What we go through for beauty...

We primp. We preen. We spend tons of money of beauty products. We go through elaborate processes at the salon to tweak our color or slim our brows... We spend hours at the gym, sweatin' to lose weight... and yet here is my dog, no bows, no frills, no makeup, just the way God made her. Hmmmmf. Maybe I shouldn't be so critical of how He made me! Aww little Mercy, sorry but you were stinky! Too much swamp land for you!!!

The Triple Threat

Okay- I can say that I officially exercised to the max yesterday. First off, I biked to the gym, with my size GINORMO bag that used to be my soccer bag as a kid. Try biking with another 35 punds on your back.

I arrived at the gym BEFORE it opened at 6 am. I don't remember that happenning very often. I then RAN 4 miles on the treadmill, stretched and did situps, etc. I showered at the gym, did the makeup, put on a NEW gym-like outfit and BIKED another .65 miles to the office.

Once at the office, I dried my hair in the bathroom, changed, and spritzed on a lil body splash. I did it! I biked to work! And the gym! And I had an extra half-hour.

Then after a long day at work, I hopped in my coworker's awesome solara convertible (she gets to drive fun cars all the time- her husband owns a dealership) and we went to a pilates class for an hour (The bike would not fit in her car and Pilates was 5.5 miles away). My wonderful hubby came to the pilates studio with Mercy baby and brought me back to the office to get the bike.

We decided that the bike would not fit into our car without the possibility of falling out of the trunk into traffic sooooo..... dear hubby rode the bike the 2.3 miles home with Mercy running alongside/ in front of him. Apparently he will never do this again, I am told, as the puppy kept zigzagging causing chaos. Mercy- cause chaos? Nooo......

Speaking of the puppy.... does anyone's dog do this with their toys? Note the stuffing strewn nall over the room... Sometimes I will walk into a room and see "snow" everywhere- the stuffing of a toy. Aww Mercy, you're a mischevious dog but we love you! Can't wait for the dog trainer to help us with your walking outside issues!

New York City

S0...we went to New York City this past weekend- and had a blast! We stayed in this great hotel that was SO close to everything in midtown. We were 3 blocks from Central Park, about 8 from Times Square- it was awesome!

We traipsed all over the city and visited 2 yarn shops, the one pictured here is me in front of Purl, a hip place in Soho. Do they have a great stash of premium fiber! Wow!





We also visited a yarn shop on Madison Ave called "The Yarn Connection", where I purchased a Rowan magazine.

I found this pretty summer sweater that I think I might just try. It's quite and investment.... the yarn is pretty pricey and it is done on size 1,2, & 3 needles. Uh, can you say toothpicks? I think I will purchase Addi's in those sizes. Supposedly they make you knit faster. SUPPOSEDLY.






Finally, I did do some knittin' on the trip. I decided to bring a lil portable project, like the afghan squares for the office/ guest room. The colors are a cocoa brown, sky blue, and I think I want to find a cream/ taupe color. We just purchased a futon to put in the office for when my in-laws come out to visit this summer and this will pretty much go with the color scheme of bed linens and curtains. Plus, it's not too femme for Keith and he will still be able to keep the car photos & paraphenalia up.

Did I mention that I will be (weather permitting) diving into the world of bicycle communting tomorrow? I just need air in the tires, but I donn't know where the air pump is.

Well, I must be going, I have to go watch the Sabres win!

My swap has arrived!!!

Yes, my May colorswap package arrived. And on a perfect day, no less. I received it Monday afternoon, while I was home sick with some awful throat/ nose/ yuckiness sleeping the day away while intermittenly working on my lace shawl. I let Mercy out and she bumped into a package! I was so excited in my cold medicined stupor!


Such beautiful handmade treasures! Look at the handspun yarn! And there are mohair locks that are green with directions to make what sounds like a pretty funky scarf. There was some chocolate.... but that didn't last too long.

What a great swap! Thank you Lori !







On my no-good-terrible-feel sick day I was well enough for a few hours to knit- and I went through my first ball of yarn on my Meg Swanson shawl. Yes, 440 yds. Or a quarter mile. No Wonder why it takes to stinkin long to wind it into a ball!!! So here I am, day three of winding in between everything else. I am almost to the edging. Almost. Super close. 6 rows of 8 to go. I can see the light. Horray!


Some great news! My dear hubby has a meeting in the big apple on Friday and I am going too! We are staying for the weekend and are looking forward to a weekend in the city that never sleeps. :) We'll be looking for some fun yarn shops and chic doggy boutiques (although Mercy baby is going to "camp grandma" for the weekend) in addition to exploring Central Park and hopefully doing the cheesy touristy thing and go on a ferry ride, do the double decker tour bus thing, wave like a maniac in Times square in front of a morning news show, and maybe bump into some celebrities. I can't wait.

The June colorswap is coming us... and it's blue.... one of my favs!

How about that for some green, colorwappers!






































Mercy and I "hit the trail" after I got home from work and hoofed, err pawed, it for an hour and a half!!! We walked down the trail, through the village, and ventured along the creek and stumbled upon a rather large park. There were many many trials to choose from and Mercy sure got a nose-ful of doggie gossip- sniffing everything!




































We walked past Sweet Jennny's, the old fashioned candy-store in the village, which is where I bought their specialty- French Silk Chocolate- to put in the pink cabled purse I sent to my mother-in-law for Mother's Day.

The puppy was exhausted when we got back, a happy and tired dog.

I somewhat stuck to my diet today, the Southbeach Phase I, minus those annoying mints that are at my desk (the receptionist desk) that I don't even like but end up eating anyways. UGH! I did, however, actually PLAN out meals for me to eat for the next five days. So that's a step. Hopefully I will actually get up and go to the gym like I am supposed to tomorrow morning. Since Easter vacation, I just haven't gotten back into the early morning groove. I need to get my groove back. LOL!

As for now... I am going to dutifully pack my gym bag, make the hubby some dinner he can have when he gets home from his final exam, knit some lace, and read!

Works in Progress and A few Finished Items

Awww, the Mercy baby with her fushia sweater from "Puppy Knits."

I know, she needs a hot pink bow.











The intarsia pillow from Weekend Knitting that is almost done BUT I think I am running out of black yarn tonight... AHHHHHHH.










MY NEW PURSE! It's a cable knit bag, knit on 11's with doubled-up bulky yarn. (I used sierra from Knnitpicks). We created the pattern ourselves in our knintting group. I opted for the two cables and a braided cable in the middle. I lined with a hot pink liner and VOILA! Homemade chicque.



AND Finally, the Meg Swanson shawl. My First attempt at lace- and I like it! I can't wait to finish. The only problem is, you can't multi-task and knit this girl. Only full and undivided attention. Like my dog. Oh, Mercy, have mercy!

Tagged by Lynne

Lynne, you wonderful pal! Thanks for the tag. Here are my responses to the 7 x 7 meme:

Seven things to do before I die:

Run a marathon

Breed dogs.








Travel to Italy.
Backback through Europe.
Have children. A bunch!
Have a house wth a BIG yard to make gardens in.
Swim with dolphins.

Seven thing I cannot do:

Relax about the tidiness of the house.
Eat just one Pringle.
Pay full price for clothes.
Eat nuts (I'm allergic).
Skateboard.
Plant stuff outside (we live in a condo)
Leave the puppy home alone all day and night.

Seven things that attract me to my husband:



His dancing skills

He loves me unconditionally, because he loves God first.

His smile.

He makes me laugh.

He gives the best hugs and back massages.

He always listens.

He is SO handsome and lovable!!!!!!! He is God's perfect gift to me.





Seven books that I love:

My Bible

Redemption Remember Return Rejoice Remember (All by Karen Kingsbury)

Firstborn series (Kingsbury)

Seven Things I say:


Goodmorning, thank you for calling ABC Corporation.

I'm sorry, but he's in a meeting right nonw, would you like his voicemail?

No Worries!

Like

Uhm

Love you!

Mercy NO!

Seven movies I have loved:

Three Amigos Hitch Best in Show Zoolander Office Space

Walk the Line.

Mercy's sun spot

This is one of Mercy's favorite spots in the house- where the sunlight pours in through the skylights in our living room. It's an old pic, she's WAY cuter and has more hair now, and attitude, but I thought I'd give ya'll a little glimpse at our furbaby.

To date, I have knit her three sweaters- one that was felted and we lost :(, a red cabled sweater, and a hot pink one! Yorkies don't have undercoats, so they get real cold in the winter and shake, rattle & roll. My dear hubby one time forgot to put a coat of some kind on her and it was 33 degrees outside and raining. The poor dog was shivering so bad he had to call me and have me pick them up.


I have been thinking about diving into the world of sweaters, after I finish my many WIP's... Lynne has inspired me to perhaps try the Josephine Sweater.

I would do it in cream, of course, as it would go with just about everything.

I don't think I want to be making anything for summer.... it would probably take me too long. I might as well just start on stuff for the fall! LOL.


This would be the never-ending MegSwanson Shawl. Hopefully I will take some pics of MINE soon. I am at the halfway mark, minus the edging, so I guess that makes me LESS than halfway. AHH!!!! I think I will be working on this baby today while knitting with the girls.

Well, I am off to do the dreaded housework! Why does it never end?

Have a wonderful day!

Welcome to my bistro

Horray! I purchased the bistro table of my dreams last night. And the store had last week's sale price still on it and they honored it! Score! I can't wait to have it set up on my micro patio, sipping coffee with my hubby, barking dog and all.

I also went shopping for my Project Colorswap TEXT partner. This swap thing is so very exciting! I can't wait.

Speaking of the puppy, Mercy is currently digging at my sweatshirt that I wore on our morinng walk. Some residual scent of the coveted "Bill Jac" treats must remain in the pocket... For those who do not know, Mercy is our 1 year old yorkshire terrier (or yorkshire TERRORIST, whichever you prefer). She is our "furkid" and we love just about everything about her. Except the impolite walking. And barking. But Advanced Obedience is being offered this summer at our groomer's/ trainers' and I am thinking it would be wise to be there.

Baaaaaaaahhhh Puppy No! She's eating the doormat. Did I mention she wants our full and undivided attention? I just read Cesar Milan's book (the dog whisperer guy) and apparently I need to be a better pack leader. UGH.

I just got word that our camera will be fixed and shipped to us by the end of May- then I can figure out how to post pictures! Perhaps someone will let me borrow theirs in the mean time.

ENJOY your day!

Hmmm.... My first Post!

Test! Does this really work?