One for the Money

I re-read One for the Money by Janet Evanovich last month in preparation for the theatrical release.

I have read all 18 books in the Stephanie Plum series so it was nice to go back and re-read what happened in the beginning.  I had forgotten a lot.  I remembered I did not like Jimmy Alpha, but I couldn't remember why.  I also kept waiting for certain things to happen, certain things that apparently happen in the next few books and not this one.

This book is not fine, upstanding literature, if you are looking for that.  This is just a fun, little read set in 1994 (so there are some pretty hilariously dated references).  I don't like my books to be too serious.  I like to be entertained with fun and frivolity and this is right up that alley.


I definitely fell in love with this series again.  The teen section (13-16) of the series is pretty poorly written and underwhelming to say the least, but 17 and 18 are much better. I read on, because I love Stephanie Plum.  Going back to the first book makes me want to read the next few in the series again, but I barely have time to read what I want, let alone re-read.

I was blessed by a visit from Merma and Papa (my in-laws) last weekend.  They watched my daughter so I could have a date night with my husband.  We had a nice little meal and then went to the movies to see Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum in One for the Money.

Heigl was fantastic in the role.  I was pretty unsure about the casting, but she did an amazing job.  The movie was overall pretty good and followed the book pretty well.  There were a few inaccuracies to the plot, which helped move the movie along so, I see why they were incorporated.  If you are a Stephanie Plum fan, you need to go see it. 

Have you read the series or seen the movie?  If not, what are you waiting for? 

Catch-up

Every once in a while we all need to play catch up.  That is me.  I have been working on crocheting an amazing baby blanket and making other various projects, but neglecting other parts of my life.  Not big things, just little things like taking out the trash and/or recycling, vacuuming, walking the dogs, running and taking time to read.  Oh and preparing material for my class (I am teaching a class on reference for the first time so I am having to develop everything.)  I have been talking a lot about crafting on the blog, but not a lot about the other aspects of my life, well because I have not been doing them a lot.  (I have been doing the mothering thing, can't really neglect that.  D wouldn't let me if I tried.)

Quick update...

Running:  I am actively training for a half-marathon: The Heights Half!!!

This is the first time it is being held so that is something special.  It will be cool, Spring-in-the-Mid-West weather.  I am so excited to run.  I just ran 7 miles the other day in preparation, my longest run of 2012.  I accidentally (yes accidentally, I did not want to run in the rain and other scheduling issues) took a few days off running and I became very. very grouchy and tired.  I ran 7 miles and then felt great.  I learned I have to run to be happy.  No more accidental vacations from it.

I am following Kara Goucher's running plan from her book Kara Goucher's Running for Women.

I am trying to add speed work into my training.  Something I just skipped over for my first half-marathon training.  I trust her training plan as she has had amazing coaches and just made the 2012 Olympic team for the marathon.

Reading:  Um, I am reading a really great textbook...

It really is worth the $70 retail price.  Library Science books are expensive.  Great profession, but the professional materials are never under $50.  Ridiculous!

For fun, I just picked up the new John Green novel The Fault in Our Stars.  I am about 50 pages in and loving it.  John Green is so amazing.

I am also reading Alexander McCall Smith's The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party. 

I love Precious Ramotswe; she is the best lady detective in all Botswana and number one in our hearts.  I love Alexander McCall Smith and everything he writes.  Highly recommended!  His series are wonderfully addictive. 

I do have a few things on the needles, but they can wait.  Life is about balance and I am trying to acheive a better blance by doing the many things that I love and not knitting on a deadline (although I do have two things I have to finish this month, but I am not thinking about that now, right?).

What do you love to do that you have been neglecting?

What are you reading?

What are you doing March 31, 2012 (What?  What is that?  You're coming to the Heights Half to cheer me on or even run?  Excellent.)

Weekend Fun

This weekend was full of family time.

On Saturday we had open gym time with D's day care group.  She had so much fun running around with her little friends.  She seems to miss them a lot on weekends so it is nice that the day care plans a few outings each semester for the kids to get together on weekends.  As a parent, I love meeting the other parents and discussing our kids and parenting.  I also love having something fun to do with the family outside the house for free. 

D showed off her tumbling skills.

Her parachute skills

Her architecture skills

and her running skills (she was too fast to catch on camera).

The girl loves to run, and that makes Mama proud.  I think she will be a future running buddy for me.  I just need to give it a few years for her endurance to build.  I definitely think some kiddie races are in her future.  Maybe I am just hoping too much, but she does seem to want to do everything I do.

After the gym time, we tried to get D to take a nap, at which we were unsuccessful.  So instead she made cookies with her daddy.  If she isn't going to sleep might as well sugar her up, right?

Around then, Merma and Papa (my in-laws) arrived for an overnight visit.  They graciously said they wanted to come visit and they wanted to babysit and treat us to a night out.  Since moving to Peoria, just over 2 years ago, we have not had many child-free date nights, I can think of 2.  So this was well welcomed.

Sunday was a whirl wind of shopping, eating and napping.  Oh and watching the Superbowl.  I am thoroughly exhausted and grouchy.  The end.

What did you do over the weekend?  Has it left you feeling like a grouch this Monday?

FO: Wavy Blanky

After hours of crocheting and believing that it was in fact not getting any bigger and would never end...I finished off the Wavy Blanky and sewed in all the ends (a huge undertaking).

It is a beautiful and wonderful thing to behold.  I estimate the work hours at 15ish.  I sure hope the intended baby uses it.

I would have liked it to be squarer, but I ran out of yarn and did not want to go buy more for just one more repeat of each color.  So it ended up 42 inches wide and about 38 inches tall.

I love the primary color (plus green)  theme.  I think it will suit a child much longer than pastels.  Plus, it is gender neutral so other babes can use it too.

I finished this off on Saturday, well before the Super Bowl, so I worked on something else during that time (soon to be revealed). Superbowl crafting is great, if you haven't tried it.  Last year, I crocheted an entire giant granny square baby blanket for my nephew.

What did you do during the Super Bowl? Or did you watch Downton Abbey?

Tradition Continues

Any doubters out there?  Well, I must confess I kind of doubted myself.  I have great ideas for starting family traditions, but I am usually too tired from work to carry them out.  But, no, not this one.

We made delicious, homemade pizza.

My husband and daughter are totally supportive of it so I know it will continue.

mmmmmmmmmmmm

Can't wait for more tonight.

What are your family traditions?  Ever try to start one?  Any great pizza dough recipes?

Dishcloth Favorites

It is no secret, I love making dishcoths.

I made this pair this past weekend for a whoopdwhoop swap.  I love Whoopdwhoop.  You should try it.

I never tire of making this pattern over and over.  The pattern is Not-Your-Average Washcloth by Elizabeth Prusiewicz from the book 101 Designer One -Skein Wonders.  This set is made with Sugar 'n Cream in ecru and sage as requested by the swapper.

I love the One-Skein Wonders series.  Have you tried it? I have a few of the books form the collection, but I probably should get them all.  I also have One-Yard Wonders for sewing (hmmm, maybe I should sew this weekend).  Anyway, I am cheap so I like to make projects that only take one-skein or less a lot of the time.  (I do splurge for much bigger projects from time to time.)   I guess that is one of the reasons I love dishcloths so much; you can usually make two from a skein of Sugar 'n Cream cotton.  Plus they are quick and don't require looking at a pattern a lot.  Oh, and they are so useful. The Trifecta...Quadfecta?

What do you keep going back to?  What do you feel like you do over and over?  Anybody need any dishcloths?  I may feel generous and make some for a commenter or two. (Can you tell, I would really like some comments.)

Oh and Happy Groundhogs Day!

I'm alright and nobody worried 'bout me

New Yarn Part 2

This yarn purchase is for an exciting "un-named" project.

 

Cascade 220. 100%  Wool.

I am test knitting.  Test knitting is when a pattern designer gives the pattern they made to someone to test it out and make sure it makes sense and is not missing any steps before making it available to the public.  I am very honored to be test knitting for MunchkinMama @ Everything...All at Once.  She is a very good technical knitter so I am surprised she thinks I am good enough to knit for her.  I feel quite special and a bit over-estimated. 

The project is flip-top mittens; a hybrid of mitten and fingerless-gloves.  I love wearing my store-bought pair; that is how she chose me to test knit these. 

This is what MunchkinMama's look like

Photos from MunchkinMama;'s Raverly Project Page

The little "v" pattern look like thrums, (like my slippers) but they are not.  The yarn is held, so it is more like fair isle. I guess I am just jumping into the land of knitting color work.  Not sure what color I will make my little "Vs", I have a bunch of yarn in my stash to choose from.  Something that goes with lime green, I guess.  Any suggestions?

I will also make these two-at-the-same time, a technique I have never before tried, but am dying to learn.  By making both at the same time I will not run into the issue of the pair being different sizes or having different tensions (like I did with my husband's socks).  It is also helpful because once you are done, you are done.  You don't have to then start the second pair. 

What are you learning to do in February?  Is your weather crazy warm?  Do you think the groundhog will see it's shadow tomorrow?  Does it really matter?