Packard Summer Scamper

Niko, Gigi, & Lorenzo clutching their prized medals :)

We participated in our first family fun run last June, jogging strollers and all, in memory of our JuJu (Julio DePerio) at the 1st annual Stanford Scamper in Palo Alto. We had such an awesome time we decided to make this run an annual event. This event is perfect for a first-timer or pro because it was SUPER organized, VERY family friendly, and:

-they served coffee, water, & snacks before and after the race
-they gave away essentials like sunblock and lip balm before the race
-they had a professional DJ (star 101.3) & an enthusiastic MC
-the course was flat and very easy to maneuver with a stroller

Here are some pics:

GOOOOOOD morning!

racers snacking before the race

thank you for the sunblock & lipbalm too

you rock!

you do too!

No bandits here, we're all legit with our race bibs ;D

Families greatly benefit with an event like this because it beautifully blends family togetherness, an active lifestyle, and a winning attitude!

We hope you can come out and join us this year :)

Here is our team page: Juju's Grace Team Page

Lorenzo, Julio, & Lattie, October 2007

Event Details
Date: Saturday, June 23, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m. start
(Packet pickup and day-of registration begins at 6:30 a.m.)
Place: Oak Road and Stock Farm Road, Stanford, California

My Runkeeper

http://runkeeper.com/user/millierose79/activity

ABC Flip Book

From poster to flip book:

I cut up the poster section by section

Then letter by letter

Cut the corresponding overlay that would serve as the book's cover

Hole punching

I printed a picture of the original poster and put it on the cover. I bound the flip book with a binder ring, tied a ribbon around it, and project is done = )

Mini Scrap Book Journal

I have been a little obsessed lately about mini-scrapbooks. Last night's task was to create a hybrid..a mini-scrapbook-journal. I really like projects I can complete in one sitting, (the creation of this one took about an hour.) 

My idea was to enable myself to create one super easy page a day. This is an ultra condensed version of Project Life. What I came up with was a 3x5'' inch book, pre-layed out, and all I have to do is:

1) take a photo and print it on my Polaroid Mobile Printer, 2) do a quick write up of the memory I want to remember, 3) add a couple doo-dads and other embellishments and I'm done =)

Each book has 30+ pages that allows for one month's worth of documenting, made simple :)

 ***

Last week I made the following mini-scrapbooks just for kicks and ended up giving them to Gigi, Alina, & Lily (my 3 year old daughter, 4 year old niece, and 2 year old niece.) You can find pics from a previous post here Mini Scrap Books Prototypes

The ones I worked on last night I tweaked and made better. I got some overlay paper from Our Paper Place and picked up a 6 x 6" paper pad with coordinating patterns by Lawn Fawn which together, I thought worked very well.

First I cut the yellow partially see-through overlay (the book cover), then cut the paper (the pages of the book).

I didn't want to waste paper so the leftovers I decided to intersperse throughout the book to give it a whimsical feel. I found it useful to binder-clip ''pages'' of the book in stacks so that hole-punching them would be easier.

Next, I used a single hole puncher and hole punched the overlay and paper.

I found it helpful to use this chopstick to keep the book temporarily bound while I punched away.

First, I used ribbon to bind the book but I felt this look was a bit much. Kid-like and too much going on so I opted for some sewing string below.

I measured the string and weaved through the holes a couple of times, tied the front, then tied the back, then cut the string.

Here's the near-finished product..I wanted my journaling and designing to be easy so I used the following post-its below and inserted them throughout the book. That way there is enough visual interest, a space for me to write, and space left over for a picture.

The first entry and layout of my mini-scrapbook-journal is below:

When I'm done, I secure a binder clip to keep the pages protected and voila! Mini-scrapbooking-journaling done quickly & efficiently ;D.

Mini Scrap Book Prototypes

Pulling My Weight

I am not afraid to admit that I have never been able to pull my own weight... body weight that is. Even when I had a stick-like-pre-adult-body, I was never strong enough to pull my own body weight.

This was something I set out to change late last year and I am pleased to see progress. According to my training log, in October 2011 I was only able to pull 30% of my total body weight (TBW).

In January 2012 this increased to 50% of TBW. Today, as I write this quick entry in the gym locker room, I am happy to report that I can now pull 75% of my TBW. Progress..makes me happy :)

I also want to get faster. My fastest timed mile in high school as a 17 year old was around 7 minutes 45 seconds. My goal this year as a 33 year old is to make it under 8 minutes. Today I clocked in at 8 minutes 16 seconds. Progress, again. Another happy face ;D

I'm not trying to be Wonderwoman. I just want to mold a better me, one turtle step at a time.
Goals make us better. Setting out to reach them makes us great.

Here's to defining what is truly important to us and being laser sharp on what our goals are. And most importantly, putting in the work to achieve them. Not for our significant others. Not even for our children, but for OURSELVES.

Why? Because we flippin' deserve it. Shoot, at least I know I do! LOL.

YOU DO TOO!!

Have an awesome week friends & stay dry out there! :)

Just Be Present

It's scary how things can change quite easily for the worse when we're not fully engaged and present.

Minutes ago I witnessed a car accident that I thankfully was not apart of. I was approaching an intersection where two sedans were speeding and before I knew it they collided and all I heard was the loud banging of metal on metal.

Had I not kept a safe distance between these two cars or had I been momentarily distracted, I could have easily been apart of that accident because these vehicles were directly in front and to the side of me.

Accident averted, thank you God.

I had a very light-hearted post planned for tonight, but accidents, whether you are a part of them or not change things.

Whatever you are doing, Just Be Present and He will handle the rest.

Have a safe week friends.