Kelso Lace Cardigan

The Pattern! Kelso Lace Cardigan by Suzanne Frary.

I finally took the plunge! It's been just shy of 4 years since I added this pattern to my queue on Ravelry, and every year since I have looked longingly at it and thought to myself, "I need to find time to make this for myself." I could envision it with a great pair of jeans and boots. I could envision the color. What I couldn't envision was taking a time away from crafting for others to make something for ME.

Well, that's all changed now. I've been working my fingers raw on commission after commission for the better part of a year. I spend any free time I have away from commissions to build up my inventory for an upcoming arts & crafts show that I'm a vendor in. I'm rapidly burning out, and need something to revive my passion for fiber art.

The Yarn! KnitPicks CotLin DK in Pomegranate.

So, Sunday evening, when I perused my queue and saw this I jumped on it. I paid for and downloaded the pattern immediately, 'cause we all know that if you buy the pattern you're more likely to utilize it...you've already made an investment! This morning I ordered the yarn quantity I need for the sweater. I went with KnitPicks CotLin DK in Pomegranate. The cotton/linen blend should give a beautiful drape to this sweater, and will prevent the stretching that so often occurs. To compensate for the lack of give in the yarn I'm planning on using the 0 negative ease option. Let's face it, the lovely lady lumps are going to need all the room they can get, anyways!

Now all I have to do is wait. *twitches* Which I can do...I think...maybe...if I stay busy for the next 5-14 business days. *chews lip*

Pet Portrait Wednesday!

Laundry Lottery!

I'm reviving Laundry Lottery for the new year. I've been taking pics diligently every week, yet never getting around to posting them! I won't bog you down with 2-3 months worth of photos, though, so never fear!

This week was, apparently, "If you don't want to put it where it goes just throw it in the dirty laundry" week. I wish someone would have told me this so I could've nixed it. I'm not very amused.

Oh, well. It's over and dealt with now...and I'm still kicking...so no harm. There is one heck of a foul, though, and my guys better beware the wrath they have stirred!

On to the list:

1. The hood to my 9-YO's winter coat.
2. A beanie.
3. A Bakugan card AND pen.
4. One Spiderman glove.
5. An extension cord.
6. A quarter.
7. A pocketknife.
8. The string from a hoody that I'll have to put back later....once I find which hoody it came from.
9. A pair of my hubby's gloves.

I'm still alive...

but real life has attacked full force this week. Baseball games, puppy training, household chores (most of which have been ignored) - I don't know which way to turn first!

On the craft front, I found out Sunday afternoon that I had to have an afghan done for a wedding shower on May 16th. That's ample time; however, I've joined the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup on Ravelry, and the first day of classes is Friday! I can't have such a huge project on my plate with this starting, which means that I have until Thursday night/Friday morning to crank this thing out. I chose the Kitties in a Row afghan, by Beverly A. Qualheim. It's a fast one, to be sure. The pattern repeat is simple enough that I don't have to keep referencing it, and I don't have to focus my energy on counting - rows OR stitches. I started on it Sunday night, and am now around 35% on it, though I haven't been home much to work on it. Fingers crossed that I can get it done!

Here's a close-up pic of the kittehs. Can you see them?












I'm also working on Herringbone Slouch, by CanarySanctuary. These are my "Oh, wow, ANOTHER baseball game" project, as they're more portable and warm-weather friendly than the afghan. I'm almost halfway through the second one, and can't wait to cast them off and get them blocked!








I also just realized that I didn't post my weekly weight loss on Monday! I was only down .2 pounds from last week - but, hey, a loss is a loss!! I'm a little better than that now, so as long as I keep going down I'm pleased.

Time to go for now, though - laundry is calling and then I have to get back on the crochet wagon.

Hugs & chocolate~

Jenn

SQUEE!

You all know by now that I get up and do the Wii Fit every morning. Well, this morning when I hopped on - man, I HATE the way that thing says, "OH!" when you step on it! - I was in for quite a happy surprise...

I have now lost 20 pounds!!!!!!!!!!

ZOMG! From 2/16/2009 to 4/15/2009 I dropped t-w-e-n-t-y pounds. Whoah. I feel like I could conquer the world right now.

Food Journal (3/25/2009)

Breakfast (6)
1 slice whole wheat toast
2 slices low sodium turkey bacon
1 Weight Watcher's yogurt
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (8)
1 Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Calzone Italiano
1 1/2 cups salad
2 Tbsp. light ranch dressing

Dinner (8)
2 Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Tacos
1 Fresco-style Pintos 'n Cheese

Evening Snack (4)
100 Calorie Snack Packs Fudge Stripes
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Food Journal (3/18/2009)

Another SQUEEful! moment from yesterday: I was getting ready to go out and be an awesome wife (I took the hubby out and let him buy new rims for his SUV) and grabbed my old, comfortable jeans to throw on. I had just done laundry, so they were fresh out of the dryer. Yeah, you know the routine, they're always just a little snug - not tight - but just snug enough that they stretch to perfect by the time you run out the door, right? WRONG! These puppies were saggy and baggy!! I started turning from side to side in the mirror looking, and then decided to experiment to see just how baggy they were. After pulling and tugging various parts of the jeans, I discovered that I could take them off easily while they were still buttoned and zipped!!!

This is the 5th week of my new healthy lifestyle, folks - that's right, I only started this on February 16th. It's been slow going, a little here and a little there, but it's working! Because of that I offer this suggestion - celebrate the little victories. Take pride in the way you feel. Even losing 1/2 a pound can result in holding your head higher, standing taller. It's so easy to lose focus on the positive, to become fixated on the fact that you're "dieting", on focusing on what you're missing - as opposed to what you're gaining. Fight it, people! Take pleasure in feeling your hip bones when you lay down at night. Enjoy the fact that your jeans don't leave ugly red marks on your stomach any longer. Notice that your knees and back aren't quite as stiff when you're up and about. That's what it's about and, after all, the little things will eventually all add up to something big!

Okay, enough of the PSA (lol), time for the food journal:

Breakfast (6)
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 Weight Watcher's yogurt
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (7)
Chicken breast
1 cup broccoli
1/2 cup pork'n beans

Dinner (11 points)
1 cup whole wheat spaghetti
3/4 cup meat sauce (made with turkey)
1 1/2 cups salad
2 Tbsp. light ranch dressing

Evening Snack (2)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Food Journal (3/11/2009)

Breakfast (5)
Oatmeal
3 egg whites
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (6)
*Applebee's Cajun Lime Tilapia

Afternoon Snack (3)
1 snack size bag of microwave popcorn

Dinner(10)
2 chicken fajitas
1/2 cup refried black beans
1/4 cup guacamole

Evening Snack (2)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

*A little note about Applebee's Cajun Lime Tilapia. While the menu lists it as 6 points, they actually served me a double-sized portion of the fish itself yesterday. In order to really be able to count it as 6 points, you'd probably need to ask for a box and put half of what is on your plate into it, then eat the remaining half.

A yummy way to eat healthy!

One of the hardest things for me to give up during this diet has been Mexican food. I have always been an ethnic foods type of gal, and Mexican has always been my first love.

That being said, I've come up with a great light lunch that allows me the guilty pleasure of eating Mexican without busting up my diet!


This is a cheese quesadilla and guacamole. The total Weight Watcher's points value of this plate full of ooey-gooey goodness is 7. That's right, folks! That got me to thinking that I should probably share the wealth, so to speak, and let folks know what I used.

Cheese Quesadilla

1 whole wheat tortilla
1/3 cup Weight Watcher's shredded Mexican cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil cooking spray

1. Spray a skillet with cooking spray, and heat to medium heat.
2. Lay the whole wheat tortilla on the skillet, and cover with shredded cheese.
3. Taking care not to burn yourself, gently fold the tortilla in half.
4. Let brown, then flip and brown the other side.
5. Serve hot with 1/4 cup of homemade guacamole (recipe below).

Guacamole

3 ripe avocados
1 ripe tomato, seeded & diced
1/4 of a small red onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 lime, zested & juiced
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped fine
Salt & pepper to taste

1. Pit, peel & mash the avocados in a medium bowl.
2. Add the lime zest and juice, red onion, garlic, cilantro, salt & pepper and mix well.
3. Gently fold in the tomato.
4. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes.

If this isn't quite enough food for you, Progresso has now come out with some wonderful new soups that are zero Weight Watcher's points! One that would be good is their Santa Fe Vegetable.

Make sure to leave me a comment if you try this recipe out and like it!

Food Journals - Day 17 & 18

I'm so late posting today that I'm doing a 2-for-1 deal. I'm posting yesterday's food journal AND todays.

Day 17

Breakfast (4)
3 egg whites
1 apple
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (14)
Panera Pick 2:
French Onion Soup
Half Turkey Artichoke on Focaccia
1 apple

Dinner(6)
Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans

Evening Snack (2)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Day 18

Breakfast (5)
Oatmeal
3 egg whites
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (6)
Turkey club sandwich
100 Calorie Snack Pack Sun Chips
1 cup Progresso Italian-style Vegetable soup

Afternoon Snack (2)
100 Calorie Snack Pack Fudge Stripes


Dinner (9)
Weight Watcher's Smart Ones Ravioli Florentine
Shrimp salad

Evening Snack (4)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar
1 banana

Food Journal - Day 3

Breakfast (5)
1 bowl Cream of Wheat
3 egg whites
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar

Lunch (7)
6" Subway Club (no cheese, mustard veggies)
1/2 serving Craisins

Afternoon Snack (2)
8 multigrain crisp crackers
1 Tbsp. hummus

Dinner (7)
1 cup navy beans
1 Roma tomato
1/4 red onion
2 cups salad
2 oz. tuna
2 Tbsp. light italian dressing

Evening Snack (5)
8 oz. coffee
2 Tbsp. non-dairy creamer
2 tsp. sugar
1 slice whole wheat bread
1 Tbsp. peanut butter

Spot on for points, and I managed to take in about 10 1/2 glasses of water! I'm losing a lot of water weight this week, I can tell. I just hope I can keep from getting all excited thinking it's going to stay this fast.

Wednesday

No Tai Chi for me, today. I was too busy. The hubby was off work, so I got to run around with him. It made the day more pleasurable by far.

We started off at 8:30AM, heading to the vet to drop our Boxer, Lady, off for her second chemotherapy treatment. After that, we had to head off about 50 miles in the other direction to get some groceries and stop by Kohl's to snag a new dress belt for our 16 year old.

I had to be at the doctor's office for a physical at 1:00PM, which lasted WAY too long. So long, in fact, that my hubby sat in the waiting room making calls to get someone to pick up our 8 year old from the bus stop. He took care of it all for me, though, so when I came out of the doctor with semi-possible-bad news I had no other worries. My tests all came back clean, which is always good - to find out you are breast & cervical cancer free, but the doctor wants me to come back Tuesday for a pelvic ultrasound. Apparantly she's afraid that the stress my body is under isn't all due to stress. I'm a little worried, but not as much as you'd think I'd be.

It seems that this journey is opening my eyes to different points of view, and today showed me that. I know that, even if something bad turns up at the ultrasound, I'm taking the right steps for me. That brings with it a serenity that I've been missing for so long. I'm so far from the end of the road - and I realize it. I know I've barely started and that there are going to be a myriad of failures on my part along the way. The thing is, though, that I know I'm doing the right thing. I know that sometime in the future I'm going to sit down to make a list of what makes me happy and it's going to be things that make ME happy, and not everyone else around me. Anything bad that gets tossed my way I'll handle. What more can I do?