Day 3...

As much as I would like to say today was a great success, I can only say I did complete the challenge. I didn't do as well as I would have liked with my intake of food and beverages, however, I DID get activity in. Last night while at the grocery store I rented a movie using Redbox which meant I had to return it today. So I rode my bike again to the store to return the movie.  Tomorrow I'm meal planning and tracking points as well as getting in activity. At least those are my goals for the day...until then.

30 Day Challenge - Day 2

Day two didn't go quite as originally planned for my activity, however,  I still managed to get in some exercise. I thought for sure I could start going back to the gym in the morning after four months of not getting up before 5:30 am, but yet again I overestimated my willpower!  I did, however, go to a Weight Watchers meeting for the first time in eight weeks. Although the number on the scale was grotesque, it felt good to be back in the company of those who know what it's like to go through this process, both with the struggles and successes. So after WW, I came home, got down my bike (which had at least a year's worth of dust collected), found the bike lock, filled the tires and went to the grocery store. The main goal was to get activity in while also picking up a healthy dinner choice.  Now the store isn't terribly far away, but I definitely got my heart rate up. Granted a lot of that was due to frustration with the preparation...retrieving the bike from its suspended state in the garage without the help of my 6'-2" husband, finding the bike lock with corresponding combo, and filling the tires only to have to do it again because the weight of my body (much heavier than it'd  should be) was not accounted for in the first place. Needless to say it was a lot of work for a relatively short ride, but on the upside, no matter how frustrated I was with the prep, I still did it!! And an even bigger item to my credit...I purchased a salad for dinner while at the store!

I was thinking that maybe my thirty day challenge should include me trying a new type of activity everyday. But I think its best if I stick to one goal at a time in order not to find excuses to get off track again. Maybe next month...

Back on track...

Ok, I'm going to be honest here...mainly because I have very few readers but also because I need to start being honest with myself...I need to lose weight!!! As many know, I've been on Weight Watchers since August of 2010. Since that time I got about 30 lbs lighter, which is great but then I got complacent and lazy. Granted, there were some health issues and injuries that came up between now and November of last year, but I have definitely taken the easy way out in recent months. After seeing some recent pictures and standing on the scale, I realized that my laziness has led to a bit of a backslide into bad habits and weight gain. So I've made a decision...I MUST GET SERIOUS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS!!! I mean I really wanted to be at my goal in a little less than four months...by my big 3-0 birthday...so that means I have to get off my tush and get to the gym! So I'm offering up a challenge to myself via the blog, after all if I publish it, I'll feel like an even larger ass if I don't follow through...I challenge myself to exercising (someway / somehow) every day for the next thirty days. Hopefully by the end of my challenge exercising will be a habit to stay.

So today, Day One of my challenge I started by trying my new hula hoop. Yes, I know, a hula hoop?!? But it is entertaining and manages to get your heart rate up while working your core.  Today I watched the video to learn the basic moves with the hula hoop. And while I'm definitely not a pro yet, I was able to get the basics down and hooped for an hour!!! The hoop is pretty large so it is a good thing our living room is large enough to accommodate the swirling and twirling. The pups are not too thrilled about the new exercise option, but I haven't hit them with hoop yet and with as much as the hoop falls, that's pretty good!!

In an effort to keep myself accountable, I'll be posting my journey back to weight loss and fitness but this blog won't be all about that I promise!! I have too many hobbies for that anyway!

A Whole New Room

My hubby loves me so much and he displayed his adoration for me before his latest trip for work. He executed my vision for a new interior design scheme in the master bedroom. Paul's never too excited about my latest and greatest design visions around the house. In my mind they're not going to be that involved, but according to Paul, I grossly underestimate the time, effort and funds required to accomplish these tasks. Not to mention that the projects don't always turn out as envisioned and then I get upset. For the last project we completed, we picked out a light green for a couple of the walls in the living room, however, it's darker than I imagined. This time though, the project in the master bedroom is EXACTLY how I imagined...it's amazing!!! And it's all thanks to my husband and his patience and skill with a laser level, blue tape and a paint brush. :)

I wanted a cozier feel in our bedroom and I was REALLY sick of looking at beige (slightly pinkish beige at that). So, we went with gray and it's lovely! The walls were painted in a matte gray and then were painted with three equally spaced and sized stripes of the same color but with a gloss finish. The result is a subtle, modern and cozy room that I ADORE! Here's a little taste of the finish:

I'll post pictures of the complete project once the rest of the room is finished, you know...cornices over the drapes, a new light fixture, mounted tv (still a dream at this point), custom jewelry display, new throw pillows preferably with some chevron prints....you get the idea. The room needs some final touches, but with this fantastic new paint job, it's well on its way to the most finished (and possibly favorite) room in the house!

A New Nephew...Atrayu

We were recently blessed with the addition of another nephew...Atrayu. He's the son of Paul's brother Josh and his wife Yan. He's a gorgeous boy and we can't wait to meet him in the flesh in October, but until then, we've tried our best to shower him with love and affection from afar. Yet again, however, I managed not to finish a handmade gift on time. Since Atrayu is half Chinese, and it's year of the dragon, I thought it would be appropriate to make a plush dragon for him. I had every intention of getting this gift to his parents prior to his arrival, specifically by their baby shower, but I was a few weeks late! (shocking, I know) I think the little guy was well received though and I'm sure Atrayu will grow to love him as he grows up. (The bow is just for wrapping)

To give the credit where it is due...the pattern for the dragon was purchased on Etsy.com from DIYFluffies. She's got lots of cute stuff through her shop...check it out! http://www.etsy.com/shop/DIYFluffies

Finally Another Finished Quilt

Our good friend Shelley's daughter Haeli turned two in January and although I had started putting together her gift long before her birthday,  the quilt didn't get done on time, as with many other gifts slated for completion. I was quilting it the day I planned on having it finished, however, there was A LOT of gathering. Now I had been told various times by quite a few people that I needed to get a walking foot to do my quilting. After this bad experience of having to rip out all of the disastrous quilting, I finally broke down and purchased one. Of course after the purchase, it still took me over a month to put it on my sewing machine and give it a go. The results were AMAZING! As I told Leah, my friend who is also a quilter (a very talented one at that), I don't know what I was thinking by quilting without it! It was seriously the best $30 I've spent since starting this new hobby!

                                Here's the finished project:

                                             Back:                                                                             

                                             Front:

With my  new gadget, I can't wait to start the rest of my quilting projects for the year...maybe now I'll even start getting them done on time! Here's hoping anyway! :) 

Valentine's Day Projects

So I couldn't resist making a little something for my nieces and nephew for Valentine's Day this year. I made individually designed onsies for each of them and they are CUTE if I do say so myself. :)
For the twins, I found these little heart pants to go with each of the onsies I made that spell out "LOVE"...here's a picture of the onsies with the pants:

Better yet, here's a picture of the outfits as worn by the cutest twins I've ever laid eyes on!

Emma is on the left and Adalee is on the right.

Here's the onsie I made for our oldest niece, Karly:

And finally, the one made for our nephew, Owen:

As worn by the cutie here...