Day Seven! One whole week!

So I haven't said much, busy with Christmas preparations and I'm sure you have been too. But I'm plugging away at the goal, 21 days straight at the gym to create a habit.( now Suzi is saying 28 days, I have heard them both, who knows. So I am on day 7 and feel accomplished with that, though the last two have been hard! I still did it and feeling strong about my commitment and seeing changes in my body and much less anxiety about body issues on my mind! Join me! I'm only a few days ahead of you, I can tell you how the water is- Come on in, the waters fine!

Day 2

Ok, day 2. I said I'd explain today. Awesome Artist Suzi Blu had a blog post about body image, exercising and it taking 3 weeks to establish a habit. She committed to exercising everyday for 3 weeks and though she didn't present it as a challenge, I took it as one! I've been wanting to get back into the habit of going to the gym and I thought if I know she's going every day, I can do it too. "They", the expects, I guess, say it takes 3 weeks to get into a habit, to make a "rut" in the brain. ( Why is it that it takes about 1 second to get OUT of one.) OK, we were not talking about that. It does seem so easy to START a thing but so hard to complete it. But, I'm committed to this, so committed that I'm actually posting about it. That way I can't go back on my word.(Not that I want to.) You know how it is when you have a walking buddy? I love that, the time goes by so quickly and if you don't really feel like doing it, the other person encourages you. So, I'm pretending that I'm pedaling with Suzi at the gym everyday. Just one day at a time. For 3 weeks. Come along if you'd like, we'll walk together! :)

National Gingerbread Competition

This is The National Gingerbread Competition winner 2010. I saw it recently at the lovely and famous Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. It is so beautiful and Christmasy ( apparently not a real word, but I know you all get it ;) , just thought I'd share it with you. Hope you are having a great day!

Day 1 !

Hey, it's Day 1! This is just a teaser. I'll tell you about it tomorrow! :)go to sleep already! I'm wiped out. Good day, very good day but time for lights out....awww, yawn

I am an Artist. Suzi says so.

You already have everything inside you to be an artist. You are an artist NOW. Feel it. Know it. Believe it. Be. it. An. Artist
-Suzi Blu

ADHD-Told you I'd talk about it! Article by Jennifer Koretsky

Although the stigma of being diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, seems to be lessening, there is still be a tendency for people to focus on its negative effects. People with ADHD, which is sometimes called ADD, are often very creative. They can be driven, completing tasks far more effectively and efficiently than others, and often have a very loving side.

As we head into the holidays, following are some reasons to celebrate ADHD, provided by Jennifer Koretsky, founder of the ADD Management Group, Inc. Check out your local Albany bookstore to pick up a copy of her book, Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD. 

• Compassion - People with ADD have a tremendous power to connect with other people, but also have an advanced ability to empathize with others, and to see many different perspectives. 
• Creativity - Writers, painters, musicians, film makers, designers, sculptors, comedians—the list goes on! Artistic talents are abundant.
• Drive - When an ADDer is bored with a task, completing it can seem like torture. But give an ADDer an interesting project to work on and watch his or her productivity explode.
• Problem Solving Ability - ADDers thrive on solving problems and puzzles. If an ADDer finds an interesting problem to solve and he or she won't be able to drop it until the solution is found. 
• Hyper-focus - The ability to hyper-focus is something that ADDers can use to their advantage. When kept under control and directed towards productive tasks, like accomplishing goals and living dreams, it can be an incredible asset that allows for getting the job done, and done well.
• Sense of Humor/Comedic Flair - Most ADDers love to laugh, and many also have a knack for making others laugh.
• Resiliency - There's no denying that even though there are many great qualities that come along with ADD, there are also challenges. But ADDers have an incredible ability to bounce back from those challenges. 
• Intuition - ADDers have a sharp sense of intuition. This may be due to highly tuned levels of perception, or great insight into the human mind.
• Idea Generating - ADDers are wonderful idea generators. Not interested in being bothered with details, they can come up with ideas at lightning speed.
• That "Special Something" - Many ADDers feel that they have a unique way of looking at the world, a perspective that others just don't understand. That is, until the ADDer meets other people with ADD. There are many good aspect of being on the same wavelength! 

"Broken PEACE"

Little Christmas collage- PEACE

Just thought I'd show you a little Christmas collage. Five photos for me is a very little collage.
I love the little S'mores man in the center. He really is very little. The white disc under him is about the size of a quarter. See the red glass ball with the peace sign across it? Its broken. I broke my peace. It was hanging on the hutch, as it has for years and I bumped into it. Hard. But isn't it good that our peace is not external like that? A "thing" that can be broken in two. Real peace comes from above. Real Peace, peace that passes understanding, comes because of this time of year and a babe that was born two thousand years ago. He lived, He died, He rose again. May you be blessed with His peace. PEACE on earth and good will towards men...

Warning! ;)

Warning! Do not try to sharpen an eye pencil using the wrong size sharpener and your glasses off! It's like trying to carve a toothpick with a chainsaw...blindfolded! I know someone will need this tidbit of info today to make their lives complete. Just saying... ;)

Morning sky

I love to start my morning with a gorgeous morning sky. Don't you? Just snapped these very quickly going down my driveway this am, nothing perfect, but gives you an idea. Now just multiply it by, idk, 10,000X and you will really get an idea of its grandeur!

Rice Crispies with Banana! ...AND drumroll...Dark chocolate Almond "milk"

Just had a little snack that reminded me of my childhood: Rice Crispies with a banana! Yum! I sprinkled it with cinnamon and just the tinniest swirl of honey! I had to use regular milk because I had already consumed the carton of Dark Chocolate Almond Milk! Have you tried this stuff? Have you heard about this stuff? Oh my! I could be their spokesperson! It's thick and creamy and oh-so-chocolaty, PLUS it's full of calcium, antioxidants and vitamin E! I had just seen an advertisement for it in a magazine this week and just had to try it and am oh so glad I did! My chocolate fix minus the fat but with all the satisfaction. Gotta run to the store to get more. Well, I guess I could wait till tomorrow, it is almost midnight. So when I do get it again tomorrow, and I will, I'll try it on my Rice Crispies with banana and with that chocolate, it will almost be a banana Split! ;)