Holiday Arts, Crafts and Treats.

{i know i am soo behind - but i am catching up on all the posts i wanted to do!}

I crocheted this slouch hat with a flower on the back for my friend Ileta, bummer it was too big for her head but i LOVED the pattern. I will have to add it soon :) 

 This little crafty is self explanatory. simple and cute.

 I crocheted a forever scarf for my Maui Mama before she was going to Illinois in winter! 

{tradition - every christmas my nanny and aunt vicki would make peanut butter balls and coconut balls, my FAVorite were the peanut butter. AH. so to have a piece of them in my christmas away, i decided to make them myself. they were delicious. ) the recipie i found to do this by myself picture by picture is here.

a little catch up.....(tree farm, decorating the tree)

WHEW! THis holiday season FLEW by, mostly due to us both working retail jobs, and not always having the same day off - but we managed to do some fun FEStive things here and there! We went to this DARLIng local tree farm, started by a mother & wife with a dream to have just that! The family was soo sweet and reminded me of my Aunt and Uncles farm in bellingham "the Kruger tree farm". The tree was different from all trees we've had yet...small, flawed, short and a little week - but we feel in love with it :) SOO fun thing guys, we were able to use our childhood and married ornaments that we have not seen since 2008! Chris also put out the train - but it didn't survive the cats...he tried several times and then gave up. We are still lacking a tree topper and skirt but we will have those next year. I love the holiday season...it means crafts, layering, hot drinks and christmas lights. LOVE it. 

 \

 my advent - finished product to come...

the christmas tree at my work, fashion valley mall..

a day off :)

...sleeping in...

drINKing coffEE....

....reading about potions and monsters :) aka Harry Potter 2.

hangING with my BABes T & P......

....croCHETINg and cooking NEw things

tonight is HOME maDE pizza!! 

.....WAIting for my HUSby to come home to me for Dinn and fOOTball! 

Slouch Beanie :) (with the Infinity Scarf)

tOO cuTe!! 

from my pinterest crafts and things board...

LEVEL: Beginner

MATERIALS: One Skein I Love This Yarn! or any worsted weight yarn

Size J hook

STITCH NOTE:

DECREASE: Yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull up loop in next stitch, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through all remaining loops.

Ch 3 and sl st in first stitch to form a ring

Round 1: Ch 3 (turning chain counts as first dc here & throughout), dc in center of ring 11 times (12 total). Join with sl stitch in turning chain.

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same stitch (increase made), 2 dc in each stitch around ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 3: Ch 3, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next stitch*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in next stitch, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 2 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 5: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 3 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 6: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 3 stitch, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 4 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 5 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 8: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 5 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, 1 dc in next 6 stitch*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Rounds 9-10: Ch 3, 1 dc in each stitch around (WORK EVEN).

Round 11: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 5 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 6 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 12: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 4 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 5 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 13: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 3 stitches, *dc decrease in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 4 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 14: Ch 3, *1 dc in next 7 stitches, dc decrease (see above) in next 2 stitches, 1 dc in next 6 stitches*, continue from * to * ending with sl st in turning chain.

Round 15-19: Ch 2 (counts as first sc), sc in each stitch across. End row by joining with slip stitch in turning chain.

Fasten off.

Infinity Scarf (short version)

INFINITY SCARF

chain 100, slst to join, chain 1 and sc in each 100, repeat until you have 10 rows. fasten off.

next time I'm going to chain 200 or 300 and make an even longer infinity scarf. i used the yarn my friend Sarah gave me for a birthday years ago, i LOVE it. can't wait to make another!! maybe even with a fancy pattern! what do you think?!

Love for baby Coralee :)

I'm often home, a lot of the time....so I craft...Today I thought I would make something I've been meaning to for my cousin's new baby girl Coralee. It's not perfect...and it's not the same as the piece I was modeling it after, but It's my interpretation. I just winged it...ha. What do you think!?! PS. It's suuuper tiny :) So since they don't have a ton of room it won't be an inconvenience :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 10

Day 10: SOMETHING I MADE

a little bit of everything....

oh life. it's been so crazy lately. Chris job situation. horrible. his boss met with him 2 months into working starting off with "i know it's not your fault but....." and told him all these things he didn't do that weren't under his control and these things that weren't communicated even though there would be no other way to deal with them than the way he was taking care of them.....and then "punishes him" by transferring him to a SLOW store 20 minutes from where we live for 6 months while that manager catches up for him "even though she doesn't think she will do any better". Chis is apparently supposed to be a mindreader here. He's had to say goodbye to his friends he just made, the commission that was helping debt and go to a slow, un-populated store for not doing anything wrong?! HELLOOO?!?! WHERE IS THERE SENSE IN THIS?! So like any man being kicked in the balls at his work his pride is hurt and he is really upset he's in trouble for something he didn't do and just dreading every day. It's HARD. to say the least. So since he is at a different store that far away - even though our car is fixed, I am now having to ride the bus to work every shift pretty much. On the plus side I get exercise and help the environment a bit by not driving more than we need to. I am suuuuper happy with my job, I am LOVing the girls and the time there - the days fly by. I LOVE the product. I LOVE that they make their concepts out of recycled material for the most part. I LOVE that there are soo many girls working that I get called often to cover shifts. This last week I worked 6 days. This week I am scheduled 5 days! WHAHOO! Thats a praise. It's still not more than 30 hours but it's getting close. Since Chris works farther and I have to take any shift I can get - we don't see each-other very much. this is hard. especially when a hate for life is there - poor hubbs. so lately I've been tested as a wife - I've failed some and done ok other times. Being understanding, listening, allowing the complaints, allowing the distancing, not nagging etc. It's been kinda a game of twister...we're not exactly in order. ha. It's yet another challenge for Chris and I, and we are doing ok. I think we hit the worst of it - and it's only getting better. So between trying to catch trolleys, busses, coming home at midnight, making dinners and lunches and breakfast, sleeping in, cleaning when i can, reading when i can - I have not been on here or doing my photo challenge as much as I would be :) I like it though. being busy. much better than sitting at home and on facebook all day - then blog, then watch drama and cry ha. oh and I've been making crafts and baking new things too. So. ha. Life is a whirlwind right now.....we are praying for Chris to get into Fashion Valley Mall again. We are praying his pay doesn't differ much so we can keep getting our debt down. I am praying for photo jobs and card sales. Money has also been a tense beautiful issue for us hah. oh man. but lately I feel the Lord totally providing. God is good -and we forget all too much. I have been reading about the famine in Africa and my heart aches for them. I think I am going to put up my cards on etsy - totally revamp the site - and have 25% of my profit go toward them. I can't wait to do this. Even when it's hard to pay the bills we somehow end up buying a coffee or spending money on things we don't need....i love that cards are something you give- and then the money will also be given to those in starvation - it's not much but every little bit helps. I have been reading lots still - I'm reading the mocking jay - of the hunger games - AMAZING books. I love it. - I will be done by this next sunday. Hopefully :) We have been MISSING maui. The people, the ocean the flowers - everything. Ah. Transitions. Here there are so many things though that remind me of Maui. Mainly the flowers :) Today I had off. I got to lay by the pool. Read. DRink coffee. Read in the pool. and I got FRIED. thats an understatement. but I LOVED it all. It was worth it. Ahh felt good to relax. 

{never a dull moment on public transportation - double glasses trying to read the tiny print on his orange pocket bible. LOVEit.}

 yesssssss

{birds of paradise}

My amazing cousin Kelsey and her dear husband Justin had their baby girl Coralee Ruth Martin on Friday August 19, 2011, weighing 7lbs, 13oz, 21in. She is PREcious. I cannot wait to meet this beauty. In december i will hold that precious one. Ah - it made me soo happy on Friday. I am soo happy and so proud of them. Hate that I'm not there - but It's something I'm getting used to. Can't wait to make my gifts for her. :) 

 {happy family of 3 :)}

My baby brother Michael Adelstein is the new up and coming tattoo artist at Old School Tattoo in Bellingham Washington. He did his first tat on August 12, 2011. and its AMAZING. He has been an apprentice for months now - and is finally going to be on payroll, soon! I am so proud and so happy for him. He LOVES it. I can't wait till he can do mine! in 2012 :) I'm going to wait a bit ha. 

 {the stud :)}

 {1st. :)}

{2nd- he's going to shade it next}

My second to oldest brother Caleb officially filed the papers for divorce on August 18, 2011 and in 92 days will be able to start fresh with his life. I've talked so much about him lately - ya'll know how I love him :) This stuff sucks. Point blank. I am hoping those days go by soo fast for him. Oh ya. He talked to the cousins about what happened. I am so proud. He is very brave. 

{bub and mama :)}

My eldest brother is going on dates!! He is not dating one girl but is meeting people he thinks he is interesting and getting to know them!!! AH his nose has been so much in the books for YEARS and finally sees the final award of all that work in the near future (a physical therapy doctor - owning his own company) and feels comfortable about starting a relationship now! Sad thing is he is soo aware with our brother and his friends divorce that he is suuper careful and marriage seems different now. I just can't wait till my boys will meet their loves someday - I have 4 more sisters to gain :) {brother in law's too!}. 

{I wanted an updated photo - he keeps getting more handsome.. :)}

My In-laws JUST had their 29th Wedding Anniversary and my father in law just had his birthday! So I made a little card for him :) We miss them and hope they visit in October like they said they might.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

coming soon.............a bird mobile craft, friendship bracelet craft, continued photo project, cards for africa, happier life situations :) hope! and some new killer recipes :)

Good Morning!

(My cousin Molly in Honduras)

This photo depicts how I feel lately..

pensive...

Life: A cat at each window, both fed and happy. Husband is in a deep glorious sleep.....and here am I. Enjoying the little moments I'll have until I need to do things that are far more important than blogging. Ha, but I'm not going there yet! Life has been sooo on the highway lately, going soo fast, barely stopping for traffic. I have so many things I want to get done wether it be for me or things that need to get done and just can't get caught up. I worked quite a bit this week. Today is 8 days in a row. I had 4 extra hours of work this week for training in coffee from a professional from Portland. Grateful for work,  but I'm tired and feel oh so behind. All I can think about doing is crafts :) hah. Peaceful things! I am going to be the best Granny EVER! hah. I hope I can match up to my Nanny someday. Always doing things, making things - food or gifts, gardening and canning the produce, needlework of every kind, always trying new recipes and going to the park to crab of course :) Those are the things I aspire to do. Right now, I am working at what I would like to call a Coffee Shop but It's far more labor than such. It's a market, in a hotel. So we get the complaints that don't relate to us..and we stock and stock and lift. There is an occasional coffee which I JUMP to make every time, although not much in the 80 plus degree weather. I love that it's local and organic based. I love the coffee - it's grown across the street, and roasted at OUR farm upcountry and is still really great coming from a washington coffee snob. Although the fact that it's a coffee shop, in maui, and it's 80 percent market and 10 percent food I am tired. hah. So thinking about the move coming up (that we are aware of where, just not the timeline yet :) ) I am trying to figure out the best job for me. I LOVE furniture and sales. You can look darling doing so too :) I still LOVE coffee - but not in a market (learned this one!) I have been asking my friends...coffee at starbucks where there is structure and rules (I crave this after being in Maui) or sales like Pier 1. I have been in the coffee business since I was 16, and NO that was not yesterday as some funny old people like to say. I am 24 now. When we move, I want to be able to get a job that I can stick with for at LEAST 5 years. I am the best at having a job per year or less than that....so I really want something I can stick with and excel in and feel confident in as well. hard. So this is going through my brain that felt sooo scary wierd yesterday as I was about to pass out at work...eeek. (random..but it was for sure my head..not lack of food or anything.) hah. soo random. Also I have been thinking about becoming a Young life Leader. I have been a leader at Wild horse Canyon and helped in Lynden's Young Life ages ago and just MISS the involvement of something I'm passionate about. LOVING others to Christ. and having FUN. So between a job, Young Life and Photography I should be a busy lady doing all the things I want to do. I talked to my cousin Molly the other day (in the photo) ahh It was the best thing all week. I adore her and miss her terribly. I am soo excited about what the Lord is doing in her life. She is going back to Honduras to work at the orphanage. SO proud of her. I want to go join her someday. It was great just to talk about the crazies and besties of life. good and the bad. happy and the confused. We always have these great, REAL talks. Refreshing.

Photography: I had a shoot the other day... :) It went GREAT! Although there are SOO many images I have to sort through my head is spinning. (Thats a good problem :) ) I am REALLY excited about these cards I am making for the job I have right now. The cards are blank, 100 percent recycled papers and labels with my photography on top, covered in plastic and hung by a hemp string! I can't WAIT to sell them and see MY photography being purchased by people. It's a great feeling. or it will be next week! I am hoping for more shoots this month since I have a feeling things are only going to get busier soon for moving and all...

Food: We haven't been eating much lately....coming home and being so tired and not hungry. So last night was the first real dinner in a while. Maui Cattle Steak, Corn and Baguette Slices. YUM :) Nothing gourmet but I was CRAVING the meat. A while ago I made penne for the FIRST time :) It was AMAZZZING. So speaking about food....I am beginning to loose weight! I mainly have been adjusting my eating habits. I eat breakfast now and it's all amazingly well for me. Lunch is a tiny half sandwich - wheat with meat and cheese and veggies and salad. Dinner is a lean meat and salad or veggie. and No dessert. Coffees are no longer lattes but black coffees and teas. I am on day 8 of work and i am not SOO tired or sleepy or cranky (not like i normally would be) - i think it's because I'm eating so healthy. I am excited! Now I just have to work out! hah. This is all too exciting!

Our Penne Tomato Meal :) 

Crafts: I have a pattern for a slouch beanie I want to make for myself :) I want to make a forever scarf but I don't have a sewing machine. :(  sooon! I also have a picture I want to paint! A wreath I want to sew as well! ahhh although I don't think these things will happen for a while, I think of them when I am crazy busy :)

(my version of this :) ) 

Husband: Is amazing. He is soo great at what he does. I am excited for what his company holds for him. We went out with another couple the other day for a beer after work, it was GREAT! I can't wait to do it again. Chris and I had a good time. He and I have Superbowl sunday off! I can't wait to spend it with him and at our Maui Families Home! He has today off as I work - so thats some great alone time for him. AHH I think he looks SOOOOO sexy in these glasses!!! What do you think?!

im, so sexy for my glasses :)