AfricanKelli

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Brown bag to be reused in the spirit of being green + international posting box. $37 for all countries, up to 20 pounds.

When Donna emailed in August asking if I’d be interested in a Secret Santa Swap, I thought, “Sure!” I didn’t have to mail anything until December and that seemed so far away. October was kinda busy. And then November rolled around and I got wrapped up in Urban Dares and ditching Ruby for a kayak. Even though Donna has got this international swap exceptionally organized and even kept us all up to date with postal delivery times around the world, I started sewing yesterday. It needed to be in the mail tomorrow.
Procrastination is how I roll.

I wanted this gift to be artsy, but also earthy. I took a well-loved handbag I had and added some pink and orange love, paired it with a sweet zippered pouch and stuffed that international postage box nearly to my 20 pound limit. My recipient will receive chocolate, yarn, a design book, a journal, an ink pen, a quilted pillow case and a lucky giraffe in addition to the purse.

Now, on to that holiday sewing I’ve been thinking about…
~K

Seems like the majority of us have issues with portion control and most don’t like to exercise. Thank you so much for your comments yesterday! I loved reading each perspective. It is comforting to know there are so many others who put a good bit of their daily thought into their well-being. It also sounds like we collectively need a huge dose of motivation and a giant kick in the ass.

I’ll certainly keep posting about Body for Life and my new little Everest. If anyone is interested in doing this together, Monday is my official day 1 of the 12 week cycle. I’ve already got a body-fat analysis appointment set at the gym. Oy vey. How’s that for a great Monday morning?

On to more positive health news — I ran across this in the NYT this morning (while sipping my protein shake):

“Sharp Drop in Deaths from Measles Reported”
Improved routine immunization programs and huge national drives to give children a second dose of the inexpensive measles vaccine have contributed to a stunning 91% reduction in measles mortality across Africa, with deaths plunging to 36,000 last year from 396,000 in 2000, the World Health Organization and UNICEF reported. Globally in that period, measles deaths fell 68% to 242,000.

Woo hoo! I’ll take positive global health news anyway I can take it. Now, the fact the callous editors of the NYT placed this little gem of a news brief across from a giant Harry Winston diamond add that read, “Who needs moderation?” is another story. Silver lining: hopefully the poor Africans who dug up that giant diamond got their measles vaccines and are alive and kicking today!

Cheers,
Kelli

Spicy tuna roll, diet coke, pool-side chaise and I’m in carb heaven.

I’ve recently started a new weight-lifting routine. I’m hesitant to even talk about it here because I seem to bore everyone in my personal life with nutrition/health/athletic blabbing. But, here’s the catch — I need the accountability. If I blog it, so be it.

I workout daily. I am one of those rare breeds that loves to exercise. Give me an hour of cardio first thing in the morning and I am a happy woman. I am not fast or particularly strong, but I am dedicated.

The trick now is to turn this dedication into motivation in the nutrition arena. While I don’t have a problem steering away from “bad foods” — I rarely eat junk and when I do, I make a point of selecting wisely (ice cream, chips and salsa) and truly enjoying it — I do have a problem of eating too much. My portion control is out of control. Why have the 1/2 cup suggested serving of organic, whole-wheat cereal when I can have 1/2 the sleeve? Seriously. I eat good-for-you foods, but eat way too much and the result is that I’ve goofed up my body’s hunger signals.

Processed beef and bikinis should never mix. But hey! We were on vacay!

Time for change! I recently picked up a copy of Body for Life. Have you heard of this? In a nutshell, it is a weight lifting/cardio/nutrition plan that promises to cut down your body fat and build lean muscle. It isn’t a diet — it is a way of changing your life. I’m only a couple days into this and I’m so far following it diligently. I like the small 5-6 meals per day and the extra protein is keeping me full. Plus, while the weight lifting has me achy, it is incredible to feel your body getting stronger. Or at least that is what I am trying to tell myself.

A couple of questions for you — please consider delurking:
- Do you work out regularly? Do you like it, or is it one more task?
- What are your nutrition and exercise habits?
- Is this topic so boring you can’t wait for a new knitting post? Ha!

The next time I’m on the beach? I won’t be hiding under a one-piece and a tank top. I also won’t be drinking soda and eating sushi. {Okay, maybe the sushi. It is vacation after all!}

~K

Green {cloudy green, but still}

Gray

Fuchsia

Mauve

Red

Peaches and cream

Cream

Burnt Sienna

Pink

Turquoise

Me? I’m tan. And a bit sunburned. And covered in red mosquito bites. But you can just color me happy.
~K

Em and John, whose matrimony we celebrated in Puerto Vallarta in January. Yes, our passports are a teeny bit ridiculous.

I’m home from Costa Rica, although I really wish I was still out on the ocean, looking at colorful coral and listening to the parrots in the trees. When Emily and John invited a bunch of friends to come along to celebrate Thanksgiving beach-side, visions of sea kayaks, margaritas, pool boys, and long, funny dinner conversations fueled by too much wine and filleted anything went bailando through my mind.

Ask and you shall receive.

Costa Rica is the most beautiful, cleanest, prettiest and friendliest country I’ve ever been too. Our four-day getaway was the perfect length. Great friends, food that made us groan in gluttony, balmy weather and adventure. We sea kayaked* — my new passion. We zip lined through the rainforest, with monkeys hanging from trees watching us — the ultimate in role reversal. We cried when we had to leave our tropical paradise. Nary a sweet potato casserole was to be seen, but this is still the best Thanksgiving (best vacation, actually) I’ve ever had.

Thank you again Em and John!

~Kelli

* Apparently the resort folk aren’t too fond of those who bypass their time line for kayaking. I had a few hours first thing in the morning and I wanted to be out on the water. The gear wasn’t locked up, so I hauled it down to the water and paddled myself out. I was out there for about half an hour when I saw a red speed boat leaving the beach and headed straight toward me. They were none too pleased I’d borrowed the kayak without signing the pre-requisite waiver. As soon as I did, they smiled and sped off. I wonder if you can fit a kayak in a Honda Civic? Ruby has new competition.