Planter

I don't have a green thumb, but maybe I wouldn't kill everything if I had these awesome pod planters.

"Trail Running's for Pansies"

Blonde and Redhead are these go-get-em-race-until-I-pass-out-and-die running types. They enter marathons and half marathons and other race-like events. They train and mourn about injuries. They conquer and create pride from accomplishing great feats.

I, on the other hand, have not finished a race longer than a 5k, get majorly bored when running anything past 4 mi, am ridiculously slow, and cannot seem to finish training for anything. The result of the three times I trained for a marathon were thus: two ended in injury (but only one worth quitting for) and one ended from extreme lack of motivation (see running past 4 mi comment). I resolved that I am just not running material.

I love to run, don't get me wrong, but clearly I was not meant to be a "runner."

Running over streams... sigh

You know the type. They have long sleek legs (ahem Blonde and Redhead), they talk about shin splints, IT bands and runners knee, they track mileage and heart rates like fat people count calories.

They are all part of this exclusive club of endurance and stamina and willpower.

I am not one of them.

But then I discovered trail running.

Mueller Park Elephant Rock Trail

Following a particularly rough emotional patch of life, I found myself going on a solo "hike." That environment, along with the aggravation I felt over my job/calling/boy/other personal issues (take your pick) led me to let out some frustration by just pushing my body to the max, running through the trees, sprinting over streams, and winding my way through obstacles. What a rush! It's like running on crack. Your body is soo overwhelmed with conquering the next obstacle you don't recognize that you are breathing heavy or your legs are sore or your IPOD has replayed the same song three times.

IT'S AMAZING. Just sayin', check it out.

Here are some of my favorite Trail runs around the Salt Lake Valley:

City Creek Canyon

West Side Trail:

Take the Bonneville Blvd Street to the entrance of City Creek Canyon. The trailhead is on the west side of the road to the canyon.

Distance:10 mi round trip (I have only gone 6-3 up and 3 down, going to conquer the rest one of these days)

Trail: Singletrack

Difficulty: Medium to Mild, Mild upgrade the first 3 mi, downhill you can cruise

Bonneville Shoreline Trail

Trail Entrance: Take the Bonneville Blvd Street to the entrance of City Creek Canyon. The trailhead is on the east side of the road to the canyon.

Distance: However long your heart desires

Trail: Singletrack to dirt road

Difficulty: Depends on the area. The beginning of the City Creek entrance is a brutal 3 mi 650 vertical feet climb with a total elevation gain of 1250 ft singletrack that you share with mountain bikers. Beware. Other areas are much less brutal but I love going up and then coming back down the climb full speed. The Bobsled portion is a great descent along with the Dry Gulch. I have done all three as separate runs.

Map:

Note: The trail continues all the way to This is The Place State Park but I haven't done that section of it.

Dog Lake Trail

Big Cottonwood Canyon:

9.1 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon is the Mill D Trailhead. Take the Dog Lake Trailhead out of the North Parking Lot. Visit here for more directions.

Distance:5 mi round trip. Uphill then downhill

Trail: Singletrack

Difficulty: Medium with a steeper elevation change. Uphill out, downhill back. More of a hike but I still ran a lot of the uphill.

Optional: Northeast is a trail to Little Water Peak that is only a 1/2 mi more. I took it last time and loved it.

Millcreek Pipeline Trail

Millcreek Canyon:

Take I-215 getting off on 33rd South head east. Take a right onto Foothill Blvd and a left onto 3800 S. heading east into the canyon. Many entrances to Trailhead, I prefer Burch Hollow which is 3.5 mi past the fee station.

Distance:14ish mi round trip. I head west from Burch Hollow for as long as I feel and then go back. Also I have run up towards Elbow Fork and back for a different run.

Trail: Singletrack

Difficulty: Beginner to Medium. Steady trail with hardly any elevation change.
Map:

Note: Popular with mountain bikers

Mueller Park Elephant Rock Trail

See that teeny tiny white rock? Yea that's Elephant Rock... trust me it looks like one. Sorta.

Mueller Park Canyon:

Take Bountiful exit 2600 S. and head east. Take a right on 1800 S. for 3-4 mi. Trailhead is just before the fee entrance to Mueller Park.

Distance: 6-8 mi round trip. Uphill then downhill

Trail: Singletrack

Difficulty: Medium to difficult beginning with a constant elevation increase. First 1.6 miles the thoughest then it levels out a bit until the last .25 mi to the rock. Uphill out, downhill back. More of a hike for the uphill part but I still ran the majority of it. The return is a REALLY fun downhill breeze of 3-4 mi.

Optional: Keep going for a long run that loops around and spits you out of North Canyon...

Note: Way busy on weekends, week day mornings it is nice and quiet. Popular with mountain bikers

Have any favorite trails to share?

Slack Slacklining

What is it?

One of my favorite past times is slacklining.  But every time I say this word I get a lot of blank stares, so let me share with you.  Basically, slacklining is taking a piece of climbing webbing and tying it between 2 trees and walking on it.  Kind of like tight rope walking, but it has "slack." 
It is much more difficult then people expect which results in a funny scene.  Funny Scene:  They place their foot on the line for their first attempt.  Their leg begins to shake violently.  They grab it to try and steady their leg.  They giggle and make some comment about how they can't stop shaking. I love it because it is universal everyone experiences it their first time.  I experienced and you will too.  Don't worry it goes away with practice.
I went slacklining for the first time about 5 years ago. And yes my leg was shaking so bad.  And yes I tried to grab my leg to stop it from shaking.  I didn't slacklined much or consistently until last year when I set a goal to walk the entire line from the beginning to the end, turn and walk back to the beginning.  (Goal met thank you very much).

How to do it?
There are a lot of different set ups for slacklining.  The simplest requires 3 pieces of webbing and 3 carabiners and a lot of muscle.  I'll leave it at that for now, but there are tons of YouTube instruction videos or go chat with someone in the climbing department at REI.



 Where to go?
Here are a few of my favorite places to slackline, but anywhere you can find sturdy trees will work. 

NOTE (What to look for): Look for medium to large trees.  Tree branches shouldn't be too low that when you get on the line you are knocking your head into the leaves or pine needles (ouch).  Spacing between can vary, but you will need more webbing if it is too large. 

• Utah Capitol - there are great trees on the south west corner.
• Triangle by Capitol - this sounds funny, but there is a triangle piece of lawn across the street from the capitol on the west side.  On the far north side of the triangle 2 trees run east and west.  A street lamp offers sufficient lighting for a late night slacklining trip.  (The above picture was taken here.)
• Liberty Park - several great trees, but my favorite are in the middle of the park.  Drive in from the south and turn onto the road in the middle of the park.  Park.  Turn 360 degrees and any of these trees will do.
• Warm Springs Park - Just off Beck Street this park can be a little creepy at night, but just make sure you take some friends.  Trees on the south side of the park are great.  
• Sugarhouse Park - This isn't my favorites spot, but it works.  You either have large pine trees on the the south side or skinny Aspens on the north.  Spacing can be difficult and you don't have as many chooses, but the park is fun and always a live with people.

Found on Etsy: Necklaces

I like traditions.  I'd like to start one.  Presented weekly, Found on Etsy. 

1. In the Tree Tops
2. Rosey
3. Stache
4. 
   
   GOLD

DO: SLC Climbing Gyms

There are 3 real climbing gyms in SLC (The Front, Momentum & Rockreation).  When I say "real", I mean not your local rec center 6' wall.  Each gym has good and bad.  Which you go to depends on what you are looking for from a climbing gym.

The Front in SLC is a bouldering gym (their Ogden gym has some top rope).  I have only climbed there a few times because honestly I don't like the set up.  The bouldering wall is along the south wall with large windows on the north wall which creates a "stage" for you to climb on while your "audience" seats and watches.  I have a hard time climbing if I think all eyes are on me.   Understandably, there will always be someone watching you climb, but this design just optimizes it.  Despite this I recently purchased a $30 month membership to The Front from groupon (cause really who can pass up that deal). If you don't like the feeling that everyone is watching you, this is not the gym for you.

This tiny gym packs a lot of great climbs into a chill climbing culture gym.  Rockreation is probably the size of my apartment (of course with higher ceilings), but still offers bouldering as well as lead and top rope climbing.  Some areas are designed like a cave with short passes between so be careful as you walk around that you aren't in someone's climbing path.
Rockreation has a great down to earth climber environment.  I climbed here frequently and loved the people.  Climb at Rockreation for the people. Don't if you are afraid of climbing in tight quarters.

This is what some would call your "corporate" gym.  The largest gym by far, it offers everything you can imagine for climbing.  Top rope, lead, bouldering, crack (climbing that is).  Find your favorite climbs here.  The gym is spaced out so you have lots of room and it is designed with many different climbing areas so you never feel like you have a large audience.  And there is TONS of climbing.
Momentum is well run, but can sometimes lose that climber environment with its conveniently located coffee shop.  This is where I typically climb because there is so much climbing.

Overall:
With any gym you want to feel comfortable and relaxed so you can focus on climbing.  And at any gym you will have people watching you so get over that and just climb.  Every gym will have a different feel, but it is really the climbers that make the gym great.  My advice:  Leave your friends at home and go by yourself (at least once).  Chat with other climbers.  Ask for their help on problems and offer help if you can.  Climbers are a fun and friendly group of people so don't be scared to chat it up with complete strangers.


The Front
http://www.frontslc.com/
1450 S 400 W

Rockreation
http://rockreation.com/slchome.html
2074 E 3900 S

Momentum
http://www.momentumclimbing.com/
220 W 10600 S

Found on Etsy: Laptop Sleeve

I just purchased my first computer, EVER!  I am a little slow, but making big purchases scare me.  So while I wait for my computer to arrive I have been looking around for an awesome laptop sleeve.



1. Recycled Billboard Banner
2. Seesaw Handmade Vintage
3. Winter in Oxford
4. Maya Case with Yellow Lining
5. Hampshire
6. Vintage Bicycle on Stripes
7. Orange Cotton with Button
8. Bright Birdie
9. Red Wool Felt

Choices, choices, choices.

Which to buy? Or should I make my own?

National Yoga Month

Turns out it is National Yoga Month.  I feel like I have wasted half the month running when I should have been celebrating with yoga.

In honor I dedicate my favorite poses to you Yoga.  What is your favorite pose?

King Dancer (I love balance poses)

Standing Tree (my go-to pose)



lunge with a twist

Crow Pose (oh yeah it is fun stuff)

Check out Yoga Month events in your area

http://www.yogamonth.org/

EAT SLC: Comfort Food

Chicken and Waffles? I don't think I have ever heard of this combination until recently, but apparently this food partnership is very comforting. The Bayleaf boasts a broad menu of what they call "comfort food".  Dishes are as varied as corned beef hash & eggs to pancit bihon pineapple fried rice, from Jamaican jerk chicken tofu saute to our dish of the evening, chicken n waffles.

Perfect late night cafe

We started out with deep fried pickles, which I loved!  I order chicken n waffles, because after hearing so much about them I just had to try them.  The waffle was good, the chicken was good (same breading as the pickles which can be an overload).  The dishes were simple, just the way your mom would make them.  Overall, the food was just good, not great or spectacular.  But there are 2 saving graces to the dinning experience.  #1 Kool-Aid. Yes, this delicious sugary drink that as children we consumed like it was its own food group is served in large mason jars with free refills.  #2 Open weekends 24hrs. Need somewhere better than Village Inn and Denny's for your late night weekend cravings, this is the place.  And this post was well time because it is Friday and tonight the Bayleaf Cafe will be opened late and I am feeling like some chicken fried chicken & eggs

Overall, I liked the place.  It is a fun place to hang out with friends and get some tasty food.  But if you are all about gourmet dinning this is not your place.

The perfect bite

sweet sweet kool-aid

Check it Out:
Bayleaf Cafe
http://www.bayleaf-cafe.com/
Open 24 hours during the weekend
159 N Main Street
SLC, UT 84111

My "Natural" Style

On a trip to the Park City Outlets several months ago I purchased a few pieces of jewelry.  While sharing my new finds with Brunette she commented how my style was very "earthy".  At first I was offended.  But the more I looked at my jewelry, clothing and furniture favs and overall the stuff I seem to love the most I realized she was right, everything had a "natural" feel.  Now I embrace it.  So when I found this on

decor8™, I thought it was a nice mix of design with an earthy feel.

sweet side table tree

Happy Friday

Have a great weekend listening to these songs I can't seem to get enough of.

Bon Iver's Skinny Love (I never get tired of this song, it's been on the list for almost a year now.)

Katie Herzig's Wish you Well (Here is a video of the song performed with Brandie Carlile. Love it.  They preformed this at the show I went to a few months ago.)

Mumford and Sons' Hold on to what you Believe (Sadly you can only get it on the UK itunes.)

And when I'm wanting to jump around and dance.... Matt & Kim's Daylight (I first saw this duo at Kilby Court.  They are awesome live.)

P.S. I promise we didn't kill Blonde. She has just had limited computer access.  And she is currently traveling the world.