January 17 - A bit from Andrew's Room and everywhere else

1 kids workbench
1 baby gate
1 box with about 10 things in it

January 21

1 box with 12 baby things in and 1 garbage bag with 10 baby things in to sent my friends house where it will get used!!!!

12 + 12 + 10 = 34
1777 - 34 = 1743 things left to fling!


We have flung 268 things!

January 22

1 kids easel sent to Value Village
1 box with old ski pants, toys, indoor grill, and stuff - counting as 10
1 big box with Halloween decorations, baby puzzles, toys, and stuff from Andrew's room - counting as 20
our old set of dishes - about 5 mugs, 5 big plates and 2 little plates ('where are the bowls?' you ask...well they all broke months ago.  it seems we're clumsy)

1 +10 + 20 + 12 = 43
1743 - 43 = 1700 things left to fling
We have flung 311 things!

January certainly has been busy for us!

• I received an invitation to attend then United Church Conference Interview Board to become an official candidate to the order of ministry.  The interview is February 9th.
• I wrote 11 pages in response to 15 questions for the United Church Conference Interview Board.  I handed it in on the 26th and have been taking a mental break since then!
• Andrew started Yoga Kids and KinderGym - He seems to really like both of these activities and the Husband reports that Andrew is quite coordinated (which is good because I am very clumsy).
• I trapped my finger in a bank drop deposit box on the 16th and needed a trip to the ER and 6 stitches.  That was a great way to spend a Sunday Afternoon.
• I went on a workshop on how to use MS Front Page (which apparently is obsolete) and have now learned a bit about code and I'm excited to try out my new found knowledge.
• It was like -40 here for a good part of the month.  Good times in Manitoba.  Good times.
• I've been Hive free since the first week of January.  That's exciting.
• We had a dinner party.  I think it went well and our house got a good cleaning!
• I've been steadily working on my yo-yo afghan and I made a pair of slippers!

I think that mostly sums up January.  It has passed quite quickly.  Now, on to the resolutions!


1.  Health And Wellness

Read 25 books in 2011 - I've read 3!
Fling 2011 Things in 2011 - We've flung a lot!

Eat better and Exercise more - I've been eating 2 oranges a day during the week and playing badminton twice a week!

Weekly Honey-Do Jar - Haven't started yet.


2.  Being Green And Activism

1 New Green Item/Activity a Month -Planning to purchase some 'green' dish soap next time we go grocery shopping.
1 New Fair Trade Product a Month - We bought Fair Trade Wine and it was good!


3.  Career And Crafts

Finish that damn cross stitch (maybe) - I took it out of the cupboard...does that count for anything?

Destash down to 1 Plastic Bin And Canvas Bag - I've been destashing.  I'm down to 2 plastic bins, half the canvas bag and 1 basket of little yarns.

Make a totally awesome bedspread for our bed - Still looking for the best pattern ever.


4.  God's Call

Read the New Testament in 2011 - I read 2 books (okay, they were dead short books - Galatians and Titus, but they're still books)
Complete The Leadership Development Module And take 2 MDIV Courses - Waiting to register until after my interview with Conference

5.  Money Matters

$500 in our EF by 2012 - well, we have like $11

Accrue No New Debt! - so far, so good

Build up our Holiday Savings - working on it

Use The Jars/Cash System - we did this for only 1 week this month.  It's hard to not spend willy nilly.

I like it when crafters post pictures of where they do their crafting.  Normally my spot is downstairs in the big comfy chair, but for the last month or so this has been my crafty spot.

My view from the crafty spot

Yep, I've been crocheting on my bed.

It's been pretty chilly outside and the upstairs is warmer then the main floor.  The Husband got a bunch of Xbox games at Christmas and has been playing them.  So while he's doing that I turn on the space heater, settle in with some TV (when I took that picture I was watching Ice Road Truckers, now I'm re-watching Supernatural), and get down to some serious yo-yoing.  Everything I've got fits in to that little basket.  It holds my yo-yo's (I store them in a Juice Carafe, it makes them look pretty), my little balls waiting to be made into yo-yo's, my nail clippers, my hook, and the joining yarn.  I've usually got a book on the bed too and take reading breaks here and there.  Since I've made so many squares, I have had to add another basket to hold all the completed squares.  It's nice being accomplished!


Sometimes, this little guy joins me and lays exactly where all my stuff is.  I don't mind though.  He's pretty adorable.

Bailey, The Dog

Just some snaps of stuff I've made but never blogged about.

2 Dishcloths made out of the Crazy Pattern!

Close Up of One of the Dishcloths

A Mini Bag -- Which was supposed to be a Market Bag -- Dunno what happened to it.

Fingerless Gloves & Scarf in the same style -- Made For Andrew's Teacher I guess his teacher wasn't entirely sure what the fingerless gloves were when she opened the gift.  One of the boys in the class exclaimed, "They're Leg Warmers!"  lol

Close Up of the Scarf details.

I can't remember the last time I posted a picture of my little guy.  It feels like years.  (Okay, I checked.  It was Halloween, so 3 months ago)  Here he is in his in his sweats with his too cool sweater over top his MarioTee.  That's the beanie hat I made for him in the Spring.

The 5's have definitely been my favourite age so far.  He has some interesting ideas about everything and there is so much he can do now!  We have started him in YogaKids and Gymnastics (well, Kindergymn anyways).  He is so so so so close to reading.  I cannot wait for the day when he reads a story to me!  He memorizes songs as well and is still singing Christmas Carols (much to our dismay).  There was a jolly bearded man and Santa was his name-o.  S - A - N - T - A.  S - A - N - T - A.  and Santa was his name-o (sung to the tune of Bingo).


His class is fund-raising and he told us, "kindergarten is raising money to send to poor kids in Minnesota."  We read the letter his teacher sent home about the project and explain that they are fund-raising for poor children in Lesotho, Africa...but he sure as heck doesn't believe us.  He's adamant that they care collecting coins for poor kids in minnesota.  He swears that's what his teacher said.  

I'm glad someone is looking out for the poor kids in Minnesota.  They are so often overlooked. :p

I know what y'all are thinking.  I really do.  I'd be thinking the same thing.

I know you're thinking, "How can this girl have any more scraps?  All she ever does is de-stash and make things from leftovers."  To be honest, I'm starting to wonder the same thing.  Where does it all come from?  I know a lot of it comes from other people.  My grandma, aunts, and all their little Senior Citizen friends have donated their leftover yarn to me over the years.  Some of it came from actual projects I have done.  Some of it mated with each other and made new yarn.  Honestly.  Girl Guides honour.

Years ago, I started to make Yo-Yo's with the purpose of making an afghan out of them.  I made hundreds of them and then lost interest in the project.  I seem to remember not wanting to join them up because I didn't like the joining stitch.  They sat there for years until just after Christmas when I found a new way of joining the yo-yo's on Ravelry (Oh Ravelry, how I love thee).  Basically, instead of joining all the yo-yo's together one after the other, you make them into 4 x 4 blocks.  Like this:


I love the idea of making the yo-yo's into 4 X 4 blocks with a nice border instead of just monotonously joining them together one after the other...

I had to edit the pattern quite a bit because it calls for yo-yo's with a 15 stitch circle...but mine only have 12.  The first couple of blocks I made are a little wonky...but I've got everything under control now.

I love watching the stack of my squares grow.  I pile them up and move them around and lay them out flat all in a row and then pile them back up again. They all look so lovely.  I've played with colour combinations (like all red yo-yo's), done them in colour rows, made patterns, and enjoyed the pure randomness of the yo-yo's as well.

The only downside to this project is all the ends that need weaving in.  There is a lot of stopping and starting in each square.  I am definitely not looking forward to that.  I wonder if Andrew is old enough to learn how to weave ends in?

Completed books thus far:

1.  How To Survive In Your Native Land by James Herndon
 This is definitely one of my favourite non-fiction books.  I have probably read this book a dozen times.  Every time I read it I am inspired.  One of the reviews on Amazon says everything very nicely:  "How to Survive presents him at his finest, discussing not how to teach (he almost never does this) but what teaching and learning are like. He does this with humor, honesty, and an edge. No teacher, reading this book, can come away without a more thoughtful consideration of his or her own teaching. It is stunning and does not deserve to have been forgotten in the way that it has."  Also, the book is full of awesome 1960's hippie slang.
2.  Listen by Renee Gutteridge
This was my first foray into Christian Literature.  I'm not sure how I feel about the genre yet.  The book itself was an easy read.  it also helped that the font was big and the margins were huge!  I'm also not entirely sure what makes this a "Christian" book other then the fact that the main characters went to church and talked occasionally about God and Prayer.
3.  Shopaholic Ties The Knot by Sophie Kinsella
I did not enjoy this book at all.  I really don't like Becky Bloomwood.  She is so spacey and scatterbrained and boring.  The books are so unrealistic and....and....all about consumerism.  I'm kind of embarrased that I've read three of these books now, but they are fast reads and I can just turn my brain off and read.


What I have on the Go:

1. Monk Habits for Everyday People by Dennis Okholm - I've pretty much lost interest in this book...but I still have it in case I decide I want to finish it.
2.  Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg -  I've actually been reading this book since before Christmas.  It's my Bathroom Reader and has nice little 1 pagers to read about writing and writers.
3.  Unless by Carol Shields - Just taken out of the library, in my purse ready to get started on.
4.  A book about Prayer...I can't remember what it's called.

This Christmas I made these little Mario/Nintendo figures for Andrew out of Perler Beads.  My kid loves all things Mario-related.  Luigi, Bowser, Mario, Yoshi.  Retro Nintendo and the New stuff.  He loves it all.  Surprisingly there is not very much licensed stuff for All Things Mario.  We found a DS case, some little plastic figurines, he got a T-Shirt with Mario on it.  That was about it.

Anyways, because I enjoy making gifts at Christmas time and because I know how much Andrew loves Mario and because of the scarcity of all things Mario I decided to purchase Pearler Beads and go to town making little Mario related figures.  I also decided at the last minute to use the Pearler Beads to make the letters of his name to hang in his room.  What was I thinking?  That was an exercise in wanting to pull my hair out.  (I do have big plans to take pictures of these little things because they are so beyond adorable...until then you'll just have to imagine them).

Now, I have about 15,000 (okay, maybe 10,000) of these beads left over.  All different colours.  Pink, Red, Maroon, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Light Green, Lighter Green, Clear, Sparkly ones, oranges, browns.  Of course it seems like there's not enough white or blacks one to make exactly what want or for outlining.  They are all sitting in a pot on my china cabinet right now.

I need to figure out what to do with all of them.  I do want to make a few more little figurines for Andrew.  I definitely want to make a Fire Flower, Yoshi, and some coins.  But that will only use about 100 beads.  I'll still have 9,900 to use up.  I could make key chain sprites out of them.  They would be good to make Christmas Tree Decorations with (but Christmas like 11 months away...it's hard to think of Christmas in January).  Maybe fridge magnets?  Maybe window hanging things (you know...those things you hang in windows so birds don't fly into them...what the heck are they called?)?  Maybe coasters?   Maybe something for the kids at church?  Maybe make something to sell at church to fundraise?

The hardest part is finding or making a pattern to follow.  The possibilities are definitely endless with these Pearler Beads.

When I was a child at church, I always pictured myself at the front leading worship.  Always.  Even when I was six years old and had no idea what was going on.  As I aged I tried to ignore this confusing fantasy more and more.  I thought, “what kind of a fantasy is this?”  I was convinced that while children were at church they were supposed to daydream about rocket ships or days at the beach; not picturing themselves leading prayer or wearing a stole.  It was even more confusing for me because I also spent a portion of my childhood time in pews trying to convince myself that God did not exist, that he could not exist.  It was a lot to think about as a youngster.

Looking back, it seems like a crazy internal dialogue to have had.  And it was.  I felt a Divine calling and yet the secular was pulling me in the opposite direction.  I played both sides of the field for quite a few years.  Reverently faith filled one week and unabashed non-believer the next.  By the time I arrived at adolescence I was firmly a Christian.  I loved church and being part of a larger community. While there were many questions and concerns about the Christian Faith I felt I had found the place where I belonged.  When I was 15 I had a self propelled urge to be Confirmed.  The public declaration of my beliefs through Confirmation was a wonderful experience for me.  I felt honoured to not only announce my belief in Jesus and my commitment to follow Him, but to also formally become a part of my faith community in an adult capacity.  I was excited to begin this journey of Faith that had begun with my baptism and the vows that my mother and father had made when I was a baby.

As I entered University I somehow ended up majoring in Religious Studies.  In my eyes this academic discipline served to poke holes in Scripture and to cause me doubt.  It took some time, but in the end I did not feel distanced from the texts.  Rather, I felt closer—more drawn to them.  I wanted to learn more and know more.  After graduation I registered in the MDiv program and completed one course.  In the middle of taking this course my life was upturned and I did not proceed with the program.  The next year was difficult for me.  I struggled with a variety of issues including a failed 10 year relationship.  These problems led to an internal spiritual struggle.  I think at this point in my life I felt the furthest away from the Love and Protection of the Divine.  It was a year of sadness, depression, and excesses for me.  Looking back, I think that at that time I was at my lowest and felt like God had turned his back on me.  However, instead of working on myself and looking inside to figure out why I was feeling this way I simply chose to ignore my problems.  I spent that year rebelling (although I did not know what I was rebelling from) in meaningless self-destruction.

Everything turned around when I met my husband.  It was a whirlwind exciting time in my life.  We were married 4 months after meeting in December and in June my son was born.  All the changes were difficult, but exhilarating at the same time.  I felt the love of another individual that I had so desperately sought and I was able to recognize that this was made possible by God.  I witnessed the miracle of a new life coming into the world and was astounded by seeing the Love of God in Action. 

Shortly after the birth of my son, my Mom woke up one morning and was paralyzed from the chest down.  She spent about 6 months in the hospital as she regained feeling and learned how to walk and function again with limited mobility.  My whole family experienced many issues during this time.  The issues ranged from poor communication from the medical community, lack of support from other friends and family members, feelings of fear and confusion, and a very imperfect medical system.  It was during this horrible time in the midst of all these problems that I began to feel like there was something I should be doing to help alleviate others from going through a similar situation.  I just wasn’t sure what that something was supposed to be.  The physicians were never able to fully diagnose my mother, but only would say that her recovery was miraculous.  Today my mother works part time, only walks with a cane, drives, and is able to live on her own.

Over the years I have come to find great peace and comfort in worship services.  I have enjoyed participating in the life and work of my congregation.  I definitely enjoy learning about the Bible and Christianity and spending time in personal reflection.  One year ago I accepted the position of  FSM Co-ordinator and have been working with families and children to learn about God and Jesus and to make connections with others in our congregation.  FSM has a monthly intergenerational worship service that I organize and preside over.  We also have monthly activities that I co-ordinate and facilitate.  FSM has been a wonderful experience for me.  I enjoy working with our minister and being with the children.

While my call to Ministry has not been dramatic, it has grown slowly over the years.  If I were to attempt to describe the feeling in words I would have said that the feeling had become “louder” and that it began to feel like an invisible but firm “push”.  The loudness and physicality had become difficult to ignore.  It seemed like there were messages or signs urging me to voice what I was feeling.  I remember attending one funeral and hearing the minister preach about how we are called by God to walk different paths.  He spoke at length about how the deceased had been called to carpentry and to make beautiful items out of wood.  He told us all that the deceased had even left a successful career in the financial field to pursue carpentry.  As he talked about this, all I could think of was that I felt that I should be following a different path.  I felt that I should be listening to what I had been feeling and ignoring all these years.  This realization felt impossible and yet possible.  It was that night that I confessed to my Minister that I had felt a call by God.

In terms of what Ministry and the different streams mean to me I like to keep the answer simple.  Simply put I believe that we are called to be Disciples of Christ and carry out his work by using the gifts and skills we have been given by God.  I believe that God calls some individuals to serve as leaders within the Faith Community.  Out of those called to leadership roles, some move forward into paid accountable ministry.  I also understand that paid accountable ministry can take a variety of forms including but not limited to working in the community, serving in hospitals, teaching the Gospel, giving pastoral care, and in leading worship.  I feel that the “Song of Faith” describes what Ministry is in simple, yet profound words in the following,

“We are each given particular gifts of the Spirit./For the sake of the world,/God calls all followers of Jesus to Christian ministry./In the church,/some are called to specific ministries of leadership,/both lay and ordered;/some witness to the good news;/some uphold the art of worship;/some comfort the grieving and guide the wandering;/some build up the community of wisdom;/some stand with the oppressed and work for justice./To embody God’s love in the world,/the work of the church requires the ministry and discipleship/of all believers.”

I believe that God is the creator of all.  All that is seen and all that we cannot see.  I believe that his son, Jesus Christ was born here on Earth and delivered his message of love and grace and eternal life to all people.  I believe Christ was put to death and on the third day he was resurrected.  I believe the Scriptures speak to the Word of the Lord.  I believe that God’s love shines upon us all.  He is our caregiver and I feel connected to this Holiness.  It’s harder to describe how I experience God.  I feel God is in everything.  I feel he is like a steady heartbeat that is inside everything, everyone, and envelopes us.  I see God in my son.  In all children.  I feel God in the quiet moments of prayer, in the joyous hymns of praise, in the shouts of children, in the recitation of Scripture, in the still of the night, in the rush of morning traffic.  When I close my eyes and open my heart I can almost feel the Divine presence inside of me, guiding me.

Over the last year I have learned that it is very difficult to talk about myself, my feelings, and my experiences with others.  While rewarding, it was hard to come prepared to each meeting knowing that I had to be ready to relate not only my reflections and thoughts concerning this process but also speak about events and behaviours from my past.  It was also difficult to have members of the committee change during the year, but it was also helpful to have a variety of perspectives and to hear so many life stories and different faith journeys.  The committee was very supportive and understanding as I dealt with my feelings and issues surrounding the death of my father.  I felt that as our meetings progressed we were able to achieve a conversational atmosphere rather then one of simply Question & Answer.  The conversational atmosphere helped us to speak about more personal issues and thoughts together as a group.  We talked about a variety of subjects including the cost of schooling, which I plan to fund in a variety of ways.  They include bursaries, scholarships, loans from a family member, and personal savings.  During this year as an Inquirer I spoke to my minister, quite often as I worked through each meetings topics/questions.  After completing the year long process I believe I have been blessed with the following gifts and skills:  compassion, love, patience, self-awareness, creativity, determination, maturity, and scholarship.

Peace in Christ,

~dinah 

It has crossed my mind on several occasions about how awesome it would be if I were to read so many books in 2011 that I completely blow my Read 25 Books in 2011 resolution out of the water.  

I've fantasized about reading so much that I even make up the difference for the books I didn't read last year.  Last year I only read 19 books*.  I was 6 short for my goal of 25. 

I would love to read 25 books this year and then read the 6 from last year to reach 2010's goal.  That would be incredible.  31 books in a year!  Imagine that.

I like to dream big.


*I read 19 books from start to finish in 2010.  In reality I started reading about 30 books.  My loyal readers will know that I have a tendency to lose interest in books about half way through and put them aside and never return to them (except to return library books to the library, hah).  Or I started to read books for my Discernment Committe and didn't have time to finish them in time for the meetings and just put them aside never to return to them.

I realize that this first few months of flinging will be easier then the last few months of flinging.  There is so much around my house right now that we don't use, no longer need, is broken, or is just simply garbage (ahem, I'm talking to you junk mail pile).

January 14 - I decided to work in the Kitchen this afternoon as Husband and Child are not here and I'm free to keep, donate, or throw out whatever I want.  I've got Season 1 of Buried Alive (TLC's show about Hoarding) on for motivation and I'm making Onion Soup too.


Garbage
1 empty plastic pkging
1 lid to a container...but where the container is?  we're not sure...
1 container of some kind of fruity ice mix for drinks which my friend gave me for my birthday the year Andrew was born - so it's like 4 years old
1 piece of long foamy plastic (I think it was from when we had a couch that had a slipcover?)
1 pkg of cake mix (again, from my Mom...probably expired)
1 gross horribly old cough syrup (that my Grandma gave to us to use after my Grandpa died....in 2007)
1 mostly used pkg of heart-worm pills
1 kids dental kit that I found under the sink and it's all gross
5 little bits of paper and stupid things like a belt hook and magnets missing the magnet

13


Recycling
1 ancient ancient bottle red vinegar - down the drain and bottle into recycling
1 jar of ancient coffee from the first time Steve's parents came to visit...so like 2006
3 big plastic lid to some kind of container
1 jar that had old dried fruit in it

6

Donate
5 Frisbees (I'm pretty sure my Mom gave these to us because her old dog liked them - there was 6, I kept 1)
Package of Child Safety Stuff (plug covers, door handle covers,etc) - counting it as 5
4 toys
1 book
4 VHS movies
1 old lunch bag
1 dog harness


1827 - 13 - 6 - 21 = 1787 things to FLING
We've flung 224 things!!!

January 15 - Still working on the Kitchen...It's crazy how food and spices pile up and get old and then sits there because it's old and you don't want to use it.

2 containers of cocoa powder...I think.  the pkgs are unmarked...
1 container of Chinese Five Spice that I bought right after I got married (so like 6 years ago)
1 pkg of dill weed that we've had for years (probably like 6 now) 
1 container of onion salt that I got months before I even met Husband
1 pkg of poorly stored croutons
4 empty jars

1787 - 10 = 1777 things to fling!

It's a-happening!  The EF is going to experience contributions again.  The balance of which is $1.66 at this moment.


I set up 10 Automatic Transfers of $5 to come out every week starting January 20th.  It's small, but it's something.  And something is better then nothing.  We'll do the $5 for 10 weeks and then see about increasing the amount.

I certainly enjoyed having an EF before.  I remember knowing that we had money there if something went wrong.  I especially remember being able to pay for a new tire on the car and paying for a new washing machine with EF money.  But I can also remember us using the EF to 'cover' when we were short of money.  We did this a few times before our savings scheme completely fell apart last summer and drained all the money out of the savings.. 

Something else I need to remember is that while we saved all this money to go to the UK and saved money in our EF and saved money in House and Car funds, at the same time we accumulated more debt.  We filled up our LOC and our CC balances grew too.  What we saved in savings accounts was negated by consumer debt.  It happened slowly.  It's not like it happened overnight.  We didn't have to get a new furnace or fix the roof or anything like that. It was just dinners out, lunches out, the odd grocery trip, clothes, that kind of stuff.  We have nothing to show for it.  As usual.

So, while it's great that I'm starting to save again (yippee!) I also don't want to overextend our saving to the point where we are cash short and resort to using our CC/LOC.  I also don't want to trick myself into thinking that just because we are saving money that we have stopped spending as well.

I think I will do a monthly post about what we have flung.  Or maybe 2 posts.  Or maybe more.

It might be real detailed. And It might not.  I don't want to commit to anything at this point.

There are 365 days in the year 2011 and if I fling 5.5 (ish) things a day I will accomplish my goal!  Or 167 (ish) flings a month!  Or 38 (ish) flings a week!


January Flings!

5 - Went through Andrew's clothes
5 - Went through My clothes
5 - Went through Husbands clothes
5 - Big Bag of random garbage (papers and stuff)


I'm sure there was lots more...but I did this before I started counting.  But it's a good start.

2011 - 20 = 1991 things to fling!

1 BIG box that I filled with....

1 old scale
1 mouse pad
1 magic bullet cookbook
1 old belt
2 pairs of pants (that I don't think I ever wore but purchased because they were $5 each)
1 shirt that I've always hated, but still kept for some reason
1 stupid teddy bear that my aunt bought me when i was like 25
1 set of safety something or others that we never used
1 discman circa 2000
1 toddler inflatable toy
1 lame key laniard
1 commodore 64 joystick
1 pkg of flags (don't ask)
1 bag that I don't even know where it came from
1 bob the builder puppet for babies
1 pair of infant mitts
2 books
1 dictionary
5 random toys of Andrew's (snuck those in there)
1 pair of reindeer ears from christmas concert 2009
1 popcorn bucket from Planet 51

27 things!  We are taking that sucker to VV today to donate.

I've also filled another garbage with random 'stuff' that I've found along the way - guesstimating it to be 12 things.

1991 - 27 - 12  = 1952 things to fling!

Today we have flung the following into recycling and it feels good not to have the boxes linger around the house:


1 empty TV box
2 empty Dish Boxes
1 empty crock pot box (it was huge!)
Bag of Christmas Paper and other papers - counting it as 2
2 empty mailing tubes that I've been keeping for god knows how long, for god knows what reason
4 98% empty shampoo/conditioner/body wash bottles that have just been lingering in the bathroom for ages

We have also flung from the bathroom:

3 expired and ancient over the counter medication bottles
1 half used hair product that my Mom gave to me because she didn't like it.  Thanks Mom.
2 bottles of ancient lotions that have been around since Andrew was at least a baby.

1952 - 12 - 6 = 1934 things to fling!
We've flung 77 items!

Going through the Bathroom today illustrated why purging and flinging is important to do on a regular basis in this house.  Under the bathroom sink and on the sink and on the shelf I found 3 packages of opened Tampons.  I should not have to buy Tampons for at least a year.  In the past though, when I need them I can't see them because they're behind something or under a pile of other things or just not where I'd expect them to be so we run out and purchase more...and then the same situation repeats itself.  This happens with a variety of things.  Pens.  Yarn.  Socks (I will not tell you how many packages of brand new socks we have--okay, I will--there's 3 and they are mostly full still and our sock drawer is FULL to the brim with socks).  You get the
idea.

Some More January Flings - January 12
We have started the process of going through Andrew's toys and working on getting him to donate, keep, or throw away his toys.  He has a lot of little toys (his favourite toys are the McDonald's happy meal toys).  So far his keeps are at 2 boxes and a laundry basket with 3 boxes to donate and 1 big bag of garbage.

I'd say we've gone through about 25% of his stuff.  I totally did this Clean Sweep Style (anyone remember that show?) and I was the Host pressuring him to make prompt decisions, not change his mind, and probe why needed to keep something.  It worked well.  I let him win sometimes (ie. he's keeping that damn stuffed snake that he never plays with) and sometimes we over rode him (ie. we got rid of the mini toy car garage because we don't have the cars that fit it anymore).  I think the majority of stuff that's left is keeper stuff and now that we've gotten rid of so much we can actually put it in his toy box and in his room.


2 Boxes of Baby Toys/Books with about 12 things in each of them.
1 Giant box of toys with things in it like 2 train sets, old cars, tiger headband, plastic tools, McD's toys, rattles, baby toys, blocks with about 30 things in it
1 bag of garbage filled with broken toys like cars, McD's toys, puzzles missing pieces,  random broken Mr. Potato Head stuff, little bits of toys that we couldn't even identify - probably about 50 things.
1 Sit Upon Rocking Horse
2 child chairs

1934 - 107 = 1827 things to Fling!  (1827 - hah, that makes me think of Pioneer Times)
We've Flung 184 things!

It's true.  I'm tired of being www.whosablogwhore.blogspot.com.  I'm tired of the URL being blocked by some message boards and by the filter at my work.  I'm tired of the word 'whore'.  I'm tired of the title being a question...and a poorly worded question at that.

I'm looking for inspiration for a new blog name.  I kind of want something all encompassing.  I don't want to be pegged down as a craft blog or a mommy blog or a money blog or a blog about God.  I just want to be about life and what's happening and my journey on this life.

I'm also looking for guidance on how to change my blog url?  I don't want to pay anything to drop the blogspot.  I may or may not be tired of blogger as well.  I might want to move everything to WordPress...but how do I even do that?

Some names that are floating around in my head....are exactly none.  I'm tapped out.  Empty.  Used up.  There is nothing going on up there.  Everything I have tried is taken.  All the good stuff is taken.

I used to have another blog.  it's URL is/was www.thatnamesalreadytaken.blogspot.com.  I remember being tired of it because it was un-original and was all about weight loss (or lack of weight loss).  I remember not wanting this new blog's posts being attached to the old posts...but in the end I exported all the posts anyways.  I have another 2 blogs registered to my blogger (both from failed weight loss attempts as well)..but nothing seems to fit.

Anyways...I've spent the last hour trying variations on names and trying to think of something.

Best I can come up with is:
dinahsaid
lifeofdinah

And I think both of those suck.

We are having friends over on the 22nd for dinner and good conversation.  It's been a while since we've had anyone over...and it's the first time these 2 couples will be coming over to our house.  I think this Dinner Party is part of the reason while I have been so diligently purging and flinging for the past couple weeks.  I want our house to look lovely when they are here.

I've also been thinking a lot about the menu for the evening.  Last time (and I guess the first time all 6 of us got together) we had Greek type foods (souvlaki, greek salad, lemon potatoes, grilled veggies).  It was all kinds of wonderful heavenly goodness.  I want to make something equally as wonderful, but not spend eleventy hours in the ktichen preparing it.  At first I was leaning towards doing a fondue...but The Husband is not that fond of fondues and they are a ton of prep work and I am not ready to dig my fondues out of the basement yet.  Then I was thinking of doing some kind of Mexican or Tex-Mex dish.  Something like burritos and refried beans and dirty rice.  But, I think one of the couples are not very adventurous eaters and are watching what they are eating.  I've had my brainstorming hat on for ages now.

So, in the end I think I've put together a nice menu....

Snacks
Veggies with Dip OR a cheese tray with crackers
Hot Artichoke Dip with Chips

Starter
French Onion Soup with really crusty French Bread and Gruyere Cheese

Meal
Lasagne
Ceaser Salad and Garlic Cheese Toast


Desert
Some kind of Apple Crumble with Ice Cream

It's definitely not a meal that is outside of my comfort zone.  Lasagne is something I like to make.  Same with French Onion Soup.  I've made apple crumble before.

I was thinking about doing just appy's with some cold cut sandwiches (There is a wonderful wonderful wonderful little German butcher by my work that has the best sandwich meats I have ever tasted in my life) but the grown-upness of a sit down dinner kind of lured me away from appetizers and sandwiches.

So, my dear readers, please tell me which meal should I go for?

1.  snacks, soup, and lasagne with desert
OR
2.  appy's with cold cut sandwiches

So, this year I want to make the most BEAUTIFUL and most PERFECT and most COMFY and most WONDERFUL bedspread for our bed.  I want it to last forever and to look good forever.  I want it to be a labour of love that everyone loves to wrap themselves up in.  I want it to be cherished for generations.  I want it to be super warm and never rip or tear or come apart.

Tall order, eh?

This is what I want to make.  It's called a Babette Blanket and I think that they are the most beautiful, original, perfect, comfy, wonderful blanket that you could ever make.  I am just worried about 1.) sewing/joining it all together and 2.) blocking/gauge/making sure all the squares are the right size. 
(Babette Blanket Photostream blatantly stolen from the Flicker Babette Blanket Group)

I can watch the photostream of the Babette Blanket all day long.  I am just absolutely in love with this blanket, but like I said above both sewing together/joining and gauge/blocking in crochet are not my strong suits.  I'd hate to pick a project that I will just end up hating.  So, I continue to look for a different, more friendly pattern...and I continue to just watch the photostream.


I am also quite fond of Ripples.  I grew up watching my Mom and Grandma make Ripples. 
(Ripple Photostream blatantly stolen from Flickr Group)

They remind me of being a little kid at Grandma's and making forts with the ripple afghans.   I remember my Mom counting and glaring at the pattern book trying to figure out how to make the ripple. She was never a strong crocheter and the ripple always was wonky.  Invariably she would unravel it and send it to Grandma's for her to make. :p

I love all the possible colours you could use and how bright and cheerful they are.  I also like the repetitiveness of the pattern and how you can customize it to fit any size or space or personality.  I do think every home needs a ripple afghan.  But is it THE BEDSPREAD?  I"m not sure.

I've also thought about doing a sampler or doing a traditional granny square or some kind of non-traditional square (or circle or octagon).  It's even crossed my mind to do another Box Stitch Blanket.  They are gorgeous and simple to make.  I could lose myself in another Box Stitch.  It would be neat to play with colour patterns too.

It's a big decision and I certainly don't want to rush into anything.  Any suggestions?

I am always forgetting what I want to read next or what books I want to add to my collection.  I thought if I made a list here it would help me to remember.  I am always open to suggestions about what to read next too!

What I Absolutely Want To Read This Year!

The Way It Spozed To Be by James Herndon
Notes From A Schoolteacher by James Herndon
Preaching by Fred Craddock
R.T., Margaret, and Rats of NIMH by Jane Leslie Conly
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
Unless by Carol Shields (I thought I had read them all)

What Might Be Good Fluff/Fun To Read This Year

The rest of the Shopaholic Books - I think there's 3 left I haven't read? She gets married, she has a baby, she checks into rehab?
I was thinking it might be fun to re-read the Little House on The Prairie Series as I haven't read them since I was like 10.
The Second Clan of The Cave Bear Book by Jean Auel
Maybe the Outlander Series?
I was also thinking of re-reading Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett and then reading the sequel World Without End.
I want to read some Christian Fiction (the library seems to refer to it as 'inspirational')


Some Titles/Authors/Series That Have Been Suggested To Me

The Sookie Stackhouse Books - I think I may be Vamped Out though
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
Something called Stephanie Plum?
Jennifer Crusie
Chelsea Handler


I think all this equals about 25 books doesn't it. :p  That's not counting the 4 books I have on the go right now (I always do this to myself and then forget to finish some of them...).

Here's to Good Reads!

I made these for Christmas as well.  They took a while to get the hang of the pattern, but once you've got it it's easy peasy.  The key is to realize that you are really working 2 separate yarns and stitches...not trying to work 2 separate yarns into the same stitch.  I just used some cotton I had on hand.  The contrast is lovely (and needed in this pattern).  My first attempt was a beige with dark beige.  It was impossible to keep track of what I was doing.

Spiral Dishcloth

Around and Around We Go!

I made these two flower hot pads for my mother for Christmas.  I like how they look.  I think they look wonderful.  Bright and Cheery.

But - there are 2 big problems with them.

1.  You'll notice it's more of that awful awful awful acrylic pink that I seem to have a never ending horrible supply of.  Blech.  It's true.  There was tons of it.  Both pink and blue.  There's still more.  I'm sick of it.  Sick of the bad acrylic that is rough and thick and fake feeling.  I think I'm going to let the BAD PINK ACRYLIC CRAPPY YARN (and the blue stuff too) have a rest and just sit in my stash for now.

2.  I think I discovered what 'killing acrylic' is.  Once you attach all the pieces you're supposed to iron the hot pad so the middle petals lay flat.  Well...you can't tell from the pictures but the BAD PINK ACRYLIC CRAPPY YARN all kind of fused together and started to look almost dirty?  I was so not impressed.  NOT IMPRESSED.  Also the because it all started fuse together it now has that initial iron in it's memory (if that makes sense) -- even though some of the petals were not perfect.  I tried to fix it...but it didn't work.  What a way to end a project.  I"m glad I only made 2 of them to start.  The variegated yarn is cotton and it ironed quite well.  I was pleased with that.

Super Close Up Of Hotpad

Phew. Glad I got all that out of my system. I feel a little better now. Sort Of.


I don't even know if I want to put these on Ravelry cause they turned out so icky (see, see that one inside petal that is not LAYING NICELY FLAT?  Gah!).

I thought that it would be a good idea to do a BIG OL' RECAP of all the resolutions I've decided on. 

If you're tired of all this resolution talk and navel gazing then just let your eyes glaze over and click away.  It's okay.  I understand.  Repetition is boring for readers.  This is mostly just for me, because the more I write about my resolutions, the more I will actually remember what they are and follow through.  Hah.

1.  Health And Wellness

Read 25 books in 2011
Fling 2011 Things in 2011
Eat better and Exercise more
Weekly Honey-Do Jar

2.  Being Green And Activism

1 New Green Item/Activity a Month
1 New Fair Trade Product a Month

3.  Career And Crafts

Finish that damn cross stitch (maybe)
Destash down to 1 Plastic Bin And Canvas Bag
Make a totally awesome bedspread for our bed

4.  God's Call

Read the New Testament in 2011
Complete The Leadership Development Module And take 2 MDIV Courses

5.  Money Matters

$500 in our EF by 2012
Accrue No New Debt!
Build up our Holiday Savings
Use The Jars/Cash System

I plan to set up side bars for the stuff that needs side bars and I'll update them as I go along. 

I'm excited to get flinging, researching new products, reading, and saving money!  2011 here I come!

Money Matters

• Build up our EF again. -- $500 in our EF by 2012.  That means we need to save $42 a month (or about $9 a week)  to have about $500 in 12 months.  I think that's doable.  Easily trackable with a sidebar!
• Develop a realistic plan with regards to paying down our CC debt/loan debt.-- I want to think more about this still and run numbers.  A good place to start is by not accruing any more debt.  This is my first goal in regards to debt!
• Build up our Holiday Savings again. -- Up first is saving for our February Weekend Getaway for Husbands Birthday.  Details to follow.  This also calls for a sidebar!
• Go Back on the Jars -This has begun!  Took the money out yesterday.  The big thing with this is PERSEVERANCE for us.  Even if we fall of the cash bandwagon, I want to get right back on it ASAP.  None of this, "Oh well, we have fallen off...best to forget about it".  Nuh - uh.  We are going to perservere on this one!

• I want to move more into purchasing 'green' products.  -- The goal being to either move 1 new 'green' product into our usage (ie. shampoo, soap, clothing) or to move 1 new 'green' activity into our lives (ie. bussing, reusing something, whatever, not using something that is not green).
• I also want to begin purchasing Fair Trade Products -- The goal being to move 1 new Fair Trade Product into our usage (ie. coffee, soap, make up, whatever).

These are both easy to track with a sidebar and fairly self explanatory.

• Complete the Leadership Development Module this spring/summer and register for an appropriate number of MDIV courses for the fall/winter -- Self Explanatory and something that I am eager to start!
• Read the New Testament in 2011 - Definitely going to do this again.  Self explanatory and easily trackable with a side bar.

All that's left to talk about is the Money Matters stuff.  & I'm not sure what all I want to say about that stuff yet.  More thinking to do.

It's feeling nice to be reflecting and musing about stuff and things again.  Hah.  Stuff and Things.  I'm so descriptive.

So, lets hash these goals out some more.  Figure out what exactly I want to do in 2011. 

Let's start out with #1 on the list

1. Health And Wellness

• Read 25 books in 2011 - Pretty self explanatory and easy to track with a sidebar.
• Fling 2011 Things in 2011 - Anything that leaves the house either to the garbage, donating, selling, or giving away counts EXCEPT for paper.  I'm not sure exactly how to deal with paper.  1 piece of paper cannot count for 1 thing (or can it?).  Maybe 5 pieces of paper will equal 1 item?  Or I could just decide as I go along.  This is also easy to track with a sidebar.  I may or may not blog about all the items we get rid of (I mean, do I really want to come on here and post every time we throw out a tupperware container that we can't find a lid for? -- probably not). 
  
  We need to focus on purging toys, paperwork, kitchen related items, and my Dad's stuff (tools mostly) that has taken up space in the basement.
• I want to eat better and exercise more.  - Still not sure about this one...might just stay as a general goal.
  
  I have been playing badminton at lunch with the guys once or twice a week.  I definitely want to keep that up.  I want to go for family walks again.  I definitely want to walk the dog more.  I want to exercise at home again.  I am going to think about this more.
• Weekly Honey-Do Jar - Pretty self explanatory and easy to track with a sidebar.  1 Jar, items written on paper and in the jar, 1 Honey-Do drawn each week.  I don't want these to be stressful or all to time consuming things though.  Stuff like 'arrange cutlery drawer', 'clean fridge', 'vacuum stairs' (something we never seem to do) are good.  I am wondering if there should be 2 jars - 1 with things Husband is good at doing and 1 with things I'm good at doing?

• Read 25 books in 2011 - I worked on this last year.  It was about the only thing I kept up with, but I didn't make the 25 goal.  I think I ended up at about 19 books read.  I have a problem with getting about half way through a book and losing interest and never finishing it.  Right now I have 4 books on the go...so that's a good start!
• Fling 2011 Things in 2011 - I need to declutter.  We have so much stuff it's becoming ridiculous.  I started this the other night.  We went through our closets/drawers and took out all the old clothing we never wear anymore.
• I want to eat better and exercise more.  But I'm not sure how exactly I want to go about this yet.  I want to eat less chips and walk the dog more, but I don't want to get into so many walks a day and so many veggies a week....it's too much to track and to easy for me to fall of the wagon.
• Honey-Do Jar - I want to make a Honey-Do jar for both me and the Husband to work on - maybe do 1 thing each out of it a week?

• I want to move more into purchasing 'green' products.  Right now we purchase environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent.  I bought green laundry detergent last week.  I want to investigate other products and stick with buying good for the Earth things.  I'm thinking I'd like to add 1 new product or 1 new green activity (ie. hanging clothes to dry or something) every month into what we purchase/do.
• I also want to begin purchasing Fair Trade Products and move them into our rotation for products.  I'm thinking that 1 new product every month is a good as well for this one.

• Build up our EF again.  It's true.  We have no EF anymore.  It's kaput.  Gonzo.  Bit the Dust. I'd like to have $500 in our EF by 2012.
• Develop a realistic plan with regards to paying down our CC debt/loan debt.  I'm not sure what it is yet...but I don't want to declare 'pay off all debt' and then not be able to follow through and lose interest and give up all together (remember, learning from my mistakes this year!)
• Build up our Holiday Savings again.  I'd like to go camping this summer (more then once!) and go somewhere warm next winter too.
• Go Back on the Jars - Living on cash for variable spending is the way to go for us and will make us stop to think about every purchase we make (especially regarding those expensive dinners we're so fond of).

• Finish that damn cross stitch. Or at least get it mostly done?
• Destash - I made a good go at this last year, but I seriously still have so much yarn that I need to do something with it all because it's just sitting in tubs/bins and taking up space.
• Make a bedspread for our bed.  I really want to do this...but I can't find the PERFECT pattern yet.
• Career Stuff?   I dunno.  Keep plugging away?  Apply at what interests me?  I don't really like my job, but I like the benefits and flexibility I get.  The benefits (extra holidays, time off) and flexibility are going to be very important this year.  I think I might just plan on staying put (unless something fabulous drops itself in my lap).

• Complete the Leadership Development Module this spring/summer and register for an appropriate number of MDIV courses (hoping for at least 2) for the fall/winter (dependant on timetabling and scheduling).
• Read the New Testament in 2011 - This was a goal from 2010 that I did not complete.  I read 2 books in their entirety - Matthew & Mark.  I am making this a goal again this year. 

So, I think that's everything that's floating around in my head without going crazy.  Some of them will require daily attention, some weekly, & some monthly.  I wonder if some should be 'must do's!' and if some should be 'would be nice to do's!'  Some of them are no-brainers.  Like taking the Leadership Development Module and working on destashing.

Last year very early in the New Year I wrote that 2009 was a year of CHALLENGE for my family (and boy it sure was).  We faced many challenges in 2009.

If I had to describe 2010 up in a word or phrase I think it would have to be a year of MISFORTUNE.  That's my polite way of phrasing it.  If I was just letting it all hang out here I might call it the year of SUCKING BIG DONKEY BALLS.  It sure seemed like me and everyone I know was being hit with bad shit from all corners.  Some Major.  Some Minor.  I don't want to get into it again.  If you desperately want to know what happened you can skulk my old posts, but a lot of it I didn't even Blog about.  I know I did a lot of posts that were just pictures of things I've made and I focused on reflective posts for my Discernment Year.  Oh and I blogged about our Trip to the UK quite a bit as well.  I suppose I was trying to focus on the positive and stay in some kind of happyish little bubble.  But lets move on.  I say I don't want to focus on it and then I start going on about 2010 again.

It almost seemed fitting (in a sad sad way) to end 2010 with an allergic reaction to antibiotics covered in hives sitting in the ER being triaged (literally we rang in 2011 as the nurse was taking my blood pressure).  It's like my body was trying to purge 2010 out of it making way for 2011.

What do I want 2011 to be?  Hmm...it's a lot to think about.  So far this year seems so open to possibilities and potential.  But, so did the beginning of last year and look what happened there. 

I want 2011 to be the year that I PERSERVERE.  I want it to be the year that when unexpected things happen that I don't fall off track, that instead I just take a small detour and get back on the road.  I want it to be the year where I stay focused, where I follow through. I want it to be the year where I continue on long after others have stopped or long after I normally stop.  I also want 2011 to be the year or realistic goals and plans.  I don't want to make grandiose statements and then not follow through at all (which is what has happened in the past).  I don't want to get distracted in 2011.  I don't want to drop what I start and climb onto another bandwagon (or blogwagon).

In short.  I want a lot.  Hah.  I think for me the trick will be to not want everything.  To not want to accomplish everything.  To not want to do everything.  To not want to fix everything.  It's hard for me to actually look at things realistically and make a doable plan with reasonable steps.  I need a map.  That's what I need.

Hello World!  Hello 2011!  Hello Interwebs!  Hello Myself!

I've been pretty much AWOL from blogging over this Christmas Season.  Things have been super busy with work (well, sort of--okay, not really), church,  crafting, preparing for the Holidays, visiting with family/friends, and then recovering from an allergic reaction (HIVES!  HIVES!  Everywhere!  On Me!  2 trips to the ER!  Eleventy!) for the better part of 10 days.  But I am Hive free now (mostly, I can still feel some lurking underneath my skin) and I am finally ready to welcome 2011 into my life.

I remember last year at this time I had so many hopes and plans and dreams for 2010...that all kind of fizzled when bad stuff started happening.  I didn't succeed at any of my goals for 2010...same as from 2009 (oh, heck, lets just say that I have never followed through on any resolutions EVER).  I didn't read 25 books (although I tried...I read more then I've ever read in years).  I didn't read the New Testatment.  Heck, in true Dinah fashion I never even made any goals for half of the areas I wanted to focus on in 2010.

I wrote this January 1st, 2010:

This year, for 2010, I don't want to jump into anything. I don't want to panic and write something just because that's what everyone else is doing. I really need to sit down and examine what I need to work on in 2010 and what I want to work on. I need to have a plan with steps, not just a vague statement. I want to work on what I am passionate about. I want to change myself and the world and my family.


I'm going to hopefully have about a weeks worth of meditative and reflective blog posts detailing what's going to happen in 2010. This might look like a month by month strategy. Or something more open, without any numerical boundaries.


I believe I want to focus on these areas in 2010:


1. Health And Wellness
2. Being Green
3. Money Matters
4. Career And Business
5. God's Call

I'm thinking I should just cross out 2010 in that block quote and replace it with 2011 and try again.  I know I'm on to something here...I know I am dagnabit!

This year, for 2010 2011, I don't want to jump into anything. I don't want to panic and write something just because that's what everyone else is doing. I really need to sit down and examine what I need to work on in 2010 2011 and what I want to work on. I need to have a plan with steps, not just a vague statement. I want to work on what I am passionate about. I want to change myself and the world and my family.


I'm going to hopefully have about a weeks worth of meditative and reflective blog posts detailing what's going to happen in 2010 2011. This might look like a month by month strategy. Or something more open, without any numerical boundaries.


I believe I want to focus on these areas in 2010 2011:


1. Health And Wellness
2. Being Green
3. Money Matters
4. Career And Business
5. God's Call

There.  That feels better.  Hah!  I've got a new(used) plan for 2011. 

Stay tuned!