fun with song lyrics

on our local rock station, DC101, they have a 90s at Noon segment every day at...you guessed it, noon. Having been the ages of 12 - 21 in the 90s, I have a special affinity for the music of this era. However, today, I was listening to a song and just thinking about, wow, those are some dumb lyrics. So, i thought we'd do a little analysis here.

Today's song - Superman's Dead, from apparent one-hit-wonder, Our Lady Peace. This is not a good song, ladies and gents, but it was quite popular for a smidgen of time. Okay, wikipedia tells me I am wrong, " They have enjoyed many hit singles, ranging from "Starseed" in 1994, to "Somewhere Out There" in 2002." I listened, I don't remember these.


Ok, so..here are the lyrics

do you worry that you're not liked
how long till you break
you're happy cause you smile
but how much can you fake
an ordinary boy an ordinary name
but ordinary's just not good enough today

alone I'm thinking
why is superman dead
is it in my head
we'll just laugh instead
you worry about the weather and
whether or not you should hate

are you worried about your faith
kneel down and obey
you're happy you're in love
you need someone to hate
an ordinary girl an ordinary waist
but ordinary's just not good enough today

doesn't anybody ever know that the
world's a subway...

Okay, at first read through here, I'm thinking we're dealing with the struggles of adolescence. Hence, the reference to Superman (stand in for childhood hero/idol/toy,etc.) being dead and all the references to feeling alone, not liked, etc.

They get a lil' squirrelly though.

First stanza

do you worry that you're not liked
how long till you break 

(yep, teen angst)
you're happy cause you smile
but how much can you fake 
(more angst)
an ordinary boy an ordinary name
but ordinary's just not good enough today

(we're going to go with John. Is life easier if you are Taylor?)

Chorus

alone I'm thinking
why is superman dead 
(that should actually be "why-eee-eye-eee-eye")
is it in my head 
(yes)
we'll just laugh instead 
(good plan)
you worry about the weather and
whether or not you should hate 
(okay, this is just a random tangent.)

Second Stanza

are you worried about your faith
kneel down and obey 
(what the shit does this have to do with teen angst? veiled reference to pre-marital sex?)
you're happy you're in love
you need someone to hate 
(if you say so dude)
an ordinary girl an ordinary waist
but ordinary's just not good enough today 
(ok, this one makes sense. Girls feel not skinny enough. Makes more sense than the boy's ordinary name. Get the feeling they built the song around this lyric?)


Refrain / Weird ending part


doesn't anybody ever know that the
world's a subway... 

This is actually what put me in a state about this song. Trying to figure this statement out. Ummm, ok. So, the world is a subway. Subways are...crowded? Impersonal? I get that. but they don't make you feel bad about yourself, which seems to be the songs theme, if it has one. And aren't we emphasizing empowerment about being different? Ahhhh, ok, ok, I see. Its a stretch, but a subway (really referencing the New York transit system here), is a diverse place, where everybody is different but not bad. Unless they are pickpockets, or degenerates, or crackheads...hmmm.

 Right then, so I'll give this song a 2 for likability and a 5 for sense-making-ness. Major fail. But its a little catchy, right?

p90x update

Happy Halloween!

I haven't bought any halloween candy (I'd just eat it all!) so we're either going to have to go to the store on the way home..or pretend we aren't home =) that's a little bah humbug of me I suppose.

Anywho, on to the P90X update..
You may recall, I came down with a cold at the end of last last week (the 20th/21st). I didn't really shake the cold until Wednesday, so I missed a full week of workouts =(

Picked it back up on Thursday the 27th with an X Stretch day, and then I did the new arms workout on Friday - chest/shoulders/tris. My tris were screaming at me the next day, but this was a good workout. I also did the Cardio X on Friday, since I'm doing doubles.

And then..things went south. On Saturday I had a hair appointment for which I left this house at 10am, and between that and errands, didn't get back til around 3. And it was snowing ?!?  And I didn't want to sweat on my newly done hair (barf I know, but hey, its the honest truth), so I skipped Plyometrics. And then on Sunday, Sunday I had a baby shower out in Haymarket, which took up about 11 til 4, so I didn't do my workouts yesterday either.

I have no real excuse for that, there were obviously many hours in the day not taken up by babyshowering.

So, it seems my sick week has not quite been left behind, in terms of picking up a bad habit! I'm determined to stay on track again, and I did my yoga workout this morning. It was tough.

I'm trying not to be tooo hard on myself, but I'm really anxious to kick it back up. I'm actually mostly enjoying this ride! I also really want to finish by New Years, which with my week off is my new 90 day mark - 12/30. Wish me luck!

10/9 - 10/30, 365

Oct 9th
Q: You want a new ________________________.
A: A new dining room table. Or rather, a proper dining room table where my old kitchen table currently sits.

Oct 10th
Q: Write down the name of someone you had a good conversation with lately
A: My best conversations are usually with my mom and sister

Oct 11th
Q: What makes you feel wonderful?
A: Getting my hair done, or right after a hard workout

Oct 12th
Q: One word for today
A: Celebration

Oct 13th
Q: You have no patience for _______________.
A: Willful ignorance. Ever tried to argue with someone that doesn't bother to learn facts first?

Oct 14th
Q: What expression do you overuse?
A: Absolutely. As a response to something that requires a yes. And every time, I want to say abso-fucking-lutely.

Oct 15th
Q: How much time do you spend commuting?
A: About 1/2 an hour, all told in the morning, including a starbucks run. Takes about 1/2 hour to get home too, traffic is a little worse.

Oct 16th
Q: You woke up at
A: Hmm, a Sunday, probably about 830

Oct 17th
Q: What's the most valuable thing you own?
A: I'm going to take this literally as the most valuable thing I OWN, not what's most valuable to me. And that would be my car. Although there is now a Matisse in my home (thanks Fred).

Oct 18th
Q: What famous living person would you want to meet for drinks?
A:  Paul McCartney

Oct 19th
Q: What was your last credit card purchase?
A:  I really only use the CC for gas and groceries.


Oct 20th
Q: Who do you count on?
A: Fred

Oct 21st
Q: What new word have you learned?
A: I know all the words. Just kidding. But I can't think of any newly learned ones.

Oct 22nd
Q: Write a haiku about your day
A: Celebrate new love
     Draw a pretty picture, fun!
     Then take a long nap

Oct 23rd
Q: Who is the last person in your missed calls?
A: Mom

Oct 24th
Q: How are you? Write it in a rhyming couplet
A: I'll have to come back to this, brain is not working so great with the poem writing right now

Oct 25th
Q: What is the most honest thing you've said today?
A:  I think for me no kids is kind of a deal breaker (shocked myself with this one)

Oct 26th
Q: How do you feel about your body?
A: I feel "okay" about it. I'm obviously not at an ideal weight, but I'm getting stronger and feeding my body healthy food.

Oct 27th
Q: What was the last goofy thing you did?
A: Tickle attacked Fred

Oct 28th
Q: ______________________ is completely ridiculous
A: I was actually thinking about this on the way to work the other day. How ridiculous is it, that in this age of communication technology, we all get in our cars and go to arbitrary buildings to do our work? Kind of mad.

Oct 29th
Q: Camping or hotel?
A: Bed and breakfast

Oct 30th:
Q: Are you able to tell when you have enough?
A: I think so, for the most part.

juicey juice

i'm having a juice that I just made in my completely rad new juiceman juicer. I love juice, and fruit, and I love even more the idea of having fresh squeezed juice, so last weekend I up and bought a juicer. I just finished my 2nd P90X workout of the day...doubles, argh...and I'm having my favorite (so far) concoction..

here's what's in it.
3 small gala apples
2 celery stalks
about 5-6 leaves of kale
a healthy dollop of carrot juice (I actually had this in the fridge, but you could easily juice whole carrots)

it is a horrible, disgusting color..you know what orange and green makes. but it is delish.

its friday

just too good not to share, thanks Dana.

A little quizzy-quiz for a Friday afternoon...

Height: 5 feet + 3 inches (I thought I was 5'2" most of my life, until a recent doctor's appointment. Maybe I was. Maybe I had my early 30s growth spurt)

Hair Color: Blondish Brown

Eye color: Blue

Freckles: One awesome one on my lower lip, a smattering across my shoulders.

Best feature: Maybe my crooked smile. Or possibly my calves. I have good calves.

Worst part of your body: I don't know if I have a worst. My eye waters a lot, just one, and its highly annoying, so we'll go with that...the watery eye.

Scars: Oh so many, but nothing major. Just scrapes and cuts from a life spent banging into things and playing with cats.

Tattoos: I have a tribal design from shoulder to shoulder on my back that I got when I was 19. It is VERY mid-nineties. Try not to date yourself with your tattoos. I also have a "homemade" as in pins and indian ink tattoo of a daisy - one on my left hip, one on my right ankle. These are from age 16 and are ridiculous.

Piercings: Just my ears. Each ear has about 4 piercings, but I just use the one, regular one.

Disease: Panic disorder. blargh.

Broken bones: Foot, my fifth metatarsal on the left foot, at 18.

Phobia: Heights. Also very high or bendy bridges. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge = scary. The Golden Gate bridge = not so much.

Obsession: Music & Records, Crosswords, Books, quite possibly clothes.

Fear: see phobia. also see: disease. At times I'm frightened of silly things.

Bodily party trick: Double jointed thumbs.

Best feeling: swimming.

Best physical sense: small circles rubbed onto my back with your palm when I'm stressed or ill.

rat patootie

last night for dinner, I made ratatouille. The one from the movie. because that was pretty much the greatest movie ever (slight hyperbole there, but it was good). And who doesn't want to tell their darling, when asked "what's for dinner?" "Rat patootie, honey, we're having rat patootie."

 

all thanks go to deb at smitten kitchen for the recipe - it was absolutely delightful. You can find it here, or I'll re-post for you.

Ratatouille’s Ratatouille
As envisioned by Smitten Kitchen

1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
1 cup tomato puree (such as Pomi)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small eggplant (my store sells these “Italian Eggplant” that are less than half the size of regular ones; it worked perfectly)
1 smallish zucchini
1 smallish yellow squash
1 longish red bell pepper
Few sprigs fresh thyme
Salt and pepper
Few tablespoons soft goat cheese, for serving

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Pour tomato puree into bottom of an oval baking dish, approximately 10 inches across the long way. Drop the sliced garlic cloves and chopped onion into the sauce, stir in one tablespoon of the olive oil and season the sauce generously with salt and pepper.

Trim the ends off the eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash. As carefully as you can, trim the ends off the red pepper and remove the core, leaving the edges intact, like a tube.


On a mandoline, adjustable-blade slicer or with a very sharp knife, cut the eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and red pepper into very thin slices, approximately 1/16-inch thick.

Atop the tomato sauce, arrange slices of prepared vegetables concentrically from the outer edge to the inside of the baking dish, overlapping so just a smidgen of each flat surface is visible, alternating vegetables. You may have a handful leftover that do not fit.

Drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil over the vegetables and season them generously with salt and pepper. Remove the leaves from the thyme sprigs with your fingertips, running them down the stem. Sprinkle the fresh thyme over the dish.

Cover dish with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit inside. (Tricky, I know, but the hardest thing about this.)

Bake for approximately 45 to 55 minutes, until vegetables have released their liquid and are clearly cooked, but with some structure left so they are not totally limp. They should not be brown at the edges, and you should see that the tomato sauce is bubbling up around them.

sweet potato burritos

dudes, I made some bomb burritos last night, and I'm eating the leftovers for lunch right now. I thought I'd share!

Take one big ole sweet potato, and peel it, cut it into cubes. Put in on a cookie sheet and toss with some olive oil, a little bit of salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 375 for 30 minutes or so.

While you are doing this, dice 1/2 of a red pepper and 1 small sweet onion. Throw those in a pan with some olive oil, and saute until tender.

While this is happening, put some rice on the stove (or microwave it, however you do). You want about 1 cup of rice when uncooked.

Back to the peppers/onions - season to taste with cilantro, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. I don't know how much, I'm sorry! Light on the chili/cumin, and a little heavier on the cilantro is how I like it. Stir it up and keep on saute-ing.

Then, put 1 can of black beans (frijoles negros!) in the pan with the peppers and onions mix. Keep it going on medium heat.

Finally, when your rice is done, mix that in to the whole mess.

And then! Take your sweet potatoes out of the oven (they should be mushy now) and mix them in to the rice/beans/peppers/onions mixture.

Test the spice level when you're adding in ingredients - I added a little more salt and cilantro after all the ingredients were in.

Warm some flour (or whatever your favorite is) tortillas and serve them up with cheese, sour cream, avocodo, whatever you prefer. I like mine with just a bit of cheddar cheese.

These are so freaking delicious and are vegetarian - and could easily be vegan. Enjoy!  This made enough for 2 people for dinner and lunch the next day.

thank you to oh she glows where I found inspiration in her Black Bean and Butternut Squash Burritos!

just a tuesday

hey, guess what? I found another skirt in my closet. tags on, my size, black pencil skirt from J Crew. When did I acquire this? Don't know. Why have I not worn it until now? Don't know. Such is the depth of my closet issues.

So, here goes, outfit for today:

Details:
Sweater: J Crew
Skirt: J Crew
Tights: J zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (oops sorry I fell asleep from the repetition)
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet: J Crew
Rings/Necklace: Tiffany

Wouldn't this sweater be great with a camel skirt/tights?

sizing

just yesterday at brunch, i was talking with my family about the differences in sizing, how industry standard allows up to a two inch difference within one size. (just in case you were wondering why you are a 6 at one store and a 10 at the other).

this morning, I encountered a perfect case. I bought a pair of slacks from ASOS. I've bought a skirt and shirt from there before, and they seem to run pretty normal as far as what I expect my size to be. I generally wear 1 size, with some stores 1 up and some 1 down. Mostly, I shop at a handful of stores where I know my size, but this was new. So, erring on the side of caution,  I bought my size, the higher one.

Well. This morning, I took the new pants out of the bag they came in, shook them out, noted they need an ironing, and thought, well, I'll try them on first. See if they look on me like they do in my head.

I don't know why I didn't unbutton and unzip them first, I just stepped in. And then instead of unbuttoning them, for some reason, I just kept pulling them up. Perhaps I have a better ability to evaluate size via sight than I thought, because I just went ahead and yanked them all the way up. And they fit. Well no, they fit OVER my thighs and butt and all the way up to my waist..without being unbuttoned. And when I let go of them, they hung precariously and oh so attractively off my hips. heh. But like 9th grade gym class, I felt exposed to a possible flagging. Just one little tug and these babies were off.

I sent them on their way back to ASOS this morning. No, I did not lose 20 pounds magically over night, but those pants sure made me feel like I did - and for that, I thank them.

On the flip side - if I get pants from ASOS again what size should I get?!?!

sick

ugh, i have a cold, and it is miserable. working from home today.

does this ever happen to you when you're sick..

sitting on the couch in sweats, resting, you feel kind of okay. stuffed up, sore throat, itchy eyes, but not too too horrible. so, with this strength, you get up, get dressed and try to do real people things? like go outside the house? and then, the smallest things exhaust you, you feel horrible, and soon you're back on the couch. I suppose its my body's way of saying, "hey! stop that, go lie down". And I suppose I have to listen.

I hate that I'm missing my workouts....but again, must listen to the body.

sigh.

Goals

Wow, it has been, ummmm, some time since I have done my goals. I did them the week before my vacation (over a month ago), and apparently took a semi-permanent vacation from them. Oh well, today's as good as any day to start again! Let's see how I did against those last goals..

1) Identify and make 2 new dinner recipes. I am in a rut.
I did this! Yay. I made a spanish omelet - yum. I also made a mustard crusted beef tenderloin doohickey. Also yum, but not as yum as the spanish omelet.

2) Put together a list of things to accomplish on my week off next week - some pure fun, mostly just catch up on house, etc. Although, I must stress...tis a vacation. So it'll be light on the goals. But you know how you feel better when you have things done and not hanging over your head like oh yeah, look at that box there I need to go through that and throw most of it out, or gosh I really do need some kind of way to store my shoes so I don't end up with huge shoe piles in my room. Those.

I gotta be honest, I hardly did shit on my week off. I did, however, successfully make macarons. So that's something.





3) Keep working out at my current pace, cause it feeels gooood.

Yep, I did this and more.

Okay then, new goals!

I don't feel that I really need to make an exercise goal, because its sort of engrained now. I'm going to do it. I hate not doing it. That, in itself, is a goal reached.

1) Do another closet ebay/giveaway inventory, for winter clothes. Focus on shoes (I have been carrying around a box of shoes for years, time to let go. Except my Docs and my Birks from high school, those I'm keeping)

2) Do a real budget. It's easy to avoid this, but I have a lot of discretionary income that I haven't been keeping good track of, and I'd like to put it in savings rather than just lose it via nickel and diming. Also, set a monthly clothing allowance. Right now I'm going by the, "Eh, whatever" method, and its not working out so well.

3) Cut sugar out of my diet for 1 week. Just one. Starting, ummm...tomorrow morning. Cause I had chocolate covered raisins already today. This is really more about seeing how I feel rather than weight loss or anything else. I have a big sweet tooth. I'm just curious.

Okay, that should do! Wish me luck.

Thursday, Oct 20th

Hi all!
While the world tries to figure out if Gaddafi is dead...

I took my thirty day P90X pictures this morning. I don't think there's much difference, but I need to look at them side by side with my day 1s, and I won't be doing that on my work computer!

I'm feeling a little poorly this morning - sore throat, headache...worried I'm about to get walloped with a cold. This would suck infinitely.

But! I think my dress is magic. Look..

I mean, really, I'm approaching slender-looking here. I think its the waist band thingy? I don't know, I'll take it. I'll wear this dress every damn day. Confidence abounds. Wish I didn't feel all craptastic.

Details:
Dress: Ann Taylor Loft
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Tights: J Crew
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet: J Crew
Necklace/Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender

galloping horses

hello all!

I finished week 4 of P90X this morning with Yoga. Something happened. I just feel...lighter, and tighter. More pulled together. Less floppy. Calm. Its kind of awesome. I think my clothes are fitting better too. So, its either just a super good day, or this P90X thing is working.

Here's what I have on today:

I'm not sure I dig the denim blazer topper on this, I'll have to experiment with other options.

Here's the deets:
Blazer: Gap
Horse Print Tunic: Asos
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet/Rings; Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender

if you're bored than you're boring

What do you think, is that saying, "if you're bored than you're boring" true? I think it may be...

A couple of things around the interwebs today.

Just found Esme's blog. Oh my goodness, she is gorgeous. Beautiful blog, beautiful girl. I recommend it!

Really interesting article about Arthur Miller's son.

I made this cake. It is insanely good.

I've been reading Kristin's blogs for years! Great read if you are interested in CrossFit, or just fitness in general. Or fitness while pregnant!

An absolutely beautiful post about fatherhood, san francisco, and nostalgia from Sweet Juniper


On to my outfit today...its monochrome day! YAY.

That's all navy actually, not black. I do love me some navy.

The deets:

Twinset - Jackie Shell and Cardigan, Navy - J Crew
Pants - Talbots
Shoes - Nine West
Necklace - Anthropologie
Bracelet - J Crew
Rings - Tiffany
Watch - Timex Weekender

don't you remember you told me you love me baby

Happy Monday Morning!

First, some sad news. Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore have separated. That's shocking as hell. More shocking than Al and Tipper really. Let's enjoy the fruits of their relationship, shall we?

100%

Moving on.

Checking in on my P90X adventure, I am in the middle of week 4, my recovery week. I got a little extra-exuberant about the change in scenery last week and said I was going to get to add 2 new workouts...actually its one.

This week is all Stretchy Yoga Kenpo rinse repeat, ahhhh, this is nice, and then SURPRISE! Core Synergistics.

Core kicked my ass. Now, maybe there is some element of learning new moves, I'll admit. But this video had me attempting moves and then just sitting there, staring at Tony, going, WTF dude. I thought we were buds.

I get to do Core again tomorrow, and I'm hoping that I will be more successful, given that I know what to expect. We shall see.

Otherwise, just kind of mentally preparing myself for Week 5, in which I begin 2-a-days. Cause I'm doing the doubles program. Cause I'm a glutton for punishment apparently. Doubles is pretty much just like Standard, except you add in a Cardio workout on your weights days. I think, I need to look over my workout calendar again. Sounds super fun, right? I'm actually kind of excited.

I also just found out that P90X 2 comes out at Christmas. I finish this program on December 23rd. Guess what I want from Santa?

I'm still pretty knocked out by this workout. But in a good way. I have lost like, 2 lbs? Whatever, not that worried about that right now. Busy getting ripped and stuff.

On to the outfit! Have I told you the weather right now is kind of my perfect idea of winter? I mean, its not winter, not by calendar nor any other measure. But I'm saying this COULD be winter. Really, its can stay in the high of 65 range. That can be winter. I'm good. Ok, maybe 1 weekend of real winter, with a big old snowstorm, and then back to this. I have no need for actual winter.

But I digress, I love this weather because it is cool enough for tights, not cold enough to be uncomfortable or need a coat at all. Its lovely. All this to say, yes, I'm wearing tights today, why do you ask? Here we go:

That shirt is from Ann Taylor loft, and I swear it is the most functional and versatile thing I own. Almost every time I bring something new into my closet, I'm all, hell yeah, check out shirty mcshirt shirt looking all dope with this. It's going to fall apart one of these days. I'm keepin an eye out for a replacement.

Sooo, the rest of the outfit.

Cardigan, J Crew here
Skirt, J Crew here
Tights, J Crew here
Shoes, Michael Kors
Bracelet, J Crew
Rings/Necklace, Tiffany
Watch, Timex Weekender

Despite my weather ranting above, I know it will, someday, get cold. So I'm thinking about coats. Do you think about coats? Maybe I just think about coats. I'm thinking of going classic.

LL Bean
Trench @ J Crew

Leaning towards the trench.

That's it for now!

every week can be skirt week

I just had to share this score from Old Navy.

Seriously, how adorable is this skirt, for 16 bucks? Here, just a few left looks like. You've got to size down in this skirt though, like a lot of Old Navy's stuff, it runs a bit big.

(oh dear god, that mirror is disgusting. wish i knew photo shop. s'okay, I know newspaper and vinegar. i mean, apparently not WELL or anything. sorry.)

The rest of the outfit for this dreary, rainy day when a nap sounds just fabulous..

Sweater, J Crew Tippi (Navy)
Tights, J Crew
Shoes: Michael Kors
Necklace, Bracelet, Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender

So, my skirt obsession continues. I really, really want this skirt with flamingos. 

Also, I am in need of some casual sneaks. I'm thinking grey Tretorns over Chucks or Bensimon. What do you think of these?

You know, I do more than shop. Its true.

various and sundry, P90X and outfits

Well, gooood Tuesday morning to ya! Welcome back to the work week. Hope you had a great long weekend!

I'm in the middle of week 3 of P90X. My comments this week...

1) I pretty much have to work out in the morning. On Friday, I had a work event that started at 730, which would have necessitated waking up at the break-a-break-a dawn to get my Shoulders & Back workout & Ab Ripper in before the event. So I figured, eh, I'll do it after work today. Reader, that time never came. I had my first (and only) unplanned "Rest" day. Booooo.

2) Dudes, week 3 has been HARD. I expected week 2 to be harder than week 1, because week 1, you are all dorking around trying to follow Tony and gang, and probably miss some of the reps due to figuring out your form. But no. Week 3 was harder than week 2, at least so far. Maybe I'm just beat.

3) The above said, I have been trucking along like  a trooper, determined to get an A in P90X. I may be beat, but I'm cranking out as many reps as I can, I've upped my weights for Shoulders and Arms, and I'm generally doing A-OK.

4) The afterburn. Or not burn. After working out, I get this peaceful, easy, tired feeling come over me that I just loooove. I'm kind of addicted to it. I certainly look forward to it. Having a long weekend was wonderful, because I could work out and then take a leisurely soak in the tub and then go to the market or something. Delightful. Honestly, its not too shabby working out before work either, because then I head to work with my peaceful easy feeling. Before work is all GAH! BLAH! OMG! NOW! and messes it up. s'ok, that's how work does. I'm not mad at it.

5) So I have Kenpo tomorrow, and then X Stretch/Rest Day, and then, I get to go into Week 4! Which means all! new! workouts! Ok, just 2 new workouts. Cardio X and Core Synergistics. I'm looking forward to variety. And multiple yogas in one week, because I must concur the Crane.

End P90X discussion.

Part Deux! The outfit. (ooh, Hot Shots, yay)

Here's what I have on today.

Its simple, I LIKE it.

Sweater: J Crew Tippi
Slacks: Talbots
Bracelet: J Crew
Necklace/Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex
Shoes: Nine West.

So, remember a few weeks ago, I said I had a crush on these shoes? 

Well, I got them. And they are some baddd mamma jammas. To wit:

Do you see, the angle that my foot is making there? That's what happens with a 5" inch heel and a 3/4" platform. I'm not going to lie and say they're like walking barefoot in daisies, but for being that high, they're not bad. I got them in Natural. Ok, I'm making my ankle hurt looking at this. Remember, I had to bend down and contort to get this pic. It's not THAT BAD.

Ok, that's it for now!

10/2 - 10/8, 365

Oct 2nd
Q: What do you crave?
A: Right now, working up a sweat (weird, I know). In general, dark chocolate. Sometimes tater tots.

Oct 3rd
Q: What was the last movie you watched?
A: I'm kind of half-watching I am Number Four right now. I think it sucks. I want to see 50/50 this weekend.

Oct 4th
Q: In three words, describe your love life.
A: Happy, satisfying, content

Oct 5th
Q: What question makes you anxious?
A: Do you want to go out to lunch? (I kind of hate going out to lunch at work, don't quite know why, I always have a nice time)

Oct 6th
Q: Do you have any new friends?
A: New? Not right now. Maybe I should make some.

Oct 7th
Q: Are you happy with your choices today?
A: Sure!

Oct 8th
Q: What is your biggest dream?
A: To write a book.

skirt week, day 4

sadly, today will be the last skirted day in skirt week. I have an event tomorrow and I'm wearing pants. So we're going out with a bang! p.s. - I loved skirt week.

here's today's outfit

why yes, that is the city mini in dahlia, and I lurve it.

Sweater, skirt, & tights: J Crew (as if it wouldn't be)
Shoes: Michael Kors
Necklace: no idea
Bracelet/Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex

Wednesday and more skirts! (ok, a dress)

Continuing along on my skirts week..today we have a dress. Told you I didn't have enough skirts!

Today's outfit is...

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft
Cardigan: J Crew Jackie
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Tights: J Crew
Bracelet: J Crew
Rings/Necklace: Tiffany
Watch: Timex

Also today...yes, I wear glasses. To work only.  Normally I leave them downstairs, which is why you never see them in my pictures! Yesterday I left them on my bathroom counter, so I put them on upstairs today.

more skirts and tights, oh my!

After wearing my Asos skirt yesterday, I decided I needed to do a skirt inventory. And what better way to do that than to wear them all!

Honestly, I can already tell you, I don't have enough skirts. I have 1 "winter" skirt, the one I'm wearing today, and 1 all-season skirt, the one I wore yesterday. The rest of my skirts (maybe 2-3) are summer only.

But I'm in a skirt kinda mood. So I think I will do some online perusing of the skirts today.

I know I'm in love with J Crew's pencil skirts, but I'm starting to look like a walking J Crew ad, for reals.

Here's what I'm wearing today..

Sweater: Tippi sweater, J Crew (see!)
Skirt: Talbots, last season
Tights: J Crew (again, see!)
Shoes: Ann Taylor Bracelet:
J Crew (dude)
Rings: Tiffanys
Necklace: Tiffanys

P90X, week 2

I did my first P90X post on Monday of Week 1, so I figure, HEY, why not keep it on the same day? Even though its halfway through the workout week, whatEVER.

I did my yoga this morning.
I did my arms and shoulders yesterday.
I did my Plyometrics on Saturday...oh dear jebus
I did my chest and back on Friday.

Things I have learned...
1) The weights I used week one were too light for most exercises. I am stronger than one would think. I upped the weights for week 2, and oh, it is ouchy.

2) Plyometrics, you think you're just jumping around and burning the calories, but NOOOO, oh, the muscles are getting a workout. The butt soreness after Pylo, it is impressive. And the all around core soreness.

3) The above stated, however....I kind of feel like I'm handling it. I mean, I hang with the crew most of the time.

So tomorrow I have the legs workout.
And then Kenpo.
And on the 7th day I rest. Or do X Stretch

I'm still all "Let's DO this damn thing" so that's good.

I have lost no weight. Really, dude? Really.

Patience.

an outfit for a cold cold day

It's freezing in DC this fair Monday morning. I mean, 50 degrees cold. That's REALLY cold to happen so sudden-like. I used the weather this weekend as an excuse to go on a tights replenishing mission! Yay! And I was rewarded with 25% off of 3 at J Crew, go me.

I forgot to take an outfit pic this morning - 90 minutes of yoga before work after a late night of hockey drafting will do that to you. But that's ok! I can still show you what I'm wearing.

This is a bit of a departure for me, venturing into the midi's, but I think I like it. I think I need MORE midis. Lots of midis. Midi midi midi.

Here we go!
I have on my trusty J Crew Tippi sweater in Navy



With this awesome midi skirt from Asos



Some camel ribbed tights to keep me toasty



(i want that coat)

and Michael Kors shoes that are OLD but look kinda like this...but smooth leather, not suede



You know something kind of sad? When I was in J Crew picking up my tights (I was very restrained), I actually stroked the charcoal No 2 pencil skirt in double serge wool and whispered to it, Helllo darling.

I may have a small issue with clothes.

I think I'll wear skirts and dresses all week. Why not?

sweater / skirt / tights / shoes

7 things

I saw this over at Meredith's blog, and thought I'd give it a go.

7 places I would like to visit:
1) Vancouver
2) Seattle
3) Austin
4) Prague
5) Stockholm
6) Madrid
7) Los Angeles

7 things I would like to make:
1) Lemon yogurt cake
2) a knitted beanie
3) a crochet blanket
4) a broken dishes pattern quilt
5) tomato cheddar soup
6) a lace patterned table
7) One MEEEEELION DOLLARS.

7 people I'd like to meet, dead or alive:
1) Bob Dylan
2) Barack Obama
3) Bob Woodward
5) Erica Jong
6) Joseph Gordon Levitt
7) Abraham Lincoln

7 things I would like to own:
1) This sofa, which I should have bought when I could have.
2) A proper record cabinet
3) this chair
4) this car
5) this car
6) an A frame house. I know where to find one...shhhh
7) something a little more immediately attainable...this jacket

7 things that annoy me:
1) Fox news
2) Ignorance
3) Bad drivers
4) Rude people
5) Grammatical errors
6) Traffic
7) Cat hairs that collect in the corners of rooms

7 films that I love:

1) Say Anything...
2) 500 Days of Summer
3) Sixteen Candles
4) The Way we Were
5) The Goonies
6) Across the Universe
7) Stranger than Fiction

7 Funny Words:
1) Hullabaloo
2) Platypus
3) Frothy
4) Juxtapose
5) Tertiary
6) Fender
7) Geo duck

8/25 - 10/1

I just finished my P90X pylometrics workout, and then I did the dishes and vacuumed, and now its time to sit in a stupor, watch Grays Anatomy, and answer a months worth of questions! Is it Greys Anatomy or Grays? I don't have the energy to Google.

I'm on season 6, BTW. I know I'm several years behind the rest of the population on Grays, but I kind of love watching it minus the commercials. I'm at the point where Mercy West has moved in, Izzy ran off, and they killed off George a few episodes ago. Dude, why George? He was kind of my fav.

Ok, so on to the questions..

Aug 25th
Q: What would you like to tell your father?
A: That I love him very much, that he has always been a great dad, no matter what. That he has been very patient and kind with me his whole life.

Aug 26th
Q: What's the best part about your life right now?
A: Its kind of all really good. I guess that I am loved, that I am comfortable, that I am taking care of myself.

Aug 27th
Q: When was the last time you worked out?
A: Heh. heh heh. 20 minutes ago.

Aug 28th
Q: How would you describe your victory dance?
A: Running man. BTW - I'm all old, and don't know stuff, but I saw that commercial with the, what are they, hamsters? and robots? for the car? and they are doing the shuffle? what is the shuffle, I ask, if not the running man?

Aug 29th
Q: What did you have for dinner?
A: Pit beef from a whole in the wall place near Fred's work. Its kind of delicious. Fred wants to open a pit beef place in Fairfax, and I am 100% behind that plan. Fairfax needs some Baltimore pit beef.

Aug 30th
Q: What's your simplest pleasure?
A: Petting the cats.

Aug 31st
Q: What was the last wedding you attended?
A: Wow, Edward and Emily's, I'm pretty sure.

Sept 1st
Q: Teacher or student?
A: Student. I don't always explain my full thought processes well, I can be not the greatest teacher. That said, I'm good at teaching physical things, I was a great gymnastics teacher.

Sept 2nd
Q: Is your home/apartment clean?
A: Clean, yes. Organized? Only sometimes.

Sept 3rd
Q: Where have you found evidence of a higher power?
A: I haven't, I don't believe in one. The only thing that comes close to a higher power is believing in the power or nature, family, and the golden rule.

Sept 4th
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Where I am now, but better. I think we'll probably buy our house. I expect to be working with the same company, but I hope that the company and my position will continue to grow. I may be in or just finishing up grad school. I will be married. I'll have more savings built up.

Sept 5th
Q: Today you learned....?
A: About set theory. Or re-learned, really, I'm sure it was mentioned in 9th grade geometry. I'm taking a math class, its a pre-req for a program I want to apply for. Its really interesting trying to pull up 15-20 year old knowledge.

Sept 6th
Q: What was the last online video clip you watched?
A: 100 years of style, here.

http://taza-and-husband.blogspot.com/2011/09/here-comes-weekend.html

Sept 7th
Q: What's the newest thing you're wearing today?
A: My work out top, its a Nike t-shirt, red. I like doing my toughest workouts wearing red, it makes me feel more powerful.

Sept 8th
Q: Who are you jealous of?
A: I suppose I'm jealous of who I used to be, someone who can eat whatever they want and still be slim.

Sept 9th
Q: What comes to mind when you think of fear?
A: Panic attacks.

Sept 10th
Q: This is utterly confounding....
A: All of the Republican party candidates for 2012. Rick Perry is a stupid insane man, but at least he can do something like allow benefits for children of immigrants. I can't even talk about Michelle Bachmann. But they are ALL super cheese ball uber-greasy politicians.

Sept 11th
Q: What advice would you give to a second-grader?
A: Enjoy recess. Learn as much as you can. Play outside, dig in the dirt. Have fun.

Sept 12th
Q: What are you chasing at this moment?
A: Fitness

Sept 13th
Q: Write down a minor, but chronic, problem.
A: I smoke? Haha. Yeah, I suppose you could argue that's not minor.

Sept 14th
Q: Who can help you?
A: Everyone, in some way.

Sept 15th
Q: Who are the most important people in your life?
Mom, Dad, Grammy, Beth, Bill, Fred.

Sept 16th
Q: What would you want to study at school?
A: If I went back, I think I'd be an engineer. But right now, I want to go to grad school for Organizational Design

Sept 17th
Q: What's your favorite snack food?
A: I love tortilla chips and spinach artichoke dip. But I don't eat it much.

Sept 18th
Q: A decision you made today...?
A: Not sure I've made any decisions today, beyond what to order at the bagel place, what to watch, when to work out

Sept 19th
Q: What's a new place you've recently been to?
A: Jason's Deli, they have good turkey wraps.

Sept 20th
Q: What's your favorite television show?
A: Weeds or Parenthood

Sept 21st
Q: Where do you think your road is going?
A: Somewhere good.

Sept 22nd
Q: What shocking news have you recently learned?
A: Nothing. I suppose its good that nothing terribly shocking is going on.

Sept 23rd
Q: Write down a quote for today
A: Be the change you wish to see in the world

Sept 24th
Q: When was the last time you went dancing?
A: Far too long ago!

Sept 25th
Q: Do you plan, or are you flying by the seat of your pants?
A: Some planning, mostly pants.

Sept 26th
Q: Today was amusing because....
A: uhhh. hmmmm. I don't know.

Sept 27th
Q: Do you handle rejection well?
A: Reasonably, as well as anyone I suppose

Sept 28th
Q: How hungry are you right now?
A: Not, just worked out. I'll have a late lunch in a bit.

Sept 29th
Q: Bad news - sugarcoated or straight up?
A: Straight up

Sept 30th
Q: How do you get out of a rut?
A: Tackle something new

Oct 1st
Q: What are you a geek about?
A: The history of words and letters. HUGE geek about it. also, grammar.