I’m teaching myself to knit right now.  It is definitely slow going.  I found this today and couldn’t wait until Friday to pass it along:

Knitted puppets at Branchhome.com!

So cute! Now I have to teach myself to switch colors while knitting.  I’m currently making a sweater that will fit no one, but it’s all one solid color and a very simple pattern.  I’ve got some circular needles, so I might attempt a hat next.  Got any suggestions for good patterns to learn with?

Last night I was watching The Biggest Loser on my DVR, my husband beside me working on his homework.  I watch it for inspiration because I need to lose some serious weight myself.

So anyway, Bob the trainer made a remark about how much he loves his job.  That got me thinking about what exactly a ‘day in the life of a trainer’ is like.  I thought to myself that it’s probably pretty fun — you get to interact with people one on one, they’re PAYING you, and you can wear really comfortable clothing and horse around all day.  I imagine there are some drawbacks (such as marketing yourself, which I hate). 

Continue reading ‘bah humbug and the biggest loser’

I found a link to a recipe for apple cider pie, so I thought I’d give it a try.  Here’s the scoop on how it went.  Continue reading ‘Cider Pie! Yum!’

I thought I’d put together a weekly post with interesting nuggets I’ve gleaned throughout the week.  Maybe you’ll find them interesting, too.

First up, you’ve got to see this kid dance! 

This guy has a list of some blogs you might want to check out.  He links to Make: magazine, which I think is really cool.  Even better is that Make: is now publishing a sister zine called Craft:.  I could surf their web site for hours!  I finally picked up their inaugural issue last night.

I’ve been researching what kind of sewing machine I want my husband to get me for Christmas.  Kristen from schmancy just got one.  Do you have any recommendations for me?

These are totally cool!  The artist has got some serious talent (and patience!).

I studied interior design in school, so I’m into all things design, especially architecture.  Ran across this blog today.  Haven’t had a chance to dig in much, but I’m looking forward to reading more.

I’ve been reading The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer.  I find that I don’t read much fiction anymore, ’cause it’s a pain plodding through crap to find the real zingers.  I like spy/mystery/conspiracy type stuff, and I’m all Clancy’d out.  Any suggestions?

Well, these oughta keep you busy for awhile.  Enjoy!

Does anyone out there make their own advent calendars?  I think it would make a neat gift, albeit one that would have to be given early!  Megan over at notmartha.org has a cute one she found, with photos and details on flickr.  Check it out!

I surf the web constantly. There is SO MUCH stuff out there that is interesting or funny or sick or bizarre, it’s really hard to curb the urge to go clicking around.  I know everyone has their favorites, but I thought I’d list some of mine.

• dooce – this woman is hilarious. A former Mormon (smart girl), she lives in Utah and writes about her life.
• coudal partners – these guys have tons of interesting stuff going on, not the least of which is their “Fresh Signals”.
• clicked – Will at MSNBC lets us in on what he’s been surfing lately.
• imdb – the definitive source for information about movies.
• nataliedee – the definitive source for children’s-lit-inspired comics that will have you laughing your ass off.
• waiter rant – I really like his writing style. Often poignant and always real.
• make – the magazine for people who like to putter.
• life hacker – all kinds of great advice on how to be more productive. Too bad you have to surf the web to find it, ’cause I think I’d be a lot more productive if I wasn’t on here all the time!
• slacker manager – a blog about management and productivity, this guy has it pegged: Lazy = efficient.  At least, I’ve always said so.
• gaping void – once you get past the hilarious cartoons on the backs of business cards, you realize that he has a lot to say about marketing and new media.
• 43 folders – productivity, time management, stress reduction. Excellent advice to be found here.
• cool hunting – just the coolest new stuff on the planet, is all.
• problogger – new to blogging? trying to figure out how to get site traffic? what blogging software you should use? Go here.
• escape from cubicle nation – this is what I’m currently attempting to do, so of course I love this woman.  You will, too.
• not martha – a crafty woman with fun ideas to try your hand at. Makes me wish I lived in Seattle.
• amazon – if you aren’t familiar with this yet, then I have nothing to say to you.
• metacritic – this site is FANTASTIC for making sure you’re not going to waste money at the movie theater seeing a clunker.  They compile reviews from all over, and different reviewers get different ‘weights’, depending on their expertise.  Once compiled, the movie gets scored, and you know whether or not to see it.
• the onion – satire at its best. 
• shockwave – for when I’m bored.

What are your favorites?

This list represents my favorites, and is not meant to be a cultural critique of the film genre.  There’s tons of stuff I haven’t seen — I mean, I finally saw 2001: A Space Odyssey just last week.  Although numbered, they are in no particular order.

1. Fight Club
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Gosford Park
4. Resevoir Dogs
5. Goodfellas
6. Arthur (a truly guilty pleasure)
7. Full Metal Jacket
8. Fargo
9. The Deer Hunter
10. The Silence of the Lambs

You can probably tell from this list that I tend to prefer the macabre.  Only two comedies, and one of them VERY dark. I don’t know what it is about Arthur — perhaps John Gielgud’s performance. It is a stupid movie, I know. Leave me alone!

I sprained my ankle a week or so ago, so I’m kind of limping around right now.  So this year, I am going to do all of my holiday shopping online to avoid the pain of limping through a mall, and possibly getting trampled on!

I’ve got 13 people to buy for this year, and I was able to knock out 8 of them done today.  I still have no idea what to get for my husband, but I did get him one small thing.  My mom and her husband are taken care of, and the presents are being shipped directly to them.  God bless amazon!  My grandparents are getting more Johnny Carson on DVD, also shipped directly.  I lined up one present for my brother-in-law, and one for my father-in-law, and my uncle-in-law too.  (They’re all getting the same thing, so that makes it easier!) 

Continue reading ‘Holiday shopping’