My Space

Recently, I changed our guest room into my sewing space. I was using an alcove at the top of our stairs, but it just wasn't enough room. I love, love, love it.

Creative slump broken

The last couple months I have wanted to start sewing/quilting again. I like to sew in the fall/winter and garden in the spring/summer. But lately, I seem to have had a creative slump. I blame Pinterest. I am a Pinterest addict. I love to spend the evenings (OK, weekends too!) browsing for things to create by either sewing or crafting. I was spending my free time looking for things to make, rather than making things.

I need to find some balance. No surprise there. That statement pops into my head regularly.

Maybe it wasn't a creative slump as much as a doing it slump. The ideas are abundant, but I wasn't getting anything done. What to make - aprons; potholders; sachets; pin cushions; cooking; baking; or I should organize; oh! but I should clean first ( work before play).  Ah heck, I'll just take a nap.

This last weekend I decided to break this slump and then realized I wasn't happy with my work area. For the last three months we had people staying with us until their house was ready. Finally, they moved out. That gave me an idea...

Change the guest bedroom into my sewing area. No more guest room, no more visitors staying. *grin*         (More on my sewing room in a later post.)

So now my room is all set up and I love, love, love it. Yesterday, I spent all day in my room and actually made some pretty things! It was so fun. 

Here is a cathedral window pin cushion I made following the tutorial over at Moda Bake Shop: 

A patchwork heart pin cushion:


Here are some potholders I made awhile back. I learned how to do these at a quilt retreat a couple years ago:


I made a couple more pin cushions and a couple sachets too. The sachets even have lavender that I grew in the garden. My room was smelling good while making these!

More later...til then,

Lynda

Pounds off

Spring/Summer 2012 were great! At the beginning of May, I started the Medifast diet. My mom had been on it with great results, so I decided to do this diet because I knew I needed something simple to keep me on track. It worked!! I lost 30 lbs this summer. I have gone off MF the last few months and have not gained anything back, but I know I need to continue to be conscious of what I eat. I plan to go back on the plan to lose 10 lbs more here in the next month or so.

Along with the diet I started walking down our road, which is about a mile and has a pretty good hill to it. At first it took me about 45 minutes to make the walk down and back. After a couple months, I was jogging part way and occasionally walking twice a day. What a good feeling it is to be stronger.

The neighbor at the end of the road has a sense of humor...keep the gate shut so nothing escapes.

Losing

Spent three days sick with cold/flu and mostly in bed this past weekend (New Years weekend!). Although I didn't do much, I didn't eat much either, so managed to loose about a pound a day.

Now that I am better, I did Zumba tonight. I am new at this (and out of shape), so I did a half-hour. Feels great. I'm still focused and motivated. I've been eating well and actually finding it a bit difficult to eat 1200 calories a day. My stomach feels smaller after my sick days. That's okay.

I have a membership at the gym, but it is lonely and impersonal there. I still think I am too 'new' at this to try classes yet. A friend was telling me she goes to Curves and that I should try it. I think I will!!

I've lost 8lbs. so far.

On track

It is day 3 and I am on track. Ate well the last couple days. Started feeling not so well last night, so i didn't Zumba. I am coming down with a massive cold, I can feel it! Head is stuffy, body achy, throat sore and exhausted. I'm not surprised. Couple gals at work were suffering through this and then we went to Tennessee - all those people/germs in the airports.  :(  I will continue eating well, but won't be exercising until I feel a little better.

Good news, I'm down 6 pounds!

Happy New Year!!

Ready, Set, GO!

Yesterday, we returned from eight days in Tennessee. Good to be back in Montana where it is actually winter. My husband, son and I had to go to TN because my SIL and BIL decided to go to Europe for three weeks and since my 89 yr old MIL lives with them, she needed company while they were gone. We had a nice time cooking Norwegian foods, playing cards, doing puzzles and EATING. While we were supposed to be taking care of MIL, and she tried everyday to take care of us. Was difficult to get her to pace herself and take rests, but she did okay. She has always been an active lady and remains the continual hostess. I know she loved being with us and we with her.

Today I began my journey to the better me. I used Lose It to track my food and I'm under 300+ calories. I exercised with my new Zumba DVD's. I'm just learning the steps right now and looking forward to doing the complete routines. Wasn't a total sweat excercise workout, but better than my usual evening of sitting in my chair.

I feel good.

Journey to...

...fitness, weight loss, 50 yrs old, health. This is what the next six months is going to be about. For sometime, I have been having a hard time finding the motivation for weight loss and fitness; something was missing, I had no desire. I was just giving up and letting myself go. I thought it was several things, menopause, work, tress, lack of friends, which all did contribute, however a bright light came to me a couple weeks ago while my son and I were in "the big city" shopping - I don't go anywhere or do anything anymore!! I don't even go to the grocery store if I can help it. I have to get back in control of myself, my goodness. Soooo, that is what I am going to do this next six months.

I have become a "Pinterest" addict and recently have been pinning a lot of clothes/outfits. Oooohh, all those clothes, the colors, purses, boots, jewelery! I want it!! So,I need to loose 50-60 lbs. Ha, if I do I will have a closet full of clothes I can wear again!! (No shopping necessary!) But I am going to get new outfits and look good in them. Yep, I am.

My plan is to use the Weight Watchers points system, and exercise with Zumba. I have recently been inspired by Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond. They are my age, lost weight and look great now. I will be 50 in a couple months and I want to look and feel good.

When I reach my final goal, I want to go to Hawaii. Won't that be a great reward!?! So the journey begins....