Knitter in Progress

Thoughts on my first week of Chalean Extreme . August 22, 2011: BURN Phase Day 1 I did Burn 1 this morning and I added in an additional cardio workout. I used the nutrition guide provided with the program and chose one breakfast, one lunch, one dinner, and two snacks. My breakfast was ricotta cheese with cinnamon, berries, and slivered almonds. I was NOT loving it. It's going to be a tough one to choke down all week, I'll tell you that. August 25, 2011: BURN Phase Day 4 Today it was Burn Intervals and Ab Burner both of which are right up my alley. I loved Burn Intervals what a great mix of cardio and weights. I am pleasantly sore from my workouts earlier in the week and that just lets me know that I am working things in a new way. I was thinking last night that October 2010 was the last time I did a weight workout. Turbo Fire uses resistance bands which I think are good for toning but it's not the same as hoisting good, old fashioned weights. I can...

On Sunday, August 15, I started the 5 Day Inferno plan that was included in my Turbo Fire package. Basically it is supposed to clean up your eating and help you drop a few pounds. Instead of using each day's food plan, I went through and chose 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, and 2 snacks. I just shopped for those things. So I have been eating the same thing every day but, in all honesty, I usually eat close to the same thing everyday anyhow. I also noticed that the days calories in this 5 Day plan actually matches up to the minimum I am supposed to be eating on Weight Watchers(I never eat just the minimum but I am this week). I did the workouts as scheduled with two changes, I subbed Fire 60 for Fire 55ez on Day 1 and Day 5. I did it mostly to try and get my eating cleaned up a little more but I was hoping for around a 5 pound loss. The hardest part, by far, was that I was only allowed water or plain coffee or tea. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE diet Pepsi and I did not have one drop ...

I have been bitten by the sewing bug again. Over the last two days I made five pillowcases. Two are going to my parents and three are going to my hockey player nephews. Here they all are: 5 pillowcases 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Here is a closeup of one of the blue ones and I didn't think about it when I decided to make them but they fit in perfectly with Project Spectrum's theme for July. I love the fabric in these(I am almost tempted to keep them): pillow cases blue 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Here is a closeup of one of the hockey pillow cases. I love the fabric and I am hoping the boys will too: pillow cases hockey 22july11 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr.

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...

pillowcases 17June2011 , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. Diva, Rage, and I went on a shopping trip yesterday in order to find material for a Father's Day gift for their father and, of course, we left with enough for a gift for Rage and I too. We made pillowcases; using a pattern I got at Snappy Quilts (along with the fabric). The top one pictured is for their Dad, the second is Rage's(he loves all things orange), and the bottom one is for me. Diva made one in a class on Monday, so don't think she was left out ;) Happy Father's Day!

little kitten 5june11A , a photo by KnitterinProgress on Flickr. My second finish from Amigurumi Toy Box. The little kitten is done and nestled in her bed. I am getting really good at the single crochet ;) I will be offline for a bit working on cross stitch and attempting my first quilt. I will be back when I have more to report. Happy Crafting!!

It's June and Project Spectrum has moved on to Green. I am not a big fan of green as far as crafting goes but here are some things I am working on: This scarf will be my June focus piece for PS5: This little snake is my first real foray into crochet. My gauge is a little loose but he turned out sort of cute: It is from the book Amigurumi Toy Box. After finishing snakey and realizing that it did, in fact, look something like a snake I decided to try something else. This is part of the Little Kitten pattern and it's a cat bed, done in PS5 Green: I am moving on to the kitten itself. I also intend to keep going with my May PS5 projects--updating all as the PS5 journey progresses :) Also, when I tried to post these pictures from Flickr today it told me it couldn't find my blog?!?! Anyone else ever have that problem? Any solutions? I already sent an email to the Flickr folks.