Zombie Queen's Everyday Adventures: Life Update

Showing posts with label Life Update. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

WIP Wednesday

It's Wednesday and it's all about Works in Progress :) I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature. These weekly posts will not only cover my crafty endeavors, they'll also cover my schooling, exercising/health and updates on my ongoing journey to become a more grounded and happy person. So, let's get the show on the road! I have a couple of knitting projects going on. They're both smaller projects for special people in my life :) First up is the "Summer Breeze" strappy top for Adeline. I'm knitting it in Nashua Ivy. It's dreamy, drapey alpaca and sparkle yarn. I modified the amount of stitches I cast on to fit Adeline's small frame. I previously knit one for Azalea. She loves it!!! I'm planning to finish off Adeline's top with some cutesy popscicle buttons I got from the ever fantastic and whimsically wonderful Nim of Rude and Reckless.

As you can see I don't have much done. However, it is quick knit and a great take-a-long project. Next up in the knitting category is cowl I'm knitting for the aforementioned Nim. This girl is amazing, she gives me the warm and fuzzies everytime I think about her. We've only met once but I consider her a dear friend! She is thoughtful, kind, funny, witty, intelligent, super crafty and has impeccable taste in desserts. So, to show her my appreciation I'm knitting her the "Honey Cowl" in some handspun pure silk yarn called "Seafoam" that I spun a few weeks ago. I'm knitting the shorter version as I only have about 240 yards. The yarn is a lovely slightly thick and thin single ply of incredible softness. As I was knitting it, I realized that the stitch pattern resembled the scales of a mermaid tail. Nim and I are both avid fantasy enthusiasts. So, "Mermaid Scales" it is :)

That's it for knitting! On to SPINNING! I also have two projects going on. I picked up my drop spindle after months of not using it. I started to feel the itch for my trusty ol' drop spindle. I love how portable drop spindles are and the fact that they are so simple to use. Both of the fibers I'm spinning are from Storied Yarns. Jess, the owner, cleverly creates her yarns and fibers after characters it books and movies. I am an avid book reader. Needless to say, this wasn't my first nor last purchase from Jess. Up first is "The Other Mother" a lovely Coraline inspired batt of BFL, Merino, sari silk, Firestar and other wools. It is incredibly lofty and soft with just the right amount of texture. It has been a joy to spin.

Next up is "Halloween Town" a squishable Nightmare Before Christmas inspired BFL roving. I LOVE the veritable kaleidoscopic of colors in this roving. The colors are saturated but I haven't encountered any felted bits that can sometimes happen with super saturated fibers. The picture definitely doesn't do the colors justice. Unfortunately, the battery for my camera was dead. I'll try to update with a better picture. I am really proud of the spinning for this yarn. I've mostly been spinning textured yarns as of late. However, the yarn I'm producing is crazily even and thin. I'm planning to navajo ply it to preserve the pretty color transitions.

I should mention that both of these fibers were custom made for me because I bought the "Large Surprise Package full of Yarn OR Fibery Goodness" listing in her store. I got a perfectly tailored box of goodies. Last up for my crafty WIPs is a little bit of embroidery I've been working on intermittently. It's nothing special, just a sampler on a small throw pillow cover. The pattern and pillow cover are both from Sublime Stitching.

My life is my most time intensive and serious WIP. I've dedicated myself to getting healthier physically and mentally. As of late my life has been like a roller coaster. As a result my depression, anxiety and agoraphobia flared up. I also found out that I'm prediabetic and have prehypertension. Yikes!!! That is some scary stuff. My first instinct was to just curl and basically withdraw into my shell. But, I managed to pull the pieces of myself together. I've implemented daily exercise, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, positive affirmations and healthy eating. I feel so much better!!! I am slowly but surely getting my life back in order. I am able to leave the house without having a total melt down. I feel like a human again. My endurance has increased immensely and I've lost over 20 pounds. I'm still a WIP but I'm one step closer to actualizing the woman I want to be :)

My oldest and I :) I've also stretched my septum and lip holes ;) Only bit. But, a little is better than nothing. My septum is up to 10 gauge and my lip holes are 14 gauge(they weren't really a stretch at all) I'm not sure how much larger I'll go. Stretching is addictive! I'd like to get my septum to at least a 6 gauge and my upper lip piercings to at least an 8 gauge.

I'm really close to graduating. That has brought on some serious contemplation about my future. What do I want to DO?! I THINK (lol) I've narrowed it down to either a museum curator or librarian for a large academic/research library. Well, I think this post substantive enough! I've got to get the kiddos off to bed :)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

New Year, Old me....

Hello all!!! My, oh my! It has been quite a while since I've blogged. I had all these plans to get my self blogging regularly. Obviously, they went completely out the window. lol I can;t promise that this year will be any better. Life is crazy and hectic. I'm trying to better myself. That takes even more of my precious little free time. Many things have changed since I have last blogged and even more have stayed the same. For starters, I've decided to take a couple months off of school and when I do return I will only be going half time instead of full time. I don't know how long I'll continue going half time. Maybe a just a semester or two. Another change... I've shaved my head! I had a mohawk but that was WAAAAAAAAAY too much of a pain to keep up. Here's a photo of my mohawk:

And this is me now:

So yea.... a goal of mine this year, is to not cut my hair at all. I want to grow it out so badly! But, I do love a good head shaving. Wish me luck on my hair growing endeavor. So for another major difference this year... We have a pup! Her is name is Asoka (My son named her for a Star Wars character) and we adopted her from the local animal shelter. She is a such a gentle love!!! We totally lucked out with her :)

Other than those I think things are pretty much the same :)

I do, however, wish to change that. I have made a list of things I want to accomplish this year. I haven't completely complied a craft related goal list yet. But here is my general list thus far:

1- Take a multi vitamin daily
2- Drink at least 8 cups of water/herbal tea daily
3- Exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 times a week
4- Stretch daily
5- Make more time for my spirituality
6- Read at least 6 new books
7- Journal at least 4 times a week
8- Meditate at least twice a week
9- Track my food intake
10- Make more time for myself
11- Learn to roller skate

I've gotten a pretty good start if I do say so myself. I know all of this wont be accomplished over night. I wont I start journaling or remembering to take my vitamins every day, right off the bat. I have been exercising regularly. I joined a roller derby exercise challenge to help me along the way. The challenge includes weekly lists of exercises and food recommendations. There is even a prize at the end of the challenge. the challenge started today. I am totally psyched!

Anywho I better be off :)