Micah's Hat

How cute is my nephew with his pretty mama and the hat I MADE HIM!! I am so happy that it fits! I had never made a baby hat before...I just made up the pattern and crossed my fingers that it would fit. I have been meaning to post the pattern ever since I finished it, and now that Iknow it does fit a baby's head I should really get on to that! It maybe not be before the move as things are a bit hectic...but I will try my darndest to do it this weekend.

In other news our poor Little Bit is a cone head. He has an injury under his right arm that he wouldn't stop licking so now...now this.

But the best part about it is...I think he likes it. He has been swaggering around the house all week now like he just got himself some major bling. Cute old man. And I have to say it has been the source of some major amusement. Minature Daschund + Cone + Snow almost as tall as him = one of the funniest things you've ever seen.

Vegetarian Meditarranean Feast!

Red Lentils for homemade soup

Chick Peas for a protein rich salad

Green Lentils for the main dish

Fresh RED strawberries for dessert

Lemons and Tomatoes to make it all taste fresh

All set up ready to cook!

Rice and Lentil Lemon Soup styled after the famous version at Woodys Oasis!

Homemade Pita Bread

Chick Pea salad tossed with feta cheese

Mujadara-a lebanese dish of lentils and bulgar

The final spread...vegetarian wonderfulness!

Thanks Ysolda!

I have been sick sick sick. For the 3rd time this year I have found myself with a miserable cold! So after taking my shower I decided to take a page from Ysolda's Book this hairstyle is wonderful for when you get out of the shower and just don't have the time/energy/resources to mess with your hair. It is quick and very girly-pretty. I got so many compliments!
Now I am not one to usually post about something like hair...and I promise I have been knitting! and Cooking actually. More too come soon. Plenty of pictures are guaranteed.
Right now I have mainly been working on home items (aka washcloths!) as I am moving to Austin in less than 2 weeks. Wish me luck

Up to my same old tricks!

Satisfaction guaranteed...It seems that in the little bit of free time I have had lately I have spent it baking bread (yes the same recipe..thanks again grandma!)

This time I do think I improved though. I found the kneading much easier, and I didn't get over excited and add an extra few cups of flour! I also decided formed half of the dough into rolls. I think placed a metal pan in the bottom of the oven as it preheated. When I was ready to bake I poured a cup of hot water into the pan which immediately turned to steam and helped to form a nice crisp crust on my bread. Very fun!

And as for knitting...well the same old thing on that front too! I am about to have mittens coming out of my ..eh...ears. I am happy to report though that I am finished! All eleven pairs have been delivered and should be on there way to keep somebody else's hands warm.
Which is finally necessary here in Michigan as we just started getting snow for pretty much the first time this year (!!) yesterday morning.

I am now off to knit anything my little heart desires :) and watch CSI...its going to be a nice night.

Do It like Your Grandma Taught You...

I am so lucky. My grandma taught me and my best friend Meredith how to bake her homemade bread shortly before christmas time. And let me tell you "grandma's Homemade bread" is so so so yummy.

So yesterday I finally kicked my butt into gear (after I found out my Meredith was already on her 3rd rising and about to get hers in the oven!) and I went out bought some bread pans, lots of flour and yeast and got to work. Now I have to admit, I think I am going to need a lot more practice. My first attempt at kneading was met with sticky dough covering my hands and the quick addition of extra flour.


But I loved every step. Watching the yeast activate, getting covered in flour, and coming back every half hour to see that the dough has doubled in size. Very satisfying.



And nothing can compare to the smell of freshly baked bread tickling your nose as you eagerly wait for it to cool so you can cut off that first slice. Much to my glee (and relief) it turned out! And luckily it made 4 loaves because my mom came home with her friends and they polished off a whole loaf within minutes. Talk about an ego boost.



I had someone ask about my labels. The ones tied to the package are just printed on heavy card stock. The cloth labels I sewed on the inside I made myself with a little help from our friend the iron-on transfer! Adding that personal touch is way worth the extra bit of effort.

There She Is!

It is beginning to feel like I am in a permanent bizarro world game of Hide 'n' Seek. This is what is exclaimed to me at least 5 times a day. One of my fellow coworkers...well he isn't so into the whole "hello" or "hey" or "how are you" nope...instead he just likes to say "THERE SHE IS!" everytime he catches a glimpse of me. And the problem here is...I have no idea how to respond to that. "Um..yes, here I am...You found me, sitting in the same spot I am always in monday thru friday...8 am to 4 pm. And there you are!" I have so say this man usually offeres my days lots of comic relief. He is usually wandering around a little lost and telling people how he locked himself in our delivery van "and was hollerin' but no one would let me out!" oh man. Onwards...

A New Year, and man is it about to be full of new beginnings. I do apologize for my absence...but hey the holidays...its been crazy. I have so much going on and a lot of personal growing and decisions. And well that is a whole other blog...

The holidays were a bit bittersweet for me this year. The highlight I must say was my sister Leah coming home. We spent New Years in northern Michigan at the The Inn at Bay Harbor in 2 fabulous suits thanks to Nick Remes. It was quite the girls weekend and I really cherish having that time with all of my sisters and my mom.

New Years was wonderful...we dressed up, paid way too much for dinner and topped it all off with champagne back at the hotel at midnight. A really wonderful way to kick off a new year.

Now I would love to tell you that I got a buttload of knitting done during this time as well...but I haven't :) I have been working steadily on mittens, and well nothing but mittens. But I do have these little precious packages to show off:

Filled of course...with mittens. But I am loving it. It has been so positive for me. And I have to say thanks to Linda and Randi for letting me grow in a new direction with my knitting. I am having so much fun with the final details, I feel like I have opened up an entirely new area of ideas to explore.