Yesterday I stopped at my favorite store in the whole world- Daiso, the 100 yen shop- to pick up some supplies for Christmas decorations. While I was there, looking for nice paper to make snowflakes out of I had a great idea: FELT SNOWFLAKES!!! AH! I'm so excited. I got a big roll and I'm considering getting another (in white? in a different color? why not BOTH?! it's only 100yen!). I also got some green felt and pearly beads so I can make a mistletoe ball.
I think I'm going to go for a red and white theme. I bought a pack of red paper flowers (they're strips of tissue paper that you fluff up to make look like pompoms) to use as center pieces or something. I was also thinking of making a peppermint wall. I don't know. I have a few ideas floating around.
I also picked up some beautiful green ribbon rolls- one is a deep emerald green and the other is like a deep turquoise. I don't have any idea what to do with them yet but they were just too gorgeous not to buy.
I think I have a problem.
I'm still trying to think of something to put in my snow globe. At this point, I'm considering just filling a jar with distilled water and glycerin and glitter. It would literally be a snow globe.
I've decided to make (or start to make) all these things on Friday when I'll have the apartment all to myself for most of the evening. I know you're all going to hold your breath until then!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Weigh-In Wednesday:57.8kg
This week I started a new workout routine. I've tried out quite a lot in the past year but I think this one could really stick.
Actually, now that I'm sitting here writing about it, maybe I haven't tried that much. I've tried Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, Jillian Michaels Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism, Insanity, and 10 Minute Trainer. I also do yoga but I don't really count that as a workout. And I was running in the spring but it petered out in late summer when I fell into a rut and the temps got too high for me. But somehow I also don't count the running as working out.
Hm. I guess I consider things I don't really like a "workout." Hahaha. Let's sugar coat it and say that I think a workout is something I have to do in order to get better at things I want to do/look better. Yeah, let's say that.
So let me run through the workouts I've tried before I introduce you to the new thing I'm trying.
First- 30 Day Shred.
I LOVE this DVD. It's short, it kicks your butt and it's easy to follow. I am seriously sweating balls during this workout. I like Jillian because she seems tough and I like tough girls. I only saw minor results but I felt great. To tell you the truth, I could never do this every day for 30 days straight so maybe I'm not doing it right. Also, I loved this DVD so much that I actually got tired of it.
This led me to trying out the other Jillian Michaels DVDs. I tried the Yoga Meltdown for like five minutes and then I had to turn it off because I just didn't like it. I'm very picky about Yoga DVDs. Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism is like the 30 Day Shred on drugs. Also, it's mostly cardio moves. I liked it but the workout was too long for everyday use. Also, I didn't like some of the interval sets so I skipped some altogether.
I tried Insanity just a few times but I didn't like the exercises he used and I just couldn't get into it.
10 Minute Trainer used too much equipment for me. Actually, it didn't use that much but I don't have a strong door to attach a resistance band to and I also didn't have a resistance band. Also I like short workouts but 10 minutes is TOO SHORT. I know that I could just do 2 or 3 in a row but that takes too much work on my part. Haha. I did end up buying some resistance bands but I never used them with the videos. Now they're just sitting in my closet. (Fortunately they were only about a dollar each since I found them at the 100yen shop!)
As for yoga, I basically used just one DVD every time I wanted to follow a routine- American Power Yoga. I really like this routine because it focuses on a lot of strength moves and isn't too spiritual. I like my yoga to be very physical. Unfortunately, the DVD got scratched really badly (a clean straight cut...seems fishy) so I had to find something else. I've turned to Ashtanga Yoga in the meantime. And I really love it. I don't even think I'll buy another copy of American Power Yoga. (I might though.) I like that Ashtanga has a set form. It allows me to easily practice on my own without having to make up a flow on my own. Also, doing the same poses in the same order allows me to see where I'm improving and where I need improving. I ordered a copy of the Short Forms with David Swenson and I'm currently using his First Series DVD as a guide.
As for running, at the moment Sapporo is in deep freeze and will not thaw out until April the earliest. I plan to begin running again as soon as the streets defrost. I've already found a half marathon in October that I want to join. I was supposed to run a half marathon last October but like I mentioned I fell into a rut and just kind of stopped running for awhile. For no good reason. I am resolved to do it in 2012!
And now what is the new routine that I'm trying out? I'm doing the Basic Program from the book You Are Your Own Gym. I skimmed the book a bit- the author is some elite Special Ops dude and super athlete. He doesn't train celebrities- he trains SOLDIERS. I like this line in the first paragraph: "For decades of I've bodyweight exercises to create the leanest, strongest, most confident people of our civilization." (Not just because it's the only paragraph I read in the book!)
Anyway, that's exactly what I want! I want to be lean and strong and confident. And I don't want to go to the gym or use fancy equipment (though a homebuilt dip station would be nice). I've always thought that all you need is your body and gravity to get a good workout. Also, I prefer exercises that are functional.
So far I'm in my first week of the program and it's great. The workouts are short and challenging and I really feel the burn the next day.
I'll write more as I continue with the program and finish reading the book. (The book is great- I really like his humor.) For now it's way past my bedtime and this post is already late so I'll just promise you all a proper review later. Goodnight!
Actually, now that I'm sitting here writing about it, maybe I haven't tried that much. I've tried Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, Jillian Michaels Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism, Insanity, and 10 Minute Trainer. I also do yoga but I don't really count that as a workout. And I was running in the spring but it petered out in late summer when I fell into a rut and the temps got too high for me. But somehow I also don't count the running as working out.
Hm. I guess I consider things I don't really like a "workout." Hahaha. Let's sugar coat it and say that I think a workout is something I have to do in order to get better at things I want to do/look better. Yeah, let's say that.
So let me run through the workouts I've tried before I introduce you to the new thing I'm trying.
First- 30 Day Shred.
I LOVE this DVD. It's short, it kicks your butt and it's easy to follow. I am seriously sweating balls during this workout. I like Jillian because she seems tough and I like tough girls. I only saw minor results but I felt great. To tell you the truth, I could never do this every day for 30 days straight so maybe I'm not doing it right. Also, I loved this DVD so much that I actually got tired of it.
This led me to trying out the other Jillian Michaels DVDs. I tried the Yoga Meltdown for like five minutes and then I had to turn it off because I just didn't like it. I'm very picky about Yoga DVDs. Banish Fat/Boost Metabolism is like the 30 Day Shred on drugs. Also, it's mostly cardio moves. I liked it but the workout was too long for everyday use. Also, I didn't like some of the interval sets so I skipped some altogether.
I tried Insanity just a few times but I didn't like the exercises he used and I just couldn't get into it.
10 Minute Trainer used too much equipment for me. Actually, it didn't use that much but I don't have a strong door to attach a resistance band to and I also didn't have a resistance band. Also I like short workouts but 10 minutes is TOO SHORT. I know that I could just do 2 or 3 in a row but that takes too much work on my part. Haha. I did end up buying some resistance bands but I never used them with the videos. Now they're just sitting in my closet. (Fortunately they were only about a dollar each since I found them at the 100yen shop!)
As for yoga, I basically used just one DVD every time I wanted to follow a routine- American Power Yoga. I really like this routine because it focuses on a lot of strength moves and isn't too spiritual. I like my yoga to be very physical. Unfortunately, the DVD got scratched really badly (a clean straight cut...seems fishy) so I had to find something else. I've turned to Ashtanga Yoga in the meantime. And I really love it. I don't even think I'll buy another copy of American Power Yoga. (I might though.) I like that Ashtanga has a set form. It allows me to easily practice on my own without having to make up a flow on my own. Also, doing the same poses in the same order allows me to see where I'm improving and where I need improving. I ordered a copy of the Short Forms with David Swenson and I'm currently using his First Series DVD as a guide.
As for running, at the moment Sapporo is in deep freeze and will not thaw out until April the earliest. I plan to begin running again as soon as the streets defrost. I've already found a half marathon in October that I want to join. I was supposed to run a half marathon last October but like I mentioned I fell into a rut and just kind of stopped running for awhile. For no good reason. I am resolved to do it in 2012!
And now what is the new routine that I'm trying out? I'm doing the Basic Program from the book You Are Your Own Gym. I skimmed the book a bit- the author is some elite Special Ops dude and super athlete. He doesn't train celebrities- he trains SOLDIERS. I like this line in the first paragraph: "For decades of I've bodyweight exercises to create the leanest, strongest, most confident people of our civilization." (Not just because it's the only paragraph I read in the book!)
Anyway, that's exactly what I want! I want to be lean and strong and confident. And I don't want to go to the gym or use fancy equipment (though a homebuilt dip station would be nice). I've always thought that all you need is your body and gravity to get a good workout. Also, I prefer exercises that are functional.
So far I'm in my first week of the program and it's great. The workouts are short and challenging and I really feel the burn the next day.
I'll write more as I continue with the program and finish reading the book. (The book is great- I really like his humor.) For now it's way past my bedtime and this post is already late so I'll just promise you all a proper review later. Goodnight!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
The Christmas Spirit
It's December 4th already! Only 21 days until Christmas! I feel strange. In the recent past, I can't really remember being so excited about Christmas. I mean, I think I had an appropriate amount of excitement. But this year feels different. Maybe the difference is that I want things to be different.
I just feel like now that I'm on my own, far away from my family, it's time for me to MAKE Christmas. It's time for me to find my own ways to celebrate. I feel like I really took things for granted. I'm not just far away from family. I'm far from the things that are familiar for this season (News Flash: Christmas isn't really celebrated in Japan.). I mean, I didn't have to work to feel excited because even if I didn't get excited, Christmas would be celebrated and it would feel like Christmas.
I guess what I'm saying is that even though I may be jaded, there's quite a lot of cheer and whimsy in my heart. (Somewhere...) I feel like as an "adult" I don't celebrate things as much as I used to and I'm just not cool with that. I mean, if you don't have all the preparation and pomp and corny things that go with the holiday, what's the point? It easy to brush special days off as just days because you're busy or you're too old or you're tired. But I have this theory that things matter. They matter because you make them matter. So I'm going to conduct an experiment in living deliberately.
To get into the spirit of Christmas, I've made a list of 25 Christmas-y things to do. Actually I would have liked to make a Christmas calendar sort of thing but since it's already December 4th, I just have to settle for a list.
1. Decorate the tree.
2. Bake cookies. Preferably with people. Maybe even with children.
3. Make Xmas and New Year cards.
4. Take pictures of Xmas lights.
5. Drink hot wine at German Xmas town.
6. Wrap presents. Make your own wrapping paper this year?
7. Decorate windows with spray snow.
8. Make a snow globe.
9. Give back, volunteer, do something in the community.
10. Finish Ryan's scarf.
11. Drink hot cocoa with chocolate marshmallows.
12. Make a gingerbread house.
13. Watch Elf.
14. Make Xmas decorations.
15. Roast some chestnuts.
16. Kiss under mistletoe.
17. Dance around a Xmas tree.
18. Make s'mores.
19. Take a trip to Sapporo Factory (Mall) to see the big Xmas tree.
20. Camp out in a blanket fort in the living room. Preferably wearing a onesie suit from Donkei Hotei.
21. Go sledding or make a snowman. Drink hot cocoa by the heater.
22. Make something peppermint-y.
23.Write a letter to Santa.
24. Throw a great Xmas party.
25. Play an epic game of something.
I actually started this post on December 1st and I'm pretty sure I've only done two of these things. I'm quickly running out of time so I better get off the internet and get on it!
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