Perpetually Late? 8 things, and pictures.

Listening to "No Rain," Blind Melon.

I've been kinda busy.

Don't get me wrong, I love being busy. I'm just that kind of person-- I need a million things going on to get anything done. But lately it's been a littttle overboard. I'm running around, and I keep running late!!!

It's perpetually late mode, or that's what I think of it as when I'm really busy. Happens sometimes, the perpetually late mode. It usually calms down after a while, just gotta get through it!

What's causing perpetually late mode?

Well... I've got like 4 jobs right now. I nanny kids, tutor students, ref lacrosse games and do part-time web design.

Plus, I just started a new position in my tutoring company. They've asked me to work in the office as an administrative assistant during the day (to help with billing, file maintenance, phones, etc.). So I just started training for that. Plus, I really like blogging (and reading blogs) and knitting and books and cooking... Plus, I need money for new brakes, so I've been picking up extra jobs: extra babysitting hours, extra tutor hours, even dog sitting...

So I'm kinda busy.

BUT! I've been tagged a couple times in the "8 things" meme deal, so TA-DA! A quick, fun blog post. (Tamela, I copied this from you because I like how you put each section in a different color!)

Then, it's back to work for me.

8 things:

eight things I am looking forward to

1. The new Harry Potter movie this summer.
2. Being a TA this fall!
3. Going to Wilmington next weekend with Matt!
4. Having a dog (one day...)
5. Football Season-- fantasy football here I come!!!
6. Matt's birthday (7/5) because I already know what I'm getting him (shh!)
7. Seeing my sisters when they come home for the summer from college
8. Graduating graduate school-- May 2011!

eight things I did yesterday

1. Made stuffed shells-- YUM. Added green onions to the ricotta stuffed cheese and didn't cook the noodles much before baking the dish-- made all the difference in the world. SO good.
2. Tutored forEVER. Tutoring on the weekends when I want to hang out with Matt is hard.
3. Enjoyed WINSTON's company-- the dog we were dog sitting for the weekend. He's a cutie! I miss him already!
4. Knit some more of Abby's jacket-- the one I wrote a new pattern for. It's going well so far!
5. Ate like 5 rice krispy treats-- I made Duo Dishes' Rocky Road Rice Krispies and they're so freaking good.
6. Watched Matt play Tiger Woods on the PS3. He made like 4 hole-in-one shots.
7. Stretched. Was sore from reffing 5 games on Saturday!
8. Enjoyed the hummus I made-- steph chow's recipe is so good!! Will blog about it later.

eight things I wish I could do

1. Go to Europe with Matt. Right this second.
2. Buy a hybrid car
3. Drink coffee without worrying about whether the amount of coffee I drink *...a lot* will affect my health
4. Chop things really fast, like the food network chefs, without cutting myself
5. Take a nap every day. Can you imagine? Would be wonderful...
6. play tennis
7. never lock my keys in my car again *yeah right...*
8. paint. I'm not very artistic. But it would be nice.

eight shows I watch on TV (I don't get to watch too much TV, and if we do it's sports usually, but Matt and I watch TV shows on DVD, or off the Netflix site, so I'm going to list those...)

1. Sex and the City (I have seen every episode and own all seasons.)
2. The Office (We just started watching! We're on season 3-- hilarious!!)
3. Entourage (LOVE. Can't wait for the new season to come out on DVD this summer)
4. Gilmore Girls (Miss it)
5. House (Haven't seen a lot of episodes but it's so good!)
... that's all I can think of! I'll add the three movies that I watch so much, they might as well be TV shows on my television:
6. You've Got Mail
7. When Harry Met Sally
8. Armageddon (seriously, I know every word. Don't know why, love that movie!)

random pictures to go along with this post:

Winstonnnnnnnnnn. He was such a good
puppy while he was visiting. I should
be a professional dog sitter. We had
a blast :)

...I know he looks annoyed. But that's just
because I kept moving around with the
camera in his face trying to get a good
picture. He was a good sport about it.


Stuffed shelllls. Mmmmmm. Oh, can't
see them? That's cause they're hiding under
the cheese...

made a 9 x 13 sized dish of the shells.
they're already half gone... which isn't
that impressive, except that the only people
eating all those stuffed shells are matt
and I. that's a lot of stuffed shells
for just two people.


Adult rice krispy treats? Even more mmmm.


I did end up making egg salad for Matt :)



nice. every toyota should come this way.


after referee x5-- it was a
long day. Ignore the sweat.
I know you're jealous of the
stripes, anyway.

(and if my parents or Matt are reading this--
no, I did not take this picture while I was
driving. I was in the car, but it was a long red
light, I was bored and thinking about my blog, and
then I thought of taking a picture. So don't worry.)

~*~*~

Your tired, busy, but-loving-it,
New Girl Blogger

A Weekend with the Boyfriend's Parentals, DPN hat

Listening to "Forgive Me," Missy Higgins (I'm really, really into her music right now! Amazing voice, and all her songs have a different sound...)

I'm back! I have internet!

Ok... I really wasn't gone that long. But still!

Updates:

The Visit with Matt's Parents

I think it went well.

I always worry... do they really like me? They seem to... but I'm a worrier and I'm never really sure.

Well, there was a really fun breakthrough this weekend. Matt's Dad made a really funny joke at my expense!! I know, I know... you're thinking He made fun of you? That's a good thing? YES.

Mark Twain once said, "Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place."

Eisenhower said, "A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done."

I really believe that the minute people are comfortable enough to make jokes at each other's expense, that there is a profound understanding, a sweet level of comfort, even a leveling idea of respect.

In my family, we're always joking with each other, telling funny-yet-embarrassing anecdotes, etc. It's what we do. That act of humor, when used benevolently, can be a very powerful tool. It's like saying... I respect you enough to make this joke, because I know that you're a strong person and that you'll think it's funny instead of taking offense. I love you and your mistakes/differences/humorous personality traits. I'll joke, You'll laugh, I'll laugh, and we'll be all the closer because of it.

So what was this joke?

Well, Snickers (Matt's parent's dog) was staying at our apartment while the parentals did a little shopping around Raleigh. When Matt's parents dropped him off they were giving me the run down (He probably won't eat too much food... he'll let you know if he needs to go out...) and Matt's dad said:

"If Snickers gets riled up, turn on Fox News. It really quiets him down."

My heart kind of sunk a little, but I shook my head and said "Ok, no problem." Then a quick look at Matt's father's face let me know that he was kidding. He was just saying that 'cause he knows I don't like Fox News. We all laughed.

You see, Matt's parents are very conservative. Now, they've never really engaged me in serious political discussion, but I'm... well... not very conservative. I think they've just come to understand this over the years (I can't believe Matt and I will have been dating for 3 years this August!!)... and they made a joke about it.

And I am taking that joke as "We accept you, even though you're different from us."

:)

Disclaimer: (Unnecessary? Maybe.) Now, I am a very open person. I don't judge others based on their political or religious affiliations, and this post was not designed to argue that there is a correct political affiliation. I have mine, you have yours, this is the Internet and here all ideas and types and partisanship meld together. So please don't think that I was attacking a way of thinking. I just really enjoyed the little laugh that Matt's parents and I shared.

Bad News:

Matt is still at his parents.

Matt is a Financial Planner, and a lot of his clients live on his parent's lake or around the lake. Now is definitely the time to be talking to your financial planner, so he ended up lining up a lot of appointments in that area. He's going to stay at the lake and meet with a lot of his clients...

A lot as in-- he won't be home until WEDNESDAY.

Wednesday?!?! What am I going to do until Wednesday?!?!

I know, I know, this isn't really bad news. In fact, it's just wimpy news. My dad is in the Army, so I know 3 days is no long stretch to be missing the Matt... in fact, we used to be in a long distance relationship where I would see him once every one-to-two weeks!! So what am I complaining about?

The apartment is just more fun when he's here. Sigh. I wish we had a dog. Well, at least I can watch some of my Sex and the City DVDs...

Cooking Update:

1. New Recipe Idea: Matt's Mom made homemade pizza! IT WAS SOO GOOD!! She promised to give me the recipe for the dough, which was delish. I talked her ear off while she was making it, and it didn't look too hard!! Can't wait to try (and share!) the recipe!
   
   
2. Recipe Blogroll Sidebar: I have finally added the sidebar affiliate to my "recipe blogroll." This was inspired by Tamela's Goal list that she has in the sidebar of her blog. What a great idea!
   
   
3. Recipe Goal for this week: Mom on the Run's Shrimp Scampi!
   

Knitting Update:

Knitting lessons:

Matt's Mom always shows me some new knitting trick. This time it was with DPNs.

I learned how to knit with DPNs from my mom and from a video I found on Knitting Help. But both taught me to knit in the INSIDE of the double pointed needle. When you knit on the inside, you're holding your work so that your "knitting space" is in the inside, between the DPNs.

This picture kind of
demonstrates what I'm saying
(Ignore the "english style"
note, it's just to show how the
"inside" DPNs hold their work):

Matt's Mom taught me how to knit on the OUTSIDE of the double pointed needles. It went much faster! I did find this video that also shows the DPN technique that way.

When you knit this way, your
work is facing you like so:

Much easier! More space to work in.

After her lesson, I quickly finished my DPN baby hat!

Lamby is modeling my DPN baby knit
because... well, I don't have a baby!
Plus, Lamby is so cute!!!

Now I'm still working on the little green jacket for Abby... and no, I haven't finished the lining for my Cable-stitch purse. I really want to but I need some down time with my Mom to figure that one out.

I think I've thought of a way to easily knit a little flower that I can attach to Bria's bag. I already gave it to her, but she asked if she could paint a flower on the knitted bag and that's just probably not a good idea.

Blog Update:

A BIG thanks to Tamela for this new blog award!

I really like this award. A Superwoman who does it all? Sheesh... Thanks! I must say... I definitely don't do it all, there's a million more things I wish I had time for, but the secret to what I can get done: Coffee.

Who can I pass the award to? That's almost too easy! I'm a nanny, so I'm going to give it to all the followers of this blog who are MOMS!!

YAY Moms!

I only nanny for 8 hours at a time and I'm EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. So here is YOUR award, mom followers: Mom on the Run, Ace, Donna-FFW, Hogan Family's April, Sarah Says (you're almost a Mom!), Knitting Knoobie, I'm Busy Knitting ... I think that's all but if I missed a Mom follower let me know and feel free to take the award!

[Post-Post Note:I did miss a Mom follower-- two, actually!
Tales of a Teacher's Mary &
Forever, Wherever's Kim
-- you're Superwomen, too! ]

Congrats on being a Super Woman! You know you are!

Here's the code for your award:
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_v9olpeRf0oU/Sd6nToyfdAI/AAAAAAAAAJc/TzV_ZupnRfI/s320/Image3.jpg" width="152" height="152" alt="Super Woman Award!" />

~*~*~

That's all for now, hope you all had a GREAT weekend!

~*~*~

Your ousted-liberal,
knit-loving, coffee-slurping
New Girl Blogger

Nanny Sarah, Bria Bag and First-Time Bread Baking

Listening to "She's So High," Tal Bachman (I'm sometimes a 90s-music-obsessed blogger...)


Finished Knitting Project:
Here's Bria's bag- finished by her Nanny Sarah!

I'll admit- not the best picture.
I'm still being lazy about pulling
out my Canon Rebel. Next time I
will, swear!

Cute little project. Took no time at all and- let's be honest- it's not the most amazing thing ever knitted. But she's five, so she sure thought it was amazing. Which made me feel good :)

And, finally!

Recipe Review:
StephChow's Bread { Whole Wheat Yeastless Focaccia }

This recipe is so fun, so quick and so easy. Perfect if you- like I was- are a first-time bread maker. HINT: To make the bread, you use a 12 oz. dark beer!! Who doesn't like a recipe that replaces hard, elbow-work yeast baking and kneading (isn't that what bread making is usually about?) with BEER?!

I didn't screw the recipe up-- and that's saying something. It's easy- you can do it!

~ * ~ * ~

Till next time (When I'm hoping to make bbq-- or, if you're southern, pulled pork!-- for the first time! Great family crock pot recipe!),

-Your laughing-while-nannying,
kid-purse-knitting, bread-making
New Girl Blogger

Baking Karma, Pie (Pi!) Tips & Spring Lace Scarf

Listening to (Rainy Day Playlist): "Wild World," Cat Stevens

Now I get it-- I was supposed to have a bad week.
Because with the bad week, there was no time to make pie. The pie was delayed. Now, I'm going to make it tomorrow-- on PI DAY!!!!!!

{Pi Day- remember "Pi" (3.14) in math? Tomorrow is 3.14!}
Get it?! Not my pie-- but how cute!

If it hadn't been for my bad week, this lovely coincidence simply would not have been. See?!?!?! Everything happens for a reason!!!

I can't thank you enough for the support after my last, admittedly depressing, post. It really was hard to write about the bad stuff-- made me feel a littttle whiny, but in the end I felt much better. I let it out, and with every comment I felt like-- ok, everyone has a bad day. As Mom used to remind us-- This, too, shall pass.

Tomorrow is Pi Day, and I'm ready.
See Below-- Pi Tips!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Knitting Update ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Spring Lace Scarf: Finished!

-Not very spring-ish... I like it, but I'll try again and make another spring scarf. This just isn't it.
-BUT, I learned to do a K3 and YO stitch pattern
-Really love the YO effect-- the "holes" do give a lacy pattern-- but I think a spring scarf should be a little skinnier, or maybe should have more holes to really make it lacey.
-Still really like the color, just wish I'd used a different kind...
New Girl Lesson of the Day: Shouldn't make "spring" projects out of wool... cotton would have been a much better alternative.

Ta-Da! My first "finished project" pose...
not a bad scarf, just not what I wanted

Cable Purse, or "The Christine Bag":
Update: It's going very well!
-Messed up a few times-- size US 17 needles are huge and hard to work with!
-Cable stitch is FUN and way easier than I thought it would be!
-Can't wait to show you when it's done :)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Pie Tips

Here are the wonderful Pie Tips I've received so far...
might help if you also feel like celebrating Pi Day... :)

From Sarah:

1. The less you handle the pastry, the better it is. If you touch it or mix it too much, it goes hard and chewy, not at all the result you want.
   
2. Make sure everything is cold, cold flour, cold butter, cold water.

From Melanie:

1. Cover in tin foil-- it's in the oven for a while and might burn
2. The Recipe! It was her "Pie of the Week"-- see here!
3. She also had a great post about homemade pie crust
   

From Rebecca:
This was a while ago, but I still love it: her comment in response to my boyfriend eating bad cookies I had baked

1. "Best tool a baker can have is an appreciative partner" :-)

From My Mother:

1. When baking and using butter: Leave the butter on the counter overnight. Melting it in the microwave does not work for baking (maybe that's what happened with my awful cookies...)
2. Make the crust the night before, leave it in a dough-ball in the fridge and flatten it / do the pie the next day-- keeps you from getting burnt out!

My mom also lovingly forced me to borrow her pastry cutter thingy... it's like a handheld cutter thing, looks like a weapon... I was just going to mix everything but apparently pastry cutters were invented for a reason. I'll let you know if I think I really needed it :)

Till the Pie Post, Happy Pi Day Eve!

-Sarah

Scarves, Lasagna and CPR

Listening to "Fairytale," Sara Bareilles

Two Finished Scarves:
Finished these two for my Peace Corps friend in Azerbaijan (she promises it's still cold there):

Closer Look...

Simple "learning to knit" type of pattern.
For both scarves:
CO: 15
RS: K4 P2 K3 P2 K4
WS: K4 K2 P3 K2 K4

Don't worry-- I'll make her take pictures wearing them :) I need to learn how to take better pictures of scarves. It's hard when they're so long...

I made her the green one using size US5 needles, and that allowed it to be a little thinner (so it had to be very long!) The brown ("coffee colored" I think...) scarf is size US8 needles with some leftover yarn I had from a really awful hat I made...

Makes pretty ridges and also helps you learn how purled and knitted stitches look different. Also teaches you to count, or at least how annoying it is to try and count :)

My first EVER homemade lasagna dish!!!!
Baked the lasagna that I prepared last week during Three-Dinner Friday:


Recipe courtesy of Paraplegic Chef-- it was fantastic! I need a deeper 9 x 13 dish, though, because I couldn't fit in all the layers I wanted. The sauce PC puts in this recipe is phenom, and I would have liked to include more of it in my lasagna, but couldn't because of the dish's depth...

Also [drum roll please...]
I am officially Red Cross certified!
I'm certified in CPR (for adult, child and infant!) so I feel much safer when feeding the 8 month old that I nanny! The class also came with a quick overview on First Aid (Did you know that people used to put butter on burns? Don't do that!)

If you ever have spare time in a weekend (my class was on Saturday, the Red Cross also does Tues/Thurs), try to do it. It's very empowering! Just don't show up late-- whoever you sit next to will be your partner when you're practicing the choking maneuvers. I was very happy to have a kind, older, married guy...

So here's my "new girl" schedule for each week:
- 16 hours as a nanny
- 6 hours as a grad student
-9 hours as a tutor
-web design in the spare time (totally rhymes!)

I am not kidding y'all, I'm brand new at this stuff, so I promise to offer up some hilarious stories from the learning curve next time :)

And I won't stop knitting or cooking, and we all know I'm new at that-- so more of those stories to come as well.

Also, I know I keep changing my blog layout around... I'm trying to make something a little easier to read, is all.

Have a GREAT Wednesday!