Category Archives: Life

A Tough Week

friday favorites
It seems odd, with my eyes still glued to the latest news in Boston, to step away and talk about the beautiful weekend ahead… to count so many blessings while so much of the country still grieves.  To be so lucky.

But after this week, that’s all I can think… I’m lucky.  I’ll hug the ones I love a little tighter this weekend, and enjoy the sun a little more, knowing that life is precious and fleeting.  And I’ll try to share some cheery links, because if you feel like me I’m sure you’re looking for a little bit of an escape!

Here are a few of my favorites… I hope you, and the ones you love, are safe.  My heart goes out to those who continue to suffer.

Eye this retro bohemian home in Morocco.

Buy a spotted spring dress.

Make these cute clip-on picnic utensils.

Bake this drop-dead gorgeous coconut tres leches cake.

Also, this cake makes my mouth water… as in I can barely look at it because I’m drooling.

Have you noticed that leading men age, but their love interests, well… don’t?

Amen.

Wait, what? Is this a thing?

What makes us feel good about the work that we do?

2 Comments | Posted on: April 19, 2013 | Category: Life, Link Love

A Thousand Miles // A Note on Boston

boston marathon
Sorry it’s been so quiet around here these past few days!  I’m finally back up and around and a little late to commenting on this, but I wanted to share my thoughts nonetheless…

In my mind, Boston has always been a unicorn. I’ve wanted to run the race since my first step out into the cold… but I’ve never known if I could. You see if you don’t run, you might not realize that Boston isn’t just any marathon. Boston is a victory lap, an exclusive club. If you’re running Boston, you’ve already won.

To qualify for the Boston Marathon under new qualifying standards, I would need to cut just over an hour off of my marathon PR (personal record). And Mark would need to run close to 7-minute miles.

Only serious runners qualify for Boston.

Read More »

2 Comments | Posted on: April 18, 2013 | Category: Life, Running

Places I’d Rather Be

warming up / a thousand threadsplaces I'd rather be / a thousand threadsplaces I'd rather be / a thousand threads
Mark joked this weekend that I should put up a little “technical difficulties” sign with a sad Eeyore looking something like this.  But I thought you’d rather look at these sunny images from the Sartorialist’s recent trips to Rio, Miami, and Vegas — all places I’d much rather be.  Anywhere but sick and stuck on the couch with this darn neverending cough.

I promise I’ll be back up and running soon, though, and I have some really fun things in the works that I can’t wait to share.

Hope you’re having a happy Monday!  Even if you’d also rather be on the beach.

3 Comments | Posted on: April 15, 2013 | Category: Life

Can treadmill running hurt your speed?

treadmill vs. road running / a thousand threads
One-Mile Pace: 7:50
Long Run: 4 Miles
Weekly Mileage: 9 Miles

So we’re definitely still recovering, and taking it slowly as a result, but remember what I said about resting to run better? Well I might have some proof, because this week, on my 4 mile run, I broke my mile record! I was able to push the pace up by at least 10 seconds, and maybe even a little more since I took it down to 7:40 at the end.

But (ever the over-analyzer) as my pace begins to improve, I’m starting to worry about the amount of running we’ve been doing on the treadmill.

Usually this wouldn’t be a problem — since in my mind, there really is nothing worse than the ‘mill. But lately my hatred of the cold has managed to edge out my hatred of the hamster wheel enough to force me to suck it up and hop on board.

The truth is, for speedwork and tempo runs the treadmill can be great, since it’s so easy to keep an even tempo and push the pace. The problem is that at least a small part of that ease comes from the flat surface, lack of wind resistance, and help from the belt (it pulls your feet along at least a little).

Now that the weather has warmed up and I’m dying to be outside, but I can’t help but feel that it’s a little harder to keep up with the same faster pace I’ve been able to churn out at the gym.

I’m torn here. Some folks have trained for whole marathons using a treadmill, but it might be the case that they’re adjusting their incline to make up for a lack of other pressures (and I’ve been taking a little too much advantage of the break). Race times are almost always directly related to the way you train, so what do you think? Can the treadmill hurt your speed?

Either way, I think I’ll avoid the rat race for a bit… the sun is calling my name. Who could stay indoors?

5 Comments | Posted on: April 8, 2013 | Category: Life, Running

Weekend Update

my favorites this week
As much as I know you want more conversation in your life about the weather, I can’t help but mention that today is set to be 70 degrees — finally! Spring is here… and that means we’re spending as much of this weekend outdoors as we possibly can… we may even pull out the barbeque!

I hope you’re all having an amazing Sunday and enjoying just as much of this spring stuff as we are.

Now when do they open the pool?

This week I decided to combine two of my favorite features into one so that my Friday links are sure to always bring you something amazing to eye, to buy, to make, and to bake… plus, of course, all of my other favorites from around the web.

What do you think?  There may always be miles to go before I master it, but Photoshop and I are getting to be better friends every day.

Eye these gorgeous florals and this super enviable space.

Buy these amazing suede shorts I’m crushing on.

Make this DIY art from a salvaged portrait.

Bake this lemon poppy seed layer cake.

Pretty watercolor backgrounds for your computer.

I can’t stop laughing at this site.

This is actually really old, I’m late, but I think it’s important, not just for fashion bloggers, but for all bloggers to read (the comments are pretty interesting too, and some of those are a little newer).

These are beautiful.

Also around the web…

Our weekly news update at The Everygirl.

CapFABB’s feature on A Thousand Threads — thanks ladies for the writeup!

1 Comment | Posted on: April 7, 2013 | Category: Life, Link Love

Resting to Run Better

running / a thousand threads
One-Mile Pace: 8:00
Long Run: 3 Miles
Weekly Mileage: 6 Miles

Oh those numbers are sad… I know.

Last week, our whole house was under quarantine… first Austin, then Mark, then me.  I blame the weather (naturally).  But as you can see, a few runs were missed… which is always the worst.  I have the hardest time taking off, especially when I feel like I’m on a roll.

But as much as it bothers me to fall off track, I try to remind myself that sometimes it’s better to rest.  With the right amount of rest, I know we can all come back stronger than ever.  Just take it from someone who’s a way better runner than I am…

“I actually think being a more balanced person makes a healthier, happier, and thus faster person. The question I try and ask myself when I consider whether or not to train more is what is my body craving and what is my body ready to absorb? Sometimes pushing harder is not the answer. It takes self control, confidence, and intuition to know when to train and when to rest, but when in question error on the side of being over rested.” // Ryan Hall

2 Comments | Posted on: April 1, 2013 | Category: Life, Running

Good Friday

my favorite things from around the web this week
It’s Good Friday! Are you desperately excited for Easter this weekend? I always love a good holiday. Will you fast today or attend mass?

I’m not particularly religious, but I do have a deep respect for the love and compassion that play such a central role in religious traditions such as Good Friday and Easter Sunday. And this week, so much more than others, I feel like I’ve seen that love and compassion in action. I’m honored to have so many friends who’ve displayed their red equal signs this week. Yes, we should speak loudly and often for the other causes we believe in, and we might not do it enough. But this week we did. It won’t make a difference in the Supreme Court’s decision, but when we don’t speak, it’s easy to forget how many of us are out there who care deeply about others’ rights. So thank you, it’s good to be reminded… my heart is full this Easter, and I think religion or no, that’s kind of the point… right?

Have an amazing Easter weekend! Here are a few of my favorites this week…

Sézane via Miss Moss.

Patagonia and pisco, three ways.

These shots that make me itch for a vacation.

This gorgeous blanket from Joinery.

Why the red equal sign matters.

Are you telling the right story of your life?

22 illustrated cheat sheets for basic kitchen techniques.

I reaaally wanna go to CAMP.

Bringing home the bacon as a blogger.

Always always always on board with an adult milkshake, especially when it has hot fudge.

4 Comments | Posted on: March 29, 2013 | Category: Life

Newport Folk

This summer, I’m beyond excited to finally get to go to the holy grail of all music festivals — Newport Folk Fest (famous for introducing the likes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez).  If you have a few minutes, watch this amazing mini-documentary from last year and start planning your trip for 2014!

2 Comments | Posted on: March 25, 2013 | Category: Life

Spring Cleaning

Link Love 3-22
Since the weather outside can hardly qualify as “spring,” and my hatred of the cold stands strong, I think I’ll be spending much of this weekend indoors.  I’ve already done a bit of the big annual clearing and organizing that’s inexplicably attached to this season, but oh my friends, there is so much more to come.  Really the task of clearing out the clutter is more than I’d expected… one day (someday) I’ll have a clean and reorganized closet to show you, but until that day comes, well… we’re taking it one step at a time.

I did manage to clear a few things out and get them up on ebay, which is pretty revolutionary as far as my closet is concerned.  I think I’ll take a personal pat on the back for that one (if anything sells, that is… it’s possible that I may have misjudged the enduring appeal of my stuff — but no really, can we talk about the fact that a 10 year old Abercrombie & Fitch skirt that I’ve had sitting in my closet since high school is the single most popular item so far? oh ebay…).

How about you?  I know you couldn’t possibly top all of this excitement, but do you have any big plans for the weekend?

P.S. Actually I lied… I do have one really big plan this weekend, and that’s to celebrate Austin’s birthday!  7 whole years, guys… well technically 7 will come during the week and so will more celebrations… but I’m told there will be cake on Saturday, so naturally that wins.  Little dude is so grown up it’s scary.

Here are a few of my favorites this week.  Enjoy!

Carrot stamped wrapping paper for Easter! Perfect.

Ohhh those shoes.

My favorite treat in the whole wide world — homemade.

This leather jacket that’s (!!!!) in the mail… I’m counting down the seconds until it arrives.

Wes Anderson’s promo for Prada.

I really like Zooey Deschanel.

Sage advice from the Onion.

Can we hang out please?

So honestly, I’m on board with anything that preserves film. But how do we feel about an instagram camera?

Be brilliant.

A running list of words and phrases to avoid.

Why women who choose to stay childless can sometimes feel like they’re the most persecuted of all.

3 Comments | Posted on: March 22, 2013 | Category: Life

A Thousand Miles // Running and Eating

running and eating / a thousand threads
One-Mile Pace: 8:00
Long Run: 5 Miles
Weekly Mileage: 12 Miles

Join me and share updates in the comments on your own progress! Maybe even sign up for a race (even if it’s your first). It’s so much easier to stick to a plan when you have a community of support!

Okay so this post could obviously go in a lot of directions.  Does she mean running while eating?  Is that something like running with scissors, or before you swim?  Is she even talking about running at all or have we moved on to swimming?

Not quite… although when I learned the truth I’m about to reveal, I was just as confused as you probably are right now.  The truth is that when I took up running, I was about 99.9 percent certain that my newfound passion would also, conveniently, be the ticket to both rock hard abs and unlimited pizza.

This wasn’t quite the case.

Read More »

2 Comments | Posted on: March 18, 2013 | Category: Life, Running

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