Day 28: Major Milestones

-I have worked out consistantly for a week. Thanks to a friend kicking my butt, I've done more than I thought I could, and am now approaching what could be known as "running rhythm"

-It is hot outside....not really a personal milestone, but certainly something to talk about

-I have been largely dairy free for 3 weeks now

-The summer is about halfway gone...sigh..

-Oh, and this:





  This is Kimmik. That's the eskimo word for dog. Today is his first day with us. Jon loves  his cool temperament and intelligence. I love that he's a big dog and that he's mine!!! Gato...well Gato doesn't love anything about him yet.

Snapshots of Summer

Trip to Asheville

Completion of this pinterest project

Got curtains for the living room, a small step, but it makes me feel like we're getting settled

The chore list, I try to do one each day, completing all of them every 2 weeks

Coming in from the garden

Anne helping me with....

Our coat tree

The fabulous Angry Birds cape, which has sold already!

Days 17-24   AAHHH!!

I haven't posted in a week! well, in an effort to not psych myself out, I'm only going to post a very little so that I don't think I have to write a lot each day.

Health-wise: Thanks to Anne J for kicking my but in workouts the last couple of days. I've just dipped below an important milestone (won't tell you which one) but I've stayed there for a couple of days straight. Also, except for some milk chocolate, I've been doing really good at dairy free. I'm not sure how many days it's been exactly, but if you only count cheese and straight milk products, I think it's been about 2 weeks.

Project-wise:  This coat rack project is almost done and I'm in love with it, pictures to come. I have all I need to get started on this rug, I'm just trying to get a few other things done first. If you have any old cotton t-shrits in bright colors that  you aren't using, I'd love to have them. I want to try these cleaning projects soon, I have all the materials for them.

Gospel-wise: Still need help getting into it here, again, if ever I could make myself get into a routine.

Days 16-19 :   Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

So far I'm not doing so well at doing this daily, but here's an update on my goals anyway:

Chores: I barely squeaked by getting all my chores done for the fortnight. A new chore chart is up and I've started in on it. Can I say how depressing it is to have the kitchen amazingly clean for a dinner with friends, have a great dinner party, then walk back to the kitchen at the end of the night and see another mountain to do? And then you clean it the next day, only to make an involved dinner again and have the same problem...Eh...This is why those who can afford it eat out all the time, just so they can look at a clean kitchen for more than one day. 

Working out: I'm finding that the house is just too distracting for working out. Yes I have me little videos, and plenty of side walks around, even my own free weights. But it just seems like I can't get my feet of the ground here. So as had as it is going to be for me to part with perfectly good money, I think I'm going to try a gym membership. That way I can get in the car and go away from all the distractions of here. Also, I might feel so guilty about spending the money that I go every day just to make sure I get my money's worth. 

Anyone know what the cheapest gym in Rock hill is?

Bible Reading: Sadly, this is the area I've done the worst in. I need to develop a better morning routine so that there's not question where this fits into my life. 

Dairy Free: This really stings. I've been doing good about making conscious decisions here. I've changed my regular menu planning, kept it out of the house, even starting to eat cheeseless sandwiches, which is a pretty big deal for me. But the enemy keeps sneaking up in little ways. The cream cheese in my sushi. The ranch dressing with my wings. The milk-infused batter with my Fried Green Tomatoes. ugh...But as one encouraging roommate reminds me, I've made good progress, and the steps I've made so far are going to help much more than these little setbacks are going to hurt. 

Projects:  Everytime I bring something new home from the dollar store, or start collecting another recyclable and claim its for a "project," Jon gets a worried look on his face. Admittedly, I AM working on several projects at once, but I feel like I'm making slow progress on each of them daily. In fact, I just finished making my version of this one:

  

But I can't find the camera cord to show you how it turned out.

I ask for your continued prayer as I work on these things, and knowing that a couple of you actually read this thing helps keep me accountable. Thanks.

Days 14 and 15 (Friday and Saturday)

I do believe that I'm getting better and my goals, though to be shamefully honest, I'm not swimming through them yet.

 I still have 3 tabs on my chore list to pull off, and tomorrow is the deadline for the first fortnight. 
I continually find things that have dairy in them...after I've already taken several bites (Ranch dressing will be missed)
Walking the dog really shouldn't count for much exercise, but it's the most athletic thing I've done this week.
My bible time has been pretty pitiful, that's just all there is to say there.
I have been working my way through some creative projects. I hope to have one up later today and post pictures.
I am reading more, but I wish I could sit out in the hammock all day and do so..sigh.

Good thing that God says each day is a brand new chance. Looking forward to it.

Day 13: Thursday 5/14

I really like Thursdays. On the day of Thor, Old Town in Rock Hill has their farmer's market. They also let amateur crafters like me set up a table and try to sell my soul (er..ah, wares). I'm not a great craftsman, but I enjoy sewing, making things that make others smile, and picking out pretty colors.

So every Thursday at 5, I drag all my things out to the market, laboriously set them up, sit in the hot sun, talk with strangers (which most know I'm terrible at) and smile pretty while my life's work is evaluated by random passers-by. And if I'm lucky, I'll make a sale, maybe five bucks or so.

And why you ask?

Because it's fun. I love the community of the market, seeing old friends, waiting around all that time just to hear one tiny little compliment that validates my existence as a quasi-artist. and, because I get to make things like this: 

Angry Birds Cape

Everyone says I should turn this into a dress

Fruity Apron

My best seller, the Superman Cape

Days 8-12 

I had planned on making this a daily blog, but under the circumstances of the last couple of days...I fail. So here's the low down:

Day 8: Was productive around the house, went to see the Scottish-Irish games in Clover and saw much more man-leg than I intended. But hey, what's wrong with a little kilt action? I also got to see some new friends get married...aww....And as far as my goals go, I didn't feel to shabby.

Day 9: Sunday - I didn't work out, do most of my regular daily activities, or clean anything, but I did start filling up my adventure meter. Heading out to Asheville to see my favorite post-brontosaurus folk artist Rebecca Loebe and spend some time with an old friend. On a bonus though, this was a dairy free day. :)

Day 10: Monday was spent with another old friend, listening to music and driving through the mountains. Although a cloud obstructed my view from the highest point east of the Mississippi (I had to sing a song in my head to make sure I spelled that right), it was still a very awesome trip and time spent. From there I headed to Winston-Salem for yet another reunion with someone I haven't seen in way too long. This day was sadly/gloriously not dairy free. Fail again.

Day 11: I have to admit, traveling alone, seeing old friends, experiencing different parts of of the country independently...It's all very fun an life-affirming. It makes me want to travel a lot this summer, just me, the Blur (my car) and vague ideas about where my destination should be. I walked around old Salem, spent time in the hippie shops of their art district, and ate a delicious sweet-potato-infused lunch while talking to a former Winthrop Basketball player turned waiter. As much walking as I did, I'll say that I definitely did my exercising and adventuring, and I was dairy free.

Day 12: for the sake of brevity, today I hope to be dairy free, get some cleaning done, work out a bit, and win a court case against the car dealership that should have told us what was really wrong with the Blur before we bought it. 

Days without dairy: 1 (sigh...)

Level of house cleanliness:  6 (out of 10)

Healthy eating :7 (out of 10)

Adventure/project meter: 10

Bible reading: 2  (not great)