Computer Geek Help....!

Anyone? Bueller?

I am using Vista on my new laptop. Everything is fine in Windows Mail (Vista's version of Outlook Express) and everything is fine in Internet Explorer. However, I'm a Firefox User. Somehow (not sure how?) my keyboard in Firefox ONLY, is set to French. So instead of ? I'm getting É. And instead of apostraphe (') I'm getting (`). Ugh! How do I set it back - in just Firefox to an English keyboard? It is driving me nuts that I have to use the Character Map to copy and paste characters...

HELP! Please! (I can't even find the info in Google...)(That or I'm looking it up wrong...)

october twenty-four :: 95 weeks old

Sean is 95 weeks old today.

Today's Earrings.

I received a gift from Carolyn in the mail today. She had made a hat for her son, but it was too small. So she emailed me to find out if I wanted it for sean. It was super sweet of her to send it over. She also sent a gift for Mr. Mack. A super cute onesie. (Totally true as well!)

Totally fits Sean well! Thanks Carolyn! He needed a hat to keep in his school bag, so we'll definitely get use out of it! Really appreciate it! And Sean likes it!

Today, I made some time to do a photo shoot. Been meaning to do it for a while (before Mack got too big.... but just never had the chance, until today)










The good thing about this photo shoot is I got to test the size of the halloween costumes. Mack CANNOT grow another centimeter before next Friday (halloween) or he will NOT fit into the banana costume. He is going to be Sean's Banana. Sean will be a Monkey!

Anyhow, I had too much fun today with this photoshoot. I had a good time and Mack was a good sport. (Very glad about that! Or today's photoshoot would not have been possible.

Mark, a guy I went to elementary & high school with - is entering (for the 4th time!) the Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament. I cant believe that something like this actually exists! Check out the story here. Insane!

Robyn's Nest got in ABS Stitch Markers that lock! They're a must have! These best selling Stitch Markers snap shut securely to mark or hold stitches. They are useful for marking the location of knit or crocheted stitches within a row also great for marking rows when increasing/decreasing. I have received them in pacakges of 40, instead of the regular 20 pack you find in shops, and for also half the price! Be sure to pick some up the next time you are placing an order!

Do not forget that the next 100 orders (less than that now actually) will be receiving a free pair of circular knitting needles. So be sure to not miss out on that!

Just a reminder that the November kits are on sale until next Friday only. It's going to be an awesome kit regardless if you get the Mini or the Ultimate. Though, I have to tell you if you miss out on the Ultimate, you may regret it! The Ultimate kit comes with 3 x 100g of sock yarn, 5 patterns, 4 sets of DPNs (for sock knitting), 2 sets of stitch markers, a tote bag, a tape measure and a ton of other goodies. You surely do NOT want to miss out on this one! Also - I've already listed the December 2008 Sock Club - and all I have to say is "Bling Bling...!" on the yarn front! Holy cow, gorgeousness. It's a few bucks more, but the yarn is totally worth it...!

Must go now and figure out what the heck I'm going to wear to my 10 Year High School Reunion tomorrow night. Holy cow, this past June was 10 years!

october twenty-three

Today's earrings. They're turquiose and brown. Totally hard to photograph.

Mr. Mack was in a great mood this morning and had fun on his play mat.

Oh, I love this smile!

Today was a great mail day:

From the Woolgirl sock club, Yarntini Sock Yarn in Plum Blossom.

I also received Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Shady Verdant

And some Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock in Kirsty. Delicious!

I also decided that it was about time to block my mini-clapotis so I can wear it! I finished it in April of 2007 (over a year ago!) and never blocked it. Anyhow, I did a wet blocking on foam boards and I'll let it sit for a few days to make sure it really takes shape. (I do have plans in the future (2009) to make a full sized Clapotis for myself, as the first one I started (and got about 75% done) ended up getting finished by Barb, as we did a trade. I had fallen out of love with the color of the Clap, so she sent me some yarn and I sent her the almost finished Clapotis and the leftover yarn).

It's almost time for Halloween and I got my Booty Swap in the mail today from my swap pal Shan. Thank you Shan - I love everything. (And last week she had sent me the duo pattern Waffles (in both sizes!) to go along with this package!)

She sent a pair of socks for Mack, a pair of socks for Sean, some candies for Jamie & I (the boys are too young for those chocolates) and a sippy cup for Sean. I also got.... (below)

A freakin' gorgeous needle roll for my circular needles. Oh my goodness, I needed one!!! I had all intentions of figuring out how to make one, but now I don't need to! (I do need to replace my DPN holder, which I plan on making one for myself as well as for my sister, whom requested I make her one as well for her DPNs). (That'll be my project for November).

Look at the details of the stitching. FLOWERS! I wonder if that's hard to do with the sewing machine? I'm in love with my new needle roll and cannot wait to start loading it up with my circulars (a project for this weekend that's for sure!)

This evening I went with my mother, sister & grandmother to go see The Best of Broadway. It was a fabulous show. The singing and the dancing was just fabulous!

Mary Poppins.

Hairspray.

Robyn's Nest new signature colorway is Robyn's Gold, now available!
It's handpainted by Zen Yarn Garden. It's fabulous and squooshy!

New stuff being listed this weekend - stay tuned!

october twenty-two

Today's Earrings. I heart them. They're apples! Another purchase from Woodbury Common Premium Outlets on Friday in Central Valley, New York.

Sweet baby Mack before he got his 4 month shots today. He actually surprised me and did NOT cry! (Sean has cried at every shots he's ever gotten. This is Mack's second set of shots. So... you're all dying to know the stats?

Mack now weighs as of today 13 lbs and 12.5 oz (another 3.5 ounces to go and he's at 14 lbs!) Wow! However, for 4 months old, this still keeps Mack in the 25th percentile for weight (meaning 75 % of babies at 4 months old weigh more than Mack).

Though Mack may be skinny, he's tall! For his height, for 4 months old, he's in the 50-75th percentile range. I have a tall skinny baby. I'm okay with that. He's getting well fed though, so we're not concerned at all.

On the way back to the West from Mack's doctor's appointment, I stopped by Kadi's house to pick up my Snugli that I lost at the Ravelry party on Saturday night. One of the Yknit guys (Stephen to be precise) found it under a table. It must have fallen out of my stroller. I am sooo super happy that it has made it back into my hands and isn't lost. I must thank Stephen tomorrow - I am super happy it is not lost!

This afternoon I went to go see the movie The Secret Life of Bees with my mom and Mackenzie for the Mom & Baby movie. It was fabulous. My mom had read the book (I had gotten it for her one year for her birthday). I really enjoyed the performances by Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifa and Jennifer Hudson. I definitely recommend you go to see this movie.

This evening Jamie went to go play poker so I had Madeleine over and we chatted and knitted. It was nice to just chill back on the couch (after Sean went to bed) and knit. I think Madeleine just wanted to come over to hold Mack. (LOL). My sister also stopped by for a few minutes to pick up something and hug her nephews.

Tomorrow night I have tickets to a show, I will tell you more about that after I go and see it! very excited to get out sans les boys. Girls night out with my mom, sister & grandmother.

october twenty-one :: 18 weeks old :: Three Year Blogaversary

Mack is 18 weeks old today.

Today's earrings. A Woodbury Common Premium Outlet in Central Valley, NY purchase.

So today is my 3 (THREE!) year blogaversary. So you all want to know how many pictures I took and how many skeins of yarn I bought for myself. So here we go. (Someone actually guessed the correct amount of pictures AND the correct amount of skeins, but since someone else actually guessed the correct amount of skeins, I've got 2 winners!)

I took 123 pictures (I totally thought I'd take more actually) and bought 13 skeins of yarn for myself. Wenat guessed that exactly. Carolyn also guessed the correct number of skeins, so she wins too! Both of you ladies please email me at: graphicdesignchick [at] hotmail [dot] com your full mailing address and I will cater a prize towards your likings and send it off as soon as it's complete! Congrats to the winners!

[On another contest note, I'm not done uploading my stash, so I'm still working on that, guesses are still allowed on my September 4th, 2008 post].

So, you want to see my loot....

2 skeins (1 lb total) of Virginia, hand dyed by Mary Oates of Yellow Farm,
800 yards, 100% Wool, 2 ply.

Rainbow Dyed Yarn by Mary Badcock, 840 yards of 100% Merino Wool.

Creatively Dyed Yarn, Beaches in Kahaluu color, 100% Superwash Merino, 500 yards, 184g.

The March Hare in Glacier, 75% Superwash Wool, 25% nylon, 455 yards, 100g.

The March Hare in Meadow Grass , 75% Superwash Wool, 25% nylon, 455 yards, 100g.

Done Roving (Farm & Carding Mill), "Frolicking Feet" in Navajo Sky,
100% Superwash Merino, 480 yards.

Aisha Celia Designs, color #224, 100% Merino Wool. It is approximately 440 yards, 3.5 ounces.

Aussi Sock, in Fall Melody, 90% Aussi Merino, 10% Nylon, 400 yards, 100g.

Aussi Sock, in Faded Valentine, 90% Aussi Merino, 10% Nylon, 400 yards, 100g.

Aussi Sock, in an unamed colorway (fresh out of the dye pot),
90% Aussi Merino, 10% Nylon, 400 yards, 100g.

Aussi Sock, in an unamed colorway (fresh out of the dye pot),
90% Aussi Merino, 10% Nylon, 400 yards, 100g.

This last skein is my fave skein purchase from Rhinebeck. It reminds me of Kool-aid. I love it. I can't wait to see how it knits up. The photo doesn't do the colors justice!

Mack decided he didn't want to sleep through the night last night. I was up every 3 hours. Ugh. I was so tired in the morning that Mack didn't make it to his swim class this morning and Sean went to daycare late. I did get to the post office today and to do a few errands in the morning. I also had lunch at Mack's friend's house (Mack missed his friends from not going to playgroup in a few weeks, so 4 of us (who really bonded) had lunch with our babies. We went over a few points of playgroup business, and it was a nice afternoon. By the time we realized what time it was, I had to jet to get Sean from daycare. Time flies with you are having fun. I also love learning things from other moms, regardless if the child they have is their first kid.

This evening I napped from 6-8pm with Mack, I was just zonked. I don't know how I keep my eyes open these days anymore. I'm always just pooped by the time the evening comes. I have no idea where the days go... they just fly on by.

Mack has his 4 month check up tomorrow, I'm dying to know how much he weighs to see how much he's grown! Though, he'll hate my after leaving the doc appointment, he's getting 2 shots tomorrow.

Besides it being my blogaversary, today is 3 years I've owned my car. One more year and my lease is up. Speaking of which, I'm debating what to do. I was offered my mother's MDX after my lease is up, (her lease is up in May, so she'd buy her car from the dealership (it was about 50,000 km on it, which is about 31,259 american miles) and then I'd buy it from her when my lease is up in October, unless I can get rid of my car earlier without penatly against my lease. It's in great condition and my mom takes excellent care of it. It has a built in dvd player in the back which Sean loves. It seats 7 people or has a HUGE trunk. It has a built in GPS screen (which has a camera for when reversing). My issue that I'm debating? It's automatic. I swore when I got my new car that I'm currently driving - which is standard - that I'd NEVER go back to automatic! Automatic is not really driving. I LOVE having full control over the car. So that's the debate. At least I have a few months to sleep on the decision.....

october twenty

Today's earrings.

Sean started coughing on Friday and it lasted until today. I think it was a combination of the air conditioning in the car and in the hotel room. (And being outside on Friday and on Saturday). Anyhow, I kept him home from daycare today though because I wanted to be safe. He doesn't look so sick though in my slippers, does he?

Here's my copy of Free Range Knitter that Stephanie autographed on Saturday night.

My precious sneakers (which I love) are dying. I probably have a few days with them before it's just not cool to wear them anymore, but I will run them down until I can't wear them anymore. I'm hoping maybe I can find another pair exactly the same, but I'm not going to go out of my way to look. Also - I'm in love with these boots and a pair of shoes from Aldo that I can't find the link right now because Aldo's site is being rediculous. I'll share that info later.

These are the lovely gifts that the boys got from Karen as a gift. Thank you again Karen - they love them! Sean promises to share them with Mack when he's old enough to play with them.

Tonight there was a Habs game on, and my boys all geared up enjoyed the game!

Tomorrow is my 3 year blogaversary! I plan on announcing the winners of my contest and showing you the loot I got at Rhinebeck!