I read through the grapvine about the whole "Alpha Mom" craze.  I will be emailing them (contact@alphamom.com) my thoughts, which fall along similar lines as the following opinions, and perhaps other Mommas should too.

Julie at A Little Pregnant
Denise at Knitting Without Needles
Lisa at The Rage Diaries
Jenny at The Creative Tech Writer

Okay, life in LeahLand has been sucking.  I've been sick, Itty has been teething, Husband and I have been fighting.  I just don't wanna talk about it.  As a result of it all very little knitting has been done.  I do have a bunch of stitch markers I'm sending out today for various things.  I also have the cardigan for Itty finished, just need to sew the sleeves on.

Also, I need to post my answers for the Gimme Some Needle Exchange hosted by Catherine:

1. What do you like to knit or crochet? (socks, sweaters, etc.) My favorite thing to knit right now islace things.  I really need to rest on that a little though and get myself a sweater started.
2. What fibers do you like? Merino baby.  Would love to try some silk blends someday.
3. What type of needles do you use most often? I use them all but I gotta say I love my Addi Turbos ;) 
4. Do you like to knit in the round? Hell ya! 
5. Do you use a magic loop method or any other we should know about? Are you interested in learning a new method? I would love to learn magic loop and as soon as I get up the courage to try socks I think I'll try 
7. Do you have a favorite place that you shop online? (knitpicks.com, knitpixie.com, jimmybeanswool.com....)? Nope (though Morehouse Farm holds a special place in my heart)

Okay, I'm sick, so this isn't going to be a real update... just a quickie because looking at the computer screen is making me want to throw up.

First, two more packages from SP! 1) the cutest knitting cards ever.  I've already used the teeny tiny one for some stitch markers I gave to a local knitting friend.  2) Shrinky Dink Tags!  They are so freakin cool... they have my button on them and say "Hand knitted especially for you by Leah M."  Isn't that sweet?

I want to make a Baby Bobbie Bear.  Can I buy the pattern online?

Finally, I'm so excited:


WOOT!

So have I achieved status yet?  I think maybe so (expecially on my Xanga!)

I have so much to catch you all up on, I promise promise promise to try and get pictures up here soon.

Cozy: Cozy has, unfortunately, been put on hold for the time being.  I love it, adore it and am not sad to make it last a little longer, but other things have kinda "come up." *heh*

DB Cardigan: The cardigan I started for Itty is well underway.  This became a priority when I realized that if I don't hurry she's going to outgrow it before I finish it!  The body is complete and I'm about 2" into the arms.  I made some slight adjustments to the pattern so far... nothing to the design, just basically used a 3-needle bind off for the shoulders and was GOING to knit the sleeves in the round until I decided I wanted to knit them both at the same time and don't know how to do that in the round.  It will be my next FO.

Charlotte v2.0: I started Charlotte for my SP5 this last weekend.  The Alpaca Cloud is significantly finer than Koigu KPPPM so I went down to a size 3 needle and I have a feeling this is going to take me a LONG time to finish because I have no idea how many extra rows I'm going to have to tack on to make it an acceptable size.  I want to make this as part of her final package which I hope to send out towards the end of August.  Luckily I'm much more at ease with this pattern this time around... had I tried it this way the first time (finer yarn, smaller needles, single color) I would have surely given up.  I've already finished the first pattern set and haven't had to frog once :)

Packages... thank you!!!

First off I received my stitch markers from my Bead It 2 Pal!  They are too cute... I really like one in particular that has little clear beads but they're lined with pink!  Thank you Rebecca!!!

Also, I got the coolest prize IN THE WORLD from Katt for winning the contest on her site.  She sent me scrapbooking paper themed for a baby girl!  She also sent a little teddy bear punch (that Itty has claimed and gets all torked when I try to take it away and actually use), a pink and orange stuffed pony (which Itty has also claimed and will not go to bed without), TimTam's (which very quickly disappeared, that TimTam Slam thing royally rocks!), PLUS 4, count 'em, 4 skeins of yarn!  3 which are destined to become a scarf because they're a beautiful purple colorway that is begging to be paired up with some chenille yarn I have, one that is a rainbow sock yarn for when I actually get up the nerve to try knitting socks (any pattern advice for a sock knitting virgin?).  Oh goodness, I hope I didn't forget anything... because that was just the most generous prize ever!

Get this, I got a THIRD package!  Suzie (my Bead It 2 giftee) sent me a reciprocal RAOK!  How sweet is that?  Not only did I get more stitch markers, but I also got a sheepy Pez keychain (an undisclosed favorite of mine... I love Pez!... mmm, strawberry).  Now, I feel like such a putz, because I know that wasn't all, but my brain isn't working and I can't remember what else she sent (color me embarassed).  I have it all together though so I can take a pic.

Now, on to a few more current events... did I mention to you that I've decided not to make the Grace pattern from DB Cotton Angora collection?  I was gonna, because I love it, but it has no shape.  It's just so boxy and the last thing I need is be made to look bulkier than I already am... so, I have 19 skeins of Rowan AS-Cotton that I need an idea for.  Perhaps Katy or Mary from the same book?  Man, I really just need to buy the darn book.

Anyway, I think that about covers it!

P.S. Y'all remember traffic court?  Well, it's a long story that I think I'm going to post on my Xanga since it's been so long neglected (and since technically this is my knitting blog).

I'm here, just very busy.  Life getting in it's own way... blog next week, promise!

First off, my UPS man is HOT.  If I weren't a married woman, I'd be all over that :)

Okay, now really.  The postal service has been very kind to me as of late!  First, last Saturday I received a RAOK from Catherine over at Knittin' Around.  I'm so excited!  She sent me some Berroco Dante in one of the prettiest colorways I've come across!  It was pinks and greys... it's already resulted in a FO!  See, that's why I didn't post about it sooner, because I was so close to being done Monday night that I knew I could finish it off Tuesday morning.  Well, I did!  But I didn't have time to get a picture taken because I was running late.  So, I got home with Itty last night and went to take a picture of her modeling the FO... and Husband took the camera with him overseas!  I'm so ticked!  I was so excited to show you all the adorable little apron top and now I have to wait until NEXT WEEK, when Husband returns.  *sigh*  Sorry Cath!  Anyway, yes, I made another little apron top like the pink one I made before, except this one is much prettier because of the beautiful yarn you sent.  I used pink ribbons to tie the back and neck.

In other Knitty Cath news... go sign up for the needle exchange!  I know I'm gonna ;)

Speaking of needles, and the post man... I got ANOTHER package from my SP last night!!!  In full self restraint mode, I type this not in all caps like I really really really really really really want to, but I say to you very calmly.  I. Got. Turbo. Addis.  Yes my friends, SP sent me size 6 Turbo Addis!  This is too perfect for many many reasons.  Would you like me to name a few?  Ha!  To bad, I'm going to anyway... 1) Dude, I just love Turbo Addis.  2) I only have size 5 and 8 Addis.  3) Several of the patterns I want to make call for size 6 needles.  4) Last weekend my Garth (doggy) decided that my only pair of size 6 needles (that were bamboo) would be a great chew toy, rendering me 6-less.  Thank You SP!!!

So, I'm going to make another Charlotte, using Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud (a solid color Charlotte).  This yarn is much finer than Koigu... should I double up or should I use smaller needles and more stitches?  I'm having a difficult time making this decision, thus I haven't started yet.

Finally, in non-knitting news:

Itty actually says "Bye Bye" when she waves now.  That is so cute.

I just got my Creative Memories Business cards last night (thank you Yummy UPS Man) and I'm "official."  I know, I'm a dork, but I'm excited.

Husband is overseas for a week.  He doesn't return until next Tuesday night.  I hate that.

Traffic court for the PMRTFO speeding ticket is tomorrow morning.

---

Quickie update no.1:

Knit Happens (a local yarn store) is having their summer store sale.  EVERYTHING in stock is 20% off with online coupon 05ssum06.  You may recall me promting you all to indulge in Koigu Kersti... with this coupon it's only $9.40 a skein (unlike the $11 I paid).

So... What have I been up to?  Well, first off, I'm making great progress on Cozy.  I am ready to start skein 6 of 7 and I luuuurrrrvvve it.  It's such a simple pattern, but I haven't lost interest in it.  I can't wait to get it finished and see what it looks like blocked so I can bask in all its glory.

Second, in lieu of starting my Grace cardigan (for which I do not yet have the pattern, but I do have the yarn) I started a little cardigan for Itty from Debbie Bliss' The Baby Knits Book using Patton's Grace (sorry, couldn't find a picture).  I already owned the pattern, the yarn and the needles for this project so I figured, why not, and stuck to the "diet."  Now, I've heard/read people say that they don't like using 100% cotton because it makes their hands hurt.  I never understood that because I've used 100% cotton before without a problem... maybe it's the size 3US needles I'm using, maybe it's the Patton's Grace, and maybe it's a combination of the two... but damn, I can only do a couple of rows at a time before my hands are killing me!  *sigh*  I just wish I could afford to use Addi Turbos exclusively.

Oh!  On Saturday I received my first package from my SP for SP5!  She sent me The Harlot's book :)  I've been wanting to get a copy, but a diet is a diet is a diet and I was going to have to wait.  My pal also received her package and I wish I could tell you what's in it but I don't want to give myself away.

Speaking of packages, my Bead It Two pal received hers yesterday... so if you're so inclined you can go see my handy work on Suzie's Page.  *Note to my Bead It Two Gifter... I haven't received your package yet, but maybe today!

Other than all that, I've kinda been working on my Creative Memories stuff trying to get the ball rolling with it.  I have a couple of people that I work with that are going to host shows for me and I'm really quite excited.  Perhaps I'll start a scrapbook dedicated exclusively to my knitting works!  Like a portfolio of sorts *ha!*

So, Thank you all for all your encouragement with my SP5 issues.  I really do feel a lot better.  I sent off a little something to her already but can't tell you what lest she happen upon my blog :)  I CAN, however, tell you what I'm putting together for the final package (bit by bit) since when she gets it it will be the reveal anyway.  So, this is what I've thought of so far: 

[edited out because I got paranoid]

Speaking of packages, I was really a prime customer at my post office this week.  I not only sent out my SP5 package, but I also sent out stitch markers for Bead It 2 and some baby yarn (left over from the miserably failed seed stitch baby blanket) to Deneen because she makes baby blankets for charity.

I need to work on getting a few more pictures up (thank you for all your kind comments).  In regard to some of the questions I've received.  The blue shawl is Koigu KPPPM, but I don't happen to have the color number one me and the pattern is from About.com.  I used that pattern and made it wider and longer to create the stole.  Then Cozy is Koigu Kersti (see a theme here?) and I absolutely adore it.  I'll be updating my Gallery as soon as I remember to get a picture of Itty in her Crumpets.

In official non-knitting news: I'm signing a contract to become a Creative Memories consultant this weekend.  I'm terrified about not being able to find a client base, but these days, any extra money is good.  It certainly helps that I love the products... right?  I guess we'll see!

Okay, I'm a little nervous about SP5 and would like some input.  As I've only been knitting since the end of January, I still consider myself a newbie knitter.  I have never participated in anything like the Secret Pal's program and I have some general questions/concerns.  I know it specifically states in the instructions that there is a $50 total limit on this, but after glimpses of what went around at the end of SP4 I have no idea how people managed to keep all that great stuff around $50... not to mention any previous goodies that were sent.  I'm afraid I really DO have to stick to the budget, otherwise Husband will absolutely freak out.  Here's where I'm concerned, I don't want my assigned buddy to be disappointed.  What if I don't live up to her expectations?  I don't want to just send one big "ta-da" package, but... oh bleh.  I suppose I'll just have to see how it goes.

In the meantime, have some knitting.

Finished shawl/stole for co-worker's sister who has cancer:


The beginnings of a beautiful Cozy (If I were a yarn... THIS is the very exact yarn I would be.  My would would be this very colorway.):

So, I forgot all my pictures... except one ;)



I had just washed her soakers this weekend and Husband thought it'd be funny to put it on her head... apparently she thinks so too.