& the answer is always the same , a resounding “no.”
i didn’t choose to be a runner.
to be perfectly honest, i think very few people actually choose to be runners.
we’re talking pre-dawn runs, ice baths, the constant aroma of bengay, blackened toenails (& a few that were lost all together). a diet of energy bars, gels and goos. the oddest tan lines you’ve ever seen, thanks to the KT Tape i wear around my knees.
these are the sort of things that happen when you are a runner.
no, running chose ME.
why i run…
looking back, i’ve ran for different reasons, at different points in my life.
i’ve ran to mend a broken heart. to clear my head. to escape and to feel in control. after my father passed away, i ran to feel connected to him, to remember him… to be with him.
but most recently, i run to combat post-partum depression, i run to survive, i run because it’s cheaper than therapy.
i’ve never claimed to be super-mom. i’m the first to admit that i’m far from perfect. but, once upon a time, i at least felt like i had life figured out.
since then, ppd has thrown a wrench in the well-oiled-machine i once called my life – sending me into an out-of-control, downward spiral. leaving me trapped in a hole so deep, sometimes i wonder if i’ll ever be able to climb back out.
having babies is supposed to be a joyous occasion and… it was. it’s just the aftermath, i’m not so sure about.
when i think about it, it’s actually kind of funny. i’m surrounded by the chaos of three young children every single day & yet sometime i’ve never felt so alone.
for the past few years i’ve watched life happen as an observer, instead of an active participant. slowly but surely, i’ve managed to shut everyone out, and burn every bridge along the way. activities i used to love, hobbies i used to look forward to, now just seem like a burden.
not to mention, i now find myself totally and completely unmotivated, out-of-touch, & overwhelmed… i dread getting out of bed in the morning. i am constantly feeling like life has given up on me, or maybe i’m the one who has given up on life.
i’ve been living life in a deep, dark tunnel, constantly trying to reach that itty bitty light i see peeping through. the drugs have helped a bit (prescribed of course), taking the edge off, and making the light a wee bit more obtainable. but running has helped me more. running is the one thing i look forward to each & every day. it’s helped me reach out & actually grab that pin prick of light at the end of the tunnel.
without even noticing, i’ve managed to build a fortress around myself, an incredible thing that rivals the great wall of china. c can’t expect it to come down overnight can i? but, with a little help from my friends & a whole lot of running, this fortress of mine has slowly started tumbling down.
that is why I run… because it has the ability to break down walls & build bridges.
i’m gearing up to run my first race of the year… runDisney’s inaugural tinkerbell half marathon.
& while i’m busy finalizing the last minute details of my “running costume” (unlike my last disney race, wings will not be involved – however i’m pretty sure i will be involved in a sword fight or two), i thought i’d share with you my running essentials…
the best part though? not only am i sharing my running essential favorites, YOU have the chance to win it all! one lucky person is going to win the whole kit & caboodle.
trust me when i say, this is one giveaway you don’t want to miss. whether or not you’re a runner, i’m giving away some pretty fabulous goodies – have i mentioned that there’s chocolate involved?
according to kelly’s running essentials
* endorphin warrior: i love my CONQUER warrior training bracelet – i must admit, i rarely take it off. just as it did when i was running hood to coast, my CONQUER bracelet has continued to inspire & motivate me. i honestly think i need to order another one – i think BELIEVE is next.
* go sport id: i often run at night. i often run alone. i can’t help it – that’s just the way it works out. so, i want to be prepared, i want to be protected. that’s why i wear my go sport id - in case of an emergency (crossing my fingers & knocking on wood it doesn’t come in handy anytime soon). my go sport id contains contact information for loved ones, allergy information & more, so i can get possibly live-saving medical treatment asap.
* inperspire: i love what inperspire says… “you supply the sweat, we supply the motivation.” so true. my “stronger, faster, better” towel has become my mantra – i can’t imagine working out, or running without it.
*kt tape: another one of my must-have-can’t-leave-home-without-it products. i carry kt tape in my purse, that’s how much of an ubber fan i am. i honestly believe, that it would be impossible for me to run without this around my knees. i don’t know how, but after applying kt tape, something magical happens, the pain goes away, & i’m actually able to run.
* nuun: i never leave home without it. i’ve already waxed philosophical about nuun on mulitple occasions – but just in case you’ve been hiding under a rock & still don’t know how i feel about nuun – with 0 sugars, 0 carbs, only 8 calories & tons of electorlytes, it’s my secret weapon, it’s what powers me through workouts, races & every day life.
* onelove collections: all of the headbands are amazing, although i do have a soft spot for the tye dye version. i don’t know what i loved more about it – the way this headband matches my team sparkle skirt perfectly, or how fabulous it feels on my head. this headband is definitely a staple. not only does it hold my hair back & keep the sweat out of my eyes – but it actually looks cute too (which very few headbands manage to do).
*run like a mother & the highly anticipated train like a mother: these books are a nightstand essential for any mother runner, soon-to-be-mother, or runner in general. it’s my go-to guide book & often reminds me that “i’m not alone.” i love this book so much i give it away, constantly. in fact, i no longer even own a copy, because i keep giving it away. &, i am literally counting down the days until the new book is released.
*run pretty far: a technical tee that’s cute & comfortable?! i was immediately sold! but this particular shirt is just awesome… “run happy. run grumpy. run speedy. run slow. run a little. run a lot.” – whatever you do, just RUN!
* team sparkle: skirt & race legs – as team sparkle says… run hard. run pretty. there is NO better feeling than passing a guy while wearing a team sparkle skirt. seriously – being passed by a girl, has got to hurt. being passed by a girl in a skirt, must suck. but being passed by a girl in a team sparkle skirt? i can’t even imagine the humiliation guys must feel.
* tommie copper: i may love running, but my body doesn’t. for a long time i was worried i’d have to overcome my addiction to running, because of all of my injuries. but then i discovered tommie copper compression. i can often be found wearing my tommie copper knee & calf sleeves – i don’t know how or why they work, they just do. it’s a modern-day miracle.
* utah truffles: let’s be honest… while it’s true, i do love to run, it didn’t start out that way. deep down, i run for one reason – to eat. i want to be able to enjoy cupcakes, cookies & chocolate without feeling “bad.” so i run. & my absolute, most favorite treat ever? milk chocolate mint truffles. ask my friends – i’ve been known to hoard these, & hide utah truffles in my purse. they are absolutely to-die-for, & are always my post-run treat.
according to kelly’s running essentials giveaway
ready to win? you have the chance to win all of my favorites! yep! yep! one lucky person will win…
* endorphin warrior: winner’s choice of one endorphin warrior bracelet
*run like a mother & the highly anticipated train like a mother: one signed copy of the book run like a mother AND a certificate for the soon-to-be-available book train like a mother
ready to enter? with over $300 worth of fabulous running essential, i’m giving you 15 different ways to enter. luckily,rafflecopter makes it easy-peasy to enter.
but don’t dawdle, this giveaway closes on tuesday, january 31st at 12am EST.
confused about how to enter a giveaway using rafflecopter? here’s a video on their site explaining how to use rafflecopter to enter giveaway.
FYI blog comments are closed on this post due to usage of rafflecopter… you can comment via rafflecopter.
nitty-gritty details:
1. no purchase necessary.
2. giveaway ends 1/31/11 at 12am EST.
3. only US residents can enter.
4. winner will be chosen via random.org.
5. winner will be contacted via email. winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or another winner will be chosen.
6. void where prohibited by law.
7. this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. i hereby release Facebook of any liability.
if you have any additional questions – feel free to email me at accordingtokelly@gmail.com
i often get asked: how to wear wings while running? having done it twice, (& even PR-ing while running in wings) i’m a self-proclaimed wing-running-expert… and it’s surprisingly easy.
in fact, it’s so comfortable, i tend to forget i’m wearing wings while running, unless i accidentally hit someone with one of them (which may have happened once or twice).
the key to an easy-breezy-wing-running-experience? it’s all in the attachment…
don’t be lured into wearing the elastic arm straps “back pack” style. that’s guaranteed to be uncomfortable & you definitely won’t be flying thru any race.
not to worry though – proper wing-running-attachment is easy peasy.
how to wear wings while running {supplies}
* one pair of Team Sparkle fairy wings (available in a rainbow of colors)
* one racerback tank top (if tank tops aren’t your “thing”, wear a racerback sports bra under your shirt of choice)
* 2 safety pins
how to wear wings while running {instructions}
best done with the help of a friend, but attaching wings can be done alone.
1. while wearing your racerback tank top (or racerbrack sports bra under the shirt of your choice), attach the wings to the racerback, using the elastic arm straps.
(see a normal tank top, or sports bra just won’t do. you need the shoulder straps to form a “v” or a “t” between your shoulder blades to attach the wings to.)
2. wrap the the straps around the racerback several times, until it’s tight, making sure to double knot it.
* if you’re performing this act solo, you may want to attach the wings before putting on your tank top.
* if you’re wearing a racerback sports bra under the shirt of your choice, you’ll want to pull the back collar down as far down as possible, & attach the wings higher on the racerback.
3. arrange the wings, in the preferred position/placement on your back.
4. pin each wing to your tank top or shirt at the top of your back, at your shoulders, using the safety pins, to prevent major “wing-bobbing” while running.
* you may want to quickly dab the area where you are going to pin with clear nail polish to prevent any major runs in the nylon wings.
how to wear wings while running {review}
see?! i told you it would be easy-breezy. but, just in case you need a refresher already…
1. do NOT wear the wings as backpack using the arm straps.
2. DO attach the wings to a racerback tank top or sports bra.
3. DO pin wings to the top of each shoulder.
now, all you need is a little bit of pixie dust (& your Team Sparkle skirt) & you’re ready to wear wings while running.
new year’s resolutions have never exactly been my strong suit. quite frankly, they’re hard to write, & bound to be disappointing.
& let’s be honest, i don’t think i’m ready for any disappointment quite yet – the year has just begun!
i’d like to think, make that i KNOW that twenty twelve is going to be a year of adventure, opportunity & success.
so instead of making a list of things i’m going to do, that deep-inside i know i probably won’t… i’m making a list of things that i will NOT do in 2012, in no particular order.
* i will not stop being grateful.
* i will not pretend i’m super mom.
* i will not stop crafting.
* i will not compare myself to others.
* i will not stop saying hell & damn, but i can promise you – that’s the worst of it.
* i will not let fear stop me.
* i will not cut my own bangs.
* i will not stop telling people my mom & sister are my best friends.
* i will not stop loving the target $1 aisle.
* i will not let anything stand in the way of my happiness.
* i will not stop blogging, although i won’t promise that it will be daily.
* i will not maintain my eyebrows on my own.
* i will not stop wishing i could wear my team sparkle skirt daily.
* i will not use my husband’s razor to shave my legs.
* i will not stop loving mocha almond fudge & mint ‘n chip ice cream.
* i will not stop trying to teach my children to be kind.
* i will not stop wishing i had a maid & a cook.
* i will not be afraid to get dirty.
* i will not stop going to disneyland nearly weekly.
* i will not stop looking for ways i can serve others.
* i will not stop wishing all my friends lived next door.
* i will not stop loving my dr. pepper chap stick
* i will not stop believing in myself.
* i will not forget the truths about motherhood.
* i will not stop traveling. (even if i never travel past utah, at least i’m traveling.)
* i will not let life get me down.
* i will not stop craving crushed ice.
* i will not stop {loving} the oc.
* i will not let having children, stop me from snowboarding.
* i will not stop watching general hospital.
* i will not become a professional karaoke-er.
* i will not stop loving green smoothies.
* i will not leave the toilet seat up.
* i will not stop my virtual friends from becoming real life friends.
* i will not be afraid of being real.
* i will not stop reading.
* i will not stop eating cupcakes.
* i will not stop wishing i could sleep more.
* i will not stop running, biking, swimming,or exercising in general.
* i will not be afraid to be me.
* i will not stop making spontaneous purchases.
* i will not stop ohhhing & ahhhing over my little girl.
* i will not stop eating cookies for breakfast.
* i will not stop trying to break my addiction.
* i will not stop thanking christ for all that i have.
13 mountain bike races, 3 half marathons, 2 triathlons, 2 5Ks, 1 10K, & 1 relay (& that’s just me).
jeffy completed 13 mountain bike races (that he can remember), 4 criterium bike races, 2 road bike races, & 1 half marathon.
&, the boys finished 6 mountain bike races, 2 2K’s & 1 triathlon.
surprisingly we didn’t spend the entire year racing or training. we also squeezed in a hawaiian holiday, one broken nose, a little bmx action, roller skating, LOTS of skiing & snowboarding, a vegas trip (or two), several weddings, little league, an last minute european adventure in ireland, amsterdam, brussels & paris. not to mention more trips to disneyland than i can even count.
and while 2011 is full of excitement & adventure, i can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for us!
these quick & easy, 10-minute DIY no-sew scarves are totally fun, & completely fabulous.
& honestly, you could probably make this DIY scarf in just 5 minutes. it’s the perfect yarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit scarf tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).
you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.
once i laid eyes on lion brand’s amazing yarn (& it’s rainbow of tweedy stripe patterns, truly are amazing), i just knew i had to create something.
it’s soft & cuddly, the colors are absolutely amazing (21 colors to choose from?! i guarantee you’ll have a hard decision on your hands) – it’s perfect for a scarf.
10 minute DIY no-sew scarves tutorial supplies:
* one skein of lion brand amazing yarn (for this project i used aurora)
* scotch tape
* scissors
* 2 chairs
tape the end of your yarn to a chair, leaving a 2″ yarn tail.
place the two chairs next to each & wrap. if you want a shorter scarf, i’ve also “wrapped” a piece of cardboard, a picture frame & several household items, while making scarves.
although, i’ve found that two kitchen chairs make a perfect double (& possibly triple wrapped) infinity scarf (or circle scarf).
i just love how pretty the yarn looks… it’s a rainbow of beautiful perfection – i could stare at it all day.
but don’t stare too long, after all i did promise you could make this scarf in just 10 minutes.
after you’ve wrapped your chair to a thickness of your liking (i wrapped my chairs approximately 52 times – i wanted to see the entire rainbow), carefully remove your scarf from your chairs, and lay it down on a flat surface.
make sure your two loose ends are in the same place (or cut one end, so that they match up).
using a piece of yarn approximately 4″ long, tie a double-knot around the entire scarf, (securing your two loose ends) & then trim the yarn tails to approximately 1″ each.
using a double knot, secure the remainder of the lion brand skein approximately 1″ from the knot you just tied (to secure the scarf), & wrap.
wrap all of your loose ends, wrap the knot you used to secure the scarf, & continue wrapping approximately 1″ past the securing knot.
once you’ve wrapped the scarf approximately 2″ (making sure to secure all of the loose ends), finish your “wrap” by tying a double knot around the scarf.
cut a tail approximately 3-4″ long, & finger weave the yarn “tail,” hiding it among the other strands of the scarf.
ta da! you’re done. i promised it would be quick & easy, and i delivered.
the 10 minute DIY no-sew scarves are the perfect accessory. & the lion brand amazing yarn provides a definite pop of color that will instantly brighten up your day.
i like to twist the scarf (one hand holding the “wrapped” securing knot & one hand on the middle, and twist, twist, twist), then wrap the scarf around my neck two or three times (depending on my mood & how sassy i’m feeling), with the “wrapped” knot in front…
i’m definitely making another scarf (or two) in some of the other amazing yarn colorways. although, the lion brand homespun yarn in ambrosia is also calling my name. i just love how quick & easy this works up – yet, it looks just like scarves i’ve been seeing in the stores lately!
disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.
ps. hope you have fun making your very own 10 minute DIY no-sew scarves.
i’m loving this yarn pom pom tutorial from mandy of little birdie secrets it’s a perfectyarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).
you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.
so i’m terribly excited to announce that i’ve partnered with lion brand yarn, and some of my crafty bloggers (like mandy), to create easy, non-knitting, non-crochet yarn crafts featuring the fabulous & fun lion brand yarn products.
by the way, if you haven’t met mandy, check her out… she is one half of the duo behind little birdie secrets which is a place where two friends share their ideas, knowledge, and finished projects with fellow crafters. their mission is to share fun and creative crafting projects, tips, and tutorials to make crafting easier and more fun. “like” her on facebook, or follow her on pinterest.
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Hello! It’s so great to be back guest posting for Kelly! I’m Mandy from Little Birdie Secrets, and I have a confession to make. I am a yarn addict. I go to the yarn aisle every time I’m at a craft store, even if I don’t have a project in mind. I love the colors, the textures, and the possibilities of something soft and handmade. Mostly I crochet, so when Kelly challenged me to make something non-crochet or knit using some of Lion Brand’s newest yarns, of course I jumped at the chance to stretch myself!
I love yarn pom poms, so I decided to try stringing a few together to make a holiday garland. I loved it so much, but with my Christmas Advent calendar already hanging on my mantel, I decided to let it rest on the mantel as a non-hanging garland, and I love how it turned out! Here’s a simple tutorial showing how to make a pom-pom garland with a pom pom maker (or you can do it without!).
1. I used Lion Brand’s tree pom pom maker and it was such a breeze! There are holes at 1″ intervals, so you can easily move the markers to make pom poms from 1″ to 7″. If you don’t have a pom pom maker, cut different rectangles of cardboard or chipboard about 5″ long and varying in width from 1″ to 5″.
Wrap the yarn around the tree or cardboard between 25 and 125 times, depending on the size of the pom pom and bulkiness of the yarn. Experiment to see what works best for your yarn and size. For smaller pom poms (1″) I only wrapped it 25 times, for medium (2″ – 3″) I wrapped it 50-75 times (depending on the weight of the yarn) and for the larger sizes (4″ – 5″) I ended up wrapping 125 times for added fluff.
2. Using the tree: while the yarn is still wrapped, take a piece of the same yarn and tie it around the middle of the entire wrapped portion and tie a knot (once only). Using cardboard: carefully slide the cardboard out from the center of the yarn, carefully keeping the roll intact. Then tie a knot around the center.
3. Slide the pom pom off the tree if you’re using it. For both methods, now you want to really cinch that knot and tie it as tightly as possible.
4. Next you’re going to release the pom pom! Cut through all layers of loops, being careful not to cut the tie that holds them all together (not that I’ve ever done that or anything).
5. Your pom pom is not quite done. Time for a haircut! Trim pom pom so most the yarn is uniform, making it rounder and cleaner looking. I like to turn the pom pom as I cut so I’m not making new angles that need to be trimmed. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but take a few minutes to clean it up a little.
6. When your pom poms are all done, line them up in the order you want them in.
Using the yarn needle threaded with another piece of coordinating yarn, push it through the center of each pom pom and slide it along your yarn length. You can space them out or keep them close together, it’s up to you.
When they’re all strung, make sure you leave a little on the ends for hanging. Here’s an example of a hanging pom pom garland:
Or lay them flat along your mantel like you would a greenery garland. I love the splash of color all those gorgeous yarns give! These would be darling for birthday parties, too!
I’m so glad Kelly and Lion Brand challenged me to use yarn in a new way! I especially loved the way the new Silky Twist and the Homespun yarn from Lion Brand–they created a really different texture than most regular yarns would. I’m going to keep crocheting, but I think my hats are going to sporting pom poms from now on!
yarn pom pom tutorial giveaway
want to make your very own yarn pom pom garland? even better, want to WIN all the supplies needed to make your very own garland? mandy is hosting a giveaway featuring EVERYTHING you need to make your very own yarn pom poms (including the lion brand yarn & pom pom maker). all you have to do is visit her blog HERE, & leave a comment.
disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.
ps. hope you have fun with this yarn pom pom garland tutorial!
i’m loving this semi-homemade mohawk beanie tutorial from carrie of this mama makes stuff. it’s a perfect yarn craft. plus, it’s a no-sew, non-crochet, non-knit tutorial – so EVERYONE can make it (including me).
you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear me admit i have a wee bit of a craft addiction. my cupboards are overflowing with craft supplies, including dozens of spools (or is it skeins?!) of yarn. the funny thing? i don’t knit or crochet! any craft involving a needle or hook terrifies me.
so i’m terribly excited to announce that i’ve partnered with lion brand yarn, and some of my crafty bloggers (like carrie), to create easy, non-knitting, non-crochet yarn crafts featuring the fabulous & fun lion brand yarn products.
by the way, if you haven’t met carrie, check her out… she is the woman behind, This Mama Makes Stuff, where she blogs about refashioning & running, raising comapssionate kids & crocheting, thrifting and triathlons. connect with her on twitter, “like” her on facebook, or follow her on pinterest.
{Yarn Crafts} Semi-Homemade Mohawk Beanie
I love all the knitted mohawk beanie caps I’ve been seeing around town (and by “around town,” I mean “around the internets” since my town isn’t very cold).
Not all of us have the time or skills to knit one up from scratch, so I came up with a “cheater version” you can make in an hour with a $1 beanie cap and one skein of Martha Stewart Craft brand Roving wool. No knitting or crocheting required!
This semi-homemade mohawk beanie cap is guaranteed to be a hit with all the crazy-cool kids in your life.
The Martha Stewart Crafts Roving Wool is lightweight and lofty, making it the perfect yarn for the project. Inexpensive beanie caps can be found all over the place. I picked up mine at Target for $1 a piece.
The hardest part might be choosing the color combo you want to make.
Mark the center line down front and back of cap (using the seam as a guide if it has one). Make another mark 3″ up from edge of cap at center front and center back (this will be the starting and stopping point of the yarn mohawk).
Thread the yarn needle with a manageable length of yarn. Using a double thickness of yarn, stitch through (always only on top layer) center back of beanie cap at 3″ mark on cap about 3/8″ away from center line. Stitch back through same hole, keeping a 1″ long loop at center of cap.
Stitch through the beanie cap 1/2″ away from first stitch, leaving a 2″ long loop. Stitch back through same hole, once again keeping a 1″ long look at the center of cap.
Continue the same stitch pattern (each stitch about 1/2″ apart & about 3/8″ away from center line) leaving 1″ loops at the center and 2″ loops at the edge.
Once you’ve used up your first piece of threaded yarn, go back and cut all the 2″ long outside loops.
Now it’s time to tie! I’m no Boy Scout, but I think this type of knot is called a cow hitch. All you have to do is pull the cut ends through the loop, lightly tugging to tighten (there will be 4 cut ends per each double strand loop).
It’s a good idea to tie the first short row of loops before doing all the stitching to make sure you don’t want to make any adjustments.
Now continue to stitch loops until you get to the center front 3″ mark. Make one stitch where your center mark and your 3″ mark intersect. Then, turn the corner by making another stitch at the 3″ mark, 3/8″ away from the center line. Your two lines of stitches should be about 3/4″ apart.
Once you get back to where you started, make one more stitch where the center back line and 3″ line intersect. If you haven’t cut and tied along the way, go back and cut and tie all your pieces. If you want to try to get two hats out of your skein of yarn, you can be done stitching. If you are making just one hat and want a fuller mohawk. you can do a third row of stitching up the center line.
Using a brush with fine, stiff bristles, brush out your mohawk. A good amount of the roving wool will pull out onto your brush, but that’s okay! You want to separate the strands of yarn and interconnect them with the other strands to help the mohawk have fullness and strength.
Trim your mohawk to the desired length and you’re done. Now it’s time to find a little head to wear it!
**Be careful when washing your beanie cap as roving wool yarn can felt when washed and dried.
semi-homemade mohawk beanie giveaway
want to make your very own semi-homemade mohawk beanie? even better, want to WIN all the supplies needed to make your very own beanie? carrie is hosting a giveaway featuring EVERYTHING you need to make a semi-homemade mohawk beanie (including the lion brand yarn, beanie & yarn needle). all you have to do is visit her blog HERE, & leave a comment.
disclaimer: this is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of lion brand yarn. the opinions & ideas expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of lion brand yarn. we been compensated for writing this post & hosting the giveaway. however all opinions are 100% our own, and we really do love lion brand yarn & i have an excessive number of spools/ball/skeins of yarn to prove it.
they promised the las vegas rock ‘n roll half marathon would be the largest nighttime running event, & they weren’t lying. over 44,000 people ran, walk, limped & even crawled the strip at night on december 4th, 2011 – and i was one of them.
i flew in early sunday morning, after spending a couple days “on the mountain” at park city mountain resort, with the snowmamas (but that’s another story for another day).
luckily, my hubby jeffy wanted to run the strip at night too, so i had someone to share my rock ‘n roll half marathon excursion with.
looking back, it still amazes me that they closed down the entire las vegas strip, just for us. really & truly, the las vegas rock ‘n roll half marathon was quite the adventure – we got to experience the las vegas strip – it’s sights, sounds (& even smells), in a way that very few people have.
okay that’s a bit of an overstatement, we got to experience the strip in a way that only 43,998 other people have experienced it – on foot, from the middle of the street. we literally had the “best seats in the house” for 13.1 miles.
i won’t deny there were a few issues on the course (some people experienced a lack of water during the race, & there was a shortage of medals), & it was definitely crowded – but jeffy & i had decided early on to run this race “just for fun.”
we had no time goals, no expectations, we just wanted to experience the las vegas rock ‘n roll half marathon, together. & we did – we ran the entire race side-by-side, even finishing with the exact same time.
& as much as i enjoyed this quality one-on-one time with the hubby (although, there was very little talking & lots of heavy breathing going on), the biggest race-thrill for me? my running costume.
i couldn’t rock the strip at night without paying homage to the king himself. so of course, i wore an elivs-inspired costume for running (with a team sparkle twist)…
{elvis costume for running}
* nuun hat (i can’t run without it)
* elvis-inspired sun glasses (& yes! i ran the entire 13.1 miles wearing the sunglasses, at night. & while i was able to see just fine, reading my watch & pace was impossible)
* hand bedazzled long-sleeve target running shirt (did you notice the rhinestone notes & sleeves?)
* elvis-inspired “popped” collar & cape
* team sparkle showgirl skirt in silver (you can’t run the strip at night without some fringe and sequins)
* rock ‘n roll musical note knee socks
* my blue suede new balance 1400s
other than running with my hubby, wearing my elvis-inspired rock ‘n roll running costume, & my delicious after-dinner at holstein’s, my new “bling” is another race favorite… i have to say, when it comes to medals, the rock ‘n roll race series does it right. the vegas skyline, & a touch of glitter – it’s definitely pretty.
las vegas rock ‘n roll half marathon by the numbers
* total time 1:47:56, with a pace of 8:14 minutes per mile
* 108th place out of 4,067 women in my age group
* 409th place out of 21,124 women
* 5K split time 24:30
* 10K split time 49:34
* 10 mile split time 1:12: 36
all in all, we created fabulous memories & had an amazing las vegas rock ‘n roll half marathon experience!
as i’ve mentioned before, christmas just isn’t christmas without the the annual photograph ornament. (it’s something my mom did for me as every year as a child, & now i do it with my own children – i just love seeing how they’ve changed over the year.)
this year i’m getting the kids involved in spreading christmas cheer, so they’re helping make their very own, super simple, super fast, super cheap, mod podged christmas photo ornament.
you can make one too & help spread the christmas cheer.
super quick & easy mod podged photo ornaments
supplies needed:
an unfinished frame ornament (i picked up my 3.75″ x 3.75″ square frame for $1 at the craft store), wood stain, a piece of card stock scrapbook paper (larger than your frame), a jar of mod podge, a sponge brush applicator, a tiny bit of sand paper, a razor blade or exacto knife, & clear acrylic sealer.
directions:
1. stain your ornament. you don’t have to stain the entire frame, just the areas that will be visible after you mod podge the paper to the front… that means you will be staining the back of the frame, the outer sides of the frame as well as the inner sides (near where the picture will go). i love the zig woodcraft stain pens, it makes stain easy breezy – little to no mess & they dry dang quick.
2. once your ornament is dry, it’s time to get your mod podge on… the first step to the art of mod podging is to apply a light layer over the entire surface to be mod podged (the front of the frame) & let it dry for about 30 seconds or so. the timing isn’t setting in stone, you just want it to set-up a touch.
3. next, apply another layer of mod podge & then position your frame to the wrong side of the cardstock. i like to match up as many edges as possible – less trimming later!
press the paper firmly to the frame, smoothing away any air bubbles that may form. (it’s kinda like wall papering… i found it helpful to use an old credit card to help smooth the paper out.)
once the paper is set in place, let it sit for about 5 minutes, then recheck your frame to see if any more bubbles have appeared. if there are, press the bubble down again. if it still doesn’t stick, take a straight pin to release the air under the paper & press it smooth.
4. once your frame is dry, put it right-side down on a cutting surface & using your razor blade or exacto knife, trim off the extra paper from around the edges & from the center opening of the frame.
& don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be perfect, next you’ll use your sand paper, & lightly sand all of the paper edges (that you just trimmed) to ensure that they are smooth.
next, using stain from earlier, lightly re-stain all your newly sanded edges… your going to be “covering up” the bright white of those newly cut paper edges. make sense? you can also use a sponge, or paper towel to pick up stain & get into those “hard-to-reach” places.
you can use stain as much (or as little) as you like to give your scrapbook paper a more vintage look. sometimes i just use it on the edges, sometimes i’ll use it to completely cover the entire scrapbook paper. you can also use a little water to spread and smudge the stain… experiment with it.
5. once your paper trimming, sanding & stain-applying is done, apply at least 3 more layers of mod podge on top of the scrapbook paper. apply a layer of mod podge & let it dry for about 15 minutes, then apply another, and let it dry, etc.
after the mod podge dries, it can sometimes be a wee bit sticky. not a problem, simply spray spray your project with several coats of clear acrylic sealer after the Mod Podge is dry, & all will be right in the world.
6. when everything is good & dry, staple a loop of christmas-ey ribbon 3-5″ long to the back of your ornament, for hanging purposes.
7. at this point you are pretty much done… so pat yourself on the back & find the perfect picture. i like to add the year using photoshop or a photo editing site like picnik. print your picture (for my ornament frame a 2.25″ x 2.25″ square picture was the perfect size), & then… ta da! you have a finished product.
hope you have a jolly holly holiday & that your days are merry & bright!
people often ask “have you always been a runner?”
