Back to class and potential regular blogging

I am taking this online scrapbooking class at the moment but it is so much more then just a scrapbooking class. The class meets several of my goals...it involves my creativity and scrapbooking, my writing and learning more about myself.

It also includes daily blogging prompts! Now, I don't promise to blog everyday but I will try and be a bit more regular and answer some of the prompts!

The class is over 5 weeks and the themes this week are time and travel. At the start of each week we get photograph assignments, then some journalling/writing assignments mid week before design assignments to get it all down on scrapbook pages at the end of the week.

I have been giving a lot of thought to both of this weeks themes...especially during the 3 hours of driving I did today to attend a course for work.

I will attempt the first 2 blogging prompts now.

My Freedom Blogging Prompt 1 - Post a picture you take from your clock adventure as you look for all the time pieces in your house. Tell your blog readers about this project and you hope to make time for it.

I haven't had much of a chance to take many time piece pictures yet because it's been dark when I've been getting home from work but I will do some work on this later on in the week and try to post a picture then. I thought I had a picture of me at the human sundial in Wellington and was going to post that but I can't find it. I did find this sketch though (courtesy of Google images) so you can see what I am talking about!

My Freedom Blogging Prompt 2 - If you could travel in time for just one day, where would you go and what would you do?

I don't want to have regrets about my life. I am trying very hard to look at everything that happens from different angles to find the good in everything (this is very difficult sometimes but with a little time I normally find at least one good thing to say about something I would have previously regarded as bad). For this reason I don't want to go back in my own lifetime to change something I did because I like to think that I wouldn't be the person I am now if I did that. I am also not keen to go forward in my own life because with my positive outlook (or attempt at it anyway!) I want to think that what happens will happen and yes I can choose my path but I want it to be a little bit of a surprise.

So I think given the chance I would like to go back in history to a time before I was born. I have always had a fascination with egyptian times as well as the regency era so I think it would be cool to go back to either of these times to experience life as it was. And again, thanks to Google images for these two...

And now - who knows - I might be back tomorrow with another blogging prompt answer!

Goal update (seeing that's what this blog is supposed to be all about)

Health & Fitness

Lose 20kg
Not there yet by any means. In fact, it's safe to say I haven't lost any weight (or what I had lost I have put back on). I have started a new healthy eating regime today though and I am writing down what I eat...long may it continue.

Aim for 3 Curves workouts every week
I haven't been to Curves regularly for about 2 and a half months which is shocking...I am determined to get back into it though and will be aiming for 2 workouts this coming week.

Do at least 1 other type of exercise each week (swimming, long walk, badminton etc)
To some extent I have been managing this although it's only ever been taking the dog for a walk. I got on the treadmill this morning for 15 minutes and hope to do that 3 times this week (plus 2 curves workouts will mean 5 lots of exercise).

Stop taking the pill and monitor effects to see if my health improves
I've done this! (Yay, something I can say I have completed!) Am feeling much better having come off the pill - things still aren't quite back to normal hormone wise but I'm pretty certain they are gradually coming right. I'm so glad I did this.

Attend meditation or yoga class for relaxation (and if I like it - continue to attend)
Something else I've done! I did go to a meditation class but I'm not convinced it was for me so haven't pursued that any further. I am trying to find other ways of relaxing (which don't involve emptying my mind...too difficult!)

Cut MSG out of diet completely
I've not done too badly with this. I had a relapse a couple of weeks ago where I was craving salt and vinegar crisps and all other things MSG. I'm trying to get back on the wagon now though and have discovered Salt and Vinegar Pringles don't contain MSG which is a big help!

Writing
Edit novel completed during NaNo 2007 and submit to at least one contest
Haven't got very far with this although I did start looking at the novel a couple of months back but haven't done anything further on it since.

Write at least one 50,000 word novel
I am planning to do NaNoWriMo again this year which is when I will write this year's novel.

Research and submit query for 2 magazine/newspaper articles
Nothing here yet but there is still time.

Wedding
Get a date confirmed for the wedding
It feels like we have gone backwards rather then forwards on this. There is definetly nothing confirmed and we have really had to go back to square 1 in terms of location as well.

Work out a wedding budget
We have done this to some extent which is how we ended up at Square 1. The plan to get married in Italy just isn't going to be feasible due to budget restraints.

Work out a plan of what needs to be done when and put into action
Need to work on this some more once we have decided if we are going to get married in NZ next year...which is the current plan.

Try wedding dresses on once lost 15kg
Not yet - see Health and Fitness!

Relationships
Update K and G NZ blog regularly (at least once a month) so family and friends can see what we are up to
I'm managing this and trying to update weekly or fortnightly which is pretty good going. Whether or not anyone is reading it is another matter...but I feel good knowing the updates are there if people want to read them!

Commit to one evening (or weekend afternoon) per week of quality time with Graeme, by ourselves (ie, go out for dinner, watch a movie together, play a game etc)
Well, we haven't set a certain day each week for this but I think we are doing okay here. Mostly spending time together at home, for example - curling up on the sofa and watching Ice Age last night or playing Singstar.

Email, text or phone one of my close friends/family members at least once a week to keep in touch
I've been trying with this one...there's definetly more room for improvement but I'm not doing too badly. Have been texting and speaking to family and trying to email and Facebook message friends.

Creativity/Personal Development
Make time at least once per month for scrap-booking or other crafts
Am definetly achieving this goal. I am so pleased with the amount of creativity I have achieved so far this year! Lots of scrapbooking pages and other projects. I am currently taking an online scrapbooking class which is proving lots of fun, I am taking part in the monthly scrap your day challenge and I have been attending classes locally too! I am having lots of fun being creative.

Attend a class/workshop to learn a new skill (Italian for beginners, drawing, painting, ceramics)
Well - I am counting the Herbs course as this goal so another thing ticked off! I may go and do something else like ceramics later on and I am really keen to do a photgraphy course but not sure I will get that done this year.

Update this blog regularly (aim for once a week) to keep tabs on where I am at with achieving my goals and what obstacles are in my way
Well I certainly haven't been updating and monitoring my goals weekly which is probably why the health and fitness goals have gone out the window. Today is a new day though and I will be trying hard to keep on top of my goals.

Overall

I'm fairly pleased with how I have done so far. I could do with a little bit more balance in the areas...it seems I am overdoing it in some areas which is affecting my success in others...but that has always been my problem.

I feel that if I can get the health and fitness routine back up and running and make some decisions about the wedding that it will all be coming together.

I'm back! (already!)

I said I would be didn't I?!

Well, day 4 (including weekends) of my 9 days off and I am loving it.

I am feeling pretty laid back and relaxed and I've also done a few things that make me feel like I've achieved something too...it's all good.

• I have baked a lemon cake (all gone) and some chocolate chip cookies (which won't last long once Graeme gets home!)
• I have scrapbooked 1 page (I am waiting for something to dry and then it will be finished and I might take a picture and upload it)
• I have decluttered the bathroom
• I have taken the dog to the vets because he had a gash on his foot on Friday night - he's now on meds and twice daily cleaning with salt water
• I have read
• I have watched one of my 6 DVDs that I hired for this week
• I cut the grass
• I have done heaps of laundry
• I have slept in
• I have been t'internet surfing
• and I am sure there are heaps of other things too!

Oh yeah - and I have taken a couple of photos too including this strange, arty shot

I really do want to learn more about photography. It would be cool to take a class in photography but I would need to find out if I could do it with my point and shoot camera - I don't have enough funds to buy a super dooper 'proper' camera right now. I am occasionally pleased with the photos I manage to take with the current camer though including this one

And as for the rest of my week off? We shall see but I am hoping for more of the same plus I should probably fit some exercise in there too!

I'm hoping to be back again in a few days!

I just won't know to do with myself...

I have a week off and it feels very strange.
The cool thing is that's it's all lieu time so I don't need to take any leave.
I've been really looking forward to it.
But it still feels weird.
I can't remember a time I took a whole week off just to be.
When I wasn't sick or wasn't going anywhere or didn't have visitors coming.
So it's a whole new experience.

In typical me fashion I have numerous lists on the go of things that it would be 'good' to do this week.
'Good' can be defined in 2 ways:
1) it has to be done and even though I may not enjoy it - I will feel better once it's done
2) it's something I enjoy doing so it will be fun

So I hope for a week (or 9 days once I count the weekends...although day 1 is nearly done so 8 more days to go!) of sleeping, watching movies, taking photos, scrapbooking, exercising, decluttering, giving myself beauty treatments, blogging, baking, emailing, journalling, doing projects and completing chores.

Of course each of these different activities have their own list and then I have tried to create a spreadsheet so I complete one of each type of activity each day....am I crazy or what?!

So far today I am nowhere near done with all the activities but I've done some.
I have a terrible habit of beating myself up (figuratively rather than literally) over uncompleted items on lists but this week I am going to try real hard not to do that.
I will do what I get done and that will be it.

I have spent heaps of time today being inspired by some cool artistic peoples blogs and found some really cool quotes.
Here is one that I might re-read every morning of my week off:

This bright, new day...complete with 24 hours of opportunities, choices and attitudes...a perfectly matched set of 1440 minutes.
This unique gift, this one day, cannot be exchanged, replaced or refunded.
Handle with care.
Make the most if it.
There is only one to a customer.
[Author Unknown]

And I hope to be back here blogging at least a couple more times this week :-)

Tough times

It's been a tough few weeks for one reason and another. I am considering changing the security on the blog so people have to be invited and then sending an invite to people who I want to read about my boring (!) life. Maybe once that's done I can share a bit more about what's been happening but let's just say work has been crazy but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer. I have been working silly hours and trying to hold the fort but soon I will have some extra help and support.

I need to have another look at my goals soon and work out where I am at. Now that the dust is starting to settle.

I have been doing some stuff I enjoy this weekend - namely scrapbooking which I love! Here is a layout I did on Friday night while Kill Bill was on (we have this movie on DVD - both volumes - and yet we watch it when it's on telly complete with adverts...weird!)

A self portrait I took because I bought a new scarf I liked and then I decided to do a different kind of page inspired by some scrappy/art blogs I've been reading lately.

And here's another one I did a few weeks ago while I'm sharing:

I also made a mini album yesterday for my sister in law's birthday. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. May post some photos of that another day.

Art and scrapping is keeping me sane at the moment. I love being creative and I must admit I love winter because it gives me a good excuse to say snuggled up inside being crafty!