Cathy Zielske's Blog, page 221

It's never to early to start training

I was recently inspired by my good friend Ali's second sprint triathlon. I have assured her that yes, next year, I'm there in Seattle with her to test my personal mettle.

But I sure hope there aren't any weeds in Lake Washington.

Triathlon 2012 Training Begins? from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

It's time to bring out The Sign again

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the two-week wonderfest known as the Minnesota State Fair.

When you live just six blocks from the fairgrounds, you have to deal with your more industrious neighbors who know how to make a buck when they get a chance: The Neighbors Who Sell Parking Spots in Their Front Yards.

No one really does this on my block, and the one family that does, well, they've got a fabulous corner lot to do it on. Plus, they know me, so they will never do the thing I dislike the most about living in this neighborhood during the fair: wave giant PARK HERE signs at me as I drive down the street.

The people of this Como Park neighborhood stand outside, in rain or shine, from dusk til dawn, waving their PARK HERE signs at everyone who passes by. Don't get me wrong, there is serious money to be made during the fair when you let people park on your grass. Lots of folks take time off of work to do it. It's that lucrative.

Still, I feel like every time I head out to the grocery store, I'm running the Gauntlet of Greed.

Besides, I don't NEED to PARK HERE. I LIVE here.

I know it's silly. I know I should just smile and nod, but ever since I made The Sign in 2007, I can't help but feel like I'm making my own, special, neighborhood statment:

Happy fair going, and if the wind is blowing due East, I can't wait to hear Def Leppard rocking it out from the Grandstand later this week.

The winner of the Jo Totes bag is…

The winner of their choice of a camera bag from Jo Totes is:

Email me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your bag!

It was pretty entertaining reading some of these comments. Why does it seem that the 80s were the most hilarious from a fashion standpoint? Thanks for entering everyone. Have a great day.

A few days up at the lake

Last Wednesday, we packed up and took off for a much needed respite at our family's lake home in Nisswa, Minnesota.

Now some of you may or may not know this about me: I'm not really a cabin-y, Northwoods type of of gal. In fact, when the idea of "let's go up to the cabin" for the weekend comes up, I can often be heard saying, "Great! I'll see you when you get back!"

It's not that I don't enjoy it, but I definitely prefer the non-holiday weekends with fewer people. Call me an introvert. That's just how I roll.

It was just our family and Dan's sister's family this past weekend. A manageable party of eight. And as you know, eight is a great number for many games of Mexican Train.

What is it about playing dominoes that is so much fun up at the cabin that just never seems to catch on the same way at home? Two words: cable television (and the lack thereof up North!)

As the days wore on and the play got more serious, Great Grandma's hat collection came out of hiding.

Okay, so maybe Great Grandma didn't ride motorcyles in her day, but this one came out as well.

We had time on the boat and in the lake.

And time just chilling on the dock.

And even some time to hit the town for some 'pretty good shopping.'

Aidan got a feather in her hair.

And I made a Jacob and Edward sandwich.

We had tons of good food.

And lots of bad facial hair.

And lots of dishes to wash by hand.

And we enjoyed gorgeous, completely non-Photoshopped sunsets. It really looked like this every night.

The best part is returning home with people who feel rested and ready to get back to work, and ready to get ready to head back to school.

Thanks for a great getaway, Nisswa.

 

 

 

Monday Sponsor Giveaway: win your choice of a camera bag from Jo Totes

Jo Totes is giving away one bag of your choice to one lucky blog reader. I think this is a nice way to kick off a Monday, don't you?

Jo Totes bags are seriously stylish camera bags for the fashion conscious photog who wants to tote her gear in style. I have the bag you see in the lower right image in brown. It is sturdy and functional. No one knows what I'm toting in there. It's always fun to see people's reactions when I whip out my Canon 5D and they're all, "What? That's a camera bag?" Indeed.

ABOUT THE BAGS: Stay ladylike while protecting your equipment with our padded camera bags. Our vintage-inspired camera bags are perfect for carrying your camera and an extra lens or two with your purse items while out and about.

TO ENTER: Leave me a comment and while we're talking about stylish things, tell me what your most regrettable style or fashion choice has been in your life. Mine is easy: a wash and wear perm in the 80s.

I will close this drawing on Tuesday night and choose a winner. Good luck!

Jo Totes Website | Jo Totes on Facebook

 

Funny how it works out like that

So for the past three weeks, I've been putting forth my very best effort to eat well. By eating well, I mean eating clean, non-processed foods in balance (eating protein, carbs and fat at every meal or snack.)

The idea behind this is primarily about feeling satiated and freeing oneself from those intense cravings that often derail us in our quest to be healthier. Oh, and it's also about generalized girth reduction, too. 

On Tuesday, I took the kids to see the final Harry Potter film. I had never seen a single Potter film on the big screen, and after completing the last book, I was really excited to have that movie-going experience. 

So what does Hogwarts have to do with my muffin top?

Because I don't want to be the person who never has a single not-so-good-for-you treat, I decided in the moment that yes, I will have that Blue Raspberry ICEE and some buttered popcorn. And okay, maybe just a few bites of the candy Cole smuggled into the theater.

Long story short: the movie was amazing, and then I proceeded to eat like crap for the rest of the day. After that initial hit of sugar and carbs, all I could think about was where I was going to score my next bump. I actually fell asleep on the couch at 8:45 p.m. because I swear to you, I felt drugged.

I couldn't figure out at first why I'd fallen asleep so early, and why I felt so awful once I woke up to head upstairs to my bed. But then I realized: when I eat crap, I feel like crap. 

I realize this is essentially common sense, but for some reason it really hit home to me that eating well affects so much more of me than my belly size.

Have any of you ever had one of those realizations? That feeling of being drugged and then wondering, "Where did this come from?" and then looking at that box of Cheez-It's and thinking, "Ohhh, so that's what happened?" 

By all means, do tell. 

Goth tweendom, we hardly knew ye

For a laugh, shortly after turning 12, Cole informed us he would now be moody, sullen and angry. Also, he would only wear black. It lasted about 12 minutes.

Not that I don't love a goth kid. Lord knows I do.

Okay, maybe I'm confusing goth with silly.

Still.

Coleman, it's good to have you back, buddy. That was a moody dang 12 minutes.

 

Me likey to bikey.

In the past few weeks, I've rediscovered my bike.

My bike's not too fancy. It's a Fuji Crosstown, roughly 8 years or so old. It was a Christmas gift from Dan one year and up until last year, it really didn't see much daylight, truth be told.

But with the whole Moving More effort, biking seemed like yet another thing I could try out. And lo and behold, here's some of the bonus points:

1. I don't limp around on days that I bike the way that sometimes I do following a run day.

2. I can ride pretty much anywhere I like in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis because these two towns are about as bike friendly as it gets.

3. I don't get nearly as hot on a bike because hey, you create breezes on every downhill.

4. Padded bike shorts make for a much more pleasant outing.

5. Cool gadget holders make me happy.

Like this one that I picked up at Erik's Bike Shop.

I love tracking miles, whether it be walking, running, swimming or biking. I also love the idea of having a phone with me on longer rides if I break down (both mechanically or emotionally). This makes it much easier to call Mr. Dan, who can come and save me in the middle of nowhere (or just on a trail in some urban state park.)

It squeezes closed, and has an additional safety loop to keep your phone in place.

I use the GPS driven iMapMyRide app to track time, distance and speed. For a free app, this thing seems to work pretty darn well.

Add to that me with a new bike shirt, and you've got the makings for a happy, biking mama.

I'm not fast out there, but hey, I'm out there. Padded bootay and all.

How many blog readers are bike riders? Any tips you want to share or favorite bike gear you own? Please do. Me likey the bikey.

And the giveaways go to…

The winner of a spot in TextFX: A typography and text art class with Tiffany Tillman from ReneePearson.com is:

The winner of a spot in the online workshop Quick + Simple Clutter Control from simplify101 is:

Ladies, contact me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your workshops!

For the record, my most organization challenged area is my dining room/scrap room, and my favorite font is Avenir.

 

Sponsor Giveaway: win a spot in Quick + Simple Clutter Control from simplify 101

simplify 101 is offering one of my readers a spot in the online workshop Quick + Simple Clutter Control which shows you how to tackle surface clutter so you can enjoy your home again. Plus, simplify 101 is offering my readers 15% off all regular price workshops including Quick + Simple Clutter Control, Organizing with Your Kids and Organize Your Paper Clutter. To take advantage of this offer, enter coupon code CZD15 during checkout. The coupon is good through Wednesday, August 17, 2011 and may not be combined with any other offers.
 
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: If the clutter in your home is taking the fun out of scrapbooking and other activities Quick + Simple Clutter Control will help! In this online workshop, professional organizer Aby Garvey shares her clutter control secrets—proven strategies and simple projects that make it easy to control the surface clutter in your home. You'll learn that decluttering can be quick, simple and fun…which means more time for the other fun stuff on your list. Plus, the August session of this workshop includes NEW daily prompts to help you get your home (and family!) ready for back to school.  This two lesson / three week quick and simple workshop begins Tuesday, August 16 and is just what you need to say goodbye to clutter! 

ABOUT SIMPLIFY 101: Founded by Aby Garvey, the co-author of The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker, simplify 101's mission is to make getting organized fun! Get a taste of simplify 101—and the organized life—with their FREE, simple-to-follow guide How to Create a Command Central Binder. You'll put together a home reference binder that will help you get organized, save time, and minimize paper clutter and the stress that comes along with it!

TO ENTER: Leave me a comment today and tell me what room in your house is your biggest area of concern when it comes to organization. I'll choose a winner on Sunday evening.