May!

I still have an April summary that I’m working on but wanted to post that starting today I’m participating in a 21-day meditation series by Deva Premal & Miten. Join me, if you’re interested!

Daring Greatly in April!

I was hoping to have some pictures of my newly framed photos to share with you all but I can’t find the pictures I ordered to put into the frames! I’m sure they’re around here somewhere… Anyways, proof of my progress coming soon!
I’m so excited about my April resolution: daring greatly. I kept hearing about Brene Brown’s book Daring Greatly and then I saw Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday interview with her and knew that this was a book I needed to read.

Of course, I’d love for you to join me in reading this book and daring greatly in your life, if you feel so inclined.  My daring greatly starts tomorrow when I board a plane- eek!  Happy April!

Photo Resolution Part Deux

This month I organized my photos, I backed them up, deleted duplicate files and I finally ordered some photos for these frames below.

I feel like I need one more month to finish some other photo projects I’ve been wanting to do. Would you all mind terribly if I continued this month’s resolution into March? I didn’t think so.
We are heading into spring! Any projects that you are hoping to tackle?

Sugar-free (ish)

About two weeks ago, I decided I had gained what I needed to (or shall I say lost, since I certainly felt healthier!) from my resolution this month to limit sugar and I went back to eating sugar in moderation. I’m more aware of what I’m eating and don’t feel like sugar has “the power” it had over me in December!

In February, I resolve to catch-up on my digital photo organization and finally, frame some of my favorites. Seriously, I’ve been wanting to get photos framed for YEARS. YEARS!!! Let’s do this.

(Hmmm, it’s a little easier to see why my babies were so fat!)

Just Say No

I’ve been getting allergy shots for over a decade and rewarding myself with a piece of candy each time for being such a big girl. Here’s what I said “no” to yesterday:

Today my husband kindly picked up cinnamon rolls from Upper Crust bakery. I could easily turn down any other cinnamon roll but these are absolutely scrumptious- warm, perfectly seasoned with cinnamon and sugar. Don’t worry, I resisted these as well- so far, anyways. There’s still some sitting on our counter.

I felt pretty grumpy yesterday and a little cranky today but I thought it especially ironic that I discovered a corn syrup spill in our drawer of baking ingredients.  Of course, it was a PITA to clean up (thanks, Mom!) and I couldn’t help but think about how it might be processed in our bodies.  But it makes things taste so good!

 

How Sweet It Is(n’t)!

The time has come. I’ve alluded to my sugar addiction for months now. I really think using the word addiction is only a slight exaggeration.  I LOVE SUGAR!  Most of the time, I pick my resolution by reflecting on what I need in my life to be happiest and fulfilled. This time, I couldn’t escape the signs the universe continued to send my way.  A friend of mine pinned a sugar detox diet (it looked too intense for me).  My daughter served me pretend ice cream, chocolate, donuts and a cup containing “soup, marshmallows and syrup.”  I wondered if we watch Elf too much over the holidays or is my sugar addiction influencing my daughter’s world of food?
Then, I read an article in the January 2013 issue of O magazine about the truth about sugar. This quote from Dr. Robert Lustig was especially interesting to me:  “We’re biologically programmed to like sweets- our tongues and brains know that no food on the planet is both sweet and poisonous.  It was a test for our hunting-and-gathering ancestors:  If food is sweet, it won’t kill you.  It’s ironic because that’s exactly what sugar is doing to us now.” Listen to this mind-blowing statistic, “In 1822 Americans consumed the amount of added sugar in one 12-ounce can of soda every five days.  Today we consume that amount every ten hours.”  Yikes.
So, my sweet friends, I will be laying off the sugar this month. This entails:

• no desserts
• no sugary drinks
• paying attention to hidden sugar
• limit juice
• fruit in moderation

My no-sugar eating plan starts tomorrow!

*confession: wrote this blog post while drinking a Central Market Blood Orange Italian Soda: 28g of sugar

So long, December! Farewell, 2012!

I’ll be honest, my resolution for December did not fulfill my need for spiritual connection like I had hoped.  I didn’t even get to church on Christmas Eve (different nap schedules, teething- it wasn’t going to happen).   I realized that this month’s resolution was very subjective and vague.  As a speech pathologist, I always write goals for my clients that are measurable and I think I’d be more successful with my resolution achievements if I did the same here. Lesson learned!

Can you believe that this begins this blog’s FOURTH year? I get such a kick out of my annual blog summary from WordPress and I won’t bore you all with the details that only excite me but how cool is it that visitors from 43 (!) different countries have read this blog?

Here are the awards for this year’s resolutions:
most fun: knit graffitti
most awesome guest blogger for 2012:  Dr. Marianne Stout

most awesome guest blogger for 2011 (because I had a newborn baby last year and didn’t do an annual summary): Lexie Anderson

most surprising end-of-month blog results:  apple cider vinegar

Once again, thank you for continuing to read, participate and encourage me to keep going.  Cheers!  Here’s to 2013!

It annoys me when blogs end with an insincere/irrelevant question to prompt readers to comment, but I honestly want to know,  what are your hopes and resolutions for 2013?

 

Vinegar Update & Jesus

I really do recommend trying apple cider vinegar. I typically added about a teaspoon to a big glass of water. Warning: it is an acquired taste (I think I acquired it on about day 4…)! My husband unknowingly took a sip and exclaimed “WHAT are you drinking?!?” I wish I could tell you exactly how it’s had a positive influence on me this past month (maybe I slept more efficiently? clearer complexion?) but here’s a list I found of health benefits.
I debated whether or not I’d admit this but I found myself last week with my first experience with dandruff. I know, gross. Naturally, I googled what to do and what appeared in my results but “apple cider vinegar.” Isn’t the universe funny sometimes? Thirty four years sans dandruff and it appears this month? I’m happy to report, it worked.

This year, I am very ready for the holidays.  We’ve decorated the tree, shopped for  Christmas gifts, bought Nutcracker tickets, made a gingerbread house, and purchased the coolest Advent calendar.  But of course, Jesus is the reason for the season, right?  My 2012 church attendance was poor and I’ve been craving some more spiritual connection in my life for some time.  This month, I’m going to carve time out of these busy days and pray, reflect, and focus on what’s important.

Wishing you all whatever you need this month- be it spiritual connection, better sleep, time with friends and family or half a billion dollars.  I’m so grateful to you, reading this blog for three years!

P.S. If you’ve ever wondered, I do strive to have the strangest mix of tags on this blog.  I wonder if there’s some blog award out there for most bizarre blog tags?

Scandal in the ‘hood!

Driving down the street today, I noticed something missing from a certain nearby stop sign. The knit graffiti is gone! It appears someone wasn’t a fan. Bah humbug! Sort of makes me want to knit up even more!

Shhhhh….

I did it! Er, I mean, someone must have yarn bombed a stop sign on my street. It’s not much but it makes me happy when I see it. My plan is to work on a more appropriately sized piece for more coverage.

November: turkeys, Thanksgiving, more pumpkins, family, gratitude, apple cider and for me at least, apple cider vinegar. Have you all heard of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar? Tried it? There’s an entire book about it at my acupuncturist’s office. I’ll report back with my findings!
P.S. I know this photo isn’t great of my the knit grafitti, but I loved how the stop sign looked like it had a knitted pattern as well.