We're Moving?

We're moving in a couple different ways.  

First, Cornelius has decided to move to a new house (same town, thank goodness!), which means that I'll be helping him move soon.  Because of this, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update my blog during that time.  I'll try to do some pre-written posts before then, but I can't make any promises.

Also, I decided that I wanted to switch over to a different blog address, so we're moving in that respect, as well.  The new blog is at annabelpierce.blogspot.com, so if you already follow my blog, please be sure to become a follower over there, instead.  If you're not a follower yet, I would love it if you became one!

So, I will not be updating this blog anymore, and will slowly be moving all my past posts over there.  To make it more convenient to you, though, I will leave pictures and introductions up, along with the link on my other blog, so that you can easily find the instructions without searching the new blog.

I think the move will be good, and I hope to see you there!

Monday Manicure: Kiss Nail Dress Accent

Ever since I received some Kiss Nail Dress stickers to review (which you can read here), I've been on the hunt for some pretty gold stickers, called Babydoll.  I kept looking for them at my local Walmart, but they only had two designs.  Then, a couple days ago, I discovered that we had a Walgreens in our town, and stopped in there.  They had them!  So, I decided that I needed to do something with them, and decided on a pretty accent nail with Essie's Size Matters, which you can see in the picture.  It's probably a look that would be more suited for the fall, but I still absolutely love it!

Do you have any favorite nail sticker designs?

What's the Band in My Head Playing? This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli

All day yesterday, I had the song "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli stuck in my head, so the second I got home, I had to listen to it.  It's such a perky, happy, Christian song, and I love it.  While it was playing, I was singing and dancing all over the house (probably not very well, I might add), and was about a minute away from being caught by Cornelius had I not stopped to play the song yet again!  I just can't help but be happy listening to it!

What song have you had on repeat lately?

Try a Trend: Matching Nails and Lips

One of my favorite trends this season is matching my nail and lip color - especially with bright pink!  It's a fun way to sport the neon look this spring and summer, and just try not to have fun posing in front of the mirror when your nails and lips match!  As much as I'm ashamed to admit it, I had fun for probably over 5-10 minutes in front of the mirror when I tried this.  Plus, it just makes me warm and fuzzy inside to look down and see that bright, Barbie pink on my fingers.

My favorite combination lately is Essie's Mob Square with Revlon's Lip Butter in Lollipop.  They are just so much fun, and so outside what I'm used to, but look amazing with any bright, tribal styles you may have!

What's your favorite lipstick/nail combo of the moment?

Jewelry Box: Bird's Nest Pendant

Well, I've done a bird's nest ring tutorial and a twig companion ring tutorial, so I thought I'd add to the little collection, and bring you a little bird's nest pendant, as well!  It uses a lot of the same techniques as the bird's nest ring, and could possibly be even easier to make than the ring!

We're moving!  To see the full instructions, click here: Bird's Nest pendant

Out and About: Strawberry Floppy Hat

I absolutely love floppy hats.  I think they are adorable, and even though it's spring, it's still a little chilly out, so there is a legitimate reason to be wearing them, as well!  I've been wearing this particular hat quite a bit recently, and decided that I might as well write up the pattern and share it with you guys!  Hope you enjoy!

We're in the process of moving!  Find the pattern here: Strawberry Floppy Hat

Manicure on Monday: Turquoise & Caicos

I woke up this morning, and it was SNOWING outside!  Since it's been so nice lately, I decided it was necessary to wear something bright and fun that reminded me of summer on my nails today.  So, I reached for Essie's Turquoise & Caicos, which is a beautiful robin's egg blue that adds a fun pop of color to just about any outfit!

What is your favorite summertime nail polish?

Today's Video: April Sweater a Month

Yesterday, I put up my very first sweater pattern, which I was really excited about, not just because it was the first sweater pattern I've written, but because it is also the sweater that I have chosen as my May sweater for my Sweater a Month series!

Each month, I choose a different sweater pattern to knit, and at the beginning of the month, I show it off!  So, in this video, I am showing off the sweater I made for the month of April, and I absolutely love it!

I would love it if you tried to make a garment a month with me, and if you are of the knitting persuasion, the pattern I have chosen for May is my Anita sweaterdress, which you can find here.

The pattern the dress in the video was based off of was the Dahlia sweater, which you can find here.

What would you make if you could make any garment?

In the Wardrobe: Anita Sweaterdress

Well, I've done it!  I've written my first sweater pattern, and have named it Anita.  It is a burgundy sweaterdress that has a cabled belt worked into the front, and also ties in a bow at the back.   I think it is gorgeous, and I can't wait for fall just so I can wear it!

We're moving!  If you'd like to see the pattern, click here: Anita Sweaterdress

Quick Teeth Whitening Tips

I've been drinking a lot of Coca-Cola with grenadine lately, and noticed that my teeth were starting to get a bit yellow.  Although I do have the  Glo Whitening System, and like that quite a bit, my brother is borrowing part of it right now, so I had to find something to substitute it with.

Luckily, I remembered that there were certain fruits that actually do help whiten your teeth, and they happened to be ones that Cornelius and I have been using for our fruit smoothies.

The first are, of course, strawberries.  One way to whiten your teeth is to crush a strawberry and combine it with baking soda.  Just apply it with a toothbrush, and leave the mixture on for five minutes.  Take it off by brushing your teeth again, and that's it!  You can do this once a week, but don't overdo it.  The baking soda could eventually damage the enamel on your teeth.

Another easy DIY teeth whitening trick is to first brush your teeth, then take a section of banana peel and rub it against your teeth for about two minutes.  Minerals like potassium, magnesium, and manganese are in the peel, and will absorb into your teeth, helping to whiten them.

I've also heard that eating fruits like apples after meals can also help to remove surface stains, because they remove food particles that are left on the teeth from eating.

How do you keep your pearly whites sparkling?

Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410846,00.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4807031_whiten-teeth-banana-peel.html

Manicure on Monday: Easter Egg Accent

Although I love doing my nails, I don't usually get too terribly fancy with them.  Usually, I stick to one color, and one color alone.  However, I was lying in bed one morning, when I thought that it would be really fun to do something fun on my nails for Easter.  I decided that I could stretch myself enough to do an accent nail, and maybe try my hand at a little nail art on that chosen nail.  Finally, I decided on the design you see on the left.

I stayed pretty simple, using my new favorite Essie polish,  Ballet Slippers, which I've talked about in a previous post, on most of my nails, but then had fun on my ring finger.  I painted that one completely white, and then used a toothpick and some other colors I had lying around to make a couple fun designs on it.  It was almost like dyeing my own Easter egg!  I love the way it turned out, and the fact that it is only those two accent nails that are very bright is actually very appealing to me. I can definitely see myself doing this for future holidays!

All of the polishes I used are from Essie, and I have provided the links below.

Instructions

• Apply 1-2 coats of Ballet Slippers to all fingers but the ring finger until color is opaque.
• Apply 1-2 coats of Blanc to both ring fingers until color is opaque.
  
• Using a toothpick or other nail art tool, apply a zigzag line across the center of the ring finger with Beach Bum Blu.
  
  
• Directly beneath the zigzag, draw another, this time in Trophy Wife.
  
  
• Draw little pink polka dots in between each peak and valley using Mob Square
  
  
• Finally, draw a couple wavy lines above and below the rest of the design using Turquoise and Caicos to complete the pattern I'm wearing.
  
  
• Finish with a top coat, and you're done!

Change up the colors and egg pattern for a more personalized look! I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial, and please let me know if you'd like to see more! I'm trying to decide if I want this to be a weekly thing or just do them when I get an idea!

From the Vanity: Makeup Brush Holder

I love playing around with my makeup, and as such I've started collecting a few makeup brushes. I had just been letting them lay there on the sink, but then my cat, Atari, found that they were a great play toy. I realized that I needed somewhere else to put them, and decided that I might as well find a cute way while I was at it. So, I decided to use a jar I had lying around and knit a cover for it. I really liked the way it turned out, and thought I'd share the pattern with you! I hope you enjoy it!

We're moving!  See the pattern here: Makeup Brush Holder

From the Vanity: Essie Ballet Slippers

I recently picked up a new nail polish that I'm absolutely in love with.  The polish is Essie's Ballet Slippers, and it is the most beautiful shade of marshmallow pink, the perfect pastel color for Spring, especially as we get closer to the Easter season.

As much as I love the color of this polish, I do have one complaint.  The formula is slightly watery, so it takes a few coats to make it opaque, but that's something I've come to expect from Essie polishes.

Even so, I would definitely recommend this polish.  Once built up, the color is gorgeous, and even the bottles are very pretty and feminine.  It's a color that I think just about anyone can pull off, simply because it is such a neutral color.

Jewelry Box: Twig Companion Rings

A couple days ago, I put up a post on how to make a Bird's Nest Ring, which is the ring with the 'egg' in the center which you can see in the picture on the right.  I absolutely loved making those rings, but after making 24 of them, I ran out of beads.

However, I still had a bit of wire left over, and didn't really want it to go to waste.  Sure, I could have gone out and bought more beads, but I instead decided to design a new ring, which would just use the wire, and be a companion ring to the Bird's Nest Ring.  That was how the Twig Companion Rings were born, which are the two stacked rings you can also see in the picture.

I love how they look together, and if you're interested in making these little rings, as well, keep on reading!  I've included the instructions below!

Materials

• a few inches of 22 gauge wire (about half the length from your fingertips to your elbow)
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutter
• A wooden dowel or other object the same size as you'd like your ring to be

Instructions

• Wrap the length of wire around the wooden dowel or other object (I used the top of a Bath & Body Works travel hand sanitizer bottle) twice, keeping the ends about the same length.
• Keeping the size of the ring stable, slip the ring off the dowel.
• Grab one tail, and wrap it around both strands of wire a few times, then take the other tail and do the same thing.
• Cut off any excess wire, and use the pliers to make sure there are no sharp ends.
• Finally, twist the ring band slightly until it creates a slight spiral between the two strands, and continue twisting around the ring to bind the two strands together.
• There you have it!  A nice, easy way to make a companion for your  Bird's Nest Ring, or any other ring you'd like to pair it with!

Out on the Town: Duct Tape Wallet

 

I had made a duct tape wallet at the beginning of the school year, thinking that it would be a great craft for the middle school kids I was working with after school.  The craft ended up being a hit, and they actually had to do it again later in the school year!  I began using the wallet I had made soon after that, and got a number of compliments on it, and was actually asked to make other people these duct tape wallets as well.

I've been using this same duct tape wallet since then, and it only recently started falling apart.  While it is fairly easy to repair these wallets just by adding a little more duct tape to them, I decided that it was time for a change, especially in the color department (my old one was bright turquoise and pink - not really my style!).  I was talking to Cornelius about this a little, right after we'd gotten done talking about how I thought this blog might end up being more of a crafts blog than anything, and he suggested that I explain how to make these to you guys, as well.  I thought it was a great idea, so here it is!  If you're interested in making a duct tape wallet of your own, read on!

Materials

• 1 roll of duct tape - I used a red Duck brand duct tape, but they come in all sorts of colors!
• a pair of scissors
• 1 piece of notebook paper

 

Instructions

• Cut the top margin off the piece of notebook paper, and on a clean, flat surface, begin covering the piece of paper with duct tape.

• Once the paper is completely covered on one side, trim the excess duct tape off the paper, and flip the work over.  
• Repeat the first two steps for this side, as well.
• Take a piece of duct tape just longer than the longest side of the wallet, and rip this down the center.  Now, rip it again, so you have a long strip 1/4 of the width of the duct tape itself.
• Fold this over the top and bottom sides of the wallet to finish those sides.  Cut off any excess.

 

• Fold the entire wallet in half lengthwise, and take another 1/4 width piece of duct tape to line the bottom of the wallet.
• Before we seal the sides of the wallet, we will want to make pockets.  To do this, take a long piece of duct tape, and fold this in half.  

 

• Then, fold the wallet in half width-wise to determine how big the pockets should be.  Cut strips from the duct tape you folded in half to make the pockets (6 is usually a good number of pockets)
• Taking 1/4 width pieces of duct tape, line the tops of the pockets as we did for the wallet sides.
• Now, we will attach the pockets to the wallet.  Taking 1/4 width pieces of duct tape, again, tape the pockets down by placing a piece of tape along the bottom edge.

 

• Once the pockets are in place, we can begin sealing it up.  Take 2 pieces of 1/4 width duct tape, and seal up the sides, thereby sealing the pockets, as well.  Cut off any excess.

 

• Finally, take a 1/2 width strip of duct tape, and put it right down the center to completely seal the pockets.  That's it!  You've made a duct tape wallet!

Tip:  To get the wallet to hold its shape, stick it under something heavy for a little while.  This will set the inner crease more, and help it stay shut!

Jewelry Box: Bird's Nest Ring

I was lying in bed last night, thinking about rings my mother and I used to make out of buttons and wire, and thought that there must be a way to upgrade this quick little craft to create a more fashionable item.  That was when I decided that there must be a way I could use beads, instead.  So, I headed to my local craft store, and picked up some Swarovski beads and 22 gauge wire to see what I could come up with.

The result was a cute, dainty little ring that looked a bit like a bird's nest with a little colored egg in the center.  After a few tries, I found that it was quite easy to make, and really quite cost efficient.  I was able to make over 24 rings with just one wire package, and all that's necessary is the wire and a few small beads!  I hope you like it as much as I do, and just in case you'd like your own, you can follow the instructions I've included below!

Materials

• a few inches of 22 gauge gold wire (about the length from your fingertips to your elbow)
• 6 mm round faceted bead
• Round nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• A wooden dowel or other object the same size as you'd like your ring to be

Instructions

• Wrap the length of wire around the wooden dowel or other object (I used the top of a Bath & Body Works travel hand sanitizer bottle) twice, keeping the ends about the same length. 
• Keeping the size of the ring stable, slip the ring off the dowel.
• Slip the 6mm bead onto one of the ends, then tuck this same end through the ring opening to secure the tail.
• Grabbing both tails now, wind them around the bead to secure it to the ring, creating a bird's nest effect.
• Cut any excess wire, and make sure there are no sharp ends.
• Finally, twist the ring band slightly directly opposite from the bead until it creates a slight spiral between the two strands of wire.  Continue twisting on both sides of the ring to bind the two strands together.
• There you have it!  A quick, easy, dainty bird's nest ring!

Crafting Corner: Cute & Cozy Legwarmers

This winter, on a weekend trip to the cities, I got a wild idea that I wanted to make a pair of legwarmers.  In a way, it made sense, considering how easily I get cold.  Plus, I thought they'd just look kind of cool with my favorite pair of Steve Madden boots!  I was pleasantly surprised with how they turned out, and how easy they were to make.  They looked just like those long, sweater-socks I've seen people wearing (thanks to the cabling), but since they don't have feet, you don't have to worry about over-crowding when you wear them with shoes!  As with my other patterns, I hope you enjoy it, but please do not use it for profit.  Thank you!


Materials

• 1 skein Caron Simply Soft - Bone
• 2 U.S. 8 Circular Needles
• Stitch Marker
• Cable Needle
• Tapestry Needle

Stitch Glossary

CB4: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, then k2 from cn.
CF4: Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to front, k2, then k2 from cn.

Instructions

Cast on 68 sts.(34 sts per needle)
Rounds 1-10: Work k1, p1 ribbing around, marking beginning of round with marker.
Rounds 11-12 (and all even numbered rows unless stated otherwise): [(p1,k1) twice, p1, k12] around.
Round 13: [(p1, k1) twice, p1, CF4, CF4, CF4] around.
Round 15: [(p1, k1) twice, p1, k2, CF4, CF4, k2] around.
Round 17: Repeat round 13.
Round 19: [(p1, k1) twice, p1, CB4, CB4, CB4] around.
Round 21: [(p1, k1) twice, p1, k2, CB4, CB4, k2] around.
Round 23: Repeat round 19.
Repeat rounds 12-23 5 more times, or until desired length is reached. Then, repeat rounds 1-9, and cast off ribwise.

Finishing

Weave in tails with tapestry needle, and remove marker. You now have a legwarmer! Just go back and do the same thing for the second!

Show & Tell: Influenster's Love VoxBox

A while ago I signed up for Influenster, and last week, you may have seen that I added a new video to my Youtube channel showing off my first Influenster VoxBox.

Unfortunately, the day after I received the box, I went on vacation, and couldn't really try out the products!  So, I've finally gotten around to reviewing the items, and wanted to quick share my results with you...Read More›

From the Vanity: Spring Polish Picks

It's finally starting to feel like Spring outside, and since I just added a new 'Beauty' tab to my blog, I thought it'd be fun to let you know what I'll be wearing on my nails this Spring!  The polishes I've chosen are, as you can see, all from Essie, which is one of my favorite brands.  These polishes are available so many places, like Walmart and Target, for about $8.00...Read More›

Crafting Corner: Sweater a Month Series

We just got back from our trip to Florida last night, and although I do plan on putting up a couple more posts about the trip, I didn't really feel like doing anything that evening.  So, I took out my knitting again.

I announced on my Youtube channel last week that I would be starting a 'Sweater a Month' series, where I would pick a free online sweater pattern that we could all knit together.  Naturally, you wouldn't have to do every single sweater, nor would you have to even knit it.  The goal is more so to provide a community for people who like crafts like this, and share what we've come up with.  I'll certainly be trying to put my own spin on the garments I've created, and I encourage you to do the same!

So, I've started my second sweater of the series, my April sweater.  The pattern I've chosen is one written by Mary Weaver, called the Dahlia sweater, which can be found here.  It's a beautiful empire-style sweater with a Victorian spin.  She uses a violet yarn from Cascade Yarns, which I think is so pretty - in fact, I can already tell you that I'm doing mine in a very similar color.

I'd love for you to work on this sweater with me, and don't worry about completing it in a month!  Take your time, it's supposed to be fun!  If you'd like to see March's sweater, check out the video below.  Also, do you have a better name for this 'Sweater a Month' series?  I'm not completely sold on it.  Please leave your suggestions in the comment section below!

  

From the Vanity: Kiss Nail Dress

Just before I went on my vacation to Florida, I received a pack of 28 Kiss Nail Dress stickers to try out and review.  I was a bit hesitant about them at first, since I typically like to keep my nails pretty simple, usually sticking to one color.  However, as you can see by the picture I've included, these stickers are anything but plain!

We're in the process of moving!  For the full review, click here: Kiss Nail Dress

Leaving on a Jetplane: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Yesterday, we headed over to Disney's Hollywood Studios which was, for the most part, much more relaxed than the day before, but it certainly didn't start out that way.
Cornelius only brought two pairs of shoes along for the entire week, which would have been fine had they not been a pair of dress shoes and a pair of flip-flops.  So, right away in the morning, the two of us headed over to Downtown Disney to look for a pair of tennis shoes while the rest of my family headed over to the park.

Better Than Sliced Bread: Wikipedia Game

On the way down to Florida, I got extremely bored, and was tired on the games I had already downloaded onto my phone, so I decided to come up with a new game.  The result was my Wikipedia game, which is surprisingly entertaining, takes up very little space, and is even educational!

I have a Wikipedia app on my phone already, to indulge my need for occasional nerdiness, so you could either download this app or simply head over to the original Wikipedia.  Then, think of a random item, such as an aardvark, tire, parasol, etc., and at the same time, bring up a random article.

Now, try and use the links on your random article to get to your random item.  It may take a few steps, but I've been able to reach all my goals, which has included going from a Belgian sculptor to a cat, and from a tire to an aardvark.  It's certainly kept me busy while waiting in lines for the rides here in Disney World!

Leaving on a Jetplane: Magic Kingdom

Well, well, well. Lucky you! You get more than one post a day today! Although I did prewrite a couple posts for you, I decided that I wanted to give a couple little updates on how our trip is going so far- not just for you but for me as well. I didn't bring much of a travel journal, so I thought an online journal would be a good substitute.

Crafting Corner: Carrie & Claus Keychain Pattern

At first, I was a bit hesitant to share any of the Carrie & Claus patterns with you guys, since I had thoughts of selling some of the goods that I  made - which would include some of the patterns.  However, I was in a good mood tonight, and decided that I would share the pattern for one of my most-used Carrie & Claus items, my keychain.  It is made up very, very quickly in Dark Sage from Caron Simply Soft.  I hope you enjoy this pattern, but please do not use it for profit.  Thank you.

Life is Like Coffee

While I'm enjoying being at the "Happiest Place on Earth", I thought you all might enjoy a post that was on my good friend Michelle's blog this past week.  I definitely recommend checking out her blog, Loving Life in the Grind - she has a lot of great inspirational Christian posts.

One of her posts that I especially enjoyed was entitled Life is Like Coffee, which provides a link to a video comparing our lives to that of coffee.  I know initially that sounds odd, but you really do have to see the video to understand exactly what that means.  So, click on the coffee cup above to see the video, or stop by Michelle's blog!

Leaving on a Jet Plane: Flying to Florida

I might have forgotten to mention something fairly exciting to you guys.  I, along with my parents, brother, and boyfriend, am taking a little vacation this week, and heading to Orlando, Florida.  We will be hanging out in Walt Disney World, where we will be staying in one of the cabins at the Wilderness Campground on the Disney property.

I'm really excited about the trip, and I'll try and update you on how the trip is going as the week progresses, but please don't feel offended if I wait until I get home and give you a nice, long post about what all we did.  I may be having too much fun and be far too tired to write much.

In the meantime, please take a look at the new look to the blog.  I finally got started on my Carrie and Claus reformatting!  I have ideas on how I want to do the rest of it, but I think I'll need a little bit more content and possibly even a little more drive to keep up on this blog before I can put some of that up.  Please be patient, and hopefully we'll have a nice little blog soon enough.  Have a good week!

What's the Band in My Head Playing? Billy Joel

Last week, I really had no inspiration to write.  I'm not entirely sure what it was, but I just had no interest, and I don't see the point of forcing myself to do anything.  But, I have a couple posts in mind now, including a few new Youtube videos that I think will be a little better than the previous ones have been.  I'm getting a little more comfortable being in front of the camera, so all we have left is to try and not be so scatterbrained!

Out on the Town: Section Swim Meet Part II

My little brother & I :)

Well, I just got home from my brother's last Section Swim Meet, and it was awfully exciting!  He was in four events: 200 Medley Relay, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and 200 Freestyle Relay.

Out on the Town: Section Swim Meet

I just got back to the motel we're staying at from the first day of my brother's last section swim meet, and I'm really excited to watch him tomorrow.  He's in the finals for three of his events - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Freestyle, and 200 Freestyle Relay - and in the consolation round for another - the 50 Freestyle.

From the Vanity: My Foundation Routine

I'm on Youtube!

At the Cinema: Beneath the Planet of the Apes

I had no idea what to expect when we came to the second Planet of the Apes, though I figured we would be watching Taylor and Nova as Nova learned to speak, and maybe learned how the apes gained power over the humans.  However, that is definitely not how the movie went.

Beauty is Not a Treatment

Last Tuesday, at my weekly bible study, we completed the Beth Moore study, Esther.  I know some of you reading this are not Christian, and my be tempted to leave this site immediately, but please bare with me a moment.  The message I would like to share with you today - especially for the ladies - is a reminder that I think anyone could use.

At the Cinema:Planet of the Apes

My beau and I recently watched two of the Planet of the Apes movies, the 2001 Tim Burton film and the 2011 20th Century Fox film, and got into the franchise enough to want to watch the original movies.  The series of five movies, also made by 20th Century Fox, were released from 1968 to 1973.  If you're like me, knowing that a series of movies were made in the 70's definitely sets off a number of warning bells.  They just have a very specific feel to them that I don't particularly care for.  But, we decided to go ahead with the series anyway.

Reformatting of Carrie & Claus?

I was sitting in the DCD room at school during my prep hour, and decided that I wanted to change how this blog looked, to make it a little more like a website than just a blog.  For those of you that know me, it will come as no surprise that I would like to have a bit more of a categorical layout, so that everything is "neat and tidy".  This means that knitting patterns, book reviews, etc., will be easier to find.

Better Than Sliced Bread: A Day Made of Glass

I was sitting in on an eighth grade science class today, where the teacher began with a short video, A Day Made of Glass.  The video takes you through a day in the life of a woman from the near future, starting the moment she wakes up until she settles in for the evening with her family.

The video showcases technology that already is - or soon will be - available to the public, including glass that can change its tint, touchscreen mirrors and countertops, even a stove that responds to a person's touch.

It's a very peaceful video, with no dialogue, and calming music.  The modern white of almost all the furniture is also quite soothing, but I must admit that I'd much rather have a bit of color.  I think it just makes a house feel more like a home.  That's not to say I wouldn't love the technology in my house, though!

Cold Season or Allergy Season?

I've had an abnormal number of colds this winter, which I've found quite odd, especially since I've been trying to take better care of myself.  I've been drinking water more, drinking soda less, watching what I eat, etc., but nothing really seemed to keep the colds at bay.

We're in the process of moving!  See the full post here: Is it Cold or Allergy Season?

Out on the Town: Staying Active

I'm currently living in a smaller town, and have sometimes found it difficult to keep myself entertained.  So, I'm going to try and keep track of what I've done before.  That way, if I find myself bored in the future, which is inevitable, I will have some guidance on what I can do.

We're in the process of moving!  See the full post here: Staying Active

Grandma's Basic Lined Mittens

I've been so busy making items for the Carrie and Claus Etsy store I hope to set up within the next week, that it took until now for me to realize that I might want to have a pair of mittens to carry around with me. I've been using a pretty evergreen scarf and hat from Carrie and Claus, so I've been set with that, but somehow my mittens were overlooked.

Then, my grandmother suggested that I put up a mitten pattern, which solidified the fact that I needed to make a pair. No, my grandma did not write this pattern. I quick wrote it up as per her request, and thought you might find it useful as well. They are very basic, with none of the cabling I love so much, but that makes them a good project for beginners. They are also lined, and therefore warmer than a lot of other mittens.

Pictures to come soon!

Yarn:

• Caron Simply Soft Dark Sage - 1 skein

Knitting needles: US 8 (5.0mm) or size to obtain guage
Extras: Yarn needle

Guage: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st. Use any size needles to obtain the specified guage.

Right Mitten Lining

Cast on 36 sts. (18 sts per needle).
Rounds 1-10: Work K1, P1 ribbing around.
Rounds 11-28: K around.
Round 29: K34, inc1, K1, inc1, K1.
Round 30(and all odd rounds): K around.
Round 31: K34, inc1, K3, inc1, K1.
Round 33: K34, inc1, K5, inc1, K1.
Round 35: K34, inc1, K7, inc1, K1.
Round 37: K34, inc1, K9, inc1, K1.
Round 39: K34, inc1, K11, inc1, K1.
Round 41: K34, slip 13 sts to spare yarn, cast on 2 sts, K1.
Round 43-60: K around.
Round 61: K2tog, K14, SSK, K2tog, K15, SSK.
Round 63: K2tog, K12, SSK, K2tog, K13, SSK.
Round 65: K2tog, K10, SSK, K2tog, K11, SSK.
Round 67: K2tog, K8, SSK, K2tog, K9, SSK.
Round 69: K2tog, K6, SSK, K2tog, K7, SSK.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 12" end. Thread end through yarn needle and draw through all sts on needle, remove needle and pull end tightly to form top of mitten lining. Complete thumb.

Left Mitten Lining

Cast on 36 sts. (18 sts per needle).
Rounds 1-28: Work as Right Mitten Lining.
Round 29: K19, inc1, K1, inc1, K16.
Round 30(and all odd rounds): K around.
Round 31: K19, inc1, K3, inc1, K16.
Round 33: K19, inc1, K5, inc1, K16.
Round 35: K19, inc1, K7, inc1, K16.
Round 37: K19, inc1, K9, inc1, K16.
Round 39: K19, inc1, K11, inc1, K16.
Round 41: K19, slip 13 sts to spare yarn, cast on 2 sts, K16.
Round 43-end: Work as Rounds 43-end on Right Mitten Lining.

Left Mitten Shell

Cast on 40 sts. (22 sts on first needle, 18 on second).
Rounds 1-10: Work K1, P1 ribbing around.
Rounds 11-28: K around.
Round 29: K38, inc1, K1, inc1, K1.
Round 30(and all odd rounds): K around.
Round 31: K38, inc1, K3, inc1, K1.
Round 33: K38, inc1, K5, inc1, K1.
Round 35: K38, inc1, K7, inc1, K1.
Round 37: K38, inc1, K9, inc1, K1.
Round 39: K38, inc1, K11, inc1, K1.
Round 41: K38, slip 13 sts to spare yarn, cast on 2 sts, K1.
Round 43-60: K around.
Round 61: K2tog, K18, SSK, K2tog, K15, SSK.
Round 63: K2tog, K16, SSK, K2tog, K13, SSK.
Round 65: K2tog, K14, SSK, K2tog, K11, SSK.
Round 67: K2tog, K12, SSK, K2tog, K9, SSK.
Round 69: K2tog, K10, SSK, K2tog, K7, SSK.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 12" end. Thread end through yarn needle and draw through all sts on needle, remove needle and pull end tightly to form top of mitten shell. Complete thumb.

Right Mitten Shell

Cast on 40 sts. (22 sts on first needle, 18 on second).
Rounds 1-28: Work as Right Mitten Lining.
Round 29: K23, inc1, K1, inc1, K16.
Round 30(and all odd rounds): K around.
Round 31: K23, inc1, K3, inc1, K16.
Round 33: K23, inc1, K5, inc1, K16.
Round 35: K23, inc1, K7, inc1, K16.
Round 37: K23, inc1, K9, inc1, K16.
Round 39: K23, inc1, K11, inc1, K16.
Round 41: K23, slip 13 sts to spare yarn, cast on 2 sts, K16.
Round 43-end: Work as Rounds 43-end on Left Mitten Shell.

Thumb (for all Linings and Shells)

Beginning on palm side, pick up 8 sts with one needle, and 5 with second.
Round 1: K8, K5, pick up 4 sts along thumb edge.
Round 2: K8, K5, K2tog, K2tog.
Round 3-14: K around.
Round 15: K2tog 7 times, K1.
Round 17:K2tog 4 times.
Cut the yarn, leaving a 12" end. Thread end through yarn needle and draw through all sts on needle, remove needle and pull end tightly to form top of thumb.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends. Turn both Right and Left Mitten Linings inside out, and slip Right Mitten Lining into Right Mitten Shell. Do the same for Left Mitten Lining and Left Mitten Shell. Sew the cuffs of Mitten Lining and Shell together, and weave in ends.

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