Sew Sew Modern 4 Swap Complete!

This was a super fun swap. It’s run out of Flickr, using the groups feature.

I received an awesome package from my friend Linda in the Netherlands!! As you can see, she included a few things for my kids and my husband as well.

She was so generous!! As soon as my sewing room is painted and I have a spot, I will be hanging this gorgeous mini up in there for sure!

For my part, I made a SuperTote by Noodlehead. I have made this bag multiple times and I love it each time!! I included some goodies in her package, but forgot to take a pic of the whole thing. It was also my first time making a English Paper Pieced hexie flower, and appliqueing! I thought it turned out very well. I used Carolyn Friedlander’s Botanics and some Lizzy House mice, and Essex yarn dyed in Steel. They all looked great together, I thought!

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Much better week this week!

This week has been much better. Very busy, but much better in the workout and sewing department.

My husband started with a trainer last week. He is going two days a week!! I’m so proud of him! He sort of hates me when he can’t lift his arms, but I keep telling him to stick with it; it will get better!

I have decided to give up Diet Coke. We will see how this goes. Replacing with hot and cold tea. . which has to be better for me, right? For my “bubble fix” I found that Nuun works really really well! I might try some more “natural” sodas, but for now, I’m going cold turkey. Mind you, I am NOT giving up caffeine. . my AM coffee is a must-have for me!

I was able to get in two runs and two days of strength training, and I might very well do a double workout today so I can get a run in while it’s warm. I guess “warm” is a relative term; it’s already 34 degrees this AM, and might get up to 45 tomorrow! As long as it’s not raining, you can bet I will be out there.

I ran on the treadmill Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday was windchills in the -30’s, so inside it was. Wednesday, I did BodyPump at lunch and abs class. The new release of BodyPump was tough! Good, but tough. I always struggle with how much weight, and end up adding or subtracting weight in the middle of the set. I think the instructor said we did 170+ reps for the triceps track, WOW!!

I think that my strength training is really paying off with my running. My 2 miles I did on the treadmill on Tuesday seemed “easy” to me. I walked out after doing that and planks/abs and felt really good, and was surprised. I’m exited to hopefully get to be a faster runner and stronger all around this year.

Thursday was a rest day. We went out to supper with a friend, and had a good time!

Today will be Strictly Strength at lunch, and then maybe a run tonight if the kids cooperate, if not maybe first thing in the AM tomorrow.

My running goal for the month of January was 30 miles. With the pretty serious snow and cold weather we have had, and my strong dislike for the treadmill, I was able to knock out almost 23 miles. Last year, I didn’t run over 20 miles in a month until August, so this is a great start!

I wasn’t able to get in as much sewing as I would have liked this week, but I did get the quilt as you go panel for my Sew Sew Modern 4 swap partner done, and all the pieces cut out and ready to interface and put together.

Back in the Groove..

And everything hurts. Full body strength class Friday, Saturday I ran 3 miles outside (which felt like 6 with the 27 mph winds!), and then shoveled the driveway. I will be glad when shoveling does not count as one of my workouts.

Yesterday evening the kids and I went to a birthday part at a bouncy place, and it was crazy.

Today I will be getting all my things for my Sew Sew Modern 4 swap partner, as well as for a special friend’s bag who starts chemo next week, and going to the grocery store. Meal planning is done! I always have a better week when I’ve meal planned and grocery shopped in advance. Makes the evenings go much smoother!

Stay tuned for progress pics! Stay warm, and have a great week.

What workouts do you have planned for the week?

 

Weekly update.

I should have titled this “Fail Week”.

It’s really cold. Windchills in the -20 F cold. Kids have had delays, no school, and have been at each other’s throats ALL week.

I have had a stiff shoulder/neck/back that will NOT go away since last weekend. We have had our bed laying on the floor due to a broken rail for over 3 months now, and I think it’s time to get a new frame and mattress. I have started using Pan-Away from Young Living, as well as Tiger Balm. Nothing is helping.  Thinking about giving in next week and going to the Dr to get a muscle relaxer and see if it helps. Yuck.

I did run Monday when it was nice outside, and had plans to work out Wed. The shoulder/back is worrisome as I find myself favoring it during daily activities, so I don’t want to do BodyPump or any heavy lifting on it; I’m afraid I will have horrible form and really hurt myself.

On from the pity party. I got my sewing room cleaned out, as well as the pantry.

 

SO much better. Not showing the “before”.

After cleaning. I will be back soon to get some ideas on how to finish this!

I would really like to get to IKEA and get some cabinets to start organizing fabric in so I can get stuff out of my tubs out somewhere where I can appreciate it! I also got a little more done on my EPP from Sewing Summit. I will finish it yet!! I need to find some better thread, as the Coats and Clark I have keeps tangling. I found some “Thread Heaven” in a box, and will try that next week and hope it helps.

I am looking for a fast and easy quilt pattern that isn’t too complex, and could use a collection of FQs. I have a couple of lines of fabric I want, but I need a pattern first! All suggestions appreciated!!

I DID get hooked up with a team for Ragnar Chicago and I am SO excited!! Seems like a great group of people and that it will be a good time. It’s a mixed gender team, and most have run before. The first legs I was offered were over 13 miles with “hard” and “very hard” segments. I gracefully bowed out and the team was very understanding and we have a leg I’m totally comfortable with. It might be #1, but I feel better about it!!

Sunday Summary!

Thursday, I did Zumba at lunch with my favorite instructor, Stephanie. She had a new routine to the Pitt Bull and Ke$sha song “Timber” which is one of my current favorites! So fun. We also did “Apple Bottom Jeans”. . her routine leads to 100 jumping jacks in the song (yay!) and then “Push It” which is 4 min of squats (body weight) and then 4 min of arms/shoulders. It was a GREAT class!

Friday was Strictly Strength class at work.

Saturday, I went to the Y, and ran 3 mi on the treadmill. My IT band is still giving me fits, so I took it slow. It actually felt much better than after my 4 miles last week, so I’ll take it. My first race this year isn’t until May (the Indianapolis Mini Marathon) so I am feeling okay about having some low mile weeks. We are also STILL having snow, so it’s hard to get outside. Better safe than a broken anything!

Today, I will be shoveling the 3-4 inches of snow off the driveway, chasing children and taking the dogs to get their nails trimmed. I think that counts as #sweatnsew!

Oh, and hopefully piecing a little more of my Briar Rose quilt this afternoon! Here it is all laid out in my sewing room on the floor. Hoping for a design wall sometime soon!

2014 Fitness and Sewing Goals

My goals for 2014 are not that outlandish, I don’t think.

Fitness Goals

1. Run four half marathons. I’m already signed up for one, and I feel lucky that the Indianapolis area has a lot of options for races, so this should be fairly easy as long as I stay healthy.
2. Complete one Ragnar race. I would really like to participate in Ragnar Chicago, but I’m afraid that I am too late to join a team. Stay tuned for more on this.
3. Complete P90X (or something similar).
4. Focus on strength and flexibility training.
5. Become a better swimmer in prep for a triathlon eventually. Probably 2015

Sewing Goals

1. Complete the two quilts I started in 2013. Not sure yet if I will send them to be quilted or attempt to quilt them myself. Still new to all this!
2. Finish all the projects I have bought fabric and patterns for in 2013.
3. Participate in more swaps! I love handmade things. I think this will be so fun!

I will be posting pictures and updates for all of these goals here! Hope to have you all following with me!