Back to the Blog World

I'm back! I don't know if anyone missed me, but I've finally decided I want to blog again! I am starting over with a whole new blog. My previous home is still in existence at Mimmsical Creations. Since getting married a little more than six (!) months ago, I have felt I needed and wanted to change the name of my blog. I kind of needed a writing break too, so that all combined to my absence.

My new home (here!) is a fresh start, and a branching out, all in one. My blog name is Off Center Studio. Over the past couple of months, I participated in Circe's Circle with the amazing Jamie and Suzie. We worked on projects, and ideas, for ourselves. My initial project/idea was to have my own website design business. I work for a company doing their website currently. I love that job very much. But, I also have an interest in branching out and doing design for others. We worked through some of my thoughts, brainstorms, etc. I came up (with Jamie and Suzie's great help!) my name of Off Center Studio. It fits! I'm going to take that name right now and go with it.

My project morphed, stalled, and changed during our 12 weeks of Circe's Circle. I put it on hold when we had some major things happen in our life. But, I have held onto all of the information about what I want to do, and I'm going to see where it takes me, or where I take it! I am starting Off Center Studio with this blog!

My plan for this space (as of right now anyway) is to share a lot of things. I have a lot of photographs that I want to have a place to share. I love to cook, and I want to share my process, recipes, successes, and failures. I am also going to join in The Next Chapter bookclub, and will share about that process here as well. As things change in my life, I'm sure this blog will change too!

A lot of things have happened since I last posted. The biggest thing is that I was diagnosed with Diabetes (Type II - and very borderline.) That news hit me quite hard, as you can imagine, and I had to really relax into the idea of needing to make some major changes! Since learning this, about 10 weeks ago now, I have begun making changes in my diet and life. My doctor told me, and here is the really good news, that if I could lose about 50 pounds, she thinks I can reverse the diagnosis! Well... I took that very seriously, and I have lost 19 pounds (as of this morning) so far! I have changed my eating habits by eliminating all obvious sugar. I also eat smaller portions, and more frequent small meals. I have limited carbohydrate intake and am careful to choose foods that have a low glycemic index. Mike has, of course, been totally supportive! Even while on our honeymoon two weeks ago, I did pretty well with the new eating habits and maintained my weight loss!

On our honeymoon, Mike and I realized that we NEED to follow our dream of moving to Oregon. We spent the week in Yachats, Oregon, and we absolutely fell in love with the area. It is the spot for us! We have already started planning what it will take for us to move out there, even if Mike doesn't have a job there! We've been wanting to move for quite some time, but haven't taken the leap. Well, we are both ready to leap now! The ocean is calling us! We're going to listen! It may take a while to be prepared, but we're planning and I just know it will happen!!