Crafting update

A lot of crocheting has been happening. I have one project almost done (can't show it until Xmas).
So remember these potholders from previous posts?

So, I had left the red one in Bham during the move but knew how many stitches I had, so made the blue one in Boston. So these are part one and part two. Then, I had to make an emergency 24 hour visit to Birmingham and amidst the travel delay, started working on part 3, the yellow potholder. I finish the yellow one on the flight back to Boston and brought the red one back too. When I measured them, the yellow and red ones were almost the same size. The blue one was bigger.

Bummer. So I made another blue one this week and will keep the previous, larger one for another project.
On Friday, I had a Bones marathon and four episodes later, this happened:

I ran out of green yarn for part 4 of 4, with less than a fifth to go. Noes! I don't have the label anymore but I'm pretty sure this was from Hancock Fabrics, which doesn't have a store-front here. Since I will be going back next week, I will have to stop in and get another skein. Fingers crossed that they have the same green.
So a sneak peak at this project: 4 potholders in the colors (close to) of the Mauritian flag. In the picture, it looks like they are not the same size but they are (or at least very very close). These will go to my cousin who is getting married in December.

I've also been working on another project and after measuring on Friday, I now know that I will run out of that color yarn as well. Also I figured that my gauge isn't right. I increased the number of stitches because I was afraid of the fit and it turned out to be the same length as the pattern. Go figure. 

Weeks 3 and 4 in review

So week 3 featured a UAB reunion with my former classmates. The Drankas hosted and we watched the Alabama vs Miss State game. Then, I got sick. With rest and self-medication, I bounced back in just about 5 days.
Week 4 kicked off well by hanging out with family on Sunday. At work, I had a few exciting projects and I put in a lot of hours. I didn't mind because I was having fun :). But this conversation happened (my cube is close to my boss's office):
Boss: Kajal, you are working too many hours. Just because Tom isn't here doesn't mean that you spend all your time here. You need to find a balance.
Kajal: hmmm...I'm doing fine. Plus I figured I can bank all my hours now and next year when Tom is here I will leave everyday at 3 pm.
Boss laughs and says okay.

I got a free flu shot and health screening on Tuesday. Because of health issues in my family, I was worried but my cholesterol and glucose levels were normal. Woo hoo! UAB BFF Kedria convinced me to register for 6-week fitness classes: starting in the first week of November, I will be doing yoga, boot camp, and Pilates at work. I ate mostly well this week (today and Friday night were the exceptions).
First seared salmon with steamed veggies (sprinkled with a little bit of cheese). There were two portions of salmon so it was dinner and lunch.

 Then I made steak, sliced with steamed veggies drizzled with Hoisin sauce.

 I still had two more portions left, so one went with Ramen (my mom wouldn't let us eat noodles plain, so we always had noodles with veggies and protein). Yes, Ramen isn't low carb but I was craving it.

 




What I am grateful for: my in-laws. I received this amazing assortment of spices (13!) as a housewarming gift and it goes hand in hand with my low sodium diet. Pleasoning seasonings are low sodium alternatives for great dishes.

Also, my mom-in-law was great at calming me down today after having scoured 6 stores for winter boots. I am totally clueless as to what to get. I have dress boots and comfy boots (they are warm with no traction) but not a utility boot. Do I need the down boots or with super duper thinsulate? Ahh...was so ready to give up. Oh, why am I looking now? I was told that now is the time to shop when the inventory is still up because once the snow comes, everyone starts to shop and the selection will suck. Plus stores are already thinking about spring (apparently).

Friday bits

So it's no joke that the new job wants to keep me sane/healthy. I will elaborate more in the next week in review but for now let's just say that my boss told me that I work too many hours. So I left work early-ish @4:30 this afternoon and stopped by the Home Depot (yes, i know that I probably shouldn't shop there because of their data breach stuff). Why you ask? Well, if you know me, I like being prepared. I've always had DIY emergency kits in my car and at work and of course our camping gear fits that category. Having never lived in the north, I don't really know what to do about winter. I know I need a shovel. The following text ensued:

Kajal: are gardening shovels the same as snow shovels?
Tom: No (I imagine Tom shaking his head and laughing at the same time)
A few minutes later,Tom: I'll be there soon and I will choose one. I know which type to get
Kajal: ok. I was told I need a small shovel for the car. Would it be better to get that online?
Tom: you don't need a shovel in the car (Still probably shaking his head)

Should I ask him how many pounds of cat litter I need or the electric snow blower thingy that's in the infomertials? The >$150 snow boots? How about the super huge winter coats that make you look like the Michelin man?

Happy Friday!

Week 2 in review

Second week here, first week of work. I was reminded that life is good:
A green cardigan, a parting gift from BFF Kedria,

Finding a good deal on nude Nine West heels, 

A co-worker who got me this after I mentioned that in the move, I had forgotten my travel mugs in Birmingham:

Finding a Raising Cane's in Boston (super excited about this, even though they are a good 30 mins of driving through crazy Bostonian traffic). They have a fantastic story if you want to read about it (http://www.raisingcanes.com/our-story). The closest one to Birmingham is about 3 hours away.

The Packers and LSU both winning.
I finished part 2 of 4 of potholders while watching the Packers game today. I realized that it takes about 4 hours to make one so I should be able to finish those in time.

And finally cable TV (I've become a junkie), the return of my TV shows, and TGIT (thank god it's Thursday, from ABC with Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder).

Week 1 in review

We survived the 18-hour drive! Since then, I found an outlet mall, a Target, a Trader Joe's, there's a Costco up the street, great people watching spots, and work is about a 10 min commute. I've gotten lost a few times and I'm so thankful for the GPS.
Our balcony has been producing some peppers and our hydrangea had one flower.

I'm currently trying to root it (no, you're not supposed to root from a flowering bud, and yes, you're supposed to check the weather, it dropped in the low 30s overnight the other day - oops!) and if it takes, I will be so thrilled. Yes, it's already sweater and scarf weather and the overnight lows are in the mid 50s, although a warm front is coming up this week.











There was time to celebrate before we gave in to the exhaustion.

And finally a happy - celebrating mom-in-law's birthday two weeks ago in La Crosse.We went to Trempeleau (sp) for dinner on the river. The views and the food were amazing. Happy (belated) birthday Laurie!

 And if you read anything else, check out Kelly's blog post, http://hawkeyegirl.blogspot.com/2014/09/september-is-big-month.html

Madness

Shred Fest happened: run one shredder until it overheats, use the other shredder while the first cools until the second one overheats, take a break, repeat.

Now, onto the pressing question: how to fit all this in one car?

what time is it?

This time (football season):

Crafting lately

Projects: Cowl/Infinity Scarf

Part 1 of 4 potholders (gift for my cousin's wedding, Kelly instructions)

Wordless Wednesday Madness

Tasty Tuesdays

We have tried several recipes lately and they have been delicious:
Jalapeno Dip - if I make it for a party, I have to save some for Tom and this is usually what is left of the party batch (recipe: http://www.simply-gourmet.com/2012/08/183-jalapeno-popper-dip.html)

Pesto Chicken with jalapeno dip topping

Kelly's Surin-Like Coconut Soup (sorry no picture but we absolutely loved it)

Stacy's Beer Can Chicken

America's Test Kitchen Farmhouse Chicken and Corn Chowder, slow cooker