Running

Woo Hoo!  I posted my best week yet last week, getting in a total of 18 miles.  Plus, with today’s short run, I have officially run 7 days in a row now.  I’m really starting to feel like I’m getting my running legs back.  At this rate, I do believe that I will be able to do the Gulf Beaches Holiday Halfathon in December without any trouble.  YAY!  I am so looking forward to it – I’ve been wanting that particular medal for a very long time.  :D

In other running news, don’t forget that I’m running the Race for the Cure 5k next weekend!  I’m running with a good friend that has newly returned to running, so we are not looking to break any PRs – we are going to get in a good run while hopefully getting some donations to help fight breast cancer.  Breast cancer did not take my mom’s life directly, but it did have a profound effect on her life and ultimately did have a bit do with her death in the end, in my opinion.  So the Race for the Cure is one that I love to run whenever I can.  If you’d like to help out, you can do so here – you can donate with credit card OR with Pay Pal.  :)

Knitting

I finished up the shrug that I was knitting for my office on Friday night.  I absolutely LOVE it!  It really turned out terrific, I think.  The pattern is simple & easy to understand – I love it because there is no seaming involved, you knit it in the round.  I definitely prefer that.  :)  The back turned out to be even prettier than I expected, too.

I cast on for another pair of socks, but I think I might back burner those.  I’m thinking I might knit up another pair for one of the manlets instead.  They love hand knit socks, so maybe I’ll start knitting up socks while they are at their father’s house – the holidays will be here before we know it!

What a fantastic weekend!

Normally I spend weekends on my own cleaning, running, knitting & watching movies or Doctor Who.  They are really relaxing & I definitely need this alone time to recharge my batteries.  This weekend, I ended up having a more social weekend than I normally do, though – and I loved it!  :)

Saturday I started off with a good long 6 mile run followed by a 1 mile walk.  Then I headed to a knitting friend’s house where we snacked, gabbed, knit & spun for much of the day.  From there, one of my knitting friends & I went out for dinner to the Pierogi Grill where we had pierogies for dinner – NOM!  We shared a platter of potato & cheese and saurkraut & mushroom pierogies and for dessert, we had cherry pierogies.  My favorites were definitely the potato & cheese, though.  Then we headed down to St. Pete Beach, where we watched the sunset & a terrific belly dancing show on the beach.  We missed out on a bit of the dancing as we ended up having a really good, in depth conversation.

Last night my friends from across the pond arrived in town, so I chatted a bit with them online, making arrangements for breakfast this morning.  I took them to one of the best breakfast places in this area – Skyway Jack’s.  We timed it well & only had to wait 5-10 minutes for a table.  We (I) were talking so much as we left, I totally forgot to snap pics of them with the giant chicken statue thing!!  Darn it!  LOL  After Jack’s, we popped over to my place so they could meet the much talked about Leonardo.  We sat & visited for awhile, but I had to get them back to their hotel so they could get ready for the Blink 182 concert tonight.  Jealous (eleventy)!  :)  It was so fantastic to finally meet in person a couple of online friends that I’ve talked to for so long now.  I’m so looking forward to knit night & happy hour with them.  :)

Today’s Ravelry Search

So speaking of holidays, one of my favorites is just around the corner!!  Sid – you’re going to love this set!  ;)

Now is a good time to get ready for it, so here are some ideas – as always, click the pics to get to the Ravelry pattern page.

OMB, these are SO cute! Pattern comes with directions for wrist warmers, leg warmers & a neck warmer.

I have some serious love for the designer that created this tarantula! AWESOME!

LOVE! I completely LOVE these!

* Cute little ghost! :)

* Candy Corn mittens! Candy Corn! Awesome.

* Fantastic. Just... fantastic socks!!

* ::giggling:: This is too cute! I love it!

Cool looking "Vintage Inspired Spider Scarf"!

* Awesome, it's a fellow Rubbernecker's pattern! I love coming across my online friends' designs unexpectedly. :D

Have I mentioned how much I love candy corn? No? How about how much I love candy corn inspired patterns? LOL

* Seriously cute beret.

Finger puppets! I adore the wizard.

WOW! Words cannot describe how much I love this mask. Incredible!

* I still love these socks. Always will!

* Frakensocks! Ingenius!! SO going into my faves.

* This one's for you, Mel! ;)

* Free pattern

Happy Sunday, all!