The Peacock Diaries

Lovely Life List: Learning to Drive

2011-11-21T22:20:00.001-05:00

If you've been following my blog from the beginning (I know there are a few of you!), you know that I have a sort of bucket list/life to-do list thingy that I call my Lovely Life List. Do you have one of these? You really, really should. I can't even tell you how much of a difference writing mine has made. Writing a life list is such a great exercise in identifying your goals and helping you chart your path. And I don't know that I believe all of that nonsense in The Secret, but I do believe that you won't get what you want if you don't ask. So put it out there in the universe! You can see my original post here. And check out Maggie at Mighty Girl. She is pretty much a Life List guru.

Some of you may also remember a few months ago that I jumped head first into one of my most feared life list items: learning to drive. When I was making my list, it was hard for me to even include that item. It felt scary to even admit I wanted to drive. And I was afraid it would just sit on the list forever, mocking me and making me feel like a failure. But I also knew that my inability to drive was a bit of an Achilles' heel. It bothered me that I couldn't do this thing that just about everyone else could. I was embarrassed to tell people I didn't drive, I hated having to ask people for rides, and I hated how defensive I got when people teased me about it.

Surprising but true, up until this summer I really didn't know how to drive. I got my license at 17 along with my friends, but after just a month I had a bad accident and vowed never to get behind the wheel again. OK, well I didn't make some kind of dramatic declaration...I just literally never got behind the wheel again.

Conventional wisdom would probably say that was a mistake. I should have tried to get back on the road right away, because the longer I was away, the harder it became. But I would say that not driving was really just me making a statement that I know myself and I know what is best, and I would drive again if and when I was ready. And you know what? That's exactly what happened.

Flash forward to this summer, when I realized that I wanted to move to Florida to volunteer at Give Kids the World. I figured out pretty quickly that this move would mean driving a car. I did briefly toy with the idea of trying to find some public transportation options, but central Florida is just sprawling, and I knew I would be incredibly limited without a car. So I decided I needed to bite the bullet and figure out how to get confident behind the wheel.

I didn't know anyone who had taken driving lessons in NYC, so I turned to my friends Google and Yelp for advice. I found a driving school that had great reviews and reasonable prices, and after several false starts (OK, I probably stalled for a few months), I made an appointment for a lesson. I read and re-read the reviews I found online. People spoke of getting over years of driving fear and loving the freedom of being able to go where they pleased. Part of me was excited that one day, this could be me...but a big part of me doubted that I would ever feel so comfortable with driving. Driving a car is SO much responsibility, and I just didn't think I could handle all of the mirror checking and lane changing and merging of it all. I was afraid that I would always be afraid, and that is not a good way to be as the operator of a motor vehicle.

What if I encounter some zombies while driving? I think it is a valid concern.

So this summer, I took a grand total of 5 driving lessons. I thought I'd have time for a few more, but the days flew by and I did have a few issues with my driving school forgetting to show up at the agreed upon time (their one flaw was their online scheduling system). I practiced changing lanes, I practiced driving in the rain, I practiced parallel parking (despite my protests -- I never have to parallel park in Florida!). I felt better behind the wheel, but suddenly I found myself in the Orlando airport picking up my rental car and I realized I had to drive out of there by myself. BY. MY. SELF.

After checking in at the rental counter (yes, I'm sure I don't want an SUV! I barely know how to drive a regular car, thank you), I made my way to my generic white standard 4-door car and sat in the driver's seat for about 30 minutes trying to pump myself up. I felt absolutely sick, but I knew I couldn't sit there forever. I backed out of my spot -- sloooowly -- and headed toward the exit. I followed the signs out of the garage, then out of the airport, then before I knew it...I was driving!

My GPS lovingly guided me through Florida's finest non-interstate highways (wasn't brave enough for I-4 on my first go 'round). I gripped the wheel pretty tightly and drove in total silence (took me a few days to decide I could handle the radio), but I made it. Left, right, left, right...and suddenly I was pulling into my destination: the parking lot of the Super Target in Kissimmee (had to make a stop before getting to my new place). I cruised in just as the sun was getting low in the sky, I found a spot far, faaarrr away from any other car (wasn't ready to face my fear of dinging other cars), and put the car in park.

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was so relieved and happy and giddy and PROUD of myself...I swear, my feet didn't touch the ground as I walked into Target. I wanted to hug random people, I wanted to sing...I wanted a stiff drink. Probably the wrong instinct for a new driver, but that's how I felt!

I navigated myself to Publix and then finally to my new home, and this will probably go down as one of the most memorable drives of my life. I had driven myself from the airport to my new home, all by myself. A simple act that a million people have done but for me, a true accomplishment and the unshackling of myself from one of my greatest fears. I felt like a weight of about a million pounds had lifted.

Looking back at my previous driving experience, I realize now that I just wasn't ready to drive when I was 17. I don't know why, but I just wasn't ready for that responsibility. It doesn't make me a bad person, it doesn't make me stupid...it just means that when I turned 17, I didn't magically wake up with the skills I needed to drive. But it is hard to have that much self-awareness when you're a teenager. I wish I could have said, "it doesn't matter that all of my friends are driving, I just need a few more years", but at that age it is not so easy to swim upstream in that way. I appreciate that as an adult, I very rarely feel like I need to do things just because everyone else is doing them. Yay for being a grown-up!

And it turns out, I don't mind driving...in fact, I kind of like it. In my first week, I put about 450 miles on my little rental car, and since moving to Florida I know I've logged nearly 2,000 (which is impressive considering I don't have a daily commute). And I really feel comfortable with it. I can handle driving at night. I can navigate U-turns at wacky traffic lights. And I can even handle I-4 (but I'll only do it if I really have to).

Do you want to see my car? Here it is -- my little green bean!

I'll have to save the story of buying the car for another day. Navigating the used car market in Florida is an adventure and a half. But for now, I am happy -- thrilled! -- to be crossing a big item off my Lovely Life List. Learn how to drive? Check!

Taking the long way

2011-11-04T16:23:00.000-04:00

My friends from high school, married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses, in the same zip codes where their parents lived
But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow.
- The Dixie Chicks, "The Long Way Around"

I don't know how many Dixie Chicks fans read this blog, but "The Long Way Around" is one of my all-time favorite songs -- do you know it? It is one of those songs where hearing the lyrics felt a little like someone was reading my diary. I totally could have written it! (Except I don't really write songs...I get hung up on the rhyming).

I've been thinking about this song a lot lately because I've just started out on a bit of an adventure, and it's definitely a little out there. I don't know that everyone would take this particular path, but I think it is right for me...and I'm excited!

As I mentioned in my last post, I am now coming to you from sunny...ORLANDO!

Whoa! Pretty drastic change. I've lived in NYC for almost 8 years and before that Boston for 3. I'm a girl who likes big tall buildings and late night food delivery and walking everywhere...basically a City Mouse. Orlando has been a BIG change of pace: lots of grass and late night theme park visits and driving everywhere. Very different!

I've been here since September 2, and I honestly can't believe almost 2 months have flown by. So much about my life has changed, and I can't believe it but I still am not quite in a regular routine. And I am a girl who needs a routine! Hence my dropping off the face of the blog world, both as a reader and writer. Just have not figured out how to get it all done.

So why Orlando? Well, I've mentioned before that I am absolutely in love with a place called Give Kids the World. I first learned about this organization about a year and half ago, and it isn't an exaggeration to say that hearing about this place changed my life. I can't explain exactly why, but I was fascinated by it, I felt drawn to it. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about it -- I just think their mission of granting Disney-based wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses is so inspiring, and I think the work they do is so important. I just had this incredibly strong feeling that I wanted to be a part of it. But I lived in New York City...so what could I do?

Well, last year I came up with a plan that would have me quitting my job and moving to Florida to volunteer at Give Kids the World for 6 months. And there's a long, sad story that goes along with this, but I was not able to make this plan work. I had done everything I needed to do, but an important piece of the puzzle didn't fall into place. I was DEVASTATED. And I felt lost for a while. But the new year came, and I started blogging and making lists and figuring out my goals, and I couldn't get Give Kids the World out of my mind.

And then I watched The Last Lecture.

And really listened to the messages about brick walls and not taking no for an answer. And I figured out another way...

I'll need another post to go into all of the details, but I convinced my company to let me move to Florida and work remotely for a few months. I figured if I was here, I could volunteer at GKTW any time I wasn't working. It wasn't quite the same as totally kissing my job goodbye, but it was a way in. It was a way to get where I wanted to be.

And after about a million other steps (subletting my apartment, learning to drive, buying a car, etc.), here I am. Most days I still pinch myself. The experience has been everything I wanted, and so much more. I LOVE spending time at Give Kids the World (don't worry, so much more to come on that!). I love the change of scenery, I love the new friends I've made. And I love knowing that I was able to do something kind of big, kind of crazy...all on my own. I dreamed up my own destiny, made a plan, and made it happen.

Seriously, I feel like I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to. Amazing!

PS -- Thanks to a lot of people for helping me make this work: my boss for understanding my crazy dream, my new friend Andrea who was an excellent planner-in-crime and now is a most excellent Disney park buddy, my dog for rolling with the punches. And Randy Pausch. Thanks, Randy.

OH. MY. GOD.

2011-10-25T23:42:00.001-04:00

I feel like this blog is that old, reliable friend who is always there when I need her, and I am basically acting like the worst friend in the world in return. "Oh, yes, we're such good friends...I just never have time to see you, I ignore you for days on end, and I can't help ditching our plans at the last minute. But I still care about you!"

Sigh.

I've really enjoyed writing this blog, and during this unintentional hiatus I realized that I do miss actively blogging. I miss having a place to work through my crazy thoughts, I miss the little group of people who came by to read and say hello. And I know having this blog has pushed me into doing great things, big things -- I LOVE that.

So I need to get back on track. New post coming tomorrow, and another one after that. Let's see if I can string together a week's worth of posts. I think I can!

Mini Life List -- Florida Edition

2011-09-23T23:07:00.001-04:00

I wrote my Lovely Life List a year ago and so many amazing things have happened -- so I figured I needed to write a mini version so that I can make the most of my time in Florida. Type A in the house -- I do love my lists.

So here is what I have on the agenda for my Orlando stint:

1. Ride every ride in all four Disney parks at least once
2. Visit all four parks in one day
3. Ride Dumbo during the MK fireworks
4. Get my picture taken with Mickey (how can I never have done this in more than a dozen trips?)
5. Go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in costume
6. Visit Gatorland
7. Mail my holiday cards from Christmas, FL
8. See the Candlelight Processional
9. Watch the cheesiest Eat to the Beat concert
10. Eat at a Waffle House
11. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of a Disney park
12. Check out the Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney
13. Take a swim in Stormalong Bay
14. See the Magic Kingdom Christmas parade taping
15. Check out the Cinderella Castle suite (note: I have no idea how I am going to do this)
16. Take my mom to EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival
17. Go to the beach! (again, so many trips yet I've never been to a Florida beach)
18. Watch the fake swirling snow in Celebration
19. Buy gingerbread from the life-size gingerbread house in the Grand Floridian
20. Decorate my car with cheesy Disney doo-dads
21. Take an air boat ride -- another fun non-Disney thing I've always wanted to do
22. Be a part of Disney Marathon weekend -- not sure if I will be a competitor, volunteer, or spectator, but I will be there!
23. Take a solo ride on the Tower of Terror (and buy the picture!)
24. See ICE at Gaylord Palms
25. Take Audrey the Dog to the South Beach Wiener Dog Festival

I've officially been in Florida for three weeks, and a lot of that time has been spent taking care of practical matters and trying to get myself settled. Time for some fun!

An Update

2011-09-11T14:56:00.000-04:00

Hi friends,

Your friendly Peacock blogger here...I'm baaacck! I hope. I really never intended to take such a long break, but I guess one of the things I learned is that getting out of the habit of regular blogging means that I lose momentum quickly. I had written a million posts in my head, but none of them actually made it on to the screen. I still remember most of them, though, so hopefully I will be able to do a little catching up.

Anyway, here is a quick rundown of things that I've done in the past month:

1. Visited Kentucky for a business trip.

I did a lot of traveling for work this summer, and apparently the theme was "random states I've never visited" -- I hit Texas, West Virginia, and Kentucky. All were nice, if not a little warm. And now I'm three steps closer to achieving one of my Life List goals.

2. I prepared for a hurricane.

Hurricane Irene was all the rage in NYC last month, and I realized that I was woefully unprepared for any kind of natural disaster. Brooklyn did not seem too freaked out -- my neighborhood in particular was very calm. A trip to the grocery store revealed Perrier and fancy cheese to be running dangerously low, but all other staples very well-stocked. It reminded me a lot of this:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Gourmet Food Crisis

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook

On a side note: aww, look how adorable young Jon looks :)

3. I slept through a hurricane.

Yes, so Irene turned out to be kind of a bust in NYC. It all happened overnight while I was fast asleep. There was flooding in some areas, some power outages, a few idiots in a kayak, and some hilarious press conferences by Mayor Bloomberg, but it wasn't much of a disaster. Many places had it much worse.

4. I moved to Florida.

Whoa. WHOA! This one is going to take some more explanation, but let me just say that for the next 4-5 months, The Peacock Diaries will be coming to you from sunny Orlando! Celebration, to be specific. Do you know this town? It is fantastic -- I've always wanted to live in Stars Hollow, and I think that maybe I do. Much, much more to come here...stay tuned!

5. I rented a car and drove myself home from the airport.

Seriously! I still can't believe it, but I did it! My driving lessons are over and I am officially a driver now. In fact, I guess I kind of enjoy driving because I managed to put 450 miles on my rental car in a week. I think that's a lot, right?

I have missed you all and look forward to sharing more updates and also checking out what you've all been up to -- I haven't been doing a good job keeping up with blogs, but I am ready to spend some quality time with my blog reader!

More to come soon, but it feels good to get something posted. Tonight I have a date with the Magic Kingdom -- still pinching myself that Mickey is right in my backyard!

I'm not dead!

2011-08-08T23:16:00.000-04:00

Oh, hi. Remember me? Probably not. I just logged into Blogger and my blog is pretending not to know me. A little cold shoulder, but that's OK -- nobody likes to be abandoned.

Well, hopefully this marks my return to regular blogging. I'm going to start slowly so I don't hurt myself, so this will be a quick post...but LOTS more to come!

So I've been busy with lots of great changes. My to-do list has been MASSIVE, but I am thrilled to say that I've been able to keep up with some good workouts. In the past three days, I've logged 10 miles! They haven't been fast and they haven't always been pretty, but I've gotten them done. And this morning's workout was a 6am special -- definitely not my best hour. Which is probably why I managed to drop my keys along the way without realizing -- not awake! Luckily I retraced my steps and found them :) At various times my mother has threatened to pierce something on me and attach my wallet/keys/phone or other frequently lost item to a chain. She's probably on to something.

The weather in NYC has been pretty miserable lately -- muggy, sticky, humid, and any other word for "makes me feel disgusting". I've been trying to keep my workouts to the earlier or later parts of the day...I figure even if it isn't that much cooler, it will be harder for people to see how gross I look in the dark. Last night I took a nice long stroll right at dusk, which is perfect for one of my favorite activities -- looking in people's windows and seeing what they're watching on TV. Listen, I'm curious! If you don't want me to look, close your blinds. I have to say, some of you have some very questionable taste in TV shows. VH1, really?

This time of day is also perfect for admiring my neighbors' decorating styles. I passed one home that had a real, honest-to-goodness library -- walls and walls of floor to ceiling books and one of those ladders that slides around the room. Note to self: I need that.

But it's not all fancy libraries in my 'hood. As the old saying goes, money can't buy class. To this point, I introduce Exhibit A:

Yes, this is the kind of crap that one of my neighbors decided to adorn their million dollar brownstone with. It is hard to read the sign, but it says something about happy birthday to Leos.

Then there's Exhibit B:

I think they specialize in post-mortem spray tan applications and rigor mortis fist pumping. Listen, maybe your name is Guido -- but that doesn't make it a good name for your business!

OK, off to give Audrey the Dog her last walk (she's doing much better, thanks to those who asked!) and get ready for bed. I'm ready for some QT with my TV hubby (Jon Stewart) and some good sleep!

Confession

2011-07-25T00:06:00.000-04:00

Forgive me readers, I have sinned. It has been 12 days since my last blog. I have had some blog-related thoughts, but I have not acted on them. Sigh.

In my previous life as a blog reader, I would definitely get annoyed when bloggers would disappear without warning for days or weeks on end. What happened to them? Where did they go? How could they forget about the blog? How hard is it to just check in?

Well, harder than it looks. I'll be honest, the past few weeks have been such a blur that I really didn't think much about blogging. The to-do list was so long, posting just never got very close to the top. Sucky, I know. I know I don't have thousands of readers hanging on my every word, but I do love the fact that people take time to visit -- whether you just stop by or you're a regular commenter, your visits mean so much! Plus, I really enjoy the whole process of blogging. Really helps sort through my thoughts, and I like having my little electronic diary to look back on.

So the good news is that I've been busy with super great things. Workouts have been happening pretty regularly -- in the morning, even! This is blowing my mind because I am so not the morning exerciser. I've also been driving. Today was fun with parking: parallel parking (boo!), navigating parking lots, etc. Not the most fun, but better than the BQE. And I've been working on a bit of a top secret surprise. I hate to be a blog tease, but more to come soon.

The bad news is that my busy schedule is likely to keep up over the next few weeks, so my free time is not going to open up any time soon. But I've been adjusting and trying to make myself as efficient as possible, and I'll just have to find ways to squeeze in some blog posts. If only the rest of the world would adopt that 36-hour day that I've been pushing then I could get it all done!

And with that, I am off to sleep. I'm going to be dreaming of this little fuzzball:

Audrey in her sick bed -- I tried to take good care of her all weekend!

Audrey the Dog was not feeling well this weekend, and last night we didn't get much sleep (no one wants to be alone when they're sick). This morning things actually got worse, so I took her to the emergency vet and they wanted to keep her overnight! I was shocked, I thought we'd just get some medicine and get back to our Sunday. I felt awful leaving her. Woofy hospitals are just as depressing as human ones, and I hate that I couldn't make her understand that I wasn't abandoning her and I would be back. I'm sure she's totally fine (probably snoozing in her little doggy hospital bed), but just in case I'm going to the window to sing a quick rendition of "Somewhere Out There". The pet hospital is just a few blocks away, so we are definitely are sleeping underneath the same bright star...

A night at The Plaza

2011-07-13T12:57:00.000-04:00

No, I didn't get to spend the night in the Eloise Suite. But I did get to spend a few hours at one of New York's most famous hotels. Some friends were in town for the weekend (bringing their almost 7 year old on her FIRST TRIP TO NYC!), and I was looking for someplace fun and a little bit special to meet them for dinner. When you live in a city like New York, there is a lot of pressure to deliver good dining experiences to out-of-towners. New York has some of the best food in the world, and it often comes at a price...so you want them to be impressed!

After consulting my foodie friends and racking my brain a bit, I came up with what I thought was a good idea: Todd English's Food Hall at The Plaza Hotel!

Food halls are pretty trendy in New York right now -- this isn't a new concept (think Harrods in London, Takashimaya in Japan), but now top foodies are tripping over each other to develop the quintessential NYC food hall experience. Mario Batali has Eataly, Jeffrey Chodorow has FoodParc, but the trend really started with Todd English's contribution, which is located in the basement of the newly renovated Plaza Hotel.

I thought this would be perfect for my friends. First, the food was supposed to be fantastic. That really had to be first priority. Second, my "niece" (I'm Aunt Ali, at least in name!) is a foodie who loves some Top Chef. Todd isn't exactly Tom Colicchio, but he's definitely a player in the celeb chef world and I think he's even been a TC guest judge. Third, The Plaza Hotel is an NYC institution and is a great little stop on a first visit, especially for little girls who have grown up reading Eloise. Eloise is ALL OVER the new and improved(?) Plaza -- she's on a flag waving on the front of the building, she's in a portrait in the lobby, and her likeness is available on all kinds of books and jewelry and clothes and toys in her very own gift shop.

And I'm happy to say our visit was a total success! The Food Hall is huge but not overwhelming, popular but not too crowded (a nice contrast from Eataly, which is absolutely mobbed all the time). There are 8 different food stations, serving a variety of choices including sushi, pizza, carved meats, salads, and dumplings. You're seated on stools around one of the various stations, but the menu is inclusive and everyone can order from any station. There aren't a lot of places where your dining companions can be enjoying good sushi and great flatbread pizza at the same time! And while you're waiting for your food, you get to watch your stations chef in action -- the slicing and dicing, the pots bubbling over on the stove. Dinner and a show!

Image source

The seating initially posed a small bit of a challenge for our group of 4. We were seated in a row, and our conversation was a bit of a game of telephone, trying to pass messages down the line. Eventually 4 seats on the corner opened up and we were able to move so we could face each other as we chatted. I wanted to hear all about their big day in the city! There were multiple Naked Cowboys involved.

So, the food. A-MAZ-ING! Everyone was really happy with their meal, but I think mine might have been best. My friend went with sushi and a seaweed salad (which we dared her to order because it sounded weird, and she ended up LOVING), her husband got gyros, and her daughter got beef sliders and fries (super cute presentation on that one). I went with the 1/2 organic rotisserie chicken, which came with bread and pickled vegetables (umm...?), and I added a side order of haricots verts. And here is what I got. First, the chicken:

Thanks, Interwebz -- I totally devoured mine before I snapped a photo
Image credit

What a feast! I couldn't eat all of the meat, though I really wanted to because it was perfectly tender and juicy. This is the kind of flavor that you just can't get when you make it at home.

And the haricots verts were like dessert -- SO tasty! Green beans topped with walnuts, cheese, and a bit of pepper for some spice. Oh my god, I wanted to lick the bowl! I usually eat my green beans steamed, but this was quite a nice treat. I need to try to recreate this at home.

We were all too full for dessert, but they had quite a nice looking little bakery. I spotted some French macarons, so I'll definitely try to save room next time. And I do plan on going back -- there are so many more things I need to try on the menu! Prime rib, gourmet pizzas, big salads -- yum, yum, and yum. I'll definitely suggest this for out of town guests, but this would be a great spot for a date or a girls' night. We can't let tourists have all of the Plaza fun!

Dreaming vs doing

2011-07-08T13:15:00.000-04:00

Where did the week go? I love a long holiday weekend, but it is hard not to feel a little bit behind for the rest of the week. I've had some blog-related thoughts this week, but the actual writing just didn't happen. Bad blogger.

This week had me thinking about dreaming and doing, I've figured out I'm very good at one of these things...can you guess which one? Yeah, I'm a dreamer (but I'm not the only one...) Hence my constant posts about goals and plans and life lists. I really like the planning process. I like plotting, envisioning myself in new ways and new places; I like color-coded spreadsheets and pretty lists and doodle-covered maps. I love letting it all swirl around in my head and seeing what develops.

Sweet. But not really accurate...you'll see later when I get to the part about
having 4 alarm clocks.
Image source

But when it comes to actually following the plans, doing the work, taking the actions, sometimes I stumble. What is they say about mice and men? Add peacocks to that list. I often find myself astray. But I don't give up!

This week I decided my workout needed a little chart, so I made myself a pretty Excel sheet:

Gridlines, wherefore art thou?

I've since filled in specific daily/weekly goals and I made it my computer's wallpaper so I have to look at it all the time. I think the success/failure color-coding is my favorite part. I want to see a lot of pink!

So I started things off in my usual way. Day 1 -- success! It was the 4th of July, so I wanted to squeeze in a quick few miles. Then Day 2 -- fail. Could not get out of bed. Many snooze buttons were hit. Day 3 -- same. And while I was annoyed at myself, I really hated having to color in the blue box each day. My failure was staring me in the face, mocking me. Grrrr.

I wanted things to go differently yesterday morning, so I went to bed a little earlier, set my 4 alarm clocks (sorry neighbors!), and tried to psych myself up mentally.

Mine are scattered all over my apartment, and still I manage to oversleep. Really, it's pretty impressive.

The alarms went off, and I shut them off. I buried my head in my pillow. So tired. More sleep, more sleep! I dozed a little, and woke up again 20 minutes later. Not too late to squeeze in a workout, but getting close. I don't want to do it. My eyelids are so heavy, how am I going to lift my feet? But then...

I promised myself I would do it -- get up! I'll get a pink box! I'll feel fine once I start...just get out of bed!

This went on for a few minutes. I checked my email on my phone. I made lists in my head. The angel and devil on my shoulder really went at it. But much to my surprise: the angel won!

I got up and got out and logged a couple of sweaty miles. And it was fine. I'm definitely not a morning person, so I felt like it took a little while to get into a grove, but I got there. I didn't let my foggy head bother me. I also did my best to ignore stinky garbage truck that insisted on following me (that was a little tougher). And I made a pretty pink mark in the box.

Do you use any special tricks to keep yourself accountable? Do your plans ever go astray...and how do you get back on track?

Oh, and some exciting news to share: my first guest blog post is up today! The lovely Andrea over at Run, Eat, Date, Sleep allowed me a little space to write about one of my favorite subjects, Give Kids the World. This won't be totally new info if you've read my previous posts, but you should definitely pop over and see what's going on. It's a must-read blog if you like running, Disney, Criminal Minds, or awesome people ;)

Eat Pee Love

2011-07-03T19:39:00.001-04:00

One year ago today, a little furball named Skittles (don't worry, she won't keep this name for too long) showed up at my front door. She looked small and scared, and frankly a little embarrassed by both her bad haircut and her silly name. She walked in, took one look around, and peed on the floor.

She came to me thanks to a wonderful organization called the Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals. This organization is a coalition of animal rescue groups and shelters that works to place animals in loving homes and end the killing of healthy cats and dogs. A lot their work involves placing animals in foster homes while their owners are unable to care for them -- maybe the pet owner has gotten sick, been forced to move to an apartment that isn't pet-friendly, or become temporarily homeless. MAFA helps find great temporary homes and covers a lot of the costs of caring for a pet during the foster period, and often the animals are happily reunited with their owners.

Skittles (better known to you as Audrey the Dog) was a different situation. She had been purchased from a breeder by a family in New Jersey, and after two years they decided to give her away. I don't know all of the details -- I don't think she was abused, but I don't think they cared for her very well. There was a divorce and children involved, and apparently she was being used by the parents as a way to try to manipulate the kids. Eventually they decided to surrender her, and MAFA stepped in. And I have to say, MAFA really goes above and beyond -- they picked her up in New Jersey, brought her to their vet for spaying, microchipping, vaccine updating, and a check-up and teeth cleaning. Then they delivered her to my house and then paid for some follow up vet visits. For all of this, I paid an adoption fee of only $100. Truly, a great organization! I've decided to make a donation to MAFA every year on Audrey's adoptiversary so they can continue doing their great work.

While our first few days together weren't exactly smooth sailing (they said she was housebroken -- she was not), I did quickly get a sense that we were meant to be together. I have been wanting to adopt a dog for more than 10 years -- wishing, hoping, and praying big time. Truly, I was a little obsessed. I wanted a rescue, and I hoped for a little dachshund (or at least a little doxie mix). When my dog-loving boss heard this, she offered to reach out to her contacts at MAFA on my behalf. Lo and behold, they were rescuing a dachshund that week. Fate.

The past year with Audrey the Dog (she ditched the Skittles after about a month -- new life, new name) has brought me more joy than I could imagine.

Skittles are candy, not pets. A few friends loved the name, but
I thought she needed a fresh start.
Image credit

She makes me laugh every single day, she makes me me see things differently, and she gives unconditional love. And even though I quite like living alone, she is great company in my life. She is so happy to see me when I get home (and the feeling is mutual), and I'm shocked at how absolutely empty my little house feels when she's not here.

And I've learned a lot, so I thought I might share a few lessons about being a doggy mama. Warning, gratuitous Audrey photos ahead!

I can put someone else's needs in front of my own.
It's not that I haven't done it before, but being a pet owner does require quite a bit of selflessness. When Audrey arrived, I had to work to figure out her schedule. I needed to learn when she wanted to eat, when she needed to go out, and how much she needed to sleep. Of course, she stayed pretty silent on the whole matter so I had to figure out a lot by trial and error. I needed to leave work at a certain time so I could get her home, I needed to take care of her dinner before mine, and I needed to get her out on her walks...even if I was tired, even if it was too hot or too cold. Audrey doesn't like to go out in the rain, so often I hold the umbrella over her while I get soaked. I do it because that's what she needs, and it's my job to take care of her.

I need a whole post to showcase the many faces of my little drama queen,
but here is preview.

Sometimes being very patient is important.

In a lot of ways, Audrey is a real New York dog -- a little bit neurotic, and not always easy to please. I mentioned the housebreaking thing. Actually, Audrey wouldn't even pee outside when she first got here. We'd walk forever and then as soon as we got home, she'd smile and pee on her bed. (OK, she doesn't smile with her lips...it is more in her eyes, but I know she's doing it). I cleaned up a lot of messes, but eventually we figured it out. She has also developed a few behavioral issues (please do me a favor and don't ever ring my doorbell), and I am seeing that while she can eventually learn to act the right way, it won't happen overnight. I need to be consistent with her training, and I need to be patient.

Love can be a little bit disgusting.
I know that being a dog mama isn't at all like having a child, but there are a few useful comparisons. I always wondered if I was cut out for the icky side of child-rearing, and after just a few weeks with Audrey I got my answer. Audrey likes to eat things that she shouldn't, often with messy results. I came home to find Audrey had gotten sick many, many, many times. I'll spare you the details, but the phrase, "oh, shit!" was never more applicable. Audrey was fine, but there was a lot of clean up to do. It was totally disgusting, but I did it without hesitation. Same goes for that night she had projectile diarrhea. It isn't always easy to care for the people we love, but it is nice to know that I can do it when I am called.

This bed is just the right size...for me.

I can't control everything.

And finally, life with Audrey is a good reminder that no one is perfect, and sometimes people (or little furballs) will do things that I don't want...and I need to be able to roll with the punches. Audrey has a protective streak, and she gets a little angry when she sees other dogs. She demonstrates this anger by screaming, snapping, lunging, and otherwise menacing other pups in the neighborhood. And while I truly wish she would not do this, wishing it isn't enough. I have a similar wish that she wouldn't follow me into the bathroom. I probably should do something about that, but right now I'm picking my battles.

So Audrey, thanks for a year's worth of good morning hugs and goodnight kisses. Thanks for being such a good playmate and such a good listener. Thanks for licking away my tears, and thanks for entertaining me by running around with a pita chip bag on your head (this happens almost weekly).

I look forward to many, many happy years with my teeny little pal!

Halfway check-in

2011-07-02T15:08:00.000-04:00

I never really thought of June 30 as milestone, but a number of my favorite bloggers' recent posts looking back on the first half of the year have got me thinking that this might be a good time for a check-in myself.

Image credit

2011, Part I

When I started this blog, I mentioned 3 big goals for the year:

1. I want to run a marathon
2. I want to write a blog
3. I want to stop procrastinating so much

I have been blogging for almost three months -- woo-hoo! And 3 months in, I have to say I really love it. It is harder than it looks and a LOT more time-consuming, but ultimately so much fun. I have learned a lot about myself and this great blogging community, I have been perpetually inspired, and hopefully I have shared a few things that made others smile, or laugh, or think. I knew that I would be making some life changes this year, and I wanted a blog as a place to collect my thoughts along the way. But a funny thing happened...writing my blog and reading many others have actually inspired a lot of the changes that are happening. Chicken? Egg? I don't know, but I'm loving it!

I definitely haven't fixed my procrastination problem, but I'm not giving up yet. My marathon training is really half marathon training at this point (baby steps!) and it is going slowly. I began the year WANTING to become a runner and train for a race, and I guess my progress report mid-way through 2011 is that I KNOW I can do it. It's not a question of if, it's just a matter of when. That's a nice feeling.

2011, Part II

There are GOOD things coming later this year, I know it. I don't have a lot of details yet, but there are at least 8-12 Lovely Life List items in my sights right now -- by the end of the year, I am going to have a lot of crossing off to do. And that is CRAZY to me. A dozen dreams coming true... I can hardly wait!

And what is even more amazing is that I'll make all of it happen myself. I had goals, I made plans, I dealt with obstacles, and still I kept going. Henry Miller said, "We create our fate every day we live". I'm ready for the fate that I'm creating for myself.

I'll have news about bigger plans soon, but for now I'm excited about tackling this item:

Learn how to use all of the features of my DSLR and be a photography rock star

This week I'm starting my Photo 101 class courtesy of Nicole's Classes, and I can't wait! When it comes to photography, I think I have a pretty good eye and I know I have a decent camera, I just need to know how to make both work a little better for me.

I've never taken any kind of online class before, so I'm kind of intrigued by the whole process. And I am so excited to have better photos -- of my vacations and adventures, of Audrey the Dog, and of course of all things blog-related.

I'm looking forward to a great weekend, and a great rest of 2011! How are you feeling about the year so far? Have you achieved the goals you set out for yourself, and are you excited about the next six months? You guys inspire me all the time, I'd love to hear what you've got planned!

Shut up and drive

2011-06-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

A quiet Sunday morning around 9am: the sun is shining, the city is slowly waking up, and I am pacing nervously in my apartment trying to keep busy. My first driving lesson is 30 minutes away. Am I really going to do this?

My lesson was in the back of my mind the whole weekend. I tried to stay positive: This would be fun! This would be an adventure! This would be empowering! And in general, I think I believed most of it. But I had a restless night of sleep on Saturday, so at least part of my brain was struggling.

Still, Sunday came. I distracted myself by debating what to wear. Somehow none of my shoes seemed like good driving shoes: these pinch, those slip off my feet, this heel is too high. A pair of Tod's driving loafers would have come in handy. I settled on my hot pink and orange Sauconys, because nothing says serious driver like neon-bright sneakers. My instructor finally called to say he was close, and I headed out the door. I tried to psych myself up: I am smart, I am capable, I can do anything. Britney Spears can drive a car. The kid who ate paste in 3rd grade can drive a car. 15-year-old kids in South Carolina can drive cars. By the time I saw my dorky Student Driver car parked out front, I was ready and I thought, "yeah, I'm gonna do this!". And then my instructor motioned for me to get in the driver's seat. I have to drive right now?!

Crap.

But somehow, suddenly I was cruising down Atlantic Avenue, turning on to Court Street, dodging pedestrians on Pacific. I don't really have any plans to drive in New York City, so in my head I thought somehow we'd start of somewhere more...suburban. But I guess most NYers who want to learn to drive need to learn how to navigate the mean city streets, so the training wheels come off right away.

The lesson was pretty uneventful, which I guess is a good thing. I drove, I made turns, I saw my neighborhood from a whole different perspective. I parallel parked a few times and silently thanked the driving gods that I already had passed a road test and would not need to perform this act on command. I drove down INCREDIBLY narrow streets lined with cars on either side, and thankfully I did not relieve any of those cars of their side mirrors. I get the feeling that this driving school likes throwing people into the deep end, because suddenly my instructor was saying, "Signal right and now you're going to get onto the BQE..."

A lovely sign for a lovely road
Image source

Crap. CRAP!

Beep beep! Nervous driver, coming through
Image credit

For non-New Yorkers, the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) is a narrow, winding, pothole-laden, speedy stretch of highway connecting the two boroughs. Even at 10 o'clock on a Sunday morning it was jammed, and I was very happy to stay in my little lane and then get off at the very next exit. But I did it! And I probably gave my fellow motorists a good chuckle. My Student Driver car was pretty dorky.

And then it was over. I pulled up in front of my apartment, said goodbye to my instructor, and watched him pull away. I am not a perfect driver yet -- I do need to learn how to change lanes at a speed great than 5mph, that is true -- but I am a driver. It's a start.

The end of excuses

2011-06-26T21:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I decided it was time to get back on track training-wise. I thought it would be easier to get into a schedule once I got back from vacation, but no. There's always an excuse -- it's incredibly hot, I got stuck at the office late, I wanted to sleep in, a last-minute invite to something more fun than working out -- but I know what excuses do for helping me reach my goals: absolutely nothing. I'm remembering why I was such a hard ass on myself once upon a time -- if left to my own devices, I can be quite a slacker!

After letting almost the whole day go by (and seeing my evening plans fizzle out), I finally got my act together around 7:30 and laced up the sneakers. It was a really lovely evening -- the heat of the day had dissipated, leaving a still-bright sun and a nice warm breeze. I set out for Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is starting to feel comfortably familiar. I don't think this view will ever get old:

One day I will take a not-crooked Hipstamatic photo

Technology was not my friend for this workout. I found my Garmin completely dead when I was ready to leave, so it stayed behind. I gave myself an hour goal, which I stuck to, but I really wish I knew how much distance I covered and what pace I was keeping. I have a competitive nature, and the motivation of trying to beat myself each time and see improvement in black and white would really help.

I know there are much sleeker GPS watches out there, but
I think this one has a charming jolie laide quality
Garmin Forerunner 305

My iPod also died at about the halfway mark. I am definitely a "needs music to workout" kind of girl, so this was a real bummer. Also, I learned that an iPod with a drained battery weighs at least 10x more than one that plays music. Seriously, the minute it died it felt like a big anchor weighing me down.

Luckily, people around me were able to provide some entertainment. Along the way, I saw the following:

- A 60+ year old man zooming past me; a good reminder that age is just a number, and that if you take care of your body it will take care of you.
- Two girls running side by side, who would raise their arms up every so often. At first I thought they were doing some kind of stretch, but as I got closer I realized they were practicing their poses for crossing the finish line. Made me smile.
- A stretch limo parked in DUMBO, with various members of a wedding party strolling about. This is the first year of my adult life where I didn't have a summer wedding to go to, and I was kind of wishing for one. My favorite green summer wedding dress needs some action!

Before I knew it I was home, sweaty and happy. I had a quick dinner and snuggled on the couch with Audrey, flipping through the channels and trying to keep my mind off what was on the agenda for the next day. Sunday morning: driving lessons!

Full recap to come tomorrow, but....I did it! And it wasn't at all terrible. I'll definitely need a bit more practice, but I am excited because I know I will have another Lovely Life List item to cross off soon!

Cars, too

2011-06-25T16:20:00.001-04:00

Do one thing every day that scares you.
-Eleanor Roosevelt

That's a great quote, and one I think of a lot when I'm trying to take on new things. Trying to achieve this daily seems like a bit of a stretch to me, though when I think about daily life during Eleanor Roosevelt's time, maybe it wasn't so hard. I mean, what was hair removal like back then? Probably frightening.

Yesterday I did something that was quite scary: I signed myself up for driving lessons. Well, just one lesson -- but with any luck there will be more to follow.

Source unkown

I am probably not the typical driving school student. I actually have my driver's license. I passed my road test more than 10 years ago, and even though I have barely driven since then, the state of New York believes that I am totally capable of operating a 2,000 lb. motor vehicle.

I am not.

I have totally forgotten everything. I have a vague recollection that the gas is on the right (it is, yes?), and that's about it. But it is time to change that.

Why don't I drive? Well, there was a car accident right before college. It was terrible and life-changing, and it was the excuse I used to stop driving, but it wasn't the reason. At that age I really didn't wanted to drive, and it was a relief to be able to stop. I had seen friends get their licenses and start doing really stupid things behind the wheel. And learning to drive was mostly miserable. My mom tried to teach me in her Nissan Sentra with a manual transmission (not a great experience). I was dragged to Driver's Ed because all my friends were signing up, and I spent Saturday mornings in a car with an extremely unpleasant instructor (terrible experience; I don't wish bad things on people, but if that woman ended up with anal warts I would not shed a tear).

Eventually the bad lessons were over and I managed a decent enough 3-point turn and parallel park to earn my license. But still, I wasn't excited. What I see now is that I just don't think I was ready to drive. While plenty of kids are ready at 16 or 17, I think I was meant to be a bit of a late bloomer and probably should have waited until I was a little older. My gut was trying to tell me something, but I wasn't ready to listen.

Sounds like a good excuse to me!
Source

I always thought that eventually I would start driving again, but up until now I have managed to be car-free. I've spent my adult life living in Boston and New York City where it is actually kind of an advantage to not be saddled with a car. And even though I travel a lot for work, I've found ways around getting behind the wheel. So I haven't driven...until now.

There are a couple of things that brought me to this point:

1. Even though I feel comfortable with the reasons I don't drive, I don't like to tell people that I don't drive. I feel self-conscious about it. I don't want to feel that way.
2. Re-learning to drive is on my Lovely Life List. So I have to do it.
3. There's an opportunity that I'm pursuing that would have me living outside of NYC for a little while. In a city without much public transportation. So if I want to do this, I'm going to have to unleash my inner road warrior.

I found a driving school that has AMAZINGLY great reviews, and I feel good about trying this again with a qualified instructor. And even though there is a little part of me that feels ~~terrified~~ nervous, I am mostly excited. Regardless of whether I hate it or love it, tomorrow I will be a driver again.

My gut approves.

PS -- To future blog readers who come across this post in the archive -- you should know I posted this on the same weekend that Pixar's Cars 2 movie opened. The title is both timely and clever, and if that doesn't translate in the year 2019, I'm sorry.

Suddenly, this summer

2011-06-22T22:34:00.003-04:00

I was pretty excited to wake up yesterday morning and take in the first day of summer.

Summer!

It's my favorite season, I just love saying it. True, it has felt like summer for the past few weeks in NYC. And true, as a regular 9-5 working girl I'm hardly able to kick back and take off entirely for the summer. But still, I find this particular season incredibly appealing. Long, lazy dinners at outdoor cafes, weekend BBQs and pool parties with friends, frothy and fruity adult beverages, and so much sunshine every day. Everyone is just a little bit more relaxed...aaah.

There's also something about the start of a new season that feels like a clean slate, full of new opportunities. I want to enjoy every minute, so I thought I'd take a minute to lay out some of my goals for this summer (this is totally original, I'm sure you haven't seen ANY other posts like this).

Great summer vacation

Check! A week in Walt Disney World -- textbook definition of a great vacation (well, in my textbook at least!). True, I was in Italy last year...but this year I got the Italy Pavilion of the World Showcase. Almost the same.

It is kind of nice to have the big vacation come at the start of the summer...gives me time to plan a nice little weekend getaway later in the season.

Running

Yes, I plan to do this...hopefully multiple times! I still haven't quite figured out what my goals are in this area. I'm going to look for a 5K to sign up for and maybe work backwards from there. I feel like my progress has been a bit slow. I am fine with my tortoise status in life, but I would like to enter a race with some confidence that I won't come in last.

Also, this summer is going to teach me to be a super early bird -- not at all excited about running in the heat.

Shaking things up at work

I think I've alluded to the fact that I have very low job satisfaction right now, and I know I need to do something about that. I spent most of the winter and spring searching for and applying to a variety of jobs, but nothing materialized. I was probably a little extra picky, but I think I deserve to be (and I know this is a terrible economy, I know)...I have really never felt totally fulfilled by a job, and I think it is time. I am happy to work hard -- in fact, I would LOVE to find a job where I could work hard 10+ hours a day doing something that I really enjoy. But so far, I have not found that right opportunity.

So this summer I feel like I need to make SOME sort of move. I have a few ideas, so it is time to test the waters and see what happens. Maybe I can stay at my current job and find a way to make it more bearable; or maybe it is just time to leave. But I'm setting a deadline of Labor Day for myself to decide. I don't want to start another season feeling stuck and unhappy.

Life Listing

I'd love to tackle a few more Lovely Life List items this summer...because that will be fun! There are a few things, like seeing a movie on the lawn at Bryant Park and getting tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, that are obvious targets -- if not now, I'll need to wait another year. But I'm open to a grabbing a few more. Maybe I'll be snapped by Bill Cunningham, or take a ride on that unicorn...

...???

Last but not least, I am hoping for more than a few fun surprises this summer. Because this is the season of going with the flow, so I can't schedule everything. And on the very first day of summer, I got my first surprise!

I was walking down Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights on my way to get something to eat and I heard a rumble in the sky. Brooklynites are pretty well-trained, we know fireworks when we hear them. Everyone on the street stopped, looked at each other...and took off running. To the Promenade!

Bad camera phone photo -- sorry, can't always be prepared for a surprise!

I got to see a fantastic fireworks display in the company of a few of my lovely neighbors -- just the right amount of crowd to make it fun, but small enough that I still had a perfect view.

Such a great start to the summer -- can't wait to see what happens next!

Web roundup

2011-06-21T20:56:00.002-04:00

I spend ~~a fair amount of time~~ hours and hours and hours surfing the interwebz, and there isn't a day that goes by where I'm not inspired by looking at sites that are lovely/hilarious/amazing. But don't worry, I'm not selfish -- I am happy to share a few sites that have been keeping me entertained this week.

Dear Photograph

Definitely the darling blog of the web this week, Dear Photograph encourages people to "take a picture of a picture from the past in the present". Got that?

Looks something like this:

Dear Photograph,
We had nothing, but you gave me everything. Thank you for your
never ending love. I love you Dad
@okfollowheather

This blog features photos that readers have sent in -- people take their favorite/most memorable/most poignant photos back to the locations where the photos were taken, and then photograph themselves holding up the photo in that space. The results are sweet and funny, offering a way to pay homage to the past while acknowledging that time continues to march on. I would love to try this myself, there are quite a few favorite places from my childhood that I would LOVE to see again.

My Daguerreotype Boyfriend

Again, I'm going to let the blog tagline speak for itself: "Where early photography meets extreme hotness". Indeed!

I have to say, as an art history student I looked at my fair share of daguerreotypes and I never saw many lookers, but I guess I wasn't looking in the right places! Who knew our forefathers were such smoking hotties?

This site does make me stop to wonder, "were these men considered handsome at the time, or did women find other characteristics more appealing?" But I don't think too hard...I mostly just look at the pictures of yummy men. Here's a popular one of Almanzo Wilder (aka Mr. Laura Ingalls Wilder).

I'd like to cuddle with him in a little house in the big woods...

The Nutropolitan Museum of Art

Finally, a museum devoted to peanut butter. Isn't it about time?

Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter, cherries, cherry preserves, and shredded coconut --
this needs to git in mah belly ASAP

This is a virtual museum that features photos and recipes for a variety of peanut butter-based treats. The site is the brain child of Peanut Butter and Co., makers of the BEST gourmet peanut butter in the world. If you haven't tried this delicacy, you must. You can find it at many major supermarkets all over the country, or you can make a trip to New York City and visit their adorable little sandwich shop in the West Village. Actually, a visit to their shop should be on your to-do list anyway -- it is like peanut butter mecca!

This site will definitely make you hungry, and might also inspire your next peanut buttery meal!

There are a few of the sites feeding my web addiction lately...what sites are you loving right now?

Lovely Life List: Lip service

2011-06-19T21:46:00.002-04:00

This week I've spent a little bit of time working on a small corner of my Life List: finding a great lipstick shade.

I have a drawer full of lipsticks that are all fine, but I have yet to find that one great shade that goes with everything and makes me feel perfectly polished. Seems like a good thing to have in one's makeup bag, right?

There are a few criteria that I identified to help me narrow down my search:

- I want something in the pink family; plum colors are too dramatic for my coloring for every day and reds are too high-maintenance
- I want something creamy or matte. No glitter, no shimmer.
- I'd prefer a drugstore brand. If I find something I love I'll probably want to have an extra tube or two around, and spending $75 at Sephora on three tubes of lipstick does not excite me; it would also be handy to be able to replace a tube easily when I run out or if I'm traveling.

I ended up with 3 finalists:

Fairytale, CoverGirl -- this was a suggestion by a commenter on a fun makeup post over at Making it Lovely. It is a lot brighter than I am used to (and quite a bit brighter than this photo indicates), but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try something different. Probably a little too bold for me during the day, but I think this will be great with a black dress at night.

Darling, CoverGirl -- I spotted this one while I was looking for Fairytale and was immediately drawn to it -- much more my speed. I LOVED the color in the tube, but I didn't love it as much on my lips. Funny how that happens...but hooray for reasonable return policies!

Classy, e.l.f. -- I grabbed this one on a whim. I could barely make out the color in the packaging, but when I saw the price ($1), I threw it in the cart. Guess what -- this is my favorite! It looks natural but pretty, feels nice and creamy, and has decent staying power. And I can pay for it with the change on the bottom of my purse.

So, I have one-third of one more item crossed off my list. A baby step of progress, but I'll take it!

And while we're on the subject of makeup, two videos to share. First, one of my favorite YouTube makeup gurus, the adorable Michelle Phan. Do you watch her videos? She's super talented and getting to be super famous. She started doing tutorials on YouTube and now she's everywhere: she's in Vogue, she's working with Lancome...but she's still sharing her tutorials with us for free! I have learned SO much, and I feel empowered to try new things. Here is her video for the fancy eyes I wore last New Year's Eve:

Of course, success breeds copycats...but this one is pretty adorable. 5 year old Madison is a modern girly-girl in the digital world, and she knows what she's talking about. And she gives my favorite makeup advice ever: "It's OK if you mess up!"

Also, I have that Pink Please lipstick -- she has good taste!

If you have a favorite lip product, let me know! I I love taking a peek in other people's makeup bags.

Summer Friday

2011-06-18T13:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my first official Summer Friday -- hands in the air for the Friday dance!

Image source

Do you know about the wonder that is Summer Friday? It goes like this: in an effort to help employees get a head start on weekend plans (i.e. drive out to the Hamptons), companies allow employees to leave the office early. Every company has a slightly different arrangement, but ours is pretty simple. We can leave at 3pm, provided our work is done. There has to be someone in each department who stays the full day to provide coverage, but for me that means I only have to stay every 3rd or 4th Friday. Not bad!

I had hoped to use this time to meet up with a friend for a drink (feel like I've been so out of the loop with my girlfriends lately), but everyone was either working or, in fact, headed out of town this afternoon. I decided to spend the afternoon focused on two things I love: shopping and eating!

This will be boring for non-NYers, but there is a section of the UWS (my old hood) that has become a bit of haven for shiny new retail establishments, particularly big-box stores not typically found in Manhattan. A rash of condo development paved the way as huge new ground floor locations offered space normally not found in the city. This area (Columbus btw 96th and 100th) is a little out of the way, but I'd been wanting to check it out, particularly because of the recent opening of Manhattan's first HomeGoods.

You love HomeGoods as much as I do, right? I am actually a fairly recent convert, but I am making up for lost time. It is not unusual for me to be pushing two carts loaded with goodies.

A massive thunderstorm kind of put a damper on my outing (I'd go in a store while the sun was out, come out and be pelted by apocalyptic hail), but I eventually made it to my primary destination.

Image source

First thought: kinda small.

NYC stores are always a little weird. With so little space, they are often ridiculously cramped or spread out on multiple tiny floors. The upper level of this store was almost like a boutique. I've been in bigger GAP stores. But luckily I spotted an escalator, which I learned led to a much bigger lower level.

UWS Home Goods is Nate approved!
Image source

For my first experience, I would give this store a 'B'. Didn't have the selection of goods as the suburban locations, and certainly not in the same quantities...but I managed to find a couple of must-haves for my cart:

This is my favorite -- spotted it from 50 paces away and made a beeline for it. I would have bought more if they had them!

My new accessories are in place in my place and they look great. Maybe I'll do a little house tour soon (I do have a little house!).

My second stop this afternoon was Whole Foods. I love me some Whole Foods, but I don't shop there much anymore (Trader Joe's is two blocks away and much more wallet-friendly). I really wanted to check out this new store, so I decided to splurge on some of my WF faves.

Image credit

When it comes to Whole Foods, I am a sucker for the prepared foods. I went right for the chicken salad and bought a couple of mini whole grain rolls to put it on. I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite comfort dinners. Apparently when I kick back, I like pretend I'm at a baby shower.

Too lazy to get out the big camera. Not a food blogger, clearly.

I picked up a few other goodies like roast turkey, potatoes, and pita chips. I also grabbed a WF granola bar in the bakery section -- just like homemade and SO good (no pic because I nom nom nom'd it right away) and headed to the check out.

And then I remembered why I don't shop at Whole Foods a lot.

$35 for a half-full bag. I think I'll stick with my friend Trader Joe for my regular shopping trips. Congrats though, UWS: your Whole Foods is lovely!

Image source

I managed to get back to Brooklyn as the crazy weather started to subside. I came home and found this photo on Twitter:

Image credit

Friday night with some good grub and a good pup. Indeed, there's no place like home.

Thing I should do more: give compliments

2011-06-16T22:28:00.002-04:00

I've been thinking a bit about compliments, thanks to a great post by Jessica at What I Wore. She asked about the best compliment you've ever received on your personal style, which led to a fun discussion in the comments.

Image credit

One thing everyone could agree on is that it is SO GREAT to receive a compliment, whether from a loved one a complete stranger (and in some ways, a compliment from a complete stranger is an even better ego boost). This got me to thinking about compliments in my life, both given and received.

I try to have fun with my wardrobe, and over the years I have collected quite a few compliments on my clothes, accessories, shoes, etc. I have a favorite ring that I wear all the time, and I get at least one comment every single wearing. I am always flattered by these kinds of compliments -- I dress for myself, but I am pleased to know that others notice.

I've felt a little more conflicted about compliments about my weight or my body. When you lose weight, it is inevitable that people will comment. Most of them are kind (and a nice reward for the hard work), but sometimes things can get a little uncomfortable. Let's face it: some people have no tact.

But all in all, I think compliments are muy bueno -- one of the great small pleasures in life.

When it comes to compliments, I think there are two important lessons to learn:

How to GIVE a compliment...
It doesn't have to be elaborate or complicated, it just has to come from the heart. A few simple words are all it takes to make someone's day and put an extra spring in their step (though if you are particularly witty or eloquent, you'll be sure to be remembered). I'm going to make an extra effort to give more compliments to people in my life, be they friend or stranger. Sincere praise is so powerful...and it is totally free!

How to RECEIVE a compliment...
For a lot of people, this is MUCH harder. We feel uncomfortable. We don't believe we deserve it. We think we aren't really that great. Guess what? We ARE.

One of the best things you can do for yourself is learn to accept a compliment. Don't deflect it, don't take the wind out of it -- just say "thank you". If you really feel like going crazy, you could elaborate: "Thanks, that means a lot!" or "Wow, that made my day!". If you protest too much, everyone feels uncomfortable. But with a simple "thanks", everyone wins!

See, compliments are easy!
Image credit

So, what do you think about compliments -- if you've given or received a good one lately, let me know!

I'll share the one I posted in the comments of the What I Wore post -- it's one that has always stuck with me in a good way:

"I was walking home to a fairly new apartment and I took a shortcut through a slightly questionable block. I was coming from a summer wedding and wearing my favorite green dress and gold heels, and I came upon a group of guys hanging around on the street corner (one of them may have been peeing against a wall, but that's not important). As I approached I expected some sort of crude or obnoxious comment, so I steeled myself and kept walking. The biggest guy looked at me and said, "Hello...I didn't know we had America's Next Top Model in the hood!"

Totally made my day.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming

2011-06-15T14:14:00.002-04:00

You know what you gotta do when life gets you down?
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming

-Dory the Fish

OK, so I almost have the Disney thing out of my system...

This happened on Monday, but it was still on my mind this morning. Monday morning started off in the usual fashion: oversleep, rush around, curse, knock something breakable over, forget one of my gadgets, run out the door with sweat on my brow. It's fun, really. It must be because I do it almost every. single. day.

I was supposed to make something for lunch before I left, but that definitely didn't happen so I figured I would grab a salad near work. There are quite a few pick-your-own-ingredient salad bar type places near my office, so not a bad option for a quick and healthy lunch.

And then lunchtime rolls around and my desire for salad goes right out the window. I didn't feel like it, I wasn't in the mood, a client was mean to me, blah, blah, blah. Who knows why, my brain is full of excuses. I started thinking about other options, and I decided I was in the mood for Chipotle.

Guacamole and DREAMS. No wonder I can't stay away...
Photo credit

I started walking in the direction of my favorite Chipotle (there are three within walking distance -- thanks, midtown!) but halfway down the street, I just stopped.

Why do I sabotage myself like this?

I'd had a plan for a healthy and tasty lunch, and I was ready to ditch it on a whim for fast food. True, Chipotle is pretty good as far as fast food goes, but I always end up eating lots of white rice and too many chips -- exactly the kinds of things I'm trying to stay away from. And sure it would taste good, but would it taste THAT much better than the salad I was planning? No, probably not. Chipotle was not the best choice, so what was I doing?

I turned around and headed in the other direction to my favorite salad place. That's the good news!

The bad news: the salad I ended up getting totally SUCKED! Ugh. I thought I would get rewarded for making the right choice, but I guess the universe isn't always about keeping score like that.

I tried to take a picture of the sad salad, but I don't think this photo does it justice. It really looked (and tasted) a lot worse.

Lunch FAIL

I had wanted a chicken Caesar salad but they were out of grilled chicken (this is why you shouldn't wait until 2pm for lunch) -- that was the first problem. I saw the roast turkey and decided to go with a Cobb-type salad, and I think this was the fatal blow. When it came time to add avocado, my salad maker reached a spoon into a murky green soup and pulled out some watery avocado chunks and about a quart of slimy water and dumped it in my salad. I had hoped it wouldn't be that noticeable, but when I sat down to take a bite I realized I had a soggy mess in a bowl. Everything was covered with a slight green ooze. Blech, I'm dry heaving just thinking about it. Seriously, how hard is it to slice a fresh avocado people?

I managed about three bites and then just gave in. Nine bucks, in the trash. I also didn't really have the time to grab anything else, so I was just stuck with this total bust of a lunch.

I started down a Sliding Doors-line of thinking: What would have happened if I'd gone to Chipotle? Would I have been happier? Would I have stepped into the road and been hit by a runaway taxi? Would I have chopped my hair into a blonde pixie cut and met a cute British dude?... but then I just let it go. I stuck to my plan, I did the right thing, and it just didn't work out. It isn't a sign, it isn't the universe telling me something, it just happened. I can't let it get to me, I have to just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Around 3:30 my tummy did start to grumble, so I grabbed my favorite dirty deli snack:

String cheese and sesame sticks -- yum! The pretzels were a little carb-ier than I'd like, but all things considered it was a good choice. And so filling! I got home from work fairly early, and I was able to get tons done before I even started to think about dinner.

This morning I managed to drag myself out of bed in time to prep some lunches for the rest of the week. I'm definitely off deli salads for a while...

How I spent my summer vacation...

2011-06-14T21:00:00.004-04:00

I've already shared the Give Kids the World parts (here and here) of my Orlando trip -- I wanted to recap the "vacation" part of my trip, too.

I think I have already mentioned this, but I am a bit of a Disney nerd. My family didn't get to take many vacations, but when I was in middle and high school we took an annual trip to Orlando for as much Disney fun as we could squeeze in, and we REALLY cherished these trips. I took a bit of a hiatus from Disney parks for quite a few years, but I've been making up for lost time -- last week was my 6th trip to the World in two years. Hooray for Annual Passes!

I like how at Disney you're not an adult, you're just "10 or older"

What this means is that I don't feel the need to see and do everything on my trips. Our trip was scheduled during a fairly hot and crowded time of year, and my traveling companions (mom and brother) don't really have the same kamikaze attitude I do about touring. In general I just tried to go with the flow.

So, the highlights....

Loved the hotel!

We've stayed at Disney's Beach Club before, and I think this is my favorite resort on property. I LOVE being in the Epcot area -- it is so nice to be able to stroll over to the World Showcase, and I love being a short walk/boat ride to the Swan and Dolphin Hotels and the Hollywood Studios. The theming of the Beach Club is also great. It is reminicent of a New England seaside resort -- lots of white clapboard, rope trim, sea creature motifs, etc. The rooms are light and bright and just scream "vacation" to me.

Photo credit

I loved our stay, though it was not without a few hiccups. First, a reminder that Disney service is just not what it used to be: our internet service refused to work, and it took multiple calls, several trips to the Front Desk, and a lot of patience to get it fixed. And what was sad was no one really cared -- there was a lot of shrugging shoulders and passing the blame. Not the Disney I remember from years ago.

Also, you may remember I was considering my workout options in case I felt the need to get some exercise in during my trip. I needn't have worried. Our room was quite a hike from the elevators -- more than 160 steps (I kept losing count). Not so bad in the morning, but sometimes that walk after a long day in the park was brutal. Also, *some* people in my family (everyone but me) got lost in the maze of corridors that led to our room.

I am very happy to say that during this trip, we really got to take advantage of the amazing pool at this resort: Stormalong Bay.

Photo credit

This 5-acre pool is really like a mini-water park. There's a slide, a lazy river, games -- so much fun! On the last full day of our trip we had croissants by the pool and then floated in the lazy river for hours. The pool was miraculously empty that morning, and it was heavenly.

Loved the food!

A trip to Disney isn't complete without some great meals, and this visit was no exception. We had a fantastic first dinner at the Cape May Buffet, right in our hotel. This buffet is meant to be an old fashioned New England Clambake -- I'm not a seafood eater, but I definitely didn't go hungry. Chicken, beef tenderloin, pasta, salads, potatoes, corn on the cob, and at least 100 pieces of cornbread. I really liked the cornbread. We hit a few other favorites, like the Crystal Palace (with hugs from Winnie the Pooh!), Pecos Bill (love the burgers and taco salad), and Sunshine Seasons (definitely a change of pace from typical fast food).

I was also glad to introduce my family to Chefs de France, one of my favorite restaurants in Disney. It is pricey, but the prix fixe menu helps make it a little more reasonable. I went with the chopped salad (too hot for French onion soup, unfortunately), braised short ribs, and creme brule. Heaven!

I love the quality of light in this restaurant at night, so Parisian! This photo does not help you see that at all.
Photo credit

Loved the attractions!

Despite the crowds, we managed to hit a lot of parks and a lot of rides during our trip. I won't recreate our plan completely, but most memorable were...

Tower of Terror: my favorite ride, hands down! A good day is when I can ride this about a dozen times. We managed 2 rides this time, but I loved each one.

Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers: I finally beat my brother! He ALWAYS wins, but this time we made a dessert wager. I guess that was the motivation I needed to rally and out-shoot him. 417,000 points! Certainly no major record, but a great score for me (hint: aim at the hands of the big robot on the left-hand side of the first room -- each hit is 100,000 points). And my reward was delicious...

Photo credit

Animation Academy: This is one of the best kept secrets at Hollywood Studios (though this trip brought the biggest crowds I've seen here, so I guess the word is getting out). A Disney animator teaches these 25 minute classes, taking you step by step through the process of bringing your favorite characters to life. You DON'T need to be an artist, they really make it easy! My characters always come out looking like they've been slightly squashed by a steam roller, but for me that qualifies as a success.

We drew Dale! Can you guess which one is mine?

Miyuki the Candy Lady: The Epcot World Showcase offers plenty of live music and entertainment throughout the various pavilions, and Miyuki is by far our favorite performer. She is an amazing candy artist who performs regularly in the Japan pavilion, and her work is AMAZING. She takes a simple ball of rice dough and transforms it into beautiful and playful animal-shaped candy. They're miniature sculptures, really -- she's so talented! I believe she is the only woman trained in this ancient art, and her performances are so captivating.

It was a great trip, but I am quite happy to be home. I have a busy summer planned -- marathon training for sure, and perhaps a few other big things in the works. There have been so many things that I've been waiting until "after I get back from vacation" to do, and now I'm ready to get to work!

Volunteering at the Village, part II

2011-06-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

Friday was an early morning, and we all tried to stumble through the getting ready motions as quickly as possible. We were out of the room at 7am and stopped to grab a quick breakfast at the Marketplace, the quick-service restaurant/hotel gift shop (yeah, I don't understand it either) shared by the Yacht and Beach Club hotels.

Good morning, carbs!
Photo source: WDW Info

We were a teeny bit late pulling into Give Kids the World, but luckily the staff was beyond understanding and assured us we hadn't missed anything. Today's shift was at the Gingerbread House -- we were helping with breakfast!

A quick run down of food at Give Kids the World: families are provided with all of their meals for the duration of their stay -- breakfast, lunch, dinner, ice cream, late-night pizza delivery, and other snacks. Many choose to eat at the parks for some meals, but when they need to eat at the Village there are plenty of options. It is a pretty good deal!

I have already mentioned the Ice Cream Palace, one of the most popular spots at the Village. The ice cream and fixings are supplied by Friendly's, and families can snack on banana splits and other treats from early morning to late at night.

Also popular option is Katie's Kitchen, a quick lunch or dinner option. The food is provided by Boston Market, so families can order rotisserie chicken dinners, meatloaf, chicken pot pie, all of the delicious sides...yum!

I love a good Chicken Carver Sandwich...
Photo credit: Give Kids the World

And finally, there is the Gingerbread House. This is a buffet style restaurant open for breakfast and dinner. The food is provided by Perkins, so there are plenty of good, homestyle options. This is where we were headed!

Photo credit: Give Kids the World

On the morning of our shift, there was a large number of corporate volunteers from JPMorganChase stationed at the Gingerbread House so there quite a few hands available. Some of the Village's regular volunteers were manning the buffet lines (which was smart -- having some experienced hands really kept things flowing), so my mom was assigned to help with the waffle station (fresh Belgian waffles with whipped cream, fruit, butter, or chocolate -- so yummy!) and my brother and I were tray carriers.

Give Kids the World thinks of everything, and one of the small but meaningful touches is that all guests have their trays carried for them. Many of the Wish Children who visit the Village are not able to carry their own trays, but rather than making them feel singled out or reminded of things they can't do, volunteers are on hand to carry trays for everyone. This turns a gesture that might be a source of frustration into one that seems like white glove service for all. The kids like being "waited on", and the parents don't seem to mind special treatment either (especially the moms -- they usually have to carry everything, right?).

Such a warm and happy place
Photo source: Give Kids the World

As a volunteer, I loved this job -- I got to chat with all of the families and take a minute to ask about plans for the day, hear favorite memories from the trip, and just help everyone get their meals off to the right start. I also acted as a "runner" -- refilling drinks and grabbing seconds for people so they could relax at their tables, and also cleaning up tables as families left.

I also got to see plenty of special moments. One of the first kids to come off the line happily handed over his tray, which consisted of a plate filled with nothing but bacon. He was thrilled, and the true embodiment of GKTW's motto that a week at the Village is a week of 'yes'. You want to eat nothing but bacon for breakfast? Sure!

I also watched a little boy break out into a big smile as he sat and watched all of the activity in the Gingerbread House. I didn't think much of it until his mom came over with a camera to capture the moment -- he is non-verbal and rarely smiles or laughs, so this was a very special event. And a perfect reminder of why Give Kids the World is so special -- it creates these magical moments every single day.

The shift went by pretty quickly, and after a thorough clean-up it was time to go. I was sad to say goodbye, but I tried to turn that sadness into determination that I would come back as soon as possible. There are so many more wishes that need fulfilling...

Volunteering at the Village, part I

2011-06-12T11:53:00.002-04:00

By far, my favorite part of last week's Orlando trip was volunteering at Give Kids the World. If you missed it the first time, make sure to check out my post on this amazing place.

The process of volunteering at Give Kids the World is pretty straightforward. Since I had volunteered there previously, all I had to do was let them know when I was available and I could be put on the schedule. My mom and brother were new Angels (GKTW code for volunteers), so they had to fill out the online application and go through a quick background check. Very easy!

Once everyone was approved, we needed to receive our assignments. There was a little confusion here as my mom and brother were both in contact with Volunteer Services separately, and then I jumped into the mix...but the team at GKTW are amazing, and after a quick phone call we were all set. Because we were renting a car for just the first half of our trip, we requested back-to-back shifts so we could get in a few days of work. We also asked to be able to help out with the Thursday night Christmas celebration (a weekly event at the Village) -- and Volunteer Services was able to accommodate both requests!

We grabbed our rental car (conveniently picked up at the WDW Dolphin Hotel right on property) and hit the road -- Give Kids the World is located in Kissimmee, FL, just about 15 minutes away from Disney. We took the scenic route down U.S. 192. Have you ever driven down this road?

The aptly named Orange World
Photo credit: Adventures in Walt Disney World

When I was a kid we stayed at a hotel on 192 when we visited Disney and we had LOTS of fun adventures down this stretch of highway. It is tourist paradise: a mix of hotels (big chains and sketchy motels), restaurants, t-shirt shops, wacky tourist traps (Shell World comes to mind, as well as the giant building shaped like an orange), and other visual delights. It kind of feels like a beach town without the beach, and for us it was a bit of a trip down memory lane.

We arrived at the Village at 3pm. I wish I could explain the feeling I get when I am at this amazing place, but needless to say I was thrilled to pull in and see some familiar faces (hi, Mayor Clayton!). We parked, checked in at Volunteer Services, and got ready for our first assignment: decorating for Christmas!

It didn't quite feel like Christmas as we stood in the blazing Florida sun, but we got right to work helping GKTW staff pull full-size Christmas trees, huge Santa statues, foam snowflakes, and other goodies out of a storage shed and carry them all over property. Soon there were decorations everywhere, and I was ready to get into a festive mood (the Christmas music playing all over the Village definitely helped!). I probably wasn't dressed correctly for this kind of work (what else is new), and it wasn't long before we started feeling a little overheated...thankfully my brother did a lot of the heavy lifting while my mom and I took plenty of water breaks ;). Regardless, we tried to get the work done as quickly as possible with smiles on our faces because we really wanted to give the kids a great party.

We took a short break and then at 6pm we were back in action -- it was almost time for Christmas to start! This time we were separated -- my mom was helping our with the Storytime Elves (a little area where kids can listen to stories and pick out books to add to their own library), my brother was working the Christmas parade, and I was in Winter Wonderland. My specific job: manning the cotton candy machine. Whoa!

Harder than it looks!

What's great about Give Kids the World is that they have no hesitation in putting volunteers in really significant roles, even if they have had no experience with that particular task. Because GKTW relies on volunteers to fill so many shifts, they have pretty efficient training processes. Last time I volunteered, I was stationed in Amberville and I was taught how to drive a miniature train (including what to do if it gets derailed), man the miniature golf course, and set-up all of the video game systems -- just for my one 3-hour shift!

All aboard -- Conductor Peacock at your service!

The Christmas party was a HUGE success -- so much fun, and the kids and families had a great time. They got to make snowflakes, decorate cookies, play games, take horse-drawn carriage rides, snack on cotton candy and sno-cones, and visit with Santa Claus (with presents for all)! And then in midst of all the fun, a huge Christmas parade marches through the plaza -- characters in costume, elves, stilt walkers, and snow falling from the sky! The parade dissolves into a dance party that give the kids a chance to boogie with all of the characters. It was a really joyous and festive atmosphere, and I think the kids had the time of their lives.

A peek at the toys that kids can pick from Santa's workshop

I found out that cotton candy making is probably not my calling -- some of my batches looked a little wonky, but my young audience was very forgiving (it all tastes the same going down!). I loved getting to talk to the families staying at the Village -- I am a Disney nerd, so I can talk parks and rides and fireworks and parades FOREVER. My mom had fun reading stories to the little ones, and my brother had the best job of all: he got to be the Snowman!

He was a huge hit, dancing around with the kids, signing autographs, and collecting plenty of hugs. I actually didn't know he was in the costume at first -- he definitely was busting out some moves that I had not seen before!

We left the Village tired but so happy -- it was a great night! After a quick dinner at Chick-fil-A in Celebration (the cutest planned community ever!), we headed back to the hotel for some sleep. The alarm was set for 6:15am, and we were due back at the Village at 7:30 for breakfast!

S#*t my brother says

2011-06-08T23:15:00.002-04:00

"The other day I felt like going for a run and ran 11.2 miles in 97 minutes."

"I'm not sure if I could run a half marathon...though I did run 13 miles once when I was lost. So I guess I could."

"I really love running this 1 mile loop around the Boardwalk...so I ran it 10 times. I had to stop because I was getting a little thirsty." (This run took place around 3pm in the brutal Orlando summer heat)

"I had a great 5-mile run. I wish we didn't have to go to the parks, I could have kept going for another hour."

Over the course of my six day family vacation, I got a bit of insight into my brother the athlete. And my emotions ran the gamut from annoyed, to impressed, to jealous (probably mostly jealous). This kid makes running look easy.

My brother's story is a LONG one, but let's just say he has not always been a running machine. Following some medical problems, he gained a lot of weight and was pretty inactive. Now that he has overcome those problems, he has turned himself into a certified gym rat (he is a personal trainer himself, he loves spinning -- he would be a big hit in the healthy blogger community!). And he has discovered that he loves running, often going out for 8-10 mile pleasure runs.

What was fascinating to me was the best part of my brother's vacation was running. We spent 6 days at a gorgeous resort in one of the most action-packed vacation destinations in the world, and his priority was running. He planned his meals, his sleeping, and other activities around getting in a great workout.

This astounded me.

On the one hand, I will admit I was annoyed. I wanted to have a blast in the parks, and I was getting a headache from all of my eye-rolling upon seeing my brother limp around the Magic Kingdom -- you're not enjoying this because you ran 10 miles today!

But a big part of me was impressed -- I would LOVE to be so excited about getting out for a run, and I would love for long distances and harsh conditions look so easy. While my brother has a bit to learn about fueling himself for runs (he doesn't carry any water with him, no matter the distance) and pacing himself (if he could, he would just run for miles every day), I know that he could easily conquer half marathons, full marathons...and probably ultras. Is this how Dean Karnazes got started?

This has got me thinking a lot about passion, obsession, and balance. I am definitely ready to make exercise and health a priority, but I hope I can remember to take time for fun and not miss out on great opportunities (and fun vacations) for the sake of my workouts. There are a lot of things I want to accomplish in the next few years, and I know I need to maintain some balance to make it all happen.

And maybe I'm struggling a little with identity. My brother and I have had an unspoken agreement: I'm the nerdy overachiever, he is the charming social butterfly. Now my brother is overachieving (and I'm still the same wallflower)...and somehow I feel a bit out of sorts. These are definitely unfamiliar waters.

But I'm trying to look on the bright side -- maybe there is some natural running ability in my family that I am ready to tap into! If there's a running gene, I'm ready to discover it.

There's no place like home

2011-06-07T22:25:00.001-04:00

And just like that, I'm home.

This morning at about 12:30am, I was back in Brooklyn following a fantastic vacation to Disney World. You might not have even noticed I was gone because of my sneaky auto-posts (ah, technology!) -- but while you were reading about Give Kids the World, cake, and dachshunds, I was in the land of sunshine and talking mice.

It was a lovely vacation, but it definitely took a lot out of me. I only got about 5 hours of sleep last night, and I was dragging today (the final day of my lovely 11-day work respite). When I went to bed last night (er, this morning...it was about 3am), I remember making a mental to-do list and thinking that I would need to put myself on a schedule today to get it all done.

And, FAIL.

I did manage to make a dent in the list: two loads of laundry are done, groceries have been purchased, (some) blogs have been read, a few DVR'd shows have been watched. But there's still a lot to do. And I had all good intentions of spending this evening writing up a few glorious posts about my trip, some musings on running, and my plans for the summer.

And here's what I can tell you: that is not going to happen. Because it is 9:30 and I can barely keep my eyes open! But I will share these updates soon -- there are a couple of posts that are half-written in my head, I just need to dislodge them. In the meantime, a few highlights:

- I spent 6 days in Orlando and did not see a drop of rain -- not one single "oh, this must be the end of the world!" thunderstorm! It was, however, hot as balls.
- I read The Hunger Games, and I really liked it! Jennifer Lawrence is perfect as Katniss Everdeen, I'm cautiously excited about the film.
- I finally beat my brother at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Dessert had been wagered, and it was delicious.
- I saw Winnie the Pooh, and I think he may have gotten taller. When pressed, he refused to answer.
- I drew Dale, and he only slightly looked like he had been run over by a car!

Mine is on the bottom right

I will say that I am feeling almost a sense of relief that I am finally at this point -- major work trips are over, spring holidays are over, vacation is over. What I am really longing for is the ability to re-establish my routine and get back to normal. I need to develop some new habits, and the best way to do that is with time and repetition. Things may be a little boring for a while, but I am more than ready for it.

Notes on a dachshund

2011-06-05T11:00:00.001-04:00

Being the owner of dachshunds, to me a book on dog
discipline becomes a volume of inspired humor. Every
sentence is a riot. When I address Fred I never have to
raise my voice or my hopes. He even disobeys me when
I instruct him in something he wants to do.
-E.B. White, loving dachshund owner

There seems to be a lot of talk about dogs on the blogs that I read: people who have dogs, people who want dogs, people who "adopt" random dogs in their neighborhood and give them new names (oh wait, that was me). Some of you may be considering adding a furry friend to your family. And maybe you’re thinking a dachshund would be the perfect addition.

Good news, you’re right!

Dachshunds are wonderful, lovable, and hilariously adorable little creatures. They also have very funny, quirky personalities. Audrey and took a walk last weekend, and I snapped a few photos to illustrate a few of my favorite dachshund traits.

>>Dachshunds like to stop and smell the roses

Dachshunds have wonderful senses of smell, and they are very thoughtful about stopping to smell the flowers. Your dachshund would like you to wait patiently while she pauses to sniff each and every leaf with her magical little nose.

>>Dachshunds have very expensive taste

Um, I think we're home!

Dachshunds like the finer things in life. Your dachshund may wish you lived in a big, beautiful brownstone (rather than a 400sq foot apartment), or drove a BMW (rather than...nothing).

I know Audrey loves me anyway…but I buy a lottery ticket every once in awhile to keep her happy.

>>Dachshunds don’t always care about a nice view
Audrey and I like to walk down to a local park and people watch. I always stop at the same spot to take in this spectacular view of the New York City skyline. Audrey always does this:

What? What are we looking at?

Your dachshund may not always appreciate the view, but she will wait while you take it in.

>>No one can be un-cheered by a dachshund
When you and your dachshund start taking walks, a wonderful thing will happen: people who pass by will break out into big goofy smiles upon gazing at your short-legged friend. There is just something about the way a dachshund walks or the look on their face as they march down the street that just melts. every. heart.

I call Audrey the one-dog cheer squad as she brings lots of joy to the streets of Brooklyn Heights.

Oh, and the effect is amplified when your dachshund dons one of these yellow rain slickers:

Clearly the best $10 I ever spent

>>Short legs and puddles don't mix

Even with her darling rain attire, your dachshund may not enjoy being out in the rain. I guess I woudn't like it either if I had to drag my belly through all of the puddles. Rainy day walks may not be the most fun with your dachshund, but once you're back home she will be happy to let you wrap her in a towel, burrito-style, and cuddle while she dries.

Disclaimer: If you ARE considering adding a dachshund to your family, you should know the following: doxies bark a lot, they are incredibly bossy, they are stubborn, and they have a bit of a problem with separation anxiety. Adopter beware. BUT, they are so cute and sweet it is easy to overlook a few small flaws....

Truth

2011-06-03T07:30:00.002-04:00

LIKE: Cake
DISLIKE: Pie

Photo credit: Bakerella

LIKE: Dogs using their front paws like hands
DISLIKE: Dogs winking at me (as if to say, "Yup, one day we will be your alien overlords and you'll be the one who can't sit on the couch.")

LIKE: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
DISLIKE: Real Housewives of Anywhere Else (I do love NeNe, though!)

LIKE: Blythe Danner
DISLIKE: Gwyneth Paltrow

LIKE: May flowers

DISLIKE: April showers

Ranunculus are my favorite!
Photo credit: Lucy Snowe Photography

LIKE: Brunch (champagne, prime rib? check!)
DISLIKE: Breakfast (no champagne, no prime rib? boring)

LIKE: Manicures

DISLIKE: Smudging the polish before I get home (Always. Always!)

Photo credit: Kate Spade NY

LIKE: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (and when I say like, I mean LOVE)

DISLIKE: weeks when The Daily Show is on vacation

LIKE: Facebook
DISLIKE: Foursquare

LIKE: Mets
DISLIKE: Yankees

LIKE: Sex and the City
DISLIKE: Sex and the City: The Movie

LIKE: NY1
DISLIKE: Any other 24-hour news channel

LIKE: Leggings
DISLIKE: Leggings as pants (cover your bum!)

LIKE: French macarons
DISLIKE: Coconut macaroons

Photo credit: Cupcakes and Cashmere

LIKE: Your comments on my silly posts :)

DISLIKE: Well...

Give Kids the World

2011-06-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

New York City is home and will always be my favorite place on earth, but let me tell you about another place that is incredibly special to me...

Give Kids the World is a nonprofit resort in Florida that exists to fulfill the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It is made of magic, pixie dust, and wishes. And ice cream!

You've probably heard of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and you might not be surprised to know that almost half of the children who are granted MAW trips have a wish to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, or something in the Orlando area. When children are granted trips to Disney through MAW (or other similar organizations), Give Kids the World makes it happen.

But to classify Give Kids the World as just a "resort" is a gross understatement. GKTW provides the most magical, the most fantastic experience for children and their families, giving them a week full of joy, laughter, pirates, princesses, magic, and memories. And ice cream!

It would take a dozen posts to even begin to explain all of the amazing components of GKTW, so I'll try to cover the highlights:

Families who come to the Village don't stay in a hotel, they stay in an adorable, fully-equipped villa:

Photo credit: Give Kids the World

They can ride on this awesome carousel as many times as they want:

Photo credit: Give Kids the World

Everyone can explore Amberville, the world's largest Tinker Toy structure: take a train ride, play video games, shoot pool...

...or play miniature golf on an incredible dino-themed interactive course!

Is that not the cutest freaking dino you've ever seen???

How about a life-sized Candyland game?

Photo credit: Give Kids the World

And then there's the ice cream. Friendly's supplies all of the treats for this amazing Ice Cream Palace, which opens at 7am every day. Ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? No problem!

And the list goes on and on: horseback riding, a pirate-themed swimming pool, a movie theater, visits by Mickey Mouse and all of his friends, a spa for princess makeovers. Absolutely EVERYTHING, including theme park tickets, meals, and transportation, is included for the special families who stay at GKTW. And those are just the daytime activities. Every night there is a different special event -- a Pirate and Princess Party, Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party (he's a bunny), Village Idol. And once a week, every week: Christmas! All kinds of winter activities, including cookie decorating, sleigh rides, and snow. Santa stops by and every child gets a present (and believe me, Santa's workshop is LOADED with great toys).

There are so many things that are special about Give Kids the World, but the thing that has always blown me away is this: Give Kids the World is almost entirely run by volunteers. There are over 1,500 volunteer shifts each week, doing everything from running activities, to checking guests in, to serving meals. Volunteers come from all over -- community members, groups of college students, corporate teams. And even visiting tourists like me!

I first heard about Give Kids the World about a year ago and I think it is truly the Happiest Place on Earth (if Walt was still here, he would agree). Last year I took a trip to Florida just to volunteer there for a few days and it was such an incredible experience. The families were so lovely, so gracious, so appreciative of any small thing I did. It was both humbling and inspiring, and I left a different person.

I'm traveling to Orlando soon for a vacation with my family, and we'll be spending two days volunteering at the GKTW Village. I'm so excited to share this amazing place with my mom and brother. We have so many happy Disney memories, and we're incredibly lucky to be able to help others enjoy their own special trip.

I can't wait to be back at the Village, but I feel a bit of sadness as well because I know I won't want to leave. For some reason, I have this feeling like I am meant to be there. I don't know how we got separated, but I'm in NYC and my heart is in Give Kids the World.

Well, I am prone to losing things....

PS -- If you're like me, you might be wondering how this special place came to be. You should read the biography of its founder, Henri Landwirth -- he has an incredible story and a truly generous spirit.

PPS -- I am participating in a great fundraiser called the Power of 10, which aims to raise one million dollars to help GKTW continue fulfilling its mission. I've already found 10 friends to donate, but I have always been a bit of an overachiever... ;)

New kicks

2011-05-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

I think that the experts advise replacing your sneakers after about 500 miles. Once upon a time, that meant I was going through 3-4 pair per year. Until this weekend, the pair I'd been wearing had been around for more than a year. I don't know how many miles they had on them, but I think they were ready to be retired.

Choosing new footwear is never easy. For many years, I made my decision based on two factors -- do they come in a cute color, and do they come in my size? (It isn't polite to ask a lady her shoe size, but let's just say that if I ever find myself without a home, I could probably live quite comfortably in one of my shoe boxes). While I'm sure my feet looked great, this method is not really the best for providing the best foot support.

A few years ago I went to JackRabbit Sports (a great running store in NYC) for a proper shoe fitting. The staff at Jack Rabbit is fantastic. They know their stuff and they really want to put you in the right shoe. They videotape you (well, your feet!) on a treadmill to analyze your gait and find the shoes you need to stay comfy and injury-free.

Hey, that's a snazzy color combo...

On that visit they put me in the Adidas Supernova, which was perfect. I probably wouldn't have tried it on my own, but it was a great fit. I replaced my original pair a few times, but at this point there are several new Supernova generations and I'm having a hard time finding the model I originally wore. Newer generations did not fit the same way, so I decided to move on.

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to get to JackRabbit this month, and the next few weeks aren't looking too good either. It is a lame excuse, but it just isn't going to happen. This is a big city, and there just isn't a location in my travels. JackRabbit has expanded (there's one near my old apartment on the UWS!)...maybe a Brooklyn Heights location is next?

So without a proper fitting, I relied on Zappos and their free shipping and generous return policy. I put a couple of pair in my cart that I thought would work (I know I'm a slight overpronater, and I stuck with brands that I have worn and liked before), and I crossed my fingers.

And, success! I ended up with these Asics:

Asics Gel-1150 ($75)

I took them for a test drive yesterday and they feel great (and I was pleasantly surprised that they are both attractive and super reasonably priced)! I noticed a little hot spot where one dug in a bit at the back of my ankle near the end of my run (seriously, WHY can't they put more cushioning back there??), but I'll make sure to put some moleskin there while I'm breaking them in. They felt great during my workout, and I think they're going to come in handy while I'm running around in Disney this week.

Welcome to my feet, new sneaks! I look forward to spending the next 500 miles or so with you.

So, how do you find your preferred footwear? Do you have a particular shoe you stick with, or do you favor a certain brand? And do you wear one pair until they're completely worn out, or do you rotate a few pair at the same time?

For my dad on his birthday

2011-05-29T22:59:00.002-04:00

So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart

- Elphaba, Wicked

Today is my dad's birthday. He would have been 62 (and probably not all that happy about it), but he passed away nine years ago. People say it dealing with a loss gets easier with time but really, it just changes.

There's a much longer story to tell, but it is not an exaggeration to say losing my dad had a major impact on my life. I was 23; technically an adult, but really still a baby. I had a little bit of a warning, but it was still a huge shock to the system. I was told he might have 6 weeks to live, but 11 days later he was gone. As the oldest child, I took care of many of the details. There are some things I would change if I could, but I think I did the best I could.

Time has passed, life has moved on, and I am finally at a point where I can control the tears (mostly) and focus on the happy memories. I also find myself thinking about the things that he has missed, both big and small. I am sad that I never really got to have a relationship with him as an adult. I know that my adult relationship with my mom is incredibly special and so eye-opening. Now with some perspective, I really appreciate all of the the things my parents did for me as a child. I would give anything to be able to tell my dad "thank you".

I also think about some of the silly things. Like iPhones. I think he would have LOVED iPhones. I'm sure he would have needed a bit of technical support from his kids, but I think we all would have laughed (and rolled our eyes, lovingly) seeing him play with one silly app after the next.

Of yes, there would be angry birds
Photo credit: Tecca

Also, Curb Your Enthusiasm. My dad was the BIGGEST Seinfeld fan, and I think he would have been thrilled with even more neurotic awkward social interactions to chuckle at. (And at this age, he *may* have started to resemble Larry David. Just a little.)

And he would have LOVED Audrey the Dog. After he passed away, someone offhandedly said to me "Oh, what a shame he didn't have any grandkids" (note: not a good thing to say to someone who has just lost their parent). It is true, he would have been a fantastic grandpa to human children, but I know that he would have absolutely adored having a little grandpuppy.

His death was a big motivation for me to start taking better care of myself years ago -- I lost a lot of weight after he died (and I needed to), mostly because I had no appetite and found that dragging myself to the gym was one of the few tasks I could accomplish each day. As I'm getting myself back on track, he is definitely on my mind. I want to make him proud.

I'm never really sure how to honor him on his birthday -- I want to make big gestures and find just the right way to make the day special, but nothing seems quite right. Today was a lovely day, and I really just wanted him here. I finally decided to take a long walk, and I ended up in a little cul-de-sac with a spectacular view of the skyline. I listened to my sad music, I watched the sun sink into the river, and I cried behind my big black sunglasses.

Audrey sat and waited pretty patiently, and she gave me plenty of goofy, happy faces to lighten the mood. On the way home, I picked up a cupcake. What is a birthday without a little cake?

Happy birthday, Daddy.

Promenading

2011-05-29T13:09:00.001-04:00

New week, new route -- the Promenade! I felt like changing it up a bit. Just call me Daisy Miller...

Sometimes it is a bit annoying to live all the way at the edge of Brooklyn (Manhattanites: think East End Avenue -- faaaaar over), but there are some advantages. Super easy access to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is one of those things. The Promenade is a lovely stretch of a thin, park-like space overlooking the East River and the Manhattan skyline. It is parallel to my beloved Brooklyn Bridge Park, but higher up -- much higher up!

Last time I tried this path was on a Sunday evening and I felt like I was there with just about everyone else in Brooklyn. Great for people-watching, but a little crowded. This morning was much better -- just me and a few fellow runners/walkers enjoying the morning air.

I hope you love crooked Hipstamatic photos as much as I do...

Summer has made a bit of an appearance in New York, and this has started me thinking about my workout schedule for the next few months. I do NOT like the heat and humidity of summer in NYC, so I won't be able to head out for a run any ol' time. Early mornings or late evenings are definitely the way to go to avoid a total meltdown. Going for a run at 10pm isn't going to be great for my sleep schedule (I am a night owl by nature -- I don't need to be a night owl hopped up on endorphins), so I think I'll need to shoot for AM workouts. I really do want to try to train myself to wake up earlier and keep a normal bedtime, so maybe this will be the push I need to fix my wacky internal clock.

I may also need to think about getting myself back into the gym. I was a gym rat for YEARS, but lately I just want to be outside. I use the gym in my building, which is nice but not quite as equipped as my old friend New York Sports Club (I was a member for years).

Not bad when I can have it to myself

Fewer crazies, though -- that is a big bonus! (Maybe I'll do a post about all of the various nuts I used to see at my gym. I wonder what Zombie Man is up to these days...). The nice thing about using gym equipment is I can really monitor my time/speed and push myself in a different way. And enjoy the lovely, lovely air conditioning.

Do you adjust your workout routine in the summer? Or are you a lot tougher than me and don't mind a little extra sweat?

At last...

2011-05-28T20:27:00.000-04:00

The About Me page has been updated. Sorry for the delay!

I am thrilled and flattered that new visitors click over to my blog every day, and I know that the About Me page is often a first stop (it is for me when I'm reading your blogs!). The old page was really meant to be a placeholder, but it went neglected for too long. Not that you didn't enjoy seeing my dog in a reindeer costume...but I think this version is a bit more useful.

Thanks for visiting!

Business travel

2011-05-24T00:26:00.002-04:00

The stars at night
Are big and bright
Deep in the heart of Texas
-George Strait

Yee-haw and howdy! Right now I am writing from the comfort of my totally adequate business traveler hotel near the conference I am attending. I wish I was attending one of the super fun blogger conferences that have been going on lately, but this is work related. Not quite as much fun. (Also: the only person who has said "yee-haw" or "howdy" so far is me. It is possible I know nothing about Texas).

I travel a bit for work, and while I am lucky that most of my trips are day trips (Amtrak and I are very well acquainted), every so often I get the pleasure of spending a few days in a new city. Business travel isn't usually the most fun. Oh, the first day is OK -- you're excited to get to your destination, you check out your hotel and it kind of feels a little bit like you're on vacation...but that usually only lasts about 24 hours. Now the honeymoon is over, and I miss my doggy, I miss my time zone, I miss my comfy bed.

While I'm counting down the hours until I head home, I thought I'd share a few of the tips I've picked up that make business travel (and maybe all travel) a bit easier:

1. Pack light

This is definitely a hard one for me, but I find that when I travel, I never regret the clothes I didn't take; I do regret stuffing my suitcase to the breaking point and having to lug it on planes, trains, and automobiles. Check the weather before you pack, be realistic about your needs, and REALLY think about your shoe wardrobe. Those suckers are heavy.

These aren't mine, but I do love my pretty pink suitcase
Photo credit: Love Pink

I like light layers (can handle lots of weather situations), dark colors (because I spill things on my shirt at every meal), and dresses that don't wrinkle easily (you're instantly pulled together with one piece of clothing - so easy).

2. Make your toiletries work for you

Toiletries are also really thought out carefully. I really miss the days of being able to bring all manner of bottles and tubes of lotions and liquids galore in my bags. I like beauty products :)

I usually try not to check a suitcase, so I am often dealing with a 3oz-product-in-a ziplock-bag situation. My strategy is to try to take advantage of what the hotel will provide and only bring the things that are essential (to me). For example, I can use just about any shampoo, so I'll use whatever I find in the hotel bathroom, but I need to have my own conditioner. I am not picky about soap or body wash, but I need my own moisturizer. This makes more room in my ziplock bag for makeup and other fun liquids.

It turns out you can't take it with you (at least not through security)
Photo credit: travelpod.com

I also try to think outside the box and find non-liquid replacements for some of my products. One of my favorite products for traveling is a makeup removing balm from Clinique:

Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, $27.50

Usually I use a face wash and a separate eye makeup remover, but this one balm takes the place of both. Since this isn't a liquid, I can bring it right through security. And a little goes a long way -- I've had the same jar for over a year (using it mostly for travel).

Try to make these kinds of swaps when you can -- makeup removing cloths instead of face wash, solid perfume instead of a spray bottle. Every little bit of room helps!

Also, if you like to travel with your fancy products I have two suggestions: check out 3floz.com or become a Sephora Beauty Insider (their free loyalty program). Sephora is INCREDIBLY generous with samples, which are perfect for traveling.

3. Do a little research

I want to try to keep myself on a healthy track during my trip, so I did lots of research before I got on the plane. Two big questions: what am I going to eat, and how can I workout?

Travel can be tough on eating habits because poor food choices are everywhere -- fast food at the airport, stale sandwiches at meetings, ice cream sundaes on the room service menu. If I'm going to be away for a few days, I usually try to find a local grocery store to hit when I arrive. It doesn't cost too much to pick up a few healthy snacks, maybe a pre-made salad or two, some fruit, etc. to have in my room. I'd much rather snack on an apple in my room than try to find something in the vending machine. I also look for some local lunch and dinner options. There are precious few options in the area where I'm staying (and I have no car), so I'm glad I looked online and found Au Bon Pain and The Corner Bakery nearby. Tasty, fresh ingredients = winner.

My hotel has a gym, but I know a lot of my coworkers will be using it as well, and I'm not really a fan of being red-faced and sweaty around my boss and my boss' boss. I found a little park near my hotel, and I took a nice walk this morning before conference activities started. I also like to do a couple of circuits of push-ups, situps, squats, etc. in my room. This isn't exactly going to do as much for me as my normal strength training routine, but it does help work the muscles a little. I also feel like just doing *something* helps me keep my momentum going. It isn't so hard to get back into the routine once I'm home if I have been moving a little while I'm away.

4. Be super nice to hotel staff

I go out of my way to be friendly and polite with every hotel staff person I encounter. These folks can really be life savers -- they can give you restaurant recommendations, hook you up with loads of free toiletries, and help you get a cab when you're late and you don't want to arrive at your destination a sweaty mess. I've already made a friend at the hotel bar who is hooking me up with free Diet Cokes (yes, I know that soda is not the best -- I'm working on cutting back, I promise).

5. Let technology work for you

If you travel a lot, investing in an iPad or a Kindle is SO worthwhile. Before I left home, I loaded my iPad up with two books, a movie, crossword puzzles, episodes of a couple of TV shows I have been meaning to check out, and a GMAT practice test app (more on that in a future post...). Basically, I will never be bored: on the plane, in the hotel, during the conference sessions. And all I need to pack is one slim little device -- barely takes up any room in my bag!

Who am I kidding -- this is the only app I need
Photo source: worldweblogwhizz.com

What are your favorite tips for happy travels, business or otherwise?

Taking the night off

2011-05-19T00:36:00.000-04:00

Fact: rainy weeks feel 1000% longer than regular ones.

Though it feels like it should be at least Thursday already, the calendar tells me we are only halfway through the week.

I really wanted to be a hardcore athlete and get out there in the rain, but I was feeling pretty wiped after a long day at work. For those who went out and logged their soggy miles today, I salute you.

I was happy to veg on the couch for a bit and catch up on some bad TV. 9 o'clock rolled around and I still hadn't done anything about dinner. I wasn't particularly hungry, so I wasn't really in the mood for anything -- does that ever happen to you? But I knew I need to eat something, otherwise I'd be awake in the middle of the night ready to eat my pillow. When no other plan materialized, I went with my favorite old standby: PB&J!

Take photo, THEN take bite. Food blogging is tricky.

I made mine with my favorite German Dark Wheat Bread and just a tiny bit of raspberry jelly...and ate it in bed. The rain was still falling outside, but I was nice and cozy inside. Sometimes taking the night off is a very smart thing to do.

Tomorrow it is back to the routine. Probably. It can't rain forever, right? ;)

On trying not to pass out in the middle of the street

2011-05-16T23:20:00.001-04:00

And now for something totally different...a bad workout.

It has been a while since I had one of these, and it hit me hard. Now that I am comfortably sprawled out on the couch, let me try to figure out what went wrong.

After getting home and doing my Audrey duties (cuddling, feeding, walking), I laced up my sneakers and headed out. Apparently New York is masquerading as Seattle this week, so I stepped outside into a fine, constant mist. A little chilly and not doing the hair any favors, but I was ready for it.

I knew I needed to finish up my walk/run with some errands, so I decided to stay close and do some "laps" up and down the long stretches through the brownstone neighborhoods. Straight, flat, not too crowded...perfect. I could cover some distance without actually going too far away from home, and I would be able to take care of a few things before heading back.

Along my route: a retro soda shop in modern Brooklyn; photo taken using my
modern iPod with an app that makes things look old. In my low
blood sugar state, this seemed highly amusing.

After the first few minutes, I settled into a rhythm. I felt OK, but not fantastic. I WANTED to be out there getting my heart rate up, but my legs weren't doing what my brain was telling them to. I then noticed that I was getting passed by people on the sidewalks. Now, New Yorkers do definitely move fast, but I was still annoyed. Why couldn't I kick it into high gear?

At the turnaround point, I was more than ready to head back. But at a certain point, I started to feel a little bit...off. A little weak. A little shaky. No gas left in the tank, running on fumes. Not good.

I slowed down, took breaks to admire interesting architecture (at least that's what I was pretending to do -- just stopping in the street looked weird), and tried to push towards home. Felt like I would never get there! I realized that I was dealing with a low blood sugar situation and needed some food, so I stopped and bought way more than I could possibly eat. And then I came home and CRASHED.

Here's what I know: I do not want to repeat this again.

Here's what I think: blood sugar crash due to poor choice/timing of afternoon snack.

I love you, Clif -- I'm sure we'll kiss and make up soon

I ate a Clif bar around 4pm, and I think this was a mistake. Good ingredients, but a little too much sugar (for me). I do best when I'm keeping my blood sugar steady, and I think this bar caused a bit of a spike and then a crash at just the wrong time. I should have eaten this right before my workout, or picked something else. Peanut butter on celery sticks takes a little more prep, but I know it won't leave me wanting to lay down in the road halfway through a workout.

It's hard when your brain is ready, but your body isn't. There's nothing like the rush of endorphins after a good workout -- but a bad workout leaves a lasting impression, too.

My inner dialogue was a bit negative during this little episode ("...and you want to run a marathon??"), but I am trying to stay positive and remember that I have done the work and seen the results before (a few years back, I was logging 40+ miles a week easily. Ah, the good old days!).

Any advice here is welcome! Do you have bad workouts? If so, why do you think it happens and what do you do about it?

A little quiet

2011-05-15T23:52:00.000-04:00

I have been quiet lately but don't worry, I'm here -- I'm just thinking. A lot on my mind right now, but I'll get to that.

I decided to take a nice walk to clear my head. Last night was a clear, mild night in NYC and it was great just being outside. I knew I wanted to do the Brooklyn Bridge Park loop again tonight (I've been taking that route a lot lately -- I love it!), and I decided to do two things differently tonight. First, I left Audrey at home. I was a little sad, because I do like her company. But she pulls a lot, and it distracts me from keeping up a good pace. Also, despite her repeated requests I have not been able to have all other dogs removed from the borough of Brooklyn, and sometimes she does feel the need to scream and carry on when she sees another four-legged furball.

The second thing I did differently is that I grabbed my point and shoot camera -- because I promised pictures! I only took a few because the little camera isn't the best for night shooting, but it was easy to stick in my pocket. Once I start my DSLR classes, I'll be sure to get some quality shots. I headed out of my apartment and down to the park and as soon as I looked up, I was SO glad I my camera.

That sky, oh my goodness that sky!

It was breath-taking, awe-inspiring, and the perfect backdrop for a good, head-clearing walk. With Adele playing in my ears (I listened to the same song on repeat for an hour -- my version of a meditation chant), I kept up a good pace, stopping every once in a while to snap a picture or watch the boats in the harbor. There weren't many other runners or bikers out tonight, so I felt like I could stay safely in my own little head.

I kept walking all the way up to Pier 1 (not the store, an actual pier), took a nice long look at the Brooklyn Bridge, and looped around so I could walk through prime Brooklyn Heights on my way home. Every time I do this, I play a game called "which street is my favorite?", but I can never decide. The brownstones are just so quaint and picturesque, there are adorable little restaurants and cafes tucked in every corner, and there are gas-burning lamps on some streets! It is amazing to walk through a neighborhood and think that it looked almost the same 100+ years ago. I get delightfully goosebump-y!

It was a great walk, and I grabbed myself a little dinner on the way home. Next time I need to make sure to wear my Garmin so I know what kind of distance I'm covering. Right now I'm focusing on just getting myself back in the habit of working out regularly, but I'll need to start measuring my progress soon so I can keep pushing myself and improving my endurance.

I did give my mind a good workout as well, which was part of the goal. Lately I've been thinking a lot about some big life plans -- I'm feeling like I'm at a crossroads in a lot of areas, and I'm just not sure which way to turn. In a lot of ways, I've been treading water for a while, and I definitely feel ready to MOVE. But which way? I don't quite know.

I do know that I have felt (gently) pushed into wanting to take action in my life by reading about some of the exciting things that my favorite bloggers are doing. MegaNerdRuns got a dream job and picked up her life to move to a new city; AliOnTheRun is Running for the Rabit (you should definitely support her!) and training for her first marathon; Amy just finished her first half marathon; and on and on and on. With each amazing story I read, I get SO excited for my virtual friends...and as they reach their goals, I think about where I am with achieving mine.

I don't have details to share just yet, but I feel like I'm ready to start crossing some things off of my big Life List. Over the past week, I have even begun reviving a plan that had completely fallen apart last year. I was devastated at the time, but now I see that maybe this is the way it had to be -- taking a different approach might get me exactly what I want and ALSO what I need. Win-win! (A little shout-out to someone who might have helped motivate me in this particular line of thinking -- I can be enabled!).

OK, enough being vague. More to come when I have some actual details to share, but until then: thank you! Thank you to all of the bloggers and readers out there who are being awesome and living your awesome lives, and inspiring the rest of us to do the same. I don't know what will come of all of my thinking...but I know it will be good!

Mapping it all out

2011-05-15T23:50:00.001-04:00

"You can always change your plan, but only if you have one."
-Randy Pausch

Last week I launched fully into goal-setting and life-planning mode, which I have found to be lots of fun and super energizing. There was even more of that this weekend. Things are starting to take shape!

Saturday morning I slept in, headed out for a 3 mile walk/run, showered, and was sipping on a yummy protein shake before the morning was through. Since I felt I'd been pretty productive, I decided to do a couple of things that would help me continue with figuring out my goals and plotting out a course for the next few years of my life.

First, I re-watched Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture".

Glorious. I laughed, I cried. The part that always gets me is when he serenades his wife for her birthday. My heart breaks looking at her, knowing that all she wants is to get to celebrate another birthday with her husband. While I always struggle, trying to make sense of why such a warm, wonderful, and incredibly bright man had such a short time on Earth, I try to hold on to each and every little gem of wisdom he shares.

I've made a mental note to make sure I to re-watch this at least once a year, because I am not as smart as Randy and I need to hear things more than once to learn them ;) There are a couple of messages that resonated with me this time around:

>>Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted.
Last year I had a big disappointment, and for a while I kind of shut down....I didn't know what to do, or how to fix my situation. 6 months later, I am less angry and a little smarter, and I can see reasons why maybe things worked out for the best...and how to rethink my strategy to REALLY get what I want this time.

>>The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.

Yes, lots of brick walls lately. Last week they were just annoying, but now they are opportunities. I've worked out some big goals for myself and yeah, I want them badly enough. I am more than ready to break through!

If you haven't watched "The Last Lecture" yet, PLEASE do yourself a favor and give yourself an hour-long gift.

The second thing that I did was to sit down and map out my life's plan in flowchart form (yes, I am a nerd) -- it actually ended up looking a bit like my very own board game for the Game of Life:

Your eyes are not deceiving you -- we'll call this artfully blurry.
I am ready to admit my dreams and goals to myself, but not
quite ready to share all with the world just yet. Stay tuned!

There are some gaps and a few shooting-for-the-stars type goals, but surprisingly I was able to map out a solid 5-7 year plan. I don't know quite why I did this, but it was actually really fun to sit down and map it out. It made me look at the big picture, thinking about what I want to do and what kind of work I need to put in to get there. It is one thing to have all of those ideas floating around in your head, but something really different to get it on paper. It made me realize that I'll have to work on prioritizing some facets of my life over others, and that I may really need to kick things into high gear in the next few years in some areas (basically, I should start stockpiling sleep now because it may become scarce next year). But rather than being scared, or overwhelmed, I felt excited -- because I know what the ultimate goals are, and they are incredibly worthwhile!

I know a lot of my blogger friends are plugging along on their own goals and dreams, and many of you have all kinds of tools to keep yourselves on track. But if you don't, I can't recommend this little exercise highly enough. I plugged in lots of things -- races I want to run, trips I want to take, as well as work, life and relationship type goals. They may not all happen as I've plotted them, but that's OK. Randy says I can change my plan, and he is one smart guy!

Revelation...

2011-05-15T21:33:00.001-04:00

Trader Joe's Chicken Patties are the diggity!

I'm not a food blogger, mostly because I tend to eat the same things over and over, and because when it is chow time I am usually so hungry that I don't want to take the time to pull out the camera a snap a pic. BUT, I had to share my recent delicious find: Trader Joe's Frozen Chicken Burger Patties.

I discovered these by accident on a recent TJs run. I saw them in the cart of a fellow shopper, and luckily the lines at my store are so long that I actually had time to run back to the frozen section and grab a box of my own without losing my spot.

I feel like I've read about chicken burgers on other blogs, but I've never really tried a frozen patty. They're made of dark meat, so they stay juicy, but the nutritional stats are strong (not too high in calories/fat, not full of fillers or weird stuff). And they are delicious! I added a slice of Swiss cheese and some grilled onions on mine and paired with a big pile of steamed broccoli.

So good!

I bought two more boxes today, so I'll be stocked for lunches for a while. I'm not always the most imaginative when it comes to meals, but I can think of a couple of different yummy ways to top these and add a little flavor -- can't wait to experiment!

Anyone else try these? What is your favorite way to serve them?

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-09T00:01:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day, everyone! I hope all of the moms had a great day, and I hope all of the kids made sure to thank their moms. I know today can be an emotional day for people (maybe your mom isn't here anymore, or you're struggling to become a mom), but I think everyone has a special lady in their life that deserves to be honored -- and it feels great to make someone's day!

Source: Some ecards

I was lucky to be able to enjoy a wonderful brunch with my mom, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousin. We went to our favorite place, a little place in Port Washington that serves an amazing buffet of delicious Mediterranean delicacies -- all kinds of salads, couscous, hummus, shish kebab, etc., plus lots of typical brunch type foods like eggs, pancakes, french toast, and bacon. It is pretty amazing, and SO cheap. I love that I can fill up with plate after plate of really healthy, delicious food. When we're done I'm full, but not uncomfortable. It is definitely a crowd pleaser!

In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I would share one of my favorite mom memories. It is hard to pick just one -- my mom and I are very close, and I am pretty sure she is the absolute best mom in the world. She was a single mom, and only now do I realize how hard that must have been (I think it is hard to take care of a small dog by myself). But she made it looks SO easy. She was always warm, loving, and ready to help us with anything we needed at a moment's notice -- homework help, a ride to the mall, a chaperone for a field trip. She worked incredibly hard but never once let on if she was tired, or scared, or stressed. I'm guessing there were many days when she was all of those things.

It was hard to pick just one memory, but in honor of our upcoming Disney trip this one seems fitting:

My mom and I are both Disney fanatics, and we love to be in the parks from early morning until late at night. My brother takes a more measured approach -- he likes his sleep, and at a certain point he decided to leave the early morning touring to us. So on one of our trips, my mom and I decided to hit Epcot at rope drop. We set our alarm so we could be at the park in time for the 9am opening and the next morning we got up, quickly got ready, and jumped in the rental car en route to Epcot. I remember feeling sleepy, but we turned up the radio and sang along to goofy songs to try to get ourselves psyched for the park. As we approached the parking tolls, we both noticed that traffic seemed particularly light. We were excited: you snooze, you lose! We were going to be first in line for everything! (I should note that this probably happened in 1994 or 1995, so I don't even know why we were so hot to trot to get to Epcot so early -- so we could get the first boat on Living with the Land? An early morning trip on Body Wars? This park didn't really have many blockbuster attractions).

Source: Go Touring

We then pulled into the parking lot and realized something was...wrong. Epcot has a HUGE parking area, and as we drove by empty lot after empty lot, we couldn't understand where everyone was. We parked the car in one of the very first spots, steps to the park entrance and looked at each other -- "what the heck is going on?"

We started to gather our things to get out, and I reached to turn off the radio. When I did, the digital clock popped up. It was 6:30AM.

SOMEHOW, we both woke up well before the alarm, got ready, and drove 5 miles down the road without having any clue what time it was. We were excited! We really like those Disney parks. When we realized what happened, we laughed hysterically for about 10 minutes. Then reality set in. What were we going to do for the next 2 hours?? I might have gotten a little grouchy.

Luckily, my mom is awesome to hang out with -- I shouldn't have worried. We sat in the car for a bit and waited to see if any other crazy people would show up (they didn't). We got out and walked around, and ultimately just sat on a bench and chatted. It was probably the only time in my life I had a meaningful conversation with someone before 7am, but it was great! The minutes flew, and before we knew it we were through the gates.

I think my mom and I could have fun anywhere, and I love that. I wouldn't have planned things to go the way they did, but looking back, I wouldn't have changed a thing.

Love you, mom!

Vacation planning

2011-05-07T12:00:00.001-04:00

This spring is flying by so quickly that I was surprised to remember that I'm going on vacation next month! Woo-hoo!

Where am I headed? Only the Happiest Place on Earth (my #1 vacation destination)!

Photo credit: Disney

We'll be there for about a week, doing all my favorite things: touring the parks, volunteering at Give Kids the World (more on that in another post), and eating!

Now that I realize my trip is so soon, I have begun doing a bit of vacation planning. Not creating itineraries or planning activities -- I've been to Disney a lot, so I have my plans down. The kind of planning I'm talking about is making sure I'm continuing to take care of myself (with good food and exercise) while I'm away. I have some good momentum going and I want to keep that up, and I know when I'm doing the right things just feel better -- and I'm going to need tons of energy for my trip! A Disney vacation is amazing, but it can really kick your ass.

So here's the plan...

EXERCISE

This is actually pretty easy. A vacation in Walt Disney World = tons of walking. Estimates vary, but it is not hard to log 5+ miles a day trekking through the parks, hiking to various modes of transportation, and even walking from your hotel lobby to your room. And the kind of touring I do is pretty vigorous -- we park hop (sometimes 2 and 3 times), and sometimes the best touring strategies involve a lot of criss-crossing the parks. I'm going to try to remember my Garmin so I can really keep track of how much distance I cover.

And if for some reason all that walking isn't enough, I have a few other fun options...

Splashing in Stormalong Bay

We're staying at the Beach Club, which has an amazing pool. I'm not sure how many calories are burned floating in a lazy river, but I'm sure it is at least a million.

Jogging along the Crescent Lake Trail

Photo credit: Swan and Dolphin Hotel

This is a maybe. I'm already going to need to do a lot of walking, and I usually don't want to spend more time on my feet than necessary at Disney. But sometimes when I'm on vacation I get so excited that I wake up super early, well before the rest of my group. I could see getting antsy and taking an early morning stroll, just to keep the peace and let my poor suffering family sleep.

Riding a Surrey Bike

I've always wanted to do this! Of course, I'd make my brother do most of the pedaling...

Using the Ship Shape Health Club

Photo credit: Disney

It looks lovely, and I'm glad it is there. But let's be honest: no. This is not going to happen.

DINING

This presents a bit more of a challenge, but I think I'm up for it. Here's my vacation strategy -- I will not:

Go crazy and stuff my face with every tasty morsel in sight
Make myself nuts trying to stick to an incredibly restrictive eating plan

I think something in between is where I'm trying to land. I haven't talked a lot about what I consider healthy eating, but for me I do best when I'm really watching the white stuff: sugar, flour, etc. Ultimately, it is pretty low-carb. But a smart low-carb -- this isn't Cheese-and-Sausage-fest 2011. I eat lean proteins, lots of veggies, and whole grains, so it ends up being pretty low in fat, too. Not necessarily the easiest to achieve on a Disney vacay, but not impossible.

A lot of people treat vacations as "time off" from their usual eating plans, and I can understand the instinct. Everything is different on vacation -- all the rules are out the window, and you're usually having the time of your life. And if you're lucky, you're in the presence of really good food. Still, I think that this kind of "off/on" mindset is a slippery slope. It seems dangerously close to the "good/bad" thinking I try to avoid, and it really isn't a healthy way to think of fueling your body.

I also know that you're setting yourself up for failure if you're trying to eat nothing but salad in a place where the scent of popcorn, Main Street Bakery cookies, and churros fill the air. And people snack on these bad boys as a between meal snack:

Photo credit: Disney Food Blog

Deprivation is no good. You'll be miserable, and then ultimately you will snap and march yourself over to Beaches and Cream to consume one of these:

The famous Kitchen Sink at Beaches and Cream. Say it with me: "A whole can!"
Photo credit: Yahoo Associated Content

Since I do know Disney so well, I feel like I can do a good job of sourcing as many of the fresh, healthy options in the parks, and balancing those choices with some of my favorite treats.

For example, I would be terrifically happy to enjoy one of these every single day:

Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby
Photo credit: Disney

Really fresh ingredients and so much flavor. This salad will keep me satisfied for hours and give me the energy I need to scream my head off on the Tower of Terror. It is pretty ginormous, so I'll either split this with someone or take half back to the hotel to pick on later.

We will also hit a couple of the character buffets during our trip. On the surface, "buffet" doesn't scream healthy, but Disney buffets always have lots of fresh fruit and salad options. And it is easy to satisfy cravings for something rich by adding just a bite or two to your plate. Also, it is hard to concentrate on your food when you're eagerly waiting for a hug from Winnie the Pooh.

And just yesterday, Meghann from Meals and Miles posted about a new food find from her Disney trip (she is a Florida girl and a Disney expert). There's a yummy veggie flatbread sandwich at the Golden Oak Outpost (note: this used to be a McDonald's fry cart -- change is good!). It looks like this

Nom nom nom...
Photo credit: Very Vegan Holiday

And after a lot of walking and a bit of smart eating, I will be excited enjoy some of the more delicious treats Disney has to offer. I love a good burger with all of the fixins from Pecos Bill. I always need to go to Goofy's Candy Kitchen and make my own Mickey head krispy treat with lots of goodies. My brother always gets a funnel cake and I always sneak a few bites. And I'll probably try a few new things, too -- like this adorable sundae! It looks almost too cute to eat...

Photo credit: Milkway Photography

...but I am sure I would enjoy every bite of it!

To Judge Judy, With Love

2011-05-05T21:56:00.005-04:00

Right now I am engaging in one of my favorite evening activities: watching today's Judge Judy episodes, which I have lovingly DVR'd. I recognize that my TV viewing choices are not always the best (Real Housewives of Anything), but I know that my JJ habit makes me a better, smarter person.

**A little side note: I don't remember this, but my mom tells me that I used to like watching the People's Court when I was very little. In fact, I told her that I should have my own show called Ali Decides. I was quite a bossy toddler!

Today, I share with you life lessons learned from the Honorable Judge Judy Scheindlin:

1. Don't co-sign on a loan for anyone
Unless you can pay off that loan and can afford to lose that money, just don't.

2. "Um" is not an answer
Have something to say, or don't open your mouth. "Ummmm...." is a waste of breath.

3. Don't co-sign on a loan for anyone
They will promise to make the payments, but they will not.

4. Put on your listening ears
God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason, you need to listen twice and talk once.

5. Don't co-sign on a loan for anyone
If your man needs you to co-sign for him, he's probably a bum and will screw you over.

6. You can't modify a written contract with an oral agreement
Hey, a free legal education -- thanks for saving me $100K, JJ!

7. Don't co-sign on a loan for anyone
They probably have bad credit; soon, you will too.

8. Make eye contact
Otherwise you look like a totally shady character, even if you're telling the truth.

9. Don't co-sign a loan for anyone
Seriously!

10. Tell the truth
Or you better have a really good memory. But, better to just tell the truth.

And if all that isn't enough, the geniuses at Paralegal put together this adorable infographic outlining all of the ways Judge Judy is kicking ass and taking names. She is smart, she works hard, she brings home the bacon, and she can fry it up! (Just don't try to friend her on Facebook -- she doesn't "do those machines"). A wonderful role model and a great personality -- Judge Judy is like no other. She may wish she was taller, but Judge Judy, you are perfect just the way you are!

Via: Paralegal.net

Giving myself a little push

2011-05-04T01:42:00.002-04:00

"Did you know each time you push through
a discomfort barrier you make it easier to do next time?"
- Jeff Galloway

I am writing this post from my bed, where I am lying practically in the prone position. I don't have one of these kooky desks, but this should give you an idea of what I look like:

I always wear a suit to bed
Photo credit: Skymall

Tonight, I pushed through a barrier. I am glad to have done it, but I am a bit...sore.

Today was a truly nice day in NYC, and around 3pm I started getting antsy to get outside for a workout. (Again -- progress! It has been a long time since I was excited about working out). I got home, laced up my sneakers, and grabbed Audrey to head out for a long walk/run (but mostly walk). I'm taking Audrey on my workouts now -- she is also on a new training program called "Walk Away the Naughtiness". Audrey has been behaving very poorly lately (the doorman says she's "moody"), so I figure if I tire her out she won't feel like barking at me for no reason or peeing on my furniture.

I didn't really have a route mapped out for my walk, I just figured I would keep going until I had just enough energy to turn around and get home. There are lots of great streets to explore in my neighborhood, I'm never bored of the scenery -- and if you have your shades up, I am totally going to look in your windows!

I walked up Henry Street, which has lovely mix of residential and commercial blocks, and started to get my heart pumping and my lungs filled with fresh air. Felt so good! And I loved being out in the neighborhood -- there was quite a bit of pedestrian traffic out there: people heading home from the subway, running the usual errands, eating dinner outside. For a long time I was pretty much a gym-only girl, but I haven't been able to get myself inside a gym in months -- I love exercising outside! Even if I'm not actually socializing with my neighbors, it just feels nice to be out and about in the community.

When I got to the Brooklyn Bridge, I decided to explore the waterfront area. I am embarrassed to admit this, but after more than 5 years in Brooklyn, I have never really been down there. Never eaten pizza at Grimaldi's, never had a romantic dinner at the River Cafe. It is so adorable and charming! The sun was turning pink in the sky, there was a warm breeze in the air -- oh, I was loving life! I didn't have my act together to bring my camera or phone, but I will next time and I'll post some photos. So lovely.

And I discovered that there is a great jogging/bike path that runs along the waterfront, leading from the bridge right back to the park in my neighborhood. How did I not know about this?? I'm kicking myself for not finding this sooner, but I am excited to be able to make this a regular part of my route. Most of the folks out tonight were runners, and I was a little jealous -- they were making it look easy! Audrey and I picked up the pace and worked on passing the few other walkers on the path (I am a wee bit competitive...).

Here is a site plan for the park -- I walked the span, from Fulton Ferry Landing down to
Pier 5, which is my little neighborhood park
Photo credit: designobserver.com

As we walked, we enjoyed one of the most spectacular views ever -- the Manhattan skyline, boats floating in the East River, and the Statue of Liberty always in sight. I know, the no-pictures thing is terrible -- sorry to be such a tease, I promise I'll make it up to you! I suspect I'll be spending a lot of time on this path in the next few months. Actually, as I watched the runners around me I had a brief glimpse of Future Me plotting some long training runs through the park and over the bridge. Does that ever happen to you -- you want something so much and you can visualize it so clearly that it feels real? I love that -- I know I am in control of creating my own reality!

An aerial shot -- pretty, isn't it?
Source: designobserver.com

We ended up walking a lot longer than I planned, and it was so worth it. At the end, both Audrey and I were pushing through a little bit of pain -- but I know Jeff is right, and next time it will get just a little easier. I popped a few Advil and am headed for some restorative sleep. Soon enough there will be another barrier to push through!

Spring cleaning my cleaning routine

2011-05-01T21:29:00.001-04:00

"Come my little friends
As we all sing a happy little working song
Merry little voices clear and strong"

- Giselle, Enchanted

I think I've mentioned before that I live in a pretty small apartment (here in NYC, we call it "cozy"). It is 400 sq.ft. of goodness, and I love every inch of it! This may actually be the smallest apartment I've ever lived in, but for some reason this one just works really well for me. This apartment is fairly new construction in an historic building, so I get just the right combo of charm (pretty brick facade) and convenience (central air, dishwasher, etc.).

One thing I've learned though is small space living means keeping things neat can be tricky. Seriously, my apartment can go from spotless to disaster in a matter of minutes. So frustrating! It doesn't help that I am pretty lazy when it comes to housework. There are just so many other ways I'd rather spend my time...

Photo credit: Martha Stewart

My usual method of spending 3+ hours on Saturday morning cleaning was just not working, so last year I started looking for a more ideas to improve my efficiency. I came across an interesting post on Apartment Therapy (one of my FAVORITE sites!) that outlined a plan calling for small bursts of cleaning every day rather than 1 big session. While initially the idea of cleaning something every day didn't really appeal to me (me = lazy), I could see how this might help me maintain a more constant state of order.

I gave it a shot and, lo and behold, I kind of enjoyed it. It turns out I had previously been a "binge" cleaner, but daily cleaning had a real appeal. Unfortunately, starting this plan a few weeks before the holiday season was not ideal. My schedule was chaotic and it was hard to develop a new habit. It went by the wayside until, well, now. After spending a day getting my apartment back in shape, I have decided I want to give my cleaning routine another makeover.

You can read about the plan and the schedule in the original AT post here. I adapted the original plan to suit my own needs. For example, taking out the trash every and doing some laundry daily are not practical or necessary for me; instead, I made floor cleaning a daily add-on. Since I don't have any "extra" rooms or many windows, I also traded those tasks for things like prepping the recycling, something that can totally get away from me (I really need to figure out a way to use my iPad to cut down on the amount of paper I bring into my house!).

I share this because I think some of you may also struggle with fitting it all in and making the best use of your time. I am expecting that soon my Saturday mornings will be booking up with long runs as I start to move into marathon training, and I know that the last thing I'm going to want to do when I get back is clean the house! Maybe some of you feel the same way?

I'll report back in a month or so and let you know if I'm able to stick with it. What about you -- are you binge cleaners, daily cleaners. or something else altogether? I'd love to hear any tricks and tips that you're loving right now!

On not stress eating

2011-04-29T00:48:00.001-04:00

Either the universe is trying to show me how far I've come in the past few months, or it is just a big jerk sometimes -- either way, I have been TESTED.

As you may have read, today was a stressful day. When the full impact of my crummy situation hit me, I reacted: I cried, I yelled at myself, I threw a few things, and had myself a nice meltdown.

But here's what I didn't do: calm my stress with food. And I didn't even want to. Success! (And believe me, even in the moment I realized this was big).

Bad day? I'll take about a million of these.

SO often over the past few months I have reacted to the many stresses in my life by giving myself a temporary shot of comfort in the form of something delicious. I don't even want to think about how many times I have been dealt a mid-morning blow at work and then ditched my healthy lunch for a slice of cheap pizza from the hole in the wall on the corner. And it never works!

And so today ends in a MUCH better way than it began. Crisis averted, and I didn't add insult to injury with a big pile of chocolate. Today, I made the best choice.

Boo for losing my wallet -- but hooray for small victories!

People are GOOD

2011-04-28T22:18:00.001-04:00

I went to sleep last night full of milkshake goodness and warm fuzzy thoughts.

I spent this morning in a panic upon discovering that I was no longer in possession of my wallet.

I guess somehow during the course of my magical little spring stroll and all of my daydreaming I managed to lose my wallet. The pretty pink one I was so excited about here. Not good.

This morning I wasn't sure what had happened, so I spent an hour tearing my place apart and then putting it back together. I retraced my steps and decided it was gone forever, and then set about trying to put my financial life back in order. Can I say...what a huge pain in the a$$ that is??? A million questions, a million calls to make...and no one is in any rush to send you a replacement card. I had to have a way-too-long conversation with someone about why 5-7 days is too long to wait for an ATM card when you have lost your entire wallet and only have three dollars!!

I then had to go to my bank in person to try to get a temporary ATM card, and that was a fail as well (didn't have the right documentation). And I *might* have had a little meltdown at that point. But here was a small bright spot: I was crying on the corner of Montague Street (a main drag here in Brooklyn Heights), and a nice woman walking by offered me a hug. I declined, but I appreciated the offer! New Yorkers are NICE -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I had been hoping I could get into the office after my bank trip, but since that was a bust I had to head back home. I decided it would be work from home day, and even though I had no real interest in doing any work (I just wanted to cry and feel sorry for myself), I called in to check my voice mail. And there was a message. A wonderful, wonderful message.

"I found your wallet -- can you meet me at the big bull?"

I chose to photograph this front half of the big guy-- I was in the minority

I never thought anyone would try to give it back, and I also didn't think anyone would even be able to find me (my driver's license has an old address, I'm unlisted, etc.). But my business cards were in there, and this lovely young man took it upon himself to help reunite me with my lost wallet.

And an hour later, there I was on Broadway looking for a man carrying a hot pink wallet (he was easy to find, and surprisingly secure about carrying such a flashy accessory). We met at the Wall Street Bull, a symbol of financial prosperity and the power of the stock market in NYC; ironic since we were talking about a wallet containing $13, lots of store reward cards, and a Metrocard with 3 days left on it. He was incredibly sweet and wouldn't even take my offer of a reward. He was just a genuinely nice person.

Which leads me to my conclusion: people are GOOD. The world is full of generous, kind-hearted people, and I am truly grateful!

I have been particularly scatterbrained this week, managing to lose both my cell phone and my wallet. And miraculously, both have come back to me because complete strangers were very kind. I have made a big withdrawal from the bank of good karma this week, so I will work even harder than usual to make sure I give plenty of positive energy back to the universe.

And I hope both of my kind strangers win the lottery.

Warm spring evening

2011-04-27T23:23:00.001-04:00

Even though things cooled down a bit after the sun went down, it still felt a little bit sticky in NYC today. A welcome change from all of the RAIN of late, but I'm not in any rush to jump into summer. I love spring!

I realized today that things are really falling into place in terms of my workouts and fueling -- YAY! I'm eating mindfully and making time to keep my fridge stocked and plan my meals. I'm scheduling my workouts and actually enjoying them (and I'm not TOO sore...ugh, note to self: never get out of shape again). I'm not quite in the zone yet, but I feel like I am getting there. (Is there a limit to how many times one can cross-reference one's own post? I probably passed that limit).

All was humming along smoothly until about 4 this afternoon, when I developed a killer craving for a milkshake. I finished up the day at work and by the time I got home, I was still thinking about that shake. I decided I really wanted it, and in fact, I was going to treat myself. In the past, I would have said, "well, I'm going to have a milkshake so why not add a burger and fries, too", but today I just wanted the shake. I ate a good dinner and at around 8:30 I leashed up my little friend Audrey to go to enjoy the warm evening and commence Mission: Milkshake.

My neighborhood is pretty adorable and has TONS of restaurants, shops, and other goodies...but weirdly, there are very few ice cream options (just two, actually). There used to be more, but several of them went out of business under suspicious circumstances. Oops.

I considered my two options. One is so famous it is actually a stop on those double-decker site-seeing buses and has a line that always looks something like this:

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
Source: Scoop on Cones

The other one is nearby, uses yummy organic ingredients, and has this adorable logo:

Sold!

Audrey and I had a lovely stroll through the neighborhood on our way for our treat. Have I mentioned before how much I love my neighborhood? Big brownstones, tree-lined streets, friendly people. I'm looking forward to taking some photos and doing a neighborhood tour once I have a few DSLR lessons under my belt.

I got my shake -- plain vanilla, just what I wanted -- and it was GOOD. I didn't take a photo (I just don't think I'm a food blogger), but it looked like...a milkshake. It totally satisfied my craving, and at $7.25 for a modest 16oz cup, this will NOT become a regular habit.

We took the long way home, and I got to window-shop and check out the comings and goings of shops in the neighborhood. This economy is rough: grand opening, grand closing.

As I walked and enjoyed my shake, a couple of nice things happened:

-Audrey saw other dogs and didn't freak out
My Audrey does not play well with others (well, at least around me -- for the dog walker and dog trainer, she is a perfect angel). Usually we play a fun game where we zig-zap across the street and hide in the bushes when we see another dog, but tonight she found some dogs she didn't hate. In fact, while I was checking out the menu of a new restaurant, I looked down and noticed Audrey gently sniffing the head of another dog. It was sweet! She screamed at another dog further down the street, but baby steps...

-I noticed a flyer for a new local running club
This is something I think I'd like to do at some point. I really enjoy running on my own and feel like for now I want to be dictating the length and pace of my runs, but down the road I think the push and camaraderie of a group. I have quite a few friends who ran with running clubs as marathon prep and really enjoyed it. Running club website: bookmarked.

I'm heading to bed happy and satisfied. And I'm looking forward to some more breezy spring evening strolls in the neighborhood....summer, don't come too quickly!

Spring in NYC
Source: Kate Spade NY

Peacock 2.0

2011-04-25T21:14:00.000-04:00

So, you may notice a bit of a different look around here. The changes are mostly the result of my 2am tinkering and saying things like "I wonder what THIS button does". For all of the hours I have spent obsessively reading blogs over the past years, you'd think I might know a thing or two about html or blogging. Turns out, I don't!

I am quite pleased with the results, and I think that everything still works (bonus). I hope that the end result is a blog that is easy to read, has a couple of nifty gadgets, doesn't drive you crazy with ads, and is maybe a little bit attractive.

Let me know if you have any feedback, if you find any broken links/bad buttons, or despise the color yellow (to which I will say, "Oh, I'm very sorry. I love a pop of yellow, and it is definitely staying"). And as always, thank you for stopping by!

Cheers!

Photo credit: Rachel Ferney via Oh Happy Day

Weekend report card

2011-04-25T14:19:00.002-04:00

Ah, Sunday night. It is always tough to see a good weekend come to an end, but as hoped I am feeling pretty good.

I had a hefty list of expectations for myself this weekend...so how did I do?

-taking myself on a date: movie and Target
I was ready to head out yesterday to catch a matinee, but at the last minute I decided I just didn't want to go run around in the rain. I traded this for a nap with my furry little pal, and got my movie fix with The King's Speech OnDemand (and it helps me with #109 on my Life List -- bonus points!

-manicure and pedicure
I am currently sporting a couple of lovely coats of Mademoiselle on my fingers; didn't have time for the pedicure, so maybe next weekend. We have to see pedicure weather in NYC eventually, right?

Always a classic. Making my not-pretty nails look pretty since...forever!

-getting some good workouts in
Yup!

-making my blog prettier
Check! Well, at least I think so. I'm still tinkering a little, but I am pretty pleased with what I've been able to do. I know NOTHING about html coding, so even doing simple things like changing fonts is a big challenge. I may or may not have let out a great whoop when I finally figured out how to increase the font size of my header.

-a good nap to two
Ah...yes!

-restocking my fridge with a trip to Trader Joe's
Yup!

-delivery from a yummy restaurant
I think it was on its way when I wrote this, so...yes!

-catching up on my favorite blogs
Always

-Easter dinner with my super cute family
Yay - even got a visit from the Easter Bunny! (Not planned: losing my phone on the LIRR. Ugh.)

And there were a few more things that helped make this a great weekend:

-I signed up for an online photography class at Nicole's Classes -- I think this one is called "you spent $1K on a fancy camera, you should probably know how to use it". SO excited about this! I think I have some good ideas about composition, but I really need to know a lot more about the various settings to make my pictures look better (at least until I get an iPhone and just take all of my photos using Hipstamatic -- love those!).

-Fresh flowers from Trader Joe's -- they make my home so happy!

Ranunculus are my favorite thing! My second favorite thing?
A pop of yellow in a room. Check and check!

-Loading up on good reading material from mom's house -- she has tons of magazine subscriptions, and she lent me a book I've been dying to get my hands on: Sweet Valley Confidential. It is silly, I know...but I don't care! I don't read a lot of chick lit (I leave that to my brother; he's Team Jacob, in case you were wondering), but I LOVED the Wakefield twins and read all of the Sweet Valley books in middle school. Elizabeth was my favorite -- can't wait to see what has happened! I hear the book is a bit scandalous. Sweet Valley of the Dolls?

-I picked up one of my favorite candles: Capri Blue - Volcano. It now comes in a pretty mercury glass jar! (Maybe this is not new -- my last candle lasted forever). This is one of my favorite indulgences, I just love the deep, citrus-y scent. Also, it makes all of my clothes smell like they came from Anthropologie, making me love my wardrobe that much more!

Capri Blue - Volcano ($28)

So there you have it, a pretty nice 3-day weekend. I'm ready to start the week -- how about you?

Work in progress

2011-04-22T11:01:00.000-04:00

I'm doing a little spring cleaning of the blog right now, so if things don't look quite right or something is missing, please bear with me!

Don't worry, I totally know what I'm doing

Happy

2011-04-21T21:43:00.001-04:00

I felt relaxed and happy all day today, a marked difference from the stress/frustration/anxiety that have been defining my moods lately. In fact, the feeling was so noticeably different that the voice in my head (don't worry, there's just one) kept repeating, "I'm happy!", like my brain was trying to acknowledge this feeling it and capture it forever. Don't worry Brain, I'm working on it.

Happy dog iz happy

Here are some of the things that are contributing to this wonderful mood:

the upcoming 3-day weekend!
letting go of work stress; for some reason, it just isn't sticking anymore. I'm ready for a new challenge, and I think I'm subconsciously preparing to move on to my next job (whatever that may be!)
I shared something, and it turned out well :)
strangers are reading my little blog; every day I see the numbers going up, up, up and my heart smiles. For sharing even a few minutes of your time here, I say THANK YOU
I posted my Life List, and just reading it makes me feel super excited! My life is going to be so much fun :)
this little fuzzball is snuggling in my lap

I am definitely in need of a long weekend, and I want to enjoy every nook and cranny of these three glorious days. On my list:

taking myself on a date: a movie and a trip to Target
manicure and pedicure
getting some good workouts in
making my blog prettier (I'm working on, I promise!)
a good nap or two
restocking my fridge with a trip to Trader Joe's
delivery from a yummy restaurant
catching up on my favorite blogs
Easter dinner with my super cute family

Wishing you all many happy days ahead!

Lovely Life List

2011-04-20T22:54:00.002-04:00

And now for something totally original...a list!

This is something I've been working on long before I got started the blog, inspired by the wonderful Maggie over at Mighty Girl. Do you know Maggie? Oh, you must! Just do yourself a favor and go check out her blog at once! I hope you have the next 137 hours free to spend obsessively reading.

Maggie is a Blogger with a capital B, and she does big and important things like inspire people to chase their craziest dreams. She is Amazing (capital A), and if I can contribute nothing else to this little blogosphere but introduce a few more people to Maggie, then I will die a happy peacock!

Among Maggie's wonderful contributions is her Mighty Life List - a list of 100 things she wants to do before it is all over. And she encourages all of her readers to dream big and think about all of the things they want to cross off of their list. Big or small, practical or totally out there, ANYTHING can go on the list.

It is so important to have dreams, and what I learned from Maggie is that it is just as important to give a voice to those dreams. Know what you want and put it out there for the universe to hear. There are so many adventures waiting for us, so go crazy -- think BIG! Talk to your friends, your spouse, your mom about what you want to do -- and listen as they invariably start spilling their secret dreams. You never know what will happen...

Without further ado, here are the ingredients for what I call Alison's Lovely Life List*:
*This list is a work in progress; I reserve the right to add/delete items as my little heart desires; items in bold are COMPLETE!

1. Quit my job and spend 6 months volunteering

2. Adopt a sweet and charming miniature dachshund

3. Run a half marathon

4. Learn how to drive…again

5. Meet my best friend/be a best friend

6. Take my mom on a fantastic trip to Italy

7. Be a wife

8. Be a mother

9. Be the world’s coolest aunt

10. Live in Los Angeles

11. Figure out my goal weight and learn how to stay there

12. Live in an adorable apartment in Greenwich Village

13. Spend a few months backpacking in Europe

14. Spend a long weekend at the Parker Palm Springs

15. Learn enough Spanish and French to impress people

16. Ride on the Orient Express

17. Take a bike tour through Italy

18. Learn to surf in Hawaii

19. Buy my own little beach bungalow in the Hamptons

20. Contribute something positive to the world and make a good living with a “Thank-God-It’s-Monday” fulfilling job

21. Write a book

22. Own my own business

23. Have a drink with one of the writers of The Daily Show

24. Be a Disney World Cast Member – spread pixie dust!

25. Learn how to use all of the features of my DSLR and be a photography rock star

26. Ride Dumbo at all 5 Disney theme parks

27. Plan my own lovely and adorable Martha Stewart-worthy wedding

28. Attend a red carpet movie premiere

29. Go to the Oscars (maybe as a nominee!)

30. Meditate in Bali

31. Swim with that cool glowy plankton stuff in Puerto Rico

32. Fall madly in love with the sweet, funny guy

33. Go to the Sundance Film Festival

34. Live in Orlando

35. Fly on a private plane

36. Compete in some kind of cooking contest -- bonus points if there is a corny Food Network Special about it!

37. Attend a political rally in Washington DC

38. Linger over dinner in Sorrento with my family, watching the sun set over Mount Vesuvius

39. See the town in Ireland where my grandmother was born

40. Ride on a zipline through the jungles of Costa Rica

41. Take an African safari

42. Have my picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower

43. Ride the Tower of Terror solo – and buy the picture this time!

44. Run over the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise

45. Dive into the Mediterranean from a boat floating off of Capri

46. Take a cross-country road trip across the US

47. Get super dressed up and go to the Met Costume Institute Ball

48. Learn to give myself the perfect blowout

49. Dance all night in Cuba

50. Flaunt some beads at Mardi Gras

51. Pay off my credit card debt

52. Earn another master’s degree

53. Figure out my creative calling

54. Plan a summer volunteer bike trip

55. Be Goofy (or some other costumed character!)

56. Make someone’s wish come true

57. Start a book club

58. Do something that could get me arrested (but not get arrested for it!)

59. Figure out my favorite book, movie, death row meal

60. Win a hand of black jack in Las Vegas

61. Spend the night in Cinderella’s Castle

62. Cheer for Team USA at the Olympics

63. Watch a movie under the stars at Bryant Park

64. Get tickets for Shakespeare in the Park

65. Shop in a Moroccan marketplace

66. Take a bike ride along the beaches of Goa

67. Own a Chanel jacket

68. Drive down Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible

69. Have clothing custom-made in Vietnam

70. Run a marathon

71. Be photographed by Bill Cunningham

72. Cheer loudly at my brother’s college graduation

73. Make sure my mom and brother really know how much I love them

74. Host a big Thanksgiving dinner

75. Learn how to bake a dessert that people remember

76. Run a race that raises money for something I care about

77. Have my picture taken with Judge Judy

78. Wear a bikini in public

79. Buy a fixer-upper and flip it

80. Sneak a peak in the Vogue accessories closet

81. Be a clue in the NY Times Crossword Puzzle

82. Be a mentor to someone

83. Watch the Sound of Music at the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont

84. Write a blog that inspires people

85. Take Audrey to the South Beach Wiener Dog Festival

86. Become the person who actually follows through on all of my good intentions…it isn’t only the thought that counts

87. Have my place featured on Apartment Therapy

88. Spend a day performing random acts of kindness – feeding meters, shoveling walks, buying a round of drinks

89. Hang out at the tents at New York Fashion Week and see a fashion show

90. Find a regular volunteer project

91. Master a great smoky eye, a rosy pink blush, my perfect lipstick shade
92. Learn to make amazing French macarons

93. Solve a mystery

94. Learn CPR

95. Attend a blogger summit

96. Make something pretty

97. Learn how to tie a tie and sew a button

98. See all 50 states

99. Take a cruise to Alaska

100. Go skinny dipping

101. Hang out backstage with the band

102. Be an extra in a movie/tv show

103. Throw a fabulous party

104. Dye my hair blonde

105. Design the most glamorous peacock Halloween costume

106. Go to a state fair

107. Meet an Imagineer

108. Learn Photoshop

109. See all of the Best Picture Oscar winners

110. Understand the very basics of html coding

111. Teach Audrey 3 new tricks

112. Sing on stage at the Apollo

113. Teach a class

114. Eat many delicious 10pm dinners in Barcelona

115. Make a gingerbread house

116. Ride a unicorn (with thanks to Beatrice and Isabelle, truly great Life List makers)

Do you have a Life List? What have you crossed off so far? What is the craziest thing on your list? Let me know!

There's something about Boston

2011-04-19T13:42:00.001-04:00

Woo-hoo! Boston Marathon fever -- did you catch it?!?!

I was trapped in cubicle-land in NYC, but thanks to the magic of Twitter I felt like I was right there on Boylston Street in the middle of the action. And what a race it was! The men crushed previous records -- Geoffrey Mutai ran the fastest marathon ever (with a pack of competitors at his heels). And a nail biter in the women's race! Desiree Davilla kept things really interesting by leading the pack in the final miles, ultimately crossing the finish line just two seconds behind the winner.
And then of course are all of the amazing stories of the rest-of-the-pack runners. To anyone who qualified and ran the heck out of that crazy Boston course, CONGRATULATIONS! Today, you are my hero.

It dawned on me that it is a bit strange that today I finally woke up to the magic and raw energy of the Boston Marathon, considering I lived in Boston for three years. The marathon passed very near to my apartment, but I hardly noticed. It is either a testament to my commitment to my graduate studies or sad sign of how insular my world was, but I never paid much attention to marathon activities. Actually, if I'm being honest I think that I might have been annoyed one marathon Monday that I couldn't get to the library. Lame!

Hello, My Name Is: Nerd

A race of any kind is still out of my reach right now, but I do feel incredibly inspired to shoot for the stars and really push myself. I want a real challenge, and running a full marathon is definitely on my wish list. And who knows, maybe I will find some small amount of talent for such a distance and I'll actually qualify for the big one: Boston. Better late than never...

I'm really looking forward to reading the race recaps from all of today's amazing runners -- I am sure the stories will not disappoint. In the meantime, I wanted to share an amazing article about race director Dave McGillivray. Did you know that he runs the course himself every year, long after the race is over? Absolutely incredible. This brought such happy tears to my eyes (yes, sitting in my cubicle -- I don't care), I hope you enjoy it too!

Who wants to join me in forming a Dave McGillivray cheering squad for next year's race??

3 Pair of Shoes: Palm Springs

2011-04-16T22:45:00.072-04:00

A little insight into the mind of me: yesterday morning I was flipping through the pages of a cheesy tabloid (I may or may not have found said magazine in the trash; if it was in the trash, it was definitely right on top and not touching any garbage-like material). I was skimming an article about Sara Rue posing in a bikini (good for her, she looks amazing) and noticed that she was wearing one of the cutest pair of shoes I had ever seen. And I HAD TO HAVE THEM.

The magazine was no help in providing a source or a designer, but thanks to the wonderful thing called the interwebz, I was able to locate them. A quick type of a few keywords into shopstyle.com and I learned they were Kate Spade Brook Espadrilles ($225). I'm not surprised (though my wallet was hoping they were from Old Navy).

just. so. pretty.

I started browsing through Kate's other offerings and within 3.2 seconds, I found a total of three pair that I was completely in love with.

All images: Kate Spade

I got to thinking that these would be the perfect shoe wardrobe for a long weekend getaway to someplace special. If I couldn't pull the trigger on buying my fantasy shoes (at least, not yet), I thought I would daydream about the fantasy vacation I would take them on. Isn't that what lazy Saturday mornings are for?

So then I jumped over to Polyvore -- have you ever played with this nifty little site? It basically allows you to play editor/stylist/art director and curate your own little collections. I decided I wanted to take my three pair of shoes to Palm Springs, so I dropped them on the canvas and started building some looks. Here is what I came up with:

The shoes are definitely the stars! The dream wedges pair perfectly with a black bikini (if I'm going to fantasize...), the world's most glamorous cover-up, and an obnoxiously expensive beach bag. The espadrilles are perfect with a little shift dress for an afternoon of shopping for mid-century treasures and gawking at amazing architecture. And the pink sparkly heels get dressed up with a fancy black blouse and skinny jeans -- probably a little fussy for Palm Springs, but sometimes I like to be a bit overdressed.

Thanks for coming with me on my silly little fantasy. Now that I have the wardrobe planned, I think I am going to have to plan a trip to Palm Springs...maybe that would be a good reward for completing my first half marathon? I'm going to start putting my pennies in the trip/shoe fund!

Busy

2011-04-15T01:04:00.002-04:00

I haven't been able to keep up with my usual blog reading for the past few days, and I definitely haven't been able to check in here. Anyway, here is a quick update of what I've been up to.

There has been an awful lot of this:

Actual desk: I don't always use three different devices simultaneously...but sometimes I do

And maybe a little bit of this:

I try very hard not to cry about work, but this week has been super frustrating

And then today there was an awful lot of this:

I did a solid 7.5 hours today -- very grateful for my iPad and a fun co-worker to pass the time

My destination:

And finally, I am back home. This evening brought some quality time with...

and

TGIF! Get ready to do the Friday dance everyone -- the end of the week is here!

Change of plans

2011-04-11T20:32:00.001-04:00

I think it is time to regroup. I have had a few nights lying awake feeling more than a little stressed about the progress of my training (or lack thereof) and my impending planned races.

Super cute, but no help at all these days...

When the clock struck 2011, I had sketched out a rough plan for training and the races I wanted to tackle. Looked something like this:

April 30 – Wildlife Conservation Society’s Run For the Wild 5K

October 1 – Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon

January 8 – Walt Disney World Marathon

Well, I dragged my feet (har!) about registering for the Run For the Wild race because of my job situation – I am job searching, and a job that I was in the running for presented a conflict with the April 30 date (my job involves working evenings, weekends, etc.). I got nervous about committing myself to my first race and then having to drop out – just seemed like a bad way to start my racing career. Since then, the race has filled up and I don’t think I am ready (mentally or physically) to compete in just a few weeks.

Also, my half marathon training schedule should start in about 6 weeks, which seems incredibly soon. Where does the time go?

All of this has been weighing on me, and I’m wrestling with the decisions. I am sure I can find another 5K to run over the summer, but I’m not at all sure about the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. On the one hand, I really don’t want to give up on my goals so easily. I am usually a Type-A/overachiever type, and I want to believe that I can still stay on track. On the other hand, I really want to be prepared for my first serious race – I want to do well, and I want to enjoy it.

Photo credit: runDisney

I picked the Wine and Dine Half as my first big race for a couple of reasons. First, it is a Disney race and Disney races are incredibly special. WDW is my favorite place in the world, and I know that I will really enjoy running through the parks and being part of the Disney racing community. As an added bonus, the race is is just a few days after my birthday, and there is something that seems kind of poetic about conquering a big challenge after blowing out another candle on the cake.

I realized that part of my anxiety about changing my plans might have something to do with my newfound obsession for reading running blogs. I get so excited reading about my virtual friends running race after race and I feel like I want to be right there with them. I am ready for a neckful of bling, for goofy running photos, for the excitement of getting up at the crack of dawn to stand in line for a porta-potty with strangers!

But I know that all of my favorite bloggers logged a lot of training hours before they started putting back-to-back races on their calendars, and I need to do the same.

So the plan for now is to pull back a little bit. I’m going to keep running and find a new 5K or two to aim for. I don’t want to give up entirely on the idea of participating in the Wine and Dine Half, but I’m moving it to the “Maybe” column to take the pressure off. I am definitely not going to register yet because those Disney races are expensive, and I already have a $140 Disney race shirt (from the 2009 Half Marathon that I didn’t run).

And I still want to be on the course for Disney Marathon Weekend in January, but I think the Half is more realistic than the Full. I’ll run a full marathon one day, but I don’t need to kill myself trying to pack it all into one year.

Besides, there are plenty more Disney races to pick from. Have you guys been following the clues for the new runDisney race on Facebook? I don’t have the slightest idea what clues like this mean...

...but I’m sure the new race will be a great addition to the lineup!

PS -- Maybe my first marathon should be an international one...I bet you burn a lot of macarons running 26.2 miles!

Photo credit: www.runnersworld.co.uk

See ya real soon

2011-04-07T00:56:00.000-04:00

Heading out of town for a few days...obligatory dog in the suitcase shot!

Yes my little fuzzball, I wish you were coming with me

Don't worry, neither of us will be having any fun. I'll be at a conference in Philadelphia (probably wishing I was anywhere else), and Audrey will be at the vet. This is the first time I've ever boarded her and only the second time I've left her...I suspect one or both of us may have a hard time at the drop-off.

The alarm is going off early tomorrow...time to get a little shut eye!

I heart Bill Cunningham, New York

2011-04-05T23:21:00.002-04:00

This weekend, I finally got a chance to see a movie that’s been on my must-see list for a month: Bill Cunningham, New York.

Photo credit: First Thought Films/Zeitgeist Films

Most people know Bill Cunningham through his photos in The New York Times – he has a column on street fashion (my favorite!) and another on NYC’s glamorous party circuit. But you probably don’t know much about him, because it turns out…no one really does. This film gives us all a little peek inside the world of one of the city’s great artistic voices (and true characters!).

Above all, I have to say that I cannot recommend this movie highly enough! I honestly can’t remember a time when I was so utterly enchanted by a film – I smiled for 84 minutes straight (when I wasn’t laughing out loud!), and I left this movie feeling like my perspective on the world had shifted just a little. If you love fashion, art, photography, or New York City even a little bit, you NEED to see this movie! It is playing in tiny theaters in cities all over the country – check here to see if it is playing near you!

I think we could all learn a thing or two (or million) from Mr. Cunningham. Here are just a few of my the things I’ve taken to heart:

>>Feed your passion, then your body
Food comes up several times during the movie. Most notably, Bill mentions that he does not accept a plate of food or even a glass of water at any of the fancy events he attends. While I doubt any of us would fault him for having a bite or two, he is resolute: he wants to maintain total objectivity. Later, he’s shown eating a sandwich in Paris and he’s asked what he thinks about food. He dismisses the plate in front of him with a shrug and a shake of his head. “Oh, I don’t care about this…” he says. Clearly, Bill is an eat-to-live kind of guy, a philosophy I’ve never really understood.

But watching this film and feasting my eyes on all of the lush prints, exquisite fabrics, and rich colors of the clothing Bill photographs, I begin to understand. He LOVES clothes, he LOVES photographing beautiful clothes, he LOVES studying the way people wear clothes. He loves his work and he is totally consumed by it: body, mind, and soul.

Now I’ll always love food, but I think that when you fill your life with passion and stimulate ALL of your senses, it is easier to keep food and and eating in the proper balance in your life. Feed your body and feed your soul – this is the recipe for a full and happy life.

>>Your own two legs are the best form of transportation

Photo credit: First Thought Films/Zeitgeist Films

For more than 50 years, Bill has been traveling the streets of NYC and arriving at the fanciest events on his trusty bicycle (well, on a number of bikes – he’s currently on #28; the first 27 have been stolen). When it rains, he wears a poncho. At night, he wears a neon vest. He cruises down quiet Central Park paths and takes in the scenery, and he battles taxi traffic in Midtown with the best of them.

And this, my friends, is completely brilliant. He never has to worry about the price of subway fares, and he never gets stuck in traffic on Fifth Avenue. What would my life be like without the frustration of my commute?? And best of all, he never has to go to the gym – when you make exercise a part of your everyday life, staying in shape is a snap!

I don’t think I’m brave enough to hit the streets on bicycle, but I can definitely walk a lot more…and take the long way. After a cold, miserable winter, I need to make sure I spend some quality time getting reacquainted with the city on foot.

>>He who seeks beauty will find it
Bill has taken a famous proverb and adapted it just slightly, and this is clearly his guiding philosophy. And this message couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Things in my world are far from perfect, and it can be so easy to focus on the negative (unsatisfying job, struggles to find work/life balance, etc.). But Bill wouldn’t even waste a minute dwelling on the ugly – in fact, when faced with the incredibly daunting challenge of being displaced from his beloved home of more than 50 years, Bill is unfazed: “I’ll be a little annoyed in the moment, but I’ll get over it!”, he laughs.

So from now on, I’m trying to view the world through Bill-colored glasses…there may be a few minor annoyances from time to time, but really, there is so much beauty still to find.

Motivation: Good, better, best

2011-04-04T22:38:00.001-04:00

Let’s talk about food…and shame.

I try really hard to keep myself from labeling my food choices as “good” or “bad”. For so many people, there is so much shame and guilt associated with eating, and I have definitely found myself with unnatural feelings of guilt (and superiority) following a period of eating whatever foods I considered unhealthy (or healthy) at the time. But this kind of thinking always backfires. It messes with your head and just sets you up for failure in the end.

One of the strategies I use to combat this kind of thinking was actually introduced to me in a graduate school course on designing education programs in museums -- we were learning about effective teaching methods. My professor shared a philosophy that she used in her work and in her personal life: when it comes to making decisions, don’t think of your choices as good/bad. Think of them in these terms: good, better, best. You can make a good choice, you can make a better choice, or you can make the best choice. Of course, you want to aim to be the best; and when your decision isn’t ideal, reframe your thinking – it was a good choice, but next time you want to make the best choice.

What about thinking about food choices in the same way? Rather than feeling shame about eating a little too much dessert, figure out how you can do better next time. Don’t trash an entire day’s worth of eating because you had a slice of pizza – think about it as an opportunity to make the best choices at your next few meals.

This not to say that you have free reign to eat junk and say “Well, it was a good decision!”. It is just a way to remove the complicated emotions of guilt and shame from eating and give yourself a more logical way to view things.

So, what do you think….is this idea good, better, or the best? (See how nicely that works – I can’t lose!).

I made something pretty…

2011-04-03T21:10:00.001-04:00

Have you ever seen something that looked so delicious that you needed to taste it right away?

Was that thing covered in rainbow sprinkles? (OK, maybe that’s just me).

The other day I came across a recipe for Cake Batter Chocolate Bark – sounds good, tastes better.

I’ve never been a big fan of bark-type candy, but that’s because it is usually coated with peppermint (can’t do chocolate and mint – my taste buds forbid it). But this calls for a lovely blend of chocolates (I used milk instead of dark chocolate), covered by a dusting of the prettiest sprinkles ever. I would eat just about anything covered in rainbow sprinkles…always honoring my inner 6-year old!

Just a simple but perfect treat for snuggling up on the couch with a good movie and a snoozy little dog. I had my taste, and I’m totally satisfied. I don’t want to have this lingering in my refrigerator, so the rest will be gifted to friends. Cake Batter Chocolate Bark is too good to keep to myself!

PS – Cake Batter Chocolate Bark recipe courtesy of Jessica at How Sweet Eats. Thanks to the ladies at Whoopie Cookie for pointing me in this delicious direction.

What's your signature?

2011-04-03T10:35:00.001-04:00

Years ago I read an interview with a big deal actress, and the author described his subject as having the chic woman's holy trinity: a great haircut, a good watch, and the faint hint of the right perfume.

Is it that easy?

After years of fighting with my hair (thick, wavy, prone to frizz), I think I have figured out a cut that flatters without being too high-maintenance. When I get a professional blowout, I LOVE my hair; when I do it myself, it looks pretty good. One day I dream of being able to afford blowouts three times a week (how much does one need to earn to afford this?), but for now I'll call this good.

I haven't worn a watch regularly in a while, but I do love the look of a classic style with a little bling, or a chunky boyfriend style that jingles ever-so-slightly with every movement. I am absolutely in love with this little bauble:

Cartier Tank American (a bajillion dollars)

If Cartier would like to send me a tank watch to review, I promise to devote an entire post to it. Two, even!

The one thing that I have definitely figured out is the right perfume. I wear Stella by Stella McCartney every single day -- my signature scent.

Stella by Stella McCartney ($72)

I've been wearing Stella since it was released in 2003, practically my entire adult life. 2003 was also the year I moved to NYC (my little Upper West Side studio was right around the corner from a Sephora, and I will admit that was a selling point), and the year I got serious about taking care of myself and changing my eating and exercise habits. A really great year.

I loved Stella from the very first spritz, and since then there has not been another perfume on my dresser. You probably know that scent is one of the strongest senses tied to memory, and the right whiff of Stella can flood my brain with a million happy moments. I get compliments on it all the time, and I love that friends and even acquaintances associate me with this pretty but sophisticated scent (more than one person has said that they noticed the scent of this perfume somewhere and immediately started looking for me, assuming I must be the source -- how sweet!).

One day I might decide to try something new (or heaven forbid, Stella McCartney might decide to discontinue it -- sometimes I think about hoarding bottles away just in case), but I love that this scent will forever connect me with all of the crazy/happy/scary/wonderful memories of being single in New York City in my 20s.

So tell me -- do you have a signature scent, and has it evolved over time? Are there some perfumes that can immediately take you back to special times in your life?

PS -- Do you find that you stop smelling your perfume a few hours (or minutes) after you've put it on? This used to drive me crazy -- everyone else could enjoy it but me! Try dabbing a little Vaseline on key pulse points (I put it behind my ears and on my wrists) and then spraying your perfume. You'll get to enjoy your own perfume for hours longer.

Random

2011-03-31T22:51:00.001-04:00

So, things are humming along. I'm eating, I'm moving, I'm watching less TV. No major epiphanies yet...but you all will be the first to know when I start having moments of healthy living brilliance!

Until then, let's talk about fun and frivolous things! Here are my...

5 Favorite Things Right This Second

1. New spring bag/bright fun wallet

Tote: H&M/wallet: Kate Spade

Is there anything better than breaking in a new bag at the start of a new season? I actually bought this one just before Christmas (am I the only one who treats myself while I'm shopping for others?), but the slouchy canvas and black/white combo just seemed more appropriate for spring. I think it will move nicely into summer, too -- perfect size and shape for day-tripping/site-seeing/theme-parking!

And the perfect companion to a neutral bag is a pop of color in a fun wallet. I LOVE this wallet -- my second favorite Christmas gift this year (and this one was actually from Santa, not myself). The bright color and super-polished patent leather is so impossibly cheery. I smile every time I see it! Bonus: the design is so well thought out, there are plenty of pockets and card slots and I can actually stay organized. Hooray for not fumbling with my Metrocard every single day!

2. iPad

Always close at hand

Everyone and their brother (and Oprah) have proclaimed their love for the iPad, so this is not a groundbreaking pick. But it is as great as everyone says. I thought I'd use it mostly for travel (dozens of books and movies and games in my carry-on? Yes please!), but I actually use it for something-or-other every single day. Right now I'm obsessed with Harbor Master -- it is the dumbest game ever and I love it. I can't wait to play around with the Garage Band app -- practically a full sound production studio in your palm for five bucks! I'm playing around with lots of different fitness/run tracking apps, too. I'll post about some of my favorites soon.

I've been searching high and low for a decent iPad case -- it shouldn't be that hard! I'm looking for something pretty and functional, and I did have this crazy idea that the case should cost LESS than the iPad itself. I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on this pretty little number:

Nordstrom Crackle Metallic iPad Case ($48)

I hope it looks as good in person!

3. Bronx Zoo Cobra

So you probably heard that one of the Bronx Zoo's resident cobras decided to go MIA this week. I am totally bummed she was found this afternoon, I have been thoroughly enjoying this week's snake-related humor. Not sure if she will be able to keep tweeting from her enclosure, but do yourself a favor and follow @BronxZoosCobra to read all about her adventures this week.

Hard to pick a favorite from so many classics, but this one made me laugh for hours:

@BronxZoosCobraBronx Zoo's Cobra

City may not sleep, but I'm ready to. Ooh a chimney! I bet you bragged to your friends about having a
working fireplace in NYC. Hi roomie.

4. IKEA Expedit for your desktop

OK, raise your hand if you love the Expedit bookshelf from IKEA! LOVE mine -- such a great, functional piece of furniture, such a dramatic focal point in my apartment. Have I ever mentioned that I live in a tiny (less than 400 sq. ft.) apartment? I'll do some posts in the future about small space living, but the Expedit plays a big part in keeping my apartment organized and looking good.

And now I can have one on my desktop. How cute is this!? You can change your icons into all of the adorable IKEA boxes and files that we know and love. I can't wait to get my desktop as neatly organized as my real bookshelf You can choose from 4 different color backgrounds -- I picked the violet, which is perfect for spring (note: hear that, April Fools' Day Nor'easter? I have a violet desktop background now, so you must CEASE TO EXIST!).

Check it out for yourself here on Unplugged (and thanks to Nicole at Making it Lovely for Tweeting this today!).

5. Easter candy

Candy eaten near Runner's World does not have calories

What is it about this time of year that inspires the candy makes to create such works of genius? Who knew there were so many delicious things that you can stuff into a chocolate egg? Valentine's Day and Halloween have nothing on this holiday.

I also really like the fact that there are so many portion-controlled options. I can't have a bag of Hershey's Kisses in my apartment (well I can, but not for long...), but this time of year I know I can grab one of these little single serving treats and get my chocolate fix without going overboard.

Oh, and I almost forgot my final favorite thing right this second: tomorrow is Friday! Everyone do the Friday dance!

Edit: fixed some of the photos, some of them went really wonky. I need to learn to use my camera a little better.