Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary By Barb Brown

Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary
By Barb Brown




Designer Barb Brown has given us a collection of 20 beautiful patterns for Fair Isle, lace, cabled, and ribbed knee-high socks. Some of the patterns can be converted to anklets or legwarmers, which is an extra bonus. The knee-highs will not only hug their wearers' legs, but will stay up when worn!

Knitting Knee-Highs is not just for the lover of knee-high stockings: the 20 great-looking patterns are shown with variations of the non-knee-high variety, for those who like their socks shorter.

In this book, designer Barb Brown presents 20 sock patterns with gorgeous detailing -- stranded knitting, cabling, lace, twisted and other textured stitch-work. The book begins with a formula for knitting knee-highs, along with tips and tricks for getting socks to fit right (excellent information, since the size of calves can vary greatly, thus affecting fit).

I really appreciate that many of the socks are shown in multiple variations and colours. Seeing how a specific pattern knits up in a different colour combination is very helpful for less experienced knitters who might be otherwise hesitant to pick their own colours.

Likewise, seeing how a stitch pattern works well in a knee-high, on the one hand, and an ankle sock or leg-warmer on the other hand, gives the knitter confidence when selecting a variation to suit the wearer. This is a lot of work, and kudos for going the extra mile to include the variations.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Samuel is 6

My wonderful nephew just turned 6, and he loves Ben 10 and dinosaurs.

He asked me to make him a dinosaur cake

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Apparently I got the "swampy icing" wrong, but he seemed happy enough.

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And here is a dinosaur that got loose

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Sunday, May 29, 2011

A wedding

Recently, Husband, Rona and I went to a wedding, it was a pretty standard wedding, lots of fun.

But when I saw the cake, I fell in love.

Well, with the toppers anyway

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How cute are they!?

If I was doing my wedding over, I think I would have toppers like that.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Day #21 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (You pick!)



For the last day, I decided to go through my bookshelves, but I cannot get through them in one day, but here is one box of books I am giving away

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Thanks for coming with me on this cleaning out journey

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Day #19 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Master Closet)



So, yeah, I skipped some, and now I am up to day 19 :)

The master closet..... something I have been meaning to do for a while, but with a baby, it just really doesn't get done.

Before

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And after 2 bags of clothes are given away, and the rest organised
After:

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Monday, May 23, 2011

Day #16 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Cleaning out & Organizing the Fridge)






I have had a look at the rest of the challenges, and most of them don't apply to me, so I don't know if I will actually finish the list, but we will see. I skipped day 15, as I don't have an extra place for vitamins.

Today is the fridge

Before

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And one day after, I did use quite a bit of the food, so that is why the after picture is like this:

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Day #14 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Under the Bathroom Sink)



Under the bathroom sink has always been a catch all in our house

Before

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And after

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The house is looking nice and organised

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Day #13 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Medicine Cabinet)



The medicine cabinet, I thought I was pretty organised.....

Before

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And after, I threw out quite a bit of over-the-counter medicines that were out of date...

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Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Day #12 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Spice Cabinet)



Ah, the spice cabinet, something I only bother with when I cannot find something I need.

Before

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and after

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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Day #11 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The FREEZER)




I have two freezers, so this was a big job!

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The Large freezer

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One of the drawers from the large freezer

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And the small freezer

I took everything out, and sorted it out.....

And.... ack, my computer wont load the after photos..... and I was so proud of myself too :(

I will try to load them later.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Day #10 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Laundry Room/closet)



Yes, I know I am behind.... I am getting things done about once every second day, but I am getting there.

Today was a challenge I was really excited about - THE LAUNDRY ROOM
It is a room that I have been meaning to reorganise for ages.

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Ah.... the mess!

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It took me a while to get it done, but I feel so much better now.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Day #9 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Toy Organization)



Okay, now to organise Rona's toys

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How can one little baby have so many toys?

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And a cute photo of Rona in her toy box, just for fun :)

It took a while to get things done, because as I pulled things out, Rona wanted to play with them

And after

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Eat your peas daughter by Cheryl Karpen


Eat Your Peas, Daughter A Little Wisdom and a Lasting Promise

By Cheryl Karpen
Published by Thomas Nelson


When I received this book from BookSneeze, I was wonderfully surprised, the book is beautifully bound and the pages are of the highest quality.

I first read the book to myself, I found the words inspirational for me, and I think it would be a great present for mums who are buying for daughters of any age.

The book has a wonderful message, that the daughter is loved, and little snippets of wisdom. The book can be read all at once, or can be turned to any page for the reader to receive a poignant message just for them.

I love the pages that contain encouragement. Like this one: "Beauty comes wrapped in many packages: a smile, an intelligent mind, an act of kindness, a loving heart. You are so beautiful."

The book is clearly and attractively laid out. The font and images are bright and inviting while also being sophisticated enough to appeal to daughters of any age.

I would definitely recommend this book to any mother who wants to buy a meaningful and uplifting book for their daughter ages 4 to 90.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Monday, May 9, 2011

Day #8 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Coat Closet)





A coat closet, not something I own.....
But a bedside table, yes.
So today, in honour of the coat closet I do not have, I cleaned out my bedside table.

Before

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And after

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Day #7 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (The Pantry)

Firstly - Happy 4th Anniversary Husband!




So, Day 7 - The Pantry

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Before, not too bad, but could be better

And now - After!

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and my other pantry cupboard

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Day #6 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Dresser Drawers)



Okay, so I admit I don't actually have dresser drawers, but I decided to organise my DVDs instead....

So, before

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Yes, that is my little girl, helping out :)

And after

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Now to keep my little helper away ;)