A great start!

So Sunday was the last day of our cleanse.  Whew!  Made it.  And with minimal cheating (only on the last day, and it was by having a real dinner)  :)  Sorry this will be a long post!

This whole process has been really eye-opening.  I lost 6 lbs, which is pretty exciting, considering it was only due to a change in diet.  My husband lost 12 lbs!  Awesome.  I feel like I look better, and I know I feel better.  Today we actually got up at 5:30 (!!!) and went for a 40 min run/walk!  This is an absolute turnaround for us.  For me, at least.  I have always had an extreme love/hate relationship with running (also with getting up early, but that's another story).  I hate running.  I love thinking about liking running.  It made me get D's in high school gym class, and has always been something I dread.  So for whatever reason, this week, it popped (I almost wrote "pooped," which would be equally appropriate) into my head that I wanted to run a marathon.  Crazy.  And so this morning, my husband and I got up, ate a quick and small breakfast (healthy peanut butter on multigrain toast and some fat free cottage cheese, yum!), and took off.  We are following the beginner's training program from RunnersWorld.  Basically, you warm up by walking briskly for 5min, then run for 2min, walk for 4min, etc., alternating for 40min.  I won't lie, it was tough.  My knees still ache (they are awful anyway), and my lungs were burning.  But we did it, and I only stopped for a second, then my husband reminded me that I can indeed do it, and I did.

The most interesting thing I think I've learned about from this cleanse is not portion sizing, or better food choices, but the reactions and attitudes of those around me.  I thought everyone would be really supportive, and say "way to go!," or "that's awesome," or something along those lines.  What we got instead were lots of doubters, and people who couldn't (and still can't) wrap their heads around what we were doing.  "So you're not eating?" was a question we got a lot.  "Aren't you hungry?"  "Don't you want a burger?"  "Why can't you just have a beer?"  I would explain that we were cleansing, and we were getting all the nutrients and vitamins we needed, and truly, the majority of the time we were actually not hungry because we were getting what our bodies had been deprived of for years with poor food.  Sure things were tempting, but paying attention to actual hunger vs. boredom or temptation was a big part of it also.  People gave me a really hard time about my choices; some even laughed or made snide remarks, like they knew I was going to fail, and there I was, silly me, thinking I could accomplish something and have control over my own health!  Yes, I really do like fresh veggies, and I won't apologize!  Sure cookies sound good, but I feel like I've reset my body a bit, and those old cravings are gone now that I've flushed out the feeling of fatty, sugary junk food.  We treated ourselves to a dinner of sushi last night.  And sure we ate a bit more than we should have, but we enjoyed it, and we've made a great grocery shopping list of healthy foods.  We're going to start making our own bread, cheese, maybe even yogurt.  I firmly that believe taking part in the creation of your food leads to a deeper appreciation of it, and if you take time to enjoy it, you stop yourself from going overboard.  My obsession with the magazine Cooking Light has been really helpful in reminding us that a diet change is not about deprivation, but portion control and paying attention to what our bodies are telling us. 

So for those of you interested in using the same program we used, it's called IsaGenix (I wish I was paid to endorse, but I'm not).  You probably have to buy it from a consultant; our chiropractor ordered it for us.  Overall, it was great.  For the future, I don't think I want the same shakes and snacks, but I'm a little better equipped now with what I'm looking for in my food choices.

And for all the haters and doubters... mind your own fat!  Please don't try to put me down because I'm doing something for my own health and future!  Join me or don't, but please be supportive!  

The BEST review of the week! Literally.

I thought I would start this little post out with a picture.  Because everyone loves pictures, especially pretty ones.  And this picture is gorgeous.  This is JujuBee's Mint Ice Cream Princess Length Pearls Necklace.  I personally have a thing for pearls.  And green.  And mint ice cream.  Now that I've drooled a little bit, let me start by introducing the talented woman, the "Queen Bee" who just made my day.  JujuBee Jewelry Designs, also known as Julessabjewelry, has amazing designs created with a tasteful approach.  Based out of Charlotte, this craftswoman (she sews, crochets, scrapbooks...in addition to a full-time job and making her fabulous jewelry!) likes to unwind by creating covet-able pieces with crystals and pearls.  Her pearl collection is fantastic!

This is JujuBee's Cocoa Queen Opera Length Pearl Necklace.  Stunning!  Her collections of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and sets are not only beautiful, but reasonably priced.  One of the fun jewelry sets:

This is JujuBee's Crystal Quartz Fire and Ice Trio... simple and elegant!  She's also created a fun way to take your earrings from casual day to dressy night:  the Day to Night Collection is a brilliant idea!     

So basically, you take your earrings, like this pretty Amethyst and Burgundy Swarovski set.  See those little hooks on the top?  They just snap in and out of the earring wire.  And there you go!  Interchangeable styles and looks, for all occasions!  I think this is a such a great idea!  You are getting two sets of earrings for the price of one!  Love it.

JujuBee also has a great blog, where she has great reviews, updates, and giveaways, and is on both Twitter and Facebook.  Anything from this artist would make a lovely Mother's Day gift... or any-day-of-the-year gift, really.  Now that it's spring, I know how tempting a new wardrobe is.  And jewelry is the quickest way (and most fun, because trying on clothes is never really a fun experience) to update that wardrobe!  Treat yourself to something well-made, handmade, and beautiful!   JujuBee also loves making custom orders, so really there is no excuse to not indulge a little.  You'll love yourself for it :)   

Changes Day 2, 3, and 4

I'll make my summary of the past couple days short (sort of)... they flew by so quickly, that I don't remember most of what happened anyway!  Friday was the second day of Operation Change, and it went by without a hitch.  I made the yummiest lunch of chicken and broccoli I have ever had... and it was just chicken and broccoli.  No salt, so seasonings, just fresh food, and it was delicious.  Maybe I'm resetting my tastebuds a little?  I would like to think that.  Saturday and Sunday were both Cleanse days, meaning, we had only water and the juice-like cleanse drink.  Plus few almonds and the provided "snacks," little tablets that remind me of gerbil pellets.  Probably don't taste much better, either.  Saturday was exhausting for me; not only was my body working hard to adjust and flush, but my job had a huge event -- Free Comic Book Day!  It's our busiest day of the year, and somehow I scheduled my roughest day of the cleanse on it.  When I arrived, there were donuts, cookies, and for lunch, Taste of Philly cheesesteaks.  I could have cried.  The sandwich really tempted me, it smelled heavenly.  But thinking about it, I shouldn't have had any of those things anyway, and without a doubt would have.  So perhaps I timed it perfectly.  So now I think I'm better geared towards appreciating my food, which maybe I overlooked before.  It's so important.  Especially when I am never for want of it.

I was about ready to collapse when I got home, and was still exhausted Sunday morning.  Sunday was better, though.  I had managed to yet again schedule something strenuous... I helped my sister move out of her apartment.  SO needless to say, this weekend was exhausting, and also fulfilling.  I like feeling that my body is tired from being active, and I can say that I definitely feel better now than I did before we started the program.  Today is back to shake, lunch, shake, so I can enjoy chicken, a hard-boiled egg, and some steamed broccoli and mushrooms.  Soo much better than gerbil pellets! 

Oh, and I've lost 3 lbs and several inches so far!  Can't complain there :)  And we're (my husband and I) starting to really look at foods, what's in them, where they come from, and portion sizes.  Duh, you're saying.  I know.  But thinking about how we can adjust favorites, like sloppy joes or pizza, to be healthful and reasonable is exciting, and I think we're closer because of it.  Happier, because we're doing it together and having fun with it... and I'm sure our bodies are happier because of our changes.  We still have until this coming Sunday on the program, so wish us luck that we continue our success!

Changes, Day 1

So today officially marks Day 1 of Operation Change.  I got up with my husband this morning at the hellishly early time of 6:30 (!), and after doing all the required measurements (upper right arm, lower abdomen, quick step on the scale, etc.) I am now digesting my morning meal replacement "shake."  These are my thoughts so far: 
1) I had no idea my thighs were the same circumference as my husband's.  NOT acceptable! 
2) Reminding yourself that you are overweight is that much more depressing when you're cold, tired, and hungry. 
3) I thought I liked shakes.  I have protein shakes all the time, but I've never made one with just water.  And this is why.  Frothy protein water is not what my tummy wants at 7am. 
4) I have very little will power.  Today I woke up to several inches of snow.  Yes, that is correct, today is April 29, and there's snow!  What the F!?  So any thoughts of getting stuff done in the studio were instantly replaced with thoughts of going back to bed and hibernating til the sun comes out.  I was then asked, "Don't you have any willpower?"  Hmmm... why, because all I want to do is sleep and sleep and be warm and cozy?  No, no I don't.

Yet here I am.  In lieu of going back to bed, which I am still considering, I am sitting here typing away.  And so far this has taken a decent amount of willpower.  Honestly if today had been sunny it might have been an easier choice.  But this winter weather has me wanting to sleep so badly, and I am not one to fore go sleep.  Plus, we stayed up til 1am last night watching the NBA Playoffs (Go Nuggets!), so I got even less sleep than normal.  All 11 days of Operation Change I predict to be brutal.

So now I have to make a crucial decision... do I go back to sleep, be warm, have wonderful, restful dreams and wake up refreshed?  Or do I stay up, get work done, and be productive?  I am not good at making these kinds of tough decisions.  I know I will thank myself later for working in the studio, but it's cold, I'm tired... gah.  Stay tuned to find out who wins, in The Bed vs. The Studio!!!

Woo hoo!

I have a new design!  And it feels good.  Not that I don't love what I've been making, but there's something magical about change.  I will be premiering it at the Bellvue Store Art Gallery Show on May 7th, so if you are in the market for style, stop by!  It's a little fancier than my other designs, and that's exciting for me.  Hello sophisticated pleats!  I don't want to spoil it, so you'll just have to come by the event and get a peek!

Also, as a side note, and this may seem way out of left field (left field, right?  I'm not a baseball fan), but I am overweight.  Actually, since getting married last September, I am not just overweight, but clinically (sadly, depressingly, actually surprisingly) obese.  Which is not how I wish to stay, or really how I ever thought I would be.  That said, my hubby and I are going doing a cleanse and food-overhaul.  I think I will keep you all updated on this.  I'm hoping it will be a start of a healthier life for us both, and I also want to share what I find out about the products we'll be using (yes, it's a program with shakes and whatnot, but it was recommended by our chiropractor, so what the heck) and what diet changes we're making.  I just might stumble across some good advice and recipes.  At least that's what we paid for...  we start Thursday, so wish us luck!  The 50lb countdown begins!

One treasure after another...

Initially when I joined the BESTeam (Boosting Etsy Shops Team), I thought the best part (no pun intended) would be having other artists blog about my shop and get, in essence, free advertising.  I was wrong!  While having your shop featured on other blogs is awesome, I've found my favorite part is discovering other artists and shops I might not have found otherwise.  Since we have weekly assignments, each week I open my email to find the name of the shop for me to review.  It's like Christmas morning!  I try not to cheat and click on other names, though it has happened before.  It also has helped me with my own store; I get to see what promotions work for other artists, get a feel for photography styles, and see what other wonderful shops are creating!  It has also pushed me to be less procrastinaty ( I know it's not a word, but it works) about working on my blog and in my studio.

I am excited this week to feature the nice woman who featured me last week on her blog, and who I've been chatting with since... DarlingDandeDesigns!  This clever mom from Florida has the most adorable children's clothing... for your little ballerina!

The Party Tutu!  I wish I had one right now... it looks like a party on its own!  And every girl at one point wants to be a ballerina, right?   DarlingDande also has great bloomers/diaper covers:

With detachable and changeable snap-on bows!  Really, really cute.  So much better than a regular, ol' diaper!  I might just have to have kids now (sort of kidding).  A majority of the darling (dande) creations are customizable, too, with a monogram or your child's name.  And the indispensable, the essential, the burp cloth!

These animal print cloths are perfect for when your little cheetah has had a little too much fun.  Or your boyfriend.  I'm sure it works well for all burps.

Probably my favorite item in DarlingDande's shop is her pillowcase dress... very cute, very wearable, and very in style.  And it looks like it will fit your child for years (which is a miracle within itself!).

It's also rumored that DarlingDande sells Art Gallery Fabric... hope I'm not letting the cat out of the bag, but I personally can't wait to be able to buy some myself.  Oh, and did I mention she also makes baby blankets?  DarlingDandeDesigns is the perfect place to buy something for your own children, or to find the perfect baby gift.  Oh, oh, and she has a website!!!  She has all kinds of goodies there!  For mom, for baby... change purses, bath and body products, bath and beach hooded towels... I could go on and on.  Thanks so much, DarlingDandeDesigns, for letting me review your adorable store!  I look forward to chatting with you again soon!      

A small, life changing idea...

A bit of background information to help express my life-changing moment today:  I graduated from college with a degree in art history, after a failed go at interior design (I just cannot find it within myself to be vindictive or the required level of competitive... and I didn't want to try to find those traits).  I discovered that I loved art, loved making art, only wanted to study and be surrounded by art.  I had high hopes that upon graduation, I would find the perfect gallery job that offered me the opportunity to share what I had learned with others, and encouraged me to create on my own.  None such luck.  Not that I resent how life has unfolded; quite the opposite.  I currently work part-time at a local comic book store.  It is a fun atmosphere and requires very little of me.  Which I think is a source of my current artist's block or "wall"; each job I have had since graduating has deflated my dream a bit, has added a brick to the wall that keeps me from doing what I love, what I desire, to do.  It is not so high that I can't climb over it, but it is still there, and on certain days, like today, it is just high enough to keep me out of the realm of art and creativity just beyond it.  Perhaps I'm getting a bit dramatic, but I am describing something I am passionate about, or rather, how I am kept from it.

However, there is still that smoldering ash within that wants to be re-lit, to be fed, and never be put out.  This leads me to the excitement of finding others' creativity thriving.  It feels almost as if seeing another artist doing what they love and so well adds a little tinder to my fire, knocks down a brick or two.

Today I found a jewelry maker/designer... I am tempted to call her a jewelry "mother" because she creates and gives birth to such inspired pieces, but I know that sounds funny.  Her name is Carrie Boucher, and she sells her pieces as Pink Crow Studio, on Etsy, Twitter, and Facebook (all of these things seem mundane to mention in the same context as her work, might I add).  While I was doing nothing productive this morning/early afternoon, as per usual lately, I stumbled upon her work and her blog.  Her work is beautiful, time-consuming, creative, and unique.  Each piece is one-of-a-kind, and makes me feel how a pirate probably felt upon discovering a cache of gold dubloons... I covet, I want.  But I will still share.  What really caught me off-guard today was how fitting for my life one of her blog posts was.  She was discussing task and time-management, which, let's be honest, I have MAJOR issues with.  I am easily distracted and often unmotivated in the shadow of my brick wall.  But Carrie had included a little video clip at the end of her post, and it changed the game for me.  I have a lot of guilt associated with my wall; my husband doesn't understand why I don't just "go make stuff."  I don't either really, there is physically no "wall" standing in my way, it is mental.  So he can't see it.

I want you to watch this clip.  It's about 20 minutes, but offers artists, writers, creatives of all types, a way to view the process and help dismantle the guilt or anxiety you may feel about your work.



After watching this, and typing this post, I think I am going to sit in my studio.  Just sit.  I have a feeling that something will be made.  That is my hope anyway.  I also hope I didn't bore you too much, and I promise my next post will be much more upbeat!