Charisma Yarn and Azel Pullover Pattern Review

About a year ago, I was given some Charisma yarn as a gift. It was soft and gorgeous and I had no idea what I was going to do with it. There it sat, waiting for the perfect idea to inspire. There it continued to sit while mermaid tails took over my life. Then, I was asked if I could make something for a silent auction, and suddenly, new life was found within these threads!

The silent auction is for my friend Jamie's dad. He has Multiple Myeloma and has had a very long road, and continues to face challenges ahead. You can read a bit more about Jon and the Mulitple Myeloma here.

I had purchased the Azel Pullover from The Velvet Acorn on Etsy a few months ago after a friend asked if it was something I could make. I decided to put it in my stash of patterns, and I am so glad I did! I had about a week to make something for the auction and I was looking for something both sweet, versitile, and would work up quickly.

Let me just say that between this pattern and that yarn, I had found the perfect match! The Charisma yarn is so soft and warm, and my favorite part....it doesn't split when you are working with it. I have worked with soft yarns that are so fuzzy and nice, but when you insert the hook, it's hard to tell where you inserted it, and the yarn tends to split. Charisma, on the other hand, stays together very well!

I had just enough to make a child's sized 5/6. I was able to work it up in a few hours. The pattern was incerdibly simple to follow, I found some fun buttons to add to it, and suddenly, I had an adorable poncho style pullover that will make some little girl happy and warm this winter. If you have a chance to work with Charisma yarn or to use a pattern from The Velvet Acorn, you really should!!

Mermaid Tails

Since the start of my crochet business, my inspiration has come from friends and family who have enough faith in my work to say "hey, you think you can make this?" I never back down from a challenge! That is where the mermaid tails came into play. Earlier this year, I had a friend contact me asking if I could make one. I found a pattern and set to work. The patter was free, and the person who wrote it put a lot of work and love into it, but it just wasn't what I was looking for. The cocoon started at the ankle, and the tail seemed small for the blanket. I decided to start making them my own. I rewrote the pattern for myself, and I am now going to share that love with you!

Please keep in mind, that, like the other, this is a free pattern. One I have never really shared before because it makes sense to me, but may not make sense to you. If that is the case, please let me know, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. This pattern is for the child sized tail, which measures 33-36 inches long (without the tail part) depending on how many rounds you create. More about that below. 

Materials needed:

2 skeins light colored yarn (I used red heart soft)

2 skeins darker color

2 skeins verigated yarn to bring the light and dark colors together (I use many different brands depending on the color of my blanket. Some companies have smaller skeins, so I always pick up 2 just in case).

Size J hook

Darning Needle

As for how you set up your color scheme, that is up to you. I tend to decide as I go. Once I see the colors coming together, I decide on which color I will use for the tail.

To start:

Chain 153, then DC in third chain from the hook. DC in each chain across. DC's.

Row 2: Chain 1 and turn. SC in first DC. 

*Skip 2 DC , then 5 DC , skip 2 DC thenSC*

Repeat ** to the end of the row. You will end with 3 DC's in the last SC. It should look like this:

Row 3:At each new row from here on out, change colors. 

Chain 3, and *shell stitch in SC

SC in 3rd DC of shell*

Repeat ** until the end of the row.

Repeat Row 4-36 Repeat Row 3

At row 37 you are going to join the ends of your blanket to start forming a cocoon. Row 37 should be a row that starts with a SC. If it is not for any reason, create one more row so that you start on a SC.  When you reach the end of the row 7, rather than DC 3 times. DC 5 times to create a full shell stitch in the last SC of the previous round (whereas before, you were only DC 3 times in the last SC). Bring the blanket ends together, and ST into the SC to create a round. It should look like this:

Your blanket will be open in the back, then it will come together near the hips

Next, you will continue working in rounds.
Row 38: CH 3, then 2 DC in the same stitch as the join. The CH 3 counts as 1 DC. Continue to shell stitch around to the end. Then, 2 DC  in the same place as the CH3 and 2DC. Then slip to join at the top of the CH 3 See photos below for the start and end of this round.

CH3 and 2 DC in same same stitch as the join

2 DC in the same stitch as the CH 3 and 2 DC

Join with a slip at the top of teh CH 3

Row 39: Ch 1 and SC in the same place at the join.Continue with the shell stitch, then when you reach the end, slip ino the SC to join the round:

 

Rows 40-42, Repeate row 39.
Row 43: This will be your first of 2 decrease rounds. This round should start with a SC. If you do not have a SC at the start, then do one more round so that you start with a SC.
Contine on with your shell stitch until you have 4 SC. Shell one more time, and on the next (this will be sc number 5 in this round) decrease. To decrease, Insert hook in to the 3rd DC of the previous round, YO and pull up a loop. Then Insert hook in the 3rd DC of the next shell. YO and pull up a loop. You should now have 3 loops on your hook. YO and pull through all 3 loops.

Continue working the decrease on every 5th SC. In the end, you may have 2 or 3 shells left. Continue working these as normal. You should only have decreased 3 times.
Row 44-51 continue working the shell stitch as normal. Do not decrease
Row 52 Repeat row 43 and decrease this round
Row 53-69 shell stitch as normal. Do not decrease, then finish off to end.

**This is where the number of rows may vary. You will want to end on the same color you choose to do your tail. If you need to add a couple more rows to accomplish this, it won't hurt anything.

Now you are ready for the tail. You are going to be working in rows. The first half of the tail you will be decreasing, and the second half, you will increase. To start the tail, join with a slip into 2 rows of the last round:

Row 1: CH 65, then DC in the second CH from the hook, then continue to DC all the way across. CH 2 and Turn
Row 2: DC across, and DC decrease in the last 2 DC's from the previous row
Row 3: CH 2 and DC decrease over the first 2 stitches from the previous row, then DC across to the end.

Repeat Rows 2-3 until you reach 25 stitches. In the next row, DC across to the last 4 DC's, then DC decrease twice for a total of 23 DC's.
Next, you are going to CH 2, then turn, then 2 DC increase over the first 2 DC's (which would be the 2 decrease you just created in the previous row)
Continue to work an increas of 1 at the end of the tail until you reach 63 stitches.
Next, you will CH 1, then turn and SC all the way around, and finish off. You are going to have what looks like 2 large triangles.

Next, you are going to attahc your yarn at the top, and work a SC decrease in each stitch across. When you reach the end, CH 1m then turn and SC decrease across a second time.

When you are done, you are going to line your tail up with your blanket. You may have to scrunch your tail a bit to fit the blanket. This is the fun part! This is where it starts to look like a mermaid!

From here, you are going to sew the tail on, and you want to make sure you are going through both sides of the blanket. Stitch all the way across, then stitch back again to reinforce the first set of stitches,

Then, finish off, and admire your tail! You are going to have a lot of ends to weave in, but it will be very worth the work in the end. You will have a great blanket for a beautiful mermaid. 

I would love to see the tails you make or have made! Feel free to visit my facebook page and share with me! 

I have these blankets available in my etsy shop and would be happy to make one for you if you wish. 

Essential Oils and Exercise

A few years ago, I decided to join the gym and start working on me again. That worked well until the membership simply became too costly. I decided after running the Goofy Challenge at Disney to let the gym go. Instead, I purchased a good treadmill, and not long after that, I decided to join my friend Melanie's Beachbody Team. A little plug for her, if you are needing someone who is gentle yet firm in their motivation, and absolutely loves what they do, then she is your girl!! You can find her page here . I have known her since our school aged days and can say that her journey through weight loss is as real as it gets!

Anyhow, I dove in to Insanity Max30, then 2 months later Rich and I ran the Disneylanf Half Marathon to complete our Coast to Coast Challenge. It seems like immediately after that, Etsy and vendor shows were in full swing for the Holidays. Fastforward to the new year, and orders for mermaid tail blankets were EXPLODING!! I loved them, but the stress at my day job had me feeling far less than motivated. I decided to join doTERRA as a wellness advocate, and suddenly I am working 3 jobs!

I was able to take a leap of faith and leave my day job, and it was as I shopped for wedding dresses that I realized what the past 10 months of stress, lack of sleep, sloppy diet, and lack of exercise motivation had done to me. It just so happened that Melanie decided to start the Insanity Max30 program this past Monday, and it was just what I needed to start taking steps in the right direction, but I still needed some motivation! This is where my oils came into play!

It started with diffusing Peppermint and Citrus Bliss.The combination of these two oils is very uplifting and refreshing. Peppermint oil is steam distilled using the entire peppermint plant. One of the reasons I chose to diffuse it during my workout is because it helps promote healthy respiratory function. Citrus Bliss is a combo of fantastic citrusy goodness! It contains, Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Clementine Peels, and Vanilla Absolute (doesn't this all just make your mouth water??). Citrus oils are invigorating and uplifting, and help to reduce feelings of stress. 

Next, I decided to spruce up my water with some Lemon oil. DoTERRA's lemons are sourced in Sicily and is distilled by cold pressing the peel. Lemon oil is cleasning, purifying, and uplifting. Lemon oil will help give you a nice energy boost, while helping to combat exhaustion during and after your workout.  Lemon is also a mood enhancer that will help you feel good about your workout even if it wasn't your personal best. Simply add 2-3 drops to a glass or stainless steel bottle and drink as you normally would during your work out. *Make sure you avoid using plastic when using oils.Essential oils will eventually break down plastic*



Another fantastic product is Breathe. Breathe also helps to promot healthy respiratory functions, and comes in many forms. There is the oil istelf, the touch version, breathe lozenges, and a breathe stick. I choose to use the stick during a workout becuase it's very handy to use. It looks like a clear jell in a tube, and it can easily be rubbed on to your chest and neck when you need a little breathing boost. It isn't sticky or greasy, and it absorbs quickly. Breathe is also one of my favorite go to's in the morning! I love diffusing it with Lime for a nice morning wakeup. Breathe contains Eucalyptus, Laurel Leaf, Lemon, Melaluca, Peppermint, and Ravensara.

Finally, one of my all time favorites, Deep Blue Rub. I'm pretty sure I have a love affair with this lotion! It contains, Wintergreen, Blue Tansy, German Chamomile, Helichrysum, Osmanthus, Eucalyptus, Menthol, and Capsicum. Take a moment and imagine all of the muscle rubs you have used in the past. Now imagine them being a million times better! This all natural mixture will have you feeling tingly and relaxed after a hard workout, and it will help your muscles feel good too. Personally, I like to put it on after a hot shower. That's when the pores are open, and the rub gets in real good. Others may not like the intesnity of Deep Blue on open pores, so wait until you have cooled down to put this on. The more you rub it into your skin, the warmer the sensation will be. Unlike other muscle rubs, you have a bit of control on how hot/cool you can handle.




doTERRA has made it easy to get some incredible oils and supplements through their Athlete's Kit. There are far more oils and prodcuts within this kit that I haven't mentioned, but if you are serious about wanting to get on track, this kit makes it easy to do so! If you have any questions about oils and how they can help you in your workout, let me know! I'm always happy to help.

Oil Spotlight: TriEase and Breathe

I love the look of a nice, well manacured lawn. However, mowing the lawn and other yard work, can have me feeling sluggish for days afterward. I have one neighbor who is out almost daily working on his yard. It looks fantastic, and I feel slightly awful that my yard doesn't look nearly as nice as his!

Thankfully, I have found a few things that help! Though I may have a couple of sniffles and a few sneezes, I don't have that chest constriction and sluggish feeling for days anymore. Watch this video to learn more about these fantastic seasonal discomfort belnds from doTERRA! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like a sample. And please excuse the nasty sweatin' look I have going on! It may be nice out, but it's still warm!!

As a remind, if you place a 125pv order before the 15th of the month, you recieve a 5ml bottle of breathe for FREE! Bouns, if you place 160pv order, you recieve 15ml bottles of lemon, lavendar, and peppermint. You can diffuse them together, put them in a roller bottle, use the seperatly for so many other uses, and who doesn't like free??

Crochet Pattern Review: Knee High Socks

Months ago, a friend of mine tagged me in a photo of knee high slipper socks on facebook, asking me if I was able to make them. The problem was, her photo was of a knit pair of socks, and I just never was able to pick up on that particular craft. After catching up on mermaid tails, I decided to set out to find a crochet pattern for these adorable socks!

They kind of remind me of Punky Brewster! Something about all the colors make me smile. These are the pair I made from the pattern, and they are now available in my shop . 

The pattern comes from the creative mind of a gal named Clarissa at AspenCustomCrochet on Etsy. The pattern is listed for $3.50, and worth every penny! It is listed as "intermediate", and I think this is a very accurate description. I would not attempt this as a beginner. What you need to know for this pattern:

Single Crochet (sc)

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Double Crochet (DC)

Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)

Front Post Triple Crochet (FPTC)

Magic Circle (MC)

Slip Stitch (SL ST)

The description when you purchase also mentions that you will need to know how to increase and decrease which you use when creating the toe and the heel. Knowing how to chaneg colors on each round will also be helpful. You will also want to have a good needle for sewing in the ends, as there will be a lot! 

Another reason why the intermediate rating is accurate, is becuase you may have to do some of your own tweaking to make these fit you around the calf. There are a few rows of SC just above the ankle that work to keep the sock from slipping off, however, that same stitch up around the calf muscle didn't work for me. It was too tight. Instead, I decided to continue with DC, and then towards the top where the rows of blue are I decided to do a HDC and crochet behind the stitch to give it a knit look. This allowed for a bit more flexability around the calf, yet still snug enough to not fall down.

The other fantastic part about this pattern is that it comes with 3 different sizes, and you can adjust the colors ot fit any style you want! It is also versitile enough that if you need to make the sock wider, you can easily add a few more stitches. You can add your own flare using a ribbon through the top, a larger flower, or buttons. There are endless possibilities here.

All this said, go check out AspenCustomCrochet!! These will make some great gifts for any gal in your life!

Happy Hooking Y'all!

Yarn Tote GIVEAWAY!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

AND THE WINNER IS:
SABRINA RIVERA!

Congrats Sabrina! I will be in touch shortly to get more information from you.

Attention fellow yarn enthusiasts! I have found the most adorable and easy to use bag, and I am giving one away. This tote contains 8 grommet holes to help keep your yarn from tangling. That means it holds 8 skeins of yarn, and all of it stays organized. 

The brand is Everything Mary, and I had so much fun hauling this from Nebraska, to Chicago, to Florida and back again. The great thing about working for yourself, is that you are mobile. I have many tote bags, but find that my yarn gets tangled. This bag has 2 long pockets on each side for you knitters out there. I was easily able to place my hook in these pockets, and catch the hook on the side so it wouldn't slide down. I brought with me 6 skeins of yarn for a project I am working on, as well as a few crochet magazines and some doTERRA paperwork. All of which fit perfectly. If I needed something, it was very easy to find it and put it back. 

I used this tote as one of my carryon's, and began my project in Omaha at 3:00am. That's right....in the morning. I am so not a morning person, so having this organization was really helpful! This bag fit perfectly under the seat in front of me, and it looked adorable sitting next to the couch at my parents house. Without being too bulky, this bag is the perfect way to carry your yarn no matter where you plan to go. 

Now, are you ready to have one for yourself??? 

You have until Aug. 6th to enter.

Here's how:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Flying With Oils

The thing I adore about my doTERRA business, is that I can take it anywhere with me! My trip to Florida was no exception. I had a few friends asking about oils and how they work, so I decided to pack everything I had and bring it along. My biggest question was TSA guidelines, and the easiest way to travel with oils.

Essential oils can be flamable, some such as Melaluca, having a flashpoint of around 120f. When you board your flight, there are signs everywhere stating that flamable materials are not permited in your checked luggage. This was the biggest thing I worried about. Not only that, but I wondered if there was a limit on how many 3oz or less sized containers were allowed to be brought on with your carry on.

A few days before my trip, I contacted my upline to get her thoughts. She said she always brought her oils in her carry on, and suggested I put them in ziplock bags in case they leak or break. This seemed easy enough! I used one of my carry on bags solely for oils and oil related business items. I decided to group my oils as best I could so that they would be easy to find (i.e. citrus oils in one bag).

Doing this really helped me when I was both waiting during my layover and when I got to where I was going. When I went through security in Omaha, the lady helping to scan through items was a little confused. I had 6 bags of oils, and of course,  I took them out of my carry on and placed them in their own bin as instructed. She showed the guy who was scanning and said "Um...these are all oils or something" the guy took one look and replied "Their size and packing meet code. Send them through". Not gonna lie, I was about to have a moment of panic at the thought of having my oils thrown out! On the flip side, when I came home and went through Tampa, no one batted an eyelash.

 My daughter and I took a late nap the day before we left, and woke up at 10pm. We had to leave our house by 1:30am, so we just stayed up. This made for a really exhausting trip. I do not sleep well in any moving vehicle, so I decided that between Chicago and Tampa, I would mix up a roller ball bottle to help aid in my flying nerves and help me get some shut eye.

That said, don't forget to pre-pack a few roller bottles with coconut oil in them!! This will save you a lot of time when you are on the go. You can just add whatever oils you want and be on your way. I had also packed bottle cap stickers so I could remember what I mixed together.

The rest of the trip was a piece of cake! I had samples ready for my friends, a couple of them borrowed the Pedal Diffuser, and when it came time to pack everything back up, I had become a pro! While I was there, it was, of course, HOT. I mean, it is summer in Florida after all. We took a trip to Busch Gardens with some friends and I brought along some peppermint oil. 

When I got hot, I simply rubbed some oil on my pulse points and the back of my neck. When I was splashed with water or a breeze blew, it gave this really wonderful cool tingly sensation. Think of when you chew mint gum then take a drink of water. It's kind of like that. This picture is so blury because it was sobright out, I couldn't see my phone screen!

So there you have it. It is simple really! I no longer have a fear of traveling with oils, and I am so looking forward to my next trip! If you have any questions, please let me know. I would be happy to help you pack for a trip of your own.