Alyrenee's Copious Spare Time

Looking back at my 2021 intentions, I totally failed on a few...but did okay on some...  To review, my 2021 Intentions were : #1 Grace.  Be kind to myself. Shush the inner mean girl. I did okay with this and it was a good resolution. #2 A minimum of twenty minutes of movement a day. Same here until I couldn't.  I was fairly consistent with keeping movement as a part of my day right up until I got a breakthrough covid case (thanks Delta!) in late July 2021. I then suffered from fatigue symptoms and body aches for quite awhile.  I was only able to start running again in late September (no more than 2 miles once a week) and then was able to run a 5k again in early December.       #3 Take control of a small space every day.  Um...sort of failed on this.   #4 No makeup for 2021.  Failed again. #5 Ethical Clothing Pledge for 2021.   Did pretty well with this. I pretty much only bought from Poshmark, eBay, ThredUp or the thrift s...

 Oh, 2020.  Bye girl.  So when thinking of my goals for 2021, I am taking my cue from Tiny Habits.  Little changes can add up. I have already seen how doing a bullet journal can really de-clutter my brain.  That move has truly been a game-changer in terms of productivity. Some of my goals are bigger though, so we will see how it all works. I am no longer calling these resolutions. Instead, I think of them as intentions.  I intend to do these things.  If I don't, I have not BROKEN anything and can pick back up where I left off.   2021 Intentions: #1 Grace.  Be kind to myself. Shush the inner mean girl. #2 A minimum of twenty minutes of movement a day.  I have managed to keep this up since Labor day with only two exceptions: Election day when I worked 18 hours and did a ton of legwork...i think that earns a pass and two weeks ago when I sprained my ankle and needed to rest it for a day.  Twenty minutes of movement can be as simpl...

Another year around the sun. Time to make some new choices, start new habits, and make some changes. #1 Ethical Clothing Pledge It has been a while since I did the Ethical Clothing Pledge. I think it is time to try it again. The last time was 2010 (the year I got married). I was losing weight and my sizes kept changing...also I was trying to save money. The same goes for this year. I really need to shed the extra baby weight AND saving money is always good. Plus, fast fashion is so destructive to the world in so many ways. So I am resolved to only purchase recycled/upcycled/thrift clothing, ethically produced clothing, or make the clothing myself. (Note this does not apply to socks, shoes, and undergarments...because grody). I have tons of fabric to use for new clothes. I have all the workout clothing one could ever need and lots of good work clothes. In 2010 I made it the whole year only purchasing one Wonder Woman t-shirt from MAC, one backup wedding dress on clearance from An...

Fabric ain't cheap y'all.  Even though you don't need a whole lot to make Babs a new gown...I half a yard of silk is going to set you back around $10 bucks at most fabric stores (assuming you are lucky to live near a store that carries silk)...plus you still need lining, thread, and closures...oh and beads...etc. For that same $10 you can often get a WHOLE DRESS with way more yardage and re-usable bits at a thrift store! It's a concept known as up-cycling...all the hip kids are doing it. It is good for the world and your wallet.  Take someone's sad nineties bridesmaid dress and make it into something cool...or make it into many cool somethings and sell them...or wash your car with it...whatever the case, these things don't need to end up in a land fill.  Make do and up-cycle! Here are some tips for shopping: Learn how to read labels for fiber content.   Learn names of fibers (i.e. Viscose is another name for rayon.  Elastane is the same as spandex....

So every year these need to be made...some get left behind but others linger the whole year.  My thinking is that if I manage to stick with these even part of the time then there is a benefit. Finish a script. Get a script produced. Finish custom Action figures that have been back burnered. Ethical clothing challenge. Stash diet...nothing new and work it down. Knit four sweaters. Keep house respectable. Reduce clutter. Eat better. Exercise more. Write more. Create more. Waste less time. Be less fearful.

Take a peak at the Jason Wu for target line on this fantastic blog .  Sigh.  I want.  So the ethical clothing challenge will be postponed until February...I will do some damage and then repent for the rest of the year.  I definitely want the cat scarf .  The Cat Tote or one of those adorable blue daisy purses might be on the menu as well.  I'd like to get a dress , skirt, and blouse ...possibly a sweater as well. The full gallery can be seen here ...in stores Feb 5th. Hopefully I won't have to stab anyone to get some.

I make them every year...I stick to most of them usually... No new craft supplies or fabric. I have rooms and boxes and rooms of boxes filled with yarn, fabric, and craft projects.  It will be hard but I must resist the urge to splurge and shop my stash instead.  I have so much to choose from...I am also trying to include patterns and knitting/craft books in this.  But that might be a losing prospect.  Notions are allowed since I might need to get a zipper to finish a skirt etc. No new clothing. I did the ethical clothing challenge in 2010 and it was great. I only caved three times the whole year: a backup wedding dress in case of rain from Anthro, a pair of skinny jeans after I hit my weight loss goal, and a Trashy Diva Doris Day dress while on honeymoon in New Orleans (technically I could call this a souvenir).  I think I can do it again this year...especially if I stick to the next resolution. 52 Craft Challenge   I want to make something ev...

Okay...I think I might be ready for a MAJOR commitment. Sounds crazy I know. But I was inspired by listener JoniMarie's 'no new clothes' pledge as well as trip to the Salvation Army last night that netted me three pairs of pants, three blouses, and one African Dancer costume for $25! And one of those pants were Seven for All Mankind Jeans!!! Heck I could re-sell those suckers on eBay for $40! So with my love for vintage and thrift store shopping, combined by my sewing skills, my desire to save money, my need to widdle down the stash, AND the positive impact on the environment...I think i can do this! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - T H E _ E T H I C A L _ C L O T H I N G _ P L E D G E - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I pledge to only wear clothing that is one or more of the following: 1. Pre-loved 2. Handmade (preferably by me) 3. Reconstructed 4. Made with ethical / environmentally friendly materials 5. Made by a company with strong eth...