Experience and a half!

                                        The starting line of the Rutger's Unite Half Marathon!

           Here is the finishing medal, runner's number, and time sheet from my first half marathon! :)

Like I said in my last post, if you haven't ever run a race, I highly recommend it.  Not only is it a good physical challenge, but it is such a great goal to have for yourself.

Nerd Love

Something I have been working on these little babies since I have been sick.  Just in time for Valentines :).

Some Soup for Your Cold

Our apartment is full of sniffles and coughs... it's cold season again (actually, my cold has mutated into a sinus infection and bronchitis... ick ). I've been reading a number of blogs on how to help shorten the duration of a cold. The writers have recommended everything from taking 1000mg of vitamin c for three days, to Netti pot usage (these are so wonderful! If you haven't tried one, you really should!), to exercise. One recommendation has been common on almost all of the blogs I have read: don't eat dairy. Dairy can increase mucus production and make you feel even more miserable (which is sometimes hard to believe, but trust me, I rebelled one day and regretted it!) I found a great, dairy free soup recipe that both Jordan and I enjoy. Use it for colds, or just entertaining! I also added two stalks of celery that I had in the fridge to give us some more veggies.

It's the Little Things :)

In our NYC apartment, space is used in ways that this Iowa girl could never imagine. Shelves give more vertical space, hidden compartments in furniture allow for extra storage, and the many tips derived from Ikea catalogs make our studio apartments hold as much as a small ranch house. One thing that has been driving me crazy for YEARS has been our plastic grocery bags. Jordan and I try to reuse these as often as possible, but storing them can get unruly. I was too frugal to spend cash on storing "trash" bags, and my old, metal, Singer sewing machine was starting to show it's age. We stored all the loose plastic in a large paper bag on the floor of our kitchen near the garbage. Not the most pleasant to look at. I finally decided to make a bag holder that I had seen in so many of my friends homes growing up made from old towels. This Little Piggy had a great tutorial! I used some scrap fabric I had lying around and tada! A neat, little bag holder!


I know, I know... It's just a bag holder... but sometimes, it is those little things in life that make you smile :).

NYC Rain = Internet Reading

The dark and gloomy city outside

As the rain from the incoming storm front fills the city streets with ... well trash and dirty water.. I have decided to sequester myself inside and take some time catching up on my online reading.

My cousin and I started a conversation on Facebook regarding the dangers of receiving/not receiving childhood vaccinations. There have recently been a number of studies both against and endorsing this practice.

Etsy also did a fantastic post on raw milk . It is probably the nerd in me, but I love the fact that these issues are coming into the limelight. I have to question whether or not accurate evaluations of all of the effects of these processes were discovered when they were first implemented. It is extremely beneficial to be able to ship milk across the country, but should that ever be a "goal" for milk? It is good that both adults and children are less likely to contract a number or diseases, but is your child having the chance of going into anaphylaxis or pneumonia from the vaccine worth that risk? These are some questions that I have debated and have been very torn on. Studies from different institutions have different claims. For some reason, the jury is split on these issues that could be the difference from something as simple as better nutrition to the heart-wrenching battle of life and death.

I was productive tonight :)

Elements

Elements now have a small ribbon loop so you can hang them on your Christmas tree, on your wall, or in your car!

I have been super busy making all new items for the Degenerate Craft Fair. It is a two day fair that takes place in NYC. If you are in the area, check it out!

Here are some new element pillows with stunning fabrics (I loooove The City Quilter. They have the most fantastic fabrics). Some of the fabrics are old friends with a new twist and others brand new patterns that display a characteristic of the element it has embroidered on it (ex. Carbon is on a fabric with leaves).

For a city built with Iron, the NYC subway map is a perfect fit for this element

love for nature

Arsenic, an old favorite on new fabrics

Jeweled Explorations

I have started becoming much more active on Flickr and Etsy, which are so enlightening and fun, but can really become addicting. I can't stop exploring all the different ways and types of craft and all of the wonderful creations people come up with. I even set up my own Etsy store.

Etsy Store!


One of my friends, Anita, taught me how to make jewelry a few weeks ago with sterling silver wire. It is sooo relaxing to me and I love making something so delicate and colorful.

I started with these earrings from some vintage glass beads I had found and Swarovski crystal. I have a whole little set all named after berries.

Then I started making some necklaces and bracelets. Anita generously shared some of her garnets and turquoise to make these beauties.


The bracelet started from just sterling silver wire and beads. I wire-wrapped the beads and slowly made the whole chain for the bracelet.

I bought some more supplies yesterday, so I will be making some more!