A Christmas-y Thanksgiving

So as I'm sure everyone is aware, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. At our home we got started on the decorating a little earlier than normal, but this year is special. I am having Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the first time for my family! I'm really stoked. I've cooked Thanksgiving food before, but never to eat at home with my parents and siblings. It is going to be so wonderful! In light of such a great day at our house, we decided to decorate a bit early and get the spirit going. It's Christmas central here at our home.

I am so excited and have to start cooking tonight. Stuffing, Bread, and the best part of all, dessert, which will be an awesome Pumpkin Cheesecake that made it's debut last year and, might I add, was received very well! I guess all my knitting and job work will have to be put aside for the next two days but family time is so important, don't you think?

Have a Wonderful Holiday!

Vote Vote Vote

For ME ME ME!

Puhhhleeease? I entered the weekly "Don't You Hate It When" contest on Shelle's Blog a couple of weeks ago and WON thanks to all my wonderful readers and friends. Now I'm in the running for a $25 Amazon gift card (which I could totally use now it's getting close to Christmas) and a very pretty quilt that I would love to keep on my bed! I want, I want..... Look at me, all in the Christmas spirit already, lol.

I just would love to win and would love it if you'd vote for me, if you do leave me a comment and a link to your blog (if I don't already know you) so I can thank you and tell you how much you totally rock my socks!!!!!!!!

Happy Monday!

And Here It Is!

The ever so ominous baby blanket. What's that, you say? It looks so much bigger than the same as last time I posted about it?! How dare you say such a thing! And what I really mean by that, is how dare you tell me the truth and not say to me "Oh Channon, look at the progress you're making on it!"

Okay so in all honesty, it is a bit bigger. A row and a half of pattern to be exact. I haven't even finished the first skein of yarn for this, and it calls for FOUR skeins. I told my hubby that I think since this is a "baby" blanket, it'll wind up not only being 2 skeins long but I'll make sure I say that it's a "crib blanket". Then I don't look like a total slacker to my bestest friend and her newborn daughter. Even though she reads my blog now and my cover is totally and completely blown.

So who else has any UFO's just sitting around, ominously staring you down every time you walk by? I hope it's not just me!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thankful Thursday Returns

Last week on Thursday I posted a "Thankful Thursday" entry to my blog. [You may scroll down now if you did not read it, and partake in the wonderousness that is my writing... hehe] So here it is, Thursday again. Next week is Thanksgiving so I get to post five more things today, and five more next week.

Last week I posted about my family, my BFF and hetero life mate Heather, my ever so wonderfully amazing Mom, my silly pup and of course, coffee. Now those are the five obvious choices for me, I mean, duh. Of course they're some of the best because they were the first few to pop in my mind. Now, I have to warn you, the next few will probably be either insanely corny or reeeeeally hilarious. And that's just because, sometimes you have to look past the obvious and find other things you might not think of.

So without further adieu... here's my Thankful Thursday Five:

1. My best friend Sherry. She rocks my socks. I owe credit to her in many ways. Pulling me out of my shell while we were all in the abyss that is Alaska at the same time. Getting me interested in knitting. Blogging. She has a great family and is an AMAZING person. She always has something great to talk about, or a funny story to tell. No matter what my mood when I talk to her I always hang up the phone with a smile on my face.

2. Flowers. No specific kind or any sentimental story that goes with it. I always notice when there are pretty flowers around. I see those patches of wildflowers on the side of the road, or the potted ones on someones porch or window box when I pass their house. Anytime I pass them I always stop and smell them, and think about how pretty they are. I don't know why, but I always do.

3. My ex husband. Now before you think to yourself "Whaaaaaaaaat?" hear me out. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have my BEAUTIFUL children. I would never have met Heather. Or Sherry. And as crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't have Joe. The things I've dealt with because of him, or because of the decisions he's made sometimes were hard. Hurtful. Painful and miserable. But all that is behind me now. And instead of harboring hate, I'm thankful for him. Because I have such a wonderful life right now, and it's because I married him when I did. That was the start to the path of my life that brought me here. In all bad you have to find the good.

4. Matchbox Twenty. More so Rob Thomas. I love their music. And Rob Thomas is hot. I've thought so since I was 15 and liked the band they used to be in before they were who they are now. And even when their first CD came out, I thought the old fat guy on the cover was the lead singer, but I still LOVED their stuff. When I saw the hotness that was Rob I couldn't help but be even more thankful. I can relate to almost every song they've ever put out. They are my guilty obsession.

5. Planners. Yep, those spiral bound notebooks with calendars in them that you buy at WalMart. Or even the 3 ring binder type ones that they have. They are overpriced, but I have to have one. I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached and I am glad I have one. I need it for EVERYTHING from doctor's appointments to weekend activities... to chores! It's a blessing to have that planner on my desk!

So those are my 5 crazy, and [some] silly things that I'm thankful for this week. I didn't get much going from this last week... maybe I can get a little participation, hmm?

Oh How I Miss...

This coffee. I live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive 35 minutes to the closest Dunkin' Donuts. I hate that. You can buy it now, at WalMart and all that, at the grocery store, whatever. It sucks in comparison to the real thing. Just saying. Sucks. Nobody makes a cup of coffee like Dunkin' Donuts. Sorry out there to all you Starbucks lovers but their coffee isn't as good and it's too expensive. Just my opinion.

On a night like tonight, I am wishing I lived closer to a beloved DD right about now. I could really use the extra boost. I have laundry sitting on the bed behind me. I have a binder full of work I need to be typing up and emailing to my boss. I have a lunch to make for school tomorrow, and a report card to sign. And yet, what am I doing? Sitting her blogging. Yeah. Not only blogging here but I posted a blog on my MySpace page and I'm over to CafeMom after this. Maybe Starbucks doesn't suck.... I think it's me. I am procrastinating like never before. But doing this stuff is way more fun.

I got a new pattern from a friend of mine for a ruffled baby hat. I can't wait to make it. Not like I don't have enough gloves, scarves, and hats to make for my own family, not to mention the ever looming presence of the baby blanket that is NOT going to be done. Let me just start on a hat too! Haha.... Oh well. I'll get it done. Right?

Now who wants to go to Dunkin' Donuts for me?

All Work, No Play

I have been so busy the past couple of weeks, I don't know what to do with myself! I started a job as an assistant to a Wedding Planner about a month ago, and it's kept me busy. I love the fact that I'm at home doing my work, that is such a huge blessing to me. But it does keep my free time limited. I have a billion crafts I want to work on and haven't picked up my needles in probably 2 weeks. It sucks sometimes, but I like having a job. I got paid for the first time today. That's the first time I've made my own money in 6 years. It was really nice to feel like I was contributing financially. I know I contribute in a MILLION other ways here at home, but it was a nice change of pace.

Miss Priss keeps me so busy too with school volunteer stuff, dance class, and girl scouts. I never realized how much work it is to run around with them doing all their activities. I wouldn't change it for the world though. It's wonderful to see her doing things outside of school, getting brighter and more social every day. I love it. Both of them are getting so big, so fast, it's crazy to watch how UNlittle they are anymore!

I've been battling the blahs a bit too, I've kept so busy I feel like my relationships with my friends have started falling to the wayside. I'm trying to keep up but it feels like I'm treading water, and not swimming anywhere. I keep missing calls, and emails, and then take forever to return the favor. I know that in a sense I'm not doing anything "wrong" .... Anyone with a family knows you put them first, and almost all of my friends have families of their own, and I know they understand. I can't help but feel a little bit guilty sometimes though.

I guess it's a pretty boring post but that's all that's really been going on in our neck of the woods. Hope everyone's week got to a great start! :-)

Thankful Thursday

So Thanksgiving is 2 weeks from today. I see everyone with all these contests and giveaways, and I don't have anything I'm good enough at to really do something like that myself. Neither do I have enough people that actually follow and read my blog. BUT.. I want to start a little tiny something, I'd love to get more readers and I would love to see the answer to this question.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving coming, today and every Thursday til then I am going to list 5 things I am thankful for. I'd love to see what everyone else is thankful for too, leave me a comment, or put something on your blog too!

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. My family. It didn't turn out the way I'd always pictured it, but in it's own way I think it is actually better than I would've ever imagined.

2. My best friend Heather. It's almost an obsession I have with her, lol. She's been there for me when no one else was. She knows EVERYTHING about me. Everything. And she's the only person who does, not even my husband knows everything the way she does.

3. My dog. Even though he gets on my nerves and poops on the floor sometimes, he always has that tail just wagging away when we come home. It may have been an all day trip, or me walking out to get the mail, but he's always happy to see me.

4. Coffee. I wouldn't make it through the day without it. I am having Dunkin' Donuts coffee withdrawals in SmallTown USA but none the less, I heart my java.

5. My mom. She never was one of those "moms" when I was a kid. The one who embarrassed you or got on your nerves. I was under-appreciative of her, like all kids tend to be. But she was and still IS an amazing mom and as I've gotten older, I know just how amazingly lucky I am that I got to have her for my mom.

So those are my 5 things for the week. I hope to see some of yours!

Washcloth Anyone?!

So, as you know, I've been knitting feverishly for my best friend's baby, due in January. As "feverishly" as I'd like to admit I've been working, I am NO WHERE NEAR close to finishing the blanket. I've been going through a rough patch, and the blanket... well, it's something I want to do and something I am doing, but it's emotionally challenging at times. I briefly posted why before, here's the link to that post, if you want to read it.

So here lately I've been focusing on making washcloths for her, and I have 6 of them done. I love them, and think I might make myself some just for stuff like dishes, or for bathtime for the kids... It fits right in the palm of my hand. I love 'em. Anyway... that's what I've been up to. What has everyone else been doing?

I NEVER win ANYTHING!

Can I just say how freaking STOKED I am?!?!?!?

I actually won this week's entry for the "Don't You Hate It When" contest on
Shelle's Blog and I never win anything. Seriously. I have played the lottery, entered in raffles, called in to the radio, and I never win a freaking thing. Oh, I take that back. Last Halloween I went to a bazaar for a friend of mine's children's school. I won the cake walk. HAHA...

Thank you everyone for voting for me, I posted here and on my MySpace Page for everyone I knew to vote for me, as well as my Mom posted on her blog for everyone to vote for me as well. I can't lie, I also posted a link next to my status on my Yahoo messenger too. I'm shocked that I won. But you know, I am so excited because you guys voted for me and I actually won something! Granted my story was definately not "Mother of the Year" material, and I am mortified in a way I even told the public I did that, but sometimes you just gotta do what needs doing. Oh well! I guess that's the whole idea behind the contest.

Thanks so much everyone. You've made my week!

Just a Quick Note..

Can I just say how much I love Cafe Mom?! I had created an account with them a while ago and just never really did anything with it. My best friend told me that I "needed" to change some stuff, which can I just add, I really TOTALLY needed to...

So I got on there and got started and I'm having a blast. I think I like this more than my MySpace, and that's a huge thing to say...

Anyway all you Moms out there and my favorite people who read my blog, if you have a Cafe Mom account go find me! Mama Channy -- Hope everyone's having a fantastic Tuesday!

***ANNNNND*** GO VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR MEEEEEE ON SHELLE'S BLOG FOR HER DON'T YOU HATE IT WHEN CONTEST!!!

It's That Time Again!

Here it is, Monday morning and we all know what that means! It's time for the weekly
Don't You Hate It When... contest over at Shelle's blog! I posted mine for the first time last week, which I thought was way fun. Even though I didn't win... *cough cough.... just kidding!* it was so much fun to read everyone's posts! So anyway, here is my weekly funny for all....

Back in September was my little princess' birthday. The big 6. We were already about 2 weeks into the school year, and since she's still in first grade, it's okay for me to come and visit. Especially bearing gifts, like cupcakes. We all know the affect of cupcakes on the wee ones. So anyway, her birthday was on a Monday, and the whole week before I procrastinated, and never got a note to the teacher asking if I could bring cupcakes. So Sunday night, here I am, baking feverishly, as directed, making chocolate cupcakes, with pink and purple icing. You know, black.. pink.. and purple because that's what Hannah Montana would want. *snort* So I'm making Miss Montana's cupcakes until 1 am. Thinking to myself the whole time "I should've asked, I swear I better be able to bring these to school..." you know, cussing at myself for being the master procrastinator.

I take my daughter to school Monday morning, a box of cupcakes in the backseat, hoping that it's alright they can have them. I go in with her and bring the box, and to my delight the teacher says how that is perfectly fine, and I can even come back in at 11 and help pass them out to celebrate. As she's telling me this she looks in the box and says "Oh no.... [insert child's name here] is allergic to chocolate. So I'm staring at her, blinking with a smile on my face screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" in my head. I keep smiling and tell her "No worries! I'll go get some more and make them and I'll be back by 11, not a problem, I should've asked, it's my fault I didn't know [anonymous child] couldn't eat chocolate". Off to the store I go.

I get home, I mix like the wind, because at this point I don't have much time and they're getting a box mix. I start lining my tins... I run out of liners. Could this get any worse? Keep reading, it does. So I run back to the store, am a total bee-otch to the cashier because I am NOT in the chit chat mood, it is T-Minus 45 minutes and counting until cupcake distribution. I rush home, fill them, bake them and ice these things as they're coming out of the oven. So, I get them ready. 20 perfect cupcakes. 18 for the kids and 2 for the teachers. Everyone's covered, and off I go to the school.

I drive like my grandpa used to, floating around the turns and dodging all bumps to arrive safely. As I get out I walk around the side of the car and pick up my tray, ever so carefully, and then... it happens. I hit the side of the door, and two of my beautiful... ever so precious and slightly cursed cupcakes go crashing to the asphalt. Not just on the ground, ICING SIDE DOWN. I stand there in disbelief, staring at the ones on the tray, and the two on the ground.... I wanted to cry.... But I dealt with it the most productive way I knew how. I picked those things up, swirled the icing around with my finger, put them back on the tray and off I went into the school. That's right.

Thanksgiving Practice

The other day I started thinking. Thanksgiving is only about 3 weeks away, what are we going to do and what am I going to cook?! I called my Mom and got her famous Apple Pie Recipe. I've baked before, you know, bread, cakes, brownies, etc. But I've never wanted to, or thought I was capable, of tackling Mom's Apple Pie.

But I did... And here it is! I must say I was proud of myself. It tasted pretty daggone good. Only thing is my crust isn't nearly as purdy as hers... I have huge shoes to fill here, she does everything so perfectly it's hard to do it as good as Mom! But after making these the other day, I must say I am so very stoked about Thanksgiving. It's one of my favorite times of the year, and this year, is my first real family Thanksgiving at MY house. Moved away as an adult, I've cooked Thanksgiving dinner at my home, but for friends. I've been to my mom's house, I've been to relatives' homes, and brought food that I've cooked. But this year... I get to cook at MY house for MY family! I'm really excited, and I just can't wait for them to come. It's going to be so much fun.

If anyone has any awesome Thanksgiving recipes they want to share, please do! I have one that I'm going to post at a later date, if anyone likes Pumpkin and Cheesecake, that's the one for you! Have a great rest of your weekend!

Rock Out!

So here's my little girls' fingerless gloves, or her "Rock Out Gloves" as she calls them. I'm so proud of them, the pattern I used was for an adult man, but for the first time EVER I actually adjusted a pattern and tweaked it to fit what I needed! I'm so proud of myself. Truth be told it was insanely easy but I don't care. Yay for me I did it!!

I made her pose her hands, she didn't understand why I was taking a picture of them, I think she thought I was nutso but hey, I was so proud of them I couldn't help it! Now everyone in the family is getting a pair. I told my husband we'd all match. I got that look of *smile that's cute* and *oh wait, she's serious...* Oh well, I am serious!

Hope everyone's having a terrific week!

I Have A Stash!

Isn't it beautiful?! This is the first time I've ever gotten hand-dyed yarn, and I am so excited. I bought this color for the boys in my family, two sets of fingerless gloves, and two hats await this manly blue and black. I found it on eBay, of all places, and couldn' be more thrilled with it. 3 of this color, and 3 of another, all wool, for a total of $20 bucks! Now maybe that's not such a sweet deal, being I've never ordered or purchased hand dyed yarn before but I thought it was great! I am using this pattern I found on Ravelry, titled "Hand Like a Hole" for the fingerless gloves. I wanted to make some in the round, but I haven't learned yet, and being that I have all these projects, plus my baby blanket and washcloths for my friend (whose baby is due in 3 months... YIKES!) I am going to put it on hold. I am just so excited, I haven't really done this much with my needles in a long time, and it's been such a relaxing thing to do. So much has been going on here that I love getting the chance to sit back with a project and work. It's wonderful.


Here is the pretty pink and purple for my little girl, and I just might make something for myself with this too. I'm not sure yet. I've got a set of fingerless gloves, and a headband/earmuff for her. Now of course we can't have a hat, we don't want to mess up that hair! I've already finished the hand like a hole project for my little girl, and will post with pictures later. She loves them. "Rock Out Gloves" she called them. LOL! I'm so proud!



I've been working really hard on all my baby gifts too, and then I've got the kids' projects, my projects, and then I'd like to make a few other things as gifts for Christmas. Because I've never been one before now to buy alot of yarn, I had to go out a few weeks ago and get a basket to keep it all in! So now, I'm establishing a "stash" like other people so lovingly call it, especially like on Ravelry. I don't have anything listed on there, I love that place and yet never go, and now I get to update my stash... SEE??!!

Don't You Hate It When?

After reading a million funny stories over on Shelle's Blog for her "Don't You Hate It When..." contest, I thought maybe I could add a funny story to the mix.

It's not long, it's not much, but, none the less, here we go.


Don't You HATE IT when....

Your 6 year old daughter gets off the bus, with all the kids in a riot, and her face red and you can tell she's mortified... Your lovely, ALWAYS polite daughter, ESPECIALLY when she's at school, because you know, they aren't always as good for you as they are for everyone else. Your beautiful, innocent child who you have raised to ALWAYS say the right thing, do the right thing, treat others with respect... Has informed someone on the bus, that he "Smells like ASS" .........

Yeah. Talk about mortification as she yells in embarrassment at you and then when you get home find out what's going on not only to be upset with the lack of judgement, but riddled with the inability to not stop smirking, having to put your hand over your mouth KNOWING that when you tell everyone they are going to laugh themselves to death....

That's my don't you hate it when!