la belle vie de Zsanica

Day four of thirty

2011-05-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Unsurprisingly "the frock that Mondo likes" is one of my choices for the thirty day challenge. I love this dress to pieces and I'm so glad I was adventurous enough to buy it almost four years ago. I like bold prints and I should definitely hunt for a few more bold items.

I accidentally mixed in a few eras today with my '60s dress and '50s inspired hair. Perhaps I'm having a personal fashion epiphany, realising how fun it is to get dressed in the morning. Dress-up for grown-ups!

Dress: H&M Shoes: Aldo Tights: Gap Bracelet: Thrifted

Days two and three

2011-05-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Day Two (May 12th):

Much to my surprise I was incredibly grumpy again and had the patience of a cat trying to catch a laser pointer's dot. No amount of tea was helping, so I put on my most cheery cardigan hoping that its fun colour would rub off on me. I actually believe it helped because by the time I was ready to head off for zumba I was in a much better mood. I love red and liking this colour could definitely be credited in part to my Mum because one of my childhood books was called "Red is Best".

I am hoping by including this cardigan in the challenge I can finally make peace with it. It may have a fantastic colour, but I rarely wear it. I have found its shape difficult to work with, and I sometimes feel that it looks stuffy and old. Hopefully by actively attempting to work in into different outfits and seeing visual proof of how it looks I will change my mind.

Cardigan: Jacob Shirt: H&M Jeans: Zellers Shoes: Target

Day Three (May 13th):

Finally a non-grumpy Zsanica! I was very pleased to wake up on the right side of bed yesterday morning and be ready to tackle the day. It was a bit overcast and that generally means cooler air is about, so I popped on jeans and long-sleeves. This cardigan is actually my favourite piece of clothing, but it wasn't always that way. It took me a years (not kidding) to figure out how to wear it. You would think that with all of my years in Fine Art I would know how to apply colour theory to clothing, yet it never crossed my mind to apply it that way! It wasn't until this spring that my mind finally put the two together. So this cardigan feels like a breakthrough for me and I feel awesome when I wear it. (I'm also super glad I didn't toss this necklace back in August.)

Cardigan: H&M Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft Jeans: Zeller Shoes: Target Necklace: Le Château

Day one of thirty

2011-05-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to try something for a while and it has to do with clothing (surprise, surprise, I like clothing). If you follow any "fashion/style bloggers" it's pretty hard to miss the 30 for 30 outfit challenge started by Kendi and I've admired the creativity behind it. The challenge reminds me a lot of an abstract drawing class I took in my second year of Fine Arts. My professor worked very hard to make us realise that we box ourselves in. We set up parameters of what we think something should be and then end up stuck in a rut because we can't see what it could be. I'm growing to realise that the theories and practices in fine art can be quite applicable to clothing. I've boxed myself in with my wardrobe and failed to see the promise it has. How did I survive with such a boring view on fashion?! Thank goodness that's changing.

I'm starting my personal challenge mid-month because I want it to end on my birthday. This was something I had planned for a while, but it caught me by surprise. I realised last night as I was falling asleep that my birthday would be 30 days away today! Thus I'm starting my challenge a little less organized than anticipated. While I have most of my items on hand, I still need to fill in wardrobe gaps left by my weight loss. Shopping restrictions would be illogical at this time! I'm sure I will ramble more about this as the thirty days progress.
Onward to day one:

Sweater: Thrifted Skirt: Jacob Tights: Gap Shoes: Aldo

The second of May

2011-05-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to get my thoughts into writing sometimes without feeling like I come off as pretentious. Silly thing to be afraid of, but I am aware that I can be socially awkward in writing. Geesh, on that line of thinking I can be awkward in real life too! It does leave me wondering how to properly express my feelings about today though as I do not wish to sound like an angsty aspiring high school poet (no offence to all those good high school poets out there, that just wasn't me and there's proof of that at my parents' house).

So why is today important? Well it is election day here and that is a very important thing, but that's just a coincidence. Years ago I was having the best spring of my life in Ottawa. It was the year that I had lost weight and I felt free. It was a light, airy, excited feeling that made me want to bounce off of walls and explore the world! Placebo (a band that I enjoy) had released a new album that year which happened to have a song on it that mentioned the second of May and it has stuck with me all these years. Whenever I hear that song it brings me right back that spring. Every year since then I listen to it on May second, but this is the first year since that time that I feel the same way. That excited feeling is back.

Onward with what I wore today!

Dress: Thrifted (and hemmed by me) Camisole: Zellers

Cardigan: H+M Shoes: Target

As you can see I dressed up for voting! It was a gorgeous day out and I'm so happy that I was able to wear this dress around town finally. I took a whopping eight inches off of the length and I think it looks fantastic. I have some fondness of showing off my legs now.

I also just wanted to give a little shout-out to Pam R. and say congratulations! That's awesome work with the weight loss and it's great to see another former non-runner taking up running. I would love to hear how your C25K goes!

Workout fun: victory!

2011-04-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

SparkPeople's Rookie Running Plan: Week 6, Day 1

Today was a complete victory to me. I jogged for a total of twenty-four minutes! Keep in mind this is yet again the most amount of time I have jogged in my entire life. I may be as slow as a turtle (it's really true, I. keeps up to me by walking), but I love that I'm doing this.

I had been a bit concerned when I left the apartment as to how I would handle this week's changes. My walking time was decreased to one minute from two previously, and two more intervals were added. Six minutes of extra jogging seemed daunting and I'll admit I was a bit nervous. But everything was going to planned until my second set, that's when I had an electronics malfunction. My timer decided not to let me know when my three minutes of jogging was up so I ended up doing six minutes in one go. Talk about confidence boost! I had no idea I could do that and I felt awesome. For the first time since I started this running plan I know that I will be able to run those five kilometres!

I definitely look a bit crazed in that photo, but it my defence this was my last interval of jogging and I was so proud of myself.

The rest of the day was quite amusing. My workout was actually the beginning of a shopping excursion that I. and I had planned. The idea was to walk/jog and after that catch a bus to the mall. But we missed the bus by about 30 seconds...and it was a 30 minute wait for the next one. We decided to walk instead. It was a gorgeous day after all and it seemed like something to enjoy. This is where the slight issue occurred; we were unaware that a nature reserve and a highway were in our way. So after what looked like a "Family Circus" route and a few extra kilometres, we made it to the mall. Final thoughts on the day: I'm glad to be home with a cup of tea and I'm glad that my butt muscles aren't so angry any more.

Well I hope everyone else is having an excellent weekend too! If you want to come say hello to me on SparkPeople (or maybe even add me as a friend) I'm known as ZsanicaZsanica.

Things I wore for a spring day

2011-04-22T17:32:00.003-07:00

What a delightful spring day! It was beautiful outside and it made me wish I was home to share the holiday weekend with my family. Of course I would totally bring the weather with me! I have been hearing tales of warm mittens still being needed back home. Thankfully with the warm, sunny weather here I was able to wear something springish and possibly Easter worthy. On a side note, I wonder if Netflix has The Easter Parade up for viewing this weekend because I love that movie and it is that time of the year!

My spring outfit today was a combination of things I've found while thrifting lately. I couldn't be happier that I've found some awesome items that fit me well! It really is a boost of confidence to have clothing that fits rather than pieces which are getting too large. Nothing fun about feeling frumpy. Thankfully there is nothing frumpy about this outfit to me because I felt great in it!

Sweater: Jacob (thrifted) Skirt: RW& CO (thrifted)

Belt: thrifted Shoes: Target Headband: Zellers Necklace: Bija Bijoux

Overnight trip to Vancouver

2011-04-17T16:46:00.002-07:00

As I mentioned at the end of my last blog entry, I went to see the Canucks play in their first game of the playoffs on Wednesday! (For readers who might not know, the Vancouver Canucks are an NHL hockey team from my province and they are currently trying to win the Stanley Cup.)

I was very excited about this unexpected day trip and I could barely sleep the night before. So early Wednesday morning I. and a very tired me headed off to catch the ferry to the mainland.

We have quite an elaborate ferry system here, although I suppose anywhere with a bunch of inhabited islands must be the same. The ship that we took was one of the largest in the fleet; it can hold 410 vehicles and 34 of those can be semis, plus it has a restaurant, cafe, stores and lots of seating. Suffice to say, it's a big boat.

Somehow I managed to get chilled shortly after we left the dock. It was unsurprisingly a rainy day, but we managed to have below average temperatures and I was not prepared for that! Needless to say I ended up changing and wore everything I had packed; I was so thankful that Betseydoodle had suggested wearing layers because at least all the clothing I had brought worked together. A few hours later we were in Vancouver and like the exciting people we are promptly had a nap at the hotel.

Thankfully we did wake up in time to do a bit of touristy sightseeing before the game. So we wandered around Gastown and I wanted to share some photographs!

Tiny alleyway adorned with interesting hydro lines. Also that woman is taking a photograph of the garbage found there.

I. is apparently confused about which game we are seeing and is wearing a jersey of neither team playing.

What type of car is this? It made me want to see it tested on TopGear! I also love the colour.

Here I am with the "tourist trap" steam clock and it was silly pose time. As you can tell my clothing has gotten a bit crinkled thanks to travelling time.

After eating and warming up to a good cup of tea we headed off to the arena. Outside was a bustling place full of fans, ticket scalpers, television crews, limousines and bagpipes. I had never attended an NHL game, let alone a playoff game so it was quite the experience!

Surprised face go! I am lost in a sea of blue, green and white. Minus the Canadiens jersey to my left...

We got into the arena before most others and it was very quiet at the time. On the chairs you will note souvenir towels; they are very fun to wave around as you will see in the next photograph.

It's about to start! Almost everyone is twirling their towels around and cheering ridiculously loud. This is where my game photographs end because I was much too busy watching them play to take any pictures.

The Canucks ended up winning this game against the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0. I cheered and screamed till I sounded croaky and I waved that towel around like there was no tomorrow. Overall it was a very fun experience and it would be very fun to do it again sometime!

After that whirlwind of a day and a very needed good night's sleep we headed back to the island.

Things I wore today with a puffy bun

2011-04-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

I feel like I should say hello since I vanished for a little while. I was sick all of last week; that's right, an entire week... Today is the first day I've felt normal again and can actually think straight. Apparently I must have caught the bug that was sweeping through my Zumba class so I've had a week of movies, frozen leftovers and very spicy pizza (NB: I crave spicy food when I'm sick. Mmm flavour!).

What I learned last week was that sometimes it's best just to give yourself a few days rest. I am a rather stubborn person and I decided that exercise was going to happen no matter what. However last Wednesday turned into a lesson as I discovered what not to do. I had pushed myself too hard doing Zumba the night before and I knew I had. Instead of taking the day off to recuperate I decided I was going jogging. About ten minutes into the run I was exhausted and anxious, leaving me no choice but to turn around and walk home (with my tail between my legs). I decided to be my own hero the rest of the week and took my exercising down a few notches so that I could let my body get the rest it needed. It was a good plan that worked.

So here I am today! A well rested and healthy girl sporting a fun "Audrey Hepburn" bun from a tutorial I found on The Daybook. My hair put up quite a fight as it likes to remain slippery and straight. What's missing? I think I need to get some fun red lipstick.

Sweater: Old Navy Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft Necklace: Jacob

Jeans: Zellers Shoes: Payless (I believe)

PS: I'm totally going to see the Canucks play in round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs this Wednesday! Incidentally it will also be my first time at an NHL game...I'm not sure what to wear minus blue, green and white.

What I wore to my test

2011-04-02T16:02:00.001-07:00

Today felt like the first day of school to me, but in reality I was just on my way to take a test for a job. Ah employment, how sweet you will be! I'm pleased to announce that I've made it to the next round and I should know for certain after the next interview. So I had the joy of being up very early this morning and getting dressed before my cup of earl grey (hot). I can never be too certain of how things will turn out before that little bit of caffeine kicks in, but the photographs below show what I came up with.

Notes on this:

-This skirt is much too large now and should sit a few inches higher on me, but I love it so I'm trying to squeeze out some extra wearing.
-I just found this cardigan when thrifting on Thursday and it's the first time I've owned a beige top. I'm pleased!
-My hair's a bit odd since it was up in a braid prior to the photographs.
-Note to self: buy or make a slip. The tights kept attempting to reveal far more leg to the world than I wanted to.

Top: H&M Cardigan: Thrifted

Skirt: H&M Tights: Gap Shoes: Target

I am too amused with the last photo not to share. I can't help it, I make odd faces very often!

Workout fun: measurement update

2011-04-01T04:11:00.001-07:00

It's been seven months since I started to eating well and exercising, and it has been far too long since I made an update of my current measurements (weight is a mystery since I lack a scale). But before I get into that I just wanted to share what losing these inches has meant for me so far.

Changes and quirks:

I'm comfortable in my own skin. It's a great feeling to like what I see in the mirror and in photographs, and not to judge every tiny detail I see.
I like fresh carrots (most people know I used to hate carrots with a passion).
How I walk has changed because my thighs are thinner. I had no idea how much they used to rub against one another until it stopped occurring. It became very evident whenever I would wear my shiny black pants. They used to make loud swishing noises when I would walk around, but they're virtually silent now. My legs are also very comfortable to cross (even though I tend to avoid that).
I think flats look fantastic on me now because my ankles and calves are defined.
I used to be extremely nervous to exercise and walk around alone, but that's stopped! Every new task I accomplish reinforces the idea that I can do this and there's no need to be nervous. To quote Village on a Diet, "I've got this.".
I can run. Need I say more? Seriously though, beyond my actual training I've noticed other benefits like being able to run to catch a bus and not be out of breath at all.
Tight clothing I owned is loose. Hooray! Although that's a fairly obvious statement. I've begun to pick up thrifted items to fill in my wardrobe for this completely "in between" stage.
My limited wardrobe is making me become more creative with my clothing and I'm finally figuring out what my style is.
I am perfectly fine with full length photographs being taken of me for the first time since I was 22. I even request having them taken now! Of course I'll only share the best out of the lot.
I'm learning that I do not have to be 'perfect' all the time. In the past I would not attempt something if I was concerned that I would fail. Better to do nothing than to try and have it go up in smoke. This illogical idea affected so many areas of my life (dating, school, work, weight loss, friendships, I could go on), but I'm not afraid to fail any more. It's good to try and so what if you don't take to something like a fish to water; you will get better with time and practice, but you need to proactive about it.

That's just the tip of the iceberg. So much has changed and it feels amazing to share some of it. I had no idea that the events in August would be so beneficial to me as a person. So for this weeks measurements I decided to have a look at where I was and where I am now.

Measurements: August 27, 2010

Bust: 41

Under Bust: 35

Waist: 31

Hips: 40.75

Thighs: 25

Measurements: March 31, 2011

Bust: 37

Under Bust: 31.75

Waist: 28.75

Hips: 37.5

Thighs: 22

I'm so pleased! I think I look healthier and happier than I did before. Finally: yes that is the same grey tank, it has a tad more room now.

Workout fun: the most I've run since elementary school

2011-03-28T00:54:00.000-07:00

Who's getting better at jogging? Oh, pick me!

I actually am improving by what I consider to be leaps and bounds! I'm currently working on SparkPeople's "5K Your Way: Rookie Running Training Program" which I believe is similar (if not identical) to the "Couch to 5K" plan. Tomorrow will be my last day on week three of the eight week plan and I currently walk for three minutes then run for two minutes and repeat for a total of six intervals. I'm still shocked that I can run for twelve minutes!

Action shot! I think I might be walking here.

By no means am I a natural runner. I used to be decent at in when I was seven years old or so, but then I got bronchitis and never liked it after that. A year or two ago an ex of mine kept trying to convince me that running together would be an excellent idea; I fought against him tooth and nail because there was no way I would or could run. Ever. I had no interest in jogging and no belief that I could run, yet I kept bumping into people who seemed to enjoy it. After reading about Sheryl's (Bitch Cakes') running adventures on her blog I was pretty hooked on the idea that if she could do it, so could I! I may have mentioned this before, but I feel it was a pivotal thought shifting moment for me (I wonder how shocked the ex would be to know that I'm planning to enter actual running events).

I have two running "motivation" strategies that make it more fun for me. One is having fun music with me that I only listen to when running and two is to bring my camera. I find that getting out for a run with the purpose of finding something interesting to take a photograph of makes it exciting! So here are a few photos I've gathered up this week:

Celebratory photo after completing ten minutes of jogging for the first time as an adult.

Spring is definitely here.

In the photo above (of the street) you can see this tree on the right. I wonder what type it is.

The sidewalk is closed and its having a party!

Links: March 23rd

2011-03-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

How to make a secret hiding place for tiny things on top of a door.
Diem Chau's fantastic crayon sculptures.
Not exactly a link, but my favourite notebooks brand ever, Moleskine, is releasing a "Le petit prince" special edition. How neat is that? They also made a cute promo video.

Fascinating article in the New York Times about a new and young generation of farmers. It fills my mind with possibilities.

Workout fun: spring is in the air

2011-03-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

What a week so far... Every once and a while I have serious difficulty falling asleep which really throws off my groove! I blame my mind. It's an active place that doesn't seem understand once I'm in bed, it's time to stop thinking and relax for sleep. Unfortunately I do not function well on less than seven hours sleep any more. From about ages twenty to twenty-three I could handle all-nighters, but after that everything changed! Needless to say I turned into a half beast, half zombie of a woman on Monday and Tuesday whose main mission was not to fall asleep during daylight hours. I even chose to miss zumba because of how crappy I felt. There was also a big concern that the bus would lull me to sleep. Oh what a story that would have made!

Thankfully when I woke up on Wednesday I felt a bit better. I had slept well in comparison to the previous nights and decided it was time to get my butt into gear. So on went some workout clothing and my "too large for me now" Lululemon hoodie (so sad!), and off I went for a 20 minute jog/walk on my way to pick up groceries. It was such a good choice on my part because the day was beautiful and the city is starting to bloom. I love spring! The cherry blossoms are out as well and I snapped a photo of some on my way.

The day was a huge success for me. I ran for a total of 8 minutes this time! On top of that I increased the duration of my jogging intervals and reduced walking time. It felt amazing! I probably could have continued a bit longer, but I wanted to buy my groceries and walk home before it got dark. That amount of a workout was enough to help me sleep even better that night. I find it interesting to see how energized and light I feel after jogging, but then how tired I get at bedtime. It's very helpful.

Yesterday felt even better energy-wise when I woke up, even with my somewhat tender legs. I caught up on a few more "real life" things and then decided to be ambitious and walk to zumba (2.74km). Unfortunately I'm still not consistent with my walking speed and apparently I was zooming yesterday! I arrived 15 minutes earlier than expected...oops! I seriously contemplated popping into the thrift store, but there just wasn't quite enough extra time. I did think to get a photo of one of the painted telephone poles along the way though!

The telephone poles are just one of the interesting sights along the route. Between music and sightseeing the walk just sped by. It's full of eye catching gardens and storybook houses and then there's the cupcake shop which you can smell from far, far away (oh how I wanted to stop in!). Maybe if I go to Sunday zumba I could walk by it on my way home...I like this plan!

I arrived feeling energized and considered walking home after class; an hour and a half later I was feeling much differently about that plan. Zumba is a bit more challenging after a fast walk. I felt victorious but really bloody sore! My legs are still complaining this afternoon, but I'm still debating going for a jog today.

Food stuff: My food history sum up (part one) and home-made pizza

2011-03-14T21:26:00.003-07:00

My food history: part one

Eating well is important to me. I suppose I should add that it's important to me now because this wasn't always the case. I believe a quote from Inigo Montoya is appropriate here "So, let me 'splain. No, there's too much. Let me sum up.".

I have a food history like everyone does. Mine started off healthy, very healthy. My Mum eats amazingly well and made sure that I did as a child. I may not have liked every thing I tried, but I was fine eating this way; that is until school started. My lunches were full of sprouts and pumpernickel bread, and I could expect fruit, carob or halva as a treat. This seems amazing to me now, but at the time I was teased by my "wonderbread and twinkie" lunched peers. Sometime after the teasing started (I'm not certain of when exactly) I began to overindulge on treats that I was not allowed to have at home. Chips were my main weakness. I remember making myself sick by eating too many ketchup chips on one of my birthdays.

Me (age 12) and Tiki (I miss him!) with my hair looking way lighter than usual thanks to the flash.

During this mix of teasing and indulging (once in a blue moon) I was also dancing competitively with a local company. Not surprisingly I was in awesome shape. However, when I started puberty I became a bit plump. Nothing unusual for a girl to go through and my Mum tried her best to remind me of this. Unfortunately there were other factors. My dance instructor pulled me aside after class one day and said she was concerned about my eating habits. She handed me a food guide saying that I should follow it. While I hope her intention was just to make sure I was getting the right nutrients, my head was screaming "She's saying you're fat!". Why did I think she implied that? During this time school had gotten rough. I began to be teased much more and they were now focused on my weight and appearance ("face de chien" was something I commonly heard). Thankfully the comments dwindled away by my last year of elementary school, but it was quite something to deal with emotionally as I matured. I promise my food history has a happy ending even with its rough middle part though! Onward to happy food thoughts.

*****

I was craving artichoke heart pizza from Cosmo's Pizza in Boulder, Colorado yesterday. It's something I truly miss from when I lived there along with some awesome people I met (Hi Amy, Jacob, Joel and Debbie, and others I'm forgetting right now!). So yes, I was craving pizza and decided to make my own healthier version.

Voilà!

To create this delicious pizza I started by making basic pizza dough; I chose this recipe. You do need to knead it for ten minutes, but it's worth the time and energy. I cut the dough in quarters and froze the other three. After I had it flattened into pizza-ish shape I added tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, feta, artichoke hearts (that were in water, not oil) and thawed spinach leaves. It was baked at 450F and took about ten minutes. The whole pizza worked out to around 500-550 calories (providing you don't go crazy with the cheese) and this fit into my food plan just fine. I think this tasted better than Cosmo's!

Edit: Also I meant to add something. Happy Pi day! Perfect day for a pizza pie.

Sunday links: March 13th

2011-03-13T14:53:00.000-07:00

I don't want to know how many calories are in these, but goodness I must make some French breakfast puffs soon.
A tiny and cute tutorial for making bow-tie paper clips from How About Orange.
Art by Hina Aoyama. Beautiful delicate paper cut outs.
Video from TED which is a continuation of cleaning your air with plants. Kamal Meattle shares how he transformed his office building into a healthy environment and how it can be applied to your home.
I found an interesting news article on CBC featuring zombie ants. Fascinating!

Sometimes I make clothing

2011-03-11T21:36:00.000-08:00

This week has finally begun to feel like spring. I might not have endured a freezing and snow filled winter this year, but the wet and windy days the Pacific blows in can feel nasty in their own right. The air is different now. It doesn't seep into your bones like past few months have. Plus flowers and buds are popping up everywhere; I can't wait to find out what the city looks like during the summer months!

Today's outfit was an attempt to bring spring into my sometimes overly black wardrobe (I used to almost exclusively wear black). I don't own much colourful jewellery yet, which is something I'm working to address. So instead I wore a patterned blouse I had made during the fall and added the thrifted belt I found last week.

Blouse: New Look 6407-D (handmade by me) Skirt: H&M

Belt: Thrifted Boots: Fly Girl Necklace and earrings: Tashi

This was also the first time I have ever worn my ankle boots with a skirt. I found these at a shop in England during a 2006 visit and they are without a doubt my favourite shoes. Personal how I wore the boots today makes me feel like a bit of a rock star. It's also a lovely opportunity for me to show off my new calves and how much better I look in shoes now. I am so proud of the changes!

Finally I tried out a cute hair idea today from Hair Romance. It turned out very well, but next time I will use more bobby pins. My hair likes to slip out of any style I try; it's quite silky and reminds me of how feathers feel.

*****

This is just an aside: It was difficult for me to write today's post because I have been lost in much thought. My heart goes out to all who are dealing with the after effects of the recent earthquakes along the ring of fire.

Outfit of the day (something new to try)

2011-03-07T19:20:00.003-08:00

Over the past week I've been debating about my blog and the topics I want to write about. Compared to other years I've really been enjoying writing and I feel this is due to acquiring direction for my posts. I collect links throughout the week, think of what walking adventures I might have and I am so excited to write about my next thrift shopping excursion. But something else has eluded me. I've admired other bloggers and their absolute confidence in sharing what they wear. This is amazing and terrifying to me. Only recently have I begun to make peace with my body and clothing, yet these women share on a nearly daily basis. It blows my mind! So I for the first time in years I asked someone else to take full length photographs of me in pants. This did have one issue though. In the future I will try to keep my hands out of the pants pockets; they acted like a safety blanket for me which I do not approve of.

Without further ado, this is my outfit today:

Kimono-style shirt: Le Chateau (from 2005) Camisole: Zellers

Jeans: Zellers (cheap transitional pair) Shoes: Aldo Necklace: handmade by me

My first thought was (surprisingly) not about my pants but rather: good god I have a large head! I really do and I find this amusing because I've pointed out for many years that one of the Food Network hosts had a large head and I feel that I should eat my words. That's karma for you, or I ignorance on my part!

I have two other things to add. One, I'm very glad to have this necklace again. It was one that I thought had been abandoned in Colorado with my hasty departure. Thankfully it wasn't the case! I adore the French hen charm on it. Two, I feel good about how I look today and it makes me very excited to see what I'll look like when I reach goal weight.

Sunday links: March 6th

2011-03-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

An important question to many about indoor space: what are the best air cleaning plants? Re-nest answered this question citing NASA. Pretty cool!
Inspiration of gardening in tiny, unused patches of earth in Tokyo. One crack in the side walk is a enough to grow pansies.
Although the destruction of books is something I'm quite against (I treat mine fastidiously), this man, Brian Dettmer, turns books into beautiful pieces of art. I might make one of my own sometime!
Corning is making some interesting developments with glass and technology. Here's a video they put together. I must say some of the design is beautiful.

Adventures in thrifting: tea length dress, belt and self respect

2011-03-04T15:40:00.002-08:00

I have finally grown to realise that being left at the altar (more or less) and having him marry someone else so quickly was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I know, I can't believe this is coming out of my mouth either; it was a horrible experience that I would never want to repeat, but I'm so proud of where I am now. I treat myself with respect and that is pretty much a first in my life. I have goals, I exercise, I eat healthy and I am making serious headway with my fears and anxiety.

This post was originally just going to be about my new dress and belt, and how fabulous they are (and are they ever!), but I felt like I needed to share some of these relevant details. I wanted to write down why having a direction for my wardrobe is an achievement. I understand what I like now and how I want to present myself to the world. On top of that I also feel like I'm worth it. This new found idea and confidence that I deserve so much more in life, and that my happiness depends on me.

To sum up the above: I'm getting to know me and what I like.

Onward! I've been bitten by the thrifting bug partially thanks to reading a blog called "Casey's Elegant Musings" (this link leads to her 'thrifting introduction' video, very cute). I have shopped in thrift and second hand stores before, but it was not something I took seriously. Armed with a new set of views I headed off to a local thrift store yesterday on my way to Zumba. Oh was I pleased!

Isn't it adorable? This cotton day dress jumped off the rack at me! It's by Jones New York and is from their sports line. It's incredibly well made, has bra strap clips and is also lined in cotton. I am aware that the length is a bit overwhelming on me, but soon it will become knee length and have a set of pockets. I love pockets and the skirt will definitely handle them. The belt is just a basic brown belt with a little extra detail.

(Note on the photograph: I'm not fully pleased with my arms or underarm fat, but I think I look fabulous compared to last summer!)

Finally here's a detail of my necklace.

The pendant was a Christmas gift from my Aunt Jean and Uncle Kirk. It's glass and was sent over from India. I put it on my "liquid silver" chain found at Bija Bijoux in Ottawa.

So there you have my first thrifting and fashion post! I'll probably end up hooked and share more often.

Other pieces of the outfit:
Tights - Spanx

Shoes - Target

Edit: I meant to add this earlier but totally forgot! I discovered a new song that I love and wanted to share; however Youtube is being silly about it so here's the link: Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

Case one: the disappearing wardrobe

2011-03-02T16:40:00.001-08:00

I have done some serious wardrobe cleaning in the last nine to ten months. This spring saw me cut the entire content of my closet in half. I kept things that I loved, would often wear and clothing that was slightly higher quality. When I left Colorado I also left behind anything with too many associated memories; I refused to be haunted by my clothing, it's there to make me smile and for me to enjoy wearing. After that I started to get in shape and lost weight...so my functional wardrobe is quite small, but I have been perfectly content until now.

Enter the culprits!

These are my apartment building's dryers. Sure they appear to be like any other dryer that will, in a docile and gentle manner, tumble your clothing dry with warm air, but don't let them lure you into a false sense of security. They are button eating, hole punching monsters and they will take two turns to dry anything!

Evidence A: a button up cardigan
colour: white
size: small

That centre machine broke three buttons! Not by ripping out the thread, oh no, it's too clever for that. If it had just ripped the thread I could have reattached the lot. What you see in the above photograph is one of the button centres still firmly sewn to the cardigan.

Evidence B: a t-shirt
colour: mint
size: small

This photograph could have been taken of a number of other shirts who have all suffered the same fate: holes. It's a risk I take every time I dry my clothing in this building, because these dryers were built with a tiny set of teeth. They like to gnaw on fabrics that I would normally deem strong enough for the wash, leaving punctures in their wake. A delicious additional treat? Those tiny ribbons which hold my shirts onto their hangers. Ribbons must taste like candy at the rate they disappear!

Is there a solution? Yes. I'm going to start taking my clothing to the laundromat and I hope they have better behaved dryers.

Sunday(-ish) links

2011-02-28T01:30:00.002-08:00

I'm a little bit later posting than I wanted to be, however last night involved pear cider and karaoke. Needless to say I was sluggish most of today. Mon brain ne work pas!

I think this is a cute idea for party decorations: paper garlands (Martha Stewart Crafts). If I had access to my Mum's extensive paper punch collection, I would probably have an apartment full of these.
I am an avid plant lover as many of you know (thank you Nana!). My internet adventures this week discovered the International Carnivorous Plant Society. The site is full of interesting information about these feisty plants. Sadly I've had no success of my own with Venus flytraps...one day I'll try again!
Another fun plant idea, but this time it's a little tutorial on how to build a Tillandsia terrarium (tillandsia is an "air plant" which has no need of soil to grow).

Winter wonderland (for a day or two)

2011-02-24T01:28:00.000-08:00

I had read that we were in for a "deep freeze" this week with temperatures of a "chilling" minus five degrees Celsius forecast. Not exactly weather I would consider cold, but I have lived with a much cooler winter climate most of my life. This morning started off much as is normally does. I made breakfast and a warm cup of earl grey, then I sat down to check my blogs, the news and (hides) facebook. This is about the time when I burst out of my seat to check out what was going on behind the curtains. It had snowed overnight! Almost a foot of the fluffy stuff was covering everything. Suddenly there was a new plan for my day!

I showered as fast as I could, only to discover that all of my pants were still damp from being washed yesterday (the dryers do a very poor job). But no matter! Tights were layered, boots were zipped, I popped on my new headband and I was off for a winter adventure to the grocery store. I smiled and greeted the landlady with a very cheery hello, only to be looked at oddly. No matter, snow isn't for everyone. With a skip in my step I headed up the street.

It was the perfect snow, that light and fluffy goodness that should only exist fairy tales. Even the side walk remained relatively untouched as most people seemed keen on taking the bus. But honestly, when it only snows a handful of days out of the year, shouldn't you get out to enjoy it? Maybe I just have too much fondness for the "first snow" and how much it changes the world.

Just a few days ago I had taken a photograph of some crocuses in bloom to send my Mum. We're both huge fans of spring bulbs, probably because of the influence of my Nana Lile. But here I was today photographing green leaves completely hidden with snow and ice. Thankfully they seem to know how to survive the Canadian climate, even if this is a much milder zone.

I continued skipping down the road and dashing behind telephone poles to avoid slush that was seriously flying! Some motorists seemed shall I say...scared...to drive in the normal lanes, so they picked the middle instead. This meant they were driving directly on the lines of slush. I was only hit three times with it...but this was all part of the fun of my first snow day here!

I got to and from the grocery store in one piece and chatted to some lovely people in the neighbourhood along the way. It seems like a few of them were also pleased with the snow! I witnessed snowball fights, a girl sledding down a set of stairs and a few puppies who were so excited by it all (nose full of snow anyone?). If by some chance it survives the night, I believe I have another adventure in store for tomorrow.

Plus this was a fantastic way to get in some exercise.

Sunday links

2011-02-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a bit of what I've been up to today in the form of a few links. I think this is something I will try to do on a weekly basis.

Jogging has made me realise that I need some form of headband to keep my ears warm. Normally I would just pop on a hat that I already own, but I enjoy wearing my hair up for exercise. I chose a very simple and quick knit that has been in my queue forever: 86-10 Headband in Alaska. I'm making mine in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, the same yarn/colour as my mobile cosy.
Nothing like catching up on some literature while knitting! I'm listening to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea on Librivox. For those who don't know what Librivox is, it's a website with an awesome collection of audio recordings for books in the public domain.
While this may be a bit of a delayed discovery, I am considering participating in Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 Wardrobe Remix this upcoming month (March).
I am also starting Week 4 of Spark People's 28 Day Bootcamp Challenge (I'm known as ZsanicaZsanica there is you want to say hello). It's been fun! Last week I was challenged to incorporate at least 5 fruits/veggies into my diet and I found that to be more difficult than expected. However going into this week of the challenge, I feel like I have more energy.

Workout fun: new gear vs. old gear

2011-02-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

A few days have gone by since my last post and I am pleased to say that my head is feeling much better. So without ado I will hop right into my workout gear adventures.

You'll really have to pardon the photo quality of these. I live on the north side of my building in a city that sees a lot more rain than shine (I believe I'll start taking photographs outside). So here we have a close example of what I was wearing on Tuesday (the 15th).

Top: H&M
Bottoms: Joe Clothing (that's right, from The Superstore)

Technically there is nothing wrong with these pants as long as you're using them for an appropriate exercise. Yes they are long and a bit big, but they work very well when I'm doing strength exercises or running outdoors. But for Zumba it feels like I'm working out in a sauna.

After browsing a few athletic clothing sites I settled on this pair of items and picked them up just prior to my Thursday night workout.

Top: Lululemon (I love this colour so much!)
Shorts: MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op)

I swear the last photo makes me feel like I'm a magpie and it is something shiny. I never see my back! Honestly I had no idea what it looked like from a normal angle and I think it looks awesome! But getting back to the gear, the shirt is very soft, lightweight and has adorable girly ruffles. The shorts are designed for running and have a handy back pocket for keys and cards, plus reflective stripes. And the result? Fan-bloody-tastic! I had the best Zumba workout and did not feel like I was boiling over for the first time. Can't wait till it warms up enough to test these out for jogging!

(May I take a moment to state my shock at buying these shorts? I have not owned something like this since I was a child in the '90's and spandex shorts with neon stripes were the "in thing"! Mine were totally lime green, and black. Maybe I'll post an old photo of them!)

Workout adventures in which I push myself too hard

2011-02-16T19:22:00.003-08:00

I overdid things last night during Zumba. I left the class overheated, dealing with mild anxiety and a throbbing headache. How did I manage this? Talent! Okay, not exactly talent, but I did contribute to what I'll call "the mess".

About an hour before leaving I was making myself a yummy whole wheat pasta dish, when I managed to bash my head against the hood above my stove. It was hard enough to make me see little stars for a second; I teared up partially from embarrassment and partially from pain. I believe it's rather obvious that my head hurt the rest of the day (and today too!), but I was not about to miss Zumba due to this incident.

Next issue, I made a poor decision of what to wear. I suppose there is some truth to needing the right equipment! I chose my capris, a close fitting t-shirt and a tight camisole underneath. They looked very nice together, but once I started dancing in these specific items, I felt like I was a lobster cooking! The capris fall mid-calf and are too big for me now, so I'm left swimming in dense fabric. The tight camisole turned into a constricting heat trap which triggered my mostly dormant anxiety. Wearing shirts and bras that are too tight leave me feeling claustrophobic, thus the trigger. When I start heating up from a workout this makes me more aware of tight clothing and the feeling can snowball.

Finally I was not thinking of my pace. I love this class and the teachers, so I have a tendency to work a little harder at the beginning than I should. Last night I started at 100% without a consideration of warming up or that I had seriously jostled my brain earlier. By the second song I was sweating and this normally would not happen until we're onto the forth. All in all, I set myself up for a horrible, anxiety filled workout.

Here's a snap of me (sans camisole which I took off half way through the class) after I got home. I am not impressed.

Today hasn't been fun. Anxiety is nothing amazing to deal with, but I know the best thing for me is to get it off my chest, explain what triggered it and find solutions so it won't happen again. So what's my plan? I've done a bit of research, and have found a nice pair of long running shorts and a lightweight running singlet! They are both in my current size and frankly I don't mind investing in two pieces, even if they might be too big for me by June. I would much rather invest than have to deal with constantly overheating in my old clothing.

So tomorrow's Zumba class should go much more smoothly. I'll post some before and after photos of my workout gear later this week.

A valentine for you!

2011-02-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope that everyone is having a great day, whatever you're up to. Personally I have spent a bit of today doing fun and useful things for myself, all while nibbling on a few chocolate chip cookies. I wrote a few cover letters, tidied up the blog (it has a snazzy new look now), and I organized my closet, which makes me far happier than it should! I believe that's what should happen on Valentine's. Not cleaning your closet per se (although organizing by colour is fabulous!), but making Valentine's a day that you do something awesome for yourself. What treat will you pick for yourself next year? I'm definitely going to the spa for a massage, and buying a beautiful orchid. Just something to think of, and a great mid-winter treat.

Mini-pattern: moss mobile cosy

2011-02-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

I recently acquired a touch screen phone. However pretty it is, by no means is it practical for my purse. I have a habit of not thinking and tossing this technical wonder of a phone in with my keys. The poor screen has suffered already... so I decided to whip up a cosy for it.

Because I am rather pleased with the results, I decided to write up the pattern (not that there's much to it).

Moss Mobile Cosy

Materials

Yarn

Wool of the Andes (worsted) by Knit Picks

Needle: 4.5mm (7 US) double point needles (or needle size that gives you the gauge listed)

Notions

One fun 2cm (3/4") button

Yarn needle, hand sewing needle

Thread (to sew on button)

Gauge

18sts per 4" in moss stitch

Pattern notes

English moss stitch

Row 1: [k1,p1] to end.

Row 2: [p1,k1] to end.

The moss stitch is rather stretchy, and my phone (4 1/4" x 2 1/8" x 5/8") fits in well.

Final note, the body of the cosy is knit in the round and inside out. then is bound off using three needle bind-off, and turned right-side out to hide the seam.

Directions

Body

CO 24sts (using long-tail cast-on), join in round, careful not to twist. "Knit side" of long-tail cast-on facing out. (This will be the top of the cosy.)

Knit one round.

Begin moss stitch, and continue until desired length.

Divide sts evenly between two needles and bind-off using three needle bind off.

Turn right-side out.

Button tab

Along the centre back, pick up 6 sts.

Work back and forth in moss stitch until length meets up with where you want to place the button. For me this was 2 1/2".

Button hole:

Row 1 (RS): K1, p1, bind-off next 2 sts, k1, p1.
Row 2 (WS): P1, k1, cast-on 2 sts, p1, k1.

Continue in pattern a few more rows (around 1/2"-3/4") and bind off normally.

Sew on your button, centre front at the appropriate length. Weave in the ends, and you're done!

***

If you have any questions, or spot any silliness in my pattern, please leave a message here, or for Zsanica on Ravelry. Thanks!

Another cup of tea please

2010-10-08T10:53:00.006-07:00

I actually had no intention of posting today. However, life is full of surprises, so I must share.

Last night was rather interesting and unfortunately getting started this morning was akin to pouring molasses. I managed however, and turned it into quite a productive day! I feel that I should thank quite a few delightful cups of Earl Grey for this.

To the point! Today was measurement day. Much like my weigh-in on Monday, I ended up staring in disbelief at the results.

Bust - 38 1/2
Under bust - 32 1/2
Waist - 29 3/4
Hips - 38 1/2
Thighs - 23

My waist is below the 30" mark! The last time I saw this number was in 2003. In addition, my under bust has never been this measurement. I found my old stats while visiting my parents and at my lowest weight my rib cage was 33". Fascinating changes.

This is a photograph from Wednesday. I really wish I had an older reference picture of this coat. It was a Christmas present, and the waist was tight. Amazing how losing a few pounds has changed the fit so dramatically.

Finally for amusement, I leave you with one of the new Hintonburg sculptures. Please feel free to share what you think of this gourd.

October begins

2010-10-05T09:07:00.004-07:00

Because there is just far too much to say, and there are too many random photos, I decided to recap the last week and a bit! Warning: this is a long, rambling post.

Highlights and interesting things:

While the photographs in my last post were fierce and feisty looking, I was actually having a very bad emotional time. I had to tie up a few more loose ends which unfortunately left me a bit wobbly. On top of that I was already moody thanks to the joy of pms. My mind was hovering in a negative area. Lies were swirling around like crazy, and it was very challenging to maintain positive self-worth. All these horrible ideas of ending up alone or unhappy thanks to me somehow not deserving either. Yes, it was very emo... Things stayed that way until Bollywood dance class (Wednesday) and somehow while practising our choreography to "Om Shanti Om", I snapped out of it! It felt amazing. (As an added bonus, I think our instructor is handsome, so the distraction is nice.) Here I am below after arriving home, yes, I was dancing a bit when I took the photograph.

Something amazing happened Thursday (which is personal, but you may ask in private if you're really that curious). Trust me when I say that it did deserve the champagne I had as a celebration.
"Anything Can Happen Friday" fell on Ms Katie's birthday! So we went out for Katiepaluza to the tapas bar, and I got to meet a bunch of great ladies. Great food, wine and gossip! I really have missed girl chat. Because Fridays are fun night, I decided to dress up in my 60s style, mod print dress that Mondo likes (I actually met him at the beginning of August, such a sweet guy!). However, it fits quite differently now! This used to be very formfitting with no additional room, but check it out:

That's right, it floats away from my body (minus the girls)!
Saturday turned into a relaxing, knit filled day with Betseydoodle and Ladylungdoc. I was exhausted from a poor night's sleep, so sadly I took the day off from my workout plans. I lacked the energy. But I did buy some fun marmalade coloured yarn to start working on a pair of fliptop winter mittens.
Karate on Sunday yet again kicked my ass! Holy crap! The drills get so intense when you start kicking, and I wonder how long it will take for me to build up additional stamina. But I was proud of myself for sticking with it. I also love that I understand how to properly punch now. Anyway! After the lesson I took some photos which ended surprising me. Look at my legs! They look amazing!

Finally I weighed myself this morning, twice. I did not believe the scale the first time! I'm down to 153.5 pounds! I can't even remember the last time I weighed 155, let alone below that number. Goodness, I can't wait to get to the 140s! This left me feeling slightly cheeky, so I took a picture of the new room I have in my freshly washed jeans.

One month!

2010-09-24T12:07:00.003-07:00

Today marks the "one month anniversary" of my decision to get in shape!

On August 24th, Betseydoodle suggested that we walk to a nearby boat club. This was a ten kilometre walk, and was the most exercise I had gotten in months besides moving four times and swimming twice. I was severely out of shape, but managed to make it there (even though the last km was very difficult). That day is what kick started everything for me.

For me, today is a celebration of the new attitude I have for life. It's the first month of a lifelong change! I am a beautiful, confident, intelligent woman who cares about herself and is finally doing something good for her health. There's one other thing to add: I feel awesome! Not only do I feel that way, but I am awesome!

See? This pose has a lot of caption options: "Oh yeah? Watch me!", "You gave me up? You're an idiot.", "I'm a carnivore, rawr!". (It's totally a better "Predator" pose than that model had on "America's Next Top Model" this week...)

Because I was so pleased with my progress so far, I took more than one photograph. Here's a close up.

I have a neck! Where did that come from? Not that I'm complaining since it looks rather elegant.

Because I have not shared this yet, I will give you an overview of my typical week:

Saturday - 20 kilometre bike ride

Sunday - Karate lesson (60 minutes), plus a 1.5 hour hike

Monday - 60 minute "bloody fast because we were late" walk

Tuesday - Karate lesson (60 minutes), AE Active for Wii (30 minutes)

Wednesday - Bollywood dance class

Thursday - Zumba

Fridays - "Anything can happen Fridays"!

This makes it seem far more goal oriented than it really is. I do not like to have my goals set in stone. I find if I am too rigid, I will fail. Failure is not something I want in my life any more. Curious as to what my goals are then? Obviously we've covered my weight loss desires, and I'm 1/5th of the way there. But the main goal is 60 minutes of exercise/activity a day, Fridays can be taken off. That's it!

Last but not least: it's Friday! This means it's time for my stats update:

Date: 09.24 (08.24)

Bust: 39” (41)
Under Bust: 34” (35)
Waist: 30 1/4” (31)
Hips: 39” (40 3/4)
Thighs: 24” (25)

I had an accident at Bollywood dance class...

2010-09-23T07:36:00.002-07:00

I had a bit of a tumble on my right ankle quite a few months ago, and I apparently lost a bit of muscle strength. With my new exercise filled life, I've noticed that jumping activities are slightly strenuous and hurt a smidge. Sadly last night during Bollywood class, the ankle went on strike.

That's right, I have a corset style brace and hot pink toenails! If you need to wrap up your ankle, it may as well look stylish. (As an aside, the polish is called "Stop Traffic" which I think is appropriate for my new confidence.)

Unfortunately it's rather sore. I hope that by keeping off it most of the day that it might be functioning in time for Zumba tonight. Or at least for a slower paced night of Zumba.

Scandalous!

2010-09-20T08:12:00.002-07:00

What's a great way to spend a Friday night? Going on a Naughty Pub Walking Tour! I have wanted to do this tour for so long, and I finally had the opportunity. Who knew there were so many scandalous things that have happened here?

It was really fun to dress up a bit, wear a great pair of shoes and learn while enjoying some Guinness. I am a fan of dark beers. However, I did notice that my alcohol tolerance levels were quite low. Is this something affected by exercise and weight loss? I was quite tipsy after 2.5 pints. Perhaps I should research this, or just come to grips with being a lightweight. On the bright side it is fantastic in a few ways: I don't end up spending a lot of money, and it's a manageable amount of calories.

Once we got back in, I ended up a little camera happy, so here is my favourite photo of the night:

I normally always smile in what I deem is a "safe" manner, but who cares now? I'm enjoying life, and I want to share that with the world!

What else was I up to on the weekend? Well, I went on a 20 kilometre bike ride. Considering this was only my second venture out, I'm very proud. I got to enjoy a fabulous lunch surrounded by sail boats. It was a windy day, so they were making amazing noises which sound a lot like wind chimes.

As it's Monday, I did my weekly weigh-in. Very pleased to say that I'm down another pound! Go 156! I believe my body is currently trying to figure out what is going on. After all there is a new exercise-sheriff in town.

***

One of my favourite bands released their third album not too long ago. I felt like sharing one of the songs. Plus Régine, one of the founding members, has on such a cute sequinned dress which looks fantastic in black and white! It really makes me want to buy a new camera and start taking serious photographs again.

Goodness the photography idea has me inspired, so my tiny list of things to buy has augmented:

MacBook Pro
Digital SLR camera
Scanner/printer

Onward with the day.

The girl in the doorway

2010-09-17T09:20:00.005-07:00

It's been over a month now. Like I've mentioned before, my life is not where I pictured it being (obviously), but I'm rather happy. There is absolutely no reason to get caught up in the past and what happened. Yes you can learn from it, but in a situation like this, the heartbreak would eat you alive. It's unhealthy in this case to dwell and think of the "what ifs" (you can't change things anyway). I am content knowing there's someone amazing out there for me, and we'll find each other eventually. In the meantime I have myself to take care of. I've been going about daily routines and job hunting.

So my first major goal is accomplished: I bought a bicycle! Isn't she gorgeous?!

Like all good things you own, they need a name. For example, this computer is named "Pineapple", and my ipod Shuffle is named "Thursday". So I've chosen to name my bike "Josephine". That name is so appropriate for a pretty blue hybrid bicycle in my eyes. If you are curious about the actually stats, this is a Transend DX W by Giant, size small (I'm only 5'5... and a half...). Also, I bought her on sale! Huzzah!

Betseydoodle and I went out for a test bike ride along the trails. I was wobbly, and very, very slow! However I think that with a little practice I could be near road ready before winter hits! Plus I need to be a lot more confident if I would eventually like to ride the bicycle wearing pumps. Mmm, pretty shoes with heels, how I have missed you.

This week also meant the beginning of some "exercise" classes! Ms. Doodle and I are signed up this season for beginner Bollywood dance class, and Zumba! Both are fun for their own reasons, and I'm positive I will devote a post specifically to each one in the future. For now I would like to move on to how my "getting in shape" has been going.

This photograph is a side view of me from September 15th (after Bollywood class).

Sadly I didn't think to take a reference photograph earlier, so you will have to trust me on relaying the changes. My tummy is a helluva lot flatter! This gets me very excited about my small progress so far. One of the things I enjoyed most at my lowest weight was sitting without having rolls, so it looks like I'll be getting back to that soon enough. Also, my butt looks fantastic! Personal opinion.

Today is measurement day!

09.17 (08.27)

Bust: 39 1/2" (41)
Under Bust: 34" (35)
Waist: 30 1/2" (31)
Hips: 39 3/4" (40.75)
Thighs: 24 1/4" (25)

I am pleased to note that this is the first time all my numbers have exited the 40s! Feeling pretty proud about it. Feels fantastic to have my pants getting loose too.

I will leave you with this very sweet song and video I discovered earlier this week. It made me all misty eyed.

The good, the bad, the new me.

2010-09-10T21:10:00.004-07:00

Ah, history... Even though I'm turning over a new leaf in my life, I really do feel the need to share my past struggles with weight. It's motivation for me, a nice online reminder of what I'm working towards.

In high school, I was very stable weight-wise. I resided between 135 and 140, which was pretty healthy for my height. Unfortunately I had very low body image. How did that happen you may ask? Well, I was kind of chubby when I went through puberty. I know this is a natural process, however, there were many negative comments directed towards me at this precise moment. I really don't need to go into detail about it, it's enough knowing of its influence. Now back to high school!

I ended up dating my first real boyfriend when I was 18. I hung out with him all the time, and he worked at a fast food "restaurant" (eww!). Sadly, because it was easy and tasty, I ate horribly, and never exercised! This was my first weight climb. I got up to around 165 lbs. Then everything changed.

I moved away to University, lived off campus, and broke up with my then boyfriend. The first month away, I walked and walked, not really thinking of what this would do for my body. I ate, mostly healthy, at least for a University student. By Thanksgiving (Canadian), my clothing was getting loose. I continued on the same path, and by Christmas I had to purchase a whole new wardrobe! After that I was motivated and began my own workout routine. At the end of the school year I weighed 133 lbs, and I felt amazing.

Sadly by Christmas of the next year, I had crept back up to the 140s, and it didn't stop there. I was unhappy, I had no idea who I was as a person, and it affected everything. This is a time that I'm not ready to share in detail. What I can say is that I've grown up since then, and I think I'm absolutely awesome now. A really cool girl worth knowing.

So, back to my weight: it skyrocketed. There is no precise figure for me to share, as I was not weighing myself at the heaviest. But I have a photograph that is one of the worst photos of myself in existence. I assume I weigh around 175 here, which is 18 more than my current weight.

Ugh, it's hard to look at... Thankfully that's not the current me! After seeing a copy of this photo, I worked my way down to 160, but lost my motivation and stopped there. Which catches you up to about 3 years ago.

There you have my summed up weight history.

Zumba and the CNE

2010-09-10T08:52:00.003-07:00

Last night I was so excited about zumba, I swear that class is addictive. It's just ridiculously fun! I had been bouncing around the house waiting, so I decided to distract myself by taking a few pictures. I'm starting to notice changes. I know it's only been around three weeks since I began exercising, but my tummy feels flatter, around my neck looks slimmer, and I think my ankles look fierce!

Here's most of me, although I would love to get a full length shot (I'll be happy when the underarm fat goes down a bit).

A close up, showing off what I think is a thinner neck and chin!

Sadly by the time Krista and I arrived, it was full! The last two tickets were sold just ahead of us. Quelle domage! So instead of zumba, we played Rockband. I must work on my drumming skills, they are no longer up to par! That does create a problem though, I don't own the game or a system that could run it. Ah, more future things to consider purchasing.

Even though I missed out on zumba, which would have been amazing exercise, I still worked out for myself. I went for a 20 minute fast walk (in the dark!) and did reps of push-ups, crunches and various yoga poses. I feel good this morning, and I've had some stat changes!

Bust - 40" (same)
Under bust - 34 1/4" (34 1/2)
Waist - 30 3/4" (31")
Hips - 40" (same)
Thighs - 24 1/4 (24 1/2)

Finally my waist is moving! Very pleased. I will check out my weight on Monday.

***

After my ex-fiancé ended our relationship so abruptly, I really had to figure out what on earth I was going to do. Never in my wildest dreams had I considered that it might not work out. As a result when moving out of my old apartment, I got rid of many things which could have been very useful at this point, like living room furniture.

So here I am, at my parents' house, sorting out my stuff, working on my resume, and figuring out what I want to do with my life now. The possibilities are limitless! However, I do think I'm in the mood for a little adventure.

I actually had a major changing point this past Monday. I was at the CNE with J, and we were on the waterfront watching the air show. While I hate flying, I am absolutely fascinating with fast planes! So there I was, gazing out over Lake Ontario, the Snowbirds in the sky, and I realized I was happy to be back. It shocked me. I felt so normal, so at ease, and incredibly pleased that no one was going to make fun of my "accent".

I didn't take too many photographs, and forgot to take any with either of us in them. I should work on that...but I still have some to share.

I'll start with the air show, it's my favourite CNE event.

This was a team of three. As you can see, they made a heart! They also tried to put an arrow through it, but it was too breezy and the heart blew away.

These are the Snowbirds! They did lots of really nifty things, but it was hard to get a good photo.

The buildings were interesting as well. Like any good fair, they had a vegetable competition going on. These were the prize winning leeks!

In the farm building, there was a butter sculpting competition. It actually turned into a disturbing building to visit. There was a baby calf that everyone was just all over because of his cuteness. We were no exception...until I read the sign above. It was a veal calf. That ended the farm building visit! Well, back to the happier topic of butter sculptures. I believe this one is a cake wreck.

Some of the crowds.

A carousel! I should have gone on this, the pictures would have been neat!

I loved that the lights were starting to show up at this point. It's around 6pm by now, and this is the "Pizza Pizza" ferris wheel. I cleverly avoided the ugly logo.

Finally after dinner at a pub, we wandered around the city a bit. First time I've done that in Toronto! I like blurry night photos, so here's one of the CN Tower.

Maybe I should start a new facebook account soon...I've gone a little picture crazy here!

Starting Over (aka: the massive post)

2010-09-08T20:59:00.006-07:00

I have the strange opportunity to start fresh at a time in my life when I least expected it.

If things had gone as planned, I would currently be married, and living in Colorado. But life is full of surprises, and my surprise was being dumped. When this occurred I was very hurt, confused, and angry that I was suddenly single! Who wouldn't be when they had planned to spend their life with someone, only to be ditched right before the wedding! But during this whole situation I surprised myself. I behaved with maturity and dignity that I didn't realize I possessed. In short, I shocked the hell out of me. I still have to work through quite a few things, one doesn't go through this type of break-up without a few hiccoughs. Yet I feel amazing, confident, strong, beautiful, worth so much more than this, and deserving someone far more amazing. So here I am, back in Canada, ready to start my new path.

I really am curious as to where this new path will lead. I have my own hopes for that, and all I can do currently is sit back and watch life play out for me. Maybe, just maybe things will fall into place the way I hope. It would be ever so serendipitous.

***

Well, enough of my poetic and emotional discourse. I do have some direction for my life that I wish to share, and something I actually have control over! I'm taking back my body. No more "being comfortable" with 25 extra pounds that I never wanted in the first place!

Eight and a half years ago, I worked my butt off and got down to a slim 133. I looked and felt fabulous; it happened to be one of the happiest times in my life. However, I had a lot of growing up to do. I was flighty, and ridiculous. Reading my journal entries from this period of time makes me want to smack my younger self for being an idiot! Not that I actually need to put this in writing, but I'm sure you can gather that I gained that weight back, and more shortly after.

After returning for my second year of university, I began to date new people, but I was no longer looking for someone I actually meshed with. I just didn't want to be alone. It's a very bad mind space to be in, but I had so much growing up to do. I didn't see my worth, and a casualty along the way was my weight. It got out of control. The worst I let it get was above 170. Stepping on the scale that day was definitely one of lowest points. I had no confidence, little feeling of worth, and I hurt a lot of people along the way. I suppose I have regrets, but some people, like me, have a lot more growing up to do than others.

After a period of time, I managed to stabilize my weight at around 160 lbs, and continued to do so during my last relationship. I felt more confident, but still unhappy with my appearance. I never doubted that I was attractive to my ex-fiancé, but I wanted to feel attractive to me. After the sudden end to the relationship, I had a lot of emotions to deal with. My friend Betseydoodle was very supportive during this time, and offhand mentioned a blogger that she enjoyed called Bitch Cakes. It was like a fire was lit underneath me! If she could lose this weight, I could! So on August 24th Miss Doodle and I headed out on a 10 kilometre walk, and I've been going strong since then.

Here I am yesterday. I'm at my parents, channelling a Bitch Cakes style photo. I was tired after a 35 minute power-walk, plus my first Zumba class. Also I'm really not pear shaped, it's just wide leg pants and a weird pose.

Here are my current stats (starting stats from August 27 in parenthesis):

Weight: 158 (160)

Bust: 40" (41")
Under bust: 34.5" (35")
Waist: 31" (31")
Hips: 40" (40.75")
Thighs: 24.5" (25")

My first goal is returning to 135 lbs, and I'll go from there. I had really hoped to achieve this before my next birthday, however, I feel that at this rate, I might reach my goal for the new year!

This post is really just about the beginning. I would love to share some of the adventures that the last month has given me. It has certainly been interesting.

I would walk five hundred miles

2009-03-31T12:46:00.005-07:00

Alex arrives in 53 days, finally getting close! This also means 53 days for me to get in running shape...

Being the thoughtful Internet savvy girl that I am, I researched how to beginning a running program and found this guide. I am definitely already in the 20 minutes/3 days a week walking zone, which is awesome.

So far I've been doing 4-5 days a week of cardio in the form of either:
a: walking briskly for 20-30 minutes or
b: playing DDR (dance dance revolution) for 20-25 minutes

(Incidentally a made a DDR group on ravelry if anyone wishes to join!)

I hope that by next week, I can start to add a bit of light jogging to my walks. What I will try as a small goal would be to jog down to a coffee shop for tea, and walk home. I'm always more interested in exercise if a reward is provided. Apparently tea is reward enough.

So! There you have my getting in shape plans. Who knows, I might kick Alex's butt at running by the time he arrives.

***

I have felt a bit flighty lately. Not that I'm actually a flighty girl, it's just my focus has been off. I have these amazing ideas and plans running around my head, and I cannot seem to find that motivation to put them into motion. I'm sure it's partially because I'm not in classes at the moment, and I'm grumpy being far from my honey. Basically I'm ready to be at a different spot in my life than I am, and it bothers me. I will push through though, and I will have classes in around 30 days, ah, that ray of light.

I have managed to get some things ready for an Etsy shop, and I'm super excited about that. Just waiting now on a charger for my camera and I'm ready to go! We'll see how that experiment goes.

***

My Yavie socks are almost complete, and although they're simple enough, I'm still going to write up a little pattern for them.

My only issue was that working with Noro made me a little batty with the colour changes and my need of symmetry. I really needed them to match, and I could not handle harsh lines between each colour, it just involved some planning and careful splicing. My other yarn issue was that the Kureyon caused a callous on my index finger which I use to hold upcoming stitches on the needle. I really do not like it.

My Mum's mother's day gift is coming along as well. Gail shouldn't take that much longer to finish, and I really have no other option because I need the cable off of those interchangeable needles for something else. I used woolie silk 2-ply by Fleece Artist, I honestly love this yarn! One of my favourites to work with.

Off to do domestic things around my house.

Love, Zsanica

Oh Greenboro, we did not get off to a good start.

2009-03-19T19:44:00.002-07:00

I was punched at Greenboro station tonight! You heard correctly: punched.

I was on my way to visit Lisa tonight for some geeky fun, but ended up being a tad early causing me to catch an earlier train. As I was crossing over the transit way, some guy punch my arm rather hard, and kept on walking. I was stunned, very stunned, so by the time I thought to get angry about this, he was on the train leaving the station! Some jerk in an aqua hoodie.

Thankfully I was wearing my puffy down coat that acted as padding, so I don't think it will bruise.

This is now the third incident I've seen like this. I was not expecting it to happen to me however.

At Billings Bridge, I witnessed a man being shoved around by two hoodlums (awesome word, thank you Leanne!), after they left him alone, he opened doors for me...

Downtown one evening, my friend Seul was body checked by a girl. Seul moved out of the girl's way, but the girl moved over and slammed her shoulder into Seul's.

Now... me. I wonder how many times in the city people run into these small acts of.. anger?

Some people really are idiots.

***

On happier notes: I had fun knitting with wire today. I made a pair of earrings with beads, and I love them!

-Z

The Adventures of Kureyon Socks

2009-03-07T10:08:00.003-08:00

Yesterday, after enjoying the balmy 9 degree weather (which was oh so nice!), I sat down to finally tackle the heels of my currently named "Yavie" socks.

I desperately hoped that a harsh line would not be left between the orange and aqua. Only time would tell.

Which brings me to today. I'm ripping back the heels and adding three more rows to compensate for the colour changes..

What can I say? I'm picky visually.

-Z (Hmmm...dim sum?)

2009-03-04T13:31:00.004-08:00

I am in desperate need of spring.

It is my favourite time of the year, I swear the scent of spring is intoxicating to me. I get deliriously happy having my windows open letting in the refreshing air. However, it is a balmy -3 outside right now, so there is no bloody way the windows are being opened. I have gotten into the spring cleaning buzz though. My desk has been de-cluttered, my shelves organized, the floors vacuumed (as I scared my kitty *cackles*), my inspiration board revamped, and my wool has been sorted (how did I gather up so much?).

My cleaning has contributed even more to the improved atmosphere of my apartment. How I feel living here has changed so much since the early fall; it feels so relaxing sitting here rambling, and sipping on a cup of green tea. Also feeling a little like a voyeur or... listen-eur because I swear I just heard my neighbours downstairs "getting lucky". I feel like Amélie...

Amélie mène une vie simple ; ayant abandonné toute relations sentimentale après des tentatives ratées, elle prend goût à des plaisirs simples comme faire craquer la crème brûlée avec une cuillère, se promener sous le soleil de Paris, faire des ricochets sur le canal Saint-Martin, essayer de deviner combien de Parisiens avaient un orgasme à chaque instant « Quinze ! » et laisse libre cours à son imagination.

I suppose I do relate well to that movie, there is a reason it's my favourite.

***

I have not been sure of what I want to do "when I grow up" for a long time now. While I do understand that there is no rush, and that it is more than okay to be uncertain, I still have not enjoyed lacking a career goal. I have flitted around in schools and programs for longer than I have wanted to, and it is only within the past year that I have grasped motivation. Really though, I thought that a Masters was out of my league even though I have found the idea of having one very appealing.

Enter the MLIS (Masters of Library and Information Science) program. After this program was briefly mentioned last Thursday at the Bridgehead, it has not left my mind. It just keeps rolling around. Basically: I am very interested in this program. After some research I found out that one of the universities that offers this it is in Denver. Bonus! I also found out that I would have the correct GPA for applying once my Bachelor is complete.

Very exciting!

***

Today has reached the 80 day mark until my honey arrives for his visit, as a dorky tribute, I have decided to read Around the World in 80 Days!
Yes, I am a dork. But a very happy dork!

He actually proposed something interesting this week. He already planned to take a year off to work before going to Dentistry school, but he thought, why not work in Ottawa? I am so hopeful that there is a job waiting here for him for the year. If anyone has suggestions let me know (he's a physics engineer). Yes, I know, it sounds kind of strange that he's going from that to dentistry.

If he could find a job here, I can stop my search for a new roommate and look into getting a different appartment for the next year. Oh my goose excited!

***

I have rambled long enough, but I will leave you with knitting, and my blurry cell phone picture of the completed scarf for Monsieur Alex's Mum.

Much love,

Zsanica

2009-02-17T09:21:00.005-08:00

I have been back in Ottawa for nearly two weeks now, and I admit, it's lovely to be home. Although slightly lonely; I am after all still in need of a new roommate.

On returning here, I had the pleasure of going out for lunch and eating yummy dim sum, and enjoying brownies there after. With knitting of course! What did surprise me though was a certain ad that was up in the bus shelter. Apparently a radio station in Ottawa was taken over by a new company, and this is one of the adds of their new promotional campaign:

While I realize that whether good or bad, publicity is publicity, and that by posting a picture of said ad, I could potentially "spread the word" of said radio station. The problem is that I feel like they went very wrong with this concept.

Does this add actually affect me? Well no, not really.
Do I have a daughter? No, far too young for that.
If I had a daughter, would I lock her up? No, she would be able to make wise decisions, on her own.
Am I likely to shag an ageing rock star? Definitely not.
Even though I would not shag one, if I hypothetically did, would I forget protection? God no, who knows where they've been!
Would I let my parents "lock me up"? No, I definitely make my own decisions.
Do I make poor decisions without my parents? No, I'm quite self sufficient.

So no, this add may not be relevant to me per say, but as a woman, it still bothers me that someone decided this was okay to publish. I'm not even going to get into how depressed the girls look in the ads, or the household chores.

***

I had a pleasant Valentine's day. It really was one of my favourites! Alex and I spent some time together, watching The Office over Skype, and getting annoyed at our attempts to take over Arathi Basin (it's a player vs. player match in WoW).

Also! My lovely surprise for him arrived on time! Which is a first (his birthday gift took almost three weeks to arrive, but it was a week late). I had knit and felted a fortune cookie, which contained my very own fortune for him.

It was then packaged in the little take out box, which I covered in black paper. It had to be covered, the box was hot pink before! My Valentine card was styled after one of my favourite xkcd comics, and I sent a bunch of tiny Smarties boxes. Over all, I was giddy about it.
(NB: the pink and grey scarf in the picture is one that I received for Christmas, I love it!)

Looking forward to chai lattes later this week!

-Z (Oh, here's a fun game I found "The eyeballing game". My best score so far is a 2.36! Although, I've some perspective drawing, I think this gives me a huge advantage.)

Oh bother..

2009-02-02T11:15:00.002-08:00

I just realised today that there were some comments left for me to approve, this is kind of how the adventure went.

My inner-dialogue (and actions!):

"Ooo! I have comments! I'll just highlight them..."
Click, click, click.
"This is really great! Okay, I just click publish and I'll read them after."
Click.
"Wait, that's not publish! That's reject! No, no no, click publish!"
Click, click, click!
Click, click!
"Oh please go through!"
Advance to blog..
"Oh bother.."
Failed.

So I went back and read the comments, and I wanted to say thank you ladies! They made my day. ^_^

I had myself a merry little Christmas!

2009-01-15T12:02:00.003-08:00

I have returned to the north, is it ever cold and I have no honey to keep me warm here! It has been, as I like to call it: minus burr outside.

Grumble.

But happily, on my visit to Colorado, the weather managed to be lovely! A tad on the windy side (why hello chinook winds), but above zero almost every day. The day we visited the Denver Zoo it was so nice out that I could wear short sleeves comfortably! Christmas turned into one of my favourites ever, and thanks to the transit strike (ah, a silver lining) I ended up staying for an extra 6 days.

While there I checked out two yarn stores in Denver: Fancy Tiger and The Lamb Shoppe.

Fancy Tiger:
- fresh young vibe to the shop
- small, clean, organized
- cute, touchable selections of yarns
- no "fun fur fibres"
- bonus: very cute fabrics!

The Lamb Shoppe:
- tables and chairs set up for in store knitting
- sells coffee and tea
- plenty of samples in many of the yarns
- although it has lots of yarn, it seemed hard to find what I was looking for
- lots of variegated yarns (not my favourite)

Overall I was much more impressed by Fancy Tiger, it seemed to really cater to exactly what I like to knit. Alas it was the first store I went to, so I didn't want to commit to buying at that point. At least I'll know to save up for my summer visit.

***

Back to knitting. For Christmas, I knit Alex a new brimmed tuque, and this is the result I have wanted to share for a while:

Ah, the jokingly annoyed face. He was not impressed by the first photo I took, as he was smiling oddly. Very oddly!

I feel so swoony! Is this the so-called "honeymoon" phase? If so, I have a feeling that long distance really prolongs it.

***

I will be back home soon.

I miss chai lattes and knitting with you all!

Hugs,
-Z

It would be so easy to sing about you.

2008-12-09T15:57:00.002-08:00

I don't know if this makes me cliché or just shows my laziness in deciding titles for posts, but I tend to always fall back to lyrics of a song that I've enjoyed lately.

Music, in my past, meant little to me. Friends would associate memories with song, and if they asked me about it, I would kindly tell them, no I didn't remember that song playing; but if the event had significance to me, I would kindly inform them of what I wore that day. I suppose my creativity tends to lay a bit more on the visual side.

But the present is different. After I moved away from home, music began to have meaning to me. I would link together songs with my life, and what I was going through.

Sadly, I really had not put much effort into locating new music lately, and with the challenges I had a few months ago, my playlist seemed very stagnant. Strange as it may sound, watching Bravo has helped to spice up my music archive! They play these awesome, obscure videos as filler between movies and such.

Thus my title is from this song:

Song No. 6 by Ane Brun (featuring Ron Sexsmith)

I think it's adorable.

***

I have digressed from my originally planned topic! The shame!

What I wanted to say was: oh Bellatrix socks, how I love thee! My feet were so toasty in my socks and wool lined boots. It's so nice to step out into minus burr temperatures and not end up shivering. Thus, must make more socks when I have a chance.

Also, I am worried about the possible transit strike..

If you need me let me know!

2008-12-04T12:39:00.004-08:00

Well! I just realised I have not updated in a long time. Which just means lots has happened.

Happily on November 1st, my old roommate moved out. It was a very bad situation. Thankfully I have managed to get the smell of cat urine out of the carpet! That was tough work. I still need to tackle her old room though. One wall is speckled with drilled holes from hanging heavy things, and another was painted back to white from raspberry. The apartment is beige. Honestly, it just looks primed. I also was highly amused by the hydro bill this month. Last year around this time, I was surprised by a bill that was at least 300, this year's, only 100... and one month of that she was here.

That is what my living room looks like now. With some chairs to the right. So far it is much better!

Other decorating things I would like to do:

to gather up some candles for inside the fire place, for those times I am not using it
ask my dad to construct some hanging metal sculpture for the spot above my television
a four canvas piece of art for behind my dining room table (I really have no idea what to paint yet.. Just that it will most likely have reds and aquas in it)
I would also like to make these fairy lights, not sure where to hang them though

I have been keeping up with my knitting as well. I still have two Christmas presents to finish. Although one is 90% complete, the other I have been putting off. Honestly I'm a little concerned about the strength of the yarn I want to use...it does not take much to break it.

Well, here are some snapshots of what I've been up to:

My So-Called Cowl (aka herringbone)
I CO 40sts, added 4 button holes, and there you have it.
I love the colours, but Manos del Uruguay 100% wool is kind of rough...not the most pleasant to knit with.

Grape Mittens of my design, go me!
I used a modified version of the Druid Mitten cuff, and loosely used a mitten pattern to help with the rest.
Also in Manos del Uruguay.

Josephine!
Oh how I love, love, love wearing this top! It feels so nice on, and really boosted my confidence of knitting garments. Also a big thank you to Betseydoodle for explaining the process of bust darts in knitting. It really is why this shirt looks so awesome.

I made a ton of changes to the pattern which I posted about here on ravelry.

Moonfire!

My Druid Mittens are coming along slowly, but surely. I know more progress will be made on my Christmas voyage. Although, I still have to make the mate for this one... Drat things coming in pairs!

On that note, just two more weeks till I start my Christmas hols! So excited! Hopefully there will be some knitting and tea to be had before my voyage starts.

Much love,

Zsanica

Tell me that you love me more

2008-10-12T09:06:00.003-07:00

I once read a comment by someone who was making Thermal. It said:

"I've come to the realisation that my inner knitter is into S + M."

Do I ever feel that way about these mittens.

If anyone remembers me complaining about the cables that Gretel had, that was nothing! This pattern has cables every other row, and yet, I am enjoying how the mittens are turning out immensely.

However, the yarn of choice is a tad fussy to photograph. The colour is much richer than it appears here.

I also decided to be a huge geek about these mittens. I was amused by how they are called "Druid Mittens", the key word here is druid. So, they have been named "Moonfire Mittens" on Ravelry. (It's a very geeky World of Warcraft reference.)

Yesterday, I was off attempting to do some homework at the Bridgehead closer to my end of town. Unfortunately I did not bring my glasses, so reading really was not working. I ended up working on my mittens instead. Well to my surprise, there was a man knitting there as well! I probably should have said hello. Maybe I will another time, if I see him around again.

This little excursion was really to eliminate some of the stress I'm feeling. On my way home, I walked back through the construction, instead of going to the closer bus stop. I am so thankful I did! I ended up passing a little shop (bija bijoux) with a necklace in the window I fell in love with. Here it is!

Is anyone coming out to the main knitnite evening this week?

Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.

2008-10-10T21:16:00.004-07:00

I've been rather stressed due to my apartment situation. I'm really trying to stay on the bright side of things, but I have been clenching my jaw. Unfortunately, this is getting rather bothersome, and it kind of hurts! The other downside is that I haven't been able to concentrate on homework the past few days. Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better. I might go out to a Bridgehead and do some homework.

I really just need to get out of the house.

Anyway, I wanted to share how Josephine is doing.

Oh, I might be modelling for a friend in November! Fun news. Need to work out more.

Mmm, brownies!

2008-10-08T19:55:00.003-07:00

Ah, this will be a short post, I should really change that. Unfortunately I am sort of a slow knitter, thus my news generally waits until I finish a project!

Thankfully I have one: Gretel by Ysolda

Très beau, n'est-ce pas? Maintenant je dois tricoter mes mitaines!

I've been working on making the right gauge. That is to say, I've made the right gauge, but I have rather tiny wrists, and they just aren't tight enough. It seems I need the needles that my "Candy (aka Anastasia)" socks are on. So, one option would be to finish the socks, another would be to put the sock on a stitch holder. We will see!

***

I enjoyed a lovely brownie filled evening last night at Betseydoodle's! Very yummy. Thank you again!

With that, I am off to finish an essay!

-Zsanica

Grey sweaters with a simple string of pearls.

2008-09-02T14:27:00.005-07:00

Miss Z goes to Colorado

I had the fun of being able to visit Colorado again! It was lovely, a great way to spend a few weeks in August. I left on the 12th, and was driven to Buffalo by my parents. At the time I was just getting over a cold.

Once on the California Zephyr, I woke up a lot, and before crossing the Mississippi saw the damage caused by earlier flooding. It was beautiful, but sad aswell. I did see pelicans though.

Amtrak doesn't really run "on time" persay, so at around 8 in the morning, 30 minutes after we were supposed to be in Denver, I was able to stretch my legs in Ft. Morgan. We ended up almost 3 hours late arriving.

It rained the first few days I was there, which is highly unusual for Colorado with it's desert climate! I appreciated the humidity. On one of these rainy days, we went to the butterfly pavilion where I got to hold this beauty! Her name's Rosie, very soft, very docile.

The next day we ended up going to an Fine Art show in Golden (where Coors is made). It rained and stormed more! I made sure to snap a lot of photos this time.

My idea was to check out the aquarium, because I love water and fish. I also thought, hey, I should get a picture with myself and the local that I was staying with!

Ten days went by far too fast. Next visit will be for 2 weeks. I discovered though that trains do not make me motion sick! How amazing is that? Here we have river below Niagara falls on my way back. I absolutely love the colour of the water.

Avocado: Day 55

I was going to approach this in a different manner, but I felt I needed to share a few things. I grew up on 2 and a half acres, on the outskirts of a very small town. My parents had lived in this house since they were married and were very close to our older neighbours to the right of us. When I was born, this couple became my Nana and Papa Lile. They were of no true relation, but to me they were family, and I was closer to them than I have ever been to any of my biological grandparents. I would spend many summer days in their gardens running around, picking flowers, sailing little boats in their ponds and gathering up colourful bugs to bring back for careful inspection.

My Papa passed away when I was still in elementary school, but my Nana pressed on. She was a very strong and loving woman with soft red hair, and an amazing laugh. She would always greet me by saying "Hi honey!" and we would have long conversations about so many topics, she taught me about plants, animals, stamps, beauty, life.

Unfortunately she passed away while I was in Colorado. Thankfully I was able to talk to her before I left and hear her say "Oh honey" to me one last time. I just felt that it was appropriate to mention this amazing woman.

Now that I managed to make myself all teary eyed, here's how her green thumb influence on me is still going.

***

My knitting Olympics project was a success. Unfortunately I was on a train at the time and unable to block it, even though finished. I also missed out on posting about this on the ravelry forums, thus no cute icon for me. Well, I know I did it. It is drying as we speak.

Other than that, I wanted to post a picture of this ring I bought while I was away. I think it's adorable. Little frogs holding the gem! It's slightly out of focus but who cares! It still conveys the point.

Xox,

-Zsanica

Avocado: Day 13

2008-07-21T13:32:00.002-07:00

Are they supposed to split across the bottom? I sure hope so, because I can see right up to the centre! Quite disturbing since I'm not sure what to expect. Just keep watering it and we'll see.

The excellent news I received is that: I'm back as a full time student, in my 3 year of Uni! It's as though I hadn't left.

Today's been rather productive. The usual cleaning, store going. I did pick up a Brita though. Mmm, yummier tasting water. I also gathered up fabric for my closet inspiration! Ta-da!

I found a recipe for a corn starch paste on a blog called, How About Orange . It worked really well, and now I have artistic closet doors. It's much better than all that blank wall space. The downside, I want to start pasting things up all over the house..

Now to go get rid of my headache..

Avocado tree: day one

2008-07-09T18:09:00.002-07:00

And so it begins.

I was browsing Apartment Therapy, one of my favourite websites to visit, and someone had decided to post about their avocado plant. I was inspired! So I started off my plant today. According to avocado.org this little pit should take anywhere from 2-6 weeks to start sprouting. The site has a section about growing your own, in case anyone else would like to grow an avocado plant with me! If you do, please let me know!

Well, it looks like another excursion will happen next month! That's right, I'm going back to Colorado before the fall semester begins. I'm hoping I can lose 10 lbs before my visit. I can do that right? Whatever does happen I plan to take a decent amount of photos this time, and with me in more. A friend of mine has posted a bunch of photos from her travels to France on facebook this month, I would like to do something similar with mine.

Unfortunately it won't be as long of a visit as I would like, but, it's the best that can be done right before school, and on short notice. I'm still undecided about train or plane travel. Either would work for me, train does give me more knitting time though.

I'm hoping to finish off my scarf soon. I'm getting close to half finished. Here's a quick updated photo:

With a pretty bow in my hair too!

-Z

"Look, you're standing alone."

2008-07-02T16:44:00.003-07:00

(Liar by The Cranberries, it's in my head, trying to keep Zombie out of my head)

I'm busying packing to get back to my apartment. I'm rather excited too! Finally I'll be finishing decorating and organizing. For my room, I bought some closet organizers. They will basically giving me 9 shelves, including one with an underwear drawer, and a bar to hang more clothing on. This means, my old underwear drawer can store wool now! I'm so content about that.

Also, I've been rather enthralled watching the home version of Threadbangers. In one episode, there were instructions on how to make a cute little earring holder from an old frame. I have earrings that are risking damage, so I needed a place to hang them. Thus, I whipped this up today.

It's a garage sale found frame with window screening pulled and stapled across the back. Canvas stretching style. Then two pieces of ribbon were stapled onto the back as a hanger. I may change the ribbon later, but for now, this will do!

I just need kitchen and bathroom ideas now. I have plans on finding a cute string of pearls plant, if anyone happens to see those around anywhere, let me know!

I hope everyone had an excellent Canada day! So, I leave you with a photograph I took yesterday.

-Zsanica

I'm a hawkstrider in water.

2008-06-30T17:29:00.003-07:00

Last day of the month, out with the pearl, in with the ruby. June is actually one of my favourite months as it is my birthday month! This year, I had an amazing June, sad to see it go. Hopefully the rest of this year turns out just as well! I have high hopes after all.

Yesterday my guest returned back home, and I was blubbering and upset (I was like a day or two before even). But, I survived! I will be very happy for next visit though, which should happen over my winter break. Five months? Not fun, but workable, and worth it. While here, we went to see quite a few movies, to the beach by my parents' house, general wanderings of the city (which included me finding out that I hate being outside during thunderstorms), to rib fest, a birthday bbq with my family, lunch with Miss Ifi; in general just enjoying the company. He took some photos, which I may steal and post.

Although I may feel slightly lonely at the moment, this does mean I'll be able to attend all the Knitnites this month if I want to! Very exciting indeed.

During the time spent at my parents before Alex arrived, I found a neglected scarf hidden in the garage. I had been so excited to try out the Boteh pattern when I discovered it on Stitchywitch's blog. This was my learning to crochet attempt, as I never had attempted before. Thankfully it turned out! Unfortunately, I did not understand the importance of blocking. It looked okay, but very much like leaf lettuce. So, I properly blocked it and decided tonight that I should take a new photo of it, just to show off how pretty it really is. Thus, here's my Boteh scarf!

That's also my awesome birthday shirt, I exchanged a light yellow one to get it. So pretty now, isn't it? Much softer and ordered. So take it from me, blocking makes knitting or crochet look good! Remember!

I must say goodnight, but I hope everyone enjoys the last of June, and the fireworks that will bring in July!

-Zsanica

The X-men cartoon theme song is stuck in my head

2008-06-20T08:41:00.003-07:00

I used to have that as a ring tone for my old cell phone, which is now my Mum's phone. Sadly, she is not such a fan of the X-men as I was. I actually used to have "Rogue" style hair. It all started one day when someone mention that I looked like Anna Paquin in the X-men movies, so paff! I bleached two platinum blond streaks into the front of my hair.

Ah, rambling, such fun!
I thought I would post a little eye candy from my vacation in early May. This is a pretty view of the foothills, with a random hiker. The city below is Bolder, in case there was curiosity about it.

I've been having huge desires lately to knit a garment. Which is frustrating because of how many smaller projects I have going. I have my lace ribbon scarf, a market bag, endpaper mittens and a companion cube! All little things, accessories you could say. Although I'm happy that I will eventually own these, I miss making something to wear! I'm fairly certain that, once I find the right wool, I will be making either an Après Surf Hoodie or this cute little sweater called Jasmine.
Opinions?

I will decide soon, I hope. I really need something to knit in July and August. As I'm in a rush to head out for some yummy milkshakes with my visitor, I will leave you with photos of how my mittens are coming along, and the cube!

Not bad huh? They will be pretty. Colour work isn't my favourite thing to do though. At least I know that now! Unfortunately, the cube also requires colour work...

-Zsanica

'I'm not a witch! I'm your wife!"

2008-05-29T14:46:00.003-07:00

Why is it so cold? Grumbling over here! I ended up with sunburns at the very end of April, only to pull out my mittens this week! I do not approve. I really hope it warms up by the 9th, so I have a very enjoyable day for my birthday!

Ah, here we have some of my photography, in which I left the flash on... The plant looks so strange! I do approve though. This is an impatient that I picked out for my parents' porch. I love how vibrant it looks, hopefully I'll find one for my balcony that I really must embellish.

I've been back from my trip for 2 weeks now, and I didn't bring my camera cord, so I haven't uploaded any photos yet. This makes me sad as I really wanted to write a bit about my adventure. So, it falls back to knitting instead.

My lace ribbon scarf shown below is actually much further along than this photograph shows (now 7 repeats), but I wanted to show a hint of just how pretty it's becoming. This scarf was one of two projects I brought along on my travelling adventure! Last week it had an incident though. I was waiting at the dentist's office for teeth cleaning fun, thus knitting. I was interrupted mid-row, popped it in my purse. Oh was that ever a bad idea! I ended up with about a quarter of the stitches off the needles, and wow, figuring out how to get the double yarn overs back in the right shape, horrible! I managed to figure it out, but it took me a very long time.

The end of May, beginning of June are important times for my family. With a long weekend, and various birthdays happening. So this year's long weekend, my Mum, Aunt Vera and I headed out garage sale hunting! I managed to find myself a brand new Crock-Pot (hello stainless steel!), two picture frames, a train photo my dad loves, and two movies (The King and I, and The Count of Monte Cristo). I did notice while I was at my Aunt's though, that her dishcloths were looking, dingy, to say the least. So, I made a quick trip to Zellers and picked up some cotton for almost no cost, knit up three dishcloths (Helleborus pictured below, a flower dishcloth, and the Chinese waves dishcloth), and a scrubbie! Helleborus was actually a scarf pattern that someone on my Ravelry friends list had added to their queue, it turned out so well! Ended up being my favourite of the three. My Aunt was very surprised, I think it cheered her up a bit.

As it stands now, I am at my parents house until after the 5th, I need to pick someone up from Pearson that day! So very excited about that. Unfortunately, I'm really missing KnitNites. I will need to make up for this during the summer! I really love the conversation to be had. Anyway, here's a pretty sunset I caught in digital here in the country. Rather beautiful, n'est-ce pas?

By the way, for the weather on Mars today, we have a high of -30c.

-Z

Strange.

2008-04-08T13:30:00.003-07:00

Sunday afternoon, my mum and I went for a walk with my grandma and my Aunt Vera. My grandma seems a little.. senile now? Well, there's something not quite right, either way she was grumpy for sure. It was a gorgeous day though, so much in fact that I ended up with a sunburn. So I took a few pictures to prove that indeed I did have one. When I loaded the pictures onto the computer I found this:

...um, how old am I?

I look like I could bloody well be in high school! I admit, I kind of approve. It's just so strange.

"Hey baby... can I touch your rumble pack?"

2008-04-05T15:43:00.002-07:00

That quote was my friend Tony, explaining pick-up lines I could use on gamers, yesterday. Unfortunately as I received this message, I was drinking, and got tea into my sinuses. Go go Carolyn! It's actually surprising to find out the amount of things that have gotten into my sinuses this way.

Yesterday was beautiful out, so nice that I didn't need a coat! *gasp* My mum and I went to The Purple Sock in Coldwater, and I found this pretty green Fleece Artisit woolie silk. Once home, I started to make a Lace Ribbon Scarf, I had been planning to find the perfect wool for it since I saw the spring Knitty. I think it's beautiful so far! One repeat of the pattern has been finished since the photo below.

I don't believe I'll be working too much more on this until exams are over, but we will see. My god I'm excited until they're over with!

So brown eyes I'll hold you near, cause you're the only song I want to hear.

2008-04-03T09:50:00.002-07:00

I let all of March go by without posting. Not because I didn't want to, but I just lacked the focus to do so.

It all started when a friend visited at the beginning of the month. Somehow I managed to mess up my sleeping habits a bit! That mixed with essay writing and reading for classes, plus emotional issues I've been trying to deal with, left me drained. Even my knitting was taking a bit of a back seat. I was having a hard time focusing on anything.

Thankfully all that's left are exams, and to hope that my essays are "good enough" and my forgetting to reference something does not come back to haunt me. How horrible would it be to be told that you plagiarized accidentally? It would mean a zero, and that would be that for any education at Ottawa U. Lovely. I let my mind wander too much sometimes.

I will be applying soon for full time University this fall, and summer classes. I'm nervous about this. If I'm not accepted for the fall, I just don't know what to do. I don't really have a backup plan at the moment. What can I do? How am I gifted? Time to seriously look into knitting careers.. *cackles*

What I have been working on lately, are some little dish scrubbers and washers. Why you might ask? Well, my roommate keeps leaving our dishcloths and scrubbers in dirty water overnight. I'm sure you can just imagine how gross this is, so I keep needing to make replacements. I don't want to even think that I've tossed handmade things out. Why can't people understand that "cloth" sitting in gross water is a bad thing? Ugh!

Anyway, here are two creations. First is a pattern called koinobori tawashi. I'm sure the name's kind of a give away, but the pattern is written in Japanese. Somehow, I figured it out. Basically, it's a crochet inspired version of a fish flag, and there's a place for your hand to go inside. Honestly, this dishcloth works well. I still need to get around to adding an eye though.

Next is a round scrubbie thing. They take so little time to knit, but are rather cute, and could double as cat toys easily.

Now that the weather is warming up, I've almost finished these, my subway mittens... How appropriate!

Oh well, maybe I'll have a day or two of wear before the fall. Even though I'd rather hide them away till then. I'm more than ready for spring. All I can think about is not having to wear boots, or heavy coats. I'm ready for skirts, cute shoes, and spring flowers!

Yesterday it really was showing. I'm at my parents' house this week, a delayed Easter you might say, and I was desperately needing new clothing, again. I've lost maybe 6lbs since Reading Week, and even then, I may have lost more mass and gained muscle. Things are not fitting right. Just too big. Thus, I made the necessary stop by H+M (which Ottawa NEEDS), and picked up a few items.

Last note: I want/need to lose 6-10 pounds this month. No pressure!

Pretty in Pink

2008-02-23T22:00:00.001-08:00

My usually purple hair is fuchsia at the moment! Oh how I love the change. Just so vibrant compared to the outdoor world right now.

Reading week has gone well. I may not have accomplished too many things, but I can finally say, I'm more relaxed. Things that did happen though:

-I finished knitting a cute toque
-Found a new pair of pants
-Went to the chiropractor (huzzah!)
-Obviously had my hair attended to
-Improved my singing via Rockband
-Went bowling
-Did laundry
-Bought 3 new bras that fit perfectly
-Watched a ton of movies, and loved the knitting time they bring

What I was not expecting was this need to sew. I knew it would catch up eventually, but it still caught me by surprise. I have these strange urges to make skirts, shirts and spring jackets. It's probably because I don't have access to H+M in Ottawa... So as a treat, Friday after my midterm, I will go check out some fabrics and patterns! Or Saturday afternoon. Either way, it will be awesome.

I'll tell you all a story..

2008-02-07T02:52:00.004-08:00

Maybe sometimes, all one needs is a push in the right direction, a strange motivation. Right now, mine feels to be coming from a rather unlikely place. It is four in the morning, a now Monday morning, a movie called Shopgirl is on TV. This is the second time I've watched it (the first viewing was watched with a boy who was not the nicest to me).

The story is about a girl around my age who is working in a shop, her two romantic relationships, and what growth happens. Eventually she finds her true place and first love. (Ooo la la! Nice summing up, wasn't it?)

I feel so similar to this girl stuck in a shop, trying to find her place, wanting to do so much more! I'm in school part time, and really not sure where to start... I'm a competent artist, writer, designer, I do well with decorating, and know far too many useless facts about a variety of subjects. Where does this leave me? Sadly, no where. I'm not using my talents. Perhaps scared to share my art, fear of having things rejected.

What furthers this revelation is looking at the two actors my age in the movie. Mainly, they are around my age, and working in an environment where they can express themselves in their art. Sharing it with a public. Of course, that public really has a limit contact with this type of artist, but that would be a whole other story.

Where am I left now? Wondering what I can do to focus myself on my art. I have this feeling something will come of it, that there is a niche out there for me. Strangely, rambling about inner conflict is helping. Who knows, maybe one day, strange and interesting actor types will be wanting to chat with a certain Miss Carolyn. I really do want to be that intriguing girl...

For now though, I'm at home, on my reading week. Self discovery awaits I suppose.

***

Now back to the original post..

Last week, I was chatting to Danny about a pair of earrings my Aunt Joan had given me this past Christmas. As I was glancing at them, I made the comment that I could make a similar pair in about 20 minutes, so, I got out my wire supplies and made these.

There's a slight bend on one of the posts because this wire had been bent prior to this. Besides that, I did have them made in under 20 minutes, and wondered how much my Aunt had payed for hers. The posts were wicked fun to make though, and easy peasy!

The journey in yellow continues! I purchased this cute little purse while out with Ifi. Something about it just caught my eye. Then again, it is yellow. I can fit small notebooks in it, plus a knitting project, agenda, wallet, phone, and still have a bit of room! Only downside, the buckle was a silly design feature. It's not practical.

As for knitting, I had been a grumpy girl, starting with these mittens. I'm really not sure what to do about them...they just seem off. I don't think I like the cuffs, perhaps just a larger needle size up, or maybe changing the wool. It's really too bad, because I would have loved some extra warm mittens this last week.

I was almost in a knitting slump. Then I found a pattern for an adorable bobble toque, and knit it up in a few days. It's adorable. I'll show it off once back in Ottawa.

Thanks for listening to me ramble,

-Carolyn (didn't seem appropriate to sign as Zsanica today, it was just too personal)

Rain drops on roses.

2008-02-04T01:35:00.001-08:00

Ah, February. How I love thee! Because sometimes, just sometimes, you give off hints of spring!

At the moment, I'm fighting a cold. I was feeling slightly off this week, then PAFF! Friday morning: sore throat. I think today is the worst of it, so it's not that bad, minus the need of groceries. My roommate and I were planning on sharing the cost of these, but she was away for the weekend. I didn't really want to go off wandering to buy them either. I should trick someone into bringing me some soup!

Tomorrow I'm having coffee and knitting time with Ifi, who I haven't seen in a while hanging out wise. A very long while. Hopefully it goes well! It's also supposed to be warmer tomorrow, exciting! I just need to pick something to bring with me for knitting.

As I've finally finished my scarf! Oh how I love this wool!

It's strange, but, I kind of miss having something this mindless to knit. I had it on the needles for so many months, it was just natural to pull out when I was going on knitting.. now I don't know what to bring. Maybe I've been working on too many little things, and require a larger project. I did eye one thing in the Spring Interweave that I might like to make...

As Bellatrix are off the needles, I wanted to start a pair of socks for Project Spectrum 3. I really enjoyed this last year, and am rather excited to be participating again. Plus I knit (and craft) much faster than before. So here are the beginnings of my new socks! Don't mind the bump, it just needs a little attention.

It is a pattern called Anastasia. I was drawn to it because I find that the diagonal stripes are slimming, and in my high school Spanish class, this was my chosen name, and was thus called Anastasia for 3 years. I've progressed further since taking this picture, and I've also been working on my thrum mittens.

I'm a little torn on the thrum mitten pattern.. It seems bulbous... I've considered just making up my own, but, I'm not really sure if I want to put that much effort into these. I mean, yes I want super warm mittens, I'm just not sure that my stuffed up brain wants to calculate things right now.

Last but not least. No more ghetto stitch markers! I made some very, pretty pretty pretties. Inspired by a set I saw at the knitting guild.

I remembered having some really lovely coloured beads. So, here they are! I made six, and they fit up to a 4mm needle. I'll make larger ones later. I just have been working with smaller gauges lately, so it works very well.

Here's to hoping I feel awesome in the morning!

-Zsanica

WTB: Massages please.

2008-01-16T23:27:00.001-08:00

This month hasn't been going exactly as I planned.

I actually find it a challenge to do a lot of things that are normally very simple to accomplish. Mainly, I started the month with my hip out of place which was causing a lot of unnecessary pain. Thankfully it's subsiding, but it was upsetting me greatly at the time. The other issue was that the invoice to pay for my classes was late, so I missed the first two weeks of school. It's no longer a problem now, because I payed the fees this weekend. At the time though, it was very disturbing.

Unfortunately, this has left me stressed, and dealing with a few anxiety issues. I have a feeling they're getting better though. After all, I had a lovely day today (minus being woken up at 8:30!).

My friend Nick has stopped by to visit, so today, we went out in the city. Did a little bit of walking around, and adventuring. I am pleased to say that I did fine stress wise! I also managed to find three new pairs of underwear, a cute day planner that was 20% off, some of my course books and featured below:

My prized new wallet/wrist purse.

Isn't it pretty? Nick found it hiding, and pointed it out right away. Even the interior is perfect: a bright purple. It is just so nice to have something this cute, and spring-like, tucked away in my purse! On that note, I do need a new purse, but I'm having problems finding the right one. Enough room for school things, but nice at the same time.

Besides that, I have been working at decorating again.
My living room is in desperate need of a "style", so I've been working on the artwork first.

I painted a diptych for the fireplace. I was inspired by something I online, and tweaked it a bit. They're cute so far, but, I might want a more vibrant centre.

Over a couch, there's a little display of frames filled with strange art accumulating. I did some temporary line drawing for a few. Next we need some shelving, and maybe a lamp.

There's actually so much to get, but where to start per say.

Knitting wise, I have been a busy girl, but I don't have anything new completed. This is the first of my knucks.

The second is still on the needles, because of having to rip and redo the fingers on it once. It was worth the remake though, they were far too tight!

I have a feeling, I will finish off some projects this week, finally. Exciting! My Harry Potter scarf is so near completion, just one little push, and it's done. I might even be able to start my Thrummed Mittens by Wednesday!

Great minds think for themselves

2008-01-04T21:15:00.001-08:00

I survived New Year's eve and day with minor grumpiness this year. In fact, I had a very enjoyable two days, playing lots of awesome board games, like Cranium, and Tribond, plus some games of Scene it and Euchre.

Now along with my whole Scrooge mentality about New Years, I am also not a fan of "new year resolutions". Why not? They burn out quickly and with ease. But, I do want to accomplish a few (if not many) new things this year. So although they are much like resolutions, I will just call them "MMVIII Goals", and I will be placing a list of things I'm working on this year to my side bar on this blog as a reminder.

My list so far:

designing knitting patterns
learning how to write patterns in different sizes
working consistently on a story I've been writing
trying one new recipe a week (I'm sure this will turn out as more than one for a long while)
decorate the apartment
start learning a martial art
figure out what I will be taking in school this fall

I know, it's a rough draft. But with time, it will be great!

Today was a lovely day with spent with my Mum. We went off to Coldwater in search of The Purple Sock, which ended up being a cute little store of yarn and tea! Wow! Two of my favourite things together as one. She doesn't have a huge selection yet, but I did pick up this pretty skein of Fleece Artist (I splurged.. but so what, I've never tried Fleece Artist before!).

I'm thinking of making either, some really cute socks, or mittens out of this. Hard to decide. But pattern ideas of any kind are welcome.
I also picked up some knitting needles and carded fleece for my thrummed mittens. I really need to start those soon. Thankfully we're supposed to have a nice warm break in the weather, giving me time to find the right dk yarn for them. In either a medium/light grey or a red-purple.

The wool used in the scarf below was something I was thinking of using, but I didn't like the way it was shaping up, it just wasn't perfect. Thankfully, I love how this feels knit up in brioche stitch. So squishy!

It's a really neat reversible cable pattern. I started working on this while I'm debating about whether or not I will be adding a repeat of a golden ochre wool in my Harry Potter scarf. If I'm going to, it will be added in where I've stopped. I just wanted a hint more of Griffindor. Yes, nerdy again.

Sorry if any of this is repetition!

Love, Z.

Holy gee willickers!

2007-12-30T09:54:00.001-08:00

I was watching a movie who's name I didn't catch yesterday. It was in black and white, involving a bunch of children going to a very snobby prep school, and they were rather tormented there. Eventually the older girls at the school drained the pool, blaming it on the older girl of this family. For which she was expelled, but then the family all went to study in Paris after this, so the unjustness was obviously okay.

My point. One of the boys kept saying "holy gee willickers" through the whole movie, and I kept giggling at it.
I never said it was a good point, just a point.

I've been catching a lot of older "holiday movies" these past few weeks. Which is great, mostly. I say mostly because I finally sat down and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas eve. I couldn't believe how depressing it was! Right before Christmas day at that..

On a less than depressing note, this is a glimpse of our lovely tree. I made the paper crane decorations last year so they would be kitten proof. But they surpassed my expectations, and now are a main part of the decorating. Each one is different too. Who knows, maybe I should make and sell some! An unlikely idea, but you never know.

I did end up giving some lovely gifts, and receiving some lovely ones as well! I was very pleased with a pair of jeans from my parents that actually fit. I was shocked because of how unlikely that is to happen. I also got a pretty sewing basket, a cute 60s style dress/tunic, a Moleskine squared notebook, many other little awesome things. Including the skein of Blue Sky Alpaca "Alpaca Silk" in a sexy teal.

I spent some time on Ravelry looking up patterns that one skein would be good for, when I was finally inspired by playing Rock Band. I had purchased some fingerless gloves for my guitar player that looked almost exactly like Knucks! I had never really thought of making the pattern till then, but I was hyped and ready to make them. Here's my progress so far:

I did need to make some mods though, but when don't I modify things! Thus, if you can read my writing in the awesome journal, you will definitely understand what I did. Mainly, I have a thin thumb so I made it the same size as the other fingers, shortened the little finger, and altered the cuff to make it more "girly". I'm really pleased so far, can't wait to block it! Pardon my pun, but it fits like a glove.

I have one last little thing to share for today. My best regifted-gift to me from my Mum. A clear teapot with flowering tea!

Too bad I didn't like how this flower tasted... It looks pretty though! Thankfully we're having Thai food tonight! Mmm... yummmy!

Happy (still going on) Holidays everyone!

Love from Midland,

-Z

They don't love you like I love you.

2007-12-29T22:20:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, happy New Year, happy holidays, etc.!

I have been having a lovely time at home. It was I admit, very stressful for the first little bit as I was so busy finishing off Christmas gifts that I had decided to knit. Somehow I managed to finish them. This just means that next year, I need to remember to decide and start things in early November.

But yes, awesome time home with friends and family. I had missed them. I'll make sure to pop home when I can this semester coming up.

It's very strange though. Once I get back here, things just pick up where they left off it seems. Maybe it's just that my parents' home still feels more like a home than my apartment does. It is something I would like to work at evening out a bit. More decorating should happen. I can't wait to start!

I was going to post about much more serious things happening in the world, but in all honesty, I just want to stay positive as New Year's eve is in 2 days, and I find it disappointing and depressing most of the time. Also something to work on this year.

Coming soon - "Knucks" made with some sexy blue sky alpaca I was sent by an awesome friend!

Sunday snowy Sunday

2007-12-19T10:35:00.001-08:00

I was able to write a deferred exam for the one I missed this past Thursday, hurrah!

So this was my plan over the weekend.

pack
clean
leave on Sunday for my parents house

Yet it seems that things did not work out this way. Saturday night, I was informed that Ottawa would be having a "near-crippling" snowstorm next day! What I woke up to on Sunday morning was surprising. I could barely see across the street!

The kitten was fascinated though. Here she is checking out some cars driving by. Very lynx looking I think. She sat there for hours though, mesmerized by it all.

Sunday "night", which is technically around 5pm, I ventured out in the blizzard, over to Walmart in search of gravol, only to fine out, they "had none". It may have been locked up by that point. This meant Monday would be interesting. I searched, found out there was a Shopper's on Bank street. Great!

Monday, oh Monday.. how could you do this to me?

I woke up and could barely move. Somehow I managed to aggravate my back to the point of barely being able to bend over. The last time I remembered it so bad was when I was 19... Finishing packing was tedious! I ended up deciding to take a later bus because of this. Even still, I left my house 2 hours early because I knew that I needed to drag my suitcase through rather deep snow. Nothing like a little pain for the pleasure of the holidays.

But I am here! After walking up half of Bank street (oops, construction, forgot..), the bus having to be pushed, that's right, pushed out of the terminal, and missing the originally planned bus to Barrie (drat the bus getting stuck making us half an hour late!).

About knitting surprise project:

There is a knot in my yarn! The 20$ ball of yarn, was joined with a knot! *twitches* A knot! I'm.. speechless, mostly. Thankfully it just happened to fall into a place where it doesn't show at all, or else I would have had to splice it.. *grumbles more*

I hope everyone is having happy holidays so far, that are knot free! Unless you're into that kind of thing. *winks*

-Z

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

2007-12-10T17:15:00.001-08:00

That line is close enough. One day, I will walk all over all the things that keep going wrong, and everything will fall into place, finally.
Today, the world decided to try and kick my ass! Nothing went right to say the least. Of course, it started off fine. I woke up, went over my notes for my exam today, and started getting ready to head out at 3, because I thought the exam was at 4. Wrong, so wrong. At 2 pm, I realized the exam said 14:00, which is 2, and had just started. I scrambled to get everything together, rushed out the door. Somehow I made it there by 3, only to be told that I couldn't write the exam because the test could have been leaked by then. Couldn't a simple, no I'm sorry, the rules are that you can only be late 30 minutes. So I went to the administration to see what could be done. The most is that I can write her an e-mail, asking if I can rewrite the exam if there are deferrals. If she doesn't agree to that, there isn't anything I can do to write the exam. But, I can at least talk to the administration about her lack of knowledge of what to do in a class room, and having accused me of being a cheater, it must be the purple hair. Purple haired hooligans!

None-the-less, I spent a bit of time in tears in the bathroom, before heading home. I was very excited to go to the knitting guild tonight. Sounded like a good change to my day. Unfortunately, the bus I was taking must have come early, so I waited 20 minutes, finally wandering back into my apartment. There was another bus coming right before 8, but that would make me 30 minutes late for the meeting. As it would be my first time, I didn't want to wander in so late..

I really hate how you can be on time, yet end up missing out on things. It's very frustrating.

On another "sad" note, over the weekend there was a fire in Barrie. Unfortunately, there were a few historical buildings that burnt to the ground, including the unique corner building (Simcoe/Wellington Hotel). Sad thing indeed. I hope they rebuild.

Thankfully, I can counterbalance this with going out on Saturday on a wool shopping adventure with Betseydoodle. Let me say, this is a favourite past-time of mine. I ended up with goodies that will be popping up in my blog for the next little while. Here's a taste of something I'm working on.

Pretty, isn't it? Can't wait to show off the finished project. But shhh, it's a secret!

I see your red door and I want it painted black.

2007-12-03T19:42:00.001-08:00

We are having a snow storm here! Apparently! It's snowing, and it's blustery, quite nice, but chilly. On the bright side, I did get to test out my new hat! My Amelia Earhart Aviator hat is complete, and I love it! Here is how it looked yesterday:

Slightly dark photo of the finished version, poor fading light at around 3:40-ish today:

I added some i-cord ties, using double stranded yarn, and then finished them off with pom poms! I added a pom pom to the centre of the hat to close it off.

This is a toasty hat! It stood up to lots of wind tonight, when out grocery shopping. But, I think I would like to make another as a lining for it, maybe in red, and just slightly bigger so it peeks out the edges.

-Z

Don't you want somebody to love!

2007-12-01T12:22:00.001-08:00

I have been finding, after taking a class this semester on social movements, that I have a new found interest in the 1960s. Yes, they happened long before I was born, but there was this excitement of change that I have never experienced. I suppose sometimes I feel a little lost in the world, wondering what my purpose is, where my place will be. I guess it seems as though, if you grew up at this time, you had things to fight for, it was new, visible, dynamic, and had dramatic cultural changes in attitudes and music. Maybe I'm just romanticizing this because it wasn't something I experienced, all I can draw my opinions on are videos, documentaries, or writings, which could take on this idealized view. I suppose all this really means is that I'm going to be find out as much information as I can.

On my every day life, I have rediscovered the cold!
Outside, right now, it is -14c and sunny, but it "feels like -23c" according to the weather network. I am not prepared! Well, I somewhat thought I was, you see, I made this lovely beret (Urchin) below out of a bulky Lopi yarn my mum had around when I was home around the 10th. Oh, I thought, this is going to be warm! I was wrong.

When it isn't windy, it's fine, works well. But with wind, paff! Right through. Also, although it does cover my ears, it moves around a lot. Now, I love this hat, don't get me wrong, but my first thoughts after wearing it on a -11 day was, I need something warmer, and that covers more. So I am working away at an Amelia Earhart Aviator cap, with some mods that frecklegirl did to hers, which include some i-cord ties and pom-poms! Unfortunately, the wool is leaving dye on my hands as I'm working on it. I also will probably make a lining for the hat because, I'm a bit of a baby when freezing cold air hits my ear piercings.

As I wanted something to keep the cold from my nano too, I made a little cozy for mine, using the Endpaper Mitt pattern. It's in hot sparkly pink wool and grey. I like it.

Hello little boys, little toys.

2007-11-15T12:24:00.001-08:00

"We’re the dreams you're believing."

I have been busy these past few weeks! With, mid-terms, papers, going home to get my back readjusted, daylight savings time messing up my sleeping... So, I will start at the beginning, kind of...

On the night of Halloween, I was invited by Miss Ifi, Carrie and Josh to go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Mayfair. Thus, it was a rush to finish off the Burly-que Hat from the spring issue of KnitScene, and it's spiderweb veil. It was, as they call it, a hit. I had so many random strangers comment on how much they liked it, if I had made it. I really wasn't sure what to do with all the attention, but, I'm glad it at least looked good. So here I am wearing the hat, right before heading to class Halloween night.

I think I looked pretty good that night!

Next (sort of, did I mention this is not in chronological order? I feel like a rebel for mixing up the order.) are Kitten's new toys! I was home last weekend, and apparently she was very bad while I was away. Probably boredom? So, I pulled out my crochet hooks, again, and made her two new toys. Why crochet? Well, Heineken is a terror at times, and it excellent at destruction, thus, crochet is harder to pull apart than knitting. If I knit her a toy, unless I felted it after, it would last maybe five minutes. *sighs* She wasn't socialized for long enough with her siblings. Well, here they are below.

The fishy:

The Octopus:

She seems to love them! Carrying either one around, much like a mouse. I might make something with a string next time, or possibly add one to the octopus.

Just before this weekend away happened, I finished off Juliet. Literally hours before I left to catch the bus. Ah, I should explain that.

My bus ride is around five hours long, and I take gravol for stopping motion sickness, gravol makes me sleepy, or rather, makes me pass out. So, I generally only sleep five or so hours before going home, because I know I will get more than enough sleep throughout the day.

Well, as bus rides can be cold, I wanted to wear Juliet, the mission falls wool is so toasty! I haven't blocked it yet, I will later, I was too impatient at the time. Here's a taste of what she looks like.

Also, while home, my mom was very sweet and bought some wool so I could start on my winter scarf!

I'm making it from the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter scarf pattern, but I'm not doing a typical "house scarf" colour. Why? Well, I'm nerdy enough as is? Actually, I just wanted it to match my gloves really well. I still wanted a *hint* of the house colours though, and chose to go with a colour scheme like the house sweaters they wear in the movies. Dark grey with colour bands. I think it's awesome so far, and I'm impressed by my knitting. I'm getting fast!

Other than that, I'm finishing off Urchin, a beret pattern in the fall Knitty by Ysolda. But, I have no idea if I'll be keeping it, or giving it to my mom. We'll see how it looks later!

That's all for now!

Much love,

You want me?

2007-10-25T10:53:00.001-07:00

"Well, come on and break the door down." - Radiohead, Talkshow Host

I am in an incredibly romantic tragedy mood today. This is all due to beginning Juliet. What can I say, I am a fan of Shakespeare. I really enjoy Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. Thus, working on a pattern with such a name has given my a craving to watch Romeo + Juliet.

I first studied this play in my grade 10 English class, and it was my very first taste of "old English" writing. My teacher Roger Bell, a Canadian poet, pulled some strings in the small town in which my school resided. Romeo + Juliet had just been released in theatres as we wrapped up the play, but the local theatre had no intention of playing it, yet somehow he convinced them! All the grade ten students went for a special matinée. I was in awe. I cried, because it ends in the variation I adore. My friend Victoria sat laughing at me, having not really understood the play (although later, she did end up owning the movie).

Thus I give you, my progress of Juliet:

Isn't she pretty so far? I heart the colour. As for my mods, I'm adding in a few darts to the bust, and I'm leaving out the increases to the lace section. I feel that my curves are one of my best features, and I would be wrong in turning them into a box!

But it is not all "in progress" objects to talk about today, on no. Here I have my cabled purse!

This was my first time using SWS by Patons. I rather enjoyed it, and would use it again for something. My downsides found in the yarn would be that some areas are very weak, and although soft, it irritated my skin a tad. The weakness was found when adding in new skeins, and sewing up the bottom seam, the yarn couldn't handle the stress.

As for my mods, I was knitting at a smaller gauge, thus, I added in two more cables, which increased the original 88sts to 96sts. I also knit the purse from the top down, and didn't add much of a bottom.

Finishing was a little challenging...to say the least. I decided to line it in a chocolate brown upholstery fabric which has embroidered circles in blues and tans, also adding a dividing pocket so that I could carry small knitting projects with me. It's always important to have knitting with you!

The only real problem with lining was that the purse is bloody fluffy! It barely fit under the foot of my sewing machine... I managed though, because, one must always remember: You control the fabric, the fabric doesn't control you. I guess it helps having worked as a tailor too.

I've been using the purse since I finished it! Definitely a favourite. This means I will now figure out Bellatrix foot length issues in the next few days.. But, I must head off for lunch, knitting, and watching a movie.

Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good-night till it be morrow.
-Zsanica

Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere, angel!

2007-10-19T11:53:00.001-07:00

"Look at that sky, life's begun
Nights are warm and the days are young!"
-David Bowie, Golden Years (*drools* Mmm.. David Bowie...)

What a strange surprise today is! I was slowly readying myself for class when this thought popped into my head, I wonder if Ottawa U day is today... With a quick little search I found out that yes it is, and that I would have been all alone in class! The only sad part is that I'm missing out on a perfectly wonderful rainy day. Have I mentioned I love rain? Adore rain?! Well, I really do, and I could have pulled out my umbrella for this... Alas, I am just going to hang out, watch movies, and knit. Oh wait, that's also awesome. I think some Lord of the Rings is needed.

But, I do feel a need to share the love of rain, thus, here is a snap of my bedroom /computer cacti. There are three quirky little plants in here, merrily peering out the window. I rescued them from Loeb one night at 1 am, you never know when the urge to buy a plant will appear.

The cacti laugh at the rain!, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

Also looking at the rain (and sitting still for a few minutes) was Kitten. Oh yes, she does exist! I found her playing in the bathroom sink today. I wasn't sure what to do! It was.. hilarious.. but there are things up there that she can't play with. Like my devil rubber duckies. On that note, I hope they're okay at this moment...

Kitten poses, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

She's kind of a terror at moments. Kind of, is putting it mildly. She gets into everything! Thus, I cut her nails often to reduce her damage. But, when she's sleepy, she is such a cuddly little thing! Last night, while I was watching a movie (knitting along of course), she curled up behind my head on the couch, and wrapped herself up half around it. Naturally that felt really weird, so, she was moved to the lap quickly.

I went to my second knit nite this past Wednesday! It was a very busy afternoon, filled with lots of reading, then class, then my dash to Bridgehead. Definitely worth it though. Karla came, working on her shrug. I really wonder how it will turn out since it is her first "big" project. I came with my few rows of Juliet started, and worked on garter stitch (*grumbles*) all evening. Okay, okay, I confess, it wasn't that bad working on the boring part since there was good conversation. I met more people! Even Aun and Graham were there hanging out.

Tuesday evening, I finished off Ms Marigold, and here she is:

Ms Marigold - Completed, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

She turned out, but I'm not sure if I'm pleased... I think my breasts are just too large for where the V lands.. Plus, the V looks more like an upside-down Roman arch. Which wasn't what I wanted... Yet the more I look at the photos, the more I like how it looks dressed up! We'll see once I loose more weight. Having nothing to do with my new vest, I must remember to email this girl I met while shopping at Yarn Forward on the 14th. She seemed nice, and was wondering about some help reading patterns. I think she might enjoy knit nites.

Well, movie (knitting!) time for me.

-Zsanica

Oh my beautiful one!

2007-10-16T09:49:00.001-07:00

"Now, it is silver and silent, it is silver and cold."

Oh AFI, and your good looking singer.. which has nothing to do with my ramblings really. Except that I'm listening to Silver and Cold at the moment.

Sunday, Karla and I ventured out to Yarn Forward. Normally, I'm not as big a fan of it as a few other stores, but then, I found Mission Falls 1824 wool! *swoons* It's so soft, and has the nicest saturated deep teal. Perfect for my next project.

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!"

Juliet, the beginning, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

I am so looking forward to beginning this! Slight problem, the tips I need are currently attached to my purse... Ooops! So, I will be in a rush to finish it, just another one or two cable repeats. Also for Juliet, I found three gorgeous buttons, they are a tarnished looking silver, very ornate, romantic you could say. Ooo la la!

I have also found a cute show on television called: Pushing Daisies. A strange mix between, The Royal Tenenbaums and Amélie. I was hooked the first episode, and then to my happy surprise:

Emerson knitting, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

Emerson knits! Gun holster cozies, ribbed vests, money sock cozies, I was crying from laughing. It's awesome!

I'm off to class now. Much love,
Zsanica

Skip town, slow down, push it to the east coast.

2007-10-12T17:51:00.001-07:00

"Step down, turn around, push it to the west.
Needless. Useless.
We're asking for too much I guess."
-Metric, Dead Disco

What a week! Essays, tests and reading, oh my!

I was feeling really off all week though, and wondering why... I am sure there are some girls out there who share in this lovely little thing called pms, and its multitude of side effects! Like, moodiness, anxiousness, fatigue, really sore nipples, bloating, feeling really down about self image and then paf! Cramps. What a horrible thing to wake up to! That is how my day started today.

But that's not really what I want to discuss. This is the beginning of my third month in my apartment building. In late August, I completed a direct withdrawal form, which I was informed would be up and running for October 1st. On the first, I went in to verify that everything was alright and working. I was informed it would be fine. Today in my mail, I got a notice informing me that my payment is late. I am livid about this. I took the route to verify things were fine, and somehow, was misinformed by the people in charge and now I have late fees?! I could have written them a cheque that day... It's a horrible feeling being out of control in this situation until tomorrow morning! What's a girl to do?

What I did, was make chicken tortilla soup! A few may know, I am cutting down the meat in my diet. Mainly red, which is working out very well, but also other meats, and learning how to get my protein from other sources. But tonight, I just really wanted that soup. It turned out! So bloody yummy! It would taste wicked as a veggie meal too, easily switching the meat for black beans. *drools a bit*

I joined the sexy knitter's club on the new knit along, I plan to make Juliet by Zephyr Style, with some modifications of my own. Can't wait to start, but before I do, I have things to finish like below: Ms. Marigold 2.0.

Ms. Marigold 2.0 - 70% complete, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

See? She's almost finished! I have maybe, another inch or two to knit on the ribbed section and crocheting the arm holes. I plan to wear this Wednesday.

My other project, just started this week, is a cabled purse by Drops Design. I really needed a new purse, and I fell in love with how this one looks. I'm knitting it in Soy Wool Solids by Patons. It's an interesting yarn! Shiny, relatively soft, slightly fluffy. It's looks awesome though. I just need to pick out a lining, some buttons, and hopefully it will be ready for use next week!

Cabled purse on head, originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica.

Yes, I was feeling silly, so, enjoy the photo.

Much love,
Zsanica

I'm a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That's right.

2007-09-22T19:01:00.001-07:00

I've never watched Boogie Nights before, ever.. and I came in about half way through. Bad idea! But, I watched the rest of the movie, thus witnessing the marvel which includes said title of this post. Oh my. Shocking!

I've been a bit blah these past few days, haven't accomplished all I've wanted to. Thankfully though, I have been baking! I came up with this little recipe, and thought I would share. Please excuse the blurry photos.

Vegan Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
* 3/4 cup - lightly packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup - granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup - cocoa powder
* 1/2 cup - margarine (vegan friendly)
* 1/2 cup - natural peanut butter
* 1 1/2 teaspoon - vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon - ground cinnamon
* 2/3 cup - unbleached all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon - baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon - baking powder
* Sprinkles for decoration (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine sugars, cocoa powder margarine, peanut butter, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Mix well.
3. Add flour, baking soda and baking powder. Blend until fluffy.
4. Roll unto 1 1/2 inch balls, flatten slightly.
5. If adding sprinkles: pour sprinkles into a small bowl, dunk flatten cookies into sprinkles.
6. Place on baking sheet, cook for 6-8 minutes.
7. Let rest 5 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.

If anyone chooses to make them, enjoy! They are rather tasty if I do say so myself!

***

What else have I accomplished though? Besides the baking, has been some knitting (along with reading).
I made my way to KnitNites this past Wednesday, met a few new people. Although, I was sitting in the corner, I still enjoyed it immensely! Something really nice about having other knitters to chat to while knitting. I brought Bellatrix with me, and I'm now just starting to turn the heel of my first sock. It looks rather nice if I do say so! I'll put up a picture once I can get it onto my foot.

Other knitting news:

A - I have increased my knitting speed, finally!
B - I have too many things in queue! Oh my goodness.. I just find more and more all the time with Ravelry. At least I've starting thinking of Christmas gifts for a deserving few. I hope they enjoy.
Also, I'm giving Ms. Marigold another go. I was very displeased with my first attempt... So much so that I'm going to frog it while home for Thanksgiving and use the wool for something else. It really had to do with the yarn weight. Although I got the gauge.. I was still using an aran/worsted weight, when it really needed dk/sport. Thus it was really static, with no drape. So, while I was browsing through my stash last week, I found this textured mystery cotton, et voilà! Ms. Marigold 2.o!

I'm very pleased with how it is turning out. Already fitting much better than before. I am definitely going to be spicing up the plain ribbing though, possibly to a twisted rib (like Mrs. Darcy) or maybe even a garter stitch rib (like the Tangled Yoke Cardigan). I really want it to be a little more feminine, since I am rather certain that I will be leaving off the ruffles.

I hope this past week has been going well for everyone.
Much love,

Zsanica

Pick a little, talk a little

2007-09-13T17:37:00.001-07:00

"Pick a little, talk a little
Cheep cheep cheep cheep!
Talk a lot, pick a little more."
-The Music Man

What an interesting day! Interesting, because I still am not feeling 100%, why is this? A few reasons, one, I was too warm, just took off my silly polyester tank top, hopefully one issue is resolved. Two, I am not used to reading scholarly texts anymore, and my brain is complaining. Three, I'm not used to reading glasses yet, frequently forgetting to put them on, or take them off. Four, I think I'm overtired from last night. Thus, I feel, woozy, even knitting hurt my brain today.

Yet I did actually accomplish things. I cleaned the kitchen, then proceeded to make it dirty again. I also took this great picture of my Kitchen Cotton Dishcloth! I love it, and am scared to use it because it looks so happy and clean! Maybe I should just turn it into a facecloth, it is very soft after all, and has the prettiest icing-like pattern. Just like cake! Oh my... I want cake...

***

How to remove pesky labels from used books:

I came across this problem Tuesday while purchasing "Classical Sociological Theory". It is a tiny little book of around half an inch thick, working out to 300 or so pages. It's selling price new: 75$. "Wow, are you serious?" you may think, and yes, yes I am. Thankfully, many of the used copies were in excellent condition, perhaps never read as I suspect of mine, and a mere bargain of 56$! So I purchased my first used book. Here lies the problem: the used book labels, stickers, etc., would not come off and were huge!

I'm sure there are some of you out there, all you book lovers cringing at this thought! What can you do? This is my trick (if you decide to use it, use at own book risk).

1. Check the material in which the cover is made. If it's made of a laminated plastic, you are in luck.
2. It's really very simple, but you might not have realized before. Dampen a paper towel lightly. Not much water needed. Carefully place it over the pesky sticker, paying close attention if you are by an edge, you don't want your paper towel touching any pages as they will become wavy.
3. Let it sit, anywhere from 5-10 minutes.
4. Check out the progress, meaning, try to peel off the label. Some will come off in one piece at this stage, others come off in layers and require repeat dampening and extra rubbing.

Be the envy of all others with used books.

***

Knit-Knackers, angora bunnies, and socks.

Ravelry, Ravelry, oh how I love thee..

I found an awesome pattern named Bellatrix thanks to it. It has neat dropped yarn-overs that make a what appear to be "runs" in the sock. So off I went on an adventure this past Tuesday to a store called Knit-Knackers that I managed to find out about from one of the KnitNite girls. How neat!

The store is located in an old house, that is converted to half knitting/spinning store, the other half is a spa. They also raise angora bunnies! I got to pet one of the males, he was a cute boy! It made me want to bring one home so badly! Maybe I will soon, who knows. They might be getting German angoras which apparently do not lose their coat, you have to shear them, but they also mat less. Sounds like that might be a good thing for me. Only time will tell.

Recommended to me were the HiyaHiya dpns, which are awesome to knit with. A really good feel to them. I want more pairs, what can I say, plus, they came with a finishing needle. What's not to love?

I also picked up to skeins of Regia Silk in a charcoal grey. It's so soft, feels great on the hands to knit with. Below is my progress on Bellatrix, sock number one.

Off to go feel better.
Much love,

Zsanica

Sometimes, even I like to do these things.

2007-09-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

A knitting meme:

Afghan/Blanket (baby sized)
I-cord Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up **Soon!**
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book **I want to**
Scarf
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money **Would be awesome!**
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting **Give me a few weeks**
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit **I have plans to**
Bobbles
Knitting for a living **May I?**
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

So let go, jump in.

2007-09-08T10:17:00.001-07:00

Orchid, one year later
Originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica

"Are you in or are you out?
Leave your things behind,
Because it's all going off without you.
Excuse me, too busy, you're writing your tragedy.
These mishaps you bubble-wrap,
When you've no idea what you're like."

The first week of my return to Ottawa is coming to a close. It has been very fast paced because of all the things needing my attention. Changing phone numbers, being available for setting up cable, shopping for all the basic staple groceries, organizing everything, plus some laundry, rock climbing and class as well. Moving into a new place is never simple, but it's rewarding to have it suddenly feel like home. My room still requires some decoration though, maybe some mirrors, a little rug, pictures, and a nice leafy palm.

Zsanica's thoughts concerning plants in a home environment:

What's the big deal about having real plants? For starters, they make excellent decorations coming in all shapes, sizes and colours. In hot weather, they can make your home seem refreshing and lush. During winter, they break up the cold, giving you something alive and warm to enjoy. There is also the satisfaction of watching a plant grow, and realizing it's because of you.

"But," you may say, "I can't keep things alive."

If you want to know a secret, I couldn't either before. Yet, I have taken care of the pictured orchid for over a year now. It's thriving!

My picks for a first plant:

-Succulent or cactus: They are forgiving. If you worry that you will forget to water your plants from time to time, these babies can handle it. In the wild they go through dry spells and actually require to be watered much less in the winter. They also come in many interesting shapes, from tiny living rocks, to large aleo vera spikes, to prickly barrel cacti. Just be sure that there are no glued on pebbles for "soil" or flowers. Glue and plants. Bad.

-Tillandsia or "air plants": Fun, perky, conversation pieces part of the bromeliad family (which pineapples also belong to). These are low maintenance, root free plants, come in a large variety of shapes. My favourite use decoration wise is to tie them up on some fishing line, and dangle them from the ceiling. Watering requires misting once or twice a day. The same thing goes for glue here. Glue is bad! Buy these loose and unglued.

-Phalaenopsis orchid: This is what I consider the "basic" orchid. From my knowledge, it is the beginner orchid, and are forgiving. Trust me are they ever. Plus they make you seem like you must know what you're doing, nothing like smoke and mirrors to impress friends with your "green thumbs". Flowers come in all colours and sizes, although they maintain the same basic shape. Like air plants, daily misting is needing, and watering once or twice a week. Plus repotting once a year.

***

My crafty side has been busy, busy! I am currently working on three projects, but plan to add another soon. I have the romantic view of knitting in public, and plan to buy yarn especially for my commute to school this week. Oh the go right now is my waist-cincher top, a bright new dishcloth and what this picture is of. Yes, yes, that is i-cord, it is also: rope. That's right my pretties! I'm knitting up rope, and a large amount of it. As to what it will be used for, please refer to my Ravelry account (Zsanica) which will explain all. Kinky!

Much love,

Zsanica

I-cord rope
Originally uploaded by zsanica_zsanica

New, you're so new. You, you're new.

2007-09-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

"Don't let it go away
This feeling has got to stay"

Turning over a new leaf, new beginnings, whatever you would like to call it. If you have made mistakes in the past, and you are now trying to become a better person, to learn from your world, and thus enlighten your mind, it does not matter what others say or think about you. From my own experiences, one mistake can take a plethora of time to undo in the minds of others. You can never please everyone all of the time. Ever.

Zsanica's experience and advice on grand mistakes:

When I was 18, I made my first major mistake: I made out with my boyfriend at the time, in public, in front of my Aunt's house. This may not seem like a huge deal to some of you, but it haunted me for years! I was shunned by my family (minus my parents), and ended up being blamed for things that truly had nothing to do with me and my ill-timed make-out party. It was at least six years before they truly started to get to know me again.

My second large mistake involves more serious consequences. While at University, studying Fine Arts, and enjoying it immensely, a large series of unrelated events occurred. During which I developed a social anxiety disorder. I could barely make it out of my apartment building without having anxiety attacks. Because of this I was having problems attending classes. The downfall, I never talked to anyone about it. I was embarrassed and confused about how to approach my parents or friends. Unfortunately, I misjudged the drop date of my last semester of courses, thus failing five that I had only been to once or twice. I have since been open to a few about this, and have found excellent ways to deal with my emotions.
As for the consequences, I now am attending this same school as a special student, in which I need to achieve above average results so that I can reapply to a program. Also, there was a fair amount of hurtful gossip that managed to make its way to my ears about "what happened", no one bothered to ask me. Assumptions can be painful.

My third is actually a combination of major mistakes. They are moments when I get myself into a situation, and have a lapse in judgement. "Oh," you may say, "that happens to everyone from time to time!" however true this may be, if you're the one affected, it does not matter.
These moments consist of either forgetting to do something important, becoming afraid to contact someone, or sometimes acting very selfishly, thus abusing someone's goodness. From experience, this irritates people beyond all reason. It is also rude and lacks empathy.

Therefore, no matter what reasoning is going on in your head, step back and appraise the situation, how would you feel if someone was doing the same thing you are? If you would be irate, they probably would be too. If it's too late, the most you can do is apologize sincerely, try to make amends if you can. But, generally it takes a long time for those affected to place trust in you again.

If you are in situation similar to these, what can you do?

Actions speak louder than words. As mentioned, the most you can do is apologize to those affected/offended, and most definitely forgive yourself. After that you need to become more self aware, analyze the situation, why did your mistake occur? How can you fix it? Find a friend to confide in, if you need profession help, get it. Then work at changing what was your downfall and at staying alert, so that you do not fall into another sticky situation. If it was not paying attention to your surroundings, like my first mistake, pay attention! Keep your mind active. If you are minding your manners and behaviour, it is now not your job to change opinions, it is in their court.

Now, what happens if those you have affected start to say hurtful things about you, which make their way back to your ears?

You can confront said person in calm, respectful manner, remind them of your apology and how you are trying to fix what made the mistake happen in the past. Also, perhaps asking if they would reserve their judgement for a while longer.
If you are not the confrontational type, no matter how hard it is, do not let these words affect you. Distance yourself from the judgement as best you can, continue working on your new leaf. Eventually, things will lessen.

But, two wrongs to not cancel each other out. Trust in this case has to be found again by both sides.

***

This was not the new blog entry I intended to make. No fancy pictures, no craftiness, no "welcome, hope you enjoy reading my thoughts". To me, this was something for everyone out there, a way to show you how I plan to change my year into something amazing.

Realize, you are not the only who messes up, everyone does. It does not mean you're a different person, no, you made a mistake, you deal with it, and you move on. Maybe through the course of this you find out that you have become better because of what you learnt.

Much love,

Zsanica