The Life & Whimsies of Knitty Lou

Pink Champagne Cupcakes!

OoKnittyLou — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:20:29 +0000

I am going to visit some friends tonight and since they are cooking dinner, I decided to bring dessert! I couldn’t decide on which recipe so my friend, Jenny mentioned my favorite cupcakes in the WORLD! How could I refuse?? So… Pink Champagne Cupcakes were the plan for today

Anything with THIS much pink is a winner in my book.

I tried a different champagne this time and I think it really made a difference. The flavor is much more prominent. It’s still a Spumante but the taste is better. (I got to shoot off my first champagne cork today!)

I ended up making two dozen regular sized cupcakes and then an additional dozen of minis for Jack’s daycare.

I decorated with a champagne flavored buttercream frosting and edible glitter with edible pink pearls. If there was any other way to make them even more girly, I would. But I don’t think its humanly possible LOL.

Before I had even tasted one, I had already packaged them up to be distributed. 12 minis to daycare, 4 regulars to Nick’s shop, 4 regulars to my office, 4 regulars for my sister and mom, 8 to Miss Angie and Kayleigh’s house tonight, and 4 to stay home. 3 dozen and I’m keeping 4. Oh well. All the better on a healthy diet

So I’m thinking that only 11 minis are going to make it to daycare LOL. I’m dying to taste one.

**EDIT** Yup. They are freaking fantastic!!

2012 = Fresh Starts

OoKnittyLou — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:35:09 +0000

With everything that is going on right now I think that organization is the necessary theme for my 2012 resolutions. So, part of that organization involves keeping up on my blog. This is important considering that when we are out of state, the Internet will be the only way to keep our loved ones updated on our day to day life. So here’s to starting on my 2012 resolutions.

This weekend was nuts. We had a bunch of get-togethers this weekend and while it was a ton of fun,it was also kind of exhausting.

First, we had a Christmas/ Dad’s Bday/ New Years Eve brunch on Saturday morning with my dad which was a lot of fun. Nick and I prepared 2 stratas the night before for breakfast. Ashley came over and we all had a great time.

Then we had a sweet little boy’s first Bday party that afternoon.

Lastly for Saturday, we had our annual New Years Eve Monopoly party with my sister, Amanda. My nephew and my son had a slumber party and as always, it was great fun. Amanda totally smoked us in our game.

Then, on Sunday morning, we enjoyed a relaxing morning clipping coupons, eating left over strata, playing with the boys, and taking down our Christmas decorations.

Sunday afternoon/ early evening, we had dinner (super yummy tortilla soup) with the Helling family. I also made Hot Cocoa Cupcakes for the occasion.

All in all, it was a great weekend! I am looking forward to gifting 2 more people this week and then I can post pics of Thea gifts I made for all of the women in my life.

We Love Picnics

OoKnittyLou — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:17:45 +0000

Jack and I spent most of our Sunday at the park. We hauled a blanket, picnic lunch, wagon, Diesel, and ourselves into the little Honda and we were off. Our desination was the Kendrick Lake Park on Jewell Ave near Garrison in Lakewood because it has a lot of shade and two playgrounds, both of which Jack loves.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

Deisel thoroughly enjoyed the car ride.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

At one point, there was a pretty intense “Battle of the Stick”.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

Diesel won!

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

We enjoyed our picnic under a huge shade tree. I’ll never figure out why, for some odd reason, sandwiches and Cheetos taste a million times better if its on a pinic. Jack totally agreed.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

All in all, it was a perfect day. Perfect weather. Perfect temperature. And everyone was in a great mood!

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

A Day At The Zoo

OoKnittyLou — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:56:05 +0000

Our family was kind enough to gift an annual zoo membership to us this last Christmas and we have been fortunate to use it often. Jack LOVES the zoo.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

My mom came with us and we had an entire day filled with fun and fur-balls!

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

I have the cutest kid in the entire world! Every time we go, he looks at the map and decides where we are going to go first. This time it was the kangaroos, then the elephants (my favorite) and the giraffes (Jack’s favorite).

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

We had snacks and slurpies by the sea lions and it was a blast. The animals were all making a ton of noise and sunbathing right next to us.

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

And we got to see the hippo for the first time since Jack has been going. (I was way more excited it about it than Jack was though..)

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

Water Wings Rock!

OoKnittyLou — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:19:00 +0000

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

Yesterday, Jack, my sister-in-law Danielle, and I enjoyed a wonderful morning at our pool. Jack has always been very hesitant in the water and had always insisted on holding onto the wall or playing on the steps. Until he wore water wings for the first time. My mother gifted these recently and my son is now a fish! He was even jumping in. Hooray!

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

Pink Explosion

OoKnittyLou — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:21:38 +0000

While I was getting ready for the swimming pool this morning, I was glancing around trying to find my towel and realized something. I am truly a pink-oholic! I started grabbing all of the pink items I could see without digging for any and this is what I got. And not only are they pink things, but they are my favorites of almost everything. My favorite pajama pants, blanket, drink, brushes, books, socks, hoody, knitting, etc. It totally cracked me up! I encourage you to recognize your favorite color(s) and notice how often it pops up every day. All that pink put together like that was very pretty and girly. It made my moment!

Boys Will Be Boys… Again

OoKnittyLou — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:33:13 +0000

This is what happens when boys have too much time on their hands with mundane household products at hand. LOL. You gotta love them!

From Jack Snapshots 3-4

And yes. That IS masking tape!

Super Hero!

OoKnittyLou — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:55:00 +0000

My son has figured out the whole “super hero” concept and has decided that he is one. Who knew!? He asked my mom last week if she would make him a cape so he can fly. We went to Hobby Lobby that same day and bought the fabric. He picked out the colors and couldn’t wait for the weekend so Grandma could make it.

Last night she did just that and now my son thinks he’s the coolest thing since ice cream!

I finished my first baby hat yesterday and can’t wait to make many many more.

My current monster is taking it’s time coming off my needles this time. I guess I just kept working on my hat instead. Oh well. He’s coming slowly but surely.

Making The Most Of A Lunch Hour

OoKnittyLou — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:21:00 +0000

So, I really have nothing of super-importance to blog about today, but I do have something to say. So often, I will speak to someone about a novel recommendation, or about a really good film. I may encourage someone to pick up knitting or crocheting. And so frequently their response is, “I just don’t have time”. That has always really irked me seeing as I work, have a 3yr. old, have a husband, and dance twice a week. Yet, I still seem to have to time to read a book every week and to knit and crochet. So, today I decided to share how I manage those things. Life is too short, and if all people do is work and come home and watch T.V. then it is a very non-enriched life. Here’s one of my secrets to ensure time for personal hobbies and interests.

*Pack your lunch and embrace your lunch hour. So let’s face it. Most of us have jobs of some kind, and whether it’s in an office or at home, there is always at least an hour in which one can have some time to themself. Use this time for those important but easily pushed aside things that you enjoy so much.

If a person reads a page a minute, once you deduct the approximate 10 minutes that it may take to eat your already packed and prepared lunch, that devours 50 pages of a book in a single lunch hour. Seeing as the average novel is around 300 pages, a person could reasonably finish an entire novel in 6 working days. A book in about a week!

If a person knits 1 row per minute on a baby hat, then a baby hat could be completed in 2 lunch hours.

If a person pops a DVD into their desk computer, then they can watch an average length movie in two lunch hours.

Kind of amazing isn’t it?

Now. Here’s the kicker. If you combine hobbies, you can complete even more. For example, on a usual work day, I can be found drinking my soup lunch, watching a favorite chick-flick (which my husband definitely appreciates me doing when I’m not at home lol), and knitting. Triple the rewards in the same amount of time

From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou

Now I realize that this might be a bit extreme in the beginning, but with dedication, you too can be a successful hobbyist!

And while this is enjoyable for the hobbyist, I believe that it also improves the person’s morale throughout the day. Prior to lunch, that person will be in good mood looking forward to this hour. Then, after lunch, this person will be in a good mood because they had a wonderful and enjoyable break in the middle of the day. It’s a win win.

And just to plant another little idea… Imagine what you could do with audiobooks in the car during your commute or bathroom/ cigarette breaks. Just a thought.

Hats For Newborns

OoKnittyLou — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:02:33 +0000

Alrighty, so while my life can tend to already be pretty hectic, I have just added another project. My best friend of many years just had her baby as you all already probably know and she mentioned that she received a hand-knit hat for Miss Lily before they were discharged from the hospital. I spoke to a NICU nurse for Littleton Adventist Hospital ( http://www.mylittletonhospital.org/birthplace )here in Littleton CO and asked her if they are looking for donations. She said yes, absolutely. So, I’ve decided to knit hats and recruit as many of my friends to do the same as I can. I’ve already received support and promises of hats from Alicia and Laura. I’d like to add to that list, so please please donate your time and talents. My goal is to make as many hats as possible and to donate the package to the hospital before the weather gets very chilly. September maybe? There are a few stipulations per the NICU nurse.

1. No natural animal fibers (allergies & sensitive skin) A soft acrylic is prefered.
2. No chunky yarns. A fingering, dk, or sport weight is prefered.
3. Please make the hat stretchy. (Choose your patterns wisely) They want hats for the preemies as well as the healthy roly-poly full terms.

I’m sure that you all already have your prefered pattern resource, but I will link a few pattern that I am going to use myself. They are all free, therefore, there may be mild errors or inconsistencies. If you happen to come across one, please comment an errata here as well as notify the designer.

From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou

Photo & pattern courtesy of http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-baby-ribs-hat.html

From The Life and Whimsies of Knitty Lou

Photo & pattern courtesy of http://carissaknits.blogspot.com/2007/07/preemie-hats-for-charity.html

Thanks to everyone who will help me to make this possible. Please post pics of your finished projects and when you are ready to get your donations to me, please just give me comment here or send me an email and we can figure it out. ooknittylou@gmail.com