Run and then some

Nothing really exciting to blog about today. I went for a run this morning and trying to clean house today. (I'm currently taking a Diet Pepsi break.) lol

I did want to share this layout I finished yesterday. I like that I made a collage in Photoshop of my 5 favorite photos and then created around it. Clean and simple really. I even incorporated some old swimming stickers I bought when the kids first started swimming! But most exciting, I overcame my fear of sewing on chipboard letters. I don't know why I've never done that before. I think I was worried my old machine couldn't handle the bulk, but it was so easy. No problems at all. Lesson learned: fears are overrated. Just try it!

The race was...

rainy, cold, gloomy, surprising and thrilling!! The alarm went off at 5:30 Saturday morning and I quickly heard the pouring rain outside and thought to myself, why am I doing this? But as we got in the car, the rain let up and I thought all was going to be okay. By the time Richard dropped me off, it started to drizzle. I grabbed a poncho and waited for the start of the race.

Thankfully, there was a BBQ vendor who had set out a fire pit and I huddled around it with other racers. Just as the race was about to start, the rain stopped again and again I thought oh, just in time. I ditched the poncho and concentrated on stretching and listening intently for the start.

Finally, we were off and not 5 minutes into the race the rain started AGAIN and pretty much didn't stop through the whole thing. After a while though, it wasn't really an issue. I was drenched, but not really cold anymore.

The surprising part was that I had forgot to factor in the switch back that was on the course map. It entailed going uphill about a quarter of a mile, running up a ramp, across a bridge that runs over the street and back down. That was probably the only time I really felt defeated. I had to stop and walk just a minute before I reached the top, but once I crossed the bridge I saw Richard, who was there volunteering, and I remembered the downhill drill I had learned and used momentum to pass every single one of those people who passed me while I was walking!! I was then pumped and ready to tackle the rest of the race!!

The second half of the race was on the trail and while it wasn't on an area I usually run, it felt familiar, although grey and kind of surreal. I just kept plugging along in the rain, trying to avoid as many puddles as possible. I had hoped to finish the 10 kilometers in about an hour and could tell my time was on track. I was thrilled to finish in 1:02!! I even finished 15th in my division!! (Sadly, I'm at the top end of my age division, but that made me even more proud really.)

Richard and I went back to the festival that night to listen to some bands and enjoy the BBQ. The rest of the weekend was pretty low key.

I finished up my freelance job today. It was great to use my creative efforts in something more formal. It was rewarding to complete a project and have clients that were really happy with the final product.

I do have this layout to share. It's a tribute to my friend Dana. Man, I miss her. Life has dealt her an unexpected hand right now and has interrupted our daily phone conversation routine!! She can't wait to get her old life back and I can't either!!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Well, tomorrow is my 10k. I thought I was ready, but I went for a short run on Wednesday and came home defeated! My goal was to run all the hills in the neighborhood. I started out way too fast and came home with a hurting shin. (I refuse to call it shin splints at this point, maybe I'm just in denial.) Hoping taking a few days off and reminding myself to start slow will work for the run tomorrow.

I have been busy with work, Yes, you read correctly I said work. I have refused to really pursue my freelance graphic design business since we moved here, because it seems like every time I get a few clients we up and move. I had decided that if I was going to do any work, it would just have to drop out of the sky. :) Well, low and behold, a little project came my way. Before I started, I was worrying, do I still have it in me? But, once I got to work, everything started to flow and I remembered why I loved this job! Now, I'm waiting to see what the client thinks. :)

Here's a page I created over the last few days. It was definitely done in the style of a minute or two here, a minute or two there. The September Studio Calico kit had a "B" side of paper with these funny dogs and I just couldn't resist creating a layout about Tucker, our goldendoodle. I'm always asking Tucker, "Who's a good boy?" And he is for the most part. :)

weekend was more than OK.

Last Thursday we picked the kids up early from school and headed to Tulsa to visit friends and then on to Oklahoma City for Richard's Half Ironman. The drive was so easy. The kids are old enough to totally entertain themselves. Poor Richard had a car full of readers. Miles was reading, Emily was reading and I was reading. He's not a real conversationalist when he drives, so I don't feel too bad. :)

We were visiting friends of ours from high school. It was wonderful to have a more extended time to catch up and get to know each other's children better.

Friday afternoon we drove on to Oklahoma City and got Richard all registered for his Half Ironman event. Got his bike in place on the racks and kind of checked out the scene.
That evening Richard wanted to have a carb heavy dinner, so we all suffered through dinner at Macaroni Grill. (Not! We all love Italian food, so we obliged him whole heartedly.)

Saturday, race day, was a rainy mess. They delayed the race for over an hour to try and let the flooded roads drain. Once they decided to let the racers start, it rained for most of the swim and some of the bike. By the time he was running, the weather had cleared and it was sunny, but still lots of puddles and mud and every piece of clothing, shoes and equipment was drenched!

While he was trudging through the race, I took the kids to the Science Museum. It was a fun place and I didn't feel as guilty for taking them out of school. They were learning after all. ;) Emily's favorite thing was riding the Segway. She did it three times and would have done it again before we left but the line was too long. Oh, and the museum was filled with Pirates because it was National Talk like a Pirate day! Funny!
Here, Miles is docking the space shuttle.


Here's Richard with his medal. Wet to the bone, but thrilled with his accomplishment!! And rightly so. (But would you just look at that mud behind him!)

70.9 miles is an awesome achievement!!! We are so proud of him and his dedication to all the training it took to attain his goal.

I was most disappointed that we missed seeing Richard finish. He had given me a time frame that he thought he would finish in, but with the rain delay and my misunderstanding that they would indeed swim, bike and run in the rain, we arrived at the site shortly after he finished.

I drove most of the way home in a torrential downpour. URgh! We made it home safely, late Saturday night and slept in Sunday morning.

On Sunday afternoon, I went on a 6 mile run on the trail in preparation for my 10k this coming weekend. My foot held up pretty well and I wasn't hurting as badly as I have been once I finished. (I had foot surgery almost a year ago and it has been a long and painful recovery.) Tomorrow I'll do a short, hilly run in the neighborhood and call myself ready. :) Wish me luck!!

oh my!

Okay, I knew it had been a little while since I posted, but I had no idea I was going on 8 days! Yikes! Time sure flies. We have been on the go. Lots to say about the weekend and I'll get to that on the next post.

To hold you over, here's a layout I created last week. The photos for this layout had been on hold on a partially created layout for a really long time, like a couple years actually. I had plans to photograph all the bears and put them on a two page spread with these photos. But obviously that hadn't happened, so I thought I'd just get them down and move on.

I've been a volunteer, a special person, been to a memorial, a gardner and a social studies project coordinator.

Friday was busy with Grandparents/Special person day at Emily's school. I volunteered in the morning and returned in the afternoon to be her special person. It was bitter sweet. I was happy to be there with her but sad she couldn't have a grandparent there. I also realized this would be her last Special Person Day. Next year she's moving up to middle school and fun events like that are gone.

Since I was all dressed up, I texted the hubby to ask him to take me to lunch. We hadn't had a lunch date in a while. It's such a good time to reconnect and talk about work, etc. without the kids around.

This morning was the memorial service for one of my dear friends from my PEO group. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing her long, but she was definitely one of my favorites. She went out of her way to make me feel welcomed and was such an amazing person. She was truly dedicated to helping others and felt strongly about her relationship with the Lord. I hope I can be half the person she was when I grow up! ;)

In between scrapbooking today, I was consulting Miles on his Social Studies project. He's done pretty well with it, but I had to help him condense a confusing and complicated Native American story. And for some reason, he decides to use my computer to do these projects.

I also picked quite a few roma tomatoes and my very first cantaloupe was ready to be picked today! I think I'm going to have to make fruit salad tomorrow!

So without further ado, here is a layout Richard says is one of my best. :) I think it's because he agrees whole heartedly with the journaling.

Bee Happy

I was outside by my front flower beds photographing layouts recently, and could hear this bee going to town. Once I finished I whipped around and happily snapped these shots. I can just hear this busy little bee buzzing around me.




I'm pretty happy with the results of my 9 day cleanse/diet. I lost 5 lbs and more importantly 6 inches!! Whoo, hoo! I'm not going to lie the cleanse days were pretty rough. Besides feeling hungry sometimes, I did feel very healthy and had plenty of energy. And I forgot to mention that my skin is so nice since all of this. Not a blemish in sight and just really healthy looking. So, I have some of the shake powder left and will continue to use it in the mornings. I think it is really healthy stuff. I will go back to using SparkPeople to count calories and hope to loose another 5 lbs.

I tried my first Pilates class at the gym yesterday. My gym usually charges for Pilates classes, so this is new to me. I had refused to pay extra for a class. I mean we pay for membership right? Pretty good workout though. I think I will add it to my Wednesday routine.

Here are two layouts to share. I'm really happy with the clean lines of this one.

When I finished this layout for the Project 12 Challenge, I was pretty unimpressed, but it's growing on me.

Off to get my run in today! Remember: Bee Happy!

Weekend Plans

Ah, the weekend. Looking forward to a 3 day break from the early mornings that are school days. Having friends over for Memorial Day. Looking forward to that too. Off to Michael's to purchase an airplane for Miles' Aerospace class. I'm sure there might be something else I'll need while I'm there. lol

Also, going to go to the local farmer's market. I have yet to make it there and am determined today is the day. The market is only open on Saturday's from 8-12. I don't often get out of the house on Saturday's until after lunch. But today will be different. I've got a plan.

Yesterday was a cleanse day again and it is getting easier. The results are there too. So I'm loving that. I'm seeing numbers I haven't seen in a long time. :) I have four days left on this little dieting adventure and can't wait to see what the final number of pounds lost are!

I have another layout to share. It's my daughters first day of school photo. I will probably also do a "normal" school page with a photo of her teacher etc. Grandparent's Day is this Friday so that will be a good opportunity for snapping a photo.

I was just so thrilled to be able to capture what she said about her back to school outfit. So Emily.

I survived and then I caved..

So, I survived the first cleanse day. Pretty hungry and I had to have some food by last night, so I had a salad when the family was eating steak for dinner! Talk about torture. :) Today, which should have been another cleanse day, I went back to the shakes. I know I can't do two cleanse days in a row. (Oh, and if you were wondering, this particular cleanse does not make you go to the bathroom.) I was so excited to drink my shake this morning. Afterwards, had another really good run on the trail, sans bug ingestion! Here's where the cave comes in. I'm currently drinking a diet pepsi. Hadn't had one in 3 days and I really wanted one. I was hoping it would taste bad and I wouldn't really want it, but that is not the case. It is wonderful!!! I am going to try and cut it out of my daily routine. I usually just have one a day, but I think even that is bad. If what I read is true, that the carbonation blocks absorption of calcium for 24 hours, then even if you just have one a day then you are probably in the same cycle if you had several. My goal will be once a week. We'll see.

In my time of not eating yesterday, I did some creating. Gotta do something to take your mind off of food. Right? I did this for a Studio Calico challenge. Use stars, staples a journaling spot and red in honor of back to school. I thought I'd do a back to school page from this year! Loving working on recent stuff!!

Dieting...

I had been doing well and lost a couple pounds since we got back from Colorado. I was extremely happy. I finally think the thyroid medicine is working. I don't really mind dieting. I never understood why I wasn't successful. Happy to know it wasn't my fault. Usually I use Spark People and count calories, focusing on good carbs and limiting sugar.

Right now, I'm trying something different. My husband heard about this program from a friend of ours who were raving about the health benefits and their success with a program called Isogenix. Well, he bought a 9 day supply and I'm the guinea pig. The first day was kind of hard. I was hungry. I probably didn't eat enough at lunch. The second day was better and I was feeling really good. (I even had the energy to run 4 miles in the neighborhood, which is really hilly.) Basically, it's a shake in the morning and in the evening and a 400-600 calorie lunch. The shakes are fine, but you really need to add some fruit to them to make them taste good. Today is my "cleanse day". I'm doing okay (it's lunch time now). You are supposed to do 2 cleanse days in a row, but I don't think I can do that. I know I'm going to want food tomorrow. :) I do feel like it's totally going to be worth it.