2 2011 Reading Challenge

Whew! I finished my goal of 50 books this year! It's such a good feeling to finish a year long goal. I'm thinking of ideas for next year's reading challenge and I don't think it's going to be quite as much. Any suggestions? What are your reading goals?

We're heading home tomorrow from our 10 day vacation in Oregon. It's been the best, but I have to admit I'm having crochet withdrawls!

Oh and Happy New Years!!

2 Last-Minute Christmas Scarf

Christmas is only 2 days away! If you're in a rush to come up with a last-minute gift, this scarf only took a couple of hours to make. And the best part is that it only cost $3 to make!

Hook: J
Yarn: Simply Soft Caron in Grey Heather (6oz)

Row 1: ch 265 (or however long you want your scarf to be)

Row 2: hdc in 3rd hook from ch and in every ch across

Row 3: ch 2 and turn. hdc in back loop of each ch across

Repeat row 3 until your scarf is the width you want it (or you run out of yarn like I did)

I'm really loving how simple and nice this scarf looks. And it's super soft. Good luck finishing your last-minute Christmas shopping. We're going to try and brave the crowd tomorrow to hit up some yarn stores here in Oregon.

1 Oregon

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Well, we're off to Oregon bright and early tomorrow morning to spend Christmas with the in-laws. I can honestly say I am so excited to spend Christmas in Oregon. I'm looking forward to playing an unhealthy amount of board games, Christmas lights down Peacock Lane, Powell's Books, Buffalo Wild Wings, shopping (no sales tax!), a day trip to Seattle, taco stands, baby-free dates, family Christmas parties, cookie decorating at Grandma's, staying up late watching movies, Kenzie getting lots of attention,  and getting to see my husband all day for 10 days!

Any suggestions for things to do in Oregon? 

4 Christmas Cheer

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Every Christmas I pull out the popcorn popper and make some peppermint popcorn to take to friends. This year I spiced it up a little with some crochet ornaments (pattern found here). As for the popcorn recipe, it's pretty self explanatory. 

Popcorn

Crushed peppermint

Almond Bark (or white chocolate)

Mix together and try not to eat the whole batch.

(Who are we kidding, it's Christmas. Just eat the whole batch).

Sidenote: I know you are all patiently waiting for me to post the pattern for my LEGO blanket, but I probably won't get to it until after the holidays. I want to make a really good picture tutorial. That way even if you're not a crocheter you'll be able to make it! So hang in there, it's coming. 

189 Crochet LEGO Baby Blanket Giveaway! (CLOSED)

Ever since making this bobble blanket, I've been determined to make a LEGO baby blanket using the bobble stitch. I couldn't be happier with the results! I plan to write out the pattern and share it with you soon, but I was too excited and wanted to hurry up and share this with you. And to celebrate my first all original crochet baby blanket, I'm giving this one away to one lucky reader. Here are the rules....

To enter you must follow my blog and leave a comment.

For extra entries

1. Facebook about this giveaway

2. Tweet about this giveaway

3. Pin my LEGO Blanket

4. Put my button on your blog (located on the right sidebar)

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

Entries for this giveaway end January 1st.

Happy Holidays!


Here is the link to the tutorial for this blanket.

3 Crochet Peacoat

I opened the door today to find snow everywhere. I kind of love/hate when that happens. But it gave me a good reason to finish this coat I've been working on for Kenzie girl. It's my first crochet clothing attempt. And maybe my last. Crochet clothes aren't my favorite to begin with. Add sleeves to the pattern and well I'm convinced never to do it again. But having said that I love how it turned out (minus the sleeves). 

From now on I think I'll stick to crochet blankets. They're my favorite. And speaking of which I'm working on one right now that I am dying to finish. I made the design up myself and I've been keeping it quiet until I've finished. So be excited, it's going to be good. 

0 Meatless Monday: Black Bean Vegetable Soup

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• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 cups vegetable stock
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (8.75 ounce) can whole kernel corn
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 
  
• In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion, garlic, and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until onion is softened. Add chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add stock, 1 can of the beans, corn, and pepper; bring to boil. Meanwhile, in food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

My Review

I love this soup. It was super easy to make and all the ingredients are things that I normally have in my kitchen. Next time I would probably double the chili powder, because I like things hot!

10 Why I prefer Crochet

I just finished knitting this scarf for Nick. It took me over 30 hours. I'm not the fastest knitter, but is it suppose to take that long to knit a scarf?! I love how it turned out and the stitch is gorgeous. It just took FOREVER. I almost gave up halfway through. I do like knitting, but I LOVE crochet.

Do you have a preference? 

1 Dear Santa

I've been really good this year...

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Just in case you were wondering.

2 I Love You

Today is the 3 year anniversary of the first time Nick and I said "I love you." Cheesy/cute that we celebrate this? This is the bridge where it happened. Nick also proposed to me on a bridge in Oregon. We really love bridges. And I really love Nick because...

He knows everything about me and still loves me

He is kind and patient

He is able to be a full-time student and father and go to work part-time

He's only been grouchy twice since we've been married (And it only lasted about 5 minutes)

He listens to me and does whatever I say (really he does)

He is the funnest dad and is really good at changing poopie diapers

He makes me laugh

He sits with me on porch swings

He likes to go on adventures with me

He makes me dinner when I don't feel like cooking (and it's actually good)

He always lets me win and tells me he loves me and I'm right

He brings me home hot chocolate from work

He crochets

I could go on of course, but I'll spare you the mushiness. Happy 3 years of saying "I love you" husband!

9 Crochet Pillow Pet

Just finished this last night for Kenzie girl. She caught a sneak peak of it (it's for Christmas) and started neighing. Unicorns neigh right? I think I'll skip the wrapping on this one and just have it be waiting for her by her stocking. The whole time I was making it I kept thinking it looked like a cow. Still kind of does. 

1 Someday

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I've been searching for something to make my dad for Christmas, but since my mom would probably never let him have an elk hanging in their bedroom, I found an alternative. 

Amazing right?! I can't imagine how long it would have taken to figure this out. I like to dream that one day I'll make something cool enough to be displayed in a gallery. Maybe if I made a life size Elephant out of crochet...don't worry I'm not that crazy. Maybe just a baby elephant.

2 Crunch Time

I've been taking a break from crocheting for awhile to catch up on my reading goal. I've got 8 books left to read until the end of the year! I just finished To Kill a Mockingbird and No Apology. I don't know how I got past reading To Kill a Mockingbird in school, but I finally got around to reading it. I usually give a book the first 100 pages to get my attention...this one took 180 pages. But the ending message was good and well worth the read. And I read the copy that Nick had when he was little and it was adorable to read all the little notes that he wrote in it. Let's just say he was more studious than I was in middle school. 

So to update my life right now it's crunch time before the end of the year. I've still got lots of presents to make and wrap, books to read, money to not spend, and the list goes on. So to entertain you while I am away reading, please enjoy how cute my baby is. (Not to brag or anything).