Well, since I lost my job at the beginning of November, I haven't done much running. Last week I started doing EA Active 2 on the PS3 again. I did that for a week...until I found my copy of Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred. I started that yesterday.
This time around, Jillian Michael's isn't as hard as the last time I tried doing it. The only thing I struggled with on Level 1 this times, was push ups...who doesn't struggle with push ups? I'm feeling the burn today. I didn't have a chance to do Jillian today, but am going back again tomorrow. I'd like to do it at least 5 days a week. I read somewhere online that if you do it every day for 30 days straight, you can lose 10 lbs. I'm okay with not losing 10 lbs., but I want to lose something. So, I'll probably take weekends off - which is good because our weekends our swamped for the rest of the month.
Just a little seasonal picture...this is our house decorated this year. Last year we just had the PacMan ghost - which our neighbor across the street thought was a sad face, so she decorated one of her bushes with a happy face.
Bazzill Basics paper 12x12 Sparkle (hereafter referred to as BB Sparkle)
Vellum (8.5x11, you can use any size you like)
12x12 White Card stock
Blue card stock of choice for die cutting into snowflakes (I got my snowflakes at work from a job we printed and die cut)
Stamps
3 snowflakes stamp by Stamp of Excellence (any snowflake stamps will do)
Christmas greeting of choice for front
Christmas saying of choice for inside
Ink
Adirondack Lights Cloudy Blue
StazOn Teal Blue
Tools
Tim Holtz Alterations 3 snowflakes embossing folder
Creative Memories (CM) Small Circle Cutter with Green Blade
Die cutter and/or embossing tool
Snowflake die cut of your choice
Adhesive of choice
Glue dots small
Silver thread
When I create my Christmas cards, I go into mass production mode. For me this means cutting everything down, stamping as much as I can, folding, cutting, embossing, etc. and then assembling everything together. Some steps in this card I performed together to make it easier in case I left the project for several hours (or days).
Step 1
Cut 12x12 white card stock into thirds. Your final trimmed piece will be 4x12". Fold in half to 4x6". Cut additional white card stock to 4" wide by 1" high (or higher, depending on the size of your Christmas greeting). Stamp your Christmas greeting on the 4x1" pieces of white card stock.
Step 2
Cut BB Sparkle (background for inside and outside) to 4x6".
Left side shows the vellum on top of white paper.
Step 3
Stamp snowflakes randomly on vellum using the Adirondack Lights Cloudy Blue ink. This ink does not dry fast on vellum, so make sure you are careful and set it aside to dry before doing anything else with the vellum (you can stamp and entire 8.5x11/12x12 sheet before setting it aside).
Step 4
Cut vellumdown so it's 4" wide (top right photo). From here you will just gently tear the sheet to get the strips you will need for the final design (bottom two photos). Gently tear 1 1/2" strips of vellum.
Step 5
Die cut your snowflakes. Once your snowflakes are cut, you can attach two together with some thread (approximately 3") in between, using a glue dot (below: first photo).
I aligned the thread down one of the spikes of one of the snowflakes (to
make it less noticeable) before attaching the second one (below: second photo). I didn't align
my snowflakes, but you can if you want to. My snowflakes were not the same color on the front and back, so I chose
to have them face opposite directions, so I had blue and white on both
sides (below: last photo).
From left to right: attach glue dot; add thread along one of spikes in snowflake,
attaching at glue dot; place second snowflake on top either in the same position
as main snowflake or off to make it look bigger.
Step 6
Using a removable adhesive, attach the BB Sparkle paper to the front of the card. (If you do not have a removable adhesive, you can attach the bottom half of the BB Sparkle to the white card stock - make sure you only do the edges on the bottom so you can still access between the two card stocks.) Unfold white card stock so paper lays flat. Align CM circle cutter in desired position on BB Sparkle attached to front of the white card stock (I positioned mine towards the top and centered), using the green blade cut a circle through the BB Sparkle and white card stock.
Step 7
Align the snowflake in the center of the circle and attach one side of the thread at a time*, make sure to pull thread tight, but not too tight (you don't want to break the thread). Cut excess thread from top of card. Make sure snowflake is centered horizontally and vertically before permanently adhering BB Sparkle paper. *If your card is vertical, your thread should go vertical and the if it's horizontal, should align horizontally (this will allow free spinning and less likelihood of the thread stretching too much causing the snowflake to hit the sides of your circle).
Holding BB Sparkle somewhat in place, add snowflake, pulling thread tight
and center in the circle. Attach BB Sparkle once snowflake is in place.
Step 8
Attach vellum to front side of card, use the adhesive along top edge only (below: first photo). You don't have to use a clear adhesive since your Christmas greeting will cover up where your adhesive is. Attach Christmas greeting at top of vellum (below: last photo). I attached my greeting approximately 1/4" below circle.
Step 9
Emboss dull side of BB Sparkle using the Tim Holtz snowflake embossing folder. Attach on the inside of the card. Stamp Christmas greeting starting halfway down on the inside (this way the greeting can't be seen through the hole where the snowflake is).
You're done! Great job! Hope you enjoyed this how-to. If you have any suggestions or questions, please let me know! Happy card making!
I included a little handwritten note on the inside under the circle which said: To spin snowflake blow on left or right side of snowflake.
Here's a link to a video of how the spinner works (although you can't see it very well).
Well, since the beginning of November I have only run 5 times...which really doesn't make any sense because I lost my job on November 2. I have more time, but I'm not doing the things I should be doing (exercise). I've been eating better, however, I still do need to increase my fiber.
I borrowed a vegetarian cookbook from the library. I'm also going to borrow a book on increasing fiber. I know what I need to do, I just need better ways to implement them.
I didn't meet my goal of 15 lbs. by Thanksgiving...I missed it by 4 lbs. I'm okay with that.
My two new goals, set for 8 weeks from now (January 19), are:
lose 7 lbs
run 3 miles (I've completed the couch to 5k app I was using, but I have yet to run the full 3.1 miles.)
I set my goal for just before my birthday, that would bring my total weight loss to 18 lbs. and I'd reach my goal of running 3 miles straight. I don't care how long it takes me to run those 3 miles. I've gotten close in the past, 2.45 miles and 2.6 miles running and walking, respectively. So, I know I can do it. I just need to make it a priority.
When I had a daily schedule: work, run, dinner, relax, it worked for me, now that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, it's harder. So, I need to get back on a schedule. I do certain things around the house each day, I need to add running, pick a time of day to do it, and do it then...I think that will help me get back on track.
So, I've just been reviewing my archives...I downloaded the Get Running app in August 2010...I started actually using the app, for the purpose it was created, August 2012. If you'd like to read that first post, feel free...you can find it here. I just thought it was ironic that almost 2 years later, I implemented the program.
It's gotten colder, as I'm sure you've noticed. It's really hard to go out in the cold and start running. Once I get going (a.k.a. get warm enough), it's not so bad. My past two runs I've only run for 20 minutes. We should've gone for our run on Sunday - last warm day for awhile. Today was really cold, so I didn't run, but tomorrow, I plan on picking back up at running for 30 minutes straight.
Today, I tried a couple of new recipes and I did my grocery shopping which had a lot of new foods that I don't regularly eat - sweet potatoes, nappa cabbage, acorn squash.
Today's recipe came from All Recipes. Lunch was Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Onions...I didn't have Thyme, so I just left it out, I also did not add the almonds. It was really good...I'm excited to have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. It was also VERY filling.
Tomorrow night for dinner, we are going vegetarian - with a lasagna...Artichoke Spinach Lasagna. I can't wait to try this! I know I like spinach artichoke dip, I also like spinach lasagna, so I'm really looking forward to this yummy goodness. I'll let you know how it is.
Well, I've only run 2 times in the past 2 weeks. I'm okay with that because my muscle was sore. Last time I ran (Sunday, October 28) my muscle was fine, no pain or soreness. So, I'm back on to running again. I was going to run today, but realized I probably shouldn't run on Halloween - who knows how many people will be out and about and I'd rather avoid running into anyone (literally!). :D
My last two runs were 30 minutes. Although after a week off, I couldn't do the full 30 minutes, but I did do 25 minutes, which isn't bad for a full week off...I'm certainly not complaining. I just need to make sure I get back on track with the running, otherwise, I may just stop completely...and I don't want to do that. I'm so close to that 5k...got to keep on keepin' on. :)
Tomorrow I have another 30 minute run scheduled and I'm all ready for doing it. We are in the process of looking into a gym membership - that way weather is not an excuse for skipping our runs.
A few weeks ago, I gave up Splenda in my coffee. I went cold turkey and I haven't gone back. I'd like to cut cream out of my coffee, but I tried my coffee black one day, and ended up adding Splenda in. So, I can drink coffee with sugar or cream, but not without one or the other. I think it's a step in the right direction.
I've also done a lot of reading lately. I've read two vegetarian books: Plant Based Diet Simplified: A Concise & Easy to Read Guide on How to Lose Weight with Plant-Based Nutrition and Forks Over Knives (I've also seen this documentary). Watching the Forks Over Knives Documentary really got me thinking about what I really put into my body. Can you really prevent diseases with a plant-based diet? I'm going to keep reading and researching...I have one thought I'd like to share. In Genesis 1:29-30 it says, "Then
God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole
earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours
for food. And
to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the
creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of
life in it—I give every green plant for food.'” (youversion, emphasis mine)
This tells me that God created us to be vegetarians. The only reason meat became an option is because of the fall...when sin entered the world, so did death/eating meat. I have at least one more vegetarian book on my kindle to read, "How to Successfully Become a Vegetarian or Vegan" by Rudy Hadisentosa. I'll keep you posted!
Well, my last run was Monday and I don't plan on running again until Sunday. My left calf muscle has been sore. I felt it in my last run, and since then I feel it every day just walking. My chiropractor worked some magic on it and taped it up for me. It has gotten better. What stinks for me, I don't do a desk job, so I'm on my feet and walking around a lot...needless to say, my muscle has really only gotten rest at night when I get home from work.
Sunday will be my first 30 minute run, which concerns me a little, because I haven't run all week, but I'm sure it will be fine.
This week has been very encouraging. Last week I tightened my belt a notch. This week, I tightened my belt another notch and I'm even wearing a belt with my jeans (which I didn't have to do at all, previously). This is very encouraging. I can't wait to weigh in in Monday this week.
On Sunday I also start tracking my foods in more detail to help my aunt (my mother's sister) out. She went back to school to become a dietician and she needed a case study. Having high cholesterol, I offered to help in anyway I could. There are many dietary issues on my mother's side of the family (as well as my father's - hence the high cholesterol) - including diabetes & Crohn's disease, so she had many choices of family members for her case study. I'm just glad to help and can't wait for her evaluation.
I didn't run for 3 days in a row this week, which I was a little worried about today, as I was doing my second 25 minute run.
Somehow, I am off on my run schedule. When I started I was doing whatever week I was on run 1 on the first day I ran for the week (Sunday), now my first run is falling at the end of the week. Today was the first run for week 7 - which is running for 25 minutes straight. I will do this same run for my next 2 runs, then move up to 28 minutes (week 8), then 30 minutes (week 9), this should all culminate into my being able to run a 5k...I'm almost there and I'm so excited! :)
In just 9 weeks, I've gone from struggling to run 1 minute to running 25 minutes straight! It can be done, even if you're overweight (I know this because I am and I'm doing it). You can do anything you put your put your mind to. If you believe you can do it, you can!
Before I've been running my 25s, I just say a little prayer asking God to help me run for the entire 25 minutes. I'm hoping, soon, to be able to do 4 laps (including the warm up and cool down) at our running spot.
Just a little seasonal picture...this is our house decorated this year. Last year we just had the PacMan ghost - which our neighbor across the street thought was a sad face, so she decorated one of her bushes with a happy face.
