Saturday, March 31, 2012

out with the old...April

goodness, time to set some monthly goals! first, here's a look at last month..

March Time!

In with the new:
I am going to re-introduce running into my fitness routine. I used to run, I did the Couch to 5K program, and the first time I ran 3 miles I thought I might die, but I was also prouder of myself than I'd ever been. And, running makes you skinny. I swear, it does. I don't know why its different than any other form of exercise, but it is. So, there you go. I like it, makes you skinny, we got a winner.

I'm going to use Couch to 5K again, and until it is consistently warm in the mornings, I will probably mix running with my workout vids, P90X2, etc. But the goal is 3 days / week.
 
I did this, um, a little. I did run a few times, not as much as I would have liked. Other workout wise, I've found myself really focusing on the yoga workouts from P90X and P90X2, as well as Jillian Michael's yoga workouts, plus Ballet Beautiful. I'm into stretching and strength right now. 
 
Running though, it is good. So, no plans on taking that off the table. 

Out with the old:

Shopping hiatus, again. Also, over this month, I'm going to do my best to cut back my smoking to 3 cigs a day - morning/noon/night. I'd say I smoke about 8-10 a day now.  This week I will cut back to 5, and then 3 the following week for the next 3 weeks. This is in preparation for quitting before my 34th birthday (May 2nd). 
 
Yeah, I failed the shit out of both of these. Whoops.
 
ON TO APRIL!
 
In with the new:
I took an overnight trip to Charlottesville last night as part of a campaign to desensitize myself to my anxiety around travel.  I actually had a really nice time, and I think I'll try and make shorter trips like this once  a month. I'll start out with trips around VA/MD, and then the next big hurdle is taking a train or plane somewhere further away. Next up is Richmond, I think.
 
Out with the old:
I'm going to repeat last month's goals, because they are still really important to me. I have a proper budget now, with savings goals, and I'd like to direct some of that clothes money to savings. I'd also prefer to spend my money on some furniture I'd like rather than clothes. I think I'm pretty well set for spring clothes right now. 
 
Smoking - still planning on quitting May 2. On the road to that goal. 

Friday, March 30, 2012

ombre and stuff

so, I've gone and ombre'd. by the way, love Amanda at Red Door at Fairfax Corner, she rocks.

I freaking love it.


here's another one =)


Friday, March 23, 2012

burning down the house?

I'm a little concerned about myself. A good handful of times over the last two weeks, I've left the oven or burners on.

Then...last night, I was watching the Louisville basketball game, and towards the end, I put some biscuits in the oven for today's breakfast.  Now, granted, this was an important game, it being the tourney and all, and them playing a 1 seed and all, and it was exciting. But they were 10+ points up for most of the final few minutes. It was not a nail biter in the way it could have been.

So, when the game was over, I switched to Up All Night, and then thought, meh, I'm tired, and I need to wash my hair tonight. So I went upstairs, and did just that.

Later, when I was out of the bath, and doing my moisturizing routine, Fred comes into the bedroom, and from behind the bathroom door, I hear mumble mumble burn the house down mumble. I said, What? He says: the biscuits.

Oh shit! Yeah, they weren't black or anything, but they weren't good either.

Maybe I'm distracted because of this ongoing work thing? Its almost over, thank goodness! I'm the last to leave in the mornings so I'm worried about the burners, the curling iron, all of it! Can't wait to get my brain back to normal.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Q&A



If you had a choice between a year in Europe, all expenses paid plus a $2000/month stipend, or ten minutes on the moon, which would you choose and why?

Oh definitely Europe. Imagine all the things one could explore! Plus, I’m not sure space travel is on my list of things I could handle.

Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Doing the right things.

If you were someone else, would you be friends with you? Why or why not?

Yes, of course I would be friends with me. I’m a good, loyal, caring, friend. I’m also a bit of a homebody, so we would do lots of low key hanging out. 

Have you ever read a book that totally changed your perspective or beliefs? What book was it if so?

I think everything I’ve ever read has become a part of me, and in some way shape or form informed my beliefs and perspective. But no, there is not one book that stands out.

What would you do differently if you knew no one was judging you?

I actually live pretty strictly according to my own rules without considering outside judgment. I know, but really, I'm thinking about it, and its true.

At long last, someone invents "the dream VCR." This machine allows you to tape an entire evening's worth of your own dreams and watch them. However, the inventor of the dream VCR will only allow you to use this device of you agree to a strange caveat: When you watch your dreams, you must do so with your family and your closest friends in the same room. They get to watch your dreams along with you. And if you don't agree to this, you can't use the dream VCR. Would you still do this?

Hmm. I just don’t know. I can’t control which dreams I have, and yeah, some of them can get a little racy.

If you could only watch one television show for the rest of your life (all seasons, all episodes) what would it be?

I was going to say Sex and the City. But for my whole life, I might need something with a little more variety to it. I’m thinking, as silly as this sounds, a soap opera. Like Days of our Lives. It’s fairly horrible, true, but there is so much material.

If you could acquire any talent in the world instantly, without actually working at it, what would it be?

I’d love to be able to really really sing. Adele style.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

If I can take my family, I think we’d go West Coast. San Francisco. Portland. Seattle. Pacific Northwest in general. Vancouver perhaps – but ooh, cold. Austin? 

If they have to stay here in the DC area, I'd probably move out to the country (i'm assuming that being able to live anywhere means I can still have my job without the commute being an issue)

What celebrity would you most like to have dinner with?

Tough. Drew Barrymore. Bob Dylan (although with Bob, I think I’d be petrified of not being cool enough)
               
What are your top five favorite songs?

Do you know how hard this is!?!

             Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley
             I Want You (She’s So Heavy), The Beatles
             Rock n Roll Suicide, David Bowie
             I Got the Blues, the Rolling Stones
             Quicksand, the Dinosaur Jr. version

What is one of your worst habits?
Smoking.

If you had to pick one kind of breakfast cereal to have for the rest of your life, forgoing all others, which would you choose?
Rice Chex

What is your favorite holiday?
Memorial Day. That overjoyed feeling that it IS SUMMER.

What color ARE your underwear, miss?
Multicolored, today, thanks

You're having pizza for your next meal. What are the toppings?
Pesto, Mozzarella, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Red Pepper

Monday, March 19, 2012

i'm not cool

I learned a new thing today.

Beck.


Van Morrison covering Bob Dylan.

I can dig it.

a different kind of consumerism

have you noticed that everything is on sale, always?

I mean, just today, I've got in my inbox a $50 off a $100 purchase at Ann Taylor, a super mega stock up sale from Old Navy. Banana Republic pretty much offers at least 30% off every day. J Crew is not good about normal sales, but they will knock another 30% off their clearance with damn near daily frequency.

So, um, yeah. That whole, oh my goodness, that is such a good deal I better buy that now 'cause I won't have the chance at this price? That whole concept is gone. Except our instincts have not adjusted, therefore we still have the impulse, therefore marketers are evil geniuses.

I think its getting to be a bit much. Diminishing returns are in effect. I no longer go, oh my, better buy now, I go..meh. There will be more and potentially better stuff on sale later - or you know, maybe I don't need stuff and when a time comes when I do I'll just buy it. Novel concept, I KNOW.


on being a vegetarian asshole

you know what I mean, right? Those vegetarian/vegan assholes, who like to remind everyone about the flesh they are consuming? I don't want to be one of those people.

But ya'll, it's really hard.

Here's the thing - I ate meat for my whole life until about 6 months ago. I loved steak. A good steak..I mean, it is a delicious thing. But one day, I stopped eating meat. I don't miss it. I can't imagine eating it again. I eat fish and eggs and cheese, so I'm actually a pesca-ova-lacto-vegetarian, I suppose?  The fish thing is borderline. I get seriously pukey if I have to de-skin a piece of fish, and I could not bring myself to eat a lobster tail at Christmas dinner. But crab cakes? Okay.

This is so...this is weird, right? It's not like I'm newly introduced to vegetarianism, my sister went veg at like 12 and full vegan in college. This is not a new idea to me.

So, back to being an asshole. I really really really hate the meat producing industry. All of it. Its despicable. If I ever ate meat again, which is really not likely, I'd only eat locally raised humanely raised and killed meat. But dude, I can't. Just typing that, I can't. I can't eat something that will interact with me and that someone had to kill. At least a fish won't like, lick my hand or something if I try to feed it.

So, yeah, here I am, and I'm having a hard time not being judgy and stuff - not to anyone personally, no, just to the societal norms that make it okay for the system to exist as it does. I suppose this is normal new vegetarian progress, yes? I certainly remember my sister going through it.

It just seems really insane that I had such a monumental change of habit. I mean, I'm happy with it, I'm proud of it, it makes me think about what else I can change if I just try - or not try, I guess. I don't think I'm better than anyone, really. I think I'm being responsible about my contribution to the world, or rather, what I take from the world for my own consumption.  That's not to say someone who eats meat is acting irresponsibly - I just urge everyone to put some thought into where their food comes from. I know that not everyone has access to or can afford the kind of produce we have available to us here in the DC area, nor can everyone pop into the Whole Foods for a shop a couple of times a week like a big fat yuppie (I'm talking about me, hi).

 ...and I won't try to talk here about the kind of costs and statistics many have analyzed around fresh v. processed food. Just, you know, think about it.

gah. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

current fragrance

hi all-
Do you have a signature fragrance? I adore perfumes, and I love trying new ones. I always get my perfumes from Nordstrom because they load you up with samples! My current fragrances is from Hermes, Eau de Merveilles.

It is just delicious, and really unique. I think I'll stick with this one for a while

Another one of my past favorites is Kate Spade Twirl. Maybe I just like beautiful bottles?

And finally, I adore Santal. I really want to try Tom Ford's Santal Blush, but it is several hundred dollars! I think I'll try Le Labo's version instead! Or maybe Fresh's.

What's your favorite?

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

outfit 03.13.2012 and on summer

Hi! So this is what I wore..yesterday..


Sweater: J Crew
Pants: Banana Republic (Mad Men collection)
Shoes: Michael Kors
Necklace: Tiffany
Bracelets: Tiffany, RL, Anthro
Rings: Tiffany

Also - underwear - the high rise thong by Hanky Panky. A lifesaver for these pants, which, as part of the Mad Men collection, apparently require Mad Men era undergarments, with the modern convenience of the thong. I knew I had those for a reason.

So, today, yeah, its 85. In March. We won't be dipping under 70 for two weeks, looks like. Enter - capris, lots of capris.

Here's my plans for post work / weekend.






Monday, March 12, 2012

manual labor

I spent yesterday in the garden, clearing out all of the winter cover and dead leaves and a few crawly things and some old pear cores. I planted a bed of spring flowers and a bed of veggies - kale, brussels, and broccoli.

I raked and dug and lifted and bagged and scraped and cajoled (damn weeds, need cajoling). I took the cats outside for a little bit of fresh air and plant chewing. I laid back and felt the sun on my face.

I did the back garden, and our little front plot, and our row of hostas down the driveway. There is a lot of stuff that just looks like tilled dirt, but give it a few weeks.

And today? yeah, I am sore in places that P90X doesn't reach, haha. My wrist is sore (weed cajoling). My butt is sore..squatting, standing, repeat. My arms are sore.  Gardening is no joke. Somehow I manage to forget this each winter. Also probably why my mama is in such awesome shape.

It is such a good kind of sore, though. Its nice to do some manual labor every once in a while =)

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

dirty topic?

I was reading longest acres today ...love that blog, btw. Kate just puts her 2011 earnings out there, for all to see. Which, I suppose, is fine, give that those earnings are $13K and change.

I mean, maybe. Maybe $13K is a lot in some ways, in some places. Well, i doubt its A LOT.  I know it would be very nice to have for to some people. I know you couldn't really live well in Northern VA for that - I'm not sure you'd have a roof over your head for that. Forgive me if I'm being naive, I don't really know.  I made $4.25 an hour minimum wage my first job at Blockbuster in 1995, but since I've had an office job in the late 90s, I don't think I've made under about $33K. And that, my friends, is a long way back in the rear view mirror.

I don't think I can say what I make here. I don't think anyone should really share that. I have income shame, maybe. Which is ridiculous...I should be very proud of what I accomplished. But really, no one needs to know but me and my household, right? (That's just Fred, then). And no, I am not the 1%.

It's kind of funny to think about though...is there some magical number that dictates when you can no longer talk about it? 'Cause I didn't seem to have this problem with talking about it earlier in my career..

You know what inquiring minds want to know? How much the top bloggers make. If they tell, I'll tell, deal?

Anyway, let's complete the trifecta of taboo topics...

Sex - yes, it does happen in my life.
Religion - no, it does not.

outfit 03.06.2012

Did you know, I like to sleep? Like, a lot. I also like to be awake early. So that means I go to bed at old man times, like 9:45pm. But that's okay, because I get to sleep. A lot.

Here's what I'm wearing today!

I know, I know, wipe that face off your head, right? I don't know what that look is.

What I have on:

Sweater: J Crew
Blouse: J Crew
Skirt: J Crew
Tights: Target
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Bracelet: Lord and Taylor
Necklace: Tiffany
Rings: Tiffany and mall kiosk
Belt: Talbots

Monday, March 05, 2012

they call me mellow yellow

In honor of the beautiful daffodils popping up all over town...a little color love for one of my favorites, yellow!














Thursday, March 01, 2012

out with the old...March

Here it is, March 1st! so its time to review the "out with the old, in with the new" goals for the month, and set some new ones!

February Review
I talked a bit about my progress against this goal here, and it's interesting side effects! 

But - still need to wrap up with a monthly overview!

Here's what I said:

In with the New: Make a gosh darn budget already. Its sort of ridiculous that I wing it. I need to build up my savings. Pay myself first, etc. etc. I am committing to having a reasonable budget put together by the end of the day tomorrow (the 1st). I think Mint.com may help me in my first step: where does my money go now?

I did this! I did this right after I wrote it. Mint.com is kind of the best thing ever. I love love it. Did you know that besides rent, groceries are our number one thing (well, it WAS clothes - gasp). There are only 2 of us! I guess that's why they call it Whole Paycheck...but, on the other hand - we eat good, healthy, fresh food, and I can tell when its from Whole Foods v. Safeway. I can. So this is an expenditure I can live with.

So, I have a budget, and I stuck to it in Feb! Yay! And I have money in savings! Yay! A tiny little bit but Yay!

I also said:

Out with the Old: Sort of related to the New: no new clothes. (slightly hyperventilating). Yep, no clothes shopping. No shoes shopping. No jewelry, accessories, or other accoutrements shopping. Small exceptions may be made for 1) tights, if all are worn out/have runs. And...um, that's it.Woooo. breathe. ok. ya. I'm committed.

I mostly did this. Honestly, I did not by anything you would generally call clothes, as in, things worn over one's underwear. I DID buy underwear, and jewelry, and some shoes. Also, as I mentioned before, a lot of house stuff.

So, I kind of did this, kind of failed to follow the spirit. Therefore, it continues. Yesterday, being a leap day, was not real and did not count, so I bought a couple things on final sale from J Crew. Today! I am back on this wagon. I just don't NEED anymore clothes, ya'll. Until I shrink a size (which, yeah, I'm getting close to, woo!)

March Time!

In with the new:

I am going to re-introduce running into my fitness routine. I used to run, I did the Couch to 5K program, and the first time I ran 3 miles I thought I might die, but I was also prouder of myself than I'd ever been. And, running makes you skinny. I swear, it does. I don't know why its different than any other form of exercise, but it is. So, there you go. I like it, makes you skinny, we got a winner.

I'm going to use Couch to 5K again, and until it is consistently warm in the mornings, I will probably mix running with my workout vids, P90X2, etc. But the goal is 3 days / week.

Out with the old:

Shopping hiatus, again. Also, over this month, I'm going to do my best to cut back my smoking to 3 cigs a day - morning/noon/night. I'd say I smoke about 8-10 a day now.  This week I will cut back to 5, and then 3 the following week for the next 3 weeks. This is in preparation for quitting before my 34th birthday (May 2nd).








outfit 03.01.2012

wow, it is GORGEOUS outside today. we have had some beautiful days this so called "winter", but I think this is the first where it didn't really get cold last night, and it was honestly warm when I walked out the door...without a coat I might add.

Here's what I have on today:

Sweater: Banana Republic
Blouse: Ann Taylor Loft
Skirt: J Crew Factory
Tights: Target
Booties: Via Spiga
Belt: Banana?

Necklace: Anthropologie
Bracelets: Tiffany/RL/Anthro
Rings: Tiffany/Mall Kiosk