I'm Back!!!

Well, I suppose this is one of those strange scenarios where I haven't felt like I have been under a lot of stress, so I haven't really needed to "procrastinate" in the more traditional sense. Therefore, I really have had to waste time by writing about wasting time.

We did get the reviews on my paper back, and I have a few more experiments cooking right now. Once that puppy gets sent back in for its second review, I'm sure I'll get that introduction for dissertation cranked right out! I'm an "under the wire" kind of girl. Ugh...that's enough science talk.

Things I have been doing: BAKING! We got a new oven a couple weeks ago, and I have been using it to try out new recipes from the Martha Stewart Cookie Book. It works great, and I have had the chance to try out the convection feature. Last week (in one night!) I made the Peanut Butter Cookies from the book--which were awesome, chocolate chip cookies (off the back of the Nestle bag, there is just no substitute), and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies--recipe courtesy of Nicole. Yum! I should have posted some pictures of those, but I thought that would be mean. I'm started to collect cupcake ideas for my graduation party--yes I think I have spent more time thinking about the graduation bash rather than writing my dissertation.... Check out this blog for incredible ideas--they update it constantly: http://www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/. I'm going to try to remember to add that to my favorites.

I have also been try to knit as much as possible. Now that TV is back on, it leaves me with a lot of quality multitasking time--i.e. make a burp cloth while watching the office. I've decided to work on a bunch of burp clothes and bibs for the babies that are coming up in the summer--I don't think the mamas are going to want to put the new babies in little sweaters on July--sounds cruel.

Speaking of baby knitting--
My friend Laura was in town this past weekend (that's knitting friend Laura from D.C., not to be confused with paper-crafting friend Laura who lives here in Durham). Together, we made an important discovery which is that Peaches 'n Creme 100% cotton yarn (as their label suggests) is way softer than the Sugar 'n Creme yarn that is sold at most craft stores. We found the Peaches 'n Creme at my Wal-Mart in Durham, but it is also available online at http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/. Totally the worth the shipping. Laura also turned me on to a totally sweet website called Ravelry. It is an online knitting community that just looks awesome. I am on the waiting list for an invitation right now...but from what I can tell from their online tours it looks like it is extremely useful/addictive, so I am looking forward to some quality procrastination time once I get on there.

N.B.--the Baby Kimono pattern from Mason-Dixon knitting fits on 10lb. babies. I found that out twice in April!

Ok--I'll get some pics up this week to make this thing a bit more interesting.