And then, I became a bad-ass

Ms. J and I ran a 5k on Sunday morning...

Photo from J's instagram

along the lakefront, in 14 degree weather, while it was snowing.  I am claiming official bad-ass status for myself now. J's husband, also pictured above, ran the 10k, which means he's basically twice as awesome.

To top it all off, I got a PR time, beating my previous best time by about half a minute. Hey, when it's really freaking cold, you move faster!  Apart from undertaking this feat of insanity/athletic excellence, I've spent my entire weekend knitting, spinning, and frantically watching episodes of the West Wing before I have to return to a regular weekday schedule of doing massive amounts of academic work.

I think I've finished enough knitting to put together a few posts this week - keep your peelies peeled!

SNOW

I went outside this morning, and suddenly it was actually winter!

I sent my brother in California (which is apparently just balmy right now) a picture of a snow covered play structure. His response was EW, but I think it's pretty. Thank goodness I'm on a kick of finishing up all my current projects, so there will be plenty of new, warm knitted accessories to wear in all this fluffy snow.

November wish list: running!

My running team did such a great job during last weekend's 5k.  I'm really proud of the fact that we've made this commitment to sign up for races and train together.  Two of us got personal record (PR) times, and the third ran gloriously while recovering from a nasty cold.  We've all peer pressured each other - in a friendly way, of course - into signing up for an 8k in December, which means we'll also be keeping each other accountable until then by meeting up for morning run times at the gym and weekend run times outside.  Isn't it nice to have friends who help you keep up with healthy habits?

Usually when it gets to be below 45F, I stop running outside entirely, but these ladies have some fancy cold-weather running gear and, most importantly, good attitudes, so I have promised myself I will stick with the outdoor running at least until the 8k is over.  Plus the gym gets overheated and gross-smelling, which does not happen on the windy lakefront path.

To get myself motivated, I've put together a small cold-weather wish list full of items that, in my dream life, would really help me keep going. It's lots of fun to imagine having the funds to stock my little workout gear cupboard with all these items!

C9 by Champion women's running tights (Target) // $27.99

Lululemon Run: Swiftly Turtleneck in black (Lululemon) // $78

Reflective Run Beanie (Athleta) // $24

Women's PhD Run Ultra Light Mini socks (Smartwool) // $15.95

Are you a runner, or do you otherwise exercise outdoors in very cold weather? What kinds of equipment do you rely on? I'd love to read your suggestions in the comments.

Spun to finished: Unicorn Barf

This is my favorite type of post to do! I love the process of taking some lovely, dyed fiber and turning it into a finished product.  Every step is fun, from the spinning to the thwacking (maybe especially the thwacking) to the knitting and finishing and modeling and photographing.


The fiber: Girls Like Boys Like Fiber in Gimme Gumballs

The yarn: thick and thin single, spun to keep fairly long lengths of single colors for striping.

The pattern: Stockinette hat with a 1x1 twisted rib brim, slightly slouchy

The final product: Tada!

10 Things, vol 36

10 Things is my weekly list of things that are making me smile right now. Please share your own grin-inducing items and events in the comments!

1. holiday parties with wonderful friends

2. lots of books to read

3. small gifts from thoughtful people

4. tiramisu cupcakes, take 2 (these are so delicious, I can't even tell you)

5. packing up to go home

6. snow!

7. simple ribbed socks on the needles

8. a large pile of clothes to donate, including a warm winter coat

9. adding the first events of 2012 to my calendar

10. lessons learned and knowledge applied

Happy birthday to me!

Today I am 28, and my plans for the rest of the afternoon look a little something like this:

The fiber is my birthday present to myself from Girls Like Boys Like Fiber; it's Polwarth (can't decide between this and alpaca for favorite spinning fiber), and the colorway is called Gimme Gumballs. The Misti Alpaca I shared the other day is a hat in progress, which may still turn into socks in progress. Storm of Swords probably needs no introduction. I'll just say "It's my party, and I'll cry [over fictional characters] if I want to."

Tonight will be drinks out with some good friends to celebrate.

Tree decorating

My mini tree needed some mini decorations, and these mushroom birds I purchased at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago are just about right.

Thanks to my sweet friend P. who knew that my family followed the pickle ornament tradition, after last night's knit night I now have my very own pickle for my tree. It looks fab, right?

At some point later this week, I'd like to set aside a couple of hours for more crafty-type ornaments, like crocheted snowflakes and mini sweaters.  What's decorating your tree or your house this holiday season?

It's so funny to me that when I'm not actively working on a colorwork knitting project I can somehow convince myself that stranded knitting is difficult or time consuming, but then the instant I cast on for the Chrysanthemums I experienced a little surge of "hooray, colorwork!" type joy. I knit the picot cuff yesterday, and this morning I finally tucked into the 2-color part.

Here is my progress so far.

In other news, I had an epic adventure yesterday when picking up a Christmas tree. I went to two different lots in the hopes of finding a small (say 3 foot tall) tree, and instead I ended up carrying this monster of a pine 7 blocks in one hand. And yes, it is nearly as tall as I am.

This is proof that I am strong and ridiculous, no? I kept giggling the whole time I was walking home, because the phrase, "I LOVE CHRISTMAS" kept repeating over and over in my head in an extremely angry and determined voice. Too funny! 

While the tree now has lights, there is a decided shortage of Christmas tree ornaments and tree skirts in my house, because this is the first real tree I've ever purchased for myself.  As soon as that's remedied, I'll be sure to post some photos of the finished product all lit up and pretty.
Hope you're having an enjoyable weekend filled with crafting and adventures, too!

Friday: Link Love

Happy Friday, friends! I spent today in a semi-exhausted stupor, but it was a pretty pleasant day anyway.  I'm so excited for the weekend, for some time to knit, read, and watch movies, plus I am determined to get myself a little Christmas tree, and I'm maybe going to head downtown to get myself some yarn for making a Christmas present that I just thought of yesterday. I hope you have exciting plans, too!

***Just one link this week, the post that officially sparked my holiday spirit:
'Tis the Season over on Katie's Pencil Box (lovely blog if you haven't visited yet).

Etsy Monday: gifts for students

The next few Etsy Monday posts will be holiday gift guides for some of my favorite groups of people.  I'm starting with students, because we could use a little bit of love now that we're approaching the end of the term and a (hopefully) wonderful winter break.

*** What student doesn't need a classy desk calendar for her study space? I might also have been swayed by the stack of pretty books and knitted goods in the left-hand corner of this photo, $17.

Ruby Red Design Studio shop

*** I like this zippered pencil case in notebook fabric (and many other cute cases in this shop) for holding important writing utensils, or maybe some knitting needles, $32.

Montclair Made shop

*** "I Rule the World" personalized necklace, $20. For the stylish art, design, or math student.

Organic Rust Creation shop

*** Heartfox handprinted small notebook for recording secret plans and brilliant ideas, $12.50.

SiebenMorgen shop

*** While lounging at home and procrastinating by watching tv or reading novels, students might like to use a Professor Lion silk-screened pillow, $45.

Utilitarian Franchise shop

*** If you really want to splurge, what about a handmade leather messenger bag? Just the right size for notebooks and textbooks, plus a mid-afternoon snack, $79.

Tierra Linda Dry Goods shop

If you don't know any other students who might need these lovely items, feel free to mail them right to me!

What is your favorite type of school supply? Anything from your school days that you still like to use in everyday life?