A burst of creativity

I taught myself how to knit from a book when I was maybe about 10 or 11 years old. Since then, I have actually become pretty advanced, though I haven’t seemed to have as much time to devote to it like I used to. In the past I have made sweaters, bags, scarves - you name it. I even knitted a skirt for myself (which I never wore...it was a little too small! :(.)

The other day I had a sudden urge to knit, so it was lucky for me that I had an in-progress project just sitting there waiting for me. I think the last row I knit on this one was on the plane to Jamaica in January and I haven’t touched it since. The pattern is from Moda Dea and it is a one-piece strip that you twist and sew together to create this little wrap. I started it because I wanted something easy and mindless at the time. You can wear it as shown or with the twist in back. I am knitting it in hot pink! Well, the color is actually called Aurora Pink...it is the middle shade in the photo below.

Moda Dea Wrap Sweater

Classic Elite Ariosa in Aurora Pink

In addition to the wrap project, I started searching online for decorative things I could make for the house. I found this pattern for a crocheted "urn" on the Vogue Knitting website. It comes from their “hipper” knitting magazine, the now defunct (I think) Knit1. I used to subscribe to this magazine, so I searched my old issues and was so excited when I found it on my bookshelf, because I would have had to pay for the pattern online.

This looks like a simple project that will bring my crochet skills out of submission. I hope. I’ll post some pictures when I finish it, and of course, my hot pink sweater. ;)

Last week’s healthy challenge results

Well, I started off so strong with the first week or two of blogging, and then dropped off. Whoops! Time to get back to work! I haven’t had any specific topics come to mind in the past few days.

The last time I posted, I was mortified by the fact that I had such an unhealthy weekend, and was feeling a little, um, puffy. So last week I took counteractive measures by eating healthy every day with no desserts, lots of water, and exercise. Lo and behold, come week end I was down by about 3 pounds! It just goes to show what I would look like if I ate like that all of the time.

This week started off rough since I met two of my friends at Maxie’s Southern Comfort last night—a place I actually try and stay away from because I always overeat. And I did—again! But it was a treat and I never get to see them, so I didn’t feel that bad. Back on the bandwagon today.

Attack of the killer eating weekend!

I say this every Monday after a long indulgent weekend, but this Monday I really mean it!

I usually eat really healthy during the week, aside from the nightly dessert I almost always have. But I always find that as the week wears on, I start to feel like I really need a treat! So I’ll have a glass or two of wine…then we’ll go out for a night of dinner and drinks…then we’ll have a family function where there is an endless assortment of snacks, desserts, and other yummy foods…and more wine or drinks!

Obviously, I have no intention of giving my treats up completely. But I really could use a little more discretion!

For example, yesterday we went to a tailgate/baseball game. Among the food options were macaroni and cheese, potato salad, chips, burgers, brats, and hot dogs. Actually, there was a veggie tray too, but did I eat any veggies? No. Instead I had some of everything else, in addition to cookies, a margarita, a little kettle corn, and then some pizza! And this in addition to the other things I ate over the weekend...probably too overwhelming to list!

Now anyone can tell you this is more than just a little overindulgence! Not only that, but after consuming it all, I was totally lethargic and feeling gross about myself. The worst part of it all? When I stepped on the scale this morning, I weighed the most I have in 7 years!

So, yeah…something has to give. I have no intention of letting this continue. Today I signed up a for a food tracking website, and I am going to be diligent about this! It isn’t all about weight, though that is part of it. It also has to do with my health overall. I think about how bad I physically feel when I eat badly or drink too much (stomach hurts, feel tired, urge to drink countless jugs of water) and that in itself makes me want to stop eating this way.

In the good old days, I was very good about eating strictly healthy during the week, followed by mostly healthy weekends aside from a night out for dinner. It is time to bring those days back! So this is my pledge that “healthy Monday” is going to last more than one day this time—it will last all week (and beyond!) I will have a report on how I did next week.

Wish me luck!