Chai Love

Last week, Hello Yarn posted this lovely concoction on her Flickr page and I had to, HAD TO have some.

Then I noticed that Angry Chicken had published the recipe on her page too and I knew it would be awesome.

So I made some of my very own and OMG! this stuff makes even the worst day shiny and bright.

Chai Concentrate
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (please note that I have changed the amount of some of the spices to reflect my preference)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Empty condensed milk into a jar or plastic container with tight-fitting lid. Stir in the sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Store in refrigerator.

To use: Brew a cup of strong black tea and add two heaping teaspoons (or more!) of concentrate or more to taste. Stir well until concentrate has fully melted.

To keep: Store in refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Things I've learned from a virtual quilting bee

I've hooked up with some fabulous ladies in a virtual quilting bee. We're calling it, "One Shiny Bee" and I'm having so much fun. The best part is all the great things I'm learning from this talented group.



Lesson #1 - These ladies are crazy talented and provide me with so much inspiration. Seriously, check out this, this, this, this and this!



Lesson #2 - I obsess and stress too much about being perfect. When someone asks for wonky, just go with it and you'll have the wonkiest block out there and it will BE FUN!



Lesson #3 - Give me a few minutes and I'll whip out a log cabin block lickity split! My lessons from Amanda on this one have really paid off. Now to my little quilting guru teach me other new and wonderful things.

Lesson #4 - Quilting bees are awesome! They give you the chance to try out new techniques without having to do them 18-billion times.

Lesson #5 - It's official, I'm obsessed with the quilting. Oh I'm still obsessed with the knitting too but now I've added quilting to my fold of obsession.

Boneyard-ing

On January 31, just moments before 11 p.m., I finished my second shawl (Boneyard) for "10 Shawls in 2010" Ye Old Ravelry page is here.



After knitting Clothide, I decided that I wanted an easier shawl before tackling a lace one again. I thought the Boneyard Shawl would be perfect as I had two skeins of Jo Sharp Silken Aran Tweed in my stash and all I needed was two more skeins to complete this project.

I skipped off to my local yarn store where I discovered that Jo Sharp was not importing her yarn to the US any longer which meant the two skeins I needed were not to be. I was not deterred though and purchased four skeins of Rowan Felted Tweed which turned out to be quite lovely even though it was a bit more expensive than I had planned, so much for my stash busting!



I love this shawl. The yarn was perfect for this project and produced the nicest drape. The shawl is quite large which will be perfect for cold winter nights. The pattern was super easy but entertaining enough for me to remain engaged.

Running with Madame Fluffybottom

I've started back into my running routine and I'm always left wondering why I ever let it fall to the wayside. I love running. I love it with all of my body and soul.

Now lest you believe that I am a gazelle-type runner who glides by you on the sidewalk with barely a wisp of air passing you by, let me dispel that rumor right now. I am a slow, lumbering runner who more likely resembles a rhinoceros running than a gazelle.

But none of that matters because when I am out there lumbering along, I feel alive. I feel the wind gliding past me. I feel my legs stretching out ahead of me. I feel my spirit lifting up high and it is those feelings that embody my love for running.

I also like how all worry and doubt flies out of me when I run, leaving me with contentment and peace. I like the early morning runs when the streets are quiet and the people are asleep. I enjoy bursting through the streets while dreaming of bacon and coffee.

At the end of the run, what I really, really like is being done. I like it when my muscles ache and my joints are a little looser.



And I like that I can enjoy a cupcake without guilt when I run. And I really like cupcakes.

Bone-Yard Shawl

I've moved onto my second shawl of 2010 and getting pretty puffed up with pride. I'm getting a bit over confident. I can hear myself saying, "I can totally knit 10 shawls in 2010. Bring on the real challenge, people!"

And yet, can I really knit 10 AWESOME shawls in 2010? I think that will be the real challenge, the one that keeps driving me forward through this challenge. I want to knit 10 shawls that I want to wear, that I look forward to showing off.

My second shawl is the Boneyard Shawl and it's already growing rapidly. It's a very easy pattern but one that is making (for me) a very classic wrap. I look forward to wearing this one. It's going to be a warm, cosy one. And yes, it is going to be awesome.

Clothilde or THE First Shawl of 2010

Last week, I finished Clothilde which is my first shawl in the "10 Shawls in 2010" Challenge.

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I really enjoyed this shawl until I decided to do the second Spearhead Lace repeat and then I just went into competitive, get it done overdrive which really is the opposite of what I wanted to do. I want to enjoy knitting each of the 10 shawls while also completing the challenge. I do get very competitive, very fast so I guess this isn't to be expected. Best part, I was only competing against myself. Oh the insanity.



I enjoyed the Malabrigo Sock in Aqua that I used for this first shawl but I still have about an ounce of yarn left. I've thrown it into my partial sock skein pile which is growing. I've been using the left-over skeins for a Barn Raising Quilt but it goes slow since I haven't made many squares.

I've now started two more shawls because only have one on the needles at a time is logical. I'm working on the Boneyard Shawl and loving the Rowan Felted Tweed along with Citron. I love the feeling of the Malabrigo Baby Lace on my hands. It's going to create a great feeling shawl. I'm also doing it in the same colorway as the pattern. I loved that color too much and when I saw that my LYS had some, I snatched it up.

Dear Haiti,

You've had so much heartache and trouble for so long. And then yesterday you were dealt the harshest blow of all, a 7.3 earthquake. Our hearts weep for your pain. Our hearts reach out to help you through this tragedy.

Here are six ways you can help Haiti by Chris Sacca. I'm especially partial to Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer's organization. I read Mountains Beyond Mountains a few years ago and couldn't believe how much work Dr. Farmer has done. So now it is our turn to go out and help Haiti however we can.

Engagement Photography Fun

Photos by Baisa Fotograferie

Scott and I recently had an engagement photo session with our wedding day photographers, Baisa Fotograferie. We visited the Seattle Outdoor Sculpture Park, the Seattle Public Library and the W Hotel. All of these places hold special memories for us and so we were excited to have them documented.


Photos by Baisa Fotograferie

I wasn't 100% sure what one did on an engagement shoot but Jackie was great about letting us know what we needed to plan for and gave us all sorts of poses to do. In return, we showed her our silly sides and ended up having a day of laughter and fun.


Photos by Baisa Fotograferie

We completely lucked out with a beautiful sunny day for our shoot so I guess my bargaining with God really paid off! It was great to work with Jackie and Rick before our actual wedding day. I can now say that they will take great photos of our special day and I'm so excited that they will be there to document it. I highly recommend doing an Engagement photo shoot. It will give you a chance to work with your photographer before your big day. It's a great time to get to know then and gives them a chance to get to know you as a couple. Luckily for us, Jackie is a friend but since I had never worked with her on a professional level, this was still a great opportunity to figure out her working style.

Jackie even wrote up a great blog post about her day with us. I think she had fun too! You can read the blog post here


Photos by Baisa Fotograferie

2010 Knitting Challenge

I like goals and challenges. I like striving to reach some lofty goal that appears insane.

Last year I decided to make 2009 the Year of the S(ox) according to the Chinese calendar. I still have a few weeks left on that goal as the Chinese New Year isn't until February 14th. My goal was to knit 12 pairs of socks for myself. I've knit 6 solid pairs so far and have three more in the works. I'm hoping to get at least two of those done by the 2/14 deadline which means I will have knit 9 of the 12 required pairs. Now while I won't make my goal, I'm still pleased with what I've accomplished. I learned some new things and have a full sock drawer now.



This year though, I've decided to hook my wagon to the 10 Shawls in 2010 group on ravelry.

On January 1st, I cast on for the Clothilde shawl and set to knitting. I'm about 75% done with my first shawl and I'm so excited for this project. I am going to have to take a short break from it when I finish Clothilde so I can finish my sock challenge.

You can follow my progress on Ravelry or on Flickr.

Best of (2009 Edition)

As 2009 comes to an end, I am quietly reflecting on what was a great year for me and a not so great year for others.

Scott and I had so many adventures this year. We went to Portland many times to see his family and Lincoln City a few to visit more family there. We also went to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Hawaii. I also went to Washington DC, Phoenix and Los Angeles for work. It was a grand year for travel and as someone how loves flying, I got plenty in.

I also learned to cure bacon, can jam, made three quilts and knit so many socks that my hands almost feel off (in a good way).

And the best part was getting engaged to my favorite person in the whole wide world. I had been hoping and proding for some time but was actually surprised when Scott proposed.

Now I can't wait for 2010! It will be year I get married, go to Europe and run the Portland Half Marathon. So many adventures await me!

You can see the entire Flick "Best of 2009" set here.

Crabby Baby Pants

My co-worker is pregnant and she's decided to not find out the sex of the child until he/she arrives. Now I love this idea but also found it difficult when I was planning what to make for her new addition.

Luckily a friend suggested the Cargo Pants from Knitty which led me to remember that I had some Rowan All Seasons Cotton laying around and that I had picked up a onesie this Summer at a craft fair (I figure people are always having babies and this one was super cute!). When I pulled out the yarn and the onesie, I was in for another treat! The crab applique on the onesie perfectly matched the color of yarn that I had and they were all pretty uni-sex.



Then I got a third treat, the quickness of this knit! I cast on for this project on Friday at the DMV, I knit most of the first leg while waiting there (oh the torture!) and the second leg that night. I then knit up the remaining bits of the pants on Saturday (my birthday!) and sewed the elastic piece in today. All in all about a 2-day project! I did decide to leave off the pockets but I think they would be adorable on the pants too.

These might become my standard baby knit project. They are just adorable and a bit more of a statement than a hat. I am however going to also knit a hat for this present, I have yarn and time left so I might as well.

French Toast Bliss

I'm not huge fan of French Toast but Scott really enjoys a good breakfast of French Toast. I decided to make him some this morning for some pretty selfish reasons. I wanted to take photos of the breakfast for my Food A-Z project.

Scott was pleased with his turn of luck and enjoyed his breakfast while giving me feedback on the photos I took of our breakfast.



I used a recipe from my go-to cookbook, The McCall's Cookbook which is sadly out of print. My Mom has a her own copy and used it to make most everything when I was growing up. I found my own copy in an antique store years ago and snatched it up before the owners could realize what a treasure they had in their store.

Without further adieu, here is the French Toast recipe.

Mc'Call's French Toast

2 eggs, well beaten
3 Tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon sugar
dash of salt
dash of nutmeg
6 pieces of day-old white bread slices (I used challah bread)
butter
maple syrup

I also used powdered sugar for the topping.

1. In a shallow dish, combine eggs, milk, sugar, salt and nutmeg. Whisk together.

2. Add bread slices, one at a time, to egg mixture; let stand about 30 seconds on each side to coat completely.

3. In medium skillet, using about 1 Tablespoon butter, saute bread slice until golden on each side. 1 1/2 minutes in all.

4. Serve hot, sprinkled with powered sugar and nutmeg and covered with maple syrup.

19 Days of Birthday Wishes!

I decided to celebrate my Birthday Month with 19 days of wishes since my birthday is on Dec. 19th. So far, I've had 6 days of great wishes. Today my favorite one was granted. I found the most amazing, creepy present at the Urban Craft Uprising.



I got a pink and brown TWO-HEADED DEER! I love them!

New Pretties

My favorite Black Friday purchase was this M.A.C. eyeshadow compact. You can select your own shades to make your own custom compact. Lovely!

M.A.C. appeals to that side of me that loves playing dress up, doing my hair and putting on make-up. *sigh*

The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie*

Lorna Yee recently posted on her blog, The Cookbook Chronicles about The Perfect Chocolate Cookie.

Now that is a pretty bold statement and I felt that I needed to test out this claim. I gathered the necessary ingredients (all of which I was able to find at my local grocery store) and began baking.



I did alter the recipe by adding one step to Lorna's directions. After making the dough, I chilled it in the fridge for about 2-3 hours before baking the cookies.

Scott and I both declared these cookies to be the best Chocolate Chip Cookies we have ever had. They are so delightful and yes, perfect!



"The Cookbook Chronicles" Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
makes 34-36 3″ cookies

2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup demerara sugar
1 3/4 cups packed, dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup + 1 tbsp bread flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt (not table salt!), plus either fleur de sel for sprinkling over top
18 oz. 70% bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, and beat well after each addition.

2. Add the vanilla extract, the flours, the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. On low speed, beat the mixture until the dry ingredients are well-incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in the chopped chocolate.

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or a Silpat. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it until it forms a sphere between your palms. Place the dough on the baking sheet (8 cookies per sheet), giving them room to spread. Dust the tops of each ball of dough with a little demerara sugar, and a tiny bit of fleur de sel or vanilla salt.

4. Bake in a 350 degree oven on the middle rack for 12-13 minutes. (Do not bake these on the bottom rack in the oven–the high proportion of brown sugar will cause the bottoms to darken too much.) At this time, the cookies should have taken on a golden brown color all around the edge, but still look very soft in the center–like hot cookie dough. Remove the tray from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool directly on the tray for 10 minutes before eating.

*Title blatantly stolen from The Cookbook Chronicles.

Duck Eggs

I've been taking food photos each week that correspond to a letter in the alphabet. This week's letter was E. I thought and thought on foods that started with E. I got Eel, endive, eggs, and escargot.

I quickly ruled out escargot as I have not idea how to make that at home and really that is something best saved for a fancy restaurant. Then I considered Eel but to be honest, I got wigged out thinking about touching an eel. I like eel in my sushi but it's all cut up and presentable.



So I was left with endive and eggs which are great foods. I did consider that chicken eggs are a bit boring. Then I lit upon the idea of Duck Eggs! I asked my twitter friends where I could obtain such eggs and ran out to PCC to pick up a dozen.

After taking photos, I was left with the eggs which looked beautiful but scared me with their slight strangeness. I checked Chow.com for some suggestions on what to do with the eggs. People said to just fry them up as you would chicken eggs or to use them in baking. So this morning for breakfast Scott and I enjoyed them with some bacon and toast. OMG! These things were so rich and amazing! I'm hooked on duck eggs and think that everyone should try one of these. YUM!

Quilting Itch

Yesterday we headed over to my parent's house for a wonderful feast of turkey goodness. While there we watch "UP" and "State of Play" and I was able to satisfy my quilting itch. I paper pieced my hexagon quilt pieces through both movies and now have a satisfying stack of pieces.



I've done 19 hexagons and am working to have 19 squares in all fabric colors with 19 triangles in other fabrics. It's a lot of work but work I really enjoy. The best part is that my Dad recognized what I was doing. His family is quite crafty and I bet he saw his Mother or Grandmother doing paper piecing as a child. That or he knows everything which is true, the man knows everything. It's a bit scary but once you accept that he knows everything, he becomes a great resource!

So Very Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I have so many things to be thankful for.

I am thankful for

* a wonderful Scott
* a vivacious cat
* my good health
* the best family ever
* a fun and enjoyable job
* a wonderful home
* living in the best city I could think to live in
* all of my friends
* my best friend who always sets me straight when I get on the crazy road
* and today, this day of thankful-ness, I am so thankful for all the great food I am about to consume!

Bummer!

I decided to take Rigby to the oil change place today since it has been some time since his oil was changed.

I drove up to the place and got in line. They checked my brake lights and noticed they weren't working so good. They changed the oil, vacuumed the car and told me that they could only get one light to work, that the wiring was "funky".

I then remembered why I hadn't taken my car in to have it's oil changed, because there always seems to be "something" that happens.

So I take my car and stop by the gas station on the way home. I open my trunk to get something out and notice my brake light thing-y isn't connected correctly and my trunk isn't closing so good. Double GRRRR! I went right back to the oil change place and they notice that they broke the light. They did get it back on fairly well but I also have in writing that they will pay for the repair of the brake light thingy.

Of course this means I still need to figure out why I don't have the best brake lights so I've sent an appointment request into the mechanic (they schedule online!) and will drive Scott's car for now because I think brake lights are important!

Cars are a pain in my rear-end!

Wedding Madness

I've gone insane. I think about my wedding all the time. I yap about it non-stop. I swear people are going to be so excited when I'm finally married and shut up about it.

But I am being efficient in-between my yapping. I give myself weekly tasks to get done. This week is booking the rehearsal dinner location, booking the ceremony musicians and starting our registry.

So much to do and I'm having a great time doing it.