Monday, March 31, 2014

2014 Goals Update: March

090/365

This month consisted of a lot of working. As of right now, I'm working six days a week, which is nice financially, but it's starting to get a little exhausting. I'm young, however, so I'll survive!

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! I'm so glad I decided to do this. You can't go wrong with having enough pictures of yourself.
week nine | week ten | week eleven | week twelve | week thirteen

2: compose photos (every day)
I actually did not take a photo one day this month! My dramatic self was quite upset. I was able to make up for it, however, so I feel a tad better about it.
062 & 063 | 065 | 066 | 067 | 069 | 070 | 073 | 074 | 077 | 080 | 081 | 084 | 086 | 087 | 090 - which is at the top of this post

3: read the Bible (every day)
Nope. I have started to go to a Bible study with my parents once a week, however, which is very deep and informative, so it will hopefully! finally! move me into this direction in April.

4: journal (daily)
Fail. Is it possible to annoyed with yourself over something? Because I think I have reached that point.

5: blog (daily)
Success! Of course, there are a few days here and there that I post it after midnight, but the time zone on here is different than the time zone I live in, so it still shows it as the day it needs to be, so I'm good with it.

6: walk
Fail.

7: bike
Fail.

8: 52 projects
Success! I'm three projects behind...but I'm hoping to get caught up with some small projects. I actually have two projects already done and ready to be blogged about, so I suppose I'm actually only one project behind. That feels much better than three.
project 08 | project 09 | project 10

9: 52 books
I failed this month by reading no new books. I do, however, have a few books that I think I'll get into, so I should be able to catch up.
what I read this month

10: experiment with photography
Success! There was only one time, but I was the best. Lightning, y'all!

11: make six new meals for the family
Fail.

12: learn to play the keyboard
Fail.

13: at least one photo book
Fail, but I started one last week! I'm in no rush to finish it, however, so I don't know how long it will take me.

14: travel
Success! Earlier this month I went to Tyler with my dad. It wasn't a vacation, but it was definitely a road trip considering nine hours of the trip was spent on the road. It was pretty fun to get out of town and see my grandpa and great aunt.

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Self Portrait (13/52)


Today I saw a lady knitting in church, which had me a little distracted, I'll admit. It was just so cool! I was too shy to say anything, though. It looked gorgeous! Then we had lunch with some friends and I brought out my knitting while the parents all talked. I was working on a pair of mitts, so the first completed mitt was passed around. I'm nearly done with the second one now. I'm determined to finish before bed. Also, I'm beyond ready to knit another hat or something soon. Too many projects using double pointed needles recently...

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Saturday, March 29, 2014

What I Read This Month


It's quite funny to look at my pile from last month to this month. Last month I had a knitting slump, so I read. So much reading put me into a reading slump, however, so this month I knitted. I suck at balancing things, obviously.

So, here are the books I completed this month:
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
It was a reread, but still. I read it in eight hours the first time, so I decided to read it again at a slower pace. It's a good book. I recommend it. It's a lot of thinking and glamorizing, as tumblr would put it, but it's still a nice read.

& the books I'm still working on going into next month:
- Christy Miller's Diary by Robin Jones Gunn
I've read this one before, but since I completed the other 15 books, I decided I would read the faster version of it all. I'm only a few pages in, because, like I said, I'm more into knitting right now. 
- One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Yes, still! I really don't know why it's taking me so long. Maybe April will be the month I finally finish it...

- rl

Previous What I Read This Month posts:
January 2014
February 2014

Friday, March 28, 2014

DPNs + Dance Movies

087/365

Tonight I watched 80's dance movies (Dirty Dancing and Footloose) and finished up another project from this book. Now I'm on to knit another mitten and work another long day.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Lightning Cloud

086/365

Tonight on social media was flooded with cloud pictures. I didn't think much of it until my mom went outside to check it out herself and insisted that we come look too. I took my camera with me, then quickly ran back inside to get the tripod. I spent a solid twenty minutes outside with my little sister. I obviously missed a lot of great strikes, but I think I got some pretty cool ones for it being my first time attempting this type of photography!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

WIP Wednesday


I'm so excited for this project. I'm working on another project from this book. It's the prettiest pair of cable mittens. It's also a quick project. In fact, the progress in this picture was from just one episode of 7th Heaven, and a few Property Brothers + House Hunters have helped with the progress. Maybe if I knit quickly they can be Friday's blog post...

- rl

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Sketchy Basement

084/365

Tonight I finally got to hang out with my best friend again. We went to multiple book stores, ate good pizza, and played Phase 10 Twist in a "sketchy basement" at SMU, which had nothing sketchy about it, aside from the stairs going down into it.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Monday, March 24, 2014

Project 10/52: Star Crossed Slouchy Beret


I love this hat! I used this yarn that I bought impulsively last month. It's pretty scratchy, so I don't think I'll have anyone offering to buy it, which means I get to keep it. I keep hearing about how knitters rarely make things for themselves, and I'm really beginning to believe it.

This project just solidified my love of cables. They are so simple. I'm loving it. I wouldn't change anything about this project except the yarn. Once I really start investing in my yarn stash I will get some nice, soft merino or something to knit up. I can see why it has so many positive remarks on Ravelry. It's a great hat.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Self Portrait (12/52)


Tonight I actually started making a photo book! It started when I saw a link on pinterest to a free 8x8 book through shutterfly. I first thought about making my first blog into a little book, so I googled how to import a blog to shutterfly, but that was going to require saving each picture (on all 112 posts!) and putting them into it, which would be fine if the coupon didn't expire tomorrow. So, I decided to use blurb to import all the blog posts (pictures included) but that's already turning out to be a very slow process, so maybe I'll make it a Sunday night ritual to arrange a couple of posts.

As for the free photo book through shutterfly, however, maybe my mom and I can throw together a book tomorrow night with our favorite fall pictures over the years... If you would like to use this coupon, it can be found here.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Inspiration

081/365

This is the collage that hangs above my desk. A few years ago, I pulled these pages from an old magazine that had design I liked, and I've kinda kept them up ever since. 

I just went looking through my first blog, which can be found here, and now I'm thinking I should make that into a photo book. I'll have to start looking for coupons...

Also, today marks four months since I started my etsy shop. (The first and only post about that was here.) It looks like today is the day my listings expire. I don't have anything else to put up. None of those items sold, but I have sold some other things. At this point, it seems best to just spend the next four or five months really working it all out and relaunching in September or so. I need to learn some new trades and find knit patterns with creators that allow me to sell the items. I still have the same vision I did when I started it, however, which is why I'm not giving up on it. 

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Friday, March 21, 2014

Sleepy Nights

080/365

I've worked all week so I'm exhausted. I forgot to take a picture yesterday so I'm really disappointed. Goodnight & good luck.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

#throwbackthursday

Dad & I in Central Park.
Yup!
(photo by someone else on the trip...not sure who)
(photo by someone else on the trip...not sure who)

Spring Break 2010 and 2011 I had the opportunity to go serve the homeless in New York City. I can't really describe either trip. They rocked. I want to go again. In fact, I never wanted to leave. I cannot begin to describe the sadness I felt on the plane back - both times. This is definitely the place I first started to love serving people. 

- rl

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

WIP Wednesday


I don't think I've mentioned it here yet, but the other day I promised to have two knit hats ready by Friday. Today I cast on the first hat. I'm very curious to see if I can complete both of these hats by then. I'm using this pattern. Again. This will be my fourth and fifth time, but it's totally fine because I love it. It's seriously so simple.

Now I'm off to knit.

- rl

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Finishing Up

077/365

Tonight I finished up a hat I started Sunday night. It's my second cabled hat, and I love it! I'll post the final product on Thursday.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Monday, March 17, 2014

Project 09/52: V-Neck Vest

Can you see the part where I used the three-needle bind off? It's the part where the front and the back come together...it looks sewed, but it's not!
A weird part of the cheap yarn that - thankfully! - was on the inside.

I did it! I knit my first garment! Oh my, I am so ecstatic.

It was difficult. Looking at it completed, with all these new skills learned, it's a bit difficult to remember what parts I found so challenging, but it really was at some times. The three-needle bind off to attach the two sides was definitely a part I thought would be confusing but was actually really simple. Picking up stitches, however, sucks. I definitely got better by the last time I had to do it, but I still don't like it.

If/when I knit it again...
1: I will not use two pieces of yarn held together. I think that made it a tad wide. I probably could have used just one strand and simply gone down in needle size to get it to work better. Perhaps I should start making gauges...
2: I will count how many rows I do on the armholes. For example, the left armhole was three rounds and then the bind-off, but the right armhole was four rounds and then the bind-off round. I definitely could have pulled out the right armhole, but the thought of knitting it again made me want to cry, so I didn't.

This was my second project from Margaret Radcliffe's Circular Knitting Workshop. The instructions were so clear, which makes me even more happy that I made this purchase. I'm definitely excited to work my way through all of these projects, even if it takes me a year. I'm determined to not buy another knitting book (unless I find a cheap one at Half Price Books or something, of course...) until I've completed each of these projects.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Self Portrait (11/52)


This week's self portrait is all about the hair. Look at it! My hair grows ridiculously fast. I'm definitely planning on cutting it within the next two months, though, so I wanted to get a picture of it before. It's constantly frizzy, which drives my mom crazy, but I'm way too low maintenance to really do anything.

This week I plan on knitting three hats, while also somehow completing my spring break goals. Tomorrow I'll be blogging my first knitted garment! I'm so in love with it, y'all.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Hercules

074/365

Today I worked 11.3 hours, and it wasn't horrible at all. It helped that we were pretty busy - what with it being one of the last days of spring break AND a rainy afternoon in DFW.

I also ate Chick-fil-A for all three meals today. I had minis on my way to work, nuggets and fries for my first break, and a sandwich, grilled nuggets, and fries for my second break.

That's my box cutter there. His name is Hercules. Because Hercules is strong or something, right? I'm not really a mythology person.

Now tomorrow I'll probably stream a church service and knit a hat. I may not live the most exciting life, but it's mine and I love it.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Friday, March 14, 2014

Leftovers with Penelope

073/365

This is the meal I've had the last three nights. For no particular reason besides I hate to throw away leftovers. I hate it! I'll eat the same meal three times a day so long as it doesn't get thrown away. This meal is not quite chicken noodle soup, but not a casserole. It's great for when it's cold out.

Tonight I also watched the same movie for the third time in 24 hours. The movie is Penelope, and it's finally on Netflix! It's cheesy, yes, but it's so good!

And now I must sleep. I picked up a coworker's shift, which means I may or may not end up working 11 hours tomorrow.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Tag Team Headband


Last week, I shared the eighth completed project for the year: an easy ribbed headband from this book. Then, a few days ago I mentioned a fun little thing that my little sister did, and this is it! As you can see in the first photo, she simply sewed the two ends together, which makes that flaired edge basically invisible. Awesome!

- rl

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

WIP Wednesday


Still making good progress on this little vest. When I took these pictures a few hours ago, I still had to connect the shoulders. Since then, I have done that three-needle bind off which was much easier than I thought it would be. Working those armholes, however, are really starting to annoy me. I've completed one and will now always avoid picking up stitches. It's very aggravating. Also, there are ten billion ends to weave in. Oi.

- rl

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Art From 8th Grade

070/365

Today was nice. Big sister and I did a tasting for the new grilled sandwiches that roll out Monday at Chick-fil-A, then we went to go see August: Osage County. It was my second time to see it and I loved it just as much this time. Then tonight I went to a Bible study with my parents that was packed with information, in the best way possible.

Also, today's composed picture is part of a totem pole I made in 8th grade. I'll have to take pictures of the whole thing one of these days. It was a pretty cool project.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Monday, March 10, 2014

Spring Break Goals

069/365

I'm so happy with my progress on this vest. I'm about 75% of the way now, starting on the front part of the vest. I'm mainly nervous about having to pick up the stitches for the ribbing on the armholes and neckline, but we'll see. So far the instructions in this book (Circular Knitting Workshop by Margaret Radcliffe) have been great, so I think it will be fine.

Anyhow, I've decided on a few goals for spring break. It's not like I have a real spring break, because I work everyday, as usual, but still. Spring officially begins soon, so I'm considering this a bit of my spring cleaning. You see, I'm finding that if my room isn't in order (as in: organized to where I at least know where everything is) I cannot think properly. So, here are my goals to complete before spring, March 20 (or 21...I can't quite understand the almanac website):

1: get room in order
This means decluttering a little bit, and just trying to figure out better systems for things.

2: catch up on journaling
I'm like two months behind, and I really hate that. I really value being able to look back on my journals, so I want to catch up, then figure out what's the best way to go from there.

3: reorganize blog
This involves organizing things more by fewer categories, which potentially means re-tagging some of my 100+ posts, so this will be a big thing. I may not have a ton on readers, but that doesn't mean I can't get it in a simple order that makes sense.

4: start basket
I want to make another one of these baskets. Although, now that I think about it, I'm not sure what I'll do with it, but I really enjoyed the long process, so maybe I'll sell one on etsy some day.

5: figure out Bible reading
I've mentioned before that I haven't been reading my Bible, but it seriously feels like time to get back into it. I'm just not sure where to start, though. I have a few ideas, I just need to sit and think about it some time.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Self Portrait (10/52)


Seems appropriate that my first self portrait in daylight in a while would be today, when the days start getting a little longer. If you remember yesterday's blog post, you can see just how much I've gotten done on my current WIP - 5" to be exact. Now begins the hard part, however, but I'm ready for it. Bring on the garment knitting!

But this whole little scene is something I found myself doing multiple times today. Whenever I found a few minutes of not knowing what to do, I'd just sit on the edge of my bed and knit a little bit.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Saturday, March 08, 2014

Girl on Fire

067/365

Tonight little sister and I watched The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, which gave me plenty of time to finish my looming, weave in the ends on multiple projects, and get a great start on my next knitting project. Also, later this week I will share a fun little thing that little sister did tonight.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Friday, March 07, 2014

Monopoly

066/365

Little sister and I have begun a game of Monopoly. Honestly, I'm not sure either of us knows how they're supposed to end, but we're going to keep playing until one of us runs out of money.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Thursday, March 06, 2014

Sous Chef

065/365
(photo by little sister)

Tonight, little sister and I made enchiladas. I would usually just do it myself, but we made a double batch because friends were coming over, so I knew I would need some help. I rolled the enchiladas, while she worked on the sauce, and it worked out well. Man, I love these enchiladas.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)