What I'm Doing Today

oh you know, the same old same old. just buying a FREAKING 50D CANON!!!! breath, breath...he he hooo. i don't know what part of my brain is not functioning to make me do this all the time. oh well now i can have an AMAZING camera/flash and take some really good pictures and maybe get paid for them. i'll be selling my current XT rebel on ebay or another place like that. it will be hard, but i can do it.

since i'll have this camera my lens (that beautiful 28-135mm lens) needs to be protected, so i'll have to buy the UV filter:

and since the pop up flash on cameras is usually good for nothing except harsh light, i'll be buying one of these:



that's right, a speedlight. this day is turing out to be FAR more expensive than i would have thought. (mainly i have to get this b/c i'm always asked to take pictures at church things, like receptions in the gym, talent shows, other random activities and my flash is not cutting it. so i'll be saving countless hours in photoshop fixing the terrible light that my current flash provides.)
if anyone would like some pictures of their family, friends, baby, horses or moped, just give me a call in about a week and i'll be glad to take some pictures for you.
maybe i can convince someone (ahem mom...dad?!) to get me the gary fong difussers now to go with my flash. i can't spend anymore money today...or for the next 2 years for that matter.
anyways Anita tagged me to go to my photo folder, pick the 6th folder and the 6th picture in that folder and post it so here it is:

it's from chrey and craigs wedding in september. our bridesmaid flowers and her boquet. processed with...well let's see, i think with the boutwells totally rad actions but maybe PW set1?! oh well nobody cares but me. so wish me luck. i have to go to my bank account to make sure i have enough in checking and transfer some if i don't.
IT'S AN ILLNESS!!!!!!!

The Green Monster

I made up my own version of green smoothies yesterday after church. i was really tried and hungry...so i made a smoothie...my mind is a strange place.

here's what i put in them, spinach (lots of it) frozen blueberries, banana, apple, yogurt, peaches, & milk

then i put it in the blender in the following order, spinach, yogurt, blueberries....

...banana, apple....

....a little juice from the peach jar, just a little to sweeten up the drink (there is no added sugar)...

....peaches, and last but not least, milk, soy or otherwise. just a little bit to thin the smoothie out.

please don't turn away now, you'll get a nice green color when you start blending, but keep going.

after i get most of the chunks blended out, i add a little bit of crushed ice to make it a little slurpee like. then blend it again until everything is crushed/mixed/no longer green.

it looks like...well something you wouldn't necessarily want to drink, but trust me, it's good. you can't taste the garden of spinach we put in there, but it's there. it's a good way to get your vegetables in.

my dad is a comedian.....not really. everyone liked it except for ty who doesn't like bananas. when i told sam it had spinach in it, he didn't believe me until i made it again and saw me. but he loved it too. anyways on to something that's not so healthy, and really didn't work out, one bit...

homemade salt water taffy. now, seriously taffy is supposed to be soft and chewy, and well, good. this was NOT. it burned my hands, really bad, then hardened almost instantly. it really did hurt when i hit him in the head with it...i didn't even do it hard.

another thing i fail at:

well more accurately, my cat fails at. neko likes to sneak into my room and get a jiggy with my yarn. this is what i came home to one day. seriously. i spent 2 hours just untangling all this yarn. i was not too happy.

however i was happy with these:

the slippers i made for camree. i thought i made them too big but i guess they turned out just right. now i just need to make a matching hat for erin :). i have to finish my baby pixi hat first though.

and here's a tie i made for ty, but he doesn't want it...he has 14 ties and thinks that's enough for 2 years, i guess it IS but still i would want a different one for each day of the month. to each his own i guess. so my dad got a 2nd knit tie.

and FINALLY the fabric i bought for my apron:

i'm excited. i just won't make it for a month or two now. i'm too lazy i guess.
well this was long but oh well.

Today

i'm trying to get myself organized today i have lots to do. but for now i'm eating some pomegranates and obviously writing a blog. today i'll be working in photoshop for most of the day trying to finish editing pics. from a friends wedding and a friends family. here are some i've done so far:




i'm disappointed in some of these pictures to be completely honest. i'm trying to edit them so you can't tell but when i was taking these family pics. my camera stopped working (i ended up having to buy another 50$ battery it was corroded or something). luckily i brought my dads camera as a backup and i wasn't happy with how the pics taken w/ his camera turned out. they are washed out and really not good color wise. that, Chapin family is why it's taking me 142 years to get these pics to you. i'm editing them so hopefully you won't be able to tell :).
it's also taking so long b/c photoshop stopped working on my laptop so i'm at the mercy of the main computer being open to finish editing. ANYways...
after i'm done with that (hopefully today) i have to make a slideshow for the YW New Beginnings. i had it almost all done then my computer froze and deleted everything....seriously i'm over technology.
then i have to sign up for classes at the Academy of Art University. i'm taking the quater off from skagit to take some photography classes. I'm hoping i can take a few classes and really learn about my camera. then i think i might put an ad out on craigslist or something and start charging to take senior/family/whatever pictures for people. that way i can sock some money away for a new camera and for school. my goal is to have a new camera by august when i go to hawaii for my aunts wedding!


then these 2 books...i shouldn't have gotten them b/c now all i want to do it knit. a lot. i wish i was a fast knitter so i could make all of these toys. i'm working on a second tie for my brother ty for his mission. i just made one for my dad. i'm also working on a hat or two. and i started some socks but quickly dismissed that idea. and i'm halfway done with a poncho that i'm stuck on now.

then there's this pattern i just got to make myself an apron. i bought that cute apple fabric i talked about a couple posts ago. so i have to break out the sewing machine at some point.

this post is pointless. oh well. i also have to make appts. for dentist/eye/hair for the next week or two. and get my room reorganized. at least i have almost a complete day to myself as soon as ty leaves and can get hopefully a chuck of all that stuff done.

pomegranate hint:

to get the seeds out, cut it in half. hold it upside down over a bowl and smack that thing with a big metal spoon or an ice cream scoop....all those lovely seeds will just fall out. no need to pick at it. also, never get the packaged seeds from costco or anywhere, they taste like fingernail polish..seriously. fresh is best.

Booties

last night around 10:30 i came upon a free knitting pattern. despite the fact that i have approximately 4 projects already on needles and i have to buy more needles to start the new projects i want to do, i started these baby booties. i finished one last night around 11:30 then this morning i finished the other one. seriously it is so easy and if you know how to knit at all you can make them. i just take forever to knit so if you are a fast knitter you can have one done in about 30-45 minutes probably.



so i was trying out different ribbon "laces" i don't like the polka dots for these booties but i think i'll make some hot pink ones and use that ribbon.

i'll stick with the light pink laces.

i got this pattern from the lionbrand yarn website. here's the pattern from their site:
size 8 needles--i got new acrylic ones that i don't hate too bad anymore
a ball of bernat cotton tots yarn-purple. i have enough yarn left over to make maybe 3 more pairs (they say to use lionbrand yarn obviously but i didn't want to go hunting for any downstairs so this is what i used)
and a big eye needle


Cast on 20 stitches. Work in Garter stitch (knit every stitch on every row) for 30 rows.
TOE
Next Row *Knit next 2 stitches together, repeat from * across row - 10 stitches remain.Next Row Knit. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail into large-eyed blunt needle, then, one at a time, through the 10 stitches. Pull tail to gather stitches together. Knot yarn to secure. With same yarn, sew open edges of Bootie together from toe to within 2 1/2 in. [6.25 cm] of opposite end of Bootie.
FINISHING
Sew remaining end of Bootie for back seam. Weave in ends by threading each end into large-eyed blunt needle, then weaving the end through the knitted stitches.
Laces
Cut an 18 in. [45.75 cm] strand of yarn. Thread strand into large-eyed blunt needle, and weave through open edge of Bootie, around ankle. Repeat for second Bootie.
Tassels (make 4)
1. Wrap yarn around cardboard 10 times. Cut yarn leading from ball.2. Cut a 4 in. [10.25 cm] length of yarn, thread through top of tassel and tie tightly. Cut yarn strands at other end of tassel open and remove cardboard.3. Cut a 6 in. [15.25 cm] length of yarn and wrap around tassel tightly several times at midpoint. Weave yarn end into tassel.Tie tassels to ends of Laces. Tie Laces into bows.

i didn't do the tassels, at least not yet i'll decide if i want to or not later. i think i just like the bow from the ribbon, which i used in place of the yarn for the laces.
so i guess now everyone who has babies will know what they are going to get from me! =). unless i can graduate into bigger and better things knitting wise. here is my next project:

a baby poncho. ya heard?! this probably won't happen...i guess that's what i say about everything though so we'll see. first though i have to finish my scarf i'm making all for myself!! i've been purling and counting too much lately so i wanted to do something where i didn't have to think. then i found some amazingly soft yarn on sale and decided i needed a scarf. i started a couple days ago but find it kind of boring just knitting with one yarn for that long so i'm not done yet but maybe by tonight.

p.s. i officially have a callus (well a shiny part) on my pinkie where my bamboo needles rub when i knit. it got bad when i was making all those wash clothes where i had to purl/knit together/increase a whole lot. i'm trying to rest it now.

p.s.s. my new years resolution is to work out every day. so far sam and i are doing a pretty good job. we walk the equivalent of 1-2 miles for our "warm up" then we do abs, glutes, legs and arms. we sing lets get physical and wear stretchy headbands and leg warmers.....

Random Happy Things

a couple posts ago i blogged about some of my new favorite things. this post has kind of the same theme about it. there's lots of pictures so some of you may not get too far.
#1 Happy thing

the narnia-esque picture i took of the chapin family last weekend. i'm still working on editing their pics but it's one of my favorites.
#2

rayme working the camera just like the girls in his family. seriously i was crying i was laughing so hard. they are a bunch of silly gooses (geese?!) that's why i like them so much. he'll probably appreciate this picture. i warned him as we were taking the pictures that he might regret them.
#3

my aunt lauras pretzel/raspberry jello thing. it has a pretzel crust with a cream cheese/whipped cream middle topped with raspberry jello and pineapple and frozen raspberries. mmm freaking mmm. it is so good. (my aunt/uncle and family were up this last week and we had fun despite the snow.)
#4

knitting baby wash clothes and finishing them in just a short amount of time. that blue one has a butterfly on it and the pink one below is like an eyelet one with intentional holes that you can't really see.

#5

the hunger games book on tape. seriously. LOVE IT! i had the actual book but returned it after reading 3 pages now i can't hardly turn it off after getting it on CD. also those headphones were FREE thanks to my families addiction to diet pepsi i earned enough points to get some free stuff from amazon. but back to the book, read it or listen to it. seriously i love it and am almost done with the thing. very very good.

#6

not being able to find a cd player to listen to the hunger games and being too lazy to put them on my ipod so i've been stuck next to a computer for the last 2 days listening to it. so i've been knitting a lot. i love to read but i don't like to take the time but this way, i can listen to a good book and accomplish knitting projects, photoshoping pics for people and blogging...

#7

chrey got my these "grinch" slippers for christmas and i love them they are so warm.

chrey also got me this game which i think we'll be playing tonight =). abby also got me the twilight soundtrack which i also love.
#8

this purse that my dad picked out for me for christmas. this is a terrible picture but it's really cute. he got one for my mom too but hers has red handles. we just can't go anywhere together anymore.
#9

the recipe book my mom got me. i love it. the first day i already filled up most of my coordinating cards with recipes. luckily i can order more. (it's filled with some recipes from my aunt laura and uncle andy which i can't wait to try.)

#10

this kit i got from target for 4 bucks. i love anything minty.

#11

another target find for 20 bucks. a small bookcase to fit under my shelf. i finally got rid of the big white beast that took up 1/3 of my room. now i just have to refocus on the other side of my room.
#12

an overflowing yarn basket, with more in the michaels bag. but it's gross right now b/c i have a freaking cat who pushes my door open with his head and rips them all apart. it makes me mad.

#13

a new cabling needle so i can learn to cable knit. woot woot.

#14

my homemade stocking from when i was a baby. i love how in our PEACE stocking hangers mine is on the A, for amazing...or amanda...

#15

shelley rocking out christmas morning with her new, blue box (ipod shuffle). she hasn't taken that thing off her ears i don't think.

#16

after a long night of babysitting that was a little rocky in the beginning, this is how it ended. well i spent the night so we still had the morning and the only issues we had then were me not cooking the scrambled eggs right (who knew?!) and not having any leggings to go with a skirt. this was just before bed time i told them i had a special surprise for them if they all got ready for bed. then i told them to get a blanket and a pillow and a book. then we read christmas stories. i'm so glad nolan likes to read b/c i had him read aloud after my voice went horse after 2 books.

and a couple more favorite/happy things are the new 007 Wii game which i dominate. and shawn white snowboarding for the wii. and some spoonulas from rachel rays line. a new cast iron enamel pot from martha stewart. and this picture:

which about sums up our christmas morning. i guess it's a tradation even though i don't drink pop i guess it makes for a good photo. what better way to keep them cold?!?!

Updated Projects

in my last blog i posted about some cute knitted hats well they hardly take any time and are so easy. i've made two and each one took me just a couple hours each (spread over a couple days)

i'm going to be making a few more of these over the next couple days. they look way cuter on kids than just laying on the desk though. here's so you can see what it looks like on:

here's another knitting project i'm about halfway done with. baby legwarmers. i used strechy yarn so i didn't have to purl/stitch rib a bunch. then on the bottom is a little crocheted flower (although in the pic it looks like a pink blob).

i took my grandparents christmas pics but this one i got really quick before he stopped making that face. i tried to get him to be a tiger running throught the forest but he didn't go for that.

i've had lots of time to knit/read/wrap presents/hang out with family from out of town because the weather outside looks like this:

and that's after a lot of it melted and came back in the last day. i haven't been able to get my car out of the driveway so i've been stuck at home. we've made LOTS of snow ice cream. yummmmm.

i've also been helping my mom with a scrapbook for a friend of hers. here's a sneek peek we don't have it done yet.
and last but not least it's christmas eve and we are about to go across the street to our neighbors for dinner. then tomorrow we will have christmas morning at our house (we're going to take it SLOOOOW this year) and in the afternoon we are all going to our grandparents house for dinner/lunch and to open presents with the extended family. then i get to be up bright and early the next morning to go to work...yippy!

i hope everyone has a fun/safe/meaningful christmas with friends and family.