A Day In My Life

Listen to that...

QUIET:) Today Lauren has been at work and then to Joe's...nate is working with his Uncle Ralph...Scott has been sleeping cuz he just finished nights...the house has been very quiet all day:) I actually am starting to miss them all...

 A scene from my living room window, one that is a daily scene lately:

 

I have done 'stuff' today.  Went for a walk...took Nate over to Ralph's...dishes, floors.  I spent some time going through all my pictures that are on the computer from January 2009-May 2009...took me forever.  I will upload them...get them printed off...copy them all to cd's and then delete them off the computer.  It is a long process and sometimes (very seldom) I wish for the days of film.

As many of you know, I now have a SENIOR in the house.  I have already started gathering ideas for graduation party plans, etc.  AND one thing I always told my customers when they talked about doing an album for their Senior...START NOW!  When June comes around...there will be no time to Scrapbook 13-14years of school.  So, I have been wanting to put my "School Days" Creating Keepsake Kit of The Month together so that I can get started on scrapbooking it.  Today Iput together Lauren's and hopefully i will have nate's put together this evening.  Then I can start the process of adding pictures, journaling and memorabilia to them.  I am going to start with their most recent year and work backwards, which will be easier on 'finding" the things that I need for it (pictures, school work, etc).

Here is it AFTER Iput it together, as you can see...I will need TWO albums for each child, cuz this is pretty darn full and has no pictures and such in it yet:

 

 

 

and this is what needs to go into Nate's...it takes quite a bit of time...but then the fun stuff begins!

 

On Oprah today, Dr. Oz said that people who have a "passion" for something in life add eight years to their lives.  I think that is sort of like the question I was asking about what "nourishes you".  So, what IS your Passion?

Dancingly, Denise

Sunny Sunday

 

Actually this picture was taken on Sunny Friday...but I guess that doesn't matter:)  Several people have asked me what we have done about our pool situation.  As many of you know, last summer we were without a pool because the liner had ripped and we couldn't afford to replace it.  We were hoping to replace it this summer, but prices went up...and Scott's work has slowed down.  So...Scott devised this pool, within a pool...it is serving the purpose for this summer and we will hope to fix things by next year.  Of course...the weather needs to cooperate a little better...I have not been in it yet.  It is approx. 3 feet deep, has a pump and needs chemicals.  There is a solar cover that really seems to make a difference in temperature.  So...if you have more questions please feel free to ask...maybe you could call this a "redneck" pool...hee hee hee.

And speaking of questions...thank you so much to all that commented on my "what nourishes YOU" question.  Unfortunately I had someone who decided to post some unkind things to me...not one but FOUR posted comments...because of this all post are moderated for now.  All that means is they will come to my email box before they show up on the blog.  I have never had to do this before...and I have a huge respect for peoples opinions and thoughts and I WANT people to comment...BUT I don't want people to be thoughtless and hurtful to me or anyone else.  PLEASE know that I appreciate my "blog family" so much and I learn so much from all of you. Please keep sharing with me...

Okay...onward...look at this great fabric I found in my garage:

 

I have NO idea why I purchased it in the first place...but I love it, especially the flowered ones.  I am pretty sure I know what Iam going to do with it now.  I have found tons of fabric in the garage...some I love...some I can't even imagine using.  A great deal of it I will put up on Etsy or Ebay...but some of it I am going to use for some projects.  I am anxious to get started;)

I am trying to come up with a plan for this week...one that helps me get things done and keeps my 14 year old boy BUSY.  I need to work in the garage, but for now he can't do alot except lug things and help me at the dump...I will let you know how it goes.

I am headed to relax for now...what are your plans this week?

Goodnight,

Denise

On Being Fat...Week 4

"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health."  Hippocrates

Last week I spoke about the simplified version of losing weight...it's simple math indeed...calories IN must be LESS THAN calories OUT.  In other words you gotta move and eat less.  Now I am not so naive to think that is the ONLY thing that has to change in order to lose weight...and I do understand for some people they choose to do it in other ways...i.e. weight loss surgery, intense workouts, drastic eating changes...but for me I KNOW I have to eat less and move more AND for me my entire attitude and mind set has to change too.  My situation is maybe not the same as yours...maybe you haven't had food issues since you were a toddler?  Maybe you didn't go to college for dance education and have to see yourself in a HUGE set of mirrors daily?  Maybe your issues are so very different from mine...but still the same?  Just know that I am writing this in my blog to help myself...and if it helps even one other person get a hold of their weight issues I am happy. And if it gets 1000 people thinking...well that is even better:) I am not an expert on weight loss...except my own weight loss...and so with that being said let's talk about:

NOURISHMENT

Main Entry:

nour·ish·ment 

Pronunciation:

\ˈnər-ish-mənt, ˈnə-rish-\

Function:

noun

Date:

15th century

1 a: food, nutriment b: sustenance 3 <books for intellectual nourishment>2: the act of nourishing : the state of being nourished

From Webster's dictionary

And that is what I think of when I first hear the word Nourishment...FOOD.  But...THIS is what I am talking about...I truly need to "nourish" many things in my life, if the weightloss is going to happen and Stay off after.  All too often I reward myself with food...when I feel stress I eat...angry?  I eat...Scared? You guessed it I eat!  I was talking to a very wise woman the other day (nancy) who said "You need to fill yourself up" ...it's like there is an emptiness that needs to be filled...and I try...with food.  I am relatively happy in my life, there are problems...wouldn't you be surprised if there weren't?  Some of them are little problems...some are really tough and I have no answer for them...and maybe never will have an answer for them.

What I need is to nourish myself...spiritually, physically, mentally... fill that "hole" up with good things. 

 

So my conversation with Nancy led me to thinking about "What nourishes me"?  One of the biggies for me is BOOKS...I read and read and read, but lately I haven't been focusing very well...and I find I start a book and don't finish it, what's up with that?  She suggested MAYBE I am reading the wrong books for this moment...hmmmm.   She suggested a few books, mostly books that deal with spirituality...and so I am on a mission to read a few of them and see what I think.

Other things nourish me too...my ART work...but I don't accomplish much of it lately.  Spending time with people I love.  Spending time by myself.  Watching a good movie.  Taking a walk.  You get the idea.  I am going to spend sometime this next week honing in on what exactly nourishes me (including good for me foods) and I will share with you what I come up with.  I would love to hear (as would my other readers) what nourishes you...food and otherwise.  Take the plunge with me and lets see how we can feel filled up, without overeating...

Dancingly,

Denise

 

Contemplating...

"Always keep several get well cards on the mantle... So if unexpected guest arrive they will think you have been sick and unable to clean."

On a good day my ARTstudio looks like this:

 

Today is not a good day...in fact there hasn't been a good day for quite some time:)  It is quite a mess right now...Not a whole lot of ART has been going on.  I have been thinking about this a great deal lately...and if you know anything about me...i really have to think things through before doing anything.  AND unfortunately, if I can't do it "perfectly" I often won't do it...I'll just "think about it".

I have been reading those magazines, by Cloth+Paper+Scissors... STUDIOS Inspiration & Ideas for your Art and Craft Studios.  Magazines can be deadly...cuz they show you how things are when they are PERFECT.  But regardless, I am a magazine junkie and I admit it.

Here is what I have been contemplating...I have quite a few hobbies and right now they do not fit into this ARTStudio.  I understand the whole "less is more" idea...I truly do...but folks I really like my hobbies.  Unfortunately, the only one I tend to be doing lately is my knitting, cuz it doesn't take up much room and is not a mess maker (so to speak).  WHY?  Well first I have a very limited supply of knitting materials...and truly it is so easy to take care of when I am done working on something.  BUT, if I could afford it?  I would have everything I possibly needed for this felting/knitting experience.  You see, though I understand the "less is more"  I don't necessarily subscribe to it:)  Now don't BLAST me...I understand that SIMPLIFYING is a great idea and such...and I am going to a little more...but don't push me...or tell me how wonderful it is to have less craft supplies.

Okay, so in contemplating all of this, I did discover I have several inside hobbies that I need to either get rid of...or make fit into my ARTStudio.  My room is approximately 12'x14'...and THIS is what I want to fit into it...AND be able too use the room again:)

Scrapbooking Supplies

Rubberstamping Supplies (for use in scrapbooking)

Sewing, which includes a sewing machine (or two), a place to cut fabric, fabric storage

Knitting: Yarn and needlefelting supplies

Photo Storage

T.V. and Music area

Laptop and printer

Worktable

Sitting area(just one comfy place is fine)

So...in order to do this...I truly am going to have to pair down.  One thing I have come to believe is that I have a shift in my ART.  I really want to "Scrapbook".  I love to make altered ART and Art for the heck of it...but my heart really lies in getting my pictures Scrapbooked.  So I am going to be looking at either packing away...or getting rid of much of my supplies for altered art and decorative art stuff.

Sewing?  I used to love making fancy dresses for Lauren and darn cute outfits for Nate...but that just doesn't happen anymore.  I want to be able to make raggedy Ann Dolls...and I gotta tell you...working 4.5 hours in the garage the other day I found TONS of fabric...I don't need to buy supplies for this...I just need to organize the ones I have.

Knitting?  I truly am just enjoying the process of knitting and felting with wool.  I have a bin of wool yarn, a small container of fancy yarns, and a container for the needle felting supplies...a binder of free patterns I have been collecting.  I don't THINk I will start knitting sweaters and stuff...I truly just like this process.

Rubberstamping...I have way too much stuff that I don't use in this arena.  I am going to pare this down...I want to save special stamps, ones that are great for scrapping with...and sentiment ones for cards.

Photos...UGH...gawd I have alot.

Right now there is a huge TV in this space, that doesn't work...and a small stereo system that doesn't work well.  I will look into all of that.  there is an entire wall of built in shelving and cabinets...dark wood...we shall see about that too.

Now ofcourse here is the clincher...sure wish I had contemplated this while the weather has been sucky and I had to do "inside" stuff.  Now that I am clearer on things...the sun will come out.

PLEASE tell me how your ART supplies, or hobbies are organized...or not organized.  Let's work on this together!  And thanks for listening...I know this was long, but it helped me work things out!

ARTfully,

Denise

 

Saying Goodbye...and a Good Movie!

First off please bear with me as I mess with the appearance of my blog.  I loved the new look, but it seemed to be cutting off words...so we shall try this one.

Today was the Memorial Service of Michael Jackson...

 

In this image released by the Jackson family, from the left; Rebbie Jackson, Janet Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Jackie Jackson and Jermaine Jackson attend Michael Jackson'smemorial service at Staples Center Tuesday, July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/The Jackson Family, Kevin Mazur) mj0707k

This is what really got to me...at the end when his daughter Paris spoke.  Very sad...it found be sobbing and Nate giving me a hard time about it;)

I decided that after sitting and watching this for most of the day, Scott, nate and I better get out of the house and go see a funny movie.  We headed out to see The Night At The Museum at the cheap seat theater.  It was SOLD OUT:(  So we headed to the other theater and got to see the Movie I was really looking forward to seeing...Disney's UP

  

What an adorable movie.  First off...the woman SCRAPBOOKS!  How cool is that?  Secondly, within the first five minutes I was crying...like every other Disney movie I see:)  And Thirdly...I laughed and laughed...at the movie...and at the sound of Nate's laughter beside me.  I love hearing my boy laugh.  I am so glad we went...  I missed having Lauren with us though, but she is off having fun somewhere else:)  Which is the way we find our family quite often these days...either one or both kids missing...or one or two extra kids:) 

I am headed to bed...my allergies kicked in this morning and I feel slightly miserable.  BUT I would like to leave you with this thought...

"What nourishes your soul?"

Goodnight...

Denise

Random thoughts...

 

Years ago a piece of my Mimi and Bampie's rose bush was moved over to Dad's house.  It is beautiful and grows there as well as still at Mimi and Bampie's house.  After asking Bobo's permission awhile back we finally got a piece of it and moved it to our house.  It is going to be so beautiful and such a heirloom!

 

Yesterday was the Fourth Of July...the sun came out for a bit...but the fireworks were a wash for us:(  We spent most of the day out at Scott's brother's camp...which is our 4th of July Tradition.  here's a few pictures from it:

First off this is one of Scott's nieces sons.  He looks just like Scott does in his little guy pictures.  They call him their "little Scotty"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight we are gonna go have some supper with Bobo, Eric, Sara and Cathy.  Fun!!

I leave you with this thought...we are not sure where one of these guys ends and the other begins most of the time...THIS IS the life!:

 

Later

Denise

On Being Fat...Week 3

This is a few days late and very appropriately entitled

I'LL START TOMORROW...

If you have ever had a weight problem...or any type of addiction...or even something that you are just putting off... "I'll Start tomorrow" is a popular phrase.  Or even better yet for dieting... I will start my diet on MONDAY.

This one little statement has been the start of the downfall of any "diet" I have been on.  Monday never really comes...tomorrow never really comes...or if it does it is short lived and turns into Tuesday.

So here I am...on Weight Watcher's again...and it is not a diet it is a lifestyle change.  I find myself playing tricks on it though...and so am I really changing?  Or just playing games?  I have been back on the program for a little over three weeks.  here's the scoop...the first week PERFECT...last week pretty darn good...in two weeks I have lost 6 pounds and that feels good.  BUT now in walks the game playing...I weigh in on Thursday nights. 

So anything I eat Thursday night after I weigh in I don't have to count?  (That's my own rule not WW:) I'll start again tomorrow?  What's happened in the past is that Thursday night turns into Friday...all of a sudden Friday becomes a free day...eat what Iwant I'll get back on track TOMORROW.  You get the idea.  By the end of it all I am scrambling to eat hardlyy anything Tuesday and Wednesday so Iwill atleast show some type of a loss on the scale come Thursday.  It's exhausting.  SO I am going on record as saying I need to do things different this time.  if it is a lifestyle change I am going after, than food needs to count at all times.  That does NOT mean I can't have fun foods...it just means they have to stay within the point limits that I have for now.

When I do this I discover that I eat more foods that are good for me...because they are less points and more filling in the end.  So what does that mean for people who are not on Weight Watchers.  It simply means exactly what the experts have been saying all along...

Calories IN must be LESS than Calories expended.  So TODAY I need to make sure I know WHAT is going into my mouth and into my body...and I need to make sure that  I exercise accordingly.  Don't liketo exercise?  basically TOO BAD...LOL  But if you really don't than the calories have to reflect the lack of moving.  AND more than anything TODAY is the day to start.

So starting today...let's all make a choice, cuz it truly is a choice.  Granted some addictions are tougher than others, and some are considered illness rather than addiction.  But what is your choice?  Mine is to continue to be very mindful of what I eat.  Today is the Fourth Of July and I ate crap:(  I feel it tonight...I needed a nap, I had to take tums...so tonight I am making a choice to get back on track.

As you can see, there are problems with any choice you make...if you are like me you are a perfectionist...and if I can't do it right I tend to give up.  BUT I am going to give myself a break...I am going to treat myself like a friend.  I would never belittle my friend if she made a bad food choice. 

What choice are YOU going to make today (weightloss or other) and how are you going to be kind to yourself?  Tell us...share your story...

Denise

Happy Birthday To my MOM!

 

We love you sooooooooooooo much!  Hope you had a great day...

Denise 

PS...I know today is "ON BEING FAT" day...but I didn't want to take away from saying Happy Day to Mom...so stay tuned tomorrow for Week 3 (entitled "I'll Start Tomorrow").  By the way...weigh in tonight...I lost 1.4 pounds...that's a total of 6 pounds so far!

New friends...

Meet Tinkleton and Sprinkleton...actually I am not sure which is which and maybe you can only see one of them?

 

Lauren and Joey went to Bangor today and came home with this.  Lauren has wanted fish for quite awhile now...and she did call me first to see if it would be okay.  However, we forgot to ask Guapito his opinion...

 

 

 

I say "Swim for your lives Tinkleton and Sprinkleton...swim and don't look back!"

Lauren has been in her room with them for the last 20 minutes and I keep hearing "get down...GET DOWN...".  Me thinks there is trouble abrew...

Goodnight (by the way...it was beautiful and sunny here today...Scott, Nate and I did some things over to dad and Bobo's house...got ice cream, sat at the waterfront...we tried to get everything in just in case we don't see the sun again...)

Denise

Finding some motivation...

First off...several people have asked me for my 4th of July Strawberry Pie recipe...so here it is again...

This pie is so yummy...and easy...

Strawberry Pie

1 small package (1.1 oz) sugar-free Cook and Serve vanilla pudding
2 cups water
1 small package (0.3 oz) sugar-free strawberry Jell-O
4 cups sliced strawberries

 Premade graham cracker pie crust

In a medium saucepan, stir together water and pudding mix. Heat to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately add the Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Set the pan aside and let the mixture cool slightly.

Place strawberries in the bottom of a (edit) store bought graham cracker pie crust. Pour cooled pudding mixture over the strawberries. Refrigerate until chilled. Let it set well before slicing.

EDIT:  2 points per 1/8 of pie

I usually put cool whip on it when I am ready to eat it.

It's YUMMY for your TUMMY!

I also tried this with raspberries... and raspberry jello...YUM!

I am tempted to try blueberries with grape jello???

Now when I make it I alwasy think about my Dad, as I made it a few times for him loast year when he was sick and was having such a hard time eating. He liked it...unlike my corn chowder;)

So this constant rain is really dragging me down...like everyone else.  The other day marked 8 months since Dad left...and it was a hard day for me...and Bobo had a tough time.  The constant rain seems to make everything seem worse.  It does have to stop sometime right?

Almost a month ago (June 2) I posted a list of "Goals" for the next few summer months...here they are again in no particular order:

So...my Goals for the next few months?...In no particular order:

Clean out the garage (pictures to come)

stain deck and front steps

do the work at Dad and Bobo's house that needs to be done

Finish side garden

read books that have piled up (list to follow)

Ebay listings

date night...once a week?

Day trips with Scott and kids

Concentrate on health...walking, water, sun, supplements and eating better

Post a project a week

So...I would like to put a line through the ones I have accomplished...but alas I can't as I haven't accomplished any of them.  Don't get me wrong...Scott and I have been going out to eat once a week together, just the two of us (I haven't told him it's "date night":)...but that one is sort of on-going.  AND I certainly have been walking, eating better...but again it is ongoing and I haven't done so well on the water, SUN and supplements:)

I am not beating myself up about it...but I am printing off the list as we speak to stick on the fridge where I can see it everyday.  I am in hopes that a month from now I can report that I have accomplished some on the list.  In the meantime...I will keep plugging along.

Goodnight everyone...what is on your list of goal...and are YOU accomplishing them?

Denise