Where does the time go?

Sorry I haven't been around recently...I had about a million meetings after school this week, so by the time I got home, I was exhausted...so I sat around and did nothing. Not a thing. Sad, because I really should be purging the apartment of things we don't need because we will eventually have to make room for this baby if we don't find a house. And even if we do find a house, we're going to have to purge before we move just to make things easier.

To make it up to anyone who visited and was disappointed, I took pictures this week for your entertainment.

This is especially for Marta who requested a picture of Reuben in his new hoodie.

Reu will whimper when he's on his dog bed if he's cold...the result is a snuggle up with a blanket. Sometimes, when we're lucky, he gets up and walks around wearing a cape for a while.

This is the fabric that I stashed away to make a baby quilt with. I actually bought it when my friend CA was pregnant and I wanted to make her baby a quilt. I think that whether I have a girl of boy...it's my kid and it will probably love aliens as much as I do...right?

Thanks for stopping by!

Secret present!

I decided I'm going to post about the secret project that I made for my friend, CA, who is having a baby at the end of December. I can see about 10 different mistakes in the Tigger quilt, but the baby ain't gonna care. All the baby will know is that Aunt Alanna loves it to death!

It's actually the first quilt that I have ever made from beginning to end on my sewing machine...so at the very least, it was a learning experience. For example...flannel stretches easier than regular cotton. Who knew?

I think I'm going back to sock monkeys for a little while...I love them...plus I owe my friend, Collette, a sock monkey for her 2 year old daughter.

What I'm up to...

Here's a quick view of what project I've been up to....another 9 patch quilt. I'm hand piecing it, and it's especially slow going because I'm only motivated in bursts where I'll sew for a little while and then put it down for days. Plus, I've got 3 or 4 other projects that I'd like to try, and I've got a bunch of chores to do and I just can't seem to get any of them done! Yikes!

This is quickly turning into a "Woe is me" situation. I'm only working about 10 hours a week, and I can't seem to get a thing done. I can barely get the dished done. I haven't been running. I think my motivation switch is in the "off" position.

Day 28 The Tide has Turned

I am feeling so much better. Thanks for all of your messages...I was really having a rough day. I turned it all around though. There were 3 components to my mood turning:

• I went running for the first time in about 8 months. I think procrastinating doing something that I really enjoy and I know makes me feel better really irritated me.
• I treated myself to a massage last night. It relaxed me and the masseuse worked out some major knots in my back. The last couple of times I had a massage, I didn't have any knots. Stress...it can make you cranky.
• I made myself a healthy dinner: fresh whole wheat pasta with artichoke hearts, yellow peppers, garlic, basil and I use my good olive oil instead of my cooking olive oil so it had an extra fabulous flavor.

I also talked to Chris about looking at our collective schedules and planning out times where I can go to the gym or exercise without having to tote the dog (and in the future children) all over the world with me. He agreed that in order to support my efforts, he's got to do more than talk. So that will work out. I also figured out that if I can prep myself quickly enough, I can do a short run, and be home and showered by 4:30...so I can do a quick run even on days that I have to work at the library at 5. So I plan to run again tomorrow. I have a staff meeting, but I think I might change into my running clothes and wear sweats to the meeting. That way I can go directly to run.

I also have to make an effort to do some sewing. You can't eat and sew at the same time. Your project will get gross!

Day 12/100

It's time to catch up folks....I didn't quite stay on plan all weekend, but I didn't do too poorly except for the the beer...I did let myself have beer not only Saturday night at my friend's party, but also yesterday when I came home from working at the library. It was a torrential downpour and Corona with lime seemed to be the way to dry off and warm up. And ya know what? It worked.



I'm back to my regular plan. I ate yummy fat free Greek yogurt this morning with Core cereal added to it for crunch....my current breakfast favorite. I ate multi-grain pasta for lunch with edamame, mushrooms, zucchini, scallions, garlic sauteed in a little olive oil. I'm definitely back on track.



I'm working on a new quilt....well, it's a quilt top that I sewed together 10 years ago and I'm just getting around to quilting it now. I'm finding it to be an interesting project because if I had sew this quilt top more recently, I would not have chosen half of the fabrics that I did. I do like the pattern, though, which is a classic Amish Sunshine and Shadow.



I also am becoming addicted to Work Out on Bravo. Watching that show makes me want to go to the gym and exercise the way I used to when I was actually training for triathlons. The mind is currently willing, but the flesh is weak....and lazy. I have some ideas on how to get some gym time in, but it involves getting up at the crack of dawn and I'm not sure if I'm that dedicated as of yet. I can't even seem to get to the gym consistently when I'm already awake, no less getting up over an hour earlier to get there. Sheesh!