TECH || CASEABLE LAPTOP SLEEVE REVIEW

my laptop is a beast. there i said it. it's huge. it's heavy and i've had it for 3 years and never had a case. 

it's always bothered me that when i take my 17" laptop out of the house it's not in something fun and stylish. instead it's been in a ugly one i borrow from the hubs occasionally.  my laptop has what we lovingly refer to as the hump. it's powerful but is not a mac. it's a hp that has done me well considering what i put it through each day. it never ever fits traditional laptop cases very well. the hump always gets in the way. but she deserves something sassy to wear when i take it out as a reward for it's loyalty. she's getting old ya know....shhhh..don't tell her i said that though.

when the fabulous company caseable contacted me about there laptop cases i literally squealed with delight! customizable cases and sleeves for all your electronics? i'm in! 

you can make a case or sleeve for anything from laptops (yesss!), ipad's, kindles and more! and the selections! ahhhhmazing. honestly. i went in fully prepared to make my own laptop case from scratch. i was all ready with a design worked out but then i became smitten with all the designer templates available in their gallery! yes - you can buy cases/sleeves done by artists and even customize those too! honestly - there was a lot of fun and exciting designs. i had a great time. so much fun it actually took me a while to pick one! you'd think i was purchasing a car or something it took me so long to decide. i know this post isn't about sewing or knitting but dudes - this was fun!

then i got to customize. you know the part where you get to add a bit of your personality & flair to your case. you know...the fun part :)

i went with this rockin geometric design for my laptop case by artist bianca green (luv her stuff btw). i kept going back to it over and over again and in the end it won out. once you've chosen your design on caseable you can still customize it. i changed up the zipper & thread and the side piece that is over the start/end of the zipper too. i went from a dark grey to a bright, bold in your face yellow.

 

you know me and color - i wanted the zipper to have some zip!

you can also change up other things like  add fun text/logos or straps etc to really personalize your choice using an easy platform. of course if you went the total custom route you would design the entire thing. honestly - it was a cool project to undertake. just think of the fun you could have! i only wish i had a cool cell phone so i could do one up for that too.

img courtesy of caseable

all of caseables cases/sleeves are made from recycled materials as well - luv that. my laptop case shown above features the following:

• full bleed print on front and back of laptop 17" sleeve in photo quality
• durable thread by german company Güterman® and strong zippers and pull tabs by japanese company YKK®
• extra thick 5.0mm neoprene layer of laptop 17" case for full protection
• soft interior lining to protect your laptop 17"

i highly recommend caseable. i am beyond smitten with mine and i think my laptop likes it too. caseables customer service is also top notch!

in fact they are so awesome they are offering you all 15% off all orders from now until 07/19/2013 using the promo code "luvinthecase"!  

promo is valid in the us & canada. thank you caseable!

so go on...go have some fun and dress up your favorite tech gadget with a new customizable case or sleeve.  you can find all things caseable below:

website  ||  facebook  ||  instagram  ||  twitter  ||  blog  ||  flickr

*disclosure: my laptop case was provided by caseable and all opinion stated above our my own.

SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG || COMING SOON!

summer is here and that means it's time for our annual SUMMER SWEATER KNIT ALONG!!!

it's time! the sun is shining and summer is here! but there are other things brewing besides beach dates, cool drinks and sunshine - our summer sweaters! one of our missions here on luvinthemommyhood.com is to encourage knitters to not shy away from knitting in the warmer months.

why wait until it's cold to knit up your favorite new sweater when you can make it now and cozy up in it ALL. WINTER. LONG.

the summer sweater knit along is our most popular knit along of the year! our readers excitedly await this friendly, fun & inspiring knit along! we strive to create a strong sense of community with our knit alongs. we want you to build new & thriving friendships as well as have an inviting place to come and share all of their knitting triumphs (and failures) whether it be on our blog, our lively ravelry group or on social media.

we want YOU to join in!

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|| THE DATES ||
July 24th to September 18th (approximately)

sign ups, new info, our pinterest board, blog buttons & more info will be posted on july 24th at the start of the kal! in the meantime get picking your yarns...your patterns....and swatch (just don't cast on..lol) - fun, fun, fun!

you can share your pics, patterns, and more in our ravelry group here and also here on the blog in the comments below. you can also find out more about our knit alongs by clicking on knit alongs on the top menu bar of the blog.

we have a hashtag and we want you to use it!

use hashtag #sskal on facebook, twitter & instagram so we can all follow your projects! trust me when i say this is FUN! it was so great to check in with everyone's pics each week on instagram and now with facebook working with hashtags it's even more fun!

if you've never knit a garment before this is the time to start! what better way to learn than with a group of women eager to help you learn and show you how easy it can be! with resources, tips, technical guest posts and more we will hold your hand through the whole process...promise :) we hope you'll join us! we've got lots planned this summer and an exciting new twist as well! and the sponsors.....just wait! they are amazing!

which patterns are you drooling over? yarn you're excited to work with? are you joining in? let's chat below! happy pattern & yarn shopping..hehe....

p.s. if you have a business/are a designer or know of some that you think would be a great fit or you'd love to see for our summer sweater kal please email me at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca.

GIVEAWAY || C. JOHANNESEN STUDIO CUSTOM LEATHER JEWELRY

who's in the mood for a little pressie for themselves? 

we've been chatting the last month or so about making ourselves and our health & creativity priorities in our busy lives so why not treat ourselves to a new pretty for our wrists? i was lucky enough to get my hands on some of the awesome handmade jewelry from the shop c johannesen studio! they make gorgeous, custom leather & metal jewelry. you can request everything from custom text, and color on any leather item they sell in their shop as well. their leather items include wrap bracelets, cuffs, secret message bracelets, and more - all distressed and made to order with their hand carved designs.

i got to make a custom bracelet for myself and boy was it hard to choose that special quote to put on my new bracelet. in the end after weeks of indecisiveness i went a russet color for my leather and for quotes i went with one of my all time favorites...

"the desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."

i love wearing it and have been non stop. the quote i chose means so much to me and always rings so true to my heart. i love that i can look down at my wrist and see that lovely quote and smile. a gentle reminder to find those precious minutes in the day to create and be creative whether alone or with my kids.

you ready to find out how to enter?

|| THE PRIZE ||
- one lucky winner will win a $30 Gift Certificate to c. johannesen studio! yay!

|| HOW TO ENTER ||
- simply leave a comment letting me know what quote you would put on your bracelet if you won.
- bonus entry: like c. johannesen studio and/or luvinthemommyhood on facebook and leave me a new comment letting me know you did that too.

||  THE RULES  ||
- you must leave a valid email in your comment to be eligible to win.
- the giveaway is open until sunday, july 13th, 2013 at midnight (PST).

if you can't wait to win head on over to c. johannesen studio and use the code "luv20" for 20% off orders through till 07/13/2013!!! 

good luck & a big thanks to jessica of c. johannesen studio!  you can find more c. joahnnesen studio below..

blog || shop || facebook || newsletter

MOMENTS IN THE MOMMYHOOD || TAKING IT EASY

we recently got back from a fun (and hot) mini vacay in vancouver!  those two little kidlets of mine had a blast! we hit up granville island, the vancouver aquarium and the show stopper of the weekend - the taylor swift concert!  we are big taylor fans in our house. i've been listening to her since m was a wee baby in my tummy and both girls love her. the hubs surprised m and i with tix for the concert for xmas. needless to say we were pretty excited and had a great time (albeit a hot one). taylor put on a great show and i got to see ed sheeran as well who i really like as well. only cons were a) it was so freaking in hot in the stadium i thought i would pass out.

have we not heard of a/c? 42,000 people and no a/c?? wth?

b) the show started way too late. she had 3 opening acts! 3! ed doing a 45min set! it was a long road till she came out and by the time she did most of the kids were exhausted and bored. we got there at 6 for crying out loud! she came on sometime after 9! m passed out at about 10:15. she couldn't stand the heat and had already been dancing and yelling her wee brains out for hours by that point. all in all though it was fabulous to take her to her first "big girl" concert! the look on her face when we got to venue was priceless! i had to stop myself from crying i got so emotional in a weird way. i love music and concerts so much it was such a special thing for the 2 of us to share together and have a fun mommy/daughter night out! so fun to go from singing in the car to taylor to singing in a venue that size with that many people. she was so excited!



all in all we are happy to be back home and back to a quieter pace. even though i lived in vancouver for many years every time i go there with the kids i come back happy to be home. only problem was that we got home only to have myself experience a big health scare. if you follow me on fb or twitter you may have seen i had an anaphylactic allergic reaction earlier this week and had to spend a nice chunk of time in the hospital. i had eaten some pistachios (which i hadn't had in years) and my tongue swelled up etc. they now have me off all nuts (tree nuts included) until i can get allergy testing done and i have a new best friend called the epipen that i get to carry around with me.

i'm starving and my skin is so dry. seriously all my soap, shaving cream, body wash, body lotion etc have nuts in it. 

i hate dry skin! i need to go on a hunt for nut free body lotion. any recommendations? i try to use only all natural products due to my illness so that's why there are so many nuts! the food thing has been soooo hard. honestly - to all of you out there with kids who have nut allergies or have them yourselves i feel for you. i only have just started and this is very, very hard! combining the nut removal and my dairy free, gluten free, sugar free diet = one hungry and grumpy momma! if you see me at the grocery store back away...lol. j/k...sort of...lol.

it's getting better though. i found out my fave gluten free bread is nut free so that helped a lot. i also found a nut free rice milk that i can use in place of my almond milk. plus my fave gluten free pasta is also nut free so last night i actually had a nice meal! yay!

if anyone has some tips for eating nut free i would be so thankful. 

i'm so confused on things like vegetable oil etc. some sites say yes - some say no and since i haven't seen an allergist yet i'm going off the internet which is overwhelming to say the least. on the plus side i have learned a ton about what is in my food and what a heckuva lot of chemical ingredients are and why they use them.

so this was supposed to be a short post saying i'm taking it easy today and this weekend to get better but i guess i got chatting. you don't mind though right? yay :) i'm still not feeling right. i'm very tired and feel - fragile for lack of a better word. definitely not myself so i'll be taking this weekend to rest and get better...oh and work on the sally dress pattern...wink wink. thanks for all of your entries everyone! hopefully i'll be getting back to you sooner than later! i was hoping to be feeling better by now but so far that hasn't happened yet. as soon as i get it done you will be the first to know :)

thanks for all your kind words on fb/twitter about my health scare. you guys are so sweet. i hope you all have a wonderful relaxing, family filled, good food, laughs and crafty kinda weekend! see you all next week <3

GIVEAWAY || FAT QUARTER SHOP FABRIC WINNER!

first off happy 4th of july to all my american readers! i hope you have a great day today! we just celebrated canada day on monday so it feels like a week of celebrations! even though they are both big holidays i just wasn't in the mood for red or blue...i was in the mood for pink! some boom boom room pink that is! yep - that there is my newest essie color. i found myself longing for a borderline neon pink for the summer. it's a fun one! it also felt like just the right color to announce the winner of our fat quarter shop fabric giveaway!!!

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the winner of our fat quarter shop fabric giveaway is:

commenter #37-lisa

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congratulations! i will be in touch with you later today to get your information!

thanks to all of you who entered and also to the fabulous fat quarter shop for the lovely giveaway! you can find all things fat quarter shop here:

shop  ||  blog  ||  facebook  ||  twitter  ||  pinterest

CALL FOR TESTERS || THE SALLY DRESS

the sally dress sewing pattern is almost here! we've been busy behind the scenes getting the pattern ready and i'm almost done! a few more days and i'll be needing some awesome testers (meaning you of course) to sew some up. and in case you missed it here's the post from vintage may that shows more pics and info about the sally dress.

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THE SALLY DRESS DETAILS
the sally dress is sized for 2t - 8! yep, you asked and i answered! the dress features large wide pockets and a fun square neckline with no closures. it's a slip on and slip off kinda dress. the kidlets love that it's so easy to get on and off. the dress has options to make it sleeveless or to go for short sleeves or 3/4 length sleeves - all featuring a fully lined & seamless bodice! i would put the level of sewing for this dress at intermediate or a very intermediate beginner.

TIMELINE FOR TESTING
the timeline for the dress is 5 days after the pattern goes out for testing. i'm aiming for the pattern to go out at the end of the week or early next week depending on my crazy children and how well they let this momma work. the sally dress (aside from cutting and prep) is approximately 2+hours of sewing (less if you do no sleeves).

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR IN A TESTER?
i'm looking for people who have read a sewing pattern before & know how to read/follow them (this is very important). have some sewing experience (preferably at a beginner intermediate and up level) & somewhere online (ex. blog, flickr etc) that i can see some of your sewing skills, have children available in the size they are sewing to photograph the garment in. hopefully you have awesome photography skills so i can see how the dress fits (& show off your pics later in a post). and finally you are able to sew the dress in the short timeline given and are able to give positive constructive criticism of the pattern - what can i say, i have a soft heart..lol.

so what do you say? would you like to join in and be a tester for the sally dress? yay! fill out the application below with all your info. please note we will only be contacting the people who have been chosen to test. if you are chosen you will receive a free copy of the sally dress pattern and possible feature of your dress in an upcoming post on the test dresses.

THANK YOU - THE TESTERS ARE NOW FULL

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a big thank you to everyone for being so supportive about the sally dress! you guys mean so much to me and your enthusiasm is contagious - so thank you!!! i can't wait to be able to share it with all of you.

what fabrics would you make the sally dress in? i'm working on a few with some fabric i've been hoarding way toooooo long in my stash! you can see a sneak peek of one in my instagram feed.

SEWING || A LITTLE FLORAL ANYONE?

i recently ordered some fabric that was on for a steal and a half! like $2/yd kind of steal! can we say wearable muslin anyone? yesssss. that's right. i'm getting ready to start my selfish sewing binge soon (looking for patterns to try? check out our independent pattern designer roundup)!  in the meantime though i keep looking at the fabrics i have hoarded for selfish sewing and then looking at my patterns and i just can't decide which ones to go with what.

fabrics above from fabric.com

while looking at my pile of fabric i also realized that i must be on a floral binge.  these prints remind me fondly of my early 90's years. i love that floral long dresses and short dresses are around again. and $2/yd! you can't go wrong people! even with hefty shipping charges to canada - ouch! ouch! ouch! i also still have the stunningly soft double gauze and some liberty cotton (shown below) that i've been hoarding as well. it's going to be so hard to cut into that gauze - it really is soooo soft and truly a treat for me to have. i got them both on sale for a great price a month or so ago.

1. muddy works currant in citron from kokka 2. cranston in colorway d from liberty from pink castle fabrics

here's the patterns i currently have and am wanting to make this year (this is of course if i find a way to add 10 more hours to my day).
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the entire breakwater collection by megan nielsen 

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another wiksten tank & another tova by wiksten

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another laurel & hawthorn by colette patterns

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any suggestions? are you sewing any of the patterns above? what fabrics are you using? any online shops you recommend for "apparel fabrics"? i'm on the hunt for some lovely shirting for the hawthorn dress. it's the only one i don't have any fabric for yet.

fill me in ladies! i want to know what you're making! wishing you all a lovely, handmade, coffee & tea, friends and family filled kinda weekend. i'm taking my oldest to her first concert! we're going to see taylor swift! i'm so excited! but more on that next week <3

CRUSHES || BLACK & WHITE

momma got some new shoes. target is finally here in the city i live (wahoo!!) and i couldn't resist picking up these cute black and white slip on shoes last time i was there.  when i spotted the triangles i had to have them. i've been crushing big time on triangles for almost a year now and i just couldn't pass on a pair of shoes with triangles on them.  i've always been inspired by geometrics and prints and bringing them into my designing and especially into textural elements in my knitting (aka dreiecke hat) so it seemed natural to have them on my feet too.

i've also been drawn lately to the cleanliness of black and white. i love the crisp feel and how well they pair with the neon's that are coming back right now. at first i felt old seeing neon's back on the store shelves again. i have many a memory of neon's in ahem....younger years. but i quickly got inspired. i decided to try to make neon feel fresh in my life again.  i recently got a bright neon pink running top and you know what - it didn't feel 80's it felt fresh and new and since i don't feel really old i decided to just work it and run with it. embrace the color and at the same time embrace the black/white. i am a gemini after all...it's in my sign to love two of everything.

what colors are you crushing on right now? are you embracing the neon's? the black and white? any new crushes? it's wednesday let's chat!!! join in the conversation below! do you have a fun neon photo or a shot with something black and white you're crushing on? share it below or tag it #crushing on instagram/twitter/facebook so we can all see!

GIVEAWAY || FAT QUARTER SHOP - V & CO'S SIMPLY STYLE

image src v and co.

who's in the mood to win some fabric today? i know i would be..if i could win that is..lol.  it's summer and i figured what better fabric to win for this bright and colorful season than the lovely vanessa of v and co's new line - simply style! our awesome sponsor fat quarter shop is kindly sponsoring our giveaway today!!

i am swooning over the colors and the patterns in vanessa's new line.  just like simply color there is a wide array of patterns perfect for quilting, clothing, accessories and more!  the fat quarter shop is carrying them all!  they've got fat quarter bundles, honeycomb packs, fat eighth bundles, charm packs, mini charm packs and more!

just look at some of the fun new patterns (pictured below) that accompany simply style that you could make! i'm loving the quilt patterns! i just may have to whip one of those bad boys up! so much for sleep :p you can find all the new patterns v and co. released for simply style at fat quarter shop as well.

ARE YOU READY TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN WIN?

>>> THE PRIZE <<<
- one lucky winner will receive a "honeycomb bundle of simply style by v and co. for moda"!!! yahoo!

>>> HOW TO ENTER <<<
- simply leave me a comment below letting me know what you would make with your honeycomb bundle! easy peasy!
- *bonus entry: follow fat quarter shop on facebook or pinterest and then come back & leave me a comment letting me know you did that too.

>>> THE RULES <<<
- you must leave a valid email address in your comment or you will be disqualified.
- giveaway ends 06/30/2013 at midnight PST.

image src v and co.

good luck and happy sewing everyone!  and just in case you can't wait to get sewing you can find all things simply style over here at the fat quarter shop! a big thank you to fat quarter shop for our fun giveaway today!

shop  ||  blog  ||  facebook  ||  twitter  ||  pinterest

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME - DISCOUNTS FOR YOU!

it's my bday today :) i'm a wee 36 today (freaking out a tad, the mids always hit me hard)! so in honor of my birthday i decided to have a sale! woot woot! who doesn't love a sale right? so head on over to the very shannon shop, etsy, or ravelry and get 20% off all orders today!!!! enter code "BDAY20" to get 20% off!

thanks to all of you for being such an important part of my life and for another wonderful and amazing year!  xoxoxoxox

SEWING || INDEPENDENT PATTERN DESIGNERS ROUNDUP

i'm on a huge selfish sewing kick this year and even though i've been busy in the background working on a big project i've also been getting ready for a big bout of selfish sewing in the next few months.  i've been slowly stocking up on my favorite patterns to sew myself some serious new duds. i know a lot of you have been asking me which shops/designers are my favorites and which patterns i purchased so i decided to answer those questions here in an "independent pattern designers roundup"! you know i love me a roundup..lol.

here's listing of my go to designers who inspire me to sew for myself and to become a better seamstress. selfish sewing is ALWAYS a good thing <3

GET READY TO BE INSPIRED!

MEGAN NIELSEN PATTERNS  //  COLETTE PATTERNS  //  VICTORY PATTERNS

 DEER AND DOE  //  WIKSTEN  //  GRAINLINE STUDIO

BY HAND LONDON  //  PATTERN RUNWAY  //  SALME

SEWAHOLIC  //  SEW LIBERATED  //  ANNA MARIA HORNER

LISETTE PATTERNS  //  JAMIE CHRISTINA  //  SIS BOOM

 MADE BY RAE  //  SEAMINGLY SMITTEN  //  MAKE IT PERFECT

>> READERS FAVES <<

- SERENDIPITY STUDIO

- APRIL RHODES 

- SCIENTIFIC SEAMSTRESS

- GO TO PATTERNS

- KITSCHY COO  
- BLANK SLATE PATTERNS

i've been stocking up on fabrics, sale fabrics, fabric to make wearable muslins and fabric to indulge in.  i've got my adjustable dress form ready, and poppy the pfaff is waiting ever so patiently for me to get tracing, cutting & sewing! i can't wait!  looking at the pics above - how could you not want to sew something for yourself?  the best part is a majority of designers offer great beginner patterns so you can jump right in! they also host sew alongs and have wonderful technique tutorials and tips on their own blogs.  there's no excuse to not try.

trust me when i say it is a feeling like no other to go out in a handmade out fit and have someone ask where you got your dress and you replying "i made it". it's out of this work fabulous! 

so what do you say? selfish sewing anyone? 

what are you making this week?  tag your pics on instagram, twitter and facebook with hashtag #whatcha so we can all see!  comment below with your pics and projects/blog posts so we can check out your lovelies. happy sewing!

HEALTH || GREEN SMOOTHIES - HOW TO MAKE THEM & RECIPE ROUND UP

the other week i mentioned to you all about my new addiction to green smoothies. i've been having a green smoothie almost everyday for about 6 weeks now.  i usually have it for either breakfast or lunch but lunchtime is my favorite time for having one.  it's the perfect afternoon pick me up and helps keep me energized and falling prey to the 2-3pm slump. you know the one when you are grumpy and will do anything for a 2nd strong cup of coffee? i hate the slump. so bye bye slump - hello green smoothie!

i've also been eating gluten free (wheat free), dairy free, and as little sugar as possible.  i feel fabulous and noticed a huge change in my health issues in as little as one week (you can read more about my health issues here). i've also been working out 3 times a week (lost 6 pounds already - yay!) and will be working my way back to 5 times with the help of my chiropractor and my new found energy. i loved that you all asked me to keep you updated so it's fun to be able to post this here! 

i've been having so much fun experimenting with new foods, recipes and of course different combos for my green smoothies.  and since i started chatting about it you guys have been so enthusiastic and supportive it's been awesome! i also got a ton of emails and requests from people on recipes, how to even start to make green smoothies and tips.  i thought it would be fun to put together a wee post on the subject and see if i can get y'all as addicted as i am.

now i'm not an expert or a cook but i know what i like and what i like is easy and as fast and accessible as possible on a budget.  so i'm just going to share my tips and thoughts on green smoothies and then link over to some other peeps who know more than i do.  what i have learned is that green smoothies are wonderful for all sorts of health issues and are great for your body. especially if you're like me and would never consume as much fruit and vegetables in one day that i can get in one smoothie. so where to start?

HOW TO START MAKING GREEN SMOOTHIES 

- get a good blender & make sure it blends ice real good. this is important for all your frozen fruits or ice. i have an oster from costco that literally cost like $40 but it works. i think if i keep going with the smoothies though i might invest in a better blender later on down the road. the vitamix may be mine one day :)
- invest in buying a few staple ingredients.  i really like chia seeds & ground flax.  i rotate which one i add to my smoothies each day. i usually use 1tbsp when i use them.  the chia is fabulous though. you can find it in your local grocery store or health food store. i don't soak mine but you can. i checked with my naturopathic doctor and she said you don't need to and the benefit is the same.
- make friends with kale. i heart kale. kale makes me feel wonderful. try the green smoothies with kale and make sure to add something frozen so the ice crusher feature gets the kale blended up real good. i don't use the spine of the leaf and rip/cut up the leaves before putting them in the blender. here's a post showing you how to blend up the kale. i just chuck mine in with everything but i don't mind having teeny bits in it.
- don't overdo the kale though.  try to rotate the greens. use spinach or something else you'd enjoy.  too much kale can affect your thyroid function.
- stock up on your favorite fresh in season fruits or buy frozen and keep them handy.
- i like to put in my frozen items first, then liquid, then adding my kale or greens and then the fruit. start slow and add more milk if the blender isn't moving things, or add ice if you need to thicken it up.

WHAT ARE SOME YUMMY COMBOS TO TRY? 

i personally have liked everything that i have thrown in for green smoothies and i just mostly wing it now.  i use whatever i've got on hand.  here are some of my fave ingredients to use:

- 1 leaf kale
- 1 banana
- almond milk
- pineapple
- 1 whole orange (skin removed)
- frozen blueberries
- handful of rasberries
- 1/2 avocado
- frozen fruit medleys

i always, always use either kale or spinach, 1 banana, and frozen or fresh blueberries then add on from there. make sure if you aren't using any frozen fruit you add in a couple ice cubes so it's nice and cold!

(p.s. i know i left the stickers on all my produce...lol. i took my shots and got so into it i didn't even realize till after when i was editing and my hubby pointed out that i should have removed them. oops! oh well..keeping it real folks...keeping it real.)

GREAT PLACES FOR GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES

i also started a new handy pinterest board!  you can now follow my journey through my "healthy eating in the mommyhood" pinterest board.  i've been pinning my fave recipes that i have tried or plan on making. i get lots of helpful tips and recipes from my bestie jane richmond whose cooking is to die for (and she has the same food avoidance's) and the lovely aja (swelldove). between the two of those i'm set.  they keep me hungry. i've linked their instagram profiles so you can follow along & see their yummy foods too! i definitely recommend asking around if any of your friends eat this way.  odds are they have some great tips and recipes to share and will also be a good support for you when you transition to adding them to your diet.


here are some of my fave sites of the moment for recipes:

- how to make a smoothie from pretty prudent (this was how i got started - great resource post!)
- 20 amazing smoothie recipes from pretty prudent on babble.com
- www.greenmonstermovement.com and ohsheglows.com
- nomnompaleo.comand i also like their ipad app
- skinnytaste.com
- sproutedkitchen.com
- glutenfreegoddess
- paleomg.com

READERS FAVORITES
- simplegreensmoothies.com

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPES & BLOGS

so go get that blender warmed up, get those chia seeds ready (see them above? these things are amazing!) and get smoothie making!  you're gonna love it! feel free to share your favorite smoothie recipes and favorite foodie sites in the comments below. i'll add them to the post above in a "readers favorites section". i'm always on the hunt for great gluten/dairy/sugar free cooking websites & books so share away!!!

thanks again for all your wonderful and loving comments on my post the other week. it means so much to me that you all shared your stories too and offered up support. i heart you guys <3 

TECH || HOW TO MIGRATE YOUR GOOGLE READER FEED

tgif! phew am i happy it's friday today!  this week has been a long one and a big project i've been working on in the background has definitely been kicking my behind (don't worry, i'll fill you all in soon). i'm so ready for the weekend.  i wanted to pop in today and chat with you all about the demise of google reader and how you can all still follow luvinthemommyhood (& all your other fave blogs) easily.  so don't fret - there's lots of information out there to make this an easy transition for all of you using a service like google reader to read your blogs.

you may have noticed i spruced up the sidebar and added a few changes here and there to the blog. i hope you like them! there are new post dividers, handy links in the sidebar, the latest instagrams and latest pins as well! i also wanted to make it easy for you all to follow luvinthemommyhood in all formats. i want to make sure you're able to get our feed and still keep on reading. one thing to remember when reading this post is that both feedly and bloglovin' will easily move your google reader subscriptions over to their service. it really is simple and fast! you won't lose a thing!  but you have to act soon - google reader will be gone in under 3 weeks.

here's how you can follow luvinthemommyhood....

first up on the sidebar is our brand new free luvinthemommyhood newsletter! it's fun!  it also only comes once a month and is a handy recap of what went on the blog during that month.  i've been enjoying putting it together so if you'd like to sign up you can do so here at the link below:

luvinthemommyhood free newsletter

second is one of the readers i've been using - bloglovin'.  it's been around for a long time and is easy and fun to use.  you can follow your friends and other blogs, get daily updates of the blogs you follow sent to you via email, see who's following you and follow them back, like things and read the full post right from bloglovin'.  it's easy, free and you can find our blog to follow on bloglovin' below:

luvinthemommyhood on bloglovin'

next up is feedly.  i've really been enjoying feedly.  i like all the different functions, layouts and streamlined look of it.  i also like that i can just see "today's post" in a lovely and inspiring magazine style layout with social media icons built right in so i can share, like etc right from feedly. so handy! you can even pin!  i've been using feedly just a bit more than bloglovin' simply for the ease of the layout for me. i follow A TON of blogs and feedly makes it feel less overwhelming and definitely more fun to read vs the old google reader.  you can follow luvinthemommyhood's feed on feedly here:

luvinthemommyhood on feedly

last but not least there is always email.  you can subscribe to get our weekly posts via email through this link:

luvinthemommyhood email subscription

i hope that you'll find this post helpful and that you won't miss out on a thing.  here are some other helpful posts on moving your google readers subscriptions:

- how can i migrate from google reader to feedly?
- tips for google readers migrating to feedly
- how to move your google reader rss feed to bloglovin
- bloglovin' tutorial

which service have you been using?  do you prefer one over the other? why?  i'd love to hear your thoughts!

in the meantime have a wonderful and lovely weekend!  i hope it's filled with laughter, coffee, good friends, family and creative time - you deserve it! see you on monday! xoxo

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG - THE WINNERS!!!

Crafty Characters Embroidery Patterns from Wild Olive

TODAY IS THE DAY! were you the winner of the fabulous and exciting prizes from our tops, tanks & tees knit along? i'm still drooling over them all! some serious prizes up for grabs people! don't our sponsors rock! and guess what - so do you!!! all of your projects were just amazing! so proud of all of you! it's making me even more excited for the summer sweater knit along coming up!  so don't get sad and miss all of us too much, the SSKAL is just around the corner. i'm hoping for mid july. so start planning now :) it's gonna be HUGE fun!

you ready to hear who the winners are? cross your fingers.......

1ST PLACE WINNER
JENNIFER SADLER
you have won the following prizes!!! congrats!!!
- $50 Gift Certificate from Sundara Yarns
- copy of Autumn Bloom, Courtyard, Thurlow, Woodstack and a $50 Voucher for the Sweet Fiber Online Shop
- 1 winner will win a copy of every e-book by Tin Can Knits 
- a copy of knitbot essentials by hannah fettig from knitbot

2ND PLACE WINNER
LAURA HILL
you have won the following prizes!!! congrats!!!
- a Neon Sampler Pack (1 (50g) 100% Superwash Merion Dk skein EACH of Hot Pink, Bright Orange, Lemon yellow & Apple Green) from Rain City Knits
- two 250 gram skeins of Dakota Targhee Yarn (naturally white, the yarn can be left as is or dyed beautifully) from Ashland Bay
- $25 Gift Certificate to Jane Richmond 
- two custom dyed-to-order skeins on any base from Duck Duck Wool  

3RD PLACE WINNER
ERIN BLACK

you have won the following prizes!!! congrats!!!
- copy of New Lines Collection & the uptown hobo bag pattern from rosyposy designs 
- $25 Gift Certificate to by Annie Claire
- $25 Gift Certificate to the Yarniad by Hilary Smith Callis

all the prizes can be viewed in more detail in our giveaway post here. 

a HUGE thank you to all of our amazing sponsors!!!! such wonderful prizes!!! thank you all for your support of our knit alongs! and THANK YOU to all of you fab knitters for joining in and knitting with me!  i say this every time but you guys honestly don't know how much it means to me. so thank you so much!

KNIT ALONG SPONSORS

CREATING || WHATCHA MAKING?

custom leather bracelet by c. johanesen studio (stay tuned to see more about my new bracelet this month & find out what the full quote is!)

sooooo...whatcha making this week? clothes? quilts? a baby (j/k!!!)? what are you creating? sewing? knitting? crocheting? cooking? embroidering? spill the beans! we want to know!

i know we do this almost weekly on our facebook page and it's always so fun for me to see what projects you are all working on so i thought why not try it over here in our hood too? i mean who wants to make something and then NOT hear anyone say how awesome it is!? right! it feeeeellllssss good to hear how awesome your mad skills are! you just made something with your own two hands! you rock!

i also find it so inspiring to feel the creative energy and the buzz when we all get chatting about we're making or planning on making.  i also think this is a great way for all of us to find the time each week to spend being creative for ourselves. to take that time to nurture ourselves and our creative sides. to help remind ourselves to make that part of our lives a priority.

you with me? head on down to the comments and fill us in. don't be shy. spill the beans & share your pics. tell us what you're working on this week and tell us the details. what fabric? which yarn? what pattern? did you blog about it? show us! link up your blog post in the comments below and let's get cheering each other on! stuck and need help with your project? ask us your questions & share your opinions. i'd love to get the convo going.

not in the mood to post about your project? so excited with it you can't wait to fb or blog your new lovely? share it with us on instagram! i heart instagram! use the hashtag #whatcha so we can see your pics!!! fun, fun fun!!! you can find me on instagram under "luvinthemommyhood".

so c'mon...join in with me - you so know you wanna..hehe. ready, set, go - whatcha making?

CRUSHES || MASON JARS & LIDS

i'm crushing big time this month on mason jars. this isn't a new crush to me, i'm always loving mason jars, but this month i got some new beauties. ohhhhh....i'm so excited to show you them. some people will get my love and some will wonder what all the fuss is about but that's ok :)  us mason jar junkies get it. we love the love.

i mean how could one resist the lure of the infamous blue jars? how stunning is the color on these beauties? fo'realsies. gorgeous. i don't even want to drink out of them yet they are so gosh darn pretty. and the lids? i know you wanna know about the lids on the other jars too. last year sometime i got a cuppow.  i love it.  just in case you haven't seen or heard of it a cuppow is an awesome sippy cup sort of lid you can put on mason jars so you can drink out of them. i use it for my coffee, my water, my everything when i'm home and when i'm out and about. it's awesome.

but recently my friends and i got in on an order to get our newest crush - the wide mouth tumbler size mason jar. the PERFECT size for green smoothies (hehe), frappucinos, and other yummy concoctions. it's also great for water with cucumbers/lemons and other detox wonders.  i just got mine (i got 2) and have already used them on numerous occasions. love it.  i picked up a fun reCAP mason jar lid as well to use for the wide mouth tumbler. perfection! newest water bottle! so fun!

and what's on order?  they were out of stock when we ordered but we all were wanting this cool lid that also goes on the wide mouth tumbler for straws etc. awesome. i cannot wait to get it as well. my green smoothie drinking process will be complete..lol. i know, i'm a dork :P

but i love them all.  of course my hubby thinks i'm nuts because i already own a flat of mason jars when he saw my new loot he was like "what the? what?". he doesn't get it. but that's ok. i do and i enjoy drinking out of them and if it means there are less spills in my house and i drink way more green smoothies it's all good in my book.

|| PRODUCTS SHOWN ||

*all products shown (except clear regular size mason jars) from www.greenmunch.ca
- blue heritage mason jars
- wide mouth tumbler mason jar
- cuppow lid
- reCAP mason jar lid
- widemouth mason jar tumbler lid 

what are you crushing on this month? do you have a fondness for mason jars and all the cool lids and goodies to go with them? have you found a cool one lately? share! i want to hear about it. i know my pals and i aren't the only ones out there.  coffee's on and i'm wishing you all a happy mason jar sippin' weekend. hugs <3

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || GIVEAWAY TIME!

balloon bench by satoshi itasaki via yatzer.com

are you all ready for some lovely prizes for our spring tops, tanks & tees knit along? some awesome new yarn, books, patterns, & more! i'm so freakin' excited about these prizes! whoever wins these are some lucky knitters!  i really enjoy showing you all the wonderful businesses behind our knit alongs that help make it all possible! they are all wonderful so please go show your support and love to these hardworking peeps! having their generosity and support is so great! happy shopping :)

*Please note: the knit along has already ended. This giveaway is for those who have already participated in the Spring Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along that ended last week.*

you ready to drool? here are the awesome businesses that supported our spring tops, tanks & tees knit along & their generous prizes! 

 || PRIZE ||
- a copy of knitbot essentials by hannah fettig from knitbot

||  PRIZE  ||

- $50 Gift Certificate from Sundara Yarns

|| PRIZE ||

- copy of Autumn Bloom, Courtyard, Thurlow, Woodstack and a $50 Voucher for the Sweet Fiber Online Shop

||  PRIZE ||

 - $25 Gift Certificate to Jane Richmond

 || PRIZE ||

- $25 Gift Certificate to the Yarniad by Hilary Smith Callis

|| PRIZE ||

- 1 winner will win a copy of every e-book by Tin Can Knits

|| PRIZE ||

- two custom dyed-to-order skeins on any base from Duck Duck Wool

|| PRIZE ||

- $25 Gift Certificate to by Annie Claire

|| PRIZE ||

- two 250 gram skeins of Dakota Targhee Yarn (naturally white, the yarn can be left as is or dyed beautifully) from Ashland Bay

|| PRIZE ||

- a Neon Sampler Pack (1 (50g) 100% Superwash Merion Dk skein EACH of Hot Pink, Bright Orange, Lemon yellow & Apple Green) from Rain City Knits

 ||  PRIZES  ||

- copy of New Lines Collection & the uptown hobo bag pattern from rosyposy designs

||  FIRST PLACE ||

- sundara yarns prize  - sweet fiber yarns prize  - tin can knits prize  - knitbot prize package

|| SECOND PLACE ||

- rain city knits prize package  - ashland bay yarn package  - jane richmond designs prize - duck duck wool prize 

|| THIRD PLACE ||

- rosy posy designs package  - by annie claire prize  - the yarniad prize

HOW TO ENTER:
- You must simply be signed up in the SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG and have started a project.  You DO NOT have to be done your project but you must have cast on and started knitting.

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG

RULES:
- You must have left a valid email address when you signed up in the form above.

- You must have taken part in the Spring Tops, Tanks & Tees Knit Along that is now over.
- Giveaway ends Monday, June 10th, 2013 at midnight, pst.

you can follow along with all things spring tops, tanks & tees knit along here:

ravelry group  |  blog  |  flickr group

good luck everyone!!! so many wonderful prizes!!! i can't wait to see who wins!!!  thanks so very much for knitting along with me! 

A LITTLE BARING OF THE SOUL IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE...RIGHT?

it's all good: delicious, easy recipes that will make you look good & feel great by gwyneth paltrow & julia turshen

so you may have guessed by the image of gwyneth paltrow above that this post is not about sewing. it's not about knitting either. but it is about me and also about something very important to me.  getting healthy - finally.  since this was the year i made a pact to do some selfish sewing, selfish knitting & take some time to shift my priorities for work/home etc i figured i should also take some time to actually find the elusive time to take better care of myself and finally make it a priority.  something that i haven't done since my first daughter was born.  you all know the story...when you become a mother everything changes. there is a shifting in your soul, in the core of your being and suddenly everything "you" becomes the last thing on your list.

i spent last year trying to find the balance that would allow me time to nurture my creative self.  i discovered that to be a happier person i need a certain amount of time each day to mentally be creative and allow myself that and be ok with indulging in that need.  but what i seem to have forgotten was that in order to be able to have the energy, desire and sense of self to do this, work more hours than i care to admit, be a damn good mother and wife and then have some left over to physically care for myself has seem to gotten me lost.  i think part of my puzzle has been the caring for my "physical self" alongside my "mental self".  they go hand in hand. duh shannon...lol.  i was so focused on my creative self and exploring it and writing about it that i have not had one drop left to focus on my physical self.

the physical self that has horrid back issues that make it hard for me to exercise, the self that suffers from very bad endometriosis, has had many surgeries, that is anemic, and that deals daily with many other ailments that i won't bore you with but that are very much a part of my life that i don't share on here because...well it's mostly a happy place and who the heck wants to hear me moan and groan everyday right? not me..lol.  i'd rather chat with you all about fun stuff :)  it makes my day.

but back to the reason of this post. i've finally reached a point of just not being happy with myself.  not my personality but my physical self.  i am tired of not having answers for issues and health concerns.  so between myself, my naturopathic physcician, and my family doctor i'm on a mission to take back control. something i find very important when dealing with my endometriosis especially. it can take control of your life and i find that any way i can find to take hold of the steering wheel of my own body it helps me to deal better with the side effects.

one of them is being on a stricter diet.  while i have always abided by an anti-inflammatory diet and watching what i eat it's just not working for me anymore.  i don't feel good.  so in my journey towards finding out some causes of my issues i've decided to dig deeper.  along with not eating wheat, i'm also eating dairy free and trying to avoid sugar.  i'm trying to rid my body of processed foods and eating whole. i'm not on paleo or any "diet plan", but am rather trying to eat for my body. these are all foods that cause my body issues and that i am sensitive to.  so for the last month i've rid these of my body and i feel so many changes already.  my mind feels clearer for one and my body is starting to feel better. some of the things that have been bothering me have started to go away.  the wheat/gluten is a big deal for me so it seems still so i'm in the process of getting tested for celiac disease as well.

this was phase one of my plan.  i'm back on a treatment plan that my naturopathic doc and i have done before that helps and are trying new things that are working.  but like anyone else who works closely with a naturopathic doctor and who suffers from a chronic illness, you know it's not easy work.  it takes time and commitment but the pay off is huge.  just look at my daughters.  other doctors told me that there was no other treatment left for me but pain meds. i tried everything let me tell you. they also told me i most likely would never have children. it was the darkest time of my life. one where i contemplated a hysterectomy to rid myself of the torment but realized there was one thing left i had not tried yet - a naturopath.  soon after meeting mine my life changed. i looked like a new person and felt like one. i met my now husband and got pregnant right away.  my endocrinologist could not believe the change in my body and i couldn't believe it myself.  it was crazy how much 6 months of hard work with her changed my whole life - body and spirit. truth be told i almost lost both of my girls. each time i got pregnant the doctors gave me the "you are most likely having a miscarriage speech & said there was nothing to be done and each time my naturopath balanced my wacky hormones, put me on bed rest and saved both of my girls. i don't care what anyone else says she gave me my babies and for that i owe her so very much.  she gave me hope and strength.

so i know gwyneth causes a love/hate reaction in most.  i happen to like her. i admit it. i think she's charming and you have to admit - she looks fabulous.  but besides from that her newest book "it's all good" spoke to me.  luckily my girls gave it to me for mother's day (thank you honey!) and within the first few chapters i resonated with what she wrote about.  it couldn't have come at a better time for me and where i am in my life. even though i'm eating better it doesn't miraculously make me enjoy cooking...lol. yes, i don't enjoy cooking that much. it's no shocker. i am  learning to realize it's importance but that doesn't mean i'll ever choose it over sewing or knitting...lol. if i've got a spare hour i sure as hell ain't using it in the kitchen but hey, that's just my opinion.

but this book makes me WANT to cook better when i do cook. the food is accessible. realistic. achievable. beautiful and most importantly healthy and family friendly.  i cannot say how much i am a sucker for beautiful books.  don't get me wrong - cook books are on the most part lovely but this book - this book sang to my aesthetic.  it's clean. there's white space - no clutter. the images take you away and i can't stop looking at it for inspiration and just for fun.  it's stunning and a wonderful addition to my cookbook library. only prob is i love it to much to stick in the dark pantry where my other cookbooks live. right now it lives on my coffee table where i can remind myself that it's not as hard as i think it is to make the change. the hardest few weeks are over and my body is beginning to adjust and find it's happy place. it's now time for the fun - the experimenting with new foods and recipes. new things to try not just for myself but also for my family.

over the last 4 weeks i have also become a die hard green smoothie addict. i swear these smoothies and juices are like coffee to my body. and you all know how much i love my coffee. now instead of coffee with my lunch and the inevitable 3pm mood crash i have a green smoothie for lunch and feel great!  i've always had a hard time eating enough fruit and vegetables and now it's easy. one meal and done - yum!  the kids even LOVE them. my youngest asks for a green smoothie for lunch almost everyday now too.  it's great!

next up on my journey is exercise.  i enjoy exercise and don't do enough of it.  hardly any actually. with my hubbies hours, my insane work, the kids, extracurricular activities and life my workouts get lost at the end. i know there others out there who can more than relate. so to make it easier for myself i've decided to break up all my new changes into phases.  creative self, physical self (diet) and then physical self (exercise).  it's now time to add in the exercise.  this is the hardest one. with my back issues i'm limited but i need to start somewhere right?  new shoes was my start.  got myself fitted for some brand spankin' new runners and this week i'm starting fresh. no pressure.  no punishment - baby steps. i know myself well enough to know it has to be because i WANT to do it not because i HAVE to do it and i have to ENJOY what i'm doing to do. no goal weights, no workout plans just me getting back to being healthy. one. baby. step. at. a. time.

it's all good: delicious, easy recipes that will make you look good & feel great by gwyneth paltrow & julia turshen

so gwyneth - thank you. thank you for being inspirational, for being brave and taking control of your health and for making it easier for me to take control of mine.  my body thanks you.  and thank you to all of you for being part of my journey. for being here alongside me with friendship and open arms during the last 5 years of my life.  i hope the journey only gets better from here. i love you guys <3

so...who's with me? anyone else on a health mission? any green smoothie recipes you love and recommend? other cookbooks?  stories to share? i'd love to hear so i don't feel like the only gal who bared my soul on the good ol'intranet..lol. a little baring of the soul is good for everyone...right?

*disclosure: i am an amazon associate but this book was not given to me for review.

KNITTING || MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!

>>> pattern: gusset heel basic socks pattern by wendy d. johnson yarn: sweet fiber lolli socks mcn in colorway pink lemonade <<<

welcome to my newest addiction. see those fun, bright colored socks? fully hooked. i have to admit that even though i have been knitting since a young girl i have never made a pair of socks nor even attempted to make socks.  i detest wearing socks so the thought of wool on my feet sort of wigged me out over the years. then i got this yarn.  it put me over the edge. suddenly i NEEDED wool socks.  so i jumped right in with both feet (no pun intended).  i got myself some needles, yarn, a book, asked questions of my sock knitting friends, and started making them.

i became addicted right off the bat.  i decided after purchasing "socks from the toe up: essential techniques and patterns from wendy knits" that i was going to do the gusset heel basic sock pattern.  i found myself so in love with the turkish cast on and the toe up method that i couldn't stop working on these.  i was loving it!  only issue i had was that i went in braver than i intended. i refused to use anything but my sweet fiber lollisocks mcn yarn in colorway pink lemonade to make my first pair of socks (read more about this yarn here).  so the nice thing about socks from the toe up is that you can use wendy's vanilla formula to make a pair of socks with any yarn/needle.  only thing i didn't know is that being a sock ahem...virgin...was that this was way trickier than i first thought. a lot of pondering and researching had to be done to get the right formula for turning my heel, which by the way was a lot of fun and not scary at all like i first thought.

the only other problem i ran into was with my bind off.  i decided after researching different bind offs for socks to go with the sewn bind off.  the first sock was fine, although it could have been a smidgen looser.  so when i went to do the 2nd sock's bind off i remember and tried my best to do it looser.  i was an over achiever. the thing was loosey goosey!! it was so bad i had to take it out and let me tell you - that is a not a fast process! damn thing took me forever to take out!  i redid it and it's still a bit ruffly (meaning too loose) but i left it.  i resigned myself to the love of handmade and realized that i was just happy i had even made socks that really looked and fit like socks!  it was such a great feeling when you turn that heel and they actually look like socks!  it's part of the reason i love it so much!  i get bored really easily with certain styles of projects and i thought socks would bore me but nope - way too much fun! plus the new addi turbo sock rocket needles from sure helped! if you are a sock knitting addict get some of these! they are amazing! i am a pretty fast knitter and i felt like i was on fire!  so awesome!

all in all i really enjoyed the whole process, love that they fit my foot perfectly and that i can now dress up my feet with knitterly lovelies as well as the rest of my body.  i also wear them! shocker right? i normally hate wearing socks but when you put cashmere & merino up next to my toes i guess they are happy :) those suckers have expensive taste..lol.

||  PATTERN  ||
- gusset heel basic socks from Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits

||  YARN  ||
- sweet fiber lollisocks mcn in colorway pink lemonade

||  NOTES  ||
- i used size US 2 / 2.75mm needles and about 3/4 (i'm guessing, i haven't weight it yet) of the skein of yarn.
- i adjusted the pattern to suit my yarn and gauge.
- i used addi turbo sock rockets and looooooved them.

are you a sock knitter?  addicted too?  what is your fave sock pattern? yarn? advice for new sock knitters? c'mon, pull up a seat, coffees one and i'd love to chat!  wishing you all a sunny, fun, creative, family & friend filled kinda weekend.

SPRING TOPS, TANKS & TEES KNIT ALONG || STARRING YOU

lady bat by mamatronic

it's time for STARRING YOU!!!!  i love, love, love this post!  it's so fun compiling pics and putting together a big ol' post starring all of your hard work!  you ladies were on fire for the tops, tanks & tees knit along! wowsa!  some of you made 3 projects! needles were setting off smoke alarms! there were so many stunning and gorgeous projects chosen i'm sure you'll agree that all of our faves/queues have grown by miles.  i know i'm going to have a very hard time next tttkal with all of these waiting to be made!

cap sleeve lattice top made by jaykayknits

the best part for me during these kal's is the conversation and the friendships made. i look forward to reading all the chit chat each day and keeping up with every one's projects and lives. it's so rewarding and each time more fab peeps join the more fun it gets!  so thank you all again for joining in and knittng with me and to helping make my dream of having such a fun community of knitters a reality!  i'm so proud of you all!!! giant hugs your way

now for the fun part.......here you are!  the spring tops, tanks & tees starring you post!!! wahoo!!!

sophia made by thinkliz

holla back tank made by sdurank

cap sleeve lattice tops made by: 1. pattymatt 2. sbnyc 3. hillvintage 4.morelikejune

gemini by jane richmond (sleeve mod version)

modern twin set by truly myrtle

1. tiger lily tank

mackinac tank made by pattymatt

shawl cardigan by beatrice2009

1. work+shelter 2. ribbed pullover vest

1. amiga 2.elfe 3. floating

1. meris 2. vertex cardigan 3. date night 4. featherweight cardigan 5. cerie 6.work+shelter

1. work+shelter 2. work+shelter 3. low tide cardigan

urban made by moonkun

1. gemini 2. strond 3. billowing 4. poolside

1. marguerite 2 autumn leaves 3. bulle 4. oriental lily 5.sproutlette dress

1. imogen tee 2. gemini 3. gemini 4. miette 5.whisper cardigan 6. faith

beatnik made by dreareneeknit's

and a HUGE thank you to our wonderful and generous sponsors for making our kal's a reality!  next week is our super sized giveaway! you will not want to miss this!!!!

>> OUR LOVELY SPONSORS <<

>> JOIN IN & SIGN UP <<
- sign up for the knit along by clicking "here".
- get inspired by checking out our kal pinterest board & our pattern roundup post
- take part in all the fun conversation & make new friends in our ravelry group
- find out more and find all the posts and info "here" on our kal homepage.
- remember to tag your instagram pics with #tttkal, same goes on twitter.