Review & Giveaway #3

Today I want to show you Shannon Cook’s brand new pattern, the Stasia Cowl.

It’s an absolutely unique cowl with a great design. It’s knit up using a Worsted Weight yarn, and I have some leftover Dream in Color Classy in my stash that this cowl would look fabulous in. I definitely plan to knit up one of these as well, but only after I finish some stuff on needles and getting on those teacher Christmas gifts that I need to get cracking on. (I promised myself that starting November, I’d dedicate the month to the teachers gifts, for as long as I need to, to get them done – more about that in another blog post though).

Shannon (isn’t she gorgeous in the above photo, I absolutely lover her blue eyes!) has generously offered to give one my readers a copy of her new pattern (released only yesterday!) Be sure to enter to win! Here’s how:

1 – Leave a comment on this blog and let me know what yarn you think you’d knit this up in(with an email address if it’s not attached to your profile)
And for additional entries:
2 – Like Shannon’s Facebook page and come back & leave me a comment to tell me you have done so.
3 – Subscribe to Shannon’s blog & leave me a comment to tell me you have done so.
4 – Blog about the contest, Tweet about the contest, and come back and give me the link to your blog post/tweet. 
5 – Come LIKE my Facebook page for an extra entry and then come back and let me know you're a new fan.
6 – Come join my Facebook Group for an extra entry and once I've approved your request, it will count as another entry.

I will keep this contest open until Wednesday, Nov 7th, at 11:59 PM, EST. I will draw a winner for the pattern on November 8th, 2012 and announce it on my blog. GOOD LUCK!

ALL PHOTOS ARE CREDIT LUVINTHEMOMMYHOOD.

Monday Morning Link Love

- So darn true!
- Mario A Capella!
- These apple pie muffins look delicious!
- This onesie is hysterical!
- Loving these Platetoppers.
- Also loving this magnetic ironing board.
- Love this laser cut dress.
- Would love to get Sean a lunch box like this Planet Box, too bad they're so pricy!
- These are definitely his and her mugs for our house. I'm the tea drinker and he likes strong coffee!
- Wow, what is the world coming to? Text bands for kids?
- You all know I'm a scrabble product freak... and these mugs are AWESOME!
- Oh, and I want this scrabble mug too...
- Oh but wait, there's scrabble coasters too!
- And this fridge magnet set is pretty darn cool too.
- How to Make an Eco-Chic Shopping Bag.
- I want a bed like this!
- I ♥ this vintage alphabet lunch bag.
- I love these crochet earphones.
- Loving this color-your-own sandwich bag.
- Frame wallpaper is pretty darn cool!
- Have you seen Tail Wags? This BLAZE one is awesome!
- Oh my, I love these babushkups nesting glasses!
- Speaking of nesting dolls, I love these Wee Gallery ones.
- I also love this little elephant rattle. Too bad the baby stage is done in this house.
- Got the Kobo Glo last week from hubby as my 7th wedding anniversary present. LOVE IT!
- This deck of cards is quite neat.
- I ♥ this salt & pepper shaker set!
- Fluffy nutty butternut frosting!
- SO true. Print it & color it while you're at it...!
- MMmm, zucchini lasagna!
- These cookie cutters are beyond awesome!
- Perfect for travel or rainy days... I spy!
- This inflatable tent is awesome! I want one for a rainy day!!
- This is making my mouth water...
- This is a fun DIY scarf.
- This is a fun baby shower gift idea!

Review & Giveaway #2

This new 92 page ebook, Ghosts: historiographies, cultural manifestations, and the knits they’ve inspired is by Teresa Gregorio (aka CanaryKnits). This eBook collection includes 11 patterns as well as researched information about “ghosts” throughout the ages. Teresa is selling this timely (for Halloween!) ebook for $18 Canadian (but one of you can win a copy, so keep reading!) or pick which pattern you want to knit for approximately $5.50 – 6.50 Canadian. I’ve never been really into ghosts or gothic things, but I’ve found myself intrigued by this collection and the information Teresa has put in it. The patterns in the ebook are all inspired by the tales included.

By far, my fave pattern in this collection is Progression. I like that it’s done in a worsted weight and might just be the next shawl I cast on for.

Calavera Catrina, was another pattern that caught my eye, I love the design on it.

Utukku, is very cute, and I love the ribbon use on it. Very unique & different.

You can check the whole collection out on Ravelry or visit the CanaryKnits website.

Teresa has generously offered up a digital copy of her book to of my lucky readers, via Ravelry (or via email if you’re not on Ravelry, and if you are a knitter and not on Ravelry, what are you waiting for?) a copy of "Ghosts"! All you have to do is:

1 – Leave a comment on this post letting me know which of Teresa’s 11 ghostly patterns you’d like to knit.
2 – Like Knit & Purl Mama on Facebook and leave an additional comment back here on this post.
3 – Join Knit & Purl Mama on Facebook and leave an additional comment back here on this post.
4 – Like CanaryKnits on Facebook and leave an additional comment back here on this post.
5 – Tweet or blog about this contest and be sure to come back and leave the link for me to check in a comment.

Be sure to visit Teresa’s blog and join the Canary Knits Ravelry Group. This contest will run until Friday November 2nd, 2012 at midnight EST. I will choose a winner on Saturday, November 3rd and announce it. Come back to check out another review/giveaway for my blogaversary very soon! You also still have time to enter to win a copy of Jennifer Gasoi’s CD, don’t forget to enter!

Review & Giveaway #1

I meant to post this yesterday, but I wasn’t feeling well at all, so I ended up taking a nap last night instead once the kids were in bed. So without further delay, here’s today’s giveaway/review:

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Gasoi since seeing her perform live at a local venue back in 2009 with Sean & Mackenzie (Quentin wasn’t a twinkle in our eye yet). She was performing songs from her first album, Songs for You (iTunes Link, Amazon Canada link, Amazon USA link). Gasoi is a jazz trained musician (I love Jazz) and is Canadian (born in Vancouver) and currently residing in Montreal. I’m hoping to go see her perform at the beginning of December if the time works out.

She has now released her 2nd album, called Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well, (iTunes link, Amazon link, Chapters Link, Amazon USA link) which was released just this month. I received a copy of Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well to review & another copy for one of my lucky readers to win. Since receiving the CD, I’ve been listening to the album non-stop, even when the kids are not around. Her music is fun & lively and extremely cheerful. I love it. If you would like to win a copy of Jennifer’s latest CD, you can do so by following these steps:

1 – Leave a comment on this blog (with an email address if it’s not attached to your profile)
2 – Like Jennifer’s Facebook Page and come back & leave me a comment to tell me you have done so.
3 – Blog about the contest, Tweet about the contest, and come back and give me the link to your blog post/tweet.

4 – Come LIKE my Facebook page for an extra entry and then come back and let me know you're a new fan.
5 – Come join my Facebook Group for an extra entry and once I've approved your request, it will count as another entry.

I will keep this contest open until Halloween, at midnight, EST. I will draw a winner for the CD on November 1st, 2012 and announce it on my blog. GOOD LUCK!

Here is a fun interview on Jennifer & her latest album.

All images from this post were taken from the web.

Cast on Baby

This video is awesome! I have the tune stuck in my head now. It was too good not to share! Happy Monday.

Monday Morning Link Love

- Love this yearly journal idea.
- LOVE this pink dress!
- Did you know that ice can remove dents in the carpet?
- How to pick the perfect watermelon.
- Loving this fall jacket.
- Love these card holder ideas for little kids.
- What a cute dress! And only 20$?!
- The Canadian Thanksgiving has already passed, but these cupcakes are cute! Maybe next year.
- Love this cookie stamp.
- This hat is awesome!
- This looks sooo comfortable!
- This skirt is super cute.
- Love this "Places you've been together" craft idea.
- Love these mason jar labels.
- I absolutely love this button belt!
- Love this cascading ruffle skirt tutorial.
- Want to draw a cute bird? Here's how!
- Oh yum! Baked Apples with Oatmeal Streusel Topping!
- Loving this owl bracelet!
- What a stunning birthday cake!
- This lamp is hysterical. Who on earth would display that in their house!!??
- This is a fun toddler fork!
- Fun dress (love the color!)
- Love this take on a French Manicure.
- Cookie brownies? Heck ya!
- I heart fall!
- This Keg Calculator is quite funny!
- I need this spoon!
- Love these knotted suede bracelets.
- Homemade water color paints!
- Love how this chick organized her fridge.
- Love this cute suede fringe skirt for girls.
- Loving this napkin holder tutorial.
- Brilliant!!! Shower Rod against back wall with wire hanging baskets for tub toy storage.
- Mmm, think next birthday cake I need to bake might just be this funfetti cake!

Come back tomorrow for the first Blogaversary Review/Giveaway!

7th Blogaversary

Today is my blog’s 7th birthday. I can’t believe I’ve had this blog for 7 years. Time sure flies when you’re having fun! I have a few fun surprises to giveaway this week, so be sure to check back & see what all the fun will be about! Don’t forget to come back tomorrow morning at 9 am for my Monday Morning link love! Happy 7th Birthday blog! Thank you to all my readers for reading & thank you for all the love & support via comments throughout the years. I keep blogging for you guys! xo

How Do Babies…

From yesterday morning, Oct 17, 2012

Out of no where as we are getting ready to walk out the door to catch the school bus…

Sean: "Mommy how do babies get cut out of your belly?"

Me: "My doctor at the hospital used a special knife and opened my belly and took out the baby and then sews back up my belly with either stitches or staples, I don’t remember."

Sean: "Oh, really?"

Me: "Yes, really."

Sean: "So you had this done to you 3 times?"

Me: "No, actually, only for Mackenzie and Quentin, I had you another way."

Sean: "There's another way?"

Me: "Yes, you came out of my vagina."

Sean gives a strange quizzical look.

Me (in a panic to come up with something but don’t want to get to much into it): "You know how boys have a penis and girls have a vagina?* Well... you have to catch the school bus right now, so put on your jacket and get your hat and gloves and let's get out the door before I have to drive you to school.”

Hopefully I dodged that bullet for a little while...

_______________
* The boys are aware of boys and girls private parts. They have asked me how come I don't have a penis, so we have educated them on the differences between girls and boys bodies… so body parts have been explained already. This wasn’t new words for him.

Homemade Cookies

I got an early Xmas present from my in-laws. It’s an awesome present if I do say so myself. I got a Kitchenaid Mixer. This is my 2nd time using it, since getting it (about a week and a half ago, just before Thanksgiving).

Last week I went to my neighbors house to bring her daughter something for homework (she’s in Sean’s class) and I ended up coming home with homemade cookies, homemade hummus (and pita to go along with the hummus). Anyhow, the cookies were sooo delicious, that I asked for the recipe. Turns out, it’s the Cranberry Oatmeal Snack Cookies from the back of the Craisins package from Costco. So a few days later I ran to Costco to get Craisins, and I finally got around (finally had some free time) to making them today.

I bet there will be none left by tomorrow. Yum!

Monday Morning Link Love :: Halloween Edition!

- Creepy Halloween idea, a white stocking with stuffing inside!
- Love these Halloween lollypop spiders!
- Love this pumpkin, ghost and bat mobile!
- Love these glow in the dark eyes in the bushes!
- This is a fun halloween costume idea :: Bubble gum machine!
- Or what about being a (homemade) bag of jelly beans!
- Love this google eye bracelet!
- An adorable super hero costume for little boys!
- Love this easy halloween treat bag for kids!
- What a great costume for mom & baby!
- How about a game of pumpkin bowling?
- Loving these little felt decorations.
- This Halloween duo is hysterical!
- If you run out of ideas, you could always dress up your baby as a Golden Girl! Too cute.
- A fun way to display your Halloween party snacks!
- Little pumpkins are adorable!
- Love these DIY witch shoes!
- These pumpkin ginger cupcakes look soooo delicious!
- Free printable Halloween bingo!
- Mmmm, pumpkin pie granola!
- Mini pumpkin pies, Yum!
- Mmmmm pumpkin rolls!
- Love this monster box!
- This is a funny DIY halloween costume for little kids!
- Fun halloween make-up!
- Trunk or treat!
- Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Lattes!
- This isn't a costume per say, but this lion coat is beyond adorable. Too bad the price isn't.
- Halloween popcorn, 3 ways!
- Halloween cupcake recipes!
- Baked pumpkin spice donut holes!
- Almond witch finger cookies!
- This batty felt pillow tutorial is fun!
- Halloween stuffed peppers = YUM!
- Pop goes the pumpkin, a fun halloween party game!
- Go on and boo someone! This looks like fun!
- Love these little mini crochet pumpkins.
- Love this yarn ball pumpkin wreath!

10 on 10 :: October

7 am.
Morning walk to the bus stop.

8 am.
Work waiting to be done.

9 am.
On the way to swimming lessons.

10 am.
Sitting down at my computer.

11 am.
Figuring out if my dresss needs to be hemmed for an upcoming party.

12 pm.
Prepping books for the classroom visits.

1 pm.
On shift at the library.

2 pm.
After school errands

4 pm.
Swimming lessons

5 pm.
Daycare pick-up

Here’s my 10 on 10 project for today. All pictures were taken during the hour that are written below, not at the exact hour on the nose.  Don’t forget to come back on Friday for my 12 on 12 project!

Monday Morning Link Love

- HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA!
- What a strong, intelligent and beautiful woman.
- Love this clutch. And in purple too.
- Love this Cat Borhdi hat design.
- Love this picture (mostly the sweater!)
- Loving these wall scrabble tiles!
- Cake batter bark looks YUMMY!
- I want to hang this in the boys room!
- We LOVE stuffed peppers, but I think next time I want to try it in the crock pot!
- Love this scrappy tutu!
- Love the earring & the piercing placement.
- LOVE this lost treasures from pant pockets idea.
- What a good idea to add socks to tees to make them long sleeve!
- Love this superhero cape tutorial.
- LOVE this bedroom!
- Purple makes everything better.
- Love this water bottle with storage compartment.
- Love this Tea Organizer!
- I need one of these!
- With the cooler weather approaching fast, love this knitted cowl.
- Need to sew up one of these ear bud pouches.
- I need to get some herb scissors for the kitchen.
- This weight loss simulator is pretty neat! I'd ideally like to lose another 5-8 lbs, but according to the simulator I'd still look the same, lol.
- These superhero socks are AWESOME!
- I love these crochet stars!
- What a fun bowl!
- This product is genius!
- Loving this puzzle necklace!
- Love this plate!
- Love these pancake bites!
- Purple and sexy!
- We are Eagles fans over here... Go Eagles!
- This is an AWESOME (DIY) bunk bed!
- Love these shirts.
- This made me laugh!
- Love this batmobile!

A Quick Knit

My FIL requested a new hat for this upcoming winter. His Irish Hiking Hat ended up accidentally in storage until his condo is re-built next year (due to a fire this past father's day).

I picked up some Bernat Softee Chunky, in True Grey, since it's washable in the machine. I went with chunky so it would be a quick knit. I love chunky. I've been on a chunky kick lately. With the chunky yarn, I decided to go with the Chucko Hat by Courtney Buckalew-Kramer.

I used 112 g (so just over 1 skein) and knit it up on US 10/6.0 mm needles. I really like the way it came out. It's super cozy. I hope he likes it!

This Might Start A Debate...

Standing at the bus stop this morning, I was talking with a dad that stands at the bus stop with his daughter (who happens to be in Sean’s kindergarten class). I mentioned I was going apple picking today with Mackenzie’s class and I hope it didn’t rain since we were standing in a cloud of fog. So he asked Siri (on his iPhone) and this is how the conversation went:
Dad: “Siri, is it going to rain today?”
Siri: “Yes, it looks like it is going to rain today.”
Me: “Oh, that’s no fun.”
Dad: “Siri, are we going to have fog today?” 

Siri: “Doesn’t look like fog in Toronto today.”
All of us laugh out loud, since we’re in Montreal, not Toronto. Canada is new to Siri on the latest iOs update and she’s apparently still confused. But he then asked: "Is there fog in Montreal today?"
Siri: "It doesn't look like it's going to fog in Montreal today."
Hmm... Siri... you're wrong....!
Then Sean’s classmate’s dad asks if any of the kids want to ask Siri a question. Sean’s friend asks about what movie she should watch, and Sean asks about Star Wars. So the dad then asks, “Is Star Wars a good movie?”

And Siri replies: “This might start a debate….”
And I had a good hard laugh, much needed! 
Next upgrade, I want Siri!

I’m Not Ready for This Convo…

Sean and I were talking yesterday in the car on the way home from picking up his brothers at daycare. He noticed that our daycare coordinator was driving her niece home and thought it was her daughter. I explained to Sean that it was her niece, and that she only had a son. He didn't understand what a niece was, so I explained to him, he is the nephew to his Auntie A (Jamie’s sister), and her son M is his cousin, M is also my nephew, which is the boy version of niece. I then told him that one day his Auntie A (my sister) and his Uncle C (my brother) would each have kids of their own once they get married & settled into married life and their kids will be my nieces and/or nephews, and they will be his cousins. He then thought about it for a minute and this was our conversation:

Sean: "Mommy, did you get married 3 times?"
(Realizing what he was asking/what he meant, so I said...)
Me: "No, Sean I did not, what do you mean by that?"
Sean: "Well, you have 3 kids, so did you get married 3 times?"
Me: "No, Sean, Mommy and Daddy only got married once."
Sean: "Then how did a baby get into your tummy?"
Me: (Not ready to explain the birds & the bees to him yet....) "When a mommy and daddy love each other, they have a baby".

And then he got distracted by something else, and the conversation was changed. Thankfully!

He's quite the funny/smart kid....! This one is going into his baby book!

Monday Morning Link Love

- Love this Eggstra Space Egg holder.
- Totally want a Julienne Peeler!
- Did you know, I have a little thing for owls?
- Life is short!
- Pot clips are genius!
- Would like to get Lawn Jenga for next summer!
- What a fun image!
- So true.
- This is a cute baby shower gift or nursery room decoration.
- This chain ring/bracelet is definitely unique!
- I'm not daring enough, but this chick's hair is awesome.
- This dress is stunning!
- So is this dress.
- Have puzzle pieces leftover from sets that are missing pieces? This is a great fall project to do with them!
- To avoid tangles when you travel, slip your necklace through a drinking straw.
- I need to remember this  as so many clothes I thought were ruined ::  Chalk will remove grease stains from clothes. Simply rub the stain with chalk, then toss in the wash as normal.Who knew!
- Need a shoe lazy susan in the closet!
- Wish I had a daughter to make a portable doll play house for!
- Super adorable heels!
- Pretty awesome key holder!
- Loving this fab baby travel chair tutorial.
- In love with this dress.
- Very cute bow bun!
- Loving these greens & purples.
- This is classic yet stunning.
- 101 useful websites.
- Now, this is genius!
- This is a pretty cool wrap.
- These crochet bike streamers are pretty cute!
- I'd love a pair of stegosaurus socks!
- Loving this granny shrug!
- Wish I would have had a baby bath apron towel when my boys were little!
- Such a cute owl craft! (See, I told you I like owls!)
-  Oh, and this owl craft is fun too...! It's a HOOT!
- Luckily I have an indoor garage, but for those cold Canadian snowy winters, this product is awesome.