Adventures in knitting

Every time I pick up a new knitting project I try to learn something new; A more efficient way to grip the yarn, a better way to cast on... you get the idea. The thought does occur to me to apply this thinking to - I dont know, say my job - but I digress.

See how great the herringbone texture is, and I love the
soft dove gray color.

A friend mentioned that she was picking up knitting again and modifying this herringbone cowl into a blanket, an ambitious fist project! I loved the texture and was looking for something to zone out a bit with, so I cast on my cowl to be. I guess that means I like to un-knit, as much as I like to knit :/

I looked simple enough - knit 2tog only drop 1, knit 2tog only drop 1, repete. Second row, through the front knit 2tog only drop 1...wait, what? 3 youtube videos later it finally clicked through the front = keep your yarn in back, but act like your purling. Perhaps another glass of wine would help. Yes, more wine...

My Gut and the things it says

Do you ever get the gut feeling were you're just sure about something? I do - all the time. And then I promptly ignore it, brushing it all as silly, or too crazy to be true. With out fail days or weeks later I'm internally chastising myself for not listening to my gut, and vowing nest time to pay attention to my instincts.

Over the past year I've had no less then 20 people randomly tell me to 'listen to my gut' or 'go with my instincts'. Ok universe I get it, I'm listening not. This year will be henceforth known as the year of the gut. From this point forward, when the thought pop's into my head that I should call a friend, I'm actually going to call them. Not brush it off - because I'm 1 of 11 people on the planet that HATES making phone calls, then getting a text the next day that said friend had a crappy night.  Or randomly thinking about great-aunt so and so on the drive home from work, only to hear that was the moment she passed on.

This year, I'm going to care less if that thing that pops into m head is silly, get over hating phone call's, be more open to the longer way home, and just listen to what my instincts say. This year - I'm going with my gut.

I'm turning Hippie

I'm starting a new job this week and had a few extra day's off in between the old job and new one. Like a good 30-something I spent that time googleing this and that. You know what I found out? Vinegar is amazballz. Seriously.

I remember as a kid wrinkling my nose as my grandma cleaned windows and counters with white vinegar...so after a quick google I found that I can ditch the windex (I was out anyway) and clean the windows and mirrors with vinegar (I diluted it to about 50/50 water vinegar...maybe a touch heavy on the vinegar). After 2 crazy dust storms last month my windows were crazy dirty. Normally with windex I'd have to 'pre-clean' the windows, either hosing them off or windex 2-3 times to really get them clean. Now with my vinegar/water solution, just spray wipe and move on. See Amazballz!

Now on to the good stuff. The bathroom. We bought a house this spring and the master bathroom...well lets just say I assume it was used and (not) cleaned by frat boys. Kinda grungy. After repeated cleanings and scrubbings (which I HATE to do) there was still a film of funk that i assumed I'd have to live with till we remodel. Or not... I hosed liberally with the V/W let it sit just long enough to hose down the counter, mirror, sink, and faucet; came back to the bath are got ready to do battle. I used an old bath 'poof' to scrub the walls and tub - but i found that I didn't really need to scrub that much. Just a little where it was 'gunky' and the rest just a quick swipe.

The mirror just wipe with a paper towel, same with everything else. The chrome faucet just gleams! AND the best part - the V/W seems to repel dirt so cleaning is needed less. #WINNING!! 

So the Pro's: 

1. WAY cheeper. 1 gal of white vinegar is like $3, tops. and will last quite a while.
2. totally non-toxic to me, kids and pets
3. takes less effort - double bonus for people like me that aren't fans of cleaning
4. clean less often (that's like triple bonus points!)

So you might be asking - but doesn't you house smell like douche? Well, I don't really mind the smell of vinegar so no. And once the V/W dries the smell is gone. But if the sent really bug you, you can add a few drops of essencial oils or a squeeze of lemon or two. I did add a few drops of essencial oils called creative juice, smells delish! So, what ever works for you...

So to me really the only 'con' is that I actually have to clean... ;)