"Me" Time

I get up every morning at 4:30 - yes, that's a.m. - to have some quiet time. While sipping on my first cup of coffee of the day, I list an item on LivvySue (have you seen our new flouncy skirts?), check my Facebook account, and then knit and listen to podcasts.

True, I should be getting up and working out (those extra 5 pounds gained from the endless buffet on the cruise are still clinging to my hips). But I've found this hour or so in the morning is exactly what I need to start my day off right - running can wait for evening.

There's something about the stillness of early morning hours that is calming. Knitting is meditative in and of itself - the rhythmic clicks center me. In fact, this is the only time of the day that is mine and that I control - each knit, purl, and cable. Even if the rest of the day is a chaotic mess, at least I had this time, which makes the rest seem more tolerable somehow.

Some of my favorite podcasts to listen to during this "me" time are:

Never Not Knitting: Instantly connected to the host, Alana, who has a daughter about Olivia's age. She has impeccable pattern taste, and I've found myself knit-stalking by casting on several of the same projects she has done. 

Knitmore Girls: This "mother-daughter knitting production" is chalk-full of great information on technique. Plus, I secretly hope some day Olivia is as in to knitting as I am and will want to hang out with me like Jasmin hangs with her mom, Gigi. 

Stash and Burn: Jenny and Nicole are hysterically funny talking about their weakness for buying yarn. Completely relatable, they are the most in touch of any podcast as to what it means to be a young knitter today. 

Search on iTunes to listen for free.

Bon Voyage

I was barely home in February. Work kept me on the road, and then we went on a cruise the last week of the month to celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary (where did the time go?). I'm happy to be grounded and getting back to normal - as normal as life can be with a 20-month-old ruling the roost.

Traveling is the perfect time to sneak knitting in. I hit a couple great local yarn stores while in Boston and Chicago. A Good Yarn in Boston is located on a corner of a busy college-town street. Their selection was fantastic - many of my favorite brands like Noro and Rowan and some new to me like Claudia's Handpainted. I ended up buying what I know - Rowan 100% cotton to make Olivia a summer top from this Fruit Loop pattern.

Zora's Yarn in Chicago is located in the front part of the owners home. How lovely would it be to be surrounded by all that fiber goodness? She carries Malabrigo, which I had heard was the end all be all kettle-dyed merino wool but had not touched it in person. Well, let's just say it's everything they said it would be; I walked out with a sweaters worth to make the Lush and Lacy Cardigan.

In LivvySue news, we are thrilled for our new Kimono top to be featured by fellow blogger Elle Bella. Please check it out and post a comment on her site. We're also on her Etsy favorites. Thank you for the kind feature!