What a blah day turned into a yoga review

Not much to report on the knitting front. I did get some pics uploaded of my yarn over cable socks so will get them on here.

I've not been doing a lot of knitting lately because in my hands free, sit down time I've been learning about yoga. I've wanted to do yoga for years but never made the time. Now that I have 3 children I have even less time for me and I've also been gaining weight since birth of my last child (Nov 07). To combat both issues I decided to do something about it. I tried walking last summer but my hip has been bad since Lu was born and would pop out almost immediately and the pain would last for weeks. I wouldn't be able to bend over or pick Lucy help and with a toddler both things are necessary. When I found out there was a yoga class at the local Y I started looking more into it and wouldn't ya know they have free babysitting! I talked it over with my MIL2 and we decided we would do yoga together.

That was in October. I now have my SIL come over on Tues and Thurs evenings to watch the munchkins while MIL2 and I bend ourselves into pretzels. Or attempt to. I noticed after a dozen classes or so that my hip wasn't bothering me as much. At the beginning of January, which is when my SIL started coming over, I decided to get to the Y early and see if I could walk the track before class. I can! The yoga had already paid off enough that it had strengthened my hip/pelvic enough to walk briskly for 20 or 30 minutes.

It's almost February and I've taken maybe 20 classes so far. I weighed myself a couple of days ago and I've lost the ten lbs I'd put on during 2008. WOOHOO! I didn't realize I had mainly because my clothes still fit the same. So, I'm thinking the weight loss is mainly in my boobs. :) They're breastfeeding mama boobs but the babe is now a toddler and eating solids 3x's a day so they've deflated back down to normal. I'm really excited, nonetheless.

I'm attempting to practice at home. I did manage to get up before the kids a couple of times but I then loaned my new dvd, Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga, to my instructor. I was hoping I'd get it back fairly quickly. She hasn't had a chance to watch it so I ordered for MIL2 and I "Yoga for Inflexible People". I received it and I did listen to a bit of it but the Lu hasn't really let me attempt to practice.

Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga review: I love it! As menus to customize your workout and routine. Has warm up, beginners, intermediate and HARD! I've done the beginners and intermediate. I enjoyed it immensely. I worked up a nice sweat. I felt invigorated afterwards and ready to take on the day. The participants are from the show, Biggest Loser, therefore not some buff, intimidatingly sexy muscleheads but normal people!

Yoga for Inflexible People review: Even though I haven't had much chance to do anything with it I did watch a few of the poses. There is a customizable menu on this one too. This is a very step by step, detailed instructional video for getting the poses correct. It also focuses on using props to attain the proper alignment. It's definitely Hatha and Iyengar style yoga. Great to really learn the proper way to move into, maintain and move out of postures.

I bought the Biggest Loser at Kmart for ten bucks and Inflexible People at Amazon for about 12$ shipped.

I am seriously considering buying Wii Fit but am not sure I'd get to do it very often. As soon as my yoga mat comes out so do the munchkins. They fight over it like crazy.

Ah well I see MIL2 walking up my yard. Time to go.

Lead testing law delayed

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

I haven't been on here much. Been learning yoga or actually knitting instead. :)

Knitting needle pierced woman's heart

OUCH!
And I thought I was in trouble when I poked a hole in the new couch last night!
http://tinyurl.com/bfd728

Ready to do the heels!

OMGOSH the time has finally arrived! My sock is now up to my ankle and it's time to start the heel. I hope it turns out right. Lucy's in the high chair eating her egg so wish me luck!

Toxic Toys! : Mama is…

Toxic Toys! : Mama is…

Knitting fears

What are you afraid of? Is there a project you've been wanting to tackle but afraid to try? A new technique?

I would love to make something with a fancy design. Some lacy knee high socks or shawl. I am afraid to try for a couple of reasons. I don't get enough quiet time to concentrate on a "real" pattern. My yarn over socks are about as fancy as I've ever gotten. I have it memorized and it's simple. But a pattern that requires me to follow it to a T and I have to have a piece of paper to look at, well, with 3 little ones who write on and rip up everything it's difficult to do. Not to mention how many times in a day I get up to do something. No sooner than I get into a project someone needs a drink or their butt wiped. Now, if the buttwipee is the 4 y/o and the 7 y/o is home for a buck she'll do it for me. :)So, my fear is complicated patterns. I know my day will come when the youngest will start school so for now I'm happy to make hats, socks, etc. But I do look forward to doing a real grown up project.

My other fear is I'll buy semi expensive yarn to make a semi complicated object and screw it up. Like I have two projects I really should frog (fisherman's socks are one of the projects) but I've put so many hours into it that the thought of frogging it is actually quite upsetting!

FYI, comments are moderated so may take awhile to appear.

CPSIA compliant toy etsy listing plus info

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19984444 CPSIA compliant toy funny! Plus serious info about the new law.
More listings.


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=19884927

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_7&listing_id=19968866

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_14&listing_id=18072150

In Etsy's Forums:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=5000002

In Etsy's Storque (search 'CPSIA' for more articles):
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/

... and to read the insanity straight from the horse's mouth, the CPSIA website:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

do you know what I've been doing?

Tending to a croupy son all weekend.
Working on both pairs of socks.
Watching the inauguration.
Checking out a bunch of new blogs through this blog. Be sure to check it out as there are a bunch of beautiful "Bird Of Change" giveaways.
Enjoying my new couch.
Laughing because the store tried to deliver another new couch today.
bumming because my sitter is sick and I will probably skip yoga (bad for my mental health) and grocery shopping (bad for the tummies in the house).

Bonus: Guess what my son was doing when his bus pulled up this morning?

Ah snow days

We are on our 3rd snow day in a row. And they have Monday off, too. I hope, when I'm a grandma and if I'm not working outside the home and am healthy enough, that I remember these snow days (holiday vacations) and remember how stir crazy not only I got, but the kids. Thankfully, my FIL lives next door and he came over Wednesday afternoon. He took the older two outside to make snowangels and forts. Then he visited for awhile and had snacks with the kids and I. It was great. It really broke up the monotony of the day and lifted everyone's spirits to have someone other than each other to stare at. Thursday the older two got to go next door for a couple of hours after MIL was home from work. However, it wasn't pleasant for her because they were stir crazy and fighting. Today hasn't been too bad. I've gotten some knitting done (there made it knitting related) because they've been playing fairly well in the other part of the house. Rather, they WERE until my oldest ran out of the room with a blanket over her head and ran smack dab into the corner of the wall. She has very pretty goose egg on her fore head now. She's in a not so great mood since that happened.

So, when my kids have kids I hope I remember these days and think to go visit and even take a kid or two home with me. Even if it's just for a couple of hours. It's such a small thing with huge returns. Reason #489 that I'm thankful to live next door to inlaws: snow days are long and boring.

Delurk Day

Ok, so I'm a few days late but I just found out about it on majorknitter.typepad.com. So, delurk and leave me a comment! This means you 3 family members that think I don't know you are lurking. ;)