First FO of 2012

I finished my first knitting item for 2012.  It is a baby bunting and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  (Ravelry Link).  It is the same pattern that I made a couple of years ago, but I did some tweaking to it.  I knit it all in once piece so the only sewing I had to do was the arms, I could have finagled that so I had no sewing, but what fun would that be?  The other change this time was to put snaps & decorative buttons on it instead of a zipper.  I think it ups the cuteness factor! 

Next on the list is a pair of fingerless gloves for a gift and then a scarf for the business.  Lots of knitting in the future.


  

Randomness

Wow!  Look two posts in one month!  I'm on a roll.  :-)


So updates on the c25k program.  I'm on week 5.  I'm feeling stronger and my legs are not as sore as they once were.  That being said I feel like my progress is very very slow.  I started this program in November (more than 5 weeks ago) and I am only on week 5.  I suppose I'm thankful that this is a go at your own speed program and not having to increase until I'm ready.  My next increase is to run for 9 minutes all at once.  My most to date is 6.  I'll do another time of running six to see how my legs feel and then move to the 9.  I will get there.  I will run a 5k in May.


I know a lot of people that exercise in the mornings.  I see the benefit to that, but I'm just not one of them.  I actually like to exercise in the late evenings.  It calms my stress, I can go directly to the shower and then to bed.  I sleep better and I think I am more rested when I wake up in the mornings.  Plus I'm on a kick of getting to work by 7:30 and having to get up at 6:00/6:30 is early enough!  :-)


I'm looking for a good meal planner guide, or way to meal plan.  I've seriously fallen off the wagon with that aspect of weight watchers.  It needs to be rectified.  Also I don't really care for their food tracker so I'm looking for something else to use that can travel with me.  The thing that I love so much about WW is the meetings.  The one that I attend is always so fun and the leader is so enthusiastic about our journeys that it can really help to uplift your spirits if you've had a not-so-great week.


I said adios to my papisan chair today.  It is going to live with someone that will use it for more than a cloths catcher and I must say how much I love the space it has left in my bedroom.  I moved furniture around today in the bedroom & the living room and it just feels so much better.  I have a need to move things around at least once a year.  It's inherited from my Mom.  Plus it is a chance to do a good cleaning.  Something I really need to improve on!!

Happy New Year!

It is crazy that it is 2012! The last part of the year seemed to fly by at an incomprehensible speed. Work has finally slowed down a big, the holidays were a wonderful time spent with family and I even sold my first item at The Top Button. It seems I have a log of to do items with the business. One of them is to get some posts up over there as well. Specifically about the scarf that I sold. We (mom & I) figured out how to make labels using twill tape and iron transfers, they look really nifty.

I made quite a few resolutions last year and didn't do so well, this year is a bit lighter on resolutions. My main one is to continue to work on bettering my health. I'd like to really get the diabetes under control with just how I eat and the exercising and get off any medication that I have to take.

I also want to keep experimenting with recipes and different foods. I'm pretty much a wheat eater, but I'd like to cut out all refined white foods, although I'm not sure what all that would include. I received a bread maker for Christmas and I have some whole wheat recipes to try so I'm excited about that.

Beyond those two I really do not have any resolutions. Things I would like to improve in my life, but those are the major things that I'm focused on.

I am still doing weight watchers and I've started the couch to 5k program. I am up to week 4 of 9. Though it has taken me longer than 4 weeks to get to this point, it is still progress. And amazing that I can now run.

So here is to a fabulous new year. I hope you all had a wonderful end of 2011 and an even better start to 2012!!

Bazaar Day

The first Saturday in November is Bazaar Day in my family.  It's been that way as long as I can remember.  We meet early and browse and shop and end with lunch.

My first memories of the bazaars were a bit different.  It was waking up before the sun was even peaking over the horizon and loading up the car and heading to the elementary/middle school in Eagle.   My mom & my aunt shared space by the back door so I could freely come and go to the car as I needed.  I would help bag things and run little errands until I got bored and then out the car I would go to read or sleep.  As I got older I started running the calculator and handling money and sometimes it was not pleasant, I'm sure, for my Mom to deal with my attitude.  I cherish those memories, though, they are what started and cultivated my desire to be crafty.

Later, after my Mom had stopped selling things and I was in high school & college, I didn't attend as regularly.  I'm sure sleeping was much more interesting to me. :-)

Lately though, we go every year and my Aunts & Cousins join us and it's nice to walk around and see what people can create.  Every year there is usually something new that I never would have thought of.  But more than seeing the nifty items for sale, it is a time to just be.  Not think about work, or chores, or what I need to do, but to just enjoy the time with my Mom and family and just be together.

Music & Moods

I am a music girl.  I don't know if I go a single day without listening to some sort of music.  I know I would go insane at work if I couldn't have my ipod, it seriously keeps me sane and calm.

I have a wide variety of music on my ipod, but few musicians that I will by a cd before I even listen to one song.  My most favorite band like this is 3 Doors Down, I have yet to see them in concert, but I will someday.  Each new cd they put out is my favorite, but their most recent one Time of My Life has one song that really speaks to me.

"Race For The Sun"

It's gonna rain some days I know
And things are gonna hurt sometimes that's for sure
But I won't get turned around 'cause I keep moving on
I think my mind plays tricks on me
'Cause sometimes what I get ain't what I see
I just turn it upside down and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I'm gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me
Oh, it's gonna shine

I'm gonna take everything I want
And won't get lost in what I don't
I just hide it all inside and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me

Oh, it's gonna shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race
I'm gonna race for the sun
 
I love the message that I get from this song and I think it is important for me to listen to it.  I do a lot of looking back and wishing that I could change things in the past (whether it be yesterday or 15 years ago) and I don't think that is a focus that I should have.  Making the best out of what today is going to bring and looking forward to experiencing new things is my new focus.

Checking In

I've missed blogging.  Work has been consuming my time for the past month and a half.  I think maybe my head may stay above water for a while now.  I have lots to share with you.

Lets start with a picture of my 3rd project for my Camp Loopy.  I had the most difficulty getting this one completed in the time allotted, but I did and it turned out pretty.  It now lives at my Mom's house.  It seems a lot of things I knit end up at her house.  I may have to spread the love a bit more.  :-)

Ravelry Link



















 

So that's that one.  I have started on one Christmas gift, but it is slow going and I'm not sure I actually want to give it as a gift at Christmas.  I'm also working on my own pattern for an ear warmer,  I'm about 75% done so that will come along shortly.

Alaska was wonderful.  Here is the first picture.  Taken on Friday at Earthquake park. May I present my dad, the grump.  :-)

 

There were a TON of different mushrooms growing around the park.  I liked these mushrooms!

A Year and a month or two

It was a little over ayear ago that my Dad had major life changing surgery.  The change that I've seen in him is amazing.  Even before the surgery he was taking better care of himself and he's quite the inspiration to me.  I've always been a Daddy's girl, but it seems as we both grow older our relationship is improving as well.

So today is his birthday and I think a great time to celebrate his life and how grateful I am that he's going to be around for many years to come.  He doesn't agree, but I told him we celebrate birthdays in this family.  :-)

In other news I finished the third project for my Camp Loppy, it is drying as we speak (type/read whatever!).  I have lots of pictures and stories to share from a trip to Alaska in August.  So more posts to come.