Bird Houses

I did this fun little craft project over the weekend. I found the bird houses at out local craft store and got them for $0.99 each! Then I painted up three of them with bright colors. It was a really fun, quick craft project, and I can't wait to paint more of them. I think they would be fun to hang from trees in the front yard. They would make cute decorations, even if birds won't really use the. 

Race Pictures - Races and results covering 3 years!

I ran my first 12 K race today, and have a few more races planned for this year already. I've made it a goal to try to run a race every month this year (minus January.) I thought I would take a look back at my running history. I started running (really just slogging myself along) in 2009 and ran my first race in September 2010. Here is the results for that race, and every race I have ran since. 

1. Prefontaine Memorial Run

September 2010 

Race: 10 K

Time: 56:18

Pace: 9:04

Post-race, with Ron! 

2. Prefontaine Memorial Run
September 2011
10 K
Time: 58:42
Pace: 9:27

At the start, Heather in the background!

High-five-ing TJ. It was his first race since high school, I think he almost died. 

3. The Dirty Dash
June 2012
Around 4 miles
Time: Just for fun ... and beer

I ran it with a TJ! I also did his hair. 

We both wore lingerie... 

And then I ran it again with Hope! We were some dirty girls!  

4. Prefontaine again!
September 2012
10 K
Time: 58:42
Pace: 9:19

Real men can wear tutus and run races... Ran with Eric and TJ! So many of the kids watching the race loved seeing the "boy fairies."

5. Pumpkin Run - Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon

October 2012

13.1 K 

Time: 2:02:41

Pace: 9:22

Look mom! More tutus! - Ran with Matt and TJ. Eric spectated and photographed. 

Beavers represented! Plus I've gained 25 lbs. :-p 

6. Valentine Run

Febuary 2013

12 K

Time: 1:03:13

Pace: 8:29

Lost 10 lbs and bought some awesome socks! 

TJ ran this race with me too, but we didn't get pictures together this time. He deserves his own picture anyway, since he kicked ass on the race and PR'ed too! 

I am currently trying to improve my race time, and it looks like it is paying off! I have a 10 K planned for next month and another half marathon planned for April!

I made these!

I saw directions for these doily bowls on the Free People Blog. It looked really easy! I decided to give it a shot last weekend. I bought some pre-made doilies at the craft store (they are less than $5 each) and then soaked them in Stiffy (which is a word I don't recommend goggling without safe search on). Luckily I googled it for you! You can get it here or at your local craft store. After the doilies were completely soaked, I laid them across a variety of objects to see how each would turn out. Bigger bowls made way better dishes than smaller bowls or glass jars. Below are my two favorite results. 

1. White doily over a large cereal bow. 

2. Cream doily over a large canning jar.

I was very impressed with my success here. Now I'm keeping my eyes out for doilies at goodwill and antiques shops so I can make additional bowls.

Health Information

I really like reading health articles, and I love health and fitness magazines, but I have a problem with a lot of popular mainstream magazines and websites. I don't like when I am searching for articles online, find something that looks good, only to be directed to a sign-in page or a "members only" section. This seems common at Fitness Magazine yet it still comes up in a lot of Google searches.

I sometimes enjoy Women's Health Magazine, but once when reading an article about the befits of drinking milk, they referred to milk as "moo juice." It seems like a small thing (and it is, I'm just weird) but it rubbed me the WRONG way. I decided to go on a hunting spree for some websites that felt more informative and scientific. Below are three that I really like, plus a bonus four that I'm still getting to know.

1. Health: This magazine is a step up from the previous two magazines in terms of article quality and writing approach. I can still subscribe and get a print magazine, but the online articles are accessible to anyone. Although obviously geared toward women it puts less emphasis on celebrities and fad diets that a lot of women's magazines out there.

2. Web MD: This website offers easily accessible and understandable information with a more scientific background. It's my go-to first stop for health and wellness information or brushing up on medical problems before (in instead of) a doctors visit. I was also impressed with a publication I found in my university pharmacy waiting area that Web MD put out for college-age people. It was well researched and addressed issues accurately, rather than so many pamphlets put out for that age group that seem to treat all college students as drinking/pot smoking/bags of promiscuity. OMG you are going to get an STD!

3. Runners World: I'm a subscriber. Although I'll admit that it has little to offer you if you aren't a runner, if you have ever had an interest in starting, this magazine always has really good advice for beginners. And as a (dare we say) intermediate runner I still get a lot of good information and motivation for the website and print editions.

Bonus:
1. National Institute of Health

2. Well Pages

3. Health Central

4. Everyday Health

These all seem like websites that contain great information in a format that is easy to brows. Taken together they all have really great information that helps keep me educated and motivated.