Cocoa Swap Questionaire

The Yarn…
1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both? I do both

2. What is your favorite one-skein project? What item do you find you knit the most of? I enjoy hats and scarfs. I like Misti Alpaca for scarfs and Berocco Jasper for boy hats.
I don't knit just one thing, my attention span will let me focust on one project but the next will be something different, say if I am working on a sweater, the next might be a shawl, socks but something else.

3. Do you like using a particular type of needle or hook? (wood, metal, straight, circular) Is there something you’ve been wanting to try, or a particular size you always seem to be short on? I enjoy Bamboo Straights and Metal Circs and do not like DPN's.
I seem to be short in the area of the size 8 and above circs.

4. What’s on your needles\hook right now? What’s your oldest UFO (unfinished object)? I have the Simply Square Vest for my sister, just a few rows of Eiffel, Scarf, and Spring Forward Socks.

5. What are your favorite types of yarns? Are you allergic to any yarns, or just hate working with something? Anything type/brand of yarn you’ve been dying to try? Every yarn has its place. I am not a fan of Homespun or anything that bunches as you make a stitch. I like wool/bamboo/silk, not too picky.

7. What are your favorite colors? Brights? Pastels? More muted colors? Variegated? Are there that make you want to stab yourself in the eye with your needles? I am not a fan of bright yellow, or orange unless its fall. Browns need to usually be matched with something, I like Variegated blues, and muted colors are good. I also like pink, but I have alot of pink yarn and need to start different colors to my stash.

8. What is your favorite knit accessory, your fancy needles? stitch markers? your yarn cutter? What do you have TOO many of? What do you wish you had? I have many stitch markers, and probably need another case for them. I have a yarn cutter, and you can't ever have enough needles.
I guess if I need anything, it would be stitch holders, cable needle, and I would like a Chibi.

The Chocolate
1. Do you prefer boxed/packets, or something homemade? I was in this swap last year and I was paired with Cathy, she sent me Cadbury Hot Cocoa and left me wanting more. I sent my co-hostess Starbucks melting Chocolate and never got to try it, but would love to.
Packets are nice for work and homemade is always good.

2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? Marshmallows

3. Do you use any ‘add ins’ If it is plain Cocoa then I like to add a peppermint stick or sometimes flavor creamer.

4. Are you a year round cocoa drinker or just in the winter months? Just winter months

5. Do you like flavored cocoas or are you just a ’straight chocolate’ kind of person? I like hazelnut, vanilla, cinnamon, irish cream, but plain is good too.

6. Do you enjoy cocoa from restaurants or shops like Starbucks? What are some of your favorites? Peppermint Mocha Twist with half White/Dark. The salted Caramel from Starbucks is good.

7. You’ve just made the perfect cup of cocoa - is it in a thick mug, or a thinner cup? Where would you sit to drink it? Thick mug. I would be sitting on the couch watching a good movie with my knitting, but looking to the future it will be with my nursing books in hand.

8. You’re enjoying that perfect cup, what treats will you enjoy with it? Are they sweet or salty? Crunchy? Soft and flaky? I like biscotti.

It’s all YOU!
1. Do you have other hobbies like spinning or scrapbooking? No not really
2. Do you collect anything? Thick good mugs. Yarn, but you knew that, right?

3. What is your favorite part of Winter? Staying warm and staying inside. I like when there is a fire in the fireplace.

4. What sort of scents do you enjoy? Any difference in what you like for your house versus what you like for your body? I like homey scents for the house, pumpkin spice, apple cider, citrus for hand soap, but not a big fan of body scents.

5. Are you allergic to anything? No not that pertains to swapping

6. Are you on Ravelry? What’s your ID? hollyw

7. How would you spend an ideal winter afternoon/day? Curled up on the sofa with a movie and hot cocoa or tea with knitting in hand.

8. What’s your favorite animal? My dog Max.

You Made This A Christmas To Remember

I hope everyone has had a great and wonderful holiday season. Mine has been great. I am hoping since it ended so good, that it is a good sign for me in the next year. The title comes from a song that I listened to when I use to decorate my parents tree by Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers. To start my Christmas Season off, it started at the beginning of December where the girls I knit with got together at Cindy's house (who is an amazing hostess and her house is out of a magazine) for a very tasty lunch and cookie swap.

We played the game where you read the story and past the gift to the left or right. So, much fun.

Then the boys did the 12 days of Christmas. My first gift was on Dec. 13th for wonderful seats to Christmas Spectacular with The Radio City Rockettes.

If you are not in the Christmas spirit, this show will not let you walk away with out being in on afterwards. It is the most magical show and for all ages. Following this day I recieved gifts every day, which was alot of fun.

On December 23rd my family had our girls Christmas Eve, Eve party it is where all the cousins get together with our mom's and Grandmother and we have dinner and we do dirty Santa as well.
This year I cooked and I think it turned out pretty good. We had manicotti and salad.

This wasn't all that made it such a wonderful Holidays for me. I think because I didn't stress about getting Christmas bought for. I did it all the week after Thanksgiving and just sat back and watched all the packages be delivered to my office. Will do it again next year.

The boys and their cousin spent the night and we did a very cute Gingerbread house kit. The elves were busy all month and have returned safely to the North Pole.

I received sweet gift from the boys from the Santa shop, lots of jewelry. The best gift of all came the December 2oth, that was my acceptance letter, back into Nursing School. I start Jan 5th. So, I am ready to tackle this next year and get school put behind me once and for all.

Now that the holidays are over with I am co-hostessing the Cocoa Swap 2 with my sweet friend Michelle. Sign ups are now Dec. 28th - Jan 3rd. If you are interested head over and get sign up.

Who Needs A Little Warming Up?

It has been pretty chilly here in the South, for once we are not having 75-80 degree weather during the holidays. Today's forecast there is even mention of snow (yeah right). With cooler weather here I can always use something warm to drink to warm me up. It being the holidays I love some Hot Cocoa w/ marshmallows and a little peppermint in the bottom, gather up some knitting to work on and I am good to go.

With that thought in mind I wanted to mention that I will be co-hosting with Michelle on the 2nd round of the Cocoa Swap and sign ups begin December 28th, so check out the details.

Cocoa Swap 2

Its About Time

I know, I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I do still knit and have alot of crafting projects for the holidays. Next week after I gift some I will post the project I have worked on for my friends. Its turned out to be pretty cute I think.
As for the holidays, just decorating and getting Christmas bought for, not waiting to the last minute this year.
I will have a post with pictures soon. I gotta get a charger for my camera, it has disappeared and the battery is dead.

See you soon.

The Box!

My dishrag teams box made it to my house yesterday. The box looks good to have gone around the United States and been through not one but two hurricanes.
I got home from work and opened to some wonderful goodies. It was on then. I knew what I needed to do. So I got the caffeine going and it was on.

Here is the goodies, Nicole gave me. I love the cute dog project bag and the little needles. I had to use them last night to get my guage right. Nicole also included some other dishcloth patterns, a candle, some yarn for me and a precious dog calendar, 2009. I will put it up at work. So I worked til 12:40 a.m. and finished. Got it all packed to go home to Emily and shipped it on the way to work. Here is what the box looked like when I finished. You can tell what I decorated with.
There is goodies in the box that is suppose to stay in the box, so it was pretty tedious to get it packed for not just one, but two people. When I realized I was knitting for Natalie and not Emily, but Emily gets the goodies, Emily said I could include some to be sent to your captain with the dishcloth that you are knitting for her. Well, no pressure there to spoil the Captain and the host at the same time. So, I got it all in there.

This was my first tag, it was so much fun. Thanks Emily for hosting and Natalie for being a great Captain. :)

Ta Da!!!!!!!!!

I put down my Stardust sweater, which I don't lack much on, to finish my moms Birthday present that was last month. I don't guestimate very well on how long something will take. However, I casted off at midnight last night and this is how big it was unblocked. This is the Swirled Pearl Shawlette.

Here it is blocking. No wonder Grace's hubby is so great! Blocking is a pain, but look at the results in the end is what I tell myself.
This is my first hand at real lace other than a lace Dishcloth. It has its mistakes, I don't know how to fix lace I could repair some but there is just a couple of places that bigger holey areas than some.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the end results and I think mom will love it. I will gift it to her in the morning on the way to work. She has waited long enough.
The low down on the Shawlette:
Yarn: Lacey Lambs 100% Wool/ Double stranded
Needles: #7 Susan Bates Circulars
Crochet Hook: 1.10mm Boye
Beads: Mill Hill Black irredescent
Started First week of July.

Now back to my Stardust.

A Son After My Own Heart

My oldest is growing up. A few weeks ago he turned 9. I couldn't believe it. He started school last week and he is in 3rd. I really couldn't believe that. Where did 1st and 2nd grade go to?
Well, my mother in law said, that every day in the summer he would come in and cook French Toast for himself. So, tonight he fixed it for the family.

It was so good. Here is before we sprinkled them with Powder sugar, cinnamon sugar and syrup.
Well, knitting is coming in the next coming days.