When Spin Instructors Get Sick...

Today is Monday which means its a spin day. I have got a choice of classes since I dont work on Mondays. I can go at 8am and be killed by the previously blogged about, Michele. I can got at 9:30 and be toppled by Jen...race day and core work. Or I can cruise in at 3:45 and take it easy with Charlotte. Charlotte was one who got me hooked on spin. I bumbled into her class one day when I was sick of the elliptical machine but still had enough sense to know that I could not do step. Charlotte is lovely. She obviously has very good genes. She is tall, blonde, Swedish, and incredibly thin and gorgeous. She looks lovely in sweats and she looks lovely sweaty. These are two things no one will ever say about me. I have gifts but these are not them! Now one of the things I love best about Charlotte is she is not fanatical about exercise. Oh sure she tries to be... but really I can see that deep down she is not wed to exercise. When she goes to Sweden for the summer she doesnt exercise at all. So I know that secretly, she is not in love with exercise. I guess what I am saying is Charlotte's class is pretty easy for me. I mean, I dont feel like I am dying in there usually. Not that I dont feel challenged, I do, however I dont feel that death is eminent like I do in Michele'e class.

So anyway, I wander into Charlotte's class. She is there! Yay, no sub! I get on the bike, start to warm up... other regulars come in (let it be known 99.9 % of them are in better shape than me and clearly adore exercise). Music starts. Charlotte is not getting on her bike. what?

"Hi Guys! I am sick, I have a cold coming on. So I am just going to walk you through this and coach you today," she says.
What?, I am thinking, 'What on Earth is she doing?'
Let me tell you, I wish I had never found out. Coaching from the floor means she turns into that crazed lady from Biggest Loser. You know, the trainer? Yep, sweet Charlotte took on a whole new personality. She knows all our names too. She got right up near your face. And then yelled, "Michele (my name)!!! YOU CAN DO BETTER! TURN THE KNOB! PEDDLE FASTER!! YOU CAN DO THIS!! GO! GO! GO!"

This went on the entire class. I have never worked so hard in my life. I was dripping sweat. My legs feel like jello. The second class ended I slid off my bike and ran for the door... luckily all that sweat hid my tears of pain!

Spinning My Wheels

So the last time I wrote about spin class I was whining about the 8 am chick. You will recall that I said I would not be going to that class again. The instructor’s name is Michele. She is very nice… as a person, but then class starts and I start to feel all kinds of hateful towards her. Anyway I do my best to avoid her class because clearly I am not in good enough shape yet. I need a few more classes and a few less snickers bars before I go there again.

On Friday I was headed to Kevin’s class. Kevin is a big huge guy with lots of muscles. He is really into motivational stuff. His class is hard, no doubt about that, but frankly he doesn’t scare me like Michele. I get to class, I am actually early! (That’s because the kids were left at home with their father.) I get on the bike, start warming up. I am in my happy place, all pleased with myself that I came to class. The door opens, I look up. Who is it? You guessed it! “Hi Everybody! Thanks for coming! I am Michele and I am subbing for Kevin! Are you ready to work??!! We have loads of hills and sprints coming up! You will love it!”

Can I tell you I felt tears forming in my eyes? Only my pride kept me on that bike. I wanted to leave so bad! But I didn’t. I stayed and was slowly tortured in every way possible. I did more sprints than I have ever done before. I thought I might completely pass out. I drank ALL my water. The only thing I hate worse than exercise is drinking water.

I watched the clock, praying to God that 4:30 (the end of class) would come quickly. It seemed to go on forever. Finally we are within 5 minutes. I am dripping in sweat. I probably lost 5 pounds in water weight. (Yeah I am sure I put it back on already.) I am ready to cool down and head out… and then perky Michele says, “ OMG! Is this class only 45 minutes?” Yes!!!! We all scream. “ Oh,” she says, “ I thought it was an hour, we are going to go over at least 5 or 10 minutes. I am so sorry is that ok?”
NO!!!! I want to scream. But I don’t, again the pride thing. All the other crazy exercise folk are saying no problem, lets go the full hour. These folks are insane.

I made it. Just barely. But I walked out on my own two feet. When I got home I fell on to the couch and begged my son to bring me a chocolate. Yes there is a reason I cant lose this weight.

Jelly Stars

Jelly Stars

This is my best “fancy” cookie recipe. Everyone loves these… of course that means they are a pain in the butt to make. I only make them at Christmas but I usually make 4 or 5 batches. Last year I made 8 batches. Never again! The recipe was in Good Housekeeping about 15 years ago. Thank goodness I wrote it down because I have never run across it again.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 ¼ cup sugar
2 eggs (separated)
2 tsp vanilla (real!!)
3 cups flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup raspberry jam (I always use Knott’s)

Beat the butter with 1 cup of sugar until blended. Increase speed to high and beat for 3 minutes. Add yolks and vanilla. Gradually add flour, baking powder, and salt. Shape the dough into two balls, wrap in plastic and chill at least one hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough out between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Do not add flour. You must use the wax paper. Cut out cookies (I use star cutters). You need to sizes of cutters. Cut out 2 big cookies and then use the small cutter to cut out the middle of the second cookie. This will give you a top and a bottom. Brush cookies with beaten egg white (I have been known to skip this when crunched for time.) and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 10 to 12 minutes… they should not really brown. You want them pale. When they are cool spread the bottom cookies with jam and top with the cut out cookie.

Christmas Card

I made this as part of a Christmas card set. I am trying to use up some Making Memories patterned paper that I picked up last year on clearance. I am famous for buying lots of stuff I don’t need. I really do love this patterned paper though.
Stuff: Rustic snowflake stamps by PTI. PTI cardstock in kraft and pure poppy. White ink by versamagic. Ribbon from American Crafts. Unknown jewels.

Happy Fall

I have been busily working on Fall cards and Christmas cards. Its finally cold enough that I feel in the mood to work on those things. I have a hard time thinking fall when its 90 outside!
Stuff: PTI stamps: Out on a Limb Additions, Take a Bough, Limitless Labels. PTI cardstock: vintage vanilla, PTI ribbon: dark chocolate satin. Dew drops ink: gold, pumpkin spice, coffee, copper

Meme- Q&A

I was tagged by Beverly for a little Q&A. You should check out her blog, lots of crafty goodness plus she is working on her own store!

Now, here are the rules:

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share seven facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Ok, seven facts about me:

1. I was born and raised in California.
2. I have had the same best friend since I was 3 years old.
3. I am easily grossed out by a bloody nose. (I have never had one! TG!)
4. I like to make stuff. (Gee bet that was hard to guess).
5. I bake like nobody's business. My specialty is cookies.
6. I have had many a science experiment go bad!
7. My feet are huge... size 9.5!!! And I am only 5'3"

I am taking the easy way out and tagging no one. But if you want to play, let me know I would love to come read about you!

Merry and Bright

I have been working on Christmas cards and Halloween boxes. My craft desk looks like a bomb went off. This card uses a set called Merry and Bright from PTI. I love the little christmas trees, so many different ways to stamp them out. The base of the card is Pure Poppy cardstock and the patterned paper is by Memory Makers. Its old, at least last year. I have an addiction... I continually buy paper, I cant seem to stop. I think I have enough to make a 100 scrapbooks, dozens of cards and still have some left over.

Spin Class Nearly Killed Me

Decided that I would return to spin class today, I went back to the gym yesterday. Its always so hard to go back after missing a week and being sick. So today I think I will just go in at 8am and get it done with. I have never been to this particular class because in the summer I was never up early enough and then once school started I was kind of going in the afternoon or at the 9am class. So anyway I manage to drop off my kids and get myself down to the gym by 8am. I walk into class and who do I see but the hardest instructor every!!!! She subbed once for my regular afternoon girl and I thought I was going to die. So here I am, second day back, first spin class back, still cant breathe through my frickin nose... and here is this chick that is all muscle- the I look good-I am tough- I am going to kick your butt muscle. Of course she is smiling as she talks about what an awesome tough ride its going to be, she is just going to work us over! Oh I was afraid. Totally terrified. Felt my feet heading for the door but somehow I managed to coerce them on to the bike. It was so hard! Hard to breathe, hard to make my muscles move, and of course my butt hurt because I hadnt been on the bike in a week. Well I am here writing this so obviously I survived, but I am telling you just barely! I dont think I will be hitting the 8am class again anytime soon!

Give Thanks

I am not much of a Thanksgiving card maker but I thought that Out on a Limb, by PTI, just lent itself to Thanksgiving. This is such a versatile set, especially if you have the add on. Well worth the money, this one is. I made several of these cards and I am proud to say they are going to some deployed soldiers. All supplies by PTI, except for the ribbon-its from Michaels, and the ink on the leaves- dew drops brilliance ink.
Thanks for stopping by- have a great Monday!

Finally On the Road to Recovery!

I am finally feeling better! Gosh, this was a nasty cold. I hadn't felt that awful in quite sometime. I made this card right before I got sick. I used PTI's Take a Bough. It was released last Christmas. I just love this set, so versatile! The branch also comes in handy for my Wise Owl set! Anyway back to the card, all PTI materials. I made the ornaments look glossy with Ranger Industries' Glossy Accents. The hardest part is waiting for it to dry!

Chicken Soup

Me and my big bowl of Chicken soup (campbell's - I am in no shape to cook) are curled up here trying to muster the strength to finish up some school work. Not happening. Still feel completely horrid but slightly less horrid than yesterday. So another early night for me and hopefully sometime tomorrow I will put some new pretty stuff up on the blog. I have lots of stuff waiting to be photographed...

Sick

Here it is Monday night, still no pictures. Sorry about that. I feel awful. Just as soon as I can get my kids in bed I am going to bed as well. I feel horrible! I did go to the gym on Sunday, but not spin class.... I did 35 minutes of weights and another 25 minutes of cardio. I was feeling so sluggish, well now I know it was this cold coming on. UGH! Hope it goes away quick. My nose is like a leaky faucet.

Exercise

The gym is calling my name and I am trying to hide here on the couch in my pjs with my laptop. I need to go but I dont want to! My last appearance there was on Friday. When I walked into the spin room I saw the instructor who is the most difficult. Normally she teaches the am Monday and Wednesday class, which I haven't been to since school started back up. I have mentioned her before. She can kick some ass. Her entire body is muscle, not an ounce of fat on this girl. Its pretty muscle too, not bulging body builder muscle, just firm-I can kick your ass and look hot while doing it- muscle. Truth be told the second I saw her I wanted to turn and run upstairs to my friend the elliptical machine. But I didnt want to look like a quitter, plus she knows my name and probably would have demanded to know where I was going. I am not afraid to admit that she scares me a little! So I made it through, but when I was done my legs felt like jello and my heart was about to thump out of my chest. But I lived and now here we are at Sunday and I need to go back. The next spin class is at noon, its 9am now. I should go.... I need to go.... I will be back to let you know how big of a wimp I was later.

Open Letter

Sorry but I have to get this off my chest before I can move on with my day.

Dear Teacher,

Clearly you dont want to be here. I know someone is paying you to be here. This isn't a come on your free time type of deal. All of you are receiving money, which obviously isn't being well spent training you, they should have gotten someone with a work ethic. Yes, I know its a Saturday. Yes, I understand you are tired. This does not give you the right to talk while we are trying to teach. This does not give you the right to clean your purse out at the table, disturbing your work group and completely ignoring the person presenting. This does not give you the right to file your nails as we teach. Maybe your mother never taught you that these things are rude, however since you work in a classroom environment I would think that maybe you should know better. I really wouldn't care if you listened or learned while you are here except for the fact that you are occupying a spot that many other teachers would have liked to have. You also were so disruptive that people across the room were glaring at you, and yet you continued on, oblivious to everyone but yourself and your cell phone. Perhaps this program isn't for you. Perhaps you should drop out and let someone else have your spot. Clearly you are not here to learn or stretch yourself in any way. Next time stay home and make us all a little happier.

*** And now back to your regularly scheduled craft blog*** I will have some christmas cards up tomorrow! Need daylight to take some decent pictures.

Its PTI Blog Hop Time (I am LATE!)

I had bigger plans for this one! This is a scrap piece of pine board that I painted white with craft acrylic. I painted the sky a very light blue. I stamped the snowmen in palette black noir and then colored them with my copic markers... which worked surprisingly well on top of the white paint. I hand printed the saying but clearly spaced it wrong. UGH there was no way to fix it, I was contemplating a bow in that area.... still dont know. My original plan was to (actually I will still do this) attach a wire with ribbons to hang this on a wall. It still looks unfinished to me so I will work on it a bit, I think its salvageable.

This card I love. I used boards and beams and home for the holidays. If you get this set you had better like to color. and cut. Fortunately I do. So I colored it up with my copics and cut out all the little pieces. I had a lot of fun with it. A little stickles for added sparkle.

I knew I should have taken care of this before work! UGH! So here it is, way late and with bad lighting on the pictures. Hope you enjoy. (If you dont know what blog hop is hop on over to PTI and find out!)

All supplies by PTI except for the paint, copics, and stickles.

Hero Arts Sitting in the PTI Tree

I just love this card! Is that wrong to say about my own stuff? LOL! Anyway the tree branch is from PTI's Take a Bough. Its an amazing set. Definitely worth the money for that one! The little bird and bird house and snowflakes are from Hero Arts. I just love these little animals. The cardstock is PTI. The ink is palette and I colored with copics. I must say I am in love with my copic markers, to think I only started with five, I have close to 50 now. I cant even let myself think of what I spent on them!

The Boy

The Boy: Mom am I a hunk?
Me: What?
The Boy: Mom am I a hunk?
Me (snickering): Whats a hunk?
The Boy: Its like way better than handsome!
Me: Where did you here this
The Boy: sister... she watches Drake and Josh
Me: ahhh... it all becomes clear, yes son your are a hunk.

Hero Arts Meet PTI

I made this card with rustic branches stamps from PTI and the cute little bird from Hero Arts. I hand drew the bow. Everything is colored up with copics and on PTI cardstock. I am so spoiled by their cardstock I can hardly stand to use anything else!

More Cute Stamps

Another card using Hero Arts stamps.
Supplies: PTI cardstock: aqua mist, white, pure poppy. Ink: palette noir, dewdrops moonbeam white, copic markers

The Cutest Stamps Eva!

And omg, they aren't even PTI! Now you all have probably figured out that I love me some PTI, but these little guys are from Hero Arts and they are so freaking cute!

Supplies and such: Stamps: Hero Arts Cardstock: PTI select white, pure poppy, and aqua mist Ink: palette noir, moonbeam white (dewdrop) Ribbon: PTI aqua mist Copics.
I hand drew the tree, ornaments and snow. The star on top is from the PTI take a bough set. I have several more I made with these stamps I will post the rest of the week. Have a great day!