Crochet Today: Art Major Beret

So does this ....

Look like this?

Heck no it doesn't! Geez.

I JUST finished crocheting this for my sister, I decided to try it on to see my masterpiece and " What the HECK!?".

Maybe I am not wearing this beret the correct way?

Did I mess up somewhere?

I really dont think so. This is the SECOND thing I have made from this issue of Crochet today, I have made the penguin backpack (which I have yet to blog about) as well. That did not come out looking at cute as the one in the picture either. Egh. These people are lying to me.

I did start the embellishment, but then had a "screw this" moment with the scallops.

Do you think it looks a little funny?

Keeping Tabs

Yeah, those are my rocking abs up there. Umph. Nah.

One Day.

So who keeps tabs on themselves?

Like every weight lifted?

I do.

I normally keep a composition notebook, noting: weight, sets, reps, energy level, encouragement for next week, injuries. Pretty much anything relating to my performance. My composition notebooks is FULL of months worth of workouts. I love going through the old ones to see how far I've come along, or to see what taking a month off does to my arm strength.

I even see the ripped dudes at the gym whip out their little notebooks and record their weight. For some reason it makes me feel as though I am part of a club that truly cares on what they are trying to create in the gym. I dont lift to just "lift, I'm in there sculpting a physique. Notes must be taking, showing me where I need to improve, where I'm slacking, or where Im just being a bad ass :)

So if you are hitting the gym, start taking some notes. 

I know my tri-coach will read this and say something about filling out my swim/bike/run logs. eek!

p.s I am not training for any triathlons at the moment.

The Nutty Knitters

Can I share a secret? Its pretty huge.....

I'm lonely.

Yep.

Been in Mississippi for 2 months, and only have made friends with my neighbors. Which I love of course, but I need more interaction with adults. I really dont know how many times I have said to the hubs "Baby, I need some friends".

So stalking my many sites, one which is Raverly, I found out that there is a knitting group in my area. One thing, I dont knit. But they dont prejudice right?

So today while doing my last set at the gym I realize its Tuesday, the knitting night. I left that gym so fast. "Friends, friends, must make friends", I ended talking to myself on the way home. I rush in the door, rinse, dress, then stand in the kitchen asking the hubs "What if they dont like me? What if no one talks to me? Why do I feel like a 10 year old right now?"

So I packed up my crochet bag, with a pair of knitting needles (just in case), and booked it for the Niche Stitch.

Guess what?

It ROCKED.

Totally. Rocked. My. World.

I met an AMAZING group of women. Women with no censors. That everything is open. REAL women. Not a bunch of 80 year olds where you have to mind your manners. Not like they were dancing on the table tops or anything.... That might be saved for margarita night :)

I mean these were some crazy ladies. Suuuhhh-weeet.

I mean one is a roller derby chic, instantly she ranks as a "TOTAL BAD ASS" on my cool-o-meter.

Was welcomed to sit anywhere, and scored a seat next to the owner, where she taught me how to knit, and I was soon on my to making a scarf, while listening about a cult of yogis.

So now I have a date with the Nutty Knitters at the roller derby rink on Saturday night, and cant wait for Tuesday to roll around again.

My heart is full. Got in some great laughs. I will sleep well tonight.

Thank you ladies :)

Sprouts

(banana peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes)

There is something amazing in my little baby sprouts.

All the LIFE in them. How fast they grow. How pretty and green they are.

*sigh* 

Today I transplanted some of my wonderful cucumbers, but it doesnt look like they will survive. The fact I had to transplant and thin them out was weighing heavy on my chest. I mean c'mon they are alive and happy, but in order from them to grow nice and strong that cant be crowded.

So today was a tough day, but these sprouts give me hope, and I'm still learning.

My Fishermen

Fishing. Fishing. Fishing.

I hear it all day long. Paw Paw instilled a great love of fishing to all my loves. With no fear they jump into worms, chase after crabs, and celebrate a catch as though they just won the super bowl.

I cant help but to watch them work, and see the excitement in their eyes when they get a "bite".

My fishing loves.

Facebook Discussions

Picture look familiar? If not we need to become FACEBOOK BFF's.

If it does, please take a look at the bottom of the picture, notice "DISCUSSIONS".

That my friends is where we will have our FORUMS for the 12 week trainer!

Spent some time looking for forums, and at meetup.com, and came to a realization that no one wants to sign up for an account. Who needs another one? I dont.

So why not stick with Facebook? We are all on there, and you can stay up to date with the discussions as you are filling in on everyones life dramas :) YAY!

Please feel free to start different threads, and a personal thread with your own fitness journal! This way we support each other, and stay up to date on any tips, or how sore we all are :)

Also start non-fitness related threads, heck I do ( and have a lot to say) plenty of other things than working out! Hope to see you there :)

Elastic Waist Skirts

So remember my Project Wishlist from 7 months ago (on the day)?

Yeah, I forgot about it. Well I wont say FORGOT, but I let everything get in the way.

"That's life"

Anyways, I FINALLY got the elastic waist skirts from Freshly Picked finally made! Aren't they darling? In what my hubs calls "mee-maw" prints. I love em! What made me finally sew em up was:

1. It is some kind of hot down here, and I've been living like a bum in the same shorts. Though that isnt bad, to me it just didnt have any flare. I didn't feel like I was putting effort into my appearance. Which I wasnt and really dont care, but I FELT like a bum. So I needed something with FLOWERS :)

2. I missed my sewing machine.

3. I needed to MAKE something. I get that itch up my bum ALL the time.

So one day last week I snuck away to Walmart, I noticed they had some fabric down there, so I needed to scope it out. Lo and behold they had a table of $1.50 a yard! Oh yes. Puuuuuurfect!

At that price I dont care that I'm gardening or cleaning in them.

SUPER EASY to sew up. Well the elastic is annoying, but after the first one you get the hang of it. I plan on making at least 2 more. I feel like Lucille Ball when wearing them :)

Jamie Easons 12 Week Trainer

Have you been going to the gym, walking around aimlessly not knowing where to start?

Its ok, you can admit it. You maybe lift a weight or two, give up and just decide to catch a cardio class. It's defintely easier with someone telling you exactly what to do.

With that in mind, I would like to create a MEETUP group, via meetup.com for a new program released through Body Building by Fitness Competitor/Model Jamie Eason.

JAMIE EASONS 12 WEEK TRAINER

"The LiveFit trainer is a simple 3-phase program for transforming your body and your life in 12 short weeks. My science-based approach combines exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for results that far exceed what any of those tools could produce on their own. Better yet, you'll leave this program knowing how to pursue the fit lifestyle even without my guidance! " - BodyBuilding.com

Whats really awesome about this program is the videos, Jamie walks you through the ENTIRE program, and bodybuilding provides videos for all the exercises ( I personally have the BodyBuilding app on my Iphone, which I use EVERYTIME I go to the gym to make sure I am using correct form). Also nutrition is COMPLETELY covered, that seems to be the hardest part for people starting a new workout program, sometimes you just dont know what to /or not to eat.

I want to create a the meetup.com page to have a place where we can all come together and chat about our workouts, recipes, transformation, and answer any questions you might have about the program.

Everything is covered, but its nice knowing who is going through the entire program with you.

Your not alone.

I personally have tried the workouts. They are QUICK & EFFICIENT. Totally beginner & advanced friendly. Its totally what you put into it.

So I'm challenging YOU, and also wanting virtual workout buddies. I'm lonely :)

(click on photo to learn all about the program or HERE)

"Hooker Get on that Damn Bike"

"Hooker get on that damn bike"

That's what I have been telling myself for awhile. A lot.

As a mom I've been letting the world get in the way. I dream of creating time, and planning a ride, or run or checking out my local pools for a swim. But its all been a daydream. Just been living around the kids & hubs schedules. Not wanting to leave the kids with the hubs, and just not having opportunity to swim/bike/run when I do have the kids. What the heck am I going to do with them?

Not today though. Oh no. It might have been the sour mood the hubs was in that wanted me to say "peace out homeslice" or the fact I found the new triathlete magazines my husband was hiding.

You really cant look at Chrissie Wellington without feeling inspired. Something kicked inside of me, "I want that". I want the sweat from the mileage, I want the burn in my quads from climbing hills, I want to glide through the water in that silent peace.

I NEED this.

So as NIKE says " Just Do IT". So I did.

One bike ride. Thats all I needed. One glorious ride. It was like I never left. I smiled, sweat, grunted, wiped my nose with my hands then smeared it on my bum ( you know how it goes). Gosh, I cant explain this feeling inside of me now. This is where I belong.

Not everyone understands athletes. People think we are crazy. Stupid. Show offs. Masochistic. 

But thats not it. Some people were born to physically push themselves.

 I am one of them. And I like it.

Christina's Garden

Things have been settling down on the homefront. We've been home a week now with the hubs back. Done with all the traveling back and forth from Houston. But relax? No. Time to create mamas garden. And that we did. Proud and thankful that hubby built my raised bed, and the kids and I sowed our seeds! I've been longing a garden for a LONG time, but we haven't lived anywhere suitable or long enough to put time into it.

Last night I went out to stare at the dirt, and low and behold I have cucumber seedlings!!! I was wigging out! Then today I get home the gym and they are bigger, yeeeeesssss-uh! Even my basil is sprouting up. Once I saw the green I started laughing like a mad scientist "YES YES YES Muahahahahahahaha!!!"

We also have peas, green beans, carrots, spinach, lettuce & tomatoes.

*sigh*

Cool, huh?