Resolutions...Ok I know they're a little late!

As so many Alaskans and probably most of the US (though it has reached many of them already) I can't wait to get my rear out into the warmth and sunshine! Today I totally stepped outside my comfort zone and took the boys for a walk....the walk wasn't out of my comfort zone but the puddle jumping was!! I am such a baby when it comes to getting dirty, but I took a note from my sisters who both love puddle jumping and let the boys have at it (yes they are in their PJ's, I figured if they got super dirty or stained most people would never see them)! Though I was still too paranoid to enjoy it myself! (Old habits die hard, what can I say)

Speaking of habits, I plan on breaking a few as well as forming some new ones. I have goals for the coming year (which I do find a little interesting that this is hitting me now, as I had no inspiration whatsoever over new years)

1. I will get outdoors everyday. I just used Fiber Festival moolah (THANK YOU to whomever shopped from me!!) and some money from selling our single chariot to purchase a new bike and double chariot for me and the boys. I have weight I want to lose, but more importantly I want to lead an active and fit lifestyle, and give my kiddos the tools and example to do the same! Plus all of my family members (as in my hubby, parents, and sisters) love to bike so I think it will be great fun!

2. I want to participate in more local events. I am already planning on doing the Walk/Roll for Hope and look forward to participating in some races this summer and fall as well! I also discovered that there is TONS of stuff to take the boys to that cost either nothing or little around town and I need to be taking advantage of them!! Plus hopefully I will be riding my bike instead of taking the car so I will be saving on gas as well!

3. Make time to enjoy the moment and stress less. This pretty much applies to all areas of my life and I think I need to stop being so centered on getting things done (well not lose that completely but balance it a little) and focus more on enjoying the moments I'm having, regardless of whether they are going exactly to plan. I am sort of a planner, so this is a big stretch for me. hmm...I feel like I need to explain how I am a planner...I am not a long term planner as much as I am a daily planner. In the morning I have expectations for my day and if things don't go accordingly I am known to get cranky....proof?...ask the hubby!

So there they are! There's not ever going to be a better time than now :)

Getting back in gear.....

I am behind. I have been really lacking the desire to knit the past couple of weeks. I have gotten one project (in super bulky yarn) only 3/4 of the way done. That is all. It has been a productive two weeks, I have made progress business wise, got some spinning, done some dyeing, and more, but I almost feel that much of that can be attributed to my lack of desire to knit. So I am going to get my rear and gear and finish my gift goals! I really don't want to get behind, as it will not be fun to try and cram so much knitting into a short time frame. The whole reason I came up with this plan was to keep my knitting fun! So since the boys are asleep I am going to take advantage of the time and hopefully finish this second legwarmer today! Plus there is nothing like a finished project to make you want to start a new project!!Ge

Knitting Success and today

I did it! Without much pain or struggle I completed my knitting goals for this month. I knit two dishcloths, a pair of mittens, and a hat. As well as the sleeves for my sister's buttony sweater, half a baby sweater, half a hat, and swatched for a few other things (but they weren't on the list).

Ta Da (Yes, I realize that I have already posted a pic of this hat but I am doing it again for good measure):

I am excited to start on next months projects!

Today I also went for a walk in the snow, it was wonderful to get outside and my toddler was wore out enough that he took a three hour nap afterwards! Plus I am pretty sure I burned some good calories too. My sister (who initiated this whole walk) took a pic on her blackberry, but hasn't sent it to me yet. So I will just have to post the one I just took from our front door.

My baby is four months old today, and I can hardly believe it. I just took this pic of him napping, I think the walk wore him out as well. He really enjoyed looking around at everything!

As I was taking pictures, Corbin asked that I take one of him, so here he is yelling "cheese" as emphatically as possible. :)

Gaining and losing

No this is not a post about weight :) Though it does refer to my goals. As is clearly evident by the dates on my posts, I have not been sticking with my goal of posting 5 days a week! But I am still working on that! I just need to not let my excuses get in the way. This is my main area of "losing ground"

BUT! I have been gaining ground in that I am very close to finishing all the knitting that I am to finish by the end of the month. I just have one mitten (knit in bulky weight - so it's a quick knit!), and 1/3 of a dishcloth (again, not a large item and on size 8's). Plus I have been working on a fair isle hat (which is on hold until the above is finished). I am taking a knitting class on stranded work and have been learning a great deal as well as getting in some good practice. Here are a few pics of my recent knitting.







Ok, so this post is just a little bit about weight as it is one of my goals to have lost 6lbs by the end of January as well. I am doing even better than expected and have lost 7.4lbs!! I have been eating lots of salad, which is interesting to me as I have always been a meat and potatoes girl (which isn't surprising, since I am now trying to lose weight lol) But I must be growing up or something as I am actually looking forward to eating it! I thinking nursing Noah has been really helping as well. So I am glad to have at least 8 more months of calorie burning from that!

I have yarn in the oven right now. I am testing out some new yarn bases, so if all goes well I will have a new sock yarn base and a new luxury base (50/50 Merino/yak). I am super excited about the merino/yak blend for several reasons:

1. I love yaks, hubby and I have dreamt of owning yaks even before I starting spinning.

2. I am trying to expand my lines so that I have a wide range of yarn bases, and this is one of the yarns making that a reality.

3. I am loving the feel of it and can't wait to "test knit" this yarn into something pretty for myself.

So officially I have now dyed yarn twice in one seven day period! I just did a big 5lb batch of roving too! I am making a consious effort to dye roving in one pound lots so that there is enough for bigger projects. Here's some pics of the fiber I dyed 3 nights ago.







I am now participating in Phat Fiber and will have samples in February's and March's box for sure. I will be including hand-dyed yarns, rovings, and locks. Don't miss out!

I can't believe I almost forgot to post this, but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of tightening the knob on your yarn swift before use. If not done correctly bad things happen. I am just thankful that it was not lace weight. I am slowly but surely untangling the 40g of fingering weight sock yarn that I mutilated.


After this post I think I should get extra points for pics. But that's just me.

The World is Weird

I didn't blog about it but it was freezing here for around two weeks. I had been going crazy staying inside, but with two babies (one of which is only 3mo.) I found it just too much to go outside without reason. Finally in just one night it warmed up from -15 to 20! It was wonderful, it felt like a heat wave and me and my family rejoiced! I even took my boys out for a great walk down at West Chester Lagoon, Corbin repeatedly told me that he had "fun in the snow". Unfortunately yet again in one night it warmed up to around 35 with freezing rain. Blah! It makes it such a mess around town and I would much rather have it be -15. It has been two days of this warm weather and it supposed to last for at least another day. Yet now down-states it has been crazy cold for them.

The world is weird.

January is now officially half way over and I have been doing okay on my goals so here is an update:

• Blog at least 5 times a week, with pictures twice a week - I have been blogging more regularly, though I don't think I have made it with enough pics.

• Dye 2 days a week - I have dyed once, maybe by the end of the month I will average out

• Spin at least 2 50g skeins a week - Yep! I made a great hat for my Dad's b-day!

• Develop and finalize my marketing plan for 2009 - Not finished but I have been working on it!

• Knit 1 pair of socks a month for myself - I can only do this after completing my other projects, which I am making good progress on!

• Knit 2 pairs of socks for hubby (per his request) - Not there yet

• Knit all of my Christmas Gifts for next year before November (lofty goal I know!) - I am started on this one! :)

• Lose six pounds by the end of January - I am down 5.4 lbs so I should do even better! I am already planning lots of sweaters for a skinnier me!
  

So not too bad all in all!

I would love to hear what "resolutions" or "goals" you've been working on!

Stay warm!

Oh yeah and here are some pics from my last batch of dyeing

ravely & flickr

I am proud of myself. I now have my knitted gifts lined out for 2009. Not only that but I have them loaded up in my queue on ravelry and even have some of the yarns picked out etc. My plan is to have all the birthday and Christmas gifts knit by September. We'll see if I am able to stick to my plan! I also managed to whittle down my queue to a mere 66 patterns lol. Next winter should see me and my loved ones wearing more and more handknits!

of course the pessimist in me is mumbling in my head "...yeah right, lets see you try to stay on track!"

My rules are:

1. I must accomplish the gifts for each month as planned before starting anything else
2. I do not have to follow any particular order as long as it's the right month for the project.
   
3. I am not working ahead, if I finish my planned projects I get to work on something for myself.

oh yeah, I have learned the hard way to not mess with your flickr settings just to see what they do. This results in having to redo every photo in your ravelry notebook. Not fun.

Movitation Monday

So I was so inspired by another friend and blogger this morning, and I have been thinking about her goals all morning and decided to make some of my own.

• Blog at least 5 times a week, with pictures twice a week
• Dye 2 days a week
• Spin at least 2 50g skeins a week
• Develop and finalize my marketing plan for 2009
• Knit 1 pair of socks a month for myself
• Knit 2 pairs of socks for hubby (per his request)
  
• Knit all of my Christmas Gifts for next year before November (lofty goal I know!)
• Lose six pounds by the end of January

January is a time of new beginnings and I am definitely looking forward to improving myself this year!

I do have a plan in the works for some give-aways of my fibers so stay tuned!