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!

Subtle Memories pages

I thought I would show some of the pages I created using my Subtle Memories kit (see previous post).

This first page was a huge inspiration for this kit.

Subtle Memories

It's here! My newest kit! I just love the beautiful color combo on this one. It was fun to watch the transformation of this kit. It's 35% off for a short time right now at Little Dreamer. You can get yours here! Or if you just want a little slice, you can get the freebie here!



With each kit I design, I learn more and more about design. I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Peace

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Psalm 46

Sneaky Peeky

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? So much to do, so much you want to do, so little time--and then you don't know what to do first? That's how I've been feeling. And then throw in things not working like they are supposed to and you have a lady trying to pull her hair out. (That would be me!) I even painted some more of the house today because I was frustrated with other things. And even though I don't like painting, I figured it's something that would probably work the right way today. Have I been scrapping? Not really. Maybe it's because it's summer? Or maybe it's because I'm being pulled in so many directions?

Here are some sneak peeks of a new kit coming out (hopefully next week!). I'm putting the finishes touches on it this week. One of the reasons I have felt overwhelmed is because we have a new computer, which is totally awesome, but it's been a little tricky because I have to transfer everything from the old to new. And then Quent had to reformat some things and I have to transfer everything again. *big deep sigh* Is someone praying for patience for me? I wish they would stop! Haha!

I really don't like posting only about kits coming out, but that's all I have right now. Once fall sets in and it's raining a lot, I will get back on track!

Have a super awesome rest of your day!

Baby Blanket cont.

I know, I know, I'm such a bad blogger! The last week and a half has been pretty busy. I haven't been creating much, unless you count design work. I'm currently working on two kits, but I will admit those have taken the back-burner to other things.



I have to say I'm in love with this baby blanket. It's super soft! I love working on this because it's so comfy feeling! When I first started the blanket I didn't think it was going to be big enough for a baby, but now it's taking shape. Next time I take a picture of it I'll have to put something near it so you can see the true size of it. I knitted many hours on this blanket when I started having some problems with my left wrist. I thought it was from knitting--you know, those knitting "injuries" (ha!), but I think my wrist pain was actually from some strength training exercises I was doing. I'm not totally sure, so I've been taking it easy with knitting. (Yes, I think I'm turning into a hard-core knitter!)

Tonight I finished the second sleeve of my sweater! I'm delighted! It will probably be awhile before I pick that up again. I thought finishing the sleeves would be a good place to stop for now.

It's supposed to be a warm one tomorrow; they are calling for a high of 85 degrees! That's pretty much a miracle for Southeast Alaska. I will probably melt.

Runner

Hello! It's Monday! I thought I would post a page that I created last week commemorating running. I took the picture that's on the layout in April when I attempted to do the Week in the Life project, but I never completed the project (I don't think it's my thing). Last week I only had 2 run days instead of 3, which really bothered me because I really want to stick with my plan. I learned that I just need to stick with my plan unless I'm injured or something really important has come up. I picked up a book from the library called The Complete Book of Running for Women by Claire Kowalchik and I'm learning a lot of great information about running from that.

Anyway, I hope you are having a great day!


{credits}

Scrapbooking Pictures Part 1

Happy Saturday! Before I head to the hardware store to pick up another 5-gallon bucket of paint for the house, I thought I would blog since I haven't done it since Monday. Ooops! I'm adjusting to having quite a different schedule because of working at the coffee shoppe. I come home after 6 hours and I feel exhausted, but it feels good because I know I've worked! So I'm trying to find balance with everything right now. I haven't been creating much, but I have been knitting because it's just so relaxing to me. There's a lot going on right now.

I mentioned in one of my last posts that I finished our 2009 vacation album and it will be printed through Shutterfly. I think I want to dedicate a few posts to scrapbooking pictures in a very simple form...through collage. There are times (believe it or not) that I like to keep my pages simple because I want the pictures alone to express the turn of events. That's how I feel about the page below. They were pictures taken at a tea house in Lake Louise and I wanted the pictures to stand alone. I did put a few embellishments above the journaling just to tie it together. One of the reason I created the Travel Along kit was because I wanted some simple embellishments and shapes to work with that go along with traveling.

I love the palette of colors!

P.S. Working at the coffee shoppe has been fun, but also quite challenging. I am learning more about coffee than I ever though I would know. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but if I do drink it I like it [really] sweet and without caffeine. I'm enjoying getting out of the house, meeting new people, and working.

Just for fun!

I'm back again today with a page I created tonight. I am a super big fan of CD Muckosky's designs, so I just had to scoop up these flowers! I just wanted to scrap for fun! Fun, fun, fun! Ok, now I better get off the computer!


{credits}

Screaming for ice cream!

Hello! Well, guess what? I finally finished the 2009 vacation album I had been working on! *cheering* *clapping* I know, some of you are thinking, "I have boxes of pictures from 1984 that I'm still trying to scrap!" (I do too!) I wanted to get in on their 30% off sale at Shutterfly, plus free shipping. If their next sale is 50% off photo books I just might be screaming for ice cream! Ha!


This was one of the last pages I created for the album.

The album turned out to be 65 pages! You can view it here along with the last few photobooks I created. I did a lot of simple photo collages since I didn't want to steal away from the photos too much by adding a lot of other things. I like that approach. I can't wait to hold this album in my hands. It will be the first completed album with most of my own digital designs! *smile*

Tomorrow I start a new job working at a coffee shoppe! I'm a bit nervous! Eeeek!

Journal Cover

I love knitting! I love making things for others! In fact, I have a growing list of gifts I want to make. This is something I made for my friend Carrie. I was at the local yarn shop and I found some turquoise-colored cotton yarn and I didn't know what I would make with it, but I thought it would make the perfect gift. So I bought two. Later on I was looking through some patterns and when I found this pattern for a cable knit journal cover, I knew it would be perfect! And guess what? The yarn I bought was the exact yarn needed for the project! That happened months and months ago. I didn't start knitting it until probably April or May. It's my first cable knit project. I practiced the cable stitches a few times and then dove right into the project. I figured I would learn as I went along. And sure enough, I did! This was the project that I was following the pattern wrong. It was quite hilarious! I just pulled out all of the stitching and started over again. By that time I was familiar with a lot of the cable stitches. The journal cover turned out beautiful!

Pattern can be found here: Ready, Set, Knit Cables

This was the first time I've ever blocked anything after knitting. I admit I was a bit intimidated by this process, but it was a piece of cake! I bought some foam squares from Knit Picks and some t-pins from the craft store and I was ready to block. All this blocking required was pinning the project to a board, pinning the pins around making sure it was the size I wanted it, and then steaming it with an iron. I had to do this 2-3 times because I needed to stretch it out a little bit more.

After it dried from the steam, I put the ribbons through and it was finished! I may have to make one for me!

Oops! This photo is upside down! I guess it doesn't matter though. The front and back are the same.

Is there a project out there calling your name, but you are intimidated? Well, just dive in! You can do it!