My Word for 2021: Committment!

Today I completed my 100 day challenge!!!

I wrapped up the last One Hundred days of 2020 with a commitment to self.

To complete 100 days of something changes you.

For me, I gained a new confidence in myself. 

I learned to prioritize my own commitment to self...with no excuses. 

I remember when I first started I read: You have to have a Day One to have a Day One Hundred! Then pretty soon, I was on day ten, twenty...soon not wanting to miss a day, not wanting to break my '"trend". This in itself increased my sense of purpose and self. 

I gained a sense of control during a time when we feel like we have no control.

So what fuels you? What is your Bliss?

I begin 2021 with a continued commitment to self.

This intentional effort to exercise and be healthy fuel me.

I handle stress better. I handle loneliness better. I handle our ever-changing world better.

Isolation, social distancing, distance learning as an educator have created an independence and freedom like I've never before experienced.  I tire of daily ZOOM meetings and do not like spending so much time on a computer. I walk on my lunch hour and workout when I get home to keep my body active and strong.  I have learned over the past nine months to nurture my faith and vision of self.

What are you taking control of during these uncertain times?

What are you being intentional about?

I've come to realize blogging is not in my Wheel Well right now.

As I personally move into 2021, I wanted to leave some words that will hopefully inspire you to take control of that which you can during this Coronavirus pandemic we are experiencing.

 I have no New Year's Resolution, yet choose to move forward 

continuing my wellness habits and just breathing through so much that we can't control.

Instead of thinking "I'm giving up this and not doing that" think about replacement.

Success requires replacement:

So far, I've:

Replaced complaining with gratitude.

Replaced toxic people with mentors.

Replaced junk food with nutrition.

Replaced overthinking with action.

and now, I'll focus on replacing alcohol with water.

Hoping 2021 finds you inspired to become the best version of yourself as the world needs more strong, healthy, happy people that are non-judgmentally kicking-ass in their life!

With SMILES! Val

Aughhh....

The first rainy day of Fall....just makes everything feel so much better!

New slippers in the mail from my mom also keep my toes warm for a cozy afternoon of binding.

I have found teaching in a comprehensive distant model to be weirdly exhausting emotionally.

Zoom, Google Meets are common place forms of communication and teaching.

By the weekend, I'm just done. I hoping as the rain clears tomorrow to go for a long mountain hike to enjoy the fresh air, beautiful Fall leaves and rejuvenate my heart and head. How about you.? How do you keep yourself rejuvenated as we continue to find ourselves living a new normal?

With Smiles! Val

It's Monday! Today let's:

Here's a peek at Comprehensive Distance Learning from a teacher's point of view:

Our teachers are ROCKIN' IT!!!

Their dedication, creativity and hard work remind me to:
   Attack this day with enthusiasm.

                                                                            Stay Positive.
                                                                             Be thankful.
                                                            Replace "Have to" with "Get to."

        Be a blessing to others. 

With Smiles! Val

The last 100 Days of 2020!!!!

I'm back and as I return to blogging, I'm doing so to share my 100 day Challenge with you! 

What are you going to do with the LAST 100 days of 2020???

During a time when everything feels so out of control and the calendar continues to be a record of cancelled/postponed events. We isolate more and keep our social distance. 

Even upon the return to school/work...the new normal looks like this:

Chromebooks were distributed and teachers are the only humans in the school buildings as our students are taught virtually. I sit in a corner of my office area and meet with classes/teachers like this:

As I start my 33rd year of teaching, as you can imagine, this is all so unimaginable.

I feel even worse for our students and their families.

Six months into this pandemic, I find myself tired and unmotivated. 

But I'm tired of feeling blah. 

I've chosen to control THAT which I CAN and plan to share my journey here with you as this first, give me accountability and second, if I motivate just one other person to do the same...that makes my day. 

So HOW do we stay motivated?

HOW do we reach our goal?

1. CONSISTENCY

2. Your workouts should "pump" you up! 

3. Make it a habit of "showing up" for yourself.

4. Create healthy habits for yourself.

Mine include:

Fitness. I move everyday!!!

Committed to a nutrition program.

Committed to daily personal development.

Keeping an affirmation journal.

Tracking it all!

\

How do you start?

1. COMMIT...this actually will give you a sense of control.

2. Identify your WHY! (More on this to come in future posts.)

3. MOVE...find an exercise outlet that your enjoy!

On top of my daily walks, I'm committing to:

4. READ NON-FICTION...get the positivity of others in your head.

5. WRITE...daily. I will be doing THAT right here on the blog.

6. TRACK IT ALL...I have my traveler's notebook for this and LOVE to track everything.

Okay....so here we go...take control of these last 100 days of 2020.

Set a goal for yourself and share it with us.

Because...

With SMILES. Val

Pandemic Power Sewing...

This afternoon I dumped a basketful of 2 1/2" strips I've had for way too long and started some...

...power chain piecing.

I'm sewing three strips together, then cutting them into 5 1/4" squares.


There's really no rhyme or reason behind what I'm doing except that I plan on sewing them
into a scrappy Crazy Rails quilt pattern. I don't even know what size this quilt will make. LOL!
But I love my scrappy Thirties Repro fabrics...so know I'll love the quilt as well.
And....having an emptied basket of scraps makes this a win win project don't ya think.

 Honestly, it is just the perfect pandemic/summer sewing for me right now. I find myself feeling blah with little motivation to work on anything that requires much concentration. The afternoons are starting to get hot as our temperatures outside are beginning to near 100 degrees.
(Note: I am NOT a summer/heat person!!!)


So, contently I'll continue my power sewing as I watch old 80's movies and maybe a little toooo much Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles on the cable channels. LOL!
How about you??? Do you find yourself sometimes battling the pandemic/summer blahs?
If so,  please comment and share your "go-to" boredom buster??
With SMILES. Val

Morning Stitching

I have found my Sue Spargo Homegrown creative/wool stitching the perfect mental health project during this pandemic of ours. Each little 5"x 5" block offers creative outlet without being too overwhelming. 

All the bright colors and textures just make me happy!!!

With that said, I'm now creating a needle roll for my growing variety of needles.

My mornings are quiet and slow. 

I get in my daily walk, then will sit and stitch for a little bit before getting going with the day.

My new normal during an unprecedented time.

Have you also found yourself enjoying a new normal in your daily routine? Do share!

With SMILES! Val

Go Ahead and Laugh! I AM!

I FINALLY had my annual eye doctor appointment...after getting my eyes dilated, 

I felt like I'd rather stay at home if this is what going out looks like! LOL!!!

Our new normal feels WEIRD!!!

Still Smiling!! Val

Rejuvenated and A Finish!

 Sometimes a change of scenery is rejuvenating for the soul. I can't believe we've been in this Coronavirus "shutdown" for four months now. Of which have found me transforming from an efficient, organized, productive human being to a total blob who can't remember when she last showered! Accept for my daily exercise routine, I've had motivation to accomplish nothing more. Finally, weekend before last, hubby and I took a long weekend and escaped to the mountains. We were isolated in the middle of the mountains and though we didn't do much, as the town we visited was in a reverse shutdown...we did find this view rejuvenating and was the "spot" for my daily stitching. Jackson also enjoyed watching all the squirrels with his "birds eye view" from the elevated deck. Never the less....

I don't know about you, but I’m about over it … over this new normal, new reality, new whatever we want to call it.  I want to go out to a restaurant.  I want to be able to go shopping and not just for groceries. I’d like to visit friends face to face. I'm so over Zoom! I think we’re all ready for this pandemic to be over especially our heroes on the frontline who are surely exhausted.

But with no end in sight, somehow, somewhere, over our four day get-away, I found myself remotivated when I returned home. After a year of no activity, I started Lizzi once again. 
I played it safe and started with quilting a donation quilt for Project Linus. 

As I began, I noticed stitches skipping. A text to my long-arm lady, a few phone calls, and a pick up by my husband, I replace the vertical encoder on my long-arm. (Not bad for eight years of wear and tear...as the pad on the encoder was torn....causing the skipped stitches.) 

Sooner than later, we were up and running with smooooth stitches once again.

I think Jackson was thrown off with my morning burst of energy as I set out to get this one done. I sewed and pinned the binding and got pictures taken...all before breakfast!

But I get to call it finished! This quilt was sewn by a Project Linus volunteer and measures 37"x72".
I quilted it with a Ruffled Rose Pantograph.

With STILL another month ahead before officials even think of starting school again and no adventures" on the calendar...I hope to get a few more quilt tops checked off the list.
Stay tuned!

With SMILES! Val

Be Kind to YOURSELF

Hello Hello my fellow blogging friends!!

I came to realize that it's almost been FOUR months since I've even blogged.
Yet, after getting my hair cut today and chit chatting with my hairstylist...

(I just LOVE getting my pixie cut...especially with the onset of Summer!)

 

...I was inspired to write this post...as for the first time during this pandemic I felt like I wasn't alone in finding myself needing to navigate unknown terrain yet internally frustrated in NOT finding comfort and motivation in all that use to motivate me. For example, when this pandemic started I had  an ambitious list of all the things I was going to accomplish with this new found time on my hands....especially when school "officially" let out in June! BIG plans I had listed, because there was nowhere to go and nothing to interrupt my progress. Yet, in four months I've only "loaded" a test quilt onto the frame and completed a quilt top started six years ago (Well, I guess THAT's an accomplishment isn't it! LOL!)  But, the sewing room more often than not, remains dark:

There are honestly moments where I feel as if I'm failing this "stay at home" thing after being so use to an active work/social "routine". Why don't I want to quilt like I use to??? My hairstylist and I talked about this...as she is going through the same thing! We're both use to feeling productive. We both have ambitious list that we have NOT gotten to...nor do we care! We have found comfort in new hobbies. Hers has been bullet journaling and pen pal lettering. Mine has been my Sue Spargo Homegrown stitching:

I L O V E this project. I was able to sew during my school ZOOM meetings and continue to enjoy working on it, now that school is "out for the summer". The bright happy colors, creative stitching offer relaxation and fun!  It's not overwhelming. It's a perfect distraction from the news that at this very moment fills my background announcing: "Will face masks be on student's back to school lists?" It calms any anxiousness as like you, it seems like daily we are trying to navigate an unknown terrain. A text from my principal just dinged reminding me of our "blueprint" meeting as we as our school's leadership team, begin to outline the reopening of school in the Fall according to ODE orders. (We hope!!) I will begin my 32nd year as an educator in a very new normal that's for sure!

My hairstylist and I talked about how we just need to show up with kindness. PERIOD.

And not only for others but I'm here to say, for yourself as well!  My mind and body shout daily: "Fresh air! Fresh air! Exercise" so I have been intentional about that. I'm trying new things and added a different variety to my fitness regiment. I'm trying yoga. I bike ride. I walk. I golf.

I'm being kind to myself. I finally gave myself permission to NOT accomplish anything at all if that's how I'm feeling. My number one priority has been to be healthy and take good care of myself. And I'm doing that. I do exercise a minimum of an hour a day. I eat well. Annnnddd, I even sleep in a little longer if I awake and being under a cozy quilt makes lingering a little longer rejuvenating. 

But I also give myself permission to stay in my PJ's all day long! As often it's discouraging to continue to keep a calendar that has actually morphed into a document of everything that I didn't get do and people I didn't get to be with. Of course, that makes me sad.

So I guess what I wanted to share, is if you feel like you have no idea what you are doing, if you feel like you are failing at this stay at home thing, know you are not alone. You DON'T have to do it all. You don't have to clean the kitchen drawers. You don't have to learn anything new or even accomplish something. Nope. You don't, Just BE. Reach out to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them. Go for a walk. Watch an old movie.  But know you are doing the best you can in this moment you are in. And honestly, THAT in itself is incredible! BE safe. BE healthy. BE present. BE happy. Yes! Even if it means staying in your jammies all day!

With SMILES! Val

Slow Blogging....

Ugh! I'm such a "slow blogger" these days and can't seem to find my ol' blogging "mojo".

 In reflection, hubs and I are busy enjoying our empty nest, even during a pandemic,
life seems to keep busy...although we really miss eating out once a week.

As a teacher, working from home has been very odd. It's hard to believe sometimes the reality of this Corona Virus Pandemic. Luckily, I have found my hand stitching to be a great comfort during my numerous Zoom Meetings each day as know one can see what I'm doing! LOL!

Anyhoo, that doesn't leave me with anything crafty to really share with you here on the ol' blog. But!

If you are new to my blog, I welcome you to take a look around by clicking on my tabs at the top of the page and my post labels at the bottom of the page. With seven years of quilting documented here...there's plenty of inspiration to be found and friends to meet by following the blog links on my sidebar. 

As always...

With SMILES! Val