Catching up with my classmates

Going through the blogroll of my fellow Hogwarts students taught me some great things this week.

Minerva Lovegood of Gryffindor suffered from a small panic attack last week. I hope it wasn't because of our hat duel! Those are supposed to be fun, not stressful. I should have sent her some chocolate with my hat, it would have smoothed out the rough edges!

I learned through Violet Starfire that the Puffs are learning more about their fellow students. Have they caught on to how the Claws find the snitch?! Uh oh! Also, she has a bit of a sweet tooth and is using Drooble's Best Blowing Gum to trap a jumping spider. What a clever girl!

Emma Gorodok, a fellow Ravenclaw, is a VERY lucky girl. She's about to leave for a visit with her parents. Then she's off to London and then finally Edinburgh to visit with the European contingent of HSKS. Have fun! Oh, and I also saw fabulous pictures of her in a newly crocheted lace shawl. What talent!

The biggest lesson I learned was from Callisto Verity of Slytherin! I know, a SLYTHERIN had something to teach me! ;) But while she's currently recovering from a broken arm (courtesey of a bludger in the last Quidditch match), she caught up on a LOT of her school work. It made her wonder though about us Claws. She wondered what we DID with all of the knowledge we seek. She sees the Gryffindors and Slytherins putting it to practical use, but can't say the same for the Ravenclaws. I believe that searching for answers and knowledge DOES serve a practical purpose. It leads to the great findings of our lives. Sometimes, pure research is what it takes to make those great discoveries and breakthroughs. It's later that the theories and knowledge can be put into practice.

Thank you to all of my fellow classmates for teaching me so many great things. I learn so much from all of you and greatly appreciate it! :)

What a week!

Greetings! I have just returned to VA after spending the better part of a week in Miami. And let me just say that I was loathe to return! I was in sunny and warm climes and returned to dreary and cold winter. Not exactly my dream.

So, I was in Miami for the eRetailer Summit (which is my association's mid-winter meeting). The hotel we were at, the InterContinental, was really nice. I had such a great view! Check it out! I got to see the pretty water. I have another picture which shows you the cruise ships that I looked down on as well, but it doesn't look as good.

I am the Education Manager at ERA, which means that I am in charge of all of the logistics for the speakers at our meetings as well as helping to create the educational content. At this meeting, we had two GREAT keynote speakers. One was Greg Waldorf who is the CEO of eHarmony. He's in the picture to the left, standing on the stage. His presentation was so great and such a treat to watch. Our other keynote speaker, Chris Rosica, gave everyone so many great ideas on how to get their brands out there. Over and over I just kept hearing about how great the educational offerings were, which really brought a smile to my face!

In other news, I completed the second round dueling hat for HSKS7! This time, the pattern was a little trickier as I had to learn a new stitch. Looking at the picture below, I can't really tell if it lives up to its name of "Quilted Diamonds", but whatever. It's on its way to the cold north of Northern Michigan. Here's hoping my owl doesn't freeze!

Anywho, it's time to get back to all of the post-meeting follow up. I'm really excited about it... I swear!

Protest

Ok, I'm just going to come right out and say it. We Ravenclaws were assigned an INSANE amount of homework. I looked at the assignments for the other houses and I had to ask myself -- how did we get so loaded down? There were THREE LONG assignements. Those three could have easily been spread out over three weeks and no one would have been the wiser. So, in protest (and the fact that I'm heading down to Miami for a conference), I'm not doing it. I'm sorry ladies, but I'm not. I know that when I signed onto this swap, there would be assignments, but I thought they would have been like last term. Or, if you had wanted to challenge us more, maybe ONE of those assignments at a time. But not three at once. Sorry... ain't gonna happen!

In other HSKS 7 news, work is progressing on my spoilee's kit. I've gotten a lot of the little goodies and have started on the handmade bag. The sticking point is still the kit itself. I think I finally found something that will work though. I just hope my spoilee likes it!

Anywho, back to the paying job. Talk to you all when I get back from Miami! :)

My long weekend

I was so happy when 5:30 PM rolled around this past Friday because it meant the start of a long weekend. This weekend was going to be for me! Since I'm a singleton with no one to celebrate Valentine's Day with, I figured I would treat myself this weekend.

After work I went to Knit Happens (my all time FAVORITE LYS) to pick up a button for my dueling hat. While I was there I also found a set of handles for the bag I'm making for my HSKS7 spoilee. After that was done I took myself out to dinner at Bertucci's (oh the bread!). I then went home and watched some TV while finishing my dueling hat. I finished the hat around midnight or so. Go me! Finished another hat in less than a day!

Saturday I woke up bright and early to tack down the flap of the hat and add the button. After getting some shots of the FO, I left for the Post Office to ship it off to Thalia Tinkwych in England. Here's hoping mine gets to HER before hers gets to ME! That errand completed, I went in search of a new bed. Now, I was SUPER excited about getting this bed. It was the EXACT style I was looking for and wasn't TOO expensive. I found it at Crate & Barrel and it is scheduled to be delivered to my house on Friday, Feb. 27! So excited!

Sunday was my movie day. I saw Confessions of a Shopaholic and He's Just Not that Into You. The first was predictable and funny, but not much to write home about. The second however, was better than I expected. I really only have ONE issue with it. If you know anything about the book, you know that it was written to help women with this idea that men play games. For example, he's not calling because he lost your number, it's because he's just not that into you! It's not mean, per se, it's saying that you are fabulous, and you shouldn't be wasting your time on a guy who doesn't see that. A guy that IS interested in you will stop at nothing to call or see you. Well, this movie did a really great job of portraying this -- until the end.

One of the guys, played by Justin Long, says that most girls AREN'T the exception, that in fact most of us are the rule. However, (SPOILER ALERT!) in the end he tells the girl he ends up with, played by Ginnfer Goodwin, that she IS the exception -- for him! I mean come on! I get that it's a rom-com and people want a happy ending, but that defeats the whole purpose of the book. I mean, are we really supposed to continue to constantly hope that WE'RE the exception for that ONE guy?! Or are we supposed to be empowered and independent women who know that you shouldn't have to CHANGE a guy (or yourself for that matter!) for them to be interested in you. Well, I guess this where the argument where it IS only a movie and movies are supposed to be a place where you can escape reality. What do you think?

To finish off the weekend, I worked on my final package for SP13, did some laundry and tried to fix my DVD player. I think the DVD player is a lost cause and I'm going to have to replace it. So sad!

How was your weekend?

Photo Tag

I was tagged by my swap mate today, Pandora Phelps. Here are the rules:
1. Go to your pictures on your computer
2. Open the 6th folder
3. Choose the 6th picture
4. Show the picture on your blog and write something about it.
5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.
6. Link to them and let them know they have been tagged.




Here we have my niece Lexie the day after my sister's wedding. She's my birthday buddy! She's also one of the happiest and easiest going kids I know. Aww... and she's so CUTE!

I'm tagging: Thalia Tinkwych, Callisto Verity, Arriana Stylos, Minerva Wood, Cassandra Goode and Hermione Bagnold. Have fun ladies! :)

Quidditch Round #1

1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?

a. The start of the new school year

b. The Dursleys kicking him out

c. Voldemort’s escape from Azkaban

d. Harry’s upcoming birthday

2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?

a. Mundungus

b. Snape

c. Yaxley

d. Shacklebolt

3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six members of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?

a. Mad-Eye Moody

b. Nymphadora Tonks

c. Hagrid

d. George Weasley

4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?

a. Kingsley Shaclebolt

b. Minerva McGonalgall

c. Arthur Weasley

d. Rufus Scimgeour

5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingsley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take?

a. A lynx

b. An otter

c. A doe

d. A stag

6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?

a. The Leaky Cauldron

b. Sirius Black’s house

c. The Dursley’s house

d. Ron’s Auntie Muriel’s house

7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?

a. By giving him clothes and his freedom

b. They didn’t win him over!

c. By giving him something to eat

d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket/Horcrux?

a. Severus Snape

b. Lucius Malfoy

c. Lord Voldemort

d. Dolores Umbridge

9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?

a. Moody’s magical eye

b. Nymphadora’s purple hair

c. Hedwig’s head

d. George Weasley’s ear

10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them?

a. To Godric’s Hollow

b. To the Forbidden Forest

c. Back to the Burrow

d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Mad-Eye Moody

Nymphadora Tonks

George Weasley

The Dursley's House

Kreacher

Ravenclaw Assignment #2

I usually avoid these kinds of "tell me about yourself" kind of surveys, but since it's for school I can't avoid it. So, here it goes!

1- What form does your Patronus take? What does it symbolize for you? My Patronus takes the form of a wolf… a symbol of loyalty, independence and intelligence.
2- Did you bring a cat, an owl, a toad, or other pet with you? What is their name? I brought my cat Matilda.
3- What is your favorite class here at Hogwarts? I would have to say my favorite class is Runes.
4- What is worth sneaking out of the castle for, even if you got caught? Helping out a friend in need.
5- What has made you laugh so hard that you've had butterbeer come out your nose? Watching Snape slip on a wet spot in the Great Hall.
6- What yarn do you covet? Link please... Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere
7- What is your favorite flavor... the one thing you could simply not live without? Is brand important? Chocolate hazelnut… specifically Nutella chocolate spread… so many uses, so little time!
8- How many HSKS terms have you participated in? This is my second.
9- Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other big Muggle event during this year at Hogwarts? If yes, please tell us what. No, all of my big events happen at the END of the year.
10- You in 5 words. Curious, trustworthy, persistent, friendly and intelligent.

It was only a matter of time!

I am a metro commuter. Meaning, I take a bus to the Metro station and then take the Metro to my office. (For those not in the DC area, we call the subway system the Metro.) This means that I encounter anywhere from 2-5 escalators (depending on which station I get on/off of). Every time that I encounter an escalator I flash to the possibility of slipping and falling DOWN the escalator. It has not yet happen, but I always THINK about the possibility! So, considering the fact that this area has seen a bit of wintry weather, the possibility increased quite a bit. And sure enough, today was the day that it happened. I was walking down the first of three escalators at the Ballston station when the slickness of the step combined with the slickness of my shoes and caused me to fall on my butt. My phone landed in front of me (it was in my bag), the bag landed beside me and the umbrella landed behind me. Thankfully, I did just fall backwards, rather than taking a header down the escalator, but I was still a bit sore and REALLY embarrassed!

So, is this a matter of self fulfilling prophecy or am I just a klutz? Any thoughts?

Belated Christmas Report

Ok, so Christmas was almost a month ago, but I never got a chance to show off the handmade gifts that I created for my family and friends. So, since I'm lacking in inspiration for posts, I'm going to do so now.

First, is the scarf that I made for my little brother. He never actually GOT the scarf because I missplaced it while moving. I think it was a blessing in disguise because it turns out Noah isn't a big fan of scarves. :)

Next, is the hat I made for my BIL, Andy. It's the Irish Hiking Hat (Rav link). I was worried about it being too small, but turns out it fits just fine. Real quick, I finished the poncho-that-became-a-shawl for my sister, but didn't get any pics of it. She loves it!

Here we have the Fetchings (Rav link)I made for my mom. It's a really bad picture, I know. They're made from Dream in Color Classy in the Beach Fog colorway. They remind me of mermaid tales.

Finally, we have the two Foliage (Rav link) hats I made for my nieces, Tessa & Lexie. I am SERIOUSLY in love with this pattern. I impressed my mom by finishing it in about a day. And I'm also now SERIOUSLY in love with Malabrigo. I just kept petting the pink one while I was making it.

I also made another Foliage hat for a co-worker (again in the Malabrigo) and a pair of Felted Clogs for a friend, but don't have any pics. I am very proud of myself for getting that much knitting done in such a short amount of time. Now, if only I could finish my CPH!

Happy Reading

Greetings to you all and Happy New Year! (Nine days late, but it's the thought that counts!)

I'm trying to get out of the resolution business. I always feel so guilty when I don't follow through. Instead, I'm going to try one thing for a month. Not to say that it won't last LONGER than a month, but I only have to commit to it for a month. One thing that I want to commit to is reading more. I used to be quite the avid reader. If you look on my blog, you'll see a little widget for my GoodReads account. While I don't have as many books as my friend Claire (and really, who does?!), I do have quite a few. However, with my new job came a new commute that didn't allow for as much reading. There's also my knitting habit, which can't be ignored. Between all of this, I have let reading fall to the wayside. Well, for this month, I am committing myself to reading more. There, it's in writing, therefore, it WILL happen! (Or at least should.)

Anywho, WHAT shall I read first?! I have a lot of books in the "To Be Read" category. There's Labyrinth. I have had this book in my cue for well over a year now and I have picked it up and started about 15 different times. There's also Pillars of the Earth. I actually got about a quarter of the way through this book, but then put it down and forgot about it. I have a few Neil Gaiman books I could read, like Anansi Boys and Fragile Things. After reading and being awed by American Gods, Good Omens and Neverwhere, I asked my folks for more of his work and these were the two that I got. I also got a Terry Pratchet book (he cowrote Good Omens with Gaiman) that I could read.

So, all of those books on my shelf and what do I do? I BUY the first book by the first in the Southern Vampires Mystery series by Charlaine Harris to read. I (like so many others) got hooked on the HBO series True Blood this summer and now have been sucked into the books. The first one, Dead Until Dark, is pretty much the entire premier season of True Blood and has been OK. It's a quick and easy read. Nothing to write home about, but is still worth a read. I'm not sure if I'll read the others though. I DO know that if I do read the others, I'll be checking them out of the library though. They're definitely not worth paying good money for.

Next, is going to be either Labyrinth or Pillars of the Earth. What about you? What are you reading? Do you have any recommendations for me? I'm always interested in new reading material.

SP13 QotW #2

Part A: Are you doing any holiday knitting?
If you look to the right of this post (you may also have to scoll down a little), you will see a list of my holiday knitting. Some of them are "hope to get done", while others are "have to get done". For example, it would have been nice to do a pair of slippers for my friend Christina, but I didn't HAVE to do them. However, my mom's fetchings HAVE to get done.

Part B: Have you finished?
Well, as you can also see from the list, a lot HAS been completed. The one "have to get done" item left is the second fetching for my mom. The other things will be a "if I can" kind of thing. I'm actually really proud of how much I DID get done. Having that many FO is a new thing for me. I am notorious for having too many unfinished projects. Don't get me wrong, I still DO have too many unfinished projects, but the number of FINISHED projects is starting to get as big. If that makes any sense.

Have a Merry Christmas! :)

For a Good Cause

So, I'm sure many of you have already seen this, but just in case you haven't.... Here is by far one of the COOLEST lunchboxes I've EVER seen!

The lunchbox was designed by David Rockwell, the CEO and founder of The Rockwell Group, an architecture firm. The box is one of many designed by celebrities as part of The Lunchbox Auction to benefit the Food Bank for New York City and The Lunchbox Fund. The current bid on this fantastic cable knit lunchbox is at $100. The auction ends tomorrow though -- so bid now!

Bright Spot

Yesterday it rained cats and dogs here. On top of that, it was cold.... and I forgot my umbrella. So, since I now take the bus to the metro, I walked home in the cold rain. This makes me very grumpy. But, when I got into the house, waiting for me on the living room table was my package from my Starbucks & Yarn swap partner! This was indeed a VERY bright spot in an otherwise dreary day.

Well, I couldn't dive in right away because Wendy had dinner all ready and was handing me a bowl full of tasty spaghetti while I was trying to get into the box. Oh well, a home cooked meal on a dreary day is also a bright spot AND it added to the anticipation. So, after my VERY tasty dinner, I tore open the box which revealed many sunny yellow wrapped packages -- another bright spot.

Ok, I was REALLY excited to have Shelby as my spoiler because I knew she dyed her own yarn and I was hoping to be on the receiving end of this talent of hers. And all I can say is I did indeed get some yummy yarn. I got two different skeins. One, a sock weight yarn which included some sparkly silver yarn, was made especially for me. It included all of my favorite colors and is just SO pretty and sparkly. You can KIND of see the sparkles in the picture, but I couldn't do it justice. The other skein is a worsted weight that is a BEAUTIFUL combination of blues and browns (another fav of mine!) and is SUPER soft.

The next few gifts were a homemade bookmark and some stitch markers. As you can see, they too were GORGEOUS. Shelby is definitely one crafty lady! I also got a travel mug that had pictures of things that I like -- including a Starbucks beverage, my Hogwarts House flag and a map of the Northern VA area (where I call home).


Finally, I got an absolutely beautiful clutch bag. It is in my current favorite shade of blue and had a really pretty button that I believe is a Celtic knot. She left it unfelted so I could make it as loose or as tight as I liked, which is VERY considerate of her. I think I will felt it a bit to give it more structure, but it is still an absolutely GORGEOUS bag.

Thank you again, Shelby! You are such a thoughtful and generous person and I really do love everything. I hope we can meet soon!

One more quick thing. After a trip to Target, my first SP13 package is ready to be sent. I really hope my pal likes it!

Playing Catch Up

Hello! Long time no write, I know. Have you noticed that everyone who drops off on blog writing for a while, always seems to start a new post this way? Oh well, can't always be original I guess! :)

For those of you in the US, I hope you had a rockin' good Thanksgiving. I spent mine in Indianapolis with a bunch of people from my dad's side of the family. The majority of whom I either hadn't seen in YEARS or had never met. It was a BLAST! Instead of the traditional turkey dinner, we instead served the Cavell Family red sauce. I know, to look at me, you would NEVER know that I am part Italian, but my great grandfather immigrated from Italy when he was about 12 I believe. Below are a few shots of the festivities.

First, we have the "kiddie" table. However, none of the attendees were under the age of 21, so there really weren't any KIDS, per se.

Next, we have a gaggle of Cavells hanging outside in the "balmy" 45 degree weather. Shooting the breeze (and sneaking a smoke!)

Here we have a little self-portrait action.

First, is my cousin Jonathan and myself.

And here I am with my cousin Clayton!

So, that was Thanksgiving. When I returned to VA on Black Friday I had to get back into packing mode. All of the little things and the clothes that I never wear had to be packed up before my move the next day. Let me tell you, the ENTIRE time all I kept saying was "I have too much JUNK!" It's so true. But of course, pack rat that I am, I couldn't bring myself to pitch any of it. I know, it's ridiculous!

Well, I wish I had pictures from the day of the move or at least some of the boxes, but I was too busy moving to take any. The day of the move was GORGEOUS! Really sunny and not that cold, I'd say it was about 50 degrees. My mom, step dad and little brother came to help, which I LOVE them for. This is the fourth time they've helped me move and so we have it down to a science. Everything went smoothly and nothing was broken. Now I just have to finish unpacking!

So, I know that my mail is successfully being forwarded because I got my first SP13 package! Look at my goodies! Thank you SO much, Secret Pal. I can't wait to work on my first pair of Noro socks. Well, my first pair of socks PERIOD if we're being honest! And the book IS a perfect swap gift! It's so cute. It's not as intriguing as my current read, Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, but it's perfect for some tips and knowledge. Oh and one more thing, SP, (and yes, I know this isn't very subtle) anything by Madeleine L'Engle, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet are worthy of some reading time!

Well, that's it folks! I know this was a long one, so I thank you for reading it through. Talk to you again soon!

Prometheus Found!

When Tia, my Slytherin upstream partner for HSKS 6, told me that her owl Prometheus was on his way (and to watch out for his snipping!), I was super excited! I was hoping it would arrive on Friday, but alas, that was not the case. On Saturday, I headed out to Berryville to visit my mom and the rest, so I wasn't going to be there to watch the skies. Sure enough, when I arrived home Sunday morning, there was Prometheus, patiently wating with my package by my front door!

Well, after carefully extracting the package from his talons (and avoiding his beak!), I opened a WONDEROUS package! Tia, all I can say is WOW! You are a thoughtful and VERY talented spoiler and I am lucky to have had you! :) So, take a moment to take a gander at all that Tia has sent me.

First, a picture of all the nicely wrapped gifts just for me.

Next, all of the gifts unwrapped and fabulous!

Next, here is a close up of the AMAZING Ravenclaw Tia made (she even made up the design herself!). This bag truly blows me away. I'm impressed with anyone who can do color work and this bag is a great example of it. :) The bag is also lined, which I now know I really need to learn how to do!

The next handmade item was a super cute Ravenclaw sock ornament for my tree So cute! I'm looking forward to putting it on my tree this year. :)

I think this next item is one of my fave gifts EVER! As many of you know, one of Tia's many hobbies is caligraphy. Well, I was hoping that I would be gifted with an example of her talent and boy howdy was I! She made a great notebook for me! She even wrote out my schedule for me inside. I LOVE this book and will treasure it always! :)

She also made me so handmade stitch markers. The little charms on the ends say things like "peace", "dream", "believe" and "hope". They're in the Ravenclaw colors and are VERY pretty!

Here is the great Cascade 220 yarn that she also sent. A really pretty blue and grey-ish/beige-ish color. Together they'll make a great Ravenclaw item.

And finally, here is a close up of the little extras she sent. I got three fabulous bookmarks (which is great because I'm usually reading that many different books at the same time!). Some Mary Kay chapstick, some Crystal Palace size US 8 straights (my FAV needles). I also got a blue pencil that looks like it was made out of a piece of wood, along with a red pen so I can edit my potions papers! Oh, and I didn't get this in a close up, but she sent me not one, not TWO, but THREE boxes of Mike&Ike's, the BEST candy ever!

So, as you can clearly see, Tia has been a great spoiler and I am a VERY lucky Ravenclaw witch! :) Thank you SO much, Tia, you're the best!

Round 3 of Quidditch

Ok, the third and FINAL round of Quidditch is on Sunday, which of course means it's time for a new trivia quiz. So, here it is in all its final glory! :)

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
a. Eleanor
b. Cecilia
c. Sally
d. Mandy

2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
a. Demiguise
b. Jobberknoll
c. Wrackspurt
d. Runespoor

3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
a. 10 galleons
b. 8 galleons
c. 15 galleons
d. 12 galleons

4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
a. Eileen
b. Galatea
c. Carol
d. Jocelyn

5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
a. Charms Club
b. Gobstones Club (well, team actually)
c. The Slug Club
d. Occlumency Club

6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office?
a. Ambrosius Flume
b. Dirk Cresswell
c. Ciceron Harkiss
d. Barnabas Cuffe

7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara?
a. Aunt Muriel
b. Aunt Ethel
c. Aunt Edna
d. Aunt Thelma

8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?a. 30
b. 70
c. 50
d. 90

9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dagworth-Granger found?
a. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms
b. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbology
c. The Most Extraordinary Society of the Defense Against the Dark Arts
d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers

10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
a. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components
b. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to less than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components
c. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components
d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components

Life outside of knitting

So, I really DO have a life outside of knitting and now that I am between swaps, I can catch you all up on it.

First off, the big news. I'm MOVING at the end of the month. I'm very excited because I get to live in Arlington which will allow me to start taking the Metro again. Since my office will pay up to $110 a month in Metro fees, this is pretty much free for me. I did have to revisit my budget though since rent in the new place is higher than my current home, but after giving some luxury things up and moving some payments around, I'll be able to swing it just fine. I did a major clean/purge/pack this weekend and discovered that I don't have nearly as much stuff as I thought I did. I'm wondering if I'm missing something or maybe I didn't unpack everything the last time I moved... either way, it means fewer boxes that had to be boxed up, which means less to move come the day.

In other, sadder, news, a couple of people were laid off at my office. It was such a shock because we're a small office (staff wise) to begin with and I thought we were pretty much as lean as we could get without sacrificing the quality of the work. Turns out I was wrong. I only started here in April, but I was really sad to see the two go. One of them just had a baby and the other is just out of college. It's so sad! On the other hand, I'm greatful that they didn't adhere to the old adage "last hired, first fired" because then I would be the one out of a job! Oh well... I'm just going to focus on doing the best job I can and pray that this economic crisis ends soon!

I've started my Christmas shopping and list making. I have quite a few hand knitted (see, can't keep knitting out COMPLETELY!) items on my list, but they're small and hopefully with the week off for Thanksgiving I can get many of them done. I'm doing the Utopia hat for a couple of friends, a basket weave scarf for my brother and the Irish Hiking Scarf (Ravelry link) for my BIL. This might actually become the hat version of the pattern if the scarf is taking too long! Some hairbands for my nieces, a pair of Fetchings for my mom and some cup cozies for my dad and stepmom. So, yeah.... LOTS of knitting to get started on!

And on that note, I head to the needles! :)

SP13 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like just about everything. Ella Rae Classic and Cascade 220 are my go-to yarns. I'm not a big fan of acrylic and novelty yarnds though.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Right now I'm using a small LYS
bag... I really need to get something better.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I learned about 3.5 years ago, but only recently started really getting into it. I would put my skill level at advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have a very old and outdated Amazon wish list under my email address: ashley dot cavell at gmail dot com.

5. What's your favorite scent? My fav perfume is Happy by Clinique. I really like light and citrusy scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I do have a sweet tooth. I like chocolate, but I'm trying to eat more fruity/chewy candies, like twizzlers, starbursts and skittles. My favorite sweet though are Peanut Butter M&Ms. :)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I like singer/songwriters like Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, Duffy, James Morrison and the like. Andy yes, I am MP3 ready.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favs are blues/greens/greys. But I really cannot STAND oranges and some yellows.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm a single lady with no aminals. Wow... that sounds a little sad.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I am more inclined to wear hats and scarves. I do not wear ponchos at all.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love to knit hats, dishcloths, and bags/purses. I'm really into felting right now.

13. What are you knitting right now? I'm working on my Christmas gifts right now. A pair of fetchings, scarves, hats and cup cozies.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I love receiving handmade gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circulars and LOVE my Denise Interchangables! So, plastic is favorable, but I also like bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I do not, but my roommate does so I'm fortunate enough to be able to use hers.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? My oldest UFO is the basic sweater I started in September of 2005.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? My fav holiday is 4th of July because I LOVE fireworks.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Do books count? I really can't say no to books.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have bought Knit Picks Harmony needles for others, but have not yet tried them myself, so would LOVE that. I have only recently REALLY gotten into knitting, so don't own any books or subscribe to any magazines.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would LOVE to learn Magic Loop!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am in the learning stage still of sock knitting. I wear a size 8.5 shoe.

23. When is your birthday? December 22

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? dramaqt99

Super Secret, Super Fabulous, Quiz!

1. Astrid Cloverleaf
2. Cassandra Grubbly-Plank
3. Enna Kirts
4. Slena Starfire
5. Henry Longstaff
6. Ceciley Fortescue
7. Mona Ravenscroft
8. Argentia Pascal
9. Prendolyn Wilcox
10. Lizzie Wychwood
11. Ursula Longbottom
12. Rowena Weasley
13. Aurora Curlyfur
14. Lily May Clearwater
15. Megaera Black

Bonus #1. Hermione Bagnold (aka Smileynetta)
Bonus #2. Less than half.

Shipping Queen! (And a Witch of a Hat Update)

I don't mean to sound cocky or anything, but I really am a bit of a shipping QUEEN! Since I have started participating in swaps I have been to the post office more times than I ever have before! Yesterday was my favorite day though. I mailed two swap packages. One to Kristin (aka Thomasina Riddle), my downstream partner in the HSKS 6 swap. The other was to Stephanie, my downstream partner in the Fall Starbucks & Yarn swap. I am very proud of myself for getting both pakages out before the early ship deadline. It means extra points for the Ravenclaw House (HSKS 6) and the House Blend (FS&Y). Go me!

In other, sadder, news, my witch's hat arrived from Draco on Wednesday. A full day before mine landed on his doorstep. As you can see from the picture, it is a very lovely shade of blue and flops on my head beautifully. If I had to go out, at least I went out in style! Thanks, Draco!

That's a brief update for now. I have other things to catch you all up on, but I'll save that for a later date. TTFN! :)