bigbluedot's Friends

Socks!
This is my first post here although I've been lurking for ages! I thought I would let you see some of the socks I've completed this past year. ( Read more... )

fishnet
my friend and i want to make fishnet type stuff... we've googled and tried a bunch of patterns, but none seem 'right'. also trying different yarn/needle size recommendations. is there another term i could be adding to my search? or do you have a good basic stitch pattern? this seems like it shouldn't be so hard.... THANK YOU

kombucha used as hair tonic?
has anyone tried using very-fermented kombucha as a hair tonic? if so, let me know how much you applied, how often, and if you noticed any difference. i can't imagine it smelling very good, though i have used apple cider vinegar, and the smell fades once my hair dries.

The Far-Away Island
I actually started holiday knitting in September! And have finished a complete project already! (This is utterly unheard of for me. But apparently having a little niece and nephew and wanting to knit sweaters for them both seems to motivate me.)

( FO photos and description )

Current Mood: relaxed

I am thankful:

-for finally knowing my purpose on this Earth
-for being an introvert
-that I survived this day without an accident

Current Mood: content

Another vitamin question..
I'm currently breastfeeding my 7 week old baby and recently ran out of prenatal vitamins. The vitamins I was taking were just drugstore brand cheapies and I realize I could be taking something better.

So..what are your recommendations for a breastfeeding mother? Should I be taking any Omega-3's or vitamin D supplements? How much should I be taking? I live in the northeast and will rarely be outdoors with a baby and a 3 year old so I know I should probably be taking a vitamin D supplement.

Also, my three year old son is an extremely picky eater. He eats a few different fruits and veggies everyday so I'm not worried about that but he absolutely hates dairy (except ice cream). I'm just worried about his calcium intake/vitamin D so any recommendations for him as well are greatly appreciated!

First PAIR of socks!
I finished the first sock a month ago, and then the second took a while coming since I got a two week visitor and got a lot of work I had to finish up. But, I've finally managed to finish the second sock!

FInally I can see why socks are such great little projects. All together I think I finished the second sock in about 5 hours, since it's quite easy once you get the hang of it (but everything is, come to think of it). There is one small mistake on the first sock that you can't see unless it's pointed out to you, and for some reason the slipped stitches on the gusset on the second sock became very large on one side - things to keep in mind for the future, I guess.

Info:
Pattern: Roll Top Socks - note: I did not do the roll-part but started right on the k1,p1.
Needles: Susan Bates DPs, 5US
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in now unknown colorway (I've lost the little info cards since the yarn has been in my stash for about 4 years now).

( Pictures! )

belly ache from chicken?
hello! i dont know if anyone is going to be able to help me out, but you never know =]

within the last year or so i began eating meat again, but only natural, organic, hunted, or local meat products. i am fine with turkey, beef, pork, etc.. but for some reason chicken gives me stomach aches. chicken broth doesnt affect me as much as the meat itself, but i still react to it. could it be something in the chicken fat that upsets my stomach? i just think its weird and dont really see why i can eat turkey and not chicken. thank you for any help or advice you can give me!

I can't think of a better place to put this, but if you can, please let me know!

I'm not sure if anyone here has experience with food allergies, but neither do I. I've never had a reaction to any food (that I've noticed), but last night I got a headache that lasted about 20 minutes each time I ate a cupcake from Whole Foods (yes, we couldn't resist their little turkey-topped cupcakes while grocery shopping). I thought the headache was odd after my first one, and then later in the night (I told you I couldn't resist them) it happened again within 5 minutes of consuming another. Here's a picture of the ingredient list that I'm pretty darn sure I've eaten everything on there previously. Though I'm not noticing any mention of the chocolate pieces that were parts of the turkeys, so maybe their ingredient list isn't so complete. Thoughts?

I just moved into an old house with poor insulation and my bedroom is freezing! I really don't want to have to just run a space heater all winter long. I'm working on sealing the window already. Any suggestions on what else I can do relatively cheaply and easily that will help? I'm renting and don't plan on staying for more than a year or two, so I don't want to make any large home-improvement investments. Ideas?

I'm being attacked by static cling!
I'm in Utah, and winter just hit, so we've had really dry air here. And either because of that or for some other reason, static has hit me really bad. My pants are sticking to my legs (just made worse by my hairy legs). My hair is also sticking to my face.

What are your ways of stopping static? I am going to do my laundry in a few hours, so tips for that would be wonderful. I also really need to stop using bounce sheets and all that, so those tips would be most wonderful.

Thank you so much!!!

Wow.
I am very grateful for:
--> how everything worked itself out last night.
--> waking up from upsetting dreams.
--> organization.
--> someone I get along with very well will be here soon.
--> the band I'm listening to.
--> remembering when I saw them.

Current Mood: grateful
Current Music: "Quiet Sounds" - Mook

I am 26 years old. Recently, I was diagnosed with PCOD and am on medication, namely Novolone, and Glycomet. I really want advice on natural foods or herbs that will aid in keeping my condition under control and help with weight loss, because that is a major concern for both my doctor and me. I would also love advice on any kind of yoga/Ayurveda which is helpful in my condition. I am pretty sick, obese,have high pressure and asthma, which is making hard gym-work very problematic and want to start easy but immediately. Please help.

Eyelash in my eye

Very strange question but here goes...

An eyelash got into my eye and was irritating my eye, but before I could get it out it slipped below my lower eyelid and under my eyeball...and now I can't feel it in my eye anymore but I'm pretty sure it's still there. Is it alright to just leave it? Or is there a problem with not doing anything about it? If I should make sure it comes out, how?

At least I'm productive in my procrastination.
This is what I've been doing in lieu of rewriting my thesis conclusion:

( Started this morning )

( Finished last night )

I really need to join a "Second Sock Syndrome Sufferers Anonymous" group. Hey, 6 pair finished out of 10 isn't bad, right?

ETA: Pattern names. Sorry for not catching it right off!

Current Mood: awake

Awesome cardigan in a movie...
Has anyone seen Jennifer's Body yet? Its a great film anyway, but there are some fantastic knits in it!
In particular, theres one scene where Needy wears a chunky, cropped two-tone cardigan in blu and cream: its a bit 80s but i totally loved it and want to re-create it... but i'm struggling to find any screen shots to think up a suitable pattern.

Does anyone else know what i'm on about? Am i the only one raving over the knits in this film? Am I just a knitting nutter?

artificial sweetener equivalents.
I've been making my iced tea with Sweet'N Low for years and have been wanting to cut this out for some time now. We finally finished up the last of the packets in the house and today I made the first pitcher with turbinado sugar. The Sweet'N Low website states that 1/4 cup of sugar is equal to six packets of S'NL. I use 5 packets to a pitcher, so I figured 1/4 cup should be plenty. No way. It tastes virtually unsweetened. I had to add at least another cup to the pitcher for there to be any taste difference, and as any good Southerner knows, now it's not sweet tea since the sweetener was added after the brewing process, it's just tea with sugar. And most of it just settled undissolved at the bottom of the pitcher anyway. Can anybody give me some advice, tell me what I did wrong? I'm new to turbinado so perhaps it's just not sweet enough for me? (Incidentally, I found that evaporated cane juice in bulk is much cheaper, I'm planning to buy some tomorrow.)

leather vs vegetarian shoes
so this may be a bit too exact of a question, but i have to ask..

deciding solely on the global mess made, which do you think is more environmentally friendly:
a pair of leather shoes or an exact replica with vegetarian leather?

the way i see it, the leather would be more environmentally friendly simply because whether or not i choose to, there are going to be people eating cows & waste not want not.. but if i were to choose vegetarian leather, we're going to have to create that from new raw materials..

what do you think? anyone know how to make rope sandals?

Postcards?
Hey guys! I am an active member of PostCrossing and have no problem finding individual postcards that are environment-friendly but I was wondering if anyone knew of any bulk postcards that I could order that are made out of recycled materials. I feel that this would be a lot easier and cheaper but do not want to be just any old batch of postcards.

Hope all is well!!

Current Mood: calm

Beautiful
I think you all will really enjoy this video:

ideal gifts for a knitter?
Hello,

I will be going to Eastern Europe soon and I was wondering what would be a good gift for my aunt in law who knits as well. Any suggestions? I was thinking of getting her some yarn but if I do I want it to be something cool that would be hard to find over there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Now I will get my husband to translate what I said in Russian.

Я собираюсь в Восточную Европу и думаю, что подарить тете мужа, которая тоже увлекается вязанием. У кого-нибудь есть идеи? Я думаю подарить ей клубок шерсти, но тогда она должна быть такой, которую сложно найти там.

Буду благодарна за любую помощь.

herbs for enjoyment
i would like to grow some herbs or plants that could be used for recreational enjoyment. i'd like to have some things that could be smoked, made into a tincture, or a tea. i'm hoping to grow anything that has a relaxing, comforting effect, as well as any possible aphrodisiacs, but i'm not sure what could be successful indoors. any suggestions?

*anything besides marijuana? i appreciate the suggestion, but not really what i'm looking for*

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

We're doing a gradual overhaul of the products we use in our house. What do you all like for...

Deodorant
Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Carpet cleaner/stain remover
Bathroom cleaner
Glass cleaner

Is Seventh Generation all it claims to be (both effectiveness and natural-wise)? 'Cause that would be easy. I know I can use vinegar or baking soda for pretty much anything too, but like I said, this is a gradual process :)

Vitamin's for hair, skin and nails.
Hello natural livers (live-ers, that is).

I went to the store to day to try and figure out what is the best way for me to get the vitamins I want to start taking for hair, skin and nails. Mainly what I am interest in is: evening primrose oil, biotin and silica, possibly MSM as well. I am wondering what is the maximum amount of each of these that your body can absorb, if anyone knows?

Or, alternatively, does anyone know of a great multi for this kind of stuff? Vegetarian preferred, but not necessary, cost effective is necessary. I am trying to decide if it is more cost effective to just by separate supplements or a multi, but so far all of the multis I have found have very little of each of these things in it, and a whole bunch of other stuff, I already take a multi so I am set on that, just looking to add some specific stuff.

TIA!!!

Thanks
Several months ago I asked for recommendations for yarn stores in Sydney. A couple people recommended http://www.morrisandsons.com.au/. They're great! And they were having a sale when we were there! Also, someone recommended Featherdale Wildlife Park. It was awesome! Thanks so much for the suggestions!

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