Hmm, what's happened in the last 3 months? On the one hand, heaps... But on the other, it feels like not a huge deal. Here I will say that I don't share my whole life on this blog. I am a very private person (believe it or not); there are some things that have changed, or that I have changed, that I won't share with anyone, or maybe just those closest to me; and there are things that I just won't put on the internet, especially when there are readers of this blog with whom I am not acquainted (I think - there are some diverse countries represented in the stats, and I don't think I know anyone right now in Russia, or Latvia, or Belgium...) So, the changes that I'm prepared to acknowledge to potential strangers:
It seems I've cooked lots. And more healthy in the treats department. Right now, I know I really need to restock my kitchen with good fats, instead of indulging in all the Christmas treats that just keep appearing. I've enjoyed trying new foods, and having others cook for me (really, drool...) And the recent additions to the recipe book collection have kick-started the creativity and 'newness' in the kitchen. Thank goodness.
Musically, it's been an interesting few months. I've listened to new music, and listened differently; I've also performed new music, and done some viola performing.
There have been a few new physical activities - boxing, and running up the local mountain, and running the Melbourne half marathon - and just looking at this is making me want to do stuff. Or at least make some concrete goals other than the singular goal I've already made (exciting!). But I'm thinking I need something else new in this department (suggestions welcome).
I haven't watched that many movies (and I still have a review pending), but I've definitely noticed a change over the course of this year in how I watch movies. When I was growing up, others in my family would watch a movie and be able to pick it to pieces afterwards (or, in some cases, during). I was - and still am - able to suspend disbelief quite readily. Plot-lines and predictability were not really issues for me. But I'm getting better at assessing acting ability; I look more carefully at plots (and their holes); and I've noticed a definite classification system happening in my brain. More on that in future, I think.
The biggest thing for me in these last few weeks, though, has been in my creative side. I am loving Instagram. Having different filters, so you can change the mood of a shot, or highlight a quality of the original, is a perk I hadn't expected to appreciate. And the blur options can alter the whole perspective of a shot. Aside from the creative options, though, there is the social side. Connecting with total strangers through art is something I started experiencing with Red Bubble. But sometimes, we can be connected through something more than a photo - for example, there are some shots from Christmas at the cathedral, and I know that I was in the place at the same time (and, in some cases, I've worked out who the other person is). After a bit of testing the water, I decided to keep Instagram separate from Facebook, so rarely share my Instagram photos on Facebook.
Now, it's the end of a year, so my New Year's resolution is over. I thought a bit about whether to continue blogging, and decided to keep going, at least for now. For starters, I have a few backlogged, and a few more movies to watch. Slightly more importantly though, is that I can feel when I'm enjoying living in a rut - and when I need to crawl back out of it. And this blog is great for that. There have been several occasions this year when I've wanted to keep that cloak of familiarity nice and close around me, but having a blog has forced me to do at least one thing new.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
In Retrospect - Second Quarter
It's that time of year. 3 months since my last retrospective, so here's how I feel I've changed since then.
Food: Something you wouldn't know - unless you've been spying on me in a serious way - is that my school lunches have changed. For quite some time (more than a year, that is), my school lunches were really predictable. This term, I've started taking non-salads occasionally. Especially welcome in colder weather to have a hot lunch! A great food behaviour change has been the introduction of No Cook Weeks. These are the greatest. I have fresh organic fruit and veges delivered every fortnight, and the week following will be a Cook Week, the week after a No Cook Week. I still have quite a stash of frozen meals in the freezer, plus it's holidays right now and I'm cooking quite a lot, so this wonderful destress habit can continue for a while. Knowing that I don't have to do anything except thaw and heat is such a calming feeling. Obviously, I love cooking, but I love not needing to cook as well. An added benefit is I am more likely to cook the fresh produce before it's past its best instead of needing to ditch it. The other food behaviour change is another not many would have noticed - I no longer buy peanut butter. I gave it up for Lent, then went a bit crazy with it after Easter. Peanut butter is no longer my friend. I had decided I couldn't trust myself with it, when a quote came up on Facebook - if you can't eat it responsibly, don't keep it in your house. Good advice.
Clothes: The 'search keywords' that lead people to this blog are usually fairly ordinary (recipes, movies, that sort of thing). By far the most searched item though is stockings. This has been a bit of a surprise... and a little unnerving... Nevertheless, I am far more adventurous with my stockings now, and they definitely initiate comments and conversations.
Organisation: I have a slightly more organised house. Not by much, but every little bit helps, right?
Photography: I'm loving the Daily Photo. Partly, it's feeling like I have an excuse to take those photos I'd normally walk past because I'm a local. But I'm also enjoying getting up close and personal with my environment again, and seeing my world through the lens again. And seeing the colours in the northwest of the state - so different from Brisbane! - made for an even more interesting trip to Mt Isa and Townsville.
Running: This feels like the big one. Running is a brain thing for me, and to train for the half marathon involved not just running but brain training as well. Taking different routes and doing different gym workouts, as well as different running shoes and tweaking little things about my running practice - these all helped the Gold Coast Half Marathon to be a successful and positive experience for me. Having run many, many kilometres in these shoes now, one big bonus about them is the grip. To get anywhere, I need to run down a fairly steep hill, which is often (usually) covered in leaves. When it's been raining, this makes for a slippery descent. Similarly, the downhill slopes on the bike path can be a bit on the slippery side after (or during) rain. I can feel these shoes really gripping though, and I no longer worry I'm going to slip.
Coffee and Movies: Looking at the list of blog posts for the last 3 months, I see a lot of coffee places listed... Now when I have a catch up with someone, we purposely find somewhere I haven't been before, so it can get to the blog. I also see on the list many movies I wouldn't normally have watched. I like that people will ask if I've seen something, then if I haven't they loan it to me. This is not just broadening my movie experience, but I am flattered that people want to know what I think!
The Term 2 Goals: Well. The facial expressions were a bit of a disaster after the first week or so - it was so hard! I am very pleased to report, though, that I was successful in putting away teaching materials after each day. I think I can say now that the practice has now become a habit. Woohoo!
Tuesday's Daily Photo:
Gin cocktails - experimental, of course! Needs something like lemonade or tonic water. But, the shelves looked far more interesting through the glass.
Food: Something you wouldn't know - unless you've been spying on me in a serious way - is that my school lunches have changed. For quite some time (more than a year, that is), my school lunches were really predictable. This term, I've started taking non-salads occasionally. Especially welcome in colder weather to have a hot lunch! A great food behaviour change has been the introduction of No Cook Weeks. These are the greatest. I have fresh organic fruit and veges delivered every fortnight, and the week following will be a Cook Week, the week after a No Cook Week. I still have quite a stash of frozen meals in the freezer, plus it's holidays right now and I'm cooking quite a lot, so this wonderful destress habit can continue for a while. Knowing that I don't have to do anything except thaw and heat is such a calming feeling. Obviously, I love cooking, but I love not needing to cook as well. An added benefit is I am more likely to cook the fresh produce before it's past its best instead of needing to ditch it. The other food behaviour change is another not many would have noticed - I no longer buy peanut butter. I gave it up for Lent, then went a bit crazy with it after Easter. Peanut butter is no longer my friend. I had decided I couldn't trust myself with it, when a quote came up on Facebook - if you can't eat it responsibly, don't keep it in your house. Good advice.
Clothes: The 'search keywords' that lead people to this blog are usually fairly ordinary (recipes, movies, that sort of thing). By far the most searched item though is stockings. This has been a bit of a surprise... and a little unnerving... Nevertheless, I am far more adventurous with my stockings now, and they definitely initiate comments and conversations.
Organisation: I have a slightly more organised house. Not by much, but every little bit helps, right?
Photography: I'm loving the Daily Photo. Partly, it's feeling like I have an excuse to take those photos I'd normally walk past because I'm a local. But I'm also enjoying getting up close and personal with my environment again, and seeing my world through the lens again. And seeing the colours in the northwest of the state - so different from Brisbane! - made for an even more interesting trip to Mt Isa and Townsville.
Running: This feels like the big one. Running is a brain thing for me, and to train for the half marathon involved not just running but brain training as well. Taking different routes and doing different gym workouts, as well as different running shoes and tweaking little things about my running practice - these all helped the Gold Coast Half Marathon to be a successful and positive experience for me. Having run many, many kilometres in these shoes now, one big bonus about them is the grip. To get anywhere, I need to run down a fairly steep hill, which is often (usually) covered in leaves. When it's been raining, this makes for a slippery descent. Similarly, the downhill slopes on the bike path can be a bit on the slippery side after (or during) rain. I can feel these shoes really gripping though, and I no longer worry I'm going to slip.
Coffee and Movies: Looking at the list of blog posts for the last 3 months, I see a lot of coffee places listed... Now when I have a catch up with someone, we purposely find somewhere I haven't been before, so it can get to the blog. I also see on the list many movies I wouldn't normally have watched. I like that people will ask if I've seen something, then if I haven't they loan it to me. This is not just broadening my movie experience, but I am flattered that people want to know what I think!
The Term 2 Goals: Well. The facial expressions were a bit of a disaster after the first week or so - it was so hard! I am very pleased to report, though, that I was successful in putting away teaching materials after each day. I think I can say now that the practice has now become a habit. Woohoo!
Tuesday's Daily Photo:
Monday, 2 April 2012
In Retrospect - First Quarter
Three months into my Living Less Predictably lifestyle change, I thought it would be a good idea to see how things have really changed. I have noticed some big changes, a general attitude change, and some other smaller changes.
Food
The reason I brought back the 'new recipe each week' last year was, honestly, I was waking up some mornings dreaming about weird food combinations. This year I haven't made a new recipe each week, but my brain hasn't started to rebel yet either. This week I'm hoping for some more variety though! I've enjoyed the recipes I have made, mostly, and silken tofu and quark make regular appearances in my diet now. I'm also much more likely to try a new brand or new food, often purposely searching out a new variety.
Clothes
This has been a big change. I've mentioned before why I needed to change this, and I've really noticed the difference recently. Last year was really a matter of "What's in my wardrobe that doesn't need ironing?" but this year I actually think about what I'm wearing, if I've worn this combination before, if it's actually going to look good (and, let's face it, photograph well). Planning outfits before the week begins has also helped immensely.
The other clothing change has been my attitude towards clothes. Most of the clothes I've bought in the last 6 months don't really fit anymore. While this is sad, I'm much more content now with the idea of giving them away and getting myself some new clothes (from op shops). Previously, I would have stared at a suspect item for a while (like, a year at least), then maybe had a probation wearing, and then if I don't like it, stare at it for a bit more, until deciding I need to give it away. On Wednesday though, I just pulled 2 dresses out of my cupboard and gave them away - I knew they would look better on this friend than on me, and they'd only had 1 outing each this term. Gone.
Exercise and Health
The exercise regime change has been a great change. It's really easy to notice improvements - I'm running further and faster, I can go faster up hills, and I can run up the hill on which I live. I don't think I take as many breaks in gym sessions (although that might be just me...), and I have much more variety in what I do.
I'm a much trimmer version of me. Last year, I started the Zone eating plan, and Trainer Dan recommended measuring, not just weighing. I was rather sporadic in that last year, so this year I'm being organised (or OCD), and measuring every 4 weeks. So far I've lost 3 cm from my waist.
Viewing
Although I still have nights where all I can do is curl up on the sofa and watch NCIS, I have watched so much more this year. So many movies, nearly all of them good. One horrendous movie that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but apart from that, a very interesting mix. And I have so many more to see! I'm also far less rigid in my viewing habits, which has to be a good thing.
Social Occasions
This has been the biggest change I've noticed so far. I'm much more likely to say Yes to something, and am starting to be able to change my plans (like last week). Fridays have turned into social occasions, and I worry far less if I will have enough sleep. Mostly because I've hardly slept all term. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm comfortable socialising now, I am less uncomfortable socialising, and more likely to actually do something instead of just staying home.
I have a few ideas for new things for the next quarter - let me know if you have any ideas for me to try!
Food
The reason I brought back the 'new recipe each week' last year was, honestly, I was waking up some mornings dreaming about weird food combinations. This year I haven't made a new recipe each week, but my brain hasn't started to rebel yet either. This week I'm hoping for some more variety though! I've enjoyed the recipes I have made, mostly, and silken tofu and quark make regular appearances in my diet now. I'm also much more likely to try a new brand or new food, often purposely searching out a new variety.
Clothes
This has been a big change. I've mentioned before why I needed to change this, and I've really noticed the difference recently. Last year was really a matter of "What's in my wardrobe that doesn't need ironing?" but this year I actually think about what I'm wearing, if I've worn this combination before, if it's actually going to look good (and, let's face it, photograph well). Planning outfits before the week begins has also helped immensely.
The other clothing change has been my attitude towards clothes. Most of the clothes I've bought in the last 6 months don't really fit anymore. While this is sad, I'm much more content now with the idea of giving them away and getting myself some new clothes (from op shops). Previously, I would have stared at a suspect item for a while (like, a year at least), then maybe had a probation wearing, and then if I don't like it, stare at it for a bit more, until deciding I need to give it away. On Wednesday though, I just pulled 2 dresses out of my cupboard and gave them away - I knew they would look better on this friend than on me, and they'd only had 1 outing each this term. Gone.
Exercise and Health
The exercise regime change has been a great change. It's really easy to notice improvements - I'm running further and faster, I can go faster up hills, and I can run up the hill on which I live. I don't think I take as many breaks in gym sessions (although that might be just me...), and I have much more variety in what I do.
I'm a much trimmer version of me. Last year, I started the Zone eating plan, and Trainer Dan recommended measuring, not just weighing. I was rather sporadic in that last year, so this year I'm being organised (or OCD), and measuring every 4 weeks. So far I've lost 3 cm from my waist.
Viewing
Although I still have nights where all I can do is curl up on the sofa and watch NCIS, I have watched so much more this year. So many movies, nearly all of them good. One horrendous movie that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but apart from that, a very interesting mix. And I have so many more to see! I'm also far less rigid in my viewing habits, which has to be a good thing.
Social Occasions
This has been the biggest change I've noticed so far. I'm much more likely to say Yes to something, and am starting to be able to change my plans (like last week). Fridays have turned into social occasions, and I worry far less if I will have enough sleep. Mostly because I've hardly slept all term. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm comfortable socialising now, I am less uncomfortable socialising, and more likely to actually do something instead of just staying home.
I have a few ideas for new things for the next quarter - let me know if you have any ideas for me to try!
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