My Post Birthday, Post.

For those of you who forgot, my birthday was January 22nd.

The evening before my birthday, Skein Street, Sprightly Spite and I went to Skaneateles to visit our friend, Elegant Needles. This store is just to lovely. Of course, they decided to buy me yarn for my birthday. How exciting! I FINALLY got the Debbie Bliss Book 6 just so I could make the Reversible Bag. But of course, I fell in love with most of the other patterns in the book too.

After the yarn shop, Mr.Bean, Skein Street, Sprightly Spite, Ted, Andrea, and their son Toby, went out to eat dinner at Pastabilities in Armory Square. (In Syracuse, NY.) What a blast!
(Pictured in just that order)

Mr.Bean bought me beautiful Roses.

I ordered the Beef Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, and Fresh Vegetables. I also ordered a "Special Salad" with fresh baby greens, endive, roasted walnuts, pears, dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese, drizzeled with fresh Champagne Vinegrette. Are you drooling yet? I sure was! I was VERY excited about dinner. Sorry the pictures crap.

Our waiter's name was Patrick.
Here's Patrick and Toby.








Also, there were these lighted ball thingies. I want them. Anyone know where I can get them?

Ah, yes, what a great evening. :)

I'm amused by weird things....

Giant Knitted Bunny.

Vaginal Earrings. (WTF?)

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches...

Hamburger Safety Pin? What's the point?

Pork Chop Pin Cushion. (I just may buy this!)

For the Obsessive, Knitting Needles.

Post Secret. Makes you think.


That's all for now. Enjoy.

Chinese lesson

In honor of The Chinese New Year, I bring you a mini Chinese lesson.





Chinese (Cantonese)
Gung hay fat choy (a New Year greeting meaning, "May you become prosperous.")
Sun nien fai lok (meaning, "Happy new year")

Chinese (Mandarin)
Xin nian yu kuai


One of these years I will attend the celebration in New York City. Actually, I'd love to spend it in China but NYC is cheaper for me right now.

I really miss China... Maybe I should do an internship in Hong Kong when I get out of school? Even if it's only for a month or 2, I would LOVE it. Either way, I really want to go back. One of these days I will post some pictures of my past trips, one of them with Skein Street.

Gung hay fat choy! (that's my favorite one.)

Bean

Meme Anyone?

I have never been tagged for a Meme. I saw this one and thought it was one I may actually do. I am tagging everyone who reads this blog. Actually, I think that's only maybe 4 people?

4 jobs you have had in your life
Present: Nursing Assistant, night shift float at. St.Joseph's Hospital
Past: Technical Assistant at Laboratory Alliance of CNY in the Microbiology and Referral Testing Dept.
Medical Secretary for the Family Practice Residency program at St.Joseph's Hospital (45md's and 10000 patients)
Server at Applebee's in North Syracuse.

4 movies you could watch over & over

A Mighty Wind
Notting Hill
When Harry Met Sally
The Princess Bride

4 places you have lived (ok- 5)
Liverpool, New York (a little of my childhood)
Baldwinsville, New York (most of my childhood - highschool)
Syracuse, New York (eastwood)
Mattydale, New York
Liverpool, New York (again.)

4 TV shows you love to watch
Friends
Gray's Anatomy
Americal Idol
Trading Places (actually, anything on TLC)

4 places you have been on vacation
China for 5 weeks
Poland for 6 weeks
France/Germany for 2 weeks
Seattle, Washington

4 websites you visit daily
www.slickdeals.net
www.news10now.com
www.wheresgeorge.com
www.noaa.org
omg- I now know why I am so boring....

4 blogs you read daily
Skein Street
Sprightly Spite
Not Martha
Knit and Tonic

4 of your favorite foods
Beef Tenderloin
GOOD Pizza
Beef Pad Thai
Peanut Butter (does this count? I eat it with a spoon...)

4 places you would rather be right now
China
Seattle
Anywhere where it's more than 55degrees out.
Bed (it's currently 230am)

4 bloggers you are tagging
The only 4 that actually read my blog =-)

Happy Birthday Bean!

Yeah, so, I'm 23 today. Woohoo! 2 more years and my car insurance prices will FINALLY go down. I can't wait. I am working a 12 hour overnight tonight, so tomorrow when I wake up I will post about my fabulous pre-bday excursion to the yarn shop, and dinner with my friends. Happy Birthday to me :)

Logo Time!!

Okay. I can't seem to be creative enough to make a damn logo. I made 2 up using the colors from this blog, and the other out of the colors from my Store's Blog. The actual website should be coming soon! Does anyone have any tips on making a logo for my knitting/crochet accessory/needle bags that I'm making? Should I have the background be a fabric that I will be using? This is totally stressing me out. I was Ben's (my brother) fiance Kesar create one for me since she has a graphic design degree and makes all the stuff for Ben. However, they're getting married in a month and haven't the time. Should I hire someone?

Here are some lame ideas I have started with:
Number 1:

Number 2:
Number 3:

Keep in mind, this will be printed on Business Cards, Lables, Flyers, etc. Please give me input or suggestions! If someone submits to me a GREAT logo suggestion that just captures my little heart, and doesn't look like the ones above, you may just receive a little prize in the mail.

BUSTED!

My blog has now officialy entered the world of BUST. I'm listed under the Girl Wide Web, and "Welcome To My World: Blogs & Journals Links".

20days of back blogging tons of pics

So finally, I'm sitting here at Erin's apartment in the middle of nowhere. She is forcing me to back-blog . I mean really, twist my arm! Liz and I drove up to see her tonight to knit, but as you can tell not much of that happened for me. I ended up taking pictures of her new Knit Picks sample cards. I think I'm in love. Aren't my gals just the best??


Being the semi-socialite that I am, this post may take a few days.

Alright! Let's start with the back-blogging.

December 15, 2005
I GAVE MY NOTICE AT WORK!!!! Can you tell I'm excited? I decided to give them just about 3 weeks so that I didn't screw them completely over since I'm the only one in the office who knows how to do any of the reports/stats/whatever you want to call them. I was offered a position as a Student Float nurse at the hospital part time which actually will pay more than working full time where I currently am. How stupid would I be not to transfer? My last day will be on Wednesday 1/4/06 (Strategically after the 1st so I don't loose my saved up holiday time =-) ). For the first time in a LONG time, I will now be working part time and going to school full time. yay!

December 18, 2005
Finals for school were this weekend. I just feel like vomiting. Our 101B course (professional nursing) final was just dreadful. I don't even want to mention my Pharmacology course. I like drugs- they're interesting. I do NOT like listening to why drugs are classified as whatever and the history behind the making of drugs. BORING. Just give me the pill and I'm your friend. =-) Anyways, when a teacher tells you to look over the information that you missed on the last tests, you really should listen. See, in test review we're not allowed to have writing utensils or paper so we can't write out what we got wrong. Unless you have a photographic memory, this is impossible to remember the 100 questions on the test. Anyways, I was not prepared. I even took the morning off on the 16th to study. However, we had a lovely blizzard that piled several feet of ice and snow blocking my front door from opening, and my car from moving out of the parking lot. Thank goodness for those usually worthless maintenance people at my complex. One guy who was plowing helped crack the ice around the tires while I chizzled the ice off of my windows.... 1 1/2 hours later, we were done. So much for getting to school early to study! Rule of thumb? DON'T PROCRASTINATE!
Oh! Here's our school Christmas tree and Receptionist:



















Isn't she just fabulous?

December 24, 2005
I feel like crap. For the first time in years, I'm missing the Christmas Eve service at Mom's church. Not that I go to church on a regular basis, but Christmas Eve doesn't seem to bother me. I get to see all of the kids I grew up with, their husbands/wifes/SO's/kids. It's hard to believe that these people have families!! They're only 22 years old! I couldn't even imagine being ready to take care of children. I just want to be in a career before I worry about never having ANY time to travel and study. I always feel like I should be all dressed up and looking pretty for these mini-reunions. However, I always end up looking like crap because you know what? I just don't care.

December 25, 2005
!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Mr.Bean and I woke up early and opened presents at our home.

Finally, after a few years asking for these, I got them!! Yes, my leopard print slippers!!! Believe it or not, I have had these slippers since January 2000 and I have replaced the insides 4 times with various faux furs to try and save them.


My poor old SAD SAD slippers.... My new babies. I think I'm in love!

Mr.Bean also got me a gorgeous handmade jewlery box from People's Pottery. Artist Michael Fisher created this piece called "Meadow". It is made of Bubinga and Bird's Eye Maple I'm so excited to finally have a GOOD jewelry box.

*For Liz, I bought her the pen she really wanted. A Retro51 Fountain Pen in Turquoise. Also some other random stuff including a lovely lime green yarn from Elegant Needles in Skaneateles. I wish I could remember what the yarn was called.
*For Betsy, my sister, I made her a scarf out of Homespun Yarn, bought her POCKY from Seattle, and new Fiskars Soft Touch scissors (which I almost kept for myself!) I also handmade her 3 stockings and gave them to her Christmas Eve.

I bought Erin a pretty green(s) woven scarf from Banana Republic.

Mr.Bean and I spent the day at my Mom and Dad's home.


We ate breakfast, opened presents, then lounged around the rest of the night. I LOVE doing nothing days.
Oh yeah, I got THIS! How exciting?!?!?!?

*My mom, being the wonderful mom that she is, got me a brand spanken new serger! This serger will help me make my store, Bean's Stock, full of top quality products. (More info coming soon of course.)
Mom got wireless internet from my Dad, so us 4 sat on our laptops at the Dining Room table for a while looking at a trip to Alaska for my Mom's 50th Birthday. How exciting :) It was a wonderful day with my family and I wouldn't have traded it for the world.


January 1, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

School gave us the day off. Can you believe it? We had to stay late on friday and saturday, but it's worth it! I'm going to go to Mom's all day to make some scrubs for my job. James has to work.

Tips for Keeping Your Resolutions:
(sent to my by ING Financial Planning.)
1. Think about it. Don't make a last minute resolution for the sake of it. Resolutions should be well considered and meaningful to your own situation.
2. Make it realistic. Don't make a resolution that is unreasonable or unrealistic to achieve. Consider your own ability to actually achieve your resolution.
3. Set a firm resolution. Resolutions tend to fall into one of two categories, you are either going to start or stop doing something. Take it a step further and be speific and measure about what the results of that action will be for your own life and situation.
4. Set a timetable. Remember that a goal is a dream with a deadline.
5. Make a plan. Assess how much time and effort your resolution will take, and plan for it.
6. Find resources. A resolution is a change in behavior, something new for you to accomplish. It's logical that you might need help or advice.
7. Remind yourself. Create a self reminding prompt that keeps your resolution top of mind well beyond those early days of January. Tape a piece of paper to the mirror, set up a computer prompt or reminder, mark your calendar.
8. Don't give up. Don't panic or let setbacks derail your overall plan. If you slip, simply pick right back up again.
9. Find a resolution partner. Find a sympathetic partner with a resolution of his or her own. Support each other.
10. Reward yourself! Don't forget to recognize and reward your successes! Changing habits and behaviors is hard work; use your imagination to find creative ways to treat yourself for your accomplishments.

January 4, 2006
Today was my last day at work. I definately have mixed emotions about this place. I will miss some of the staff, few of the patients, and only parts of the work. I really enjoyed creating spreadsheets, automated report stats, and being the creative go-to person for the whole office. My days of being a medical secretary are over. Woohoo! Here are my ladies:


2 of my favorite ladies in medical records, Michelle and Chris, got me these lovely roses.

I will definately miss parts of the job, but I know I made the right decision to persue my nursing.

holy slacker

Okay. I wanted to let everyone know that I AM ALIVE. I've been so busy and I have so much to tell you! I am going to make catching up on my blogging a priority for the next 2 days. Well, after I attempt to clean up the house.....