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struggling with my inner voice

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I’m not really a runner.

I decided to try the Couch to 5k program for a challenge. Motivation comes easier with a plan and a goal. The Ease into 5k app helps. It costs less than a frappuccino and is worth every penny.

I’m not really a runner.

I knew I would get to the point where I needed new shoes. It happened at week three. I woke up, got out of bed, and the balls of my feet didn’t like being on the floor. I was surprised. I thought it would be my arches to go first.

I’m not really a runner.

I was nervous about buying running shoes. They imply commitment. They make a statement. (They cost more than 30 frappuccinos!)

I’m not really a runner.

I asked the girl if there was anything I needed to know about breaking them in. “Just don’t go like eight miles the first time you wear them.” She was being serious. Did she miss the part about Couch to 5k?

I’m not really a runner.

Yesterday I completed week four. My feet feel awesome. There were times where I ran for six minutes. Six minutes! I’m not sure why I’m so surprised by my success.

Maybe it’s because I think I’m not really a runner?

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wardrobe refashion: shorts

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I can never seem to find shorts that I like. I’m too old for short shorts and too young for culottes. The perfect length for me is cutoff style, especially when I cut them myself.

I found two pairs of pants at the thrift store for my little experiment. I put them on, marked the length I wanted and cut.

Ok, I did a bit more than that.

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I stitched around the bottom of the leg about 1/4 inch to make them look more finished. I had planned to let them fringe on their own, but after the first wash the strings were driving me crazy. I followed the Purl Bee’s instructions for fringing, but only for about halfway up to the stitch line.

I’m loving my new shorts, and giving the jeans in my closet a closer look. Maybe I should make another trip to the thrift store.

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summer reading: laidback knitting

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How come the lazy days of summer are always so busy? I picked up 10 Secrets of the LaidBack Knitters to read how other yarn lovers slow the pace of life with their craft. I really enjoyed the stories, but I don’t think I’ll make any of the patterns, so I’m glad I got it from the library.

On a side note: do you see that little bit of yarn left for the Honey Cowl? I’m almost there!

This book was a good choice before my next hold from the library is available. I have a feeling it’s going go be heavy.

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print is not dead + an original refashioned tote

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Printed books are alive and well in our house. These don’t even include the many Magic Tree House and Ivy and Bean books my daughter regularly checks out, in addition to the craft books I bring home.

Yes, I do tend to read a lot electronically, but if it’s not interactive, my daughter prefers her books on paper. I’m happy with that, and I’m not alone. A recent Pew Research report found “More than nine in ten parents of minor children say it is important to them that their children read print books.”

We bring home a back-breaking bag of books from the library each week, but I’m not complaining. My daughter will most likely spend a good part of her life in front of a screen. There’s no need to rush it.

tote note: This is one of the first refashioned bags I made out of one of my very favorite shirts. I tried to look for the original link in my archives, but I either didn’t write about it or didn’t do a good job of making it searchable. Anyway, it’s still the favorite shirt/bag I own.

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recipe: easy roasted red pepper dip

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There’s cheesecake in the fridge and a box of Girl Scout cookies in the pantry. I’m trying very hard not to eat either.

The other night I was tired and hungry, and needed a quick healthy alternative. I whipped up this simple little dip and was pleasantly surprised by the creamy sweet taste.

It was a little thin, but thickened up after a few hours in the fridge. The next day I drizzled it over some leftover tofu and couscous. Yum! I finished it off with some pretzels.

I’ll be making sure to stash some jarred peppers in the pantry for the future.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

1 12-14 oz jar of roasted red peppers (packed in water not oil) drained
1/3 cup almonds, skins removed*
1 small garlic clove
pinch of sea salt

*how to remove almond skins here

Combine everything in a food processor. I actually used my NutriBullet.

The “chips” are just raw zucchini thinly sliced on my cheapo mandoline slicer purchased from the grocery store.

What are some of your favorite easy snacks? Share in the comments!

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cornfields close to home

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We pass this field a few times each week on our way to Tae Kwon Do. This year it’s filled with corn. Last year it was soybeans. They had a rough year because of the drought. We kept track of their leaves throughout the summer. They were brown before the end of July.

We’ve had a lot of rain this Spring. So far, everything is growing bright and green. However, there’s a sign on the corner: “For Sale.”

It’s not surprising. If it were my land I’d consider selling, too. That part of town is growing. The potential for that space, its worth to a developer, must be so high.

We’ll be sad when it’s gone. It’s a gorgeous expanse of green that’s especially beautiful at dusk, when the sky turns an infinite number of pinks and purples.

So for now, we’ll soak it in every time we pass, and I’ll try to get a few more pics before it’s gone. Before it becomes another Walgreens or CVS. Before its natural beauty is replaced by asphalt. Before progress marches on.

Because a growing economy is a good thing, right?