I am a disaster in the kitchen

There are a lot of blogs out there that have posts about cooking--some are sprinkled within general blogs showing off their holiday cookies, while others are strictly to post recipes--great yummy recipes.

For me, there is a reason I don't talk about my cooking--I am a disaster in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong I enjoy baking but sometimes it just isn't in the cards for me and I especially am not a fan of day-to-day cooking.

A few years ago, we remodeled our kitchen--actually we moved the kitchen to a bigger area--and I enjoyed designing the layout, picking out the cabinets, getting the granite, buying new appliances but that doesn't really matter when you are cursed :/

The oven we chose had a convection oven--I am not too sure what that does but it means you have the option to cook some things faster.

This year, my only job for Thanksgiving dinner was to make the pie. Actually, my job was just to bake the frozen pie. But--of course there is a but--the instructions confused me.

See the bolded words that say "conventional", well I read it as "convection". It was after work and I was tired. Luckily, I checked on the pie 60 minutes in and here were the results.

I so hate that oven! Hahaha.  I might be able to just scrape off the top portion that is burnt--so it might be edible :)

Craft Faire goodie

In September, I ordered a crochet hook holder from a seller on Etsy.

(picture from seller's etsy)

I waited about 2 weeks and I hadn't received my item.  So I sent a message through Etsy to the seller.  An automated response came back that the seller was severely ill and if I wanted to wait for my item or request a refund.  I replied that I would wait.  I waited about a month and still nothing.  I went to send another message and the Etsy seller no longer had a shop.  Luckily I "only" spent $12.50 on the item.  I really hope the seller didn't die!  But I did let both Etsy and PayPal know of the non-receipt of the item, just in case the seller just "skipped town" with other people's money!  I let the $12.50 go and didn't go any further with PayPal.  I mean if the seller was severely sick and is in the hospital or going through treatments, I totally wish her the best of luck, but if it was just a scam, then that sucks :(

Anywho...I received an email that there was going to be a Craft Faire in San Jose called Jingle Fest 2011.  I love Craft Faires.  Since it was on Sunday aka husband's football day, I decided to check it out.  It was kinda small, but it was cool to look at all the stuff people make.  There was a bunch of jewelry, that I don't wear, but there were a few booths that sold handmade cards and crochet items.  One booth had the cutest little girl one-of-a-kind dresses.  The one dress I absolutely adored was too small for my youngest niece.

I was about to leave (only stayed about 25 minutes--that is how small it was), when I seen a booth, Firebabe Boutique, that had some crochet hook holders!  Well you can use the case to hold hooks or make-up brushes.  And she even had crayon holders.  Anyway, I picked this one up

I am so excited to finally be able to keep my hooks in order by size!

I left thinking about maybe seeing about selling there next year...if I have a big enough inventory :)

Baby First Yarn

For some reason, I love Lion Brand yarn.  I know there are plenty of people who do not like "cheaper" yarn that can be bought in the big box stores, but I fall in love with a lot of their yarn.

Earlier this year, I bought some Lion Brand Baby's First yarn in beanstalk (horrible picture, but it is a light green color), because I really wanted to make a baby granny square blanket.  Back in March, this was my first try at a baby blanket.

According to this picture, it wasn't too bad of a first try, but it really was not very square.  

I crochet too tight--always have and I don't think I will be able to learn to stop.  So the answer to that problem is to just use a bigger hook.  This pattern called to use a size K hook which is 6.5mm.  The next "normal" size up in the U.S. is an L with is 8.0mm...what happened to 7mm or 7.5mm???  I did a search and 7mm is "normal" in other parts of the world.  Curious, I went to the forums at Ravelry because those ladies have all the answers.  Prior to asking on the forum, I did an online search to see what came up, but everything was pretty pricey and most came from overseas, so delivery was high as well.  I am used to paying under $3 for a hook.  Luckily, I was given better tips on how to search online and I found a place that was in the U.S.  For under $5, I am now the owner of a 7mm hook.  I took apart the first blanket and crocheted it again.

It is a little off still, but I think I need to now learn how to block my items...that should be fun!

 Last Friday, I was complaining that I was unable to find 5 skeins of the same lot in the Baby's First yarn.  Well later that day, I talked my husband into stopping at another Michaels which happened to be 20 miles away (but we were in that neighborhood anyway doing some other shopping) and I lucked out and found 5 skeins of the same lot color!  I can't wait to start a new baby blanket. 

*regarding picture...one, I love using this bag from Kara's Cupcakes to store my yarn and two, for some reason this picture make it look like the skein are not the same shade even though they are supposed to be the same lot...I just think it is the crappy lighting in my craft room.