Life is a (Half) Marathon

I've been seeing a lot more early mornings lately.  Why you ask?  Because I'm training to run the San Antonio Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon on November 11th!  13.1 miles is a long way, but it's for a good cause.  I'm running to raise money for Spina Bifida Texas, a local charity which works with children and families affected by neural tube defects which frequently results in leg paralysis and, for most affected individuals, life in a wheel chair.  

Spina Bifida Texas has many programs to support children with disabilities and two of my favorites are a nutritional and activity program to help children in wheel chairs manage their health and well-being.  The other is FashionAble which pairs high school students interested in fashion design with kids who need specially tailored clothes to accommodate medical devices when they attend a big event, like their prom.

With limited funds from philanthropic societies, these and other programs are at risk without private donations. That's why I'm running this race and why I'm asking for your support.  You can donate securely HERE just scroll to the bottom and click "Donate" under my pretty face.  For every $10 you donate, you'll earn one spot in a raffle for a custom-knit scarflet, hat, or fingerless gloves!  If you want to gift your knitted goodness, I'll even be sure to get it to you before the holidays.  Thank you so much for your support - financial and emotional - it keeps me running!

Fringe Benefits Giveaway! - UPDATED

Last night on the way home, I wanted to make something.  But I was feeling impatient and wanted something that I could finish in one night.  So I stopped by the craft store and picked up a few pendants and some chain.

I liked the rose gold and brass accents on these two pendants and I was able to find matching chains.  Put pendants on chains (All on sale!).  Add clasps.  3 minute necklace.  Yay!

But then I was ready for a little more of a challenge, so I made this cute fringe necklace that I had seen at a bit of sunshine.  It is just chain and jumprings.  It takes a little bit of time to make (I would say one rerun of The Office), but it is straightforward and pretty.

I liked it so much that I made an extra just for you!!!!  Well, one of you.  Leave a comment before Sunday July 21st at midnight central time to enter for your chance to win!


I remade the necklace and I like this version better, so you get to win it instead!  I've extended the giveaway until midnight on Wednesday August 3rd.  Just leave a comment to win!

And the winner is...

SarahMK who wrote:

Sarah has a new blog over at http://sarahsnotinkansasanymore.blogspot.com/ featuring recipes, home renovations, and her rather naughty kitties - Holmes and Watson.

100th Post and a Giveaway!

After about a year and a half of blogging, I have reached 100 posts!  All of you - those who have been reading from the beginning and those who just started - are why I keep writing these posts. I wanted a way to thank you all and I thought a giveaway would be fun but I wasn't sure what to give.  Then I went to the grocery store and saw these:

Aren't all watermelons personal if you refuse to share?

And those of course made me think of that cute watermelon mug rug I crocheted.  The original pattern was for a trivet and hot pads which are so happy and summery (and boy is it already summer here in Texas).  I crocheted up a set and now I'm going to give them away to one lucky reader.

The trivet is nice and big - about 10" across.

For a chance to win the set, all you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog telling me how you follow my blog - is it in your RSS reader?  on your Google homepage?  do I e-mail each post to you?  do you click over when I mention it on Facebook?  On Monday (the 16th) at midnight CDT I'll randomly select a winner and ship you the potholders and trivet wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for reading!  If you want to be sure you are seeing all of my posts, I'd recommend you follow my blog using that "Follow" button on the right.  That way I know you are here!  Or if you would rather receive my blog via e-mail you can enter your e-mail address where it says "Follow by E-mail" just underneath.

But even if I don't know that you are here, I am so glad you are!