Hi!! :D

Hi everyone! I know I've been MIA - but I have a good reason!

I'm pregnant and SUPER BUSY!!

Here I am with my expanding belly..

I'll make sure to keep everyone updated from now on. I'll be 28 weeks on Friday so expect another composite picture in about 3 weeks (though I will post before then, promise)!

I've Won a Blog Award!! - The Liebster Award

Woot, Woot! My Sweat Pink Sister Lynette nominated me for the LIEBSTER AWARD. I am so excited and flattered that she thought of me.

I had actually never heard of this award before, so I went to Wiki and Google to see what it was all about.  Liebster is German for “dearest” and this award it given to fellow bloggers with less than 200 followers as a way to spread the new blogger love (didn't really check this.. just picked blogs I liked)! 

The Rules:

1. Each person must post 11 random things about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.
4. Choose 11 people to award and send them a link to your post. Go to their page and tell them.
5. No tag backs.

11 Facts about me:

1. I'm a early bird, even on the weekend.
2. I kill plants, I've event killed a cactus.
3. I'm addicted to buying socks in all different colors.
4. My husband and I have four cats.
5. I'm seriosly grossed out my all bugs even fake ones and those on TV.
6. My favorite color is teal and I will buy everything in that color.
7. I love everything day of the dead themed.
8. I love papercrafting and have my own craft room.
9. I was born in Germany so I could never be president.
10. I love throwing parties and have a homemade "photo booth" for our parties compete with props.
11. I'm addicted to the Internet and I have numerous friends that I've never met IRL :D

11 Questions from Lynette:

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging so I could my running, fitness and weight loss progress. I also wanted to be able to blog about my crafting and daily life activies.

2. What is your favorite recipe?
Dirty Quinoa

3. If you’re not working out you are…
Hanging out with my husband or friends

4. Where is the best place you’ve ever traveled to?
Right now - St. John,  but in May I'm going to Bora Bora!

5. Movie you could watch on repeat?
Love Actually

6. Favorite “pump me up” song?
Ke$ha - Die Young
   
7. What is your favorite fitness magazine?
Women's Running Magazine
   
8. What social media platforms do you use to promote your blog?
Facebook, Twitter, Dailymile & Instagram
   
9. What is your go-to drink when you’re out?
Rum & Diet
   
10. Quote that never gets old?
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
- Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)
   
11. Item of clothing you can’t live without?
Socks!!!! Lots and lots of socks!

My Questions for my Awardees:

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. If you could run a destination race anywhere, where would you have the race?
3. How do you stay motivated to workout doing bad weather?
4. Best book you have read lately?
5. What is your biggest accomplishment?
6. Death row last meal would be?
7. Are you a white underwear girl or do you like them colorful?
8. What is something you can't leave the house without?
9. Coffee or tea?
10. What is your favorite post on your own blog?
11. What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?

11 People I’m Awarding:

Fit Running Mama

Fitful Focus

In my Life I Love You More

Katie Moves

Living the Sweat Life

Mom Running on Empty

Recipe for Disaster

Run Turtle Run

Running on Candy... Fueled by Sugar, Rainbows and Glitter

Running while Mommy

Will Write 4 Travel

50. Go to Niagara Falls

Sorry I was missing from the blog, but I have a good excuse... I was in Canada!!! I have been busy trying to catch up on my 101 in 1001 days list. This past weekend I went to Niagara Falls for the Ice Wine Festival. It was a blast! I traveled with a girlfriend, April, and over and over we kept saying how nice Canadians were. We also received soo much free stuff. Free food, free wine, seriously such really nice people. We wanted to move there! :D Below are some pictures from the weekend, enjoy!

This was the view of Niagara Falls from our hotel room. We had an awesome view from our fallsview room. We were upgraded to a high floor in the Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel and Spa. If you ever go there, definitely check out the packages because they were only about $50 more than the price of a room (per night) and you get daily breakfast, a wine tour, wine samples at two different wineries and a dinner credit at the restaurant at the hotel!

The first night we checked in we thought we missed all the fireworks that they had over the falls, but lucky us, they still had them for one more night! I got to check off one more item from my 101 in 1001 days list!

54. Watch fireworks - DONE!

We were busy over the weekend going to nine wineries/vineyards on Saturday and twelve wineries/vineyards on Sunday (send me a message if you want the list, I'd be happy to share). We also visited a chocolate factory and did a tour of a winery on Sunday. It was a busy weekend! I was able to acquire the pictured regular wines, late harvest wines and ice wines in the picture. Want to know the difference between a late harvest and an ice wine? Here is a good explanation.


Where have you traveled to lately? Any trips out of the country coming up soon? Do you like sweet wines? Have you had late harvest or ice wine before?

My RAVENS are going to the SUPERBOWL!!!

img source: Baltimore Ravens

I'm a HUGE fan/lover of the Baltimore Ravens and they are going to the Superbowl, which this year will be known as the Harbowl!!!! ;P

img source: Natty Boh Gear

GO RAVENS! I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! :D

 
Do you like professional football? Who do you cheer for?

The Columbia Ale House - Soft Opening

Last night I went to the soft opening for The Columbia Ale House with my friend Emily. She got a VIP invite and I was her "plus one," lucky me!

My experience 

Directions (because I think they are important)

I'm familiar with where the location is and you can see if right off Route 175 if you are coming south from Route 29. It's also in the same location that "Rocky Run Tap & Grill" was in if you are familiar with that old restaurant, I loved that place and used to get their "Crabby Patty" all the time. If you put the address in Google Maps it drops you off at the end of the street once you turn at the light, so just continue all the way to the end down by the "LA Boxing." It's a new restaurant and not in Google yet, hopefully they will get that fixed soon. I'm not sure about anyone else's navigation system, but mine wanted me to go over near the MVA express when I put in the address, so just another thing to be aware of with the directions.

Food & Drink

On tap The Ale House is serving Oliver Breweries, I had the "Irish Style Red Ale" and Emily had the "Pagan Porter." I believe we both enjoyed our beers and they went well with our meals. As our appetizers we ordered Mussels with Cilantro & Jalapeño and Flatbread with Goat Cheese & Prosciutto, both were absolutely delicious! The flatbread was quite a large portion (as you can see from the picture) and definitely large enough for two or three people to share. The mussels were also a generous portion, but I wouldn't say they were large enough to share with more than two people.

The food did take a while to come out to our table; however, we were having a good conversation and didn't mind the wait. We also knew there would be some "kinks" that needed to be worked out since this was their "soft opening." As our entrees, we ordered the Braised Filet Tips (note: these have to be ordered medium) with Mashers and the 8oz Filet with Mashers and Brussel Sprouts. Again, the food was delicious and we had no complaints! 

Overall
Overall I would give The Ale House 4 out of 5 stars. I'm curious to see what the menu pricing will be like when they open. Since it was a soft opening our food and drinks were complimentary.

Thankful Thursday - Jason :)

I've decided that at least twice a month I'm going to do a "Thankful Thursday" post for something that I'm thankful for in my life. For my first Thankful Thursday, I'm going to write about how I'm Thankful for my husband, Jason, otherwise known as "J".

Everyday he shows me unconditional love, generosity and an unbelievable amount of support. He is also my biggest supporter in all things I do (healthy living and crazy crafting). I can't wait for the day when we finally have crazy kids of our own (not just our furry four) to share our lives with. He will be an amazing father, NO DOUBT! Instead of going on and on, I just want to say. Babe, I love you with all my heart and soul. Forever and ever.

 

img source: Deborah Hemingway Photography

Me and you, silly yet serious, always (GO TERPS and RAVENS). 

xoxo, 

Linda

Secret Santa Exchange

In 2006, I was lucky enough to met an awesome bunch of ladies online. At the time we were all planning our weddings in Las Vegas, Nevada (my first wedding). Even though that wedding didn't last, those friends are still some of the best friendships that have I have to this day. We have formed numerous online message boards in order to stay in touch and over the years we have always done a "Secret Santa" exchange during the holidays.

This year, I was lucky enough to get a friend who actually lives close by and whom I have met IRL before. Below is the gift I sent her (no worries, she received it today, so it's not a spoiler).

Leave me some comment love and let me know what you think about my gift. Also, let me know about your secret Santa exchanges! What do you have planned for gifts?  

It's A Lifestyle

So True!!

  image source: healthemily

Also, don't forget to check me out on Instagram. I've posted my picture for today's Holidayaday challenge (@livecraftsweat)!  

#Holidayaday Photo Challenge

Today I'm starting over... again! I'm starting a month early if you're thinking in terms of new years resolutions, beacuse like a said before, you can start over whenever you decide you need to. I find that I tend to fall off the wagon alot, and it's always hard for me to get back on. This time, hopefully I'll just stay on!

I'm also going to try and do this Holidayaday Photo Challenge that a friend of mine Kat from Sneakers and Fingerpaints posted on her page..

Follow me @livecraftsweat on Instagram to see my pictures!!

101 in 1001 days

I love lists. I write them all the time. I also lose them all the time. The one list I never make is a new year’s resolution list because I know I'm a procrastinator! For me a year isn't long enough; however, I am gonna give this a try. I think if I make all my goals semi-realistic I should be able to do everything in 1001 days!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific {i.e. no ambiguity in the wording} with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching {i.e. represent some amount of work on my part}.

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. You can find out more regarding the project here.

Start: Wednesday, September 26, 2012
End: Wednesday, June 24, 2015

1. Think of 101 things to do in 1001 days {101/101} finished 9.26.2012
2. Write in my blog on a regular basis for the next 1001 days
3. Travel to the Caribbean - Christmas 2012
4. Travel to Europe
5. Go to the library 10 times and leave nice notes in the books {0/10}
6. Prepare and send 5 care packages for the soldiers overseas {0/5}
7. Take a camping trip and stay in a tent
8. Go in a hot air balloon ride
9. Learn to sew {for real}
10. Sew a pretty apron
11. Read at least one book a month for a year {3/12} 10.12, 11.12, 12.12
12. Donate all my clothes that I haven’t worn in over 3 months {not seasonal}
13. Throw a message in a bottle into the ocean
14. Take a knitting class
15. Spend a weekend in a Bed and Breakfast
16. Watch the sun rise and set in the same day - Cruise 2012
17. Give to a charity - anonymously
18. Take a real cooking class
19. Take a real baking class
20. Go see an Opera
21. Go to the Renaissance Festival
22. Go to another public winery in Maryland other than Linganore Cellars
23. Go to a winery in Virginia
24. Get pregnant
25. Organize my crafting supplies
26. Walk the entire DC Zoo
27. Go to the Holocaust Museum
28. Go to the Spy Museum
29. Host a slumber party {not the adult kind ;P}
30. Send a thinking of you/appreciation cards to 5 friends {0/5}
31. Go out of my way to make plans with a friend that I haven’t seen in ages {0/12}
32. Build a sandcastle
33. Keep a regular backup of my computer
34. Plant a tree
35. Make a painting for the house 1.19.2013
36. Sing karaoke
37. Send holiday cards to friends and family {not just address them :)} Holidays 2012
38. Do cartwheels in the park
39. Plan a girls trip with my besties
40. Plan a Halloween party 10.27.2012
41. Have a movie night
42. Host a wine and cheese night
43. Start to volunteer again!!!
44. Try three new restaurants in DC {0/3}
45. Go to a Maryland Terps Football game
46. Go to a Maryland Terps Basketball game 11.12.12
47. Visit my brother
48. Visit my sister
49. Go to Disney world
50. Go to Niagara Falls 1.26/27.13
51. Go shooting at the gun range
52. Go to the outer banks
53. Work out 4 days a week for 1 month
54. Watch fireworks 1.26.13
55. Lose 15 Pounds
56. Lose 25 Pounds
57. Lose 35 Pounds
58. Reach goal weight
59. Go to an aquarium
60. Cook 10 new recipes {0/10}
61. Bake bread {not tastefully simple beer bread}
62. Go one month of only buying the bare necessities
63. Take a bartending class
64. Learn CPR
65. Have a picnic in the park
66. Take a walk in the rain
67. Get a bikini wax
68. Take a floral class
69. Carve a pumpkin
70. Learn to kayak
71. Do a crossfit class
72. Go ice skating outside
73. Get a Mac computer
74. Do a 26 things project
75. Take a pottery class 1.20.2013
76. Host a cookie exchange
77. Do a kickboxing/martial arts class
78. Send a secret in to PostSecret
79. Learn to drive a stick shift
80. Take 10 day trips {0/10}
81. Do something green
82. Bake a pie from scratch
83. Learn how to make soft pretzels
84. Volunteer for habitat for humanity
85. Take trapeze lessons
86. Go skinny dipping
87. Go apple picking and then make apple sauce
88. Take flying lessons {airplane}
89. Go snorkeling 12.28.2012
90. Learn to make my own beer
91. Learn how to take a compliment
92. Finally move all of my stuff out of my old condo
93. Be a member of the audience in a TV show
94. Sleep under the stars
95. Eat only home prepared meals for two weeks
96. Learn how to sail
97. Make my own wine
98. See a drive in movie
99. Go out to a club on a Thursday night
100. Go paragliding
101. Make a soundtrack of my life