Saturday, May 25, 2013

Saturday Sampler: Holiday Sales!

Crate and Barrel is offering 15% off through the weekend--I'll be purchasing wine glasses, as I broke yet another one this morning (I thought the clumsiness was supposed to go away when the pregnancy ended?). (Offer code SAVE15)

Burpee is offering free shipping all weekend--if you haven't gotten your garden started, this is a great time to buy your supplies! (Offer code FS145)

The WEBS anniversary sale is going on through the 31st--lots of marked down yarns.

Free shipping and a free "treat" from Clinique all weekend long!

Craftsy is having a sale on select classes all weekend--up to 60% off!--and donating a portion of proceeds to veterans!

Stock up on cheap summer clothes with Old Navy's weekend sale--15% off your online purchase.

Hannah Fettig is having a sale on select Knitbot patterns through Monday! (Offer code SUMMER)

If you have kiddos, shop the Carter's Memorial Day sale--up to 60% off!


Know of any good sales happening this weekend?

Friday, May 24, 2013

WIP (long) Weekend: Pembroke Vest

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I got a nice, long weekend surprise in the mail today: my copy of Botanical Knits. Sure, I already have the ebook, but there's just something about having the print version at hand. Especially since I plan to cast on one of the sweaters this weekend.

Except ...

At some point in the recent past, presumably when I was drugged up and recovering from my c-section, I agreed to have my brother- and sister-in-law come and stay with us for a week.

They'll be arriving this weekend.

The good news is, CP is taking a stay-cation while they're here, so it may actually result in more knitting time for me.

But I doubt it.

Even with limited knitting time, I've managed to make quite a bit of progress on this Pembroke Vest for JJ:


I've learned my lesson about knitting for the present--I'm working on the 12 month size. I'm using some yarn left over from my Rocky Coast cardigan, so when cool weather comes again (I say "again," but to be honest, today's high was 58. Degrees. In late May ...????), we can be a bit matchy.

This is the back of the vest, and I realized far too late that no one looks at the back of a vest, and there was really no reason not to just knit it plain, which probably would've shaved quite a bit of knitting time off this project.

Oh well.

It's working up quickly enough in worsted weight, and I've already started the front. I'm sure JJ can hardly wait to wear it.

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(Had to sneak this photo in, since I missed Wittle Wednesday. His sweater was knit by my sister-in-law!)

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Saturday Sampler: Vegetable Gardening

The weather is finally warming, and that means vegetable garden time! I'm not an expert gardener by any means--I generally just kinda wing it. The result being that of the 6 tomato seedlings I planted in my garden, 4 have died, and I need to go to Home Depot today and buy replacements. Maybe I should've done the research for this post earlier . . .


Guide to when the plant/transplant your veggies.

And some tips for transplanting that I should've read.

Some gardening tips from the queen of everything, Martha Stewart.

How to take care of garden pests.

And how to preserve all that yummy stuff you've grown!

Do you have a favorite gardening tip to share?

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tuesdays with Dory: Horrifying Bug Edition

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This is clearly threatening me.

 Dear Dory:

I've heard that the cicadas are coming again this year. Weren't they just here in 2004? I thought they came every 17 years! Anyway, how can I protect myself?!?

Sincerely,

Terrified in Takoma Park,


Dear Terrified:

It's true, the mid-Atlantic may again be terrorized by cicadas this year. Apparently there are different "broods" of the 17-year cicadas occupying different territories.

Here's a map:


(I was going to add a photo, but Kristen said no; cicadas are too gross to appear on the blog.)

In 2004, Brood X scared the living daylights out of us; this year, it's Brood II, which should be popping up mostly in Virginia, southern Maryland and a random blob in Pennsylvania.

Most of Maryland should be safe, but if you're worried, here are some tips:
  • Carry a fly swatter everywhere, and whack the bejesus out of any cicada that dares to get near you.
  • Go to the beach; cicadas live in trees and the nymphs burrow into the ground beneath them, then climb up and latch on to shed their shells. No trees = no cicadas.
  • Send your goggie out to eat them. I hear goggies love eating cicadas. 
  • Hide inside. They're so horrifying, it seems like they're hanging around all summer, but really, it's just a few weeks, and they should be gone by the end of June.
 And keep your windows shut. They are REALLY loud. 

Good luck, and have a purrrrrrrrfect day!

Dory

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Saturday Sampler: Mother's Day Wishlist

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and in my case, my FIRST Mother's Day! I already know what my gift is (thanks, Amazon, for shipping it without a non-descript outer box), and I'm pretty psyched about it, but here are a few more goodies I wouldn't mind receiving, to make mommyhood a bit easier.
Source: llbean.com via Kristen on Pinterest

It's great to get out of the house, even if it's just to the backyard, and with this, you have a safe, dry place to put baby.




My stroller has a cup holder that's sole function seems to be to spill coffee everywhere. This looks like an improvement.



My brief experience warming bottles of formula when JJ was little and we had to supplement has lead me to the conclusion that a bottle warmer is actually a good investment for any moms using bottles.


Source: purewow.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can no longer find anything, ever. Solved!


If you're back at work, this is a great little gadget for warming your lunch--no more waiting in the microwave line. CP loves it for leftovers.


Source: etsy.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Let's face it, no one's happy about driving a minivan. Perk things up with this!

Source: etsy.com via Kristen on Pinterest

And if baby is having one of those non-stop crying days, mom is much less likely to leave him out for the wolves if he's sporting something cute like this.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Sneak Peek: Site Overhaul


Sloooooowly . . . slowly.

site peek 2 

The new site will feature nice, big photos on the blog, a more organized pattern page, and a lot less sidebar clutter. What do you think? 

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Friday, May 3, 2013

Wound Yarn and other Promises

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Piles of wound yarn hold so much promise, don't they?

I got a bit of winding time in on Tuesday, and wound up half the yarn for my Twigs and Willows Cardigan, a couple skeins of a single ply Madelinetosh worsted weight that I might use for June's Favorite Cardigan, and a big skein of Neighborhood Fiber Co. worsted weight for a yet-to-be-determined sweater for JJ.

I even managed to swatch for the Twigs and Willows cardi:

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I'm using Quince and Co. Owl for this project, their latest yarn. It's a 50/50 wool alpaca blend that's quite soft, but still rustic looking. The color is chamomile, a yellowy-green. So now I just need time to knit the actual sweater.

I'm pleased to report that I have also been making some progress behind the scenes related to MediaPeruana Designs. I'm slooooooooowly working on redesigning the website--I want something cleaner, brighter and more cohesive. Over the course of a few days' naptimes, I managed to create a couple of new graphics and look up--but not read--some instructions on adding custom fonts to blogger. Slooooooooooowly.

I also have 3 design projects in the works, including a full version of the Smooches newborn hat.

Smooches hat

This hat will soon be available in five sizes--kids sizes using sport weight yarn, and adult sizes in worsted weight.

And I can hardly believe it, but it's just about time for Maryland Sheep and Wool again! The event is this weekend, and the MediaPeruana family will be there on Sunday--be sure to say hi if you see us!