Easy, Cute, Knit Skirt

So, a timeout from working out (or at least blogging about it) to share with you one of the knit projects I worked on during our move.  About the only upside to being away from my sewing machine for months was the time it allotted me to knit.  I decided to knit a skirt for each of my girls.  For Olivia, I selected a free pattern off ravelry (Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt), picked out some reasonably priced yarn and went to work. I had just finished learning how to knit fair isle, so I added a little pattern at the bottom of the darkest green band in white.  Unfortunately, the skirt naturally rolls up a bit and the pattern is mostly lost in the fold. Ah well, lessons learned.  I absolutely love the way this skirt turned out.  It took me about a week to complete and was super easy.  Of course, Olivia wanted nothing to do with it for the first 2 months, but now she's taken to it and is starting to wear it regularly - YAY!!

365 Day Workout Challenge

(As my sister would say) HERE'S THE THING:
I need to get myself motivated and going.  I need to stop making excuses and start achieving.  At one point, I was healthy, fit, and confident about my physique.  Now, well, suffice to say, its a different story.  In college, I lived in a bike friendly community, rode almost daily and additionally worked out at my apartment gym several days a week.  I didn't know it then, but I was at the peak of my fitness.  Then, I moved to Los Angeles.  Don't be fooled by the sterotype, Los Angeles is not as healthy and fit as it appears.  My active lifestyle was replaced by a 2-3 hr/day commute, regular eating out, and a dramatic increase in stress.  It didn't take long before the pounds started adding up and the excuses kicked in.  Throughout the past 10 years, I've worked out sporadically, lost and regained weight, had 2 babies, and made more excuses about being physically active than I can even fathom.  It was always, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.
Today (ok, yesterday), it ends.  Tomorrow IS today.

MY PLEDGE:
I will put on my tennis shoes every day for the next 365 days and do at a minimum 5 minutes of heart pumping physical activity.  I know, I know, I know, you're thinking, "Are you kidding me, FIVE minutes?  Anyone can do that.  Set a REAL goal." But, that's the point.  Anyone CAN do that, including me.  Seriously, what excuse could I possibly come up with to not put in 5 min?  It doesn't matter how tired, sick, frustrated, overwhelmed, busy, I am feeling - 5 minutes is doable.  A 5 minute pledge does not make me feel burdened for time or overwhelmed by committing to a full year.  And, to be perfectly honest, I know myself well enough to know that if I go through the trouble of putting my tennies on and hitting the pavement, I'll be at it for more than 5 minutes. 

This is not about losing weight (though that would be an added bonus), but about improving both my physical and mental health, so I do not feel its apropriate to measure this goal in pounds lost.  Setting weight loss goals, for me, has always led to a yo-yo of emotions (YAY, I'm down 5 lbs.  DAMN, I've been working my ass off, and I gained 2 lbs this week).  Its a recipe for failure for me.  So, I'm taking a different approach this time. 

Join me, please.  I'll encourage you, if you encourage me. (Ok, I'll encourage you even if you don't reciprocate).  And, don't even start with me, you DO have time every day to work out, even when you are on vacation, even during the holidays, even when you've worked a 12 hr day, even when the weather sucks (dance, baby, dance).  Ask yourself, is it really more important to update your status on facebook?  Is it really more important to read (or write) a blog?  Is it really more important to upload and email those photos?  The answer for me, now, is a resounding NO. 

Please, leave a comment, send me a message, write me an email, conact me via facebook, text me, call me, whatever works for you.  If you don't want to play along at home, at least encourage me to keep going.  My dear hubby has agreed to do this with me, but between you and me, he's working late tonight unexpectedly, and I anticipate he'll take a hiatus tonight (which is day 2 of the pledge), so I'll need your help!!