Exciting things for June.

I have been thinking lately about all the different things I want to show on my blog. I wasn't sure how to go about it but I knew that some YouTube channels- (yes, because that's SO MUCH like a blog ...sarcasm) had different things for different days. So I was going to take that concept and give it my twist. 

I made a little diagram showing the line-up I'm hoping to follow starting June 1st. 

Clearly June starts on a Wednesday so it won't be started as normal with the beginning of the week, so Weekly Wednesdays will be taking a peek at my planner for the week. How I decorated it, showing my not-so-busy life, and what I'm using to put it all together.  I'll go more in to that on Wednesday in an introduction post of sorts about my planner.

Thursdays are #throwbackthursday and I'll be using old photos. I'm thinking 2015 and prior. No recent events. I'm hoping this will help with some of the supplies I have that I don't have recent photos for plus now that I'm back with my albums - I can scrap memories I haven't had access to for a while. Fitness Fridays- well, seems self explanatory. Taking this one day to go through what I've been up to fitness/running wise.

Stashbusting Saturday is when I'm hoping to make layouts using older supplies that I've been hoarding. I am trying to start June on a spend freeze so I can use up a big chunk of my supplies. Let's be honest, I definitely need a spot for new stuff- my containers are starting to puff up and be hard to close.  

Make Ahead Mondays are the days I show you what I'm doing to get a project ready. I am planning some mini albums as well as starting my project life for my 30th birthday in September. I can't wait to share with you ideas that I have brewing for that. 

And as always, I will be posting my Design Team posts. If they fall on a day in that schedule, they- of course- will take priority. I wont be posting on Tuesdays and Sundays.  Unless I feel jazzy. I 'll try to use those days to get posts ready for you during the week!  

I'm excited for what this summer holds for me. I'm trying hard to get my life on track, do things that excite me and live life to it's fullest.  Enjoy the ride with me! 

I'm always posting on Instagram and Facebook. Please join me there as well!! Share the blog- I want everyone to see what I'm up to! I also would love to hear from you- if you're doing these days with me- I would love to see!!  Or if you have anything you'd like to say or see - let me know - I'm always open!! 

xo. Renee 

No Place Like Dome.

I know, this is about a month late but I forgot!  I really want to share this layout because... I love it.

Just to catch you up- a month ago I ran in a race that took place at the University of Northern Iowa Campus and ended on the fantastic 50 yard line of the UNI-Dome where the Northern Iowa Panther Football team plays.  If you want to read my recap on that- click here!  Just one of the best moments of my life!

I really can't express how much I loved this run- so I'm not going to try that again. But I got inspired by one of my favorite scrappers over at Paper Issues- Heather. I used my cameo to cut out "No Place Like Dome."  I can't remember where I saw the phrase but it was perfect for this page!!  

Like Heather, I found a gorgeous page to put behind it- a purple ( Duh, like I'd use a different color for Panthers?! ) watercolor like paper.  I cut the white cardstock down so I could place a boarder around it. I stapled the edges down but roughened them up just a tad. I'm not sure if everyone else caught the crazy craze- but I adore the ombre tape from Michaels. They had this perfect purple ombre that was matching identical to the watercolored paper. I took some and tore it up- placed it in different places along the boarder.  Did it as well with some gold washi I had to balance it out just a little with the gold Run4UNI 2016 I added to the title. 

Now I'm not even sure what made me decide to try the new Amy Tangerine Line- Better Together with this layout, But I kind of think it works!  I used a lot of the mail aspects of the line such as the stamps, letters- I also used some of the cut outs and embellishments to layer behind the picture of my sister and I. 

I'm so thankful to have experienced this with my sister. She's one of my biggest influences in my life, one of my biggest cheerleaders. I didn't expect to run the entire race by her side but I am so glad we did this hand in hand.  The way we got to end this amazing race- was a complete adrenaline rush. There really is No Place Like Dome.

xo. Renee

Scrap Our Stash May Sketch.

Here I am with Scrap Our Stash's 2nd challenge of May!

Scrap Our Stash is a site/group that inspires you to use your stash and supplies. They do 2 challenges a month - one is a stash challenge (1st of the month) and one is a sketch challenge with a stash prompt (15th of the month).  The Design Team examples are shown everyday to inspire you to put together a great page!  To learn more you'll have to check out their site at http://scrapourstash.blogspot.com/

I loved this sketch and the three lists. All of them presented a challenge that I was ready to tackle. I didn't have much of any of the things so I definitely had to do some digging around! 

From the lists I chose Metal, Newsprint, and Overlay.   I loved how well this overlay from Pink Paislee's Cedar Lane went with Simple Stores Life Documented. I know, I know- I need to be using my stash but I just couldn't wait to dive in to my new papers!   

A few weeks ago my dad and I decided to let our sweet pup Sienna run around the yard without a leash which is a bit crazy of us. (She loves to run- and her coming back when she's called, varies in what is in it for her. ) But lately, she's been a very good puppy so we took a chance on life to let her go bat crazy in our big back yard. She had such a great day chasing the balls and getting family cuddles from everyone.  She's such a grandpa's girl and stayed within radius all day. So we've spoiled her a few times since. I know it sounds a bit weird- but its a great achievement for our dear girl.  With all the the excitement, I was able to capture a few good pictures of the crazy pair together.  

I hope that I inspired you to take on this challenge, there's so many great things in there that I can't wait to see what you all put together!!! 

xo. Renee

Run4UNI.

I remember being at the break table - a day this past fall when my favorite local racing company -Trekman Racing- threw out an idea for a run via Facebook that just blew my mind.  A run around the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.  Without even hesitation, I had to text my sister - an alumni of UNI as well as one of the biggest Panther fans I know.  We had to do this race.  I was ready when they released sign-up at midnight a few months later and it happened- I was the very first person to sign up for the Run4UNI Inaugural race.  Signed up my sister a few days later when arrangements could be made for her butt to be beside me at the starting line.

My excitement level was through the roof about this race. Although drama didn't stray too far away- I didn't realize that the weekend of the race collided with work events so my heart was broken to see I wouldn't be able to go.  I bargained and pleaded to do anything so I could be at this race. With faith, I was clearly able to make it. I'm still beyond thankful for people doing what they could do to make this possible for me.

I'm not even sure where to begin this race recap other than my excitement. But what I do know- my sister and I were getting ready with buying Panther tutu's, face tattoos and tank tops.  The weather for recent weeks were in the 60's-80's - it would be perfect! My luck never last hugely long- so when we arrived to the date with rain storms and 50's - out the window went our crazy outfits in favor of warmth and rain proof apparel.   It was suppose to storm pretty heavily all day - but somehow- the rain literally split right as the race began. There were some Panther Gods.  A slight sprinkle throughout the race- I'll take over the storm.

Our beginning was one of my favorite parts of the race. The National Anthem usually always gives me chills either way, no different at the beginning of every race. But just as they were playing the National Anthem, their I Pod decided to die. So all of the race participants sang it instead.  It just seemed like a unified moment before we took off on to the winding paths of the University. Thankfully there was a cap on this race, the paths- at the beginning was a tight space until people started spreading out.

I wasn't sure how I would do in this race, with all the mixed emotions prior to the race- I kind of abandoned running for a few days plus I haven't ran 4 miles in a long while either. I also figured I'd be running it alone, if I needed to take a few walk breaks- I would. But my sister said she was coming to run with me, plus she hadn't been running consecutively either- so we stayed side by side through the entirety of the race.  

We went at a good steady pace, almost conquered a hill at mile 2. I knew I should've just listened to my sister to keep pushing but for some reason, I walked. Continued with the steady pace for the rest of the race with maybe another one or two small walk breaks in between. (Funny also, around this time in the race we actually ended up by multiple people from our hometown meaning we all finished around the same time.) Once I saw our destination within site, there was no stopping me. Which brings the best part of the whole thing; coming in the dome through the tunnel where the football players roar on through. It was such a rush running across the finish on the 50 yard line, seeing myself on the jumbo-tron. (I wish I would have gotten a photo where you could better see our goofy faces on the jumbo-tron- you would've enjoyed.)  But I'm glad my dad saw us finish and got close enough to get the pictures he did get on the finish line. 

I loved everything about this race. The beautiful campus- even with the slight drizzle. Running beside my big sister who was my cheerleader, keeping me going. Being able to finish on the turf of the University of Northern Iowa Panthers.  I couldn't have asked for anything better!! Okay, maybe the beer at the end helped also ;) 

This blog entry can't even do justice to how much I loved this race. I can't wait to run it again next year, hopefully with better ability.  If I thought I couldn't bleed anymore purple and gold, I definitely was proven wrong.  

xo. Renee

Scrap Our Stash May Stash.

It's a new month which means new challenges at Scrap Our Stash! 

Scrap Our Stash is a site/group that inspires you to use your stash and supplies. They do 2 challenges a month - one is a stash challenge (1st of the month) and one is a sketch challenge with a stash prompt (15th of the month).  The Design Team examples are shown everyday to inspire you to put together a great page!  To learn more you'll have to check out their site at http://scrapourstash.blogspot.com/

The stash challenge this month was based on this great inspiration. 

Okay- how gorgeous is that cover?? There's so many ideas that were floating in my head but I finally decided upon using the ombré sky as my inspiration.  I know it's not really busting through my stash but I was so excited to finally have my paws on some Fancy Free by Pink Paislee/Paige Evans. I have followed Paige Evans for so long and love her work so much! 

The pinks in her collection worked perfectly! I cut a couple strips of the different pink in her paper - held them together and cut little strips along the edge ( remember not to cut all the way across - you need a little space at the top to glue it down ) to create this fringe - then layered to create the ombré look.  Also you needed to include flowers- ahh, the flowers in this line worked perfectly! 

My sister recently came home to run with me in the latest race which I have a recap coming for. It's always exciting when she comes home- but I am not sure if anyone gets more excited than my cat Pumpkin. He is so infatuated with her , I'm not sure what it is- her voice she uses with him or the fact he knows she's extremely allergic to him.  So he tries to sneak up around her - I had to capture pictures of this bizarre relationship. Now that she's gone- he's sleeps in the bed she was in or the couch. Just soaking up all the Aunt Stephy he can. 

Hope you guys join us at Scrap Our  Stash and try the challenge! Also- I'll be back in the middle of the month with the sketch challenge. 

Xo Renee

Race Bibs.

I am not sure why I haven't even written about this yet; but there's one thing I've done that's tied both my scrapbooking and running together! But before I get in to that- I wanted to apologize for being absent. I can't even make a logical excuse - I've been working and life happens but I'll pull my act together. 

Okay- but back to my original plan- I wanted to show you what I've done to tie my loves together! I'm not sure if I'm the only dork- haha- but I love keeping momentos from different occasions in my life. Racing is no exception. 

I have kept each race bib from all the different races I've signed up for. Some people hang them on the wall, some frame them- what do I do? I put them on a cordinating colored 12x12 paper with a photo of me from the race! 

I've started an album with all of them this far and can't wait to eventually fill it completely. It's fun to be able to look back at them all and remember- also to see how I've improved or lack there of. 

This is a great way to combine my favorite things and remember the memories of all the races.  I'm not sure how many other runners are following me- but how do you guys save your race bibs if you do??

Hope I inspired you on a great way to save memorabilia that is important to you!! 

Xo Renee