Tired, Verrrry Tired

This is what I feel like this morning and what I feel like doing today. Tired, and sprawling out on the couch.

We did it! We crossed the finish line of our Ironman race yesterday! It was about 100 times more challenging than I thought it would be - but hands down the most physically & mentally challenged I have ever been in my life - and therefore, the most rewarding. And I was the happiest girl in the whole world to cross that line.

I'll be taking a couple days of rest now... from work, from blogging, from my black berry (maybe) - and resting my very tired bones.

See when I get off the couch.

IM in Training: Gear

This sport called triathlon is not for the gear-less. There is so much stuff you have to have (and remember to have) for this sport - and especially so for Ironman because the distance is so great. These are just a couple things we've had to pick up: water bottles and CO2 cartridges. We'll each have four water bottles on our bike (and drinking 10-15 by the end of the bike) and 3 CO2 cartridges on the bike in case of flat tires. And these are the most benign of it. Don't even get me started on salt tablets and body glide!

IM in Training: Arizona

A couple shots of sunny (and very hot!) Arizona. I'm so happy to finally be here that I think the butterflies have actually settled since touching down. We swam in the murky Tempe Town Lake this morning, officially registered, got our race bracelets and synced our race chips. Just a few steps closer to the finish line!

Harper's Bazaar

While we're in sunny AZ and prepping for our first dip in the lake out here, I thought I'd share this equally sunny page from the latest Harper's Bazaar. See the L&H stationery in there? It's our custom-designed conch shell pattern.

More from IM central soon...

Up Up & Away

I apologize in advance for all you paper-loving people out there... the rest of this week's blog and into next will be playing a very different tune as we prepare for the Ironman this Sunday. Eight months of training - and here we are, five days out. We leave for Arizona this morning and will be working from out there as much as possible while Jen holds down the fort back here in Brooklyn. I've had some serious butterflies fluttering around in my stomach for the past week as I started to set aside my clothes for the trip. I cannot believe it's finally here! Woa, deeeeeeep breath.

How great are these drawings above? They're from a poster that John's sister & her family sent us. So nice! Thanks, you guys!!!

More from sunny Arizona to come.

Garland AND Balloons

While I love garland, balloons are happiness. I'd almost prefer balloons to flowers for birthday wishes. They just make me smile. It's not very environmentally friendly of me - but once a year, I'd like to throw a party with a room full of balloons. This one would do:)

[Untitled (Arika) by Dorthe Alstrup]

Recent Work: Una Fiesta

I thought I'd start the week off with some recent work: our fiesta party flag-inspired birthday invitations. I love paper garland! It's a sign of good times in my book. I see the garland, and I just know I'm going to have a good time. Garland=Fun. So, given my apparently strong feeling on garland, I jumped at the chance to create something like it for this fun Mexican-themed birthday party. The letterpress bumps it up to another level I think. Still fun though, of course!