How's my diet going?

A lot of snails
Originally uploaded by jeredb.

Yeah...I've been baking quite a bit for someone who is trying to shed a few pounds, but luckily we've been able to share our baked goods with family and random stoppers by. These were made over spring break from a recipe I got in the Nigella Lawson Domestic Goddess book. I tweaked it a little because I didn't have turbinado sugar and I was a little short on butter, but they turned out great. Jered is a big fan. I love baking with yeast. Making things that rise and rise again is always a good time. And the house smelled soooo good!
But I've put a stop to the baking for a while, I need to get back on track and focus myself. I want to be in better shape by this summer and that means not so much baking (at least not for us to consume here at home).

My allergies are starting to act up in a weird way. I've been tired and my eyes have been dry all day. I've also not been sleeping too great. It might be time to start popping Allegra again. I hate to start so soon, since usually they don't start kicking in until late April/early May. I guess we do what we have to do.

The sweater is coming along nicely, I've got about an inch or two done and plan to work on it in class tomorrow night.
I might even finish my socks this week.

New Hair

Knitting Doo
Originally uploaded by jeredb.

Yesterday morning I woke up and rather impulsively decided that I wanted to cut my hair. It had grown to be about midway down my back and it was very dry and many different colors from being bleached by the sun and dry at the ends. I made an appointment and an hour later this is what I got! I love the new length. In this picture it is super straight which is different for me because I usually don't have enough time to straighten all my hair (I have a lot). This picture is also proof that I still knit. I cast on for the simple hourglass sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, yesterday in some brown merino wool that I had in my stash. I am on row two, so there is obviously not enough progress for me to show with another picture.

This morning Jered and I went on a 24 mile bike ride and it was amazing. The weather here was in the high 70's and my bike is finally "just right." My seat was a little too high earlier, and I had a smaller less comfortable saddle the last time we rode, and now, well, I don't! We rode out to the battlefields and explored a new route that we had on a map from the bike shop. We've got to really get some time on the bikes so that we are ready for Bike Across Wisconsin in July!

This afternoon, I worked on the Ethics competition with the rest of the W&M team. We worked really hard for 4 hours and cranked the bulk of the paper out. We are just fine tuning and editing now. It feels good to have it done!

Yesterday Jered and I also did some pretty heavy-duty gardening. We mulched the front beds and laid edging stones. It was a very productive weekend!