I did a 7.7 mile ride the other day and noticed my front tire was wobbling back and forth. Not a good thing when you are going 26 mph down a hill. I love going fast down hills but my handling skills are the worst and I figure crashing at 26 mph would NOT be cool. I don't need another 7 week concussion and then add road rash on top of it. I got her home and she needs her tension spokes adjusted. I don't have the tool to do it and she'll get taken in next week.
I wasn't sick this ride and my energy wasn't drained even as the day went by. The thyroid medication has been amazing and this is the best I've felt in years. I still ended up with a splitting headache in the middle of the night, but it was a great ride. The day was gorgeous, wind was perfect and the ride smooth. I'm really hoping I can do the Heatstroke 100 in August. I won't make 100 miles but I'm shooting for the 30 mile trip.
Still wishing for a mountain bike but it's not going to happen. The one thing I've learned is not to ride a bike you can't afford. Bikes are overpriced anyway, but a 2000 dollar bike is so much better than an 800 dollar one. I can't afford an 800 dollar one so I can't worry about that either. I'd love a Specialized Rockhopper, Crave or the women's Jett. Maybe once the kids are out of school I can start saving. I need to stay off of CL as well.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Graphic 45 "Home Sweet Home" Recipe Book
I finally finished this today! I love this paper even though it's not "me". It's bright, cheery and reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen. I can smell the bread baking and my grandmother singing from this paper.
My grandmother could do anything. She sang, played piano and organ, danced and made the best out of every situation. She worked hard all her life but knew how to laugh and have fun. She let me help make bread, can the vegetables, snap peas out on the porch, and help take care of my grandpa by bringing him sandwiches when he came in from the farm. I helped her with the laundry outside like the lady on the front cover. I was scared of the cows especially after my sister was bitten by one. My grandfather was up early to milk the cows and gone all day so helping with lunch was a treat. He was a mechanic and farmer and I love the smell of grease even to this day.
I don't know how she kept her house immaculately clean with everyone going in and out all day and always looked like she was ready to go some place nice. Maybe because she didn't have all the distractions of today's life style. She wasn't perfect. She yelled at my brother for breaking her organ bench and the ugly lamp he broke with it and she was hopping mad. My grandpa said he was glad he did as he detested that lamp and wished he could have broken it first. It was pretty ugly, but she loved it.
The book was done with Ginger's tutorial over at "My Sisters Scrapper" YouTube channel on her Christmas album. The recipe cards are my own design off of Silhouette Design Studio software. I searched for vintage looking cards but nothing came up that I loved. Graphic 45 does have Ephemera cards with recipes in a package when I asked if they had recipe cards.
I used two paper pads do make this album and have some left over.
The cover:
Page 1:
I put my mom's "No Bake Cookie" recipe in so I wouldn't lose it. I accidentally tossed it and couldn't find the same one on the internet. Most of them had peanut butter included and this doesn't. When I asked where she got it, she said she'd had the recipe since high school. It belongs in this book for sure then.
Page 2:
I added recipe cards in the first pocket and then on the large page. I haven't figured out how to keep the card in and if I glued it down, you couldn't take it out. I'll figure this one out. Had I thought about it, I would have done the same thing with the front and back page.
Page 3:
Page 4:
Page 5:
Back of book:
My grandmother could do anything. She sang, played piano and organ, danced and made the best out of every situation. She worked hard all her life but knew how to laugh and have fun. She let me help make bread, can the vegetables, snap peas out on the porch, and help take care of my grandpa by bringing him sandwiches when he came in from the farm. I helped her with the laundry outside like the lady on the front cover. I was scared of the cows especially after my sister was bitten by one. My grandfather was up early to milk the cows and gone all day so helping with lunch was a treat. He was a mechanic and farmer and I love the smell of grease even to this day.
I don't know how she kept her house immaculately clean with everyone going in and out all day and always looked like she was ready to go some place nice. Maybe because she didn't have all the distractions of today's life style. She wasn't perfect. She yelled at my brother for breaking her organ bench and the ugly lamp he broke with it and she was hopping mad. My grandpa said he was glad he did as he detested that lamp and wished he could have broken it first. It was pretty ugly, but she loved it.
The book was done with Ginger's tutorial over at "My Sisters Scrapper" YouTube channel on her Christmas album. The recipe cards are my own design off of Silhouette Design Studio software. I searched for vintage looking cards but nothing came up that I loved. Graphic 45 does have Ephemera cards with recipes in a package when I asked if they had recipe cards.
I used two paper pads do make this album and have some left over.
The cover:
Page 1:
I put my mom's "No Bake Cookie" recipe in so I wouldn't lose it. I accidentally tossed it and couldn't find the same one on the internet. Most of them had peanut butter included and this doesn't. When I asked where she got it, she said she'd had the recipe since high school. It belongs in this book for sure then.
Page 2:
Page 3:
Page 4:
Page 5:
Back of book:
Thursday, March 05, 2015
Bike Bling
Wow. I can't believe how much better I am feeling after taking thyroid medication! Tomorrow is supposed to be perfect for cycling and I can't wait. First thing tomorrow is getting her cleaned up and ready for outside riding and then do 5 miles. I'll see how my energy goes since it fluctuates.
Sigh. Specialized, your pedals totally rock coming from crappy ones but purple would set my heart on fire. Turns out after a Google search a couple of companies make purple pedals but they were 120 dollars. Not happening this year.
Bike set up. Not even close to matching, but I ride rurally so who's gonna look?
I updated my Ridley with purple handlebar tape from Bontrager. Talk about amazing. Ridley put on crap tape and I should have done this months ago. LOVE the purple. I'll spend some time adjusting the stem tomorrow as well.
Sigh. Specialized, your pedals totally rock coming from crappy ones but purple would set my heart on fire. Turns out after a Google search a couple of companies make purple pedals but they were 120 dollars. Not happening this year.
Bike set up. Not even close to matching, but I ride rurally so who's gonna look?
Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" Journal
I bought Graphic 45's "Steampunk Spells" paper last week and knew my sister would LOVE it. She wanted a journal instead of an album and I've been working on it.
Journal measures 6.5x9.75. It started out with a Composition book that I took apart and realized after I punched holes with my Cinch that it wasn't going to work. I used the 8x8 pad for the cover. I cut out the lady, put the rose border around and used two cards and the stamps to cover the corners where the borders didn't meet.
Journal measures 6.5x9.75. It started out with a Composition book that I took apart and realized after I punched holes with my Cinch that it wasn't going to work. I used the 8x8 pad for the cover. I cut out the lady, put the rose border around and used two cards and the stamps to cover the corners where the borders didn't meet.
I made two insert pages using some ideas from Anne (xannero1) on her YouTube channel. The flap opens up.
Since she wanted a journal, I've been fussy cutting pieces of the paper and using a flourish stamp. I have a LONG way to go with filling up paper.
And for last: I made this ATC card using an idea from Pinterest. I don't have Graphic 45 tags so I just kept it simple.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Cycling Update
Didn't realize it had been so long since I've written anything. This is more of a cycling update so I'll keep it simple.
After being sick in December with a swollen neck, two weeks of antibiotics and visit to a neurologist, it turns out I have hypothyroidism. What blows my mind is that it took a neurologist to figure it out, order blood tests and get me on meds. I have talked to a regular doc for years about not having any energy, being exhausted, not able to ride/walk or run without feeling sick 10 minutes later. I was always freezing. I haven't progressed in mileage for 4 years and no one has taken it seriously.
I started meds about 3 weeks ago and am finally feeling a difference. It's like a huge fog has lifted and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. My energy is better. I'm not sleeping for so long. I feel "happy" if that makes sense. I don't feel as sick and I've been able to get back on a bike.
I did twenty minutes on a bike today. It doesn't seem like much of an achievement, but since December about 5 minutes was all I could do and have to get off. In fact I've been feeling so good I decided to treat myself to new bar tape, an adjustable stem and super nice platform pedals last Saturday.
Now for the shocker. After ripping off the bar tape and putting the stem on I realized how bad my handlebars and shifters where out of alignment. My jaw dropped. How could I not have noticed? After thinking about it, I figured it had been set up at the shop correctly after I went down a ravine. One shifter was higher than the other. The bar and shifters wasn't straight and centered and the left shifter had been twisted inward. My left shifter was also an inch further out than the right.
After a YouTube search I have my handlebar and shifters aligned correctly, the same distance apart and set up to how I ride. The twenty minute ride I did today was amazing without pain. My left arm not hurting and my feet pedaling more efficiently. Who knew an eighty dollar set of pedals would work wonders on my feet?
I can't wait to really start feeling better and get out and ride.
After being sick in December with a swollen neck, two weeks of antibiotics and visit to a neurologist, it turns out I have hypothyroidism. What blows my mind is that it took a neurologist to figure it out, order blood tests and get me on meds. I have talked to a regular doc for years about not having any energy, being exhausted, not able to ride/walk or run without feeling sick 10 minutes later. I was always freezing. I haven't progressed in mileage for 4 years and no one has taken it seriously.
I started meds about 3 weeks ago and am finally feeling a difference. It's like a huge fog has lifted and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. My energy is better. I'm not sleeping for so long. I feel "happy" if that makes sense. I don't feel as sick and I've been able to get back on a bike.
I did twenty minutes on a bike today. It doesn't seem like much of an achievement, but since December about 5 minutes was all I could do and have to get off. In fact I've been feeling so good I decided to treat myself to new bar tape, an adjustable stem and super nice platform pedals last Saturday.
Now for the shocker. After ripping off the bar tape and putting the stem on I realized how bad my handlebars and shifters where out of alignment. My jaw dropped. How could I not have noticed? After thinking about it, I figured it had been set up at the shop correctly after I went down a ravine. One shifter was higher than the other. The bar and shifters wasn't straight and centered and the left shifter had been twisted inward. My left shifter was also an inch further out than the right.
After a YouTube search I have my handlebar and shifters aligned correctly, the same distance apart and set up to how I ride. The twenty minute ride I did today was amazing without pain. My left arm not hurting and my feet pedaling more efficiently. Who knew an eighty dollar set of pedals would work wonders on my feet?
I can't wait to really start feeling better and get out and ride.
Thursday, January 01, 2015
Heartfelt Creations "Raindrops on Roses" Album
This is my first girly, frilly and over the top decorated mini album. This was SO much fun to make except for the glue gun. The tutorial is free from a lady named Shellie Geigle on YouTube. The paper is hard to find and I was happy to support her Ebay store to get the supplies needed. She left no waste and every page is gorgeous.
I've discovered I despise glue guns. I wanted to smack the computer as Shellie would take her glue gun and with ease glue down trim, ribbon, lace, pearls, flowers, and other items. I had glue everywhere but where it was supposed to go. It wouldn't come out evenly and by the end I've sworn never to use a glue gun again.
I made several changes as the metal glue she used made me gag and it wasn't working. I pulled out super glue and within a few seconds had the metal parts taken care of.
My flowers are Recollections from Michaels and the metal flowers are from JoAnn. The ribbon is from Tim Holtz and fell in love immediately with it.
The cover:
I added keys to my cover and changed the closure since I couldn't get the metal glue and gears to work. The key hole is from Tim Holtz as well. The keys are from Prima. And I did add the "Bling on a Roll" to the bottom of the paper once I realized I'd missed it.
I changed the spine and made it more intricate. It's probably overkill, but I figured I'd go out on this album. Brads are from Recollections. The punch is from Martha Stewart and has become one of my favorites.
Inside pages:
I changed this page to make use the metal butterflies.
This album is much easier to make than it looks as she used the paper in ways that they follow the different sizes. It's the stupid glue gun that killed me.
Graphic 45 "Raining Cats and Dogs" Gatefold Album
Well, it's a new year and I realized I hadn't written in months. I've been pretty busy doing mini albums and it takes time to make them.
I taught my first class in November. It was a LONG day. I'm not sure I like teaching but it was 20 people in a small room with different needs. I'm more of an individual helper and trying to help 20 people at various stages of the project was overwhelming.
I taught a class on PaperHoarderDisorder's Gatefold Box tutorial. You can purchase the tutorial and box from her Etsy store. Her tutorials are fast and easy. I used Graphic 45's "Raining Cats and Dogs" paper line. She's really great to work with and is super sweet as I purchased a one time class fee that was reasonable.
The top of the box:
Box open:
Pages:
I LOVE this paper line and should have bought more of it. Most of the ladies purchased Graphic 45's Christmas and "Time to Celebrate" paper to make the gatefold album.
I managed to make this in 3 days so I would have a demo project for everyone to look at before the class. The only thing I wish Graphic 45 had added was a Scotty Dog.
I taught my first class in November. It was a LONG day. I'm not sure I like teaching but it was 20 people in a small room with different needs. I'm more of an individual helper and trying to help 20 people at various stages of the project was overwhelming.
I taught a class on PaperHoarderDisorder's Gatefold Box tutorial. You can purchase the tutorial and box from her Etsy store. Her tutorials are fast and easy. I used Graphic 45's "Raining Cats and Dogs" paper line. She's really great to work with and is super sweet as I purchased a one time class fee that was reasonable.
The top of the box:
Box open:
Pages:
I LOVE this paper line and should have bought more of it. Most of the ladies purchased Graphic 45's Christmas and "Time to Celebrate" paper to make the gatefold album.
I managed to make this in 3 days so I would have a demo project for everyone to look at before the class. The only thing I wish Graphic 45 had added was a Scotty Dog.
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