Pinterest

Have you all been on Pinterest yet? If you haven't then you need to get your behinds over there and start "pinning". But be warned, it's addicting. Bascially it's a site to bookmark images that you come across while searching the internet. You can create different Boards labeled however you want and then add the "Pin It" button to your favorties and then start pinning. You can also follow your friend's boards and see what they are pinning. If you see images there that you want to save too, then you just "Repin" onto whatever board you want. Simple right?

I have 10 Boards, 72 Pins, 16 Followers and I'm Following 25 Friends. If you're on Pinterest already follow me so I can follow you back! I know for a little while you had to have an invite to sign up, not sure if they are still doing that, but if you do need an invite leave a comment with your email address and I'll be sure to send you one asap.

Ten Things Tuesday

I haven't posted in awhile so I thought maybe doing a random post of 10 things would be a nice change. These are things that are happening with us or things that I'm thinking about.

1. The kids only have about 6 weeks of school left. This school year seems like it flew by!

2. I have been doing Weight Watchers Online for 5 weeks (tomorrow) and have lost approx. 6 lbs. I know that doesn't seem like much to most, but to me it's a huge accomplishment since I really had no idea how to "diet" in the past. I really like WW. It helps me stay motivated and I can actually see what I am eating by the points.

3. C (my 5 yr old) has an ENT appointment tomorrow for her tonsils. They are pretty large. I'm thinking we might be heading the route of her needing her tonsils out.

4. I am craving new ink, but I can't because I am going to (hopefully, eventually) become a Gestational Surrogate.

5. I love the show iCarly. I know it's a kid show on Nickelodeon. But I tape all the new episodes, for the kids (yeah, the kids) and find myself laughing out loud several times during an episode.

6. I haven't had coffee in several months, and I decided to get a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha today. It didn't taste as good as I expected it to.

7. Tuesday is my favorite TV night. Two of my shows are coming back after a break (Glee and One Tree Hill) and tonight is the season finale of Parenthood.

8. I have been checking books out at the library like crazy. I have 3 on hold right now and can't wait to get them. I just finished the second book in The Hunger Games series in one day and am really looking forward to reading the final book.

9. I'm hoping to get some news from the surrogate agency soon!

10. I should start dinner, but instead I am sitting here writing out 10 random things. :)

Knit Wit

I picked up my knitting needles again when it started getting colder back in November and have been on a knitting kick ever since. I started with the simple scarves that I can do with the regular knit stitch. I made a scarf for Avery using this yarn:

Then I decided I wanted to graduate and work on something a little more complicated. So I bought circular needles and after watching videos on YouTube I learned how to join them and knit-in-the-round. Then I had to learn how to do the purl stitch. After some practice I started this project:

(the pattern can be found at lionbrand.com, just register for free and search for Luxury Cowl/Hood)

Lots and lots of hours later (after putting that project on hold) and 3 skeins of yarn later I have this:

(here is the cowl just folded up,it's really cozy and warm)

So now that I've done that I decided to make a scarf for Camryn's Speech Therapist but instead of doing a plain scarf I wanted to mix things up a little a do a basket-weave pattern. It looks really complicated but it's not at all. Just a pattern of purl stitches and knit stitches. (I hope I'm using the correct terms).

I am also obsessed with looking at yarn and touching it too. I love soft,cozy yarn. Oh and knitting needles. I am slowly building up my collection of sizes. Right now I have needles in US 15, 13, and 9 and circulars in size 10 and 11 (16")

I love these colors...so pretty. This is Chroma Worsted Yarn from Knitpicks.com

Some sites that I love to look at for patterns, ideas and yarn are:

http://www.knitpicks.com/

http://www.purlbee.com/

http://www.ravelry.com/ (I'm SaraB28 on there, so add me!)

http://www.knitmap.com/

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Command Center

As you all probably know I have two school-aged kids. This means that on any given day I am overrun with papers coming home from school. Worksheets, reminders, important events and dates, etc. For other parents, I'm sure you are familiar with this as well. Last year when just Avery was in school all day I tried to get more organized to prepare for the day when both girls were in school. I had an OK system of things and I felt semi-organized.

I have since changed up my system and now I have a "Command Center". And yes, I do actually call it that. I'm a dork. It's probably not the most visually appealing but I'd rather be organized and not running around like a crazy person.


I bought a large bulletin board and divided it in half, one side for each kid. I then took some of those manila filing folders and taped up the sides and then stapled them onto each side leaving it as a pocket. On each side I have the kids calendars that they get from their teachers with their specials listed and other important dates, and the school lunch menu for Avery so we know when she wants to pack lunch or buy. In Avery's folder we keep her Spelling Notebook and her homework packet because she gets these every Monday and they are turned in on Fridays. This way we always know where it is. I use push pins to attach any papers that come home that have deadlines that need to be returned.

I get rid of A LOT! I don't save the busy classroom work that they do or worksheets. I always try to save art work or any writing assignments that are really great. I just don't have the space to save every little thing that comes home. The papers I do save get filed away in a folder in one of those plastic boxes made for file folders.

On the opposite wall I have a large calendar that I write in appointments and activities. I color code each person's events as well. It really helps to see everything that's going on. There is a child-size desk in that corner too that sometimes gets used.

So there you have it..my way of trying to stay organized. I love to hear how others stay organized so comment and share your ideas and tips!

Twitter Thursday

Twitter is an odd thing. In 2008 I signed up for my Twitter account and barely used it. I really didn't get what the purpose was at all but everyone was talking about Twitter. I didn't do much with my account. The summer of 2010 I revisited my account and decided to give ol' Twitter another try. Now it's much more popular. I'm following musicians, tv and movie stars, tv shows, even our school district has a Twitter page. Crazy!

I currently have 36 followers (woo hoo!) and am following 226 people. Here are a few actors and musicians I follow.

*Russell Brand @rustyrockets

*Hayley Williams (from Paramore) @yelyahwilliams

*Taylor Swift @taylorswift13

*Neil Patrick Harris @ActuallyNPH

*Ellen DeGeneres @TheEllenShow

I try to check Twitter weekly and read everyone's posts. It's nice to sort of get a glimpse into another person's life. To see all the random and funny things that they post about. If you are on Twitter leave me a comment with your @name and I will follow you! You can follow me HERE.