{Felt Flower Craft}

Hello and Happy Friday to you!!!!
How are you!?!? What's new!?!?
It's been super busy around here.....hopefully I can spend some time tomorrow checking with you!

The weather around here has just been divine! Crisp blue skies....just the way I like it:):):)

I did my bike ride last Sunday!!! Not the 100 I was hoping for...but there's always next year, right!!???!!??
Either way...I think it's pretty neat that I actually rode on my bike for almost 77 miles! Kind of nutty if you think about it!


Some people think i'm crazy but I LOVE it! Plus...no one {unless you really are nutty} just wakes up one day and goes to ride that many miles without some training!
Which leads me to....
if you want to accomplish anything...you've got to break it down into baby steps!

When I started riding I was proud to ride 9 miles! Then I just built from there.....

Now why can't weight loss be that easy!!?!?? Well....that's because I love my pizza and wine just a weeeee too much:):)

It was a cold and tough ride. I renamed the ride.....
{Shifting and Sniffling 2010}
Because that's ALL I did all day long!
I was never so happy to be done with a ride in all my life:):):)

A little photo of my friend that I rode with! Trust me a lot of talking gets done in 5 and a half hours!
I just love her.....she's a personal trainer and has an amazing body....
but she never ever makes you feel even the slightest bit bad about you {or rather} my fluff!
She's one of the few women I know that will build you up.....to make you feel like you can accomplish anything!
I appreciate her:):)

Do you have friends like that?!?!
If so....you're lucky too!!!!

And plus you know....I think you are who you surround yourself with.....so why not surround yourself with positive, uplifting people that will motivate you to achieve your goals!!!!

You know what else i've been up to this week!?!?!

You got it....crafting!

I've seen these cute little felt flowers all over the place.

I looked up some directions and found these....

I tried to follow the EXACT directions...but mine turned out like....CRAP.

So, I decided to try and make them the way I thought they would turn out best and guess what....they worked out! Plus I think they look super cute the way I did them!

And this is exactly why I say....you just can't copy off someone and have it work out. You have to do things your OWN way!

I just love how they turned out!

You can put them on shoes.....

What a super inexpensive way to embellish a simple pair of shoes:)

Or you could attach them to a cute sweater!!!
The possibilities are endless...
I think I might even use them on pillows!!!!

And just because....

here's the whole outfit I wore the other day to meet my friend out for cocktails!!

The sweater is cute....now I just need to deal with my hair!

I am TRYING to let it grow out and I was getting tired of the overly processed looking bleach blonde look....but now I don't know what look I want!

Any color suggestions!?!?!

I am kind of leaning towards a carmelish color!?!?

Well....sure hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

I'll be by soon to check in:):):)

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”
Irish Blessing

{healthy recipe & beachy craft}

Hello & Happy Friday to you!!!!
It's 4th of July weekend!! Definitely one of my favorite holidays....the cookouts...the time with friends and family....time spent on the beach and thoughts of my gramps:)
This was his favorite holiday and every year that it rolls it around I can't help but think a lot about him. I think he would be proud of how far i've come since his passing almost 8 years ago.
Do you have any holidays that make you think of someone you lost????? Do you do anything to honor them at that time????
Just wondering:)
Anywho.....
I had my nephew over for the night this week and ended up taking him to the beach!!
I'd say he had a blast!!!!
I absolutely adore him......we don't have children and don't plan to have any....he's it for us and let me tell you....he is completely spoiled:)
His laughter and simple joy for life is so contagious. I just love to be around him.....even if I am exhausted when he leaves:)

We have lots of annual traditions and a day in New Buffalo is always one of them....just he and Aunt Heather!! I hope when he grows up he'll think of me like I think of my gramps.....my gramps always did the same for me:) :) :)
Traditions....that's where it's at!!! I think that's a million more times important to kids than what you buy them!!!!


For this week's healthy recipe.....I have to give credit to the new Southern Living magazine that came this week!!
When I saw this pizza I just new I had to make it!!


Amazing......
Who knew corn on a pizza would be so yummy:)
Plus....I love pizza...you know that....but I definitely feel better about eating it when I make it from scratch with completely whole ingredients!




If you don't have the Southern Living magazine this is how you make it.....
Make a whole wheat crust using this recipe.
I roasted an ear of corn on the grill while the pizza was cooking....
add pesto, tomatoes, goat cheese, mozzarella, and cook on 425 for about 15 minutes.
I make my crust super thin....so you might have to adjust the cooking time...
After it's done I cut my corn off the cob and added it along with fresh basil to the pizza!
Oh and don't forget sea salt and fresh cracked pepper:)

Have I mentioned that pizza and I are BEST FRIENDS?!?!!
At least this is a healthy option!

I was doing the South Beach thing for a minute...but I was having a terrible time with energy on my rides.....so I have added healthy carbs back:)
Much better!!!
But I am logging my food on FitDay again....I really have a hard time when I start to really bump up my riding because I am HUNGRY all the time:) :) So that's where FitDay comes in handy!! I "TRY" and keep check on my calories.
This summer is proving much more difficult to lose a couple lbs!If I can't get it together soon I am going to talk to someone who knows much more than me about nutrition.....that is if she still works at the gym I used to go to!
Owell.....I guess I can at least be thankful that I have a strong healthy body that allows me to be super active!!!!
Life's not perfect and i'm not perfect.....but I am happy:) :)


Well speaking of bumping up my riding......
I have at this point decided to train for the 100 mile bike ride!!!
Remember last year I did 75 miles.....
Now... it will all depend on the weather that day....but I have written out a sort of training plan and have decided to just go for it:)
I'll keep you posted!
Plus I am still doing the ChaLEAN workouts after my rides....
Have I mentioned that I love to workout!!!!!!!!! I love it!!!!!
It makes me feel like a million bucks.....even if I still have a little cellulite on my thighs!!

Here's a little ride I did this week......25 miles in 1 hour and 35 minutes!! I thought that was pretty good!!! It came out to be almost 16 mph ....if my math is correct!! I am so much stronger this year for some reason....but truly I think it's the ChaLEAN workouts!!!!

Get out there and do a little something fitnessish...I promise you'll feel GREAT!!!!

OK and now a super simple craft...if you have a saw:)
We have tons of lumber just sitting in our basement from this project or that project,
I've seen those super cute vintage buoys all over the web and thought that it couldn't be that difficult to whip some up!!

turns out....not difficult at all!!!
Just get some 4x4's and cut them to whatever sizes you like....nip off the tops and drill a hole for the rope.
Paint them and then scuff um all up!!!!
I love them!! and I think they would make super cute hostess gifts for all your beachy friends:) :)

What do you think???
I sure hope you enjoy your holiday weekend!!!!!
Take care~

"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world." ~Ada Louise Huxtable

{The Ride}

Good evening all~
WooHoo....
I did the Apple Cider this morning and it was FABULOUS:)

I started the morning looking like this...

Dare I say excited to ride~

all full of excitement and anticipation~

Little did I know what the winds would have in store for me:)

There were so many riders everywhere that it was hard not to be inspired and happy!

Except you had to wait a long time to use tinkle town~My friend and I rode together for the first 50 miles...You remember her from last year:) The sag stops were wonderful and just full of happy riders ready for a little fueling. I ate more bananas than I knew what to do with....but they kept me going~
The ride was just wonderful! There were so many vineyards that I passed. The air just smelled of sweet grapes! Perfect since I was definitely looking forward to some vino after the ride!Me at the end. I don't think I could have been anymore proud of myself~All in all I did just over 76 miles....
in 5 hours and 20 minutes......burning a smooth 2500 calories!And that was with thigh burning hills the whole way after mile 26 and gail force winds. OK...they weren't gail force winds but they felt like it:)

I have to be honest that it's not the 100 miles that I really wanted but after last weeks 50 mile ride I knew I hadn't put in enough long rides to really be ready for 100. And that's ok!

People had asked me what I was doing this for...was I raising money for something....

NO....this was ALL for me. It was a very personal goal. Other goals are great too....but this was MY goal.

Six years ago this September my grandfather (who was the only father I had ever known) died suddenly and since then I really lost myself. I just didn't realize it until about 2 years ago. I realized that I was no longer doing all of the things that I really loved. Crafting, running, reading, just being happy. I really gained weight during this time and just didn't feel right with me. Two years ago I started on my journey to being happy again. I started crafting and began exercising again. BUT I still wasn't really happy with me. This year I decided to really get things in order ..... get healthy, become super active and be the person I know I always was and am. So I really started to focus on this ride and put all of my energy into it. This lead me into really thinking about what I was putting into my body and how that helped or hurt my riding. The more I learned and did, the better I felt and so the more I learned and did. It was really like a snowball effect for me:) I still have a ways to go.....but I know I am now on the right path again!! And that feels so good~ It has taken a long time and hope that anyone who has lost a loved one might give themselves a break for a little while.....but then realize that they can pick themselves up again....

Life does go on and it should:) Life is a journey and you never know where it's going to take you so as my friend says "buy the ticket and enjoy the ride."

Thanks for letting me share:)

So after all this riding, I cleaned up as best I could without a shower..... And ended up at The Stray Dog, where they still had the upstairs patio open!! YIPPEE~

I was tired and a little stinky but I didn't care.
I got my vino and pizza! Vegan, of course~

I also got to see how proud my honey was of me! Who knows maybe i'll inspire another rider. {hint hint, honey}

Just remember...no matter where life takes you, through all of the ups and downs, just remember it truly is a journey! There would be no ups if there weren't downs! So enjoy all that life has to offer and go out there and go after something that you really want! You won't be dissappointed...even if you don't meet your exact goal! Ok .... I am off to bed now! Have a super happy week:)

{Night before my Ride}

It's the night before my long anticipated ride!! I can't wait:)

The weather looks like it will hold out until i'm done!!
I hope to be on the rode a little before 8 am and done by 1pm.....we'll see~

I ate lots of super healthy food today so that I might not get so hungry tomorrow. I have found when riding that if I eat a lot the day before a long ride I do much better. So I made this tasty vegan wrap for lunch~

sprouted grain wrap
vegan tofu chicken steak
avacado
sprouts
heirloom tomatoes
mini-peppers
mustard
It was so delicious and filling:)
Then for dinner I made roasted root vegetables~I used vegetables that I have never tried before
turnips
beets
purple potatoes

And it was SOOOOO good!! Sometimes that's why you just have to go out on a limb and try something new:)
It also had....
yellow onion
mini portobello mushrooms
brussel sprouts
one whole garlic clove {split apart}
fennel
carrots
I just put a little of the organic apple juice in a pan and roasted them on 400 for an hour!
I cannot believe how good and filling these were!! I also put a little sea salt and white pepper on when they were done!Not a great picture but you get the idea:) Plus I had another wrap!! I think I should be nice a fueled for tomorrow~
In case I am not....
I have plenty of these~
WOOHOO....wish me luck:)

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." Tommy Lasorda

{Fresh Friday}

Well here it is FRIDAY!! Now that I am back to school I can really appreciate Friday's.
T.G.I.F.

This week's Fresh Friday is so yummy and fresh! I just love it!
Please feel free to participate in Fresh Friday's....just grab my button (that I painstakingly created over the course of about 4 hours:-)} and post a recipe that's yummy and fresh! Oh and try and make sure it's healthy. Let me know that you posted and I will try and check it out! That's the point....to share great recipes and to get ideas from one another.

Meet Arugula.......

Black River Organic Farm
I love arugula ... it's spicy and completely delicious!
I whipped up this tasty salad and thought I would be fabulous on a bed of arugula. It was!

For the salad
fennel
English cucumbers
cantaloupe
feta
mint
For the dressing
stone ground mustard
red wine vinegar
honey
lime
I don't usually have exact measurements {unless I am using a recipe} because I just throw things together until they taste good:-)
YUM-O
You could enjoy it as a light summer snack or like I did as part of my whole meal!

Cantaloupe Salad atop Arugula
Feta Caprese Salad
Spicy Black Bean Burger on Low-carb bread

Well hope you have a happy and healthy weekend!!

Oh and in case your wondering about the riding.....
Last Saturday morning I rode 34 miles in...
2 hours and nine minutes....Not too bad I think!!!! Plus I have been riding so much that it barely raises my heart rate anymore:-) When I run my average heart rate is much higher and so I think my body is just super used to riding now! And that heart rate is even with some pretty good sized hills! Oh and I burned over 1000 calories!

I am definitely getting closer to my goal! The ride is coming up real soon and I am hoping the weather holds out! You never know what you're going to get around here and I know I'd never make 75 or 100 miles in the freezing cold or pouring rain! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

{riding}

As you know...I have been starting to ride alot! I am up to 20 miles on my long rides and last time my friend and I went we shaved 10 minutes off our ride!!! I was so proud! I am working towards riding a century in September so every little bit counts!
I love being active and have found riding to be especially fun! Last time we saw deer, heard a Pileated Woodpecker and passed some awesome homes along the Lake Michigan shoreline!

This year I finally broke down and bought a new bike! My old bike was just not made for road riding! Can you believe it....even my bike is blue!! I am blue obsessed!! It's a Cannondale....mostly because my last bike was a Cannondale and I was really happy with it!!

And here is my gear~Mostly hand-me-downs except for the gloves~ The glasses are my husband safety glasses!! Hey they work fine!

But I find myself daydreaming of upgrading some of my gear/clothes. Here is what I have found!

Super cute blue gloves!! Very important to keep your hands from going numb on the long rides!
Nice helmet in my favorite colors!!

And of course the clothing!!
The possibilities are endless! And there are lots of options in my favorite color!!!

A cute bag to store your snacks in! You definately need snacks I am learning! I have hit the wall on more than one occasion~Cute little socks~

I definately love the socks!! Plus they fit more into my budget!! Right now I get my workout clothes from Walmart!! But I think it's important to buy a few new things here and there for your sport! It helps keep you motivated and looin' good!!!!

The best parts of my new favorite song~

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, Leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last dayAnd tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?.........

Every second counts 'cause there's no second try,
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life.......

You know it's never too late
To shoot for the stars,
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'cause you can't rewind
A moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
'cause the hands of time
Are never on your side

Nickelback

Get out there and do the things you really love~