rather be

I have a new jam and it's the only thing I want to listen to lately. It just makes me move and groove and feel all the happy feels. I love it. What's that you say? You want to hear it and dance around your room without pants on as well?? Perfect!

Rather Be by Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne

150

That's my number. The number that my scale tells me and makes me think "uh oh". Now I know the lady-like thing is not to tell the world what your weight is...but  I never claimed to be lady-like...so there. A couple weeks ago I stepped onto the pesky scale and the number it told me was not 150. It was 153. This called for a bigger mental "uh oh". I knew this wasn't a 'more muscular' 153 either. This was an 'I love to eat and can't motivate myself to work out' 153.

My first reaction of course was
"Well, now I really need to get down to business"
"Only vegetables and cardboard for me"
"A new iPod playlist will help"
"Sure I could get myself to look like (    fill in the actress' name   )"
"This tbt photo of me from college will motivate me"

And that lasted for about a week.

Then some other thoughts came to mind
"Hey, this isn't high school and you're not an athlete anymore"
"Maybe this is my 27 year old body"
"My clothes still fit"

These were thoughts that had never really occurred to me before and how silly that they hadn't. Where is it written that I still need to have my "track body"?? I haven't run track in years!  But on the other side of that coin what exactly does a "knitting body" look like? It doesn't sound great haha.

So I'm coming to terms with something in the middle. I don't like eating well but it's something that must be done, so while I'm not dieting, I will be more conscious of what I eat. I've also begun to go for small jogs in the morning. There's something about seeing the sun come up over the East River that's really pleasant.

I'm getting older and my body is changing and that's life. And while it's safe to say that I will not be pursuing a modelling career any time ever, I think it's important to feel good in this body I've got and treat it right. So I will jog for as long or little as I feel like; I will make sure that I'm not eating noodles for every meal of my day, much to my shagrin; and most importantly I will be realistic in my expectations of what my body should look like.   

having a witness

One of the blogs I follow is one that I constantly find myself wanting to copy and paste here. The Wild and Wily Ways of a Brunette "Bombshell" is written by Meg Fee, another 20-something living in NYC and the only way to describe her writing is, sensational. Over the summer she and some of her friends wrote a series of posts about wanting men, not needing men. Being a single gal for longer than I'd like to admit, these posts spoke to me. They describe exactly where I'm at when it comes to my single-dom at the moment. One particular post said everything I had been thinking lately so I thought it would be best to share it.

This is a guest post from Meg's blog, written by her friend Laura Jane Williams, who has her own blog, Superlatively Rude. I encourage you to check both of them out. The link to Meg's blog also has links to the other posts from this series. I highly recommend them.

having a witness | laura jane williams 

The thing is, it’s about having a witness to my life.

I didn’t understand for such a very long time. I’d had my heart crumpled young – too young, really. I was too naïve to understand that he was the making of me, not the breaking—and that misunderstanding coloured my choices for days that became weeks that became, in the end, about five years of healing. It took many forms: promiscuity, celibacy, travel: searching so that I got my answers but was still puzzled as to the question.

But, you see, because of all that, I’m really fucking proud of who I am. And the woman I’ve become? She wants to share her life with a man. A husband.

It’s not a desperate kind of want. It isn’t sleeplessness nights and pints of ice-cream salted with the tears of singledom. It’s not the ticking of a biological clock, nor the irritatingly true knowledge that rent would be cheaper split by two. It’s not about sex. I’m not searching for my other half, the soulmate who will make me whole. I’m not incomplete.

I’m not incomplete.

The obvious, practical stuff aside – making my own money, being able to change the fuse on a lamp, backpacking solo and how to figure out interest rates and train timetables and reverse parking and the best way to mow the lawn – emotionally, I’m ripe.

Beyoncé said it best (because she always does): you have to have a life, before you can be somebody’s wife. Oh baby, have I had a life. I’ve cried tears enough to earn the right to be empathetic and strong with the man who will feel courage from standing by my side. I’ve laughed so much that I’ll be able to make the future father of my children see the funny side of our lost luggage, or the leak in the ceiling, or even, with enough time, the tragedy that’ll blindside us both one sunny Friday afternoon.
Make no mistake, I’ve experienced so much anger and frustration, that when he thinks he can’t take anymore – of work, of family, of the tiredness of life – well, I understand the difference between psychological space from words, and the closeness of my chin on his shoulder, just for a minute. I’ve known the aching for roots, so we can build a home together, somewhere in the world. And I’ve developed a taste for freedom, too.

I don’t need a yes man, and won’t be a yes woman, either.

This man, my husband, the one I’m ready for, he’ll have lived as well. He’ll be whole from experience. 

I don’t need a project, somebody to mother. He doesn’t have to be broken to be interesting (why do we always look for them to be broken?) but there’ll be cracks in us both that being together will help mend. He’ll know himself, and his self-kindness will teach me to go easier on myself. His manners will make me more accountable to those around me, and possibly his ambition will guide my own. I might be whole, but I’m not perfect; I still have more to learn, than has been learnt. But I’ll navigate those lessons eventually, with or without him. I don’t need him.

It’d be hella fun to do this next part of growing, of understanding, of learning and becoming together, though.

This want, it’s a want for watching how he talks to his parents over dinner, so that I get insight into how I engage with my own mum and dad. I want long and lazy Sunday afternoons wrapped around each other in bed, surprising myself with truths that feel safe to share in dappled, early evening light. I want blazing, heated rows in the aisle of Ikea over everything and nothing at all, friends over to our apartment for dinner, children who look like me and sound like him – everything it takes to unfold another human being so that I might unfold myself.

I want to love whole-heartedly and without restraint with a man who is there when I wake up, and knows when to leave me alone and when to take the small of my back with just the right amount of pressure. Doing so will make me better, will teach me – as will letting myself lose control enough to be loved. Because, of course, that’s harder than loving when we’re all waiting to get found out that somehow, we don’t deserve it.

We do. I do. My husband does, too. We all deserve a cheerleader, a champion, an equal.

I’ve taken it this far, and I’ve done it goddamn well. If this is life alone, then life in a partnership – a coupling where we make each other better, compensate for weaknesses and amplify strengths – well, shit. That’d be some life.

happy little tune

A few summers ago a great pal of mine invited me to go to a concert with her. She said the artists were B.O.B., this new guy Bruno Mars, and Jason Mraz. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, it was one of the best times of my life! I was already pretty familiar with Jason Mraz but seeing him live was just awesome. My love for his sweet sweet jams only grew.
So of course now that he's dropped a new album, it's my duty to enjoy every minute of it...and I do. One of my particular faves is the little ditty below. It just makes me feel light and happy and sunny. And I dig it.

To my old man

I can't wait to be old with you.

But not in an age sort of way. 

In an, at the end of the day you read the newspaper while I knit, sort of way. 

We'll play a record and have a glass of bourbon

And you'll tell me about politics and I'll try my best to listen.

I'll make you try on a new hat and you'll pretend to know what a circular needle is. 

And it'll be just right.

Ever yours,

Your old lady

The Daisy Duke Cowl

Well, it happened again. I was consumed by a yarn. {holds head in shame} This time the takeover was much slower and very gradual but it still happened nonetheless. A couple weeks ago this very interesting cotton fabric yarn popped up in the store. It looked as though strips of fabric had been cut and then twisted around a string to make a yarn. Knitting AND fabric...I mean come on. One problem though, no one had a clue what to do with it. Every couple of days a customer would ask about what to do with it. I would shrug my shoulders. There weren't any patterns for it so it was hard to imagine what the possibilities were. A rug? A bag? It was a real head scratcher. As the days went by and I looked at the yarn, a little idea started to creep up. I saw a big needle. Like US35 big. The thought of them alone was exciting. I haven't made a project on such large needles yet so the prospects seemed wonderful. A holy, loosey, goosey summer cowl. Yes!

So cast on I did! And again, and again. I forgot how much experimenting comes with creating something from nothing; the scientist in me was napping apparently. Once I figured out a proper cast on number I went to knitting. After a couple rows it became clear that a US35 was just not the proper needle for this project. There was little to no stitch definition and I was barely an inch in and the ball was almost used up. So frog I did. My next try was the US19 and it made all the difference. I fiddled with knits here and yarn overs there and the end result was a super unique cowl that I absolutely love! The pattern on the fabric gave me a country vibe but it's still a girly accessory so I named it Daisy Duke!
Here she is!

Because the fabric is a cotton this cowl is still really comfortable to wear in the summer months. It's not heavy or fuzzy so it's not smothering.

The yarn is called Wildflower by Knit Collage and it comes in 3 other super cute colors. There isn't a lot of yardage on each skein so I needed 2 for this cowl.

Thanks to my pal Brie for snapping these shots. It takes a village folks and I'm sure glad I've got that gal in mine!

The pattern is available on my Ravelry page and will be on my Etsy soon!

pictures of yarn via

  

a drop in the bucket

It was 4 years ago, today, that I arrived back home to move back in with my parents. At the time there was nothing I wanted less. The fact that I had been out in the world for 5 years really made me loathe that I was having to return home.

I felt like a failure.

I felt lost. 

My life wasn't supposed to go that way. I was supposed to live in Florida, where my friends were, and work at a theatre and lay on the beach. Be one of the few who left my town and made something of herself. Instead I was going back to a summer job and retail. Besides my family, there wasn't anything for me at home.

I was too busy being bitter to see the big picture. 

Less than a month later my aunt passed away suddenly. It was such a shock to our family. Yet, somehow through my sadness, a voice inside told me that this was 1 of the reasons that I had moved back home. She and I were able to spend time together. Time I wouldn't have had if I were living in Florida. It was a great comfort to me.

Looking back over the past 4 years I can't help but recognize the many many reasons there were for my moving home. The lessons I needed to learn. The people I needed to meet. The launchpad I needed to have in order to make a really scary decision that would become one of the best I've ever made. The me I needed to start getting reacquainted with.

It's safe to say that I would not be here in NYC, where my friends are, working at a theatre and still not laying on a beach, if it weren't for moving home. I think I would have settled with Florida and never made it to New York, which means I never would have fulfilled a lifelong dream.

Moving home 4 years ago was just a drop in the bucket. The ripple effect it had, and continues to have, was absolutely worth it and I couldn't be more grateful.

My bucket is now overflowing because of that drop.

i did it!

I'm going to be doing the thing I came to this city to do. Theatre. It's really happening! Let me begin at the beginning.

The weekend my roommate left for her new cruise gig, my new gal pal (Brie) invited me out for her friends birthday party. A much more exciting plan than my original plan...sitting at home by myself. I had met a couple of her friend already so I knew it would be a good time. While at dinner, Brie happened to mention that I had a degree in theatre which prompted the birthday fella himself to ask me what I do. I told him I'm a stage manager and without skipping a beat he said "I need one of those". Amidst the party fodder we decided to talk more about it later on. The rest of the evening was spent with many laughs and really great food. (for real though....such great food)

After a couple week of getting each others contact information, Easter, and setting up a time to meet, we were finally able to sit and talk. As I rode the train to our meeting I had trouble ignoring a little voice inside my head. It kept saying things like:

"but you just started enjoying your 2 days off"

"there's no way it will fit into your schedule anyway"

"how will you break it to him that you won't be able to do it"

"do your really want to drive yourself into the ground again?"

"the subway costs money"

Needless to say, it was a pretty negative voice. It was as if I had made up my mind going into it. I'm not even sure why. 

So we met. And we talked. And talked. After about an hour or so of talking and sharing stories and giving each other an idea of what we're about, it became clear. Not only did I want to do it...I needed to do it. Everything about the way this company works seems like a perfect fit for me. I'll be the Stage Manager but I'll also have the platform to have a voice in what's going on...not just a paperwork machine. It's a company that values everyone's opinions and artistic backgrounds and finds a way to make the work a product of everyone involved. Beyond that the work that they're producing is new and fresh and not typical. It's interactive and in your face. It's out of my own comfort zone and I'm thrilled about it.

I'm doing it guys! I'm going to be a Stage Manager in New York City. I'm fulfilling the dream I've had since I chose this career. How many people can say that?? I feel so blessed and grateful to the people around me that helped make this happen. Does it get any better than this?! I don't see how it could. Life isn't good....it's amazing.

If you'd like to check out the company:

The Circle Theatre of New York

fighting in italian

There's something about this commercial. Every time I see it I don't get the feeling that I really need gelato (more than the usual feeling that is).

All I can think about is how I'd love to be the woman in the commercial. Preparing dinner in my summer dress one minute and spouting off a tangent of beautiful Italian words the next. 

There's just something so so romantic about Italian....even when it's angry. 

I love it. 

And every time I see this commercial I make a little wish that someday I'll be able to know any Italian at all. Even if it's for fighting.

stuff

Last weekend my family was kind enough to help me out by driving me and some of my belongings from home back to NYC. Now that I have my own room I could decide what stuff I wanted  to have in it. Stuff like my queen sized bed, my sewing machine, my record player, and my dress form. Stuff that to some, sounds trivial or unnecessary or not worth dragging across the state of New York. But drag we did and over the last week it's been a daily task of mine to get things organized and in their proper place. Sometimes I think things should look one way and the next day I've changed my mind entirely. Naturally.

Looking around my room as I type this now I see all my stuff. The stuff that made the cut. And I realize, it's not just stuff. It's who I am. Right now. It's the things I've specifically chosen to speak on my behalf. It's crafty and quirky and a little vintage. It's everything I could want my room to be for the gal I am right now and the joy that brings me is slightly indescribable. Ya know, you don't realize how important having your own little space is until you sleep in a lofted bed above your best friend for a period of time. It's a real eye opener.

So, after a year and a half of living in this city, the last piece to the puzzle is in place. MY stuff. Some of the things that make me feel my most me. I can officially stake my claim on a little chunk of this town and really feel like it's my own.

And it feels fabulous.

auntie

The biggest thing that has happened these past couple weeks didn't even really happen in these past couple weeks. It was merely announced to the public. I'm officially going to be Auntie Sarah. That's right folks, my sister and brother are expecting their first child. It's funny that as I type this my eyes are welling up...something that hasn't happened since the day they told me. I'm just so happy for them and for my sister especially. If you should know anything about Cassie (Trostle) Jindra it's that she was put on this earth to be a mother. Having children is not a marital duty for her, it's a personal necessity....something to make her truly complete. So knowing that it's happening for her, really happening, fills me with so much joy that it seems to squeak out of my eyes at times. Then add to that the fact that this will officially make me someones Aunt...happiness overflow.

The one thing that saddens me about this glorious event is that I live as far away as I do. I never had to give much thought to the idea of my niece or nephew growing up and not really knowing who I was. It always seemed like a distant idea. But now it's here. I know technology is great for staying in touch and skype is a wonderful tool for that, but it's just not the same as being there in person to see the cute facial expressions and hear the baby noises first hand.  And what about cousins?? I'm not having children anytime soon so who knows how much older this child will be by the time I get around to making my own. The thought of mine and my sisters kids not being able to get along because of their age difference is sad. Cousins are an awesome thing to have and they can even act as extended siblings. Will mine and Cassie's kids have that kind of relationship? On April 13, 2014 I'd have to say probably not. And that makes me sad. More so for our kids than for me. Maybe these are things I shouldn't worry about too much but when you're one and only sister gets pregnant for the first time, it happens.

Of course this also means that I will have LOTS of baby knitting to do! Chickpea (as we're affectionately calling him/her) will need a good amount of handmade things from Auntie Sarah and so far I've already picked our patterns and yarn for an adorable baby blanket as well as the cutest hedgehog sweater in all the land(my sister has a pet hedgehog...my first nephew Huckleberry). Chickpea will be the cutest thing in the world! I'm actually really excited to get into making baby things. They're just so cute!

All of our lives are about to change come September and it's going to be absolutely thrilling. I can't wait to meet this little Chickpea and be a part of his/her life. And until I meet a wonderful man I may or may not use Chickpea for a little advertisement. Can you blame me??

as of late

The last 2 months have been an absolute whirlwind. I'm only now starting to feel like the dust has settled enough for me to look around and see the results. First the big move at the yarn store. To call it an undertaking is a vast understatement. It was an overtaking. An overtaking of my time, my body, my life. I worked everyday for 2 weeks straight and while it was exhausting, it was really, really rewarding. Now that I'm full time at the store, being able to be totally hands on and involved in how it all came out made me feel like a little part of it was mine too. Gives me the sense of being a big girl, at my big girl job. I work full time! At 1 job! And it's awesome.

Once the store re-opened it was on to the next big move. Finding a new apartment. Since one event occurred right after the other, I somehow managed to get out of being the one who stressed about finding a new place. Unfortunately my roommate did not. We looked at a few places, all of which were less than stellar. Then with 2 weeks to spare we found it. THE apartment. Our now home. And in the most ironic twist of fate, our new apartment is 2 blocks down from the store. Same side of the street and everything. Meant to be.

So for the second time in 2 months I packed, moved, and unpacked. While it wasn't at quite the same scale as the store, it was still an exhausting couple of weeks. And while we're officially in the new place, the work isn't done quite yet. Next weekend I get to go home for Easter and my Dad, Poppop and Sister will be driving back to NYC with me and the rest of my things from home. Such things as my QUEEN sized bed and best of all, my sewing machine. It's like having a limb returned to me. I just can't wait to have it here. I already know where I want it to be in my room and have even commissioned my dad and poppop to make me a swell pegboard for the wall. I'm pretty sure it's going to be awesome!

Amidst all the moving, I managed to turn a year older, meet a swell new gal pal and my roommate accepted a great new job on a cruise ship! While I'm so so happy for Karlin and her new job, it's definitely going to be an adjustment being by myself for 6 weeks at a time. That's a lot of Sarah time. But I think it will be good. A time to grow. And not wear pants!

So yeah, I'm not dead and I haven't forgotten about this space. I'm slowing getting back to center and it feels really great. I've been knitting up a storm, managing to have a little fun, and today I even went for a jog. Life isn't good....it's great. And I can't help but feel like it's just going to keep getting better.

knitted mood blanket 2014| joining squares

When I decided on using mitered squares for my mood blanket I didn't really think about how to connect them and beyond that how to connect the rows together. I just knew I liked the way they looked and that people had been connecting them somehow. So mitered squaring I was. Connecting the first row of squares as I made them was easy. When it came time to start row 2...then the trouble came. I knew I wanted my diagonals to go in the same direction as row 1 so I figured out how to make the first square and quickly realized that square 2 and the rest of the row wouldn't prove to be as easy. I didn't want to bother with seaming 2 long rows together so I scoured the interwebs for some kind of solution. I quickly realized that the easiest way to connect mitered squares just happens to be in a diagonal fashion <palm to forehead>. I certainly wasn't about to un-knit 21 days of progress so I knew I had to find another answer and find another answer I did! So I figured it was only the nice thing to do to share my answer with anyone else who cares to know. So I took some pictures and I'll explain my steps. If something doesn't seem right or you have any questions, just ask!

Note: I'm making my squares with 20 stitches on each side so if you attempt this with a different sized square, adjust your numbers accordingly.

I'll be referring to 3 different squares to work with:
-The Previous Square-the square in the same row as your new square: Pink
-The New Square-the square you're knitting: Yellow
-The Top Row Square-the square in the row above your new square: Blue

Let's go!

Step 1:

(RS)

With a spare needle (I used a smaller one than my squares are made with-a US5), pick up 20 stitches from the right side of the Previous Square(pink), starting at the bottom of the square

Step 2:

With the proper needle-US7, cast on 20 stitches with the yarn your New Square(yellow) will be made in

 

Step 3:

 

I found it easiest to achieve this step by placing the Top Row Square(blue) right side down, so the bottom edge is on top. 

(WS)

 With the needle you just cast stitches onto, pick up a stitch from the right side corner of the bottom edge of the Top Row Square. Having the New Square yarn in front, wrap it on top of your needle(back to front)

(WS)

 Using your free needle-US7, slip your Top Row Square stitch over your New Square yarn, from the back

(WS)

 Repeat this step, picking up 20 stitches altogether. You should now have 40 stitches on your needle with your New Square yarn

Step 4:

To begin this step, turn your work over so the Previous Square is to the right of your cast on stitches.

 

(RS)

 Slip the first stitch from the New Square onto the needle holding the Previous Square stitches

(RS)

With the New Square yarn in front, slip the Previous Square stitch over the New Square stitch from behind and slip your New Square stitch back onto its needle. 

Knit the next row, then continue making your miter square making sure to repeat Step 4 every time you finish the row ending next to the Previous Square.

(RS)

As your miter square decreases to the corner the number of stitches from the Previous Square should lessen evenly until you finish the corner.

(RS)

It should end up looking like this!! It's not quite as smooth as the top row but I have every faith that it will block out nicely....and that I won't mind it too badly even if it doesn't! 

Now that that's settled I'm also glad to announce that I'm officially caught up on my mood days! It's such a relief and I'm really happy with the way it's coming out. Needless to say, 2014 will certainly be colorful!

on repeat

I've started watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon(hilarious bee tee dubs) and I'm loving the musical guests that he has on! I mean come on....this guy chose THE ROOTS for his house band. So you know he's got taste.

Now I've never been big on the electronica scene. As a lady who loves to sing I enjoy being able to sing along to my favorite songs so electronica music just doesn't keep my interest for very long. Great for dancing, not so much for singing. So the other day while I was watching my guy Jimmy he introduced a group called Disclosure. 

Let me tell you. It was as if the heavens parted and my ears finally found their electronica soul mate. They performed the song Latch and I've been hooked every since. Their album, Settle, is so dang catchy but Latch in particular has been on repeat for me lately. I just can't get enough. Enjoy!! 

To My Someday Hair Critic

There will be days when I spend a portion of my morning doing my hair in a particular way. And when you see this particular way I'm sure you'll agree that it looks like I've put my finger into a light socket. And you'll probably wonder if that's how I meant for my hair to look.

The answer will be, yes.

I don't know if I'll be able to explain why I like the way it looks but just know that I do and that it won't happen entirely often. So kindly let me know that I look like a crazy lady and by the next day the do will be gone, not to return for a while. Hopefully.

Love always,

Your Someday Crazy Haired Lady

knitted mood blanket 2014

Guys.....for real....I've found the most wonderful project of all time! My friend Holly over at Crafty Holly Louise posted about this particular project she found on instagram(there's a blog now!) that has taken the crochet world by storm!! It's called the Crochet Mood Blanket 2014. The idea is that you designate a number of colors of yarn (as many as you wish) to moods that you feel. Then you pick a pattern to crochet and each day make 1 block with the color of your mood that day. Awesome right?! Except for that minor detail of the fact that I don't know how to crochet!! Obviously I wasn't going to let that stop me so I decided on knitting my instead. duh. 

Most people are making it in a DK weight so I chose Tosh DK by madelinetosh....because their yarns are my all time fave. A girl that comes into the yarn shop where I work is currently working on a blanket with miter squares and I love the way it looks so I decided that would be my pattern. With those decisions made I went about choosing my moods and colors. Since madelinetosh comes up with such great names for their colors I wanted to base my moods off the color names as much as I could. This is what I came up with and I couldn't be happier!

Last night I went about figuring out my moods for the days in January I missed so I can catch up and today I decided that I needed a yarn for good ol' happiness so I chose Courbet's Green. My squares come out to be about 3 1/4 inches and I want the finished shape to be square as well so I decided 20 rows x 20 rows (with a few extra squares to fill the last row) will do and make a nice humongous blanket! I can't wait to sit down and catch up!! I see a lot of edison bulb and courbet's green happening in the month of January.

It's especially awesome to see the way this blanket idea has taken off. There's a Facebook group for people making it with over 3,000 people in it. Everyone shares their progress, asks for suggestions and really encourages each other. It's really amazing to be a part of. And if you feel inspired and want to join in the fun DO IT! It's not too late and who says you can't start your year today! There really are no rules! I can't wait to share my progress with you all here and see this blanket take shape. It's my first, so it's even more special.

missed stitch

So I stumbled upon this illustration this morning and instantly fell in love with it. Upon further investigation I learned that it's from a series of wonderful illustrations by Sophie Blackall that gives those Missed Connections posts on craiglist some life. They're amazing and for purchase on Sophie's Etsy page here (for someone whose birthday could be coming up in March{cough, cough}). As I was looking through her website I also realized that I've been looking at her work for over a year now and didn't even realize it. Her work was chosen for the Art in the Subway paintings that you can find inside the subway cars here in the city.

you never know.

The Alex Beanie

This year I decided that I would make some winter hats as Christmas gifts for the folks I work with at the wine store! The yarn shop I work at had just gotten in some really great chunky yarn that came in the most magnificent colors so I just knew it would be perfect to use for some hats. I thoughtfully chose a different color that I thought would compliment each of my co-workers. I took into consideration their skin tones, winter coat colors, and favorite sports teams...it was a process I took very seriously.

And because I wanted these hats to be just right and made with love and intention I decided to go ahead and make my own pattern for them! I wanted a pattern that I could knit on the subway and that looked good on a man or a woman. And since the yarn is so beautiful I knew the pattern wouldn't need a lot of detail.

So, after a few trials, frogging, and re-knitting I came up with a hat that fit all my criteria! And since I'm such a swell gal I thought I'd share the pattern with all you folks! I give you...

The Alex Beanie

 Materials:

            - 1 skein of Malabrigo Mecha

            - 16" size US9 Circular Needle

            - Stitch Marker

            - Tapestry Needle 

Gauge: 

16 stitches = 4 inches in Stockinette 

Pattern:

Cast On 80 stitches and join in the round

K4, P4 in Rib Stitch until the piece measures 7 1/2 inches from beg.

Decreases for cap: 

Row 1: (K2Tog, K2Tog, P4) Repeat to the end of the round (60sts)

Rows 2-4: (K2, P4) Repeat to the end of the round

Row 5: (K2, P2Tog, P2Tog) Repeat to the end of the round(40sts)

Rows 6-8: (K2, P2) for 3 rows

Row 9: (K2Tog, P2Tog) Repeat to the end of the round(20sts)

Row 10: (K1, P1) Repeat to the end of the round

Cut a long tail and weave it through the remaining stitches.

Weave in all ends.

I hope you enjoy making this hat! It's quick, easy, and makes a great gift for anyone...even yourself! 

all the cozies!

Could this be a window into my future?? Possibly. 

And I don't hate it.

get your lady on in 2014

I was watching the 4th hour of the Today show this morning....because it's part of my morning ritual.... and overheard my gal pals Kathy Lee and Hoda talking about this list of ways to be a lady in 2014. They discussed a few and before I knew it I was online reading the official list. {Wo}Man is it good! So of course I had to share. 

 

 

24 Rules For Being A Lady In 2014

It’s time to talk about what it means to be a Lady, in a more updated way than swilling vodka martinis while pushing a vacuum, or getting your hair set once a week into a beehive. We’ve set down some ground rules for modern gentlemen, now it’s our turn 

 

    1. Master at least one dish that you can whip up on relatively short notice, for when you’re having people over and don’t want to be like, “There’s a box of stale Wheat Thins left if you want to fight over those.”

    2. Hold doors for everyone, especially older people or people carrying heavy things.

    3. Make plans with friends you haven’t seen in a while, and actually follow through with them. (This includes not scheduling things on a morning when you know you’re going to be too hungover to go anywhere.)

   4. If one of your friends is a little too drunk to handle herself at the bar/club/house party, do the right thing and remain sober-ish enough to properly babysit and facilitate her trip home. 

  5. Do not assign moral value to food items, on your own plate or anyone else’s. A mozzarella stick is a mozzarella stick, and nothing more.

  6. When another woman compliments your cute bag/shoes/dress and asks you where it’s from, it is your moral obligation to tell you where you got it — especially if it was on sale. Thou shalt not withold the deals.

 7. When taking a boy shopping, always make sure there is at least a comfy place for him to sit if you’re going to be trying on more than one outfit (and you know that you likely are, even if you state otherwise upon entering the store).

 8. Always give someone the chance to make up for it if they’ve hurt your feelings, and the best way to start that process off is giving them the dignity of telling them how they hurt you. Ladies don’t subtweet, they earnestly reach out on Gchat.

 9. Be happy for friends when they announce big life moments, such as engagement or pregnancy, if only on the surface. (Exceptions of course being made for situations that are seriously unhealthy or endangering.) When it comes time for your big moment, you’ll want the same kind of support.

 10. Have at least one outfit in the closet for job interview, one for first date, and one for going home to see family (yours or someone else’s). The amount of headaches that can be spared by simply having a versatile blazer and pencil skirt at one’s disposal are incalculable.

 11. Never disparage another woman for choosing and embracing the domestic/housewive/stay-at-home-mom life.

 12. Never disparage another woman for choosing a really demanding career instead of family life, if that’s what she wants. 

 13. Keep a small bar in your apartment with the basics to make a few classic, tasty drinks for a small variety of tastes. There is a time and a place for having only a bottle of Mad Dog and some Boone’s in your cupboards, and that time is 19 years old.

 14. Learn the worlds of options there are between “orthopedically criminal high heels” and “computer programmer running shoes.” Find something stylish that also works for your life and tastes.

 15. Never base your feminism in telling other women what makes them a “good” or “bad” feminist. Being a good, compassionate person should be your only criteria, and wearing makeup or liking Sex and the City should not be an issue.

 16. Keep fresh-cut flowers in your house.

 17. Be a good hostess — learn how to make people feel comfortable and welcome in your house, and leave feeling like they got to be themselves.

 18. Stop looking at marriage as the defining endeavor in a woman’s life, no matter how much it has been ingrained into you. It should neither be something you actively disdain, nor something you seek out with white-knuckled deadlines.

 19. While you are not obligated to like any other woman strictly on the basis of being a woman, and there are certain things that are totally fair criticisms, her weight is never one of them.

 20. Do not consume media which you know, before you even see it, is going to make you feel badly about yourself. If you watched the VS Fashion Show and spent the whole time liveblogging about how ugly and inadequate it made you feel, do not give it your mental health next year. It doesn’t deserve it.

 21. Always have a backup plan.

 22. Give other women compliments when they are sincere and non-selfish, because girl-on-girl compliments are the greatest thing and the mark of a true lady.

 23. Do not hold gender-based expectations about who is “supposed” to pay for things. Everyone contribute, everyone do what they can, everyone take pleasure in being the one who gets to treat the other sometimes.

 24. Be the one to kiss first sometimes, and don’t ever think that makes you weird or too forward. First kisses are too great a joy not to be shared by all genders.

[via: my new fave website and written by Chelsea Fagan]