inspiration and other things

It's been a while since I have posted. Between San Fransisco (pics are here), AnimeFest (pics are here) and other general life, I haven't been too inspired to knit or sew... or create, for that matter. Until this afternoon... sort of...

While catching up on some blogs, I came across this post on Craft Critique about "Wreck This Journal". What a fun little book... er... journal! After more Amazon searching, there are also other books journals by Keri Smith that are now on my DO WANT list... Living Out Loud, How to Be an Explorer of the World: Portable Life Museum, This Is Not a Book, and The Non-Planner Datebook. Even her website has some great creativity-inspiring activities! Don't you think that one or more of these would make for a great blog-jumpstart? again.... DO WANT!!

Oh! Monday, I did try my hand at making Miso Ramen... It was a COMPLETE SUCCESS! I used this recipe on About.com, omitting the pork and using regular noodles from the cheapie instant ramen. I am going to try an alternative version, again omitting the pork but also swapping veggie bouillon instead of using chicken. It was soooooooooooooo frakkin' good!! I could eat it every day!

hmmm….. How about some knitting?

In anticipation of our anniversary trip to San Francisco later this month, I have decided to cast-on a shrug! This will be knit from my ginormous stash, so I will pick out colors when I get home.  I am either going to start “Eyelet Shruglet” (ravelry link) from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders or “Shrug This” (ravelry link) from One-Skein Wonders. Either way, I hope it will be a quick knit. It all depends on what yarn calls to me.

I have some sparkley white in worsted weight, that was meant for a sweater that never was, that I might use. Depending on how long it takes me to knit one of these, I might knit a second for a swap item….  :wink, wink:

Last week....

NKOTB - March 10, 2009, originally uploaded by BigPikaChica.

I am still recovering.... So... Much... Fun!!!

Colorado - Jan 2009

Colorado - Jan 2009
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

We got back from Colorado early yesterday morning and I brought a cold with me. Go figure. Why couldn't it wait until next week, when I am off work!

I've uploaded all of our pics, so take a look! Yes, we got the trucks stuck... and then unstuck. Yes, Erik peed his nickname in the snow. Yes, Papa's snowmobile took a nosedive down the side of a hill. Don't worry, he jumped off before it went.

Not much knitting happened. I got through the thumb gusset on my first pair of mittens. I finished Twilight when were half way there and then I started New Moon.

K. Gotta go back to work now. Playing catchup and trying to get ahead so I can take next week off for my birthday!

Honeymoon Pics

Honeymoon Mosaic
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

I have finally uploaded a few pics from our honeymoon!! These are the good, fun ones, out of 350+ total. So much fun!

1. Comp'd Campagne at the Miami Hyatt, 2. Iron Sushi - Downtown Miami (www.ironsushi.com), 3. View of Miami from out balcony, 4. Muster, 5. Free On-Board Sushi + Mojitos, 6. Nassau, Bahamas, 7. Nassau, Bahamas, 8. Cuban Cigar, Beer & Knitting, 9. Another view from our balcony, 10. The Captain, 11. St Thomas, USVI, 12. Coral World - Iguanas, 13. Coral World - Underwater Observatory, 14. Coral World - Seahorses, 15. Megan's Bay, 16. St. Maarten (the Dutch side), 17. St. Maarten (the Dutch side), 18. Our Ship, 19. Tiki Hut Snorkeling, 20. Tiki Hut Snorkeling, 21. Tiki Hut Snorkeling, 22. Tiki Hut Snorkeling, 23. Tiki Hut Snorkeling, 24. Tiki Hut Snorkeling - Face-hickey!, 25. Representing Beerman, 26. Tiki Hut Snorkeling - Erik scaring the rap out of a suba diver, 27. More St Maarten, 28. Erik eating a conch-fritter!, 29. Our Ship, again, 30. The Hairy Chest contest winner!, 31. IMGP0342, 32. Sunset from our balcony, 33. This is what happens when towel animals talk back.... or when Erik drinks crown, 34. Miniature golf, 35. Miniature golf, 36. Playing with the camera

The Perfect Day

Stolen from Martina's MySpace
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

You would think things would wind down after the honeymoon, but I guess not. We have a friend in town, evaced from from Gustav. The house looks like the exploded. And, there is a tone of laundry to do.

I have uploaded a few wedding pics to my Flickr. Honeymoon pics will be posted and blogged soon.

Thank you for all of your emails and good wishes! We dodged both hurricanes and had sun 98% of the cruise. It couldn't have been more beautiful. the wedding and honeymoon!

Secret Pal Goodness #1 +++ SP Question of the Week #6

Secret Pal Goodness #1
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

Look at the goodies that arrived today!! The soap smells amazing. My mom tried to snitch it from me! I can't wait to start knitting from the Flat Feet!! That is so awesome! I wonder what it will look like as a sock!

I've been toying with the idea of playing with some of those new KnitPicks sock blanks, but I really need to reduce my sock yarn stash first.

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What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
Normally, it is just what has been keeping my interest at the time. I've taken sweaters, socks, and other things on vacation with me. Its really funny when airport security is freaking out about my lighter (when I used to smoke) and laptop, but I can bring a ton of yarn and pointy sticks and they don't bat an eye.

My NEW Ipod Classic Cozy + SP Question #5

My NEW Ipod Classic Cozy
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

I worked this up today while finishing up the first season of Gossip Girl. Yup! Totally addicted to that show. I've even picked up a couple of the books on Bookmooch.Com. It's mindless reading, but I like it. It makes me want to go shopping for clothes! hehehe

I gotta run. Its family reunion weekend and the hotel wifi sort of sucks. More on Sunday or Monday!!

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1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday?
I love to stay home. We have our annual trip to Galveston Beach, most weekends at my family's lake house, and a few trips to East Texas to visit my dad. Whenever we get to stay home and hide from everyone and stay in our PJs all day is like the perfect vacation!

2) Where is one place you’d like to go?
Japan. New York. San Fransisco (again). Moab, Utah (with the 4x4s). I can't pick just one.

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yarn: Online Supersocke Cotton 100 Stretch
needles: US 2 dpns
pattern:
* Cast on 48.
* Work 2x2 rib for 8 rounds.
* Continue working in rounds until desired length.
* Divide stitches evenly on two needles and Kitchner the end.

That catchup post I was talking about!

It has been crazy busy around here!


Weekend before last, we headed to west Texas for Erik's Great-Uncle Carl's 90th birthday. Plains, Texas is 15 miles from the New Mexico border and is also about 100 miles from Roswell, New Mexico. We drive to Roswell to check out the UFO Museum which (sadly) was a big joke. Sorry, but it was. BUT, the Mexican restaurant down the street made the drive completely worth it!

Since the drive out and back was 6 hours each way, I had a little time to work on some fiber-goodness. I got over half of my cover-up finished. Its going to be a little big, but that is way better than being too small. I can't wait to wear it on our honeymoon! Such a super simple project that is perfect for a beginner.

After we got home last week, my pink iPod decided to go wonky. It seems like the menu button is stuck. I asked Erik if I could get a new one and he told me to go ahead and get the big one! Seriously! I just wanted one like his, but who am I to say no to that! YAY!! New iPod that I can watch videos and TV on!

And to finish off a great weekend, we had our annual 4th of July party at the lake. We did things differently this year. Instead of setting off fireworks on the 4th, we took the boat out and watched everyone elses. Then, on Saturday, we set ours off. Mom has pictures of that, as well as, everyone in their pirate garb, because Mom wanted a cheesy pirate party. This pic is only the first trip to the fireworks stand, $300. There were $700 more that we bought later in the day.

I am off of work this week and I plan to sit on my ass in front of the Tivo with yarn. Thurday, I just might go to lunch with Robyn, but we shall see.

I'm off to be lazy! I think I'm going to take a nap now.

What i did this weekend...

What i did this weekend...
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

Hey! Where have you been? Me? I've been right here! Nothing really happened last week, knitting or otherwise! I did work stuff and that was about it. Not really blog worthy.

As for the weekend... I was trying to get sick. I'm at that in-between stage right now, am I going to go down or not. We shall see. Saturday, I didn't get out of my PJs. After working on sleeve #1 on Erik's Not-So-Cursed Sweater, I took a really long nap. BORING!!! hahaha

Yesterday, Robyn and I sent the boys to watch Rambo while we went to see 27 Dresses with my mother. It was really cute!! I have a closet like that, except it is with Halloween costumes and ren fest garb!

Oh! You noticed me new toy! I got a Sony Reader!! It is freakin' awesome!! I've actually scanned in a couple of knitting patterns, which you will see when I am done with Erik's sweater. I said in a previous post that I was wanting to read/reread some of the classics that I may have missed i school.

Well, most (if not all) of those classics are public domain and available for free at Project Gutengerg. I have the first 14 Wizard of Oz books already and I have many other books that I want to read! PLUS, when you register your Reader, Sony gives you 100 classics of your choice for free, that are specifically formated to your Reader. Listen to me! I sound like an advertisement!! SORRY!!!!!

I did finish the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. The first three were great and you could just read those and be fine. In fact, if you shoe to read this series, JUST READ THE FIRST THREE!! The fourth one, So Long and Thanks For All the Fish, was my favorite, eventhough it sort of went with the story, but not really. The last, Mostly Harmless, was not really to my liking. It was a chore to get through. Erik told me just to put it down, but I couldn't leave things unfinished. Maybe I should have.

Just in case I forgot to mention, I finished the first sleeve on Erik's sweater. He just might have a new something for our trip to Colorado!

I'm off!! I have to get a little work done before I get sent home for being almost sick.

Overboard

Overboard
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica

Ok. I finally got all of my cruise pictures uploaded and printed. Finally.

I'm sure I will add more, but these are all that I have right now. Kim has some that she didn't give me, but I will get those later... when I tie her down and rip the camera from her hands! hahaha

You can see all of my pictures here... on my Flickr.

This one is sort of a joke. Erik kindly asked Kim not to throw me overboard.

Pre-Cruise Penny Squishin'

I'm still working on the pictures from the cruise. There are a lot to go through, but I promise that I will post them. To tide you over, here are the pennies that I squished on The Strand while we waited for Kim, Steveni, & Diana to get into town.

The pennies on the left are from Lafitts's Beat Gift Shop. The pennies on the right are from LaKing's Confectionary.

We really didn't have any time to find any more. That just means that Erik and I have some to find when we visit again in May.

The pennies pictured below are from Ron Jon's in Cocoa Beach. I have never personally been there, but Erik and his siblings have memories of that particular one and they will most likely never visit there again. I have plans for these pennies.

I'm back!!

I got back Monday night and I was tired! Even yesterday, I was still tired. Sorry, I played catch-up at work, so blogging didn't happen.

Now you get a quick summary post!

Mom and I got into Galveston about an dhour and a half before everyone else, so we did some shopping on The Strand.

Of course, we had to go into my favorite store, Hendley Market, which is where I bought more yarn. SHAME ON ME! My reasoning is that they have stuff that I wouldn't normally buy, thus creating a yarn memory! Kind of like my Tilli Thomas Rock Star that I picked up in Vegas a while back. This, on the other hand, was a lot cheaper than that yarn.

If you are on Ravelry, you can see the yarn details here. It is called Tibet and it is from Himalaya Yarn, 60% wool 40% silk. My plans are for an open work scarf. YUM!

We have a ton of pictures, I just haven't had the chance to go through them yet. I will be sure to post them, just like I have in the past. All in all, it was a great cruise to Cozumel and back. I really missed Erik andI really don't want to go on vacation without him again! :o(

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And for a little something extra...

Mom and I watched Bionic Woman last week and loved it. Of course, I was too lazy to change the channel and I caught the beginning of a new show called "Life". I noticed that the female lead looked very familiar.

After seeing the opening credits, I did know her! I went to junior high with Sarah Shahi. I had no idea that she had gotten into acting, and she's actually really good! Last I had heard, she was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and was going to SMU.

You go Sarah J.... er... Shahi!

Yup! Another thing to add to my Tivo list!

SLIDESHOW - This Year's Galveston Trip - RUNNING BACKWARDS, lol

Add to my blog

BYOB Bento - Bring Your Own Breakfast

BYOB Bento - Bring Your Own Breakfast
Originally uploaded by BigPikaChica.

This weekend, Erik and I are heading to Galveston with his family. They have rented a beach house, so meals aren't included. We will probably eat at Shrimp N Stuff for lunch and dinner, but we are on our own for breakfast. Erik will probably eat cereal, but I wanted something different. This made for the perfect opportunity to make a BENTO!! Or two!!!

Mmm... Yogurt... Hard Boiled Egg... Plain Bagels... Cream Cheese... OJ...

I have a feeling that Erik will want one also. I'll let him use the Hello Kitty containers! hahaha

Workin' On Our Winter Tan - Day 7 (The Last Day)

Workin' On Our Winter Tan - Day 6

Workin' On Our Winter Tan - Day 5

Workin' On Our Winter Tan - Day 4

Workin' On Our Winter Tan - Day 3 (part two)