Well, we’re halfway through winter and my Winterfell scarf is finally complete. Just in case you needed evidence of how nerdy I am, here you go.
This is a follow up from this post. This scarf came together quite quickly. I just had to keep putting it on the side to work on other things. Can you believe there was a time when I thought I would run out of things to knit or crochet? Seems so ridiculous now.
An adjustment I made to the pattern was to line the back with fleece. Yay for $5 remnants at Fabricland! I also added a crochet picot edge. It wasn’t the exact edging I wanted. I could see it in my mind, but I didn’t know what it was called so I did this in the meantime.
In other nerd news, I was way too excited by the confirmation of the identity of Richard III. History + Who Do You Think You Are? + Science=AWESOME!
I’ve started to paint my kitchen red. I’m loving how it’s looking so far. Such a relief considering how dark the colour is. It’s a bit scary to paint the first stripe. I can’t wait to show you!
Anyway, here’s what I was up to in January:
Coffee on New Year’s Day! // Mittens in progress. Now frogged because I don’t like how they turned out. The yarn is so pretty though. // Enjoying the gorgeous big blue Manitoba sky // Working on Missoni blanket again. It’s been over a year already! // First day back to class // Winter is coming scarf // Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Obsessed with this book. // Isn’t it cute that I thought -34C was cold when -44C was just around the corner? // I love my Travel & Leisure subscription but sometimes they’re rubbing it in. // Sprinkles! // Making scones // Treated parents to Creme Brulee French Toast. Recipe here. // Tea Cozy! Post here // Born to be Brad – Love this book! // Chevron NOTD // Sundogs!
What have you been up to this January? I love following new instagrammers. Follow me on instagram @Lesleylu and I’ll be sure to follow back! x
I don’t know about you, but when the temperature stays below -35C for an entire week, I drink my weight in tea. I don’t know what it is but when I’m very cold tea warms me up in a way that coffee never does. It has the same effect on me as soup. Since I’ve been drinking so much tea lately, I’ve started using my teapot. Before, I would just only want the odd cup so a teapot seemed excessive. Unforunately, by the time I got around to the second cup, the tea in the pot was often cold. Hmm….what to do.
I started to wonder if perhaps tea cozies were actually effective. I always assumed they were just for decoration. Since I have quite a lot of time on my hands (and a lot of yarn I need to use), I decided to search for a cute tea cozy pattern. This is what I found:
How cute is this?! Honestly, it brings me such joy everytime I use my teapot now. I’m absolutely thrilled with it. Naturally, I found this pattern on Ravelry.
Also, although I have no scientific data to back this up, it does seem that the tea stays hotter for a lot longer thanks to the tea cozy. I’m now determined to make cozies for my mugs. Functional & fashionable! Who knew?
Are you working on any current crochet projects? I’d love to hear about them!
I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend. I’ve been asked to help out on my friend’s curling team tonight. Very nervous since I’ve never curled before. Do I need my own broom? What do I wear? lol I’m not really sure how I can grow up in Manitoba and never thrown a rock before but there you have it.
Anyway, here’s what I was up to in December:
Loving the beautiful pastel sunsets we get in the winter // Decorated my front window based on a pin I can no longer find. // Latest Glossybox // First chocolate of the advent calendar. Still not sure what it’s meant to be // New (to me) dining table & chairs – post here // Working on baby blanket // Baby blanket complete – pattern here // Working on term paper // Hot chocolate! // Very cute owl in my parents’ front yard // University // Another pretty day full of hoar frost // More blue skies // Christmas morning cinnamon buns – recipe here // Red velvet trifle inspired by this pin (used box red velvet mix instead of madelines & whipped cream instead of cream cheese & marscapone) // My kobo smiling
What have you been up to this December? I love following new instagrams. Follow me on instagram @Lesleylu and I’ll be sure to follow back! x
Current Crush has been happening over at Framed Frosting where every week bloggers share what they’re loving at the moment.
This week, I’m all about doilies. I’ve never been a big fan of the traditional doily (outside of my Great Aunt’s home) but thanks to Pinterest, I’ve found a lot of really pretty doily items that I’m completely in love with.
Don’t you just love this doily rug? Thankfully, there are a couple of patterns on Ravelry so I can attempt to make my own for the new condo!
Today I sent off the baby blanket and washcloths I made for my cousin’s brand new baby girl Zoey. This is the baby blanket pattern I used. I think it’s my new favourite. It was so easy and yet so pretty. I used Bernat Handicrafter Yarn. I love how soft cotton is. I used thesethreepatterns for the washcloths. I think I have enough baby cotton wool to make one for myself. I love the way it feels on my skin. So soft!!
I’m exhausted! It was just one of those weeks where I had something going every night. All I want to do is finish the baby blanket and go to sleep! I can’t though. I have our splurge dinner group tonight. Ok but I’m leaving early-ish!
Last night, I was at the Ronald McDonald House Fashion Show. It was the second year I attended and I enjoyed it more this year than last year. They do such great work that it’s always nice to go out and support them. As an event planner, every time I go to another event, I start changing things. I’m sure people do that to my events as well. It’s just a habit. Check out what I got in my swag bag:
Not a bad little assortment of goodies. The Ronald McDonald House gift is a compact mirror which is really handy. I’m not sure about the scarf if I’m honest. I both love it and hate it if that’s possibly. I love the colours but the scarf is a bit 70s Air Hostess. However, I’m keeping it. I think it’s going to be one of those pieces that when you figure out what you’re going to do with it, it’s fabulous. Oooh maybe as a headband? Watch this space.
Here’s what I’m up to this weekend:
1. Going to Take Off Your Clothes Winnipeg! Check out my earlier post for more info. I was meant to volunteer this weekend but I haven’t heard back. Looks like I’m off the hook! 2. Finishing the baby washcloths! Baby Zoey was born on Wednesday. She’s very cute. The blanket will be done shortly, I’m just finishing the last row of trim. Then I’m making a couple of washcloths for baby and a couple of these flower hair bands for Zoey & her two big sisters.
3. Breakfast with one of my bffs! I’m so excited for this it’s ridiculous. I haven’t seen her for so long! Following breakfast, we’re heading to nearby Academy Rd. to hit up some boutiques. I don’t think I’ve hit up the Academy shops in at least a year. Unacceptable.
4. Listening to the new Scissor Sisters single I’ve been obsessed with this since I first heard it. The last cd made me feel a bit meh so I’m really happy to be pumped for this one! I’ve been chair dancing to it all week at work!
5. Reading something I barely cracked a book this week because I’ve just been all over the place. I’ve missed it!
What are your plans for the weekend? Don’t forget to enter my giveaway on Holly’s blog!
It’s a rainy day here in Winnipeg. I hope the weather is better where you are. You know what they say though, April showers bring May flowers! Next week is going to be a bit intense I think I have a meeting each night! Exhausting. I’ve been feeling really tired the last couple of days as though I can’t really fully wake up. I need to dance around or something!
This’ll work: Ready for the Weekend – Calvin Harris.
I love Calvin Harris so much!!
Here’s what I’m up to this weekend:
1. Getting a bag ready for Take Off Your Clothes Winnipeg! Check out my earlier post for more info. 2. Finishing the baby blanket! I think I’m about 3/4 of the way through the main bit. It’s coming together really quickly. I love the 100% cotton wool I’m using. I want to go out and buy some more just to make my own washclothes out of it. Forget the baby! I want them for me.
3. Finishing Level 1 Rosetta Stone Italiano I’m so close and I know I won’t get anytime to do it next week. Io ho bisogno di un caffè.
4. Reading Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell This book comes so highly recommended by many readers but I haven’t really got too far into it yet. I just got an email from the library saying that IQ84 is in and I’m really curious. I’ve heard a lot about that book too. So different I don’t know what to choose!
5. Going for brunch I don’t know where, when or with whom but I’ve been craving Eggs Benedict for a while. Plus, it looks like it’s rainy all weekend. Perfect for having someone else make your breakfast.
I don’t know about you but I really need a long weekend! I hope this gorgeous weather keeps up. It’s so unlike a typical April in Winnipeg and it’s very much appreciated!
Here’s what I’m up to this weekend:
1. Reading a ton! I’m still about halfway through A Feast of Crows but even though I’m neck deep in SOIAF obsession, I like to take breaks every once in awhile so I don’t read too fast. I think I need time to absorb them. Today I picked up this bunch at the library. Being able to reserve books online makes my life so much easier but still overwhelms me. Where to start?
2. Watching Emmerdale and crying My favourite character leaves tonight! I don’t think I’m emotionally ready to say goodbye. /nerd.
3. Starting a new baby blanket! I’m putting my blanket on hold to work on a baby blanket for my cousin Carl. The baby is due at the end of the month. What colour do you turn to when you want it to be neutral? I kind of hate the fact that we put so much emphasis on gender specific colours for babies. Try to find something for a newborn baby girl that isn’t pink or purple. I found this pattern on Ravelry. It’s a simple pattern but it appears so incredbly elegant. I have a feeling I’m going to have to be extra careful with tension with this one. I think it’ll show up very easily.
4. Making these:
How adorable are these chocolate covered strawberries? How clever! I love Pinterest!
For the life of me, I can’t find my list of 2011 Resolutions but I do remember some of the things I didn’t accomplish: taking a university course, completing couch to 5K and taking a shopping trip to Minneapolis. However, there were some things I did actually see through!
1. Reduce my interest rate on my car loan. Such a relief to finally do this. It was halved! Best feeling ever.
2. Mastering macarons! While I wouldn’t say that I mastered them (as I’d hoped), I did have a very successful turn out with this recipe. Fabulous!
3. Learn to knit & crochet. So glad I picked up this hobby!
4. Read more! I love to read but it sometimes took a back burner to work or the internet. In 2011, I made reading a priority and I got the badge from Goodreads to prove it! I read 50 books last year (and it was a struggle near the end) and I’ve upped it to 60 this year! Better get started.
Did you have any success with your resolutions last year?
// Latest Glossybox // First chocolate of the advent calendar. Still not sure what it’s meant to be // New (to me) dining table & chairs – 
