Dance in the rain

Today I ran. After running two days last week instead of three, I realized that I needed new running shoes. After my last run last week I felt like my right heel was going to fall asleep. I bought the exact same pair of shoes because I like them that much. Before I ran I was at work watching the steady rain fall from the gray sky and I thought, "Do I really want to run today?" I had my doubts. Shortly before I left work, right after the whirlwind came into the coffee shoppe, I knew I needed to run. I needed to clear my mind. I needed to run! So that's what I did. I ran in the rain. It was wonderful. It was beautiful. I giggled inside and smiled on the outside while rain dripped on my face. I was 90% soaked by the time I was done. I'm so thankful we have leather seats in our truck! I wore my new shoes. My feet feel wonderful. I don't even feel my shin. Whoohoo!!! It's amazing what a new pair of running shoes can do! Hallelujah!

Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.

(Author Unknown)

I love that quote! It's so true!

Color

Hello! It's Friday! I have today off and I'm REALLY excited about that! I have plenty of things to work on, so I won't be completely lazy, but I'm looking forward to sitting and being creative. Yesterday I started a book called A Pearl in the Storm. My step-mom Kelly recommended it to me and I'm so glad she did. I really like these kinds of books about adventure, especially on the water. I haven't read too much yet, but I'm really enjoying it so far. I really want to read more this fall and winter. There's just something about curling up on the couch with a good book that sounds so inviting to me! I've always enjoyed reading. When I was younger one of my favorite books was called I Love Colors by Stan & Jan Berenstain, who are the authors of the Berenstain Bear books, which I also enjoyed. I'm in my element when I'm in book stores or libraries. I just LOVE books! Haha!

So there was a few days last week when I did a lot of scrapping, and this was one of the pages I created of my sister Amanda. I really like this page and it made me 'homesick'. I miss my family so much!



Today's weather is "normal" for fall. Rainy. Very windy. Fall has arrived...for sure!

Have a great Friday!

Something wonderful

This morning I ran for the first time since August 23rd. It was almost a month! I took a break from running because of my left shin. I think it was a little more serious than shin splints, maybe more like a slight fracture. It was hard taking a break, so thankfully we had the canoe trip in the middle of that break because I couldn't really run then anyway. I've also come to some realizations in the last month about running. 1. I run because I enjoy it. It's for me. Not for anyone else. Sure, I am thankful for the pats on the back and the congrats on miles ran, but ultimately I need to do it for the pure enjoyment of running. Does that make sense? 2. You may notice that I took the Daily Mile feature off of my blog. I didn't want that to become a distraction. I want to run for me and for the pure enjoyment, without thinking about posting it somewhere. I do post my runs, but now it's a completely personal log. And I love that! 3. I love my Nike + ipod, but I need to use it to encourage, not to push me faster/farther than my body wants to go. I understand the need to challenge myself, but I think I got to a point where I wasn't going to be satisfied unless I beat a personal record almost each time I ran. Shin splints come from running too fast, too soon, too far. So this morning I set the Nike + to run 2 miles. I ran 2.14 miles. I ran as slow as possible. I really wanted to push myself more, but I knew I needed to take it really easy. It's going to be easy for awhile, until I'm 100% sure my body (shins) can handle it--and then I will push myself harder. It's frustrating because my body and mind want to go faster and farther, but I can't right now. It's a bummer, but I just need to keep on keeping on. I never ever thought I would feel this way about running.

On Saturday I was at a friend's house and they had the June 2010 issue of Runner's magazine. I devoured it in one sitting. I felt my body screaming..."let me run!" I picked up the latest issue of the magazine yesterday. I'm awe-inspired of those who have ran marathons, who run while pregnant, etc. I'm not sure if I will ever run a marathon, but it would be super cool. Quent knows of a lady we will call "Grandma Claus" who ran a marathon at age 71. WOW! I want to do that!

After my run today I was driving home and my body felt so relaxed it felt like I was in a cloud. It was wonderful!

Have you done something wonderful today?

Friendship

Hello! The weekend is here! How are you spending your weekend? I stayed up late last night creating. I was super tired by the time I was done, so I was off to bed. And then this morning I woke up feeling creative once again. I also spent probably 2 hours knitting last night. I'm trying to finish the baby blanket. I have 2-1/2 more colors to go and I would like to get it done by the end of this month. I also have a Beverly Lewis book (about the Amish) to finish today since it's due back to the library. And...I have a wedding invitation to create. So I have some fun things on my plate right now, so I'm so glad I'm feeling inspired and creative right now. Yeah!

I created this page months ago, so I apologize if I've already posted this. I did make some changes on it last night. About half of the elements on this layout are my designs. Yesterday I started working on another kit. It will be a smaller sized kit. I'm sorta experimenting. We'll see how it goes...

Have a super weekend!

Hey Soul Sister!

So...I scrapbooked tonight. *cheering* I edited one page by adding new elements. I created another layout. And then I was in the mood for grunge, so I created this layout:



I've been wanting to scrapbook these pictures for awhile now. I could see in my mind what I wanted. I find myself saving certain pictures because I want it to be the best page ever. Do you do that? I will probably edit the journaling on this since it's late and I'm not thinking too clearly. And because of that...I must sign off!

Grandma

Happy Wednesday!

So...I couldn't help myself! Last night I was checking my email and I saw that Jessica Sprague was having her $1 Wednesday sale. Her site now features Cosmo Cricket, so when I saw the Nutmeg set in the sale, I just had to purchase! It has leaves and I seem to be a sucker for fall leaves. It's been a loooooong time since I've actually purchased any digi product. I remember being so inspired by the traditional Nutmeg set that I just jumped for joy seeing it in digital. The sale is still going on today!

And right away I started creating a layout. I also used some of my own designs. I had so much fun!

Three things I learned today

1. Crockpots are hot (I learned that last Friday, too)
2. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Just because they don't look excited to see you doesn't mean they don't like you. Give them another chance.
3. Gravity is real.

*chuckle* *chuckle*

Forest Explorer pages

Here are a few pages I've created using my Forest Exporer kit:


I love the way the scattered leaves look! I must do more of this!

This is a pretty simple page! I love the glitter on the mushroom!

Whoa! Lots of color here, but I love that! I'm so excited about the flourishes in this kit!

There were probably 4 drafts of this page before settling on this one. I'm happy with the way it turned out! Oh, the possibilities!

I hope you are enjoying your day!

Forest Explorer

Introducing...my newest kit! You can purchase it at Little Dreamer Designs today (September 14th) for 20% off! This kit is a compilation of designs depicting spending time in the woods and the beautiful fall season. There's even a few "back to school" type things thrown in, like the apple and school paper. There are a few elements in the kit that were some of my very first designs. Enjoy!

I'm back!

Hello! I'm not even sure if I said I was leaving, but I'm back. The last month has been super busy for me. Now that we are back from our trip I'm hoping that things will slow down. For some reason I'm really looking forward to just relaxing with some good books this fall/winter.



So this is what I looked like the first week of September. Quent and I paddled down the Stikine River from Telegraph, British Columbia to Wrangell, Alaska (where we used to live) in a canoe. There were 9 of us in the group and it was a lot of fun! I think a lot of people were skeptical of me going on such a trip, but this was really my kind of adventure. And as I told the group, I believe this is just the beginning of my paddling "career". Yes, there were definitely parts of it that were out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I did it. There was a time I wanted to talk myself out of going on this trip because I was feeling nervous about some things, but then I told myself that I needed to just do it and not think about it too much. I guess it goes along with being self-disciplined and sticking with a committment I made when I agreed to go on this trip. A lot of people have asked me if I would go on this trip again, and I say yes! Ha! I also see a future digi-kit to compliment the pictures we took. I made sure I journaled each day so I would remember what I want to document on my future scrapbook pages.

I'm really hoping to get back to regular posting.

Have a great rest of your weekend!