An interview with Tam from ‘Sew Dang Cute’!

Our guest star this week is Tam from Sew Dang Cute Crafts.  After hearing that she was a triathlete, my buddy Tom Selleck and his mustache decided to invite his friends Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels to join us in the Green Room. Bob and Jillian were both trainers from the show Biggest Loser. Because Tam is also a fitness instructor, I’m assuming Tom thought she would feel more at home.

My opinion?  If we are going to have all these darn healthy people over, then we need to hide the cheese nips, Tom. Just saying.

Oh, and there is that little fact that I gained a bit of weight last year. The last people I want hanging around here and judging my girth are a couple of trainers from Biggest Loser.  Sigh…

And Tom is apparently a bit nervous about the whole situation too. He just spent twenty minutes drawing a “six pack” on his stomach. I wondered where my eyeliner ran off to.

Ya, know Tom, you could have invited Paula Deen over and we could all sit around in our pajamas watching reality tv and eating butter covered everything. But no, now we have to act all healthy. Thanks, buddy.

So, Tam and I will sit down in my office, while I send Tom in to entertain our other guests.

What? Look Tom, you invited them, you get to entertain them. Six pack and all. You and your mustache get in there!

Suzy: So, tell me a little about yourself, your family, your other hobbies…

Tam: I grew up in a small town where it’s pretty much warm year-round. I went to college away from home and fell in love with my best friend. We got married and after graduation moved to the Salt Lake City, Utah area where it’s cold the majority of the year. I’m still acclimating and it’s been over 8 years. I worked as an accountant for three years before we started our family and then was lucky enough to be able to stay home to raise our children. We have four children, two boys and two girls.

Tam: I’ve always loved being outdoors and being active. I was involved in numerous sports growing up including gymnastics, soccer, and track. Currently I am a group fitness instructor and enjoy teaching weight and spinning classes. When I’m not messing around trying bingo online real money – one of my favorite addictions is doing triathlons. I did my first one over 3 years ago and have done more than a dozen since, including IronMan Boise 70.3, which I did in June 2010. I also really enjoy cooking and sewing. As a family, we love to be outside. Whenever weather permits we are camping, riding bikes, taking walks, hiking, swimming, boating, etc.

Suzy: How exciting to be a triathlete! Awesome. Can you tell us about that? How you got involved and how you find time to train?

Tam: After I had my second child (only one year after my first), I felt like I had lost myself. My life seemed to be a never-ending circle of diapers, feedings, naps, etc. I had always been extremely active and finally recognized that I needed some “me” time. If I wanted to be the best I could be to take care of my family, I also needed to take care of myself.

Tam: Some of my husband’s co-workers did triathlons and talked about how fun they were. It sounded appealing to me, so one day on a whim I just signed up for one. Since I had now committed myself, I couldn’t back out now and the training began. I bought a double jogging stroller/bike trailer and the training began. I would throw my girls (ages 1 and 4months) in the stroller and we would jog and go on bike rides. They loved being outside and most of the time, they would fall asleep and get in one of their naps.

Tam: I would try to make it to the gym a couple of nights a week when my husband came home to swim. When I finished that first race, I had such a feeling of accomplishment. On the bike ride, the adrenaline rush was so huge that I thought to myself, “This must be what it’s like to be high”. I literally get a “high” when I do these races and I was hooked. Now that I have three children and juggle preschool and dance schedules, training is a little harder. I have to get my workouts in before the kids wake up in the morning and/or after they go to bed. I’m lucky enough to have a very supportive husband who is my number one fan throughout the whole thing. I think he recognizes that I’m happier and more patient if I’ve had my daily workout.

Suzy: When and why did you start blogging, and where would you like your blogging to lead?

Tam: I started blogging almost four years ago doing a personal family blog. I had never been good about keeping a journal and this seemed to stick for me. A little over a year ago, my family blog started getting filled up with all my craft posts, so I decided to start a separate craft blog and “Sew Dang Cute” was born. I’m not sure where I want my blog to lead. Right now it’s just for fun. I really enjoy doing the “Crafting with the Stars” competition so I know that will continue, as well as my own personal crafts. I guess I’ll just ride this wave for now and see where it takes me.

Suzy: Can you tell us a few things that most folks don’t know about you?

Tam: Hmmm… Most people probably don’t know that I’m a bit of a nerd. Seriously! In high school I got one A- and cried my eyes out. Don’t worry, it was my one and only. I graduated second in my class (the valedictorian had a 4.0). I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I always strive to do my best. I grew up in a large family (8 kids) so if I wanted to go to college, I had to do it on my own. Thankfully, my good grades paid off because I got an academic scholarship and was able to graduate magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in accounting in 2 1/2 years.

Suzy: Can you tell me what inspires your posts? And what other sites inspire you?

Tam: I get inspired by whatever my family needs at the time. For example, right now we are doing some remodeling and room swapping in our house so all of my projects are related to making new bedding for my girls, decorating the guest room, preparing the nursery, etc. I definitely get a lot of inspiration from other sites. Some of my favorites because they are one-stop places where you get TONS of ideas are Ucreate, Someday Crafts, and Be Different…Act Normal. I’ve got TONS of other favorites, but if I had to pick 5 others I would say Crap I’ve Made, I Am Momma – Hear Me Roar, Tatertots & Jello, Vintage Revivals, and Our Best Bites.

Suzy: Since I’m kinda a crafty blog, I have to ask. Is there a craft that you have never done that you would love to learn one day?

Tam: I have never knitted or crocheted. My sister is amazing at both, so when I see all the awesome stuff she makes I get tempted to learn. I would also really love to learn how to quilt (like with a long arm).

Suzy: Tam, thank you so much for coming all this way for an interview! It was a real pleasure to meet you! Please take a moment and stop by Tam’s site, Sew Dang Cute Crafts and see what she is up to!  Currently, she has lots of amazing craftiness going on, along with a great feature called ‘Weekly Digs’, where she tells you about five things she is ‘digging’ right now.  An don’t miss her Silhouette tutorials!  Tam knows all the tips and tricks!

 

 

 

So, Tam, we better get in there and check on Tom. My assistant just told me that Bob and Jillian have made him run five laps around the building and are currently standing over him military-style yelling orders as he does push-ups. I’m betting Jillian noticed the eyeliner. We might want to rescue him.

Those two are totally focused on fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Poor Tom doesn’t stand a chance. It’s a good thing they haven’t noticed me yet.  Ha!

Ummm…on second thought, let’s leave him be. Waffle House has some awesome hashbrowns. Come on Tam, lets head that way and get a little lunch…

___________________________________________________

Want a chance to be interviewed on The Sitcom?  Would you like to meet a whole bunch of talented folks from all over the world?  Then take a moment to link up your website to the International Blog hop below!