it's been a while

Sooo. I have had a crazy schedule with four college courses and two jobs... Not a smart idea. Gonna be dropping one of the classes and hopefully things will improve. I don't want the rest of fall term to be like spring 12 term with two jobs and an internship (ie no life unhappy for three months).


 This post will be a bit about beauty, some nail stuff, and some knitting. And food. That was horrendous grammar.

First- I signed up for Birchbox after being on the wait list for about two months. I got my first box in September and loved it. I love that the price - 10$ a month includes shipping. I had some financial card fraud issues and had to get a new card and the customer service via email was quick and courteous. I wanted to make sure I got my October box no problem.


This months box that I got included: two Benefit trial size cleansers, a mini Color Club nail polish in "Insta-this!" a very bright blue, a red Twistband, a Larabar mini, Dr. Jart BB cream sample,  and make up remover q tips.

 It's so nice getting a package or letter in the mail. I enjoyed the foamingly clean wash it has a nice scent to it. I love that I get travel size products since I go to Atlanta for the weekend 1-2 times a month to visit BF. They are also great for  after the gym. I'm a Philosophy purity die hard- I've got the jumbo bottle back home and a foaming medium size bottle here. If I wasn't I'd consider getting a full size Benefit cleanser.

I had read about twistbands online and ordered them via Birchbox in August since shipping was free. I love them! They are $$$ but they don't cut off your circulation on your wrists and the look cute too. My only complaint is that the knot isn't at quite the right place for my hair (ie size of the loop). I like to wrap my hair ties around three times and it only goes around twice and doesn't stay in place super easily. For sports like swimming or working out I wear my scunci stay put hair elastics. For going out/etc I wear twistbands.

I haven't tried the make up remover q tips yet. I like the nail polish- it's a color I wouldn't pick out for myself normally. I haven't eaten the larabar. I love the BB cream- I've seen posts about them on some beauty blogs I follow. This one is awesome. It's 35$ for one oz- and made outside the US. I opted for a cheap option Maybelline BB cream at Walmart. I bought some brushes from Ulta to apply it vs my fingers or a sponge (sponges absorb most of the product anyway).

My basic makeup routine is: wash face. Put on acne meds if needed. Put on sunscreen on face, neck and top of hands. Apply bareminerals foundation and finishing powder. If I am "trying" I will add eyeliner/eyeshadow and mascara. If I'm going out to dinner or something I will then add BB cream, and highlighter powder.

I also tried the Julep maven for a penny and got two polishes and some pedi foot cream. It autocharged for Oct- wasn't too happy since my finances are strained. I cancelled fairly easily but still got charged for October full size box (20$), and it's been shipped. I hope whatever is inside is worth 20$.

I visited the BF in Atlanta and discovered Sublime Donuts. OMGSH the best donuts- (not simple donuts).

I love the cinnamon swirl. I've tried : Reeses, Nutella, Orange dream star, Chocolate chocolate, Cinnamon swirl with cream cheese glaze, Oreo, strawberries and cream. They have a balsamic one and bacon one that seem interesting. They do offer a 20-50% off student discount if you show id and pay in cash. I appreciate that since these donuts are not cheap. 2-4$ per donut.

I had some hand pain at the end of July from knitting for too long on too small needles (US size 1's) for socks.... It was an awful three weeks of no knitting. I felt useless. I'm having pain in my index finger joint now- I'm working on two socks both on Size 1's. I think I need to swatch for a sweater made of worsted. I feel a bit of pressure to use up my Blue sky alpaca silk. I have 6 balls wound. I got it when I was newbie and wish the shop owner had forewarned me of alpaca's properties before I spend 70$ on it. Can't think of anything to make with it really. I also have two balls of laceweight from Tanis Fiber Arts. In a dark purple and a lavender for the Ombre Sweater which is knit with two strands held together from both balls (a bit of a challenge- pulling from the inner and outer from two different balls). I had heard on the Knit Girllls podcast how not to wind yarn until you're definitely going to start knitting it immediately because the yarn stretches over time..... I want to make something worsted to take the pressure off my hands. I'd like to try a sock or scarf knitting continental style (English). I learned the technique at the Unwind Getaway 2012. I won't be going this year since I'm saving for my study abroad trip extension to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

I've been loving nail blogs! I now look up nail colors on my phone to see swatches on real nails before purchasing. I've been dying for the Butter London Dodgy Barnett from the fall collection. It's a silver linear holographic polish. Expensive but I had coupon.

I also picked up some new Zoya's (my favorite brand!) they were buy two get one free, and some sale polishes. One of the Zoya's is a jelly, meant to be layered. I am a big fan of special effects polishes like holographic, glitters, and duochromes. I definitely don't own many neutrals, pinks or browns/greens. I saw an awesome blog post on how to store your nail polish and am working on mine. I went to the container store at the mall (OMGSH you will spend hours inside if you love organizing things... You've been warned).

I wanted a clear shoe box for nail polish storage and a clear jar for yarn scraps. What did I walk out with: a water bottle brush, funky ice cube tray, three flour containers, 2 shoe boxes, a hanging belt organizer, a small plastic box. My collection fits in one shoe box now. I've got about 12 polishes (not that great ones since I left them) in Kansas City still. I want to add a green to my collection. I'll be wearing the new ones over the next few monthes. I schedule a gel manicure at Ulta prior to flying out to Atlanta for our anniversary. I have literally not had a mani or a pedi in over a year... I was going to get a pedicure but realized my heels didn't show my toes (so that's pointless). I'm going to try painting over the original gel color after a week of wear. I've read that you can do this and remove it with a non acetone remover and the original gel polish color remains intact.

I did some cool Georgia tech themed nails for Family Weekend. I also have done polka dots with embossing tools I bought from Michael's. The top row of polishes were 50 cents to 2$ each. I got one Zoya free and saved 3.50$ over my total purchase.

I have an app recommendation for you iphone lovers. DOWNCAST- 2$ worth every penny. If you listen to podcasts- I listen to some NPR podcasts, Savage Love, knitting podcasts and my churchs' podcast. You can listen while opening other programs and it takes up a lot less storage on your phone. You can set to download and refresh feeds only on wifi and manually (when you want). Playing them does drain the battery which is why I am hoping to get a refurbished Ipod touch in late October. I want it for only listening/viewing podcasts and skype/facetime with the BF. So that way I don't have to charge my iphone twice a day.

I have completed one Anklet sock using Koigu KPPM. I am also working on Business casual sock pattern from Tanis Fiber Arts using Sunshine yarns in Alice. I ripped out my half done cuff of the Jaywalker pattern. My stitch count kept changing round to round and I just hated it.

 I found this article in Real Simple and took a picture. I didn't have shoe box lid to cut in half so I used part of an Amazon box. It worked almost as well I think!! 

My version 

I'm part of an online research forum and did a laundry study (marketing basically ) in August. That was fun and I took a survey that month about a deodorant study coming out. I was selected and now I get to use an unlabeled deodorant for three weeks, recording the number of times per day I use it and then sending it back to the forum company at the end. I have two visits with the BF during this time so I hope it works. It smells like manly spicy which I don't care for at all! No reaction to it yet. Bf and I are going to Bacchanalia for dinner for our one year anniversary. I'm very excited. I've gotten his  present box complete. I'll post pics of some of his gifts once he's gotten them. It's a mix of funny items, sentimental items, and fun items. When he visits me in Charlotte we are going to the hot air balloon festival! I am pumped. Always have wanted to see them take off and land.

Hope to be updating more regularly. :)

xoxo
Kaitlin

Socks complete!

Well. I have a knitting injury-- tendonitis in my right wrist (I am a thrower). I have been taking naproxen resting it (not knitting for a week was so hard), and wearing a brace at night so it doesn't get bent in weird positions. I have finished my SOS KAL Hermione's Everyday Socks

They are were knit on Size 1 Bamboo circulars (cuff down 2 circ method), Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in The Bella's Lullaby Colorway

Project Page here

I have finished the heels of one pair of Afterthought Heel socks! They fit me but I already have a pair in the same yarn so I believe they will be going to my Grandma for Christmas. Last year I gave her a certificate for one pair by next Christmas. Haha. I am hoping to swatch for the Rocky Coast Cardigan! Since it's knit on larger knitting with worsted weight yarn it should be better for my wrist. All I have knit this year is socks on those size 1's....

I also had some stash enhancement:

Lollipop Yarns  in Pretty Pretty Princeess. You've got to be ready for her updates (Sundays 7pm EST). The page was sold out in about five minutes. I had to make a quick decision between Pretty Pretty Princess and Zing, a purple and black color way. I think I made the right choice.

love!

I picked up some great accessories for my college id and my best friend's belated birthday present. C goes to KU and loves her ADPI sorority.

So I got a custom piece from The Southern Stamper Etsy Shop. She was great to work with- came up with multiple options and was super fast at shipping.

And for myself I got this adorable owl from Badge Blooms

Super cute!


And cat pics of the week.

xox
K

Photos of FO's for Ravelry

Some of my FOs for 2012: Socks

Bella's Lullaby Socks 

Two at a Time two up socks! 

Caroline's Vanilla Socks. Made of KP Felici in Berry and some leftover cream fingering yarn. 

One of two afterthought heel socks using some Cascade Heritage sock yarn. I have another pair in Regia sock one of the pairs will be gift for my Grandma. 

Identify this shawl?! Help :)

WWW:

It's Work in Progress Wednesday--- I am asking anyone in cyberspace out there if they know who the designer/the name/what e zine this pattern was published in??? No copyright infringement intended- all I have is a screenshot of this beautiful shawl from my phone.

I'm still working on the Hermione's Everyday socks....

For more WIPW visit Tami's blog: www.tamisamis.blogspot.com

Thanks 

Kaitlin 

It's been too long !

Well. I've been a terrible blogger.... I tend to read other's on my feed rather than post myself. I am in desperate search of a shawl pattern that was mentioned on a podcast (I think video podcast maybe the Knit Girllls) about a month ago..... It is in a e-zine internet online pattern magazine format and I CAN'T remember the name of it or the magazine. :( It is gorgeous and I want to do it for a wedding shawl one day far far away..... It makes my heart break that I didn't write it down. It's for the summer 2012 collection I believe of this e zine's premiere issue. I did take a screen shot of it on my cell phone from  I think the designer or another blogger's site, no copyright infringement intended.

If anyone knows what the name of the pattern is or anything please let me know!!!

Here's the photo screenshot of the amazing shawl:








I have two pairs of vanilla socks off the needles finished minus the heels (afterthought). Only other thing on the needles is a pair of "Hermione's Everyday Socks" by Erica Lueder made from Bella's Lullaby sock yarn from Sunshine yarns. It is working up beautifully- somewhat striping but not ugly pooling. The only WIP's I own now is a crochet scarf "Waves" I began a year ago--- it's MGYC yarn and ripping it out is very difficult so it's half frogged right now. I want to make a pair of "Jaywalkers" with rainbow Knit Picks Felici yarn. I also have two pairs of man socks to knit by Christmas- one for my Grandpa and one for my boyfriend Ryan. My mom sponsored his yarn it's a beautiful green.   I gave my Berrocco comfort lavender sweater pieces to Sandy from Charlotte Yarn to have her seam the shoulder's, sleeves and front. After that I'll need to add buttons and it will be wearable. I got a great project bag from ruddawg on easy. It has cheerful bird print fabric with a fleece bottom and drawstring top. I love it- and how affordable it was. I can't wait to put a new pair of socks inside to live. I am pondering buying a bag from Jordana paige tomorrow during the sale. They are selling imperfect bags for 50$ each not including shipping with all proceeds to benefit the Preeclampsia Foundation. The only large knitting bag I own is a Namaste bag that's no longer manufactured. I like it and how it has the pegs to stand up on on the bottom of the bag. I have successful stuck to my yarn diet  for ALL of 2012 minus one skein of Malabrigo lace souvenir yarn from Wild Fibre yarns in Savannah, GA. Plus the two skeins for Ryan's socks (which I didn't purchase and are for a gift so I feel like they don't count....). I have two long flat Sterilite containers full of yarn, one large tub full of crap craft yarn, and two fabric cubes of yarn in my closet here in Charlotte.
 Looking back at my knitting goals post I haven't done any of it. Haha. It's been a sock year- with my Spring internship at the Charlotte city club I was GO GO GO working 30-40 hour weeks plus 10 hours of JWU work and an accounting class I didn't get much time to sleep let alone knit. I will never forget the double wedding from hell- a 17 hour day ending at 1am. Now that it's summer I've got one online english class, lifeguarding and SA work. It's definitely easier. I am not looking forward to balancing four classes and two jobs for fall trimester. Turns out acc. to google- for every college credit hour  a student should study 2-4 hours outside of class. That means 36 hours of studying. I laughed at this! In the height of accounting class/lab I studied about 6 hours a week max. I do want to get straight As so I may implement more studying. I have a math class, event planning, macroeconomics, and life science. The science and math are freshmen level courses, I'm a junior so they should be relatively easy. They tend to involve online work which I don't enjoy. I feel for my boss, the Facilities Manager, at JWU Charlotte- because due to the DNC 2012- they must house about 500 police officers in the dorms. They will be leaving on a Friday night with freshmen students coming to move in the next morning at 10am. That not only means a ton of housekeepers will be needed in the middle of the night but the maintenance as well. It will be crazy but not as crazy as having the students moving in during the actual DNC in my opinion. I will traveling to Atlanta via Megabus at the end of August through that week to avoid the 50,000 people. :) I am interested to see how my trip goes. It cost me: 5$! That's right- 5$ for roundtrip bus travel to Atlanta with AC/wifi/ and luggage storage. The travel time is estimated the same as a car 4-5 hours (but will probably take longer due to traffic) each way. Still driving cost 70-85$ depending on gas prices plus 8 hours round trip driving time. Flying is about 150-200$ roundtrip, I got a deal for a flight in October for 100$ total. The flights an hour which is nice and short. Train travel is the most expensive 90$ each way.... and it takes a long time...

If the Megabus trip goes well it will be my go-to travel choice to visit Atlanta and DC. The boyfriend plans to use it to visit CLT as well. Depending on how far in advance you purchase, day of wk/# of seats already booked: travel costs range 1$-40$ round trip with a 50 cent booking fee. The company saves on costs by not having designated terminals for drop off, they drop off on a side street at major transit hubs i.e. CLT transportation center / Marta transit center in ATL. I've always wanted to be a regular traveler- enough that the flight attendants or drivers get to know me by name. So maybe that will happen over the next 16 months that BF's in Atlanta and I'm in CLT. Pretty excited to experience the Atlanta dining scene- there's over 60 food trucks. Charlotte has about 10 not including dessert/ice cream specialty trucks. An aquarium wedding would be awesome- bet that costs a fortune. haha.

I will be in my hometown of KC in a week! The bf is traveling with me- can't wait to see how he and my dad get along. hehe- My dad is super awkward/not super social. My family is teeny tiny and mainly women so my four cousins (that's total number of cousins people) are girls and I'm an only child.


If you're looking for some great podcasts to listen to/watch I highly recommend: Video: Wolfe Farms, Knittin on the Fly, the Knit Girllls, Studentknits (she's based in England- and has the loveliest accent. Audio: Subway knits, Knit Picks, 2 Knit Lit Chicks. I am thinking of starting one.... I have rock band on my laptop which acc to a google search is a good program for audio podcasting. I still don't really get the RSS feed details and computer language.. so we'll see.

I am also addicted to nail polish- it's been trending this spring on Pinterest etc. I think having nicely done nails make knitting more fun. I painted mine in Nicole by OPI (bought at Target) in Mer-maid for each other with two coats and a Zoya sparkle topcoat. I painted them Saturday and they started chipping monday. I did go rock climbing - so I blame that. They have stopped me from biting my nails for a record 4 days. The color is vivid and almost holographic- it changes from blue to green depending on the light and angle.

Indoor light

 Now in natural light

This is the unknown shawl- if anyone knows what the pattern name designer or ezine it appears it PLEASE inform me!! 

Hermione sock

 My awesome small sock project bag from Ruddawg on etsy (check out the clearance section if you're a poor college student like me)

 And now.. my girl Paprika. She has a weird thing for knocking over cups. I got up and she got mine.

 Her favorite box to sleep in since she was a kitten- my lil present

 Taking the photo made her head pop up!

XOXO
Kaitlin

Birthday/ WIP WED

It's WIP WEDNESDAY!!! I don't have a picture of mine... 

Check more out at Tami's Ami's

Well. I am twenty today. It is crazy. I apologize for taking so long to post. :( 

I am almost done... with my stripy Katia sock yarn socks! They are my WIP, second pair of one toe up two circ's method,  which are for myself. 

I have a gift FO, Jane's socks. I used Silver's sock class for one toe up sock on two circ's method. I did seed stitch, worst idea ever, on the foot section and classic ribbing for the cuff. They fit me, I'm the one modeling and hopefully fit her slightly larger feet perfectly. One perk of a bf: handy cameraman for all important sock modeling. Pretty sure he laughed a lot while I posed.... Sorry it comes with liking a knitter. BTW: I am loving Yarn Harlot's days of gifts for knitters. My favorite so far is Sexy Knitter's Tool Tins, on Etsy (reppin KC!). Knitter's Tool Tin

 I'm letting the bf go rogue for Christmas and don't expect anything from him. I am secretly hoping for anything yarn related or Lovespell from VS, so yummy smelling. 

***IF YOU'RE READING THIS RYAN STOP READING NOW I AM ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT PRESENTS SO STOP READING AND DON'T RUIN THE SURPRISE***

He's getting a gigantic box of Goldfish, (I mean it- it's huge), cookies for him and his family, a hat and gloves and maybe some body wash. I haven't decided yet... he said he would use that stuff if someone bought it for him. What do I want him to smell like?! Haha. 

I also have another gift FO, the Botanic hat by Stephen West, for my boyfriend for Christmas. It better fit his head, he's 6'4"... Modeled pictures to come.  I need to cast on his gloves. I'm knitting for him... you all know what  that means. 

YARN CAME! Some Bella's Lullaby and Alice Classic Sock from Sunshine Yarns  and my first Tanis Fiber arts  purchase: Pink label lace weight in Grape and Lilac. I'm knitting the Ombre Sweater  for the January 2012 KAL. Check it out on Ravelry! Paprika modeled with it. 

 I'm a big lover of free birthday stuff. I got this holiday package from Luna Bar Co for being on their email list. Sbux free drink. Along with free burger from Red Robin, free Firehouse sub, free Caribou drink, free Baskin Robbins, Free TCBY, free Rita's (which I can't use because their location is closed for winter!), BOGO Coldstone BOGO Orange Julius and free breakfast sandwich w drink from Einsteins. 

 My favorite present: Paprika the cat.

I got a mini crock pot and sandwich maker (uhhh where did come from Mom?...), for my birthday. I should start cooking again... 

I am hoping for yarn from Knit picks for Christmas.... I know I have a lot but... I made my wish list so specific and I heard that sometimes the free shipping takes a looong time so I am still wishful. 

Love, Kaitlin!