Pattern Sales for Haiti Relief

by Natalie on 2/2/2010

in Crafting, Knitting

Through the end of February, I will donate 50% of the proceeds from my 2 sock patterns, Bevel and Crosshatch, to Doctors Without Borders/MSF for aid for the recent earthquake in Haiti.

Both patterns are available for purchase through Ravelry.

Visit the links above or over in the left sidebar to purchase.

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Cthulhu

by Natalie on 1/28/2010

in Crafting, Knitting

Cthulhu took a break from his busy day at work and went for sushi.

Did you know he likes sushi?

The guys at the sushi shop didn’t know, either.

Hopefully we will see some more of Cthulhu’s adventures soon!

Details:
Started: November 7; Finished: December 18, 2009
Pattern: Cthulhuclava by Anne-Marie Dunbar
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted, colorway Lawn
Needles: Denise Interchangeables, Brittany DPNs: size US 6

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UFOlympics 2010

by Natalie on 1/19/2010

in Crafting, Knitting

It’s time for the UFOlympics again!

We’re on Ravelry, click to join us!

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Pros & Cons

by Natalie on 1/12/2010

in Kids, Miscellaneous

We’re going to Disney World for a week over Spring Break. You know, along with everyone else on Earth?

Our plan was to fly to Fort Myers, stay at the In-law’s house for a couple of days, then we’d all pack up in their fancy new minivan and drive to Disney. There we would meet up with my parents who will be staying at the campground at Disney. All 8 of us (4 grandparents, 2 parents, and 2 kids) would then go to the parks for a few days, and spend a couple of days just at the hotels and campground. Then we’d drive back to Fort Myers, have one day to relax, and then fly home.

But for some reason, flights this year are over 4 times the price they were last year. We flew to Fort Myers last year, over Easter/Spring Break. It cost us about $600 for all 4 of us. But the same trip this year was going to be about $2500!

I figured up what it’d cost us to drive (over-estimating the price of gas, and how much we’d use, and factoring in 2 nights’ hotel stays on the way down & back). About $500-600.

Gee, can you tell which wins?

Pros to flying (cons to driving):
1. Longer vacation (since we’re driving, we’re just going to Orlando and back instead of adding in Fort Myers).
2. Less time having to listen to the kids whine and Sam talk non-stop.

Pros to driving:
1. The cost, obviously.
2. Our first “ROAD TRIP!” with the kids.
3. We can take anything we want with us: Any liquids, any foods, nothing has to be in 3-ounce containers, as many suitcases as we want, my Swiss Army Knife (very useful for cutting straws shorter for the kids in restaurants!), razors, extra clothes, and most importantly: our own pillows!
4. No having to stand in security lines, no having to take our shoes off and put them back on (not a problem for adults, but a pain for the kids), no having to carry everything like a pack mule and still hold the kids’ hands.
5. Did I mention we can take our own pillows?

We need to leave the Easter Bunny a note and tell him we’ll be at the Disney campground on Easter Morning, so he doesn’t hide eggs at home.

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Just totaled up my remaining grocery receipts for 2009.

Value: $5904
Actually spent: $3444
Total Savings: $2460

Percentage saved overall: 42%
Average spent per week: $66
Total savings just in coupons: $1094.96

Not bad for our first year of mega-couponing and sale-shopping! I was hoping to stay under $100/week, so we managed that quite well. The last few months we weren’t shopping as much because I had so much stockpiled in the pantry and freezers. We also did more shopping without coupons, so that affected our percentage a bit.

And I really miss all the free toilet paper.

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Great Big FO Recap of 2009

by Natalie December 30, 2009 Crafting

I started off OK:
January:
Black & Gray Socks
Emily’s Scarf
Then I went to the doctor for my thumb, wrist, and elbow pain. And there was very little knitting until July & August!
September:
Madli’s Shawl
Jaywalker Socks
October:
Emily’s Baby Sweater (not my Emily, but Palma’s new little baby girl! Please send pictures whenever she wears the sweater – even if it’s [...]

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Cue “Psycho” knife-stabbing sounds…

by Natalie December 16, 2009 Crafting

And here’s the real scary view of the Cthulhuclava…
…the inside!

There are an insane amount of ends to deal with. I really think it could have been handled better in the pattern. If I were to ever knit this again (which I seriously doubt will happen!), I might try to come up with another way to [...]

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It’s beginning to look a lot like…

by Natalie December 15, 2009 Crafting

Cthulhu!

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Stash yardage

by Natalie November 30, 2009 Crafting

I got 29970.3 yards.
What did you get, Madalyn?

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Happy Birthday To Me!

by Natalie November 30, 2009 Miscellaneous

It’s my birthday!
And as usual, I’m not doing anything special. I even had to remind my family to wish me Happy Birthday this morning.
I may have even threatened the girls with no presents on THEIR birthdays.
Someone better bake me some brownies tonight, KEVIN.
:)
Yay! Last day of NaBloPoMo!

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