Auction!

Hopefully you remember the slouchy beret and burberry inspired cowl that I made way as my new winter accessories... I wore the slouchy beret almost daily and even when I wasn't going outside. It's just my absolute favorite hat ever. And that cowl? It's inspired by a Burberry Scarf featured in InStyle magazine that retailed for a whopping $750!!!

Let me refresh your memory:

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret


Burberry Inspired Cowl

the inspiration:


How would you like one of each of your very own???

Here's your chance!!! I have donated my knitting services to the winning bid over at Snap Crackle Pop. Jaclyn is hosting an auction in honor of her brother Joey's 21st birthday next week. All proceeds will be donated to Joey's school- Elim Christian School.

From Jaclyn's website: Illinois will let special needs kids attend high school until they are 21, so Joey’s got one more year. Even when he has graduated, however, the school will continue to serve as a special form of life support for families who need its teaching and guidance.

Please go take a look at all the fabulous items up for bid, and if it so moves you- please bid on my hand-knits. It may be one of the only chances you have to receive a custom knit by me!

The auction expires on Thursday 8/12 at 11:59pm.

Monday Already?

What a weekend! Some shopping (too! much! shopping!) some knitting, some friend time, some kick butt running, some relaxation, some basement progress... man I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Friday started off with work, obviously. And ended with us going to look at a new dryer. If we run our dryer it sounds like we are in a horror movie- think the shower scene from Psycho... only turn the decibles up a few notches and throw it on fast forward. It's time for a new one. It was a bit late though so we decided to wait till Sunday to make the final decision.

Saturday was a me day. Mr Buckeye headed up north for a post-wedding bachelor party. (Wrap your head around that one!) and I went out to the track to tackle my first long distance run. I pretty much set myself up to not have a great run. I waited till 11am when the sun was shining high in the sky, didn't eat any breakfast, and hadn't hydrated properly. But I did my 5 miles. 66 minutes and 53 seconds later I was finished. Not my best. But at least I know I did it. Sat evening was spent with the girls- who asked me to teach them to knit! I'm a proud mama when I say that BOTH! of them learned how to knit while the 2 year olds played nicely AND they both finished their first project on Sunday. I think they've caught the bug and I'm honored to be able to share the hobby I love. Plus, I was told I'm a good teacher so warm fuzzies all around!

Sunday was shopping... we bought the aforementioned dryer (the matching one to our washer) and that will be stacked on Wednesday. We also bought a new TV. The hubs won (and secretly I'm thrilled too) and we bought a new TV that will actually have a new home in the basement. We got an amazing deal so we couldn't pass it up. We also bought a blu-ray home theater system as well so we can movie watch with surround sound! Unfortunately, the TV has already been moved to the basement so now we have to move it back upstairs so the new TV can take it's rightful place on Wednesday as well. We did, however, already set up the surround sound- as in we ran the wires through the ceiling, up the wall, etc. We did it right- and it sounds awesome!

And since today is almost over, I got my run in today as well.
A PR for me! (PR=personal record)
I busted out my 3 miles in 35 minutes and 47 seconds!
I beat my best time be over 2 minutes! and I couldn't be happier!

Have a great week! I know I started mine off right!

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. Today for breakfast I ate nothing yet. I struggle to eat breakfast every morning. I’m just not hungry. But lately I’ve been able to do an apple with peanut butter or a yogurt.

2. My go to/never fail recipe if I’ve got time and can plan ahead- Beef and Noodles in the crockpot. If I’m in a pinch, good ole spaghetti and sauce.

3. Something I eat that other people think is weird is I used to dip pretzel sticks Iin the soft serve ice cream at school. But lots of kids did that so I don’t think it was weird, I do think it’s a little odd now.

4. My worst cooking disaster ever was when I tried to make smore brownies. I wasn’t paying attention and when trying to lightly brown the marshmallows in the broiler I didn’t watch and within 30 seconds the marshmallows had puffed up to where they touched the broiler and then caught fire. Had to scrape them all off and try again, only to find out the brownie recipe was terrible too.

5. If I could only eat one flavor of ice cream the rest of my life it would be vanilla, as long as I could have toppings! Or mint chocolate chip. Love the color, the flavor, the chocolate, yum!

6. One food I hate and avoid at all costs is peppers- of the red, green, and yellow variety. Give me a hot pepper and I’ll gladly accept. Try to give me one of the above and I’ll cower and start crying begging you to not make me eat it .

7. What is your favorite meal? Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Dinner probably, for many reasons, not excluding- I’m likely not at work, I can eat whatever I want, I’m usually with family and friends, dessert is always acceptable!

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

At the wedding this weekend, the bride and groom chose to have the above poem by Mother Teresa read instead of a more traditional wedding reading. I'd never heard it before and absolutely loved it. So much so that I immediately returned home to 'Nati and bookmarked it. I read it again now and it literally brings tears to my eyes, though I'm not quite sure why. They are amazing words and can literally translate and apply to almost any situation I'd encounter.

And I read it again as I sat here earlier dreading going to the gym and just wanting to sit on my butt all night. My legs were sore and I didn't think I'd be able to do it all the way to the end, but I went out and ran anyway. And you know what? I made it to the end. 4 miles later I stepped off the treadmill a happy girl.

Cookie Lee F/W 2010

Hey everyone!

The new catalog has finally been revealed! And it's even more fabulous than ever before!

Click here to view online


If you'd like to place an order or inquire about home shows, catalog shows, fundraiser, or becoming a consultant- please let me know!

My website should be up and running in a few weeks with a fantastic new feature- Online ordering!

Stay tuned!

Here are a few of my favorite new pieces:

Parisian Petals Necklace, $28


Crystal Puff Earrings, $24


Urban Tiger Eye Necklace, $39

Urban Edge Bangles, $36


Fuschia Vibe Necklace, $34: 3 necklaces in 1!


And many many more!

On Track

So today I missed knit night.

But I'm okay with it. Why?

Because I came home, charged up my sportband and actually went to the track. And I'm counting it as a success. I completed my 3 miles in 38:06 and have found that I am super successful with walk breaks. I pretty much broke it down into walk 1/4 of the track and run the other 3/4. It seemed to me that I was running much faster than when I did on the treadmill. The walk breaks allowed me to recover faster and keep going. I was definitely a hot sweaty mess since it was 92* with 48% humidity. But I am thrilled that I was able to log my 3 miles and start my distance training off with a great session.

The nike sportband was great. It overestimated my mileage though- logging 3.17 instead of the 3 I actually did but I think I need to calibrate it with my running pace. I think I have a short stride so my feet hit the ground more than normal. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I was highly distracted with playing with the toggle to check the distance and the pace. If that thing is accurate, I walk slower than I do on the treadmill- around 15 min miles... but I run like a madwoman! at one point it was calculating roughly 9:32 miles which is insane for me! So I'll have to keep track of that and get it calibrated as soon as I can. I may go out tomorrow for a half mile run to get it calibrated so then I will feel more comfortable taking it on a trail.

But overall, today was a win! for me. A big win. I was worried that transitioning to outside was going to be downright awful, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Now all I need to do is get an armband for my ipod- carrying it wasn't the worst but once my hands started sweating I kept having to swap hands.

I attribute my good luck today to some of the new goods I got for my birthday:

Adidas Supernova Glide 2 sneakers
UnderArmour Tank
Nike Sportband
Nathan BPA Free Aluminum water bottle (seriously, <3 this thing.)

Off to a great start!

Have a fabulous week!

Wedding Weekend

Was there even a weekend? You'd never know it the way it went by so quickly!

Friday night was spent running (a bust, again... but I did run my best mile time ever! 11:30... but then I fell apart and walked for 20 minutes, logging 2 miles and feeling pretty dissapointed) then rushing home to shower and change to head over to Jay and Jenny's for a cookout. After calling it a fairly early night, we headed home to chill out and prepare for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday was an IKEA day again, I had picked up the final piece of the entertainment center and Mr. Buckeye was up and at it early putting everything together. I have to say, it makes a huge statement and the room looks way more awesome- if that is even possible.

After he was done playing Bob the Builder, we headed up to CBus for T-rav and Kristen's wedding. Luckily Mother Nature played nice and the rain stopped and the skys cleared for them to wed at the Amphitheater by Mirror Lake. It was so excellent to be back on campus. The wedding was beautiful (they wrote their own vows!) and it was great to see friends again.

Sunday was recovery day as we headed back to Cinci. We were exhausted! Getting home at 3am definitely takes it out of us these days! But we headed over to visit my dad and family for dinner and mini-birthday celebration. I got the most awesome under-armour running shirt (fits like a glove! can't wait to run in it!- though the shorts are a wee tight so I'll be exchanging them) new socks, and an aluminum BPA water bottle. I filled the water bottle up 3 times already today? The only complaint on that is it sweats like crazy if I put ice in it... so just cold water will do.

I'm currently charging my Nike Sportband so I can head out to the track for my first outdoor run! Today begins mileage training. It's all game on from here!

Schedule this week:
Monday: 3
Wednesday: 4
Thursday: 3
Saturday: 5

I'm pretty much going to start at the track so that I know my actual mileage while I'm still figuring out the sportband and just make sure I log my miles. Whether it is running, walking, jogging, or a combination of all 3. As long as I get my mileage in for the day it is going to be a win. Screw trying to be the fastest runner out there because I know it's not realistic. I'm running and I may be slow. But I'm doing it.