Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada...

Another crappy week at the scales last night. Despite dropping my points a little (I changed my points profile from spending my work day on my feet to sitting all the time), and working my ass off at Taekwon-Do and some running the scale didn't budge. At this point it just seems so very hard and frustrating because the scale doesn't budge, or budge that much. Also you don't have very many "non-scale victories". These two factors make it hard to feel like I'm experiencing any progress. In the last few months, I've given up or cut down a lot of my favourite treats, I've also pretty much cut out all artificial sweeteners and even these changes haven't made the difference I was hoping for. I guess its time to stop denying myself the things I was enjoying a few short months ago as treats. Also Weight Watchers isn't about denial but moderation and making smart choices. I know I have come so far, and I'm so much better for it. Its just so hard when you have a goal in mind, not far out of sight and no matter how hard you're trying its just as far away.

I've been plugging away at Blackstone Fantasy Garden and still really enjoying putting in the outlines for the knotwork.

Tomorrow after work, I have to clean the house arrrrgh! I've been putting it off all week and now I'm out of time and it has to be done tomorrow!

Two of Four

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers out there! What a job you do, one I must say I'm doing my best to avoid!

I have to say I've got the best Mum ever! What makes a Mother the best Mum ever? That after all the trials and tribulations of growing up, that as an adult your Mum is one of your best friends. My Mum and I get along beautifully, we can spend the day together hanging out and we enjoy it, go to concerts and rock out together... we can spend a week together and not kill each other. That's the sign of a great Mum! Thanks for everything and being a great Mum!

Unfortunately we didn't get to have our afternoon at the movies and lunch out. My Mum called this morning, she wasn't feeling that great. Despite being a bit disappointed, I have to say it was nice to roll over and go back to bed! We might try again after work tomorrow.

I did a little bit of domestic goddess stuff, stitched, did a 5K run, and just relaxed!

I started and finished a lovely little blackwork freebie today, it'll be one of my ornaments for this month, the second of four I'd like to get done in May.

Geometric Blackwork #3

cTam's Creations

Stitched on : Mystery fabric

Stitched with : DMC & Rainbow Galleries Pettite Treasure Braid

Then this afternoon I finally got to pick up, and really enjoy working on Blackstone Fantasy Garden. This piece will now be my focus piece until its finished. I focused on the knotwork outlining today, since I was home alone and could count without interruption. Also next Saturday I'm having a stitching day out at my place and I think I'll be better off filling in than counting.

I am looking forward to my stitching day on Saturday! I've got Rebbecca, Lynn, Kathy, Beatrice, Beth and hopefully Christin (she's got a picture of me from our pool day yesterday... click on it for a bigger pic) coming out. I don't often have stitchy days because I don't seem to be able to find stitchers in my area that are interested in this sort of thing. So I was very lucky that my friends from outside of the Ottawa area are all free on the same day to come and stitch with me. So often I'm the one to do the travelling. I guess I should start cleaning the house right???

Fun Happy Dance

Its been a busy couple of days for me with friends, comings and goings, and appointments. I've managed to grab what stitching time I could between my appointments, Takewon-Do and visiting with friends! Besides Monday's dinner with Kathy, Christin stayed for a sleep over Friday night after grocery shopping and dinner. We both spent the evening and part of this morning stitching. This afternoon we drove out to the other side of the city to meet a bunch of Christin's co-workers (and some of my past co-workers) for some pool followed by pizza. I had a great time, the group was an eclectic mix and everyone got along beautifully. Oh boy, that pizza was fantastic! I had been looking forward to that for ages! This week I had appointments with the massage therapist and the chiropractor... the back should be good for another month! I also made it into TKD three times this week! I've not trained this much in ages, especially during sparring week, because I always get my butt handed to me on a platter! LOL.

Tonight when I got home I was able to wrap up the project I had started last weekend. It is cute, colourful, and fun to stitch. This will be finished into a pillow for a friend of mine who loves to wear flip flops and I'm sure needs a bit of a care package!

Jelly Mini Block Flip Flops

c Hinzeit

Stitched on : 28ct Opalescent Lugana

Stitched with : DMC, GAST & WDW

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, I won't be doing a lot of stitching. I'm going to pick my Mum up and we're going to go see Star Trek and go out for lunch! I can't wait to see the new movie, its gotten nothing but good reviews. Maybe if I have some stitching time I'll start another ornament for this month.

Urgh

Just a quick post, I was up 0.5lbs this week. Really not that bad considering all my little indiscretions the past week.

The Most Gorgeous Gift!

Today I met up with Kathy, she's doing a quick flying visit to Ottawa and managed to find some time to meet me for dinner after work today. We first did a little shopping in Michaels and Chapters before heading to the restaurant to eat (I was hungry!). We had a great visit and it was so nice to catch up and talk about... yup ... stitching! It wasn't a long enough visit, but I was so happy to have some time with her.

Kathy gave me the most gorgeous gift! She presented me with a blanket done in huckweaving! It is oh so gorgeous and all mine. Any of my good friends know I'm a blanket fiend! If you are in my living room, there's a quilt or blanket on every couch/chair to cuddle up in. I often travel with one of my quilts made by my Mum. I even used to get in trouble from my Dad when I was young and I'd settle in the living room with my blankie and watch TV! Its a habit as an adult that I haven't given up and have no desire to!

I had a great weekend, Saturday Christin and I met up to go to the movies. I don't go too often, it has to be something I really want to see for me to go. So we met up bright and early to see the new X-Men movie, it was awesome. I'm looking forward to the new Star Trek movie this upcoming weekend, I hope I can find the time to go see it! After the movie I came back home and did the finishing on my two recent ornament finishes. That evening I started a new project, but I'll save that for another post this week... there's not much to see on the new project just yet.

Tomorrow is weigh in day! Once again, I'm not sure how I did... food has certainly been a challenge for me lately. I've had a few things this week that won't help me at the scale, dinner out on Friday with Christin (as we do every Friday) but I was good. Saturday I had quite a few points leftover (I was so good and didn't have a single treat at the movies), so Todd and I went to DQ... I always crave soft serve at this time of year! Then on Sunday was Todd's Grandmother's birthday so there were hamburgers, cake, and ice cream! Of course I couldn't turn any of it down, but did my best to be sensible and not have seconds. Finally there was tonight's dinner out but I was VERY good, I had a Strawberry Mandarin salad with grilled chicken. Check in with me tomorrow night (or Wednesday night at the latest) to see how I did at the scale!

The Master Plan...

Most years when I stitch my ornaments for the year, I don't have a plan. I just go through my magazines, patterns, and freebies and stitch whatever catches my fancy. I don't have anyone in mind at first but often my ornaments find the right home as Christmas presents. This year I have hatched a master plan for the ladies in the office, because every year I give them each a stitched Christmas ornament. I have decided that this year they're each going to get their first initial, stitched using the alphabet from Rosewood Manor's Red threads using some sort of festive colour.

Here's my first one

Letter P - Red Threads

c2002 Rosewood Manor

Stitched on :32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with : DMC 302

Seeing that its the first of May I suppose I should review my April goals and set new ones for May.

April Re-cap

Finish Top Secret Project - Yes! Finally!

Stitch Three Ornaments - Got one done

Work on Paradigm Lost - FINISHED!!!

Stitch Fair & Square Round 12 - Yes

May Goals

Stitch Four Ornaments

Work On Blackstone Fantasy Garden

Start & Finish Flip Flops

Scissor Fob

Ornament Stitching

Before I get going on my next project, I have a little bit of ornament stitching to get caught up on. I finished my first one tonight, and got a start on my next one. I've got three to do, to get caught up from March and April (since today is the last day of the month).

Red Threads Motif

c Rosewood Manor

Stitched on : 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean

Stitched with : GAST Limited Edition

I'm looking forward to my next start, its colourful, cute, and should be fun.