Reading Up

I'm at The Pink Heart Society today, talking about reading...because it's work and stuff. Yeah. Sure.

Working It Out.

That was the original title of Compromising Positions , it's also the name of the club in the book that Sophie co-owns with her sister. And...it's what I've been doing.

Working out.

No kidding. I'm not saying I don't complain the ENTIRE time...but I've managed to drop about 10 pounds since this summer. And I know that I'm physically stronger, since I can complain during the classes instead of gasp for breath and grab for a wall because I'm dizzy.

You see, I used to be a runner. Running is easy. You just...take off. And you go until your head is clear or you're out of water. Trail running was my favorite...but I haven't been able to do it for ages. My body is completely different now than pre-kiddos and pre-fertility meds. Really, I barely recognize me. And I want to start recognizing myself again, and even work my way back to running.

I can't just start running. My body isn't made to be this weight. There are people who can be fluffy and healthy, but my frame can't handle it. All the extra padding has given me feet issues, knee issues, hip issues...not to mention the emotional body-image issues. So, I'm going to fix it. Which means less writing time now, but I think eventually it will even out.

Since I'm not running yet, I've been taking classes at the rec center. I figure, I'll try anything once, and if it doesn't bore me or kill me, I'll try it again. So far, I've made yoga, stability ball, and bootcamp a habit, even though bootcamp has my feet screaming. Water aerobics is fun in the right class, but it hurts my feet since there isn't any support. Pilates is harder than you'd think. Spinning is a pain in the butt, literally!

I'm trying to rework my blog, and I think I'll do a weekly workout post. You know, to give me some place else to complain about working out :D

Crafty!

I've started to get crafty. No kidding. Just last week I channeled my inner Amish girl and MADE a console table for my friend from plans I got at Knock Off Wood. I taught me that I can do more than I think...and that wood is expensive.

Still, I love the idea of making things. It started when I couldn't figure out a way to incorporate a dresser Hubba Bubba's grandfather built into Baby Girl's room...so I decopaged fabric onto the drawers and voila, new dresser that fit with the garden quilt theme of the room.

Sites like Tater Tots & Jello or the Sprik Space Brief Bits give great ideas... I'm not the crafty type, but they have these tutorials that make things seem so easy...

In that same vein I snagged a copy of A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday. Tons of great ideas, and new ideas at that! Great to go through with the kids to help usher in the holiday season. Some of my favorite ideas ::

• Hang a cooking mitt in place of a stocking for a baking enthusiast
• Turning all your mismatched socks into an advent calendar