Knitter in Progress

1. Diva's Fingerless gloves 2. 2.5 Barn Raising squares(pictured one in my leftover Clapotis yarn and one in my Three Irish Girls yarn which also doubles as a project towards Project Spectrum 4).

Monday: Yoga--skipped Tuesday: Core Synergistics Wednesday: Plyometrics--skipped Thursday: Stretch Friday: rest, actually out playing with friends Saturday: Yoga Sunday: Cathe's Step Blast First--I DID IT! I completed three months of P90X Lean. I started on December 26 and finished on March 29. Weight: lost 7 pounds Waist: lost 2 inches Hips: lost 2.25 inches I missed three workouts total in the whole time. I am more than thrilled with that since two of them were this week and the other was in my second recovery week. I never missed a workout during the training weeks. I even doubled up when I was sick. Working out a mandatory six days a week for at least an hour is a HUGE commitment for me. Thoughts on the program: I LOVED IT! It is as hard and challenging as you make it. If you push yourself every single workout, you will see a difference. I definitely gained a lot of strength during this program. When I started I really wanted to get better at push ups and tric...

I can check a big Challenge off my list as of today: I finished P90X Lean earlier this afternoon. I'll post more about my results and thoughts tomorrow(after a final weigh in and measurements). I have also made a dent in a couple of other Challenges: **Do something for each of the Project Spectrum Compass Points(post on that Tuesday about my "green"). **If I blog for the next two days, I will have 2 of the 3 months finished in my yearly goal of blogging for three total months. Which leaves me ample time to get another month in. **I am almost finished with Provence Sampler--hopefully by the end of April.

Color? -or- Black and White? You can't say neither. I know that chart may not be everyone's cup of tea but I LOVE it. I just don't know which I love more; although I'm leaning towards black and white. While you're at it check out all her charts , she's by far my favorite HAED artist.

I'm not telling you what it is yet, because I'm not entirely sure that I'm going to keep going with it. It's made with Socks that Rock and it's not a sock or a Barn Raising square. More to come. . .

You Are Coffee You are highly ambitious and goal oriented. You feel like there isn't enough time in your day to get it all done. You are outgoing and creative. You love talking with people, thinking up crazy plans, and then acting immediately on them. When it comes to caffeine, you'd like a refill. You can almost always use an energy boost. Life is too short. You're going to get as much out of it as you can. You live for today. Are You Coffee or Tea?

I have been plugging away at Provence Sampler. Here's how far I've gotten: **clickable thumbnail if you want to see a larger version** I had to frog and restitch G through O on the smaller alphabet because it was slightly off. I'm finished with the alphabets and now I just have the bottom border and the numbers to go. Hopefully I can get done in the next couple of weeks.

Stats: Pattern: Bella's Fingerless Gloves Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Silk(used doubled) Needles: size 5 dpns All done and everyone is happy :)

Monday: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps/Ab Ripper **507 calories burned Tuesday: Cathe's Cardio Fusion **687 calories burned Wednesday: Back and Biceps/Ab Ripper **424 calories burned Thursday: Yoga **427 calories burned Friday: Rest Saturday: Core Synergistics **493 calories burned Sunday: Plyometrics **493 calories burned I'm starting my LAST recovery week this week. By next Monday I will have completed the program!

I cannot believe I have been blogging for four years. I feel like I've grown a lot but I also feel like there is more I could do to explore this medium. It's been fun; hopefully I have another year in me :)

I got three new bags for my Barn Raising squares and sock knitting. And a close up--just because I like the patterns so much :) I got all three from Zigzagstitches and I'd highly recommend them. The bags are very well made, a fair price, and they ship quickly :) I love mine! The chicken bag cracks me up every time I see it.

Bring on the heat, I say. I love hot weather :) ************************************ Waiting for inspiration. . . I have been pondering what I want to do after I finish Provence Sampler. Now, of course, I have plenty of stitching WIPs to keep me busy but, much like knitting, you could always add one more, right? So here are the 5 pieces I'm deciding between right now(and, no, I won't start them all): 1. Rhapsody in Red(Sampler Cove) 2. Thriller(Sampler Cove) 3. Cirque des Circles(Ink Circles) 4. Cirque des Triangles(Ink Circles) 5. Cirque des Carreaux(Ink Circles) Oh, and if anyone can be tempted here are some freebie links from both of these designers: Sampler Cove Freebies Ink Circles Freebies And if you are looking for inspiration check out the Ink Circles Gallery (especially the Cirque des Circles one).

A while back I made myself a pair of Bella's Fingerless Gloves . Well, Little Diva latched right onto those and informed me that she wanted a pair too. Now I made mine with Knit Picks Merino style--Little Diva, living up to her name, picked Blue Sky Alpaca Silk in a hot pink. At first I thought I'd knit them with smaller needles since: (A) Diva's hands are fairly small and (B) the gauge for the yarn is smaller. So I knit this yesterday: That glove fit her fine but I really wasn't pleased with it. So I decided that I would try to double the yarn and knit it again(which I did this afternoon). Much better: This yarn is yummy. So soft, so silky. If they weren't pink I might keep them myself ;) Now I just need to finish the twin(or triplet if you consider that the next one will be the third I knit for this "pair").

. . . a half finished knitting project. Shocking, huh? Actually I started it yesterday and I'm almost halfway done. It's in my Ravelry list of WIPs and wasn't started up until now. Off to bed--it's been a L.O.N.G. day.

Enjoy the day! I'm off to find some Guinness or Killians :)

There is nothing more calming to me than the repetitiveness of stitching or knitting. Basking in the warm sun is calming to me as well. Today I got to enjoy it all :)

Monday: Chest and Back **380 calories burned Tuesday: Cathe's Low Max, Ab Ripper **749 calories burned Wednesday: Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper **444 calories burned Thursday: Yoga **466 calories burned Friday: Core Synergistics **492 calories burned Saturday: Cardio X **296 calories burned **I haven't done Cardio X in a while and it's still just as weak as I remembered :( Sunday: Rest **off today--unless you can burn a bunch of calories sitting in the sitting, knitting and stitching ;)

You Can Change Your Life, But It Won't Be Easy You really, truly want to change. You're just not sure that you can do it. You need a solid plan, supportive friends, and a strong will. Think about times you've made hard changes, and what you did to get through them. A change is in your future - you just need a little help getting started. Can You Change Your Life?

This month's theme for NaBloPoMo is giving(up) and I have been wracking my brain for something I could give up(originally I thought about the Internet but that would not work since I'm trying to post everyday this month--then I thought TV but that's won't work either--too many things I like are on right now). So I have decided to give up eating out for the next week--I may do something else next week. The hardest part of this will be Starbucks. I love me a Starbucks Skinny Vanilla latte a couple of times a week.

Finally a finish. Clapotis: Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Rosehips Needles: size 6 Pattern: seriously, who doesn't know where to find this pattern? Knitty , for the non-knitters out there.

I went shopping in my stash today and pulled out this: I am going to use it for a few Barn Raising squares in honor of Project Spectrum, March, St. Patrick's Day, and Little Diva(she's the reason I picked this specific yarn). It's from Three Irish Girls and it's much more vibrant in person. **a knitting finish is coming tomorrow**

. . .courtesy of the Knitting Crew. They gave me a gift certificate for Heaven and Earth Designs , my favorite cross stitch place, and this is what I got: Winged Things Kells French Filigree QS Exotic Halloween I even have a little left for a rainy day. Thanks again ladies! **oh, and a knitting finish is coming soon**

You Are Teal Green You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have. What Color Green Are You?

Monday: Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps/Ab Ripper **456 calories burned Tuesday: Alt. Cardio **Cathe's 4DS--kickbox warm up/cardio/cool down **245 calories burned Wednesday: Back and Biceps, ab ripper **310 calories burned Thursday: Yoga **399 calories burned Friday: Core Synergistics **449 calories burned Saturday: **off** Sunday: Plyometrics **566 calories burned

When I lived in Hawaii, I loved Crazy Shirts . For my birthday, my husband got me an Obama Surfs t-shirt(which is what is printed on the other side of this one). I.LOVE.IT :) **the husband also got me Rob Zombie's new CD--he knows me too well.

**Finish my P90X Lean Rotation--meeting one of my yearly Challenges **Finish Provence Sampler(since I didn't do it last month). **Work on (and finish) something for this first part of Project Spectrum: Cardinal Directions NORTH (March/April) Color: Green Material: Stones/Gems/Rocks Season: Winter Element: Earth

February was really a roller coaster month here at Casa KiP. There were a lot of personal things--some good, some bad(which I'm not delving into here). All of which caused me to do a lot of reflecting on what I am thankful for in my life. First, my husband. I love this man and no matter what may go right or wrong in our lives I KNOW that we can get through anything together and I'm grateful for that everyday. I'm also thankful that I'm married to someone who sometimes really gets what will make my day: For example, the Terrible Towel and Incredibad CD he got me for Valentine's Day. Those things may not sound romantic but they really made me happy--the man "gets" me what can I say? Second, the kiddos. Diva and Rage. I have no idea how my life would be without them. Very, very empty I'm sure. They drive me nuts sometimes but they definitely make everyday better. Finally, the crew. It seems rare in life that you meet a group of people who can make you lau...

Here's how far I got on the Provence Sampler in February. I had planned on finishing it but I didn't quite get to it. I did make a big dent though. I'm hoping to put some time in on it this month and finish it so I can start making a dent in some of my other WIPs. I did keep going with my P90X Lean Rotation. I finished phase 2 and started phase 3.

Yeah that's right, it's back. I'm going for month two in my Challenge to post for three entire months this year. I really liked the theme this month which is: The theme for March blogging is GIVING (UP). If you choose to blog on the theme, you can write about what you give to your friends, your job, your world, or yourself every day. That "up" in parentheses gives you the option to also write about things you're throwing out, quitting, recycling, or eliminating from your life right now. I think I can actually make that work for me, so here I go again :)

Who is rapidly turning into Big Diva :) Today my baby girl turns 9. It goes by so fast. Have a great day! Big plans today: **cupcakes for school **lunch with Mommy and Rage **family dinner of tacos(Diva's choice) **and, of course, gifts :)

I started my last phase of Lean this week. As of 60 days: **I have lost 5 pounds **I have lost 1.5 inches off my waist **I have lost 2 inches off my hips **I am definitely stronger and I am meeting a lot of the goals I have set for myself as far as strength training goes. This week: Monday: Chest and Back, Ab Ripper **I had not done Chest and Back prior to this week. I really liked it. Tuesday: Alternate Cardio **Cathe's Cardio Fusion premix(48 minutes) **2.5 mile walk with the kiddos Wednesday: Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper **I love Shoulders and Arms. I think this workout and Legs and Back are my favorites. Thursday: Yoga **This workout is definitely helping with stress. It is so nice to be able to focus on nothing but holding positions for an hour and a half. Friday: Rest **I worked out late last night and I had plans today so I'm switching up my rest days. Saturday: Core Synergistics **I don't know what it is with this workout lately but I feel like I'm draggi...

Here's the gist, as per Lolly's blog post: NORTH (March/April) Color: Green Material: Stones/Gems/Rocks Season: Winter Element: Earth EAST (May/June) Color: Yellow Material: Wood Season: Spring Element: Air SOUTH (July/August) Color: Red Material: Metal Season: Summer Element: Fire WEST (September/October) Color: Blue Material: Glass Season: Autumn Element: Water I like this version of PS. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute a little something to it this year.