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.

Till Next Time,

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,

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,

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

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....

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 

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