knitigator

Ten on Tuesday

Doing this blogging-every-day gig, I am thankful for a prompt today from my pal, Carole.  The topic this week is Ten Things on My Mind Right Now.  Okay, then.

My polling place.

1.    The election.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it *will* be over tonight and none of those strange scenarios that the wonks like to discuss will happen. 

2.    Dinner.  While I am a great proponant of bi-partisanship and respect for differing opinions, tonight we want to send some good "blue" vibes across Massachusetts and across the nation.  So, we are having a blue plate special (meatloaf and mashed) and blueberry pie.  That's about as political as you'll get from me.  Some years, I've held signs with the kids, but this year we'll just eat a bunch of blue food.  (I suppose if I was a Republican, I'd get take out from Redbones and some red-velvet cupcakes.  See, isn't this idea fun!)

3.    Finishing my book - The Marriage Plot - for my book group tomorrow night.  It's our first substantive meeting, so I have to show up ready to go.

4.   Torah.  I am reading Torah at my niece's Bat Mitzvah in a few weeks.  It's a great honor and I have to get cracking on learning my portion.

5.    Laundry.  Getting it done, getting it folded.  It's the gift that keeps on giving.

6.    My lack of motivation.  Not feeling the running love these days, but must push through.  Our town's Turkey Classic is on Thanksgiving morning and I want to put in a good showing.

7.    Work.  Plenty of it.

8.    Weather.  I try not to obsess over looming storms, but I can't help it.  I am not a fan of bad weather.  Why, again, do I live in the Northeast?

9.    My new phone.  It has arrived and I have to say that I am drinking the Kool Aid.

10.   Knitting.  Now that my mojo is back, I want to knit all the things.  Still thinking about the sweater challenge for this month. 

Ten on Tuesday

This week's subject is 1o Things in Your Purse.  Nora Ephron wrote a piece called "I Hate My Purse" and it's so spot-on for my purse.  A mess.  Crazy.  Disorganized.  And, when I can't take it anymore, meticulous organized. 

My purse recently traveled to California.  However, unlike the other luggage, it has not been cleaned out upon return.  And I have many, many more things than 10.  But, in the interest of time (and because if I think about this too much, I will need to clean my purse), here are 10.

1.    A book - Big Stone Gap.  Unopened.  Unread. Unloved. 

2.    A nutritional facts pamphlet from In-N-Out Burger.  Yeah, I know, why?  If you're eating there, enjoy it and don't look up the true facts.

3.    Notions bags.  Splityarn and Lexie Barnes.

4.    Lots of pens.  Staples Sonic click pens (my favorite for work, now sadly discontinued or just not available for my office) and Le Pen, my favorite slim markers, in a variety of colors.

5.    Phone and phone charger.

6.    Gum and mints.

7.    Advil and Aleve. 

8.    Miscellanous receipts, coupons, and change.  C'mon, you know you have them too.

9.    Lip gloss.  Laura Mercier Stickgloss.  Love.  

10.    Wallet and checkbook.

Time to switch bags -- this one is too darn messy!!

Ten on Tuesday - 2012 edition

Needham New Year's Day 5K - January 1, 2012

Carole came up with a great topic this week -- 10 things you want to do in 2012.  I like this topic so much better than resolutions.  It seems more concrete, more do-able.

Here's my list:

1.    Run 5 road races, one of which is longer than 5K.  I'm on my way with this one -- above is me and my husband (who already finished, but came back to run the last part with me)  heading toward the finish line on New Year's Day.  I ran my best time ever and broke into the "30"s.

2.    Take a picture a day.  I want to improve my photography skills and the only way is practice.

3.    Finish sweater that's on the needles and knit another for me.

4.    Knit a pair of socks.  With my daughter playing hockey, I need them!

5.    Post to the blog once a week.

6.    Make vanilla.  I was inspired by the holiday gifts!

7.    Read one classic -- this has been on my list for a while and I just need to do it!  I still haven't read To Kill A Mockingbird or Little Women.  (Shhhh!)

8.    Spin.  Even though I love spinning when I actually doing it, I don't make time for it and my wheels stay dormant for months.  And I need to make a dent in my fiber stash! 

9.    Drink an occasional cup of green tea.  My husband swears by it.  And also, drink an occasional girlie drink -- a cosmopolitan or appletini - moderation, right.

10.    And most of all, HAVE FUN!

Ten on Tuesday

 

Before we get to today's topic, today is my 6th blogiversary!  Woo and Hoo!  It's been such a fantastic ride and I'm looking forward to whatever the next period of time brings.

Just over a week ago, our family celebrated my daughter becoming a Bat Mitzvah.  In addition to the preparation for the service (the important part), it also involved planning an adult lunch and a kids party.  Which led me to suggest today's theme to Carole- Ten Tips for Throwing a Big Party.

1.    Budget.  Before you do anything, figure out what you want to spend and make a rough budget.  That way, you will know where you have room to splurge and places to cut back.  I used Excel to do this part.

2.    Prioritize.  Once you have your budget, decide what's important.  We wanted an intimate place and good food for the adults and an energetic decor and dj for the kids.  We saved by feeding the kids pizza and salad at the kids party.

3.    Pick a theme or colors.  My daughter didn't have a theme, but she picked hot pink and green as her colors.  Everything - kippot, centerpieces, invitations, ceremony booklet were done in those colors.

4.    Delegate.  If people ask if they can help, take them up on it and let go.  My sister volunteered to do the bathroom baskets and guest towels.  Great!  One less thing on my list!  

5.    Organize in a way that works for you.  Some people have lists on their iPhone, while others have notebooks.  I had a spiral notebook and a manila folder and everything was in those two places.  It worked for me.  I also had several Excel spreadsheets for budget, guest lists and gift list (after the parties).  

6.    Ask.  If you have question, rather than obsessing about the answer or creating different responses and spending a lot of time thinking about various scenarios, ask. 

7.    Hire great people.  And then trust them.  If you are working with different people (balloon designers, bakery, restaurant), you've probably met with them, seen their work and obtained recommendations.  Share your vision and then trust them (put more directly, work collaboratively, but don't micromanage professionals). 

8.    Don't procrastinate.  Give yourself enough time to get things done so that you are not running around the day before the big event. 

9.    Don't over-think every single decision.  This will cut down on the procrastination.  Whether to get popcorn and chips or popcorn and pretzels for the kids party is not worth losing sleep.  Decide and move on. 

10.   When the day comes, ENJOY.  Something unanticipated usually happens (in our case, the cupcake cart lost a wheel as it was being wheeled off the dance floor after the candle lighting ).  Hug your family and friends, count your blessings and soak up the event.    

Ten on Tuesday (on Thursday)

 
When Carole posted the topic "Ten Favorite Smells," I was puzzled.  While I think that I have a good palate for taste, I wasn't really sure about smell and, for that matter, whether I could come up with ten.  I've thought about it and I definitely have some smells that I love.  ll but one are food-related!

1.    Citrus.  Especially tangerine and clementine.  My favorite perfume is citrus.  I also love grapefruit scents.

2.    Onions and garlic in olive oil.  The smell of anticipation of the other yummy things to join them in the pan.

3.    Chocolate chip and butter.  Cookies, brownies, magic bars.  Yum.

4.    Grilled meat.  Especially carne asada at my in-laws house.

5.   Toast or anything (english muffin, bagel) toasted.   

6.    And while we are on bread products, baking bread.  There was a Wonder Bread factory in Natick (where the Natick Collection now stands) and I always loved driving by -- smelled so great! 

7.    Roasting vegetables.  (Especially potatoes with rosemary, kosher salt and olive oil).

8.    Freshly baked (or baking) apple pie with spices.

9.    Pizza. 

10.    My house after a cleaning.  The "clean" smell -- doesn't last long, but it's delightful.

Ten on Tuesday

Hey!  Happy 2011!  I still owe the blog a re-cap of my 2010 knitting -- soon, soon.  But, a good way to get back into blogging action is Ten on Tuesday.

 
(Okay, Pottery Barn idea shamelessly ripped off from Kate, although that is the picture of our new headboard.)

On to what's on my nightstand.

1.    My CrackBlackberry

2.    Kindle

3.    People magazine

4.    A book.  Right now I'm reading Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater by Frank Bruni.  I love memoirs -- I just finished Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman.

Really, that's it.  My husband and I agreed to a one book and one magazine rule recently.  But, here's some things that are in the drawers of my nightstand.

5.    Pens and pencils

6.    All kinds of stationary, stickers and envelopes

7.    Pictures

8.    Camera charger

9.    Post-it notes and tape

10.    Small pads of paper and tissue paper

Ten on Tuesday

 
This week's theme is 10 intentions for the New Year.  I do love a good list of goals. 

1.    Stay "on task" -- in other words, nip the procrastination.  I'm going to start by listing three goals to accomplish each day along with three monthly goals.  Last summer, I read Emmitt Smith's Hall of Fame speech, in which he talked about his high school coach who told him that a dream is just a dream until you write it down and then it becomes a goal.  

2.    Update clothing.  I don't always love what I'm wearing and don't always put my best out there.  I'm going to start by making a list of pieces to add to my wardrobe. 

3.     In order to free up some funds for #2 and to get my stash more manageable, I'm going to join Elizabeth and knit from my stash in 2011.  I'm not declaring an all-out prohibition from any purchasing, but I'm going to be very mindful about adding anything new.  Same for fiber.

4.    Exercise three or more times per week.  I have a treadmill and I just need to get on it in the winter months!  I'm starting this by picking up some heavy duty jogging undergarments and committing to the Couch-to-5K.  Bye, bye couch.

5.    Along with #4, continue to track eating.  I lost 13 pounds between August and December and have put some back on.  I'm going to accomplish this by tracking each day on-line and drinking water. 

Since #1-#5 are big goals, I need a few lighter ones!

6.    Read a classic.  Still haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird or Little Women.

7.    Knit two sweaters for me.  In full disclosure, I started Francis Revisited the other night.  I'm spending a lot of time these days in hockey rinks and need sweaters!

8.    Make photo books of our summer vacations to Utah/Wyoming and Acadia.

That's my list (I realize it's not ten, but it feels right).  I'm looking forward to reading your intentions.   

Ten on Tuesday

Today's topic is Ten Things You Love About Thanksgiving.  Before we get to that, I'm thankful that you haven't gotten on my case for my epic NaBloPoMo fail!  (I missed the last three days).  Anyways, onward and upward!

1.    Making casseroles that I don't make any day of the year other than Thanksgiving -- think mini marshmallows, think cream of mushroom/fried onions.  No haute cuisine for our Thanksgiving crew.

2.    Articulating thankfulness.  And hearing what others are thankful for.  My family will always remember the year my sister-in-law and her family joined us from California and Linda thanked my family for taking care of Lino (her brother).  Not a dry eye.

3.    The turkey, stuffing, gravy and potatoes.

4.    The football game.  Even better this year because the Patriots are playing.

5.    Our town's Turkey Trot.  I'm walking, rather than trotting, but it will still feel good to walk 3.1 miles before the eating begins.

6.    Having a long weekend with no homework and tests to help the kids prepare for.

7.    Hanging out at my sister's house with her kids.  Also, my niece's birthday is sometimes on Thanksgiving and that's pretty cool. 

8.    The Macy's Day parade.  I don't think my kids like it nearly as much as I do.

9.    Leftovers.

10.    Pumpkin and cranberries in all ways.  And here's a Thanksgiving gift for you -- I made this for my office's Thanksgiving celebration and it was a big hit! 

Ten on Tuesday

This week's theme is ten movies I want to see at the movie theater.  Not sure I can come up with 10, but I'll try.

1.    The Social Network 

2.    Little Fockers

3.    Morning Glory

4.    Fair Game

5.    127 Hours

6.    Inside Job

7.    No Strings Attached

And how about I finish off my list with 3 movies that I want to watch again this holiday season.

8.    Elf

9.    It's A Wonderful Life

10.    Home Alone

Happy viewing!!

Ten on Tuesday (on Wednesday)

 
First, before we get down to business, I had lunch with a friend on Monday and she asked me, "do you still have your blog."  Well, yes, I do!

This week's subject is 10 ways to simplify your life.  It's both a philisophical and tactical subject -- I suppose my list will be a combination of both.

1.    Time is precious and finite.  For things that are optional choices in your life, only say "yes" to those things that you truly want to do.

2.    Ditto for people to spend time with.

3.    A place for everything and everything in its place.  Hang up coats.  Put keys in the same spot.

4.    Keep one calendar and keep it updated (this is especially good if you have sporty kids with lots of practices and games).

5.    Buy and wear solid colors with bright/funky accessories.

6.    Keep a couple of quick frozen/boxed things around for a quick dinner.  I always have Dr. Praeger's veggie burgers and broccoli patties in my freezer and mac and cheese kits in my cabinet. 

7.    Bring your lunch to work.  Less decision making aobut where to go and what to order.  Less calories.  Less money.

8.    Borrow from the library.  Less long-term clutter.  (I love books too, but, let's face it, they accumulate and get dusty).

9.    Delegate.  And try not to criticize when the delegatee doesn't load the dishwasher correctly or fold the towels just so.

10.    Have a recipe or two that you can crank out easily and keep some disposible containers with lids on hand.  I make the same sesame noodles for the teacher appreciate lunch twice a year and put it into a disposable foil pan with a cover.

 Have a great day!