Walking Reasons

Check out this wonderful thing I found at www.fitbottomgirls.com! I am keeping on keeping on with my walks - pushing to that goal of 100 miles in March!





http://fitbottomedgirls.com/2014/12/10-reasons-to-go-for-a-walk-right-now/#_a5y_p=2965044

Dream Poster Recycle Idea

Our dreams and goals should always be evolving. Enjoy the present, cherish the past, plan for the future.

 

Sometimes while life is happening, we push pause on dreaming. Other times, we reach a goal and ride that wave for a little while. Either way, let's just say, it was time to make a new dream poster.

I have created these before. Also known as: dream boards, goal posters, dream books, affirming visualization, etc. In the past , I have had a specified office area in my home to hang a poster. I was thinking to myself as I walked through the bedroom, "I really don't want to hang a tacky looking poster in here." Then I answered myself as I am apt to do. "Tacky, like this 2016 calendar that is still turned to October?"

For years, my parents have bought me the George Boutwell calendar for Christmas. I love his art and every year there is at least one scene that speaks to me or brings me joy or ignites my Texas pride. Check out his beautiful work here:

http://www.gboutwell.com/

I always say, "I oughta get that matted and framed." Then I remember I have a limited budget and framing is expensive!

Light Bulb moment!!!!!!!!

I decided to combine the two things (dream poster & outdated calendar for those of you still chasing that Texas artist squirrel). I gathered my calendar, magazines, scissors, tape/rubber cement and went to work. I cut out pictures from magazines and catalogs of things that I want to do, to be, or to achieve. I also looked for words that encouraged me or described my goals.

Creativity and messiness go hand in hand!

I was surprised to find a lot of these images in the 2017 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. I found a girl whose body type I admired and pictures of places I'd like to see. From an ad for a car, I cut out the words, GRACE, ATHLETIC, SENSUAL CURVES; and from an ad for a golf club, I found the word SMART. I had a travel brochure from the city where we really want to live some day and a picture of a dog (which I really, really want!) from a catalog. I also went on-line and printed a picture that represents one of our ideas for a business. I arranged the pictures and words on the calendar part and taped them in place.

I love the final result and I am inspired both by the dream poster and the artwork. I will spend a minute or two each day using the poster to help me visualize goals and dreams as part of the Miracle Morning Challenge.

"Hooked" on Crochet

The Agri-Life Extension offered a crochet class. My mother-in-law and I decided to learn together. I really don't know her that well and I thought this would be a fun way to get to know each other better and have a common interest (other than loving her son, of course!) We had a blast! I really did get to know her better which was nice and I have enjoyed chit-chatting with the other ladies in the class, too. We all had so much fun and have so much more to learn that we agreed to continue meeting for another month at least. Our instructor's name is Vicky Barboza. You can check out some of things she does at: www.facebook.com/CrochetByVicky. She has got to be one of the most patient people I have ever met! I enjoy her English accent and her sweet spirit.

 

The first project we completed were these fingerless gloves. I was so proud of the first one, I wore it to work and several people asked if I had hurt my wrist. LOL! This is done with a using single crochet stitch...

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We learned to do a half double stitch next and I found a pattern on Pinterest that used this stitch.

 

Side Note: NEW DRINKING GAME!! Every time I say "I found it on Pinterest", take a drink. You'll be drunker than a skunk in no time!!

Side Note #2: Need to remember to look up the phrase "drunker than a skunk". I mean, is alcoholism really a problem with this odorous rodent??





 

Back to the subject...This was supposed to be a clutch type hand bag. It was supposed to be lined. It was supposed to be a solid color...I had a different idea. I was excited to discover my bible study book fit perfectly and now I am planning to make one for all the ladies in the group...maybe.

 

 

 

The latest project was a pot scrubber. We used the double stitch and learned to work in "the round". I completed this in one class period and I realize that it is not completely round, but I don't think my pots and pans will mind.

Soft cotton side

Rough "scrubby" side.

 

 

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Connie, from the bank, cleaned out her craft stuff and gave me a bag of yarn. There were some super-cute things in there! I am working on a cowl from some of that (possibly my auction item for the Waller Reunion in July!) and we are doing a scarf as our next class project. I will post pictures of the completed projects. I am excited about working in the round, so I will probably be looking for another project for that, too. 

February Book: The Miracle Morning

This month, I joined my friend, Kelita Harris, in reading The Miracle Morning.  Kelita is a sweet, but powerful young woman I work with at the bank. She is starting out her Mary Kay business which is dear to my heart after being involved with the company for over 10 years. That is one of the things I miss...being influenced by smart, successful, powerful women who are determined to succeed while keeping the priorities of God first, Family second, and Career third.

The author of this book, Hal Elrod, shares his insights on a morning routine that prepares the body and mind for a positive and successful day. He discusses what it would be like to be able to live at "Level 10" in all areas of your life (career, relationships, fitness, faith walk, finances, etc.)

Using the acronym Life S.A.V.E.R.S., he describes 6 activities that successful people practice. I enjoyed the book and will complete the 30 Miracle Morning Challenge in March. I already have a pretty sound morning routine that includes most of the "SAVERS", but I am willing to be open-minded and try his method for a while. I am excited to see the attitude changes that I suspect will be the result. One thing I am going to focus on changing is my "old lady" tendencies....no, not the crochet...the moaning and groaning when I get up or sit down and talking about being "so tired". The truth is I get plenty of rest and my body is pretty sound. My attitude and habits need to change. I'm sure I will have more to share on this in a few weeks.

By the way, I noticed when I ordered from Amazon that there are also Miracle Morning books directed at specific professions. Sales and Real Estate are two that I remembered if any of you are interested in reading this book to improve your attitude and outlook and hopefully success.

5 From 75

For the month of February, I set a goal to walk 75 miles. That seemed like a big goal to me and I also realized that the weather might not always cooperate with my goal. I walked in the rain and in a sand storm. I walked in 45 degree weather and in 85 degrees...hey, what can I say it's Texas in February. I walked to the park. I walked to the post office and to work (which I didn't include in my total). I walked to Dollar General. I walked alone and I walked with a friend. I walked in San Angelo, and in Stanton, and in Morgan Mill...with apologies to Forest Gump, everywhere I went I was wal-KING. I dodged kids on tricycles,  kids on bikes, kids on hover boards, a little punk on a scooter and even a boy on a unicycle. Some days I walked when I didn't want to and sometimes I walked talking to myself and processing whatever occupied my mind. The best days were when I walked and prayed and praised God.

In the end, I reached my goal. 75.17 miles. (78.9 if you include the to and from work miles) Here are 5 Takeaways from walking 75 miles:

1. I feel a sense of accomplishment.  I honestly don't remember the last time I set a personal goal and completed it. This wasn't something someone else could do for me. It was not something I could hire out, although, one day when I had a particularly bad attitude I was sorely tempted to pay a kid with an  remote control car to tape my phone to the top and speed it around a little while my pedometer app added distance to my total. I did it on my own and I am proud of myself.

2. I feel encouraged to do more. I am setting higher goals for March. Not just fitness goals, but for other areas of my life too. It's been said: SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS. I get it now.

3. I feel healthier and stronger. I lost 2 lbs. I didn't really think that was very good until I measured and realized that I had also lost 7 inches. (Happy, happy, joy, joy, HA!)

4. I feel like I have renewed personal integrity. For years, I have told myself I was going to do something and then let myself slide. I could not trust me. I always had good intentions, but I didn't have follow through. I need to keep building on this until I do what I set out to do more often than not.

5. I feel energized and excited.  I am ready to go do great things. I am able to dream and picture my ideal life. A life where I am healthy, active and full of energy. Where I have enough energy to do good at work, keep my home neat and organized, spend time with friends and family and be my best me.