New Pattern: Rock Falls Scarf

The Rock Falls scarf pattern is now available!

You can purchase it from Ravelry here ($5.00).

You'll need:
Worsted weight yarn - 660 yards
US 7/4.5 mm needles

Skills required:
Knit, purl and cabling

Happy Knitting!
Meg

Meant to Be

We have this picture on our fridge. It is a picture of Ben when he was a baby. I love this picture, because it makes me laugh. Here's why:

Baby Corbin

Because Munchie is a near perfect clone of his daddy. I couldn't believe it the day that Ben's mom gave me this picture. She would always look at Munchie in the weirdest way, just stare at him, and I could never figure out what the deal was. Then she gave me the picture, and I see now why it would have weirded her out to see her son in my son.

But that's not what this post is about!

I was standing there at the fridge getting some water, a few days after rearranging our closet, starting at the picture.

Something was sticking in my brain.

Then it clicked. When I had cleaned out the closet to get the cabinets installed, I had pulled down a pile of pictures that I got from my Grandma and Grandpa's house when they moved.

One of those pictures was of me as a baby.

Now, ignore for a moment my incredible cuteness and just focus on the background...

Notice something?

We apparently got our pictures taken in the same studio when we were babies.

As I thought about this I remembered that my husband was going to the AWANA program at our church the same time I was (junior high).

And who knows what other places we've appeared at the same time without knowing each other.

Apparently, we've been unknowingly crossing paths since we were born. We were meant for each other. ;)

Happy Romantic Thursday!
Meg

In Which I Get Really Weird

The "Secret" is it's not really commercial!

I hope I don't weird anyone out with this post.


Y'all know I like to make things from scratch, be it food, clothes, cleansers, or beauty supplies like scrubs and soaps.

But awhile ago I made something from scratch that I've almost been embarrassed about... Deodorant. But now, since my sister-in-law just made a comment about it on Facebook, I figured I would share my findings because now at least ONE person will not think I'm super weird...

I think it's kind of a touchy subject for me because I'm so self conscious about smelling at all. Even a little. I will freak out and go wash and re-deodorize if I think I smell even remotely off. So the idea of people knowing I don't use the commercial stuff and therefore might smell makes me antsy. But this has been such a wonderful thing for me, maybe it's just time to share.

It actually started a few months ago after a lifetime of commercial deodorant. Every few days - and then every single day - I would start itching under the arms. Like, scratch myself til bleeding kind of itching. So annoying, and nothing I did got it to stop. I tried a few different kinds of deodorant. No luck.  I've also been a little weirded out that commercial deodorant never seemed to really wash off and learning that it contains aluminum....Well. Straw on the camel's back, if you will.

So after finally being uncomfortable and in pain for awhile and generally creeped out by the ingredient list, I remembered a post that I had found on Little House in the Suburbs about making her own deodorant. I figured it couldn't hurt. I'll try making my deodorant. If it didn't work, I could just go back to the commercial stuff.

So I did. I mixed equal parts cornstarch and baking soda (**Edit: I wrote baking powder at first - I meant soda**), mixed in just enough coconut oil to make it semi-firm, then put in a few drops of Tea Tree oil, which acts as an anti-bacterial (and other things) and some peppermint extract for a nice refreshing smell, then stuffed it into the empty commercial container.

Well it's been well over a month now and I can tell you it's way better than I ever thought it would be. Not only did I stop itching, but I think it works better at blocking any smell than the commercial stuff did. The first thing I noticed was I never got to the end of the day and had that "old deodorant" smell. It was just the same as when I put it on in the morning. We've been doing the P90X thing for 3 weeks now, and I've been through some very vigorous, sweaty workouts without any problems. And did I mention the itching stopped?? It only took 2 days for that to happen. Finally, some relief.

The only complaint I have with it is sometimes the coconut oil doesn't stay solid and will melt to make the deodorant kind of liquidy in the container (not on my body, it rubs in nicely) - but that's a problem of our own making since we keep the house at 76 and coconut oil melts at... you guessed it, 76. I have ordered some beeswax and will put that into the next batch which will hopefully keep it firmed up.

Now, for the really critical part which is just about the whole reason for my posting this. (And this is kind of personal, but I feel it's important.)

I have a mole just under and behind my armpit. Or ... I did...

A little bit before I switched to homemade deodorant I was really noticing this mole. It was kind of a weird color and stuck up quite a bit. It seemed like it had come out of nowhere. It was getting to the point where I was sort of eyeing it, wondering what the heck was going on. I thought maybe I had just scratched it and now it was irritated, but was wondering if I should have it checked out.

Well, a week after switching it started diminishing a bit. And now? Gone. Completely vanished. Can hardly even tell it was ever there. Creepy huh? What kind of stuff was in my deodorant that was causing that to happen?

About a week ago I saw a post on Facebook from one of the businesses I follow (Bar-Maids. Try them. They are FANTASTIC!) stating that 99% of breast cancer tissues contain parabens, which are the preservatives used in antiperspirants and cosmetics - and that most breast cancers start in the area of lymph nodes where antiperspirants are applied. After seeing what happened to that one, single mole, I am a believer of the dangers.

For that reason alone, I will never go back to commercial.

I think it's time to start making my own everything.

Happy Wednesday y'all - go make some deodorant!
Meg

Thankful Thursday

Duder - 1 year

I've been kind of a cranky pants with the kids lately - so much fighting and bickering and whining! - so I think it's time for a Thankful Thursday post to keep me grounded (and sane).

Munchie - 2 months

1 - I'm thankful for 4 very fat and healthy little boys. After having preemies and being so sick when I was pregnant with the twins, the health thing is really something we hang onto - and fat is so much nicer than super skinny little things.

The twins - Almost 4

2 - I'm thankful for Ben having a full time job, even when the hours suck. He works so hard for us, and tries to have the best attitude he can about the crazy schedules. We've gotten so much accomplished because of him.

Bowling!

3 - I'm thankful for quiet time, rare as it is. The little bits I get in the afternoon when it's nap time (or supposed to be nap time) keep me going - even if it's only 30 minutes before the baby wakes up.

Duder - Potato sleds are awesome

4 - I'm thankful that Ben encourages me to do things like my designing and selling my knitting, and keeps me going when I want to give up (like working out). It has been a real joy to do this P90x thing with him (well ok my body wouldn't use the word "joy"), and he tells me that I don't get to do "just the fun parts" when I say I'll just do yoga and abs. He's good for me, always has been.

March 2011 - Readin' books

5 - I'm thankful for always having food to feed those 4 hungry little boys. They're only 5 and 3 and it already feels like they're eating the house. But we've never wanted for anything.

Punkin' Hats - 2011

6 - I'm thankful for happy babies. My babies have always been happy and bright and cheerful. I've heard horror stories about terribly fussy and grumpy babies, but mine have always been so sweet. (And then they turn old enough to get opinions, but that's a different story...)

This month - Duder had just run off to do something else

7 - I am thankful for my hands. I know that sounds silly, but these hands hold those happy babies, and make meals for my family, and bring me happiness and peace through the creation of knitting.

Happy Thursday,
Meg

Random On Monday

Today seems like a good day to be random dontcha think?

Before, but cleaned out. Just picture a ton of crap in here all strewn about.

I've talked before of how, when Munchie is old enough, we'll be moving him into the bedroom with Duder, and the boys will be moving from that room into the now-office. And our office will be moving into our walk in closet. This required some form of cabinetry to accommodate Ben's computer and all our officey paraphernalia, as well as our clothes and normal closet things. 

It just so happens that my dad owns a cabinetry business, so a phone call, a visit,  a hand off of some plans I had come up with, and two days of installation got us this:

TADA! Isn't it purdy? I wish I could take better pictures to fully show the amazing organizing wonder that it has become, but it's hard to take good pics in such a small space.

It did close up the space quite a bit, but it is SO MUCH MORE storage space than we had before. The back wall is the desk where the computer will go, and on the right side where the cabinet sticks out is a dresser with shelves on top. The cubbies surround the room. I LOVE it. It's better than I had thought. Now we begin the slow process of moving everything around.

The downside, is we have realized just how much junk we have. A couple of trips to Goodwill are in order.

I feel kind of funny about posting this next part, because I wonder if it's egotistical and boastful, but I will share anyways because I think it's really, really cool.

The Foliage Mitts pattern has exploded! So much so that...

It made it the NUMBER 1 position of the Hot Right Now list on Ravelry.

Dudes. That's huge! It was number 9 last night, which I was totally stoked about, but it hit first position sometime early this morning and as of 12:45, it's still holding out.

This is a very big honor for me. I've always viewed that list as something that only the Really Awesome Designers get onto, so for me to not only be up there with those wonderful designers at all, but to make number one.... It makes me woozy!

The cabled scarf is about half way done. I think I might need to take a break and do the second pair of mitts in the order. I see white cables all over the place! Haha. I can't wait to get this pattern up though, I'm super excited about it.

We have now completed a full week of P90X and hey! I survived. All last week my legs were sore, and today my arms and shoulders were sore and really, I just want to forgo the workout tonight and eat ice cream... But I keep reminding myself "Company Christmas party. Bridesmaid in March..." I can do this. I hope. It is good Ben is doing it, he keeps me going and won't let me quit.

Time to fold laundry!

Happy Monday!
Meg

New Pattern: Foliage Mitts

The pattern for the Foliage Mitts is now live! You can find it via both Etsy & Ravelry for $3.00.

Happy Knitting!
Meg

Knitting!

I got a large order at the end of last month and the packages of yarn showed up at the end of last week. I LOVE getting yarn in the mail, and getting more than one package of yarn is even better. So much fun to open it and feel the softness against my skin.

One of the items is going to be made from a merino/cashmere blend and I have to tell you, the yarn is scrumptious.

The above picture is a cabled scarf design for this order that I'm working on, and will be putting the pattern out later when it's finished. 

This is a pair of Emilies for the order, in an orange angora/merino blend. I needed a break from the scarf for a bit, so I started these Sunday and got them finished last night. So excited for this order!

My 7 Colorwork Christmas Ornaments pattern is being used for a class at a lovely little yarn shop in Whitefish, MT called the Knit 'n Needle Yarn Shoppe. They are also making my pattern available on their shop site, which you can find at www.polkadotsheep.com. I'm so excited for this opportunity and Aimee and the other girls at the shop are just wonderful!

I've been posting all these knitting things over on the Little Bit of Knittery Facebook Page. I seem to be posting a bit more often over there about what I'm up to fiber-wise, so if you want to keep up, a "like" would be awesome!

Photo by Rachel Christine Wolf

 I am so exhausted I'm feeling a little delusional. Munchie absolutely refuses to sleep through the night (or at least that's my best guess), and in cases like last night... was up every hour. Ugh. My brain feels so fuzzy and I'm dragging.

I need to get some energy in me, but I hate turning to caffeine. Maybe if I'm lucky I can get a quick nap this afternoon. Ben and I started P90x yesterday, so I need some sort of energy to get through that tonight. I have 3 months til the company Christmas party to lose my baby fluff - and P90x takes 3 months to finish. We'll see if I make it, haha.

My abs are on fire,
Meg

Finished Knit: Babylove in Pink

The blanket is finished! And hey, I got it done a week before the recipients due date! Ben was a little worried that I wouldn't get it done and would curse the poor new mama to being late (because babies don't come until the presents are finished). But now it is done, and she can have her baby on time! Hehe.

I think I've mentioned before how much I love this yarn for baby blankets. It blooms beautifully and is so soft. Not to mention washable! Which is very important because us mamas... we don't hand wash so much once we have a wee babe to care for. 

Pattern: Babylove Blanket

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Sport in "Dogwood Heather" - 7.5 balls

Needles: US 4/3.5mm Susan Bates Circs

Knitline: August 11th - September 4th

Happy Knitting,

Meg