Getting Active and Giving Back

The later half of January and this beginning to February has been invigorating!  Maybe it's the winding down of projects so there's less pressure to knit particular items?  Maybe it's the start of a new year?  Who knows.  Whatever it is, I've just felt so motivated lately to be my best self - for God, for myself and for all those around me.

How, you may ask, am I trying to do this?  Well, several ways... 

First, I'm finally getting some late Christmas gifts finished.  I'm nearly done with my last one.  One of my recent gifts was actually a birthday gift for my brother.  I had given some beanies to my three teenage nephews and they all loved them.  My brother expressed that he would really like one, so I made one for his birthday.  I'm happy that they loved them so much.  It was a true sense of pride to know that my teenage nephews really loved a gift I'd given them.  Made for them, especially!  The last of these gifts are late Christmas gifts, and I'll have photos up as soon as they've been shipped to their recipients.

A pretty neighborhood photo from my most recent 5k walk

Next, I'm FINALLY getting back into a regular work out routine.  No more of "maybe that day, maybe this day", but just a solid, "today's the day!"  One of the greatest motivators I've found for that is using some of my daily exercise and activity to give back to charity.  Anyone who knows me knows that I've become an avid user of the mobile app Charity Miles.  This nifty app will track how many miles you run, walk or bike and then donate money from a collection of corporate sponsors to a charity of your choice.  Lately, I've been walking a lot for Autism Speaks, Stand Up To Cancer, and Feeding America.  There are several other charities partnered with the app, too, including the (RED)  Campaign for AIDS research, World Food Programme, ASPCA, and more!  If you have a smartphone and you haven't tried using Charity Miles in your daily walking/running/biking, I highly recommend it!  It's the simplest way to give a little to others in need.

On a side note, here are some cool ideas from Ravelry to make for winter weather runners/walkers/bikers:

The Morning Walk Headband and Earwarmer

Runner's Watchcap

 Velomeisters Socks

And last, speaking of giving back, my work's knitting group has decided to dedicate the month of March to giving back to chemotherapy patients in the form of hand knit hats!  We're still working out the minor details, but we plan to see who from work is willing to pledge some knitting time during the month of March and then we will set a goal of how many hats we want to complete by March 31.  It's pretty exciting.  With World Cancer Day just a couple days ago (February 4), it's a cause that's definitely on my mind right now.  We felt that this could be a great way to do some stash busting as well!  We've all got so much yarn tucked away in our closets, and this way, we can get through some of it and help others at the same time!  It's a win-win!

So, between those three things, I'm feeling extra motivated these days to get up and do awesome things!  This youtube video might also have a little something to do with it...

Also, be on the look out for my cabled fingerless glove pattern on Ravelry soon! 

 

These have been one of my more requested items, so I figured I might as well share the pattern.  This pattern will only be available on Ravelry, however, so I'll post a link to that here once it's up.

Hope you are all having a great day!  Let's make 2013 awesome!