My week of lame

(i know it's Tuesday... I totally forgot to hit publish instead of save Sunday! whoops! so just pretend its Sunday still :)

What did I do this week? I finished the catio my dad made/provided supplied for my birthday while he hung out with the kiddo. (I promise photos once the weather provides some nice light :)

 I had planned on being done with a friends birthday present, but I got a case of mom brain and did it totally wrong!! So frustrating, as it was the roughest (or so I thought) part of the project. I'd been done too, except I'm doing handles instead of dowels and adding some other fun things to the design. What is it you ask? Well, when it's done I'll show you! :) (for fear the recipient might stumble across this page, but who am I kidding really? Kenna, your the only consistent one reading this thang)

I also started another birthday present this week that I will hopefully get done in time ( these birthdays are on the 30th and 31st btw). This one is knitting, so it's been a bit easier squeezing in a stitch or two while nursing or when she naps (which has been a battle this week, let me tell you. Apparently there is no better bed than mom) but still. What do you think of the colors?

Oh! And one more thing to round out this random post, I finally got around to taking photos of the gloves I made my mom for her birthday last year! I plan on releasing the pattern soon (my first one!!!) and if it goes well you may see more of my designs in the future… A girl can dream though! :p

 

ps: I sold 3 things!!! So excited about that! So it will push those presents back a bit, because money makers take precedent!

Hope you had a wonderful week!! :)

New Years Resolutions- May update!

Updates!
 (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!)
So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it. Here is how I'm doing so far:

• Knit a sweater

I'm into the shaping portion of my sweater, and while I've had a difficult time lately knitting it (or knitting in general for that matter) I am having a great time knitting it! I really like the way it is coming out. I cannot wait to wear it!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

Last post I told you that I opened a Facebook page, twitter account, flickr specific to my blog and informed you of my personal Pinterest and Instagram accounts. And since then I have decided that it was too much to fast, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't even like twitter. :/ So I am stepping back, and while Pinterest and Instagram will be updated still (since they are personal not necessarily related to the blog or shop)

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere  DONE!

I did it! But to be fair, looking back, that wasn't much of a goal. I haven't yet decided what to replace this goal with, seeing as I don't have a great grasp of what is a realistic yet challenging goal to reach for, I will need some time to think about it.

• Learn to cross stitch

A friend of mine who cross stitches has plans to drag me into a stitch-a-long with her, so whenever that happens (I think it's in June) I will begin to conquer this resolution!

• Buy a car

We aren't really any closer, however we are slowly but surely saving money for it. Our goal is to try by September or October to apply for a loan. Fingers crossed!

• Help patrons in Spanish

Since the last update I am sad to say that my time on Rosetta has dwindled significantly. Work and life has been getting in the way, so hopefully once all these trainings and moving and such has occurred I will be able to get back to it!

• Schedule my time effectively 

Put on hold for the time being.

• Get back in "working order"

Put on hold for the time being.

So that's how I did last month, not super impressive, but I'm sticking to my big one, mostly. How have you done?

Lazy Sunday

Lazy Sunday

And I needed it after the week I had! I got to (kinda) decompress today, and I'm looking forward to some afternoon hobbying with John. He'll be modeling and I'll be knitting.

I finished the shark towel order for a former coworker, she was pleased!

Watson had SO much fun at the beach! (I think he was showing off for John).

And Charlie is surly because got a half bath because of an unfortunate accident earlier. 'Nuff said.

Hope your Sunday has been lazy too!:)

What a week

 

Like most cats, Charlie thinks everything we bring home is his if it's left out. Reusable shopping bags are usually his choice, but this tie he settled on a present for mis padres. Guess I have to wash it first now.

Anyhoo, this week has been a doosie. That WIP I shared with you Wednesday I though would have more of my WIP included, but this week has been a busy, hard and tiring one for me.

Why you say? Well, let me explain a little about my job so that this week makes more sense. I work as a Manager at a pool. As far as my title goes, that's it. But in reality I'm more of an assistant manager with the ability to do my supervisors job if need be (say, she went on vacation or got sick) So during the off season (usually mid-September/October-May; hurray So cal weather!) I get limited hours because I'm a part-time employee, and while Dec/Jan really suck, I usually manage the rest just fine. Since I work for a municipality that has more than 1 pool the auditors decide every so often that the big wig managers need to swap every few years or so, so they don't get complacent in their job or do bad things. On top of that, people in my position as asst. managers usually get moved every 1-2 years depending on hoe reliable, hard working and good at their job they are. Some of us even have specialized skills, and they move to locations where that is needed (I'm the swim lesson queen, so I go where lessons need help/are super important).

So now that you know a bit more about my job, let me tell you why my week has been insane. This happens to be a year where not only is everyone moving locations, but some people have left leaving spots open for promotion. So some people are moving up while others are just moving. I'm one of the later, my transfer went through last week and I'm officially at a bigger, busier location with a lot of quirks. Also, both the old manager and the new manager of the facility are filling in for higher-ups this week. This is also the week they were supposed to swap. See where I'm going? Since Tuesday (Monday was a holiday for us! woohoo!) I have been getting double the duties from both managers. They aren't here hardly at all, so I've been making phone calls, fixing schedules writing schedules, getting coverage for unknown reasons, and also teaching classes I'm not certified to teach because there isn't anyone else too. And tot op it off, I've been going into work at 6am (thanks crazy people who have to swim before work) and leaving around 3:34/4-ish. 9+ hour  days are my favorite! (They actually don't normally bother me, but I'm clearly over worked this week)

So I've been waking up way earlier than usual, taking on the responsibilities of 2 supervisors jobs, and also trying to learn how a new facility runs. So that is way my projects have been lacking. I promise they are there, I just haven't had the energy to work on them. :( 

But today and tomorrow are my last crazy days, then I can rest a little, with a more normal schedule. Yay! At least I'm making tons of money right now. :) Thanks for listening to my rant, I hope your Friday is more relaxing than mine!

 

someone is happy I'm home this morning:)

New Years Resolutions- April Update

Updates!
Here is how I'm doing so far:  (PST! Don't forget I would love to hear from you about your own goals (resolution or not) and your progress as well, so that we can help each other stick to it!) So here it is, my list of things I want to accomplish this year and how I am going about it:

• Knit a sweater

I bought this pattern, bought my yarn (I chose Lilac) 

 

I am almost done with the top shaping! (I know it's not the best photo, but I was halfway through a row when I had to run out the door this morning!)

 

I am so happy with how it's turning out so far! I like the yarn a lot, so soft and it glides on my needled effortlessly! 

 

You may see more sweaters in the future if this is how the whole thing goes, but we will see where I am in a month!

 

I am almost onto the 3rd of 11 skeins of yarn. Never have I ever used so many in one project!

• Get this blog consistent traffic

This is a work in progress. As you know I opened the Facebook page. I've also set up accounts on twitter and flickr,  and I plan on using my personal accounts for Pinterest and Instagram too.I am having a bit of trouble remembering to use some of those places for more than browsing and personal use... but at least I got them started. I'm starting to believe I'm trying to do too much too fast, so I might actually hold off on trying to push those other venues and focus on this here blog and shop. I mean, I haven't even added links over on the side bar yet!

• Sell 6 projects on Esty or elsewhere 

Adding to the 1 sale in January, I have another Shark Towel in the works and I made my first ever Etsy sale last month! Totally stoked! I need to update that store with more stuff, but I've been working on birthdays and such... it's a busy time of year for me! At least I'm killing 2 birds with one stone, some of the presents I'm making are prototypes for items I will eventually sell in my shop!

• Learn to cross stitch

Still working on it. I am no closer than last time.

• Buy a car

We had an interesting turn of events in this vein... and they happened this morning! Turns out my parents might be buy a new car too, making John and I the beneficiaries of their used vehicle. SCORE! We need to hash out the details, but lets just say my parents take good care of their vehicles and do not want any of them out of the family anytime soon...

• Help patrons in Spanish

I've now been using Rosetta Stone for a few weeks and I love it so far! Yes it's expensive, but my mom want halvsies with me (It's a goal for her as well) so it wasn't as bad. And I got it on sale. :) I am having a hard time remember to sign on and do the lessons, but the few i have are helping immensely. Bilinguality, here I come!

• Schedule my time effectively

 Being your own boss? Way harder than it sounds. I'm used to have a defined job description or a supervisor that it is a continuing struggle to keep myself on task and motivated. And I do not supervise myself well. Work in progress.

• Get back in working order

This is in line with scheduling my time effectively, I am not good at being my own boss. Due to some personal stuff I've gone easy on this section, but I feel I am doing better. My goal for this next month is to make sure all dishes are done on time, and when I do laundry it gets put away immediately and not sit in the hamper getting covered in kitty fur. (Someone thinks it's his hammock.)

• Start saving for a home

Another one that has had some interested changes. While we are still not currently looking at homes to buy my dad has agreed to look into some first time home buyer incentives and see if we are a good match for any of them. So who knows? Maybe we will get a house this year, anything can happen!

There is the laundry list of goals for myself... I am actually quite happy with the progress! What do you think? How are your goals coming?

Charlie & Watson!

As today is my birthday (happy birthday to me!) I thought I'd share 2 of my favorite guys: Watson & Charlie! Whom I will be spending most of my day with!

These are my fur babies, and I loved them to pieces! (even if they both are a pain occasionally....)

 (I am that crazy lady who walks her cat...)

While I wont get into the stories of either of them today, (I will wait for their birthdays) I do want you to know that they are both rescues. It is something very close to my heart, and someday I will share it with you in more detail. For now, I just want to show them off! :)

Have a fabulous monday!

 

PS: Bonus material! It's my family's dog Flip, he lives with mi padres and is a cranky old man! <3