I Think I Have A Problem...

When I started crocheting again I knew exactly what was going to happen. I was going to get obsessed and start making blankets for everyone I know. 

That's why I currently have 37 blankets on the list and am thinking about who else I can make a blanket for. 

It has been suggested by multiple people that I sell the blankets I make, however I doubt I would make a profit. The price of the yarn alone is more than I would ask someone to pay, meaning my time in making the blankets would be worth nothing. So for now I'm happy just to make the blankets for my friends, family and coworkers. 

But having yarn lay around for 37 blankets was getting out of hand, so I made a plan. I ordered some book shelves off of Walmart.com and decided my section of the garage was going to be used for a gym, a craft area and a yarn storage area. 

And this doesn't include the yarn I have to make baby blankets or blankets for the animal shelter..

My moms response to the pictures was that Joann's and Michael's called because they need to restock their shelves.. 

But I think there are a lot of things that are worse to be obsessed about. 

And, the tradition continues. I'm going to be teaching my niece to crochet while we're in Mammoth this week. She's shown curiosity recently and I suggested she pick a color for her to make a blanket for the animal shelter. I'm hoping she enjoys it! 

Mother's Day

My sister came up with an amazing idea for Mother's Day and gifted us a night out at Blank Canvas.

It's a class setting where a teacher goes over the steps of what to do for the themed picture, but you choose your own colors and in the end, everyone's painting is different.

The theme for our project was hearts.

I really enjoyed myself and am definitely planning on going back. In fact, if we can all talk our husbands into it we plan on all going as a family. And, of course, we want to take the girls to go because we know they'll have a blast! 

I even sent a text to my boss to suggest going as a company outing. We've been trying to come up with an idea for awhile and I'm really hoping we can do this.

Painting has always been a passion of mine, but I always felt like I had the passion, but not the talent. Going to blank canvas really inspired me to keep working at it. I enjoy it so much and I think it would be positive for me to work on things I enjoy. We'll see what I'm able to create!

A Baby Shower

A coworker of mine announced she was pregnant a few months ago at her birthday lunch. Ever since then I have been watching her belly grow and secretly helping another coworker plan her baby shower. 

Then she announced that she was having a girl and the planning really began. 

I started crocheting a baby blanket, and the theme was decided to be a literary theme as she is a writer. 

The plan was to have her husband and son pick her up for lunch and then decorate while she was out. It worked perfectly.. 

I don't think it could have gone any better. Everyone got the baby a book as well as other baby items, including a lot of adorable baby clothes. 

I'm so glad we were able to do this for her. She really deserved something nice and I really think we pulled it off.

I can't wait to meet the baby girl!

My New Hobby

I learned how to crochet a long time ago by my Grandma. It never became something I did often, but the time I spent with her learning is meaningful to me.

After she passed away I became more interested in making scarves and blankets. I would watch my mom create these beautiful blankets and just sit in awe of her talent. So I asked her to reteach me.

Only recently has crocheting become something I want to spend my time doing. I had made a blanket or two and a few scarves here and there, but nothing big or crazy. 

Sometime in April/May I made the decision to make a baby blanket for a pregnant coworker. While at the craft store I then purchased a few skeins of a mixed yarn, with no intentions of giving it to anyone, just to keep my hands busy. 

When I got back to work after my lunch break, a coworker saw the yarn, states he loved the colors and I said that it was going to be for him then.

My obsessive compulsiveness took over at that point and I have since purchased enough yarn to make blankets for 37 friends/family/coworkers as well as baby blankets and extra yarn to make blankets for the cats and dogs at the local animal shelter.

The yarn has taken over my garage and I am in the process of organizing it to keep it out of the way. 

For now, I'm just enjoying the stress relief I get from crocheting and loving the feeling I get when I finish and can give the blanket away.

I love that each blanket I have made is so unique and different from the last. It makes it interesting for me and special for each individual person. 

4 done, 33 to go.. If not more! 

The Start of Summer

Yesterday was Isabel's last day of second grade.

I cried as they counted down to the beginning of their summer with excitement. This has been the most difficult year for me so far.

I took the day off from work in order to take her to school and pick her up. I also do that for the first day of school as well. My own little tradition to be able to be there for her. 

This year I decided to start something else as well. Since school starts at 8 and she can go early at 730, I decided to get her up early and take her out to breakfast. 

She talked about how excited she was to be done with this year and to be a third grader. I just sat there listening to her and kept thinking about how fast time goes by and how my little girl isn't so little anymore.

I think that's part of why it was so difficult this year to watch her say goodbye to her friends and teacher. She's growing up. With each year that goes by she needs me less and less. Our goodbyes when I drop her off at school will get shorter and shorter and eventually she won't want to be seen with me. 

So, for now I'm going to cherish each moment I do have with her, even more than I already do. Each moment she does want to be with me. Each kiss good night and every single "I love you mommy." 

Her summer starts now and so far the plan is to work on some math, reading, piano, etc for a small part of each day and then letting her enjoy being a kid the rest of the day. We'll focus on the subjects she struggled with this year (which we will find out at some point today when report cards are released online). She loves learning and we want to continue that throughout the summer, but it won't be all work. 

She is signed up for a few summer camps, swim lessons and a family vacation or two. I also foresee a lot of bike riding, lego building and movie watching in our future. Maybe some camping in the front yard and s'more making at our firepit. The ideas are endless!! 

It's going to be a good summer. I can already tell..

Here We Go Again...

I've decided, after taking some time away from social media, to make my way back to the blogging world.

I've cut out a lot from my life, and only the things I really missed are coming back. 

I've missed blogging. Not because I feel I have anything important to say, but for my own selfish reasons. I like documenting my life. I like having a place to look back to past struggles and accomplishments. It's a lot easier for me than writing in a journal. And yes, if I happen to be able to be relatable for someone else, then it's an even better hobby to have!

There have been a lot of changes in my life. Some major eye openers, both good and not so good. But I can say, with 100% honesty, that I am the happiest I have ever been. 

I'm really excited to share these changes that I've been making for myself. I'm less stressed and much happier in all areas of my life. It's been such an amazing past month or so and I am looking forward to what the future holds for me.

I'm planning to continue to blog about my weight loss, running, crafting, the house and my family, among other fun (to me) topics. 

I'm really happy to be back.. I think this is going to be a good thing for me. 

Race Recap- Hollywood Half Marathon

I've found myself in yet another rut. Feeling burned out and ready to stop working towards all of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. 

My focus has shifted from my passion for running to my passion for crocheting and I'm finding that I would rather spend my time working on the 12 blankets I am working on than work on adding up the miles towards my goal. 

I've been spending the past week hoping for a reason to not be able to go to the race yesterday. I was not looking forward to waking up at 4am. I was not looking forward to running 13.1 miles. I was not looking forward to any part of it.

And that got me thinking about where I am with this whole running thing. My love for it is definitely being put to the test right now. I haven't gone for a run since my last race two weeks ago. I just haven't felt the want to do it. 

But that's not going to help in the long run. I still have 2 marathons and 3-4 half marathons this year and a marathon and 10K I'm already signed up for next year. 

When we started the race my legs were tight and I kept asking myself why I keep signing up and whether or not it's time to move on from this hobby..

By the end I was ready to get back to working towards my goals and getting back into proper training.

It's amazing what can happen during a run. It's so difficult to explain, but the spark was relit yet again. 

I have a feeling that this love of mine is going through a difficult patch that isn't going to go away any time soon. And that's okay. I'm allowed to doubt myself and I'm allowed to put other hobbies ahead of this one sometimes. I'm working on finding a good balance and trying to convince myself that I don't have to do it all. 

Next race is in 2 weeks!!