What I Want to Do This Summer (well, the rest of it anyways)

As I was putting away the "Cryocuff" at my internship this morning I realized today was the 30th of June, which meant not only do I only have 3 weeks left at my internship, but the summer will soon come to an end.   So what do I want to do with this last month?

1. Make a hula hoop

My roommate this past year made hula hoops and on a warm sunny day would turn on some Moe., go into the back patio and hula hoop.  She did more than just your regular old "circle your hips" hula-hooping.  She did all sorts of tricks that were kind of fun to just watch.  When I was stuck with homework, unfocused or didn't want to run in the rain, I would grab one of her hoops and hula for 20 minutes as a way to let off steam. I kept meaning to ask her to show me how to make one, but I never found the time.  I found a website that shows how to do it, so my first goal is to make a hula hoop to have as a stress-reliever this coming school year.

2.  Run a 5K in 30 minutes or less

I enjoy being active but it is still sometimes a real chore to get myself out the door.  My best time for a 5K is 32 minutes and some seconds, even though I know I can do better than that because I've done 8K in 49 minutes. I think my biggest problem is that I look at the 8K as a real challenge, while a 5K doesn't seem like such a big challenge anymore because I've done a bunch of them. Then I show up at the starting line out of shape because I "got busy" and hadn't found time to run and start thinking that it was all a big mistake. I've registered for the Lindsay Matthews Memorial 5K on July 24th. I've printed out schedule and plan to place a sticker (yes, a sticker, just like in kindergarten) everytime I complete a planned run.  I hope to show up at the race in good shape, ready to run my best and set my PR.  Visit this site to register for the race!

3. Finish the books I've been reading all summer

I tend to start numerous books in a time frame and then read snippets of each one until I really get hooked into one and then I finish it and abandon the others for a while.  Currently I'm reading:

• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
• Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (Audiobook)

I listen to Juliet, Naked on my way to my internship, it's only a 15 minute drive but its still nice to have instead of having to listen to the radio.  The other 3 I have been essentially reading all summer and am at various points of each book.  I'd like to finish them and hopefully start and finish another book or two.

4. Finish 3 knitting projects

I have more than a few knitting projects that I have started but have yet to finish.  I hope to finish three of them this summer so maybe this fall I can justify starting a sweater!  I have a few choices as far as which I will finish (Sheldon, Gloves, Smittens, or Socks)  we'll have to see what I'm in the mood for when I get a chance to knit.  

I got my photos from these websites:

www.newsdaylaura.com

http://www.eclipsemultisport.com/

www.lindseypollak.com

Finished Object: Little Blue Hippo

It has been a while since I've had the time to finish a knitting project.  I still haven't finished a knitting project, but I started and finished my first crochet project! I'm really happy with the way it turned out, though he is a little bit lopsided.

Pattern: Hippo by Tami Snow

From the book: Tiny Yarn Animals by Tami Snow

Yarn: I used some old Red Heart yarn I bought at Vidler's way back in middle school when I first decided I was going to learn to knit.  I've been dragging that yarn to and from school for the past 4 years and finally used it! Unfortunately I'll have to make many a more hippos before I use up that yarn.

What I'll remember about this project: It's my first crochet project I've finished, it's also the first project I've finished within a month in a long time ... if ever.  It felt really nice to finish off the animal and have something to show for the time and effort I put into it.  I really enjoyed crocheting and though I struggled with counting stitches and rows at first, I finally figured out how to keep track of where I was in the pattern.  I had fun taking him outside on a sunny morning to catch a cute photo that makes him look as if he is on the banks of the Shalimar!

I enjoyed making the hippo so much that I have started the Octopus from the same book.  I'll post photos when I've finished.

Slightly off-topic:

The newest edition to the family:

Sarsparilla aka "Sassy"

Born: May 2, 2011

Moxie is not pleased, but every day she seems to tolerate her a little bit more, though I could be imagining it...