Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting…
My sister came up to Utah for the holidays this year and this was the mantra she and I kept repeating as we feverishly worked to finish our knit gifts for family members. For any of you parents or animated film fans out there it’s a take on Dori the fishes’ song just keep swimming from Finding Nemo (yeah now it’s gonna be stuck in your head too, sorry)!
I included some photos of said knit gifts in a previous post, but wanted to share with you the patterns used and the shortcuts I took to get the gifts done in time. Continue Reading
This time last year I went on the most glorious family vacation to Mexico. It had been at least four years since my last vacation and I was dying to treat myself and my family to a sunny, sandy getaway!
We rented a beautiful private home where we were waited on hand and foot, pampered beyond belief and fed incredible meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It was extravagant for sure, and my family and I could not have been more grateful for the experience. Though the food was out of this world, the drinks always flowing and the company wonderful, the most important thing I took away from our week long sun soaked time was a new found love and appreciation for yoga, and an eye opening understanding of the power of intentions.
Yeah I know… sounds a little like new agey, pseudo spiritual, mystical bullshit. It did to me too, for most of my life really. Certainly my adult life that is, though even as a kid I shuddered at such expressions as "I’m more spiritual than religious" or "You just have to tap into the Universe man! Everything happens for a reason". So my new found love and respect for yoga, meditation and intention work is out of character for me.Continue Reading
Utah is playing a trick on all of us who live here. The weather is high 50’s, sunny, beautiful and the snow has almost all melted. It feels like Spring has arrived, but I will not be fooled. The forecast is already predicting snow and lots of it over the next couple of weeks so I will savor these warm golden days now and use them as inspiration to start planning our Easter celebration. Next week when we’re knee deep in the cold stuff it will be hard to think about tulips, Easter egg hunts, and fresh spring salads. So today I plan, next week I surrender!Continue Reading
Not only did I spend a lot of time in front of the TV knitting this holiday season, I also spent a lot of time cooking in the kitchen! Thankfully, sitting and knitting was the perfect respite from all that standing and cooking!
I made pear and vanilla bean jams; pear cranberry cardamom jams, apple butter; lavender, rose, apple, jalapeño, ginger and mint flavored simple syrups; chai, mint, floral, and fruity tea blends; chocolate walnut fudge, toffee, chocolate truffles, a spicy nut mix; and chai spice, floral, orange clove, and allspice fir needle scented candles.
I know… I sound insane… perhaps I am, but I had a blast doing it all and surprisingly none of it was terribly hard or time consuming! All of my recipes and instructions were found on Pinterest and then I tweaked a few things to make them my own.Continue Reading
