52 Weeks of Happy (25/52) The Vacation Edition

• lazy days at the lake

• inner-tube water polo

• painting rocks (I was definitely the arts and crafts counselor/coordinator on this trip!)

• Harry Potter Marathon for 3 children that began vacation as muggles, but aren't anymore!

• remembering childhood memories and knowing you are creating those memories for the little ones now :)

• time to swim, read (finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn ), and knit

• the fresh air smell of those trees

It was an absolutely perfect week at the cabin, filled with lots of happy! Hopefully yours was too! What have you guys been up to while I was away from constant wifi?!?!

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (18/52)

It has been a hard week here as a dear friend and coworker lost her father suddenly this past weekend. But I think it is when things like this happen that we really need to remember the blessings, love and happy things that fill our lives.

• happy doggies who seem to always take over a certain little someone's spot as soon as she leaves

• evening walks at 8pm and the sun is still out

• realizing you work with an amazing group of people who are there for each other in good times and bad

• getting back on track with the healthy eating plan and feeling good!

•  3-day weekends!!!

I'd love to hear what has made you guys happy this week?  How about plans for the holiday weekend?  For me, I'm down to the wire on some deadlines for TNNA that is just around the corner. I'm really hoping to power through my knitting to-do list this weekend. Wish me luck!!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (17/52)

• time to actually sit and swatch for a new design

• going to the farmer's market and eating well all week

• watching Lil' Snow light up while enjoying a local children's theater performance of Wizard of Oz

• casting on a new shawl design with Knitted Wit's lovely Cashy Lite (love!)

This is such a busy time of year at work with the end of the school year that I'm trying to focus on the happy and not some of the day to day stress.  I hope you are doing that too. You know I love to hear about your happy this week....share away in the comments :)

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Mad May special coupon code has been extended....check here for details!

52 Weeks of Happy (15/52)

• Lil Snowboarder's awesome Show Choir Spring Concert performance this week made me burst with pride! The entire choir did an amazing job and I was so proud of Lil' Snow!! 

• Celebrating with friends the debut of a new yarn and more importantly a new venture, A Verb for Keeping Warm Pioneer

• On a not so fun Thursday, this box from DavidsTea showed up and brightened my day.  My local store is out of their seasonal PomTango and it is my new favorite tea. I had to order more before it is discontinued......ack....

• Despite choosing the hottest weekend of the year it seems, we had a fabulous time watching Little Guy's baseball game!! He went 4 for 4 with 3 base hits and a double, all from pitches (e.g., not off a tee).  

• The doggies did not love the heat at the baseball game, but I do think Puddles loved being at the park for that long!

• More happy.... I finished my Mad May San Mateo infinity today! Yay!  And I walked for an hour too...trying to get back into shape!

• And tonight I will watch my favorite shows....Game of Thrones, Mad Men, The Bletchly Circle (new on PBS...really like it!)...and then catch up more tomorrow on Call the Midwife, Mr. Selfridge. Oh, and I watched the first three episodes of Rectify today.  That's a good one too!

Can't wait to hear about the happy in your week!  Here's to another week filled with happy ahead :)
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (14/52)

Lunch at Katie's was fabulous!  Note the water line on the right hand side from Katrina.


The seafood beignet appetizer was ridiculously amazing!!


Catfish and Shrimp Creole

• beignets and iced cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde

• cafe au lait taste testing.  I'll admit the families I work with in NOLA spoil me rotten when I'm there!  I came home with this
   and have made somewhat decent cafe au laits the past two mornings.

• new restaurants and new favorites....that seafood beignet at Katie's was ridiculously decadent and delicious!

• being home. As nice at it is to travel a bit, it is nice to be home and back to a routine.

• airplane knitting. Can't wait to show you my next project :)

• Sunday night tv. Mad Men. Game of Thrones. Call the Midwife. The Bletchley Circle. Mr. Seflridge.  I can't watch it all...I think it is a way of making Monday a bit more tolerable.

I hope your week has been filled with happy.  Anything in particular?  This week will be back on the healthy eating and smackdown exercising after the indulgent week in NOLA.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (13/52)

• pretty pretty new shoes by Tieks

• watching Cats the Musical last night through the eyes of a 9-year-old

• my first homemade Mac n Cheese....thanks Pioneer Woman!

• seeing the photos of two new designs that will be released in the next few weeks

It sure has been a week. My heart has been heaving after what happened in Boston. Work has been long and there just haven't seemed to be enough hours in the week. But tomorrow I'm off to NOLA for work, so I'm trying to focus on that!!

What happy has been filling your week? This is definitely one of those weeks where we need to focus on the happy.

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (12/52)

• purpley pink sunsets

• relaxing girls' weekend that involves mimosas, sangria, knitting, and finishing projects

• girls' night at the Giants game earlier this week

• seeing Warwick featured in an ad in the new Twist Collective

Hope you guys are having a happy weekend too!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Don't forget Blue Lake Springs is on sale through Monday and the KAL coupon code  is happyspring and good through Monday for 20% off IGK shawls, infinity scarves and cowls :)

52 Weeks of Happy (10/52)

There has been lots of happy this week! I almost feel like I'm getting everything balanced again...work, exercise, cooking and eating right, family, knitting....  Highlights from this week include:

• lounging in the sun doggies

• another Good Eggs delivery, which turned into an amazing frittata made from the eggs, goat cheese with chives, green onions and asparagus that was in my delivery

• unexpected, lovely spring flowers

•  a long walk earlier in the week and an awesome swim this afternoon!! Yay!! Back on track!

• leftover rotisserie chicken from my delivery turned into tonight's yummy dinner of Chicken Pot Pie from my new favorite cookbook, Homemade with Love.  An absolutely perfect review and the recipe can be found here.  I may have just done the full drop biscuit recipe to make a few extras and "extra" cover the pot pie :)  If you aren't reading In Jennie's Kitchen blog, you really are missing out. I made this tonight because I knew that dad would LOVE this and since I've never made it for him, I surprised him with it tonight. Everyone loved it! I can't wait to try more recipes from this cookbook....I'll be sure to tell you guys about them. Oh, and the drop biscuits. SO easy and to die for.

• Happy Easter!!  We'll be headed up to Folsom to celebrate with Lil' Guy and then we'll do something fun on Monday while he and Lil' Snowboarder are on spring break.  Auntie fun!!!

What happy has been happening in your life?
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

52 Weeks of Happy (7/52)

• Look who lost his first tooth!!  Talk about a happy auntie when I saw this picture.  Can't wait to see him in person this weekend!!

•  Farmer's market delivered!!  For just $3.99 delivery charge (or you can pick it up).  All of the yummies above are from my delivery this week.  Good Eggs, I love you.  Seriously.  And small victory, I resisted the cupcakes they deliver (yes, cupcake delivery).  However, maybe next week.

• Eating healthy all week, with minimal sugar, and feeling good.  Makes me happy that I'm making this a priority.

• A cuppa tea on a rainy night right now.  After I post this, knitting on that sock for the rest of the evening.

And very, very happy that tomorrow is Friday!!  I'm looking forward to seeing Lil' Guy and the family this weekend!  My sister-in-law wants to move past all the garter stitch scarves she has been knitting.  Any recommendations for a next step cute scarf project I can show her?  Or easy stockinette tank top?

What happy has been going on for you guys?  All the comments on these happy posts makes me smile, so I think the happy project is working :)

Happy Almost Friday!!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s.  If you haven't had a chance to enter the Sock Yarn Shawls Giveaway, still time to do so on the post.  And just a little over a week until the big Buy One Get One free IGK pattern sale on St. Patrick's Day.  Join the IGK ravelry group to stay in the loop :)

52 Weeks of Happy (6/52)

• bright, colorful flowers from the farmer's market last weekend

• Quince yarn and a perfect project bag from A Verb for Keeping Warm   

• Lil' Snowboarder learning to weave on her new Zoom Loom  

• getting back into the swimming pool again this week                                                                                     

Hope there is lots of happy filling your weekend!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Sunday is the last day to buy Knocknagree on sale for $5   

52 Weeks of Happy (5/52)

picture of Debbi and I from Christine at Too Much Yarn.  Check out her blog for awesome pictures of Stitches West (here, here and here).  She seemed to hit all the great booths!

• signs of spring 

• gorgeous, inspiring yarns that were in abundance at Stitches West this weekend

• catching up with good friends all weekend

• a perfect evening last night at the bar with Leslie, Celia, Debbi, Susan, Stephen, Kristine, Kristine's mom, and Adrienne.  

• I passed my boards! I am officially a Board Certified Behavior Analyst!  Yay!!

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits