A Sweater Obsession

Even though I'm not knitting, I'm obsessing over a sweater. One of my co-workers has the cutest sweater. It's kind of shaped like a really long bolero shape. Cardigan with ribbing along the edges. For some reason, I like this shape and I think that it would look good on me. So, I went to the wonderous world of Ravelry and began searching through patterns and searching and searching. This is close, except I want to make it out of a more solid yarn. Maybe a cotton/merino blend or something. Obviously could use the general pattern, but it would require a lot...a lot of alterations to make it work for what I want, so if anyone has seen something more similar, let me know.

I'm trying to take my life back little by little by little. I recently decided that I needed to start exercizing again. Something I haven't done since I moved to DC and I've got to tell you, my a@@ hurts! I'm hoping to do this 3 times a week for 20 minutes. I made it last week just barely. So, we'll see what we can do.

Next on the list is to knit again. In order to do this, I'm going to try to leave the office by 7 to 7:30 instead of 9 or 10. So, we'll see what can happens this next week...of course, I'm off on Friday and Monday because I'm traveling to Kansas City to visit my friends, whcih could mess up that attempt. Personally, I cannot wait!!!!!! There's a lot of work that needs to be done between now and then though...

I tried so hard not to work 60 hours this week, but I had a deadline and did not make my final entry until 6:30 pm last night, putting my hours in at 60.5 hours in 5 days. Ugghh. Still have some work to do tomorrow since I'm out for a long weekend (YIPPEEE!!!!) next weekend. I also need to wash clothes and stuff for my trip. I've been trying to clean up my house a bit so I don't come home to a trashpit.

Still not a lot of knitting going on. It's really hard when you walk through the door of the house, through the living room and straight to bed. I do have a new project to start a baby sweater for a friend who's expecting. So, as soon as I'm inspired, I'm going to do that.

Favorite purchase today...Red Tulips. Yeah Spring!!!

Still no words. Too much work...

Too good...

...to last. I should have known it. Ughhh! 8 interviews, 13 hours of work. I'm tired. I have no words left...

It's amazing how much better the week starts off when you didn't work over the weekend. Wow! It's either that or the fact that I started exercising. Whatever. Total change in my attitude. I was kind of run down. Beaten down, but today was much better. I went in with a plan and managed to acomplish most of what was on my list of things to do. It helps that I kept the door to my office shut all day so everyone thought I was busy and wasn't interrupting me, but whatever it takes I say. Woo Hoo!!

I left work, albeit at 7pm, but I came home and exercised and then, wonder of all wonders, made dinner!! Wow! Amazing. I'm much more relaxed. Still didn't knit though... Got to take one day at a time.

Wow! So this is what it's like to not work on a Sunday...

Since it's Easter Sunday, I've decided not to go to work today. It's not even noon and I made myself a yummy breakfast and sat down and ate it. Miracles do happen, I know. Emptied and filled the dishwasher, 2 loads of laundry, got my documentation ready to send to the tax guy and made a pound cake and I've only been up snce 9:30. Now I know why housework isn't getting done... Work's been very busy and I definitely had stuff to do, but I needed a day off. Yeah me! My yummy Almond Pound cake (yes, the Tastefully Simple mix from Christine...Thank you!!) and I are going to my brother's house later this afternoon to celebrate Easter with them and the little one. We colored Easter Eggs yesterday. I don't think Lucas was as into it... :-) But we had lots of fun playing later when his mom and dad went on a date.

So for now, I'm going to finish cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry and maybe even start a new knitting project. Hope everyone has a great Easter! This day was just what I needed. :-)

Best news of the day, my STR package arrived. WOOHOO. And I love it. It's perfect. It's absolutely me. Yeah!!!! I love this. Yarn just arrives one day. And I love, love this colorway.

I felt the need for some new spring clothes today, so I went to the mall, which was the mistake. My favorite cardigan got a hole in it that I couldn't fix. So, I ended up buying two new shirts, a cardigan set and a cute t-shirt. Yeah. Got some good work stuff, which I need and just a cute t-shirt.

I also went car shopping. I still am not in love. I went and looked at the 2008 Sebring Convertible. It seems really small in the inside and smaller in the back and when the top is down, there's no room in the trunk what-so-ever. I don't know what to go look at next. UgghH!!

What I learned today...

I learned two very important thinjgs today... First, was a very expensive lesson...never go to Target when you're bored... $240 later, I'm home and not bored anymore. I have a new VCR, new movies, a new razor, new towels, and a ton of other junk...

The other lesson is that my 10 year old TV requires special equipment to attach it to my new TV. Thankfully, the 5 year old VCR still works and can still serve as a liaison between my 12 year old TV and my new VCR. How crazy is that!!!! I just can't justify buying a new TV when my old one still works.

Finally finished

For some reason these socks seemed to take forever... But I do love them. They're made of stretchy yarn I received through a secret pal gift exchange.
Just my normal sock pattern with a 2 by 2 rib, except where I made a mistake
design feature. They're super comfy. Yeah!!!

I'm tired of all my projects. I need to figure out what I want to work on. I'm in a knitting funk. At least I'm knitting again...a little bit.

MEDIC!!!!

My spate of home makeover has not been without an injury...of coures, we're talking about me... I was hanging up a curtain rod (forgot I also bought curtains for my bedroom at IKEA) today and somehow managed to break my middle toe. Yep. It's all swollen and purple and hurts like heck. Ugghh!!! Big Ouchie!!!

But my spate of makeover, has left me very happy. I love having curtains in my bedroom. Totally changes the room. Still need to hem the curtains so 2' feet are laying on the floor (IKEA curtains are 57"x98" How crazy is that???), but for now, they're hanging and look totally awesome. My chairs are sitting at my dining table and I have my cool table cloth from William Sonoma (Very much like the ones I saw all over when I was in France and Belgium and wanted so badly). My sock and lace yarn is no longer laying accross my spare bed. It's all put away. Yeah!!! Now, just need to hang my picture frames that I got. I have pictures of Lucas and Lindsay in two of them and then I need a picture of the 2 of them to go in the 3rd.

IKEA, IKEA I lvoe you!

So, what did I buy today??? Chairs for my table...yes, the table I've had for more than a year that sits in my dining room alcove with a pretty tablecloth on it with no chairs around it. Did I stop there...ummmm...big no on that. I also bought under the bed storage boxes in a specialty size to fit under my bed and store yarn. Yeah!!! I cleaned up all the yarn that was being stored on top of my spare bed (which was kind of super fun when it was there because I could walk by and pet it any time) and now I'm ready for visitors. I also bought 3 picture frames, some plastic storage bowls and a lint roller. Yeah me.

Woo Hoo for daylight savings. Waking up an hour earlier was hard...well since I forgot to set my alarm, it was a miracle I woke up at all.

This remarkable thing happened today. I left work and it was still light out...sort of. Wow! It's amazing. Even though I left work at 7pm I feel like I left a lot earlier. This is fantastic! No, I still didn't knit, but I did finish this book I've been reading. I was at the good part at the end and needed to finish it. Maybe knitting tomorrow. Everything can't happen in one day. :-)

I really wish I could say someting inspiration or give an update on my knitting, but quite literally, all I've been doing is working. Work, Work and more work. I worked 60 hours this week. I'd like to say next week is going to be better, but when I left the office at 6pm tonight, the last thing I did was write myself a list of things to do when I go into the office on Sunday. Ugghhh!!!

We had a couple of good days this week, but this weekend, it's cool and rainy again... No car shopping or outlet mall (yes, I was going to go there as well). Maybe I'll go to the movies. I don't know. All I know is that I booked my tickets to KC for Knitting in the Heartland (still haven't sent in my application...) and all I need to do is survive the next 3 and a half weeks.

Maybe there will be knitting this weekend as well. We'll have to see...

I stole this from Teri since I'm too brain dead from work to come up with my own post.

1. Where is your cell phone?
Hopefully in my purse...

2Your boyfriend/girlfriend?
Non-existent...are there men in DC??? I'd have to leave the office before 8:30pm to find out...

3. Your hair?
Too Long

4. Where is your father?
St. Louis, MO

5. Cheesecake?
Black & White (i.e. chocolate crust, regular cheesecake, ganache on top) Yum!

6. Your favorite thing to do?
Hanging out with my nephew

7.Your dream last night?
Some nightmare about my work badge

8. Your favorite drink?
Diet Coke

9. Your dream car?
Audi TT

10. The room you're in?
My Family room

11. George Bush?
Is he ever going to leave???

12. Your fears?
heights

13. Nipple rings?
Ouchie!!!

14. Who did you hang out with last night?
Whoever was left at the office with me

15. What you're not good at?
People who don't do their job

16. Your best friends?
Totally awesome and absolutely crazy in the most wonderful way

17. One of your wish list items?
a new car

18. Where did you grow up?
St. Louis, MO

19. The last thing you did?
Ate a frozen Thin Mint

20. What are you wearing?
My work clothes because I was too lazy to change out of them

21. Tattoo on the lower back?
Ummmm...No!

22. Ketchup?
Yummy!

23. Your computer?
a newer laptop

24. Your life?
Is mostly good

25. Your mood?
PMSy

26. Missing?
My family living far away

27. What are you thinking about right now?
How late I can get away sleeping tomorrow morning...

28. Your car?
Leaky Seabring convertible

29. Your work?
Fun, crazy, busy, crazy, challenging, crazy, changing every day....did I mention crazy??

30. Your summer?
Work, work, and more work... I've decided to go to Italy in the fall even if I go all by myself.

31. Your relationship status?
Single

32. Your favorite color(s)?
Pink & Red

33. Last time you laughed?
today when someone asked me for staff I obviously don't have.

34. Last time you cried?
Watching Oprah's big give on Sunday

35. High school?
Horoor

36. This quiz?
Interesting

@%&$ Apartment complex!!!!!

So, I went to the apartment office to pay my rent (finally stopped flinching writing out the check...) and get some yarn I bought while I was at work on my of my 12 hours stress induced days last week. Imagine my surprise when she handed me a box that I could plainly see did not contain yarn. I was like what the heck??? It was addressed to me, so I took it and then asked for my other package.

What was in the mystery package you as??? A birthday present from Christine. Yummy, yummy stuff from Tastefully Simple.
My two absolute favorites. Almond Pound cake and Stawberry Rhubarb spread. Yummy. I went right to the store and got some English muffins to put the spread on. Woo Hoo!!! Thank you Christine!!! I had to laugh when I opened it because a friend in St. Louis who's a part-time Tastefully Simple consultant e-mailed me their spring stuff and e-mailed her back that I was going to have to place an order for pound cake and Strawberry Rhubarb spread.

I only wonder how long it was up at the office...stupid apartment complex. So, if anyone sends a package and I don't acknowledge, let me know because the office is obviously not notifying me...Ughh!

So on to the yarn... Little Knits, enablers that they are got in some Kauni yarn, so I, of course, had to purchase some to try it out. Every seems to see the love.

Of course, since I was already paying shipping, I added on 2 skeins of cotton fleece to make a baby sweater and a skein for Silky Sock from the Great Adirondak yarn company. Red is definitely the color this year...

On my grapecicle socks, I think I'm going to frog them again. I already changes to smaller needles, but I think I want to start the bottom triangle closer to the toe. I'm going think about it though since I already have almost 4 inches knitted.