying not to think about it. I should be watching The Grinch and Scrooged and A Christmas Story. I should be cutting paper snowflakes. I should be buying presents. Holy crap I haven't even thought of buying a single present yet! I understand this is normal for many people, but it is not normal for me.

So I'm determined to find the time to dive head first into this holiday season in the next week, and come out of next weekend officially ready for it to begin! And I have found the first project on my list over at How About Orange:

I'm hoping they are a little bit easier than they look because they sure are cute!

new tunes

So it's been nearly a month since my birthday and I'm just now getting around to sharing some most excellent new records that I got for the occasion. I go through record buying spurts sometimes where I just need to have them in my life. I don't necessarily think this is one of those spurts, rather, these two albums happened to come out at roughly the same time and this is how I choose to support my favorite bands. I refuse to purchase MP3s. I just won't do it. And what's the point of owning a CD anymore? Records are prettier and come in limited edition colors (I am such a sucker for colored vinyl) and  they come with a free digital download most of the time, so it's a win/win situation.

I have been holding out on listening to the She & Him Christmas album, but I have to admit I just put it on my iPhone today. So. We all know where this is going. Christmas music for the next two months! Yeah!

baby love

I'm sorry I haven't posted much lately. Things have been bananas over here. I'm exhausted. I'm getting ready for the holidays at work (!!!), and also I haven't slept for more than 4 hours at a time thanks to this thing right here.

Doesn't she look peaceful? Don't let her fool you. She's crazy.

Except when she's not. Aw.

She certainly has her moments. In between the biting and chewing and barking and pooping in the house. And hating everything we buy for her. Eating the mail, our shoes, hands and feet, my hair, but never her chew toys. Puppies are great, aren't they? 

Truth be told, it is pretty satisfying to see her learn commands. She's getting pretty good at sit and sometimes I don't even have to ask her to sit before I feed her, she's just sitting and waiting instead of jumping and trying to dive into her food container like she used to! And we have even found a toy that she seems to like!

The tennis ball is almost the size of her head, but she is somehow able to pick it up and carry it around in her mouth and she LOVES IT! But she still confuses my foot for the ball sometimes and goes after it with unmatched ferocity. Darn those sharp puppy teeth!

the mister thinks I don't need a new jacket

I happen to disagree.

Piccadilly Coat from Modcloth. It's dying to be worn with a skirt, tights, knee socks, and boots. And a hand muff. Of course a hand muff. So cute!

notes on creating a monster

When I was in high school I encountered what I will refer to as the Hallmark Mom. You know you are dealing with a Hallmark Mom when there is a collection of cards for various occasions, not because there are immediate needs for such cards, or even plans to use them. They are there so that one can be prepared for anything, and have a card at hand to commemorate it. The Hallmark Mom will also decorate for any reason at all. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Halloween, birthdays, whatever. Groundhog Day and Election Day probably. They will literally take any excuse to decorate, and they must have an entire guest house to store their goods. Or so it seems.

Anyway. My point is: I used to think the Hallmark Mom was crazy. Why would anyone want to decorate for Halloween? Halloween is for dressing up and eating candy. Carving pumpkins and corn mazes. That sort of thing. Who needs all the extra work of decorating? (unless we're talking about haunted house-eque props for your front yard if you're welcoming trick-or-treaters. I always loved those houses)

But. I see it happening. It started with a few cute little wooden props. Some craft pumpkins I covered in glitter. Some of those old plastic trick or treat pails. I'm not sure where to draw the line, and I'm not sure I want to anyway.

So, accepting the fact that I just might be turning into a Hallmark Mom, let me share with you one of my most favorite Halloween displays ever, from Thompson Family Life.

Super cute, right?

So what is your stance on holiday decorating? Yea or nay?

rare gems

Our plants need some new homes, and while I don't think these are quite right for us I do think they're quite lovely. Don't you think?

Score & Solder via Unruly Things

Meet Sophie

This girl.
I don't even think I can properly describe how precious she is. I fell in love with her the moment I picked her up and she nuzzled her little head in my neck (she has since decided that nuzzling is not enough and chewing on my ears is better). She is bouncing around one minute, boxing and playing, and fighting sleep the next. She doesn't really like falling asleep it seems. Fights it to the last second where she simply cannot stand anymore. It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.

Here's a little video the mister took on our trek home from picking her up.

She's also costing mama quite a bit of sleep, and keeping us on our toes making sure that she doesn't chew on everything in sight. For reals, Day One included the things one might expect (shoes, table legs, fingers) and lots that maybe you wouldn't expect (books, carpet, power cords). Anything. Doesn't matter. But only mildly interested in her own toys. Figures. 

And the kitties are doing alright I think. Molly is very curious. Winston is suspicious and scared, but I'm impressed that he's not just staying under the bed and is venturing into the living room more than I expected him to. I think they will get along. I love our growing family. :)

mama's got a brand new bag!

Thanks to the lovely ladies over at Ellington and Unruly Things who generously offered up a free bag to one lucky winner... ME! Just in time for my birthday, and seriously, just a few days before I entered the giveaway I was telling the mister how I needed a new bag (I basically have 2 bags that I have been using for the past 3 years and they are quite dirty). And here it is. The leather is beautiful, the details are perfect, and the size is great. It holds my knitting and has enough pockets to keep everything I need to get to without digging into the bottom of my bag.

I'm feeling some good blog karma, and loving it.

no words

Ok, so not exactly NO words, but very few. I am completely exhausted from our trip to Vegas. I slept about 12 hours last night. Here's some random peaks of life according to my iPhone. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random thought: it was interesting to do Vegas by day. The only times I have been to Vegas previously were with school and with work, and I was in meetings and such all day so only had time to go out at night. And it's not like we had all the free time in the world this time around either. Only one free day actually. So I'm not sure why it felt so different. But even driving around running errands, I was able to appreciate the scenery in a way I hadn't before. The mountains and desert and palm trees are quite lovely and a nice contrast to the cheesy, sleazy feel of the strip. But I still love Fremont St the best. The old neon signs and actual light bulbs used, they get me every time.

Oh yeah, and we were happy to be there for our dear friends getting married! It was a beautiful non-Vegas wedding with lots of personal touches, and they just looked so happy together you can't help but have a good time around them. 

Thank you for having us! :)