My [husband's] cousin is having a baby in a few weeks, so last month I decided that my very first knitting project would be a knit baby blanket, knit baby cap and, if I was brave enough after all that, a knit amigurumi elephant.

Well, they had her beautiful baby shower this past weekend and I did manage to get the entire set knit finished and paired with a pretty basket and some baby goodies.  So, now that the gift has been given I can show you :)

[all 3 patterns can be found over here on Ravelry]

My very first completed knit project was the baby blanket.  I used a pattern called “Mellow Tones Throw” by Lion Brand Yarn (pattern here).  I didn’t know the nursery set they had decided on (blue and browns in their Lambs And Ivy Jake) at the time, so I thought the baby blue and pea-pod green would go well together.

Since I’m also just starting to venture out and use new yarns (eventually making the full-switch to natural fibers etc.) I wanted to make this baby set with a few acrylic yarns that I’ve already been familiar with while crocheting.  I used Caron Simply Soft & Lion Brand Babysoft Solids since I already knew that they would feel soft and would wash well for my cousin :)

The knit striped newborn cap came next.  This was really fun to make and I even taught myself how to work on DPNs (double pointed needles) with the help of the awesome how-to-videos over at knittinghelp.com.

Then I came across the adorable pattern for this simple knit elephant and HAD to make that to match the set.

Pretty happy with how they all came out and really learned a lot.

I already knew that I wanted to give the mom-to-be (who loves baskets) a SaraBear Diaper Caddy — we got a pink one when the iTwins were babies and it was AWESOME to fill with diapers and such and tote around the house.  Now I use it for my knitting stuff – hehe.

You can imagine I was even more excited when I found that it came in this contemporary blue/green striped pattern that went well with the colors of my knit set!

I also put in a few little Earth’s Best Baby Care Kits because I really like these organic and fragrance-free baby products made by JASON.

Couldn’t be more excited for them and hope that they’ll enjoy using these little items…I sure had fun making them and putting it all together :)

Next up::
I’ve been hard at work (in this Northeast heatwave no less LOL) on my Grape Jelly Sweater…I’m teaching myself cables and using an awesome wool/cotton blend sweater yarn from Spud & Chloë.

I also just posted a tiny project I finished for my iPhone, if you didn’t already see it.

So yes, I’m sorta obsessed with knitting and yarn at the moment…you’ll have to bear with me as I get through this phase…but I have a feeling knitting has already become a forever-love-kinda-thing for me ;)

Since I still haven’t been able to get my hands on the pink case that I’d like to protect my spankin’ new iPhone 4…

…AND I’m all-sorts-of into knitting lately…

…I knit up a pink wool iphone cover/sock the other day LOL

Here are the photos and here is the link to my Ravelry page with how I made it…in case you might be as crazy as me…

We haven’t had these “reception issues” everyone else complains about…my husband is convinced that our strong iPhone signals/waves are obviously affecting my brain.

{hence the lag in blogging}

Since my husband has been back-and-forth on business trips, we thought it might be fun for the 3 of us to spend some time with Mimi, PopPop and my sisters while he was away.

The iTwins have been swimming, learning about crickets and pill bugs (compliments of my sister), building huge LEGO towers, eating over-sized marshmallows from Mimi, staying up late, reading books to PopPop, harvesting the garden and oh so much more.

Oh and they both got Zhu Zhu Pets.  For the most part they have been enjoying them, until my daughter got it stuck in her hair…immediately after I removed the “WARNING: KEEP AWAY FROM HAIR” label.  Ugh.  Now, as you’ll see in the photos below, she’s not so sure of the thing. LOL

Since I could ramble on about the fun we’ve been having, instead, here are a few photos:

she actually let me put in pigtails while she was distracted by the LEGOS

We’re makin’ a mess and Mimi doesn’t care!

HU-MON-GO MARSHMALLOWS at 9am

After it got stuck in her hair, not so sure of her Zhu Zhu Pet “Jilly”…hmmm….

Searching for bugs-n-stuff with Aunt D

holding and liking a “cick-it” (cricket)

Running around and getting sweaty is fun!

Proud of his lettuce he picked from PopPop’s garden!

Lollipops taste better from Mimi

We can’t get in trouble here…we get away with everything ;)

Having fun with the cool wax stixx things and sticking them all over the house

’cause PopPop said I can…

We’ll be back next week — hope you are having a fabulous week too :)

Photos taken with my iPhone 4 using the Hipstamatic APP

He surprised me [and one for him] with a sparkly new iphone 4 – YIPEEEEE!

Now I wasn’t going to go crazy like everyone else was going over these things and was even going to hold out until the white ones were released, but a surprise like this – I’ll take it!

Like I’ve stressed before, I AM NOT a gadget-y kind of person, but this phone is amazing!  After having used it for the weekend, I can truly say that first-hand.

Ok drumroll…

TOP 10 Reasons Why This Mom LOVES Her New iPhone 4

#10 – I can now stop hearing my husband talk about/send me links to what the miraculous iPhone 4 can do.  Now, I get it.

#9 – iCan now multi-task on my iPhone the way iDo at iHome.

#8 – HD video and 5 megapixel camera – pshh nuff said.  Maybe you’ll get lucky and I’ll start vlogging for you too….lucky you – you’ll be able to see my pores with 960 by 640 resolution!!!

#7 – My Apps now load faster than my toddlers can run.

#6 – I get to share more videos like this one with you!

They were screaming (their heads off)/fighting over the pool tube this past weekend, but Apple has allowed me to dub music over all of that and bring you what appears to be a fun-filled perfect summer moment — ahh the magic of Apple….

edited using iMovie on my iPhone4

#5 – New PINK bumper/cases and PINK iphone 4 accessories to girl-ly it up!

#4 – If you are on my contact list, follow me on Twitter or are a Facebook friend…EVEN. MORE. PHOTOS. OF. THE. KIDS.  I know, you’re excited about that :)

#3 – Facetime.  I can now video conference with my husband while he’s away on business so he can see & HEAR the chaos in this house when he’s away — ALL AT THE SAME TIME – so fun!  He’s going to miss us like never before ;)

#2 – Kinda psyched that I can store my PDF files/knitting/crochet patterns on my iPhone 4 using iBooks – nope, no more paper patterns – love that.

And the #1 Reason this Mom Loves her new iPhone 4…

The iTwins can FINALLY play with my Old iPhone! (as I would not previously let their gooey hands near it!)

They even shared it today (lollipop in hand!) to listen to Imagination Movers :)

Go ahead kid…get your sticky lollipop fingers around that iPhone 3G, ’cause Mama has an iPhone 4!

It has been a win-win with the iPhone 4, for us all.

LOL oh and the explanation for Pinkie in the knit hat on this 100-degree day is…..well, there really isn’t one — just that she was trying on my latest learning-to-knit project and wouldn’t take it off.  Made for a cute photo though ;)

iPhones available at AT&T!

So my husband called me yesterday while he was away on business and asked me if I’d like the black or white iPhone 4 — squEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  You mean we’re getting them!?!?!

Of course HE has to have it, which means to keep me from nagging him…a second iPhone purchase is in order, you know, to keep the peace :)

So excited since they announced all the new features just the other day.  My favorites being HD video recording/editing, a 5-megapixel camera with built-in LED flash and the retina display – “The pixel density is so high that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels.”

So….I’m thinking the white iPhone 4 with a PINK bumper…

Here’s a little list about why this ONE GADGET does so much for me as a Mom and why I almost can’t live without it.

iLove my iPhone because…

• it keeps me connected (through the phone, text messages, Facebook etc.)…to my husband, my family & friends – living not-so-close to everyone I care about, that’s important to me
• PHOTOS!  It takes pretty awesome photos and since I always have it on me, I always also have a camera and never miss a moment — with the new HD video-recording…even better!
• I keep my grocery lists on there and add to it all week long or whenever I realize we’re out of something
• I keep my crochet/knitting patterns on there and never need to carry paper patterns or books around with me
• Weather, news and sports…I have my favorite APPS for each of these and it’s how I know what’s going on!
• recipes at my fingertips whenever I need them
• MUSIC! for whenever I feel like dancing – all my music is always there
• I actually use it as a flashlight (yes, there’s an app for that) to check on the iTwins at night – every. night.
• It’s an EXCELLENT SNOOZE BUTTON! Speaking of iTwins…it’s how I get a few minutes of extra sleep in the morning…I set it up with a coloring APP or flashcards for my two-year-old and he’ll sit quietly in bed next to me :)

Those are just a few of the things this amazing gadget does for me…now it’s not actually able to cook dinner or fold laundry for me, but Apple isn’t too far off ;) Oh and even though everyone complains about AT&T, I’ve never had a problem with service, even all the way out here in the sticks of Pennsylvania.

Pre-orders for the new iPhone 4 are being taken on June 15th and the iPhone 4 starts to ship on June 24th here in the US.

Yay.

Here are a few photos from my iPhone, as it was too dangerous with all the water, sand and sunscreen to bust out my D90.

We spend the 3-day weekend in New Jersey (Down the Shore, as the Benny’s say it) with my family to kick off summer and celebrate my sister’s birthday.  The iTwins enjoyed their first real experience swimming in the pool and both of them loved it!

We did what has become a tradition this weekend each year…played in the sun & in the pool, listened to some good tunes, grilled a lot of food and enjoyed way too many drinks. 

Temperatures were in the 80s and even 90s the entire weekend.  AND Yes, we MOST CERTAINLY DID ceremonially crank up the Margaritaville DM1000 Frozen Concoction Maker (my Mother’s Day present 2 years ago!)

My sister gave Bubba a lesson on all things veggies and green and how to put out strawberries to wait for a chipmunk…he waited patiently for awhile…then got bored…so they picked clover leaves.

…but instead of picking out 1 clover as my sis did, he pulled up the entire lawn…

I even got in a little time to work on my knitting in the shade while the iTwins napped.

The iTwins also got their first taste of S’mores:

…and wore them too…

With all this…

• To the shore driving…
• Toddler bathing suit changing…
• Sunscreen applying…
• Sugar eating…
• Grilling…
• Frozen margarita making…
• Sandbox playing…
• QUICK!! DIAPER CHANGING!!!…
• Sprinkler chasing…
• Garden watering…
• Ice cream truck stopping…
• Watermelon eating…
• Pool splashing…
• Clover picking
• Fireworks watching…

…it’s going to be a LONG FUN Summer :)

Hope you enjoyed your weekend too.

The search was on for a new baby (toddler) monitor & after a TON of research for a non-TV-like-monitor, finally came across the Sony 900 MHz BabyCall Nursery Monitor.

We purchased it through Amazon for $63.99 (which we get FREE 2-Day Shipping with our Amazon Prime Membership – love it!).

It is working perfectly for us!

What we were looking for & what we got:

We were looking for: SENSITIVITY TO SOUND – even in another room
Ideally, we’d love to have two monitors – one for each of the iTwins’ rooms, but since the rooms are back to back along the same wall upstairs, one has always worked out just fine.  We’ve always placed the monitor in Bubba’s room and can hear both of them.  Pinkie has the bigger mouth, so I can always hear her when she wakes up – plus she’s tented in, so I know she’s safe :)

What we got with the Sony NTM-910DUAL:
AMAZING sound quality through multiple walls and multiple floors.  I can hear my son breathing as he sleeps across the room.  An awesome feature that it has is Voice Activation Mode.  When you switch it to that optional mode, you get no sound (like breathing etc.) until there is actually a voice or louder noise…very useful when you want to keep the monitor at your bedside, but not wake to every stirring movement your baby or child may make.

I can certainly hear my daughter in the next room (from where the base/transmitter is) as soon as she wakes up and starts babbling — that is EXACTLY what we needed from a monitor.

We were looking for: LONG RANGE & Functionality in home with wireless network
Since we live in a 3-story townhouse, we needed a monitor that would work upstairs in the bedrooms and transmit to the lowest level and even out back on our deck.  The last monitor we had was able to “reach” that far, but had a lot of static and noise the father away it was from the base.

What we got with this Sony BabyCall Nursery Monitor:
We’ve got range baby!  900 MHz of it.  I’ve basically carried the transmitters throughout the entire house and property before I threw the original packaging away – I needed to know that it would work for us wherever we may be.  There is even a Out of Range Indicator that apparently beeps and lights up when unit is out of range – we’ve yet to see that functionality and that’s a good thing :)

We were also concerned about the monitor picking up and transmitting funky sounds in the presence of our home wireless network.  No problems at all with the two functioning together around here.  There is only a slight noise that comes through the monitor when my iPhone gets too close to it.  Our old monitor did the same thing though.  We’ll leave the “my iPhone is probably frying my brain” post for another day…but back to the monitor…

We were looking for: PRIVACY
We have MANY other families with little ones living in our development and it has not been out of the question to randomly pick up conversations from their home, over our monitor.  I’m sure some of our evening bath-time extravaganzas have also been hear elsewhere.  So in looking for a new baby monitor, having MORE channel options (besides the 4 that we had with the FP monitor) was necessary.  I also need to remember to turn the thing off when we’re not using it.

What we got with this Sony Baby Monitor:
We haven’t picked up any juicy conversations from around the neighborhood since plugging this new monitor in darn! Seriously though, I picked one channel (out of 27 channels that are possible on this baby monitor!) and there has been no interference at all.

We were looking for: PORTABILITY
It is always nice to be able to move around the house or go out to the yard without having to keep the receiver plugged in.

What we got with this Sony BabyCall Nursery Monitor:
With the BOTH receivers you get *BONUS HERE* rechargeable batteries (included) that allow you to unplug the AC adapter and take them with you — they even have belt clips on them (though the units are kinda on the big side and I think you might look ridiculous hauling it around on your belt – but that’s just my opinion…)

BONUS FEATURES
Here are just a few more things that I didn’t think about, that this monitor has:

• Water Resistant Receivers (for when I knock it into the sink)
• Not 1, but (2) Receivers — always handy!
• Crystal Clear sound – it’s THAT clear!
• Perfect amount of features and simple buttons on units — it’s not an overwhelming baby monitor (like some of them out there are!)

My Final Thoughts on the Sony 900 MHz BabyCall Nursery Monitor

Totally worth the money…it was LESS EXPENSIVE than the Fisher-Price Baby Monitor that we got at our baby shower 3+ years ago with only 1 receiver…that didn’t even last us 3 years.  We’ve never had any issues with Sony products, so that was the deal-closer.



We didn’t need to pay twice the price for a baby monitor with a fancy flat screen or TV monitor (the signals on those get really messed up in our house anyway) because let’s face it, when you hear your baby cry or toddler babble, you’re going to be right there for them.  I was TOO ATTACHED to the screen when I tried out a “TV monitor”, so this is much better for us….and I can actually get things done when the kiddos sleep.

I’m a Happy Mom with this purchase.



This is an FTC Compliant post and my Disclosure Policy applies.  I was not compensated in any way for this review — it is simply a product we purchased, are pleased with and wanted to share.  Please contact Sony Customer Care directly if you have any specific questions or concerns about this product.

]]> http://www.myitwins.com/2010/05/20/sony-900-mhz-babycall-nursery-baby-monitor-model-number-ntm-910dual-review/feed/ 2 http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/28/mommy-youre-peeking/ http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/28/mommy-youre-peeking/#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:03:49 +0000 mamajoss http://www.myitwins.com/?p=8544 ...continue reading... ]]> We were laying on the floor yesterday pretending to sleep…they kept giggling and checking to see if my eyes were open.



:: taken with my iPHONE | edited with picnik & Adobe Fireworks CS5

For more Wordful & Wordless Wednesday photos visit 5 Minutes for Mom and Angie’s Seven Clown Circus.



]]> http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/28/mommy-youre-peeking/feed/ 17 http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/22/earth-day-2010-edition-watch-our-garden-grow/ http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/22/earth-day-2010-edition-watch-our-garden-grow/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:16:32 +0000 mamajoss http://www.myitwins.com/?p=8447 ...continue reading... ]]>

For ALL the “Watch Our Garden Grow” posts :: click here



Happy Earth Day

We are spreading the gardening love over here.  The iTwins sprouted soooo many seedlings that we simply couldn’t plant all of them here, so we packed half of them up and sent them over to my parents’ garden.



They have a HUGE garden planned out this year and I can’t wait to see how these veggies do in their soil.  They live near the shore in NJ, so they have much more sand in their soil…tomato plants seem to LOVE it there!

The iTwins did their part helping to dig up all the dirt AROUND prep Mimi & PopPop’s garden this past weekend!

They also found their way into my parents’ recyclable bin and helped themselves.  Those containers got one final use before they were recycled LOL.









Then it was off to exploring bugs under rocks and collecting sticks…





…while I took a few photos of the blooms in the yard.







Happy Earth Day 2010 — come back and Watch Our Garden Grow! Will be posting our planting/growing progress throughout the rest of the spring and summer.

You can also visit and “Like” the Sesame Street Garden Page on Facebook!



:: photos taken with my Nikon D90 and my iPhone | any editing is done with picnik and/or Adobe Photoshop

]]> http://www.myitwins.com/2010/04/22/earth-day-2010-edition-watch-our-garden-grow/feed/ 4 http://www.myitwins.com/2010/03/19/looking-forward-to-this-weekend-because/ http://www.myitwins.com/2010/03/19/looking-forward-to-this-weekend-because/#comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:26:54 +0000 mamajoss http://www.myitwins.com/?p=7805 ...continue reading... ]]> It’s going to be in the 70′s!

Just a few weeks ago we were dealing with this, but not anymore…it has all melted and I’m more than ready to have the iTwins climb on the jungle gyms and such rather than up my walls.

They really need to get outside.



Corned Beef & Cabbage

Yes, it’s that time of year…my Mother in-law will be cooking up her famous St. Patty’s Day/weekend corned beef and cabbage.  So that’s what we’ll be eating ALL WEEKEND.  Looking forward to seeing our family.

Daddy is Coming Home!

Can’t wait to see my husband…wait – who’s that?  He’s the love of my life who has been working his butt off lately and is due home today from Washington (the state) tonight — can’t wait to see him :) Safe flight home sweetie xo

PS – He’ll probably not be happy that I chose this photo to post of him (’cause he’s quite the lean fella these days) but I love this one :)

The Beach

I’ve told you that our “home” is really at the shore and that’s where we are heading this weekend.  After we have had out fill of Corned Beef & Cabbage, we’ll head to my parent’s house and visit for the day — can’t wait to let the kids run around on the sand and put their toes in the chilly ocean.


More Potty Time

Bubba has been diaper-free during the day this week, so needless to say potty-training is going VERY well.  We’ll see how he does when we’re at the Grandparents’ houses this weekend.

Can Wear my Wedding Rings Again

Since I lost all this weight, I have had to take my engagement and wedding rings off.  But, last night I tried them on my third finger…you know the big ol’ middle one, and they FIT!  I think I’ll wear them there until we can have them resized later this year.  I’m so happy to have them on me again.


Busting Out the Flipflops!

‘Cause like I said, I’m from the shore and as soon as it’s over 60 degrees, that’s what we do!


Pics of it all to come on Monday!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend — what are YOUR plans?



Wow!  Just for you…

Don’t forget to stop by and purchase your own VOi Lorem iPhone case – they are 20% OFF now through Sunday ONLY!!!  Read more about it : my Voi Lorem iPhone Case Review — it’s my NEW FAVORITE iPhone Case.


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