Another New Day!

Last night was my last night working at Barnes & Noble.  I won't go into why I'm not longer there but I will say, that my future is bright but it is a changin'!  This weekend starts the process of becoming a swim instructor!  I have signed up for the Red Cross course. Maybe when the money starts rolling in from that, I could apply that to a local college and get started on a Kinesiology degree. I know I don't need that to become a coach but if I'm going to do it, I'd like to do it right!

But for now, I'm going to learn to perfect being a housewife!  For those who know the life of a Merchant mariner, household things are done for you. You have a staff that cleans your quarters and changes your sheets once a week. Similar members of that previous staff make all your meals! Depending on the ship, those items are done for you (Some ships give the Deckies Sundays or Wednesdays to do this themselves) but others don't. My last ship (a steam vessel) all was done for me!  It is hard to not want my magic cleaning elves back!

Another issue I have is, my family was big on fun and not so much on cleaning. Our home was sanitary!  Clean kitchen, bathroom, but our home was more cluttered than others.  My home now is cluttered just like my parents and this bothers me.  For one, we are in a bigger location and the other, there are only 2 of us!  

The hope for this... to continue documenting my crafting, as well as my new adventures of getting my home as well as my skittish dog ready for a baby (we are going for starting in April 2014) but in my alternative baby room ways. (I would like a baby room inspired by Brian Lies Bats at the Library) Finally my new adventures in trying to keep my house clean and uncluttered enough for a new baby so that it is old hat by the time new baby arrives!

Wish me luck!

Starting something ... mixing with something old!

I know I NEVER write on this blog and here's hoping I'm going to change that. I'm not big on weight loss blogs. I don't want my world (cyber world or otherwise) to just be about how much weight I lost doing some program. So this will continue to have my life's adventures as well as maybe motivation to keep my weight loss going so I can do what I REALLY want to do.

I want to be a Zumba ® Instructor. Now I'm already licensed but I feel (and this is in my opinion) that being any kind of fitness instructor requires looking somewhat like someone who cares about their body. That is not me! I know there are fuller instructors out there as nobody has the same body shape or size and I'm not saying that they aren't good instructors but I want to be more than that. I want to be someone who my class goes... I'm doing this to look like that?  I want to look like this from Sagette Photography

I want to look like her!

But this is me...

I've had a world wind year thus far. My dad was Diagnosed with Stage 3a lung cancer and if that doesn't throw you through a loop, add 30 new pounds to the mix. I've been struggling with my weight AGAIN for some time now but as an emotional eater that's all I seem to want to do... EAT!  I have however been reinvigorated by Bob Harper's Skinny Rules. I'm not sure how it'll work with Weight Watchers but we'll see.  From what I can tell, all his foods are low in points so it shouldn't be too much of difference.

Why not JUST WEIGHT WATCHERS?  I've been doing weight watcher's since I've graduated college. I got to goal the first time through but in doing the points along the way you learn to how to cheat the system. Especially with their new program with a lot of the GHG's (Good Health Guidelines) are now zero points easier used for something not so healthy! My hope is by incorporating the Bob Harper's Rules (i.e. Rule # 7 No carbs after Lunch) into the WW program, I'll be able to do it, work it the way it should be worked.

So that is part of this Hitch we call life. Working to be the best me I can be!  Here we go... Again!

U Dub Crochet Hat!

My Friend Jarla asked me to make her brother a University of Washington hat. Her mom tried but couldn't seem to get it "right" so she asked me to take a stab at it, and this is what I came up with. She loved it!

U-dub beanie!

My Model... Tanner

Lettuce Vine Cowl

I was finishing the baby blanket as quickly as possible because I wanted to get started on my cowl. I love scarves and am loving the idea of cowls this season.  It took me about a day to get it done!!! I was so psyched it was so short and a fast knit!!!

I did it! My Cowl!

It was made with Malabrigo Chunky in Rhodesian

Nala in the Cowl... not impressed!

Tanner isn't too Impressed either!

Loved doing this pattern!

~Christina

Baby Blanket for Heidi!

I have ADD when it comes to crafting! But some how a few minutes before Baby Felicity came, I finished this darling Blanket.

Baby Blanket Completed 10/16 at 10pm!

I quickly made a matching hat (which took me no time at all) and washed both for the new parents. I hope they like it!

~Christina

Stitch N' Pitch Project 1

This year I went the Seattle Mariner's Stitch n' Pitch. I picked up a few projects for myself and friends which I'm excited about.  I finished the Rozetti Marina scarf which is pictured here. It is a quick easy knit but I would review the video below to learn how to cast-on and bind-off!

This is the completed scarf

Completed on me!

Getting Planty

We have this older-ish Lilac shrub (though it looks like a tree) in our backyard so I thought I'd try to root it with some root hormone and maybe we'll get one in the front yard as well! In my adventures at the "Do It" Center (that's like an Ace Hardware for east coasters) I found out that Lilac usually grows its own shoots. That is actually what I cut. It turns out, we've been mowing them, but we actually have several shoots to try to root if this doesn't go well! (Though online research suggests they are easy to root)



I also figured I'd show you the progress of Bruce my Blue Colorado Spruce which I've grown from seed. Yes there are 6 and I don't have clever names for all... maybe that'll be contest someday!?!



As well as Larry the European Larch I got as a sapling on Earth Day from Lowe's! On Earth Day next year, he'll go in the ground somewhere. I haven't decided where yet!?!