Tough Love Knitters

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Tattoo

Yes, I got a yarn tattoo. I'm really happy with it. Mostly because my mother thought it was actual yarn sewn into my skin. I guess I don't need to worry that it's not realistic.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Oh the babies just keep coming ...

Someone I know is having a baby. A baby girl. And dad of said baby girl sort of loves Star Wars. So much so that if said baby were a boy, they were going to name it Luke Skywalker Kinne. They may have been kidding ... though I doubt it.

Anyway, mother of said baby girl, STOP READING NOW.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

I mean it. Stop it.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

If you keep reading, your baby will come out a liar.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Ok, so Star Wars. I love Star Wars crafts. They're so easy. And adorable.

And the only girl in Star Wars is Princess Leia. What what is the most iconic Princess Leia outfit?

No, not the gold bikini. Not till she's older. No, it's the side buns.

And pretty easy to knit.

So something special for baby. Maybe a bath towel or robe.

(with buns?)

White with belt and buns?

Maybe some wash clothes to go with it?

http://www.angelfire.com/space2/swcharts/knit.html

Monday, May 21, 2012

All My Friends Run ...

... and I think they're effing crazy. I'll admit, I wanted to run. I bought the shorts and the toe socks and the jacket that made me look like a "girl who runs". Then I started running, and it sucked. But I kept going, and it sucked a little less. But it still sucked. I don't like getting up early -- I like my bed. I don't like exercising at night - I like my post-work sweatpants time.
I did one 5K, raised some money for cancer research, and hung up my running shoes. I prefer yoga. It's quieter and doesn't make my feet hurt.

But it seems like everyone I know runs. God bless 'em. Someone has to, I suppose. My co-worker Dana ran her first half-marathon over the weekend. Again, God bless 'er. I couldn't do it. She came to me a few weeks ago and said she wanted her name on a headband so people could shout her name as she ran by. I figured I could embroider it with yarn or thread, but that seemed a little boring. No No, this lady needed some bling to go along with her "Black Girls Run" ensemble. "How do you feel about sequins?" I asked one morning? She squealed and clapped! I was on to something.

I gave her two options:

The final look:

It looks good with the medal ... :)

I like to think I played a part in her success, even though I was probably still in bed when she crossed the finish line. But if any of my other (crazy) running friends need a reason for the crowds to shout your name, give me a call. Everyone needs a little bling.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Birthday Planning ... Cake!

Rowan's First Birthday Party!!!

(a.k.a., "showing up every other mom")

Today's Theme: CAKE!!!

His cake is going to be a Xylophone Rainbow cake, with rainbow layers and xylophone keys on top.

Of course I did a dry run of R's First birthday cake 2 months before the actual party. Here is how it went.

6 jelly roll pans
1 box cake mix + mix ingredients (eggs, oil)
2 cans frosting
Duff brand gel food coloring (DUFF!)
Red, Blue, Yellow Fondant

Spray Jelly Roll pans with cooking spray (I like the Baking Pam, because it smells like butter and flour!)

Mix Cake Mix

Separate about 3/4 cup into a smaller mixing bowl.

Mix in food coloring until you get the color you want and pour into one jelly roll pan.

Repeat until you have mixed and poured all your colors (I would have made purple, but ran out of batter).

Bake as directed on box, though it will take less time because the layers are thin.

Let cool and remove from pans. Shake the pans up and down to loosen the cake.

Let cool on wire racks.

When cool, cut the rounded tops off each layer.

Starting with the bottom color, spread a layer of frosting. Place the next color cake on top and spread a layer of frosting. Repeat until you've layered all the cakes.

Spread frosting over the entire cake.

For the Xylophone Keys, roll each color fondant out and cut a rectangle, Red the biggest, and the other colors progressivly smaller. Dab a small blob of frosting or food coloring pen on each end of the keys for the bolts.

Add a marshmallow on a stick for the hammer!!!

Cut and enjoy!

Birthday Planning ... Theme!

Rowan's First Birthday Party!!!

(a.k.a., "showing up every other mom")

So I'll admit, I've been planning the kid's birthday party for about 6 months. And thank god for Pinterest, or else my desk at work would be covered in rainbows and there would be no ink left in the printer.

The following will be a series of posts documenting the lengths to which I went to plan an extravagant birthday party for my 1 year-old.

Today ... Theme!

So because 1 year-olds (or 6 month-olds, when I started) don't have favorite things, I have to choose for him. MY favorite toy for him is the Xylophone I gave him for Christmas. It's wooden and colorful and simple. And not too loud.

So I thought Music or Musical Instruments could be a cool theme. Maybe a Xylophone cake!

Then I though, "What's the best thing about this toy?" The colors! Rainbows! And rainbows make a way better birthday theme!

Plus, I've been meaning to try this: