Guilt vs Happiness

This week I have been thinking a lot about guilt. Guilt can hold us back, or it can really challenge us to move forward. Some guilt is trivial, some runs deep.

I experienced a little humorous trivial guilt this Christmas. I made socks for my mom, sis and niece and they were very well received. But.....my dad made it very clear that it wasn't fair that he hadn't been given any wool socks or slippers. I had no idea he even wanted a pair and I felt a little guilty. This was cause for action.

I immediately cast on for some felted slippers for him. Guilt no more!

Amy and I were discussing the guilt of stash. We are both feeling guilty over the size of our stashes. Mine is truly bad. I know there are many others out there who have tons more yarn than I do, but I know this is too much for ME to have. I am going to try very hard in the new year to buy very little yarn and work from the stash whenever possible. Dad's slippers were from stash yarn and I will be using more stashed wool very soon.

I will be making slippers for myself. I received these for Christmas last year and I have literally loved them to death. The holes are getting so big that I really have no choice but to make myself new slippers quickly. Michigan winters do not go well with holey slippers.

There are other things that make me feel guilty too, but I have been told by a very good friend that I shouldn't be so hard on myself. In 2008 I am going to stop putting so much pressure on myself, comparing myself to others and just be me. I am going to concentrate on the things and people that make me happy. I am not superwoman, nor do I want to be. I will never be the best designer, blogger (I'm not even going to apologize for not posting in 2 weeks), friend etc. in the world. I am just going to be myself.

I will leave you with a silly picture of Brodie. (I know he's not a cat, but some bloggers actually have cute dogs lol.) It looks like he is just staring aimlessly at the cupboard....

but actually, he is sitting directly in front of the heat vent and letting the hot air blow on him. What a silly dog.

Next time I will have to tell you about our crazy trip.

A little bit of everything

First.........remember this?

Well, now you can make one too! The pattern is available now and it's FREE!
You can get it here. I hope you enjoy it.

Second.........my Christmas knitting will be done in time. I only have a week, but I will make it. I will have lost of knitting time this week. Why you say?

Three........I am going on a cruise! I'm leaving in the morning for a week. The hubby and I are taking a little "us time". I just pray the plane can get out. We are supposed to get dumped on with a ton of snow tonight. Well, I had hoped for a bigger update, but I just plain ran out of time. I will definitely have things to show off when I get back though.

I hope you all have a great week!

A Christmas Meme (apologies to those that hate them)

• 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate!
• 2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I wrap all the gifts and put them under the tree as I am done with them.
• 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Always all white.
• 4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope never have. I don't want people randomly kissing me, thanks.
• 5. When do you put up your decorations? As soon as possible after Thanksgiving. This year it's mostly just the tree. I am not going all out.
• 6. What is your favorite holiday dish? There is no way I can pick just one. My favorite things are the appetizers and sweets that nobody bothers with during the year.
• 7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Probably when I got my Ballerina Barbie. (dorky, I know)
• 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? It was so long ago, I can't remember.
• 9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, we usually have a party that night.
• 10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With tons of ornaments, mostly white, gold, red, and rust.
• 11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love it at Christmas time and for a couple weeks after that.Then it can leave!
• 12. Can you ice skate? Yes, and I can even go backwards, really!
• 13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really, I don't actually get many.
• 14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering the birth of Jesus and spending time with my family.
• 15. What's is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Again, I'm not sure I can choose just 1.
• 16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Baking tons of goodies and bringing them to all th parties I attend. Sadly, I won't get to do much of it this year.
• 17. What tops your tree? A gold star this year.
• 18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Definitely giving. I could really care less if I get anything. I like watching everyone else open their gifts.
• 19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night
• 20. Candy Canes?No, but I like the white chocolate bark with peppermint.
• 21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Definitely.
• 22. Real tree or artificial?I like both. We have a fake tree for ease and for allergies.
• 23. Do you put lights up on the outside of your house? My wonderful hubby does, and he does a great job. No sloppy cheesey lights here.
• 24. Do you do a Christmas Dinner or Supper and who cooks? Not really. Many years we are somewhere else on Christmas, but if we do, I cook.
• 25. Is your family the everyone unwraps gifts at once sort or do you do it one gift at a time as the others watch? One at a time. I hate it when I miss something.
• 26. Do your pets share in the festivities? Not really, we have never really given Brodie many gifts. He is in the room with us though.

I shamelessly took this idea from another blog. I love reading about Christmas traditions, so if you feel like it, fill out your own.

Weekender Wrap

I am excited. My Weekender Wrap pattern is up at Crystal Palace. There are lots of other great patterns there too.

It is a free pattern! Yay!

I used the Panda Wool yarn (color hydrangea), which knits and blocks beautifully. This was the stole that I knit twice and I still love it. I can't say that about many patterns. I hope you enjoy it!

Pattern is here and you can link to it here on Ravelry.

I finished a pair of slippers for my daughter's boyfriend.

Obviously they have not been felted yet. They are HUGE!

Well I am off to do some Christmas shopping today. Wish me luck.