Hello and welcome to this month's One on 1 blog hop - if you have arrived from Jamie's blog you'll know all about this month's task ... if not ... start here and just follow the links.
Ali Edwards writes that by the month of March one will often loose the focus of their word and I have to admit that had it not been for these monthly classes and this lovely blog hop organised by Margie ... I think I may have become a casualty. Thankfully, the class has kept my OLW just where it needed to be - right in front of me!
This month we had to set ourselves a task. So checking on my list of things to do for 2011 I chose to read more. Last year I read three books ... all of them in January and I never touched another book all year. I was even a member of a book club - still didn't make reading a regular part of my day. With my husband now living in Sydney I thought this was one task I could complete.
Thanks to my lovely friend Tracy, here's the pile of books sitting on my bedside table - I started with Eat Pray Love and read the first ten pages before I set about trying to read The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo .... five pages in (and yes I know it is a good read but) ..... I then started on The Secret Lives of Dresses.
I've kept the papers and journalling the same as the previous months - I really love this Love Letter paper from Stampin' Up! - so much so I've bought more to ensure I have enough to complete the whole album.
And the journalling reads:
Well its the 31st and I haven't achieved my task. I've been going to bed later and later ... and then lying there for hours listening to the night time noises of my house. To be fair, sleeping on my own after four years of Paul being at home is taking some getting used to, but I'll get used to it. I did get to page 61 of Secret Lives of Dresses and I will finish it in April.
And I love the butterflies so these will also be a permanent feature too.
I'm also collecting quotes - love the one I've written on the side pocket - Change your thoughts and you'll change your world - how very true.
Now I couldn't send you on your way without reporting on in on my healthy living changes could I ... weight loss to date is now 7kgs - and I am walking walking walking ... clocking up over nearly 30kms every week. Feeling so much better - will be time to go clothes shopping very soon :)
Thanks for visiting and I'll see you again next month I hope. Off you hop to see what the lovely Monica to see how she has interpreted the task this month.
Have a great month.
Nikki
x
ps - here's the list in case you get lost along the way - and thanks again Margie for being the organiser xx
Margie http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog Amanda http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com Donna http://donnabryantdurand.blogspot.com Joy www.undiscoveredjoy.blogspot.com Jan http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com Jamie http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com/ Nikki http://www.inkyart.com.au Monica B2 www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com Cindy http://seriousplay.typepad.com Stacey http://www.TheAcornGarden.com/blog Katrina http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com/ Rebekah http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/ Monica http://scraplifters.blogspot.com/ Chrissy http://getcraftywithchrissy.blogspot.com/ Jill http://jillconyers.typepad.com/ Lisa http://makeyourownescape.blogspot.com Kathryn www.katlodesigns.com Jennifer www.studiojenn.blogspot.com Jen www.byjen.com Sam http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Miranda http://mirandasscrapsite.blogspot.com Lynn www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com Cynthia http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com/ Cheri A http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com Deb http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com Nicky www.seejanebake.blogspot.com Karen D http://womenontractors.blogspot.com/ Tina http://ryzmomplus2.typepad.com/my_weblog/ Kimberly http://foreverdaisies.blogspot.com/ Abbey http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/ Julie Ann http://julieannshahin2.blogspot.com
21 comments:
thats a lot of books!!! I didn't get too far into Tatoo either.......congrats on your weight loss
To me it's a goal to put down a book that you do not enjoy. I will make myself suffer through a whole book I hate, which means I don't read much. Best of luck with your reading goal!
Wow it can be tough- I am a big reader, but I couldn't read those either- maybe try something easier and more fun like something you enjoyed when you were young...some of my faves are Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery or one of the ones we have been reading right now is called DragonBreath by Lillian Vernon it is a quick read, and sooo worth it. Don't suffer through a book you don't like- but sometimes they start slow so don't give up too quick either. Wow that was a really long comment sorry.
I have started 4 books myself, and not finished any! LOL Eat, Pray, Love is awesome...and I met the author about 3 years ago right before she was on Oprah, she is amazing. You'll enjoy it! It sounds like your action was walking!!!! Great job! xoxo
nikki...i love the theme of your book. and the butterfly with that die cut is a great touch for sure.
oh..i want to encourage you to read...i started a huge reading campaign last year and started the year off reading almost a book a week. it was wonderful. i have not done so this year, but my love for books keeps me going. i think i will add your books here to my list.
great job!
~j
I love quotes and butterflies, too. I loved your quote about changing your thoughts. Very powerful!
I love to read and find it hard to incorporate it into my daily life, as well. But I have lost the guilt over not finishing a book I start. A friend of mine once said, "I bet there are a lot of books you want to read. Why waste anytime on one you aren't enjoying." I never felt guilty about not finishing one again.
Oh, I want to read more, too. And I LOVE to read - just never make it a priority. And, apparently, that's the only way stuff gets done around here! :) Blessings on the journey...
Your post made me smile; I also have a huge pile of books that I pick up and put down but never finish. Someday!! Great page, too.
MMM, that book pile looks lovely! Love your post about your journey, thanks for sharing with us.
May I suggest a wonderful book to start with? It is very short, very funny and each chapter stands alone and is very short as well. It is a perfect book. It is called "Bachelor Brothers Bed and Breakfast" by Bill Richardson. Those books you chose are tough ones....you have to work your way into big time reading, just like everything else.
That's a great list of books. I'm *still* reading Eat Pray Love... I started in October last year. Love your pages and your honesty. Well done on the wight loss!
Your album looks great. I can see why you stuck with the SU papers. I love to read and have read 2 of the books in your stack.
Gorgeous papers and I am a big fan of butterflies too. Reading is wonderful and a great thing for your life overall so I hope it continues to grow!
I enjoyed reading your post about OLW here. The books look interesting, and I think you have inspired my to go to the book store. Thanks!
Fitting in reading can be tough. Maybe you'll finish that book this month!
Hi Nikki,
I have the same issue with books. I used to be such an avid reader but at some point (in retrospect, I think it was after my 3rd son was born) I stopped reading altogether. One year I had a goal to finish 4 novels. I finished one (Eat Pray Love). Finally, I started a book club and I do finish each required book but no more and sometimes I am finishing the whole book the day before it is 'due'! And it has gotten easier. It takes practice and retraining to get your mind to focus on what you are reading and not let my mind wander. I still wish I was reading more for pleasure and not just because I 'have' to for book club. Though a lot of that has to do with the fact that the modern world has so many more distractions, don't you think? Anyway, lovely post and I love your papers and the end result of your pages. Thanks for joining in on the blog hop!
I love to read, in fact its one of my goals each year is to read 50 books (it was 100 - lol) Sometimes it takes time to find that book or get to that point in a book where you can't put it down. Congrats on how far you got! BTW I loved eat pray love!
your butterfly on the red paper is beautiful! Love the embossing and the pearls.
Congratulations on the weight loss! Give those books another try at another time. I know I'm not always able to get through a book but later on I'm ready for it and love it.
Love your post Nikki. (Read it last weekend on the hop but forgot to stop in and say hi.) Best wishes for the next steps on your OLW journey. xx
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