I'm finally here in North Carolina and doing all sorts of exploring. I was pleasantly surprised to find Lake Michael Park in my very own new hometown. And as surprised to find Fall had hit Lake Michael more than the rest of Mebane, NC! And all the critters came out to say hello :) Seems that everything is friendlier in NC!
Here is a snippet of what I did today (more later)! I joined Mum and friends on a Rhode Island adventure, which resulted in some pretty fantastic photos and memories. We took a little detour on the way home to visit Fort Wetherill (again), which was, as always, beautiful. And smelly (dead jellyfish = gross). But beautiful.
Since I didn't paint today, I thought I'd shoot a few TTV shots around the house. Here are some of the results! I really like how they came out. I had to edit this post quite a bit though, there were a few too many shots of cats.....
I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged!!!! It's been a while since I've had any desire to write, I've been so busy with working out, traveling, working out, preparing for my move, more working out and generally being a totally boring grown up. So, I've decided to make an effort to DO MORE STUFF and BE LESS BORING! And I've created a little list of goals for the rest of 2013....
1. Paint things. I have soooooo many ideas! And so many blank canvases! I think I'll shoot for 1 a week, for the rest of the year. And then maybe give them away as Christmas gifts and giveaways.
2. Play with my sad, neglected instruments. At least twice a week, so I don't forget everything I know!
3. Less working out, more playing!
4. Read one book a week.
5. More outfit posts!
And definitely more blogging. I have a feeling my life is about to become a lot more interesting, especially with my move coming up! And I really want to document it!
Hello Friends!!!!!!!!!! Today is totally exciting for me, and I've been looking forward to doing this WLW all week! So many good things have come out of this week and I've made myself SO very proud.
At the beginning of this week (for me, weigh-ins are Wednesday, so that is the beginning of my week, fitness-y speaking) I tried something new and totally amazing. It's called EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique). And it's a bit hard to explain, so I'll throw a video in here :) Basically, it's tapping acupressure points around your body to release negative emotions and negative energy that you may be storing in your subconscious from not so happy experiences in life. I know for some, this will sound bonkers! But it will amaze you!!! My non-bonkers Aunt Nancy introduced me to EFT a few years ago and I hadn't really gotten into it until last week. But she has had incredible breakthroughs with it. So, last Wednesday, after feeling like I wasn't improving with my running, and working out and all the hard work I'd been putting into my body, I prayed for help and guidance and maybe just a teeny tiny baby miracle.... And later that day I felt like I needed to try this EFT business.
I've never thought I was an emotional eater. I just thought I was bored. Or had no willpower. Or what-have-you. but after tapping (which I might add, is free. And there are tutorials all over the internet and you tube on how to do it), I became aware that not only was I eating emotionally, but I realized the exact experience that I had built this unhealthy habit on. And it had started when I was about 6 years old, which was about the time I started gaining excess weight. I can't really go into the details because there are people at the root of it, who I adore, but had really had a negative effect on that part of my life. By tapping, I was able to forgive these people and let go of those emotions that were controlling my bad habits and bad relationships to food (i.e. compulsive eating).
It has now been a week. And I have lost 3 pounds, after being stuck at the same annoying weight for WEEKS. I started running a whole mile at a time again (I haven't been able to do this since last year, and even then I'd need to stop and walk a minute or two in between running.). Yesterday, even though I was feeling sickly and not great, I got on the treadmill and walked a mile. And then I started feeling slightly better (also, looked a picture of my hunky stud muffin boyfriend, which helped A LOT), so I ran a mile. Then I felt pretty okay, so I did 5 sets of weights (shoulders), then I felt REALLY okay so, I popped into an hour Zumba class, and after Zumba I felt amazing. So, I ran another half mile, and then cooled down with a half mile and some stretching (and the biggest, goofiest, triumphant smile on my face.).
And I really REALLY am positive that I couldn't have done that without clearing up my negative emotions surrounding weight loss and food. I am so amazed by everything I've been able to do this past week and thankful to God, and I really hope that this helps someone else!!! It's POWERFUL, life-changing stuff.
It's no secret, I am pretty obsessed with the film Moonrise Kingdom. And on Sunday after getting SUPER lost and finding myself somewhere in Rhode Island, a lightbulb went off in my head. I knew the film was filmed in RI and as RI is the size of my backyard, I looked up WHERE exactly, and found I was only 10 minutes from the cove!!!! So, of course, I went and did a little exploring!
Pretty sure it is some sort of magical too. While I was standing there looking over the water a hawk swooped down in front of me and just sat there. WITH me. And while I was exploring the rest of the park a deer walked up a few feet from me and also just stood there (Magic=Rabies?)!! ALSO found the biggest, most beautiful chunk of sea glass I've ever found. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!
Hello, Friends! Happy WLW! It's been a while since I've done one of these because I haven't really been very excited or pumped about my routine, which has been pretty basic. 1. Go to the gym as much as humanly possible. 2. Don't eat food. .......okay, maybe a little food. And the right sort. No grains, no sugar, no dairy, no artificial sweeteners, no alcohol. It helps to be extremely allergic to most of those! So, I've been following that, for the most part, over the past few months. And I do love it, but I've recently thrown in something that is AMAZING AND AWESOME AND MIRACULOUS. And that is daily burn. DailyBurn.com gives you a list of different programs to choose from (i.e. 15 minutes a day, Dance, Cardio Sculpt, Kettlebells, Tabata, Etc.). Once you choose a program, they give you a video for each day, ranging from 15 minutes to 60 minutes.
I've done a lot workout programs and videos throughout my life. And none of them have ever held my interest for very long. I chose MOVE! (DB's dance series) first, about 2 weeks ago. And it was really really really fun! But I decided I needed something more challenging, and switched to TBT (Tabata, or Tactical Bodyweight Training) AND I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. It is so interesting, not boring, challenging, and rewarding!!! When I first started I could only get through the first 3 minutes, and I wanted to die. I still can't do every rep, or keep up with them, but I keep a challenging pace and I can do the whole thing now. And every time I switch on my Tabata in the morning, I find I've got better and stronger.
DailyBurn also offers two-phase nutrition program that is really great. It's very simple and do-able. You pay a bit extra for it per month, which I did for about two weeks, but it was so similar to what I was already doing I decided to drop the nutrition plan. I DID buy their DailyBurn Fuel, which is a vegan protein powder, and I love it. I'm not vegan, but I don't do dairy and I don't eat a lot of animal products, and this protein powder is the first that I've ever liked! It's a bit pricey ($65 for a total of 30 shakes), but I found it was totally worth it.
You can sign up for a 30-day trial of the DailyBurn trial and the nutrition program for free and I very highly recommend it!
This is my fourth time this month on the front page of Etsy!!!! I'm so excited and surprised and delighted!!!! This evening was the first time that I caught it though... and it was AMAZING!!!! My heart started beating wildly and I started texting everybody I've ever known, and trying to call my mother (even though I know very well, she and my father are on a plane, headed for San Fransisco). I am soooooo very thankful for this huge surge of positivity!
I went a little bonkers after my lovely Etsy surprise, and ordered a boatload of fun new fabrics and ribbons to work with this weekend. Very excited to jump into that and some other projects I've got lined up!
Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola have teamed up to bring us a new ad campaign for Prada's Candy!!!! Obviously, I will be going straight to the shops to buy the biggest bottle I can find. I don't care that I've never smelled it. If Wes Anderson directed the (or even half-directed) ads for it, it must smell like miracles.
Me when I was 14 (I think)! My glamour shots setup in the basement. :)
Photography setup a few weeks ago. It's actually weird looking at this after all the work I've been doing on my shop and how it's evolved in such a small amount of time!
A stalker picture of the love of my life. :)
Double classes!! I've been enjoying my gym's classes soooooo very much. Very very thankful for them!
Before and after DIY haircut!!! Best haircut of my life. Tutorial found HERE!
Some clip-on post earrings I'm working on for a friend! Really excited to be able to offer these starting this weekend!
Salad. Yum. This is what I eat pretty much every single day. The same exact homemade version of a Wendy's salad. :) I might do a tutorial. And even though I'm not vegan (I know a LOT of folks who are :), do a vegan version.
Miss Jellybeans.
Non-stalker picture of Gentleman Darling :)
Me, at age 16 (?) doing an obstacle course. Maybe this is where the obsession began?...
Chickens. Crossing the road. 'Nuff said.
SO OBSESSED WITH NEW DREMEL!!!!!!!
Plugs I'm working on for a customer! I'm also obsessed with the process of making these...
Kitty likes to sleep on my hip. ....until my hip goes numb and I have to boot her off.
Aaaaaaaand tickly kitty toes. I can't believe she lets my touch her toes without trying to rip my face off....
Hello Friends!!! I know I just did one of these recently, but I found this awesome seller that makes the most beautiful plugs for gauged ears (which mine are.). When I've gauged up a bit, I'm totally investing in some of her creations. Check it out......
Aren't they GORGEOUS?!?!?! So, to visit her shop, click HERE .
