an outfit and an update

Happy Monday! Thank goodness its a short week =) Friday we celebrate Veteran's Day, originally commemorating the end of WWI. Of course, this Friday would be more momentous if that happened in 1911, but no, it happened in 1918. Sorry that the numbers don't add up pretty. Of course, 11/11/11 is still a pretty cool date. Shame I'm no longer in school and don't have to write it under my name on my loose-leaf paper. They still do that, right?

10/10/10 was cool, but not as cool, obviously. I suppose the last time we had one a little like this was 9/9/99. And I don't really remember that. Because I was 21, I'm guessing, and not remembering much? Don't know! Also, 9/9 is my friend Val's birthday. I did not meet her until 2003, but still, yay.

This weekend rather flew by, didn't it? Here it is November 7th already. That means I am 5 1/2 weeks in on P90X, almost to the half-way point. This doubles thing is kind of a pain - I love waking up and exercising before work - I love less, going home from work and doing it again. But it's okay, there are only 2-a-days 3 times a week (and on my schedule that is Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

P90x is...well, its going. It hurts now more than it did before! I'm going to choose to believe that is because I am "bringing it" more than to believe I am becoming weaker, haha.

As I mentioned last week, my medication is getting a little tinkering with, before the major tinkering, and I feel slightly off, but not too bad. I think I'll be a-ok. I did perhaps fly off the handle at Fred this weekend for the floor being dirty - I had just mopped it, man, I wasn't happy about it - but it wasn't really his fault. Luckily he is understanding about my various mental states =) I threatened him with hiring a maid - yeah, like that is really a threat. But I'm going to do it, I am. I really rather hate cleaning, and I'm hiring someone to do it. And that's okay.

Yesterday, with Daylight Saving Time ending, I woke up at 5am. Awesome, haha. It was a very long Sunday, just how I like 'em =) I do feel bad for my friends with children on sleeping schedules, I'm sure that is a huge pain in the ass. I'm in awe of mothers, especially (not to discount SAHMs), but working mothers, I have no idea how they do it. I have a hard enough time working out for an hour after work.

So, I remembered to take an outfit picture this morning, so that's exciting. Here's what I've got on:

The details:
Sweater: J Crew
Shirt: J Crew (its on major discount right now)
Skirt: J Crew
Tights: Hue via Anthropologie
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Necklace: Anthropologie
Bracelet: J Crew
Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender

crazy, stupid

I saw crazy stupid love last night, picked it up on the ol' Roku (love that thing, btw. Best Christmas present EV-ERR).

This movie, in short, is weird, and awesome.

I wasn't sure, at first. I wasn't even sure when I finished watching it. But upon reflection, that movie rocked.

Steve Carrell is Steve Carrell-y, but not as much as normal? Like not Even Almighty-ish Steve Carrell. The whole plot is kind of sublimely ridiculous. But also awesome.

Hands down though, what makes this movie? Ryan Gosling. He is amazing in it. He's kind of channeling Brad Pitt in Oceans Eleven but with more sleaze, but also less sleaze. And Emma Stone's character, and their interaction - just perfect.  "You wanna get outta here?" hehe. You'll see.

Watch it, is good.

frustration nation

I'm frustrated today. Frustrated for a very good reason, but still frustration feels like such a useless emotion. Frustration can lead you to make good changes, but in this case, I'm frustrated about good changes I've already made.

Patience has never been a virtue of mine, I'm very willing to admit that, but I still get frustrated when I see seemingly not only no reward, but punishment for my hard work.

What am I talking about? My weight, no surprise. It keeps inching up. And that is making me frustrated and quite pissed off.

Right now, and heck, not just right now, but right now, I'm in my 5th week of P90X. 5 weeks isn't a lot of time, I know. I wouldn't be pissed if the scale was staying where it started. But it isn't. Its creeping up. And yes, I know, muscle weighs more than fat, and its sometimes perfectly normal to gain when you first start working out. Yes. For an IN SHAPE person. For a person of healthy weight. Which I am not. Also, not exactly new to this whole working out thing.

How is it even possible that, let's say I didn't even change what I was eating, how is it even possible that pounds don't move when you are working out between an hour and two and a half hours each day? Huh? Tell me.

Let me just re-confirm - i DON'T expect results in 5 weeks. This is compounded frustration. I've been working out between 3-7 days a week going on 2 years (February!). I've worked by myself at the gym. I've worked with a trainer. I've worked by myself at ANOTHER gym. I've taken classes. I took to home workouts. I did 30 day shred, and I did lots of different crunch workouts. I finally upped my game to P90X. I think I partly did this to prove to myself that I am working out hard enough. If you are doing P90X and not cheating, you are working out hard enough.  Anybody is. Right?!?

At this point, I work out every day. On my rest day, I even do active stretching. Dude, it feels awesome. And its hard. But I couldn't just say, Oh, I'm doing enough, fuck the scale, until I really could say I'm doing ENOUGH.

But! But!!!!

Oh, and I have changed what I'm eating. I do Weight Watchers, Fred and I have stopped eating meat (3 weeks ago, I don't miss it, still have fish once a week about). I eat a shit ton of veggies and I eat fruit, and protein in the way of eggs and tofu, and I eat my dark green leafys and my flax. I take supplements for probiotic health, for Vitamin B, for Omega 3s. I have one diet, caffeine free, soda a day. I have one cup of decaf coffee a day.

So when I do all this, when my butt still aches from the legs workout 3 days ago, when I FEEL freaking GREAT (no, I'm not discounting this)..how do I not get frustrated when the scale won't budge?

So I got real fed up this morning, and I did something I haven't done in a very long time. I ate a Nutty Buddy. And now I feel guilty. But not defeated, whatever, its a small thing in the grand scale. But I need some progress to keep going, you hear me? I need some nice signs. I'm just sooo pissed that I felt I needed that packaged sugary crap.

What I do, it doesn't seem to much affect the weight honestly. When I worked out with a trainer I got down about 7 lbs. When I did my 30 day shred, I got down about 1/2 a lb under what I was 3 years ago - that didn't suck, but its still represented about a 12 lb net loss from my high. When I went through a little, eh, eff it phase with working out so hard? I lost. (Ok, that one may be muscle loss, but if so, that was quick) And now? I'm like 5 lbs away from my high. That is some bullshit.

So what do I do? Just keep going, obviously, that's not even a question. I'm getting stronger and healthier and fuck the weight. But I don't want to give up on that either. Don't want to give up on myself.

Its the goddamn medication, I know it is. That's what caused the gain and that's what's making it stay. I'm going to have to switch. All the way. I have to willingly make myself feel like shit for weeks in order to do this. Okay then, have it your way, medicine. You're done. (Don't worry, I'm going off one and upping my other, totally and completely doctor vetted and approved).

Also, if you have any words of wisdom..do share. I need a little boost.

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.

outfits!

Ooh, I almost forgot! I have outfit pictures to show you.

This is what I wore yesterday...



Jacket: Anthropologie
Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: Nine West
Bracelet: J Crew
Rings: Tiffany and mall kiosk dude

And here's what I'm wearing today!



Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft
Shirt: J crew
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Frye, thrifted
Necklace: Anthropologie
Rings: Tiffany and mall kiosk dude

red hot

After countless, so many, so so many times, on the Mac website with Ruby Woo in my cart, or looking at the various reds available at CVS, at lunch today I finally bought a real red lipstick.

I went for Smashbox Cosmetics PHOTO FINISH LIPSTICK WITH SILA-SILK TECHNOLOGY (that's a mouthful) in Legen...wait for it...dary. Ok, its just called Legendary.



I am wearing it, trying not to be too conscious of that fact, and I moved my hair from a low pony into a topknot. Somehow the red looks better that way.

We shall see if there is commentary.



Here's me looking slightly less than legendary, and honestly, a little snobby, in my office. I'm not snobby, I'm actually quite nice. Please someone teach me how to edit photos. Not to edit out the snobby, no. To edit out the shine.

adult school lunch

Hi all!
I was thinking about food (sometimes I do), and I was wondering, if I looked at all the food I ate at work all day, would it look like too much? So I decided to post it here. Now, this is what I have most days. Sometimes there will be variety, but honestly, not much. Once I find what I like, I tend to stick to it.

So, we start with Breakfast! I stop at my local starbucks to visit my friends the baristas every day. I get:

1) Grande Decaf coffee (I used to get a Decaf Soy Sugar Free Hazlenut Grade Misto, but methinks I may be sensitive to soy). I add in non-dairy fat free creamer when I get to work, less each day, because I'm trying to ween myself off of it.

2) Protein Bistro Box (I never eat the cheese, and I eat the egg as a late afternoon snack)





So that's done. Generally I finish breakfast and coffee by 11am (I'm a grazer).

I don't eat a typical lunch, so the remaining things I snack on as I'm hungry throughout the day.

1) I always have a Fruit 2.0 water with me. Sometimes I'll have more than one going.

2) Late July mini peanut butter sandwich crackers. Just a handful.

3) Luna Bar Chocolate covered Coconut. Please don't tell me this isn't healthy, I really don't want to know. It's their newest flavor and it is INSANELY good.

4) That egg I mentioned earlier.

5) Red Grapes

6) Banana(s)

7) Baby Carrots with a smidgen of Ranch for dipping.













I get that brand of carrots from the Whole Foods, and the ranch is really good without being heavy. Delish.

Sometimes, I can't eat all this. Sometimes, I'm super hungry and have an instant oatmeal or fiber one bar too. Sometimes, I have a cookie attack (trying to limit those!) But mostly, this is what I snack on while I'm at work. If you work with me, you probably think I eat all day long, and well, I do.

So I'm putting this out there - who's a nutritional guru? What am I eating too much/too little of?

P90X, Week 1

Hi all! Happy Monday!

I was getting a little bored with my workout video options, so about 2 weeks ago, I purchased P90X. 2 of my coworkers do it, so I knew a bit about what to expect, plus there's that added competitive bonus!

I got the DVDs on Thursday last week and started on Friday. I'm intending to do the Doubles program, which for the first 4 weeks is the same as the standard program.

This morning, I did day 4, which is the Yoga practice. This is NOT a rest day! This is a tough practice. I've done a lot of Yoga in my time, from a basic Level 1 class to an intense Vinyasa class, and this kicked even my most intense classes' butt. This was sweat dripping from my forehead while I held a shaky prayer pose tough.

Days 1, 2, and 3 were Shoulders and Back, Plyometrics, and Arms and Shoulders. The Plyometrics workout was a killer, but in a very good way. The weights days have been great too, but I think my standard 5lb dumbbells are a little bit lightweight for most of the exercises. I need to pop by the sporting goods store and pick up some 10s.

Day 1 involves a lot of pull ups, of which I can do zero. I don't have a pull up bar yet, that will be another investment. However, you can do the modified moves using a resistance band, which proved to work well enough. I really want to get to the point where I can bang out 10 chin ups.

On weights days, you also do a 20 minute Abs routine, called Ab Ripper. This, this is tough. I'll be very happy when I can get through this whole routine. For now I can do about 10 reps while they happily go on to do about 25.

I took my before pictures before starting, and NO, i won't be posting them here. But if you're lucky, and I'm lucky, you can see the after pics.

I think this program should keep me interested and engaged for the next 3 months. I didn't mean to make the timing like this, but I'll hit day 90 on December 23rd. Hopefully some success will be my Christmas present to myself!

All this exercising my body, and I've also started exercising my mind a bit, with guided meditations. I'm using the CDs from Belleruth Naparstek, including the programs on Stress, Panic Attacks, and Losing Weight. I've only done 2 so far, but I like them quite a bit.

I feel like its almost a very enjoyable second job right now, attending to myself. When I'm at work, I think about what else I can do to better myself. I love it.

On a more troublesome note, I have a beauty issue! I have naturally curly hair, and its happiest when I wash it at night and let it air dry while I'm sleeping. Lately, with my intense morning workouts, I'm working up quite a sweat.

After I cool down and do my makeup and get dressed, I'm still having to deal with wet, sweaty, kinda limp, curly hair. It's making for less pretty mornings than I'd like.

Any curly-haired ladies have any recommendations for me? I don't want to wash my hair with my after-workout shower, because it takes forever to dry. I've been going with pulling it half or all the way back...which I suppose will have to do!

purpose

i have a confession to make. I'm not great with long term life goals.

I do, in theory, of course, know how to set a goal and work towards it. I do it all the time. I'm great with short-term goals, even mid-term goals. But I get distracted.

Of course, perhaps I am not giving myself enough credit.

For example: work. One could say, well, Sara has accomplished quite a bit in her career thus far. She is, arguably, quite successful, especially for her age. And this would not be false. I love my job. I love the company I work for. But I think, I'm pretty sure, I've gotten where I am because I work hard until the work is done, I don't think of anything as being outside of my job description, I take opportunities where I see them, and I act in the best interest of the company. Ok, so that's pretty good. I'll take that in an employee.

What I'm trying to say is its not as though one day I said, this is what I want to be in my career, and this is how I'm going to get there. Does everyone else do that? Or maybe I have done that, just not in the explicit way I think others might.

I guess what I'm REALLY trying to say is this..I have ended up with a very happy life. An amazing life. Did I go through a whole boat load of crap before I got here? yes. Did I ever plan for this? No. It was more like an idea, a That would be nice, and now I've got it. I am so so fortunate.

I'm impulsive, and I'm an instant gratification person. I get pissed when my efforts don't yield results. I have a near inability to wait. I have a tough time saving money.

I have ideas about what I want - I know what I want to do long-term in my career, and I have educational goals and mentorship relationships built around that. But its years away. Its sooo farrrr.

I have goals for my diet and for exercise. I do the exercise, every day, because, well, I love it. whaaaa? I know, I love it, what can I say. But it doesn't yield results, not yet. Not major. The diet? I have good intentions, and I'm probably 70% good, and then I have a stressful day at work and I'm all cookie cookie. So there's that.

I have goals set for myself to try to work on my anxiety, travel goals, as simple as going on the metro. and I do those, when I feel good.

So wait, where am I REALLY going with this? I'm just rambling now. Somewhere in the exercise of writing this all out, I seem to have found that I am decent at setting and working towards goals. Perhaps its patience I need to work on. Patience, grasshopper. Patience.


edit. note: well of course, she said it better today. =)

monday monday

Welcome back to work! Umm, yay! Ok, its not so bad.

I forgot to take an outfit picture this morning, what with the shocking of the system into having to be places at certain times and all that. But never fear, the internets are here to help, as best they can.

Picture this, if you will. Today, I am rather monochromatic.

I have on this sweater:, which is the Tippy from J Crew (sidenote: I own 4 colors of this sweater and counting. It is delicious).



Paired with these slacks, or approximate. I can't grab the Talbot's photo, sorry! They are navy slacks, and delightful. I don't understand why I never bought navy pants before, they go with everything. I should probably just buy another pair now.

With these, I have on these here platform pump loafer doo-hickeys



Also, I have a major crush on these shoes.

There is another color of these shoes, shown in the September Vogue, and they are not available online. Don't mess with me, Nine West, I will find you.

My necklace is multiple years old from Anthropologie and my bracelet is from J Crew but apparently not cool enough to be on the site anymore. Sigh.

Tomorrow, I will try to remember to take a picture so you don't have to imagine so much. But while you're at it, imagine me at a size 4. K thanks.

the a-z of me

Saw this over at Miss Indie, and I thought I'd give it a try. Enjoy!


A. Age: 33
B. Bed size: Full
C. Chore that you hate: Mopping
D. Dogs: are awesome, but I'm a cat person
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee, protein plate, Brightest Young Things
F. Favorite color: Orange
G. Gold or Silver: Silver.
H. Height: 5'3"
I. Instruments you play: Violin, guitar, piano
J. Job title: Recruiting Manager
K. Kids: None yet.
L. Live: Live what you love.
M. Mother’s name: Carol
N. Nicknames: Squirrely Chesnuts
O. Overnight hospital stays: None, knock on wood.
P. Pet peeves: bad drivers, people who missuse literally, rude and impatient people. Slow down, enjoy life, don't bitch.
Q. Quote from a movie: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that." -Lloyd Dobbler
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: 1 older sister
U. Underwear: hanky panky, or anything fancy and retro
V. Vegetable you hate: beets
W. What makes you run late: sleeping too much
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, ankle, wrist
Y. Yummy food that you make: macarons, chicken marsala, guiness chocolate cake
Z. Zoo animal: red pandas, and any big cats

the kind of woman who...

today so far, I am..

the kind of woman who owns Missoni.....for Target.
the kind of woman who knows how to make Macarons.



these are good things to be.

Target was insane this morning, but in kind of a low key way? There was a small group of women, maybe 15 of us, who were running rampant through the Missoni, but the rest of the store was empty. I picked up the flats, which I had my eye on, a cardigan, a blouse, a scarf, a tap pants/robe set, a set of plates, a throw pillow, and a vase. I tore myself away from the bedding, which wasn't that hard, only because they only had king size sets left.

I wouldn't call what I used restraint, but the woman in front of me spent well over $1000, and she was far from alone in that.

Of course, I got there an hour after opening (had an appt at 730), and there were VERY few smalls left, and nothing but XLs in some of the things that really caught my eye. Oh well.

And then I came home, worked out, and made macarons. Vacation is neat.

I am also..

the kind of woman who gets caught out on not following through with a phone call she forgot about before going on vacation..dammit.

randomness

Hello lovelies! I have random thoughts in my head, and rather than posting to Facebook ad naseum, I thought I'd post them here.

1) Speaking of Facebook, I hope it does get hacked on November 5th. I don't exactly dislike Facebook - and I certainly participate. I just also like the concept of taking down such a power, given that it will not harm nor endanger anyone. I'm all for the revolution.

Funny story - I mentioned this (on Facebook no less) and I had a comment back saying..funny how they used the date from V for Vendetta. Well..yes...but. Its Guy Fawkes night. There is some history there. And while V for Vendetta is a great movie, it is not based on an original concept. I'm not making fun - more of an observation of cultural references.

2) I have this song in my head, often.

3) Who else is completely psyched about The New Girl? I am.

4) Did you know that Zara has its US online shop open now? Heck yes.

5) It won't stop raining!

6) Has everyone checked out Hello Giggles? How about Rookie? Checked out September Matchbook? And if you don't read Nat, please do!

7) Speaking of awesome blogs, bloggers are kind of blowing up huge, huh? I don't think one September issue of any women's / fashion magazine was without one blogger showcased, even briefly.

8) I think I'll start posting outfits again, that was fun!

9) I have been working out before work and after work, using my exercise videos. I switch them up, so as not to exhaust any one muscle group two times in a row. However, they all have some version of squats. I'm not sure I can squat again.

10) It is Thursday, and I have next week off. The hours will now be 2 times slower, for the remaining 14 or so hours I have left of work. You're welcome.

11) Is anyone else already feeling overwhelmed by all the 9/11 media 10 year anniversary machine? I know I am. 10 years is a long time, and no time at all. This year is different and special because of the weight we put on it, and I don't want to disrespect the thousands of people more deeply affected than I. I think that it is very important to offer continued memorium of those that were lost.

If you think about it, if you're honest with yourself, we all remember everyday. Ask yourself what your first thought was when we had our earthquake a few weeks ago. I remember the fear I felt in 2003 when the lights went out in New York, and there I was, next door to the Empire State Building. What all of us think when we see a plane we think might be flying a little low. This is what it did to us. We have a fear now we never had before. Its not going anywhere.

However, the reflection has brought to my attention some beautiful pieces of journalism, and I am sure that this Sunday will bring more. Look at this and this.

Goals Post Script

I forgot a goal! But you know, it's kind of a suprise goal. So I need a code word. Hmmmmm. Do the marzipan thing. Code: Marzipan.

Week 15 Recap / Week 16 Goals

I mistakenly gave myself two weeks (plus a day) to accomplish a weeks worth of goals. Eh, it'll happen. Let's see how I did!

Week 15 Goals

1) Make goals (and, done!) haha. - Well, done, obvs.

2) Find another exercise DVD I like as much as 30 day shred that I can switch up with Ms. Jillian. Or it could be another Jillian DVD. Despite having 3 30 day shred workouts I still would like more variety. Plus, Level 1 is already kind of easy. PX90I suppose.

Dudes, I have much bounty in the way of exercise videos. I went a-explorin' on Netflix and came back with a nice catalog of Crunch workouts + a new Jillian. I have 3 versions of Power Yoga/Pilates workouts, a Boot Camp, a Sculpt & Tone, and some Dance, in case I feel a lil crazy (or lazy, those are easy). I look forward to my workouts.

3) Plan a little one day getaway for Mr. Fred and I. Maybe back to the B&B we went to last summer.

I would very much like to do this, but Fred is feeling like his weekend time is a little too plan-y lately, and wants some free time. So free time he shall have. And then later, B&B. October mayhaps?

4) Pull another round of clothes for eBay from the closet - anything I passed up last time with the thought that I might wear it? That I haven't still? Up it goes

I did this yesterday, and one thing already sold. Woot!

Week 16 Goals

1) Identify and make 2 new dinner recipes. I am in a rut.

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.

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

Yeah, that's it =)