Monday, July 28, 2008

Dishrag tag

Emily is once again hosting Dishrag Tag.

Registration opens on Friday, August 1st.

If you missed out on the fun last summer....make sure you don't miss out this summer!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

I'm still here.

Just wanted y'all to know I am still here....

Life has been too busy lately. (and the summer is going by too quickly)

I did go yarn shopping. I have been knitting. I hope to post pictures soon....

Stay tuned....

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Weight loss and other "heavy" issues...

I have always struggled with my self-image and my weight.

When I got divorced, 9 years ago, the weight came off. I felt wonderful and for the first time in my life, felt comfortable in my own body. It was a great feeling.

I vowed to keep the weight off. Well, it has slowly crept back into my life. The last two years or so has seen me slowly gain 25 pounds.

I tried making small adjustments in my eating habits and/or exercise (or lack of it) to halt the onset of poundage...but, to no avail. I even quit drinking pop, in the past, that move alone was good for 15 pounds, not this time.

I questioned the doctor at my last visit. Seems once you hit your mid-forties, your metabolism slows down, thus making it even harder to lose those extra pounds. (Yes, he tested my thyroid)

As a result of the extra pounds (and a family history) I am now dealing with high blood pressure. Something I was really trying to avoid. I had hoped I could avoid medication by keeping my weight down. No such luck.

As you may remember, I bought Wii Fit this summer to get myself and my boys active in a fun, motivating manner. Well, it worked for about a month. But, my weight didn't go down. So, I lost interest.

I realized the other evening, as I was trying to fit my butt in a pair of jeans, that my "school" wardrobe isn't going to fit me, unless I take action. And, as you can see by my counter on top, school is fast approaching.

Long story short...(Love ya Beck!)....I was reading Megan's blog and she recommends SparkPeople.

Here is what Megan says about the site:

....There are a few things I really like about it. First, it is 100% free. Second, it's not trying to sell anything. I NEVER send a patient to a web site that is trying to sell them vitamins or miracle powdered drinks or anything else. I think all "education" on those sites is suspect at that point.

The biggest thing I think I like about it though is that the site encompasses so much. Not only can you track your weight loss, your daily calorie intake (it does most of the work for you, you just plug in what you ate), and your daily exercise but the site is big on motivation. There are tons of "SparkTeams" that you can join (much like the groups on Ravelry), there are message boards to ask questions and connect to people with your same interests or in your same area (there IS a knitter's group!), and there are SparkPoints.

You earn points for logging on, tracking your food intake, your exercise, drinking 8 glasses of water daily, basically most of what you do on/with the web site earns you points. The points go towards trophies which are displayed on your main log in page...

So, I created a profile for myself....I am "alaina.p" on SparkPeople.

I liked what I saw. The site is going to be very helpful, if I make the effort to use it. One of the things I liked...I struggle with planning healthy meals. The site gives me a weekly menu that I can adapt.

I don't know if this is the answer or not, but I think it's worth a try...

Let me know what you think and if you want to join me on this walk.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

camping and such



I have been MIA for the last three days.

I decided to go camping.

I didn't go far...less than three miles.

The weather was gorgeous...yes, we do have sunny, warm days in Minnesota.

Here are a couple pictures...



We watched, admired, and listened to the loons....they are so beautiful...there is nothing like the sound of loons calling to each other early in the morning...



Chris showed off his diving expertise on the raft....such awesome form....ohh...to be young again...

The lake is spring fed and over 22 feet deep at the raft....



We sat around the campfire...we made s-mores and had a great time....

Life is good.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Wow...


I walked to the mailbox expecting just the normal pile of junk mail and bills ...and lo and behold...a package!!! For me!!! I was totally not expecting a package...and...what a great package it is!!!

Everything was "wrapped" in a little bag with a bright blue bow...So cute.

(The bright sunshine kinda wiped out the colors...)

Jessi/Bubblesknits was my spoiler for the Keepin' Cool in Summer Dishcloth Swap.

She went above and beyond the call of duty...What a thoughtful package....I absolutely loved everything in it...it felt as if I had shopped for myself...Gather round and look at all of the awesome stuff she sent my way....



This sock yarn is from Sophie's Toes the color is "Garden Party". What a great color choice for a summer swap! I can hardly wait to cast on a pair of socks with it. What a great choice! Thank you Jessi.

Jessi also included two skeins of cotton yarn. One "peaches & Cream" in a color that I have not seen before and a skein of Knit Picks "Cotlin", which I have never used. I am looking forward to checking that out...(thanks for the tip Jessi of using smaller needles)



Other goodies...a set of flowery/summery notecards with a matching magnetic "to do list" (looks great on my refrigerator), a hand cream, a whole bag of Crystal Light drink mixes (see picture below) to keep me cool, a miniature body bar, and a set of "designer" handkerchiefs...they have an "A" on them....(How did you know I cry a lot? LOL)...She also included a "sock blocker" keyring, complete with yarn to knit up the little sock...(see first picture) I can't wait to make it.



and...this awesome little cuddly sheep. Isn't he absolutely adorable?? And he is as fluffy in real life as he looks...makes me smile everytime I look at him. His name is "Woolsy"



She also knit me not one...but...two beautiful dishcloths....One in a light tan



...and the other in a light green...very, very nice...





She also sent me this very, very awesome sock bag from Gypsyknits. I LOVE it!!! I can hardly wait to go "public" with my awesome bag. It is absolutely adorable...with little Knitting chickens on it...

(I know it is sideways...sorry)



And...last but not least...the chocolate...(and a picture of the Crystal light mixes that I mentioned above)...Jessi was worried that the chocolate may have melted..well, it did...but, that didn't stop me from enjoying it...

Picture this...I am in the kitchen, literally licking the chocolate out of the little containers...Nathan comes into the room, stops and exclaims, with this horrified look on his face..."Mom, you have chocolate all over your face!" Sorry...no pictures.

It was awesome!

Thank you Jessi for a great package. I know how hard it is to shop for someone else, but, you really nailed it! I love everything!

{{{BIG HUGS}}}

Saturday, July 5, 2008

This and That...

We spent the first part of the week at a Wisconsin Dells water park. (A mere five hour drive with two teenagers...need I say more?)

Andy and Katie met us there...which was awesome...we don't get to see enough of them...

It was tons of fun...I do not do "dry" rides...I have this insane fear of falling and I get sick...but...I will do water rides...

However....Chris convinced me to go with him on one of the rides...we had to sit in a big tube...and go down a huge chute....all twisty-turny...then...looked like we were going to fall off of a cliff...and we went straight down...

I closed my eyes and screamed the entire way down......won't be doing that one again.

I did, however, enjoy all the other rides I went on....my favorite being the lazy river...got myself sun burnt...again....



Here is Chris in the lazy river...trying to avoid Mom taking his picture...

Happy 4th of July.....



We spent the day at Bayfront Park in Duluth...which is right on Lake Superior....Listened to our favorite band....and of course, enjoyed the fireworks....weather was nice...music was good...fireworks were awesome...and it only took us one hour to leave the parking lot afterwards...



..and one last shot of the fireworks...



Hope your holiday was as awesome as mine was....

Whiskers on Wednesday


Wherever I go...she follows...I don't even know where she is when I leave a room, but, she will show up where I am...and of course, when she shows up in whatever room I am in...she acts all nonchalant....like it's a coincidence that I am in the same room as the room she happens to be in...

I find it touching...she just wants to be in the same room as me...

Heck...my children try to avoid being in the same room as me...lol...guess that's why I have a cat.....