Weight Loss Check In

This pretty much sums up my check in. Til next ti....

Oh, I guess I should give you a little more info, huh?

In short, a week spent at my sister's place, sick (many thanks to my nephew for sharing his day care germs with me), scarfing pizza like it was going out of style, a week of so-so, half hearted attempts of getting back into my eating and workout regimen, then a week of my mom heading down to see my sister which plunged me into a full-on college coed diet of tortilla chips and ice cream.

Before all of this, I had gotten myself down to a low of 182. After coming home from my sister's house, I was up to 187. (Insert mental image of me freaking out and shouting expletives while standing on a scale here.) After my half-hearted week, I lost 2 lbs. Not bad for not really trying too hard, I guess.

But once again, I hit a wall at 185. Just 15 lbs from goal. I am so close, yet so far. So that's where I am. Sitting on the ground next to my wagon and searching for the motivation to plop my rear end firmly back in the driver's seat.

Til next time! -Erika

Theories on Inexpensive Art

In addition to the new section of a library I brought home, I also found a beautiful statue that I added to my collection while I was on vacation.

I caught the statue out of the corner of my eye while strolling through The Front Porch of the South. The fact that it was only $4.00 was a bonus. The statue itself is well-made from wood and metal, but the form and grace of the piece was the ultimate clincher for me. When I saw it, I immediately thought of traditional goddess statues, carved in different cultures. I knew I had to have it.

When I am looking to buy art, cost is always a factor. If I bought every piece of art that I wanted, I wouldn't have any money left over for things like food and my mortgage. When I am considering a piece, I look some key things:

-Content: Obviously, I want to purchase a piece of art that speaks to me, that has something in it that is significant.

-Quality: Regardless of the cost of a piece, I want, no, I demand quality. Any money paid for a piece of art is an investment and eventually, I want to be able to pass my collection on.

-Cost: You know, the food and mortgage thing. 

There are some things I don't consider, too.

-Resell value: While art is an investment, like any investment, return on your investment isn't guaranteed. It would be amazing if I could buy a piece for $100 and find out it's worth 100 times that, but whether it will ever happen...let's just say that's not my retirement strategy. I'm sure there are people who do buy art as a way to make money, but I'm not smart enough to fall into that category.

-Does it match?: I look for good content, but I don't worry as much about whether it "matches" other pieces in my collection, just that it has that special something. My whole house is pretty eclectic.

So, what other kinds of art do I have?

A little bit of everything. Landscape watercolours, photographs, mixed media, sculpture, whatever I find that fits my standards and my home.

I have some of my own art hanging in my house as well, to inspire me to keep working. The piece above is a pinhole photograph I took back in college. It's one of my favourite pieces.

Ultimately, I want to be surrounded with creativity and beauty. What more could I ask for? Until next time! -Erika

Recovered from my Birthday Hangover

Each year, I spend pretty much the entire month of February celebrating my birthday. For the second year in a row, I was able to wrangle a two week vacation from my job and I took a flight down to see my sister in the South.

When I left on my flight down there, I had two books with me.

Coming home, I had...a few more.

Thirteen more, to be exact. Between the Last Chance rack at Barnes and Noble, the book sale at the Columbus city library, a huge indoor antique shop called The Front Porch of the South and my sister's library, I was really worried that I wasn't going to be able to fit everything into my luggage home.


It may be safe to say that I have a small addiction to books.


Til next time! -Erika