So, it's time for me to drop some pounds- 50 to be exact! That's a lot of weight and I am not the most disciplined when it comes to nutrition and exercise.  It's the sugar and butter and salt that I enjoy that makes eating well a large challenge.  The main thing is I have to increase my activity level and eat more frequently.  I allow myself to get very hungry and then I overeat at one sitting.  Add that to the fact that I don't do any exercise, and I just had a baby (and never lost the baby weight from my first child) and I have become a bit round.

So, I am trying to challenge myself to get more exercise- I've started walking 31/2 miles every other day and want to incorporate some in house exercises as well.  I also want to start swimming.  The other part will be eating a more balanced diet and eating more frequently.  Most importantly, I also need to drink a lot more- especially water.

We'll see how it goes.

Ok, so I have a LOVE of Pinterest! I look through the many creative Pins and dream of creating beautiful- handmade items...but those are dreams I say. What Pinterest really is to me is a HOPE that one day I will become this DIY diva that creates wonderful things that people want me to re-create for them.  But I realized something essential to this dream...you have to develop the skills first before you can even dream of selling your little knick-knack creations. All posts read "easyiest DIY project ever."  Well, let me tell you (or remind myself) that this phrase is relative. Easy for who?  The person who has never held a glue gun or sewn a stitch in their life?  Or the person who channels their inner Martha Stewart and has hand made wreaths on their door for every season and holiday.  I suspect the latter.

Now, I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.  My mother was an interior decorator and very creative and rather crafty.  She used to make wedding and event centerpieces in our basement, and guess who was her staff?  You got it, ME!  So, I know my way around a glue gun and can craft up some basic bows, or hem a pair of pants, or arrange some flowers in a semi-decent fashion.  I have dabbled in spray paint, can hang curtains and shelves and most impressively, I can put together an IKEA bookshelf in record time.  But when it comes to using a sewing machine, or knitting, or crocheting- I am a complete novice and many of the the items I adore on my beloved Pinterest involve those skills. Some also involve a table saw- but I figure I will start with the fabrics.

In an effort to challenge myself to do the things that I want to do, learn the things I want to learn and fulfill dreams I have Pinned on boards all over the internet, I thought I would try my hand at learning to crochet, knit and use the sewing machine I bought over a year ago (which is gaining more dust by the minute).  I started with crocheting- no particular reason- just because.  Now while, I still have a lot of terminology to learn- I have got the basic stitch under my belt.  My next venture will be to try to follow a simple pattern.  Check out my beginner stitches and stay tuned.

Today I am embarking on a new mission to be more accountable to myself and my role as a mother and wife.  It is my desire to share my daily (well let's be realistic- almost daily) adventures in my quest to expand my horizons, explore new ideas, learn new skills and enhance my overall being.  I want to have a place to share (out loud- if only virtually) lessons learned, failed attempts, frustrations, and overall experiences that I will encounter.

This will be an all encompassing sharing experience.  To include books read, conversations had, lessons obtained, goals both met and unmet.  Hopefully, it will lead to a dialogue with others; but as an only child- if I end up just talking to myself, I will be comfortable with that.

So here's to a new beginning!