Knitter in Progress

Knitting: 1. Noro Socks--Generic Sock pattern--Noro Kureyon Sock 2. Ribband bracelet--Ribband--Socks that Rock 3. Reflection Hat(Diva)--Reflection hat(Ravelry)--Lamb's Pride Worsted 4. Reflection Hat (Rage)--Reflection hat (Ravelry)--Lamb's Pride Worsted 5. Socks--New Beginnings Socks for the Family--Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Crochet: 1. Snake--Amigurumi Toy Box--scrap yarn c/o Cynthia 2. Little Kitten with Bed--Amigurumi Toy Box--Lion Brand Wool Ease Reading: 1. Ghost Town(Caine) 2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix(Rowling)--reread 3. How to Knit a Love Song (Herron) 4. Blood Trinity (Kenyon/Love) 5. Friday Night Knitting Club (Jacobs) 6. Game of Thrones (Martin) 7. Any Man of Mine (Gibson) 8. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince(Rowling)--reread 9. Retribution (Kenyon) 10. Bite Club (Caine) 11. Just the Rules! (Reno) 12. Eternal Rider(Ione) 13. The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands (Schlessinger) Stitching: 1. QS Swimming with Dolphins (HAED)--finished on...

Year in Review 2011 1. your best FO of the year: My Birdie Sling--it was my first sewing piece since 8th grade and I love it! 2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to: I can't say that I remember anything offhand that really blew me away. Knitting blogs have kind of slowed down and stitching blogs seem to be revving up. I am looking forward to seeing some amazing things in 2012! 3. best yarn you tried: Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I have always disliked cotton yarn but I love the way this feels, I used it for a baby blanket and I loved it. 4. best book/mag/pattern of 2011: Book: PUSH by Chalene Johnson--it isn't just a fitness book, it's a get your life together book. I love it! Magazine: HGTV magazine--LOVE it! Country Living magazine Pattern: Cambridge Website: Pintrest Chalene Johnson 5. best new technique or gadget you tried in 2011: Pintrest--love it! I guess I would classify it as a gadget :) 6. top 5 inspirations--what five things inspired you the most over the ...

CLX--finished it today and jotted down my final thoughts. Pros: --I love the weight work in CLX. The three month program changes up each month to keep things fresh and keep results coming. --The workout length is great. Each workout is between 30-45 minutes. --The program is set up on a 5 day per week schedule (as opposed to 6 for most of the other BB programs I've done). --I love the results I am getting. I definitely feel the drop in body fat and and I can really see a difference in my arms. All three times I went through P90X I noticed amazing strength gains but CLX has given more of the results I am looking for. --Best nutrition plan--this program and Turbo Fire have had nutrition plans that really work for me. I love the food choices and most are not too labor intensive(I hate it when you need about 50 ingredients for one meal). --The program comes with a motivational CD that I have been playing in the car and, though some people might not like it, it has been extremely helpfu...

I cannot believe that it is mid way through July already! For the past couple of summers my kiddos and I make a list of goals we want to accomplish over the break; in addition, I have them work out of the Summer Bridge workbooks and read during the weekdays over the summer. I think all of this gives them some structure and keeps the wheels turning in their brains(and mine) when school is out. My goal list has not progressed as fast as I would like. I have been super focused on working out since last August--I had been working out 6 days a week without fail. Notice the operative word "had". On June 16 I started feeling a sharp pain on the outside of my right knee--it was sharp enough that I thought, "Kim, you need to take a break and rest that leg." So that's what I did. For about a month I did not workout and I iced my knee quite a bit in the first couple of weeks. I also think I could buy stock in Advil at this point. I felt like I could feel myself getting fat...

1. Read two books. 2. Finish Rage's socks. 3. Stitch on Bramble and Rose. 4. Lose 5 pounds. 5. Make better eating choices. 6. Complete 26 Turbo Fire workouts(this will be the easiest goal) **My life would be fantastic if I could figure out how to knit, read, stitch, workout, AND do all my mother/wife duties at the same time**

1. Find a new magazine to subscribe to since I kicked Interweave Knits to the curb after 8 years as a subscriber. Done 3/16/11 Country Living and I am toying with the idea of Vogue Knitting 2. Finish my slow book and then read Kresley Cole's newest book, Dreams of a Dark Warrior . Finished Blood Trinity 3/15/11 3. Finish Diva's socks and start Rage's. Finished Diva's 3/12/11 4. Finish two pages of Bramble and the Rose. Still no stitching in March :( 5. Post pictures of above mentioned projects here and on Ravelry(at least the knitting on Ravelry). Done 3/16/11 6. Lose 5 pounds. I lost 4 pounds this month :) 7. Make healthier eating choices on a more consistent basis. --ongoing challenge--

I have finished the 20 week Turbo Fire schedule. I really enjoyed this last month because of all the long cardio and HIIT workouts. Overall, I loved the program and would recommend it to anyone who likes cardio and good music. Since doing Turbo Jam and Turbo Fire, my oblique muscles have never looked better. I have definitely gone down in my body fat percentage during this 20 weeks and I have lost around 10 pounds. Even better than all that, I went for my annual doctor's visit and my blood pressure is normal, all my blood work is normal, and I feel great :) I guess all this working out 6 days a week really makes a difference. I am hoping in the next 20 weeks I see even better results :) I will continue with the program as written as well as adding some additional works on occasion(ie--when I have the energy).

I have finished 16 weeks of Turbo Fire and I am getting ready to start the final month. I have noticed more progress in the last month than any other month so far. My obliques are in the best shape ever and I have dropped 5 pounds over the last month which I attribute to this workout as well as getting stricter with my eating. I am very happy that I purchased the advanced workouts(I bought just the DVDs as I do not take supplements and I already have a bunch of resistance bands). I like the longer cardio workouts and I think the toning workouts are a little better than the ones that come with the main program although I still think P90X is better for weight work. I really look forward to my workout time every day and that is saying something because even though I workout 6 days a week I don't always feel energized to do it.

In February I will: 1. Finish a book. **Nope but in my defense I am reading a book that is progressing very slowly and not keeping my attention--I'm about halfway. 2. Finish Diva's socks. **I finished one--one to go :) 3. Finish at least two pages of The Bramble and the Rose. **I did not get any stitching done this month. 4. Lose 5 pounds. **I lost 3 and I am happy with that :)