Health Coaching

     I had someone tell me the other day that they could never be a health coach because they couldn't stand people whining.

    This particular person (actually this one is the second to tell me this) works in a health care setting and deals with hurting people all day.  So I listened to both.  

    I had to ask myself... as a person who can't stand whining (ask my kids).. why do I LOVE health coaching.  And I've come to an answer.

    A truth is that the majority of the people I work with are not whiners.

    They are brave.

    They are desperately seeking a solution that has consistently eluded them.

    They are in pain... both physical and mental - not even to mention society and family and all the things that contribute to the issue of obesity.

    More often than not, the company I work with (and me) are the last ditch effort.

    They can barely manage to HOPE.

    But people who want to be healthy - who are willing to do what needs to happen to BE healthy - they are FABULOUS to work with! 

 

    Can I tell you the immense pleasure it gives me to help them succeed? 

    I don't do the work - THEY do.  I help find solutions.  Even when it might sound like whining... it's rare... and it is usually desperation and fear (of both failure AND success).  And when I'm lucky, they keep at it until we figure it out.

    Yeah - if you like to help people, health coaching is a terrific way to spend your life!

      

Prioritize Play

What is it about Spring that simultaneously 

fills your head with ToDos....

AND

makes you ready to go outside and play?

One thing I absolutely LOVE about being older is the complete freedom to choose 

AND the recognition that PLAYtime is FINITE 

ToDos are not.    Playtime will flit away and ToDos remain..

So Go!

When energy and opportunity present themselves... take them by the hand and go find your adventure!

 

Coming through it...

 I always end up so introspective when I have these seasons...

Someone called me empathetic yesterday - which I may well be - 

But in truth, I am a veteran co-dependent.  I am highly sensitive and in tune to the people around me.  I am here to serve.  And my life has been in that path.  Most decisions I have made in my life were for the good of others - of the group.  Not for me.  I didn't even know I HAD needs.

Which is where food and alcohol come in :-)  

 It wasn't until I was in my 50s (!) that I realized that I am the ONLY person on the planet who I can trust to have my best interest at heart.

Boundary issue much?

So as I withdrew to make the choices that would try to bring this in line....  I became solitary.  I spent a lot of time on my own self soothing...  fortunately, needlework and yardwork also soothes me.  And while those are satisfying..... they don't fill my cup.

I want more.

Yet there is still a constant struggle between the 'safe' space of hiding with my yarn and potato chips.....  and reaching out to humans and being part of a group - because I no longer trust people (or myself around them? who knows?)

My word for the year is BOLD

My BOLD may not look like your bold....   but just sending this out into the world is my BOLD for the day. 

Another Day

 The sun is out thank goodness!  But my 'itchiness' continues....

You know - it's true - food is always there when you need it.  

My go to response since I was very very young... is food. 

When feelings come forward... there's food

When confusion hits... there's food

When I'm bored... there's food..

The struggle is real.

I made a commitment this year to work at things that scare me.

What scares me?  Humans.

Actively letting humans back into my life?  I've been isolating for at least 5 years.  It's hard.  Harder than I thought.  And I have 10 extra pounds to show for it.

I think what I want to say is that I want to continue working on being a better human whatever that means.  I definitely need to keep on fighting for my own healthy BMI and weight.  

And I need to state that the battle doesn't end because the weight comes off.  You just fight the fight from a stronger place.  70 years of stuffing my feelings down.... smoothing things over with ice cream and french fries.... that overwhelming urge to munch or crunch of swallow doesn't just dissipate...

It's a continual struggle but this is where I SEE you.

We can help each other.

 

Day 2

 Here I am - writing again... trying to work my head around things.

How do I get out of my own way?

How do I silence the negative voices in my head?

Carbs silence them for a while.... they make me sleepy.....  Handwork silences them for a bit.....  until I get bored.  Same with reading.   I love to go for walks.... that helps fill some spaces.

Will I always be the little girl who isn't good enough?

..who is so very smart but too dumb to come in out of the rain?

 .. will I always second guess what people will say?

I don't know... usually I am good about pulling myself out of the funk..

..and it's even sunny today...

 

no worries - all good

 

tomorrow is on its way!!

 

Day One Again

 It's been forever since I've journaled in any way.  Somewhere along the line, I lost my feeling that I had anything to say of any significance.

And that may be the case.

But I can't help but believe that I am not the only person who feels like I feel.

An overthinker... who has been withdrawing for years.

It's been FIVE years since I made a decision to create the life I want to live for the rest of my life.

TWO of those were working on simply decluttering, simplifying, trying to decide what I didn't want so I could figure out what I DID want. [I had my social media presence stolen in this time frame and along with that - much of whatever social life I DID have.  2/3 of the people I was connected to never noticed my absence... or if they did, it wasn't worth their time or trouble to reconnect - no rancor here - just truth as I see it.]

ONE year started a health journey to add to this... which led to an UP and DOWN THREE years with a successful 50 pound weight loss... a continuing effort to be active - AND TWO major surgeries. 

It has become very real to me that I need to work hard on staying healthy and mobile... it is too easy to let it slide.... and it is VERY HARD to keep getting up every day and working at it.

It is also worth everything to me to be active until I leave the planet.... like 'leave it all out on the field' active.  Which, some days, is simply getting up and dressed and not falling down :-)

In this past year, I have seriously been working on personal growth and squeezing out all the little joys of life.

The personal growth looks like reaching out to lots of people and asking questions... for some reason this is tremendously difficult and awkward for me and often overwhelming in ways I can't describe.  One on one isn't too hard... it's manageable.... but in a group?  Oh geez.... I shut down like nobody's business.  But I'm working on it.

The little joys?  That is a fantastically fun process....  looking for things that make me smile... funny socks... my dog's antics...  finding an item I need that I thought I was out of..  randomly hearing from a friend.  I think we forget how large those tiny things can be... what they do for our daily existence.

ok - so it's a journal entry... nothing special  just day one  again.

 

 

Finished Quilts 2019

1.  Love Knot

2.  En Provence

3.  Savannah

4.  Cloudy Day #2

5. Elephant Parade

6. Winter Solstice

7.  Tree Wallhanging

Inspiration 6/22/19

"Keep yourself in good shape if you can. Have many passions. And look for magic moments. That is something that I have done in my life — think of the things that are magic moments that happen to you, like sunsets and sunrises, rainbows, beautiful birds, music and people’s lovely comments to you. All of those are magic moments and they are free for all. Be sure to keep your eye open for them. " 

Julia 'Hurricane' Hawkins

 Julia 'Hurricane - I'd rather be called Flower' Hawkins

Minecraft Quilting Weeks 1-4

Kelli Fannin 2016 Quilt Along

I'm late to the party - but I have only just heard of Minecraft.  I'm not much of a gamer but one of my grand-families is obsessed with Minecraft.  I found this quilt along in the archives and I'm doing Kelli's Harry Potter quilt along so it seemed natural to kit up a few weeks worth at a time and do one block a week when I do the HP ones!

All scrap basket blocks so far except for skin tones - (but I'm buying that for the Harry projects anyway)

1. Steve (renamed Stefano due to a nasty EX)

2. Creeper

3  Skeleton

4. Alex

Minecraft Crochet Catching Up

Rainy Day Design

This is my first Minecraft project - a lovely quilt along by Rainy Day Designs that I converted to crochet.  It is 16 squares and will be gi-normous!  I am finding it quite easy to work with a pixel graphic and turn it into granny squares!

This photo gives you an idea how big this thing will be - on my queen sized bed.

An example of one block

...and this is where we are today!  7 of 16 blocks done :-)

Harry Potter Quilt Along Weeks 1-4

Geeky quilting continues!!

The second Harry Potter Quilt Along this year is designed and hosted by  Kelli Fannin from Seriously I Think It Needs Stitches.. and what fun!!!

I do have to say that I have read (and own) the entire book series.... have them all on audio cd... have read each of them aloud (!) to my younger children (age 25 and 23 NOW).... and, of course, have and often marathon watch all the movies...  the latest of which comes out on March 12 in case you want to know.   So the quilt along is a no brainer!  The only reason I haven't done the Fandom in Stitches Project of Doom is that I have never done paper piecing! [I do have a strong feeling this will change in this HP quilting season :-) ]

At any rate - my last post was short.. I haven't really blogged in a few years..... but I wanted to say that I love doing these each week and - so far - life has allowed me to keep up


1.  Harry

  The first block was a bit complicated but the instructions are clear and I do love the process of assembly!

2.  Cupboard Under the Stairs

Easy peasy except for making sure I had enough wood grain in my scrap bins!  The door knob is tiny but eminently doable :-)


3. Hedwig

This was FUN!  Bit by bit..... section by section....

4.  HP Monogram

I HAD to use my golden glitter fabric for this one and it is magnificent!

And there you have it - 4 weeks of blocks :-)

Harry Potter Selfie Quilt Along Weeks 1-4

 So... This must be the year of geek quilting for me!  TWO Harry Potter Quilt alongs - and a request for some Minecraft too....

I will try to post 4 weeks at a time - starting today with the Harry Potter Selfie quilt designed and hosted by Lorna McMahon of www.SewFreshQuilts.com  I'm not new to her designs.... I have her Baby Elephant Parade sandwiched and ready to quilt.... and her Have a Jolly Little Christmas in my piecing line up!  And I purchased her Mermaid pattern because, well, I couldn't NOT

These patterns are a little tricky but a lot of fun!  I'm glad I chose the larger size block - it makes the piecing a little simpler!


1. Harry Selfie

2. Hermione Selfie

3. Ron Selfie

4. Luna Selfie

Instructions I Use for the Magic Yarn Project

I will write a much longer post later about this fantastic project!

I personally only do some of the crochet items like beanies and tiaras and other accessories.  I am putting my instructions that I have compiled and tweaked out here so I can find them again :-) And maybe others can use them too....

For now I want to include:

Cinderella

Tiana 

Striped Beanies - Ninja Turtle, Minion, Batman, Princess.... beanie only

Magic Yarn Project Beanie Stripe Placement - Superheroes & Princesses

UNOFFICIAL!  But compiled and used by me :-)  These are beanies only placement of stripes and colors.... not the eyes or whatever other accessories are desired.

Use Magic Yarn Basic or Striped Beanie pattern and very soft approved yarn type.

Beanie only Stripe Patterns (6.75-7-inch total) :

Minion:

Use Bright Yellow through Row 8 for all increase rows.

Rows 9-11: Black

Change back to Yellow. 

Finish with a row of Black, Pink or Blue (either single or half double crochet depending on measurements – 6.75-7 inches)

Ninja Turtle:

Use Olive or Dark Green through Row 8 for all increase rows.

Change to EITHER Blue, Orange, Purple, or Red for Rows 9-13

Change back to Olive Green to finish.

Batman:

Use Black through Row 8 for all increase rows.

Row 9: Yellow

Rows 10-15: Gray

Row 16: Yellow

Black to finish.

Sample Elsa & Anna Striped Beanies

photos from Magic Yarn site:   I will replace with my own next time I make them!

Magic Yarn Project Cinderella

UNOFFICIAL!  Compiled from several sources - not my photo

Cinderella

Soft yellow beanie - (I use Simply Soft Baby Sunshine), light blue tiara

RINGLET (1):
Hook: H-5.00 mm
Leave 4-6 inch tail for securing to the beanie.
Chain 26.
Starting in 2nd chain from hook crochet 3 SC in each chain.
Fasten and leave 4-6 inch tail for securing to the beanie.
Shape ringlet.

BUN:
Hook: H-5.00 mm
Make an adjustable ring, then work 5 sc into center of ring.
Rnd 1: Work 2 sc in each st around – you will have 10 sc at the end of this rnd.
Rnd 2: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around – 15 sc.
Rnd 3: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around – 20 sc.
Rnd 4: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep from * around – 25 sc.
Rnd 5: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep from * around – 30 sc.
Rnd 6: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * around – 35 sc.
Rnd 7: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts; rep from * around – 40 sc.
Rnds 8-9: Work sc in each st around.
Rnds 10-11 *sc2tog, sc in next 6sts; the decrease should give the bun a bubble effect.

Rnds 12-14 Work sc in each st around
Fasten off. Leave a tail of 8-10 inches for sewing the bun to the beanie.
Weave end from adjustable ring.

Magic Yarn Project Tiana Bun & Curls

UNOFFICIAL!  Compiled from several sources & not my photo :-)

TIANA

Soft black beanie, green tiara

RINGLET (5):
Hook: H-5.00 mm
Leave 4-6 inch tail for securing to the beanie.
Chain 13.
Starting in 2nd chain from hook crochet 3 SC in each chain.
Fasten and leave 4-6 inch tail for securing to the beanie.
Shape ringlet.

BUN:
Hook: H-5.00 mm
Make an adjustable ring, then work 5 sc into center of ring.
Rnd 1: Work 2 sc in each st around – you will have 10 sc at the end of this rnd.
Rnd 2: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next st; rep from * around – 15 sc.
Rnd 3: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around – 20 sc.
Rnd 4: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts; rep from * around – 25 sc.
Rnd 5: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts; rep from * around – 30 sc.
Rnd 6: Work *2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts; rep from * around – 35 sc.
Rnd 7-13: Work sc in each st around

Fasten off. Leave a tail of 8-10 inches for sewing the bun to the beanie.
Weave end from adjustable ring.