by Heidi on March 15, 2010
Now that I’m going back into the working world, I’ve been doing a little research on what I should purchase in the coming weeks to be comfortable and stylish in my new role. New sneakers are a given since I won’t want to stand in my running sneaks for 8 hours and unnecessarily wear them down. I’m a big fan of flip-flops but I’m not sure if those are allowed so I’ll wait to see. Not to mention those, if they are allowed, will have to be worn sparingly because they’re not so comfy to stand in. Not to mention will require a pedicure, but is that ever a bad thing?? I think not.
1. Puma Simplice Sneaks [Zappos]
2. Hunter Rain Boots [Nordstrom]
3. Off the Shoulder Top [Victoria's Secret]
4. wunder under pant [Lululemon]
5. Run: Team Spirit [Lululemon]
by Heidi on March 15, 2010
{via GenPink}
{don’t worry, Monday Materialism will return this afternoon!}
by Heidi on March 14, 2010
“This is…the happiest I’ve seen you in a long time…”
Hubs said that to me tonight, and it’s true.
I’ve started focusing on goals, I’m excited about my new job, and I’m doing some great things.
Starting a non-profit affiliated with a national non-profit, committing to yoga for 30 days – even if it’s just using yogadownload.com in my spare room/office, and buying a bike so I can commit to my first sprint triathalon this summer, and of course the new job.
I’ve just realized, in the past month especially, that I am incredibly blessed. I’m blessed to have the supportive husband and family I have, I’m blessed for the amazing friends I have and the ones I’m making, and I’m blessed to have found a job that is going to be a fun learning environment that encourages it’s employees to set goals and to keep them.
Thanks to this book – I’m learning to let go of my past, to move forward, to set goals, and to allow myself to be happy with what I have. I’m learning to focus on me – and I’m taking that out in my yoga, my running, and my racing.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few years, it’s that before anyone else can make you happy, you have to make yourself happy. And it’s true. It’s immensely true, and I learned it at the cost of a few friendships and relationships over the past ten years. But it is such an important lesson to learn.
I’m looking forward to really spending the next 30 days of this 30 day yoga challenge I’ve given myself, to really, really be content with where I am and who I am. I’m looking forward to using it to assist all my marathon training, and running in general. My flexibility is certainly shot to hell, and I’m looking forward to getting some of that back.
I know I sound all life-coachy on you guys right now but seriously, I feel as if I’m bleeding happiness these days, and even though we were without power for about 12 hours today, and my husband is on his way out of his job, I’m okay with everything in my life. Because the most important thing I’ve learned this year through all of hubs and I’s trials and tribulations, is that money? Does not equal happiness.
I am blessed. But more than that, I am blessed to have realized it because many go throughout life without even realizing what they have.
by Heidi on March 12, 2010
…these bad ass shoes – which I lust after and are luckily sold out otherwise I’d be tempted to buy them for my spring wedding Maid of Honor garb..but…really I have no use for them. They’re not practical anymore.
{Why…hello beautiful.}
Lucky for me, they’re sold out. So no loss. Not that I have a need as I mentioned, my new job is going to have me wearing shoes more on this line…
{I can dig ‘em.}
Still wondering where I’m going to be working? Well. I’m keeping it secret. Ish. (lie)
You can check it out here.
I know I didn’t go to college to work in “retail,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s what I need. I need to nurture myself for a while, regain some confidence, save some money, have some fun. I need to be in an environment where I can be confident in myself (also, this is NOTHING like working at Guess? Kids in Cambridgeside Galleria in 2001) and going to work won’t make me cry or feel sick. I need that. At least for now.
It’s going to be an awesome ride, and it’s totally going to get me to practice yoga more, and run when I say I’m going to run. I’m excited, inspired and relieved. And really? That’s about as much as I can ask for for now. Grad school will happen, my history courses will happen. It’s just going to take some time. For now, I’m just going to “breathe and enjoy the moment.”
For now, I’m going to start my own 30 day yoga challenge. There’s 30 days til my birthday and I plan to do yoga every day for at least 20 minutes a day until then. That’s why I’m working on cleaning our spare room so I can do it in here. It’s a slow process. There’s my Fitness Friday contribution. I’ve sucked at everything this week, I ran a nice 8 mile run last Sunday with the beautiful spring weather and got out for a couple of really, really long walks, but it caused my knees to be wonky, so I’m going easy on the running til I get new sneaks.
by Heidi on March 11, 2010
There’s something to be said for stability.
Hubs and I haven’t had much of that at all in the six months we’ve been hitched. And just when we thought we had stability on it’s way? The rug got pulled from under us. Luckily that rug comes with a month’s severance and a boss willing to help him find the next thing.
This all happens the day after I’m unofficially offered a position (i got the offer letter yesterday), so for 24 hours we had the joy of knowing we’d be a 2 income household again. Stability! Wait…no.
There’s something to be said for having a monthly budget, no uncertainty, knowing you’ll be able to pay all of your bills in a given month, I miss that stability. I miss the fun aspects – knowing I could go up to Boston to see my best pals if I wanted to, being able to go shopping on a monthly basis because I can. I miss that.
I lost my job a year ago Friday. I worked hard, I worked two jobs, I gave my “career” my all and thought it was the right thing for me. It wasn’t. Turns out it wasn’t what I wanted or what was best for me. I reevaluated my goals, I reevaluated what will make me happy, I’m incredibly excited for my new job (officially announced yesterday on facebook!), even if it means putting my goals of teaching on hold. Sometimes, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.
It’ll be nice working in a positive environment that focus’s on goal setting, that’s nurturing and encouraging of accomplishing those goals. It’ll be fun working with people who have the same interests in me, people who inspire every day.
Despite the lack of stability, I know, I have faith, that things will get better. Everything happens for a reason, and one day, Hubs and I will have that stability again that I yearn for.
by Heidi on March 8, 2010
Freaders, I’ve got some good news. Spring is butting it’s way in. Winter, is on it’s way out – thank goodness, and today, as I walked the mile or so to Hubs’ office to bring him lunch, I wore flip flops, sunglasses, cropped leggings and a fleece. The fleece? Made me warm. I should have left it at home.
After all this winter has tortured us all with – snow, sleet, and bouts of depression – I’m ready for spring. Flip flops, skirts, driving with the windows down (not that I particularly like to drive but you know what I’m saying), days at the beach, shorts, and then some. Freaders, it was SIXTY DEGREES!!! That’s surely the warmest it’s been since we moved up here – it was like almost 80 degrees the day we moved out of our tiny english basement in DC to our monster of an apartment (it’s not really a monster but it is MUCH bigger). I’m dying for spring to hurry up and get here.
1. JCrew Ruffled Shell Tank
2. JCrew Silk Ruffle Tank
3. Jack Rogers Sandals (via Nordstrom)]
4. Old Navy Envelope Neck dress
Here’s my current spring wants. Not much, I’m transitioning into a new job that won’t require me to be nearly as dressed up – more details on that this week sometime but yay! Freelancing, grad school and a job that actually pays. Now if only I could get started on that novel….then all my dreams would come true!
by Heidi on March 8, 2010
Confession, freaders….I’ve got a big brother. Yes, yes, I am the baby sister.
I don’t talk about family much on here, mostly for their privacy, but since I’m not badmouthing anyone, I figured confessing I had more than a sister, is okay. But yes, I’ve got two older half siblings, a brother and a sister.
Freaders, as I write this, my big brother, whom I have, over the past few years, come to appreciate and respect much more than I did when I was younger when he terrorized me as the baby sister, is on his way to Afghanistan. No matter how many times he’s punched me on the arm, or how many times it hurt, I’d go back to that, and annoying my mother with “make him stooopppp” any day. Hearing my mother tell me with a shaky voice that he was leaving tonight, was just…sad. We’ve seen it coming but no matter how long you have to prepare for it, nothing prepares you when a loved one heads into a war zone.
I am so grateful, for the bonds we’ve made over the past few years, as he and I have both grown up and realized that we only get one family and unfortunately, we don’t get to pick and choose the ones who are blood. He was at my college graduation, and most recently, a groomsman in my wedding. I can’t tell you all how much that meant to me.
It’s weird, everyone has different experiences when a loved one is deployed and I imagine that it’s different whether it’s a husband who you can’t fall asleep next to for X number of months, or whether it’s a father, or brother. But I do know one thing for certain, all politics and comparisons aside, we all pray. Pray that they stay safe, and that they come home to us safely.
So freaders, to all of you who have someone you love overseas – no matter where they are – I’ll say a little prayer for you and your loved ones, if you say a little prayer for mine.
by Heidi on March 7, 2010
I had the greatest day today.
I have a hard time calling myself a runner, mostly because…and I’m ashamed to say it…I’m slow. Not ridiculously slow. But slower than I used to be.
Long gone are the days of 7-8 minute miles. Long gone are the days of sub 30:00 5k’s. But still, I find myself, especially on days like today, loving being a runner.
Why?
Go out, strap on your sneakers and just start running. Jogging, running, I consider them one in the same, because ultimately, you’re faster than a walker. You move swiftly over the sidewalk, whether it’s to music or just the sound of your own breathing and the cars passing by. You run to the outskirts of town, up and down hills you weren’t expecting but find yourself being excited and proud when you conquer one hill after the other. You feel your legs tighten up, crying out over the exercise but not because they’re upset, they’re tired. You turn around and head home, bummed yet happy that the run is over. The run is almost over? Two miles left, twentyish minutes or so. Down some hills, up some more hills.
You pass a couple older runners, nodding politely, then one man, with wrap around running sunglasses, and winter gloves gives you a thumbs up. It revamps your energy and you feel an extra kick in your step. You wonder how fast you’re really going, how long til you’ll be done and able to say you conquered another 8 miles. Eight miles on your sneakers. Adding up the miles in your head you wonder how long till you should reward your hobby with a new pair.
Finally you pass the last major landmark, about a half mile from home. Knowing you’re almost there, you add more spring to your step, trying to keep up with a runner a few steps in front of you. He suspects what you’re doing, and speeds up. Or you slow down, tired, cramping and aching. You cross your last street and turn up your driveway. Sprinting the last quarter mile or so, almost there. You can feel the sweat on your forehead – the first spring day, the first great day for a long run. Your legs are tight, screaming in pain, but you feel, albeit sore and tired, accomplished and exuberant about running and accomplished.
You are, regardless of your speed, a runner.
by Heidi on March 5, 2010
I’m feeling lazy this week. Like, goals from last week? Out the window. Goals for next week?
- Run. Just run. Three days. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday. Then race Saturday.
- Don’t eat pizza 3 nights out of sheer laziness. Actually cook. Eat salad. Yes. I will eat salads next week.
- Run my 8k next weekend under 1 hour
I think keeping it simple would be best. I have an 8-10 miler on tap for this weekend. I will run it Sunday.
I’m ashamed. Unmotivated. And just…blah. I need new sneakers. Every time I run my feet and shins hurt. My sneaks desperately need to be replaced.
I will do the EA Active. Then go buy cupcakes for lunch (they’re for tomorrow. To bring up to my in-laws) apparently there is a Crumbs bakery in Stamford. Seriously, heaven.
by Heidi on March 4, 2010
This past weekend, I got the lovely pleasure of hanging out with The Modern Gal (again! Yay!) in NYC. I’m still learning the city, and thus haven’t visited many places – recently I briefly explored the Upper West Side after a race, one afternoon I explored briefly the Upper East Side when picking up said race packet. After gallivanting around the lower east side sunday, I explored SoHo per her suggestion.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had no idea what I was missing. But I’ll tell you what it was…heaven. I was missing heaven.
For a self-proclaimed shopaholic as I’ve deemed myself in the past, being in the presence of all of my favorite stores was a small piece of heaven. Of course, with hubs and I’s budget (or lack there of) it resulted in much window shopping and less actual buying…which is always a good thing.
So I meander into White House Black Market, as I’m searching for a top for Liz’s bachelorette – black top. With jeans and heels obvi. Sassy, sexy and classic. Why didn’t I think of this store before now?!
I fell in lust with a top. All $88 of pointelle goodness. I felt really bad, but the sales gal was a bit pushy, and I don’t like that. Ever. She kept picking jewelry, and gave me shoes, and all that jazz. Generally, I like to try things on without feedback. The occasional “That’s cute” is sometimes helpful (like when I buy dresses that I probably don’t need that aren’t as deeply on sale as I had initially thought cue purchase at Ann Taylor Loft yesterday) but lingering, adding accessories? Too much for this gal. I had to tell her I don’t wear big hoop earrings, I don’t wear platform shoes, and I don’t wear bangles on my wrists. She was sweet, and I appreciated her attention but it was just too much. I don’t like the pressure.
All her help led me to feel super bad when I didn’t end up buying the top. It was super cute. It looked smokin’ on me.
It’s damn near perfect. Classy, sexy, and it was incredibly slimming on me. It was what I needed. But for $88?!?!
I’m indecisive, but man, if I could find that shirt for like $40 less? We’d be golden. What say you freaders? Got any pet peeves when you go shopping??
