Fresh air, feeling fit, and a free pattern.

A quick vacation post, but I wanted to share a few things with you guys.

Fresh air does wonders for the soul.



Nice to start your days off like this.



What a difference a year makes too! I was able to wear my favorite bathing suit that I couldn't wear last year. Amazing what losing just 15 pounds does? Still a long ways to go, but it felt great to wear it, and great to walk up and down the hill to the lake and not have to stop every few feet because I was so tired. Yay for not being in so much pain!



I brought Shaun T and Cize on vacation with me too. Two workouts in already! Tomorrow may be a swimming day instead. I've already got one kid to workout with me...hoping to convince a few more.



I hope to cast on these pretties tomorrow. Plucky Knitter Primo Sport in Tomboy, Twill, and Melba (I tried editing the photo a bit so Melba shows up as the lovely orangey color it is...but not sure I did). Did you hear that I'm one of the designers for PluckTOBER? So excited!





I popped into my favorite knitting and everything store in Murphys today, Maisie Blue. They have lovely books, yarn, tea, stationary, soaps. Seriously, I don't buy any yarn usually (due to my stash!!), but I always support them by buying a summer book and plenty of other knick nacks. I did NOT succumb to the coloring books you guys are all into. I just can't have anymore hobbies. I'm trying to pretend this workout thing is a hobby (aren't you supposed to LOVE a hobby? I'm hoping someday it will be easier and I'll love it....for now...I do it and it IS getting easier). But they even had tiny pocket book versions, you know, for when you are at the doctor's office and just want to color. Love it!



I was actually a little nervous I wouldn't find something and then I turned the corner. How could I doubt my favorite shop? They never fail me! I love me some Orla Kiely!

My summer pick was this lovely choice. How could I resist the setting of Connemara, Ireland? I'll keep you posted if it was any good. I really wanted to get the books that inspired Granchester on PBS, but I don't read enough these days! But I added them to my wish list. Check on the Maisie Blue Blog for some other great book inspiration.

Lastly, do you follow my on instagram? I'm irishgirlieknits over there. Do I follow you? Sometimes I don't always put everyone's ravelry IDs/blog names/twitter/IG names together. So I figures a little Instagram contest would be fun. And since I'm in Blue Lakes Springs for vacation, why not do a free pattern giveaway contest of the Blue Lakes Spring Shawlette Pattern?



Here are the details from THE INSTAGRAM POST WHERE YOU NEED TO COMMENT:

Let’s have some fun!! Pattern Giveaway time! Since I’m on vacation in Blue Lake Springs this week I’ll giveaway 10 free patterns of this Shawlette of the same name for every 50 comments on this Instagram post until Wed 8/5. Feel free to spread the word or repost! To enter to win: 1) make sure you are following me 2) leave a comment or rav ID and 3) tag a friend or two who might like to win too.

Ok. Back to vacation for me. I hope you guys are having a fabulous week!! Love you!!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good Things.

And just like that, July is almost over. Summer seems to be flying by, doesn't it? I'm trying to savor every moment I can. Lots of good things happening this month... a few highlights.

1. First, if you follow me on instagram, you already saw this one. I posted that it was a pretty awesome work day because I had just gotten my business license for starting my private practice here in the Bay Area providing behavioral and educational consultation to families and children with autism. Yes, that means I'm staying here in the Bay Area.



2. But this guy was here last week for a job interview. Crossing fingers.



3. And staying here means more time with Magpie. Goodness, her smile just melts my heart.





4. I've also been able to focus on my health. Thank you all so much for your kind comments on my post last week! It has been awesome to have friends and knitters join in my challenge groups too- we're doing this together!



5. I've been really enjoying time to cook healthy recipes too. I'm finding the 21 Day Fix program something I can LIVE on!



I made all that!! Well, not the strawberries. The most requested recipe has been for those fabulous blueberry muffins (no sugar or flour?!??! well, almond flour doesn't count in my book) . Here's the recipe.



The entire family loved the Taco Turkey Meat from the new Fixate cookbook. Plus it is one of the 2 for one meals...you make Grandmas's Marinara Sauce and use it in the Taco Meat, and now I have the Marinara Sauce made for another recipe too. Quite a few of the recipes are like that.



6. I also released a new design last week. Kenmare Lace Hat is on sale for one more day! This hat is knit with the lovely Anzula Croquet, a new yarn that was released at TNNA. It is just fabulous and I loved the drape!






And there is an awesome special if you combine it with the Kenmare Lace Fingerless Gloves.



7. This weekend we leave for vacation at the cabin. This will be my view pretty much everyday.



I can't wait!!

What good things are going on with you guys as this month is winding down? I'd love to hear.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Blink

Summer seems to be flying by with the blink of an eye. I can't wait to show you pictures from my fabulous trip to New York City, as quick as it was, but that trip deserves its own post. In the meantime, a few happy things I've been wanting to share, including a new design and a SALE (scroll down if you want to get right to that!).

A week with views like this were wonderful.







It was Little Guy's first time at the cabin and I think he had a blast! I know Grandma, Lil' Snow, and I had a great time having him with us!











But with four kids, Auntie IGK needed some down time too.





Two grandmas, one auntie, four kids. It was a week filled with sun, swimming, ice cream, Harry Potter movies, limited wifi and cell phone coverage, reading, lazy mornings, knitting, board games, crafts (teaching the kids how to latch hook and the girls finally learned to knit!), and fun.






I released a new design this weekend, Lowney. A sock design for Plucktember, the month long celebration (September) celebrating all things Plucky Knitter! Be sure to check out the Plucky Knitter Group on Ravelry to read more about it, including this thread, where there is a special KAL for the Lowney Sock!









And to celebrate Plucktember, I'm offering 30% off all of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs (patterns priced $6.00 or less) through the end of August, when you enter the coupon code: PLUCKY2014   (you'll need to enter the coupon code on ravelry).

I hope you guys have been enjoying your summer too! I'd love to hear what you have been up to! Let's be sure to enjoy this last week or two!

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

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 (20 & 21/52)

First, I want to wish the wonderful dads in my life a very Happy Father's Day!!





Now time for some happy the past two weeks....

• hanging out with the girls and finishing some knitting

• watching Lil Snow read at her last day of school writing celebration. So proud!

• magical knits that appear in the mail from my wonderful friends and sample knitters! I could not have survived the past few weeks without them! Thank you thank you!  The Blue Lake Springs Shawlette is from Josie and knit in the lovely Anzula Dreamy....isn't it gorgeous?!

• speedy test knitters have made me so happy with each mistake they find :) 

• doggies :)  Enough said.

 What has been making you guys happy this week?

Happy happy!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits