I have a new little niece who’s been really fun to sew for.  We are already indoctrinating her to her parent’s country lovin’ ways with a Rockin’ Baby Gown” made from an old George Strait concert T.  Unlike baby shoes, it’s super cute and practical at the same time.

(to “girlify” the pattern a bit, I added an upper puff piece to the sleeve)

Find the tutorial for the Rockin’ Baby Gown HERE.

The race is called Counting Coup. It’s 44+ miles and 8,000+ ft of elevation gain. Todd signed up for it before he decided to train for a half marathon challenge with his family. With next to no saddle time in the months leading up to the race, he waffled as whether to participate (at this point, “racing” was definitely out of the question).  I reminded him the race was payed for and it would at least be a good excuse to bike instead of run for a day.  So, he packed his bag, tuned up his bike at headed out to race like a lamb to the slaughter.

It was a torturous race that he ended by “breaking up” with his bike right after crossing the finish line.  Now, at more than a month later, I still don’t think they’ve reconciled.  At least we got to see him and snap a few photos when he was still in a “happy place” (only 3 hours into a 7+ hour race).

An upcoming baby shower for a super-hip mom friend inspired me to create a cute little tunic out of a sheet I picked up at Savers thrift store a few months ago.  I knew she’d appreciate the southwestern style.

To complete the look, I picked up some “matching” leggings at Gap.  Who knows if the tunic will ever fit right since I made it up as I went along, but it sure was cute in the box!

Hand dying Gerber pre-fold diapers is doable, but it’s not fun trying to get all the dye out of something whose job is to absorb as much liquid as possible.  That’s why when I saw the packages of colored Gerber pre-fold diapers, I snatched them up quick. Perfect for embellished, baby burp cloths.  Now I just need them to make more colors like brown, ivory, teal, olive and yellow.

The vintage jacquard trims are part of a mother load of awesomeness I scored a few months ago.  Perfect for a quick and easy baby gift with a homemade touch.

If you’d like to get your hands on the trim, I’ve listed some yardage in the “Raid My Stash” etsy shop: Southwestern & Mushroom

Putting aside the terrible pre-race music (Lisa Loeb and Faith Hill songs do not pump you up), Renegade Racing puts on an awesome off-road triathlon.  It’s a race I look forward to every year (2010 recap, 2011 recap).

I like to swim, but I do not like to swim with people kicking and clawing me which is why I’m always relieved when the swim is over.

1/2 Mile swim — 16:14

Leading up to the race, my poor mountain bike was sorely neglected.  Even so, i was able to cut 12 minutes off my time while dazzling people with my gunmetal Team Sparkle skirt and my awesome mountain bike skills (but mostly the skirt).

15 mile bike — 1:39:28

With a decent amount of trail running under my belt, I was far more prepared for the run than I’d ever been.  Even so, there were a few hills that tried to kill my spirit and made me question why I was even trying.  I hate that point in every race when the negative voices start to take over my thoughts.  Just in the nick of time, the uphills turned to downhills, my trusty New Balance Minimus trail shoes fiercely gripped the terrain and I was mentally back in the game for the final mile of the race.

3 mile trail run — 34:14 (cutting 8 minutes off last year’s time)

It was Elise’s first triathlon back after having the cutest baby 3 months earlier.  As much as I tried to keep up with her, I just couldn’t. She finished 2 minutes ahead of me, taking 2nd place in our division.  The girl is awesome.

Results

Final time: 2:33:54 – A 20 minute improvement on last year’s time!

3rd in my division.

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I can’t finish this race recap without mentioning the lizard.

Todd helped Brother catch a lizard who was moving terribly slow because of the cool morning air.  He was so excited about that lizard, he had to show it to everyone they passed by.

Todd told Brother he could keep it until I finished the race .  The kids couldn’t wait to show it to me.  As I passed them, only 100 feet from the finish, I didn’t hear “Go, Mommy, Go!”  I heard, “Look mom! We caught a lizard!!”

I know I’m always looking for a little bag to carry around my yarn projects so I thought my girlfriend, Kristy, as a New Yorker and avid subway knitter/crocheter might like one too.

I used a great piece of vintage fabric for the exterior and an even better piece of Michael Miller “Skulls and Knitting Needles” fabric for the lining.

Find the Truly Myrtle Box Bag tutorial HERE

I have an affinity for embroidered sweaters from the 70′s with motifs that usually include dogs, cats, mice and mushrooms. If you are lucky enough to find one for less than $20, grab it. I found this one at a local vintage shop for $19 so I swooped it right up.

To update the sweater, I replaced the sleeves with blouse sleeves I removed from a $2 thrift store purchase and the Frankensweater was born.

Princess was the only one who actually got a “new” piece of clothing for Easter. And by “new”, I mean a skirt made out of a thrifted and renewed sheet.  I used the Whirly Twirly Skirt pattern but changed the front to a flat waistband and and used an enclosed elastic waistband in the back.

The jacquard trim was one of my luckiest thrift store finds and it’s been sitting in my stash just begging to be used.  A waistband on a cheery Easter skirt seemed like the perfect place.

Homemade Easter Dresses from the past:

Vintage Sheet Dress# 1 2009 Vintage Sheet Dress #2 2009

Dresden Plate Quilt Top Easter Dresses 2010

Vintage Quilt top Easter Dresses 2012

I had planned on making new Easter dresses for the girls this year.  I really wanted to. But, there never seems to be enough time in the day to make everything I dream about making.  Luckily, Pumpkin was happy to wear the Easter dress I made for Princess a few years ago. “I’ve been waiting for that dress to finally fit me!” she exclaimed.

Homemade Easter Dresses from the past:

Vintage Sheet Dress# 1 2009 Vintage Sheet Dress #2 2009

Dresden Plate Quilt Top Easter Dresses 2010

Vintage Quilt top Easter Dresses 2012

This race was destined to be either my best race ever or my worst race ever.  Sure, I was in the middle of a raging UTI, but more importantly, race #2 of the OC Chili Trail Run Series fell on the morning of the funeral for Sweet Baby James. Being an emotional runner to begin with (there’s rarely a race where I don’t tear up at some point), I feared knowing I would have to run home immediately after the race to be on time for the funeral would cause emotions too hard to handle.  But if I was able to somehow harness the grief, the pain and the anger, maybe I could use it to push myself further, faster and harder.

The race felt good until mile 4.  That’s usually the time my mind starts to lose focus on this 5 mile race and my brain starts telling me it’s time to quit. I quickly tried to quiet the voices and turned my thoughts to Baby James and then to my own baby.  But of course, my chest started to tighten and tears began to well. I tried telling myself “you can do this for James” but it didn’t help. It was so hard to breathe. The small hill seemed insurmountable. I wasn’t sure I would make it. A wave of sadness started to envelope me.

Then all of a sudden, my thoughts turned to my friend Erin. I started thinking about how hard it must be for her to even breathe this morning, the morning she would have to say her final goodbye’s to her sweet baby.  I thought about how she must be wondering how she will get through this seemingly insurmountable day let alone the next week and month.  I thought about how a mother who loses a child must wonder how she will ever survive the heartache.

That’s when I realized I didn’t need to run this race for James, I needed to run it for Erin, because compared to what she was going through at this same moment, what I was going through was nothing.  I knew she would find her breath. I knew she would face this day (and many others) with courage and strength. I knew that even in those moments where she will feel like she will never survive, she will, because she is an extraordinary woman with faith, family and friends that won’t let her quit.

It was then that I found the strength through Erin and for Erin to finish the race strong and with a smile on my face (even passing a couple men in the last mile with a sweet “See ya at the finish!” as I went by).

It was neither my best race or my worst race (only 2 seconds slower than the first race in the series), but the entire day will definitely go down in history as one of the most emotionally challenging and memorable days of my life..

Finish Time (5 miles) : 40:10

Overall Finish: 23rd

Age Group Finish: 2nd