I spent some time today trying to answer a question that's been on my mind. I live in Fairfax County, VA. This is one of the highest-income counties in the US. Third to Falls Church city (where my mom and dad and sister and brother in law live..about 5 miles from me) and Loudoun County, our direct neighbor to the West.
see?
So, my question is, what constitutes the 1% here? The number I've heard tossed around is $250,000, which I suppose represents nation-wide. Okay, fine. That is a lot of money, even in New York. New York and San Francisco, maybe Boston, are pretty much the only cities you'll find that cost more than DC. But it's not the 1% here. Can't be. So I went on a search. I haven't found my answer yet, but I found some pretty jaw-dropping facts.
Here's a whole site dedicated to economic and demographic information in Fairfax.
Unemployment is 4.5%, and that is historically super high. Lower only than last year.
39% of households bring in more than $150,000 a year. That's the highest that table goes.
Here's a major jaw-dropper. Using salary.com, I found out the cost of living difference between here and Indianapolis..
The cost of living in Washington, DC is 71.3% higher than in Indianapolis, IN . Therefore, you would have to earn a salary of $428,217 to maintain your current standard of living.
And here's where I say whoa...
Employers in Washington, DC typically pay 11.0% more than employers in Indianapolis, IN . Therefore, if you take the same type of job in the same type of company in Washington, DC you are likely to earn $277,495 .
So, you're telling me that the cost of living is 71.3% higher, and we only pay 11.0% more?
This tempts me to think we are hosed. The other numbers, they remind me that I'm very fortunate to live here in an area of great opportunity.
So no, I don't think the 1% is quite the same in my DC suburb. I'm still allowed to be against the death of the middle class, right?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
ohhhh uggggh
you remember that decision I made a few weeks ago? To come off one of my two drugs for my panic disorder? Well, I did. I tapered, and then I finally came off of it all together on Thursday night after Thanksgiving. I expected to feel like hell - and I did, kind of. I felt weird all weekend. I spent a lot of time on the couch. I did my workouts every day, because exercise helps the symptoms. I felt "OK". Which I suppose if your most demanding activity is exercising for an hour, followed by couch sitting..well, that's enough. Not so much at work. I have no couch in my office. Can you believe it?!?
Today? Today, I feel like crap. I feel shaky and weird and kind of disassociated with myself and...well, not hungry. In the least. I just finished my breakfast. Its 3:30pm. I wasn't hungry, but I was feeling a little shaky, and since I can't exactly pinpoint the cause of shakiness, I made myself eat.
As we humans are wont to do, I googled all this. I googled withdrawal symptoms from this drug. I am now terrified, thanks internet. I got a good giggle about how this drug makes you eat like a stoned teenager (I can see that), and crave carbs and sugar (I can definitely see that). I am now worried about a whole host of issues. Scary scary issues. And I'm terrified even more that the drug I'm still on does exactly shit and the drug I went off was doing all the good.
Hot damn, I hate this shit.
(As a side note on the exercise - I am now into my third part or section or whatever you call it of P90X. So, I'm a little over 2/3rds of the way done. I can do WAY more pushups. I still can't do pull ups or a half moon. I hopped back to Level 3 of Jillian's 30 day shred on Saturday instead of Plyo - who am I kidding, anything to get out of Plyo...and I expected it to be easy...but it wasn't. It was kind of harder than Plyo. Though about 2/3rds shorter! Overall, however, we are still, yay, P90X. Ordering P90X 2 here in a few days. I ain't done yet. Though dude, I'm kinda over the Back and Legs workout. Sneaky lunges = blargh.)
Today? Today, I feel like crap. I feel shaky and weird and kind of disassociated with myself and...well, not hungry. In the least. I just finished my breakfast. Its 3:30pm. I wasn't hungry, but I was feeling a little shaky, and since I can't exactly pinpoint the cause of shakiness, I made myself eat.
As we humans are wont to do, I googled all this. I googled withdrawal symptoms from this drug. I am now terrified, thanks internet. I got a good giggle about how this drug makes you eat like a stoned teenager (I can see that), and crave carbs and sugar (I can definitely see that). I am now worried about a whole host of issues. Scary scary issues. And I'm terrified even more that the drug I'm still on does exactly shit and the drug I went off was doing all the good.
Hot damn, I hate this shit.
(As a side note on the exercise - I am now into my third part or section or whatever you call it of P90X. So, I'm a little over 2/3rds of the way done. I can do WAY more pushups. I still can't do pull ups or a half moon. I hopped back to Level 3 of Jillian's 30 day shred on Saturday instead of Plyo - who am I kidding, anything to get out of Plyo...and I expected it to be easy...but it wasn't. It was kind of harder than Plyo. Though about 2/3rds shorter! Overall, however, we are still, yay, P90X. Ordering P90X 2 here in a few days. I ain't done yet. Though dude, I'm kinda over the Back and Legs workout. Sneaky lunges = blargh.)
the sales and the sales and the sales
It's Cyber Monday, everyone. Which sort of creeps me out a bit, makes me think of a set-aside day to have cyber-sex. If that's still a thing. I don't know. Maybe my mind is dirty. But! But.
Let's ponder for a moment - how full is your inbox of a million emails that say stuff like:
"Hi, I'm from your favorite store, we're discounting all sale items an additional 60% off plus free shipping for 4 hours only! Run!"
My cousin's girlfriend works at one of the famous electronics retailers. She had to head into work at 11pm on Thursday night to work a 12 hour shift. She chose that over the 9am to 9pm on Friday. More down time, I suppose - more exciting.
But seriously, people. Has it not gotten out of hand? Me thinks yes.
I will admit, I am, at times, swayed. I will never ever ever go to Target between Black Friday and, oh, Christmas, if I can help it. I refuse to go to Wal-Mart anyway. I do most if not all of my shopping online. If I'm at the store the week before Christmas, its because I ran out of wrapping paper, dang it.
But, I shop. A lot. All year. You guys know this. So wouldn't it behoove me to shop MORE when the deals are so OMFG BBQ!
I really really ridiculously try not to. Because I don't want to perpetuate the consumer madness. I'd rather buy from Anthropologie than Target, and from Etsy than Anthropologie, and I try to stick to that, all year. But damn, they are convincing, aren't they?
Let's all make ourselves feel okay and pretend that they are selling at a loss this week (heck, maybe they are, making it up in volume) and that the clothes we buy all year are worth full price (they're not, for the most part).
Last week, about Monday, our TV finally bit the dust. We had to cave and buy a new one. So, I did what any smart and/or brainwashed American would do, and waited until Friday. (online, people, online). I needn't have. The emails I started getting a week ago about Black! Friday! Deals! Start! Now!...I didn't believe them. I thought the prices would go lower. They didn't. I still got an amazing deal on a new TV.
So does the system work? Sometimes, I think. Sometimes. Maybe if it could be limited to responsible buying of needed appliances and electronics and we all agree to replace broken items twice a year, and the retailers are cool with that, so they give us good deals. Maybe twice a year, who wants to be stuck with a broken dishwasher for 10 months? And, hmmm, why doesn't this apply to cars? Black Friday for cars? Freaking genius. Groceries? Gas! College! There's so much more benefit to be had here than video games and very ugly ugly housewares on sale.
Does it perpetuate the idea that Christmas is the time to blow all your money and put yourself into a debt you will only barely get out of by next Christmas because you need all the things? Yeah. And that's pretty disgusting. I, for one, wouldn't miss about 1/2 of what I own. Get rid of it, you say? Give it to less fortunate people so they have Christmas gifts? Well, that's damn brilliant, I say. Why don't we all do that?
My family, we have a good tradition. We play white elephant with the extended family, $5-$10 gifts, and we all chip in nice chunks of change to a charity that we choose together. Not a one of us needs things. For the immediate family, we try to give experiences or donations. Tough sometimes, and we will give a few little pretty things here and there. But the tree, it is not so full with boxes, but much fuller with life and love (whoa cheesy, but true).
I have good intentions, but I will falter. I will never ever buy a child a toy when I could give a book. I am more likely to buy you a trip than a necklace. But most of all, I try to give with thought and heart. I don't see that for sale at the big stores, I just don't - none of it has personal meaning, save books and music maybe.
I'm steeling myself against a month of unbelievable sales in my inbox. Its tough, you know. Tough for someone like me to resist major deals. But I'm doing my best, this year. I'm almost done Christmas shopping. I may just block all those emails.
Or, I may buy a faux fur vest from Nordstrom because I mean, who doesn't need one of those. That's like the thing I will wear all the time even when its out of style because I don't care and I love anything that reminds me of the 70s. Like my brown leather cropped moto jacket. Which I bought in like 2002 and has come in and out of style 'bout 5 times and I don't care, I just wear it. I do what I want. But I digress. See, I'm not perfect.
How do you resist the pull of the x% off siren?
Let's ponder for a moment - how full is your inbox of a million emails that say stuff like:
"Hi, I'm from your favorite store, we're discounting all sale items an additional 60% off plus free shipping for 4 hours only! Run!"
My cousin's girlfriend works at one of the famous electronics retailers. She had to head into work at 11pm on Thursday night to work a 12 hour shift. She chose that over the 9am to 9pm on Friday. More down time, I suppose - more exciting.
But seriously, people. Has it not gotten out of hand? Me thinks yes.
I will admit, I am, at times, swayed. I will never ever ever go to Target between Black Friday and, oh, Christmas, if I can help it. I refuse to go to Wal-Mart anyway. I do most if not all of my shopping online. If I'm at the store the week before Christmas, its because I ran out of wrapping paper, dang it.
But, I shop. A lot. All year. You guys know this. So wouldn't it behoove me to shop MORE when the deals are so OMFG BBQ!
I really really ridiculously try not to. Because I don't want to perpetuate the consumer madness. I'd rather buy from Anthropologie than Target, and from Etsy than Anthropologie, and I try to stick to that, all year. But damn, they are convincing, aren't they?
Let's all make ourselves feel okay and pretend that they are selling at a loss this week (heck, maybe they are, making it up in volume) and that the clothes we buy all year are worth full price (they're not, for the most part).
Last week, about Monday, our TV finally bit the dust. We had to cave and buy a new one. So, I did what any smart and/or brainwashed American would do, and waited until Friday. (online, people, online). I needn't have. The emails I started getting a week ago about Black! Friday! Deals! Start! Now!...I didn't believe them. I thought the prices would go lower. They didn't. I still got an amazing deal on a new TV.
So does the system work? Sometimes, I think. Sometimes. Maybe if it could be limited to responsible buying of needed appliances and electronics and we all agree to replace broken items twice a year, and the retailers are cool with that, so they give us good deals. Maybe twice a year, who wants to be stuck with a broken dishwasher for 10 months? And, hmmm, why doesn't this apply to cars? Black Friday for cars? Freaking genius. Groceries? Gas! College! There's so much more benefit to be had here than video games and very ugly ugly housewares on sale.
Does it perpetuate the idea that Christmas is the time to blow all your money and put yourself into a debt you will only barely get out of by next Christmas because you need all the things? Yeah. And that's pretty disgusting. I, for one, wouldn't miss about 1/2 of what I own. Get rid of it, you say? Give it to less fortunate people so they have Christmas gifts? Well, that's damn brilliant, I say. Why don't we all do that?
My family, we have a good tradition. We play white elephant with the extended family, $5-$10 gifts, and we all chip in nice chunks of change to a charity that we choose together. Not a one of us needs things. For the immediate family, we try to give experiences or donations. Tough sometimes, and we will give a few little pretty things here and there. But the tree, it is not so full with boxes, but much fuller with life and love (whoa cheesy, but true).
I have good intentions, but I will falter. I will never ever buy a child a toy when I could give a book. I am more likely to buy you a trip than a necklace. But most of all, I try to give with thought and heart. I don't see that for sale at the big stores, I just don't - none of it has personal meaning, save books and music maybe.
I'm steeling myself against a month of unbelievable sales in my inbox. Its tough, you know. Tough for someone like me to resist major deals. But I'm doing my best, this year. I'm almost done Christmas shopping. I may just block all those emails.
Or, I may buy a faux fur vest from Nordstrom because I mean, who doesn't need one of those. That's like the thing I will wear all the time even when its out of style because I don't care and I love anything that reminds me of the 70s. Like my brown leather cropped moto jacket. Which I bought in like 2002 and has come in and out of style 'bout 5 times and I don't care, I just wear it. I do what I want. But I digress. See, I'm not perfect.
How do you resist the pull of the x% off siren?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
ringing in
i don't know what I'm doing for new year's yet..but I'd like to be wearing this Paillette shift dress from BR. What are you going to wear to this season's festivities?
thankful, con't.
Some more things that I'm thankful for.
1) J Crew, Anthropologie, and Zara
2) All of the delightful blogs I read daily.
3) Vogue. And all of the other magazines I read, but mostly Vogue.
4) My new chair
5) That I have found a true love for exercise. I suppose I am thankful for P90X =)
6) My UGG slippers
7) Sweatpants. Glorious sweatpants.
8) People who believe in me.
9) Sleepy warm stretchy cats
10) Bella noises
11) Pretty flowers in my garden
12) Summer.
1) J Crew, Anthropologie, and Zara
2) All of the delightful blogs I read daily.
3) Vogue. And all of the other magazines I read, but mostly Vogue.
4) My new chair
5) That I have found a true love for exercise. I suppose I am thankful for P90X =)
6) My UGG slippers
7) Sweatpants. Glorious sweatpants.
8) People who believe in me.
9) Sleepy warm stretchy cats
10) Bella noises
11) Pretty flowers in my garden
12) Summer.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
thankful
In the spirit of Thanksgiving later this week, I thought I'd start to make a list of all the big and little things in life I'm thankful for. Some are serious, some are frivolous, but all make me happy.
Section 1 - My heart, my life
1) Family
2) Fred
3) Dear sweet kitty darlings Tasha and Bella. (Storchez and Rooster)
4) Friends
Section 2- The rest of it
1) the opportunities I've had in my career, and what I've learned
2) NPR
3) Starbucks
4) that my parents are very smart people, and that my grandparents were smart people, and because of them, their children have comfortable, amazing, beautiful, loving homes - and we get to share in the joy and comfort that is a little stability in life.
5) Manhattan Bagel on the weekends
6) The Washington Post and the New York Times
7) music. that music exists. that the genius of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan exists. That I was raised in a musical home. That I am a musician, and a music lover.
8) For being raised by parents who taught me, inspired me, and put up with me, and are amazing people, cooler than I'll ever be.
9) That I was raised without prejudice, judgement, racism, or fear, but to have an open mind. Also, to be a Democrat =) That I experienced being the minority. That I was introduced to religion but allowed to choose my own path. That I've never felt pressure to do or be anything but what I want to be.
to be continued ...
Section 1 - My heart, my life
1) Family
2) Fred
3) Dear sweet kitty darlings Tasha and Bella. (Storchez and Rooster)
4) Friends
Section 2- The rest of it
1) the opportunities I've had in my career, and what I've learned
2) NPR
3) Starbucks
4) that my parents are very smart people, and that my grandparents were smart people, and because of them, their children have comfortable, amazing, beautiful, loving homes - and we get to share in the joy and comfort that is a little stability in life.
5) Manhattan Bagel on the weekends
6) The Washington Post and the New York Times
7) music. that music exists. that the genius of the Rolling Stones and the Beatles and Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan exists. That I was raised in a musical home. That I am a musician, and a music lover.
8) For being raised by parents who taught me, inspired me, and put up with me, and are amazing people, cooler than I'll ever be.
9) That I was raised without prejudice, judgement, racism, or fear, but to have an open mind. Also, to be a Democrat =) That I experienced being the minority. That I was introduced to religion but allowed to choose my own path. That I've never felt pressure to do or be anything but what I want to be.
to be continued ...
Monday, November 21, 2011
my chair
you know the classic cliche, that the man has a "man chair" that the wife hates? Yeah, I got myself my own "woman chair" this weekend, and Fred is not a fan. This is the one the husband won't ever get me to throw out.
Its more butterscotch-y than this picture shows. Its an Overman AB. I love it. The Tasha cat has also taken up residence.
I got this at a little shop in Alexandria that specializes in mid-century modern. It is super dangerous for me to go in, or even know about, this store.
I got this at a little shop in Alexandria that specializes in mid-century modern. It is super dangerous for me to go in, or even know about, this store.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
nattering
Morning, all! I was going to say its so hard to believe its the middle of November, but I feel like I'm saying that about a new month every other day, and its tiring me, so I won't! Just try to enjoy every day to its fullest.
I feel like nattering today, I have some complaining to do. I hope you'll indulge me. I do feel a bit like a whiny brat when I keep talking about my weight, blah-dy blah blah, but it is on my mind. Not in an obtrusive way, not in a bad way even. Let me be clear - I feel good about myself and I look good - in a completely different way than I used to look good. If that makes sense. And that's what I want to talk about. Re-adjusting to not being skinny.
So, I have mixed feelings about this subject. On one hand, I admire people who are proud of their bodies no matter what the shape. Its a hard thing to do, whether you are thin or heavier. I know that I didn't appreciate what I had when I had it!
On the other hand, and this may be controversial, I believe that everyone has a choice as to their habits, but if the world were run by me, I would encourage everyone to pursue a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating habits and exercise. I do get a bit judgy of people who are morbidly obese and chowing on the McD's 3 times a day. Okay, a lot judgy.
Which brings me to my own struggle and personal beliefs here. I spent most of my life as one thing - naturally slender no matter what the hell I ate, until I was not. It was quick, it was the result of medication, and it sucks. The emotional and mental ability to frame this change in my mind has taken much longer.
I try to look at myself in the mirror (actually, I don't hate this), more like I try to look at the number on my clothes. I realize that its is 2 digits where it used to be one. Okay, let's be real. Its a 10-12 and it used to be a 4-6. Fuck that noise.
So, this happened to me. At first, I did nothing. I was still recovering and kind of fragile from the walloping I took from panic disorder before this happened. I was content to just get through the days.
Then, I got a little pissed. I had to come to terms with my changed image of myself, the changed image that I now showed to the world. And, like always, I'm sure the vision I have of myself in my head is different from what people see. Like always, I kind of hate pictures. I'm not very photogenic, except when I look back 5 years later, and think hot damn, child, you look great. So, maybe I am photogenic, and also heavily critical of myself.
My fiance has never known me as the thin girl. He's seen pictures. This is interesting, though I don't think about it much.
So here's what I've done to make it right in my head. If I do EVERYTHING I can to live a healthy lifestyle and exercise and eat right and make good choices (while not completely restricting myself, I've learned to love strange and formerly foreign things, dark chocolate, lookin at you). If I take care of myself. THEN I can feel okay about my body. Does that make sense? Its like a deal I've made with myself. This may be the state I find myself in, but I won't take it lying down. I can't force change, but I can do what is within my power.
And that's going to be okay and good enough.
I feel like nattering today, I have some complaining to do. I hope you'll indulge me. I do feel a bit like a whiny brat when I keep talking about my weight, blah-dy blah blah, but it is on my mind. Not in an obtrusive way, not in a bad way even. Let me be clear - I feel good about myself and I look good - in a completely different way than I used to look good. If that makes sense. And that's what I want to talk about. Re-adjusting to not being skinny.
So, I have mixed feelings about this subject. On one hand, I admire people who are proud of their bodies no matter what the shape. Its a hard thing to do, whether you are thin or heavier. I know that I didn't appreciate what I had when I had it!
On the other hand, and this may be controversial, I believe that everyone has a choice as to their habits, but if the world were run by me, I would encourage everyone to pursue a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating habits and exercise. I do get a bit judgy of people who are morbidly obese and chowing on the McD's 3 times a day. Okay, a lot judgy.
Which brings me to my own struggle and personal beliefs here. I spent most of my life as one thing - naturally slender no matter what the hell I ate, until I was not. It was quick, it was the result of medication, and it sucks. The emotional and mental ability to frame this change in my mind has taken much longer.
I try to look at myself in the mirror (actually, I don't hate this), more like I try to look at the number on my clothes. I realize that its is 2 digits where it used to be one. Okay, let's be real. Its a 10-12 and it used to be a 4-6. Fuck that noise.
So, this happened to me. At first, I did nothing. I was still recovering and kind of fragile from the walloping I took from panic disorder before this happened. I was content to just get through the days.
Then, I got a little pissed. I had to come to terms with my changed image of myself, the changed image that I now showed to the world. And, like always, I'm sure the vision I have of myself in my head is different from what people see. Like always, I kind of hate pictures. I'm not very photogenic, except when I look back 5 years later, and think hot damn, child, you look great. So, maybe I am photogenic, and also heavily critical of myself.
My fiance has never known me as the thin girl. He's seen pictures. This is interesting, though I don't think about it much.
So here's what I've done to make it right in my head. If I do EVERYTHING I can to live a healthy lifestyle and exercise and eat right and make good choices (while not completely restricting myself, I've learned to love strange and formerly foreign things, dark chocolate, lookin at you). If I take care of myself. THEN I can feel okay about my body. Does that make sense? Its like a deal I've made with myself. This may be the state I find myself in, but I won't take it lying down. I can't force change, but I can do what is within my power.
And that's going to be okay and good enough.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
sweet november
here it is, Thursday/Friday (because tomorrow is a holiday!). The weather outside today makes sure that we know it is November. Its not that cold - 50s - but it is dark and dreary and the leaves are coming down down down. From my little 7th floor office perch, I have a very good view far west and east - and the leaves are absolutely gorgeous. Sad to know in a few weeks they will be gone.
today marks my halfway point with p90x. And..well, that's good. I'm not hating it or anything, its just not very exciting right now. Although! I did finally get a pull up bar yesterday. Basically, in p90x, a couple of the workouts have some pretty intense pull up/chin up elements. There are modifications using resistance bands, which I have been doing until now. I really really want to be able to do pull ups, its definitely a major goal. I put up my new pull up bar last night and...not there yet. I just kind of hang, and pull, and make uuungggh noises, and nothing happens. So, I will keep building up my strength.
Its also really awesome to have such an apparatus because I get to try and do all my strength moves on bar from when I was a gymnast - like levers and skin the cats. It is really my greatest wish that I could have a gym - like a gymnastics gym - all to myself. I would work out about 3 hours a day and have fun doing it. When I taught gymnastics, I had this - maybe I'll pick up teaching a class once a week just for this benefit! Or maybe I'll become wealthy and build one, haha =) For now, the bar helps.
Today also marks just about a month since I've eaten meat - and I've decided I'm done with it. I made burgers for Fred the other night, and while I wasn't disgusted, I didn't want to eat them either. I'm sure there will come a time when I'm craving a steak...or in a few weeks, turkey!..and I'm not saying "never", I don't want to set myself up to feel like a failure. Its not about that. Fred and I noticed that we were getting really lazy with cooking (ok, I was. I do the cooking, let's not pretend that's a shared duty) and we were having burgers and steaks maybe a little too frequently. So we went veggie. We have crab cakes or salmon or the occasional egg maybe once every 10 days or so. I've gotten pretty good at vegetarian recipes. I've discovered veggie lasagna, sweet potato & black bean burritos, tofu & mushroom stir fry, roasted acorn squash with portabello and onions. I mean, I've not been going hungry, hehe. For a long time since, I had an aversion to anything with bone in - forget about whole chicken roasts or such things. And for a longer time, I've only bought my meats from certain places that carry humanely raised products. Finally, I just switched to a local butcher from Charlottesville. So, I feel okay about the meat that I was eating. But I just don't feel like I need it anymore. We shall see how this progresses.
I've got my mind on Christmas presents, and I have an idea for ALMOST everyone on my list. I like being done early, and I think this year I'll be able to carry my presents in my purse - lots of envelopes with exciting surprises (not gift cards, no, no).
today marks my halfway point with p90x. And..well, that's good. I'm not hating it or anything, its just not very exciting right now. Although! I did finally get a pull up bar yesterday. Basically, in p90x, a couple of the workouts have some pretty intense pull up/chin up elements. There are modifications using resistance bands, which I have been doing until now. I really really want to be able to do pull ups, its definitely a major goal. I put up my new pull up bar last night and...not there yet. I just kind of hang, and pull, and make uuungggh noises, and nothing happens. So, I will keep building up my strength.
Its also really awesome to have such an apparatus because I get to try and do all my strength moves on bar from when I was a gymnast - like levers and skin the cats. It is really my greatest wish that I could have a gym - like a gymnastics gym - all to myself. I would work out about 3 hours a day and have fun doing it. When I taught gymnastics, I had this - maybe I'll pick up teaching a class once a week just for this benefit! Or maybe I'll become wealthy and build one, haha =) For now, the bar helps.
Today also marks just about a month since I've eaten meat - and I've decided I'm done with it. I made burgers for Fred the other night, and while I wasn't disgusted, I didn't want to eat them either. I'm sure there will come a time when I'm craving a steak...or in a few weeks, turkey!..and I'm not saying "never", I don't want to set myself up to feel like a failure. Its not about that. Fred and I noticed that we were getting really lazy with cooking (ok, I was. I do the cooking, let's not pretend that's a shared duty) and we were having burgers and steaks maybe a little too frequently. So we went veggie. We have crab cakes or salmon or the occasional egg maybe once every 10 days or so. I've gotten pretty good at vegetarian recipes. I've discovered veggie lasagna, sweet potato & black bean burritos, tofu & mushroom stir fry, roasted acorn squash with portabello and onions. I mean, I've not been going hungry, hehe. For a long time since, I had an aversion to anything with bone in - forget about whole chicken roasts or such things. And for a longer time, I've only bought my meats from certain places that carry humanely raised products. Finally, I just switched to a local butcher from Charlottesville. So, I feel okay about the meat that I was eating. But I just don't feel like I need it anymore. We shall see how this progresses.
I've got my mind on Christmas presents, and I have an idea for ALMOST everyone on my list. I like being done early, and I think this year I'll be able to carry my presents in my purse - lots of envelopes with exciting surprises (not gift cards, no, no).
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
cracky
These? These here Laura's Wholesome Junk Food Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bite-lettes?
I picked these up at the Whole Foods. Dates are the top sweetener in these. I'm pretty sure they forgot to say that the first ingredient is crack. They are sooo. soooo. goood.
a dress and a tale of zara
Before (well, and after) I entered the illustrious world of HR, I was in Retail. I started off with a job at the Body Shop in college, and soon enough was promoted to Assistant Manager. I stayed there for a few years, before heading off to ICF to become an HR Assistant. After ICF, I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do. I toyed around with a couple of ideas - even went back to The Body Shop to be a manager there.
One day I was working at the Body Shop and a woman came in to shop. I was working alone on a Sunday, so we got to chatting. Turns out she was the District Manager for Bebe, and she was hiring. So, I became the Co-Manager of the Georgetown Bebe, and began my apparel retail career. I loved working at Bebe. I had a great group of coworkers, and we became pretty good friends. I was in my mid 20s, so I could still pull off most of those clothes - and oh man, does your style change when you work at a clothing store. I was itty-bitty, and I wore things like bell-bottom jeans with the legs slit up to the knee. This was also the era of jeans with no back pockets. I still have one pair, my favorite pair of jeans really. They are about a size 00, and they are almost falling apart. I keep them, for..shit, I don't know. But keep them I do.
I gave away most of the other Bebe gear. Its horribly out of fashion now, and shows the wear of a DC summer spent on your feet all day...ewww.
After about a year and a half at Bebe, I got recruited away for an awesome job - General Manager of the new Zara in Georgetown. I had to go to New York for 6 months for training...gosh darn, haha. I had the life, man. I had a paid for hotel room in the Theatre District and a nice salary, not that I needed it, because I also had a per diem of $128 a day. For food. That I got whether I spent it or not - no reimbursements here. Which, sure, if I tried to eat at the Times Square restaurants I would have plowed through pretty quick..but I didn't. I lived on Starbucks and Sbarro. I worked at the Herald Square Zara and I learned New York well. I had the trains down, I gave tourists directions, I spent my days off - every single day off - in Soho, when I wasn't popping on the Acela to come home for a bit. It was, in short, awesome. I was essentially living in New York for free. I did things like go shopping at the Times Square Virgin Mega Store and oh HEY, Marc Ronson is spinning in the DJ booth right now. I went to Broadway shows, I got my hair done at the Frederick Fekkai salon above Chanel on 5th. I shopped at What Comes Around and Kirna Zabete. I dropped nice chunks of change on gifts for my boyfriend at Supreme (where I ran into the Olsen twins - random). I got real real used to this particular New York state of mind =)
A little about New York - there is nothing, no nothing, quite like the first time you walk out of Penn Station and experience the city as someone who..kind of...lives there. Nothing. I was there for some New York events - the blackout - the game 7 win of the ALCS against the Red Sox (i was bitter, but we got them next year).
There was also the not-so memorable time that the manager of the Herald Square store took us all out to dinner. Now, I know, taking a group of 15 out to dinner in the city is not exactly cheap...but she took us to the Red Lobster..in Times Square. Of all the places to eat in New York, I was like...seriously? Can we go downtown? Talk about wasting your money. Have you ever eaten in Times Square? This one time I went to TGIF and a French Dip and a beer was $40. Eh, she was from Newark, what are ya gonna do?
I had lots of disposable income, and I spent a fair amount at the store I worked at. So I got to know Zara clothes and quality. The first season I worked there was the one that Zara was ripping off Marc Jacobs who was ripping of Courreges. Excuse me, not ripping off, paying tribute to. Zara was actually just ripping off, its what they do =) It was also the first season that over the knee boots started becoming acceptable for non-hookers. Well, at least in New York.
I think that was also the first time that I realized that DC does lag behind New York in fashion trends. Every time I came home, my outfits were a little more out there. I was wearing stuff that wouldn't become mainstream for another year. A little lesson there. God, I miss New York, haha.
All this to say that I was introduced to Zara in a pretty in-depth manner. I learned about the whens whys hows, etc. I was responsible for the buying. It was pretty cool. I ended up leaving retail to go back into HR with Booz Allen, leading me on my path to my current job - which is awesome. But a small part of me misses the world of retail.
A few months ago Zara opened an online US store. I was kind of in heaven. Everything thing I buy from there, I love. Its unique, its on trend, its good quality, and I get mad complements. Having worked there, too - I know which items are the standards, season to season, basics - and frankly not as good quality - and I know which are the standouts of that particular season, and therefore generally a bit higher quality. I just bought another Zara piece last week, and I'm wearing it today, and I love it.
I feel like I could curl up and sleep, cause I'm just wearing a big sweater. P.S. this picture was taken before I did my hair -work out hair! Sorry.
Dress: Zara
Belt: Target
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet/Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender
One day I was working at the Body Shop and a woman came in to shop. I was working alone on a Sunday, so we got to chatting. Turns out she was the District Manager for Bebe, and she was hiring. So, I became the Co-Manager of the Georgetown Bebe, and began my apparel retail career. I loved working at Bebe. I had a great group of coworkers, and we became pretty good friends. I was in my mid 20s, so I could still pull off most of those clothes - and oh man, does your style change when you work at a clothing store. I was itty-bitty, and I wore things like bell-bottom jeans with the legs slit up to the knee. This was also the era of jeans with no back pockets. I still have one pair, my favorite pair of jeans really. They are about a size 00, and they are almost falling apart. I keep them, for..shit, I don't know. But keep them I do.
I gave away most of the other Bebe gear. Its horribly out of fashion now, and shows the wear of a DC summer spent on your feet all day...ewww.
After about a year and a half at Bebe, I got recruited away for an awesome job - General Manager of the new Zara in Georgetown. I had to go to New York for 6 months for training...gosh darn, haha. I had the life, man. I had a paid for hotel room in the Theatre District and a nice salary, not that I needed it, because I also had a per diem of $128 a day. For food. That I got whether I spent it or not - no reimbursements here. Which, sure, if I tried to eat at the Times Square restaurants I would have plowed through pretty quick..but I didn't. I lived on Starbucks and Sbarro. I worked at the Herald Square Zara and I learned New York well. I had the trains down, I gave tourists directions, I spent my days off - every single day off - in Soho, when I wasn't popping on the Acela to come home for a bit. It was, in short, awesome. I was essentially living in New York for free. I did things like go shopping at the Times Square Virgin Mega Store and oh HEY, Marc Ronson is spinning in the DJ booth right now. I went to Broadway shows, I got my hair done at the Frederick Fekkai salon above Chanel on 5th. I shopped at What Comes Around and Kirna Zabete. I dropped nice chunks of change on gifts for my boyfriend at Supreme (where I ran into the Olsen twins - random). I got real real used to this particular New York state of mind =)
A little about New York - there is nothing, no nothing, quite like the first time you walk out of Penn Station and experience the city as someone who..kind of...lives there. Nothing. I was there for some New York events - the blackout - the game 7 win of the ALCS against the Red Sox (i was bitter, but we got them next year).
There was also the not-so memorable time that the manager of the Herald Square store took us all out to dinner. Now, I know, taking a group of 15 out to dinner in the city is not exactly cheap...but she took us to the Red Lobster..in Times Square. Of all the places to eat in New York, I was like...seriously? Can we go downtown? Talk about wasting your money. Have you ever eaten in Times Square? This one time I went to TGIF and a French Dip and a beer was $40. Eh, she was from Newark, what are ya gonna do?
I had lots of disposable income, and I spent a fair amount at the store I worked at. So I got to know Zara clothes and quality. The first season I worked there was the one that Zara was ripping off Marc Jacobs who was ripping of Courreges. Excuse me, not ripping off, paying tribute to. Zara was actually just ripping off, its what they do =) It was also the first season that over the knee boots started becoming acceptable for non-hookers. Well, at least in New York.
I think that was also the first time that I realized that DC does lag behind New York in fashion trends. Every time I came home, my outfits were a little more out there. I was wearing stuff that wouldn't become mainstream for another year. A little lesson there. God, I miss New York, haha.
All this to say that I was introduced to Zara in a pretty in-depth manner. I learned about the whens whys hows, etc. I was responsible for the buying. It was pretty cool. I ended up leaving retail to go back into HR with Booz Allen, leading me on my path to my current job - which is awesome. But a small part of me misses the world of retail.
A few months ago Zara opened an online US store. I was kind of in heaven. Everything thing I buy from there, I love. Its unique, its on trend, its good quality, and I get mad complements. Having worked there, too - I know which items are the standards, season to season, basics - and frankly not as good quality - and I know which are the standouts of that particular season, and therefore generally a bit higher quality. I just bought another Zara piece last week, and I'm wearing it today, and I love it.
Dress: Zara
Belt: Target
Tights: Hue
Shoes: Ann Taylor
Bracelet/Rings: Tiffany
Watch: Timex Weekender
Monday, November 07, 2011
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
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:
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
Friday, November 04, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, October 31, 2011
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?
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!
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!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, October 28, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
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!
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?
So, here goes, outfit for today:
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?
Monday, October 24, 2011
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?!?!
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?!?!
Friday, October 21, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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.
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
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
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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
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.
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
Monday, October 17, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
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.
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?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
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!
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!
Saturday, October 08, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
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
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, October 05, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
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
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..
Skirt: Talbots, last season
Tights: J Crew (again, see!)
Shoes: Ann Taylor Bracelet:
J Crew (dude)
Rings: Tiffanys
Necklace: Tiffanys
Monday, October 03, 2011
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.
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
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
Sunday, October 02, 2011
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
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
Saturday, October 01, 2011
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.
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.
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