Stepping out from the day to day...

Last weekend I was in the mood for adventure, or just getting out of the house. It is so easy to get lost in the day to day routines, and find yourself stuck in a rut. I have been in a rut!

Last Saturday after asking the husband a million times if he wanted to do anything, with the response of "I don't know", I loaded the dogs in the van and headed an hour out of town. The road was anything but pleasant. The frost this winter has bent and bowed the road in all sorts of wonderful ways. If I wasn't paying attention to my speed I would hit one of these "ramps" and send the van flying.

I finally made it to the beach, with everyone in one piece, and just in time for this......

The vans' thermometer said 43 degrees, the beach was empty and the sky was filled with an amazing gold hue. The dogs and I walked along the beach absorbing up every ray of sunshine and enjoying the calming peace and quiet. I find the going to the beaches around the island is my therapy, and this trip was even more than therapeutic then I imagined it would be. At the end of this day I was refreshed, happy and energized.

Learning to be Resourceful

With gas prices high ($2.84 here), the price of food increasing ($9 for a block of cheese, are you serious?) and just over all high prices everywhere, I keep trying to come up with ways to save money, spend less, and be resourceful. I spend the time to plan a two week dinner menu and make a grocery list based on that...when offered hand me down clothes I jump on the offer...mend things instead of buying new...and stuff of that nature.

So since I am trying to be economical, I thought to myself one day, "Why pay $40 for a bra or $3-5 each for underwear when I could make my own??" Sounds crazy I know, but the only way for me to purchase a bra that will fit is to order on line. The problem with this is it may not fit right when I get it, so I have to return it, and most vendors do not make my size in pretty colors, fabrics etc. I usually just find something that kind of works at Walmart and then hardly ever wear it. You have no clue how many of those I have in my dresser. Now I haven't tried it yet, just bought the pattern, but can't wait start!!

What things do you do to save on money??

A Project Done to Start the New Year

As promised the other day....here is the finished shrug!! I really need to come up with some kind of mannequin. Self portraits are so hard to take, when you are trying to be the model as well.

Warm, cozy, and fashionable too!

Not New Year Resolutions, Just a Plan

I DO NOT make new years resolutions. I used to as a kid and found it fun to write down goals for the year. The unfortunate and disappointing thing is I hardly ever keep to any of my resolutions. So instead I thought I would just mention (out loud), some things I would like to do this year (or next).

I would like to....

• Start writing my own knitting/crochet patterns.
• Set up an Etsy shop (which also means coming up with what I want to sell).
• Complete at least one project a month.
• Start a local craft swap group.
• Join the Saturday knitting group at the local fiber shop.

Ask me how I am going to do any of that?! I can't tell you. I always have a problem of wanting to do too much and end up doing nothing. I have finally managed to finish the shrug I have been working on the other night, I will post pictures soon. It has been sitting around in the knitting bag for quite sometime, so maybe, just maybe I have stepped into the right direction this year.

GET TO WORK!!

The holidays have come and quickly flown by, and believe it or not we are already six days into the new year. The lack of posting on this blog is the result of two four day weekends in a row.

Looking back to last year, I got married and found a great job. Looking forward to the year ahead........I guess we'll see........

Now What??

For the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been planning on getting "the husband" an iphone for Christmas. I have had to wait, because if I would of purchased it 2 1/2 weeks ago the cell phone service company would of sent his phone a text saying "Thanks for purchasing your new iphone", or of course I could of just deactivated his current phone because he won't notice, right?

Yesterday I decided that I can't wait any longer, I did not want the cell phone service company to sell out. After waiting for 45 minutes, I am finally helped. The clerk gets the iphone and then terror strikes with a single piece of paper..................the monthly plans.....$90.00 a month is the basic of all basic plans! If "the husband" wants to actually have access to all the features of the phone (which costs $200, and is "locked" so we couldn't take this phone to another company), the monthly plan is $130! This price outrages me. I left the store empty handed and very stressed out.

From the store I drove straight home, walked in the house, didn't say a word to "the husband", didn't greet the dogs, opened up the freezer, grabbed my bottle of Bacardi, took one good swig straight from the bottle.....and then one more, then greeted my family.

It is now Christmas Eve, the present I was going to get "the husband" is not going to happen, the other presents I would of purchased for him I had to get online and I don't think I can get someone to expedite something to a remote island in Alaska on Christmas Eve...I feel defeated.



One more thing, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wait...Wait...Wait!

I woke up at three thirty in the morning with a terrible toothache, and tried to fall back asleep quickly with no avail. Four o'clock I was still awake in pain so to the pain killers I went. Unfortunately the pain killers took what felt like a lifetime to kick in, but I was finally able to fall back asleep (no idea when that was), and I received a little bit more sleep before JACK FM woke me up at six.

The achy tooth has given me problems off and on, but with no insurance and expensive living (food, gas, etc) I have tried to put off doing something about it. With the little episode last night I decided I can no longer put it off, daily doses of Tylenol isn't going to fix the problem. So I called my dentist this morning to schedule an appointment.

The receptionist, "Well, let me see...the earliest appointment...I can get you in January 29th..."

JANUARY 29TH!!! Are you kidding me?? My tooth hurts and the earliest I can get in is over a month from now!!

I called around to other dentists and received the same response. I am beginning to learn living here that you do not wait to schedule things other wise you will be waiting even longer.

$3.04

On the extremely long drive to work today, (mile and a half, come on I know you feel sorry for me), I did as I always do and looked at the price of gas as I passed the gas station...$3.04!!

Some of you may laugh at that price, or even gasp at it being so high. I, on the other hand am thrilled, that on this remote island by the time I need gas again I may pay even less than that...I have 1/4 tank left. When gas spiked to such high prices all over the US, the highest price here hit $3.94. At that price I seriously thought about commuting on my bike.

Snowboarding in a Tank Top and Shorts

As of yet my quiet little town hasn't seen much snow. At least not any that has stayed on the ground for a long length of time, the rain has washed it all away. Excited to get out and snowboard for the first time since I moved to the island, I waxed my board right before we received a huge rain storm. I am brilliant like that! In order for me to go snowboarding now, I have to hike up to the top of a mountain.

The solution...Shawn Whites Snowboarding Road Trip on the Wii!!!

I have been waiting for the local WalMart or game shop to have the game for some time now. It hit the stores everywhere else in the middle of November, unfortunately things on this island take a lot longer or never arrive (Internet shopping is a must, but watch out for shipping charges). Our local Blockbuster actually had it in stock, so last Friday I rented the game as something to do while the guys played cards. To play the game you ride the Wii board. It is placed sideways, as if you are on a snowboard. In order to turn, you lean forward and backwards...to jump, you bend down and then stand up straight (as if to jump, but don't jump on the board...it gets mad at you), you also preform tricks, carve, ride rails etc...loads and loads of fun.

Friday night I played for 4 1/2 hours.
aturday, I convinced my husband to play it with me and we played for 5 hours.
unday we played for another 5 hours.

We are hooked and almost finished with the game, who needs snow to snowboard anyway!

Unfortunately after 15 hours of "snowboarding" I can barely walk up and down the stairs to work. I thought video games where supposed to make me lazy and fat..?

"Don't be Sad, I love you all!"

At any given time I have at the very least 4 or 5 unfinished projects just sitting around the house waiting for the next time I will pay attention to them. I imagine they may even cry a little at night, my sad unfinished, pushed aside projects. This past week I have been dedicated to work on two of these sad unfinished projects.

The shrug!! At first glance a funny piece of clothing...sleeves but no body. I am very fond of the shrug. Bought my first one 5 years ago when they were not in style and everyone really couldn't decide if they liked it or not. "Oh....that is...cute! Keeps your arms warm I bet?" More or less they were trying to say, "You look cute in it, but that's because your weird anyway, and we expect you to wear weird things. You'll never catch me in that thing. I sure hope you didn't spend a lot of money on that thing!" The shrug I am working on now, is black and crocheted worked in a shell stitch. I am finished with the body and now just need to decide how I want the cuffs.

Next is the crocheted cotton skirt. Why I decided to take on a big project like a skirt after crocheting my wedding dress is beyond me. Don't ask cause I have no answers. I would like to say it is a third done. Each night I try to at least work on 3-5 rows. I am working the body in the same multi-color yarn and will be adding strips of solid colors toward the middle and bottom of the skirt. And Let me tell you, I am more than ready to change colors and stitches.

Maybe by next week I will have two happy finished projects.

It's 25 degrees out there

Last weekend I ventured out of the house and milled around downtown. This happens to be a dangerous thing for me to do. I found myself in the locally owned yarn and fiber shop, in a sea of yarn of all colors, textures, and thickness. I had to hold myself back from buying one of every skein. At one point I actually had 10 different skeins in my arms, but in the end settled on just two...

The yarn on the left is what is left of the skein. I started on a project with that yarn as soon as I was home and my shoes were off. Here is the finished project, a combo knitting/crochet scarfett. I think I will make it longer or at least put some fringe on it, but until then I will wear it like it is.

I am not sure what I will make with the multi colored yarn, but it has to be something extra special. That yarn is handspun and hand dyed, and a little on the pricey side, but hey it is beautiful. Any suggestions of what I should make with it?

Gimmie a H....gimmie a O-C-K-E-Y!

Sunday morning I woke up at 7:30am to give myself time to wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and eat some toast before I would have to exert all of my energy on the rink. Last Tuesday I did not make it to Hockey, I was feeling sick and did not think it would be a good idea to play. So Sunday was my first skate of the season.

I arrived at the rink, with a few butterflies in my tummy, wondering if I would still remember how to play and if I would even still be any good?! I was greeted by name, by all the regulars. They were surprised and happy to see me, which made me feel warm inside that during my little hiatus last year, I was missed.

I skated good enough, even managed to make a goal. I remembered why I love to play hockey! The cold air touching my cheeks, the sound of my blades as they dig into the ice and the welcoming friends that greet you with smiles on their face.

But I'm Not Ready?!?!

I got to work today, and start my morning routine, check the back up system, check the voicemail, restart the computer, open programs and check my yahoo mail. Junk, junk and more junk. Then...I see it...in the subject line.....GAME ON! I knew it meant that the rink was ready for hockey, and it is, in fact today is the first day of practice!

Now you would think that I am extremely thrilled about this and I am but I have done a very poor job at getting ready. In the beginning of October I tried to put myself on a exercise routine and failed miserably. I tried to get in the swing of things again in the beginning of this month, again I failed.

I WILL go tonight to the first night of practice for the season, sweat my butt off, huffing and puffing for 2 gruesome hours and enjoy every minute. The pain tomorrow will be another story.

When in doubt...Make it!

I have had my eye on this $140 jacket for sometime now, yet I haven't been able to justify spending that amount of money on a jacket that won't be warm, is white so it will get dirty, and hard to wash. (it is though, a beautiful jacket)

My solution: I went to the store and thumbed thru a couple sewing pattern catalogues in search for a jacket pattern. I wanted something unique, and maybe something I change up or add to later. I found McCalls DIY Style pattern #M5714, purchased some fleece and with excitement headed home. All in all it took me 3 nights (an hour or 2 each night), deciding how I wanted my jacket to look like, cutting out the pattern, laying out the pieces, figuring out the directions and finally having a finished project that I am proud of.....

Still needs a few extra decorative touches, but for now DONE!! (and the total spent, $30 including the pattern.)

It's coming...snow has dusted the tops of all the mountains, like powered sugar sprinkled atop a sweet brownie. I may be one of ten individuals on this island that is actually excited to see the snow, and here's I say to the others, "it will fall whether you complain about it or not, so you mine as well see the beauty in it!"

This winter I am looking forward to hockey, snowboarding and having a 4 wheeler fling me around on a frozen pond while clinging to an inner tube. Good times...good times!

Winter crafting??? I plan to conquer mittens/gloves and hopefully teach myself how to knit socks.