I did it. Number 48 on my list. I bared my pale, soft belly for everyone to see on a New Jersey beach.
Do I feel totally rid of every insecurity and inhibition I've ever had about my body? Of course not. Did I still catch myself covering/hiding my belly a few times? Sure. But did it feel pretty good to say "screw it" and put on my cute green bikini that I haven't worn since our honeymoon (where we didn't know anyone, and I was 8 pounds lighter)?
Yes.
I'll be 30 in just over a month. I haven't had a flat tummy... ever. I have always carried those few extra pounds right around my middle. Even on our honeymoon, at my thinnest, I was still self-conscious about my belly. I haven't really lost weight recently, though I feel noticeably healthier since I've been working out more often. (Prime example: it was too hot to run outside while we were away, so I did a little Shred-ding with Jillian one morning — and it felt totally easy!).
On vacation last week with my family, I looked around on the beach one day and thought, I am nowhere near being the most fit person on this beach, but I am also far from being the least fit person on this beach. Women and men of all shapes and sizes were comfortable enough in their skin to wear whatever bathing suit their little hearts desired, and I didn't judge them for it. So why have I been judging myself so harshly?
I originally added number 48 to my list as a motivator to lose weight, like this fabulous lady did. And I still do hope to lose a few pounds, and be a little less shy to wear a two-piece someday, without feeling the need to suck in a little... but if I wait for perfection to don a bikini, I'll be waiting forever.
So, I did it. And it felt kind of good, imperfections and all.
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 101 in 1001. Show all posts
June 21, 2010
101 in 1001... revisited
I haven't been keeping you all as up-to-date on my 101 in 1001 list as I did when I first started working on it. My apologies... I have continued checking items off the list, but many of them have been smaller things that aren't necessarily blog-post-worthy. I'll continue to keep you posted when I tackle any of the larger items, I promise!
The list really has kept me motivated to follow through with my goals, and evaluate new goals that I want to set for myself. I decided to replace a few things on my original list, since they may not necessarily be things that are applicable to my life anymore (for instance, I no longer have the goal of taking new classes at the gym, because I no longer have a gym membership!). I also have some new goals that I thought were a bit more noteworthy. And once something is on the list, I really have to hold myself accountable to get it done.
See my entire revised list here... I've also listed my new additions below.
Additions/replacements - 2010
6. start a business (April 2010)
45. run a 5K race
53. write a manuscript (and submit to publishers)
77. attend Altitude Design Summit
81. attend a Making Things Happen seminar with Lara Casey
And a few notes....
6: I already did this one, but it's a doozy, so I thought it deserved a place on my list ;) It's honestly been a goal of mine for years, but I never thought it would realistically happen before I turned 30. It did, though, and I've never been happier.
45: Since I've actually been keeping up with C25K (albeit at a slower pace than the actual program), I have decided that I'm really going to follow through and sign up for a 5K race (probably in the early fall). As the most unathletic person on earth, I'm slightly terrified, but it's an exciting goal.
53. I have had an idea for a book for a few years now, but I can never find the time to write it. It's time to make the time and just do it. Holler.
77. This conference is right up my alley; I found out about it too late in the game last year, so I'm going to try really hard to get there this year!
81. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Lara Casey schedules more dates for MTH, and that I can afford to attend. She is an idol of mine who has accomplished so much so young, and I'd love to learn from her!
The list really has kept me motivated to follow through with my goals, and evaluate new goals that I want to set for myself. I decided to replace a few things on my original list, since they may not necessarily be things that are applicable to my life anymore (for instance, I no longer have the goal of taking new classes at the gym, because I no longer have a gym membership!). I also have some new goals that I thought were a bit more noteworthy. And once something is on the list, I really have to hold myself accountable to get it done.
See my entire revised list here... I've also listed my new additions below.
Additions/replacements - 2010
6. start a business (April 2010)
45. run a 5K race
53. write a manuscript (and submit to publishers)
77. attend Altitude Design Summit
81. attend a Making Things Happen seminar with Lara Casey
And a few notes....
6: I already did this one, but it's a doozy, so I thought it deserved a place on my list ;) It's honestly been a goal of mine for years, but I never thought it would realistically happen before I turned 30. It did, though, and I've never been happier.
45: Since I've actually been keeping up with C25K (albeit at a slower pace than the actual program), I have decided that I'm really going to follow through and sign up for a 5K race (probably in the early fall). As the most unathletic person on earth, I'm slightly terrified, but it's an exciting goal.
53. I have had an idea for a book for a few years now, but I can never find the time to write it. It's time to make the time and just do it. Holler.
77. This conference is right up my alley; I found out about it too late in the game last year, so I'm going to try really hard to get there this year!
81. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Lara Casey schedules more dates for MTH, and that I can afford to attend. She is an idol of mine who has accomplished so much so young, and I'd love to learn from her!
April 21, 2010
Number 38: temporary husband substitute
I've been working on number 38 on my 101 in 1001 list lately:38. Have fresh flowers at home for 4 weeks
It is amazing how much fresh flowers can boost my spirit. Nick has been out of town for the last ten days for work training (did I tell you all that he started a new job last month? Changes all around for us!), and I've been missing him a lot. He'll be home Friday and I can't wait — the schmoopy factor is off the charts and we need to be reunited, already!
Anyhow, I took a walk to Trader Joe's yesterday to pick up a few things, and I couldn't resist when I walked in and saw a bunch of ranunculus for $4.99. They're my favorite flower and they remind me of our wedding day, so they'll help to tide me over until Nick gets home. Aren't they pretty?
January 5, 2010
Number 10: Blurb wedding albums
Ever since we got our wedding photos back from our photographers last February, I have had a very big to-do hanging over my head. It made it to number ten on my 101 in 1001 list:
10. Create wedding albums for parents
Finally I was able to cross this biggie off of my list this Christmas (with glee, might I add). In early December, I hunkered down and designed 12" x 12", 50-page hardcover albums, which I had printed by Blurb. I had never used Blurb before so I was quite nervous for the outcome, but after reading so many rave reviews from the ladies at Weddingbee, I took the chance... and I am pleased to say that I am extremely satisfied with the final result.
I designed my layouts in Adobe InDesign, using one of the helpful templates that can be downloaded from the Blurb website. (If you don't already have a layout program you'd like to use, you can download the Blurb BookSmart® software to lay out your book.) The templates clearly show the "safe zone" for all images and text, and illustrate how much bleed to include in your layout for photos or other images that should bleed off the edges. This is especially helpful if you don't want to chop off the heads of any of your wedding guests :-)
I was also impressed by the cover templates, from which there are several to choose based on the number of pages in your book and the paper used for printing (which affects the width of the spine). I had created smaller, soft-cover books a few months back with Shutterfly, and my cover layout was not what I was expecting in terms of placement of the text on the spine (it ended up on the back). With my Blurb books, everything was lined up exactly as I had set it up on the cover, spine, and back cover.
I think the back cover is actually my favorite... I included our silhouettes and monogram that I had also used on the menus and drink signs at our wedding. I'm a sucker for silhouettes!
Overall, I was very pleased with the image quality and the vibrant colors. While I wasn't expecting absolute perfection, I didn't see any problems with skin tones, and I thought the ink coverage was impressive (and consistent) throughout each book.
(I look a bit pale, but, um... I am pale :-)
I ordered three books total — each 12" x 12", 50-pages, with image wrap covers and Premium paper. The final cost for each book: $85.95 plus shipping (which I actually got for free with a holiday coupon code). Compared to how much professional albums would have cost, we saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars and still had really beautiful Christmas gifts for our parents.
Does a Blurb book match the quality of a professionally designed and printed album from your photographer? Of course not. Even with the Premium paper selection and the image wrap cover, you aren't going to get the same attention to detail and the high quality printing that you would otherwise get from a professional album company. But for the money spent, I am elated with the final result, and I'm pretty sure our parents are, too.
In terms of timing, I ordered all three books together on December 8; I received free FedEx Ground shipping with a holiday coupon code. My books were shipped on December 15 and received on December 17. Considering the size and number of pages in my books, I think this is an exceptionally fast turnaround time.
If you're considering ordering from Blurb, a few pointers:
All photos included in our album by The Wiebners
10. Create wedding albums for parents
Finally I was able to cross this biggie off of my list this Christmas (with glee, might I add). In early December, I hunkered down and designed 12" x 12", 50-page hardcover albums, which I had printed by Blurb. I had never used Blurb before so I was quite nervous for the outcome, but after reading so many rave reviews from the ladies at Weddingbee, I took the chance... and I am pleased to say that I am extremely satisfied with the final result.
I designed my layouts in Adobe InDesign, using one of the helpful templates that can be downloaded from the Blurb website. (If you don't already have a layout program you'd like to use, you can download the Blurb BookSmart® software to lay out your book.) The templates clearly show the "safe zone" for all images and text, and illustrate how much bleed to include in your layout for photos or other images that should bleed off the edges. This is especially helpful if you don't want to chop off the heads of any of your wedding guests :-)
I was also impressed by the cover templates, from which there are several to choose based on the number of pages in your book and the paper used for printing (which affects the width of the spine). I had created smaller, soft-cover books a few months back with Shutterfly, and my cover layout was not what I was expecting in terms of placement of the text on the spine (it ended up on the back). With my Blurb books, everything was lined up exactly as I had set it up on the cover, spine, and back cover.
I think the back cover is actually my favorite... I included our silhouettes and monogram that I had also used on the menus and drink signs at our wedding. I'm a sucker for silhouettes!
Overall, I was very pleased with the image quality and the vibrant colors. While I wasn't expecting absolute perfection, I didn't see any problems with skin tones, and I thought the ink coverage was impressive (and consistent) throughout each book.
(I look a bit pale, but, um... I am pale :-)
I ordered three books total — each 12" x 12", 50-pages, with image wrap covers and Premium paper. The final cost for each book: $85.95 plus shipping (which I actually got for free with a holiday coupon code). Compared to how much professional albums would have cost, we saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars and still had really beautiful Christmas gifts for our parents.Does a Blurb book match the quality of a professionally designed and printed album from your photographer? Of course not. Even with the Premium paper selection and the image wrap cover, you aren't going to get the same attention to detail and the high quality printing that you would otherwise get from a professional album company. But for the money spent, I am elated with the final result, and I'm pretty sure our parents are, too.
In terms of timing, I ordered all three books together on December 8; I received free FedEx Ground shipping with a holiday coupon code. My books were shipped on December 15 and received on December 17. Considering the size and number of pages in my books, I think this is an exceptionally fast turnaround time.
If you're considering ordering from Blurb, a few pointers:
- Pay a little extra for the Premium paper; the final result is worth the additional cost.
- Use the templates provided on the Blurb website (or download their BookSmart® software to lay out your book) to avoid unexpected cropping of photos off of edges or in the spine.
- If you have questions, be safe and contact Blurb customer support before placing your order; I had a few questions and they responded very promptly.
- Selecting the option to remove the logo page from the back of your book (like I did with my first upload) will add quite a bit of cost — for me, it would have cost another $20 per book! And once your book is uploaded, you cannot reverse this selection. Unfortunately, I had to go back and re-upload my entire file, which, because of its size, took a few hours, but was worth the $20 saved. And the small logo on the last blank page of each book isn't so bad :-)
All photos included in our album by The Wiebners
September 28, 2009
number 29: the kitchen workshop
We've been making lots of use of gift certificates lately! Particularly those that people have given to us for hands-on experiences.
A few weeks ago we took a cooking class at the Kitchen Workshop in Paoli, PA, thanks to a Christmas gift from my brother and sister-in-law last year. (It allowed me to check number 29 off of my 101 in 1001 list... thanks, guys!) The class we took was called "Quick, Easy and Delicious Weeknight Meals" and was lead by Art, who runs the Kitchen Workshop. I didn't take any pictures as I was busy chopping and cooking up a storm, but we had a great time.
There were 8 students, including Nick and me, and we made 6 dishes in the 3 hour class. I learned some great tricks and basic skills (I was definitely the least experienced chef in the class), and ate some delicious food. It was great to get some guidance on a few meals that we can quickly whip together during the week, now that Nick is back to work and neither of us feels like spending too much time in the kitchen at the end of the day.
Our favorite recipe was the Garlic Shrimp. I've never loved shellfish, but I've been trying to branch out of my comfort zone and I thought this was super tasty. We've made it once since the class, and we tried it with chicken that we already had in the freezer instead of shrimp — equally yummy!
Garlic Shrimp over Pasta
(Serves 4)
8 ounces uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 small bay leaf
1 1-inch piece dried red chili pepper, seeded
Pasta of your choice
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Place shrimp in bowl; sprinkle with coarse salt and toss. Let stand 15 minutes.
Heat oil in medium skillet over high heat. Add garlic, bay leaf and dried pepper and stir 1 minute. Add shrimp; stir until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add already cooked pasta of your choice and combine with shrimp to distribute garlic sauce. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
A few weeks ago we took a cooking class at the Kitchen Workshop in Paoli, PA, thanks to a Christmas gift from my brother and sister-in-law last year. (It allowed me to check number 29 off of my 101 in 1001 list... thanks, guys!) The class we took was called "Quick, Easy and Delicious Weeknight Meals" and was lead by Art, who runs the Kitchen Workshop. I didn't take any pictures as I was busy chopping and cooking up a storm, but we had a great time.
There were 8 students, including Nick and me, and we made 6 dishes in the 3 hour class. I learned some great tricks and basic skills (I was definitely the least experienced chef in the class), and ate some delicious food. It was great to get some guidance on a few meals that we can quickly whip together during the week, now that Nick is back to work and neither of us feels like spending too much time in the kitchen at the end of the day.
Our favorite recipe was the Garlic Shrimp. I've never loved shellfish, but I've been trying to branch out of my comfort zone and I thought this was super tasty. We've made it once since the class, and we tried it with chicken that we already had in the freezer instead of shrimp — equally yummy!
Garlic Shrimp over Pasta
(Serves 4)
8 ounces uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 small bay leaf
1 1-inch piece dried red chili pepper, seeded
Pasta of your choice
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
Place shrimp in bowl; sprinkle with coarse salt and toss. Let stand 15 minutes.
Heat oil in medium skillet over high heat. Add garlic, bay leaf and dried pepper and stir 1 minute. Add shrimp; stir until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Add already cooked pasta of your choice and combine with shrimp to distribute garlic sauce. Transfer to serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
September 27, 2009
number 98: glassblowing at Wheaton Arts
A good friend gave us a very thoughtful wedding gift last year, which we were finally able to put to use recently. Our friend Amy gave us gift certificates to take a glassblowing class at Wheaton Arts in Millville, New Jersey, where you can make your own glass paperweight. We each took a stab at making our own creation, and we had a blast. (It also allowed me to cross #98 off of my 101 in 1001 list.)
Our teacher, Max, taught us all the ropes together, and then we made our paperweights separately. I was a little nervous so I made Nick go first :-)
We were able to choose what colors, style, and shape we wanted. We both stuck with the standard sphere as opposed to an egg shape, and we went with different color schemes. Nick wanted his paperweight to have air bubbles in it, so he put his glass into a mold that creates air bubbles before putting it into the furnace again to coat it with another layer of glass. Here's what the glass looked like when it came out of the mold... it was sort of a reverse-pineapple looking thing:
We both had to wear long sleeves and sunglasses for protection... it was EXTREMELY hot, especially when we were standing directly in front of the furnace. I can only imagine how hot it feels in there in the dead heat of summer.
Below you can see me putting my glass into different colored glass crystals to add color to my design.
... And then shaping it with the wooden sphere mold. Isn't it awesome how it glows?
This is what my paperweight looked like before it was put into the kiln; it stays there for 24-hours, so our final pieces were shipped to us a few days later.
And now, the big reveal... our final paperweights!
Can you guess whose is whose?
The green and blue one is Nick's, and the red, purple and white is mine :-) See the cool air bubbles created in Nick's as a result of using that mold?
We had so much fun... we may go back another time to make a vase, which would be much more challenging but definitely awesome.
Have you ever taken a glassblowing class?
Our teacher, Max, taught us all the ropes together, and then we made our paperweights separately. I was a little nervous so I made Nick go first :-)
We were able to choose what colors, style, and shape we wanted. We both stuck with the standard sphere as opposed to an egg shape, and we went with different color schemes. Nick wanted his paperweight to have air bubbles in it, so he put his glass into a mold that creates air bubbles before putting it into the furnace again to coat it with another layer of glass. Here's what the glass looked like when it came out of the mold... it was sort of a reverse-pineapple looking thing:
We both had to wear long sleeves and sunglasses for protection... it was EXTREMELY hot, especially when we were standing directly in front of the furnace. I can only imagine how hot it feels in there in the dead heat of summer.
Below you can see me putting my glass into different colored glass crystals to add color to my design.
... And then shaping it with the wooden sphere mold. Isn't it awesome how it glows?
This is what my paperweight looked like before it was put into the kiln; it stays there for 24-hours, so our final pieces were shipped to us a few days later.
And now, the big reveal... our final paperweights!
Can you guess whose is whose?
The green and blue one is Nick's, and the red, purple and white is mine :-) See the cool air bubbles created in Nick's as a result of using that mold?We had so much fun... we may go back another time to make a vase, which would be much more challenging but definitely awesome.
Have you ever taken a glassblowing class?
September 15, 2009
Number 40
It's been a while since I've talked about my 101 in 1,001 list. While I haven't kept up the same momentum I had at the beginning, I'm still working on checking some things off my list and I feel like I've been more likely to try new things based on fulfilling goals on the list. It has been quite a refreshing change and a nice reminder of things I could be doing when I get stuck in one of those "I'm bored" slumps. It is absolutely something I plan to keep up with in the future, even after this list's "deadline" in 2011.
Today, I checked off number 40, a large task on my list: finish wedding recaps on Weddingbee. I have written on Weddingbee.com for nearly two years now, and while I still have a few more posts up my sleeve before my official farewell, writing recaps of our wedding day was a huge undertaking which took me nearly seven months (with a bit of a hiatus somewhere in there). I definitely spent a lot of time on those posts, but it's something I'm really happy to have done and I know it will be an amazing thing to look back on when we're old and gray. (Do you think blogs will still be around then? If not, I plan to make a photo book comprised of all of my recaps for posterity :-) Weddingbee is the site that got me interested in blogging in the first place, so I feel as if I have come full circle now.
If you're interested, check out my posts on Weddingbee! And I'll do my best to keep you updated when I cross off some of the other items on my 101 in 1,001 list :-)
Today, I checked off number 40, a large task on my list: finish wedding recaps on Weddingbee. I have written on Weddingbee.com for nearly two years now, and while I still have a few more posts up my sleeve before my official farewell, writing recaps of our wedding day was a huge undertaking which took me nearly seven months (with a bit of a hiatus somewhere in there). I definitely spent a lot of time on those posts, but it's something I'm really happy to have done and I know it will be an amazing thing to look back on when we're old and gray. (Do you think blogs will still be around then? If not, I plan to make a photo book comprised of all of my recaps for posterity :-) Weddingbee is the site that got me interested in blogging in the first place, so I feel as if I have come full circle now.
If you're interested, check out my posts on Weddingbee! And I'll do my best to keep you updated when I cross off some of the other items on my 101 in 1,001 list :-)
May 17, 2009
windy, indeed
Sorry for the lack of posting lately... Nick and I took a somewhat last-minute trip to Chicago last week! We found a great deal and decided to keep up with our annual May excursions (last year we went to Boston for a game at Fenway and to see the city; the year before that, we visited my relatives in New Orleans and went to JazzFest). Overall, we had a great time in the Windy City! Here are a few highlights:
Deep dish pizza (at both Gino's East, shown below, and Lou Malnati's, our favorite of the two)...
Spending time with an old friend...
Gorgeous tulips all over the city...
A Cubs game at Wrigley Field...
Seeing some amazing works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago...
Fun with the bean...
A cool exhibit of works inspired by or designed for the Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign...
Yummy food and good company (with two Chicago bees) at Carnivale...
A clear day's view from the 99th floor of the Sears Tower...
And fun with the fun house mirrors at Navy Pier.
I'm glad to be able to check #93 off my list! #94 will have to wait as Oprah was finished taping her season by the time we got into town, but that will just give me another excuse to get back to the Windy City another time soon.
Deep dish pizza (at both Gino's East, shown below, and Lou Malnati's, our favorite of the two)...
Spending time with an old friend...
Gorgeous tulips all over the city...
A Cubs game at Wrigley Field...
Seeing some amazing works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago...
Fun with the bean...
A cool exhibit of works inspired by or designed for the Obama 2008 Presidential Campaign...
Yummy food and good company (with two Chicago bees) at Carnivale...
A clear day's view from the 99th floor of the Sears Tower...
And fun with the fun house mirrors at Navy Pier.
I'm glad to be able to check #93 off my list! #94 will have to wait as Oprah was finished taping her season by the time we got into town, but that will just give me another excuse to get back to the Windy City another time soon.
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