Somehow, even though I was sure I was on a quest for project fidelity, I ended up working on three WIPS simultaneously. First up. we have Jules:Almost done the first sock, I just need to do the toe decreases. And the second sock, of course! I'm not worried- I don't suffer from second sock syndrome. To be honest, I don't quite get it- I hardly ever hear of anyone suffering from second sleeve syndrome, and it's basically the same thing. Then we have The Eyelet Ribbed Bandeau (ravelry link). This should have been finished ages ago, but when on the final button band, I misplaced the magazine with the pattern for a full three weeks. And after the first week of the pattern being MIA, I decided to cast on for.....Lelah. Because apparently I cannot have enough white, hand-knit tube tops. I'm noticing that I really slacked off over the Sunday Self Portraits, and for those of you who found them interesting, I'm sorry! I will get back to them soon. In the meantime, here are some choclate raspberry cupcakes that I hope make up for it: the chocolate buttercream icing was made up on the fly at about 6:30 this morning, and turned out less than perfect in looks, but top notch in taste. Yum! Those funny looking muffin wrappers? Those are my new silicone muffin cups, and I can't say enough great things about them. They baking perfectly, slide off the cupcake with ease (no losing cupcake stumps to clingy paper wrappers!), and are washable and reusable. I love them!

I might as well say it, I'm a sucker for fashion magazines. I don't think a day goes by when I haven't flipped through one. Today it just so happened to be in line at shoppers drug mart and with InStyle. I love the bulk of that magazine, nice and solid. 4 pages in I see this:

Striped Halter Sweater Was: $39.00 Now: $24.99 I was lost at first glance. Suddenly, I was looking out onto an ocean cove where my lover is on the beach. The wind carries the scent of spice, salt and citrus. I can see my buff (and shirtless) Matteo wannabe and he's waving to me from behind a giant grill filled with fish that, naturally, he has speared himself. "Shoppers Optimum Card? Miss, do you have a Shoppers Card?" Aaaaaaand we're back in line. Not on a yacht, not wearing this magnificent halter but in front of a man who needs a shower in the worst way. But the knit! It's hard not to like this one, mmm? It comes in two colors And the stripes! The stripes I welcome in earnest. I'm digging the casual nautical vibe and at $24 it's a steal! Other than the fitted waist, it's a lot like the Berroco Lippit one you might know. What would it take... more waist definition and stripes? Finer gauge and a thicker ribbed band? Thoughts?

It was very hard to ignore these ads due to the fact that a) She looks like a total nutter b) Forget-me-nots are my all time favorite flower and c) THOSE LOOK LIKE GRANNY SQUARES! So maybe they're not actually granny squares. But it's fun to think that he may have been inspired by one of crochets simplest and most recognizable forms. Some real forget-me-nots from the last brunch in the beaches. You know what else is amazing? These right here. I picked up as many as I could graciously manage and then a few more last fall visiting Kevin at Toronto's interior design show. I pretended to be "Tiffany Rose" who had left the porn industry in hopes of making it as an interior decorator. (Kidding!) Tiffany is actually a co-worker of Kevin's and I thank her for letting me play designer. I can't wait to plant them on our new rooftop patio :D In other celeb worthy news, Kate Bosworth takes on the grey cardi. I've been informed by other bloggers that the dress on the left is from H&M. Then she went head-to-toe Chloe. Purse, bag, dress, shoes, glasses-everything Chloe. I'm not a fan of this knit. Usually I love ugly chunky knits but this doesn't do it for me. Lets dissect. Simple garder, or more of a prime rib/brioche combo for the texture around the arms and waist/chest? The seaming is horrendous. I'd shoot myself if I seamed that badly. Designer-schminer IMO. Silver streak from Veronik Avery is much more sophist than this. In particular, I like Sarastus'. I just adore that she shortened the length significantly. Check it out!

click here to print out your coupon * I want to thank Jules for keeping up with the great posts in my post-move absence. I realize that I haven't posted on my Spencer or anything knit related on my side- save for celeb knits- in a looooong while. I'm going to buckle down the next two-three days and churn out some quality posts, scouts honor. Meanwhile, I have some sad family news to share. Marley, the kitten I mothered with Karo had to be put to sleep. The vet said he had a urinary tract infection which more than likely stemmed from the WHISKAS we had been feeding him. Male cats are more prone to this condition, especially those under 2 years. I urge anyone currently feeding their cat this brand to do some more research and even check first with the vet before continuing to do so. :( He was a whippersnapper sure, but no cat has ever come this close to my heart. I miss him and his kitty kisses deeply. Here is a video I took of him the day I taught him to fetch. RIP little fella.

Allison and Kimberley have tagged me in the latest meme that is making the rounds! I admit I like memes, so here we go!

1.) What was I doing ten years ago?
I was 19, and just wrapping up my second year of university at Trent (in Peterborough, Ontario). I flew out to British Columbia and spent a couple weeks in Vancouver and Victoria. I remember being in Lion's Bay, and having breakfast down by the water. Everything in front of me was so vast, and I was sitting on a rock with a bowl of Cheerios. I felt so small, like I could have fit on the head of a pin.

2) What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today:
- shave legs
- sunless tan (I have to wear a sleeveless, knee-length shift dress to a semi-formal dinner tomorrow night, and my pasty limbs need the help)
-set the alarm clock for an hour earlier (have to get up really early tomororw)
- pack my golf clothes and my dinner dress (I work for an organization that has ties with Prince Edward, who is currently in Canada. I'll be at a golf tournament and a dinner with him tomorrow night. Not just me, about 50 other people, too. I'm not golfing, I'll be there in a work capacity)
- pilates
I just realized that's all partially work related, except for the pilates. I don't write lists for non-work stuff!

3) Snacks I enjoy:
- peanut butter, eaten directly from the jar with a spoon
- cereal
- edamame (steamed with a bit of lime juice, salt and pepper- it's heaven!)
- McVittie's chocolate digestive biscuits

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Tell everyone that I got a job as a travel writer, travel, live modestly, and not tell anyone about the billions. Money changes people, and it changes people's perception of you, and I like my life the way it is now. I'd never want my family or friendships to be tainted by suddenly being perceived as a human cashpoint machine. I'd donate a lot to charity,set up some education grants, maybe some programmes for underprivledged kids, pay for schooling for any of my friends or family who needed/wanted it, and buy some beautiful holiday homes around the world. I'd only tell very close friends and family the truth.

Who am I kidding- I'd by myself a black Audi TT and drive on the freaking Autobahn as fast as the car will physically go. Woo-hoo!

5) Places I have lived:
- Sudbury (Canada)
- Peterborough (Canada)
- Istanbul (Turkey)
- Toronto (Canada, and where I currently live)

6) Jobs I have had:
- Shop assistant
- Confidential Secretary
- English Teacher
- Programme Coordinator
- Executive Assistant

Kimberley had a few extra questions added in, so I'll choose my three and list them here:

Q: Do you still sleep with a stuffed animal? We won’t laugh!
A: Yes I do. This is Mr. Weatherby: I'd love to say that I've had him since I was a kid, but the truth is I bought him a year and a half ago when I was going through a difficult time (and by difficult time, I mean the entire calendar year of 2007). It helped a lot, to be honest.

Q: Did you ever watch a scary movie that frightened you so much you were afraid of the dark afterward? I mean like you’re lying in bed trying to sleep, but you have to pee, but you’re scared to get up. It doesn’t have to be recently; could be when you were a kid. So what movie was it?
A: Well, Jen loves scary movies, and makes me watch them more than I would ever choose to! but I have no tolerance for them- I'm particularly creeped out by movies with zombies in them. And as awful as it is to admit, I turn on the bedside lamp whenever I have to get up in the night!

Q: What’s the last book you read that you thought was really super, inspiring, you’d recommend it to most anyone?
A: The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I read it about 4 years ago, and it's still the best novel I've read in years.
Peeps I want to know more about:
Hmmm. I think I've seen this on quite a few blogs already, so I'm not sure who hasn't been tagged. If anyone else wants to fill this out, go ahead and consider yourself tagged. Leave me a comment so I can come read your answers. And if you know of a novel that really rocked your world, tell me what it is so I can put it on my to-read list! Thanks!

The votes are in, and Jules wins! I'll be casting on for Jules in the next couple of days. Thanks everyone for helping me decide!

I've been wanting to bake this recipe ever since I saw it a week ago. Today was that day... I made Strawberry Bread.
Look at how pink the batter gets: And here's a shot of it just before it's baked: and then here's a shot of it after it comes out of the oven:The strawberry bread is basically like a banana bread, in terms of general baking time and recipe structure. It turned out perfectly, but I kept thinking that it would be even better as muffins instead of a loaf. And it would really shorten the baking time (one solid hour in the oven). That, and muffins mean maximum slivered almond consumption. Mmmmm. I will make this again, but in muffin form, and then tell myself it's a very nutritious snack while I devour several of them.
Let's get a close-up, shall we? Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

And since it's Self Portrait Sunday, Here is a shot I took (thank you timer function!) while I was licking the bowl and talking to my mom on the phone.... I haven't quite got the apprehension out of my face about having my photo taken, and that's something I really need to work on. But hey, it's still an accurate shot. Messy kitchen and all!