Your Man ___? Finding the Man Scarf. + First Week of Class!

Currently Listening to "California," Rogue Wave.

Your Man __?

Kym was cracking me up in the comments of my man scarf post, talking about how "Man ___" is always funny. And she's totally right! Man purse is funny no matter what "cool" bag the man is carrying. (Anyone else obsessed with The Hangover?? It's a satchel! Indiana Jones wears one...)

Another favorite of mine was always "man cave." It means a room in the house where men are allowed to do and decorate how they please. Think leather chairs and pool tables, I suppose?

I never understood these men who, in their own houses, had to fight for a basement or upstairs room or-- really?-- the garage, just so they could have their own space. I was always all, "why don't they just share and compromise??"

BUT...

Now that I've lived with my boyfriend for a little over a year, I can honestly say that while I'm still happily in love with him and look forward to seeing him everyday...

His Scarface poster is the FIRST thing that would go in his man cave.

Haha I remember trying so hard to get him to get rid of that when we moved in together...

Then my step-dad saw it when he was helping us unpack and was all, "That's awesome!!"

So now it's in our office. Black matting, gold frame and all.

lovely.

The things we do for love...

Anyway, speaking of lovely things, I think I've chosen a scarf for the "man scarf" project!

Finding the Man Scarf

Fidgeting Gidget shared the Basketweave Scarf pattern from Knitting Daily, which I looooove. I'm so making this for myself lol.

Isn't it cute?? I'm going to go ahead and get this on the needles next because I think it's so cute. I'm afraid Matt won't like the sides... it could be seen as a little "ruffled." Guys are so hard! I can totally understand Steph Chows forgetting the scarf and crocheting her hubs an afghan!!

But like I said... I like the scarf. lol. So FG, I'll make that one for me. You can never have enough cute scarves, I think!

SO. For Mr. Matt, I felt better when Concord Carpenter promised that 1. Using one color is best (that's what I was thinking!) and 2. Wide is ok.

THEN Stephanie posts two scarves, one of which is the Extra Warm Men's Scarf by Cotton and Cloud.

Love it! Manly looking stitches (can stitches be manly? Guess so!), nice gray-black simple man color...

I've got my scarf :)

So now, on the needles:

1. Extra Warm Men's Scarf by Cotton and Cloud. (Thanks for the suggestion, Stephanie!)
2. The Hoodie Baby Blanket by Nikol Lohr

Thanks for your help, everyone!

First Week of Class

Now, this is my 2nd day of class during my first week of the semester...

It's my third semester and after this I'll only have two more to go... (May '11, baby!)

And after all that, this is my first online class!

I've got two traditional lecture courses (ENG 518 Publication Management, ENG 519 Online Information Design and Evaluation) but my one online class is EAC 581: Advanced Instructional Design in Training and Development.

It's funny... because it's Advanced Instructional Design, and I've never even taken an Instructional Design course... or a EAC course (EAC is Adult & Higher Education Dept.) at all, for that matter! AND it's my first online course.

...that's a lot of first.

Hopefully I'll survive.

I was a TOTAL DORK and when I signed on to the course, realized everyone was posting introductions in the "forum" so I went around and commented on EVERYONE'S introduction...

...well, there's only 15 people in the class, but anyway...

commented on EVERYONE'S introduction, only to realize afterward that the only other person to comment ON EVERYONE'S INTRODUCTION....

...was the professor.

At least I proved you can still be a dork, even in online classes...

Maybe everyone will just think I'm really nice! lol.

Next post: Cooking, Recipe Blogroll Update!

Your still-freezing-in-NC,

tired-of-cold-weather, making-a-big-stew-to-help,

man-scarf-knitting,

New Girl Blogger

Knitting Group Wednesdays, A Manly Scarf?, and Wishlist Knitting Projects

Currently Listening to "Night Minds," Missy Higgins.

Yesterday was my sister Courtney's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Courtney!

One of my favorite Courtney pictures...

hanging with goofy Abby last year

Knitting Group Wednesday

One of the reasons it was so easy for me to fall in love with knitting is the amazing knitting group I've been a part of since Summer 2008. The group varies in size, and while we have had a strange bird or two drift in and out of the group, the core five or six individuals that attend are amazing. Very diverse in ages, backgrounds, hometowns, knit skill level, and careers, the women (and one man!) who have kept the group alive make Wednesdays very easy for me to look forward to.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that the group meets at a fun wine/coffee bar in Downtown Raleigh, which (as of January 2nd!) is all now officially smoke-free!! Woo-hoo NC!!

I haven't been in a while, especially since I was tutoring till pretty late on Wednesday last semester, but I'm excited for a new start this year. Plus, I've got some new projects I'm thinking about and everyone in the group is SO helpful when you're struggling through a new project!!

Speaking of new projects...

Manly Scarf, anyone?

I would like to make a scarf for my boyfriend.

(Matt, if you're reading this, don't get excited. I haven't even started!)

Thing is, I've never knit a scarf for a guy. Come to think of it, I've never knit ANY guy things! So I was wondering...

Anyone have any ideas about or patterns for some simple man scarves?

I did see some man scarves I liked on Ravelry...

the Man's Lace Scarf by DoublePointed Designs

Cool for the snowboarder on your list...

But I can just tell Matt wouldn't go for some of these. He's more of a traditional look. But it seems all the "man scarves" are just made really wide.

Doesn't these seem a little wide?

And... except for this randomly freezing week and maybe one other week out of the year, we just don't need that kind of thing here in NC!

Matt has said before he would like a black scarf... but try as I have, I can't really think of a "manly" way to knit the thing. Wide seems silly, but too skinny and it'll look girly.

So... anyone? Ideas?

Other Projects:

Things I've found on Ravelry this week that I'd love to get started on...

1. The Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery

2. The Hoodie Baby Blanket by Nikol Lohr

3. The Grrlfriend Market Bag by Laura Spradlin

How cute are those?!!? Can't wait to get started :)

Good thing I've got a good group to knitters that will help me get started on these :) First I'll have to organize my yarn stash... everyone was too good to me this Christmas!!

Next post: My January to-do recipes-- courtesy of some of the best bloggers around!

~*~*~

Your excited-for-New-Year's-Re-Do-Date,

enjoying-Tom's-Mexican-Soup, still-haven't-taken-down-the-tree,

Grandma-made-me-too-many-cookies, glad-to-be-blogging-again,

New Girl Blogger

I'm Back!! 2010 New Year's Resolution + Finishing Life List Item #25

Currently Listening to "It Was A Very Good Year," Frank Sinatra.

Happy New Year!

Here's the Raleigh Acorn, our little NC tradition

on New Year's Eve-- drops JUST like the ball

in NYC. Well, maybe not as big of a crowd...

And, Happy New Blog!

I'm so sorry for my absence - been incognito since mid-October. The pressure of school and work kind of hit all at once... and something had to give.

BUT I'm back! And just as interested in learning new cooking/baking techniques, a few new knitting projects, and some general life lessons that come with the territory of a new 20-something's decade.

Of course, that brings the obvious question--

What is your 2010 New Year's Resolution????

I love resolutions. They may not always work out the way you think they will... but it's nice to start fresh sometimes. Well, unless you don't want to change anything...

Not everyone needs a resolution,

I suppose :)

I have a couple (as always), some of which Matt came up with and we're doing together, including:

1. Have at least one TV-free night a week
2. Send Birthday cards
3. Keep up with my blog!
4. Get in better shape

4 seems like a good number...

Anyway, this New Year's has also presented a chance for me to check something off my life list.

See, on Wednesday Dec. 30th I woke up with a really sore throat. It was manageable at first, but by the end of the night it was hurting!

Of course, by New Year's Eve, I was definitely Ms. I've-Got-A-Cold. Matt had to run out twice for soup and meds, and I spend the day in my PJs instead of the cute New Year's Eve dress I had bought with Leah. It wasn't so bad... big blankets, lots of movies, and some OJ. I also managed to stay up till Midnight for New Year's Eve!

Still, it wasn't the New Year's Eve I had been hoping for... we had plans to meet some friends downtown, and I had that new dress! So Matt's promised to take me out for New Year's re-do next weekend!! Which bring me to my life list item...

√# 25: Experience New Year's Eve twice in one year

I always thought I would cross that one off by celebrating New Year's really close to a time zone border, and then hopping over the border after midnight and celebrating it again! But now I think I'll check this one off with the New Year's re-do next Saturday :) I'll keep my eye on midnight and everything!!

Anyway, lots of other things to update from this past year... fun recipes, finished knitting projects, trips to Disney world, my new twin brother and sister...

But hey, I just got back. So how about we take it slow, and just end with another hearty--

Happy New Year!

Your still-a-little-stuffy,

just-turned-23, lovin-2010-already!,

New Girl Blogger

Blog Awards

2010 Blog Awards

Thanks to all the award givers!

2010.01.21

Thanks to Krysten over at After I Do for passing on the fabulous GLOB Award!

2010.01.20

The Best Blog Award


Thanks for the Best blog award, Nikolett!



2009 Blog Awards

Thanks to all the award givers!

2009.03.29


Thanks Ace, for The Lemonade Award

2009.04.06


Thanks Ace, for the Kreativ Blogger Award

2009.04.13


Thanks Tamela, for the Superwoman Award



2009.04.23


Thanks Fidgeting Gidget, for the Honest Scrap Award



2009.05.15


Thanks Tamela, for the Queen Award



2009.05.18


Thanks, Mrs. C, for the Deer to Me Cupcake Award



2009.05.18

Thanks Novelista Barista, for the Funky Blog Award 

2009.06.22

Thanks Mrs.C, for the Charming/Honest Award 

2009.06.27

Thanks Cucinista @ Working-Lunch for the One Lovely Blog Award!

2009.07.15

Thanks ACE for the Honest Blog Award 

2009.07.15

Thanks Ali for the Kind & Charming Blog Award 

2009.08.06


Thanks ACE, for the Over the Top Blog Award

Back with Bread and Article News + Pumpkin Seeds Recipes?

Currently Listening to "Maybe," Ingrid Michaelson

Happy Monday, bloggers! I really really miss being in the blog world... I feel like I'm missing out on so much. But I've been spending most of my spare time on school and that article...

more on that in a minute :)

I can't believe it's October 12th already. I swear, yesterday was September 1st...

Comments
Jeremyandgirls: THANK YOU so much for the homemade pumpkin spice latte recipe! I am so looking forward to trying that! I love fall so much...

Thank you all for the comments about the blanket! Sad to say I haven't made much progress since I had a lot of papers due last week, but I'm hoping to get some quality knitting time in this week :)

Kathy, I loved your idea about making one big blanket for both the twins! 'Cause you're right, they'll be little enough to share it for a long time! And yes, Sarah, you should start knitting!!! As if you don't have enough to do with your new little baby :)


Cooking Update:
(plus flowers from my Mom!)

There, ladies and gentlemen, is a loaf of bread that I baked. That's right. With my busy schedule, I found time to bake bread.

(Thanks again for that loaf pan, Peggy!)




How does she do it?!

Simple... Betttttttty Crocker :)

See... Mrs. Crocker has these new boxed muffin mixes out... and on the back of the box is an additional recipe for baking BREAD instead of muffins!



Simple and delicious :)

And noooo, I wasn't paid for that mini-advertisement... I just truly appreciate products that make life happy.

Other Updates...

I haven't updated in forever and I am SO SORRY! But it's for good reason...


My article is going to be published :)

They checked yes!!

It took a LOT of work, and caused me to fall a liiitttttttle behind in grad school projects, so I've been running around catching up.

But it's definitely very exciting. I keep remembering that it happened and breaking out into a random smile... lol. I know, I know, corny. But I just can't wait to see my name, my words, my research in PRINT!!

As far as catching up on everything... my plan is to catch up this week, to carve pumpkins this weekend, and to bake some pumpkin seeds too...

Anyone have any good recipes I can try?

~*~*~

I also promise to catch up on your blogs-- I am so sorry I haven't been around! But I've been thinking about you (and keeping up with some of you busy people on Twitter!) and can't wait to see what you've been up to lately!

For now-- have a great week!

Your celebrating-that-Panthers-win,
leaves-enjoyin, apartment-decorating,
Halloween-decorations-lovin,
New Girl Blogger