Sunday, December 26, 2010

Ep 47- Regift, Refund, Repurpose

~Welcome/ Thank you!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Visit the link for a free 2 week trial and audiobook download of your choice!
~Sweater Forecast:
Cold and rain through Tuesday, then possible snow Wednesday through Friday!
~ Knitting: 
Aaron's socks are almost done! Eep!  Planning to cast on 4 baby sweaters New Year's Day!
(Links go to Ravelry, sign up if you aren't already a member)
For Leighton: the Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy in Lime Green
For Twin baby A: Baby Sweater on 2 needles by Elizabeth Zimmerman in bright aqua blue
For Twin baby B: Lillie Baby Cardigan by Laura Edwards
For Arya: Helena Sweater by Allison Green Will
Goal: Finish all 4 sweaters by end of April!
~Spinning:
 I got fiber for Christmas!!  I have 24 oz of fiber in all corresponding colorways for my next handspun sweater!! Got lots of spinning to do over the next 2 days!
~Sales!!!
After Christmas sales/ end of year sales!!
  -Webs is having their year end blowout!  from 12/22- 1/2 save up to 75% off certain yarns!!
  - Joann Fabrics is having a year end sale! Every skein of yarn in store and online is on sale!
~Tip of the Week:
If you got a holiday gift that doesn't suit you, feel free to practice one of the following options. I give you permission.
Regift: Just be POSITIVE that the person you gift it to and the original gifter are NOT in the same social circle.
Refund: If you know where the gift came from but you don't want to ask the original gifter for the receipt, you can often return it (as long as it is UNOPENED) for a store credit without a receipt. They will usually give you the lowest price that item was in the past 90 days, and you can usually only do this once or twice a year at major stores. Be sure to bring your ID, so they can keep track of how often you do refunds without receipts!
Repurpose: There is no need to save your Christmas cards after Christmas, but you can cut them up and make gift tags for next year out of them!  Thanks for the tip knitting group!
~ How I Saved the Week:
I made 16 batches of shortbread for all my family members in ONE DAY! I'm pretty proud of it!
Chocolate Shortbread Recipe:
1/4 c butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c flour
1/4 c powdered sugar
1 to 2 T baking cocoa

Cream butter in a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and mix well.
Combine flour, sugar and cocoa separately; add to creamed mixture.  Beat until dough holds together, about 3 mins.
Pat into a 9x4inch rectangle. Cut into 2-in by 1-1/2-in strips. Prick with a fork. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees F for 20-25 mins or until firm. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy alongside some delicious hot cocoa, coffee or tea. Yield: 1 dozen.

~ Worth It:
The Taste of Home Chocolate Lover's Cookbook
A compilation of hundreds of recipes using chocolate as the major ingredient!  YUM!
You can order through Amazon (most expensive) or order through mail by sending $15.99 plus $3.95 shipping for one book, or $4.50 for 2 or more books, with item number 32496 to:
Country Store Suite 5610
PO Box 990
Greendale WI 53129-0990.
Or visit their website!
I've made several recipes out of this book!  If you or someone you know loves chocolate, this book is TOTALLY WORTH IT!!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Have an awesome week everyone!!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Ep 46- Greensleeves

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!!
  This episode is brought to you by Audible!  Visit Audiblepodcast.com/knitcents for a free 2 week trial and free audiobook download of your choice!!
~Contest:
How have you used your KnitCents?
Post in the Ravelry thread to enter!!
~ Sweater forecast:
Cold, windy, rainy.  Maybe a little snow tomorrow, so wear ALL your knits!
~ Knitting:
 Just a little bit on Aaron's sock.  Almost to the heel.
~Spinning:
 Finished the first 4oz of the Sunset Fibers corriedale, colorway C-13-08 for my next handspun sweater!!
~Baking: 
Triple Chocolate Quick Bread!
Ingredients
1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
2/3 c packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
1-1/2 cups applesauce (unsweetened is best)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2-1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
-For the glaze
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
1 T butter or margarine
2 to 3 T half and half cream
1/2 c confectioner's (powdered) sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and melted chocolate; mix well.  Add applesauce and vanilla. Set aside.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Spoon batter (batter will be super fluffy and light) into four greased 5-1/2-in x 3-in x 2-in loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35- 40 mins or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
     For glaze, melt chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan; stir in cream. Remove from heat; stir in sugar, vanilla and salt.  Drizzle over bread. (For drizzling, I spoon the warm glaze into a sandwich bag, and cut the tip of a corner off the bottom to use as a piping bag!)
Yield: 4 mini loaves!
ENJOY!
~Free Entertainment:
Podiobooks has 3 Christmas stories!!  Search the word Christmas in the search bar!!
~ Sales Last minute, handmade gift ideas!
 -Triple chocolate quick bread: Takes about an hour (not including cooling and glazing time) and makes 4 loaves!
 - Homemade cocoa!
    5 c nonfat powdered milk
    1 c unsweetened baking cocoa
    1 c sugar
optional:
   5 T cinnamon
   12-15 crushed candy canes
    extra cocoa for a darker chocolate flavor
Combine ingredients in a large zipper plastic bag, shake and distribute evenly among pretty cellophane bags with a ribbon and serving suggestions!
Total time: about 20 minutes, total cost for more than 20 servings (if you make all the flavors) less than $30.
 - Sewn coffee cup cozy
Use a small amount of fleece or flannel, sew a seam and you're done! Fleece works well because it keeps the heat in the cup, and is a little bit stretchy so it will fit around many different cups!! Total cost, less than $1, total time: varying depending on sewing skill, but less than 20 minutes.
~ Tip of the week:
Enjoy the season!  I see too many people stress about buying or making the perfect gift, making 30 dozen kinds of cookies, volunteering too much time to the point that they don't enjoy the beautiful Christmas season!  Relax and spend time with friends and family!
~How I Saved the Week
OMG Amazon has flea medicine for cats for $27 for a 3 month treatment!! That's compared to the $21 for 1 month from my vet's office!!!!
~ Worth It:
The Princess Bride (book) by William Goldman
$8.95 new on Amazon
This book is hilarious, romantic and wonderful!  This is an awesome gift for an individual, or a couple!  This is one of mine and Aaron's favorite books to read aloud to each other, and we have gifted it to other couples with the same instruction!
Before you read the book, read the Wikipedia article about the Author and The Book!
It makes the story way funnier!!
Totally WORTH IT!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Episode 45- Cotton is absorbent

Hey!  Sorry I didn't get around to posting these until now!  Here are the main points:
~Free Entertainment:
Audiblepodcast.com/knitcents Free 2 week trial, and lots of freebies including free Christmas stories!!
Free Target Holiday Album!
~Sales!
KnitPicks has swifts on sale (really nice ones) for $50 through Jan. 3!!
All the other sales I talked about are over now...
~Tip of the Week:
Check your online wish lists often, prices change!!  Something you didn't think you could afford before may have dropped in price to a reasonable range!!
~How I Saved the Week:
I bought Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day from Amazon for $14 including tax!! This is a $30 hardcover retail, and I've wanted it for a long time! WOOHOO!
~Worth It:
KnitPicks Comfy
Comes in lots of colors and weights, great to weave with, great cotton/acryllic blend would be great for anyone with wool allergies, doesn't hurt my hands like most cotton!!
Yay! Worth it!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ep 44- Trials and Timers

~Welcome/ Intro/ Thanks!
~This podcast is sponsored by Audible.com! Click here to sign up for a free 2 week trial and download a free audiobook of your choice!
~Contest:
 Visit the Ravelry group, email me or leave a comment on the shownotes page telling me what you've learned from the Knitcents Podcast or another listener, and tell us a story of how you've used it!!
~ Sweater Forecast:
Mid to low 40's with rain this week!  Another week of light sweaters and cardigans!
~ Knitting:
I finished the Tappan Zee and I totally rock it with all its little quirks!
I also am almost done with the handspun baby hat for Leighton!
~Spinning!
Spun the first 2.5 oz for my next hs cardigan!! Super pretty!
~Weaving:
I also finished weaving 5 little wash cloths/ burp cloths for Leighton!  yay for finishing things!
~Free Entertainment:
Just One More Row Podcast with Brittany and Dana!  I love it! Check it out!
~ Camp KIP:
An awesome knitting retreat hosted by Jackie of KIPing it Real! Visit her Ravelry group for more details!! I'll be there if I can raise enough money to get there!!
~Sales!!!
Free Trials that are awesome!
- AudiblePodcast.com/KnitCents Sign up for a free 2 week trial, download a free audiobook and audible will donate $$ to the podcast which I can use to go to CampKIP!  Its an awesome way you can donate $$ for me to go to CampKIP without actually spending any $$ yourself!!
 - Netflix free one week trial!  You can choose to only have instant watch now, and there are so many amazing things on here!!!
 - Gym trials! Go to gyms in your area and try them out by signing up for free trials!
 - FreeCreditReport.com allows you to view your credit report for free once a year! Just don't do it too often!
 - Amazon Prime offers a free 1 month trial of Prime! Free 2 day shipping on all your holiday gifts!!
~Tip of the Week:
Set a timer! When you sign up for a free trial where you have to provide your credit card number, set a timer or reminder to remind yourself to cancel the trial before they charge your card! If you decide to keep it, then ignore the reminder, but if you don't want to be charged, make sure to use the reminder!! Its a good idea to set the reminder for one day before the trial will end so you don't get charged because you're too late!
~How I Saved the Week:
I used functional gifts as decorations for the baby shower! (of course I forgot to take a picture) but I bought a baby bathtub (inflatable ducky) and used it as a punch bowl!  I made awesome bubble bath punch in it and it was super cute!  not only did I get a super cute decoration for the shower, but it is something that my sister will be able to use to bathe her baby in!
~DIY:
Bubble bath punch! 1 carton of light colored sherbet (I use lime) and 3 2-L bottles of clear, caffeine free soda!  Scoop the sherbet into the punch bowl (or baby bathtub) and dump the soda on top!  The bubbles foam up to big fluffy bubbles and it looks like bubble bath!! Also, it is super delicious!
~ Worth It!
The Intentional Spinner by Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Retail: 26.95  150 pages, published by Interweave Press
My thoughts: This book is amazing.  JMM definitely demonstrates her vast depth, breadth and wealth of knowledge about spinning and fiber in this book! From the science of the fiber to the way it takes dye, to many techniques for spinning, plying and making art yarns! There are 4 projects to spin for, and great instructions for caring for your handspun and handmade items!!  Overall, I would say this would be an awesome "Only" book for a spinner, meaning if you only had one spinning book, this would be a great one!!  This would be a little overwhelming for a brand new spinner, but with a little help from a friend could be the perfect spinning guide!  Totally worth it!
~Contact Info:
Email: cleverroue (at) gmail (dot) com
Ravelry: Roue
Twitter: Roue0824
Please leave a review on iTunes if you like the show!!