Miss You Like Crazy!

This week's challenge over at the Sisterhood is called Flower Power....use a flower on your creation! With that in mind, I inked up some of my newest Verve for this card I made for my aunt.

I used the Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #83 as my basis for the design and the Color Q Challenge #99 as inspiration for the colors. While I didn't have the Curry or Indigo, I think it worked with More Mustard and Pacific Point. I did a little dry embossing on the pumpking panel and a couple of edge punches. It was fun to ink up the leaves & flowers from Bloom & Grow and sentiment from Hope Blooms. A few pearls and that was all she wrote...or I wrote...or did. LOL

Have a fabulous Wednesday - and get over to the Sisterhood of Crafters to show us your flower creation for a chance at a Pizzaz Aplenty prize pack!

It's Official - I'm a Half Marathoner!

Before I go take my ritualistic post run nap, I wanted to post a few pics that MrP took of my big race =) Marisa - we did it!! According to the Live times, 2:24:48 was my finish time.
When I first started the clinic, I wrote a 2:45 finish as my realistic goal. Today, I wore a 2:30 pace band as I ran and each time I passed a mark, I said to myself "I'm going faster than the pace...I don't know if I'll be able to keep this up". When I was getting close to the late stages, I thought "Oh my - I just need to keep moving and I can beat 2:30...and I did!

EDITED TO ADD Official Race Times

Gun Time: 2:24:48

Chip Time: 2:23:19

 Last 100 meters - and smiling!

My slave driver who kept after me for four years to join a half clinic - thanks, SB!

Two old friends and one new one - with me!

Taking a bite of victory...LOL!

  

Finally, while I was chatting with my friend, MrP snapped this one.

He asked if I was still food motivated. I of course said "Heck yeah!" and he said if I'm up for it, he made a reservation for a celebratory supper so we're off to one of Edmonton's hot spots for delish dining, Corso32, tonight. I think he loves me ;)

I'm still alive!

Although I wonder sometimes how I've made it this far. MrP was a slave driver on Sunday after my 6km taper run and beat me until I put on some shorts, a tank and grabbed a sanding pad to help in the garage. So I may exaggerate - a lot. He told me to chill out and relax after my exercise. I felt like a lazy bum after he's been doing so much (taping & mudding the entire garage by himself) so I volunteered - and we finished the sanding in the same day that we started it. Yay for the Palmers! Then I went to bed at 9pm.

I booked myself a massage on Tuesday and in addition to my previous self beating bruises (aka walking into bed frame, smacking shin and foot on brass pole, etc), I now have a lovely set of what are quite obvious finger prints along my IT band. It feels glorious (much more loose than it had), but it doesn't look very pretty. Best get back to regular iron supplement taking so I don't look like such a disaster.

Yesterday, after pole dance class, my lovely hubby met up with me on his bike during my run, so I had someone to regale me with stories for the remaining 8kms (he met me just after 2kms). He's a champ.

Tonight, I'll complete 6kms before my jumping lesson and then I'll have two nights of glorious rest. MrP thought he was going to force convince me to start priming, but I assured him in no uncertain terms that it wasn't going to happen. I like to keep things clear.

So, my friends, I'm here to tell you that with 4 nights to go, I'm feeling good about Sunday's run. I've completed my long distances and while not speedy by any stretch of the imagination, I feel comfortable that I'll be able to survive and meet my time goal. Even if the ol' weather isn't cooperating the way I'd like it to. Please, mother nature, keep the morning around the 10 degree weather - not anywhere near the daily anticipated high of 26 degrees.

And on Tuesday, body o' mine, I'll treat you to a Spa Capsule massage. Yep - space age stuff for this nerd! Thanks to my deal obsession. Speaking of deals, I got a sweet deal for Chef Elizabeth Faulkner's Citizen Cake in San Francisco, which we missed out on during our last trip. Now that I look at it, I've been in charge of SF (walking tours, bike tour, googlemap of "must visit locations") and MrP's handled everything for Napa, including our Wine Train lunch, self directed biking wine tour and winery visits.  October can't come soon enough!

A Little Mojo Anniversary

This card was created using the Mojo Monday Sketch #203, based on The Sisterhood of Crafters Anniversary Challenge.

I took some liberties with the sketch (mainly the sentiment area), but that's what a sketch is, right?! A beginning place. I was also able to use up some Maine Blueberry DSP. One day I will have a reasonable stock of patterned paper....in the meantime, I'll keep trying to use it up one bit at a time. I love this punch from my lady, Martha, and I need to start using it more - it's such a pretty edge.

Again, pretty clean & simple with just some bling and ribbon to add a little panache.

I used my favorite set for Anniversary cards - Love Story - as well as the classy label stamp from Love Notes and Die. Bountiful Backgrounds made an appearance, too.

Get your butt over to the Sisterhood and share your Anniversary gems for a chance to win!

My Anniversary Card for MrP

This happens to have been the last card  I created for the Sisterhood Challenge, which used the Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #81. I'm posting it second last, however, so I can get it entered in the Inkspirations challenge!

While it's not what you'd expect for an anniversary card challenge in that it's not a card for another couple, my 5 year anniversary is coming up and I wanted to be prepared before we leave for San Francisco and Napa to have a card that would knock MrP's socks off (in the simple, but beautiful way that I like to make his cards).

I kept the colors simple - black, kraft and cherry cobbler. This time, I used the Love Deepens sentiment, as well as the XOXO and heart from Love Notes. The sponging was actually Sahara Sand, but when I was too quick to get sponging, I managed to mix in the red, so I used kraft since it was closer to the color at that point. In this picture, however, it looks like I may be completely off my rocker for matching. Oh well!

Anyways, I hope he likes it, as it's the only one he's getting. Hopefully this will be given to him while we're enjoying a second visit to The French Laundry.



Funny story - in my mind, it's funny, anyways... I booked MrP his first massage on our next Friday off together and he calls to tell me I have to change the time - the restaurant opens at 10am and we'll have to be calling repeatedly in an attempt to get a reservation again. Seriously...you know you're food loving nerds when you reschedule a glorious reward like a massage so you can try to make reservations for your anniversary supper.



Our first TFL visit - 2008

Anyways, don't forget to share your Anniversary creations over at The Sisterhood of Crafters for your chance to win some fabulous digis!

Happy Anniversary - with a Prize from Delicious Doodles!

The Sisterhood of Crafters has some Anniversary celebrating for you this week! Our incredibly talented alumni, Teri, at Delicious Doodles had a crafting anniversary so we're celebrating and she's providing the prize - five of her fabulous digis! Congrats & Happy Anniversary, Teri!

I haven't really been finding nearly enough time to sit & craft and it was nice to have a chance to tidy up a little, too. Every time I'm at my desk I get a little panicked by the mess. Clearly, if I just took a few minutes each time I wouldn't have this problem, but alas...
Taking more than a little inspiration from my super talented friend Andrea (who aptly creates true beauty for each of these challenges), I used the JUGS Saturday Sketch #96 and CR84FN Color Challenge #35.

This was such a fun sketch and I wanted to try a little something new so I pulled out some unlvoed eyelets and string to play. I used my favorite set for Anniversary cards - Love Story - as well as the classy label stamp from Love Notes and Die. Bountiful Backgrounds made an appearance, too.

While I had these stamps out, I decided to make a few other cards...which I'll be sharing in some upcoming posts.

Get on over to the Sisterhood and share your Anniversary craftiness for a chance to win!

 

Last Minute Mojo

Getting this in right under the wire, but I've got a little Mojo love to share! After my run today (the last of our build up runs - just over 20kms), I had a shower and a nap, then did some stuff around the house and finally had time to sit down & play in my craft area - which is exactly what I did!

I used my last Verve order, which included Love Deepens for the beautiful sentiment and the awesome Mojo 202 sketch fpr my starting point. I even managed to use up some previously unloved retired designer paper (Bella Blue) as my color inspiration of cream, kraft and not quite navy.

Now I'm down to the wire in my half marathon training - two weeks until the race - and I'm anxious, but I know I can do it!
Heck, I was in such a celebratory mood, I even whipped up my Sisterhood card for Wednesday...stop by and check it out then!