done and done

With all this time on I my hands, I no longer have an excuse not to finish Miss H's baby blanket. Hopefully she (and her mama) will like it and make good use of it this winter.

I finally weaved in the ends over the weekend, but the blocking-the more difficult part of finishing-still needed to be done. I was apprehensive about blocking since I didn't block the first baby blanket I made. I found a awesome blocking tutorial at The Purl Bee which put me at ease. It was perfect because it didn't require soaking in water which meant quicker drying time. It also helped that the day I blocked it it was quite hot. I also blocked a scarf I finished earlier this year in March.

The blanket is a bit larger on one side than the other, but it's still rectangular-ish, besides I'm still just a newbie. Not too shabby for my second baby blanket especially given the pattern! So happy about how it turned out!

perfection

In a nutshell, this is my idea of a perfect day. A girl could really get used to this kind of daily routine. I have to remind myself though not to get too comfortable. Off to enjoy the rest of today!

sew happy

For a long time now I've been wanting to sew on my layouts. The only problem, besides the fact I don't have a sewing machine, is that I don't know how to use a sewing machine. Just like crocheting I totally regret not having my grandmother teach me how to sew when I was a child. Yes, I am stubborn like that!

I decided to finally bite the bullet a couple weeks ago and signed-up for a class at Jo-Ann's. I wasn't looking to be a seamstress, I just wanted to get the sewing basics under my belt so I would know how to actually use a sewing machine and be comfortable with it.

Our class project was a simple apron which turned out to be really cute and super easy! (It could almost be a really cute skirt, couldn't it?) I was actually the first person to complete the project.

I completely enjoyed this class. I don't know what I was ever afraid of. Going into the class I had no intention of doing any fabric sewing, but I think I may have found another hobby! I don't think Jay is going to be too happy about that! I'm already looking for my next project.

10 on 10

1. Finished weaving in the ends of the Bunny Hop baby blanket.

2. Will block said baby blanket tomorrow.

3. Excited to cast-on a new knitting project tomorrow.

4. Loving my new apron that I made yesterday at my sewing class. (More on that later this week.)

5. Can't wait to figure out what I'll make for my next sewing project!

6. Had a good workout tonight. I love that I feel strong after doing weights.

7. Sat down to do some job searches since I'm a stay-at-home chihuahua mama again.

8. Looking forward to hanging with Max & Sparky (but hopefully not for too long)!

9. Watched the 49er's lose, AGAIN!

10. But I also watched the Giants WIN! 

All in all it was truly a good day!

the best month evah

So. . .yes, I'm a tad late to the Project 12 game, but better late than never I say. I had intended to play along for 2010, but lacking any scrapping mojo I completely forgot until a couple months ago when I spied it on someone's blog. 

I thought it would be more than appropriate that August be the first Project 12 sketch I do since it's likely our most active month of the year. It's been quite a while since I've worked on a two-page layout and I have to admit that it was a little weird, in addition to working with more than one photo.

My inner detail oriented perfectionist though cringes every time I see the completely-wrong-shade-of-blue frame. Otherwise, I'm really happy with this layout. It perfectly captures our amazing August. I can't wait to work on September.

Our house was so cold this morning that I didn't want to get out of bed when my alarm went off. The mornings have been getting progressively cooler over the past week. I guess this means that Fall has finally taken hold. Looking forward to sweaters, tights and boots. And from the looks of Heavenly Ski Resort today, winter is not too far behind. Sweet! Happy Tuesday!

pumpkin + chocolate

Let me begin by saying that I'm not a pumpkin lover. I don't get giddy in September like everyone else when Pumpkin Spice Lattes start popping up at Starbucks. In fact, I dread Thanksgiving because my in-laws prefer pumpkin pie over pecan pie. 

The only thing pumpkin that I've come close to enjoying is something my friend makes which is somewhere between a muffin and a cookie, and contains the all important chocolate chips to distract me from the main ingredient. (Unfortunately I don't have the recipe, but I promise to definitely share if I ever do.)

I was very surprised when I felt that I needed to make this recipe (shared by someone on the Studio Calico forums). It is, afterall, pumpkin. And I'll admit that the chocolate chips were helped.

So on Saturday afternoon, when I probably had something more productive to do (like make cards for World Card Making Day), I baked these sweet morsels of pumpkin and chocolate goodness. Love! I didn't have any use for the left over puree so I doubled the recipe. Doubled, the recipe turns our 24 cupcakes on the small side. Thus I recommend filling the tins with more batter for a bigger cupcake.   

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 eggs at room temperature
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon. In large bowl, whisk sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree and vegetable oil together; combine flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Ironically, a day after I made this I found this Ina Garten recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes which is essentially the same minus the chocolate chips and adding ground ginger and nutmeg. For comparison sake, I will have to make these also!

friday random

My brain is fried from lack of sleep.  I don't know what on earth possessed me to go to bed so late knowing full well that I had to go to work the next morning. This means that I have not one eloquent brain cell right now so bullet points are all that you get.

• Getting a haircut tomorrow, debating on whether I should back to a short cut (which is easier to take care of) or try to grow it a little longer.

• Waiting patiently for (what little) persimmon (we have) to ripen.

• Coveting Still Life over at Studio Calico. People, please put me out of my misery or I just might cave and buy it (J will not be happy!).

• Drooling over Brooklyn Tweed aka Jared Flood's new line of yarn. Just absolutely gorgeous! The best part it is purely sourced and made in the US.

So happy it's October! Now just 49 days until Heavenly opens! Have a great first weekend of October!