Friday night we had our pregnant friends over for dinner and we learned how to play Euchre. I'm not sure what variation we were playing, but it was pretty fun and the guys were so manic depressive about winning and loosing, it was hilarious.

This weekend we didn't go sailing, but moved the boat to our new marina in Ballard and we stayed the night there, which felt a bit like we went somewhere. We did quite a bit of shopping and found some awesome deals on returned shoes at the REI returns area. I got myself a high quality pair of Bolle sunglasses for the Cancun sun and pledged not to scratch the lenses too soon.

Tonight I get my "used" Digital SLR! Hopefully I can dazzle you all with some nifty photos. I hope to get better at Photoshop too, but that may be a while.

I tried out Famous Dave's Tanner last night and although it wasn't perfumed like the other tanners I've tried at first, the smell of the chemical reacation wasn't avoided later. It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't nice. I definitly need a second coat to hide the splotchy areas I didn't do a good job on. I also didn't wash my hands long enough and they are orange. This hasn't been a problem with other tanners, and even though I used a scrub to wash, I think maybe soap and longer scrubbing was what I should have done. I think this is stuff is good, I just need to work around the kinks so I don't have any over "tanned" areas.

2 days until Cancun!!

This weekend my knitting pattern is in the Stitch N Bitch Page-a-Day calendar. If you want to see variations of the socks and you have a ravelry account, you can see them here.

I think it's time for me to cast on for a pair of socks this weekend. It's been much to long! Hmmm, what pattern will I choose...

Today it's FOUR months until our wedding. Did time speed up?

Here is our list of what's left TO DO rather than all we've done. I did update the other list I posted though if you want those details.

• Finalize wedding music list
• Book DJ
• Purchase more wine
• Draw map for invitation
• Invitations - mail by 5/10
• Flower girl basket decoration
• Flower girl dress (Mom making)
• Borrow air mattresses for extra house guests (early July)
• Bustle dress
• Order tux and get measurements from Anders and Jonas
• Final menu - meet with caterer
• Decorating plan
• Logistics, helper assignments
• Make cake topper birds
• Hair appointment
• Try on jewelry with dress
• Finish knitting wedding stole
• Scan all childhood photos and print for display
• Finalize ceremony and make sure Chris has "minister certificate"
• Do a site walk-through (June)
• Get wedding license (July)
• Order cake (June)
• Make programs (late June)
• Assemble favors and decide on candy
• Register for flatware at Macy's, go over Amazon.com registry with Jesper
• Buy orchids from Trader Joe's (week of) + assemble centerpieces
  
  Not a bad list for 4 months to go! My goal is to make this super smooth and stress free.

I am 3/8 through my wedding stole, I can't wait to finish this first side, the is going to be perfect airplane knitting. I think I better pick out a back-up knitting project as well. We leave for Cancun in exactly one week for Amy's wedding. Woo hoo! I booked an excursion after reading great reviews on TripAdvisor. I love how you can see candid photos from people who visit and load them onto TripAdvisor, it makes your expectations more realistic.
We are also going to stay two nights on Isla Mujeres. This trip should be excelent fun and relaxing too. Maybe my fake tanner will come in time.

We are going to go sailing this weekend. It's been a longest we've ever not been out. We haven't gone since November I think. When we return from the weekend, we are going to have a new marina in Ballard. We're excited to explore "Old Ballard" more this summer.

This weekend was mostly elvolving around my friend Amy's bachelorette party which was quite wild and crazy. Before the party even started, I locked my keys in my car, which I am always extra careful not to do, and now I am a AAA member. The bright side though is that my back passenger door was stuck closed and the locksmith was able to help us get the child safety lock off so the door will at least open from the inside now.

I am getting very excited to plant more in the backyard. I got some creeping flowers to go near our rock sided stairway in the backyard and I am poising to plant the garden. I've been hearing about not eating food from a garden where a cat has used it as a toilet. I will have to see if Stella ventures that far. Mainly she stays on the higher level of the yard. There is another cat that has been checking out our yard, but I don't think it's going to be a problem.

Jesper and I have learning swing dancing. Well, we already know how, but we are expanding our "moves." It's been pretty fun and the class is close to home after dinner on a Tuesday night so it's pretty easy to fit in. I'm looking forward to doing more swing dances on the Eastside this year. The Century Ballroom in Seattle is the best, but it makes for a very late Sunday night. Our teachers are very good, Eastside Swing Dance.

This morning I rode my Vespa to work for the first time this winter. Unfortunately, I had to get a jump start twice before I got to work and there's a 80% I'll need a jump start to get home tonight. I guess it's time for a new battery. I tried the kick start method but it wasn't successful. There must be a special technique to it. It's definitely a way to warm up on a cool winter morning though!

Also, thanks to the tip from Poor Miss Finch, I bought KT Tunstall tickets today. We don't go to many concerts, but Jesper and I are sentimental about her music since we discovered her the night we got engaged.

Our wedding night hotel is booked.

Hotel 1000

This weekend Jesper had Strep throat with a 103+ fever, so no sauna progress. I did get further on the stole, now on the 3rd skein of 8. I ran the St. Paddy's Dash 5K. The first time I've done a fun run without stopping to walk. I even sprinted to the end! Ouch what a side ache I gave myself though.

We picked out the paper and envelopes for our invitations last night. I'll start cutting up a sample soon.

Other exciting news...I am going to have a digital SLR soon!
Specifically, a Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi

My copy of the 2008 Stitch N Bitch calendar FINALLY came! My pattern is on March 28-30. That was fun, but for $25, not sure it was my claim to fame. I imagine I'll be getting more blog hits on that day so I better shape up and put up some more knitting photos. If you don't have the calendar and want the pattern, you can get it here.

Bavarian Rockstar Sock Pattern

I haven't had any time to design a new pattern since we bought our house, but maybe someday I'll do something else. I wanted to do a baby sweater design. There are so many great patterns out there now that are even easier to find because of Ravelry.

Last night I finished by second pirate hat, in black and white, but just need to sew up the brim and hide the ends. It's pretty big, I'm not sure if I'll felt it a bit or not, I think I'll take it sailing and see how I like wearing it. It's sort of for Jesper, but really, we'll just throw it in the pile of hats on the boat.

We've got all the windows in the sauna and put in the tile floor. This weekend is going to be another push for sauna progress. The tile floor, setting it, took only 20 minutes. We did it on an impulse and did the math in the isle at Lowe's. The tile is the same slate that we have in the house. It's nice to add that consistency.
Of course, the grouting will take quite a bit longer.

A fun photo from Jen's wedding, in the witness box in the courtroom. We didn't actually sit there for the official bit, just for fun.

I finished sewing up the curtains ast night while watching the season finale of Project Runway.

Jesper and I decided we need to cook at home more, so this weekend we had some yummy meals. I followed these instructions and made a fine grilled steak (even though we left it on the grill a little longer than we meant to). The saltiness was perfect, equal to potato chips. I was trying to recreate an amazing steak I had last September at Matt's in the Market. I made some excellent mashed potatoes that went with the steak perfectly.

Diana's Mashed Potatoes
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes (about 2 large potatoes)
1/4 cup cream cheese
2 Tab fresh grated parmesean cheese
2 Tab. Margarine
Add Garlic salt to taste

Mash together thoroughly.

Sunday night I made a roast chicken for the first time. What?! Why had I never done this before?? It was so delicious! It took as long to prepare as it did to pre-heat my oven. I'll definitely be doing this more and will stop buying the greasy rotisserie chickens. It's two days later and I'm still in shock that I never did this before. When trying something classic like this I always turn to my Joy of Cooking book. It is the best reference I have.

Tonight I am going to try this recipe for the steak leftovers.

Last night I sewed up 1 curtain panel for our basement sliding door. Jesper erected the curtain rod which put me in motion to sew the fabric up. It looks pretty good. He's volunteered to sew the curtain strap to pull them back.

Here's the bouquet I made, it turned out beautiful.