The true spirit of giving

Every Christmas, I knit some gifts for friends and family. I usually just get a "thank you", and this always left me with a feeling that the person receiving the gift doesn't really "appreciate" the time and effort that go into a hand made gift. Then I read this post by Purlene and it reminded me that the true spirit of giving is in giving - not in expecting a certain reaction from those that you give to.

My best present this year was being able to wear a pair of pants today that were way too small for me 8 weeks ago. Today, I tried them on and they were too big!

I finished one of the Monkey socks, and I love how they came out. They were a pretty quick knit and I should have the 2nd one done soon.

I also cast on the Zig Zag Lace Scarf in Malabrigo worsted, which is my most favorite yarn.

Have a safe and happy new year!

Battle scars - that's all.

Yesterday, I fell while on my run. I remember looking down and seeing all the tiny landscaping rocks and pinecones in the road, and thinking "I need to find a new running route". Then the next thing I know, I'm down on the ground. Thankfully my hands broke most of the fall, and I was able to walk away with just a few battle scars (scabbed and bruised knee and hands). You know you're a serious runner when you fall and the first thing you do, even before getting up from the ground, is stop the timer on your Garmin so the fall is not reflected in your time.

Don't you just love quick knit projects? I was able to knit a pair of the Hand/Wristwarmers from Last Minute Gifts and they really came in handy this morning when I was in bootcamp. Of course the first pair I knit was for me! I'll be making a few more pairs this week and continue working on the Monkey socks. I'll post pics towards the end of the week.

While shopping this weekend, thanks to bad cell phone ettiquette, I was able to hear about more drama going on in total stranger's lives than I ever need to know. Thank you, strangers, because I really needed to hear about all your drama.

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward. I loved the movie, so when I saw the Pay It Forward idea on Arts & Quilts, I had to join in.

Here's how it works: be one of the first three bloggers to leave a comment requesting to join this Pay It Forward Exchange, and you will receive a handmade knit gift from me at some point in the next 365 days. That's my promise to you! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by promising to do the same on your blog. (If you don't have a blog, but still want to participate, let me know and we can work out the details. Paying it forward is too good of a thing to exclude anyone.)

I cast on Monkey socks over the weekend and I love how the pattern is knitting up. These socks aren't for me, but you can bet I'll be making a pair for myself soon.

It's been raining for three days here, so no running for me. I might have to hit the dreaded treadmill tomorrow if this rain keeps up. My boot camp class was moved indoors this morning and I think it was the most difficult class yet - as if getting up at 4:30 AM to go do circuit training outside in the dark and in the cold wasn't hard enough.