Over the past few months I have taken an interest in diet and exercise. It was about time too, because I weighed the most I ever had. Working out and eating right has now become a part of my regular routine. So far, I've lost a total of 32lbs, and the weight is still coming off. I go to a gym and I walk my dog around the neighborhood, but I wanted to incorporate something new into my workout routine. My parents recently gave Anthony and I their old bikes, which are okay, but not exactly the safest considering how old and rusted they are. I really enjoy riding a bike, so I've decided I'm going to upgrade to this beauty: it's the Schwinn Jenny 7-Speed Cruiser Bike.

I am in love with this bike. It's a bit on the pricey side, but I have a birthday coming up. I think that's a reasonable excuse to splurge a little bit. Guess the yarn buying will have to come to a halt for a while.

Speaking of yarn..... I've been knitting like a mad woman. I'm not sure if it's the unusually cool July we're having here in Ohio but I've got the knitting bug. I've also been drinking way too many chai lattes. Again, the cool weather is tricking me into thinking it's fall. Anyway, I cast on for Ishbel last night and I'm in love with the pattern. I'm using malabrigo sock in the lettuce colorway. The yarn is lovely, the pattern is lovely. I have no complaints. It's knitting up very quickly too, which is always a plus! I will post a progress picture once I'm done with the stockinette portion.

I also finished a hat last week. It's my own version of the Harry Potter Gryffindor beret. I LOVE a slouchy hat, so I used the basic formula from the Slouchy Copy Cat Hat pattern just omitting the cables. It turned out great and I can't wait until the fall so I can wear it! You know, that is unless we keep having 68 degree summer days.

Isn't he just handsome?

I am now the proud owner of this lovely piece of equipment....

coming soon.... beeeesharp etsy shop

I will be updating within the next couple of weeks with lots of zip pouches, key fobs, and who knows what else! All handmade by myself. Keep checking back :)

books!

I have finished the first three in the four part Twilight series. Breaking Dawn is really good so far. I also read the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which is really only like thirty pages, but I think that still counts as a book. So I'm on book number six for the year. I'm already beating my goal of one book per month.

In case you're curious, so far I've read:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse all by Stephenie Meyer
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald

currently reading:
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

planning to read next:
Looking for Alaska by John Green

I've also come to a decision about my schooling. For the past year or so I've been very uncertain about what I want to do with my life. Well, I've decided to study English literature while obtaining my teaching certification for grades 7-12. I feel really good about this decision. Now I just need to figure out which school to transfer to. I'm leaning toward either Capital or Otterbein. Next quarter at Columbus State I'm taking some classes that I failed when I first started college way back in the day so that I can raise my GPA. Hopefully that plus all the work I've been putting in recently will help me to get into a good school. I've been sure for a very long time that I want to be a teacher; I just haven't decided until recently that I want to be a middle/high school English teacher.

Two books down, many more to go. After reading the last Harry Potter it was recommended to me to read the Twilight series. I finished the first one and am now reading New Moon. They are great books, cheesy, but really entertaining. I also joined www.dailylit.com and am reading Pride and Prejudice while I'm at work, because typically I have nothing but time to kill at work.

HAPPY 2009!!! I'm only 21 days late. oh well.

My only goal I set for myself this year is to read at least one book each month. I'm going to try to read more than that, but that's the goal. I'm also going to cut out a lot of tv watching. It's such a time suck, and I have lots of other things I want to do. So yeah.

First book of 2009:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
I don't know why I've been putting off reading this. I'm about halfway through it and it's awesome, just like I thought it would be. Next book will be An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. Woot for John Green and his awesomeness. God I love young adult fiction.

I recently purchased this book












if you like pie and you like making pie this book is all you will ever need. I've been reading it before bed every night.

bento go go

I am so obsessed with the idea of this laptop lunch box. I cant get it out of my brain. I must have one.


I finally made some curtains for my craft room. They are yellow and adorable. I will post pictures soon.

I've decided that since I am in school and only working part time, shouldn't my part time job be enjoyable? I think so. Working at the bank is nice because I get lots of down time to surf the internet.. but I think after two years I've surfed as much web for 5 hours a day as I can. ha. It's just not a fun job. I applied for a position at the Container Store, so hopefully that works out. I was speaking with an employee there and she was telling me about the ohsoglorious discount they get.... guh. I hope I get it. I will be an organizational monster. Watch out.