{WIN} A Custom Artwork Jewelry from KidzCanDesign.com

{Scroll to the bottom to enter to WIN a customized pendant}

Since becoming a mommy, time FLIES by. Five years has passed at break neck speed. They grow and develop so quickly and learn to do so much.  

I find myself trying to take mental pictures of these moments, {CLICK} and they're gone. 

I love seeing their creative juices flow on our craft table. Just mix paper, glue and glitter for amazing results (that will have your vacuum occupied for weeks).

I've had to make the hard decisions about their treasured artwork. Do I save each masterpiece in the ever amassing bin of colored paper? What stays? What gets snuck shawshank redemption style to the recycling bin? I have my favorites, the little treasures they've created from their ever growing imaginations, etched in their adorable scrawl. They're like little time capsules that can be revisited as they get too big to scrawl 'MOM' in every color imaginable.

I was looking for a unique mother's day gift for my mom when I saw an ad for KidzCanDesign.  They take your child's artwork and turn it into a wearable jewelery item. They even have key chains for Dads. My daughter thought that a picture of all her grandkids would be a hit and went to work like the little Picasso that she is.

When it arrived the necklace was adorable - high quality sterling silver and totally perfect for Grandma. It was so cute that my husband commissioned our daughter to create the perfect picture fora mother's gift for me.

To get your own custom creation for $10 off at KidzCanDesign use the code: LareinaW! You can also enter to {WIN} your very own customized pendant by entering below!


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Couch to 5K with Fleet Feet Fort Mill

I've noticed a common thread while scrolling my weekly news feed. Friends of all ages, sizes and athletic ability are participating in fun, color, mud, obstacle, spartan or charity runs. Being an adamant non-runner, I began wondering what all the buzz was about.

As I neared my 35th birthday and the blaze of candles that awaited, I pledged that 2014 would be the year I ran a 5K. Now a 5K isn't very far, but it's far for me - and would be a challenge and accomplishment. My hubby Jim and his sporty, sexy self had run the Baltimore Marathon 4 years ago finishing in just over 4 hours. He has always enjoyed running, but he's fast and wasn't an ideal running partner for me. I needed a starting point, and place to find support and camaraderie.

Enter Fleet Feet of Fort Mill which has just opened in the Harris Teeter shopping center on 160 and Sutton Rd. They offer their No Boundaries couch to 5k program. I signed up with some of the hot mamas in my neighborhood and we were ready to begin our 12 week training program.

Week one began and we were off! The program asked that we run as a group twice a week and train on our own either running, walking or doing cross training another two times a week. At the first group run we did a trial mile, which was a challenge for me. The other runners and coaches cheering me on really made a difference, and helped to change my 'I can'ts' to 'I think I cans'. I finished in 15 minutes, amid huffing and puffing and cursing my 'great' ideas. 

The next day my shins and quads were sore, but I ran/walked/complained another mile while my husband pushed the kids in the stroller. I had to admit, it felt good to get out in the fresh air and see what my body could accomplish.

Photo from: http://thestylebadger.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/no-matter-how-slow-you-go-you-are-still-lapping-everyone-on-the-couch/

Stay tuned as I train for my 5K over the next 11 weeks with the support and guidence of Fleet Feet of Fort Mill. Check them out on their website here, and like them on facebook!

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