The Laptop on My Desk

Well, I am typing this on my new laptop, however I didn't do something right and it doesn't work wireless yet. So, it isn't in my lap....it's on my desk! HAHA!I will make another attempt at that today. I think I will have to uninstall the wireless box and reinstall it. This is when I wish I knew something about computers. I just don't want to have to pay to have this done.....so I will be back at it again later.

I did finish up the darling kitty tote bag and the bumble bee one. Man I would love to keep these two! Today I will make the floral tote and get to work on more of the phone cases....and try to get something listed in FourDogDay. Sorry, no pictures yet, because I don't know how to do that on this new computer. I'll have to figure that out today too!

I didn't do laundry or clean house yesterday......that's what happens when I get side tracked with other things like computers and FourDogDay!

I hope your weekend is going well. Be sure to get out there and take a little walk today. Even though I was busy with other things yesterday and didn't get my walking done in the morning...I dragged my butt down those stairs and walked at 8:00 last night!

I am not going to drop the ball this time. I even got another Yoga DVD. I was doing Pilates, but that seems to strain my neck and back too much so I ordered a Yoga one that is good for core work. It's my favorite....Rodney Yee. I'm going to watch it today and then start using it this week.

Getting healthy is serious stuff, but it can be fun too. Look at your walks as a gift to yourself....a gift you can give yourself each and every day.

Dum Da Dum Dum........

I am SOOOO nervous!!!!

I am headed off to the grocery store first thing this morning and then..............guess what came yesterday?

My new laptop!!!!! It is so pretty...if a computer can be pretty.

So, when I get back from the store, I will be disconnecting this old borrowed Dell and attempting to get the new laptop up and running. Irv "thinks" he understands what needs to be done and there is a disc that will help us set up the wireless and a disc that will help us set up the printer.

Wish us non-techie people luck. We will need it!

On Monday I should also have the new external hard drive back from the tech guy that is getting all of my stuff off my dead Dell. I will be so happy to have all of my pictures and things back. It's been awful not having pictures to use and no scanner to scan any.

Make it a fantastic day for yourselves, and I expect each and every one of you to get outside (if it's nice enough) and take a little walk today, or get on that treadmill for a little while. Cherin of Lanyard Lady said she parked as far from work as she could yesterday and "enjoyed" a nice walk to work. That's all it takes my friends. You can do it!

Having Some Fun!

My brand new cell phone got a little scratch on the face. I hate that. I am so careful with it that I don't even know how it happened. :(

I didn't want to buy a case at the store, because they are too expensive. There are some darling ones on etsy, but I never buy things that I am capable of making myself......so, I made one. In fact, I made two so far, and I am having so much fun that I am going to make more and sell them all in my etsy shop, FourDogDay!!!

Here are the two that I have done. I love both of these fabrics! These hold a standard size phone, and then I am going to make some that are just a tad bigger for the larger phones. The insides are lined with felt so they are nice and soft.

Here are some that I have cut out, waiting to be sewn.

This will be another awesome way for me to use up some smaller fabric pieces that are sitting here on the shelf staring at me.

It's Friday....be sure to do something really nice for yourself today...like go for a walk! :)

Fruit Smoothies Anyone?

Most people I know love fresh fruit. I see them devouring apples, pears, oranges and grapes all of the time. I am not a huge fan of fresh fruit. I will eat an apple, but it better be extremely fresh and crispy with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. If not....it goes in the garbage. I can't eat it.

I will eat an occasional banana, and grapes are okay. I love cantaloupe, if it's juicy and sweet. There is nothing worse than buying expensive, organic fruit...only to take one bite and have it taste gross.

Like most healthy eating plans, my new food plan requires me to eat a few servings of fruit. every day. I have found an easy way to get some those servings and that is by making Smoothies!

I found two recipes in my new book, "Building Bone Vitality" so I thought I would share them with you. They are both very, very good.

Berry Smoothie
Serves 2

2 cups of frozen berries
1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
2 tablespoons of calcium-fortified orange juice
1/2 to 1 cup of water or soy milk as needed (I use vanilla soy milk)

Place it all in a blender and blend until smooth, adding water or soy milk as needed to achieve the desired thickness. Serve immediately.


Tropical Smoothie
Serves 2

1 cup of frozen banana chunks
1 cup pineapple pieces
1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice, or more if desired

Place everything in the blender and blend until smooth. For a thinner smoothie, add more juice. Serve immediately.

OH YUM!!!

The Difficult Wait

Last Monday I had my bi-annual check up at the Dermatologist's office. As some of you know, I was diagnosed with Melanoma in 1998. I was very, very lucky because we caught it early. It was a life changing experience for me.

Normally when I walk out of the dermatologist's office after my check up I feel so relieved. It's so good to hear her say, "Everything looks good." When I walked out last Monday...I was filled with worry. She had just removed a "suspicious" mole from the back of my upper arm. It would be 7-10 days before I knew the results of the biopsy. The mind games began on my way to the car.

"What if it's Melanoma again?"
"Don't worry Kathy. It will be fine."
"What if it's already spread?"
"Stop it. It's going to be okay."
"How would I deal with it?"
"It's not Melanoma."

And that is how it went. As the days passed I tried not to think about it. Some days I did better than others. Some days the voices chattered loudly. On Monday of this week the voices won. By mid-day I actually didn't feel well. I knew that phone call could come any time. I wondered what the news would be. I played out the phone conversation in my head...the happy version and the not so happy version.

Waiting on biopsy results is never easy, and Monday evening I reminded myself that I don't play those kinds of games anymore. I don't live a life of "what ifs". I don't dwell on the past and I don't stress about the future. I live "in the now." I reminded myself that at that particular moment in time....I knew nothing, so there was no reason to be upset. I calmed down because I knew I was right. I watched some TV and drifted off to sleep.

Tuesday morning when I got up....my mind was clear. The chatter was gone. I felt nothing but peace. I knew right then that my results were in and I would be getting my phone call that day. I also knew that no matter what the results were, that everything would be just fine. I felt it.

My cell phone rang mid-morning. I picked it up and walked out into the hallway for privacy.

"Is this Kathryn?"
"Yes, it is."
"This is _____ from ______Dermatology. I just wanted to let you know that your biopsy results are in and they are completely benign."

If I could have reached through the phone, I would have given that girl a great big hug! I thanked her, told her she made not only my day, but my week and probably my entire month. She said she was happy to give me the good news.

I smiled, did a little girl "happy dance" and called Irv.

This is what my life has been since 1998 and it is what it will always be. I look at every one of these experiences and the scars that come with them as my mini wake up call. It's my reminder to use my sunscreen and wear a hat. I can still enjoy the sun, but I have to protect my severely damaged skin.

Do you have moles or freckles? Do you see a dermatologist regularly? You should. It's all part of taking charge of your own health, and it could very well save your life.

Make it the best day ever!

Fun at the Fabric Store

Here is a picture I took on my drive in to work this morning. The weathermen failed to get it right once again and we only got about 5 inches of heavy wet snow instead of the10 that was predicted. It was pretty, but I give it permission to melt quickly.

Sunday I made a trip to Joann Fabrics...one of my favorite stores. I haven't been there for a while and it felt so good....like coming home. I bought fabric to make three new clocks for my etsy shop, FourDogDay. I learned a while ago that I have to buy fabric that other people might like and not just fabric that I like. So, with that thought in mind...here are the three I bought. Can you guess which one is NOT something I would normally buy? HAHA! I just thought it might make a fun little desk clock. I'm hoping someone will like it! The other two I LOVE!! The green one is awesome and the old fashion looking one is so pretty. I'll show you the clocks when I get them done.

Then I bought fabric for three new tote bags. I love all of these and I can't wait to get started on them! The prints are the outside and the more solid colors are the lining. Flowers, darling kitties and bumble bees!

The fabric store was bright and colorful from wall to wall, and everything just shouted "SPRING"! It was so awesome.

Update.....

Soooooo, are all of you getting up off your butts and doing a little walking every day? Are you eating healthier? Are you taking care of yourself the way you know you should be? I know you are probably tired of me harping at you all of the time, but it is so much better to prevent a problem than to treat a problem. Right? Right!

Since getting my treadmill, I have not missed a day of walking. Without it, I would have missed many days due to the weather here, and just being too tired when I get home. Poor excuse, but I'm being honest. With the treadmill, I am in the basement every single day walking at least 30 minutes. During the week, I'm down there at 5:30 a.m. I would like to increase that as time goes on, but for now it's 30 minutes. I am holding little 1.5 pound dumbbells for part of the walk to do something good for my arms and shoulders too.

My diet is coming along nicely. I'm learning to stay away from animal proteins, including dairy and to get my protein from plants and other sources. That way the pH in my blood stays more balanced and it won't steal calcium from my bones to correct any imbalance. It's really been easier than I thought it would be.

I have found that I can eat a lot of the foods that I enjoy that might throw that balance off by also eating fruits and vegetables with them to keep everything the way it should be.

I bought a powdered calcium with magnesium that is suppose to be better absorbed and I'll start that today. There was another supplement that a co-worker said her mom has been using, but I can't find it in any of our stores so I might have to order it online if I decide to try it. I'm still researching it. Do any of you take OsteoValin? That's what it's called. It's basically strontium.

I have eliminated most of the salty snacks I was eating on a daily basis...and I do miss them. I had some crackers over the weekend and they tasted just grand! It's okay to do that occasionally, just not on a daily basis.

I am losing weight, even though that was not my intention. I don't own a scale, but my clothing is telling me that I am.

Besides all of those nice things that I am doing for myself each and everyday, I'm also trying to do something I really enjoy every day. I'm just taking a little time for me...to watch some of the Olympics, to read a bit, to plan, to dream......

What nice things are you doing for yourself?