pets
Life Around Here.
Life has been so busy lately. I’ve been studying for the GMAT, knitting the Heliopath KAL, running/working out, and taking care of my tribe.
First things first, the GMAT. I have to say I’m enjoying working through the workbooks for this exam. I have never studied for a standardized test before so all the strategies and methodologies are fascinating. However, the testing material is intense. Nothing is ‘complicated’, but the way the exam is designed is to make sure you know the basics in-and-out. So I’m re-memorizing my geometry proofs, my algebra rules, basic grammar skills, and reasoning strategies. I have faith I’ll get the score I’ve set as my goal, but these next 9 weeks will be full of practice problems, practice exams, and workbooks.
The Heliopath KAL is coming along – I’m about to start the arm shape-ing. Honestly, I’m pretty tired of the cables so I took a few days break from working on it. Tonight I’ll get one side done and hopefully start on the back-piece/make head way on that. I did however rearrange my entire house/address my clay cat-litter ‘situation’ I ended up switching to World’s Best (again) so fingers crossed my asthma/Boris’ allergies are improved.
The gym has been great. I got an outdoor run in on Sunday since the weather was lovely. I also ‘splurged’ and bought new running shoes, which I desperately needed. These New Balances are great. I honestly feel like my momentum and speed are soaring in them!
The Ugly Tribe. I spend so much time at home, these guys really make me so happy. Although during my first full length practice exam on Saturday, Vladimir would not leave me alone and would not stop fussing with stuff in the kitchen. I don’t think the GMAT people had a pesky sphynx in mind when they designed the exam. I may start going to the library to take those exams since I had to get up three separate times to sternly warn my eldest cat to GET THE EFF OUT OF THE SINK / QUIT KNOCKING OVER CLEAN BUT DRYING DISHES. Anyways here’s some photos of my weekend with them.
ONWARDS.
xxx
GFK.
GFK Weekend Round Up SANS Tornado
Well I had a great weekend! It’s my last one here in Chicago before I leave for Thailand on Saturday!!! (WHAT TIME FLEW BY!) On Saturday I got a new iPhone 5s for my trip/life. Ever since I updated my 4s to iOS 7 it was just so slow and the battery would not even last for a few hours. The upgrade came at a good time because I’ll be able to use this new one on my trip as my primary camera.
Anyhoo. I met up with an old Mullen (my high school) buddy who recently relocated to Chicago and finally got to eat the November burger at Kuma’s Corner – the immortalized SLEEP burger. Pretty much it is a ‘Thanksgiving style burger’ with cranberry, gravy, turkey burger, topped with tempura fried stuffing and sage leaves.
Yesterday I accidentally got into the holiday spirit… I know what you’re thinking – “But Bree it’s only the middle of November!” I know I know. BUT Since I’ll be gone for Thanksgiving I had to set up and shoot all the photos for my annual Ugly Tribe Calendar this weekend. That meant I got to buy/set up a tree – I didn’t get to decorate at all last year so this year is gonna get nuts.
Then being such a coconut milk/almond milk enthusiast I was super super excited when I saw that this year there are even more holiday/seasonal flavors for the non-bovine ‘milk’ drinkers. So far – So Delicious is winning by miles and miles.
In terms of CRAFTS! I know it’s seemed a little dry here lately. BUT I’m gift making so I can’t very well put up photos of people’s future gifts. But do note that I finally bought the contrast color for my sweater and have been marathon knitting gifts so once I can give those gift I’ll post all the photos here. I did manage to use the sewing machine extensively last night/yesterday afternoon during the Chicago Tornado watch 2013.
It was a super busy, but fun weekend – Now on to the busy week before I jetset to Thailand on Saturday!
Godspeed!
xxx
GFK
Saturday!
So I had a pretty fun Saturday! First, I took Mister Lee (Leopold) for a walk and he was super happy about it. I’m continuing to lose weight and am down about 19 pounds.
I’m feeling good. So I’ll force you to look at this selfie. LOOK! No I’m kidding. But, I’m happy that I’m successful on my eight millionth attempt to lose those last twenty-five-ish pounds. I’ll do a blog about my weightloss in a few weeks so hold tight for the details.
Then, I cleaned my living room and basically sorted all my crafts and hobbies into their designated zones…. It’s getting kind of cluttery so I NEED to address my nightmare guest room closet that I have been carelessly making more and more disorganized since I moved here in December. This week/next weekend I’ll get that all organized too. I need to think about how to organize it properly though as there is no hanging rod or built in shelf so I’m going to have to buy something to act as a structure. Any closet organizing help? I don’t wanna spend A TON, but I want it to be sturdy.
Gosh that was boring okay now onto the fun stuff!
I took a class at nina – which is a fabulous knitting and yarn shop on Division here in Chicago (right were the Renegade Craft Fair was last weekend). It was for a Chevron cowl – I mainly took it so that I could socialize with other knitters and get out of my habit of ‘solitude-knitting.’ Well it ended up I was the only one in the class which I was more than over-qualified for. The instructor who was a total sweetheart felt bad, because I knew how to knit it by just reading the pattern so she didn’t have any new information to offer. I did however have a great time chatting with her and found out they do a knitting group every Sunday so I think I’ll start going to that to make some friends. Here is the chevron pattern that I ‘learned’ how to knit. It’s actually really fun and simple. I’m always amazed at how people discovered techniques to manipulate the yarn like this. Damn knitter geniuses.
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Then of course because I was there, I bought some amazing yarn from Knit Collage – which is a magical yarn company. Their yarns are just so unique and beautiful – I fell in love with them all, but chose this one.
It’s so beautiful if I had dreadlocks I would want them to look just like this yarn…. le sigh. Yes, thats a AAA magazine – didn’t know I was so cool did you? I digress….. I’m pretty sure I’m going to do something similar to their bandana pattern available on their website for only $3.
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You know you all want one now…. go to their website. Do it. Do it now. You can ‘thank me’ aka ‘scold me’ for showing you this little gem later! 😉
I also started a really fun baby bootie knit project on Thursday. I did a ‘tester’ bootie as a trial run and I loved the way it turned out. I was so angry none of my mean animals would let me try it on them 😦 – what good are they if they won’t model my knits!?
Step one: knit till a little area for toes emerges….
Step two: then knit the rest of the shoe……
Step three: add the inside sock and TA-DA! A baby moc-soc!
Okay, okay, so it took more than three easy steps. It did however only take about 3 hours (I’m not a beginner though so use your own judgement here). Here is the pattern it is only $5 and there is a coupon available on that Ravelry page with the pattern. The designer is so creative and amazing! This is what her moc-socs look like. (I used left over yarn (recognize the red/white/blue from Leopold’s Sweater?!) so that is why mine is ‘crazy’.)
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I’m glad I did a test run on them though. I have a few little tweeks I need to address just based on my knitting style so that it mirrors her finished product a little better. Overall it’s a wonderful pattern and I am going to love making a lot of these little guys.
Gosh I’m exhausted and it’s only 9pm! Tomorrow I’m taking Lee to a Fall Frolic with other pugs. Hopefully he can try to make some friends too. I’m not holding my breath though.
Happy Weekend Friends!
A Tale of Two Brothers
In honor of our last few days as a family of four I thought I would tell the story of two brothers – Leopold & Vladimir.
First there was a little spoiled pug named Leopold William Edward VIII.
He was the epitome of an only child – not having to share any toys or treats.
He even had his very own life vest and personal pool wrangler in the summer. (So spoiled)
But one day – a new creature appeared that everyone kept saying was his brother, Vladimir.
It was hard to understand how this thing was his brother since they didn’t look anything alike and he looked kind of scary.
At first it was awkward and there was lots of staring and sniffing.
But slowly they started not minding each other – especially if mom was around.
And one time Vladimir hurt his foot, but Leopold took care of him and made sure he was going to be as good as new.
After that, Vladimir knew that Leopold was his brother – and started treating him like one.
They even had to wear matching outfits – how embarrassing!
But over the past 4 years Leopold and Vladimir have grown to love each other very much and they are really brothers.
The End.
It will be so fun to have them meet their new ‘brother’ on Saturday – the story will only get better.
The Winter of Craft
This winter I really let my inner-knitter out. (Like I let her out and let her run around the front yard waving knitting needles). It all started with a really funny ‘cute’ pet knit project book.
Oh it looks so adorable. Make this ‘firework-muffeling” hat for your pug – GET SUCKED IN.
A cat consumed by knitting.
A special keekee teepee complete with pink garland for extra fun!
The bean bag – his favorite thing I’ve ever knitted.
This was the seed stitch for the teepee and initially it was going to be a cowl for me, but I have too many cowls and not enough teepees.
My favorite sweater I made for him – it took 7 other sweaters to finally knit it to his exact shape and size. He hates it and will only wear it if it’s below 15 degrees F outside.
Leopold in his total armor. This project gave me the idea to make a knitted knights costume for him for halloween.
So those were a few of my projects – I also knitted many cowls, some cute smaller ‘for fun’ or pattern learning swatches. I’m thinking of getting a cache of cowls, scarves, and hats together for the upcoming fall/winter to sell or donate. Perhaps people would be interested in that?
ghostfaceknitter.com 
