Boot Camp: Week 2

I'm back with a report on Boot Camp. Today is officially Week 3, Day 1...so I'm reporting on Week 2. The dreaded Week 2. If you have ever watched The Biggest Loser you know that they always refer to the second week as "dreaded week 2." Now I know why. It's not fair to say it was a dreadful week, but it certainly wasn't a fantastic week. I discovered today while we were at BC that most everyone in our group felt this way. I did a very good job of sticking with my diet and I was very diligent with my workouts, even better than last week. However, I have not lost any weight this week. Honestly, I'm not really down on myself about this (which is darn near miraculous for me). I have a little bit of biology working against me today (the kind that comes monthly), so that could be accounting for no drop in weight. I also think that because I did so well the first week, it was bound to happen that this would be a slow week. So...I'm gonna keep moving on.

Today's workout at BC was out of control. It's actually one of those workouts where you think, "good grief, surely I've lost at least 3 lbs in the last hour." It wasn't necessarily the most fun while we were doing it, but I felt awesome (and sore) afterward and like I had really given it my all. We did different stations for 2 min. each that included things like: tricep pull-downs, upright row, hula hoop (which I'm awesome at:)), clean and jerk, lunges with medicine ball, etc. Then we ran some, ran suicides, did squatting jumps...and went back through our stations again. Suffice it to say I was absolutely soaked when we were through...which isn't the greatest thing in the middle of the work day. But, if it's gonna help me lose weight and get healthier I'll do whatever it takes.

This week's homework is different strength training activities...although we are still to continue our interval homework from last week and of course our food homework from week 1. Honestly, the hardest part for me with the intervals is feeling pressure to do what the trainers have regimented for us versus something that will help me train better for the 5K. Basically, I'm not a runner, so I'm trying to improve as much as I can in time for the 5K. At this point, I'm modifying a running plan with the interval schedule...so we'll see if that continues to work. I guess that about covers my update for this week. Until next time...

Boot Camp

Today is officially Week 2, Day 1 of our Boot Camp. Basically, here is what that means...there is a group of 12 of us at work that has signed up for this program. We meet once a week, on Tuesdays during lunch, with 2 trainers. We do about an hour of interval training then spend some time talking about things like: food, diet, intervals, perceived rate of exertion, etc.

The most major changes that I have made, and all of us really, has to do with our eating habits. It's not as though they have taught us things I don't know about food (if you know me, you know I enjoy reading books about food, the chemicals in it, etc.). It's just that this time I am totally committed to the program...and to losing weight. And it's working! I'll tell you about that in a minute. First, I'll give you an idea of a typical day's worth of food for me.

Breakfast - egg white scramble or egg white omelet with veggies

yogurt
Snack - apple with peanut butter
Lunch - spinach salad with fruits/veggies & nuts/seeds
soup
Snack - almonds
Dinner - baked chicken
spinach salad
steamed broccoli

I really don't feel like I'm suffering with this, in fact, I feel really, really good. I have been eating spinach like it's going out of style. In a week we have finished 2 of those plastic containers from the grocery store. I'm going to have to go to Sam's for some this weekend...they sell those huge containers for like $3 a piece. Hello. For the record, it's not like I'm just super in love with spinach. In fact it was not all that long ago that I hated it, I would suffer through eating it just because I knew it was good for you and you're 'supposed' to eat it. I wouldn't say I'm craving it now. But I have eaten it daily, and most days twice, and I'm growing fond of it.

As far as my workouts go, I haven't changed all that much, I'm just working to remain more consistent with them. John and I are also going to run a 5K in a couple weeks, so we've started 'training' for that together. I really don't have any high or lofty goals for that race, basically I just want to finish...cause I am not a runner.

So there's a bit about Boot Camp...in a nutshell. I'll check in and tell you more each week and update you on my status. In Week 1, I lost 6 lbs! I'm so excited about that. I certainly don't expect to lose anywhere near that over the next few weeks, but I do hope to keep losing some. So how about yall? Are you in the middle of any great workout/training programs? Or sticking to a new eating plan? Or perhaps thinking about running a 5K too?

Ruby

Recently I made a little outfit for a sweet girl's 1st birthday...Ruby. Here's a peek.

And a closer look at the flounce pants. Is that not the cutest design on the fabric? I love the little details...the paisley, the birds, the flowers. I just love it.

I used the same fabric for the 'r' and a coordinating fabric for the background. Notice the birdie right behind the r. I just love these fabrics.
So there you have it. Tomorrow I'm going to tell you about something non-craft/sewing related. I'm in the middle of a 6-week boot camp...and I figure blogging about it will be an extra accountability for me. I'll check in every Tuesday, since that's the day we meet.

Go Rockets!

You may remember that a few months ago I did a custom rocket tee for a sweet little girl, Lauren, whose older brother plays baseball. Well, Lauren has another older brother (in fact she's got 4 older brothers), but she has one who plays football for the Rockets. So, naturally she needed a football tee to support her older brother. I decided to use their helmets as my inspiration for her design. They have green helmets with a rocket on the side that says 'rockets' on it.

Lauren calls her football-playin brother Jordan, Jor-dee...so, of course I had to put that across the back and his number is 20.
I hope she looks fantastic cheering on her big brothers! I'm certain she does. This girl has got the most gorgeous big curly hair. Lauren's also got a few more orders coming up for the holidays, so there's more in store for her.

8 is Great!

A couple weeks ago a sweet girl from church's son turned 8 and he wanted a birthday shirt. I was delighted to do the order for them. Often times people assume that applique and some of the things I do are only for children that are 5 or so and younger, but it's so nice to get the occasionally 'big kid' order. Ethan said he wanted a BIG 8 on the front of his shirt and his names BIG across the back like a jersey. I was happy to oblige.

And there you have it...pretty simple, but it made one boy very happy...and that makes me happy. He had an '8 is Great' party...isn't that cute?...and he looked oh so handsome, as usual.

Big Brother

We've got some friends who are expecting Baby #2...now! Well, kinda. I'm actually posting this today in hopes that the baby comes today and forever has the birthday 10-10-10...cause that would be awesome. Actually, mom was due on Friday...and I believe will be induced on Monday if baby is a no-show before then. Anyway, I digress...

Since this is Baby #2 for them, that's means their little guy Chase is going to be a big brother. (They are not finding out what the baby is until he/she makes his/her big arrival into the world). So a week or so ago, mom asked me to make a 'big brother' shirt for Chase. However, Chase LOVES sports, especially football, so she wanted a sports themed big brother shirt. The only thing she specifically requested was royal blue. Chase has got the most beautiful big blue eyes and this tee is going to look so great on him!
This is the first time I've incorporated a theme into a sibling shirt, and I've got to say it's pretty fun. I think Chase is going to be a fabulous big brother and couldn't be happier for the family. Can't wait to meet Baby #2!

Don't You Forget About Me

Well I figure I better get to work on posting more often or no one is ever going to follow me again. Normally I like to post in order of the way things happen in life, or the way orders come in. But, since I haven't shown you anything cute in a while, I'm gonna switch it all up. For instance, I still haven't blogged about the baby shower I threw for Heather or our trip to Boston. But, I'm in the mood to show you some cute orders over the next couple of days. So I'll get to those things eventually...until then an outfit.

My friend Kendra's baby girl, Kennedy, just turned 1. Kendra asked me if I would do a birthday outfit for her. A couple months ago when Just Ducky had their big warehouse sale she picked up a plain white top and pants, she passed those on to me to 'dress up' for the outfit. When I sat down and talked with Kendra about what she wanted for Kennedy's outfit she said "Pink, Pink, Pink!" So, I took this outfit home and said that I would work some magic and jazz it up. We decided that she wanted a 1 with a crown like I have done for a couple other birthdays, as she was having a princess party too. And, of course, Kennedy's name would be on the top. Then she was thinking, perhaps put some ribbon or rick-rack on the white pants to give them a little something. In hindsight I wish I had taken a before picture of the outfit, but I did not. So I'll start by showing you her top.
Both Kendra and Kennedy are girly-girls, so I thought you can never go wrong with pom-poms for a girly-girl, right? So, on to the pants. I decided to gamble big where the pants were concerned. I knew that she was going to have professional pictures of Kennedy made in this outfit, and I had an inkling that the background would be solid white, as it is with most picture places. And, I kept thinking about how Kendra wanted PINK, PINK, PINK. So I didn't touch the white pants. I made her a new pair of pink, pink flounce pants.
Not bad, eh? Well it turns out Kendra absolutely LOVED it! Kennedy looked super cute, of course. But, I think it's a pretty cute outfit, here it is altogether.
I told her we could do something cute with the white pants for Christmas, so perhaps you'll see them in the future. We'll see.