New Beginnings

Do I already have a post with this name?  I know I have tried reviving this blog once before.  Again, we'll see how it goes, but I can just keep trying!

There have been lots of changes since I last posted.  I am now a stay-at-home mom with a five month old baby girl.  I've been learning the ropes of being a new mother, and not just a SaHM, but also a SaH Wife.

People usually start fresh with the new year.  I'm a couple weeks behind.  I've never really been one to make resolutions and to start fresh in January.  Being a teacher, for me the "new year" always started in August, and that is when I'd want to start fresh.  Now, though, I seem to be on track.  I'm back to doing Weight Watchers to try to lose some of this stubborn baby weight (and other weight that I've stubbornly held on to by stubbornly eating way too much), and this time I think it's going to work as well as it did the first time!  A few months ago I tried it, but my heart wasn't in it.  I've also started working out on our Total Gym and I'm hoping to try Zumba in the area soon!  I just need to find a class and someone to take the baby!

Although I don't usually do resolutions, I have made some crafting goals for this year.  My knitting goal is to finish 12 projects in 2015.  I have some specific projects in mind, including finishing my stocking that was supposed to be done for December 6th, and some are open-ended.  I'm hoping to finish a few items I have waiting for me in the basement and start a few new items.  I'm leaving it open.  I'm also not making myself stick to one a month.  Who knows what life is going to throw at me!  Especially with a 5 month old!

My sewing goals are to learn to sew a button hole and learn to sew on a zipper.  I'd also like to make a skirt for myself, but with my fluctuating weight that may be tricky.  Maybe I'll pick an in between weight and find a way to make the skirt "flexible".

One thing I have updated recently is my family binder.  I've seen these, mainly on Pinterest, and think they're wonderful (I love a good binder!), but I know that I'm not as good at putting these things into practice.  I have sheets that I found on Pinterest for keeping track of what is in the pantry and freezer, and I have our family's addresses and phone numbers in the binder as well.  Soon I may add a new tab to include babysitting information, but we rarely have babysitters at the moment so I just go on a case by case basis at this point.

Probably the most important item in the binder, and the item that gets used the least, is the cleaning chart.  This was meant to help me keep track of cleaning each month and see what needed to be done (the less I have to keep track of in my head, the better!).  I have changed some items on it, and added some.  Here is my current version:

I put this sheet in a clear page protector and use a wet erase marker to put down the dates that I do each task in the boxes.  Where there is one box, my goal is to do it once a month.  Where there are two boxes, my goal is to do it twice a month, and so on.  Now that I'm home I hope to increase the frequency of some of these tasks, so I've taken some tasks that I was doing twice a month, like cleaning the kitchen sink, to one a week.  You're welcome to take this, make your own copy, make changes to yours, and use it as you like!

It's cold here in Wisconsin, so I hope you're warm wherever you are!

Emily

Fall Hat

Wow!  Usually I do my blogging in the summer, and it's tough to get a post from me during the school year.  This time with moving, getting married, and switching jobs, it was the summer that as too busy for blogging, much less knitting or anything else!

I've had many changes in my life in the past few months, including a new name, new city new job, new house, new husband and even knew knitting group for me!  I am hoping that having a more settled lifestyle will give me more time for blogging.  

Currently I'm working on my Traveling Woman Shawl.  It's turning out so well, and it's much easier to it than I thought it would be!  It's quite addicting!  I also am continuing to work on my first sweater, which is coming along.

Today I started a hat for my goddaughter.  I was just going to cast it on (like I've been meaning to for weeks), but the rows are so short compared to my other projects that it was difficult to put it down!  It's a Tiffany Lace pattern and I'm making it using the magic loop.  I found it here on Ravelry.  I want to finish it by the end of September in time for fall weather.  I think I can get it I done sooner than that if I have a couple times when I an knit for a couple hour at a time.  It's just finding those opportunities!  See a picture of my progress from today below.

I will write soon!

Emily

Changes

Hello Everyone!

Yes, it's been a long hiatus since I last wrote.  I'm just resigning myself to the fact that I don't write much during the school year, and I write much more in the summer.  This summer may be different, though, as in the next month I will be moving out of my classroom, out of my apartment, into my parents' house, and into my fiance's house (myself to my parents', and my stuff to my fiance's), and I probably won't have much time to craft or blog!

I have started my first sweater, which I believe I posted, but I'll put up a picture again anyway.

And that is just as far as I am now.  I don't believe I've knit a stitch in a month.  With choir ending and school ending, I've been focusing on other things.

One thing I've been focusing on is my basil.  It's growing so nicely!  I have it on my windowsill at school where it gets better light.  I think it's ready to harvest a few leaves!

It smells wonderful!  I'm so excited that ti's been successful so far!  I have a few more updated photos, but they are on my camera and I am currently without my cord, so i cannot put them up for you.  I hope to make my students a pizza with some of the basil on top (very small pizza, very small pieces).  They are as excited as I am for this basil and I want them to try it before the school year is over.

Emily