I've been hired!!

Someone hired me to make their daughter's first birthday cake! I am soooo excited. And honored to be able to make someone's cake! She wants a ladybug theme and I had a million ideas, but I did narrow it down to a final design. It will be another fondant cake at the client's request and my delight! No other details for you though, you will have to wait for pictures the night before the big day, March 6th. I'm planning on making a couple smaller test cakes this week just because I am so new at this and I really don't want to ruin someone else's daughter's cake. I think the design I'm chosen should be fairly simple and not totally new to me. I really just want to try out a few new frosting and filling recipes I found.
Well time to put the gremlin down for her nap. Had to share my news.

In a daze

Well just when I was so excited to start some socks I could wear, wouldn't you know the toddler gets very sick. I still have not finished off my Asherton hat, my new needles from big sis are sitting on the desk behind me, and I know any second now Sydni will find me and in her pathetically sweet sick voice she will say "issue" (tissue) for the millionth time today.
I think I have decided to try the Cowboy Slipper Socks from Interweave Knit's Winter catalog. I was soooo happy they sent me that one as well. I absolutely LOVE it! There are so many patterns I don't know which to buy yarn for first.
Oh that's my cue. I hear a tantrum. Let's just hope she hasn't found my stash again!!

Still Running

I went running again Sunday evening. I know, it's only my second run, why am I posting about it? This is how I'm going to keep myself accountable. You will be my "running buddy" since I have been completely unable to talk any of my friends into running with me. Anyway, I was soooo sore from running Saturday night, that I took things much slower to keep from injuring myself any more than I already have. If you really are a couch potato like I became over the winter, DO NOT RUN TO THE BEAT!!! or walk to the beat really. Maybe in a couple weeks I will be able to. I'm going to see how my run goes tonight, and if I'm still really sore, I will most likely repeat week one. I'm going to be running every other day and doing pilates on the alternate days. I have to work out daily or I will just stop altogether. Also I eat like a pig! :)

On a knitting note, I have been meaning to post pictures of my Twirl Hat for ages! Here it is:


It was knit for Julia, not Sydni, but I somehow never took a picture of Julia in it. Since she has lost it for the second time, I probably will never get the chance. Oh well, it was like a $2 hat. Don't you love knitpicks yarn?? I would not use the Totem yarn for this project again though. Well I guess what I would really need is a size smaller needle (this is not a plea to buy me more!! I really don't need them right now) I used a heavier yarn for my Asherton hat and like how that turned out much better. I still have some finishing to do on that one before I can take photos.

My Big Sister Is Better Than Yours

Neener neener neener! I'm really just kidding, I'm sure your big sister is a fine person. I just really love mine and I will tell you why.
1. Did you read her comment in my last post? How sweet is that?? By the time I'd called to talk her out of it, she'd already placed the order.
2. She taught me how to knit and is my first resource when I run in to trouble.
3. She lets me call her any time I want day or night. I haven't actually called her in the middle of the night, but it's nice to know I could! :)
4. She helps keep me motivated to reach my goals. For example, she sent me a link to a Couch to 5k podcast. I tried it out Friday night and absolutely LOVE it. I'm totally going to run again.
5. She helped me figure out how to budget. For the first time in my life, I actually feel like I'm in control of my money, not the other way around.
6. She spent Christmas with me.
7. She loves my kids as much as I do and enjoys hearing me talk about them.
8. She understands motherhood better than most people I know.
9. She's my soft place to land. She's always taken care of me.
10. She taught me how to curl my hair and put on my make up.
11. She helped me gain a testimony of prayer.
12. She taught me about boys and how to deal with their stupidity. ;)
13. She shares her recipes.
14. She gave me Fearless Fiber sock yarn.
15. She shares my love of chocolate and baked goods.
16. She wrote that beautiful post on my birthday that really made a difficult day much brighter!
17. She reads my blog! :) I'm pretty sure she's my only reader!

I wish I were as eloquent as she is, but this is the best my feeble mind can manage. I know if I'd just had more sleep I could think of a million more reasons. It's been one of those nights. I am NEVER up this early (5 a.m.). Sydni is getting her molars and I feel like we have a newborn again. Three more to go and then we are done!! Hallelujah! Well I love you Kristie! I can't imagine my life without you. Growing up would be a million times more difficult. Thank you for always being there.

Socks

Well I did it! I knit my first pair of socks and here they are in all their glory? ? ? Bear in mind, they are my first pair. The first sock is on the left and I was actually very pleased by how it turned out. It wasn't as difficult as I had feared either. I did not have trouble with the gusset or the heel turn. I did have trouble with my sizing, the heel, and the bind off.
I ended up making a sock that fits my husband. I really need size 0 or maybe 1's to make socks for myself, I think... We'll see when I get new needles!
On the heel I kept my yarn forward when I slipped my stitches purlwise which I think was wrong to do. (don't laugh, I'm new at all this! ;) I kept the yarn back on the second sock and like how that looks better. Here are the pictures of both heels as well.
I did run into trouble again when it came time to bind off. I still need things spelled out for me, so to just tell me to "bind off" didn't cut it. The first time I bound off, it was so tight Ja couldn't get it on his foot. So I searched the internet and tried a few more instructions I found and finally decided that I just needed to use a larger size needle and the Russian bind off. One small problem though, I started doing the finances and buying new needles, yarn, etc just does not fit in the budget right now. Everything came to a stand still, but I really wanted to finish my second sock. What's a girl to do? I bound off sloppily(seen on the right) and figured I'd fix it later. So here are pictures of my first bind off on sock one and the improved correct bind off on sock 2 (pictured on the left). I discovered I really don't need a larger needle, I can be loose!
I keep debating on whether or not to felt these socks. I think I could get them to fit my daughter and then all my little flaws will be gone. Ja can wear them around the house until I decide.
In the meantime, I started smariek's Asherton Hat. I am knitting it in Lion Brand Wool-ease in the Heather colorway. Yup the same yarn I made the Braided Hat out of. I have tons of it left.

Good News

Yesterday was a good day that I would have really really enjoyed if I were feeling better. I had my appointment with the dentist and found out all is not as dire as he initially thought, I most likely will not need surgery although he was reluctant to guarantee I wouldn't, but I will happily delude myself into thinking it's a sure thing! The absolute best part of the visit was hearing him say as long as I wear the appliance as instructed, he has a 100% success rate. And if I for some reason do not get results he will not charge me. Wow! That never happens and I feel much better about getting treated now.
I also had Bunco last night, and would you believe I won again?? Not the whole thing, but I did get high score so I got to pick second. I chose these lovely candlesticks that I will not be returning! :)
Aren't they lovely? And the candles smell like Mulberry, yum yum!! I came home and just crashed. My head cold has taken over and today I am useless.
The other great thing about yesterday was I finally relocated a blog I've been searching for, it's Maia's blog and she makes beautiful socks. I'm so excited for her to post her lace sock pattern. I'm definitely going to give them a try.
Well Sydni found me and wants her "Einstein computer" so I guess that's all for me.

Too much pain!

I am so confused about what to do that I thought maybe if I write about it, I'll be able to sort everything out.
I've had TMJ disorder pain for a while now. Two years ago I went to an orthodontist who claimed to treat TMJ problems. I felt reassured that they knew what they were doing and was very pleased that I wouldn't need surgery, which I'd been told by other doctors I would. Fast forward two years, braces are now off and my TMJ pain is now ten times worse than it was before. The orthodontist who treated me did try different things that were supposed to help, but nothing did. He finally kept telling me to go to a chiropractor and that the problem was in my neck, not my jaw. I did try the chiropractor, but going to the chiropractor every week for the rest of my life just isn't a solution. The pain starts in my jaw and facial muscles, not my neck. I really don't have much neck pain unless I've been knitting or looking down for long periods of time. So I see a dentist who is trained in Bioesthetic Dentistry. I have been through the initial work up and tomorrow will discover what he thinks needs to happen.
This morning I get a call from a neighbor who heard what has been going on ans she tells me she has been to the dentist I am currently seeing and had a horrible experience. So now I'm left wondering if I am doing the right thing or not. She recommended getting a NTI appliance or at the very least getting a second opinion. The NTI looked pretty lame to me, but what do I know? I had a similar device about 4 years ago and it was completely useless. I'm just so tired of my face feeling like it is on fire and having pretty severe headaches that may be migraines every single day. It's hard to talk myself into moving at all. I really would rather stay in bed all day and that is so not like me. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good night's sleep, but I hate just laying around all day. I have to do something or I go nuts. Lately I could care less. It hurts to do everything. Even laying in bed all day isn't really an option. I cannot stand to lay on my side because of the pressure on my jaw, so I end up on my back which eventually kills my back. I was doing well before my braces came off, I'd been exercising, eating somewhat decent, I did more around the house and now I do nothing. I like to eat when I am in pain. Especially when I have a headache, I keep thinking that food will make it better, maybe a little shot of sugar will be just what I need. Nope, it doesn't. I just watch the numbers on the scale get higher and higher and my clothes get tighter and tighter.
Well I am just as confused as I was when I started this post. Now you know why I have no finished projects to show or anything else for that matter. I am making painfully slow progress on my second sock though. Maybe next week it will be finished.