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Sunshine.

James and I are primed to develop epic bicep muscles now that swing season is in full affect.

Thought.

Our black, furry beasts are not nearly as thrilled about the rising temperatures.

They spent most of yesterday hiding in the shade under the bushes with their pink bologna tongues dragging on the ground.

Obsession.

Lazy Monday evenings spent watching the sun set on the patio. We had a teaser 75 degree day, complete with the damp humid air and blasts of summer scents. And now we’re back in the 40s.

Real shocker.

Annoyance.

Read this. Please.

People can claim that boys and girls are innately different, but I’d say that we have a fairly heavy hand in exacerbating those alleged differences.

I’d argue that boys and girls are far more alike than different, but man do we love polarizing the genders (and manifesting said differences).

Brilliant visuals and analysis of the advertising industry’s reliance on gender stereotypes courtesy of The Achilles Effect.

Sunshine.

It was a good weekend.

The kind that makes you sit back in contentment and gloat about the sweetness of life.

Yep, I’m brimming with the warm-and-fuzzy thanks to the arrival of wedding season and sunnier days.

The weekend was filled with a whirlwind trip to Chicago for a wedding and reunion of a fabulously fun and joyful group of people, capped off by a sunny Sunday spent spring cleaning, bathing the dogs, sitting in Adirondack chairs, and planning for Sunny’s big girl bed.

While that may sound dull, it was the kind of day where you actually pause to appreciate the mundane. And there’s something to be said for that.

Thought.

While great entertainment for a lazy Sunday afternoon, while James sands and cuts planks of wood and I sit on my butt sunning my face, sidewalk chalk is a messy messy beast.

Obsession.

Testing out her new mattress, which she refers to as “big pillow.”

Given her obsession with leaping and lying and bouncing on said big pillow, it has a permanent place in the center of our living room. At least until James gets that floor bed frame constructed.

Hint, hint, JAMES.

Annoyance.

Knowing that despite the emergence of these here crocuses, we will have at least one more snowfall.

Thought.

This is the video James and Sunny made for me while I was away in Chicago. Can you decipher what she is saying?

Hi, Mommy.

I miss you.

I love you.

I can’t wait for you to come back.

Until then, I will pick nose.

Sounds about right. Also, how stinking cool is that house from Auntie Dev?

Knit Pouf

Whether you are looking to get into knitting or sewing you can find discount fabric online to help you save money on any project.

What’s more fun than a silly, round pouf? Not much, that’s what.

The one I made is relatively small – perfect for my toddler’s tush or as a playful accent pillow. The pattern, however, can easily be enlarged to create an even bigger pouf for your bum. Now get to pouffin’!

Materials:
Circular or double pointed needles, US 15
Yarn sized accordingly
Tapestry needle
Stuffing

Directions:
1. Cast 44 stitches onto circular or double pointed needles. To make the pouf larger or smaller, expand or decrease cast on by 4 stitches (i.e. 40 sts, 48 sts, etc).

2. Knit the following two rows until the piece measures around 1.5 ft long (again, make it longer or shorter depending on the number of stitches you are using).

Row 1: *K2, P2* until end of row
Row 2: K1, *P2, K2* until one stitch is left, K1

3. Once the piece is the full length, use a tapestry needle to thread the yarn through each of the stitches and cinch closed.

4. Stuff the pillow with filling of your choice, and then weave a piece of thread through those bottom stitches to cinch close and complete the pouf.

5. Now, enjoy this puffy ball of knit goodness. Lord knows my daughter did!