Once Upon a Read-a-Thon 2012!

It's that time of year again, read-a-thon is just about upon us!  Last year was great fun, great reading, and great give aways!
Basically, a read0a-thon is a self-challenge to read more books than you normally do, set a goal of a book a day vs. a book a month or 3 books in a week; that type of thing.
Hop on over to the Reading Angel blog and sign of for Once Upon a Read-a-Thon!

Charming Tablecloth!

I absolutely love this for any table but so fresh and vibrant for an outdoor barbeque would be so perfect and super easy to put together!
From Moda Bake Shop, Simply Charming Tablecloth!

Change!

UPDATE:  Surgery went well, was in and out in 30 minutes, home by 10:30 a.m. and resting.  I actually feel really good!  Will stay down for a couple of days and then hopefully I'll be back to my normal energy levels.

Well choosing the word "change" as my 2012 word of the year sure is proving to be the correct one, more happening today.
I am headed in to have the "girl parts" surgically straightened around.  I guess it shouldn't surprise me at almost 47 years old that they are beginning to give me issues, I just have to wrap my 29 year old mind around it all, right! LOL  So by the time you read this I am hopefully in recovery and all is well.
I spent my holiday weekend very quiet with the pups, an entire Sunday of dealing with thunderstorms, and peacefully thinking about all the friends and family who lost their lives serving our country.
I also spent some time finishing up knit projects and starting others as well as reading a ton!  Stephen King always captures my attention, to the point of where I can't put it down ~ 11/22/63 has not disappointed (thank you Rinda!).

 The storm pups all huddled up while it is booming outside, they weren't the happiest although this pic doesn't depict that well! LOL

Ruby and Coco in between thunderstorms.

I reversed colors on the second sock of my Crosswired socks and love them.  Notice anything else,,,,,,I picked up the pattern at the wrong location on the second sock so it came out a bit differently, I didn't notice until I bound off and put them on.  Love them just the way they are!

And I started my Detroit Tiger socks!  So love them already!

Vintage Daisy Motif!

I absolutely love this daisy afghan and just may have to play around with it!  Here's the motif:

and here's the afghan:

Tutorial for the motif as well as how to connect at the Speckless blog!

Fifty Shades Freed!

Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James is the ultimate undercurrent bringing the entire trilogy together.

Christian Grey is the hero, the alpha male, and the ultimate in contradiction.  With that said there are things unseen below the surface, hence Anastasia’s multiple references to Christian as her “lost boy”. Fortunate for Christian, Ana sees past his desire for control of everything and everyone as a defense mechanism to hide his feelings.

Christian is overwhelmingly protective of Ana and everything she does but ultimately learns that Ana is the strongest individual in the relationship, that strength is displayed in being able to cope with everything life throws at you.  

Although I am still miffed by the number of reviews for all three books for their BDSM elements.  For me, these elements only enhance the true story of all three books.  I highly recommend the series and I’m limiting this review because I don’t want to give anything away.  My favorite part of  this third book,,,,,,,,,the absolute very end, I love that it ends with Christians point of view rather than Ana’s.  Read and find out!

Eat your fruits and veggies!

So tell me, what kid (or adult) wouldn't eat their fruits, veggies, and snacks if they came packaged like this!  I would so gobble them up!  Check out the DIY at Juggling with Kids.

Internet wanderings!

I so love stalking ummmm perusing blogs every morning, I find some of the most klever ideas and fun crafty items!  Here are just a few of the many things I've found and love:
Granny Square quilt block tutorial from Blue Elephant Stitches:

Shirt tutorial from The Meanie Greenie:

All Purpose Caddy from Moda Bake Shop:

Learning new techniques!

I decided to challenge myself to learn to sew seams into knitting with a baby cardigan.  I just finished the construction of Burnett Baby Cardi from Berroco which is the mattress stitch/seam example.

 Here is my piece finished and waiting for the seams and the buttons:

following their video here:

TBR 2012 Progress!

I can't believe almost 5 months of the year are gone already!  Where did they go!  Some of my time has passed doing one of my most favorite things, READING!  My yearly To Be Read (TBR) is always a long one and quite dynamic as there is just SOOOOO MUCH out there I want to read.  Here is what I've tackled so far this year!

Wild Wild Death Casey Daniels (01/2012)

Fall Girl Marybeth Smith (01/2012)

Skin Trade Laurell K Hamilton (01/2012)

Living with the Dead series Jesse Petersen
- Married with Zombies (Book 1) (02/2012)

Scrapbook of Secrets Mollie Cox Bryan (02/2012)

A Grown Up Kind of Pretty Joshilyn Jackson (02/2012)

Righteous series Michael Wallace
- The Righteous (03/2012)

In the Dead: Volume 1 Jesse Petersen (03/2012)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Ransom Riggs (03/2012)

The Perfect Murder Weapon - William Royal (3/2012)

Dancing with the Devil Cate Masters (04/2012)

Fifty Shades of Grey  - EL James (04/2012)

Fifty Shades Freed EL James (05/2012)

Fifty Shades Darker EL Jame (05/2012)

2 Scarves = Summer Top!

I soooooooooooooooo love this!  How simple, how kute, and how unique!  2 scarves, 4 seams, then you have AWESOMENESS!  Check out the tutorial at Talk2TheTrees!

Light up your garden!

Don't you love warm summer evenings with fireflies flitting around lighting up the night like the stars in the sky!  Check this very kewl tutorial out that lets you light up your garden on any evening, long after the fireflies are gone for the season.  Homemade Outdoor Fireflies tutorial from Curbly!

UPDATED: Momma got new hair!

Edited with update front look by demand,had to get my face on LOL:

I went from this with a bit more length

to this AND I LOVE IT!

 Added bonus, I got to have Mexican food and hang out with my two favorite girls, Krissy and Kayleen!

Holy F* Balls!

That is how she starts out her show and it goes down hill, in an absolutely laugh a second good way! Kathy Griffin finally made it to mid-Michigan, Soaring Eagle Casino, and Krissy and I finally got to see her!  We took Katrina with us!  OMG, so so funny.  She's raunchy as all get out and hysterical, my face and tummy hurt from laughing so hard.  We were on the right front of the stage so had a pretty good view of her on stage as well as the monster tron screen!

Kris and Katrina

Me and Kris

Golfers beware!

Some love for the golfer in your life, golf club covers, pattern at the purl bee!  How kewl and you can make them in colors to match the individual!  Love handmade goodness!

Baby Cardi under construction!

I'm in baby stuff making mode!  Cast-on this baby cardigan from Berroco Friday Freebies over the weekend and it is working up fast and kute as can be!

Crafty Blog Stalking!

The last few days have just been crazy busy with lots of windshield time going from branch to branch for the bank.  WOWSER, driving makes me tired! LOL
Got to spend some time this morning "stalking" my favorite blogs to see what's going on!  WOOT WOOT!
Love these freebies from Nelkin Designs, especially this vest!

Totally loving Pat Sloan's Red Apple Lane quilt and Eat Your Fruits and Veggies fabrics!  Too Awesome!

This Go Tell It on the Mountain quilt just captured me, tutorial at Moda Bake Shop.  Something about the movement of the design just really speaks to me!

And I'm thinking the Jeep needs one of these in the front and back seats, Trash Stasher!  How kewlio is that, make your trash look good baby! LOL  Pattern from lila tueller designs!

Quick and Easy Receiving Blankies for a Babe!

I love this tutorial from Piece N Quilt for Self Binding Receiving Blankets but I couldn't wrap my mind around the initial pinning and sewing so of course, there is a video (Missouri Quilt Co.) that shows you how!  I'm thinking I could do this with cotton fabrics too and put a little batting in the center!

and the video:

Fifty Shades Darker!

I am going to preface this review with quite simply, the last line of the 2nd novel made me go after the third in the series, I will be reading "Fifty Shades Freed"!

My review of Fifty Shades of Grey was high praise (my review here), well the story just gets better and better with the second in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker.  Reading Fifty Shades Darker is like witnessing the metamorphosis of ugly caterpillars into beautiful butterflies.

Besides the continuation of  my new favorite phrase "Fifty Shades of F'd Up", the best part of this story is watching the transformation of Christian from his BDSM obessessed self to a "normal", loving individual as well as watching Ana mature into an adult relationship.  All of Christian's negativity toward himself seems to reverse to a positive and he can blossom/grow his wings from them.

The phrase "opposites attract" is the perfect description of Ana and Christian. They contradict and conflict, but yet complement each other perfectly. A truly amazing love story!

I really wish the media and those reviewing that are stuck on the BDSM aspect of the trilogy would get over it.  BDSM is NOT the plot of the story, it adds to the story and provides a history of one of the main characters.  THAT'S ALL! EL James has a way of writing a love scene that can make you squirm a bit but does so with taste and tact!

There is a well defined plot with well developed characters and the romance is sweet, sexy, hot, steamy, etc.

Can't wait to read the 3rd story!

Boys and Girls!

I absolutely love this Salt Water Taffy quilt and it's versatility, love the fact that the change of colors only makes it more appropriate for one person vs. another.  I also love the fact that it's sweet enough to make as a lap size for a baby right up through their grade school days!  And the construction of each block is just fun and not nit picky!  WOOT WOOT!  At Moda Bake Shop of course!

Four Season Vest!

I could see this vest is so many colors and becoming a part of my daily wear!  Over long sleeves, over tanks, over to shirts,,,,I can just see it in so many forms!  Pattern free at Red Heart site!

MBS: Take It All Tote

I SOOOOOOOOOOOOO need to make a bunch of these totes for me!  The construction is absolutely fun and quick and the applique pocket just got me,,,,I could put KNITTY on the front for projects! LOL  You can get the tutorial here at Moda Bake Shop!

On the Road!

Well, I'm hitting the road for the week, Grand Rapids area here I come!  Super excited to get out in the branches and get some new technology out there.   With that said, I am going to so miss my puppies but they'll be in good hands with good sitters so they won't miss me too much!
I've been working more Crosswired socks this weekend.  Finally decided to do my second 2 color sock the opposite of the first and I love how it is turning out.

 bottom of the reverse color below:

Then I decided that this pattern was too much fun and such a quick knit that I wanted to try it in one color and am so totally happy with it too!

I am hoping to get both socks done while on the road this week, evenings look to be quite free!  WOOT WOOT!  Quiet knitting time for the Mumma!

Fifty Shades - Review

I am a murder mystery and horror story kind of girl but was intrigued by the adverts of this BDSM trilogy, Fifty Shades by EL James.  The reviews of "mommy porn" just intrigued me! LOL Once you get past the "mommy porn" part you find a really good story line. I was glued to the pages of Fifty Shades of Grey and still am with Fifty Shades Darker. I have found both to be very addicting.

It's a love story between Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. I think the complexity of Christian's character is what has intrigued me the most. You love him and hate him and love to hate him all at the same time.  Christian is the alpha male personified with bad boy tendencies and the desire to inflict pain for pleasure. Anastasia on the other hand is an innocent college student and happens to still be a virgin. This is their deeply disturbing love story.

I think my favorite phrase in the storyline is "Fifty Shades of f'd up", how Ana refers to Christian most times.  With his demons and desire to dominate her into submissiveness.  Christian introduces Ana to the "dark side" of his sexual habits and in his desire to control her agrees to trying the "vanilla side" of a relationship.

Now, don't forget the "mommy porn", the erotic, steamy, sexy and scary descriptions of their interludes is not for the faint of heart.  It's hot and mind blowing all wrapped up together.  It's also quite the psychological thriller with all the mind games the two play back and forth to manipulate in their own rights.

The real love story is how Anastasia brings out feelings in Christian that he has never felt with anyone else. I can't wait to read all three books to see how it all ends for the two of them.

Focus on the Center!

Oh look at what my favorite quilt designer, crafter, awesome human being extraordinaire (that would be Pat Sloan of course) has been up to,,,,"Focus on the Center", a series of medallion quilts!  WOOT WOOT!

AND it can be digitally downloaded at Leisure Arts so guess what I did, oh yes I did, I purchased and downloaded it!  No longer a virgin to quilt book digital downloads! LOL

Puuurrrr-fect Baby Knits!

Smokes I am loving all the goodies being put out by Mollie Makes blog the last couple of weeks.  Check out this kutie knitted baby hat and cardi pattern, kitties!  YEAH!

Crochet Flower Coasters!

OK, I LOVE LOVE LOVE these and I can see them connected together as pillows or sewn on socks or shirts!  Oh yes I can!  Check out the Mollie Makes tutorial here!

Cardioid Shawl KAL!

KBC has released their Cardioid Shawl KAL (the one I test knitted) for May 1!  WOOT WOOT!  A totally easy and fun knit!  Come on and join the fun!
Here's mine:

African Flower Granny's!

Thinking I'm going to have to make a pillow of these African Flower Granny Squares too!  Aren't they awesome! Tutorial at Howling at the Moon blog!