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Random Things: The Dana Hat & Dana

I was reading another blog the other day and I came across the Dana Beanie. I mean my name is Dana so I automatically love all things named Dana.

WOMMELSDORFF “Dana” Beanie \\ image via Barneys

And then I saw the original price: $265. Excuse me? It was 50% of during the Barney’s Warehouse Sale but still, $265? And I know people bought it. Clearly I need to start knitting some hats! LOL But I do love to point out knitting prices to non-knitters who ask you to knit them a hat for $20…the yarn probably cost more than $20 if it’s the good stuff. I took my cousin’s sweater to the UPS Store the other day for them to pack and ship it to her and the young man, Carlos, who was helping me couldn’t believe I made it. Then he asked me to make him a sweater. I laughed and said no. And then he asked, what about a hat, $20? $30? Sigh…no, Carolos. And since we’re on the topics of Danas I thought I’d share my new haircut!
2018 Selfie
I posted this on Instagram but I finally chopped off all of my hair. I’ve had a chemical straightener in my hair since I was three and over the last year or so I’ve felt like I’ve just been fighting with my hair. So I decided to cut it all off and start over from scratch without chemicals. The great thing is that my husband was super supportive and excited to see me cut it and my close girlfriends were super positive and loving. It’s kind of scary cutting off all your hair. It’s a big change. Everyone asks me how I feel and honestly right now I feel exposed because no one is used to seeing me like this so I get a lot of questions and people wanting to check it out. But I’ll get over the extra attention and get used to it (I surprised myself this morning when I looked in the mirror first thing, LOL). But man, it sure didn’t take me long to get ready this morning! It feels kind of free and light. And one last thing to share just for cuteness sake…
Patiently waiting
Cher and my husband were both downstairs watching basketball and I got in bed and of course Jellybean followed. And normally she curls up on my legs while I read a book but that night she decided my husband’s king sized pillow was the perfect bed for her to wait for them to come join us in bed. Just too cute to not share.

Have a great weekend!

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by Categories: Home, Jellybean, Knitting, My DogsTags: , , , , 22 Comments

Hand Knit Holiday 2017

I’m often told I’m over the top or too much in the things I do. Often I respond, ‘ok…and?’ or I just keep on doing whatever it is I was doing. Sometimes I wonder, what is the level that I’m being measured on? But in all honesty, I don’t care. I’m doing what makes me happy in life. To me knitting is love. It’s my way of showing those who are super close to me how much I care about them. It’s my showing of gratitude for having them in my life. Enter our 2017 holiday photo. I call this one, Hand Knit Holiday in the Snow.
Holiday 2017
I love my little family. Kendell and Cher are wearing their recently completed Shades of Blue sweaters and Jellybean and I are wearing our Angelina sweaters (I’m also wearing my Dreiecke hat from last year). My favorite color is green and I love pairing green and cobalt blue together so I knew I’d wear these colors with Kendell’s sweater when I was planning what we would wear for our photograph this year. I love my husband because he never objects, never thinks I’m too much and just puts on whatever I ask him to wear. And in case you missed our photos from previous years…we’ve evolved! LOL
Johnson family 2016
I loved the color palette from 2016 and it was our first Christmas with Jellybean! I hadn’t figured made her any knits last year since I wasn’t ready to wrap my head around a dog that was so small. So instead I bought her the cutest shawl collared sweater and called it a day. I also dressed the girls up in a little holiday theme to get myself in the mood…they were not as amused as I was with their outfits.
Happy holidays
But my favorite year was our first year with Cher where she kind of stole the show in her green sweater. She looked so tiny back then, little did we know we’d get someone almost three times as small as she is in the years to come.
Happy holidays!
It has become a bit of our family tradition to take holiday photos and wear something I’ve knit. It’s the kind of things that makes me smile every time I look at these photos. Tis’ the season you guys!

by Categories: Berroco, blue, Cher, Color, For Dogs, green, Home, Jellybean, Knitting, Men's Knits, My Dogs, Sweaters, Things That Bring Me Joy, Yarn 37 Comments

Refreshed & the Number 14

I’m back as promised. It wasn’t a long hiatus but I spent the last few days in Savannah, Georgia with friends. You know your vacation is great when you take very few photos. Instead I laughed, ate a lot, drank a little and enjoyed being away. We even boarded the dogs at their favorite resort (and when I say resort I mean it because it’s just as nice as our own hotels) so we wouldn’t have 6:45am wake-ups every day. I admit I missed them but I love how much they miss me and are happy to see me when we return. But even better, we are back and today is our 14th wedding anniversary! Before we left I decided to pay for professional photos of us because although I do a decent job I wanted something that wasn’t so posed and captured our little family including the dogs. My former student has her own photography business, Amira Maxwell Photography and she let me know when she would be back in the DC area so we could schedule a date. She didn’t disappoint.

DanaandKendell-16
Photo courtesy of Amira Maxwell Photography

We met her early on Sunday morning at the National Harbor since we live in Maryland and go to the harbor often. We also wanted a nice outdoor location for the dogs. It was a beautiful morning, with few people out and the Capital Wheel as our backdrop.

DanaandKendell-3
Photo courtesy of Amira Maxwell Photography

Knowing Amira’s photography style I knew I wanted us to wear color so I put on my Saddle Shoulder Tee and picked out a very colorful shirt for my husband. I love how he goes along with whatever I suggest. And on the dogs, I bought them new harnesses and leashes from Learned Stitchworks. Unfortunately it was a cool 59 degrees that morning so I had to put a t-shirt on Jellybean or she would’ve just buried herself in my armpit.

DanaandKendell-55
Photo courtesy of Amira Maxwell Photography

I’m so glad I decided to get photos taken. It’s nice to have pictures of us through someone else’s lens.

DanaandKendell-58
Photo courtesy of  Amira Maxwell Photography

And if you’re interested in booking Amira or seeing the rest of our photos you can check them out on her website and see the rest of our pics here.

by Categories: Cher, Home, Jellybean, My Dogs, Things That Bring Me JoyTags: , , , , , 10 Comments