Things I Like Doing (When I'm Not Blogging)

1.22.2015

If you were to ask Jordan what I normally like to do on the week days after I get home from work, he would probably tell you I blog. A lot. And while that is true, blogging is not the only hobby I enjoy, nor is it (if I can toot my own horn) the only hobby I am good at. 

In case you're interested, here are some other things I like doing when I'm not blogging:

1. Crochet

I learned how to crochet in high school, and I've been doing it ever since. Mostly blankets and scarves because, let's be honest, I can't crochet anything not in a straight line. I tried to make a hat once, but it never turned up and I ended up with a giant circle potholder. Not really the same thing.

I've made blankets for almost everyone in my family by now. Here's a picture of my brother and I from this past Christmas with the blanket I made him. 
Crocheting is mostly a winter hobby because it's dang hot to have a huge blanket in your lap in the middle of summer, but it's so fun to snuggle up on the couch with my crochet hook and an episode of Downton Abbey.

Plus, it's awesome to see a $40 scarf in the window of LOFT and say, "I could totally make that myself!" Boom.

2. Scrapbook

I have my grandma to thank for my love of scrapbooking. Back in the day she was a Creative Memories consultant, so she was always buying us tons of paper and books to scrapbook with. My wedding scrapbook took me an entire year to finish and is the one I think I'm the most proud of. I also have books from middle school (that are quite hilariously terrible) and high school.
Sadly, in recent years physical scrapbooking has gone digital, and I haven't worked on a scrapbook in a long time. I do love making photo books in Shutterfly, though. I have one of 2013 and 2014 (if I don't do it immediately, it doesn't get done), and I made ones for our trips to Nicaragua and South Dakota.
This year, 2015, I've started something I'm really excited about: Project Life. I have Christina to thank for the inspiration to start! She is doing one herself and was really helpful in getting me pointed in the right direction. It can seem overwhelming at first.
I made a Project Life Inspiration Pinterest board to get the ideas flowing, and I finally got started last weekend. I'm loving it so far!


If you're interested, you can find out more about Project Life here. It's basically a hybrid of a scrapbook and a photo album. It's supposed to be quicker and easier than a traditional scrapbook while allowing you to add creative flair to the pages. I'm still totally a newbie to all of this, but feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

3. Read

Duh. This shouldn't surprise anyone. My parents saw it coming at the ripe old age of 4.
Usually I read a half hour to an hour before bed every time. Of course, that all depends on how tired I am/how long I get sucked into scrolling through my FB feed. Just keeping it real.

Follow me on Goodreads if you aren't already!

4. Watch TV

Yes, I do love watching my shows, although I'm typically doing something else while watching TV like blogging, editing pictures, or crocheting. Rarely do I just sit and watch TV for hours on end.

Jordan and I particularly enjoy the following: Friends (I own all 10 seasons and have seen them so much I can quote them all, but you can never have too much Friends), Parks & Rec (it's an acquired taste, but it's hi-larious), Castle (we're watching them on DVD and are only on Season 4 currently), The Middle, New Girl, and Modern Family. I also love Parenthood and Downton Abbey. One Tree Hill is terrible, but it's my Netflix guilty pleasure. Don't judge me.

5. Cook & Bake

I enjoy cooking and baking. I do not enjoy doing dishes, but that's inevitable I suppose. I love trying out new recipes and also making delicious staples we know and love. And I like baking cookies and pies. Yum!

Pictured: Pioneer Woman's French Silk Pie. Get in my belly.
Feel free to check out my Pinterest board of "Entrees I've Tried and Liked"
Follow Amanda Bumgarner's board Entrees I've Tried & Liked on Pinterest.

6. Run

Duh x 100. You guys, I literally cannot imagine my life without running. I say literally because I've tried, and I can't do it. All I see when I think back to those days before running is a giant black hole of sadness. I'm not exaggerating.*
*I might be exaggerating.

I know people say they hate it and blah blah blah, but you will not be able to convince me that you would not (double negative!) love running if you gave it a legitimate try and were patient enough to keep going even when you feel like you're dying. I might have to force myself out for a run because it's cold or I'm tired, but I never feel better than when I come back from a run. It's just the best.

// Want to know what it's like to run with me? Click here.

So those are just a few things I enjoy doing in my spare time or when I'm not blogging! Honorable mention goes to: organizing random crap, wandering the aisles of Target (click here for more on how I feel about Target), perfecting my selfie pose, Googling funny questions, and clipping my fingernails, which seem to grow at an abnormally fast rate.

Do we have any of these in common? Any Project Life fans out there? 
What hobbies do you enjoy?
shelleystirs said...

Yes to most of these! Sub in knitting for the crocheting, though!

I'm not a scrapbooker, but I did make one album of a trip I took in college. My big project is to scan my photos from my pre-digital-camera days and make a photo book from them...someday.

And that French Silk Pie? So close to a recipe I have, and it's amazing!

Ashley said...

I crochet, too. It's such a relaxing hobby. You're right about it being a winter hobby if you just make blankets. In recent month, though, I've gotten better at following patterns so I'm learning how to make toys... They're fun to make. I've gotten a little burnt out on crocheting this year, unfortunately. I made a blanket for someone and EVERYONE started requesting them and suggesting that I make them for others, so I did and it stopped being fun because I had so many to get done by Christmas. :(
Anyway, I've also been reading more so far this year. *Thank you Kindle for making books more affordable for us broke college kids... Lol.

Jessica Elyse @ Memoirs of a Mommy said...

I love scrapbooking! Like you I have my Jr High/High school books (wow are they pretty bad, but still fun to look back on). I actually love the invent of the digital scrapbook. I love how polished they look and they are still fun to compile and create. My new favorite is making my blog into a book, it's like a published journal. So sweet.

K @ Keeping Up With K... said...

I love those Shutterfly photo books! I've been meaning to put some together but keep putting it off. I've been using Project Life for years - so much simpler than traditional scrapbooking and takes waaay less time!

Wandering the aisles of Target would totally make my list of hobbies - I spent way to much time in there.

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

Project life is so much fun! And One Tree Hill will forever be my guilty pleasure. So bad, so good.

Sarah @ Sometimes Photojenik said...

We LOVE the middle and modern family but we're almost done with both shows (at least all the episodes that are currently out). We'll have to check out the other ones on your list once we're finished with our other ones. I still haven't started on my wedding scrapbook but maybe today will be the day! And I have to check out this project life thing!

Anonymous said...

I wish I could crochet or knit, but a simple, single-stitch knit scarf is all I've managed!

Sarah said...

1. Love this idea for a blog post!
2. My MIL says the same thing about making blankets. Her favorite part is when they are big enough to cover her feet and keep her warm ;)
3. Yay to Castle! We love that show and I swear no one I know watches it
4. Duh to running as well. Though I am sitting out right now due to my IT band and not running is KILLING me.

Brittany said...

Ooohh...I will definitely be checking out this Project Life thing. Sounds awesome. I read like crazy and watch more TV than I care to admit. Friends is truly the best.

Unknown said...

I LOVE this blog post idea! There are so many things we bloggers like to do but never write about!

1. That is one impressive blanket.
2. I have been meaning to make some photo books but never get around to it. Also, you Project Lifers never cease to impress. Such a great project!
3. That face! :)
4. Friends. I think I will still be watching this when I'm an old lady.
5. Yum.
6. Duh.

Victoria said...

This was a fun post to read!!! Aside from running, I'm with you on everything! (With my long legs you'd think I'd LOVE running, but it kills my knees. I'm not into sore knees...So I walk, fast and A LOT.) I feel like I need to offer a disclaimer too - my scrapbooking is not true scrapbooking. Project Life seems really doable for me though! Keep us posted on how it goes for you, what you love/hate about it, etc. I love reading about it!

Did you buy the Project Life STUFF or are you making your own?

Kristen said...

I agree about running and not loving it - sometimes I have to convince myself to get up at 6am or when it's cold out.. but I never ever hate finishing a run, or even when I'm actually out there running it feels pretty damn good too.
Project life sounds super interesting - I have been meaning to make photo books each year for quite awhile now, hopefully I'll get around to it this year (I have like 5 years to do, oops - they are ready on my computer, just need to order)
and duh reading. reading is the shit!

Ali said...

My favorite thing to do after we put Emily to bed is veg on the couch with my hubby, watch a show on Netflix, and eat a big bowl of popcorn. But I can't just sit and watch TV either, and we rarely watch live TV anymore. Usually I'm eating something, which is no good, so then I'm looking on FB or Pinterest. I don't know how great that is either!?

Also, running and reading for the win!

Kayla MKOY said...

I used to scrapbook like crazy (before digital scrapbooking was a thing) and realized it was getting out of hand when I spent over $300 on stickers, pages, photos, etc for ONE album as a gift. Sheesh! I am making it my goal this year to get caught up on making Shutterfly books. Girl, I'm jealous of your crochet skills! I have no idea how and I'd love to learn!!!

I'm excited to look into this Project Life thing!!

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

We have almost all of these in common. I knot more than I crochet, and reading is a daily occurance. Baking/Cooking will always been something I enjoy. Running is something I have always done but not sure I can say I love it yet. ;) The Project life sounds interesting, maybe it will finally get me to print some of my photos.

From Foothills to Fog said...

So funny I was just talking to my friend about scrapbooking yesterday. I made her one for her bachelorette party gift. There was a page from each of her best friends and sisters with photos and a note wishing her well. It was so fun to make! I used to do Creative Memories and I love the books I have from college. But these days I just use snapfish because I don't have the time to create books myself. Snapfish is nice/convenient, but there is nothing like a nice scrapbook with actual pictures. I'm going to look into the Project Life thing! Sounds fun :)

Food, Booze, & Baggage said...

I have just recently started knitting, it's slow going :) I will have to look into Project Life, I never could get into scrapbooking. Of course yes to reading and watching tv! I recently just started Parenthood and I think it is a really good show, well written, good characters and actors.

Laura said...

Read, and read, and read! One reason why I don't mind an underweight baby who still has to wake up once a night to eat at 6 months old is because it's 20 extra minutes with my Kindle while he nurses. Just enough light from it to read, but not enough to wake up the babe further. We like The Middle and Downton Abbey too. I cheat and watch Downton on ITV when it's live in Britain by flipping our IP address. I just can't wait months for it to air in America!

Jen [wonderfully unkempt] said...

I am like you. I can only crochet in a straight line. Even a round pot holder is too advanced for me!

The Lady Okie said...

I did go ahead and buy the PL brand album and page protectors. But other than that, I'm using all of the scrapbook stuff I already own. I have a ton of paper, stickers, pens, etc. I also went to Hobby Lobby last weekend and bought a pack of journaling cards. You definitely don't have to use the PL stuff if you don't want to! It was easier for me to start out with some of it, though. I'm enjoying it so far! I think it would be easier if I had my own photo printer so I could print pictures at home, so at this point I see that being the biggest annoyance/difficulty.

Tracy said...

Oh my gosh I have been meaning to make photo books since 2010. Which was now 5 YEARS AGO. Let's be real, they're never getting done. I did at least click over the the Project Life page, just in case ;)
Um yes high five for everything you said about running. I think the exact same thing, that people would like it if they gave it a fair try. I feel like I'm qualified to say that since I was that person who hated running my whole life until I actually tried it and stuck with it for longer than 5 seconds.

Kaity B. said...

Yay to all the things! I haven't crocheted in so long- I just couldn't advance past the scarf-making stage, but I think I need to take it back up- it's the perfect dreary, winter day activity :)

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

So many fun things! I love your crocheting skills! I'm with you on your last point, but instead of running, I would say working out in general!!! I love that you scrapbook too! I have only done that a little bit and loved it, it's just a matter of finding the time now ;)

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

Yay for crochet! I too only make things that are straight lines. Scarves and blankets galore. Except mainly just scarves because I've started about three blankets and then abandoned them because winter ended.
Reading for the win for me. I can't get enough of it.
I know, I know...I should stick with running for longer than a week and I'd love it. I really know I would. My mom ran a marathon or two back in the day and she always said that you get out of it what you put into it. I should put more into it.

Allie @ Everyday Adventures said...

Sometimes I think we're the same person. Except for the running thing. I just can't. I've given it a good try (trained for a 5k a few years ago), and it just hurts. Not in the good way. I keep thinking I could be a runner, and I keep trying, but even in perfect conditions it's just not fun for me. Throw me into any dance class, though, and I'm there!

Unknown said...

I travel, workout (currently walk/weights/yoga/spin), go out to new restaurants with my husband, read (book club too), hangout with girlfriends (a lot of time working out) and it seems like lately go to a lot of weddings/baby showers!

Christina said...

Yay for project life!! There's something so fulfilling about being able to go back and look through all your finished pages.

I seriously wish I could read every night before bed, but we fall victim to watching tv on the iPad.

And just watching tv in general. Seriously, all through college and our first year of marriage, we barely watched tv until netflix happened. And heroes. That was the beginning of the end for us.

My hobby for the past couple of years has been gardening. I'm awful at it, but determined. :)

Anne said...

Yay, books, crafting, and running! (Sadly I'm still a little in that black hole of sadness - I believe you that it's not really an exaggeration! - with my ankle injury...) This is inspiring me to finally get on my Shutterfly book for my little man's first year. I love the results, but aren't they just so much work to put together, picking out the photos and then the perfect arrangements?!

Alyson Cornman Photography said...

Okay, so I am pretty if we lived closer we would be good friends... I love to spend time crocheting while watching TV (Friends, Downton, etc). And although I am doing a chevron/zigzag pattern, I have only made scarves and blankets because anything that isn't a straight line didn't seem possible. I have yet to attempt a hat but it is one of my goals for 2015! Could we BE anymore alike? (<--- see what I did there?)

maria helena said...

With the exception of the last item (which I prefer to never do), all other things are on my list of favourite hobbies. And yay for Project Life (I'm planning on actually finish this year)

Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

Um, "Friends" is the best show ever, ever, ever! That's all.

Oh, and I wish I loved scrapbooking. I've been married almost 5 years and all of the pieces of my wedding scrapbook are in a box upstairs. Can I pay you to finish it for me?! ;-)

Maria said...

I LOVE the concept of Project Life. I was into scrapbooking in college (definitely the coolest college kid, ever), but it was just so time consuming that I don't think I could get back into it or something like Project Life. It gives me anxiety thinking about how behind I'd be, especially since I have photos on my camera from September of last year that still need editing....

I do, however; want to learn how to knit or crochet. It sounds so relaxing. My husband recently took up wood carving and enjoys seeing a finished product of something he actually MADE. We are 31 going on 80.

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

Everytime you share about your Project Life, I'm reminded how much I want to start one!! I really wish I had crocheting talents so I could make all the Loft scarves I see! They are always so pretty. And the idea of crocheting a hat blows my mind! I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Anyways, I love this post and getting to know you outside of the blogging world. :)

Kristin said...

I usually don't have the patience {or skill!!} to scrapbook the old-fashioned way, but I absolutely love them, and I love paging through them! I'm going to have to give Project Life a try - it looks awesome, and I love the idea of being able to pick up an actual physical book and look through our memories, instead of just looking online or making a digital book.

Tabitha Panariso said...

I love that you love running too! It is flabbergasting to me that people just hate it. I do most of these things too - I like the idea of scrapbooking but it's hard for me to commit, I am too much of a perfectionist. Thanks for sharing so much about yourself!

Betsy said...

I did some scrapbooking in high school and college and LOVED IT! maybe a fun thing to get back into? also... I'm going to Target this afternoon. Jon doesn't want to come but he is coming to remind me that I DO NOT NEED ALL THE THINGS.

Holly said...

That's awesome that you crochet!!! I know how to, but I haven't made more than a few scarves. Still nice to have that ability, though. FRIENDS...oh dear sweet Jesus that is my favorite show of all time forever!!! I also own all 10 seasons and can, and do, quote them often. Too many times to I reference things from that show...but it's awesome so who cares.

Tara said...

We have so much in common! The running, the baking, the photo book making... :) I have also been hoping to learn to crochet sometime in the near future!

Megan said...

YES on #2-4! I also have turned to Shutterfly photo books in recent years, however; they are so easy and they always have great coupons! :) OTH is horrible, but so addicting.... I think we've discussed this before haha.

Rach said...

My sister learned to crochet last week so she could make me a scarf for Christmas! She was watching Youtube tutorials on Thursday and had it completed on Friday. I was definitely impressed! :) I used to crochet, but it's been a really long time. Like 15 years. Maybe I should try it again. :)

Also I'm with you on the scrapbooking thing! I used to scrapbook all the time! My aunt was a Creative Memories consultant when I was a kid and my mom was always putting together another scrapbook so I just grew up around it. I have scrapbooks through college, but since then they have all been digital.

And I definitely love to read! :)

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

You are a woman of many talents!

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