A long post......

It's been almost 2 weeks since I last posted but I have good reason.....pure laziness. First and fore most, look what came in the mail last night from my awesome secret pal - I love to knit baby items so the pattern book was a great idea. So many cute patterns in there. Also a blue/green malabrigo. Now, I don't know how she know this but Malabrigo is one of my favorite yarns of all time. It knits up beautifully and so butter soft. On her note to me, she told me that she bought it at 100purewool.com.

I have never heard of this website and didn't realized that they are the original Malabrigo. What an enabler! After reading this, I dropped everything and logged on. $100 later...... well, I digress.

Along with the wool, she also included a felted pattern purse. Of course, due to the softness of Malabrigo, I had never had the heart to felt it but I think I will give it a try. Along with these wonderful gifts, she also included 2 pumpkin sippy cups for my two munchkins. The picture only showed one because my oldest had already taken off with one of them. Of course, it wouldn't really be Halloween without candies and that's just what she included. Some Halloween chocolate. Thanks Pal! You're the best!

In other news, I was in Chicago all week last week for a conference. Well, not really Chicago, but the suburbs of it called Oak Brook Hills. Since I was going to be there the whole week, I was able to buy some really nice yarns from one of the Swaps site. I had it shipped directly to myself at the hotel to avoid heavy shipping fees and duties to Canada. Here's the haul:

A bunch of Debbie Bliss, Gedifra and Skacels. At checked in, the front desk agent handed me the box. I love getting yarns at a hotel!!!

Of course, since I wasn't in Downtown and did not rented a car, a Chicago yarn crawl was out of the question. My scheduled was packed full the whole week but I managed to slipped out to Knitche, a cute little store in Downers Grove, IL. I got my souvenir -

In other news, when I came home, I decided to finish this sweater by sewing on the zipper.

I couldn't get Aliana to stop making silly faces at me so this was the best picture I can take. After taking this picture, I find myself sounding just like my mother, " Young lady, if you keep crossing your eyes, it's going to stay that way!"

I also started this sweater a few weeks ago and haven't touched it since.

Ahhh - Knitting ADD strikes again!

Coffee Swap Questionaires

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? Ground

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Loaded, please!

3. Regular or flavored? Both

4. How do you drink your coffee? sweet and creamy ( I like it to taste like a Haagan Daz coffee ice cream)

5. Favorite coffee ever? Thai Ice Coffee

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Not fussy at all

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Love croissants smothered with butter

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I dont' really like strong coffee

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Natural and soft merino

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? I hate acrylics

11. What's on your needles? Oh - too many to count since I have severe knitting ADD

12. Favorite colors? at the moment, sage green

13. Allergies? None

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Obviously I love knitting, well, actually, I love collecting yarn then the actual knitting. I know, weird!

The Rock - the golf course, not the actor

On Saturday, I was invited to join a team outing with my colleagues, which turns out to be an opportunity of a lifetime. We played a private 18 holes game of golf at The Rock in Muskoka, Ontario.

The Rock was designed by the legendary Nick Faldo and has became a destination place for many golf fanatics. After a 3 hour shuttle drive to Muskoka, we were greeted by the sales team. We went on a hard-hat tour of the soon-to-open JW Marriott Resort (make sense since we’re the off-site sales team)

Afterward, I was equipped with my own golf cart and rental clubs that would make most golf-pros beamed with pride. Apparently, they were Taylor-Made brand and I was told was one of the best. Of course, the last time yours truly was on a golf course was when I was 8 and I was playing putt-putt with mommy and daddy. It was the equivalent to handing over 50g of pure cashmere to a non-knitter. Absolutely no appreciation for it!

I took several pictures of me with the cart, the ball, and the club. Mind you, on several hole, I just literally threw the ball across the course since after 6 tries, all I have managed to do was tore up the turf without any contacts with the damn ball.

By the 8th hole and 30 golf balls later, I was getting the hang of it. I actually like it quite a lot and thinking about taking proper lessons come spring. I mean, for crying out loud, I am a hotel sales manager who doesn’t know how to play golf! What an embarrassment to the industry!

In knitting news, all I’ve manage was to knit was a combination of stocking-stitch and garter stitch sweater for Aliana. (I'll post pics soon) It’s been a bit hectic here in the household so I can’t follow any patterns lately. Also, I will be getting ready to fly out to Chicago for a 1 week sales training this weekend. Hopefully, I can do a Chicago yarn crawl.

By the way, today is the start of my diet (Ha – I let that one slipped in, didn’t I?)

.....and the winner is......

Rowen!

Check your e-mail, your invite is on it's way!

Ravelry Invite

I have been on Ravelry for about 2 months now and I can't get enough of it. However, there is still a huge waiting list for the invite.

I have another invite up for grab so please leave me a comment and I will be drawing names on Friday, October 12.

Weekend full of celebrations!

It's been a fun filled weekend thus far. October 5th was my birthday and I had seen 32 seasons come and gone. October tends to be a cold month which calls for a hot stew on a crisp, chilly fall day.

Not this year! It was 27 degrees on my birthday! I was out walking in shorts and T-shirt! I guess global warming is good for something. Just in time for my birthday, my Knit Pick Options Harmony arrived. I bought the whole set since I'm obsessively like that. I have the whole set in Addis and Options, since they came out with another materials, what the hell! Another set won't hurt! Of course, I had my birthday to justified it. I have so many straights bamboo that I would soon need to swap it since I don't use it anymore.

The harmonies are gorgeous. As much as I love wood, I still prefer my hold Options more since I knit a bit faster with metals. However, these needles would be great with really slick yarns like silk and bamboo. Speaking of bamboo, I started these in Sirdar Baby Bamboo for Arison -

Also, since it was my birthday, I dragged hubby to Spun Art (my LYS) and made him buy me this

I already casted on in a size 3 for Aliana. Yes, I know, I am suffering from sever knitting ADD. I have too many WIP to count.

Tomorrow's is Canadian Thanksgiving but our family decided to celebrate today. We all did a pot luck and I was in charge of one appetizer. I'd made Asparagus Puff Pastries which seems to be a hit. Here's the Recipe:

Coat asparagus in Olive oil, salt, pepper and some Parmesan cheese. Cut thawed frozen butter pastries (President's Choice is awesome!), wrap spiraled style on the asparagus, baked on parchment paper at 375 F until golden brown. Super easy and surely a crowd pleaser!

Voila! Bon Appetit! So easy and leaves more time for knitting! Happy Thanksgiving!