September Obsessions

Oh! It's the last week of September and I have yet to say what I've been obsessing thinking about all this month. I seriously can't believe how fast this month has flown by, and just how close the winter holidays actually are! I think I should start my present planning...I think I'm already behind!

But for now, let me share with you the 5 things that I'm currently obsessed with this month:

1. The Dahlia Cardigan. I.Want.To.Knit.This.NOW!!! Ever since my copy of Interweave Knits arrived in my mail box and I first laid eyes on this pattern I knew that I was going to have to make it. I absolutely love it. And I've been thinking about it ever since. I've been obsessing over what yarns to use, what colour, should I purchase new yarn or dive into the stash (I'm going to say I should really use stash yarn)? I'm seriously dying to cast on right now, but promised that I wouldn't. Not only should I really get some other projects off the needles, but a few girls in my knitting group and I have decided to do this together as a KAL (hi Jennifer, hi Michelle!). Casting on doesn't commence until mid-October. Or whenever Michelle finishes her shawl...

Source: interweaveknits.com via Melissa on Pinterest

2. Tim Tam Slams. I used to do these on my lunch breaks when I used to work at Starbucks. Ok, and most mornings. Ok, ok, ok...you got me, I also do them in the afternoons when I need a pick-me-up. They are highly addicting. And extremely yummy. I was first introduced to the Tim Tam Slam when my manager and I were sitting in the office talking about coffee tastings and how we could get customers involved in them. Coffee tastings (which is a must-do if you work in a coffee shop...and as often as possible) were a big part of my "coffee career" and it was always fun learning and trying to come up with the different ways you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and bring out the different characteristics of a roast. Tim Tam Slams are by far my most favourite of coffee pairings, I mean what's not to like? You got chocolate and you got coffee...and if you get the Caramel Tim Tams, even better! But shhhh! Don't tell Stroopwafels, Madeleines, or jelly beans that they've been bumped down the list!

3. Grey. As in the colour grey. Lately I've been all about the grey. Even during those rainy, gloomy, and wet days that we've had so far I'm still thinking about grey yarns...as evident in my yarn purchases as of late. I think it all started with the Mystery Shawl and when I was trying to come up with colour combinations. I'm a huge fan of pairing bright colours with monotones. I was all about colours paired with chocolate browns, but of as of late the brown has been overtaken by shades of grey. I'm thinking the next project I cast on for will have to be knit in grey yarn. It's the only way I can overcome this obsession!

4. Madelinetosh's Steam Age colourway. Of all the greys that I've been obsessing over, this one is Queen Bee in my heart. It's the perfect shade of grey and I'm absolutely loving the streaks of pink and turquoise running through it. Le sigh. Be still my heart...

5. Slow Cooker Recipes. I recently acquired a slow cooker in hopes that it'll help cut down my time in the kitchen cooking this fall and winter (so that I can spend more time doing other things...like fashioning food out of Play Doh with the Munchkin, and oh maybe get some more knitting time in?). Not to mention that there's nothing that I love more than a nice big bowl of soup or stew on a cold Autumn day. I could seriously live off of nothing but soups and stews. And I would. If only Brett would consider them meals. To him, soup is an appetizer. No matter how hearty the soup could be, it's just not a meal on it's own. Mind you, Brett is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I'm determined to sway him over to Team Soup. So I've been trying to accumulate as many yummy slow cooker recipes as possible. They don't all have to be soups or stews, but I am limited to the fact that Brett doesn't eat beef. So a beef pot roast is kinda out of the question. I still have October's meal plan to sort out, so I'm open to any and all suggestions. Anyone got a good recipe? I'm all ears!

Honoury mention should go to the purging mission that I'm still on. It's a slow process, but a freeing one. It's amazing just how much weight is lifted off your shoulders when you finally go through a stack of papers that's been on the desk for ages, just to discover that you didn't need any of it! As much as I would love to plow through the house in a power purge, I can only do little piles (or a shelf...ok, half a shelf) at a time. That's ok though, my goal is to get the top floor of the house sorted by the end of the year. Plenty of time. If I even get started on the main floor before the new year, I'll be laughing!