Newest Projects

So Halloween has come and gone.  I thankfully finished the 3 costumes that I was trying to finish for this Halloween.  They all came out really good.  I was so pleased.  We had a great time trick or treating around the neighborhood and loved sharing this holiday with the kids.

This was one of the costumes that I made

This was another one that I made

Family Halloween picture (I made the vest and skirt of my costume also)

I am participating in my first apron swap.  I can't wait!  I thought that after this rush on Halloween costumes, I wasn't willing to sew much more right now, but after I finished the costumes and all was good, I am ready to sew again!  I am joining in at http://flirtyapronswap.blogspot.com .  I am looking forward to getting an apron also.  I am trying to do more cooking and my nana always used to stay to always wear an apron.  I will certainly wear one now after I get my first swap and then I will try to make my own aprons too!  There is also a contest sponsored by http://www.etsy.com/shop/silverliningdesigns6 where a beautiful snowflake is being raffled to those participating in the swap.


I will be working on a few other projects too.  Hopefully some X-mas gifts will get done so that I can feel good about giving handmade things for the holidays.  I have a wine bottle sack on the needles and I am going to make a couple of scrapbooks for family members as well as an embroidering handprints of the kids.  I still have a bunch of ideas to figure out!

Amy

As an aside, I had a tough day yesterday with eating and really paid for it.  I felt pretty miserable last night and am really trying hard to eat the things that I should be!

Halloween Costumes and Food

I decided that Tom and I are going to dress up for Halloween also.  I have started my costume which is a gypsy.  I had planned to make myself and my daughter a gypsy costume and the boys pirates when we went to King Richard's Faire, but we didn't make it this year.  I am using my black under dress for the costume also.  I've made the over skirt already and just need to fix the hem and then it will be complete.  I am going to work on the vest tonight.  I need to make Tom pants, a shirt and the vest of the pirate costume and put the finishing touches on Thomas' costume.  At that point we will be done and we can have fun trick or treating to the neighbors and to our family's homes.

Making my Halloween costume has made me aware of just how much I really need to watch my eating.  I really was aware that I need to lose weight and get my body in better shape.  I have stopped exercising once my husband when back to work and our schedule got more complex, but I really need to get back on track with exercising.  I think I need to just get the stroller out and walk around our neighborhood.

I am definitely doing better with my eating, but I still need more work.  I am really going to try to focus on not having wheat and dairy and decrease my amount of refined sugar.  I need to incerease my fruit and veggie intake and while I was making chicken soup today and I thought that I really want to be more vegetarian (my long standing goal).  I don't think that the rest of the family wants to be eating vegetarian/vegan, so I may need to cook meat for them and eat less of it myself.

I also got together a little sewing/quilting kit that I can hopefully take along with me and have portable projects.  I have way too much to do, but if I can get myself organized, I think that I may be much happier when I can pull out a craft project and actually complete it.  I need to plan out how to get organized and actually do it vs just talking about it!
Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

It's time again for wishcasting Wednesday.  Jamie Ridler asks "What do you wish to shed?"  When I first read this, I immediately thought pounds.  I would love to shed about 30 pounds so that I will feel better all around.  If I were to shed even half that, I know that I would feel a lot better about myself.  I really think that shedding some of the extra weight that I have packed on over the last few years will help me feel better about how I look.  This in turn will, hopefully, give me more confidence all around.  More confidence, will hopefully lead to less insecurities.  I am under no delusion though, that how I look will completely take care of all of my insecurities.  I know that there is more here to deal with, but that is a subject for another time.

Eating healthier, and more homemade foods will help me shed those pounds.  In turn, I'll be following through with my goal of cooking at home, saving money, being more green, and maybe even being creative in the kitchen.  This whole process will hopefully help me to be more healthy overall and isn't that something we all strive for?

Amy

Craft Projects

I am almost finished with Thomas' halloween costume.  I tried it on him and it actually fit really well.  I'm not the best at sewing clothing so the fact that it looked good and fit makes me so happy!  I feel bad that I only made his costume, but then again, he is always the one getting hand me downs given that he has an older brother and his siter is the only girl.  Both the boys are going to be pirates.  I got Michael's costume from another twin mom and tried it on him today.  Man, was he adorable, like a little man.  Eva Rose is going to be a fairy.  I got a perfect dress as a hand me down.  I added a long sleeve top and some wings and it is perfect!  I just need to think if she is going to need a head piece, but I think no!  Probably won't keep it on anyway.

My other project that I am working on is a wine carrier for a Christmas gift.  I know the recipient isn't going to read this blog, but just in case I won't mention who it's for.  This will be my handmade addition to the gift giving season along with a bottle of wine.  I just now need to make sure that I can make gifts for everyone else in some fashion.

I am really into sewing lately, but also into knitting.  I need to get into scrapbooking and want to get a computer program so that I have moer opportunity to scrapbook and not have to take out and spend time doing traditional scrapbooking.  A friend of mine has iscrapbook and I think that is the program that I want.  I have been playing with a trial version and am really enjoying it.  I think you can still be creative and yet use technology to your advantage.

I have a lot of planning to do with regards to what projects I am going to work on and in what order.  I need to get some Christmas gifts made, especially since I want to make most of them.  I am now setting aside 2 hours every week to get together with a friend and create.  I am really enjoying having that time set aside.

I am now off to create!

Amy

Eating

So, as you all know, after reading my multiple posts about my potential allergies, I have been trying to eat better.  I have some good days and some not so good days.  I am doing really good at cooking my own food vs eating out all the time, I just now have to start eating a little healthier.  As I've written, I've been wanting to go vegetarian/vegan, but I know that will never truly happen.  I have totally resigned myself to the fact that I will always be what I've heard referred to as a flexitarian.  I will eat meat, as healthy the meat as possible, but my focus will be on beans and veggies from this point on. 

I have been trying to eat more beans lately.  Partly because I want to for health and partly because one of my husbands doctors has recommended that he eat more beans.  My husband is seeing a dietician soon (something I was supposed to so, but I chose to see an allergist) and she will be guiding my meal planning from that point on.  I have been trying to do better at meal planning.  I have gotten better, but I still have a long way to go.

I had a playdate with another twin family today and I got a ton of new recipes.  My friend made recipe cards from a scrapbooking software program, and now I want that program.  I can have fun with scrapbooking, but not take all the time and energy of getting out all the stuff to do traditional scrapbooking.  I can also now have fun with recipes too!  One more porject to add to my list of things to make is a recipe box.  I saw the one my friend had, and now I want to paint one to put all these lovely recipe cards in, especially since she said she will make me copies when she puts together more recipes.

My goal for the week is to use what food I have in teh house til payday on Thursday.  No more eating out for me.  I am also going to go through the fridge and clean out all the old stuff.  I will be doing soem meal planning for all 3 meals, not just dinner and also snacks (even some thing as simple as dry cereal will be planned).  My friend used dry cereal for snack today and said she does it often.  Why I feel like I need to have real snack food is beyond me.  The kids loved the cereal and even did great sharing!

My final goal is to really stop the wheat and the dairy from my diet.  I have noticed that I am having more gi issues, now that I am paying attention to how much of that stuff I am eating.  I don't know if it because I am more focused on it, or if I am just eating too much of it.  Either way, I now can see why I need to eliminate it and hopefully I'll feel better.  I am seeing an allergist in 3 weeks or so.  I will be having the skin allergy test to see if it correlated to the blood test that I had done.  If so, I will definitely be eliminating these foods forever.  I just hope that I don't eliminate them before the appointment only to find out that I need to be eating them prior to having the allergy test.

This post is a little all over the place, but I guess that's where I am, a little scattered.  One more subject to throw out there is that I am planning on starting to hand piece some quilt squares so that I can have some quilting projects on the go.  Hopefully this will be fun and not tedious!

Amy

Creative Inspiration

I've decided that I love reading blogs!  I especially love reading creative, health, and food related blogs.  My newest blog that I love to read is http://newdressaday.com/ .  I literally just started reading this blog today after seeing the blog owner, Marisa Lynch, on The Early Show this morning.    This blogger decided that she was going to make a new dress every day out of things that she finds at thrift store, flea markets etc.  She stated that she decided to do this most likely since she was turning thirty, she was laid off from her job and she was inspired by the movie Julie and Julia.  So far, she has done a dress/article of clothing a day, and from what I can see, she hasn't spent more than three dollars on the item that she refashions.  She is a total inspiration to me.

After seeing this blogger, I started to get re-energized about my blog that I had started January 1st.  Unfortunately, that blog did not go the way I planned.  Why I thought that I would have time to create very day with three little ones under two (at the time I started this), I have no idea.  Initially, I had the same inspiration as Marisa Lynch, the movie Julie and Julia.  I started out thinking that I would at least work on a project every day hopefully completing these projects sooner than later or letting them become UFO's, unfinished objects.  Unfortunately, this was too much for me to take on and I just stopped.  I kept up with my other blogs, but let that one fall by the wayside.  I plan to start that blog again.  I may not write every day, but for my own sanity, I plan to attempt to craft every day and post comments and pictures as often as I can.  This blog is at http://thecreativelifeproject.blogspot.com/ .

I plan to be creative, finish projects, use the supplies I have, and get organized while doing this.  I think that using what I have is going to be a huge deal.  I have so many supplies and unfortunately thay are not as organized as they could be so I often go and spend more money and take up more space than I should.  Using what I have and if I don't have the exact item that I need, I will look to see if I have an alternative so that I can be a little more green with my crafting.

As an aside- I have been cooking mroe and trying out new recipes.  I am loving trying new things, so I am really being creative in different areas of my life.  I am also working hard at eating healthier and I do well sometimes and then other time not so well.  It is always a work in progress and will probably always be something I struggle with.

Amy

Creative Projects

I have a ton of projects in the works.  First and most important are the kids' Halloween costumes.  I need to make all of Thomas' pirate costume, wings for Eva Rose, and a pirate hat for Michael.  I have to decide on what I am making people for Christmas this year.  I have a few ideas mostly scrapbooking and knitting, that I think will go over really well.  I may even try some jewelry too.  Unfortunately, I have all these ideas and not enough time to do them.

I have plans to get together with a friend weekly so that I can spend at least a couple of a week creating.  I just have to plan what to work on first.  In the past when we have gotten together, we have done similar projects, or at least the same craft.  I am thinking that this time, we can do what ever we want depending on waht each of us needs or wants to work on.

I'd like to spend more time creating.  I'd love to spend some time going through my supplies and prganizing them better, so that I know what I have and what I need to get.  I would love to know where to go to get what I need when I need it, instead of spending way too much time trying to figure out where things are.  I need to get a little more organized in my daily life (which is starting) so that I can maybe I can multi-task a little.  I am spending way too much time watching tv with out doing anything productive.

I will find time to get more creative and get more organized so that I can be more creative!

Amy

Careers

I never thought that I'd admit this, but I really don't mind going to work.  I wish I didn't have to, but I am overall enjoying my job.  Though, I have to admit, I had a situation at work recently that really makes me wonder if I really want to continue down the road of social work.  The situation wasn't directly related to my job, but it reminded me of some of the politics regarding utilization of people's insurance and the questionable ethics of some nursing homes.  I have seen it before, and I know it often happens, I just hate that business gets involved in people's lives.  I won't say more than that except, it is making me think that I really want to branch out on my own and do something that utilizes my social work background, but that maybe uses my love of creativity.

I often write about how I love to be creative and how I wish that I could make a living at this.  I do like working with people, so I don't think that I just want to pursue an artist's life in a studio by myself.  I have these visions of working with people using creativity as a therapeutic tool, just not in a clinical way.  I would love to show people that finding a way to be creative can help with stress.  I actually wrote a paper in grad school about using scrapbooking/journaling as a therapeutic tool in working with older adults and their families and those dealing with end of life issues.  I was actually able to tie it into the therapeutic modalities that I believed that I would use in practice.  At this point though, I'm not sure that I want to deal with the whole insurance situation.  I would rather use my social work background as a way to work with people, again not clinically, but I would at least be able to refer someone if I thought they needed more help.

Sometimes I think I would love to go back to school and get out of social work all together.  I think I would love to pursue a career that is more of a holistic nature, even though as a social worker you are to look at the whole person.  In reality though, that doesn't happen the way I would want it to.  I want to learn more about cooking and eating healthy (eventhough I don't always follow my own advice), aromatherapy and how it can benefit mind/body/soul, art therapy, journaling as therapy, yoga and other mind body activities, and anything else that is similar in nature.

I really do like my job and the agency that I work for.  I love the hours and the people I work with.  This is one of the few times that I can say that even though I don't like going to work, it's not because I don't like the job.  The reality is that I don't like going to work because life would be easier if I only had to take care of my kids.  Unfortunately, I need to go to work to help pay for things, and it is nice to actually use the degree that I spent time and money getting.

One day I really will figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday (a day late)

I'm a little late with this one, but I really love writing these posts so I am doing it a day late.

Jamie Ridler at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca asks:

"What do you wish to fly free from?"

 It's really amazing how each week I seem to answer different questions with almost the same answer.  I wish to fly free from my fears, my doubts and my insecurities.  These are nothing new, but are things that I have carried with me for most of my life.  For what ever reason, I often don't feel like I am good enough in most things that I do.

1.) Now that I am a mom, I often doubt some of my instincts and always seem to be looking to others for advice.  I am getting better and trusting myself a little more with that, but I still have my doubts.

2.) I am often afraid to try new things.  I always want to be good at what ever I do and I often don't remember that there is a learning curve to new things.  My husband often gets frustrated with me (and has over the last 17 years) reminding me that I don't need to be perfect the first time that I do something and that it often takes time to become proficient at it.

3.) I have the best husband and even though I am getting better at it, I often have insecurities about why he wants to be with me.  I know he loves me and have never had someone (other than my family) love me truly for me and not want to change me.

4.) I often doubt my abilities at the things I love to do.  Sometimes, I wonder if this is why I never allow myself to get really good at one creative area.  I often go from one creative thing to another, often because I am so intrigued and want to learn something new, but I really need to focus on one thing and get good at it before I try something new, especially if I really enjoy it.

I love participating in these posts, and sometimes, often, I don't get a chance to reply to others.  please know that I truly hope that what you wish for comes true!


Amy

Dreams

Now that fall is here in MA, we have been spending more time outside and spending time at fairs.  being outside and doing all kinds of fall activities reminds me how I love this time of year.  I feel so much more energized with the sun and the cool air.  I love the crispness, the smell, the coolness that just makes you smile (ok it makes me smile).  I think the first time I really realized how much the weather affected me was this past spring.  I thought that I was just getting old and starting to hate winter and the cold temperatures.  When fall came, I realized that I hate the extremes in weather.  I am not a fan of winter and even more so, not a fan of summer.  I like the mild temperatures that allow you to spend time outside feel comfortable, not too hot or too cold.  As much as I enjoyed srping this year, and that is mostly because I was finally able to get outside with the kids after being cooped up all winter with 3 little ones, 2 of who weren't walking yet, I still really love fall.

As I said, we have gone to a couple of country style fairs and it is really making me think that some day, maybe I really want a small farm with a few animals, a garden, a studio, and maybe even a little cafe (I've already mentioned the sudio and the cafe).  I would love to have a farm house style home with a wrap around porch, a barn that could house sheep and chickens, a small studio where I could spend my spare time creating crafts that I love and maybe even teach a few simple classes, and then there is the idea of a cafe.I would love a small cafe where I could serve people healthy tasty food that they could enjoy on a budget.  That is probably a pipe dream since there is no such thing as healthy on a budget or so it seems, but that is my goal/dream.  I would love a place for creative people to get together and talk and create.  I would love to encourage people who didn't necessarily feel creative to join in and be with people who are creative individuals.  I would love to share this with my husband and my children.

I want my children to grow up in a world where people are kind, where people help each other, where people know their neighbors, and on and on.  I want my children to enjoy nature.  I want my children to create things and not just look to the large stores to meet all of their needs.  I want my children to explore and enjoy all life has to offer.  I want my children to be able to look up to the people around them as great roel models.  I want to enjoy time with my husband and my children.  I always want my children to know how much I love their father.  I want my children to be healthy and happy.  I think that the place in my dreams would be a wonderful place to raise children.  Unfortunately, my dreams are not realilty and  I'm not sure that they will ever come to fruition, but I can always have dreams and hope that some where some way a little piece of my dreams comes true.

This is not the most well written post, but I wanted to put into words some of the things that I have been feeling.  Maybe somewhere along the way, I'll be able to get these thoughts into more of a cohesive wording. 

Amy

Food Update

On Monday, I started to eliminate a few types of food from my diet.  In case you don't know, I had a blood test a while ago that showed that I have multiple allergies.  Unfortunately, they are all foods that I love and crave!  Along with that, this blood test is known for it's false postives.  One of the areas that I showed an allergy was certain cheeses and cow's milk as well as wheat, gluten, and yeast.  There were a few others also, but these are the ones that I am going to have trouble living without, at least initially.

The next step, according to my PCP is to meet with a dietician and do an emination diet.  Unfortunately, now that I am working, scheduling appointments is extremely diffcult with 3 little ones.  My PCP suggested that I eliminate the foods on the test that scored a 3, so that is what I decided to do.  I have been tryin gto do this since I got the results about 1 month ago, but have failed in everyway possible.  I finally attempted it this Monday and I have succeeded so far.  This is absolutely huge for me.  I have never gone this long without wheat, gluten or dairy.  Since it's only been 4 days, I'm not sure if I have noticed anything yet or not, but I will continue to remain as strict as I can.  I do have a dinner Saturday, which could prove difficult, but not impossible.  If, for some reason, I do poorly that night, I will get right back on the horse and eat the way I am supposed to.

I have attempted an elimination diet in the past and I believe you have to be off the eliminated foods for around 3 months before you start re-introducing them back into your diet.  With that, I assume that I won't really feel any changes for a little while longer.  I really do need to make an appointment with the dietician, I just need to find out when I get get a sitter or I need to take time off from work.

So, for now, I am eliminating foods, researching a gluten free, casein free diet, and will also start researching elimination diets.  I will get an appointment with the dietician as soon as possible and figure out the best way to go.  There is the fear that the dietician will want to do another test, but I will have had to have been eating the things that I am eliminating.  That will be better than having to do the elimination diet, but if I am eliminating things, I'd don't necessarily want to add them back in after I have eliminated them for a good amount of time.  I guess that means that I should really get the appointment sooner than later so that I figure out what is necessary.  Now that I think about it, I guess I could actually e-mail the dietician and see if she would have me start eliminating foods or if I should wait until I am able to meet with her.  I guess I am really glad I decided to write about this.  It has helped my thinking process a bit!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday

Again I am joining in with Jamie Ridler at http://jamieridlerstudios.ca for Wishcasting Wednesday.  This week Jamie asks:

"Where do you wish to grow your confidence?"

Unfortunately this is a question that I really need to answer.  I have always had an issue with my confidence level in all areas of my life.  I tend to feel like I can't do things or do them well enough.  I wish to have confidence in all my abilities.

Most specifically I wish to grow my confidence in the following areas:

1.)  In raising my children

2.) In my career

3.) In my diet

4.) In my creative abilities

5.) In my dreams

Overall I wish to have confidence in all things that I try to do!

Where do you wish to grow?

Amy

Where I'm At

Diet:

I have been talking about cutting out wheat, gluten, yeast, and dairy for some time now and finally I am on day 2 of cutting out these pieces of my diet.  I am actually doing alright dealing with the cravings, though that is not to say that I haven't been craving bread and dairy products, I'm just feeling like I have to do this for my health.  I am trying not to just replace the dairy and the wheat and gluten, rather I am looking to eat more fruits and vegetables to replace the thing that I think are making me feel miserable.  I am still researching alternatives to these potential allergens so that when I am really starting crave these foods, I have things that I can eat and remain on the diet.  Any good recipe suggestions are very much welcome!  Since I am trying to eat better and eliminate these foods from my diet, I am also cooking more and eating out less.  I am hoping to get to some good farmer's markets and get some good seasonal foods.  In the process of all these changes, along with feeling better, I am also hoping that I will start to lose weight (I have already seen positve progress in the short 2 days).

Creativity:

I have been really bad at making time to create.  I am trying to use any small amount of time I can find to make things and feel like I am able to enjoy creating.  Last night I got together with a friend to do some cake decorating and even though the decorating didn't go well, it was great doing it!  I am really hoping that she will want to make this a weekly thing.  It will make me set aside time to create and also be with a friend!  I am trying to plan out Chistmas gifts so that I can make things ahead of time and give people things that I have created indtead of store bought gifts.  When I started this blog I talked about getting away from commercialized products and using more handmade items in my home, for me and my family, and to give as gifts.  I have been doing fairly well with this, but can always do better.  I just need to plan what I need to make and set aside time to make these items. 

I am very much looking forward to tomorrows post.  Since it is going to be Wednesday tomorrow, I will be writing my post for "Wishcasting Wednesdays" from http://jamieridlerstudios.ca/ .  I love these posts as it prompts me to think about things I want out of life and puts it in words vs just in my head.  I love Wednesdays!

Have a great Tuesday!
Amy

Diet

Once again, I am writing about my diet struggles, only this time I have postive things to say.  Today was the first day that I probably ate the way I should eat.  I had no wheat, gluten, yeast, milk, or cheese which are the main foods that I am attempting to eliminate.  I am hopeful that by starting and having a good day, I will be more able to follow this diet and I'm even more hopeful that I will feel better.  Today I ate a ton of apples.  I am on my 3rd right now.  I am pretty impressed with myself, given how difficult this has been in the past.  I figure, take it one day at a time and I will get there.  The more I do well, the more I'll want to continue to do well.  I know that I still need to meet with the dietician and get more educated on what I should be eating, but I know the basics.

I know that this is not going to be an easy road to go down.  I absolutely love my bread and pasta.  I also really love ice cream and cheese, which is why I can say with almost full certainty that I have an issue with dairy.  I know how I feel after eating a lot of dairy, mainly ice cream and cheese.  I will so miss eating those foods, but I will not miss how miserable I feel after I eat them. 

I am also interested in seeing if I don't notice as many symptoms since I have been having issues for so long.  I often winder if they have just become the way life is and I don't know how to feel different.  I will admit that I have had worse symptoms in the past where they definitely caused much more harm then how I feel now.  I often wonder if it related to the stress that I was under at the time, if I was eating that much worse at that point in my life, or if my body has changed since then.

I need to plan for the next 2 days until I get paid and can really go food shopping.  I am all set for dinners, but I am not sure what I will eat for breakfast or lunch.  I do have some gluten free mixes that I should use since they are exteremely expensive and I don't want to waste money or food.  I will be spending some time attempting to educate myself on how I need to eat.  I will also try really hard not to replace what I can't have, but to eliminate the things I can't have with things that are healthier and more whole food oriented.  I know that I will need to have options for those times when the cravings set in and you need something to take the edge of without making yourself feel horrible.  I just need to make sure that I don't rely on these foods.

Please keep me in your thoughts as I attempt to eat the way I should be so that I hopefully will feel better!

Amy