Happy weekend and a few of my faves!
I KNIT THIS CRAZY SCARF! And enjoyed every minute. (And love wearing it too.) Story here. (Always a story.) If you want directions, let me know. Very simple.
And just when we’d almost lost faith in humanity, THIS! (Grab your tissue box.)
This daddy serenading his baby girl – priceless.
Had tons of fun making these w/Charlie for Valentine’s Day. (And loved hearing from some of you who made them too!) Hummed Three Blind Mice all day…
Reading: Your Creative Career: Turn Your Passion into a Fulfilling and Financially Rewarding Lifestyle by Anna Sabino.
Paddington 2 – fun for the kids and grands. In theaters now.
My cousin sent out this funny excerpt on the craziness of parenting to my extended family this past week. Cracks me up.
Being a modern parent is terrible. I’d give my left kneecap to have parented in the 70s or 80s when all you had to do to be considered a good mom is to remember to wind down the windows when you smoke in the car. All the while your kids were rolling around in the back seat with no seat belts on just inches away from certain death.
I’m not cut out for this. Do you know what I’ve been doing this morning? VITAMIN SHOPPING. For 45 minutes I’ve been comparing children’s vitamins, reading online reviews, and, inflammatory blog posts backed by no science yet I both fear and respect them.
I own two good bras but I’m ready to spend upwards of $100 on children’s vitamins, probiotics (these look like finely pressed cocaine and tastes like nothing but if you don’t buy it your child dies), and supplements.
Do you know what vitamins I had growing up? NONE. DAYLIGHT WAS MY VITAMIN. Occasionally, once a year tops, my mom would get us those chalky Flintstones vitamins that looked liked kidney stones but we’d only have to eat them for a few days before she lost interest in our health.” – Anonymous
It was a different time. And can you identify?!?! (Me too.) As a 70’s kid, I remember our family ditching chocolate for carob for a short time. Gulp. And sneaking my mom’s Ayds caramel appetite suppressants (hidden in the drawer behind the kitchen chimney) for a sweet treat. Sigh. And sampling a chicken bouillon cube. Once was enough. And yuck. (It was the shiny gold paper that reeled me in.)
Retirement Plan cocktail Jon and I enjoyed pre-Valentine’s Day at this fun eatery in downtown Manchvegas last week. (Nope, no retirement plans anytime soon.)
Here’s a light fixture I just found for our kitchen reno. This is getting fun.
And just one more week ’til our kitchen remodel officially begins. Here. We. Go. I’ll keep you posted. (Literally!)
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato
My heart, along with the rest of the country, is heavy after the senseless loss of so many precious lives in Parkland on Wednesday. Hug your loved ones extra tight today.
Louise Achor says
Thanks, Allie!
Allie says
You are very welcome Aunt Pinkie. Sending you loads of love. XOXO
Tina says
I need the scarf instructions!!!!
Allie says
Hi Tina – I am writing them out for a few people and will e-mail them within the week!
April says
Ok it may be my short attention span that makes me love these favorite things post but please make this a regular feature. I really enjoy them, as well as the scarf. Just took a knitting class and learned the very basics but wish I could come visit you and learn to knit socks and fun scarfs.
Allie says
Loved hearing from you April, glad for the feedback, thanks. Glad to hear you picked up knitting. So this scarf is just row upon row of knitting on small needles. It’s made of washable striped sock yarn – all the leftovers from the socks I’ve made. So the pattern is totally random and also means something to me – because every few inches of the scarf represents someone that I made a pair of socks for. The ends with knots are just ten or so stitches picked up and knit straight down as long as you want, then tied with a knot on either end. So what I’m trying to say is, you could totally do this no problem as long as you can knit. I would love to teach you how to knit socks too. The truth is socks are very detailed – lots of stitch counting and I haven’t knit any for a couple of years. I’d have to get back into it and jog my memory about how to do it. I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike. (That’s the hope anyway.)
Susie Mandel says
That excerpt on parenting was HILARIOUS!!! I have the windows open here in SC [spring has sprung here and airing out the flu bugs ;)], and I hope my neighbors don’t hear a crazy person cackling away from inside that yellow house. And I have to mention the carob and Ayds…oh my goodness. While my Mom tried Ayds, she never could stomach the carob…always real chocolate (thank goodness). But the Ayds…I remember sneaking one and that was all it took for me, too, LOL!! Praying for a smooth kitchen remodel! Can’t wait to see pictures.
Allie says
Hey Susie – I’m glad you got a laugh. Me too! It was in the sixties here today. I know it’s just a tease for us, but we’ll take it! So half the cabinets are down and all the pans and dishes and kitchen utensils are stacked on every surface and the floor in the dining room. We have ’til Saturday to get the rest of them down and then the new ones get delivered next Monday. Hope everyone is well at your house this week. XO
Tracy says
I really enjoy hearing about your favorite things!! Loved the parenting excerpt! I do love the fixture you picked out👍 And the scarf…..you know I love that!! And yes you do enjoy wearing it and every time you wear it I notice because it is sooo cool!!
Allie says
Thank you so much Tracy! Glad you like that fixture too, can’t wait to show you more pictures and ideas. I can’t believe it’s actually finally coming together…. Thanks for the good idea of waxing the wood floors before the project starts. Maybe that will protect them some during all the construction. That is my hope anyway. Have a super week! xo
Jill says
Hi! my name is Jill and I would love the knitting pattern instructions for your beautiful scarf. It is summer here but winter is not far away.
Allie says
Hi Jill – thanks so much – great to hear from you and glad you liked the scarf. I knit it out of my head and so I’m working on writing down some simple instructions and will e-mail them to you this week.
Carol says
A ray of sunshine to start my day! I love the scarf, but I am able to cast on and knit but that is it! Any instruction beyond that is so useless to me, I am just not meant to finish any item I may try to start. My sister in law has worn out her nerves trying to teach me and I am afraid to ask her again. Gosh, I remember those Ayds. And no such thing as vitamins to worry about either. There are so many things different about parenting now than there was when I was growing up. Cannot imagine how complicated things have become now. So I hope you have a great week and OMG, best of luck with the kitchen reno. I am so happy to be taking a break now from any home projects. Spring will come soon enough and the painting will begin. That is what I am looking forward to this year.We built our house approximately 10 years ago and if I had to redo anything we would have bought a ready made house. I am so done with all the fixing and finishing and redoing of things that did not go right. I really hope things go really well for you and you enjoy it. No mistake , I did enjoy a great deal of our building of our house and love the fact that it is ours, but you know- enough is enough sometimes .ok so have a great week and I hope the weather is great for you!
Allie says
Hi Carol – loved hearing from you. So you built your house, huh? That was brave. We have never built a house but it’s on my bucket list. (And maybe I should take it off!) Just FYI – this scarf is knitting only …. seriously. It’s striped sock yarn that changes the patterns and is so fun. So are you painting inside or outside? I’m not a great painter but thankfully my husband is and he likes it. In fact, he and my brother had a painting business together in college and a little afterwards too, called Paint It As You Like It. Cute name. It helped pay all our college bills. Enjoy your break from home projects. So half the cabinets are down and the rest will be down by Saturday. There are dishes and pans and kitchen utensils piled high on the dining room table and floor. I know I will be relieved once this is over. At this point it’s still fun. That could change at any time. LOL. Have a great week Carol!
Barbara Child says
Such a beautiful scarf! It reminds me of how God “knits together” all the loose ends in our lives if we let Him!
Allie says
Thank you Barbara! That’s a beautiful way to see it. XOXO
Eva says
Le vidéo avec la petite fille est adorable! On a regardé Paddinton 1 et je hâte de découvrir la deuxième partie! J’adore ce petit ourson et ses sandwichs de orange’s marmalade!
Pour la St Valentin, mon mari et moi on a dégusté aussi un cocktail maison 😉 Belle journée Allie! xoxo
Allie says
J’adore Paddington et ses petits sandwiches à la marmelade. En fait, j’ai reçu un ours Paddington quand j’avais sept ans pour mon anniversaire. J’ai toujours cet ours. Si charmant. Merci de votre visite, toujours un plaisir d’avoir de vos nouvelles. xo
Shashi at SavorySpin says
Awww Allie you made my morning with that video of that dad serenading his daughter – and gosh that sweet girl has some serious rhythm! And that note about vitamins – hahahaha! I don’t remember taking vitamins as a kid either and am so thankful we didn’t go through a carob phase – but we did sneak cupcakes into the bathroom to eat them so our parents wouldn’t know we finished the last batch! Not sure what we were thinking – it wasn’t like our home had a revolving door on it – there were only the 4 of us – am thankful it was cupcakes and not caramel appetite suppressants though! 🙂
BTW – LOVE LOVE that scarf! I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything like it – if I did, I’d buy it in a heartbeat! Good luck on the remodel, my friend! Hoping y’all are keeping healthy and warm up there in that frozen tundra! XOXO
Allie says
SHASHI — Always a pleasure to hear from you. Glad you got to see that little video – what a treasure. Don’t know if you saw I am reading a book called Your Creative Career by Anna Sabino – but it is fascinating and perfect for inspiration for bloggers and other creatives who work outside the box. Or as she says…. “Stretching the walls of your box.” So many quotes I loved, but here’s one that will get you thinking….”Most successful creatives are alchemists who are able to blend self-doubt, criticism and risk into a powerful creative juice and start making things as if no one was watching.” I think it would be a great fit if you need an inspiring, motivating read. Have a super week my friend. XO
puja says
Oh my God Allie. The video of Dad and his daughter is too cute.BTW that scarf is beautiful. Have a lovely week my friend. 🙂
Allie says
Hi Puja – Great to hear from you, thanks for dropping by!!! I loved that video too. Just precious. Hope you have a beautiful week. xo
Kathy McArthur says
My family and I just recently watched Paddington, both movies. It’s a wonderful movie. It’s a little bit late for us to find out about it, but it’s worth all the praise.