Roughly 250 squares later...

It only took me five months to finish all the squares–just three months too late to give it to my brother for his birthday, which had been my original plan.  (Sidenote: to give you some perspective on the size of that giant pile, I put my shoe next to it…so many squares.)  If I had known how crazy this project was going to make me, I never would have clicked on the pattern link.  But I figured I had made it this far, so I got to work sewing all the rows together.

This blanket will be huge!

There were fourteen squares in each row, and there were eighteen rows total.  Any mathematicians out there want to figure out how much sewing I had to do?  It was a lot.  BUT…

It's pretty much the coolest blanket in existence.

I hope the rest of my siblings aren’t too jealous when my brother opens this on Christmas morning…because I’m never making something like this again.

Don’t get me wrong, I love knitting things for people, but I’m working on learning to recognize my limits and stop doing things like offering to knit individual gift bags for my sister’s wedding. Handmade touches are nice, but you know what would be cooler (and spare my sanity)?

A handmade garter for the bride.

It’s a lot faster, and my sister will actually get to keep it. Win-win? I think so.

So I became a gifter this year. I knit & finished fifteen items to give to friends and family before Christmas, and am working on a sixteenth still. (SORRY CHRIS!) …and now that the holidays are over I can FINALLY show you some of them!

My guidelines for giving handmade gifts involve following a few guidelines to keep my sanity.

The cost to make these gloves (not including the needles) came in at around $2 and made a beautiful gift.

First, keep it affordable. If I’m spending both more time AND more money than I would if I were to just buy something from the mall, then I would go insane. There are lots of quality yarns out there that are well within my budget, and I’m always on the lookout for cheap buttons and notions.

The 50¢ buckles on these gloves were a hideous (or awesome) neon splatter paint finish until I covered over them in contrasting yarn.

Second, keep projects within 200 yards or so of yarn, which is about one skein. I tried to keep it somewhat manageable so I wasn’t spending too much time on any one project. A couple of decorative touches, like cables or a little bit of lace work goes a long way. (you can see each project individually on my Flickr page)

All of my coworkers received fingerless gloves knit in DK or worsted weight yarn. Each project took less than 2 days to complete!

Um, these actually don't have a home yet. Do you want these & have size 7.5 - 8.5 feet? Hit me up (but I won't ship them!)

Third (and this is the most important), affordable & manageable does not mean plain. Choose the raddest patterns you can find, items that you’d basically want to keep for yourself. If you choose to knit boring patterns, chances are you will become bored midway and move onto a shinier project.

Do you like fish mitts? I loved making & giving these! Super fun Swedish Fish mittens that ended up going to my derby wife who bought me the yarn for my birthday

Crazy cute fingerless gloves! I couldn't stop smiling the whole time I knit these (except maybe when I was weaving in all of the ends)

My most favorite mittens ever. My Arc de Triomphe. I gave these to my mom, who saw them and went into an I CAN HAZ!? fit.

Anyway, those were my favorite knits of 2010. I hope the recipients enjoy them as much as I did knitting them! (yeah corny but so totally true)

What makes my season bright?  Onion dip. It doesn’t exactly scream “HOLIDAYS!” but my mom would always mix up some sour cream and Lipton onion soup mix and serve it with Ruffles potato chips for every holiday get-together at our house when I was little. I probably ate about 80% of it all by myself. Perhaps that was a pre-cursor to my future weight problems?  Hmmm. 

Of course the way our moms make our favorite foods is always the best way.  Even if it was made from a mix, box, or can, I think I was convinced the extra love my mom added in made it just right.  I was perfectly happy with the deliciousness that was sour cream and onion powder.  I loved those little chunks of dehydrated onions!

However, at a work potluck last year, one of my colleagues brought homemade onion dip.  Oh. My. Gawd.  It was so good.  I think I hovered over it and snarled at anybody who got close to it. Very rarely do I actually ask people for recipes because I acknowledge by kitchen prowess is substandard so I don’t even usually try.  But I insisted on having this recipe and making it has become my new holiday tradition. Two years in a row makes for a tradition, right?  I have some in my belly has I type this!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

I used “light” mayo and sour cream so the nutritional value wasn’t quite so damaging and used regular salt instead of kosher salt. 

First, heat olive oil in a small pan over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until they turn brown in color, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.  The recipe warns not to overcook the onions but I actually like them overdone and nearly burned. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

In a bowl combine cooled onion, mayonnaise, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Chill 30 minutes.
I have a problem with the chill for 30 minutes part because I’m all about immediate gratification and may be lacking in the patience department.  However, this stuff really does taste after a night of sitting in the fridge.

I like it best served with Ruffles, probably because Ruffles rhyme with my civilian/non-derby last name. Again, I opted for “light” to elimate a small portion of the guilt factor.

Try this for a New Year’s Eve party if you don’t plan on kissing anyone at midnight or for a Superbowl party.  Maybe next year Santa will bring me a chip and dip serving bowl!  The Nambé ‘Butterfly’ Chip & Dip Bowl will be just fine.

Here are two delicious recipes to try out when you have a couple extra minutes on a lazy Sunday afternoon like today and store for later when you’re running short on time. Most of these ingredients can be found at Sunflower Markets (down the street from our Flamingo Track) or at you’re local health food store.

Shock’s Mom’s Homemade Chai Tea Recipe

There are almost as many Chai Tea recipes as there are Chai Tea drinkers in India. I am partial to this recipe for two reasons. Most obviously because it is the one I grew up drinking. But also it has a much more robust flavor that can rival a cup of coffee verses most of the American or British Chai’s that could easily be mistaken for a cup of hot chocolate or the latest Starbuck caramel macchi-monster covered in whip cream.

Ingredients: Black Loose Tea, Whole Cloves, Cardamon Pods, Anise Seed, Water, Cinnamon Sticks, Sugar, Half and Half

(From top to bottom) Black Loose Tea, Whole Cloves, Cardamon Pods, Anise Seed,

Like most recipes in my family this one lacks actual measuring. So no need to breakout the teaspoons and measuring cups. Most of the ingredients are measuring in proportions.

Up to 3 cup of water:
2-3 pinches of tea
3-4 cloves
1-2 cardamon pods
1 dime size amt of anise seed
1/2 cinnamon stick
Sugar to taste (approx 1-2 t more than you would add to a regular cup of tea)

Add all of the ingredients while the water is cold and then bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the color darkens (picture) and the tea seems to thicken slightly.

Take the pot off the heat add the Half and Half to the mixture and return to the stove. Once again bring the mixture to a boil and then remove it from the heat. Pour the tea through a sieve and serve hot.

Shock’s Completely Addictive, Secretly Healthy Granola Recipe

Ingredients: 1/4c Sesame Seed, 2T Black Sesame Seed, 1/2c Flaxseeds, 1/4c Black Quinoa, 1/2c Quinoa, 1/4c Dried Cranberries, 1/4c Grapeseed Oil, 3T Almond Oil, Approx 1c Honey, 3c Rolled Oats

(From left to right) Sesame Seed, Black Sesame Seed, Flaxseeds, Black Quinoa, Quinoa, Dried Cranberries, Grapeseed Oil, Almond Oil

This recipe can be messy and requires some trial and error but I promise you it is worth it.

In a very large mixing bowl add all of the seeds and oils and mix. Next add the rolled oats and slowly add honey while mixing. Keep stirring and adding honey until the mixture starts to clump up.

To keep it crunchy store granola with a paper towel in a covered bowl

Spread out on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350F. After 10 minutes carefully flip/stir the mixture with a spatula add honey if needed. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool. Store in a cool dry place.

Serve and enjoy!

I like to eat the granola with strained or Greek style yogurt and usually substitute Half and Half for Almond Milk because dairy and I are no longer friends. As in milk not my fellow VIP skater Dairy Heir.

Chai Tea w/ plain yogurt and granola on a sunny day

Last weekend was Señor All Beef Patty’s 30th birthday. I got him a Thingamagoop 2 kit from Bleep Labs. Here are some photos of him assembling it, followed by video of its talents. I think it’s super hot my boyfriend is so handy with the tools.

Box

Case

Circuit Board

Populating the circuit board with switches and chips

Soldering the circuit board

Adding wires to the audio board/Last angsty gesture of David’s youth

Wires on the helpy hands

Audio board with wires

Soldering the audio board

Soldering the speaker

Circuit board a little further along

David assembling Thingamagoop

Parts

Face parts

LEDacle

Innards

Attaching the speaker to the case

Surgery

Putting in the circuit board

Securing the speaker

Attaching the faceplate

Adding the knobs and dials

Finishing touches

Ta-dah!

Some video:

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15182692&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=66d1f2&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0

Thingamagoop 2, 1 from Sarah Nichols on Vimeo.

This thing is sooo cool. You can plug it into your amp or keyboard and probably many other things. We have the volume kinda low in this video because my roommate was asleep, but it gets quite loud! I really want one now, too. They come in red, blue, green, and a special RGB version. Bleep Labs website

—–
Currently listening to: Bleep bleep bloop beep

So, what better way to promote our bout than an homage to those famous butts?  Unfortunately, I’m not artistically talented enough to take the image I saw in my head and produce it graphically.  Fortunately, we have a roller derby league full of people who can.

We were at my place working on a league promo video with Shockira’s sister (more to come on that!) and got the shot we need while we had the girls together.  Rusty, Shockira, Brawler, Pearly Gates (Best ASSetts winner 2 years running), and Daisy Pusher blessed us with the use of their bottoms.  Our league photog (and the love of my life) Dodgin’ Burns (finally a derby name!) took the picture and edited it so All Beef Patty could work her graphic design magic.

And magic it was.  I’ve heard the terms “brilliant” and “genius” to describe the poster several times.  Those ladies backsides helped us sell out the venue.  Yup.  You heard me.  SOLD OUT last night!   Our apologies to anyone who got turned away at the door.  We never dreamed that we’d reach max capacity.  We work hard at what we do and we want to share that with as many people as possible.  Thanks to the lovely ladies in the bout poster for helping us do that.  Love ya and the bottoms your mommas gave ya.

If you’d like to purchase a poster for $5, email info@sincityrollergirls.com for more information.

Stay tuned for the October 16 Bout Poster by Heatherface!

Also, you can find more of Patty’s work at http://www.pocheco.us

Give her a holler for your graphic design needs!

Dinner made from Farmer's Market Finds (Don't let the portitons fool you that is a serving bowl)

Today was the first official day of training for Season 6 and our new coach Pain Gretzy came prepared with all kinds of endurance, hits and other high cardio drills to whip us into shape by our Sept 18th Bout. Although many of our skaters have lost impressive amounts of weight (Lisa Carr, Tasty Kates, Daisy Pusher, Kami Flage … I’m looking at you ladies!) none of them did it by replacing food for lemonade, eating only protein and fat, popping crazy pills or any other ridiculous weigh loss scam. Personally, I haven’t lost much weight since I joined SCRG two years ago but my legs have gone from jello jiggly to diesel and … there may or may not be a certain bout poster floating around the internet with my @ss on it. Most importantly I have come to recognize how critical diet is when I am training.

With that in mind my pre-practice dinner was a bowl of fresh-made pasta with heirloom tomato, basil, olives, olive oil and salt. All from celebrity chefs Mario Batali and Joe Bastianchi’s indoor farmer’s market (only in Vegas, huh?) in Palazzo’s restaurant warehouse on Dean Martin called Bet on the Farm.

Bet on the Farm - Farmer's Market

I find when I use super fresh ingredients I don’t need heavy sauces, fats or other bad for me items to disguise the flavor of the food. Admittedly, the items I purchased at the market were much more expensive than the not-so-super markets. But … I am willing to spend a little extra here and there for high quality food because I find it makes me less likely to spend much money on eating out. At $13 a plate for Spaghetti Aglio E Olio at one of Mario’s restaurants, a $2 tomato seems much more reasonable.

This was a perfect meal for me to eat before practice because it is light, salty and starchy. Important attributes in a because other wise I spend that two hours concentrating on not puking instead of who is trying to hit me, trip me or pass me on the track. Also the combination of starch and salt gives me a little boost of energy and helps me stay hydrated. So regardless if you’re a aspiring derby or just avid fan pay attention to what you eat and more importantly how it makes you feel.

What do you eat which training for your sport or hitting the gym really hard? Share links and recipes in our comments section!

**For those of you who suffer with gluten tolerance issues don’t give up on carbs, training or your sport! Just check out my sister’s blog Gluten Free Athlete.

Anyway, no spoiler alert or name blurring required, check out Season 5 Fabbies Awards.

I’m so proud of them and their recipients. I ♥ you ladies!

In case you missed it check out our Facebook Fan Page for some of our fabulous award winners – Season 5 Fabbies Awards

Sugar n’ Spice Award…sweet as pie until she steps on the track    SHIRLEY DEMISE
Awesome Ass-est Award…best butt on the track    PEARLY GATES
True Blue Award….most true to her name    THE FORCE
Rocking Rack Award….best T’s on eight wheels     SHIRLEY DEMISE
Hall of Pain Award…best injury of the year        BEE OUCH
Terrific Tats….best ink on or off the track          DAISY PUSHER
Best Balls in Derby….best man in derby         TOPPER BOTTOM
Used and Abused Award….most dedicated least appreciated      BEAVER
Most Valuable Party-er Award…always wins the after party!    TRASH VON CRUSHMIRE
Fan Favorite…rollergirl you’d most like to land in your lap     LISA CARR

Best Sportsmanship      HEATHERFACE
Most Feared            MORBID MANGLER
Most Improved         JEN RUMMY
Best Jammer          DVS DICER
Best Blocker           THE FORCE
Newbie of the Year      WARREN PEACE
Rookie of the Year       PRETTY PENNY
Most Valuable Player of the Year       SHIRLEY DEMISE

Special thanks to Acrylic Concepts for cutting out the skates for me. I ♥ you too!