I have been feeling the itch to work with my hands lately. Scrap-booking hasn’t been doing it for me, so I decided to take on a large crocheting project. I have decided to make my first afghan. I was a little bit discouraged at first. I have never tackled anything more than a scarf done in simple double crochet. But, I taught myself a new stitch and I am soldiering on. Hopefully I can actually find time to finish it before summer and be able to cuddle up with it. I will post a picture when I get a little bit more of it done.

Last weekend was so great. I finally got down to Tuscaloosa to see my friends. I really miss all of them very much.

Thankfully, Nicole and I partook in some wonderful retail therapy. Not to mention, she gave me two pairs of shoes! Since I’m on a break from shoe buying for a while, that was a real treat. I had almost forgotten how much I loved shopping with her.

As we were trying on clothes this weekend, I came to the realization that I had not even realized how big I’d gotten. Unless, my favorite stores started sizing things smaller. (Doubtful.) But, on the plus side, I’ve already lost 7 pounds since Christmas. Wahoo!

Despite all that I have been feeling really icky this week. I don’t really know what kind of funk I’ve gotten into, but I was ready to get out of it. So tonight when I got home I sat down for an hour or so and then I got to work.

I cleaned my entire apartment. It looks good, if I do say so myself. And now that my space around me is clean, I’m feeling very relieved. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes.

Tomorrow night, I’m cleaning out the fridge and pantry. Soldier on!

I so want this one day.

So as a new year’s resolution, and really as a life resolution, I’ve decided that I wanted to get healthier, lose some weight, and really just quit being so down on myself. Feeling bad about yourself all the time is no way to live, I know I don’t want to. But anyway, I have started to consciously think about what I’m putting into my body. This week I have already made a few changes that have already made a difference, not only in how I look, but how I feel.

First I’ve cooked every dinner we’ve had this week. It forces me to know exactly what is in it and not load it down with sodium, fat, and preservatives. While doing that I’ve tried to add more vegetables and fresh ingredients. I’ve noticed that with using more veggies and lean proteins that it really does make you full with less food. And then whatever leftovers I have, I put in a tupperware container and take for lunch. It takes the rush out of my morning too, not having to pack a lunch.

Also, I’ve started trying to drink as much water as possible. I had gotten to a point where I was drinking like 4 diet sodas a day and about 3 cups of coffee every morning and maybe one glass of water. It was just so easy because at work we have a soda foutain and a coffee machine and you just walk straight past the water cooler to the delicious caffeinated soda. Yum! Now this is something that I’ve always heard works, but I’ve never tried it. Every time I feel just a little bit hungry, like I want a snack, I drink a glass of water. I always thought, “Load of Crap!” , there’s no way that works. It does. The plus side to all the water consumption is that my skin is already starting to look better and I’m not getting as many headaches as I used to. WooHoo!

I’m definately feeling very encouraged and excited. I just hope that in the long run these have become lifestyle changes and not just a means to an end.

With all the Target gift cards we got for Christmas and had leftover from the wedding, we bought a new camera! The Cannon SX 110IS.
I was so excited that I took Bernice to the park to try it out.

I’m not a photographer by any means. I’m just excited to be able to capture pictures of our life, without them being blurry. But, the pictures turned out really well, I think. I was actually standing about 15 feet away from her when I took the picture. The zoom on it is great. Now, I can’t wait until we get the memory card we ordered. Then it will hold more than 6 pictures.

And… I (Jason really) redesigned my blog. It is a custom Jason Jendro design. Go hubby!

I love New Year’s day.  It’s such a quiet, lazy day.  There are so many football games.  I love it!  My favorite thing, by far, is the Rose Parade.  I don’t care how many times I watch it.  I’m always so amazed at how they are able to make the floats so beautiful using just flowers, seeds, leaves, moss and all those organic elements.  My favorite this year was “Entertaining Expedition.”   It looked like the float riders were going on a safari.   The trees on the float were absolutely beautiful.

The inevitable thing about every new year, is a resolution.  I don’t think that I’ve actually ever kept one.  Nonetheless, I do have a few this year.  1.  Pay at least 50% of my student loan off.  2.  Buy a house.  I’m very excited about this one because our downstairs neighbor is a fuddy duddy who complains when we play rock band!  3.  Lose weight.  I know that everyone says that they want to lose weight.  I just need to get back to it.  I was doing really well, and then the holidays hit.  Time to get back on the wagon!

I hope that this year is even better than last!

The one thing I don’t like about New Year’s Eve is that you always have these grand expectations for it to be so wonderful and it is always a let down.  Well, not this year.  I refuse! I have good friends and a wonderful husband.  What else could I possibly need?

I went shopping with my sister this morning to try and find something cute to wear.  I have a couple good options now.  I’m still waiting to decide if I go the more casual route, jeans and cute shirt and shoes.  Or the more fancy one with the dress and awesome heels.

P.S. It has been in the 70s  for over a week now, except tonight is supposed to be in the 20s.  What gives?

So, I have never been much of a blogger.  Until recently, when I started frequenting a few posted by some friends of mine.  Anyway, I figured that I am in fact an interesting person and I do have things to say.  Thus, the BLOG!  So, I live in a tiny one bedroom apartment with  my husband and very large dog.

She is about 90 Lbs of pure love!

It is “cozy”.   I have become some sort of an organizational guru.  You would never know how much stuff we really have in this place.   I do  in fact believe that I am a genius in that area, thanks to my mom.  One day, I will share my secrets.

In the mean time,  I work for a pharmaceuticals manufacturing company.  I actually like my job.  I have a flexible schedule and get to work with chemicals and such, which is what I have really always wanted to do.  I do hope some day to go back to school, get my PhD and be the HPIC (Head Person In Charge).  Until then I resolve to let the powers at be do their thing.