Reading Goals

While my knitting time has certainly decreased since I had Carter, my reading time has increased! I'm able to read on my phone while feeding her, and also while pumping, so I'm all about the ebooks right now. Thankfully I can borrow them through the library I work at and also the New York Public Library, so I have a lot of (FREE!) options.

I use Goodreads to keep track of what books I've read and when, and what books I'd like to read. I can use their app on my phone so I don't even have to wait until I'm sitting down at the computer to update my progress or add new books to me "to read" list. One of my favorite features of Goodreads in their yearly reading challenge. I had hoped to read 52 books in 2014, and I only made it to 42. Even though I didn't quite reach my goal, I feel pretty good about my result! Here are the books I read:

This year I hope to read 45 books. I know once I'm not breastfeeding and pumping anymore that my reading time will taper way off, so I didn't want to set it too much higher than last year's result. Here are some of the books on my "to read" list I'm excited to get to this year:

     

Any stand out books you read last year? What books are you looking forward to this year?

WIP Wednesday

I made it through yesterday, and half of the big projects that are due this week for school, so yay! I'm taking a quick break to share my knitting progress, my planned knitting, and some reading progress with you. I'm hoping that the first Wednesday I will share what my plans for the month are. I think its a good way to keep myself organized and accountable!

I haven't had a ton of knitting time, so the ruffly scarf looks almost exactly the same, and I didn't take a new photo. I have worked a bit on the stripey socks though, and I hope these will be done soon!

If you look closely you can see the light green stripe in the dark green at the very top of the second sock near my needles. That's my afterthought heel line, so not too much more to go!

I have four projects that I plan to start in May, but only three are patterns I can really share. The fourth is a crazy-requested-by-my-husband-self-designed-monstrosity that will have to wait for another post :)

The first thing I plan to cast on is the Monkey pattern by Cookie A.

I'll be using my Knit Picks Stroll Multi (which is now discontinued) in the Cupcake colorway.

As evidenced by the date on this photo, I've had this yarn for a while! Yay for using old stash.

The next pattern is the Spa Day facecloth.

I've been meaning to make more washcloths, some for me to use on my face and some for the kitchen. For these I plan on using some Lilac Knit Picks CotLin that has been hanging around.

The last pattern is the Chunky Crochet Basket. I think this will be great to carry knitting stuff from the upstairs office downstairs and for storage.

This is the project I am most nervous about because my crochet skills are abysmal. Still, I really want the finished project, so hopefully that motivates me to push through! I'll be using some Knit Picks Wool of the Andes doubled for this.

Wow, all Knit Picks yarns! I promise, I own other brands ;) It just so happens that I have a lot of Knit Picks old stash that I am trying to use.

Lastly, I finished two books this week. One of them I didn't read every single page, since it was a book for school, but I finished the part we were required to read and, to be honest, I don't ever see myself reading it more for fun, so in my book I consider it read!

This book, however, was pretty interesting and I'm debating keeping it. Maybe not. Who knows! If you are interested in the Vietnam War, it is definitely worth checking out. Lots of documents addressing all different sides and parts of the war.

The other one, like I mentioned, was just so so. However, it did have some good info for the paper I just finished, so yay!

My currently-reading book list is still super long, but as my classes finish up it should be a more manageable length and I hope to start sharing what books are in progress as well!

This post is linked up with Ginny's Yarn Along

WIP Wednesday

This WIP Wednesday post is going to look like an FO Wednesday post, because the only photo I have today is of my FO for the week! Its baby knitting season here, as I know several people who are expecting. This is the first of a few colorful bibs I plan to make for a shower gift:

I think it came out great, which is good because I plan to make at least 3 more! The one I just cast on is orange, and it will have a red tie string. I love the idea of making several as a gift, and having them all coordinate :)

I did pick up the crocheted blanket this week, but I only did a few rows and forgot to take a photo. Oops! Next week.

Reading is still just more school work. I am just about done with Embers of War, which is a book about the Vietnam War. If you are at all interested in that kind of thing I would highly suggest this book- while it is packed full of details it doesn't read like a textbook, and when I wasn't madly trying to finish reading by a deadline I enjoyed it.

This post is linked up with Ginny's Yarn Along

WIP Wednesday

I finally feel like I have some good progress to show you guys this week. It probably helps that I didn't do a knitting post last week, and I stayed home sick last Thursday :) Anyway, we have some finished objects!

The first is my Dark and Stormy sweater, or as I named my project, the Dark and Plummy sweater. I am pretty happy with this sweater and really anxious to block it and weave in the ends so I can wear it!

I'll be sure to upload photos of it after it is blocked, maybe even of me modeling it!

My other FO is some socks I have been working on for MONTHS! These were my take along knitting for a while, so they only got worked on when I was out and about. I'm happy to say they are finished and will be given as a gift :) 

I'm happy with the way they turned out, and I hope they fit the recipient! Maybe these will get a modeled shot too :)

Reading is the same old textbooks. I did finish loading a new audiobook on my iPod, but there are a few on there I need to listen to, so we'll see if that happens soon!

This post is linked up with Ginny's Yarn Along. 

WIP Wednesday and a finished book

This week I didn't get a ton of knitting done. The one exception is the new pair of socks I started- turns out I can knit stockinette and read on my nook at the same time. Since a few of my textbooks are on my nook, this works out pretty well! I have to read anyway, so I might as well get some knitting done too. Here is the progress I made since Saturday:

The weird looking tube thing is actually my dpn protector/container. I have this project in a fabric project bag that I have been throwing in my book bag, and this keeps the dpns from being broken and the stitches from coming off the needles. Lifesaver! 

The other project that has seen a little love is my sweater. I never thought I would say this (as a garter  and stockinette in the round lover) but I think the sleeves are boring me. Usually I love a good slog that I can bust out with some podcasts or TV, but I haven't been excited about working on the sweater. Nevertheless, it is coming along, and the sleeve is more than have done.

The front edges are curling so you can't see the cable detail, but I do still really like this sweater and hope to finish it in time for the KAL and to wear it before it gets warm (ha!). 

While I still haven't been able to read anything for pleasure, I did finish one of my textbooks this past week. Satisfaction Guaranteed is a look at the history of consumerism and the mass market. It was a little dry to read at times, but if you are interested in advertising, marketing, and how our shopping habits have changed over the past 150 years, I would suggest it.

I'm woefully behind on my Goodreads goal, but I'm hoping to work in some audio books soon. Finishing up more textbooks will help out as well. Besides, it not like anything will happen if I only read 46 books instead of 50 ;)

This post is linked up with Ginny over at Small Things

Wip Wednesday

This week has been pretty monogamous as far as the knitting goes. The KAL for the Sunshine group ends tomorrow, and I haven't had much spare time to knit. This has resulted in some harried knitting on my scarf, and the jury is still out on whether or not I will finish in time. Ether way, I am really liking the scarf, and I'm sure the finished product will get a lot of use! Here is my progress so far:

Its getting long enough that it is hard to show! I'm about 80% through my yarn, so we'll see how far I get by the end of tomorrow.

As far as reading, its all the same books from last night: textbooks. I'm hoping to start listening to a new audiobook, but I haven't had a ton of time for audiobooks. 

In other news, I made a breakfast casserole out of what we had leftover in the fridge. I shredded 3 potatoes and added breakfast sausage, ham, cheese, 1 egg, greek yogurt and milk. I mixed that all up and put it in the oven. When it was mostly cooked, I cracked 4 eggs on top and added a little more cheese. 

It actually turned out pretty good for just whipping it together. I roasted some asparagus to round out the meal and it was pretty tasty. I think I'm going to go make some chocolate chip cookies... I can't stop thinking about all those cookies I blogged about last week!

This post is linked up with Ginny's Yarn Along

All Quiet on the Blog Front

Its been pretty quiet here lately! Its the end of hubby's (insane) school semester, beginning of a new term over at the HPKCHC, and this weekend was taken up with graduation festivities. My (not so) little brother graduated!

So, needless to say, while I've been knitting, reading, and cooking a little I haven't been blogging about it. Here's a quick recap.

• I finished my self designed shawl, and the pattern will be up as soon as I get some good photos!
• I started the blanket for my friend's wedding late this summer. Its going pretty well!
• I'll be making a lot of cute, small items in the near future
• I had a win with my crock pot last week! One of my goals is to use it more, so it was nice to make a good meal with it.
• I'm almost finished with the Hunger Games. I know I'm really late to the game, but I really wanted to read the book before we went to see the movie.
• I'm going to be starting a reread of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire here soon, to go along with this read-along 
• I'm also working on reading Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in Spanish). I'm only a few pages in, and its slow going because my Spanish has gotten a little rusty, but I'm really enjoying it!
• Lastly, I got an iPhone! I have been eligible for an upgrade for months now, and I went back and forth on whether or not to get a smart phone, but I'm really glad I did. I might do a future blog posts on the apps I have so far.

Anyway, I'm hoping to be back to blogging on a more regular schedule soon!