So much yarn, so little time

I'm trying very hard to be on a yarn diet.  It's really hard.  I see gorgeous yarn and think about what I could make from it.  The problem is that I really don't have enough time to knit everything that I would like to knit.  Another problem is I have yarn that someone bought a tag sale years ago and gave to me that I feel like I should use - but I know it's not great yarn so I'm not inclined to use it for something nice.  What I might do with that old acrylic stuff is to double it up and knit a quick blanket or two or three for my dog and to donate to a shelter.  I just don't think I should toss it, so maybe the blankets or donate it to the senior center.  And another problem I've run into is the colorful baby blankets I've made that didn't use the full skein, so I have a bunch of partial skeins.  I'm trying to use them up by making blanket squares.  I'm working my way through, but like I said - I see pretty stuff and it's hard not to add to the stash.  So, I'm on a yarn diet and a food diet.  Fun stuff!

I hate my scale....

,,,.not because of what it's saying - well actually - yes because of what it's saying.  It says too many different things.  Move it to one spot on the floor and I've lost weight, move to another spot and I've gained, move it one more time and I've gained a different amount.  I'm done.  I cannot rely on this scale anymore, so a new one is on it's way.  It's gotten great reviews on Amazon, so hopefully this one will do better.  BTW - I've gotten back on the wagon.  I'm working out, eating better and feeling good.  In a couple of days, I hope to know how good.

Fat Fingers

Oops! I deleted a comment because I missed the publish link and caught the delete link instead.  Sorry Brenna!  So, this taught me something, apparently you can't retrieve deleted comments.  Anyway, I don't really have fat fingers, it just sounded good as a title.

Happiness is...

...makign progress.  Sometimes the trip is just as rewarding as reaching the destination.  So, I'm happy that I'm making progress with my decluttering.  I'm also happy that I'm making progress with my knitting projects.  Mostly right now though, I'm happy that I'm making progress with my workouts and diet.  I'm also happy that my husband is making progress with improving his diet.  Now, if I could only get him on the treadmill.....

Purge Report

3 garbage bags full!  Yes!  One is clothing good enough to be donated.  The balance was worn out t-shirts, old shoes, old empty shoe boxes, broken hangers, etc.  Amazingly, not one purse tossed - turns out I didn't have what I thought I did in terms of purses.  That was Saturday's effort.  On Sunday, my husband and I set to work in the basement.  We only did one small area - the tool bench - but again we were looking at something like 4 garbage bags full when we were done.  There is plenty more to do - but we are getting there.  This coming Saturday I hope to attach my dresser top and night stand top.  If I get decluttered enough, my plan is to hire a housekeeper for say every other week to do the dusting and vacuuming and the bathroom.

Purging

My plan for Saturday - a great purge.  Clothing, makeup, handbags, shoes - I'm doing it.  I've already been working on the clothing part.  I've decided that t-shirts over a certain age are gone.  I plan to apply that to sweatshirts as well.  I'm going to be brutal.  After that is done, I'm going through all the stuff - well maybe I should call it crap - on my dresser and night stand and I'm going to be brutal there too.  I will have a bin for the questionable saves - put them in there, put them in the basement, if I haven't needed it in a year - gone.  I just have too much clutter in the house and not enough space to keep all of it and have a home that appears neat and tidy.  Maybe next weekend I'll attack the glass/mug cabinet in the kitchen and get rid of all the unnecessary stuff there as well.

I'll be back next week to let you know how it goes.

Happiness is....

....knitting progress.  I finished my Noro Striped Scarf before Christmas.  It is pretty.
I am also making good progress on a top I'm knitting for myself.  My goal is to finish it by the end of the month.  I've got one blanket square done and am working on another - nice mindless knitting for lunchtime - while I watch the shows I didn't get to see during prime time.

a full week

I have not worked a full week since the first week of December.  This week is going to drag.  Or not.  Budget season is upon us, so I will be busy at work - which should make the days fly.  Please please please.

On the knitting front - I'm working on a top for me.  I'm about to the end of the increase section.  I am planning to add short row bust darts to a garment for the first time.  It's kind of a necessity for me, unless I want sweaters that bag in the midsection or which ride up in front.   Hopefully it goes well.  I'm also working on some blanket squares.  The woman who owns a yarn company that I like is collecting squares to make blankets for the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting.  I'm about finished with my first and will cast on for #2 after #1 is done.  This is my lunchtime knitting.  I'm using up some yarn from other projects and some yarn I dyed myself.  It's great mindless knitting, since she wants garter stitch squares.  I would like to send off 3 or 4 squares.

26 Random Acts of Kindness

I'm working on 26 Random Acts of Kindness in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.  I know that others are as well.  Mine tend to be really random - like just doing something when the opportunity presents itself.  I know others are more planned about how they are going to do them.  Either way works, I'm just not the type who can plan to go out today and pay for someone else's meal at the drive thru.  So, it may take me a lot longer to get to 26 than it has for some other people.  I'm at 4.  Two of mine have resulted in positive responses from the recipient that just made my day.  It does feel good.  It feels positive - which is an awesome way to remember the innocent children and hero teachers who were killed on 12-14-12. 
So, the moral of my story is - go out and practice random acts of kindness.  You don't need to do 26 just do some - because you will find that there are 2 beneficiaries of your kindness - the person you helped and yourself.

New Year's Resolutions

I have three.

1. Be kinder - just in general to anyone, including myself.  I have been working on 26 random acts of kindness in honor of the victims in Newtown.  I have found the little acts of kindness make me feel good, so this is partly selfish, but mostly a lesson thing.  Being kind to others has positive benefits for all.
2. Take care of my body.  This means eating better, trying to stay away from fad diets and working out.  I am already doing well with the last part.  
3. Blog more, which will include more on my knitting and more pictures.  This means I need to take more pictures, which I suppose should be its own resolution.