Quarantining… a new normal.

Well, this year has definitely proved to be completely different then year that came before it. On the Eve of 2020, no one thought they would be told that they had to stay at home for the majority of the year, wearing masks when they leave the house or hunting for toilet paper like it was Carmen San Diego!

Our worlds, as we knew it, where turned upside down in March. We all had hopes that it wouldn’t last until the summer. Then summer came and went. Most playgrounds and pools were off limits for the kiddos due to the risk of contracting COVID-19. We hoped that when the kids started back at school, they would not have to go through the mess that was thrown at them at the end of the last school year.

Thankfully our school district gave the parents three choices for how we wanted our kids to learn this school year. Traditional, Hybrid (2 days in school and 3 days virtual) or full on Virtual. We chose to do Virtual for our TK student and Hybrid for our 3rd and 4th grader. This schedule worked best for our family. The start and stop times of the different schooling options that were chosen have made it possible for me to be able to help my kids if they do need help.

You’re probably wondering why I am allowing my kids go to school… well, we believe that our school has put forth amazing efforts to make sure that our kids are safe. They have smaller classes, desks spread apart with plastic walls put up around every desk, sanitation stations located all around the school. Face masks are required and they gave face shields out to the students as well. That way they can put them on when they are eating since you obviously can’t wear a mask while eating.

My kids are pretty comfortable with wearing face masks since we do take them out into public a couple of time a week. They know to wear masks properly at all times and wash their hands/sanitize whenever they can and they do too! Not on hand sanitizer station is passed without my kids using them.

I did get to take the kids to a playground when our county moved out of the Purple Tier back in September/October. My kids were masked up, and knew to be away from other kids that didn’t have their masks on and still being socially distanced while around other kids with masks. We also hand sanitized throughout the time that we were there. My kids were so excited to be able to play and just be kids again. It was so great to see them smiling with their eyes and giggling up a storm.

I started to do my oldest daughter’s Girl Scout meetings in person once we got the go ahead. The girls really enjoyed seeing each other, even know we still had to keep socially distanced. We have done 3 meetings in person now, but…

Our State Governor has placed use back into the Purple tier which means that a lot of things have to be canceled again. The schools will remain open but I had to switch my Girl Scout meetings back to virtual. I knew this was going to happen due to it being colder, but I was really hoping that it wouldn’t. I wanted the country to prove me wrong. Really crossing my fingers to get back out of this Purple Tier! I’d like to start turning my world back to the “old” way of doing things.

We are now just one month away from 2021…. lets see if we can pull our country together and make everything better. I’m not saying to cross your arms over your chest, nod your head and PooF… everything is better. I would just like to see people take things a little more seriously. Stop fighting against people and just stand together to over come this. My family would like to see their friends and relatives again.

First Ever Baby Sweater, Thanks Melody’s Makings!

When I found out that my Sister-in-law was having a baby, I just had to make something for her! Usually, I would make a blanket or a girly romper and booties. But this time I had to make something different…. she was having a boy! Yay!! I haven’t had a little itty-bitty boy enter my family in awhile. I was beyond excited!

Then, I started to freak out… what should I make? I live across the country from them so, I didn’t know how the weather is going to be. I didn’t want to make something that wouldn’t be used. Then, I remembered that Melody’s Makings had done a Create-a-Long with a little sweater!

Lightbulb! That’s what I’ll make… Had no idea what colors I should use so I asked my SIL what two colors she liked… Blue and Beige. Sounded like a pretty good combo to me! She wasn’t sure about that since she didn’t know why I was asking. I told her to trust me. he he he

Since I knew what pattern I wanted to make, I went to the Michaels right away and found some great yarns that went together nicely! I picked a Dark Navy and Beige. They are a Worsted Weight yarn which is what the pattern called for. I grabbed extra skeins of yarn because I was thinking about doing a blanket as well (that I am still working on, I’m sure I will share with you when I am done).

Melody’s pattern was originally written up to be done using stripes, but I had decided to make it a solid color for the body (Dark Navy) and the edging to be done in the other color (Beige). I need a couple of buttons for the neck opening so I heading over to Joann Fabrics. I was able to find buttons that worked well with the body color, but they weren’t exactly what I was looking for. I was kind of hoping for some cute little themed buttons to use on the sweater. But they didn’t have many in the size that I needed. So, I went with blue ones with a little marbling to them.

When it came time to starting on the project, I decided to work on the 0-3 month sized sweater instead of the newborn sized. I just don’t like taking chances on the size of the babies when they come out. I’ve made some hats in newborn sizes and they turned out to not fit their babies very long because the baby was born much bigger then the “normal” newborn size. It does hurt a little knowing that you put all of that time into something that wasn’t used because the baby grew out of it too quickly.

When I finished up the little sweater I wrapped it up and sent it to my SIL. She absolutely loved it! I was so proud of the work that I had done, being that it was my first sweater. I look forward to the next one that I get to work up.

Please let me know what you think of this itty-bitty sweater. Would you make one using this pattern? How about the colors? Did Mama pick a good color scheme?

Here is the Ravelry link to Melody’s Makings pattern! Be sure to share your finished piece if you make one!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/21-days-to-sweater-success–crochet

Crochet Pattern Designing

Last year, I released my first ever crochet pattern on Ravelry.com! (In case you don’t know, it’s a member only site for crochet and knitting patterns. So, you must sign-up with them in order to browse their collection.) It’s something that I have been wanting to do for awhile but I have never actually finished one. It was part of my “doing something for myself” thing that I am trying to do every day.

Actually, a couple of years ago I was in a creative link group where we had to decorate a Target $1 tree and post how we did it while including the links to the pages of the other people in the challenge. It was pretty fun! For mine I created a crochet cover for the bottom of the tree. It was a pretty easy pattern . That is where I started thinking about over things that I could make/design.

The two that I have created and put on Ravelry, are both mug hugs (something that you wrap around your mug so that it stays warm and doesn’t burn your hands). The first one was a free pattern and the other was a paid pattern. I’ve had a bunch of people download the free pattern which is pretty exciting. I hope to be able to get more people to purchase the pattern as I upload more things that I design. I know that it will be a slow process. But I have faith that they will do good.

My first pattern is called the Simply Sweet Mug Hug. It’s a simple design that just uses the Single Crochet Stitch and Chains. It’s very basic but quick to work up. You can easily complete this while watching your favorite afternoon show or waiting for dinner to cook in a crock-pot!

You can tell that this was my first design because the image isn’t that favorable. I wish that I had taken better photos of it to use for advertising purposes! Maybe I will redo that in the somewhat near future…

My latest one is called the Mossy Love Mug Hug. This one features the moss stitch which is still a basic stitch and easy to work up. It works great with variegated yarns because of the texture of the stitch. That is why I used this yarn by Red Heart.

I created both of them to be used as stash busting projects so, that left over yarn, from that blanket you made three months ago, doesn’t go to waste! Because we all know how much extra yarn we have to hold onto because we don’t want to waste it.

You can follow the links to find them on Ravelry.com (you will need an account to view them).

Simply Sweet Mug Hug

Mossy Love Mug Hug

Please keep an eye out for more patterns, as I have been dreaming up a lot of new designs. I just have to get the time to sit down and work them up!

Doing something for myself… what does that mean?

After our third daughter was born, I had to give up a lot of things in order to take care of three girls under the age of 5. It’s not like I didn’t try to keep this things going, I really did. It was just really hard to keep up with anything that I tried to do with so many people that I had running around.

No matter how much I tried there just wasn’t enough “free” time for me to do the things that I liked. I would try to read a book after I had them all in bed sound a sleep. But I often found myself waking up a few hours later with my book either on my chest or on the floor next to my bed and drool dried to my face. I just couldn’t seem to get past two or three pages even though I love to read! I used to read tons of books. I was just too tired to follow through with anything. No matter what it was or how much I wanted to do it.

So, if I didn’t have the time or energy for that I really didn’t have time to do any sewing or crocheting. I would start project after project, but none of them would get finished. I tried, I really did. I couldn’t get them done during the day because I had to keep stopping to take care of the kids. I would get a project out, convince myself that today was the day that I was going to get something done! Than I would hear “Mommy, she drew all over her self with a marker!” or “Mommy!! The baby stinks!!” or my favorite “uh-oh!” followed by the footsteps of children scattering.

During that time, I found myself getting into emotional states of blah. I didn’t feel like myself anymore. All I had known for three years is doing everything for everyone else. Stuff like knowing what extra stuff I had to bring when leaving the house with all of the kids. Staying up late to finish the chores that I normally would have done during the day. Life was just one blah me day after another. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life. I love my children. I love my husband. I just felt like I didn’t know who I was anymore.

That’s why I had decided that I am going to try to do at least 20 minutes of stuff for me every day. It doesn’t matter what that 20 minutes entails as long as it was something that I wanted to do for myself. It could be so simple as taking a nap in the afternoon, working on one of the many WIPs (Works In Progress) laying around my desk, reading one of the many, MANY books on my shelf or writing a blog post.

Since I started doing this, I actually feel a little weight taken off my chest. I feel like I am re-gaining a little bit of me and I feel like a regular person again. That is a great feeling to have.

I know that this is a common issue for a lot of parents out there. I have talked to many of them about the same kind of topics. Often I hear the same things, they are just too tired to do anything at night after chasing kids around all day, cleaning and cooking.

I think that a lot of us Parents get caught up in the every day family life. It’s good to step back and ask yourself what do you want to do today? Not your spouse/significant other, not your kids, but you…. what do you want to do?

Even for a brief 20 minutes a day. Do it for your sanity. Because it will make your soul happy which in turn will make the next day better and the people around you happier because they can tell you are too.

Blanket Sizes…

It’s the rainy season here in Southern California which means that it’s the perfect time to work on blankets. I mean, who doesn’t like snuggling up on the couch with a hot mug in your hand when it’s chilly? So, why not grab your crochet hook and start crocheting one!

The project is always on my lap when I am working on it, so it works as a way to keep me warm while I work on it. I mean, you have to make sure it serves it’s purpose right?! Like baking… you HAVE to taste test before you let other people try your baked goods!

I’ve made a few blankets in my time, but I never know how big to make them. I follow some patterns, which give you a finished size. But the ones that I just make up as I go, those I never know if I make the right size. Everyone that I have given one to always says that it’s perfect… but is it really? Or are they just being nice? This is the stuff that constantly runs through my head.

So, I did some searching on Pinterest and found an awesome diagram that Jennifer of A Crocheted Simplicity made, that lists all of the sizes that you would ever want to make! This is aw-mazing!! I have pinned it to my Crocheting Board so I can reference it every time!

I just had to share this fine with all of you! I hope you cherish it as much as I do! Thank you for this awesome piece of wisdom, Jennifer!

Make sure to go check out her site for other amazing crochet things!! https://www.acrochetedsimplicity.com

New Year… New Project!

I’m trying something new this year. I want to make it a habit to do something for me at least 20 minutes a day. I believe this will help with my stress and anxiety issues that I have been experiencing lately. So, to keep track of my progress I have been jotting my personal activities down in my day planner.

Yes, I do still keep a day planner. It helps me keep track of my many, many things that I have going on. Incase you are wondering, my favorite day planner is made by a company called Orange Circle Studio. They have 5 slots plus the main slot for each day and the whole week is payed out in front of you when you have it open. This calendar is perfect for my family since we have 5 members. Each one gets their own slot!

Anyways, back to my original topic! I’ve been working on a blanket but decided to put it down to work on something special for my Sister-in-Law and her Husband since they are expecting their first little one soon! I can’t tell you exactly what it is at this time because it’s a secret! But I can show you a little preview of the first two rows! No colors either because it could give it away!

Sneak Peak at a little gift that I am making for my Sister-in-Law and her Husband!

New Me = Updating Blog

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

With this newly found ambition to work on my blog again, I have decided that it is time to update and clean up my blog a little bit. Most of you should know that I have three girls now instead of two… oops. Hehehe

Guess the name doesn’t work anymore. Now the question is… should I keep the name and just continue with what I have been working on. Or should I change the name to something else? If I change the name then I have to change sooooo many things! I would have to redo my blog, email, Etsy, Facebook and everything else that I had set up for previously for my Blog.

That’s a lot of work and it might confuse anyone that might be following me. Do I chance losing some of my followers for something so little as a name change? Something to ponder… but not something that I feel I have to con to a conclusion about right now.

What is everyone’s opinion and thoughts on this subject?

Starting Fresh

It’s been awhile since I’ve worked on my personal stuff. Since having our third child things had to be put on the back burner. Now that she is 3.5 years old I am going to give it another go!

I don’t know how consistent I will be able to post on here, but I am going to really put in effort to do so!

I am working on putting together my official first project post so keep an eye out for it!!

The Benefits of Having Hobbies

Photo Credit: 422737, Pixabay

Hobbies provide many benefits, including increased productivity in other aspects of your life, new friends, and even improvements in health. A hobby can also provide you with a break from a monotonous and stressful life. If you don’t have one, it might be a good time to consider taking one up.

Structure and Balance

A hobby helps you to structure your time by forcing you to spend it wisely. Knowing that
completing the task you’re working on frees up time for a hobby motivates your brain to work faster. Otherwise, without anything other than work to look forward to, your brain takes far longer to complete the same task. A hobby effectively boosts your time management skills. Schedule time for your hobby following work hours, and see if it makes a difference in your distractibility at work.

Having a hobby gives your life balance. When your only interests are your work and personal relationships (two aspects in life that tend to have ups and downs), you don’t have anything that gives you unfailing pleasure and stress reduction.

“Hobbies provide you with pride independent of the ups-and- downs that define your career and your interactions with loved ones,” says Business Insider. A hobby helps you prioritize a work- life balance.

Dreams and Friendships

While you may have once dreamed of becoming a famous actor, you’re probably not starring in the next Hollywood film. Hobbies allow you to pursue your passion in a more realistic setting.
Most people don’t end up working in their dream careers of acting, music, art, or sports. Having a good job doing something you like is great, but you probably still have that itch for your dream, and a hobby allows you to continue pursuing your dream on the side, whether it’s through a weekend improv group or a club sport.

Participating in a hobby gives you an opportunity to meet new people. Making a friend while participating in your hobby means you’re bonding over a shared interest. One study showed that we actually form friendships mainly because we have shared interests with individuals. Friends benefit your life in multiple ways – they help you live a longer and healthier life, help keep your mind sharp, and help you cope with life’s ups and downs.

Health

Maintaining a hobby helps to keep you healthy. Obviously, some hobbies provide physical activity, such as gardening and sports, but all hobbies exercise your brain, which boosts memory and cognitive abilities. Hobbies also combat stress, especially job-related stress. One study revealed that people with creative hobbies recover better from the demands of their jobs.
In fact, the researchers suggested that organizations should encourage their employees to participate in creative activities.

Stress wreaks havoc on your workplace productivity and is one of the biggest causes of lost productivity in the United States, costing companies more than $300 million every year. Even worse, stress also negatively affects your overall health. It can lead to headaches, fatigue, upset stomach, as well as issues with appetite and sleep. Stress can also lead to anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and drug or alcohol abuse and addiction. If left unchecked, stress and its many side effects can contribute to other health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Schedule time for your hobby following work hours and see if it makes a difference in your distractibility at work. You’ll also benefit from its stress-relieving capabilities, and you may even meet a new friend. If you don’t already have a hobby or interest, just try out something new.
You’ll never know if you enjoy baking or pottery unless you give it a try.

Article contribute by: Maria Cannon
Ms. Cannon believes we’re never too young to dedicate ourselves to a hobby. She created HobbyJr to encourage young people to find a hobby they love.

Pattern Test for Sweet Potato 3 Patterns – 07

The latest Pattern Test that I did for Sweet Potato 3 Patterns was the Plum Perfect Footed Leggings. These cute little things come in 11 different sizes! That’s right, I said 11! This means that everyone in your family can have a pair!
Infant/Toddler Sizes: 0-3 Month / 3-6 Month / 6-12 Month / 12-24 Month
Child Sizes: 3T-4T / 5-8 Years / 9-12 Years
Teen & Adult Sizes: Small / Medium / Large / X-Large

They also have the option of doing either a plain legging.

Or, you can add the attached foot part on it!

Wouldn’t this be perfect for dance class or just lounging around?!
Another fun thing about this project is made with a fun new stitch! I LOVED doing this stitch and it was totally faster then doing a straight up single crochet stitch.

You can get this pattern here: Ravelry | Etsy | Craftsy
Make sure you head over to her Fan page too! Sweet Potato 3 Patterns