Happy New Year!

Looking back at this year I am quite pleased. My knitting classes are picking up and gaining interest. I'm so very thankful to the Beverly's store here in San Jose and especially to it's manager, Carol, for allowing me to set up my own little space for my classes.

I've also got a few projects I'm working on and hoping to see come to pass in the new year. One being a secret book concept. That's all I can say for now, so stay tuned for more info in the coming future.


Guinevere Evening Cardigan by Julie Turjoman

I guess one of my resolutions would also be to finally knit myself a sweater! It seems I'm always knitting projects for other people, so I've decided I should treat myself! I'm thinking about using the "Guinevere Evening Cardigan" pattern from Julie Turjoman's pattern store. She was wearing this Cardi when I met her and I loved it!

My first class of the year is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 8th. I've also added a Knitting Cables class to this month's schedule. So be sure to check my calendar for dates and times!

Until next time... goodbye 2010 and hello 2011! I'll see you all next year!

One Sheepish Girl's gift to YOU!

There's nothing better than hand knitted fingerless gloves! I've actually knitted up quite a few of them myself lately. This is why I was so excited when I happened upon One Sheepish Girl's blog this evening! She is hosting a totally awesome giveaway for a pair of sock monkey wrist warmers.

Visit her blog, One Sheepish Girl for your chance to win as well!

This giveaway ends on Jan. 2nd and the winner will be announced on Jan. 5. It's even open internationally.

I'm walking 60 miles in the Breast Cancer 3-Day!

I have taken on an incredible challenge. On October 2 - 4, I’ll be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men taking this journey with me.

It’s for an event called the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant. They are working hard to build a future without breast cancer, and I plan on raising at least $2300 to help bring us closer to that goal.

Please consider making a donation.

Without a cure, one in eight women in the U.S. will continue to be diagnosed with breast cancer. That’s why I’m walking in the 3-Day. Because everyone deserves a lifetime.

To make a donation, go to http://www.the3day.org/goto/christinechen. I would like to reach my fundraising goal by July 1st, so don’t delay!

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for your support!

I miss you Dana!

I'm in TOTAL shock tonight after finding out that a dear friend of mine from my past has gone on to be with the Lord. Now I know why the emails I sent her bounced back and she didn't return my calls. We had lost touch and I was trying to reconnect with her. I Googled her name this evening and found this:

Dana Lynn Schaadt, 44, of Shawnee, KS., passed away Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at her home.
Dana was born May 16, 1964 in Larned, Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas. Dana was blessed with an extraordinary ability to care for others. Always sharing her joy for life in an outgoing and graceful way. She was a beautiful daughter, sister, aunt, mother, wife and a friend to all she met. Tender and steadfast she was a faithful child of God and light to everyone she knew. She was a reader, lover of poetry and country girl at heart and will be sorely missed.
Dana is survived by her loving husband, Michael, two sons, Christopher Michael and Corey Jefferson Schaadt, of the home. Her parents, Ronald and Mary Bryant, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, two sisters and their husbands, Noelle & Grant Beck, Leawood, Kansas, and Marla & Chris Johnson, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, her nieces and nephews, godchildren, and her many dear friends.

You are dearly missed Dana!

Gone too soon...

House hunting in the Bay Area

I just wanted to provide a quick update to all of my loyal readers and to also apologize for not posting more frequently! The last couple of months have been quite an adventure!
As I mentioned previously, I took my kiddos back home to spend Christmas in Oklahoma with my family whom I hadn't seen in 2 years. We had a wonderful time! It was great seeing my brother and sister and all the nieces and nephews again. I just wish I could go back more often! My mom bought me the Knifty Knitter looms as a Christmas gift, so I've been trying them out. Is it considered cheating to use a loom? I made my first practice hat in one evening!
Anyways, since returning to the Bay Area it seems we've been on a non-stop roller coaster ride house hunting. It turns out that we are now back to square one, but maybe it's for the best! The deal is now off on the home that we were trying to close on. But we have also decided to check into some single family homes now instead of the manufactured pre-fabs that we had been looking at. It's going to cost more, but it will be wonderful to have a yard for the kids to play in again! It's been fun going to Open Houses and looking at homes, but I'm hoping that we actually find something soon. We've been renting for over a year now and it will be so nice to finally find a place that we can call our own again! I hated leaving our home in Illinois.
I will keep you all updated on the progress. We are going to view some more homes this weekend. Until then... I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the New Year!

Been away too long!!!

I apologize for the lapse in time since my last post! Much has been going on around here! I spent 2 weeks with my family back home in Oklahoma for Christmas and had a wonderful time! It had been 2 years since I'd been home to visit my mom and sister. I think it had even been longer since I'd seen my brother. So it was a much needed visit!
After returning home on New Years day we started house hunting again. And we are now in the process of deciding what to do. We thought we had found our new home, but some issues have come up that we may not be able to resolve with the sellers. I sure hope it's not going to be back to square one!
In the meantime, I've been working on crocheting a little travel blankie for a friend's daughter. It has given me some much needed crochet therapy! I always do a few rows before bedtime to help me unwind after the hectic days I've had recently. ;)
So, it's not that I've been neglecting this blog purposefully, it's that I just haven't had the time to sit down and take the time to post what I would like to! Please bear with me as we get through our real estate issues. I plan to be back in the swing of things in no time! Thanks for your patience!!!

Vote Today and get Free Starbucks Coffee?

Just a reminder to everyone that today is Election Day! Get out there and Vote if you haven't already! I Did!
Also did you know that several businesses are offering FREE perks to those wearing an "I Voted" sticker? Now, there’s no excuse not to vote!
Big businesses like Starbucks (coffee), Ben & Jerry’s (ice cream), and Krispy Kreme (star-shaped doughnuts with red, white and blue sprinkles) are handing out tasty treats!
Will you take advantage of the freebies?