Just a few words about running....

Yep, half marathon was two days ago and I haven't looked at my running shoes since. :)

I have a dirty little secret tho'....I miss it. Shhhhh. I miss the good runs...the great runs...when I'm outside and the weather is cool and the sun peeks out from behind intermittent clouds; when my shorts don't ride up and I've remembered to load my shuffle with the latest podcasts. The best run I had during the entire 26 weeks of training?: the vast park land around Larado Taft in Oregon, IL. The trees let in just enough sunlight, the path was soft enough to give my old knees some relief and the views along the river were lovely. I'm getting nostalgic just thinking about it. :)

Of course, in retrospect...running in the woods out in the middle of nowhere probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done (worse then running in the dark at home :) ), but I did keep campers and/or traffic within shouting distance. Next time I'm bringing mace....

So...I will dust off my shoes as soon as my cold is done and go for a 4 miler. Who knows? Maybe my friend Tonya and I will make the LZ Half and annual thing...at least until I'm old enough to place in my age category.

cheers,
-hp

A few of my favorite things.....

I have a secret. A friend of a friend of a friend of mine hosts a crop 'camp' twice a year and my friend invited me. Batta bing, batta boom...last weekend I was sitting in the science 'lab' (it's hosted at a wilderness camp) cropping for 15 straight hours!!! (minus meals and a run :) ) Fabulous!!!! Here are some of my favs....

            

Sigh. I love camp.

happily,
hp

What happened?!!

Yet, somehow I knew it would happen. 3 weeks (gulp) since my last post. Honestly, it was almost an exercise in not feeling guilty about not doing something you really don't have to do. HOWEVER, it does bring me joy to share the quirks and gaps (!) in my brain. Amy over at the Idea Room (www.theidearoom.net) just posted a super easy Halloween project she made with dollar store finds. She's always doing stuff like that. With four kids (or is it five) she readily admits her house (and kids) aren't always as tidy and organized as pictured...but I'm not convinced. Why not?! I accept it intellectually as "duh, of course", but emotionally I'm wrapped up in my own inadequacies. Incidentally, I'm sure you realize this is purely a female trait. Aargh! We are our own worst enemies...to ourselves and to each other. Don't even get me started on nursing versus bottle feeding. :)

Anywho (my favorite transition word), I promise the next post will be both punctual and happy. :) Only five hours of sleep last night (teething baby and sick 8 yr old) is addling my brain.

(Side bar: don't you love that word "addling"?)

Enjoy the day!
hp

I love this little album!!

For her 8th birthday, my daughter wanted to scrapbook with her friends (wonder where she got that idea?!)!! So I bought up a bunch of the MyCreations 3-ring binder from Close to My Heart, set out paper, markers and adhesive and let the girls go to town! With a little help from me on page design, they each created a 'My Favorite...' book complete with pictures (requested via the party invitation), titles, and journaling!

The albums each come with 5 tabbed pages (no sleeves) and you can add a bunch more if you'd like (and we did). And the album cover is chipboard which can be decorated, covered, glammed, written on, painted, distressed...you name it! (Chipboard is almost my favorite scrap material in the whole wide world...love...it.) The best part? This fabulous little book perfect for 4x6 photos of a trip or a reunion or a birthday party... is UNDER $6!!!!

Whew! Let me stop and fan myself. :) Oo oo oo...they make the best gift albums too!!! Soo quick to put together for your favorite new mom:

or your very best dad:

Yes you CAN scrapbook. It really is this easy!

happy day to you!
-h