Progress

In January I started on a new adventure. The adventure of taking back my health. I started by changing my eating habits and saw some success. In February, I added walking to the mix. March wasn't great. My habits became a bit lax as I faced some stress, but I kept walking and didn't fully return to my bad eating. April. Oh, April. It has been hard. I don't mean the health stuff. I mean life. So. Very. Hard. March and April tried to beat me down And it was so hard. My sleep and sanity took a big hit. But here I am with April not yet over and I'm back to a better place. Still hard, but at least manageable. I have picked back up my eating habits, going from okay to healthy. I started walking more. I began journaling which I haven't done in a LONG time. Yesterday, I joined a gym so that I can start strength training.

What I have realized over the last week or so is how much I used food to numb my feelings. As I've had to face stress and big feelings, I felt so anxious because I'm not used to having to feel them all. I hid my hurt, fear, vulnerability in food. Some people drink or shop or have co-dependent relationships. I used food. I'm having to learn new coping techniques. But I'm also realizing how so many of those fears/feelings are unjustified. They seem like big scary monsters hiding under the bed until you turn on the light and realize it's just a dust bunny. Mental health is as important as physical health, so I'm addressing them together.

Yes, I'm generally a happy, optimistic person. I can only explain that my joy comes from God. I'm also a person that deals with anxiety. I don't like it, but it's the truth. I'm not going to pretend that everything is rainbows and sunshine. I think that does a disservice to everyone. We should be honest about life, not painting glossy pictures. We all have hard stuff we face. But I'm thankful I have a support system of wonderful people, a therapist, and a God that carries when whether I'm in a time of joy or anxiety. I am determined to keep moving forward to being a healthier person- mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Road to California

You might know that I'm a quilter. I'm not sure what that conjures up in your mind. Maybe your granny's quilts or traditional quilt patterns? Perhaps you've seen a bit of the modern quilt movement. Whatever that means in your head, let me tell you what that means for me. I started quilting about 4 years ago. My intent at the time was to make a quilt for Sesha's and Nick's wedding. I had no idea that it would become a hobby that I loved so much. For me, I feel like such a baby quilter. I'm decent at what I do, but there's so much out there that I don't know. A couple years ago, I went to my first quilt show. I didn't know what to expect, but I was blown away. Holy moly, you guys. Yes, there were traditional patterns and quilts shown. But there were also quilts that went to an artistic level I didn't know was possible. Last weekend I went to my second Road to California quilt show. Let's take a look at some of my favorites:

 

This quilt won Best in Show (and $10,000). This is not a photo or actual pillows. Rather, the quilter took fabric and made it 3D. She pieced fabric to create each pillow. I mean, look at this! Her quilt looks like a shelf of pillows and quilts. It took her 5 months to make. I wish, wish, wish I had wrote down the names of the quilters. I could work on something like this for 5 years and it would not look nearly as good. 

 

 It absolutely kills me. My brain has exploded outside of my head trying to understand this quilt.

This was another beautiful quilt that I really liked. It looks like a painting. But let's take a closer look...

 Can you see this? Those leaves were little cut pieces of fabric! And she used stitching to make the tree trunks and sidewalk more realistic. 

Dead. I'm dead. 

Now, it's not all serious quilts at the show. Quilters have a pretty good sense of humor. (I mean, we are a creative bunch. Have you ever been to a quilting group/class? It's a ton of fun!)

Exhibit A: Conan O'Brien quilt

Yup. The modern quilt movement has a really fun vibe to it. Quilting isn't just for grannies anymore.

Finally, let's look at one more that blew my mind.

 This is the same quilt!!! It has a different painting depending on where you're standing! Oh, and that frame is fabric too. It's fabric. Not a frame, but fabric quilted and painted to look like a frame. 

I'm overwhelmed by the creativity. 

It takes me SO LONG to make a lap quilt. And a fair bit of money too. My quilts are nothing like these. I can't imagine the planning, the prep, the time spent working on them, the money paid to make them. This is why quilt shows are amazing. Yes, you can buy fabric and supplies, but they're also inspiring.

Also, here is my confession. I am a fabric addict. I relate to this fabric cutout on a deeply personal level.

 

Happy Quilting!

The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles

Over the past year or so, I've seen photos of this bookstore on social media. When I knew I would be in the area, I put it on my list to check out. I didn't end up going last summer when I was in LA because the traffic, the heat, the excuses...but I didn't want to let the opportunity pass me by this time. While LA traffic is never my favorite, I'm glad I went. This place was fun to see in person and I was able to cross it off my list.

I don't want to miss opportunities and experiences. You never know when you'll have another chance. Part of that is why I've really tried to step out of my comfort zone in the last couple years. It's also one of the reasons I'm focused on taking charge of my health. But that's a post for another time.

If you're in the Los Angeles area, pop by this bookstore. Yes, you'll have traffic and you'll pay for parking. And you'll smell some unpleasant smells (don't walk through the puddles). You'll also find a bit of whimsy and maybe a new book to take your imagination new places.