Yoga for Beginners

This was a birthday present from a few days ago since I'd been wanting to try yoga for the gentle stretching. This DVD is split into 5 10-minute yoga sessions, so I thought that would be nice to help me ease into it since I'm a complete beginner.

I tried 2 of the segments yesterday and I was very pleased. The movements provided great stretches which I really needed. Plus I could follow along without being overwhelmed.

This will be a great afternoon pick-me-up 'cos usually that's my really sleepy time. A couple of 10 minute sessions, and I'll be wide awake !!

I'm not affiliated in any way with 10 Minute Solution or anyone who sells it

Command Strips

Regarding those window garlands I was talking about yesterday (and I did make another one during the Louisville game last night), I use Command Strips to hang them instead of hammering nails in the wall. I'm a HUGE Commands Strips fan and I have them in all sizes. They're easy to stick on and remove and leave no marks on the surface.

At Christmas time, I have decorations all over my house, and then afterwards, I just remove the Command Strips and save them again for next year. You do have to buy new strips to continue reusing the hooks, but I buy variety packs online.

I'm not in any way affiliated with Command Strips or 3M

Window Garlands

I finally finished 2 of the window garlands I'd started earlier. I needed some color over the windows and thought this might be a decorative way to add it. The fabric strips are about 5-6 inches long and tied around a 6 foot piece of jute. I didn't count the number of pieces needed per jute string, though.

I still have several more to make, and I've found this is a distracting activity for me while watching Louisville basketball games. If I don't have something to do while they play, I usually get WAY too anxious !! At this rate, I may have garlands over every window in the house (until the NCAA tournament is over).

Mr. Linky

I'm finally going to plunge in and create a Mr. Linky list for EC droppers on this site I've seen them on other blogs and think it's a cool idea. Plus, I'm just really curious and want to see if it works !! I like to fiddle around with javascript codes and Google gadgets, so this will be fun to try. Here we go.....

Tarot.com

I mentioned in another post that I enjoy Tarot cards, so this site is alot of fun. You can get free tarot, horoscopes, astrology, and numerology readings. You can also earn Karma Coins which can be redeemed for other activities on the site. Membership is free, but there is a fee for some of the readings and reports.

I'm not in any way affiliated with Tarot.com

My Birthday

YAY - today's my birthday !! I get to have a nice lunch with my husband. Then we're probably having seafood for dinner followed by carrot cake (I love the cream cheese frosting).

It's fun to wake up to bunches of Happy Birthday emails from my family and from My Coke Rewards, Borders, Disney Movie Rewards, and others.

For fun, I also posted some pictures of me through the years on my Facebook page (I'm VERY new to Facebook and trying to figure it out).

Going Decaf

I've been trying very diligently to cut out caffeine, and it's not as easy as I thought it would be. First of all, very few food places have any type of caffeine-free drink. Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Subway do offer caffeine-free colas. I love carbonated beverages (when I'm really thisty, that fizz just makes me feel hydrated) but I will bring my own sugar-free drink packets and add it to water.

Decaf coffee is much easier to do, and I typically haven't been a coffee drinker, but I'm enjoying it more this winter. Plus it's filling and makes me feel like I'm having a sweet dessert.

2nd Rag Crochet Vase

I finally finished the 2nd rag crochet vase. It's a slightly different shape than the first one, but the fabric strips that I used are going to affect the shape and size somewhat so I had to adjust for that.

Here's the quick abbreviated pattern:
1. Ch 2 then 6 sc in the first chain to make a ring
2. 12 sc
3. 18 sc
4. 24 sc
5. 24 sc to start forming sides
6. 30 sc
7. 30 sc
8. 36 sc
9. 36 sc
10. 42 sc
11. 39 sc
12. 36 sc
13. 33 sc
14. 30 sc
15. 27 sc
16. 24 sc
17. 24 sc BLO to make the neck
18. 24 sc BLO
19. 24 (sc - single stitch) to make the fluted edge
Tie off the ends

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

I had wanted to read this book after visiting Salem, MA last summer. I'd expected Salem to feel creepy, but it felt very sad and apologetic. Even as a small kid, I've always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

We read Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" in high school, and this book also follows one of the accused and hanged, Martha Carrier. It's written by an ancestor of Martha's who painstakingly researched her life. I enjoyed the book, especially the insights into life during that period.

Your 2 Cents

YAY - I got a very nice check from Your 2 Cents survey panel. I love taking online surveys and have been a member of this one for about a year. It's easy to sign up (no invitation needed) but you don't get points or credits for referring others.

I'll post other survey sites as well that (to my knowledge) are reputable and fun.

I'm not in any way affiliated with Your 2 Cents, just a happy member of the survey panel

A Darker Domain by Val McDermid

I'm a big fan of Val McDermid's mystery novels so I was glad to read her newest one. This is a stand-alone story set in current-day Scotland but deals with the miners' strike and a botched kidnapping plot from 20 years ago.

I really enjoyed the characters DI Karen Pirie and DS Phil Parharta and I hope Ms. McDermid writes another story which features them.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone !! It's Saturday (which is always nice since I get to sleep later than normal). And I get to have a fun, romantic tennis date with my husband this evening. We've signed up for a Valentine's Day "tournament" where we play tennis with other couples and laugh and giggle.

I still get so thrilled that I'm able to play - considering what it was like 20 years ago when my husband tried to teach me. I'd maybe hit the ball, then get excited 'cos I hit it, and stop in the middle of the court and laugh. I was pretty hopeless, so being able to play now is an absolute joy for me.