amazing adventure

This morning Mike woke me up with "I'm taking you on an adventure today!"  I was in.  Not sure for what but I was in.  Mike likes to take me places without telling me where we're going because he likes how concerned and curious I get. (I feel differently...)  We ended up heading to the Dells, or like dad likes to say "da dells."  The car ride was filled with great tunes like "She Wolf" and knitting.  

Our first stop was The Pine Cone- yes that would be the swinging truck stop.  Mike took me there for the first time this year and I immediately fell head over heels for their Chicken Dumpling soup and gigantic, mouth watering rolls. That is exactly what we both ordered and it was a warm and tasty way to start our adventure. 

 "Start Smiling" don't mind if I do!

We made it to the Dells and were off to the Outlet Mall.  They opened a new J. Crew their in November and we were hoping to find some great deals!  Indeed we did!  Mike ordered a jacket that he's had his eye on for months and got an extra 50% off the clearance price, what a lucky day.  

Our final stop would be one of my favorite places...the casino. (if you know me- you know i am TOTALLY kidding) We walked into the grandma filled, smokey, blinking lights building and were off.  

 yes...

 he freakin loves it! 

 Maybe this is why I don't like it, I am crazy unlucky!  The one game I played I ripped the ticket and got half of it eaten in the machine...

Have fun on your adventures! XO

if you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales.

 Great potential news!  I got asked to take a long term sub job in kindergarten at one of my favorite schools today.  If all goes well I will be starting around April.  I immediately started thinking about what MY kindergarten classroom would look like and peeked at my "classroom" Pinterest board and found this fabulous quote.  Then I got out my Martha paints and a canvas and got painting.  I look forward to hanging this behind my desk in a few months!

 

Sample paints from Home Depot (a great way to buy nice paints for crafts!) 

 The orangy color I used (butterscotch)

 Gray lettering (crevecoeur)

 

Penciled in the words before paint

 final product

Have a wonderful weekend, go make a snow angel! xo

knitting and washing

I spent a big chunk of my night at the laundromat.  Stella peed all over our comforter...so it NEEDED to be wash.  It was probably a good thing- it needed to happen.  I googled laundromats and headed to the nearest one.  What a peaceful place! I was the only person in there, me and the buzzing of the washers.  It kind of felt like a coffee shop, minus the coffee and hippie music.  I sat and worked on my hat.  I promised a picture a week ago...I'm having trouble.  I have ripped out the hat about 10 times but think I am finally on the right path.  I found a great hat at canvas with a sort of bobble stitch pattern.  I immediately called my Aunt Pat to have her figure out how to recreate the hat and I think I'm getting there.  Here's what I have.

Sleep tight.  I hope I will- Mikey has the flu and I'm scared I'm going to get it- Airborn before bed! xoxo

gingham's grand

Boots: Target, Tights: Marshalls, Skirt: Canvas, Shirt: Canvas, Top: Gap

I've been totally feeling the nautical blue and white theme lately.  I think it started with that snood and just keeps going.  I'm finishing up my matching hat and will be posting a pic and directions as soon as I cast off!! After I finish the hat I'm planning on making Mike his first knit by liz creation.  He was sceptical at first when I begged him to make something but I think he's slowly gaining confidence in my skills.  I ran out and got a soft dark gray yarn for his hat, I'm sure he'll look super sexy!  XO

my new snood

 

Since moving to Madison, Mike and I have found a new store, Canvas- Lands End.  After the closing of Martin and Osa and the sky high J. Crew prices we needed to find another option. Canvas has young preppy, stylish, quality clothes for men and women.  They also have a great online store and they even send you a hand written note every time you order something from them, how sweet!

We were shopping there this weekend and I came across a gorgeous cream and navy striped snood.  Instead of buying it I was on a mission to make my own!  As Mike was checking out I frantically counted the stitches to help create my remake.  Here is the pattern I made up, it was SUPER DUPER easy! XO

I used...

• size 13 us needles (circular) 
• loops and thread (charisma) yarn in dark blue and off white

Cast on 56 stitches (blue)

Knit in the round


Row 1: Knit (blue)
Row 2: Pearl (blue)
Row 3: Knit (white)
Row 4: Pearl (white)


Continue this until you have 11 white stripes then...
Row 1: Knit (blue)
Row 2: Pearl (blue)
Row 3: Knit (blue)


Cast off and weave/tie in ends!


Let me know if you have questions- this is the first pattern I've typed up. Happy Knitting!!

Too Fast. Too Furious.

One of my favorite blogs had a video made from the sight Animoto and I decided to make one.  The free trial version only allows 12 pictures so I thought I'd give it a try before I bought the membership.  It lets you use all of your instagram pictures which is great.  There's no doubt Stella is too fast and too furious.  Enjoy!!

6 am saturdays

Good Morning! It's Saturday at 6:15 and I am up...while Mike and Stell are snuggling all warm and toasty in bed.  I was thinking about why I can get up so easily on the weekends but not on the weekdays.  I've decided it's because weekends are so WONDERFUL!  I get a full day of enjoying Mike and Stell and doing whatever we want.  We've been home to Milwaukee the past couple of weekends spending time with our families, but we are finally back in Madison and it feels great.  What to do today??

• Go to the Princeton Club (Mike and I are having a tough time getting motivated but woo hoo! here we go!)
• Spend some time knitting my sock, I'm starting my heel flap for the first time...a little nervous
• Read, I'm working on finishing the first book in the Nicholas Flammel series (thanks El) 
• Go bumming with Mikey- It's our thing, not good for our bank accounts but fabulous for our spirits and our closets!
• Make dinner, not sure what to make yet, maybe I'll call my tiny chef Ellie for an idea! http://tinylittlechefellie.blogspot.com/ I'm SO proud of her!

And that's all that's planned which is the best part! A Saturday full of possibilities, so that's why I'm up at 6 am!

snow mustachio

Stella loves hanging out on our little 3rd story porch.  As I was throwing in the laundry I opened the porch door and let her wander out there.  Her nose was going wild with all the new "snow smells" floating in the air.  Momentarily I forgot she was out there and started to watch tv in the living room.  About 1 minute later this little snowy face peeked around the corner.  There was only a bit of snow on the porch but just her nose was covered! By the time I grabbed my camera much of it had melted but here's what was left!  Enjoy your little fluffy friends! XOXO

watching it fall

 

As the first big snow fall covers Madison, Stella and I sit and watch.  I am the biggest white knuckle snow driver in the world and was dreading this day.  Luckily I have a new ride in my future which will hopefully be madly in love with driving in snow.  I plan on venturing out tomorrow, I know I'm ridiculous...it's going to be a long winter. 

I told Mike through this blog he would become a photographer, this is his first piece of work.  He is very excited!

floating words- finished

My book mobile is hung and ready to go.  I totally love it, I think it will look great in a nursery some day.  Off to spend the night with Mikey and Stell.  I can't imagine Mike working 2nd shift again, having him all night is AMAZING!