2009...What a YEAR!!!

2009, the last year of the decade. I can't say it was a good year, I can't say it was a bad year, but I will say it was an interesting year.



A year of ups and downs, a year of good and bad, a year of laughs and tears.

A quick recap of 2009.


January - Wedding Planning.
February - Doug's Birthday, Quick trip to Maine .

March - Got Married.

April - Moved, Dear Friend passed.

May - Laid off.

June - Made the decision to change my life and go back to school

July - Went to NYC for Dawn's Birthday

August - Uneventful Birthday.

September - Started back to School.

October - Hockey Season Started, More school

November - School, School and more School

December, Celebrated 1st Christmas as Married Couple, Lost another Dear Friend, and yes more school.

Here are some pictures to share of the year that's now behind me. I can only look forward to the first year of the next decade, and hope that it will be a great one.

Better late.....

Then NEVER!!!

I guess, it's ok to do a little holiday baking after the holiday. I just didn't have the time. I've had a cake mix waiting for me.

It's so cute, I found a christmas tree pan and bought holiday funfetti cake and frosting.

And yes even the cake is green (I added a little food coloring) as well as the frosting.

10 Reasons to buy lots of yarn.

10 Reasons to Buy Lots of Yarn
1. It insulates the cupboard where it is kept.
2. It keeps the economy moving. It is my patriotic duty to support wool
farmers, textile mills, and yarn shops.
3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.
4. I'm participating in a contest - the one who dies with the most yarn
wins!
5. It keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy
it, you never have to feed it, change it, wipe its nose or walk it.
6. Because I'm worth it.
7. Like dust, it's good for protecting previously unprotected spaces in
the house, like the ironing board, the laundry basket, the dining room
table
8. It's not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves,
ratifies the soul, and makes me feel good.
9. Because it is on sale. Because that is such a beautiful colour... I've never seen it before... I must have it.
10. Buy it now, before your husband retires and goes with you on all your
shopping expeditions.

"Sushi"

I found these and have to make them.



What you need:

•Bakery pound cake
•Powdered mini donuts
•Marshmallows
•Fruit Streamers
•Fruit Roll-Ups
•Fruit Snacks
•Swedish Fish

Steps:
1. Cut pound cake and mini donuts into sushi-sized pieces. Separate Streamers and make into a "roll."
2. Wrap with Fruit Roll-Ups. Top with Fruit Snacks and Swedish Fish.

Our 1st Christmas as Husband and Wife.

They say the first year of marriage is the hardest, if you can make it through that, you can make it through anything.

And yes so far we've made it through our 1st eight months and are so happy. There have been hard times, there have been good times. It's been worth every minute of the last 273 days.

Now since we're in the holiday season we've baked our cookies, written out the cards, bought our presents (well some of them are done, still working on the rest) and now the tree is finally up.

Merry Christmas.

I love roll and bake.

It's the best thing since sliced bread...well it's almost sliced bread, it's pre-cut, pre rolled pie crust.

Just put in the pie pan, fill and top.

I made a Crumb Topping with Flour, Sugar and Butter, and added Cherry Pie Filling, VIOLA!!!

Cherry Pie!!!

I am a believer.

I have to say that most infomercials come on and I usually just pass them by, but this time I watched, and looked and thought...hmmmm this could actually work.

The Product, The Perfect Brownie




I really didn't think it would work or even come out just as they promised, but guess what....IT DID!!!



One small issue is it took a little longer to bake, but not really a big deal in the whole scheme of things, I just kept checking with a toothpick and the final time was about 50 minutes. The box and Perfect Brownie directions said about 25-30 minutes, but I think my oven is a little off.

All in all, I do have to say I would recommend this, I love it and can't wait to try all the recipes that came with the kit. And yes, they do taste as good as they look.

Ruffle Insanity

I started this shawl 10 days ago, the shawl itself only took me about 3 days to knit and it's close to 5 feet long by 3 feet wide, so it's quite large.

Unfortunately the ruffle around the outside wasn't as easy. Considering it took me almost 6 hours just to bind off all the stitches. I love the way it came out and I hope my Mom loves it I made it for her for Christmas.

731 days later.

What started out with a "wink" on Match.com 731 days ago has become the best 2 years of my life.

I know it's been full of a lot of ups and downs but it's been a wonderful 2 years. I'm so grateful to have him in my life.

I love looking, it's not like it's been so long that we've changed, we pretty much look the same. Just my hairsytle changes...but that happens pretty much monthly not matter what.

Here's a little picture history of us. I just wanted to share. Really so many years from now I know I can always look back and say way back when.....

Slippers are better than socks.

I found these and this is just so much better than socks.

Felted wool slippers. They look so cozy, I must must must knit them. And if they come out good, I smell christmas presents.

Socks...Socks...and More Socks.

Ok, I need another sock pattern, like I need another whole in my head.

But I came across these patterns on Dipsy Doodles Blog. I can't believe how cute they are.

I need to make them. The New Year's Day Socks




Austrian Lace Socks

It was a great day in sports...Well Almost.

Since Sunday was a good day for two out of my three teams that played.

The Soundtigers won!! Woohoo!! Starting to get back on track, they won four in a row, lost four in a row, now won two in a row, let's

Heres the highlight reel.



The other good win was THE YANKEES WON THE PENANT!! 1st time since 2003. I'm so happy for this, Let's just hope they don't blow it against the Phillies, not that it would be a terrible thing if the Phillies won, because I don't hate them, I actually like them, they are my NL team, and the only team that Doug and I can agree on.








Now for the not so good part of the day. The Dolphin's forgot to show up for the 2nd half of the game. It looked so good they were up 24-3 with 2 seconds left before the end of the 1/2. But unfortunatly they lost 46-34 and it was ugly.

Theres always next week right???

Wednesday...What to do?

This semester in school, I have a break in classes for 2 hours, so I've decided that I need to find something to do.

Today was a little trip to Lighthouse Point Park. If the weather was just a tiny bit better it would have been awesome.

But it was still a beautiful day. I had so much fun in the park, the leaves were starting to change. I took a great long walk around the park, had lunch and took a stroll on the beach. I even wrote our names in the sand. Ok, so it wasn't really "beach weather" but it was still a great day.

And a nice way to kill a couple hours when I had nothing to do. Since school is so far from home, it's not even enough time to make it home for a little bit.

So far we have two Wednesdays down and now just three more to go. What's on next weeks agenda? I just don't know.

Bread Pudding.

I had a bag full of bagels that I got from Panera last week. There were 5 bagels in the bag and now stale :( I didn't want to throw them out, so I thought about it for a minute or two, and came up with Bread Pudding.

I used cranberry vanilla bagels and plain bagels, so I didn't think the chocolate chips would work with these but I added about a tbsp of cinnamon to take the place.

4 cups of bagel pieces
4 cups of whole milk
3 eggs
½ cup melted butter
1 cup of sugar
¾ cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

All I can say is if you have the chance to make it. I would.

Before



After

Went to a hockey game and knitting broke out.

Since there wasn't much excitement at tonights Soundtiger's game. They actually suffered their 1st lost game of the season. It was really not a good game, so what's a girl to do? I knit.



Since I knew I would have time in between periods I ususally bring some sort of yarn with me and this was no exception.

I was digging around for something a little different for fingerless gloves. I knew I wanted to do something a little lacy, something that was practical and yet still pretty.

I found the fishtale lace pattern. So with a little designing and some quick yarn math, I came up with these fingerless mits.

I had to share how cute this came out. I'm loving it. I think I need to make a few for the holidays. Also I'm adding them to my Etsy store incase anyone wants a pair.