hello spring

as some of you know, I started running again in preparation of running my first 5K race in over %* years!! I run when I can, AKA when I feel like it! usually, I go for a run right after I drop off the boys at school. I always feel better after a run.



so 3 days before my 5K, I got a fever. let's see.....1st person to get sick was hubby, followed by bryan, then me and lastly, Brandon. it wiped us all out and the boys took turns being absent from school. I was feeling miserable. I was trying to see if someone could run the race Saturday in my place. I hated to miss the run after paying the entry fee. I couldn't find anyone so last minute so hubby told me I should just do it and that I could walk it if I couldn't run.

and so I decided to do it----sick as a dog and all! me and the boys before the race.

and me after the race. I ran and walked. proud of myself that I went that morning and glad I did it. watch out mud run.....i'm coming for you next! I clocked in at 35:39. I was shooting for under 30 minutes but I did what I could!

this past weekend, me and hubby went to a wedding without the boys! and sunday, the boys were invited to a laser tag party. we even got to play a round! so much fun! so it was a good opportunity to make some cards for the occasion!

saw this idea on pinterest and knew I had to make some!

a great way to use and recycle jars. I spray painted the lids, added edible grass, a chocolate bunny and added robin's eggs (whoppers). I finished them off with some lawn fawn baker's twine and added a little tag w/ a stamped a lawn fawn bunny. will be gifting these to mom friends and teachers.

bryan informed me last week that he has a loose tooth. his first! so I had to get working on his tooth fairy pillow. he's so excited but I also know he's scared and nervous!

pyrex obsession

i have been obsessing lately over vintage pyrex. if you've seen my pins on pinterest, you'd know! i remember my mom having a green mixing bowl when i was growing up. for all you vintage pyrex fans, i believe it was the 'crazy daisy' or 'spring blossom' pattern. i recently called her to ask her if we still had it. she didn't know what i was talking about! i must take a trip home and find it!! i really hope we still have it!



let me introduce to you a little happiness....my recent find at the antique flea market! its a divided caserole dish with the lid. i love the color and pattern. [daisy]



i am the proud owner of the two bowls in the yellow/orange shade in the picture below. [butterfly gold] i used it one night to serve veggies in and hubby was totally against using "used" dishware! LOL



i have been running once or twice or 3x a week. just when i feel like it. :) a mom from school recruited me into doing a 'mud run' in a few months. i'm not sure what i've gotten myself into! i promised myself  LAST year that i would run a race before my birthday. that never happened. so i swore i would finish a race before my birthday THIS year. wish me luck on 3/16. doing it with 12 days to spare! ;)


last saturday, we took the boys to the beach. brandon has been wanted to go to collect shells. it was such  a nice day so we went in the morning. the boys had their pails & looked for shells. me and hubby relaxed by watching the the waves. all the sudden, we saw dolphins and whales! so amazing!



i leave you with a picture of a lovely sunrise.....

happy valentine's day!

happy valentine's day! been busy making some cards for the boys. these ones here are for bryan to pass out to his classmates. each one is handstamped. i printed out labels that said, "have a BALL this  valentine's day", slapped it on the back of the card and bagged it with a super bouncy ball (he's obsessed with those right now) in a treat bag. i had him print his name on the back of all 30 of these.

seems like a lot of work but not
really.once you have your design, it's all assembly style. can you see the glittery wings?

remember pop rocks? and the whole deal about if you ate pop rocks & drank a carbonated beverage, you'll explode? i totally believed it when i was little! i made these for brandon to hand out to his classmates. suitable for a 3rd grader, right? again, i handstamped everything on these bag toppers. he had to print out all his friend's names but i helped him out on stamping his name :)

the 2 cards below will be going to their teachers.

some really quick and easy cards that can be for valentine's or not. stamp, color & add a piece of washi tape. (on the S&P card, the strip of 'tape' is actually a strip of paper cut to look like tape) these are great to slip into your child's lunchbox to let them know you love and care about them!
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i sent this one to a friend who was nice enough to make me some of these cute tiny bingo cards.

this one is going to my BFF. again, i used strips of paper to make it look like tape.

one of the teachers at school lost her mother recently and this was for her. looking at it now, i think the ribbon was a bit too much. perhaps too big....
 
thanks for sticking through all these pictures with me. been running again and maybe that's giving me more energy and helping me be creative once again.

anyone still out there?

 hello to anyone still out there....my last post was september 2012!! yes, it's been THAT long. and after tonight, i remembered why i hate blogging. or blogger in general. pictures takes SO LONG to upload. anyone else have that issue? maybe i upload too many??? 75% of the pictures i uploaded actually ended up here....the other 25%---- who knows! but you know what? i loved not blogging. let's catch up, shall we?
i've been enjoying the boys. right before the school year, i stopped working. but i'm not sure if anyone calls my 2 days of working previously, work. i made that choice because brybry started kindergarten in september 2012. he goes from 8-11:23am. then brandon goes from 8:15-2:29. not much time in between. i also wanted to be there for the boys for homework and other activities. i took on being the room mom for bryan's class. it's been fun planning their class parties and adding crafts in the mix :)
brandon's a big 3rd grader now!

 the boys also played soccer in the fall. the picture below is bryan in action. he really improved from last year. we got lucky and had the same great coach from last season. he has a great family. i stepped up and was co-soccer mom.

 he played hard annnnnnd, sometimes....played rock, paper, scissors with his team mate DURING the game! LOL

 here is brandon. he played well this season also. he mostly enjoyed socializing out there.

 bryan getting an award during the 1st award ceremony of the school year.

 luckily, the boys wanted to wear the same exact costume as the year before so it's a win-win for me. no need to shop for new ones and saved some money! brandon (as ash from pokemon) with his 3rd grade teacher (she was a zebra).

 bryan was pikachu (from pokemon). they aren't allowed to wear masks so it just looks like he's wearing a yellow suit.

 we were lucky to get the same kinder teacher that brandon had. bryan adores her.

 a picture from their fall feast. bryan in his pilgrim wear.

 and brandon at his fall feast.

 so brandon told me he was "too old" to take pictures with santa this past year. i was sad to hear this but i didn't force him. bryan happily said he still wanted to take pictures with santa.

we had our 1st annual holiday boutique at school. i sold some of my cards and handmade gifts. after giving 10% back to the school, i ended up making a little over $200 and had a few custom orders too. it was fun. i shared a table with a mom friend. she handmakes jewelry. we had a good time hanging out most of the day at school.

here are pictures i took of some of the cards. i was working right down to the wire and failed to get pictures of the clipboards. those puppies did real well! i didn't sell everything but most everything :)

thanks so much for letting me share old pictures from last year! i will try to blog a little more crafty pics soon! and i have to say thank you for checking in on me ;)