Now Commencing Running Blog....

Yeah, forget all that fashion stuff I was talking about. This blog originally started as a place to tell funny family stories, then it segued into more of a sewing blog after the kids got too old to say really funny stuff and I got a new sewing machine for my birthday. Then a little bit of fashion started to creep in, but I just ran my first Azalea Trail Run 10K, thank you very much, and I AM ADDICTED! I FINALLY got a runner's high, and it lasted all day long!

Now I'll be honest with you, Dean and I started running as a way to get Drew off the couch since he was applying for an Air Force ROTC scholarship, which involves a fitness test, and the kid hadn't done PE in a few years. We downloaded the C25K app on our iPhones, and Dean was much better at running 3 days a week, so he finished the program weeks ahead of me. He and Drew did a Spartan race in Mississippi, then the 3 of us signed up for our first 5K at Brookley Aeroplex's "5K on the Runway". I found it a little bit boring because it was a RUNWAY, and I was pretty gassed at the end and did a bunch of walking, but still looked like I was having a stroke when I finished. They missed doing obstacles, and signed up for a Tough Mudder next. I'm not into hoisting myself over walls, etc., so I opted for the Azalea Trail Run next, but was planning on the 5K since I hadn't been running a whole lot. Dean pushed me to do the 10K, and I was terrified I couldn't finish. The longest I had run was 35 minutes with walk breaks, and I did 3.25 miles the week before the 10K. Of course, all the "training schedules" show 10 weeks of training and several runs of 6-7 miles, so I was a'skeered!

Here's a crappy pre-race selfie, and sorry if I was impersonating a breast cancer survivor, but my headband was pink and my ears started out cold.

Well, apparently adrenalin is a hell of a drug (uh, yeah, it's used to restart somebody's heart, so DUH!), because I never felt terribly short of breath or exhausted the whole time I was running. It was 50 degrees with very little humidity, so that couldn't have been better. I pulled off my ear-warming headband at mile 2, took my hat off at mile 3, and was contemplating removing my long-sleeved overshirt at mile 5, but the wind got a little chilly so I kept it on. I just enjoyed running with different people - a ton of whom were also doing Jeff Galloway's "run-walk-run" method. Their watches were beeping and I'd pass them when they walked, then they'd pass me when I walked, etc. There were also tons of people in their yards cheering with signs, or just watching the runners, and of course the Azalea Trail maids, plus some female convicts who apparently did some of the barricade work, so they let them hang out and dance and cheer. Good times, and I finished in 1 hour and 14 minutes, which is an 11:57 mile, I guess - not bad considering the walking. Here's a bad post-race shot, which we forgot to do until we were leaving.

So I didn't have my phone to take any in-race pics, but here's a guy's drone footage of the start, if you're interested. I'm under the interstate overpass at the start, just FYI, in the blue cap - ha!



So, does anybody wanna run an "8K by the Bay" on the 11th?!

Millions of Pictures of Me in Clothes....

Yes, I got another Front Door Fashion box, because I was so happy with the last one, and Drew's graduation is coming up, so I thought I'd just jump on in to high fashion. Shall we get started? My first thought on seeing this one was, "What the heck?" But I followed my detailed instructions from Morgan, and ended up thinking this is the cutest outfit! I would NEVER wear a big chunky necklace like this in the past, but I've been coveting one for a while now. I used my "different ways to tuck a top" card that came with the first shipment, and did a front-only tuck. I was also experimenting with a cuff, which is apparently all the rage now....a jeans cuff, that is.


Now the only reason I'm not keeping this is the shirt fits too tightly in the shoulders when I reach forward, the green tank is SOOO tight, and the jeans are so LOW cut as to nearly fall down. I'm still debating the necklace - maybe if I have something else in the closet to wear it with...


Ahoy! This is my favorite top, and it just GOES with my favorite shoes - yay!


I love the way they label each outfit and rubber-band it together so you know what's what.


Now this made me feel like a runway model with the weird black booties, or like one of Alabama Chanin's models, with their straight ahead poses and chunky shoes.


Dean walked in while I was playing with my ridiculously high peep-toe wedges and asked if I was pregnant.


Thus, I attempted to belt it and created a peplum look. Now the back is split open with black netting underneath that I just love, so I'm afraid I have to keep this and wear it to dinner with the girls. (Note to self, get some girls.)


Now I'm not sure what to do with the diaphanous drapey tunic thing, but I love the tank, so it's staying.


And let's talk about the pants, because I went off on a tangent finding things to wear with them, because I LOVE them. Except they're too big. The boys said they looked puffy and made my hips look big, but I think I just need a size smaller.


Now I am channeling a 1950's gangster - where's my submachine gun?!


Okay, I agreed to try a skirt, but do you know the last time I put one on? I don't either, so I figured the zipper goes in front like everything else I've tried on so far. Look at that slit - I can't sit down in this and remain a lady! DUH - the pockets finally clued me in that I had it on backwards. Truly an idiot.


Not so sure about this diaphanous (love that word) shrug, but maybe with something else....still thinking about it. (And I didn't have the suggested flats or sandals to wear with it, so I substituted my Nancy Lopez shoes - not a great choice.) I am keeping the polka dot tank - can wear with pants to work for sure.


Now my second favorite outfit, and the one that had me skipping around the house, possibly because of its weirdness. This is a smocked top with dangly white tassel in front, and some awesome Army green pants. I feel like a militant baby doll!


Love the hi-lo hem, and if I find the right flats, I can wear these pants to work too. I wonder if Front Door Fashion is getting kickbacks from DSW?


This was unusal, and I decided the jacket was just not me - didn't like the elasticized 3/4 sleeves.


But I DO love the top with its racerback (pardon the bra straps), and I wore these pants to work this morning - yay!


Okay, get ready for the finale - the graduation dress:


Ummmm, I'll be quiet for a second while you digest it, and I'll even close my eyes.


Okay, the main problem is the fit, because it's snug at the waist, but really weirdly blousy at the top of the shoulders and back. It's also made of a coarse burlap kind of fabric, so the inside is lined. The skirt is boufy and makes me want to skip around, but it's a little short for my comfort level, and I feel like I'll flash somebody if I bend over just a bit. So I think if I was still in my 20's or 30's, I could pull it off, but not really at 47, and Dean agreed.


SOOOOO, sorry for the very self-centered post. I feel like I didn't offer any life lessons or witty repartee, so please forgive me! Oh wait - I did snap a pic of my secretary's cute top yesterday because I think I can do this with a recycled T-shirt - isn't that cute?


When I asked her permission to shoot, she said just don't get her face in the picture. I told her, "No worries, it's just your crotch." Now there's some humor for your weekend!

Jake Does Pilates

This was around Christmas, but Lucas just shared it with me. I was doing a Pilates video on Comcast when Jake came and plopped down. He usually does this move of scratching his back in the yard....or maybe he really was trying to do some Pilates!



No other news to report, other than the fact that I finally accepted yarn defeat and restarted the Stella pullover, with Lucas's help to be sure I didn't twist the yarn at my join. Oh yeah, and I ran 3.25 miles the other day with Dean in preparation for the AZALEA TRAIL RUN!!!! Yes, I'm running a 10K - you know once you get a 5K under your belt, you just keep climbing that ladder. I imagine a half-marathon will be in the works in a couple of months - ha! (And no, I didn't just run 3.25 miles and call 'er done - I've been running 3-4 times a week, plus yoga.) Okay, you go have an ACTIVE fun day!

Prom and Knitting Devastation

Did you see Lost in Translation with Bill Murray? Well, why not - it's fabulous!

Are we bad parents for re-creating the Suntory Times scene with Drew on Prom day? The white jacket just cracked us up - a'ring-a-ding-ding! Seriously, the senior boys were all very sharp looking in their school-mandated get-ups. The funniest couple was a female German exchange student with a VERY low-cut dress letting the bosoms hang free, escorted by her 22 year old German boyfriend, who was wearing a (gasp!) black tux with sand-colored boat shoes. He was offered a boutonniere by a nervous teacher in an attempt to have him match the other senior escorts, but to no avail. Those crazy 22-year-olds!


Aside from all that titillation, I was deeply enjoying great progress on my Stella pullover (the only online knitting pattern I've ever PAID for). Have I mentioned that I've been working on this since my California trip 2 months ago, and have ripped and restarted it about 10 times?


Look at that lacy pattern with the raglan shoulder - I was almost ready to put the sleeve stitches on waste yarn (whatever that means) and start the eyelet pattern.


Then I noticed something funny - do you see it? How could it possibly be?! I started this per instructions about 8 times knitting back and forth, then decided I'd start it in the round to avoid the big gap. I was SO CAREFUL to be sure the stitches weren't twisted, but DAMMIT - apparently they were.


I haven't frogged it yet - I'm hoping someone can tell me a magical way to make it right....like when you miss a yarnover one row back, and all you do is pick up that bar of thread when you get to it on the next row - something easy like that. This pretty much ruined my whole mood yesterday, so I'll just wait here till I hear some good news...aaaany minute now.....

One More Lacy Shrug...

Okay, the first time I made this one, I screwed up the buttonholes because I didn't understand the directions. Here was that attempt (Oh, I can't believe I actually wore this to work one day and got a couple of compliments on it - it looks like it's for a baby!):


And here's the new one, which I upsized a little too much, but I still love it!

I didn't realize I was being photo-bombed - funny kids!

And a little shout-out to Pam - I'm thinking about you, Sister - did you pick your knitting needles up yet? Hope you're hanging in there....

Tough Mudder 2015

Drew's just an exact replica of Dean minus 30 years.

This was in the warm-up area before they got the pep talk. First they did some jumping jacks:


then they did some stretching while being warned about obstacles to avoid depending on your medical issues. Very reassuring!

These ladies in St. Patrick's Day attire actually handed out beads to kids in the crowd - cute!

Had to crawl through a little cold mud to start off.

Then after 3.8 miles and a few more obstacles we couldn't see, the Arctic Enema - this is full of ice water, and it's about 50 degrees outside.



So they didn't die of hypothermia, and it was another 3 miles or so, some more obstacles, and then Everest:



followed by another mile, then a tent full of tear gas called Cry Baby:



And after the Mud Mile, which I didn't get to, there's Rope Something-or-other, followed by Pole Dancer.



After this was a short jog to King of Swingers, where you have to leap off and grab the T-bar, and attempt to ring a bell before plunging into 12-foot deep muddy water. Drew would be the one in the center leaping off with one leg - and he was the only one to ring the bell!


I believe Dean is the second from the left, and he doesn't quite make it.



Finally, here's Electroshock Therapy, with 10,000 volts randomly distributed in these wires I believe. Drew took a buzz to the top of the head that went down his neck and gave him a headache for a couple of hours.



How nice to finish 11.3 miles and tons of obstacles after 5.5 hours with a big smile on your face!

Lucas and I logged 7.8 miles of walking on spectator paths, and I hit over 15,000 steps on my Fitbit, so we weren't TOTAL slugs - ha! What did YOU do that was tough this weekend?

I'm a Fashionista!

I put this little ensemble together myself, using the double-wrap belt from Front Door Fashion and the shoes from DSW, and I received 4 compliments on the shoes in 4 hours! Love these things. I wore the sweater untucked at work, but really did need the belt to hold up the pants. I have just realized that several of my work pants are WAY too big, so they're going to Goodwill....(not these)...

so my closet can make way for more pants from FDF! These are JamesJeans from FDF - I exchanged the extremely tight 30's for a 32 - perfect! And I wore the formerly hated booties....

which were actually featured in an update from Stitch Fix. Their new stylist was wearing the same jeans and booties combo, so I felt very up-to-date. I'm stealing a little pose from that other sewing blogger who always poses with her feet turned in - Mimi G. (Holy moly - I was going to link her blog, but she's moved up to a real website and it's all extreme close-ups of her face. Wow - she's bigtime now!)

And we were going to grab some Chinese, but it was freezing outside, so I threw on my knit blazer from Stitch Fix - rrrrow!

Today I wore the FDF cigarette pants, fabulous Eddy Munster Born's, white tailored shirt, and black/gray color-blocked sweater to work. I got several compliments on the outfit, but the best was from a patient's mother, who told me I was looking so fit! I realize now that baggy pants are not flattering to one's figure. More Front Door Fashion pants, please!