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 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 :-)

Where I'm at

Nearly 2 weeks since I last posted - oops! I have thought about doing it a few times but then haven't got around to it. Nevermind - I am updating now! And just in time too. I think by updating this it will help me see where my goals are coming along nicely and where they need some more work!

Health and Fitness update

• Weight lost so far - I seem to be losing and putting back on the same couple of 100g these last few weeks so need to do better at watching what I am eating and getting my exercise levels up.


• I only managed 1 curves workout last week and I haven't been to curves yet this week. I am planning to go tonight and then Saturday plus either Thursday or Friday.


• I did the 7km walk last week but this week I missed it (was feeling really lethargic and had some other stuff that was more important - my job application!)


• Also, on the other exercise front - we are looking at buying a Treadmill (from TradeMe) as we can both use it and I can build up my running without feeling like a red faced bad runner on the streets! It will be good for the winter too when I don't want to go out walking or to the gym when it's dark and cold.


• My hormones have been all over the place with coming off the pill. I am taking Evening Primrose and Bio-zinc to try and balance myself out and just need to see what happens. I've heard it can take anywhere between a month and 18 months to get back to normal after coming off the pill having been on it for a long time. The average seems to be about 6 months so I just need to wait and see.


• I have found details of a Learn to Meditate class that is taking place locally on Sunday 9th March so have called to book in for that and managed to rope in a friend to come along as well I hope. It's a 3 hour class and costing $30Nz which I thought was quite reasonable. I'm hoping it's enough of a taster to see if it works for me and if it's something I should pursue further.


• As for MSG - I have virtually cut it out. The 2 times I have eaten it in the last few weeks I have really felt the consequences afterwards - my allergy symptoms go crazy, my nose runs constantly and I feel really tired. Must remember to check all labels before I eat anything!


• No chocolate - that's going well although I haven;t been a complete angel! From 6th February to today (27th) I have had 4 days where I have had chocolate. So it's not completely out but I am pleased I have had so many days without it!

Writing Update

• I am working on editing my NaNo novel. I'm currently trying to story board my plot so I can work out where there are holes that I need to fill and also to see if there are any scenes that don't move the story on. Unfortunately it's not going to be edited in time to submit to the end of February NZ Romance Writers contest but hopefully I will find another contest later on in the year I can submit it to.


• I have had a few ideas for a 2nd story so need to start noting these down so I have something to work on when I'm ready to start.

Wedding Update

• The only thing we've been able to work on so far has been the budget. We have had some disappointing news that we aren't going to get some money through that we were hoping for and that we had planned to use on the wedding. So it's a case of trying to work out what we can afford, how we can get the money together and then getting something booked.


• Obviously with the money not coming through it's put a huge strain on the idea of getting married in a Italian castle. We talked about it though and we want to get married there - even if we have to have fewer guests and pizzas for dinner rather then a la carte food at the reception! So we need to do some serious maths equations and work out how the hell we're gonna make it happen!

Relationships Update

• I put a post on the K & G NZ blog last week and will aim to do another over the next 7 days so I'm happy people are getting a glance at what we've been up to. I think maybe I need to email round to remind people the blog is still there and I am finally posting to it again though!


• We had a lovely Valentines Day together with a meal out. We have also spent some time with friends out together which has been good. I need to try and plan something for this weekend which is cheap (to save for the wedding!) and fun that we can do together. We did play Singstar last weekend by ourselves which was heaps of fun and may be considered 'quality time'!


• I managed to catch up with 2 NZ friends that are not in Palmy anymore over the weekend which was great. Now I need to make sure I'm replying to friends and family back in the UK that have sent emails. I'm not doing too badly at this!

Creativity/Personal Development

• I've been in touch with my scrapbooking buddy (!) and we've agreed to meet up in April to get going on the scrapbooking again which is good. I've spent a small amount of time looking over pages I'd planned etc over the last couple of weeks and hope to spend some time scrapbooking over the next few weekends (if the weather turns bad - if it's good, I will make the most of it and save the crafty stuff for when it's cold and dark!).


• I've had 2 out of 4 of my All About Herbs class so far which has been interesting. I also learnt about Herbal Crafts this week so that appeased my crafty side! Next week we look at Herbs used in Medicine and the final lesson is about Herbs in cooking.


• I've not updated this blog regularly over the last 2 weeks but I'm updating it today. Will try and do little posts in between these big full update posts just to keep my goals fresh in my mind.

Phew - so that's the update on my goals!

I'm also in the process of applying for a promotion at work and have spent quite a few hours trying to decide if it's the right thing to do. I am hoping to finish my application tonight and submit it tomorrow (it closes on Friday) and then it's all up to fate. At least this way I won't look back and wished I'd done more. I can only apply and see what happens.

And maybe one of these days I'll get around to telling some of my friends that this blog is here ;-)

Mid Week Update

Not a bad week so far.

Health/Fitness - I haven't had any chocolate since last Tuesday (5th Feb) so the stickers are lining up nicely on the calendar each day (heart shaped ones in bright colours!)

I went to Curves on Monday so 2 more work outs to go before Sunday (hopefully Friday and Saturday).

I also walked the 7km Striders walk/run last night. Did it in about 1hr 14min which seemed quite slow. It did rain for most of the walk though so I was soaked through and needed windscreen swipers for my glasses by the time I got to the end!

My healthy eating could be healthier so I need to try harder there...I have been busy concentrating on no chocolate at this stage. Once that becomes easier/more of a habit I will kick start that.

Writing has been a total no go-er...there is a competition I would like to enter my novel into that closes at the end of February. That means I need to get some serious editing done between now and then. We shall see. It definetly isn't ready to be submitted as it is.

I have booked next Monday off as one of my lieu days after being in Auckland recently. This gives me the opportunity and time to have a good look at it and make a decision about whether I am submitting it to the soon to close competition.

And I have signed up (with Graeme) to do a 4 week evening class at a local school that offers night classes. It's called All About Herbs and teaches you how to grow and look after them and then how to cook with them and use them in beauty products too. That should be fun and counts as one of my creativity and personal development goals. Talking of creativity - I also made Graeme a Valentine's card so have stretched my artistic craft muscles this week!

My relationships goals are being covered this week as I will be spending time with Graeme tomorrow in honour of Valentines Day (we are probably going out for dinner). I've also updated the NZ blog in the last week so working to keep in touch with friends and family.

And last but not least - the wedding....I spoke to my Dad over the weekend regarding the wedding as we are currently trying to work out our budgets and what we can afford so I needed to speak to him and ask some questions.

All in all, I think I am trying and gradually working towards the things I want to achieve.

My Goals for 2008

Hot on the foot of my first welcome post, here are my goals for 2008 along with a brief introduction:

The main priority for me this year is going to be my health and fitness. I have spent too many years wanting to lose weight and get fitter without enough results. I am planning to get married in May 2009 so I hope this will work as a deadline for me to get to a weight and shape I am happy with.

I feel I had a successful 2007 in terms of writing because it was the first year I wrote a 50k novel and I want to carry on this year by editing the first novel and working on a second.

Planning the wedding may take up a lot of my time later in the year so I am going to include reference to this in my goals.

Health & Fitness

• Lose 20kg
• Aim for 3 Curves workouts every week
• Do at least 1 other type of exercise each week (swimming, long walk, badminton etc)
• Stop taking the pill and monitor effects to see if my health improves
• Attend meditation or yoga class for relaxation (and if I like it - continue to attend)
• Cut MSG out of diet completely
  

Writing

• Edit novel completed during NaNo 2007 and submit to at least one contest
• Write at least one 50,000 word novel
• Research and submit query for 2 magazine/newspaper articles

Wedding

• Get a date confirmed for the wedding
• Work out a wedding budget
• Work out a plan of what needs to be done when and put into action
• Try wedding dresses on once lost 15kg

Relationships

• Update K and G NZ blog regularly (at least once a month) so family and friends can see what we are up to
• 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)
• Email, text or phone one of my close friends/family members at least once a week to keep in touch

Creativity/Personal Development

• Make time at least once per month for scrap-booking or other crafts
• Attend a class/workshop to learn a new skill (Italian for beginners, drawing, painting, ceramics)
• 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