10 things I do every day

Well, I do a lot of things every day, so let's see what I can come up with that might just surprise you. See Jessalu and Carole for some other great ideas for this 10 on Tuesday topic.

1. Fight my alarm/phone. Yup. Every dang morning. If I'm on vacation, I'm up at 5a.m., but for work? 7 am. 
2. Pack a lunch. This is for workdays, but I pack my lunch every.single.day. It's not always a sexy lunch, but it's saves me $5-8 per day. And it's healthier. And I have a weird hang-up about eating salad outside of my house.
3. Make my bed. I don't know why, but it makes me feel better to come home to a made bed. So, every morning, I re-tuck the sheets, straighten the coverlet and fluff the pillows.
4. Hold my cat. She likes to be held and carried around, so I indulge her while sniffing her head. Her head smells like rain and I don't know why.
5. Tell PC "no fighting, no biting; be nice to the guys at work!" and "have a wonderful day!" before he leaves for the plant. He's a boss now, so this has actually gotten funnier as he got promoted. 
6. Answer over 300 emails. Yup. I average 300 email replies per day and 25 phone calls. Needless to say, I am RARELY on the computer at home. or the phone. 
7. Sing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I have no idea why, but it's on permanent loop in my head, and I sing a part of it OUT LOUD every day. It's like a pleasant version of Tourette's. 
8. Pray. I do this every day, silently, for compassion, tolerance and humility. 
9. Cook. I cook 99% of the work nights for PC and I. And whatever we're having for dinner is lunch the next day. It's really, really hard to have a new exciting something to put on the table every night. 
10. Wash my hair. I'm a compulsive hair washer. I hate unwashed hair on my head... it makes me itchy. 

Sunday afternoon

The yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Colorway: 337
Needles: us 7, bamboo
Pattern: Molly from classic elite
The place: l'aroma cafe, Newton Ma.
The people: my friend Dora and I, the football widows.

Ruffled, stripes and silk...oh my!

I'm knitting. A lot lately, actually. I cast on for this scarf and the next thing i know, eight inches are done. Magic? Perhaps. Getting close to Christmas? Yup, that is probably it. I have two of these to knit this fall, so I better get a move on.

Empowering Young Women

This t-shirt was pulled by J.C. Penny, but really? It never should have made the shelves.

My high school guidance counselor, when I asked her for college advice, gave me college info on nursing schools and teacher colleges. When I told her I wanted to be a biologist, she corrected me and said "biology teacher." No. A biologist. She looked at me and said "Why? You'll never get married if you're a biologist, teachers have good schedules for raising families." I graduated college in 1995, not 1895. This "educator" looked past my goals & aspirations and straight at my ovaries and mammary glands. 

I'm watching the young women on my street grow up : from playing baby dolls & teddy bear tea parties on the front steps, to a Justin Beiber fan club in a refrigerator box, to their first dances and the boys walking behind them to the bus stop... with a lot of giggling involved. I listen and hear their comments "school's hard." And "I think I'm in the wrong Math." What message are they getting at school? The three of them, for all appearances, are nice young women, with good communication skills (I could use a lot less "umms" but hey: they are 13) and are quite smart. Are they being championed in the classroom? Or has reality tv and being celebritized for being "not smart" winning out? Do you think Snooki aced her math quizzes? Or do you think someone gave up on her? 

Just a rambling from the brain of Mini. I'm knitting. I'll take some photos tonight or tomorrow. My first experience knitting with Noro Silk Garden, and yes... I've already had a knot. *grr*

Top 10 Headlines for 1977

In 1977... ( I was born October 9)

1. Elvis died, so did Groucho Marx, Charlie Chaplin and Bing Crosby
2. The Bruins lost to Montreal in the Stanley Cup
3. The Yankees won the World Series
4. Star Wars came out in movie theaters: so did Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind (a much better movie, in my opinion)
5. The Apple II computer came out (with a color screen!!)
6. Jimmy Carter (the peanut farmer) was President (inaugurated in 1977) and grants amnesty to draft dodgers from the Vietnam Conflict (did immigration from Canada increase as well?)
7. Son of Sam serial killer is killing couples in NYC (on orders from a dog) and subsequently captured in NYC
8. Inflation hits 11% (wow)
9. the Love Boat airs (I only remember it as re-runs)
10. the U.S. Department of Energy is created

Ten on Tuesday

I'm always looking for ways to save a buck, so Carole's ten on Tuesday was just the "umph" I needed to break the blogging break!

Ten Things I Buy Each Week:

1. Groceries.  A cop-out yes, but PC and I shop once a week and it's NOT cheap!

2. Manicures. Yup. I'm that girl. Mine costs $12 + $3 tip and includes a shoulder & neck massage. It's my 1/2 hour of me time every Saturday morning

3. Dunkin' coffee. Every day on the way home from work, PC or I stop and pick up the Dunkin's. It's a VERY expensive habit (not Starbucks expensive, but it's getting there!) as it runs us $42 a week, minimum...

4. ebooks... I read ALOT. And really quickly, so I am constantly on the "shop" option of my nook color. 

5. Gas. I have a short commute (roundtrip, less than 10miles), but i'm the primary driver in the family and my commute involves 12 stop lights in either direction, so it's not great on the mpgs).

6. pastry & coffee... my Sunday knitting buddy and I meet at a cafe and well, it has yummy pastry. 

7. Nutrition services & trainer: I swap out the weeks I pay for them, but they are both less than $50 and are essential to my well being.

8. McDonald's diet coke. For some God-only-knows reason, diet coke from McDonald's tastes the best. 

9. Lunch. I only buy once a week and I'm trying to break this habit.

10.... I can't think of a #10, so leave your #10 here! :) 

Knitting...

I've been cheating on knitting. I should hang my head in shame and just be out with it. I've, I've... been quilting. Yup. And a little fabric stash has begun. I think I know the root of the problem I've been having with knitting: lack of challenge and I needed a new tactile experience.

the fabrics are Moda Charm Pack in "dogwood" and Kona white solid.

An innocent baby quilt for the girl twin in a new set of twins within our extended "family" of friends that are family. The boy twin's quilt is being laid out this weekend.

I perfected my points meeting, creating and installing a prairie point border (which I love--- how sweet is that?), and FMQ (free motion quilting) on the outer border.

the fabric is Keepsake Quilting's 2 1/2 inch strips in "not Christmas".

The above is my mom's bday quilt (which was Sunday, btw... quilting and knitting are the same in that you overestimate easily what you can accomplish in a week!)-- she loves it. Last night, PC helped me lay out the backing, batting and top. I'm pin-basting it tonight and then beginning the quilting.

Will I stop knitting? No. But for right now, quilting is pretty fun and I'm enjoying the process. It's not quite as portable as knitting, so once football season hits and my friend Dora & I revive the "football widow club" for Sunday knitting, the needles will be clicking away.

to knit in public or to not knit in public?

This was in the Washington Post over the weekend and got me thinking. I don't knit at church, concerts (it's usually rock, so dancing and grooving don't mix w/ knitting) or at parties. I do knit if I'm alone in public, waiting for a friend to arrive. Or at the doctor's office. Or on public transit.

How about you? Where do you knit?

DEAR MISS MANNERS:Over the years I have noticed people knitting in public and have had no particular problem with it. However, I am a bit put off by those who knit in church or at an event such as a recital or concert.

Is it acceptable to knit at a church, synagogue or other religious service? And what about a concert or recital? I recently attended a piano and violin recital in a small venue where someone was knitting in the third row. Surely it was evident to the performers. And if such knitting is not appropriate, how should the knitters be approached, or prevented?

GENTLE READER: Please do not -- repeat, not -- make a hostile approach to knitters. Have you not noticed that they are armed with long, pointy sticks?

Of all the multitaskers who could annoy you, Miss Manners would not have guessed that knitters would top the list. There is a centuries-long history of ladies quietly doing needlework while remaining alert to what was going on around them.

But perhaps your complaint is that they are not quiet. If the clicking of needles is what bothers you, you could appeal to the authorities at church or concert hall that as they ban texting, it is only fair to ban activities that create similar noise. And if they don’t already ban texting, you might start by asking that they do before going after those comparatively unobtrusive knitters.

10 on Tuesday

So, I'm back... just in time for a 10 on Tuesday. I do have more blog fodder for later in the week. Like my friend Carole, I spend a good amount of time in my car each week and bumper stickers are one way to pass the time.

top 10 bumper stickers:

1. Motorcycles are Everywhere. My brother, J, drives a motorcycle (less now) and I'm always afraid someone won't see him.

2. My kid can beat up your honor student. Every parent deserves to be proud, no?

3. My dog is smarter than your honor student. Every parent.

4. the Darwin-fish (the Jesus fish w/ feet).

5. Friends don't let Friends knit ugly.

6. 1.20.2013. A fine political statement. Hangs above my cube at work and most of liberal cubemates don't know the significance of that date.

7. Make Beer, Not War. 'Nuff said.

8. Brake for Moose. We drive a lot in NH/Maine and it's a nice reminder to keep your eyes on the road!

9. Hang up and Drive. I *heart* my bluetooth installed on my visor.

10. Proud to be an American. I am. :)

A very special 3rd birthday

A very special little girl in our life turned 3 last week. We fondly remember the call from the hospital, the rush to get there, walking into the NICU and watching her look right at us, as if to say "I've been wanting to meet you too!" Hard to believe its been three years!

Noodle: we love you and you always have a room in our home

I made her a quilt for her new big girl bed :

All about ME.

1600 calories. That's the dietary goal set by the nutritionist last week. Seems like a lot, right? well, not considering my BMR (basal metabolic rate, and the # of calories per day to keep me "as is" is 2893) is 2104. So, by losing 1293 calories per day, I will have a calorie deficit of 9051 over 7 days which is 2.5 lb (3500 calories in 1lb) per week.

Totally do-able.

Why now? Well, a recent medical appointment showed that my PCOS is being actively managed by my medicine, so I'm in "prime shape to lose some weight" according to my endocrinologist. So, I say: bring it on.

Hopefully this summer, you'll meet my nutritionist (Paula) and my trainer (Steve) through the blog. Paula is part therapist (why we eat) and dietitian (what we eat); Steve is a kung-fu trainer who lets me kick things. I forget I'm training when I'm in his studio-- instead, I'm being active, focusing on perfecting my kicks & balance. And, funny... my core gets a work out and I'm drenched in sweat when I leave. :)

And, I'm returning to yoga and my daily power walk. New power walk goal: 2 miles in under 45 minutes.

Oh, and PC went hiking boot shopping with me, and we picked up some trekking poles, so expect some photos from our weekend adventures soon! (and, yes... i'll do anything for new shoes....ha ha ha)

So, what are YOU doing for YOU today?

Our Song...

Ten on Tuesday was inspired by Dale & Carole's 14th anniversary today (woohoo! *clink*clink* -- time for a smooch!)... :)

top 10 love songs:

1. The Best is Yet to Come (PC & Mini's song...)

2. I try... Macy Gray. Well, this one's a bit personal, but trust me: it's a love song. :)

3. Home....Michael Buble. It's on my mp3 and I listen to it every night when i'm away from PC when I travel. And, each time he picks me up at the airport, my stomach does this little flip.

4. Always on My Mind.... Elvis Presley

5. Buy Me A Rose.... Kenny Rogers. This one reminds me of my parents (hard working dad, mom who just wants him home more) and me & PC, who brings me flowers for no good reason and tells me each day that I'm the most beautiful woman.

5. Remember When... Alan Jackson. Coming from a family of very long marriages, this reminds me why it's worth waiting for the love of you life. favorite line: "remember when 30 seemed so old?"

6. You're Still the One... Orleans. 9 years as of August 16! *insert twirling around the kitchen here*

7. Angel Eyes... Jeff Healy Band

8. Kiss Me Each Morning for a Million Years... the Casinos

9. Say Nothing At All.... Alison Krauss. For those of you who know PC, he's not loud, he doesn't say much... for my quiet man.

10. How Do you Fall in Love...., Alabama. because love is not perfect, it's not always kind, it's not always the guy you think, and it kinda sneaks up on you. And, like everyone says: you'll look and look for it, but you'll know it when you find it. Love you, PC.

Philadelphia

I'm in Philadelphia. Again. I know I've really never discussed what I do for a living, because I'd really like to keep my personal and business relationships separate. This job, though... it's really become a part of who I am. Or is it that I've just found a job that shows the best parts of me? Either way, I do love what I do. And where I get to go. Like Olde City in Philadelphia.

The job? I'm a life science conference producer. Nope, not a meeting planner; that's a different role. My job is to identify topics, research KOLs (key opinion leaders) and brilliant scientists, and put together a program of presentations that other scientists will love. And pay to attend. This means: Philadelphia. At least this week. Best thing about the travel? New restaurants and king sized hotel beds.

This is B, our meeting planner for this event. Yes, she has a full name (a real name), but for the sake of the blog, let's call her B. Last night's dinner of 2 producers, one manager/producer and a meeting planner was full of giggles and forks crossing the "invisible line" (that line around your plate that says "do not eat my food"). For the record: getting to the point where your colleagues say "oh, you have to try my fish!" is a real treat. This is a great team for this event and well, you're never really working when your working alongside friends. (B was being a goofball in the photo, but she's going to love telling her hubster, S, that she "made the blog." Check! one more thing off her bucket list.) Restaurant: Cuba Libre (on Market & 2nd street.. YUM.)

(right side, according to YK)

Know what else this job is good for? Knitting. I'm exhausted when I'm done at the end of the day, but knitting a few rows settles me down and gets me ready for bed. This is the English Ribbed Pullover from Yankee Knitter. I love the Yankee Knitter; timeless sweaters, beautifully written patterns (in that no nonsense way about us New Englanders) and the numbers always work out. In fact, you'd have to try really hard to make an ugly sweater from one of their patterns.

But, I have a dilemma with this one (*gasp*). I kind of like the wrong side better. So tell me... can I make the wrong side the right side? Or should I trust in YK and proceed as directed?

(wrong side, according to YK, but oh-so-right in my eyes)

Thoughts?

Farm stand

Well, not a real farm stand, but perhaps the start of one? Last year's adventure in gardening ended up with me only having male zucchini plants, 2 peppers and no cucumbers,but a metric ton of herbs.

year 2: we got serious. Yup, that rinky-dink raised bed is mine. All mine! It's in the midst of a HUGE garden my landlady has been cultivating since the 1950s. And, yes, she laughs at me. But then, she pulls my weeds, picks bugs off my plants and brings me tomatoes. :)

Planted: zucchini (4), cucumbers (5), peppers (4), thai basil, sweet basil, strawberries (in hanging pots) and lettuce seed is going in this weekend.

Mary Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

Wow

As an unmarried, childless couple, this is not how our living room looks on a typical Friday around lunch. But today. Today is different. My very best friend is in the midst of labor for her second son. Not wanting to risk a chaotic situation with her first son, he came for a visit with Auntie Mini and PC.(whom he adores). 
Soon, a new member of the planet, but now just 2yo bliss.

Embarrassing moment of the day

So far today, I've had one embarrassing moment: getting stuck in my yoga class. I wasn't locked in the room or anything, I got my leg stuck in one position and couldn't un-do it. Yup, that whackadoo panicking in the YMCA auditorium this morning was me.

Skills. I got 'em. (see, Mr. President, I'm a poet too... where's my invite to your house?)

In knitting news, I'm working on socks for my mom. Mom *loves* the stretchy cotton socks that I have knit her. Guess who hates knitting with the stretchy cotton? Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

But, she's my mom; she birthed me for 72 hours and managed not to lose me too often when I was younger, so I knit. With horrendous stretchy cotton. The one and only upside to this project? My mom wants anklets, or "wee socks" as PC calls them (God bless him, he thinks my feet are tiny and petite. Size 9. Nope, not telling him any different. And neither will you. Got it?). Wee socks take about 1 night to knit each sock.

Sharin asked me via FB this morning: what's for lunch? Lunch today is kind of boring: lemon parsley chicken (thank you Whole Foods!) and green beans.

Breakfast... well, breakfast is different:

What you don't eat chicken breasts with ajvar and green beans for breakfast? This is a 'typical' South Beach Phase 1 meal: to be eaten whenever you like. And the ajvar.... oh yum. I buy it at Trader Joe's as "roasted red pepper spread with eggplant and garlic." That's a mouthful. Ajvar. (Eye-var) Maybe my garden will yield some of the ingredients to make my own (with my shiny new food processor, bought on sale at BB&B, with a coupon and a rebate. Take that Extreme Couponers!)

Well, must work for a few more hours and then head off to see the new trainer at the YMCA for a fitness evaluation. I wanted to start couch to 5K and aim for 1.6k (1 mile) but when I inquired, they thought I should have an evaluation at the gym. *sigh* I'm sure its for the best.

By the by: does anyone LOVE their scale? We need a new one, and we have uneven floors, so recommendations are appreciated! Digital vs. analog?

Downward cat...

I think in yoga class, downward cat would look something like this:

(reclining PC is also another yoga move, but it's anti-flow)

This week, I'm trying yoga. Yup. Me, the anti-chakra girl, has been to two yogilates (yoga/Pilates) classes this week. Oh, and I'm heading to my 3rd tomorrow. Did I mention it's at 6am? Yup, my tush got right out of bed this morning at 5:40 and I was in class by 5:57 (YMCA is about 4 blocks away, but I still drive over). So, let's talk about yoga class....

Things I didn't know then that I do know now:

• you can do yoga with shoes on (srsly?)
• not everything is on the floor
• there is more than one way to each pose
• you don't have to be a pretzel
• bad co-worker vibes go away when nice yoga instructor says "you are perfect and beautiful"
• I am REALLY good at standing on one leg (who'd thought that?)
• breathing is hard
• I hold my breath when I exercise... this causes headaches and makes everything 100% more difficult
• yoga is fun & hard, Pilates is hard & fun

I've always used this blog as my personal diary, so if it moves a bit far afield of knitting for the next few weeks, my apologies. I'm focusing on getting my physical & emotional self back on-line and it is taking a lot of my energy. Knitting: not so much. I'm doing some, but not a lot. I predict a bit of an uptick soon, so please standby.

If you've been following along the progress bar at the top, you'll see that my dietary changes have been effective. An old family friend, Sharin (you're not old, but you've known me since birth) commented that she liked my salad-a-day. So next week is Chicken Week (sorry PC)--- I know 500 things to do with a simple chicken breast that can have you eating chicken breasts every day for 5 days and never feel like you're eating chicken breasts. In June, we'll do cold salads. :)

10 things for Throwing a Party

The ten on Tuesday this week is interesting, b/c I was just thinking that it's been awhile since Dan & I had a party.

1. Shop early and think plastic. Yup: disposable is NOT my first choice for anything besides dental floss, but for parties, it works. We keep paper plates, napkins & cutlery in the house for both camping and parties.

2. Know your location. Is it in the house? Do you have enough chairs? Outside--- got a plan B for rain? Plan B can simply be a tent.

3. Know your people. Is this a drinking crowd? Kids? Beverage choices are key here-- as is keeping an eye on your guests.

4. Make ahead. I like to make the cookies, desserts, etc ahead of time and keep in the fridge/freezer. Also, a few days before, get what you can ahead of time.

5. keep people employed. :) I get deli trays, veggie platters, sandwich platters, etc. It's someone's job to do it and they will do MUCH better than you will.

6. When in doubt: order out. Our friends did this for their 3 year old's party last year: pizza delivery. 10 pizzas delivered: happy kids, happy adults, one very chillaxed mama. (that's you, Laura!)

7. Mingle. Introduce your friend Sally to your friend Bob and his wife. You can't talk to all of your guests at once, but you can introduce them to someone else, interesting, of course, to talk to.

8. Accept help. I struggle with this one. But, now I know, when my SIL says "can I make something?" I say yes. Same with my bff's Sylvie & Mari. They are all phenomenal cooks and I take them up on it.

9. Pre-feed the cat. I know it sounds silly, but if you have pets, be mindful of them during the party. Give them safe space to do their thing.

10. Relax---it's a party! No one is going to notice/comment on if you forgot to dust the lightbulbs or if your couches look tatty (ahem: sound familiar?). And if they do, do you really want them at a party? :)

That lady

That lady who feeds me.is super busy again. But we did have everyone here for something called brunch this weekend. That lady said it was a lot of work.

That guy said she should share recipes with you, but I will have to ask.:...it might take awhile. She always says "Pumpkin, no!" In the kitchen. Meanwhile, look at my cute pic.... and get ready for another recipe week. Mmmmm... chicken.

Salad day five

A simple Greek salad no olives no walking today but I am on again for tomorrow!