Gratitude Sunday

I am joining Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots in celebrating a few things that I am so very thankful for.

This week I am so very thankful for.... 

- a (somewhat forced but needed) renewed focus on my own health and wellness... down about 14 lbs so, drinking lots of water, eating nutritious whole foods, enjoying more regular exercise and yoga practice! 

- amazingly supportive family and friends. I am blessed beyond belief.. truly! 

- 14 years of being an aunt to the most awesome nephew ever! 

- FALL!!!! Officially, finally, and happily!! ... now if it would only cool off a bit more here so I can whip out the hoodies with wild abandon! :) 

- Mad knitting progress with a whole bunch of awesome projects in the que... I really need to share some pictures! 

- tickets to game two of the first round of the WNBA playoffs today with a dear friend. Girl time at it's best! Go Fever!!!!

- Shane and Macabean snuggles! Snuggle piles are the best! 

- all of the tomato sauce that I keep churning out from my wee garden. The tomato plants giveth and I blend and freeze! 

- Herbs, herbs, herbs from the garden... I am going to hate not having so many fresh ones but having so many dried from the garden will be wonderful this winter. I plan to plant lots more next year as this year I felt like I may not have enough for the whole winter season.... 

- Running across a website for free/pay as you are able yoga for all levels... I can almost never find a class at the right time of day since I moved here so having it whenever I want with a consistent teacher is awesome! (just in case you are interested too.... Do Yoga With Me). 

- the new Jack Johnson CD!!!! I love his music so!!! :) 

What are you thankful for this week?! 

Gratitude Sunday

I am joining Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots in celebrating a few things that I am so very thankful for.

An image from our trip to Muir Woods last fall. 

This week I am thankful for... 

- significant progress on my current knitting project. I promise to share pictures very soon!

- the bounty of my garden! While I have had to pull a few things as a result of neglect on my part and attention on the part of the bugs, the tomatoes and herbs are doing very well! So well in fact that I last night I made and freezed tomato sauce! 

- finding a few good fitting basics to add to my work wardrobe. Since losing some weight I have had a tough time finding clothes that fit well and didn't cost an arm and a leg. 

- Hot Tea with cream and sugar!!!

- a good book!!! I just finished reading "The Fault in Our Stars" written by a fellow Indianapolis resident. Author residence aside, the book is fantastic! While it is a young adult book, it doesn't feel like it yet is a quick read. 

- the offer from my inlaws to help us with a house project we have been wanting to do... and they should arrive about any time! :) 

- a chat with my sister and our texts back and forth. I love her so!! 

- Udi's blueberry muffins! I have almost no desire to bake since I have been gluten free because it just a pain so Udi's treats are very welcome!

- the promise of cooler temperatures in the coming days!!! 

What are you thankful for this week? 

A Few Thoughts On the Garden....

This was my first year using the square foot garden method and I learned a lot to say the least! My hope with this post is to remind myself of some of these lessons when I am super excited and thinking big come late winter/early spring and I need to "reign it in". Hopefully, these little reminders will help another gardener too!

Dear Me (from me in the middle of August 2013),

Please remember the following for (another) happy garden this year (that is also a tad more manageable).

- You love tomatoes but you DO NOT need to plant as many (8) as you did this year and space them out so you can pick them without a face full of tomato leaves.

- With that in mind, don't plant all the "big plants" so close together.

- Don't plan the tomatoes near anything that they can overcome (ie green peppers, hot peppers, and cucumbers).

- In other words less plants and more space!

- Don't plant so much kale, parsley, and basil. You use FAR MORE sage, thyme, and rosemary... especially rosemary! YUM! So plant more of those!

- Don't try and start everything from seed just the really crazy stuff you won't be able to find on killer sale around town or at the farmer's market.

- Layer your potato bins more and give them lots more light!

- Plant your garlic in the fall... spring was a real no go...

- Plant more carrots and in succession because they rock!

- Only plant the stuff we eat lots of (carrots, potatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, and herbs) .

- Try corn again... don't be scared, just do it! You learned a lot!

- Start luffa's early, in a big pot, and with lots of "fake sun".

- Have fun and don't make yourself crazy trying to be 100% self sustaining!!!

What tips do you have for yourself, or others, for next year's garden?

Gratitude Sunday

I am joining Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots in celebrating a few things that I am so very thankful for.

First and foremost, I assure you I am here! Do you ever have those periods of life when you have been super busy and yet when someone asks you, "with what?", you have no earthly idea. Yep, that's me! 

This week I am thankful for...

- a safe and uneventful trip to Atlanta for work this past week. I met a few awesome colleagues from around the country and learned a few new things too! 

- a long, cup runneth over type weekend last weekend when we hosted lots of friends and a few family members for GenCon and other various visits here at the compound. It was awesome to have so many people we love under one roof!

- FINALLY getting my new fitbit! I washed my last one by accident and it died... so I ordered a new one at a generous discount thanks to their awesome customer service but for some reason it was classified as hazmat and took forever to get here! I am not happily counting my steps, stairs, calories, and sleep once again! 

- husband and kitty snuggles upon returning home! 

- McAlister's Deli now offering gluten free bread!!! This rocks my world in so many wonderful ways!

- my totally neglected and totally out of control garden. I sooo need to get out there and get to drying and freezing for winter!

- the offer from Shane's parents to come visit next week and help with some house projects!

What are you thankful for this week? 

Getting It In

A few years back when I started training for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (aka half marathon) and before I realized that I had WAY over extended myself (read, I was in my final semester of grad school), I was part of a training group and our coach reminded us to, among other things like "Have fun with it!", to "get it in". At the time, "getting it in" meant to do your best to meet your mileage goal for the day and week. 

I have been seriously slacking on eating what I know is healthy and nourishing for my body and working out. So, with that, I am working on "getting it in" by eliminating the gluten I have been sneaking in that has been making my body feel awful and by working on trying to get some kind of workout in at least 3 days but ideally 4 to 5 days each week.  

In addition to having a happier mind and body my hope is that I can get back into the weight loss groove. I am sharing all this with the intent of making myself more accountable which is always a good thing. 

So what do you do to help yourself meet your health and fitness goals? 

Gratitude Sunday

I am joining Taryn of Wooly Moss Roots in celebrating a few things that I am so very thankful for.

This week I am thankful for; 

- A lovely weekend of work balanced with fun! We made progress on our landscaping project that seems to be never ending... and we also went to dinner last night and a movie today. A nice balance!

- All of the tomatoes that I keep finding in the garden! I don't have enough to try and can them myself yet but I do have lots so I pulled out "Put 'Em Up" and found a few great ideas for roasting and freezing them for dips, pizzas, and in other recipes.  Having enough to put by is so cool. 

- All of the recent gluten free recipes people have been sharing with me and the fact that I can tolerate some wheat and do not have celiac disease, just my silly sensitivity to wheat. Whenever I read about others experiences with avoiding gluten I am thankful I have some level of flexibility... 

- Another safe trip to northwest Indiana for work and back... and the associated adjusted work schedule that allowed for a nap with the cat on Friday afternoon.

- Time for knitting and yarn loving! 

- The absolutely beautiful weather we have been having lately! It is has been in the mid 70s to lower 80s with no humidity and a wonderful breeze. We need some rain and it would make me so happy but the cool temperatures are such a blessing! 

- Wonderful Sunday night dinner thanks in part to the garden. 

- Sun tea!

- Allergy medication and AC... despite the awesome temps my allergies are still in their summer glory so being able to breathe is a wonderful! 

- The bestest husband ever!!! He's just cool :) 

What are you thankful for this week? 

Today's Harvest and a Few Rows Knit...

While I am not a fan of the recent heat and humidity the garden is loving it! I did a quick harvest today after noticing when I went out for a few cherry tomatoes for last night's dinner that the garden was in need of a slightly more serious picking. So I went out after work this evening and look at all those yummies!!! I still have loads of herbs and kale to pick but am going to hold off until this weekend when I have a tad more time to dehydrate and make some kale chips. 

In my aforementioned effort to get more knitting in I started on a new project last night, the Kat Coyle linen top . I am knitting it in charcoal Lion Brand Cotton Ease. Hopefully, it will turn out as well as some others I have seen on ravelry and I can wear it into fall. So far, I only have a few rows but my plan for the evening is to make a good bit of progress since I will be travelling for work tomorrow. 

Oh, and I have been driving Shane nutty with Royal Baby coverage! 

So what is going on in your corner of the world?