January is well underway, my friends, and here a few things I’m doing.
Adding a bit of weight lifting into my weekly routine. Last year, a friend recommended I pick up Strength Training, Exercises for Women, from DK Publishing, and I have to say, it’s a great resource for those of you who try to exercise at home. I have the arm strength of a parakeet and I know that improving upon this is a good thing for my body. By year’s end, I hope to knock out 20 pushups like a boss.
Eating much healthier for the past few weeks. I know. January is that time of year, right? But considering I lead an online class devoted to helping women make connections for better self care, I need to walk the walk. And to be clear, eating is not code for starving. Crash and fad diets are not my bag, baby. I’m just working to get off the junk food train which is no small feat for an abstainer personality like mine. So far, so good. (And you can sign up for Fit 2017 through July 31st! I won’t lie: so far, the community we’re creating is supportive and awesome. I’d love to have you join!)
Reading Ready Player One and totally digging it. I first heard of this book from Wendi Aarons via her newsletter, and then my daughter was talking about it, so I loaded it up onto my iPad and so far, it’s pretty interesting. I should note: I’m not a big reader. I aspire to be one, but I rarely can be found reading. Sometimes, I think it’s because when I finish a book I love, I think, “Well, there it is… the best book I will ever read.” And then I’m hesitant to find a new one at the risk of being let down. If you have a book you think is a must read, tell me in the comments. I have a goal is to carve out more time for good books this year. Also, I can only read on my iPad now. Mama and her aging eyes love making big type!
Scrapbooking a few layouts for my next column in Scrapbook & Cards Today, which is actually going to be a new column for 2017 revolving around journaling. It will still include design tips, but the focus will be on stories and ideas for scrapbooking them. Yesterday I busted out the Silhouette Cameo because I needed a particular type of a letter to make a title and I didn’t have the stickers. I do love this machine. I need to use it more. I keep it on a shelf in my office because I don’t really have room for it on any table. Maybe that’s the problem? Either way, I love the fact that I can take any font at any size and make letters to fit whatever I’m doing. (Pictured above? Helvetica Rounded Bold Condensed. Swoon.)
Counting the days (about one month exactly!) until I get to see a production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Darren Criss. Get this: we have fourth row seats! The movie version of this play is truly one of my all-time favorites and I’m so happy I bought tickets for the whole family to go. Cole says he’s not feeling it, but I think even he will enjoy the show.
Making Blue Apron dinners about once a month and really having fun with it. We’ve had three sets of meals since I signed up last fall and it’s been a fun way to shake up what we eat. Granted, I’m only doing the two-person plan because my boy isn’t a fan of branching out much. So on the nights I make these meals, he’ll make a sandwich or other foods that are more pleasing to his palette. I love to cook and it’s been fun to work with ingredients I would not normally choose. Plus, I feel like the price ($59.99) for three meals for two people is not too shabby. Favorite meal so far for me? This one was super tasty.
Brainstorming some new classes and at the top of my list is a new, updated version (meaning, completely re-tooled!) of Design Your Life, a class that I taught back in 2008 as my first foray into online education. I want to create a more concentrated and compact experience (six weeks or less in duration) and of course, I need to create all new layouts. I envision this class also teaching about my hybrid processes. Yesterday, while making a layout for my new magazine column, I just did the process I love: concept a digital idea and make it using both digital and tangible products, all tied together with solid design. It’s time to re-imagine this concept and bring it to you later this year.
Drinking more water. Why is it so hard, people?
That’s about it with me right now. How about you? What are you doing this month?
Annet M says
I just finished listening to A Man Called Ove and love love loved it. A fabulous story (give it a few chapters) and read do well. Glad I could do that while walking. So enjoyed it.
Christine says
Agree. That is a wonderful mix of funny and sad.
Cathy Zielske says
I think I have that one on my iPad as a sample! I’ll give it a whirl!
Sue Ogden says
Agree! I loved this book! But you do have to give it a few chapters.
Dana says
I was going to recommend this one also. Just finished it and loved it. I was laughing throughout the book, but was crying at the end.
Christine says
I’m a reader. A few recently read I enjoyed- Homegoing, One in A Million Boy, Everyone Brave is Forgiven, All the Light We Cannot See, Nightingale, The Circle. So many great books. So little time. What Should I Read Next is a great podcast for ideas and short reviews.
We tried four home delivery meal plans. Liked Hello Fresh the best but did not dislike any of them. Currently, we are trying PrepDish. It is a meal plan/prep/cooking instruction service that comes via email. You can get a year long premium membership for $75 right now, which is half off (use code READNEXT). They are a sponsor of the podcast I mentioned. There are whole 30 reset, gluten free, standard, and several other options all available all the time. My husband loves to cook and really enjoys the recipes. They are all focused on eating healthy, real food. You get a shopping list, one day prep for the week instructions and then cooking day instructions. I tried this this year in an effort to eat better, eat out less and spend less on food overall.
I’ll stop rambling now as this comment is looking more like a blog post!
Cathy Zielske says
I’ve heard of a lot of the books you mention! I should add some to my list. 🙂
Glenda says
I’ve heard great things about Ready Player One narrated by Wil Wheaton on audio and am on the waiting list from my library. I find listening to books and walking is one of my favourite things to do. Can’t wait for the warmer weather to get back outside. Two books I loved on audio are The Boston Girl, narrated by Linda Lavin and Be Frank with Me.
I really enjoyed your Design your Life course – I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years – and will definitely sign up for this again.
Michelle says
I love Ready Player One and have told several people about it. So glad you discovered it.
Liz says
My Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty .. So good.
Tammy B says
Reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin again, as a refresher. Love her books and your abstainer comment reminded me of her Better Than Before book.
Hoping to read at least one book a month this year. Not a lofty goal but a goal nonetheless.
Cleaning my craft room a little every day. It is an unbelievable disaster!
Healing, still, after a seriously bad ankle sprain in September. It’s been a long few months but slowly getting there. I would like to get back to the gym this month and actually ride a bike, but I’m not in any hurry. Re-injury is not on my list of to-do’s!
I could go on but I won’t. Maybe I should scrapbook this as I don’t usually have many photos in January. You can only take so many photos of cold, snowy weather before it gets really old! ?
Diane Downs says
I’m a reader, and I truly think you’ll like Stephen King. It’s not *all* weird/horror/unbelievable/outlandish/wacky as long as you’re cool with language. Usually you get sucked into the story pretty far before it gets weird. And not all of his books do. I recommend starting with The Shining, then reading Doctor Sleep (the sequel). Super, super good stories. Not like anything else you’ll read.
Cathy Zielske says
Oh, Diane! He is one of my FAVORITEs and I have read many, many of his books, including Doctor Sleep and I LOVED it! I want them to make it into a movie!
I loved The Shining, and Dreamcatcher and Pet Semetary… oh man, I could go on! We are kindred spirits on that author!
Ginny says
A newer one by Stephen King that is really good is “11/22/63” about the JFK assassination. I have read a lot of his books and this has wider appeal than some do. It is really good!
CarrieH says
I took your Design Your Life class and learned so much. I would love to take another, similar one. I am strictly a traditional paper scrapper, but have been able to modify the hybrid layouts I copy to my style. Looking forward to your class.
Yolanda says
Because I wanted to read more, 6 months ago, I joined 3 book clubs. I actually love to read, but its easier…not to. Here’s what I’ve read in the past year that I highly recommend:
The Girls by Emma Cline
Underground Airlines by Ben H Winters
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
The Bees by Laline Paul
I Let You Go by Claire McIntosh
I use the Kindle App for iPad and often opt to buy the Audible narration for a few extra bucks so I can “read” while working. The audible narration syncs with the kindle app so you can switch back and forth at any time.
Cathy Zielske says
Another vote for A Man Called Ove i see… and that’s very cool about the app. I have the app on my iPad, too. I just never really have used it. Might have to try!
Robin says
No lie, while at the store getting my LaCroix water on sale this week, I visualized you wearing your LaCroix ‘hat’, and it makes me smile:) That’s how I gladly choose water, so I Thank You for that!
Cathy Zielske says
I just picked up my weekly supply (72 cans) from Costco…. (Okay, I only go through about 50.)
lol.
Shana says
I’m feeling inspired by our fit community. Our FB group is fun & inspirational!
My goal is to read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover & complete a family scrapbook album for 2017.
Cathy Zielske says
It’s a great group this year!
Kim says
Shana, definitely do read Total Money Makeover! You won’t regret it. It completely changed my relationship with money.
I resisted the book for years because I had a bit of a judgy attitude about Dave, that I wouldn’t like his personality. And there are some things about him that I don’t love, but his financial advice is solid! On a modest income, following his plan, my husband and I paid off over 21k in debt in only 18 months. Now we are saving to buy our next vehicle in cash.
For fear of sounding like a crazy person on an infomercial, that’s all I’ll say about it for now. 🙂
Shana says
Thanks Kim! I’ve been following his “baby steps” & using EveryDollar for over a year without reading the book. I figured it was time. 🙂
MaryJ says
I can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years since DYL either. Wow!! Definitely onboard for the new one!
I have been reading more too. I used to read all the time and for some reason just stopped. Making that a priority this year. Best book I have read in a long time is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Amazing book!
Our FIT Facebook group is awesome!! Love the support even though I’m starting very slow this year. Slow and steady wins the race, right? ;-). Making positive changes daily!
Barb says
I’m a big fan of your hybrid layouts and would love to take Design Your Life. Would you consider putting in some 6×8 layouts?
Cathy Zielske says
Never thought of that Barb! What I hope to do is to teach design concepts so regardless of the space you’re working with, you can really make it work! 🙂
Barb says
I think you have 6×8 digital design layouts that I use for ideas for hybrid layouts–those are really helpful. I notice that the digital books you make are not 8.5×11–the smaller sizes are really so much more easily handled.
Delia says
So happy to read that you are doing a new design your life class. One of my favourite classes ever and one I actually did every lesson of. Can’t wait. Happy New Year.
Lori says
I’m loving The Boys in the Boat. It is a true story and takes place in Washington State so you might enjoy.
Cele Schaffer says
Would love to follow your email posts and just changed emai address- wasn’t sure if this the way you get on the list. Loved you and your daughters Bee dance this year and every year! Also love your designing- you da bombdigety!
Cathy Zielske says
Cele, you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking on the link at the top right sidebar. or you can add my blog to a feed service, as well!
Cathy Zielske says
I should add: i’m going to look into a subscribe to my blog post add on! Stay tuned!
Susan says
Cathy, when my husband bought me a Cameo for a gift he didn’t buy any of the necessary accoutrements needed for printing out – anything. Can you give a down and dirty of what is needed? Thanks.
Cathy Zielske says
Lol! Honestly? I only use blades and the mat. All the other stuff? NO CLUE!
I do have one of the Silhouette picker tools, which helps to poke out tiny parts of a design or a letter, but I do not use anything other than yardstick, blades and mats! 🙂
Pam says
Great news about another “Design your Life”. I took that class as a self paced and absolutely loved it. I still refer back to your instructions re: Photoshop and reuse some of the layout designs. And not sure if you’re aware, but a request was put into the December Daily FB group for a CZ designed DD kit for 2017. Plus we asked for a DD creative team. Having a DD kit by you would be awesome.
Cathy Zielske says
I was just thinking of talking to Ali about that. Could be cool! 🙂
Christy B says
I would love a new version of Design Your Life! One of my favorite classes of all time.
Betsy says
I love Louise Penny’s series starting with Still Life. She also has an inspiring monthly newsletter. We subscribe to The Purple Carrot food delivery service and we LOVE it. It is vegan, which works for us. Some people say it is expensive, but I know I spend much less because I am not at the grocery store impulse buying (like I do) each week.