Hawaiian Skin!

We discovered the secret to that gorgeous and soft skin, it's called Kukui nut oil and lotion!  It is seriously the miracle of the islands.  This nut is used medicinally, as jewelry, as well as the lotions and oils that are so yummy for your skin!

And here it is in jewelry form, we of course got some of them too! LOL

Hawaii Videos!

First up is the New Zealand island dance, Polynesian Cultural Center:



Second up is the Tahitian parade of islands dance, Polynesian Cultural Center:



Friday night fireworks at the Hilton complex across from the condo, every Friday evening event, how kewl is that:

Must know for Hawaii!

Update on Knitters Brewing Mystery KAL!

I am totally and completely in love and addicted to the pattern in this KAL so far, so much so that I cast on for a second pair already and I wanted to see how kewl it worked up in a variegated yarn!  Wendy at KBC has really outdone herself on this one, love love love it.  Here are my socks finished through clue 2!

I have to read this....

This is the first book of 2011 that I've said "oh my, I HAVE to read this one!"  It sounds like it has that Laurie Notaro feel to it,,,quirky, odd, but lots of fun!  Check it out, The Weird Sisters, debut novel by Eleanor Brown!  Can't wait to find it or download it to read!

I'm in LOVE...

with these awesome little pom-poms for Vanlentine's Day!  Now who wouldn't get a smile on their face with these kuties decorating their candy baskets or boxes!  Or better yet, put on florist wire and put a bunch in a dozen roses!  WOOT WOOT!
How-to on the Speckless blog!

Clue 2 for Family Jewels KAL is available!

Finally, January 21 is upon us and clue 2 for the KAL (Knit-A-Long), Family Jewels, with KBC (Knitters Brewing Company) is up at the Ravelry group!  YEAH YEAH YEAH!  This is turning out so very kewl!  In waiting for Clue 2 I decided to start the pattern again in a variegated yarn and am loving how the color pooling is turning out!  WOOT WOOT!  This one I'm doing in Knit Picks Stroll yarn - Peacock multi color!

Aloha Hey, Aloha Hey!

Yes, YES I am!  By the time you read this post I will either be on the beach or on my way there on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii!  Seven days of paradise and I will be loving it, including a trip to Maui while there!  WOOT WOOT!  Not sure how much I'll be on and posting but I'll try to tear myself away from the beach and Mai Tai's for updates (OK, that's a lie, no I won't! LOL)

I'm not a scrapbooker but...

I do so love living vicariously through the paper artists!  Here's a very kewl video tutorial on using a doily as a design element without dimension!  Very kewlio!

I'm not your....

The new Geiko commercial just cracks me up!  It must be the geek and lego man lover in me!  Enjoy!

Very Kewl and Easy!

OK, everyone knows by now I'm on a scarf fetish this winter season, so here's another very kewl scrunchy scarf from Material Girls Quilts with a tutorial - even the non-sewer can make this up!  I can see this done up in every piece of fabric I own (and that is as much as a quilt store! LOL)  Oh and bonus, I think I see a Sadie Mae type of eye in the pic!  WOOT WOOT, gotta love those Golden Retrievers!  Enjoy!

Pretty Sure Ruby Needs One of these Poochie Pillows!

Isn't this just the kutest ever puppy bed.  I'm thinking when we get back from Hawaii I'm going to have to make one for her and maybe one for Medusa too,,,no reason it can't be a Kitty Pillow!  Pattern here at Moda Bake Shop!

What was I thinking?

I had a serious "doh" moment this weekend!  Figured it was a great weekend to stay in and finish up a pair of socks with it being so snowy and cold.  And I did accomplish that BUT when done it dawned on me that the pair was from two DIFFERENT patterns!  DOH!  I don't know where my head was but I did get a pair of socks out of the deal.  GEEEZ!

I did make good progress on my Potato Chip Scarf made of leftover sock yarn tho!  I so love how these work up, they are just fun, fun, fun!

My guard dog isn't so tough!  Krissy got her camera back pack in the mail for our upcoming trip and of course it had the airbags for packaging.  Well Sadie has never been one for loud noises, like gunshots, and this is where she ended up when Krissy decided to pop them.  LOL, poor Camie Jo Jo's lap just isn't big enough for Sadie trying to be a lap puppy!

And Ruby is definitely a U of M fan!  Of course, it may be that she just loves my snuggie! LOL

Stalking the blogs....

With a snowy weekend on the books, pics below are what we got overnight Friday night into Saturday, I've decided it was a stay in, stay warm, and stalk the blogs weekend.

The bushes and Krissy's car had no snow on them at 11 p.m. last night!  Now they are covered beautifully!  LOVE new snow.  Bonus for me, Krissy was full of energy so she shoveled all the snow for me and part of the neighbors!  WOOT WOOT!
So in stalking all my favorite blogs this weekend I've found lots of Valentine's stuff for sure, can't believe that holiday is coming up so quickly,,,,only about a month away!
Love this Hugs and Kisses Banner from Moda Bake Shop!

And this awesome tutorial from Piece N Quilt for the Hugs Place Mat!

Wendy at Knitters Brewing received podcast equipment and software for Christmas and just posted her first podcast to the Yarn on Tap blog.  Very kewl.  Some work to do on the volume but otherwise it is awesomeness personified!

On the hunt for Fat Sunday dinner came up with Drunken Onion Gravy Over Sliced Steak from Rachael Ray (of course :) )

Well the above didn't wait for Sunday.  Made the Drunken Onion Gravy over Sliced Steak for dinner on Saturday with homemade mac and cheese and green beans.  Totally awesomeness, definitely a keeper recipe.

 I really don't know what got into me but on top of all the other cooking and prepping I just threw a loaf of banana bread in the oven as well!  YUMMO!  I think Krissy is trying to figure out what holiday it is with me cooking like crazy! LOL

I put a baked french toast in the fridge prepping for Fat Sunday morning, this is a big big favorite in our household!

And for Fat Sunday, I'm trying out a Tyson Crock Pot meal.  I love when everything comes fresh all in one packie!  I'll use the leftover gravy from the Drunken Onion Gravy recipe to serve over it!
It is definitely a cooking weekend!  WOOT WOOT!

Caps for Good project!

The Caps for Good project is simple — knitting and crocheting caps for newborns in need, to be distributed by Save the Children health workers in developing countries. Bernat is asking every crafter to knit or crochet at least one cap, which will be collected through February 28, 2011.

So come on gang, use up some of that leftover yarn for a good cause.  Check out all the free baby caps patterns at Bernat for quick and easy projects.

Family Jewels KAL with KBC starts today!

Finally, January 14 is upon us and the first KAL (Knit-A-Long) of 2011, Family Jewels, with KBC (Knitters Brewing Company) is kicking off at the Ravelry group!  YEAH YEAH YEAH!  Can't wait to see how this turns out as the name alone is quite intriguing and I'm using my new favorite KBC yarn color, Dreamsicle!

and here is my toe of sock 1 done, now I have to wait for clue 2 to be released! LOL
AND, DRUM ROLL,,,it's a record number of sign ups for the KAL this time,,,,330 so far!  Isn't that awesomeness!

GoodReads...

Another great source of book material, more along the lines of recommendations, reading groups, etc. is GoodReads.  Friends identify books they've read and rate them so you can quickly decide if that read is for you or not.  I have found lots and lots of excellent novels based on friends reviews.  You do have to sign up for it but it is free and a great tool.  I also love the fact that you get an email newsletter with the new releases for each month!  Check it out and enjoy!

Books On The Knob

Calling all eReader people and I know there are a lot more of you out there now after the holidays!  WOOT WOOT on the new Kindles, iPads, Nooks, Sony Readers!  Love them all!
Here is a blog you HAVE to peruse, free books and not just the vintage public domain books.  It looks to me like a lot of new authors, and established ones too, are publishing free ebooks for a limited amount of time.  Books On The Knob watches the sites endlessly to report which are freebies and when you can get them.  I'm use to buying at least 2 books a month, with the freebies out there I can cut that budget a bit and do 1 a month or 2 every couple of months.  I am pleasantly surprised that these are all GOOD reads as well!  Love it!

I am "The Potato Chip Scarf Queen"

WOOT WOOT!  I am honored to be the queen of whipping up this pattern and very kewlio scarf!  Using KraftyKash pattern "Potato Chip Scarf". It's a great no brainer and a use up the scraps pattern!  I don't know anyone so far who hasn't fallen in love with the fun scarfs.  Our fearless leader over at Ravelery, KBC group, provided the award in our 2011 Gift Knitting Boot Camp thread and I take it with great pride!

We've been kicking around ideas for the scarf, yarn weight, needle size, etc.  I played around with increasing the number of stitches when using sock weight yarn and just wasn't happy with NOT getting the rounded (chippy) effect on the edges.  So for sport weight yarn (white) I'm using a size 9 needle and to get the same effect with sock yarn (yellow) I'm using a size 10 needle.  With the 10 needle I get a lacey effect maintaining the chippy effect.  Love them both!

Of course, all of this is to keep me from whining for clues for the Family Jewels KAL that hasn't started yet! LOL  It starts Jan 14 but if you bought the kit you got clue one with it, which by the way works up SUPER fast!  Here's my toe for the KAL, now to wait for clue 2 to be published (hopefully early!)  Oh, and my new favorite KBC yarn color - Dreamsicle!  YUMMO!

I did get my multi-colored full-toe pretty toes sock completed as well and I love how it looks using up scraps of sock yarn!

Let Me Down Easy

My new favorite song!  I love Billy Currington and this song is one of the many reasons!  It's just beautiful!

Fat Sunday is back!

Is back!  WOOT WOOT!  Now that the holidays are over and is only befitting that the last of the fresh vegetables get their due course and get used up!  So it is Shipwreck Casserole time!  This was a staple in the winter when I was a kid although I have taken some liberties over the years and made it my own, so here is the recipe for my Shipwreck casserole:

• 1 sliced onion
• 2 large potatoes, sliced (about 10 small red potatoes left from holidays)
• 1 pound lean ground beef (venison burger is perfect for this dish!)
• 1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice 
• 1 can drained green beans (Mom always used kidney beans, ack for us)
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• salt and pepper
• garlic salt
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 cup boiling water 
• shredded cheese (any will do but I had leftover colby jack which is a preference for all of my dishes) 

Butter a 2-quart casserole dish. Layer with onions then potatoes, salt and pepper this layer.  Layer with crumbled ground beef, rice, green beans, carrots, and celery, garlic salt and pepper this layer. Combine soup with boiling water; pour over all. Bake at 400° covered with foil for 1 hour 30 minutes, remove foil sprinkle with cheese put foil back on and let sit while biscuits are baking or about 15 minutes so the cheese melts and the casserole settles.
Shipwreck casserole easily serves 4, but usually 6.

Serve with Grands Biscuits!  Delish!

Wishing I were artistic......

There are just some days I wish I were an artist or had some artistic talent for drawing and not just a crafter!  Where my daughter got her talent was not from me, my Dad was an amazing artist.  That art bug jumped generations on me, darn it all.  The reason I wish this, I'd join The Sketchbook Challenge that started 1/1/11!  I've been following the Blue Moon River blog on Susan's progress and am enthralled with it!  Here is her January art!

I am just going to have to live vicariously through those who have joined the challenge!  Details here!

This winter I have fallen in love...

with cowls!  Seems every time I turn around I am finding great knitted patterns for cowls!  The plan is to make sure Krissy and Camie Jo have at least one for next winter, probably more like two or three of them!
This one is from Purl Bee, Big Herringbone Cowl!

Too Kute to Start the New Year Off!

Sweater cozies for candle holders from the wise craft blog!  Now how klever is that and kute as can be!  Love patterns like this.  Can put a homemade touch to a common store item!  LOVE IT!

Cleaning Up the Yarn Hole!

LOL!  My yarn leftovers have gotten out of control so between now and the end of the month I am going to try to get as much of it used up as possible!  First up is a pair of Pretty Toes Pedicure Socks in multi-color and full toe.  So far I am really loving how they are working up!

I used a self-striping yarn leftover for the heel of the sock and love how it put bunches of colors that area!
I've also got a Potato Chip Scarf on the needles to use up some of the yarn leftover from my great nephews blankie.  Pattern from Ocean Waves Quilt!

2011 Reading List!

Here are the initial books of 2011 that I hope to read!  WOOT WOOT!

The Lace Reader  Brunonia Barry

Her Fearful Symmetry  Audrey Niffenegger

Room Emma Donoghue

Jen Lancaster -  light reads

Sh*t My Dad Says Justin Halpern

How to Knit a Wild Bikini; Unravel Me; Dirty, Sexy Knitting Christie Ridgway

Absolute Power David Baldacci

Shades of Milk and Honey Mary Robinette Kowal

The Hunger Games Series Suzanne Collins

Full Dark, No Stars  Stephen King

Fresh-Baked Mystery series Livia Washburn

The Lost Symbol Dan Brown

In the Woods, The Likeness, Faithful Place Tana French

Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio Serena B Williams

Needles and Pearls (Jo McKenzie book 2) Gil McNeil

An Object of Beauty Steve Martin

Shia Waynest vampire series Jess Haines

The Distant Hour Kate Morton

The Boyfriend of the Month Club Maria Geraci

The Cackleberry Club Mysteries Laura Childs

The Orchard Series Sheila Connolly

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings Helene Booudreau

I'd Know You Anywhere  Laura Lippman
Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter Seth Grahame-Smith
Our Tragic Universe Scarlett Thomas
Still Missing Chevy Stevens
The Sweet By and By Todd Johnson
Shifter series Rachel Vincent

Mistwood Leah Cypess

Whisper Phoebe Kitanidis

Jeri Smith Ready

Shade

Shift (release May 2011)

The One I Want Allison Winn Scotch

Blockade Billy Stephen King

Frankenstein series Dean Koontz

Isles and Rizzoli series Tess Gerritsen

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes
City of Glass
City of Fallen Angels
City of Lost Souls
City of Heavenly Fire
Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
The Fiery Cross - Diana Gabaldon - Book 5
A Breath of Snow and Ashes - Diana Gabaldon - Book 6
An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon - Book 7

Diane Chamberlain
The Lies We Told
Summers Child
Breaking the Silence

Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries by Anne Canadeo
While My Pretty One Knits
Knit, Purl, Die
A Stitch Before Dying
Aurora Teagarden Series by Charlaine Harris
A Bone to Pick - Book 2
Three Bedrooms, One Corpse - Book 3
The Julius House - Book 4
Dead Over Heels - Book 5
A Fool and His Honey - Book 6
Last Scene Alive - Book 7
Poppy Done to Death - Book 8
Seaside Knitters Mysterie Series by Sally Goldenbaum
Moon Spinners (Book 3)
WVMP Radio Series by Jeri Smith Ready
Let It Bleed - released August 2011