Craft Hope

Well, it looks like the short list will have to wait. Craft Hope just started a new project and it's right up my alley. They're collecting quilts for Margaret's Hope Chest to give to homeless children in Michigan.

They would like quilts of all sizes for boys and girls. The project is "Hope Squared" and they're asking for quilts made out of squares... a great use for scraps.

I think this quilt looks super cute:

The pattern for this great quilt will be on Craft Hope's site soon.

Another great thing about this project... you don't even have to finish the quilt. Margaret's Hope Chest will take the quilt tops and bind and quilt them for you. PERFECT. Everyone can sew a few pieces of fabric together. So let's do it!

My short list...

Just a few of the projects and recipes I'd like try in the next month or two...

Scrappy Quilt -- What a great way to use up all those extra scraps taking over under my sewing table!

Monogram Frame -- This will be beautiful in Emma Kate's room... although I'm not sure if I would use an "E" or an "EK." This would also make a GREAT baby gift.

Cutie-Patooty Owl

Flower Hair Clips

Roasted Carrot Soup for the Soul

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Pie in a Jar

1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Seven-layer Bars

Please let me know if you've tried any of these things and how yours turned out.

Shred update: Days 9-17

Day 9

I completely forgot about working out today until about 10:30pm. At that point, it was too late. I couldn't believe I forgot! The whole day was very busy with filling out applications and looking for jobs online for Anthony.

Day 10
I DID remember to workout today. It was difficult because Emma Kate was awake and kept climbing on furniture. I'm glad it's over!

Day 11
No shredding today... too much other stuff. I did go to the grocery store with EK, I think that counts for something. I also carried all the groceries up stairs by myself... another hard feat.

Day 12
Again no shredding. I know, I know! Sundays are very hard and LOOOOOOOOOONG for me these days. This Sunday was made longer by the GCC audition at night (which I made, woo hoo!). On the super bright side, I did get to wear another skirt to church today that I hadn't worn since before EK.

Day 13
It's so true that when you skip a couple days it's very easy to skip another. I felt myself falling into that trap and figured I might as well get it over with. So I did it! I'm so happy with myself that I did. I think after tomorrow's workout I'm going to move on to level 2.... kinda scared about it. I'm also taking measurements tomorrow. I skipped way too many days this week, so I will be surprised to see any change.

Day 14, 15, 16

I'm sorry to say that I had to skip these days. I have been feeling physically exhausted and run down lately with no energy to speak of. I'm not sure why, but it's the truth. I think I'm going to extend my 30 days to 40 days to make up for my skipped days. I was pretty hard on myself, thinking, "here you go again, starting something and not finishing it." It's pretty easy to just quit all together when you get in that state of mind. but...

Day 17

I didn't quit. I worked out today, even though it was very, very hard. I'm still feeling uber-exhausted. You know that feeling when you stand up real quick? That "I think I might pass out" but you don't feeling? That feeling kept coming over me during the workout. Probably a bad sign, huh? When that happened, I would just catch my breath and modify the move. I'm still on level 1, so it's not like my body isn't capable of this. Maybe I'm getting sick? Maybe I'm dehydrated? Anyone know about this stuff?

ps... Thanks for all the wonderful encouragement.

30 day SHRED

Okay, so I've been stumbling around, complaining about the post-pregnancy 20 pounds that have stuck on and not really doing anything about it. I've decided that I'm ready to start doing something. I'm done complaining (it only took a year).

I had been doing some reading online about Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred (the crazy trainer from The Biggest Loser). Now, if you have noticed, most winners of The Biggest Loser (TBL) are Jillian's trainees. The woman's awesome! Dang awesome! How does that insane intensity relate to a $7 DVD? I'm about to find out.

Day 1

I started today by taking some before pictures and measurements-not the most fun thing I have ever done. Emma Kate woke up from her nap, so she played with my 3 lb hand weights for awhile and then got put into her high chair for lunch (and a show). I then put in the DVD and got started. And that's when I realized I needed the DVD remote to do anything.

I looked everywhere for the stupid thing, but could not find it. I did, however, find 3 other remotes that I have no idea what they go with. So when I was about to just give up and put on the Imagination Movers for EK, I remembered that our Cox remote is universal. So I looked online, finally found the code, crossed my fingers (not sure which outcome I was hoping for), and wah-la. It worked. My grand excuse was now trashed like those 3 random remotes I found. So here we go...

Oh. My. Goodness. After about one minute into it I was seriously regretting it all. My face was beet red, my breathing out of control, my hands kept hitting the fan with every jumping jack, and EK was hollering at me because I was playing with her new toys (the hand weights) while she was stuck in a high chair. To say the least, it was a high-stress situation. But I didn't give up, in fact, I surprised myself and did the entire workout. Now mind you, it's only a 25 minute workout, but they are some serious minutes! I only had to pause twice, once to get EK out of the high chair before she climbed out, and the second time to go get her another hand weight because she wouldn't stop screaming at me. I really did it. Afterwards, I was tired, but I wasn't beat like I am when I try to run. When night time came, I felt a little stiff, but I was hopeful that the morning wouldn't be too bad.

Day 2

Uh, yeah, I woke up and needed someone with a giant spatula to scrape me off the bed. Every muscle ached and burned. Holy cow! How am I supposed to Shred today? I hurt WAY too bad to do this today! 10:00 rolled around, I put EK down for her nap and proceeded to play on the computer (I had to check out how my flowers were growing in Farm Town after all). I was hurting. But then Facebook froze. I closed my computer and thought, well, I might as well try.

I turned the DVD on, had my hand weights, water, and the phone in case of a "my-muscles-quit-working-and-I-need-help-off-the-floor" emergency, and I got started. The first few minutes, ay yi yi, were tough. But I pushed on. Before I knew it, and I usually know exactly how long I've been at something like exercising, I was doing the cool down. What?! I'm done? I did it? I... really... did... it? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually just got done. I decided afterwards that I would chronicle this crazy journey I began. Every day I will add how the workout went, I'm sure my posts will get shorter, don't fret. I will also record my progress-I'm going to take my measurements every week.

I proved to myself these past two days that I CAN do this. And now I'm telling myself, and all of you, that I WILL.

Day 3

I went to bed last night hurting, and, surprise, I woke up this morning hurting. Aching. All over. Heaven forbid I drop something on the floor, it sure wasn't going to get picked up. Every task seemed like a monumental one... and that dang 30-day Shred DVD sitting on top of the TV was like Mount Everest to me. But I thought, I might as well try... and I did.

Again, Emma Kate was in her high chair for lunch. Of course she didn't want to stay there because Mommy looked like she was having way too much fun dancing around the living room and she wanted to join in. At first it was really tough. I could barely hang in there to finish the first round of jumping jacks. But as the workout went on, my muscles loosened up and I could do more. A lot more. I found myself beginning to follow the girl doing the advanced moves, as opposed to the one doing the modified, "easier" ones. I thought, "Am I for real right now?" I even bumped up my weight on some of the moves, using 5 pound hand weights instead of the 3 pounders. (Don't laugh, 3 & 5 pound weights get pretty heavy after a while)

My biggest obstacle was the crunches, and not because they were hard. I actually LOVE doing crunches. It's weird. I could do hundreds a day. It hurts and burns, but I don't mind it for some reason (I think it's because I can lay down and workout at the same time). So anyway, this time it was almost impossible because every time I laid down to do the crunches EK would try to saddle-up and ride me like a horse. When she figured out I wasn't playing a long, she turned around, sat on my face, and started smacking my stomach (riding a horse that doesn't move is, after all, boring). I couldn't do anything because I was laughing too hard at how hilarious my situation was at that moment. It's crazy, but it's the little, seemingly meaningless, things like this one that make being a mother so awesome (and so hysterical).

Workout #3, done. Shredded.

Day 4

Anthony graduated today, so I had no idea when I was going to be able to workout. We had a big day with family and I was beat my the time it was all over. But I did it! It was VERY hard. I guess I really didn't have any more energy left, so I had to pull from deep within to find enough to finish the workout.

Day 5

Anthony and I shredded together. =) He now has a new understanding of what I'm talking about when I mention how serious this workout is... and he will most likely have an even better understanding when he gets up tomorrow morning. Jillian doesn't discriminate--she is an equal-opportunity butt kicker.

By the way, it's getting easier everyday... well, I'm getting better. I can tell I'm getting stronger and gaining endurance. Also, I was able to wear a skirt to church today that I haven't worn since before EK was born. WOOOOOOHOOOOOO! That is definitely a good thing. =)

Day 6

Anthony and I did the workout together, again. I think working out with a partner is much more fun than by yourself. Although I do have to stop to laugh sometimes (Anthony is pretty silly when he does his hip circles). Two more days until I take measurements again and see if anything's changing.

Day 7

Today was my anniversary. I decided to wait until Anthony got home from work to workout with him. Well, when he got home we immediately began cooking dinner. Our favorite dinner. Shrimp and grits. Oh it was good! The only problem was when we were done we were both so stuffed we couldn't even begin to imagine shredding. So no workout today. And I'm alright with that. It was a good day.

Day 8

I decided to go ahead and shred during EK's nap. I have been waiting for Anthony, but I thought it would be best to go ahead and do it after what happened last night.

Oh boy! It was tough today! I'm not sure if it's because I skipped a day or maybe because I had a heavy dinner, but today was HARD.

I took my measurements again. Guess what?! I lost...... 4 INCHES!!!! Here's the break down: 1" from each upper arm, 1" from my chest, 1/2" from my waist, and 1/2" from my hips. I think that's pretty dang good for my first week! I have no idea how many pounds I've lost, we don't own a scale. But I am so happy with the results I'm seeing so far.

Just "be good"

"Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done"

When in the wondrous realms above

Our Savior had been called upon

To save our world of sin by love,

He said, "Thy will, O Lord, be done."

The King of Kings left worlds of light,

Became the meek and lowly One;

In brightest day or darkest night,

He said, "Thy will, O Lord, be done."

No crown of thorns, no cruel cross

Could make our great Redeemer shun.

He counted his own will but naught,

And said, "Thy will, O Lord, be done."

We take the bread and cup this day

In memory of the sinless One,

And pray for strength, that we may say,

As he, "Thy will, O Lord, be done."

We sang this hymn yesterday in church as we prepared to take the Sacrament. The words and music of this hymn struck me, so much so that I am still thinking of them today. The last lines of the last verse hit home for me. It does require strength to align our will with the Lord's. So many times I feel like we're taught that we ought to just "be good" and things will work out. We're seldom taught how. We're even more seldom taught that it is hard.

If anyone knows how hard it is, it's Jesus Christ. He suffered for me, and all of you, not for glory or praise, he did it because it was his Father's will, our Heavenly Father, and therefore it was His will. I'm reminded of Luke 22, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane suffering unimaginable pain and cries out to God for help, asking him to make it end, to take it away, to "remove this cup." But he presses on, saying, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

I cannot imagine the pain our Heavenly Father had to have felt at that moment. As a parent, I cannot imagine having to watch as my innocent child suffered, so much as to bleed drops of blood from every pore. Heavenly Father was fully capable of taking it all away, but He didn't because He knew the glorious consequences of this moment. Because of Jesus Christ's Atonement, we're able to all return to our Heavenly home, to live with our Savior and Heavenly Father. We're able to repent, and be forgiven of our sins. The Law of Moses was fulfilled, and we are the benefactors.

Now it's up to us, to align our will with His, and to "be good."