Log Cabin 10k

So far I have run a 5k, 7k and now a 10k!  My cousin asked me 2 weeks ago if I wanted to run this with her.  I said yes because I was dumb!  However I am glad I did it.  It was about 50 extreme athletes so I figured I would finish dead last.  At first I was having major issues with this and then I realized last year I wouldn't be able to do this.  No matter how "slow" I'm running its still better then everyone that isn't!

The first 3.1 miles were ROUGH ROUGH ROUGH!

The first mile you have rolling hills but not to bad total elevation gain was 100 ft!  I was feeling okay and was at 10:50-11 for my first mile.  I was feeling okay as the wind was really nasty and the road was really crappy sandy, bumpy etc.

The second mile we gained 150ft more in elevation and it was super windy roads.  I was still feeling okay and not dead last at this point!  I finished my 2nd mile doing an 11:30 mile around 22 mins in!

My 3rd mile was the worst and when I started walking/running as the hills were pretty bad and my knee was starting to bother me it was all a rolling hill gaining 100 and going back down that same 100 in elevation.  I finished around 34 mins which is a little slower for my normal 3 miler but I knew I had to pace myself.  You also turned around at the 3.1 mark and at this point I realized I was DEAD last!  Two MUCH older men were ahead of me a little ways and I was upset but quickly got over it.

My 4th mile was my slowest yet I felt the best!  It was done in 12:11 and I was up and down hill again but I felt good.  It was kinda sad to hear the people at the end closing up shop after I passed through their assigned area but they were all super cheerful except one guy that said last place gets a trip to Florida!  Im thinking dude your a douche thats not encouraging.  I was walking far less it felt the 2nd half over the first!

My 5th mile I was picking up speed again and finished up at 57.34 I had set out wanting to hit 1:10 or less and knew I had to pick it up if I wanted to finish so If I had to walk I would do it for 30 seconds or less.  I was hurting my knee was screaming but I didnt want to quit!  I knew I had another mile in me!

My last 1.2 was done in 11.21 so I picked up pace quite a bit which is rare for me as I typically finish slower but Ive been working on finishing up my last mile at a quicker pace then my last!

I was done my cousin, her boyfriend and my mom were there as I stuck my tongue out.  I was exhausted.  I needed water and told my cousin and her boyfriend bye and looked at my smiling proud mom.  I finished according to my time around 1:10:50

You know Im TOTALLY okay with this as I ran 6:26 at the end of my 10k training in November in 1 hour 13 mins.  So for not running more then 2-4 miles a run the past 2 months I think thats pretty amazing!  To keep my head up knowing I was dead last the entire run and finishing was such a proud moment!  I dont need to be #1!  I just need to finish :)


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Memo Boards

Organization makes my heart go pitter patter I swear!  Call me crazy but if I walk in the house and have a fridge covered head to toe in paper work, invites, spelling words, and calenders I get flustered!  Yes Im aware I am a total nut job!  Since school has started in these parts Trev often has schedules, papers etc he needs to hold onto!  Im tired of it over taking my kitchen and the younger two taking the papers and throwing them around to drive me crazy!  

We bought a 2x2 board from Lowes for around 4-5 dollars and cut it into four boards!  

Plaster and Paint made the blue chalk board

Cork paper made the corn board(we may need to buy some thicker cork though!

Some batting and a old sheet and ribbon made the final memo board!

I personally would like to move his dresser and have his desk in this little spot!  The hubby not so much so for now we have a mess on the floor till I win we come to an agreement!

When If I get my way the tv will be craiglisted, the dvd player will be stored away, a shelf will be built for the trophys or they will be put in the playroom to display and the room will be ORGANIZED!  I may get two more western hooks from Tractor Supply if I can find them 2 for Trev 2 for Casey!

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Lego Storage

With a 7 year old and a 2.5 year old boy I have come to terms with the fact Lego's are going to be around for a while!  I have stepped on, swept up and thrown out more then I care to admit so I knew the time had come for me to start finding a way to organize these little blocks of pleasure for my kids!  Seriously give the kids a instruction set and a Lego set and they are quiet and build away until they are done! 

Bargain Becky had shared about a Scrapbook paper bin at Michael's but even on sale it was 30+ dollars!  I'm super cheap so I drooled and waited and watched and it just didn't get lower then 30 even full price with a coupon! Then last week I spotted a clear version for 15.00!  I figured why not swing by and just see how it looks expecting it to be super small, super narrow or super cheap!  To my surprise it wasn't!!

It took me one full nap time to go through the multiple bins of legos and dissemble and separate into like colors but it went pretty quickly! 

As you can see I did have a few bins that I had to combine colors so I just decided to use scrapbook or construction paper and put a small piece in the opening so you can see what color goes where when assembling Lego Sets or just free building!

We threw it in the playroom and the kids have gone down there a lot to play with it.  I think they find it easier to find what they are looking for.  I have all the people and instruction sets in a Lego case on top of the Lego organizer and its working.  

As you know Legos are expensive but one of those toys you can pass down and they never get old or outta date! I feel good in this 15 dollar investment!







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WW Weekly Weigh in Week 2

Source: busybeingfabulous.typepad.com via Amanda on Pinterest

ROUGH ROUGH week!  I'm shocked I lost in all honesty!  I didn't do good with my diet soda hoping it will get a lot better.  Im getting better with my fruits and veggies and eating lots and lots..I need to stay away from a banana a day as I know they will pack on the pounds!  Just fighting myself this week having a tough time fueling myself properly for workouts and staying within my points!  I covered 21 miles this week since Friday 9.4 in running YAY!



Here are my numbers Weight Watchers wise for the week!

Daily pointed allotted: 124

Daily points used: 124

Extra weekly points allowed 49:

Extra weekly points used: 25

Activity points earned: 37

Activity points used: 37

I lost a grand total of 1.4 pound this week

Total weight loss since Oct 2011 38.8pounds

pounds till my 5% Weight Watchers goal 3.5

pounds till my goal weight 31.2

I missed my goal of 2 pounds this week but I am okay with that!  It was a ROUGH ROUGH week...I'm having major chocolate cravings if you get my drift ;) I was also super hungry this week.  Weight Watchers HATES carbs and I need them to keep my working out energy level up!  I will have to learn to use my Weekly points as I felt a lot better towards the end of the week when I actually used them! Hoping for 1.5 pounds next week!

Weight Loss Jars

Source: Uploaded by user via Amanda on Pinterest

My best friend is also doing Weight Watchers and her and I are so similar its weird!  When she showed me this pin I thought DUH!  We are both visual people so it helps in situations like weight loss to always remember how far you have come!  You may not have a great weigh in week but you've lost x amount of pounds! So off to the Dollar Tree I went and grabbed 2 vases, a package of shiny rocks, and some beady table fillers for $5.00!

I happened to have my craft paint and stencil on hand which I prefered over letters.  Thankfully it had a large and small stencil that worked good enough for me!

I just held the stencil super snug around the vase and dabbed away. It didnt pull off perfectly but I am okay with it! 

 It turned out very cute!  I put it on the shelf on my side of the room so when I wake up every morning I can see at it to remind me to kill it today with my workouts and staying on point with Weight Watchers!

 The bigger circle and the smaller circle represent my weight lost and my weight to go!

You just simple fill them with whatever you have....The pictures do not do it justice!  You can tell the amount of beads in there when you look on.  Right now its pretty even I have 31 in my to go and 39 in my lost! 

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OCD

 When your child has fine motor weakness you do whatever you can to help him or her!  In my case it was circling or pointing arrows to coupons I wanted and having him cut them out...Did I ever think he would be the perfect child just like his momma and make two piles? No!..One for longer coupons and one for more square coupons.  I could not stop laughing when I saw this and he thought I was crazy for taking his picture.  Its the little things that make me giggle...Yes I am extremely OCD and very proud this habit is being passed down!

One the bargain note if you teach your kids about free money coupons they will learn to appreciate money and where it comes from and how to keep it!  I select them, Trevor cuts them, and Aubrey separates them into food and household piles.  Its a family event saving money!

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Martha Stewart Crafts

I am probably the last person in blog land to get a hold of the Martha Stewart craft line at Michael's!  I went the other day with coupon in hand of course and grabbed one of the larger stencils for around 9 dollars!  I also grabbed the paints last week when they were on sale for 30% off. I now want to stencil everyone everything in the house

 I simply cleaned her table we made with a tutu over the summer.  From then I used the stencil and just dabbed the paint with a foam brush!  Super easy!  I tried to go quick so the stencil did not have time to attach itself to the table with the paint.  

As you can see you will need to fix the ends of the stencil but it comes with dotted lines to assist you to know exactly where to line up the stencil so it looks seamless!  I seriously am in love with this product! 

When I was done I had some areas where it smudged due to me not cleaning the stencil off every time.  I used a qtip with a little warm water and it cleaned up super easy!

When all was said and done it came out SUPER cute!  I love it as does she...We plan on getting some pink fabric to staple under the tulle to make her tutu look fuller and less transparent!  Just waiting to get to Jo-Anns with a nice coupon in hand!

WW Weigh In week 1

So my first 4 days on Weight Watchers have come and gone.  Its been hard to not peek on the scale and see how I am doing but I know that's part of the success of Weight Watchers!  I'm dealing with the initial hunger pains and will work through it! I was WAYYY over eating hence the nearly 10 pound weight gain!  I worked out 3 times this week..Once was a killer Pinterest workout, 7 miles in running, some cycling, some elliptical and LOTS of weights!

Source: s2.photobucket.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Here are my numbers Weight Watchers wise for the week!

Daily pointed allotted: 124

Daily points used: 124

Extra weekly points allowed 49:

Extra weekly points used: 10

Activity points earned: 22

Activity points used: 22

I lost a grand total of 4.4    pounds these past 4 days!
Total weight loss since Oct 2011 37.4 pounds
pounds till my 5% Weight Watchers goal4.9
pounds till my goal weight 32.6

I think I did very well these past four days..However I did eat A LOT of free fruit!  I want to try and split it 50/50 this week for free fruits and veggies!  I know the fruit will up sugar intake!  I also want to limit my diet soda this week to one every other day..I need to kick this habit!  My goal for next week is 2 lbs!

A valentines mantle

 I LOVE Valentines Day!  I am not one to go gaga over the hearts and loves and flowers but the past few years I just cannot get enough!  So of course I had to fill a few little areas of our home full of love!

 My button heart wreath I made that I showed off earlier this week!  SO easy and cute! 

 My love blocks and the heart from last year look super cute here!  I also filled my apothecary jar with some 80% off clearance Christmas ornaments They surprisingly do not look at all Christmasy here.

 I picked up that little heart duo at Target last year for 1.99, the pink bird from Target this year for 2.99!  I also printed out the i love you printable from landee see, landee do.

 I was inspired for my garland from a pin I saw a while back and fell in love.  Aubrey and I spent a few minutes one afternoon making this and they had a lot of fun!  Trev mentioned making one for a countdown to Valentines Day which would be fun as well!

Source: duitang.com via Amanda on Pinterest

So I threw it all together and really love it!  Jeff came home the other day and said Oh Boy!  That's right Mr!  Momma wants a nice dinner out, a morning to sleep in and some cute Pandora charms! 

I hope your not sick of all this LOVE I have pouring over my blog lately!

 

Button Hearts

 Are you feelin' the love yet?  I am just having so much fun attacking everything with red, pink, love and hearts!  This is a super easy and frugal craft project!

I used card stock, buttons(1.00 at Micheal's), and a frame I picked up at Target on clearance!

Yes I'm holding the buttons with a pair of tweezers...I have no desire to rob banks or put myself through hot glue burns anymore then I have to...My kids found this hilarious!

It will have the glue hairs, smuges, etc..Just take your tweezers and pick away as much of this gunk as possible!

 When you are done you will be left with an adorable frame for the holiday you can save to swap out each Valentines Day!  Note I had to leave the glass out of my frame but this will all depend on the frame you purchase! I just love the little added pop of love it gives off paired with a Christmas clearance candle scored from Kohls at 90% off!

Im linking up here

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Organzing under your sink

 Everyone around the blogosphere seems to be purging and organizing every inch of their homes...I am no exception!  We decided to go through my sink the other day and threw out A TON of stuff!  I was left with quite a few items and one big unwanted disaster!

Seriously this is half of the stuff that was once in there!  After pulling everything out Jeff got the infamous Um JEFFFFFFFFF and came running as that normally means disaster!

Yes your seeing that right our brand new(4 years) cabinet is pretty much ruined thanks to mop and glo leaking, shark mop pads holding onto the leak and keeping it wet and a leaking dishwasher valve! UGH double UGH!  So Jeff got everything out put it in a laundry basket and we fixed the problem and aired out under the cabinet for about 2 weeks to allow it to dry!

He hates his picture on my blog :)

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

I had this pin in the back of my mind for this project..I figured it would be water proof so this will not happen again!  We picked out 7 .25 cent peel and stick tiles at Lowes, we had the ply board on hand, and Jeff took over this project!  We dried out the board for 2 full weeks!!

We screwed down our wood you dont have to but we figured why not keep it in place!

We filled the whole part with the ply wood and then added the tiles one by one!  Some did need a little trim on the edges or around plumbing but it took no time at all with a simple razor cutter!

 It seriously took him 15 mins to get the wood cut, tiles cut and everything laid down and it works out really well for us!  I have a peace of mind knowing if this happens again I should be able to catch it sooner then later!

 I tried to organize like products!  I also put a little container for all my sponges so if this happens again I will not be aiding the moisture and letting the sponges soak it up and just sit there and ruin expensive cabinets!

 It seriously was super easy, super cheap, and super fulfilling from a home project!

Im linking up with:

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