Project 35 Update

Oh man, I just went back and read my goals for project 35 and most of them are woefully behind.  I had pretty much forgotten about my health and weight loss goals and the emails/letters goal.  With about 20 weeks left in the year, I suppose losing 35 pounds is still possible, but 20 seems more realistic now.  We'll see, I guess.

I have been trying hard to get the health thing under control.  I joined a gym July 15th and I've been slowly developing the habits of going to the gym consistently.  My sister has created a plan for me to follow and for the last 3 weeks I have followed it diligently.  For the last 3 weeks I have been in the gym by 5:30am at least 4 days a week!  So I think I have successfully built the foundation I need for making this a habit.

Next week I'm back at work, and that will be the true test.  It is going to be way harder getting up to exercise then because I need to be home from the gym by 6:10, which means getting up even earlier, and being at the gym by 5.  Getting enough sleep will be my new challenge, I think!

Project 35 Reading Update

I always knew reading 35 books in one year would be a huge challenge.  I just don't have as much time for reading as I used to, but reading has always been a huge part of my life and I'm excited to be forcing myself to make more time for it this year.  

Here's a quick update on the pathetic dent I've made in this section of Project 35.

1) The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern.  This is the story of two magicians who enter their proteges into an epic contest, which takes place in a magical night time circus.  In the end, I lloved this book, but it took me a good quarter of the book to make sense of the stories and to not be thoroughly and constantly confused.  I loved the vivid imagery and the complex characters.  This was the first book we read for book club and it created a good basis for an interesting discussion.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

2) Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen.  This is our next book club selection.  It is the story of a circus vet, mixed between flash backs and current time.  I liked the history of the story but overall found it a bit dry and boring.  Maybe that is because I read it after a book about a magical circus, because anything would seem boring in comparison!  I did not really like the characters, which is not a nessecary thing to enjoy a book, but it did decrease my enjoyment.  I maybe will re-read in year or two and see if my opinion changes.

3&4) Jessica Darling Series - Fourth Comings and Perfect Fifths - Megan McCafferty.  I read the first 3 books in this series last summer and really enjoyed them.  It was nice to finally wrap up the series.  I enjoyed seeing Jessica mature and grow over the course of the books.  And I really enjoyed the final book which changed format from all the others (narrational diary), to a shared first person narrative.  And, well, i also love a happy ending.

5) Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn. I loved this book so much.  I could not put it down!  The twists and turns were exciting.  It was a really creative and exciting book, and really well thought out.  It is the story of a couple and the disappearance of the wife, and the investigation of said disappearance.  I would also highly recommend this book.

6) Wild - Cheryl Strayed. This book was really interesting and had me considering if I might like to go on extended backpack hiking.  It ran the gamut of emotions and I felt them right along with the main character.  It was a heart-wrenching and also truly informative autobiographical story about Cheryl's months long hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.  This was thoroughly interesting and another i'd certainly recommend.

So that's it.  6 books so far, not very impressive, but since 5 of them were read in the last month, I'll pretend I still have a chance of meeting the quota.  Let's just ignore the fact I've been on vacation for 3 weeks, ok?

I'm back!

Well, it's clear I suck at blogging, but I adore having this online memory of life, so I'll keep trucking sporadically for myself, and not for any readers (are there any still around?  Hi dad!).

A quick update about life.  I am currently in the midst of 6 weeks of unpaid leave from work.  I am so enjoying the time off with the kids.  I love that I have the chance to spend quality time with them, while they still want to hang out with me.  We have been having a glorious summer full of swimming, splash pads, play dates, relaxing and home work!  Yep, I'm that mom, Braydon is a bit behind where he should be with reading and writing so we have been diligently practicing his skills.  And Allyson, has been working along side him, so I am fairly certain she will be advanced for her class.

Both kids are taking part in soccer teams, and both are loving it.  Braydon has discovered he loves playing goalie, and his focus and skills are visibly improving with each game.  Ally is an enthusiastic player and throws herself into each game with gusto!

Well, Project 35 is trucking along nicely.  I suspect I will not make the reading qualification, I have finished 4 books and will finish a 5th shortly (will update and review in future blog posts, so stay tuned!!)  I will finish all the random acts of kindness, but I have none to report.  

I am making good progress on crafting!  Lately I have had very little focus, lots of things started, very few things finished.  Which brings me to an update.  Internet, meet Sally Ballerina (so named by Ally Ballerina).

Isn't she cute:)

Doesn't she have a sweet little face:)

Sally counts as craft items 3 (Sally, herself), 4 (her knickers), 5 (her tutu dress) and 6 (her ballet slippers).  She also has a sweater, head band and purse in progress, and I have materials for another dress/cardigan outfit combo.  But for now I'm on a break from Sally.  (Oh, item 7 exists too - a wash cloth, pretty boring, but I'll post a picture upon request).

Anyway, what could tear me away from the cuteness of Sally Ballerina?  Babies!!!

Two cute cuddly balls of baby girl cuteness will be entering my life in the fall.  You may recall from past entries that I have a metric ton of patterns and an excessive stash of yarn.  Last night I went through all of those things and matched up yarn with patterns, sort of home made kits, if you will.  And well, I have a potential for 20 items on the way!  (Oh, I totally forgot, I also have items 8 and 9 complete, but they are a surprise baby gift and will be blogged much later).

This is what the crazy baby kit stuff looks like: 

I am super excited to get started on baby stuff!  Stay tuned!!