Saturday, June 30, 2012

Stockholm

Hello Everyone!

Guess who is finally off the needles?

That would be The Stockholm Scarf! Remember this project? I gave an update on this project a while ago. I said it was gonna be done. SOON. Then I ran out of yarn. Every knitters nightmare. I miscalculated. You know what is really sad is that I only needed a little bit of yarn to finish the inch to and inch in a half that I had left to do on the project. Isn't that how it always goes? I am thinking I will make some fingerless gloves to match the scarf since I have so much of the yarn left over.
Here the Stockholm is getting a bath...and then a nice stretch out on the couch!

Here I am modeling the Stockholm.

A model I am not.
I just love how this guy turned out! He is so squishy and soft. I love that I can put it up around my head and make a hood with it and still have lots left over to keep my neck nice and warm.  This is going to be great to wear come fall and winter.  Yet another reason to look forward to fall coming(heehee).  You can find this project on Ravelry or hop over to Knitted Bliss to find the pattern. Julie is the mastermind behind this piece and she has done lovely work. Her blog is very nice as well.

Today starts the 4th event of the Bloggy Olympics, Crafts. Thus I found it appropriate to share this post with you. After all knitting is my particular craft. Head over to Hating Martha to read more about this weeks event and find out who the hosts are going to be. Have a wonderful Saturday.
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Till Next Time,

Friday, June 29, 2012

A whole lot of painting goin' on

Hello Everyone!

How has your week been?  I have enjoyed having several days off in a row from work. I have taken advantage of the time to get things done. I was so happy when Paint week happen to coincide with my little down time. Sure made it easier for me to participate!

I love to paint! I love to paint so much that Dear Husband loves to accuse me of wanting to paint everything. I protest! That is not entirely true. I just believe in the power of paint! You can see what paint did for my yarn basket and a few other things here. I can also thank my Grandpa for those painting genes I have. He loves to paint too!  Needless to say you can imagine my excitement when Painting made it as an event on the Bloggy Olympics.  Don't you just love how Gwen's mirrors from The Bold Abode came out?  I do! You really need to check them out if you have not. I am a huge fan of blue so I just swooned when I saw the final result of Gwen's project for this event!

There has been a whole lot of painting goin' on around here. I had originally intended to give this to you in small doses. You know give you something to read about everyday till today with the big reveal. Alas that is not how my life went down, so you get it all in one big swallow!

Tuesday afternoon started out with taking this guy out to the front yard...
This is my night stand and it was high time it received a makeover. There were nail polish stains and water rings all over this guy. After a light sanding and dusting I began the make over.
See all that wear and nail polish?

Soon followed some other pieces from the bedroom...


These other wood pieces were going to receive an update using Kylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

Fast forward to today where the painting frenzy continued. I couldn't help my self. What started out at updating and making over my night stand turned into my opening this guy that I have had sitting in my closet since December.

Can you see where this is all headed? Eight hours later, and after much sweat and blood(yes I managed to nick myself in this process. I will spare you the horror and not show you that picture), I have my completed Master Bedroom!

Sorry about the photos being taken at night with the light but it  was the only what to get this done on time.
I just love how it looks!!! Don't you? Its so fresh and crisp. But calm and relaxing too!  I have a very light lilac color on three of the four walls and on the ceiling. Then I mixed a grey that I had with a slightly darker purple than the Lilac to achieve the look on the wall above where our dresser sits.  Remember that wooden heart shaped shelf from above? Now it looks like this...
I love how the purple on the walls matches this picture so perfectly.
The corner shelves came out great and and they tie in with the bed and the art work so well( that was now accident. I admit I planned for that to happen). I bought a new curtain rod for the curtains to tie everything in.  And now for my pop of color! The thing that makes me smile when I walk into the room...here is what started the whole thing.
The nightstand, in all its radiant glory. Its turned out great! Its the perfect touch to compliment the curtains on the closet. You may remember my adding them not to long ago, you can read about that here, and get a sense of what the room looked like before.
I love that my candle holder is so much more noticeable on the green table now!  So there you have it.  That is my painting adventure for this event. I am so happy to have the bedroom done and finally decorated just the way I want it. I am so ready for the next event which is coming up on Saturday. And you know its right up my alley since the event is Crafts. Hmmm...what Crazy, Craftiness will I be up to? You will just have to stop by and see!

Till Next Time,


Thursday, June 28, 2012

Tweaking


One of my favorite parts of You've Got Mail is when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are sitting inside of Starbucks and they are talking about her Pen Pal, and the "Tweaking" her pen pal wrote about.

Well "Tweaking" is what I have been up to on my Blog. I have learned so much over the last few months about blogging since I first took those baby steps into the blogging world.  I have met a lovely individuals and would like to think I am integrating well into the community.  To show my growth I realized it really was time to tweak my page a little. Give it some more flair and love. After all if my blog does not give a great first impression, no one will even want to stick around to see what I have to say.

Over the last 24 hours(ya it does take me that long. I am sure for you more seasoned ones out there, all that I have done takes you a matter of hours) I have been putting together a new look. I feel like this speaks a little more of me and about me. I am loving the new look. Tell me what do you think of my "Tweaking"?  Do you like? Is it better or worse that what I had?


I will be back here later to share with you my painting projects I have been working on. I think you are going to love the results!


Till Next Time,

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Dear Internet

Dear Internet,
I just wanted you to know that you are making me run behind. Your slow sluggish movements have caused my blogreading/coffee drinking morning routine to go into overtime. Now the rest of my day is behind.

Maybe its not your fault. Perhaps you have a cold. Maybe you're feeling over worked. Do you  need a reset? A little internet massage to make you feel better? Why coukdn't you have worked this outinthe night while I was sleeping? Because gosh darn it I have pictures that need editing, pages that need tweaking. I actually need to get off the computer and finish start my painting projects. I dont have all day you know!

So you know what I am leaving....till you decide to behave!

Sincerely ,

Amanda

Monday, June 25, 2012

All Under Control

Hello Everyone!

I feel calm. Cool. In control. Here it is Monday, with another busy week looming before me, yet I do not feel overwhelmed nor rushed.  I have already taken care of errands and some imprortant business for the week.  I have collected supplies for this weeks projects I plan to accomplish.

Now I know that for many of you "glass is half empty " people you are saying wait for it. The other shoe is going to drop. And maybe you are right. Maybe this calm is
the calm right before the storm hits. Then again maybe not. Maybe I really do have things under control. Maybe I am finally on top of everything.

Either way I am going to enjoy this cool, calm feeling, for however long it lasts. Its been crazy around here, I think I deserve a little cool and calm. So I am going to kick back and enjoy. Get some projects done(hint they will be painting projects).I have some great stuff lined up to share with you!

By the way I am happily posting this to you from my new Tablet. Dear Husband surprised me with it last week! i was so excited. I love how it works and all that I can do with it. Its my new best friend!
Here I am playing with the tablet <3


Have a great day everyone! Till Next  Time,

Amanda
P.S. Tomorrow you may not be able to access my blog for a few hours. Those changes I have been talking about are finally gonna happen....

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Cupcakes

Mmmm Cupcakes!!!!!! Yuuuuummmm! Well I meant to get this post up in time to actually link up with the Bloggy Olympics. At this rate do not ask me to be on your team for anything sporty because clearly I am not a very good athletic person. Deep down I have always known this. Thats why I read a lot and blog. Haha. Ask me to be part of a Readathon and I am so there. You know maybe part of my problem is that I am not a very puntcual person or organized for that matter. Need I remind you about how I am laggin VERY behind in the 21 Days to Organized challenge. Clearly I did not get the point of that challenge! Anywho I am segwaying.

In honor of Cupcake Week on Hating Martha and in theme with the Second Week theme of the Bloggy Olympics, I wanted to try Janel's Rootbeer Floatish Cupcakes. With a twist. heehee.

What's my twist on the recepie?  I added the rootbeer to the cake mix instead of to the frosting. I mainly did this because I had the soda and not the extract on hand.
Recepie:
French vanilla cake mix
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup of rootbeer

Mix and put into cupcake cups bake according to instructions.

Frosting:
1 stick butter
3 cups of powedered sugar
1/4 cup milk
3 tbls of vanilla extract.

These turned out super yummy!
I took them to work and the boys there just ate them right up. I didn't have single one to take home. I think that is proof right there they were delicious! ;) If you want a more root beer flavor to the cupcake I woul add a tsp or so of the extract to the recepie. For me however these were just right!  I  will have to make them again. I am now egar to try the Margarita Cupcake that Janel did! I will let ya know how that one turns out!

Till Next Time,

Amanda
P.S. Since I didn't get to share this with you all earlier I thought I would share it with you over at 504 Main 

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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Cherry Pickin'

Hello Everyone!

Doesn't always seem like I write to you midweek? I really am going to have to work on that. Its on my goal list. Any who moving on.

I got to do something quite fun yesterday and a first for me. 
I went cherry picking. It was so much fun. I could not stop smiling! There is something wonderful about picking your own fruit from an orchard. They taste amazing. And you know what? I literally went around the corner from my house to pick these. My neighbor has well over a dozen trees on his property and well when they bare fruit he sets up a sign and lets people come pick their own fruit for a small price.

This is one thing I can mark of my list of things to do and mark on my list of reasons why this is a cool place to live! I have never lived anywhere, where such a diversity of produce is grown and tastes so wonderful.

Don't you just want to gobble these up?? Dear Husband has been eating them like they were candy. I will have to go picking some more very soon! Have you done anything new and a first for you? What is something you look forward to in the summer?

Till Next Time,

Amanda

Sunday, June 17, 2012

And the award goes to...

Hello Everyone!


HatingMartha
Event 1 is now over and Janel from Hating Martha has posted a lovely post doling out awards! And yours truly has been mentioned and given an award. I am so HAPPY! You are looking at the winner of the Silver Medal...
...for the lovely window treatment and window display I made on, as Janel put it, a puny budget.
Thank you Janel for the award. I am honored. What a fun event you put together!  There are many others that won awards too and I am excited to check them out. Head over to Hating Martha to see the awesome projects and to see what Janel is cooking up next!  Have a great Sunday everyone!

Till Next Time,
Amanda

Friday, June 15, 2012

Enter as Guests...Leave as Friends

Hello Everyone!

Its time for the Bloggy Olympics link up! I loved all the posts on Hating Martha this week. They were all wonderful.  I am so excited to be sharing with you my little project! It was a super simple project, but it made a HUGE impact!
BEFORE
This has been a space in my home that has had me at a stand still for a while. The picture is a little old, taken when we first moved in. But other than the boxes having been moved out of the way it still looked the same. As you can see that wall and window are completely blank! No I haven't been trying to go for the minimalist look, I just didn't know what to do with the space!  I love the sun light that streams in thru that window all through out the day and I did not want to short myself of that by placing a heavy curtain over it. I was hoping a smaller curtain would be OK. However the window is a funny size and has a funny placement on the wall. Well I think its funny.  However this week I found just the cure for this space.
AFTER

I just LOVE how this all turned out! It came together so nicely! And best of all it only cost me $2 to make! I know "Shut the front door!" Right?  The Welcome Sign is all DIY design. That only cost me a $1, the other $1 came from buying the curtain rod brackets to hang the curtain with.

How did this marvelous sign come to be?  I took this board I had lying around my house(I knew I would need it some day!)
I sanded the board a bit and then cleaned it off. I proceeded to paint it with the lovely little sample bottle of paint, called Turquoise Bay(picked up the little guy at ACE Hardware for under $5), that I had among my stash. Then I pulled out the Decor Sticker I picked up at the Dollar Tree for...you guessed it a dollar, and applied it to the board.
I glued the ribbon to the back of the board to hang it with. Krazy glue works great as would hot glue. I had that in among my craft supplies!  See now wasn't that simple?  I really am thrilled with the results. Let's take one last look shall we??
Now I have a warm and welcoming window treatment over my dinning room table. I still get all the light that I want and a huge smile on my face every time I walk into the room. That's a double win if you ask me! Have you done any DIY projects that have left crafty shivers up your spine? Or tingled all the way down to your toes?  I would love to hear all about them! Have a happy Friday!

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Till Next Time,

Amanda

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Blogger's A.D.D

Hello Everyone!

How has your week been? Mine has been like a non stop flight of activity, only with out the relaxing movie or cocktails in which to enjoy my flight with. This is why I have not posted anything this week.  I feel like I have bloggers A.D.D. Is such a thing even possible?? Simply put I feel my mind wanting to go everywhere and talk about  everything.  I have new crafting projects I want to share with you. I have knitting that's been completed. There are link up parties I am attending. The list goes on and on...but now I have lost you right? What on earth is this girl rambling on about. Because that is probably what I sound like right? Like I am rambling or babbling.

I feel that about every other post I write is about something different.  While that is not a bad thing, I feel like things just do not flow very well. Thus the feeling like I have A.D.D. Can't seem to focus longer that a flea on a hot skillet.  This could be all in my head for all I know.  Hey! The title of this Blog says I'm crazy don't ya know. Well I am sorry. I do want to regain focus and be a bit more orderly with my posts, so you don't get dizzy from my constant shift in attention. (You think the posts are bad try being in my head!)

So here is a list of things I feel I need to address, to regain order.
  • What happened to the 21 day challenge?
  • Will I actually talk about knitting again?
  • Whats up with all the home improvement posts?  Did I suddenly become a Design Diva?
Heehee. These questions I ask just as much of myself as you may be asking of me...
  1. What happened to the 21 Day Challenge I was doing from A Bowl Full of Lemons?- I haven't stopped or quit the 21 Day Challenge. I didn't make the goal, however, to complete the challenge by the end of May! Life happened. There have been quite a few of our family members who have been ill.  Also since I ended up going a little out of order with the challenge(see I knew I shouldn't have done that!), I decided to roll what was left of everything on the challenge into ONE. HUGE. PROJECT!!! Its taken a while, but that's how badly it needed to be done!  Its very close to being revealed in all of its glory!  Had I been smart, I would have posted little tidbits to keep you hanging onto the edge of your seat for the big reveal!  Alas I did not. I will know better for next time. After all I am still learning how to work my mad blogging skills! Despite this little lump in the 21 Day Challenge, I have been so grateful to Toni for creating that challenge.  What I have accomplished so far is all due to her. I needed to get organized and get clutter cleared out.  And really the 21 days is just the beginning. Organizing like home development or personal style is always evolving and needing to be adjusted.  So keep on the look out there will be a few more posts yet on the 21 Day Challenge. Oops! Now that I think about it, I do believe there was a Laundry Room challenge that I failed to post about! I will have to get right on that!
  2. Will I actually talk about knitting again?- This question I ask myself all the time. Especially here of late when my posts have seemed to be more about home improvement, decorating, and gardening instead of what I had originally said I wanted to Blog about (Here) in my very first post.  Why is that?  I have wondered.  Its not like I have lost an interest in knitting, far from it. And I have finished projects in which to share, new patterns I am excited about. So what's the deal? Upon reflection, I think the problem has stemmed from what my initial ideal for what my blog would be when I started(I am willing to bet all the chocolate in my house, that this is something that happens to all new bloggers). When I thought about and decided to start this blog, I had this vision that it would be very much like Susan B Anderson's Blog, or like the Yarn Harlot. I have admired their work ever since I became a knitter and very much wanted to be like them. I AM NOT THEM. Admitting to this helps clear up a lot of that illusion that I had. First off they have been at this for a while, so they are PROS and know what they are doing. I am like an infant to them. Also they have the wonderful privilege of getting to do what they LOVE for their employment! Along with that privilege comes a lot of responsibility of course but they do it with style! I DO NOT get to do knitting or any other crafting for a living. I still have to go out there and work for an employer, then come home and take care of the responsibilities of a wife and homemaker. So its like working two full time jobs. Not to say that Stephanie and Susan don't have these same responsibilities and then some because they do what they love for work. Just that it is a little different. Someday I dream of being able to make a living at my craft, but for now it is my stress relief and hobby.  Now that I have admitted and realized what I had originally in mind for my blog, I can see that I was starting out to high! I think a part of me knew that from the beginning, that's how the Blog got its name from the beginning. I love doing crafts and trying to new things. That's what I want to write about and share with you. The new things that I try, my success, my failure and everything in between. There will be plenty of writing on yarn and knitting, it just wont be that way everyday.
  3.  Whats up with all the home improvement posts?  Did I suddenly become a Design Diva?- In no way am I a Design Diva! However I do love design and making my home something to be proud of.  I have been a fan of Better Homes and Gardens since I was 7!  I always knew, just like I knew I wanted to get married, that I wanted my own home to make beautiful! So it is only natural that I would want to talk about it. Especially since there are sooo many great design blogs out there, plus with Pinterest, the ideas are never ending for what one can do in your home! And your style and tastes are always changing. Plus you get an idea in your head for something but when it actually gets put into action, it doesn't turn out so good. So you have to start over. And since a lot of what is in my home is actually the result of some craft I have done(a shoe string budget would have something to do with that), the two just seem to go hand in hand.
 Whew! That was a lot to cover, sorry for the novel length post here(hopefully I am keeping it snappy enough I have not lost you! Hey you! Ya you! Quit that yawning!).  I hope my answers to those questions helped clear things up, and if it didn't clear things up for you it did for me. So you just got to be privy to the inner ramblings of my mind! Aren't you just lucky?! Now that I have given you a look into my mind and what all is going on up there, what IS next for Crazy, Crafty & Caffeinated?  What do we have to look forward to?

Its summer! And summer means fun and lots of goings on! One thing I am looking forward to doing is the Bloggy Olympics created by Janel at Hating Martha. I am so excited. Hating Martha has been running decorating posts all week with some great hosts for the first event that starts off the Bloggy Olympics. Friday is the link up and I look forward to sharing my own projects, plus checking out what everyone else has been doing. The next few weeks will primarily  be dedicated to the Bloggy Olympics!

HatingMartha
I hope to see more updates on the yard and how its coming along. After all this is the season to be getting that done!  There will be a Blog Makeover coming very soon. I am learning more and more everyday about the blogging world and well I need to reflect that. Speaking of a Blog Makeover I want your opinion...What do you like about my blog? What don't you like? What would you like to see more of or to hear more about?  Your comments and ideas can only help improve me! So lay it on me!

One last note, I want to thank my readers for staying with me thus far. Have a Wonderful Wednesday everyone!

Till Next Time,
Amanda




Thursday, June 7, 2012

There's lazy days, then there's LAZY DAYS...

There are lazy days....

And then there are LAZY DAYS!
What is the difference you may ask, between a lazy day and A LAZY DAY? Well with a lazy day one just takes a break from the normal routine to do something they enjoy. For example going to the beach and reading, or going to the yarn shop and knitting while catching up on the latest news. To me a lazy day is laid back but still filled with something wholesome and productive. You get to feel relaxed and accomplished all at once.

However with A LAZY DAY there is no accomplishment. There is good intent. You may wake up with an outline in mind of how the day is going to go, but the real result is nothing like what was envisioned. You simply just crawl back under the covers and ride the lazy river till it finishes its course. A LAZY DAY is not be mistaken with a bad day, where you want nothing better but to crawl back into bed and start the day over.  That is a whole other thing.

Today is A LAZY DAY.  I woke up with a plan. I woke thinking I would tackle some craft projects. I woke up thinking about getting stuff done. That's as far as it went. THINKING. Just THINKING. Its possible that a few loads of laundry might have made it to the washer and dryer. But that's as far as I have gotten. I have a few attempted projects littering the table, before I abandoned them for the comfy spot on the couch, where I plan to reside the rest of the day doing nothing but watching TV and eating M&M's.  Because every now and then you just need a LAZY DAY.  I just wanted to let you know that. I will be back I promise. Back with all sorts of goodies I plan to accomplish, AFTER my LAZY DAY.

Tell me what do you do on your lazy days and then your LAZY DAYS?

Have a great day,
Till next time...

 Amanda