New Blog

I'm having a hard time getting Bloglines to cooperate but my blog has moved to its new site. Please do subscribe because I'll miss you if you don't. Visit me at Silly Happy Sweet!

Change

I've been contemplating entirely changing my blog for some time now. This blog is a little over two years old and though I had a refresh, I really feel it is time for a bigger change. When I first started this blog, I was knitting nonstop. Though I still knit, I've found my interests have swayed a bit in other directions too. I've been sewing a lot more, cooking/baking, quilting, taking photography classes, and concentrating more on my kiddos. I've had a hard time with posts these past few months because I've felt bad that nothing I write has anything to do with knitting. Don't you think with a name like "I Heart Yarn" there is a certain expectation about what a blog is about? Cara had a really interesting post that only confirmed where I had been going in my head. I think for me I want to be able to post about anything and everything in our life and family and not have to feel like I keep apologizing for not having something knitting-related.

So, I'm going in a different direction and I hope you will follow me there. I thought and thought about a name. I wanted to find something that didn't put me into a corner about what my blog is about. And then it just came to me and it seemed so perfect and simple and fit.....Silly Happy Sweet. Silly is the name my dad has called me since I can remember. Happy is the name of one of MiniMe's favorite stuffed animals and I hope defines our family most days. And sweet because everyone teases B and I for our sweettooths. We're never short of sweet things around here!

So please stop by my new blog. Please subscribe to my feed and keep up with me! I really hope you do because I've so much enjoyed my friendship with all of you. I still hope the knitting blog web ring will have me because I still knit and will be posting about a new felted purse pattern this week. See you on the Silly Happy Sweet side!

The Simple Bag

Everyone needs a simple bag. This baby was so easy to sew! I took the pattern from Simple Sewing but I made the handles much longer because I need a bag that lets me sling over my shoulder and then some. I've been using it to carry stuff (sunblock, snacks, goggles) back and forth from swimming lessons. It dries really fast too. I found this fabric on clearance at JoAnn's awhile back. I bought it thinking I'd use it for an apron. I still might. I bought enough of it.

Anyway, I highly recommend making your own Simple Bag. It's just so, well, simple.

35

Thanks so much to everyone responding to the 50% off sale! The sale continues today. Visit this post to find out more.

Yesterday I turned 35. I don't think of 35 as old by any means but boy did I realize that I am getting older and never was it more clear than yesterday. My husband surprised me by getting the day off for me and him and finding dear friends to watch our kiddos so he could take me to Elich Gardens in Denver. I used to LOVE roller coasters. Never met or saw one that scared me before. But yesterday I no longer had that wonderful feeling of immortality but my kids crossed my mind as we corkscrewed our way around and around. When the ride came to an abrupt halt, I found myself feeling sick to my stomach and then when we got off, my neck hurt. It was crazy! I was so amazed at what age does to a person.

So, in honor of turning 35, I thought I'd share a bit of myself just for fun. I love reading everyone else's lists but have always been afraid of sharing my own quirks and habits. So, here are 35 things you may not have known about me:

1. I'm afraid of crows. Not just afraid but terrified. It's a running joke with some of my friends. If one is near my car, I won't get out. I've had one swoop down on me. Is there a name for this phobia???

2. I love office supply stores. Aisles and aisles of tools for organization. Need I say more?

3. I love politics. I absolutely love to watch election night returns. I love debates. I love talk radio. Nerdy, eh?

4. My favorite ice cream is Chocolate Chip Cookie dough.

5. I'm a plain Jane. I don't like mustard, mayo, dressing, ketchup, etc. Everyone thought I'd grow out of that but really haven't.

6. Because of #5, I've never tried potato salad. It looks completely unappetizing to me though everyone who eats it acts like it is really tasty. I should try it before I judge it but I can't do it.

7. I fear vomit. When our kids or dog throw up, I have an instant gag reflex and start to throw up myself. I'm working on this one because my poor husband can't do it all......

8. My favorite song of all time is Into the Mystic by Van Morrison.

9. MiniMe was born to a Van Morrison CD playing in the operating room.

10. I think daisies are the most beautiful and happy flower ever (photo courtesy nfoto).

11. I stood two feet away from O.J. Simpson at a USC game shortly before the famous murders.

12. My favorite food is Crab legs. Pepperoni pizza is second. Sushi is third.

13. I have a huge regret that I never learned to play piano. I know I can still learn but I'm intimidated. I love the piano.

14. I have a huge regret that I'm not fluent in any other language. My mom's first language was spanish but she never used it with me.

15. If I had one wish, I'd wish for three more wishes. :)

16. I buy PowerBall tickets when the jackpot amount is really high and I believe wholeheartedly that it can happen to me.

17. I think being a mother is harder than training for and running a marathon (and I've done both so I can say that.)

18. I think being a mother is more rewarding than the feeling of finishing a marathon.

19. My husband's opinion means more to me than anyone else I know.

20. I don't like dark chocolate. I don't even really like semi-sweet chocolate unless I'm desperate. I much prefer milk chocolate. And white chocolate--YUCK.

21. I'm an only child. (Ha, ha.. as if my pickiness didn't clue you in to that!)

22. I love Hot Tamales and black licorice.

23. I am a sweet tooth who married a sweet tooth--dangerous!

24. I like to paint walls. If you're looking for someone to come help you paint, I'm there. I think it is relaxing.

25. I like the smell of Carmex. I don't know what it is or what it takes me back to but I just love it.

26. I really despise going to the grocery store. If there is any way I can get out of it and have B go for me, I am happy.

27. I love musicals. I wish to have a whole weekend where I just watch one after another after another.

28. When I was a little girl, some friends and I formed a club called the PYTs. We had shirts made and everything. We wouldn't let Faunia join the club. I feel bad about that now.

29. When I was little, I used to have conversations with myself when my mom went to the bank teller in the car. I would make it sound like there were at least two kids in the car so I'd get two lollipops. Genius don't you think? It worked everytime!

30. When I was six or so, I buried coins in my backyard and used to charge neighborhood kids money to come and see the "buried treasure" I'd discovered. Only children and our brilliant capitalism schemes! I didn't feel like sitting in the sun selling lemonade so I thought I'd make more $ faster this way.

31. I don't like to be barefooted. It's not that I don't like my feet. I just like to have either shoes or socks on. I'd never survive in the midwest where everyone takes their shoes off at the door all the time in the winter. I admire the people who do it. I do it but I have a bad attitude about doing it.

32. I love all things Marilyn Monroe.

33. One of my favorite things in life is to hear my children and husband laugh. I just love that sound each of them make when something strikes them funny and they get the kind of laugh where you can't stop. I can hear each of their laughs in my head. Those are great moments.

34. I love, love, love Diet Dr. Pepper.

35. I don't drink coffee. (isn't that really weird?)

That's it! Wow, I re-read my list. I sound like a picky freak. Now I get why I drive people nuts when I order food from a restaurant!

Happy Thursday!

Summer Sale!

In honor of summer, I wanted to let you know that from today until end of day on June 19, all 10 of my felted purse patterns are half off! Just go here to see all the patterns available. If you are interested in a pattern (or two), click on "Learn and See More" and add to your shopping cart. Once you've purchased, I'll go back and refund you for half your order. It's too hard to change my shopping cart amounts for a couple of days so this seems the easiest way. If you prefer to have the patterns mailed rather than downloaded to print on your end, make sure you click on the right shopping cart category.
Happy knitting!

Happy Father's Day!

I like this picture of B and the kids because it was a sweet moment when we first brought our son home. It was during that strange transition time when you go from one to two kids and you want the first to still feel important. That transition wasn't as rough but that is because of B. He's an incredible dad. I'm not just thankful for him today but everyday. He's a good man. My kids' faces light up the second he enters the room. They love him so very much. Happy Father's Day honey!

And to my own dad who raised me on his own, I wish you a happy day too! You're also a very, very good man. Thank you for all you did for me. Thank you for being such a good papa to my own kids!

Have a good one to all the special daddies out there!

Miscellaneous Musings

I'm back on Weight Watchers. I feel really grouchy. I have at least 5-8 pounds to lose to get back to that pre-preg weight. It depends on the day how much I have to lose. I looked back on old WW food books and I am eating less than what I ate when the weight just slid off after my first baby. What gives? Same exercise too. ARGH! I'm committed though....

The above image is a dress I recently made for MiniMe. It will probably only fit her for three more days. Note to self: always sew something a size bigger to be safe. Oh well.

Tomorrow I have my first photography class! I hope that means my images will improve here on this site. I can't wait to learn more and change some of my bad picture-taking habits. I might use some birthday money to buy a new lens.

Speaking of birthday, mine is next week. 35. Advanced maternal age. That is what 35 has always meant to me. How funny. The age where having babies becomes more risky or where they ask you to take more tests. Is that true really? I'm not having a baby but I lay awake this morning thinking about being 35. That only makes me two years younger than my mom was when she died. I can't believe it.

This weekend at our garage sale, MiniMe had a really interesting conversation with one of our shoppers. It went like this:

MiniMe to Shopper (I should mention that the shopper was about 50 yrs old and minding her business and looking at books when MiniMe bombarded her): Where's your daddy? (now what the heck made her care to know this info from this lady?)
Shopper (taken aback): Oh, well, my daddy lives far away.
MiniMe: I have a daddy and a mommy.
Shopper: Is that your daddy? (pointing to B)
MiniMe: Yes. But you know what?
Shopper: What?
MiniMe: My mommy's mommy is dead. She's in heaven with Taylor (our late dog).
Shopper: (looking to me in confusion) Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.
MiniMe: Yes, thank you.

What is it about kids bringing up sensitive subjects at the most random and inappropriate moments? We'll be at the drive up window of a restaurant and she'll ask me how my mom died. So interesting.

Don't ask me what made me write all that. Have a great week!