Featured In Inspire Online Magazine

Can I get a witness?! My keepsake books have been featured in Inspire Online Magazine! You can see the full issue here. I'm on page 17! (And if you want to become a fan of them on Facebook, you can do so right here.)

I'm a little pumped up about this, as you may imagine. The magazine is chock full of all sorts of goodies. I encourage you to take a look. And don't forget to stop by the Etsy shop for your Valentine Keepsake books before they are all gone! Selection is limited, you know. :)

No Autism-Immunization Link After All

I have to first say thanks to Josh for the link to this article. I know it will probably get heated reactions from some, but it makes me nuts that a retraction doesn't get the buzz that the front page stories do. In short, The Lancet states that no large study could recreate the same result as Dr. Wakefield's study did. Of course, the Dr. disagrees. The General Medical Council in the UK says that the Wakefield study can not be trusted. You can watch the Today Show story here for the full report:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Super Scarves 2012

I recently discovered that the knit-signal has been lit for Super Bowl 2012 (you know, like the bat-signal?). Indianapolis is hosting the Super Bowl in 2012 and wants to give away 8,000 scarves to all those who volunteer to help with the Super Bowl happenings. As such, they are asking for knitters to donate their time and hand knit a scarf or two in order for the committee to provide them to all their volunteers.

For more information, you can check out the Host Committee's website. There is no set pattern, but there are patterns available on the website for those who may need a suggestion. There are, however, approved yarn colors (which are, coincidentally, blue and white). I will definitely be sending in a scarf or two. I just love being involved in stuff like this.

Book Review: The Green Book

I don't usually find myself reading kid fiction, but at my child's insistence (and he was extremely persistent) I found myself reading The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh. My son loved it and it has a very fun twist at the end. If your child is at all into mystery or science fiction books, this is a quick read along those line. Fun, futuristic and fair.

Proof of Pregnancy (2)

It’s official, I’ve lost my mind. I can’t remember anything. I misplace things as soon as they leave my sight. I think I’ve done things I haven’t and redo things I’ve already done. I had my loved ones turning the house upside down yesterday for a parking pass I had already put in my bag. It was still there. I’ve been looking for my iPod for 4 days. I found it yesterday in the bag I thought I’d put it in all along. (the same bag – I found the iPod while searching for the parking pass) I can’t tell you how many times I’d looked in there without seeing it.

And then there’s the van. It just stopped running the other day. I thought maybe it was because I hadn’t put oil in it for a while. But then it seemed like maybe the fuel pump was acting up. Then after the shop had seen the van for several days, they called to say the ethanol content of the gas was way off and it has really gummed up the works. Yes. That means I filled up with E-85 the last time. I don’t have an E-85 vehicle. This is a problem.

There is no word yet on when or if the van can be fixed. God help me get through this pregnancy. I’m sure this is how Hayes feels all the time. Poor thing.

First Baby Knits

I have been trying to decide which baby project to knit up first. I don't understand why it's taking me so long to decide, but for some reason, it seems like a monumental decision. (For the record, I told myself I was not going to put mommy-pressure on myself this time. Right.) I mean, whatever I choose can't exactly be gender specific at this point, and I will be giving birth toward the end of summer, so a girl needs to carefully consider these things.

I finally settled on the Saartje's bootees. A fabulous knitting friend of mine ran across this pattern and forwarded it to me. The moment I saw these adorable little shoes I knew I'd be making more than one pair. They will be terrific for early fall and these colors are really fun. And grandmom's vintage buttons are the perfect touch! I see many of these little lovelies in the future.

And for the record, I've started a little hat to match. I love using up my scrap yarn of cute little projects!

Proof of Pregnancy

As many of you know, our family is expecting a new little person round about September. I have been asked many times how I am feeling. And truly I am feeling better than I expected. (I almost hate to admit it, because my Karma is just that sensitive.) I have the occasional wave of nausea, but beyond that and a little sleepiness, I feel like my same old self.

That is, until the woman behind the counter at Archivers (a giant scrapbooking store in town, that holds two crops each weekend) decided she was French and would not, by any means, help me. I give you a copy of an e-mail recently sent to some friends (who I dearly hope to see):

Hello Loves,

I am planning to be at Archivers on Friday, but due to their SEVERE LACK of customer service, I could not register without a credit card (and since my debit card number was stolen and subsequently destroyed, and I only have an AmEx, I don't have said card). NEVER MIND that I have been there 25 times before and never once have I canceled, and no matter how many times I cross my heart and promise to pay, they will NOT put my name in the sacred book. (I could go on, but you get the idea.) So I will just have to take my chances that there will be a seat left for me when I get there. (To which the girl on the phone said, "I'm so sorry." As if there was NOTHING she could do.) And that won't be before 5, as RJH is flying in that day. (Cross your fingers that there are no delays because at that point I may kill someone.) All that to say, I plan to be there on Friday, but the universe may conspire against me. We shall see.... (I may be just a little hormonal.)

Amy H

Vintage Children's Book: Need Help

I remember a book I had growing up which had directions for all sorts of things we could do with boxes and tubes that might otherwise be thrown away. I specifically remember directions for an alligator made from a toothpaste box. Does anyone else out there remember this book? I've tried a quick google search to no avail. I'd love to rediscover it if it's still out there somewhere. Perhaps it was titled "What Can I Do With A Box"? Although my memory is not very helpful on this.