A few random bits

I updated my header. What do you think? Does the photo look distorted? I wanted to get the words in a better place than Blogger was allowing me to put them, so I enlisted the help of Photoshop. But I really don't know what I'm doing on there, so please, give me your feedback.

I'm kicking butt drinking water today. Why? Because I'm working from home and the faucet and the bathroom are both mere steps away. No doubt about it, that's me biggest problem at work, getting up over and over to walk to the water and the bathroom. Lately, I haven't been doing so at all.

Started reading the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society this week. Very good so far. And it's great for my little thing about writing a handwritten letter! It's showing me just how poor I am with my letter-writing. I just straight-up don't know what to say. Isn't that kind of sad?

I went to the library last night and checked out three books on crafting. I'm soooooo geeked. I want to make 10,000 things. I'm planning a trip to Arts and Scraps in the morning. And maybe Michael's later tonight, if I think Luke can handle it. Or if I can handle it -- I'm not feeling well, despite all my water and a cup of hot tea.

Also want to recommend this blog I came across the other day. I like it. And I'm very interested to try the whole wheat bread recipe she created.  I wonder where I would find vital wheat gluten. Whole Foods?

Finally, who can tell me the difference between whole wheat flour and WHITE whole wheat flour. Is this a fake whole grain or a real one?

Tomorrow is date night!

My pretty, pretty water bottle

My water bottle is so pushy. 

I mean... did IT have to wake up to workout at 6 a.m. No.

Does it have at least six bosses? No (just one -- me).

Does it have a never-ending to-do list? A toddler who never ever ever shuts his little pint-sized motor off for more than 10 seconds?

No. No.

So who is IT to tell me Enjoy Life!

Well, I'll be honest. I actually snagged this perky little guy from the shelf at Home Goods because it is so chirpy. Positive. Blindly optimistic. Sunshine and rainbows. I need a little sunshine and rainbows in my life. I need a reminder to freaking enjoy life a little already!

And beyond that, I also need a reminder to drink water. Without a water bottle, I would drink maybe at a meal. It's pitiful really.

If you're like me, I recommend the water bottle. Something you'll feel good carrying. That will make you smile a little. That will make it easy to have water wherever you are. That will make, "Do you know where the bathroom is? I have to pee," the most common phrase to come out of your mouth.

It's pushy. But I need a pushy now and then.

Reading elsewhere

Go on six dates with my husband

Here's a blogger who is shooting much higher than me. She's doing a date each week with her husband. They stay home and don't spend money, which is makes it interesting. They take turns figuring out what they'll do during their designated "date" time. She has a contract on her Web site if you want to participate. I feel like I could never do this! But it's a great idea.

Drink more water
Here's a five-step plan to help anyone who is trying to drink more water.

Establish a 6 a.m. workout plan that works.
Another mom who blogs is also playing with working out in the morning. Maybe she's on to something -- going to an actual class to ensure she's up and working out. It's really easy to tell myself I'm going to skip it (as I did all week) when I'm just going downstairs to workout to a DVD.

Make something crafty
I love these mosaic garden planters. So cute. Maybe this will be my craft project? We'll see. I'm going to collect a bunch of ideas before picking something.

Eat more whole grains
Oprah had Michael Pollen on her show this week. He's the writer who came up with the phrase, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." On the Big O's Web site, she has a little guide to cooking with whole grains. I think that can be the stumbling block for a lot of people who look at these bird seed looking stuff and think, 'What the heck am I supposed to do with that?'

Do a Random Acts of Kindness each month
I noticed this story. Kind of cool. Someone dropped a pair of rings into a Salvation Army bucket, and it's being chalked up as a random act of kindness.