18 1/4

inches that is! Yep I had a measure in session today and discovered that since I began this fitness journey back in December I've lost 18 1/4 inches from my body, and dropped down to a comfortable size 4. The good news is that the inches have come from all over my body reducing my general size and the biggest losers are my waist, hips and thighs.

Just been shopping for some new fitness gear at Dick's and got 2 new outfits, plus an extra top to match some shorts I have. There goes some $$ that stuff isn't cheap is it! Plus I'm still getting around the fact that it 'seems' more expensive than England but I guess it isn't really counting in the exchange rate. I think more than anything it's just been a while since I bought new workout gear. At any rate 2 new outfits should last me a while, though at the rate I am using them (6 times a week) I should start buying one outfit a month or so I think.

In other news we bought a pull up bar. Thats one of those things that hangs off the door frame and you pull yourself up by your arms. Let's just say I'll be doing the easy version with one foot on a chair for support for a LONG while I think! lol!

It's Friday and I am just off to the library to pick up the 9th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, then it's relaxing time as today starts my vacation week. We may be going out dirtbiking Sunday so fingers crossed we manage to get out to that. Can't say I'm that stoked about being out in the desert over the weekend cos it's been HOT HOT HOT here lately. Riding in full gear in the 100+ degree heat is NOT my idea of fun, but I guess I can endure it for a while till it gets too hot. Hopefully we get out early before it gets too hot.

I'll be popping in during the next week to update on the vacation and post some pics. Also I'll be doing some blog housekeeping, and changing a few things so don't be surprised if the look changes a little :)

Have a great weekend!

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Card Sketch September #1

Back to the traditional invite size cards this month. I like to change things up now and then with the square ones but this really is the standard for cardmaking and so easy. The digital template is available free in my store for a limited time, snag it while you can!

This card came together pretty quickly really. I chose a wave rather than scallop but it works I think :) The orange monochrome look was a total fluke and unplanned but again it was working so I went with it. I kinda like it though!

"Happy Birthday" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Cardstock & Paper: DCWV; Flower: Prima; Rhinestone: Sulyn; Stamp: CTMH; Ribbon: Unknown;

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"Hang in there" card by Jo Willis
Supplies: Papermill and DCWV cardstock, DCWV and My Mind’s Eye papers, Chandelier (PS brush from Scrapsnfonts.com), Nestabilities die-cuts, Making Memories tiny alphabet stickers, Doodlebug trim, Colorbox chalk inks, Dovecraft ribbon, crochet lace, pins and rhinestones from stash.

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"Happy Birthday" card by Linda Flinders

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"Peace Love Happiness" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper: Scenic Route, Lily Bee; Chip: K& Company; Ribbon: Strano Designs; Lace: JoAnns

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"It's a boy" card by Ruth Trice
Supplies: Papers and Ribbon - Anna Griffin, Stamps - Hero Arts and Stampin Up!, Punches - Fiskars, Xcut and Woodware.

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"Wedding Congrats" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: GCD Studios Paris flocked cardstock, DCWV Silver glittered cardstock

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Di

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Update on project 101 in 1001

Just checking in today with a project 101 in 1001 update. Currently I am still working on:

#45 my monthly reading quota
#9 trying to get my 6 pack (it's coming... slowly!),
#10 I started doing yoga a few times a week, that's 2 out of the 52 weeks planned
#39 given away lots of things so far I think I am up to 12 out of 101

This month I plan on tackling the following:

#2 100 push up challenge
#24 Photo a day for a month
#49 journal everyday for a month

Of course I am still working on my self portrait each month, even if it means a last minute mad scramble on the last day of the month! Which was the case yesterday, lol. Here are a couple of shots from yesterday :)

Ignore the really curly out of control hair! It's getting long again and needing a trim. Pretty much this is how it goes when I wash it in the morning and leave it up in a clip all day to dry. I hate using the hair dryer when I am just staying home. Result if you want it curly I guess!

For this one I was hoping Sky would look up at the last minute, alas... no! I swear I need to get more pics of me with the dogs.

Ok that's about all for today, coming tomorrow: Card sketch day! yeah!

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Monday Musings

Well although he's still sick, Bob went off to work this morning as he had lots of meetings to attend. So sorry everyone at his work if you get sick, lol. Never known anyone have as much snot, seriously! Thankfully I don't seem to have picked up the flu bug, aside from a bit of a sniffle, which could be attributed to the wildfires here right now. Thankfully nothing close but yesterday morning the smell was pretty bad, guess it depends on the wind direction. We can see the clouds of smoke but so far our area is safe, I'll keep you posted.

I made a quick card this morning whilst making my sketch card for Wednesday, just something to add to my cards for heroes box. Speaking of which I really need to send that off this week!

Supplies: Paper: MAMBI; Cardstock: DCWV; Tape & Flower: Heidi Swapp; Rhinestone: Sulyn; Stamp: Boxer;

Last week I ate tomatoes out of the garden :) If you've never tasted homegrown tomatoes right off the vine, let me tell you: They are like a little peice of heaven! Seriously! If you grow ONE thing at home, make it tomatoes! Yum!

I sent off my AFAA reinstatement application today. Took a while to gather all the photocopies and other paperwork but hopefully everything goes through ok and I pass the exam :) Fingers crossed! Now I just need to go out and spend some money on new workout outfits *sigh* Some of the outfits I have are from over 10 years ago and are looking a little worse for wear. Elastic does strange things to clothes when it wears out huh? Anyway a trip to the sportswear store the next city over is on the agenda for this week (I tried Target already, not much there at all).

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

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Up up & Away

I love hybrid projects, paring digital with traditional. The green and red papers were printed along with the photo's as a whole sheet. I simply cut them out of the letter size sheet and adhered them to the Boxer paper!

Boxer Products: Yellow dot paper; Dog lovers mega alpha; Dog lovers small alpha; Library card;

Di

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New card template pack!

New card template pack is available in my digital store! Set #9 features 6 cards, all landscape and each card is available in 6x4" and 5.5x4.25" formats. PSD and PNG files included in the download. Available at all my digital stores: Available at: Di Hickman Designs, Scrapwow and 3Scrapateers

Working on more templates, layout templates this time, and some kits! Feeling a digi designing groove so I am going with it!

Thanks for all the well wishes for Bob, he is still sick poor thing. 4th day off at home and hoping he gets better soon!

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Card Sketch August #4

This months sketches have all been square but you could easily convert them to standard card/invite size. I love doing the square size as a bit of change though, plus some card designs just look so much better on the square format. This weeks card could easily be a landscape 5.5x4.25" card though!

I went paper with this weeks sketch, not really 100% sold on the card but calling it done and moving on. In my head the strips were patterned paper scraps but I have a TON of ribbon and thought that ribbon worked well too (as did the sketch girls it seems). This design would be great for using up PP scraps though!!!

"Thank You" by Di Hickman
Supplies: Cardstock & Sticker: DCWV; Flower: Prima; Misc: Button, Ribbon, Machine Stitching

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"Congratulations" by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Ribbon: Strano Designs; Flower: JoAnns; Rub: Melissa Frances; Punch: Fiskars; Other: button, machine stitching

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"Birthday Wishes" by Louise Connell
Supplies: Cardstock ~ Bazzill; Stamp ~ Studio G; Flower ~ Petaloo; Ribbons ~ from stash

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"You're the Best" by Linda Flinders

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"Happy Birthday" by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Offcuts of paper from Paper adventures and DCWV ribbon from papermania and sentiment from craftwork cards.

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"Happy Birthday to you" by Pearl Liu
Supplies: AC Cardstock, Nikki Sivil'sSweet as Cherry Pie 8x8 paper pad , Prima Cadoobles, May Arts ribbon, KCK Shaker stickers

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"Happy Birthday" by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Paink Paislee paper; Imaginsce rub on and flower; Making Memories flower; Boxer Scrapbook button; MME jewels; Bazzill border; glitter pen

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"Hi" by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny, Upsy Daisy, Fancy Pants and some Bazzill cardstock, Trim - Bazzill Just the Edges, Buttons from stash

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Di

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