Thursday, August 31st, 2023
UPDATE: The winner is…Sandy Pennese!
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August
Work-related:
- I began work on Book #2 of We Are Dead Horse, MT — Hard Knox!
- I completed 4 editing projects for other authors in August.
Health-related:
- I’ve been swimming almost every day. Sometimes, twice a day.
- Through medicines and some diet tweaking, I’ve managed to keep my blood pressure down to 130-150. There’s been an occasional spike, but it’s so much better.
- My appointment with my heart doctor went so well I don’t have to see him again for 6 months!
Happiness-related:
- I helped get the kids ready for the school year, including the 19-year-old who began college this month! In fact, she made the Pom Squad!
- I have been working on and making more great progress organizing my art room, getting ready for the next push for art shows and reopening my Etsy store. I have accumulated the supplies I need to begin painting in encaustic wax.
- I finished the Inchie Challenge! These are tiny 2×2-inch paintings. Here are a few examples…
September
For work-related, I plan:
- To complete writing Hard Knox, the next in my We Are Dead Horse, MT series which releases on September 12th!
- To release my short story from Silver Soldiers—“Ripples”—in a special giveaway the first weekend of September!
- To complete (taking a deep breath) 6 editing projects in September! I’ll be a complete zombie by the end of the month!
For health related, I plan:
- To swim at least once a day—as long as the pool remains warm enough!
- To restart counting points for my Weight Watchers diet and hopefully shed at least 5 pounds, remembering, as always: Slow is good!
- To continue to reduce salt, processed food, and incorporate foods good for blood pressure (spinach, broccoli, bananas).
- To begin walking and counting my steps (once the weather cools).
- To do more housework because my art room isn’t finished! Cleaning is exercise, too.
For happiness-related, I plan:
- To spend quality time with the family—movie nights, swim-time, making fun meals together!
- To visit my sister in North Arkansas for a “writers’ retreat.”
- To work on art and jewelry-making to get ready for the Art Festival in October!
Contest
Comment on anything you’ve read in this post. Tell me what you’re doing to make yourself happier and healthier. Tell me what you plan to read in September…
Like I said, comment on anything for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
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Congrats to your daughter. I have no clue what I am going to do this month.
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You have yourself an impressive, but doable list. Kudos to complete it. I want to continue building my website. But I want to do it slower–not rush through it. I found I have missed embedded videos within videos I already watched.
I also want to get back to my novel Brick Painting. I am painting novel covers on bricks to put in my front yard. I have a double-sided George Orwell, Moby Dick, and an original novel, Destiny. The Godfather is next to start.
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Congratulations on keeping that blood pressure down. Just remember to breathe and take time for yourself when you get busy! Swimming is a favorite of mine but it’s been cooling off at night so the water isn’t warm anymore. I walk 3 miles a day to get my steps in and my exercises. I also dance when no one’s looking of course lol. Congratulations to your daughter and I hope she has a great year at college.
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Great job on keeping your BP in check and congratulations to your baby making the pom squad. I need to take better care of my health and I have several book events I’m going to as a treat to me after the year I’ve had so far.
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Happy for you that you have your BP under control. I understand that battle as well.
I have my BP staying steady at 140/85, so though Dr would like it lower, I told her I do not weigh 120, but 250, so I am happy with BP as is. And I brought my Blood Sugar down from 9 to 6 and daily it’s averages 116-125, so happy with that as well.
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you did great. on my side i got my medical appointment scheduled and i plan not to postpone it and try to stay zen waiting
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I’ve learned the old saying When you have your health, you have everything is so true. Changed the way I eat six years ago – lost 110 pounds, off BP meds within a year, and feel so much better. Good luck! It’s always a work in progress to keep us healthy the older we get.
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I love your bird painting!
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Wow, so busy.
I intend to walk a lot more. My preferred exercise.
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Congratulations on the swimming! I believe you can’t have good health without exercise!! I’ve personally went sugar free last March. No sweets, no processed carbs. Have I been 100% faithful, no. But I’ve lost weight and feel so much better!! Good luck!!
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nice artwork
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You are an amazing woman who always keeps busy and helps so many. I try to take time to myself and stay fit rest and read. Keep going strong as you always do it inspires many
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Sounds like you are super busy. Im hoping to organize house. And prepare for the ber months. Maybe be art creative. Not sure what I will be reading. Depending on budget. Lol
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I plan to start a diet and exercise program to lose some weight and I plan to read as much as I can
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Quite the list! We are working on decreasing the amount of superfluous stuff in our house and life.
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I am exercising to stay healthy. I tried swimming but I didn’t like it enough to stick with it. I like hiking but that’s hard to do every day.
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For happiness I’m going to a book convention later this month: Books at the Beach. I’m looking forward to seeing book friends and authors. I’ll be seeing Cynthia D’Alba!
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I’ve been doing WW for over a year. I’ve lost a total of 65 pounds. I want to keep it off. I’m getting too old to carry so much weight. I feel better and my blood pressure is normal. Yeah me. LOL. I’ve started taking some supplements, calcium, vitamin ‘D’, and vitamin B complex along with glucosamine. I feel so much better.
Keep up your good work. That’s amazing.
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Thank you all for the encouragement! And I loved reading your plans, too!
The winner of the GC is…Sandy Pennese!