playing with blog layout

oops.

I'm trying to play with my blog layout and managed to somehow revert back to my old template from when I first started a blog.

Please pardon my dust.... it's a work in progress

Getting more organized

I'm a closet organizer

No, I don't organize closets for a living. What I mean is, I secretly love to organize things. But don't tell my husband.

I worked on getting my sewing space more organized last weekend, and one of the things I'm most excited about is this thread organizer. I had my thread in about three different places, so getting it all together is a great feeling. I can actually see what colors I have now! And it's so colorful, that when I sit down at my sewing table, It makes me happy to look at it!

I also straightened up my closet storage space. There used to be a huge pile of fabric waiting to be ironed on the floor in front of the closet, so that I could neither close the door nor reach anything in the closet!

And here's something that I've been working on recently. The September miniquilt swap. The theme was mushrooms and/or owls. My swap partner, Upstatelisa, hasn't yet received this mini quilt, so I can only show some sneaky peaks. More later when she actually receives it! I only have the binding to finish and then will mail it off to her.

(oh, and I went to the gym this morning!)

Fit Friday

So I saw another blogger who's in the crafty & fit group create a "Fit Friday" post to keep herself motivated and to keep track of how much she's been walking. I thought, "what a great idea!" If only I had something "fit" to blog about!

I did go to the gym once this week. In fact, I was so focused on rushing to the gym after work that I completely forgot that I had made an eye doctor appt. for that afternoon and of course, missed the doctor's appointment.

Luckily, it was just a yearly exam and I can still see. for the time being. And at least I got in an hour at the gym. I've been getting into a rut when I go to the gym, though. I jump on the first empty elliptical machine and pedal for about 30 - 40 minutes. Then I'm so jello-legged that I can barely walk to the mat area to stretch. I do feel that it's a great workout and I sweat a lot. But I need to start incorporating other activities besides just cardio.

I had my hubby show me some arm machines and I did those last time, too. I just feel torn sometimes between wanting someone to show me what to do, and being so fiercely independent that I get mad if someone tries to give me directions. I must be bipolar.

Anyway, the goal is to go again on Sunday and maybe fit in a workout video as well sometime during the week. I think I'll keep doing (as best I can) the "Fit Friday" posts to keep myself in line. We'll see if I can keep it up!

My New Classroom

I have a new classroom this year, which is good for me, since I have so much stuff! I'm also teaching two grade levels of science this year, so I need two whole different curriculum's worth of stuff as well.

I have several "mascots" around my room. Here is the Beaker my mom sent me. He sits on my book display case.

We also got new fancy lab tables this year. Our old tables were at least 30 yrs old and had many wads of gum, carvings, and stains as well as holes in them.

Here are some views of my room from the front and from the back.

I'm feeling like I'm finally getting back into the swing of things in the classroom. It's always such a hard transition for me from summer to school time. And I'm always frightened of change and I had several this year - new room, new curriculum, new team, new students. All is going well, though.

And my other mascot is Mr. Bufo, the toad. He sits on the lab table by my desk at the front of the classroom. He's wonderfully squishy and the kids love him.

Liberated Monkey in the Middle

I've recently read the book: Collaborative Quilting by Gwen Marston & Freddy Moran

I like the liberated methods they use in their quilts, so I decided to play around with those ideas some. I typically do liberated quilting, only because I'm lazy, but in this case, I was actually attempting to achieve an end result. The liberated log cabin.

I had some thin strips of monkey fabric left over from Toni's baby bag, so I used that for my middle squares. I then used only small bits of fabric from my scrap bin to add to the sides. I was quite happy with the results, but I then ran out of large enough monkey scraps and couldn't make any more. I may bite the bullet and use the larger piece of monkey fabric I have left to get some more middle pieces. I was trying to only use scraps, however. I liked the idea of using up all those bits that I keep meaning to use, but just haven't yet. My scrap bin was overflowing!

Rain rain, go away?

So of course, right after I make that pledge to walk to school, we get the remnants of Hurricane Gustav and it rains for two - three days straight. Is this me making more excuses? Maybe, but I didn't want to walk to school in the rain, especially when yesterday was picture day!

There's always next week....

Gettin' fit! Maybe...?

So I've made a commitment to get fit. I found this great online group of people who are crafters who are also dedicated to staying fit. Look at that cute little icon in my sidebar! Now every time I come to my blog, I will be reminded of what I signed up for!

Generally, crafting & fitness are two things that don't go hand-in-hand. Especially since most crafts like sewing & quilting are very sedentary hobbies.

But getting fit is something I've been thinking about working on for a while now. I've made very halfassed attempts in the past to improve my fitness level and get healthy. And for many reasons. First and foremost, of course, is for a better body image and to feel better about myself. Secondly, I have a family history of heart attacks, stroke, & LOTS of diabetes. I do NOT want to develop diabetes like my grandmothers, one grandfather, an aunt, and a cousin have. And my dad was borderline diabetic until his doctor put him on a strict(er) diet.

Now that I'm back in school, I usually find it easier to stick to a more structured schedule. That will now hopefully include some sort of exercise each day. I actually live close enough that I could walk to work. It would only be about a 20 or 25 minute walk. That's a good amount of walking if done two times a day. Of course that depends on how much stuff I have to carry to and from school. There I go... trying to make excuses again....

Ok.. here it is. I commit to walking to school or at least exercising at least 3 times a week. That will be a good starting goal. I may whine loudly about it, but bear with me please! It's for my own good!

Back to School

My last few moments are quickly dwindling... my time has come to head back to school. No more carefree days of summer... no more sleeping in. No more lounging on the couch watching whatever cheezy movie I wanted to that day. No more spending weekday hours in the garden with Stinky, my cat. No more "sure, honey. Let's go to that late night movie and get to bed at 1am." No more wearing my pj's all day long.

But it's really not that bad, right? Why did I pick a profession that has such traumatic transitions??? I need to switch to a year-round school.

:(

Wahhh...