The Shins

No, not the supa cool indie rock band, but the "oh my aching shins" variety. It seems that when I go on a jog/walk many areas of my body are in constant protest however, one usually protests more loudly than the others. Last week it was my knees, this week is my shins. I guess I need to go read about what to do with shin splints...

I'm trying something different this time around...I'm NOT weighing myself for awhile. I could easily get so caught up in the constant fluctuation of my weight that I forget the bottom line of this whole eat-healthy-exercise program. When I lose, I feel that I have achieved success and when I have gained/not lost, I feel failure. This is DESPITE what effort I have or have not put into a healthy lifestyle. I can't expect to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

I also tend toward self sabotage. Sometimes when I lose weight I feel that I can get away with more and eat more. Then again, sometimes when I gain, I get frustrated and eat anyway. Bottom line...I need to outsmart myself. I'll let you know how that goes.

In other knitting news, I am knitting a tea cozy in orange yarn to look like a pumpkin for the holidays. I'll post pictures when I get a little further along.

Whose idea was this?

Oh.... Mine....
So I started the Couch to 5K program last week with the help from a podcast from Robert Ullreys. I had started this before, but after week 1, I injured my knee (doing something else), then a post-surgical dog, then the hurricane, then all of the after hurricane crap...then... I ran out of excuses. Thankfully, Turtlegirl (insert superhero fanfare here) inspired me to start it again.

It's week 2, but I'm stuck on week 1 part of the plan. Why am I just now blogging about it? Because week 1 would have looked like this..."today(gasp) is (gasp) my (gasp) first (gasp) week (gasp) of (gasp) Couch25K (thud - as I collapse on the floor) You try running with 50 pounds of extra weight on you! My badonk-a-donk went donk. I felt like a fat-alanche was about to happen on my backside (It didn't...darn it. I checked.)

Clapotis part deux

Clapotis part deux
Originally uploaded by christijnp

Clapotis #2 in Brooks Farm Four Play yarn. I love this color combo!

Mystery Stole 4

IMG_2664 001
Originally uploaded by christijnp

Ah...yet another knitalong I can't keep up with.
This is the UFO from Mystery Stole 4 WITH BEADS!
I'm loving the beads right now, but this next section is without beads so it is going slower.

Stitch N Pitch

Stitch N Pitch
Originally uploaded by christijnp

Take me out to the yarn store...uh...I mean...ballgame...
Had a great time at the Stitch N Pitch Astros vs Brewers game! It went to 12 innings before the Astros finally won! I'll have to admit that it was quite humid and warm which made knitting with wool a bit tricky.

The picture is of my Noro Striped Scarf in Noro Silk Garden

More Baby Hats....

IMG_1061
Originally uploaded by christijnp

Okay I am so ready for people to quit getting pregnant! This is the fourth baby hat in the last year! This pattern is going very well though and is so easy! Yay more pink...

Pattern: http://www.touchinglittlelives.org/ellenhat.html

Yarn: Wool Bam Boo

Needles: Size 8 DPNs

Yay, more Christmas knitting!

I'm still plugging away at the Irish Hiking Scarf but decided I needed to knock the hat out of the way so I could knit up the rest of the yarn with the scarf. I hope my sister meant it when she said she liked pink.

This is the Coronet hat from Knitty in a size medium. The pictures are unblocked. I figure I'm going to store them until Christmas and will block them when it is closer to time. I used Knit Picks Swish Superwash in the Ballerina colorway. It took about 1.3 skeins of yarn or 65gm (gotta love those digital scales). I did modify the pattern a bit so it doesn't flip up but stockinette starts directly from the band. It comfortably covers the top half of my ears and is quite warm.

I do have to knit another baby hat. This makes the 4th previous and/or current co-worker I've made a baby hat for just since March! No babies for years and then 4 in rapid succession. Whatever they're drinking I will have none, thank you. I've been cruising Ravelry for easy baby hat patterns but still have not decided yet.