Welcome

Welcome to my VERY random blog. The Home page will show you all of the posts in my blog. If you would like to find just the posts related to our move to and life in Hawaii, click on "The Journey"

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Productivity Feels Good

I'm slowly but surely making more cool weather things to add to my shop.  The past few days I have been working on some fingerless gloves!  One pair that I made last weekend I am not yet sure if I want to keep them as my own or list them, and then I finished another pair today that I will be listing.  These are the ones I am definitely listing...


I think they turned out pretty good  Hopefully tomorrow I will get them listed in my shop.

I've been miserable with headaches most of the weekend.  None today, but a sore throat.  Stupid allergies!  Here's to hoping tomorrow is better.  I've also been LAZY as far as working out the last couple days which isn't good.  Tomorrow I HAVE to do an ab workout and play some Just Dance 4!  That will help!

~Katy

Friday, October 19, 2012

Abs Workout - First Try

Ok I promised to share my workouts for my abs as I work them out so here is the first one!  I'll try and get decent pictures for each exercise but I make no promises since I'll have to use the timer feature on my camera.  These are mostly from the Quick Fix workouts I was talking about in my previous entry, but with other ones in there, too.  Each one should take 10-15 minutes to do MAX.  I suppose after I do it all the way through I will share how long they took me!  I'm actually writing this out to plan out which exercises I am going to try first, and then adding in the pictures and descriptions. (edit, I am posting this without pictures, for the time being, but will add them later in the weekend!)

Ok so here is #1- if you can think of a good name for it, let me know!  For each exercise do 16 (some is each side, some total, I'll specify).  Why 16?  Because then you can do this to music more easily, most music is in 8 counts and 8 seemed too few, so 16 it is.  Not everyone notices if they are with the music, but being a swing dancer, it would throw me off!

1- Rolling Back Crunch
Sitting with your knees bent and feet on the floor, sit with your back straight up with elbows bent and hands by your sides.  Round your back lowering it halfway to the ground and sweep around straight out to your side and then in front.  Arms should reach straight in front of you as your back is at its most rounded.  Straighten your back while sitting up and take arms straight back to being bent by your sides.  This is one rep.  Continue in a fluid motion.

2- 4 Beat Reverse Crunch
Lie on your back with your knees up and feet on the floor.  Keeping your knees at a 90 degree angle raise feet until hips are also at a 90 degree angle.  Pause, this is the first beat.  Roll hips in towards abdomen, raising butt off the floor and keeping knees at a 90 degree angle.  This is the second beat.  Reverse this, again in 2 beats, until feet are just off the floor.  This is one rep.

3- Straight Leg/Wide Leg Crunch
Laying flat on your back with your legs straight out or in a V, hold your arms straight just over your hips.  Raise shoulders off the group while reaching your fingers towards your knees.  Lower back down. This is one rep.

4- Side Hip Raises - 16 each side
Lay on your side propping yourself upon your forearm with your hips on the floor and knees bent (alternately, keep your legs straight for a more difficult move) Lift your hips up in the air so your torso and thighs make a straight line, then lower back down.

5- Around the World Crunch - 8 clockwise, 8 counter clockwise
On Quick Fix they joke that this is like an "Groove Ab Funk" LOL.  Lay on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor.  With your hands behind your head lift your shoulders off the ground by moving your chest in a circle, lowering your shoulders back down at the end of the circle.  You can alternate clockwise and counter clockwise or do all 8 one direction before switching.  One circle is one rep.

6- Clocks - 8 to each side (alternating sides, 16 total)
For some reason this move reminds me of the hands on a clock.  Lay on your back with your feet up and knees bent and your arms straight out to your sides.  Roll your hips to one side then extend legs out to the side until they are straight while reaching towards your toes with the opposite arm.  Lower arms and bend legs, then twist legs back to the center.  This is one rep, alternate sides with each rep.

7- Clam Shell Crunch
Start laying on the ground with your foot on the floor and knees up.  Simultaneously lift your shoulders off the ground crunching your shoulders towards your legs while rolling your knees towards your abdomen.  Return to starting position.  This is one set.

8- In and Outs
Lay on your back propped up on your elbows with your legs extended.  Lift heels off of the floor then bend legs in towards abdomen.  Extend legs back straight without heels touching the floor.  This is one rep.

9- Bicycles  16 total, alternating sides (or challenge yourself and do 24 or 32!)
Your typical bicycle ab exercise, and one of my favorites!  Lay on your back with your feet off the floor and your hips and knees at 90 degree angles.  With your hands behind you ears or neck left your shoulders off the ground.  Extend one leg and twist that shoulder to the opposite sides bent knee.  This is one rep, alternate sides switching which leg is extended for each rep.

10- Hollow Rocks
Lay on your back stretched out with your arms by your side.  Hollow out your body (lift feet and shoulders off the ground slightly keeping your core TIGHT) and lift arms off the floor.  Use your abs to rock while maintaining this position.  Rock forward and back.  This counts as one rep.  Alternately, you can hold your arms straight up over your head off the floor while rocking.

Finish off with a good stretch!  Always end with a good ab stretch.

When I tried this workout it took under 10 minutes (about 8), and I was feeling every exercise before the 16 were done.  As I am editing and saving a day after initially writing, I can say that my abs were a little sore but not uncomfortably so.  I also have to admit to backing down to 8 reps for a couple of the later moves, but next time I hope to do all 16!  So while in the end it took me about 8 minutes, it of course will take a minute or two longer with all the reps.

Let me know if you try this how it goes for you, or if you have any questions about the moves!  Also if anyone is interested in logging it on fitocracy I can let you know how I logged it, it was worth 200 points with the 8 reps of a couple of them so it's worth over 200 when done all the way.

~Katy

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

I Can Walk Again!

So, on Friday night I did this abs workout, it was the one here which I hear is based on the p90x ab ripper workout.  Looking at an overview of the ab ripper workout, it looks like this one leaves out one exercise.  So, I did this workout, slowly.  I did one move for as many reps as it said... then sat on the ground watching TV and figuring out the next move, then did the next, etc.  So it took me a while.  I managed to finish it, though towards the end I was wearing low.

The problem I found with this workout is there is just too much focus on exercises where your legs are lifted.   This has the effect of working out your hip flexors as much as if not more than your abs.  Which led to my barely being able to walk or hold my balance for DAYS.  Seriously.  Yesterday morning it was still just barely noticeable.  Thankfully it was better today in time for gymnastics but YIPES!  I hear people get great results from it, but for me, I just don't think it is well balanced enough.  I do, however, need to get my hip flexors stronger as well so I think I will continue to incorporate some of the moves into my ab rotation.

Which leads me to- I have decided I am going to make my OWN ab rotation.  I'm going to pick out my favorite ab exercises and do different ones each time I work out my abs.  And, lucky for all of you, I intend to share those here in this blog.  I hope some of you will try some of my ab workouts and give me some good feedback :)  As I go I will probably narrow them down to a few set routines.  In the past I have used the Quick Fix ab workouts that are on their Total Mix CD.  You can bet there will be some exercises from there!  But I also have a binder full of workouts torn out from magazines (A BINDER FULL!  Though, mine is an actual binder.  With actual magazine workouts stuffing it.  There are pictures of women in it.  LOL.)

So I'll be going through ALL of that to find my favorites before I share them with you.  Maybe I will manage to make a routine rotation that is nice and well rounded!  I must warn you though, abs are my BIGGEST strength.  I love working my abs, I have natural endurance in them.  So, 100 crunches for me is only tough when I am REALLY out of shape.  This could be part of why the ab workout I tried on friday hurt my hip flexors so much more, maybe my abs (which were sore, but not a ton) are just up to the challenge and my hip flexors are weak.

So who will be trying my abs rotation when I put it up?  Anyone?

~Katy

Saturday, October 13, 2012

And Now, Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

Ok, I know most of you don't come here to read about politics, and may just be tired of politics and election talk in general at this point.  So this is me, promising you that I am NOT going to turn this blog into a political one for the remainder of the election season.  I MAY write again about it, but I promise it won't take over my whole blog :)

Yesterday was I LOVE YARN DAY!  I have to be honest though, I wasn't much feeling in the yarnie mood.    Today, though, is a different story!  Not long ago I came across some washcloths I had made ages ago but never listed, and I was looking through yarn earlier in the week and came across a cotton yarn I wanted to work with.  So I made TWO more washcloths today, one in an ombre blue yarn and one white with that same blue yarn just on the outside edge.


So those I will have to actually photograph and list soon!  I love ripple washcloths, can you tell?

BUT!  It is winter, and my washcloths section of my shop is full (See?) compared to my selection of cold weather gear.  So my next task today?  Fingerless gloves!  I only have one pair in my shop, and I think people are antsy to see some more so I'm going to use some alpaca blend yarn and make some SUPER comfy fingerless gloves!

~Katy

Friday, October 12, 2012

First Time For Everything!

So, many of you may know me, but not necessarily well.  Because of that, it's likely that you don't realize how non-political I tend to be.  I tend not to vote, actually I have only voted once, and have always just let everyone else deal with political issues.  As you probably noticed from my last entry, this election season is different.  I am just over the main candidates.  And, thanks to isidewith.com, I found a candidate I DO like.  Which leads us to a first for me,

I never before have attended any sort of political event.  Starting to follow Gary Johnson, though, I have thought "it would be really cool to meet him, and to hear him talk in person!" And had that thought when an event was created for him appearing in New Mexico earlier in the week.  Then, up pops an event with him in DC.  That's close!  I was trying to figure out how to rearrange my work schedule so I could go, and up pops another event in Richmond.  The DC event was a "meet and greet" somewhere with drinks (THAT would have been nice) and in Richmond there was a "rally" at VCU.  Drinks is more my style, but my schedule could only be rearranged to get to Richmond so that is where I went!

Gary is just the same in person as in the videos I have seen of him online.  He is consistent with his message, and what really stood out to me was the question portion.  He answered every question, and they were not pre-screened.  He didn't go on tangents and avoid ANY topic.  He may have started in a direction that seemed to not address the question, but it always, always tied back in.  Basically, it would go like this "What do you think about X?"  and he would reply "Z blah blah Y blah blah, and that's why for X...." it's nice listening to a politician that is up front.

Here are some pictures from the event!  I even got to shake his hand and get a picture, I was thrilled!











~Katy

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Who Is This Gary Johnson, And Why Should We Care?

If you happen to have me on Facebook or Twitter or Google Plus, you may have noticed since the first presidential debate I have started to get vocal about my choice of candidate for President.  You may also have noticed that my choice is NOT either Obama or Romney, in fact I feel quite strongly that neither of them is the right man for the job.  I am rooting for someone who arguably at this point in time may have little to no chance of winning, but he should.  And this is why.

Gary Johnson is up-front.  Sometimes a little in-your-face about what he believes, but this is a good thing.  He knows what he believes, he knows what he wants to do as President and he isn't going to sugar coat things.

Gary Johnson has a great track record as 2 term governor of New Mexico.  When he left office, he left the state with a $1 billion budget SURPLUS.   And he has a proposed budget for the country for 2013 on paper.  A BALANCED budget!  Yes, it has some major changes (cuts) to make that happen.  But that is necessary.

Gary Johnson is willing to do what is necessary.

Gary Johnson wants to abolish the IRS and replace income tax with a "Fair Tax"... a consumption tax.  That sounds a lot more fair to me (I suppose that is why it gets the name"fair tax.")

Gary Johnson opposes the Patriot Act.

Gary Johnson wants to end the war on drugs (it is a waste of money.)  and wants to end our involvement in foreign wars we really have nothing to do with in the first place.

Gary Johnson is a candidate for president and is a GOOD option.  He doesn't have the financial backing of the democratic and republican parties, true.  But do we want our candidates to be decided on who has more MONEY behind them?

We should care about Gary Johnson and his candidacy because he offers a refreshing, different alternative in an election where the major candidates do not have enough to offer most of us.

Does any of this sound like something you agree with?  What candidate do you side with?  Check out www.isidewith.com and let me know what you find out!  Be informed.

Oh, and Gary Johnson is bad-ass.  He climbed Mount Everest.  With a broken leg.  So kudos to him for that!

~Katy

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

Fall is here!  It arrived over the weekend with a tap-tap-tap on the windows.   Oh, and a nice big ol' drop in the temperature.  20 degrees down!  Yipes!  Guess mother nature didn't want to do the gradual thing this year.

Personally, my body was created for the summer.  This kind of gloomy weather hits, and i need to do something about it.  I slept away half the weekend and have been SUPER low on energy.  Yesterday it was pouring down.  Today my clients cancelled and I couldn't drag myself out of bed before 1.  In the afternoon! On a workday!  WHAT??!!

So that decided it, it's officially time to start my tanning season.  Some people find it funny, I go all pale in the summer, but in the fall and winter you should see how tan I get.  Today was a horrible day until I went tanning, the effect of my energy level has already been nice and I only went for a few minutes.  I'm all about moderation and tanning safely!  I know, many people don't think there is a "tanning safely," but I have looked at the studies (the studies, not the propaganda style articles of doom.) Honestly I haven't yet seen one that looks at tanning in moderation.  Most lump in people who go tanning a handful of times a month, or even once in their life, with people who tan multiple times per day!  What??  For one thing, hello common sense, when the beds are regulated as having a maximum exposure time that means PER DAY!  I would even argue that it's a good general rule for that to be the maximum exposure per two days.  In any case, people who clearly tan excessively are OF COURSE going to have harmful effects.

Even water can kill you if you get too much of it.

~Katy

Saturday, October 6, 2012

So Tired!

I had a fun night last night, but am sure paying for it today.  I wasn't up too late, but then I ended up not getting out of bed until nearly 3:30 in the afternoon!  It's crazy.  All we did was go have dinner and drinks and watched a movie with some friends, and we were in bed before 1!  Oh well, I guess.

I also ended up feeling the urge to make another cowl.  It's just one color and only has one ruffle to it, but it's nice and fluffy and warm, made with alpaca!  I started it yesterday and finished it just now.



I'd say it turned out really good!  Will have to list it tomorrow.  Still need to sew in the ends on the two scarves LOL... But now I want to make more!  More more!  This is good for my shop.

So now I am just relaxing while my husband is out playing poker.  We couldn't think of anything to go out and do together, and he was going stir crazy and I didn't care to change out of my PJs and go anywhere.  So here I am just relaxing, crocheting, watching TV and movies, about to take a bath.  Maybe a bubble bath tonight!  

~Katy

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

One down, two to go!

Just a quickie to update that the cowl is now listed in my shop, here: http://www.zibbet.com/kakers/artwork?artworkId=989596 

Still have to tie in the ends of the scarves and take pictures of them, and plan to take better pictures of the cowl soon.  But for now, gymnastics time!!

~Katy

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Two Debuts!

I know, I have been quiet the past few days.  Things are pretty great!  AND!  I have a couple things to show you and both are in the same pictures.  I started making a new item for my shop (and no, I still haven't sewn in the ends of the two scarves so I can list them, I need to do that this week, like really.) I got inspired by the scarves I was making and decided to make a cowl!  I don't normally like cowls, but I felt like the ruffles would work well with it.  I made it in pink and purple, pink in the center with purple ruffles on each side.

The other thing being- I got my hair done on Saturday!  I got it cut and I got it dyed!  It's a very pretty red now, at the suggestion of my husband.  So here is the cowl, on me,so you can see both!  I even made silly faces for you.




~Katy