Giveaway Day / Week

Giveaway is Closed! Thanks for entering. I used random.org and the number they came up with (used 90, the 79 comments from here and 11 on newlywife) was 41. That is:

Megan said...

Oooh, I love that deep blue color you chose for the coasters. They are fabulous!

Doesn't she have a great name? I will be contacting her later today to give her her prize!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day 2009

If you are reading this post, then you probably came from the Sew Mama Sew giveaway link. I am glad to welcome you to my blog, but sorry to tell you that I don't have any cool tutorials or fabric stashes that would make you want to come back to my blog again and again. However, I know that I will in the future. So maybe, by this time next year, this blog (well actually it will be a new blog - exciting joint blogging preparations are in the works) will be bookmark worthy. If you want info about when we launch, please leave a comment on the post NewlyWife.

Back to business. Today is giveaway day and that is all you really care about. I know you are all tired from clicking on link after link of cool stuff and wanting to win. So this will be short and sweet. Just leave a comment including your email and you will have the chance to win (yes you can leave it in a special name at gmail dot com format). If it is in your blogger profile, that works too. But I need a way to contact you! If I'm in your reader or you are a follower, leave a second comment for a second chance to win. Commenting on the newlywife post also gives you an extra entry (that's 3 total entries!).

And what will you win? These coasters, reminiscent of my last trip to Hawaii in 2007, where I bought fabric squares. Let's just say it made this project super easy! I followed a tutorial, but can't find it. So I apologize that I can't give credit. Anywho, hope you are able to sit back and relax after a long day of blogging and sewing to enjoy a cup of tea on these coasters! Oh and my real life friends & family can enter. And sorry for the picture being sideways, I can't get it to rotate!





Contest ends at midnight PST on December 8, 2009.
Lastly - I will ship internationally. And if the winner has not responded in 4 days, I reserve the right to draw the name of a new winner. Thanks for coming by, and click the pic at the top of the page to see all of the other awesome things up for grabs this week. And thanks for stopping by!

Fall Party

Our friend John took a few days leave (he's a Marine based somewhere else in the States that I cannot remember for the life of me) for a wedding, and came home. We offered to host a little get together so that he could see his close friends in one place - and not have to try and get together with a bunch of people at different times during one weekend. So I got to play hostess again, and I loved every minute! I actually cooked things ahead of time and the kitchen was clean by the time guests arrived. Clean! Can you believe it? I am going to get better at doing this for every gathering. Anywho, I made some good snacks like PWs Mushrooms Stuffed with Brie & Peanut Butter Brownies (love Betty Crocker boxed brownies). I also made the Austrian favorite, Gluehwein, and got everyone hooked (D & Linds, I still owe you that recipe)! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures. But I am hosting a Betty Crocker Cookie Exchange this weekend, and I will be making some of the same things, so I will remember to take pictures! Anywho, pictures of the party, that's all you really want anyways, right?

Kevin & Linds, the Newlyweds.

The ladies (Linds, D, Sarah, Me) with mugs of Gluehwein & a Hangar 24 for me!

The Fellas (Matt, Kevin, Adam, John, Monet) - weird to see Matt with a beer!

H2 decided to entertain our

I won!

Bonnie over at Fishsticks & Fries had a giveaway on her 100th post. And guess who won?? (see blog post title hehe). She has amazing patterns that I have been eyeing for awhile! And now I can make onesies for my friends that have kids. I can make a layette for Blake, who was born Friday. Check out the post to see what I won, and while you are there, have a little look around her blog! Oh and I chose the boy fabric, so I could make something for lil Blake!

[Photo taken by Bonnie, I stole it from her post. ]

Kittens

As most of you know, we decided that Halvsies was stolen. The posters were torn down (even the reward ones!) and we have not seen him since September. We are sad, but we decided to adopt 2 more kittens to help fill the hole that the Half Blood Prince left in our hearts. So Sue gave us 2 more Mexican kittens, and these barely made it across the border. Apparently they were supposed to have paperwork - but they did not (they get their shots here, not in Mexico). Anywho, the kitties have settled in well and love both us and each other. They are also Daddy's boys and climb up on Matt's lap and fall asleep often. You will probably see them around the blog every now and again. They have been named H2 (or Half Blood Prince the second) and Oreo (or Michael Jackson). Here are a few pictures from their first few weeks here (we got them on November 15th).

Oreo is the climber. He got out of their kitty gate after 3 days. He used the wine rack as leverage. hahaha They now have their own room!

H2

The boys sleeping on Daddy's lap.

Current Craftings & Eatings

I realized that I am really bad at posting pictures of what I am sewing and what I have sewn. If you are friends with me on ravelry, then you will see lots of pictures of what I am crocheting. But I'm not putting it on the blog, because I am currently making lots and lots of Christmas gifts, and one of them might be for you! Anywho, I was sewing last night and thought I would take some pictures. My phone actually has a decent (for a phone) camera and that's what I use for ravelry pictures. Because I can take them and email them to myself and then just upload immediately. No cords necessary. So I'm doing that with sewing too!

Up first is a set of coasters and towels. This is for a couple who's colors are earthy.. the bridal shower is next Saturday. I may be making another set for a couple getting married in January. I really like how the color combo turned out. Oh and I'm using this tutorial.

And this??? well it is top secret... until after Christmas. but I will just leave you to wonder what I made and who it is for! :)

And if you wanted to know what we have been eating lately...

PW's Steak Bites (trying them out for a party... sooo good!)

Just learned to use the macro lens on my camera and I LOVE it!

Potato Bacon Chowder. Minor adjustments made to the original recipe, like I poured out some of the bacon grease before cooking the onions and celery in it. haha Great way to use up Milk (and potatoes!), but I'm sure it's terrible for us. Matt gave it two thumbs up!

NewlyWife

As some of you may already know, my cousin Emily and I are launching a new project called NewlyWife. There we will chronicle our experiences and interests, as well as creating a community, with topics ranging from cooking to budgeting and crafting to home decor. It's still a few months down the road, as it can take some time to put together. If you are interested on checking out the site, leave a comment with your email and we will add you to the launch list.

Thanks to her hubby for this great picture. Oh, and please excuse my horrible posture!

Flashback Saturday

So my friend Jessica, from the U of R, just sent me this picture circa 2005. It cracks me up. I am trying to figure out where it was. I know it was soph year, cuz that's when Laura and I did ballet (2nd semester). I still have that leotard, maybe not the shoes. I think the dorm is North, we were probably running around before class and showing off our sweet leotards. hahaha Why I only have one shoe on is beyond me. Mom - does this bring back any other flashbacks? Wanna scan and send me some old ballet pics (pretty please?)

Redlands Prebuild 6.20.2009

The week after our Bay Area prebuild, we had another build in Redlands. This one was much smaller (let's just say there were only 5 of us there at our 8 am starting time), but we got it done quickly. I really should have posted these about 5 months ago, but better late than never, right? Enjoy (oh yeah, and I'm too lazy to try and caption these) :)

Lauriana laughed at my cheer ribbons! haha

That's right, they love the A's chair!

Oakland Prebuild 6.13.2009

Back in June Matt & I led our first prebuild for Hands of Mercy. This was the first of 2 houses being built in honor of my grandpa, Papa. It was great to have the whole family together doing something for someone else. These houses are up at the Ranch in Mexico, they serve those who go out into the cities and serve others. Anywho, I already posted a bunch of pictures from our trip wandering around the City, but I hadn't posted prebuild pictures yet. So here are the few that I took!

Me & Linds doing the cut slips

Matt & Rick Carter doing layout Some Atwoods & Wests hammering the floor(?) together
Love this pic! Mike, Dan, & Josh (Warren in the background)

Lonnie making Matt take the lead (blue shirts?)
More family
2 aunts & a cousin!
2 cousins & an uncle (I love that Josh is just playing in the background)

Bella's Beanie

As some of you know, I became Twilight obsessed after reading the books last year. I finally saw the movie, once I bought it on dvd, and have re-read all the books! Although, will I see the next movie in theaters- I don't know. I guess I'm not that obsessed. Matt and I rarely see movies in the theater anymore, but maybe I can get a group of girls to go! Anywho, I've been trying to recreate Bella's beanie, from the movie. I found this pattern, but had to totally recreate it. I thought I would post my pattern here, so I can link to it on my Ravelry account. :)



Pattern (original by april draven, I have edited a bunch of stuff)

This is for standard yarn. No idea what that is called. but not the thick stuff - that's a whole nother pattern!

Hook size: H/8-5.00MM (I am going to try using an I next, to see if it works better)

Abbreviation meanings:
Rnd: round
Ch: chain
Dc: double crochet
Fpdc: Front post double crochet
Bpdc: Back post double crochet
Ss: slip stitch
Fpsc: Front Post single crochet
FO: Fasten off

Ch 1 or use magic circle, Ch 2
Rnd 1: 12 dc in ring, join with 1 ss, (ch 2 doesn’t count as a dc) (12)
Rnd 2: ch 2, * 2 fpdc around next dc, 2 dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (24)
Rnd 3: ch 2, * 2 fpdc, 1 dc, 2 dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (30)
Rnd 4: ch 2, * 2 fpdc, 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (36)
Rnd 5: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 3 dc, 2 dc around next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (42)
Rnd 6: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 4 dc, 2dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (48)
Rnd 7: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 5 dc, 2dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (54)
Rnd 8: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 6 bpdc, 2bpdc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (60)
Rnd 9: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 7 dc, 2dc in next dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (66)
Rnd 10 - 15: ch 2, *2fpdc, 9 dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (66)
Rnd 16: ch 2, * 2fpdc, 9bpdc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (66)
Rnd 17-22: ch 2, *2 fpdc, 9 dc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (66)"Cambria","serif";">Rnd 23: ch 2, * 2fpdc, 9 bpdc* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss (66)
Rnd 24: ch 1, *2fpsc, 9 ss* rep from * to * around, join with 1 ss, FO (66)

Lastly, a picture of me in the first beanie that I made!