January 2012 Knitting Projects

I knit about 1,130 yards this month on these projects.  Lots of baby knitting.  :)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and a Recipe Blog Recommendation

Today, I got a recommendation for this pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe.  It's super easy (so perfect since I don't have a lot of time) and really delicious!  After browsing through the rest of the recipes, I can't wait to try more.  :)

Looking forward to 2012

My training totals for 2011 are pretty terrible.  I don't even want to post them here!  I managed to do one race - a triathlon as part of a relay - but I don't even feel that great about my performance during that either. Suffice to say, I am looking forward to starting 2012!

I am not yet cleared to run.  Hoping that I get the go-ahead in another two weeks at my 6-week post-partum checkup.  Right now, I am trying to take walks with our little one in the stroller and I just started the 100 pushups program (again).  This seem like great ways to ease into training again.

What do you have planned for 2012?  Hope it's a great year!

Maple Bacon Cookies

1 c. butter or margarine, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. maple extract or 1 T + 1 t. maple syrup
2 1/3 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1/2 - 1 lb. bacon, cooked, crumbled and well drained (I cut the bacon into small pieces first.)

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter or margarine, brown sugar and sugar until fluffy. Stir in eggs and maple extract or syrup. Beat for 1 more minute.

2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine and add in batches to mixing bowl. Beat just long enough to incorporate.

3. By hand, stir in the bacon pieces. Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown.

Running...I should start that again

I haven't been able to run much lately.  Mostly because of being too busy with finishing up my PhD, but also because I am pregnant.  Right now, I'm 28 weeks.  During my first half-marathon, I was passed by a woman who was 8 months pregnant, and I decided at that point that I wanted to be her one day.  So, when I got pregnant, I planned to run the whole time.  Here's the thing I didn't know: IT'S HARD!

I had a rough start.  I was sick for the first 20 or so weeks and completely exhausted with trying to get everything done and all the stress on my body.  Plus, the bouncing on my bladder is really tough.  Additionally, do you have any idea how hard it is to find running clothes if you didn't start off as a size small?  Most women apparently just wear a size large or x-large, but I'm starting at that size.  I'm currently wearing the Brooks Glycerin capri pants and shorts, which have a nice waistband and a looser-fitting leg, so that works really well for my body.

Now that I'm done with my PhD, I'm going to work on getting back to running.  There is an 8k the day of the Richmond Marathon that I would very much like to do.  It's about a month before my due date, but I can totally do this!

Interesting Perspective on Finishing Your PhD

This blog post is really helpful for anyone else who might be struggling with finishing their PhD like I was.  It really is important to remember that the dissertation is only one step along your scientific career!

Trust me, I'm a Doctor

After months of complications and rescheduling, I finally had my PhD thesis defense on Friday (September 2).  The public talk went really well and the closed-door meeting after with my committee was a lot less stressful than I was expecting.  I passed and I'm officially Dr. Drake!

It's definitely a little weird to have people use that at work.  And people at work really like to use it after you first defend!  Now, I'm working as a post-doc in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine department at VCU.

It's also a little strange that this is the first time in 7 years that I am not a student.  And there was only a one-year period between kindergarten and now that I was not in school.  My timing this year in finishing is even more interesting - as people are starting their graduate school careers, I'm finishing mine.  No sadness there, though!

Craft Project: Tie-Dye Baby Onesies

This is my attempt at some non-knitting crafts. While my sister-in-law was in town last weekend, we tie-dyed some baby onesies.

I bought a kit from Dharma Trading Company and some Gerber onesies in sizes from 3 months to 18 months.

All of our supplies laid out.

Step 1: Fold and wrap with rubber bands.

Step 2: Soak for 15 minutes in soda ash.

Step 3: Prepare dye. It was a little tricky to get the dye dissolved properly, but I did the best I could.

Step 4: Apply dye to fabric!  Probably the most fun part despite me soaking my hands in dye.  Pro-tip: wear gloves.  Pro-tip #2: if you don't wear gloves, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser really helps get it out of your hands.

Step 5: Allow dye to sit in fabric overnight.  We wrapped each shirt in a plastic bag (the sort you get from a grocery store or Target).

Step 6: Rinse with cold water, then wash in hot water with textile detergent.  Again, wear gloves for this step.

Finished shirts!!!

Published Author!!!

After many trials and tribulations, my manuscript is finally published!!  It's my first first-author paper!

Updated PubMed search has me with two papers now!!

March 2011 Knitting Projects

Projects completed for the HPKCHC in March.