ALYoF - February Finish!

Woohoo!  and seriously...a huge WOOHOO!!!  I have finished my Lucky Jam quilt top!  Which if you remember was my A Lovely Year of Finishes goal back over here (Link #46)!  I was truly hoping to make this one a completely finished quilt...but I kept my goal a little more realistic with a finished quilt top...and tonight (after realizing at 8:40 pm EST that I actually still had a few hours to get it done...I had kind of thrown in the towel just prior to that time) it's done!

and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! (please forgive the pic quality...it was after 10 pm and my quilt models were...shall we say...less than thrilled...so I snapped a couple of quick pics to call it good!).  And right as I was sewing the final border piece I decided that I am not keeping this quilt.  Don't get me wrong...I'm VERY partial to this one...but there is a couple out there that this quilt is really meant to be with...and I'll share more on that story when I finally finish the quilt and label it!  And now...off to bed I go!

Wellness Wednesday...Ep.4

Welcome to Episode 4 of Wellness Wednesday...where it is revealed that I cannot stick to a plan!!  (but I have a good excuse!!)...so here was my "plan" with what I really did in red:

• Wednesday: 20-30 mins cross train rest
• Thursday: 20-30 mins cross train rest
• Friday: 3 mile run (hope I will be running by this point)rest
• Saturday: Rest rest
• Sunday: 5 mile run 7.7 mile run
• Monday: Rest rest
• Tuesday: 3-4 mile run rest

Yep...not much success.  HOWEVER...it's because of my toe injury!  Majority of last week I could barely stand having a shoe on my foot.  So even though cross training should have been something I could accomplish easily...when you can't handle having a shoe on...not much can be done.  A lot of this was because I had to wear close toed shoes for work...so after I got off work on Thursday, I didn't put shoes on again until Sunday when I went for a run.  I probably shouldn't have gone running and let my toe heal some more...but my whole body was screaming for a run!!!  And my work schedule this week has not had me home at a good hour to run or workout, but thankfully the toe is healing and I should be good to continue my half marathon training.

Speaking of...only a few weeks left!  I've got to get some double digit runs in so that I mentally feel prepared!  Here is my plan for this week:

• Wednesday: Rest
• Thursday: 3-4 mile run
• Friday: 2-3 mile run
• Saturday: rest
• Sunday: 9-10 mile run
• Monday: yoga for runners
• Tuesday: 3-4 mile run

I sort of kind of have a plan to head to the treadmill tomorrow before work so that I can get my run in before I spend all day on my feet.  Just have to get my sorry self to bed on time and out the door on time (no snoozing the alarm!!).

I just want to get this particular half in the books...I think it's really messing with my head because I've already done a half marathon, so I know physically I can do this...but mentally it's screwing with me because I want to do better and be more prepared and I feel like my training plan and my feet (one toe at a time) are falling to pieces!  And more than anything...I want a new pair of running shoes...but I only have about 150 miles on my current pair...so I refuse to replace them until I've gotten through this training and half marathon (at a minimum).  I'll talk more about running shoes next week, time to eat dinner and aim for that early bedtime!

Movement in Pink (with a side of orange)

Well I did make some progress over the weekend on my version of the Movement in Squares pattern by Wendy Sheppard!  I'm officially calling it Movement in Pink.  Here are all my pink (with some orange) prints from the Joel Dewberry Notting Hill line all cut out and ready to go:

and then I got all of the background and gray cut:

and I have put together approximately half of the blocks required for the quilt:

I'm so excited to see how it all comes together!!

and now I'm working on getting my Lucky Jam quilt top officially done for my ALYoF February goal!  See you tomorrow for Wellness Wednesday!

something new...

We are already over half way in to February and I hadn't started a new quilt yet...and then we had the lovely snow and ice storm last week that left me trapped in my sewing room...so I started something new!

I was randomly hopping through quilting blogs and came across this pattern, Movement in Squares by Wendy Sheppard, and I immediately knew I wanted a quilt like that!  I've been holding on to some fat quarters of Joel Dewberry Notting Hill (in pink) and thought that this pattern would be great to use them in! 

I had done a bit of cutting, after I took a good while to decide which fabric to use where...and then we lost power (only for a few hours last Thursday) and haven't quite made my way back to my sewing room since...so now I have some sewing goals for this weekend.  I'd like to get the rest of the fabric cut for this one and start piecing and get my borders on to my Lucky Jam quilt...

I'll catch up with you sometime this weekend to see how much progress I've made!

Wellness Wednesday

Wow...another week done!  We did make it to the race, despite the record 3 days in a row of snow (remember...I live in South Carolina) and the .5-1 inch of ice we had in there.  We weren't sure until late Thursday that we were even going to be able to make it out of town to get to the race!  But we did...and here is last week's plan and what I did in red:

• Wednesday: 20-30 mins cross train, yoga for runners shoveled snow (and I count that as cross training)
• Thursday: 20 mins cross train, yoga for runners walked about 1 mile in the snow and ice (got my quads burning!)
• Friday: Rest (will be walking around the race expo) Rest
• Saturday: Relay Race!  I'll be running a 6 mile leg! And PRd my 10k distance while doing it!  and kind of injured myself
• Sunday: Rest Rest
• Monday: 3-4 mile run Rest
• Tuesday: Cross train Rest

I'll skip straight to the race...and go ahead and say that it wasn't fun.  Well...it was and it wasn't.  The weather was vicious.  Thankfully the sun was shining (when I and my Guy ran our legs, unfortunately it rained on some of the earlier runners) but the wind was terrible.  So the temperatures were cold and the wind was gusting up to and sometimes over 20 mph. 

But our team finished, I ran the final leg and Guy met me at the finish:

I was so happy to be done!  It seemed no matter which way the course went, we were running INTO the wind.  Anyways...after this one, Guy and I have talked about not doing anymore relays.  I just don't enjoy them as much.  However we've only done 2 ever...so not sure I have enough to compare.  The first one we ran was great!  So...maybe just see what happens...

Now on to my slight injury...apparently I started to develop a bit of an ingrown toenail on Friday...but didn't really pay any attention to it...and Saturday was not so great on it...by Sunday it was a mess.  And still is.  And is incredibly painful...so no idea when I'll be running again.  I'm hoping I can get it to calm down enough that it will heal up and I can get back to it by this weekend.  So my plan this week is all based on what I can/can't do...so the next few days I'm going to stick to the bike.

• Wednesday: 20-30 mins cross train
• Thursday: 20-30 mins cross train
• Friday: 3 mile run (hope I will be running by this point)
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: 5 mile run
• Monday: Rest
• Tuesday: 3-4 mile run

Snowy stitching...

Well...so far we have survived this nasty winter storm.  We had some gorgeous fluffy snow for several hours yesterday, with bouts of sleet on either side...unfortunately now it's all sheets of ice and everything is covered in ice...but thankfully we still have power and are warm and comfortable.

Now...while all of this was going on yesterday...I did take a chunk of time to turn my pile of Lucky Jam blocks:

Into a close-to-finished quilt top:

Now I need to figure out if I have enough of the fabric I would like to use for the border...or if I'm going to have to change that up.  Home again today as the roads are pretty rotten right now...hopefully it all starts to melt and clear up as we are supposed to head to the beach tomorrow...and that trip is in jeopardy of being cancelled...

Catch up with you later!

Wellness Wednesday

Hope this morning finds you safe and sound and warm!  We are bracing for "the sky is falling" part 2...and for this one I'm a bit concerned as we are expecting quite a bit of ice...so we'll see how it goes!

On to Wellness Wednesday...here was my plan for last week with what I actually did in Red:

• Wednesday: 3-4 mile run Rest
• Thursday: 2 miles OR 30-40 mins cross-training Rest
• Friday: 30 mins cross-training and yoga for runners 4.2 mile run
• Saturday: 5-6 mile run Rest (on my feet all day at an event for my Girl)
• Sunday: rest, yoga for runners (maybe) 6.3 mile run
• Monday: 3 miles Rest
• Tuesday: cross-train Rest (weather induced)

There were quite a few rest days...but my legs were still really flat and tight after the previous week's 10 mile long run.  So I let how I was feeling determine what I was going to be doing that day.  Especially with a race happening this weekend!  So my plan for this week:

• Wednesday: 20-30 mins cross train, yoga for runners
• Thursday: 20 mins cross train, yoga for runners
• Friday: Rest (will be walking around the race expo)
• Saturday: Relay Race!  I'll be running a 6 mile leg!
• Sunday: Rest
• Monday: 3-4 mile run
• Tuesday: Cross train
• Wednesday: 3-4 mile run

And now I'm going to do some sewing.  Not knowing what exactly the weather is going to do, but knowing that I'm staying home...means I have some free sewing time right now!

Be back next Wednesday to let you know how it went!

Can you identify this quilt?

Came across this post on Foxnews today.

Mystery quilt may help solve cold case murder.

Figure I could at least post the link and see if I can't help get the word out...

Wellness Wednesday

Welcome to my new planned Wednesday post...Wellness Wednesday.  I actually "stole" the title from work, each Wednesday our Safety Topic is based around health and wellness.  For those that are new to my blog, I've been making some major life changes over the past 18 months regarding my health.  (For those that have been readers for awhile...hang in there while I revisit a little history).

In October 2012, I quit smoking.  I had smoked continuously for too many years, and finally decided enough was enough and I quit cold turkey.  It's February 2014...and I am still 100% smoke free!  That was the first step on my new healthier journey.

In January 2013, I decided I was not happy with my weight and the way I felt and looked.  So I started working out regularly and counting calories, and am happy to say that a year later, I'm down 25 lbs!  I did reach a 35 lb loss but have gained back 10 and I'm ok with that!  This is a lifestyle change, not a diet, so I continue to work at it.  I am not as strict with the calorie counting (and haven't been since August of last year) but I'm very aware of what I'm putting in my body and I aim to make healthier choices.  I haven't had a soda since January of last year, and I mainly drink water all day.  (I do allow myself 2 cups of coffee a day...because let's not get crazy here...).

In February 2013, I started running.  This culminated in me running a Half Marathon last fall with my hubby!  Recap found here.  The training process kickstarted something in me, and now I proudly call myself a runner.  I aim to run 3 times a week (and sometimes I don't get that much and sometimes I do a little more) with my weekend run being my "long run."  I've run in other races and next week will be running as part of a relay team for the Myrtle Beach Marathon (my leg will be 6 miles!).  I also have another half marathon scheduled in March (so excited about this!) and am planning another in the fall.  Running has become a very large part of my life.  It keeps me sane, keeps my stress levels low, and makes me feel great!

I was tracking my running on a tab at the top of my blog (labeled HMT) but have decided I'm going to actually write blog posts about it...considering how important a part of my life it has become.  I will post my current training, where I'm at in mileage and how I'm feeling.  But I'm keeping it to once a week...because at the heart, this blog is about my love of quilting.  I may, on occasion, throw in a race recap...just to share how it all went. 

So welcome to the first Wellness Wednesday!  (after all that, let's get to the point!). 

I'm training for my relay leg of 6 miles, while also trying to prep for the half in March (Newberry Half Marathon), so I've been consistently trying to increase my long runs.  Sunday was a 10-miler...and while I finished it...my legs were not happy!  I had a bad case of DOMS on Monday, but have been fairly decent the past two days (I blame this on not running the week before .  I'm planning on getting out there today and maybe tomorrow, and then trying for a long run of 5-6 miles on Saturday.  Then next week will be a bit of a "taper" so the legs are fresh for the race next Saturday!  My plan for the week:

• Wednesday: 3-4 mile run
• Thursday: 2 miles OR 30-40 mins cross-training
• Friday: 30 mins cross-training and yoga for runners
• Saturday: 5-6 mile run
• Sunday: rest, yoga for runners (maybe)
• Monday: 3 miles
• Tuesday: cross-train

Be back next Wednesday to let you know how it went!

ALYoF -- February Goal...

I had to think for a bit about what I was going to make my goal for the February edition of A Lovely Year of Finishes.  It's a shorter month...we will be out of town half of most of the weekends in the month...so actual sewing time for me may be a bit limited...so I wanted to select something that I can reasonably achieve (and hope that I can do a little more!).

My February goal is to take all of my Lucky Jam blocks (started August 2013):

and turn them into a completed quilt top!  (on a  side note, I'm actually hoping to get more than that accomplished with this...but considering what I said at the beginning, I'm going to shoot for a completed quilt top...anything beyond that with this project is a bonus!!).

And now I'm off to get a few things done before I settle in with some sewing and Super Bowl preps!