2011 Point Bock Run

1,842 people finished the Point Bock Run this year. I was one of them and did my best time ever. My goal was 9 minute miles but I ended up with an 8:33 pace, finishing the 5 miles in 42:43. The fastest woman was Breeda Willis who finished in 27:52. She was already home and showered by the time I finished. LOL Race Results

Magnificent Manicures

Lydia got this Magnificent Manicure Kit as a gift for Christmas from her Aunt Tracey. We just pulled it out this past weekend to play with it. We did manicures on Saturday and pedicures on Sunday. We had so much fun. Lydia loved the science part of this just as much as seeing how nice her nails looked when we were done. We created our own lotion and sea salt scrub. I highly recommend this for anybody who has girls that enjoy science. It comes with a pamphlet that asks you questions about the different results you get by mixing certain things together and there are even answers for the moms like me who didn't do all that well in chemistry.

Crocheted Wrist Warmers

This was a super easy, quick project to put together. It only took 100 yds of yarn and 2 afternoon crochet sessions. I found the pattern at The Crochet Spot. This was my first practice pair. They need some flair so I may crochet a small flower to put on each and maybe add some fringe on the top end where your fingers are. The next pair I will make longer. I was thinking some leg warmers would be fun to make too and I could wear them to derby.

Winter Wonderland

Last night Lydia and I went to see the Rotary Winter Wonderland at Wildwood Park in Marshfield. We walked through it first for about a half an hour and then drove through. This was my second visit this year. They've been doing this for 5 years now and it's for a good cause. People donate canned food to get in. If you do walk through it, I recommend taking some cash with you so you can buy a hot cocoa while you're wandering about and dress warm!

Look at all of those lights!!!

Lydia took this last video when we were driving out of the park.

Lamp Shade Slip Covers

I have had no luck finding any lamp shades I like for a couple of lamps I picked up at a garage sale for Lydia's bedroom. I found this tutorial at Amy a la mode for lamp shade slip covers and I used it to make 2 slip covers today. Lydia likes them.

Candy Men

Lydia and I made these candy men for her class. We got the idea from Trey and Lucy. Perfect project for a hot glue gun!

First Day of 4th Grade

I walked Lydia to school today for her first day of 4th grade today. I thought that I wouldn't cry anymore since this was the 5th time we've done the first day of school thing but that was not the case. I am so excited for her to be starting a new school year. We went to find your room night on Monday. After we met her new teacher (who seems really great) and we filled up her desk with all of her new school supplies, we went to look at the art room because that is her favorite room. Her eyes light up when she walks in there. On the way she told me how she loves the smell of school. I am the same way. It brings back memories of my days in elementary school. I am looking forward to hearing how her day went when she gets home this afternoon. Time to get back into dance schedules, time with friends, decorating lockers, drawing on notebook covers, and trying to understand 4th grade math for both of us!

The Zoo

Lydia and I visited the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison last week. It's a very clean zoo and amazingly, it's free. In just a few hours you can see lots of animals including tigers, giraffes, rhinoceroses, tigers, monkeys, otters, monkeys, snakes, birds, turtles, bugs, and more. Lydia's favorite was this big snapping turtle.

I liked the giraffes.

Need some lamp shades!

I bought this set of lamps at a garage sale for $6. This was my first paint with a spray can job and it turned out really well, although you can't tell because the pictures (taken with my phone) are so bad. I used a metal finish paint and it looks really cool, again you can't tell so you'll have to take my word for it. Super easy project and I'd use these lamps BUT they all need new lamp shades and I'm finding that I almost would have been better off buying 3 new lamps because it would have been cheaper. The cost of a nice lampshade these days is ridiculous! May as well just buy the whole lamp! Thought of other alternatives like using the crappy ones that came with the lamps and covering them with fabric BUT thought of that after I had already thrown them in the dumpster! On the look out for cheap lamp shades!

Derby Skirt

I picked up this skirt from Goodwill for $4. It was a size 13 and with a couple of swipes with my sewing machine it's now a 6 and fits great. Wore it to practice this week!

Happy 42

Ken turned 42 on Valentine's Day. A very talented lady at Dairy Queen decorated this cake for me. I think she did a fantastic job. They didn't have anything like this in the samples so she designed this herself based on my verbal description. I am going to make her something in return for doing such a nice job. It's nice when people do a little extra, more than you ask for. Not very common these days. I want to give her a big hug too! What a nice person.