Deadlift Girl Cross Stitch Pattern

And it is now released and available to be purchased. If you are knowledgeable about this series you'd know this is based off one of my drawings. Deadlift Girl. What you may not know is this drawing was kinda a picture of my sister. She is my deadlift muse, she is everything I want to be in the gym. It is one of two cross stitching patterns that are part of my fitness girls series. It will start with the three major powerlifting moves squat, deadlift and bench and include other exercises as I work out how to draw them.

Here is the picture I drew that it is based off. I'm really happy with how it turned out. A couple of cool details that you would like to know, the blue weights are 20kgs each and the bar is 20kg itself. So the weights in the cross stitch piece is 60kg.

Also the hands are in what is called an alternate grip. This grip is taught to a lot of women when doing a deadlift as it is easier to grip the bar with smaller hands.

It's been made to match with the squat girl pattern. The width is the same, and it's made to go together if you wish. It will eventually be a set of three with the bench girl making the set. It is the three major power lifting moves. I will add some of the other exercises eventually as I work out how to draw them.

So where do you find these awesome patterns? 

Well there are two ways you can buy it. If you just want the deadlift girl by itself you can find her at this link.

If you are interested in both the squat girl and the deadlift girl you can buy them in a bundle together that is slightly discounted. You can find the bundle here.

If you have already bought the squat girl from me I have a special code for you to use to purchase the deadlift girl. Message me and I will pass that onto you.

I really hope you enjoy the newest pattern in my collection.

Happy Stitching 
Caitlin

Craft Every Day week 9

Uni has started back so time has flown away! I have been stitching, but not knitting this week. Too hot and haven't quite been in the mood. I posted last week about my promise to publish 7 new patterns by the 21st of March :D well I have been working towards that with a few test stitches happening so I can actually make it happen! 

 Can you guess what pattern this thread is for?

 Did you guess the pattern right? I have to make a few changes to the pattern itself I found a couple of issues when I was stitching this up (which is why I test stitch these kinds of patterns) but overall I am sooo excited about this one. I will be doing a big launch with this pattern and a few others all at once when I have them ready. Maybe even on the 21st?

I did get a bit of stitching done on the peppermint purple SAL I'm not focusing on this one much at the moment because I'm focusing on my patterns but I still love picking it up and doing a little bit more in between other projects. But I'm not behind with this SAL. I think it is the first ever SAL that I have not fallen behind on... partially because it's such a small weekly commitment that it is easy just to work on.

Happy Stitching :D I hope you enjoy!
Caitlin

New gym

A lot has changed personally in the last month and I'm not really going into details as a lot is still being worked out. BUT one thing that has truly changed for the better is I joined a new gym.

I loved the bootcamp that I was doing and it was fantastic to get me up and moving and you've heard me go on about that. But circumstances changed and I found myself needing to find a gym closer to work rather than home. I decided to join my sister's gym and organised to work with her Personal Trainer as well. I was finding that I wasn't getting as much from the bootcamp anymore and I wasn't making the gains that I really wanted to make. So I have now started strength training. Meaning I'm learning how to squat with a bar and how to do a bench press. I'm 7 weeks in and I go one morning a week with my PT and then try and get another morning with my sister. 

 This is me with 45kg on the bar :D I'm getting ready to go down so breathing in carefully.

 This is me going down I'm concentrating really hard ...

 

up up up we go. I've learnt that looking up makes you feel up! 

Don't you just love my tough mudder shirt? I'm hoping to get another this year if everything works out I'm planning on doing the full course! 

I am loving this new workout program I'm on because I feel great and I'm feeling stronger. I woke up this morning feeling Meh, but I had a standing appointment with my sister and once I was at the gym I felt so much better.

This is me at the end of my workout. I was tired and a little sore but feeling great. I don't always look amazing when I'm finished and in this case I was looking forward to my shower BUT the feeling of having worked out was amazing.


Does anyone else do weights? If you don't what do you do for exercise?

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Just Strong

As you guys know this last year I have been really focusing on my fitness and getting stronger and fitter and generally more able to do what I want when I want to. I have absolutely fallen in love with obstacle courses and just general fitness. I know I'm happier when I take the time to get out and actively do something.

That is why when this opportunity came up it was hard to resist. I have become a brand ambassador for the company just strong. If you click this link here you will be sent to their store and it will automatically apply the 10% discount code for you. It is an affiliate link so I do get a commission if you buy from them but you also receive a discount so.... if it interests you then please support me.

 I have always been picky about what brands I choose to support here on my blog, and I want to explain some more about why I feel that this brand is worth supporting.

Since I can remember I was always given the impression that women can't be strong. That they can't have muscles and they don't have the abilities that men do. It was never implicitly stated to me but the women that surrounded me gave me that impression. Although my mum is amazing and used to be really fit most of my memories as I was growing up were of her struggling with her weight and fitness. Then through high school I had an innate fitness that managed to get me through the down times but even by grade 12 I was finding I didn't have the fitness to keep pushing through everything. I was finding that I would play softball for 6 months of the year, and get decently fit by the end of the season, then spend 6 months doing nothing only to have to start all over again. This cycle has continued for the last 10 years of my life.

Mud anyone?

I like exercise, actually I LOVE exercise but I am one of those people who generally likes to exercise with others more often than not. About this time last year I decided that enough was enough and I needed to change right NOW or I would end up unable to move at all. I found an ad on facebook and joined a bootcamp. Since then I haven't looked back. I've done 3 obstacle courses (exhibit A above :D) and am looking to do more. I joined back up with a softball team and generally just find I function better when I'm moving and doing. So I strongly believe in the power of exercise both for my mental health and for my body.

That leads us to this company. Here is a quote directly from their website.

The squat is the perfect analogy for life - it's about standing back up after something heavy gets you down and what better way to present this analogy by using it in our branding. We are here to empower and motivate strong women from every walk of life.

We want you to never give up and to stay strong physically and mentally. Just like the squat, our clothing is a symbol of standing back up, fighting against any resistance life throws at you and becoming stronger. This is the idea of where our company was born. Motivate strong women to overcome their adversaries and embrace their strength, no matter the source.

If this isn't exactly what I was saying before I don't know what else is? I believe that exercise is the key to feeling better about yourself both mentally and physically. Yes I will never give up my crafts but since starting to exercise again I actually have more energy to craft. I'm not saying everyone should start doing obstacle courses (though if you want to I'll be there cheering you on from the internet) but even walking every day makes a difference.


So I'm happy to support a company that believes in women being strong. I'm currently waiting for my first order to arrive and then I'll be able to share some cool clothes with you. (I may have done a happy dance when I found out just how many purple clothes they have). Sometimes it's the little things that get me out the door to bootcamp and I often like to show off my cool outfits.

Therefore if you're into fitness clothes (I have developed a weakness) and want to support me and an interesting company please click this link or visit the Just Strong website and use the code CAITJORD10 at checkout to get 10% off your purchase. And in case you missed the disclaimer earlier this code is an affiliate code so I do get some money from every purchase you make using this code BUT with it you don't pay any extra you actually save 10% so if you are making a purchase please consider using the code.

Also please know that I won't be turning this blog into a constant fitness blog. But I will show off cool clothes and stuff happening in my life because that's what I like to do here.

Thank you and Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Friday Finds

I've been wanting to start this series for a while. I am a bit of a youtube addict ... well not really but I do like watching youtube when I have the time. It's also fun to watch something while I'm crafting as that is easier than reading (ie. no pages to turn)

So I'm going to make these a bit of a normal thing. Most of the time I'll share videos that are fascinating me at the moment but sometimes it will be other things.

 

This is my current obsession! I have gotten into watching the bouldering world cup. For anyone not really in the know (which was me about 2 weeks ago) bouldering is actually a sport you can compete in. What is bouldering you ask? It is rock climbing without a rope. They leap and stretch and climb in ways I can only dream of being able to do. If you want something interesting to watch while stitching away I would recommend putting it on (yeah it's 3 hours long but it's an excuse to craft) and watch some amazing athletes.I do usually skip the introductions at the beginning to get to the climbing.

This hasn't just come out of nowhere. Here I am below climbing a purple level wall. This one is only a step up from beginner and it took me a number of tries! My sister is big on rock climbing particularly bouldering and I know why she loves it. It is great exercise and so much fun for everyone.

See what I mean by everyone? The kids love it too every time we take them! Actually they often get a chance to go more times than me, as they are free more often.

Anyway I hope you enjoy this video if you have time to watch it. What do you do to exercise and have fun?

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin

Health and Fitness

If you've been around this blog for a long time you would know I've had an interesting journey with my health over the last number of years. I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue, about 6 years ago now which it seems is one step away from chronic fatigue but not quite there. I am pretty much healed from that though I am constantly aware of not letting myself get too worn out. BUT one thing that I stopped doing after getting diagnosed was a lot of exercise. It all made me too tired. That habit continued and when I wasn't working for 2 years instead of getting up and doing something I generally sat on the couch each day and did not much! Not a good way to be.

The best thing that happened for me was to get a job where I could get out and do something daily. I don't think I could ever happily go back to not working. I could do with a couple of days break when the craziness of university gets too much on top of working but I love my job and the kind of work I do.

If you didn't know I am currently working as a receptionist/ trainee accountant for a small accounting firm mainly doing small business and tax work. On top of that I'm studying a Masters in Business, Professional Accounting in order to be able to get my CPA and become certified. I want to see how far I can go. BUT this doesn't leave a lot of spare time and it's generally taken up by me collapsing on the couch or in my craft room trying to eke out SOMETHING for myself!

I had already been deciding something had to change, I was putting on weight, not eating right and just feeling weaker and weaker when in November last year a special offer for a local bootcamp style gym came up in my news feed on facebook and I went yes! I started going 3 times I week (5.30am which is crazy but I'm often awake anyway.) The first day I could barely lift the 6kg kettle bell! I wasn't even able to keep holding it the whole time and had to swap to nothing. Now 3 months on I use the 8kg kettlebell without really thinking. I am realising something, it is possible to be strong as a woman. We don't have to be the weaker sex, which noone has ever really explained to me in a way that stuck. This is the first time in my life where I actually feel strong. I walk around now and feel stronger. I have energy and the ability to lift what I need to. I watch one of the other ladies working with the 16kg kettlebell and all I think is one day that will be me! I want to be strong. But it is also having an effect on other things. I can breathe better with my trumpet and actually hold notes, it's amazing how big a difference that makes.

I signed up 2 weeks ago for the 8 week challenge with my boot camp to try and boost my fitness and my weight loss. (honestly not sure how much weight I'll lose because for the first time I'm actually putting on muscle which is heavier but skinnier than fat.)

This comes to the other point of this post, I signed up for a 5 km obstacle course through mud and water. I don't know why, I must be crazy but I was so excited.

Here is me before the race started.

I was all nervous and excited at once. I was really lucky I found a group of people at the start line who saw that I was by myself and took me in and I went with them the whole time.

I surprised myself, I ended up jogging most of the 6km course, yes it was longer than the 5km they advertised. There were also 40 obstacles which does fit in the 30+ obstacles but still! I have some videos up on instagram of a couple of the obstacles but I'm not sure how to add them here soo... they're on my phone not my computer.

But I can show you a photo at the end.

We got a medal when we crossed the finish line. I went through water and up walls and stuff and through mud and tunnels. I had an absolute ball. You can see that on my face, I'm tired but happy!

I am currently comfortably sore and tired now but oh so happy with myself.

My plan going forward is to keep doing my bootcamp 2 days a week and I want to add in a park run and get better at doing this sort of thing. The bootcamp is doing Tough Mudder half in May and I'm serious about tempting it if my assignments allow. I just want to start adding more challenges, I'm taking it easy and building back up to full fitness but I am so happy to be able to move again and not be afraid of failing. I did exactly what I set out to do. I attempted all obstacles and I finished the race.

What changes have you been making with your fitness?
Have you tried an obstacle race before?

Happy Stitching,
Caitlin