Goals Update- Week 18

There's more than the goals to talk about today. This is going to be long and picture heavy. Sorry 'bout that!

Friday was the mail day to end all mail days. I received 3 (!) sock club packages and the new Interweave Knits. What a great way to start the weekend.

First, the Sunshine Sock Club.



The yarn is called Airy. And the pattern looks like cloud wisps! Dani does a great job of changing up her colorways. Such a pretty blue.

Next, the Petals Collection from Sundara Yarn.



It's called Dahlia and the color is amazing. I got a splotch of yellow in my skein to break up the orangey-red. I just love it. And isn't it cool how it looks just like the picture of the flower. Sundara certainly has a gift when it comes to color.

The first installment of the Yarntini Sock Club, which is run through Pure Knits, really delivered. At first I balked at the price of this club but this package was so fun to open. It never seemed to end!



The yarn is self striping in the Pure Breeze color. I love the two shades of blue playing off of each other. There's a project pouch from Misocrafty in the great Amy Butler fabric, stitch markers from Sarkasmo, SOAK wash in the aquae scent, lip gloss, and Lucy Neatby's book Cool Socks, Warm Feet. Now, I know this is the intro package and it has more swag than the next ones will. But what a way to start out.

The only problem I'm having is which yarn to cast on next!

And, I'm allowed to cast on because I have an FO! The Moorish Lattice Socks are finito!



Yes, my feet really are that big!



Pattern: Moorish Lattice Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks. This book never lets me down. I've made 2 or 3 pair from here and they always fit perfectly.
Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino Sock- Blue Lagoon from The Loopy Ewe. Seriously, Sheri is the best. If you haven't bought yarn from here go now!
Needles: Addi Bamboo DPN's in US#1
Mods: I couldn't do as many toe decreases as the pattern calls for because I was running out of yarn. But the socks fit just fine. So that wasn't a huge issue.

I love this yarn. The Fleece Artist is so soft and the colors melt together so well. I did notice that one sock is a lot greener and the other is more blue. But, since it's all one ball of yarn, I think it's the way the colors landed in the pattern. These might be my favorite socks so far!

OK- on to goals...

1. Knit from My Stash- I've been thinking about this. And since we all know I'll be more or less broke for the next year, I'm restarting the yarn diet when I start school. I've been basically ignoring the fact that I'm not supposed to be buying yarn that this goal has become almost a joke. So on May 29 there will be a new yarn diet with new rules pertaining to completion of school goals. Sound good? Good. Because I have one more skein of Yarntini headed my way and I don't want to be a cheater already.

2. Grad School- Classes start May 29.

3. Thin for Thirty- Again, I think this being broke thing is going to help. And not breaking up my workday with lots of snacks. I'm up to 32.6 on my Runagogo mileage. So I'm good on the exercise part. Just not the healthy eating part. Although, I did buy a Menu-Mailer from Saving Dinner.com. I think we might have a better chance of not living on cheese quesadillas if I get food prepared ahead of time. Big thank you to Miss Violet for the link to that one. Now I just have to go out and get all the stuff and assemble it. Maybe next weekend...

BTW- did you know Lime & Violet opened their own shop? Go over and get registered. The first update will be tomorrow.

4. Save Money- I'm good. YAY!


Last but not least, Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband! We were married 1 year ago today in San Francisco. I love you very much. We celebrated last night by going to a fancy restaurant to which my wonderful co-workers gave us a gift certificate as a wedding gift. The food was wonderful. The wine was very tasty. And the company was one in a million.

At Last

At the end of our reception, the song "At Last" by Etta James came on the stereo. We didn't plan it and we didn't have dancing at our reception. This was just a nice coincidence. I've always loved that song. It is sexy and classy and all about love. I made Brian dance with me. My friends all watched as we danced the first time as husband and wife. I especially loved singing the last line of the song to my new husband. "For you are mine, at last!"

Princeton Class of '52

I'm writing things to remember the biggest weekend of my life so far. I have to make sure it is saved somewhere so that I never forget.

The night before my wedding I was heading out to a second dinner with my college roommates when we saw a bunch of older men and their wives. They were all wearing name tags and dressed to impress. My friend Jen, who will ask anyone anything, asked them where they were from or what group they were with. They proudly answered "Princeton, Class of 1952!" We responded, "Amherst, Class of '99!" As it turns out the gentleman we were talking to attended Deerfield Academy for high school which is right down the road from Amherst. And we all ended up singing the Amherst fight song in the lobby of an extremely nice hotel in San Francisco.

Jen went on to tell this couple that I was getting married the next day. She asked them if they had any advice for me. The man said, "Well, we've been married 41 years. And they tell you not to ever go to sleep angry.... But sometimes you have to!" It totally cracked me up. His wife wished me all the happiness in the world and we parted ways.

They were adorable and lovely and so, so sweet.

I ran into another member of the Class of '52 right before I walked down the aisle. My dad and I were waiting in the hallway of the hotel until the guests were assembled. Another gentleman and his wife were headed out to dinner. They'd been married for 39 years. And about 3 minutes before I walked down the aisle they wished me a vary happy life with my new husband. Without even trying, I was surrounded by love and good wishes from people I didn't even know. These are moments I'll treasure forever. And I feel truly blessed.

Going to the Chapel...

Sorry I've been remiss in posting lately. Between school, work, and the wedding I haven't been on top of the blog thing.

But now I'm married. I can't believe it either. I've been with Brian for 6 years. We've been engaged for two. So it was finally time. The wedding was amazing. It was so much better than I planned. I felt happy and sad, excited and scared, so in love and so worried about the future. It was such a rich moment in my life, I'm sure I cannot accurately describe the emotions. It was the most full, deep and rich emotional experience in my life. Everyone says their wedding day is the best day of their life. And now I understand. It was such an intense moment. And I can't stop looking at my wedding ring. I feel like the last 3 days lasted a week.

My dad had a hard time walking me down the aisle. Ever since my mom's death, he gets emotional in momentous family situations. He started to cry as soon as he saw me in my dress. It touched my heart.

All day Brian was a little nervous or tense or just trying to figure out what he was going to say. At one point during dinner, he just started to cry. I asked him about it later and he said he looked up and everything was so amazing; everyone was so happy. He was overwhelmed. I've never seen him so emotionally raw. I suppose that's how I felt as well.

We were married in San Francisco on the roof of a hotel near the Ferry Building. The view was incredible. You can see from the Bay Bridge all the way to Alcatraz. And the weather gods were smiling on us. It was lovely and perfect.

I couldn't have asked for a better day. I am blessed in many ways. And now I have a new husband to build a marriage and a family with. I'm so much luckier than I deserve.

Baby steps to the Big Day...

Today was my bridal shower. My future mother-in-law invited the women of the family over for lunch and champagne. It was quite lovely and girly and pink! They have always been very generous both in including me in their family and in their celebration of my life. I truly appreciate them.