holy crap, it's hot.

14 hours later and I'm still pooped.

I had my first Begin To Run class last night. It was okay... the physical part was fine, though tiring, but it's the group aspect that I'm not completely comfortable with.

We had to do individual introductions (ugh), stating our names and why we were taking the class. Most people said things like "I've been running for a while but I don't know anything about technique" or "I want to run a 10 k", etc.

Me: "I am lazy and I figured this would motivate me to get into shape."

So, there was some technique and posture instruction and then we went out. Walk for 4 minutes and run for 1 minute. Not bad. We repeated 5 times. Probably would have been easier had the city not been under a smog advisory. And probably would have been a wee bit tougher if I'd actually gone into work yesterday (took the day off due to the TTC strike).

The whole group-running thing, as I mentioned, is a bit uncomfy for me. I think, generally, I am a solitary exerciser. I actually don't find it easier to work out with a friend. I don't like to talk when I am working out, lest my huffing and puffing give away how out of shape I am. Stick with it I will, though. Maybe it'll get easier once I get over some shyness and try making friends. And maybe talking and running will become easier after I do my 2 days of homework this week - 2 more sessions just like last night's, on my own.

Oo - last week I popped into the store to buy good shoes... they're white, silver and pink! And non-leather! And comfy as heck.

So, I gotta ask. Is it normal to feel so hungry after running? Like, still really hungry the next day?

Maybe not like the wind, but at least a gentle breeze...

Friday after work, I did something almost unimaginable.

I joined a running clinic.

What's worse, is that it's a "begin to run" clinic for people, like me, who cannot go for a few minutes without getting winded. It runs (ahem) for 8 weeks, starting next Monday and consists of a half hour of instruction (nutrition, stretching, technique, etc.) and a half hour of actual activity, beginning with walk/run intervals. The goal is to get the participants running for 30 minutes straight, without having to stop. That part makes me happy. The running "homework" kinda scares me.

My fitness level has decreased dramatically since moving to my current location, mostly because there is no gym immediately accessible. And my weekly ashtanga class can only provide so much exercise benefit. And I am lazy and need super-convenience in my exercise options. The clinic location is, literally, 5 minutes from my home.

Guess I should go out and buy me some real shoes since I doubt my 4 year old cheapo Payless shoes will suffice. Physical Fitness, here I come!!

That Jennifer Schmoo is one smart cookie, er, loaf.

If you haven't already seen it, I need to pimp The Magical Loaf Studio tool made by the famous Vegan Lunch Box-er herself, Jennifer (Schmoo) McCann.

According to her blog, this is a product of a vegetarian cooking class Jennifer took last year with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Go to her blog to read more.

I haven't tried anything yet, but I have created many, many mishkaloaf recipes.

Crafternoon Tea - Spring Edition

There is a great craft show going on next weekend and I'm looking forward to going. The winter version was wonderfully impressive and I expect this one will just as good, if not better.

The deets:
Crafternoon Tea - Spring Edition (aka CT2)
Saturday May 27th, 2006
11am - 6pm
Bellefair United Church, 2002 Queen St. East (in 'The Beach')

WHAT:
A hip craft & fashion market, how-to hive and charity tea-room all in one!
Expect over 40 local craftista-designers selling their limited edition merch at wallet-friendly prices (lots under $30).

Spunky handcrafted jewellery & accessories, orignal artwork, quirky-sweet clothing, paper goods, organic soaps and lots more cool stuff.

PLUS:
a stellar raffle, discount craft supply & fabric zone and sweet eats at the gourmet tea-room - all for charity - plus free DIY workshops & demos.

Admission is by donation - please bring $2 or art supplies for the targeted charities: Scarborough Women's Centre, SKETCH & Yard Sale for the Cure.
For more info and vendors pix, visit: www.nathalie-roze.com

Interested in volunteering, sponsoring or contributing in some way?
If you'd like to donate your time, unwanted craft supplies/fabric, baking expertise or new craft/fashion or beauty products (for prizes) to help support CT2's targeted charities, please contact Nathalie-Roze.

I'm overdue.

Due to laziness, I haven't posted too much recently even though things have been going on. So, here it goes...

My oldest friend Trudi visited a couple of weeks ago, and I finally met her husband, Martin. I loved seeing them and wish we could hang out more, despite our dissimilar tastes in movies :wink:

The whole day we were able to spend together, Saturday, was spent mostly on Queen Street West. Brunch at Fressen, shopping for ribbon at Mokuba and paper at... where else? The Paper Place. We even caught a glimpse of Mr. Verg's Theatre of the Absurd at Trinity Belwoods Park.


The next day, sadly, Trudi and Martin had to catch a plane at stupid o'clock a.m. and I think they were probably home by the time I dragged my butt out of bed. Of course, I was dragging it to my first ever clothing swap! Those of you who are also my flickr friends are well aware of clothing swap scores, my favourite of which was a black shrug and a great little reversible bag. Another highlight of that day was bumping into Krissy and her hockey bag o'cast-offs as Claire and I approached swap headquarters.

Last weekend, the boy's sister and future brother-in-law had their Stag&Doe/Jack&Jill/Buck&Doe. There were games being played, whipped cream pies being thrown at the groom-to-be, and tunes being spun. Well, not "spun" exactly - the boy's iPod was hooked up to a bunch of equipment, which really cracked me up that such a tiny thing was hooked up to so many big things.

it's like "Where's Waldo?"

And this weekend is Victoria Day weekend, and we. have. no. plans. Well, no huge plans. I love it. Today, I got up to grocery shop then walked to Kensington Market, which took about 45 minutes. After walking for about 3 hours (and stopping for a sesame tempeh sandwich at Urban Herbivore) I stopped into a shop that sells locally-made crafted items. I hadn't planned on approaching the owner about selling jewellery, but there I found myself... babbling and sniffling from allergies. Feeling like such a dork afterwards, I came home and emailed the owner with photo samples to make up for by bad first impression. Keeping my fingers crossed!

My evening is all free and I plan on leisurely beading, knitting, lounging.... I can't wait to hurry up and start doing nothing.

Namaste, tube-top *bow*

I will update soon with what's been going on these past two weeks:
my visit with Trudi,
my clothing swap goodies
and this past weekend with families.

But for now, I introduce my latest knitting project:
Asana from Knitty.com.
Knitting a tube-top felt irresistible to me and, since it will soon be too warm for Tubey, I decided on a modified Asana. Where this pattern has neat-o tab closures at the back, I will just knit the entire back closed.

The colours?
Why, black and red, of course! Maybe I'll get all crazy and ballsy and add a completely different colour for the straps.

Maybe.

Little Black Dress Envy

Why can't I be wealthy??

from Little Black Dress Shop

I've gone and done it again.

I have another former classmate stuck in my head.

We went to senior public school together in Bramalea and went together to our grade 8 graduation. After that, he went to a different high school closer to his home and we kept in touch sporadically even while we were in college. One problem is I can't remember the exact spelling of his last name.

I doubt that he would ever be browsing a blog such as mine, but here's my plea:

Chris Stan(s)field, please contact me. I would love to catch up a wee bit.

Gorgeous

I cannot get over how beautiful Peter Jaworowski's work is.