A couple of weeks ago, I ran my first half marathon.

I don't really define myself as a runner. A few years ago I was running weekly with a women's group, and I raced a few 5 km's. I had no desire to go farther distances and that was it. Then last fall I decided to get back into running on the paths, as a weekly part of my exercise routine. One weekend I just kept running and ran about 12kms. I wasn't training for anything, or following any program. I was just running in 10-1 intervals, 10 minutes of running with 1 minute of walking. And that 12 km didn't seem that hard to me. And it occurred to me that a half marathon was about double that distance, and that didn't seem too bad either.

So I signed up for the Scotiabank Half Marathon for the end of May. It was a goal to keep me motivated to keep running. Initially I wanted to run it in about 2 1/2 hours. I'm not into speed, I just wanted to finish, and have a good time doing it.

Lots of people have asked me how I did it. How can you run for over 2 hours? How can you not get bored? And here's the thing. You have to run for yourself. And running offers a few things for me. It offers me solitude and therapy. Getting away and just pounding the pavement for a bit. Being alone with your thoughts and figuring stuff out. Working out frustration. The other thing that's really important to me with running is music. I love music. When I was commuting to work for an hour or so each day, I loved just sitting in the car and blasting my music. But now I don't have that time. Running allows me time to get reconnected with that. It's not dancing in my living room, but it's constantly moving to the beat. Reacting to the sounds. Speeding up and slowing down. It is what keeps me going.

I trained using this program that I found online. There are lots online, and many local clinics you can sign up for to, but this one seemed right to me. And it worked great. My time was 2:17:38, which I am thrilled about.

Race day was amazing. Slightly cool and overcast, which are the perfect conditions for me. The route was decent, although there was a stretch at about 15 kms that was pretty tough. By the end, I just wanted it to be over, but when I finally did finish, I felt great. I was tired for sure, but I was really proud too, not to mention the surge of adrenaline.

The jury is still out on when or if I will run another.

 I love the materiality of these Bradford Tile Tables from egg collective. Simple slabs of oiled wood with black bent wire bases. The shape options allow multiple configurations, to be used alone or in groups.

I wandered over to the Dwell Studio site the other day, in search for some new bedding options, and was happy to see that they have introduced some beautiful new things for Summer!

Dwell has a fantastic aesthetic, but what I love about this collection is the new mix of materials and finishes combined with their signature clean, modern style. Crewel work, shagreen, lacquer, brass, and glass. What's not to love?

And again, the bedding collection is superb. That hand drawn scalloped design will be perfect for my new bedroom, now that a sectional is no longer dominating the room. And that fat grey stripe! Might buy these to go in the guest bedroom. Just because.

Music Monday: Beach House has a new album out! With a beautiful debut single.

Isn't this lamp beautiful?

It's a DIY project from the Weekday Carnival blog. Simple brass piping bent to create the form. I'm such a big fan of simple materials used in a simple, yet sublime way. This is perfection.

Music Monday! Brand new music from Grizzly Bear. Their new album will be released in September.

I couldn't wait to share this amazing film.



Speaks to so many things that we are all going through, but often don't articulate.

instaweekend

 mornings reading in bed

lobster party

errands with my boy

back to the pathways

The results of my recent travels and reloading into our basement means that artwork is big on my mind these days. Art pieces are always something I pick up when I travel, as they are lightweight and usually not a big nuisance to get home with. Not to mention the pieces I have been hoarding in anticipation of the basement reoccupation. My current hoard features a vintage map, some David Shrigley cards, my Alanna Cavanagh print, a couple of Bad Portraits, and a few other little odds and ends. And... it's not enough. So I'm checking my favorite art websites in search of more!

Nervous Systems 28 by Ann Tarantino

20x200 is a great source for affordable prints in a variety of sizes. New art is released weekly, in limited editions in a variety of sizes. It's fabulous because you can purchase a print you love at your price point. 

Laura by Georgina Vinsun

Saatchi Gallery has a wide selection of originals and limited edition prints.

Walk on the Ocean by Chalermphol Harnchakkam

Society 6 is another great resource, and while there are prints available, the images are also available on a variety of surfaces including iphone cases, t-shirts, and laptop cases.

And once you have everything, you need to think about framing. My Cavanagh print will get the professional treatment, simply because it is worth it. But everything else will get a more budget friendly approach. My go to's for pre-fab frames are usually Ikea, Pottery Barn, Indigo, and West Elm. But I recently found this post by Emily Henderson, who outlines a ton of great offerings, many available online. I, for one, am very excited about the fineline frames, as those styles are definitely harder to find. 

Beautiful walls for all!

I seem to be spending less and less time around here. I'm not sure if I'm just really busy, or maybe re-prioritizing things at the moment. I've had a lot on the go. Since I last posted here I went on a wonderful vacation to England and Germany, ran my first half marathon, and I am in the final stages of getting the basement back in once piece. So there has been a lot on the go in the last little while.

And I have so much to share! I have posts planned about my favorite things from my travels, as well as lots of house updates as I pull our house back together. Just bear with me while I get back into the groove of things.

And for Music Monday? This is a favorite standby that I've been playing a lot lately.