Bind & CrEATe

This is the year for adventure. Each month, I want to try something new and stick to certain goals I’ve set. This can be either in my city of Pittsburgh ...

In 2012, I will visit 12 different Pittsburgh restaurants. A few friends and I are starting a restaurant club with the hopes of tackling new venues in various neighborhoods. Below ...

Art has been found in many parts of my life. This year, I want to focus on trying new crafts, extending my talents beyond bookmaking. I will make a craft ...

It amazes me to think that, at one point in time, Americans ate mostly potatoes and little else. I think of this every time I cook potatoes (which honestly, isn’t often). I bought a bag weeks ago, and they were on their way out, hence the breakfast scramble. Those potatoes probably cost around $5 for a 3 lb bag (don’t quote me – I don’t remember), and I can barely finish them. There are too many other items (which are easier to make) in my pantry. I guess I’m spoiled, and you probably are too. We have access to so much, and – for the most part – we can afford it.

Sometimes I think life’s luxuries give us the ability to be lazy. We don’t work as hard because, truthfully, we don’t have to. We have machines that can open cans for us, wash clothes for us, even clean our own shower for us. This morning, the zipper on my coat broke, and the first thing I thought was: “Well, I better get a new coat.” It would seem too laborious to fix my own zipper. {WHAT?!} But then, I thought about cost (because I’ve officially become a cheapskate). I’ve had this coat for 3 months, and it cost $50. I have not gotten $50 wear out of this jacket and so – I will learn how to fix a zipper this weekend.

I just don’t remember the point in which we became so lazy. I like to think that if I continue working hard, it will all pay off in the end. But I get tired – just like anyone. At the end of a day where I haven’t stopped, I sometimes wonder: what was the point? Does any of this actually mean anything? Why am I not sleeping already?

The truth is: I don’t know another way. I was talking to Cat the other day about my experiences growing up on the farm. During the summer days, we’d work from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and have from 3-5 p.m. to “play.” I was basically working an eight-hour day as a ten-year-old. It’s all I’ve ever known, and I guess I’m just used to it. That, or I’m just completely obsessive and OCD. Probably a little of both.

Likewise, I just can’t stop caring for or wanting to be around others. I want to be the person that makes someone smile with a letter (the challenge is still going on, by the way – I’ve sent 9 letters!). I want to be the person someone calls when they need someone. I’m not sure if I *am* this person, but that’s what I continually strive for. And one of the big reasons I try and give more than I even can sometimes.

The bottom line is that behind this post, some things have been happening. Not to me, but to others around me. I want so badly to help, but it doesn’t seem like I can really do anything. So I have to force myself to be “lazy” for once. I need to force myself to butt out and stay quiet.

God, that seems so hard. But maybe it’ll just be easier?

This. soup. Good. God.

I saw this in Pinterest land, and – like everyone else – it caught my eye. I’m always a fan of soups that have a red base + orange add-ins. This did not disappoint. Whoever decided that coconut milk would be outrageously delicious: I thank you. Because you were right, and we are all appreciating these flavors that just keep coming at us at lunch time.

In case you are counting Weight Watchers points, a cup of this soup is 6 points. I bring this up because I am, in fact, counting Weight Watchers points. You can scorn me if you want and tell me that this is a diet/fad/yo-yo/craze sort of thing. That’s fine, but I kindly disagree. What I remember is how WW helped me lose nearly 20 lbs in the summer of 2004 after gaining the freshman 15. It changed the way I looked at food, which is why I started blogging way back in the day. No, I do not like being “obsessive” about food (a common complaint I hear about WW), but I needed something to jumpstart (and change even) the way I look at food and exercise as part of my adult life. Because man, I’ve been quite a train wreck when it comes to nutrition for the past two years.

Since moving to Pittsburgh, I’ve acquired 15 extra pounds on my body. I’m not sure how this happened, but I’m sure those nights of boozing didn’t help. [Thank goodness I'm not in that place anymore.] I’ve been exercising like crazy for the past 6 months with little to no results [I do have more muscle - but haven't lost a pound.] Well, after my first week on WW, I can see why. I’ve been eating like garbage. Which basically means I’ve been eating whatever I want, when I want  - and that hasn’t included a lot of fruits + veggies. My days were pretty carb-heavy, and I thought nothing of eating chips or ice cream during the very late hours of the night (it’s fine, if you can do that. but those chips stick to my stomach like glue.)

I think I thought I was a super woman who just didn’t gain weight. I just wasn’t weighing myself to see it. Then, I did. Believe it or not, I’m at the heaviest weight of my life. I’m not obese, but I am overweight. And I need to change that.

So now, I will be weighing myself more often. Once a week, that is. And I hope I can share the progress with you, if progress is made. I promise to not be a crazy dieting lunatic. Just someone who wants to take better care of her body.

After all, it’s the only one I have.

I can tell that life is moving a little too fast. I haven’t done much with my hands. Haven’t cooked much of anything (until yesterday, thank god). And I’ve moved and exercised, but not as much as I’d like. I knew February would feel this way: a flash from the beginning to end. Two baby showers, 1 bridal shower, a surprise party and a hockey game will do that to a girl. But there was a glimpse of space on Saturday afternoon. For about three hours, I was able to immerse myself in new endeavor: documenting my 2012 a la Project Life style.

Project Life is designed for folks who want to record their weeks. You can buy products from the website to create a nice looking album. For weeks I wavered on whether I wanted to do Project Life, or create my own photo album. I knew there had to be a way for me to do something similar, using products I could find at a cheaper rate near my home. In the end, I bought a cheaper, stable album at Michael’s, and I’ve been building my own Project Life from scratch. I picked this month’s photos, got them developed, and then organized them by event or type. I then typed out my thoughts in InDesign and created 4 x 6 thought cards. I must admit, I think I loved the writing most.

It’s interesting to reflect upon your life on a month-by-month basis. You can catch themes or trends. For example, I ate a lot of sweets in January. It coincided with the fact that I got really into making cupcakes during this month. Also, with the reorganization of my space came many more craft projects. I was actually way ahead of schedule (for once) when making my holiday crafts.

This project reminds me of graduate school all over again. Back then, we had to keep a blank sketch journal and write it in daily for a semester. What began with only words ended with leftover pieces of anything glued, taped, or stapled to the pages. I remember breaking glass and trying to reconstruct it on a page. I split open a ginger ale can and glued half of it my book. By the end, there was no way the journal could shut.

I want my own Project Life to feel that way. I took the “easy route” this month, simply developing photos and creating the thought cards. But I want to go further, feel the way I was pushed in school. I want to include even more in my album and also take more photographs. Remnants, gems of moments. I don’t want to limit myself to only the “pretty pictures.” I want this book to be a true representation of my life.

I know that creativity will come. In the meantime, I am getting used to the idea of actually getting pictures printed (instead of letting them hide and rot on my computer) and pausing for a moment to see what the month felt like. It’s the first time in years I’ve created a scrapbook of sorts, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

 

 

When I started this year, I felt rejuvenated & ambitious. I credit this, of course, to the start of a new year, but also stumbling across Elise’s blog. I poured through the pages of her site like a new book I couldn’t wait to finish. Seeing what one person could create or do – in a day, month, year – inspired me. I liked her goals involving numbers and decided I’d follow suit and tackle a few myself. It seems like this way of goal setting really does make a difference.

I set a goal identical to hers last year: run 365 miles in one year. I set this goal for many reasons, but primarily as a way for me to be a continual runner. Not a seasonal or race-runner only. But a runner who commits to the sport all year long. I’ve had trouble with this over the years, despite the fact that I’ve been running since I was 14. I just always take a few months off at some point and don’t stick with it.

I don’t doubt I can complete this goal, especially because last fall I signed up for the Pittsburgh Half- Marathon (May 6, 2012). I’ve been running regularly since then, though not on a half-marathon schedule just yet. However, I’m pretty impressed with what I am doing. My pace is faster, and my mileage is stronger than it was in 2009, when I ran my first half.

In January, I completed 34 of my 365 miles. It could have been better. But trust me, it could have been worse. It has been in the past (this is at least 1 mile per day, plus some!)

I haven’t yet conquered the best way of recording my mileage, but I have been writing it down. I tried using Daily Mile, but I tend to forget to log in. It’s just not part of my routine. The boyfriend gave me a Pittsburgh Penguins themed calendar, and so I’ve started writing down numbers on the days. It’s working out quite well, even if it isn’t pretty. I don’t forget to record my miles because it’s in my office, and I usually run during my lunch hour.

I also track my overall exercise on a dry-erase board in my bedroom. I like viewing it that way because it’s a month-long calendar, and I can see how much I’ve done in a month. In January, there were more “days off” than in December or November. My motivation wained a little. I’ll show you that calendar at the end of this month.

Overall, I’m excited that I ran 34 miles, and I hoping to run even more in February (which only has 29 days!).

Are you running for something?  Exercising in any way? How are you keeping your body in tune?

This month and I have had our share of it. Years ago, I remember writing “February: Get Through It” on a chalkboard above my desk. I’m not sure why my relationship with February deteriorated over the years. Maybe it’s the Hallmark Holiday & all the hype. Perhaps it’s all the snow (one year, back in DC, being snowed in for nearly 9 days – losing power for 2). Either way, I’m working on changing my relationship with February. This year, with a new challenge.

Through my old boss, I stumbled across a new letter-writing project: The Month of Letters. Writer Mary Robinette Kowal, who took a month off from the internet last year and only wrote letters, is encouraging her writers to sit down with a pen. The challenge? Send 24 pieces of mail (one for every day the post office is open, Monday-Saturday.)

I pride myself on sending cards (especially those that are handmade), but since Christmas they have fallen by the wayside. Of course, I send emails but as Mary writes – they are so in the “now” and quick.  I want a project that forces me to slow down a bit. Something that will teach me greater patience. Perhaps something I could do on a lunch break, or in the late evening hours. A better way to spend my time. I’m equipped with the essentials: paper, pen, stamps. Now I just need to create my list of recipients. Thanks to my homemade valentines, I already have about 10 pieces ready to be mailed.

I’m hoping this project will rekindle my cold February heart. Will you join me?

[About this week: I am recovering, I think, from last week. My roommate surprised me, bought groceries and prepared meals for us. So I really haven't cooked, which is nice. Last weekend I did a poetry reading, and it went well. Really well. People like my science into story stuff. I need to write more. Instead of crafting, I've done important things like taxes or freelance design work. They are more fun to me than it may seem. Plus, I like immediate satisfaction of cash. Sorry if that makes me sound, er, money hungry. I've been talking on the phone, a lot. So, maybe now, I'll turn that into letters. I've been going to the gym at various times in the day to see which I prefer. I haven't figured it out, but I like doing hill walking workouts during my lunch break because I sweat less. I'm getting tired of Pinterest because I hate seeing so much wedding stuff. I want to pin it, but I'm not engaged, and that makes me feel like all I care about is getting married {really, it's the crafts I love}. Work is slow right now. I want it to pick up. I am still planning that party and worrying it will flop. My grandma is a little better, but not great. There are other things, too, on my mind. But I'm trying to not be so heavy about it all the time.]

← Older posts

Connect with Me

a craft a month an adventure a month a restaurant a month arugula basil beginning birth black beans broccoli butternut squash change cheap eats cheese chickpeas chili powder city gardens crafting curry diy epicurious fall featured garden gardens garden vegetables kale kidney beans lentils new city onions oregano patience Pittsburgh quinoa rebirth red beans relationships rice subfeatured