Finishing

I actually finished a project, so I feel the need to share.

My friend T and I had been going for walks with her pup but it's gotten cooler (and is now down right cold) at night.  She made a comment that she'd like a hat with ear-flaps (and she "doesn't care if she looks silly).  Enter Simpatico.  It's a more interesting pattern than a standard ear-flap had, knit with worsted weight yarn, and would give me a chance to attempt the magic loop.  I'm not sure I did that quite right, but it came out okay.

I prefer it with the ties, which I braided instead of using i-cord.  They are more for show as the ear-flaps are plenty long to stay down on their own.

Please ignore our messy living room - moving and all that jazz

 T wanted pink, and pink she will get.  I think if I were to do it again I'd use different yarn.  The Plymouth Europa Tweed is pretty but splits a bit too easily and is a little thicker than is called for in the pattern.  I went down a needle size and that made it work, but knitting bulky yarn (I wouldn't call this super bulky at all, despite the description) on size 5 needles was a bit of a pain.

End thoughts: while I like the end look, the pattern was sort of a pain.  The decreases aren't predictable and there are only two size options - Child or Adult.  My adult head is a bit too small and M's head is a bit too big.  Hopefully T's head is just right.  I don't think I'll be making it again unless someone requests it specifically.

Hello Old Friend

How have you been? It's been a while. I'm very happily adjusting to married life.  Strangely, according to those I've talked with recently, M and I still aren't cohabitating.  Anyway, on to way more important and interesting things.  I've decided to make a few goals for 2013.

I want to make one new "challenge" meal a month. I'm in the process of compiling my  list of dishes.  I'm hoping this gets me out of my cooking/eating rut and also helps me learn a bit more skill in the kitchen.  I created a board on Pinterest and hope to have 12 recipes collected by December 31, 2012.

In searching through the interwebs and more specifically Pinterest, to find these challenge recipes I stumbled across a really cool website - They Draw & Cook.  It has beautifully illustrated recipes.  I'm dying to try the Pumpkin Mousse.   I would also sort of love to have some of these as prints in my kitchen...someday when I have a kitchen.

Another good thing about this self-imposed challenge is that I'm trying out some recipes that I pinned - the simpler ones that are not challenge worthy.  Tonight's dinner was porkchops marinated in soy sauce, garlic and honey.  

Source: healthy-snack-recipe.blogspot.com via Alicia on Pinterest

The Pinterest link highlighted one of my many frustrations with Pinterest - it linked to little more than a picture.  To be fair, this one at least went to a website, but beyond saying what ingredients were used it wasn't very helpful - there were no measurements listed.  I took a guess on how much of the garlic (two heapng teasspoonfuls of the minced garlic), honey (about a teaspoon), and soy sauce (probably about 1/3-1/2 cup of the low sodium).  Marinade all day and yum!

Mine looked nothing like the pin, but it tasted wonderful.  I had cheesy broccoli as a side and froze the leftover chop.  Simple, yummy, filling and leftovers for a dinner yet this week.  See, there is a bonus to not living with your spouse - I get the leftovers.  :)

Distance

What feels like a long long time ago, I made the decision to move 2,000 miles from home.  This was not the first time I'd decided to move far away from everyone I knew and loved, nor was it the farthest.  However, it has become one of the more permanent, which wasn't exactly the plan when I packed up my life and moved to the land of beer and cheese.  Most days the distance doesn't bother me much.  It's not like I'd be having dinner every night at home with mom and dad.  Besides which, my parents moved out of the house I grew up in about two years after I left. 

Holidays when you get home are extra awesome.  Everyone is excited to see you.  Since you haven't been physically present it's unlikely that you've managed to make anyone upset enough to be put out with you during your visit.  After all, it will probably be months until they see you again.  You are in a pretty good mood as well.  You haven't seen these people, otherwise known as your family, in a long time and let's be honest, having people excited to see you makes everyone feel a bit more fantastic.  For me, I find that my mom and I get along amazingly from a distance but more than a week in the same house and we are at each others throats.

Holidays when you can't go home aren't quite as much fun.  There are a couple possibilities here.  The less craptastic is finds you with friends, a significant other, or someone else's family. Not horrible, but it's not the same as being home.  The other two possibilities are substantially less fun - and sort of a toss up of suckage: either you are stuck at work or you are by yourself.  In my experience, being alone on a holiday tends to be a choice - sometimes I just can handle being with another group, especially when I was really hoping to make it home.  Working on a holiday sucks whether you are close to home or not.

You get used to missing things when you live "too far" away.  Going home is expensive or time consuming, so you tend to skip graduations, baptisms, those random weekends when the family just all seems to get together.  BUT you call for all those occasions.  You send cards, flowers, gifts, whatever is appropriate.  People come to expect you not to be able to make it.   You start only getting invitations to the big things.  The family camping trip or trip to Aunt Sue's isn't mentioned until after the fact.  I admit, hearing those stories sort of hurts.  It's always weird to think of people having a life without you present.  I don't resent it, just sad I'm missing out on the memories, the time together, the closeness.  

When it really sucks is when something major happens.  You sister has a kid and you just can't get the time off or maybe the plane tickets are way out of your budget.  A family member gets married and it's high volume season at work, so taking off the three days a trip home requires just isn't an option.  A family member is sick, and you don't make it in time to be there for them or the rest of the family.  Lately I've been in the really sucks bracket.  It's never been so hard to not be home.  As usual, I find myself being unbelievably jealous that they all get to be together and draw comfort from one another while I'm solo in the apartment trying to keep myself together.  Again, I don't resent them for this, but I just really wish I could be there too. Not just for me, but for them as well.  In time of crisis, families come together, and I can't do that, which hurts so much.

I feel silly for saying it, but I'm a very homesick 30-year-old.

My life really isn't all about my wedding...

I was playing around on Ravelry and someone posted a "funny" article about bridesmaids complaining about a bride.  I thought it was more bitchy than funny, and if someone really feels this angry about things they should probably not be in the couple's wedding.  There was much debate on the forum about #1 - not talking about anything but the wedding.  This particularly annoyed me because the first thing people ask me about when I haven't seen them for a few weeks (days?) is "how is the wedding planning going?" So don't get pissy if that's what I talk about - you probably asked.  I'm not really obsessed with my wedding, but lets be honest with ourselves my life is not a thrill ride (thank goodness) and right now my wedding is the most exciting thing going on for me.  Here's the other thing, I actually do have other big things going on but they aren't necessarily happy things, and unless I know you well, I won't be bringing those up.

So, now on to other things I can talk about -

I actually picked up my living room today.  This is a big undertaking because I hate cleaning and I have stacks of paper everywhere.  Paper is my nemesis in the cleaning scheme of things.  I'm trying to be better, but it's not successful.  Seriously, it's to the point where aunts are suggesting that I keep my room clean for Lent.  Yep, I'm still a 10 year old who needs to be nagged to clean my room.  I keep using the excuse that I need a system, or that once I get it clean I'll be good and keep it clean.  The reality is that I am really bad at putting away clothes.  They get thrown on the futon in my bedroom and left there.  Mail gets looked at and dropped on counter instead of being put in the recycle.  I pin ideas on pinterest to get me motivated - so far it's not working.  This concerns me greatly.

I've never been a neat nick, and Michael is similarly not super organized. We go through bursts, but it's not consistent.  But I would like to possibly, maybe, god willing, have kids someday.  And it just seems that a cleaner house is a necessity - I don't want to be THAT family where school work gets lost, things are cluttered  etc.    People tell me that having kids forces you to find the time/energy but what if it doesn't?  My mom always had our house really neat - I'm not sure if I can achieve that, and that makes me really sad.  As much as she drove (drives?) me nuts, my mom did a pretty spectacular job of being a great mom, managing the house cleaning, ensuring we had a homemade meal, and working.  How did she not collapse from exhaustion?

My sister does the same thing.  She is an awesome job and manages to cook, clean, and even festively decorate for holidays - and while my brother-in-law is awesome, those are not tasks that are his strong suit.

I have nightmares that my family comes to visit and my house is like one of those out of horders....seriously, I'm not quite balanced anymore.

Addictions

I'm officially a Pinterest addict.  It's been especially helpful in thinking of wedding ideas...but also in organizing craft projects, knitting ideas, organization (which I will someday achieve) and new recipes to try.

Now that I'm so good at pinning I've set a goal of actually doing/making what I pin.

Yesterday was cooking up the Carmelized Creamy-Onion Soup that I tried at a friend's home a few weeks back.  She has a board for her soup nights and I eagerly stole the recipe.  Unfortunately I failed to take photos, as it was supposed to be Michael and my belated Valentine's dinner - so taking pictures would have sort of wrecked the couples cooking. However, if I did this right there should be a picture/pin below:

Source: marthastewart.com via Alicia on Pinterest

Yeah!  I think it worked

Anyway, things I learned from this awesome soup:

1: Leeks are in the onion family.  Common sense to most, Michael tells me, but I was surprised how much my eyes watered.
2: This recipe does not cheap out on the onions.  7 large shallots, 2 large vidalias, 4 leeks...two days later and my apartment still smells like onions.  It was so strong that even Michael, in the living room, was complaining about his eyes being irritated.
3: It takes a lot longer than I anticipated.  I figured an hour, maybe an hour and a half when in reality it took almost three.  It took forever for the onion/shallot/garlic/leek mixture to brown.  I ended up turning up the heat to just above medium.

Otherwise, it's not a complicated recipe and it is soooo good.  Pair with some crusty bread and I'm in heaven.

Just keep swimming

This is my motto lately.  I sort of feel like I can do nothing right. I can't seem to fit working out into my schedule.  Eating right just seems harder than usual.  It will pass...Right?

Anyway, everything that's been happening has made me want to expand the knowledge of my faith.  I am a Catholic convert.  I went through the RCIA program while in college.  While this was a really moving experience, there are a lot of basics that I just didn't get enough exposure to understand why we, as Catholics, do certain things and believe certain things.

First on my list is Confession.  I haven't been to confession since I converted.  I know I'm supposed to go more regularly than that, since I know I've sinned.  But I just don't understand why I must confess to a priest rather than pray on the matter and deal with it that way.  This is a constant struggle for me - things I know the Church requires and my own feelings on a matter.  I'm hoping that learning more will help resolve the internal struggle.

Bridezilla-dom

Has it really been since November?  I guess it has.  December is a busy time in my life between Christmas and year-end work related stuff it just seems like I get caught up in an avalanche.

So here's a bit of a catch up - I missed Christmas.  Or at least I missed Christmas with my family.  Instead, I spent Christmas Eve and Day with Michael's extended family in a two day, three meal, extravaganza!  I managed to only gain 2lbs and drink one entire bottle of wine.  It was really great wine.  Also, Michael referred to him and I as a family for the first time.  I got a bit weepy.  Dorky, bu true.  Overall, a very nice holiday.

Not taking a Christmas vacation from work means that I had vacation time to use - so I took last week off.  I am currently relishing the last few hours of non-work time.  I meant to update this week and boast of all the things I accomplished with my freed up time.  Here is that amazing list:

• purchased yarn for wedding stole and started said knitting project.  I did opt for Jared Flood's Autumn Leaves Stole.  The yarn color isn't showing well due to my lack of photography skills, but it is knitting up beautifully.  I'm especially proud as this is my first attempt at anything even resembling lace work.
• read two book - Heat Wave by "Richard Castle" and the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Both were quick and fun reads.  Heat Wave was actually much better than I expected considering it's by a fictitious author and came about because of a TV Show.  I was so happy that Michael agreed to read the Love Languages book with me, well first actually. It was actually pretty interesting and I think that the concept - different things/action/words make people feel loved - is good to keep in mind.  Just because Acts of Service make me feel loved doesn't mean that Michael feels the same way.
• cleaning was done.  Goal was basically the whole place - it's only five rooms.  Kitchen and bathroom were actually accomplished, living room was half done as was my craft room.  I give myself a C for effort.  I could have played less Lego Indian Jones 2 on my Wii.
• finally went to the doctor about my sinuses.  Turns out I have a very persistent sinus infection.  I'm on a twice-a-day antibiotic, back on allergy meds, and lots of advil.  I'm not sure if it's medication or that my body is finally like "yep, time to actually get healthy" but I've been exhausted ever since. 
• Also squeezed in the eye doctor and dentist.  Being the vain girl that I am, contact are going to be attempted.  I really don't want to wear glasses in wedding pictures.  I get my trial contacts in a couple of weeks.  We shall see how that goes.
• Super splurged and bought Rosetta Stone Italian 1-5.  I took Italian in College, my mom speaks a dialect, I've always wanted to learn.  Bonus - Michael has promised to attempt to learn as well.  I may secretly install this on his computer. shhhh
• lastly - and what I really thought of when I decided to blog tonight - I went to my very first Bridal Show.  It was...interesting.  I wouldn't call it fun, and to be really frank about 90% of it was pretty boring. However, it did make me realize that I have a lot more done/decided for our wedding that originally thought.  Thank you Pinterest!  It's just big things - dress, Michael's suit, and rings that I haven't managed.  You know, the things that are killer expensive.

So, not too much for a week of no work, but not bad. 

Now, back to this bridal show.  Accomplished - purchased cream pashminas for the bridesmaids and Michael's groomsmaid.  I now wish I had purchased one for myself to because I love those things so much.  The dresses were beautiful and the people wonderfully nice.  But honestly, I think my mom was right - it was for a different type of wedding.  I have no interest in tablescape consultations, since I've got the centerpieces and basics on decorations decided.  A custom made wedding dress is likely more than I'm willing to spend.  I already have people taking pictures.  Michael is in charge of invitations and cake/dessert.  So, while I did enter a few contests to win a dress, money or dinner, I probably wouldn't go to another bridal show unless absolutely necessary.  I was sort of saying this to myself for most of the day.  I felt really bad at the end - like I was just as bad as all those brides on TV but in a more "oh, I'm better because they are spending ridiculous wads of money"  I was being a bridezilla in my own way.  I'm not proud of that.