Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Week 8 Item #33 WordGirl

Okay, so this is a bit late (Wednesday), but I was not successful (yet) in doing this one. I haven't given up on it, but I am moving on.

#33 is "have a fix and repair session (glue broken stuff, repair damaged clothing, etc.) at least one day this week." I have a bin of stuff to be fixed, but that's more Louie's department. I'm not really careful . . . and though I can use superglue, I prefer to leave it to someone with patience and steady hands. I thought about repairing some clothing items, but my "One Thing" was more important to me!

I got my One Thing done!!! "Do Mystery Quilt February clue." I'm not going to add a picture here, because I don't feel like going up to my studio to snap it, but I spent about three hours (or more) on Saturday picking the fabrics, pressing, cutting, sewing, etc. They aren't great, but they're done!

I have a great extension on my work computer (in Chrome) called Momentum. Each day, it gives me a lovely picture, a greeting, a quotation, and asks me what my focus or goal is. This morning, I entered the goal. Kind of sad, but I made it! (It was a super busy day for me at work.) I think I need to clean the camera lens on my phone . . . but at least I didn't have a stroke!

Monday, February 27, 2017

Woo hoo - I think I'm in!

My first challenge last week was a "fail".  It was to drink one less not good for you drink this week.  I was traveling to Duluth for a few days to teach my granddaughter, Charlotte, how to sew and to make a quilt with her.  Whenever I travel that far (3 hours is far)...I NEED to stop in Hinckley and get a Dr. Pepper no matter what.  I guess it wasn't the worst thing ever since I only drank 1/2 of it on the way there and the other 1/2 on the way back.

Irishjill

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Salad Girl: so much to share, so little time.

TOTALLY EXCITED about growing micro greens after my workshop yesterday...you can't believe what you can do with a gutter (with ends of course), sun, good soil, seeds and vermiculite.  I cleaned up my plant corner in the kitchen and hope to try some inside start seeds for the season.  Maybe some sprouts in a jar if I can figure that out...did you know that you can eat pea sprouts?  Yeah babe - even nasturtium seeds and brassica family seeds - oh yeah.

TIP:  Got dried up cranberry raisins, or plan raisins?  Open that jar of mandarin oranges, add the raisins and put them in the fridge to plump up.  Now add that to a salad with a touch of whatever else you need to make a sweet dressing.  Maybe you don't even need the oil for a dressing or just a tidge with the leftover juices.  Now add some more fruit if you like - apple or pear, goat or feta cheese, pecans or sunflower seeds- whatever.  NOW you have a super salad!  P.S.: this ROCKS with spinach.

Over and out Salad Girl on the cusp of Mardi Gras (that's fat Tuesday for you non-Cajun Catholics!)

Making this up as I go

A bit o' summer for our weird winter

Getting more stuff done with my sister Jeanne's help - this time around!

Word Girl showed me how to add peoples e-mail address so that they can actually contribute to the blog so a bunch of you may be getting an invite that is coming out of the blue - I'm way new to this Blog thingy so bear with me, I'm getting better at it as I go!

Have a great day!

Wz

Thursday, February 16, 2017

From Irishjill

Hi Louise,
I printed out the numbers and the things to do - woo hoo!
For some reason, though I can't connect to the blog - I even created a new google account but that didn't work either.
I guess I'll have to tell you what I did and then you can post.
I'm not very "blog savvy" - Yikes!
Jill
My name (if it works out...) is Irishjill


Blog Buster here, otherwise known as the challenged one, technophobe, goddess of everything, the Middle Middle Marie, Weezer, Lois Lane, Squeeze, and personage of many other nick names...

I'm posting the note above as it came to me via e-mail - I've asked for help to get Irishjll direct to the blog... we'll see how it goes!

Have a lovely day everyone!

Week 7 Item #14 WordGirl

Wow! I drew #14 - "If you are able, donate blood this week - if not, do some other charitable act."
Since I donated blood on 2/9/17, I  could not donate again this week. I also brought dinner to a friend who had had surgery last week.

I decided to focus on "some other charitable act" for February 12 - 18. I tried to be positive at work, I brought a load of Louise's stuff from her Jordan house to Bloomington. I gave snacks (animal crackers, pretzels, etc.) to lots of middle schoolers. I didn't do anything truly charitable, so I guess I'll rest on the laurels of last week's activity.

For my "One Thing" challenge to myself, I put "get together all the paperwork to do taxes." Well, I did that and Louie and I did our 2016 income taxes last Sunday! It felt really good to get that task done. I'm looking forward to a long weekend and some serious RandR!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Louise's List

So I will help Louise add her list to a sidebar on the layout for this blog next time I'm in Bloomington. I don't have access to that as a contributing author. Here's a link to her list as a GoogleDoc. Have fun, everyone!

Louise's List

Thanks Word Girl!  I'm not sure I'm replying so that you'll see this but you are a wonderful creature to me!

Love and sunshine,

Techno Challenged Girl

Salad Girl Returns

Salad Girl's first post without Word Girls' help....hope it works.  My this is addicting, isn't it?  I am at work so I guess I am spending my lunch break.

ANYWAY Salad Girl went off the deep end on the sugar at work, but on the plus side I gave flowers to my sisters, Denyse and people at work for Valentines day--and I brought clementine's.  So see how this works?  Jeanne does something, it reminds me of something and then I do it.  No messy slips.  Of course it does take some of the mystery out of it...

But back when the list was 42 I circled 16 things I had done in January - so I figured I have a grace period.

Keep it up 0r...as the 80's song said "Start it up"...

PS: Cousin Denyse's trick is to put on good dance music to get up and do what needs to be done.

We will be dancing at the Eagles Club on Mardi Gras---come join us!

Reinvite From Weeze

Hello all - Since this is just some random Wednesday of the new year, I thought I should attempt to add something to my own blog and my triple F double E thingy that I made up...

I too, have been doing the experiment in my own way, since I knew everything I put on the list, I have just been doing things scatter shot, sometimes hitting several on the same day.

Mostly I've been consolidating TO DO lists (one thing on the list is to blog about 3F, 2E), so I guess I can cross that one off my list eh?

I think I got stuck on the super hero name - since I have so many nick names to choose from, and it really depends on my mood, as to how I feel at any given time as to what name I want to call myself - that I didn't really get started on my own experiment.

Another little burp, is that I have only come up with 48 out of 52 things for the list, even though I have run across very good suggestions from Word Girl, and while cleaning at Salad Girl's house - some cool ideas on a stray piece o' paper that I didn't copy down and have since forgotten plus the whole not in the mood thing (should probably work on that), I've also incorporated ideas from some of my friends - but - I still need the last 4 - 5 ideas.

Soooooo....

Here s the new fully filled out action list (if I can figure out how to attach it...), Note to Word Girl I had a mess up in numbers right around #37, so the end of the list after that point are off by one for you - sorry).

I hope the list shows up, I could only cut and paste, and now I can't add to the bottom of my blog cuz I am not versed in computerize and it won't let me.  Hmmmmm.... maybe my name this week should be Type Challenged R Us.

Love and sunshine to everyone,

Weeze  - List Master & Master Encourager

1 Sort through 1 box of junk or organize a junk drawer this week
2 Eat at at least 1 salad this week
3 Drink at least 1 more glass of water than you normally would this week
4 Drink zero calorie pop instead of regular pop this week
5 Wear your absolute favorite, most comfy outfit at least 1 day this week
6 Snack on veggies at least 1 day this week
7 Stop eating after 7pm this week
8 Walk, swim, x country ski, etc for at least 15 mins this week
9 Put aside $5.00 for a reward this week
10 Call a friend you haven't spoken to in a while and catch up this week
11 Gently, slowly stretch your muscles this week
12 If you are watching TV, try to tighten your stomach muscles and hold them during every other commercial this week - no TV? try it for 5 mins
13 If you have too many e-mails in your in box, try to clean out 25 of them this week, if not - substitute some other organizing idea
14 If you are able, donate blood this week - if not, do some other charitable act
15 Drink 1 less alcoholic, caffeinated, sugary, energy drink (or other not the best for you drink), this week
16 Cook 1 meal with fresh ingredients this week
17 Brush your teeth and floss every day this week - already do?  Good! a gold star for you!
18 Try to touch your toes without bending your knees (as far as you can go), every day this week
19 Spend some time in nature this week
20 Pick someone & treat them to their favorite healthy treat ex: Louise loves celery washed, and cut into 1 inch pieces (chips), stuck in a gallon plastic bag...  oooooohhhh!  or a bag of peeled grapefruit... mmmmmm!
21 Get some extra sleep this week
22 Go to the library, check out a book, movie, CD (music or story), and enjoy it at least 1 day this week
23 Do something creative this week
24 Be kind to yourself this week - you're worth it!
25 Cut back on salty salt this week, consider switching to low sodium salt
26 Change the batteries in your smoke detectors this week - if it's the right time of year for it... if not mark it on your calendar as to when you intend to do it, then follow through and do it
27 Smile at 10 people this week - see if your smile is caatching
28 Buy or pick yourself a bouquet f flowers this week
29 For every dutiful chore you do this week, give yourself a little reward
30 Perform one act of random kindness this week
31 Perform one act of proactive political action this week (tweet Trumpilstilskin and let him know we need an adult representing us to the world)
32 Put on great music & dance or sing at least 15 minutes this week - shut up and dance with me!
33 Have a fix & repair session (glue broken stuff, repair damaged clothing, etc), at least one day this week
34 Play 1 less hour of video / computer games this week
35 Do something out of the ordinary this week - even if it's only taking a different route to work, etc
36 Take time to contemplate your life this week.  Reflect on all the good things that make you seem lucky compared to others
37 Wear a funky hat for part of 1 day this week
38 Baby your feet this week, give them a soak & a rub - better yet… get someone else to rub them for you.
39 Work on your Bucket List this week
40 Instigate something fun at your workplace (even if you work at home)
41 If you can remember your dreams when you wake write them down this week
42 Take at least one picture of loved ones this week
43 Make & keep at least 1 needed  eye, ear, nose, throat, gut, hinnie, foot, tooth, whatever Dr appointment this week
44 Practice your handwritting skills this week - notes to others, shopping lists, etc.
45 Plan or plant wildlife friendly plants where you live, work or play - a pollen friendly plant maybe?
46 Turn off extra lights or unplug unused small appliances or music devices - in general, conserve energy as much as you can this week
47 Turn off the water while brushing your teeth - already do?  Great for you!
48 Visit a Historical Society, museum, arboretum, or other edumacational venue this week
49 Encourage someone who needs an extra bit o' loving this week, send a note, place a call, give a hug
50 Donate groceries to a food shelter (or someone in need), volunteer at Feed My Starving Children or a soup kitchen, etc this week
51 Learn something new about the environment and how to take care of our planet in your own backyard this week
52 Add color to your pallet this week - socialize with someone from a different race, wear a color that you never thought you would, paint something, etc.  This one is wide open - how do you add color?

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Week 6 Item #12 WordGirl

#12 says "If you are watching TV, try to tighten your stomach muscles and hold them during every other commercial this week - no TV? try it for 5 mins."

 Since I don't watch TV and holding my gut in for five minutes doesn't sound interesting in any way, I amended this one for me. Since the focus was on abs, I made mine: "Do either 12+ crunches or 30+ seconds of a plank each day this week."

This worked really well! It didn't take long, but I was motivated to try to do better each day.
Sunday - 42 seconds of plank
Monday - 13 crunches
Tuesday - 52 seconds of plank
Wednesday - 13 crunches
Thursday - 60 seconds of plank
Friday - 15 crunches
Saturday - 62 seconds of plank 
I should probably keep doing this one! The focus on doing these exercises also reminded me of doing Kegels when I was pregnant. Those muscles on your pelvic floor that are too often ignored? Yep. Should definitely be doing Kegels each day!

I added a "One Thing" goal for the week, because I've kind of missed doing my One Thing focus since I started Triple F Double E. I set "Do first Mystery Quilt clue." Since the second clue came out recently, I was frustrated that I hadn't even done the January clue yet! So today, I finally cut up fabric and sewed the nine-patches for the January clue. Yay! It feels really good to have this done!

  

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Week 5 Item #22 WordGirl

#22 says "Go to the library, check out a book, movie, CD (music or story), and enjoy it at least 1 day this week" . . . cake! I go to the library all the time! (In fact, I have an overdue book that I owe some money on . . . )



So I didn't do this one the way it was intended. I didn't visit the library except to return the overdue book - If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser. I'm currently listening to the audiobook Crossed by Ally Condie in my car.

I go to the library almost every week and have my card # memorized. I live in Scott County but have my card "registered" for use in Carver, Dakota, and Hennepin counties as well.

I love my libraries! And I love that the libraries in Minnesota have such a great interlibrary loan policy. Through www.mnlinkgateway.org, I have borrowed books from universities, other systems in the state, and even the Mayo Clinic hospital library! (Ask me if you have questions about the library system!)

Here's where I blog about the books that I read: http://jeamarie.blogspot.com/ (I do this because it's hard for me to remember the details of what I've read in the past. Easier to keep track as I go!)

I'm so eager to hear how others are doing. Haven't started yet? Start this week! Started and lost steam? Grab a number and go! You can do this!