What to make next?

Staple/Nail Gun.  Dare I try it for yet another project?

Posted by Melissa Baumgart
Just Keep Tufting.
The tufted headboard will not be finished until the weekend.  I have two tests coming up for the week's end, and plan on celebrating the success on them with some good old fashioned tufting.  Now, that I have figured out that it is a two person project, it has been going a lot more smoothly.  Phew!

Since I am over half-way finished with the first DIY project, what else would I be doing then to start planning the next one? Am I a glutton for punishment or what?  I just really, really want to make the honeycomb shelves I posted on my Full of Ideas post at the beginning of the month.   I can see how awesome they will look on the girl's wall, and I can't stop myself...I must make those shelves!

The issues.  The possible deal-breakers:
I have no idea how to cut wood.  I am completely intimidated about the fact that each 10" long piece of wood needs to have each end cut at a 30º angle.  How in the world am I going to do that?  I am hoping to find a store where I can get the wood and they will cut it for me.  Have you ever heard of that?  I know Home Depot will cut the wood you buy to a certain length, but will they cut angles on each end of each piece?  I doubt it.  But I will call around tomorrow to find out.

Also, the instructions say I need a brad nailer.  A what?  The guy I bought the staple gun from said it can be used for nails as well, for finishing work, in particular.  Wouldn't that be serendipitous?  But still, it scares me.  It just sounds dangerous for me to use a nail gun.

I think I have to do it. Those shelves are going to look so good in the girl's room!

Oh, and weight update:  I am on track!  Just over three weeks and I have lost 8 pounds.  Ahead of schedule!  That makes my BMI 24, no longer sitting just above the "overweight" category.  It feels so good to be sticking with my goal.

Pregnant Melinda's Next Move

Posted by Melissa Baumgart (aka Melinda)
Begrudgingly, I went to hot yoga yesterday.  I was seriously in tears the night before.  I didn't want to shove what I perceive as my chubby body into the tight yoga clothes I used to wear...and stand next to my very fit friend I was invited to go with.  I always hate that this is an issue with me, but it is.  It is ever present.  I believe at this point, that it is more about my mental state of being, and less about the way my body looks.  I would venture to say that it is a state of mind that many women drift towards; some more, some less.

The fact that I love my friend so much, and want to spend time with her, trumped my negativity.  I showed up at the 9:30 am class, nervous, but ready to sweat.  It was difficult, but not nearly as hard as I had anticipated.  The class postures were just as I had expected, 26 poses and two sets of each, and that was a comfort.  The discipline of the form relaxed my fears.  What I didn't expect was the scale in the corner of the bathroom.  Tempted as I was before class, I did not step on it, for fear that the number would haunt me the entire class.  I knew didn't need the extra mental pressure.

After class, though, curiosity won.  I stepped on the scale.  166.  It's not my top weight, but it is up there.  On the BMI calculator, I qualify as overweight, by 3 tenths of a point.   I am 25.2, and normal range is from 18.5 to 24.9.  The calculator I used allows you to set goals, and gives you caloric requirements per day to achieve those goals.  I set my goal to lose 2 pounds per week, and reach a final weight of 140.  That should take 13 weeks.

I have done this before.  Two years ago, I lost 30 pounds.  I know I can do it.  But it is scary to publicly set forth a goal like this.  And it's a little humbling to have worked so hard for something and then realize you chose to let it slip away.  My mind races with questions.  What if I don't follow through?  What if I fail?  What if I succeed and then give ti all away again?  What if...?

I would venture to say that my larger fear is that I will meet my goal and still be in this mind frame.  That I will still see my problem areas as if they are highlighted in bold print.  My simple task in this area is going to be as follows:  As soon as I hear that inner voice being critical, I will say to myself, "You are a beautiful person."  Simple.  We all are, right?  Who am I to argue with that.  Beauty, after all, is more than skin deep.

In order to kick start this goal, and since I have the week off of school, I am devoting my free day time to ME TIME!  Everyday this week I will go to water aerobics and Bikram yoga.  I will turn down the potato chips and french fries and opt for kale and almonds.  And every time I am critical of myself when I look in that unforgiving mirror at yoga class or in the ladies locker room at the pool, I will remind myself, "I am a beautiful person."  Inside and out.

It feels good to be transparent.  What do they say?  Acceptance is the first step?  It's all out there now!

Right now, I am off to my favorite Green Lake water fitness class, and then to my favorite yoga studio, The Sweatbox!  I can't wait to see all the familiar faces.

-Melissa

Quick Update:  I went to both classes and I feel great!  Day two of water aerobics/Bikram yoga is finished!  And YES, I did have to use my little mantra many times.  But the point it, that I remembered to use it!