Thank you Pinterest!

Pinterest, you dark horse. I thought you'd be something I could just browse and have fun with. Not so. You force me to make things. So many things. You've forced me to stop saying, "I'm not really creative" because no will believe me anymore. I've ripped off so many ideas from you that I've officially become a "crafter". I've made things to wear, gifts of all sorts, decorations galore... I've even made my own dishwashing detergent. Below are some of the things I have made after pinning my face off. Enjoy.

Mustaches on a stick. My kids pretend they're French when they're wearing them.

Fabric scrap flowers. This one was glued to a pin and stuck on this onesie for my great niece.

More fabric flowers. Some are glued to barrettes and some to pins. It's a multi use craft.

A mustache on a pin. I gave it to my great niece to stick on a onesie.

Mustache binkies. So help me...

A binkie in use on my great niece.

Multi use piece of fabric. Cut some arm holes and use it as a vesty thingy or twirl it up and use it for a scarf.

Another shot of the fabric thingy.

Washers stamped with metal alphabet stamps. This one didn't turn out so well, but I've made others and they're adorbs.

I even learned how to carve my own rubber stamp. Seriously.

We recently had my mom's 60th birthday party and it was a Pinterest spectacular. I can hardly contain my creativity, or your creativity, as the case may be.

Peace out and happy pinning!

Heidi

Fit as Fiddles

I always intended to raise my kids to be interested in physical activity and exercise. Obviously the most important way to do this, as a parent, is by example. I've always been interested in exercise and nutrition and have done races in some form or other since I was a teenager. There's something so exciting and positive in a race atmosphere. Everyone is there for the same purpose; to stay fit and compete in a positive way.

Recently Steve and I did Slam the Dam in Lake Mead. We did this race last year when Steve was very very sick (he emptied 4.7 million oz. of phlegm into the lake). Our times weren't stellar but I was really proud because of how sick Steve was and that he finished his first open water race regardless of this.

This year Steve tore his ACL two months before the race. Honestly. His doctor didn't know if he'd be ready to do a race so soon after his surgery. He was verboten from entering the water on his own (people get a little crazy on entry and he didn't want him knocked over) and he had to be very careful with his kick in case of re injury.

In addition to Steve's drama, I had a little ambulance ride and a stay in the emergency room about a month before the race due to anaphylactic shock brought on by some herbs I took. So lame. It derailed my training quite a bit as I kept having symptoms for a week until the herbs were completely out of my system.

Long story (slightly) short, both finished the race. Huzzah! Steve beat his time from last year by 8 minutes and I beat mine by 4. Still not fabbity fab but it was defo an improvement and we're vair vair and thrice vair happy.

We forgot to take any pictures of the race so the above is one lifted from the Slam the Dam website. I want to thank my dad for rowing for us to keep us safe. He was my original example of staying fit and has participated in many of the same races as me as well as rowing in this one for us. Go dad!

Will has been asking us all year if he can run in a race. This summer was a bit of a fiasco because of Steve's knee. I don't really run anymore because of a back injury. However, since he wanted it so badly, we knew we'd have to find a way to do it.

We found the SoJo Marathon and Half Marathon which had a kids race (1/2 mile!) and knew we'd found our race ;). Will was so excited and Lizzy decided she wanted to race too. I wasn't too keen on Lizzy racing because she tends to cry when she does something she thinks is hard and she's mildly (read: huge understatement) lazy. Whatevs. We signed them both up the night before the race.

Race morning was very exciting. They got their best running clothes and shoes on and we headed out to the park. Will was very nervous because he "thought he would do something wrong" and Lizzy promised not to cry ;).

Walking across the parking lot to the race start

Getting out pre-race nerves...

At the start. I know I'm partial but how cute are these two?!

AND THEY'RE OFF!

They both took off like shots. It was so cute. The excitement was palpable. At about the halfway mark, they both got winded and said their "hearts hurt". The drama with these two is a bit over the top. I tried to keep them positive by telling them we were almost there and then we rounded a corner where people were cheering and they knew they could finish. When we saw Steve and my dad cheering us on, they took of like the wind again and rounded the corner to the finish.

After passing the "half Tardis-es" (Lizzy's term), we were in the home stretch ;)

They were SO proud of themselves. I got a bit teary watching them. Even though this race distance was small, they had accomplished something huge for them

All done and posing for Steve. Look at their proud little faces.

They both got blue ribbons (which, if you ask them, means they won), water and ice cream sandwiches, and swag bags with water bottles and fanny packs. They thought that was the bee's knees. They also both kept talking about it all day, showcasing their pride. Cute little bugs.

I'm so proud of Steve and my little doodles for accomplishing their goals. Steve had to work hard to get in shape for his race after his knee injury and these two finished their first race and won! I really hope we can keep this up throughout their lives. Exercise keeps me happy and healthy and has prevented me from falling into the sedentary trap that so many people with chronic injuries fall into. I'm so happy for the example of fitness in my life and will continue to be an example for my family. Viva la fitness!

Peace out,

Heidi

First Days

Will and Lizzy both went back to school recently. Will to first grade and Lizzy to her second year of preschool. Will was so excited to start first grade because he wanted to eat lunch at the cafeteria (with lunch from home since he refuses to eat school lunch) and he was going to be beginning the Mandarin Immersion program. Half his day is in English and half in Chinese. He loves it and it's so cute to hear him counting etc, in Chinese.

Lizzy nearly died of excitement when school started again for her. She ran right in and gave her teacher a hug. She isn't afraid of anything and has zero anxiety about school.

Will's first day was hard for me. He seems so little to be away from me all day. They gave all the first graders a "sixth grade helper" to make sure they got to lunch and had a fun time at recess. He wasn't afraid at all, which is good because we've been dealing with some anxiety with him over the summer.

All in all, back to school has been a fabulous time. I get 3 days a week where I don't have any kids for 2 hours. What the WHAT?! It's zing. I've been able to FINALLY get up to the reservoir and swim. Huzzah!

Waiting in line to go into the school.

Heading in!

Riding home (his new fabulous big boy adventure).

Lizzy "smiling" outside the school.

Lizzy with her teacher, Mrs. Hawes, finding her spot at the table.

Peace out,

Heidi

Knittin'

These are my fave.

Pattern: French Press Felted Slippers by French Press Knits

Yarn: Cascade 220 doubled

Needles: US #15

Buttons: French! Bought on Portobello Road. You can't tell from the piccy but they're blue.

Peace out,

Heidi

Oh Those Royals!

You will NOT believe the amazing time I had in London. If you think the Royals are naff or that the wedding got too much publicity, stop reading now. I'll only annoy you. In my opinion, I'm thrilled and delighted that something positive got so much attention. GO ROYAL FAMILY!!! I love them, always have, always will.

We arrived the day before the wedding (crazy town), and were so productive on this trip I can hardly believe it. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I put it down to the Melatonin I took before my flight which I'm convinced reset my internal clock. I've never in my life slept on a plane and while I didn't sleep much, it was enough so that I was alive and kicking when we got to London. Who knew?

Okay, from this point on I'm going to only write down what I put in my notes everyday on the trip. I've been postponing this trip for way too long and must just get on with it. These notes are exactly as written on my iPhone so bear with me ;).

Highlights of London Day 1:

@Actually slept on plane

On the Heathrow Express. A bit punchy, perhaps.

@Had trouble getting oyster so tube guy let us through for free to get them at the next station

@Went to Cafe Diana. Amazing, as usual

Cafe Diana, if you didn't guess.

On the street where I lived :).

@Went to British Museum and were chucked out right after we saw the Lindow Man

Liz and I in a phone box outside the British Museum.

@Had dinner at Da Mario. Delish

@Went to scope out places for the wedding. Saw Westminster Abbey and Big Ben at night. Lovely

Big Ben. Obvi.

I really don't know what these people were on about. They lined the streets on the way to the Abbey. Lame.

3 guesses...

Press box across the street from the Abbey.

@Bed. Slept horribly

Highlights of London Day 2:

@Got up at 4am for the wedding. We were two rows back right across the street from the entrance of the abbey. Got unbelievable views of everyone. Stood in line for 6.5 hours until the end of the wedding. Cried during vows and singing of God Save the Queen.

Us. All chipper at 5am and before we made the mad dash to the barricade.

Some die hards. I'm sure they slept out. Duh. We got a zing spot and didn't even show up until 5 ;).

Some of the crowd.

I really don't know what was going on here. He was wearing festive women's shoes too!

Setting up the barricades.

Some of the crowd. Again. And a cool view.

Snipers on top of a building. They were everywhere.

The big guns coming in. Lots of luck to anyone who wanted to disturb the peace.

Cute Elton John and David Furnish.

The Beckhams. She didn't crack a smile and he looked dashing, as ever.

Tragedy on film. I couldn't see above my head to get this shot and my camera focused on the wrong person. Saddest picture ever taken.

The cute Queen and Prince Phillip.

The parents.

Don't look so chipper now, do we?

A very small portion of the mess that was left by the crowd. PIGS.

@Went back to hotel for nap.

@Walked through Hyde Park. So lovely.

@Dinner at Wagamama.

@Had a yummy crisp McFlurry

@Attempted to go on the Eye. Closed.

@Hot horribly naff souvenirs from tacky shop. Including light up crystal key chain with Will and Kate on.

@Bed. Slept like a rock.

Highlights of London Day 3:

@Weather was perfection

@Went to Portobello Road and shopped our guts out. Bought Steve's bocce ball and my Wedgewood and old books. Backpack and bocce ball were so heavy we had to drop them off at hotel. Shoulders permanently bruised.

@Went to St. Paul's Cathedral. Didn't make it to the top but heard a bit of evensong. Bought craploads in gift shop.

So lovely.

They really have the most beautiful trees during the springtime.

Gingko tree in front of St. Paul's.

@Got lost going to the tkts booth in Leicester Square and again going to Picadilly Circus.

It was chaos... that's my excuse for why we got lost ;).

@Ate at Noura, a Lebanese resty for dinner.

@Went to The 39 Steps.

@Back to hotel and the cute concierge helped us look the the time for church. He let us behind the desk to search for ourselves. Cute old fella.

Highlights of London Day 4:

@Woke up at 4:50 due to snoring and heat. In London.

@Tried to go to church. Fail. We were late and it was the Brittania Ward (singles). Lame.

@Tried to go to Harrods. Fail. We were too early.

@Wen to the iconic British coffee house Starbucks for hot chocolate. Lame.

@Went over to Pret a Manger for a yummy sammy of egg mayonaise. So basically, eating.

@Finally National Gallery. Huzzah. Good times.

The Lion in Trafalgar Square. There always seems to be some sort of "non violent" protest there. They turn violent.

@Back over to Buckingham Palace and palace shop.

Walking through Green Park.

Why, I ask you, do we not have parks like this here?

Buckingham Palace.

@Went to tea at the Orangery and almost didn't make it. So good. And fun.

@Walked back to Lancaster Gate and nearly died of exhaustion. Stayed in and packed up and changed rooms because we were in a smoking room. Son of a ... Did FaceTime with Steve and kids.

Highlights of London Day 5:

@Got up and headed to the Tower. Monument stop closed so we walked from Bank. Not far. Saw Gracechurch Street (in Cheapside...).

If you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, you'll know the reference to Gracechurch Street.

@Tower was amazing. Beefeater completely fantastic. Said "innit" and "biggin' it up".

The Tower.

The Beefeater. Turns out, he was a bit of a perv (as evidenced by a picture taken later), but still entertaining and very knowledgable.

One of the Yeoman Warder's houses at the Tower. Lucky suckers.

@Saw Fit for a King exhibit. Great stuff.

Nice Henry, really nice.

@Got on boat to Westminster. Having a great day so far but no food.

Just outside the Tower on our way to the boat.

@Had a sammy at Cafe Nero (mature cheddar and pickle).

@Went to Westminster Abbey but there was a 2 hour line. Really. Went to gift shop and bought naff wedding postcards and a coin.

This was our spot for the wedding. I know it well as I stood there for 6.5 hours with half of England.

I so wish we'd had time to wait in line to get in. Lame.

Just faffing about on the tube.

@Had dinner at Jamie's Italian. Delish. During dinner I ran over to Covent Garden Market to get Thorntons toffee for Steve.

Mary, Liz and Suzie in front of Jamie's Italian. So cute.

@At Billy Elliot.

Highlights of London Day 6:

@Forced everyone to meet in the lobby at 7:30 to go to brekky at St. Martin in the Fields. Had a full English.

@Went back over to St. Paul's for ma pilla (pillow I wanted so badly). Yes, I caved and spent 68 pounds for a pilla.

@Went over to Bond Street for some last minute shopping. Bought souvenir-y things for the kids.

@Back to hotel and mom and I tired to use Barclay's Bank bikes but we didn't have our cards and found out later that they were broken. Went for a walk in Kensington Gardens, saw Peter Pan statue and took some amazing pictures.

Self explanatory.

Lovely flowers.

Really lovely flowers.

I love these

Pete.

@Went back, hauled luggage to Paddington and hopped on the Heathrow Express. Made it to airport in plenty of time to have a bit of lunch at Pret a Manger (are you seeing a pattern here?). Again. Got cheese and butter this time.

Our tube stop. SO small.

@Flight is taking forever but I knit a hat (improvised due to lack of proper needles). Almost in Chicago.

Well, that abridged version took much longer than I thought. The kids are killing each other as I write.

Peace out.

Heidi