So I know we've all see those derby hats that cost upwards of $150, and while they're gorgeous - who is really going to get their money's worth out of that hat?

If you follow my instagram feed, then you'll have seen my Gold Cup posts. It was a perfectly wonderful day of cold rain and wind. Despite the less than stellar weather, I still had a blast with my hubs and neighbors.

Our theme this year was Stepford Wives, which was awesome, because if you've read this blog for a while then you know I have a favorite style of dress, and a "Stepford" wife dress would definitely fall into that category. Not to mention, who doesn't look good in a fitted bodice and full skirt?

Finding a dress pattern was easy, deciding on a dress pattern was more difficult. There are so many! Not to mention that any number of my already completed dresses would have fit the bill, but wearing an old frock just isn't as fun. So after debating for some time about which pattern I should make, I decided on this little wrap number from Simplicity.

I love the neckline and the straightforwardness of the dress. There are no frills, and the details in the dress add so much personality to it, that I knew this dress would be the perfect jumping off point for an over-the-top hat. I didn't want the two pieces to compete, I wanted the dress to compliment the hat.

Even better still was that I didn't need to purchase fabric! Remember my stash-busting mission statement from a few months ago? Well I heeded it, and dug through some of my bins and came across a super fun suiting from ages ago, and had more than enough for the dress, and I may even be able to knock out another skirt or at least a pair of capris, for another fun outfit. Mom helped me out in the lining department by giving me 5 yards of buff colored lining that she had! Score! The only thing I purchased for this dress were the buttons, and those cost me a whooping $3 at Walmart. Not to shabby if I do say so myself.

So the pattern has a lot of pieces, but it's fairly simple to see how everything is constructed and the guide sheet is really clear about how and where the pieces fit together. The construction of this dress is straightforward, and the stitching lines for the curved areas are very helpful,  at least so far as being a visual reminder for how the arcs should be shaped. Oh and this dress has pockets! That are deep and encased between the lining and the dress. The entire dress is lined, which makes it that much more couture, and definitely helps with the fit of the dress, because most of the lining pieces are also interfaced which adds not only stability to the curves of the dress, but structure to the rest of the bodice. The added layer also felt nice with all of that rain falling.

I did pull a bonehead move, and bought the wrong size pattern. Or maybe I didn't buy the wrong pattern, because I span 4 sizes, it's sometimes a pain to buy patterns, because my sizes aren't always on the same pattern, and who wants to buy two patterns? I don't. So my fix for buying a pattern on the small end of my size range, was to take 3/8" seam allowances all over the dress. I cut out a size 16, which fits my shoulders perfectly. I'm a triangle shaped person, so my shoulders are the smallest size on the size scale. I planned this out really well....

Luckily, having years of experience and running my plan by Mom worked out exceptionally well. I wouldn't advise taking this route. Ever. It was nerve wracking, and with all of the curves it could have gone much differently. I did make sure to clearing mark all of the pattern markings. Those things are super important on a pattern like this!

In my opinion, this dress is not for a beginner sewer or even a newly intermediate sewer. Having a bit of sewing experience definitely helps with the construction  of this dress, and the curves around the neckline add to the difficulty of this dress. I would say an advanced intermediate sewer would be comfortable tackling this pattern.

I'll be writing about the hat I created for Gold Cup later this week, so be sure to stop back by!

Hello, friends!  Dana here!  It's been a while.  Did you miss me?  Well, if you've read Heather's RnR Half Marathon blog post here, you know she lived through our horrendous heat.  Raise a cheer and/or a glass to all of those that got out there and stuck it out in what may have been a very specific circle of hell.  I'm not trying to be snotty, but I have to say I am so pleased it wasn't like that for us 5k runners, though we did have to get started so early.  I was finished earlier than I'm usually awake in the morning.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The weekend fun actually started on Thursday when Heather and I attended the Adventure Science Center's DC vs. Marvel Way Late Play Date.  These are quarterly events where a bunch of 21 and up adults dress up and are given alcohol and get let loose on the children's science center after hours.  It's the best!  There are science demonstrations and exhibits and a planetarium show, so you're basically combining three of my favorite things - wine, cosplay, and learning - into one package.  Oh, and we get tacos beforehand at Taco Mamacita.  Did I mention it's the best?!

Here are Heather and I looking so fierce as Loki and Black Widow.

And here is the hubs demonstrating one of the science demonstrations: bat vision!  The mask was rigged up with echolocation tech, and he had to find us (in a controlled space) using only that.  It totally worked!  See what I mean?  So cool!  And you can bet your batarang he was doing the voice as he said things like, "I'm batman" and "I am the hero Gotham deserves!"

Finally, here are Heather and I at the very top of the jungle gym in the science center.  It's about four stories high and goes up through the center of the building.  We climbed all the way to the top!

The next day, there was the Health and Fitness Expo.  I was a little disappointed, and I think Heather was too, that there weren't as many vendors there this year as there were last.  The big guys were all there, of course - Toyota, Garmin, Publix - but I didn't see any of the same jewelry vendors, and the snarky tee-shirt people were absent too.  Heather and I did, however, see our favorite purveyor of headbands, Sparkly Soul, and made sure to get a couple from her.

Here are Heather and I at the expo, ready to spend some money!

I also got myself a new armband because I wanted one that made it easy for me to take my phone in and out, which I took on the course with me, thereby committing one of the cardinal sins of racing: don't use brand new, untested gear at a race.  The new armband worked great, though!  Still, don't be like me.

The St. Jude area always has a big wall participants can sign as well.  This is always hard for me, being a survivor of childhood cancer, but it also makes me thankful for the opportunity.

After the expo, there was just the race to get ready for, which meant an early, early night.

I won't repeat what Heather (and I) already said in her aforementioned post, so I'm going to start at...well, the start line.  We started out in front of the Music City Center, which is basically a big convention center, and the energy was already palpable even at that early hour.  We were slated to start at 6:15am, but I think we started a little after that actually.  I was actually really excited about waiting because there was a picture I had been planning to take for a 6-word story challenge I was participating in/hosting on Instagram.  Here's what I ended up with:

If you like bookish and creative content like this on your IG feed, you should follow me @danafraedrich .

That's the 5k starting line, as you probably figured.  I absolutely love the energy at races.  It's so positive! :D  And don't you know, I very nearly forgot to take a picture of myself there.  I only just remembered as we were released, though we were still walking to the start line when I took this.

I'm so happy!  Which was sort of weird because I was dressed as Darth Vader.  Well, my sports bra and shorts were Darth Vader-y anyway.

And we were off!  The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville's gorgeous art museum, was one of the first things we passed.  I wish I had a picture, but I was, you know, busy running.  And after that was M Street, home of some really great restaurants.  Seeing them made me wish I had some of their delicious food.  This should surprise no one.  I think with my stomach.  Unfortunately, there was something else on my mind too: I needed to pee.

Heather here - I was along Broadway in the chute for the half, and I was desperately searching for Dae in the throng of runners, but there were so many of them that I missed her. I was actually very upset about this. 

Don't you hate that?  I'd had a bunch of water before the race since we knew the heat was coming.  Too bad.  Have to keep going.  I'll admit, I was tempted during mile 2 when I saw the port-a-loos standing off on the side of the road.  "I bet they've barely been used at this point" I reasoned with myself.  I will go to great lengths to avoid using port-a-potties because eeeewwwwwww!  Have you seen those things?  Especially during a race.  I told myself to suck it up and press on, though.

The sun showed up pretty early into the race, and some lovely angels along the course had sprayers.  I ran through those things with my arms up in the air like I just did not care. :)  Between miles 2 and 3, we ran through downtown, which is such a cool experience every time I do it.  The buildings tower over you like the sides of a steep steel and glass gulley.  The city looks so different from that perspective, as opposed to when it's full of traffic and you're driving through.

Since the course was the same as it was last year, I knew what to expect.  I knew once I was on the Woodland Street bridge, I was in the home stretch.  I wanted to sprint as soon as I saw the finish line.  Oh, and by the way, I'm so glad I remembered this part for Heather when she was finishing up hers.  I was able to encourage her because her race ended along the same stretch that mine did.  And I was worried she was going to drop dead, but I knew where I would have to run if she did.  As I came around the last bend, I saw it.  The finish line glowing like the pearly gates with angels singing in the background.  Okay, that was a bit dramatic, but I was really excited.  I turned the speed up to 11.  I'm really glad the outside path was clear because I didn't want to risk running anyone over as I ran like I was being chased by zombies - Heather has seen what this looks like in real life.

There I go!  All Darth Vader-y and happy!

I was a little confused when I got a phone call from her and she was still huffing and puffing. She had just crossed the finish line and called me. I was so proud of her, because she was pretty certain she PR'd. 

Too bad there's no rest for little sisters whose older sisters have a half marathon to run.  As soon as my race was done, I called up Heather.  She was already at her start line, so I grabbed a chocolate milk and booked it about a mile back to where she was.  Along the way, I saw an old friend I haven't seen in years, which was pretty cool and then got to see Heather off.  Whew!  And you know what the first thing I did after I saw Heather off?  I headed back to First Baptist and used their facilities!

In the end, I ran my best 5k yet!



34:35 and better than the field as a whole.  I feel pretty good about that.  And afterward, I was able to tour my city a little bit.  See?


This is the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, where the Nashville Symphony plays.  It's gorgeous inside and out.  I ran through the courtyard on my way to see Heather and then strolled back through on my way back.


 And here is our pedestrian bridge right across from another bridge (sorry, I don't know the name).  The river really is beautiful, as is my city. 

So, so, so, so tired. She fussed at me for not being able to eat an entire banana, but I ate half. Getting up off the grass was very difficult as well. Thank goodness she has a strong arm to help me up. 

There have been half marathons with weather advisories, and I've always paid attention to them, and for the most part I've not run into any complications. Ha! Do you see what I did there? Ok, that might've been a terrible pun, but I'm still rolling with it.

Saturday, April 29th, was my 10th half marathon, and my third Rock 'N Roll Nashville half, and let me tell you - it was HOT. I mean, we were warned, I took precautions, but that still didn't make a difference to Mother Nature. She just cranked up the heat a little faster. Race officials moved up all the race start times by 30 minutes because of the heat, but then they ended up curtailing the race early, because of the heat.

Dana here!  No, but seriously you guys.  Tennessee heat is brutal.  It surrounds and sticks to you like hot, wet clothes.  It's horrible.

So Dana is going to give her commentary as well on this blog post, because she is a big reason I finished in such good spirits.

It was my slowest, and my hardest half yet, and while I had a moment of discouragement over my dismal time, I reminded myself that I still ran 13.1 miles in blistering heat. That's something. Running 13.1 is something. Doing it while you're showering yourself in your own sweat is a feat in and of itself.

So the morning started off stupid early, like 3 A.M. stupid. Dana and I were up, she helped my tape my torso so that my bra didn't chafe my back (again). We did our hair, and then we drove to LP field and parked around. 4:15.

Moaning on social media about how early it was.  That's what I was doing.  I didn't even know 3 am existed before race day.

Then we sat, ate breakfast, I napped, she did whatever she did, and then at 5:15 we headed towards the other side of the stadium towards the pedestrian bridge over to her starting line, and the bathrooms.

She wanted to hit the first set of ports-potties that we came too, I said nope, lets see what we find further on. To our fortune, the church that had offered bathrooms to racers last year, was doing it again, only this time they had water, bananas, and yoga classes as well to all of the racers. For FREE! What!?!?! A real bathroom and amenities and I don't have to pay extra for that!?! That's awesome. Thank you so much First Baptist of Nashville! You are amazing, wonderful, and a plethora of other positive descriptors. So after our amazing rest stop we walk a block back towards the Music City Center, to the 5k starting line.

I have so many strong feelings about this!  Want to get people through your doors, other churches?  Then be like First Baptist of Nashville.  Long lines of people inside the church.  Were they all just there for the clean bathrooms and free goodies?  Most of them probably, but it created an opportunity to show love to so many people.  The members of First Baptist saw the chance and went for it.  Kudos to you!

We get to her corral, and exchange well wishes, then I leave her about 10 minutes before her start time, to go find my corral. It was easy to find, because no one was in the chute, and all of the corrals clearly marked like they always are at RnR events. I staked out a prime spot on the rail on the right side of race course that she'd be running down. Even though, I looked for Dana in the throng of 5k racers, I still missed her. There were so many 5k racers that it was like an avalanche of runners, and I was really bummed about missing her. I had my camera all ready to record her running by me with lots of cheers and hollers, and I didn't even spot her green hair. Dana called me as soon as she crossed the finish line, and we made a plan and chatted the whole time she hoofed it back over to my start line.

I love the setup for RnR!  You can walk so many places downtown without the bother of traffic.  You can see so many places in one go it would usually be a pain to see otherwise.  If you want to explore your city (or other cities for that matter), attend a race!

It was already warm by the time my race started, and they started releasing corrals. I mentioned to Dana that I wasn't sure if it was actually that warm or if it was because of all the bodies in the chute. She camped out a good spot just beyond my start line, and somewhere between 30-40 minutes after the start of the race, my corral was finally getting their chance. It was go time!

• Mile 1 - So the race started out nice and easy. I spotted Dana, and we both squealed like the young girls as I passed her. We were also on the phone at the time of our squiealing. We garnered some stares. Our call got disconnected so I then called the hubs to say good morning. My loveing husband was still in bed. So awesome to hear that since I'd been awake for 2 hours and I was an hour behind them. I called Dana back after that, and talked about running up along Music City Center and past her starting line.  PACE - 13:00
• Mile 2 - Still chatting with Dana, and talking about what I'm seeing. She's very helpfully giving me the deets of what I'm seeing. It was like a guided museum tour with funny, snarky comments thrown in. PACE - 13:22
• Mile 3 - Still continuing my guided tour, and chatting about whatever comes into my brain. The heat was also mentioned a lot. It was so warm, and I was already sweating rivers. I mention to Dana that I can't remember the last time I've sweated that much. She is dubious. PACE - 13:52 
• Mile 4 - Our call gets disconnected, so I call the hubs again. I'm about to cross the 5k line, and the hubs asks if my pace is really that off......... I want you all to  imagine the disdain and sarcasm of my next comment, "It's freaking hot." I call Dana and get back to my running tour of Nashville. PACE - 13:57 
• Mile 5 - Still feeling pretty good, despite the growing heat. I share the funny race signs I see along the course with Dana, and we discuss our faves. I also tell her about the awesome people who have come out to cheer us on and set up their sprinklers. I love all the people that set up their sprinklers and hoses. Thank you so much for hosing us crazy racers down. PACE - 13:53
  

  Bless all of you people that set up sprinklers!

• Mile 6 - Still moving along well and keeping a pretty consistent pace. The sun is starting to burn off the cloud cover, and the heat is becoming more oppressive. Dana reminds me to hydrate. She's bossy when she wants to be. PACE - 13:57
  

  When I want to be?  I know some people in my life that would say I'm bossy all the time.

• Mile 7 - The wall. Hello wall, how are you. I haven't missed you. I take my first gel, and my pace slows. It's getting uncomfortably warm, and I get chilled. Me getting chilled is  not uncommon so I dnon't think anything of it, but then a breeze comes along and I get proper goose bumps. I slow my pace, and keep Dana appraised of everything that is happening. She checks that I had my gel and otherwise ok. PACE - 16:05
• Mile 8 - I give in to Dana's admonitions and get some water at the next stop. I end up with 2 glasses worth. I'm feeling better, and am able to pick up my pace a bit. PACE - 15:04 
• Mile 9 - It's getting hotter, but the gels are doing their job, and I'm feeling fairly good. I mean it's hot. So hot, but Dana's running tour is entertaining. PACE - 15:37
• Mile 10 - Things fall apart a bit. We're running through an open asphalt jungle and the sun feels like it's on my shoulder. Dana is after me to talk more, but I don't want to. I'm grunting responses to her. I tell her I'm cold again, but then my head starts hurting and I get lightheaded. I tell Dana what's going on and that I'm walking now. I take in some huge gulps of Gatorade, while commenting on the fact that my bite valve needs to be replaced. I know what is happening, but there's nothing around. There's no water station and no medic tent. Just racers walking. No one was running. There are sirens blaring everywhere, and people are starting to drop like flies. Stretchers and ambulances are moving around more than I've ever seen on a course. I talk to Dana, and  she's forcing me to respond in more than just grunts. She tells me that it sounds like I'm dying, and I tell her that I'm not dead yet. I'm starting to perk up a little. PACE - 16:22
  

  Snarkiness is apparently good for an exhausted Heather. :)

• Mile 11 - I'm back to running, or maybe it was shuffling, but I wasn't walking. I'm doing ok.  Still so hot, but I miss the water station. I forgot. She yells at me. I did get a handful of ice though. I pop a cube into my mouth and then shove several pieces against my back underneath my pack. It feels amazing. The ice melting enough to slide down my back startles me, and I actually yelp at the surprise of cold water running all the way down my back. Dana laughs at me. I'm still doing ok. PACE - 15:52
  

  Honestly, how do you forget water in heat like that?!

• Mile 12 - I'm not doing ok. I'm done. It's so hot, and these freaking hills. Eff all the hills. Dana is still talking to me. I'm cold again. I'm trudging along. I pick a person as my pacer, and I stay with her. She doesn't know I'm pacing her, and that's ok. Some lovely woman comes up and tells me that she likes my hair. Oh that's so sweet. I complain about the heat. It feels like 105. Dana is telling me what to expect. She ran this bit this morning. I think I'm constantly asking her how much further, and where am I. She tells me where the water stations are. I don't forget to hit the last one. This mile is brutal.  The volunteers are handing out sponges, but they're everywhere. I don't take one, they look gross. I tell Dana that I feel like having sponges all over the ground is hazardous. I joke with her that she could come get me if I collapse. I'm only a mile away. PACE - 17:08
  

  And I absolutely would have too.  Run and found her, that is, if she had collapsed.  I was ready to.  I texted the hubs to tell him how concerned I was.  Those race organizers would have tried to stop me, but they would have failed.

• Mile 13 - This mile is worse than the last one. My toes are hurting, and my face feels like a salt flat. I don't know that I'm sweating anymore. It's just hot. There's an ambulance and a stretcher coming towards me. I mention to Dana how many people are walking. It's a huge crowd. It's odd, because I've never seen that before. I've seen walkers, but there are always a few still running. Not right here. Marathoners and half marathoners alike are walking. Trudging might be more accurate. Dana fusses at me  to talk more.  I'm freaking tired, and don't want to talk. She yells at me. I get snarky back, and then laugh that I must be feeling better.  she is not convinced, but luckily I'm now running the commentary on where I am, and she's telling me that I can do it. Finally the end is in site, and I'm going up that last stupid hill. The bridge over the Cumberland River. It's literally all downhill from here. I manage to shuffle to the finish, and muster up some enthusiasm for the final pictures. PACE - 19:49 
• The last .1 miles are just me shuffling along, but I up my pace by 4 minutes and continue to feign enthusiasm for the pictures. Or maybe I'm not, I can't really know, but I was happy to show off for the cameras, because I am finally done.  PACE - 15:46
  

  You're mad, completely insane.  This sounds like hell on earth, but I'm happy for and massively proud of you! :D