Knitting My Way To Ireland...With Guinness

My arse is going to Ireland at the end of the August and I'm so excited. Ireland is known for many things I love: pubs, U2, words (Yeats, Joyce, Oates, McCourt, Binchy) and gorgeous Aran sweaters. To get ready for the voyage, I decided to knit my own Irish fisherman sweater.

I may not be fully Irish, but I sure do appreciate the pure joy in knitting and wearing a cable knit sweater. There's something about the rich texture and cozy feel that's so appealing to me. Plus I love the fact that this beautifully crafted sweater serves a purpose and has meaning.

I've decided to knit Deirdre from Rowan's Lima Collection. I bought 17 skeins from Knitty City in an oatmeal colorway. The beautifully soft Lima yarn is made from a blend of baby alpaca, merino wool and nylon and is available is 12 natural shades including greys, greens, blues, browns and gold. The cloud-soft wool, intricate stitches and easy, swing shape will eventually turn into one extraordinary sweater.

Rowan's Lima collection

Deirdre

As you can see I still have a ways to go on knitting my sweater, but this intricate pattern really is nice to work with.

This ball of yarn will turn into something beautiful and amazing.

The start of my fisherman sweater.

Knitting and wool have enjoyed a long, rich history in many European countries and especially in Ireland where there might be as many sheep as their are pubs. Although the exact origin of the Aran sweater is unknown, there is a strong relationship between Aran stitches and Celtic art. Many Aran patterns are found on ancient Celtic stones, crosses and jewelry. The popular Irish cable knit fisherman sweater were first seen when the wives and mothers of fishermen on the Aran Islands began to knit them for their husbands and sons. The sweaters were to keep them warm through the harsh island conditions and as a way to identify them if they got lost at sea. The variety of stitches used have different meanings and each sweater is knit with a custom pattern special to each family. The off-white, natural color comes from the unprocessed, unbleached wool used. Wools that are still unprocessed contain natural sheep lanolin which makes the sweater virtually water-repellent. This obviously was ideal for the person who spends their days at sea. While many different patterns can be used, the cable is one of the most frequent because the fisherman uses cables and it represents safety and good luck.

Of course, nothing goes better with this traditional Irish sweater than a Guinness.

Shawn, Abby, Rob, Michael and I having some Guinness at Beer Around The World.

If you have ever visited Ireland and have some tips on places to visit, I would love to hear any suggestions.

Happy Monday everyone and Happy August!

Live From Washington, D.C.

I was in Washington, D.C. over the weekend to celebrate my friend's wedding and I got the chance to check out a couple of amazing museums I've been wanting to check out for some time- The International Spy Museum and Newseum.

Michael, me, Debbie and Carson on the Pennsylvania Avenue Terrace at the Newseum.

Michael and I along with my friend Debbie and her amazing husband Carson visited The Newseum on Saturday. The Newseum was fabulous. If you're a news junkie or a history lover like me, then Newseum is perfect for you too. The seven-layer museum is an amazing tribute to the nation's fourth estate and, according to the museum, it's the world's most interactive. Housed within the gorgeous $450 million building, five centuries of news history meets with modern, up-to-the-second news updates. It has everything from Howard Stern and The Simpsons, Tim Russert's office and historical front pages from around the world. The video tribute to 9/11 left us all in tears and I applauded the San Francisco Chronicle front page treatment from that day: "Bastards". There was also the much mangled news antenna that was left among the ruins. My favorite exhibit was history of news where you can see an extensive timeline of the past 500 years of history in print. It had everything from the coronation of James 1 to the election of Barack Obama.

It's also where I learned that 20% of the people can name all five Simpson, but only only 3% can name all five freedoms in the First Amendments. I was also blown away that most people in the world live in a country where they can't enjoy freedom of the press (hint, hint).

Among the 14 major galleries and 15 theaters you can stand in the shadows of the original Berlin Wall and it's watch tower, see the ash-covered notebooks and camera from a fallen news photographer during 9/11, see iconic news photographs, radio and television images. If you're daring enough, you can play new anchor in an interactive newsroom. Two of the museum's special exhibits include top news stories of the FBI's first century with amazing reproductions of the Unibomber's cabin and the DC sniper's car as well as the hip-shaking Elvis exhibit.

Yes, it's one of the few museum in Washington you need to pay for, but it's worth every penny. I could go on and on about all the amazing sites at Newseum, but trust me when I tell you this is one museum you shouldn't miss.

After the museum, we cooled off from the humid day at The Dubliner for some authentic Irish fares.

Michael and I really enjoyed ourselves at the wedding. The lavish affair was held at charming The Hotel Monaco.

And here's a lovely statue of my favorite red-headed couple. If you look closer, she's wearing a New York Yankee cap and he's wearing a Tampa Bay Devil Rays cap. It's so adorable. Congratulations Lauren and Anthony! You make a beautiful couple and I hope you're enjoying your honeymoon.

Hope everyone had a good start to the new week. Did you do anything fun over the weekend?

Wishing I Was in Berlin

I was supposed to writing you from Berlin and Budapest. I was heading there to check out all the fabulous sites, art galleries and museums, cafes and restaurants for a travel story I was going to write. But some volcanic activity from Eyjafjallajokull left me grounded.

I drowned my sorrows with a bottle of wine and of course, french fries at The Harrison. Of course, I also ate a delicious dinner, but happiness for me is always found at the bottom of a basket. The fries at The Harrison are, by far, the best fries I've ever had. They are deep fried with duck fat. The only thing better would be a second order.

Today, I'm going to continue my non-European vacation with a mental health day. My mind, body and soul are simply someplace else and I want to get away. I may not be sipping a beer or enjoying a wiener schnitzel, but I can certainly enjoy an impromptu vacation New York City style where I don't have to spend a dime and still take a much needed mental vacation.

Soaking up the sun in Fiji 2009. Today, I can just look at this picture and be taken away for a moment.

I always believed in trying to find a few minutes a day by yourself to de-stress which is so important to your overall well-being. It's even better if you can play hookie for a day and do something you truly love. It's amazing how much better I feel after taking some luxurious moments to myself.

Here are some ways to escape:

Exercise. For me, there is no better escape than exercise. It makes me feel I'm in control of my life and I can accomplish anything. Even if you're working, taking a walk during lunchtime is crucial for your mental health. That pile of work will get done when you get back. If you're able to, take a walk along a wooden trail, along the beach or to any peaceful place like a park or garden for even more relaxation.

Make it an at-home spa day. No need to spend lots of money on a professional facial. You can still get all the relaxing benefits and refreshed skin with many of your favorite beauty products. My friend Kristin recently enjoyed a little pampering with a DIY spa and said her skin felt and looked refreshed.

Read a book in bed. Close your door to the world and escape under your covers with a good book. Nothing is cozier, more comfortable or more peaceful than your own bed. And a good book (like the one I'm reading now The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory) can take you away from your own world.

Try something you've never done before. Whether it's trying a new recipe or pick up a craft like knitting, learning something new always gives me a new lease on life.

Daydreaming and people watching. Focusing on something else other than yourself can take you away from your world. Grab a cup of coffee, sit at cafe with a glass of vino and just watch and listen to the world around you. You never know what can turn up.

Meet someone for lunch. Spending time with someone on a sunny day, remembering fun times and planning ahead , can lift your spirits and refocus your energies.

Well, bon voyage for now. I'll be back tomorrow. But, I'm just wondering, how do you escape from it all? What do you do to relax and give yourself a boost? Let me know in the comments.

Fabulous Fridays: Florida Here We Come

Have a fabulous weekend!

Packing A Little Lighter To Hit Those Friendly Skies

I used to pack for a vacation by bringing my entire wardrobe. You never knew what you might need, right?. It always annoyed Michael when I would stuff my suitcase so he would have to sit on it to close and then take up room in his with my belongings. It was like I would go through as many wardrobe changes as my girl Britney. But every time I would travel I would rotate between the same two or three outfits. I like to take this Calypso dress with me every time I travel. It's super light, takes up practically no room in your luggage and is low maintenance.

Me and Michael in Fiji 2009

Tomorrow we are leaving to go to Florida for the weekend and I'm going to pack the dress in an effort to pack lightly. The airlines are totally making a bundle on people like me who don't pack lightly.

Clearly, this dress isn't going to set me over the limit. But my beauty products sure can. No matter how many nights away, I have packed my full line of Mario Badescu products, hair products, body creams and makeup along with a full set of brushes. I put all of it in a toiletry bag I bought from Land's End that is meant for a family of four. I barely manage to stuff it with my own beauty supplies.

This time, I'm going to attempt to pare down. I know I can't live without my facial products and I'll definitely need the sunscreen. But I'm going to keep my makeup to a minimum. This means I'll bring a blush, mascara, an under eye concealer and a lip gloss. Hopefully a little bit of the Florida sun will do the rest.

For my next trip though, I'm definitely going to check out the amazing travel kits from 3floz.com, a one-stop shop for all your beauty products in TSA-friendly sizes. They can ship your products directly to you or to your hotel, whichever makes traveling easier. Kits range from about $22-$200.

The Alexis Kit

So what beauty products are you willing to forgo while you're away?