Try, try again.

Day 1 - Again.

I still haven't decided on a new quest. Or if I am even going to commit to taking one on. But, I am getting a little lax on myself when it comes to my yoga routine, so I need to re-commit myself to practicing everyday. This last week I practiced six out of eight days - going to class three and practicing at home three. Then, I considered taking a day off each week, and then one became two.. you know how it goes. So, today I'm starting fresh with day 1 again and I am going to class later.

I did read three books last week. I read Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein because once I started it, I got into the story and HAD to know how it turned out! Although the plot is compelling, his writing gets SO tedious and goes off on many a dry tangent. The book was long and boring at times, then exciting at others! I am fascinated by some of the themes that came up throughout the book, and I'm still mulling them over in my brain. But, it's a lot to take on in one book - he tackles religion, philosophy, politics, war, sexuality, art, and basically all of humanity here. I guess that's the point, but it is exhausting to read. By the end I was just forcing myself to finish it... and I won't spoil the end, but it left me unsatisfied.

I also tackled The Dead and the Gone and This World we Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer. They both follow Life as we Knew It, which I devoured over Christmas break. They're young adult sci-fi/post-apocalyptic stories. I finished the first within a couple of days and the latter in about three hours while my boys slept. I could NOT put them down. And they left me wanting to stock up my pantry (if I had room for one in my house) and brush up on my survival skills (or learn some!). Terrifying.

So, I've been reading everyday. Mostly because it's too cold to leave the house and we don't have anywhere to go anyways!  And I've been crafting probably every day. I made Eli a teddy bear for his birthday - one that matches Jude's that I made him for Christmas. Except Eli's has train fabric and Jude's has robots. :) They are both from a pattern that my mom passed down to me - one that she used for my "Beary", and a bear for my sister when we were little tots. Beary is loved almost to bits, and I still have him. He was my security blanket and best friend when I was little. So, it was very meaningful for me to pass on the tradition to our boys. 

I also attempted to knit a baby hat, but ended up frogging it when I f*ed up the pattern. Oh well, if at first you don't succeed...

Happy New Year!!!

I know, I know, my faithful followers have been fretting, "Where have you been??" Since I know you both in real life (extremely well) you already know that I am alive and well. I've just been on a blogging hiatus after my 45 day quest, and I've been busy enjoying the celebrations during my baby's first holiday season.

My, how he's grown. He's developed a taste for wrapping paper & bows. He's 7 months old now, his vocabulary includes "ba", "da", "ma", and lots of "aahh". He also communicates with grunting, growling, pounding his fists against a nearby surface, flapping his arms like he is about to take-off in flight, reaching, spitting, thbbptt-ing, and much more. Here's a picture of him at a recent family get-together - he was being a TOTAL ham.




hammy hammy ham-bone

 But, enough about Jude. I could go on FOREVER!!! You may be pleased to hear that I have continued with my yoga practice. I have practiced every day since the beginning of my quest, only excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. The Xmas days we were just too busy and stayed up way too late even without the yoga practice. NYE I could have squeezed it in, I'm sure, but I was allowing myself just one day to be lazy about my practice. THEN I got up early January 1st and got my butt to the studio! It was an ass-kicking vinyasa practice and I was actually sweating. I also dragged my sore body BACK to the studio on the 2nd for more. Although the practice was less intense, I can tell you that my thighs were burning.

My "Secret Santa" also gifted me an awesome set of four vinyasa style yoga DVDs for Christmas, and I've been practicing them on the days when I'm home.

So, by "giving it 45 days" I have most definitely found a way to fit a daily yoga practice into my life. Thank you, UC! I feel healthier, happier, and calmer. I'm actually so content with my life right now - probably more than ever before. I know that taking time to care for myself daily has A LOT to do with that. Also, I am much more able to be present in the moments of my life. Right now, with Jude so small and sweet, that is a priceless gift. I love all of my moments with him.



Me and the bear - I do love my life!

So, how to continue on with this blog? I feel like I need a new 45 day quest, but I am having trouble deciding on a goal. I haven't got a lot of time to take on anything too major in my daily life. And, like I said, I'm totally content right now and there's not an area that I feel needs a huge improvement! I also don't want this goal to be a negative: a taking something away. I'm not going to abstain from watching TV, eating meat, eating dessert, drinking alcohol or caffeine, or anything else. I want to keep it in the positive. So, here are some ideas that I've had:
Read daily
Craft daily
Keep track of Jude's sleeping habits
"Ferberize" Jude
Cook daily
Adding some cardio to my routine

...Sorry to cut this short, the bear just woke up. It'll probably be reading or crafting. Which would you rather read about?