La Copa del Mundo

Had a good time watching USA vs Portugal today with my family. Poor Hailey would get stressed out whenever we would yell for goals (she wasn't an especially big fan of the Superbowl either). Didn't get as much knitting as I would have hoped but I am still making progress…

Not gonna lie-i will be pretty stoked when these socks are done and I can wear them! Happy Sunday! Hope you have a great start to your week!

Finally, an FO!

It's been a few weeks since I've had a decent FO post. This one isn't anything too special, but I do get to cross off another item from my initial UFO list so that's quite bubbly-making!

I finally got around to finishing the Hiroshige One Plus. This little number doesn't have a home yet…I'm saving it for the right family. I love how it looks and it is so soft and snuggly!

I'm in the middle of casting on a new project…not the one I was originally planning on casting-on, but I figured it was time to start making my way through my Ravelry queue (it currently has 498 items in it…). So I used a random number generator site and came up with the number 88 which I then matched to number 88 in my queue which is the pattern Baby Fixation socks. It's kind of perfect because I was wanting to do something else baby oriented. I don't know how long I'll keep casting-on new patterns via random generator, but I'm hoping to cut my list down at least a bit before the end of summer. Hope lies eternal...

The post without a name

This is one of the random posts so if you're looking for knitting and/or swimming check back in tomorrow...I have an FO, I promise!!

If you're still here, let me first apologize as this may end up rambling.
I've been lucky to meet some amazing people in my life. People who have made me think and have helped me to grow as a human. In my second to last semester of college, I met the my perfect person. I literally felt as though I had found the other piece to me-I still generally feel as though he's my other half. We are however, over 600 miles away and I moved 8 months after we met. Needless to say-we are not together. We're still friends and we do send text messages and emails and comments on Facebook. Most of the time, I can handle it. I figure if it is really meant to be, it will all work out. Today has just been one of those days though we're I'm having a hard time. I miss seeing his face and hearing his laugh. I miss the way he gets when he's passionate about something-I miss hearing him pray. I miss being challenged by him and talking through issues with him. I miss cooking dinner and just hanging out. I even miss his family (they're amazing!). I don't mean to be whiny and self-pitying. Somedays, it just really sucks to be missing a big chunk of your heart.

Back on the Bandwagon...

Not too many WIPs this week as I finally have an FO for Friday…YAY! I have however, returned to the sock bandwagon with a vengeance. A library book due in another four days is definitely partially fueling this…

Alligator Sock

I'm not really sure why it's taken me so long to do sock number two, but now that I'm working on it, it's breezing quite nicely. This little fella will be finished in the next few days as the lib book it is from is due back and I can't renew it again without first returning it. Yes, I sometimes hoard lib books when I like a pattern, but then get bored of it…

Rainbow Latte

Not too much has changed since the last time I put up pictures…they are slowly but surely growing so yay! I'm thinking less than 30 till its time for some heels!

Linking up with Ginny and Tami…Happy Wednesday!!!!!

Milestone!

So this is a tad bit delayed because I keep forgetting to actually write about it but on Saturday I hit the 100 mile mark for the year. Yup-I've swam 100 miles since 1/1/14 (well, 105.59 as of today). Hoping to add quite a few more miles this month before the big swim...less than a month to go!

Hipster Band Names

My brother and I can be really goofy sometimes. One of our favorite games is to take random, everyday phrases and test them out as hipster band names. This game was definitely inspired by this Jimmy Kimmel video. Yesterday's winning band name was Houses with Dogs in the Windows; today's stepped up the game with the simple but definite Not the Clear One. Past runner-ups have included Cross the Street! and Gimme the Phone. Basically, if you're thinking about starting a band and want an awesome name, let me know. I've got a list going.

Six on Sunday (Round 2)

1. I am the youngest in my family…two older siblings by blood plus the greatest sister-in-law (good job, big brother!).
2. My grandmother originally taught my sister and me to knit- I then dropped it for a number of years, only picking it back up in college when endless bouts of Hulu/Netflix marathons made me crave doing something with my hands.
3. I have two tattoos…and plans for at least two more.
4. I love anchors and lighthouses. part of it is just an overwhelming love of all things ocean, part of it is strongly influenced by my mom and part of it comes from going to a great Catholic university where the anchor is a key symbol.
5. I'm half Greek.
6. It's my birthday in just under three days! Yay!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! And a very happy birthday to my mom as well! (even though she doesn't read the blog)

Wowza

No FO other than my longest swim to date (but not my longest time in the pool...yay!!). I'm exhausted so good night!

Taste-tasting (AKA Always Have Your Water-bottle Ready)

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I had some taste-tasting to do. I was thinking about waiting and doing it all at once, but I think I'd rather write as I have things fresh in my head…and since I don't exactly know when I'll have done all my taste-tasting, no better time to start than the present!

I used two different packets during my Lake Berryessa swims. I started with my GU in the Chocolate Outrage flavor. I knew it wouldn't cause GI distress and that it would give me a decent boost as I've been using GU in the past. The flavor wasn't outstanding…not bad, but not overwhelming good. The second packet I used on Saturday was one of the Clif Shot Energy Gel in the Mocha flavor. I had never used one of these before, but I really liked the consistency. The flavor was also really good-the mocha didn't smack you in the face, but it was definitely there. I felt like I got a good boost of energy as well…and no GI issues!

I did a semi-long swim today so I figured I would try out another packet. I used the Clif Shot Energy Gel again, but this time in the Chocolate flavor. It was a great packet. Way better chocolate flavor than the GU version. Right now, I'm leaning towards using the Clif Shot…but I still have 7 more packets to try out. There's a high likelihood at least one or two more will be eaten tomorrow during my long swim (looking at 13500…which is over 7 miles).

Happy Thursday! I better get back to my knitting if I'm going to have an FO for tomorrow!

This Is How A Bunny Hops

So Monday I talked about how I'm feeling some major bunny hop status as I bounce between projects. Well, taking WIP photos, I do actually see some progress on some things so I feel slightly better about my bunny-hopping. No new projects this week…just some old friends looking for attention.

One Plus (Hiroshige)

After busting out the Pink and Purple One Plus last week, I was inspired to try and finish this one up, too. Plus, I want these needles for my next project so it's some good motivation to wrap this bad boy up.

Rainbow Latte

I am loving this socks now that I finally made my way past the cuff. I do about 10 rows on one sock and then do 10 on the other and that seems to be working well. Also, I'm back to counting rows on my phone as that is my best system.

Business Casual

When I went to pick these up the other day, they were totally messed up so I ended up completely ripping them out. I made it past the cuff and further in the pattern than before so I feel like I've actually accomplished something. I love the FOs I've seen of this pattern, but it's just very slow-going for me.

Falling Leaves

Slowly but surely I am making my way through this shawl. It's some nice knitting when I want to do lace, but I just haven't been overly inspired to get a move on it. I am just about ready to add in the second ball of yarn so that is quite exciting! I'm also thinking I'm going to need at least one more skein…

Oh So Sparkly

Last, but certainly not least is the second shawl on the needles. This is great car knitting because there is no counting and no pattern reading. It is such a simple knit. However, that makes it a tad tedious to work on the rest of the time…still, progress has definitely been made.

That's it for me. Linking up with Ginny and Tami today. What are you working on?

Chauffeur for the Day (and then some…)

Mom went in to have her toenail removed today so I got to play driver since it's on her right foot. I got quite a bit of knitting done while waiting and during her procedure.

This is maybe half of how far I got today on this sock; I actually made it to the first stripe repeat…YAY! Now I'm off to catch sock number two up to the same spot. Check back tomorrow for lots of WIP pictures…

I Might Be a Bunny...

…I've been project-hopping hard lately! I just can't seem to get into any one project so instead, I just keep bouncing for one thing to another…I'm trying very, very hard not to cast-on something new (though I have pattern and yarn ready to go). I'd actually like to cross-out a few more projects before jumping into anything new. And hey, adding rows is adding rows…might not have any FOs for awhile, but I certainly will have plenty of WIPs to show on Wednesday!

Lake Berryessa

As part of my training for PDX Bridge Swim, I wanted to get in at least one open water swim beforehand. There was a USMS sanctioned swim in Lake Berryessa; I signed up for both the 2 mile and the 1 mile races.

The course was beautiful and the water was the perfect temperature. I didn't get quite the times I was hoping for, but at least I was near.

I did in fact wear one of my new suits…and there were a couple of other women wearing it, too! Always fun to have suit buddies. And I had my numbers written all over me…I felt quite marked up!

It was very sweet too because my dad drove out with me and was cheering. It's nice that even though I'm 22, my dad is still a pretty awesome swim dad. I was telling him that next time I'm making him a t-shirt…front to say #onceaswimdad and back to say #alwaysaswimdad. I did however grab an extra shirt from the race for him for Father's Day.

Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday-I'll post stitches tomorrow, promise!

Keeping Up

It feels so nice to be back to a regular blogging schedule…and also to have an FO for today! I'm sure it will come as no surprise, but…One Plus is done!

The colors in this photo are way weird!

I get to sometimes be a bit creative in my blocking adventures so I thought I would post a picture for you all to enjoy (and maybe have a bit of a giggle). I really wish we still had an outdoor clothesline.

Colors are way more accurate in this photo.

Hope everyone else has gotten some good knitting in this week. I'm going back to some of my older projects to hopefully cross a few more things off my list before I start anything else new (famous last words). Happy weekend!

MMM, Yummy!

Let the taste-tasting commence! Here's hoping one of these has a tolerable taste, consistency and no GI distress (because that unfortunately, is a valid concern). Love it when salespeople are knowledgeable, but also honest.

WIP/Yarn Along/Whatever You Want to Call it Wednesday!

Since I did a major catch-up post on Wednesday and showed off multiple WIPs, I sadly only have one picture for you today. This little baby has grown quite a bit though since Monday's photo and maybe will even be an FO this week?

Hoping to have a couple more puffs to the FO list, too. And maybe get back to working on socks since I just picked up another size 2 circular needle from Michael's last night. There's a possibility I may frog the Kroy socks and go back to working on them one at a time because I don't feel like I'm keeping track of the two at a time very well…

Linking up with Tami and Ginny today. Happy Wednesday!

BOOM!!!

This swimmer was up and at 'em before 6:30 this morning! And I had a pretty good weight/swim session yesterday, too! Going to be easing up the rest of the week since I'm racing this weekend, but still planning in hitting about a mile a day.
On a semi-related note, why did GU stop making their mint chocolate flavor?!

Gotta pick yourself up...

…when you fall behind. Sorry for the slight absenteeness, but lots of photos to make up!

WIP Wednesday

Still chomping away at the sparkly shawl…I like it, but I like some of my other projects better.

Started yet another One Plus (because it's one of my favorite projects ever…). This one is going to a specific person so I've actually kinda got a deadline to meet.

And of course, socks! These are the Kroy rainbow stripes everyone seems to be making lately. I'm going cuff down, two separate needles, two separate skeins. I'm liking 'em so far so yeah!

Training Thursday

Suit drama is no more!!! These three beauties were waiting for me when I got home from my little adventure! The far right is almost definitely for Bridge Swim whilst I just kinda fell in love with the others. I am sorta contemplating the tiger two piece for Bridge Swim though...

FO Friday

Finally finished the Hurricane Hat last week…YAY!!!!!! This will be a Christmas present for a baby that's due in October.

Three more hats for the Elephant Tears project. Two micro preemie hats and then a regular preemie hat. I like making these hats all different because people from all different walks of life lose their children. Hoping these hats bring some comfort to a family.

4 more puffs! I will finish this blanket someday!

I think that's about everything for me…Happy Monday!