What I did on my winter vacation: Part 2

Visit Ice Rinks! And skate at some.

First a good part of the family went skating at the Fritz Diedl rink in Westwood, NJ (I think). My Dad said this is the rink he used to skate at as a kid. My cousin Catie showed off some of her skill (nice jumps! She has a beautiful waltz-loop) and I got to show off my spins (she isn't doing a backspin yet, and mine was functioning nicely). My cousin Julia just started lessons and she showed off her swizzles, and my cousin John is a wanna be hockey player. Other cousins came too, along with some Uncles. My Dad skated with me and it reminded me of when I was little and he would hold my hands so I could skate backward and do spirals at North Cross Mall. I had talked about ice dancing, so we held hands and I showed him how you do the strokes in time to start a dance. Kevin also skated and he did great but had a really bad fall. I don't think he'll be skating again. He doesn't really like it, and his abs hurt for days. Thankfully he didn't hurt his knees.

Then I went skating at Hackensack Ice House. This was a meet up with two ladies from skating forums. It was FREEZING. Probably the coldest rink I've been in. (Seriously don't think I'll do the adult camp. That would be a LONG day in the cold) But on the ice, it wasn't a problem at all. I don't remember being cold at all (and I had feeling in my feet the whole time.) The ice was really hard, but it was very beneficial for my spins- they were centered and long. Very happy Jessi!

Then in New York we visited the Bryant Park rink (so crowded and the ice looked horrible) and the Rockefeller Center rink (not too crowded, suprsingly) but we didn't skate at either.

I'm sad we didn't skate Rockefeller Center, but with Kevin hurt and Dad already getting the chance to skate, it just seemed like way too much money to spend. It's an experience I'm okay without.

I checked the bag with the skates due to the terrorist attack on Christmas day, and I felt that the time with my family and internet friends was well worth it.

What I did on my winter vacation: Part 1

Hey look! I still exist! I'm going to try to do 3 or 4 posts about my super trip to NJ. We left New Years Eve (Kevin and my 5th anniversary) and came back on the 4th.

So what will post 1 be about?

SHOPPING! My Aunt Nancy needed to return something to Macy's and I jumped on it. Their Macy's carries LUSH! products: something I've been dreaming of getting my hands on since I found out solid shampoo exists. Although many of their products still contain "bad" ingredients, LUSH is a socially conscious company. They've eliminated SLS from some of their soaps and shampoos. (I didn't pay attention to which ones though) and recently they've eliminated palm oil from others- in an effort to help save the orangatans. Additionally, if it's possible to not use plastic to package their product, they don't!

Since I love my solid shampoos from praireland herbs, I didn't get any of theirs (man are they pricey! And no sale on them this time around). I did get the one thing I was really hoping to try. Jungle conditioner. It's a solid conditioner- one place I haven't gotten rid of plastic bottles yet. The smell is, uh, different. But my shampoo right now is rosemary, so I tend to smell like a pizza, so I think it will be okay. I'm not sure how to describe it. But when I think "organic" (even though I don't think it is) this smell fits right in. The website says to slide it along your hair, like a shampoo bar, but the saleswoman recommended getting a small amount in your hand and mixing it with a tiny bit of water to make a creme.

Then I got a solid massage bar. It's basically just massage oil. Your body heat melts it, and then it rubs in just like any other oil. Very cool! This one is supposedly good for sore muscles, which is why I picked it. The smell might be a BIT strong for me. A massage right before bed and the sheets smelled yummy for 4 days- which means that first night it was really strong.

Then I got soaps! The soaps were buy 1 get 2 free. And thank goodness, because they are expensive. (The one I paid for was almost $12 and the two free ones were about $10) I've been told their soap is hard and lasts though, and it all smells amazing. I went with "Angel's Delight" a Christmas special, "Honey I washed the kids", and "Karma"- their most popular scent. They are all "bulk" products, and they are all so pretty. Some of them were precut so I picked an affordable piece of Angel Delight, and when the other two didn't have any pieces close to the same price, I asked her to cut some that would cost abou $10. (The conditioner was like that too).

No pictures, but I also got 4 new votive candles. Aunt Nancy burned tons of candles and it made me wanting yummy scents in my house too. I got Christmas scents from Yankee Candle- a store I usually don't go in because the smell is too strong!

A somewhat expensive foray into bath and body products, but I don't do it much, so I'm thrilled!

Meet Hawkeye

Kevin made one of our nephew's a rocking horse for Christmas. Isn't it cute!

What did you get for Christmas?

This is me warping my Ashford Rigid Heddle loom- given to me by my Mom and Dad. (Who hit a homerun with gifts this year. Kevin got a Kitchen Aid stand mixer).

And it wasn't the only fantastic gift. My in-laws gave me a goodie box from knitpicks. A kit to make a multi-color knitted clock, 2 sets of DPNs (1.5s and 2s) for socks, some tubes to store DPNs in that have been orphaned from their original cases, and the book "Knitted Flowers". They gave Kevin a dremel, and like always we both got calendars for next year.

My drawn name secret Santa was Kelly, who was also who I drew (actually EVERYONE drew the person who drew them, weird) and he got me two pairs of fantastically soft fleece pants. Haven't heard if the hat fits him, but will ask for pictures if it does.

Kevin and I don't officially exchange gifts, so I didn't get anything from him, as requested, however, I like to shop, so I got him a set of Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs, now he has all 5, and he got Legend of Zelda for the DS to have me give him - haha; I guess that means the yarn I ordered from Webs the other day is going to be a present from him to me :)

My sister is scheduled for a C-section on the 28th, so the babies will be here very soon, and then on the 31st is Kevin and my 5th Anniversary. (We won't do presents for that either. The 7th - wool anniversary- is the only one I plan to request a gift for!) I'll have to get him something though because this is the "wood" anniversary, and all dirty jokes aside (yeah, there have been plenty) I'll need to get him something for his workshop.

Happy Christmas to all!

Keychain Sock

I've wanted a sock blocker keychain ever since I first heard they existed. I bought one like six months ago, and finally knit a sock for it.

(I tried to take artful pictures in the snow.. I failed- just too much white! The color is like the darker one, you can't see the stripes)

Anyhow, it took just about an hour (2?) to knit, and was super fast. It only takes about 2 grams of yarn. I bought the blocker at Crazy Girl (my LYS) but The Loopy Ewe sells them too. Only complaint- the pattern lists no gauge, and thankfully I went with my normal sized sock needles, because if I had used size 0s as written, it would have never fit on the blocker, as is, I'll make the next one longer in the leg.

Also- did I ever show the washcloth I made to match the swiffer? I LOVE it, it scrubs so well.

Knitty Winter 2009 Review

Knitty Review

Ah- Winter Knitty has come out, meaning another review post. Sadly, there is no mind blowing technique like the bind off from the last issue, but there are some beautiful knits.

Let us begin:

Home use patterns:

Mr. Popper: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTmrpopper.php This pattern makes me want to get a hot water bottle. Actually, a few patterns have. If it was just a penguin, it would be cute, but since it references one of my all time favorite books, I love it!

Tops:

Spoke: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTspoke.php This is my favorite pattern on the issue (and the cover pattern), but on further inspection, I wouldn’t make it. First, the yarn MAKES the pattern. There might be other semi-solids that would work, but it would be a gamble. And the yarn chosen is EXPENSIVE. Second- the sleeves would not work for me. Do people really wear that sort of sleeve? Do they drag it through their food anytime they try to eat? Maybe that’s how they stay skinny, trying to protect the sweater.

Quadrat: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTquadrat.php My second favorite pattern of the issue, but with similar problems to the first. First of all- the model looks gorgeous. I however would laugh myself silly at me wearing a belt like that, and without the belt it’s way too boxy. And the sleeves. Seriously? I do not get them. I just love the cable detail though.

Soria: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTsoria.php Pretty enough, but I don’t wear vests. I also think it needs to be a bit longer to be flattering.

Four corners in Tokyo: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTfourcorners.php An interesting way to highlight the color changes of the yarn, but the rectangular pattern looks much better on the back than the front. I’d like the sleeves to be a bit longer, but points for not being huge bell sleeves.

Zora Cardigan: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTzora.php Nice versatile cardigan, but not something I’d knit. I like that it’s shown with a button or a belt. Not sure it looks good with no form of closure at all. (It’s one thing not to close it, but having no way to close it: odd)

King of Confidence: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/KSPATTconfidence.php Cute, seems nicely fitted.

Mr. Darcy: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTmrdarcy.php I like the sweater fine, but I have never seen anyone wearing that neckline. Kevin never would, that’s for sure. Actually, I take that back- I’ve seen pictures on blogs of kids in handknits in that neckline. But outside of handknits, does it exist?

Vroom Vest: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTvroom.php Is the kid in the picture really 4? At first I thought this was shown on like an 8-10 year old, in which case it was a bit childish, but for a young kid, sure it’s cute.

Socks:

Pyroclastic Socks: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTpyroclastic.php Nice pattern, nothing outstanding, but certainly nothing to complain about here.

Saviano Socks: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTsaviano.php Seems to be run of the mill cabled socks.

Diversion socks: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/KSPATTdiversion.php Cute, very bright, I like that. Reminded me of Lizard Ridge socks, but on second look, very different.

Synergy Shield and Socks: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTsynergy.php Sorry to speak ill of a “goddess” but I do not get this at all. Why do you need a shield for your socks? Does anyone wear such a thing? Seriously, what is the point? Knitty has published weird patterns (like the nose warmer) but at least those seem to have some novelty aspect. What is the novelty to a sock shield? Does it warm up the front of your ankles a bit more? Then there is the issue that the sock highlighted in all the pictures IS NOT the sock that there is a pattern for. That sock is available only in Cat’s new book. The sock pattern given is a cuff down, plain sock. (You can fancy it up by tying a shield around it, I guess). BOO KNITTY. Don’t highlight a pattern for the sole purpose of advertising.

Hats and Neckwear (I had to combine these for a reason):

Incognito Cowl: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTincognito.php Clever, funny, not my thing.

Burning Embers: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/KSPATTburningembers.php First, the woman’s shirt makes me think she isn’t wearing anything under the jacket. Second, the pattern is pretty. I like how it unbuttons when you don’t wan the turtleneck feel.

Tentacular scarf: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTtentacular.php AHH! Scary, yuck. This is one of those novelty patterns I was referring to in the synergy shield part. I really don’t like it, but it’s a scarf and it serves a purpose, and it’s novelty is because it’s based on an actual thing. (A sock shield is not a thing).

Knotty but nice hat: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTknotty.php Nice cabled hat pattern

Shroom Slouchy Toque: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTshroom.php it’s like a combination of a beret and a beanie. It looks cute in the photos, but I don’t think it would on my head.

Duet: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTduet.php A hat and a cowl. Hmm, I’m not sure I understand how it works, but it’s really pretty. Maybe I’ll give this one a try. Maybe.

Handwear:

Ailbe: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTailbe.php Very pretty cabled mittens. Looks tough!

Mrs. Roosevelt: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/FEATwin09SIT.php Simple knitting pattern for mittens, interesting bit of history. Very cool- like the Hoover Blanket featured early by knitty.

Queen City: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTqueencity.php The cable doesn’t pop enough. I guess even if it did, it’s not something I personally would wear.

Shawls:

Frost Diamonds: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTfrostdiamonds.php Very pretty, interesting construction. Thumbs up.

Bitterroot: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/KSPATTbitterroot.php Very pretty, I like that there are two sizes, since the mini-shawl seems very popular right now.

Citron Shawl: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTcitron.php It’s cute on the model and would look silly on me.

My new household helper

Only took a few hours to knit, picks up dust as well as a swiffer cloth, and I think it wet mops even better.

Love it, and plan to make quite a few more.

Okay, I lied.

We did get a snow day today (a RARE occurrence for where I work). I started the morning shoveling, mid-day: more shoveling, and soon I'll have to go out and do it again. It just keeps on snowing. You'd think it would make sense to wait for it to stop, but really, it's just harder that way.

I don't have any pictures, so the post isn't going to be interesting.

I've started Noro Kureyon striped socks, and they aren't working as planned. The idea is that the 2 colors stripe and fade into new colors independently creating a really cool effect. Instead my colors have faded from say blue to red, while the other went red to blue, so the stripes don't ever really change. And twice, they've approached the same color, so I get a non-striped blob. The foot of the socks a bit tight (the yarn is so thick/thin it was tough to pick a needle size) but I worried doing it any looser and they wouldn't be tough enough to wear. I think they will loosen up in water. I do think I want to work with this yarn again.

I'm in the border section of the Daffodil Design now. WOW! I cannot wait to finish this thing, but I have like 33,000+ stitches to go still.

Last week I took a crochet class, and it FINALLY makes sense. It is still way harder than knitting though: it's impossible to keep track of stitches, I can't tell what I've already done, and I have no idea how to hold the yarn (since I don't hold my knitting yarn). The class project is Lion Brand's Circles to Squares afghan, but I'm actually not making anything. I just wanted to learn to crochet. (The afghan is actually kind of ugly, maybe in a different yarn it would be better...)

Yeah, I still exist. But the computer is downstairs and it's too cold down there to use it much.

If we get a snow day tomorrow, I promise a knitting progress post.