I swear I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

I've been very busy since getting home from my mini-vacation in Kansas.  We're putting in our new floors! ☺The family room and kitchen are nearly done, and the powder room and master bath are halfway done.  The upstairs bathrooms and fireplace surround may have to wait until Monday.  I promise to post pics, but right now I need to go collapse in bed and sleep.

No knitting going on; too busy, and my hands are too rough right now anyway.
No exercising going on either.  Will get back to it as soon as I can.

In Kansas...

I'm in Kansas, visiting family.  Sorry I haven't posted in the past few days; hanging out just didn't seem blog-worthy, and I haven't done any exercise at all, except some back exercises that are part of a program my parents are using; it's supposed to help with back pain.

Anyway, it's snowy here!  There was snow on the ground when we got here, there was another little dusting Saturday night, and then it snowed all day and night yesterday.  Actually, it's still snowing this morning.  Here's how the van looks...

I don't think I'll be going anywhere today...

But if I need to, at least I have new tires and a new battery, so I don't have anything to worry about except the other drivers. ☺ I noticed when we got to church on Sunday that one tire was almost flat, and we had filled all the tires just last week, before I drove to Kansas.  And all of them were almost bald anyway, so it was time.  Fortunately, I have a brother-in-law who is a mechanic, so I knew just who to call.

I'm thinking of taking the kids either ice-skating or sledding today, so that may involve a little driving.  I'll wait a while and see if the snowplows get the streets taken care of.

Zumba and Back Pain

My back slipped out of place again this morning.  Of course it would happen on Zumba day.  Oh well.  I did Zumba anyway.  I did a little better than last week; I would have done a lot better, if not for my stupid back.  I went ahead and weighed and measured myself today, since I'm going to be in a car from sunup to sundown tomorrow.  I've lost another inch off my waist, and one off my bust.  Hooray!  No more actual weight lost yet, but that's alright.  Maybe next week.

Anyway, I'm going to be in the car all day tomorrow, because I'm going to Kansas!  I am so excited!  I love to visit my family.  I won't be working out every day while I'm there, but I'll plan on some kind of activity, and I won't likely blog every day either.  I'll be busy hangin' out with my sisters and brothers.

A workout and a rant

I had a better workout today.  Worked my abs and back, and did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  I had planned to do 20, but I couldn't stomach any more of "The View", which was on the tv right in front of me.  Those liberal hags make me want to throw something at the tv.  They were talking about the so-called "memorial service" in Arizona last night.  An event for which souvenir t-shirts were created and handed out.  An event at which there was a lot of clapping, cheering(for the president, of course) and even booing(for Arizona Governor Jan Brewer)!  I was appalled at the disrespect.  It looked like a political pep rally, not a memorial.  A memorial is a somber service.  Anyway, back to my point: the hags of the View were praising the president and talking about how it was such a wonderful, uplifting service.... Gag me.  I'm shocked.  Shocked that some people aren't even aware of why this sort of "service" was inappropriate and disrespectful.  What has happened to our country??  Oh, yeah...Obama happened.

One month

I have been working out every day(except Christmas Day) for one month!  So I decided it was time for an update picture, even though there's not much of a difference yet.  To refresh your memory, here's my "before picture" from last month...

 And here's today's picture!

Notice that my face looks a bit narrower...my waist is two inches smaller, and my hips are one inch smaller.  You couldn't see my enormous butt in the before picture, but it's a bit smaller now than it was.  Overall, I feel stronger, and I'm actually enjoying my workouts, most days.

Today was not one of those days, but I worked out anyway.  I was sleepy and achy, and not in the mood to exercise.  I worked my arms, then did just 20 minutes on the bike.  I feel like I need a nap.  But I need to do laundry and pack for our trip to Kansas....and clean and organize...

Almost forgot to post today

I just realized I hadn't blogged about my workout.  Or about the fact that we went and bought a new stove/oven today.  Okay, range first.  Last Friday, Angel was standing on a chair next to the stove, and she jumped down, stumbled and bumped into the front of the range.  It took a moment for me to see that when she bumped it, she broke off the oven dial.  Actually, she broke the pin that holds the dial.  So I couldn't turn on the oven.  I had to "borrow the neighbors' oven" to bake our pizza that night, and I tried using epoxy to fix the broken pin.  The epoxy didn't work, so I went to Home Depot this morning (before my workout) to look at the ranges.  I was all set to buy the beautiful GE electric range with the smooth top...then I mentioned to the appliance guy that we currently have a gas range with electric ignition.  He told me that, typically, gas ranges with electric ignition only require a standard outlet.  The kind of range I was about to buy requires the heavy-duty, funky-looking outlet.  I told him I didn't know what sort of outlet(s) were behind my stove, so I'd have to go home and look.

So I went and worked out.  Worked my legs and back again, since my leg is still hurting.  Stepped it up on the cardio, though. I did 20 minutes at level 2 on the bike, and 20 minutes on the stair-stepper!  Hooray for me!  I've never done that much time on a stair-stepper before.

When I got home, I pulled the stove out and took a peek.  Yup, just as I feared; standard outlet.  Nancy Pelosi. (that's my new standard swearword, in case you were wondering)  So I had to start all over, searching.  I finally decided on a GE gas range, and went to buy it, and the appliance lady pointed out that the Amana range next to it was a better machine, but was on sale...for the same price.  I jumped at the chance to get the nicer range, with the bigger, self-cleaning oven and large, clear oven window, and the storage drawer under the oven for the price I'd already planned on paying.  It'll be delivered in two weeks, after I get home from visiting my family in Kansas.

Evellyn Anne!

I finished my Evellyn Anne blanket!  It's blocking on my family room floor at this very moment...

I'm so glad I got it done!  I'm ready to focus on other projects.  And I'm glad because I'll be able to have my niece model the blankie for the pattern pics.  A blankie pattern is always more appealing with a cute baby in the pic. ☺ I'm going to visit my family in Kansas next week, so this is perfect timing.  The girls are very excited about visiting with their cousins.  I'm excited too.  I really miss my family.  I sometimes wonder why I didn't visit more often when it was only a three hour drive.  Now it's twelve hours, so three seems like nothing.

♥

I went to the gym this morning, and worked my legs and back.  My right leg still hurts from when I put my foot through the neighbors' kitchen ceiling back in August.  I must have injured it worse than I thought.  I think all this exercise is the reason it's hurting more now than it was before I started working out.  So I worked my legs.  Hoping it'll help, like working my back makes my back feel better.  And I did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  It's getting easier, so I might be ready to try level 2 on those machines.  I think I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Today's workout...

I had a good workout after church this morning.  Worked my legs, and did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  Feelin' good!

Time for some knitting!

Me time!

I finally got some time to myself!  I didn't get it last month, so I was really needing it.  I got to spend the day doing whatever I wanted, alone.  So I went to the range to do a little target practice with hubby's 9mm Sig Sauer.  Out of 100 rounds, I only hit the bullseye once; I need a lot more practice.  And I went to the bookstore.  I had a list of books I wanted, but only found one of them: Toe Up Socks For Every Body by Wendy Johnson.  I also picked up Governor Perry's new book "Fed Up!", which I'd been wanting, but forgot to put on my list.  I was going to get some educational books from the "What your ---- grader needs to know" but I changed my mind when I was flipping through the first grade one and found a blatant (and very offensive) lie.  I got the girls some fiction books instead; I prefer when fiction is labeled as fiction. lol.  I went to the LYS and wandered around petting yarn.  I only bought one skein, because I really need to use up some of the yarn I already have.  The skein I bought is Ultra Alpaca Sock yarn in a soft, dark heathered green; it'll become some lovely lace socks.  I was pleasantly surprised that the price on that yarn had gone down!

I finished up my time with a workout.  I worked my arms and shoulders and did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  When I got home, I measured and weighed myself.  In the past week, I've lost 4 pounds, and 2 inches off my waist and 1 inch off my hips!  So it's really working!  I intend to keep Saturday as my weigh/measure day, so I won't be obsessing over the numbers during the rest of the week.

Zumba!

Well, I was right, Zumba is as much fun as it looks, and as much hard work.  And I was wrong; I wasn't quite ready.  I did it anyway.  Y'all should be proud of me.  I have never in my life done a solid hour of cardio exercise.  I felt like I was going to throw up, but I didn't, and I didn't give up either. ☺ Zumba is tough.  Some of the moves, I couldn't even do; they're not part of the normal way I move, but I'll learn.  I've always thought I had great rhythym, but with the combination of the very fast tempos, and trying to learn the unfamiliar steps and stay with the group, I looked pretty clumsy at times.  It took me two or three times through some of the steps just to figure out what I was supposed to do.  But I kept at it, even though I wanted to collapse on the floor.  It's a good thing that I have a week until the next class; maybe I'll be ready then, and do better. ☺  Note to self: work a muscle group other than legs on Thursday.

♥

In knitting knews(lol)...I've finished the lace portion of the Evellyn Anne blanket!  I have increased for the ruffle, so I now have 952 stitches on my needle.  Yikes.  Onward!

Cleaning and schoolwork and exercise, oh my!

I've been reorganizing(as mentioned yesterday).  My house has been effectively de-Christmas-ed.  All of the decorations are in the attic...oops, just remembered the third tree is still in the library.  I'll have to find the box and get that put away today.  I switched the placement of a few pictures on the walls, putting Hubby's military stuff like his Cadet sabre from West Point in the front room.  The sabre now hangs prominently over the bar, and the pretty lighthouse picture that had been there is now above the mantel in the family room, which makes a lot more sense, if you ask me.  My front room/bar room/dining room is nice and clean, for the most part.  I haven't checked it this morning to see if the girls have messed it up, so I could be wrong.  Haha.

The kids are doing schoolwork...Princess is doing handwriting, and Angel just finished hers.  Kitty is playing with her Leapster that Grandpa Claus gave her for Christmas, learning about shapes.  I'm doing laundry.  Fun fun.

I went to the gym and worked my legs, then did 20 minutes on the bike and 10 on the stair-stepper.  I'm planning on trying Zumba tomorrow!

Okay, I know it's only the eleventh day of Christmas, but....

I got a bunch of Christmas decorations boxed up and put in the guest room yesterday. Woohoo!  I'm planning on finishing up today, and getting it put all-the-way away...something I'm ashamed to say I didn't actually do last year.  But I'm doing it this year, and that's what matters. ☺ I can hardly wait, in fact.  I was quite a scrooge this past Christmas.  I was disorganized and stressed, and didn't even make gingerbread once(in 2009 I made three batches before Christmas)!  I was grumpy, and not really in the Christmas spirit at all.  I am going to do a much better job next Christmas.  I'm putting the decorations away already organized, and I'll be getting rid of a few decorations that we haven't used in a few years.  And once the decorations are put away, I'm going to do some major de-cluttering and organizing of the rest of our stuff.  We have way too much, and it's creating stress for me, and for the rest of the family as well. 

And of course, being organized will help when our contractor is finally ready to put in our new floors.  Yep, we're still waiting.  We had wanted to get them done before Hubby's dad arrived in the middle of December, but the contractor was swamped with decks, and couldn't get it done by then.  I need to give him a call and see when he can fit us in.  I really want to get the new floors in.  And I'm excited about being able to help with the project too!

I made some more progress on Evellyn Anne yesterday, but not much.  I'll work on that some more after I get the decorations put away.  Ugh.  I just remembered I need to do laundry too.  Fudge. 

I went to the gym this morning.  I felt very sleepy and unfocused.  I did a little work on my chest, arms and shoulders.  Cardio went better; did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  I want a nap.

Knitting and exercising and organizing, oh my!

I made some progress on Evellyn Anne yesterday.  I'm on the twelfth repeat of the lace pattern, of fourteen.  And after that, the ruffle.  I might be able to get it done by the end of the week, which would be nice.  I want to get it blocked before I go visit family in Kansas; my parents have almost no carpet in their house, so I wouldn't be able to block it there very easily.  And I want to have my little niece Evie be my model for the pattern pictures, since the pattern is named after her.

♥

I went to the gym this morning and worked my back.  Did 20 minutes on the bike and 15 on the stair-stepper.  It was a good workout.

♥

Today we're starting to get the Christmas decorations put away; Hubby's dad just left a little while ago, so now we can access the attic where the boxes are stored.  I'll be glad to get it all put away; I'm ready to get on with the new year!

Yep, yet another post about...you guessed it: exercise

Haha...I'll keep it short.  I know this is supposed to be a knitting blog, but there's a heckuva lot more exercise than knitting going on these days.  Okay...worked arms and legs and did 20 minutes on the bike and 5 on the elliptical.  Was going to do more, but couldn't.  Decided not to beat myself up over it.  Angel told me today that "all that exercise is working." ☺ I don't see it myself, but I can sure feel it.

Today I'm cleaning and organizing.  Going to take a little break and knit for a while.  Evellyn Anne is calling to me.

Quickie workout

I had to rush through my workout today.  We got to the gym just after 1, and I realized that the Kids' Club was closing at 2.  So I had about 50 minutes to do what usually takes a little over an hour.  I worked my legs, then did 20 minutes on the bike.  I pedaled faster than usual, to make up for the shortness of time; so I was working harder.  I should have left the kids at home so I wouldn't have had to rush.  Oh, well.  I'll make up for it tomorrow. 

Happy New Year!

Angel, Kitty and I made it to midnight!  Hubby had gone to bed, but he got back up to toast the New Year with us.  We didn't bother with champagne, since we were going straight to bed; we toasted with sparkling white grape juice instead.  It was a long evening.  And it didn't end when it should have.  My neighbors were setting money on fire lighting expensive loud fireworks, and at midnight they were just getting started.  They didn't finish until after 2:30 in the morning!  It sounded like a prolonged gun battle right outside my home.  I am very surprised any of us got any sleep.  These are the same "neighbors" who have extremely loud parties, to which police are always called(and not always just by me).  I've decided to start praying that they move away.

♥

Amazingly, I woke up with energy this morning!  Before everyone else came down for breakfast, I tidied the living room.  I took the ornaments off the tree and put them in ornament boxes.  I can't put away the trees until Hubby's dad leaves; the containers are in the attic that is accessed through the guest room.  So I'll wait until Tuesday or Wednesday.  I went to the gym and worked my back, chest, shoulders and abs; and did 20 minutes on the bike and 10 on the stair-stepper.  It was a good workout, but my back still hurts.

♥

Happy New Year, everyone!  I'm hoping and praying for good things in 2011!