New Britney Songs

If you haven't heard them yet, you better get going and drop by The Perez Hilton Blog or for a download visit Pop Music Kingdom and search for Britney for the songs to show.

I'm not sure if I've heard enough to have any sort of opinion on it yet. Most of the songs seem happy and very Britney-ish. Not high quality but then you don't turn to Brit-brit for that. I always view her music as good stuff for drying the dishes, cleaning the bathroom or cycling (against the wind) to the next village. It's bouncy and keeps you going.



Anyway I do hope Miss B will get her life together soon. Being unhappy and on a road to self destruction is not something you wish on anyone really.

Style for the home

As a beginning Buddhist I try to give up clinging, attachment and things like that, but I find this concept rather difficult when I visit my one of my favorite blogs: The Hostess Blog.

I mentioned this blog before and will do so often I can imagine. You see I might be young, highly educated and happening, but I’m a homely sort of girl. I love things like gardening, cooking and not to mention knitting. I’m a fan of Martha Stewart for pete’s sake. With the word fan I mean that I like her magazines, books, radio programs and tv shows and can handle hours of the stuff a day and not at all be bothered by all the ‘Martha-isms’. She is I might say my example. A woman who loves her job and smart (and lucky) enough to build a whole imperium out of it. Anyway enough about Martha. The point to this all is that I love entertaining, even though I don’t do it.

We just moved house and are now in the posession of a house that is fit for entertaining. The old house was just too small to even invite family to dinner. All that I’m waiting for is:
A. the work on the house to end (they are working on the electricity now, next are the radiators.
B. My financial situation to balance out

Once those two points are cleared I will be trying to slowly ease my boyfriend in inviting family and friends and see how he takes it. In the mean time my Life Philosophy (aka Buddhism) is suffering every time I drop a glace at the before mentioned Hostess with the Mostess blog. I tell you they have them most gorgeous finds for all things entertaining here are a few I liked A LOT. (Wanna have!!)




All things Elum are fantastic. I want it all: pretty cards, nice note books... sigh. Go to the site for more eye candy. You won’t be sorry. :D




Next up are these super Hanna mugs. I love them. They are from Rörstrand. And if I see them in the shop I’m sure I would be in some real danger of buying it.



And last these great prints you can give a mom to be or use for a baby shower party. They are from Turtle Papers, who also do these cute little tees! Ahhhh, can you tell my best friend is pregnant?? Haha.



All photo's are from the Hostess Blog

How high would you go.. sock wise?

Right so I’m knitting my own sock, both at the same time each with their own little ball of yarn. And this yarn is not finished yet and I’m passed my ankle bone. And a new dilemma has occured:

How high do I go?


This is where I am now...

I’m not sure. On the one hand I’d like a ‘normal’ pair of socks, but on the other this is super-de-luxe yarn It’s pure cashmere and I’ll be wearing it for the first time ever on my feet :D hehe. So these socks will not be worn as normal socks would. They will be my teasured pair, that I will put on (I imagine) when I’m having a girly night in. I can picture it now: nice film on telly or dvd, cup of tea or better yet some nice ice cream (mmmmm Häagen-Dazs), sitting on the sofa with socks on. In that case shouldn’t they be as high as I can make them? Don’t know  Will get back to you on this one.

The next item is not about socks but is about knitting. Lixie, who presents the great podcast Lixie Knits It has put up this fantastic map where knit-a-holics can enter the yarn stores they know of. heheh and it’s great. Take a look and enter your local yarn store!!

Yarn, Tea and Design

Recently I’ve moved home and I’ve been quite busy working on it. Soon I hope to get it ready enough to start entertaining again. In the old house we had no space to ask anyone around so It’s long over due. Because I still like the idea of having people around I follow a very cool blog named The Hostess With the Mostess. It’s great if you are into anything to do with entertaining or if you are a kitchen gadgets/tools fan. They show such beautifull things like glasses and funny innovations. These caught my eye:

Tea Flowers
I first saw this about two years ago. My best friend Rig had gone to China with her family on a fantastic trip. When she came back she gave me a beautiful little tea cup and some tea. But she also gave me two small balls made from crumpled up leaves. We used one together and it was great. You pour hot water over the ball and wait. Then slowly the leaves unfold and a little while later you have this beautiful display in your tea cup (or pot). It’s great.

Picture from The Hostess Blog

And because it’s great someone finally thought of importing it. Not seen them in the UK yet, but the US now has these nice tea flowers too. They are from Teaposy. See the video!!



Froggy & the star coaster
I love gadget like these. The Froggy is absolutly great. Funny and usefull. If I had a bit more money (still thight at the moment, but getting there. Just a little longer), I would have bought them by now.

Picture from The Hostess Blog

The star coasters look classy and funny even though they are from modern materials. 

Picture from The Hostess Blog


I also subscribe to a Designblog called (funny enough) Design Spotter. And this is what I spotted:

Aeroplane lights
Aren’t these great!! My friend is pregnant and so I’m on the look out for boy or girl specific things as it’s still a mystery what she will have. I think it will be a girl, but we shall see in two months time. Anyway back to the lights. I spotted these on the Design Spotter blog and fell in love. They are from Skjelvik.


Picture from Design Spotter

Can you imagine having a little boy with lights like that in his room. Or an office they would look great in there as well. It reminds me a bit of Harry Potter where notes in the ministry are send by magicly folding them into little paper planes that fly themselves to their destination. Fantastic!!!

Flower lights
And what do you think about these Flower lights from Design Ship Tora? Also spotted on the Design Spotter blog.


Picture from Design Spotter

I think these would look fab on a nice floor in a bathroom or bedroom. Anywhere where you can light them up as the only romantic light in the room. Sigh makes me wish for a designer house though.

The Big Knit

The Big Knit is back. Last year I missed it but this year I'm planning to knit at least 2 little hats or more if it goes well. If you haven't heard of this project than pay attention it's GREAT!

Delicious Juice maker Innocent is calling all knitters to use their leftover yarn to knit these cute little hats for Charity. They then sell their mini bottles in the shop wearing these super cute hats and for every bottle sold 50 pence (= 1 us dollar) goes to Age Concern.


My friend Louisa trying on my socks... on her head

Louisa my super cool colleague has already made two earlier this year. She should add the pictures to the Flickr pool and add the hat-o-meter (see on the right) to her blog. If you want to add it too here's the url:

hatometer
http://www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/thebigknit/?Page=hatometer


One of Louisa's hats (photo made with mobile, sorry for quality)

For this project there is also a blog you can check for updates. And to end this whole blogpost I've got this funny little film:

Vegetable pre-plot

I moved to England last year at the end of May. Our last garden was facing north and by the time I was settled in a little it was autumn and the season for growing had passed. The only thing I planted was a big flower pot full with herbs. This year we moved house. We saw it in January but we didn't move until June. This meant that the important spring/early summer season was passed. Ofcourse there was a lot to do with the house and so my vegetable plot had to wait.

Then Kevin's father brought some young tomato plants and two little courgettes and two pepper plants. So this is now my improvised Pre-plot veggie garden. And it's growing. Just look at the size of them:


the garden half June


the garden beginning of August

And, except for the peppers who where assaulted by slugs and snails, all are producing. I'm so pleased!! And the peppers are recovering now that I've put a copper strip on the pot. It really works very well!! And no killing!


Tomatoes up close


My second courgette

Which will go the same way as the first: into the pan. I used it to make a Veggie mix.

Here is the Veggie Mix recipe:

1 courgette (zuccini)
1 big onion
1 red pepper (small)
1 yellow pepper (small)
4 tomatoes

Peel and chop everything but the tomatoes. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a pan and heat. When the oil is hot add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft but not coloured. Now add the courgette. Leave this for about 7 minutes until it softens up. Now add the peppers and again give it time to soften, but here you can choose how much depending on your taste. If you like fresh, crunchy peppers leave them for about 3 minutes. If you like your peppers more soft, give them about 5 minutes. While the veggies are cooking chop the tomatoes into small bits. I like small wedges, but this isn't important. Now there is a choice again. you can add them to the pan and give them about 2 minutes on the stove OR you can take the pan of the stove and chuck them in raw. I like both methods and choose on the day according to my inclination. If you add them afterwards it gives a fresh salad kind of feel to the veggie mix. If you give them 2 minutes they become warm and soft and yummie. Great comfort food :D.
To finish off I use a Roasted Tomato & pepper spice mix that you suppose to use on Fajitas. But it's also really nice without.


My very First English grown Courgette (Zuccini)


Chopped up an all ready to use

Must listen podcasts!!! Part 2

As promised here are some more Podcast favorites. If you haven’t read my first blogpost Must listen podcasts!!! Part 1 yet then please do. In that post you also find instructions on how to listen to these great programs. :D Enjoy!!!

Knit Picks
If you are a knitter I recommend this podcast. It's made by the employers of Knit Picks, a online yarn and pattern shop. I picked up loads of good advice since they started podcasting. Favorite was Episode 14: Keeping Track of Stitches. They gave lots of brilliant tips :D Hooray!


Manic Mommies
They are mommies who go manic every now and then because they wanna do everything and then some! Erin and Kristin present this funny podcast for parents. They juggle kids, careers, life, husbands and households and do this with a humor. From the disasters of going out to dinner with the kids to a discussion how much something would cost if paying with designer shoes.. Erin and Kristin got it. :) Mucho Recommendado!!

Lime & Violet
Miss Lime and Miss Violet are two of the funniest people I’ve ever known. Listening to their podcast is like having a great night out (or in) with your girlfriends. If you are in need of some laughs, crazy situations and Yarn Porn, then L&V will provide this in no small amounts. They address all subject and nothing is Taboo. I really liked the episode where they visit yarn shops to see how they react. Lime being the nice ‘normal’ girl and Violet being a bit ‘alternative’. I’m a big fan of treating everyone decently no matter what their appearence. In short these goofy, crazy, fun girls are a hit!! We loveeeee L&V!!! Also check out their blog: Lime & Violet The Daily Chum..

Sew Forth Now
One of the best sewing podcast I’ve found. The presenter Lori has good tips every time, but also gets guests that are fantastic. She has links to tutiorals and alls sorts. In the end it’s just another good quality craft podcast that you shouldn’t miss if you are a sewer!!

Stash and Burn
If you like giggles and knitting then I must recommened this podcast. It’s one of my favorites and I download it as soon as it becomes available. Then I keep it till I go home or to work. It’s great entertainment for travel. Nicole and Jenny are the presenters and they are GOOD! They struggle with stash, patterns and other knitting related subjects. In short they are like you and me and just discuss their everyday knitting struggles. Should be in your list if you are a knitter!

Inspirational Wednesday
Why did someone ever decide on a five day work week? I tell you that person should be reminded of our suffering for eternity. But now there is a reward if you get through the first half. On Wednesday it arrives in the from of this podcast. The show is filled with great tips, good interview and fun news. The only point I like to make is that you must be able to stomach a great deal of Americanism. Some don’t mind, I think this podcast is good enough to bare it, but the accent is very heavy Southern? American. That and everything is great, fantastic, awesome or fabulous. In short the presenter is a fan of those she has on the show and it shows. :) Still it’s a great way to meet the middle of the week.


Halfway There
A glass can be half empty or half full, depending on your view point and perhaps if you are filling it or drinking the contence. Being a mom is one of the best and thoughest jobs in the world and this Mom is making a podcast out of it. Jessica’s podcast appeals to be because she speaks from the heart. She discusses all sorts of problems with her child in the open and this is great. I really like her podcast and I’m sure I’d love it if I where a mommy. So good listen for non moms and a great one for moms.


Jane Austen Season Audiobooks with ITV1 & Classic FM
I’m so glad to tell you about this podcast. ITV send out three new movies based on Jane Austen Novels earlier this year. As a treat they have these audiobooks for free. They are very abridges, but this is great. I get my full lenght versions from Audible.co.uk and use these short versions for when I have less time and still want to hear the story.  Super duper. There are two free stories: Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. The quality is not bad at all!! If you can’t find them in iTunes, go to the Classic FM website for individual downloads. Unfortunaly the Mansfield Park ones don’t seem to work anymore. Maybe everyone was so shocked with Billy Pipers performance in the movie that no one wants anything to do with it. Hihi.

Fly and buy?

At the beginning of September I will be visiting my pregnant friend Rigjte in the Netherlands. So I'm checking out the new make-up specials of the top brands. Not that I'll be buying them as I'm a bit broke, but I've got good hope. Plus it's fun to decide what I might buy if I have any money left over on the way home. Well it's less fun the longer this decision making takes. I'm stuck on these:



This is the gorgeous Sunset box from Chanel. It's for eyes, lips and cheeks and these colours will go great with my dark hair. Classic shades that blend with my skin tone and give me a look that doesn't scream: OH MY GOD SHE's GOT A LOT OF MAKE-UP ON. In fact it will do just the opposite. In short a good investment.



But then there is also this one from Chanel. Sunrise. With cool, bright shades a much more fashionable set of colours. But these will go very well with my blue eyes. I like purples and blues a lot as they are great to wear when going out. Or in spring as they are fresh and happy colours.



And then there is this cutie pie. A make-up kit from Guerlain designed by Pucci. It's a cute little kit that can easely be carried in a handbag and the colours are cool too. The extra bonus is the cute Pucci pouch it comes in.

So which one should I pick? Exactly not easy is it. And then there is also the fact that I have quite a bit of make-up already. Maybe I shouldn't buy any more. But then last year I bought a little box from Givenchy and I just love it and been using it sooo much. Maybe I should think about it a bit more and then see if I have any money at all to spend on stuff like that.


When I was looking for the Pucci/Guerlain products I also found this great pen. Also designed by Pucci for Omas. It's it cute and cool! Sigh... wonder how much that will cost. :( Being broke sucks!


Oops just spotted the price it's 300 US dollars or 150 British Pounds. Ai!

Baby & birthday delivery!

It's my best friends birthday soon and I'm sending her some hand made goodies for her unborn child. This means that I can finaly reveal what I've been working on these last few months. So without futher ado here is the line up:



Jelly Beanie with crocheted flower.

The first thing I made is this cute hat for her baby. As no one knows what sex the baby will be picking a colour was hard. I choose this lilac as it will go with blue's and gray's if it's a boy and it will go great with pinks and yellows if it's a girl. The pattern is from Rowan's Bambino Classic and I made it with RYC Cashsoft Baby DK in the colour borage 806.



Reverable bib

Next up I made this reverable bib. As I've said with no idea if the baby will be a boy or a girl I thought this a nice present. I made it a while back but didn't have a soft fabric for the bias trim. Then I found this super soft cotton canvas and I used that to make the bias trim and the ties.




Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater

I also made this cute little February Baby Jacket from Elizabeth Zimmermann's book Knitter's Almanac: Projects for Each Month of the Year. Again I went for a colour that can go with both boys or girls. The green is very nice with soft pinks for girls. And it will also go very well with light blue and aqua for boys. The yarn is Rowan's Cashsoft DK in the colour Lime, 509.

So I put all of them together with some goodies in a big box and this is what she got:

With the pink side up if it's a girl


And with the blue side up for it it's a boy