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Hobbies, Classes, Personal Improvements?
Hey girls...what sorts of things are you doing either just for fun, to better educate yourselves or just for a little personal improvement? If the answer is "nothing, really", what do you think you would like to do?
I felt that I was stagnating a little bit - falling into the rut of work, taking care of home, visiting friends and fam, shopping...sort of the same things week in and week out, just in different variations. So I decided to take up photography as a hobby, and so far, I am loving that I have something new to learn and it's been cool charting my progress :-)
That having been said, I find I still need to be careful not to let "life" get in the way and squeeze out my new "me" time...I am also thinking seriously about taking some cooking classes or a cake baking and decorating class...hmmm!
Re: Hobbies, Classes, Personal Improvements?
Umm sadly I think my answer is "nothing, really." I've been begging DH to start playing tennis with me, but now it's way too hot during the day and the public courts aren't lit, so I think that will have to wait until fall (p.s. I say that every single summer and never start playing in the fall).
I have been interested in photography as a hobby also, but not really enough to buy fancy supplies and get really into it. I also cook a lot and like to experiment with new recipes so I guess that's a hobby?
Hobbies? Wedding planning (still!)
I also love to see new things..that doesn't mean getting on a plane and traveling far away distances, but when we have a day where nothing is planned, we will just drive. Love it.
I'm going back to school in August to finish up my degree...I'll feel SO old in a community college full of 18 year olds, but it is so much better for me.
I have always scrapbooked and I love it. Some days/nights when I don't have much going on I will watch You Tube videos to try and learn new techniques.
I have also been trying to teach myself to sew. It is a little slow going, but I am learning bit by bit from online videos and articles. I am hoping to find a class to take this summer like sewing 101, but there arent too many options around here. None of the Joanns have classes, and there is only one sewing/quilt shop and it is about a 45 minute drive.
ETA: DH also got the complete Spanish Rosetta Stone from someone at work. I took Spanish for a long time, but we are going to do it together so I can get back to where I was (because I don't really remember a whole lot now)
Oooooh good question! In terms of my business, I am always trying to learn new things. I read a lot and Google a lot to read the perspectives of other Photographers and how they do things. And I play...a lot.
As for fun, I love to try out new things such as crocheting - I find myself being that woman and crocheting during television time. DH and I do a lot of watching of Discovery and History Channel...to think we didn't like to learn before and we LOVE to learn now!
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Good point - I think it's important to make time for things like that! There is more to life than just daily routine right?
I've always liked to cook, but I've made a real effort to try new recipes and experiment a little more. I love lurking the What's Cooking board and finding great food blogs. And obviously, I'm having a delicious time
ETA: I am signing up for a cooking class at a local community college too 
It's only $25 for 3 hours of demonstration. It's not hands-on, but whatever!
BUT I've also made an effort to eat healthier and stay active, so that I don't gain weight from my "hobby". I can't say that I am an avid gym-goer, but I do stay active by going for long walks with hubby. I've also found a yoga studio near my new neighborhood, and I want to do that regularly. Also, I've been making time to read alot more. I'm pretty much constantly reading one book to the next. I set a goal on goodreads to read 30 books this year, and I'm on my way!
I'd like to hear what more of us say about this...
I like to try new recipes too, my "New Years Resolution" was to use one new recipe every one to two weeks. I have done ok with it but plenty of weeks went by without new ones, but other weeks I made more than one.
I am trying to get ready to take a CIA test hopefully after vacation (Certified Internal Auditor) so I can get certified and find something that I can make more $.
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We do have some great things going on! I have always wanted to learn how to really "sew"...more than just stitching a hem or patching...that's a class worth looking into :-) Spanish is something else that H and I have both talked about becoming more proficient in...another good one!
And Barb - a big, fat "way to go!!" on going back to college - that is awesome and will be so worth it!
Well I am completely addicted to CrossFit, so I am at the gym most days. DH and I have actually started building up our own home gym, so that we can do some extra workouts on our own. I really enjoy the weightlifting aspect of CrossFit, so now that we have our own barbell set, and a squat rack I am doing some extra weight lifting.
I was going to grad school part time to further my education, and keep my mind working (and hopefully some advancements at work of course). Since I just finished that about a month ago I feel that I can take some lazy time and not jump back into learning right away
I have watched more TV lately than I ever have before. I know that can not last for too long, but I am enjoying it for now.
I miss reading, so I hope to get back into that now that I have some more time on my hands.
Well I like to try out new recipes whenever possible!
I also work with "my kids" doing shows. Currently directing Thoroughly Modern Millie which is a lot of fun. I've been with the organization since I was IN the shows!
I wish I could take a dance class or voice lessons or go back to riding horses but money and time (mostly money) prevent this.
I am however trying SO SO SO hard to grow my business and its been really rough and discouraging so these outlets help take my mind off of it....but I REALLY wish I could get a whole bunch more clients!!
Currently, I'm taking some workshops on photography, scrapbooking has always been my favorite hobby. A couple of years ago I took some horseback riding and scuba lessons, but the scuba diving is not for me. Golf will be my next adventure. Cooking is not my passion, but I would like to try new recipes. Living Social has 2.5 hour of cooking class, just might take it for fun this summer. Reading books was a hobby, when I was younger, I need to pick that up again.
I have also created a vision board for my home office. Each week we add things we need/want or take down the pictures once we have completed it in the home, work or personal goals. This can help you brainstorm on hobbies too.
I LOVE this idea! I may steal it and convince DH to join in. Has it helped you stay motivated to keep doing things?
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Yes, It has! We are still working on it every week. He wanted a DJ equipment for his birthday. We had to save up for months. He finally got it for his birthday. I needed to eat healther, so we posted some fruits and Veggies on the board. I lost 15 pounds, we want to purchase a house by next year, so we did an excel speadsheet with all of our bills in March of this year and we are half way to our goal of being debt free. There is a house picture on my vision borad. Also DH is working on reading more and working on his series 6 license exam. He is a personal banker 2 for wachovia. The vision borad has the money $ sign next to the house picture. I guess in his mind he needs more $$$ for the house.
I got the idea from the Engaged Encounter Retreat/ Marriage Prep Class. Our Church recommended the Vision Board as a way to stay together and focus on personal goal/ hobbies. The exercise was to teach us "growing together makes the family grow within and forever". Sounds so cheesy but it's true.
Laurie - would you be open to advertising each other on our facebook pages? You know my Calligraphy by Allison page...? I promote you, you promote me?
Have you been to bridal shows? It costs alot to rent a table (usually $400 or so) but it might be worth it? Maybe we can join forces and expand
I also really like this idea...H and I sometimes disagree greatly on which big projects to tackle, and then we do agree, we aren't always together on how we should tackle them :-) This may be a good way for us to actually visualize it, and come together on what the next project is and how to go about it using pictures...Great idea!!
I suppose my biggest hobby right now is my blog, and cooking/baking in general. I've taken a few cooking and baking classes on areas where I know I need work, and they have been great so far. I'm trying to learn to experiment more in the kitchen, coming up with my own recipes, etc. It's a lot of fun!
I recently got my great grandmother's sewing machine and I have been bookmarking stuff to make ever since. I'm hoping to maybe take a class or two before I get really into it.
My other big hobbies are crocheting and knitting. Right now I'm trying to finish up this summer top that I'm hoping to take to Bermuda. I'll post pictures when I finish!
I also run, and I'm going to be signing up for my 3rd half marathon and I really want to throw myself into training hard and PRing this time!
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Writing has always been my main hobby. But it's funny, DH and I were just talking last night about the fact that neither of us has updated our blogs for a while. We both feel that the main things on mind are very personal and very dark - namely, my sister and our infertility issues. I don't either of us are comfortable sharing our thoughts on these topics with the general population although I am considering "coming out" about the IF so I can blog about it. The problem is that I work for the main company that makes the fertility drugs (and used to be part of the fertility marketing team), so I'm not sure what I'm allowed to write about.
One thing I've been wanting to do for a while is take language classes at one of the local adult enrichment schools. I'm interested in Spanish and Italian. Once my work/travel schedule calms down I may look into that.
I may steal this also. We have some longer-term goals that we need to stay focused on. Maybe this will help us.
Great post! I'm sad I missed this yesterday, but better late than never right???
My main hobby is photography, I just love taking pictures and sharing them! Sometimes I just head to the zoo with my SLR and just go crazy! I've never thought about taking a class, for now I really like just learning on my own and trying to mimic things that I see on photography blogs. I have no desire to go professional though :P
Some day I'll get back into knitting. . .
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