tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67146117472801480352024-03-14T02:31:44.236-07:00Why be Ordinary?Why be ordinary?http://www.blogger.com/profile/11869718765428714034noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714611747280148035.post-6640031391960006872014-04-04T14:11:00.002-07:002014-04-04T14:24:39.278-07:00Suddenly SpringTechnically spring begins in mid-March. This year, however, it began in April. It feels like a switch has been flipped, after such a long, cold winter, its nice to see the campus full of all the people who have been in hibernation all winter outside.<br />
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In celebration of the nice weather I've started my pre-plan plan, an easy ramp up to get myself used to running again and ready to begin my real plan in a few months. Currently, I've been working on running about 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. I've also been incorporating some weight training with a women's weightlifting class that my campus offers twice a week. <br />
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While I feel like I'm on track with exercising, I still need to work on my diet, which is too much that of a typical college student. For example, I have had pop-tarts and 2 coffees so far today, and will eat hamburgers later at a dinner with friends - not exactly balanced meals.Though I need to work on this, I'm optimistic that with a little effort and planning, I can get my diet to where it needs to be to fuel my training.<br />
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All this warm weather has been putting me in such a good mood - feeling awesome!<br />
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277 Days Away from the Marathon Weekend!Why be ordinary?http://www.blogger.com/profile/11869718765428714034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714611747280148035.post-59369556507964519002014-04-04T13:58:00.001-07:002014-04-04T13:59:45.735-07:00Goal Setting...<br />
The Walt Disney World Marathon.<br />
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When I discovered that this race existed, it immediately became a bucket-list accomplishment, and it looks like this year, I will be able to make it happen. I'll be using this blog to track my progress and keep myself accountable.<br />
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26.2 Miles. <br />
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The longest race I have run to date is only a 5K, so over the course of this year, I'll be building up to running (and walking) more than 42K. Here we go.....<br />
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<br />Why be ordinary?http://www.blogger.com/profile/11869718765428714034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714611747280148035.post-58545323233682085372012-07-28T21:42:00.000-07:002012-07-28T21:42:26.945-07:00Train Melted Crayon ArtHey, there!<br />
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On Friday night, I attended the concert that Train held in Raleigh. I wanted to make something special for the concert and my friends and I had recently tried a cool crayon-melting technique. I decided to make a version specifically to honor one of my favorite bands.<br />
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This is the finished Product, let me know if you like it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsbEEEth6N0ANMHNohJGaOUJWJrGt32Mrm1l6S6vOh05aud0BbMArQY37tyYYm9LvvGqSEPGjVlmWs6IoWu5KrdljoBU1M95w3OHCV8A8G-BBa6ROzOKoScYDmY05mlrnb8P-kbTpVZML/s1600/DSCF1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsbEEEth6N0ANMHNohJGaOUJWJrGt32Mrm1l6S6vOh05aud0BbMArQY37tyYYm9LvvGqSEPGjVlmWs6IoWu5KrdljoBU1M95w3OHCV8A8G-BBa6ROzOKoScYDmY05mlrnb8P-kbTpVZML/s640/DSCF1439.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The materials used for this were:<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">1. Canvas (mine was a cheapish version that I got on sale at Michael's Craft Store)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">2. Hot glue gun (it's the most effective adhesive for the crayons) </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">3. Extra hot glue sticks</span><span style="color: red;">**</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">4. Masking Tape </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">5. Hairdryer</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">6. small (pocket/exacto) knife</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">7. </span><span style="color: red;">C</span><span style="color: orange;">R</span><span style="color: yellow;">A</span><span style="color: lime;">Y</span><span style="color: cyan;">O</span><span style="color: blue;">N</span><span style="color: purple;">S </span><span style="color: blue;">( I used one 64 pack)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpWd0t-Zbtzs_ov2nLVENOZFBxwyCyrUFshxv_5ORfabd0-WooLqcifHUY8PwP2_XF4FtRiDn0GkRZ9G-K_xiNpsIStfja6DbF4tCmUPdDiiuZwbyMm-CtXeCXgF1uJ_9POvip0nbeGwj/s1600/DSCF1430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpWd0t-Zbtzs_ov2nLVENOZFBxwyCyrUFshxv_5ORfabd0-WooLqcifHUY8PwP2_XF4FtRiDn0GkRZ9G-K_xiNpsIStfja6DbF4tCmUPdDiiuZwbyMm-CtXeCXgF1uJ_9POvip0nbeGwj/s320/DSCF1430.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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First, get out your crayons, and begin to assemble them in rough groups by color. This makes lining them up in rainbow order a bit easier <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoGmAfgXHdzpt8a4m6OHYADUMHmpklwiDDJMJlKaKEkbx1M5PMKpTsffuMh2I0DVZrxWgSMyYldRKUuOIkyBbBf3jGqtDRS3qZB5AWrsCgg9BB11vPIKwKSTOCBAM5C3MIQh7kvf_kyA3/s1600/DSCF1431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoGmAfgXHdzpt8a4m6OHYADUMHmpklwiDDJMJlKaKEkbx1M5PMKpTsffuMh2I0DVZrxWgSMyYldRKUuOIkyBbBf3jGqtDRS3qZB5AWrsCgg9BB11vPIKwKSTOCBAM5C3MIQh7kvf_kyA3/s320/DSCF1431.JPG" width="240" /></a> <br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Next, arrange them in a rough rainbow scheme ( a little randomness makes the art look much better, don't stress about putting every crayon in order)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aLI_aBn7dNYUSu5TLlrSCnQSE3f-jSq7Zup996TpX6NNkaAUZmzWMDI1XFxxTRdP-HBrVkuvtudXL-Q3r0dr7xP9KkorLBlDM2CPcEf1ozjRMNn0Nv6U-8jZDCg3kQfdcqvgesBXHzXd/s1600/DSCF1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aLI_aBn7dNYUSu5TLlrSCnQSE3f-jSq7Zup996TpX6NNkaAUZmzWMDI1XFxxTRdP-HBrVkuvtudXL-Q3r0dr7xP9KkorLBlDM2CPcEf1ozjRMNn0Nv6U-8jZDCg3kQfdcqvgesBXHzXd/s320/DSCF1432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I then peeled each crayon. I helped a lot to first score the crayons with the knife, and then peel the wrappers off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTdzpOZjW-IGXpP6PpXpsIE049gWxiXzqwfd8y4gBzoQ4mmZWlbUW5DYmGYYV-KWyDvoQVweaiyAyulpkEeVrhFaKi679Ai0fcm4BA21fIYVfVw7R3n1ymwT-CaCE-U8M7EAhEiFvr3gc/s1600/DSCF1434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTdzpOZjW-IGXpP6PpXpsIE049gWxiXzqwfd8y4gBzoQ4mmZWlbUW5DYmGYYV-KWyDvoQVweaiyAyulpkEeVrhFaKi679Ai0fcm4BA21fIYVfVw7R3n1ymwT-CaCE-U8M7EAhEiFvr3gc/s320/DSCF1434.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I then sketched out the design i wanted for the stencil and taped over it ( I got my inspiration from the band's album covers).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD-sDmfmH3ArY0AEoKl8a8g6gjWS-ThKS_lr7ad1obGXV_mraQBxmDMb96oWpRRCtCA_Jn_WDAsFYQxWCZUBH8mW9zW4g5wnEvkmCa-SshOZIweEMql8JCYV0KzpFy2OGtPjdXlM9vM4M/s1600/DSCF1437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcD-sDmfmH3ArY0AEoKl8a8g6gjWS-ThKS_lr7ad1obGXV_mraQBxmDMb96oWpRRCtCA_Jn_WDAsFYQxWCZUBH8mW9zW4g5wnEvkmCa-SshOZIweEMql8JCYV0KzpFy2OGtPjdXlM9vM4M/s320/DSCF1437.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I then glued the naked crayons to the top of the canvas and set up a work station outside with an extension cord for my hair dryer and got to work melting (my brother helped me a lot with this step), which was obviously the most fun part of making this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvVrHLOlfAlDUUg9XY-CdP-M3qTpOcJmipt83IZUbvp4iDCeh3T-veaDZc7k_C8P2GCDF9ThwAuuo1YVQ_5bKYZOclXZBrbmc24LRR4rZovXErp3fb5EiHFt__giNDh86hPdvF-khydbb/s1600/DSCF1438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvVrHLOlfAlDUUg9XY-CdP-M3qTpOcJmipt83IZUbvp4iDCeh3T-veaDZc7k_C8P2GCDF9ThwAuuo1YVQ_5bKYZOclXZBrbmc24LRR4rZovXErp3fb5EiHFt__giNDh86hPdvF-khydbb/s320/DSCF1438.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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After it was melted to my satisfaction (enough that the tape is mostly covered), I let it cool, and then peeled the tape off. The masking tape I used came off pretty easily, but I had to be careful because chunks of the wax kept trying to fall off!<br />
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It only took me an hour to make this, and I brought it to the concert with hopes of a signature. Sadly, that didn't work out. However, the concert was lots of fun, and I got some nice complements on my art! : )<br />
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If you need more inspiration, here are some links to some other pieces:<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/87669543/custom-melted-crayon-art-with-your">Some cool umbrella-and-rain art</a><br />
<a href="http://indulgy.com/post/dMSq6hG6P1/crayon-art">An interesting cross hatch pattern</a><br />
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~ Ashley<br />
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P.S. Let me know if you try something like this!Why be ordinary?http://www.blogger.com/profile/11869718765428714034noreply@blogger.com0