Cathy Zielske's Blog

Trying something new

The view outside my bedroom window as leaves begin to change.

Here in Minnesota, fall is in the air.

I know for many of you who reside South of the Mason Dixon line, thinking 'fall' in September is a bit of cruel tease. Normally, fall takes a little more time in getting to my neck of the woods as well, but this year it showed up the day after Labor Day and has shown little if any signs that it's giving up its hold.

I can't complain.

Running and biking in the fall is like heaven. Other than trying to second guess if you really do need that extra layer when you set out, it feels like you're almost doing different sports altogether. A run at 45 degrees is a whole different ballgame than a run at 80 with 75% humidity.

I get ansty for fall. Around about mid-August, I'm done with summer. I realize that's almost sacreligious to some Minnesotans who struggle with our extended winters, but the way I look at it, you can always add a sweater.

Part of being antsy is wanting to shake up my eating plan a bit. I've been doing Weight Watchers online pretty religiously since January 7th, and for some reason, I have decided to try a different online program which simply trades the idea of points for good old fashioned calories.

Six of one, half dozen of the other, right?

But this new plan only costs $9.99 a month as opposed to the Weight Watchers monthly fee of $17.95.

MyFoodDiary.com is a lot like Weight Watchers online, but the part I am really liking? Their food database seems way more extensive. They have the same recipe builder tools as Weight Watchers, and forums for those who like to get more involved.

But the bottom line? I get the same tools for less money, and so I made the switch.

Because I'm nearing my goal weight and will be moving into maintenance, I figured why not still track food from a caloric standpoint, but save a little coin.

This is my second full week using their plan. At first, I freaked out a bit. My points! What about my points? But then I realized, points is points, calories is calories. It's still boils down to one thing: move more, eat less.

If I can do this using other methods, then so be it.

I will say that taking charge of my diet and exercise has been the single best decision I've made in years.

(Aside from buying this vest, this skirt and these boots.)

Is it weird that I just wore this around the house to do laundry? I'm just sayin', I haven't felt this cute in years. Here's to moving more and eating less.

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Are any of you already using MyFoodDiary.com? If so, I'd love to hear your opinions!

 

It makes me feel like a bit of a badass

Yesterday I ran my second 5K at Women Run the Cities. I shaved almost 5 minutes off my previous time set back in July when I ran my very first race. 

Yep, almost five minutes.

And that, gentle blog readers, made me feel like a bit of a badass.

 

It didn't hurt that I was decked out in black from head to toe. (Literally, as I completed a fresh dye job on the old mop top just days before the race.)

I also chose to both shower and put hair products in my hair, opting to ditch my beloved running cap. I'm all for sporty, but heck, what's wrong with a wee bit of Aveda to help complete the look?

Me and my running partner/neighbor/friend Angela, a fellow 44-year-old newish running devotee toed the line together, running more or less neck and neck until she kicked it into a much higher gear and blew past me like the wind in the last 1/4 mile. 

My time? 27:50. Average per mile pace? 8:58. I was thrilled.

 

I was secretly just hoping to a) beat my original time from July, and then if I was really getting crazy, b) run under 30 minutes. I made a really zippy running mix and I swear it got me off to the start I needed.

Seriously, if Jónsi's Animal Arithmetic doesn't set your toe a tappin', then maybe you don't really fancy Icelandic pop music. It makes me want to just go!

I'm not the most competitive person in town, but there is definitely something that starts to happen in your brain when you're competing against your own time. You want to be better than last time. 

In this race, I took off at a pace I never really run at, and kept it up for most of the race. An unexpected side stitch at about the 2 mile mark said, "You aren't breathing very well, missy." I actually said to myself at that point, "Pain is temporary," and kept on truckin'.

Pain is temporary? Seriously? I can't imagine any former version of me that would ever think that for any conceivable reason.

 

But that's the nutty thing about running. It's putting a far more adventurous me out there in the world. 

It's making life a little less safe and predictable. 

And trust me: my therapist says that's exactly what I need.

 

(Thanks Angela, for being my running partner/neighbor/friend and encouraging me to sign up for this! We are SO on the 10-mile event next year. And thanks to Beth, fellow 5Ker, for the pic of the time sheet!)

Sponsor Giveaway winner

The winner of a spot in Step by Step Design with Illustrator, taught by Laura Coyle at ReneePearson.com is:

Jana, please contact me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your seat in class.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to eat pasta for dinner in preparation of my big race tomorrow. (Okay, so it's only a 5K, still…and excuse for carb loading? I'll take it!)

Sponsor Giveaway: ReneePearson.com

Want to get down with Adobe Illustrator? One blog reader will win a spot in Step by Step Design with Illustrator, taught by Laura Coyle at ReneePearson.com.

This is a beginning class to learn Adobe Illustrator. If you are ready to to make your own frames and elements, get more savvy with type and edit stock illustrations for your layouts, then you are ready to dive into Adobe Illustrator! The waters run deep, but with a focus on steps that build from lesson to lesson this class will give you immediately useful techniques for working in this powerful vector graphics program. This class runs from October 8 through November 4th.

To enter, leave me a comment today and I will randomly select a winner sometime after noon on Saturday.

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If you're thinking of doing Becky Higgins' Project Life, now is a great time to get in on the documenting fun, as Becky is selling Project Life kits at Amazon for $10 off the regular price. Fun, do-able and now, on sale.

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Video Tutorial: Customizing StorySaver Journal Cards for Hybrid Layouts + a Free Photo Template Download

I recently released a new set of six PNG journal card files called "StorySavers" and wanted to show you how to use them in a hybrid project.

The StorySavers are 4 x 8 journal card files, designed to be layered into digital products, or printed out and used on traditional scrapbook pages. They feature cute little check boxes, and have a fun, form-like feel that I'm really digging.

I wanted to do a layout about seeing Crowded House earlier this month with Aidan as my date. It was a really special night, to see my favorite band, with my favorite girl, and a girl who knows more than her fair share of Neil Finn songs. The final page looks like this:

 

Very simple. A story and a few snapshots. Here is short video that shows how I customized the colors of the StorySaver PNG file.

Customizing StorySavers Journal Cards for Scrapbooking from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
All instruction is given using Photoshop Elements 8.0. There is always more than one way to accomplish anything in PSE. These are my steps.

Customizing PNG elements using the Layer via Cut command is the easiest way to isolate elements, and then re-color them.

With the PNG file open, simply use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to select completely around the element you'd like to recolor, in this case, the word "LOVE." Note: I zoomed in really big so I could clearly see where I was clicking and dragging.

Next, go to Layer > New  > Layer via Cut. Your element will now be isolated on its own layer.

To change the color of the element, use the Set Foreground Color control in the tool palette to choose a color by clicking once on the top square. The Color Picker will come up and you can choose a color. Or, do what I did, and use the Eyedropper Tool to sample a color from one of your photos.

Once you have the color, go to Edit > Fill Layer.  Make sure you have Foreground Color selected, make sure the Blending Mode is set to Normal, and make sure Preserve Transparency is checked. Click OK. Your element color should change.

Next, I changed the size of my journaling card to be 3.4 inches wide, to make for a slightly smaller card size.

Finally, I decided to add a text layer for my journaling. While I love the idea of hand journaling on these, I knew I would run out of room to tell the whole story.

 

I sent this to print on white cardstock, then trimmed out the card leaving just shy of 1/4 of an inch of white to frame the entire piece.

FREEBIE PHOTO TEMPLATE FOR YOU

I figured since I designed all of the elements for this page digitally, why not give you the photo template that goes with the layout. (Click on the green link below to begin download.)

Download CZSimplePhotoTemplate

The photo template contains layer masks for your photos, and layers that contain the crop marks to show you where to trim in order to get a nice even white photo border on your shots. With my photos dropped in, the file looked like this:

 

To mask a photo into a layer, you simply copy your photo into the template, make sure your photo is directly above the intended mask layer in the Layers Palette, and then go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask (also achieved by hitting Control + G or Command + G). You can then size accordingly within the mask, and move photo to a desired crop.

Print this sheet onto photo paper, then trim. To use the crop marks, you simply line them up on the edge of your paper trimmer.

 

Do not cut all the way through, however. Trim to the edge of one mark, lift up the paper, turn, and repeat. When you are done, voila! A lovely photo with a nice white border.

If you have any questions about today's post, leave me a comment and I'll do my best to answer.

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SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Kraft Cardstock, OP White by Bazzill Basics
Patterned Paper: Sonoma Sierra Place by Scenic Route (striped sheet), Basics Poll by BasicGrey (brown sheet)
Border Punch: Fiskars Threading Water Punch
Digital Journal Card: StorySavers 1 (Cathy Zielske for Designer Digitals)
Photo Paper: Ilford Gallerie Smooth Pearl  Font: Archer
Stamps: Making Memories Magnetic Stamp Kit

Sporty Run Faves

Disclaimer: I am by no means a sports and fitness expert, nor do I play one on television. That said, I have gotten my sad little booty into much, much happier shape by grabbing the proverbial bull by the horns this  year, and Moving More and Eating Less. And running.

 

I've been asked to share some of my favorites in the realm of running. Shall we begin?

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RUNNING SHOES

 

I'm a big fan of Newton Running. I wear these shoes. I am striving for the midfoot strike, also known as natural running, or Chi Running, if you will. These shoes are pricey, and are light as a feather. They may not be for everyone, but for now, they are most definitely for me.

RUNNING CLOTHES

I've been slowly amassing more and more running duds. Here are some of my faves.

New Balance Bonita 2.0 Running Skirt.

I can't say enough about this skirt. When I'm in it, I feel adorable. Plain and simple. End of story. Plus, it skims my butt in a more flattering way than any compression short ever could.

Nike Fund Filament Women's Running Shorts

I have a few pairs of these basic compression type of short.

Nike Distance Tech Women's Running Capri

I just picked up a pair of these for the cooler fall weather.

New Balance Tempo Long Sleeve 2.0

I just picked up a few of these for fall. I love the flattering fit. Not too tight, and skims just over the muffin.

New Balance Competitor Long Sleeve

This is perfect for mornings below 50 degrees. It has great little thumb holes in the sleeves, too.

Brooks Nightlight Jacket

Love this jacket. It will keep me dry in the rain, and help keep the wind out, too.

Headsweats Race Day Hat

I adore this hat. I have a few others by Nike, but this is my go-to hat. It has a great sweat band inside the hat. Helps keep that sweat at bay. It also hides any second day black hair dye, if you get my drift. I ruined my white Nike hat after washing that grey right outta my hair… lesson learned!

 
Moving Comfort Maia Bra

Gotta keep the girls in line, people. I have two of these and my 36Cs don't move an inch. Well, mostly.

Body Glide

Buh-bye boob chafe or chub rub. Anything that's rubbing, this stuff is a miracle potion. I don't run without it.

TUNE SUPPORT

I have a 5th Generation Nano, which of course you can't buy on Apple.com. But man, I'm thinking of upgrading to the this one:

Oh, mama. Come to…mama.

Nike+iPod Sport Kit

Although this is not the most accurate of systems, I love Nike+. It has been the key driver to my running. Keeping track of my time, distance and pace, and helping me to at least challenge myself to continue adding to my growing number of miles.

The Original Shoe Pouch

Because I don't wear Nike brand shoes, I need a shoe pouch to place my sensor into. This one is not only cute, but works like a charm. Mine is hot pink, to match my shoes.

RUNNING READS & INSPIRATION

I don't know about you, but I like to soak up inspiration where ever I can find it. Here are a few great reads for runners.

Run Like a Mother
by Sarah Bowen Shea and Dimity McDowell

I swear to you, this is the book that made it all click for me. It made me realize: I am a runner. I am part of a community—a tribe of women—out there, making it happen. Plus, I heart the authors. They are both amazing, strong, inspiring and wickedly smart, funny women.

Chi Running
by Danny Dreyer

This book came highly recommend by many blog readers, and it didn't disappoint. It helps me to focus on my form, and to be out there, running pain free. In short, it saved my knees.

No Need for Speed
by John Bingham

I think anyone interested in running should read this friendly, informative guide by John "The Penguin" Bingham. He could be your new best support system. In fact, check out all his titles. They're all worth their price.

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And that blog friends, is the list…for now. I'm sure it will continue to grow. Dan has to laugh at me, because for him? He needs shoes, a cotton t-shirt, ratty shorts and an iPod Shuffle and off he goes.

But let's be honest here. He won't look nearly as cute.

Fall is in the air (and I am in my bathroom)

Fall is in the air. I am wearing a new vest. I am drinking more tea.

 

I am taking more pictures of myself in the bathroom mirror and applying more actions to them. My goal is to look slightly freaky and much more introspective.

 

I know I should have so much more to say, but it's Monday. Not to worry! Why, we have ALL week.

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Me: The Abridged Version registration closes this on Wednesday the 22nd at 10 p.m.. You're not too far behind if you sign up now! We're jamming on writing about ourselves. It's a pretty cool thing.

Giveaway Winners

The winner of a seat in TextFx from Renee Pearson is:

The winner of the ScrapScription's September kit is:

Ladies, contact me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your prize. Thanks everyone. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sponsor Giveaway: ReneePearson.com and Scrapscription

If you've ever wanted to learn more about how to use type on your designs, then you might want to win a seat in TextFx from Renee Pearson. One blog reader will win a seat in this workshop with Tiffany Tillman.

ABOUT THE CLASS: Type is creative. Type communicates. Type represents you on your scrapbook page. Isn't it time you mastered type? Tiffany Tillman's TextFX takes you on a learning adventure through basic typographic theory to eye-popping title text effects using eight learning objectives and ten digital title-work projects. You’ll walk away confidently knowing how to apply your personal typographic style to anything you create.

This class runs from 10/11 to 11/7 and costs $50 ($40 until 9/20 for an early bird discount!)

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One blog reader will win ScrapScription's September kit. And this is a cool one, scrapbookers!

ABOUT THE KIT: We’ve taken the idea of a “week in the life” and turned it into a simple plan for you to document those daily moments in your life.  Whether you choose to go with the “days of the week” or do your own sort of “measurements of time”, this album is all about getting the little details that make up so many parts of the bigger picture.  You know the story—it’s the everyday cycles of life that you want future generations to know and understand.  From how we communicate, to how we transport from place to place to how we gather for meals or the chores and errands we run every day.  While on their own can be quite hum drum, the collection of these moments is something to be cherished. 

Basic Grey’s newest Basics line was the perfect backdrop to this portfolio.  We added in some of the cardstock label stickers, sticker trims and tabs from the same Basic White line.  With a ton of pre-stamped images and a big 6x12 sheet of mini alpha stickers you are going to love the sweet simplicity of this album.  Then we through in some cool texture with the Tim Holtz ruler ribbon (an entire package!), the metal scalloped page edge and some other cool metal pieces inside.  If you missed out on our last “portfolio” style album, here’s your chance to give it a try!  We are sure you’ll fall in love with the unique style this album provides.  

ABOUT SCRAPSCRIPTION: ScrapScribers is ScrapScription’s monthly mini-album kit club. As a ScrapScriber member you are guaranteed ScrapScription’s 15th of the month kit each and every month! No need to worry about missing out on a fabulous kit; you will automatically be billed and sent your ScrapScriber kit each month.

As a member of ScrapScribers, you will receive your kit at a guaranteed discounted price of $32 each month. In addition, every 6th kit will be shipped free of charge! Finally, with your 12th kit you will receive an additional FREE ScrapScribers member’s only kit that will not be offered to non-ScrapScribers members.

SPECIAL OFFER: As a special offer to all Cathy Zielske blog readers, if you join ScrapScribers before the end of September, your first kit – the September ScrapScriber kit, “Life’s Little Moments”—will be shipped free of charge. When checking out, enter CZBLOG as a coupon code to receive this discount.  For more information, visit the ScrapScriber page by clicking here. 

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TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN: Leave me a comment today and I will choose a winner sometime after noon CST on Saturday. 

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Rage against the machine

I recently dug out some old papers to share with a friend, regarding a mutual love of a particular recording artist who goes by the name of Peter Gabriel.

If you've been with me over the years, you may have picked up on the fact that I'm a bit of a fan girl when it comes to all things PG.

I became a PG convert during his "So" album period. Oh sure, I was familiar with some of his earlier work, but at the time I was also very immersed in the musical stylings of Steve "Mom Jeans" Perry. PG  in the early 80s was far too esoteric for this mainstream, arena rock-lovin' girl.

But once to PG, to you never go back, or so they say, and my fandemonium culminated in seeing him in concert in 1986 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. Long story short? The concert changed my life. Changed. My. Life.

As in, my life was changed, like, forever.

I liken it to a religious experience; a 3-day stay in a sweat lodge; a visit to the other side—you know, the place where little Carol Ann in Poltergeist went—and back.

In other words, it was a really good concert.

My story actually begins here, as the local music critic for the Dallas Times Herald deemed PG's show as being "swallowed by" and too "subtle" for the venue and the times.

 

Imagine you're 19, you've just had a veritable soul changing experience, one that has left you seeing the world with eyes anew, and you find out that some douchebag critic calls your sweat lodge-like experience 'flat.'

Oh, I was pissed. And an English major.

I let my pen right with might. I crafted a scathing tome of a letter, pouring my heart into each sentence, filling no less than four pages (typed and single spaced) with facts, figures and just the right amount of stinging sarcasm.

Then I sent it off to the paper.

Turns out, they could not deny me. (Okay, they denied me roughly 22 paragraphs, but they did include a choice few, as evidenced for all time here:)

I am still saddened that they left of the final sentence of the original letter, my coup de grace, if you will, where I wrote: "If anyone sheds a less than heavenly light on the avant-guardian angel Gabriel, there'd better be hell to pay."

Advantage MacDonald!

I was so buoyed by defending my idol's honor that I decided to make copies of the review, my original letter, my unedited letter (I'd be damned if PG wasn't going to get to hear that line about the avant-guardian angel), and I'd send them off to Peter's offices in Bath, England.

And while I was at it, I'd just happen to toss in a poem I wrote for him, inspired by this song.

(Remember, English major = Yes, I really AM that deep):

 

Little hands with big intentions indeed!

I can't even begin to count the number of Benson & Hedges Deluxe Ultra Light Menthols that fueled the creation of that one.

So I sealed it all up with a kiss and sent it off.

Imagine my utter and complete freak out when, a few months later, I got a letter in the mail with a return postage mark that looked like this:

 

Okay, I realize you can't make it out so I'll help out: Bath, England.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!

Turns out, Peter's assistant wrote me back. This is what she wrote:

 

I know this post is a bit of a ride down a particularly indulgent memory lane that may or may not be of interest to a single blog reader out there on the internet (except for Sarah and Chalkley), but at the end of my life, I'm going to know that Peter Gabriel's assistant passed all of my papers over to him personally and he got to see how a brilliant young writer from Grapevine, Texas, defended his honor against the tyranny of the unenlightened, bourgeois American free press.

And like Bill Murray once said in Caddyshack, "So I got that goin' for me…which is nice."

And that, dear blog readers, is also part of the story entitled, "Why I became a graphic designer."