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January 2, 2009

Resolute

I love to make resolutions each year. I don't guilt myself if I can't manage to keep them, but it is always great to have a fresh slate to accomplish goals again.

I didn't do so well last year at all with the resolution to lose weight and exercise more. This year I am determined. I have been overweight for over 3 years now, last seeing 120 around Aisling's first birthday. I don't need to reach that goal again, even at 140 on my tiny 5'1" frame I look pretty healthy. 130 is a more realistic goal now nearing 40 than my 120 standard I had in my 20s. I eat poorly and don't exercise enough. Time to eat healthier meals, drink more water, walk and swim more, and maybe even take up Irish set dancing again like I did in my teens and 20s. I will be setting up a tab on my blog to keep track of my exercise and weight loss progress. I will posting my scary start weight and my goal I figure I have about 60 lbs to lose at least, not good. But I am energetic about it.

I did like last year and started 2009 as I mean to continue. So planned activities for were:

1. I will be having a crafting retreat today, sewing and knitting throughout the day interspersed with other things on my list. I hope to restart the pink sock finally, today is the day to rip rip rip back. I also hope to start on a felted bag project today and some more knitted potscrubbers for my arsenal. On the sewing front I will be trying a patchwork star tree topper, inspired by Patchwork Pottery. I might also work on one of my 2 sided wonky log cabin blocks!

(Never actually posted to blog yesterday, but decided to do no ripping, as I didn't mean to continue making mistakes and ripping them back, lol, too superstitious I guess! I managed to make the funky patchwork star, so got some sewing in!! I also started on a new knitted bag for me, called the Constant Companion.)
Star Tree Topper

2. I plan to drink lots of water, walk, and eat well. My first day of weight loss program and I intend to do well!! A friend and I will have a meal out on Saturday so that will be my first test to see how my willpower is working out!!

(Did pretty well, but will aim to be religiously counting Weight Watcher points by Sunday)

3. I plan to do a digital scrapbooking layout. Another thing I want to do this year is learn digital scrapbooking. I have liked Mary's layouts she has shown and think it would be a great way to document a week in the kids life and have great fodder for a book for my mom and dad each year. I will be putting a tab on my blog for showing those each week as well if you are interested in seeing them. My first few will be simple ones as I get to know what I am doing I am sure, but hope to add a bit of journaling to each page as well...
family
(Didn't manage this yesterday, but got a little start on scrapblog here... the day before)

4. I will use my knitted potscrubbers instead of sponges for washing up today. I hope to continue to be more green and also more frugal. I am buying no more birthday cards or wrapping paper. I have enough plain sheets to last for years after the rolls run out, and have a ton of card making supplies. I have a box of gifts for girl birthday parties, and will make items from stash after that runs out, no more taking out a second mortgage each year for crazy gifts... I also plan on buying no more yarn or big amounts of fabric (the odd FQ I'll allow myself!!) I bought a line for hanging up laundry in the utility room during the winter instead of using the dryer. Will see if DH will help me hang it.

(Ended up doing a big reorganization in the kitchen so pulled out the big scrubbers for wiping cabinets down, but used the knitted scrubbies for dishes)

I am contemplating joining the group May Britt is starting to get one crafty project done each month. Love the idea of getting one thing done each month as a focus, and it doesn't have to be a full big quilt, but can be smaller projects. The prizes and giveaways are a good incentive too!! Check out May Britt's blog if you are interested in joining the group!

Over the Christmas holidays I did a bit of knitting up at Dave's mom's house...more scrubbies for my arsenal...
December 2008

I also decided I hated my table runner as it wouldn't lay flat, so I sliced that offending runner in half and made two gift bags out of it. I guess I should have taken better care making it so it wouldn't have had so many waves around the edge, but I like it better in this guise, really, as I don't use them ever!
December 2008

I will leave you with photos of Aine and the new cupcake maker Santa sent her.
December 2008 December 2008

20 comments:

Susan Shepard said...

These look like good, do-able goals, Cathi. I hope your new year is great.

paulahewitt said...

heres to a green, frugal and skinny New Year. all things i should be doing myself. (once you get used to no dryer its easy :) )

Barbara said...

Perhaps we can encourage each other with the weight loss/exercise/healthy eating thing? I'm not going through another year like this! I can't handle the WW points system, so I'm off to the dietician for a diet that I can make sense of ;) and hopefully will get the all-clear from the knee specialist regarding that issue and can work up a real exercise program that doesn't aggrevate the situation.

Anyway, good for you and best wishes!! :D

Tracy said...

Hi, Cathi! Happy New Year! Wishing you & yours all the best in 2009--much love, joy, peace...and happy, healthy slimming, and lots of creative magic! :o) Your list for the year sounds very sensible and very possible too. This year I plan on living even more fully in praise of quiet joys and making more room in my life for those magic moments. Happy Days ((HUGS))

Tracey Brown said...

happy new year Cathy! My needlebook kit arrived the otherday, it is going to be great once I get it made! Lovely fabics, I can't wait to work on it! Thank you!

sherry said...

hey there, so productive!! good for you. I too am onto 2009 like nothing else. But i don't feel as organized as you!
Love the reinvent on the table runner--I'll join you on the weight count, I start Unislim next Wednesday--someone is starting a class in our village.
Best wishes for all your plans!

Nancy said...

I love the knitted scrubbies..... is there a pattern for someone who barely knits?? LOL

Good luck with your resolutions. I didn't bother....... the M&Ms got me 8 hours into the new year LOL

Jane Weston said...

I love digital scrapbooking. I discovered it in the last year and I've had so much fun with it!

Sharon said...

I'm so glad your joining us Cathi. Keep coming back to my blog for tips and recipes, and just encouragement. We'll be helping each other. You can put my diet button on your sidebar and others can also come over and join us too.
Good luck!!! And Happy New Year

May Britt said...

Have to answer you this way as you came up with no reply in my mail.
I have added you to the list. Please add the badge to your sidebar and make a monthly list of your finishes under it.
Good luck

Julie said...

Good luck with all your great resolutions. I am right there with you! I have a few (well more than a few) pounds to shed too. I am just trying to be healthy! I have so enjoyed your blog and admired your projects and hope to do more of that in the coming year. Happy New Year!!

faith marsden said...

I love your patchwork star, Ive got to shift a few pounds too but much later on when all the chocolates are gone......heee heee.
faithx

Connie W said...

Hi, Cathi...Good luck with all your resolutions...You can do it! Yes you can!
I didn't make a list of them this year; but I am right up there with you on the drink more water. I have very dry skin and I intend to work on this habit. I usually reach for anything but water...coffee, tea, diet soda, but not water...so that must change. Love the photo of Aine with the cupcakes!

Thimbleanna said...

Good Luck with your resolutions Cathi. Aine looks just adorable with her cupcakes!

summersadie said...

Those sound like some really great resolutions, and we'll be cheering you on this year.

The Chocolate Cat said...

Oh I like your resolutions. I'll be interested in your digital scrapbooking, something I'd like to try too but don't really have any idea where to start!! Great photo of Aine with her cupcake maker !

Cheri said...

You go, girl! I absolutely agree with you that you should never hide you are. We are all so much more than our looks.

Micki Butler said...

Good luck with your diet! I live in Dunfanaghy, and love your blog. I do wish you the best with your New year's resolutions!
Micki

Carolien said...

Good luck, Cathi!

Greetings, Carolien

Sandy said...

Congrats. You are one brave woman. Good Luck