Friday, September 14, 2007

Let the celebration begin and other random stuff


As I've said many times, I try to keep FKD about the strings and sticks but occasionally there is a subject which isn't about the knitting that reminds me why I'm glad I have my blog where I CAN have my say even if it has nothing to do with yarn...so here's something that I feel compelled to discuss...


This may be a sad performance, this may be a poor wardrobe choice, this may be a cry for help, this may even be a whole lot of crazy but.....

THIS IS NOT FAT!!!!!!

I fear for the message the media continues to send to healthy sized, impressionable young girls who look at this and think, "If she's fat, I'm a whale!!!" Is it any wonder eating disorders are so prevalent? /end rant.

~~~~


Kristi, designer extraordinaire of Fiber Fool fame recently wrote an interesting post about color and how we choose color in our knitting lives. She's even developed a color meme. Here's mine...

1. What is your current favorite color? Green and orange to look at, pink to wear

2. Had your favorite color changed over the years? Orange has very dramatically leapt into my preferred spectrum where is had not been before

3. Is your current favorite color one that is currently trendy? (Do you see it in the fashion rags or on the clothes rack or in the linen aisle right now? How about 5 years ago?) Trendy schmendy - I wear what I like and what looks well on me (never brown or beige no matter how *chic*)

4. What is your favorite color combination? Black and pink or red, pink and green

5. Is that combination a popular one? (Is it use in prints you see in the stores and catalogs and magazines now? How about 5 years ago?) I don't know about popularity in stores now or 5 years ago but the black/brights combo is very popular in professional settings. There were many days in my office where every single one of us (more than 20) were wearing black and red or pink!

6. What is your favorite way of using color in your knitting? (Are you a stranded knitter? Do you prefer simple stripes? Do you prefer just accents at the hems/collars?) I haven't done stranded knitting since I moved to Florida - too hot! I love knitting with rich, bright saturated color and not just for socks! I'm not really big on stripes but once in a while they are fine - I usually prefer a more muted variegation tho. I think color accents in small touches on a knitted item look very sharp without being garish or gaudy

7. What colors look good on you? Any pink, any blue or any gray except the darkest values of each. I had my colors analyzed back in the early 90's and those colors became my mantra - and they work really well for me!

8. What colors look bad on you? Green, brown, beige

9. Do you wear colors that don’t look good on you just because you like them? Very, very rarely and only if they are not close to my face - people ask if I'm feeling sick when I wear colors I shouldn't :)

10. What is your favorite neutral color? black/white/ivory/tan/brown/gray – if brown or gray do you prefer cool or warm versions of those or does it matter? And, how dark? Black or gray - Not too dark on the gray - flannel, not charcoal

11. Is there a sweater pattern that uses more than one color that you’d like to make, but you wish to change the colors from what is published? If yes, which one? What do you not like about the published colors? Living in Florida and having most of my knitting recipients living in warmer climates I don't even think about knitting something like Oregon by Alice Starmore or a Dale of Norway sweater but if I did, I think there are enough patterns like those around that I could find a color palette that pleased me. If not, I wouldn't hesitate to change the colors.

Feel free to yoink this meme and post it on your blog (with a link back to Kristi!) cause I for one, am very interested to hear the color perspective of my blogging buds!

Now for the really important stuff...THE BIRTHDAY CONTEST!!!!!

Next Tuesday is my birthday so of course that means it's a perfect time for ME to give YOU, my faithful and supportive readers, a gift!!

As y'all have come to know, I have a bit of a *thing* when it comes to Knails! In fact, my OPI stash rivals my yarn stash....hey, I wonder if OPI will do "The Fiber Collection" - knitting themed colors!? Ok, I digress...

Anyway, I have 2 lovely prizes to give away...

A sock yarn grab bag with Lorna's Laces, Mountain Colors, Opal, Sockotta, ect.


And a shawl kit from Blackberry Ridge, The Legend of the Shetland Seas Stole.


Here's a close up of the lovely yarn - you could even dye it if you choose!


So how do you win one of these lovely prizes? Simple! Just guess the number of OPI Knail Lacquers I currently possess!! Easy Peasy!

Wish me a happy birthday and leave your best guess in the comments between now and midnight September 18th and you'll be eligible for one of these yummy prizes! I'll pick the two winners closet to the actual number and one closest will have their choice of sock yarn or stole! YAY, I love birthdays!! :)

Here's the P-Man primping for the upcoming festivities...


He says, "Good luck everyone and happy birthday Mom!!"


108 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm going to guess 56 colors.

Have a Happy Happy Birthday missus. I hope you get more OPI, more yarn, and more kisses from your ever so handsome pumpkin kitteh.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! I'm going to guess 29... because it's that same as your age! ;)

Stephanie said...

OPI has soooo many awesome colors don't they? I'm going to guess you have 42 of them. Because 42 is the answer to life the universe and everything! So it must be 42 :o)

Opal said...

Happy Birthday! I'm going to guess 15. Why? I have no idea. I'm basically grabbing that out of my .. of the air.

I despise the way the media depicts what a woman should look like. Really. We'd all be fainting from lack of calories if we adhered to their stringent rules.

alltangledup said...

I'm guessing 31. happy birthday!!

do you think the orange preference is because of P-Man?

...and I don't think Britney is either

Becky said...

Happy Birthday! Very interesting post -- Thanks!

I'm guessing you have 34 OPI Knails. Have a great birthday weekend!

Carole Knits said...

I think you have 37 OPI nail polishes hanging around. But it's probably more. Where do you store them all, anyway?
Happy Birthday, my friend!

Anonymous said...

63 ! A really wild, over the top, guess. But, then again...

Interesting colour meme.

Guernseygal said...

Happy Birthday! I am going to make a very conservative guess at 24 :-)

Pam! said...

You took the words right out of my mouth. Britney is a lot of things, but I would not consider her fat to say the least! And I swear some of the pics lately are photoshopped to make her fatter ... next they'll be sticking her head on my body! LOL

Opi laquers ... hmmm ... how about 22? I was going to base my guess on the distance between myself and my sis down there by you, but that would be 890 miles. I can't imagine you have only 8 or 9 bottles but neither can I imagine you have 89! heh heh

Dave said...

Happy birthday! Someone already picked my favourite number -- :-( -- so I'll pick another number! :-) How about 33?

La Cabeza Grande said...

No OPI guesses, just many, many happy returns of the day dear Debi!

Kati said...

Happy Birthday! I may have to steal your meme it was really interesting to think about.

My guess is 47....

Nia said...

I know how many nail polishes I have, so my guess 143.

Have a wonderful birthday!

Liz said...

I'm glad someone finally said that about Britney. I was telling my Mom yesterday that while I don't like the outfit, she looks damn good for having two wee ones. It's frustrating that the media is only focusing on her "big figure", what does that teach our girls?

Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

I'm going wild here....142.

Happy Birthday!

Lorette said...

Hmmm, my guess is 150. My favorite color name is I'm Not Really A Waitress. I bought that one just because of the name. Whoever does their marketing is a genius.

My first thought when I heard about the Brittany thing was "oh good, she's gotten fat". Then I saw the photos. Good grief, if that's fat, what are the rest of us. It always pisses me off when I see the fashion media refer to size 12 as plus sizing.

Barbara-Kay said...

Happy Birthday! I'm guessing 30 colors of Opi. Hope the P-Man didn't buy you more for your birthday, and change the count! VBG!

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing 47 colors. But more imporantly, happy birthday! (And even more importantly, Hi to P-Man!)

Susanne said...

Well let me see here...I will say you have 32 bottles of OPI. I know it is easy to create a "stash" of polish as good as theirs is. Happy Birthday and give the P-Man a pet from "Boots" too will you? thanks and Many Happy Returns..

Panda said...

Happy Birthday! I'm guessing 43.

Siercia said...

People already took my first 2 guesses, so I think I'll go with 44.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Meghann said...

Dang, I wish I looked as good as Brit after two kids! I'm entirely fed up with the media's obsession with ultra -stick-thin. I want my daughter to grow up loving herself no matter what size she wears!

My guess? 38.

Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

First time here--enjoy your blog very much. I own zero nail polish so I am clueless about this; my guess will therefore be ... 102. That seems like happily insane with color ... or a low of 6 ... No, 102 it is. Thanks!

Marguerite said...

Happy Birthday!

What a great contest. Knowing how things we love just seem to collect and collect, I'm going with 66.

Debi said...

Ok folks, enough with the WEENIE guesses, think triple digits and think OCD :)

Yikes, if y'all are so conservative about Knail polish, I'm NEVER showing off my stash!

Here's a hint, NOT ONE GUESS has been close so far!

And Carole, I keep them in a drawer in my dresser AND on a shelf in my walk in closet AND in a little plastic bin. :)

margene said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Brittany isn't FAT but she is a...well, the performance was just a drag (not that I watched).
Fulvia took my guess! I'll settle for 84. ;-)

Sandra said...

I was already thinking riple digits, based on your stash commnets, then started reading comments, and thought, to hell with it, I'm going with my first thought! 179 Knails!
And while Britney may be train wreck, and should really go away for a while, she is NOT FAT!

Unknown said...

I am motivated to comment not by the give away (although that is fun), but by the Britney inspired rant...

NO, she isn't fat. YES, it makes me sick to hear the media (and reportedly her) call her fat. What really makes me sad, though, is not the influence the comments will have on people who are adults and should know better, but the influence it will have on teens and pre-teens. No wonder so many girls start obsessing about food while they're still young. With media comments like that, they don't have a chance!

For the give away, though, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Don't let the P-Man forget! I guess you have, through many, many manicures, acquired 176 bottles of OPI.

PurlingPirate said...

I thought the same thing. When I initially saw the video I thought, Wow, she looks healthy for once!!!

Mary said...

88 ! and Starkitty sends a herro! to P-Man.

Mel said...

Happy Birthday! And may all your yarn wishes come true. :)

Hmmm, OPI nail colors...I will guess 275, cause OPI is just that good. The cashmere of polishes.

As for Brit, I would just like to say to the critics, you try having 2 kids back to back in a 2 year time span and see how quickly your abdominals pull back into shape. Your body changes after giving birth and some people never get the abs back like they were before without "medical interventon." Her handlers made a poor wardrobe choice and didn't take her new shape into account. Some people have nothing better to do than tear other people down to make themselves feel better. I bet those kind of people kick puppies too.

***hopping off the soapbox now***

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!

Sorry, I've been a lurker for quite a while now, since I found your turkish cast on tutorial.

I know how it's so easy to stash nail polish, so I'm going to guess you have 26 bottles of OPI Knail Lacquers.

Oh, she's certainly not fat. She's got good curves. It's too bad she doesn't know how to dress, though.

Krystal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Krystal said...

Hey P-man!

I totally agree with everyone on the Britney thing... I wish I looked that good before I have two kids lol!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say 315! Happy Birthday!

WandaWoman said...

I agree that Britney is not fat, but that outfit was not the most flattering to her figure. She's not bikini-ready, but hell I've never been :-). I just think she shouldn't have worn that. About her performance, eh, never watched it and not a Britney fan, so whatever.

I have a "collection" of nail polish too and I love OPI. I'm going to guess 48.

Happy Early birthday!

Laura said...

I think there's about 35 colours :)
I love OPI my favorite is Chicago Champagne toast.
Happy Birthday!

Trish said...

After reading all the other guesses, I'm going with 243.

Happy Birthday! and I just feel sad for Britney. She needs someone to take care of her and make sure she stops screwing up her life.

elizabeth said...

You're totally right about Britney - just how thin will make the medial happy? Crazy!

I'm guessing 23 - same as your age. ;o)

Happy birthday!

Leslie said...

Wow! It's 11:00 a.m. and you already have 37 comments! The aggregate readers are poppin with the latest FKD edition!

You're right about Brittney - maybe a little sick-o and lacking in class, but not fat. Marilyn Monroe is fat by today's standards. I went into Wally World last week and almost dropped my teeth when I saw a size 14-16 labeled as XL. Ample (and fluffy) knitters are much more realistically sized than what the current fashion mores allow.

Anyhow, OPI colors? I'm going with 57 - just like Heintz!

Happy B-day Deb!

QueenMeadow said...

Brittney is nowhere near fat, it's sad that everyone in the media is making such a big deal out of her mommy pouch :(

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope it's fantastic!

I guess 40 bottles of OPI colors.

Unknown said...

Hmmmm.... no wee guesses hunh? I'm going to go for 320 then. ;)

Anonymous said...

Since I am 53, I'll guess you've got 53 of 'em, eh?

Anonymous said...

Ooop...make that 530!

Molly said...

I'm going with 32 bottles of opi.

Debi said...

Hey!! It's a BIRTHDAY CONTEST!!! No guessing without birthday wishes!!

Kristi aka Fiber Fool said...

OPI stash that rivals yarn stash??? Hmmmmm..... 63 colors?

Thanks for filling out the color meme! The answers are going to help me form the follow-up posts so the more the merrier! :-)

Bullwinkle said...

I'm going with 460 (because I'll be 46 on Tuesday - Happy Birthday to us!!!)

(Wow ... uhm how long does nail polish last? Does it dry up in those little bottles?)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday and may all your nails be rainbow colors. Huh?????? I'm guessing 292.

Crazy Knitting Fool said...

Amen about the Britney Spears thing. I think for having two kids a year apart her body looks pretty damn good! he metnal state though is another story!

Happy Birthday! I'm going to guess 75 colors.

Cookie said...

She picked the outfit. MTV wanted her in some kind of corset, but she didn't think it was sexy enough.

You're right, Debi. She's not fat. She's not ripped and 19 anymore and I think that's what media people are taking issue with. Considering how she eats, I'm surprised she looks as good as she does.

Happy Birthday!

How long have you been into OPI? Because that's a factor. Three or four a collection and they do how many collections a season (?) and how many seasons a year? Hmmm...

648

I'm thinking it's high, but ya never know. ;^)

Love to the P-Man!

Anonymous said...

I guess 16.

Re the fat. I didn't take it as them meaning that was fat by itself. It is, however, too large for that outfit. Had she worn an appropriate garment there wouldn't have been an issue.

That being said, I don't think people should say that's fat, I think they should, if they must criticize her appearance, put the fault where it lays -- the girl has no fashion sense and no ability to choose appropriate costumes.

Anonymous said...

Oopsie. I was trigger happy. Happy Birthday!!!!

For your age I guess 29.

(that should get me a prize, right?)

Sharlene said...

Okay, I'll guess 56...

Thursday said...

87

Happy Birthday!

Monika said...

I wish you a very happy birthday! And many more to come. I guess 95, but I'm not up to date on what's out there. ;o)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!
I do not need any more yarn, so I'm declining the request to guess how much nail varnish you have!

Melanie said...

Happy Birthday Deb!
I am going to guess 152 shades! =)

Soulknitting said...

DEB! Happy Soon-To-Come Birthday!!! My guess is 24!

Sheri said...

I just turned 50, so my guess will be 51!
Happy Birthday to you!
I agree, what message are we sending? If I looked like that I wouldn't be eating carrot sticks and walking 2 miles a day and if it wasn't for the media (and my Dr.) I wouldn't be so crazy about losing these last stubborn 10 pounds! They want sticks!
Sheri in GA

Anonymous said...

Happy B-day to you! My guess is .. 64.

sulu-design said...

Happy birthday!!! I'm not going to guess a number since my knitting skills are not worth you lovely yarn. Just wanted to nod my head in agreement here with the initial rant. Aren't blogs great for that?

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!
I guess 36.

Terri said...

Happy Birthday!!!!

I guess 48.

And here here for your comments about what fat is and is not. Britney is not my favorite performer, nor do I agree with her wardrobe, but I think she looks pretty darned fit to me - not to mention how good she looks after two babies!!!

I am with you in your thinking of how unrealistic the media is with its views of what fat is and isn't.

Again, happy birthday. Be well!

Karen said...

I am going to guess 41.
Hope you have an awesome birthday!

Anonymous said...

I WISH I looked like Brittney does now. The media is ridiculous! I'm guessing 65 but I think that's probably low.

Anonymous said...

I say 14...and Happy, HAPPY birthday!!

Anonymous said...

howdy deb...

My guess is 213...

Happy Birthday... call you soon!

your grasshoppa

Batty said...

42? It's the answer to everything, after all!

There's a reason I subscribe to Bitch, the feminist magazine. I'm going to make sure any daughter I have reads it too. Britney is a coked-up, self-respect-less, desperate mess, but she's a very attractive young woman.

Peachy said...

happy birthday, too!

And I thought the same about Britney - and I'd really, really like to be that kind of fat ;)

btw, thanks again for letting me feature your tutorials, the tukish cast-on is going live later today!

Confessions of a Knitting Diva said...

I agree with the your post about Brittany being fat. It is scary raising a teenage girl in this society. Happy Birthday, and my guess will be 64 bottles of OPI.

Carol said...

I'm gonna be conservative a say 42. I'll also visit again on Tuesday to wish you a Happy Birthday! P-Man's got his nails all ready!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday!!! I'm going to guess 112 bottles of OPI.

alicia said...

Happy early Birthday!
How about 201 bottles? No idea where that comes from (:
All the best!

Denise/CT said...

Happy Birthday FKD, WOW they sneak up on you don't they? I remember last years celebration, seems like yesterday. OK, my guess 67 colors, yep that's it...67 (of course your only celebrating birthday #32, right!)

Carol said...

I got so caught up in the contest, I forgot to say thank you for the rant! Having 2 teen girls, I definitely don't want them living by ANYone's standards but their own healthy ones! Imagine, our society spends millions on encouraging sexy, but not healthy! I happen to be thinner than Brit, but if I looked like her, I'd be very happy! It's just time she starts looking like the mommy she now is that's all.

Anonymous said...

First happy birthday in advance and many more to come!!

My guess is 94 bottles of original and three more, base, top, and quick dry!

Angie said...

Have a very happy birthday and a wonderful prosperous year. Okay, I guess 23 OPI colors. :-) Happy Day!

Kat said...

I'm guessing 138 bottles of luscious colors. :-) I really want that Legends of the Shetland Seas pattern--I've been working up the moxie to buy the pattern.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Linda J. said...

I'm guessing 323, happy birthday!

Sherri said...

I'll go with my daughter's hockey number - 55

Anonymous said...

Quite right, she doesn't look fat. Glad you pointed that out.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday and here is hoping you get even more OPI for your birthday. My guess is 321 bottles.

Dorothy said...

Well, I didn't have time to read everyone else's comments, so this will probably be a duplicate. I'll just guess 37. Makes me feel like a real slacker - I have one!

Unknown said...

Happy,happy birthday! My guess is 49 OPIs.

yvette said...

I agree with you on the media "fat" issue, it drives me nuts.

My OPI guess is 278, I love OPI and wish I could buy it somewhere here.

~S said...

Happy Birthday and 125 bottles of OPI, take one down pass it around... :)

Anonymous said...

You are so right; that is NOT FAT!

I'm going to guess that you have 69 bottles of OPI :-)

Happy Birthday!

Cathy said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't agree with you more, if she is fat then I am a mastadon! ;)

I guess 30. Give P Man a pat for me, he is just adorable and enjoy your day!

Anonymous said...

Hey there.... I'm catching up on blogs. Love all the socks... tres pretty. And I agree on the Brittany thing.... that's a whole lotta crazy but not a whole lotta chunky. Just sayin'.

Anyway... I'm guessing 114 bottles of Opi.

Happiest of Birthdays to you. You're a marvelous friend and the world wouldn't be the same without ya!

Kusum said...

Have a very Happy and wonderful Birthday.

My birthday is a week from this Friday. I would love to win something for my birthday. ;-)

My Guess - 101 OPI bottles.

Alison said...

204. Happy birthday! It's a great day, by the way. I met my hubby-to-be 15 years ago on the same day.

I have many problems with the media and the clothing industry for so many reasons, not least of all calling people fat when they are finally looking a bit healthy. (Especially when there are so many *other* things they could say about the girl.)

Beth said...

Happy Birthday Buddy!

I'm going to guess 51 colors. Although I'm not going to be surprised if it's way more than that. ;)

I completely agree with your rant. This society has such a twisted sense of beauty.

Meg said...

Alright, I had never heard of OPI before (I am not a nails pserson) so I went and looked at their website. Turns out they have an "Australian collection". I was pleased to learn that in Australia, 'cosmopolitan chic meets adventurous style' and the 'look is sophisticated, savvy, and spirited'. Go me!
Anyway, I am guessing you have 128 colours of OPI lacquer in your collection.
Happy birthday!

Susan said...

I'm thinking 139. Maybe they don't even have that many colors but I'm sure some have been retired and now are collector's items! I think you need 4 more for your birthday! hugs to Pman!

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday!! I'm guessing 136 Opi's.

Reluctant Penguin said...

Happy birthday, Deb! My guess is 49 (though I am puzzled as to why anyone would have more than 1 or 2)

Anonymous said...

Happy Real Birthday!

Triple digits! Wow... I'm impressed. :D So, can I guess again since my first one was WAY OFF?

182.

sara said...

happy birthday
103 is my guess
Sara

Angela said...

First of all...Happy Birthday!! I hope that it's a wonderful day!!

I'm guessing 96 bottles of Opi...That's some seriously good stuff, too. ;)

Denise said...

Happy Birthday!

I'm going to randomly guess 116 bottles. According to their website they have over 200 colors so something a bit over half the total seemed to make sense!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Deb!

I'm guessing 218 (because I like the number 18). Have a fun b'day.

Nana Sadie said...

169?
(((hugs)))

Anonymous said...

Birthday Blessings, Deb!

Hi to P-Man from my Maine Coon Cats, Mamie and Mazie.w

My guess is 31.

KatieLiz said...

Happy Birthday! I'm probably guessing way too low, but the number 17 is stuck in my head, so I'm going with that. :^)
Katie

Donna said...

Happy Birthday!! I'm guessing you have at least 100 bottles of Opi.

Re. Britney, she is in no way fat! She looks fabulous. I think she's got a lot going on in her life and that is just complicated by the media, but she is in no way fat. She is beautiful.

Cindy said...

I guess 37. Happy Birthday!

Diane said...

Happy birthday! I'll guess 43 bottles.