#AtoZChallenge - D is for Done

D is for Done the #AtoZChallenge.  As you might have noticed I started to get behind in the daily blogging challenge.  It's weird because in November I do National Blog Posting Month and am able to finish writing daily blog posts everyday in November.  For some reason the added challenge of writing blog posts with specific letters makes it more difficult and harder for me to complete.  I gave it my best effort!  I give kudos to all of the participants who have survived or will survive the #AtoZChallenge!  It was fun while it lasted.  

What I have realized is that attempting the #AtoZChallenge during the beginning of my busy work season does not seem to work.  Last year I did well during my days off but when I was back working the regular Monday to Friday 9-5 schedule, it threw me off track.  

Guess the same thing happened this year!  But I did try the #AtoZChallenge!  Good luck to all of those who are carrying on!  I'll be thinking of you!  As for me, I will retire the #AtoZChallenge banner and say maybe next year....or someday....maybe.

Smoothie Sunday - 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge

This has been one hot summer!  So smoothies are a great way to cool down so I jumped on the bandwagon when I discovered the 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge.  I signed up and have been getting my daily emails with smoothie recipes and tips.  I'm practicing now before the live 30 Day Green Smoothie Challenge that begins in October.  

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make green smoothies since I don't have a fancy expensive Vitamix or Blendtec blenders.  However, the recipes are super simple and easy to follow.  The key is to mix the spinach with water first before adding the other smoothie ingredients.  

I have a Magic Bullet and even though it does has its downfalls (sometimes I have chunks if I don't blend long enough), overall it can still make green smoothies.  Here's the first green smoothie that I made.  Not perfect but good to trial with what was in my fridge.  I didn't have any bananas but adding 1/2 banana would be a nice addition to this green smoothie.  The smoothie was a success as I have plans to make more green smoothies!  Such an easy way to eat your green vegetables.  

1 cup spinach + 1 cup water (blend first)
1/2 cup frozen pineapple, 1/2 chopped fresh peach

  

April Challenge - YYoga 30 Day April Challenge #atozchallenge

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,

This is the year of health and fitness and I have fallen in love with YYoga again because of their holiday special.  Last year I bought a 10 class pass for $110 and the downfall is that YYoga is a little bit of a commute.  But I have tried to make it worthwhile.  I procrastinated until its expiry date of March 31st but through that time discovered Warm Yin Yoga, YRide, and Pilates Fusion.  

What is the April Challenge?  

In April YYoga is having a 30 Day Challenge where you can pay $135 for a one month pass and try to go to YYoga everyday for the entire month of April.  When you go to a class you get entered for prizes and this is a wonderful way to stay fit, motivated, and mindful.  I wish I lived across the street from a YYoga studio.  

If I did I would do it!  I'm sure it would be transformative.  One day....

YYoga Website:  http://www.yyoga.ca/


Or find a way to do your own Active April Challenge and find time for fitness, and health into your life.  It might be going to the gym or yoga studio, walking or running with a friend, stretching at home or meditating everyday.  It's good to mix it up to motivate yourself a bit more.  I know I would get bored of doing the same thing everyday.  

It's just a way to bring a bit of fitness into your life for 30 days and after that who knows, it just might end up becoming a healthy habit.

I'm joining the Blogging from A to Z for the first time this year in 2016.  

National Blog Posting Month - Blogher NaBloPoMo November 2015

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,

This weekend October ends and we will fall back in time and start fresh with the month of November.  Last year I wrote about NaNoWriMo which is National Novel Writing Month:  http://vancitygirlfriends.blogspot.ca/2014/10/vancouver-events-national-novel-writing.html  I started but never finished my novella.  It was a fun challenge and I always start with high hopes and motivation.  Writing a novel in 30 days is a huge commitment even though in the beginning it seems easy.  As the days continue, it becomes harder and especially if you get behind, the number of words that you need to complete the mission adds up and starts to be unrealistic.  It is at that time that it's easy to lose hope.  

This year I'm a realist and found NaBloPoMo which is National Blog Posting Month.  Blog posts can be as short or long as you want them to be but it is best to write at least 100 words per post.  BlogHer has a NoBloPoMo on a monthly basis and so I joined the November 2015 Blogroll, signing up for this makes it real.  BlogHer also provides a badge that you can post on your blog to show that you are participating in NaBloPoMo and they also provide daily prompts to help you with your posts if you get the dreaded writer block.  All in all I am pretty excited that I discovered NaBloPoMo and it will give me a reason to make a bright post on a dreary winter's day.  Come join me and write your heart out on a month long blog writing adventure!   

Find everything you need here:  http://www.blogher.com/blogher-topics/blogging-social-media/nablopomo

Crafternoon: Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge - Reversible Tote Bag

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,

I love learning new crafts, perhaps it is old fashioned, but I feel crafting is artistic, creative, and can be a lost art.  Now a year ago or maybe more, a colleague told me about the Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge in Vancouver.  Of course I do what I normally do, which is ponder, and wonder and not take any action even though the idea of learning how to sew sparked my interest.  A year later and a new colleague has finished taking the tote bag class there.  WOW!  

Did I really procrastinate for over a year?  I had looked at their class schedule on their website hundreds of time.  Finally, I bit the bullet and decided to take the Spool of Thread Tote Bag class in August.  It is a beginner class that reviews the basics of how to thread a sewing machine and make a very cool and chic reversible cotton tote bag. 

Spool of Thread made sewing seem easy and fun!   And best of all you come out of the class with a finished product, pattern and instructions so you can make it again.  Now that is worth the class fee of $40 for a three hour class.  There are seven spaces in a class so you there is individualized attention no matter what your sewing level is.

Spool of Thread Tote Bag #1

Spool of Thread Class Schedule

Taking this tote bag class did not spark, but ignited my interest in sewing.  I dug out our antique sewing machine to make more reversible tote bags.  The last time I took a sewing class, I forget how to make what I made in class because I did not try it at home.  I did not want this to happen to me again especially since I paid around $70 for the class including around $30 for my supplies of fabric and thread.  Of course, you can be more organized and bring your own to keep your cost down.  After a year of procrastinating, I did not want to lose my new skill.

This is my first reversible tote bag from the class which I will keep and cherish.  But I did not stop with just one.  

Tote Bag #2 - Pears Please

Tote Bag #2
Here's the second tote bag that I made using fabric that I bought in the states from Joanne's Fabrics.  Pears for my friend, Vicky's, September birthday.

Tote Bag #3 - Pears and Apples

Tote Bag #3

Another birthday tote bag was for my friend Christen's September birthday. 

The Pears and Apples fabric is from Joanne's Fabrics.  

I made the tote bag challenge for myself to see how many I will make.  There are so many fun cotton fabrics to play with.  The idea began because when I was stocking up on fabric at Joann's Fabrics when I was asked me, "How many are you going to make?  100".  I replied "Yes!".  What was a fun question has turned into a tote bag challenge for myself.   Follow me here for the #Totebagchallenge.  

Thanks for reading and come back again to see how I am doing with my tote bag challenge!