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The Friday Five: Knitting Without Needles

Happy Friday, friends!  So, I was having a really hard time coming up with a clever post intro, so Mark encouraged me to take my own advice and write something “ordinary and unimpressive.”  And immediately, I knew what I needed to share.  Ready for something really unimpressive?

Last night, we went bowling with some friends.  Let me add that I haven’t been bowling in at least five years.  (Not that that really helps my case much.)

Bowling...oh how I wish I could still use bumpers.
Wishing I could still use bumpers when I bowl: Instagram 8/15/13

Okay, so here’s how I felt after that one time when I got a spare:

The Never Ending Story
{Source: Mary Is My Homegirl}

And here’s how I felt after 10 rounds of bowling and 3 broken nails, when the score board proclaimed my final score of a whopping 56.

Disappointed!!!
{Source: Mary is My Homegirl}

Go me!

Since the Olympic bowling team isn’t going to be recruiting me any time soon, I think I’ll stick to doing what I do best: eating ice cream, avoiding laundry folding, and spray painting gold everything in sight.  After all, in the wise words of Kenny Rogers:

You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em,
Know when to walk away, and know when to run….

I know my strengths, and by golly Miss Molly, bowling is not one of them.  And I’m learning to live with that.  {Smile.}

The Friday Five

The Friday Five: Inspiration for Your Weekend!

How ’bout another round of The Friday Five?!  Here are 5 inspirational links I happed upon this week that are practically guaranteed to get your weekend off on the right foot.  Let the 5 word intros commence:

1.  Open shelving makes me swoon.

Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Shelves by Keeping It Cozy
Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Shelves by Keeping It Cozy

2.  Ashton Kutcher spouting out wisdom.  {Ignore the screams.  Start at 0:55.}

3.  I can verify their yumminess.

Stuffed Pizza Cupcakes from Pennywise Cook
Stuffed Pizza Cupcakes from Pennywise Cook

4. This rocking chair can knit.

{ECAL Low-Tech Factory/Rocking-Knit from ECAL on Vimeo.}

5.  Perler beads are back, baby.

Perler Bead Earrings...a quick and easy craft you can knock out in 10 minutes time!
Perler Bead Earrings: A 10 Minute Craft by The Thinking Closet at Darling Doodles

You caught me!  This last one is my own, but I’m really excited about these earrings I made using Perler beards from the Dollar Store and would love for you all to check it out over at Darling Doodles.

Darling Doodles may sound familiar to you because

Anyway, I’m over at her cozy corner of the blog-o-sphere today sharing a 10 minute craft!  You heard me right: a craft that only takes 10 minutes!  (And I’m not just saying that.)  To see for yourself, click here.

Want more inspiration?

As always, Thalita’s got you covered over at The Learner Observer with her Friday Five: Pink, It Was Love at First Sight.  Check it out, yo!

The Friday Five with The Thinking Closet & The Learner Observer

Now, y’all enjoy your weekends, y’hear?  Bad bowling scores and all!

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39 Comments

    1. I know – – I love it when celebs surprise me. I felt the same way when I first saw that awesome Dustin Hoffman vid on your blog. Wise words. And thanks for the pat on the back. Or rather, the fist pump in the air! (Do you remember watching The Neverending Story at the Scheers after we had finished our homework? It was enrapturing….)

  1. I got a 58 in mini-golf a week ago playing with four others; I was the worst one, so I can relate to your bowling score. However, I moved into third place out of five this past weekend, so don’t give up on bowling!!

    Fun links, esp. your perler beads! I remember those! I’m heading back up to watch the knitting without needles clip…fyi, I’m joining a Knit to Quit group this Friday in OG; I’ll let you know how it goes.

    1. Knitting group was fun; just two other women. I’m still just doing scarves. They are miles ahead with knitting using the cable stitch, etc. I like to keep it simple and mindless and be able to socialize and not count stitches, etc. That’s just me!

      1. Simple and mindless and socializing sounds good to me! 😉 And probably just what you need in the midst of a busy day! #stressbuster

  2. Hey Lauren-

    Great stuff! So the first time I ever bowled I was 7 and in brownies, a big wopping zero. Can you believe that- not one pin… seriously didn’t they believe in bumpers back then. Do they know what that could do to a kids self esteem!!! Haaaa… Hope you are having a happy day!!

    1. Bless your heart! And you still remember it to this day! 🙁 Sending a big hug to 7-year-old Lynda in her Brownies uniform. (At least that traumatic bowling experience didn’t rob her of her DIYing mojo. She turned out all right in the end, I dare say!)

    1. Thanks, Marilyn! Hope you enjoyed your visit to Darling Doodles to check it out; I’m rather excited about making my own jewelry now…and I never seem to tire of throwbacks to the 80s! 😉

  3. I’m with you on the bowling, my friend! That’s what is great about bowling with your kids. They cheer for you even when you knock over one pin! If only I had seen the knitting rocking chair a few months ago I would not have spent so much time watching Youtube tutorials perfecting my knit and purl.

    Hope you’re having a great time at camp!

    1. Ha ha. We were bowling with some kids, and I have to say, their cheers at the one or two pins I knocked down were what got me through it! And while that rocking chair might save some time, I have to say that a hat knit by hand is going to be filled with much more love than this rocking chair could ever offer…so keep on knitting and purling your heart out, my friend!

      Camp has been AWESOME. Thanks for your well-wishes! In fact, my hour of “plugged in” time is almost up. Time to head out for a sail with Mark!

  4. Hello Lauren,
    As always I love your posts and your creativity! Loving the beads for sure! One of these days I will get to join in on your Fab 5 Friday! {Of course this is Monday and I am just now reading your posts lol}
    Have a great week!
    Sandra
    The Adored Home

    1. Ha ha. That’s okay, Sandra! I’m perpetually behind with my bloggy reading, so I understand completely! (Better late than never, I figure.) And you know, we might be making The Friday Five a linky party this fall, so if we do, we’d love for you to join us. The more inspirational links, the merrier! HUGS.

    1. No way! Recently? Or during your childhood? Or both? I love that I have a Perler fan in you, Emily. (In some ways, I’m not surprised. I always knew you were cool.) 🙂

      1. Oh, during my childhood. But I will totally resurrect the art as an adult 😉 I would never think to see if craft stores still sold these! This might make a great series… our favorite nostalgic kids crafts resurrected and made relevant for adulthood… ??? whaddayathink?

        1. Emily, I think you’re onto something with this series idea! I already have it on my crafty to do list to makes some shrinky dink jewelry (remember shrinky dinks?). Let’s chat more about this!

  5. For starting out with an ordinary post, you got my attention! I can relate to the bowling, I’m so bad at it! Gold? I’m still in love with silver with maybe just a few gold touches (if you’re talking about home decor) You’ve got me swooning over the Silhoutte Cameo and I’m trying to think how I can get my hands on one (at a super duper price and need to convince hubby of expense) You see, I bought one of those Cricut machines back in 2010 and rarely used it. I can just hear him now……he thinks it will be another dust collector. I don’t think I’ll be able to sell the Cricut on e-bay. Maybe a give-away on my blog? No, don’t think I’ll get any takers there either. Love hanging out over here and getting some craft inspiration. Winter is coming and in Michigan it gets pretty darn cold!

    1. It’s remarkable, all of the “bad bowlers” who have come out of the woodwork through my confession. It definitely makes me feel less alone! So, thanks for that, Sandy. 😉 And you never know, you might try selling that Cricut on eBay or Amazon. You might be surprised…I think there’s still a contingency of Cricut fans who might jump all over a discounted die-cutting machine. Of course, I’d selfishly love for you to get a Cameo so you could join my Silhouette FB group and I’d even more excuses to chat with you. I always enjoy a good Sandy chat! 😉 Stay cozy as these days get more chilly. Slippers, a warm blanket, and a hot drink should do the trick!

  6. HaHa! Love the “knitting without needles” chair. Humans are amazing! Also love the ol Kenny Rogers song. Some scoundrels tried to take my house 3 years ago. The same house I am sitting pretty in right now. Every time I fronted up to court to face all these big men in suits, I played that song on my iphone. It reminded me to be brave and composed. 🙂

    1. Wow, Sharon. Way to access your inner fighter and stand your ground to those “big men in suits.” I’m overjoyed to hear that the story ended in your favor. I, too, believe in the power of music to empower us to fight battles. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Sharon. I feel so inspired! And now, I’m off to go listen to that Kenny Rogers song again. This listen is dedicated to you!

  7. I need this rocking chair! It could knit the first few rows of all the hats for me, which I hate do knit so much! After that I can continue to knit patters, no problem! But the beginning – thanks, I’ve got better things to do! 🙂

    Oh, and you’re following Mary Is My Homegirl? She’s awesome, right?! Although I’m not studying Catholic but Protestant Religion I can relate to so much of her posts 🙂

    Love, Midsommarflicka

    1. I’ve only knit one scarf, and it was a very slow process…so I think I need this rocking chair, too! I’d love to make hats for all my friends and family up north or over in Germany (wink)! (Lord knows we don’t need them down here in Florida.)

      Yes, I really love Mary is My Homegirl! My sister introduced her Tumblr to me, and I spent several hours going through her old posts the other night. So. stinkin’. funny. And I’m Protestant, too, but did find that a lot of jokes translate…. Have you heard of Calvin Would Be Proud? Mary is My Homegirl re-posts a lot of his stuff, and he attends the seminary where my sister is studying Biblical Counseling. You’d like him, too!

      1. I’m awaiting your package with my hat in it everyday now!
        I am actually not that slow in knitting, but the beginning is always so annoying! Have to begin not only one but a few times mostly, cause I’m loosing stitches in the first round…

        Yeah, most posts I can relate to from Mary Is My Homegirl are those about studying – students are the same of all religions across 🙂 I’ve look at Calvin Would Be Proud and I may or may not have read all posts on every single page! It’s awesome!!
        I searched a bit about Biblical Counseling, as I didn’t know what exactly means – I think, it may be similar to the German term “Seelsorge” I tried to describe you once!

        1. Ha ha. Glad that you enjoyed your visit to Calvin Would Be Proud. I can get lost on those Tumblr sites for hours, too.

          And that’s interesting – – wouldn’t it be funny if you and my sister were essentially studying the same thing?! Here’s a link to her seminary’s website with a description of her degree…let me know what you think–if it resonates with your studies: http://www.wts.edu/academics/programs/biblicalcounseling_2.html

    1. Aw, thanks for the pick-me-up, Emily! I guess it could be worse…I just felt pretty lame compared to the couple we were bowling with (who were bowling strikes left and right) and Mark who still beat me even though he was bowling leftie with a right-hand injury. Ha ha. Happy weekend to you, too!

  8. If it makes you feel any better, Lauren, I once bowled a game of 11. And I have yet to break into triple digits. Not that I have tried in a long time. Like you, I have accepted my weaknesses (lol).

    1. Linda, that actually does make me feel better…a lot better, in fact! Because I just think so highly of you, so if you’re not a great bowler, then I certainly don’t feel the need to aspire to be one. 😉 Actually, maybe next time we get together, we can go bumper bowling together! Now THAT would be buckets of fun to me!

    1. Aw, thanks, Vanessa! I’m kinda going ga-ga over these perler beads right now…maybe it’s the whole “10 minute craft” aspect that I love. I’m just not used to that! Ha ha.

    1. Um…yes, please! I have a dream of building an entire set out of perler beads (for my next musical), so I’m going to need a lot. Okay, maybe I was joking about the set idea…then again, that could be schweet!

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